just us.

an independent woman

this girl is going to give us trouble.  or rather, she already is.

dressing herself this morning. another outfit that she picked out.

Mike called me last night with another progress report from school.  She peed in the potty 3 times yesterday and did so when she was asked by her teacher...good.  She ate well...good.  Napped well...good.

Her behavior?  Not so good.

She threw tantrums, screamed and cried, and would get mad when her friends wouldn't play with her.  And when they finally did play with her, she would pitch a hissy fit and say she didn't want to play with them anymore.

When Mike went to pick her up, the teacher has a look on her face like she didn't know what the heck was wrong with Keira that day.  And frankly, neither do we.  I think it all depends on what side of the bed she woke up on, cranky but okay or extra cranky.

Yesterday was extra cranky.  And we should've known.  If it's not one thing with her (peeing in her pants or not eating), it's something else.

the princess pose.  she forgot to put her hands up by her face though.

the one thing you can't see in the picture are her purple Belle socks.  and I convinced her to put on her white glitter Cinderella shoes too.  dear God, help me.

but the thing that finishes off the ensemble...a braid in her hair.

bestill my heart.  I don't know if I ever thought the day would come that I could do this.  I just hope she keeps it in all day.  She may leave the house with a piggytail, but comes home with wild child hair because she pulls them out.

I hope it's the princess waiting for me at school later today, and not the diva-in-training.

t minus 30 days

before this girl turns into a 3 year old.

her shiner is starting to change colors, although you can't see it here.

the last 2 days she has done well telling us when she needs to go potty. I had to get out of line for the Buzz Lightyear ride at Disneyland yesterday just to take her.  her pull-up has been dry both when she wakes up in the morning and after naps.  we are still working on the pooping-in-the-potty, but last night she had no problem doing so while we were in the shower.  thankfully it wasn't mushy and an easy clean-up.

I bought her a skirt (size 3T) today for $4 at Old Navy and despite it being pretty nippy outside, she insisted on wearing it while pulling weeds in the front yard.  fashionable even when doing yard work.

We've been watching Harry Potter all day, and she can successfully identify Harry, Ron, Hermione, Hagrid, Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall.

and for your viewing pleasure, Keira's rendition of Jingle Bells:

 

Don't Get Mad :)

she looks like a boxer. LOL.

I hope she has learned a lesson.

photo taken Wednesday, 1.4.12

the story: the kids were playing with Legos at school.  One of her classmates had one, which she took from him.  He wanted it back, so a tug-of-war ensued.  She didn't like that, so she pushed him.  He didn't like it, so he clocked her in the face with a toy train.  End fight.

On the days Mike picks her up from school, I usually call or text him for a report of how Keira did that day.  When I didn't hear from him by 6pm, which is the latest you can pick up your kid before late fees kick in, I called him.  So it goes, he just finished a conference with Keira's teacher.

I felt horrible.  Not so much that Keira was hurt, but more so because my child started a "fight" at school.  She probably wouldn't have ended up with a black eye if she just knew how to share.  I felt like this was a reflection of me as a parent, and that I wasn't doing a good job teaching her right from wrong.

In a small way, I felt like Keira deserved it.  Ever since she was little, she has acted like the mother hen, the one in charge.  It was even a family joke that she was going to be the boss.  And until recently, she always got her way when playing with her cousins Matthew (he is 5 months older than Keira) and Jacob (he is 2 months younger).  Once the boys started to nudge back, that's when the screaming and crying started.

By no means am I (or Mike) condoning fighting as a way to get things done, but once in a while Keira needs to learn that this is simply not her world.  On drives to school, I always tell Keira what I expect of her that day at school and probably say it 20 more times.  So this week has been a lot of "you need to be nice to your friends" and "if you need to go potty, tell Miss Amalia".

I swear I'm a broken record.

Don't know why...

...I didn't take this shirt out sooner.

I bought it last summer and never wore it, probably because I was afraid to get it dirty (it's a silk blend) or it was too cold or I felt it was too dressy.

Glad I decided to wear it today. Brings a little pep in the step, especially since I just finished day #3 of back-to-back 12 hour shifts. Go me.

I fought really hard to keep a positive attitude, despite being pretty tired.  I didn't even want to shower this morning when I woke up.  I haven't done a run of 12-hour shifts in a long time, and I remember being mentally and physically exhausted when I was done.  I was really afraid of how busy it was going to be, especially with it being the beginning of the year and the loads of insurance issues that come along with it.

But thank the high heavens for the Temptations channel on Pandora (or it might've been I Heart Radio, I'm not sure).  If it weren't for that bit of music in the late afternoon, I don't know if I would've made it.  It literally picked up my spirits, and even made the guy in the bakery department wonder what the heck me and my coworker CJ were up to.  We danced to our hearts content (yes, in the pharmacy) and laughed so hard I was on the floor.  I haven't laughed that hard in a long, long time.

