Hi!  Thanks so much for taking the time to give me your input on sleep, churches and vacuums.  I really appreciate it!

I just posted Evan’s film from Fifty Foot Films on a protected post! 

For the Dapple gift packs…Congrats to yun_bug (she was the first to say she was interested plus I love her, hehe) & tubecozy (I picked randomly and she’s also quite awesome).  Okie dokie, hope you’re all doing well~!

Hi there~!  I’m so excited because we just received this film we made of Evan’s birth.  I love it and I love Fifty Foot Films!!  Once we get a web version I’ll share the link on a protected post.  Hope you’ve all been enjoying Summer 2009!!

Now this is what I call ROFL… 

Michigan

Michigan was all about Sandy & Marvin’s wedding.  Sandy & Marvin were married at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan.  It was truly a beautiful and memorable wedding.  Sandy & Marvin are so perfect for each other.  I know they’re going to have a fabulous life together.    Here are some of my favorite photos!

Wedding rehearsal & dinner

We stayed across the hall from the bride & groom so we could see them through the peephole!

Getting ready for the big day

Evan loves his Auntie & Uncle! 

Evan actually slept walking down the aisle even with the thunderous applause he received!

Family! 

The drive-in movie exhibit played a slideshow (that’s me & Sandy in the pic!)

We stayed at the Best Western circa 1920, hehe.  One of the coolest parts about being in a museum after hours is having access to all of the exhibits.

Evan in his tux!  Thanks to my Xanga angel March_Bride who helped me get this tux!

If you’re planning on traveling with your little one here’s a site (Travel Mamas) that has some great articles and tips (info on air and road travel, checklists, useful links).

6 Months!

6 Month Check-up

Weight:  17 lbs 3 oz (44th percentile)

Height:  26.5 inches (52nd percentile)

Head circumference:  44 cm (56th percentile)

Evan is no longer a giant bear…he’s an average bear!  Our dr. said it’s normal for his growing to slow down at this point.  The good part about this is that he won’t keep outgrowing his clothes so fast.  He also said that Evan is super strong~ that he’s doing things babies do at like 8-9 months.  I credit that to his magic play mats, hehe.  Evan is one of the youngest in his baby class but one of the first to start pushing himself up and start scootching around.  I kind of wish he’d stay stationary a bit longer.  The constant movement makes it harder for me to keep up with him and for him to sleep through the night.

6 Months!

Dear Evan,

It seems like I just blinked and half a year has already gone by!  Half a year in any other part of my life may have passed without much thought but these past 6 months will forever be documented and memorized in my heart and mind.  Sometimes I find myself just daydreaming about when you were born…the first few months…what you were doing just the other week.  Nothing anyone told me could have prepared me for this extraordinary love and awe I have for you.  How you became YOU is just mind boggling.  Here’s a look back at the last month…

• You look like you’re always doing baby yoga when you’re on the floor.  It’s so funny!  You’re a master at the downward dog pose.  It also looks like you’re doing push ups…up and down…up and down.  It’s awesome when you do this during the day but not so awesome when it makes it harder for you to fall asleep and stay asleep.  So many times at night I’ll find you doing your push ups and crying.  It’s a sad but cute sight.

• We celebrated Daddy’s 1st Father’s Day.

• I love how your sense of humor is developing.  One time you kept cracking up at Bella when she was jumping around like crazy and squealing.

• You learned how to throw the ball!

• You now turn on the mobile in your crib by yourself to stay entertained until I get you.

• You’re now starting to learn how to drink from a sippy cup and a regular cup.

• Our sleep schedule is still a bit crazy.  Last night you cried for an hour before going to bed and then you woke up at 4am and cried for half an hour.  I didn’t know what to do so I just prayed to God asking him to let me know how I can help you.  I know this is just a phase though so we’ll tough it out together.

• You moved up from size 2 to size 3 diapers!

• The past few weekends you’ve been spending quality time with Grandma & Grandpa while Mommy & Daddy have been going on date nights.

• You love grabbing your feet with your hands.

• You get bored so easily now that I feel like I need to constantly keep you entertained.  You’re the prince and I’m the court jester!

You, my darling Baby Bear, make me want to be the best person I can possibly be.  As imperfect as life can be sometimes…the moments when you look up at me with your puppy dog eyes and softly touch my face are just perfect.  I hope the next 6 months don’t go by as quickly so I can relish this time we have together.  Happy 6 Months!!

Love,

Mommy

Dapple Baby

When it comes to baby items I will research a product to the end of the internet spending countless hours reading reviews and finding out everything I can about that product.  That’s what happened with Dapple.  I could probably be a spokesperson for the company, hehe.

From the website:  Dapple is a line of natural-based cleaning products for households with children.  Dapple products are baby-safe and baby-specific — using ingredients found in nature that are also proven to tackle unique baby cleaning challenges, from dried milk on bottles to sticky fingerprints on toys.

