For those of you Simps*ns fans out there, here's a couple of quotes:
Bart: Homer!
Homer: No, Bart. Homer is what grownups call me. Call me Daddy.
Bart: Homer.
Homer: Daddy.
Bart: Homer.
Homer: Daddy.
Bart: Da…da…Domer.
Homer: Why, you little…?!
Homer: Can you say Daddy?
Lisa: Homer.
Seriously though, trying to get Baby Bear to say "daddy" has been something straight out of the Simps*ns. It goes something like this...
Matt: Say Daddy!
Bear: Maaaaat!
Matt: No, Daddy! Da-yee!
Bear: (says with a smile) Maaaaatt!
Matt: Da-da?
Bear: Matt!
Matt: Argh! (Or perhaps he should say "Doh!")
12.22.2006
12.14.2006
A Little Rain...
Sometimes in life, a little rain must fall.
For a while there, I thought it was raining. At least I could hear the rain falling outside...
Or at least I thought I heard rain falling.
Then I realized that it was a bright, sunny day... (huh?)
...and the rain was falling in our bathroom.
Yup, our bathroom ceiling is leaking again.
Check out our ceiling.
Not looking so good, eh?
Update: Well, it's less than an hour since I last posted...and our ceiling caved in about 5 minutes ago. Ergh.
Here's the damage:
At least you can't see into the 2nd floor apartment...
For a while there, I thought it was raining. At least I could hear the rain falling outside...
Or at least I thought I heard rain falling.
Then I realized that it was a bright, sunny day... (huh?)
...and the rain was falling in our bathroom.
Yup, our bathroom ceiling is leaking again.
Check out our ceiling.
Not looking so good, eh?
Update: Well, it's less than an hour since I last posted...and our ceiling caved in about 5 minutes ago. Ergh.
Here's the damage:
At least you can't see into the 2nd floor apartment...
12.12.2006
Ms. P
There is a woman who lives in the UK named Ms. P. Every once in a while, I receive an email from her updating us about her life and circumstances. She sends pictures and jokes and writes about her vacations and friends. She's been letting me know how she's doing by email for about 5-6 years now.
The problem is: I don't know who this woman is.
At first, I thought it was just a spam email, but the emails kept coming. I was so confused. I even sat there and thought through any possible way I could have met this woman, and how she came to have my email address on her friends list.
I just don't know.
So I wrote to her last year and asked her to remove me from her list and mentioned that perhaps she has my email address mixed up with someone else's email. I was very nice in my email.
Today I received an email from her continuing to tell me about how she's doing and what her plans are for the holidays.
*Sigh*
The problem is: I don't know who this woman is.
At first, I thought it was just a spam email, but the emails kept coming. I was so confused. I even sat there and thought through any possible way I could have met this woman, and how she came to have my email address on her friends list.
I just don't know.
So I wrote to her last year and asked her to remove me from her list and mentioned that perhaps she has my email address mixed up with someone else's email. I was very nice in my email.
Today I received an email from her continuing to tell me about how she's doing and what her plans are for the holidays.
*Sigh*
12.07.2006
Trouble? Me?
This picture is so fitting of our Baby Bear these days: A mischievous smile on her face and horns growing from her head. She's still cute and lovable, but man, is she starting to become a little bundle of trouble. Of course, no one ever sees it, so we can't prove a thing. And that's probably why she's smiling...
11.12.2006
Baby Bear and the Giant Nectarine (aka Stop the Carnage) - by Padawanlee
WARNING: Scenes may not be suitable for young eyes or produce.
This story takes place 1 month ago at a dining table far far away...
Once upon a time there was a lonely nectarine named Nenny.
Nenny was happily playing and rolling around with his other fellow Nectarines...
...when suddenly he rolled away and found himself all alone on the dining room table.
As Nenny was rolling across the table to find his friends, he suddenly heard a "oooo..." sound approaching behind him.
Suddenly a great big hand out of nowhere was drawing closer to Nenny.
Just as sudden as the first hand, another one drew near until both hands were around poor Nenny.
Nenny was in the clutches of a Baby Bear.
The massive hands brought Nenny closer to what one person would call a black hole or bottomless pit with 7 menacing pearly whites about to close in on our poor nectarine.
A "Chomp" was suddenly heard with a "smack, smack" sound following. What could be happening to poor Nenny?
One "squishy "chomp" was followed by another and another...
and another... Oh please stop the carnage, somebody!
Until there was almost nothing left of poor Nenny.
Baby Bear's encounter was by happenstance and it was just unfortunate that Baby Bear's curiosity at first innocent turned to a messy and yet delicious treat.
Alternate story line: Momma and Papa Bear were feasting on other goods when they gave the poor nectarine to Baby Bear to play with to pass the time for a few more minutes since she already finished her feast. To their surprise Baby Bear no longer was playing with the round object, but rather decided to try to eat it. Once she broke the skin of the fruit, curiosity turned into an irresistable dessert for Baby Bear (she really likes fruit). And the rest is history (or in the trash).
This story takes place 1 month ago at a dining table far far away...
Once upon a time there was a lonely nectarine named Nenny.
Nenny was happily playing and rolling around with his other fellow Nectarines...
...when suddenly he rolled away and found himself all alone on the dining room table.
As Nenny was rolling across the table to find his friends, he suddenly heard a "oooo..." sound approaching behind him.
Suddenly a great big hand out of nowhere was drawing closer to Nenny.
Just as sudden as the first hand, another one drew near until both hands were around poor Nenny.
Nenny was in the clutches of a Baby Bear.The massive hands brought Nenny closer to what one person would call a black hole or bottomless pit with 7 menacing pearly whites about to close in on our poor nectarine.
A "Chomp" was suddenly heard with a "smack, smack" sound following. What could be happening to poor Nenny?One "squishy "chomp" was followed by another and another...and another... Oh please stop the carnage, somebody!Until there was almost nothing left of poor Nenny.Baby Bear's encounter was by happenstance and it was just unfortunate that Baby Bear's curiosity at first innocent turned to a messy and yet delicious treat.
Alternate story line: Momma and Papa Bear were feasting on other goods when they gave the poor nectarine to Baby Bear to play with to pass the time for a few more minutes since she already finished her feast. To their surprise Baby Bear no longer was playing with the round object, but rather decided to try to eat it. Once she broke the skin of the fruit, curiosity turned into an irresistable dessert for Baby Bear (she really likes fruit). And the rest is history (or in the trash).
11.01.2006
Imperfections
I think the scariest thing about being a parent is having another person watch your every move, listen to your every word, and try to imitate every action. I mean, yes, there are the good things that children pick up on, but every once in a while I find that my child is a mirror to my imperfections.
These days, Baby Bear is a sponge. Not so much verbally, but she tries to mimic as best as possible many of the things we do. She picks up clothes and tries to put it on, picks up the remote control and pushes the buttons, and sometimes I catch her trying to feed her doll Cheerios and water.
Sometimes I hear in her tone how she vocalizes frustration or anger...and it reminds me of how I deal with my own frustration and anger. I cringe inside when I hear it, because I'm not proud of the way I exude these emotions. I can have a short temper...and I've always disliked that about myself. It's one of those things that I wished I could have changed more.
I'm afraid of what darker things I might learn about myself as I come face to face with it in my daughter...let's hope she picks up on Matt's patience and temperament.
These days, Baby Bear is a sponge. Not so much verbally, but she tries to mimic as best as possible many of the things we do. She picks up clothes and tries to put it on, picks up the remote control and pushes the buttons, and sometimes I catch her trying to feed her doll Cheerios and water.
Sometimes I hear in her tone how she vocalizes frustration or anger...and it reminds me of how I deal with my own frustration and anger. I cringe inside when I hear it, because I'm not proud of the way I exude these emotions. I can have a short temper...and I've always disliked that about myself. It's one of those things that I wished I could have changed more.
I'm afraid of what darker things I might learn about myself as I come face to face with it in my daughter...let's hope she picks up on Matt's patience and temperament.
Our little piggy...
10.18.2006
Bad Hair Day...
Matt and I have been trying to take Baby Bear to have pictures taken. Now that she's almost 10 months old, we thought that it was about time to do some of those typical parental duties like taking portrait shots at Sears. That way, the grandparents would be appeased for a while (especially since it's been 2 years and we still haven't gotten our wedding album put together....shhh!).
So we've been trying to take her for a few weeks now, but something always comes up. She catches a cold and we figure dripping snot would not be something we want captured for years to come. So we wait. She wakes up with a scratch on her face that left a red mark from her forehead to her cheek. So we wait again.
So finally after days of waiting, I was going to take her today. Unfortunately, we will have to wait a little bit longer. She seems to have developed the most stubborn cowlick I have ever seen. I tried water, combing, rubbing...everything short of hair products, and it still pops back up. Oh well, pictures will just have to wait...again.
So we've been trying to take her for a few weeks now, but something always comes up. She catches a cold and we figure dripping snot would not be something we want captured for years to come. So we wait. She wakes up with a scratch on her face that left a red mark from her forehead to her cheek. So we wait again.
So finally after days of waiting, I was going to take her today. Unfortunately, we will have to wait a little bit longer. She seems to have developed the most stubborn cowlick I have ever seen. I tried water, combing, rubbing...everything short of hair products, and it still pops back up. Oh well, pictures will just have to wait...again.
10.16.2006
Words...
"Muh muh muh!"
"What do you want, Baby Bear?"
"Muh muh muh!"
"Mama? Mum mum? A cow says moo?"
"Muh muh muh!"
"Milk?"
"Muh muh muh!" (Motions wildly with hands).
"More? Oh, you want more cereal? Okay!"