It felt good.

All I can say is I made it, and with a bit of sanity leftover, I can move on to a glorious 3 days off with Mike and Keira.  Here's to family time!!

2 on the 2nd

Mike and I were both off today (his company observed NYD today and my schedule was switched up a bit this week) and Keira's school is still closed for the holiday break, so...

..we took our time waking up and getting ready for the day.

My parents took Keira to visit my aunt and uncle (my dad's younger sister and brother-in-law) in Diamond Bar on New Year's Day, and she helped my aunt pick some oranges from their tree.  Keira has pretty much been carrying that bag of oranges around ever since.  She refused to let my mom put it down, and showed me that oranges also have belly buttons (my aunt taught her that).  I guess its a good thing she likes to eat them too.

We decided to make the day a family fun day, and headed over to Disneyland.  We figured...eh, it won't be too busy, right?

Yeah, not so much.  It took us about 45 minutes from exiting the freeway to parking and getting out of our car.  The structure was probably getting close to capacity, so we were rerouted to one of the hotel parking lots instead.  The walk to the gates wasn't bad at all, in fact it seemed faster than waiting in line for the trams.

We rode 3 rides, had turkey dogs and mandarin oranges for lunch, and watched the holiday parade.  Keira even did good and pee-peed in the potty twice while we were there!  No accidents...yay!

we would hate to ruin a hot outfit like that, wouldn't we :)

Firsts on the First

So, seeing that it is the first day of the new year, I thought about posting a bunch of "firsts" from my day.  That lasted all of 4 pictures I think.

the very first picture I took this year:

Keira slept in our room last night, because it was the easier thing to do.  Her breath smelled pretty bad.

the first family photo of the year:

The picture was altered using the picplz app for Android phones.  I used the 70s effect. I think I like.

the first work shift of the year:

We were open 9 to 3 today, and it was pretty quiet for the most part.  I think I did 40-something scripts, and the monthly CII count as well.

the first coffee of the year:

I didn't have time to make some before I left, plus I had two gift cards to burn so a tall vanilla latte it was.  I got close to finishing the whole thing, but for some reason, I never seem to finish a cup of coffee no matter what size.

Mike put on his hockey skates for the first time in years, but still managed to skate a bit as Keira ran around with him.

the first family photo taken by Grandpa Ko:

The weather was pretty nice out when I got home from work, so we spent some time playing outside with some of the neighbors' kids.  Mike fixed another sprinkler in the front yard and we took the Christmas tree out to the curb for pick-up in the morning.  It makes me sad that our lights aren't up anymore, as if the holiday spirit is gone for another year.  Bah humbug.

I think I'm ready for bed.

our 2011

I've seen quite a few people do this today, so I figured...why not?

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

I just remembered my goals for 2011.  Out of the 6, only 2 didn't get met.  The boat is doing the same thing at my house that it did at my parents' house...sit there and act as storage.  I'm hoping Mike will have more time and opportunities to take it on its maiden voyage this coming year.  We are still a family of 3, but we're hoping to change that next year.

Overall, we had a good 2011.  Keira turned 2 and started preschool, and is in the process of potty training and wearing "big girl underwear".  She had her first ear infection, and has broadened her choice of foods (thanks to school!!)  She has also become quite the little diva and putting us through the terrible toddler stage.  She loves her Disney Princesses, and has perfected the art of picking her nose.

Mike is still managing to keep busy at work, and just recently switched back to a 9-80 work schedule.  He didn't get to do much fishing this year (much to his dismay), but has fixed more sprinklers than he cares to deal with in the last year.  He is still quite the handyman around the house and may have even earned such the reputation amongst our neighbors.  According to them, he never sits still and always seems to be fixing something on his days off.

I am finally settling into a groove at work, having changed the schedule rotation to allow for more time at home.  Being crafty has fallen to the wayside over the year, and I failed at maintaining my 2011 Project Life (I'm thinking of trying again in 2012, but using a different format).  I'd like to travel somewhere new next year, possibly Alaska or Oregon, and maybe get a little more seasoned in the baking department.  The thought of a new family member is also on the brain.

Thank you for being good to us, 2011, and we welcome 2012 with open arms.  Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

our 2011 Holiday cards. simple and homemade.  I like.

making snow in the family room.

new kicks for the girl.  Foofa!

spaghetti for dinner.  if you know Keira, the fact that she is eating the sauce and the pasta together is something major.

Christmas Eve Eve dinner.  The guys cooked.  and it was good.

Keira and her cousin Matthew.  future prom dates perhaps?

Keira and Santa Steve.  She actually wanted to sit on Santa's lap and told him what she wanted for Christmas.  Our girl keeps surprising us!

playing piano with Grandpa Ko.

one of her gifts: a Disney Princess hoodie set.  The look on her face was priceless.  She LOVED it.

