My dear Isabel

I know you don't understand me yet, my little Isabel, but mommy really wants to wish you a very merry first Christmas. Mommy has been dreaming about having you for many years now.

When Mommy was injured 4 years ago and the doctors said mommy cannot have a baby any time soon, I was so distraught and worried that i would never meet you. Luckily mommy recovered and also fell in love with daddy, so that we can have you with us now.

I remember meeting Emma, your second cousin, two years ago. She was so cute and I thought I wish I can have one just like her. Well, I got my wish and you turned out even more darling than I expected.

I really cannot believe that you are my daughter and I am your mommy, but I am so glad it's true. I cannot imagine life without you. It's hard for me even when I don't see you for just a few hours. I cannot believe how much joy you have brought me by just watching you grow. Your little laugh always warms my heart and your curiosity about everything inspires me to look at life more simply and with excitement too.

I hope we can always be as close as we are now. Mommy will always be there for you, no matter what. I hope for you a lifetime of experiences, adventure, love, and laughter. Merry Xmas and Happy New Year, my little one.

Love always,
your mommy... :-)

My first Xmas!

Hi everyone,

It's been awhile since I have been able to blog. Yaya, mommy and daddy have been watching me like a hawk since I can crawl everywhere now and love to climb up and stand whenever I find something to hold on to.

They think I will fall or something because they are following me around all the time. I tease them once in awhile and pretend to lose my balance, but really I already got the hang of it. It's just fun to see them rush to me. hee hee

Well, finally I got a moment to myself. I put on this new outfit my grandma gave me to pose for a photo. Do you like it? I love it, but what can I say, I look adorable in anything. I am glad grandma and grandpa moved from Vegas to here so I can see them a lot. They spoil me. :-)

I love it that mommy and yaya set up the xmas tree for me this year. I already see presents underneath it. Woo, I wonder what they are. I love all the pretty lights on it. I can stare at it for minutes. Mommy also got me a xmas book with a blinking tree on the last page. It's so fun. I love Xmas!

I heard a rumor that my other grandma in Houston will give me lots of money for Xmas so I can get whatever I want next year. Mommy is being tight fisted though and told me we will save it for my college or just use it for diaper funds. What is college? sounds boring. I will see if I can change mommy's mind. Heehee. It's good to be a baby and the only grandchild in the family. I better enjoy it before my cousin is born in Feburary.

That's all for now. I wish you all a very merry xmas and a happy new year! Come and visit me. I promise to be cute and cuddly. :-)

- Isabel

Reading, standing, talking

Isabel is one smart kid ;-)





- Lei

It's like Christmas morning

Remember that feeling of a kid on Xmas morning - when you wake up and start feeling the anticipation of opening presents - what will await for me in those boxes, what delightful surprises. Your heart is pounding; you feel exhilarated; and you feel you can't wait to get your hands on those wrappings to see what is inside.

That is how I feel everyday in the morning before I open the door to wake up Isabel. People sometimes ask how I feel to be a mom and I think this is the best way I can describe the joy of having Isabel in my life. She is like a present that I open every morning when I open her bedroom door. She is sometimes crying for attention, sometimes smiling with glee, but whatever her expression, my heart just melts when I see her and hold her.

I feel the same way on my way back from work. I start walking faster and faster as I get closer to home, getting excited. I know I have my present (Isabel) at home to see and enjoy. What expression will she have today?

Ahh, for all the work that motherhood is, I would not trade it for anything in the world. :-)

- Lei

I have been rushing

Only a few days ago, I realized why I have been so tense. I have been rushing around everywhere trying to do too many things.

I started work 3 weeks ago part time and I thought "great I live so close, I can come home and feed the baby at lunch time." What a brilliant idea! Well, not so. I tried and tried and ended up rushing home to feed her and thinking about work as well and then rushing back for meetings and then getting home at 6 or 6:30pm.

What was supposed to be a pretty easy schedule feels like a 12 hour work day 4 days a week. I guess that's what I get for being a perfectionist. I have since learned. Now I go to work from 8:30 to 3:30, eating lunch at my desk, so I can go home and then devote my complete attention to the baby or working out or relaxing.

Finally an doable schedule... I also was able to settle into a regular workout routine - Sundays and Thursdays yoga and Wii Fit twice a week. I haven't figured out how to fit salsa nights in there yet, although I probably should have gone tonight since I am still up now and feeling anxious.

I have been trying to go to sleep by 10pm since I get up early now to feed the baby before I go to work. Well, the idea is nice but I am not always sleepy early, like tonight. I tried for an hour to sleep and finally gave up to blog.

I am still learning how not to rush. I think it has to do with learning how to not control everything and letting it flow. It's a work in progress. I think I was doing fairly well before the baby. As a new mom, I easily reverted to my old ways of survival - by trying to be a perfectionist. Now that I am starting to get the hang of things, perhaps I will let up. Time to sleep...

- Lei

Carrots, Peas, Broccoli, Squash

Isabel loves her solids. She eats a bowl twice a day. She has tried 4 vegetables so far and loved each one. She looks like such a big girl in that booster seat. She is eating broccoli here. Enjoy!



-Lei

Isabel is 7 month old Today!

She is getting so big and love to climb things now to get on her knee or stand up. It's almost time to lower her crib as she can use the railing to pull herself to standing. She hasn't quite figured out how to get back to sitting from there, so usually she just freaks out after she stands up. It's awesome and scary. We are worried she will bump her head if she loses her balance. We have put pillows all around the crib so she would fall on something soft if she falls.

Besides trying to stand, she can also feed sitting now facing me and can crawl toward me and find milk herself. it's pretty amusing. I guess I can always know when she wants to eat. She basically just comes over and tries to get it over my shirt. :-)

She is loving her solid food and has it twice a day. We have given her rice cereal, carrots, peas, and broccoli so far. She is loving it.

- Lei

Another Inexpensive Toy for Isabel

Isabel is definitely not materialistic. In fact, she seems to love mommy's stuff that cost nothing. First there was the water bottle. Now it's the camera case. Enjoy!