Isabel loves her new car seat

this video was taken before we installed it. She looks good in it. Isabel says "Thank you Grandma (lao lao in Chinese) and grandpa (lao ye in Chinese) for buying this for me and keeping me safe"



- Lei

Isabel loves to play

these were videos taken when Isabel was playing at someone else's house. Look at all the toys. She was so busy...





- Lei

Isabel is "on a roll" or two

lately, she has taken up to rolling around on the ground. so cute.. she seems to just be relaxing and enjoying herself.



- Lei

Taking a dump?

I know Isabel may hate me later for posting this, but it's so funny. I think she is pooping here as she is all quiet and then once in awhile her face turns red from the effort. :-)



- Lei

Chinese New Year Dinner - March 7

I know I know. I meant to post this much earlier but tax season totally side-tracked me.

Even the dinner itself was 5-6 weeks after the actual Chinese New Year date this year.

Better late than never though, huh. We had a blast at PPQ on March 7. There were 14 of us enjoying about 5 crabs, several seabass, and many other delicious dishes.

For some, it's their first year joining us. I am so happy they got to meet some of my other friends and like them. :-)

Most of us went to Creations for dessert - yummy fresh fruit and tapioca desserts. Jaime did his extended rendition of introducing everyone to "Crystal Snow" and how it's made. We all were laughing our head off. You have to be there. Maybe next year?

Happy Year of the Ox!

- Lei

playing on someone else's toy

She loves it. We were at someone's house for a baby shower and Isabel had a ball.

Isabel learned to clap her hands :-)

- Lei

Isabel at the playground

We started taking Isabel to the playground for babies and toddlers on some Sundays. It's right outside Target in San Bruno inside Tanfran mall. Agnes and I would take the baby and Jaime would go do Jiujitsu workout.

Isabel loves it and we are very careful to protect her from the big kids so she does not get run over. She loves this tunnel where she can crawl through. Check it out. :-)



- Lei

A little mystery solved

Ever since I gave birth, I had some minor back aches here and there and pulled it out twice as well. Just in the last week, I figured out why!

Because of the weight of the baby when I was pregnant, my posture changed and I was used to standing with my butt out a bit balancing all that weight in front. Well, after birth, I don't think I changed my posture, so it was always a little off.

I was doing yoga that way which doesn't help, I don't think as I would compound the strain on the lower back. The only reason I finally figure it out is I took a belly dancing class two weeks ago and one of the principles was don't stick your butt out - keep your tummy tight and tuck in the pelvis so the butt is directly under.

Well I totally understand this concept as a dancer, but what I was surprised was the teacher kept telling me to not stick my butt out. I didn't even know I was doing it. After that day, I started noticing that my default posture now was a little off, always with my butt out a bit. So I started consciously tightening my tummy muscles more and make sure my butt is not tilted.

So far it's working as although I am working out more, my lower back feels much better with almost no discomfort. :-)

- Lei

Isabel is 11 months old

Isabel is a big girl now. We had to change her car seat already to this one on the right because she is probably 30 inches or more now.

Daddy went to the CHP and had it installed and we tried it for the first time today and she loves it. Still facing backwards as it is the safest. We will turn it around after she gets to 35 pounds, which will be awhile. Right now she is about 21 pounds.

Her face is also getting better although very slowly and still dry. She is such a trooper though and never really complains. She sleeps through the night mostly and some days she would wake up and cry due to teething or a bad dream. I love it when I can go in and just hold her until she falls asleep on my chest sometimes. It is as much for me as it is for her, probably even more for me. I feel the world is right when she is sleeping on me and all is ok. How weird huh? I guess I must be reflecting how she feels.

Motherhood is great and we are planning her 1 year old celebration next month.

- Lei
p.s: I love the photo on the left. I took it today while she was playing with toys at a friend's house I was attending a baby shower there.

Parenthood is about Patience

Did you know that what we learned and conclude about ourselves between the ages of 0 to 7 years old, fundamentally determines who we are as adults - whether we are confident, perfectionist, overachievers, insecure, passionate etc...

If you look at any issues you may have today as adults, if you look deep enough, it's probably stems from something that happened between birth and age 7. It doesn't necessarily have to be something dramatic. This also doesn't mean you had bad parents. Your parents probably tried their best.

As I am a parent now, I am very conscious of what environment Isabel is living in and how I respond to her. She is an open book right now, a blank slate and it is important for me to realize how powerful my role is as a mom in her eyes. Of course, I can't and won't be perfect but just being conscious of how my response may affect her even if she doesn't seem to fully understand what's going on will help me be a better parent.

Recently, while reading in the book - Rays of Dawn - I learned something very important about parenthood. It said "to be hasty and inconsiderate with children breeds fear, discouragement, or self-condemnation."

I think how easy it can be sometimes for a parent to be impatient with a child. Children are great at interrupting parents no matter what we may be doing and it is our role as adults to realize that it's not the kids' fault to be excited and want to share something with me. It is our role to patiently educate kids to perhaps wait until I am done with something and not just react impatiently or drop everything whenever they call on us (which is unrealistic).

My relationship with Isabel hasn't gotten to that point yet as I am always so happy to see her but I can see once she starts walking and talking, she may want my attention all the time and I cannot always give it. In which case, I want to remind myself to be patient.

In this book, I also learned that "Many an inferiority complex can be attributed to a parent's or teacher's habitual impatient attitude toward a deficiency or a lack in the child." I can see this being especially true with Asian parents as we may focus too much attention on the 10 points a child may have missed on a test instead of also celebrating the 90 points she got. Culturally, we think this is tough love and will only make our kids better, but I think there is a balance to everything and Isabel will need as much encouragement and support from us as well as understanding where she can be better.

Parenthood is a challenge and a great adventure. I am so looking forward to educating Isabel on the wonders of the world, encouraging her to explore and perhaps make mistakes, be always curious to learn more, and letting her know that no matter what, we will always love her, support her. This is easier said than done, but I am enjoying every moment as a mom.

- Lei

Thinking of Putting the Baby to Work!

Check it out. I'm thinking of starting a janitorial/daycare company!

- Jaime

Thank you for depositing in my "bank account"!

Agnes send me this great story the other day that I wanted to share with all of you. It really touches on the secret to happiness although it's much easier said then done.
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A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with his hair fashionably combed and shaved perfectly, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today.

His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready.

As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window. I love it,' he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy. Mr. Jones, you haven't seen the room; just wait.' 'That doesn' t have anything to do with it,' he replied. 'Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time.' Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged ... it's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it.

It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do.

Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away. Just for this time in my life.
Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you've put in.
So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories!

Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more..
5. Expect less.
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Thank you all for depositing happy memories in my bank. I hope I can be as wise as this old man as I get older and always remember happiness is a decision I can make everyday regardless of whether I lose 50% of my stock value or win the lottery tomorrow.

- Lei

Future book worm!

All these videos in the car were taken on our way back from Monterrey after attending Jaime's grandma's funeral. Isabel definitely occupied herself, including a little light reading here.



- Lei

Isabel loves to laugh

to strange sounds



- Lei