Merry Christmas, Olivia~

Dear daughter,
Mama has been distracted for a while. Since last time I wrote you, I felt better during my 2nd trimester so I had more energy to run around. Now, you are 29 weeks and into the last trimester. Fatigue came back. Mama has been feeling "meh"... so I will write more journal until you arrive. 10 more weeks!! yiiiii!

Our house has new heating system now. It is so amazing. We can set the temperature and time. Your room is now cozy and warm. It is amazing how the difference it can make. I definately feel better with the circulated air in the house. Baba is "trying" to finish your room so we can put your crib and decorate the wall. He got you a pretty ligh from Pattery Barn Kid. We spent 2 hours installing it to the ceiling. He also spent nearly 2 months to finish painting your closet doors and walls in the room. It will look very chic.  I can tell that he is gonna spoil you like crazy!

Talkign about spoiling you. Mama really wants to buy you all the owl gifts out there but it will cost some $. I also don't know if you would appreciate it. Maybe until you are 2 years old? Until you can say "O" or owl, then I can buy you some owls. Right now owls are in style, so they are very expensive. By the way, are you like a night owl? because you are pretty quiet during the day, but actively kicking at night. I don't know if you are getting stronger, sometimes your kicks are painful! Mama wants  you to be happy and healthy. I will try to drink more water for you to swim inside. But you have to understand, I get those "taste" in my mouth that are very unpleasant sometimes. I really can't wait for you to come out so I can feel "normal" again.

Your brother Tofu and sister Miso sometiems accidentially stepped on you (my tummy). They just don't know your presence yet. But I can feel you move when they are sitting next to me. Perhaps you can feel their presence? I hope you three will be good friends.

I enjoy listening to your heart beats through my stethoscope. You really like to place your head on my right hip and open/close your legs. I hope you will be as tall as Baba. I am sure you will be cute and pretty. Love you!

a big mango

Olivia is turning 23 weeks! She is a sweet girl. She kicks often to remind me that she is here with me.

I read her bed time story. She is quietly listening.
I play music to her. She likes having a dance party.
She is not picky about what I eat. She just prefers fruits and veggies.

Olivia :) Mama can't wait to dance with you, read books with you and eat with you. <3 

Olivia Emma Yen

We have a little girl. A little girl named Olivia
O--O---O-l-i-v-i-a... dun lah lah dun lah lah lah.... O--O--O-l-i-v-i-a..

She is a beautiful baby on the ultrasound. She has Will's eyes and nose, my lips and chin.
She is a busy busy body. She keeps opening and closing her legs.
When we started the ultrasound, her head was down. When we finished the ultrasound, her head was up.
She has everything that she needs. She is so cute when we saw her opening/closing her mouth, sucking.
She likes to swing around her arms..and plays with her only toy--umbilical cord. :)

Dady Yen was so suprised that we're having a little girl. He posted the annoucement on FB right away in the room. He can't wait to feel her in one more month. He can't wait to meet her, smell her, hold her, kiss her and spoil her.
She has a good temper. She has been a very easy, good baby to me.
She loves frutis and veggies. She is not a big fan of meat.
She will love hashbrown, eggs and ketchup.
She will love going shopping with me.
She will love her beautilfu black hair.
She will love God more than anything.
Love <3

We spent a lovely evening together on Halloween :)

As Christians, we don't celebrate Halloween. We don't buy candies, nor dress up our pets. We went to the gym and had a nice dinner. It's a good day to get together with your love ones and stay warm.

Dady Yen tries to have momi Yen exercise as often as he can. He is worried that I get too fat. :(  I figure that I should at least get on the machine once a week. So, I agree to go with him. It is more fun to work out together. Espeically swimming gets easier with a big belly..hehhe.. floating is easier..

My stuffy nose is getting on my nerve. I got sick last Monday with a sore throat. It then turned into running nose...and now congestion.....sigh.. I have to breath with my mouth open.

Life gets harder when I have to pee every 45 mins, ride bus to work for 50 mins twice a day, passing gas at night, fighting cold for two people (baby and me).... I miss my body... i miss my energy... I miss cuddeling with Dady Yen.... Although he loves me and baby more and more, but he knows to sleep away from me so that I can have more room for pillows...sigh... I used to lay on top of him....on my belly.....now i have to spread my body out like a big octupus..

Baby, we want you to come soon.... we can't wait to kiss your cheeks.

music for baby

Baby Yen is 20 weeks old and going on 21st! It is time to start him/her some music lessons!

Dady Yen plays guitar at church and Baby Yen loves it. I could tell there are less movements when he/she hears the music he/she loves.

