I haven’t done this in a while. There are much to be grateful for. In the best of times, we often find ourselves still complaining about little things that “could be better” or “should be better.” This is my effort to remember that everyday is a good day, and even if there could be room for improvement, I won’t forget that there the good always outweighs the bad. Today, especially, is a very good day. Not a lot to improve on.

- my feet de-swelling!
- movements from Baby Bean
- finding out Baby Bean is getting a girl cousin in Baby Peanut!!
- seeing Peanut’s 3D ultrasound live
- family
- my loving husband going out FOUR TIMES for pregnancy cravings
- cutie pie Tink and her cute cuddles
- being woken up by a quick swift of Bean’s kick to the ribs.. heh
- finishing reports on another case at work - two more to go!
- “So You Think You Can Dance” on tonight!
- a healthy bladder.. hehe
- my big healthy toes
- awesome appetite
- good, good, goooood food
- a clean house
- more toilet paper
- clean bill of health
- not having to worry about digital signage

When I was younger, there was a period that I remember when all of my aunts and my mother were really into plastic surgery. They were fixing up their noses, their lips, their eyelids, their cheekbones, etc. It was almost like a competition — who could get the tallest nose, who could have more eyelids. I suppose for a good portion of the Asian culture, many of us want to resemble the Western look — high cheekbones, lighter skin, taller nose, more eyelids, bigger lips. I definitely remember my mother going through that phase. I must have been about 10 years old or something. I remember her researching local and even national plastic surgeons, to see which ones were the most reasonable as well as the best out there. These days, it would be a lot more feasible for her to fly to see a Boston plastic surgeon than it was for her back then, when her choices were more limited to the direct proximity of where we lived. While I don’t think I would ever be someone to get plastic surgery, I know many people who even live off of it. Whatever you can do these days to make yourself look and feel better, it’s totally up to you, right? My mother definitely felt better about herself after she went through all that. She would’ve liked the Aesthetic Wellness Center. They not only make you look better, but they claim to also make you feel better. Can’t beat advertisement like that!

Okay, this is an important visualization I’m going to be putting out there in the universe, so that it can make room for growth and materialization. Are you ready? Okay, I visualize having clear, clean skin again. Yeah, that’s right. It’s a vain visualization, but I am so annoyed at my acne’fied face right now. It’s not so much about how it looks, it’s more that it’s so high maintenanced. With acne, my face itches, it’s a little achy when I can feel the pimples coming. It’s blotchy and bumpy and I can’t stand touching my face and feeling that. It’s just gross. It’s definitely the pregnancy, as I’ve never really broken out this badly before — at least not since my late teens. Water has always been really good to me, and right now I am drinking about 2 gallons of water a day and still nothing!

I am visualizing a time again when the best acne treatment is water and fruits. I am visualizing a time again after the pregnancy when I can touch my face and it doesn’t hurt. These are good visualizations, yo.

Being a slob at home and not having appointments for work has really done me well these past couple of weeks. I get to wear what I want, I get to eat what I want (instead of going out for lunch everyday, I save lots of money), I get to wake up WHEN I want (which is very, very important, mind you), and best of all, I get to sleep when I want instead of having to be in bed by 10pm. I’m such a night owl, I like my options to stay up as late as I can (which right now, isn’t very late, since I start drifting off by midnight or so :P). One of my favorite things to wear right now, which isn’t very professional for work, is one of my favorite funny t shirts, a maternity tshirt with the words, “I grow humans. What’s YOUR superpower?” I can wear this tshirt everyday, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If it didn’t need to be washed over and over again, I probably would. It’s so comfy and it matches my sense of humor so well. Heh. What’s your favorite tshirt?

I have so many different projects coming up, when I have time. I don’t think I’ll have a lot of time after Bean is born, so I’m going to try to do a lot of ‘em now before she’s born. Of course, that means having to finish my reports and stuff for work first, since I can’t relax and do anything fun until the “work” is done. It’s just the way I function, I suppose.

One of my projects I want to do is making personalized gifts for Christmas. I’ve done well in the previous couple of years, but I’m not sure how well I’ll do this year, what with a newborn baby and all. In past years, I’ve made art stuff for people — vector photographs for the family, drawings for the nieces and nephews, scarves and stuff for other people, etc. Maybe this year I’ll do all of the above and some more. I should really be using a lot of this extra time to do fun stuff that I haven’t had time to do while working 50 hours a week!

Our family is growing so fast — our extended family, that is. July is a good month to celebrate all sorts of personal family holidays — weddings (ours!), birthdays (so many!), and now, even new births (Bean!). I was just talking to my sister-in-law about her toddler’s upcoming 3rd birthday party, in July. Amidst all the bustling back and forth and planning and birthday invitations to send out, the main thing that I look forward to is seeing the little guy again. This year, they’re having two separate parties — one for the little kids, and one for the family, so I’ll be seeing his cute little face at the family event. That kid has stolen my heart since the day he was born. I held him during the first 24 hours of his existence and I knew he was destined for greatness. Auntie Helen can spot one as quick as day, I tell ya. Now, every time I see him, we have such a bond that it just makes my heart melt. He takes my hand and he leads me places, and demands, ever so politely, that I play with him — trains, legos, blocks, whatever it is. He just wants my undivided attention. And he so gets it, every single time. So cute. I lubb him. He’s going to make a great big brother, and a great cousin to our Baby Bean.

While I’m not the queen of fashion or fashion design, I do appreciate those awesome runway shows on TLC from time to time. They show some marvelous clothing types, and some of them are very exotic. I always wondered how on earth I would, if so inclined, buy any of these beautiful French Dresses a specific French Designer seen on these shows. Now, I know. At Shop Goldyn, they have awesome offers where you can buy such detailed, specific clothing from different designers all over the world. Looking for Parisian Clothing? They got it. It’s your not-so-average little black book to getting dressed. It’s pretty darn cool. Some of these designs are so out there and so fancy, while others I can definitely see myself in on a regular basis. I’ll have to peruse more through the site just to see what else is offered. I can definitely see some of my friends getting into this site too, as they’re more fashion junkies than I am. I’ll be sure to pass this along to them. Hehe.