Letters to Luc: Minnesota

Dear Luc,

I was one of those women who vowed never to bring an infant on a flight, feeling shy about disturbing others with a child who may never stop wailing in the confines of a stuffy airplane. But your father got sent to a business trip to visit 3 different states in the span of a week, so we brought you along just so that he would not have to work those long hours and miss you so much everyday. We determined to make a mini-vacation out of it, so we packed all your baby gear, from car seat to stroller to milk bottles, extra change of clothing, Mommy's pump, pouches of baby food, and a small pack of diapers, to buy the rest when we landed.

You mainly wanted to nurse on the airplane, and most times you fell asleep. Mommy learned to balance such acrobatics as changing you in the tiny bathroom stall. The flight attendants and your seat neighbors think you did great for your first flight!

We arrived at the JW Marriott that Daddy booked after waiting for close to an hour for our rental SUV, a Toyota Rav4.

You settled in well to the bed and started reading the in-room service menu right away to plot your upcoming meals.

On our first afternoon there, we toured the Mall of America that co-joins with our hotel. We took you to the Crayola Store to see all the pretty colors.

The mall had fun displays, like this layout of NFL football helmets. Here, you donned the Minnesota Vikings helmet to be a good tourist.

There is an amusement park inside the mall on the second floor. You were captivated with all the sights and sounds of moving parts and daring rides.

We took you in the swimming pool for the first time. You seem rather intimidated by the very large (and not so warm) bath.

The Sunday after our arrival, Daddy took us to tour Minehaha Park, where we saw a gushing waterfall.

You loved looking at the water. What an interesting way of life, to be near streams and rivers with banks of rocks and grass instead of overlooking the mighty Pacific Ocean.

We played in the family play area, You liked swinging with Mommy.

We scoped out yummy diners to have breakfast at. Here, you were eyeing Mommy's caramel banana French toast.

We show you the great outdoors by going hiking with you at Hidden Falls Park.

True to its name, the Falls were hidden. Mommy picked what she thought was an unobtrusive enough trail, but it only led us to a riverbank.

So we tried again! Hopefully we would not be psyched out after the first attempt.

But it wasn't a total loss as you loved all the greenery and even got to see a mama doe and her fawn from a distance.

Daddy has better navigation skills and took us on the correct trail.

This stairway looked more promising.

The Falls ran sparsely this time of year, but we found them!

Later, we went to Lake Harriet and enjoyed the cool breezes and a comfortable afternoon stroll.

While Daddy went to work in St. Louis, Missouri and Omaha, Nebraska, Mommy often took you to the Mall.

We even ran into your twin, Ang from Avatar! Notice the resemblance in big, bald heads.

You were captivated by the lady playing a piano on the first floor of the mall. She winked at you and played a special tune for you. Mommy didn't have the money or means for piano lessons when she was growing up, but perhaps you will take to the music, Luc.

We also enjoyed the Sea Life Aquarium in the the Mall.

Your favorite exhibit was the shrimp. You danced a jig with your excited legs when you saw them clean their antennae.

But you were less impressed by the big, bad shark!

Here we were in the viewing tunnel.

Mommy bought you some new clothes and a snazzy new hat from Old Navy.

Every night after flying out for work, Daddy came home to us, and we had dinner together. You were very curious about our Korean dinner.

Daddy goofed off with you every spare chance he got in between work. He loved having you along for company.

When we tired of the mall, Mommy took you to IKEA. We ate at the cafeteria, and you got a new wooden toy car.

You would quickly tire of the stroller, so Mommy ended up having to wear you. We goofed off in front of the mirrors.

Mommy let you ride the merry-go-around for the first time...

...as well as the Ferris wheel.

You were not sure about the Ferris wheel! You shrieked on the ride as if it were a rollercoaster and attracted the attention of the older kids, who looked up to see what all the fuss was about.

On one of our last days in Minnesota, Daddy took us to the zoo.

You saw lots of animals for the first time, including these lemurs.

But sometimes Mommy's face was the most interesting exhibit of all.

This partridge is kinda cool. It's just missing a pear tree.

You even went spelunking with Daddy.

You fell asleep halfway through and missed quite a few of the exhibits, including the chance at a camel ride with Mommy.

You slept through the leopard, too.

After a long week, we flew back home. You did well, my brave little boy! Here's to many more trips in our future.

Letters to Luc: Out and About (Month 5)

Dear Luc,

You are five months old and helped Daddy celebrate his first ever Father's Day at Taurinus Brazillian Steakhouse.

 

You love being out and about, people-watching and taking in all the sights, sounds, and scents. Daddy had a day off and drove you to Mommy's company for lunch one day.

You continue to take an interest in solids and especially make a move on piping-hot dishes like Bun Bo Hue, Daddy's favorite, teeming with the smells and flavors of Vietnamese cooking.

