It's almost time --

Can't wait for baby Blueberry --- this time around I am scared don't know what to expect even though I have travelled this road before. I am still not an expert and I don't care what other people say -- I am still scared and still in disbelief. But either ways Baby Blueberry is coming...

Meantime -- Erik thank you for a wonderful Father's Day -- I love your card even though we know Miss Lisa probably wrote it -- but I do love that you love that I make Dark Meat aka BBQ for you and Chinese Crepes which Miss Lisa didn't get... on the card... And yes Korean BBQ was awesome and we know how much you and I love it... here's to hoping Baby Blueberry likes it tooo in the meantime I know you love spaghetti which mommy likes a lot... :D

Baby Blueberry

Mummy haven't posted about anticipation of our second baby on our blog. We are expecting a baby girl this time around, at least that is what the ultrasound technician says. Mummy, Daddy, and especially Big Brother Erik are all super excited to meet the newest member of the Ma Family in end of June.

Baby Blueberry is quite an active girl. Mummy is already hoping that she'll be a bit sporty :) (at least more so than Mummy!! HAHA!). During our last doctor visit, we asked how big would we expect Baby Blueberry, so far, the doctor just said that she's measuring "just right". Good enough for us.

Being at week 34 of the pregnancy, Mummy is a lot more tired but Baby Blueberry is super energetic! Mummy moves at a slow snail pace but Baby kicks and tumbles all over the place (in the belly of course!). So far Baby Blueberry loves listening to Daddy and her big brother, Erik's story time. She'd "inch" a little closer whenever they speak during bed time. In fact, Baby Blueberry reacts so well to big brother Erik's laughter, it's as-if they were playing already?!?!

Our little sweetie, Mummy, Daddy, and big brother Erik can't wait to meet you!!!

Memorial Day @ The Zoo

Nothing like a little zoo visit on Memorial Day with the family. While Mummy was wobbling down the path slowly, Erik and Daddy goes full steam ahead to sit on the latest carousel at the Zoo!


Erik & Daddy standing in line for their turn at the carousel.


Daddy & Erik: Best Buds

For the time being, Erik is infactuated with penguins and lemurs. All thanks to "Madagascar" and Nickolean's new show "Penguins of Madagascar". So we had to visit the lemur exhibit where Erik counted up to 8 lemurs in their homes. He also named 3 of them according to the characters on the show aka "King Julian", "Morice", and "Mort".


Enjoying the Lemur exhibit




We've been taking Erik to the local zoo ever since he was a little baby. One of his favorites MUST DOs in the zoo is visit the Reptile house. Erik loves to try and find all the reptiles and amphibians showcased in there.

Afterwards, we even caught the late afternoon animal show! Bobcats, Red-Tailed hawk, Gopher snakes, and Box turtles were featured. Erik enjoyed it while chowing down on a light snack of Merlino Strawberry freeze and Doritos. Of course...how healthy it is, eh?! After the show, Erik got to go touch the box turtles and the gopher snake. Very cool!

NOTE: Mummy & Daddy were exhausted already!


Gopher Snake


One last ride on the carousel before leaving the zoo

Happy Mother's Day

Am I ready for my darling daughter?

But I was immediately overwhelmed. With boys, there are two racks to choose from. With girls, it's the rest of the store: a staggering array of ruffly, rosy frills. I couldn't breathe. I grabbed a pink sweater and two pairs of pink socks, got out of there as quick as I could

In a strange way – I feel the same sorts of emotions. I have always wanted a girl and I rebelled against having a boy – especially one that turns out like me. But I love boo-boo he brings so much emotion in me and challenges me but at the same time the little boy things he does in his own little ways wonders why I didn’t have him sooner and I couldn’t imagine my world without him. He makes fell sane, crazy and content all at the same time.

Then in rolls news of our Baby girl, and I am scared I don’t know of what but I am scared. There was that money thing I was scared about – being able to provide for two – then there is the one where how do I deliver the same out of love to both children and how to protect my little girl from the other mean girls in kindergarten. Yes as much as I love shopping like the next mother – I am terrified from going from 15% of a child store to choosing from the rest of the store decorated in pink. Do I get her ear holes? What to do about boys sniffing around my yard? Getting her hair done the way she wants? And already my son has mastered how to mess with my heart and play with his little fingers and get away with what he wants? How do I protect myself from my daughter – I am already 100% sure she has already figured out how to get the most out of Daddy.

