New Classes for Isabel

After a great run at myGym, we decided to change it up a bit so Isabel can experience different things.  So starting September, she is signed up for three classes.  here is her schedule for a week

• Monday - morning Library story time (free); afternoon - free time for playdates
• Tuesday - school and then playdates with Ayza if she is available
• Wed - morning free time; afternoon Karate Kicker class 3-4pm
• Thursday - school and then playdates if we can arrange it with anyone
• Friday - morning free time; afternoon Busy Bees dance class 3:30-4:30pm
• Sat - morning farmers market; then Swim Class at 10:50am for 30 min 
• Sunday - free time 

Hope she likes them.  

Lei

Planned C on Dec 15th

I saw my OB on friday and everything is on track

• gained 16 pounds so far
• baby is kicking often
• baby heart beat is strong at 140 per minute

She advised me to plan my C section early to get the time I want. C section are allow up to 1 week before due date. I am due Dec 21, so the C is scheduled for Dec 15 at 10am. I need to fast the night before and get there by 8am that day. I figure it's an easy date to remember. I actually wanted Dec 18 as 8 is good luck and it's my brother in law Roy's birthday but it's on a Sunday and my OB doesn't work that day, so Dec 15 it is.

I will plan to celebrate her bday the weekend after Thanksgiving every year so she doesn't miss out on separate xmas presents. all is good and I can't wait to meet my little girl in December.

Lei

Isabel's date with Ronen

Ronen and family came over for dinner on Sunday night. We had lots of fun as they appreciate food and especially loved the shaved ice we had for dessert + my specialty Saketinis (infused with lychee, coconut or mangosteen).

We had great conversations. Rain took these photos on their Ipad for Ronen and Isabel. The Ipad 2 seem very cool and we are almost convinced to get one when Ipad 3 comes out. Isabel loved playing with their Ipad - the educational feature + access to HBO go makes it a portable TV which really excited Jaime. Well we will see. More gadgets....

No woman is an island

I am learning that even more of this concept during pregnancy. The hormone side effects are making me obsess even more about things. I have daymares at time (imagine worst case scenarios while awake) and nightmares. Don't worry, it's under control and normal during pregnancy - just sucks when they happen.

Well, that's where my girlfriends come in. I am blessed with wise good friends who answer my calls early in the morning and late at night. And they know just what to say to me so that I see the absurdness of my own thoughts.

I was just obsessing too much this weekend and my girlfriends gave me the best advice

- don't replay what happened over and over and look into why and whose fault it is. any sadness, anger or fear is not productive

- focus should be shit happens and accept them as they are today. They are okay and I am okay. No need to change anything over night. You can't so don't try to do the impossible. Just be okay with bumps

- just try to stay calm and find my happy place. Start a Gratitude journal and share it

- figure out practical action to resolve anything in conflict over time.

- focus on the now and future. Even if things takes awhile to resolve, that's okay it's life and it's good news that I uncovered something that can be improved.
- people (espeically men) need positive feedback more than negative ones if you want to see change.

It was so what I needed to hear to realize my energy was wasted on things that doesn't help and keeping me from being calm or rested. A wave of calm is filling me now making me communicate gently and with compassion for myself and others. I woke up smiling today and so thankful for the incredible friends that I have in my life.

Lei

playdate with Alex in Foster City

This is also from July. Alex used to live by us but moved to Foster City in 2010. We were visiting him and his new sister Erica. Alex is 6 months younger than Isabel

Date with Gavin - July 2011

Gavin and Isabel love to play together. They were born only 10 days apart and Gavin is such a big boy now - so sweet and protective of Isabel. We had a playdate at the Zeum in July

Regular Friday Playdate

I am so glad I started this playground 2 years ago when Isabel was only 1 years old. Now, she has regular friends to play with nearby. We usually have Friday afternoon gathering 2 or 3 times a months. Here are some photos from one of them. Her friends are Ronan, Darwin, Ronen, Ayza, Ellie, Sophia, Newton, Jack, Emily, Thomas...

