Pre-Halloween Excitement

Found orange lilies at the store and thought they were perfect for the month of October, and tried to deck the entrance with Halloween spirit.

The orange paper bag that my mom-in-law's last year Christmas gift came in added a very nice trick-or-treat-bag effect, don't you think?

The problem is, the flowers won't last till Halloween. And neither will the candies.

Until next time,

Sak

Baby and the TV

Living with a father that virtually grew up in front of a TV, it's a matter of time A will encounter the offspring of a devil as I call it that resides in our living room like it owns the space, named Aquos. So I figured if she sees the screen for the first time, it might as well be showing something that is pure and adorable and, most importantbly, baby-appropriate, not some Japanese comedian duo blubbering in their western accent to confuse the hell out of my sweet baby.

So, here's the baby's first encounter with Curious George.

All I can say about her reaction to that is, I don't think she blinked once looking at the screen. Talk about curiousity!

Until next time,

Sak

An Evening Stroll

While it's still warm enough to call it summer for my taste, the sun is setting earlier and earlier to feel the sense of autumn. Which suits me fine,  as I am a big fan of the melancholy season that brings me back memories of my solo trip to NY back in 2005.

My usual evening stroll with A has come to be my favorite time of the day. And she seems to be quite fond of being out, too, to feel the air on her fat cheeks. Stepping out of the apartment always puts her in a good mood.

As I am much in need of more exercises to lose the love handle, I've started walking for about 90 minutes, topping that with a half-hour grocery shopping before coming back home.

Here is the cherry tree path that goes right into...

...our future hangout, Akashi Park.

The leaves on these tress will turn bright and pretty soon. Can't wait.

Until next time,

Sak

Bread Report

After what seems like 20 loaves, I think today's bread made the top. (-->see bread, breakfast and baby) Too bad I can't post the taste and the smell, but here's the face of the champion.

It was divine, soft, fluffy and moist the right way.
Until next time,

Sak

Feelin' Colorful

Here is the latest addition to our entrance.

Felt like going for the pop colors.

There was an inquiry from one of you kind readers the other day about how much I usually spend on the flowers, and here's the answer: not much. What you see in my vase as a whole is probably costing less than your sandwich-and-salad lunch.

There was another inquiry about the photo of T and myself on the entrance shelf that usually shows up in my flower photos. I'm being protective T's privacy so this is the closest shot of that photo I will ever post on my blog. But since our first wedding anniversary has passed, I am thinking of replacing the photo with something else now anyway. We are now officially non newly-weds. But thank you, for those of you who were curious, for your interest in taking a better look at my husband and myself on our wedding day.

Until next time,

Sak

Thoughts On Our First Anniversary

A year just flew by. It friggin' flew!! I mean, I can't believe just how so much can happen within that short-seeming period of time.

On September 23rd last year, T and I got married. And boom! 10 months later, we became a couple of parents. We still can't quite conceive of the fact that we are now such responsible people. I mean, often times I look at A, sleeping so peacefully with that cutest possible face imaginable, and I feel like I want to apologize and beg her at the same time. My apology? "Sorry, sweetheart, I am what you got." What I beg? "Please don't hate me if I screw this up!"

Babies don't come with a guide. I don't know what the hell I'm doing most of the time, really. I just go with my instinct, hoping and praying that I do have the right kind of instinct and what I do try isn't half bad.

Parenthood. It's horrifying. You know, the more I think about it, the more mixed I feel. A will grow thinking that T and I are the two most absolute figures for her for most of her early childhood, and our perceptions and likes and dislikes and choices and decisions and screwups and everything that we do and don't do will affect her for the rest of her life. How could such a huge responsibility be put upon a person who is barely sure of what to do with dinner tonight!? Exactly a year ago, my prominent worries were what tomorrow's weather was going to be, or, if my favorite spot in the public parking lot had been taken by another car. Where did those small, insignificant, self-centered worries go? Now I am worried, terrified actually, about growing a human being right.

Well, anyway.

With love that grows everyday, happy anniversary, T!

Until next time,

Sak

Lillies For Entrance

Lilies are one of the most sweet-scented kind of flowers that I know of. Put just one stalk (with four in full bloom and three buds) and the entrance will fume with the smell so strongly that you can almost see the aroma in the air.

On a personal note, lilies remind me of my good friend K and how beautifle she looked in her wedding dress and a huge lily in her hair two years ago. They always will.

Until next time,

Sak

Baby Fat

A shot taken while taking a rest on the stairs during our early evening walk.

I often forget how small A is. At 10 pounds and 22 inches (shy of 2 feet), she is probably the size of my nursing boobs put together. I see her up close all day long, either talking to her or holding her, instead of right next to a grown human being in comparison. Looking at her in my arms like this, I am amazed at her littleness.

Speaking of sizes, I can't seem to lose that last 7 pounds of my pregnancy fat for the life of me. It's all in the belly and the thighs, I swallowed my tears as all my summer pants and shorts have missed their prime season without ever being clad this year. Boo hoo.

Until next time,

Sak

Purrrr for Purple

Do freshly-cut flowers usually die before they see the 5th day light? It's either I'm horrible at keeping the flowers alive, or our entrance is not the perfect candidate location in the house to have them displayed, 'cause it seems whatever goes into the vase comes out dead third or fourth day in.

Maybe I should get one of those vegetation vitalizer liquid thing-y at the florist the next time. Perhaps they are sold right by the flowers for a good reason after all.

The lovely orchid looked better in my bright yellow Pottle than my usual white and simple vase.

The entrance is pretty but the kitchen is short of a kettle. T had to boil water for his cup noodles in a regular pot, and didn't like it.

Until next time,

Sak

Autumn Is Near

The summer heat subsided a little bit the other day when it rained. And for the first time in a long time, a warm cup of coffee seemed in order.
My also-nursing sister in law, who loves coffee, had given me a present of her favorite tested-and-approved decaf coffee beans.

Hmm. I sense a hint of autumn. Love it.

Until next time,

Sak