Thank you 2009. Hello 2010!

Wow. What a year to remember.  The best present-- Sofia.

Where to begin... year in review...
I really can't remember that much, except being pregnant, really, which was the majority of the year!


January- Bernd's bday and crazy night... i think actually this might have been the last night M and i went out together. haha.
February- the month sofia was created...
March- 13th- i still remember taking the pee test... telling M while he's playing video games... calling mom... visit to cbus/nj for work anf
April- beijing... lucky with the weather! no pollution and good times.
May- Champions league- Barca vs. Manu... peeing on the floor... no comment.
June- Dinner at Spoon, so full! Phuket... babymoon, revisiting twin palms! Fantasea. haha.
July- M's bday at yorkshire pudding
Aug- LA, Cbus, Vancouver... Barca vs. Galaxy, cleaning house in cbus, sushi for the first time since February... the two weeks went by too quickly. i miss the states! i miss my sisters.
Sep- my bday... 30+1. Dinner at Spoon for mom/dad's anniversary too.
Oct- M's trip home to NJ/NY for his 10 yr
Nov- Waiting for Sofia... Sofia's birthday- finally here to meet mommy & daddy!!
Dec- Sofia's first month. :)

wow. the year really flies by.  but what a wonderful year... i had a good year this year.  i look forward to 2010, where it'll be even better i'm sure. Just because we'll have new adventures as a family, new obstacles to overcome, new things to accomplish, and most importantly-- as a family.

May 2010 bring laughter, happiness and love to all... our family & friends- our loved ones. :)

Sofia, you are such a blessing... we can't wait to see you grow (though not so fast) in the coming years! we love you so much little girl.. .
mommy & daddy

bye bye... for now.

Tomorrow (well today) is 12/30.  That means grandma tsang, grandpa tsang and auntie jen jen and jackie are all leaving hongkong to go back to the states.  i am a bit sad, well more than a bit sad... as i know i'm sure grandma is too.  it makes me sad because i see how quickly sofia, you are growing up, and how time will pass and mommy's family won't be here to see you grow up like daddy's family will.  I suppose it's a bit the same way as mommy's parents (your grandparents) well their parents weren't around to see us three grow up... but i guess it's a bit different this time. Why? not sure. Maybe because i feel so close to my mommy.  I'm even crying while typing this! (ahh the hormones perhaps are still adjuting).  Even when we left dinner tonight- *sigh*, the tears were running down my face for that reason. To think that Sofia, you won't see your grandma tsang for awhile and she's soooo wonderful.  the funny thing is, i think she feels the same.  She wanted to hold you every minute she could- and of course, i let her because i knew that she wanted to hold you... i know that she feels like she too, will be missing out a bit since she is so far away... but i guess that's just part of life.  though it makes me sad. I wish she were closer, or we were closer to her.  She is just so very loving that i would love for her to really be able to spend these early years with you all the time so you know just how much she loves you Sofia.  oh dear.  so many tears right now  i look at your face while you are sleeping and you are so calm, so precious, and i still cannot believe that you're my little daughter and i feel so blessed and grateful.  But oh, i really do wich my mommy were here with me too, to share this blessing. it's going to be tough. it's probably also a good thing we're not going to the airport tomorrow morning, otherwise i'd be a mess sending them off! gosh. horrible mess.

i hope you don't grow up too quickly sofia... so that you can wait fo ryour grandma tsang to watch you grow up and hopefully with video chat/internet, you'll be able to see them and talk to her more often... i really want you to know her and love her as much as you can, even though you won't see her as much as your other grandparents... because even though grandma and grandpa tsang are far away, i can assure you they'll love you soooooooo much, and already do more than you can even imagine.

hormones. must be the hormones as to why i'm so sad.  but i guess i should be happy... happy that mommys' family were able to come for 2 weeks/ 1 week and meet you... though it seemed to pass so quickly, hopefully we will see them soon enough again, at every chance we have.

mommy loves you... mommy's family all love you very very much too.
smile sofia... our little sunshine and happiness. :)

One Month Plus.

The days pass by and everyday Sofia, you're growing and becoming more and more aware of everyone around you and also things around you. It seems like you're able to definitely recognize mommy and daddy now and also grandma.  It's so adorable to watch you sleep, i spend much too much time i think, just staring and just seeing how pure and innocent life can be.... it's precious.  i couldn't ask for more and wish we could stay like this for much longer than probably we can.  But i do look forward to you growing and learning more, and the memories we will share and that i will always remember forever about you as you are right now, my precious little sofia michael.

Last night we had your 1 month celebration birthday party.  It wasn't too fancy, but nice to have relatives meet and see you for the first time!!  It was only at the clubhouse at Manhattan Hill, so close enough and not too much trouble.  I've been learning that it is really difficult now to leave on time... with a baby, and i wasn't really on time to begin with...  hopefully daddy will understand this soon too.

A transition for sure, but one we will get through for sure.

And mommy is happy, we finally took our Christmas pictures as a family. :)

we love you.
daddy & mommy.

Merry Christmas!

12.25.2009

Sofia is 32 days old and it's her first Christmas! Though it's not very festive... although we have a tree, family is here, it's not the same as when we are home in NJ. I guess she's too little to understand anyways, so that's okay.  But i hope that next year we can go home to NJ and celebrate properly... I'm such a sucker for holidays and how to do them "right"- in the festive manner.  I guess I am also sentimental like that as well.  Maybe that's why. It definitely doesn't really seem very festive though.  I'm a bit sad about it -- being my family hasn't really been around as they're running errands/meeting mom's friends etc , but it's okay.  I'm going to dress Sofia in her little xmas fleece outfit auntie jenjen gave her and i think we'll be going to karlson's later tonight. Hopefully we'll be able to take xmas pics still. :) Most important i think, so that sofia has some memories for later.

Sofia is growing and growing. I think she's grown 2" in the past month and is probably over 9lbs.  Also you're able to move your head from side to side when sleeping on your belly! It's truly amazing how strong you are.  Your neck muscles even- are already so strong, you can hold your head up on your own.  its' such a blessing, i am so thankful that you're my daughter and in my life.

Merry merry christmas!!
love and peace in the world, right? :)

Happy 1 Month Sofia!

I've already said it so far and I'll continue to say this for the rest of my life... "the time goes by so fast".

And it certainly does.

Sofia is already 1 month today.  What an extraordinary month! I wouldn't give it up for anything in the world, to see our little girl come from my tummy into this world and grow and change everyday.  She is becoming more and more beautiful and she is amazing as she continues to learn and absorb the wonders of life around her. I can see her eyes focusing and she hears my and daddy's voice and knows who we are.  Of course she knows who I am- she is practically attached to the boob every 3 hrs on the dot! her timing is impeccable. My body seems to know too... it's amazing how it works and synchronizes.

Sofia has a strong neck too- she holds her head up for a minute at a time at least! She can even turn her head from side to side when we place her on her tummy to sleep- i noticed this two days ago... i put her head down on the right side and later on when i went to check on her, she was sleeping on her left! She cannot do this always i dont' think but i'm not sure.. it's amazing though.

She isn't sleeping very well through the night however, this is the only tough part, but during the day she's an angel.  I hope this changes soon as we'll need to start to set a schedule for her, to play during the day more so we can sleep at night vs vice versa.  There are so many things, to be thankful for... she is a doll and i am so thrilled to be her mommy.

We have chosen a chinese name for her too, and daddy got her birth certificate yesterday (12/22)...
-- Wong Yu Ching -- it means "yellow - sunny - happy" Also apparently she has all 5 elements in her life- water, earth, gold, fire and wood.  Not too many people will have this, so she will definitely be a strong one! I look back at the list i wrote and believe wow, what a good thing it was... daddy even said "i hope you wrote just as a good list for our next one/ our son!" Of course silly. :) Mommy only hopes the best of the universe for our family...

The past month has been full of ups and downs... the confinement lady turned out to be too bad, but oh well. life puts you in contact with different folk, you learn from them, whether good or bad and you decide how that you will use that knowledge and better yourself in the future. right? :)

More importantly though, grandma Tsang has been in HK to visit us since the 14th of this month and what a lovely lovely thing that is. She loves you little Sofia soooo much. it's so endearing to watch her play with you. Auntie jen jen and jackie also arrived last night and grandpa tsang arrived today.  Mommy's family is all here and it's wonderful. :) it's too bad they aren't closer however it just means that much more to spend these few days with them while they're visiting us!! Such a blessing for our entire family to be here... so happy. :)

Yesterday was 12/22- winter solstice.  We went to Yuen long for dinner and to see great grandpa/ma wong! Mommy actually also cut your hair, well, attempted to. i need to take a photo still, it's pretty horrible!  But hopefully the angels are happy and are sending their love, protection and blessings to you for your life.  I already know that you are so very very blessed- to have so many people already love you little girl... remember- thankful, grateful and appreciative to everything and everyone who touches your life and loves you.   Family is always, always, most important.

You are growing everyday... and I am so in love with you, you are such an amazing little person and mommy cannot wait to watch who you will become and the wonderful things you're going to do.

love mommy

Home Sweet Home.

Well, after not being home for almost 3 weeks, i realize I was really getting antsy at m's parents. I mean, it's very lovely, the room is spacious, but it isn't "home."  So last night, Little Girl and I went home. :)  (daddy had gotten mad at grandma wong over feeding, so he stormed off).  And how nice it was to be home. A House isn't necessarily a home, but ours is.  Daddy has been working on stuff throughout our little flat and it's starting to feel and look great.  We still have quite a bit to clean up still, but in time, slowly but surely. :)

12.13 Sunday (evening)
3 weeks ago, mommy started to go into labor...right before Twilight was on (9pm)... luckily it's on again now. haha.  So hot.

