E has been feeling artsy lately

These are the first and only paintings since E has started on watercolor painting. I am quite impressed with what he has done so far. I didn't have anything to do with it. I just sat him down, put an apron on him, put the drawing pad in front of him, a paint brush and watercolor palette. He never made a mess, the paint brush stayed on the paper every time he painted. He even held the brush correctly. And more importantly, he enjoyed painting!

This is my favorite one

We put his paintings up in the dining room and he's proud of it!

comments from strangers

I don't know about other pregnant women, but for me when I get to the last 2-3 months of my pregnancy I seem to have a sign on my belly says "please tell me how soon I should deliver" or "tell me how I look being pregnant".

Here's what people had said to me:

1. S (Stranger): When are you due?

Me: I uh...

S (Totally cut me off): Like, today?

Me: Uh, ... no, I have one more month.

2. S (Shelving worker at a store): How much longer do you have? You look like you are ready to go to the hospital to deliver.

Me: Well, I have 'til the end of the month.

S: Wow, but you carry so low, I hope you don't have your baby right here right now.

Me: Don't worry, I won't.

3. S: How much longer do you have?

Me: 2 more months.

S: Oh no, you don't have 2 more months, probably in the next couple of weeks.

4. S (cashier at a grocery store): How far along are you?

Me: 2 more months.

S: TWO MORE MONTHS? TWO MORE MONTHS? HOLY MOLY. NO WAY! TWO MORE MONTHS?

Me: Uh, yeah (In my head: Could you please lower your voice? You are making me very uncomfortable. You remind me of those scary witches that people put in the fridge to remind them not to eat anything inside.)

S: Your belly is huge and you are carrying so low, are you sure that you still have 2 months to go?

Me: ... (In my head again: Do I need to go to my doctor and request an ultrasound again because "some experts" told me I should be delivering soon and my due day is incorrect?)

As she finally finished checking out all my grocery items and still non stop screaming "holy moly" and "two more months", I tried to push my grocery away ASAP, and the farther I went the louder she got, and then another cashier closest to the exit wouldn't let me go just like that: You have 2 more months?

Me (I looked back at her): Y... es (I just wanted to run by then as I turned around I found out I got the attention from the whole store.)

6. Somebody (actually not a stranger... but like a neighbor that I see pretty often): Do you know your belly is getting bigger and bigger?

Me: Is it not supposed to be?

Interestingly, most of these "Strangers" are women in their 50's-60's... those who had been pregnant before, and are now grandmothers?

Anyway, I am due the end of this month, stay tune!

my half way done projects

Besides blogging, I have many many other projects that are just partly finished so far. I appreciate a few good friends who noticed my desire but lack of motivation and are so encouraging to help me to get something done. I thought I would post my progress here, to thank you for your encouragement and hopefully more pressure on my end to get them done!

Here's this painting that I have been wanting to finish since 5 months ago.

Here's this panda body pillow I have told myself over half a year ago that I want to make for E. He has one since he was about 3 months old and it's been his favorite sleeping pal, and not just sleeping with it, he chews on its four legs and they are getting very nasty and all torn up after over two years. He loves it more and more now that he even pick it up after his sleep and he bring him around the house to play with (he really needs some real playmates!) So I had a good intention to make him one. (We bought it at Ikea back then and was discontinued when we decided to buy an extra one. So if you happened to have one in good condition, I would buy it from you!) 

My goal was to have it done before his birthday but that also passed... you can see in the picture that I haven't gone really far, I am a little stuck with not knowing how to make a perfect cutting for fitting the legs and the face to finish it. So, for those of you who are savvy sewer, if you have any tips, please help!

And here's a picture of the real one.

And we have been living in our home for almost two years now but we are still not finished with the painting job... I stopped since I am expecting this 2nd child.

And here's this little guy in my tummy, also "half way done" :)

Yes, you are right, I said "little GUY". We are expecting another boy. We are very excited and happy for Eli to have a brother to play rough with!

I am 24 weeks tomorrow. Sorry about this low quality picture from my phone. I have not taken any pictures really since I am pregnant.

our lil monster turned 2.

E turned 2 earlier this month. We threw a little birthday party at a park and invited some of his favorite friends. We had lots of fun and everyone had a great time.

E's "lil' monster turning 2" birthday party invitation.

We love seeing all the smiley faces of our guests.

  

We were so glad to have Grandpa Serg on his special day. He was also our BBQ chef at the party.

A little medical school reunion.

Who's this cutie with a pink strap and floral pattern helmet?

Oh, hello, it's E! 

(We did get him a more boyish bike helmet as his birthday present. He was just borrowing his friend's bike gears for the moment.)

Let's get down to business! (Looking all serious.)

Mila finally found a way to match her jacket with her tongue.

Kennedy enjoying the icing.

E was having a deep thought on how heavenly a chocolate cupcake could be.

Matt the "hangman". 

There goes the first strike by the birthday boy!

 Then Audrey was too nice to Brobee.

So as Mila.

Cohen almost had it.

Taylin showed everyone how to do it properly!

It was like Halloween again!

Brobee came back to live.

The boys were showing no mercy to Brobee even after all the candies were out. Many hours of late night works just turned back in pieces of paper again.

He loved all his gifts but was most sentimental about the cards.

