About Me

My photo
Thank you for visting my blog. When I started this blog, it was just the vehicle for which I had hoped to share photos of our life in Chicagoland with our loved ones, but it has turned into so much more for me. Life is ever evolving in our household and time no longer stands still. Every moment is precious and worthy of being captured and treasured. In addition, through my love of the camera, I have had the opportunity to meet and also capture moments in others' lives. It is my hope, with this blog, that when my memory fails me, the words and photos on this blog will remind of where we were. History...Through My Glass...

Friday, May 30, 2008

y wedding

We attended my cousin's wedding over the holiday weekend. It was a lovely wedding. It was photographed, capably, by Jennifer Cress, but I couldn't help getting some practice. Sadly, however, I only got one shot of the couple and it's not a very good one.



Below: my youngest (and unmarried) brother.


For those interested, here is the link to my Flickr site where almost all of the rest of the photos are posted: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaosongy/sets/72157605342021920/ . Remember to view as a slideshow...it really adds to the photos since I didn't do much to most of them.

from rock star to f.o.b.

He's still totally cute, but I miss his beautiful hair! We went to MPLS for my cousin's wedding and Grandpa decided that Roan's hair was too long so he cut it. Roan was very sad. He kept saying, "...hair...gone..." and touching his head. I thought his F.O.B. haircut was too cute on him, but it was still a bit too long on top so we went to get it all cut short.

I'm a bit sad though because he looks so slim and grown up now. He even looks taller now.

Coincidentally, he got very sick after we cut his hair. Do we have a modern day Samson (Thanks Michelle...slip of the fingers) on our hands?


Rock star:

Cute F.O.B.:

Big Boy Cut:
He got to stay home with me because daycare wouldn't let him back until he was fever free for over 24 hours.



Tuesday, May 27, 2008

baby cheese

Before I actually took up the hobby, I was always interested in photography. I have a small collection of antique cameras. There is this small one that Roan calls 'baby cheese' as in 'Say Cheese!' He pretends to take pictures of me with it.



Question: Should we cut his hair?



Sunday, May 25, 2008

double birthdays

We attended two birthday parties last weekend. The first was Madeline's (seated on her mom's lap). She was born one year and one day after Roan. She's such a sweet little girl.



Above: They got these cute animal masks in their goodie bags.



Above: I had to show this picture, but it's not so obvious now (maybe I should have cropped more) because it has the flower that several of the kids were fighting over. For some reason, Roan kept using it as a sword. You can see it tucked into his pants.


The last birthday party we went to was Roan's. I could tell that he had such a wonderful time! He told me that he did. In the above picture, he is playing with the pirate ship that he got for his birthday.



Most of the presents are still in their bags and boxes, but on Monday and Tuesday, when I was working from home with him, he kept bringing me more toys to open up. Choua and I hardly buy him toys, but I am seeing the benefit of toys--it's keeps them busy and most of then are actually learning opportunities for them. He hardly watched any TV on those two days.

Thursday, May 22, 2008

orlan-nibel

Our trip to Orlando and Sanibel.

I didn't get too much of a chance to take pictures on this trip because I was working for most of it, but I did manage to capture some sweet memories. Choua tried to take some photos, but since my camera does not have an 'auto' setting, many of the pictures were not usable. Also, Choua has started getting more into videography. We have some video, but I'm not sure how to load it up.

Above: Roan was pretending to be an airplane on sand.


Above and below: more frolicking on Bowman's Beach.


Above: the angle is a bit much, but I wanted to get the setting sun in the picture.

Above and below: the outdoor hallway at the resort we stayed at.


Above and below: Choua took these pictures while I was attending the conference. I love these because it's a classic example of what happens when Mommy is not around. Daddy forgets about the backside.

stinky...stinky

{{Edited}} Choua saw the photo and made me delete it right away. Poo to him.

Just one more. I'm so lazy these days. I'll never get these photos up. I love this photo because Roan loves to pinch our noses and say, "Stinky, stinky." In our family, stinky is a term of endearment.

Choua's going to kill me, but which one do you prefer? And, no, I am not planning on straightening the horizon.


#1: Cropped

#2: Original crop:

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

my new 3 year old

No pictures yet, but I wanted to write a little about my new 3 year old and daycare. We were so blessed to have found Miss Mary. I started working PT when Roan was 10 weeks old for reasons I don't want to get into. I hadn't planned on going back until my 12 weeks were up, but plans changed.

Choua and I had looked at many centers, licensed home day cares, and nanny shares, but none seemed "right" for Roan until we got to Miss Mary's house. I immediately felt it when I walked in the door. Mary was warm, but very structured. We owe her so much for helping us to raise the sweetest little boy. When you don't have any family nearby to help you, all you've got is your daycare provider...and we really lucked out with her.