So I want to experiment it. Grandma Suen found a set of Grandpa Suen's ear phone with radio. I turned it to AM and found some Spanish music. Oh my, the baby moves pretty constantly.. but I thought to train him/her to be good at Spanish isn't a bad idea. So I kept the station for a while. Baby Yen finally gave up and calmed down for a bit. Secondly, I turned it to FM with  a pop/rock n roll music station...Baby Yen was pretty quiet through out the whole time. I think it is his/her favorite. Finally, I set on a Christian music station. Baby Yen moves along with the music.. I am not sure whether he/she doesn't like it or...loves it.

Sigh. I guess I will try to read books to him/her next time. Once I get my voice back. Sore throat, go away.

Thank you grandpa grandma!

Baby Yen got a pair of super-oober cute shoes from Africa today! Mr. and Mrs. Yen came back from Taiwan and brought us lots of goodies, including pineapple pastry and some comfortable maternity cloth.

I am wearing one of the new outfits to work today and showing it off with everyone at work. Baby Yen is having a good time moving around without any tightness or restriction around my waist. I feel bad sometimes that I "fogot" that I am having a baby and bending over to tie shoes. Baby Yen must hate being pushed or squeezed around.

Weather is getting cold now...it's like 50s and 40s in the morning!!! Baby Yen is getting tucked in with lots of layers...however, my jacket is getting really small..:( I tried to go shopping but I couldn't find any jackets that fits... Finally I found a green jacket from a second hand store, it is super cute..a doll-like jacket.

Don't laught at Mama Yen. I attempted to use bladder scan today to see if I can spot you from the portable 3D ultrasound. The truth is....it's all blurry. sigh. I guess we will have to wait patiently until November 2nd!!

Papa Yen really wants to see you too. He tries to put his hand on my belly to feel you and sings/talks to you. He loves you so much already! He just really wishes that you are a girl. Are you going to be a dady's girl or mom's boy?

PS: We went to Psalty's at Alki this past weekend. Oh man, I dove into the desert tables first. I ate so much yummy sweets that I felt sooo sleepy afterwards. I guess this is one of the perks of being pregnant. I didn't feel as guilty as I used to when I go there. hehe.. I hope you enjoy the food coma inside there as well.

Is a boy or a girl?

I am entering week 18!! We should know if we're having a boy or girl in 2 weeks but our OB will be out of town.. SO, we will have to wait until Nov.2nd to find out!! Mark your calendar and wait for the answer to reveal!!

We are so excited and hoping to see Baby Yen's legs, arms and obviously the important body part for one full hour with the radiologist :)

How do I feel lately?
I continue to eat and sleep well. Although I have had some major GI blow-outs recently, it was irritating and smelly! Sorry folks. TMI? I am also training Tofu & Miso how to use the toilet for their pee and poop downstairs, I am praying everyday that I won't catch any bugs from them. I just got my flu shot today. I was debating whether flu shot will cause any harm to the baby. Since I work in healthcare, I can't affort to fight the germs while I am carrying a little life inside of me. I surrendered to the flu shot.

How is papa Yen doing?
I think we are going under some stress from moving and adjusting the new life at our new residence. God is powerful. We continue to recover from mild colds and headaches. He allows us to have time visitng families who live near by to give us support. Papa Yen is anxious to see baby Yen and constantly rubbing and kissing mama Yen's belly.

I hope to find an orange-pumpkin color t-shirt to wear it this month. October, November and December are our favorite months of the year. I am looking forward to share every day with him/her.

From an apple to an avocado

Dear baby Yen,

You are popping out of my belly more now. Patients in the clinic has been giving me the strange eye contact and the attention toward my belly. That is the love you are getting right now. I hope you enjoy it.

I can't believe how fast time travels! One more week, I will enter into the 5th month! I am almost half way through!! It has been an easy journey for me. Thank you baby Yen. You are so sweet and understanding. I nearly felt nausea. Papa Yen has been kissing you on my belly every morning and does a little prayer. He is more excited than me to meet you. We hope to see you in 2 weeks at the OB visit.. You better turn around and show us your gender!! Even though you will only be 17 weeks..but we want to find out!

Love xoxo

We are in the 2nd trimester!

Sorry for not updating about you, baby. You are still #1 in our lives.

We mentioned about the house in a couple of posts. Now we are officially living in the house. Yes. Under the condition, we have to pile our stuff in the basement and waiting for the kitchen to be remodeled. It was very tiring and exhausting to move out and into the house. Our mover stood us up. Dady Yen became the hero of the day, rent the truck and found a couple of church guys to move the rest of the furnitures. I was overwhelmed with the ups and downs of the moving, so mom Yen was sort of out of strength on that day.