Christmas morning.  Her loot from Santa.

the loot.  Last year it was a Kai Lan holiday, this year Disney Princess.  She got lots of other princess things, like toys and an eating set and underwear.  She definitely got into tearing off the wrapping paper and seemed truly happy with everything that she got.  Seeing the joy of Christmas on her face is truly one to remember.

Merry Christmas from the Lieus!!

so very proud

this is the face of a big girl.  a big girl that I am so proud of.

after missing school the last two days due to diarrhea and vomit, I decided she was probably well enough to go to school.

so I get a phone call from her teacher around 12 noon, that she cried on and off for the morning and after coming in from the morning playground session, she started crying that her ear hurt.

light bulb goes off in my head...ear infection?

I kick into worried mama mode, and made her a same day appointment to see a doctor.  I almost ran out of the house right away to pick her up from school, but the teacher and I agreed that they would call me if she didn't go to sleep (they just finished lunch and usually nap right afterwards).  She didn't eat much at lunch, which is what I expected.

I also looked up signs and symptoms of an ear infection (thank you babycenter and webmd) and she seemed to have some of them.  An ear infection can usually follow a cold, and be characterized by vomiting and diarrhea.  I figured, for the peace of my own mind, I'll just take her in.  Having to shell out a copay (which I didn't...thanks to double coverage) is better than having a sick child on my hands.

She napped for only 40 minutes and woke up screaming, according to her teachers.  By the time I got there, she looked a pitiful mess.

She wasn't too happy to be seeing a doctor either, but I told her it was to make sure her ears weren't broken.  Because God forbid, we need to use tape to stick them back on.

yes, that's how we reason with a 2 year old in our house.

she cried while having her weight and height taken, but could still answer the nurse when asked princess or Minnie sticker.  go figure.

She fought the ear exam, but it pretty much confirmed an ear infection.  Her left ear was impacted with ear wax (we will be tackling that tonight), the nurse practitioner describing it as "sandy", while her right ear was clearly red and inflamed.  She was pretty sure if we cleaned the left ear out, she would find more of the same.

We walked out with a prescription in hand, and my next worry was how were we going to get her to take it.  She isn't our poster child when it comes to taking medications, so I knew we were going to have a battle on our hands.

Boy, was I wrong.

I let her dip her finger into the cap of the medication bottle so she could taste the antibiotic.  And hot dog!!  She liked it!  Smells like candy, and I'm darn sure it tastes like it too.  Somehow I had to get 8 milliliters of it down her throat, and doing it the finger dip way was not going to cut it.  So she chose to drink it from the dosing cup and voila!  One dose down, 19 more to go.

The little snarky girl said to me five minutes later...I'm still sick, can I have more?

Amoxicillin, all I can say is...thank you for being good to me AND my girl :)

December?! Really?!

since the girl is still asleep, might as well post...right?

speaking of the girl, she is on day 5 of some viral bug going around.  it all started on Friday with a few vomiting episodes and then 3 days of oozing diarrhea.  She has a nice cough probably due to post-nasal drip, and really hasn't been eating much but drinking like a fish.  I hope she is on the upswing of this sickness, it's really the sickest she has ever been.

our tree is up, and has been since thanksgiving weekend.  this picture here depicts the aftermath of a leaking tree base.  we checked and watered for a whole week before discovering the leak, which lead to the unwrapping of several presents including one for Mike that he didn't know about and a playdoh set for Keira.  We subsequently let her play with it, since she does so at school, but have now decided we are going to hide until she is older.  Playdoh + carpet + toddler not understanding that she needs to keep it IN the tray = not a good thing.

our December family photo. I can't believe I managed to do this for a whole 12 months.

We were lucky enough to get a visit from our friends Fiona and Eric.  Little N has grown so much and come so far since we last saw her in July.  and big E is such a ham herself.

Oli and Keira.  Up to no good.

30% off holiday ornaments at the Disney Store + a mama shopping kid-free = 3 princess ornaments for the princess lover at home.  Belle and Snow White currently grace the tree, and I'm waiting for another "special occasion" to give her Rapunzel.  Or Tangled as she calls her.

Holiday gift exchange between Oli and Keira. oh, can you FEEL the excitement?  Linda and I have both learned a lesson: if we want the kids to behave and eat their lunch, do the exchange AFTER lunch, not before.  This is also the day the vomiting started (sorry LB).

an hour or so worth of manual labor by the homeowners (yes, I helped too!) led to....

this!!

Mike is beyond himself when it came to holiday decor.  This is our first house that we could actually do something to, so we went out with a bang.  I just hope our neighbors don't think it's tacky.  Either they really do like what we've done or they are just being nice.

pancakes for breakfast on Sunday.

holiday card making by the family.  Mike cut and I sewed.  And we let Keira "help" too.

so that's that from our neck of the woods.  Christmas sort of snuck up pretty quick.  It seems that once Halloween comes to town, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's are right behind.