One Month Ruby

Hmong Post-Partum

The Hmong post-partum practice often means confinement for 30 days with a strict diet and strict taboos. Hmong woman will not eat hospital food as traditionally they should eat hot rice with boiled chicken in a broth of special herbs. Absolutely no fruits, vegetables or cold drinks allowed. The Hmong (no matter age or location) still observe this practice as it is believed to avoid ill health and misfortune in the future. It is also taboo for the Mother and child to step inside the house of anyone other than her house or her husband's family's house. If she does, she may disrupt the home's spirit guard and bring misfortune to that person or family.

Believe me, this post-partum was hard because of the fact that my recovery took so long and that I had two babies under the age of two to take care of. So to top it off with the confinement was a slap to the face! After a week of being on the diet, I cheated and ate other foods besides the boiled chicken. Of course, I felt bad but I did it anyway.

Whole chicken boiled with special herbs from my Mother and Mother in-law.

The broth from the chicken has to be served separate from the chicken. It is also a taboo to allow rice to drop into the liquid of the broth because it is believed to create red bumps on your baby's body.

Only fresh hot rice with fresh chicken is allowed. If there are leftovers, the Mother can not eat it because it is believed it will cause her ill health in the future.

Welcome Baby Ruby

Sorry I'm very late on this post but, as you can imagine, I've been very busy with a newborn and a 16 month old. Ruby came into this world on October 20th. She was a very healthy baby and not as quiet as her brother. Anakin got to meet his baby sister a few hours later and at first he really couldn't figure it out but, once he saw this baby he immediately kissed her and hugged her. He also had his first sleep over at his auntie's house without Mommy and Daddy. I don't know if it was worse for him or for us. I missed him terribly and kept him at the hospital with us even though I knew it was a bad decision since we would not be sleeping well but, we did it anyway (we can't cut the cord yet!). 

I'd have to say, this labor did go smoother than Anakin's but the recovery was a lot harder. My back and tailbone hurt so much from pushing her out, I could not walk at all. It did not help either that my 16 month old still required a lot of attention from me and that my husband only had a week off from work. Ai yah!!! What was I to do? Well, I did what I always do when I need help... I called my Mom!

My Mother was so sweet. She offered to take a week off work to come help me. She was such a great help even though Anakin was being a stinker and I wanted her to stay longer but, she had to go back. I cried and cried the day she left. I really did feel like my world was crumbling down. Postpartum hit me hard with this pregnancy because I had it really good with my first one. With Anakin, my husband took a month off and my recovery was quick. I think having someone there to help you is the tipping point in determining your overall wellness. Either way, I'm plugging ahead with little sleep and little time on my hands now. I have a one month old and a 17 month old now to take care of. I just hope I can divide myself while multiplying myself. Life of a Mother... they say you won't know until you walk two moons in their shoes. 

Baby Shower for a Baby Girl

This past weekend was Labor Day weekend as well as my baby shower for baby girl. It was the perfect weather too. My house was the house to be at on the block. I had kids running around the house and people stopping by to say hi (since it was the Hmong tournament too). I could not have asked for a better ending to a special Summer than this. I am so blessed and lucky to have so many sisters and sister in-laws who threw this shower for me. There are no words to express how much love I felt that day and how much love I know Ruby will have surrounding her.

I can't believe it's already September! Just another month until baby girl makes her entrance into this world. I'm kinda nervous now that I know what to expect during labor. I'm just praying it's a smooth labor with no big interruptions. She has been so active so I know she'll have a lot of sass in her. I can not wait to hold her and for Anakin to meet his little sister.

Babygirl Fall Picks

1. Playsuit by MileyandMoss
2. Shirred Floral top by babyGap
3. Bow moccasins by Hubble+Duke
4. Ballerina cloth doll by Piggyhatespanda


Babygirl will be here in October and the husband and I can't agree on a name yet... but, I'm sticking with Ruby!

What to expect: in The Great Sand Dunes National Park

We also traveled south of RMNP to the Great Sand Dunes National Park on our road trip. Unfortunately, we were met with really bad weather and so we didn't get to enjoy the Dunes like we had hoped for. Plus, we only planned for a 1 day stay there. We will have to plan at least 3 days there for our next visit here. 