I am so relieved that Baby Bear is starting to actually talk. A little less than 10 months ago, I remember complaining to Matt about how I felt like the worst mom ever because I had no clue what she wanted or needed. It made me feel worse when I read books that said, "You will soon learn to know what your baby needs by the sound of his/her cry." Uh, I never figured that out. I read stories where fathers were amazed at their wife's ability to sense what was wrong just by the sound of the baby's cry. Matt was never amazed at my sensing abilities, he was more amused by my utter confusion. Baby Bear either had the same cry for everything or I just didn't know what to listen for.
These days Baby Bear says "muh(more)" and "ah-puh(up)." She asks for milk (ah-ma) and asks me where daddy is (da-da?). She picks up her rubber ducks (duhhk) and watches dogs (dohd) from her stroller on walks. When she's excited she says "ooh" and "wow(wha--how)" and when she wants us to read her favorite stories she simply says, "buh" (book).
So our conversations consist of one-word remarks, but hey, it's a start.
"Mommy, what is Halloween and why am I wearing piggy ears?"
"What do you want, Baby Bear?"
"Muh muh muh!"
"Mama? Mum mum? A cow says moo?"
"Muh muh muh!"
"Milk?"
"Muh muh muh!" (Motions wildly with hands).
"More? Oh, you want more cereal? Okay!"
I am so relieved that Baby Bear is starting to actually talk. A little less than 10 months ago, I remember complaining to Matt about how I felt like the worst mom ever because I had no clue what she wanted or needed. It made me feel worse when I read books that said, "You will soon learn to know what your baby needs by the sound of his/her cry." Uh, I never figured that out. I read stories where fathers were amazed at their wife's ability to sense what was wrong just by the sound of the baby's cry. Matt was never amazed at my sensing abilities, he was more amused by my utter confusion. Baby Bear either had the same cry for everything or I just didn't know what to listen for.
These days Baby Bear says "muh(more)" and "ah-puh(up)." She asks for milk (ah-ma) and asks me where daddy is (da-da?). She picks up her rubber ducks (duhhk) and watches dogs (dohd) from her stroller on walks. When she's excited she says "ooh" and "wow(wha--how)" and when she wants us to read her favorite stories she simply says, "buh" (book).
So our conversations consist of one-word remarks, but hey, it's a start.
"Mommy, what is Halloween and why am I wearing piggy ears?"
10.03.2006
Phobias
Everyone has a fear of something. I am afraid of heights. I am also afraid of bugs that have hundreds of legs.
We recently discovered that Baby Bear has a phobia. She is afraid of whole avocados. Not sure why, but whenever the avocado came near, she would try with all her might to scoot herself as far as possible. She wouldn't touch the thing, and she started to cry when it got too close.
And I thought my fears were silly.
Perhaps she'll feel better when she watches me gut out the thing and mash it to a pulp.
The offender
We recently discovered that Baby Bear has a phobia. She is afraid of whole avocados. Not sure why, but whenever the avocado came near, she would try with all her might to scoot herself as far as possible. She wouldn't touch the thing, and she started to cry when it got too close.
And I thought my fears were silly.
Perhaps she'll feel better when she watches me gut out the thing and mash it to a pulp.
The offender
9.28.2006
Our Super Trooper...
Last weekend was busy...
Seven hours in the car and we found ourselves in my hubby's hometown. We spent some time with Baby Bear's grandparents. We took out some time to also visit her 3 great-grandmas and a grand aunt (all separately). Towards the end of the weekend we managed to see some good friends and then packed ourselves back up for another 7-hour car ride home.
I was pooped.
Surprisingly, Baby Bear went through the whole weekend with a smile on her face. She enjoyed every moment and won over all the relatives with her charm. I felt bad throwing her into her car seat over and over again, but she seemed to take it all in stride.
What a super trooper.
She also picked up some interesting things on our trip...
She's our super trooper.
Seven hours in the car and we found ourselves in my hubby's hometown. We spent some time with Baby Bear's grandparents. We took out some time to also visit her 3 great-grandmas and a grand aunt (all separately). Towards the end of the weekend we managed to see some good friends and then packed ourselves back up for another 7-hour car ride home.
I was pooped.
Surprisingly, Baby Bear went through the whole weekend with a smile on her face. She enjoyed every moment and won over all the relatives with her charm. I felt bad throwing her into her car seat over and over again, but she seemed to take it all in stride.
What a super trooper.
She also picked up some interesting things on our trip...
She loved crawling under my in-laws coffee table. When I tried to pull her out, she would laugh and crawl away as fast as she possibly could. I didn't quite understand the fun of being under the coffee table, until Matt pointed out some drawings of his on the underside of the table from his childhood.
Great-grandma got a kick out of Baby Bear's talent at feet-sucking. Because great-grandma kept laughing, Baby Bear continued to suck her foot on purpose. What a ham!
Apparently, she's become quite the conversationalist. I'm not sure what she was telling my grandma in this picture, but she loved having a captive audience.
She's our super trooper.
9.21.2006
Independence
Throughout our lives we slowly gain our independence, until one day we are on our own. As a baby I placed dependence on my mom and dad for nourishment, to pick me up and carry me places, and to change my diapers and keep me clean. As a child I depended on others for help understanding difficult things in life, to care for me when I was sick, to carry my burdens when I got tired. As a teen I depended on my parents for transportation, for funds, and for permission to attend certain events. Even in college, I was still dependent on my parents for at least a place I could call home and return on weekends and holidays. It was a twenty-something year process of slowly gaining my independence.
These days, I see the process already begun in Baby Bear. She won't let me feed her meals with a spoon anymore (She slaps my hand away when I try). I have to just chop up foods and leave it on her tray for her. I leave her a cup and her food. She happily feeds herself and sips her water.
She sits up, crawls around and happily plays on our livingroom floor. Even when she wakes up in the morning, she crawls over to her toys and keeps herself entertained. At naptimes, she takes her doll, sucks on her finger and falls asleep in her crib without rocking, without patting her.
9 months old and she's already exercising her independence.
Today, I brought her into our bed after she woke up. She crawled up to my side, doll in one hand and finger in her mouth, she lay down with her head on my arm. So I hugged her, and there she stayed until she fell asleep.
I'm glad she still needs me. I'm not ready to let her go just yet.
>
These days, I see the process already begun in Baby Bear. She won't let me feed her meals with a spoon anymore (She slaps my hand away when I try). I have to just chop up foods and leave it on her tray for her. I leave her a cup and her food. She happily feeds herself and sips her water.
She sits up, crawls around and happily plays on our livingroom floor. Even when she wakes up in the morning, she crawls over to her toys and keeps herself entertained. At naptimes, she takes her doll, sucks on her finger and falls asleep in her crib without rocking, without patting her.
9 months old and she's already exercising her independence.
Today, I brought her into our bed after she woke up. She crawled up to my side, doll in one hand and finger in her mouth, she lay down with her head on my arm. So I hugged her, and there she stayed until she fell asleep.
I'm glad she still needs me. I'm not ready to let her go just yet.
>
9.11.2006
Hmmmm...
Do all babies do this? That is, do all babies smile with their mouths open?
Just curious, that's all...
Just curious, that's all...
9.08.2006
Temper Temper...
I think Baby Bear just threw a temper tantrum.
I was feeding her breakfast (peaches and oatmeal), and in between bites she started to cry out at me and slap her table. I had no clue why she was doing that. Then she started yelling at me, slapping her table and pushing the spoon away from her whenever I came near. I gave up and I put her food down to wipe her face, but she started crying louder and started violently rocking in her chair. I was so confused.
So there I am just watching Baby Bear crying angrily (tears and snot!) in between rocking in her chair and slapping her table.
I just waited it out. What could I do?
When she finally calmed down, she made a noise, motioned towards the Cheerios box and then slapped her table. Apparently, she didn't want peaches and oatmeal. She wanted Cheerios.
Sheesh. She could have just said so.
I was feeding her breakfast (peaches and oatmeal), and in between bites she started to cry out at me and slap her table. I had no clue why she was doing that. Then she started yelling at me, slapping her table and pushing the spoon away from her whenever I came near. I gave up and I put her food down to wipe her face, but she started crying louder and started violently rocking in her chair. I was so confused.
So there I am just watching Baby Bear crying angrily (tears and snot!) in between rocking in her chair and slapping her table.
I just waited it out. What could I do?
When she finally calmed down, she made a noise, motioned towards the Cheerios box and then slapped her table. Apparently, she didn't want peaches and oatmeal. She wanted Cheerios.
Sheesh. She could have just said so.
9.06.2006
Friends...
I have some wonderful friends. Some I have known only for a short while, some I have known since before I learned to walk. They are artists, businessmen (and women), doctors, lawyers, teachers, and more. They are mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, sisters, brothers. They are funny, serious, thoughtful, and lighthearted. They love their jobs, they hate their jobs, they dream about other jobs. We became friends in elementary school, or perhaps I met them in college. They've seen me change, and they've caused me to change. Some are blood-related, some are so close I call them family anyway.
I have some wonderful friends.
As I watch Baby Bear grow and change, it means so much to me that there are other kids around her age for her to grow up with. Some of them will become her dearest and valued friends.
As they grow, they will learn patience, responsibility, helping each other, cherishing each other, and supporting one another.
Baby Bear will have some wonderful friends.
I have some wonderful friends.
As I watch Baby Bear grow and change, it means so much to me that there are other kids around her age for her to grow up with. Some of them will become her dearest and valued friends.
As they grow, they will learn patience, responsibility, helping each other, cherishing each other, and supporting one another.
Baby Bear will have some wonderful friends.
Lost Art of Conversation
A couple weekends ago, Baby Bear and I went to Hazelnuut's birthday party. I realized while I was there that I have lost the ability to converse with adults. Okay, so I'm not the most outgoing person, and I'm terrible when it comes to small talk. I just felt like I had nothing to talk about with anyone. It's not a bad thing, I just didn't know how to talk to regular adults anymore. All those years of practice, and I lost it in a few short months.
