Stay Tuned....

We made it to Portland in one piece! Stay tuned for our adventures in the Rose City!

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Getting Ready

It's finally hitting me that we're leaving the Bay Area in the next couple weeks. We have an apartment in Portland, we booked a mover, and bought a plane ticket. Today, I start the packing. Blech.

I'm excited about our move, but at the same time, I will miss San Francisco. I'll miss long walks through Golden Gate Park, our corner farmer's market, the sound of the MUNI train, even our small old apartment and all its idiosyncracies.

There are still parts of San Fran that I haven't explored yet, but that's okay. We're pretty sure we'll be back to visit.

We won't know anyone in Portland, but we're pretty sure we'll meet people through ESK and church. To the left is ESK's friend BK (born 3 days before E) who also just left San Francisco last week. If you can't tell, they're holding hands. Us two moms were going crazy during this photo shoot.

We visited Portland a few weeks ago, and just walking around got me pretty excited. Even E seemed to be taking in her new surroundings. The apartment we found is in a great neighborhood full of galleries, restaurants and shopping! Visitors are welcome!

Less Hair, More Poop

I realized I've been reading everyone else's blogs, but haven't updated my own in almost a month! Yikes.

What's new with me? Well, rampant hair loss is what's happening. Everytime I run my fingers through my hair, a clump falls out. And I can see much more of my scalp than I ever have in my life!

My sister warned me about this post-pregnancy stage, but didn't realize how icky it was until it actually happened to me. My hair is everywhere but on my head it seems. SK keeps complaining about all the hair I'm leaving around the apartment. Little E has strands of my hair in her fists and sometimes I even find strands in the folds of her chubby little neck (or non-neck I guess would be more accurate).

While I've been losing my hair, ESK is teething and as a result, I think her BMs are affected. She's been pooping so much lately! And its the loose, watery kind of poops, so it gets everywhere. I don't know what's normal, but I change ESK's outfits several times a day because of poop stains.

As a result, SK and I have thought of many poop-related nicknames for little ESK. Here's a few: Poopie Monster, Poopie Longstockings, Poopie Galore, Octopoopie, Poopie McPoopie from Pooptown... We think of new ones every couple of days as we're continually amazed by the amount of excrement this little one can produce. Please share any scatalogically humorous names you can think of.

Speaking of poopie monsters... here's a few pictures of my little niece G during our visit to Philly. G was a good older cousin, but she was very interested in baby things. For example, she insisted on wearing her little cousin's size 2 Elmo diapers (which of course gave her a wedgie) and crawling into the infant car seat. Here's G caught in the act:

And here's G playing with ESK's pacifier. ESK looks a little annoyed:

Finally, here's GMK showing off her signature "pound" move with her uncle SK:

ESK Loves Ella Funt

ESK is growing up so fast. It seems just yesterday she was swimming in all her clothes and she was this wrinkled, helpless, little thing. Of course, she's still pretty much helpless, but she is definitely becoming more aware of her surroundings and is starting to put things in her mouth. Like her favorite toy -- Ella Funt. (I got that from the Beverly Cleary "Ramona" books. Remember Ramona Quimby had a stuffed elephant named "Ella Funt" and a baby doll named "Chevrolet"?) She plays with Ella Funt's crinkly ears, pokes at the eyes, bats at the rattle feet, then tries to put the trunk in her mouth.

These days I've been busy with a freelance writing project I picked up. It's a lot harder than I thought it was going to be, simply because it's difficult to get a large chunk of time away from ESK where I can really sit down and concentrate. I've been going on some interviews with ESK in tow and it has worked out for the most part. She's a pretty chill baby.

At an interview yesterday however, she was whining in her car seat and wouldn't settle down. So I had to pick her up to calm her down. She started whining again as soon as her head hit the car seat, so I put a very squirmy ESK on my lap and continued on with the interview. I must have been quite a sight since I was furiously typing on my laptop and then stopping every now and then to grab a hold of ESK who threatened to wriggle out of my lap. On top of all of that, I've had this weird flu the past couple days and had a stuffed up nose and a sinus headache.

I was kinda embarrassed, but luckily, the guy I was interviewing was a father of three and was pretty understanding. I think he probably thought it was funny. At least I hope.

