Work
On the work front, I had some devastating news. Okay, I still have a job but the debacle over the summer with the COO cost me 20% of my bonus this year. I have to think that this isn't a good fit for me. So in spite of my advice to others and hearing good advice from others, I started looking. And it made me tired to think of getting comfortable at another place. And I don't really want to leave the current project I am on.
AWB
Making big progress but did not poop for 3 solid days. Both Wong Auntie and I were concerned. And she had diaper rash. Two days in a row, no nap but konks out at 6:30pm. She sings "Happy Birthday" really really well. We walked together to school today and she went along happily.
I visited Lesley Ellis and I really was very impressed. I hope we can swing it financially.
HKB
Exhausted still and sad. I mentioned his dad's comments about the "March of the Penguins" and he asked me not to talk about it. I'm almost crying as I write this memory of his comments. HKB's dad wasn't at all impressed or moved by the documentary. He said in a kind of exasperated tone, "They are penguins, that is what they do". Once he said that, I kind of thought that the movie was a bit pointless.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Friday, December 07, 2007
Back from California
I wrote the post and then the next day HKB's father passed away. And we hvae been away and so sad for the last two weeks. He passed away that night. And we were heart broken for that lost and still are.
We flew out on Friday after the holiday and were immediately part of the whirlwind of planning for his memorial service. I can hardly believe that he is gone since he has always been the looping, healthy tall man in our lives. There were an enormous amount of people at his service and HKB's mom made sure that everyone knew about his obituary.
I am tired. Tired and fatigued about this life of ours.
AWB
My girl had such a wonderful time in Huntington Beach. Older kids to play with, smiles for both grandmothers and chatting about everything. She is now saying "This is..." and mimicing us regularly.
We flew out on Friday after the holiday and were immediately part of the whirlwind of planning for his memorial service. I can hardly believe that he is gone since he has always been the looping, healthy tall man in our lives. There were an enormous amount of people at his service and HKB's mom made sure that everyone knew about his obituary.
I am tired. Tired and fatigued about this life of ours.
AWB
My girl had such a wonderful time in Huntington Beach. Older kids to play with, smiles for both grandmothers and chatting about everything. She is now saying "This is..." and mimicing us regularly.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Pouching Off and On
It is a quiet Wednesday night before Thanksgiving. HKB is asleep and AWB is watching some On Demand Winnie the Pooh so that I can type this up and cruise the 'net.
I am so looking forward to a day of nothing, eating and visiting friends we don't see enough. We invited ourselves to Christy's and Mike's and I bought very expensive liquor to compensate for the crashing. I am exhausted. Just as I decided not to leave the big F, DF is leaving for IBM!!! I told him to keep me in mind, I may just call his recruiter....This is after a day in NYC and basically grinding meetings just to get the contract signed for this project.
AWB
We visited the doctor's on Monday to see what is going on with AWB and the food issue. She has been storing her food on the side of her mouth for HOURS. Dr. M immediately said, "Oh, pouching, not that common but it happens." The moment the phrase came out of his mouth, I felt so much more relieved. At least it is something that other kids do and there is a name for it.
HKB
HKB's dad is going on hospice and we are all really sad, though I think that he said goodbye to his dad already. I can't imagine what shape he must be in and when I saw him in August, he looked very thin and almost like HKB's grandma Becker. It was hard to look at. So it can't be long now and I am not sure how we are going to do this with my upcoming schedule. HKB is definitely frustrated with his mom's thinking but it didn't take that long for everyone to be on the same wave length about what kind of care his dad should have.
I think I have managed to make myself deny that his dad is going to die. I've known him more than half my life. Never had a great relationship with him but he is the fulcrum of his mom's life. And JYW is right, her world is going to be destroyed. So I haven't realized the full sadness and loss.
Thanksgiving
And in the backdrop of this sadness, it is difficult to celebrate tommorrow's Thanksgiving. At least I am not so scared as I was when Baba died. But there are so many things to be thankful for:
1. Relatively healthy but butter ballish
2. AWB and HKB are fine and doing great
3. I have a job that is okay and pays very well
4. We have an excellent nanny who loves my girl
5. My mom is healthy and doing fine
6. I have been able to keep Christy as a friend even though she moved miles away
7. Kristen and I still chat briefly from time to time even though she is in Fresno.
I am so looking forward to a day of nothing, eating and visiting friends we don't see enough. We invited ourselves to Christy's and Mike's and I bought very expensive liquor to compensate for the crashing. I am exhausted. Just as I decided not to leave the big F, DF is leaving for IBM!!! I told him to keep me in mind, I may just call his recruiter....This is after a day in NYC and basically grinding meetings just to get the contract signed for this project.
AWB
We visited the doctor's on Monday to see what is going on with AWB and the food issue. She has been storing her food on the side of her mouth for HOURS. Dr. M immediately said, "Oh, pouching, not that common but it happens." The moment the phrase came out of his mouth, I felt so much more relieved. At least it is something that other kids do and there is a name for it.
HKB
HKB's dad is going on hospice and we are all really sad, though I think that he said goodbye to his dad already. I can't imagine what shape he must be in and when I saw him in August, he looked very thin and almost like HKB's grandma Becker. It was hard to look at. So it can't be long now and I am not sure how we are going to do this with my upcoming schedule. HKB is definitely frustrated with his mom's thinking but it didn't take that long for everyone to be on the same wave length about what kind of care his dad should have.
