Friday, March 9, 2007
stay tuned
I've moved my blog from my host's default blogger to blogger.com. I have to add each post (with comments) individually. Please bear with me as I move all my posts over. Anyone have any ideas on how this can be done more efficiently?
Monday, February 5, 2007
van dop or liem?
All I seem to do these days is take photos of Josh. He is SO cute right now - he smiles alot and he has found his voice. It's the most adorable thing! So, now that he's a bit older, I ask the question - does he look more like a Van Dop or a Liem?!
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
baby yoga
Check out some of the photos we've taken over the past month in my Flickr account. Here's a shot of Josh doing some baby yoga...
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
it takes one to know one
Now that I am a mom, I have a new appreciation for moms. Now, I'm not saying that I never appreciated my mom, but I think that I understand my mom more now. I think I also have a better understanding of what it means to be a mom now too - not really because I'm a mom to Josh, but because I've seen the way my mom and Brian's mom have helped me as a new mom.
My mom and dad stopped their lives in Toronto for 2 months to come to Vancouver and help us. I'm not saying that my mom was the only one helping - my dad helped out tons too. But my mom and I had some really good talks about parenthood and raising a family that I could never really understand before. We are completely indebted to my parents for making the sacrifice to come out here for us. However, I know that my parents will never ask for anything in return. It's just something parents do. I understand what that means now. Thanks, Mom and Dad.
I see Brian's mom almost everyday too. She comes to our house everyday because she has to pick up Brian's dad. When I was working, she would sometimes come into the house and read, but most times, I think she sat in the car and waited for Brian and his dad to come back from work. Since I've been home, she comes in and visits for a bit everyday. At least once a week, she brings dinner and we all have dinner at our place. On those nights, she also helps out with Josh. We never had to ask. It's just something mom's do. As an aside, Brian's mom also goes to her daughter's house almost every night to help get the twins (now 6-months old) bathed and down to bed.
I feel so indebted to both my moms for everything they've done for us. And they never ask for anything in return because it's just something mom's do. Well, I just want you to know how much I appreciate all the love and support you've given me. Thank-you.
My mom and dad stopped their lives in Toronto for 2 months to come to Vancouver and help us. I'm not saying that my mom was the only one helping - my dad helped out tons too. But my mom and I had some really good talks about parenthood and raising a family that I could never really understand before. We are completely indebted to my parents for making the sacrifice to come out here for us. However, I know that my parents will never ask for anything in return. It's just something parents do. I understand what that means now. Thanks, Mom and Dad.
I see Brian's mom almost everyday too. She comes to our house everyday because she has to pick up Brian's dad. When I was working, she would sometimes come into the house and read, but most times, I think she sat in the car and waited for Brian and his dad to come back from work. Since I've been home, she comes in and visits for a bit everyday. At least once a week, she brings dinner and we all have dinner at our place. On those nights, she also helps out with Josh. We never had to ask. It's just something mom's do. As an aside, Brian's mom also goes to her daughter's house almost every night to help get the twins (now 6-months old) bathed and down to bed.
I feel so indebted to both my moms for everything they've done for us. And they never ask for anything in return because it's just something mom's do. Well, I just want you to know how much I appreciate all the love and support you've given me. Thank-you.
My mom with Josh on the day he was born.
Brian's mom feeding Josh at 2 months old.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
how can you tell?
How can you tell that our lives have changed? The fact that I haven't posted on the blog in the past month and a half is a good indication! I can't say that I'm busy - it's more that I'm ALWAYS tired. I have no energy and the most hours of consecutive sleep that I've had in 2 months is 5 hours - and that was only for one night! I'm not going to go on about how life-changing motherhood has been for me - those of you who are parents or have seen me in the past 2 months know what I mean.
I can't believe that it's 2007! It's seems like just yesterday that we found out that I was pregnant and I was thinking - I can't believe I'll have a baby in 8 months! Also, it seems like ages ago when we were basking in the warmth of the south of France. Either way, 2007 promises to be a very different year for me. I'm still not sure how it will go, but my New Year's resolution is to have a more positive outlook on things. I am generally a pessimist - Brian will confirm that based on my reaction to things the past 2 months (!!). So, I'm going to try to change my attitude and look at things more positively.
In fact, today was a perfect day to practice this. My parents left to go back to Toronto today. They have been here since early November, before Josh was born. I'm not sure how I would have survived the past 2 months without Mom and Dad here. They were so awesome. Mom helped with Josh, cooked and calmed my frazzled nerves. Dad helped with Nikita, fixed our computer and helped Brian with home maintenance stuff. Having both of them here was also a constant reminder to me that there was life going on outside of our home. We are going to miss having them here.
My first reaction to my parents leaving is anxiety and fear. I have already shed many tears at this prospect. Now, I'm just going to look at the brighter side of things. First, Josh is older and every day gets easier - my parents have already brought us through the hardest part. Second, now Brian and I have to figure out our routine and what works for us. This will also make things easier.
