The Best Part of My Day

Sophie just hit her 4 weeks mark yesterday! Time has gone by pretty quickly in the past 4 weeks with her making her big arrival, the holidays, and everything else in between. I am just so in love with my little girl, and I think she is pretty awesome! Besides having but rash, and that would make anyone uncomfortable. I'd cry much more if I had a butt rash the size of hers. My baby girl is so brave, and I seriously cried with her the nights she was up, because she was in pain. I wished I couldn't just take her pain away. It breaks my heart seeing her hurting, and there's not much I could do about it.

I am so grateful for my relationship with my heavenly father, I know that no matter what, he will always be there, and would never fail me. I know that when I say my prayers, he is listening. I am so grateful that he has entrusted a spirit like Sophie to me and Steve. More so, I am grateful that he has blessed us with a great baby like Sophie.

Steve and I were just discussing this the other day, we seriously don't know how people do it by themselves. It is a lot of work having a baby, and being pregnant and giving birth is actually the easy part of it. All the doctors visits, feeding and diaper changing in the odd hours of the day, and not sleeping. I have help from Steve and my mom, and I am still exhausted. How does any woman handle of having a baby on their own without the help of their spouse? You can only get so much help from family and friends, then you'll have to do it on your own.  I am so grateful to have Steve, and he is so good to me and the baby. I can't ask anything more than a husband like him. He loves me, takes care of me, and he works super hard to make sure that we are being taken care of. ( Shout out to my boop! I LOVE YOU!!... I know you will be reading this)

The best part of my day is hanging out with my baby girl, and when she gives me the biggest smile. All the pain that I went through during the pregnancy, birthing pain, and postpartum pain was all worth that smile on her sweet little face. I don't care how many poopy diapers I will have to change, and how tired I get. That smile, oh yes, that smile on her face-- It is all worth it.

mama bear instinct

New mama bear (like me) can be very protective of her new born baby. If you do anything remotely provocative and makes me think you will hurt my baby... I will show you the side of Jenn you would never want to see. Ever~!

BACKGROUND STORY:
The morning after we came home with our baby, it was quiet, Steve was by our baby, I was eating breakfast at the dinning table, my mom was on the couch reading, and it was a perfect serene morning. All of the sudden, there was a fast and hard knock on the door, as if someone died kind of door knocking. Steve looked out, and it was our next door neighbor. We thought something was wrong, so Steve opened the door. The neighbor lady barged in without invitation (didn't even take off her shoes, but that's not the point), walked straight towards my baby, and yelled " Where is she? I want to see her". I felt myself shaking,  getting warmer, and ready to charge at this lady with all of my strength. I was absolutely furious!!

First of all, I don't know her that well. Second, I don't know if she has any disease (she looks like the witch in the front cover of the 1st Fablehaven book) even if it's just a cold. Third, why is she in my house??

I don't think I have been this upset before, I said, " DON'T TOUCH HER! LEAVE! LEAVE NOW!!!" I was about to throw my chair at this lady, and strangle her. This lady then said, " oh, I just want to see her" (still with a loud disturbing voice, and standing in my middle of my house with her freakin' shoes on).

I said, " NO! Leave NOW!" I was so mad to a point that I was shaking, and I felt like charging at her and hurt her. She apologized,  and explained that she just want to see the baby, but I didn't care. We didn't invite her in at all, she just barged in. And I really don't want her near my baby.

Moral of the story.... I don't know, I might have over reacted a little, I was a total bitch and barked at her, but she really scared me. All I was thinking was that " OMG, a witch looking women, with cricket yellow teeth is approaching my new born, and she might take my new baby. I will kill if necessary."


What would you do if this were to happen to you?

Shaving my head

It was nice to go see HP7 with my Steve last weekend =^.^= We haven't been to movies for a while, and it was just nice going on a date before the baby comes.

Have you ever seen one of those St. Jude Children's Hospital commercials? "Give Thanks" one? I don't know what it is about it, but it has always touch my heart. However, this past weekend, it hit me harder than usual. I was in tears by the time the commercial was done. There were images of little children who were sick, and hooked up with machines and IVs in their arms. And then a baby girl ( about 4 or 5 yrs old) who was sick, and lost all of her hair. This girls mom shaved her head as well. When I saw that, hot tears just roll down my cheeks like lava coming out of a erupted volcano. I tried not to let Steve see it, cuz I felt silly. But I guess he felt the same way. Probably not as emotional as I am. ( I still got preggo hormones in me)

There is nothing worse than seeing your own child suffer. If my baby girl is sick, I would totally shave my whole head. So she wouldn't feel alone being bald.

Donate today!
http://www.tg.stjude.org/video?bcpid=617224733001&bctid=680241406001

If you ask me..

Butter and Sugar. Use the real thing when you are baking or making food with it. Don’t use the fake margarine. The food just tastes weird. Don’t cut corner with sweet treats by using apple sauce , less sugar or add more flour. Just make it by following the recipe. 

