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

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

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

Date with Gavin at the Zeum

Emily, Roy, and Gabby's Visit - Memorial Day Wknd 2011

Isabel Singing and Dancing

-Lei

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

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Happy Birthday Daddy! I love you!


-Isabel

Happy birthday Yaya!

-Isabel

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

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

Daddy's little girl

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

First Trimester - summarize - what a journey

June 22, 2011 - 14 weeks pregnant (size of a lemon)

4-6 weeks - elation

• surprised by the + sign.  I was certain I was NOT preggie and even booked a trip to miami.  this was a good reason to cancel
• not feeling any effect of the pregnancy Yeepy - hoping this time I will be less sick 
• told both of our parents on Easter (skyped my parents and gave Jaime's parents an Easter Egg with a baby message).  They were so happy

6-10 weeks - Yuck

• nausea, vomiting, more nausea and so TIRED.  sleeping 9 hours a day and naps 1-2 hours
• all food taste horrible. yuck.  sweets, even fruit left a bad taste.
• clothes are tight already so wearing sweat pants or pregnancy stuff 
• TV was my friend so I can watch something and eat at the same time (my own MATRIX)
• first OB appt gave me some hope
• developed a routine to eat 6 meals a day and get Jaime to help with decisions about food.  better to eat and then puke than not eat at all.
• only saving grace was boobs.  I immediately grew in size.  Jaime was happy 

10-12 weeks - anticipation

• started enjoying fruits again - a blessing
• CVS appt - a little painful and very tiring
• more nausea less vomiting.

12-14 weeks - final wait

• stressing about results
• nausea doesn't seem to stop, but then starting to by close to week 14.  crossing my finger
• normal CVS result - thank you!
• More boobs - I think I am getting bigger than last time.  I feel for those people who have large boobs all the time.  killer on the back
• finally can tell people.  hard to hide this enormous bump I got going.

I am happy and just waiting for nausea to go away. 

- Lei

CVS results

June 20, 2011 - 13 weeks and 5 days

The genetic counselor, Amy, didn't call until 1:15pm but good thing when she called she started with "I have great news for you."   Ahhh, what a relief.  It has all 46 chromosomes.

Now I can tell people I am preggy.  Yeah.  Keep it hidden has been lonely and hard.   Now I can focus on the future - a Dec baby.  What a gift!  Also looking forward to the near future - end of first trimester and hopefully end of nausea.  I can't wait to get my taste buds back and enjoy food again.  It's been a long journey.

- Lei