12.14 Monday
Happy 3 weeks little Sofia. It's been a good 3 weeks so far- yes, sleepless nights and lots of feeding and diapers but it's worth it and i can't imagine it without you in our lives. I am so grateful and thankful that God has given us you- our little miracle blessing. :)

Daddy is in japan again- the ANF store in Ginza is opening tmrw. He said it's really nice. Too bad I couldn't go but daddy will bring us back goodies. he always does. :p  he'll be back on Wednesday, so not too far away.

Also- grandma tsang will be here tonight!! :) i can't wait for you to meet her. She's wonderful and i'm sure will be very excited to meet you too!!

love mommy and daddy

Time waits for no one...

I have been really thinking about life lately- how quickly it really goes by. Having Sofia has made me really realize why it's important to have children, earlier IS better, though I guess there needs to be some balance. I realize that when she's 10 i'll be 41. When she's 20 I'll be 51... that's not really young anymore. I suppose my mom was the same way... the time really will fly. I am a bit saddened by it, but I guess I cannot worry about being sad and appreciate everyday- to be grateful and joyful and thankful for everything that I have in my life. A beautiful family- husband, daughter, parents, sisters, in laws, extended family... all is what life really is about. Not things, not material. Material helps our lives live more comfortably, but when it comes down to it, happiness is not measured by things but by the memories we share with our loved ones.

I am thankful for all the happiness in my life right now and what's to come.

it brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it (yes maybe the hormones too haha); but really, there isn't anything better than right now.

love,

mommy

2 weeks old!

Happy 2 Weeks old Sofia!

Yes, i'll say it again, the time passes so quickly. Mommy is absolutely still amazed by you and will continue to be as i get to watch you grow into a beautiful person. :)

Today we went to Dr. Lee because your cord stump finally started to come off... and we were worried about the bleeding. Grandma Tsang got mad at the pui yuet b/c she said she was too rough... and I should've done it myself, but either way... even the dr said it took awhile, but i don't mind. it seems that you like to take your time. :) just remember, there is a time and place for everything. This case, you're okay.. since you were 10 days late anyhow. :) But the dr took your cord stump off and of course, mommy being sentimental saved it. You are totally now your own little girl... no more mommy attached to you. *sigh* But mommy will always be a part of you, inside. At least the dr said nothing to be worried about and that you should be healthy- unless the belly button doesn't dry up and stays wet-- then we have to go back in a week. So i hope it cleans up okay.

Dr. Lee also said you're strong :) you got weighed today and are over 4kg! that's great, since when we left the hospital on 11/27 you were only 3.29kg. So you've definitely gained back your weight and some! You were quite fussy last night, i'm thinking because of your belly button... supposedly you will be drinking more milk now, so hopefully mommy will continue to have enough for you. No formula if not necessary! (which i am thinking won't be necessary anyhow).

You are a funny little girl... crying in the waiting room- we had to wait over 1/2 hr, but i think because you were hungry. :( then as soon as we got into the dr's office you were quiet and good, observing and taking in everything. :p as long as you're healthy! that's what matters most.

As we were waiting for the car, we saw uncle Daryl and another aunty- grandma Wong's friend. Funny.

We had a rough night last night, but hopefully tonight will be better... and you can sleep and eat more.

We love you little girl... happy 2 weeks! (only one more week till grandma tsang comes to meet you!!)

mommy & daddy.

Confinement (catch up post)

So we hired a "confinement lady" or pui yuet. Chan Gu lerng. She is okay, started over a week ago on Friday- 11/27, the day we came home from the hospital. We were so frantic when we first got home that i think we got off on the wrong foot because she said all the clothes we got were not right, etc etc. i wasn't about to buy new clothes either, so she was just being difficult, or stubborn or something, being that it wasn't what she perhaps was used to... regardless the next day at least was better. M apologized to her but she was still pretty pushy, about pumping ( which i mentioned before too about annoyance and stupid repetitiveness!)

But overall i guess i cannot complain, she is 50, and she is helpful i guess, at least she does do stuff. She repeats herself though, perhaps this is a sign of old age though and not nagging? gosh. i hope i catch myself too when i get to that age... 20 years from now. geez. 20 years from now and little sofia will still only be 20/21... anyhow, don't need to fast forward just yet!

So Chan helps cook "special" meals, which basically consists of chicken and pork, steamed, with veggies, blanched in hot water with ginger. Since i had a c section, i am "not allowed" to eat a number of things, vs. if i gave birth naturally. This is due to the scar/ needing to heal time.

Not allowed to eat for 100 days:

-shrimp

-crab

-raw/cold * though i asked about ice cream and she said it was okay, just not too much

-raw = things like salad :(

Not allowed to eat/do for 30 days:

- use tap water, must "shower" with old ginger boiled water

- bamboo

- drink mostly red date water, not regular hot water... or drink less hot plain water. Not sure why, but the red date water is getting old after 10 days...

Not allowed to eat/do for 20 days/ only after 20th day:

-Beef

- lamb?

Not allowed to eat for 12 days/only after 12th day:

-Gogi berries

- sweets/ like cookies/cake * though should wait for 20 days

- ginger * only in little qtys at first

-Papaya

-Fish * worry too fishy, the smell/taste - start to make fish soup+papaya for milk post day 12+

- finally wash hair!! *but w/ginger peel boiled water

Minimal:

- Fruits- but only apples, oranges, grapes, nothing fancy like mango, lychee etc., of course. :p

So yah, it makes my diet & actions pretty limiting. I've basically been eating the same stuff for lunch and dinner, steamed... its clean, so i dont mind, all the oil/fat is gone. I have (thank goodness) had pizza though & gingerale YUM. For my sanity, of course. :) Oh and i did go to watsons the other day and i got thee yellow tube wine gums. hahaha.

But a sample meal at lunch consists of:

* 1 big huge bowl of soup (pork- the muscle, leanest meat, red dates- to help with blood, and other stuff like chinese stuff, red bean, wai sum, dong song, ginger, orange peel, etc.. or sometimes lotus soup, which is good... lotus supposedly also helps "bo" *** apparently i need lots of soup!

* steamed chicken (organic, i asked her to buy), all the skin taken off so less fat/oil, steamed at 100C for 15 min with red dates, ginger strips and perhaps dong song, or the black frilly fungus and lily stems...

* minced pork + mushrooms also steamed for 100C 15 min (though i still have a bad thing for mushrooms- can't handle them... )

* Or spare ribs/ "pai gwuk" pork with the black beans... or pai gwuk with chestnuts* this is my fav so far

* Steamed broccoli with sliced chicken gizzard

* Or blanched choy sum/ gai lan with ginger

* big bowl of rice

And yes, i'll eat the same stuff for dinner (as i had for lunch) usually. But y'know it's interesting, b/c i'm pretty okay with it. Surprisingly.

Apparently Clay Pots are better btw-- Chan only uses Clay pots to cook, the nutrients supposedly stay in better-- i.e. fish soup should ONLY be cooked in clay pots, if you cook in a regular metal pot, apparently all the nutrients go away. hmm... intersting! i will have to get a clay pot for myself one of these days.

Mama (great grandma wong) also makes me stuff like birds nest and "fa gao" (fish stomach), which are high protein no fat, which is also very good for me, mom (grandma tsang) agrees.

So I'm not allowed to use tap water- as mentioned before, due to later life possible "arthritis" and other potential issues. I haven't been able to wash my hair for the past 14 days too (it's actually only 12 days, but we happened to wait 14 due to her day off-- shoot, by the time we got home from the hospital on day 5, i figured we might as well wait another 7 days!). The ginger water makes my body warm, and protects from "wind"... hey, if it's going to keep me healthy when i get older, might as well do it. what've i got to lose :)

the whole no proper shower thing though is difficult, but i guess i can sacrifice now... for later. no soap might i add, so i basically bathe/wipe down with only ginger water. I tried using soap one day and broke out into semi rash... i put 180 though on it to help neutralize, thank goodness for mom's nuskin training and the ph balance of 180! I guess soap will irritate the skin now as i'm technically "recovering". C sections are still pretty major surgery. I feel lucky that i'm good, i hope my uterus is recovering as quickly as i am in the rest of my body. :)

I also have to brush my teeth with bottled water- since no tap is allowed. (face washing is done with ginger water too- being careful of the eyes not to sting... thank goodness today i finally exfoliated.) i think when the 30 days are up, i'm going to go to the spa for one of those total body exfoliation scrubs. yes, i think i need that.

There are some things though i feel are a bit off about Chan- I guess it's just werid for a "stranger" basically to be looking over your shoulder while you breastfeed... nipple and all. I suppose I am already pretty open about the boob- from what i think, being m's mom also hovers sometimes... In the hospital during those days even. Shoot she was in the labor room when they were checking down there too, so i donno, embarassed? i guess I can't be at this point lol. sigh. all part of the human body, which is beautiful i suppose so we shouldn't be embarassed, but still, um. yah. :p

Chan also is a bit stubborn, and rough, sometimes I worry about her, esp esp ESP when she is cleaning sofia's cord stump. She has noted over and over again (seriously i think almost everyday since we've been home) about how her stump is not tied/cut pretty... so that's why it hasn't fallen off. Well! I can't do anything about it now, but maybe you should be a bit nicer or gentler with my baby??? i mean even in the hospital they only used alcohol wipes, NOT Q TIPS!!! it's kinda scary the way she does it... :( I just hope little Sofia's cord stump doesn't get infected, since it started bleeding on Thursday-- when i went to the hospital for my stitches removed... We are taking Sofia to the dr tmrw as well, hope he has availability-- so that she is okay and no infection. I think it's okay b/c the skin around isn't red, but you can't be so sure since babies can't communicate really. Better Safe than Sorry.

I'm sure she's bored too, since there isn't much for her to do- we're still more hands on (ok, i am) during the day- the only time she really gets to hold baby is when she takes her bath and burping (i can also burp baby but i just let her b/c m thinks she feels un-useful if not)...

