Happy 5 week birthday!

Dear Velcro Baby,

You are constantly stuck to Mommy...whether you are asleep or awake. When you fall asleep and Mommy tries to put you in your crib, you go into your crazy cry! How is Mommy going to start work on Monday? I barely even have the time to brush my teeth in the morning. Seems like you are also sleeping less these days...when Mommy rocks you to sleep, you always have 1 eye open, trying to catch me putting you in the crib.

Well, you finally learned how to take the pacifier today. YAY! No more using Mommy as a human pacifier. You really like the pacifier from Soothie! Next, you need to learn to drink from the bottle. You also graduated from newborn size diapers to size 1 diapers. I can't believe how fast you are growing! We definitely need to weigh you soon.

奶奶 is arriving tonight. We can't wait because Mommy needs an extra set of helping hands!

Love, Mom

First Day Alone!

Dear Isabelle,

This is our first day alone together. All along, we had the help of Daddy, Grandma and/or Grandpa...but today it's just you and me, kiddo!

Well, so how did it go? It went well, I suppose...except you are starting to bully Mommy! You constantly want to be carried around, even when you are sleeping! Every time Mommy puts you down, 2 mins after, you start crying.

So we used our sling all day today. You slept in it, all nice and cozy, listening to Mommy's heartbeat, like you were in Mommy's belly. I'm glad you like the sling...looks like we are going to get our money's worth!

Love, Mom

Lights, Camera, Action!

Today we had a photoshoot with John Milios, our neighbor! You behaved so well! I think we got a few great creative shots! We can't wait to see the photos!

Love, Mom

It's Official!

You are officially heavier than Zoë! Daddy weighed you at the Pump Station today and you tipped the scales at 8 lbs! We were at the Pump Station to get some new bottle teats so you can get used to bottle feeding by Daddy. We also got you a pacifier so you can learn to use it to soothe yourself instead of always relying on Mommy!

Earlier, we went for lunch at Geoffrey's in Malibu. It was a great little getaway with beautiful ocean views...I can't wait till the summer when we can take you to the beach! I bought you a Hello Kitty bikini from H&M!

Love, Mom

Ah-Ma & Ah-Kong has gone home...

Dear Isabelle,

Your Ah-Ma and Ah-Kong has gone home. They have been a great help...especially your Ah-Ma. She made sure that Mommy was always fed and the house was always in order. She took great care of you too...always soothing you when you start crying. Ah-Kong sang you to sleep many times and you loved it.

They are both going to miss you so much when they go home and we are going to miss them a lot too! But don't worry, we will visit them often. As a matter of fact, our first trip back with you has already been planned! We will go back to Vancouver in May. We can't wait!

Love, Mom

Happy 1 month birthday, IzzyBoo!

♫ ♪ Happy 1 month Birthday to you...Happy 1 month Birthday to you...Happy Birthday, dear Isabelle!!! Happy 1 month Birthday to YOU!!! ♫ ♪

Where did the month go? You are already a month old! It seems like yesterday Daddy rushed Mommy to the hospital and Mommy held a tiny little newborn in her arms. Mommy feels like superwoman because you are gaining weight so well! You are about 7lbs 13ozs now...almost the same size as Zoë or maybe even heavier! A 2 whole pounds heavier than your birth weight. Seems like you are rapidly gaining weight and Mommy is rapidly losing it, Mommy is back to her pre-preggo weight already! You also have grown so much in personality. You are getting louder and more demanding everyday! When you don't get your way, you let out your crazy cry that everyone is scared of! A little miss diva is definitely emerging. Well, Mommy already knew it, and I love you just as you are!

You also seem to be attached to Mommy more and more. It seems like only Mommy can calm you down from your crazy cries. You love to nuzzle into Mommy's neck and it's soooo cute! We cuddle in bed every morning after Daddy goes to work. That's our bonding time, in addition to the feeding sessions we have!

