The Im Family

i am the worst when it comes to making any decisions regarding decor, so it's no surprise that now i'm having seconds thoughts on the bookshelves. i'm not sure they will be big enough to hold all of mimi's books and stuff. the height on them is decent (over 5 ft), but the scallop decorations, fixed shelves, and graduated shelf space makes me wonder if it was worth the $$ (over a $1,000 for two). for a fraction of the cost i know i could build her something more practical, although this particular bookcase design IS adorable. the fact that i'm feeling anxious makes me think it was the wrong decision, so i'm going to call and cancel them from the order. we can make do with some baskets in the meantime. the curtains i bought at pottery barn outlets didnt turn out to be so great. i think i will have to buy some fabric and trim out the curtains and make a valence. i'll also need to get some hold backs for her room. while i'm at it, i think i'll ma...

(mimi at belfort furniture) i decided that it was really important to focus on making a new room for mimi before the baby comes rather than decorate the baby's room b/c i dont want her to feel like we're doing so much for the baby and nothing for her...especially since we'll be taking the glider, the changing table, dresser and armoire out of her room and basically just leaving her with a bed and a nightstand! so today we went shopping (very exciting, as we dont furniture shop often)! i chose some bedding and curtains at the pottery barn outlet in leesburg and then we went to belfort and bought a new canopy bed, dresser, mirror, and two bookshelves for mimi's bedroom (bookshelves are 'spensive!!! one small bookshelf cost as much as a 7 drawer dresser!). i am not exactly sure if everything i bought today will work together, it was a hodgepodge of stuff at the outlet, but i couldnt pass up the prices. it was 40% off the OUTLET prices, so a quilt that normally sells...

rob took mimi to d.c. to see the kite festival and the cherry blossoms today (lauren met up them). i wish i had been there to see my otherwise precocious child put her head between two guard rails to peer over at the ducks in the tidal basin and bang her head on the rail while trying to stand up. once would be understandable...but this happened three successive times. as rob related this story to me, i was reminded of an old Far Side cartoon that never ceased to crack me up.

today was the first day of tae kwon do at jhoon rhee institute. yesterday we attended a class to watch and mimi seemed to be really interested in trying it out. i bought her uniform and the instructor we met that day (master rhee) showed her how to do the "9 seconds of discipline." she followed along rather meekly, but did try to do all that he asked very solemnly. we came home and tried on the uniform (really too big on her!) and she was very excited about doing some kicks and punches and practiced with rob until he got tired of it. i think she could have done it all night though. today, it was like a different child had entered the dojang from yesterday. she was energetic and excited. she followed right along even though this was her first time and she didnt know the student creed yet or proper reponses. right or wrong, she was yelling out along with everyone else, though often a few seconds delayed. :) she is only one of two girls in her class with the rest compr...

i recently discovered mimi's best tickle spot is her neck. i merely need to touch it lightly with a finger and she falls down into a fit of giggles. it's the cutest thing to hear that uncontrollable laughter. i spent most of this evening tickling her. i could watch her laugh all night! ------------------------------------------------------------------- mimi regards the grocery store as a Serve Yourself Restaurant. every time we go there, mimi demands, 'mama, get me something to eat! i'm so HUNGRY!' we never make it to the checkout counter without having opened a couple of food items for her to munch on while in the shopping cart. today was no exception: no sooner did we enter before that plaintive cry of hunger was emitted. so i say, what shall we buy today? mimi yells out various things: we need bananas! i can pick the bananas. i park the shopping cart by the bananas and instruct her to find ones that are slightly green and she carefully selects a decen...

this morning, i met up with laura fitzpatrick, mimi's preschool teacher, for an update on her progress at school. i already knew most of what i would hear from her since i see much of the same behaviors at home and at school on days that i am 'special helper,' so it was pretty much a general meet and chat kind of get together where i had the teacher's sole attention and we could talk about mimi for a full 25 minutes. as i expected, mimi does well in areas of independent play/interests (books, puzzles, making things, staying focused on task) and in language (using words to solve problems, display interest, question and share, etc), and in both areas her teacher says mimi is way out in second grade land with her skills. and of course as expected, mimi needs to show more interest in friends, group activities, playground skills, and the biggie...following the directions. not that she doesnt know how to listen and follow directions, she often does WHEN IT SUITS HER, so whe...

here's some video i took of the baby kicks at 24 weeks (no comments on the fat belly please!). earlier the kicks were for the most part so light that it would take a careful eye to notice any of the kicks, but here you can actually see a slight bump pop up briefly. baby boy's movements seem to be slowing down, but gaining strength! (tried to catch some of the bigger movements that make my belly look like an alien is squirming around in there, but kept missing those!). here you can see him make two good kicks. keep an eye on the lower right side of the belly. it happens rather quickly so if you blink during the 11 seconds you'll miss it!