Post-pregnancy Changes

Now that it's been three months, I'm taking stock of my body and seeing what changes are permanent. RBK warned me that things would not be the same after pregnancy and indeed, they are not! Mostly, there are bulges where there were not bulges. And while my feet have not grown dramatically or anything, my shoes do not fit the same, as if my foot bones shifted or something.

And today, I read this in the Wall Street Journal:

"One study suggests that motherhood may permanently alter the brain's memory and learning centers, according to a November 1999 report in Nature. In rat studies, rat mothers did a better job finding food and navigating mazes than rats who hadn't given birth. The theory is that the hormones of pregnancy as well as the powerful sensory events of motherhood, such as childbirth and breast-feeding, may permanently alter the brain, equipping mothers with enhanced cognitive abilities that help them care for their young."

So, it's possible that my brain is also altering! I guess this means that I'm getting better at finding grocery stores and child-friendly restaurants? The rest of the article went on to talk about how mothers are often the ones in charge of a family's health care and how mothers' instincts about a child/spouse's health are uncannily correct. The author brought up examples of mothers who just knew there was something wrong with their child, even though the children had no visible symptoms and the women had no medical training.

I'm just a new mom, but I hope to pick up this "cognitive ability" soon. Sometimes when I'm holding ESK or watching her, I shudder with fear at the thought of any harm befalling her. It's such a scary notion!

And to end this entry on a brighter note.... ESK has been doing her tummy time and is finally showing progress. Yay ESK!

Baby In Training

When it comes to baby ESK, SK and I consider ourselves to be lucky. We had a very smooth pregnancy, comparatively easy delivery, and a quick recovery. And we've heard over and over again that ESK is a good baby -- easy-going and docile.

For the most part, I agree that she is an easy baby. She sleeps well during the day, has no problem with eating, talks (baby talk that is) a lot, smiles, laughs...

But between the hours of 10 p.m. and 1 a.m., she turns into another baby -- a crying, fussing, hyperactive, cranky baby. Arms go a-flailin', cries are piercing and loud, tears are a-flowin'. Once she falls asleep, she's out for a good six hours at least. Which is great, but not good enough. This has been going on for about two or three weeks now.

So starting yesterday, we are putting ESK into sleep training. Our arms and backs can't take it anymore and now that she's 3 months (!!!) we think she's ready to really start sleeping through the night. I talked to my sister yesterday and found out her cousin GMK slept from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. when she was this age.

This means more work for me since I'll need to start logging her sleep/waking hours in spreadsheet-style manner and really start watching her for her sleep cues. But ultimately, I'm hoping this will mean more relaxation time in the evenings for both SK and me! We need it!

ESK Survives The Rock
Our days in the Bay Area are limited, so SK and I are trying to do as many touristy things as possible before we leave. Last week, SK had some days off, so we finally made a trip out to Alcatraz Island (immortalized in the cinema classic "The Rock", starring Nic Cage and Sean Connery).

Sight-seeing with a baby isn't that easy. Gone are the days when we could just grab our jackets and go out the door. We made sure we had an extra bottle of milk, plenty of diapers, change of clothing, extra blanket, etc. And even though we gave ourselves an extra cushion of time, we hustled to make our scheduled ferry trip across the bay and made it just as it was boarding.

All the effort was worth it. It was an interesting tour and made me glad that I did not choose a life of crime! So depressing! This jail in particular seemed especially cruel because the prisoners could see sparkling San Francisco and its free and fair denizens from their jail every day.

Here's a photo of lil' ESK being scared straight. We figured a few moments in a dark jail cell would keep her on the straight and narrow. Alas... she slept through the entire tour!

Hit or Miss

Here's one of my favorite pics of ESK. Hee hee.. and the next one is of her winking.... I think she looks more like her daddy than her mommy.

It's amazing to see little ESK grow and develop. She has just started smiling back at us when we make funny faces at her. In the early morning, when she's bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and I'm bleary-eyed and sleep-deprived, we have these funny little conversations with each other. She gurgles and cooes and I try to respond with some of my own nonsensical noises.

She's still just a little tiny ball of protoplasm, but she's starting to be more fun to interact with. The only time we don't find her particularly cute or fun is late at night when she refuses to go to sleep. Her overnight sleep patterns are definitely hit or miss. Some nights she'll be a good baby and only require one feeding. Other nights, she gets overtired and excited and eventually spirals into meltdowns. That's when SK and I want to tear our hair out.