Just my 2 cents.
Daddy

We're Pregnant (2nd Time Around!)

Alright, this posting may be a little delay...given that Mummy is already 6 months pregnant!!! Our reasoning, really none. Just had a lot of things going on and couldn't update blog appropriately. However, we are now awaiting for our little baby. Nickname is Baby Blueberry, given by much anticipated big brother, Erik.

Second time around of expecting is quite different. Mummy is literally exhausted during the first trimester, yes, she was also trying to finish her MBA at the same time too...so that could have been an added stress as well. However, Mummy does not recall EVER being so tired when carrying Erik. Food craving wise, a lot more sweet and sour stuff and also a lot of HOT (not spicy just temperature hot) soup.

Other than that, Mummy and Daddy are delighted to be expecting a new member by this summer, end of June. Baby Blueberry is doing fantastic, kicking and moving around like crazy. Mummy is gaining weight like crazy and feeling like a boat.

Amazing Race: Thailand (Last Day)

It was our last day before having take the late evening flight out to Incheon Korea to return to our home. So Mummy and Daddy decided to do one final little shopping spree at "Bobae Market" where everything sold there must be 'wholesale', either 6, 12 or more items in order for them to sell. No one piece which would mean retail pricing.

We took Erik along right after breakfast to the Bobae market for our day of bargain shopping. There were a lot of good vendors out there. It's specifically for foreign exporters! We literally saw vendors boxing up 5-7 cases of clothes to be shipped off, so we knew we had found the spot for clothes shopping. WhooHoo!

Grandma Katy were super excited about Bobae Market because she has never been and Grandpa Tom, being stubborn, refused to take her previously. So this was her excuse to come on out for a shopping spree too. Erik did just fabulous at the old boring stuff of walking from vendor to vendor but soon it was already time for a late-lunch.


Mummy craving for sushi during this pregnancy!


Erik hitting up on the Jell-O shots. Eek!

Instead of just any old lunch, we stopped in at the Prince Hotel for a special treat! The food displayed was absolutely appealing and Daddy was sold on it. It had a wide variety of choices and really excellent service!! In fact, Erik was so tended to by the waitresses that they even wrote his name 'Erik' in Thai...and he got a big smooch from one of the girls. Sheesh...such a lady's man. WINK! WINK!


Mummy & Erik being goofy


Erik being a 'babe magnet'

Afterwards, Erik slept like a little pre-schooler so Grandma Katy and Grandpa Tom decided to take him back to the condo so Mummy & Daddy should shop some more. HEE HEE! What wonderful grandparents. We didn't last for too long, only 1.5 hour more and had to hit the nearest ATM to get some Thai Baht out since we had NO cash, even for Taxi. Eek!

Once we were back at home, Daddy and Erik hit the pool one last time. Mummy was super worried that Erik had forgotten his swimming and diving because he had refused to do it. However, Daddy on the last night, found the trick. The water was a bit cool (ok ok..cold) so Erik didn't want to do anything, even though he had his thermal suit on. So Daddy put Erik in the nice warm jacuzzi and Erik was relaxed and diving and jumping away. After that, Erik was himself again...swimming away and back to Daddy!!! YAY!!

Amazing Race: Thailand (Safari World)

We took a couple days 'away' being from Erik during the day and took advantage of having Grandma Katy to take care of him instead. Mummy and Daddy decided to go 'shopping' on those days, hee hee. We hit a lot of different areas including Jim Thompson Outlet House (way out of freaking nowhere in Bangkok's outskirts) and also hit the IT shops. Seriously, that took us quite a while!

However, after a couple of boring shopping days, we rounded up everybody one more time for a little adventure to 'Safari World'. Thanks to Aunty Sau Fong for finding a great deal on the tickets for literally 1/4 of the price and included a buffet lunch! WOW!

There, Erik and gang to see and experience A LOT of stuff. There was watching the Orangutan Kickboxing (they were not really kickboxing...just a silly show). We also saw an Elephant show, way way better than the ones at the local Six Flags back in the States. Daddy & Erik even got to sit on an elephant too!! Mummy was supposed to be pulled in as an audience participation for the elephant show to get an 'elephant' massage, but being that she's pregnant, she opted out. SIGH! Grandma Katy were too chicken to stand in her place...or else we could've gotten an elephant painting (that was trunk-painted by the elephant itself!!). ARGH!

