kelly kronicles

July 4, 2015

2015-07-04T23:15:00.000-07:00

Photo by Bob Cho

Looks like we've begun an annual tradition of heading to my parents' house for a 4th of July get together. Last year, Ava was so tiny and wanted me to hold her the whole time. This year, she was right in the mix with the older kids. Leah just finished taking swimming lessons the day before, and it was so amazing to see her swimming independently in the water. I was so proud of her! We had a great time celebrating our nation's independence with food, fun, and great friends.

Happy 4th of July!!

Hot Hot Hot!

2015-07-03T23:13:00.000-07:00

Grand Park DTLA {Photo by Bob Cho}

Jumping in the pool! {Photo by Bob Cho}

Water table fun!

Waterslide Birthday Parties!

Learning to dive into the pool!

It's been toasty this summer in LA, and we've been trying to do as much as possible to stay cool. We've spent time at Grand Park in Downtown LA, took swimming lessons, and have now been swimming twice a week! When we want to stay at home, we've been busting out the kiddie pool and water table. While I'm looking forward to some cooler weather, I'm a little nervous what El Nino will bring. Hope everyone is able to beat the heat!

Mini Apron Squad Launch Party

2015-06-06T15:25:00.000-07:00

Delicious catering from HeirloomLA

Would love to have my backyard look like this!

A chicken coop!

Photo by Bob Cho

We had the amazing opportunity to attend the mini apron launch party for Hedley & Bennett. The party was held at founder and designer Ellen Bennet's beautiful home which was filled with delicious food, treats, and activities for the little ones to enjoy. H&B aprons are taking over the world with their stylish designs and attention to detail, and these mini aprons are just crazy cute! Leah's been interested in helping me cook lately, so we've been getting a lot of use out of these aprons! Or maybe I've just been forcing her to help so that I could make her wear it. ;)

*all photos by Mary Costa unless noted in caption

Mother's Day 2015

2015-05-10T13:54:00.000-07:00

Celebrating at Leah's school

Handmade cards

It feels so weird to think that this is my 4th Mother's day! While I love that there is a special day to honor mothers {and those who fill the role as a mother} everywhere, I also use this day to be thankful for these precious gifts I've received. We had a pretty low key day hanging out at my brother's house with my parents and niece and nephew. I got the cutest handmade cards, and I'm starting to get worried that I'm going to become a hoarder of Mother's Day cards!!

San Francisco

2015-04-11T23:18:00.000-07:00

During Leah's Spring Break, we decided to take a short trip to San Francisco. Ava was such a wiggle worm on the flight. She waved and played pee-a-boo to everyone around us. While it was entertaining for 10 minutes, it was also pretty exhausting! We stayed at the Omni San Francisco Hotel in downtown which was kid friendly but make sure to request a high floor to decrease some of the street traffic noise. Since we didn't rent a car, we wanted to make sure to be close to BART as well as some of the destinations we wanted to visit.

For sure my favorite activity of the weekend was going to Mission Dolores Park. We hung out at the coolest playground, ordered food to go at Dolores Park Cafe and picnicked at the park, and then finished off the afternoon with ice cream at Bi-Rite Creamery.

Obsessed with otters

Walking with Daddy around the Ferry Building

We also spent a day visiting the San Francisco Bay's Aquarium and the Ferry Building Marketplace. We enjoyed a really yummy meal at The Slanted Door, and it's so kid friendly! The kids gobbled up everything!

Traveling with two kids has definitely been a whole new ballgame. I'm slowly but surely working on a blog post with things I've learned. Stay tuned!

Ava's 1st Birthday Party!

2015-03-28T14:41:00.000-07:00

We had a small birthday party for Ava at Amy's Playground in South Pasadena. I love this place because they literally take care of everything, and all I did show up with the cake. The price is pretty reasonable, but the only down-side is the number of kids included in the package is around 15. With most of our friends having 2 kids now, it can be pretty limiting on how many people you can invite or it gets expensive fast for each additional kid. All the kids had a blast, and Ava seemed like she was totally enjoying herself. She wanted to play and crawl around most of the time, and she couldn't get enough of her cake which was made by the incredible Sweet and Saucy Shop! It was fun seeing our friends and family but of course it all happened so quickly!

Ava: 12 Months!!