Overall though I guess I should be thankful-- i mean, having someone to take care of me/ cook and clean and stuff, since she does wash Sofia's stuff, and clean up, yah... I should be grateful overall still. Not everyone is as lucky to hire a pui yuet, or learn about these things of eastern culture, i mean shoot, if i were in the states, I wouldn't have known all these things...

Remember to be grateful...

***

As for baby sofia, she's growing every day. I don't know if her face is "changing", but she is gaining weight i do think (perhaps we need to get a scale soon)... she's becoming more alert as well, opening her eyes more when she eats, and wants to play around 8pm. She's sleeping a bit more now, about 3 hrs at a time which is great thru the night...

Her voice though started to change about 4 days ago- it's more "scratchy/sandy" now... hope her vocal chords aren't damaged, maybe it'll be good for singing later on as daddy hoped...

The only bad thing is that her belly button is starting to bleed- the cord stump... which is totally making me nervous since Chan has been cleaning it the past week and i feel like she keeps digging too deep; but M told me that she does this for a living, so just trust her... though i think you can't force these things? She keeps saying too that the stump was not cut/tied properly/nicely, so that's the problem. Perhaps it is or perhaps it isn't but either way-- we can't do anything about it!! so we just need to fix it now.

Her skin is also still really dry- perhaps i need to drink more water (though i've been drinking "red-date water" which is eh.

Her nails are also quite long-- the first week in the hospital we kept mittens on her, but since we've been home i have taken them off. Her nails have kinda broken off themselves, making them shorter (i don't have a baby nail clipper, the ones in the kits are still too big and files don't work b/c her nails are too bendable still, not hardened)... anyhow, i took them off because i don't want her to not have proper development of her fingers and hands... even when we first took them off i noticed she doesn't like people touching her hands. But each day i try to massage her fingers and her toes, and hopefully this will help. She is started to scratch herself though, which isn't great- but i just don't really want to put the mittens back on, so enhancer it is.

The past 3 days too, she hasn't been crying as much when she soils her diaper. It's weird-- either she knows daddy/mommy will change it for her, or she doesn't mind? I'm not sure. I'd like to think it's the former, where she trusts that she'll be cleaned-- though lately too, she's been pooping while we change her, or she'll pee... but i guess as long as she's not crying and is a happy healthy baby, then i am happy too. :)

The nights haven't been bad either, she wakes up about 3xs, about every 3 hrs. Somehow though it's interesting because her milk supply and her timing are pretty much on track. Though with teh pumping lately it's a bit more off, since I try to pump when the milk starts leaking- so not to waste the milk!! We try to keep about 2oz in the ridge so daddy can help feed her at least one bottle a day now. This helps i hope him bond with her more. I know she will be daddy's little girl-- i just don't want him to feel left out during feeding time now, since we are still quite close, for obvious reasons.

Daddy though has been so wonderful, changing her diapers in the evening. I do the diaper duty at night though, but that's okay. It's quiet time for us...

i think Sofia is starting to recognize us now too, at least our voices if she cannot see very far in front of her (i still hope she takes after daddy with her eyesight!)... which is exciting.

the time is flying by. tomorrow she will be two weeks old already. two weeks ago we went to the hospital and labor started...

Still so amazing. Life is.

all the love for our wonderful little family, and our big family-- loved ones.

But such a blessing this little girl... I still can't believe she's ours...

Day #12 (12/4/09)

Little Sofia,

its been 12 days since your birthday... one week since we've been home... and all filled with such wonder and amazement, love and hope. High hopes of who you are, who you'll become, who you look like even... but no matter what, it puts a smile on mommy and daddy's faces, along with everyone else who's come to visit you-- including tai gong, tai pou (both sides!), yeye, mama, aunty celeste, uncle derek (while we were in the hospital), aunty virginia, jeffrey... such a blessing you are.

I am even more excited when grandma tsang and your auntie jen jen and jackie and grandpa tsang come- to see you for the first time! it will be such a great feeling, you know, my mommy, me and you little sofia. :)

The past 11 days I've learned you're a pooping and eating machine! you haven't a schedule yet, but that's okay. Waking up in the middle of the night is not a chore, not easy, but i don't mind. Breastfeeding too, has been an experience, it makes me feel like i am doing something good-- for you, making sure you are well fed with enough nourishment and nutrition to make you grow healthy and strong.

Daddy loves to come home to hang out and play with you as well, though there isn't much to "play" right now, but he has been busy trying to fix our home so that when we finally move home, home, that it'll be perfect for our little family. :) he has been working hard, getting things needed, cleaning up, putting everything into place... i know he loves us very much and i'm extremely thankful for that.

On another note - we have the pui yuet helping out for the next 3 weeks, she started last friday, and we got off on the wrong foot as she said there weren't enough "right clothes" for you-- even though we had enough clothes and she just didn't think they fit you (but they did... no comment from mom o_O) She has experience yes, but at the same time i feel there is something a bit off, but oh well, as long as she is helping mommy cook and get better, and cleaning you a bit (she bathes you, which i wish i could but because i cannot touch tap water right now due to potential arthritis later on...)- i think she wants to be more "hands on" but i guess, i'm just being overprotective in a sense, even though you don't really know any better i guess being you sleep most of the day anyhow. She changes your diaper maybe once or twice a day, and doesn't really feed you but last week mommy did have a slight breakdown. perhaps it's post partum, or the hormones re-working themselves but we went to the hospital last saturday to make sure your jaundice levels were going down so you wouldn't need to do the lights thing, and that saturday oh my, she must've told me about 4xs that i needed to pump so to see how much milk mommy had, and so she could help feed so i wouldn't be so tired. Well, i had charged the battery on friday night, and it said 24 hrs to charge and i guess between her and daddy too also saying that i needed to pump i just started to break down b/c i told them i would pump but had to wait for the battery to finish charging!! (which would be done 9pm sat night)-- oh my, the tears just kept flowing and flowing... because i felt so pressured, but it wasn't really anything looking back... just over, sorry, HYPER-active hormones. i was crying in the hospital, the nurses thought i was just upset over the jaundice issue, little did they know it was something much more minuscule than that!

But anyhow, mommy was glad that your jaundice level dropped to 10.5 on Saturday afternoon (it was 12.2 on Friday when we left the hospital- a 15+ or something and you need to go under the lights); but because your level dropped, you didn't need to go under the lights. :) yay! it was the first goal achieved, mommy was so proud of you :) so i hope your eyesight will be good, since grandma tsang says the lights may damage your eyesight later on... we still let you sleep under teh sun each morning though, since the lights are basically UV lights anyhow... but i was thrilled and so happy and am so proud of you. :) i'm glad you pooped all the bilurubin out. yeah!

The past week has flown by, on Monday, your week birthday i was actually quite sad too, a bit bittersweet- not having you in my tummy, i can honestly say that i miss the belly! i didn't think i would, but i realize that i do. i miss feeling you inside of me, though now you are outside and i can hug and hold you-- that is of course, something wonderful- but just different. I am hoping to avoid post partum depression, as it occurs in a number of women, so hopefully i can remain happy and healthy.

On wednesday, you shot poop at daddy, but nearly missed. it was quite funny, for mommy at least. Your poop is a yellow mustard color- kinda like the "gold" in the crabs... (sorry for lack of better description); it's watery too... you almost actually pooped on mommy and peed while i was changing you- it's like a little fountain! but good to know that i'll never be hit in the eye, like i hear those parents of little boys. :p

You are a good girl... the past two nights have been a bit better, sleeping and waking up are less, about 4-5xs vs the 6-7xs before. So i'm glad we're getting there, slowly but surely. You sleep much better during the day as well, it seems you're more nocturnal... but hopefully this changes after your first month too.

We have everyday to look froward to, but when mommy might have to go back to work, i will be very sad, crying i'm sure... i don't want to leave you with a stranger, as i will worry worry! i am hoping that i can figure a schedule out with daddy so that we can always be around you and not miss you growing up... Grandma Tsang was home with me and my sisters really, what a blessing that was too... again, i hope i can only be the best mommy possible to you so that when you one day, have little babies of your own, you can think back and be thankful, like i am of what i can do for you and that you can do the same for your little ones... someday. But one day at a time. we don't want to skip your growing up or baby years yet! as we'll cherish these memories always...

i love you little girl...

so does daddy. and everyone else around you.

biggest hugs,

love mommy & daddy

One week ago... 11/22

Wow, the week has gone by so quickly... One week ago, Sunday, I started to bleed- probably around this exact time, 8:45pm. I remember because it was 15 minutes before Twilight was showing on tv. And that was the beginning of when we would finally get to meet you little girl...

All day I was feeling mild to medium cramping. That afternoon daddy and I eve went to Dan Ryans to eat. He had the lunch special - ribs/chicken, clam chowder, and dessert. Mommy had a tuna melt- tuna for maybe the 3rd time for 9 months... Well maybe you didn't like the tuna because you decided it was time. So Sunday night, having not even had dinner, we (including grandma wong) drove to the hospital. Arrived about 9:50pm. Mommy got hooked up to the monitor and by 10:20 we found that they weren't normal/regular contractions but still would be staying in the hospital. We got to see all the rooms since it was fairly empty... And decided on OB13- mommy's lucky #. It even had an extra bed for daddy, which usually doesn't. :) so we got lucky lucky!!