I admit I’m a bit of a germaphobe.  However, when it comes to baby items I can’t stand the thought of using products with harsh chemicals in them.  I was so happy when I found Dapple because their products are exactly what I was looking for.  I also love that this company was started by two moms!  All of their products use natural-based ingredients that are environmentally-safe, biodegradable and free of parabens, SLES and phthalates, as well as synthetic dyes or fragrances. 

Toy & Surface Wipes and Toy & Surface Cleaner Spray:  I love these!!  We have a ton of toys and I’m always trying to figure out the best way to clean them.  There were actually some toys we had for months but I didn’t give to Evan until we got Dapple.  I needed to be sure they were CLEAN!  I also use these to clean Evan’s play mat, swing, changing table, board books, carseat and anything else Evan spends a lot of time touching.  The travel size wipes are awesome because I keep it in my bag to clean toys Evan flings on the ground and to wipe down tables at restaurants.

Baby Bottle and Dish Liquid:  We’ve been sterilizing bottles and pacifiers since Evan was born but with the Dish Liquid I feel better about just washing them.  The Dish Liquid worked so well at removing milk residue that it made me think maybe we don’t always need to sterilize everything.

I love using Dapple products so I bought a bunch to make gift packages for friends.  I set aside two for you!  Let me know if you’re interested and I’ll give away 2 sets of Dapple products each including 1 full size Toy & Surface Wipes, 1 travel size Toy & Surface Wipes, 1 travel size Baby Bottle and Dish Liquid and a coupon.

If you didn’t want to read my essay on Dapple here’s one sentence to sum up why I love this stuff…Dapple products are safe for babies, green, pediatrician recommended and don’t leave yucky/chemical residue on baby stuff!  If you’d like to buy Dapple products you can find websites and stores that carry them on the Dapple website.

Questions

Could you please recommend a good vacuum?  We have hardwood floors and carpet.

Can anyone recommend a Christian and family friendly church in LA?

I know sleep + baby is a boundless topic.  However, does anyone have any tips on how to get a 6.5 month old baby to sleep soundly through the night? 

THANKS!! 

Hi~!  Sorry for being MIA…we’ve been super busy.  The past month has been SO awesome!!  Andy decided to change jobs.  The best part was that his original contract had a non-compete so he wasn’t allowed to start the new job for 30 days.  It was so fun hanging together as a family every single day.  I took a tech break…unintentionally at first since we were so busy but then I decided to continue the break so I could focus all of my attention on family time.  In the beginning I was nervous about not being online all the time but then I got used to it, hehe.  Andy is back to work so I’ve been on my own again…its been tough adjusting (hence the lack of Xanga time).

Maui Wowee

Four Seasons Maui

First of all, I want to tell you something that you should always do (if you don’t already)…always ask for a complimentary upgrade at your hotel.  It never hurts to ask.  You just might get lucky!  We got a 1-bedroom suite (over $1,000/night) for the price of the lowest room plus one night free.

I’d highly recommend the Four Seasons Maui if you have kids (and even if you don’t).  Here are just a few of the awesome perks:

* From the moment we arrived they knew Evan by name and even how old he was.

* They set up the room to be completely baby-friendly — crib, organic bath set, bath tub, even sponges spelling out his name, Diaper Genie, changing station, swim diapers, playpen, toys, etc.

* They remembered my birthday throughout our entire stay — 2 cards, special sweets each day and beautiful orchids!

* We forgot our tripod so they got us a rental through a professional photographer.

* The service is just so good.  I always feel like there isn’t anything they couldn’t or wouldn’t do for us.

Favorite Moments

* The plane ride wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be.  Thanks so much for all of your super helpful tips!

* Evan slept for 12 hours straight each night!

* Hanging at a secluded beach watching the waves.

* Not having to change a single diaper!!

* Evan was taking a nap by the pool but we wanted to move to the beach so two staffers actually carried his playpen (with him in it!) all the way to the beach.

* Eating super cheap but yummy food at all the local spots.

* Taking Evan swimming for the first time!

* Since Evan went to sleep early, every night was like a slumber party.  We watched movies, talked and ate junk food like ramen.

* Having a family come up to us and say Evan should be a baby model, hehe.

* Driving through black lava and feeling like we were on Jupiter.

* My new Gucci messenger bag!  [Thanks trueclassic for the Wailea shopping tips!]

* I love how now that we have a baby people are so open to sharing their stories and experiences with us. 

* Being goofy.

* Doing nothing most of the time and just spending time with my two favorite boys.

4-5 Months Already

4 Month Check-up

Weight:  16 lbs 2 oz (71st percentile)

Height:  25.5 inches (68th percentile)

Head circumference:  42.5 cm (53rd percentile)

5 Months!

Dear Evan,

I know I’ll say this every single time but the past few months have truly been the most amazing months of my life.  Seeing all of the infinite changes in you and watching you grow has been so life changing.  So here’s a short recap of the past few months.

