Tantrums

Whoever said the terrible twos are hard has never had a 3 year old. We are in the middle of the threes and tantrums at this age are more than I have ever experienced. All my friends with older kids warned me of this and wow I had no idea what they were talking about until we got there. My son Kai knows what he wants and if he does not get it he gets into a full blown tantrum than can last up to 20 minutes. I am at the point where I just leave him alone until he calms down because otherwise nothing works to settle him down. I have learned not to say we will do something unless we really will because otherwise it turns into a tantrum.

At 2 Kai was not aware of the world as much, he was not able to explain himself as well and was easily distracted but at 3 he knows too much and can articulate so well that he knows what he wants. If he does not get it then its tantrum time.

My advice - if you have a 2 year old or younger - enjoy it because it will only get harder before it gets easier again (at least I have been told there is light at the end of the tunnel).

I will have to go through this again 2 years from now - at least I will be prepared by then.

Who Knew?

3 1/2 years ago my husband and I were thrown into the whole baby shopping world completely clueless. I has know idea what a onesie was nor did I know what a travel system stroller meant.  My son Kai's dia[per was the first diaper I had ever changed. i was not even comfortable holding a baby. We had a steep learning curve and wow did we learn a lot. Who knew that 3 1/2 years later we are "experts" on baby advice. I don't meant experts in the academic sense but just experts because we have 2 kids so we know a little about baby things.

Recently i had a friend ask me which monitor to buy - well from my personal recommendation I told her to get a video monitor. A few of my friends are against video b/c they say it makes you more paranoid but I really like to see whats going on when my kids cry - do i need to go in or will they settle down? It makes it easier on us. The one we bought is this one:

I like being able to see my kids. We bought 2 cameras and so we can switch channels to see both kids in their respective rooms. They now came up with a fancier video monitor that scans between 2 cameras every 8 seconds. Its good if you really need to watch both kids at all times. I usually keep my monitor on my younger one b/c I know the older one is old enough to get out of his bed and get us if he needs. This is by far a fantastic video monitor and I high recommend video over just sound. 

The next thing that I was recently asked about is double strollers. There are so many out there and its so hard to decide but I really think it depends on your needs.  We got the Phil and Teds sports Buggy With Doubles Kit. I love the stroller because it can be a 1 seat stroller or you add the 2nd seat when you need it and it can be a double stroller. The seat reclines to flat for a newborn or sleeping baby. When the seat is flat then the second seat can be placed on the top so the older cihld can sit. Its so compact compared to all other double strollers out there. I love it!

Bay Area Recomendations

We have gone to some amazing kid places this summer:

1. Gilroy Gardens in Gilroy- an amusement park for little kids - if your kids love rides then they will love this place. The drawbacks are that its huge, expensive, you can't bring in food and you need a whole day to get your $ worth. 

2. Vasona Park in Los Gatos - huge park with a lake, train ride, carousel, many playgrounds - fantastic

3. Happy Hollow in San Jose - rides, petting zoo, zoo, playgrounds - everything in one - its great b/c the membership is so reasonable, you can bring in your own food and its not too big so you can go for a few hours and the kids are happy.

4. Pier 39 in SF - seals, food, carousel, street performers - my kids love going there.

5. Coyote Point County Park in San Mateo- zoo, indoor museum, huge park, ocean - you can bring in food from home.

6. Santa Cruz/Capitola - beach, food, sun, fun 

7. Children's Discovery Museum in San Jose - indoor museum with water area, bubbles, science, infant room etc

8. Bay Area Discovery Museum in Saulsalito - both indoor museum (art room, tech room, infant room etc) and outdoor fun (water area, playground, sand)

There are so many more things for kids to do but this is some of the fun my kids had this summer - lucky kids!

Halloween and August?

Why is it not even the middle of August and Halloween is everywhere you look. I have been receiving Halloween catalogs for a week and then the stores have all their Halloween deco out and for sale...I have to start thinking Halloween. 

I am going to stress about Halloween until my house is decorated and costumes are purchased. My older boy Kai has an opinion this year about his costume so I can't make an executive decision anymore...my power is gone. 

Ideally I want to sell my Kai's costume from previous years so I can buy a new one for my younger baby...it will be more fun to see him in something different than what his brother wore at the same age. Craigslist...you'll bee seeing a lot of me until those are sold. I hope its sooner than later.

Ok my last issue...so I usually love this online boutique store for children/baby clothing..."Chasing Fireflies." I received their catalog a few days go and was leafing through it today and you are never going to believe the costumes I saw in there:

These blew me away...first of all the prices for just the clothes (not jewelery, headpiece, accessories etc)...are $98 for the first one and $78 for the second one. Omg that is a lot of money for a Halloween costume and let alone for a sari (which is the second costume). I understand the first costume is more expensive because of the shirt with the extra arms but really who is going to buy the costumes? I cant see an Indian person buying either costume because they know they can buy a kids sari for way cheaper. I can't imagine a non-Indo little girl wanting to be an Indian goddess who has multiple arms? The whole thing flabbergasts...do any of you find this surprising?

A little of this and a little of that

If I could do my nursery over again there are so many changes I would make to it. I do love the room that I originally did but there are so many new and cute things out there. This mirror is the cutest thing ever...I want it but I am going to resist and not buy it....the hubby does not think I need to be buying things for a room that is done.



Its a mirror/growth chart all in one. I want 1 more baby and if by luck and hope its a girl then I will redo the nursery and get my chance to do things again. I would not get rid of the tree on the wall (if you are curious about the tree mural...contact me)...its amazing and I love it but I would make some changes. I am not going to share my secrets yet but I have ideas...hopefully one day I will be able to implement those ideas.






My new project is to expand my husband's facebook page for his business...Mowry Dental Group. See the page link ------------------------------>
I want to make it an active page with many followers so if you are not a fan or have not liked then page then please do so. I am not in the dental field so I can't do the postings but I can write what my husband tells me to write and I can maintain the page...my new project (in addition to making this blog a more active blog).


I am currently reading Tori Spellings new book and I am enjoying it. I know what you are thinking...Tori Spelling - yes the one who people say looks like a horse, daughter of Aaron Spelling and yes Donna from the original 90210. I never knew I liked her until I started reading her books. She is so open and honest and writes well. I give her major props for her ability to be so frank and give us a little insight into her life. I actually started her show Tori and Dean after I realized that I like her. Her creativity inspires me...she does what I wish I could do...plan weddings, decorate, style, create etc. I love all that stuff but I don't know how to make that my career...one day I will figure it out. Anyways if you are open to some new and light reading...check it out.

Best Gift Ever

The best toy we ever received for my kids is the "Fisher Price Learning Home." It has been a hit with both of my boys since they were able to sit up. A friend gave it to us (thanks Ash) at my first baby shower and its been played with for the past 2 1/2 years and still has more years of play left. Its not cheap but if you are looking for a gift for a baby then this is it. If you buy it now then you get a free toy so go for it now!

Yes I am a Slacker...

I had this ideal goal of writing a blog and its been 5 weeks since I last wrote. I have no excuse except that yes...I declare myself to be a slacker. I am usually pretty good about keeping up what I started but obviously not in this case...I can give a million excuses but please we all know they are excuses.

I promise that I will be better from now on...I want to get this going so no more laziness about blogging...if you don't hear from me...come on knocking!