WOO-hoo to Marriage!

Babyhood of the traveling parents

2012-02-01T12:22:00.000-08:00

Mr. Woo and I like to travel. It was one of the things I thought I'd have to give up once I was pregnant, but I've been surprised to see that it's possible. My packing list was lengthier and the process took more time, not to mention the extra laundry to do before rushing out the door to make it to check-in on time, but possible.

Here's what worked for our recent trip.

1. Be realistic
With Selah being young, we knew that she might wail with ear trouble on a plane or not last several hours sitting in her car seat so an in-state two-hour drive during her nap was good grounds for everyone. We stayed out there for two nights and made sure that feeding, burping, and changing diapers were the very last tasks to happen before we drove anywhere. Sometimes you do have to take an infant on a plane or need to take a lengthy ride, but I'm just talking circumstances that you can somewhat plan.

2. Make a list of items to pack
Lists work for me because I seem to have lost some memory-storing capability while delivering the placenta (seriously, what happened?). I like to pack light so I'll plan my outfits in layers that easily mix-and-match. Now with a baby, I just needed to bring a few more tops for the unexpected spit up and/or massive drool fest on my sleeves. For Selah's bag I mentally went through a typical day and made sure I covered all the items needed for play time, nap time, diaper changes, feedings, outings, etc. For example, when we co-sleep she has one lap pad underneath her head (in case of spit up) and one lap pad underneath her bottom (in case of leak from massive poop), so I made sure to bring the duo for the hotel bed.

3. Do laundry the day before
Since the trip was a surprise for me I had to do laundry the morning of. We share washers and dryers with others in the apartment complex, but they were available so we'd be packed and off in no time, right? No, the washer broke. Both of them. So our clothes were sitting in one drum full of water while our baby's clothes were floating in the other. If I can help it, I'm doing laundry the night before my next trip.

4. Don't jam-pack the entire day with activities
It may be too stimulating for the baby. I might need to feed. A poopy diaper may cause us to be late to the show. I may not even want to go to the show by that time. Instead, we went for a stroll and took in the scenery. We liked making good use of our camera and finding new places to eat. A two-day pass to the aquarium was just the right amount of happenings for us.

5. Be prepared for insomnia - for all parties
Selah had a difficult time sleeping the first night. When I heard footsteps above I felt bad because I didn't want them to be upset. Mr. Woo did call the hotel ahead of time to make sure it was baby-friendly though. They even offered a play pen if we needed/chose to borrow one for free. We felt more comfortable bringing her into (the king size) bed so we chose that option.

6. Enjoy the time together
Sure, she might have gotten a little anxiety with all the strange smells, but we try to fascinate our baby with the big doggy trotting by or the twiggy tree with pretty foliage. In fact, we had a passerby snap a picture of the family - we were on vacation!

Bonus: Clean the home before leaving.
Let's face it, no one likes coming home to dishes. I can't stand having them sit there just overnight, but having a baby has made me deal with certain preferences head on. If I had more time without the laundry debacle, I probably would have at least washed the dishes and picked up a few things in the living room. But I didn't, and many don't because they're looking for the missing sock or stuffing their weekender bag with water and a few snacks for the road. That is why it's a bonus. :)

Everything else was part of our normal routine: window shades in the car, blanket and toy in the car seat, stroller and car seat adapter in the trunk, portable changing pad and spare bib in my bag, several nursing pads, a few extra diapers and a pack of wipes, wetbag for her cloth diapers, and "first aid kit," which at the moment only contains a nose sucker, pacifier, Aquaphor, nail clippers, CJ's butter, and GroVia magic stick (I keep forgetting to throw in the thermometer). Kaiser's phone number is saved on my phone and we can always use Mr. Woo's smart phone to Google any questions. Whew, babies require so much for such little bodies!

What are your tips for traveling with a wee one?

A second grader's take on L&D

2012-01-30T13:37:00.000-08:00

I came across this hilariously cute story on Facebook (you know, now that I'm somewhat up-to-date with technological advances). Brings back memories of teaching and birthing... Enjoy!

The 'Middle Wife' by an Anonymous 2nd grade teacher...

I've been teaching now for about fifteen years. I have two kids myself, but the best birth story I know is the one I saw in my own second grade classroom a few years back.
...
When I was a kid, I loved show-and-tell. So I always have a few sessions with my students. It helps them get over shyness and usually, show-and-tell is pretty tame. Kids bring in pet turtles, model airplanes, pictures of fish they catch, stuff like that. And I never, ever place any boundaries or limitations on them.. If they want to lug it in to school and talk about it, they're welcome.

Well, one day this little girl, Erica, a very bright, very outgoing kid, takes her turn and waddles up to the front of the class with a pillow stuffed under her sweater.

She holds up a snapshot of an infant. 'This is Luke, my baby brother, and I'm going to tell you about his birthday.'

'First, Mom and Dad made him as a symbol of their love, and then Dad put a seed in my Mom's stomach, and Luke grew in there. He ate for nine months through an umbrella cord.'

She's standing there with her hands on the pillow, and I'm trying not to laugh and wishing I had my camcorder with me. The kids are watching her in amazement.

'Then, about two Saturdays ago, my Mom starts saying and going, 'Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh!' Erica puts a hand behind her back and groans. 'She walked around the house for, like an hour, 'Oh, oh, oh!' (Now this kid is doing a hysterical duck walk and groaning.)

'My Dad called the middle wife.. She delivers babies, but she doesn't have a sign on the car like the Domino's man. They got my Mom to lie down in bed like this..' (Then Erica lies down with her back against the wall.)

'And then, pop! My Mom had this bag of water she kept in there in case he got thirsty, and it just blew up and spilled all over the bed, like psshhheew!' (This kid has her legs spread with her little hands miming water flowing away. It was too much!)

'Then the middle wife starts saying 'push, push,' and 'breathe, breathe They started counting, but never even got past ten. Then, all of a sudden, out comes my brother. He was covered in yucky stuff that they all said it was from Mom's play-center, (placenta) so there must be a lot of toys inside there. When he got out, the middle wife spanked him for crawling up in there.'

Then Erica stood up, took a big theatrical bow and returned to her seat I'm sure I applauded the loudest. Ever since then, when it's show-and-tell day, I bring my camcorder, just in case another 'Middle Wife' comes along.

Woo Two now Woo Three

2012-01-21T22:20:00.002-08:00

I joked about how if we were to start a band we'd call ourselves Woo Two. Now that's the term we use when we eat out at Sushi House and McDonalds, In-n-Out and Panda Express, you get the idea... But along came our little Sweet Pea, and now we are Woo Three - one step closer to the Von Trapps.

For her 100th day of life outside the womb, we decided to opt out of a party and just document the occasion with a photo shoot with all three of us in the pictures. To help us out, I hired Grace Baek. I know Grace from serving her class in Covenant Flock Group (and was immensely blessed as I studied various topics, observed this group grow, and made some life-long friends). She wasn't available for the day of, so we ended up taking these pictures a few days after Selah turned four months. It must have been a tiring day for the little Sweet Cheeks because she knocked out toward the end. I do wish she would've showed her smiley self, but we like the pictures no less. Now the task of choosing one to canvas for our living room wall...

See more on Grace's website!

Quilt: Handmade by one of Mr. Woo's crafty former middle school students
Headband: Handmade by the lovely Kristin at Petal + Thorn
Dress: Kissy Kissy
Lamb: Macy's
Plaid shirt/jeans: Carters (Thanks, Unc Joe!)
Cardigan: Gap

Special thanks to Grace and Olivia.

Best anniversary gift, ever

2012-01-21T22:20:00.000-08:00

We celebrated our 3-year anniversary pretty low-key, which I didn't mind. Mr. Woo kept asking what I wanted to do, and all I could think of and want was to spend it anywhere as long as it was with him and our baby.

But then!

Mrs. Woo: Pooki, wake up.
Mr. Woo: Hmm?
Mrs. Woo: You need to wake up or else you'll be late for work.
Mr. Woo: No, it's okay.
Mrs. Woo: No it's not. You're going to be late!
Mr. Woo: It's okay.
Mrs. Woo: Get up! You're going to be late!
Mr. Woo: I already e-mailed.
Mrs. Woo: Huh? You did?
Mr. Woo: Yeah.
Mrs. Woo: Okay...

I thought it was strange but didn't think much of it. He was sweet to even pick up breakfast for us from a nearly regular weekend joint while I started laundry. I had to because he insisted that I do, using my "emergency quarters." And then he broke the news to me...

Mr. Woo: I messed up a lot, but I want to start off this year right.
Mrs. Woo: Okay.
Mr. Woo: I need you to pack.
Mrs. Woo: Why? We're not going anywhere.
Mr. Woo: Pack for three days, no -- pack for about five days.
Mrs. Woo: Where are we going?
Mr. Woo: I took some time off. I'm taking two weeks off to spend with you and Selah. I thought it'd be a good time since it's our anniversary.
Mrs. Woo: Are you serious???

YAY! Insert happy dance. (I was literally jumping up and down from excitement.) Looking back on it, it was kind of like how this little girl reacted to the news that she'd be going to Disneyland, minus the tears and backpack full of goodies.

And so Husband, Wife, and Baby packed and left to Monterey for a two-night stay at the same hotel two summers ago (cf. Phase V). My favorite part? Just enjoying the days with my sweet hubby and precious baby, no matter what we were doing/eating/seeing. The sea otters at the aquarium were a close runner-up. So much so that ~~I dragged~~ we happily went to see them again the next day. Selah liked talking to the penguins, (I think it's because they're black and white, and babies like contrast) while Mr. Woo liked seeing the jellyfish.

Happy 3 years of marriage, Pooki! I absolutely loved my have-Hubby-spend-two-weeks-at-home and Monterey getaway gift. Good call on starting it the day after so I would really be surprised. :)

A string of birthdays

2012-01-08T18:58:00.000-08:00

The fall and winter seasons mean three things: (1) the change of smell in the air, (2) back-to-back holidays=sales=shopping, and (3) nearly everyone's birthday.

First up in the pack is who is now known as Halahbuhjee (Grandpa Na).

Then is Ama (Grandma Woo).

Next we have Uncle Nolan.

Followed by Halmuhnee (Grandma Na).

And then is Agong (Grandpa Woo).

Finally, we wrap up the line-up with Daddy.

Whew! (In between all those birthdays, we also have all three wedding anniversaries.) Then we take a deep breath in of the crisp smell that can only be described as "winter," go through the mounds of receipts to see the damage, and wait with no hurry until my birthday in the spring.

How do you usually transition into winter and the holiday season?

Woo-hoo to 3 years

2012-01-06T00:21:00.000-08:00

Already! And this year was probably the biggest in transitions. As mentioned on the back side of our Christmas card this year...

January: Mr. Woo is closer to 30 than to 20
February: Mrs. Woo craves watermelon, cereal, and peanut butter
March: Babymoon to Maui, Hawaii
April: Mrs. Woo is closer to 30 than to 20
May: Mr. Woo is no longer a teacher by profession and begins working in the city
June: Mrs. Woo is no longer a teacher by profession and is (finally) a stay-at-home wifey
July: Mrs. Woo bakes up a storm while "nesting"
August: Selah is born!
September: Many well-wishers visit (with food!)
October: Begin bi-weekly family outings strolling down Fourth Street
November: Host Thanksgiving for both sides of family
December: Selah not only smiles and squeals but grabs toys, bibs, and Mommy's hair

And as a nod to our tradition, another picture from our wedding:

Christ not only joined us together, but keeps us together year after year. :)

Psst - Click to view our proposal, engagement, one year pictures.

A three day process and finding feet

2012-01-03T13:36:00.000-08:00

Our Selah has grown so much! I was excited to see that her dexterity was fantastic and just in time for opening presents, which she had no shortage of. The littlest member of the family probably received the most gifts but it was probably us who enjoyed it more.

Christmas Eve was spent with Mr. Woo's side of the family who came up for a few days. Nolie and Joe joined the food and fun as well.

Christmas morning was a cozy and special three-persons party. We sang songs, Husband read from the Word, and we ~~fought for~~ took turns holding the most popular member of our household as we opened gifts in our respective stockings. There seemed to have been misunderstanding about that. I thought it meant stocking stuffers plus gifts while Mr. Woo meant only gifts that fit in the stockings. Growing up, stockings were just decorations - except the year my cousins visited from Korea (Santa brought lots and lots of snacks). Now I know for next year.

She did give us a small something for us this morning: she found her feet! It could have been accidental while opening presents, but I saw with my own two eyes her little hand grabbed her even littler toes. Yay for another milestone! (And for remembering to record it in a list of "firsts" that I've been compiling for her scrapbook.)

Then Christmas dinner was at my parents' - with the whole gang. The food was exceptionally incredible before another round of gifts. Selah gathered the most gifts, hands down. She even received one from from Mr. Woo's company! And his team lead!

Three days of presents for the little munchkin! I like to think that it was great dexterity practice for the little learner. Maybe next year I should spread the gifts out and give her one for each holiday, like Martin Luther King, Jr. Day coming up or Presidents Day after that. I do sing her "Happy Birthday" for each weekly birthday (no gifts, just the song)...

My favorite Christmas gift

2011-12-26T22:50:00.001-08:00

Exactly one year ago, we found out that we had a little one joining the family. Today we're loving our Precious Cargo sent "priority mail." Selah's four months old and quite the happy wee addition. I received some lavish gifts in small packages this year, but the petite one that smiles, squeals, and blows raspberries at me is my all-time favorite. You just can't put a price on the moments she reaches for your finger or grins at you from across the room. Looking at this little human being discovering the world around her, I'm full of wonder and amazement myself.

I can't even imagine what Mary must have felt holding Baby Jesus. What was going through her mind as He lay in the manger? When I was in labor I didn't even have my eyes open for the first half of my grueling labor. Maybe it's different when you know that you're bringing the Savior into fully man form? But surely she must have been rejoicing and praising God for the historic and crucial day. Hubby recently reminded me that Christ's birth was necessary not only to pay the penalty for sin (substitutionary atonement), not only to fulfill prophecy, but also because God can't die. Christ, being fully man and fully God, came to earth to be the ultimate sacrifice (for our sins no less) and conquered death... Words don't seem to give that truth adequate justice. Selah might be my favorite Christmas gift but my Lord Jesus Christ has to be the best gift ever. Merry Christmas, everyone!

Happy Holidays

2011-12-24T14:40:00.000-08:00

Stocking Stuffer

2011-12-21T21:41:00.000-08:00

Christmas Wishlist 2011

2011-12-20T21:29:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year again to drop (obvious) hints to my Near and Dear (that's you, Hubby). This year I've just thrown some things onto the list, but it's only to get him thinking, not necessarily things I must have. Last year he knocked off multiple items off the list(!) - although I didn't get one of them until months later because he hid it in behind a co-workers whiteboard so that I wouldn't find it. Too bad he had forgotten about it... But I mustn't forget that I did receive an early gift that ~~dragged~~ swept me by surprise. We'll see what this year brings. We even bought stockings for each family member despite having no place to hang them!

~~Item #1~~

~~Ugg Mini Kimono in grey (size 6), (6pm.com, $89)~~

~~Why I like it~~

~~(1) My current and only Uggs are reaching the end of their life.~~

~~(2) They keep my feet warm in the winter.~~

~~(3) They are one of the few closed toe shoes that I'll wear.~~

Note: It's now out of stock. :(

Item #1

Louis Vuitton Stephen Sprouse Leopard Scarf (brown), (2008 LE, $1350)

Why I like it

(1) I suppose it doesn't have to be this particular one, but it's cute and warm.

(2) It's a versatile piece.

(3) It's purrrty (puahaha).