* We went to Maui and Michigan.  You were such a good boy for us on both trips.  Thanks!

* Aunt Sandy & Uncle Marvin got married!  You slept the whole way walking down the aisle.

* Daddy changed jobs so he got a whole month off to hang out with you.

* You love greeting your loved ones (and strangers) with a huge grin.

* You were sleeping through the night but then somewhere along the way you started getting up a bunch of times in the middle of the night.  That’s where we are right now.  Mommy is tired.

* It is so hard to keep track of you now that you’re rolling around like a pro.  I’ll leave the room for just a minute and come back to see you all the way on the other side.

* We celebrated Mommy’s birthday and Mother’s Day.

* You love grabbing everything, including Bella’s fur.

* Daddy sang you 4 songs and you sang along to the one you knew~ Twinkle Twinkle.

* You are so so so happy when you wake up in the mornings.  I think we all need to learn to approach each new day with that kind of attitude.

I don’t know how time just slipped through my fingers so quickly.  I’m so happy that Daddy got to spend so much time with you during his break.  We literally spent every single minute together for like 5 weeks.  The simple moments are what I loved most…those moments when we would just sit on the couch or on the ground together just being silly and talking to you…and seeing a big tuft of white fur passing by or lounging near us.  It’s as if time froze and I’d have no idea what time it was or if there was something else I had to be doing.  Baby Bear, you make us so happy!

Love,

Mommy

Animoto

You’re going to love this new program I found!  Being a packrat sometimes has its perks.  I was going through an old Oprah magazine and saw a review on Animoto.  Animoto is an online program that automatically generates slideshows that are customized orchestrations of your images and music.  The company was created by TV and film producers so it really does feel different from other slideshow programs.  It’s like magic!

Here’s something I made… [here or below]

30-second videos are free OR one full length video is $3 OR $30 for a one year all-access pass to unlimited full length videos.

Click here and use this code for $5 off the one year all-access pass >> sdjmwcax

I actually didn’t have a promo code but I wanted to buy the all-access pass so I created an extra account to refer myself so I got 3 free months of all-access.  I want to share the extra account with someone who is interested.  I’ll pick randomly!

Anyways, I’d love to see what you make.  Add me as a friend!

Have a wonderful 4th of July weekend!! 

Hi~!  We’re back from Michigan!  Evan & I are sick though.  Boo.  I still have to download my Maui & Michigan pics!!  I have so many things to post about but not enough time.  Boo.  We’re off to Palm Springs…all of us sick bunnies…at least we get to catch up on sleep and rest together.  Hope you have a great weekend!!

Skippee’s Birthday

The Big 3-0!

I don’t like being the center of attention so I’ve happily passed many birthdays quietly with very little fanfare.  However, Andy and my friends made sure this one would be super special since I was turning 30!  I had two different birthday shindigs!  Thank you so much to my truly wonderful friends and Andy for helping me celebrate this big milestone.

Xanga Book

For one of my birthday gifts Andy made me a book of all of my Xanga posts from the past 5 years.  I burst into tears when he gave it to me because I was so touched.

Andy had spent endless hours secretly putting this together for me.  It was no easy feat as he had to do it 3 times to make it perfect!  3 TIMES!!  The first one didn’t work because the chronology was reversed and the second one didn’t work because the quality wasn’t good enough.  I’m sure once was hard enough but to do it 3 times…I was speechless.  I can’t even fathom how tedious it was…it wasn’t just a matter of cutting & pasting…he actually had to create new layouts for each page and individually insert photos and text.

The Past 5 Years

The Xanga book is now one of my most prized possessions.  It isn’t just a book filled with photos and writing…it’s my life and who I’ve become in the past 5 years.  The joys, achievements, heartbreaks, festivities, amazing moments of life…all encapsulated into one book.  Reading through the book made me realize that I’ve come a long way in the past 5 years~

I graduated from law school, passed the bar and went on my bar trip to Asia.  [here & here]

I got Bella.  [here, here, here & here]

I got engaged.  [here]

I worked at 2 different law firms.

I got married.    [here, here, here, here, here & here]

We honeymooned in Italy & Bora Bora.  [here]

I got Gracie [here & here] and then she passed away [here].

I retired from law firm life.[here]

I was pregnant.  [here]

In between it all, I traveled to New York [here], Las Vegas [here], Michigan [here], Korea, Taiwan [here], Hawaii [here] and Hong Kong [here] several times.  I also traveled to South Africa [here & here], Koh Samui [here], Bali [here], Punta Mita [here], Cabo, Kansas City, Florida, D.C. [here] and Arizona.

I had a baby!    [here]

Way back when I was a little girl I had a bunch of dreams…become a lawyer, travel the world, find the love of my life, have a fabulous wedding and have a baby.  30 is a special age for me because all of those dreams have come true!

