My love is 3 years old!

Conner Kyun Kim is 3 years old! I am so blessed to be this child's mama. He has taught me more in the last three years, than I have learned my entire life. He has taught me and continues to teach me about unconditional love, patience, enjoying life, and selflessness. 

It's crazy to think, that someone so small can make such an impact on ones life. He truly is a gift. I thought I knew what love was, I was clueless. Love is caring more about someone than yourself, putting their needs before your own.

Patience. I've always struggled with patience & Conner has taught me it's an on going life lesson. From the sleepless nights of the baby days, to the two year old fits in the supermarket, I am faced with practicing patience on a daily basis. It's exciting to watch him learn about patience too. Waiting his turn, or waiting for a "surprise" he was promised. 

Enjoying life. Wow how things change after having a child. The things I thought were fun, seem to be so insignificant now. Fun for me is watching him have fun. Laughing and playing, learning new things. Going to the train museum for the millionth time. Just spending time with Conner is what I enjoy most in life. My favorite part of everyday is sitting at the table having breakfast together. We talk about what we see outside, the mail, our plans for the day. It is quiet and relaxing & better than any Starbucks date. 

Selflessness. By nature I was a very selfish person. I grew up an only child to a single mom. I'm a Leo who had "center of the universe" syndrome. My husband along the years has taught me many life lessons. But when Conner came into this world he became the center of my universe. Essential needs like eating and sleeping for me come after his, let alone my frivolous wants like shopping for clothes. 

I am thankful everyday for Conner. My hopes and dreams for him are limitless. I want him to be kind and happy! He is so special. It makes me smile that he can listen to "Lets groove tonight" by Earth Wind and Fire countless times. And every time he hears it he just wants to dance & sing. I love that he can name every Thomas train around (and believe me there are a ton). I love that he says please and thank you (most of the time with no prompts). I love his imagination, pretending to be a dinosaur or a fish, or an airplane with wings coming in for a landing. 

As our family awaits the arrival of our "newbie", I am so thankful for our first born son & know he will be a great big brother. 

I love you Conner Kyun Kim!

Happy Birthday Grandma!

76 years of living! Happy Birthday to one of my favorite ladies on the planet. She is so special to me words could not begin to describe.
She has taught me so many life lessons, but one of importance is that of evolving. 
"To develop or achieve gradually."
At a very young age I remember learning this lesson. My grandma dropped out of school in the 7th grade, for a multitude of reasons. Her family had little money to provide her with food and clothes. Not to mention a "teacher" told her she was stupid and would never learn. Later in life my grandma learned she was dyslexic. She went back to school at the age of 51 & received her high school diploma. I remember going to her graduation (I was only 10 at the time) and thinking she was really old, but I saw the tears in her eyes & knew they were not sad tears, they were proud tears. 

What an accomplishment! She proved to me at that moment it really doesn't matter what other people think and you're never to old to keep on learning. She is constantly evolving; emotionally, mentally, spiritually. 
I am thankful for a grandma who always listens to me & can agree to disagree. I just think of all the changes she has seen in her lifetime & am truly impressed by her acceptance of change & constant need for learning. It makes me smile from ear to ear when I see my 76 year old grandma playing Bejeweled on her Ipad with my two year old son. Not something you think about when you're 10 years old. Time truly does fly, but I cherish these special moments. Happy Birthday Gram! Cheers to many more years to come. 

Five year wedding anniversary!!!

So i'm going to stray from my typical blogging about the funny stuff my gram says, and post an ode to love.
Today marks my our 5 year wedding anniversary. Yay!!! My husband & I have known each other since were were pre-teens & have had the luxury of literally growing up together. I honestly remember the first day I saw Sam. I was sitting at my desk in what we at Foothill Farms Jr. High called "Reg" class. It was the first class you showed up to to get announcements, paperwork , etc. So there I was sitting alphabetically in the first row & Sam walks in. All 150ish pounds of him (he was a late bloomer). Everyone was saying hi to him and talking to him. In my mind, I was like"How does he know all these people?" I didn't know anyone. He was very chubby, had long Korean skater hair (what is that?) and apparently was already popular among kids from all different elementary schools. So what was with this guy... I had to find out.
As the school year progressed I got to know Sam, we had mutual friends. He was smart, funny, charismatic, and really mysterious to me. Sold, I liked him. In good ole Jr. High fashion, we dated for a month &broke up, cause I liked someone else.
We stayed friends. We actually became great friends. Over time we got to know each other, respected each other, and really cared for one another. We went to Senior ball together (as friends)!! After high school he moved to LA to go to Santa Monica Jr. College (even though he got a full ride to UC Santa Barbara & UC Santa Cruz). I stayed in Sacramento and attended Sierra College. In 1999 I saw him at a party and realized how much I missed him! He missed me too, cause just a couple months later he packed up his stuff and moved back to Sacramento. Being 20 years old I decided to move to Chico, to attend Chico state and have a long distance relationship with Sam. That didn't work...it only lasted a semester & I moved back to Sacramento.
The rest is history... Sam & I "dated" for another 7 years. Yes 7 years, before he proposed & we were married September 6th, 2008. Since then we had our pride and joy Conner Kyun Kim in 2011. Having our child has made me love Sam even more. His new role as a father suits him perfectly. He has an abundance of patience and love. He amazes me every day. He even gave me the opportunity to quit my job and stay home with our son. So I won't miss a second of him growing up.
He makes me happy & I could never have dreamed up a better life partner and soulmate. I whole heartedly believe in soul mates & I was fortunate enough to meet mine when I was 12 years old (even though I didn't know it at the time).
Cheers to a fabulous husband! Who is even a more outstanding father. A terrific best friend, who makes me laugh & checks me when I go overboard. I am lucky I get to spend the rest of my years with this guy. Excited for what our future holds!

