Museum and photoshoot...a fun weekend!

On Thursday I picked up my new glasses from the optometrist. So glad that I'm able to see clearly again and not have to wear the eye patch anymore. The doctor said the eye is healing nicely and just one more appointment next week to check it out then he can prescribe contacts. Chris really likes the new frames, so maybe I will wear glasses more often and avoid another eye infection.



On Saturday, Janurary 19th, Chris and I went to Little Tokyo's Geffen Contemporary museum to check out the Murakami Exhibit.





I have seen his work before in books, but don't know much about hime...and definitely didn't expect the scale of the work we saw. There was more than 90 works in various media—painting, sculpture, installation, and film. He has a few character designs that I really enjoyed, including Inochi, a strange robot shown in a few videos with a funny song that's hard to get out of my head.



There was also the flowers with the big smiley faces that was super cute.



Afterwards we went to a japanese restaurant...it had a C rating...but there were a lot of people in there eating, so we didn't let that stop us. It was a nice meal, much better than a C.

On Sunday, I had to go to a Disney photoshoot for the movie High School Musicals 3. The tv show has gotten so popular, the stars of the show have become big stars in a short amount of time. I couldn't resist and brought along a few RubyLove tees for the talent. I waited until the shoot was over, and it was a very successful shoot, then gave them the tees before they left. Hopefully they'll be photographed wearing them at some point and I can use that to promote RubyLove.

ARRR!!!

So last saturday I had an optometrist appointment because I've been having blurry vision in my right eye. It turns out I have an infection and some irritation and swelling that was causing the vision change. Since it was minor and can heal on its own, the doctor wanted me to stay off my contacts and only wear my glasses. The problem was, my prescription for my glasses actually makes me see worse than the contacts. As the result of that, I was feeling nauseous and getting headaches.

I felt aweful on Sunday while watching tv, but since I had morning sickness before I wasn't sure if it was that or the vision. It wasn't until I got to work on Monday morning, when I realized I wasn't able to work. I couldn't see the monitor clearly or read anything up close. It was very frustrating and I had no choice but to go home.

I left work on a mission to buy an eye patch. You'd think it'd be an easy thing to find...but I went to CVS, Walgreens, and Ralphs, and none of them carry it. Chris went to the Walgreens near him and had no luck either.



Finally I found it at Rite Aid, and tried it out at home with a contact lens in the "good eye". After a few hours of straining the left eye. I just gave up and closed both eyes. I called work to let them know I won't be in for the week so the eye can heal. And I have another optometrist appointment on Saturday that I hope to get a new prescription and permission to wear my contacts again.

So for the last few days I've been resting with my eye patch, cleaning the house, taking walks, and doing yoga. I squeezed in a dentist appointment, a hair cut, and deep conditioned my hair.

I am looking forward to going back to work. My coworker Ann emailed me and told me the pieces I designed for the movie Step Up 2 at the Burbank Airport was a big hit at a meeting with the Chairman of the Walt Disney Studios! Also how much they miss me at work. My friend Steve said they don't know when to take lunch anymore since I was always the one who gathers the group to have lunch at 12:30. That's because I just love to eat and I'm always hungry! : )





As uncomfortable as it was to not be able to do the normal stuff, I was happy to be off the tv and computer for a while. The relaxation was also good for the baby.

11 Weeks and 6 Days

After coming back from San Diego, we had our last doctor visit of the year on December 27th. This appointment was for a test called the Nuchal Fold Scan, which measures the tissue behind the baby's neck that helps to assess the risk of Down syndrome. It's basically an ultrasound, which we enjoy seeing a new image of the baby. And this time, we got to see the baby move...and not just a little bit. The now 5cm long baby has legs that kicks and arms that stretches. It wouldn't stay still for quite a while for the nurse to take the measurement. The heart rate is now 176 beats/minute. We were told the rate peaks at about 9 weeks. So it is normal that it's gone down. We now can see a cute profile with a little nose.

The morning sickness seems to have gotten better, and my energy level is increasing. However my eye sight has started to bother me, which we read can happen during the pregnancy. I've also been more emotional, crying over a touching episode of Oprah where she visited South Africa for the first time and gave tens of thousands of children gifts of school supplies, clothes, shoes, and toys. It was a project called ChristmasKindness. I watched the show thinking that someday I'll be teaching the baby about giving to others.

Our next appointment is in about 4 weeks. We hope to find out the sex of the baby. Little fingers crossed!

Telling Chris's Mom

The train ride to San Diego was very easy. We moved along the ocean and arrived there a little over 2 hours. Chris's mom picked us up from the train station and took us across the bridge to Hotel Del Coronado. We stayed there last year also and really enjoyed our stay. They have decorated the hotel with holiday decorations, trees, and have an outdoor ice skating rink, which helps it to feel more like Christmas in the California 70 degree weather.

After checking and getting to our room, we suggested we give mom her gifts before we go to food. She had just moved into a new apartment and needed some new photos from us. So we framed a picure of Chris with mom's dog Alexa, and one of our wedding photos. Then the moment came to give her the picture with us and the ultrasound. I don't think I was ready for her reaction. Needless to say she was overwhelmed with joy. And that's when we gave her part two of that gift, we had gift wrapped some kleenex tissues knowing she'd need them after she saw the photos.

We had a nice lunch together and Chris and I went back to the room to rest. Since we both stayed up late the night before, we both took a really long nap. I had packed a few snacks for the trip and would wake up every few hours to eat something. Since there was nothing good on tv either, we took advantage of our time away and allowed ourselves to catch up on our sleep.

