First Day of Work

Today is my first back at work. Much like first day of school after a long summer vacation, I started to panic and had fatigue for the last three days but the day nevertheless creeped up on me.
Even though Joaquin can't seem to comprehend what's going on yet, I tried to tell him that Mamu is going to work while nursing him. I told him to be a good boy and not to cause trouble for Dadu and Auntie Mary Ann. He looked at me with a big smile as if he understood what I was saying.
Saying goodbye to Chamu in the morning was hard. Having to pump at work was even harder. I had to sneak out of the board meeting to pump inside the ladies room (not the most ideal place but it is the most private place). My boobs started to hurt since the milk ducts got blocked again (that's why I hate pumping).
After the meeting I rushed home, only to find that Dadu took Chamu for a walk since he had been fussy since noon.
So here I am sitting by myself, exhausted from an all-day meeting, hurting from engorged boobs and wishing I didn't have to start work so soon.
I'm thankful that I had chosen the first of work to be a Friday... otherwise I don't think I could make it to the second day of work.

JJ Cool J

Homecoming Chamu

It still feels weird every time my plane lands in Hong Kong when I feel like I am going home but then it is a place I don't quite recognize as my home (even after living here for almost ten years). But I guess it is where I call home now because Hong Kong is where Jaime, Joaquin and I live.
We cheaped out on air tickets so had to fly back to Vancouver to connect to our flight going back to HK (instead of flying directly back to HK from LA). The flight to Vancouver had upgrades available and I just got them without any hesitation, knowing that we needed to make oursevles as comfy as possible prior to the long layover in the Vancouver airport.
The plane going back to HK was 3 hours late due to a massive delay related to typhoon in HK. Six-hour layover with a baby just seemed like eternity (someone please slap me if I ever want to cheap out on air tickets again). Luckily, we got a new airplane so we had a bigger baby bassinet, more leg rooms and much better entertainment system (where you can rewind and pause the vidoe in case Joaquin deceds to interrupt!). Even though the flight going back was longer than the one coming to Vancouver, overall I thought Joaquin did much better. He snacks, he fusses, he poos and can't quite figure out what he wants where where he is. He still didn't like the bassinet so I had to hold him on my laps for a few naps. He fits perfectly with his head resting on my chest and his legs on my thighs. I didn't want to put him back to the bassinet because I know with his rate of growth, I won't be able to hold him like this much longer. I just wanted to enjoy having my son sleeping so soundly and peacefully in my arms.
After two outfits, 8 feedings, 10 diapers, and 24 hours, we were finally home.

Lisa's Baby Shower

It's quite special to have stayed close to your high school best friends. It is even more special for three of us to have babies (all boys) in the same year. Jenny had her second boy in January, me my first in May, and then Lisa's will be due in December. We were able to make it to Lisa's baby shower before we leave to see many of our friends and also to pass on some of the newly acquired knowledge to my best friend. She is looking her best and is a happy expecting mother. Jiffy, the baby boy, will make his debut end of this year.
Joaquin made a guest appearance at the baby shower, stealing the limelight temporarily from Auntie Lisa. He was okay the first twenty minutes but became fussy and then fell asleep for the rest of the time we were there (which allowed us to savor food at the party). It's too bad that we had to leave early for the airport (we also arrived late because we had to pack). In the short period we were at the party, we enjoyed very much catching up with old friends. We will hopefully be back in LA soon. Can't wait to meet little Jiffy!

Chamu learns how to rave

Chamu learns how to rave, originally uploaded by Joyce and Jaime.

Chamu has a long chat with Mamu

Joaquin Meets Bear Aunties

At Berkeley we had a close circle of friends that we built our college memories with. We are fortunate that we stayed close even after each of us went on with adulthood after graduation. Every time I am back in LA, our main coordinator, Cindy, has always so faithfully put together a small gathering for us LA bears. This time was no exception. Tina, who lives in Tokyo, is also in town.
This year marks the 10th year since our graduation. In the last 10 years, most of we have gone through grad schools, engagements, weddings and now we are entering the baby phase. Joy brought her newborn son, Aidan, who is one month older than Joaquin. He is such a cutie pie. Joy looks great and is now a full-time mom. Joaquin was in his usual grumpy mood but at least he behaved when each of his bear aunties took turn to hold him. Among us bears & friends, there are three more babies on the way.
As we sat around the dining table at Cindy's house and started chatting away, I felt like it was just like one of those nights on the weekend when we gathered in someone's dorm room or single apartment. The good old days. Even though most of us only see each other a few times a year in the last decade, we never seem to ever run out of conversation topics. In fact, it seems now we are able to talk even more freely than when we were in school! This weekend, there is a bachelorette party for Christina in Vegas that I'll have to miss...

雖然說歲月催人老, 但在我們身上似乎並沒有留下太多的痕跡. 十年的日子不短, 但就算現在身旁多了個老公, 懷裡抱了個小孩, 只要我們一聚在一起, 就有說不完的話, 希望未來再有幾個十年, 我們的友情都能堅持下去!

Jetlagged Baby

We had hoped and thought Joaquin would be a good traveler since Jaime and I both enjoy traveling a lot and it would be a shame if we have to give up traveling while waiting Joaquin to grow up. We were extremely nervous and had packed everything we could possibly think of in our diaper bag. We had budgeted in 50% extra time for buffer but only to learn that we actually needed 100% more buffer time than usual. We nearly missed the plane since we stayed too late at the lounge (to change Joaquin's diaper) and had to run non-stop across the HK airport for 20 minutes to catch our plane.
Luckily Joaquin had no problem equalizing at take-off and he was sleeping right away. One hour later, however, he began his 10-hour marathon fuss. He refused to sleep in the bassinet and wanted to snack constantly. I had trouble breastfeeding him since the seat was too narrow (and Chamu is gotten too big to fit sideways) so we had to feed him 3 bottles of formula. Dadu had to walk him up and down the aisle for most of his awake hours. We had to make several runs to the changing table in the bathroom and also to change him out of his dirty clothes... At the end of the flight, I have developed so much more appreciation of those mothers or fathers traveling alone with their babies...
Then the marathon continues after we landed. Joaquin is so jetlagged that he sleeps most of the day and is playful from 3am and onwards. He does not resettle until 7am. Last night he was up at 1am and went back to sleep at 5am. Today, he managed to stay up more during the day. Let's hope he will not be as jetlagged tonight as previous nights. I think we are scratching our grand idea of driving him up the Pacific Coast Highway...

Chamu succeeds!

Babu Babu Babu