Mary teaches him things that we don't get the chance to, like how plants grow from a seed into flowers. For mother's day, Roan presented me a little flower that he had helped grow from seed. It was so precious. In addition, he is constantly spelling out words when he sees them. I have to say that we don't spend much time with him on the front end of learning. We generally, go, "Oh...he's getting some of the letters consistently," and then try to help maintain and encourage it.

On his birthday, Mary said to me, "Remember when he was little and just slept all of the time?" Of course I do. He took three naps a day until about 15 months. AND he went to bed at 7p! He's still a great sleeper, even today!

This was another reason why we decided against a daycare center. He was such a quiet little guy, almost never cried, that we were afraid that he'd get "neglected" at a center. I'm sure that wouldn't really happen, but some kids just needed more than he did.

This brings us to today. I dropped him off at back-up daycare because Mary is on a long, but very deserved vacation. It is a center, but now that he is a preschooler, he is just fine. I told him last night that he would be going to a new school and he smiled. Today as we were driving by it, he pointed to the school and said, "new school" very excitedly. I guess two days at home with mom was enough to get him excited about it.

As I dropped him off, he was just so sweet and happy. The daycare worker was so surprised that he wasn't crazily crying and clinging to my leg. He was running around the room with a giant magnifying glass, checking out the fish and other things. I felt so proud of him. I told him I would pick him up later and he ran over and gave me a huggie and kiss and giggled as I looked in through the glass window at me.

I have to admit, I was a bit nervous to drop him off at a new place, but he was just great about it all. It's still early in the day, but I hope he likes it. In the Fall, he will start pre-school for a couple of hours each day and then be bussed back to daycare. It puts my heart at ease to know that he adapts so well to new environments.

In other fronts of behavior, Roan is talking so much more. I love listening to the baby monitor (yes, we still are using it) in the mornings because when he wakes up, he likes to sing and talk to himself. It's hilarious!

Most days, he is less frustrated because he can tell us what he wants. However, we still have days when I have no idea what he is asking for. Yesterday, we had a meltdown at the mall. I had to pick him up and walk out of Macy's, with him kicking and crying because we couldn't find Cheetos! It was the longest walk I have ever had to make.

He is still a very picky eater, but at least we can get him to try certain things now.

Potty training...or should I say lack of potty training. He's still uninterested...treats don't work, but that might have to do more with me because he gets treats all of the time.

Finally, his stats. We went to his well visit on Monday and he is 37" and 33 pounds. That puts him in the 40% for height and 65% for weight. He's still in healthy range, but I would have never guessed that he's not proportionate. I think he's a bit thin, but go figure.

Anyways, I feel that we are in a very good place right now and I love him to death, but I've been thinking a lot about having another one...most likely our last one.

Monday, May 19, 2008

crab walk


It's been a busy couple of weeks. Here is one picture from our trip to Sanibel Island.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

tattoo

He was named, "Muscle," by his oldest cousin, Taylor before he was even born. Who would have known it would be so self-fulfilling.


Above: doing pullups and showing off his muscle car tattoo.

Above: A spider tattoo...his alter ego. He's sucking his gut in to look tough.

Above: Another in the 52 Weeks Series. Credit to Choua, again.

Monday, May 5, 2008

celebrating

{{Photo deleted}}

For his birthday, I decided not to take his picture, which was probably the best gift ever from me in his eyes. We went low key because we plan to have a party in a few weeks. He also had a party at school and then attended a friend's birthday party on the 3rd.

It's funny because at the birthday party [of his friend], one of the moms told me that her husband said he couldn't wait to see Roan because "he [Roan] sure knows how to party." Geez...only three and already is known for partying. I have to credit the Yang's for this one. :)

I found some old pictures of Choua and me. This one was from our first anniversary...in between me throwing up and feeling nauseous because I was already pregnant with Roan. I'm going to have to delete it later b/c Choua will be mad that I put it up. :)

Friday, May 2, 2008

happy birthday roro

It's been three full years since you blessed my life with your arrival. I remember it like it was this morning. I love you the best!

{{Insert Picture}}

Thursday, May 1, 2008

searching

I am so torn right now. I don't know what I want to do, photographically. I don't even know if I want to go into business, formally. I truly feel like newborn and maternity are my calling, but I also love wedding, which I have not yet done. Lately, I've been thinking about seniors too, but again have not tried it yet. I feel like such a mess right now regarding my photographic goals. I suppose I have time though...forever, right?

Feeling saner today. I have to admit, I'm a bit overwhelmed. Time for a vacation. Thank God! In just over a week, we'll be in Florida. Sigh...too bad I'll be working for most of it.

This photo puts me in a fun state of mind for some odd reason.