I think I have managed to make myself deny that his dad is going to die. I've known him more than half my life. Never had a great relationship with him but he is the fulcrum of his mom's life. And JYW is right, her world is going to be destroyed. So I haven't realized the full sadness and loss.
Thanksgiving
And in the backdrop of this sadness, it is difficult to celebrate tommorrow's Thanksgiving. At least I am not so scared as I was when Baba died. But there are so many things to be thankful for:
1. Relatively healthy but butter ballish
2. AWB and HKB are fine and doing great
3. I have a job that is okay and pays very well
4. We have an excellent nanny who loves my girl
5. My mom is healthy and doing fine
6. I have been able to keep Christy as a friend even though she moved miles away
7. Kristen and I still chat briefly from time to time even though she is in Fresno.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Trying to Craft
All the frenzy of crafting paid off on Tuesday when EVERYONE in the house, conked out at 6:30PM. I had a sleeping husband on the couch and a sleeping toddler with an opened book in her hand fast asleep on an arm chair. Needless to say, I was able to cut all the felt for the advent envelopes. And have made impressive progress. The envelopes are easy to sew up and the embroidery goes fast.
Work wise it was endless hours of contract reviews punctuated by discussions about our upcoming release. I'm exhausted.
This weekend we went to the Children's Museum with Barbara and Ambrogio. It was fun. But both children were soaked from too much puddle stomping.
AWB
Is now saying "Hello Jake", "Hello Pig" in immitation of Kipper. Wong Ahyee claims that she can repeat the numbers in Chinese and Harold has heard her singing songs in Chinese.
I went to parent teacher conference on Monday and then also to visit the Arlington Children's Center. I was mistaken to only consider that one school. It is too far to walk and we may need to either stay at LTG or go to Fidelity House. I will still put in the application but I think it is far to walk.
The parent teacher conference was fine and they evaluated AWB on the 25th o f October. It would have been good to know that. I'm not that impressed with the teachers so far though.
Work wise it was endless hours of contract reviews punctuated by discussions about our upcoming release. I'm exhausted.
This weekend we went to the Children's Museum with Barbara and Ambrogio. It was fun. But both children were soaked from too much puddle stomping.
AWB
Is now saying "Hello Jake", "Hello Pig" in immitation of Kipper. Wong Ahyee claims that she can repeat the numbers in Chinese and Harold has heard her singing songs in Chinese.
I went to parent teacher conference on Monday and then also to visit the Arlington Children's Center. I was mistaken to only consider that one school. It is too far to walk and we may need to either stay at LTG or go to Fidelity House. I will still put in the application but I think it is far to walk.
The parent teacher conference was fine and they evaluated AWB on the 25th o f October. It would have been good to know that. I'm not that impressed with the teachers so far though.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Exhausted but Satisfied
I spent most of the afternoon after we got back from Ikea, organizing the house. Not so much the AWB's play area or even HKB's study, but definitely removing junk from the area where the phone was--it had become a jungle of receipts and also moving things off the hutch and using the drawers more efficiently. I worked a solid 5 hours on all that. Neglected AWB a bit but in the end, I feel so much better. I think the whole thing was kicked off by buying that Olfa cutting mat.
I still want to move the desk upstairs so I can put my sewing machine on it and really do some crafting but I am getting resistance from HKB about his clothes. I was going to give him my chest of drawers, but we shall see. At the moment, I'm too tired to think too hard on it.
AWB
I went to AWB's dance/movement class on Friday. It is an amazingly good class for such a dinky space. But I made the mistake of starting a conference call while the class was also starting and AWB really wanted me to be there. She cried but recovered.
She is now actively singing songs from the Tigger and Pooh shows and also spontaneously singing other songs. HKB says that he sees improvements in her.
At Ikea, she fought me with the food again but mostly ate the meatballs. Would have nothing to do with the mac and cheese though. And basically wanted to be in the store counting all things. We didn't let her and she wasn't happy but not so tough. We did wake her after only a 30 min nap though. All and all she was fantastic.
HKB
I am so tired, I have to force myself to complete this post. HKB came back on Thursday morning and he was tired, sad and happy to be home. We had a tiff about JC and how he was sorry we were not close friends. I took it personally thinking it was the previous comment how I should sacrifice myself for AWB's welfare as it relates to friends you don't really want to have.
I still want to move the desk upstairs so I can put my sewing machine on it and really do some crafting but I am getting resistance from HKB about his clothes. I was going to give him my chest of drawers, but we shall see. At the moment, I'm too tired to think too hard on it.
AWB
I went to AWB's dance/movement class on Friday. It is an amazingly good class for such a dinky space. But I made the mistake of starting a conference call while the class was also starting and AWB really wanted me to be there. She cried but recovered.
She is now actively singing songs from the Tigger and Pooh shows and also spontaneously singing other songs. HKB says that he sees improvements in her.
At Ikea, she fought me with the food again but mostly ate the meatballs. Would have nothing to do with the mac and cheese though. And basically wanted to be in the store counting all things. We didn't let her and she wasn't happy but not so tough. We did wake her after only a 30 min nap though. All and all she was fantastic.
HKB
I am so tired, I have to force myself to complete this post. HKB came back on Thursday morning and he was tired, sad and happy to be home. We had a tiff about JC and how he was sorry we were not close friends. I took it personally thinking it was the previous comment how I should sacrifice myself for AWB's welfare as it relates to friends you don't really want to have.
Monday, November 05, 2007
Late October Notes
I haven't posted in a while because I have been so amazingly busy with Halloween preparations and work.
