Dear Victoria,
You've been so good to me for several months, and now you're just trying to kill me. Pilates has been such a fantastic way to stay healthy and in good shape, starting long before this pregnancy, and I know the benefits are still paying off and will continue to help me once the baby is born. However, did I mention you're killing me? When my arms are twitching and shaking I cannot possibly be bothered to think about your instructions: "hug your baby in" or "keep inner thighs strong" or "maintain shoulder blades down." All I'm thinking is how incredibly slowly you count backwards, and how I might just collapse before we get to "one."
This doesn't mean I'm not taking any more classes with you, or that I'm going to whine and complain to you. I'm just saying that you know all my weak spots and manage to work them like hell much to my temporary discomfort. The best is that I can never actually get angry at you because you're just so darn sweet all the while that you're torturing me. I admit I was a little worried when you said you like this phase of my pregnancy because you can still make me work hard, and I'll be relieved when we get to the part where you ease up a little bit.
Regardless of my whimpering and complaining I certainly appreciate your knowledge and expertise, and your dedication to keeping my body fit and ready to birth this baby in a few more months. I'm sure I'll be pretty excited to get back into the pilates studio after a few weeks with the newborn!
With inhalations and exhalations,
Allyn
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Monday, October 14, 2013
October 14, 2013
Dear Monkey,
Yes, like it or not, that is the nickname your dad and I are giving you for now, simply because we don't know if you're a boy or a girl. We think monkeys are incredibly cute, and your dad even got you a beautiful collection of eight Curious George stories to start your library. We've already starting reading to you, but I know you'll like the stories even more when you can see the illustrations, and then even more when you can ask us questions or tell us your favorite parts.
Thank you very much for finally moving over a little bit. I'm sure you were perfectly comfy, all snuggled up under my rib, but you were getting to be a real pain in my side! I also don't understand why you've spent all your time over on the right when there's a perfectly good womb spread out across my belly for you. Believe me, you want to use up all the spare space before it's all gone and you have nowhere to go but down and out.
I do like that you seem very active throughout the day, and if you're active at night it's not enough to wake me up. Your dad hasn't been patient enough to feel you, although you do have a sneaky way of quieting down as soon as he puts his hand on my belly. Does his big hand scare you? Or is it more like a big soft blanket that makes you calm right down? Oh well, I know it won't be long before the world can see your movements under my belly, so your dad will have no problem feeling any kicks, bumps, wiggles, or squirms. Keep it up - I like it.
And congratulations on another successful trip, this time to London and Istanbul. Thanks for letting me roam all around London to see Buckingham Palace, the Tate Britain, the V&A Museum, and the Natural History Museum, and to go shopping at Fortnum & Mason, Harrods, and all along Kensington Road. I'm not sure if the music at The Book of Mormon scared you or excited you, but you definitely heard it! I'm glad we convinced the flight attendant that you wouldn't prevent me from performing the required tasks in the event of an emergency so we still got to sit in the exit row and stretch out on the way to Istanbul.
I'm also glad that you enjoyed all the feta cheese, kabob, eggplant, olives, and other amazingly delicious food in Istanbul. I'm really sorry the weather was so yucky that I had to keep you all covered up, but I think you were just fine. It's still warm enough back home in Shanghai that my snug skirts and thin tops show you off well enough.
Your dad is out of town for work this week, so when we talk on the phone I'll be sure to get him on FaceTime or at least turn on the speaker. Luckily he's going to Korea and Japan, so there's a good chance he'll find another adorable book or cute little toy to add to your collection. You are already soooo spoiled; I feel bad for your future little brother or sister. By the time you grow up you probably won't realize how good you had it as the first child. I'll try and remind you when you complain about chores, your ruined toys, or the cry baby you have to put up with.
Lots of love,
Mama
Yes, like it or not, that is the nickname your dad and I are giving you for now, simply because we don't know if you're a boy or a girl. We think monkeys are incredibly cute, and your dad even got you a beautiful collection of eight Curious George stories to start your library. We've already starting reading to you, but I know you'll like the stories even more when you can see the illustrations, and then even more when you can ask us questions or tell us your favorite parts.
Thank you very much for finally moving over a little bit. I'm sure you were perfectly comfy, all snuggled up under my rib, but you were getting to be a real pain in my side! I also don't understand why you've spent all your time over on the right when there's a perfectly good womb spread out across my belly for you. Believe me, you want to use up all the spare space before it's all gone and you have nowhere to go but down and out.