To make matters worse, lil' ESK really does not prefer to sleep in her crib. She usually falls asleep on my chest and then I have to sneak her into her crib. It's such an ordeal. Some evenings, I just dread bedtime... We just have no idea what to expect.

Uh oh... sounds like ESK just got up from her nap. Gotta run! Here's another favorite photo of ESK:

Introducing... ESK!

A long overdue post (RBK -- put me back on your bookmarks!). This one will be short, but sweet. Above is our little pumpkin at one day old.

More to come!

Home Stretch

I'm feeling rather large these days (see photo for proof). We're hitting the home stretch and I'm a mix of all kinds of emotions these days. Sometimes I'm nervous, other times a little cranky, and other times I'm even able to forget that I'm pregnant and all is good in the world. And then I look down at my belly and am quickly reminded of the inescapable series of events that I'm just waiting around for....

Earlier this week, I passed by the front entrance of the hospital I'll be delivering at and imagined myself going through the doors w/ my overnight bag. I started tearing up for some unexplicable reason, right there on the sidewalk. Kinda embarassing.

Don't get me wrong -- I'm generally excited about having and meeting my baby. But right now, the idea of giving birth to a little human being is kinda overwhelming. And sometimes I wonder what my life will be like after the baby is here and I have doubts over whether I'll be a good mother. What if I'm actually more selfish than I thought and resent being tied down by motherhood?

Besides being a mess of hormonal emotions these days, I'm feeling enormously blessed by the excited friends and family that call or email every day checking on my progress. And earlier this week, our church community group organized a surprise baby shower. It was the first surprise party I've ever had thrown for me and it was completely unexpected. I almost didn't go because I was feeling really tired, but SK dragged me. Of course, I nearly cried when I realized what was going on.


This weekend , SK and I have to work on baby names. When we first found out we were pregnant, we were constantly throwing out possibilities while eating dinner, driving the car, lying in bed as we fell asleep, etc. But since then, we put the task of baby naming on the back burner. We jokingly considered naming the baby Garcia or Westbrook if the Eagles made it to the Super Bowl. Not that either were actually serious options.... Point is, we really have to get serious this weekend and pick a name. Wish us luck.

Am I A Smug Married?

I haven't been married long, but I'm already starting to feel distance from some of the single people I come across. It's too easy for me to trivialize their trials and tribulations, which is wrong of me to do, especially since I lived the drama of a single girl not so long ago. In retrospect, I made a lot of foolish choices and had some really silly and over-romanticized notions bouncing around in my head as a single woman. When I think about the ridiculous ideals I chased around, it makes me wonder how my family and friends didn't want to bonk me up side the head... It's amazing I got married at all actually.

But enough about me. Let's talk about some examples of foolish behavior I've witnessed in the past couple weeks:

1) Emotional Porn: Have you seen the movie "The Holiday"? I'll admit, I jumped at the chance to see this chick flick as soon as Shane was out of town on a job interview. It was a cute movie, but the theater was predictably FULL of women. And such silly giggly women!!!! Every time Jude Law came on screen, or said something sentimental, you heard an audible sigh. And when Law's character professed his love for Cameron Diaz's character, a female movie-goer actual squealed, "Oh baby!"

I think I laughed more at womens' reactions than at the movie itself. I don't remember getting so caught up in these kinds of movies, but maybe I did back in the day? Hugh Grant's bumbling charm and floppy hair in "Four Weddings and a Funeral" comes to mind.

2) Eye Candy v. Good Personality: SK and I went to a holiday party this weekend hosted by one of the residents in his department. Conversation inevitably turned to "which doctor/attending in the department do you think is attractive"? I was frankly disappointed by their choices.

One doctor they named looks like a model, wears perfectly tailored suits, and has a slight British accent. And sure he's very sociable and friendly, but he's also incapable of having a meaningful and sincere conversation! He actually greets people by smiling, pointing and and saying your name. CHEESY! Another doctor they named is charming, but I know from personal experience that this charm is a facade.

Granted, this was party conversation, so they probably weren't being very serious, but I did get the sense that these were the doctors they liked the most. They kept talking about how "nice" they were, but it seemed clear the girls were just bamboozled by their outside appearance and charm! Was I so easily charmed by eye candy? SK was so disgusted, he actually left the conversation in a huff.

I don't want to be a smug married person (like in Bridge Jones Diary), but I guess now that I'm married, I've learned one big lesson: LOOKS MEAN NOTHING. I heard this a million times when I was a singleton from those who were older, wiser, and married, but it didn't really hit home until I myself was hitched.

