Starting to look a lot like Christmas

Our friend Jen stayed with us Friday night and we happened to come upon Santa and Mrs. Claus on our outing to Crown Point Town Square today. Dylan did much better this year with Santa, but he is still scared of the old guy - notice the nervous little smile. Matthew did great! I don't even think he realized what was going on. The candy cane probably helped (and no I didn't let him eat it!)

Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Courthouse Shops, Crown Point, IN

Saturday night, we got all cosy with some hot chocolate (with Baileys for us) and we put up all our holiday decorations, including the Christmas tree. Dylan did a great job helping us decorate (around the bottom of the tree).

Sunday morning Matthew woke up to discover, to his delight, the Christmas tree. He loved the star on top and kept pointing to it. Usually, we put up an antique, gold leaf angel that I have had for years. But this year Dylan wanted the disco (flashing) star.

Happy Thanksgiving

Fresh squeezed pomegranate and oj champagne cocktail. Yeah, we are starting turkey day right! So far we've had breakfast, watched the Thanksgiving day parade and made a layered pea salad (one of my contributions for the dinner at Nana B's later). Matthew even took a nap - we've been up since 5:30 am!

We wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving with yummy food and good times with your family. Our family is so blessed to have so much. Thank you for reading our blog and for your support and friendship.

Meal Planning

I didn't post my meals last week, but that doesn't mean that we didn't eat well! We had a lot of groceries leftover from the previous week when I had the stomach flu and couldn't cook much, so I was able to stretch out our food for an extra week. No going to the grocery store, yippee. (Except to pick up about 3 gallons of milk - no more formula! yippee again.)

What I am going to try cooking this week.

Sunday: Fajita Quesadillas (using leftovers from the chicken fajitas we had Saturday night)
Monday: Turkey Chili (lame, I know. but I have a yearning for it this week!) and cornbread.
Tuesday: Grilled chicken and pan-roasted root veggies
Wednesday: Stir Fry? or Curry?
Thursday: Turkey day. Luckily, I am not doing the cooking!
Friday: Miso-glazed fish. We have a good friend visiting us, so I wanted to do something extra special for her! Plus, this dish is nice and light, which will balance out the gluttony of Thanksgiving.
Saturday: Korean-style chicken and brown rice (and a side of Kim Chi!)
Sunday: some kind of soup, maybe Italian Wedding Soup.

I figured out that it works out best for me to do most of my bulk cooking over the weekend and then utilize the leftovers in some form during the week.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone if I don’t get a chance to tell you before Thursday!

We survived Matthew's 1st birthday party!

We had 30 people at our house for Matthew's 1st birthday party yesterday. We didn't party naked or anything, contrary to what the t-shirt said (thanks Aunt T!) but it was super fun all the same.

There are more photos in our Flickr album in the sidebar. 

Thank you everyone for coming and for all the great gifts. A special thanks to Kim, Aunt T, Gene and Sandra all that helped us clean up after I had to go tend to Matthew after he puked his brains out.  Yeah, it really isn't a party until the guest-of-honor pukes. Rock on Matthew!

Letter to Matthew on your 1st birthday

Dear Matthew on your 1st birthday,

I am sure every mother says this on her baby’s 1st birthday day, but I can’t believe that one year ago I was in the hospital pushing you out of my body. Let me tell you a little about the day you were born.

Actually, let’s back up a little. I thought I had gone into labor on Monday morning; it was a “false alarm”. The fact that I was having contractions and bleeding wasn’t enough for freakin’ Northwestern Memorial Hospital to admit me, but I digress. I think the real reason that they wouldn’t take me on the 12th was that my regular OB wasn’t on call that day and she insisted that I set an appointment to have you induced at 9:30 am Tuesday, Nov. 13, when she was back on duty.

I was so against having you on the 13th. Just didn’t like the number, I thought you would be jinxed for life or something (remember I am half Asian, we think this way). But no, you were a determined little Scorpio from the git go and wanted to make your way into the world on your own terms and so you came naturally, arriving 7 hours before your scheduled inducement. So I resolved that it was meant to be, that you were destined to be born on Nov. 13, and I will be ever grateful for your early arrival at 39 weeks.