There is nothing wrong eating butter and sugar, and it’s okay to have those in your diet. Just don’t eat a pound of éclair, or a dozen cookies at once. That will make you unhealthy of course. Why French women aren’t fat, when all of the French food is made with butter? Because they enjoy and savor their food. They eat one piece of high quality of dark chocolate, instead of having 10 chocolate candy bars (i.e. snickers )

Please don’t substitute butter with apple sauce when making cookies, trust me, it doesn’t turn out, and it tastes terrible. If you gonna have cookies, éclairs, fruit tarts, chocolate mousse and etc. Have the real thing, enjoy the food, and really appreciate it.

37 weeks

18 more days till my due date. I can't hardly wait.
It hurts to walk, it hurts to turn in the bed... It's hard to sleep...
My fingers are swollen, and it hurts to bend.. they look like sausage links
My toes are swollen too.. feet swollen

I guess I shouldn't complain too much, because the swelling just starting to happen about 2 weeks ago.

I am grateful for the glider chair my husband build for me and my baby. It is the most comfortable chair in the house right now. I was so exhausted yesterday, and I actually fell asleep on it while reading.

I a grateful for my massage therapist

37 weeks preggo... and I wasn't wearing pants, so Steve only showed my top. I am retaining all that fluids... gah.

oh yeah... Halloween

I was a Devil Egg, Steve was a Salmon sushi

How Much is Too Much: Soda.

The past week has been interesting; I have been going from meetings to meetings all week long. Needless to say, the week has past by very quickly for me. The project I am currently working on involves meeting with the scientists and lawyers. I can tell you that I have learned more about biology, chemistry, and communication law more than I would ever had in college.

It is nice to be in the same room as all these experts, and be able to ask them questions and get straight answers. One thing that was intriguing to me was the myth about having to drink 8 glass of water a day. The scientist indicated that most human body requires 2000 cc of water a day, but it doesn’t limit from obtaining water from drinking it. The water can come from the food you eat, for example: fruits. If you are not dehydrated, you don’t need to drink 8 glasses of water, it’ll make you swell up. However, most people are dehydrated these days, hence we need to take in more water.

You know some people drink coffee of caffeinated soda to stay awake during the day? And then these people will have consume more to maintain the same buzz they get from these caffeinated drinks? What I have gathered from the discussion is that caffeine does not give you energy, it’s the sugar that does. What is energy? It is essentially calories. Sugar has calories, and 1 can (12Oz.) of regular Dr. Pepper has 40 grams of sugar, which converts to 150 calories.

Caffeine on the other hand, does not give you energy. It is a stimulant that makes people go hay wired in their brain.  And ahhhhh….. But what about the 5 hour energy thing? I’ll ask my scientist friends about that later, since it claims that it only has 5 calories.

Personally, I don’t drink much soda. Maybe it’s because my mother has ingrained the idea of drinking soda is bad for your body, and too much sugar makes your skin ugly. (Some Chinese myth I guess) My mom is not the only one that tells me that, even my uncle (who’s Chinese also) said too much soda could prevent your body absorbing calcium, and it weakens your bone. I will have to research more about that. Although I have read somewhere on parenting about children obesity, cavity problems, bone structure issues relating to soda.

There is nothing wrong for drinking soda, I drink soda when I have greasy food. But not 32oz., you know, one of those giant mugs, by 10am in the morning. More soda by lunch, and then 3pm hits, more soda, and then even more soda by dinner time. Think about it 12 oz of regular Dr. Pepper has 150 calories, 32 oz in the morning. You do the math, that is a lot of empty calories that you do not need. So, where does all the extra calories/pounds go? Your waist, thigh, mid section, under your chin and etc. Why are American are comparably heavier than the rest of the world? Excess soda is part of the answer.

What do you read before you go to bed?

One thing that my mother taught me that I actually still do on my own is, give myself homework, even if I am not in school. So my homework has been reading as many English book as I can. I don't force myself to HAVE TO finish a book by certain time, but just to be able to finish a book. I think that's a good goal, don't you think so?

English is my second language, and the only time I read was to prepare for school exams. Those are kinda boring. Although I loved my English class in high school, which 3 out of the 4 required English class I took was with one of my mostly favorite teacher, Mr. Thune. (his younger brother is a US senate, John Thune). I wished other kids would appreciate for all the hard work Mr. Thune put in teaching kids like me, who speaks English as a second language. It's not easy explaining why this rule works here, but not there. We break almost every single rule in the English language. For someone who is learning English, it can be frustrating.

Between regular school work, sports, and show choir, I didn't have much time to read as leisure. I wasn't able to enjoy the book most American kids were enjoying. At that time, I had to look up many words in the book, which can be distracting from the story, and very discouraging on my part. I guess time does its tricks.


After graduating college, I finally had time to just read for fun. Not for school, not for exams. Just read, and immerse myself in another world from the works of the author. The first book I actually read from cover to cover without skipping was the Twilight series. (com'on, Edward sounded so hot in the book, wouldn't you want to read more about him?) I got to start somewhere right? I can't just start reading Pride and Prejudice or Shakespeare. I like the movie, but the language is in a different level. 

It probably took me longer than most people to finish a young adult book like Twilight, but it caught my attention and I finished it! That's all it matters right? One of my life goals that I wrote down when I was 19 years old, " Read 100 books before I am 50 years old." I think I am on track! I just finished the "Fablehaven" series. that's 4 books. If I average 4 books a year at least, hitting 100 books before I am 50 is not a problem at all.

