Put into Perspective

I am 8 months old!

 

Mommy has been pretty busy with everything going on.  We miss our Grandpa since he passed away, but we are glad we had a chance to see him before he had to go to heaven.  I will remember him from the photos and stories that mommy tells me.  

• Grandpa went to heaven at the end of March.  We were with him almost to the last day, and then we travelled to his memorial in Georgia. He was a wonderful Grandpa, and he was happy to have us grandbabies all around him towards the end.  
• We went to North Carolina to see my other Grandpa and Grandma.  This Grandpa is on dialysis, so he cannot come see him.  So off we went in June to see him. 
• Grandma asked Mommy why Mommy and Daddy had so many kids since it was almost unmanagable.  It is true that I have been tough sometimes, but honestly, I am pretty glad to be here. 
• I am the happiest baby in the world.  I love to smile, but man, don't ignore me because I will shout up a storm.  As the 3rd child, I have to make my voice heard.  
• I got two teeth!  I was teething in NC, so it was BAD there.  I was very sad, but I am happy again now that they have broken through.  I also realized that some poeple are different than Mommy and Daddy, and I prefer them to anyone else. 
• I like to play hard to get.  If I am being held by someone who I like, I will hide my face and pretend not to notice someone else standing there.  
• I learned to crawl army style.  If I see something I want across the room, I can make it there on my own.  I am fast too! 
• I hate baby food.  Why is there food for babies anyhow?  If there is something there on the table, I would prefer that.  Adult food is much more yummy to my tummy!
• I am a very good sleeper.  I like to sleep and sleep and sleep.  Zzzzz! 

 

Have a wonderful month!  

I am 6 months old!

Can you believe that I am so big now?  It feels like yesterday when I joined my family on the outside. 

• I have been a busy girl.  I have taken 9 flights so far in my 6 months because I had two sick grandpas.  Gong gong passed away a few weeks ago, and I am sad.  Here is a photo of me in his bed when he was really really sick.  He loved me so much and I flew with Mommy to see him three times in the past two months. 
• I am such a happy girl. I love to laugh and smile.  I can smile all day, well except for between 7 and 9 where I scream like a banshee.  They told me it was colic, but I just think I need to scream a little when my tummy hurts. 
• I have so much fun with my big brother and sister.  They like to feed me and play with me.  They fight to be with me.  I like all of the attention. 
• Mommy and Daddy moved out of our house to have it renovated.  So we live in a small townhouse right now.  It is only 2 bedrooms, so I sleep in the room with Mommy and Daddy.  I like to play in my crib when I wake up, but I do not cry. 
• I look just like my big brother as a baby. It is funny to everyone since I am like a mini-Jonathan.  He adores me and always takes good care of me. 
• Jonathan has picked me up a few times and walked around the house before.  It is funny because I am about 18 lbs and he is only 45lbs.  
• I have been very sick with Hand, Foot, and Mouth.  It is the only time when I have not smiled for a couple days striaght since I was about 2 days old.  
• I still cannot eat normally, so it is the bottle for me.  Luckily, Mommy's milk keeps me healthy and strong.  
• I took my first bite of solid food, and I promptly spit it out.  Yucky!  Mommy tried again, and I liked it better.  But then I had a bit of orange.  And I smiled and smiled.  That is what real food tastes like, not that bland oatmeal stuff.  

Until next month! 

 

 

Things I want to say...

Dear Daddy, 

Tomorrow may be your last day here with us in person.  It is so hard to watch you slowly slip away from us day by day to the point where you seem trapped in a small world so far away.  We watched as your diagnosis of cancer started you down the path where everyday, it took a bit of you from us.  You went from travelling the world and enjoying your retirement to a small room where we come to see you and speak to you without really hearing your voice again.  I know the man who loved and raised me is there, listening as I tell you about our lives and the outside, but I miss you -- the whole you -- who took 

You were the first man who ever loved me.  And though I did not understand it at the time, Mom always said we were lucky that you were happy with daughters. I guess in America it is a bit strange to say, but when I was older, I started to understand the old world mentality.  You never held back because we were girls though.  You took us fishing, crabbing, and shrimping.  You taught us how to shoot a target and trap raccoons who snuck into our garbage.  You raised us to be frugal and to value experience over things.  We never had much growing up, but you spent equivalent of one-tenth of your annual take home pay to take us to Hong Kong to see our relatives.  We lived simply, and I never missed out on anything. 

