The McMillers Holiday Shindig

On Saturday night we got a babysitter and ventured out to Shannon & Garrett's holiday celebration. Wow...what a spread! The fanciest homemade appetizers, drinks, & treats. We had a great time. Unfortunately I wasn't good about getting many people pictures as I was busy taking pics of all their decor...oops!

Silver balls

Yummy platters

And more!

My one person picture - Peter in the kitchen

Cranberry mojitos

Leon's Bday Celebration

Friday night we celebrated Leon's bday (real bday is December 15th). Friends came to have drinks and Mexican food with the birthday boy. I found some cool crowns at Paper Source and no one was wearing them - but leave it to Emma (Jeff & Sam's little girl) to get the party started and hand out crowns to everyone.

Max was a super trooper. We turned up the sound machine in his room extra loud and stuffed a towel under the door. Kiddo slept great - even when we busted out singing to Leon (way to go Angie :) ).

Leon had a great time and so did I. It's nice to know that a little bit of the old Chens are back even though we have a lil one in tow now. Thanks to everyone who came out.

Happy bday Leon - I love you dub bub! :)

Xmas card rejects

Rejected...but too funny & cute not to post :)

"Nice...is this real cotton?" 

Surprise...boredom

No explanation needed...one of my favs

Tank: "Please....hurry...up!" 

Eminem's got nothin' on Tank!

Tired reindeer...modeling is hard work

Test picture - new camera

I know...right? Doesn't this make me look like some professional photog with a great camera and fancy equipment?

No...credit my new point-and-shoot Canon S95. Leon got this for me as a bday present since I was in the market for a new point-and-shoot camera (and I was hinting very hard about this one...drooling over it actually). The rave reviews credit great photos in low light, moving shots, and SLR technology without the huge cam. Now I just got to figure out all the settings.

Santa's little helpers

I tried to do a photo session in front of our tree, but a moving dog, moving baby, and overhead lights don't make for a combination of a good photo! Here's some of them anyhow because I think these two are funny :)

Someone likes to sit up

Hank's 1st Bday

Saturday we headed over to the Paulsons for Henry's very first bday! I can NOT believe how time has flown. I still remember Ang in the hospital and holding lil swaddled-up Hank. Now he's turn into this full-on boy...how did that happen so fast?



The Paulson's made it a fun affair with a lovely spread of adult and kid-friendly food, cute decor, and great company. Hank was in his dapper duds looking too cool for school in a yellow tie, button-down shirt, and converse! Even Dad Brett was matching in a yellow polo.



Happy birthday little Hank!

Sophie gets chewed out

We thinks someone is teething...Max has been having trouble sleeping, drooling like crazy and chewing on everything in sight. His most favorite chewing object right now is his little Sophie the giraffe (thanks Lawrences). Right now her legs are taking a beating. Hurry up and cut through tooth...save Sophie!

Thanksgiving visits

While we were out in Stockton, we paid our visits to my friend Marifi and her little ones as well as my sister Hong & her family. Though the visits were short (our lives revolve around Max's nap schedule!), it was great to catch up :)

The 3 D's (Devin, Dillon, & Deston) surround Max

Clockwise fr left: Devin, Marifi, Dillon, Aleah, Deston, & Max

Marifi has fun with Max

Max & Aleah

My neice Marissa holds up her bday gift (Abercrombie cardigan) from us...she's 13!

From left: Marissa & Lucky, Max, Hong, Johnathon, & John

Max gets QT with Aunt Hong

Gobble-ing with the 'rents

The Chens headed out to Stockton this Thanksgiving to celebrate with my parents. We were lucky to have my uncle, aunt, and cousins stop by as well. As usual, my mom didn't disappoint with the spread. Good food and relaxation was the recipe for the long weekend. Most of all, it was great to see Max having fun with his grandparents!

Max & my cuz Phuong

My aunt, cousin, & sis all admiring Max

Some of the spread (Yes that is soy sauce... yes we are asian and rice was a side dish!)

The bird

Max has fun with Grandpa

6 month stats

Oh Max....he is growing like crazy...and I mean crazy round :)

At 6 months Max is scooting, saying "Dadadada, mamamamama, gagagaga, mmmm, oooohhhhh, ahhhhh" (yes, typical 6 month old's vocab), almost able to sit on his own & likes to rock forward, well into his solid foods, laughs and squeals, and loves to watch Tank play fetch.

Stats:

Head circumference: 44.6cm - 74th percentile
Height: 26.25in. - 45th percentile
Weight: 19lbs 5 oz. - 81st percentile

Cee Lo - So explicit, but so catchy!

I know this has turned into a baby blog of sorts, so it's been awhile when I have spoken of other things....like my love of music.

This song though - I love it! Offensive lyrics, but catchy tune. A throwback to a 60's R&B vibe. The lyrics? Too funny.

Not one for the four-letter word? There is a radio-friendly version too. Trust me, you will find yourself singing along to this all day. Watch out if little ones overhear you....or again, radio-friendly version translated to "Forget You".

Cee Lo - you so crazy!

UPDATE: They just did this song tonight on Glee...SHUT...UP!

Jumpy squeaky baby

Max is finding his voice :)

The Grandparents visit from SoCal!

This past weekend, Leon's folks came to visit Max. It was so fun to see how much they love this lil' guy and how much he was enjoying their company! He was so smiley, talkative, and didn't care who was holding him. Just wait until Max gets his Mandarin going.

我们爱你奶奶和爷爷

Wǒmen ài nǐ nǎinai hé yéye!

Nainai, Max, Yeye

Time for smiles!

Grandpa & Max hang out

3 generations (and Tank too!)

Halloween - yeah I'm late

Ok, so I promised an update on Halloween and I obviously did not get around to it! Better late than never, right?

The Hamlins decided to come over to our neighborhood to have Emma show Max what trick-or-treating is all about! She was a cute butterfly and her dad made a very crafty homemade caterpillar outfit - loved it :) Poor Max got up really early from his afternoon nap and didn't last long on the trick-or-treating trip. I can't wait until he's walking and ringing doorbells by himself.

The neighborhood kids are too nice around here. I left my giant beer bucket of candy on the porch and no one snagged half the can when I came back. I also put up a sign after Max went to bed to please knock, and don't you know, EVERY kid followed instructions. Since I was telling kids to take candy by the handfuls, a couple of them went back to tell their friends. I love Halloween! (and it's not because it's my birthday either).

Emma & Dad Jeff

Wizard of Oz fam (Tank was suppose to be tin man, but didn't like his costume!)

Leon & the sleepy Lion Max

Owl pumpkin

Spider pumpkin