Item #2

Calphalon Nonstick Pots and Pans (Macy's/Williams-Sonoma, varies)

Why I like it

(1) My stash has been fairly abused with metal utensils and high temperatures by others in the kitchen.

(2) Cleaning nonstick is non-stressful.

(3) It's an investment that allows me to serve my family daily.

Item #3

West Elm Charity Mug, ASPCA (westelm.com, $10)

Why I like it

(1) Husband won't buy me a real French Bulldog.

(2) Mugs are practical.

(3) It's for a good cause.

Item #4

Western Digital External Hard Drive 3TB Passport, (staples.com, $150)

Why I like it

(1) I take hundreds of pictures each week.

(2) My computer is slowing down.

(3) In case of a fire, I can only grab two things, Selah with my left arm and this in my right.

Item #5

A 3br 2ba House, (Bay Area, $400-600k)

Why I like it

(1) I would like our own washer/dryer for the several loads of laundry each week.

(2) White walls are getting boring.

(3) Selah needs crawling space, and it's a long term investment?

I'm noticing quite the difference between this year's list to the one from last year. I need to get a bigger Christmas stocking.

What's big on your Christmas wishlist this year?

Black Friday fluffy mail

2011-12-15T14:16:00.000-08:00

I got what's called "fluffy mail" in the cloth diapering world. Yay! (Snail mail really is the best.) All of my orders are from the four online shops that I prefer and reviewed earlier, plus one from Etsy.

These CDing moms, and dads, went crazy. I suppose I'm not one to say though because I was among the mob that was refreshing several times while counting down the minutes until midnight in each timezone. Some items were gone within minutes, and by the time I placed my first order I was #59 in line. Those are some nimble fingers they've got because I even had my cart ready to go before the cyber madness started!

The fantastic news is that all my packages from my multiple orders have safely arrived, and I can't wait to get them on my baby's tush. Cloth diapers have come such a long way, and are far from the pins and cloth squares that most people think of. We've been mainly using Flip with soft organic inserts, which I'm happy with, but I'm in search of a nighttime diaper that: (1) won't leak, (2) is soft on her bum, and (3) fairly trim.

Here are my new additions:

Yup, Mr. Woo's first reaction was, "How much did you spend???" even though I told him the morning of Black Friday and gave an update after Cyber Monday. I guess seeing is believing. His look must have been something like this:

I knew there'd be a big price tag initially, the upfront cost, but not having to spend $20-30 on a box of disposables that would only last for a couple weeks is wonderful. (You can find sites that have calculators to tell you how much you'll save in the long haul by switching over!) What's greater is that I had the freedom to choose which fibers I wanted (natural, natural, natural) and which type I wanted (all-in-two for daytime, trying pockets for nighttime). Plus, Mr. Woo prefers the all-in-ones because they're so similar to disposables that there's not much of a learning curve there.

The other items I invested in are: wetbags (no leaks nor odors), more detergent to leave at Grandma's, BabySoy onesie, and books on cloth diapering to give as gifts. And in my defense, some of those items above were free: several more diapers, detergent, babylegs, wetbag, and CJ's butter samples. Woo to the hoo!

I'll be trying out one or two of each new diaper system. That way if I don't like it, I can sell them. There's quite a good return on the popular brands, and with the price that I purchased them at, I'm fairly confident that I could possibly make money on them if not break even. If it's not a nice snug fit, I can always try them when she's bigger too. I'm going to have to keep my favorite colors and prints though, whether Selah wears them or not. There's always #2, right? (I sound like a true addict.)

Mommy's Little Elf

2011-12-14T15:04:00.000-08:00

Tree's the season to be

2011-12-10T22:21:00.000-08:00

Selah's still somewhat of a newborn, but I already want her to be part of making memories with us (she'll have to re-member with photos later). I thought it'd be sad to put her presents under our tiny tree from last year, so we upgraded. Don't get me wrong; I wasn't about to go chop down a real pine from the woods for our baby who wouldn't know the difference. We ventured to good 'ol Target who recently had a great promotion in stores - $10 gift card for any purchase over $50. Plus, the Christmas trees were on sale. Yay for deals!

It took us a week before we carved some time, but it's up now. There's a slight Charlie Brown feel to the tree, but it's Selah-sized (just like her fall pumpkin was). She likes the lights. I like that the presents are no longer bigger than our tree.

Oh, and I'm thinking about making it a Casa Woo tradition to not put a traditional star atop our trees. Last year's served us well in more ways than one, but this year's takes the cake. Our star:

I also like the glimmering and can now I can admire the pretty lights from within my own home instead of stealing glances as we walk past our neighbor's window. Once their window was open while I verbally gushed at their nice tree. Yeah, she looked out at me. Whoops.

Mommy's Shopping Buddy

2011-12-03T14:34:00.000-08:00

Monkey farts

2011-11-29T15:57:00.000-08:00

One of the "baby stuff" I was eager to try was cloth diapers. I sought out some BumGenius Elementals because they were organic and all-in-one (no stuffing necessary). AIO, mf, pockets, PUL, sposies, AI2, flats, prefolds, RaR, BG, liners... I've picked up a foreign language and though not yet fluent I'm now conversational.

I still very much like organic cotton (so soft!), and bamboo has been amazing (soft and antimicrobial!). The only qualm I have about BGE, aside from the long drying time, is how bulky it is on our little Selah. So while I'm excited about how much I'm going to like it when she's older, I'm making good use of our Flip (also from the makers of BG) covers with organic inserts. I'm also looking for trimmer options where she can wear her tiny Gap pants and not be so bottom heavy. Enter Kelly's Closet, Sweet Bottoms Baby, and Green Diaper Demos.

In my mind, Cotton Babies is the Costco of online diaper shops, but these three are the Trader Joe's that I prefer. All three shops have been great thus far, and the frequent buyer points system has me going back for more.

Kelly's Closet probably has the most variety. Their Facebook wall is bustling most of the day with "JV moms" asking the "Varsity moms" practical questions. The few days I got sucked into this magical world I saw Stacy, who's part of the KC team, constantly imparting her wisdom to nearly every question. I can now attest to the wonderfully helpful customer service that I so value in any type of trading. Shipping is not quite as fast as others, but it's not the slowest either. It's worth it though, as you can always find a deal and/or coupon at KC.

Sweet Bottoms Baby made me feel like it was my birthday. It all started when I was looking for a discontinued diaper. Not only did they have it, but their prices were lower, if not the same as other shops, of most products. The nicely wrapped package was a pleasant surprise, and the handwritten note was truly sweet. There's a lot of care oozing from this place. SBB also has fast and free shipping every day no matter the purchase total. Don't forget that there are tiers for free samples with each order too.

Green Diaper Demos lured me in with an early Black Friday sale and the fact that they had the sold out diaper I was looking for. Michelle also included a handwritten note (call me old-fashioned but it's just a nice touch - just like snail mail!). My free gift was another diaper whose style name was "Moovin' Strawberry." She couldn't have sent this strawberry lover a better gift. Another perk about GDD is that you can cash out your reward points faster. Mo' money, mo' money!

Many of these shops offer samples of products that you can try before committing to a larger quantity. (Their Tiny Bubbles detergent sample packs are great for taking to Grandma's!) I kept seeing CJ's BUTTer around so I decided to try one, Monkey Farts. Maybe I was too tired to make any connections, but I couldn't for the life of me figure out what kind of scent it would be. Some people reviewed it saying that it was their favorite, so I took a chance. This BUTTer is a natural muli-purpose cream for babies and adults, but I'm more intrigued by all the scents. (Monkey Farts!?)

I'll give an update on my Black Friday and Cyber Monday purchases once they all arrive. Our checkbook definitely took an upfront hit, but I'm excited to not put plastic against her soft tushy. Plus, all the cute prints make it so addicting! Happy mommy means happy baby.

Disclaimer: I have not been paid nor compensated for any of the reviews (though I would leap at the chance if it meant more free fluff). All opinions expressed are my own. :)

Thanksgiving from the Woos

2011-11-24T09:55:00.000-08:00

It's a rainy morning that started with a diaper that leaked onto her clothes and our bed, but from our little nest to yours, hope you're having a wonderful Thanksgiving! There's much to be thankful for all year round :)

"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, His love endures forever. Psalm 107:1"

Psst! Cardstore.com has been having big sales. They address your envelopes and even add postage for free!

100 days of life

2011-11-21T18:38:00.000-08:00

This weekend marked our Selah's 100 days outside the womb. Yay! It's celebrated in the Korean culture because long ago many babies didn't make it to this day due to poverty, lack of medical attention, etc. Instead of throwing a big bash for her (maybe for her dol?), she attended her first wedding. It's been an incredible three months nurturing her. Selah's so curious, strong, and sweet - such a happy baby, crying only when she needs something (e.g. feeding, diaper change, ...)

No balloons and confetti here, but surely a recap is in order. From birth to now, our Selah:

Happy 100 Days, little one!

Mommy and Daddy love you SO much! :)

Owl Always Love You

2011-11-18T21:48:00.000-08:00

Mary had a Little Lamb

2011-10-31T17:28:00.000-07:00

Following our family outing at the pumpkin patch, our Selah Bear gussied up for Hallelujah Night as a...

Little Lamb.

Let's review one of the well-known children's songs, shall we?

Mary had a little lamb, little lamb, little lamb.
Mary had a little lamb whose fleece was white as snow.

I wouldn't say her costume's fleece was that bright of a white, but it was furry and close to white.

Everywhere that Mary went, Mary went, Mary went,
Everywhere that Mary went the lamb was sure to go.

My Little Lamb definitely goes wherever I go. That's probably because I'm her milk supply.

It followed her to school one day, school one day, school one day.
It followed her to school one day which was against the rules.

I am actually planning a trip to visit my previous students and co-workers - which is not against the rules. I just need a visitor sticker).

It made the children laugh and play, laugh and play, laugh and play,
It made the children laugh and play to see a lamb at school.

My students saw my belly grow from the beginning (and saw it the most too), so it'll be neat to have them meet her.

And so the teacher turned it out, turned it out, turned it out,
And so the teacher turned it out, but still it lingered near.

I'm shooting for a lunch time or afternoon recess visit.

And waited patiently about, patiently about, patiently about,
And waited patiently about til Mary did appear.

I don't know about Selah being patient yet, but that's due to her still being so young.

"Why does the lamb love Mary so?" Mary so? Mary so?
"Why does the lamb love Mary so?" the eager children cry.

We humans tend to follow the food, no? Where there is food, there the crowd is also.

"Why, Mary loves the lamb, you know." Loves the lamb, you know. Loves the lamb, you know.
"Why, Mary loves the lamb, you know," the teacher did reply.

I LOVE my Selah Bella!

And at Hallelujah Night (Halloween alternative), she sang praise songs and listened to Daddy preach a mini sermon.

She also went to some of the activities:

took pictures in the photo boo(th):

and then konked out to suppress her hunger (Mommy ate Kit Kats on her behalf - though technically she got a taste of it via milk):

So Selah was a little lamb, Mr. Woo turned down the role of the Wolf, and I was Mary - not Bo Peep. She lost her sheep.

My little pumpkin

2011-10-28T22:25:00.000-07:00

I used to look at moms who would ask their infant questions like, "Which dress do you want to wear today, pink or purple?" and think, 'Why are they asking if the baby can't even respond? That's so silly.' But I've become that mom. I want Selah involved in everything!

So even though she barely has any depth perception, I insisted that we take her to the pumpkin patch. Luckily, we stumbled across a mini patch that was just the right size for our wee one. And of course I was asking her, "Which pumpkin do you want Selah Bella?" in between, "Oh, Pooki! Let's take a picture next to the scarecrow!" and, "Look at Daddy! Look at Daddy! Look at Daddy!

I'm so glad I didn't have to take her in front of Trader Joe's make shift pumpkin patch for her (going to be) annual pumpkin pictures. I might have gotten some funny looks...

We decided to save the petting zoo section for when she can chase the animals around, or at least stand next to them. Or maybe it's because we're pinching our pennies and didn't want to pay for it.

There's my little pumpkin!

I've been wanting to make pumpkin bread since last year, but got caught up with a different kind of bun in the oven so it never happened. I would have roasted the seeds with a sprinkling of salt too. And when we're going to carve pumpkins I have no idea, but I've got some pumpkin decor ideas saved for whichever year I commit to being crafty no matter the circumstances.

In the end, this is the pumpkin that ~~Selah chose~~ Daddy chose for our Selah. It's cute, little, and round - just like her!

Feeding the Duck(s)

2011-10-21T18:58:00.000-07:00

Still on the Missoni bandwagon

2011-10-14T18:43:00.000-07:00

The first time Selah strolled in her snazzy stroller was also her first trip to Target, where the last pairs of two Missoni shoes "somehow" ended up in our cart. They happened to fit my feet so I kept them (great Cinderella story, right?). But I wanted to see if there was anything to my liking for our Little Bear. I poked around the Target website, after the online mess was cleaned up, and ordered a couple items for her with a coupon (yay!) to bring the total down a few beans.

Then on the next week's Target trip (it's amazing how fast we've been going through diapers), Mama Bear spotted a lone beautiful velvet rose print coat in a toddler size, misplaced and hanging amidst some onesies in the children's section.

Mr. Woo: You don't need any more clothes!
Mrs. Woo: It's not for me! It's for Selah!
Mr. Woo: She can't fit into that.
Mrs. Woo: Not yet~

Yes, I am the one who: (a) fits into children's clothing, (b) buys clothes that her child can grow into later, (c) bought another Missoni item.

Just to see what was happening on E(vil)bay, I took a peek. After all, these people were adding tens of each item into their cart on this Black Friday-esque morning and selling for massive profit, from what I read. End result: I managed to score the coat for Selah Bella for less than retail price. Take that, E(vil)bay!

And with that, I am now stepping off of the Missoni bandwagon (unless you or I spot one of those espresso sets).

Did you buy anything from the Missoni for Target collection?

Whale of a time

2011-10-10T17:32:00.000-07:00

Selah had sponge baths for quite some time, but she has recently made friends with her whale bath tub.

This one came with an orange fish toy, too. (The pink towel is also a fish. It's supposed to keep the baby warmer when you pour water on her.)

Surprisingly, she not only stayed calm, but seemed to actually enjoy it.

This discovery made Mr. Woo very happy since he was a swimmer and in water polo in his more fit days. He wants to take her to the beach and pool already. Lucky him, I've had a cute swimsuit bought and ready for her ...for next year. I know she was swimming in fluids for nine months, but she also had an umbilical cord preventing her from drowning. No swimming for my baby unless it's less than three inches deep (her bath tub) or in amniotic fluid (my uterus), thank you. Appeals to be considered six months from this date.

Selah Baby, you can thank Mommy later.

A letter to Papa Bear

2011-10-05T10:41:00.000-07:00

Good morning, Papa Bear!

I'm sorry I cried so much last night. I was just uncomfortable and needed some assistance. But you seemed to sleep through it okay, so I hope you're not too tired today.

Mama Bear says you "bring home the bacon." I don't know what that means quite yet, but she says it enables her to stay home and take care of me. We have lots of fun together! Even when I give her a lot of poopy diapers, she praises me with, "Good job, Selah Bella!" or "What a good girl!" Sometimes I smile back, and sometimes I stare at the pink flower on my changing table. I don't even get in trouble for spitting up on her! Maybe she's getting me back with Tummy Time...

This is my friend Olivia. I met her last week. She makes funny noises and even carries around a mirror. Some say that's vain, but I don't have an opinion on that because I'm not too fascinated by the shiny object yet.

Daddy, I miss you when you're at work. When Mommy puts you on speaker phone, I recognize your voice but I can't see you. I'm so glad you can come home earlier than most other daddies. What should we do when you come home today? I'll start off by telling you about my day, as we usually do, and then let's do something fun! You might have to change my diaper first though.

