The first few weeks without J’s parents weren’t too bad. I really thought that I could do this. But in the past week, Claire has started to act up. My parents think that it’s because up until now, Aerin was still a young infant — just kind of there, taking up room and requiring only the […]
Mommy’s Diapers
After a visit to the grocery store to stock up on feminine supplies, I had my back turned for 5 seconds while taking Aerin’s jacket off and Claire got ahold of my box of Always Overnights with Wings. (The rule of thumb with toddlers is that they will cause the most mischief when you have your […]
Dollar Store Stickers
I love that there is a dollar store within walking distance to our home, because it is a great place to find cheap sources of entertainment for Claire (e.g., helium balloons). Earlier this week, I purchased a package of hearts stickers (pink GIRLY hearts that Claire herself chose…what else did you expect from her?) and […]
A Compilation of Claire’s Recent Funnies
The Nail Clipper: Claire hates, hates, HATES getting her toenails clipped. She’s okay with us clipping her fingernails, but she has a strong aversion to our clipping her toenails…she’ll even start crying when she sees us clipping Aerin’s toenails! (I’ve tried clipping my own in front of her, making it seem like it was THE most […]
1 to 2 Transition: Things We’re Doing Differently
Having a second child is not just twice the work. For me, and other mothers of multiple children I have spoken to, two children are triple, sometimes even quadruple the work of one kid! With my in-laws having returned to Hong Kong, I am finally on my own in being the caretaker of a 4-month-old […]
Cute Interactions with Claire’s Lovey
Soon after Claire was born, we received a package from our Canadian friend Girl on the Park — an adorable stuffed giraffe for Claire! We kept the giraffe in Claire’s crib through sleep training and teething, often placing it into her arms so that she could use it as a source of comfort. Before long, […]
The Serious One vs The Happy One
At about this time last year, I would often wonder if I were doing something wrong with Claire. Yes, every new mother has her moments of doubt regarding childcare, but the type of worry that went through my mind was of a different sort — I was concerned because Claire was such a serious, intense baby. […]
Hibachi FAIL
Yesterday, J suggested that we take both girls and — with the help of his parents — go have lunch at a Hibachi Steakhouse. Before I go on, I should state that I do not particularly like taking my kids to “adult” places. If the locale is specifically marketed as a family-friendly establishment? Sure, let’s […]
Motherhood, Summed Up in a Dream
Last night, I dreamt that J and I were childless. We dined out often. We frequently entertained, hosting epic game nights just like we used to. We traveled to places we have always wanted to visit together, but never got a chance to: Mexico, Hawaii, France, Italy, Germany…even Hong Kong and Korea! (Yes, we have […]
T-Minus Two Weeks
One of my ex-boyfriends is just 15 months younger than his older sister. When we started dating, he told me how, shortly after he was born, his parents sent his sister to go live with the grandparents for a year because taking care of two very young kids — one of whom was extremely colicky […]