monterey, day 1:

We are back to making our annual jaunt to Monterey.  We skipped the MB Aquarium this time, but it freed us up to do other things.  We've been able to go the Aquarium for free the last few times, so we'll probably wait for the next opportunity.  It sprinkled a little the first day, and then it was sunny the days after (yet colder).  Monterey is one of the few places we will go to rain or shine.

Our first brief stop was a monarch butterfly sanctuary.  February is the tail end of their season, and I also heard there weren't so many this year compared to others.  We still saw a few fluttering about since the temperature just reached over 55 degrees.  We could see the clusters in the scopes provided, but we forgot Naomi's binoculars.  I've heard the tour guides can sometimes get them to come down, but they didn't do that this time.  It was still a nice nature walk for us and the kids.  Naomi learned how the environment affects the monarchs, and Lucas learned about their life cycle.  Isaac is always fascinated with trees, even right outside our door.  I hope that stays with him.  

Afterward, we went to the Dennis the Menace Playground.  The kids love it there, so much so that we went back twice.  A couple of our friends were there as well, but we just missed each other.  We usually bump into someone down there.  This time we actually saw our friend walking his son across the street.  Some crazy woman yelled out to him from the car.  Oh yeah, that was me.  

We had a very late lunch at the wharf, and we like going during off-hours because places get empty.  Actually, after a while, we had the entire upper deck at the restaurant to ourselves!  Beautiful view to boot.  I wasn't in love with my seafood paella, which I splurged on, but it was an Italian place and not a Spanish place, so it's because it was just more Italian in flavor.  But the seafood in it was oh so good!  Sometimes I wonder about the nuclear fallout from Japan and the pollution and mercury, but most of the time I just put that aside and enjoy it since I seldom get to eat it.

We checked into our hotel after lunch.  Manny found a new place for us to stay this year, since our old hotel on the beach cannot hold five guests in a room.  Most places will charge extra for a fifth person, even a baby, so with Isaac in the mix, vacation prices have gone up.  That's their policy, and we want to honor that.  We took a quick tour of grounds.  The kids loved the glass elevators at the hotel--Lucas said they were a ride.  Manny and the kids went swimming at the hotel pool while Isaac and I went to the happy hour.  The happy hour was nice, and they had Shirley Temples and this delicious natural lemonade.  I drank a Shirley Temple and honored her recent passing.  She was one of the child stars who made it without scandal (except that her roles were sometimes racist, but that was the culture back then).  

Manny and the kids joined us for the end of the happy hour, and then we went up to our room to turn in for the night.  We all took baths, and again I set aside my thoughts of how many people have taken baths in that same bathtub, and just let the kids have fun.  The kids got to have room service for dinner.  Manny and I weren't hungry after the big lunch and happy hour, so we just had some dessert and a plate of vegetables (which mostly ended up in Naomi's belly).  Isaac wasn't too happy to sleep in a new place, but we managed.  

My little butterfly.  We didn't even realize till after we took the photo that it looked like she had wings.

Isaac liked all the trees.

Blurry picture from far away, but those gray leaflike creatures are the butterflies at rest.

The long, wobbly bridge at Dennis the Menace Playground.

Naomi and Lucas going down the crooked slide together.

The family down the corkscrew slide.

Isaac loves the swing!

It wasn't too crowded in the toddler area the first day, so Isaac got to do a little exploring, or a lot of exploring.  I was worn out!

Isaac always wants what we're having.

Lucas wanted to stand on the curb to be taller.  :)

Koi pond at the hotel.

Hotel atrium.

birthdaypalooza aka feed me:

I got to eat all kinds of good food for my birthday and felt like a queen all weekend.  I don't think it's gluttony to enjoy yourself every now and then, especially when it's a time of blessing and celebration (although I do think gluttony is something we ignore too often).

February is my special month, not just for my and my mom's birthdays, but it's a whole month of events and celebrations that are meaningful to me.  Groundhog Day, Super Bowl, Westminster Dog Show, Chinese New Year, Valentine's/our engagement anniversary, Presidents' Day, our wedding anniversary...the fun doesn't end.  I like that February has a different number of days than other months, and every leap year, a different number than itself.  The birthstone is even purple, my favorite color.  And I feel like it's really the start of the year for me, and it's all about love.

