Browse Author: beakatude

2nd Trimester

IMG_5075Well, I just reached 27 weeks of my pregnancy and have officially entered the 3rd trimester.  Here is my bump today and it’s nice and round but the belly button hasn’t popped out yet.

So far, things are going smoothly.  I feel Peanut kicking around the same time everyday and he gets pretty jabby.  I can feel bony parts punching out – is it an elbow? a knee? a foot?  I have no idea but it’s fun to feel it from the outside.  Our 2nd trimester genetic screen was negative and I passed my glucose test.  What a relief.

My sinuses have cleared up a bit and I have some better nights of sleep.  My energy level waxes and wanes each day but I’m pretty tuckered by the end of the work day.  Walking is still comfortable for me but I’ve been told that I’m starting to waddle a bit.  I’m tempted to go outside for a run but I haven’t.  Instead, I take the stairs at work as much as possible and I can still run up a flight of stairs without difficulty.  A couple weeks ago on our way to my 25-week prenatal appointment, KK had to walk up two flights of stairs from the Muni station while I followed her up with the stroller.  I guess I’ve still got some strength left in these legs of mine.

IMG_5061 I’ve got only 2 more months of work left before maternity leave starts.  Let’s hope the 3rd trimester is uneventful and that Peanut gets to cook all 40 weeks.

Mini Me

IMG_5054Friends have told me that KK is starting to look more and more like me but I haven’t really seen it. That was, until today when my dad sent me this photo of me on my 3rd birthday next to KK’s 3rd birthday picture.

IMG_5055Then he sent this picture of Brother and Alice next to each other. We’ve always said that they look alike but this really shows the resemblance.

I still miss him.

IMG_5091My Koa Bear would have turned 11 years old today.  I woke up this morning at 1 am and realized it was his birthday and had a hard time falling back asleep.  I guess I still miss this doggie as if he passed away just a week ago.

DSC_1874aOh, I miss his funny habits like sleeping in the laundry basket and eating his kibble late at night.  I still anticipate hearing him trot over each time I crack an egg too.  I don’t necessarily miss walking him in the rain but the early morning walks on Sundays were nice.

DSC_8108We would love to get another shiba but it might not be the best time right now since we’ll be adding another human to our family this summer.

DSC_5393Happy Birthday, Koa.  We miss you.

plants and snails

IMG_4987Here’s the latest of the fish tanks at home.  Jes joined a Bay Area fish group and scored some free snails from a guy that lives in San Francisco.  He left them in a bucket on his front porch for us to pick up one Saturday on our way home from the zoo.  Jes also got a shipment of free plants from another guy nearby.  So, now in our original 2.5-gallon tank, he’s growing a bunch of snails and baby shrimp.  Some of the pond snails laid eggs that hatched a couple weeks ago.  The baby snails are really fun to watch because they crawl really fast on the glass and also float up to the top to crawl along the underside of the water’s surface.  Those white specks on the surface of the water are the baby snails.

IMG_4990In the 12-gallon tank, there’s a lot of activity since the baby platys have grown into a pretty good size (there are two left) and there are 8 corys that are really active. There are also snails and shrimp living in this one.

IMG_4989In 5-gallon tank, there is one dwarf puffer (KK named him “Bloat”) just hanging out with some fish that eat algae.  He’s that speck in the middle of the tank hovering over the big rock. Jes is growing some grass along the floor.  That rock in the middle is where he places 1-2 snails from the other tank.  The puffer waits for the snail to come out of its shell and then sucks it out!

IMG_4988This is the 7.5-gallon cube tank that has a really strong light for growing plants.  In here, Jack still remains.  Jill died a couple weeks ago and KK says “she’s in the toilet now”.  This tank will eventually house the puffer.

Shower for Jia and Jason

DSC_6298This morning, we hosted a Baby Shower for Jia and Jason at Blue Line Pizza in Burlingame.

DSC_6280The venue turned out to be a very good one since we opted for the covered patio that shaded us and shielded us from the wind.  DSC_6270We had the balloons blown up at a nearby Safeway and then picked up yummy chocolate sea salt and vanilla coconut cupcakes from Kara’s across the street from the pizza place.  Loved how conveniently located they were.  I also ordered these cupcake lines and treat cups from Amazon, which completed the look.

DSC_6272Their friend Elsa made the diaper cake that was complete with socks, and elephant, a book, and of course diapers.

DSC_6301This is Elsa and her family.

