Lila Chae Rin Kim

She's here, she's actually here! I was induced on Wednesday, 11/26/08, at 12:00PM, and pushed her out at 3:48PM. Yes...only took about 4 hours! Thank you LORD!

Lila was 8 pounds, 20 in long and born with lots of hair! Hubs and my mom were in the delivery room. I was hesitant about having my mom in there because she's a Labor and Delivery Nurse, so I assumed she would take over and become the "nurse" rather than be my "mom". But all went well, and Won and I were actually glad she was in the room with us. BTW, I got the epidural! After my doc manually broke my water, my contractions became twice as strong. I'm weak sauce!!

Motherhood is awesome in every way. It's definitely draining and extremely hard the first few days, but it's true when mommies say it gets easier as time progresses. She sleeps well at night and wakes up for her feedings without crying too much. The only thing is she falls asleep in my arms when I feed her! We get a wet towel and brush it on her ear/neck, do a fake change of a diaper, undress her, etc...it gets to be tiring because night feedings will take me almost 45 minutes! Day time is pretty low key. When she's awake, I'll put her in the bouncer or I've started doing tummy time.

We are moving in 2 days! Good-bye Valley, Hello OC!

Fair Weekend Update

The weekend went by so quickly. We packed up at least 10 boxes and took them to BP both Saturday and Sunday. I didn't realize we lived so far after doing the Valley - OC drive back to back. I live far!

We met our neighbors, and one guy is a cop. I was so excited to hear that! I've always had nightmares when I was younger about someone breaking into my house, so to know that there is cop next door makes me feel safer for some reason. It's a recurring nightmare of mine...hate it! Do you have a recurring nightmare? Won has one and will break into sweats when he wakes up from it. It's of him missing an important final to graduate college!??? Wish I had a dream book to make sense of what all of this means.

Anyhow, lil sprinkles had our first holiday fair yesterday. You can read it about here.



Here is a pic of our booth. Initially, big sis was going to work alone, but I ended up going after she called me at the butt crack of morning telling me how the turnout was insane! People started lining up at 5:30am to get in.

Buttons were a hit, SC paperweights were a hit...big sis dolls...eh! Too high of a price point? We're not sure, but we're hoping the next fair on 12/6 at Cerritos Tall Mouse will be better for us.

Hooter hider aka nursing cover aka bosom buddy, etc...

I decided to make some stuff for me and Lila, and my first project was a nursing cover. I got a yard of Alexander Henry jungle fabric, and made this:





***Free tutorial can be found here***

BTW, did anyone see Brad Pitt on Oprah yesterday? I was disappointed in him...he seemed cocky and wasn't very friendly to that tattoo lady even though she came across as a MEGA STALKER!

Welcome Home...it's official!

2008 is probably the busiest and one of the craziest years for us. In addition to welcoming our first baby which can be any day now, we are proud to say we are owners of this lovely home below:




I call it the Carmenita home because it's the colors of my junior high...yellow and green. :P

I'm sad to be moving out of the valley because of the great friends we've made and to be leaving our church, The Garden. That's definitely the number one thing we will miss about this area.

On the flip side, I'll be only 10 minutes away from my mom and sis! Plus, my girlfriends are nearby, so I'll be able to see them more often! Yay!

The Waiting Game

Just got back from the doc, and I'm 2 centimeters dilated! Dr. Wong said she felt Lila's head, and my cervix is thinning nicely. What does this all mean? Well, I guess it means I can have Lila any day now, which is FREAKING ME OUT!

This is what I found on a birthing site - birthing with guinever:

"You can be 36, 37, or 38 weeks pregnant, 2 centimeters dilated and not have your baby for several weeks. Or you can be 2 centimeters dilated and be in very early labor or pre-labor having a couple contractions an hour and maybe have a baby within the next couple days. Or you can be 2 centimeters dilated and be having very long, hard contractions that are close together. In this last scenario, you will have your baby very soon."

I have one thing planned this week in the OC, and I'm wondering if I can do it alone because it's during the week and during work hours. No hubs to drive me around!

I'm trying to rest up as much as possible because I feel like the last couple days I've been out and about and being more active than normal. I need just one more week...just one more week!!!

