Incheon to Bali (with two kids, four suitcases, three carry-ons and a three hour delay)

In anticipation of my thirtieth birthday, Chad asked me what I wanted or wanted to do.

I told him to take me away.

As usual he didn't disappoint. 

I chose Bali for no specific reason other than it sounded like a really nice place to visit.

Hey, I read Eat, Pray, Love.

So on a cold February morning we hopped into the car and were one step closer to paradise.

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Our first few days in country we decided to take it easy and actually have a vacation. No sightseeing or running around... just sleeping, eating and swimming.
It was glorious.
I couldn't remember the last time we went somewhere and had NO plans other than doing whatever suited us in that moment. Pure bliss.
The Balinese are wonderfully kind and may even love children more than Koreans.
They were super welcoming and helpful and their food? I have no words.
This trip was the absolute best way to prepare for turning thirty.
(The deep friend bananas and beer helped me cope as well.)
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"I'm not the same having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world."

-Mary Anne Radmache

Delayed in Incheon with kids- Don't panic! They have play areas, changing rooms and nursing cubbies conveniently scattered throughout the terminals (after security). Rhett's favorite even had a ball pit.

In Bali, we stayed here and opted for the all-inclusive package. 

Christmas in February

Christmas 2013 will forever be remembered as the Christmas where the person formally known as Amy threatened to cancel Christmas and narrowly avoided telling her three year old son that Santa does not exist as a result of prolonged lack of sleep. 

To sum our Christmas up, I lost my shit.  

The saddest part about this was the fact that the incident that pushed me over the edge was there were no new slippers under the tree with my name on them.

True story. 

I tried to blame the Zero REM sleep combined with two cups of Chad's extra strong coffee for the meltdown but in hindsight, it does not make me feel any better.

I think back on Christmas morning and all I see is the three sleepy faces looking peculiarly up at me as I go on some non-sensical tirade about how noooobbooodddyyy cares, everyone is an ingrate, our Korean kitchen can just go up in flames because it burned my dutch baby and how much I. HATE. CHRISTMAS.

By mid-morning, I just wanted to curl up and die with embarrassment.

By dinner time, I wished I could have started the entire day over.

By bedtime, I was happy to see December 25, 2013 come to a close.

Before falling asleep (but after I apologized to my husband), I said a silent prayer asking for forgiveness. I prayed to be a better me tomorrow and everyday leading up to Christmas 2014. 

And I may have put a plug in there about new slippers as well.

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And because I don't want anyone thinking I'm a worse mother than I (admittedly) was on Christmas, I did do a little 1st birthday party for our Ava.
"Party" is used loosely here as it was more of a glorified play-date but it was good food, great company and some Christmas cookies were decently decorated so overall it was a nice birthday for her.

So far my quiet prayer for 2014 has been answered (and I got new slippers in the mail a week after Christmas) in case you were wondering.

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“You know, Hobbes, some days even my lucky rocket ship underpants don't help.” 
― Bill Watterson

Calvin & Hobbes

Our Ava

Ava is the only baby I've ever met that has resided on three continents prior to her first birthday. 

She has only slept through the night 16 (!!!) times in the 416 days she's been on this earth.

(yes, feel bad for me)

She says mama, dada, baby, hi, bye, yes, amen and "he did it." She says a lot of other really important stuff but no one understands her. 

Ava blows kisses and high fives her brother all.day.long. He must be her hero.

She loves dancing naked. Her signature move involves grabbing her muffin top (and then maybe peeing on the floor -which may explain why we don't indulge her in this way very often).

She has not one... but two chipped teeth. 

When it gets eerily quiet in our house... Ava is doing one of two things: playing in the toilet or looking at a book.

Her awesomeness is only equaled by her naughtiness
and that's a lot of awesomeness.

I am 1 month and 19 days late in posting this but I blame severe sleep deprivation.

Happy birthday to an amazing little girl. 

I wish the rest of your years to be as exciting as your first.

xoxo

Mom

"I know a girl, she puts the color inside of my world"

-John Mayer

No title... just a little this and that.

You don't take a photograph.  You ask, quietly, to borrow it.

  -Author Unknown

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