I don't want to be one of those moms who always start conversations with, "My baby did the cutest thing today..." I love my Baby Bear, but I try not to be a gusher. So naturally, I don't bring up Baby Bear as my conversation initiator. Unfortunately, when you're carrying an 8-month old around who loves social events, she initiates the conversation herself.
But then, what else is there to talk about besides Baby Bear these days? Not much. She is so integrated into my life that she basically is my whole day. People don't really ask me how I'm doing these days. It doesn't bother me. I don't have much going on, so even if they ask, my response would be short and boring.
I was listening though...People were talking about their jobs, their marriages, their friends, their schooling, trips that they took or were going to take, moving plans, future plans, etc. I felt I had nothing of value to add to the conversation. So I just listened.
I guess that's just what I do best. So forgive me if I don't have much to say, but I'll definitely be waiting to hear what you have to say.
I don't want to be one of those moms who always start conversations with, "My baby did the cutest thing today..." I love my Baby Bear, but I try not to be a gusher. So naturally, I don't bring up Baby Bear as my conversation initiator. Unfortunately, when you're carrying an 8-month old around who loves social events, she initiates the conversation herself.
But then, what else is there to talk about besides Baby Bear these days? Not much. She is so integrated into my life that she basically is my whole day. People don't really ask me how I'm doing these days. It doesn't bother me. I don't have much going on, so even if they ask, my response would be short and boring.
I was listening though...People were talking about their jobs, their marriages, their friends, their schooling, trips that they took or were going to take, moving plans, future plans, etc. I felt I had nothing of value to add to the conversation. So I just listened.
I guess that's just what I do best. So forgive me if I don't have much to say, but I'll definitely be waiting to hear what you have to say.
8.26.2006
Staying Put...
So we decided to stay put. We're not planning on moving anytime soon, despite the woes we have mentioned about our apartment. What happened? I came to the realization that it's not that bad.
Sure, we have noisy neighbors. Yes, we still have cracks in the ceiling from the leak. No, we did not get rid of the fleas (although we're working on it). We also have some sort of sewage smell coming from under the apartment (found out there are leaking pipes - yuck! - but will be fixed Wednesday).
Change of heart? Perhaps. As we searched for apartments, we found a couple that we really liked and even started filling out the paperwork. The cost would have been a bit more, but I thought "it's worth it, because nothing can be worse than this place."
A couple of weeks ago we had new neighbors move into one of the apartments upstairs. As they were emptying their moving truck of belongings, I heard the mother yelling at her son, "Don't hang out there like that! This is a better neighborhood and you shouldn't be doing that anymore."
Reality check.
So I thought about it. Was it worth moving? Is my desire to move just out of selfishness? Are those things that annoy me about this place really that bad? Have I just over dramatized it in my head because I'm home all day?
So I came to the realization that maybe we should stick around here for a little while longer. Instead of spending the money each month for a higher rent, why don't we save more? Perhaps, I should take ownership in our apartment and try to clean it up? Maybe I should stop being such a priss and work harder to make this a livable environment for my family.
So that's what we're doing. We're staying put.
Sure, we have noisy neighbors. Yes, we still have cracks in the ceiling from the leak. No, we did not get rid of the fleas (although we're working on it). We also have some sort of sewage smell coming from under the apartment (found out there are leaking pipes - yuck! - but will be fixed Wednesday).
Change of heart? Perhaps. As we searched for apartments, we found a couple that we really liked and even started filling out the paperwork. The cost would have been a bit more, but I thought "it's worth it, because nothing can be worse than this place."
A couple of weeks ago we had new neighbors move into one of the apartments upstairs. As they were emptying their moving truck of belongings, I heard the mother yelling at her son, "Don't hang out there like that! This is a better neighborhood and you shouldn't be doing that anymore."
Reality check.
So I thought about it. Was it worth moving? Is my desire to move just out of selfishness? Are those things that annoy me about this place really that bad? Have I just over dramatized it in my head because I'm home all day?
So I came to the realization that maybe we should stick around here for a little while longer. Instead of spending the money each month for a higher rent, why don't we save more? Perhaps, I should take ownership in our apartment and try to clean it up? Maybe I should stop being such a priss and work harder to make this a livable environment for my family.
So that's what we're doing. We're staying put.
8.22.2006
Trial and Error
One of the things that I wish I did a little bit more before becoming a parent was to do more research...Ask some more questions from experienced parents...get some ideas on how to be a more resourceful mom. I guess those months before Baby Bear arrived was a whirlwind, and I just didn't have the time (or the energy) to sit down and get a little bit more information.
I feel like I've been sucked into the chaotic consumer-driven world of places like Babies R Us. I can't tell you how many times I've walked down those aisles and thought, "hmmmm, maybe we should consider getting one of those." There are so many things that one child just does not need. I can name a few things already in our household that Baby Bear has touched maybe once or twice in her lifetime. Yet, we have them stored for those "just in case" moments.
It's been a wild game of trial and error. Before Baby Bear was born, we guessed and bought what we thought was minimally necessary. My thinking was that since we didn't know what to expect, we should buy the minimum and add as needs arise. When Baby Bear entered our lives, I realized that many of those once "necessary" items became "unnecessary" or "more than we needed." As Baby Bear developed, other items we had weren't quite the right fit. So on top of the unnecessary we bought more that was necessary. On top of the items that weren't quite right, we had to replace with more suitable purchases.
In the end, our minimum amount of things became just too much.
So this is why sometimes I wish I had done some more research. Perhaps we could have found the items cheaper. Perhaps we would have known beforehand that the items that seemed better for our baby, were just a bunch of expensive nonsense and scaled down. Perhaps, I would have been more careful about considering the worth to Baby Bear's growth and development. Perhaps we wouldn't have ended up spending so much on frivolities. Perhaps...perhaps...perhaps...
But since I don't have a time machine handy, it's a little too late for perhaps. Or...
Perhaps it's all just part of becoming a wiser more efficient parent.
I feel like I've been sucked into the chaotic consumer-driven world of places like Babies R Us. I can't tell you how many times I've walked down those aisles and thought, "hmmmm, maybe we should consider getting one of those." There are so many things that one child just does not need. I can name a few things already in our household that Baby Bear has touched maybe once or twice in her lifetime. Yet, we have them stored for those "just in case" moments.
It's been a wild game of trial and error. Before Baby Bear was born, we guessed and bought what we thought was minimally necessary. My thinking was that since we didn't know what to expect, we should buy the minimum and add as needs arise. When Baby Bear entered our lives, I realized that many of those once "necessary" items became "unnecessary" or "more than we needed." As Baby Bear developed, other items we had weren't quite the right fit. So on top of the unnecessary we bought more that was necessary. On top of the items that weren't quite right, we had to replace with more suitable purchases.
In the end, our minimum amount of things became just too much.
So this is why sometimes I wish I had done some more research. Perhaps we could have found the items cheaper. Perhaps we would have known beforehand that the items that seemed better for our baby, were just a bunch of expensive nonsense and scaled down. Perhaps, I would have been more careful about considering the worth to Baby Bear's growth and development. Perhaps we wouldn't have ended up spending so much on frivolities. Perhaps...perhaps...perhaps...
But since I don't have a time machine handy, it's a little too late for perhaps. Or...
Perhaps it's all just part of becoming a wiser more efficient parent.
8.17.2006
Quiet is Good?
This past week has had its shares of ups and downs. At the end of VBS Baby Bear caught a virus (or rather at the beginning of VBS since most viruses/bacteria have at least a 5-day incubation period...I know, nerd). So Saturday and Sunday she spent at home with a fever, poor child. Monday she broke out into a rash, and experienced mothers worldwide (My cousin, who has 4 kids - Friends who live minutes away) said "Oh, she must have roseola." So we stayed home for a couple of days. But she got better, and the rash disappeared.
Then I got sick. Still am. Not too bad, just extra tired. (Sorry haven't called you, Brightlife - have number, will call!)
Baby Bear then decided to kick off her good health to move from immobile child to mobile child. (Not crawling...but massive bouts of rolling)
How I found out: So today she started to cry because I sat down to rest. I heard something fall in the kitchen and went to investigate. After I found the culprit (a pile of clutter had fallen over) I realized Baby Bear had stopped crying and it was quiet. I thought, "ah, quiet is good." Then I stopped and rethought, "Uh oh, quiet is not good." I peeked my head around the corner to find my daughter four feet from where she started and pulling out all the magazines and whatnot that we stored on the shelf under our coffee table. She was happily chomping on a Physical Therapy magazine, and looked up at me with proud eyes that said, "Look, what I did!"
I smiled, of course. (But inside I'm thinking "Man, I have to start childproofing my home?!?!)
Here's a pic of our happy Bear at VBS last week.
Then I got sick. Still am. Not too bad, just extra tired. (Sorry haven't called you, Brightlife - have number, will call!)
Baby Bear then decided to kick off her good health to move from immobile child to mobile child. (Not crawling...but massive bouts of rolling)
How I found out: So today she started to cry because I sat down to rest. I heard something fall in the kitchen and went to investigate. After I found the culprit (a pile of clutter had fallen over) I realized Baby Bear had stopped crying and it was quiet. I thought, "ah, quiet is good." Then I stopped and rethought, "Uh oh, quiet is not good." I peeked my head around the corner to find my daughter four feet from where she started and pulling out all the magazines and whatnot that we stored on the shelf under our coffee table. She was happily chomping on a Physical Therapy magazine, and looked up at me with proud eyes that said, "Look, what I did!"
I smiled, of course. (But inside I'm thinking "Man, I have to start childproofing my home?!?!)
Here's a pic of our happy Bear at VBS last week.