Isabel recites Chinese Poem

Isabel was supposed to perform this today at the Chinese cultural celebration in her school but given she is still recovering from her stomach bug, she had to stay home today. So I recorded her private performance. She has only been to this school for 8 weeks but her Chinese has improved greatly. enjoy!



Lei

A gadget family

For our birthdays this July, we all got gadgets

• Lei - Amazon Kindle
• Agnes - Netbook
• Jaime - Iphone4

We all love our new gadget and they add to our other collection - Wii, Wii Fit, XBox 360, XBox Kinect, PS2, PSP, Ipod, Ipod Touch, laptop, desktop.

I guess I am my father's daughter.  He loves buying gadgets.  I guess I do too.  I have my eye on Iphone 5 - hopefully releasing in September - not sure its release will be the same time for Verizon though - hoping so.  The IOs5 looks pretty cool.  I just wish apple would make a smaller iPhone that fits better in my pocket.  

Lei

Isabel dip walk on balance beam

Isabel is trying the Mighty Mites class (3.25 years to 4.5 years old) at mygym for the first time. Parents stay out of the gym and she is just here with the other kids. she loved it.

talented toes of Isabel

Maui Remembered

We have mixed feeling about Maui. It is a beautiful place but not sure when we will rush back for another visit.  Here is why.

Highlights:

• Stayed in beautiful 1-bedroom condo in Wailea
• The Marriott pool at Wailea - they have 5 pools (one with slides and one by the ocean) - We spent a day by the pool since our friends stayed there.
• Lahaina (30 min drive from us) love the front st shops and views.  They had a fresh gelato shop making passion fruit gelato fresh from the fruit and a porch in the back right on the water.  Had a later lunch at Kimu right on the ocean - beautiful view.  We also bought great souvenirs for Agnes and Isabel and Jaime got the world's most comfortable black leather shoes from Crocs of all places.  If we ever go back to Maui, we would stay in Kaanapali (maybe the Westin) - 5 min north of Lahaina.  They also have a Whalers Village that suppose to have nice shops on the ocean.
• Sunset on Ulua beach - only 5 minutes from our condo.  We easily drove there and got on the beach.  It also is a great snorkeling spot for beginners although we didn't get to try it.
• Kihei Caffe - good breakfast and lunch place in Kihei
• Matteo in Wailea - the only decent restaurant at Wailea
• Wedding for Don and Christina was beautiful - Reason we went to Maui. 

Low lights

• Much more rural and underdeveloped than I thought.  
• Wailea is sterile and way over priced.  Food sucks and the services quality is even worse.  We went to two restaurants in two nights that sucked.
• Kai - Japanese restaurant - Udon for $20 - really small bowl nothing special.  We had 15 people and two people order Udon.  One got it and the other didn't even after an hour.  The waiter was an idiot - after we asked for the Udon 2 more times, he came to explain about lack of burners and asked if we still want it.  duh... we said yes and ask him to comp it.  he was confused and brought out his manager.  We asked him to comp it and he looked confused too.  That Udon probably cost $2 to make.   Well, they did comp it but the waiter told us it will come out of his tip (so tacky!) .  
• Monkey Pod with 17 people the next night.  The Fresh Gnocchi was super spicy and it didn't say that on the menu.  One of the kids at the table and a grandma at our table ordered it.  Both couldn't eat it.  Had to return it and wait forever for replacement food.  Also they claim to have Asian noodle dishes - horrible.  We also ordered a mushroom pizza that barely had any mushroom in it.  Again, expensive and not worth it.  Avoid
• Jaime came home with a stomach bug - two days of discomfort.  Now Isabel has a stomach bug possibly from Jaime or from school.  Doctor say it's diarrhea season - who knew?

Anyway for $600+ per person per flight, Maui is expensive to get to, expensive to stay, and food sucks in Wailea.  We won't be back anytime soon.  We much more prefer Miami, Mexico, Puerto Rico, even Oahu.  We are happy to be back in SF!

Lei