Thank you for being a wonderful daddy. Mommy and I think you're swell. :)

Love,
Little Bear aka Selah Bella

For You, Friend

2011-10-02T21:04:00.000-07:00

Selah's nursery under construction

2011-10-01T10:42:00.000-07:00

Our Baby Bear is now over a month old, but instead of finishing up her room, it looks like I've got more work cut out for me. You see, Mr. Woo usually gives me great artistic freedom in the home. I did what I could under the conditions of my work schedule, rental rules, etc. before giving birth, but there are a few issues that came up.

The main thing was safety regarding the space above her crib. I had a frame and mirror hanging there, but now I'm finding a new place for them, somewhere I can turn and still easily view the state of my gassy or milk drunk baby.

The glider and ottoman set has also since relocated to our bedroom because the Little Lady spent most of her time there when she came home. A different chair has been holding its place for nighttime feedings. A burp cloth, bottled water, and chap stick are now sitting on the tray placed atop the robin's egg ottoman.

Even the contents of her dresser have gone through some change. We've added a few items and even taken some out, now that we know what we like (side snaps and soy/organic) and dislike (small opening for head and buttons on the back). We received a lot of 0-3 month clothing as gifts so I took the liberty of returning some and exchanging others for bigger sizes for down the road. I considered changing the hardware on her dresser and matching changing table, but I think I like that the modern gray pulls matches the duvet.

Her changing table might be the only area that hasn't needed much alteration. I like its clean lines and the simplicity in decor details opposed to oozing baby. We have a bunny, a pig, and an owl on one side and a family of bears on the other. (Notice the tulip detail to mirror her bedding!) I look forward to when she'll be able to hold those books up instead of squirming. From what I hear, though, we'll be converting it back into its original intent as a desk before we know it.

Here's her view. She likes to look at the pink flower.

I still have a couple crafts that I plan to add to my little girl's room, including a handmade mobile, so maybe rearranging pieces isn't such a terrible thing. Until I'm able to go out and purchase the supplies, I'll stick to the necessities like diaper changes and baths and worry about beautifying later. Or perhaps I can first tackle the mound of her fresh laundry that we throw onto the bed. (It's actually nice to spread it all out in one place but definitely a sight for sore eyes.)

What's something you had (or wished you had) in your room growing up that you still remember today?

Outing on the Missoni bandwagon

2011-09-27T23:21:00.000-07:00

Our little bears' den was running low on some supplies, so last week we strapped our precious cargo into the car seat, grabbed the pretty stroller, and headed out the door to Target. (Thank you for all the gift cards!)

Before we even reached the aisles for items on our list, I somehow found myself surrounded by Missoni products. I wasn't one of the people up before opening a la Black Friday and didn't realize why their website was down until later. But there before me was one last pair of rainboots. It was meant to be. While I was trying it on, baby and husband beside my happy self, a Target worker put back a small Missoni box that also looked promising. I snatched it up before the herd of college sorority girls made their way to the end of the aisle. It was smaller than my normal shoe size, but it also fit! It was meant to be.

Meanwhile, Mr. Woo kept himself busy taking pictures of Selah's first time in her stroller. It was an exciting moment for all of us. I did feel a little guilty using money from returned baby gifts (there were lots of doubles and items that we weren't planning on using), but I found the "perfect" Cal wear for our little bear. (Picture coming later!)

Later we had the blessing of babysitters (Thank you, Nolie and Nat Kat!) so that Hubby and I could take a 45 minute breather and go on a little date. We went to Kohl's to use a free $10 card that came in the mail (yippee!) and then grabbed ice cream at Tuckers (get Tin Roof!) before our time was up. We came home with our four-decibels-higher "Selah, did you miss Mommy/Daddy???" only to find her sleeping soundly. Don't worry, she missed us when it came time for a diaper change, especially the 3:00 A.M. ones. Yes, I often change her diaper several times within the hour.

I look forward to holding a hot cup of Starbucks in my hand. Oh wait, I can put it in the "parent cup holder" attached to the stroller. No, I'll hold it. Plus, Mr. Woo has claimed dibs on pushing. He said it's his "man's job." I guess that leaves me with control of what goes in the shopping cart... ;)

The Princess & The Pea

2011-09-12T00:28:00.000-07:00

The first three weeks

2011-09-04T20:41:00.000-07:00

It's been such a whirlwind I feel like I'm going through my own hurricane in our otherwise cozy home. Little Selah's gone through quite the journey as well. She's three weeks old now and has been through quite a run.

Birth weight 6lbs 4oz
Has latching/feeding issues
Hospital informs us she has jaundice
Pediatrician comes in again and decided she does not have jaundice
Weight drops 12% to 5lbs 9oz after coming home
Another testing indicates she does have jaundice level of 12
Frequent visits to lactation consultant
Jaundice starts to go away
Cries for hours at a time, especially at night
Frenulum snipped
Lactation consultant says not snipped enough
Poops and pees well
Able to sit/sleep in her swing (sometimes)
Birth weight slowly goes back up with supplemental finger feeding
Diaper rash forms
Mommy and Daddy try the "magical" works of the pacifier
Exclusively breastfeeds
Weight is currently 6lbs 8oz(!)
Feedings somewhat every 2-3 hours
Sleeping most of the night outside of feedings.

Mama Bear is having a slow recovery. I stopped bleeding after a few days but made the mistake of squatting (to unbuckle Selah from the carseat sitting on the ground) and started bleeding again. Motrin has been helpful for my aching body, but I'm looking forward to feeling myself again - hopefully soon. All hospital staff we visit keep telling me to sleep whenever she sleeps, but that advice frustrates me as my baby doesn't seem to like to sleep when I do. This job is so humbling. I like to tell myself, "Just suck it up," in difficult situations, but this is like nothing I've been through before. It's endless work, and then some more! But my sweet hubby reminds me to look at her face and see that it's all worth it. I'll admit, sometimes I just look at him with a blank stare because I'm so exhausted but this is the time to preach the Gospel to myself. And if there's no time (or brain) for that, the time to apply the Gospel is now - for her sake and mine. If it's not constant feedings, it's going to be something else for the next 18 years, right? UPDATED - Mama has mastitis in both breasts now and is on antibiotics on top of the Motrin.

Papa Bear returned to work last week. He's sorely missed as he's been so helpful in changing diapers, burping after feedings, and consoling her cries. So I started full-time (or is it double-duty?) day and night so the poor man can get some rest before bringing home the bacon. Hearing the car locking honk is like a chorus of angels in unison - "Daddy's home!"

Which leads me to PRAYER REQUESTS... Please pray that I would: (1) be joyful and thankful in serving my little one unto the Lord and (2) be teachable as I have much to learn and a long way to grow. Motherhood is brutal, but I'm learning much. :)

“By faith we will slip our cable for another day’s cruise, and sail forth with Jesus into a sea of tribulation. Winds and waves will not spare us, but they all obey Him; and, therefore, whatever squalls may occur without, faith shall feel a blessed calm within. He is ever in the centre of the weather-beaten company: let us rejoice in Him. His vessel has reached the haven, and so shall ours.” -Charles Spurgeon

We welcome with love

2011-08-23T17:06:00.000-07:00

It's been a crazy 12 days, but...

Created with: Shutterfly

We love our little girl so much already! (heart)

Three cheers hooray, minus the ring, plus a belly

2011-08-09T16:08:00.000-07:00

Three years ago today, Mr. Woo put a ring on my finger. (This is how we celebrated one year later.)

Today, I cannot wear the engagement ring because my fingers are swollen from my (nearly over!) pregnancy. But that hasn't affected our marriage one bit (just the glances I get with my enormous uterus and being called "Miss" more).

I've been rocked in this School of Sanctification time and time again, and I can only expect to get pummeled some more as we enroll in our next course of Parenthood 1001. It's scary and I'm nervous, but I'm so thankful to be able to walk into it hand in hand with my beloved Pooki. God's been incredibly faithful to me, and to our little growing family, through my worries, fears, but mainly tantrums this past year. We're not perfect (yet), but we've got each other to sharpen, encourage, and gaze with in the same direction. So I sit here on my yoga ball (best purchase in the third trimester!), 2 cm dilated and a happy wife. :)

Happy almost 3 years, Honey Bunny! I love you! :)

A sneak peek at Selah's Nursery

2011-08-07T22:18:00.000-07:00

I've been "nesting" on/off since I quit work, but only now got around to washing her clothes. It was very important to me that she have something to wear when we come home. After the washer decided to stop working mid-way on my first attempt to free my little one's clothing of any yucky germs, my dear husband went fishing for every little bitty sock and shirt as my anxiety piled as high as the water.

This second surge of energy, or rather determination, must be because she's preparing for her big entrance too - a big chunk of my mucus plug came out tonight! I heard that it was thick and colored, but I'm now a believer of, "You'll just know." All that to say, I'm glad her room is now readily awaiting her. :)

Here's what our office/guestroom looked like before:

During the "renovation":

And a sneak peek at what is now the nursery:

Yes, I have changed the theme/colors many times, mainly from "Pigs & Strawberries" to "Blue, Green & White" to "Puppies" and finally settled at "Whatever makes Mommy happy." I figure a happy mom makes a happy baby, right?

More s'mores please

2011-08-02T11:42:00.000-07:00

First trimester cravings: Cereal, Strawberries, Peanut butter

Second trimester cravings: Strawberries, Peanut butter, Watermelon

Third trimester cravings: Watermelon, Fresh fruit, Fresh fruit

(I'm definitely having a girl.) BUT sometimes I'm overcome with a sweet tooth that you might have noticed here among my list of things pregnancy surprises. My latest favorite is the S'mores Cupcake! Oh, the graham cracker crust plus half the chocolate cake topped with a marshmallow frosting...

This one's from Teacake Bakery (beats the others I've tasted), and they only offer it on Thursdays. The first time I tried to obtain one, they were sold out. You can imagine my disappointment, so dear Hubby brought me back on another Thursday so I could get my swollen hands on one. Nope, the wedding rings don't fit anymore.

Ferocious.

My Shed 100 Challenge

2011-07-20T14:56:00.000-07:00

I started a project toward the end of last year that took longer than anticipated. I knew I'd be buying and bringing more "stuff" into the home around Black Friday season, so I wanted to do a fall cleaning challenge - which turned into a fall thru spring cleaning. My goal was to shed (donate/sell/toss/give away) 100 items from what we already own.

So I started pulling out sections of different rooms and re-organized my dresser, going back to the folded and filed method (I tried stacking but it wasn't as effective for me since I'd forget about the ones at the bottom). I knew it'd be difficult to get Mr. Woo in on cleaning but even he was able to pull out a few things!

The start of something beautiful

Here's my last count between the two of us before I had a spurt of "nesting" and just ransacked items out of the home:

Jeans (2)
Ts/Shirts (27)
Pants (3)
Dresses/Skirts (8)
Jackets/Sweaters (11)
Socks (10)
Shoes (4)
Home goods (6)
Jewelry (4)
Bags/Purses (3)
Misc. (21)

One of many bags sent to the trunk

We kept most of it in the trunk so that I could try to sell it at Buffalo Exchange, but we weren't able to wait in their crazy lines. I ended up donated most of it and just picked a select few to sell. I've always tried to be a bargain hunter, but I'm also realizing that to have room to grow is a worthy deal too. I'd rather have a sparse home that can slowly be filled with things that we absolutely adore and like, rather than a jam-packed one that feels cluttered and disheveled. This is harder to do with two people who are very different in many ways.

Nonetheless, it feels great to get rid of some clutter and having extra ~~storage~~ breathing space. In fact, I like it so much that I'm going to try and do it every year. Some have a stricter rule when it comes to bringing home "stuff," such as 'If two items come in, two must go out.' I'm a sentimental person so I don't think I'd have the will to do that just yet. I'll stick with my now annual Shed 100 Challenge.

Do you have a lot of "stuff" in your home too? Why does it mound up so quickly? How do you control it?

The baby registry that never went up

2011-07-18T16:43:00.000-07:00

I had my share of "We have to buy that for Selah even though it costs $1000!" moments (for the record, we didn't succumb to the pressure). This vast realm of baby products is sometimes overwhelming as the money-hungry wolves lure you in as their fluffy, innocent dinner. They often use promising words and coaxing tactics to try and fill in the I-don't-know-what-I'm-doing-but-I'm-trying-here void. And sometimes their products are just so cute.

If I were to ever start a business I might try to tap into the baby world. It's similar and related to the wedding industry in that everything is overpriced and often unnecessary. Perhaps the reason why (especially first-time) parents purchase so many items is to provide entertainment for the child so that they can get some (much needed) rest opposed to the baby actually needing it.

So on to the top contenders that I've been suckered into! I have my baby registry ~~as a saved draft on Gmail~~ on an Excel spreadsheet consisting of categories, links, and prices at various vendors - started even before I was pregnant (I like to be prepared, okay?). Needless to say, I haven't had a chance to test any of the following items out, but here are some of the ones that I really want to like and am hoping my precious cargo will like too.

1. Bumgenius Elemental cloth diapers

I've spent many a days on Cottonbabies and other sites looking up reviews on these cloth diapers, and I'm buying it all. Cutting costs on our newest and biggest investment? Better for her sensitive tush? Less waste? Yes please! Plus, it's organic. So for now, I've purchased a few off of Ebay to try out once our pooping machine is a few months old and all the new-mom crazies have settled down (or at least that I've adjusted to).

2. Fisher-Price Whale of a Tub

The moment I saw this guy on Amazon that it was a must-have. Fisher-Price came out with an updated version that has a toy bar in the middle but I wanted to keep bath time simpler (aka easier for Mama) with no adjusting/fixing/pulling of any sorts. I was able to snag the last one at a Target store that was mixed in with the newer ones. A baby bath tub in the shape of a blue and green whale - so cute and still not over it.

3. Babyletto Mercer 3-in-1 convertible crib

The next item that made the cut was this gorgeous crib. I like the clean lines, the contrast between the dark rich wood and classic white, and the bottom shelf for additional storage space. It has a non-toxic finish, is a brand that has never been recalled, and is not so tall that I'll have trouble getting the bean in and out. Though initially saved on Amazon, we ended up taking it off the hands of a family on Craigslist for a quarter of its original price, including mattress, a complete bedding set (which I sold), and mobile. Woo to the hoo!

4. Ergo baby carrier

Growing up, I had thought I'd use a Korean wrap called a podaegi to carry my future baby hands-free. My, how times change. This Ergo carrier we received as a gift (thank you, ladies!) in the cranberry color so that Mr. Woo can also use it too (we all know he's going to be a baby-hog). But if I were to get a second one down the line, I might snag the gray galaxy one OR the organic peaceful portofino from Petunia Picklebottom
(available for preorder now - it's so pretty!). It's a subtle kind of pretty that would match with just about anything I wear should I choose to actually try to look presentable while being sleep-deprived.

5. (Deeply discounted) Baby clothes

Who doesn't like shopping for teeny, cutesy outfits for a wee one? (My husband, actually.) So if I came across fabulous deal, I'm talking mostly $0.50/$1.00/$2.00, for something that mesmerized my uterus, I bought it. Only a few! [We're a Gap (and J.Crew) family, mainly because Wifey likes Gap, and since Wifey does the shopping we're now a Gap family.] Of course, we've received so many clothes the past couple of months that I don't know if the nugget will be able to wear them all more than once (no more 0-3mos please).