2015-03-26T15:19:00.000-07:00

Photo by Jennifer Young, Styling by Jihan Zencirli

What a bittersweet day! Ava turns 1 today! This year has gone by so fast, but I must admit that I have been more emotional and sentimental. Each milestone has been filled with some joy and some sadness. It's exciting to see her developing her own personality, but I also think how this will be the last time I see these newborn clothes, this is the last time I'll smell that sweet milky breath, this is the last time she'll play on this activity mat. Today I experienced my last nursing session {although I may squeeze one or two more in just for fun ;)}. I have prolonged nursing longer than she probably cares. Ava and Leah are so different. Leah was more cautious and shy as a baby. Ava loves to interact with people and will attempt to crawl/climb up or over anything. Here are her latest updates:

She has another molar and canine coming in. Making it a total of 11 teeth!
She says "yeh" and "yum yum"
Still loves food
Plays peek-a-boo
Stands up on her own
Attempts to put clothes over her head and comb her hair
Loves to open up drawers and cabinets and make a mess! We did not have to baby proof much with Leah, but Ava will be a different story

Dearest Little Ava: You are 1 today! We have been so blessed to have your joyful, smiling little face in our lives the past year. You bring us, and everyone in every store, line and seat next to us so many smiles. We love your sense of being simply happy and content. At 1 year you wave to us, stand up on your own, pull yourself up on everything, clear every shelf and table top and empty every cabinet. You are always on the go! You are also the best little eater- we joke that we have to treat you like another adult when we make or order food. I also like that our little "mommy's girl" is starting to open up to daddy more- teasing me when I tried to feed you today, giving me lots of boogery kisses, and making sure I am always following you when you crawl away. I am thankful for your first year and looking forward to every day of the next. I love you so much little girl. Daddy.

Art/Mo Project 2015

2015-03-16T15:56:00.000-07:00

Last year, I signed Leah up for the Art/Mo Project and loved the photos! When I heard they were having another LA session, I immediately signed up! Last year, I was very pregnant with Ava. This year, it's super fun to have both my girls in the photos. The girls did great when taking their individual shots. That West Elm pouf Ava is sitting on was pretty amazing. She sat there happy for a good 5 minutes and couldn't move because she was stuck in it. Once I tried to put them together - that was a different story. I worked up a sweat trying to get Ava to not crawl away and kept waving my arms in the air to get both of them to look at the camera at the same time! My favorite thing about these photos is that Jihan and Jennifer are able to capture some amazing moments with great style. I'm hoping I can turn this into an annual thing! They offer these sessions in different cities across the country, so if they happen to be in your town one day, I highly recommend signing up!

{Leah's dress - Cotton:On Kids, similar here; Ava's dress - Cotton:On Kids, smiliar here}

Ava: 11 Months!

2015-02-26T14:42:00.000-08:00

Ava's 11 months!! These monthly updates creep up so fast! I can't believe the next update will be fore her 1 year! Here's her latest:

Her first molar is coming out for a total of 9 teeth. I can feel her other molars and canines about to erupt too.
She babbles a lot! We're going to have another talker in the house.
Says "dada," "ball," and I think "ba-ba" for baby
Cruises and can climb carefully down stairs
She's starting to become disinterested in baby foods like puffs and mum-mum and always wants to eat what others are eating.

Ava: It's amazing how quickly you've grown up. You love to be on the move. You want to crawl, climb and cruise all over the place especially if mommy is around because you feel safe. When others are watching you, you are a little more reserved and careful. People often say you look more mature than your age. I think this is because you have such an awareness of those around you and are so interactive with people. Your babbling sounds like a real conversation you are trying to have. One of my favorite moments with you is cuddling with you before we put you to bed. I put your sleep sack on, put the binky in your mouth, and you immediately rest your head on my shoulder. I cuddle with you like this for awhile and soak it all in! I told daddy this and now he does the same thing with you to get those extra snuggles! We love you so much and are looking forward to celebrating your 1st birthday! xoxo

Valentine's Day After Kids

2015-02-25T11:05:00.000-08:00

I can't remember the last time I celebrated Valentine's Day on Valentine's Day. So it only seems fitting that I write about it after the fact. Matt and I usually will have a nice dinner a few days before or after, and he always gets me a nice bouquet of flowers. While many think of Valentine's Day as just a Hallmark holiday, I think it's at least a good reminder to carve out some quality time for your loved ones.

