I could get used to this.
Today I had a brunch date with Ranee and little Sophie who is now 3 months old. They flew in on Tuesday from NYC and we met up today at Rick and Ann’s Restaurant in Berkeley. It was so nice to catch up with Ranee and we chatted over pancakes and waffles with a side of bacon and this awesome hash made of sweet potato, beets, onions, and bacon topped with creme fraiche. Sounds weird but it was so good!
Sophie napped through our meal and then woke in time for a feeding and change outside. We hung out in the courtyard for another two hours with coffee and Sophie and I got to meet and get to know each other. She’s so sweet and smiles a lot. She’s also recently discovered her hands and it’s so cute how she’s enamored by them.
After a while, I had forgotten that it was the middle of the day on a Friday. I was having brunch and just hanging out without a care in the world…on a Friday! Oh how nice it would be to be one of those “Ladies Who Lunch”. I really could get used to this. Ranee just needs to move back to California (*wink wink*) so Kumquat and Sophie can have playdates every Tuesday morning while their Mommies sip coffee. 🙂 One can only dream…
Here a few more photos.
On Sunday 3/18, we got a new addition to our extended family. My cousin John and his wife Nuch, who live in London, were expecting just weeks before us and little Natsha arrived two weeks early! Apparently it took mom only 30 minutes of pushing and baby weighed in at 3 kg (almost 6 1/2 pounds).
On Saturday, there was a big party for Kumquat.
Marie, Patti, and Patty planned it and it was held at Patty and Johnny’s house in Irvine. The family from both sides attended along with some old friends. All the decorations were so cute and of course Marie designed them all.
They also hired a taco truck that we happened to see on the freeway on the way to the house. What fun! They were called Dos Chinos and I really liked the pork belly taco and the Korean beef taco and their fries were tasty too.
Johnny also played bartender and had a menu and everything. His cocktails must have been good because the non-alcoholic versions were pretty tasty.
There were a few games including one where everyone was asked to kiss a teddy bear earlier in the day and then later had to kiss me on the same place. I got some smooches on the elbow and on the head and even on the tummy. It was a little embarrassing for everyone but definitely memorable.
There was also a game where everyone had to memorize the 28 baby items on a tray and Katie played along too. She managed to remember a lot more than I could have a I loved the way she spelled the word “suction”…it was spelled “sukshen”. Cute.
It was great to have family and friends around to celebrate this occasion. My two roomies from UCLA even came and Sandy and I got to compare baby bumps. We’re due in the same week!
The kids all played together and it’s funny that they’ve all met at least once or twice at the pool. It was like the 4-year-old swimming club.
We also brought Koa and he got to hang out with his brother Mochi. They didn’t exactly play like they used to but they didn’t get into a brawl either.
Over the weekend, Jes went to Vegas to visit Kevin and his girls. The last time I saw them, they had just turned two. Now they’re four and rambunctious as ever. Jesse spent Chinese New Year with them and got to eat some tasty traditional Chinese food that is made every year by Kevin and his family. While he was there, he also had a taste of babysitting twin girls.
At one point, they were at the Venetian where Jes was stuck watching the two girls while Kevin and Karrie took care of some business. Sounded like he had his hands full.
When Jes got back on Tuesday, he handed me a box from the store Janie and Jack. Inside was the cutest little sailor outfit complete with a matching hat. It’s so appropriate for Daddy’s little girl. I’m sure Jes was thinking, “Now if only I had a boat.”
On Wednesday, I came home to find a huge box at my door. It contained the Stokke Xplory stroller that Kevin and Karrie so generously handed down to us. It’s a tank of a stroller that can be changed from back-facing to front-facing. Unfortunately, when we opened it up, it had been damaged during the shipping process. It’s a good thing Jes bought insurance when he took it to UPS. Hopefully, it’ll all get resolved before Kumquat arrives.
Last night we were invited over to Ryan and Michelle’s for dinner. The ribs and sides were tasty and it was nice to catch up. The kids are growing up so quickly. Reese is cruising and likes to wear jewelry.
Jack is crazy as ever and he plays a mean game of Trouble. It’s funny how he cheats in whatever game he’s playing to give himself an advantage. For example, in Trouble, he popped the bubble, got a “1”, and then quickly popped it again so he could get a “6”. Pretty funny.
He also likes to show off his fancy dance moves and toys. He has A LOT of Cars toys and lined them all up on Jes’ belly.
Holly made plans for us to meet up for lunch on Tuesday as a mini baby shower for me. I drove Holly and my mom to Santa Monica for a little shopping at a baby supplies boutique and then we met up with Patty and Patti for lunch at Joe’s on Abbot Kinney in Venice. We were seated at a corner table and had a delicious meal. It was also a really good deal! We all had the prix fixe meal of any appetizer, any entree, and any dessert for $19!
Here’s a photo of my chicken ravioli. It was delicious.
The girls gave me some cute and thoughtful gifts for me and Kumquat and the whole event was really sweet. It was also fun having my mom there too. Thanks for planning such a fun afternoon, Hols!
Afterward, I stopped in to see little Andrew when I dropped Holly off at her house. He’s grown quite a bit since I first met him in September. At about 100 days old, he’s smiley and has filled out nicely.
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