A Few Favorites

Favorite Gift

I just received one of my all-time favorite gifts (other than the Xanga book) — a pair of earrings.  It wasn’t for my birthday, Mother’s Day, a push present, etc.  Andy just gave them to me to say “thank you for being such a good mom to Evan” and “I love you.”  I will never forget the words that came with the gift.

I’m ecstatic but a part of me feels guilty having something so extravagant when the economy is terrible and people are struggling.  Once I get more comfortable with this whole thing I’ll wear them out more.  For now…even wearing it at home makes me so happy because it reminds me of the meaning behind this gift.

Favorite Blanket

Is it weird that I’m in love with a blanket??  I first found out about the Aden + Anais blankets when I saw that almost every single baby in my mommy & me group had one.  They said they loved it so I started my research.  I was curious why these blankets are so great since they’re much more expensive than regular receiving blankets.  I obsessed about them for a whole week – scouring the web for info.  I finally bought a bunch and oh how I wish I knew about these before!  Read Amazon reviews here.

The blankets are made from 100% cotton muslin breathable fabric.  Muslin has a light, open weave so air flows through the material.  I love how soft and thin the material is!  There are so many different uses~ I use it mostly as a stroller cover, for swaddling, as a blankie to lay on the ground and even to entertain Evan since he likes looking at the patterns.

A Great Deal!

I’m so happy I can share another great deal with you!  My friend’s friend has an online baby boutique called Eggy.  They carry the Aden + Anais blankets!  There are so many cute things on the site in addition to the blankets.  The best part is that they offered me a special 30% discount!  Enter fandf30off at checkout.

Hi hi!  We’re baaaccckkk from Maui!!  Thanks so much for your thoughtful tips and comments.  Will post photos soon but for now just a quick post on my baby bear!  I’m soo behind.  I like to post new entries after I’ve had a chance to respond to all comments/messages/e-mails but I haven’t had time~!  We just got back from Maui this week and next week we’re off to Michigan.  In between Maui & Michigan I have 4 birthday celebrations, 1 Mother’s Day celebration, 2 sets of friends coming over, 1 playdate, 1 babygroup session, 1 photo session and a ton of errands~ busy but fun!    

100 Days

100 Day Celebration

We celebrated Evan’s baek-il (100 days) with a small bash.  It was so awesome to have our closest family and friends with us to celebrate Evan’s big day.  We don’t have much family close by so it meant that much more to have our friends there for us.  They’re just like family too.  I feel truly blessed.  Seeing them all there for Evan made me so incredibly happy…happier than if it had been an event for me.  If you love my baby bear, I will love you for life! 

One of the best moments of the day was seeing our family friend who is 100 years old with Evan.  The two of them together signify the true miracle of life.   

The Winner is…

Hey jpjchen~ congrats!  I’ll be sending you the Teething Bling necklace and bracelet!  I’ll message you to get your address.

For everyone else~ check out the Smart Mom Jewelry website and type S-SKIPPEE at checkout for 25% off your entire purchase! 

[Click me!]

A Grandma Bear with the Youngins

My sis-in-law is getting married next week!!  I’m so excited and happy for her!  She was recently in LA for her bachelorette party and I got to hang with the girls.  I felt like a grandma bear next to all the youngins but they were all soo sweet and made me feel welcome.  Check out my SIL’s post for more pics!

Happy Mother’s Day!

I leave you with a poem my friend sent me today…it totally touched my heart, especially since this is my first Mother’s Day as a mom.  Happy Mother’s Day everyone!  Have a wonderful weekend with your loved ones!    

Before I was a Mom,

I never tripped over toys

or forgot words to a lullaby.

I didn’t worry whether or not

my plants were poisonous.

I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,

I had never been puked on.

Pooped on.

Chewed on.

Peed on.

I had complete control of my mind

and my thoughts.

I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom,

I never held down a screaming child

so doctors could do tests.

Or give shots.

I never looked into teary eyes and cried.

I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.

I never sat up late hours at night

watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom,

I never held a sleeping baby just because

I didn’t want to put him down.

I never felt my heart break into a million pieces

when I couldn’t stop the hurt.

I never knew that something so small

could affect my life so much.

I never knew that I could love someone so much.

I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom,

I didn’t know the feeling of

having my heart outside my body.

I didn’t know how special it could feel

to feed a hungry baby.

I didn’t know that bond

between a mother and her child.

I didn’t know that something so small

could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom,

I had never gotten up in the middle of the night

every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.

I had never known the warmth,

the joy,

the love,

the heartache,

the wonderment

or the satisfaction of being a Mom.

I didn’t know I was capable of feeling so much,

before I was a Mom.

Hey buddies!  I can’t believe it…Evan is now 3 months old!  The past 3 months have been a whirlwind of awe, laughter, tears, exhaustion and love.      

3 months

3 Month Check-up

Our pediatrician is awesome.  He loves Evan and he actually listens to all of our questions and concerns.  He’s even interested in Evan’s sleeping and wants to help with that too.    