The week of Halloween was a nightmare because HKB went home to see his dad. Things are bad and we are not sure he will see the end of November. I made the HUGE mistake of telling his mother off though. Not at all smart and I can't figure out what came over me.
AWB
Little Miss has made so much progress. On Saturday, we went to the sing along at Stella Bella in the Nor'easter and had to make a stop at Whole Foods because AWB asked for a Manana and then told me that she was hungry! I'm amazed. She has NEVER told me that she was hungry.
I also decided to give her a haircut at Snip its in Burlington. I was going to do this complicated thing of going to Chestnut Hill to pay my Barney's bill and see Linda and then do some shopping but I couldn't manage it. But after going to the Knitting Room and doing great, we went to Snip its and she did beautifully. No crying, some laughing at a DVD in their TV and the gal who cut her hair was super nice.
Today I spoke to Jenn the woman at the school who AWB loves. I asked if she would be interested in babysitting but she said she has kids of her own and there is a policy of no sitting for families at the school.
According to Kat, the EI teacher, I need to ask Jenn if AWB plays well with the other student in a group or if she is only concerned with individual play. I will ask on Wed or Thursday but my day is horrible on both days!
It looks as if we will not go back to CA for Thanksgiving since HKB cannot manage to stay much longer than this week. I am definitely going home for Christmas though.
The week of Halloween was a nightmare because HKB went home to see his dad. Things are bad and we are not sure he will see the end of November. I made the HUGE mistake of telling his mother off though. Not at all smart and I can't figure out what came over me.
AWB
Little Miss has made so much progress. On Saturday, we went to the sing along at Stella Bella in the Nor'easter and had to make a stop at Whole Foods because AWB asked for a Manana and then told me that she was hungry! I'm amazed. She has NEVER told me that she was hungry.
I also decided to give her a haircut at Snip its in Burlington. I was going to do this complicated thing of going to Chestnut Hill to pay my Barney's bill and see Linda and then do some shopping but I couldn't manage it. But after going to the Knitting Room and doing great, we went to Snip its and she did beautifully. No crying, some laughing at a DVD in their TV and the gal who cut her hair was super nice.
Today I spoke to Jenn the woman at the school who AWB loves. I asked if she would be interested in babysitting but she said she has kids of her own and there is a policy of no sitting for families at the school.
According to Kat, the EI teacher, I need to ask Jenn if AWB plays well with the other student in a group or if she is only concerned with individual play. I will ask on Wed or Thursday but my day is horrible on both days!
It looks as if we will not go back to CA for Thanksgiving since HKB cannot manage to stay much longer than this week. I am definitely going home for Christmas though.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
A Quiet Night
Tonight I went directly from work to the Mom's Group Meeting. I called HKB to let him know and he told me that AWB was asleep. Wong Auntie mentioned that she didn't sleep today but was tired. They are both downstairs, asleep! So I showered, called HKB's mom, ate something and just finished cruising on eBay and my favorite blogs.
I had lunch with Marty. He is such a good listener and told me that you can't be the top 5 if you don't hang out. I think small company is the place to go. He said he was waiting for the next big thing. I guess I am too. There is still a chance for us to get in on the ground floor of a company. I miss working with him.
AWB
She can now sing the songs with a semblance of what the lyrics are. And last night as I was reading to her, I said, "Where are you going?" and she repeated what I said. She also called for Isabella last night as we went to bed. Two very new things.
Wong Auntie found all the preschool correspondence and I caught up. I called for her medical records, again and talk to Nicole about dressing up for Halloween.
HKB
We are now going home for Thanksgiving which is something that we did not plan. HKB's dad is now at home and it seems like they are doing better. HKB's mom said to me tonight that his dad just needs to get stronger and I just don't think that will happen.
There are horrible fires in So Cal. Mami said that her skin was so dry.
I had lunch with Marty. He is such a good listener and told me that you can't be the top 5 if you don't hang out. I think small company is the place to go. He said he was waiting for the next big thing. I guess I am too. There is still a chance for us to get in on the ground floor of a company. I miss working with him.
AWB
She can now sing the songs with a semblance of what the lyrics are. And last night as I was reading to her, I said, "Where are you going?" and she repeated what I said. She also called for Isabella last night as we went to bed. Two very new things.
Wong Auntie found all the preschool correspondence and I caught up. I called for her medical records, again and talk to Nicole about dressing up for Halloween.
HKB
We are now going home for Thanksgiving which is something that we did not plan. HKB's dad is now at home and it seems like they are doing better. HKB's mom said to me tonight that his dad just needs to get stronger and I just don't think that will happen.
There are horrible fires in So Cal. Mami said that her skin was so dry.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Year 1 to 2
AWB
I couldn't sleep one night and thought about how I can hardly remember AWB from one year to 2. I see the photos of her and how we kind of continued the birthdate shots. But year 1 to 2 is a blur. What happened from then?
Weaned at 18th months--I remember that vaguely because my boob leaked at work.
20 months and not so much of the talking--While other kids were putting together words, like "Mami move" from Isabella, AWB wasn't talking, wasn't calling either of us Mamma or Daddy.
Birthday--We spent her 1st birthday at JYW's with Mami and she was tougher, I remember.
Evaluated at MGH at almost 2 years and found to be fine. Months of Early Intervention didn't seem to be helping us determine if there were developmental delays.
Hearing tests, I do remember those with the initial results being not so good.
No photos at all, because we refused to take photos and sit still, unlike the cooperative model I had when she couldn't really walk.
Refused to wear a Halloween costume at all. The goldfish was on her body for only 10 minutes at Stacie Smith's party and for 5 minutes during trick or treat.
