Gift Giving Ideas: OMG! Another Awesome Use for Instagram

I just found out about Castagram last night, and I already made a purchase for myself - oops.  Although I already have people in mind to give these to too.  This site let's you make a custom case for your iPhone, iPod, or Samsung Galaxy using your Instagram or Facebook photos!  My current iPhone case has a picture of Leah when she was a newborn, and I was thinking about getting a new one because it has a small crack which keeps snagging my clothes.  Can't wait to get mine in the mail! 

GiltCity.com has a special where you can purchase it for $15-35 (original price starts at $34.99).  You can use my referral link and get an additional 20% off!  So um yeah... pretty good deal.  I also just realized that I have signed up for way too many of these types of sites.  

Here's the link for the referral: www.giltcity.com/invite/154576814ajy3gggr9z9

Gift Giving Ideas: A Different Kind of Photo Album

I've been in full Christmas shopping mode the past couple days thanks to Cyber Monday.  I no longer have the patience to brave the crowds, so I mostly do everything online.  I've found some cool stuff out there, and I'll post them to hopefully give you guys ideas too!  

Photos are always a popular and sentimental gift to give loved ones whether they be on mugs, ornaments, albums, calendars, etc.  Instead of the usual photo gift idea, check out Stickygram!  Stickygram takes the photos you've created through Instagram and creates photo magnets!  You get 9 magnets for $14.99 and free shipping.  Each magnet is about the size of how your Instagram photo looks on your phone.  I just ordered some yesterday, and I can't wait to get them!  

If you're interested, use the code FRIENDEVUL and get $2 off your first purchase! Enjoy!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Matt and I have been very fortunate that our families live so close together (as in 1 mile away from each other).  As a result, we've always gotten to spend the holidays with both families. His mom is moving, however, in a couple weeks, so holiday planning is going to get a little bit more interesting.

We spent the afternoon with his family, and Leah pretty much played with Julia the whole time.  In the evening, we went to my parents house.  Again, Leah had a great time playing with all the kids, but she also enjoyed crawling around and exploring the house.  It was pretty cute watching her crawl amongst all these adults.  She also let everyone carry her for a little while!  She got totally overstimulated though and wouldn't sleep until 4am!! She was wide awake and wanted to play while I kept trying to put her to sleep.  Yes, I was a very tired mama the next day.  

Happy 1st Birthday!!

Leah turned 1 on the 21st!!  This year has gone by in a blur.  It still feels like yesterday that I gave birth to her, and we had a Thanksgiving lunch at our home since she was too young to take out.  In just the past month Leah has changed so much.  She has really started to imitate the things we do and say, and she's enjoying being more mobile.  We had her 1st birthday party on the 17th, and I'll post pictures once I get them.  Here are some updates:

• Weights 19 lbs 5 oz and is almost 30 inches
• Size 3 diapers
• Has 2 top teeth and 2 bottom teeth with 2 more about to break through
• Blows kisses 
• Does the hand motions when we call "Gymbo"
• Points to her hair and brushes it when I give her a comb/brush
• Points to her feet and tries to put her shoes and socks on herself
• Figured out how to climb downstairs sideways
• Will do the motion of washing her hands
• Can sign "more"
• Does the hand motions to "Itsy Bitsy Spider"
• More willing to cruise rather than whine to be picked up
• Plays a lot more independently with her toys instead of needing us to entertain her

Leah: This has been the most amazing year of our lives.  God gave us an amazing gift, and we are enjoying every minute of it. I have experienced my most tiring days this year, but also my most joyful. I love getting kisses and hugs from you, and it melts my heart when you rest your head on me when you're tired. When we put you to bed for the night, we always want to give you one more hug or one more kiss as you squirm and point towards your crib, and we wake up in the morning excited to see you.  Mommy and Daddy look forward to the years ahead, but don't grow up too fast okay?  Happy 1st Birthday!!  We love you so much!  xoxo

Precious Moments

I took Leah out of the car after we got home from Gymboree, and she immediately fell asleep on my shoulder.  I could hear her tiny breaths, and all I wanted to do was keep holding her forever. 