By 10:30pm daddy drove grandma home and by 11:10pm I started feeling contractions more regularly... And 5 minutes apart. By 11:20pm I went back to the labor room to get hooked up to the monitor again and sure enough- they were 5 minutes apart and getting stronger. The strongest are usually about 120-130ish, and I saw they were going up to 90, 100, but still bearable. I called daddy to hurry back and by 11:30 he was back, in time. I was hoping labor would be 3-6 hrs max- as I had always told little girl, but I guess it was not her plan. Being exhausted by 1am, staring at the clock, I was really getting tired from also not eating since 3pm. Contractions were also hitting 120, which was pretty strong, bearable to a certain extent but because i was so tired and hadn't eaten, i figured by 1:30am we should get the epidural, just because i knew we needed to rest for the big labor process/delivery. So by 2am, Dr. Yau came in and administered the epidural. First there was an IV (yuck! needles) and then the epidural. I was shaking b/c it was so cold... It kicked in about 10 minutes later, and i started to feel nothing in regards to contractions, however little Sofia's heartbeat dropped to 73 I remember at one point within those same minutes so we had to turn onto the other side, then turn back to get her heart rate back up... scary. but at least things worked out okay... unfortunately though i'm not sure if the epidural ended up slowing down the entire process because the contractions started slowing down as well from 1.5-2min back up to 5. :(

as we watched the clock tick, the hours go by, every 2 hrs we "topped up" the epidural. it's an interesting sensation, the cold fluid you can feel entering into the tube into your body... being that this was the first ever time i have been admitted to the hospital,, it certainly was a new experience. (thankfully the first time I’ve been admitted to the hospital and for good reason of course!)

so watching the clock go by, but managing to nap about 2 hrs between each top up- i tried to just wait as long as possible between each time to see if the pain would really be as bad as you'd think / or as they show in the movies. I don't really think it was UN-bearable, but it wasn't comfortable that's for sure. i'm glad i did get the epidural after all.

at around 6:15am i heard a "pop pop pop" and though okay, either i just farted or my water broke. And sure enough, my water did break. They take a swab and swipe to see if it changes color... if it does, sure enough your water did break. Yes!! i was thinking, progress!!! but not really.

By 7am (11 to 7 = 8 hrs elapsed), i was still only 5-6cm dialated... oh but quite "funny"- as 7am a lady checked in also in labor, and apparently did not have an epidural... b/c she was breathing in the pain gas (can't remember what it's called) and when she finally started to go into labor was SCREAMING " Jiu wo!! Hao tong ah!" ...yes, really, no epidural. Entertaining a bit, sadly.

By 9am (11 to 9 = 10 hrs elapsed), i was 7 cm dialated... and Dr. tsai came to visit. He said that although i was dialated, little girl's head hadn't come down yet and was still floating around, not in my pelvis. He said we should wait till lunchtime to see, otherwise there may be swelling in her head and we'd need an emergency c section. I was a bit disappointed, but also accepting, as long as I could breastfeed immediately afterwards, which he said I could. Also we asked that knowing, with c sec, you can't have too many kids due to the scars on the uterus-- and he said yes, prob only 2-3 kids max... At least the bf part was okay... but i was still praying that her little head would drop into place for a vbirth. Oh, and i wasn't able to eat anymore. Mind you, I hadn't eaten since 3pm the prior day... over 18 hrs ago. at one point i asked daddy to sneak me a dried apricot, an almond and a raisin, but oops, those came right back up and I started to vomit and vomit some more... poor daddy said, he started to cry b/c i looked horrible. Oh well. guess I shouldn't have eaten as the dr ordered! (but i was REALLY hungry!). They even gave me some Zantac i think, but eh, that came up too.

By 11am (11 to 11 = 12 hrs elapsed), well, i was finally 8-9cm, but still no sign of her head... so the Dr started to make phone calls to prepare for an emergency c sec by 1pm. He tried to get us in earlier however the anesthesiologist, Dr. Yau was not available till then. I was worried but at the same time, just ready to meet our little girl. I think I was also so tired and exhausted from no food that it didn't matter anymore. As long as she came out healthy and strong, that's what was most important.

Catheter (not very pleasant but thanks to the epidural i couldn't feel it), shaved, and prepped for the OR, I was wheeled down to the first floor slightly before 1pm. I was checked once more prior the operation (sounds scary really) began, but still no progress... so off we were.

Dr. Yau used the epidural to add more, stronger drugs, so the entire bottom half of my body was numb. I felt like a tree/ log... because i couldn't move anything. It kicked in at about 1:10 and by 1:15 Dr. Tsai was starting to cut his way into getting little girl out. It's a very strange sensation... being tugged, pulled, moved around yet not really knowing what's going on. It doesn't hurt at all, nor was i nervous, perhaps because I really was just that exhausted and couldn't wait till the little girl finally was here. At one point daddy was able to stand up and look over the curtain but he doesn't really remember what he saw. Perhaps he blocked it out of his mind, or was just focused on that instant our little Sofia Michael made her entrance into the world- During the operation I actually was looking up at the reflection in the lights to see if i could see what the dr was doing, but all i saw was a blur... not too much blood it seemed, I wonder how many layers the dr had to cut thru to get to little girl...

And at 13:28, (1:28pm), November 23rd, Monday, 2009. ~7lbs and 11 oz (3.49kg) and 50cm (19.7") tal, Little Sofia Michael Wong- you were born.

You actually weren't chunky like we had expected from the 4d scans, instead was long and lean, and your fingers and toes too, just as long. Reminded me of when I was born, mom (grandma tsang) said that my fingers were long people were making comments on how i would play piano well... well, sure enough, i'm sure our little girl, Sofia, you too, will be good at piano-- as soon as mommy can start teaching you! :)

Daddy recorded your first moments, your first cry, cutting the umbilical cord... it's such an amazing thing, i don't know how you managed to be squished inside, but you were... i wish actually i could go back in time already (i'm writing this actually late, 12/1 today), and i know that what's in store for us, our future together as a new family, will go by even faster. Everyday is such a blessing, we much cherish and be grateful... for our health, happiness and our loved ones.

Dr. Yau took some pictures of us as a family... our first photos. :) Mommy was crying of happiness, of course. I got to hold you for a bit and then Daddy went with you up to get cleaned up while mommy finished getting stitched up... i was so tired... unfortunately i had to wait awhile before headed back up to the 2nd floor, it seemed like a long time, but probably was only 10 minutes... either way my feet were getting antsy, like i wanted to move them but couldn't... But by the time I got back to our room, they were moving again slightly-- which was around 2:15pm. I asked to see you asap and by 2:30 i was able to feed you. Yay! What a good girl you were too, latching immediately... though I knew you would want to eat, since that really was on mommy's list... "likes to eat". ;)

The rest of the afternoon seemed like a blur... all i knew though was that i needed to feed you as much possible to get all the bilurubin out of your system so that you wouldn't have jaundice and need to have lights, since grandma tsang said that might damage your eyesight later on... my goal was for you to poop poop and poop some more... and that you did. Little girl, you are the eating and pooping champ!! :) it makes me happy to see you eat though, that i am doing something right, and helping you get stronger and healthier everyday. I mad you a promise a long time ago little girl-- back when you started your journey... I promise to take care of you always.

***

We were in the hospital from Sunday night until Friday afternoon... each day seemed to fly by, looking forward to what to eat (the ginger pumpkin soup is quite good, as is the veg spaghetti bolognese)... the veg food is actually not bad at the hospital! I couldn't type on blackberry the first few days either... my eyes were so tired i just tried to rest.

About every 3 hrs, the little girl would come visit for her feeding, and by Wednesday, we had you stay with us most of the day.

Daddy stayed with mommy and you in the hospital too, everyday and every night, which was really nice. Daddy has been so wonderful to mommy, and to you... he is such a wonderful husband and father. :)

The only bad thing about the hospital was that i used tap water to wash my hands, i hadn't showered properly (yes i smelled), nor had i washed my hair... because the chinese thing is to not wash with tap, due to possible arthritis later on in life. (Now, i didn't know this, until we came home, and my joints in my fingers (knuckles) started to ache and the pui yuet told me that it's because the water is not good. So now mommy has to bathe with ginger boiled water everyday.)

By Friday everything looked okay- the only thing was that we needed to bring you back to the hospital on Saturday to check your jaundice level again, because the 6th day is the highest typically... but aside from that, mommy looked good and so did you. So by 4:30pm, we left the hospital and were on the way home... well, close. We needed to stay at grandma/pa wong's house first because they're still doing the construction upstairs. I'm not sure how much/loud it still is, but hopefully they're done soon... Very exciting, but also not very, since it wasn't really "home" yet. when we finally are "home home", then i will be really excited i think, to finally start to settle down into our "home" and start our little family. Mommy Daddy and you, little Sofia Michael.

***

Looking back, it's okay that we had a c section vs. v-birth... things always work out in the end. I am concerned for your little brother(s) and sister(s), but i'm sure things will be okay. The scar is about 6" long, it's a sort-of-smile, a "bikini" cut as they call it, at least it's not a vertical one! And although there was bleeding, soreness and some pain, it wasn't anything I couldn't handle. Dr. Yau gave me some strong pain killers, also administered thru the epidural which lasted 15 hrs before he took it out, which was nice, and then after that they gave me some suppository, which also was ok. Then by Thursday they just gave me oral pain killers but to be honest I don't think they worked. I got some to bring home as well, but yes, those didn't really work either and i didn't want to eat so many as i don't want them to affect the milk either. So mommy stopped taking them after 2 days.

Also, even though our plans didn't go accordingly, you realize that it doesn't matter. C section or not, as long as our little girl is safe and sound, healthy and happy-- this is the ultimate beauty of life... the cycle, the love... and when you look at their little angel face, nothing else matters.

***

12/1 .. .December already?!

It’s been amazing the past 8 days to see this little person grow and do new things… she’s learned to “fake cry” for attention and also today has learned to stick fingers into her mouth. I think she probably would’ve done it sooner had we not had her mittens on… but regardless, she is such an angel… we couldn’t be any more blessed…

I am actually already thinking about how she won't stay small forever and am a bit sad, but am looking forward to seeing this little girl grow and develop into a personality and character of her own... seeing just *how many* of those things on mommy's list come true. :)

and yes, she's a scorpio/sagittarius cusp. ;)

we love you so very very much little girl, and we are so unbelievably and words-cannot-describe- how happy we are.

love mommy and daddy.