Fablehaven was so fun to read, it's nice to get out of the reality for a little bit.

I moved on to the Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief series, since I'm always fascinated by Greek Mythology. The story is taken place in a modern time, and written in the modern language... and a 12 year old guy is telling the story. Super easy read. I even had a dream that Poseidon is my father, and he couldn't interact with me, because I was demi-god. How ridiculous is that? But man-o-man was he beautiful in my dream. I guess I was the Percy Jackson in my own dream. lol.

YAY for reading~!

Baby shower

 my bestie Cindy and me

 Cindy made the diaper cake and put all the decorations together

 Emily!! The winner of "guess how big Jenn's stomach is"

 Nini eats very healthy, hence the bag.

I was hoping that there was a canelope in there, 

But found a pink piggy bank with tutu =^.^=

Sophie's college fund starts here. 

 Megan brought this awesome outfit!!

Marie had turtles on everything!! 

She knows how much I love turtles, cuz she hears it every day from sitting next to me for 3 years!

LOVE LOVE MARIE!!

 Thank you Grami Peterson!! Loved the swaddle blanket, bunny, the outfits and everything!!

 Sweet Rene made the burpies and the blanket!!

 Loved the Lee's girls! They are just the awesomest people you'll ever meet.

Mary said, " read to your babies". Maybe that's why her kids are super smart!

 Thanks for the baby bouncer Michelle~!!

 Cindy love, thank you for the baby shower and the tub!!

you can come bath my baby anytime you want.

We couldn't decide what facial expression to have... eh.

it was fun!!

Thanks to all the ladies who came, I had alot of fun with you all. Hope you liked the treats we had, and I loved all the gifts!!

You hurt my feelers

My feeler hurts today. Someone hurt it. It really hurts my feelers when some random Asian come up to me and tell me that I look "HUUUUUGE" (that's how she said it). Then she continued, "... aren't you due like next month? You still have 1 more month, and you are biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiig"


Why would anyone come up to a pregnant women and tell her that she looks huge? I don't need anyone to tell me that I look huge, I know I am huge. TRUST ME! I carry my baby belly 24/7 everywhere I go. I KNOW how it feels, I KNOW how I look. I have been dealing with pregnancy in the past 8 months.

So to y'all asians who can not say anything good, don't say it. It really hurts other people's feeling, and I will just end up hating you. There are some people I have stopped talking to, or avoid talking/seeing them for this very reason.  If you are on my "people I do not care for" list.... sorry, too bad, I don't need you in my life. So, shove it.

Anyway.... so the girl who told me I look huge today... Can I just say that my face still look 10 times better than hers? At least I have smooth, radiant skin. And she just looks brown, yellow and oily. Dude, if you don't like how you look, and that's why you are giving your negative comments. Stop! I can help you look younger, and have more youthful skin. Just ask me. 

a little piece of what???

Yesterday, I sliced a little piece of my finger off while cutting some card stock with one of those super sharp art cutting knives.  It bled for a while, even with direct pressure on it. I saw this little piece on my working station, and I thought "oh $h!t!!!" (Steve and I have agreed that you can only cuss under some circumstances, and this is one of them. I was in a lot of pain) I threw away the blade, since it has my blood on it. Applying pressure with my thumb like i am pinching something. I left work early, cuz my finger hurts, and i couldn't find any band-aid around.

Came home, got my first-aid kit out. Dranched my wound with tea tree oil. It kills germs and helps to heal. It hurt like hell. I was like OMG, how can this little cut bleed so much, and hurt so much?? Mybaby doctor did call me and told me that my iron is low, so i guess that's part of the reason why it took so long for it to stop bleeding.

I've been applying some mela gel on it, and it's healing pretty fast. Thank goodness it was a clean blade that was very sharp. Very clean cut i'd say.

I finished what I was cutting yesterday, i was a bit hesitant about cutting today. I did it slowly and very carefully. The project is done.

31 weeks 9 more to go... and I am in love

So much has happened since I last posted about my pregnancy report. I don't know how this happened, but I have already fall in love with this little baby in my belly. I don't know how I felt in love with her even though we have not even met yet. I just love her so much and I want to give her the world! I want to give her the best of everything. I can hardly wait to meet her.

Sophie's movements has become more and more prominent, I can really feel the hands/feet gliding on my belly. I think it's really funny that she kicks when I have a laptop/book on my belly, I guess she doesn't like the pressure. When I am getting a massage, she likes one, too. It felt like she is sticking her bum, or back against my belly, so she could also feel the massage. She usually kicks and moves around at the end of my massage, kind of protesting-ish. "Hey, how about me? I want a massage too!" I have a feeling that this baby is going to enjoy massage as much as her mommy does.

Talking about baby massages, I read some where that baby massages helps with colicky babies. So, we'll see.

I won't lie, it has been hard to sleep with my belly being so big. I am very tired, and it has been hard to breath when I lay flat. So, let's say that there are just a few pillows on my bed to prop me up. I pee several times a night, and it's a treat if i could sleep through the whole night without waking up.

