Half year

Yesterday was Bun Bun's half birthday.  We celebrated by going to the park for a hike.  Daddy had to go to work.  So, Bun Bun got strapped to Mama for the hiking trail.  Up and down hills, over little streams, and through bogs, we saw lots of other walkers, joggers, bicyclists, and doggies.  It was an atypically warm day for January.  We didn't see any forest animals though, nor were there fish in the streams.  It was still a fabulous day.  Happy half birthday, my little chunky monkey!

On Wednesday, Bun Bun weighed 12.5 pounds!  She's quite heavy, and Mama got a good work out!

Thankfulness Friday - Tummy Time

I'm working!  I'm working!

To help gain head control, build up arm muscles, and firm up the abs, babies do tummy time.  They lie on their stomachs, prop up on elbows, and lift up their heads.  With practice and lots more tummy time, they'll prop up on their hands, tuck in their knees, and start the crawling position.  Baby Bunny has been doing a lot of tummy time lately.  She hasn't quite made it to propping on her hands, but I think she's very close.  We still have a little bit of time before she gets into the crawling position and thus start baby-proofing the house. 

This week, I discovered that Bun Bun has a hot temper.  She was already very exhausted from a morning of PT.  I took her to the doctors for weight, length, and other measurements.  She was NOT happy and started to wail.  Not even food or Mama time could assuage her.  She wanted out of there.  No more doctors.  No more nurses.  Don't talk to me, don't even look at me!  Get me out of here!  She cried and cried.  Poor girl.  She eventually calmed down, had a nice visit at Mama's work, and ate lunch with her colleagues.  She even visited Mama's lab and saw growing yeast cells.  It was a busy day.  She zonked out for the night and the entire next day.

Happy New Year!

Revelers are about in the neighborhood.  There are cheers and fireworks.  I'm still up, sitting in Bun Bun's room, getting some work done on the computer.  I can hear Bun Bun's heavy breathing; she is in deep sleep, and not much will wake her.  She'll sleep until the morning when I wake her for her first breakfast.  Yep!  She's an easy baby.  I'm counting my blessings that I can get a good 7 hours of sleep every night.

I am not ready for the new semester which starts in 2 weeks.  I missed being away from the classroom this past fall semester.  But, I'm not looking forward to the spring only because my last spring class was full of bad experiences.  Every class is different, and I really hope this one to come will be more teachable.  I am changing up a lot of things.  The lab experience will be very different, too.

I look forward to 2012 with some excitement and cautious optimism.  This is an election year for the President of the US.  I am up for tenure later this year and will be putting together my dossier in the summer.  I've got lots to do.  I hope and pray for God to strengthen me and help me do all things as if on to Him - being a Mom, wife, daughter, sister, teacher, mentor, colleague, and friend.

From a rocking chair in Bun Bun's lavender room, I wish you all a wonderful 2012!

Thankfulness Friday - Baker's Yeast

Saccharomyces cerevisiae under the microscope (40X).  They are stuck together after being treated with toxic drug (nocodazole).

 

I've been working with baker's yeast for almost 10 years now.  I use them in the lab to study genetics.  They are amazing single cell organisms that share many similarities with human cells.  This week was suppose to be vacation for me.  For a couple of weeks prior to Christmas, my experiments have not been working properly.  One quick email to Brad and a couple more email exchanges with former co-workers, I went into work to retry the experiment yesterday.  I think things finally worked!

Happy New Year, Readers!  May you find 2012 be filled with great many successes!

Merry Christmas!

May your New Year be wonder-filled!

Thankfulness Friday - Bunny!

Bunny followed me to work one day and took pictures of himself with my laptop.

Bunny was adopted from a gift shop in Louisville, KY.  I found him among his brothers and sisters at the Brown Hotel while I was wandering through its gift shop while waiting for the airport shuttle.  I was in Louisville for a G-quadruplex meeting back in 2009.  (More about G-quadruplexes later)  So, Bunny likes to read comic books, play video games, watch TV, and entertain.  He is a sensational singer-song writer.  He sounds very much like John... sometimes it's hard to tell them apart.  He travels with us and came with us to Europe and Taiwan.  He loved Taiwan with the celebrations of the year of the rabbit, in his honor, of course.  Since Baby Bunny's arrival, he's kind of been neglected although he has made friends with other stuffed Americans in the house, especially those living in the nursery.

Giggles

Baby Bunny had a giggle fest with Grandma (外婆, Waipo) yesterday!  I'm sorry I missed it.  I tried to make her giggle last night.  She was all smiles and happy, but no giggles.

We're still working on her sitting independently.  She'll get there soon.  She usually shows off to her PT.  So, I hope to have good reports this week.

Thankfulness Friday - Chubby Cheeks

Bun Bun smiling at Grandma (奶奶, NaiNai)

Thankfulness Friday - PT

Hi, Daddy!

This week, I am thankful for physical therapy and Rachel, our physical therapist.  Since late September, Bun Bun has been getting weekly PT sessions to help meet some milestones.  We would help her with bringing her hands together, lifting her head up with tummy times, gaining head control, rolling over, and sitting.  She's been making great progress.  With a little support, she is able to sit and roll over.  Methinks we will be baby proofing the house as a Christmas break project.  She may be crawling soon!

Thankfulness Friday - Growth Spurts

Same outfits for some perspective

Skinny girl in her preemie cloths (Summer)

Snuggle Bunny with chubby cheeks (November 28, 2011), that's her new Dolly

Even though Thanksgiving is behind us, I want to continue the Thankfulness Friday series through the rest of this year and the next.  For this week, I'm thankful for growth spurts.  Baby Bunny must be going through one right now.  She's been doing a lot of eating and sleeping.  She still looks small, especially when someone else is holding her.  But, in my arms, she feel heavier.  Looking back at pictures of her from the summer, she appeared so tiny.  She has grown so much recently that she will soon outgrow her 3mo clothes.  I am forced to go shopping for some winter 3-6mo outfits.  Normally, I don't mind going shopping for baby cloths.  Now that it's the Christmas shopping season, I much rather avoid all the madness.  Nonetheless, I am thankful that Bun Bun has a good appetite helping her to grow.