Week 31 and Happy New Year's Eve!

Week 31: This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. She weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. She can turn her head from side to side, and her arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. She's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.

Happy New Year's eve Belle,

2009 is definitely going to be a big year for all of us! It will be a start to a new chapter in Mommy, Daddy and Zoë's book called "Life" with you as a new addition to our little family.

Yesterday, we received your carseat! This is a gift from your 爺爺 and 奶奶. It looks sooo good and Daddy was trying to figure out how to install it. We will take it in to the local Fire Hall so they can help us make sure it is installed correctly. Can't wait to put you in it!


Love, Mom

Last Doctor's Appointment of the Year

Hi Isabelle!

We went to see our baby doctor today for our usual check-up. And as always, everything is going according to plan. The doctor was very happy with Mommy this week because we put on 4 lbs since our last appointment 2 weeks ago...so now we weigh in at 128 lbs! You had a strong heartbeat at 157 beats/min as well.

After our appointment, Daddy treated Mommy to a manicure and pedicure (shhhh...don't tell anyone but Daddy got one for himself too...heehee) since Mommy is unable to bend over to paint our own toes anymore!

Love, Mom

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas Jingle Belle!

It is Christmas today and we had such a great time! We started out the day by going to Christmas morning mass with Grandma and then went to Daddy's hotel for brunch. And WOW, are we stuffed! Daddy prepared such a decadent meal for us. We had 6 courses and they were all soooo good! Our favorite was the foie gras with shaved truffles and wagu beef...yum! Hopefully you'll grow up to love foie gras as much as Mommy does...

Here we are all satisfied and contented after our meal!

And yesterday, Grandma watched the documentary "The Business of Being Born" with us because we are too chicken to watch it ourselves. It was such a eye-opening documentary. It made Mommy think more about how I want to bring you into the world. We hope and pray for strength and a safe delivery! Since hitting our 30th week, your arrival has been on Mommy's mind more and more now. The countdown begins!

Love, Mom

30-Week Mark!

Week 30: Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face.

Hey Jingle Belle,

It's Christmas eve and you turn 30 weeks today! Your Grandma also made it to LA safe and sound...we are elated because she is going to be cooking us some yummy food while she is here visiting. YAY! We get to eat Mommy's favorite, Penang Laksa...yum!

Also, yesterday we went to Daddy's work Christmas party...did you feel lots of hands patting you? Everyone wanted to rub our belly to say hi to you. We had lots of salad, turkey, roast beef and desserts! After the party, we went to the airport to pick your Grandma up.

Can't wait till next Christmas when you will be crawling around the house!

Love, Mom

P/S: Mommy thinks she felt you hiccupping yesterday...what a weird feeling!

Babymoon #2

Hey Izzyboo,

Daddy took us on our 2nd babymoon this weekend. We are trying to cram as much couple time as we can before your grand arrival! This time we took Zoë with us too! We went to this quaint and peaceful town called Cambria and stayed at Cambria Shores Inn. The scenery there was absolutely breathtaking and both of us had some quiet time and R&R away from crazy LA.
Zoë had a great time too...she was treated like a princess at the B&B and the innkeeper loved her. She was greeted with her own welcome basket! We walked down the boardwalk and also went into town.

On our way home, we stopped by our favorite seafood place, Santa Barbara Shellfish Company, and had crabs...YUM! Then we drove to Here's the Scoop for some gelato! We also stopped by the outlet stores and got us a really pretty diaper bag! Can't wait to use it when you come.

It was a fun-filled weekend...and now Christmas is just around the corner! Hope your Grandma can make it to LA for her short visit with us.

Love, Mom

While you were on your babymoon....

Hi Isabelle,

While you were on your second babymoon with your mommy and daddy, this was going on in Vancouver where your Grandma, Grandpa and Auntie lives...