Lazy Saturday

Today was a lazy saturday, just bumming it at home... luckily the renovation upstairs wasn't noisy at all! thank goodness, so that was really quite nice. We had some things done to the flat today- shelves installed, touch-ups to the spider cracks, nothing too major. it's been nice too, now that we have screens on the windows. :) no bugs!

Daddy also set up your crib today! It's nice... I don't think i'm going to wash everything yet though since it will get dusty since you're going to sleep in the playard bassinet for the first few months... but i think we're just about really ready little Sofia!

Maybe tomorrow? ;)

big hugs & kisses, love mommy & daddy

i heart being pregnant.

really i do. :)

haha. ahhh my little girl...

Yesterday we went to see dr.tsai... being 41 weeks now, we have to be a bit careful since you are "late" according to the 'LMP' of 2/5/09. I think you're fine, and on your own timeline... so mommy isn't worrying. But there is an expiration date of the placenta, so we do need to be careful the dr says. Usually about 2 wks is the "threshold".

So yesterday's appointment was okay, nothing out of the ordinary. You still look good and healthy! But the dr did say your head is not yet engaged-- meaning that you're still floating around and your head isn't in mommy's pelvis yet. We also did do a non-stress test, just to be sure. That was interesting. We went up to the maternity ward and mommy and you were monitored for 1/2 hr... to check your heartbeat and to see when you're moving or if it got faster, if your heartbeat did the same. So everything is okay! But we did need to come up with a "plan"... if you decide that you're still quite comfy inside as of next week...

Sooooooo. if by Tuesday you still have decided mommy's tummy is good and cozy, we might need to look into inducing you. Of course mommy doesn't really want to use the pitocin to make you come out, but that doesn't guarantee you will. Pitocin mimmicks the act of natural labor, with the contractions, but if your head does or doesn't move into mommy's pelvis is another story. I think you will be okay, and eventually when your day is here, then you will... it's just a matter of time. I do hope though in the next few days so we don't need to go through all that trouble!

Otherwise, if by next wed/thurs the pitocin doesn't work, we might have to just do a c section, which is the last last resort... mommy prefers a natural birth, but i guess if it doesn't work it doesn't work. As long as you're healthy, that's most important!

Grandma Tsang said to massage the pinky toes- since this correlates to the uterus in re: accupressure points. We did that the past two nights and it seems to be working, with some more mild cramping... so we'll continue to do that tonight and tmrw... until you are here. :) I don't particularly feel like we're in a rush, though there are MANY many people waiting for you! I know that whatever day you decide on little Sofia, will be the right day for you- your birthday.

Speaking of birthdays...

yesterday was actually grandma wong's birthday and great grandma wong's lunar birthday so we went to yan to heen at the intercon to celebrate. It was yummy, as usual. :) We had eggplant, since mommy read somewhere that eggplant parmesean helps with labor- missing the italian portion of the parmesean, but yummy nonetheless. Mommy actually never ate eggplant until she met daddy.

Then today was grandma wong's lunar birthday so we went to have dinner at Mistral. Eggplant parmesean- Score! it was yummy too. We also had 4 cheese pizza but didn't finish. That's for tmrw lunch. :)

Mommy also took a 1 hr walk this afternoon and also had tofufa. So hopefully *something* of the above will help prepare for you to come out! We'll also soak our feet tonight and massage our pinky toes. I do feel more contractions and cramping today too... so hopefully we're getting close!

Mommy & Daddy love you... gonna go for a walk now to see if that helps. plus it's not as cold today and there's a bit of sunshine... just like you. our sunshine. :)

hugs & kisses all around.

love mommy & daddy.

"What're we going to do tonight Brain?"

"... what we do every night Pinky... try to take over the world!"

This reminds me a bit of what we're doing now... waiting... everyday, maybe tonight, maybe tomorrow. but the same thing... for the past week+? haha. well, tomorrow will be 41 weeks! That means that little Sofia, you will be 1 week late (unless you decide to come out today, 11/18, being 40w+6d). Though tmrw is your grandma's birthday and also your great grandmothers birthday (based on lunar calendar for g-gma)... maybe you want to wait till then? Though I was hoping you'd have your own birthday... For sure now though, you will be a scorpio-sagittarius cusp, which is nice, since Sagittariuses are fun, firey, and mommy's best gf from college is actually a Sag. so we'll see.

Last night mommy couldn't sleep so well, even though I took an earlier nap- noon-3pm... still couldn't fall asleep till about 2am. My tummy is hurting too, and today feels quite stretching, like "jeurng"... i wonder if you're still growing, or if it's hopefully getting closer and closer. Only time will tell i guess. Patience, if anything, is the first lesson mommy is learning from you, and I'm sure there will be a lifetime more things and lessons you will teach both mommy and daddy. :)

Anyhow, the weather is getting colder here in HK... it's about 11 degrees today which is about 50; doesn't sound too cold, but it is gloomy. no sun. and wind. So it feels more like 40. but it's ok, as long as we don't get sick! B/c the crisp air and cold weather is a wonderful change from the hot and humid summer here. So i'd take this weather anyday... just need to bundle up some more and wear more layers! :)

Daddy cleaned up the box that was sitting in your crib area finally last night too... I think he found a lot of stuff and threw it out, kept it, whatever... but i think it was nice for him to go through, keepsakes. He found a journal he wrote from his post grad HS trip to europe, which basically was him high the entire time. I don't think you should read it until you grow up but it's quite funny.

Hopefully we can make your crib by this weekend... hopefully you too, decide to come out by this weekend! We know you will choose your day wisely... and a happy day it will surely be.

we love you little girl... hope you're staying healthy, happy, strong, and beautiful...

big hugs and kisses love mommy & daddy

40weeks + 3 days... & counting.

Mommy woke up this morning with some cramping... I thought it was a good sign, being that it was 3 more medium cramping feelings, which all came it seemed like in waves. But then I had to wake up to go to the bathroom, and then they stopped. oops. Oh well.

Aside from the semi excitement of the more medium cramping, this morning didn't start off so good... USC lost, and lost horribly to Stanford. What a football season it's been. blah... 3 losses this season... so much for Pac-10 this year!

Anyhow, we went to see Dr. Chow this morning. Unfortunately she won't help deliver you since Dr. Tsai it back. Bummer. I see why though, of course. But as we said, at least we got to meet a new doctor, a lady- and willl definitely see her for your little brother/sister next time. :) It's too bad b/c I really did quite like her! Anyhow, she was surprised to see us, as she said "oh i thought you knew dr. tsai is back", and of course, i did. but oh well.

So your legs aren't growing anymore, but your tummy is! the ultrasound is showing you are 8lbs 6-9oz! that is big little girl! i hope that u/s is wrong! but mommy will still be brave, and you should be too-- we're going to get through this together... just like you know mommy will always be here for you, and we'll get through everything together, as a family. :)

I read that when a baby enters into the world, it produces more stress chemicals than any other time in life... no wonder you don't want to come out. When you finally get big enough though we'll get you some cortitrol, which should help! (something grandma tsang will tell you ALL about!)

But yes, we had fatburger today after visiting the dr's. yummy. and then went to buy a heater since mommy thinks the winter is going to be quite cold this year... and then we went to intercon with the family & had dim sum after that haha. But mommy was very tired, so we ended up coming home and sleeping from like 3:30-7:30pm! daddy was playing FIFA 10 all afternoon....

then we went to eat dinner.... japanese on the other side of meifoo. it's nice to walk, but there's fuzzy rain tonight, but still nothing too hard where we couldn't walk.

So i guess we're still playing the waiting game... mommy hopes you're a scorpio/sagitarius cusp... since cusp kids are great (of course mommy is biased), plus mommy gets along with sagitarius'es... like auntie kimmy!

But most importantly, no matter when you decide to come meet us finally, we hope you are healthy, happy, and beautiful.

We love you little Sofia Michael.

mommy & daddy

Fashionably Late.

So I guess little girl, you're pretty comfy in there! today is 40w + 1 day. I guess we'll keep counting now! About 50% of first babies are late though, apparently mommy was 1 week late! Though I hope you don't follow in my footsteps and decide to wait until the end of next week!

Daddy and I are taking walks to see if that helps... though, you are getting quite heavy! Tomorrow we'll go see the dr. in the morning, to see what she says. As long as you're healthy, with enough fluids and food, then that at least is safe and okay. :)

Mommy is quite tired these days, perhaps trying to get enough sleep to prepare for your big arrival! So rest, rest, rest... and rest some more for us.

We'll keep hoping to meet you soon little Sofia!

love mommy & daddy.

Happy Due Date!

Wow. 40 weeks. 266 days... and we've arrived... yet, little girl, you have decided perhaps to be "fashionably late". Why am I not surprised? haha. Well, there's still half of 11/13 to go, so we'll see what happens. :)

I think about 5% of babies are born actually on their due date. So only time will tell. Last night though you were moving around a lot... pressure, and maybe getting ready for your big day? Mommy felt cramping all night, though nothing major, and also contractions, though I still can't tell if it's BH or what... nor do i time them, so i'm not sure if they're regular, esp since i'm sleeping. but we'll see i guess what happens!

So Friday, the 13th... mommy's lucky days back since HS (since no one really likes this day, i decided that I would, plus 13 was my lucky # since who knows when..., though now it seems to have become 1, or 11 rather)... anyhow, what a perfect combination if you really were born today, 11/13~ :)

Mommy and Daddy are patiently waiting... as is the rest of the entire Wong/Tsang family-- your family.

We Love You Baby Sofia... come meet us soon!

big hugs, bigger kisses, and all our love.

mommy & daddy

helper... the pressure continues.

