Baby #2

I'm at 21 weeks already, we are doing very well. My belly is slowly forming a mini dome shape, which I'm glad it's looking more like being pregnant, rather than having full stomach after meal. (at least that's what I thought). Old jeans no longer fit, and wardrobe issues continue to puzzle me everyday. Having Yoshi this time, my energy keeps on going (I have to). With the summer, we still go out everyday, meeting friends and enjoying being outside. There are days I felt like I'm trying to jam pack everyday with activities, just to prepare the upcoming long winter. I started to feel baby kicking (or hiccups), but everytime when I put Nori's hand on my stomach, movement stop.

I have been very lucky with both pregnancy, I didn't have any morning sickness at all, which I was able to enjoy every moment. The biggest differences between the two pregnancy have to be the energy level. With the first one, even I was working, but when I felt tired, I can always sit down anytime and rest in the evening. But this time, I just have to keep my battery fully charged everyday.

Also with the first pregnancy, there are so many unknowns, I was only thinking day by day, didn't know what's coming up after baby's birth. But now, seeing friends who have 2 kids, I am fully aware of the upcoming challanges........!! Yet,, we are still very excited about the new addition, probably because knowing how much Yoshi will be having a little sister around. (let's see..........^_^)

But I have to admit, as many people have said before, baby #2 is never going to be the same as baby #1.......

I have lost track with # of weeks after the first month. My calender is the only reminder...

With the first pregnancy, every night when Nori came home, first thing he did was to rub my tummy and said hi to the baby. Now, he's all about Yoshi (of course).....

I kept a photo journal on each pregnancy. The only difference is- the 2nd book has only 3 pages so far....and they were just sonogram photos....

Me & Nori used to compare our baby belly v.s. beer belly every few months during the pregnancy...now, "what belly?"

Finally- pink, red, flowers, hearts, polka dots........

2nd nursery room?? remotely even in our thoughts........

Well, afterall, as much as we are very excited about the new baby, we are still all about our Y-O-S-H-I. xoxoxoxoxo

Nap time

This morning, Yoshi woke up at 8a.m., then I heard him walking down the hallway towards our bedroom. This was the first time he did this on his own. He came right to me, and gave me a big smile (probably thinking to himself, "wow, I'm free from bed"....).

Nap time is a different story~ I knew he was tired but it took almost an hour for him to fall asleep. This was his first nap in the new bed. He was sitting up & getting out of the bed few times (holding his bear buddy and the blanket... kind of like Linus... ) I was trying to leave him alone, and observed him. Finally he fell asleep with me sitting right next to his bed (because he was crying at the end). Anyway, hope he will soon be used to napping in his bed as well. Here is the video of his nap time.....

Like father like son- part II "Engineering assistant"

Well, Yoshi's first night in his bed went very well. I didn't wake up with him standing right next to me, nor did he cry or anything. He seems to have a very nice sleep. I checked on him in the middle of the night and he was in his original position (unlike in his crib, 180 degree turn). In fact, Nori woke up early and crawled into Yoshi's big bed for another hr of sleep. I think daddy loves the new bed as much as little Yoshi. Tonight, Yoshi went to bed a little late, so he was very tired already and after saying good night, he is now sound asleep, without any desire to climb out at all. In fact, he was so excited to see his big comforter and crawl right into it, hugged his teddy bear to sleep.....good night.

This long weekend, Nori had done few home projects using his tools. And today, we got Yoshi his first tool set as well. Immediately he was so into those. He even copied Nori when he was trying to hammer a nail for photo frame. The funny thing was, Yoshi knew exactly which tool to take out from his own tool box and followed daddy around the house...^_^

Say bye bye to the crib...

This morning we left the house 40 mins after everyone woke up, we went to McDonald to have breakfast. This is the first time we did this since Yoshi was born (without planning ahead, just a spontaneous reaction). Yoshi had a plate of pancake (with blueberry jam instead of syrup) + scramble egg. He seemed to enjoy a lot. Because we were out early, there were plenty of time left for the rest of the day...

One of Nori's biggest accomplishment today was to assemble Yoshi's new bed. We had been shopping for Yoshi's bed for a while. We finally decided to purchase a bed from IKEA instead of a more expensive bed that might last till college life. I just didn't feel that Yoshi is ready for a real bed, and we thought buying this much lower positioning bed, even if he fell, still won't cause much pain. And maybe 2-3 years later, we will know what's better for him by then (and pass to little sister).

We never have any safety gate inside the house, we always make sure to follow him up and down the stairs. And Yoshi never really go near the stairs by himself. However, with the new bed, we worry that he might get out of bed and come to our room in the middle of the night, so a gate is necessary for upstairs. And to Yoshi who has never seen this gate before, he of course became "curious george"...

Even though the bed sits very low from the floor, we went ahead to put up a bed rail to make sure he won't fall (doesn't mean he can't get out)

Well, it has been an hour since Yoshi went to sleep. So far, he has not left the bed since saying good night and he's sound asleep.......hm....wonder how tonight/ tomorrow morning will be. Luckily tomorrow is Labor day holiday, so at least I'm not home alone dealing with this new adventure. we might not need alarm clock anymore, wonder if he will be standing next to our bed when we wake up tomorrow....?!

Like father like son, loves tool......Yoshi loves to be the little engineering assistant.

Bonding

Lately, I have a different bonding with Yoshi. Unlike few months ago, I was going through lots of emotional frustration with his changes in behaviors (terrible two??) But as time goes by, perhaps we both have found the ways to express and understand each other, I haven't really sit at my own time out spot for deep breathing, nor do I suffer from 'parent' abuse (hitting). Yoshi seems to understand more of my feelings as well.

The best part of our bonding recently has to be the storytime after shower. While waiting for Nori to be home, we would sit together on the couch, with light music background, and start our story telling. There are always few books for him to pick from, and tonight, we spent 40 minutes repeating "Curious George- Takes a Job" three times. And everytime when he leaned against my shoulder, patiently listening and responding to the story.....these are priceless. Can't wait for the baby to arrive, so we could share more happy bonding moments together. I know Yoshi will be a great brother to his little sis....

Happy birthday Ethan..

Today we were being invited too Ethan's 3rd birthday lunch gathering. It was fun to get together with the kids (& moms) again. They grow so fast, Ethan will be going to pre-school next week, very soon it will be Yoshi's turn...happy birthday Ethan!!

While Ethan was opening gifts, Yoshi was playing with the piano right next to him. Yoshi was u very excited to touch the keyboard and he was sitting so straight, like he has ever played before. At that gift opening moment, Yoshi's piano playing sounds like one of those background music effect at the hotel lobby.....only except none of his music tune is right....^_^ (but he had the look...)

Evening

If weather is good, after Yoshi's dinner, I would let him play at the backyard before shower time. He is always very excited when I told him to get his shoes ready. Here are few photos from the past week......

The other night, Yoshi were hanging out with our neighbours- Maya & Parker, they were having fun thru the fence. Maya would call out "Yoshi......hi!! Come over...." it's really cute..

The weather suddenly turns cool this past few days.....I'm not ready for summer to be over yet...