Happy 2013

Happy New Year!  One of the biggest things I learned this year is: with two kids, I have to give up getting everything done on time or at all.   So what's meant to be a Xmas letter is now a Happy new year letter.  Better late than never, right? :-)

2012 has been an exciting year as ever.  With Ling Ling born in Dec last year, we had our hands full just integrating her into the family.  While Isabel loves her little sister, sometimes, she can love her too much (when she tries to pick up or feed her crackers yikes, or hug her too hard).  All in all though, we survived.

Alexis has developed quite a personality.  She is a pretty mellow kid in general,a good sleeper and loves to smile a lot. Her signature move is the princess wave which accompanied by a big smile has melt many hearts.  Don't get her mad though.  On the rare occasions where she is mad, she has a booming, heart-wrenching cry. She has 4 teeth now, weights about 20 pounds, height 30 inches.  She hasn't started walking yet but she can crawl really fast.  She LOVES food and will pretty much eat anything (so far no allergies! YEAH!)

Isabel has grown into quite a creative, expressive little girl.

• By expressive, I really mean non-stop talking in the house, in the car, walking on the street, anywhere including with friendly strangers on muni.  She has made a friend, Victoria in Paris whose dad is our neighbor.  They talk by Facetime a lot and it's so cute to hear her conversations.  She also made many friends from school and all her social activities.  
• Isabel has a keen fashion sense and the ultimate girl - not sure where she gets that from.  I was a tom boy and liked to climb tree when I was 4.  She loves everything princess.  Luckily she also has just as much fun getting herself dirty in the sand at the beach.   
• Isabel loves to read and learn.  She thinks reading to her is as fun as watching TV.  She voluntarily does Math with me in Chinese and she has taken on the 100 piece puzzle.  It's amazing to watch her mind soak up all the information and figure things out.  Isabel is pretty fluent now in Mandarin.  Even my parents were impressed.

Jaime made it through a year in the corporate machine - SalesForce who bought the startup, desk.com, he

worked at in Sept 2011.  Luckily for him, Salesforce has kind of a Frat culture - many happy hours, young energy, so he fits right in.  He was also shielded from most of the corporate politics by his boss. Well, no more, his boss just left last week, so Jaime is taking over the marketing department for desk.com and will have a team of 4.  He is instinctively a good leader but we will see how long he can fend off or take the corporate BS.  2013 will be another exciting year.  Jaime continues to do Judo and Jiujitsu although not as often.  He hope to get back to a regular schedule in 2013.   

Agnes is as usual a life saver for our family's sanity and balance.  She is great with the kids and continue to teach us by example how to be better parents.  Ha!  She is also an amazing interior organizer.  Without her, our apt would probably look like a storage all over.  She manages to tuck away many things in our storage closet and on the balcony.  She loves her Netbook and iPhone so she can stay connected with her family in the Philippines, her friends around the word, us, and good shopping online :-).  Now that my sister in law, Em, is back in town, Agnes also parties it up with her once a month and get some girl time.

I am back at Wells Fargo working 35 hours a week since March.  I almost took a head of marketing job at a start up but luckily I wised up. :-)  Not a good fit as the CEO and I didn't have the same execution focus. Besides, I want to be there to see my kids grow up.   The Wells Fargo contract affords me flexibility, convenience and financial security.  Gives me more time to also work on my career success blog.  I have about 15K readers monthly and almost 1500 people receiving my email newsletters.  I have many ideas for next year - local events and maybe a book.  We will see how I can fit it in. Lastly, I am happy to return to my pre-pregnancy weight - losing 37 pounds over 8 months.  Yeah!  I know I am vain, but I am also a dancer.  The bigger me just didn't feel right.  I hope to do more salsa dancing next year. :-)

All in all, our family of five is doing well and want to wish you a very happy new year.  Let's get together in 2013.  Best wishes,

Lei, Jaime, Isabel, Alexis, and Agnes

Alexis 1 year check up

Alexis is growing up fast. She is

• height 29.75 inches - 55%
• weight 19 lb 13 oz - 25%
• head 17.75 inches - 55%

All very healthy and switching to cow milk plus lots and lots of food.  We are feeding her now 3 meals a day + 2 snacks + 3 bottles of milk of about 18 oz total.

Isabel first Santa letter

She wrote all the letters with a little coaching from mama. Santa got her letter and delivered her beautiful train set !!

A Very Merry, Busy Xmas

The holidays is just flying by. Between family, work, and friends gatherings, we have been dashing from one place to another non-stop all the way up to Xmas.
- Jaime's company party at SFMOMA
- Jaime's high school friends holiday lunch in San Mateo
- Diva dinner with Ajantha, Judy, and Tamara
- Adult couples night out with Kerry, Brett, Ena, and Chuong
- Early Xmas dinner at Bito and Bita and Birthday celebrations for Roy and Alexis \
- Birthday lunch for Bito at Bocce Cafe
- Decadent Xmas Eve dinner at Christina's house in Portola Valley
- Isabel's dance recital
- Jaime's jiujitsu friends holiday party at Angie and Matt's 

This is just to name a few things we been up to. Here are some photos from some of the festivities.

