BowZ!!!

Tita Bot, everyone's stylist extrordinaire, got Zoe a bunch of really cute clip on bows today. It was the perfect hair accessory because Zoe has no idea she's wearing it =). Plus it clips on, so it never comes off!! Now we finally have more than headbands and bonnets =)!

Daddy got in on the bow action, too! =). We almost couldn't tell who was who!

Zoe meets Jaxton

Our good friend Bing (aka Therese) came over today to introduce her four month old son Jaxton to Zoe. We were preggers togother so we've been wanting for them to finally get a chance to "meet". Both babies were kind of hesitant to be around each other but it was so cute to see them stare at each other. The funniest thing happend: When Mike brought Zoe closer to Jax to get them to play, Zoe ripped a huge fart and began pooping!!! This of course scared the crap (hahahah) out of Jax and he started crying!!! Mike was soooooooooooooo proud of his little girl!!! He told her she should always have that kind of strategy when it came to scaring off the boys! We all couldn't stop laughing! Hopefully Jax won't remember Zoe turning him down that way and will continue to try to "chase" her all throughout their lives. Lol.

Sisig party

Mike LOVES him some sisig so when my mom offered to cook one of his favorite dishes after mass, you know he was the first in line! Aparantly, Zoe is a fan of sisig too!!!

Educational Congress at the Anaheim Convention Center

Thanks to Tasha, Michael and I got to participate in the youth mass at the annual educational congress at the Anaheim Convention Center. Tasha was at a planning meeting and they were looking for volunteers to be a part of the mass intentions. They wanted specific people (i.e. newly graduated, newly married, new parents, etc.). Tasha thought we'd be perfect for the new parents and/or the newly married so she put our names down. Thank goodness she did because it was such a great experience for us!!!

The Educational Congress happens every year and is a time when Catholics can come together and learn about various topics through vibrant speakers and presentations. There is a huge youth mass in the arena of the convention center. Coincidentally, Monsignor Kevin has chosen as the celebrant for the arena mass so it was perfect that we would also be able to support him and be a part of the mass. The Jacob and Matthew Band were also there providing the music.

Because it was such an elaborate mass, we had to show up at 11:30 am to do a run through. Since the mass wasn't until 5:30, Mike and I had some time to kill. We decided to go to a movie -- a rarity since Zoe was born. While we were at the movies, I really felt like I was ditching class or something. I was the first time I had left Zoe to do something fun and unecessary =). Although I felt like I was breaking the rules, it was nice to get away and spend some time with Michael. We watched "Limitless" and really enjoyed ourselves. We even had time afterwards to shop at the enormous vendor mall back at the convention center. We got Zoe her first Bible =) ...

The mass itself was amazing! Monsignor Kevin spoke about St. Joseph and the youth. It was a great homily and we were sooooo proud of him! Our part was right after his homily and also created an impact with the audience. It was touching to hear the intentions done that way. It really made it more personal. When I read my intentions, I really felt connected to all new moms and dads and it was so nice to be able to pray together. Here's what I had to say:

"I constantly second guess. I worry and am filled with anxiety. Am I doing everything I’m supposed to? I hope and pray that he will be happy and healthy. I am a new parent.
For all new mothers and fathers. For gentleness and consideration, courage and energy, imagination and joy. For all the elements young parents need to build a family filled with love and faith, Lord hear our prayer…"

This is what Mike had to say as a "newlywed":

"I am in a time of adjustment. I am learning likes and dislikes, habits and routines. How long is forever? Will we beat the statistics? I grow in love daily. I am a newlywed.
For all newly married couples. For patience and kindness, humility and selflessness, tenderness and compassion. For all that goes into starting a new life as a couple who give fully of themselves, Lord hear our prayer…"

Even though it was a little nerve wrecking to be in front of all those people and to have our faces on the big screen, Michael and I felt so blessed to be able to participate in something like that. Again, thank you Tasha!!!

After the mass, Mike and I had our FIRST OFFICIAL double date with Jay and Mao. We had been waiting a long time to be able to double date with Jay and we were so excited the time was finally here =). We ate at Slater's 50/50 -- which is a restuarant that was featured on the Food Network. Their burgers were made of 50% ground beef and 50% ground bacon. Can't go wrong there, right?! We also had the best spinach artichoke dip and a maple bacon milkshake. Everything was soooo yummy and I was so glad I finally had the chance to take to Monica and get to know her better.

All in all, it was such a great day!!! We did a little bit of everything -- we got our church on, we watched a great movie and we got to eat at a great place with the best people!!!

Pictures on the wall

Out of all the places we've ever lived as husband and wife -- Pasadena, Century City and now Oxnard, I've never bothered to put up any pictures on the walls. I figured we wouldn't be staying there for too long so it wasn't worth the effort of putting stuff up. With all the moving I've been doing, I've come to realize that I can't wait to put pictures up on our walls just because we aren't in a "permanent" place. God seems to have all kinds of plans for us and keeps sending us to different places. It's important for me to make any house we are in a home. So I decided to put pictures up of me and Mike (wedding pictures) and also some of us and Zoe. It took me the whole day to do it and I did it all by myself (gooooo meeeee!) and when I was finished and took a look at the finished product, I LOVED it. Our house definitely felt homier and it was nice to see our growing family's memories on the walls.