Dr. Kleinberg — not my regular OB — delivered you, but that was fine, actually, because he also delivered your big brother.

Though not painless but bearable, the labor was relatively easy (albeit, I felt everything since the epidural didn’t take — pregnancy, labor, delivery — oh good times, I’m tellin’ you). The delivery was quick. I checked in at midnight and out you came into the world at 2:45 am. You were perfect and you were tiny. At 7 lbs. 13 oz. and 21 inches long, you were 1 lb. 1 oz. lighter and 1 inch smaller than your brother. I was so happy to have a true baby to cuddle and hold. You had your dad's chin and you were the spitting image of your grandfather. You’ve since grown and people say that you look more like me now.

The first 8 weeks of your life was rough. I shouldn’t complain really, since you were basically doing what babies do. Well, what colicky babies do. You cried. You cried a lot. Once you got started, there was no stopping you (that determination will serve you well in life!) The only thing that helped was holding and walking you. We walked around and around the house for hours (thank goodness for the Bjorn sling. Thank you, Eric & Di!)

I was home on maternity leave with you and your brother, in the middle of winter. The coldest, snowiest winter I've seen. At home all day with you and your brother, who only has one volume: loud. Your brother would never let you sleep for long because of his nearly 3-year-old rambunctious personality. Your brother thought you hung the moon. He loved to tickle your little head and say "tickle tickle. He's so cute." He really does adore you, of course except when you get into his toys! Between the two of you, mommy didn’t have time to relax on maternity leave. But one day, all of a sudden, it was as if someone flipped a switch — you stopped crying.

We were so happy. Happy to have you and your brother. Our family was now complete. You are such a joy. You have hit all your developmental milestones early. Sitting up and clapping happily by 5-6 months, crawling by 7 ½ months, walking by 10 ½ months. We haven’t had to worry much about you at all, even with all your ear infections. You are now saying "mama," "dada," "ba ba"(bottle) and "tickle tickle." You can wave bye bye and give kisses on demand. You are starting to nest boxes and nod yes. You eat anything I give you and you are a good sleeper, too, (God bless those 11 hour nights!). I didn’t have any problems weaning you at 8 months old. You are a determined, curious and happy. You smile from ear to ear at the drop of a hat showing a mouthful of teeth (at least nine now).  And your laugh melts mommy's and daddy's hearts.

We recently spent a weekend with some of your daddy’s friends and they proclaimed you “Happiest Kid On Earth.” You really are. Your smile lights up a room, you’re Mister Personality. Though at times, when you don't get your way, I see a wee little temper. You get that, no doubt, from your Italian daddy. When you're unhappy, you let it be known. Even your brother knows not to mess with you. (Actually, he cries more than you!)

We are gearing up for your 1st birthday party. About 30 people will be at our house to celebrate; all your cousins, grandpa, Nana B, papa Mike, and aunts and uncles. Your Godfather, Uncle Jeff, and Godmother, Aunt T, also will be there. You are a blessed little boy to have so many people celebrating your 1st birthday.

Now-a-days you walk around happily, stopping only when you discover something new (getting into everything) and dancing to the rhythm of life. You're living up to the meaning of your name, Matthew; you're truly a "Gift of God." We are going to miss our little baby but can't wait to discover the toddler delights that lay ahead for us all.

We love you, little one. Happy Birthday!

Love,

Mommy & Daddy (and Dylan, but only if you don't touch his toys!)

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY MATTHEW!

Our baby turns one today! He's a handful but so much fun. Here is a short video of him walking and dancing (please mute so that you don't have to listen to my awful voice!)

Here is our baby in a box (yeah, we are weird, but man he loved being in that box!) He is he growing fast.

Check back later today to read my birthday letter to him. I do one for Dylan every year and I want to continue the tradition with Matthew.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY!