You used to tell us stories of how you came to America with very little.  But you are leaving rich in love and family.  You were never one for emotion.  I remember how surprised I was when we got to college, and you started saying "I love you" on the phone.  It was a bit jarring to hear after all of those years, but we always knew. You were strict to our faces, but we heard you brag about us behind our backs. 

I still remember that "talk" you gave me the night before I left for college. You asked me to "give Chinese guys a chance".  I still laugh about that to this day with Caroline.  Well, at my wedding, you got your wish though I am sorry I forgot to kiss you after you walked me down the aisle.  Though you never dance, thank you for dancing the father-daughter dance with me.  It meant a lot.  

Remember when I was pregnant with Jonathan?  You guessed it even before Mom did.  She did not believe you when you told her, but you knew.  You were so happy to become a Grandpa.  You came to care for all three of my babies when they were born, spending hours walking them around in the night so I could sleep. You adored them, and they in turn, adore you even the littlest one who got in her Grandpa time just before your cancer spread so extensively. She will not remember you, but we took lots of photos and have lots of stories to tell her about the Grandfather who loved her and held her even when he was very very sick.  

Bethany said today that she was sad you were sick, and that she hoped you would be better soon.  I explained that you would be better when you were with God in heaven.  Jonathan made you some cards to comfort you in these final days.  He even wrote "I really like Grandpa" in Chinese without any prompting.  Not bad for a 5 year-old all-American kid. 

I will always remember when I was feeding you yogurt and telling you about the kids a few weeks ago.  Though you can barely speak, you grabbed my leg and held it as we talked.  Well, mostly I talked but you listened.  I knew you were telling me that you were there inside listening. And I was glad to be there for you after all you had done for me.  

You lived a life full of family and love. Though there were many hardships, there were also many blessings.  I do not want to grieve as much as I want to remember you in joy and share that joy with my children.   Thank you for being a wonderful father and role model.  Thank you for loving us and caring for us even when we were trying your patience.  Thank you for being the blessing in our lives that God made you to be.  

You will always be the first man I ever loved.  

YK

A love letter to the love of my life...

Happy Valentine's Day!  We have officially known each other for nearly half of my life and together over 16 years. Here are a few fond memories from our time together:

• It is funny how we almost met when we were teenagers. If you had gone on that church youth group trip to South Carolina, we would have encountered each other on the Burned Bridge in Charleston three or four years before we actually met. Perhaps it is better did not meet then since we were both somewhat awkward looking as teens. 
• Remember the first time we met?  I would say it was the opposite of love at first sight. I am glad that yellow tie was lost in one of our moves. 
• That night when we decided to "date-to-marry" (wow, was I only 19?).  What would those kids think of who we are today?  We promised each other never to be tied to things and instead invest in our family and friends.  We kept that promise for the most part.  Remember Topher's reaction to the new toaster oven? It is as if he thought the $20 toaster oven from Walmart that you set on fire twice was worth replacing... :) 
• Those late night phone calls pre-Skype really put a dent in the budget, but we learned so much about each other dreaming our dreams together.  And I graduated with an A+ in Physics because I could do my homework while on the phone.
• Our wedding day was certainly memorable, especially the part where the cake did not arrive.  We never did tell our friends where we had our first kiss. :)  It was the day the most wonderful day of my life.   
• After that wonderful day, we took turns sleeping so we could pack to move to California. Who knew you could fit stuff from two large houses into an apartment that is 500 sq ft big?  Perhaps the 3 deep boxes, 8 ft high was a sign we had too much stuff.  
• We were here in California "just one more year" every year.  Remember how we looked at houses in NC every year, and we promised ourselves and all of our friends we would leave. This last visit to NC, when you told your parents we were going to stay our here, it was the end of an era of our lives.  All of our friends in NC was sad, but all of our friends in CA just said, "I told you so!" 
• Remember when we started a tiny little scrapbooking company out of our garage and you would come home to pack packages to ship?  Maya Road is now a thriving company but that early days were fun but a bit harrowing. 
• We bought our first house, a modest little home on a main street.  And that is where we started our family.  Remember how we used to take walks through the neighborhood?  That is where we picked out our kids' names.  And remember when we brought J back for the first time?  It was 100+ degrees that week, and he cried non-stop.  I remember thinking, "What have we gotten ourselves into?"  He loved that old house and spent hours in the bay window watching the fire trucks go by.  
• We traveled the world together from whirlwind Cathay Pacific All-Asia Pass trip after college (I still cannot believe you did not know that sound was rainwater dripping onto your bed!) to your crazy driving in London on the wrong side of the road.  There was the Alaska cruise where our dads both got seasick, and the bike ride through Paris.  And of course, the babymoon in Italy where I got very sick, and your prodded me out of bed each day on a force march through Rome to take in the sights.  
• And how we had a hard time having baby Bethany?  She is all grown up now at age 3 and much bigger than all of the girls in her class even though she is the youngest.  She is a little chatterbox in all three languages.   
• Can you believe we have our miracle baby?  Danielle will forever be Daddy's little girl because she is your wish for our 10th wedding anniversary. I am grateful you talked me into having a third child since she is so cute and lying there on your chest napping as I write this.  
• We have had so many memorable adventures.  I am so glad I will never have to run through the airport 7 months pregnant holding all of our luggage as you carried the two kids to make the flight home.  I am happy that when a soapy J kicked off your chest and flew across the bathroom and slammed in to the glass wall, he was okay.  And when B went through her year of straight sickness and vomiting dozens of times a month, we were there together cleaning her up in the middle of the night.  And when baby D lost so much weight from not being able to eat they almost put her in the hospital, you stayed up with me to force feed her every 3 hours. 
• Thank you for being there was my dad has been so sick. 