8.10.2006
The Boys at Church...(By Songwriterlee)
So it's already begun. *Sigh*
This week is VBS (Vacation Bible School). Since I am a volunteer, Baby Bear got to spend her mornings in the nursery with the wonderful volunteers who take great care of her. So instead of being with just one kid, I am with about 140 kids.
After each day at VBS, there is lunch served to the volunteers and their families. The kids eat first, and then while the moms eat (and chat) the kids run around and play. I have been having a blast just observing and watching all the kids, including my own.
Baby Bear isn't quite mobile, so she sits in her stroller and watches all the rest of the kids. Apparently, it doesn't hamper her socilization much. There are always people stopping by to play with her and entertain her. She's so extroverted! I'm not quite sure how two introverts sired an extrovert.
Meanwhile, there is this group of boys around 3-5 years old who constantly come to chat with Baby Bear. They talk to her and then they ask me questions about her.
"Is she your baby?" (Yup)
"Where's her hair?" (I don't know, did I lose it?)
"Is she laughing?" (She thinks you're funny)
"Did she drop her food?" (Yes)
"What is she eating?" (Baby Cereal)
"How old is she?" (7 months)
And then they always end with, "She has cute smile" or "She's cute" or "She smiles good."
Uh oh.
I think it's time for daddy to worry.
This week is VBS (Vacation Bible School). Since I am a volunteer, Baby Bear got to spend her mornings in the nursery with the wonderful volunteers who take great care of her. So instead of being with just one kid, I am with about 140 kids.
After each day at VBS, there is lunch served to the volunteers and their families. The kids eat first, and then while the moms eat (and chat) the kids run around and play. I have been having a blast just observing and watching all the kids, including my own.
Baby Bear isn't quite mobile, so she sits in her stroller and watches all the rest of the kids. Apparently, it doesn't hamper her socilization much. There are always people stopping by to play with her and entertain her. She's so extroverted! I'm not quite sure how two introverts sired an extrovert.
Meanwhile, there is this group of boys around 3-5 years old who constantly come to chat with Baby Bear. They talk to her and then they ask me questions about her.
"Is she your baby?" (Yup)
"Where's her hair?" (I don't know, did I lose it?)
"Is she laughing?" (She thinks you're funny)
"Did she drop her food?" (Yes)
"What is she eating?" (Baby Cereal)
"How old is she?" (7 months)
And then they always end with, "She has cute smile" or "She's cute" or "She smiles good."
Uh oh.
I think it's time for daddy to worry.
8.03.2006
Five by Five (by Padawanlee)
Well since I have been tagged... here I go on my very first post.
Five Things in My Freezer
1. Milk for Baby Bear.
2. Edamame in shells.
3. Shu Mai that my grandmother made for us. Yum.
4. Lots of frozen fruits so we can make smoothies with, that we never do.
5. Phyllo dough.
Five Things in My Closet
1. Random stuff.
2. Clothes
3. More stuff
4. Crock pot
5. Water balloon launcher
Five Items in the Car
1. Tennis racquet
2. The only 3 CD’s that I own.
3. Bag of chips in my glove compartment just incase I get the munchies.
4. A bag of trash - Sometimes trash is in the bag, sometimes trash is on the floor. (ah… memoires of college)
5. Lots of AAA maps.
Five Items in My Backpack (I shall rummage though the backpack that I haven’t used in 2 years)
1. Lots of highlighters.
2. Lots of pens.
3. Random papers that I have no idea where they belong.
4. Spare change.
5. Dust and dirt from who knows where.
Five Books on My Nightstand (I have a few books on my nightstand that I do not even know the name of, but here is what I am reading.)
1. Sports Illustrated.
2. ESPN magazine.
3. TIME.
4. Newsweek.
5. NIV Bible.
I tag the one and only jasonisscruffylooking
Five Things in My Freezer
1. Milk for Baby Bear.
2. Edamame in shells.
3. Shu Mai that my grandmother made for us. Yum.
4. Lots of frozen fruits so we can make smoothies with, that we never do.
5. Phyllo dough.
Five Things in My Closet
1. Random stuff.
2. Clothes
3. More stuff
4. Crock pot
5. Water balloon launcher
Five Items in the Car
1. Tennis racquet
2. The only 3 CD’s that I own.
3. Bag of chips in my glove compartment just incase I get the munchies.
4. A bag of trash - Sometimes trash is in the bag, sometimes trash is on the floor. (ah… memoires of college)
5. Lots of AAA maps.
Five Items in My Backpack (I shall rummage though the backpack that I haven’t used in 2 years)
1. Lots of highlighters.
2. Lots of pens.
3. Random papers that I have no idea where they belong.
4. Spare change.
5. Dust and dirt from who knows where.
Five Books on My Nightstand (I have a few books on my nightstand that I do not even know the name of, but here is what I am reading.)
1. Sports Illustrated.
2. ESPN magazine.
3. TIME.
4. Newsweek.
5. NIV Bible.
I tag the one and only jasonisscruffylooking
8.02.2006
The Strange Things We Do...
A few weeks ago, a friend of ours was telling us how it's fun to see how short babies arms are. They're arms don't quite reach atop their heads...hee hee. Check this picture out.
8.01.2006
Five By Five - Tagged Again!
Tagged again! I don't mind being tagged, I just never know what to write...but I'll do my best. I've been tagged by Nina this time...
Five Things in My Freezer
1. Trader Joe's Mandarin Orange Chicken - Yum yum...easy meal, good taste.
2. Cha Siu Bao - Homemade by Matt's grandma...again, easy meal, good taste.
3. Ice Cube trays fulls of frozen foods for baby bear(peaches, apples, avocados, peas, spinach, carrots, sweet potatoes, squash - and more!)
4. Ground Turkey - I've been trying to cook healthier...Matt's cholesterol, grrr.
5. Pork bits - Perhaps one of these days I'll cook up some kimchee jigae with the random pork bits.
Five Things in My Closet
1. Uh, closet? Am I supposed to put things in the closet? They're doing fine on the floor.
Five Items in the Car
1. Baby Bear's stroller which I found out today is 28 lbs! Uh, I think we need a lighter stroller. Any suggestions?
2. My CD case with some of my favorite cds - when driving, you gotta have the tunes!
3. A travel Bible - Since we forget to usually bring one with us on Sundays to church, so we leave a small one in the car.
4. A bag of trash - Sometimes trash is in the bag, sometimes trash is on the floor.
5. Random stack of papers - I'll have to go through those one day...but I think they're old maps, past church bulletins, Matt's jury summons, or something...
Five Items in My Backpack (Is this for a student? oh well...I'll just use the diaper bag or my purse?)
1. A bottle of water - always, a must! For a thirsty mom and a thirsty baby.
2. A small tupperware full of Veggie and Fruit Puffs for the always hungry Baby Bear.
3. Mini Tinkle Crinkle - Baby Bear's friend when we travel.
4. A Joann's Gift Card that I received for Mother's Day - in case I have to urge to buy crafts.
5. A Picture of Matt and me - A friend took a mini polaroid of us on our wedding day, and I just carry it around.
Five Books on My Nightstand (Okay, so they're not on my nightstand, but they're wherever I usually read when I get a chance)
1. 1001 Women's Healthcare Questions - I don't have questions, I'm just a Bio major and health issues fascinate me. I know, I'm such a nerd.
2. The Poisonwood Bible - The fiction book, I'm currently reading. Wow, does this woman(author=Barbara Kingsolver) have a way with words or what? Plus, she has a graduate degree in Biology...
3. Moral Choices - Tough. It's making my brain mushy.
4. Super Baby Food - Yup, I'm cooking Baby Bear's food. Hey, I figure I might as well try.
5. Real Simple - Okay, so this isn't a book...but I really like the magazine. It makes me feel like one day I can actually organize and simplify things in my life...one day.
Who to tag...who to tag...how about meishichan(since she tagged me last time), mud2clarity and brightlife(only if you would like to - I won't be crushed if you don't), and Matt(only, he doesn't have a blog, nor chooses to write in this blog, but he said I could tag him).
Five Things in My Freezer
1. Trader Joe's Mandarin Orange Chicken - Yum yum...easy meal, good taste.
2. Cha Siu Bao - Homemade by Matt's grandma...again, easy meal, good taste.
3. Ice Cube trays fulls of frozen foods for baby bear(peaches, apples, avocados, peas, spinach, carrots, sweet potatoes, squash - and more!)
4. Ground Turkey - I've been trying to cook healthier...Matt's cholesterol, grrr.
5. Pork bits - Perhaps one of these days I'll cook up some kimchee jigae with the random pork bits.
Five Things in My Closet
1. Uh, closet? Am I supposed to put things in the closet? They're doing fine on the floor.
Five Items in the Car
1. Baby Bear's stroller which I found out today is 28 lbs! Uh, I think we need a lighter stroller. Any suggestions?
2. My CD case with some of my favorite cds - when driving, you gotta have the tunes!
3. A travel Bible - Since we forget to usually bring one with us on Sundays to church, so we leave a small one in the car.
4. A bag of trash - Sometimes trash is in the bag, sometimes trash is on the floor.
5. Random stack of papers - I'll have to go through those one day...but I think they're old maps, past church bulletins, Matt's jury summons, or something...
Five Items in My Backpack (Is this for a student? oh well...I'll just use the diaper bag or my purse?)
1. A bottle of water - always, a must! For a thirsty mom and a thirsty baby.
2. A small tupperware full of Veggie and Fruit Puffs for the always hungry Baby Bear.
3. Mini Tinkle Crinkle - Baby Bear's friend when we travel.
4. A Joann's Gift Card that I received for Mother's Day - in case I have to urge to buy crafts.
5. A Picture of Matt and me - A friend took a mini polaroid of us on our wedding day, and I just carry it around.
Five Books on My Nightstand (Okay, so they're not on my nightstand, but they're wherever I usually read when I get a chance)
1. 1001 Women's Healthcare Questions - I don't have questions, I'm just a Bio major and health issues fascinate me. I know, I'm such a nerd.
