A Month Without You

Dear Torison,

It's been a month without you. I think of you a lot, especially when I do things in the kitchen. No one helps me pick up cookie crumbs, dropped scramble eggs...etc. I also think of you while walking, laying in bed and trying to sleep, and any other random time.

The house is almost done for us to move in, which means we are going to move out from the apartment soon…I should be happy, shouldn't I? But then I think of our last memory was at this apartment, and... there's a bit of me that don't want to move away.

It's getting cold, and I hope you are at somewhere warm. I miss you a lot, but I'm doing great.

5500/4436/7

距離我來美國那天: 5500天

距離我認識你的那天: 4436天

距離你離開我的那天: 7天

我們在一起的日子: 4430天

日子有點難熬，心還是痛痛的，不過...我很努力喔! 你知道的...

The Last Miracle

Chatting with Torsion using coin --

Goodbye, Torsion!

Dear Torsion,

I cried all the way on my way to work this morning. I miss you a tons, but I am happy that you are off to your next journey. Running into you in May, 2005 in Wichita, KS was one of the best things happened in my life. You knew me the most and loved me unconditionally, and I couldn't ask for a better friend than you. What made me the most sad is - I didn't get to hold you when you passed away. The night before I was arguing with hubby for small things, we were both mad and went to bed. The last thing I remembered was seeing Grandpa giving you the medication.

[E] Silicon Valley!

[Life of being a Mama] I forgot about my Blog for a long long time, and here I am again. I'm back. There's a lot on my mind that I'd like to write about.

My sweet daughter was born in winter 2015. She was two weeks early and had to have a short detour to Children's Hospital before coming home. She's now a happy and fun kid.

Didn't Get to Say Goodbye!

I ordered these treats from California to make myself feel closer to Taiwan during this Lunar New Year. I haven't been really celebrated this holiday for 14 years, and I always felt alright until this year. My grandma passed away around mid-night during new year's day, and I didn't get to say the last goodbye (we just couldn't get baby's passport ready in time). The thing that makes this even more sad is 13 years ago, I was working on midterms while my grandpa passed away, and I didn't get to say goodbye either. I try to brainwash myself this is the last blessing that they gave me - they didn't want me to rush 7000 miles back to see them take their last breath. 

English is Hard

One USA Unit wants me to write this down...

[Time] Around 9pm on 2/13/1026
[Place] Goole Chat (we use Google Chat even at home when we are in different rooms)
[Conversation]
Me: Why my foot's middle finger got infection?
One USA Unit: Your toes?
Me: Right...whatever...
One USA Unit: (Walking into the room where I am at and...laughing laughing laughing)

Apparently, I've been wearing wrong size of shoes for a long long time. I went to a shoe store which is owned by a retired podiatrist and the staff informed me that my right foot is half size bigger than the left. Hmm...no wonder my foot is always hurting.

[Baby] ER Visit and Coming Home Outfit

So...I had an ER visit in the middle of the night last weekend due to chill/shivering. My body finally can't function normally even with my gestational diabetes diet. Few days later, I've been prescribed Metformin (type II diabetes drug). We are hoping the drug would help me pass through the rest of the pregnancy without another crazy episode happening nor bad side effects. 3 more weeks!!! (I am glad that the glucose was well managed almost 9 weeks so that I didn't have to take the medications that early in the pregnancy. I know the drug should be generally safe for the baby, but still, I was trying my best to not be put on the medications). I guess once the baby is out, I will actually miss her being with me all the time.

By the way, we've decided her coming home outfit - a dachshund bodysuit with a flower headband! (I am hoping she can fit in this bodysuit since I am still not too sure about whether I should be newborn or 0-3 month clothing for a new born, and I can't really find a clear answer online nor from friends.

Dachshund bodysuit is actually for "boy," but we like it a lot so we still bought it. We decided to add the headband flower to make it more girly. We found a cute 10-pack-headbands on Amazon for about $11. Qandsweet Baby Girl's Headbands Chiffon Hair Flower (10 Pack) (10pcs 3.5x2.3" Flowers)


Anyway, I'm just going to bring a set of each to the hospital). Getting so close to meet Baby I! We can't wait!



P.S. Congrats on One USA Unit finished another quarter of his classes!

[E] Some Food

I haven't posted food photos recently - here is one with few photos. I made all of those besides the bottom right corner one - this one was the lazy Thanksgiving meal I ordered from local grocery store, and I only needed to pick it up, roast the turkey, and re-heat the side dishes. Basically this is kind of our "family tradition" :D Instead of spending tons of time cooking, we order yummy Thanksgiving meal from local store at the beginning of November. Last year, we bought smaller meals from two different stores to compare which one we like better.

[Baby] About Six Weeks Left

We got the crib set up in November. We are going to wash some of the baby clothes, and put the sheet in the crib later on. Earlier this month, some coworkers I used to work with threw me a baby shower. I didn't want a baby shower because I am just not the type of person who like to be the center of attention. However, these nice ladies were trying to convince me for a while and told me that it's going to be a low key shower. Anyway, it was very nice to see all of them, and I really appreciate their love, support, and friendship! I was very lucky to work with them at my very first full time job in United States. 

[E] Two More Months...

Two more months, 2016 will be coming! (I got this plant back in Dec. 2014 during work white elephant gift exchange, and the plant has been growing taller!)

Two more months, One USA Unit will be wrapped up two classes, and he will only have to take two more classes to finish the degree he's been working on.

Two more months, I will start taking maternity leave because a little human will be joining our pack. Our life will be busier with baby, 3 pets, school, and jobs.

I don't know whether it's because I'm getting older that I feel this year has been passing so fast. Anyway, I'm actually so looking forward to 2016!