We had an early mini-celebration for you at Mario Batali's pizzaria, Mozza, on Sunday, March 22. Ah-Ma and Ah-Kong celebrated with us. We were having dinner right beside CSI: Miami star, David Caruso! He chatted with Daddy about you and found you absolutely adorable!

It's bittersweet that you are growing up so fast but Mommy also cannot wait till we can interact more. Happy 1 month birthday, Isabelle and I can't wait to celebrate lots more months and years with you and enjoy all your big and little milestones!

Love, Mom

Mommie Matters...What Matters to Moms

Hi Isabelle,

Today, you and I participated in the filming of the Mommie Matters...What Matters to Moms breastfeeding webisode hosted by the Pump Station in Hollywood. The webisode will be aired on the Pump Station's website, Facebook and YouTube devoted to exploring the feelings, fears, frustrations and solutions to the ultimate joy of being a new mother. We had a great time and learned lots of things from both Corky and Wendy that we did not know about!

For our participation, we received a gift card, a Bravado nursing bra tank, and the Soothing Blanket from Luna Lullaby! We love the Pump Station!

Love, Mom

Lunch @ the Beverly Hills Hotel

Dear Isabelle,

Today is your first visit to Daddy's workplace! We went to the Beverly Hills Hotel for lunch with Ah-Ma and Ah-Kong. Everyone at Daddy's work were soooo exicted to see you! At the hotel, we were eating lunch beside Jessica Alba and across from Tim Allen. You probably won't even know who they are when you grow up. Although we were eating with celebrities, YOU were the biggest "celebrity" there! All the ladies in the Food & Beverage department were carrying you and even some of the guests were awed by your presence!

You wore your pink Beverly Hills Hotel sweatsuit to lunch today and so you are an automatic "Pink" card member! As usual, Daddy cooked us a fabulous meal consisting of lobster, foie gras, caviar and wagu beef! We had a great lunch at the hotel!

Love, Mom

Beach Outing

Dear Isabelle,

We went to Manhatten beach today! It was a little cold but still a beautiful day. We took your Ah Ma and Ah Kong for a little sightseeing. We walked on the pier and had some ice-cream. It was a fun day! Daddy wonders if you will be a little surfer girl one day?

Love, Mom

First Postman Visit!

Dear Isabelle,

You received your first mail today! The Social Security Administration sent you your Social Security Card. Now we can put you to work so you can pay for all the diapers you use!

Mommy was tickled pink when she went to open the mailbox and found a letter mailed to you. Sometimes even at the doctor's office when the receptionist calls your name, it still seems surreal...seeing your name printed on an official document is slowly making Mommy more and more used to your "existance"!

Love, Mom

Happy 3 Weeks Birthday and Baby Wellness Checkup

Dear Isabelle,

You turn 3 weeks today! We went in for your 3 week wellness checkup today as well. You weigh 7 lbs 3 ozs (you gained 19 ozs since your last visit!) and are 20 inches long. Your head measurement is 14 inches. We saw Dr. Frances Pang today and she was very thorough with Mommy and Daddy, addressing all our concerns. We think we will stick with Dr. Pang!

Dr. Pang commented that you are a very strong baby! You have a very strong neck and muscular legs. We are so happy that you are thriving!

Love, Mom

At the doctor's office, Daddy's telling you that you are not getting any shots today.

After my appointment, the doctor said you did great!

New Fragrance: Eau De Au Lait

Dear Isabelle,

You are a boobie monster! You eat so much and so often, Mommy smells like milk all the time! But we can see the fruits of our labor. Daddy weighed you on the postal scale again and you are now 7 lbs 2 ozs! You grew taller too...you are now 20.5 inches, up from 18.5 inches at birth. You now have chubby cheeks and are growing a double chin! You are going through a growth spurt!

Love, Mom

Grandpa Ow is here!

Dear Isabelle,

We went to pick your Ah-Kong up from the airport today! You were crying on the way home because you were hungry. But Mommy was driving so we couldn't feed you! You then went into your ugly cry...WAHHHH...so loud and you scared Ah-Kong!

