Happy 2006!

Happy New Year everyone! May 2006 bring you health, wealth and happiness. Love, John, Ellen & Jemma Lawler

Draggin' Boats

On Christmas/Chanukah morning, Jemma climbed into Ollies fleece pad so Ollie promptly dragged her around the living room and gave Jemma her first rickshaw ride, doggie style.

Christmas Eve

We got home from San Fancisco in time to celebrate Christmas at Dave & Sopie's house with our friends Oscar and Nancy and Julie. It was a Christmas to remember as Rua, Oscar and Ellen all slammed into the sliding glass doors throughout the night, resulting in some pretty painful bruises - don't worry, Dave & Soph, we three won't file a class-action law suit against you, but for God's sake, put some decals on that glass!

Aunt Ce & Uncle Max

Grandpa Jack, the first grandparent Jemma met, passed away the morning of Jemma's birthday party. We were so, so sad by the news and drove up to San Francisco to make arrangements. We were comforted by Aunt Ce, Jack's sister and her husband Max, who instantly swooped Jemma up into their loving arms.

Party Entertainment

Frankie, Jemma's 8yr old buddy, is an amazing hip-hop dancer and wowed the crowd with her rad moves - full booty shakes and all. Matt Malloy also provided entertainment by playing the caveman and building the outdoor fire.

Party Faces

Party! Party! Party!

Jemma's first birthday party was a blast! Throughout the day, 60 or more folks managed to find parking and make their way to our place. We ate a hundred and twenty tamales, drank beer and Capri-Sun and schmoozed till the sun set and the stars lit our sky. We don't know if Jemma will actually remember this birthday but we will, as we were surrounded by so many loving friends and neighbors.

Into The Woods

We took a nice hike in the cool woods with our bundle of joy. We caught a glimpse of a coyote and heard a few rustlings, but mostly just admired the trees and the mountains.

Jemma in the Country

Here's Jemma on the outdoor table, soaking in the cool air under the hot sun. Lila, Oscar & Carla's schnauzer, was very curious and Jemma seemed to enjoy their meeting. Because it was so cold, Jemma lived in her lucky Chinese hat, a gift from her orphanage sister, AnWei. Thanks, Wei Wei!

Turkey Talk

For Jemma's first Thanksgiving we rented a small cabin in Wrightwood, a quaint town in the Angeles National Forest known for a small ski resort called Mountain High. Our friends Oscar and Carla joined us and we ate delicous Thanksgiving food two nights in a row. We also went hiking, played games by the fire, played horshoes in the yard, threw balls for dogs (Rua) and when we weren't inhaling the smoke from the fire, we breathed clean air into our lungs. Jemma loved it--except the going to bed part. Jemma's in such a great routine at home, but change one thing and the sleep goes haywire. In fairness to her, it was cold in our room and even two layers of pajamas, a hat and two blankets couldn't warm her bones. Her poor little hands were freezing and she cried and cried. Luckily, she's a happy baby even sleep deprived. The adults on the other hand...

It's A Zoo Out There

We had a wonderful day with our friends Mary Frances and Grace Li Qi at the zoo. We saw giraffes, an elephant, lions, zebras, chimpanzees, flamingos, antelopes, kangaroos... We saw a baby kanga jump out of his mommy's pouch, bounce around and then jump right back into his mama's pouch - it took our breath away.

Doting Grandma

MeeMa helped give Jemma a bath every night. She also helped on that special night when Jemma decided to go boom boom in the bath--another milestone for Jemma! Jemma loved MeeMa's painted red nails and she especially liked MeeMa's diamond bracelet, but MeeMa didn't want to give that up yet--good try, Jemma! However, MeeMa parted with her jade bracelet, the one she bought in China twenty years ago. Jemma clutches this bracelet--perhaps because part of her name, the "Cui" of AnCui, refers to the color jade green. Too bad Jemma's name didn't translate to diamond...

Potchki, Potchki, Kicchela

Ellen's mom and dad, MeeMa and PopPop, kept singing a made-up Yiddish song to Jemma, "Potchki, Potchki, Kicchela", something to do with clapping hands. Jemma loved hearing them sing it. And she loved them. Among many gifts they gave her is a dog that plays, "Singing In The Rain" and taps his feet and shuffles with an umbrella. MeeMa and PopPop played that dog so much, even when Jemma woke in the middle of the night when they were babysitting-- oops. P.S.--after someone read this blog, we learned that this is not a made-up song at all. In fact, there's a second verse, "Poppa Kaifen Schechela". So the song translates to "Clap hands, clap hands, daddy's buying shoes." Definitely a song from the depression era, but nonetheless, we can't stop singing it. "Potchki, Potchki, Kicchela, Poppa Kaifen Schechela..."

Aunts and Uncles Rule

This is Aunt Haewon and Uncle John - they came to play with the babies, and play they did! They gave the parents a little break and the babies just loved them.

Babies Rule

Jemma's friends came to play but kept getting swept up by their adoring parents. On top is Stella with Mama MaryAnne, then there's Michayla with Mark & Nicki and Rosie, getting the biggest smooch of all, with Wayne. These babies are so damn kissable.

Twins!

Having one baby is hard work, but two is four times as hard. Here are Doug and Sidney and Andrea and Emma, aren't they adorable? And their babies are pretty cute, too.

Calling All Kids

Jemma invited all the kids to come meet her grandparents, MeeMa & PopPop. Everyone played and played and played, and ate pie and cake and drank wine and apple cider... Every Sunday should be like this!

Apple of Our Eye

Jemma loved the orchards, or so we think. We were won over by the antique Arkansas Black Apples--big, black, plumb, super crisp apples. We bought a few bags at Ye Olde Apple Shoppe along with apple cobbler, apple butter, apple pie... When we got home, we made baked apples for weeks.

Orchard Hopping

What would fall be without a trip to the country for apple picking. Our dear friends, Clara, Shannon and their daughter Franny, caravanned with us to Oak Glen to visit the orchards. We stayed put at Riley's Orchard 'cause they had a jamboree going down and they were smoking ribs and tri-tip. We enjoyed a good bbq meal out on a picnic bench in the cool mountain air. It was a great way to spend a Saturday.

A Toast To Pineapple

Jemma's eating up a storm, gobbling each new food we introduce to her. She's putting on the pounds and weighed in at 17lbs,4oz. the other day. Wow! Still only in the 10th percentile on the American charts, but we like to think of her as a perfect 10. It's just so nice to prepare food for her and watch her explore the new textures and tastes. Jemma loves her toasted brown rice bread in the morning and she's wild about the pineapple. Last week we introduced tofu, tahini and asparagus, next week - caviar!