6. Bumbleride Flite stroller

Isn't it pretty? This one actually didn't make it to my list until late in my second trimester. I had been eyeing the Bugaboo Cameleon with all its fancy-schmancy options but in the end could not justify spending $1k on something that we may not use as much as we think. So after much back and forth between the Bumbleride and a few other contenders, I chose the pretty seagrass-colored stroller. It helped that it was on clearance (new model came out earlier this summer) from another vendor to save some cash since I'm not one who likes to pay full retail price.

7. Shermag Glider with ottoman

This was our very first purchase we made with the bun in the oven in mind. We spotted it in great condition at a garage sale down the street so I sat in it to: (1) test it out and (2) claim it while Mr. Woo ran home to look up reviews on Amazon. There it retails over $400, but with some negotiating we took it home, actually Mr. Woo carried it all the way home (my hero!), for $50.

The last "big purchase" is still iffy because I'm in the process of hunting down a doula. I wasn't able to do so earlier with deadlines at school. Now that I'm (finally) at home and have the time to research and contact references, they're all booked, vacationing, or out of the country. :(

As you can see, much of what Baby needs (and what we want) has already been purchased which is why I never had to put up a registry. Between the two showers from school/work, we've been blessed with so much that I've actually had to exchange some for items of a greater priority. With just a few more items left, it seemed silly to create a registry online. We're just excited (and nervous and overwhelmed and scared and...) to meet our little girl face-to-face in about another month. Please continue praying for our growing family! :)

A Dachshund's belly

2011-07-13T22:37:00.000-07:00

The pregnant life has been such an out-of-body experience, many moments which I'm helpless to alter.

You know when you're crossing the street and there's 7-6-5-4... seconds to go? I imagine I look something like a Dachshund (wiener dog) with my shorter legs rapidly pitter-pattering the pavement, working twice as much to travel the same distance as those I'm accompanied by, all while trying to make the light.

Source

See? From the front you can't tell what its torso looks like, but from the side you get the panoramic view. I'm carrying wide opposed to protruding more to the front, thus my surprise when I hear that I'm huge. When I look down from my angle I just don't see it all. But then I turn to the side in the mirror and am stunned to see the rest of what I'm transporting around.

So let's see how my belly bump has progressed since discovery, shall we?

At 3 months:

She the size of a grape, and I with a pooch.

At 5 months:

Babymoon to Hawaii!

At 6 months:

Fruit! Give me fruit!

At 7 months:

Nikki Yanofsky concert!

At 8 months:

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk!

And soon she'll pop out and that'll end the maiden voyage of my womb! :)

Note to self & Pooki: Next time, we really need to document it better. Selah won't be receiving an "Inside Mommy's Tummy" photobook, but I do have a different project lined up for her once she's out and about!

15 Things I didn't know about pregnancy

2011-07-09T22:54:00.000-07:00

Pregnancy has been a fascinating ride and I can't believe I'm already well into my third trimester! I was lying in bed one night when I realized that I have less than 6 weekends left alone with my Pooki before life takes a sharp turn. That's so soon that I can almost count it on the fingers of one hand! So before I lose any more of my memory, here's my candid, bare-all, not-for-the-squeamish, brief list of surprises I encountered in pregnancy thus far.

My (liberal) doctor lets me eat pretty much anything, including sushi.
The kicking sometimes feels so low in my uterus that I think her leg is going to shoot out of my cervix.
How weird (but cool!) it is to see my belly moving with each somersault, jab, and kick.
"Sucking in" while trying to squeeze through a narrow space does squat.
Baby's hiccups are the repetitive movements that feel like a heartbeat.
The frequency of bloody gums and boogers.
Hair not shedding much (but I hear it'll make up for lost time post-baby).
Lower back cracks just from shifting my weight.
Tailbone pain.
Drooling during some nights.
Vivid and intense dreams of terrible happenings.
Internal organs feel squished up high and very uncomfortable. Where can/do they relocate to?
Belly button shrinkage, or at least it looks like it with the belly expanding.
Constipation (I've shed a few tears in the bathroom) and hemorrhoids. Bowel movements will no longer be taken for granted.
Sneezing and peeing are not always mutually exclusive.

Note: All pregnancies are different so, as a reminder, this list is particular to my experience. Yours and/or other hearsay may differ.

For a BONUS: What in the world is the clicking noise from inside my belly??? My Mama Bear fright immediately thought it was her little bones breaking from moving so much, but that doesn't make too much sense.

Oh, and I'm probably the only pregnant woman who doesn't particularly like pickles. Ice cream on the other hand...

Mr. Woo and his first diaper

2011-06-23T11:58:00.000-07:00

Like most men, Mr. Woo has never changed a diaper before. To ensure that our baby girl was going to be alright with a novice daddy, I had him practice.

Supplies:

Baby substitute
Diaper
Daddy

(We kept it simple for the first round.)

Mrs. Woo: Can you practice putting the diaper on?
Mr. Woo: Hah, can I put a diaper on. Wait, she needs a pillow.

[A minute later]

Mr. Woo: (proudly holding up his work) See?

[He even checked to see if she needed another change. That's when I saw it...]

Mrs. Woo: ...ahaHAhAahHa! You put it on backward!

Mr. Woo: Huh? Why does it matter?
Mrs. Woo: Because it's backward!

Oh, the fun we're going to have. Don't worry, Selah. You'll be just fine. :)

Showers of love for Selah

2011-06-22T14:46:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago the school staff on our campus threw a surprise baby shower for me!

The potluck food was yummy, as always, but it was the gift basket that induced a squeal of glee out of me. It was darling with all sorts of goodies.

Then the last week of school my students and their parents threw me a surprise baby shower! It was so funny watching the Diaper Game (basically, there were six diapers each smeared with a different food product to resemble #1, #2, and #3). I did have to send one boy with a weak stomach to the bathroom. Maybe he ate too much pizza before the game? Macaroni and cheese was the most difficult to guess but I nailed Snickers, York Peppermint Patty, and green beans correctly (teacher brain quickly calculates 3 out of 6 correct to be an F).

I wish I had some pictures of the games, but alas I didn't have my camera at school. I probably don't want to think too much about the one where students were asked to predict the circumference of my growing waistline via length of string and then measured in inches anyway. One (charming) student guessed 29 inches while another (fill in with an adjective) student guessed 52 inches! Child, that would mean I'm nearly as round as I am tall...

Oh, what love is all around you, Baby! You're not even here yet, but you're taking up a lot of room at home with all your "stuff."

Thank you Miss Kim for the staff baby shower pictures!

A grate first Father's Day

2011-06-17T20:24:00.000-07:00

Mr. Woo has been talking about buying a grill. My first response was, "How often are you going to really use it?" I figured it was just a spur-of-the-moment thing since there have been quite a few barbecues the past month or so, complete with friendly "King of the Grill" competition. But as I was baking one day, he was with me in the kitchen(!) making his own sliders from scratch!

Being thoroughly impressed by his eagerness, drive, and the taste (he even bought lean meat to make them healthier), I reconsidered his proposition (not that I have the final say in Casa Woo - I'm only VP). With Father's Day soon approaching, I decided to bake some grill-like goodies to commemorate this "first."

Serving kabobs, steak, and hot dogs.

Then I packed them for Mr. Woo to take to his teammates at work who have been trudging through training together (finals are next week!).

Get it? :P

Pooki, you're my favorite person in the whole world, and there's no one I'd rather enter this daunting task of parenting with than you! Now look next to the door to see you're real Father's Day gift. I'm expecting some mean burgers and kabobs and corn this summer. ;) Happy Father's Day weekend!

Last week as a teacher

2011-06-09T21:16:00.000-07:00

I'm wrapping up my final duties as a teacher this week and next with in-services. The previous week was my last in a classroom full of students, and it was busy as ever. In the hussle bussle of it all God gave me the grace to pack lunches for Mr. Woo and make end-of-the-year gifts for my students.

Here's what I was up to for my students (more for their parents, actually):

I created a template for a K-12 School Days frame that their families can continue as they progress from year to year! I started it off with their kindergarten, first, second, and third grade pictures. Then I placed each one behind a sheet of glass so that I wouldn't be handing them a piece of paper. They were wrapped individually in flowery tissue paper for girls and boy-ish blue polka dots for the boys. I wanted to engineer handles for them all (so that it wouldn't be dropped out of a third grader's grasp), but I was so sleepy that I decided to forego the tote idea.

I needed the sleep so that I could be a loving wife before a full-time employee. Mr. Woo's been going strong with his weekly quizzes and report presentations at his new workplace. Not a single one failed - praise the Lord! To keep his energy going, I've been continuing to pack his lunches. On one particular day, I included brown/white rice for starch, seafood pancake for the side dish, and meat (galbi jjim) because he's a man. The blueberries were for antioxidants (to not get sick) and cherries just because they were super sweet (like him!). I even wrote a little note on his Rice Krispies Treat to "kick it up a notch."

One more week!

Wife of a working man

2011-05-14T13:32:00.000-07:00

Mr. Woo is officially done with teaching (at least for now)! God has been so good (as usual) in guiding and directing our little family's steps. From his start date to insurance, and even some things that we hadn't considered, has been panning out in His perfect timing and we're so grateful for it all. Mr. Woo's involvement in the students' lives won't be as much (right?), but I'm sure they'll keep in touch. As a parting gift, I had the middle schoolers decorate vest cards and write a note on the back which I'll later use to put together another scrapbook. On his last day of school, two of his students (twins) pooled their own money (and using some of their baby sister's birthday money) to buy him a gigantic present. Meet the new guest in our home:

He took up two of the three seats in the back of our car, but I'd say he's made himself at home and is adjusting well with us.

This week, Mr. Woo completed his first week of training at his new job. He had his first quiz, which he earned 100% on, had his first meeting with all employees with the founder of the company, and survived it all. I'm so proud of him! On the first day, we woke up to the call of, "I'll be in front of your house in a few minutes," so he got ready in five. I, more than anything that would happen that day, wanted to feed him so I made him a breakfast sandwich, kissed him good-bye, and sent him off. We got better about waking up as the week progressed.

Here's what my mornings are starting to look like now:

6:00-6:15 Wake up and make breakfast for Husband
6:15-6:20 Send Husband off to work with verbal reminders and lunch in hand
6:20-6:35 Wash up and eat breakfast
6:35-6:45 Pack my fruits and snacks for the day
6:45-7:00 Get dressed for work
7:00-7:15 Turn on computer for devotions
7:15-7:30 Check e-mail / play with make-up / light cleaning around the home
7:30-7:45 Wait for carpool ride

My evening routine has changed now too. I'm able to do dishes, pack Mr. Woo's lunch for the next day (which I never had to do before due to school lunches), and even try to squeeze in laundry or tackle some cleaning before going to bed around 10:00 P.M. It's been so wonderful coming home much earlier than when he was teaching. I cannot express how happy it makes me to be able to do accomplish these tasks before turning in for the night. Is that strange of me or just how God designed women? Unfortunately, I only have a few more months of this blissful "playing wife (only)" business. Once Baby Woo arrives, I'll have double duty. I look forward to making up for lost time in the summer when I won't be working at school anymore.

I'm still looking for their Achilles' heel, but all that I'm hearing/reading about this company (I read through their benefits packet before he did and can list my favorite facts) seems too good to be true. Or perhaps it sounds so good to me for a different reason. Light is much brighter when contrasted with darkness after all.

One week down, seven more to go.

His dinner + Her movie + A song

2011-04-28T20:10:00.000-07:00

Thursdays are our Date Nights (but we won't have it for much longer, right?). Mr. Woo had said he wanted to cook, but after school told me, "Actually let's eat out tonight. It's going to take me too long." This got me thinking to last week...

Last week we had Date Night in, and Mr. Woo offered to cook! I was in no way too proud to deny his heroic, adventurous attitude. We made a pit stop at the grocery store to pick up several items. Then, I was shooed out of the kitchen. During his journey in this dinner-making, I was tickled pink by some of the things that came out of his mouth...

"I need to put on my chef clothes!"
"Out of the kitchen. You're putting pressure on me!"
"Do we have basil?" ("No, I only have oregano.") "What's that?"
"What is this?"
"What is this?"
"What is this?"
"Boo, I'll be eating with you, but I'll be serving you, okay?"
Glass making full contact with other kitchen items + "Whoa!!!"
"We charge for refills."

In the end I was able to put a wonderful "Antipasti" of Mixed Greens and Pear Salad with Terriyaki-glazed Salmon into my mouth. For the next course, he brought out the "Secondi" of Baked Salmon Nachos with Sunset Omelette Sampler.

He let me pick the movie for tonight (as usual) since the one he had wanted to watch was already checked out. Redbox had a promo code for $0.50 so we were able to use that to rent a chick flick to which Mr. Woo fell asleep snoring. The poor man was laboring in the kitchen with Google as his sous chef, going into the process without even knowing where many of the cooking utensils were. Let the man sleep!

In other wonderful news, Mr. Woo also decided after school that he is going to sing to Selah "all the time." You see, Husband's got it all planned out. He's going to play the guitar; we're going to sing duets - we being Selah and myself. He started tonight by very audibly singing at my tummy when I asked him to try and feel her kicks (I'm eager to share the joy with him). To our very pleasant surprise, she stomped on the walls of my uterus like she's hardly kicked before. Was this excitement? Anger? Out of tune? Regardless, it made me so gleeful. It's official, our Woo Two band has become Woo Three!

Spring Chicks

2011-04-26T22:16:00.000-07:00

Our third(!) Easter as Husband & Wife has come and gone. This year, I was awakened into a theological interview that went something like this...

Mr. Woo: Boo-
Mrs. Woo: zZZzZz...
Mr. Woo: Boo?
Mrs. Woo: Hm?
Mr. Woo: What do you think is the significance of Christ's resurrection?
Mrs. Woo: Hm?
Mr. Woo: What do you think is the significance of Christ's resurrection?
Mrs. Woo: Mm, we believe in a God that's alive.
Mr. Woo: What do you mean?
Mrs. Woo: If Christ didn't rise from the dead, we'd be worshiping a dead God. But He didn't, so He's alive.
Mr. Woo: ___________

I don't know what he said after that because I ~~slowly~~ quickly drifted back to sleep. I only remembered the vague conversation in the middle of Pastor John's Easter sermon. The rest of our Resurrection Sunday was spent with church family and Youth Group students. We ended the day with a Homegroup meeting discussing the next chapter in What Is A Healthy Church Member? by Thabiti M. Anyabwile.

Last year I had the time to actually produce something crafty in the kitchen:

A mother hen and her flock of newly hatched chicks!

I showed my work to Mr. Woo, but he might have been more excited about this part:

How was your Easter Sunday?

Babymoon - Day 6

2011-04-14T21:47:00.001-07:00

Sadly, our babymoon came to the final day. But instead of putting a damper to our party, Mr. Woo made the last morning count too. We went to bed with the possibility of taking the long drive up around 3 A.M. to arrive at the top, find parking, and take pictures before the sun would come up. Our plan was: if we wake up, we're doing it.

We ended up going with Plan B. We slept in and took our time packing (and unloading all the gear we happily hauled around in the car from the condo). We took one last set of pictures at the beach, this time the one right across from the condo to say aloha.

Breakfast was at Kihei Caffe. Their banana macadamia french toast is a popular choice so I went with that. Mr. Woo opted for the fried rice with Portuguese sausage and egg. Each, including the cream cheese frosted cinnamon roll, was great.

All in all, it was a superb babymoon of a vacation which made me not want to leave. I was sad. But in case you didn't notice in the picture with the cinnamon roll, check out that baby bump! Maui made it official that I was showing - and not just looking like I had eaten a large meal (that picture was taken sans breakfast)!

While I laid low and didn't go picture-crazy, I do have some memories captured to remember the trip by. Mr. Woo took a hefty amount of pictures. He also had mosquito bites to bring home as souvenirs, all from the night of the luau, ten on his left arm alone.