Weight:  15 lbs 2 oz (85th percentile) 

Height:  24.5 inches (71st percentile)

Head circumference:  41.5 cm (58th percentile)

Milestones

- Evan rolled over from tummy to back, yay!

- He has one good stretch of sleep at night.  Yes, sleep is a milestone. 

- He laughed out loud!  Before he’d open his mouth really big and it looked like he was laughing but no sound would come out.    

- He has almost full neck control…a lot less wobble wobble.

- He loves making eye contact with everyone, even Bella. 

- He gets so happy when he sees me and Andy. 

- He moved out…of our room.  He outgrew the Pack & Play so he now sleeps in his crib.  This is silly but I didn’t want to be apart from him so I considered moving the crib into our room!

- At around 12 weeks he started using a pacifier.  This isn’t really a milestone but I can’t believe we survived without it for so long!

- His hand-eye coordination has gotten so much better.  It was pretty much non-existent in the beginning.  Now he’s able to grab things!  Lately while I’m changing him he’ll be gnawing on one hand and the other hand will be grabbing the bottom of his onesie.  So cute. 

- He loves books.  He’ll touch the pages with his hands and stare intently at the characters. 

Bunnylicious First Easter

Winner

I’m a winner, hehe!  I’ve won quite a few things this past year.  I feel so lucky.  Here are a few of the random things I’ve won…

(1)  Baby Stuff – When I was on that show “The Doctors” I won a bunch of baby stuff like a video monitor set, pregnancy pillow, bathtub, blanket, bouncer and sleep positioner.  I also won a back massager and a Eucerin gift set. 

(2)  My Brestfriend – I won a My Brestfriend breastfeeding pillow from Xanga’s Momaroo site. 

(3)  $100 gift certificate – I won a drawing at the Chelsea Premium Outlets and got a $100 gift certificate.

(4)  Teething Bling – See below.

(5)  Evan – I know I didn’t “win” him but then I just feel so lucky to have him that it’s like I won a prize, hehe.  The day I had him was the luckiest day of my life.   

Teething Bling

Evan isn’t teething yet but he’s in the grabby phase where he’s always grabbing my hair and jewelry.  I stopped wearing my favorite necklace because he kept grabbing it and the pendant left an impression on the side of his face, hehe.  I found the perfect idea for a necklace.  It’s called Teething Bling.

Teething Bling pendants and bangles are made from the same material as teething toys.  The material is free from phthalate, BPA, PVC and lead, non-toxic and dishwasher-friendly!  It even has a breakaway clasp as an added safety feature.      

I found myself on the website one day and saw they were having a contest to choose a new color.  I submitted my vote.  I was surprised to get a thank you reply from someone.  I’m generally very “respondy” when it comes to e-mails.  I’m always inclined to respond to e-mails even when there’s no need for a response…even just to say “thank you” or “you’re welcome.”  In the law firm setting I felt like I always had to suppress that inclination but with my friends I can be as respondy as I want.  Anyways, so when I got this thank you e-mail I wrote back to say “thanks for the thanks” and that I love their products and would share with my friends even if I didn’t win.  Amy from the company wrote back to say they’d be happy to send me some of the products to try it out!  Wow.  All just because I was respondy! 

I wanted to share my good fortune with you.  If you’re interested let me know and I’ll randomly choose someone to send a necklace and bracelet set to. 

I wish I had a ton to give out but I don’t.  Good news is that you can still get a great deal.  Just type in the code S-SKIPPEE at checkout and you’ll get 25% off your entire purchase.  No restrictions.  Yay!

[Click me!]

After our Vegas trip I was officially bitten by the travel bug.  While I’d love to go to Antarctica and New Zealand…that dream will have to wait.  We considered Korea but I couldn’t get my act together in time to get Evan’s passport ready.  That limited us to the U.S.  We’re going to MAUI!  Last minute trips are exciting and spontaneous but they leave me feeling so unprepared and stressed leading up to them.  Please help! 

Any tips for traveling with a 3-1/2 month old?  Any suggestions on what to do while we’re in Maui?  Anything will help…even if just to say we’ll be okay, hehe.  Thanks!!        

Hi!  The past few weeks have been so busy!  I realized I needed to update when some of my buddies thought Evan was only 2 months old because that’s the last time I updated, hehe!  Evan is now 3 months old~~ wow, time is just flying by. 

WEEK 10

You all know how I feel about my momma bear >> [past birthday post].  We had a huge surprise for my mom for her birthday.  She deserved something like this more than anyone I know.  We’ve redone other parts of the kitchen for her but there were a few pieces that needed upgrading.  We got her a new fridge, oven and range hood and surprised her on her birthday.  The oven was so old that we wanted to go sell it on Antique Roadshow, hehe.

