Happy 2009!

Where did the year fly by? I don't quite recollect what happened throughout the year, but I suppose that in hindsight, it's been quite eventful? There has been vast changes for both my husband and I, professionally and personally. Mostly for the better, I suppose.

Here's to hoping that 2009 will bring further success, happiness and contentment.

My resolutions:

1) Enjoy my baby for all that she is. Even though there will be times when she'll be a fusspot, and I'll feel like screaming and pulling all my hair off - in a blink of an eye, she'll be all grown up and I'll never have these days again where I'll be her whole world. And to be honest, I'm already dreading having to give her up to daycare in March, and crazily enough, I'm already tearing up at the thought of her getting married and starting a life of her own. And she's only 3 weeks and 1 day old. She's already outgrown 3 outfits, and her socks are all too small for her. So yes, cherish all these times that you have because it'll be gone before you know it.

2) Be as successful at work as I can possibly be. Because I want to be able to give the world to Isabel. I want to be able to bring her around the world - Paris, Rome, Egypt, Australia, Alaska, everywhere.

3) Love and cherish my husband and child.

4) Be supermom. =D

December 31st, 2008 - 19 days old

Gah...

I'm pissed. At myself. Apparently I've missed the window for newborn photographs to be taken of my kid. 2 weeks is the magic number for when the baby will suddenly turn into a fussy missy, and I suppose that she'll no longer be considered a newborn after that....

Booger.

And the worst thing is, if we actually had a boy, I doubt I'd be this annoyed at myself....whoops! Yes, I'm a bad mother. (but seriously, how many guys do you know who'd actually care about seeing baby pictures of himself? - unless he's trying to impress a girl by pretending to be sentimental, and no, I'm not going to encourage that)

Merry Christmas!

Our first Christmas at our house, and as a real family. And of course, John had to commemorate it by making me wear a ridiculous/gaudy sweater. The things one is willing to do when appearance isn't one of her top priorities anymore...

Merry Christmas, all!!

Christmas 2008

15 days old

Little Tricks Up Her Sleeve...

So, my daughter have been smiling since day 1, but I never did think that it was intentional...I mean, she smiles in her sleep when I sing to her, and there are times when she'll give little smirks as she toots her way through her diaper...But I always thought that they were flukes. However, this morning, when I went to her crib, she was already wide awake and cooing....She looked at me and I smiled. She quickly closed her eyes shut. So I said "Is someone pretending to be asleep?" Then she opened her eyes again and gave me a big smile.

I have a little prankster. And she makes my heart melt.

She's 13 days old today and she had her first dr's appointment. She's back to her birth weight, the little chunker, so that's good news for me as that means the feedings are working as they should. That makes all those sleepless nights and sore nips a little more worth it. I wouldn't say that it makes it ALL ok (hey, it sometimes hurt like a mother****** when she latches on half asleep...it makes me want to scream as loud as she does!), but it's close.

Oh, and I can officially fit into my fat jeans, buttoned up and all. Woo hoo!

I Can't Think of a Title, Therefore I'm Not Going To Bother...

Since our baby was taking her own sweet time arriving, my guests/caretakers have to find ways to amuse themselves to deal with anti-climax after the 8th has come and gone with absolutely nothing eventful happening...So, out with the cards and the cash!! (It's Monopoly money, but still!)

All they need are some cigars and some gin....or for a more appropriate "Chinese" mobster feel, cigarettes hanging out from the side of their mouths and one leg propped up on the chair....

I'm just so glad that I did not have to be induced....The pain was bad enough as it is. But as they all say, it was well worth it....I think!

New daddy

Our new family

Such a big girl!!

3 days old

December 14th 2008

One week old and full of smiles

Stats:

Isabel Clarissa
Born 12/12/08 at 9.40pm EST
Weight: 8 lbs 4.5 oz
Length: 21.5"

She was a big, BIG surprise, as we were expecting a 6lb boy! Matter of fact, when they announced that "It's a Girl!!" I was like, "What???" and immediately looked down at her for confirmation....

We definitely got our surprise.

I never knew that I can love someone so much (regardless of the sleepless nights, the poopy diapers and her very very VERY prominent wail...wonder who she got that from?)

But she's my little angel/PITA and I love her more that I can even comprehend.

Our Big Surprise...

40 weeks and 3 days...

STILL pregnant =S

Week 40

What's happening underneath that bump?

The last week...or is it?! The average sized newborn is 7 1/2 lbs and 20" long. At this point, most of the vernix is gone, 15% of the body is fat and the chest sticks out.

Although you aren't considered post due until you reach 42 weeks of pregnancy, if your doctor feels that you have gone long enough in the pregnancy , he or she may induce labor

No baby yet...although I suppose that considering the fact that only 2% of babies are born on their due date, along with the fact that we are not entirely sure when the conception date was (the original date was estimated to be 2 weeks after this, until the ultrasound proved otherwise), it shouldn't be surprising.

And now that I've pretty much calmed down (as oppose to thinking that every twitch and pain is a sign to signal the troops), I'm going to use this time to finish up stuff on my to-do list that was pushed aside (basically, the "C" items) Today's going to be productive. Well, if I don't konk out by 3pm....I woke up at 4am and could not fall back asleep. And it's way too early to start on my list as the whole household is still sleeping. Booger.

But regardless, he/she will be here by next week, as the Dr will be inducing if nothing happens naturally. I have a biophysical profile scheduled for baby this Wednesday, to see if he/she is still happy (well, you'd think that he/she should be smart enough to come out if he/she don't like it anymore!). Here's to hoping that things progress along naturally and soon.

(Any doubts that this baby is "Malaysian"??! Lateness apparently is built into his/her genes)

Week 38 and some House Updates

What's happening underneath that bump?

The baby is now nearing 7lbs in weight and is less than 20" long - he/she may be gaining an ounce a day now as fat for life outside your uterus. His/her intestines are accumulating lots of meconium and the creamy, white coating called vernix that formed to protect your baby's skin from fluid is now disappearing. The lanugo downy hair that also protects the skin is also going away as your baby prepares to be born. The circumference of the head and the baby's abdomen are about the same.

Well....apparently I have a few silent readers here! *waves hello* I guess that's good to know that I have the ability to lure a few unsuspecting victims in! Or wait....do you guys use it to lull yourself to a state of drowsiness so you can have a good night's sleep??! ?Hmmmmmm......

The past couple of weeks have been filled with never ending "little" projects to prepare the house for our guests. And most of the tasks are smelly. So poor John has to do most of them, as baby really protests when I inhale the scent. Such a little brat!

The bathtub was reglazed, the bathroom floor "redone" (taking that word in lightly.....I doubt that HGTV would approve), and the floors for the whole downstairs was recoated with a protective layer (we have hardwood floors and we basically just resealed it). Sounds simple enough, but not when you realized that you have to move ALL the furniture out of the way first. Whoever said that a pregnant woman is unable to do much have obviously never met me. Although, again, I have to say that kiddo was not happy with all the lifting going on. Tough. He/she will have to learn that life's not going to be all about him/her sooner or later.

I just realized that I've never shown any pictures of the house....And figured that I might as well, as we've worked our butts off to have it ready....and additionally, our house will probably never be this clean again for the next year...or is it the next 10?