I do like that you seem very active throughout the day, and if you're active at night it's not enough to wake me up. Your dad hasn't been patient enough to feel you, although you do have a sneaky way of quieting down as soon as he puts his hand on my belly. Does his big hand scare you? Or is it more like a big soft blanket that makes you calm right down? Oh well, I know it won't be long before the world can see your movements under my belly, so your dad will have no problem feeling any kicks, bumps, wiggles, or squirms. Keep it up - I like it.
And congratulations on another successful trip, this time to London and Istanbul. Thanks for letting me roam all around London to see Buckingham Palace, the Tate Britain, the V&A Museum, and the Natural History Museum, and to go shopping at Fortnum & Mason, Harrods, and all along Kensington Road. I'm not sure if the music at The Book of Mormon scared you or excited you, but you definitely heard it! I'm glad we convinced the flight attendant that you wouldn't prevent me from performing the required tasks in the event of an emergency so we still got to sit in the exit row and stretch out on the way to Istanbul.
I'm also glad that you enjoyed all the feta cheese, kabob, eggplant, olives, and other amazingly delicious food in Istanbul. I'm really sorry the weather was so yucky that I had to keep you all covered up, but I think you were just fine. It's still warm enough back home in Shanghai that my snug skirts and thin tops show you off well enough.
Your dad is out of town for work this week, so when we talk on the phone I'll be sure to get him on FaceTime or at least turn on the speaker. Luckily he's going to Korea and Japan, so there's a good chance he'll find another adorable book or cute little toy to add to your collection. You are already soooo spoiled; I feel bad for your future little brother or sister. By the time you grow up you probably won't realize how good you had it as the first child. I'll try and remind you when you complain about chores, your ruined toys, or the cry baby you have to put up with.
Lots of love,
Mama
Monday, September 9, 2013
September 9, 2013
Dear Baby,
It's probably still a good thing that to the casual observer you look like just a food belly, if you're even noticed at all. The only reason I say it's a good thing is that in China people are generally extremely protective and over-cautious around pregnant women.
For example, the worst thing any woman can do is tell a Chinese woman that she's pregnant, and then jump up and down to show her excitement. That sort of action will most certainly be met with shock, worry, and eventually scorn for potentially harming the dear baby. I've already experienced this myself on several occasions. I guess it's not helpful that I sometimes literally jump for joy.
I've also been scolded by our school cleaners for scampering too quickly down the stairs, and just today I got completely redirected up the stairs to avoid walking along a just-mopped hallway, which apparently safe enough for my non-pregnant co-workes. Such concern is unheard of in most other places, and the fact that these people don't even speak the same language as me makes it even more touching that they care so much.
So back to my original point. Today I went for a little walk/jog around the neighborhood and I'm glad I didn't have to worry about any stranger wagging their finger at me or giving me sideways glances, thinking I'm a terrible mother for damaging my poor unborn child. Eventually I might have to wear a t-shirt that says "Yes, I'm pregnant, and this won't hurt my baby." Of course that will be written in Chinese.
I found out that this deep-rooted protection of expectant mothers goes back to an ancient legend in Chinese culture. The gist of it was that a village woman who could not get pregnant became insanely jealous of her pregnant neighbor, and as such tried to kill the woman and the baby by pushing her into a well. OK, that's pretty harsh, but nowadays I don't see that as such a common threat; in fact, I think most women are perfectly happy not to be in my position.
So my little baby, I hope you enjoy a bit of bouncing and swaying as I shuffle down the sidewalk because I'm determined to keep jogging as much as I can so it's easier to get back into running after you're born. Get ready because when you're big enough you'll still be tagging along, bundled up in your jogger stroller, soaking up the sights of whatever road I'm on. It's going to be a great ride, just you wait.
Love,
Mama
It's probably still a good thing that to the casual observer you look like just a food belly, if you're even noticed at all. The only reason I say it's a good thing is that in China people are generally extremely protective and over-cautious around pregnant women.
For example, the worst thing any woman can do is tell a Chinese woman that she's pregnant, and then jump up and down to show her excitement. That sort of action will most certainly be met with shock, worry, and eventually scorn for potentially harming the dear baby. I've already experienced this myself on several occasions. I guess it's not helpful that I sometimes literally jump for joy.
I've also been scolded by our school cleaners for scampering too quickly down the stairs, and just today I got completely redirected up the stairs to avoid walking along a just-mopped hallway, which apparently safe enough for my non-pregnant co-workes. Such concern is unheard of in most other places, and the fact that these people don't even speak the same language as me makes it even more touching that they care so much.
