Soon to be 3!

Can you believe this handsome little stud muffin of mine
 is turning 3 in less than 2 months?  

Crazy how fast time flies!

Cherish every moment you have with your little ones because you can never get back those moments where they let you hold them in your arms while they are awake for hours at a time.  Before you know it, they will start to develop crushes on little girls at daycare that he believes is prettier than his own Mother like mine did recently.  Ouch... it really did break my heart a little bit.  Not the being prettier than me thing (well, a little), but the fact that there are other "women" in that little heart of his already.  *sigh*

Happy Baby, Happy Wife, Happy Life!

I still cannot believe that I am a Mommy.  It is THE best feeling in the world!  I count my blessings everyday and when I do, I count Brayden numerous times because he is worth a million blessings.  The excruciating labor and the continued sleepless nights are definitely worth it whenever I see my Baby smile.  :)

I get to wake up to the sweetest smile every morning... I am so lucky that he has chosen me to be his Mommy.

Brayden at around 6 weeks old

Waking up to play at 2am... he reminds me so much of myself.  (Yikes!)

 I love my son!

Sleeping Beauties!

Brayden is asleep with his Daddy... that means I get some time to myself... which means... BLOGGING!  Don't get me wrong... my Baby is a really good baby and doesn't give us too hard of a time, but when he's awake, I would much rather play with him than anything else.  :)

Yesterday, I took pictures of him as he was falling asleep.  This is the process of him falling asleep:

1. He looks at you
2. He looks around a little
3. He smiles a little
4. He gets drowsy
5. Totally knocked out!!

AND... here he is when he is actually deeply asleep:

OH... it was a good dream, alright!

I am so blessed with the sweetest Baby... and so thankful that he is such a happy little one! :)

Love him so so so much!

Okay... going to go back and spy on my two boys sleeping.  Toodles!

Brayden's 1 Month Photos

I still cannot my little Baby Boy is already 6 weeks and something days old.  Time is flying right by and he is growing up a little too fast for me to grasp.

I promise to be better at blogging, but he's been keeping me busier than I've ever been in my life... and I love it!

Here are some pictures that his Dad took on the day that he turned one month old... I mean, young!

Look at that smile!

Always posin'!

My FAVE!!

He woke up and gave Mommy and Daddy the glare! LOL

My First Baby's Birth Story...

I obviously have been pretty busy lately that I haven't had a chance to post anything.  Some of my friends that I haven't seen yet keep asking me about my labor and delivery.  My response is that its better told in person... which it is.  BUT... I did email one of my friends the story (I wasn't going to see her anytime soon).  Let me go ahead and cut and paste that portion of the email here for anyone who is curious... LOL!

