jenandchris2014

[jenandchris2014]

Instead of posting 100s of latergrams, I made a slideshow of the pictures I took during my (46 day) social media hiatus of #ArielleAndAmelieInQuarantine  + to send to my family + to add on this ancient blog that I still sporadically keep up to date to document the BIG memories (serves as kind of a photo diary).  Please forgive the early 2000s tumblr template/look but don’t care enough to modernize it.  

[jenandchris2014]

Christmas in NYC

[jenandchris2014]

We moved into the #kimfixerupper just in time to celebrate Amelie’s dol.  It was a joyous day!

[jenandchris2014]

CDMX for our 5 Year Anniversary

We went on a short getaway to Mexico City to celebrate Chris and my fifth wedding anniversary (& 10 years together).  We couldn’t find childcare for Amelie so had to bring her with us, but it was nice to be able to shower her with our undivided attention for a change!

[jenandchris2014]

Quebec City: Last Getaway as a family of THREE

[jenandchris2014]

DISNEYLAND for Arielle’s 3rd Birthday

[jenandchris2014]

Amelie’s Dol

We celebrated Amelie’s dol with the same outfit, decor (including the balloons), and family as her sister’s.  All that changed was the guest of honor.  

[jenandchris2014]

Amelie Joy Kim has arrived!

Here are a few photos from her newborn shoot at seven day old. 

[jenandchris2014]

Almost Show Time!

Taking a look back at the beginning of chapter 1 before chapter 2 begins any day now! 

We honestly had expected the new baby to be here by now* so when we woke up yesterday with not much on the agenda for the weekend, Chris and I decided to spend one last day treating Arielle as the sole center of the universe.  We went apple picking just an hour outside the city, and are happy we did as Arielle had SO much fun!  

*The Dr had told us at week36 that it was very likely I would give birth that week due to my already dilated soft cervix.  Welp, I’ll be week39 tomorrow.  

[jenandchris2014]

Prenatal Yoga

I got an unlimited 9month #prenatalyoga pass when I began my second trimester with Arielle.  For those 5 months, I struggled to make it to class even once a week, despite generally feeling well and my abundance of freedom.  A few months ago, I was able to resume the remainder of that same membership* and this time around, I have been going on average 3-4 times a week, despite my unceasing nausea/heartburn/fatigue & lack to freedom/time.  

Yes, yoga has provided me some physical activity and pain relief, but the main reason I’d really prioritized it this time around is that it “forced” me to have “ME” time, something that’s really hard for women to schedule out if they’re really busy.  I’ve said this before... spending a little time on your well-being and happiness despite endless responsibilities actually allows you to become a better “whatever else” in life, be it a mother of manager.  I’ve been lucky to have Chris watch Arielle on the weekends for an hour, but I was also really determined to take a class in the morning/evening at least once midweek, which meant waking up early or attending class after a super long day.  I know that circumstances are harder for some than for others but it’s more a frame of mind about a little self-care, whether it’s keeping current on a TV show or buying a lipstick.  Also, even though I’m definitely hanging by a thread on most days, I KNOW that I can also better time manage if I really wanted to create an extra 30 minutes a week for myself (i.e. not mindlessly look at social media every evening).  

Well, I started this yoga pass in December 2015, and today was my final class, at #39weeks of my second pregnancy.  Yoga, thanks for being such a meaningful part of this pregnancy!  

*For this 9 month unlimited pass, you could stop it once the baby came, and resume it once ready for postnatal classes. I never made it to these classes hence I was able to resume it for the second pregnancy.  

[jenandchris2014]

Nesting

This shelf was the extent of my nesting this time around.  A perk of expecting the same sex of a previous kid is that I don’t have to buy anything.  I’ve spent $3 on a pair of sample sale pants this entire pregnancy for baby #2 so felt justified “splurging” on 3 full price books (which still kind of bugs me but I digress).  

While the “nesting” urge and need was less, I still felt up until last week that I had a GAZILLION things I wanted to accomplish before baby’s arrival. However, I’d packed my hospital bag and wrote my love letter to our sweetheart, the only two things that truly mattered to me.

Thankfully, baby decided to stay put longer so I made a lot of progress this week, in classic “ME” style - the 11th hour!

I “Marie Kondo’d” the condo, and chucked things that “didn’t bring me joy”. The only debatable item was this “dolgoim” I spent 3 hours of my life making for Arielle’s dol, and decided that taking a photo of its existence would suffice.

