E is on the move

Everett has become a mobile little boy.  Although he's not proficient at crawling yet (so close!), he manages to move around the apartment by rolling.  We constantly find our little man log rolling across the living room.  This is game changing!

I feel like this video doesn't do it justice, but here's a peak at our little mover:

happy birthday uncle james!

Last week was my brother's birthday.  Everett wanted to send his Uncle James some birthday love but it was a hard task to coordinate! After 13 pictures on an iPhone right before we left for school (hence the jacket and hat) our photo session ended somewhat successful and with me fishing a piece of paper out of Everett's mouth.  

Here are some of the pics from the process:

 I think this was the winner: 

 This was the one where E bit off the paper and I frantically removed it from his mouth.

Here's an oldie but a goodie of Everett and Uncle James: 

Happy Birthday Bro!

7 Months Old

 This big guy is 7 months old!  (As of a week ago...We're a bit behind on the blogging!)

Valentine's Day

We decided that the best way to celebrate Valentine's Day this year would be to have a family date night.  The boys put on their nice button down shirts, I threw on a dress, and then we set off (after taking a ridiculous amount a few pictures) to a local Italian restaurant.  

 We were able to snag a booth, so Everett was able to hang out between the two of us.  He made himself at home and did great!

I know it's a few days late but...Happy Valentine's Day!

kids cafe

I remember when I was a kid it was always fun to go to a friend's house because one of the perks was that you got to play with your friend's toys.  The Kids' Cafe in Korea is like "your friend's house full of toys" x 100.  

In Korea people mostly live in apartments with limited space, so people here share a lot communally.  For example, you can go to a "Game Bong (bong means room)" where you can rent board games for an hour or two, a PC bong, DVD bong (you rent a room to watch a movie in), and probably the most notable--Norae bong (karaoke rooms).  The Kids' Cafe is the same concept for little ones.  You pay by the hour to hang out at the cafe (or if you're a newborn like Everett you are free!) and then you get to use all the toys at the cafe.  

This Kid's Cafe is two levels; the first level is basically a padded jungle gym and the second level is full of different rooms/types of toys.  They have a dress up room, lego room, cars, dolls, etc.  Just about anything you could want as a kid is at this cafe.   Also, there are tables and chairs around the room for parents to drink lattes at while they watch their kids play.  We went with two other families and had so much fun! Everett is still too young to enjoy much of what the Kid's Cafe has to offer, but it's fun to hang out with other parents and play with our kids.  

In the picture below you can see the second floor and some of the toys they had.  Everett rocked it in their exersaucer, which you better believe I doused in disinfectant wipes before he could get near it. 

 In true Asian style we had to take off our shoes so they gave us these slippers to wear while inside.  I'm pretty sure they gave me two right footed ones...

 Around the outside of the jungle gym there was a train that ran once an hour! I wanted to take E for a ride but it was too full so we missed out the first time around.  You can tell we're both upset...

 Luckily they ran it a special second time for us! We had fun and I avoided banging my head on the low level beams we went under, so that was a double win!

 And like I mentioned in an earlier post, Everett is a good public napper so he fell asleep chillin' in Daddy's arms.   You'll also notice the giant TV in the background; it's a surveillance screen so parents can see where their kids are at all times.  Our crew opted for the old school style of actually playing with our kids and/or making sure they stayed in our line of sight.

 After the Kid's Cafe our crew went to King Kong, which is a galbi restaurant where you can grill an unlimited supply of meat.  It was so dang good!

Lastly we headed to the grocery store where Everett may or may not have gotten a new toy...What can we say...We're suckers for geometry. 

picture day

Last week Everett had his first picture day! He missed the first round of school pictures because he was in the hospital.  I think this worked out better in the long run because for this photo he could sit and smile, both of which he couldn't have done in the fall on the original day.   

I was able to sneak down when E was getting his picture taken and it was a fun mommy moment.  When I arrived he had tears in his eyes and was not cracking a grin.  I think he was a bit scared by the big lights, scary camera, and everyone yelling at him to smile.  We've recently learned that Everett is scared of loud noises.  At two different birthday parties at his daycare he started crying during the Happy Birthday song.  In Korea when you sing happy birthday you also clap and we think all the clapping scared him.  So, when I arrived at his picture he was recovering from people clapping loudly at him in an effort to get him to smile.   Once I was there I was able to settle him down and give him a "Hey buddy!!!" And he flashed a big toothy grin.  

 I can't wait to see the final product, but here's a preview from home:

Everett getting air time

What E has been up to.

Everett likes to be read to.  Here he is with Mr. Pettigrew

A touch-and-feel book with his momma

At the ELC he had his first trip to the "ball pit."  This is really a big plastic tub with 20 or so balls in it.  I think he liked it.

He's also been getting too big and strong for his play mat though it is still quite entertaining.

 

His favorite book by far right now is this version of The Wheels on the Bus that we bought for him when we were in New Zealand.

snoozing

Everett is still young enough that he can amazingly sleep in the most random places...basketball games, coffee shops, and while going on a walk.

This last pic is my favorite--check out that open mouth! 

lunar break

Korea celebrates the Chinese Lunar New Year, so two weeks ago (man, we're behind on blogging!) we were off for a week.  We felt pretty spoiled because we had three weeks off for Christmas, taught for two weeks, and then we had another week off.  It's one of the perks of living in Asia, I suppose. 

We decided that since we traveled a lot over winter break (New Zealand was incredible) that we should have a stay-cation in Korea.  We had a relaxing break that included the Mac Meltdown, E's 6 month check up, and visiting Seoul.  One of the places we checked out in Seoul was Times Square, which is the biggest shopping mall in Korea.  The mall was built in 2009 so it has a new, fresh look to it.   

 This picture is a bit over-exposed; it makes Everett look like he's in a sci-fi movie:

 We also went to our favorite breakfast diner, Butterfingers.  The server insisted Everett have something to drink so we thought we'd give it a try.  He used a straw for the first time with some success. 

One of our favorite things to do with Everett is to go hang out at coffee shops together.  He usually takes a decent nap while we're out and about.  Here he is crashing at Starbucks. 

 Bedhead!!!!

 Going for a stroll.  We got a cover for his stroller with Christmas money (thanks Grandpa Meyer and Grandma Jean) so he's nice and cozy in there. 

 E's snowsuit.  So cute...

We're sure going to miss having a Lunar Break when we're back in the States next year! 

Everett's Apple Face

green beans

In the Robertson family we are serious about our green beans.  And Tom is serious about green bean casserole.  I think that means it was Everett's destiny to love green beans too.  He tried them for the first time today and it was love at first taste.