Let's see... it was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life, but it was worth every second.  I actually started feeling contractions on Saturday evening around 6pm.  I tried to wait it out... but ended up going to the hospital at 2am that night.  (We made a pit stop at Jack in the Box, of course! HAHA)  They monitored me and my contractions were already 2 minutes apart... BUT... I was still at 1 centimeter.  SO... they sent me home at 5am.  I was pisst because the contractions were so close together and they were getting stronger, but they sent me home anyway.  I tried to get some sleep (but couldn't) when I got home that morning.  I just laid there in bed waiting.  At 11am, my water broke... ALL... OVER... my... bed!  My first thought was, "oh hell no!  This is going to ruin my mattress and my new mattress topper thing!"  LOL!  So before I even rushed to the bathroom, I tore off all the sheets and tried to save my bed!  Whew!  Then, I ran to the bathroom with Sam following and cleaning up after me.  It was gross!! I showered and then we headed back to the hospital right away (but made another pit stop at Jack in the Box again. LOL).  Contractions kept on coming... stronger and stronger.  It was to the point where I couldn't stand it anymore so I asked them for the epidural.  I was only at 1 cm still, so they didn't give it to me and made me wait some more.  I was so mad!  I was laboring some more and trying to do stuff to make myself dilate.  By 6pm, I was still at 1cm!  WTF!  They upped the pitocin (sp?) so that I would contract.  I contracted alright... so badly and it hurt like hell! At 9pm, I was STILL at 1cm!  WTF!  I should have taken your advice and did the you know what because that might have helped me dilate faster.  HAHA!  I couldn't stand it though... I was in so much pain and insisted that they gave me the epidural.  I was seriously crying because it hurt so bad!  So... they gave me the magic juice... best thing ever invented!  I LOVE IT!  It kicked in pretty fast and I was feeling good so I tried to get some rest but couldn't because nurses kept on coming in to check up on my because my blood pressure and heart rate were being kind of weird.  Anyway... by 2am, I was finally at 3 centimeters.  I was like... THAT's IT?  Oh well... at least it's progress.  I was starting to feel numb on my left side.  Apparently, the epidural was going to one side more than the other.  :(  By 5am, they said that it wasn't safe to give me much more or else it would take days for me to feel my left side again.  So... no more epidural and I was starting to feel all of my contractions again!  :(  By 7:30am, they finally checked me (they didn't check me sooner because I was progressing so slowly) and when they did, I was 10 centimeters plus 2... so it was definitely time to push!  They got me all ready to go and they said that they could see the baby's head.  No wonder I was in so much pain and was nearly screaming... and crying!  I was shaking with every contraction.  They were waiting for my doctor who was in surgery, but they had me practice pushing.  So... I did.  They asked me if I wanted a mirror and I was like... HELL NO!  Then they told me that many people use it as motivation to push harder.  Okay fine... bring on the mirror!  HUGE mirror at the bottom of the bed... I saw everything!  With my practice pushes, I saw his head.... his hair!  I knew it was close, so I kept pushing harder... crying because I felt ALL the pain because I couldn't get any more epidural.  (Can we say that I did it naturally then since there really wasn't any more epidural)  I pushed so hard that they made me stop practicing my pushes until the doctor got there.  I was pisst!  Finally, the doctor came and I started pushing again.... and then he came out and met me for the very first time at 10:44am on Monday!  I started crying my eyes out!  They put him on me while he was all dirty, but I didn't care... I was kissing him over and over!  He cried for about 3 seconds but once he was on my chest, he stopped crying and was looking up at me!  :)  I looked over and saw Sam wiping his tears!  It was the best moment of my life!  I tore pretty badly... and I walk funny now.  HAHA!  Anyway... that's my story!  LOL

 YUP!  So there goes my story.  Obviously, I was emailing a friend so it was pretty informal and I talked to her the way that I usually would.

8 lbs, 9 oz - 22 inches long

BIG FEET like his Momma!

My HAIRY baby!

My sweetheart... love him so much!

So In Love...

Posting from my phone as my son is laying on my chest after a good meal. I am so in love with him!! :)

Back At It... Sorta!

Well, well, well... what do we have here?  My old little blog, of course!

Its been quite awhile since I've last checked in.  Life has been SO busy lately that I've been pretty bad at blogging.  Oops!  I really need to get back on it so that I can document life's little events and all the wonderful things that I've been blessed with.  Its nice to go back and reminisce every now and then.  If I don't blog now, what am I going to refer back to in the future?  o_O

I'm currently on maternity leave and just waiting for my bundle of joy to arrive.  We finally got our little office area set up in our house so hopefully this will help me get back in the groove of things.

It's actually past my bedtime, but I shall have more to say and time to say it in days to come. 

Here is a picture of Hubby and I during our maternity photo shoot with my great friend, Nara.

MORE PICTURES!!

As promised, more updates to come later!  :)

December 14th, 2011

(I couldn't think of a more clever title to this post because honestly, I have no idea what I am going to blab about now)

Guess what... I'm 27 years young now!  I have never been happier in my life, and I just wanted to let you know that this year will be an amazing year... watch!

My Husband and I finally moved into our new home a few months ago.  We were on one heck of a roller coaster ride (a long one at that) on the house hunting/shopping.  We found a house that we both love and are now busy making a house a home. 