I start noticing that my shoes are getting tighter, and my face more swollen. The stretchy t-shirts that I thought would still fit till Sophie is born are no longer fitting. I need to go shopping, but I am just too cheap to go buy clothes that I am only going to wear for 2 months. eh, for the sake of my comfortableness, i better go get some new clothes. Else i'll be a grouch, cuz i am uncomfortable.

9 more weeks~!

Keep on tanning, and you'll look like this

Empowering Your Confidence | Jones New York

I saw this campaign today for the first time in one of my work brain storm meeting. A lot of thoughts came to my mind when I was watching it. I am glad that the LDS church aren't the only ones telling women that they are amazing. "Look at where we come from" - since the beginning of the time, women have always been challenged in society for being women. 2009 was the first time a women CEO handing off her job to another women CEO. (according JNY video) WOW!

As I watch these women executives, models, and staffs talking about the influence their mother has made in their life, and they are where they are today because of their mother, it made me appreciate even more of all the women in my life.

Ladies, WE ARE AMAZING! Watch the video, it's pretty cool. The full version is actually on the Jones New York's website.
Here is the link http://www.jny.com/Empowerment/LIEBOVITZ,default,pg.html


Enjoy!


p.s. lol, only if the men at work actually look like this....

Baby DDR

It's quite interesting to feel a lot of the baby movement, and especially now I can see the little thump thump on my belly. Last night baby Sophie was going nuts inside, I am not sure what she was doing. But there were a ton of kicking going on. It almost felt like she's having a Dance Dance Revolution party in there. I had Steve put his hand on my belly, and he was shocked how much Sophie is moving. Maybe she's dancing to "We Like to Party" from Vanga boys.

Target Store Brand Dishwasher Detergent

I love Target, it offers variety of great products in their own store brand, and it saves me money. Most things I buy that are Target brand, (Up & Up) are usually pretty nice. I really like the stretchy trash bags, plastic baggies, paper plates, and etc. They are way cheaper than the original brand, works just as great, and it's wallet forgiving!

One thing that I would never buy again is the Up & Up Dishwasher detergent. I usually use Cascade tablets, and I usually buy them in bulk from Costco. Since they last for almost a year for $15. Anyway, we just moved into our new condo in the beginning of August, and I thought to myself why not try out the Up&UP brand. It was only $3.50, if i don't like it, it's not gonna kill me to toss the box.

I am tossing the box! Bad experience with the dishwasher detergent. It left a thick white film on all of my beautiful dishes... yuck!!

SO..... don't buy Target brand Up&Up dish washer detergent. Spend the money and buy Cascade or whatever brand you like.

What's going on?

1. We moved to a new condo with 3 bedrooms and 2 baths... we are mostly moved in, there are still some boxes in Sophie's room. We are not sure where to put them yet. But Sophie's crib is up!! and Yoda (a backpack doll) is sleeping in it currently. Oh, and we really love out new place, except the magical elephants above us makes alot of noises when I try to go to bed. They just walk so hard.
2. I am currently 28 weeks / 7 months pregnant
3. Sophie is a little boxer in my tummy, I can see the little thump thump on my belly. Really cool
4. We were in San Diego for a week for vacation and be with the family.
5. Went to Sea World, the beach, and ate Chinese food.
6. Chloe (my niece) is a funny girl. She really likes Sweetpea (the family pug), and dogs in general.
7. Steve baby sat Chloe while all the girls went for a pedicure. (good practice for him)
8. the first thing Chloe asked when she woke up was " puppy? ". She didn't cry, and watched some cartoon with Steve.
9. Chloe likes to put stickers on her face
10. I started reading Fablehaven, and loved it!!


 

Goodbye Ferbie Ferb

I had Ferb since last February. I found him upside down today. I was super sad, he was a great little pet.

Ferb lived a good life, he was at Petsmart, and I brought him home. We got him nice wheels to run on, igloo to live in, toys to play with. He always had food and water. Ferb occasionally got out of his cage and scratches his balls in front of Steve at 2AM. Then Steve had to wake me up to catch him at 2AM, so he won't get under the dish washer.

Okay, I feel really stupid for feeling like this. But my pet died!! I am just super sad. I don't think I can handle it. Phineas is the other hamster we bought at the same time, and I am afraid he is next. Apparently their life span is only 1.5~2 years. So Ferb was about 75 years old in human years. uhhh... who cried over a dwarf hamster? Me! Maybe cuz it's i am pregnant, and emotional?

Anyway. Ferb is a great dwarf hamster! I am going to miss him.

 

Ferb: 2/2009 ~ 8/2/2010

22 down, 18 more to go

So, how do I feel being preggo at 22 weeks? Fabulous! I can't really complain, and I hope the rest of the pregnancy is  going to be like this. I can handle it!! I am just so glad the dizziness and throwing up is over and done. Although I do have to admit that I still get really tired. Come on, give me a break. I am growing arms and legs inside of my body and working full time. I am entitled to be a little tired right? Oh, and we are moving this week. Even though it's only 2 blocks away, I still have to pack up everything. It's all good, because we'll have 2 toilets in the house. Since I have to pee constantly, and sometimes I have to make Steve get up from his precious toilet time, so I can pee in the toilet. ( I threaten to pee in his sink if he doesn't get up). I just have to go all the time you know. Having a baby sac sitting on my bladder... oooo.

