Claire | Geek in Heels

Claire has had thrush on and off for about a month now, (I don't know why doctors prescribe Nystatin when it only works in about 50% of thrush cases) and it looks like it's spread to my boobs too. So now I am battling both thrush and mastitis. Perhaps I had thrush first which caused the mastitis? Or did my weakened immune system from the mastitis help the thrush thrive in my breasts? Either way, I'm friggin exhausted, in pain all the time, and I can barely hold my own baby due to anything even remotely brushing against my nipples or right breast causing red, hot searing pain throughout my chest. Yesterday I got a bottle of grapefruit seed extract oil and have been treating...

Baby, Claire, Parenting, Personal

The Cutest Baby in the World

Nov 08. 2010

J is convinced that Claire is the cutest baby in the world. "How can you look at her and not think that she's the cutest baby ever? I dare you to show me a cuter baby!" My parents and in-laws all agree with him and are always marveling over their grandchild. And once again, I am the lone (reasonable?) voice in the crowd. "You only think so because she's your daughter/granddaughter," I tell them. "I'm sure you would think differently if she were someone else's kid." Uproar usually ensues. I think Claire is an average-looking baby. Not too hideous (and you have to admit that there are some ugly-looking babies out there) and not too adorable. Cheering on the Ravens yesterday There are moments, of course, when...

Asian, Claire, Cute, Funny, Personal

Meet Cloudy

Nov 03. 2010

When my younger sister posted the first picture of herself holding her niece Claire on Facebook, she captioned it: "In the words of Phil Dunphy: 'Claire? Isn't that gonna be hard for her to say?'" (If you don't get the joke, go watch the pilot episode of Modern Family. Hilarious! What a great show!) My sister's words had a ring of truth to them, because according to my mother, we couldn't have picked a worse name for Asians to enunciate — it has both an L and an R! — and NONE of the grandparents can pronounce it correctly. In fact, one night my father mistakenly called Claire "Cloudy" instead. Where he got the extra syllable, no one knows. But the error managed to crack...

Baby, Claire, Motherhood, Personal

State of the Union, 4.5 Weeks

Nov 01. 2010

"Do you still want more kids, seeing how hard it's been so far?" I asked J yesterday. "Of course," he replied. "It may be hard now, but the rewards will be worth it." "Well, I don't want any more kids," I told him. "I can't imagine going through this again, especially if we have another child to take care of. Claire can be an only child." J didn't say anything back, but I could tell what he was thinking: 'She'll change her mind.' It has now been 4.5 weeks since Claire was born, and I can honestly say that motherhood is the hardest thing I've ever experienced in my life. And I have it easy: my in-laws come over almost every day so that...