Saturday Date Night

Hanging with Oscar on the floor.
After a rough day with Margaret yesterday, we were happy that she seemed fine today. In fact, she seemed fine enough to have a play session on the floor with her friend Oscar when we went to Dim Sum this morning with Oscar's family, Dickson, Lucy and Andrew.

I, on the other hand, was exhausted, having slept little last night, picked up Margaret's eye infection and still fighting off the tail end of a mild cold.

A nap after Dim Sum, however, was just what the doctor ordered and I took it. The best part?

Waking up to see SAM putting Margaret down into bed next to me, crawling into bed herself, and then observing Margaret look first to me, then to her mom, and start laughing and giggling at being in bed with us - only the second time either of SAM or I have observed her laugh.

Even at four months, she knows how to make us happy.

On the tram
Saturday date night with Jack was probably one of the best date nights ever.

After a pouring rainstorm in the late afternoon cleared out the air, we all decided to do date night by taking the ferry across to Tsim Sha Tsui to take in the view.

First, we took the tram to Central which afforded us wonderful crisp views of Causeway Bay and the road to Central. Once there, we enjoyed a dinner of Japanese Ramen noodles and made it onto the ferry in time to catch the tail end of the Festival of Lights light show that Hong Kong does with several of the buildings on both sides of the harbor. The Ferry captain even slowed the ferry so that we spent a maximum amount of time on the water watching the lights on the buildings flash and dance.

In Central
After a few photos and a walk along the promenade that lines the waterfront in Tsim Sha Tsui, we hopped back on the ferry and were back home before 10.

It wasn't too long, but it didn't have to be. Jack called it a memorable night and I have to agree with him.

A most perfect way to spend the evening.

Jack watching the Festival of Lights in Central as we pull into TST

On the promenade looking back at Hong Kong Island

Old and New

Fussy Baby Today

Margaret was off all day today (though you wouldn't know it from the pictures), starting when she woke up complaining about something at 5:30 this morning. An unusual hour for her. After feeding her at around 6:30 we handed her off to Jack, but she remained fussy.

We weren't able to find anything overtly wrong with her except potentially an eye infection. She didn't have a temperature, but she was fussy for the rest of the morning.

So... we took her to the Doctor who issued some eye drops but found nothing else wrong.

Unfortunately, she really has just been 'off' for the rest of the day. Luckily, she was alright when we took Jack and Margaret to brunch buffet where four cups of coffee downed by me made sure I wouldn't be able to nap later in the afternoon.

Later, however, we went to the park in the afternoon (without mommy) and halfway through, she became inconsolable in her stroller so I had to carry her the rest of the way home while Jack wheeled the stroller.

My arms are now very sore.

Jack stayed home with Margaret this evening while SAM and I went out to have dinner and watch Charlie Wilson's War with some friends. Thanks, Jack.

She's mostly quiet now (with a couple of cries now and then, but she's mostly asleep) so we're hoping for a better day for her tomorrow.

We're wondering if it might be teeth, so we've got the teething toys in the freezer and will see if it helps.

Life Rocks

After her bath on Saturday
First, let me say that I love my job.

I struggled for a year to find a home in the toy industry, and now I've got one at a company I respect, with a boss that I like and with co-workers who I have fun working with.

The work itself is not without its challenges, but I relish each one and look forward to the gratification that I feel when I complete a task successfully.

But... it's spring time in Hong Kong, and that means sunny but not-too-hot days with chirping birds, blooming flowers and a wife who looks so good in a tank top and sandals that, were I not already married to her, would make me think sinful thoughts. Though, admittedly, the thoughts I do have are probably no less sinful even though we are married.

That, plus the sheer joy that strolling (or is it stroller-ing?) with Margaret in the park evinces makes it even harder to think about waking up early again tomorrow to go into work.


At Tsim Sha Tsui
Now, Jack is here, and the freshness and excitement that he brings to each activity that we've done with him makes the exhilaration that I normally feel at learning to make decisions about foreign currency hedging or cost cutting or safety procedures feel like... work.

Like I wish I had hit the lottery and could sit back and spend every day in a life of leisure with every day bringing a walk in the park, a new activity with Margaret and a sunny afternoon spent snuggling with my wife. I think about the past year playing tour guide to everyone who visited and wish I could do the same with Jack and simply let his enthusiasm become my enthusiasm and give myself over to the joy, again, of having nowhere to be but exactly where I was.