2. The Poisonwood Bible - The fiction book, I'm currently reading. Wow, does this woman(author=Barbara Kingsolver) have a way with words or what? Plus, she has a graduate degree in Biology...
3. Moral Choices - Tough. It's making my brain mushy.
4. Super Baby Food - Yup, I'm cooking Baby Bear's food. Hey, I figure I might as well try.
5. Real Simple - Okay, so this isn't a book...but I really like the magazine. It makes me feel like one day I can actually organize and simplify things in my life...one day.
Who to tag...who to tag...how about meishichan(since she tagged me last time), mud2clarity and brightlife(only if you would like to - I won't be crushed if you don't), and Matt(only, he doesn't have a blog, nor chooses to write in this blog, but he said I could tag him).
7.28.2006
Being a Stay at Home Mom...
I'm terrible at being a stay at home mom.
I can't keep our place clean at all. You can barely walk through our livingroom, there's so much junk piled all over the place. I fear the neighbors will peek inside and think we've been vandalized.
I try to cook for my husband. He claims that I make better food for Baby Bear than I do for him. More often than not, he brings dinner home. Yesterday, I actually cooked, but I pulled a "stupid." I took a pyrex pan out of the oven and unknowingly placed it in a puddle of water on the counter. For any of you who have ever done that...crack! and glass is all over your kitchen. Thank goodness no one was nearby to get hit by the flying glass.
I drag my baby out all the time. I can't stand being home for too long, so I take Baby Bear on random outings to take the edge off the insanity. Well, she doesn't last long, and I end up making her more tired, and that pretty much ruins her nap schedule for the day.
But in spite of all of that, It's so neat to be able to see Baby Bear grow and change each day. It's worth being home if I get to see this toothy grin all the time...
I can't keep our place clean at all. You can barely walk through our livingroom, there's so much junk piled all over the place. I fear the neighbors will peek inside and think we've been vandalized.
I try to cook for my husband. He claims that I make better food for Baby Bear than I do for him. More often than not, he brings dinner home. Yesterday, I actually cooked, but I pulled a "stupid." I took a pyrex pan out of the oven and unknowingly placed it in a puddle of water on the counter. For any of you who have ever done that...crack! and glass is all over your kitchen. Thank goodness no one was nearby to get hit by the flying glass.
I drag my baby out all the time. I can't stand being home for too long, so I take Baby Bear on random outings to take the edge off the insanity. Well, she doesn't last long, and I end up making her more tired, and that pretty much ruins her nap schedule for the day.
But in spite of all of that, It's so neat to be able to see Baby Bear grow and change each day. It's worth being home if I get to see this toothy grin all the time...
7.24.2006
Tagged?
Wha! Meishichan tagged me...Let's see if I can do this...
I am thinking about what tomorrow will be like and what I should pack in Baby Bear's diaper bag to deal with tomorrow.
I said "poopy" more times than I should have today.
I want a piece of peach pie.
I wish the weekends were longer to spend with my family.
I miss my students. I don't miss their complaining about doing work.
I hear silence. Awwww.....
I wonder why our neighbors are so loud.
I regret not exercising more before baby bear was born.
I am mostly Korean, but partly Japanese.
I dance when I'm happy.
I sing for a lot of weddings.
I cry when I'm frustrated.
I am not Chinese.
I write songs when I feel the need to create.
I confuse restaurant names. There's a restaurant called "Bamboo Song" and for some reason I keep calling it "Morning Wood." Yuck.
I need to go to sleep earlier at night.
I should go to sleep earlier at night.
I finish all the chores that I should have done earlier in the day at night instead of going to sleep earlier.
I tag anyone who wants to be.
I am thinking about what tomorrow will be like and what I should pack in Baby Bear's diaper bag to deal with tomorrow.
I said "poopy" more times than I should have today.
I want a piece of peach pie.
I wish the weekends were longer to spend with my family.
I miss my students. I don't miss their complaining about doing work.
I hear silence. Awwww.....
I wonder why our neighbors are so loud.
I regret not exercising more before baby bear was born.
I am mostly Korean, but partly Japanese.
I dance when I'm happy.
I sing for a lot of weddings.
I cry when I'm frustrated.
I am not Chinese.
I write songs when I feel the need to create.
I confuse restaurant names. There's a restaurant called "Bamboo Song" and for some reason I keep calling it "Morning Wood." Yuck.
I need to go to sleep earlier at night.
I should go to sleep earlier at night.
I finish all the chores that I should have done earlier in the day at night instead of going to sleep earlier.
I tag anyone who wants to be.
7.23.2006
7.18.2006
Ick!
Here's my Baby Bear eating her lunch today.
Usually when I feed her something new, she makes this face. If she isn't too sure about the taste, she lets it dribble out of her mouth. After a couple more feedings of the same stuff, she tends to accept it as food and includes it in her repertoire.
Today she actually spat the food out. I saw a chunk of it fly towards me.
What did I feed her?
Peaches. Go figure. A couple more tries and she continued to spray out food like I had given her a bad tasting medicine.
Oh well. I guess our little "foodie" can't like it all. She was much better after I cleansed her palate with a spoonful of peas.
Usually when I feed her something new, she makes this face. If she isn't too sure about the taste, she lets it dribble out of her mouth. After a couple more feedings of the same stuff, she tends to accept it as food and includes it in her repertoire.
Today she actually spat the food out. I saw a chunk of it fly towards me.
What did I feed her?
Peaches. Go figure. A couple more tries and she continued to spray out food like I had given her a bad tasting medicine.
Oh well. I guess our little "foodie" can't like it all. She was much better after I cleansed her palate with a spoonful of peas.
7.09.2006
Where Did This Come From?
Today we left Baby Bear in the church nursery for the first time. She seemed fine when I left her there and she seemed fine when Matt went to pick her up. Although, later when we were leaving to go to lunch, I was playing a simple game of peek-a-boo with her when she made this strange face. She apparently was smiling...but it wasn't her normal smile. And every time thereafter when she smiled, she made this face. Sometime between this morning and lunchtime, she changed the way she smiles...did she pick something up from the nursery?
We're still bewildered about the new smile, but just for fun we thought we would try it, too.
I don't know, I don't think she got it from us.
We're still bewildered about the new smile, but just for fun we thought we would try it, too.
I don't know, I don't think she got it from us.
7.05.2006
Happy Fourth!
Tonight we went to watch the fireworks at the park. Actually, we intended to leave before the fireworks because I thought Baby Bear would scream through all the noise, but we ended up staying.
So I prepared to comfort a scared baby. I held her tight, gave her a pacifier, a sippy cup, prepared to cover her ears and warned her that the fireworks would be loud. To my surprise, she was fascinated by all the lights in the sky. She was still a little scared, but she sat still and watched intently...so intently, that she tired herself out and fell asleep half way through.
Here she is sleeping but still clutching onto her sippy cup for dear life. She finally let it go after the fireworks were over.
So I prepared to comfort a scared baby. I held her tight, gave her a pacifier, a sippy cup, prepared to cover her ears and warned her that the fireworks would be loud. To my surprise, she was fascinated by all the lights in the sky. She was still a little scared, but she sat still and watched intently...so intently, that she tired herself out and fell asleep half way through.
Here she is sleeping but still clutching onto her sippy cup for dear life. She finally let it go after the fireworks were over.
7.03.2006
Hmmph!
Our baby certainly has personality. Padawanlee thinks it's the "Korean" in her. I wonder what he means by that...
6.30.2006
6.26.2006
College Memories...
A couple of nights ago, I got to have dinner with some friends from college. It was different because this time around there was a baby to tote around, but despite extra baggage (stroller, booster seat, diaper bag...), it was good to hang out with some familiar faces and try to achieve some semblance of normalcy again (whatever normal is...).
I got to thinking about how much fun we used to have in college. I'm not saying that life isn't "fun" now, but it's different. "Fun" these days refer to enjoying our silly little girl when she busts up laughing at absolutely nothing. Our college "fun" consisted of many zany acts and random endeavors that were created from spontaneity and adventure.
Perhaps one day I will regale the tales to my children (or grandchildren) of 3 am burrito runs, all-night non-study sessions, Vegas trips that lasted 4 hours, car rallies, bonfires, 21st birthdays and other adventures that were not as tame. One day.
My mom once told me that the friends that I gain in college will be the friends that I will have for life. I truly hope so.
I got to thinking about how much fun we used to have in college. I'm not saying that life isn't "fun" now, but it's different. "Fun" these days refer to enjoying our silly little girl when she busts up laughing at absolutely nothing. Our college "fun" consisted of many zany acts and random endeavors that were created from spontaneity and adventure.
Perhaps one day I will regale the tales to my children (or grandchildren) of 3 am burrito runs, all-night non-study sessions, Vegas trips that lasted 4 hours, car rallies, bonfires, 21st birthdays and other adventures that were not as tame. One day.
My mom once told me that the friends that I gain in college will be the friends that I will have for life. I truly hope so.
6.23.2006
Chores...
Being home, I seem to have a lot more chores. I think before I used to just ignore them (hee hee). I guess being home all the time puts me smack dab in the midst of the mess, so I have more reason to tackle it...Out of all chores, I like washing dishes. On the other hand, my least favorite is to vacuum. I realize that when I clean, I like to see a clear result or something visible to my work. Vacuuming just never did that for me. I couldn't really see a difference. Yes, sometimes the vacuum bag would fill up and after vacuuming the house was a little less dusty smelling...but the carpet still looked the same. It didn't look any cleaner to me.