So the topic of hiring a helper continues during our family lunches on Sunday... the grandparents, parents (well, daddy's side at least). perhaps it's because they're accustomed to having "helpers" raise the children-- daddy actually had helpers too. I admit that they're surely helpful, but in raising children, i am still soooo hesitant. But i think as time goes on, although daddy was once really hesitant too, he starts to listen more to his mom about this... i just don't agree.

being that we're your mommy and daddy, i still have an old fashioned thinking that we should be the ones raising you, little girl- not some stranger who we don't know... and even though in hk, helpers are in abundance, i guess it's just a different lifestyle. Mommy was raised in the states, with grandma who luckily was a stay at home mom. i remember all the things she did for me and your aunties, while we were growing up... making our halloween costumes, colonial day costumes... baking cupcakes, having our birthday parties down to making goodie bags for our friends to leave with. Maybe hk life- the parents all work too much, (hk is way to material for me, if you ask, not necessarily a good thing!)... but i see in the subways, walking on the streets, even our cousins- the kids are so much more attached to the helpers than the parents, so sad. this is something that i definitely do not want, as a parent! it would break my heart... so i really think i'm going to continue to put my foot down on this one. (even the pets are taken care of by the helpers vs the owners... i'm sure they follow the helpers more too and listen more as well...)

part time helpers of course are another story- they can help clean bathrooms, mop, vacuum, or even laundry, but as for raising you little girl, mommy prefers that her and daddy do this ourselves, even if it is tough. All the families in the states usually do it that way, and i think that it's simply better.

anyhow, today is tuesday... only 3 more days to go till your due date! this week mommy has been less anxious, perhaps since the dr didn't say what her thoughts were (since last week she was thinking you'd be here by now!)... so when you come, you come... and like i've said before, daddy and i will be here waiting for you with our open hearts and arms.

we can't wait.

love mommy & daddy.

Sunday Weekly Dr. Appointment

Today is Sunday, 11/8! So i guess we didn't see you on 11/7, but that's okay... instead we went to the dr this morning to see how you were doing! Everything looks good, and you are perhaps looking like daddy! You have some chubby cheeks and a big nose it seems- apparently it's better if girls look like their daddies and boys look like their mommies, better luck for the little one. :)

anyhow, here are some of your measurements from today:

BPD: 9.04cm

HC: 33.04cm

FL: 8.04cm (last week was 7.79- you're still growing tall!)

Est. weight: 7.5lbs

mommy's waist is 97cm around = 38.8"

and about 35.5cm uterus length i think is what it is...

i'm still gaining some weight, but hopefully not too much more- or it'll be your weight as you are getting chubbier!! Dr. Chow does the 4d scan each week too, so it's nice so we got to see your chubby cheeks, oh my chunky little monkey!! :) you're going to be cute mommy knows, for sure... i hope you are a happy baby as well... our little sunshine.

Then we went to lunch w/mama/yeye/agong/abu at Fook lo moon... i was SO tired though, we came home and mommy slept most of the afternoon. Then afterwards mommy and daddy went for a walk outside in the park which was nice. :) mommy wants to walk everyday as it's helping to prepare for labor i hope! Hopefully you get bigger and grow but not too much, since we are still hoping that labor is speedy and safe, and not too painful!

Mommy and daddy are so excited, everyone is anticipating... your due date is 11/13, so it's coming this Friday! Amazing how time flies (though i know you don't have much concept right now)... but we'll see when you arrive!!

If you don't decide to come in the next day or so, btw, daddy will stay at home with us instead of going to japan, just in case.

anyhow, we love you very very much little girl...

keep growing strong and healthy and lovely!! happy, healthy, beautiful.

biggest hugs and kisses...

mommy & daddy

still waiting...

little girl! you're quite comfy in there huh. :) while everyone is soooo anxious to meet you, you're taking your time.... though of course you are. it's probably warm and cozy inside mommy's tummy! whereas it might be colder out here... but i promise (and so does daddy) that there are SO many people who are loving you already you'll never be cold! :)

mommy has decided she's goin gto start her project today in making your mobile... chances are, she won't finish, and you'll come when she starts- it's like murphy's law... so yah. we'll see!!

but you're still moving around quite a bit. and you like tofu fa... yesterday we walked to the other side of mei foo to get some, it's yummy and you start to move a lot! we'll go again this afternoon. :)

nothing much else... it's been nice that mommy has been able to stay home these days... this week... it's been relaxing though your uncle aaron's bed is kinda hard, so it's tough to sleep on my side w/o horrible back aches* or i'm not sure if it's backaches from the bed or if mommy's bones/joints are just loosening in preparation for your arrival! haha. either way, it's a bit sore. but it's been quiet, which is most important.

but keep growing- we are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO excited and everyone around us is asking everyday now! but we are being patient and not going to rush you-- so you come out when you want, but remember - tomorrow is 11/7, which is opposite daddy's birthday, 7/11! so that would be a nice day, just because. :)

we love you so much...

mommy & daddy.

a watched pot never boils...

and we must be patient. :)

day 2 at home

So it's been about two days mommy has been home... resting, or well, just not going to work. I still work though, from home i guess. a bit.

last night was the full moon! Daddy and i had thai food though it probably wasn't very spicy, or spicy enough. We then went for a walk, but maybe only 1/2 hr... not long enough. last night though mommy did start to feel some cramping... but nothing regular enough to really go to the hospital i don't think.

this morning, 11/3, mommy work up around the time daddy went to work- 9am, and then just was online (bb) a bit... nothing regular with cramping. i tried to go for a walk this morning but that didn't work out too well b/c 15 min later i had to pee. oops. oh well. we will try again tonight. :)

so just at home, online, resting... i think i'm going to nap a bit, quite tired.

love you little girl. don't be scared or anything either... mommy and daddy promise to take good care of you!! :) it's a beautiful day. :)

hugs, kisses and all our love.

mommy & daddy.

Almost there!!!

This morning we went to the doctor! Well, it looks like you're growing, that's for sure! From last week to this week- your abdomen has increased by almost 1cm (circumference) and your weight has gone from 6lbs 4oz last sun to today- 7lbs 8oz! WOAH little girl! we even got a glimpse of your double chin. hahaha. so cute. doc says you're healthy and your legs are STILL growing! they're at almost 7.8cm this week, which is over 40wks (last week they were 7.25ish, so they've really grown!) you're gonna be a healthy, strong and tall baby!! :) mommy and daddy can't wait to meet you finally.

Auntie Kin says more babies are born during full moons... well there's a full moon tmrw! so we'll see!! :) though great grandma wong says that the third would be a good day for you to come out... it's up to you, since you're the boss!

today we went to get a video camera too, since this way we can show grandma and grandpa tsang (and auntie jenjen / jackie) what you're up to... since they won't be able to see you very often... they love you very much though and are already WAY excited to meet you!!

so it seems like any day now! exciting!!! Mommy has washed all your clothes now too, so we're set! the last bit of your stuff is sending from the states this week as well, like your crib and mattress... so hopefully by end of week daddy can set those things up, even though we'll be probably staying at grandma wong's place for the time being due to the construction still going on here.

last minute things to do... mommy has to pack her hospital bag... and just now we're waiting for you to give us the sign!! mommy's cervix is soft and short, the dr says so it seems like a good sign, she thinks you'll come this week even, so we don't even need to make an appt for next sunday!! soooooooooo exciting.

we can't wait to finally meet you little girl!!

the anticipation and love that we have waiting for you... :) it's amazing.

we love you so much already... :)

smile little girl, you're such sunshine for so many people and you might not even know it yet!!

big hugs and kisses...

love mommy & daddy.

yay!!!!!!!!

38 and counting...

38 weeks!

I can't believe how fast the time has flown by... our next appt with Dr. Chow is on Monday, so we'll see how you're doing little girl! Mommy has been experiening a bit more swelling in her ankles- by the end of the day if i don't rest enough they become cankles! But after a good night's sleep they're back to ankles, thank goodness! :)

But mommy has been tired, so hopefully we'll get some good rest this weekend... tonight we're going to go eat yummy steakhouse and tomorrow we're free i think... but probably go see houbu... then sunday we are going to have a big family gathering at lau fau san with the wong clan... so we will see lots of relatives! you'll meet them all soon enough as i'm sure they're eagerly waiting to meet you too little girl!!

Rest up though, hopefully you're happy, healthy and smiling... daddy wanted me to tell you to smile more, because smiling babies are so cute. He is really excited to meet you and get to hold you... (of course mommy is too!), it's really sweet. you're going to be such a daddy's girl, and mommy's little helper. We can't wait to meet you finally... hopefully soon!

We love love love you!!
be good little girl... xxxxxxxoooooooooooo
mommy & daddy

Happy Hump Day!

I think we get more anxious... you're moving around quite a lot, though something funny i notice is that whenever mommy has mcd's you really get food coma... today's cheeseburger was no exception and i think i really need to stay away from mcd's... no bueno.

Anyhow, daddy went to ikea today to get you some drawers... so now we can wash your clothes later this week! Mommy got you some more diapers today too. I think we're really about set with everything needed for the first few months... just waiting for you now!

Today mommy actually also stayed home... grandma wong let us stay at her home and she slept with greatgrandma/pa ying... we're going to stay here for a bit because the noise in our home is too loud. It's very nice of her, and we're very grateful... remember to always be thankful and grateful and appreciative! You'll really be blessed with all the relatives you have around-- at first it might be overwhelming (it was for mommy) but really, looking at everything now, it's quite a blessing in disguise. :)

anyhow, i hope you're okay in there... it seems pretty cramped, and i know you're growing probably... remember, no matter when you want to come out, mommy and daddy will be here to welcome you into this crazy world.

we love you little girl!!

big hugs and kisses and all our love.. .

mommy & daddy

less than two weeks?

Hi little girl!

