I was was trying to put our laundry away after I got to sleep in. my husband was watching the kiddos and i heard the kids crying. i just stopped doing the laundry and went downstairs to see if my husband needed help with the kids. they were sitting on the couch and having a random meltdown while I asked my husband what happened.

Random meltdown…the usual. the next day I let him sleep in and I watched the kids. I got out some play dough, put on some Disney music for us to listen to in the background and gave my son toys to keep him occupied in his high chair. They kiddos were quiet and an hour later Jon came downstairs and told me thanks for letting him sleep in. He was surprised to see the kids quiet and happy compared to the day before.

he said, “you win” and I was confused and said, “I win?”

he said, “The kids are happy and you let me sleep in. You win.” When he said that, I was super happy. It’s not the word “win” it’s the YOU part. I did a good job and the kids don’t only have tantrums around me. They do that around him too.

Most often I feel like I have more constant challenges with the kids and I try to find ways to keep them calm so the house can be less “chaotic”. A lot of times, I wonder if I’m doing a good job with the kiddos. It felt gratifying that although getting out the play dough and giving my son some toys to keep him occupied seem so little to me, but I didn’t realize it made a HUGE difference.

Jon wins for letting me know I am a good mom and it’s s hard job. Although he tries to tell me that all the time, that day stood out for me the most.

I remember when I was pregnant with Olivia, I didn’t even know I was pregnant until 3 months into my pregnancy. Yes, that’s right…3 months.

When we thought we were pregnant, it was after we had a bbq. I got sick of the smell of meat and even looking at it in commericals made me so sick. I had a really bad fever and I was so sick, my husband and I thought, maybe I am pregnant.

We took a test at our family doctor which was negative. I just came down with something. We were both a sad that I wasn’t pregnant.

Anyways, as we visited my parents in B.C, I was excited to have my mom’s cooking and eat some good grub at the night market. I ate 11 takoyaki balls (deep fried octopus and vegetables in ball form) and 4 crabs my mom cooked. Yes, 4 crabs! I out did myself there. I could’ test crabs again for a year. I think cause fulfilled my crab craving. My mom told me later she told my dad she thought I was pregnant. She had a good hunch.

I just assumed I was excited to have food I didnt think my appetite was a give away from being pregnant. I usually ate a lot. My stomach didn’t look different to me.

Then when we came back from our visit, I figured I should take a test again. Low and behold, I was pregnant.

Hooray. Welcome to the world of preggo cravings. The thing about preggo cravings is that when it isn’t fulfilled, you continue craving it. My cravings for Olivia were takoyaki, crab, sushi, onion rings, rice, blueberries, bread.

I would laugh and tell Jon, good thing we don’t live in the States cause there would be too many food temptations. hahhah.

When I was pregnant with Carter, we already moved to the states. So much food temptations but I got to say, I did pretty well with my “attempts” to avoid them. The funny thing was I ate more with my first pregnancy.

The cravings I had with Carter were hot and sour soup with hot sauce or any soups with lots of hot sauce, potato chip cookies from this one vlog I saw. Mostly soups and spicy foods. It was rare because I have never NEVER liked spicy foods. My family and even my husband would try to get me to eat some but i would decline every time. It was odd to crave spicy foods while living in a warm place. I would walk back to our apartment, sweating. Not only from the +40 Celsius weather (about 100 degrees Fahrenheit ), add a spicy soup and and extremely warm baby….I was boiling on the 5 minute walk back.

I have to admit, Jon was right about the spicy food thing. Once I started eating spicy foods, I loved it. I’m sure he must had secret conversations with Carter while I was sleeping to get me to crave them while he was in the womb. That is my only explanation, lol.

Ahh it’s valentines’ a day! I was trying to teach Olivia what Valentine’s Day is. Although it is a “commercialized” holiday targeted for couples, the original meaning was letting people know how much you love them and appreciate them. I taught Olivia how to make Valentine’s cards for people we care about to show them we think of them. Also watching the YouTube videos on crafty baked treats didn’t hurt to watch either.

My daughter is in a new random stage of compliments. This is an unexpected phase but she is teaching me a valuable lesson about Valentine’s Day. All in the little things we say that can change a person’s day. A genuine compliment or letting someone know how you feel about them can mean so much more than a fancy present. We should always let our loved ones know how much we care about them no matter what day it is.

Happy Valentine’s Day to all!! Thanks for reading 🙂

Onetime we went to a restaurant while there was a young couple on a date. Occasionally they would glance over to us maybe cause it was a foreshadowing of what could happen years in the future for them or they couldn’t hear each other with the sounds of our kids constantly overpowering their conversation.

On the drive back I told my husband that i felt a little bad cause we might have been too loud.
Then I thought, maybe the thought of having children scared them off prematurely or made them realize…somewhere down the road they want kids but…with each other? Who knows…
Sorry to the couple if we scared you with the thought of having kids. However, if you realize that you are both wanting kids together someday, you’re welcome.