We started the weekend off with a birthday/New Year dim sum lunch.  The restaurant was so busy that they had to set up several rows of chairs outside for the customers.  My cousin joined us, actually about an hour and a half later than planned, and she still was able to eat in time.  The kids were very patient through sitting for a few hours, even though everyone was pretty tired.  We went to the Chinese supermarket for some ingredients I haven't cooked with in a long time.  Then we went to the bakery where I got to pick out an Asian cake, the spongy kind that's lighter and not as rich as Western cakes.  My cousin joined us and we celebrated at home.  The cake was perfect, and even Isaac got a taste of the fruit on top (he's apparently the first of our kids to like kiwi).  After she left, I started making lion's heads (Chinese pork meatballs).  I don't even remember what I made for everyone else for dinner, I was just thinking of my mom as I made them.  

The next day at church, my friend gave me a box of her amazing tres leches truffles.  She runs a catering and bakery business, and they are her specialty.  They are too good to be true.  I don't even have a sweet tooth, and I could eat them all the time.  I was touched that she remembered.  To be honest, I had ordered a box for our family for Valentine's, but she said she wasn't going to make them available this year.  I was disappointed!  But that made her surprise that much sweeter, no pun intended.  Did your junior high or middle school have those Valentine grams?  The popular kids had loads of them, many had just one or two, and some like me had none.  But one year, someone did actually get me one.  I was so surprised.  I still don't know to this day who it was.  Anyway, that's how I felt getting that box of truffles.

  

We went to lunch at a favorite pasta place.  At first I didn't feel like having marinara, but then I remembered that I could splurge.  I love seafood pasta, and I hadn't had clam linguine in years.  And I'll tell you right now that this small place has better clam linguine than any I've had at a fancy restaurant.  Mom & Pop places just put their love into it, I guess.

For dinner that night, I cooked some chow fun (wide rice stick noodles) per Naomi's request, and we had some more lion's heads.  The food turned out well, another blessing.  Just being there with my family, with my in-laws on FaceTime, it felt like a very special day.  Only thing I missing was the Dog Show.  I watch so little TV now I completely forgot!

  

Waiting for dim sum.  Manny looks like he's praying, but I think he's just on the phone.

Kids got mango pudding as a treat.

Dim sum with my cousin.

Loved my fruit basket cake.

With my cousin and Naomi.  I forgot to take my apron off.

Yummy clam linguine.

Isaac enjoying pasta with olive oil.

A box of truffles just for me.  Isaac wanted some, as you can see from his little hand.

Homemade beef chow fun.

Homemade lion's head soup.

thank you, Grandma!

Grandma sent us chocolates for Chinese New Year and Valentine's!  It was her birthday, and we got the presents.  The kids posed for a birthday photo for her.  Naomi included her American Girl doll.  It's nice now that we can FaceTime with Grandma and Grandpa.  I still remember when I thought videophones were something in the distant future, not in my lifetime.  

field trip / flu shots:

The kids had an ISP to the same Star Wars exhibit we went to for Manny's birthday.  The difference was that there was no crowd this time (and Chewbacca was gone).  Naomi came down with the flu the previous week, but she got better just in time to go.  But she was still recovering from the lack of sleep and passed out early the next night.  I feel terrible I'm unable to take care of her as much as before when she's sick.  I also really missed her help and company.  She hardly ever gets sick and usually recovers after just a day or two, but this time she was down for the count.  The morning that I got ready to take her to get her flu shot was the morning she started having symptoms, so we had to skip them.  Lucas, Isaac, and I have had our shots (although Isaac got sick before he got his shot, unfortunately).  We don't usually get flu shots, since whoever gets them gets very sick, but for something like the swine flu, I'd rather the kids be sick than have a life-threatening illness.  It's the same way I feel about vaccinations.  I think babies get too many at one time, and they never should have put mercury in them, but I still think the benefits outweigh the risks.

It's not easy even making a short trip with three, but I can't imagine life without Isaac.  Even Naomi said today that she thinks even though life might have been easier for us without Isaac, we wouldn't be complete.  :)   Even if being so worn out takes me to an early grave, I can say in the end that I don't have any regrets because I died to myself daily for my family.  That's what most mothers do.  We give all we have to give.