Through the trials and tribulations, joys and blessings of the past 16 years, we have been greatly blessed.  I look forward to the years of new adventures that await us.  

Guess who turned 3 today?

Time flies. Just three years ago today, our little bundle of joy arrived.  And now she is 3!  Wow!  A few observations about Bethany: 

• The little wheels are always turning in her brain.  She is a great strategic negotiator.  "I should only have to eat 2 broccoli since I am 2.  Jonathan can eat 5 since he is five."  But then later, when I am giving out mochis, "I want 5 pieces of mochi because I am going to be 5."  I ask her when.  She says, "I am 2 now.  Then I will be 3.  Then 4, and then 5.  See I am going to be 5 just like Jonathan!" 
• Bethany loves to sing and dance.  We often hear tunes coming out of her room late into the night as she sings herself to sleep.  
• She must must sleep with Pooh bear. We have 3, two of which Jonathan has (one of which he is keeping safe for Danielle).  She never wants "yucky bear" but the other two are fair game.  Then comes Baby Bear from Aunt Susan, and Tutu (Chinese for rabbit) from Uncle Stuart.  Add to that three Hello Kitty dolls, a dinosaur, a couple dogs, and turtle and you have the entire menagerie. 
• She just started pre-school. We worried about her fitting in with the younger kids since she is so tall and mature.  So we asked if she could join the older class.  She is the youngest in her class now, and she is the second tallest. I hope she will be 6 ft tall someday. :) 
• Bethany loves her baby sister, but she wants to make sure she gets her own Mommy time. Bethany said that she wants to be Mommy's favorite, but that Daddy should love Jonathan and Danielle more.  Hm...  I hope to come back and read this someday when she is a teenager and smile. 
• She wants to be just like her big brother.  Even though he is 2.5 years older, she likes to think she is also 5. Always keeping up with the older boys.  She is upset when Jonathan and their cousin Noah (also 5) do not let her play with them.  But when I ask why she does not play with Olivia (who is only a few months younger than B), she says, "Olivia is too small to play with."
• Her favorite food is shrimp dumplings and potstickers. Yum!
• I was not a girly girl growing up, so I am not sure where Bethany's preference for pink came from. But there is pink everywhere. Do they not make clothes in any other color? 

Happy birthday, Bethany! 

B's first day of school

I cannot believe it, but my little girl is growing up.  Bethany started her first day of school yesterday.  It seems like yesterday that she was just a baby, and now she is all grown up.  We put Jonathan in part time preschool at age 2, but because of Bethany's many illnesses, her doctor suggested we keep her at home until she turned 3.  

Bethany was very excited to go to her new bilingual Chinese school. She has been begging to attend school since Jonathan goes, so she finally had her wish come true. She is in the 3 year-old class room, and though she is much younger than all of the kids, she is nearly the tallest child in the class.  Those are either some small children in the class or Bethany is very tall.  Or both.  

Her Daddy drove her to school, and I picked her up.  On the way home, I asked her if she wanted to go back, and she said, "No, I want to just stay home with you and Daddy."  I replied, "But Daddy has to go to work. And Mommy is going back to work soon too." She said, "Mommy, don't go to work.  Stay home and play with me all day."  I am not sure whether to be happy that she enjoys our company or sad that she said it.  