Another pick-me-up on the last day was discovering how much room we had on one of the planes back home (we did have a layover). When Mr. Woo was trying to check-in online a couple days back, we discovered that we wouldn't be sitting next to each other on the plane! So he called the airlines to try to sit Husband and Wifey together. He was told that our seats would be arranged when we arrived at the airport. In the end, we sat side-by-side, toward the front, and had loads of legroom. Score!

While boarding, we met another couple from our town which was pretty neat. We chatted for a while and ended up eating with them during the layover. To our surprise, the retired couple kindly picked up the tab. I hope we see them around.

With that, we were back home to the Bay Area. We would very much like to return to Maui with our future keiki (I was impressed by how they value the little ones). Should that be the case, we're already starting a to-do list.

Make it to the crater before sunrise
Find the shrimp taco truck

Of course, I wouldn't mind being repeat offenders to many of the activities that we did during our first stay as well.

Food for thought: The chocolate covered macademia nuts that many bring back as gifts from Hawaii are the same ones that we can find at Costco on the mainland. :P

Babymoon - Day 5

2011-04-12T22:24:00.000-07:00

The three-hour time difference had me waking up around 5:00 A.M. (Hawaii time) which was a great feeling. Whenever I arise at home, I'll know that it's dawn somewhere in the world.

For our last full day in Maui we decided to keep low and just enjoy it without thinking about time frame and scheduling. It also gave my body a chance to catch up to normalcy before heading back on that plane. For the most part, we stayed in Kihei and drove to Lahina for a little while.

One thing that Mr. Woo insisted on crossing off the to-do list was trying Hawaii's double filet-o-fish sandwich from McDonalds. He was eyeing it when we tried the saimin noodles on Day 2.

Then we picked up some customized sushi for the Mister at Food Net (like Safeway) and a plate lunch for me from a restaurant in the same plaza. Because I'd been feeling a bit queasy, I grabbed a fizzy drink too.

For my dinner and Mr. Woo's snack we picked up food from Cuatro, a fusion restaurant. We found out the hard way that their highly-rated food is definitely meant to be eaten dine-in. The crab cakes were mediocre at best, and my lukewarm fish and veggies Classic-style wasn't hitting the spot. But apparently Mr. Woo had the winner. He devoured the spicy tuna nachos. They were nice enough to throw in a bag of chips though.

Our drive out to Lahaina was with one thing on our mind - Ululani's shave ice. It has fantastic reviews and wasn't too far out so it was a must for us. How they get it so powdery soft is beyond us, but we thoroughly enjoyed the treat. We even went back to get more syrup. I can't remember what flavors syrups or ice cream at the bottom, but I know for certain that it was very yummy.

On our way back to home base in Kihei we stopped at a rest area to watch our last sunset of the vacation. It was beautiful. And the sunset wasn't bad either. (Mr. Woo placed his camera on the edge of the car window to capture some pictures - very courageous of him.)

To end the evening we went to our reservation at the sushi house Koiso. This tiny mom-and-pop restaurant had my husband furrowing his brow, licking his lips, and snapping pictures like no other. He claims it melted in his mouth.

I wouldn't know because this was my meal:

Here's his:

I believe him when he says it's the best he's ever had. I'm just looking forward to coming back one day to say the same. Bossman should know that though I put him/her through a lot, I also sacrificed omakase.

Remember how we didn't quite make it to the crater? For our next day, we were thinking about trying it super early in the morning to see the sunrise above the clouds. If so, the time zone would be on our side. Stay tuned to see our last day on the island!

Babymoon - Day 4

2011-04-08T22:24:00.000-07:00

Snorkel! Snorkel! Snorkel! We woke up while it was still dark to make Maalaea. We chose to go snorkeling through the Pacific Whale Foundation. Our boat had about 100 people, and the staff/crew seemed very knowledgeable about marine life. I was a bit worried about the service but it was fine. They came around with breakfast and told us what we could expect on our tour.

We bought an underwater camera from an ABC store (they're just as plentiful as our 7-11s here) since I really wanted some pictures of the sea turtles but didn't want to rent a D10 for a hefty price. When I had last checked, there were 17 exposures left. The next time I checked I was at 0. I only recall hearing a click twice, so it'll be interesting to see how they turn out when we get them developed. We're hoping for at least three good pictures (forget framing and angle, let's just have our subject somewhere in the picture) to call the purchase worth it.

At Molokini we saw lots of coral and fish! It was an incredible sight to behold and definitely beat our snorkeling on our honeymoon in Mexico. Any time I saw a new kind of fish I'd get really excited, forget that I had to keep my mouth closed, and would get a surprise punch by the salt in the water. After some time of swimming hand-in-hand with my love (isn't he sweet?), I started feeling off. I thought maybe I was hungry and tried to fight through it, but then I realized I'd reached my pregnant limit and headed back to the boat (Bossman first). Then I felt nausea kick in and almost wish I would just throw up to feel better. Keeping in line with my first trimester, it never came up but I was hanging my head over the side of the boat - just in case.

Upon arriving at Turtle Arches I still wasn't feeling 100%, but we came to see turtles so I got in the freezing water. When Maui Revealed advised to leave all expectations at home, they weren't kidding. I thought there'd be lots of sea turtles around just like in advertisements. Now I know that it's all photoshopped. Thankfully, we did see one. According to one of the crew doing a "tour" in the water, it was a rare hawkbill turtle. One of the other staff members had only seen it four times in her years out there. Neat! That definitely made my queasy stomach feel better. But then I felt satisfied and went back to the boat to rest and take some pictures out of the water. It took some searching, but I found Husband amidst the many heads.

With that, we were fed a BBQ lunch and heading back to the dock when we spotted a mommy whale, her escort, and a baby whale! Soon after, we saw some dolphins swimming in front of the boat! And then we saw a turtle on the side! So much excitement from one boat ride; Mr. Woo picked the best day to go.

We made a pitstop at Hula Cookies and Ice Cream for a haupia (coconut) ice cream sandwich between chocolate chip macademia nut and hula's delight (mango, pineapple, coconut, macademia nuts) cookies before heading back to the condo.

After a catnap and a nice shower, we headed out for a luau at the Grand Wailea. This is the hotel that we considered. We quickly crossed it off the list when we saw the $400-500 price tag - per night. But it was just the right setting for dinner and entertainment. We were initially sent to the wrong place and ended up being late for early seating, but when Mr. Woo told them our situation (I was eyeing the long ling forming for regular seating) they responded with, "Don't worry about it. You're on vacation; you shouldn't have to stress about something like that." Then the woman who took care of it later saw us and greeted, "Welcome, Mr. Woo." She remembered us amidst the hundreds of guests. That's why she has the job that she has.

We witnessed a pig resurrect from the ground and taste delicious, saw stories of Hawaii's history and culture through dance, and talked with other travelers at our table. Of course, it would not have been complete without a sunset in the horizon.

Whew! What a day.

Babymoon - Day 3

2011-04-07T22:12:00.000-07:00

We began our second full day in Maui with a stop at 808 Deli. The red velvet cupcakes caught my eye first, and lucky us, it was buy one pastry get one free! Mr. Woo opted for the homemade peanut butter cup. While the cupcake was just okay, their chicken mango chutney panini was pure brilliance. It was my favorite discovery of the entire day.

This day, we headed up north. Of all the things I could have eaten, I was determined to find at least one bakery. We did find one on Day 2 with our handy dandy Maui Revealed but it had already closed for the day. Komoda in Makawao looked like a teeny-tiny store from the outside, and we discovered that it was. After selecting a few different breads, I walked out as if I had discovered the next element on the periodic table. Though everything looked yummy, our favorite was the stick donut by far.

Out of the blue it started sprinkling for a few minutes, but just like the natives we kept going about our day without a care. Thinking about water, I became thirsty and decided to wash down all the sugar with another shave ice and ice cream. The nearest menu to have it was a sushi place down the street. That should have been a red flag as it wasn't as good as the first one I had. Interestingly, I later read that Makawao was the "cowboy" city of Maui.

Not knowing when we'd come back again, we tried to make the drive up to Haleakala National Park to see the much-talked-about crater (think: Hawaii's Grand Canyon). Keep in mind that we started our venture in the late afternoon, so by the time we hit mile 8 and were at around half the altitude of the highest 10,000 it was dark and raining on the hairpin turns with only an occasional car passing by. Feeling sick (and scared) we decided to call it quits and headed back.

Myth: Because Maui doesn't have too many main roads, it's super easy to find your way around the island.
Fact: They give you a map at the car rental for a reason - to humble you and try to save you some time.

On our way back, the official shot gun navigator gave the driver the wrong turn (south instead of north) and fell asleep shortly after. An hour later she woke up to the sound of the driver saying, "I don't think this is the right way..." Upon double checking, we realized that not only were pretty much east of Kihei, the road only allowed us to drive north or south. So we had to go back up north, turn where we were supposed to in the first place, then drive south again. For what it's worth, the view of the coast was very serene.

After our surprise detour, we were back in Kihei just in time to watch the sunset at the beach. Lots of people were out with us. Isn't it interesting how God made people attracted to splendid things? We watch the Olympics, talk about Guinness records, and yet we're a county whose heart denies the almighty God. A starving group of people, really.

For dinner we settled on eating Moose McGillycuddy's, mainly because out of the three waiting lists we were on, this was the shortest. Steak and fries for the man, fish taco for the woman. The view was great, company was fantastic, and the food mediocre.

I started thinking about what I could bring back home as a souvenir of the wonderful time we were having. I came across this cute little glass piggy with flowers on its rump! But I couldn't justify the 15 bean price tag. Instead, we went back to the condo to get some much-needed rest for an early rise. I was bursting with excitement for our snorkeling trip and luau dinner that Mr. Woo had planned for the next day. Woo-hoo!

Babymoon - Day 2

2011-04-06T22:22:00.000-07:00

To see Day 1 of our last-minute getaway, click here!

Good grief, can we get away from McDonald's anywhere in this country? Apparently not, and Mr. Woo had heard that all should try the saimin noodles. To me it was like cup noodles with the golden arches slapped on the huge styrofoam bowl, but to each his own. (The McDs over there had taro pie instead of apple pie!)

So after we got that out of the way, we began trekking further up to more of West Maui. My role was assistant pilot, aka navigator. Our condo owners were kind enough to leave a copy of Maui Revealed which we found to be a fantastic aid. With that plus the map from the car rental, we began our drive in the hot sun and humid breeze.

We stopped at a couple of outlooks along the way so that we could both enjoy the beautiful waters and picturesque scenery. The Hawaiian radio station provided the soundtrack needed for our tour of the island. Although after a while all the beats started sounding the same...

Then lunch was at Cheeseburger in Paradise in Lahaina. Mr. Woo was a wonderful gentleman and made sure that we sat next to a window overlooking the blue waters below. It also helped that a lovely older couple announced, "I'm not moving my butt until [the waitress] says yes," followed by "You better slide your butt over now [before it gets taken]," moments later. Note to self: Be one of those kinds of people when I'm older.

Our next adventure was more subdued. We went to find the Banyan Tree. It looks like twelve trees' work, but it's all one! After getting rocked by the waves, I decided to give Bossman a break and not climb the tree, except a tiny bit for one picture (in which you can see my growing belly). It was also here that we found the cheaply advertised activities to not being entirely honest - there's always a catch. Once you qualify for it, they have you sit and listen to a 2-hour presentation of whatever they're trying to sell. Mr. Woo was a great leader and declined so that we could utilize that precious time in a better manner, even if it means paying a little extra. Great idea, Husband!

While we were up there we trekked to Black Rock in Ka'anapali. I kid you not, people climb over and up to the top and jump into the water. My view from the beach was plenty fun for me, so I just paddled in the water after slathering on sunblock. Since the waves were tossing me to and fro anyway, Husband taught me how to bodysurf! It was a lot of fun but in the end, it was something like Waves: 13; Mrs. Woo: 8. I ended up pulling a muscle and had trouble walking the next day.

After working up an appetite, I dove into mango shave (not shaved) ice with a scoop of vanilla ice cream at one of the shops at Whalers' Village. Then we walked to Leilani's for happy hour sliders - kalua pork for Mr. Woo, crab cake for Mrs. Woo.

On our way home we stopped at what I thought was a lighthouse. It turned out to be a poser, but we took a few snaps anyway. Of course, we squeezed in another obligatory sunset session. Hawaii's colors are beautiful, and God is an incredible Artist.

For those who want a quick scan of our trip, visit Mr. Woo's Flickr for his set of Maui pictures! (Hasn't he improved so much since he first picked up the camera?)

Scout cookies, next door, diamonds

2011-04-05T19:52:00.000-07:00

We briefly interrupt our Hawaii recap, which reminds me of why I didn't want to leave. But I suppose it's a good thing we did since we (finally, finally) had our ultrasound today!

The technician pointed out that it was harder to get images with this one due to how much moving the fetus was doing. Then, after 15 minutes or so, she announced, "and it's a... okay, commercial break." And she meant it. She made us wait. Longer. After we laughed at her sense of humor I thought she would say that she was kidding and then proceed to tell us, but she didn't. I waited patiently, and finally she said the magic words: "It looks like it's... [Note: At this point, my mind is racing. Boy? Girl? Boy?] a girl!"

Let me remind you that Mr. Woo really wanted a girl. Nolie really wanted a niece. What it is with these two and baby girls I still don't know, but Mr. Woo triumphantly raised both fists in the air and quietly, yet firmly, uttered the one word, "Victory." Then he got up and was moving around with quiet excitement.

Little did we know that we were not even close to being done with the ultrasound. The baby was having a lot of fun wriggling around but was awfully camera shy with her face. It wouldn't have been so much of a problem except that the technician needed images of the nose and mouth that she kept covering with her arms. (Maybe she's going to be a boxer! Don't boxers allows keep their arms up like that, with their chin tucked under?) This was also not ideal because she needed to go on her lunch break, everyone else had already left for their lunch break, and the radiologist couldn't leave for her lunch break until the ultrasound images were in. We hadn't eaten yet either and were past the time that our substitutes were expecting us back. But after two hours of persistence and patience (and the baby's not even out of the womb yet!) they got the pictures they needed and we all went to our respective lunches.

Alright, alright. I'll cut the chit-chat. We proudly present our little baby girl:

Isn't she beautiful? She may have some gorgeous looks, but between her father and uncle I wonder if she'll ever get married (imagine the two Woo brothers with a shotgun in one hand and a long-winded checklist/interview questions for any potential suitor in the other). In the meantime, I'm a happy mommy knowing that our baby is active and healthy.

We had our list of boy and girl names picked out even before we conceived (we're sticking with them even if one of the 14 others expecting might "take" any) so we might as well let you also know that we'll be calling her Selah. :) If you're familiar with music, the Hebrew language, and/or the book of Psalms you'll recognize the word.

Bossman is a BossWOOman! o_O

Who does she look like?

Babymoon - Day 1

2011-04-04T21:28:00.000-07:00

My dear, sweet husband booked us a flight to Maui, Hawaii the Friday before spring break. Saturday night, our lodging was confirmed. Sunday morning, we flew out. Needless to say, it was a last-minute getaway though a much talked-about trip.

Myth: The pilot talking at the end of the flight is useless.
Fact: The pilot gives very useful information, such as giving warning about the uneven platform when you step off the plane.

I was the unfortunate soul who, with her 5-month pregnant belly, tripped on that uneven platform because I thought he was saying "blah, blah, blah." Lesson learned. And this would only be the beginning for poor little Bossman.

My first thought outside of the airport: Hawaiian birds are so skinny! The warm weather was a nice change from all the rain we were having in the Bay Area. We had a layover in Honolulu so grabbed some mediocre airport food during our wait. I consoled myself with Coldstone, whose sweet smell hit me within minutes off of the plane. Once in Maui, we picked up our rental car and were on our way to the Maui Banyan in Kihei - our home for the next several days.