So back to my original point. Today I went for a little walk/jog around the neighborhood and I'm glad I didn't have to worry about any stranger wagging their finger at me or giving me sideways glances, thinking I'm a terrible mother for damaging my poor unborn child. Eventually I might have to wear a t-shirt that says "Yes, I'm pregnant, and this won't hurt my baby." Of course that will be written in Chinese.
I found out that this deep-rooted protection of expectant mothers goes back to an ancient legend in Chinese culture. The gist of it was that a village woman who could not get pregnant became insanely jealous of her pregnant neighbor, and as such tried to kill the woman and the baby by pushing her into a well. OK, that's pretty harsh, but nowadays I don't see that as such a common threat; in fact, I think most women are perfectly happy not to be in my position.
So my little baby, I hope you enjoy a bit of bouncing and swaying as I shuffle down the sidewalk because I'm determined to keep jogging as much as I can so it's easier to get back into running after you're born. Get ready because when you're big enough you'll still be tagging along, bundled up in your jogger stroller, soaking up the sights of whatever road I'm on. It's going to be a great ride, just you wait.
Love,
Mama
Saturday, September 7, 2013
September 7, 2013
Dear Stairs,
I never really liked you to begin with, but now I really detest you. How is it that not only do I live in a house where the master bedroom is on the 3rd floor, but now my desk at school is also on the 3rd floor? I suppose I could look at this as a blessing in disguise, this daily exercise that I undertake whether I want to or not. And I suppose these mini-workouts will just get that much more effective as my belly grows and grows. So, as my belly gets bigger, my butt should get firmer? Is that the idea? Hah, we'll see if that's truly the case. No doubt C. will keep me well-informed about the status du jour of my derrière.
Grunting and groaning,
Allyn
I never really liked you to begin with, but now I really detest you. How is it that not only do I live in a house where the master bedroom is on the 3rd floor, but now my desk at school is also on the 3rd floor? I suppose I could look at this as a blessing in disguise, this daily exercise that I undertake whether I want to or not. And I suppose these mini-workouts will just get that much more effective as my belly grows and grows. So, as my belly gets bigger, my butt should get firmer? Is that the idea? Hah, we'll see if that's truly the case. No doubt C. will keep me well-informed about the status du jour of my derrière.
Grunting and groaning,
Allyn
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
July 17, 2013
Dear Baby,
You are so tiny but require so much energy! Is this your way of telling me to get lots of sleep now because when you arrive I won't be getting any at all? If I could make napping a full-time job I'd be rich. At least I really don't have any pressing demands on my schedule, so if I doze off while reading a book or watching a show it's no great loss. I'll try and remember these days when you get me up in the middle of the night for weeks on end. Until then I'll just grab another pillow and "rest my eyes" for a few minutes...
Love,
Mama
You are so tiny but require so much energy! Is this your way of telling me to get lots of sleep now because when you arrive I won't be getting any at all? If I could make napping a full-time job I'd be rich. At least I really don't have any pressing demands on my schedule, so if I doze off while reading a book or watching a show it's no great loss. I'll try and remember these days when you get me up in the middle of the night for weeks on end. Until then I'll just grab another pillow and "rest my eyes" for a few minutes...
Love,
Mama
Friday, July 5, 2013
June 29, 2013
Dear Stomach,
What the heck is up with you? Thanks so much for not throwing any serious nausea my way, but what on earth do you want? Are you actually hungry? Do you want just a little bit? Why does mozzarella make you so content, but a simple grilled chicken breast freaks you out? At least I'm back in the US for a while so you can drown yourself in Gatorade and soothe yourself with trail mix and Goldfish crackers. The sooner I get my normal appetite back, the happier everyone will be. So, if it's mac-n-cheese and Wheat Thins you want, just be clear about it and I'll help you out. Cut me some slack here, alright??
Confused,
Allyn
June 14, 2013
Dear Dr. Lieu,
Thank you, thank you, thank you! Even if you don't speak English and I don't speak Chinese, no translation is needed for your compassion and care. You have been so patient and diligent through a long process, and your insight and reassurance have been such a positive influence. I always appreciate your conservative yet thorough approach, and I have full trust in your judgement. I'm fortunate to be in such good hands.
Most sincerely,
"Miller"
Thank you, thank you, thank you! Even if you don't speak English and I don't speak Chinese, no translation is needed for your compassion and care. You have been so patient and diligent through a long process, and your insight and reassurance have been such a positive influence. I always appreciate your conservative yet thorough approach, and I have full trust in your judgement. I'm fortunate to be in such good hands.
Most sincerely,
"Miller"
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