Family Ferry Time
However, while sitting in the golden sunshine of a springtime Sunday afternoon makes me wish the responsibilities of life would give me another year (or lifetime) off, that deep buried recess of my mind in which responsibility resides (yes, it's in there somewhere) lets me understand that it's only because of what I've done and what I'm doing today, that I can even enjoy weekends like this and fantasize of a life devoid of actual work. The lessons I am learning in my job are lessons that inform my growth as a person and add incalculable value to my leisure. Not to mention that the responsibilities of my vocation are a part of my life that makes it as enjoyable as it is.

The more you live your life, the more you have to live for. With the addition of a few years have come the addition of a wife and daughter and so much more joy in every one of my days than I could have imagined five years ago before I met SAM.

Even the difficult passages and the lessons I've been forced to learn have made for a richer and more enjoyable life today.

The same goes for my job, I've realized. The confidence, knowledge and social skills I gain from spending most days hard at work in an office far from my home help me to approach each following day with more answers than the day before.

At 30 years old, while I certainly don't feel the confidence in myself or the comfort in inhabiting my own skin that I wish I felt, I feel myself getting closer.

And while I still have problems that I can't solve and longings for things like a bigger house, a better salary and more assuredness of where Margaret's tuition will come from, I feel that I'm getting closer to answers for those questions too.

And so tomorrow, I will go to work, decide how much foreign currency I need to hedge, send some emails about how much money safety programs will cost us, and come home to my family, realizing that I enjoy every part of my day more because of every task that I do in the course of that day; realizing that living my life makes my life better to live.

And realizing that, really, my life is pretty sweet.

The source of my happiness

Morning Surprises

First morning after meeting each other and Margaret and her Pa are already chumming it up like old pals.

We had a bit of extra time this morning because the government has closed school a week early (they moved up Easter break) due to a flu epidemic outbreak (thanks, Jack) that's going around. Since we don't own a TV, we didn't hear about it last night on the evening news and didn't find out until this morning when Daisy came in and let us know.

Sarah then checked her email which confirmed the fact but that teachers were expected to meet in the staff room at 9:00. Only then did the phone tree call come in.

So there was some found time this morning where SAM, Margaret, Dad and I hung out in the living room. It was fantastic to have even that extra forty five minutes with all of us together before I had to head off to work.

I didn't have to feel too jealous about missing out, though. SAM has to keep going into school as they've simply moved up the professional development days for the year.
The only real bonus is that she gets an extra twenty minutes, now, in the morning as she doesn't have to get there before the students do.

And anyways, Margaret is always waiting for me when I come home. Like you can see below from tonight.

Pa's Here

At around 7:30 this evening, SAM and I met Jack, or Pa, at the airport.

See above.

Upon arriving home, we spent a few very tender moments observing Jack and a sleeping Margaret get acquainted.

At her 9:30 pm feed, Jack and Margaret wasted no time getting to know each other for real.

See below.

It's nice to have parents

I have to say. Life is pretty good for a baby in this family. Mommy and Daddy treat me pretty well.

I get six squares a day, a roof over my head, clean sheets, clean clothes, walks outside, lots of toys, diaper changes when I need 'em and a bath once a day. What more could a growing baby need?

Bath time is especially fun. Sometimes, Daddy gives me a bath on the weekends, but on weekdays, Mommy and I get to share twosies time at around 6:00 ever day. It's really great to have girls' time, especially since she usually feeds me both before and after.



Sometimes, after my bath, Mommy gives me a massage, too. I didn't have one today, but I got to horse around with Ubi2. She's a bear, but she knows how to horse around... especially when I'm acting the horse! For some reason, Daddy didn't take pictures of when she was giving me a piggy back ride.



I have to admit, it's pretty easy to get what I want. I just have to keep crying and they'll cycle through everything until I'm satisfied. Whether it's more milk, a new diaper, a change of clothes, more clothes, less clothes, a change of scenery or just a cuddle, if I keep going, usually, it's only a matter of time until they get it.

There have been times when they keep not hitting it, but when that happens, I forgive them because they usually do a pretty good job.

So don't worry, all you aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents. I'm doing okay over here!



One of my favorite past times these days is to do tricks and make faces at them and see how they react. Parents are SOOOO cute when they're happy and excited.

If I do something that I haven't done for them before, they get even more excited. Lately, I've shown them how I can put my hands together and this seems to get both Mommy and Daddy especially giggly and huggy.

Today, I even picked up my burp cloth with both hands for them and they were over the moon.

