Week 20: Mmmmmm!

Our darling daughter Evelyn is now just a little over 4 months old and her personality is definitely showing. She's super playful in the morning, especially when she had just woken up. Those darling brown eyes of hers twinkles and yearning for Mummy or Daddy to wake up and start playing. When Mummy peeks underneath her lashes and Evelyn catches a glimpse of Mummy, she'll smile her cutest (yet toothless) smiles. Who wouldn't want to wake up to that?!?!

Newest Sounds
This early morning of 5:43am (yes, it was really that early, Mummy checked!), dear daughter was up and ready to play. She started pursing her little lips and making the sounds of "Mmmmm!" ...."Mmmmmm!" ...."Mmmmm!" It was so cute that Mummy had to join in too. When Mummy says "Mmmm" Evie will smile and reply with her "Mmmm" and this continued for the next 10 minutes or so until it was time to really wake up so she can play. What a great start for a weekday morning!

Growing Really Nicely
We took Evelyn for her 4-month-check up and her pediatrician says she's growing really nice. Evie is 95th percentile in height and weight. Wow! Definitely following the same percentile in growth curve as her big brother, Erik. She's already wearing 6-9 months old clothes. Can't believe our daughter is so big already, we thought time flies by so fast when we only had Erik and now with Evie, good gosh, time flies double-fast or triple-fast, or heck, even quadruple-fast!! Daddy and Mummy wish that it would just slow down for a while so we could enjoy the time a little more.

Special Smiles RESERVED
Evelyn has definitely formed a very special bond with her grandparents, Tom and Katy. Who can blame her? Those two are her hugest fans and primary caretakers while Mummy and Daddy are working. On the weekends when Mummy and Daddy finally get some extended time with our darling daughter, the grandparents declares verbally that they miss her! Very cute! And apparently, the feeling is mutual. Evie gives her G'pa Tom and G'ma Katy special smiles only reserved for her two doting fans. It's super sweet to see how her face just lits up whenever she sees her G'pa Tom or her G'ma Katy! But Mummy and Daddy sometimes wonders...what about us?!?!

How to be a Great Dad!!! -- trying to deal at becoming a better and more calmer Dad

Lately I haven’t been feeling all that great at Dad stuff. It could be a number of things but I am tired of making excuses.
So I found this great read from another Dad – and I just need to remind myself at this moment in time about what’s really important – Erik & Evelyn.
So here’s what I learnt and what needs some behavior modification on my part.

• No more Online Gaming – or Facebook for that matter (since I don’t drink or smoke – these are a few of my vices).
• Spend time with them – Yup, I seem to be doing a lot of weekend activities with him – example parties/more parties (too many activities that is draining all my energy). I think I need more alone and quiet time with them. And I have to spend the time with both Evelyn and Erik.
• Play a sport with him – we have stopped swimming for a while now – just need to find an indoor pool we like. Play soccer with him or pillow fights… Damn it, I used to love all this just need to find energy.
• Stop TV or reduce it as much as I can.
• Stand by MOM and love Mom… I am trying.

http://zenhabits.net/2007/05/how-to-be-a-great-dad-12-awesome-tips/

Week 17: Happy and Bald

Our dearest Evelyn is really developing her personality. She loves a good snuggle and lots of kisses on her cheeks. She likes lukewarm baths with Mummy but detests getting massages and changing clothes. Her eczema is somewhat under control. Her diaper rash comes and goes.

Evelyn still likes to be rocked to sleep and wakes up a couple of times at night which Mummy doesn't mind at all. She can hold up her own head and do some tummy time. When she's out and about, Evelyn loves to be in the Baby B'jorn facing Mummy so she can snuggle and be rocked. Most of time, from that simple motion, our sweetheart just dozes off all on her own.

Our dear "Evie" also loves watching her big brother, Erik. She is glued to him whenever he's around. He'd be jumping 5 miles off the ground (exaggerated, of course) and her eyes are just fixated on him. She'd smile and giggle. Erik loves to give her hugs and kisses too. It's really nice to see them building a healthy brother/sister relationship (before the toy snatching takes place in a few years!! Yikes!)