Working on her golf game.

Opening their confetti eggs.

Shouting red light, green light directions.

How we looked on the other side of it.

This year, Matt and I had dinner at Odys + Penelope a few days before the 14th. I highly recommend it! We also saw a good number of families there, so we'll definitely bring the girls next time! On the 14th, we had a small picnic in Griffith Park with close friends. The kids had a blast running around and playing games. We finished it off with a ride on the carousel. The girls took the longest naps once we got home! Horray! While it wasn't necessarily a day filled with romance, it was the perfect Valentine's Day for us getting a chance to hang with our favorite people.

*all photos by Bob Cho

Being a Mom of 2

2015-02-20T22:57:00.000-08:00

Photo by Bob Cho

Left Photo by Bob Cho

This video made me laugh a lot. While I was never as extreme as these moms, I can definitely relate to both of them. With Leah, I leaned more towards the Lysol mom, and now with Ava I'm definitely more relaxed. As Ava's first birthday is approaching, I found myself thinking how I've changed as a mother. I think the biggest changes are learning to be more efficient, becoming more of a minimalist, and just being more relaxed. Here's a few examples:

There are actually very few baby items I consider essential. Helpful -yes, Essential - no. There isn't one baby toy that I think is a must have. I saved so many baby items from Leah to use with Ava, and most of them have rarely been used! Neither of my kids have ever really been drawn to their baby toys. They much rather play with a water bottle! If I left my house with nothing but a diaper, I would be just fine. I've been organizing a lot the past couple weeks, packing up so many items to give away because they haven't been used!
I cook the same food for everyone. Ava started eating table food way earlier than Leah, and she eats everything! I save so much time not pureeing or chopping into tiny pieces separate food for Ava. I'm not sure if there is any relation, but I'm curious if she's a way better eater because of this. Praying she stays that way!
A little fall or slip just needs some extra cuddles most of the time. I hate to admit this, but Ava definitely has a few more bumps and bruises than Leah had at that age. Having a toddler around, I'm not always able to be right next to Ava when she slips on the hardwood floors or loses her balance. I've learned to not freak out over these incidences and after some cuddles she's back to being her happy self!

It's interesting to look back at how my perspective has changed. I'm sure I still have a lot of change in the years to come! I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Leah-isms

2015-02-11T11:34:00.000-08:00

3 is such an interesting age. At times attitude and strong opinions can drive me crazy, but there are so many other moments that are hilarious and sweet. Leah talks non-stop, and I've been enjoying listening to her and observing her mind at work. I'm trying to document what she says more so that I can remember them. Here are some of my current favorites:

Ava is crying at the dinner table. Leah: "Daddy, sing Twinkle Twinkle to Ava because she is crying." Daddy sings, and I come back into the room. Daddy: "Leah it worked. Ava stopped crying." Leah: "No it didn't. She stopped crying because her mommy came back."
Mommy, I'm eating my veggies. It will help me go poop. Daddy told me.
Daddy, did your patients get hurt because they didn't hold anyone's hand in the parking lot and got hit by a car?
Hey Ava, I'm going to be your big sister forever. And when I'm a mommy, I will still be your big sister.
Mommy/daddy, I have something to tell you. I love you. <melt!>

Ava: 10 Months!

2015-01-27T21:14:00.000-08:00

Officially in the double digits! I just booked her first birthday party venue, and it's becoming real that the number of days that I have a baby in the house is quickly dwindling. Here are some updates:

Signs "all done" - which often is mistaken for waving "hi!"
Puts her hands to her face when we say "oh no!"
Loves to play peekaboo!
Starting to really recognize and want to interact with her friends! it's the cutest thing to watch them smile and reach for each other!
Her favorite toy is any toy Leah is playing with
Favorite food: everything she's allowed to eat!

Ava: You are really on the move now, and you love to climb up on everything. Leah has been helping us keep an extra eye on you. She's also really good at telling us when you have a poopy diaper, which seems to be pretty often. :) Even though it can be exhausting carrying you around, making sure you don't hurt yourself, or feeding you fast enough, your big smiles and gentle demeanor make it all worth it. I seriously never get tired of your smile. Happy 10 months! xoxo, Mommy

Happy 2015!