What to expect in the Great Sand Dunes National Park:

1. Weather change. Like RMNP, the Great Sand Dunes area was really windy! Prepare for very windy situations. 

2. Campground information: the nearest campground is Pinyon Campground, just a short drive past the Sand Dunes general parking area. Unlike RMNP, the campground is not ministered by anyone. That means, if you made an advanced reservation like we did, all you have to do is drive through loop B (the reservable loop) and find your reserved site. There should already be a post with your name and how many nights you reserved the site for on the post. If you are planning on doing a first-come-first-serve stay, then you'll have to stay in loop A and here's the thing ... you will have to drive around loop A and find a site that no one has taken yet. Set up your things, and then go back to the registration booth at the entrance of the campground and fill out an envelope with a check/credit card info and drop it in the box they provide at the booth. If you've already made advanced reservations and is staying in loop B, there is no need for you to visit this registration booth. 

Now, I had made early reservations for this campground in February too and when I did, all the sites that were suggested online were already gone. Actually, most of the reservable sites were already gone. Fortunately, I was able to book 3 sites that were close by one another and near the restroom (again, very helpful if you have children). Although these sites didn't quite have amazing views as the sites I had wanted, I'm thankful we got these instead because it was so windy when we went that as I was driving by the sites I had originally wanted (with great views of the Dunes), I saw that their tents almost flew away. Not good for them. Lucky for us, we had a tree and at least some protection from the wind from that. The sites we stayed at were sites 84, 50, and 49. 

You can watch this video my husband took of our sites in proximity to the Dunes.

3. Medano Creek was the highlight of why we wanted to do this roadtrip in the first place. We had seen videos on YouTube and saw how much fun the kids were having in this desert place with this cool creek. Unfortunately when we went, the creek was already pretty low (the ranger told us the creek had hit its peak 10 days earlier) and it was too windy for the kids to enjoy it. The creek water was pretty warm though so I could imagine if you went on the perfect day, how enjoyable it'd be! Here is a video of the second day we were at the Dunes (the morning we left).

4. No gas or groceries for miles! Serious. The closest store that had some groceries (hot dogs, beer) and a gas pump (that we weren't even sure that worked) was the Great Sand Dunes Oasis. Which, if you're google mapping it, took us the other direction and we got lost finding it. This store/restaurant is actually towards the Great Sand Dunes, not the other direction like our gps was telling us. So, if you're driving, make sure you get gas and food before you get there.

I think the GSNP is a hit or miss. Either way, you should plan to stay for a few nights at least to allow yourself the time to explore this region and pray that you'll get 1 good day out of your stay to enjoy the Dunes in all it's glory!

What to expect: in Rocky Mountain National Park

I have been blessed with the opportunity to travel to these majestic places more than once in my lifetime. I hope to continue these travel opportunities as long as my body and mind allows. My dream is to visit all of the national parks in the United States before my time on Earth is over. The next destination: Niagara Falls! But for now, here are some tips on how to make your time in the Rocky Mountain National Park more enjoyable for yourself and your travel companions. 

What to expect in the Rocky Mountain National Park:

1. Weather change. Mother Nature is something we can not control but we can control our attitude and prepare ourselves better for any situation. One thing to do before you set out on your travel is to check the forecast. How has the weather been? What are they predicting? TIP: Dress in layers! We went to RMNP during the first week of June this year and it was cold! It rained on and off and it got windy from time to time then it got sunny which made us warm. It's important that you dress your little ones in extra clothes as their body temperature is much cooler than yours. During the nights, it got as cold as 30 degrees and on top of that, it was really windy. We dressed our little guy in a long sleeve onesie, put two pairs of pants on him and a pull-over sweater on him. The most important thing I think though is adding socks and a warm beanie. That'll keep them really warm under the blankets.

2. Campsites fill up quick on weekends. So, reserve ahead of time. If you have children, stay nearby bathrooms. I reserved our campsites during the early month of February and got to pick out which campsites I wanted. Since we've been there once before, I knew exactly which ones to pick out. If you would like my recommendations, I suggest you choose site A037 or A038. These sites have great views, it's close to the bathrooms, and has its own food storage unit. When we went the first weekend of June, the Moraine Campground (where we stayed) was full. So, I really recommend you to book in advance!

3. Estes Park is nearby (where we stayed at Moraine Campground) if you need groceries, gas, etc. There are no Walmarts or Shopko's though so if you're tent has a hole in it, you won't be able to find those kind of stores to buy a new one at. Your best bet will be a small, locally owned sport shop.

4. No showers in the park. This is a downfall to the park but not to worry! Again, Estes Park is nearby and there are pay showers at Dad's Maytag Laundry that you can use. It's about $5/person (you have to pay for kids too- even if they shower with you. Around $3/kid.) and there's 3 shower stalls in the women's and men's room. While you shower, you can throw in a load of laundry too! NOTE: portable showers or enclosed areas of the park may allow you to bathe. Check on the campgrounds you choose to stay at for rules.

