WWWW: Day 4

We're all here at my family reunion in Southern California, and we are having a truly wonderful time.

The weather couldn't be more perfect. It's supposed to be in the high 70's and low 80's all week. I don't sweat after being outside for five seconds like I do in Virginia. I love Virginia and Virginia is my home, but no place can beat the California weather.

This morning, Ie Ling, Jonathan, Steve, Mei Li, Stephen, and I went on a walk. Michiko stayed in our condo to snuggle with Mi Na. The walk was pleasant and funny at times. Ie Ling, Jonathan, and I did our best speed walker imitations and we threw in some heel clicks as well.

After walking, we all dressed in our swimsuits to go to the new nearby water park. Jeremy reserved a cabana by the pool for nursing moms (there are three of us).

The cabana was the best idea. We were there to receive all the kids and give them snacks and reapply sunscreen. I was able to sit and read a lot since I'm not ready to swim yet. I nursed Mi Na without having to be in the sun and I could be there to watch Mei Li go down the water slide all by herself. Stephen wasn't tall enough for the water slide, but he was happy for Mei Li and enjoyed watching her go down.

We were there for most of the day. Steve told me that the first time Mei Li went down the slide, she sat at the top for a while even though the lifeguard told her to go. Steve told her to go, and twice, her response was, "No, it's not time yet." But then she just went. And she kept lining up to go down again and again.

On Sunday, I took Mei Li to primary in the ward that grew up in. She was a little timid and unwilling at first so we just sat in the back together until she turned to me and said, "I'm ready now, Mom." Mei Li is ready when she's ready, and I don't need to push her.

Stephen is a happy boy here as he gets to play with his dad all day long. They are quite the team. I hope Stephen grows up to be just like Steve.

After a long day of swimming, there were a few sunburn victims. We all congregated in Mom's condo, where she and Vanessa prepared a big spread of Mexican cuisine. It was delicious and I ate more than I needed too. I'm sure that it won't be the first time I do that this week. Brad's brother and his family are in town visiting and we had a fun time with them.

I went into one of the bedrooms to nurse Mi Na and noticed that it was getting late and worried about our children getting to bed. When I emerged from the bedroom, Michiko told me that Steve had taken the kids back to our condo to get them ready for bed. He did it without any direction from me.

I walked back to our condo with Mi Na in her car seat. I do not like lugging that thing around, but because we drove to the water park and then went straight to Mom's condo after, I had it with me.

I actually am grateful now that I had it because as I walked, Mi Na's eyes were wide open and I could see her better than if I had her in the Baby Bjorn. She looked up at the sky. I wondered if she was thinking that it was pretty, but there weren't many stars out and certainly none bright enough for a newborn to see. Maybe she was looking at the light from a lamp post.

I continued on and kept looking at her beautiful eyes, which are presently a dark grayish/blue. She looked like she was about to sneeze, but when it didn't come, she cooed instead. Baby coos are the most beautiful sound in the whole world.

I made it back and gave Steve a big hug and kiss for getting the kids ready for bed. All he said was, "it was in my best interest," like what he did wasn't service at all.

I read my book until Mi Na fell asleep for good and then I rubbed aloe vera on Steve's sunburned back and shoulders. I'm so tired now, but I've wanted so badly write down the details of my days. A year from now, I will be glad to read details because I forget them so quickly.