Upon our arrival Mr. Woo was greeted by a baby scorpion at the door. My not seeing it until much later was a great blessing. That plus the lizard on the porch outside made me wonder if Hawaii was similar to Texas. But Mr. Woo handled it nicely (my hero!), and we didn't have any more visitors the rest of our stay, except for butterflies and the birds who sang so beautifully.

The condo had all the amenities we needed plus more. They amply supplied towels and toiletries. Two sets of beach chairs, snorkel gear (which Mr. Woo wanted to take home as a souvenir), and a drying rack was provided for the beach days. Tennis rackets, washer/dryer, a kitchen with utensils, a knife set, microwave, coffee pot - really, they were two steps ahead of us. The Wi-fi and Cable were probably most-used.

As our first day in Maui, my first time ever setting foot on Hawaiian soil, we used it as a introductory day. We drove around a little here and there but had to stop for the sunset. Mr. Woo with our Canon DSLR and me on our credit card-sized PowerShot.

We ate at Alexander's for their mahi fish n' chips and tacos. Not knowing what hushpuppies were, we gave those a whirl too. We found out that they're deep-fried, maybe twice, pieces of cornbread. Then we went back to the condo to lounge around and call it a day.

Farm food delivered

2011-04-03T22:20:00.001-07:00

To read Part I of my PSA on knowing what we're eating go here.

In short, we're trying out a produce box from a farm because the government has created a horribly deceiving system that prevents its own people from know what exactly they're eating and where it's come from. This was sparked by watching a documentary which depicts some of these troubling issues.

As I'm excitedly putting away the produce from the box, one at a time (it's like getting a goody bag at a party)...

Top 4 phrases to leave my mouth:

"Ohhhhhhhh..."
"Ohh!!!"
"Yuuum!"
"What is this?"

I very much appreciated the list of items in the box so that I could match items up with their proper name. The list was also in the order in which we should eat the produce (how long it'll last).

I washed some of the items to use for dinner or my next day snack. There was definitely some dirt so I didn't doubt that it was from a farm of some sort. I did find one worm. In the past I was have been grossed out by this, but this time I felt kind of good about it. It was the real deal and I was feeling earthy.

The eggs come from chickens raised naturally (not grown four times faster than it should be), are free to roam around 20 acres of land (opposed to being cooped up super-tightly), and can actually support their weight (instead of being immobile due to the previous two facts). They're given organic feed and are treated well overall. They look and taste a bit different too. The yolk is more orange in color, and the egg sits higher when cracked onto the frying pan. (Note: The farm's new chicks are so cute!)

Mr. Woo couldn't taste much of a difference but enjoyed his dinner nonetheless. And yes, he's wearing a polo shirt in that picture. You're welcome.

By the way, that peeled navel orange sitting in front of the fish is the sweetest orange I've ever tasted. I may want to continue our subscription just for the yummy fruit. I can't wait until the strawberries make it to the box!

Here's what we're expecting this week. If things run the same as last time, they'll update with the actual list and recipes in a couple of days. And now I can look it up at home with our Internet installed. Yippee!

Farm food signed, sealed

2011-04-03T21:29:00.001-07:00

Until recently Mr. Woo and I were on a long stint of not having Internet at home (thus the very infrequent updates). We'd nomad around town finding gracious friends who'd host us for the evening if we really needed it (more like Mr. Woo used it and I mooched off their cable TV). One of those nights we were at "the girls' place" when I was able to watch "Food Inc." It shocked me.

So much so that I presented to the leader of our household some reasons why I wanted to try a trial subscription to Eatwell Farms. It's basically farm raised produce that's delivered to many neighborhoods. You know exactly where it's from and where it's been. Husband agreed to trying it, and our trial subscription was born!

The sign-up process was simple, and I felt like I had enough information on their website to search for answers that I needed. In the end we decided on a bi-weekly delivery with a half dozen eggs. This means our trial will cover four pick-ups over eight weeks with eggs each time. Our family is small for the time being and we weren't sure exactly how much food to expect.

Alas, our first pick-up day arrived! I checked the website to see which goodies would be in our box for that week. The site also (thankfully) provides recipes for some of the produce that I've never heard of, much less cooked with in my lifetime. Our pick-up location is just minutes away on the hosts' front porch. We cross off our name, take our box, pick up our eggs, trade any items we may not use/want in the provided box(!), and drive home happy. I tell you, it's like ordering a surprise pack of books on CBD - very exciting - except it's physically healthy for you. Oh, and being the newbies that we are, we didn't bring any bags to transfer the contents to so that we could leave the box there. Now we'll have to bring it back next time to "be green." :)

I felt so organic! I was putting away produce that was picked just the day before, from a real farm. None of the one-of-the-ten-middle-men-genetically-modified-something-shenanigans. For all I know, we might go back to buying produce at the market but I'll enjoy for now.

Part II on our farm food to come soon!

My single 2011 resolution

2011-02-27T16:39:00.000-08:00

I decided in January that I would have one New Year's resolution this year. I did okay on last year's list.

~~Change my e-mail address.~~
~~Change my drivers license.~~
Change my passport.
Change my CCs.
~~Lose the~~ wedding weight. (Note: only half)
Write a few songs.
~~Write a~~ children's book. (Note: currently in progress)
~~Budget~~ consistently. (Note: Mr. Woo decided to take over for 2010)
Vacation frequently yet while being budget savvy.
~~Get pregnant (and glow).~~ (Note: hehe)

It says: WORLD'S GREATEST HUSBAND.

So for 2011, I'm only going to have one resolution to focus on: Be nice to Husband. Alright, so that's very general, but I want to be an encouragement to him - to build up (not tear down), to pray for (not neglect), to ask, "How can I help you today?" (not be selfish and so needy), treat him like a king (not just any other man)!

One of my favorite dead people, Charles Spurgeon, said, "No man can do me a truer kindness in this world than to pray for me." So I'm going to start with praying for him more. I want to be his support system, his cheerleader. All the while, remembering that I submit to my husband as a way to submit to the Lord's call and design. I'll have to start with making sure that I'm doing well spiritually so as to not be a burden.

"O Lord God of heaven,

The great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love Him and keep His commandments, let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open, to hear the prayer of Your servant that I now pray before You day and night for my husband. Grant him continual patience and forbearance to live with me, a wicked wife. For I have sinned against You; I have acted very corruptly against You by forsaking my duty to help my husband lead our home in righteousness and the fear of You; I have not kept Your commandments, Your statutes, or the rules that You command Your servant Moses.

Give him boldness and wisdom to rebuke and exhort me when I am unfaithful to Your Word, when I neglect prayer, fail to redeem the time, speak carelessly, walk foolishly, fail to hope in You, seek great things for myself, become anxious about tomorrow. Do not let him cease praying for me when I am beset with the fear of man, the cares of the world, or the love of money. May he never lose confidence that, in spite of my many iniquities and shortcomings, I am Your servant whom You have redeemed by Your great power and by Your strong hand.

O Lord, let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant, and to the prayers of my husband who delights to hear Your name, and give success to him today, and grant him mercy (Nehemiah 1)."

(excerpt taken from Prayers of an Excellent Wife: Intercession For Him)

Two, four, six, eight! Who do I appreciate? POOKI!!!

Pooki, you're the best! (heart)

Can't fight this feeling anymore

2011-02-26T15:32:00.001-08:00

We came back from visiting Mr. Woo's family the evening of Christmas day, so we didn't open gifts until December 26th (well, I did receive part of my gift early), which was fine. We didn't want to lug our gifts on top of all of the gifts for family.

So we had a little merry time of opening gifts and telling the stories that went with each thought-induced gift. My gifts, apparently, were still on the way. Later I learned (the way I wasn't supposed to) that my generous hubby bought me a few lovelies from the wishlist I had compiled.

Oh, wait. Before all of this had happened. We did get one special gift in the morning.

Merry Christmas to us! Mr. Woo was very happy. I didn't know what to think. You're sure you'll know how you're going to react to something you've been wanting since your childhood (are you really surprised?) - until it happens. Then a whole mess of thoughts flood your mind. I think part of it was the whole thing sneaking up on me.

About a week prior, I decided to take a test. This time around I had a little problem: I had peed everything out but the test strip didn't get wet at all. I'm not sure why, but I announced this to Mr. Woo, who then suggested that I dunk the strip in the toilet bowl. This should have been my cue to say, "Husband, that's a great idea, however, I don't think that's how these tests work." Instead, I shrugged my shoulders and dipped the thing in the water. Of course, it came back negative. So off I went thinking I couldn't be preggers.

The morning after we returned from our trip I still wasn't feeling well, a constant carsick feeling, so Mr. Woo suggested I take another test. So I sit on the porcelain throne and proceed to say, "But I took one last week, and it said I'm not." Just as I was lifting it up to show him and prove my point, I was silenced. He then asked which mark would indicate a positive result because before I could utter the words "a plus sign" one had clearly popped up. "That looks like a cross to me... You're pregnant." Oh.my.goodness.

This is not what was supposed to happen! I had been planning my show-and-tell for years now. I was supposed to find out first and then prepare a delicious meal consisting of baby back ribs, baby carrots, and baby spinach. Then, I would direct my unsuspecting husband to the other side of the kitchen to reveal a bun sitting in an oven. And because he wouldn't understand what I was trying to say, I was going to give him a pancake that said "Dad" on it and show him the stick as evidence. But being the wonderful husband that he is, Mr. Woo lovingly reminded me that how we find out was not what was important. He was right.

So there you have it, folks. We are so, very excited to tell our church family. But since our last few members meetings have been getting canceled, we've had to wait a bit. We want people to hear the good news directly from us (c'mon it's our first baby!), but as I'm learning, things don't always go as planned. This next members meeting is going to be a big one. Let's just say I'm #10 out of 13 for this new year - that I know of.

Still writing "2010"

2011-01-16T16:09:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

Mr. Woo and I were actually able to do a countdown to ring in the new year. I didn't know something so simple could make me so happy, but it did. :)

But since I'm still stuck in 2010 as seen on some of my papers (I know, being a teacher you'd think I'd have it down by now), let's finish out the year with a few more memories.

The early part of my Christmas present was received on a Date Night before heading off for the winter break. Again, no frills and bugles but it was such a sweet gesture, especially considering how many hours he actually put into planning, choosing, and organizing the mix. (Thank you to those of you who made contributions!)

The Christmas holiday was an elongated blur for me. We visited my parents for a night before heading to SoCal to visit the in-laws, whom we accompanied to Sin City. Friends, never let me go there again (or at least have some sort of plan if I have to go). Smoking allowed indoors, flashing billboards ev.er.y.where, among some other not-for-me items on their agenda. Maybe if we had seen "The Lion King" or Cirque du soleil... The food was good though.

Up next, some Christmas presents and a look at how I did with my set of 2010 resolutions, and any new resolutions planned for 2011.

O Christmas Tree

2010-12-28T18:32:00.000-08:00

Having a Christmas tree in the home seems so festive and winter-y, even after the big 2-5 morning. (I don't even know what day it is today. It's one of those weeks.) Sure, if we purchase a once live Douglas to join us in the living room, it'd smell like a forest. There'd also be fallen debris to clean up as well as disposing logistics. It's worth it for some, not for us this year. Then there's wonderful Target or several others who offer artificial trees to unfold, fluff, and feather up. This would be a long-term investment and a long period of storage each year. Again, not worth it for us this winter.

I like DIYing so I decided I'd make one. At school, we're not allowed to bring in any Christmas trees or lights (how neat would that be to light up the room?!), so I used cardstock poster and tissue paper. While my students worked on their wreaths, I'd work on the tree.

Step 1:
Free hand cut out a tree. I've been favoring free hand for my classroom projects as the "flaws" add character. To cut down on precious time, I had one posterboard over another to achieve two trees with one cut.

Step 2:
Then I made slits on both trees - one at the top half of the first tree, one at the bottom half of the second tree. Here, I did use a ruler and pencil to make sure it wouldn't be lopsided when I put it together.

Step 3:
To make sure it would stand, and that I didn't make any technical errors, I assembled my 3-D tree.

Step 4:
Use gluestick to adhere small, green tissue squares to each side, 4 in total. I worked bottom-up to create texture and movement.

Step 5:
Reassemble tree. Place gift exchange presents "under" the tree.

Then it made me sad that I had a Christmas tree to enjoy at school with my students and not with my hubby at our cozy home. That's when a trip to Beverly's turned out to be more than what I bargained for. I went to pick up some pin needles when a bin of the cutest rustic-looking trees caught my eye. With Mr. Woo's approval we snagged one of our liking and took it to the cashier to gleefully find out that it was on sale! The assembly of this tree was much simpler.

Step 1:
Scout a place for the tree. Place it there.

Step 2:
Fluff branches of tree to desired look.

Step 3:
Decorate with garland and/or ornaments.

Step 4:
Place any star of your choice on top.

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
Your branches green delight us.
They are green when summer days are bright;
They are green when winter snow is white.
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
Your branches green delight us!

AB, see you again

2010-12-15T07:57:00.000-08:00

I would feel bad about posting my wish list before posting my Thanksgiving post if there weren't Christmas decorations and products along many, many aisles even before the turkey's been purchased. But back to Turkey Day...

Alton Brown is my hero. You might remember my first interaction with him away from the monitor/TV screen here. So when it came to my turkey this year, there was not a second of hesitation of who I'd call to help me out in the kitchen.

My quest began with finding a hefty bird and pulling out this trusty recipe. The only modification I wanted to make this year was buying a bigger turkey so that I could have leftovers. That's right, I wanted to experience slapping cranberry sauce and tender turkey meat between two slices of bread or rolls.

So it began, again. Here's what happened over the course of approximately 3 days:

Birdie sitting happy, waiting.

Who needs Love Potion #9?


It's like a spa.

Mr. Woo's contribution.

I decided that since I made two turkeys last year that I'd repeat my duel in creating dual friends and bring upon myself an annual tradition. However, I didn't want to do the same fruit and cheese turkey, so I made a bird that would last longer than two hours.

How Mr. Woo prepares for the "big moment," aka carving the turkey. Requests a special knife.


	I went for a more rustic look this year.

A peek at how it looked before we tore it up:

And what is a fun-lovin' group to do after eating a feast? Have fun playing games of course. I think they also had a time of sharing, but I was in the kitchen so I don't recall much of what was said. :( Oh, but I did get in on some of the action:

This was the practice round of just one of the games:

Oh, the memories. :)

Thank you to everyone who joined us this Thanksgiving! And y'all who spent time at home, I hope it was a blessed time together!

The taste of success. I really wanted a drumstick this year.

Did you notice any changes in our living since last year?

Christmas Wishlist 2010

2010-12-13T20:53:00.000-08:00

Oh, goody gumdrops, 12 days until Christmas is here! This excites me for several reasons, but I'd be lying if I didn't say that I'm very curious as to what my dear Husband might wrap up this year. Just to help him out, I've decided to compile a list of fabulous items that I would gladly receive with open arms. Don't worry, I'll make room to embrace him with a hug too.

On the #1 day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...
Polar Bear Sweater (Urban Outfitters, $49)

I know this sweater will have to be in hibernation most of the year, but it's adorable. It keeps looking at me with those longing eyes, "Adopt me... I'm a friendly cost-effective pet that you don't have to clean up after..."

On the #2 day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

Bone China Snowflake Hurricane (Crate&Barrel, $24.95, $8.95)

These beauties will probably only come out as often as the polar bear sweater above, but I'm a sucker for anytime candle-lit evenings. I'll take one of the large hurricanes and a set of the small ones as well, thank you.