If I moved backwards from the Fall, we did managed to get AWB to wear the Tigger and Octopus costumes. Amazing. There are photos too. I have hope for Halloween costumes at least. Loved the first two tries at pony riding. Started preschool and is learning to like it. I doubt she will ever love it.
Summer--not many classes but went swimming in an outside pool. I loved doing that with her. Seemed to get along well with Kat at Early Intervention and made real progress with her lessons. Stopped Kindermusik classes because they seemed like the same ole thing and Maggie didn't seem like she was teaching as much. Started dancing at home to music and I had the idea of signing her up for actual dance classes. Went home in August only to have AWB hate the ocean.
Spring--loved all her classes at Arlington Boys and Girls Club, especially the mini music maker class. Continued with her Friday playgroup at ABGC and went to the Fox Library every Tuesday. Mami was here to celebrate her birthday to 2 years old. We had an Easter Egg Hunt.
Winter--Started EI with Kat and had episodes where she cried uncontrollably if she was woken from a nap. Went to Kindermusik on Thursday, Mini Music on Mondays. We stayed home for Christmas and had a big party on Christmas Day.
HKB
A phone call from Karen Dorman made HKB call Dr. Barth about his dad. His mom's optimism has been a concern for everyone. He was open to any treatment that HKB's dad wanted but he seemed to be pointing us in the direction of no more treatment and a transfer to a skilled nursing facility. HKB's parents do not seem to have the same opinion and are still convinced after two solid days of discussion to be set on going home. Dr. Barth does not think that HKB's mom can handle it and it is dangerous for him to be there. This is such a difficult decision and I don't think HKB's parents are thinking clearly.
This Weekend
Saturday was running errands and having lunch at Cheesecake Factory. It was an expensive day. Sunday we went to Shelburne Farms for the pony rides, only to have AWB be overwhelmed by Linda. No pony rides, no rides on the tractors, no walk in the hay maze, no eating of cider donuts. A bummer all around. Then off to the Applefield Farm for egg rolls, produce and raspberries for Ben.
I made the mistake of thinking that AWB on only 1 hour of napping could then go to Whole Foods. No I had to carry her around the store and only after a bit did she consent to walk on her own, holding my hand. I was exhausted.
AWB has a cold but that night, I cried for the craziness that she put me through. She had to touch me repeatedly, throughout the night. Finally, HKB had to come and get her and take her downstairs. I was at my wit's end. I did manage to sleep but now I am sick!
I couldn't sleep one night and thought about how I can hardly remember AWB from one year to 2. I see the photos of her and how we kind of continued the birthdate shots. But year 1 to 2 is a blur. What happened from then?
Weaned at 18th months--I remember that vaguely because my boob leaked at work.
20 months and not so much of the talking--While other kids were putting together words, like "Mami move" from Isabella, AWB wasn't talking, wasn't calling either of us Mamma or Daddy.
Birthday--We spent her 1st birthday at JYW's with Mami and she was tougher, I remember.
Evaluated at MGH at almost 2 years and found to be fine. Months of Early Intervention didn't seem to be helping us determine if there were developmental delays.
Hearing tests, I do remember those with the initial results being not so good.
No photos at all, because we refused to take photos and sit still, unlike the cooperative model I had when she couldn't really walk.
Refused to wear a Halloween costume at all. The goldfish was on her body for only 10 minutes at Stacie Smith's party and for 5 minutes during trick or treat.
If I moved backwards from the Fall, we did managed to get AWB to wear the Tigger and Octopus costumes. Amazing. There are photos too. I have hope for Halloween costumes at least. Loved the first two tries at pony riding. Started preschool and is learning to like it. I doubt she will ever love it.
Summer--not many classes but went swimming in an outside pool. I loved doing that with her. Seemed to get along well with Kat at Early Intervention and made real progress with her lessons. Stopped Kindermusik classes because they seemed like the same ole thing and Maggie didn't seem like she was teaching as much. Started dancing at home to music and I had the idea of signing her up for actual dance classes. Went home in August only to have AWB hate the ocean.
Spring--loved all her classes at Arlington Boys and Girls Club, especially the mini music maker class. Continued with her Friday playgroup at ABGC and went to the Fox Library every Tuesday. Mami was here to celebrate her birthday to 2 years old. We had an Easter Egg Hunt.
Winter--Started EI with Kat and had episodes where she cried uncontrollably if she was woken from a nap. Went to Kindermusik on Thursday, Mini Music on Mondays. We stayed home for Christmas and had a big party on Christmas Day.
HKB
A phone call from Karen Dorman made HKB call Dr. Barth about his dad. His mom's optimism has been a concern for everyone. He was open to any treatment that HKB's dad wanted but he seemed to be pointing us in the direction of no more treatment and a transfer to a skilled nursing facility. HKB's parents do not seem to have the same opinion and are still convinced after two solid days of discussion to be set on going home. Dr. Barth does not think that HKB's mom can handle it and it is dangerous for him to be there. This is such a difficult decision and I don't think HKB's parents are thinking clearly.
This Weekend
Saturday was running errands and having lunch at Cheesecake Factory. It was an expensive day. Sunday we went to Shelburne Farms for the pony rides, only to have AWB be overwhelmed by Linda. No pony rides, no rides on the tractors, no walk in the hay maze, no eating of cider donuts. A bummer all around. Then off to the Applefield Farm for egg rolls, produce and raspberries for Ben.
