Price of Beauty

The above is a picture of Kona lying on the couch with an Elizabethan collar to keep her from licking her wound and accidentally removing her stitches. My little Kona has been through a lot in her short life. She's had two knee surgeries, been to the ER to induce vomiting after ingesting ant bait, had a tooth extracted, and been attacked twice by the neighbor's dog. The latest incident happened at the groomer's yesterday. We had a free day on Wednesday so I called the groomer we've been going to since a hack job at PetCo last summer. Canine Showcase is just 2 minutes away, they've always done a superb job and Kona appears happy there. They were able to take us last minute. I brought Kona there at 9am and expected to pick her up at 2pm.

Mia and I spent the morning running errands and then at 1pm while Mia was napping I received a phone call from the owner of Canine Showcase saying that she accidentally cut Kona's dew claw (an appendage that most dogs have removed at birth) and that it was bleeding. When I picked Kona up an hour later, she was still bleeding and I saw that the dew claw was half cut off. I took Kona to Sunnyvale Vet Clinic and long story short, they needed to sedate her to remove the dew claw. The bill came to a whopping 525 dollars and some change! That included all the meds during surgery and post-op as well as the two follow-up visits she needs. Luckily the groomer said up front that she would pay the vet bill and I have to commend her, she was very apologetic and took full responsibility for the incident. I could tell she honestly felt terrible about what happened.

The whole incident has helped teach Mia a little something about compassion and caring for a sick pet. She kept saying, "Sorry Kona" and that she wanted to get Kona a toy.

Below is a picture of Kona's sutures.

First Sewing Projects

After taking the sewing machine basics class last Sunday, I embarked on my first project, a nursing cover. It's not perfect, but I managed to complete it last night using this pattern. The only part I skipped was the boning at the collar area. I couldn't find boning and figured I could do without it. Will probably try to make another one if I find fabric I like.



On my first trip to Eddie's Quilting Bee, I bought a very pretty flannel with flowers and butterflies on it to make Mia a throw blanket for her new big bed. I finally finished it tonight. Again the stitching is not perfect, but I'm sure Mia won't notice.

A few days ago, I took her to Joann's to get some needles and browse the fabrics. There were no shopping carts and Mia was wandering beside me (most of the time), but she kept fixating on fabric with hearts. She would pull out the bolts of heart fabric and say, "Maybe Mama likes this one" or "How about this one?" In the end I didn't buy any fabric because I wanted to use up the fabric I already have, but she kept asking for a heart blanket. I kept telling her she was going to get a butterfly blanket instead. On Saturday morning she woke up and asked Ken, "Where's my heart blanket?" So now that I'm done with her butterfly blanket, we'll go shop for some heart fabric. . .

Frequently Visited

Can you believe that I go to Trader Joes, Safeway and Whole Foods at least once a week each? On top of this we go to the Sunnyvale Farmer's Market every Saturday for our fruits. Highly unlikely that I will keep that up after the baby comes. Sometimes I go to Trader Joes twice a week. There are items I like to purchase at each place and each store has it's perks.

Trader Joes
Mia gets a balloon (she recently started liking them again after a traumatic loss last fall when her balloon flew away) and generous supply of stickers given each time so that's a major draw! Mia and I both like to sample from the demo area. We like to get our organic milk and dairy products there. They have the best prices. Other Mia approved items are chicken stock, organic alphabet pasta, mini bagels, cheeses, cereals, crackers, quattro frommagio pizza, frozen waffles, dried fruit bars, organic kiwi, and other fruits. Trader Joes carries some fun items to try out and usually the items do not let me down. Their gluten free brownie mix was delicious and I love their Swedish Pancake mix. Recently I found out that if you ask they will help you load your car!

Safeway
Being very pregnant, I like always being offered help out at Safeway. I only wish they would follow me home and unload the groceries so that I don't have to lug them up two flights of stairs. Let's see, I go to Safeway when I have to. I am not happy with their fruits, but if I've run out, I'll buy some there. I go there for mainstream stuff on sale like Cheerios, Heinz ketchup (after trying out organic and other brands, Heinz is the best), and sometimes meats.


