ellie turns 1!

i can't believe that it's been a year since we have turned from family of 3 to family of 4.... the addition of little ellie has been so great! she is a total joy and so special in her own unique way. the whole baby experience was more enjoyable this time around for me personally. even from the beginning, the delivery was smooth and quick, the hospital was much nicer, i didn't have to go through that shock of being a first-time mom... i knew more or less what to expect, we were living in an area where we had more friends to rely on, and most of all, i had my biggest helper, addison. she's at an age where helping out is what she lives for. so we feel really blessed for our daughters. i pray every day and truly thank God for both addie and ellie.

so as i started to think about planning ellie's dol, i told myself that i don't think we are going to do it as big as addison's. i was planning on doing something a little more low-key... not as many people. but as the planning began, the plans began to get more elaborate and more detailed... and then i found myself spending much more thought (and $) into this party than i had originally planned. this party was starting to really consume me day and night... i was spending a lot of my free time thinking about it and preparing for it. though it was a bit of work, i realized that i think i enjoy putting together party ideas and researching stuff on events. i got excited about it. anyway, we had her party at a banquet room like addison's. there were a couple of minor issues here and there, but i think overall it turned out pretty good.

here's just a few photos of ellie when she was first born. it's funny, i look at these and think boy, she hasn't changed much. she still looks the same! especially in this crying picture. hehe :)





ahhh, my chubby, round baby.... :)





and then here we are today!... i didn't get a chance to take many pictures from the party so most of these are from our friends. so a huge thank you to them for taking these and capturing the day!!
















this was the doljabi raffle. we had the guests take a raffle ticket and place their bets on what item ellie will pick. these neat-o raffle tickets and labels are from http://www.dohlpostersnmore.com/



we had long life, music/arts, sports, scholar and medicine as the choices.



the cool lighted bar with bartender serving mimosas and sparkling punch... and stroller parking, of course! hey, this is a kiddie event!



awesome balloon arrangements made by Crystal Balloons here in our area. they were awesome to work with!



a craft table for the kids. 20+ kids = lots of energy that needs to be released! since this is not a kids party-place kinda venue and just a banquet room, i thought a craft table might keep them occupied for well... about a few minutes! :)






party favors






okay, see those cool korean candied towers?? my friend, allison made them herself for her daughter's birthday which is a week later. and she totally let me borrow them for ellie's party! can we say so nice of her to do that?! big shout out to allison! you rock!












ellie didn't take her morning nap like we had hoped for. :( so she was a bit more tired and clingy than normal. but she sure does look cute in her hanbok even when she's grumpy, huh? heheh :)



"i want my bed!"



"daddy, i said i want my BED!"






"ughh, addison, you're heavy!"



we kept blowing and blowing and we couldn't blow the candle out! and finally, ellie took her tiny fingers and pinched the flame out! it scared us and everyone else, but she wasn't phased by it or hurt!



family pic with both sets of grandparents and ti-ti.... and a little girl who was very interested in the table. hehe






josh, the balloon guy made some sweet balloon figures for the kids



addison and her school friends, emily and gene having a blast.



working on crafts






even ellie was feeling crafty!



ellie about to pick her destiny! what will it be??? :)



is it going to be the recorder for music/arts???!



nope! she chose the stethoscope for medicine! dr. ellie kim. hey, that sounds good! :)






she chose the recorder next. so she can be a musical doctor! i like that!



ellie with petra, her nanny



with some of our friends here



ellie posing with one of our volunteer photographers for the day (and emo)



"whew, this sure is a wild party... i need a water break... and a nap!"