The night America changed

Just four days earlier, on Halloween night, Obama made a stop only a block or so from our house at Highland's Wicker Park. I attended with a couple friends, while Quyen, feeling under the weather, stayed home to tend to Dylan and Matthew, who also was feeling out of sorts. Because of Obama's nearby stop, we nearly decided to stay home election night, nixing our plans to be in Grant Park. Ironically, though, it was because of Obama's rally in Highland that prompted us to make the trek into the city.

We had signed up for tickets about a week before the election. Quyen, an employee of Hyatt, booked a room for us so we didn't have to make the 40-minute drive home. We take the kids everywhere, so we felt it was important to bring the kids to Grant Park. We worried that the ban on strollers and blankets would make for an early night, but Mother Nature cooperated that night. The weather that day was 74 degrees and sunny -- an outstanding day for early November in Chicago.

We thought we were in for a long night when Matthew cried in the car all the way from our house to the hotel. Once out of the car he was fine. We checked in, got situated, gave Matthew a bottle and we headed down to catch a cab. We arrived at the Congress Parkway entrance to Grant Park. Getting out of the cab, I noticed a few Chicago police officers standing on the sidewalk and took Dylan to meet them. Telling your kids that police officers will get misbehaving boys is a sure-fire way to keep them in line. And Dylan was a good boy -- all night.

Soon after putting the fear into Dylan, we were in a mass of people waiting to go through the first of several security checkpoints. I lost count how many times we had to show our ticket and ID. We then walked east on Congress, slowly, then south on Columbus Drive, slower still. The street was one long line of people, sidewalk to sidewalk, thousands of people. It was a lot like standing in the roped-off lines at the airport to have your ID checked, but without the roped-off lines, and with thousands of people. I gotta hand it to the city of Chicago and other security folk as they had an excellent plan to keep the line moving despite the number of people.

Every now and then the crowd would start chantinng "Obama! Obama!" Dylan would join in, too, without being coerced. Later, though, I was a little embarrassed when he started chanting "John McCain! John McCain!" I couldn't get him to stop without saying that the police officers would come get him if he didn't listen. After that ended, I passed the time by asked Dylan about his favorite things. What's your favorite color? "Red" What's your favorite animal? "Elephant." I had to ask Quyen what the heck the teachers were teaching him at day care because he was starting to sound like a republican!

Once we got through the the last checkpoint, the one with the metal detector, we finally made our way into Grant Park, in the area just south of Balbo Avenue.

We found a comfortable spot on the northern end of the area, away from the elbow-to-elbow crowd, but near the large jumbotron TV screen showing CNN's live updates. With every state Obama secured, the people erupted in cheers as if their hometown football team had just scored a touchdown in the superbowl. The air crackled with electricity each time numbers ticked in Obama's favor. The people in the crowd were amazing, as we expected, because we were all there for the same reason.

The anticipation of the crowd soon gave way to jubilation when CNN declared Barak Obama the next president of the United States. The mass of humanity erupted with a deafening roar, signaling once and for all that change had finally come. People jumped, yelled, hugged and cried. It's a moment we'll never forget. I hope it's a moment Dylan and Matthew will recall with pride one day when they're older, telling their friends they were there.

The street-wide line awaits to pass the second checkpoint. Off in the distance is the third checkpoint.

We're finally in and we're excited — excited that Matthew is in a good mood.

Yay, Matthew is finally asleep! — for now. Dylan behaved all night.

The huge TV (left) showed election updates throughout the night and provided us with a view of President-elect Barack Obama, who later spoke on the flag-lined stage in the background (right).

Quyen's beautiful, blinding smile is all I see in our only photo with the four of us on election night Nov. 4, 2008, at Grant Park in Chicago.

Weekly meal planning 11/9.

Guest what! I have lost some weight since starting this meal planning. I have dropped a dress size and about 5 pounds. Amazing! I had to go out and buy new pants for work last week (Ann Taylor Loft is having a great sale, ya'll!)

Here is what I'm going to try and cook this week:

Sunday: Meatball and marinara sub-sandwiches for lunch (left-overs from Saturday's spaghetti sauce). And chicken pot pies for dinner.

