saaammage: December 2011

Hello Loves!

So it's been about a month and a half since our last personal life "update".

I've been receiving lots of messages dying for another update so here it is!

As always here are the previous ones --- #4, #3, #2, #1

FOR WARNING:

THIS WILL BE A LONG ONE!

LOTS OF PICTURES!!

SOOO MUCH TO UPDATE ON.

Lets see, where to start?

Well the baby shower was on November 26th.

It was a lovely 6+ hours with both of our fams, 40 of Alex's friends.. and lots and lots of food.

Here are some snapshots from the event, some from iphones.. some from dslrs.

My friend Angelina & I.. with my dad in the background.

Like the decorations? I decided to pick out a bunch of girl monkey things.

As you can see, Alex typically goes by "Monkey". I'm not used to calling him Alex to be honest.

All of his family & friends call him Monkey so that's how I was introduced to him!

Thus why the banner says Monkey hehe.

I was pretty proud of how well the "do it yourself" sticker banner came out.

Cupcakes by my sister & her friends.

And we played games... a fun one was the guess how wide the mama to be is.

As you can see here. (Monkey's little brother, who isn't really that little is behind me in the red shirt)

Overall lots of gifts, love and fun.

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Moving onto the next update.

We moved into our new apartment December 8th.

Been here for almost three weeks now.

I've always been a big fan of apartment life, no clue why.

Since it's a 3 bedroom, 2 bath... we rented out one of the rooms to Monkey's cousin Lynn (from my Dec Favs video) and her boyfriend who is also named Alex. IRONIC I KNOW.

The other bedroom is used as a office/recording studio/get ready room/closet for me.

I know a lot of you will be surprised that there isn't a nursey.

Well, honestly... I was raised without a nursury, so was Monkey... and 90% of my other friends lol

Just doesn't seem needed for us personally right now.
Regardless we'd have to get up and walk across the hall to care to Ayva.

Might as well have her crib in the master bedroom with us!

Most asian families from my knowledge don't usually have nurseries.

My crib was next to my parent's bed lol

Yes I know I miss out on all the decorations but it's a lot less stress and a lot more convenient.

She is going to share the closet in the master bedroom with daddy (dressers at the bottom) and that is why mommy gets the studio closet to herself =P same size.

I'd love to show you all how everything is once we have everything organized and such. The apartment is far from done. These things take time!

It's livable and all and decently organized but it's not internet ready! lol

Be patient about that, I promise an amazing mtv cribs-like video tour once it is at that point.

One day after move in, our precious new pet addition arrived.

(He is actually sitting next to me right now :D)

FACT: He is 100% not a puppy mill dog for those that are are even contemplating that. He is AKC certified and all that good stuff. He came from a very well known and highly recommended breeder and was in perfect health according to our vet the day after he arrived.

His name is Momo and he is my dream dog I've wanted since I was maybe... 5.

Currently he is 11 weeks old. He arrived at 8 weeks so most pictures are somewhere between there and now.

He is a purebreed cream Chow Chow puppy with the most amazing grey eyes that literally take your breathaway.

Some lovely candid baby cam (used as a puppy cam currently) screenshots of Momo lounging & sleeping.

YES HE DOES LOOK LIKE A LION/BEAR/DOG.

He's a sweetheart... learned how to sit, paw and fetch within the first few days of arriving.

Luckily chows are pretty easy to potty trained too!

Chows have bad reputations but honestly just like any other dog.. it's all about how you raise and train them.

He's 100% a mama's boy. Loves to cuddle, lay on my feet, be held like a baby.... watch me cook & clean.

Pretty much just stalk me lol but he is also really good with vistors and loves the attention.

He gets waaaay too much attention when we take him to pet stores.

People line up to play with him! Plus since he is still small he likes to ride in the small shopping carts and everyone can't resist. See?

He is gaining about a pound a week... He is around 16lbs now and he will grow to be at least 45lbs-70lbs.

Chows are big dogs! So if your wanting one.. make sure your aware of that!

I looooveeee him. And so does Monkey, Alex & Lynn.

Momo bear keeps me busy but for the most part we have a routine now a days.

P.S The bunnies & momo get along fine... they don't hang out but they don't growl or care much for each other. They co-exist perfectly fine!

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Last but not least... AYVA TIME!!

(I found this cute bib randomly at a store so I figured... I had to have it lol)

I'm currently around 34 weeks! 8.5 months down.

Technically.. one more day till 34 but regardless, final stretch!

6 weeks to go... specifically 43 more days if I make it to full term (40 weeks).

I have a feeling I'll deliver between 36-38. So it seems a lot closer! 2-3 more weeks.

CRAAAAZY how time flies!!!!

Who is excited?! Raise your hands! hehe.

Here is a recent 3d/4d pic of Ayva from yesterday.

Supposedly they can tell that she has a good amount of hair. YAY!

It was adorable/strange watching her nibble on her cord during our ultrasound session.

Looks more and more like daddy everyday!

She is in perfect health, head down like she should be.

Which was a big relief because I was told she might not turn because of my small body.

Gave her less room to play.

My belly appears almost exactly the same as my last update!

Pretty much how it looks in the baby shower pics up there ^^.

I'm weighing in at 105lbs now so I've gained a decent amount.

Under high watch from everyone around me including docs because they said I have a high chance of early labor due to size so I need to "take it easy".

Which to Monkey means... don't move at all! lol

Still having on and off back pain which is bearable. The sporadic sharp leg pains/cramps suck though... I wish it was one of the third trimester symptoms I could have skipped.

No stretch marks (battle scars) to report yet!

I'm excited to see her. Monkey is very impatient!

I also can't wait to get my hand of a dozen raw oysters and a plate of salmon sashimi after I give birth. *tummy growl*

Her clothes are all washed, folded and ready...(bibs and wash clothes too).

We have enough diappers and wipes stocked up to last us... at least 6 months lol

& enough gift cards to babiesrus to buy even more afterwards.

All and all.. good to go!

I really wanted to showcase some amazing gifts that a lovely subbie named Kim (@xoSTYLISTICkiss on twitter) sent to me as a surprise for the holidays. Literally just came a day ago and the thought and care that she put in this package made me almost speechless. Almost being the keyword, I kept screaming.. "AWWWW".

Everything is so cute and seems to be custom or handmade!

I can't thank Kim enough for her kindness and I must say... it's amazing how she knows me so well!