Anyway, just a quick update.

 21 weeks

22 weeks

Funny announcement

I found this on someone elses blog, and I thought it's super cute. Just look at her face!! It's as if she is cheering for something.

20 weeks - It's a girl

I can hardly express my excitement and the tenderness I felt when I saw my little girl on the screen. She's beautiful! I can not wait to meet her in November, and hold her in my arms. in the past couple days, I have been feeling my baby moving in my stomach. Sometimes it feels like she is doing Super Mario bum crush inside.

The ultra sound technician was very thorough, she checked our every part of the baby's body. She begin with the crown to check the brain, then the stem, the neck, lungs, heart, stomach, kidney, and whatever else was inside, then the bum, femur, legs, and her little feet. She also checked the position of the placenta, and the umbilical cord. As I follow her and listening to her of what she is checking, I was so over whelmed. I can not believe I have a baby, a life, growing inside of me, looking so perfect already. I can not believe she is ours, and we made her.

(20 weeks photo)

19 weeks

We had a wonderful 4th of July. It was a bizarre weekend, because no one knows when to celebrate the 4th here in Utah. Since the 4th of July falls on a Sunday, and we also get the 5th off. Anyway, I finally got my hot dog with grill mark on Monday! horay for our first propane grill, it works wonderfully. Also grilled zucchini is amazing!! Steve did a great job a grilling!!


In the past couple days, I kept on feeling this push in my lower abdominal area, and I can feel a really hard bump on one side. Apparently, this is what a 19 weeks baby look like from inside. My little Tic Tac looks like a pretzel, and it's probably either the head or the bum I am feeling. I can't wait to find out what we are having next Wednesday =^.^=

Chinese mom and their dreams.

My mother called me this morning, she sounded like she just woke up, a little groggy. Nonetheless, she had a smile in her voice, and she said, " I know what you are having"(silence for 5 seconds)

I said, "ok, you can't stop there. What am I having?" ...(Silence... Wonder she was sleep talking and called me on the phone)
She replied, " I can't tell you, or else it would be 不凖 "
Me: " you gonna tell me it's a boy like everyone else"
My mom: (laughed) " I had a dream of a baby that looked alot like you, I thought it was a girl, but Martin brought in 4 bikes, then I realized it's a boy"

-oh moms... and their superstitions.

You know, I am totally okay if my baby looks like me. I was pretty darn cute. look at my fat cheeks and Mohawk.

Oh, and this is my 18 weeks preggo photo

 

18 weeks and sick again

Isn't it wonderful? My nose is once again stuffed, runny like there's no end, and waking up every 2 hours to go pee and cough attacks aren't the best combination. When you live with someone, - like my husband- even if i sent him to his men cave when he is sick... it doesn't work. I still got sick. The AC circulates the air throughout out little 2 bedroom apartment. I guess my immune system is just really weak right now.

Tic Tac is 18 weeks right now, I can't really suck in my stomach any more. I can kind of see my feet when i am standing straight. Oh, and I totally got curves now; just on my front side.

I'll blog more when I feel better.

17 weeks

It has been a busy week, or month I'd say. I loved being in a play and I am having so much fun doing it, but I am also glad this Saturday is our last show. I am a bit tired as you can see. Grandma and grandpa came watch the show, and it totally made my day =^.^=

During the first scene, I was with 6 other girls holding a 1950's phone on our hand showing our super sad face for missing an important phone call. All of the sudden, I heard from the audience, " Oh~ Jenn...". I knew it was grandma, and I almost lost my character and busted out laughing.  I guess my facial expression caught her attention.

I had a baby doctor visit last week, I heard the baby's heart beat again. It was very comforting. The doctor said everything looks fine, but he also mentioned that since it's my first baby and my body size, my stomach doesn't look as big as other pregnant women that are on the same week. I am totally okay with that.I can hide my baby bump with my flowy dresses, but when I wear more fitted t-shirts, you can totally tell the bump is there.

We find out the gender of the baby on 7/14... any guesses?

16 weeks

We bought a crib that was listed on KSL for only $75, and we went to check out the crib, it turned out to be in an awesome shape. Yeah, it has a little crack on the side, but it's doesn't look like it will snap in half. (knock on woods) We are moving next month to a bigger place, so we can prepare for the arrival of our little Tic Tac.

Steve was so cute when he was putting together the crib. My brother Kevin was over, and both Kevin and I offered a helping hand to Steve. But he was so cute, he said " No, I got it", and he just wanted to put the crib together all by himself. Maybe he is planning to tell out Tic Tac in later years the following..." Oh yeah, I single handed putting together your crib before you were born". Maybe it's a daddy to be thing? They have to put the heavy stuff together on their own. I am actually okay with that, my lower back has been a little tender, and it hurts a little when i lift things (Which i probably shouldn't have lifted anyway).

Tomorrow is our 16 week check up, and I am really excited. Although the doctors around here (Provo) doesn't do the ultrasound to let you know the gender of your child till you are in your 20th week. We could go to Southtown Mall and pay someone to find out. But if my insurance is paying for the ultrasound in 20weeks, hey, why not. It's only 4 more weeks away. I really don't care what gender is the baby, as long as they are healthy and happy.