Monday: Chicken Katsu from Blazing Hot Wok. One of my favorite food bloggers! Serving it with brown basmati rice and steamed veggies.

Tuesday: Chicken patties, mash and peas. 

Wednesday: Turkey burgers.

Thursday: Matthew's birthday! Veggie enchiladas from Dinner Tonight and yellow rice. Cupcakes! 

Friday: Udon stir-fry again from Blazing Hot Wok - she rocks the wok! (Clean the fridge night)

Saturday: Matthew's birthday party. I'm serving Italian Beef, 2 salads, fruit, cheese plate, dips/crackers.

The clean-out the fridge night worked out great last week. Here is the stir-fry I concocted with all the veggies I had to use up. It turned out really yummy and healthy too!

I sauteed the chicken with a little Thai style chili paste with soya bean oil.

Then add all the veggies you want and little tamari. So easy!

******************

I have been meaning to tell you about Six O'Clock Scramble. It is a great resource for menu ideas/meal planning. They even create a shopping list and recipes for you with the nutritional information. There is a small membership fee to join. 

Let me know if you have any other resources or ideas for meal planning.

Dylan the Artist, Part 2

Joe and I have been busy trying to catch up around the house and with work stuff. A day and night away from home to attend the Obama Grant Park Party on Tuesday night really got us off our regular schedule! Photos from the Grant Park event will be posted on our blog, hopefully tomorrow or over the weekend - promise!

In the meantime, here is a drawing that Dylan did after dinner last night. We are so impressed with his artistry. It is a picture of him on a bike. I swear we didn't help him draw this.

Here is another one. He called it "Happy Daddy Face."

Morning of Change

Sen. Barack Obama's campaign officials gave the town of Highland, Ind., only 36 hours to prepare for a visit by the presidential candidate to Wicker Park, a beautiful park across the street from our subdivision and a couple of blocks from our home.

I and several residents I spoke to earlier in the day thought scheduling a rally on Halloween night to be little odd. A neighbor called me from work to check on traffic in the neighborhood. Working from home on the 31st, I reassured him that town workers driving golf carts down the street were busy hammering signs proclaiming "resident parking only" every 20 feet. Large, yellow, flashing construction signs you see along an interstate work zone alerting drivers of delays ahead were stationed at the four entrances to our subdivision also alleviated his concerns. Local police and volunteers also were checking IDs of drivers entering the subdivision. Those, if any, that got in were likely scared off by the convoy of tow trucks idling on our streets.

With only 36 hours to prepare, the town of Highland did an outstanding job of keeping order and ensuring a safe night for what years from now will be considered an historic event. Quyen and I had planned to go to Grant Park in Chicago on election night, but I didn't want to pass up chance to see Obama so close to home.

We took Dylan and Matthew to a Halloween party and trick-or-treating in the neighborhood just south of us. We were invited by our friends Jenny and Stephanie. Jenny, the daughter of local politician Indiana State Rep. Linda Lawson, hooked us up with VIP tickets to the rally. (Thanks again, Jenny!)

After the trick-or-treating, Jenny and Stephanie followed us home so they could park in our driveway and avoid the crowd. Quyen was a little under the weather. Since we planned to attend the Tuesday night celebration rally, she decided to stay home with the kids.

Jenny, Stephanie and I set out for the park about 30 minutes before the scheduled start. We ran into a number of people walking toward the park who were visibly excited about attending the rally and seeing and hearing Obama speak.

Once inside the park gates, attendees were corralled through the club house where buttons and T-shirts were on sale. Exiting the back doors, we followed the crowd down a paved path to an area where makeshift crowd-control barriers kept the crowd in an organized line, moving zig-zag toward the metal detecters where all electronic devices had to be turned on for security checks.

Having VIP tickets, we were allowed to bypass the zig-zag area and go straight to the metal detectors. Sure, our pace was quickened by our own excitement, but walking from our house to the park and past security to our spot inside the rally took us only 15 minutes.