We had to surprise my mom because she never does anything nice for herself.  We’ve given her $ before to get new appliances but she won’t spend money on herself.  I’m happy to report that the surprise was a huge success!  My brother and I took my mom shopping in the morning while Andy stayed behind.  Poor guy had to rearrange stuff in 3 fridges!  By the way, always ask for a discount when buying appliances.  We got 15% off plus free delivery from Best Buy all because we just asked for it.       

Early on in my pregnancy my friend’s wife told me that I had to sign up for this mommy & me group.  She said that some people sign up for the class as soon as they get pregnant even before telling their families.  Not knowing any better I jumped on the waiting list.  Fast forward 6 months later and I’m in this group.  I had cold feet about going because I didn’t feel like I’d fit in.  We got this e-mail the day before the first class reminding us that helpers aren’t allowed to attend the class.  There’s even a clause about celebrities in the group and paparazzi concerns.  What did I get myself into?? 

The group meets for 10 sessions at a time and is pretty expensive.  The deadline to renew is next week.  While I’ve learned a lot about developmental issues I don’t know if it’s entirely worth the $.  Were you ever a part of a mommy & me group?  I need advice~ should I continue?   

Sometimes I feel like a foreigner in the mommy world.  So much is new and unfamiliar.  Instead of how many hours worked/billed, it’s how many hours the babies are sleeping.  Instead of handshakes, it’s hugs.  Instead of suits, it’s whatever I can squeeze into from my closet.  Instead of fancy lunches, it’s quick fast food being gulped down in minutes. 

I’ve recently been so fortunate to meet some of the Xanga mommies.  I have to say a BIG thank you for making me feel so welcome and for being so nice.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!  Even though I’m such a mess and clueless, you have all been so sweet.  It feels so comforting to hear other mommies say…it’ll get better, I understand, try this, etc.  Most of my close friends don’t have babies so I’m especially thankful for my Xanga mommies.  You girls are so well put together and gorgeous all while taking care of your little ones. 

I have to say that I’m proud of myself.  I’ve always been so afraid of change.  I get nervous meeting new people and doing new things.  However, I’m so happy that I’m stepping out of my comfort zone because I’ve gotten to meet so many amazing people. 

Oh, so what’s the etiquette on posting other people’s photos?  I want to share photos of other people or else my blog would get quite boring with only photos of me, Andy, Evan & Bella, hehe!  However, I know that some people don’t like having their photos posted.  If you ever see your photo and don’t want it up then just let me know and I’ll take it right down!

WEEK 12

Vegas – First Family Trip

We took our first family trip to Vegas.  It was sooooo fun!      

We stayed at the Encore Tower Suites.  I loved the suite and location.  It was great because there’s a separate entrance for the Tower Suites so it’s removed from the hustle & bustle of the casino floor. 

It was so fun meeting the Vegas mommies.  I wish you gals lived close by so we could hang out more! 

Guess what?  Evan rolled over for the first time @ 12 weeks.  I missed it though because I was in the shower!  THANK GOODNESS for our Flip Mino HD because Andy caught it on video.  It’s so funny…my mom says she won’t believe it until she sees it on video. 

Hi there!  I always try to be a positive person but this past week was really horrible.  I need a hug, maybe two.  To take my mind off of things I thought I’d whip up a post. 

WEEK 9

Retail Therapy

EBATES

If you guys know me you’ll know how much I love (1) to shop and (2) to get good deals.  So I always use Ebates.  Ebates is a site where you earn a certain % back on purchases you make online if you click through from the Ebates site.  The stores (over 1,000) pay Ebates a commission and you get part of it.  It’s free and super easy.  Whenever you’re shopping online first check Ebates to see if they have that store.    

I started using Ebates about a year and a half ago and I’ve gotten $453.59 back!

Here are some of my faves:

Sephora (8%), Nordstrom (3%), eBay (3%), Target (4%), Macy’s (6%), 1-800-Flowers (8%), Gap (2%), VistaPrint (6%), ValueMags (26%), Bloomingdale’s (2%), Kodak Gallery (10%), Snapfish (10%), Shutterfly (10%), Shopbop (6%), drugstore.com (6%)

If you use the link below and make a purchase through Ebates then you’ll get $5 and I’ll get $5.  Yay! 

[Click Me!]

VISION DIRECT

This is sort of boring but since so many people wear contacts I wanted to share.  Check out Vision Direct (partners with drugstore.com).  You get 15% off of your first order and free shipping. 

Proclear 1 Day 90 Pack

My optometrist:  $75 >> plus tax >> $81.38

Vision Direct:  $69.99 >> on sale for $58.95 >> less 15% >> 7% cash back from Ebates >> no tax >> $46.60

I paid $372.80 for one year’s supply of contacts when I would’ve had to pay $651.04 through my optometrist.  I saved almost 43%!  It was an even better deal for Andy’s contacts because Acuvue has a $30 rebate. 

