The PJ sisters

Jiejie is entertainer

Soph wanted to entertain Olivia so she pulled over a chair and sat next to her.

But she ended up playing with her cheeks!

Guess who I am?!

Olivia's crust

Is finally on the road to recovery! Finally looking like baby skin.

Olivia the Pumpling

A pumpling, as they are affectionately known in the world of pumping moms, is a baby who drinks expressed breast milk.

That makes Olivia a pumpling.

See my feeding recordings with a long row of BM! I haven't used any formula for the past two days! Also, she's drinking less after that growth spurt two weeks ago (or was it because of gassiness) and I seem to be pumping lee-la bit (little bit pronounced by Sophie) more. I was considering latching her back on, but nah. My milk flow so slowly why torture her.

In fact, I think I pumped 20 ounces today?! If I only have to use less than 5 ounces of formula a day, I consider that an achievement. Yay 再接再厉. Drew a smiley face to reward myself.

Fashionista

She wants to pick her own outfit now.

Space-age fashion sense.

And now she appreciates dresses and pretty skirts. I offered her this tulle skirt to wear to school today and she said yes! She won't wear it for her 2nd birthday party 9 months ago.

Also getting better at making cheese signs and looking at the camera.

Expensive first day photos

There's a photography company at the hospital who came by and took pictures of us when we were there.

We decided to buy them since it's difficult to get nice family photos. They were insanely priced so we only bought TWO. Here they are.

Baby acne outbreak

The doctor said baby acne is not quite the accurate term. It's neonatal cephalic pustulosis. At first it started with some acne like spots and then over the week if erupted into some sort of rash.

Looks like a sunburn. The doctor finally prescribed some anti fungal cream which we have to mix with hydrocortisone and apply to the cheeks. Thankfully it doesn't seem to bother her.

Babycare team in LA and Solvang

The gramps have come and gone,  leaving behind nothing but wonderful memories.

For their hard work, we decided to go on a road trip to LA and Solvang. It was supposed to be a treat for them albeit they had to survive the long and arduous ride with frequent stops to burp Olivia and change diapers but we made it there and back!

Christmas window shopping at the grove. I think 4 adults to deal with 2 kids is a good ratio.

The greedy pig who loves her ice cream now.

Olivia in her car seat and the erupting rashes on her face.

Grandma topping up Olivia's tank while we had lunch at the Farmer's Market.

We visited the Santa Monica Pier and saw a seal swimming around waiting for people to throw him fish!

Lazy afternoon at Solvang on the way home.

Sophie vs. Grandpa

Grandpa tells Sophie "Say it, don't spray it!"

"Eat up!"

Grandpa teaches Sophie how to scoot the school bus. I love all their happy faces.

The ladies' man

Halloween 2014

This Halloween is somewhat different from the previous two years. Mei mei recently arrived so we could not bring Soph to the Menlo park trick or treat like the previous years.

Still, this year she's Princess Sofia.

All hail the princess!

I felt that I didn't want to miss out on her trick or treating this year so I sneaked out on 9th day of confinement to go with her to the mall. And what a mad house it was! Sophie was apparently freaked out by the crowds and wanted to bao bao all the time.

She finally warmed up after sitting down and sifted through her spoils. 

"Daddy 这是什么？”

She chose the See's candies-orange chocolate lollipop. 酸酸的 she complained. 

I recommended her the m&ms and she was satisfied. 

With fat mommy and grandpa the bodyguard.

Freebies

Casually won these in the Haba contest. So lucky.

And a bathtub.

Team Ellie

My best birth support team

Sorry I farted in your face twice in my table top position.

My best breastfeeding support team.

Weight up

Olivia who was born with 6lb 13ounces had a downward weight trend at her three day checkup.

Boo.

The pediatrician told me to do two hourly feeds. I have forgotten how exhausting they are. But thanks to grandma who helped me to keep an eye on the clock and prodding Olivia to wake up, we managed to keep up with the feeds. 

We had to return the next day to see if her weight went up. It did! Three ounces! 

Ok I cheated a little by giving her 40ml of formula. The doc said the average weight gain is 1/2 to 2 ounces so she overshot which meant she didn't really need the formula. Who cares, she looked like she was starving and I didn't want a de javu starving Sophie episode. 

 

The day when 5 became 6

The very helpful big sister

I was initially worried that Sophie would be really jealous toward mei mei. She looked a little apprehensive when she first met her at the hospital but that quickly turned into acts of enthusiasm. Over enthusiasm at times actually.

Always wanting to change a diaper.

Always wanting to give a kiss and hug.

Always wanting to carry her.

Even if Sophie was trying to show that she's jealous and wants attention, I think she was pretty clever about it. Like singing songs all day. Mommy is always attracted to her singing!

After these days, we finally managed to get her to cool off on the changing diapers and carrying. She's still pretty clingy at times, like wanting me to put her to bed. 

Olivia

Our mei-ster is here.

Born on Oct 22, 2014 at 5:19pm.

Weighing 6lb 13ounces at 20inches. 

She came out with one push! Wow!

Baby mei mei

10/22, 1:30pm

Well, the mei-ster might be finally on her way out. We checked into the hospital around 11am today and dada is having some stronger contractions. Dada is 2-3cm dilated now so the doctor admitted us. The contractions are a 6 as far as pain level according to dada which is more than the 3 level that she felt when we came to the hospital last Saturday. Now time to wait. Looks very painful for dada during contractions... 加油

3:56pm

Doc just popped dd's waterbag and now she is 7cm dilated. Things should be moving fast now. Bath seemed to help just like with Sophie. 

6:38pm

Olivia was welcomed into the world at 5:19pm. 6lbs 13oz, 19"

Things went by so fast and dd just had 1 big push before Olivia came out. Doctor almost didn't make it in time since another women was delivering at the same time. Phew! Lucky she made it. Luckily only 1 stitch for dd so not as bad a tear as last time. 

10/23, 1:30am

All setup in the recovery room. Olivia just had her bath and is sleeping while dd just devoured a bowl of cup o noodles. 

Silly faces

40 weeks and 1 day

I'm past my due date and my belly looks really funny now.

Grandma's surprise

Grandma enticed Sophie to eat more by giving her a surprise-favourite coconut!!

The coconuts were on sale and as expected the meat was tough. So grandma had to hack the nut into two. See the duo devouring away...

"Gime that piece!"

With gramps at happy hollow

The five of us went to Sophie's happiest place on earth-happy hollow! I realized I didn't tell the folks we were going there before they reached the place. Accidental good strategy otherwise grandpa would have exclaimed "too expensive" and don't want to come. Haha!

Taking her train-train dragon ride with grandma and smiling for once!!

She got on the horse barrel after some persuasion but still refused to get near the petting zoo goats and sheep. I bought some goat feed and tried to entice her to feed the goats. She just looked on at the goats nibbling my tshirt for more food and thinking her mom went nuts. 

Our little munchkin is so confident with her poot poot car ride now. I still remember her terrified look when I first put her in one year ago. Now she turns the wheels wildly and rings the fire truck bell. And also wants to climb in and buckle herself up now.