Today, she was once again excited to go to school.  She loves her new classroom and comes home bursting with news of the day.  Unlike her big brother who tells us nothing about his day other than a couple of "I don't knows", she gives me a good play by play of the activities.  

It is strange to see your little girl grow up so quickly.  It is particularly pronounced in Bethany since she is a 2 year old but wearing size 5T clothes.  She is bigger than many 4 and 5 year-olds we know.  We hope that this is a start of a lifetime of joy in learning that her father and I had when we were in school.  

I am 2 months old!

Time flies for a little baby.  It is a brand new year, and I am two months old.  Here I am with my brother and sister in a photo courtesy of Prevoir Photography's Erin.  

• I have been sick about 5 weeks of my 9 weeks.  It has made me sad.  I have something called bronciolitis which made me cough for the entire time and kept me from eating and sleeping.  Finally I am better!
• I like to smile when my tummy is not hurting and I am not coughing.  It is not my fault I have colic, but it does keep everyone in the household on their toes. 
• I took my first trip.  We went to Dallas, TX and Raleigh, NC to visit my grandparents.  I met my Grandpa (daddy's dad) for the first time!
• Grandparents love babies. So I get a lot of attention.
• I look just like my big brother.  Daddy pulled out Jonathan's baby album, and there I was!  Or so I thought.  
• I only like to eat when being bounced.  Everyone feeds me on a excercise ball or a recliner.  
• I eat like I am a dribble glass.  I like to let milk leak out of the side of my mouth.  It makes for a messy, messy meal. 
• Yummy mommy's milk is great, but it is a lot easier for me to get it from the way Dr. Brown intended, from a bottle!  I still cannot nurse normally which makes Mommy sad. 
• I have cute hair.  It stands up on end just like it did for my big brother and sister. 

Well that is it for this month!  See you next month all!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

 

It has been a crazy holiday for us.  With David and baby Danielle sick, and all of the travelling, I have hardly had the time to post anything.  It was bittersweet to see my dad since he has been going through radiation to attack the cancer that has spread to his brain.  But seeinghim hold the littlest one made it all worthwhile. Each time I see him, I wonder how much more time he has to watch the kids grow up.  We are so fortunate he made it this far, and we are praying he will one day be there to see our kids off to college. One day and one prayer at a time.  Happy holidays everyone!

I am 1 month old!

I am one month old and boy am I tired.  It has been a busy month in our house. A few hightlights:

• I had a lot of eating problems, so I lost a lot of weight.  I am finally back on track after some serious round the clock feedings. It makes Mommy and Daddy stressed out, but I like all of the attention.
• My big brother and sister adore me.  They fight to hold me, especially my big brother.  He as a steadier hand holding me and he learned how to bottle feed me Mommy's milk. 
• I sleep all day and am awake all night. It makes Mommy and Daddy crazy, but I use the lack of weight gain as an excuse to keep them up.  They cannot possibly want to let me get off track, so I get away it for now. 
• Thanksgiving is here!  There is a lot of yummy food around, but alas, I am not really able to eat it.  I do like milk though.  
• I sound like a ducky when I cry.  It is cute except when it is not (that is usually about 4am!).  
• I look a lot like my older brother and sister. Our baby pictures are virtually identical.  Even Daddy is not quite sure which is which when he sees the pictures. 
• Grandma and Grandpa came out to visit me.  Grandma is great at feeding me, though Grandpa is not feeling well.  He is pretty sick and the other day he fell hard and made a hole in the wall with his head. Then he was in the hospital for a few days.  Luckily he is feeling much better now. 
• I often wake up with stuffed animals thrown into my crib from my big siblings.  Mommy and Daddy worry that I will play with them, so now there is a blanket ban on anything being put into my crib when I am in there.  They are being really nice to share their toys, so I cannot wait until I am older to scuffle over the really fun ones with them!

Until next month... signing out! 

Week number 1 with 3 kids...

After a week and a half, everyone is adapting to the beloved little being who joined us last week. She looks just like her big brother and sister as babies, so much so that is a bit disorienting. We wonder what her personality will be like.  So far, the only salient fact about Danielle is that she has her nights and days confused.  It makes for a frustrating night since she seems to be only wide awake from 3am to 7:30am every day.  Ugh!  

Her big brother and sister are enjoying her a lot.  They sing her little songs and fight to play with her.  It is adorable.  Big sister, Bethany, is particularly helpful getting her milk, bringing her stuffed animals to play with and telling her stories. Unfortunatley, Sleeping Beauty sees none of it as she is sleeping in the daylight hours.  

Life has been hectic, but we have been blessed.