When I first met SK, I thought he was cute, but what made our first blind date memorable was the ease I felt around him and the constant flow of conversation. And now, SK's appearance hasn't changed much, but when I look at him, I don't even notice what he looks like. Or rather, I see my husband, but love him for such more more than just his physical appearance. I still love him, even when he's just woken up, hair amuck, thick glasses on (he calls them his "birth control" glasses; meaning, they're so ugly....), and morning breath raging. It's an amazing thing.

Warning! Sad Post

Warning... this is going to be a sad, contemplative post.

I love talking to my sister about my niece's cute antics and funny stories. Even her misbehavior and poopy and pee stories are enjoyable. While I look forward to having funny stories of my own to tell, two specific events in the past week or so have impressed upon me the tenuousness of life, the grave responsibility of raising children, and the bumps and sorrows that parenthood might also bring. When you open yourself up to unconditional love, you also become unimaginably vulnerable.

Kim Family of San Francisco
The biggest story out on the West Coast right now is the story of the Kim family -- James and Kati Kim -- from San Francisco. SK and I first read a front page newspaper story about the missing family of four (Korean-american dad, Caucasian wife, and two young girls, 4 years and 7-mos. old) when we visited Portland, OR this past weekend. Since then, SK and I have been following the developments as search and rescue teams looked for the beautiful young family who were taking a nice family vacation from Seattle to San Francisco over the Thanksgiving holiday. I've been incredibly moved to see the brave mother protecting and feeding her young children and keeping them warm. My heart reached out to the resourceful father (with the too-familiar Korean-American face) who ventured out in the cold wilderness to find help.

Unfortunately, if you've been following the story, you'll know that the dad got lost in the rugged Oregon woods and died while trying to get help. This family could easily be us in the near future or my sister's family! The elements are all too familiar: Young family. Cute kids. Family road trip. Naively venturing out in bad weather. I told SK last night that if we were ever in that situation, I wasn't going to let him leave our side, that we were going to stay put and together as a family unit until help came to us!

Prayers for Matthew
So, do you remember my happy little blog from a month ago about our outing to the suburbs where we carved pumpkins, played with kids and enjoyed a big family dinner? One of the little boys, Matthew (the boy who commented about SK's remarkable eating capacity), has had a brain tumor. It was a pre-existing condition and he was recently undergoing radiation treatment. When we saw him in October, SK and I noticed that his motor skills and speaking ability were significantly handicapped since we last saw him in May. Part of the reason we have these family dinners and outings is to to maintain a sense of normalcy and have Matthew enjoy himself.

Unfortunately, the doctors discovered last week that despite the treatment, the tumor continues to grow and a large cyst surrounds the tumor. Last night, eight-year-old Matthew was in surgery to have the cyst drained and the tumor removed. The tumor is much bigger than originally thought and while the surgeon tried to remove as much of the necrotic mass as possible, the prognosis is not good.

This has been unbearably difficult for Matthew's parents and the tragic turn of events has even taken a toll on his 3-year-old brother (who doesn't understand all of what is going on, but has expressed that he is scared for his older brother).

I'm overly emotional these days anyway from my pregnancy, so whenever I think about this family, I struggle to hold back tears... Here are some prayer requests from the family:

1) Matthew would be protected from any type of virus or bacteria while at the hospital and after his surgery. Matthews immune system is weakened from the Decadron (anti-inflammatory medication) and radiation so he is more susceptible for infection.
2) Strength and energy for the parents and other family members.
3) For a miraculous healing of Matthew from the brain tumor and that the cysts would start to drain. Pray that the hands of Dr. Edwards would be moved to get most of the dead necrotic tissue and spare all of the healthy tissue.
4) Pray that Matthew's balance and fine motor control would eventually be restored. That he would have a quick recovery from surgery. He will be in the ICU for at least 2-3 days. The fear is Matthew may have difficulty weaning from the ventilator. His body temperature will be cooled for the surgery so this will also make the recovery process more difficult.

Heb. 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all things as were are yet without sin. Let us therefore draw near with confidence ... that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.

John 15:7 If you abide in Me and My words abide in you ask whatever you wish and it shall be done for you.

Vegas Baby!

