Happy Holidays

Dear friends and family,

Merry Xmas and Happy New Year.  2009 is rushing by fast.   Isabel is such a big girl now and learning new words every day.  Her latest ones are "Ligh" which means light but she doesn't say the T.  She will just point at the tree and say Ligh to mean can you light up the tree?  Another word is "wooo" when ever she is impressed or wowed by something.  Not sure where she learned that from.

We are excited to have Jaime's sister, Em visit with her hubby Roy and little girl, Gabby.  Gabby is 10 months old and will be meeting her cousin Isabel for the first time tomorrow.

Happy holidays!  May you enjoy every moment of this holidays with your family, friends, and loved ones.  Best wishes in 2010.

many hugs and kisses,

- Lei, Jaime, Isabel & Agnes

Isabel playing at the park

There is a baby park right by AT&T park. It's a 45 minute walk but we do it sometime so that we can meet up with other kids living in SOMA. My friend Sharon and her boy Gavin met us there 2 weeks ago. Both Gavin and Isabel loves the merry go around. Enjoy!



- Lei

Isabel and the train

In the lobby where I work, there is huge Xmas tree and a set up toy train that runs around it. Isabel loves standing by there to watch the train go by. Enjoy!



- Lei

Cancun remembered

I just got back from a great trip to Houston and Cancun. Trying not to be depressed in this rainy cold weather in SF. I was in Houston for the weekend to see my parents and then went with my girlfriend Dawn to cancun for 4 days.

here are the highlights. will share photos in another post

Houston highlights
- It was snowing the day before I arrived - wow
- love my parents new house - spacious, beautiful, comfy, great wood floors, love my room
- Saw my parents dance international ballroom at their Sunday class - am impressed how much they remember and are into it.

Cancun highlights
- perfect 85 degree weather (rained for 10 seconds only)
- Riu Palace was awesome, beautiful, and inexpensive ($200 per night for 2 all inclusive). I was told the week right before Dec 15 is the best - great weather and still off season rates. Other hotels that were recommmended are: Omni which has an all inclusive option and JW Marriott.
- Isla Mujere - an nearby island by fast board $15 round trip. sat by the palpas chatting about life with Dawn. Got an hour massage on the beach in a cabana before sunset for $30. Go to Playa Norte and ask for Marisala. They were top notch. Watched the sunset. Sat in the Palapas in front of Hotel Privilege (new, upscale, all inclusive). Maybe a good place for Jaime and I to visit sometime
- Sailing on the catamaran with Dawn - she rocks and took me out on this little catamaran. it was so fun. I am so lucky to have such a cool talented friend. Most of the hotel staff was impressed she could do it. She steered us back to shore no problem too. :-) I felt very VIP.
- Dancing the night away at Daddy O, Beach Club, and Coco Bongo - Cancun deliver on its promise and it was so great to dance one night outdoors in the sand with the warm breeze and great music
- Met lots of people - very friendly - Louise and husband, Joe and brother Alex from Utah, Edgar, David, Xavier, Pablo, a couple on the roof who may get engaged, people from Danmark - Simon, Nicoli, and an Asian guy, Lauren and Billy Jean from England, Miles and Rohan from Vancouver and Toronto, Susanne and husband who has been to Cancun over 50 times, Daniel and friends from Tijuana, Justin the stockbroker from Atlanta, another Lauren from New York - she is a nurse traveling alone and very cool chick. She will be in some of the photos.
- Last but not the least, it was great to just catch up with Dawn, my good friend from Wharton and do something for ourselves. We are both moms. Highlight recommend it to stay sane in life and rejuvenate.

I have such an awesome husband who supports me in taking some time off for myself. Thanks Honey! Best of all, I lost 2 pounds after all the eating and drinking. must be the dancing that helped and the warm, humid weather.

Lei

Sweet kisses from Isabel...

Something must have been in the air at Thanksgiving because starting that night, Isabel decided to be extra generous with her kisses. Before then, she will only give kisses once in awhile. More than not, when we ask for kisses, she would walk away or do a fake out or even try to hit our faces.

But at thanksgiving night and since then, she will run over and give a kiss whenever we ask. Perhaps she is feeling thankful or perhaps she figured out that is a good way to get what she wants. Now whenever we don't get her something she wants, she will try to give us a kiss and see if we change our mind. We are suckers and of course are so giddy from the kiss that she gets what she wants. I guess both sides win. :-)

- Lei

Isabel on the Phone

If you have not gotten a call or text from Isabel from my phone, you probably will at some point soon. She loves my phone and has accidentally called a few people through quick dial. Most of the time she won't say much though. So if you get a call from me and I am not talking, it's probably Isabel having fun with mommy's phone again. Sorry in advance!



- Lei

Isabel playing. Step on the book and jump.

Isabel has always loved stairs. Even since she can walk, she gravitate towards stairs. We taught her to never do it by herself and always wait to hold our hand to do it. so far, she has followed that.

Well, since stairs are a little steep, Isabel got creative and uses her animal book which is only about an inch tall and steps on it and off it for practice. She can do it for 10 min straight. See for yourself.



- Lei

Isabel loves to eat

We are very lucky that Isabel is a really good eater. She gets up around 7:30am. By 9am, she would've had fresh juice with carrots, celery, and spinach, 9oz of almond milk, and a almond butter sandwich. She will then have cereal and milk before her nap. After nap, she eats 1-2 gerber meals or a turkey wrap + cereal and apple sauce for snacks. Dinner is another 1-2 gerber meals or turkey wrap or whatever we are eating like Turkey meatball spaghetti. Then another 9oz of almond milk before bedtime at 7:30pm.

Overall, she loves bread, crackers, almond butter, and her latest thing is turkey wraps. She was stealing Agnes' lunch and just started eating it. It was so cute. She is developing those chubby cheeks again. Enjoy!



- Lei

Such a cute little girl

Isabel loves the Angel that sings silent night at Grandma Lapena's house.



- Lei

The cutest little devil with a purse

The purse snatcher hit again - this time wearing hones :-)



- Lei