I made the mistake of thinking that AWB on only 1 hour of napping could then go to Whole Foods. No I had to carry her around the store and only after a bit did she consent to walk on her own, holding my hand. I was exhausted.
AWB has a cold but that night, I cried for the craziness that she put me through. She had to touch me repeatedly, throughout the night. Finally, HKB had to come and get her and take her downstairs. I was at my wit's end. I did manage to sleep but now I am sick!
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Broken Toe
My toe has been bothering me since the hour long walk on the treadmill. It has been 10 days and I have had a bandage on my next to pinky toe for a few days but I took it off. I have seriously considered leaving my job for something better but not sure what would be good for me. I hate being new.
AWB
AWB has been peeing everyone, out of her diaper. She and I went to Wild Oats last night and she was so nervous that she refused to sit in the cart. I had to have her in the cart itself.
She has been singing up a storm! Mary has a little lamb is the most favorite. And she has been hugging me and HKB. I am almost finished with her dolly blanket's edging so it will be complete for her.
I hear about improvements about preschool. I received the credit for the Jump Jiggle and Jive class from ABG Club and moved her into her preschool slot for Thursday. And now she can go to the dance class at the Dance Place on Friday.
HKB
HKB's dad seems to be doing worse and I encouraged his mom to get some visiting nurse help. I tried to tell HKB about one morning, early before work for him and it didn't go over well. But we chatted later that night and he agreed with me and said he would even go home for a time. I was pretty impressed.
AWB
AWB has been peeing everyone, out of her diaper. She and I went to Wild Oats last night and she was so nervous that she refused to sit in the cart. I had to have her in the cart itself.
She has been singing up a storm! Mary has a little lamb is the most favorite. And she has been hugging me and HKB. I am almost finished with her dolly blanket's edging so it will be complete for her.
I hear about improvements about preschool. I received the credit for the Jump Jiggle and Jive class from ABG Club and moved her into her preschool slot for Thursday. And now she can go to the dance class at the Dance Place on Friday.
HKB
HKB's dad seems to be doing worse and I encouraged his mom to get some visiting nurse help. I tried to tell HKB about one morning, early before work for him and it didn't go over well. But we chatted later that night and he agreed with me and said he would even go home for a time. I was pretty impressed.
Friday, October 12, 2007
Sadness and Annoyance
This has been a strange week. Thursday was the busiest evening with all events ending up on the same evening. My mom's group is now a pain because there is so many new people and the old folks do not feel that the group is the same. I had such low expectations that I am not sure how I feel. In any case, this new group has taken up so much time in just the discussion of how we will organize ourselves. I will give it past January to determine whether I will end up staying.
I saw people from the previous job and they looked happy to see me but the feeling wasn't mutual. It was awkward and hard for me and I spent the rest of the day feeling bad about it.
I also felt that yesterday's offsite went strangely. Luckily someone stopped by to tell me that I wasn't crazy and that the person's reaction was out of whack. What relief!
The only good news today is that Al Gore got the Nobel Peace Prize which seems like such justice after the election debacle.
AWB
Singing up a storm this week! She woke up last night at 10PM after I got home and proceeded to play for up to 2 hours while I watched TV in an attempt to go to sleep. She is now repeating all words that I say or she hears on TV. The school is going better but according to Wong Auntie, she still cried today when she told AWB that she was going to school.
HKB
Made me laugh when I accused him of being Switzerland with his mom and the preschool situation. He said that he really thought he was Canada.
I saw people from the previous job and they looked happy to see me but the feeling wasn't mutual. It was awkward and hard for me and I spent the rest of the day feeling bad about it.
I also felt that yesterday's offsite went strangely. Luckily someone stopped by to tell me that I wasn't crazy and that the person's reaction was out of whack. What relief!
The only good news today is that Al Gore got the Nobel Peace Prize which seems like such justice after the election debacle.
AWB
Singing up a storm this week! She woke up last night at 10PM after I got home and proceeded to play for up to 2 hours while I watched TV in an attempt to go to sleep. She is now repeating all words that I say or she hears on TV. The school is going better but according to Wong Auntie, she still cried today when she told AWB that she was going to school.
HKB
Made me laugh when I accused him of being Switzerland with his mom and the preschool situation. He said that he really thought he was Canada.
Saturday, October 06, 2007
Sing alongs
I love Saturdays. They always have so much promise.
I had planned to take AWB swimming this morning. It was hot and it seemed like the right thing to do. We do pay for Y membership and since late August, we really haven't been. The outside pool has leaves. And once in September we went and the water was freezing--a few days of cold can make an outside pool's water too cold for swimming. Refreshing is what the receptionist told me. I laughed out loud.
So today, I persuaded HKB to go with me to the StellaBella Sing along in Inman Square and visit our old house and the new park and have lunch at the sandwich shop in the Square.
I thought the park was fine. No water and plenty of sand. But it was hot and there wasn't much of a slide or things to climb on. So I recommended leaving for the store and the sing along.
It was a great sing along! The woman had a keyboard and it was packed. HKB left 30 minutes into it but AWB warmed up toward the end.
We sang together later in the day. And she knew most of the words. They were garbled but she could sing along with me. I also spoke with her in Chinese to tell her to take a bath and she understood that too. No nap today though and so when we told her to put away her markers and go upstairs, she flipped out a bit.
I read the New Yorker today. I haven't done that in such a long time. We went out afterwards to blow bubbles and then we went to the park. It was a good day!
I had planned to take AWB swimming this morning. It was hot and it seemed like the right thing to do. We do pay for Y membership and since late August, we really haven't been. The outside pool has leaves. And once in September we went and the water was freezing--a few days of cold can make an outside pool's water too cold for swimming. Refreshing is what the receptionist told me. I laughed out loud.