It was a fun trip, and we got to see and do a lot that we didn't get to the first time.  Isaac threw some tantrums because he wanted to put everything in his mouth and I wouldn't let him.  Naomi and Lucas aren't that into Star Wars, but they've watched some parts of the movies and seen it in video games.  I'm probably far more into it (and other things) than they are.  Maybe that comes from my 80s upbringing.  So much was new and cool, and it wasn't easily accessible unless you were rich.  When Manny and I were young, Star Wars was the first major movie like that, where an imaginary world could be put on screen with realistic effects.  Back then, much was done by hand rather than computer.  

We went to the main museum after going through the exhibit, but we didn't stay late into the afternoon like usual.  We were all pretty tired, and I had things to do in the afternoon anyway.  

Waiting in line for our reserved time.

Naomi and her friends.  The new editor doesn't let me blur as much, so I have to darken.

Building a magnetic racer.

Lucas didn't actually do this correctly (with shorter legs at the higher part of the slope), but he got it to not slide, so he still succeeded.

Lucas was changing the face on the screen.  It looks like it's concerned about what Isaac is up to.

Isaac hit restart too many times, so I had to remove him.  "Hello, I'm C-3PO, Hello, I'm C-3PO, Hello, I'm C-3PO..."

Naomi growing jellyfish DNA in the wetlab.

Lucas identifying genetic anomalies.

isaac, 9 and 10 months old:

I'm combining Isaac's last two month updates.  They've been more or less the same.  He's about 5th percentile weight, and the doctor recommends that I fill him up with protein-rich solids and give him formula in a sippy cup.  Unfortunately, he still does not care for avocados, eggs, beans, meat, or formula.  He'll take some formula but not a lot and spits out the avocado.  So I'm still nursing him, way past how long I wanted to.  He seems lactose intolerant to me, so I guess I can hang in there till I can give him lactose-free milk.  But he likes finger foods and can feed himself with a small spoon.  

He seems to prefer using his left hand.  Maybe I'll finally have a lefty, although being a lefty myself, I know it comes with its hardships.  He often tries to feed himself with utensils.  He is one curious kid.  Ah, high curiosity and mobility--that wonderful combination that makes our hair turn gray (and why must they gravitate toward toilets?).  Just like Naomi did as a baby (and maybe even now), he darts toward any door once he's on the ground, as long as he's not tired or hungry.  If he pulls himself up, he'll knock on the door, as if asking to get out.  He isn't walking just yet, but he's cruising and can stand unsupported for a few seconds.  He can sure climb, though.

He likes balls and will throw them around and chase them.  Like Lucas at his age, he likes wheels on toy cars and strollers.  He also likes to scribble, a lot more so than the other two.  He also puts things in his mouth, which I didn't have to worry about with Naomi or Lucas.  He had some lead in his blood when we tested him in January.  Not enough to cause panic, but enough that I have to keep rinsing his hands or keep things out of his mouth.

He smiles all day and cries all night--another way he's like Naomi, except that her crying of course was much worse.  He was more social before, but is starting to have some shyness around strangers now, although if you look closely while he's hiding his face, you'll see a little smile.  

He says "mama" clearly, while "papa" often sounds like he's making bubbles with his mouth.  He says "that" and "this" and points, so I guess he's saying words.  He says "nai nai" for milk and "nyom nyom" for food when he's hungry.  He repeats "please," "bye bye," and "go go go."  He tries to say "banana," but it comes out different every time.  He did wave "hi" for a while but stopped.  Otherwise, sign language has not really taken off for him, and since he's vocal, I may not pursue it too much.  

I don't have a lot of photos from month 9.  He was pretty sick. And for month 10, I've overdone it with food photos (probably because that's when I'm not holding or chasing him).  I haven't had time to sort through the videos, but he loves doing the bouncy dance!

Taken when he turned 9 months.  Our sick little boy.  :(

Only thing he could eat at BK was the apple slices, but he really liked that crown!

Trying to flip off the couch already.

Turning 10 months.