5. Cell service is spotty. But I bet you already knew that. And if it's really cold, your battery life will diminish quickly. So, it's a great idea to bring a portable rechargeable battery to recharge your cellphone. 

6. Check for road closures and ice. We went at a time where there were still some snow in some areas. And because of the flood damage last year, some trails are closed for repair as well as roads. So it's always a good idea to check on their website ahead of time and plan accordingly. 

I hope you all get a chance to get out there and explore nature. RMNP is such a majestic place to travel and explore. What are some of your tips if you've gone here before?

Anakin's (belated) First Birthday Party

Thank goodness the spot I reserved had a large umbrella to shade us and protect us from rain sprinkles.

Even though we had a cake for Anakin's birthday on the roadtrip, we felt that since most of our family members - including his Grandparents, weren't able to come with us that we should have a party for him at home. We decided to rent an area at a local swim pool (since there are tons of little kids in our family) and Anakin loves the water! The day came and it was cloudy and although we did get sprinkled on, we still kept swimming and I think the kids didn't even notice they were being rained on until they got out of the pool to dry off. LOL! Overall, it was a great first birthday for Anakin and we couldn't be more blessed to have such a huge family to share it with!

Anakin's Star Wars themed cake from Sam's Club. Of course the cupcakes were a hit and the first to go!

A little DIY and you have yourself a personalized cute banner for the party. Every body loved this!!!

My Summer Wishlist

1 - The Beach People round towel
2 - Honest Sunscreen Spray
3 - Gap Two-band Sandals
4 - Rarotonga Sun Hat
5 - Hangfire iPhone Case

My birthday is coming up real soon and I would love any of these, especially the round beach towel from The Beach People! What's on your Summer Wishlist?

Family Summer Activities and Events in and around Green Bay

I love Summer in the Midwest, even though the mosquitoes are quite vicious and the days could get so humid. Either way, I love it because it lets me get involved with the community and experience fun events. The month of June was quite the bipolar weather but, I was still able to take advantage of the nicer days by hitting the local aquatic center. There's only so much a 6 month pregnant lady can do! If you're new to the area of haven't heard of any of these (some are new this year), here's my top 10 Family Summer Activities and Events in and around Green Bay.

1 - Farmer's Market: Wednesday nights on Broadway and Saturday mornings on Washington (the new location since Monroe is under construction now). I love going on Wednesday nights because we can never wake up early enough to go on Saturdays. Broadway also has some cute shops that I love stopping into to see what's new.

2 - Aquatics/Pools: My favorite is Resch Aquatic Center because heated zero depth wading and swim area for the tiny tots. The only fallback is that you have to be a resident of Green Bay to receive the lesser price to enjoy. Plus, this pool is pretty popular so it's packed right away (there is usually a long line 30 minutes before open pool time) so if you want to get a spot under the umbrella shade, you'll have to go early and wait in line. Otherwise, I just brought my stroller in and they've allowed it.

3 - Movies in the Park: The Neighborhood Association of Green Bay had this last year and we attended a showing of Jurassic Park on the City Deck. This year, they have a list with dates and shows playing. And new this year to De Pere (a suburb of Green Bay) due to high requests is also a movie in the park series. Last week Friday they showed, Back to the Future. The next one is set for July 25th (my birthday) and they will be showing, The Princess Bride, one of my favorites!

4 - Summer in the Park is a free weekly summer series at Whitney Park every Thursday from June through August.

5 - City Deck: There is just so much to do on the City Deck that its overwhelming at times but if you know how to manage your time well and have a group of good friends to hang out with, this is the place to be. I think this is geared more towards family with older children but hey, if your little Tot loves to be social, this could be your new thing too! They have Dine on Deck and Friday's on the Fox and Yoga... they even have a splashpad. Check it out if you're in the area!

6 - Bay Beach Amusement Park and Wildlife Sanctuary. This has long been a favorite among locals. Why? Because tickets are cheap (tickets cost .25 cents each and some rides only take as little as 1 ticket) and kids really enjoy it. Every year we take the kids and every year they act like it's their first time there. Go on weekday to avoid crowds.

7 - The New Zoo recently got a new addition and it's called Adventure Park! Sounds fun huh? I haven't been there yet but I've seen videos and pictures and it looks amazing! Good job Green Bay (well, technically it's in Suamico which is a 20 minute drive North of Green Bay).

