Sigh. They grow up fast, don't they?

Tags: M, me

This post is a little different from usual, but I wanted to at least share some thoughts about the recent news from Burma/Myanmar. Part of the reason I started this site was so that I could have some sort of record for Matthew and Andy to look back on and read about when they are older. I think it'll be interesting to read about what their parents were up to, what their mom was thinking about as they were growing up, all the different schools they attended, the places we visited, and so forth. It'll also serve to show them how the world and their lives have changed over time.

My family immigrated from Burma in 1975, for reasons that are now again becoming clear to the rest of the world. Jason and I visited my grandmother there several years ago (she has since passed on), and I was taken by what a peaceful society it was (with the exception of the military, of course). Strangers everywhere would approach us and invite us into their homes, chat with us at the marketplace, and welcome us to their community. It is a tragedy that despite fair elections favoring a democratic government, the military regime has refused to cooperate. Schools close without any notice, currency is deemed useless on any given day, and the military pretty much bullies its way through the country. Raw sewage runs alongside many of the town sidewalks, and many people are poor, hungry, and helpless. And I feel helpless. I've got lots of relatives there, specifically in the small towns where the military has now settled. I'm not sure what I can do, but I feel like I have to do something. I'll be looking into ways I can get involved once our living situation is more stable (I hate living among unpacked boxes - I can't find anything), but if anyone has ideas, I'd appreciate any suggestions.

I don't know much about politics, but I do feel that if there was ever an appropriate time for our government to invade another country, this might be one of them. I guess teak and jade don't compare to oil.

Tags: travel, safety, J, me

Every once in a while, there is a "Pajama Day" at daycare. When the boys were babies, that didn't require any additional work on our part, since we didn't really have specific sleepwear (everything qualified). It's not like we had special onesies for sleeping. So, whenever it was Pajama Day, I'd immediately think to myself Hmm. So I'll just bring them in their usual clothes then.

In general, I like putting the boys in comfy playwear that would also be appropriate for sleep. They nap during the day, and I would hate for them to be uncomfortable sleeping in blue jeans and collared shirts. I often see other kids in daycare in really adorable outfits that would make a picture-perfect portrait, but just don't seem quite practical for playwear.

With the cooler season rolling in, we've started putting them in footed pajama sleepers (the local Carter's store has excellent deals on these), and more traditional pajamas. So when the most recent Pajama Day came around for A's classroom, we actually dressed him in designated sleepwear. A added a coordinating hat on his own once we got to school. The rocket ship actually glows in the dark, which is kind of neat (I didn't know it when I bought it). It's a hand-me-down from M, but still has quite a bit of mileage left in it. I think the boys look especially cute in stripes, and that goes double for pajamas.

Why can't we have Pajama Day at the hospital? Scrubs are a poor substitute. Better yet, why can't we have naptime too? Sleep is so underrated.

Tags: A

We recently visited another aquarium, and had a pretty good time there. It was much less crowded than the last one we went to, so it was really easy for the boys to get up close to see the fish. In this photo, I like how everyone is pointing at (or reaching for) a fish:



At the end of the trip, I told M he could pick out a toy for himself, and asked if he would help choose one for A too, since his birthday was coming up. He happily obliged, and chose a small stuffed turtle for himself. When it came time to pick something out for A, he picked out a huge stuffed shark. I told him it might be a little bit too big for A and so we decided on a medium-sized one instead. I had to fork over a small fortune, but I think the profits went to a good cause. And besides, it was the going to be M's first "present" for A.

They looked very cute while we strolled around afterwards. Strangers who walked by them couldn't help but smile at the sight of two little boys with their plush aquarium animals in tow. A seemed to enjoy his gift from M as well.



His stuffed shark came in handy on our drive back home, during which it served to support his head while he napped. And boy, did it do a good job. A didn't move all the way home.