I took things out of storage, such as my old “best friend”, the trusty breast pump.

And I OxiCleaned 3 loads of laundry to get out old milk stains from all of Arielle’s newborn onesies.  

Baby, we’re ready for you!

[jenandchris2014]

We bought a HOUSE!!!

Arielle will be taking over John’s room (far left) and baby #2 will be taking over James’s room (far right).

Chris and I were on our way home from a birthday party a few months ago in Toronto and we saw an open house taking place of a cute little home “just for fun”.  We are expecting our second daughter so knew that in the upcoming years, we would have to figure the “space/school/neighborhood/city” situation out but we were not actively in the market.  We didn’t even have a realtor so used our friend’s contact, who basically made a healthy chunk of change for a day’s work for a house we found him.  Fast forward 48 hours, and we were homeowners (but not official until just hours ago)!

The house was under the estate of a couple who passed away.  Their grown children, who are probably older than our parents, chose us despite meaningfully higher offers when they found out we were a young, growing family (as opposed to developers). The family actually called us directly with the selling agent to deliver us the happy news, and let’s just say there were a few tears shed on both sides.  

Last week, they hosted a bbq at “our-new, theirs-for-one-more-week” house, where we were the guests of honor, having invited everyone who lived on the street.  It was such a huge turnout and everyone we met was just so lovely, most of them also being “multi-decaders” in the hood.  It was so heartwarming to hear the neighbors talk so warmly of the family, especially of the parents who turn out to be some very large philanthropists to the city.  While Chris and I aren’t really superstitious people, it made us feel great to be able to move into a house with such great past “juju”.  We’re certainly up for the challenge to keep the energy up that way!  

ABOUT THE HOUSE

My dream house situation would be to restore a historic house authentically (preferably a Spanish Colonial) but since we’re not in a position to do that any time soon (nor do I think they authentically exist in the east except maybe Miami?), the next best thing is a fixer upper w/great bones.  The house is “well loved”, as it’s 100 years old and we are only the 3rd owners so it’s in need of a little updating.  We won’t be in there for a while.

True city girl here... it currently has 1 bathroom so we will be adding one but even with that “addition”, the house will actually be smaller than the condo we live in now.  Location over size til I die :)

MIXED FEELINGS

I still have VERY mixed feelings about the biggest purchase of our lives to date.  I like the increased flexibility of being able to move when not tied down to a mortgage.   I like being in the heart of downtown, a 10 minute commute to anything relevant.  I like elevators and one floor living.  I like packages signed for.  I like NOT mowing lawns or shovelling snow.  I like calling property management when anything is wrong.  And although I HATE being grouped into the “millennial” generation as I identify myself “Gen Y”, I have generally agreed that w/the exorbitant housing prices in the cities I want to live in but w/limited wealth,  I’d rather live a life  “rich in experiences” rather than be “house rich”.  

That being said, I’m also very excited for the typical things that come w/homeownership.  I like the “idea” of hosting summer BBQs & parties. I like the “idea” of my daughters and dog running around the backyard while I browse food blogs on the deck.  Most appealing though is FINALLY not having to live with the red mahogany floors & popcorn ceilings of our current rental, and designing my “small dream home” (well as dreamy as you can make it on a budget).  Anyone who knows me well knows my TypeA personality when it comes to things I am passionate about, and you best believe I already have floorplans/elevation drawings AtoC for every scenario!   I can’t wait to break ground, literally!    

Arielle making her way to introduce herself to our future neighbor babysitters w/freshly baked cookies.  

[jenandchris2014]

PARIS: Girl’s Trip!

I’ve been fortunate enough to get a few hours here and there away from Arielle throughout the last two years but DAYS?!!  Woohoo!  Mom hasn’t tasted this amount of freedom in 757 days to be exact, but who’s counting?  ;)

[jenandchris2014]

Babymoon in Bali

[jenandchris2014]

Family Photoshoot in Bali

We decided to take advantage of the beautiful scenery all around us in Bali and have a professional photographer capture some family photos, along with some birthday shots of Arielle back at our hotel.   I will cherish these photos forever.  

[jenandchris2014]

Mom said #2 is on its way, whatever that means!?! #bowelmovements #newsibling #oct2018

[jenandchris2014]

MIAMI