You are going to be such a good baby. Momi doesn't feel too much uncomforts from you. Momi loves eating fruits everyday. We had our 2nd OB visit and heard your heart beat getting stronger through the doppler. We just can't wait to see you on another ultrasound again!!!

Tofu and Miso also love our new house. They are exploring the new places to hide. I think you will enjoy playing hide-and-seek with them soon.

Let's go to bed.

Papa Yen and Mama Yen went to bed at 9pm last night! We were so shocked that we both felt so tired and sleepy. I guess we need to cherish this blessing to go to bed and sleep through the night before Oliver/Olivia comes.

The last week has been a whirlwind for us. I went to Southern California for a work conference on Saturday and attended a lovely wedding on Sunday. I was pooped afterwards. Uncle Wilbur and Aunty Bohee came to visit us and enjoyed every single moment we had together. Aunty Bohee celebrated her 30th b-day with you too! We enjoyed a good meal at "Din-Tai-Fong" in Bellevue. They can't wait to meet you next March!

And today, we signed the papers for the house! You are such a lucky baby. You will be born with lots of love and lots of room to play. The backyard and frontyard is waiting for you to discover. Tofu and Miso will be glad to have a playmate. We just can't wait to see you grow!

You should be a size of walnut by now. In 3 more weeks, we will get to see you on the monitor again. I hope you are getting everything you need inside. Mama is doing yoga and pilate to strech and make more room for you. You just hand in there tight. No slacking for you either!

Peekabooo! We see you!!

Hello Baby Yen, you were so shy to show on doppler and ultrasound today! Momy had to do 7-8 tubes of blood draw, urine test on the first OB visit. Until I emptied my bladder, excused myself back to the stirrup, finally we found you with your little head, arms, tummy and legs. I don't know how to describe the feeling of first seeing your heart beating so fast. I just can't wait to meet you and hold you in my arms!

You don't need to worry about delivery too. We met a very nice OB doctor, Dr. Jennie Mao. She is going to be a fantastic fun OB doctor for us. You will be in such good hands :) Now let's grow!

momy is sick

Uh oh, my dear baby. Momy somehow caught a sore throat on a 80 degree summer day! I will try my best not to take any Tynelol. Papa Yen already made me some chicken congee to improve my strength. He is going to be a wonderful dad.

Yesterday, we were cleaning up the garage for your Uncle Wilbur and Aunty Bohee's arrival. Your bedroom is now alot more organized and clean for them to stay. We could not believe how much junk we have gathered in a short period of time. We are glad that we will throw more stuff out once we are ready to move into the house. Right now, we are just trying to make the place tidy up.

You are now marching into week 9! How quickly you have grown! On August 10th, we will have our first OB visit. Cross our fingers, we will get an altrasound to see you! I don't really feel anything inside. Sometimes I even wonder if you are there. Have you felt a cat laying on top of you? It is mostly Tofu, your big, annoying brother. He is alittle bit of bossy, but a handsome dominant male cat. He likes to cuddle and lay on top of momy's chest. I can't wait until you two meet. He will be sleeping next to you and keeping you warm.

Allright, I hope you are making yourself comfortable in there. Momy has started doing Yoga and Pilate exercise to make more room for you. I don't want to get you too lazy there. You better start working on your heart beats! :)

love, mom.

craving for..

last night I had this urge to get dumplings.. plus soy souce..and garlic.

Unfortunately, we don't have any at home. Papa Yen was flying home from LA and planning to stop by China Town to get some. He ran out of time between connecting train/bus, so he didn't get any frozen ones.

But today, Mama Yen's mission is going to get some! yeah! Dumplings here I come!

week 8- bigger than a rasperry?

My waist line has increased quiet a bit- thanks to Baby Yen. After a weekend of celebration for my college friend, Jennifer, on geting hitched in Spokane. I had a relaxing time of sitting, eating and hanging out with old friends. It was nice and warm inside to share the good news with them. They all can't wait to meet little Oliver/Olivia.

Based on babyzone.com, this week I am going to start noticing baby's heart beats! I took out my stethscope and tried to look for the beats. It wasn't easy to listen. I heard lots of gurgling in my instestines for sure.

I can't wait for my first doctor's appointment in 2 weeks. I can't wait to see the little face of our baby!

Baby Yen has a name!!

Papa Yen and Mama Yen has came up with the name for our baby! It's going to be.........

Girl-Olivia or Boy- Oliver!
The name means peace or strong like a olive tree.
I think it's going to be so cute and deary. Although the baby Yen might not like waiting in line forever to get her/his turn becuase of "O" and/or "Y".. too bad!

ugh.morning sickness

People say the first trimester is the hardest because of all the new changes in your life. I would agree.