I have been craving for a lot of fruit. Last night Steve bought some really yummy grapes. You know one of those are are firm, juicy and sweet. There were 3 bunches in the bag, I just finished the second bunch. Hey, at least the things i am craving is healthy right?

 oh yeah, I have Chloe's photo all over my desk at work. =^.^= she's a cutie.

15 weeks and more

I am currently 15 weeks, I can't feel baby kicking yet. But I know where the baby is, cuz there is a hard spot on my tummy. Sometimes it's a little uncomfortable, because Tic Tac presses on my bladder. Joy of pregnancy. I am finally over my nausea, 90% of the time. Sometimes it still creeps back at night time, or when I eat something too oily. Just when I thought I could enjoy that awesome In-N-Out burger, I feel nauseous afterward. My jeans are too tight for me to wear, and I really like how the maternity jeans feel. They are stretchy, and there is a waist band that goes over my tummy. Oh, My tummy changes size every day, depends on how bloated I am. LOL. Sorry, kinda gross huh.

 ( my lopsided tummy)

I am also in a musical/play currently in Springville Playhouse in Utah. The show is super cute and fun. I love working with all the casts, and it is so nice to work with people who has the same value as you. We start each rehearsal and show with a prayer. People are so nice, and just so helpful. No gossip or cat fights like when I was in high school.

Anyway, fun times. I will add more photos later.

Photos here

( Josh and Me in our cha-cha outfit)

I kind of feel bad for Josh, cuz he is only 17, and he has the pressure of not to drop the pregnant girl during the dance. 

(Me, Lori, and Jen)

We don't know how to have normal faces for photos.

Fury pug?

Can someone tell me what breed is this?
Shitzu and Pug?

Celtic Women Concert

Steve went to the Celtic Women concert with me on Saturday! it was a great concert, and he was such a good sport. I know music like this is not his favorite, but he did not complain a bit. When we showed up, there were mostly all older couples, people like grandma and grandpa's age. I guess I like old people music?

The fairy violinist. She was so fun to watch. All she needs is just a pair of wings, then she'll fit the description of  a real life fairy. She can play fast, and spin fast at the same time.  Steve enjoyed it quite a bit.

Chloe. She's still my favorite. I just love her voice, and she makes me want to dye my hair red, have fair skin, sing Irish songs, and live in Ireland.

Irish women has different view on comparing men to objects. One of the songs they sang was about a girl fell in love with 2 men. She is trying to figure out which one she wants to be with. So she compare them to seaweeds. How do you compare people to seaweeds? One's fat and slimy, the other one is salty and fishy? It was kinda funny. 


Over all, it was a great experience. I wish they had pictures of the drummers online. They were really amazing! Never mind, here is a photo of the two amazing drummer dancing with the fairy violinist

2nd baby doc visit

We were able to go visit the OBGYN again yesterday to do our monthly check up. My blood work came back normal, and the baby is healthy. The doc was able to find the baby's heart beat quickly, and our little Tic Tac has a strong heart beat, which makes me, the mommy-to-be very happy.

On the other hand, I have been sick. Let me tell you something, having a cold and being pregnant is not fun at all~! It's a bad deal, bad business, it is just plainly bad. Until my doctor told me that since everything looks healthy and normal, I can go ahead and take some DayQuil. "There is no need to suffer." The words coming out from my doctor's mouth just gave me a a vision of bright hope. Angelic harmony of " ahh~~~" I was so happy that i could take something.

Today is the second day of not working. I've already got my cube mate sick, so I don't want to get anyone else sick.

This is what I look like right now.

Dehydrated, with a huge pimple by my eye and eyebrow.  chapped lips...

BTW, Steve looked worse than me in the picture, he was sick last weekend. But he is way better than I am right now.

Utah, Thank you for the unpredictable weather. You were hot, and then you were cold. Make up your mind.

Hopefully this cold will pass by soon, and I will develope better immune system. Let's hope that I will not get sick for the rest of my pregnancy.

Heating lunch in the office

I finally found the guy who has been heating up all those garlicky lunch in the office. I went over to talk to him and let him know that I am pregnant, and very sensitive to smells. Please don't heat up his lunch in here, or he'll hear me barf. he just laughed and asked why... I was like, DUDE!!! are you retarded??? I just told you, because I am pregnant, and sensitive to smells. There is a full cafeteria downstairs for you to enjoy heating up your lunch and eat your hot lunch there.

After I sat down, I could hear another microwave sound. " De De De...hummmmmmmmm". Oh my freakin' gosh, he is heating up another piece of pizza after I asked him not to heat up his lunch in here. In the freakin' office, where everyone, not just me the preggo lady. Other men who aren't preggo can't stand the smell of his food either. I guess I was the only one with the guts to tell him not to heat up his food.

Isn't it common courtesy not to heat up your lunch IN the office??? that's why there's a break room or cafeteria? Needless to say, I barfed in the office today. Sometimes I wish I am a loud barfer, so I could really stand next to that terrible guy, and let him hear, smell, and see what he has done to me.

~the end.

Happy Mothers Day

What a wonderful day! I finally felt better and made it to church today, it was so nice seeing all of my nursery kids. Although I was exhausted mid way through nursery, I am grateful that Steve and I share this calling, and the Ruggles are in the classroom with us too.

