Elijah’s First Hair Cut!
This was Elijah’s first hair cut since birth! He’s about 22 months in these photos.
BEFORE
AFTER
Below is everything in between!
Mullet front view
Passing the time before his turn
He was supposed to observe his dad but got preoccupied
A good start...
He wanted to keep an arm out
Daddy putting his arm back in
Uh oh
Finally the historic first snip
Lollipop offered
First hair cut First lollipop!
not sure what daddy's expression conveys
Elijah's favorite part
He got his cut from Hair Story V on PCH in Torrance.
Elijah Turns One – Korean Dol Celebration
Little General- "Jangoon"
What is a Korean birthday without a Christian service?
Grandparents and Great grandparents in the background
Aunts & Uncles in the foreground, Maternal family & guests in the background
Uncle Paul, navy chaplain
Good job Papa for the Asian Pear tower and Mama for the watermelons. No comment on the oranges.
Elijah hasn't noticed his hat yet
Everyone urging him to take the money- too interested in food
This photo is like a magazine ad- the only one looking into the camera is Elijah
Holding the paintbrush is in his genes
He noticed the hat
Maternal grandparents
Nice shot with paternal grandpa
Thoughtfully reading "Your Baby's First Year"
Paternal grandpa & Paternal Great Grandma in the hat
Drumming the fake rice cake towers
Thankful to our guest who found an extra pair of socks in her car
Cake and Clapping
King's Hawaiian makes sheet cake!
Coby and Elijah shake on it
Venue: Alta Vista Community Center, Redondo Beach (310) 318-0670
Rice Cake: Seoul Bakery, Gardena (310) 848-6835?
Food: Nakwon Catering, Koreatown (323) 466-3737
Birthday Cake: King’s Hawaiian Bakery (310) 530-0050
Photography: Elijah’s Great Grandfather Un Young Kim
Overall I’m happy with how everything turned out at my son’s Dol. We had, including children, around 85 invited guests. However, this is my notes and evaluation about the party details:
Elijah’s hanbok I bought already made so the owner gave me a sizable discount and made it a quick sale. That worked out for me so I didn’t have to come back to Ktown with a baby in tow.
The venue was awesome. Relatively inexpensive compared to other community centers around the Southbay. Some strict rules about decorating and sound but located in a very restful surrounding with wide roads and plentiful parking. Great staff. A few of our older guests had a hard time finding it due to small/hidden street signs. But a treasure find thanks to a playgroup mom’s referral!
Nakwon catering provided great food and it was plentiful. However, two waiters did not seem to be enough. The two servers exceeded one hour for setup which was awkward when we concluded the first part of our program and the food was not ready. They did not bring enough napkins for the number of seats even though I faxed a seating chart a week in advance. Also the napkins arrived a different color than what I ordered.
Seoul Bakery misplaced my order so when I called that morning to confirm they were clueless! I panicked, went into the bakery to show my receipt etc. and thankfully they did come through and deliver as promised so perhaps that was just a fluke incident.
I have to give credit to http://theimfamily.blogspot.com/2009/07/ozzys-chut-dol-korean-first-birthday.html because it was just about the only visual info I could find while researching! My watermelon arrangement are an homage to her original post. But I recently came across this photographer http://www.jkophoto.com/ with some great Dol photos for ideas.
A dedicated post on the centerpiece to follow.
Fantastic DIY Project for Elijah
1. Buy a used round coffee table (IKEA)
2. Obtain a stainless steel mixing bowl with a lip
3. Jigsaw a circle in the middle of the table 1/4″ smaller than the bowl
4. Paint the surface with chalkboard paint
Images from:
http://www.amazon.com/Powell-White-Round-Chalkboard-Table/dp/B000KFUDYI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1260565650&sr=8-2
http://www.amazon.com/Offi-Kids-Wood-Chalkboard-Table/dp/B000UCM2HC/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1260565650&sr=8-5
Santa in Redondo
One night, a few weeks before Christmas, we heard sirens right outside our window. We thought an accident must have occurred at the basketball courts in front of our house. But no. It was Santa in Redondo Beach. We rushed out of the house –
First Year milestones
Elijah’s DOL or first birthday passed and he’s done some new things recently- like dancing to music while standing, giving objects back to us, pushing a toy shopping cart and walking! This past Wednesday night we were at the church play yard. There’s a foam plat yard with a tunnel and a low border. He now crawls through the tunnel and climbs over the walls! I also put him down the Little Tikes slide.
I see him thinking and making connections! We just assembled a little Fisher Price silly town toy with a little orange slide and he started trying to climb the slide because he knew what it was, even though it was miniature of the one he rode at church! Bright kid!
Also we began sleep training him again and his cries in the crib were much less terrified and more just complaining. It made it much easier to see him working through his discontentment. After he finally stopped crying he lay there with bright eyes looking around, touching the slats of the crib, and holding my hand. I heard him sigh a few times. It sounded like he was accepting that his crib was a safe place.
New stuff
Elijah learned to stick out his tongue,
Played on the sand at the park,
Climbed stairs on the playground,
Can do the Korean nodding head greeting! “Eensah!”
Mission San Juan Capistrano
Last weekend we visited the Missions in San Juan Capistrano. Entrance fee was $9 with an audio guided tour. It was a nice little area and great photo op!
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Alondra Park in Redondo Beach
We went to feed the birds in Alondra Park for the first and last time- it was really gross and scary. But we got some great family pics afterward! Elijah loved it! He was singing “Mama BamBA! wooo wooo woooooo!!!”