I was very proud of myself for not having any nausea for a few weeks, but now I am getting into the trap. At first, it was all sweet and nice to find out I was pregnant. Having the ichy feeling in my body does NOT make the whole 9 month seem very exciting. I can't wait to get over this period and enjoy having a big round belly.

My endocrinologist told me today that I should stop gaining weight. "No one should gain any weight in the first trimester", said by Dr. Ahmadian. I looked down my belly with shame and felt like crying. :(  Cuz I have already put on 6 pounds with the help of fatigue. I guess I must get back on my exercise routine.

Now, baby Yen, you better treat me nice in the future.

Week 6- fighting with fatigue

I am marching into week 6 and hardly awake. The fatigue has gotten its power on me. I am like a sleeping queen.

Last night, papa Yen wants to watch a movie. I proposed to postphone it on the weekend because my sleepy bug has arrived at 8pm.. by 9pm. I wa already laying on the carpet floor.wanting to climb into bed. Tofu and Miso has noticed me going to bed earlier and so they decided to claw me at 1am and 3am to have me feed them. Cats want attention too...

I am just grateful that I have a job that doesn't require too much of strenous activity..otherwise I will be sleeping on my job too.

A new pad for the Yens?

http://www.redfin.com/WA/Bellevue/4142-151st-Ave-SE-98006/home/234655

Call us crazy.. but we got the offer today! This might be the new Yen's residence. :)

Share the good news?

July 7th is Grandpa Yen's birthday. Mr. Yen decided to call and wish him happy birthday. Of course, baby Yen was introduced for the first time! Grandpa Yen was so happy that he asked a silly question.."does that mean Tammy is going to be a mom?"  .... Tammy: "uhm, I hope so, dad..." Grandpa Yen: "Ooooh~ this is the best birthday present!" :)

Momy Yen also can't hold all her excitements. She *emailed* her best friends, Erin and Ryna.. Jennifer is still under the water at this point because she is getting married..no thunder stealing. Anyways, aunty Ryna first called back with congratulation! Aunty Ryna and Momy Yen chatted on the phone for a quick conversation.
Grandma Suen also congratulated Momy Yen along with some 'reminders'--don't drink alcohol... duh?

With all of these good news sharing to immediate family/friends, Mr. and Mrs. Yen are in the mist of preparing a offer letter to a house on NewporHill. It's a 1950' old house with lots of good potentials.. with good school district, nice size front/back yard, downstair mom-in-law unit for Grandma Suen. With God's grace and mercy, we will see how the future Yen's house plans out!

Memo for my baby

Dear baby,

Momy especiallty worked her butt off to get into a good shapre before your arrival. Momy and Dady ran a half marathon together at the end of June of 2011. Shortly after that, we found out about you. I guess you are going to be atheletic too. FYI, I perticularly found myself attractive to hot chocolate, oreo cookies and sweet stuff.. does that say anything about you? Will you be a sweet child or a child with lots of cavaties?

Dady on the other hand already began looking into jogging stroller. I think he can't wait to take you out for a run. At this point, we don't know if it is just going to be you or two of you, so we can't really purchase one.
We also drove around to look at Open Houses for potential homes. But you know..we are not so agreesive into things.. We might not have everything together before you come. Bear with us, you have to be patient. At least you will have a space on our bed to sleep. The rest will follow, right?

Momy's first OB visit is going to be August 10th, 2011. Will I get to see you on the sonogram? You better be strong inside of me. Cuz, momy is not going to stop working out until you get too big. Enjoy your next 35 weeks journey with me!

Love,
mom

How old exactly is my baby?

Ok, being a nurse doesn't mean I know everything. I did my own calculation and found out what my exstimated due date is March 29th, 2012. However, the person who scheduled my OB vists said that my due date should be March 10th. So, am I now 5 week pregnant or 2 week? Why does medical book start calculating the last day of your last menstrual period rather than the last time you had...you know.

Having internet to search for what my baby might be like as 2 week prego versus 5 week prego helps me to put things in perspective. On the other hand, the picture of fetus grossed out Mr. Yen quiet a bit. I think he just does not want to face the reality ... hehe. Don't get us wrong. We are very happy to welcome this child but somehow we are very inmature in terms of how to be future parents at this point. We like to joke around the baby's images...seriously fetus look like baby dinosours or aliens you may say.

The begining

On July 19th, 2009, Will proposed to Tammy in Portland, OR.

On August 9th, 2010, Will married Tammy in Issaquah, WA.

On July 7th, 2011, Tammy did a home pregnancy test (HPT), and found out she is double lined!

The begining of the Happy Yens!!