This past weekend, SK and I went to Las Vegas for one of his medical conferences. It's probably one of the last trips that I'll be taking via airplane for quite awhile, so I tried to enjoy it as much as possible, even though Vegas isn't really my scene. Am I too old to have a "scene"? Probably. But you get my drift.

First of all -- what a nerd fest! Eye docs and technicians everywhere! I must say the Japanese docs looked the dorkiest with their 90-degree bows coupled with "Hai! Moshi moshi!" I wandered the exhibition hall and picked up a bag full of free contact lens solution and refreshing drops samples! Score! Unfortunately, every other exhibitor was selling surgical tools so that meant it was impossible to avoid seeing disgusting videos of eye surgeries everywhere plastered on large plasma screens. Blech! Here are some other high notes and low points of the weekend:

Highlights:

Spa Day -- Besides surrounding myself with a bunch of over-educated eye nerds, I spent all day Saturday at the spa with the fiance of another eye doc. The spa also had a sauna and whirlpool but I couldn't partake in my pregnant state even though my achy feet and legs could have used the therapy. I was really exhausted from spending all day Friday walking around exploring, so I ended up falling asleep in the middle of both of my treatments. If you're ever in Vegas anytime soon, check out Canyon Ranch SpaClub.

Cirque du Soleil -- Someone generously donated some free tickets to SK and a few other eye docs, so a few of us went to the new Beatles LOVE show. Initially, when SK told me we were going, I thought it was a little dorky. Surely, we would rather seek out the latest night club/lounge (after all Nick Lachey and Co. were rumored to be in Vegas that weekend). But I'm glad we went, because it was actually a terrific performance. The dancers/acrobats were amazing and the music was great (Beatles songs!). I couldn't resist singing along to the songs I recognized. Here's a picture of SK and me with some of the Cirque du Soleil ushers dressed in Beatles-inspired costume.

Wynn Hotel & Casino -- We only went to an alumni event there, but even walking through the casino floor felt a little classier -- muted noises from the slot machines and a floor-layout that was not as cramped as other casinos we had been in. We ended the night at a nightclub/lounge in the Wynn called Tryst. It's quite a dramatic set-up with a large dance floor that opens up to an open-air area with waterfall and pool. The night we went was 70's/80's/90's night w/ all our favorite songs, so we couldn't resist getting out on the dance floor and boogie-ing. I bet I looked funny gettin' on down w/ my big ol' belly!!

Lowlights:

Leg & Foot Swelling -- My pregnancy weight gain is starting to have an effect on my legs and feet. Walking around for long periods of time really takes its toll on my legs. I used to wear heels around New York all day and all night long and still be fine, but now even with comfortable flats, my legs feel like a pair of wooden logs after a couple hours.

Overexposed boobage and muffin top -- Why oh why? Since when have bustiers become appropriate evening wear? So cheesy! There was too much of this kind of dressing in Las Vegas where womens' breasts were squished together and 3/4 of their mammary gland was hangin' out. And most of the time, the ladies did NOT have figures to justify such dressing -- meaning they were usually 5 lb. sausages packed into 2 lb. bags (to borrow a saying from my brother-in-law). Also, if you don't know what "muffin top" is, that's when ladies are wearing tight low-riders and shirts that don't quite cover their mid-section, resulting in stomachs flopping out over the top of their pants. There was a lot of this unfortunate phenomenon happening in Vegas. There's nothing wrong with the low-rider look, or even a little bit of pudge poking out. But my friends, this was egregious amounts of flesh -- try the next size up or wear longer shirts!

Sensory overload -- Vegas is just too much... Too much noise, light, people, etc. From the moment we stepped off the plane, it felt like controlled chaos. The airport was packed like Kimpo airport circa 1980, with the added noise of slot machines and airport announcements. Then the strip and casinos were another story. The people who design the layout of Ikea must be the same folks who design casino floors. I was always getting lost and walking around in circles. By the second day, I gave myself at least a 20 minute padding to get myself anywhere, just in case I got lost. I'm sure the casinos do this on purpose so guests end up being tempted by the different games, stores and restaurants. By the time Sunday afternoon came around, I was exhausted. I put my head down after lunch for a little nap, and didn't wake up until dinner.

Pumpkins & Halloween

Last weekend, after another dismal Eagles game, SK and I drove out to the East Bay (Concord/Walnut Creek) to spend time with some new friends. The friends are probably ten years older than us and already have established families -- one family with four kids and another with two. The kids ranged in age from 12 to 2 1/2 months and called us auntie J and uncle S. For SK and me, it was kinda like being adopted into their families. It was also a time to practice being around kids and acting parental.