So today, I persuaded HKB to go with me to the StellaBella Sing along in Inman Square and visit our old house and the new park and have lunch at the sandwich shop in the Square.
I thought the park was fine. No water and plenty of sand. But it was hot and there wasn't much of a slide or things to climb on. So I recommended leaving for the store and the sing along.
It was a great sing along! The woman had a keyboard and it was packed. HKB left 30 minutes into it but AWB warmed up toward the end.
We sang together later in the day. And she knew most of the words. They were garbled but she could sing along with me. I also spoke with her in Chinese to tell her to take a bath and she understood that too. No nap today though and so when we told her to put away her markers and go upstairs, she flipped out a bit.
I read the New Yorker today. I haven't done that in such a long time. We went out afterwards to blow bubbles and then we went to the park. It was a good day!
Friday, October 05, 2007
Another Week
This has been a more reasonable work week and yet more frantic.
I spent 1.5 days away from the office. Tuesday was the day I set aside to study for the PMP only to be inspired to pick raspberries in the morning in Winchester. It was GREAT! We picked raspberries and then played in the park. But I made myself crazy. I decided to go to the Waltham public library because my knitting book has gone missing. They had a copy and I went to use their study room. I think I was only there 3 hours and I don't know if I could have justified taking the day off to study.
Neighbors and friends arrived and HKB wonders what everyone's comings and goings are like when we are here. I doubt it is that much of a waystation since AWB has so many activities.
Today, I visited the school to make sure my girl was not sad to be there. And I was reassured to find her playing in the sand with no tears. I watched her go into her classroom and walk around. She was completely fine. Two new teachers. So today was my half day to check up on the school and AWB.
The mom's group is now in crisis and I discussed it with Dr. H. I don't have much hope for it and am not sure if the leader would even consider working with just 3 members. It is a mess.
HKB
Roughing it out at school as he feels ignored by the administration and taken advantage by the students. He is actively buying lottery tickets which signals his fantasies to leave. He also applied for a number of jobs off craigslist so that was quite impressive.
He did have the audacity to suggest that I continue to be friends or friendly, not sure which, with Joanne so that I can make sure that all information on the child front gets passed to me. Some idea that that approached worked for his mother and should work for me. He, of course, could not conceive of being her friend himself and would make me the sacrificial lamb. Clearly, unrealistic.
AWB
She started singing today, Mary Little Lamb. I can't tell where from, her Sesame Street Kids' Favorite Song DVD or from school. The school teachers told me that she likes circle time and eats at the table with the other kids. AWB is also focused on showing us the large flash cards and saying the name of things.
EI is encouraging us to transition and Dr. H thinks it is also a good time for another evaluation of AWB since she is still not putting two words together. I may call MGH to find out what they think. I saw AWB give Kat a kiss on Tuesday and she seems very comfortable with her. Kat says that she thinks that AWB is a cautious child.
The other stunner this week was that AWB put on both the octopus and Tigger costumes without a problem. The octopus seems a bit long so we may use the Tigger costume for the night of Halloween. Since she goes to school on Halloween, we need to find out whether she can go in a costume or not.
I spent 1.5 days away from the office. Tuesday was the day I set aside to study for the PMP only to be inspired to pick raspberries in the morning in Winchester. It was GREAT! We picked raspberries and then played in the park. But I made myself crazy. I decided to go to the Waltham public library because my knitting book has gone missing. They had a copy and I went to use their study room. I think I was only there 3 hours and I don't know if I could have justified taking the day off to study.
Neighbors and friends arrived and HKB wonders what everyone's comings and goings are like when we are here. I doubt it is that much of a waystation since AWB has so many activities.
Today, I visited the school to make sure my girl was not sad to be there. And I was reassured to find her playing in the sand with no tears. I watched her go into her classroom and walk around. She was completely fine. Two new teachers. So today was my half day to check up on the school and AWB.
The mom's group is now in crisis and I discussed it with Dr. H. I don't have much hope for it and am not sure if the leader would even consider working with just 3 members. It is a mess.
HKB
Roughing it out at school as he feels ignored by the administration and taken advantage by the students. He is actively buying lottery tickets which signals his fantasies to leave. He also applied for a number of jobs off craigslist so that was quite impressive.
He did have the audacity to suggest that I continue to be friends or friendly, not sure which, with Joanne so that I can make sure that all information on the child front gets passed to me. Some idea that that approached worked for his mother and should work for me. He, of course, could not conceive of being her friend himself and would make me the sacrificial lamb. Clearly, unrealistic.
AWB
She started singing today, Mary Little Lamb. I can't tell where from, her Sesame Street Kids' Favorite Song DVD or from school. The school teachers told me that she likes circle time and eats at the table with the other kids. AWB is also focused on showing us the large flash cards and saying the name of things.
EI is encouraging us to transition and Dr. H thinks it is also a good time for another evaluation of AWB since she is still not putting two words together. I may call MGH to find out what they think. I saw AWB give Kat a kiss on Tuesday and she seems very comfortable with her. Kat says that she thinks that AWB is a cautious child.
The other stunner this week was that AWB put on both the octopus and Tigger costumes without a problem. The octopus seems a bit long so we may use the Tigger costume for the night of Halloween. Since she goes to school on Halloween, we need to find out whether she can go in a costume or not.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Weekend Beginning and Work week Ending
I have had a terrible period this month. What is going on? Cramps, haven't had them in a while.