Wow, I can't believe how much I want to say here. But, I hear Josh starting to wake up, so it's time go. Here is a photo of him from Christmas. He is SO adorable. I can't believe how different he is in just 2 months!
I can't believe that it's 2007! It's seems like just yesterday that we found out that I was pregnant and I was thinking - I can't believe I'll have a baby in 8 months! Also, it seems like ages ago when we were basking in the warmth of the south of France. Either way, 2007 promises to be a very different year for me. I'm still not sure how it will go, but my New Year's resolution is to have a more positive outlook on things. I am generally a pessimist - Brian will confirm that based on my reaction to things the past 2 months (!!). So, I'm going to try to change my attitude and look at things more positively.
In fact, today was a perfect day to practice this. My parents left to go back to Toronto today. They have been here since early November, before Josh was born. I'm not sure how I would have survived the past 2 months without Mom and Dad here. They were so awesome. Mom helped with Josh, cooked and calmed my frazzled nerves. Dad helped with Nikita, fixed our computer and helped Brian with home maintenance stuff. Having both of them here was also a constant reminder to me that there was life going on outside of our home. We are going to miss having them here.
My first reaction to my parents leaving is anxiety and fear. I have already shed many tears at this prospect. Now, I'm just going to look at the brighter side of things. First, Josh is older and every day gets easier - my parents have already brought us through the hardest part. Second, now Brian and I have to figure out our routine and what works for us. This will also make things easier.
Wow, I can't believe how much I want to say here. But, I hear Josh starting to wake up, so it's time go. Here is a photo of him from Christmas. He is SO adorable. I can't believe how different he is in just 2 months!
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Meet Joshua Adrianus Van Dop
Wow. What a ride. Joshua Adrianus Van Dop was born on November 15, 2006 at 18:36 in St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC. He weighed in at 8 lbs 15.8 ozs. He is SO cute. He is also a week old today so Happy Birthday, Josh!
Brian sent out an eMail soon after with all the details. Thanks for all the good wishes everyone sent. If you didn't receive the eMail, I received many 'failure to send' eMails, so I apologize, but I guess I don't have your most up-to-date eMail address.
We've been at home since Sunday and it's been nice - lots of adjustment though! Today (Wednesday) is the first day that I'm REALLY tired because I'm finally getting a bit more sleep so, I think my body is now realizing how over-tired it is!
Yes, labour was brutal and the decision to take the epidural after trying for 40+ hours was difficult. Finding out that I would have to undergo Caesarian soon after was also hard. But in the end, we were elated to see our BIG baby boy! The first thing all the people in the OR said was, "Look at the size of his feet!" Hehehe...
Unfortunately, the difficulty didn't end there. Josh didn't want to feed for the first 72 hours after he was born - he was lethargic and losing weight fast. When he had lost 7% of his body weight in 48 hours and started to develop jaundice, the mid-wife had to consult with the pediatrician on-call who decided it was time to put him under the UV lights.
This extended our stay at St. Paul's and we were under a strict feeding schedule where I had to pump and we had to get the food into him every 2 hours, any way possible. He had lost 11% of his body weight, which was starting to get on the high side, even though he was so big. He also needed to eat in order to get rid of the jaundice. This was a very difficult time for Brian and I in the hospital with our new baby boy. Both of us were extremely exhausted after the labour and delivery and I was still recovering from the Caesarian.
But the hard work and perseverance paid off because 48 hours later, he started to gain weight and his jaundice was going away. So, we were discharged on Sunday morning and have been at home since then. Now, the biggest challenge that we are facing is feeding. Because we had to use alternate feeding methods in the hospital to get Josh to gain weight, we are still working on getting him to breastfeed. It's getting better and better every day...
Below are some photos that we've taken in the first week of Josh's life:
Welcome to the world, Josh. Mom and Dad love you very much and will try to be the best parents we can!
P.S. Nikita hasn't really reacted to Josh yet. She's sniffed him out and stuff, but that's it. I think she is waiting to reserve judgement until she finds out if Josh will give her food!
Brian sent out an eMail soon after with all the details. Thanks for all the good wishes everyone sent. If you didn't receive the eMail, I received many 'failure to send' eMails, so I apologize, but I guess I don't have your most up-to-date eMail address.
We've been at home since Sunday and it's been nice - lots of adjustment though! Today (Wednesday) is the first day that I'm REALLY tired because I'm finally getting a bit more sleep so, I think my body is now realizing how over-tired it is!
Yes, labour was brutal and the decision to take the epidural after trying for 40+ hours was difficult. Finding out that I would have to undergo Caesarian soon after was also hard. But in the end, we were elated to see our BIG baby boy! The first thing all the people in the OR said was, "Look at the size of his feet!" Hehehe...
Unfortunately, the difficulty didn't end there. Josh didn't want to feed for the first 72 hours after he was born - he was lethargic and losing weight fast. When he had lost 7% of his body weight in 48 hours and started to develop jaundice, the mid-wife had to consult with the pediatrician on-call who decided it was time to put him under the UV lights.