On the #3 day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

French Bulldog Die-cut Calendar (Urban Outfitters, $12)

I've been asking Mr. Woo on repeat for a little Frenchie to call my own. If I can't have a real one, at least the representation of one that I can look at all year long? For the record, I like the pure cream-coated ones. Google them to see what I mean! Oh,you'rejustthesweetest-lookingthingeveraren'tyou? Yeah!Yes,youare! Yes,youare!...

On the #4 day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

Farmer's Egg Crate (Anthropologie, $14)

A clean, glossy white ceramic product to store earrings and such trinkets. Once I move my dresser into the closet, I'd make this chicken's friend/foe a lovely coop on top of it.

On the #5 day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

Shrewd Stitches Stole (Anthropologie, $238)

I've watched "Fantastic Mr. Fox," and it has no effect on my desire for this scarf. It's creative, unique, and fun. Enough said. Although it would cost me my arm, leg, and maybe my liver and bones too.

On the #6-8 days of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

The gift of music (varies)

A couple of CDs I've been wanting for a while make it to this list. Yes, I'm traditional and prefer the hard plastic cases with lyrics printed on the fold-outs inside, though I'm not entirely opposed to the ease of iTunes. Let's see, Jason Mraz is one of my favorite artists yet I don't own any of his - something that I'm sure would have been different if I were still in college (funny how that works, huh?). I'm also intrigued by Adele and Joss Stone at the moment.

On the #9-11 days of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

The gift of the silver screen (varies)

Though both animated, I'd like to add How To Train Your Dragon (I wrote a review here) and Despicable Me (the double disc with the extra clips of the little minions). I'm also liking Dirty Rotten Scoundrels due to the casting, clever plot, and the fact that we often stretch to one of the songs in my Broadway Jazz Dance class (thanks, Husband!).

On the #12 day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...
Cruise for 2 to Alaska/Hawaii/Europe/Anywhere (varies)

It's been one God-must-really-love-with-all-that-He's-teaching-me-right-now ride this year. I'm definitely asking for a stronger back rather than a smaller load, but I will not complain about a getaway. Staycations are great, but I'm talking a mammoth vacation with stress rolling off the shoulders as I soak in a jaccuzzi and play with dear Husband most of the day.

And that wraps up my melodious Winter 2010 Wish List. :)

[All images from the links provided.]

Psssst! Yesterday was our HomeGroup's Secret Santa gift exchange. I got this little guy to add to my growing collection. I know Mr. Woo will not be adding to it as he'd like to put an end to my owl posse. He called it "kinda creepy." What a hoot!

What he must be

2010-11-17T13:37:00.000-08:00

The book fair is here this week at school. I remember how excited I'd get to see the hundreds of books lined up on portable cardboard stands inside the library, the cuddly-looking animals gracing the glossy bookmarks, and of course insisting that I must own every single item that my heart desired. Now I have the ~~entertainment~~ joy of watching my students going through the same experience, practicing the money skills that I've taught them and forgetting the money-management skills that I've hounded at them.

Last night, Mr. Woo and I went on an impromptu make-up date (we missed last week to hang out with our co-working gang). Though brief, it was a sweet time. One of the topics that came up was the book fair, specifically "the one book that caught [his] eye." Drumroll please...

Here it is:

What He Must Be ...if he wants to marry my daughter
Source: Amazon.com

Oh, dear Husband. I don't know what he'll do if we have a daughter. He'll smother her with love and be the overprotective father that girls never wanted. If the time comes I'd like to marry her off early, but I have a feeling she's not going to have very many suitors...

Before he left

2010-10-29T21:54:00.000-07:00

Mr. Woo was gone on a field trip for almost a week. Before he left, we snagged a picture that brings a lot of things to mind.

What say you? Create a caption for the picture!

Hands

2010-09-22T13:36:00.000-07:00

We had our staycation. We attended summer weddings. We had our first month of school. Mrs. Woo discovered how long she can spend in a vintage/antique store. We ate at Sushi House too often. Mr. Woo started working for Oh Snap on the side. Mrs. Woo began job-hunting in the writing field. Mr. Woo approved to Mrs. Woo taking Broadway Jazz dance classes. We said "see you later" to our 1.5-months-long guest. We rearranged the living room furniture. We moved some decor to different walls. We moved most of the furniture back to its original places. Mr. Woo starts his classes again this week. Whew, there is always something to do!

There is one thing I'd like to add to our ever-growing list... Husband, two left feet is irrelevant in reenacting this! Let's do it! Plus, I bought you a shirt that is close enough to his - what a great opportunity to wear it. :)

Summer Staycation

2010-08-17T23:27:00.000-07:00

Well, the summer sun that hardly came out is officially retiring, by my count, tomorrow - the first day back at school. I thought it'd be appropriate to compile a brief montage of our Hawaii-didn't-work-out-but-let's-make-the-most-of-this "staycation." We went to fairly local whereabouts and spent the time creating memories, which, for us, is what it's all about anyway.

Phase I - Summer School

Think: Kids, Breakfast, Two weeks of math/reading.

Phase II - 18-Month Anniversary

Think: Food (of course), Ducks, No couple picture! O_O

Phase III - 17-Mile Drive

Think: Cameras galore, Beautiful Scenery, Family

Phase IV - Alameda County Fair

Think: Homegroup, Entertainment, Food

Phase V - Monterey

Think: Bibs, Sea creatures, Monterey Bay Inn

Phase VI - SF Academy of Sciences (failed)

Think: 3.5-hr-wait Too long, Hot dog + Pretzel, Go home

Phase VII - Post-Wedding Chop

Think: Short, Donated, Happy

Phase VIII - Regeneration Camp (him) / Stay with Parents (her)

Think: Solid preaching, Sitting next to J.Mac + eating his chips, Lecrae

Phase IX - Host Dinner / Party

Think: Crazy, Food, Fun

Phase X - Watch "The Music Man" (musical)

Think: Woodminster, J.Hong + Student's family, Unflattering pictures

There were also errands, job hunting, and in-service meetings towards the end. But those weren't as fun.

Mrs. Woo off to pick her first-day outfit, brush up on some teacher tips, and shower!

What was the highlight of your summer?

We've been featured!

2010-08-05T22:15:00.000-07:00

Mr. Woo is currently typing away furiously as one of his assignments is due tonight for his Masters' program. Little does he know the news I'm about to share... (No, I'm not telling the world that I'm pregnant. Even if I were, Mr. Woo would definitely be the first to know.)

Pooki - SURPRISE! We've been featured! (I promise this is the only secret I've kept from you.) I just heard word that the magazine has been published and can be found at Borders. Now how to get my hands on one of these (and a couple more for the folks and in-laws!) because they're distributed only to the Sacramento-area... And the story gets better. Here's how I found out that it was finally on stands:

estera: my sister just called me to ask if a jane and cyrus got married in 2009
i said "yes...why???"
me: oh!!!
estera: and she said you guys are featured in sacramento wedding magazine
me: why???
estera: LOL
me: YIPPEE
estera: for destination wedings
me: eh?
estera: to bekreley
hahahah

That's too funny. I guess I do get to have a second "destination wedding" after all - at no charge, just a change in perspective. But, really, the economy must be worse than I thought if we're now considering a 2-hour drive to be a destination wedding. I'm not complaining though. We've been featured! That's one more thing to cross off my bucket list. :)

Happy 1 year 7 months and 3 days, Pooki! Love you lots! :)

While I search for a hardcopy, here's the link to see it online.WOO-hoo!

You scream, I scream, we all scream for...

2010-08-04T20:55:00.000-07:00

...a Banana Split Party!!!

July was National Ice Cream month (who determines these?), and so we want to celebrate with a party. Our schedule didn't allow for this to happen before the month was over, so we're going to extend the celebration for another week. And what's a night of banana splits without some rounds of Bananagrams? So...

You're invited!

Who: Up to 14 people who sign up!
(We can get 2 games going at the same time)
What: Bananagrams, banana splits, and fun

When: Monday, August 9 @ 7:30pm
Where: The Woo Residence
Why: For some "split! dump! banana!" action

Entrance Fee: Banana split ingredient(s)
Rides: Not provided

If you can make it, please indicate the item you will be bringing below so that we do not have too much of one ingredient. Hope to see you here for some dessert and games! :)

Note: Photo courtesy of Amazon

His & Hers post-wedding chop (PWC)

2010-07-23T16:10:00.001-07:00

Today is finally the day that I took action on the "obligatory" PWC. I haven't cut my hair since before the wedding, which brings it to about 2 years that I've gone without chopping. I suppose it's not that impressive since I only get a cut in once a year or so... But with a co-worker of mine going through cancer, I decided I wanted to donate these locks to an organization that can better use it to make wigs rather than getting it swept up into the dump. I did some research and found the ever-popular Locks of Love rumored to be a bit shady so I'm currently looking into either Wigs for Kids or Pantene Beautiful Lengths. (They're also using hair/fur/wool to help the oil spill!)

First up, Mr. Woo:

The man's been wanting to buzz his hair for a long time. Personally, I think it makes him look like a Boyscout about to take his knapsack and go for a hike. But if it makes him happy, okay. (Sorry, no pictures of the process. I was reading a magazine...)

Then it was my turn:

I went to Tomo's and ran into a stinky long line without an appointment. Fortunately, Lisa was free at that time, so I didn't have to wait another minute. Here we go:

Pocahontas browsing through a magazine.

Pocahontas mid-cut.

Pocahontas hit with initial shock.

Pocahontas watching Lisa work her magic.

Feeling 5lbs lighter and Pocahontas no longer.

Lisa was pleasant to work with. I told her I was donating my tail and that my PWC was long overdue. After the 14 inches or so were cut off, I asked Husband to find the ziplock bag I had brought so we could put the (kind of yucky-looking) hair in there. Then I was off to shampooing with another lady. Back to Lisa and the snipping and layering continued. We chatted about work and kids (daughters for her, students for me). I voiced my concern that my bangs would be to "piecey" with gaps between them so she happily thickened them. I walked out $25 poorer and with exactly what I asked for. When my hair is longer I usually find a $10 cut somewhere that can layer a bit, but since this was a risky length, with bangs (and the fact that I cut my hair about once a year), I thought it was worth it. Plus, I really like it. :)

Here we are as freshly groomed Mr & Mrs:

Note: Mr. Woo was not harmed in the making of this cut. Though we anticipated some trauma, he held up strong and braved through my transformation. He is currently deciding if he likes it or not.

What'd ya think? :D

Winners Announced: 30-Day Challenge

2010-07-18T20:14:00.000-07:00

We wrapped up our contest a while back, and we have our winners! I've kept you waiting long enough, so let's get right to it.

Segment one winner:

HANNAH W.!!! (on the right)

Our dear sister had her debut here and made speedy plans to be the first person to complete 5 of the 30 challenges.

Hello!
On Tuesday, 5/11 - I hugged Corrie Park at Study Hall.
On Wednesday, 5/12 - I took pictures with brothers and sisters I adore at the Campanile.
On Friday, 5/14 - I told you and my class sisters that I love you guys!
On Saturday, 5/15 - David and I went on a special date to SF for our 2 years' anniversary.
On Sunday, 5/16 - I called my mommy.

Andd I've been praying for Kathy getting married and you and your Mister in some of my prayers in the last week. DOES THIS MEAN I WIN???????

I don't have a diamond ring for her, but Hannah's prize package includes: one of my favorite "girl books," Feminine Appeal by Caroline Mahaney, a fun tank top for the summer, and a rich toffee chocolate bar to share with her sweetie. Congrats, Hannah!

Segment two winner:

CARRIE S.!!!

You won't believe (well, most of you will) how much I was "awww"ing over her submission of the most pictures/videos. This cutie pie got to doing all of the following (that's right, y'all, a baby beat the crowd) with Mommy's help.

Day #17 - Hug a '10 brother (for the guys) or sister (for the gals)
- this one may not count since it was during senior banquet...
Day #21 - Take a picture with someone you adore
Day #25 - Give a child a hug
we weren't able to take a picture of them hugging... but they did that day.. =)
Day #8 - Go on a "date" with someone dear to you- do play dates count?? =D
sorry it's so blurry.. the one with nomi is at dragon rouge... the one with all the kids is at the park
Day #9 - Jump on the bed (but not for too long)
- the in action pic is blurry... so i added the other one after she finished jumping..
Day #10 - Eat a salad
again, the "in action" pic is blurry... so i added the other one
Day #2 - Call/visit your parents
she's calling daddy.. =)
Day #4 - Make someone laugh- she just grabbed the sunglasses and wore them.. in the middle of eating! of course, i started laughing.
Day #12 - Learn something new
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkYAQFVtfKo (eating by herself)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHBg_LAltUo (some new animal sounds)

Whew! Little Carrie's prize package includes: Spot's Little Book of Fun: At the Beach, pink leggings, and a little ducky friend. Congrats, Carrie (and Narae)!

Honorable mentions:

Mr. J. Hong - Mr. Hong finished 5 of the challenges, I believe starting with Sushi House, just one day after Hannah's submission.
Kevin - Nish showed great ambition in wanting to achieve all 30 challenges. I commend him for setting his goal high, and starting off with 8 out of the 30. Only 22 more to go...

Oh, what fun! I'm liking these contests (and subsequently shopping for prizes!). Though the contest is closed please consider some of the challenges, such as praying for others and finding ways we can serve others (#30) in the body. In the meantime, I'll work on scheduling contests to better fit my teaching schedule so that prizes will be given sooner. Thanks for your patience! :)

A friendly reminder to all those who voted in Ice Breaker Contest, please pick up your prize as well!

18-mos and counting

2010-07-02T21:39:00.000-07:00

By golly, it's been a whole year and a half already! Time is put into perspective when I see some of our little tykes, who were born around the time that we married, running around the church now. That's kind of like our relationship, I suppose. We've learned to crawl and walk and now we're learning to run with all the changes thrown our way.

So how did we celebrate?

I started off with Starbucks and completed my last day in my summer school commitment; Mr. Woo graciously chauffeuring me.

For dinner, we went casually to La Piñata, using a gift card Mr. Woo received the last week of school (they must know how much he likes eating).

We redefined "You can't have your cake and eat it too" by forgetting to eat our cake. This happened for our one-year too, leaving half of it still in the freezer... Phooey. (The other half was eaten on our one-month.)

Then, we revisted the lake(?) where we took our engagement pictures back in 2008. Ah, the memories of the bridge, the autumn leaves, the duckies...

And we concluded the evening with some lovely talk of how Mr. Woo bearing one hour of shopping should (somehow) equal one hour of us watching anime together. o_O

♡ ♡ ♡

Confession of a wife: Being married for a year and a half now (and, Lord willing, many more years to come!) there are times when I look over at him and have no idea what the man is thinking:

But I'm learning (slower than I'd like) to embrace this new role and to just joyfully submit to his leading:

Egg-cellent surprise

2010-06-29T23:18:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I had a student (going into 3rd grade in the fall) begin sharing about how he cooks breakfast. I, being a cynic, began to play off this talk and requested such a meal the next day. Many children have a tendency to show off. I (wrongly) assumed that this was one of those cases where the student was stretching the truth to boast about something in front of their class - trust me, it happens quite often. My speedy 8-second monologue went something like this:

Mrs. Woo: Oh, so you cook, now do you? Well, I like eggs! Mr. Tommy [TA for summer], how do you like your eggs? ... Okay, he likes his sunny side up. I like scrambled. Alright, breakfast tomorrow morning!

From now on, I'm going to be just a little bit more trusting of my students when they make bold statements about their abilities. Here's why:

The kid opens the door before I've done so myself. I'm about to tell his father that I usually don't do that for another 10 minutes when I see him holding 2 plates wrapped in foil. He puts them down on my front table and gives each one a pat. "This one's sunny side up, and this one's scrambled."