It was a beautiful day, so we packed up the kids and went to a random pumpkin "patch" -- which turned out to be a dirt covered corner with well-placed scare-crows, hay bales, and of course, pumpkins of all sizes and shapes. There were also some random farm animals which everyone was allowed to pet - rabbits, goats, pigs, chickens and ducks. It was random but still kinda fun.

And then it was back home to carve the pumpkins we so carefully chose. It had been awhile since I carved a pumpkin, but it was fun to get your hands all dirty and generally just make a big mess. We were quite proud of our finished product.

Finally, we had a giant family dinner at a place called "Claim Jumper". I guess they only have these places on the West Coast, but basically, it reminded me of a cross between Sizzler and Cheesecake Factory -- steak house w/ a big varied menu and HUGE portions. SK got a large plate of chicken and biscuits and all I could think about was clogged arteries. SK dove in and ate almost all of it. When SK finished it, the little five-year-old boy sitting next to him declared, "You make me feel sick." Ha ha ha! The next night, I made sure to fix a healthy dinner.

Speaking of not eating v. healthy... Halloween day at work was not full of many healthy eating options. I contributed by bringing in some homemade eyeball cupcakes. I tried to make them diseased looking since I figured the eye doctors I work with would appreciate it.

Long Overdue Update

So it's been pointed out that I haven't posted in awhile. But between a new job, a number of out-of-town visitors, and weekend activities, it's been tough. Update blog or do laundry that has been piling up for 3 weeks? Post entry or chase around dust bunnies in apartment the size of...well, bunnies? The busy-ness has mostly been of the fun variety (since SK and I are trying to fit in as much FUN before the baby as possible), but we're also really tired. Sometimes, we miss the days when we just vegged out with a good movie rental or a re-run of Law & Order SVU.

Old Friend My college friend HH (also one of my bridesmaids) visited a month ago. In college, we bonded over hummus and crackers in the dead of winter during sophomore year, stank up the dorms with our Korean food cooking, and had pseudo-intellectual conversations which in reality was nothing more than us throwing big words around and talking in circles. We had a good time exploring SF sights and catching up. I was able to tell her about my pregnancy in person and it was kinda fun to see the shock on her face!

We were generally pretty silly together for most of the day. We had lunch, explored one of SF's many independent bookstores (not many B&Ns or Borders here), and drooled over yummy gourmet foods in the Ferry Building. Here's a picture of me satisfying a pregnant-woman-cheese craving.

And below is a picture of me trying to take a picture of HH at the Ferry Building in front of a beautiful florist stand. We were "pretending" to be cheesy tourists. I think you can see the beginnings of a pregnant belly here. New job
I started working at UCSF about 3 weeks ago and so far so good. Of course, there are the office oddballs (including someone who reminds me a bit of the stapler guy from Office Space) but almost every office has THAT guy. Otherwise, perks of the job include seeing my hubby almost every day, a great view of the Pacific Ocean from my office, and a boss who is a genius (his mind works at warp speeds) but also a genuinely nice person.

Eagles in SF
SK bought a large block of tickets for the Eagles v. 49ers game several weeks ago. Our cousin PJ flew in from San Diego, and some friends flew in from NYC and PHL. I played tour guide to our very laid back cousin who I'm just getting to know as an adult. I've only known him as my little cousin -- not so little anymore (see left)! At any rate, the game was a very good time, especially since we steamrolled over the Niners and there were a lot of Eagles fans in attendance. I'll post more pics from the game in another post.

The Blue Angels
This was an amazing air show. I had seen and heard (the roar of a fighter plane is deafening) the F-18's flying overhead during the week, but to see them perform a choreographed routine was truly a treat. We staked out a spot on Crissy Field (which is actually a beach) with a picnic lunch, a view of the Bay, sailboats bobbing up and down and the Golden Gate Bridge in the distance.

The first time I saw theF-18s fly overhead in tight formation, I got a lump in my throat and felt tears coming to my eyes. I guess I was just awed by the power and grace of these amazing machines. And I suppose it had something to do with pregnancy hormones.

We tried to take some pictures, but honestly, pictures and fighter planes do not go well together. They fly too fast! And also, pictures don't capture the sound and speed generated by these beasts.