So on Sunday, we went to the new dr... Dr. Stephanie Chow. She seems really thourough, perhpas b/c it was our first appt but also very nice. She's very "business" but very straight fwd as well which is good. Not too old, maybe mid 40s? Seems reasonable and so that's good. She says, yes, you have long legs! and a small head... but you are healthy and looking good! From the abdomen measurement it looks like you are about 6lbs 4oz already... we even got a glimpse of you 4d! (you look like you have a big nose, daddy says oh no! he hopes you look like mommy more... #89 on the list btw). She said if mommy starts to hurt or have contractions or if you move less, we should go to the hospital. Also, she did an internal check and says that mommy is 2cm dialated! that's pretty exciting... therefore she said maybe you'll come by end of next week! i'm not sure how long it takes to dialate anymore, but sometimes when your head is wiggling around inside, i feel like you're pressing, thinning it... so yep... we'll see! But it looks like you definitely will be a scorpio baby after all. Grandma tsang says children choose their parents to teach them... i'm sure both me and daddy will have a lot to learn from you. :)

the drilling is still going on... we're going to sleep at grandma wong's tonight... hopefully we can get some better rest then. Mommy is tired... perhaps she'll go home soon. So much stuff to do still though! Oh- your crib finally has come to Torrance, auntie amy is going to help so hopefully by next week we'll have all that shipped and settled in HK as well... even though you won't sleep there in the beginning, just in the napper thing mommy got you.

But we'll go back to the dr next monday... to see how you're doing. :) so exciting yet also very nervous at the same time... mommy is definitely anxious to meet you! i can't fall asleep sometimes because i wonder about when you'll come... nervous about being a mommy... but i can't wait overall... i'm sure it's going to just amazing.

we love you... love love love you.
mommy & daddy

HK.

So 10/23, 2 years ago mommy and daddy moved to hk... well daddy moved back to hk. The time really flies by. I still remember so clearly- leaving Columbus, stopping by LA, then leaving LA to HK. The transition to HK, getting used to not driving, having a driver, having so much family around (m's not mine), and just the hustle and bustle of it all... i still feel that i haven't fully assimilated, i don't know if i ever will-- but home is where the heart is... and since m is here, then this is where i call home. Soon this will be your home too little girl, well it already is! It's what you'll grow up knowing, though we hope to travel to show you other places in the world, so you have a wider perspective on life...

even 4 yrs ago... mommy left LA, a new chapter to her life after almost 10 yrs there... go figure she moved home to nj, applied for ANF (again) and within two weeks had a new job to move to columbus where eventually she met your daddy. :) life is full of amazing opportunities, you just have to stay open so you can see them! I wasn't even in columbus for 2 yrs- it was 1 yr + 10 mos... so i've been in HK longer than cbus.

Time flies, in the past 4 years i look back to see how much has changed, and how much i've moved on vs if i had stayed in LA... change is good... life is about change and how we manage change and grow and readjust ourselves to deal with change... because without it, life would be boring! but remember, in the end, you know who your family and loved ones are and what's important-- people, and not things... and to remember to cherish and be thankful and grateful for each person (or pet- like torrance) that we share our life with.

be happy, because life is too short not to be.
keep growing little girl... we are sooooo excited for your arrival!
love mommy & daddy.

Happy 37 weeks!!

Yay! We made it! Thirty-seven weeks and little girl you're officially now full term! :D. How exciting!!

Mommy has been very tired the past two days- that means you're probably growing, growing, growing!

Only time will tell when you join us! We're SOOOO excited to meet you soon!!

Hugs and kisses a million times over-
Love mommy and daddy!!
Sent by Blackberry from PCCW mobile

wow... getting there!

So daddy came home last night! yay! You were a good little girl and stayed inside. :) we have a few more weeks to go but really, it's down to the final stretch!

Mommy is still thinking this week, but if not, then okay, we'll see! Daddy is guessing/pushing for 11/7 since that's all odd #s and also the reverse of his birthday. so i guess we should start taking bets?! haa. i hope you're growing and happy and healthy!

mommy has actually also been super emotional the past few days, not sure what's going on with the hormones but something definitely is going on! Just tearing, crying, over silly things... i mean, throughout the entire pregnancy we only had a few outbursts of hyper sensitivity, but nothing like the past few days! it's been... well, interesting. Which is why mommy also thinks along with her hormones gearing up, you might be having something to do with it! soooo yah, maybe this week??? haha

its nice to have daddy home though... yes, we missed him. our little family.
love mommy

Ahhh Monday.

10/19.

This morning we went to the doctors... regular checkup. Your head is still measuring small, BPD measurement but it's okay because the circumference is measuring accurately, thank goodness! Mommy got the full report and it says all your vital organs have developed on schedule as well. Double thank goodness! From last Wed- 10/14, these were your measurements (35w+6d):

BPD (head diameter) 8.3cm, 33w + 3d
HC (head circumf) 31.2cm, 35w
FL (femur length) 6.9cm, 35w + 2d
AC (abdomen circumf) 30.9cm, 34w +6d

Comment: "nomrmal ongoing pregnancy of 34w+3d +/-1 week of gestation. This correlates well withthe clinical date."

So yep! you're GOOD little girl! Actually here were your measurements from today:
BPD: 8.38cm, 33w+4d
FL: 7.21cm, 39w+2d

So dr has concluded that you're a tall baby! :) YAY. That's what mommy wanted... haha. based on 39w+2d of femur length, that actaully puts your due date at 10/24... libra scorpio cusp? ;)
i guess we'll see! huh little girl. :)

On another note- dr had apologized today, because apparently he has to take his wife to the states for some medical stuff and won't be back the weekend till 11/14... it's funny how things work out, i was just telling you last night we were so indifferent during this entire process with the doctors, how next time maybe we'll get a female doctor, etc... well yes, life is funny. I hope dr. tsai's wife of course, is okay... but in the meantime, probably the next few appt's we are going to see a different doctor- dr. stephanie chow. female doctor... i wonder how she'll be-- she practices on Sundays too, so we may see her this coming week since we're supposed to be visiting the doctor every week now. life.... positive thinking, really, you ask for something you just might get it! so in these cases, always think positive, so positive things will come your way. :) Think Positive! +



Anyhow, it was nice today, mommy got to see her old friend, best friend from college kimmy. It's been awhile since she's seen her, but she looks the same and it was soooo good to catch up! Some things don't change and some relationships are so great-- low maintenance yet you know that, true friends will always be there no matter what, no matter how long you do or don't talk... you can still count on them. :) It's a blessing to have friends in life like that. :)

It's a blessing everyday to wake up, breathe fresh air, see the sunshine... have loved ones, family and friends around.

We love you little girl... sooo excited daddy comes home tomorrow night!! I think he's bringing PIZZA too. hahahaha.
Keep growing... keep getting stronger... we're almost there!
BIG HUGS & KISSES.
love mommy and daddy.

Hiccup. Hiccup. Hiccup.

36w+3d.
Today's sunday, 10/18. Little girl has been having hiccups 4xs in the past 3 days, once or twice a day. I googled and supposedly its a good thing, but very funny... Poor little girl. Its cute. It means she's trying to breathe, or mimick breathing! :)

I'm still hoping little girl is earlier than late- maybe next week after daddy gets back to hk? Libra/scorpio cusp? ;). Hey, mommy can hope! But as long as she is happy, healthy beautiful and smart. Best of mommy + the best of daddy!!

Your crib still hasn't arrive, quite annoying since its 10wks already. :( hope it arrives this week so amy can ship. Though we still have a lot to do in the other room... In time I'm sure. :) I am sorry though, you don't get a true "nursery", but mommy and daddy will do our best. We love you so much already, and promise to take care of you forever and ever... We can't wait till you decide to meet us! :)


***
On another note- Winnie's getting induced tmrw- crazy, since her due date was fri- 10/16. The 40 wks really flies by.

Last week I found out 4 more ppl were preggo- eva, gina muccino (holmdel), lauren (jen's friend), and rachel from work! Its the preggo train I guess! :p

But life is good...
Big hugs and kisses...
Love mommy + daddy

Ps: only 2 more days and daddy comes home! Yay!!!!
Sent by Blackberry from PCCW mobile

yay for Friday!

Thsi week wasn't too bad. Though i was counting and it's still FIVE days before daddy comes home. Yep.. Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon and finally Tues. Poor thing though, he's sick in the city. But tmrw he is going home to grandma tsang's which i am SURE she will take good care of him and whip up some miracle cure or healthy organic homemade chicken soup. :) i miss grandma... i wish we were home now! It's always so nice to go back home to nj... it's calm, relaxing and we get to sleep. :)

Speaking of grandma's though... Grandma wong will be back tonight. We'll prob see her tmrw though. Although mommy's friend Kimmy is coming to town! It will be SO exciting if she really moves here for temporary, a year or so... due to her fiance's job! I'll keep my fingers crossed... would be nice to have a gf from home- like a true gf, it's been years since we've really hung out. :) It will be good to see her tmrw. She's getting married in May next year, so we definitely will be going back to LA for that! I wouldn't miss it for anything... you'll be about 7 mos by then...

Yesterday I was super tired... we went to sleep at around 11, i didn't want to sleep much earlier b/c i was worried if we went to bed at 9pm we'd wake up in the middle of the night and not be able to go back to sleep. But we slept well! except for waking up at 2:45 and not getting back to sleep till about 3:30... but we got to sleep till about 10am this morning, which was nice since we were woken up by banging instead of drilling. but alas, the drilling did start again later on. :p but I feel more rested, and hopefully you do too little girl. :)

This morning though, walking to the car, i felt a gush of trickling. I think i will be oblivious to labor... i questioned if it was the water breaking but it didn't seem like *that* much, like you see in the movies? but it was more than usual too... oh well. i hope i know when labor starts... supposedly i've read that it's a back to fwd tightening, where as braxton hicks is just in the front.
Either way, i hope that little girl, you're still staying put till at least next tuesday!


Mommy has urge to shop... but so many of the little girl clothes is like, sooooooo girlie! i need to find a non-girlie site to get some neat clothes for you... yet at the same time i know you're going to grow up so quickly... but hopefully not too quickly. I'm sure we'll want you to stay little for awhile. :)

Love, mommy & daddy.

Slight scare.