 Isabel of course got a lot of presents again although she seems to never be satisfied. We are trying to figure out how to teach her to appreciate things she gets instead of focus on the one or two things she doesn't have. One tradition I started with her is we went to feed the homeless on Xmas Eves Day. WE got 3 meals at McDonalds and went around our neighborhood to hand them out. I don't think she get the concept of homeless yet but she was sweet to go with me and we will probably do it every year.

 Now it's a little quieter at home so we can recover from all the festivities.. Enjoy the photos. First one has the kids. Second one are more adult parties
 Lei

almost walking

We went to a friend's house for holiday brunch. they have a lot of toys as they also have a 1 and 4 year old. Alexis had a lot of fun with this great little shopping cart. I think she will walk soon on her own - maybe in a month or so

Alexis Attends Her First Dance Show

Since big sister Isabel was performing at Brava Theater, we took Alexis to see it. this is her first show to watch. The show was at 5pm and lasted until 6:30pm. We were worried that she would be bored or cry from the noise. On the contrary, she loved every minute and was enchanted by all the dancing. A nice way to spend her 1st birthday :-) watching a modern dance watching belly dancing watching taiko - we were all so impressed. These were 12-17 year old. perfectly synchronized. Alexis loved it watching and dancing to hip hop

Isabel's First Stage Performance - Brava Theater

As you know, Isabel loves to dance. She has been taking a hip hop class at Dance Mission for 5-6 years old. She is the youngest but she loves it. Well, Dance Mission puts on a show at the end of each semester that include all the youth programs 5-17 years old at the Brava theater.

On Sat Dec 15, 2012, it was a full house of 300+ people in the audience. Isabel took on the stage with enthusiasm and no fear as she danced her heart out with her hip hop classmates. Congrats Isabel! Mommy is very proud of you.

   

My Dear Alexis

Dearest Ling Ling,

Mommy had a special bond with you before you were even born.  I used to loved to rub my tummy as you moved around inside waiting to meet the world.  I can't believe you are already 1 years old and I feel so blessed to have you in my life.

From the day you were born, I felt like my heart doubled in size.  You didn't take away any of my love for Isabel.  Instead you just added more love into my heart and created a permanent special place there for yourself.  I watch you with wonder as you learn how to move your head, roll over, sit up, crawl, and stand.  You never seize to amaze me with the wonder in your eyes - always curious and happy to explore the world around you.

Mommy feels so lucky to be with you and share all those moments as you explore this world and grow.  I will always be there for you, teach you about the world, let you explore, learn and make your own mistakes, and support you as you grow.

You light my day with your smile.  I love coming home to see you eagerly crawling toward me to greet me - Welcome home in your own sweet way.  I look forward to each and every day with you.

Happy Birthday, my sweet Alexis.  I love you always with all my heart.

Mommy Lei

Happy Birthday to Alexis - 1 years old

Times flies and Alexis is already 1 years old. I almost have to pinch myself to believe it. She and Isabel are both growing up so fast. She has not started walking yet and part of me almost don't want her to as then I will miss the baby part of her as she gets more and more independent.

 Alexis is a darling and very good natured. She loves to smile and is quite social. She loves to wave and clap her hands.

 We celebrate her birthday first with a lunch with Jaime's high school friends for the holidays and then Xmas dinner at Grandparents Lapena's house where both Roy and Alexis celebrated their birthday. Alexis was born on Dec 15, Roy on Dec 18.

A big milestone is we stopped feeding her formula yesterday and started her on Whole Milk.  so far so good. :-)


  Lei

Christmas spirit is alive and well

After work yesterday I went to the ATM to withdrawal money. I put in my pin, touch the quick withdrawal button for $200 and got my card back.

Eight blocks later, I realized I forgot to take the money as I was texting at the same time like a bone head. Imagine how stupid I felt.

I called Wells Fargo immediately to see what I can do. Well, they said the money will be retracted back to the machine if its not taken but it will beep first to remind you to take the money. Oh great!

They said no need to go back to the ATM just check my acct tomorrow. If its retracted my acct will be recredited.

I checked next morning and well it showed the deduction. Ugh. Someone took it after me. 😢

I had one more hope. Someone told me it happened to them and another person actually took the money and returned it to the bank. Yeah right? But I thought it was worth a try.

So I went the branch next to that ATM to ask. Well after they made sure my story was legit they told me Someone did return the money and then handed me the $200. WOW! Thank you whoever you were

Lessons learned.
1. Don't multitask. None of us are good at it and we end up doing many things halfway. In this case it could have been very costly to me
2. Pay it forward. Help others by returning things we find. Creates good karma!!

Happy holidays ! We are all human and make mistakes. It's also nice to know there are more humans with a kind heart than not. 😃

Lei

Sent from my iPhone