We're expecting our first child, a BOY this upcoming April.  (He may be here as early as March, but we are still shooting for an April baby)  Most Moms would know that this pregnancy is taking a toll on me and is zapping up all of my time and energy.  Free time is spent snuggled up in bed, exactly where I want to be to embrace the little wiggles and kicks of my baby boy.  Words cannot explain how much I love this little man already... I just can't wait to meet him!  Less than four months to go, sweetie!

Work has been great... I couldn't have asked for better relationships with colleagues.  I feel like we're a big ol' family, and that is so important to me when it comes to people that I will spend most of my time with.  I earned an award in the company a couple of weeks ago... my first real plaque from a job.  As you can see, I'm pretty proud of that.  Hard work really does and should/will pay off... I'm a true believer of that.

I am reminded of how blessed I am everyday.  Especially, on my birthday, of course!  My family and friends are the best that anyone could ever ask for.  I mean... who really gets 5 cakes in one day?  (My coworker brought one to the office in the morning, had another cake at lunch when the company took me out to celebrate, and was surprised by my favorite cake from my Husband at my birthday dinner where two of my girlfriends also brought separate cakes for me)  Needless to say, I will be caked out for awhile.  I know that I sound like I am bragging.  I mean, maybe I am... I am very proud to say that I am loved by wonderful people. 

I'm flying back home for the holidays in 9 days.  I can't wait to wake up and hang out with my parents, dim sum brunch with the family, sushi (cooked ones for me) dinners with my siblings, speed shopping sprees with my sisters, playtime and baking with and for my neices and nephews, and of course, slumber parties with my girlfriends just like we did 10+ years ago.  I'll be there for 8 days (10 if you include the traveling days), but that already doesn't seem like enough.  I'm definitely going to make the best out of it. 

While I'm there, my close (Washington) girlfriends are throwing me a baby shower!  I know that its so early in the game, but they insist.  Honestly, I'd take any excuse to hang out with my loved ones, so I am all game.  I just feel really guilty that they are doing so much for me... but as they say, its the things that I would do the same for them.  Its times like these when you learn who will be there for you and be genuinely happy and supportive of you during such an important time in your life.  Luckily for me, I have a couple of handfuls (both in Washington and California) that I know are the best of friends that a girl can have. 

Okay... enough bragging about how happy and grateful I am.  I seriously could probably go on forever, but I'll spare you the time.

Goodnight! :)

Back Into The Swing of Things...

I love having a schedule and coming to work.  I know that this might change in a few months, but so far, so good. 

Do not be surprised if I develop an accent after working here.  LOL... I'm practicing!  Accents are soooooo cool!  You know like that one commercial for the Adam Sandler movie, "Just Go With It"?  I have to hear that same "HELLEW!" about every half hour.  Love it!

Our appraisal and home inspection went great this past weekend... couldn't be happier with the results.  Sam couldn't sleep for days worrying about it but I knew that there isn't much to worry about when it comes to a brand new home.  Now... on with the rest of this process.  It is and will be a long ride, but I just know that it will be worth it.

I'm really excited for furniture and appliance shopping.  Its going to be expensive but I'm trying not to stress it too much.

Alright... back to work I go. 

Happy Valentines' Day, everyone!  Its going to be packed everywhere, so my lovely Husband will be cooking me dinner tonight.  Excited because he is a great cook.  I am lucky.  :)

I Miss You...

My Husband woke me up the other morning because I was crying in my sleep.  Though I wasn't fully asleep anymore, I still felt the sadness from my dream because it wasn't only just a dream to me.

I dreamt of my Grandmother.  I miss her and think about her often, but its been awhile since she last visited me in my dreams.  There she was laying on the couch in my old house, covered in a blanket and watching TV.  She only had one blanket over her and I wanted to make sure that she was warm and cozy enough.  I told her that she should be warmer and she tried to reach for the other blanket at the end of her feet.  She was barely able to move, but she moved a lot more than I last remember her.  I walked over and pulled the blanket to cover her more.  Looking at her, I knew that my time left with her wasn't much.  I took her in my arms and hugged her tight and kept whispering to her telling her that I love her.  I felt the warmth from her at first, but slowly she started to drift further from me and I started to cry.  I didn't want to let her go and I just wanted to make sure that she knows that I love her and will miss her when she's gone.  I couldn't stop the tears in my dreams. 