Random thoughts

I'm 37 weeks, full term! I actually had a semi-productive day today. I met with my pediatrician, and he was adorable. Late 50's/early 60's...a tender, caring grandpa. He was so sweet, and he gave me a "nuggie" because I told him I didn't know I needed a pediatrician before I could take my baby home from the hospital. First of all, I haven't had a nuggie in a long time and secondly, he did it in a way that wasn't awkward because that's something you don't do to a stranger.

I stopped watching Jon and Kate probably 6 months ago, but I started up again because I wanted to watch them take their vows again in Hawaii. I'm happy cause there is a J&K marathon going on right now!

SKB reminded me that I'll have to send my announcements during xmas time. I think she offered to help me because this girl has the BEST penmanship in the WORLD! SKB - did you offer to help or is it all in my head? hehe :P Sars bought me a gift cert to a photographer in my local area, Jill Peterson, and I love her style! I'm wondering if it will be too crazy to bring the photog to my house to take shots? I'm considering it even with all the hectic things going on in my life because I just love those black and white naked newborn shots where the baby is laying on the dad's hand. Do you know what I mean? I'm sure I can take them at her studio but at 2-3 weeks, I'm scared to take her out and about except for doctor visits.

I did buy her outfit for the photo though. Lila will be wearing this tiara velvet headband and nothing else!

Monday update

I don't know what to do with myself. My first day of not working has been hard. One of the first things I did when I woke up was check my work email. I still have access to my work email from home, and I can't believe I actually signed on. Work withdrawal, I guess?

I've been busy making dolls. Busy making food for myself since I can't eat at my good ol work cafeteria. I just finished taking a 15 minute walk around my complex and met an old grandma who said I don't look like I can deliver in 3 weeks. She thinks I'm too small! That was nice to hear considering I feel like a whale. I'm going to take another walk in a few hours because I feel like I gained 5 pounds alone from dinner last night at Lawry's.

My family went to Lawry's to celebrate my mom's 60th. This is what we bought her:



Hopefully my mom will put it to good use!

Lawry's was delish. I think my favorite part of Lawry's besides the actual prime rib is the salad. Won would still prefer caesar's salad over the spinning salad!...Gasp!

Anyhow, I'm off to watch Oprah and think of what to make for dinner. :-)

Six pounds and counting...

I am SO incredibly happy today! Today is my last day of work, and I officially start maternity leave. I’m also grinning ear to ear because my doctor’s visit was a good one. She said Lila is estimated to be 6 pounds right now! I have three more weeks to go, so by the time I give birth she might be around 7.5. Not bad, right? I say not bad because everyone and their moms have been telling me that I’ll probably have a big baby because I was a 10 pounder. I honestly don’t know how my mom did it, but I was a ghastly 10 pounds. I’ll have to scan a picture of my baby picture and well as Won’s baby pic so you can see what a big chubs I was.

I know these are all estimates, and I can potentially have a bigger/smaller baby than expected. I’m just happy to know she didn’t estimate me at more!

I haven’t dropped at all either, and my doc said it won’t happen for awhile. The way things are looking now, maybe I’ll have my baby probably on time or even later. Sooo…does that mean I can go to the Splendid/Ella Moss sale next week without worrying that my water is going to break????

Still contemplating that one!

Halloween Costume Part II

Juno and Bleeker!





No one knew who I was, even while walking beside Won. They thought he was Napoleon Dynamite or Will Ferrel from Semi-Pro, and me...just a preggers wearing a funky outfit. I didn't have the right skirt nor the right hoodie, but I had the striped shirt and I wore my hair in a ponytail!?!? This pic scares me though. Look at my monster hand! (Thanks Jangmi for the idea)

I finally can mark off another item on my to do list. I got a haircut! I chopped off about 5 inches on Saturday. I'm loving it because it feels so light, and I can cut some time from showering - prob my #1 thing I DESPISE DOING! Don't get me wrong. I take showers...I just hate them. Is that weird?

Halloween Costume

I got an idea from a friend for my Halloween costume. I'm going to follow through with it!

Sadly, I don't have to purchase anything to complete my costume. I have literally every piece of clothing article as this character. I thought to myself...awesome I don't have to spend any money! However after thinking about it some more, it's kinda sad once you find out who I'm dressing up as.