Bonuses:  You can apply this purchase towards your Flex Spending Account.  Also, you get 5% in drugstore.com dollars.  So now I have $18.64 to spend at drugstore.com! 

DRUGSTORE.COM

I always shop at drugstore.com.  It’s easy to get free shipping.  The first time it’s free on any order over $25 then it’s free on any order over $49.  You always get 5% back in drugstore.com dollars.  Plus, it is 6% back from Ebates! 

In doing a lot of comparison shopping for random household items I’ve generally found that drugstore.com has really good prices and a huge selection.  I love that they have a “green & natural” section so I buy baby stuff from there.  Make sure to check out the special offers they have!  Right now you get a free baby organizer for buying any 2 California Baby products and you get a free sunscreen for spending $25 on Burt’s Bees.   

THE CHILDREN’S PLACE

This is totally random.  The Children’s Place usually charges $5 for shipping but if you call one of their stores they’ll give you a free shipping code.  I’ve done it a few times already.  You also get 3% back from Ebates!

Flip Mino HD Review

The Flip Mino HD is such a popular mommy product!  I kept hearing rave reviews from moms so I was so happy when I got it.  If you buy it from Amazon right now you get a $20 Shutterfly coupon.

I love the Flip!  The best video camera is the one that’s with you.  I feel like I’ve been capturing so many more moments on video now.  Even with any flaws it has I think the most important thing is that it actually gets me recording stuff.  I was able to record a video of Evan’s first super-long-holding-head-up moment and share it with my family.  It’s really awesome how I can so easily take a video, upload it and e-mail it so that within minutes even my grandparents in Korea can watch it. 

You have to actually click on the “HD is off” button to watch the HD version on the Vimeo site.  By the way, Vimeo is awesome.  The quality is a lot better than YouTube! 

The Good:

- Size — The Flip is sooo small and light.  It’s smaller and lighter than my iPhone!

- Simple — It’s just one piece.  No extra chargers, USB cords, memory cards, etc. to worry about.

- Easy — I never use our fancy video camera so I always end up using my point & shoot.  The p&s video quality isn’t good and I’m always fumbling around trying to switch from camera to video mode.  It’s so easy to have the Flip in your pocket/purse and just whip it out and start shooting. 

- User-friendly — The Flip is so user-friendly.  There’s just one big red button that records and a few other buttons.  When you’re ready to download and/or charge you just plug it directly into your computer. 

- Quality — The HD quality is so sharp!   

- Software — The software is really easy to use.  It lets you share videos by sending a web link, capture still shots, edit, add music, upload to different websites, burn to DVD/CD, etc.

The Bad:

- Screen — I feel like the screen is a bit small and too wide.  I’ve gotten used to it though. 

- Sensitivity — Since the video quality is so high your eyes are more likely to notice shakiness.  I need to practice being steadier when recording.   

- Size — Since it’s so small and light it could be easy to misplace.  Andy got me the Flip and within 2 days I lost it!!  I was so sad but that night Andy told me that I shouldn’t feel bad about losing it…we’re so blessed with a wonderful family and at least we have each other…we’ll just get another one.  That made me feel so much better!  Luckily my friend found it at her house though.  Whew!

Money Money?

Check out this site and determine whether you have any unclaimed property.  The California State Controller’s Office has this site where you can search for unclaimed property that has already been sent to the State for safekeeping.  State law requires businesses to send to the State any property that has remained in their possession without any activity on the part of the owner.  If you’re not in California, check out your State Controller’s Office site. 

I found $50 that Cingular owes me!  I also found $150 for my friend.  Let me know if you find $!

[Click Me!]

Hey buddies!  I’ve already fallen behind…eek.  The past few weeks have been super busy and I got sick!  Being sick + taking care of a baby + no help is tough. 

WEEK 8

2 Month Check-up

Weight:  13 lbs 4 oz (85th percentile)

Height:  23.5 inches (73rd percentile)

On Our Own

This was the first week we were on our own.  We had a live-in doula since Evan was born.  We called her Eemo.  It was so sad saying bye to her.  I get attached to people so easily.  As we drove her home I saw tears in her eyes and she was holding Evan’s hand the whole time.  Some people come into our lives for just a brief time but leave an everlasting imprint.  Eemo was there for us during the most important time of our lives.  Those early days…being overwhelmed with the responsibility of a new life, the sleepless nights, the constant around the clock feedings, the troubles with breastfeeding, Evan’s jaundice…Eemo was right there with us helping us through it all.  Wow, we’ve come a long way. 

I’m really going to miss Eemo.  I feel sad knowing that Evan will now be missing a big chunk of love and attention in his life.  Eemo was so good with him – always patient, always loving.  She would hold him in her arms and walk back and forth for what seemed like hours…comforting him, talking to him, stroking his hair.  Eemo would always call him “wangjaneem” (prince) and say he was a living doll.  He would stretch his legs and arms for her while making his little critter noises and smiling like crazy.  She would always say Evan’s eyes sparkle when he’s awake, how he’s such a big boy, how strong his neck and legs are.  Sometimes the two of us would just stand there looking at Evan while laughing and smiling and talking about how cute he is. 