I woke up. 

Though I could stop the tears when I was awake, I allowed myself to cry some more.  My heart still ached because she was no longer in my life.  It was somewhat of a release of the emotions I've felt from missing her so much for so long.

In my dreams, she acknowledged the fact that I loved her.  She nodded to tell me that she knows that I love her.  I feel like she came to visit me in my dreams to let me know that she knows that I miss her.  Why?  I don't know... but I am glad to know that she knows.  And I was glad to see her again, even if it was only in my dreams.

I miss you, Grandma. I love you.

Thoughtful Thursday - Love... FOUND.

I promise not to be a puppy in love and make every entry about love and about my Husband, but today has to be the day and this entry has to be the entry.

I often have a hard time showing and telling my Husband how much I appreciate him and everything he does.  I guess after seeing the movie, "Why Did I Get Married Too?" made me realize how great of a Husband he had been to me for the past year and couple of months.  (Which by the way, I wrote a short little entry about the movie and how I feel about it here on my other blog Oh Too Much)

He is SUCH a dork... one of the reasons why I love him so much!

People spend so much of their lives searching for the perfect partner and having these high expectations and list of criteria that their prospective partners need to fill.  Let me tell you now that if you have what you call "standards" and think that the other person has to fulfill those standards, then you should probably ask yourself what qualities is it that you have that makes you fulfill the list of criteria that they have?  Does that make sense?  I guess all I am saying is that you shouldn't look at love and a relationship as a one way street where you are the only one with needs and desires.  Take yourself off a pedestal every once in awhile and be present and level with those around you.  If you walk around with your head held too high and your nose in the air, how do you see, smell, and appreciate those that are there and ready to love you?  Keep this up, and you would never find true love... thats the truth.

I remember a line from one of my friends wedding vows "It is not only about finding the right partner, but about BEING the right partner".  - SO TRUE!

We need someone who loves you for who you are and not what you could be.  - Same goes the other way around.

In no way am I saying that you should settle for less.  By that, I don't believe that you should settle for anything less than happiness.

I am blessed to have found my true love at the young age of 20 as a friend.  I am glad I got to know him and built a friendship with him before that friendship blossomed into love and a relationship because I not only have a lover, but I will always have a friend.  Five (going on six) years later, I am happily married to this wonderful man who loves me unconditionally.  He would kiss me in the morning before I can rid the morning breath.  He doesn't mind that I look a mess in the morning (and those who have seen me in the morning can testify) and tolerates my smell if I didn't shower in a day (gross and TMI, I know... but I have my days... haha!).  I never have to wonder where he is or hope that he would come home or wait by the phone waiting for him to call.  I no longer have to go to bed alone at night or wake up wondering where he is or who he is with.  I don't have to eat dinner alone (unless it was planned) and there is no longer a day that goes by when he doesn't remind me that he loves me.  I never go to bed angry or upset... that's a rule that we have and its been working wonderfully...

The list goes on, but we all get the point... I am a lucky woman!

I can tell him all my dreams, wishes, and plans... and he would listen because he is and will be a part of it all.

Aloha!

I am still alive!  I promise!  (Sorry to break the news to some... hehe!  JK)

I can now say that I know what its like for feel jet lagged!  After a week in beautiful Hawaii with my Husband, I didn't want to come back home.  Seriously, he was considering requesting for a transfer out there and everything!  I must say though, that I would miss my friends, family, and life on the mainland way too much if that was to ever happen.  Its an island... you can't just hop in a car and drive away.  For now, I can dream.

Much to do now... including uploading pictures and sharing a bit of paradise with everyone.  Though this is my second time in Oahu, this was the better... may even be the best time EVER!  I fell even more in love with my Husband in a beautiful place... it felt like a dream or fantasy of some sort... but it was real.  SO REAL!