Just wait and see. I'll post pics on Saturday. I'm dragging Won into the mix too...he's needed to complete my ensemble. Now do you know who I'm going to be!?!?!

Weekend Update

My department of four gave me a baby shower at one of my co-worker's home. It was at her "party patio" complete with "drinky-poos" for her "sweet lil angel". Yes, I'm an angel to her! hehe. But she calls every girl an angel. This sweet halmoni has so many one of a kind phrases. It's pretty hilarious.



I have some fave places to buy cakes, but I would have to say Bread Basket is now on the top of my list. They won an award for 2008 best wedding cakes, and the cake was THE BEST ever. Too bad this bakery is all the way in Camarillo...too far.



The food...don't forget the cerveza!



The halmoni actually bought me a stroller! I didn't want to accept it because she also made me a baby blanket and sewed it herself, but she set it up for me prior to me coming, added the teddy bear, and gave me the instructions. The sweetest lady..



Mary Ann made me this monstrous diaper cake. I've never seen a diaper cake w/o the diapers rolled up in cylinders but done this way where she just fanned out the diapers.

Saturday - got a Chinese head to foot massage at the acupuncturist. I desperately needed it because the right side of my body is super swollen.

Can't wait for this Friday. Church is having a Harvest Festival, and I'm still contemplating on what to dress up as...couple suggestions from my small group said that I should either be a Catholic school girl or a nun. I don't have either outfit! I do have a Cat in the Hat outfit that I borrowed from my girlfriend???

Last purchase for the nursery

I'm done with the nursery! That is, I have everything planned out in my head and drawn out on paper but nothing is actually done in the room. That's the way I work. Last minute gal. Actually I never used to be like this...I've changed this year!

Her name will be spelled out in these scalloped frames from Bellini.



I bought two nursery drawings from Etsy...love etsy!!!! My sis and I have a shop on etsy too. Check it out! Not sure where the elephant/bunny drawings will go in her room? I don't think these drawings even match with the decor, but I liked them too much. Gotta incorporate them somehow. Here is one of them:



Too bad it doesn't snow in these neck of the woods!

The final purchase we made this weekend was a rug that Won actually picked out. He's so proud of this purchase...it's kinda cute to see him feel like he contributed to her room. He was getting nervous that her room was looking a bit adultish, so he picked out a big ol butterfly/bird rug.



That's it. I will be able to accomplish one of the things off my list from my prior post - eating at a nice steakhouse. Not Mastro's but Lawry's. We're celebrating my mom's 60th birthday in a few weeks. 60!??? Time goes by way too fast.

After re-reading my post, these three pictures just show how hodge podgey her room is going to be! I guess this is what happens when you don't have a theme????

My list of things to do before Lila arrives...

One of my good friends, Jangmi, who is also expecting a baby girl (just 3 months after Lila) got me thinking about what I want to do before Lila arrives. I have so many things I want to do but I know I can't. I just have to come to terms with it!!! I have 2 lists going. Tell me I'm not crazy!

Things I want to do but it just ain't happening

1.) Charles David Sample Sale next week. I missed this sale the past 3x...gotta miss it again this time around. I prob would have gone if I was maybe 7 months preg like a MCN, but it got me thinking that I wouldn't know what size shoe to buy for myself. My feet are SOOOOO swollen. Like sausages.

2.) Black Friday Sale at Camarillo outlets. I love love love Black Friday, and the outlets even open up at 12 am. Sadly, I've missed shopping on this special Friday the past how many years because I've always been in Chi-town.

3.) Disneyland with the twins. My sis had gone to D with Brady and Samantha the past several weeks, and I really really wanted to go with them and ride the kiddie rides and see their happy faces light up when they see Mickey or the Princesses or whatever character excites them. The reality is that I just cannot walk long distances without feeling winded. I'm officially waddling.

4.) Stop working now. Impossible; I have 2.5 more weeks.

5.) Take a trip with my girlfriends. A mini one!

6.) Buy a xmas tree - def not happening. All our xmas decorations are in storage.

7.) Eat Thanksgiving dinner with the family.

Things I want to do and might come to fruition

1.) Get a haircut. Desperately needed!