Tags: M, A, travel

It's fun to watch M take interest in all the little things that most people don't usually think about. Like escalators, for example. He just loves them. And we don't really get to ride them on a regular basis around here, so whenever we go anywhere that has one, he gets really excited. And then we have to ride them once or twice. I can't believe he is turning 3 years old in a few weeks. The last few years have just been so crazy, fun, and chaotic, and most of it has to do with the fact that M and A have added so much to our already hectic lives.

We're moving this week (what a pain), and I am trying to get things settled as much as I can before starting my neurology rotation, so it's kind of busy (even more than usual) around here. It's been difficult staying on top of the millions of things I need to do, so I may not be posting as much for the next week or two. If I do, it'll probably only be a new photo or two (those are always a bit easier). I've also got some clerkship rotation reviews in the works (Family Medicine and Pediatrics), so look for those in the near future.

Tags: M

A turned one several days ago, and we celebrated with some homemade blueberry muffins. M (and Jason) helped to blow out his candle, and we opened all his presents together. I can't believe it's already been a whole year.



Ride-on toys are always a winner for first birthday gifts, and this adorable Wheely Bug was no exception (thank you Uncle Larry). Of course, M enjoyed the festivities as well, and they had a blast playing together with various new toys all afternoon. M's birthday is only a few weeks away, so we'll be having another fun birthday to celebrate in the very near future.

We've got plans to visit Disneyland, and we're also moving during the next few weeks (long story, I'll have to post about it after it's all done). In addition, I start my neurology rotation next week as well, so it's about time for chaos again! Now if I could only finish and submit that ERAS application, my research projects, and study for Step 2...

Tags: A, M, J, me

A has started babbling more and has some consistent syllables. Like M did, he started saying "da-da" first. He says "da-da" for almost everything (except he doesn't yet address J or myself). When we wave "bye-bye," he says "da-da." When he wants milk, he says "da-da." He's also started saying "uh oh" when he drops his toys or food off the highchair. But it sounds more like "ah-ahhh." Very cute.

You know what else is cute? Sleeping babies. This shot was taken while he was napping at the daycare. Something about this photo makes me feel all relaxed and peaceful inside. Ahhh (or rather, ah-ahhh).

Tags: A

I'm not quite sure I got enough details to decide if I agree, but this was an interesting article nonetheless. A medical student is taking the National Board of Medical Examiners to court in order to get extra time to pump during the Step 2 CK exam. I think it's reasonable to ask for some extra time, even though I think that many students would probably just try to deal with it as best they could (pump before starting, take half the test, pump during a 45 minute break, then take the other half, and pump immediately afterwards). Maybe I'm just a pushover when it comes to these things. In any case, I think a reasonable request should be considered.

There is also the added complication that she is already taking the test over 2 days to accommodate her dyslexia and ADHD. Perhaps that is part of the reason why the NBME is reluctant. I'm not sure if I have this straight, but it sounds like she is taking half the test each day (so 4.5 hours per day). I can't tell if she is requesting an additional 60 minutes on top of a 45 minute break, but I'm not sure why this all matters (105 break minutes strikes me as somewhat excessive though). On one hand, what is the harm in giving her the extra time to pump, but on the other hand, based on my own experiences, 45 minutes could be sufficient to pump once during the half-day session (but then again, every woman is different). I can totally see both sides - breastfeeding advocates might cry foul, but medical students might fret, since the test is given under stressful circumstances as it is, and other than the minimum time needed to pump, any extra time would be unfair. So I guess the tough part is trying to determine what a reasonable time period is.

She has a supportive physician stating it is insufficient time (though it is a rather generalized statement), so she's got good backup. However, when I read the statements, I felt it was a bit over-dramatized. I guess it's possible that she expresses milk very slowly and needs a lot of time. I'm not sure how I feel, but I just don't see what the harm would be to just give her the extra time (even if I don't think you really need all that time). It's so bizarre that this can be such a big deal.