I have so much that I need to update and post about, but I keep putting it off.  There's too many great things that happened that I can't just not share.  There are memories that will live on in my head, but I need a place to jot it all down because I just know that there are many more memories to be created and I don't want to forget any of it.  This has been and will continue to be a place for me to put it all down and out there so that I can refer to it when need be.

Anyway... I hope everyone's been doing well.  Confession again... I haven't been up to date with the blogs, the emails, the facebooks, the tweets.  Shoot me.

A "LONG" Day!

Things are just starting to SLOW DOWN, so I have a few minutes to reminisce and share the memories of a lovely day with you all.

Durand happens to be Sam's best friend... in fact, he was his best man!  I met him and Lily for the first time over four years ago when Sam and I first got together.  I knew right away that these two were the perfect couple and were meant to be together.  I was right!  ;)  These two have been a few of the closest group of friends I've made since I've moved down here to California.  I can honestly say that if I needed someone to hug or talk to about anything, I can always count on Lily... and Durand too (for the non girly stuff).  Anyway, they are awesome people and such great friends to have.  Sam and I couldn't be happier for this beautiful couple... we were waiting for a LONG time for that day!

Their wedding was a beautiful one... one that I wish I can relive and make it last longer because I was having a blast!!  Below are some of the pictures from the traditional Cambodian ceremony followed by the awesome reception.  Enjoy!

On our way!  (I was broadcasting live from my phone)

Had to pose at 7am in front of the house before the ceremony! ;)

Blessing the lovely couple!
(why is my face so wide? haha... just got done eating, I guess)

US!

This is HOTT!  Love them!

My California Family of Friends - LOVE these people to death!

The girlies and my sweet Mother in Law!  :)

The newlyweds and their sea of faces of their friends!  Cool picture!

 The Long's, The Lok's, and The Lim's... I meant Sim's!  :P

Our good friend Mikal of Lok In The Moment (LOKITM Photography) did a BEAUTIFUL job on the pictures.  View more of the "Long" wedding here:  Lily & Durand Long Wedding

1 Year Wedding Anniversary

“The Art of a Good Marriage”, by Wilferd Arlan PetersonA good marriage must be created.
In marriage the "little" things are the big things.
It is never being too old to hold hands.
It is remembering to say, ”I love you" at least once a day.
It is never going to sleep angry.
It is having a mutual sense of values, and common objectives.
It is standing together and facing the world.
It is forming a circle that gathers in the whole family.
It is speaking words of appreciation, and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.
It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.
It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow.
It is a common search for the good and the beautiful.
It is not only marrying the right person -- it is being the right partner."

Exactly one year ago, on this very day... I married the LOVE of my LIFE.

Marriage isn't perfect and if it was, then it would be boring and get old.  We are still learning new things about each other every single day.  There are times when we get upset or a little angry at each other for silly little things, and occasionally, for bigger things.  At the end of every argument and upset, something positive comes out of it.  We gain more understanding of one another and acceptance of each flaw or mistake.  We gain more appreciation for our partner and a reminder of why we love and respect each other the way that we do.  Mort importantly, we learn what love really means.  Words cannot explain the true meaning, but I think I have a pretty good idea of what this little thing we refer to as "love" is.  I can't imagine learning these little things and growing to be a better and wiser person with anyone else other than him.  He makes me a better person, and in him, I see myself, my future, and my love.

"On Friendship" by Roy Croft
I love you, not for what you are, but what I am, when I am with you.
I love you not only for what you have made of yourself, but what you are making of me.
I love you for the part of me that you bring out.
I love you for putting your hand into my heaped up heart and passing over all the frivolous and weak things that you cannot help seeing there, and drawing out into the light all the beautiful and radiant things that no one else has looked quite far enough to find.
I love you for ignoring the possibilities of the fool in me, and for
laying hold of the possibilities of good in me.
I love you for closing your eyes to the discords in me, and adding to the music in me by worshipful listening...
You have done it without a touch, without a sign. You have done it by being yourself.