2015-01-19T16:19:00.002-08:00

Oops, 3 weeks late! Is it already mid-January?? I think the holidays along with my parents anniversary wiped me out, and I've been in recovery mode. Here are some photos over the past few weeks.

Snow day at Kidspace! Photo by Joy Cho

This year we've had 4 new babies join our lil' group! (1 not pictured) Photo by Bob Cho

Checking out the new Tomato Pie in South Pasadena

No wait at the Din Tai Fung at South Coast Plaza!

We had a very cool opportunity to film a commercial with the whole family!

Warm days in LA calls for some frozen yogurt at Menchie's! Photo by Bob Cho

Her new trick: "Oh no!" Photo by Bob Cho

Spending the MLK holiday riding ponies and trains.

She loves her sister so much!

I hope everyone is off to a great start in 2015!

Happy 40th Anniversary, Mom and Dad!

2014-12-28T15:19:00.000-08:00

My parents are celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary today. What an amazing accomplishment! My parents have been through many ups and downs, and through it all they have been able to stay committed to their faith in God, marriage and family. We had a small party for them with family and close friends, and it was a joy to be able to see my parents so happy. A few of my cousins shared memories about my parents, and the overall theme of the speeches was that the strength of their marriage has kept not only my immediate family together but also our extended family.

Mom and Dad: Thank you for providing us with a wonderful example of what is a successful marriage. I pray that my own marriage and family will follow in a similar path. We love you! Happy Anniversary!

Ava: 9 Months!

2014-12-26T21:56:00.000-08:00

We're celebrating Ava's 9 month birthday today! She continues to grow leaps and bounds, and she's also so much more interactive. This has been a really fun month. Here are some updates:

Climbs up steps
Another 2 teeth came in - making a total of 8!
Waves "hi!"
Gives kisses
Starting to get the concept of clapping
Said her first word - Ma ma! woohoo!
Signs "more" and "milk"
Had her first hair cut! One side of her hair was growing significantly longer than the other side, so we evened it out.

Ava: What a month this has been! Everyday you seem to accomplish something new, and sometimes I have a difficult time keeping track. Even though you aren't saying words, I feel like we have conversations with each other because you are so engaged and reactive to what we say. You have started to give the sweetest kisses now, and even though they are often wet and booger-y, I can't get enough of them. I can't believe you turn 1 in just 3 months, which means I need to start planning your birthday party! AHH! Happy 9 months, my dear! Love you so much! Mommy

Christmas 2014

2014-12-25T21:48:00.000-08:00

Finally... all our stockings together!

Helping trim the tree!

Testing out the new hula hoop.

Opening stockings at Po-po and Gung-gung's.

Testing out her new scooter

Chewing on more presents.

Christmas has come and gone! It went by so fast, but we pretty much had a month long celebration. Here are some pics over the past week or so. This month was filled with traditions, family, friends, food, giving and receiving of many gifts, and most importantly remembering the birth of Jesus. Leah really got into Christmas this year, and I'm pretty sure she'll be really sad to see it go. Ava just tried to eat all her presents. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday celebration with your loved ones!

Foodstirs: Brownie Cupcakes

2014-12-23T23:14:00.000-08:00

Leah finally got the chance to bake her Foodstirs kit with my mom. She had so much fun and loved every second of it. She has been really into helping Matt and I in the kitchen, so she wanted to be actively involved in every single step. The first kit in our series was the Brownie Cupcakes. They were so delicious! We ate them with a scoop of ice cream, and they didn't last long! We're looking forward to our next box!

Remember you have until 12/31/14 to get $5 off using the code KELLYKRONICLES! Happy baking!

Ice Skating in Pershing Square

2014-12-20T20:34:00.000-08:00

We took the metro to Pershing Square in Downtown LA to take Leah ice skating. I was a little nervous about whether she would even go on the ice, but she was fearless! She stepped right onto the ice and didn't fall once! She was done after about 15 minutes. I don't blame her. It takes a lot of work for those little legs to go around twice! Afterwards, we walked across the street to eat a little snack and sip on some hot chocolate at the Biltmore Hotel. The hotel is so beautiful during the holidays. Such a fun little morning! I highly recommend checking it out if you're in the area!

