Tag Archives: maiki

post freak out

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emma and mamaHi there! I am on my second week of being a stay-at-home mom. Yup, plans changed and as maiki always says, “you may reserve the right to freak out at any time” and I did. So, here I am post freak-out. I decided that being away from Emma Clover was really not a good idea for me anymore and we are following through with that. Luckily I just completed my tax return and maiki has lots of work so that helps. As for me and Clover being together all the time it is positively wonderful and the result of spending so much time apart means that we appreciate our days together very much.

What I have learned so far:

I have found that buying coffee beans rather than one cup at a time saves me lots of money. I know this may seem obvious but I have treated myself for working by going and getting coffee and now I don’t need to do that.

Emma is still messy even when I am here to pick up after her all day and night. She is only sixteen months so she cleans as well as a sixteen month old can. And I have to let my space be a mess.

I like to shop. Its a dumb habit but I am trying to quit the urge to buy things every time I leave the house and not going to get a coffee means that I want to get something else. I am really trying hard not to do that. Instead I spend $15 dollars a time at the grocery store since I can literally go every day. It is nice to have the freedom but like I said its addictive.

I had a routine and now its quite loose. Emma and I wake up, eat, go out, eat, she naps, eat, play, eat and it continues until bedtime. However I need to prioritize showering or I can go for three days and realize that I feel yucky and miss bathing on a regular basis. This is important stuff!

Emma likes to be with me but also do her own thing. We read, color, play with blocks, explore outside, the park and the library. As a preschool teacher I look for teachable moments all the time and being with Emma means that I have this opportunity always with my own child. Its so exciting and I look forward to the person that she is becoming.

I am also looking forward to free museum days coming up and although she may be young its an outing that we will all go to as a family. Also maiki and I are planning a date to Samovar in Yerba Buena gardens on that day so its a date!

thanksgiving post

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Having a nice relaxing holiday with four days off in a row. On Thanksgiving I walked with a sleeping Emma to the Aquatic park where I saw ducks, egrets and a pelican. At home we ate stuffing, cheese and pumpkin soup. Drank wine and ate chocolate covered pretzles. Watched Kung Fu Panda (one of my favorite movies!) and Objectified. It was our kind of holiday celebrating.

The next few days have been spent playing at the park, doing laundry, adding to my Pinterest boards, watching Kung Fu Panda 2 , getting a much needed haircut, road tripping to the Mitsuwa Marketplace and eating sweets with lots of tea. Emma Clover is practicing standing, drinking from a cup, feeding herself and playing with her new red matryoshka dolls. Being a mom to a one-year-old doesn’t leave a lot of down time but when I get the chance I like gazing at amazing places like this one and searching for cute shoes I cannot afford the internets. Its a good life.

a lovely time

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our family photo taken by Diana Cossio

It has been a long time since I have sat down to write something here, I miss it but I have a ten month old baby so I have learned to relax a little. This experience of being a mother is even more beautiful every day. Lately my mornings begin with seeing her grin at me through the slats of her crib, so proud that she rolled over and happy she has found the tag on her mattress. The little things really add up. We may not have a lot of money but our cottage is comfortable. I cannot afford all the cute shoes and clothes I look at but I make the most with what I have. I am fortunate to live near the very best markets and the quality of produce we have is enviable I am sure. I am doing my best to live in the moment with Emma Clover and she is growing really fast (like wearing 18 mo. clothes)!

In the past couple months I have really enjoyed these things:

Birthday shoes from my sister Barbara. A pair of red Superga sneakers. Red shoes really make my whole day better!

Watching good shows with maiki. We like Alphas, Newsroom and Perception. And of course Naruto! Naruto is truly amazing.

Eating avocado, bananas, oatmeal (and all kinds of food really) with Clovey. I love sharing food with her and introducing my favorite things. Recently maiki shared his sushi roll with her. ^_^

Walking around Berkeley with my family. I sometimes complain that its boring but I am beginning to change my mind. We still love to go San Francisco and Clovey is a trooper when we do but Berkeley is satisfying me lately. Park outings and the newly opened Cafe Clem and the Sightglass coffee cart may be the reasons why!

Brunch at the Samovar tea lounge with maiki. They have this amazing russian black tea that is smokey. Also enjoying really good tea at home. My favorites are paris tea, cinnamon black vanilla, Kusmi earl gray, and mango iced tea.

Family from L.A. visiting us here so we don’t have to travel. I am glad that we have a photo gallery they can keep up with but its so much more fun for them to see Clovey in person. She really has the best temperament.

Routines with Clovey at the beginning and end of my days. Her and maiki walk me to the street every morning and kiss me good bye before I ride away. And every night I feed her a bottle before she goes to bed. I hold her close and sometimes walk around with her til she falls asleep.