Some young man walked in with a basket full of chocolate for all of the mothers. I took a king sized Snickers. On the way home, I wanted to puke. The nausea feeling over came me, and i really wanted to puke. We made it home, and I had some cereal. That made me feel better. This is the beginning of my journey of motherhood. I look forward to days that I don't feel nauseas anymore. I look forward to days when I can hang out with my little Tic-Tac.

Steve got me some beautiful roses and a mothers day card for me. I kinda like getting mothers day cards. Grandma and Marci also thought of me and send me mothers day cards. It is awesome =^.^=

Happy mothers day to all~!

Steve's armpit

Pregnant women are sensitive to smells.. and I had sensitive nose before I was pregnant. Last night I woke up at 2 am and threw up, because Steve's armpit was open and right next to my face.




The end --

List about Taiwan

1. Cab rides are cheap
2. Cab drivers all asked if we watch American baseball
3. All cab driver that we met loves the New York Yankees
4. Cab drivers smells like after math Korean food. Garlicky... hate it!
5. Fruits and juices are cheap, and they are amazing
6. Shaved ice has never disappointed me
7. 2nd week into our trip in Taiwan, I craved for a cheese burger. Steve walked a mile to go get the amazing and delicious cheese burger for us!
8. Even though eating with my aunt and uncle could be a bit heavy sometimes, (8 course meal). They always make sure the food is clean, and the sea food is fresh. I think I got sick eating out with another friend, and I was not feeling well for 2 days. uhhh...
9. I miss having Cindy around in Taiwan, it was good times!
10. The hotels my aunt got us is ballin'~!! The hotel worker treat us so nice when they saw our room key. We are staying on the 18th floor, i guess only super ballin' people stay in those.

11. Most of all, I have the greatest husband of all. He took care of me when I was sick! Even though I was a grouchy grouch.

Everything Nice

Have you ever met someone who is just so pure in thoughts and in their actions. They just have so much love and passion for the people around them? I am very fortunate to have met one, and she is my little sister-in-law.

She is always all smiles, and making sure everyone is taken care of. She always makes sure that everyone is happy. She does simple things that just warms my heart. She's always the first one to give hugs!

During Christmas, she made me a card, (everyone else got one too) and she just expressed how she appreciate me listening to her. The thing is, I actually enjoy listening to her about the little stories of her and her friends. Sometimes it's a little bit dramatic, but I just think it's so funny.What if everyone in this world just go back being simple and pure? Would we fill the world with more love, hugs, and laughter? I sure hope so.

She is so pretty

Two old man passed by, and one said to the other.

Man #1 " Oh my wife! She's so pretty"
Man #2 " Aren't we so lucky to have wives like them?"

I hope my husband would still say that about me when we are 80 years old. I just thought those old men were so sweet talking about their wives like that.

Eyeliner = my best friend

I never really wore make up in high school, except when I was doing the show choir competition where everyone has super curly hair, and red lips. I didn't wear make up till probably the 2nd semester of college, even then, I didn't wear much.

One day, one of my roommate was doing her make up, and she showed me how she does her eyes with eyeliner. I gave it a try, and really liked it. So, that's the start of my relationship with black eyeliner. I couldn't live without it. Black eyeliners are fun, and enhance the look of my almond shaped eyes.

I had a chance to work with some make-up artist for work, and they showed me how to use the gel eyeliner. It's actually really easy to put on, and it's glides smoothly. I really like MAC eyeliners, but they are $15 a pop. It's on the expensive side. I am trying to find product that does the same thing, but in a more affordable price.

Target and Wal-Mart has become my good friends as well, and after intense researching, I have found the product I liked.

Maybelline!! 
Eyebrow pencil  $6, <=> MAC $15
Gel eyeliner $ 8 (came with a brush) <=> MAC $15 (Brush $17)

YAY for eyeliners!

The Question That Makes Me Tick

me: Hello?

Mom: Hi! When are you going to Taiwan?

Me: um, April 6 evening

mom: Are you going to bring E-oil for your aunt?

me: what is an e-oil? ( keep in mind we were speaking in Chinese)

mom: Vitamin E oil.

me: Oh! no, she didn't ask me to bring that for her.

Mom: did you know most people take too much vitamin, and they are poisoned by the vitamin?

Me: Oh really? (Thinking: there we go again... she knows all about vitamins this time)

Mom: All you need is just 2 capsules of Vitamin E a week, not every day. Regular vitamin too, people take too much vitamin, it's wasteful, and harmful for your liver. ......( on and on....)

Me: (Thinking: be nice, you don't have to go into details about your life)

Mom: So are you pregnant yet?

Me: No.

 
(Thinking in my head - What the hell? why are you asking? You have been asking since we first got married. If you want a baby to hold, make one yourself. Stop calling and ask if I am pregnant yet. Just because all of your friends are grandmas now, it doesn't mean that you have to always ask if I am pregnant every time I talk to you on the phone. It's really annoying. ) 

Mom: oh.

Me : We are going to law school soon, having kids might not be very convenient right now. I am not ready.