New Hair Do
This past Sunday, we decided to shave our daughter's head bald! Yup! You read it right! B.A.L.D. Erik had his done when he was about 3 1/2 months as well. It's only fair, right? Well, the main reason we did it was because in order to get the eczema under control we had to moisturize her head. However, with the luscious long dark-brown hair of hers, it was very very difficult. Another was, our poor girl was pulling it with all her might. SIGH! Evelyn hated it through the process and Mummy was at the office that day so it was up to Grandma Katy and Daddy to do the dirty deed of shaving off her hair. WAH!!!! Despite the baldness, Evelyn still looks super cute and sweet as ever!!

Lots of Drools
Her salivary glands are developing in full force, as a result, we have a very drooly baby! Evelyn is sooo cute when she drools and loves to seek comfort in her own hands/fist. So now, Mummy and Daddy make sure that we have lots of bibs on hands for our baby girl.

Struggling and Juggling

Life in the Ma Family is peachy – Mommy is being Mommy or Super Mom… working late I mean late hours – for the last few nights and breastfeeding and doing other Super Mommy things. Erik is doing great – smart and bright little 3 years old – constantly pushing his boundaries and always blowing you with the things he says. As for Evelyn she is doing great – has the cutest smiles and those chubby cheeks – Super alert and starting to have a big personality that is totally different from Erik. Yes, she did get a crazy “bald” Chinese hair cut. Bald just being the operative word – it’s more like Grandma and Daddy were drunk and were using a lawn mover with dull blades on her head. Sorry pictures taken were all destroyed. As for the Grandparents – Grandma and Grandpa adore Evelyn – she spends the majority of her day time with them. She has a special smile just reserved for her Grandpa. Both Grandma and Grandpa are helping out a lot – though Grandpa’s help comes with side effects mainly “grumpiness” – I think this is a result of him trying to figure out how to communicate with me… (Going to boarding school from 2nd grade to now – always being away from home)

As for me, I think I am struggling and trying to juggle my time – I do spend a lot of time with Erik and that is becoming a little harder as I feel guilty not spending time with my little “bald” princess. My professional life is not going that great and I am trying hard to leave the stress at the door when I reach home. It’s hard when you get Grandpa’s “love and side effects” that come with it. So lately I have been a little more than stern with Erik – and my dear Wife mentioned something that I need to have tattooed on my hand or something I need to stop being so grumpy with Erik he understands a lot and he is just testing his boundaries. I need to stop becoming my father and evolving into a true “Grumpy Asian Dad.” From the beginning when we were having Erik I made it a point to spend as much time possible with him – I think I got that part right for the most part but I am missing Evelyn a lot.

I need to get rid of my “Super Dad” T-shirts and get one or make one that says “Mediocre Dad” at best.

Week 12: Cooing

At week 12, our darling Evelyn is cooing so much that Mummy and Daddy just can't wait to go home at the end of every day just to talk to her. She smiling away and really just a joy to be around. Her verbal coos sometimes sounds like "Ung Goo Goo" which is how her Grandpa (Ye Ye) talks to her in the morning. Very cute. How very different compared to the newborn stage like 6 weeks ago!!

Evelyn is growing really nicely and has settled into a routine of her own. She is now wearing 6 month old clothes and she's not even officially 3 months old yet! WOW! Definitely following her brother's growth curve, if not surpassing it. Daddy and Mummy are just happy to have a healthy baby.

She loves to talk and chat around dinner time but gets a bit tired by the end of our family dinner. Then Daddy and Mummy both gives her a bath in the big bathtub and sometimes Evelyn will want to doze off to sleep while in the nice warm tub. Afterwards we give her a nice massage but sometimes she is so tired that she just wants to skip the massage and have her binkie to go to sleep.