Below are certainly some highlights of our day at Safari World:

Holding and Feeding a baby tiger!

Touching Stingrays - one of Erik's favorite.

Going on an elephant ride (both Daddy & Erik)

Feeding the giraffes up close and personal - Erik was such a good little 'zookeeper'

Feeding the enormous elephants

Going through the egg display - a bit freaky but Erik really liked it!

Spending time with family!!

Daddy was super happy, can't you tell?!


Feeding the herd of Giraffes


Zookeeper Erik


Safari World


Erik being happy as a 'Tuk Tuk' driver!


Touching the stingrays

babychhimis

From Drop Box

Amazing Race: Thailand (Day 2)

We woke up bright and early (eh...let's say around 9:00ish). From the last two days of traveling, it was quite exhausting. However, Mummy had already mapped out what to do for the day. We were to hit Siam Paragon (shopping paradise) in Bangkok city center and then hit Somboon Seafood Restaurant for dinner, which is Daddy's ultimate favorite place for Thai Crab Curry!!



Erik of course enjoyed a little breakfast, with CAKE! Mummy and Daddy visited the local Tesco Lotus (super market) the evening before and couldn't help but pick up a package of cute sliced cake, so nicely decorated. So yes, our little Erik had CAKE for Breakfast! We hopped on over a quick 15-20 minute taxi ride into the city and we were greeted by luxury shopping complex of WOW! Really? There's a recession going on? Can't tell with this huge shopping mall!!

We window shopped around the place, trying to grasp the place a bit. It was just beautifully decorated inside and out. There was a Koi pond that Erik loved peaking over to see all the fishes. Grandparents were off to a frenzy wanting to check out all the stores and to walk the place. Daddy was super excited as well, (he's the shopaholic!).





Erik passed by the numerous food court vendors and went crazy over the cake vendor. Seriously, if he could celebrate his birthday right there and then, Erik would've picked up a hand decorated dinosaur cake!! It would have been his favorite cake of all!! But nevertheless, he settled for a Chocolate Sprinkled Donut from "Daddy Dough" donut vendor. Eek!


Erik attempting the balance beam with the help from his new Thai teacher



We hit the Little Gym in Bangkok for Erik just so he can get some energy out. We hit the Siam Paragon play area for Erik. Finally, Daddy & Mummy said enough to the pre-school pace and need to kick it up a notch, and had Grandparents babysit Erik by taking him to the Siam Ocean World (aquarium) for 2 hours where all three of them enjoyed themselves while Mummy and Daddy finally walked to the other adjacent shopping complexes for more!!


Erik still talks about the Ocean World and loves to dance like the Sting Ray (not shown)


Eating away like piggies at the Somboon Seafood Restaurant

Amazing Race: Thailand

We reached the city of angels...and no, it is not Los Angeles we are referring to but Bangkok, Thailand in the late afternoon after the 3+ hours plane ride plus we had to wait for Grandpa Tom and Grandma Katy since they flew on Druk Air versus we flew on Jet Airways.



DAY 1
The first thing we did when we reached the airport and knew we had some time...was CHOW! Absolutely!! It is one of Daddy's favorite cities to eat and experience the delicious cuisine ranging from fusion to authentic Thai to any other worldly cuisine you may think of. Erik was super excited to be in Bangkok because he gets to eat what's called "Mommy Noodles". Mummy loves to make the flat rice noodles at home and Erik had acquired the taste for them. So in Bangkok airport, he ate Pad See Ew with prawns which he absolutely loooooved. It was quite delicious. Afterwards, he got to pick out a very rich strawberry ice cream from the 'Squeeze' vendor stall.



When grandparents finally arrived, after flight being delayed for an hour, we hit the private van rental and got a 10-person van and driver to take us to the family condo. Erik was super excited and couldn't wait to go home. He jumped from seat to seat (yes, there were NO child seat in Asia) looking out the window. He saw the Tuuk Tuuks outside, the many colored taxis, the tall buildings, definitely was excited.

We reached the condo and the first thing after we dropped baggages off was go down to the swimming pool with Erik! He was delighted yet a little scared. It was already dark out but he loved it that he got to shower underneath the clam shells, the swimming pool had a pirate boat smack in the middle, he would wade in the kiddie side or jump into the big side with Daddy. Even though the water was a bit chilly, Erik and Daddy were enjoying themselves!