2.) Eat at Mastro's. I keep forgetting there is one right near me in Thousand Oaks. This time I would get bone-in anything!

3.) It was #7 up above. Had to move it out of this list after thinking some more.

4.) Finish my honeymoon album and my baby shower scrapbook

5.) Watch Star of my Heart (Korean drama w/ the late Choi Jin Sil)

6.) Go to the mall and TRY on sunglasses and then buy a pair. I'm always buying before I try on...big mistake. Stupid one on this list but I'm always thinking of it when I wear my current sunglasses while driving.

7.) Buy xmas presents now so I don't have to stress in December.

8.) Wash, sort, separate the Hefty bag of clothes handed down from my sis.

9.) Finish her room...sigh. A big task.

10.) Date night with the hubs ~ nice dinner, movie, and dessert. I'm aiming to complete this one!!

There you have it.

My Baby Shower

For those of you who know me, I'm a pretty emotional/sensitive person. I didn't realize I could get any more emotional until this weekend of my baby shower. I couldn't help but tear up at my shower and couldn't help but cry when I got home to read all the cards. My hormones are out of control! I wasn't like this in my first two trimesters, so I guess it's all hitting me at once as I'm nearing my due date.

My sis did such a wonderful job planning the shower, and everything came out SO adorable! Thanks to my special friends and my mom who also helped out with the shower!

Invitation (onesie was the theme):



Friends wrote down advice/words of encouragement on a onesie to go into my scrapbook:



Scrapbook made by sis (I love the scrapbook because it matches the scrapbook from my bridal shower!):


(baby shower scrapbook)

(bridal shower scrapbook - 3 years ago!!!)

Décor:







Food (Whole foods, salad made by my mom, fruit salad made by SKB, baby cupcakes made by cats):







Favors (Lila cookies):



Prizes (archipelago candles supplied by none other than ames and goody bags sewn by my sis filled with lotion, a notepad, and other fun stuff):



Onesie Cake from Beverly's Best:



One of the games (guess the ingredients):



Friends and family:













I received a wide range of gifts from necessities off my registry to necessities for dressing up Lila like a pink Burberry dress, pink Burberry jacket, pink Uggs, Trumpete socks, J&J Capelet, onesies galore, etc! She's spoiled already!

My one request from my sis was to knit something for Lila. As soon as I saw the hat and booties, I couldn't help but shed a tear.



After the shower, Won and I ate dinner with my sis, Kye and the twins. It's amazing how they've grown so much. They're both speaking in full sentences!





Samantha showing me her Halloween costume...Minnie Mouse again this year. She loves MM!



Brady "flying high" with emo-boo.

Dec 2nd = Britney Spears’ Birthday

My work lunch buddy is on vacay, so I’ve been running a lot of errands lately. I got my nails done today, which I try not to do so often because of the smell…it gets me light headed, but I had to have pretty nails for my Baby Shower which is this weekend! Woohoo! I can’t wait.

Normally when I get my nails done, I’m usually listening to the Viet ladies talk crap or I’m catching up on Days of our Lives which always seems to be playing no matter which nail salon I go to. However, today was just an odd day. A 13-year old girl struck up a conversation with me about my pregnancy and asked me loads of questions. It was very entertaining, and she even gave me the name of her pediatrician which she went on and on about for five minutes. I didn’t realize teens still go to pediatricians? I thought they move up to regular doctors? Who knows? I told her Lila’s name, which she responded with, “Oh how adorable! You have to spell it Leila like my friend.” I’m not doing that for many reasons which I won’t go into. Then she asked when I was due, and I replied December 2nd which prompted her mouth to open so wide. O-M-G, that’s Britney Spear’s Birthday! I’m not kidding; she said the OMG letters! Do kids really talk like that? I’ve only heard the actors say that on Gossip Girl.

I couldn’t help but laugh because she kept saying how awesome it would be if my baby was born on the day Britney was born. How awesome would that be!????? OMG!

Money doesn't grow on trees

I've heard that phrase from my mom 100x. Money doesn't grow on trees, you think money grows from trees, money doesn't just fall of trees...etc. You get the point. So many variations, and I've heard them all.

I'm starting to understand exactly what that means. I knew having a baby was going to be expensive, and I'm definitely starting to feel the pinch esp the past few weekends because we made our first big purchases for Lila.