Your grandparents took you to the barber shop to get your head shaved in hopes that your fine, wispy hair will grow back fuller and stronger.

 

You love Tummy Time and are working hard on mastering new skills, even in your sleep. You'd wake yourself up by rolling to your stomach and lifting your head to look around. You can now blow air through your lips and "make rain." You melt Mommy's and Daddy's heart with your pure and joyous laughter. You'd often be engrossed in staring at your hands and moving fingers, and your favorite toy on your bouncer/activity center is the rolling rattle.

It looks like you'll be having a lot of playmates soon! Mommy is busy attending quite a few baby showers, and you also get dressed up for the occasion.

Summer is a great time to get out, and we take you to the Alameda County Fair.

We also had a barbecue and had your grandparents over for the Fourth of July, and you slept through your first night of fireworks.

Earlier this month, Daddy left us for his first business trip away from you. You missed him awfully and would look for him in our bedroom at night, crying for him before you fell asleep in Mommy's arms. Daddy got sent out of state for another business trip, but he didn't want to leave you behind again. So next month, you will take to the sky for the first time on Delta Airlines when we fly to Minnesota together.

Letters to Luc: Divided (Month 4)

Dear Luc,

You are four months old. We took our first overnight trip with you, visiting nearby Santa Rosa, a small introduction to Daddy’s and Mommy’s love for travel. We went to many places around the world before we had you. One day, we’ll explore new places together.

Luc is Ready to Roll

At the Hotel

 

Having Breakfast at Chloe's French Cafe

Walking Around Downtown Windsor

Your brother Odin came along with us for this family trip and spent a day at Incredible Canines, playing with other dogs and running on open acres.

You went wine tasting like a true Californian.

We went on a hike along the scenic Spring Lake Regional Park, and you marveled at all the greenery surrounding you. I think green is your favorite color; you love the sight of leaves dancing in the wind.

At Spring Lake Park

Daddy & Odin

Part of the Circle of Life

We also went to the Charles Schulz Museum, who illustrated the Peanuts comics. We found your American twin, bald and round-headed Charlie Brown.

At the Peanuts Museum

Comic Strip Mural Wall

Mommy also got to visit the Luther Burbank Home & Gardens, creator of the Shasta Daisy.

Mommy Among the Daisies

The Perfect Shasta

On weekends, Daddy would take us on adventures to places like San Jose State University, where Mommy and Daddy met, and to Valley Fair Mall, where you marveled at the children playing on the play area.

At the Lego Store

In the Kiddie Play Area

SJSU's Swenson Gate

Tower Hall

Walking Across Clark Library, Where Mommy & Daddy Used to Study Together

You tried solid food for the first time, starting with rice cereal and then avocados, peas, pears, peaches, sweet potatoes, cauliflower, and mung beans. Mommy would spend her weekends steaming, baking, and pureeing food for you, and you delight in many new flavors you got to taste.

Trying Sweet Potatoes

Baby Food Stash

This month marks a huge transition for us, Luc. Mommy went back to work after being away for five months to bond with you. It’s the first time we’ve been apart for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. As a working mother, I am a woman divided and torn. I could not work the hours I used to work before, my days interrupted by pumping breaks, my evenings spent rushing home through traffic to see you again for the night. I could not be the mother I used to be to you, tending to your every need, being there for you when you open your eyes from naps, being able to hold and kiss you throughout the day when I miss you so. I am missing your milestones as you continue to grow, that it wouldn’t be me who watches you crawl for the first time, take your first steps, utter your first words. I could not be the full person I used to be, the friend responsive to emails and up for an evening outing, the pet mommy who used to walk daily with her fur baby and tend to his hygiene with care, the well-rested woman who gets enough sleep to tackle each day with fresh energy.

Each day gets a little easier with leaving you in the morning and not being so wistful when I see you pushed in your stroller for your morning walk with your grandparents, knowing that I will not see you again until the end of the day, changing clothes for work in a house hollow with a silence I have not known for the last four months. During work breaks, I’d look at your pictures saved on my phone, remembering your shrieking laughter, hearing in my head the snippets of the lullabies that I used to play for you at home. I miss our simple days together, just sitting in the yard so you can watch the leaves sway in the wind, our daily walks around the quiet neighborhood, our snuggles and naps together as spring sunshine streams through our bedroom window.

This is one of the last pictures I took of you before I returned to work.

I love watching you sleep, the way your little fingers curl tight around my shirt, soothed to dreamland by knowing I am close by you. One day, you’ll be too eager to break from my grasp and run on your own. One day, you may impatiently shove me away as I hug you. Parenthood is about letting go, supporting each other’s individual journeys, but being strong without each other, too. We gradually teach each other how to live with this separation. But sometimes, we look back to these simple days when we hung on to each other, the world moving rapidly around us, and we were content in our stillness: skin-to-skin, hand-to-hand.