Thanks Brobee for the highlight of the party, we shall always remember you in one piece from this picture.

E got so spoiled by all his friends. He was showered with many great gifts, he loves all the books and balls, and trucks, and many many more. We had so much fun celebrating E's 2nd birthday. We appreciate so much for all our great friends who were able to join us! We still can't believe that E is 2!

i know, it's lame...

Last week E accidently called a dear friend of mine on the phone, and she asked if I dropped my blog. In our Christmas card I mentioned how I wanted to be better at keeping up with our blog this year. So, I know, it's a late start, it's already February, but here I am. I am listening to Alicia Keys UNSTAGED Concert online she had back in Dec 2009, and enjoying my time that Afrin is working well in my system for the moment (I have been suffering big time from allergy since November.) So, making use of my time, I am spending half of my time making Caldo De Res (Mexican beef soup) and writing this blog, while E is still napping at the moment.

I will start with the most recent news. I just reached my half way mark throughout my pregnancy yesterday. Woohoo! It feels like forever this time. And stay tune about the baby gender. I promise this time will be in a more timely manner. 

Next post I will be sharing about the fun party that we threw for E's 2nd birthday last Saturday. 

Thank you for being patient with me, my friends!

trying on hats at the men's department

We were at Target the other day picking out some baby items for a friend's baby shower. All in a sudden E waved me goodbye and seemed to have other agenda at the store. So, I waved back at him. (Usually when I do that he would think that I was leaving him and he would come right back, but I guess he recently figured that one out.) So, he told me "bye bye" and took off. It was all quiet and he didn't make any sounds so I just went around looking for him towards the general direction. It was the men's clothing department. And when I approached this is what I saw:

He went back and forth picking out a few different ones and these two are his favorites.

And guess which one is the winner? Ta-dah!

E has really good taste! It actually matches his outfit pretty well. Oh boy! Isn't it a little bit too early for him? I am proud of him though.

funny conversation between father and son.

Scenario: We are at the dinner table eating our meal. E was not too interested in the food on his plate, so he was playing with the food and started tossing them across the table. (Familiar with this? I am sure you all who have kids have been through this, but may not be this conversation...)

Tino: Don't play with your food. Eat it, please.

E: No!

Tino: Don't say no, eat it.

E: No!!

Tino: Don't say "no" again. If you do, you are going to time out! Do you want time out?

E: No...

Did you laugh as hard as I did? Well, we both laugh our heads off after a brief moment after we got a chance to process it in our head. E looked at us like we were some kind of crazy people. What a tricky question daddy asked! Not that E is that much into saying "yes" than "no" at this point, but either answer will get him in trouble. Poor E! :) We love you, E. We just want you to eat well and be healthy!

we became unexpected grandparents

Ok, don't worry, this has nothing to do with E... They are our "adopted" grand baby fishes. We got a balloon molly a couple of months ago. No one would have dreamed that it would pop out some babies after this long of a time! I heard that they like to give birth around full moon. So I testified that it's true! 

On Friday, Oct 22nd, I was sitting with E at the dining table trying to work on our lunch and we always enjoy the company of the fish while we eat... while I was just kind of starring at it, all in a sudden, I was like, "What the..." At first I thought maybe there were food floating around in the water, but I clearly remember that I didn't just give the fish any since that morning. I took a closer look, I almost screamed. Well, I didn't but I panicked.

Here's the problem, there's actually about 30 of them (you can't see them all in this picture). And the mom eats their young. So, I caught all of them one by one and removed them to this little extra gallon fish bowl we got. I have been scratching my head worrying about their "well being", but they are still doing well in this little gallon fish bowl. They won't last too long in there though.

Anyone wanna take some off my hands?

pumpkin festival at desert botanical garden

We enjoyed a wonderful beautiful morning at the pumpkin festival with the Whetten's. Too bad Tino has been very busy lately and couldn't join us. So I made sure I took some pictures so he could see what we did there.

While waiting for the hay ride they put tattoos on the kids' hands. Both Emi and E got theirs. Here's their tattooed hands giving each other knuckles.

And instantly E felt in love with her. 

As soon as we got out of the hay ride, we arrived at a little corn maze. E took the lead. He had his hands behind his back pretty much the whole time. He acted like he was a wise old man trying to figure his way out.

Here's his handsome friend Branden trying to pick out a pumpkin his size.

Resting on a pumpkin after the "hard work and long walk".

Every kid there get to pick out their pumpkin for free. E was being picky and taking his time to pick out the best one for me him.

One of E's many face expression. This one he was trying to tell me how heavy it was and was saying "e...e...e" when he was lifting it up. 

Putting a face on the pumpkin. This is a monster pumpkin face with many eyes, noses and mouths and a mole.

E enjoying the country music band playing there and yes, he's wearing a sparkle beaded necklace they gave out to those kids who got moves.

Sweet Emi and her hard work. Her pumpkin looked so cute.

Riding on a vintage tractor.

E's way trying to tell the World, "I am handsome, powerful and cool!"

A few showcases of groovy pumpkin carving from some proud Veterans.

Another cool band playing some banjo music, E and I were intrigued by the little wooden man that was "dancing" along with the music (see the bottom left... it moved with the guy when he tapped on the board.)

It was a really nice enjoyable morning!