Trying to use the spoon and chopsticks.

Chicken porridge.  He really prefers our food over baby purees, even homemade purees, but he'll drink baby food out of a pouch.

shower and dinner--and people's judgment:

Isaac and I went to a baby shower for a lovely new mom and youth ministry leader from church.  I was excited to be there to honor her and hang out with some lovely ladies.  Being the last of the moms of small kids homeschooling at our church, I sometimes have to field some questions, but it's all good, all understandable.  I don't have anything to hide, and I don't worry if others homeschool or not (really, I don't think most people should--you have to know for sure it's right for your family).  But one mom in particular was just on me.  I mean, on me like white on rice.  She followed me around, wouldn't let me change the subject, and just bombarded me with questions and passive-aggressive comments.  At first, she was like, "So, you homeschool, right?"  And I was happy to share, because frankly, it's hard work but I love it.  But ten minutes in, and I realized she was actually trying to talk me out of it.  Okay, so I just found out my dad might have cancer, and we're there to celebrate a dear sister, and I just felt like she wanted to tear me down and talk about something I didn't.  She asked me of course about socialization.  And by the way, I don't know what socialization means to her, but I got in trouble for ever talking in class, and we just sat at our desks all day and worked.  Even at recess, no one would play with me, and I had no friends until I came out to California (because kids were racist where I lived before then).  I learned zero social skills in school, except when I went to college.  But I have non-Christian public school teachers telling me Naomi has more social savvy than most students and some adults they know.  But I didn't say any of that.  I was not there to argue with her.  God helped me to be gracious, and I walked away without regrets, knowing I never got defensive or angry.  In the end, the only way I got her to stop hounding me was to say we were taking it year by year and might put Naomi in very soon.  

But two days later, I was hurt and upset.  So much so I told a friend about it, and then eventually four more friends.  I'd already told Manny, who was completely encouraging and on my side.  Usually he's hard on me if I argue with people, but in this case I did not.  I mostly nodded my head and smiled and answered her questions calmly.  Sometimes you just know you're not going to change someone's mind.  And then as I thought through what happened, I discussed it with the pastor.  He said he'd facilitate a discussion if I wanted, but then I decided to obey God--to forgive and move on.  Maybe the person didn't know she was making me feel like a complete idiot (but I think she knew--I've talked to her before, and she's not always like that).  

Anyway, life goes on.  If it happens again, I'll maybe say something to her, but for now, I am content to do the work set before me and not letting someone's opinion hinder that.  People's words affect me because I listen and really care about what they have to say.  But one big difference between me now and me five years ago is that I understand people can be wrong, and sometimes no matter what you say, you can't set things straight so you have to let it go and let them believe what they want.  You hope their blinders will come off, but if you keep arguing, they'll just keep focusing on being right, or at least more right than you.  Gotta just brush the dirt off your shoulder.  No time to explain to everyone; there's work to be done!

After the shower, we went out for Korean tofu.  Isaac was miserable for a while until he got a taste of the tofu ramen.  Yum!  (video below)  

The lovely H with our little guy.

Baby shower gift time is so fun (except on the receiving end--I never know what to say).

Video got turned on its side, but Isaac always tries to feed himself now.

swingin' sensation:

Ok, going to try to crank these out, because they're just sitting in my drafts, and I don't like to leave anything unfinished.  Always a great day when we go to the park as a family.  I also love when Manny is free from work.  Work Manny is not as fun, and neither is Business Amy.  We hope the kids will remember these fun times, but I also have to remember--it's the dailies that will shape them into who they are.  Don't you remember your mom maybe telling you something from the kitchen, and not on any particular special day?  How we live out our days is how we live out our lives.  I tell myself that daily.

First time in a swing.  Loves it!

Wee!

\

Swingin' good family time!

bowlin' bowlin' bowlin':

Before returning to work after New Year's, Manny took us out for Korean fried chicken and bowling.  I sat out and kept Isaac with me.  Yeah, I know kids have it easy today with the gutter guards and the guide ramp, but with how expensive it is, a game of gutter balls wouldn't be worth it!  Isaac and I didn't play, but we got to watch.  It was good to have the family time before we went back to the grind.

Finally a strike!