taylor's first bday!

jerry (nancy's cousin-in-law) told me the other day that matthew thinks taylor is still clapping. i can't believe my last post was in february. i didn't get to post some of taylor's easter picture, hawks playoff games (yeah we went all three home games with taylor), and CA trip to see jenny & family, destin beach trip.. i posted lots of pictures since then, with the favorite ones on facebook.

time flies.. taylor turned one last week. she refuses to crawl and now is cruising (almost standing without hanging on). we had some pictures taken and took a bunch other from her parties:




here are a few other favorite photos from the last few months:





check out other pictures on shutterfly.

clap clap hands

yesterday taylor knew to clap when both me and nancy told her in mandarin and in cantonese. the night before we went out to eat we told her to clap in english to the people at the next table, but she didn't know to clap. she's going to be so confused. she knows how to wave "bye bye" and congrats too, so we will try to catch her on video next time.

(does anyone know the pin yin for 'clap clap hands'?)



i have updated our photo album to include some pictures from chinese new year.
funkyketchup.shutterfly.com

penguins & sea otters

nancy's best friend jenny was in town for a week. taylor finally got to meet her god mom. two fridays ago we took jenny and the kids to the aquarium. it's been a little more than a year since we get to see with our god son tyler too. the kids' mandarin is much better than mine.. wow, i need to take the chinese class 102 after my 101 this past summer. the kids had a good time at the aquarium. hailey's favorite was the penguins and tyler was the sea otters. it would be so wrong if they have them on the menu, but i was craving for some sushi and sashami at the aquarium's food court.

congrats to the chens as they are expecting their third child! i was telling nancy before they left, this may be their last trip for a LONG time to atlanta as it may be impossible for jenny and james to travel with 3 kids! nancy was sad that jenny and family left last wednesday.

after my last posting, many of you have joined facebook, but just a few more! as always, pictures are posted on our new photo sharing @ shutterfly: http://funkyketchup.shutterfly.com

thief!

growing up, each year for halloween i tell sunny (my bro) that he MUST give me half of his candies from trick or treating. this year was no different, nancy and i have the excuse to go trick or treating and eat all of taylor's candies. nancy was all excited all week as it was taylor's first halloween. nancy carved a pumpkin for the first time. actually this was the first time i went trick or treating.

we wanted to go to the lenox square, but found out they didn't have it and ended up going to a nearby neighborhood, dupont commons. we didn't expect to see so many young couples with kids in the neighborhood. everyone was real nice there and we ended up only going to about ten houses. ppl knew we just wanted some free candy.. haha.




nancy is very proud of her work..




but she was caught stealing candy from taylor!!!

more pictures are uploaded on shutterfly: funkyketchup.shutterfly.com

taylor is cracking up

100 days 3 years..

taylor's 100 days birthday was on last monday. i think in chinese they call it "100 yrs old". both of our families came out to celebrate. i think this may be the first time since our wedding that both of our parents have gotten together, exactly 3 years ago. all the pictures above were taken when we were 100 days old. which is who?

California-like weather

on sat it was absolutely gorgeous outside. nancy called it the CA-like weather. about 80 degrees (F) high - the fall is probably my favorite season in atl, except the fact that i'll have to rake leafs later this fall. before heading out for dinner with the warco's and hsu's, we stopped by chastain park nearby our house.

after we walked around the park for 1+ mile, nancy asked me if we were almost there. haha. she actually complained of back pains later that night. may be she needs to rake some of the leaves again this fall.




also grandpa so visited taylor for the first time from HK.

taylor's 2 months

picture above: taylor's visit to daddy's office, right before her 2 month's check up. she gained almost 3 lbs since her one-month check up and now at 12 lbs 4 oz. she also grew 3 inches and now at 23.5 inches. we can't believe how fast she's growing.

here are a few more pics from the august 2007 album:

rollover.. again..

same video, except this time in google..

rollover

taylor rolled over for the first time tonight. all those tummy time we gave her is paying off.

we have also posted some new pictures in the august album. link on the right, as always.

micah

congrats to roger and jessie with the birth of micah back in july. micah is only 5 weeks younger than taylor. we got a chance to visit them yesterday at their place. omg, micah has roger's lips.

6th/7th week

our church accc had our annual july bbq today. this may be the first time i didn't have to grill at a church event. thanks taylor! haha. lots of ppl came out today even with the not so good weather.



eric & eva @ the bbq



6th week with mom



taylor wasn't too happy when i was trying to wake her up..

full month

time flies.. taylor is almost 6 weeks old now. as some of you know, in chinese tradition we celebrate baby's one month and 100 days birthday. my mom came over for ying-ying's one month and make some bday noodles and red eggs.

yup, i am still hanging in there with the night shifts. ying-ying still sleeps like 18 hours a day, but with no complaints from us i guess. recently if we are lucky, she's been sleeping for 5.5-hour stretches overnight.

nancy is doing well. she actually went out and about after 1 week. both of us are definitely learning the in and outs of taylor and babies. we highly recommend the baby 411 book for any expecting parents.

i updated a new picture album for july - link on the right.

2 weeks old

can't believe taylor is only 2 weeks old, but both nancy and i can see how taylor has really grown even though it's only been 2 weeks. first week home was a challenge, especially breast feeding for taylor and nancy and learning our schedule. taylor sleeps around 20 hours a day, with most of the time she sleeps through breast feeding time. last few days she has done a lot better. daddy has night shift!

below are some of my favorite pictures so far (as always, updated picture are listed in the latest album - links on the right side):

Taylor's Story

we came home on Tues.. everything is good - both mom and baby are well!

around 5am on Sun June 10th, nancy woke up and some concerns after going to the restroom. she tried to wake me up a couple of times but i was in my deep sleep. she called her doctor (on call - dr soufi), and she told us to go to the hospital (northside) so she can check her, and she mentioned most likely we will go home after.

after arriving at the hospital, we checked in and waited for the doctor. the nurse came in and checked out nancy. she came in about an hour later and checked her again. there was little change - dilation from 2cm to 3cm. after another 15mins or so dr soufi told the nurse to come in and tell us WE ARE HAVING OUR BABY TODAY!! that was around 8am.

nancy's labor went pretty rapidly.. i went home to grab all the other stuff (had some stuff packed in the car already) as we didn't think we are going to stay at the hospital. by noon nancy was 7cm dilated and almost ready to PUSH! that was the time nancy got her epidural as her contractions was getting really painful. she thought she was going to die.

around 230pm everyone was preparing, including us. doc said the avg for mothers on epidural for pushing is around 2 hours. as the nurse taught me what i was supposed to help on nancy's side, i was thinking to myself, wow i think i am going to see EVERYTHING.

after a few push, i can see taylor's little head. it's tiny at first. then a few more pushes, her head came out. the cord was tied around her head, and the doc immediately cut/clipped the cord. i think the doc stressed a little and told nancy to give a few more pushes. taylor came out safely. yup, taylor came out after 3 contractions - SEVEN MINS!

Nancy, Taylor, and I came home on Tues and adjusting to being parents (with a newborn). we are definitely blessed with many friends and family who are thinking of us. nancy is now eating tons of seaweed soup and black chicken soup!

"EVERY GOOD AND PERFECT GIFT IS FROM ABOVE.."
James 1:17

taylor is our perfect gift. Praise God!

more pics:

200706_Northside

200706_Taylor

Taylor!

Taylor Ying-Hsiu So
June 10, 2007
6lb 15oz
19.5in

i will post more pictures once i download them. we are way too tired right now. both mom and taylor are doing well. thanks for all your prayers!