The Adventures of Baby CP

For those of you who want to stay on top of the comings and goings of our new family member, check out the new blog The Adventures of Baby CP.

He's here!

Sorry, I've been MIA for a few days.  Our Little CP arrived on June 7 at 6.18pm weighing in at 7 lbs and 15 oz and measuring 20.5 inches tall.  Here are some photos from his first day at home.

Almost a smile!

Check out my nostrils.

How is it already June?

I can't believe how quickly June has arrived.  Grandma CP lands in SF today in anticipation of the arrival of Baby CP, which should be any day now.  Grandma CP will be in town for about a month to help out.  I'm sure I'll be needing it!

After we get her settled in, the first task on the list will probably be food shopping.  My mom will probably be taking over most of the cooking responsibilities here and we need to stock up on those healthy green veggies and protein for Chinese soups and other yummies!

Last Day of Work!

I am excited to announce that today will be my last day of work before starting pre-baby leave and maternity leave.  Although I'm sure life will be tiring and challenging in the weeks and months to come, this will be an interesting change of pace.  Today, I'll be busy clearing off my desk and handing projects off to others.  Tomorrow, I'll be preparing for the little one...I have so much left to do that the first thing on the list is to prepare a To-Do list!  Wish me luck!

To Baby Shower or Not to Baby Shower....It's a big question...

Kiki La Rue DIY Cake Bunting

I guess it's kind of late to be considering this, as we're at week 33 already, but I'm still on the fence about whether or not to have a baby shower.  Some Chinese and Korean parents wait until after the baby is born to have a 100 day celebration, while others tell me I'll be way too tired to do anything for a few months after the baby is born, so it's best to see your friends and have a party before then.  If I did decide to plan one, I might have to pull in some planning reinforcements, though I think we'll keep it VERY simple.  No weird games...just some food and good company.

Everyone has been asking if we've chosen a name yet...the answer to that is no.  We're still working on it.

Some people have been asking if we're registered anywhere...we are registered at Babies "R" Us and Amazon.com, though it's still a work in progress and I am making changes all the time.

And for those who don't know yet...it's a boy. 

So what do you think?  Should I do it?  I guess it's a good opportunity to make some cute party favors.  =)

Getting Ready for Baby

So what was I doing for the past few months while I seemingly abandoned ChunkyPineapple?  Well, the big announcement is that Mr. CP and I are expecting our first little one in June.  The first trimester was pretty uncomfortable with nausea 24/7, so I wasn't really up for blogging.  We're in week 25 now, so we're feeling better and much more energetic.

At week 20 - The sonographer decided to highlight the fact that it's a boy.

These days, I find myself checking on Craigslist for some used baby items now and then.  It's good for the environment to recycle and reuse and sometimes you really don't need something brand new.  Another benefit - the cost savings is enormous.  At the advice of others, in my spare time, I've also been trying to put together a registry, but it can be very overwhelming at times.  There are so many things you need to consider and so many different options out there!

Then there are the negotiations....Mr. CP is anti-changing table.  He doesn't see a need and thinks it will just take up space.  I've asked around and it turns out that a lot of people had one but didn't use it much or never got one at all, so we will probably just try to go without this piece of baby gear.  After all, I'm pretty sure that my parents raised three of us without one.

A crib, however, is probably something we will need to acquire.  There are about a million types, options and price points.  I'm tempted to take a chance to purchase something made of solid wood off at a discount through Craigslist, but then you run the risk of buying something that may have been the subject of a recall and the ever-present potential for bed bugs lurks in the background....ick.  What to do....what to do...

Favorite Picks for New Parents

We're at the age where a lot of our friends have been having their first babies.  Apart from the cute little onesies that I like to pick up as gifts, there is one book that I have given to several new parents.

The Petit Cookbook by Lisa Barnes

We got a lot of positive feedback from the first couple we bought the book for and we liked the idea of organic food being made at home for the  kiddies.  Starting babies off with healthy eats should be a top priority for everyone.  One mom altered the mac and cheese recipe just a tad and it was the best mac and cheese we had ever eaten, so adults can enjoy it too!

Another great gift for newborns is the Mustela Newborn Gift Set.  The set contains hypoallergenic bath and moisturizer products for sensitive newborn skin.  It's important to give the little ones less to cry about.

Welcome, Little One

Last night I finally completed my Welcome, Little One greeting card.  Since this is my first baby card, I wanted to make a design that could be used to welcome both baby boys and baby girls.  I also wanted the design to be pretty and expressive while staying clean and simple.  This is what I came up with...

Flowers symbolize nature, life and beauty and I just love how the "baby" flower is a chip off of the old block.
These cards come in light blue and purple pearl.  You can find these cards (and more photos) here.