Breastfeeding certainly has been in the limelight - I don't see why people get so bent out of shape about it (from both sides). I do think moms should be discreet, and I get frustrated when it's clear that some moms are trying to make a statement when they feed their baby, because I don't really think it helps the cause. In any case, I'm not going to get into it, since I don't think it's easy to convey one's opinions on a written platform like this without your words being totally misconstrued. I'm all for breastfeeding, but I totally respect a woman's ability to choose what she wants to do (including formula - gasp!). And even though it is a mother's right to be able to feed her child the way she wants to, how one goes about requesting it will certainly affect the response. And demanding something vs. being amenable to reasonable compromise might not always get what you want. Baby steps, right?

Tags: breastfeeding

It's always fun to pick up the boys at the end of the day. I like to peek in before they have a chance to see me, so I can catch a glimpse of what they like to do at "school." M can often be found pushing dump trucks in the sand, or riding a tricycle. A is usually crawling around or interacting with the teachers while they're singing songs. If A sees me, he'll immediately let out a cute little squawk and then come crab-walking to me as fast as he can. The other day, J and I went to pick up the boys together, and this is what we were met with:



He apparently loves to paint (although he obviously got some help here). The teachers noticed that he has very expressive eyebrows (I think they're quite curvy - see this bath photo for example) so they highlighted that feature. Cute huh?

Tags: A

Something annoying happened recently, which ultimately led to something good. Funny how that happens sometimes.

We've used Pampers Cruisers for a long time, and I have been buying them from Amazon.com because of their competitive pricing and free shipping. We were even early adopters of the Subscribe & Save program, which saved me even more money, especially once their prices starting creeping up. However, one problem with their subscription service was that you could skip shipments with the click of a button, but in order to order an extra shipment, you'd have to cancel your subscription and restart it (no fees or anything, but kind of a pain). Being a conservative shopper, I'd often end up underestimating how soon we'd need to reorder new diapers, and I'd have to cancel the subscription and restart another to get a new shipment. The last time I did that, I noticed that the Subscribe & Save program was no longer available for that particular product. And the regular price really wasn't such a great deal. And I had just canceled our subscription, thinking I'd immediately resubscribe to re-set our shipment date. Now what?

I had heard about another diaper delivery service - Diapers.com - which many people really liked. So I did a little bit of research and found out that they have better prices than Amazon currently offers. Not only that, but they offer an extra large case with bonus wipes (two packs per case) for less than the price of the smaller box I used to buy. How could I pass that up? And they offered a 5% credit back bonus on orders over $75, to be used on future purchases. It sounded better and better, so I decided to give it a try. They offer free shipping for orders over $50 (I order two cases at a time). The diapers arrived pretty quickly (four days), a bit longer than Amazon (2 days), but I was very pleased overall.

The bonus wipes are all-purpose, so we keep them in the car for sticky hands ands such. Another perk is that they also carry other stuff, and I ended up buying two sippy cups for Andy as well (that I couldn't find on Amazon), which made life even more convenient. Needless to say, I'm a new convert (at least when it comes to diapers and sippy cups).

Amazon has now added the feature where you can order an extra shipment and have your delivery date reset, but it's too late now, since Pampers are not eligible (plus, this deal is even better). I would never have found Diapers.com if it weren't for Amazon. Ironic huh? I still love Amazon for many things, but they just don't adequately cover my diaper-buying needs.

Enter referral code "lucy" for $5 off your first order (I'll get $1 credit as well). Thanks in advance.

Tags: diapers, Amazon

I've noticed that costumes have been popping up in stores recently - isn't it too early to be thinking about Halloween? With the exception of M's first Halloween (he was only a few weeks old), we've dressed up the boys and walked around the neighborhood or the local mall, depending on where we were living at the time.

When M was one, we dressed him up as a shark. I bought the costume at Babystyle, and boy, was it a hit. We pretty much got stopped everywhere we went, with people wondering where we got it. It's still available now, along with lots of other very cute costumes (I also like the octopus). To get some mileage out of the costume, A can be a shark this year (I hope he doesn't mind).