[Baby|嬰兒用品] Nuna Mixx

中文寫在後面喔，點文章就可以進去看了！

We got the stroller when Nordstrom had a deal. We finally opened it and checked it out. We like the quality and it's not super bulky. We are very glad to pick Nuna Mixx out of all the strollers on the market.

Installation was super easy. Taking the parts out from the box + tearing all the plastic wrap off took more time than putting it all together. Total installation time: less than 10 minutes.

We were originally thinking to bring the stroller down to the baby store to see which carseat is compatible to the stroller. After One Taiwan Unit finished it, we just thought of that we could have just took out the adaptor from the box and just brought the adaptor to the store lol

Anyway, couple things I'd like to mention about this product:

• The basket below the seat is actually very good size.
• The stroller is pretty easy to fold.
• The seat is very easy to take out and can be facing the front or the back.
• The adaptor comes with the box actually can fit Cybex carseat (some people said it can't, but we've tried it today)

Other info, you can find it on their website http://www.nuna.eu/USA/mixx 

[Baby] Gestational Diabetes

I've got diagnosed of gestational diabetes...yeah...really?! How did this even happen? I've been eating healthier than before I was pregnant.

I eat at work cafeteria for lunch most of the time:

• Before being pregnant: Fries...no matter what food I ate, I add some fries...I love fries!
• After being pregnant: Choose a meat with two side of vegetables (occasionally, I choose a meat, a side of vegetables, and a small scoop of rice).

I drink mostly water and black coffee, I do not eat candy often...seriously, tons of people around me eat tons of carb and sugar and they've never got diagnosed of GD. I also consider myself much more active than many people around me.

[To Baby I] Sleeping Gowns from Electrikkidz

Dear Baby I,

We've heard that baby like to be swaddled, and your dad thinks he has mastered swaddling skill after doing it once on a fake baby during the hospital class. Instead of testing our swaddling skill on you, I think we found a better solution - sleeping gowns.

Someone in Taiwan mentioned this cute Canadian brand, Electrikkidz, makes nice and cute sleeping gowns. Since my friend is going to have a baby girl as well, I've ordered some for you and for my friend's baby girl. Let's hope these gowns as magical as people advertised that you babies will sleep soundly and parents can just chill and have fun.

Love you!

P.S. Just want to be clear...if someone is tapping belly loudly, that's not me...it's your dad. You can mess with him after you are out.



Cheers,
Mom

[E] Tomatoes from Garden

My dad were staying with us for few months, and here are the tomatoes from his garden. We still get the tomatoes almost daily. It's been awesome to have fresh tomatoes coming out from our yard! Thanks, Dad! 

[E] Toaster Oven

I finally went to Walmart and got a mini oven (Fine...One USA Unit told me that this is called toaster oven). I like this sooooooooo much...I finally can bake a little bit stuff without waiting for pre-heating FOREVER. 

My favorite breakfast after I got this toaster oven is Belgian Dark Chocolate Toasts :D

We got the spread from my sister few months ago, and I now finally start using it. I put the spread on the toasts, and put them into toaster over for few minutes...nom nom nom nom nom...super yummy :D

[To baby I] Your Room is Kind of Ready

Dear Baby I,

Your room is almost done :) We added some decorations on the wall and a laundry basket in the corner to fill the empty space. We've also decorated the other wall with the arts I made which has your name on, so we don't want to post the photo on the blog. We only need to put the crib together and then your room is fully furnished. We've got your crib and mattress already, but we think we will put it up when the time is closer. By the way, your aunt (my sister) has been buying you cute clothing and other things already. All of us are pretty excited about you are going to join our family.

We went to two classes for you so far - What To Expect As A New Parent and Childbirth Preparation. The classes included a lot of useful information, and we are glad that we took those to be better prepared to welcome you to our little family. We are brainstorming about what we are going to do about your doggy and kitty siblings during the delivery?! Do we send them to the boarding place for a day or two?! If so, how do we know when to book the pet hotel?! I guess dad can run back from hospital to check on them since fortunately we don't live too far from the hospital. Hmm...we will see...maybe you can give us heads up about you are coming out early enough so we can better plan all this?! haha...

Your dad is taking two classes now on top of his full time job. After this quarter, he will have to take another two classes so that he can finish up his second B.S. degree. His classes just start this week, and his instructor wanted everyone to introduce themselves - he's so cute that he told people that his daughter is coming in January 2016 :) I can tell that he loves you a lot already :)

Love you! I enjoy your company everyday!

Mom 

[To Baby I] Update on Your Room

Dear Baby I,

We know we still have some time before actually meeting you, but we've put together your little dresser, storage bench, and a changing table. The dresser and storage bench help us keeping the things we've collected for you organized.

We've decided not to re-paint your room, however, we got you some wall decals that we will put those on later on. When you are a little bit older, you can choose a color for us to paint your room.

[Baby] Goodbye Office

Kat Boss and his General Workers no longer have an office anymore.

Our house is not big; we only have 2 rooms upstairs and 1 room in the basement. Since we can't just leave the baby alone downstairs, we have to turn our office/computer room into baby room. One USA Unit moved out all his stuff pretty fast, and it took me couple more days to move my stuff out. We have bought all the baby furnitures we need, and we will be slowly assemble all of those soon. 

[To Baby I] Smile!

Dear Baby I, 

Your dad and I slowly collect things for you. He has moved all his computer stuff out of our "computer room", and I am trying to empty my stuff as well...the room will become yours. We will be kind of busy in Fall, so we've drove down south to pick up some furnitures for you. I searched online about the things to buy and I happened to run into that cute & colorful rabbit toy, I have to get it for you because I know this smiley rabbit can bring you comfort and make you happy one day.