After padawanlee and I got married we invested in a Dyson vacuum. More expensive, but it has actually made me more excited about vacuuming. Call me crazy, but I like the fact that you can actually see what you pick up from the carpet. It makes me feel like I'm actually cleaning something up. I mean, yeah, it's really gross, but hey, the science teacher in me is fascinated how just the 3 of us can produce so much dust (yum, yum, dead skin cells). Go, cyclonic action!
After padawanlee and I got married we invested in a Dyson vacuum. More expensive, but it has actually made me more excited about vacuuming. Call me crazy, but I like the fact that you can actually see what you pick up from the carpet. It makes me feel like I'm actually cleaning something up. I mean, yeah, it's really gross, but hey, the science teacher in me is fascinated how just the 3 of us can produce so much dust (yum, yum, dead skin cells). Go, cyclonic action!
6.21.2006
It Only Takes a Week...
I have been thoroughly amazed at how fast Baby Bear changes. Take the first week of June, for example. She suddenly got her two front teeth, was able to sit up without much assistance and started rolling everywhere! All in the same week!
It just reminds me how I better enjoy every moment this week, because it will all be different next week (And I mean this beyond the scope of Baby Bear as well).
It just reminds me how I better enjoy every moment this week, because it will all be different next week (And I mean this beyond the scope of Baby Bear as well).
6.15.2006
Congrats (Not-so)Little Brother!
Today is my brother's high school graduation. *sniff*
Time sure flies by fast. I still remember his munchkin days when it was my responsibility to pick him up from after-school day care at the tender age of five. Now he's 6 feet tall and going off to college.
Congratulations, Dylpyl!
Time sure flies by fast. I still remember his munchkin days when it was my responsibility to pick him up from after-school day care at the tender age of five. Now he's 6 feet tall and going off to college.
Congratulations, Dylpyl!
6.13.2006
Just Some Things...
Here are some things that I've wanted to post:
(1) The nicest thing padawanlee ever said to me (which happened this week) was "it's my day off therefore, it's your day off, too." He then took Baby Bear out on his own for a while. I didn't know what to do with myself for those 3 hours, but it was nice.
(2) I officially quit my job yesterday. I am no longer a high school science teacher. Tough decision, but it's the best thing to do right now. I would feel torn leaving Baby Bear, and also not being able to give my best to my students. For those of you who think that anyone can teach and it's an easy job because you only work 9 months out of the year...I hope you go into teaching one day :).
(3) My baby has a "man face." Today at the Japanese market, Baby Bear and I met a family (mom, dad, daughter, son) in the senbei aisle. They were talking to Baby Bear when the mother turned to me and said, "he's such a big boy...and he's got that serious man face, just like my son." What could I do? I didn't want to embarrass this woman by telling her that my "man faced" baby was in fact a girl. But sheesh...I know she's got the boy hair, but a man face?
(4) I hate the two cats that live upstairs. They have been keeping me up every night lately. Just when I'm about to drift off into la-la land, their horrible cries come resounding through our bedroom window. Last night, padawanlee had to shoo them away. Plus, they have given our home the gift of fleas. Fortunately, the fleas don't bite Baby Bear and padawanlee, but I'm being eaten alive.
(5) So, we're going to move. Soon. I hope very soon.
(1) The nicest thing padawanlee ever said to me (which happened this week) was "it's my day off therefore, it's your day off, too." He then took Baby Bear out on his own for a while. I didn't know what to do with myself for those 3 hours, but it was nice.
(2) I officially quit my job yesterday. I am no longer a high school science teacher. Tough decision, but it's the best thing to do right now. I would feel torn leaving Baby Bear, and also not being able to give my best to my students. For those of you who think that anyone can teach and it's an easy job because you only work 9 months out of the year...I hope you go into teaching one day :).
(3) My baby has a "man face." Today at the Japanese market, Baby Bear and I met a family (mom, dad, daughter, son) in the senbei aisle. They were talking to Baby Bear when the mother turned to me and said, "he's such a big boy...and he's got that serious man face, just like my son." What could I do? I didn't want to embarrass this woman by telling her that my "man faced" baby was in fact a girl. But sheesh...I know she's got the boy hair, but a man face?
(4) I hate the two cats that live upstairs. They have been keeping me up every night lately. Just when I'm about to drift off into la-la land, their horrible cries come resounding through our bedroom window. Last night, padawanlee had to shoo them away. Plus, they have given our home the gift of fleas. Fortunately, the fleas don't bite Baby Bear and padawanlee, but I'm being eaten alive.
(5) So, we're going to move. Soon. I hope very soon.
6.08.2006
Bang! Bang! Buzz!
Bang! Bang! Buzz! Buzz! Screech! Screech! Boom! Rattle!
That's what I currently hear upstairs. They're doing some construction in the bathroom in the upstairs apartment(remember the leak?).
So since the leak, we have had this water stain in our bedroom ceiling. The handyman finally came to repair it, but I'm a little concerned. All he did was paint over it. Is that normal procedure for a large water stain?
That's what I currently hear upstairs. They're doing some construction in the bathroom in the upstairs apartment(remember the leak?).
So since the leak, we have had this water stain in our bedroom ceiling. The handyman finally came to repair it, but I'm a little concerned. All he did was paint over it. Is that normal procedure for a large water stain?
6.06.2006
Not Sleeping Well...
From the title, you're probably guessing that I'm going to write about how Baby Bear isn't sleeping...well, no. She's been doing great. It's her mom that isn't sleeping well.
Apparently, I'm not alone. Check out this Newsweek article.
Padawanlee doesn't really understand why I can't sleep. I explained to him that my head is so full of mental checklists, to-do lists, and what-ifs that I can't sleep. He told me, "Well, can't you just stop thinking?" Ha! If I could, I'm sure I'd be sleeping. Then again, the moment he hits his head to the pillow he is snoring away(How does he do that?!?!). Meanwhile a couple of hours rolls by while I listen to his rhythmic snoring.
So somehow, I have to learn not to think.
Apparently, I'm not alone. Check out this Newsweek article.
Padawanlee doesn't really understand why I can't sleep. I explained to him that my head is so full of mental checklists, to-do lists, and what-ifs that I can't sleep. He told me, "Well, can't you just stop thinking?" Ha! If I could, I'm sure I'd be sleeping. Then again, the moment he hits his head to the pillow he is snoring away(How does he do that?!?!). Meanwhile a couple of hours rolls by while I listen to his rhythmic snoring.
So somehow, I have to learn not to think.
5.29.2006
Hungry Bear
Padawanlee and I were trying to wait until Baby Bear was 6 months old to start her on solid foods. We heard that it was better because it decreased the chances of allergies arising. Lately, however, she's been getting hungrier and hungrier. At first she was starting to want to eat every 2 hours. Then the time intervals started getting shorter and shorter. Even after eating well, she still seemed hungry. My milk supply was running short and my patience was running short...so we gave in.
I was expecting it to be a difficult affair, just because she's so used to milk being her sole source of nutrition. Despite being extremely messy, she took to it well.
She seemed like she was actually enjoying herself. I would start bringing the spoon to her mouth and she would hungrily attack it. Of course, most of it dribbled down into the black hole supposedly where her neck is...but that is another story altogether.
I was expecting it to be a difficult affair, just because she's so used to milk being her sole source of nutrition. Despite being extremely messy, she took to it well. She seemed like she was actually enjoying herself. I would start bringing the spoon to her mouth and she would hungrily attack it. Of course, most of it dribbled down into the black hole supposedly where her neck is...but that is another story altogether.
5.25.2006
Mommy Chatter
Baby Bear and I went to a mommies and babies play group last week. Granted baby bear doesn't play much, but she was fascinated by all the older children playing (screaming!) around her. All she did was sit there and observe and listen.
I sat around with the other moms (who had a moment to sit) and I noticed that all conversations were either about their kids, their husbands, other people's kids or other people's husbands. Most of it was beyond me because most of their kids were starting pre-school or kindergarten. There I was with my 5 month old. All I did was sit there and observe and listen.
Is this my future? Will I only talk about my children and my husband? But wait!!! Isn't that what I do now? Somehow in the course of these past 5 months I unknowingly learned the art of "mommy chatter." I shudder at the thought.
I sat around with the other moms (who had a moment to sit) and I noticed that all conversations were either about their kids, their husbands, other people's kids or other people's husbands. Most of it was beyond me because most of their kids were starting pre-school or kindergarten. There I was with my 5 month old. All I did was sit there and observe and listen.
Is this my future? Will I only talk about my children and my husband? But wait!!! Isn't that what I do now? Somehow in the course of these past 5 months I unknowingly learned the art of "mommy chatter." I shudder at the thought.
5.17.2006
The Truth...
I love Baby Bear. That will never change, but sometimes she really starts to irk me. There, I've said it. Does this make me a bad parent?
It's tough. I knew that it would be difficult, but I didn't know exactly how hard it would be. I don't regret being a parent at all, but I just don't understand how it seems so easy for everyone else. Everyone else seems so put together and I feel like I'm so frazzled. Everyone else seems to have these angel children who can do no wrong in their sight.
My baby is no angel baby. I wouldn't want you to get the wrong idea from this blog. Granted, she has some angel moments, but she's not even close to being an easy baby. Just at this moment, she is complaining again because she tipped herself over while playing for the 12th time and needs to be picked up again for the 12th time.
She is, however, a good actor. At church on Sundays, she seems like an easy baby. She doesn't cry much, doesn't complain much, let's other people hold her, plays on her own, sleeps in the stroller, smiles and laughs abundantly... Everyone mentions how she seems like an easy baby. Even when we were in Sacramento visiting the grandparents, they kept remarking how she was such a good baby. The moment it's just me, padawanlee and baby bear, she seems continuously out of sorts.
So I've decided, if anybody asks me how I'm doing as a parent and I'm not feeling entirely in my parental best, I will tell the truth. I won't try to hide it. Perhaps this will help me be a better parent.