Hopefully the snow will stop on Tuesday, Dec 23, when Grandma is supposed to fly to LA to spend Christmas with you and your parents. But it looks like Grandpa and I will have a White Christmas this year! One day, you'll get a chance to spend a White Christmas with us too!

xoxo,
Auntie Danielle

Belle—the Master Contortionist

Hey Cheeky Monkey!

You are a master contortionist! Do you know what that means? It means you can bend your body like no other!

Mommy and Daddy went in for a 3/4D ultrasound last night and you definitely made the technician WORK! You had both hands over your face and your feet were up around your little face too! At one point, you were sucking on your toes! He couldn't get a good photo of you. He even made us walk up and down the hallway 10 times to try to get you to move...but you were all balled up. Daddy was disappointed because he soooo very wanted to see how you looked like!

We only got ONE ok photo where we could see one eye and your little nose (which looks like Daddy's nose!). Maybe we'll make another appointment to try to get another peek at you. If we do, please try to cooperate OK, little monkey?


Love, Mom

Another Baby Doctor Visit

Good morning Belle!

We just got back from the baby doctor and are very happy with our progress! Mommy gained another 5 lbs and the doctor is happy. So we now stand at 124 lbs! We heard your heartbeat again, very strong at 150 beats/min. Mommy managed to record it this time for Daddy (and your grand parents too!) to listen to because he couldn't make it to our appointment today.

BelleHB_12.15.08.mp3 -

Mommy asked why she is feeling some subtle "pins and needles" under her breast bone and the doctor checked and said that you were the delivery position (head-down) now and most probably the sensation is from you resting your feet up against Mommy's ribs! Yikes...when you grow bigger, please don't start kicking Mommy in the ribs, OK?

From now on, our appointment schedule is once every 2 weeks instead of 4...we are getting closer and closer to meeting each other. YAY!

Love, Mom

Jingle Belle, Jingle Belle...

Hey there my little jingle Belle!

Mommy is finally ready for Christmas! We cleaned up the house, put up the Christmas decorations and were singing to Christmas carols today...you absolutely LOVED it...totally dancing in Mommy's belly! This will be Mommy and Daddy's last Christmas as a couple...next year, you will be here to join us! How exciting!

All Mommy wants for Christmas is a little jingle Belle!

Love, Mom

The Start of our 3rd and Final Trimester

Week 28: By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

Hi Izzyboo!

We are in our 28th week today...and it's our third and final trimester. We are in the home stretch! And wow, are we ever growing! Mommy had to take out her belly ring because it is finally feels like it is stretching our skin. Our belly is getting itchy too! Mommy is trying her best not to scratch but it is very hard when I am unconsciously doing it in my sleep!

Daddy has started getting ready for your grand arrival by getting us a new car. We now have to get your carseat. Daddy says this car is really safe and smooth for you to ride in it...it's been a week now, and Mommy absolutely agrees! We even feel safe driving down the crazy LA freeways...usually we don't like driving on them.

Anyway, we have scheduled a 3/4D ultrasound next week so we can take a little peek at you...we haven't seen you in such a long time. We want to see how you have grown and they say that we can even see clear feature details! Mommy and Daddy can hardly wait for that appointment!

Till then....

Love, Mom

Redecoration Underway!

Dear Baby Belle,

Mommy and Daddy have been busy moving furniture and cleaning up the apartment to make space for your grand arrival! We have decided to stay put for now so you will be sleeping in our room for a while. Mommy cleaned out her closet and made a little corner for you. I put up some of the stuff that we have accumulated for you...there's still a lot more but this is a start! Look at how much you are loved already, Belle! A lot of these are from friends and family who cannot wait to meet you!



We can't wait till we get everything all nicely set up for you. We will be getting your crib and changing table soon!

Love, Mom

Maternity Belt

Dear Belle,

Mommy bought a maternity belt to help her with her aching back since you are getting bigger and bigger each day but you don't seem to like it very much. When mommy puts it on, you kick kick kick where the belt supports mommy's belly. Do you feel constricted or something? Mommy really needs it because my spine is not able to hold the big belly up for a long time anymore!

Be nice to mommy please!

Love, Mom