On Sunday morning we had brunch at the downstairs restaurant. Our only goal for the day was to walk along the beach, read by the pool, and get some ice cream from the Moo Time Creamery. We did well that day.

For dinner, we made reservations at 1500 Ocean, an upscale at the hotel. I think that's what we love about the Hotel Del, you can spend your whole vacation there and never have to get in your car! As soon as our waiter came we realized he also served us last year when we're there. We reminded him that and even gave him the update that we're expecting! later Mark, our waiter referred to himself as a new uncle.

Our meal was great and filling...I did cut up the rest of my steak and packed myself a little snack for later. The rest of the night was watching another showing of the movie "40 Year old virgin" and "Elf" which were playing all day on USA.

The next day Chris's mom picked us up from the hotel. We then checked into a Marriott closer to her apartment for Christmas eve. We spent the afternoon shopping and relaxing. Then we got to see her new apartment for the first time fully furnished. It's a really cute and fun apartment and she really enjoys living there and making friends with her neighbors. Two of them even dropped by to say hi to us.



Chris's mom prepared a nice Christmas dinner, and we spent the rest of the evening getting our Christmas gifts and watching A Christmas Story...which was also doing a marathon. We caught the rest of the movie back at our hotel, and saw more of Elf and 40-Year-Old Virgin. I think we must have watched pieces of those 3 movies 5 or 6 times in those few days.

We had a wonderful time in San Diego, but we were also ready to head back home.

Chris's Holiday Party

This year, Chris's company National Television held their holiday party at the Downtown Edison on December 21. The Edison is Downtown's first private power plant. Now as a night club/lounge, you walk into a space as if you've gone back into the 1920's. Even the bouncers and waitresses are dressed like their from another time.

And since we're going to take the train from the Downtown Union Station the next day to visit Chris's mom in San Diego, we decided to spend the night at the Standard Hotel...not only save us a trip back home, but also if I get tired from the party I can leave early. The plan worked out great! We leisure went over to the Standard in the afternoon and got ready for the party there.



The party was a great turn out, about 50-60 people showed up. Chris's Dad and his wife who have been to the Edison were also there for the festivity. I found myself a corner couch, and ordered a sparkling cranberry juice. I chatted with the wives of Chris's partners and coworkers about how I've been feeling, and occassionally as new people showed up they'd come by and talk to me. I took advantage of them knowing I'm pregnant and want to stay off my feet and stayed on the couch. Then later in the evening Chris showed me around to introduced me to a few new people. It was also a tour of "feel Ann's belly".











I was pretty tired by 12:30 am...way past my bed time. So Chris's dad drove me back to the hotel and I went to bed shortly after. The next morning Chris and I had breakfast downstairs. I was so hungry I ordered steak and eggs and was surprised I ate the whole steak.

We got on the train and chatted about the party along the way. It seemed that we both had a great time and so did everyone else. : ) The funny thing was, this girl at the party who neither one of us knew also said we're having a boy! We hope to find that out in a month or so.

Telling Chris's Dad

On December 19th, Chris and I made plans to have dinner with Chris's Dad and his wife Joan. The excuse was to get together for a pre-Christmas dinner since Chris and I will be out of town...but turns out Dad was already thinking we're there to tell them the good news. As soon as we showed up at their house he was suspicious of me not drinking, then we chatted for a bit and decided to open gifts before we head out to dinner.

As we did with my parents, we handed Grandpa Dooley the picture frame. It was hugs and smiles after that. Then out of the blue, Chris's Dad said "It's a boy"...the funny thing was, my friend Steve did a "ring test" where he dangles his ring over my belly that is supposed to predict the sex of the baby. And he said it's a boy also. We asked Dad why he said that, he just said "Just felt like it's a boy!"

We had a nice dinner at a French restaurant in South Pasadena called Bistro de la Gare (It's right by the train tracks) I had a salad and some pork...but it was too sweet (part of the food aversion maybe) but really liked the bread, so I took some to go.

It was a great evening, we all had fun and enjoyed sharing the good news and experience together.

Two down, one to go.

Telling Ann's Parents

It hasn't been easy keeping this big secret. I usually try to visit my parents on the weekend for a few hours to catch up, but since I haven't had much energy and slowly starting to show...I haven't visited them for about a month.

December 16th was my dad's birthday. I talked to my mom a few days earlier to set up a time to have dinner together in their home. We got our framed photo of baby Dooley along with other gifts and headed over.

Dad had been cooking all day, while mom was working at their shop. Chris and I stopped at the Chinese market to pick up some Tiramisu and fresh veggies before meeting them.

I tried to hide my belly with a scarf and while they were busy getting Chris and I to sit down and start eating, we tried to get them to sit down so we can share the big news.

We told them we wanted to give them the gifts first...so one after another we gave them the other gifts. Finally, I took out the picture frame and told them it was an early Christmas gift for both of them. Dad opened the 2 sided frame, one with a photo of Chris and I from our trip to Napa Valley, the other was the 9.5 week ultrasound. Dad who has never seen an ultrasound photo took a little while to see what it was. Then mom took it and said "oh...is that from last time?"...So imagine how surprised she they were when I said, nope! it's a new one.

Mom screamed and jumped up and started dancing around the dinning room. Dad was laughing and called mom Grandma. We all hugged and Chris and I gave them more details about what's been going on.

Dad pointed out that he normally buys sashimi for dinner but he didn't this time! As if he knew something was up.

We had a wonderful dinner and headed home knowing how happy we've made them.

The next day I got an email from my sister Carol. Mom must have called her right after we left. Carol was also very happy for us. She is looking forward to seeing how our baby will look!

One down, 2 more to go!