Parents are so funny and smiley. It's nice.



They seem to grow and develop each day. I swear, every time Daddy comes home from work, he looks different. Mommy, too, she just seems to be getting prettier and prettier every day!

Well, I should get going now. First, I don't want them to know I can use the computer, but also, it's time for my late evening feed.

You know, it's not all naps and playtime over here. I've gotta' work to maintain this girlish figure!

WAAAAAAH!

A Weekend in One Day

Reading to Margaret this morning at 7:00

Sarah and I now trade off feeding and playing with Margaret on weekend mornings which allows each of us one day to sleep in (awesome).

Since I had to work yesterday, today was my turn. Sarah was so nice as to actually breast feed Margaret and take pictures of us before handing her off, so in actuality, she didn't actually get to sleep in either. Regardless, my girl and I spent alone time this morning reading, singing, playing and trying to fall asleep.

In matching PJs with her chair

Margaret was loads of fun this morning, all smiles and goo goo eyes at dad, and didn't actually become fussy until I tried to put her down when she wasn't yet tired.

I guess sometimes, dad's own desire to get some shuteye over rides the part of the brain that drives parental responsibility.



Lunch with the Koos was at the Hong Kong Country Club this afternoon.

For some reason, Margaret picked the moment when Sarah and I started to relax into our afternoon to bust out in a fit of crabbiness that has lasted almost the entire rest of the day.

Standing in the parking lot so as not to disturb the other diners, Andrew, Samantha, Margaret and I stood by the parking lot as dignified women in big hair and floral print stretchy pants threw glances our way as they walked past.

Yes, they'll let anyone into the Country Club these days... after getting off the 10 year wait list.



She wasn't all pins and pricks, though, as these pictures attest. She managed a few smiles for the Koos and even survived an afternoon in Central where we ran some errands.



Margaret seemed to recover in the afternoon after we got home; even acquiescing to play with mommy and daddy in her crib and flash this gummy smile while on her tummy.

Usually, she rather dislikes being on her stomach.



Her recovery from crabbiness has been short lived, however. We had Molly and Bill over for dinner and halfway through, she busted out in full force, crying fury.

After making sure that her diaper was fine, that she was warm enough and that she wasn't in any sort of apparent pain, I put her down again and she quieted down.

We're not sure what's going on with Margaret these days. Last week, after weeks of sleeping through the night, she started waking up at 4:30. Now that's over, but this whole day she's been fussy and fidgety and will randomly break out in screaming.

So much of taking care of a baby is trying to figure out what's wrong with your child without the benefit of her being able to tell you. Sometimes, it's super hard.

We're just hoping that she'll sleep through tonight.

SAM and I are both exhausted.

Thursday Update

Before dinner on Wednesday night
Surprise! A mid-week post.

We had some time before going out to dinner with friends last night and Margaret was still awake when I got home.

Mommy brought her out to the living room to meet Daddy and both got a kiss for being their wonderful selves.



For the past three mornings, Margaret has been waking up much earlier than usual - around 4:30 am. Tuesday and Wednesday she had a soiled diaper but this morning, she was simply hungry. We're hoping this doesn't represent a return to earlier, pre-sleeping through the night days.

We can't wait for the weekend.

My Morning Sunbeam

Before her bath on Sunday
Quick update, today with a few bonus snaps from the weekend.

Sarah was home sick on Monday for some well needed mental and physical rest, I think. Back at school today, she heard that there's been something going around, so we're wondering if it was that.

On our way to the grocery store
Sickness aside, I think I've discovered the best feeling in the world.

On the last two mornings, I've awoken to Sarah lowering a smiling and freshly fed Margaret into my arms. There is no sight more beautiful for bleary, sleepy eyes and no feeling more extraordinarily heart melting to me than my own daughter smiling up at me from my own arms.

It's like the heat that's radiating from her body is some sort of radiation that causes one to feel love. Like a little sun putting out love beams that I can feel on my skin as it penetrates into my heart.

These last two mornings, despite my best intentions, I've fallen back asleep after waking up briefly to mutter a few words of support to SAM as she headed out to get Margaret.

My wife, however, despite being abandoned to the thankless task of early morning feedings by her husband, did not forsake me. No. Instead, she showed me one of the greatest joys I've ever felt.

Gently and happily, these past few mornings, I've awoken to the feeling of Margaret being laid in the space between my arm and body with her head resting on my shoulder.