Let's go backwards for the week from today. The dog on the corner is barking up a storm. He has been at it for over 30 minutes.
Friday
Rushed out of the house. AWB had a some improvements at school. Wong Auntie found her sitting at a table, eating something. That is an improvement. She played with the watercolors for almost an hour.
Food
Breakfast: blueberry muffin and iced coffee
Lunch: fruit tart
Dinner: Chinese spaghetti and a ginger drink
AWB
The Oilily dress is too big still. AWB must not be 92cm at this point, she was swimming in the dress so I put her in a Gap skirt with a white tshirt. She and I took Wong Auntie to the restaurant. She seems happier with Wong Auntie these days. CwS came over with Camille and played together. Napped for 2 hours.
HKB
Didn't sleep last night, he claims and continues to struggle with a mega classload. Grumpy but we settled on a tentative plan for Thanksgiving.
Family
Mami has a caruncle that needs to be removed. Not urgent but still needs to be done at some point. I asked her to schedule it for December when everyone will be at home. JYW hates her baby sitter and had a scary incident when JMG said that she hit her. Turns out she hit her head while she was dressing her. I think JYP doesn't like fat white girls.
Thursday
Left early to make a meeting. Crazy day again! I watched The Queen while everyone slept. I was so surprised that they portrayed the royal family as if they were normal people.
Food
breakfast: blueberry muffin and hot coffee
lunch: part of a tuna fish sandwich, chips and a cookie
dinner: yushiang eggplant with rice
AWB
She hit me a few times and HKB had to put her in time out. She didn't get it at all. She ate grapes with HKB and immediately went to sleep at 8AM, knocked out completely. According to Wong Auntie she did not take a nap on Thursday.
HKB
Took out grapes he bought at Idlywilde Farms. I told him that my sister wasn't coming for Thanksgiving and we started to fight. HKB wants to stay at home and have me cook. I don't feel up to it.
Let's go backwards for the week from today. The dog on the corner is barking up a storm. He has been at it for over 30 minutes.
Friday
Rushed out of the house. AWB had a some improvements at school. Wong Auntie found her sitting at a table, eating something. That is an improvement. She played with the watercolors for almost an hour.
Food
Breakfast: blueberry muffin and iced coffee
Lunch: fruit tart
Dinner: Chinese spaghetti and a ginger drink
AWB
The Oilily dress is too big still. AWB must not be 92cm at this point, she was swimming in the dress so I put her in a Gap skirt with a white tshirt. She and I took Wong Auntie to the restaurant. She seems happier with Wong Auntie these days. CwS came over with Camille and played together. Napped for 2 hours.
HKB
Didn't sleep last night, he claims and continues to struggle with a mega classload. Grumpy but we settled on a tentative plan for Thanksgiving.
Family
Mami has a caruncle that needs to be removed. Not urgent but still needs to be done at some point. I asked her to schedule it for December when everyone will be at home. JYW hates her baby sitter and had a scary incident when JMG said that she hit her. Turns out she hit her head while she was dressing her. I think JYP doesn't like fat white girls.
Thursday
Left early to make a meeting. Crazy day again! I watched The Queen while everyone slept. I was so surprised that they portrayed the royal family as if they were normal people.
Food
breakfast: blueberry muffin and hot coffee
lunch: part of a tuna fish sandwich, chips and a cookie
dinner: yushiang eggplant with rice
AWB
She hit me a few times and HKB had to put her in time out. She didn't get it at all. She ate grapes with HKB and immediately went to sleep at 8AM, knocked out completely. According to Wong Auntie she did not take a nap on Thursday.
HKB
Took out grapes he bought at Idlywilde Farms. I told him that my sister wasn't coming for Thanksgiving and we started to fight. HKB wants to stay at home and have me cook. I don't feel up to it.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Terrible Tuesday
Frustrating Work
It was not a good day at work, more fuel to make me consider that you need to get paid to work. Obstacles every where I turned today and even drove me to look on job sites. But it was more fantasy than anything else.
Foodwise
Monday
Breakfast: iced coffee, blueberry muffin
Lunch: chicken salad sandwich on rye with pepper jack cheese and a 20 minute walk
Snack: Mike and Ikes in the car on the way home, horrible traffic
Dinner: Chilean sea bass with mushrooms and rice, which gave me diarrhea
Tuesday
Breakfast: hot coffee, blueberry muffin
Lunch: turkey sandwich on campagne bread with sprouts and brie, apple
Snack: tiramisu and some petit four and Mike and Ikes on the way home in the car
Dinner: Bourbon Steak Tips with salad
HKB
Claims that the Iranian President is at Columbia because of Israel bashing, also has diarrhea from the fish
AWB
Haircut by Wong Auntie and learned to say yellow and green today. Yeah! Gave Chi Wai a kiss! Started to pick her nose on Monday. Yuck
Last night AWB and I went to CVS with her trike. It is not easy to steer the trike because AWB shifts around a lot! Tonight, we went to Home Depot to buy a staple gun.
It was not a good day at work, more fuel to make me consider that you need to get paid to work. Obstacles every where I turned today and even drove me to look on job sites. But it was more fantasy than anything else.