DSC_6289The pizza and appetizers were all so yummy and we had just enough food with a little left over for Jason to eat later. 🙂

DSC_6312We can’t wait to meet the twins!  We’re also hoping for them to cook until at least 36 weeks and for a smooth and uneventful delivery.

Note to Self

Year3I made this collection of photos from each month of this past year to see how much KK has changed.  She had such a baby face at the beginning of the year!  Also, what a difference from last year’s collage!!

Now that we’re out of the baby and toddler years, I thought I’d reflect on things I’ve learned along the way as KK’s Mama.

  1. Raising a headstrong, independent kid takes lots of perseverance, consistency, and my own stubbornness.  This kid also thrives on routine and repetition.  She’s still not following directions as well as I’d like but there’s something about her that reminds me of how headstrong Koa was too.  She tries to do things on her own time and in her own way, which can be frustrating and endearing at the same time.  If she doesn’t do something after the first or second request, I walk her through it to get the task done even if it results in tears or tantrums.  What also helps is a little brainwashing.  I just model for her “OK Mama.  I do it.” and she will often repeat after me and get the task done.  Works like a charm about 75% of the time.
  2. As good as eating habits can be, they will be constantly changing.  Expose them to a variety of foods, flavors, and textures as early as you can and have the expectation that they may like it regardless of your biases.  I hate bananas but I expect that my kid will form her own opinion on her own about them.  This kid used to have a voracious appetite but now that she’s older, we’ve had to negotiate around her particular likes and dislikes of the moment.  One day she loves broccoli and then the next day she will be indifferent to it.  The key to a successful meal is to always offer but don’t force.  This kid likes choices and there is no option of “yes” or “no”.  It’s more like “do you want broccoli or rice first?”  Works most of the time.
  3. Pick your battles.  There are some battles that just aren’t worth fighting for the greater good of the moment.  If she wants to wear a skirt to bed instead of PJ bottoms, that will be fine for the sake of not losing another minute of sleep for the night.  In the grand scheme of things, wearing a skirt to sleep for one night is not going to hurt anyone.
  4. Changes and transitions are hard but they are necessary for growth and learning.  When we had to change from daily nanny care at home to drop-off daycare, it was hard on both of us but in the end, she learned to look forward to love “school” and has learned so much along the way.  The best part of picking her up everyday is the giant hug I get.  She also says “you came back!” and I reply with “I always come back.”  Somehow that’s reassuring for her.
  5. Take the kid out to restaurants early and often and BE CONSISTENT.  KK has been going to restaurants since she was a wee little baby and I can probably count on my two hands the number of times she had been allowed to get out of her highchair during a meal.  As soon as she was strong enough to sit in a highchair, that’s where she sat any time we were out.  That also goes for meals at home.  Even if she isn’t hungry, she is expected to sit at the table with us while we eat.  It’s just the routine.  When we go out, we also come prepared with things for her to do while we wait for the food.  It usually keeps her out of trouble.  I hope this all works for Peanut.  I’m always afraid that we just lucked out with a good little diner.
  6. Lower your voice and be straight forward when you’re upset.  Kids don’t get passive-aggressive undertones.  Yelling rarely works too.  When I’m mad or upset with KK, I get down to her level and give it to her straight.  “Mama is mad because ___.  Next time, you should ___.”  Nowadays, she can sense when I’m mad based on my behavior and tone.  She will sometimes come up to me and ask in a sweet voice, “Mama, you mad?”  We try to resolve things quickly with an explanation, solution, and a make-up hug.  This has worked about 75% of the time so far.
  7. Daddy is not a clone of Mommy.  I shouldn’t expect Jes to do everything the same way I do.  He is Daddy and does things in a “Daddy way”.  She’s always fed, dressed, and safe in his care.  They also have special things together that makes their relationship special.  For example, they feed the fish every night and I’m never involved.
  8. I’m nowhere close to the perfect parent but I’m good enough for KK.  I don’t wash her hands as much as I should.  Her bedtime is probably later than it should be.  I probably allow her to have ice cream more than I should. I also don’t enjoy reading to her (thankfully Jes does).  Luckily, she has a strong immune system, she’s not overweight, and she loves me unconditionally.

Sorry that this is so long-winded but I’m literally writing this all down now to remind me later when Peanut arrives.  I’m looking forward to testing the nature vs. nurture debate that runs through my head all the time.  Did I just luck out with an easy kid?  Will Kid #2 be a picky-eating, uncontrollable terror despite all my efforts?  Who knows.  I guess I’ll just have to find out in another 15 weeks.

By the way, I passed my second glucose tolerance test this week.  Woot!  Time to celebrate with a giant chocolate chip cookie!