Weekend in PHL
Last but not least, SK and I took a quick trip to Philly for my parents' 60th birthday celebration. Once we got to Philly, it was like we never left. Driving around made me realize how uniquely beautiful the PHL-suburban area really is -- lots of lush greenery, rolling hills everywhere, winding roads, and beautiful traditional homes.

RBK, EMK and I got a chance to just veg-out girlie style, eat some really bad for you ice cream, sit around in our PJs on a bed and just be silly. I realized that when we hang out, we don't really do or talk about anything in particular, but somehow it's still fun.

It was great to see my entire family, hang out with the sisters, and see lil' GMK. The birthday dinner we planned for my parents went well and I think they had a good time. But the real star of the dinner (and really of the whole weekend), was GMK! All eyes were on GMK and all her little antics. Here's GMK as a good, clean, angel:And here's a picture of GMK as dirty, lil' piggy, feasting on a meal of buttered noodles:

Does Size Matter?

I found out this week that a marketing/admin job opened up in SK's department at the hospital and the doctor said he'd be happy to have me on board. I'm feeling especially blessed because they're willing to hire me even though I'll have to quit in January before the baby arrives. But also because I'll be working at an office a five minute walk from our apartment. Also, I'll be working in a hospital so, should I go into labor while at work, I'll only need to be carted off in a wheelchair to another part of the building!

So, with the news of my new job, I started thinking about what I was going to wear. I have tons of work clothes, but only for a non-pregnant body. I also have some maternity wear, generously donated by RBK, but some of it might be too casual for the office. I've actually started wearing some of the pants just because the elastic waistbands are so comfy! Hee hee!

Anyway, I went to a few maternity boutiques yesterday to try on some clothes and was pretty disappointed. Besides Target, the clothing was pretty overpriced and ill-fitting. At Target, they had a few cute items in the Liz Lange line that were really well-priced, but not a lot of options and nothing in my exact size. Frustration!!! I even went to two different Targets.

Finally at the most expensive boutique I visited yesterday, I asked the salesgirls for help since the sizing varied wildly from brand to brand. When I told the two salesgirls when I was due, they both looked at me wide-eyed and open-mouthed. Both of them were pregnant also, and one of them had a due date a couple weeks earlier than mine. But she was MUCH bigger than me! Her belly was nice and round, like a cute little basketball. On the other hand, my belly looks like I've just been eating too much pizza or digging into too many late-night pints of Haagen Daaz. I think I might have belly envy.

I know everyone carries their baby differently, but I do have a small seed of doubt in the back of my mind. What if my baby isn't growing fast enough? And am I ever going to get big? I just didn't fill out most of the pregnancy clothes I tried on.

On a good note, I'm feeling very healthy these days. I realized that I was really tired during my first trimester. These days, I feel full of energy from the moment I get up in the morning. It's great!

Family Visit

RBK, lil' GMK, KCK and my mom visited last week. I had so much fun just hanging out with them, even though it was tiring. One thing that really struck me, especially with the news of my own pregnancy, was how life really switches focuses once you have a child. I'm feeling that more intensely these days and mentally preparing for it. Doing anything and going anywhere with a child is a bigger production, even a trip to the store. It was tiring for everyone keeping up with GMK during the week. By weeks end, I was especially appreciative of my sis for making the long trek out to Cali.

But oh, the joys that babies bring! It was amazing to see GMK toddling around and learning to talk. She is like a little sponge, just absorbing everything in around her. It's amazing to me that she's reached the stage where she expresses her likes/dislikes and preferences.

For example, at the dinner table, she practically knows how to order her own dinner. Blueberries? Yes. Green beans? No, but please pass the milk. She communicates through her baby signing, vigorous nods and body shakes of course.

It's also amazing to me that I'm going to have my own version of GMK so soon!

All in all, it was a great visit. You can read more about it at RBK's blog.