Sunset Dinner celebrating our 1 year Wedding Anniversary (07.17.10)

Weddings... can you feel the love?

I woke up this morning to the sun rays beaming through my weak shutters and birds chirping.  Thats how I knew it is going to be a great day.  And even if it isn't a perfect day, I am going to try my best to make it a wonderful one.  Got an interview this morning... and so do 29 others who are fighting for the same position that I am going for.  I know that it sounds like a lot and is a bit intimidating, but I am trying not to let it get to me.  I have nothing to lose and the least that I can gain from this is practice.  I always learn something new, and I am ready for that at the very least.  

Looking on my calendar and I can see that wedding season is kicking in.  I have at least one wedding to attend each month for the next 6 months.  Wow.  I love weddings and I am not complaining one bit, but it makes me feel giddy inside to know that my friends are falling in love and taking this step into their future.  I can't explain how happy I am to know this and I hope that I can join each and every one of them on their wedding day... though this might be difficult since the weddings are held all over the world, it seems.  I just found out that my cousin's son (who is 21) is getting married in May!  Personally, I feel that 21 is a bit young, but who am I to say?  I don't know their relationship and as long as they are happy and in love, I couldn't be happier for the little twerp I call my "nephew".  (all of my cousins' kids are my nieces and nephews to me... the whole second and third cousin thing is just way too confusing to remember with a huge family like mine)  There is something about weddings that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.  :)

My best friend is getting married this summer... the same weekend as my wedding anniversary (so we can celebrate our wedding anniversaries together in the future, duh!).  They are so in love and one of the most loving couples that I know!  She calls me for tips and suggestions on a lot of the wedding plans, and I am loving it!  Although I am a thousand miles away, its nice to know that she still comes to me when she needs a second or third opinion.  I'm glad that even when we are so far away, our friendship still grows and we still make time for each other... even if its for the half hour morning commutes to work.  Anyway... wedding planning is so much fun when its not your own.  As indecisive as I am, thank goodness I am not the one who has to make the final decision like I did for my own wedding.  I am one of the people who can come up with a million ideas and suggestions but if you were to ask me to make a decision, my mind goes numb and blank.

I look forward to the little things like the Save-the-Dates, the details on the invitations, the centerpieces, the guestbook, the cake topper, the wedding favors, the details on the dresses... you know, all the fun stuff.  OH... and I especially look forward to the food and the dancing!  (How could you not?)  Inevitably, I am going to need waterproof mascara.  I don't remember going to a wedding where I did not cry at.  Yes, I am a sucker for love and a walking ball of emotions and tears.  My friend asked me to help her find some readings for her ceremony, and I was crying while coming across some things I found on Google!  Yes, Google makes me cry!

Let me reminisce my wedding a little bit...

Daddy and Mommy pretending to cut my hair.
Laughing and crying tears of joy because I adore my Parents so much!

Mommy kissing me and whispering in my ear in Khmer how much she loved me as she was blessing me... I couldn't hold it in.

SOME of the elders in my Family on stage as we all gave our "thank you" speech.  Mommy kissing me as I spoke and tried to hold in my tears.  Thanks, Mom... you just defeated the purpose and made me cry more!  LOL

Dancing with my HANDSOME Daddy.  He doesn't dance and kept trying to tell me to cut it short.  No way, Jose... we are dancing until the very last tune!  He is so adorable and still to this day, the Man with the biggest heart anyone has ever known.

Resemblance? Its in our personalities and our upper lips (they disappear when we smile)... LOL!

Hitting the dance floor with my Friends and Family.  The Man in te black suit and the big smile is my loving Uncle... who I love sooooo much!  I tend to get silly with all of my Family members and I don't think I'd ever grow out of it and they still see me as the silly little 7 year old without any front teeth!  :D

and finally, with my loving Husband.  (nuff said)

Okay... reminiscing some of the happiest moments of my life set the mood to an even greater day and now I am going to knock the socks off whomever is interviewing me.  I hope they're ready for this!  :)