Yesterday we went to see the dr... since we're almost at 36 weeks we're going to be going every week now! Nuts that there really are only about 4 weeks (or less) left! :)

Anyhow, yesterday was quite a scare... the dr started to measure your head (bpd) and it was only measuring 33w+4d (at most) yet your femur length was measuring almost 38w! so either 1) you have long legs or 2) your head stopped growing... or slowed growth. The dr seemed very very concerned so of course, i was too! He measured a few times, and didn't really know what to say... but after the scan he said oh, we need to do detailed b/c we need to make sure everything is alright! I asked what would be the cause of small head, and he said as long as it's not a growth retardation. the "R" word no parent wants to hear... aiya. what scary word! So we made an appt to get a detailed scan at 4:30 in the afternoon- the soonest available.

So after the appt in the morning, i called m... i was on the verge of tears! though i knew everything would be okay, it's just nervewracking! Dr's from what mom says, sometimes are horrible because they instill fear into us... which is i suppose true... but anyhow, at 4:30 i went back to the hospital for a detailed scan. and nervous.

it was done by a dr.chan, 2nd opinion, he seems nice. I don't know if he's a obgyn or a "scan" dr, eitherway though, he measured everything and he said everything looks ok! so her head, the legs, and her internals are all good. there is enough blood (both from the arteries and veins) going into her brain and also thru the umbilical cord... and her lungs are developing nicely he said. She looks healthy! :) that's all, as a parent you can hope and want to hear each time from the doctor. :)

So this morning dr.tsai calls back and says yes, her head is just more oval, so her diameter is measuring smaller but her circumference is okay at 35w. :) thank goodness. we will go back on monday though... not sure if they're going to start pelvic exams yet? no sign of the "plug" yet. :p

what a scare... :( perhaps being a parent, all you worry about is for the safety and health of your child... i know for the rest of your life i'm sure! I guess we'll find out soon enough, this feeling of loving something/someone to the absolute fullest...


--------
On another note... i did stop by to say hello to Natalie, who had her baby jiselle (your 2nd cousin) born on 10/12, 8.bs, 6oz. quite a large one! though she said jayden was 9lbs 1oz. eek! but she looks good, for natalie and the baby is healthy. :)

--------
daddy is sick in the states. he sounds REALLY nasal. tmrw he is going to nyc. i hope he doesn't stay out TOO late, otherwise i'm worried he's going to bring some yucky bug back home... and quarantine would NOT be fun thru HK airport.

grandma wong comes back with your uncle aaron on Friday.

--------
mommy is really tired today despite sleeping from 11pm-930am (woken up by lovely drilling, surprised?! :( ) i need to sleep.. we need to sleep so you can grow more. i hope to stop working soon but at the same time i feel a bit trapped because we can't stay home, b/c the noise... so then maybe we move to grandma wong's house or even great grandma ying... sigh. yawn. tired.

but try to keep growing... mommy wants to listen to her body to sleep, maybe we will leave work early today so we can go home. :)

i love love love you little girl.
big hugs, big kisses... can't wait to meet you!
love mommy (and daddy)

home alone again...

so m left for the states y/day morning. 7am. his flight was at 930 to jfk. longggg flight. i'm a bit sad i can't go back to the states but at the same time i don't envy the 15 hr flight. unfortunately though due to waking up at 630am, we didn't get enough sleep. so by 3pm we left work to go home. little girl though, you were quite active! moving around a lot. which is a good thing, i think. but i hope you're growing. :) shanghainese for dinner... yum.

the upstairs apt however did start to rennovate. so now we have construction both upstairs AND downstairs. soon probably across the hall as well. AND our ceiling in the bathroom is leaking due to the construction. it sucks. i hope that nothing is damanged when i go home today.

daddy said he had pizza, TWICE in lga airport while waiting for his flight. i think we will have pizza tonight. :)

today was a normal day at work. a few things to do since your grandma wong is in the states with daddy and uncle... we did however finally make it to GATEWAY which is a store with american products and in BULK. kinda like costco! we actually bought a few things but i think b/c the store is the basement it's a bit bad, b/c if you're buying in bulk, stuff is HEAVY and you need to lift it up the stairs. anyhow. mommy bought lemonade and iced tea mix. along with some kirkland detergent (free of dyes/perfumes)... some banana peppers too. yum. oh! and i found reese's pb cups! finally! Of course they were SOOO over priced but i bought them anyways. they're actually a lot sweeter than i remember... so i just had one. i could've waited for daddy to bring some back actually but oh well.

there's a few things i need daddy to bring back actually... i need to email him. he actually is in cbus now! but he said he's feeling sick b/c he sat between two ppl on the plane and didn't wear a facemask... i hope he doesn't bring any germs home and gets better soon w/o being sick all week in the states. that would be no fun.

anyhow... we're going to go to the dr on thursday... that will be 36 weeks! so yes... i hope your lungs are maturing and you're growing growing growing!!

love and hugs,
mommy

ps: today i set up your email account. sofiamwong@gmail.com :)

Almost the weekend...

This week has been looong. too long. restless nights especially... tossing and turning, and just can't seemingly be able to fall alseep. :( unfortunately they're still doing rennovation downstairs too, so the drilling starts up at about 9:30am... poor us, we can't sleep. i really hope they stop soon... or perhaps when we get into bed at night, we are able to sleep okay... peacefully!

yesterday we were VERY tired. we had to come to work early due to some meetings which in the end wasn't very exciting. but poor little girl, you hardly moved all day! i think you were probably grumpy from lack of sleep. mommy wants to sleep and make sure she listens to her body and you, so hopefully at least this weekend we'll get some more rest.

daddy goes to the states on Monday till next monday... seems like a long time too. :(

oh well.

today is 35 weeks! about 35 more days to go... can't believe it. Thirty-five. that doesn't seem like very many days at all... though mommy's tummy is still about 38" around... so not much change there! next week we will go back to see the dr... since it'll be about 36 wks... i wonder when we will get to see how dialated mommy is... but keep growing in the meantime!!

big hugs and kisses :)
grow grow grow!!

National Day, 10/1

**oops did not post on 10/1... a little late!***

Yesterday was National Day. Meaning, China's communist party took over on 10/1/1949. The 60th anniversary. Parades, fireworks, the whole sha-bang. What does this mean for us? Woohoo! the day off. :)





Sleeping till noon, hanging out not doing much... sounds good to me! Actually yesterday I set up the playard. I'm glad we got the graco one, it's quite easy to setup/take down... though I think the sleepy safari one is probably still nicer, though i'm sure little girl won't know the difference. It's a green/brown colorway, which isn't super girlie either, but I think that's kinda what i wanted. it works okay, and as long as it's safe and serves the purpose, then that works for me!





Yesterday though I did feel some funky cramplike things... lower abdomen... yes, i can admit i am anxious, afterwall we did setup the graco! haha. but then again, it's best little girl stays inside for a few more weeks so she grows healthier by the day. :) but cramps, yes. though they weren't very consistent nor did i see any plug come out. so i guess we'll just wait for now! i really hope though, little girl is a libra... or libra/scorpio cusp...

***
well today is actually 10/5, monday. This year really has flown by...
The weekend was uneventful despite being "Mid Autumn Festival" Saturday, but also not really restful. I should've slept more. i don't think little girl had a very restful weekend at all. we're both very tired today, especially. hopefully tonight we will sleep more.... shouldn't have watched the Liverpool v. Chelsea game last night! Liverpool lost too! At least waking up at 8am on Sun for the SC game (which btw wasn't even on tv, so i had to espn-it from blackberry!) was a WIN. WOOHOO SC.

Mid Autumn Festival was nice... we went to Yuen Long for dinner with yeye and mama and relatives... nothing super out of ordinary but okay. sharks fin soup. then we came home and took a walk in the park, daddy and i have been walking a little bit everyday, which is nice, even if it's only like 5-10 min from manhattan hill to home... but anyways WOW. SOOOO Many people in the park and SOOOO MAny kids! We've never seen so many ppl before there. it was pretty nuts. To think next year you will be playing with lanterns? or maybe just holding onto one glow stick really haah. awww.

Mommy was nesting too this weekend... cleaning and such. ahhh. need to buy detergent so i can start washing your things! though since we still haven't a place to put them i guess i have some time...


But we went to see the dr today (10/5)... i think his measurement wasn't very accurate today though b/c your head measured smaller than last week? i don't think that sounds right.. but your lungs aren't developed well enough yet and he says you're about 2kg which is still very small. So according to your due date it's now almost the end of November. Perhaps instead of thinking you'll be a libra/scorpio cusp mommy should now think of scorpio/saggitarius cusp! Mommy gets along well with saggs anyways. they're fire and quite lovely. mommy's best friend from college actaully is one... hopefully you'll meet auntie kimmy some day. :)

Auntie Maryann also sent you some books which was nice... i told her kids really are blessings... to remind parents of their own childhood and how we should never ever grow up! Of course there is a certain time and place for everything, but we should remember to be children at heart! <3

We also went to eat at Outback today... talk about carb overload. cheese fries, and split a burger w/daddy... the people were really nice though, they gave us free soup and salad. :) maybe b/c mommy is pregnant with you!! so they figured that we needed to eat more haha. We went to Nuskin today to get some stuff. Mommy wants to try to do more Nuskin business like grandma tsang so that she has more free time to spend with you when you are here. :) need to start planning for the future better now!!

Oh btw, since it seems like dr says you're not going to be coming out anytime soon, daddy will be going to the states next week. 10/12-19. Yes we'll miss him... but who knows, maybe he can buy some stuff for us and bring it back. hahaha. he does probably get to see grandma and grandpa too which is nice... and TORRANCE! i miss her too. you'll get to meet her i hope someday soon too when we visit to NJ where mommy grew up.

But keep growing!!! GROW STRONG and HEALTHY!!
Mommy and Daddy love you.
big hugs and kisses. xxxxooooo