Old Navy has started selling really cute costumes in recent years, and we went with one from there last year. M wore the monkey costume, which I thought was pretty cute. It was a very popular item last year, and sold out quickly. This year, it's being offered again - the retail price is $22.50, which in my opinion is a bit pricey for a Halloween costume, but not so much for what you are actually buying. It's very well thought out and complete, as costumes go, and is pretty warm, which is nice if you live in a colder climate. I like the details of the removable mittens and "feet" that cover regular shoes.



Right now, all the Old Navy costumes are on sale (25% off), which makes them pretty reasonable. This year, M wants to be a fireman (big surprise), so I am thinking about getting the one from Old Navy, since it's made of fleece and is only about $17. I think the chicken and penguin costumes are cute too. There is an additional promotion on all Baby, Kids, and Maternity wear (save up to 25% extra) with free shipping over $50 with the coupon KIDBABYMAT. I've ordered several things in several sizes (for all members of the family) from them (there are many things that are only found in their online store), with plans to return ill-fitting items back to the store. They have great children's stuff too, although I think the sizes run large. Right now, I have 9 separates (tops or bottoms), 16 pairs of socks, and the fireman costume in my shopping cart, and the total is only $80, before coupons.

A was a cow last year (he still has that newborn look to him, doesn't he?), courtesy of a bargain costume ($4) I found at The Children's Place. They are also currently having a Fall sale until September 19, with new fall clothes up to 40% off.



Okay, I hope that wasn't too much shopping talk, but it's a good time to think about costumes if you need to get them. Closer to Halloween, the prices go up (until the day or two before, but then it may be too late). Don't forget to check the day after Halloween - you can get a great deal for next year.

Tags: holiday, clothing, M, A

Oh, how I love Dr. Seuss.

Over the holiday weekend, we took a few road trips and visited a zoo and an aquarium. The boys seemed to really enjoy looking at the animals (although M was often more interested in pushing elevator buttons and holding stair handrails). But look at this shot of A and me, as we're looking into the giant tank:



A is really craning his neck to get a good view of what is going on. Pretty neat huh? Now look at this:


Whoa! That is one BIG sunfish. I love how A's is gawking at it too. He looks so funny there, doesn't he? It's like he realizes just how massive this thing is and is trying to absorb the moment as much as he can. It cracks me up. He was pretty mesmerized by all the tanks and colors and seemed soothed by the water. He kept reaching out to try and touch everything too.

I've been thinking about starting a small fish tank for the boys. J actually used to have these huge, beautifully-maintained tanks, but they got really labor-intensive, and we just haven't had time to think about starting one up again. I'm thinking we should start small (goldfish?) and see what happens.

Tags: travel, A

I was just an innocent bystander, trying to high-five A, and I got a huge sneeze in return.



He forgot about the high-five (though I guess he sort of inadvertently did so during the sneeze) and left me hanging afterwards - too cool for mom already!



Happy Labor Day!

Tags: me, A, holiday

Do you guys remember that song?

I got a pop-up swimming pool online at Linens N Things a while ago, during the off season. It ended up costing $12, which included shipping. Unfortunately, it is no longer offered, or else I'd post it here (I don't like to post about things until after I've used them so that I don't accidentally recommend purchasing stuff that turns out to be crappy for whatever reason). In any case, I was planning to use it on one of the hotter California summer days, and for a while, I thought we weren't going to have one anytime soon. But this past week was scorching hot, and we're on a very long weekend (with both Labor Day and two daycare inservice days), so it was definitely the right time to fill it up. The boys had a great time, and I think we'll probably use it again tomorrow, if it continues to be this warm.



The pool is offered at Amazon, though for just over $20. It's totally worth it if you are looking for a larger kiddie pool. Last summer, we had a tiny inflatable one, which took forever to inflate, not to mention it was pretty wimpy and barely held any water. You do still need to inflate the ring around this one, but it felt like a real wading pool for the boys.



Happy September! Don't forget to submit your ERAS applications, for those of you who are applying for the match this spring. I haven't yet, but am planning to in the next week or so.

Tags: M, A, J, toys, gear