Another funny...

My grandma gets up in the morning to help my mom on her way to work. That's her, she's nurturing. She makes them both coffee & fixes my moms lunch etc. The funny part is she sets her alarm for 6:12 am. Not 6:10 or 6:15, but 6:12. I asked her why... She simply said "Any later & I can't get things ready". Ha!

Old Souls

I am one. I've always been one. I love my husband because he's one too. My memories of making sleek vintage Barbie dresses out of my moms nylons, make me laugh. Sometimes I look at my son & wonder if he is too. His favorite song is Boogie Fever by the Sylvers (ha). Romanticism... Paper flowers circa 1989. Yellow convertible 1971 super beetle, can't let it go...still in my garage. In love with all things lace, not sexy, but old (ha)! 

Life!

Wow has my life changed. I used to be a 8:15 to 5:00 elbow deep in mortgage paperwork, with an email overflowing with requests, complaints, and demands. Not exactly where I'd thought I'd be after busting my behind and literally losing my eye site reading book after book to get my English lit degree. Don't get me wrong I am very grateful for the opportunities I was awarded and the many people I met and befriended, and I can't forget the countless amount of belly laughs that rang throughout that enormous building.
Since I have had my life's blessing. People always say there's nothing like a mothers love, but wow I never knew what that really meant. I am so grateful that my husband has allowed me to stay home and watch our son grow. It amazes me how fast he grows, how fast he learns. He's two, and verbally requests, complains, and demands things from me...but I love it. Wouldn't change my life for the world!
Blessed!

iPad blogger app.

Yay!

Hearing aides and toilets

My grandma lost hearing in her right ear in her twenties. My whole life I have known to speak toward her "good" ear. Just recently I noticed that her hearing has become a bit worse. At lunch one afternoon I suggested her going to the doctor to see if there is anything they could do. She is a stubborn lady; she proceeded to tell me she has been before and she doesn't want to wear "big ole" hearing aides in both ears. She failed to mention the last time she went was over 15 years ago.
I went on to suggest that technology is amazing & has probably progressed since the last time she went. She pretty much ignored me, or who knows maybe she didn't hear me (lol).
Our conversation then turned to potty training. She told me how she potty trained my uncle 50 years ago. She would wake him up in the morning and have him pee in an empty coffee can. She suggested I do this with my son.
Technology!! I said, "Grandma, you wouldn't believe technology these days, they actually have replicas of toilets the size of coffee cans to potty train." Point taken, she's going to the doctor to see if there is anything to do for her hearing.
Love her.
Subtlety.
I knew she heard me.

iPhone blogger app.

Wow it's been awhile! Thank goodness for the iPhone app. Hopefully I'll start blogging again ;)

My Birthday card...

So as most of you know my grandma is one of the most influential people in my life. I remember and relish in her stories and memories. I listen to what she says because I know she comes from a place of experience.  Her realm of wisdom is enormous. Her sense of humor is unique. Her wit is remarkably quick especially for her age.

So I get my birthday card in the mail. On my actual birthday... of course she mails it right on time. I can't wait to open it. I don't expect money or gift cards. She's an older lady on social security (I send her money and gift cards on her birthday). I can't wait to open it... because I can't wait to read what she wrote. I'm expecting some true wisdom... probably something she learned or realized when she turned 31.

The front of the car has a sunflower on it with a plaid background and has the words "A Special Birthday Wish" printed. The inside is pre-printed... "With very warmest wishes for a Happy Birthday". Ok here it comes... her words "Love Grandma".

What? Love Grandma? That's it? Are you kidding me? It was awesome. Maybe I needed to read between the lines. Maybe she was telling me to expect the unexpected. Maybe she was telling me 31 is just another number don't trip off it. Or maybe she was telling me something more important... something simple... that she LOVES me.

It was such a small significant moment. She's always teaching or showing me something.

I love her!

Words

Wasps-Wasses
Alcohol-Arkihol
Beach Towel- Bitch Towel
Wienerschnitzel- Der Wiener Dog
So funny!

Random

My grandma learned to drive when she was 30. She drives with both feet. It's pretty awesome! :)

Tip:

Rolly moles: That's what I call them. They are those raised tiny little freckle moles (that hang off the skin). My grandmas solution for these is to tie a piece of string tightly around them and eventually they will shrivel up and fall off. Who needs a doctor? Right?

More She says and does...

• "Can you dig it?"

She really does say this... it is quite funny in person.

• She puts all plastic recyclables in the dishwasher. She then puts them in the bin. I asked her why once... she said "because you can't put them in there dirty." A mere rinse would satisfy most people... shoot some people don't even do that... heck some of us don't even recycle. I love her for that.

Things she says...

• "Don''t cut a baby's hair until they are one."

I don't know why, but my whole family saves the curls in a photo album.

• "Those Kardarchie's are sluts."

She means the Kardashians. She hates their show & thinks they are nasty. I like it and think they are funny.

Why?

Well it started as a joke. I have decided to follow through with it. My grandma (Isabel Herena) and all of her 72 years of wisdom deserves this. I have shared verbally with friends so many of her life experiences, tips, opinions, and remedies. I am going to write them down... so I'll never forget.

So here we go!

(I have a lot to say as well...so I'll probably share that too :))