Whole Foods
Ah, if money were no object, I would shop here all the time. But surprisingly some items are cheaper there. For example, flour. You can get a five pound bag for less than the regular price at Safeway or TJs. Mia enjoys a free juice box and string cheese at the Los Altos store each Wednesday after Chinese Story Time. Then we share a slice of cheese pizza. She also loves that they have small shopping carts though I dread it when they are available b/c it slows down our shopping. We also buy Elmo Soup (Earth's Best), meats, organic coffee beans if on sale, and whatever fruit might be on sale if I've run out. I also like that they have a great selection of bulk foods.

Other Spots

Every once in a while we go to 99 Ranch or Marina for our Chinese snacks and food items. We also go to Han Kook Market for marinated beef and side dishes.

Come September I will be sending Ken out to do our shopping and might even try Safeway.com

Mia's Latest Phrases & Big Bed Coming Soon!

Here are some of the things that come out of Mia's mouth these days. She is also starting to ask permission to do things which is great.

"Just a little bit"/"Just a little bit more"/"Almost done"
These phrases are used by Mia many times a day when I want her to stop something or shift to a different activity or get ready to leave the house. They collectively mean, I'm no where near done. Getting her out of the little wading pool and bathtub takes quite a bit unless we swoop her out, but that often results in some drama.

"I want Mama/Papa/____ share Mia"
If Mia wants something that belongs to us or a friend, she always says the above phrase. But sometimes it's an object or food item she should not have like a knife or gum. How do you explain not sharing when you want the child to learn to share? I usually say, it's not for kids.

"What are you doing?"
All day long, Mia asks me this question and even when I respond she asks me over and over again.

"I want come too"
If one of us leaves to go somewhere or to walk Kona, Mia always wants to be part of the fun.

We ordered Mia's "big bed" (a twin with a trundle) back in mid-June. It was due to arrive by first week of July, but we still don't have it. Ken's called numerous times, been hung up on, put on hold for 10 minutes, and told to call back. Finally the entire order is in, but we found out that they only deliver on weekends and have a backlog of deliveries. The store has a good selection, but do not order furniture from Baby Super Rocker World unless you have plenty of time to wait. The main disappointment is that we've hyped up this "big bed" for so long and Mia asks us all the time where her big bed is. She says, "Crib is for di di (little brother), Mia has big bed".

We decided to just get the mattress though we are unsure of when the actual bed will come. I really need the bed because getting Mia into the crib and lifting her out is not easy with a big belly.

This morning, I gave Mia a big surprise present. It was a dragonfly and butterfly twin sheet set, quilt and sham. We had to wash the set so she got it this morning. Papa came home a little early and went to pick up a twin mattress for the bed from Mattress Discounters. Mia said, "I'm so excited!" as we made up the bed. As a result it took her a long time to fall asleep tonight, but no crying and she didn't get out of bed. We'll see how the next few nights go with all the changes. Along with removing the crib, we also took out the glider this morning and replaced it with her little arm chair. Poor girl has a lot of transition ahead of her.

I'll post pics of the big bed when it comes.

Sew Excited & Other Shopping Highlights

Well, you all know I love to shop and craft, but am CHEAP too. So I enjoy a good bargain. I've been wanting a sewing machine for ages though I don't know how to use one very well. My cheapness motivated me to look for a machine because I refuse to pay nearly 40 bucks for a nursing cover when it's only a square piece of cloth (costs less than a couple of bucks to get a yard of fabric at Joanne's) with a strap sewn on. Well, it is slightly more complex with some boning added to the side with the strap to make the fabric to be stiff thus allowing the mom to view the baby. I digress.

I started looking on craigslist last week for a sewing machine and came across a man selling the Janome Hello Kitty sewing machine. Brand New in box. Target sells them for 109.99 and he only wanted $65 for the machine. I thought about haggling a bit because I am cheap, but then again, I thought it was a really good deal for an adorable machine that has some decent reviews. I just didn't want to trek to Milpitas with Mia in tow, but in the end, I did it. How could any Asian girl resist Hello Kitty? It was a big decision because even $65 bucks seems to be a big purchase to me.