Foodwise
Monday
Breakfast: iced coffee, blueberry muffin
Lunch: chicken salad sandwich on rye with pepper jack cheese and a 20 minute walk
Snack: Mike and Ikes in the car on the way home, horrible traffic
Dinner: Chilean sea bass with mushrooms and rice, which gave me diarrhea
Tuesday
Breakfast: hot coffee, blueberry muffin
Lunch: turkey sandwich on campagne bread with sprouts and brie, apple
Snack: tiramisu and some petit four and Mike and Ikes on the way home in the car
Dinner: Bourbon Steak Tips with salad
HKB
Claims that the Iranian President is at Columbia because of Israel bashing, also has diarrhea from the fish
AWB
Haircut by Wong Auntie and learned to say yellow and green today. Yeah! Gave Chi Wai a kiss! Started to pick her nose on Monday. Yuck
Last night AWB and I went to CVS with her trike. It is not easy to steer the trike because AWB shifts around a lot! Tonight, we went to Home Depot to buy a staple gun.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
More than a Year Later
Wow, I just re-read the posts from July of last year. I remember starting the blog and ditching it as work got more hectic.
After more than a year, some things stay the same and some things have changed.
The Same
Still struggling with the weight though I think it is much worse now. I definitely have a belly and it jiggles. That has never been the case before.
Still no exercise. Don't want to but know that it would help me sleep.
Still love my girl and hubby. Abigail is turning out to be the most amazing child. Still worrying me about the speech thing but definitely understands. Maybe doesn't want to understand but understands. The light bulb went off in my head when I asked her where the pumpkin was on a page and I didn't even show her what a pumpkin was. Did that with a few things that we never explicitly showed her.
My HKB, still funny and handsome and so grounded and also goofy and sensitive. He touched my heart when I told him that a mom in my mom's group worried that our marriage would be in jeopardy because he slept downstairs, by himself. He brushed that off with a you-would-never-worry about that comment. So casual and so honest.
The changeS
Notice the Big S? Well, let's see, the job for one. That would be 3 in one year. Killed Fran that I left but he resurrected quite fine. At this new job for 9 months and at first I didn't think I would survive. Not because I worried that I couldn't do the job but that it just wasn't the organization for me. So recently, I thought I could work here, at least for a while which is a big thing for me. It is a suit world though and vastly more political than my simpleton mind can handle.
So for the food, here goes:
Breakfast: 2 egg omelet that was too salty, with campagne bread and 2 slices of brie, pear slices and 2 large iced teas.
Lunch: California roll with unagu leftovers from AWB
Snack: To and from Target, Mike and Ikes with Berry flavoring
Dinner: Papparazzi's Pasta Luganega with Pannzenella Salad, lots of bread sticks with butter and 3 iced teas.
Activity:
Food shopping at Whole Foods
HKB to the movies
AWB and I to Target to buy diapers and check out the Halloween fixtures.
Played in the backyard, talked on the phone to Mami and then out to dinner with the girls
Mortifications:
AWB hasn't had a bath in 2 days. Yesterday she didn't have dinner and went to sleep in the car and today she conked out with Harold and he forgot about the bath.
Laughed:
When HKB told me that it was a good thing he went to the movies because the director of the little independent movie was there and if HKB didn't go, there would have only been 2 people to listen to what he had to say.
AWB Moment:
I figured out that she wanted to sit Elmo up but he isn't bendy. She had a pillow case and wanted to use it as a blanket and a cover and a seat for him. She lied right next to him, like the two of us when we are sleeping.
After more than a year, some things stay the same and some things have changed.
The Same
Still struggling with the weight though I think it is much worse now. I definitely have a belly and it jiggles. That has never been the case before.
Still no exercise. Don't want to but know that it would help me sleep.
Still love my girl and hubby. Abigail is turning out to be the most amazing child. Still worrying me about the speech thing but definitely understands. Maybe doesn't want to understand but understands. The light bulb went off in my head when I asked her where the pumpkin was on a page and I didn't even show her what a pumpkin was. Did that with a few things that we never explicitly showed her.
My HKB, still funny and handsome and so grounded and also goofy and sensitive. He touched my heart when I told him that a mom in my mom's group worried that our marriage would be in jeopardy because he slept downstairs, by himself. He brushed that off with a you-would-never-worry about that comment. So casual and so honest.
The changeS
Notice the Big S? Well, let's see, the job for one. That would be 3 in one year. Killed Fran that I left but he resurrected quite fine. At this new job for 9 months and at first I didn't think I would survive. Not because I worried that I couldn't do the job but that it just wasn't the organization for me. So recently, I thought I could work here, at least for a while which is a big thing for me. It is a suit world though and vastly more political than my simpleton mind can handle.
So for the food, here goes:
Breakfast: 2 egg omelet that was too salty, with campagne bread and 2 slices of brie, pear slices and 2 large iced teas.
Lunch: California roll with unagu leftovers from AWB
Snack: To and from Target, Mike and Ikes with Berry flavoring
Dinner: Papparazzi's Pasta Luganega with Pannzenella Salad, lots of bread sticks with butter and 3 iced teas.
Activity:
Food shopping at Whole Foods
HKB to the movies
AWB and I to Target to buy diapers and check out the Halloween fixtures.
Played in the backyard, talked on the phone to Mami and then out to dinner with the girls
Mortifications:
AWB hasn't had a bath in 2 days. Yesterday she didn't have dinner and went to sleep in the car and today she conked out with Harold and he forgot about the bath.
Laughed:
When HKB told me that it was a good thing he went to the movies because the director of the little independent movie was there and if HKB didn't go, there would have only been 2 people to listen to what he had to say.
AWB Moment:
I figured out that she wanted to sit Elmo up but he isn't bendy. She had a pillow case and wanted to use it as a blanket and a cover and a seat for him. She lied right next to him, like the two of us when we are sleeping.
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