Family Talent Show by Mommy

Yesterday we sang the Rocking Around The Christmas Tree at my company's holiday party. We made fool of ourselves but we had so much fun and WE WON! The prize is $250 American Express Gift Card.

This Christmas is going to be real good!

Best Toy Ever by Mommy

I remember when my husband and I attended our Lamaze class. The instructor spoke about baby gadgets. She said babies don’t need all the swing, bouncer, jumper etc. It is the manufacturers that make parents believe they have to get all the gadgets otherwise they are not the fit parents. She said “What babies really need is a loving and caring environment, and YOU are the best toys ever to your baby. ” I kept her words deeply in my mind. I still went out to shop for the baby gadgets anyway because I didn’t want people see me as an “unfit” mother ( What's a peer presure!) but I did try my best to limit my baby’s time spent on those gadgets. My husband and I have consented that we would play with Julianna whenever she is in good spirits (later we would learn that she is always in good sprit!).

I always sang silly songs to Julianna since she was a newborn. Experts say singing to your baby help boost her language and social skills. I don’t know whether the experts are right or not but I do know that singing songs to my baby boost my self esteem. Julianna is always being very attentive to me even though my key is a mile off; she makes me believe that I am better than Tylor Hicks (Oops! Julianna’s dad is going to kill me!) and that I could be the next American Idol.

Now my little fan just turned 7 months old, her taste has become more sophisticated. I have to add extra spices such as dancing, bouncing, clapping, making faces … to draw her attention. Sometime I feel that I am Curious George, the MONKEY instead of the American Idol want-to-be. Seeing how she interact with me with a big smile and making coo coo ga ga; however, make me feel that being the best toy my baby ever has is not bad at all.

Me and my grandma by wounderBB

I remembered when I was in my palace there was one very cold day, I heard no singing , no talking and no laughing. All I could hear was my mommy's sobbing and she kept on saying "Baby baby,we have to be strong. We must go through this." I did not know what was going on but I knew my mommy was very sad.

I never meet my mommy's mommy but I know her name. Her name is "Angel". My mommy said grandma is living happily somewhere far way. The brightest star in the sky is the light bulb of my grandma's magic wand. When the light bulb is on that means she is watching me with a big smile. Mommy said I could always look for grandma when I look up the sky and find the brightest light bulb. Oops! I better to be good because grandma is always "watching".

Me and my mother by Mommy

Today is November 20th. The same day last year, I was five months pregnant and was having dinner with my mother who was just diagnosed with adenocarcinoma disease (a fancy term of lung cancer) in Hong Kong. The disease was extremely aggressive. The doctor confirmed the diagnosis and announced her death sentence almost at the same time. The doctor said her life span would be counted by months or days and the administration of chemotherapy was not for cure but to post long her life span a little longer.

It was a huge shock to everyone in the family. My mother who was a very healthy person would have never expected she would suffer from that kind of horrible disease. My mohter and I went back and forth to different hospitals for treatment. When she had no doctor appointments and was not too tired, we would spend time catching up. I told her about my life in U.S. She told me the childhood stories of me and my sisters and brother that I never heard of. We shared laughs, tears and anger. Even though we believe in different Gods, we prayed together. I prayed to my God to take care of that horrible illness and for her not to suffer and she prayed to her God to bless my health and my baby's. She went on and on to telling me how to take care of my baby since I would be a mother soon. She said one of her biggest regrets was that she might never see her granddaughter. I said "Don't be silly. You are going to be okay and I will bring baby to HK to see you." But both of us knew the chance was dim.

On January 27th 2006, a very cold day. I received my sister's phone call. She told me that mother was unconscious and in grave condition. The heavy breathing sound from the phone was her final goodbye to me. I cried and screamed "Mom, Mom, that is me! Can you hear me? Can you hear me?....Mommy, please rest in peace..... I promise I will take good care of my self and baby......" Death finally came to claim her life and she was gone forever. It is my biggest regret that I was unable to be with her during her very last hours.

My mother never met Julianna but I know she would be very proud of me because I am raising a very well baby.

Equation of babyhood by wounderBB

Pee Pee = 8 times a day

Poo Poo = 4 times a day

Bottles = = 12 times a day

Waking up at night = numerous

BEING A HAPPY BABY = PRICELESS

Equation of Motherhood by mommy

Diapers = $15
Formula = $12
Bible = $6.85

Sleepless night = numerous

BEING A NEW MOTHER = PRICELESS

Jounery from day 0 to day 1 by WonderBB

I spent nine and a half months in my mommy's tummy or "child palace" in my mommy's language. It was warm and dark. I didn't have to think and see, and food was always available. Whenever I felt alone and sad I would listen to my mommy's heart beat, the best smoothing music in the world. I always thought that I would stay in my palace forever.

Suddenly the thought of "going out and seeing the world" popped up from nowhere, then boom! I was outside my palace and was held by an alien in green. The world outside was cold, bright and noisy. I saw a lot of aliens moving back and forth. What were those aliens? What were those noises? What was going on? I missed the darkness. I missed the heartbeat. "I want to go back to my palace" I cried but the alien in green refused to put me back in. I was angry and upset at myself. I screamed "Why go out?". Then the green alien put me into someone's arm. When she was holding me I could feel her heartbeat and I knew instantly that she was my mommy. I looked at her eyes and stopped crying. In the moment of quiet I realized I was no longer alone in this strange place. I knew my mommy will always be by my side, holding me and giving me a big smile just like her heartbeat. For her, I am willing to give up my nice and warm palace.

Jounery from size 0 to size XXX by Mommy

I have been telling people how to be a good parent throughout my career but I always wondered what it would be like to be a mother. When I turned 30 and was a newlywed, my friends asked me "are you ready to have a baby?", I said " No way! I would never give up my freedom for a baby!". Suddenly the thought of being a mother popped up from nowhere . I knew I was ready. I told my hubby " honey, I want to have a baby!" Then boom! I was pregnant. My body pumped from size XXS to XXL. I looked at the mirror and sighed "Why baby?".

The moment Julianna was born, I realized I was no longer my own VIP because my little replacement had just entered as a star of my stage. She is going to play a leading role in my life. When I was looking at her little "pork bun" face, I knew I was ready to give up everything just for her.