Eemo did soo much for us.  She took care of Evan, cooked, cleaned, walked Bella, gave massages, organized my closet, taught me how to cook, gave facials, helped with breastfeeding, etc.  Some days she’d be up as early as 5:00am and stay up until way past midnight.  It felt like we were living in a 5 star hotel with around the clock room service.  Breakfast was brought to our room every morning and the typical array would be pancakes, bacon, eggs, oatmeal, milk, OJ, miyuk gook and fruit cut in pretty shapes.  Our bathroom and room would be cleaned every morning.  We were so lucky!

I wish I had been better to Eemo while she was here.  I wish I listened to her more, talked with her more and just appreciated her more.  Lesson learned – cherish the people in my life now because sometimes people pass quickly in and out of our lives and who knows if I’ll have another opportunity to be better.  Eemo, I’ll miss you.  I’ll never forget you.  Thank you for everything you’ve done for us. 

Questions

I’m in the process of making a few purchases and before I finalized I was hoping for some input.  Does anyone have the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3K digital point & shoot camera?  Thoughts? 

How about the Epson R1900 Large Format Photo Printer?  I’m looking for a high quality photo printer (no all-in-ones) to print photos and graphics.  Any suggestions?  Thanks!  I promise to review them later.    

Mom*Tog

I found an awesome blog created by Drew Bittel who happens to be an amazing photographer and mom.  She is the genius behind the Mom*tog blog – a site for moms who love photography.  That’s meeee!  Drew posts tips/tricks for taking photos of your baby, interviews with baby photographers, q&a’s, mom stuff, etc.  I love it!

Coming Up…

There are so many things I want to share.  Hopefully I can find time soon so I can post a review of my new Flip Mino HD, some great deals I found, art projects, etc.  Until then…have a fabulous week!

WEEK 6

WEEK 7

Special Etsy Deal

I love Etsy!  I love how you can find such unique and creative things.  I recently ordered a receiving blanket, diapers to go bag and snuggle blankee from this awesome seller [Maria's Favorites].  Maria is so nice~ she even sent me a bib as a gift. 

The diapers to go bag is so convenient to just throw in my regular tote or diaper bag and have everything I need in one place. 

The snuggle blankee is perfect to cover Evan in the stroller/at home for now and later he can use it as a security blanket.
 

Anyways, I love sharing great finds so I asked Maria if she could offer a special discount for my friends.  She said yes!  All of the diapers to go bags [orig. price $11.99] and snuggle blankees [orig. price $9.99] will be $7.99 for the month of March!  Just mention “skippee” in the “message to seller” when you check out.  Wait until you get a revised invoice from PayPal before you pay.  Click here for Maria’s Etsy shop!   

I think these things would make a great baby shower gift [maybe in addition to something from the registry].  That’s what I plan on doing!  Maria also takes custom requests so just let her know if there’s something else she could make for you!  The items I bought were from Alexander Henry’s 2D Zoo collection.  I love this print!

Photo Editing

I got a bunch of questions regarding photo editing so I wanted to share with the rest of you too!  I have Photoshop CS3 and Photoshop Elements but it always takes me forever to edit anything…probably because I’m not very good at it!  Instead, I use Picnik.  There are tons of special effects and editing tools that are really easy to use.  You can edit your photos from so many different sources [your computer, facebook, Picasa, flickr].  Enjoy and show me some of your masterpieces…hehe!    

Here are a few samples:

You’re Gonna Miss This

You know the feeling…you can’t wait for the next step in your life.  That was me.  I couldn’t wait to go to college, finish college, go to law school, finish law school, pass the bar, get a good job, get engaged, get married, have a baby, etc.  I just couldn’t wait.  I think it’s just human nature to look ahead and want to attain more.

It’s great to look forward to the future and aspire for certain goals…but I think it’s also important to enjoy the moment you’re in.  I feel that more than ever now with Evan.  Although I’m excited for the day he starts sleeping longer, talking, walking, etc., I truly want to cherish this moment in time.  I know I’m going to miss it.  I’ll miss the quiet moments we have together when I’m feeding him in the middle of the night and he’s snuggled in my arms looking up at me.  I’ll miss kissing his tiny fingers and toes.  I’ll miss the fact that we are the center of his world.  I’ll even miss breastfeeding because it’s this special bond that we have together.   

The lyrics to the song You’re Gonna Miss This by Trace Adkins are so nice and true…

“You’re going to miss this

You’re going to want this back

You’re going to wish these days

Hadn’t gone by so fast

These are some good times

So take a good look around

You may not know it now

But you’re going to miss this…”

So, no matter what stage of life you’re in right now…I hope you’re able to take the time to enjoy and appreciate the moment you’re in.