How exciting -- Our house is officially a HOME!

Zoe's second month celebration

Zoe will be TWO months tomorrow!!! I can't believe how fast time is flying!!!! It's a bittersweet thing I suppose ... after mass today, we decided to do an impromptu celebration for Zoe. We invited Tash and Lawrence over for spaghetti and ICE CREAM after mass to celebration the special day with us. Seriously -- can time go by just a little bit slower?! Tash was also surprised at how big she had gotten (she hasn't seen her as much since we've moved up to Oxnard ... no more week day playdates with ninang ... )

While I wish she would slow down, I am so grateful that she is still very healthy (no fevers or anything) and is developing into a bright, curious little girl. I feel like her face changes daily and she is able to master certain things on a weekly basis (she's starting to smile a lot more now!). It's so much fun to see her growing before my very eyes. Thank God I had the opportunity to stay at home with her so I won't have to miss a thing!!!

S-M-I-L-E!

I'm really enjoying this whole stay-at-home-mom thing. I've pretty much got Zoe's routine down -- bottle, nap after 45 mins, sleep anywhere from 30 mins-2.5 hours, diaper change and REPEAT. While she's sleeping I'm able to do my chores. I designated Monday to be laundry day and Wednesday to be cleaning day. Any day in between those are for other projects (ironing, blogging, etc.). My days actually go by really fast! I don't even watch tv ... Zoe is enough entertainment for me!

I'm also loving that Zoe is such a smiler. She's such a happy baby and I love it!!!

Here's a pic I took today:

Zoe gets her first shots =(

Zoe got her first round of immunization shots today ... they gave her an oral vaccine for the rotovirus or other stomach viruses, and 2 shots (one on each leg) a 3-in-1 for polio, pneumonia and HIB and whooping cough. I couldn't bear to see them poking her so Mike held her on his lap while the nurse injected the needle. At first, Zoe didn't know how to react -- she took a deep breath and looked at both Mike and I in shock as if to say "what is that I just felt?!". After about 3-5 seconds, she interpreted it at pain and started crying. Her face was so red it was burgundy!!! I totally teared up and tried to comfort her as much as I could. I kept reminding myself it was a good thing she was getting immunization shots and we both just had to suck it up. My poor baby!!! The rest of her check up went great -- she now weighs almost 11 lbs and is 22.75 inches long!!! She's taller than 73% of kids her ages! Woohooooo! Hopefully she keeps the growing rate up -- don't want to hit your growing peak so early! Hahahahaha! I'm hoping she'll be one of those tall Asian girls =). Our doctor, Dr. Rivera, is such a perfect pediatritian -- he kind of looks like Jon Cryer and can totally go back and forth from speaking baby to speaking adult =). He said Zoe is doing great developmentally and that she seems to be in top condition! Again, that's what's important, right? Not how cute they are or how smart they are ... but how healthy they are. We are so thankful that Zoe's health is wonderful. God is sooooo very good!!!!

Here's a pic of my poor baby on the way home from the doctor's office. The shots made her feel not like herself the rest of the day. Thankfully, no fever. Just mellowness.

My baby elephant

Jay mentioned the other day that Zoe looks like a baby elephant when she smiles. While I didn't see it before, I must admit he was actually right!! My cutie pie DOES look like a baby elephant when she smiles!!! Maybe it's the big cheeks and her round eyes? Lol!!!

What do you think?

Ash Wedsnesday

Today is Ash Wednesday and it's Zoe's first official lenten journey. Michael and I didn't have time to drive to LA for mass at the cathedral so we decided to have mass in Camarillo. Unfortunately, we couldn't find the church!!! We kept going in circles and our google maps was not helping at all! We ended up going to the 7:30 pm mass at St. Bernardine's in Woodland Hills. It worked out because we were able to have a quick early dinner with Lala Flory and Lolo Buddy at their house.

At mass, Mike was a little hesitant to have Zoe get ashes, but I was determined to kick of her first Lent right. We just had to make sure no ashes went near her eyes ...

Even though she's just a baby, I know she will be going through her own personal Lent with her angels. I hope to be able to explain more clearly to her what Lent really means and why it's so important.

Welcome to your new home ...

Me and Zoe are now officially in Oxnard!!! I must say it's A LOT quieter than when we were living at Tita Bot and Tito Charlie's place in LA! Now, after Mike leaves for work, it's just me and Zoe. To combat the quietness, I try to talk to her as much as I can. I have a lot to unpack but am trying to take my time with it so I don't end up straining myself. Little by little our little home will come together. I'm so excited to be in a house and am looking forward to our new family life as THREE. We will still go to LA on the weekends (at least for sure for church) so I think it will be a good balance -- quiet week, not-so-quiet weekend.

I never thought I would say "I live in Oxnard"! I still have to get used to this town (I miss the hustle and bustle of LA already)but know that God put us here for a reason and that I have to trust in His plan. Mike seems to really love his new job and is learning a lot so I'm happy he has that opportunity. I know God is making sure I learn a lot here in Oxnard as well as my new stay at home mommy role. I just have to be open to see those learning opportunities.

PS: Can I just say I'm a little nervous to be the ONLY one taking care of Zoe? This is the first time it's really just me and her!!! Aaaaah!!! Again, it just goes to show how blessed I am to have had the help of my family during the first few weeks. At least I was able to ease into everything!