I didn't see the tickets until it was time to use them, but Jenny had only two. Had I known that Jenny was going to sacrifice her spot in the VIP area for Stephanie or me, I would gone to the general admission area. Jenny insisted that Stephanie and I take the tickets and go inside. She said "have fun" and disappeared into a sea of thousands. (You're the best, Jenny, thanks! I owe you!)

VIP tickets must have been handed out with candy for the trick-or-treaters because there were thousands of people in the area that included two bleacher sections and standing room only that surrounded the stage. Stephanie and I made our way forward but couldn't get closer than about 100 feet from the stage.

A number of local and state politicians, including Sen. Evan Bayh, former Indiana governor and an early contender for Obama's running mate, as well as Pete Visclosky, a U.S. congressman who worked at my father's law office years ago.

The five or so speakers got on and off the stage in only 30 minutes. After Visclosky wrapped up and exited, a few campaign workers began preparing the mic for Obama's arrival. The crowd erupted when music began to play, but it was premature. Another song began. Then another. And another. Some parts of the crowd began to chant for Obama. The crowd was eager for him to take the stage. Several men who I believe were secret service personnel climbed to the top rows of the bleachers to ask people to lower their Obama signs, perhaps to ensure for the TV cameras a clean sight line to the Obama campaign Web site that was at the bottom of a large Obama sign behind the top row.

Finally the senator arrived and the crowd reacted feverishly to his entrance. Arms went skyward to cheer or to take pictures and video. With my camera in hand, I just hoped to get a few good shots.

Obama takes the stage after several local and state politicians had warmed up the crowd of 40,000.

He began by acknowledging the Indiana politicians in attendance but was interrupted by a member of the audience who had fainted not far from the podium. He threw a bottle of water in his direction and asked for an EMT to assist individual.

Much like in his televised speeches, Obama was passionate when he encouraged the audience the vote early in the four days before the election. He was eloquent when he talked about his tax plan and ideas to help the economy. He emphasized that in four days we had an opportunity to affect this defining moment in history. The crowd roared. So did I.

I took dozens of photos at the rally, hoping the distance or that bright light wouldn't affect the focus. For the closeups of Obama, my camera was at its maximum zoom but I think they turned out ok.

All the people in this photo were in the VIP section. We're standing about 100 feet from Obama.

Obama in usual form.

My favorite picture of the bunch.

Obama acknowledges the crowd.

Weekly meal planning 11/2-8.

We had too much food last week. So this week I am going to incorporate a day or two for leftovers or what I call "clean out the fridge Wednesdays."

Here is what we are eating this week:

Sunday: Roasted pork (Jamie Oliver's recipe) and pan roasted root veggies.

Monday: leftover pork with mash and peas

Tuesday: Obama Grant Park Party! Eating out, hopefully Thai.

Wednesday: Cleanout the fridge stir-fry, with brown rice

Thursday: Meatloaf using a recipe from It's All Gouda.

Friday: Homemade pizza & salad

Saturday: The Everyday Italian spaghetti that I didn't make last weekend. With whole wheat noodles.

What are ya'll eating?

Don't forget to vote tomorrow, if you haven't already!

YES WE CAN!

Autumn Blanket

Our front yard this morning.

Mid-day romp in the leaves.

We made some "art" with the leaves.

Too busy to blog

We have super busy. To busy to blog about Halloween, parties, parades, ear infections, gorgeous weather, teething, sinus/viral bugs and even the Obama rally that was held practically in our backyard.

Hopefully, Joe will have time to blog about his experience at the rally. I was not feeling well and stayed home with the kids (darn my sinuses!) Joe was so inspired by Obama's message that he was compelled to sign up as a volunteer for Obama's campaign. Going door to door!

We have a few photos from the rally in our Flickr album, if you can't stand to wait another day for his post. There are also photos of the kids in their Halloween costumes.

Also, checkout my new blog, De*lish. I am still working on it, but maybe knowing that people are reading it might motivate me to develop it. If you like food, hopefully you'll like De*lish. It's basically photographs I take of everyday food.