Thailand: Ko Phi Phi

Our final destination in Thailand was Phi Phi Island.  This place is truly paradise.  In order to get there we had to fly to Phuket.  The guide picked us up and drove us around the island to see the 3 main beaches and then we stopped for lunch.  We were then dropped off at a marina where our hotel arranged a speed boat to take us to Phi Phi Island.  

Thailand: Chiang Mai

We left for Chiang Mai on the 9th.  We were greeted by our guide at the airport and went straight to the Doi Suthep Temple.  It's perched high above the city and offers amazing views of the city and countryside.  Leah took a liking to the guide, and she let the guide hold her without any protest!

Thailand: Bangkok

After Hong Kong, we went to Thailand.  First stop - Bangkok.  Leah has now gotten used to planes and knows people sit behind us.  When we board the plane and put her down, she will stand up on the back and smile at the people behind us.  We also caught her sticking her hand through the crack to touch them.  She made friends quickly with everyone around us.

All the Other Things We Did in Hong Kong

We went to The Peak to see the breathtaking views of Hong Kong.

Hong Kong: Family

The main reason we went to Hong Kong was to visit my dad's side of the family.  My dad has 11 brothers and sisters and most still live in Hong Kong.  My 94 year old grandma also moved back a year ago, so I was excited for her to meet Leah for the first time.

On the 3rd, we met up with my cousins Ken and Rowena.  Row took us to a members only Shanghainese.  Leah got to meet her 2nd cousin Chantal and received a super cute Hello Kitty backpack.  Leah has so much fun finding things in her backpack and pulling them out.  

My grandma with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, & Leah exhausted

On the 4th, we had dim sum with the rest of the family.  40 people attended!  I only knew a handful, but it was really special to see so many family members.  There was 4 generations worth of family, and I can't wait to show Leah the pictures when she gets older.  I'm not sure when we'll get a chance to go back to Hong Kong again, so I'm glad we were able to take this opportunity.

On the 5th, we left Leah with my parents and went out to dinner with Ken and Row at 8 1/2 Otto E Mezzo.  I'm really bummed I didn't take a picture but the food was delicious.  We had homemade ravioli, rack of lamb, and beef tenderloin.  Yum!

Hong Kong: First Few Days

On November 1st, we left for Hong Kong.  Our flight was at 1am, so I was super nervous how Leah was going to be.  After we went trick-or-treating, we did our normal bedtime routine with Leah.  We then woke her up and left her in her PJs when our van arrived at 10:15pm.  She napped a little bit in the car, but was awake the entire time at the airport.  I carried her in the MyCarrier, so I think she stayed pretty calm because of that.  While I wish she would have just slept the entire flight, she still did really well.  She slept in 3 hour chunks, either on me in the carrier or lying on the seat between Matt and I.  When she was awake, she ate and played.  No meltdowns!!  When we arrived, all the passengers around us complimented her on how well behaved she was!  

Birthday Parties

Since Leah's napping right now, I thought I'd catch up on some blogging.  We've attended a bunch of kids' birthday parties the past couple weeks.  My how life has changed now that we have Leah!  

On October 20th, we had Ruby's 1st birthday and Alyssa's 4th birthday.  I also had Jane's baby shower to attend in between  those parties, and it was Matt's birthday!  Whew!  Ruby's was at Grand Park, a new park built in the middle of downtown LA.  Joy brought in food from Heirloom LA which was delicious! Leah got to play with a bunch of her Gymboree friends and then we had to take off and let Leah nap before we went on to the next event.

After Leah napped, Matt and Leah met back up with me at BounceU for Alyssa's birthday.  Leah had so much fun going down the slides with us and bouncing around. There are 3 different bounce rooms with a variety of activities and then everyone goes into a room for pizza and cake.  I can't wait to take her back once she can actually walk and bounce around on her own.

On October 28th, we went to Jihoon's 1st birthday and then Axel's 1st birthday.  Jihoon's party was at Orange Grove Park in South Pasadena.  Lisa had a taco station and snow cone station.  After an hour we left for Axel's party at his parents' store Broome St. General.  Sophie outdid herself with the food. They had the mimosas, lobster mac and cheese, lumpia, a whole rosted pig, and 3 different cakes from Cake Monkey.  Yes, after these two parties, I'm not sure I ever felt so stuffed before.  The next party will be Leah's 1st birthday!!