Our Shanghai Move

Thursday' morning started off a little rocky, but nothing unexpected. Ayumi somehow peed all over her pajamas even with the #3 diaper, which is a size bigger than her usual. I had to rummage through the suitcase to find her a new pjs. I didn't want to use the extra outfits in the carry on luggage. With Ayumi dressed and all six luggage packed in the van the nite before, we were ready to leave.

We got to the airport around 7:20am. Jonathan unloaded all six luggage and pushed two carts into the checkout counter as I stayed behind with the kids in the van. Once I got the 'signal' from Jonathan, I started to take Akemi out of the carseat and into the stroller and carried Ayumi in my arms into the airport. The checkout lady shared that our SFO to Shanghai (PVG) flight was overbooked and they were looking for volunteers. We should of took it as a 'hint', that we might of not make our flight. Concerned, we asked if we would miss that flight and she shared that we would make it if everything goes accordingly.

Going through security was fine. After years of traveling as a consultant, I've become a pro at unloading and reloading, even with two kids. Ayumi in the Bjorn, I pass through and Jonathan & Akemi followed behind me. We were two hours before our flight and had plenty of time.

As it started to approach our departure time, we noticed that our flight was getting delayed by 30mins. We were cutting it close but we still had time for our transfer flight. We didn't take off from LA till 11am. Our transfer flight out of SFO was at 11:18 a boarding. I knew we missed it, but Jonathan seemed to be hopeful, since the checkout lady gave him the reassurance that they will hold the flight since the airline knew they had transfers. I knew that it was a 'liner', but didn't want to rain on the parade and didn't say anything to Jonathan. Midway through our flight, the stewardess reports that she had bad news. Our flight to Shanghai departed and UA will try to accommodate those that missed the flight.

By the time we get to SFO, it was 12pm. We hurried to the customer service desk and Jonathan asked for next available flights. The next one was Friday from SFO to Japan (NRT) and then to PVG. However there was no guarantees that we could all sit together and they would not accommodate us overnite at a hotel. The customer service lady gave us a flyer with a hotel discount. After an hour with her, Jonathan called the premier executive line and finds out that there were no seats available for all of us to sit together in economy plus. Only in coach near the last rows in the center aisle. Furious, Jonathan goes back to the customer service desk.

Coincidentally, another passenger requested for a supervisor, so we spoke with her. She saw Akemi running around the area and Ayumi in the Bjorn. She comped us a room at the Hilton airport. In the end, we decided to fly back to LAX at no charge and book a new flight entirely. The supervisor gave us food vouchers and we had a very late lunch at the airport.

Through this experience, Akemi was great. She ran around the airport, played peek a boo behind signs, and managed to find her snacks in the duffle bag. Thank goodness that I overpacked the bag with snacks. I forgot to feed her lunch and we didn't eat till 2pm.

By the time we left the airport it was 3pm. We borrowed a carseat from UA and was planning on getting a rental car till we found out it would of been $150 to rent one for a day. We opted to go straight to the hotel. Jonathan shared our story with the Hotel checkin lady , who recently had a baby. To our surprise she gave us a 2 bedroom suite.

We didn't think the day could get any worse and decided to take the free shuttle into town (Burlingame) and grab a bite to eat. I should of known better since the kids didn't sleep much on the plane and had a long day. By the time we found a place to eat and sat down to order food, Akemi had a meltdown. We got our food packed up and caught the cab back to our hotel. Both kids passed out in the cab ride. At least we had a quiet dinner in the hotel room.

Unfortunately at nite, Ayumi was so tired, she wouldn't sleep at all. We had a very LONG nite.

We learned our lesson and had breakfast via room service.

In the end, we flew back around 2pm on Friday and arrived around 5pm. Stuck in LA Friday traffic with Ayumi crying all the way home, we were finally home.

Akemi's 1st Dentist Appointment

Akemi had her first dentist appointment today. I splurged and researched for a pediatric dentist in Pasadena. The reason why I wrote 'splurged' is because the dentist isn't 100% covered under our insurance plan. I didn't want Akemi to have a bad 1st experience.

The dentist office had dinosaurs everywhere. On the walls, doors, a dinosaur clock with it brushing his teeth, stuff animals, etc. I felt as though I was in a kids indoor playground. They had flat screen tvs on the ceiling, but Akemi didn't really care for it. She was more intrigued by the dinosaur clock. She kept saying "look, brush teeth'.

Dr. Sumalee (her dentist) was amazed that her teeth was full set and very clean. I shared with her that I use to have to hold her down between my legs to brush her teeth. She was glad to hear that I did that since most parents don't want their child to cry when they're getting their teeth brush. I guess it paid off.

Akemi didn't struggle when the dentist counted her teeth, polished them, and removed a few plaque. The dentist was surprised at how well her 1st experience went. Unfortunately Dr. Sumalee shared that Akemi's front teeth is going to start protruding forward because she sucks on her thumb. She recommended that I get Akemi a thumb guard or start weaning her off.