SURPRISE!

i'm preggers!

sk and i were not planning on having a baby this year, but i guess it was just meant to be. we call the baby our "love child".

we're both still in shock since, not only were we surprised by the pregnancy, but how far along we are in the process! apparently, i've been pregnant for quite a while and the baby will be here much sooner than we could have ever imagined! sk and i went to see the OB/GYN on wednesday and afterwards, we were both in a daze.

how is it possible that i didn't know i was preggers? i feel rather stupid for not really knowing my body better, but there are LOGICAL reasons for why i've been so clueless. long story...

anyway, sk and i are both elated and excited about the little one on the way. but really, we're still in shock.

i love otters

sk and i went down to Monterey for the weekend. while we were there, we visited the Monterey Bay Aquarium and saw the cutest little sea otters. i guess these otters are native to the waters near Monterey. Here's a picture of an otter just swimmin' on its back and munching on some lunch. so cute! this picture does not do them any justice, but it was the best we could do through the plexiglass display window.

it was a beautiful, intelligently-designed aquarium -- much better than the one in Baltimore -- and perfect for families with kids. i think as an adult, i can fully appreciate museums while when i was a kid, i'd inevitably be bored out of my mind! there were a ton of kids at this aquarium and they all seemed to be enjoying themselves. sk and i were oohing and ahhing right next to them.

the Monterey Bay itself must be some kind of wildlife sanctuary, because there was quite the variety of wildlife just out in the open. just peering into the water, you could see starfish latched onto rocks in shallow water, tons of different kinds of birds, and seals just lazing about in the open right next to the aquarium. it was pretty cool.

the other cool part of our trip was just driving around the coast. for you golfers out there, Monterey is also home to world famous Pebble Beach, as well as at least a dozen beautifully groomed public golf courses. sk was practically drooling on the car window as we passed by all the perfectly-manicured greens.

i was drooling over the multi-million-dollar estates/houses that were built on the golf course, overlooking the ocean. we checked the real estate prices, just for fun, and saw that the range went from about $1.5 million (for a 2 bedroom cottage) to $22 million (and up). gee, just in our price range!

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less than one week until GMK and co. visit us in San Fran! i'm pretty excited to see my family! woohoo!

Labor Day Shmabor Day

I don't see what the big deal is about Labor Day. Especially now that I'm not working. Although, it'll be nice to have SK around for another extra day during the week. I suspect however that he has a fantasy football draft on Monday....

We're leaving tonight for a short trip to Monterey. We hope to see lots of sea lions and fishies at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. We sure do seem to be into sea wildlife these days, huh? I guess that's kinda strange.

Speaking of labor, I'm in the midst of a job search. I'm in this weird situation because we don't know where we're going to be in a year. So, do I just take any old job and quit when SK is done with his fellowship? If I'm going to be working at all, I'd rather take a job that I won't be bored with. Otherwise, I'd rather sit at home and be bored.

Here's a picture from our wedding reception. This is during our first dance. We had practiced the foxtrot to a Sinatra song for months. We even took a series of dance lessons (which cost a pretty penny). But when all eyes were on us, we forgot all the little details and finesse we had worked so hard on, and just slogged through the dance. SK was quaking like a leaf and I kept whispering to him, "Calm down, you're doing fine."

People said it turned out great, but we were just happy to have gotten through it without tripping over ourselves and being candidates for "America's Funniest Home Videos".


Happy Labor Day to my small but devoted group of readers!

Weekend Report

SK and I devoted Friday evening to Eagles football. We watched the football game and then headed over to the multiplex to watch Invincible. I was pleasantly surprised and I genuinely got caught up in Vince Papale's story. A small group of Eagles fans wearing jerseys and other paraphenelia was there being loud and obnoxious -- it made me miss Philly. They kept shouting at the movie and making funny comments. In a weird way, it made me proud to be a Philadelphian.

Afterwards, we went to an old-fashioned retro diner and had a milkshake and apple pie. Overall it was a very nice evening and I didn't feel widowed at all.












These are some pics from a daytrip to Point Reyes National Seashore with our friends BL/JL. As you can see, the weather was a little overcast, so no sunbathing for us, but we managed to have fun anyway. We visited a lighthouse and decided that it would be a lonely job to be a lighthouse keeper. And SK inspected the inside of a foghorn.

The highlight of our trip was probably the seal sighting. They were pretty far away from where we were standing, but we could hear them barking -- Ark! Ark! Ark! We did our best to imitate them and see if they turned to look at us, but no dice.

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Last but not least, SK and I had our first dinner party. It wasn't a big deal and we didn't go all fancy or anything (only had three friends over), but we both remarked at the end of the night, how nice it was to have our apartment filled with conversation and laughter. Our apartment is usually cold (unless we turn the heaters on), but the whole place was nice and cozy from the body heat of five people and the smell of good food.