MALAN HAPPENINGS

Before I start to apologize for not updating lately...let me give you a taste of what we've been up to! Details to follow (hopefully soon) on each subject...

*Emersyn had a photo shoot with Aviva.

*Emersyn turned 1 - BIG birthday bash with lots of food, friends and rain.

*Gamma Malan visited.

*Matt and I travelled to Cambodia and Vietnam for 2 weeks while Gamma visited Emersyn...at our house.

*Em went on her first Easter egg hunt.

*Emersyn became famous to caffeine addicts all over Okinawa.

*I flooded our house...well, at least the bathroom, hallway, part of our room and part of the guest bedroom.

*All 3 of us "hopped" to Korea for a FREE vacation...got stuck, and our free vacation quickly turned expensive.

*I got a call from Kadena, while shopping at Mr. Oh's in Korea.

*LOTS more good-byes to good friends who are leaving Kadena.

So, there's been a few things going on that have been keeping me away from updating...not to mention the fact that Em is the BUSIEST little 1 year old I've EVER known. TONS -O-FUN, but tons-o-work!

In your 10th month of life you sprouted 2 more teeth with at least one more threatening to break through. Four on top and almost 3 on the bottom. You really enjoy BITING everything and everyone that gets in your way. I hope this phase passes soon. When we aren't looking you like to bite whatever is in your view - our toes, fingers, knees and calves, and Sushi's tail. You and Sushi have gone through a few rough patches, but the past couple of days I have seen him playing peek-a-boo with you and he loves to jump up and scare you - which always makes you laugh. You have been trying very hard to be gentle with him, and you always make a point to look at me with a little (Matthew) glint in your eye to warn me before you grab a handful of his fur, which is appreciated, but you seem to be getting too fast for me.

Your all time favorite thing to do is people watch - mainly KIDS. It's funny how you already relate to other vertically challenged people. You wave and say "HI" to every kid you see - whether they are on the other side of the road, the grocery store or on TV. Your wave is a perfect little pageant wave - your daddy and I have visions of you in a tiara and waving from the back of a convertible. Not within the next couple of years though, and I'm envisioning it as a Nobel prize winning parade as opposed to a Little Miss Sunshine type parade.

You are a very good eater, and you still prefer most vegetables to fruits, but we've noticed that you definitely prefer sour things to sweet. I let you lick a lemon, thinking that you would just pull a funny face, but you LOVED it and wanted more. I know you get that from me, because I love sour things too. Since the lemon episode, we have let you try orange juice and your nightly ritual with me is to get a sip of my Crystal Light lemonade before going to bed.

You are taking a couple of steps on your own before you realize it and sit. If you are holding your dads or my finger though - you RUN - with no fear whatsoever. I can tell that you really want to do what the other kids are doing. You and I go outside to meet dad when he comes home from work on most days, and if you see kids playing, you SPRINT to where they are with your hand waving, high pitched squealing and jabbering. I'm pretty sure that you will have no problems socializing. I am looking for a Okinawan toddler school to take you to a couple of times a week so that you can express your social little self, and maybe pick up a little Japanese on the side.

You ended your 10th month and started your 11th month with a fever of 102 degrees. This was a very scary experience for your momma. I knew that you were sick, because you wanted to sit on my lap, with your head resting on my shoulder, while your left hand pinched the skin and hair on my left arm (you tend to do this when you are really tired). Of course I didn't complain about your need to be on my lap all day, but I could definitely tell that something was not right. The pediatrician said that there is a virus going around that presents a high fever for 3 or 4 days, and then leaves with a cough and congestion. I woke up on your 11th month to the same symptoms you were having previously. So, we've been a little sick around each other this past week. It's been nice to have a little quiet time with you, and I love holding you all the time and babying you!! After all, you will be a big ONE YEAR old next month, and I don't get much babying time with you anymore. I can't believe how fast the time has flown. You are so much fun Em. Your laugh is my favorite sound in the world, and your dad and I do whatever we can to hear it!! I love you so much my girl!

Love,

Your Momma

(pictures to come soon!)