Holiday Gift Giving Ideas 2014: Subscription Boxes

2014-12-19T17:01:00.001-08:00

Still looking for a last minute gift? Shopping malls and centers are becoming crazy crowded, and the holiday shipping deadline has passed for many stores. Something super easy and fun to give are subscription boxes! You can find a box for everyone, and you can either print out a gift card or email it to the recipient! Here are some I like:

For Him: Bespoke Post

Bespoke Post provides limited-edition men's lifestyle gear centered around themes such as food, drinks, style and grooming. You can purchase one box for $55, gift cards that start at $55, or you can purchase a box with a gift card starting at $135. {Psst.. use the code LONELY for 30% off your first box}

For Her: Birch Box & Stitch Fix

There are a ton of subscription boxes for women, but I most frequently hear about Birch Box. Each box contains five beauty samples from high-end brands like Benefit, DDF, Kiehl's and more. Gift subscriptions start at just $30 for 3 months!

Stitch Fix is a personal styling service. Their stylists pick items they think you will like based on your profile, you try them on at home, and send back what you don't like. The service costs $20, but that fee is deducted from any items you keep. Gift cards start at $20.

For Moms, Babies, and Kids: The Honest Company, Citrus Lane, and Kiwi Crate

The Honest Company provides natural and non-toxic diaper bundles for babies and home essential bundles filled with items moms would love to use. They also have pre-packaged gift sets and beautifully made diaper cakes!

Citrus Lane provides boxes containing 4-5 items such as snacks, toys, and books for newborns up to 5 years. These products are reviewed and recommended by real moms. A 3 month gift subscription starts at $81, or you can choose from a variety of other gift options. {Psst.. use the code FIRST for 50% off your first box}

Kiwi Crate provides all the materials you need for activities designed to help kids discover, explore, and create. The crates are designed for kids ages 3-8 and are centered around themes such as music, gardening, and dinosaurs. You can gift a subscription or give a gift card. {Psst.. use the code LASTCHEER for 50% off the first month.}

Hope this helps with any last minute gifts!

Holiday Gift Giving Ideas 2014: Tile App

2014-12-12T11:44:00.000-08:00

Have your kids misplaced your keys or wallet or bag, and you end up stuck in the house spending hours searching for the item? Or your kids are going crazy at a restaurant and you leave in a rush and leave your wallet? Tile may be the perfect solution for you. I actually just learned about this from a friend who got his backpack stolen, and he was able to find his items through Tile!

The Tile is a tiny "chip" you can hook or attach to pretty much anything. Here are just a few reasons why I think Tile is so cool! If you misplace your keys in the house, the Tile will play a melody until you find it! The app also records the last place your phone detected your Tile so you can retrace your steps. The best feature about this app is that the more people who use it, the greater the search range becomes. What?! How is that possible you say? If another user walks past your lost item, your phone will be updated with the location. That person has no idea he/she just helped you.

Check out the website for more information!

*No compensation was received for this post. All opinions are my own.

Ava: 8 Months!

2014-12-08T09:00:00.000-08:00

These monthly updates are starting to creep up on me so fast, and the photos are getting harder to take! She turned 8 months on November 26th. Ava's motor skills have developed so much this past month. While she's still my little cuddle bug, she's really enjoying her new skills and shouts with glee every time she stands up!

Pulling up to stand and cruising a tiny bit
Now doing the normal crawling rather than army crawl
2 more teeth coming in - making a total of 6
Continues to love to eat anything I give her! She also enjoys feeding herself
Still attached to my hip

Little Ava: I got to spend much of the day today with you and Leah. It was so fun to have you to myself for some daddy bonding time, because when mommy is around I am definitely still chopped liver! I have loved watching you grow and develop over the past 8 months. What has changed is your ability to crawl around and investigate the world around you, bring yourself up to a stand, and vocalize your emotions (frequent bursts of excitement as you practice and master your new skills). What hasn't changed is your ever-present smile, which you seem to have been born with, and your warm and gentle nature. Wherever we go, your smiling face literally stops traffic. It has also been so fun to watch you and Leah grow together as sisters. At first you didn't seem to know quite what to make of her: who is this little dictator telling me what NOT to do all the time, and deciding which toys I can play with and which I can't? But as time has gone on you two have certainly became big parts of each others lives. You look at each other and smile and laugh and scream excitedly when we come in to wake you up every morning, and give each other lots of hugs and kisses as the day goes on. You have been a joy and blessing, and I can't wait for everything the future will bring for you and our family. Love, Daddy