We bought a moses basket/bassinet in one for Lila's first "bed" before she transitions to the crib. I can roll the bassinet from one place to another, and it fits right next to my side of the bed...BARELY! Whew!



Wish I could have taken a pic with the bedding, but my sis reminded me that I have to wash it in "special" baby detergent versus Tide...something else I'll need to buy.

We also bought a Dutailier glider. Why are gliders so expensive? I was so disappointed because I had a 20% coupon for Babies R Us, and I was going to use it to buy my glider, but the sales clerk told me it would take 4-6 months for the chair to be made!!! What??? It's just a chair...no? We left without making the purchase and good thing we did because we bought one for $300 off the normal price at Baby Town in Reseda.

The crib and the dresser will be handed down from my sis among other things she has vacuumed sealed in bags for me. Couldn't be more grateful. I'm sure Samantha will recognize a lot of things that her cousin will be wearing :-)

Funny comic for the day

HALLOWEEN IS GOING TO SUCK THIS YEAR!



Reminds me of an old school candy I ate last night after dinner. We went to a sushi restaurant and they gave me ONE Werther's candy. Odd, but I enjoyed it because it reminded me of my grandma who used to keep those in the kitchen drawer. Gold covered wrapping, caramel/butter flavored candy…yum!

What's in a name?

We decided on the baby’s name awhile ago, but I didn’t want to blog about it because Won kept going back and forth with it. For example, during the Olympics, he wanted desperately to name her Nastia after the US Gymnastics Blonde Phenom. Nastia and then "Nas" for short...good thing it was just a phase. He also liked Logan after a female volleyball player. I guess he has a thing for female athletes.

We’re 99% sure we are naming her Lila Kim. I fell in love with that name after watching Friday Night Lights…terrible huh? Normally parents have these wonderful stories about naming their child after someone special in their lives or something meaningful that has happened, but we’re naming her after watching that football show with “Lila Garrity” as the cheerleader played by Minka Kelly who once dated John Mayer but has now been seen with Derek Jeter. BTW, I love celebrity gossip. She does play a cheerleader on the show…there’s some sort of connection with me?

According to www.babynames.com:
The meaning of the name Lila is Lilac Tree

The origin of the name Lila is Persian

Also a Hebrew name, meaning 'you are mine'.

I’ll leave ya with some pics of Lilacs…my new favorite flower!

Weekend Updates

I'm sick as a dog. Not really but it feels like it since I'm preg. I thought I would escape from getting sick these 9 months, but I was wrong since last Thursday. I only took Tylenol to help cure my cold, but thank goodness I saw my doctor on Friday because she told me Robitussin was safe to take.

On a brighter note, I only gained two pounds in three weeks! WOOOHOOO! This is HUGE news for me, and even my doc mentioned that I must be eating better because I was averaging 1.25 pounds a week. I cut down all sweets, white breads, and salt (so hard to do esp cause I have a hubs who cannot stand bland food). My obsession with my weight gain has reached its peak! I'm glad I'm over it because I only have two months left...ahhhh TWO MONTHS!

Lately I've been thinking of all the activities I'll miss doing now that I'm having a baby. Don't get me wrong - I'm all for having our lil girl, and I'm so excited to finally be a mommy. However, lately I've been reminded time and time again that life will change, and I will have to forego a lot of things - for good and some temporarily.

So here are just some of the things I know I'll miss doing in no particular order...

1.) Taking a vacay day from work to hit up the bi-annual Barney's Warehouse sale with my girls.



Hardcore? Yes! Look how focused we look. (pictures taken from jangmi's xanga)

I'm sure I'll be visiting good ol Santa Monica in 2010 :-)

2.) Midori all you can eat sushi

Locations: Studio City, Sherman Oaks, Encino
Price $25/person

Did I mention all you can eat ono and fatty albacore belly?

3.) My daily coffee fix and two buck chuck

4.) Dancing with my girls. But what I'll miss even more are those random things that happen throughout the night -



Eyelash malfunction



Everyone singing the wrong lyrics



Getting "low" but not having the ability to get back up because of weak knees

The list goes on...too bad I didn't have a pic of our many bathroom episodes!