Back in 1999 I took a sewing class, but I was so intimidated when I opened up the box that I decided I better sign up for a class so that I don't break my lovely and cute new machine. So off I went to Eddie's Quilting Bee to sign-up for a class. I'll be sitting in a class all day next weekend with my sewing machine. The serious sewers with their white Berninas will turn their noses up at me for sure, but whatever. I can't wait to learn how to work my machine! Of course while I was browsing at Eddie's I could not resist their beautiful designer fabrics. There I learned that Joann's is cheap for a reason. The designs at Eddies are much nicer. But of course, it's quite a bit more than Joann's. Everything seemed to start at 9.49 per yard, but I found the cutest flannel fabric with butterflies and flowers on it for a throw for Mia (her big bed is set to arrive anytime now though the store promised end of June) and a Asian Zodiac patterned fabric for a blanket for the new baby. With their Christmas in July sale going on, I decided to get bit of each. Will post pics once I make my projects. As for the nursing cover that started it all, I'll be going to Joann's tomorrow in search of cheap fabric as well as the required items for my class this weekend!

While lunching in Campbell with some Las Madres friends, we happened upon a new yarn shop, Green Planet Yarns. I was only able to browse for a minute since Mia was with me, but what a beautiful shop and a friendly owner. Will definitely have to return though I have not done any knitting a long time. She had a whole wall of Blue Sky Alpaca organic yarns, all naturally dyed and it reminded me that I have some Blue Sky left from that time I bought a whole lot at Monkey Knits in Seattle before it closed.

Lastly I spent almost all day and night Saturday and half of Sunday in SF with girlfriends. What a much needed treat after a long few days with Papa on the road. We got our nails done, window shopped in Hayes Valley, Noe Valley and downtown. Then enjoyed a lovely dinner, then drinks at the hotel bar, and finally did lots of girl talk while lounging on the Westin's Heavenly Bed.

I came home with some cute items for Mia and the baby boy. Nothing for me, but it's so much more fun to get stuff for them now, plus I had just gotten the sewing machine for me. Found some bargains at the huge flagship Old Navy downtown. Bought the most adorable board books at Lavish that I have not seen anywhere else. Not sure if they will be for Mia or used as gifts. I bought Haiku for Baby and a Taro Gomi book My Friends. My fave food stops were Miette for some gumballs, Lovejoy's Tea, and Blue Bottle Coffee.

Now I'm feeling rejuvenated and hope to be less short with Mia and Papa.

It's Been A Year!

We officially closed on the home we a year ago. It's hard to believe that we packed up and left Seattle last July 2rd! Mia has grown up so much since last summer. She can help me make lemonade and cupcakes, she speaks in sentences, can often outrun me, negotiates very well, and more. But she still wants to be a baby sometimes.

Mia still says, "I want to go to Seattle!" We're sad we could not go this summer visit our friends and to enjoy Seattle in July and August.

Mia Last July
Taken before our home got cluttered with toddler toys.


Living here has some perks for us. Mia can attend Chinese music class, Chinese story time and she will be going to a bilingual Montessori school in a couple of weeks. We are trying it out for two weeks to see how she does. Or to see how I do without her. She'll be going three days a week from 830-noon. Please pray that she adjusts well.

Mia Today
I tried to get her to sit nicely in the chair so that I could mirror last year's photo, but you know how it goes when you want a toddler to do something... She's wearing the mix-matched PJs she picked out for herself.

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Mia on a Plane
Here's Mia on the way back from Maui. She's being kept busy with corn flakes. Bringing the carseat on board was a great decision. Though bulky, it kept her in her seated and she's used to it.


Mia on CalTrain

Mia loves trains and with Pua Pua here for ten days we took a ride on CalTrain to Palo Alto. Mia got to experience buying a ticket, waiting for the train, the boarding proces, and the ride itself. During the ride she was very curious about the people on the train, where they were going and what they were doing. She's very repetitive in her questions these days, I must have been asked, "Where's that one going?" and "What's that one doing?" a hundred times. "That one" is how Mia refers to people she does not know. Trying to work on our pronouns. . .

Mia on her favorite ride at Happy Hollow

Our local zoo has many rides, but is about to close for renovations, so we've been there twice in a week and will probably go once more before it closes. Mia usually stays on the Putt Putt cars for 5-6 times continuously before she gets tired.