My mom and I tried 'wasabi' today but Akemi didn't seem phased by it. She kept sucking away.
We're going to try 'Malava Stop'. It's a little ointment that you paint on the nail and it has a sour taste. Two of my girlfriends recommended it. They rave that it works wonders! We'll see!!

I wish I took pictures of Akemi's first experience. Maybe next time!!

Ayumi

Ayumi hanging out with her daddy at dim sum.

Ayumi smiling for the first time. She's 8 weeks here.

Akemi slept through the nite

Whoo hoo! Akemi slept through the nite! Now I just need to sleep train Ayumi. She wakes up at midnite, 2:30am, 5:30am. I'm trying to get rid of the 2:30am feeding.

One step at a time right?

Mother's Guilt

It's been a whirlwind of 10 weeks since Ayumi's birth. The 2nd time is definitely easier. I know what to expect and I'm found that it was easier to get into the routine of diaper change, nurse, burp, swaddle, and rock to sleep. I definitely was not stressed about breastfeeding, but was surprised to find out that it still hurts when you get started on breastfeeding all over again.

One thing that I expected but did not realize that I would have such a hard time is the 'mother's guilt'. It's the guilt of not being able to give all the attention to Akemi. It's the guilt that Ayumi needs to cry a little bit longer because I'm pre-occupied with Akemi. It's the nervousness of whether I'm being a fair and loving mother to both of my girls.

Towards the end of my pregnancy, I started to dose off to sleep in Akemi's bed as I'm putting her down for bed. I find myself waking up at midnight and staggering off to my own bed. Knowingly that this creates a bad habit and routine for Akemi, this routine continued for months. I was too tired to not fall asleep.

Luckily Akemi continued to slept through the nite. However, after Ayumi's birth, Akemi started to have night terrors. She would wake up at midnite, 3am, and 5am screaming! At first, we would go check on her, only to find out that it made the situation worse. She would wake up and want one of us to sleep with her. We learned quickly that it was best to let her night terror pass through.

We asked the doctor about it and she shared that she was 'subconsciously' jealous of the new baby and didn't know how to display her emotions when she's awake, so it happens when she's sleeping. Jonathan was sad to hear that his baby girl was sad and wanted more attention.

After hearing that, I felt guilty and went back to letting her sleep with us in bed.

It's been weeks and it's starting to take a toll. So TONITE was THE nite! We started Akemi's sleep training AGAIN.

I continued with the bedtime routine but this time, I read stories to her in a chair next to her bed. She resisted and wanted to sit with me, but I kept telling her that she needs to lay down. After bedtime stories, I turned off the light and that's when she went ballistic. She never did this before, but she started to stand on her bed screaming. I kept telling her to lay down and said if she starts screaming again, I'm going to leave.

I left the room and shut the door. I could hear her run towards the door and her little hand trying so hard to turn the knob. A sleep solution book shared that I need to leave the door closed for 5 mins. It was the longest 5 mins I ever experienced. It was aweful to hear her pounding on the door, crying for me. 'Mommmmeeeeeee'. I could only imagine her kneeling on the floor, crying.

After 5 mins, I took her back to bed and turned off the ceiling lights. She managed to turn it on during the 5min timeout. As we headed back to bed, she started screaming for daddy. 'DAddeee....nooooo mommmeeee....dadddeeee'' I almost broke out crying. I kept feeling that she hated me and didn't want me anymore.

'Akemi, if you keep screaming, mommy is going to leave again. I'm here right now. Please lay down and go to sleep'. I rub and pat her back as she whimpered off to sleep.

What seemed like 30 mins to an hour, only lasted 15 mins.

7:40 Lights out

7:45 Left the room after Akemi's rants

7:50 Back into the room and dragged Akemi back to sleep

8:10 Akemi fell asleep

8:15 Left the room

This is day 1. I have 13 more days to go! We're crossing our fingers that she won't wake up in the middle of the night.

Ayumi is 6 weeks old

Ayumi is 6 weeks old today. Time just fly by! It's been a busy 6 weeks since Ayumi's birth. I caught a cold for a week and on my birthday, I got the 24 hr stomach flu. It was not fun hugging the toilet and vomitting for 24 hrs. I thought I was going to die!

Thankfully Ayumi didn't catch it and she was fine. I was glad that I had some supply of milk to give her from the freezer.

I feel bad for Ayumi at times. Being the 2nd child, I'm noticing that I don't rush to her right away when she cries and she seems to get carried less. We also didn't celebrate her 1 month bday like we did with Akemi.

I'll try to make it up to her at her 3 months. =)

Akemi's Vocab

1. Dadoo = doggy
2.lei daw= Lay down
3. Tis tis = This
4. Webt = wet
5. Haut = Hot
6. Aghwa = Water
7. Mauk = Milk
8. Apple Juiw= Apple Juice

She's starting to string some words together. Like 'Daddy please more aghwa'

My baby girl is growing up. I can't help but to stare at her as she sleeps. We're trying to sleep train her so that she doesn't get accustomed to us laying down next to her, but I can't help it. It only seems like yesterday when she was as small as Ayumi.