Good night kisses

I am usually the one who puts Sophie to bed at night, and before I take her back to her room, I'd tell her to give her daddy a good night kiss. Last night, I said to Sophie, " Soph, give daddy a kiss." She was in my arm, and I took her over to Steve. Sophie just puts her forehead towards Steve for a kiss. It was super cute.

She knows the word "Snuggle". She would put her head on my chest, and say "mmmmm". Then she'd go back and forth between Steve and I, giving the both of us "snuggles"

She knows when mommy is not happy with her when she is into things that she shouldn't be. Last night she was going through my bags again, and I made a low "hmmmmmm, Sophie??". She popped her head up looking all guilty for a couple seconds, and burst into tears. I felt so bad!! She then walked over towards me with huge drops of tears in her eye, and some rolling down her plumped red chubby cheeks. She climbed onto the couch, puts both her arms out for a hug. She then just sat quietly in my arms for a little while.

I didn't mean to make her cry, I didn't even yell. She's sweet, tender, and sensitive. I don't think I have to do much discipline with her, at least I hope I don't have to.

Last night, she woke up so many times, and I was up with her from 2:30am-5am. Then Steve was up with her till 7am. We are all tired. I think she had a tummy ache, and there are 3 new teeth coming in. poor child.

I love her so much, and I can't believe that I grew a such cute baby like her in my belly. Now she's walking everywhere, jabbering, hugging my legs while i am cooking.

Here is Sophie wearing "qi pao" - the traditional Chinese dress.

oh yeah, forgot about this

When Sophie Goes to College

I will help her pay for her tuition, so when she graduates, she can start with a clean slate. Everything she earns, it's hers. She will not have to worry about having to pay pack student loans. She will be able to save up and buy a house, or invest in whatever she wants.

I swear, I will do everything I can so she can have that!

Few days alone

Steve and Sophie went down to San Diego to attend Nick's farewell in the past weekend. I didn't go, because, 1. I don't have money to go 2. I have to work. 3. It doesn't make sense for me to skip work, and have to pay for the plane ticket. I was exhausted from the previous week. I was ready to have a couple days to myself and re-charge my battery--aka, sleep.

Earlier in the week, Steve decided to eat a bag of almonds that he found in his backpack. The last time I bought almonds was April of 2011. The almonds were just in a regular sandwich bad, and it sat in his backpack for who knows how long. Needless to say the temperature change makes any food go bad. Apparently that wasn't his concern, he was hungry.

Long story short, I woke up to a puking husband. Puking baby, ok, it's little, easy to clean up. Puking adult! Ew! It was loud, and he couldn't control how loud he vomits. I didn't sleep that night, and I didn't go to work the next day.

Sophie has been growing 3 little teeth all at once, and I've been waking up couple times a night. Still, i manage to look some what decent and show up at work the next day. Hey, someone's got to bring home the dough right?

By Friday, all I could think about is my weekend by myself. After dropping off the big baby and the little baby at the airport and sent them off to San Diego, I went home and cleaned the house. Then went to the most blissful thing a physically, and emotionally exhausted girl could ask for--90 min massage!

I didn't want it to end at all, but all things must have an end. My massage therapist said my energy is almost none to existence, and she did some energy work on me to make me feel better. I went home and took a long bath in the clean quiet house. My gosh, this is all I need to feel better. Just a nice break, massage, reiki, essential oil, and a nice bath. I've already starting to feel better in mid bath.

Naked time is a must when you are alone. For those of you know me knows my opinion on clothes--why wear anything when you can be naked? So free! A robe is all you need!

I was still tired, but starting to feel my energy to come back, and little more like myself. For some reason I loose myself in the midst of being a mom, a wife, and a Marketing Specialist. I try to do yoga twice a week to keep my zen... oh yoga. How I am going to live without you.

Dinner time comes, and I was super hungry. I couldn't decide if I want to go out and buy something to eat, or just make what I have in the house. I was short on a couple things, so I went grocery shopping. Came home, and I make a Garlic shrimp, tomato, butter, onion, and lemon zest angel hair for myself. It was the best decision I could ever made that night. Way better choice than a breakfast burrito.

I took some Tylenol PM to ease the soreness from the deep tissue massage, and to ensure that I sleep through the night. Since my body is so used to getting up in the middle of the night to feed Sophie. Woke up at 4AM still, but went back to sleep till 9:30am!!!

pure bliss~!!

Oh what sleep can do for you. My skin even seems happier :) 

Stationery card

Celebrate The Bang New Year's Card

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Plan your work, and work your plan

I am sorry. But please do not call me the day of and ask me if I could attend this emergency last minute meeting at 4:30pm. This is twice in a row! I work full-time to support my family; I am a mother, and a wife. I go to work at 8:30 in the morning, and sometimes I don't get home till 6PM. I hope you can understand why I kindly declined your invitation to a church meeting at 4:30pm today. Not everyone is a stay home mom.

"Unless we set goals, we risk roaming through life without ever really accomplishing anything meaningful. It can be easy to get caught up in the pace of life and the immediacy of issues and never really plan our lives." ~Boyd K. Packard

Happy First Birthday Miss Sophie

We had a party for Sophie, and lots of close friends and family came! We celebrated the birthday of one of the most friendly, and most loving little girl.

Happy birthday sweet baby girl!!

Traditionally, the Chinese family will have a huge party when their baby turns one. Everyone will gather around and have dinner. The parents, grandparents, friends and family will bring gold, red envelopes (yes, like the ones in Chinese new year) and other gifts to the 1 year old who's having the birthday. The gold usually come in different shapes and size, and each will mean something cool. The parents of the birthday baby will give out red sweet bun that shapes like a turtle, and it'll usually have green bean or red bean paste in it. I can't remember what it all means, but usually it is related to bringing luck. (since it's red. Chinese believes that Red is the most lucky color) And I think the turtle represents living a long healthy live, since turtles lives for a long time. Oh, and turtles are also very wise. Not sure where that came from, but hey, sounds cool to me.

We had 抓周. It basically means grabbing the year one. So what happens is that we put down several items, and each item will represent an occupation. We put Sophie in the middle of the room, an whatever she picks, it'll be her future career per se. All in all, it's just keeping up with my Chinese heritage, and it was just fun. Sophie picked the hair brush, which represents a career in hair styling. Whatever she picks, we'll support. 

Sophie doing 抓周  picking her future career.

So, instead of having the super traditional Chinese 1 year old party, I decided to make mini cupcakes and crepes. Not to say that I don't like making Chinese food, it's just that it takes a long time to make Chinese food, and I kinda like the idea of my house smelling like awesome cupcakes and crepes. The strawberry cupcakes were a hit, everybody commented on the frosting being delish. I gotta brag about it, cuz i am kinda proud of making such fresh tasting strawberry frosting. We can't have cupcakes without chocolate frosting either, so i switched up the recipe, and kinda whip up one with my own twist. The secret ingredient is coffee extract, it brings out the flavor of the chocolate in cakes, cookies, and of course frosting!

Sophie and her favorite Jeff

 oh, when Jeff opened the door, Sophie jumped up and ran towards Jeff and wanted him to pick her up. It was super cute.

Mary and Tina came too!!

Everyone watching Sophie choose her future career

this is how she opens her presents. She stands on it!

Grandma and grandpa got Sophie the crazy bug that makes lots of noise.

Thank you all that came! We are so lucky to have you with us, and thank you for letting us share this special 1st birthday with you.