Party for Aogu

Who knows why we haven't been taking many photos lately? In any case, it's a shame we don't have photographic evidence of the sushi/curry/salad/sake dinner we enjoyed for Aogu's party. Just believe me when I say that it was a success! It must have been; I can hardly think of another time we've made a big pot of curry and cleaned the pot out the same day!
Kristen thoughtfully provided this birthday cheesecake bar. Cheesecake is Aogu's favorite, but it was so good that I liked it too, especially the raspberry sauce!

Here's proof that Aogu actually likes Settlers, which is a board game, people!

Big Girl Now

Everything's approximate around here these days. As much as I like to be exact, particularly when it comes to marking occasions, these past few weeks my new goal has become survival. There are many worthy activities going on around here, but they're all happening at once. Maybe someday you'll hear about them, but for now I'll just announce that Izumi is four months old!

As of her check-up today, she weighs 14 pounds 12 ounces (6.69 kilos) which puts her in the 75th percentile for weight and means she's doubled her birth weight and then some. She's 25.5 inches long (saying a baby is tall sounds weird when they can't stand up, right?) which is 64.8 centimeters and the 90th percentile. Huh? Another reason not to use the word "tall," because that description certainly doesn't apply to anyone else in this family!

Her very latest accomplishment is rolling from her back to her front. She then gets stuck; that is, she forgets that she knows how to roll the other way too. So then she cries and is miserable. Of course I have mercy on her and roll her onto her back, where she promptly rolls onto her front again. Funny girl!

Every Sunday Afternoon Should Be Like This

Sam and Erika came over for a Sunday afternoon game of Settlers, which set the stage for a Sunday evening game of Settlers, which we never would have had the energy for without a spontaneous mac-cheese-hot dogs-peas dinner. Note Izumi "sitting" on the couch...
I shouldn't say this, in case Aogu ever goes to a Settlers tournament, but he likes to buy development cards. Lots of them.

In the Kitchen & Visit to Naperville

Izumi can't crawl yet but that doesn't stop her from escaping the confines of her (Kate's--thanks Josh & Jen!) baby gym. That's where she started out, honest.
Don't you want to have dinner with your children at Noodles & Co. now? I should be paid for this advertisement.
We already know that Noah is a good big brother but here we see evidence that he's ready for a little sister. I'm not saying this to pressure anyone; I'm just reiterating sentiments that Noah himself has expressed lately.

Bumbo & Cubs

Izumi looks good in the Bumbo Baby Seat that cousin Eli is so kindly sharing with us.
You'll have to take my word for it since I completely forgot to take any pictures of the actual game, but here we are at my first visit ever to Wrigley Field.
This spontaneous trip to watch a Cubs game was courtesy of Jason's company. Nobody else wanted to go because it was raining a little.
Pshaw! A little rain can't stop an Oregonian!
What's in that cup?! Only 20 1/2 more years 'til I can have some!

Thirty-Five Years Ago Today...

...Aogu was born!

Happy Birthday, baby.

What better place to celebrate than the Brookfield Zoo, and what better gift than the gift of membership? Ha! Not so much that zoo membership was actually a great gift for Aogu: more that the zoo will nickel, dime and ten-spot the hapless visitor into a money pit nearly as deep as the price of membership. If we go just once more in the next year, we'll break even, and if we go twice more, well, great savings!

Enough zoo advertising. The point is, Aogu is thirty-five and starting a new year. I hope it's the best yet, and I'm thankful that I'll be part of it!







Here we are back at home, celebrating with some cheesecake. The cheesecake was so-so, but the strawberry sauce I made to top it was feisty good. (Note to those who say I'm photogenic: now you see that's not always the case!)