Daddy is trying his best to take more photos of Evelyn but sometimes he get caught up of just enjoying the moments with his daughter.

Red Egg & Ginger Party

We just held a family-only Red Egg & Ginger Party for Evelyn this past weekend. Thanks to Grandma Katy and Grandpa Tom for making all the delicious food, Evelyn was able to meet some of her extended family, including Super Uncle Penjo (aka Super Sook Sook) who flew in from NYC just for the weekend to see her!


Evelyn and her Super "Sook Sook" Penjo

Evelyn also got to meet quite a few special family members from Grandpa Tom's side, including a Great-Grand Uncle Jack and Great-Grand Aunty Effa plus two wonderful little uncles, Alex (13 years old) and Andrew (10 years old) who called our dearest Evelyn affectionately "squishy baby" because she's so "squishy" of course! Plus Evelyn and Erik also got to hang out with some of Mummy's family, which is quite a treat including Grandma Wai, GrandAunt Jeanne, her Uncle Sammy and Aunt-in-law Kelly plus little cousin, Leroy!


Evelyn with Grandma Wai and GrandAunty Jeanne

Daddy & Mummy loved the Red Egg & Ginger Party because it's all about celebrating life and being with family! Grandma Katy dyed lots of Red Eggs for passing out to symbolize happiness and renewal of life. Grandma Wai made the traditional vinegar soup which includes Pig's Feet, Egg, Vinegar, and Ginger.

Erik had a lot of fun at the Red Egg & Ginger Party! He got read to by his two little uncles and they built lego rockets together! Super Uncle Penjo totally spoiled our boy lots with an "Uncle and Erik Only" trip to the local Target store for a shopping spree, which resulted in a Buzz Lightyear AND Erik's favorite Yo Gabba Gabba lego set. This is after one whole hour of Erik going through each and every toy aisle to pick ONE toy! SHEESH! As the big brother, he also insisted Evelyn's Red Egg cake have a candle in it and that we sing "Happy Birthday" to his baby sister. Of course, Big brother Erik helped blew the candle out! Just too sweet of our Erik!


Family Picture: Daddy's side

After the party and the weekend visit from Uncle Penjo, Erik bounded downstairs Monday morning in a very sad mood and says "I miss my Super Sook Sook!". That evening after coming home from schook, he tells us "I miss my 3 uncles!" SIGH! That's the strong bond between family. It just means Mummy and Daddy will have to set up some visits to the uncles this upcoming year!


Daddy and dearest daughter

A Little Over 2 Months: Smiling

Mummy is officially back to work and no longer a stay-at-home mom. Mummy really misses both Erik and Evelyn during the day. In fact, her screen saver is full of wonderful photos of the two darling kiddies (photos taken by Daddy of course). Sleep deprivation definitely has taken a toll on the body and mind as well but nothing like a little recuperation from the long Labor Day weekend to get the energy back up! We had a real good weekend in the Bay Area, enjoyed the cooler weather and visiting Muir Beach where Erik just LOVED the freezing Pacific Ocean water!


Erik having a LOT of fun at Muir Beach


Mummy & Evelyn enjoying the beach

Evelyn's Milestones
Our dearest Evelyn is smiling and cooing away! Mummy, Daddy, and big brother Erik are super excited about this and love hearing her talk! Evelyn loves to chat with her Grandpa Tom (also known as "Yea Yea" 爺爺). At her two month check-up, Evelyn weighed a whopping 14 lbs and have grown 4 inches long to be 24". WOW! Way to go dearest daughter!


Evelyn getting ready for "dinner time"

Evelyn's Bath Time
Evelyn has also graduated to having showers and having baths in the big bathtub. Crazy, we know! Daddy likes giving her showers because it's not as 'cold' from the draft. However, Evelyn sometimes like it and sometimes she'll howl and protest. Daddy also likes to give Evelyn baths in the big bathtub so Evelyn can soak and wiggle her legs. Of course, this is with Mummy and Daddy close supervision.