But after we got home and you got fed, you're back to being a happy baby!

Love, Mom

Happy 2 week birthday!

Dear Isabelle,

You are 2 weeks old today! Time really flies...seems like just yesterday that Mommy was rushed to the hospital when you couldn't wait to be born! You've done really well for yourself within this past 2 weeks. All you've been doing is eating, sleeping and pooping! We've probably been through 180+ diapers already! You wake up and eat like clockwork...every 2.5 hours. And we can tell that you've grown! Your cheeks are starting to get chubby and your double chin is emerging. We also weighed you today and you tip the scales at 6 lbs 10 ozs! That's almost 1 lb over your birth weight...seems like you are gaining almost 1 oz every day. We are so proud of you!


Mommy cannot believe a little munchkin like you changed her life sooo drastically. Your personality is starting to emerge and I love you more and more each day!

Love, Mom

Isabelle @ Hollywood Farmers Market!

Dear Isabelle,

Remember all the stories we have told you about the Farmer's Market? Your Daddy finally brought you there. Although you were asleep throughout the whole time, you attracted quite a lot of attention! One lady said that you were the cutest thing at the Farmer's Market she had seen all morning! One day when you are ready, your Daddy is going to tell you all about the different produce you can find at the market. He can hardly wait!

Love, Mom

Where Have You Been?

Anyone who knows Mommy & Daddy knows that we cannot stay at home all day, everyday...so we have already taken a few short outings with you here and there.

We've been:

• To the Pump Station to meet with our lactation consultant (6 days old)
  
• To Target (Day 3, 1 week 1 day, 1 week 2 days old)
• For Dim Sum @ Sea Harbor Restaurant (1 week old)
• For Korean BBQ with the Chef & Grandma Ow (1 week 3 days old)
• To the Pump Station for the Sling Clinic (1 week 4 days old)
• To church (1 week 4 days old)
  

Grandma Ow's visit!

Dear Isabelle,

Your Ah-Ma arrived on Tuesday, March 3 to come and help Mommy out with you. She's been taking good care of us! Ah-Ma cooks lunch for us and gives you a sponge bath everyday. She also soothes you when Mommy is busy.

She is having a blast with you and you seem to have gotten very used to her. You are always smiling when she talks to you!


Your Ah-Ma, Ah-Kong and Auntie Danielle live in Vancouver, Canada and we will be visiting them very often as you grow up.

Love, Mom

Happy 1 week birthday, Isabelle!

Isabelle, you are 1 week old today!

You have grown sooo much! You've been doing a lot of stretching lately. Also you make a lot of funny faces and break out in a smile ever so often. Your eyes are open more now and you always turn your head to Mommy or Daddy's direction when you hear our voices.

Daddy is smitten with you. He's even said that he wishes he could stay at home with us all day, every day! That's the first time Mommy ever heard him say something like that...even on the days when he's super sick, he always manages to go into work...you have him twirled around your little finger! We are enjoying every single moment with you.

Love, Mom

P/S: You know what you gave Daddy for your 1 week old present?? We didn't know that little girls could spray pee and poop...but you showed your Daddy! He was shocked!

1st Baby Wellness Check-Up

Dear Isabelle,

Your first checkup was with Dr. Jeffery Brown, the pediatrician who was assigned to you while you were at Cedars.

At birth, you weighed 5 lbs 14 ozs but you lost 6 ozs in 2 days during your hospital stay. By the time we left the hospital, you weighed about 5 lbs 8 ozs. When we went in for your check up, you gained 8 ozs! Not only did you gain weight, you exceeded your birth weight! Average babies lose weight after birth and only gain it back in 2 weeks but you gained yours back in a week! You've been eating and sleeping very well...I guess that contributes to your rapid growth!

Continue growing, Isabelle! Mommy calls you her little hungry monster!

Love, Mom