And even when my baby is howling for the 2nd hour, I just have to remember how much I love her, how being her parent makes me seek to be a better person, and that perhaps we can learn together how to be patient with one another.
It's tough. I knew that it would be difficult, but I didn't know exactly how hard it would be. I don't regret being a parent at all, but I just don't understand how it seems so easy for everyone else. Everyone else seems so put together and I feel like I'm so frazzled. Everyone else seems to have these angel children who can do no wrong in their sight.
My baby is no angel baby. I wouldn't want you to get the wrong idea from this blog. Granted, she has some angel moments, but she's not even close to being an easy baby. Just at this moment, she is complaining again because she tipped herself over while playing for the 12th time and needs to be picked up again for the 12th time.
She is, however, a good actor. At church on Sundays, she seems like an easy baby. She doesn't cry much, doesn't complain much, let's other people hold her, plays on her own, sleeps in the stroller, smiles and laughs abundantly... Everyone mentions how she seems like an easy baby. Even when we were in Sacramento visiting the grandparents, they kept remarking how she was such a good baby. The moment it's just me, padawanlee and baby bear, she seems continuously out of sorts.
So I've decided, if anybody asks me how I'm doing as a parent and I'm not feeling entirely in my parental best, I will tell the truth. I won't try to hide it. Perhaps this will help me be a better parent.
And even when my baby is howling for the 2nd hour, I just have to remember how much I love her, how being her parent makes me seek to be a better person, and that perhaps we can learn together how to be patient with one another.
I know...who could get impatient with this bear cub?
5.15.2006
Cranky Bear
Oh where did my Happy Bear go? Right now we have a Cranky Bear in her place. I hope it's just because of her teeth...which still haven't come out yet!
This has been an exercise in patience. Patience with the teeth, and patience with the cranky bear.
Speaking of which, last Sunday we dedicated Baby Bear at church. It was good for Padawanlee and I to think about how parenting is not just physical (feeding, burping and changing), but it's also spiritual. It is by our actions and examples that she will be raised spiritually.
We were given a book during her dedication called Sacred Parenting by Gary L. Thomas. I was excited because one of my favorite books on marriage is Sacred Marriage by the same author. The byline on this book is how being a parent shapes our soul.
The author likes to put quotes to start each chapter. The very first quote in the book says, "If it was going to be easy to raise kids, it never would have started with something called labor - Anonymous." What a good way to start the book.
This has been an exercise in patience. Patience with the teeth, and patience with the cranky bear.
Speaking of which, last Sunday we dedicated Baby Bear at church. It was good for Padawanlee and I to think about how parenting is not just physical (feeding, burping and changing), but it's also spiritual. It is by our actions and examples that she will be raised spiritually.
We were given a book during her dedication called Sacred Parenting by Gary L. Thomas. I was excited because one of my favorite books on marriage is Sacred Marriage by the same author. The byline on this book is how being a parent shapes our soul.
The author likes to put quotes to start each chapter. The very first quote in the book says, "If it was going to be easy to raise kids, it never would have started with something called labor - Anonymous." What a good way to start the book.
5.08.2006
Silent Night...
We don't really live in a quiet neighborhood. Morning is wrought with cars leaving for work, doors slamming, carpools honking, school buses...The daytime brings garbage trucks, construction on nearby properties, sirens from the nearby fire station...People drive by with their music blasting or loud exhaust sounds that set off car alarms as it zooms by. Once school is out, kids are walking down the street, driving by, riding skateboards, yelling to their friends across the way...Even our neighbors are not quiet. Out of 6 apartments, 4 of them listen to music so loud that my wall shakes. Upstairs is the dad always yelling at his daughter who in turn is always crying at the top of her lungs. The next apartment over has the boy who runs from door to door screaming at the top of his lungs. Even in the middle of the night we have this insane cat that cries right outside our bedroom window...
...but for once it's quiet here. For the first time in a few days I can actually hear my own thoughts. With all the noise I didn't realize that I had so much going on in my head.
...but for once it's quiet here. For the first time in a few days I can actually hear my own thoughts. With all the noise I didn't realize that I had so much going on in my head.
5.06.2006
Still Waiting...
We're still waiting for Bear's teeth to make an appearance. We see them! The points and tips are starting to poke through...but they just haven't quite made their grand entrance. So I counted this morning...there are 3-4 coming in on the bottom and four are making their way from the top! Yikes! No wonder she's been such a cranky bear.
5.02.2006
In Daddy's Care...
I'm so tired. Baby Bear is napping less...I'm trying to work with her to nap better, but hunger seems to override her sleep. So her naps are horrendously short...so on top of being tired from feeding her all the time, she requires more attention while awake.
So I needed a little break. Right now, Baby Bear is in her dad's care. It's actually funny to listen to. He decided to read his ESPN magazine to her...Some things I have heard them discussing:
So I needed a little break. Right now, Baby Bear is in her dad's care. It's actually funny to listen to. He decided to read his ESPN magazine to her...Some things I have heard them discussing:
- the joys of the NBA playoffs
- Tennis rackets and grips
- Poker and the meaning of a Royal Flush
- Dirt biking
- Derek Jeter (He was explaining to her how he's Auntie Maisie's favorite player, "because she thinks he's cute...")
- "Hummers are bad! Don't buy a hummer..."
I'm glad that she's got someone patient enough to entertain her right now.
*Growl*
My stomach has been growling all morning. I ate some food, but it's still growling. While I was feeding Baby Bear this morning, my stomach was growling so loudly that Baby Bear kept looking around for the source of the noise. She then responded to the growl. Apparently my stomach is talking to her.
4.30.2006
Deep Thoughts - By Baby Bear
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4.28.2006
Our "Healthy" Baby
For the past few weeks, I have heard numerous euphemisms for the term "chubby." The most popular being, "Your baby is so healthy." Yes, she's very "healthy" indeed. Or we hear, "Wow, your mommy feeds you well" or "What a good eater you must be."
Some not-so-euphemistic terms that have been mentioned are: Rubberband arms, Michelin Man, Thunder thighs, Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man...
Personally, I like my baby's double chin and wobbly cheeks. I like her "rubberband arms" and "thunder thighs." So, there are no need for euphemisms with this mom. But...
Some not-so-euphemistic terms that have been mentioned are: Rubberband arms, Michelin Man, Thunder thighs, Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man...
Personally, I like my baby's double chin and wobbly cheeks. I like her "rubberband arms" and "thunder thighs." So, there are no need for euphemisms with this mom. But...
...At her 4-month appointment yesterday she came just 3 ounces shy of 16 pounds. That's 90-95 percentile! She doesn't seem so roly-poly though. She only eats 5 times a day usually. Most breastfed babies are supposed to still eat 6-8 times a day at this age. Hmmmm....She doesn't look overweight or anything. She seems proportional...perhaps she's just storing it all in her cheeks.
4.25.2006
It's So Difficult...
...to type with one hand as you're holding a fidgety 4-month old in your lap.
On another note...you know how as babies develop there are supposed milestones that they are supposed to reach at certain times? I kind of look at them sometimes, mainly so I know what the pediatrician is going to ask me at the next visit. Otherwise, I know that Bear will develop in her own time...and why should I push her? But there are people out there always forming the unnecessary developmental comparisons.
Baby Bear and I were at Target the other day. I was perusing the bottle aisle with Bear when we bumped into this woman who was perusing the formula cans. Baby Bear is a conversation starter, so this woman proceeded to tell me about her own child who was 2 months older. It was nice, just a simple conversation with a stranger who could understand the woes of baby raising. Then again, conversations with me are usually one-sided...I tend to be the silent nodder.
It's great when parents are proud of their little ones and of the achievements that they make. It's better when they don't gush about it in a condescending manner. "Yeah, but my baby is advanced, so your child might do that at 7 months...not 6 months like mine."
I just smiled and nodded...what else could I say?
4.21.2006
Any UCSD AACFers out there?
I received an email about a UCSD AACF Alumni reunion happening over Memorial Day weekend (Sunday to Monday). If any of you are out there reading this blog and you want more information just go to this website for more info. Sounds interesting...
4.16.2006
Mother Knows Best...
For weeks now, I have been telling my mom about all the things that Baby Bear has been doing recently. Let's see...it started with the ear pulling, then the drooling, then the increase in fussiness, the sucking on the fist, eating of the toys, some bouts of diarrhea and then howling in pain on occasion. Her first response was, "maybe she's teething." My response was, "...but she's only 3 months old."
So I kept trying to figure out what it could be. Reflux? Tummy hurts? Is she sick? She wants attention? She wants to be held? She only wants dad? She only wants mom? She's tired? She has gas? She needs to poop?
Trust me I went through the whole gamut. Then this happened.
All I have to say is, "My mother knows best." This mother (meaning: me) knows squat.
So I kept trying to figure out what it could be. Reflux? Tummy hurts? Is she sick? She wants attention? She wants to be held? She only wants dad? She only wants mom? She's tired? She has gas? She needs to poop?
Trust me I went through the whole gamut. Then this happened.
All I have to say is, "My mother knows best." This mother (meaning: me) knows squat.
It's Official...
...she's teething.
Baby Bear has a pearly white already poking it's way through her gums on her lower jaw.
No wonder she's been so fussy lately.
Man, and I thought it was because I was eating something that was bothering her while nursing. I just wasn't expecting it to happen so soon. She's not even 4 months yet.
Oh well. What can we do.
Baby Bear has a pearly white already poking it's way through her gums on her lower jaw.
No wonder she's been so fussy lately.
Man, and I thought it was because I was eating something that was bothering her while nursing. I just wasn't expecting it to happen so soon. She's not even 4 months yet.
Oh well. What can we do.