I was super surprised and laughed for a good 5 minutes because I couldn't believe that he actually made us breakfast. His dad even mentioned that he woke up early to make everything. Cute! Even the napkin was neatly and purposely folded, holding a plastic fork. Later I found a sausage in there too. I should have told him that Mr. Woo really likes breakfast foods and a lot of it...

The only problem? The kid kept asking me if I had eaten it yet. "No, I've been teaching your class all morning. I will definitely eat it though." My answer satisfied him for a few moments, but then he continued to ask me every 15 minutes. It wasn't until after recess that I could tell him that, yes, it was delicious and that he did a great job in not dropping any shells in there. (I was very careful with the first couple of bites.)

Smart, charming, and already cooking? Watch out America. I may have found a future Iron Chef!

Ice Breaker Contest Prizes

2010-06-25T23:12:00.001-07:00

Back in prehistoric times, Mr. Woo won a brand-spankin' new (with engraving!) Bible. Some of you helped him get there.

Awww, he looks so happy! Wait... Husband, are you smelling this new Bible???

Yes, he definitely has his nose in the book (literally).

But what's in it for you, right? ;) This is what I wrote to our voters, and I quote:

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO VOTED

You are receiving this e-mail because you have voted in the Ice Breaker Contest!

Mr. Woo has chosen to receive a copy of the ESV Bible. As a token of appreciation to the participants, we would like to present to you your very own buttery new copy of the ESV Bible filled with weighty content. Please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery of your prize. The holiday season is quite the busy one for this newlywed couple.

Thank you.

If you don't care to hear my excuses, skip to the next section. Otherwise, proceed. Yes, the holidays were a busy time of the year for the Woos. I began planning and making the first part of your prizes, but there were a couple of hiccups along the road. (1) Not all of what I ordered came the way it should have. I didn't want to go through the hassle of returning, reordering, etc. so the e-mailing/waiting ate up some time. (2) I left some supplies at school, and kept forgetting to bring it home. That's my bad. If it makes you feel better, I hardly bring home any work from school as well. (Don't worry, I do my work at school.)

So now I'm pleased to present to you your prize: your very own ESV Bible! Though the outer appearance is different from the one that Mr. Woo won... the inside is different as well. But yours comes practical in another way.

It has an eraser and a pencil sharpener! Pretty nifty, eh?

On a first come, first serve basis please come find me at church to claim your Bible. If you're out of the area and would like me to pass yours along to someone else to give to you, just shoot me an e-mail. Happy sharpening (pun intended)! :)

Still running strong?

2010-05-31T23:23:00.000-07:00

Nope, not I. Today marks the 2-year anniversary since my first (and only thus far) marathon. I participated in the See Jane Run half-marathon (a whopping 13.1 miles!) the month I graduated from college as one of those I-should-try-everything-once things. In all honesty, the name lured me in. And the timing was wonderful as I had just moved to the area and was able to get a tour of the town while getting some serious exercise. Though I had much difficulty sitting and getting up for the following two weeks, it's one of the greatest feats I've accomplished.

The one I'd like to tackle next: Nike Women's Half/Full Marathon.

Hurdle: 13.1 / 26.2 miles
Temptation: Forget the firemen dressed in suits, I want the Tiffany's necklace!
Fear: The city hills

It's too late for 2010, but perhaps after having a baby as a good motivation to lose the baby weight? And next time, I'll remind Mr. Woo that driving next to me when I have 2 grueling miles left is probably going to make me want to cry. An obnoxiously loud cheerleading squad with florescent posters will suffice. ;)

What's your next big feat?

Back at CAL's Greek Theatre

2010-05-24T22:17:00.001-07:00

Mr. Woo and I were back at the Greek Theatre, a second time since graduating (we also saw Jason Mraz there and it was awesome!). This time around it was for our dear brother Nolie's graduation.

My number one goal was to use the loudest pots and pans that I own. After failing my number one goal, my new number one goal was to make sure Brother looked the part by getting him a/n (overpriced-but-what-can-you-do-since-you-don't-have-the-time-nor-resources-to-make-it-yourself) lei. Mission accomplished.

He had a great support team:

I was more excited than he (must have been those finals he was still studying for):

Mr. Woo and I hooted and hollered for our dear c/o 2010 MCB grads, fully aware that we had to teach again the next day, but this day doesn't come around too many days. I made sure everyone around me knew that I was a proud sister. :)

We took pictures:

We were in pictures:

By the way, we did follow the blue hats to find everyone:

And there were more pictures:

They're serious, people (cf. Senior Banquet):

Of course, the goofballs couldn't resist:

Kernan sought out a another graduate whose facial features resembled Nolan's. Personally, I think the resemblance was uncanny when the dude had his sunglasses on, but not so much once he took them off:

Whew! What a day. To top it off we took the parents to Sushi House after we dropped off a burger to Nolan who was studying for his next final in a couple of hours (I know, how brutal is that? Everyone else is done and playing!). Next time, Brother!

Congrats, Nolan! We're so proud of you! :) :)

(Obligatory Family Picture: )

2010 Girls' Night In

2010-05-23T22:38:00.001-07:00

After a full week of being accompanied by my third graders, I was able to spend a recent Friday evening with some of the lovely 2010 ladies to catch up, celebrate the end of finals, and rejoice in the Lord's faithful after the end of one season in life. What I learned: I'm getting old!

We ate some snacks, brought out the nail polish, and delighted in conversations while waiting for the last batch to finish with finals and other errands. Later, we popped in and projected a DVD (I knew our white walls would come in handy some day!) and half-way was about when my brain started shutting down. I wanted to stay awake be alertly join the girl talk, but the end of the week is not the time when my brain is on full-functioning mode.

Nevertheless, it was a pleasure having them over for a "Girls' Night In." (No worries, Mr. Woo jammed with a couple of brothers at church and slept at Nolie's place.) I chose navy, for the night time, and pink, for girlishness. The tablescape started with a baby blue soft blanket and brown/blue-striped pillow. Each place setting had a navy blue square plate. On top was a blue pillow "party favor" containing a nail polish and mint teabags - pillow mints(!), get it? :D

Covering the dessert plates and part of the pillows were white napkins with pink florals - a bed set on top of a bed tablescape (I was really liking this plan).

The goodies in the center included: pink rose-shaped cupcakes, strawberry wafers, pink lemonade, and pink teddy bear lollipops.

And keeping us company in the living room was a bunch of pink carnations in a mason jar, finished with a satin pink ribbon tied to the mouth of the jar.

I wanted more navy and less of a pink-overload, so I added a banner on the wall above the table. Each letter hung from a yellow star.

The next morning, I sent each girl off with her own goody bag. The blue pillows, a pink bear lollipop (both mentioned above), an unpopped bag of kettle corn, and a bag of Oatmeal Squares cereal with a card I made went inside.

Some time later, I found my signage was giving new meaning (source to be kept anonymous):

2010 IS IGHT (hahahaha)

30-Day Challenge: Part V

2010-05-18T09:09:00.000-07:00

We're at the last leg of the challenge! It's been fun hearing about some of your excitement in wanting to take all in both categories. We'll definitely need to do this again in the future - preferably not around finals time, I hear ya. In case you're just joining us: Part I, Part II, Part III, and Part IV.

Note: Deadline for picture upload/submission is 5 DAYS from today on 5/23. Winners will be posted soon after!

Day #26 - Go fellowship with your Homegroup
I love our Homegroup. I also thoroughly enjoy our lively discussions about various topics and leave encouraged by the brethren. If you're not part of one, you're missing out. If you're looking for one, come check out ours!

Day #27 - Have someone tie your shoelaces for you
Some of my Homegroup-ers were at Trader Joe's when I bumped into another student of mine (they're every where! cf. Day #25) and his mom. After he told me everything he did for his mom for Mother's Day, he had to retie his spankin-white, new shoelaces. He was so cute in announcing, er... showing me his new shoes.

Day #28 - Study at Borders
You'll find many of us lounging/reading/studying/disrupting/chilling at Borders. Due to incidents like Day #27, Mr. Woo will no longer be found wearing his PJs outside of the home. He once saw a student there and had to avoid contact at all costs. And if you know how much he loves our students, you know how big that is for him.

Day #29 - Finish reading a book from your bookshelf
Sometimes I feel like a "tree hog" but the teacher in me really likes collecting books. But I have to be the first to admit that I've only read about half of them. They've become reference books on the shelf. In college I would always have a book in my bag to read while waiting for class to start (Band/guard geeks know that "To be early is to be on time is to be late is to be dead!") Since then, I've either got papers and red pen in hand while I wait, or I'm living out the "teacher blessing/curse" of constantly thinking, 'How can I use [whatever I see/hear/think] into my lesson plan...' I can't wait until summer vacation to take them off the shelf and tackle them one by one!

Day #30 - You decide on this one...
It's been busy, and I'm told that life only gets busier. But in the midst of school, work, family, etc. a question I'd like to pose is: How are you serving and/or carrying out your commitment you made to your church family? As members you and I both made a commitment to the church body (and to God) that we would love with Christ-like love, that we want to spur one another on toward love and good deeds. It doesn't have to be an "official committee under the leadership of so-and-so and headship of Pastor John". But I do wonder if everyone stepped up to their familial responsibilities, out of love and not mere obligation, would we have so many brothers with a lot on their plate? More than that, I desire for us to not waste our time on earth but to labor in love and expend ourselves to high callings - for the Lord's glory, not our own. So I ask again - How are you loving God's people today?

30-Day Challenge: Part IV

2010-05-15T19:02:00.000-07:00

From what I hear there's some fierce (but friendly) competition going on. I can't wait to post our two winners - one for the first to do any 5, and another for sending in the most pictures! (See Part I, Part II, and Part III.) Time's a-ticking so I'm posting 10 today rather than 5. Ready... set... GO!

Day #16 - Run for at least 16 minutes
Our 15th month of marriage has come and gone; we are now in our 16th month! Time sure flies, doesn't it? Just over a year ago, we had these table numbers (I'll show you 15 and 16 since we're commemorating) sitting atop our reception tables in the Fellowship Hall at church:

Day #17 - Hug a '10 brother (for the guys) or sister (for the gals)
This year's Senior Banquet was one of my favorites. Not only is this class very special to me, but the presentations were wonderful (I knew we'd eventually have a Wicked re-make!) and the Junior class did a great job coordinating the event. I can't believe c/o 2010 are done with college! It was just yesterday that I served this class their freshman and sophomore years!!!

Day #18 - Put a ring on it
Lots of weddings coming up this summer and I'm anticipating lots of engagements too. Though we're all to be content and happy with our bling, some of us need an upgrade (yes, that would be the balloon string wrapped around Hannah's finger):

Day #19 - Pray for engaged couples / married couples / families
She's one of my nearest and dearest, and I'm super excited about her wedding. Duum, duum, da, duuum... God's design for marriage and families is a beautiful one, but if we try to do it on our own we're going to fail miserably. Charles Spurgeon said, "No man can do a truer kindness in this world but to pray for me."

Day #20 - Google Video Chat with someone
Mr. Woo and I didn't really know how closer Kerns was to Nolie - until we went to the county fair together. Then we saw more of with some Google video chatting. Since then, Kernan has been a welcomed addition to our family.

Day #21 - Take a picture with someone you adore
It was only right that we take a "family picture" together. We've long adopted Kernan:

But, wait, is that 5 heads that I count? Oh yes, in the back. How could we leave out the loyal family puppy, Edward? He happily greets us whenever we see him and is always bounding with energy. (He also brings out the "crazy" in me - I think it's the energy.)

Day #22 - Tell someone you love them
I love these guys:

Day #23 - Practically serve someone in a manner that makes them feel loved
It's easy for us to show love in ways that we feel loved. For example, one may like to use words to write encouraging notes to others. While that is kind and loving, the recipient may be more uplifted with a batch of their favorite cookies that you made note of and later baked for them.

(I've seen Mr. Woo make lots of faces but never the one on the left!) Y'all know we do like Hedder...

Day #24 - Go to a street/county/quilting/etc. fair
We were excited to see the roads blocked off (for yummy food, oh yes) and made a detour to find parking. Strolling up the street we were lured with the smell of otherwise unwelcome pungent deep fried oil. It was an easy and quick decision to munch on the crab garlic fries (I know!) and lime calamari, both of which we highly recommend. We declined the buttered yellow corn on the cob, husk and all, because it's hard to justify paying $5 for it when you can get 5 for $5 on sale or 10 for $5 on a great sale. The live band played some popular Tina Turner and more flashbacks to rally a lively crowd. There Mr. Woo spotted someone eating a plate of Chinese food and was inspired. Round 2: Chinese for him, Greek gyro for me. Personally, I couldn't down the pork but the egg roll, fried rice, and chow mein was good. The chicken gyro was ginormous and had too much meat, if there is such a thing. I wanted the super-sized bag of kettle corn, but Mr. Woo wisely refused.

Day #25 - Give a child a hug
At the fair, we ran into one of my current students (eating the $5 corn on the cob) and a former summer school student. We actually see quite a few of our students as we run errands. The first time it happened, Mr. Woo let go of my hand. :( But I love the students. (And he'll hold my hand again once they're out of sight.)

Just one more installment left in our 30-day challenge. Keep watch! :)

30-Day Challenge: Part III

2010-05-14T16:07:00.000-07:00

It's the third segment of our contest to give out prizes! (Here's Part I and Part II.) We're just about half-way in our posts of challenges. Here are some more!

Day #11 - Make a "hot foods" breakfast (none of that sugar-high cereal stuff)
On check-out morning, we made our way to the cafe for a fantastic continental breakfast. I always thought that term was code for "buffet," but Mr. Woo kindly informed me that it was usually meant as a pasty-filled meal, not so much the hot food items we were greeted with. By the time we were finished, it looked like three people had eaten at our table, which I felt a little self-conscious about seeing that most of the people there were wearing gym/workout clothes. :(

Day #12 - Learn something new
Never did I once think that by being a teacher I would have to learn how to riverdance. For International Day the third grade classes were assigned the country of Ireland. They were to open the morning's line up of presentations, so we had them dance on in from the back. It was cute seeing them hopping to and fro. Being nominated to teach them how to riverdance in a couple weeks was a daunting task (we're not talking ballet nor jazz), but the Lord was gracious and I danced and taught. Who says YouTube can't be educational?

Day #13 - Pay half-price for an appetizer (because full-price is over-priced)
I feel like I had a week-long banquet for my birthday this year (cf. Days #3, 5, 7, 8), but to add a cherry on top, dear Nolie wanted to take us out to eat. Who are we to refuse? We decide on Skates on the Bay as none of us had dined on the waterfront before. The Happy Hour slashes appetizer prices in half (if you sit on the side near the bar), so we feasted on many of them. Thanks, Brother!

Day #14 - Do a Woo-Two(TM)
The Woo family enjoys eating. That' why we have our Woo-Twos(TM). A Woo-Two(TM) may be Panda Express + In-n-Out. It might also be Sushi House + McDonalds, as the we did with Nolie previously. It helps when the restaurants are close in proximately (read: walking distance). The venture with Nolie was not pre-planned, however. We were just eager to eat and impatient in waiting for our to-go order (must have been the Lion King Roll holding it up).

Day #15 - Go to a concert
With my third graders and Mr. Woo's middle schoolers, we're often invited to many extracurricular games, concerts and/or shows. It's fun to see them out of uniform and applying aspects of what we teach them in their "real world" lives (fruit of our labor).

We're off for now, but we'll be back with more of the challenge and what we've been up to! How are we doing on the 5 tasks? :)