8 - I love going to the Green Bay Botanical Garden for its lush gardens and peaceful walks. They also hold many events such as concerts and have classes here and there. Did you also know that its FREE on Wednesday nights from 4-8pm June through August? I had no clue until recently! Bring a camera to take pictures of your kids in the cool kids area.

9 - Events: Summer is really happening around here and you can tell by debating about what your family should choose to do on the weekends. Here are some events during the Summer you won't want to miss... Art Street in August, Packer Family Night in August, The Hmong Sports Festival on Labor Day Weekend, and since it'll be the 4th of July in a few days - there will be Fireworks over the Fox in Downtown Green Bay which always draws out a huge crowd every year. Go early for the best seats!

10 - Since there is so many activities, check out the City of Green Bay's website here to help plan your Summer days. Have fun and be safe!

Long Overdue Post - Catch up Time!

Wow! Sorry, it's been so long since I last posted an entry. Things have been kinda hectic lately, especially since I found out I'll be having another little one in October! I've had all sorts of morning and motion sickness and actually lost 10 pounds in the first trimester of this pregnancy. I'm well into my 21st week now and feeling much better. I probably gained all that weight back. Here's a few things that has happened since the last I posted ...

Anakin's Baptism

We had Anakin baptized in the Catholic community on Easter Sunday. He was a total brat that day and would not stop crying and fussing. It was horrible. Everyone there probably thought he was the devil by the way he acted and would not stop. We have it all on video too. I'm going to use it as blackmail one day.

We also just recently got back from a long 10 day roadtrip to Colorado. It was our first vacation as a family and for Kao and I, it was unfamiliar territory. We were blessed for almost 10 years without having to deal with a baby when it came to our vacation. I'm glad we took full advantage of those years! Having to pack for a baby is so so difficult. You read about it online and hear stories but, when you actually have to do it - man, is it an eye-opening experience! I think it was more difficult that we had 3 other family members tag along with us in our tent and car. I think the next roadtrip, it'll just be us. We will have a lot more room that way. It was just way too cramped for me, especially being pregnant and all. 

We did get to celebrate Anakin's first birthday on the roadtrip though and in the Rocky Mountain National Park no less! I hope he will remember this forever because I have lots of pictures and videos to show him when he's older!

A family roadtrip would not be complete without a family picture by the NP signs

I love this picture Kao took of us. This was our first scenic picture opportunity before driving into Rocky Mountain National Park.

Going off to take some pictures...

Our campsite had beautiful views all around.

Anakin's cake we bought at Safeway in Estes Park.

Anakin Sandwich!!!

Eating cake

Perfect day for a photo op in Moraine Park, RMNP.

After our 4 day stay in the Rocky Mountain National Park, we headed south to the Great Sand Dunes National Park (actually, we stayed 1 night in Denver before heading down). Unfortunately, we were met with cold, and very windy weather down in the Great Sand Dunes. Good thing we only stayed 1 night. And of course, the next day when we left, it was all sunny and chill. Just our luck! We made the most of it though and now we can cross off another national park off our list. Next up, Yosemite or Acadia National Park.

So windy, our tent almost flew away.

Medano creek was flowing with lukewarm water.

Snot shooting out of our babies' noses all the time!

The Sand Dunes behind us.

Good bye! Till next time... May the Force be With You.

I already have so many things planned for this Summer that it's kinda ridiculous! My sister who lives in California, will be visiting for 3 weeks in the beginning of July. Then, there's the Farmer's Markets which I look forward to every summer. And brand new this year are the Movies in the Park series in De Pere this Summer. I don't know how I'll hold up with being so pregnant but I'm excited!

Summer Maternity Picks from Old Navy

Maxi Dress // Yoga Shorts // Dress // Yoga Capris // Tank

There's a -45 degree wind chill outside but I'm sweating like a pig inside. One thing about pregnancy for me is that I'm always a toasty oven. I can imagine how it'll be like being pregnant this Summer. Yikes! Here are some "cooler" picks that I hope will keep me comfortable while being pregnant this Summer. All at an affordable price at Old Navy!

Citrus Lane - February 2014

What was inside our February 2014 box:

* Bodysuit from Tea Collection (plus $25 off coupon code) - value $19.00
* Pulp teething feeder from Boon - value $7.49
* Bedtime Rhymes from Barefoot Books - value $6.99
* Green Apple Age Defy Hand Cream (2 fl oz) - value $12.00

Total estimated value of the box this month = $45.48

I pay a monthly subscription of $25 per month so this box was almost double in value what I paid for. Here's what I liked in this month's box: everything! The bodysuit has such a cute fish design and the fabric is amazingly soft! Anakin grabbed for it and ate it. That means he likes the texture of it. I was afraid at first that it might not fit his thighs but it fit perfectly. I got size 6-12 months. I think I'll go shopping on Tea Collection's website to use the $25 off code after I write this post. I'm interested to see what else they carry since this is a new brand to me.