4.14.2006
4.13.2006
4.11.2006
Why I Know...
Padawanlee isn't gushy. You'll never catch him gushing over Baby Bear...I think he shows his love for her in his actions. Last night, the baby monitor alarm started going off...Padawanlee instantly woke up, ran over there, and picked up Baby Bear even before I could register what the noise was. We don't know why it went off. Perhaps she did stop breathing, or she just happened to move off the sensors, or something was wrong with the monitor. Whatever it was, I knew I felt fear...so I know Padawanlee felt it too.
This is why I know Padawanlee loves Baby Bear deeply...if she were ever to be in trouble, he'd be the first person to run over and save her.
This is why I know Padawanlee loves Baby Bear deeply...if she were ever to be in trouble, he'd be the first person to run over and save her.
4.10.2006
The Busy Weekend...
The highlights of our weekend:
(1) Baby Bear's Red Egg & Ginger Party - To celebrate her arrival, her grandparents held a party for Baby Bear. Here she is with her great-grandmas.
(2) Padawanlee got to see a lot of his good friends who live up north. Baby Bear got to sing karaoke, play poker and eat Chinese food with them. Okay, well she watched them do all of that. But she got so much attention! She was loving every minute of it.
(3) Baby Bear got to meet her great-great grandma. That's right! You read it correctly...her GREAT-GREAT grandma. We even got to take a picture with all 5 generations.
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(5) We had a good time, but it's good to be home.
(1) Baby Bear's Red Egg & Ginger Party - To celebrate her arrival, her grandparents held a party for Baby Bear. Here she is with her great-grandmas.
(2) Padawanlee got to see a lot of his good friends who live up north. Baby Bear got to sing karaoke, play poker and eat Chinese food with them. Okay, well she watched them do all of that. But she got so much attention! She was loving every minute of it.
(3) Baby Bear got to meet her great-great grandma. That's right! You read it correctly...her GREAT-GREAT grandma. We even got to take a picture with all 5 generations.(4) Baby Bear started laughing...not just little laughs here and there, but honest-to-goodness belly laughing.
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(5) We had a good time, but it's good to be home.
4.04.2006
100 Days...
'Twas the day after Christmas
when you were born
New parents were blessed
that December morn
You had a full head of hair
And big puffy cheeks
You were rosy in color
And food did you seek
Your Daddy was so happy
and slightly in shock
He was a new dad
He could hardly talk
Your Mommy was tired
but forgot all about harms
The moment she saw you
and held you in her arms
Now it's 100 days later
You've changed and you've grown
You're smiling and laughing
and your personality is your own
You sing with your mom
You splash on your dad
You make cute little "ah-goos"
and you are rarely sad
Happy baekil my darling
How we love you so
We've thanked God everyday for you
Starting 100 days ago...
when you were born
New parents were blessed
that December morn
You had a full head of hair
And big puffy cheeks
You were rosy in color
And food did you seek
Your Daddy was so happy
and slightly in shock
He was a new dad
He could hardly talk
Your Mommy was tired
but forgot all about harms
The moment she saw you
and held you in her arms
Now it's 100 days later
You've changed and you've grown
You're smiling and laughing
and your personality is your own
You sing with your mom
You splash on your dad
You make cute little "ah-goos"
and you are rarely sad
Happy baekil my darling
How we love you so
We've thanked God everyday for you
Starting 100 days ago...
4.03.2006
The Amorphous Asian...
Back in college, I had a friend dub me an "amorphous Asian." It was a joke because although I was Korean, no one really knew. My appearance is definitely Korean, but because I don't act Korean (whatever that means) my friends often questioned my background ethnicity. There were some friends who didn't realize I was Korean until 4 years into our friendship. I remember many conversations that went like this:
"You're Korean?!?!...No you're not!"
"I am."
"NO YOU'RE NOT!"
"Uh, okay, I'm not?"
I always wondered why people just had a difficult time believing it. Conversations usually followed with:
"But there's something different about you...I can't put my finger on it."
So then I would respond:
"I'm one-eighth Japanese?"
And they would seem content with that reason for my being not-so-Korean. Yet, one-eighth really isn't all that much. So I'm not sure why it would suffice. But still to this day, friends I've known for a decade will still slip this comment into conversation:
"Oh yeah, I forgot you were Korean...but you're not really that Korean anyway."
Huh? So what am I?
So I wonder what it will be like when Baby Bear grows up. Here's the breakdown on Baby Bear. She's half Chinese, seven-sixteenths Korean and one-sixteenth Japanese. She's more indefinable than I am. I will either have to teach her fractions at an early age, or somehow simplify. I can already imagine the conversations:
So are you Chinese?
Yes.
But I thought you said you were Korean?
Yes.
...and kind of Japanese?
Yes.
No, really, what are you?
Here's to all of us "amorphous Asians" out there. You know who you are.
"You're Korean?!?!...No you're not!"
"I am."
"NO YOU'RE NOT!"
"Uh, okay, I'm not?"
I always wondered why people just had a difficult time believing it. Conversations usually followed with:
"But there's something different about you...I can't put my finger on it."
So then I would respond:
"I'm one-eighth Japanese?"
And they would seem content with that reason for my being not-so-Korean. Yet, one-eighth really isn't all that much. So I'm not sure why it would suffice. But still to this day, friends I've known for a decade will still slip this comment into conversation:
"Oh yeah, I forgot you were Korean...but you're not really that Korean anyway."
Huh? So what am I?
So I wonder what it will be like when Baby Bear grows up. Here's the breakdown on Baby Bear. She's half Chinese, seven-sixteenths Korean and one-sixteenth Japanese. She's more indefinable than I am. I will either have to teach her fractions at an early age, or somehow simplify. I can already imagine the conversations:
So are you Chinese?
Yes.
But I thought you said you were Korean?
Yes.
...and kind of Japanese?
Yes.
No, really, what are you?
Here's to all of us "amorphous Asians" out there. You know who you are.
3.30.2006
There is a Fungus Among Us...
I hate fungus. It disgusts me so. I hate it in all of its forms...mold, mildew, and even shiitake. Pennicillin comes from a mold. I'm allergic to penicillin. Those brown mushrooms that we eat in pasta...I usually hand them over to a willing partaker. Out of all forms of fungus, I despise mold. Now, I know that mold is one of God's creations and it is necessary in this world for it's saprophytic qualities, but the thought of it makes me shudder....ew.
Today I had my own battle with mold. I fought the fridge and I think I won, for now. There were foods in there that were just unrecognizable. Some large lumpy white chunks, something that I think was once guacamole, and something that I think was chicken katsu.
Now, before you go on thinking that we're the most disgusting people and we live in filth, I have to explain how our fridge became a breeding ground for fungus. You see, when i was pregnant, I had this weird thing about smells...especially the smells emanating from our fridge. Padawanlee had no idea what it was that I was smelling, but every time the fridge opened, I had to gag a little. Therefore, for about 9 months, I didn't dare enter the fridge. So that meant Padawanlee had to do the cleaning of the fridge (which never happened...he would just point at things in the back of fridge, say "ew" and then laugh because it's been in there so long).
So yes, I have cleaned out some things that have been sitting in there longer than Baby Bear has been in existence outside and inside of the womb. Ick.
But the battle rages on...next battle: the mildew on the shower tiles.
Today I had my own battle with mold. I fought the fridge and I think I won, for now. There were foods in there that were just unrecognizable. Some large lumpy white chunks, something that I think was once guacamole, and something that I think was chicken katsu.
Now, before you go on thinking that we're the most disgusting people and we live in filth, I have to explain how our fridge became a breeding ground for fungus. You see, when i was pregnant, I had this weird thing about smells...especially the smells emanating from our fridge. Padawanlee had no idea what it was that I was smelling, but every time the fridge opened, I had to gag a little. Therefore, for about 9 months, I didn't dare enter the fridge. So that meant Padawanlee had to do the cleaning of the fridge (which never happened...he would just point at things in the back of fridge, say "ew" and then laugh because it's been in there so long).
So yes, I have cleaned out some things that have been sitting in there longer than Baby Bear has been in existence outside and inside of the womb. Ick.
But the battle rages on...next battle: the mildew on the shower tiles.
3.27.2006
Goodbye Little Geo...
I have to put up a post to say goodbye to an old friend. Some of you remember I used to drive a Geo Prism. This was my car the moment that I turned 16 and it faithfully carried me around during my high school years and my college years. Now I haven't actually driven the car in about 6 years, but it still has a special place in my heart.
A couple of weeks ago, it had a little accident. The driver is fine, but the Geo, being about 12 years old, just didn't make it.
So, goodbye little Geo. We know you weren't the sturdiest of cars, but you had great mileage and you managed to carry me from San Diego to LA dozens of times. Your paint was chipping and your insides were being held together with duct tape, but you were a good car until the end. May you be recycled well.
A couple of weeks ago, it had a little accident. The driver is fine, but the Geo, being about 12 years old, just didn't make it.
So, goodbye little Geo. We know you weren't the sturdiest of cars, but you had great mileage and you managed to carry me from San Diego to LA dozens of times. Your paint was chipping and your insides were being held together with duct tape, but you were a good car until the end. May you be recycled well.
3.23.2006
Things I Love About Being A Mom...
My baby finds simple things amusing. I think this is because her mom finds simple things amusing. Here are some things that I love about our baby.
(1) I love when she laughs and her smile is so big that her eyes shrink. It's so Asian.
(2) I love that her cheeks are so big that when I hold her up above me in the air, gravity pulls those heavy cheeks down and puckers her lips together.
(3) I love how her hair looks like a boy's haircut. I don't mind that people assume she's a boy at first impression. Some days her hair is reminiscent of Wolverine on X-men because she gets these funny poimts sticking out.
(4) Most of all, I love that we're a family.
That's what I love about being a mom.
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