Cake and Thanksgivings

2014-12-01T09:00:00.000-08:00

Photo by Bob Cho

We decided for Leah's 3rd birthday that we weren't going to throw a big party. Instead, we had a joint playdate with her buddy Cammy {who's 6 days younger} and invited 3 of their closest friends. We held it at Brookside Park in Pasadena where there were plenty of tables and a big playground. We had pizza, a balloon artist, and of course cake. The kids had a lot of fun and didn't seem to notice the lack of a big party.

Unfortunately, Leah ended up falling at the playground and having a clavicle fracture. She took it like a champ and barely complained of any pain after the first day! I'm so proud of her!

On her actual birthday, we had dinner with my parents and enjoyed our favorite ice cream cake! I will try to remember to update with a video of us singing "Happy Birthday" with a crying Ava in the background. ;)

We had Thanksgiving dinner at my parents' house. Leah got to make her first gingerbread house, and she was super patient waiting until after dinner to eat the candies! The kids always have a great time playing with each other, and it's also nice to have extra eyes to watch all of them!

There are so many things I'm thankful for, but this year, I'm most thankful for the addition of Ava into our family and for having two healthy kids. Our family is complete.

I hope everyone had a great holiday weekend!

Holiday Gift Giving Ideas 2014: Macaroni Frames

2014-11-24T09:00:00.000-08:00

Another cool company I discovered at Club MomMe Family Fall Fest was Macaroni Frames. They specialize in "making your memories tangible, frame shopping hassle-free, and the presentation effortless and personal." If you're anything like me, the majority of your photos are stored on your computer or phone and pretty much stay there. My parents are actually the ones who will print out photos I email them and give me copies which end up piling up on the counter. When I first opened my Macaroni Frame box, my first thought was how I didn't really want to ruin the cute packaging. The lazy part of me was pretty happy when I saw our family Frozen photo nicely framed and all I had to do was decide where to put it. I think these frames make such a great gift, and I'm glad I found them just in time of the holidays!

They are also offering limited edition holiday wrapping like in the photos below. The photos don't do the packing justice. The tie has a beautiful gold sheen!

Macaroni Frames has kindly offered readers FREE shipping on purchases with the code KKGIFTGUIDE through 1/1/15! Place orders by 12/18/2014 to ensure delivery by Christmas. Currently, they do not ship internationally. Hurry and get started on that shopping!

*All photos except top one by Macaroni Frames. No compensation was received for this post. The frame was kindly gifted by Macaroni Frames, but all opinions are my own.

Happy 3rd Birthday, Leah!!

2014-11-21T13:11:00.001-08:00

Hold up!! What did I just say??? My no-longer-baby girl is 3 today. She's long and lean, smart, sassy, acts way older than she is, fun-loving, family-oriented, and so much more. Leah has been testing her limits and independence lately which has made life pretty interesting. We're trying to find the balance of giving her some freedom while being clear about her boundaries.

She is an amazing big sister. She loves to come with us to wake up Ava, and Ava greets her with a huge smile. Some other sweet things Leah does for her sister: feeds her, sings to her when she cries, gives an endless amount of hugs and kisses, holds her hand in the car, and finds toys in the living room to give to Ava to play with.

Leah: This yeah we have seen you grow leaps and bounds. We are always impressed with how quickly you grasp new concepts, and everyday we discover new things you know. You have a fun sense of humor, and constantly make us laugh with silly acts and sayings. You also continue to be so aware of the feelings of those around you. You know when someone is feeling sad or upset, and it warms my heart to see you try to make them feel better. You love fashion. You pick out your clothes and shoes, and you notice what other people are wearing. You might have trouble saying "Hi" to people, but you have no issues complimenting a stranger's outfit, accessories, and even manicure/pedicure. This past year has gone by in a blink of an eye. While sometimes I look forward to time moving faster to see you grow out of this testing phase, I do secretly want you to stay little forever! Every time I tell you to stop growing, you say "I have to like mommy and daddy!" We'll see what this next year brings {will you still be obsessed with Frozen??}! Love you to the moon and back, Leahbug! xoxo

*photos by Shea Anne