I was confused with what the Pulp teething feeder was for but after reading up on it and testing it out (see my Instagram feed) with watermelon for Anakin, he seems to enjoy it and it helps calm him down. Win on both sides!

And I also liked the mommy gift. I'm in desperate need of a good hand cream since this winter has been extra harsh on my skin. The smell of this cream is something I'll have to get used to but the good thing is that it doesn't linger. And receiving books is always a plus in my life!

Unfortunately, February will be the last box for us since other matters have popped up recently. I enjoyed receiving these monthly and will continue to look at my feed to see what everyone received.

A day in Chicago - Maternity Outift

1- Dress // 2- Jacket // 3- Necklace // 4- Bag // 5- Shoes

So, the funny thing about planning is that it rarely goes as you imagined/planned. I just posted yesterday about going to Chicago with my sisters and I kid you not, literally after I posted that, I went to take a pregnancy test and .... well, the rest is history. So... here is my "maternity" outfit. Still debating if I want to go or not? But the hardest decision that I have to make is ... do I still go on the roadtrip in June?? Aiyah!

A Day in Chicago Outfit

Dress // Necklace // Bag // Booties

Since my husband has gone on 3 bachelor parties in a years time frame, I think it's just fair that I get to have a girls only weekend getaway! So, I am planning just that! A few of my sisters and sister in-laws are going to Chicago for a 3 day weekend getaway. No kids. No husbands. Just fabulous us! I can't wait. First, gotta lose some holiday fat! Then, gotta get my outfits in order. I'm thinking (more like hoping) that by the time April comes around, the snow will be melted and it'll be warmer to wear an outfit like this up above. This is what I'd wear for a Spring day shopping, eating, and site seeing in Chicago. I can not wait! 

Nursery Update Ideas

I was just looking around Anakin's nursery (because it's my office space too) and noticed that it was very bland. Not very 100layercakelet.com worthy! So, I've come up with a plan to "liven" it up a bit with some pop of color. In addition to the paint idea, I am also planning on adding a colorful mobile, and some wall art. Maybe some dots or zig zags. Here's looking at it now.

Here's what it currently looks like now... no wonder he never wants to sleep in his crib! It's so bland!

I'm thinking a pop of green color. I want to stay gender neutral in case my next one is a girl.

Here's his closet now. I need to reorganize and build a shelf for his books to easily access it.

A close up of his changing table.

He's got quite a shoe collection already. I have 2 more shoes that I ordered online coming in some time this week as well! Daddy might have to build him a shoe closet too.

Wishlists

1: Painted school desk (found on facebook) // 2: Joy Cho for Hygge & West wallpaper // 3: Floral drape dress on Zulily // 4: Teething Necklace on Etsy BestForKids // 5: Pixie Dust Wooden Toy Camera on Etsy TwigCreative // 6: Geometric Bear organic cotton leggings on Etsy OurLittleLullaby // 7: Rust Suede Baby Moccasins on Etsy PeterPiperCo

Dreaming of Spring

I'm dreaming of Spring... the nights are getting longer and the sun is setting later in the evening. That only means that Spring will be here to melt away the snow pretty soon. I've taken out all of my Spring dresses just in case I wake up surprised one morning. Here's to dreaming!

What's Up?

We experience our first ER visit with Anakin a couple of weekends ago when we had family over for some pho. We still don't know what the cause of his allergic reaction was but, the nurse thinks its something food related. Either way, I took extra precaution and washed all of his clothes and blankets and watched him like a hawk that day. He certainly scared us but we are just happy he's okay now. What a trooper!

Other than the same ole same ole, I've gotten some exciting new entrepreneur venture that I'm hoping to get started pretty soon now. I can't share with you all yet but, I've basically done all the research that I can so I'm pretty confident I can pull it off.

Here is my 2014 resolution: Win in every aspect. When I was a kid, I choked on a fish bone and have been traumatized with eating fish ever since. It wasn't until my later years that I slowly (very slowly) began eating it again. Starting off with sardines (no bones)! And just last year, I started eating salmon and tilapia. This will always remind me of MIND OVER MATTER and that I can do whatever I set my mind to. Here's to a great 2014!

Maternity Session

Head over to my photography blog for more photos from Bao and Noah's maternity session!