Let it snow!

It snowed! Just in time for my birthday too. Actually it snowed on the 27th while we were eating lunch at my new favorite Indian food restaurant. It was fabulous! There was a couple of inches, so we got to go up to the 35th floor of my mom's Trump Tower apartment building to play in the fresh snow! The view would have been great, had it not been so foggy.

We got some cute pics in the snow with Grandma, but alas, Reina has since decided she does NOT like the cold. On my birthday she practically threw a fit when we tried to go out (right about the time we put on her "winter" coat). Fortunately she was in a better mood today and we got to a pretty cool area called Insadong - the monk area. We actually saw a couple of monks and the things they were selling, but that was the monkiest it got! We really like Seoul. It is very international and we like that you can walk and/or take the subway anywhere! So convenient.

Lastly, Grandma took some great pictures with her digital SLR - I like it! We also snapped a shot of "the last bath," as we head home for Okinawa early tomorrow morning. We had a great Christmas and visit. Reina received so many toys from Grandma that we will be mailing home 3 boxes! Reina also got early Xmas gifts from Grandpa Eastman and Grandaddy Bearden. Thank you everyone.

Ho ho ho, Merry Christmas

We arrived in Seoul with a tired, but happy baby on Wednesday and made the drive to Mom's apartment in downtown Seoul. Since, we've had two international meals, Greek and Korean, and had a very merry Christmas, where Reina was thoroughly spoiled with many, many gifts. Unfortunately Reina had a bit of a fever Christmas eve, but she had more or less recovered by Christmas day. After three nights of rough sleep (more for Chris and I than any one else), we finally had a good night of sleep last night. We have my birthday celebration on the 28th, and then we'll fly back home on the 30th. Of course we've taken many pictures, so here are a few I wanted to share.

Brrr

We haven't even made it to Korea yet and we're already cold. It has been in the 50s here....BRRRRR. I put Reina in about everything she's got and darn was she cute! Hopefully a warmer hat and some mittens will be adequate for Korea (yikes!).

We also put together our bike seat for her. It was fun to have her along on the bike, and despite freezing hands I think she enjoyed herself. We rode to a park (hence the "hammock" swing that she loved) and then I got a cute pic of her afterwards still bundled up with crazy hat hair! Gosh I love that girl....although she woke up THREE times last night, so maybe its a love hate thing!

Safety First

Now that I have officially written down on "the calendar" that Reina is walking, we decided it was time to get her a helmet, since there are many falls in her future. Ok, not really - we got a seat for the bike and she does need protection for that!

Today we went to the Yomitan Pottery festival and finally bought our first grown up dishes. We bought five "cereal" bowls, although I have a feeling their maker intended them for soba. They are pretty cool. I also got to wear my new ring sling out that I LOVE from Liz and Jeff (thanks!).

I included some other snap shots that I wanted to show off - she's getting SO big. She's eating alot more too - and actually swallowing. She still loves her broccoli, but other new favorites include cucumber, curry rice and yogurt (separately)! Reina also has a silly new habit - if she is walking somewhere, she is going to be carrying something, and often times she carries more than one item, which of course necessitates putting something in her mouth! AND she is now quite apt at taking cheerios out of the special dish they designed for little babies to take small food out of and not make (too much) of a mess. I might be the only one really excited about this particular achievement, but this is quite a skill to have!

The other two pictures I haven't really commented on are the one with the little plastic pieces and the one where Reina is chewing on a blue bath toy. I got the plastic toys for a skit I was doing at school, and we thought it was funny when I brought them home how Reina insisted on taking them all out of the bag, even though they are all the same. I think its about taking things out at this age! The other picture: well, every child should have a picture with a skirt on their heads. Happy Holidays everyone! We'll be in Seoul next time I write!

To the park!

We went to what I would consider one of the coolest parks on island (that we've found so far) this past weekend and were joined by a couple with a 2.5 year old that we met this summer in swim class. She took some cute pictures I wanted to share.

In other news, we are getting ready for our trip to Seoul in less than a week (yay!). I keep worrying about what Reina will wear, as its quite warm here compared to there! But I did purchase some cute stuff from Old Navy that I am hoping will do the trick!

And then, Reina will celebrate her first birthday! I've invited over a handful of people on the 2nd for a small bash (and am planning on cupcakes...so far!). She is still working walking and talking and not much else!

Stand and squat!

Reina has really been mastering her balance. She can stand by herself for some time now and will take a few steps on occasion too. But, lately she has been working on something very Okinawan - the "oki squat." As you may know, Japanese people do a lot of kneeling (at mealtimes). What you may not know is that Okinawan's are also often seen squatting (for lengths I am incapable of and in a posture I cannot master). More specifically, they can squat with both feet very close together (if not touching). While Reina still has a bit more work to do on perfecting the "oki squat," she has mastered the squat to a stand.