I will be pregnant and have kids whenever I want to. I don't need anyone to keep on asking me if I am pregnant or not. Especially from my mother. It's between me and my husband. And I still want to get my masters degree. Not sure what yet, but I want to continue my education. It's my life, I do what I want.

China's Beauty Boom

 China's Beauty Boom 

Yesterday I was home sick, and had a chance to watch Oprah. She did a segment on the price of beauty, and women today face so much pressure to have certain look. Lisa Ling also had a segment in yesterday’s show, where she went to China, and investigated on the beauty industry. One thing that really disturb me is that people will spend from $10,000~$40,000 and undergo a surgery, just so they could be taller. The recovery time from this surgery is usually about 1 year. 

Click here to see the segment 

or go to

http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Chinas-Cosmetic-Surgery-Boom-Video

I was raised in that kind of environment, and the saddest thing is, my mother is the one who criticize me ever since I could remember. My mother didn’t like my eyes, because my eyes are single layered. (Most Caucasians have a fold/layer, which most Asian don’t have) She wished that I had pretty double layer eye lids like her. So, she constantly says to me, “When you grow up, you need to ‘cut double layer eyelids’ (That was direct Chinese translation).” Too bad, I had my father’s eyes. My mother also did not like how wide me feet were, so when I was little, she tight nylons on my feet to prevent it to become too wide. I remember that my feet would go numb, and it hurts like hell.

There is always a pressure to be skinny in the Asian culture, since everyone else is simply flat everywhere.  I am sorry to y’all Chinese women, but I am proud of my boobs, and my curvy body. I am sorry that I don’t have size “A” or “nearly A” boobs to be as skinny as you, nor do I have a flat jiggley butt that looks bad in jeans. To be honest, I am not fat, you just look scrawny. Stop being so insecure about yourself! Stop making other women look/feel bad about themselves by your unnecessary criticisms.

 This is the result of someone telling her she's too fat. 

Her name is Oliviero Toscani, former model in Paris.

 I happen to be an athlete, and I can jump high and run fast. I played 4 years of Volleyball, 4 years of badminton, 1 year of water polo and 1 year of basketball on my high school teams.  I am grateful for my wide feet which helped me to be steady. Come to think of it, I don’t even wear “wide” when I buy shoes, I just wear regular shoes. I think my feet are just fine.   

In Lisa Ling’s segment talked about many Chinese man and women want to be taller. Since there are so many people in China, and jobs are scarce. In some research showed, people who are taller have better chance to get a better job, better mate, being treated better, and more chance to become successful in life. As cruel as it might sound, in my short life experience, tall people does have a better chance in most things.  Look at the president of United States. They are all over 6 feet tall.

On the contrary, I am only 5’2, and average height for Chinese women, short in America. I do have to say that I had no trouble getting dates when I was a teen ~ College. I can wear any pretty high heels without worrying towering over my dates. That never happens, because my dates are usually over 6’ tall. I can still wear any high heels I want now, and still be shorter than my husband. Unless I want to wear 8in high heel to be as tall as he is.

When you are as short as me, you will be great at being a “setter” (in volleyball) and digging the ball up. If you play volleyball, you’ll know what I am talking about.  I can’t tell you how many times I dug up all those hard smashing balls from those tall girls, and made them mad. Because I am short, and I am great at saving balls, my team has won games!  Who says only tall girls are allowed on a volleyball team?

Going back to Lisa Ling’s segment on the eye surgery; for a long time, I hated my eyes, because my mother always criticizes them. Maybe she just pours her hatred toward my father on me, but that’s another story for other times.  I like my eyelids, it’s easy to put on eye make-up, and I can do the thick eye liner or smoky eyes. Basically anything I want. Not many people can pull off all those look. 

 

(Sorry, this is the best I can find online. You see the difference? the "fold" is more obvious in the AFTER photo)

I do have to say it took be a very long time to like myself. It was hard to like myself when the person who gave birth to me made me sounded like a defective product. There’s always something wrong about me. My eyes are too small, I am too short, I am too big here or there, and my big curvy butt.

Maybe after living in US for over 13 years has change my way of thinking. You have no idea how many people come up to me and tell me that they love the way I do my eye make-up, and how they wish they could pull it off. Or, they would kill to have my thick dark hair. Or, to have my hips that my mom said is too big. I didn’t know it was possible, but someone told me that because they don’t have hips (kind of ironic, I thought everyone has hips) they said that there’s a space between their hip and the pants. So, it creates this empty bubble by their hip.  Interesting isn’t it?

My husband, he’s my best friend, my lover, my partner in crime. He tells me that I am beautiful every day, and especially when I get off the phone with my mother who just mindlessly indicates that I am too fat. I still struggle with the criticism I receive from her, and then one day, I found out that it’s okay not to talk to your mother all the time. It is definitely okay not to talk to people who put you down.

Guess what? I am much happier now. I am 5’2 and 144lbs, on the BMI chart, I am on the heavy side.  I got my curves, my husband loves it, and I love them, too. I don’t usually wear tight clothing, but don’t mind me saying this, my body look like J.Lo or Kim Kardashian when I wear tight mini skirt. I just have a curvy butt  =^.^=.

In the end, I hope every women will find their inner beauty. What makes them beautiful is not from what other people say. YOU! yes, YOU! you define your own beauty. Be happy!