This extended our stay at St. Paul's and we were under a strict feeding schedule where I had to pump and we had to get the food into him every 2 hours, any way possible. He had lost 11% of his body weight, which was starting to get on the high side, even though he was so big. He also needed to eat in order to get rid of the jaundice. This was a very difficult time for Brian and I in the hospital with our new baby boy. Both of us were extremely exhausted after the labour and delivery and I was still recovering from the Caesarian.
But the hard work and perseverance paid off because 48 hours later, he started to gain weight and his jaundice was going away. So, we were discharged on Sunday morning and have been at home since then. Now, the biggest challenge that we are facing is feeding. Because we had to use alternate feeding methods in the hospital to get Josh to gain weight, we are still working on getting him to breastfeed. It's getting better and better every day...
Below are some photos that we've taken in the first week of Josh's life:
In the OR, just after Josh was born.
Do I really look THAT tired?! Josh had to wear "shades" under the UV lights. Hehehe...
After his first bath at home.
Brian and Josh having a nap.
Josh sleeps.
Needless to say, motherhood has been very challenging for me, so far. Brian has been my rock and he is an awesome Dad - I don't know what I'd do without him. Also, my parent's help has been invaluable. But in the end, through all these difficulties, I can't believe how much I love my little baby boy. Everytime I look at him, I can't believe that he is ours.
Welcome to the world, Josh. Mom and Dad love you very much and will try to be the best parents we can!
P.S. Nikita hasn't really reacted to Josh yet. She's sniffed him out and stuff, but that's it. I think she is waiting to reserve judgement until she finds out if Josh will give her food!
Thursday, October 19, 2006
reversal of fortune
I have 4 siblings - 3 brothers and a sister. My sister, DD, is a year older than me. We are quite close - I was her Maid of Honour and she was my Matron of Honour. My parents raised us to be responsible, hard-working people. We, all my siblings, were fortunate enough to go through university and earn our respective degrees - my sister has her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and I have my Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Chemical Engineering. All very similar, I think.
If I look back 11 years ago, to 1995 - I had just graduated from university and decided to accept a job with a mining company in Vancouver as the start of my career. At the same time, DD was pregnant with her first child and she decided to put her career on hold indefinitely to raise a family. Our paths have been completely opposite since!
Now, 11 years later, on the eve of having our first child, I find myself putting my career on hold for the first time to start a family. At the same time, DD has just accepted a job as the start of her career. What a strange reversal of fortune that takes my sister and I to the exact same place, but opposite!
Really, in the last 11 years, our lives have been similar in many ways - my career has moved me from Toronto to Vancouver, to Elko, Nevada to Bellingham, Washington and back to Vancouver. DD's family has moved her from Toronto to Peterborough, to Austin, Texas and finally to Schnectady, New York. We've both had our fair share of moving in 11 years!
Both of us have been back to school in the last 11 years - me to change careers from engineering to computers and her to be able to start her career as a medical transcriptionist. She has 4 wonderful children to be very proud of - L (11), N (9), DB (7) and C (2) and I have a successful career as an IT professional that I can be proud of!
It's so ironic that we find ourselves asking each other advice now - me asking about pregnancy, labour and motherhood and her about writing cover letters and resumes!
I'm so proud of my sister. It must be difficult decision to return to the workforce after 11 years. I'm finding it hard to leave it for just a year! What is most exciting to me is to see where my sister and I will come full circle. I don't doubt that we will and I think when that time comes, we will be able to sit down, compare stories and feel closer to each other than ever.
If I look back 11 years ago, to 1995 - I had just graduated from university and decided to accept a job with a mining company in Vancouver as the start of my career. At the same time, DD was pregnant with her first child and she decided to put her career on hold indefinitely to raise a family. Our paths have been completely opposite since!
Now, 11 years later, on the eve of having our first child, I find myself putting my career on hold for the first time to start a family. At the same time, DD has just accepted a job as the start of her career. What a strange reversal of fortune that takes my sister and I to the exact same place, but opposite!
Really, in the last 11 years, our lives have been similar in many ways - my career has moved me from Toronto to Vancouver, to Elko, Nevada to Bellingham, Washington and back to Vancouver. DD's family has moved her from Toronto to Peterborough, to Austin, Texas and finally to Schnectady, New York. We've both had our fair share of moving in 11 years!
Both of us have been back to school in the last 11 years - me to change careers from engineering to computers and her to be able to start her career as a medical transcriptionist. She has 4 wonderful children to be very proud of - L (11), N (9), DB (7) and C (2) and I have a successful career as an IT professional that I can be proud of!
It's so ironic that we find ourselves asking each other advice now - me asking about pregnancy, labour and motherhood and her about writing cover letters and resumes!
I'm so proud of my sister. It must be difficult decision to return to the workforce after 11 years. I'm finding it hard to leave it for just a year! What is most exciting to me is to see where my sister and I will come full circle. I don't doubt that we will and I think when that time comes, we will be able to sit down, compare stories and feel closer to each other than ever.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)