Friday, July 29, 2011

Pics from neighborhood playdate

Isabel has so much fun with the neighborhood playdate we have on Friday afternoon.  They have known each other for the last 2 years.  So great to have other kids to play with for Isabel.

Lei

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

A Delicious Chinese Wedding Banquet

On Sunday, Jaime and I went to one of his Jiujitsu friends' wedding reception at a Chinese restaurant in San Mateo.  We were just expecting a typical banquet - 8 to 10 dishes per table to share.

Well, we were in for a real treat.  It was a seafood restaurant at 88 E 4th Ave in San Mateo (forgot the name) and the owner happen to be the uncle of the bride, so he sponsored the dinner and brought out the BEST food.

I am pretty picky about Chinese food and this is the BEST Chinese Wedding banquet I have ever been to.  Here are the 10 courses we had - each was individual served to each one of us at the table.

  1. Roast Pig and Seaweed salad
  2. Shrimp and Scallop with Mango wrapped with a light crispy wrapping lightly fried.
  3. Crab claw shrimp ball
  4. Shark fin chicken soup served in a Coconut - the shark fin was top notch. Jaime doesn't like soup and he ate the whole thing
  5. Fresh Abalone with mushroom.  The texture of the mushroom match that of the abalone and the sauce was light and yummy
  6. Half of Lobster sauteed with garlic sauce
  7. Roast chicken - Chicken with Lobster symbolized the balance of yin and yang
  8. Seared sea bass - individually served and was perfectly cooked
  9. Crab fried rice - no soy sauce, great flavor, light
  10. Various Chinese dessert (seasame ball with salty egg yolk inside - yum, rice bean pastry, lotus paste soup for fertility and cup cakes)
We were stuffed and super happy.    The wedding was also very tastely and festively done with tons of games, activities, and dancing.  What a party!  Best wishes to Bill and Wendy!

Lei

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Isabel's new running stroller

Jaime got this from his friend since their kids are all grown.  Isabel loves it.

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

Friday, July 15, 2011

Battle of the Sexes

When I was 12 weeks pregnant and before I found out the gender of my 2nd baby, I took a friend to her acupuncturist.  While waiting, I decided to ask the old Chinese acupuncturist lady about the sex of my baby and see if she can guess.  I was bored and my friend said she had a chart that can predict the gender pretty accurately.

I was horrified at the first thing she said.  She said "Whether the baby is a girl or a boy, you should keep it.  It's already 12 weeks."  At first I didn't understand what she meant, but quickly realize that she misunderstood and thought I want to know the gender to decide whether to keep the baby - NEVER crossed my mind.  But apparently lots of Chinese people especially in China would consider abortion if they found out they are having a girl.  Yuck!

She went on to try to guess the gender and I immediately thought of her as an "old wife" or one of those pretend "psychics"  She was all over the place trying to cover her basis - "if I feel different this pregnancy than the last, than it's not the same gender as the last one.   Many hours of my clinical experience proves that."  I told her I feel quite different this time, so I guess it's a boy.  Then I said I hate sweets this time which I didn't last time.  She then hedged and said well "it's definitely a girl then.  Girls make the mother hate sweets and boy make the mother love sweets."  This made no sense to me since I just told her I have a daughter and during that pregnancy I loved sweets.  I stop the conversation short then.  It was amusing to pass the time I guess.

Well I am 17 weeks pregnant now and knows the gender.  Jaime is right.  He is destined to be surrounded by beautiful women.  We are having a girl!  Isabel and we are so Happy!

- Lei

Was that a kick?

At 14.5 weeks, I started feeling these little motion in my tummy - hard to describe - they feel like my stomach burped or she is actually kicking me.  Hard to believe as she was only size of an apple then.

I will find out from the OB today if that's possible.  Lately, I feel more flutter once in awhile - similarly to those when I was preggie with Isabel.  I am so looking forward to feeling her move more.

lei

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Happy Birthday Daddy!



Happy Birthday Daddy! I love you!


-Isabel

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Going to farmers market with daddy

Isabel is in her new tutu dress and a pink sf giants hat from daddy. It's great how cute multi-colors can look so cute on a kid.

Lei

-- Sent from my Palm Pre


From: Jaime Lapena <jaimelapena@gmail.com>
Date: Jul 9, 2011 10:57 AM
Subject: Daddy photo with Isabel
To: leihan04@yahoo.com



Friday, July 8, 2011

Isabel's photos from school

A bonus - Nihao kids, Isabel's preschool, takes photos of the kids in school every week and posted them online.   check it out.  Isabel is quite a few of them.

Here is the general link you can check anytime,
http://www.school-pages.com/languageinaction/wiki.cgi/PhotoPage?q=CowHollow

Here is the some specific links for the first few weeks of school
http://www.school-pages.com/languageinaction/wiki.cgi/NiHaoKidsJune27-July1-7-1-2011PhotoPage

enjoy!  School is still a transition for Isabel.  She has changed from getting up early and not even saying goodbye to us at school to crying every time we drop her off, although she is fine after we leave.  I think once she makes more friends at school, she will be more used to going.  crossing our fingers.  In the meantime, her mandarin has improved leaps and bounds.  she is speaking full sentences to me in mandarin.  so awesome!

Lei

Friday, July 1, 2011

Daddy's little girl


-- Sent from my Palm Pre