Baby's first playdate

Last Sunday ellie had her first playdate - well, they didn't really play together that much (Katie was only  4 weeks old, ellie was 9). But it's the first nonetheless..haha.  Thanks Eva and David for letting our little one meet the big brother Martin and small sister Katie. We had a good time.

Hopefully little ellie will meet more baby friends soon!

Life as a stay-at-home-mom

Shopping with my little one @ bellevue square

Rian has gone back to work for over a week now. My life as a stay-at-home-mom (until I return to work) has also begun. Frankly, I would have never thought that I'd be doing this this time last year.  Last year at this time me and rian were still dating - having a child was a thought way too unrealistic.  I love kids, but then you will have to have a stable relationship first, and then progress to marriage, and then progress to the talk of having a baby... basically it is supposed to have a million steps involved before you can have a baby. Given the number of my previous failed relationships, I didn't think it would happen so fast. But it did! I guess we kinda fast tracked it. But if you have already found the love of your life, and the love is mutual, then why not?! I am happy about where I am at now =)


I feel so happy when she smiles at daddy
when daddy comes back home from work

Well, the life as a stay home mom is actually not that bad. On top of taking care of the baby (feeding, diaper changing, play time), the rest of the time is pretty much open to what I feel like - cleaning the house, laundry, cooking, taking a walk outside, and having lunch with friends are pretty much what I do now. I am not a super clean person, but I try to do a little bit at a time to make sure the house is safe enough for us to live in. Laundry, oh laundry, why having a little monster in the house increases the load that much? I have no idea! I like cooking, but with a baby that needs frequent care, it takes very good time management skill to be able to have the dinner ready by a certain time.  Going out is of course my favorite activity, though it also takes a lot of planning. I love having ellie in the baby carrier when I am out (I hate carrying the car-seat, so heavy, and I still haven't learned how to operate the stroller yet!). Usually she is very curious and will look around a lot, and I frequently got praises from people in the shopping mall, grocery store, or the park.  Though 9/10 comments are "Oh... Look at the hair!" Yep, I am very proud of my baby's hair =P

Baby's play time

So, I'd say it's better than I thought. I got bored sometimes but I also know that I will miss my little one so much when I have to go back to work. I am trying to enjoy this time as much as I can.



Baby's first time to Seattle waterfront after lunch with daddy

Mommy and baby enjoying the nice weather
at Pike Place market

A day in the park

It's been raining for several days already (such a short summer - this year is one of the coolest summer since the 80s), but there was a short sun break yesterday.  Mommy, daddy and baby went to have sushi for lunch (omg, so happy - it was the first sushi lunch since I was pregnant!) and then we took a walk in the Juanita bay park.  The weather was awesome.  Baby was in baby bjorn with daddy and mommy the whole time. Lucky baby!

Bottle-feeding

We have started to train ellie to take a bottle. This is a requirement for getting to day care, plus it is a good idea to let daddy to have more bonding time with the baby (he has been changing her diapers a lot, but I guess feeding is a more positive parenting experience...hehe..) and allow mama some more rest from time to time.

The first bottle feeding was actually last week when I had to go back to work for a few hours.  Little baby was super hungry by the time when daddy had the milk ready so she took the whole 3oz in a few minutes.

This week I have been more serious about having her be comfortable with bottles, and so I started pumping once a day.  Daddy has taken over the midnight feeding for 2 nights already.  It has been a little bit challenging - she would cry for a few minutes until she gave up and started to suck from the bottle. I hope that it'll be easier on her soon.  That will also make daddy's life easier as well.

I have to say that seeing her getting milk from elsewhere (I know it's still my milk) feels totally weird. Kinda like jealous... Some people described it as the feeling of husband cheating on you... not that bad to me. But I do feel bad because I know baby likes to nurse from my breast more.  I too love the nursing time with the baby - the serious look on her face when she is hungry, the very loud gulping noise when she eats, and how she passes out on me when she is full! love it love it... :)

Real smiles!

Baby ellie has finally started to smile at us - REAL SMILES, not reflexes when she is half sleeping! Not too many yet and very difficult to reproduce, but nonetheless, very sweet and cute! Mommy was really excited about this.  Mommy will try harder to make more funny faces to make baby smile more! =D

Baby party (9/4/2010)

Ellie met her "uncles" Levi and Zachary for the 1st time

We had a baby party about a week ago and we invited most of our friends over to meet baby ellie for the first time! Thanks everyone for coming and all the gifts. (I didn't realize that our house is a bit small and it was actually too crowded) Daddy made mini pizzas for the guests.  I have also prepared salad, sandwich and cookies.  I was happy to see my friends again after such a long time.  I was also very excited to find out my friend Namita is now 5 month pregnant.  Another baby friend for ellie... hehee.

Baby ellie was doing exceptionally well during the party.  She was awake and alert most of the time, helping mommy and daddy to socialize with our friends!

Ellie with auntie Joanna



My friend Gloria is moving back to Toronto.
Hopefully we can bring ellie to visit her soon!