Margaret, happy as she is after just being fed, starts out accommodating and slowly, ever so slowly increases her squirminess level so that I wake up more and more and sit up more and more so that eventually, Mom, Dad and Daughter are all happily sitting on the bed, awake and ready to tackle the morning.

It's the best feeling in the world.

A tired Macaroni right before nap time.

Grrr...

A few thoughts hit me today about that miracle of miracle substances, milk.

The first thought was how amazing it is. You pump this white fluid into a baby and not only does it turn into more baby, but it gives her energy to scream at a volume completely not commensurate with her size. It must have more btu's than rocket fuel.

The other thing is that from a color perspective, white is the absence of color. So somehow, through the miracle of digestion, this white liquid gets turned into all the colors that Margaret is (red for blood, brown for her hair and eyes, etc), as well as a very stinky, disgusting brown that winds up in her diapers.

Amazing.



The family laid low today, for the most part. Not only were both Sarah and I not feeling well last night, but Sarah's discomfort has continued today and Margaret had a very rough night as well.

In the first time in a long while, Margaret was up screaming at 4:00 AM. This, of course, threw the rest of her and our day off. Thank goodness that there are two of us to trade off, otherwise, things would have been a lot more exhausting than they already were. Basically, if one of us was up, the other was sleeping. It hasn't been like that since the very early days of Margaret and it helped us realize how glad that those days are mostly behind us.



The nice thing about being home all day, though, is that you can do things like stay home, hang out by the window, read books and take pictures of your baby.

Despite the whacked out sleep / feed schedule, she was a load of fun today. We managed to capture a couple of new expressions and heard two new sounds too.

Peevish or curious?

She's now able to make that really high pitched scream that some toddlers do that makes you want to jump out of your skin. Thankfully, while she does it, she still exercises some restraint in deploying it.

No, the one she absolutely loves doing now is a guttural, gravely growl that makes her sound like an angry bear cub. Imagine a snore that's being exhaled. It almost sounds like she's eaten too much and the milk is blocking her breathing.

It's intentional, however, as on several occasions, she has made the sound and immediately smiled happily as if to let us know she's not angry or anything. It seems like she either likes how it sounds or likes how it feels to make the sound. Probably both, actually. She's did it a lot, today.

Another new one

She's also becoming more orally aware. We've been noticing that she's sticking her tongue out to taste and feel things more and more, particularly when you get objects near her face. We're finding small, wet, tongue prints, now on the side of the Baby Bjorn and random parts of her stuffed animals.

She's combining this tendency with her ability to grab and manipulate objects, as well. She can get her stuffed animals into her mouth, now. Here you see that she's gotten tired of her own fingers and has secured one of her mother's as a replacement.

Tired of her own fingers

As the weekend winds down, we're already looking forward to the next when we can recover from work and immerse ourselves in Margaret.

We'll keep you posted.

We love Saturdays y Domingos

Today at the park. She was tired.

Aaah. Saturday.

We wheeled Margaret to the park today with grand plans to try her out on the swings.

We're not sure what we were thinking. One look at even the baby swings served to inform us that safe swinging would be at least another month or two away.

Regardless, however, it was a beautiful, sunny day, reminiscent of early spring days in Central Park. The grownups enjoyed just being out and about.

Margaret, of course, didn't care. She was falling asleep in her stroller.

SAM and I had a good laugh on the way over. In her stroller, Margaret seemed to have a death grip on the frame while I was pushing her along. SAM commented that this was like how she always has to hang on to the door handle on the car while I'm driving.

I had to pretend not to be amused, but in all honesty, it was pretty funny to see. not even four months old and she's already afraid of daddy's driving.

Smart girl.

Biting the hand that feeds her

After the park, it was feeding and bath time which is when these photos were taken.

I can't even begin to explain how much fun feeding/bath time is for us as a family. We all hang out on the bed while Margaret feeds on one side. Then, I give Margaret a bath while SAM hangs out with us. After she's clean and dressed, Margaret feeds from SAM's other side while I sit with them on the bed. It's honestly the best way to spend an hour I could possibly imagine.

In fact, Margaret seemed to enjoy it so much that she unleashed the first actual confirmed laughs that her mother and I have heard out of her. I was kissing and nuzzling her tummy right before her bath when we were startled by peals of baby laughter. There may be no sweeter sound.

Of course, attempts to make her recreate the sound were met by silent, determined fist sucking.

We can only hope it becomes more frequent.

Can't tell who's happier