Babymooning in Bodega

Daddy picking up oysters from Hog Island in Tomales.

Dear Emi,
Almost every summer since your daddy and I were married, we've spent a few relaxing days in Bodega Bay along the northern California coast where we honeymooned. It's typically cool, overcast ocean climate serves as a haven from the valley heat, and over the years we've relished our picnics on the beach, always with wine, cheese and a good book, barbecuing fresh oysters from Hog Island in Tomales, eating club sandwiches at Howard's Cafe in Occidental, exploring Sonoma County wineries and antiquing in Petaluma (although you can probably guess Daddy isn't so big on anything involving shopping.)

This year, however, we debated whether to go on our annual pilgrimage. August was an incredibly busy month for us from my Great Aunt Eva's 99th birthday banquet in San Francisco Chinatown to my cousin Colin's wedding reception. I had a week of vacation starting on my birthday and I had a laundry list of errands to get through. Besides, it was turning out to be an expensive summer. Between paint for the nursery, furniture, "baby gear," etc., our wallets were getting a workout.

On the other hand, all the books and magazines I read highly recommended couples take one last vacation together before baby. These "babymoons" have become so popular in recent years that some hotels and resorts have even started offering special packages for expecting parents. The idea of spending a few days relaxing on the beach, or exploring the coast and just being alone with your daddy appealed to me. So we waffled until about mid-July.

Earlier in the summer, California was plagued by hundreds of devastating wildfires sparked by lightening storms. They burned for weeks, and dark plumes of smoke blanketed the valley, making the air unhealthy to breathe and turning the heat up to record-setting temperatures. I snapped the day it reached 108 degrees. A few minutes on the Internet and I'd made reservations for two nights at the Bodega Harbor Inn.

It wasn't until much later that I realized Daddy and I would be babymooning in the same place we honeymooned eight years ago.

We set out Sunday around mid-morning and headed to Tomales, before going on to Bodega Bay. Every year since our honeymoon we've gone to Hog Island, an oyster farm made famous by household guru Martha Stewart, where we pick up a couple dozen dinkies. I'd already checked with Dr. Chan to make sure it was safe for me to eat cooked oysters, and that night I was careful to choose only the ones that were crispy around the edges.

I've always loved the trip to Hog Island. The gently winding road takes us past pastoral farms, cows lazing in the fields, streams and wetlands, the Tomales Bay shoreline, fragrant eucalyptus trees and even an occasional deer. Half the fun of coming to Bodega Bay every year is the drive itself.

Hog Island was packed with people fixing for a last oyster bbq before heading home. Picnickers filled the tables along the beach, shucking oysters on plastic trays. "Maybe next year, we can picnic here with Emi and Chase," I mused out loud.

It would become our babymoon mantra.

"Next year, we can take Emi and Chase to the river," Daddy said, as we drove along the Bohemian Highway past the Russian River, where we spotted people kayaking, swimming and playing on the beach.

Laying on the squeaky bed in our small, but serviceable, room at the motel, I pointed out that we'd need to find better accommodations. "Next year, we're going to have to get a bigger room, or rent a house, so Emi's portacrib will fit."

The weather was overcast and foggy in Bodega Bay that weekend, so instead of going to the beach, we explored Fort Ross and Armstrong Redwood Forest State Natural Reserve near Guerneville, where I read and napped in the car while Daddy set out on a two-hour hike. "We'll have to come back next year and take Emi to Bullfrog Pond," he said when he got back, slightly breathless and smelling like eucalyptus.

We celebrated my 34th birthday on our last night in Bodega Bay by going to Lucas Wharf for dinner, the same restaurant we dined at on the last night of our honeymoon. Even then, all we could think about was the things we'd do next year with you.

"We can bring Emi and she can sleep in her carrier, if she's a good baby," I suggested.

"Or, if our parents come with us, we'll have plenty of babysitters."

"Would that make you guys Bimiko?"

Emi's stash

Dearest Emi,

The shopping extravaganza began as soon as we learned you were a girl.

The day after my 19-week ultrasound, your daddy and I flew to San Diego with Pau Pau for Christina's college graduation. Although Dr. Chan's warning not to go buying everything pink was still ringing in my ears, I couldn't resist peeking into a few posh baby shops in La Jolla. Once we hit Little Italy, however, the credit card came out.

Auntie Noriko took us to her favorite boutique, conveniently located off the main drag a mere block or two from her office. While primarily a women's clothing store, Niche also carries several children's lines including accessories like frilly ballerina booties, baby dishes and diaper bags. I'd been combing the Internet for a diaper bag, one that was feminine and unique, yet functional. None of that Babies 'R Us, Winnie-the-Pooh stuff.

I had my eye on a Kate Spade messenger bag that I could get on ebay for about a hundred bucks. Pricey, I know, but I was determined to retain some semblance of fashion even as I changed dirty diapers and wiped my kid's snotty nose. But I ended up finding the perfect one at Niche. Designed by Kids Ink, the messenger-style bag was made with a lovely Japanese chrysanthemum print in subtle shades of peach, green and peacock blue. Pau Pau bought it for me as an early birthday present.

After a bit more browsing, I found a bright pink, long-sleeved onesie made by Sprout from super soft, bamboo and organic cotton. On the front it said, "Save the trees. Plant bamboo." The end of the sleeves had cuffs that could be folded over and used as mittens. Just darling. So of course, I had to plunk down $30 for it.

We also hit Torrey Pines Golf Course, where just the week before Tiger Woods had won the U.S. Open. Although we went to find Christmas and birthday gifts for the golfers in our family, Auntie Noriko spotted an adorable pink and white striped, golf shirt onesie embroidered with the 2008 U.S. Open emblem. How could I resist?

I was eager to add my latest purchases to your stash at home. Over the years, I'd picked up baby things on our travels - an Amish bonnet from Pennsylvania, a chirimen mobile I bought in Kyoto's Nishiki Market and a hat from a children's store on Paris' famed Champs Elysees that I got the first time we were there in 2005.

When we went back two years later, I bought a white, knitted blanket from Baby Tuileries (a boutique I later read Katie Holmes frequented, which I'm embarrassed to admit thrilled me.) I'd actually purchased it as a gift for someone, but couldn't part with it. I told myself that if I did get pregnant, I'd bring the baby home in the blanket from Paris.

Back at home, I began scouting baby boutiques. I quickly fell in love with a clothing line from San Francisco called Tea, because many of the cotton shirts, dresses and rompers featured distinctly Japanese designs including cherry blossoms and chrysanthemums. After making sure I could exchange them should you turn out to be a boy, I bought a set of bibs and an adorable romper.

But I wasn't the only one splurging. A few weeks later, Pau Pau, Grandma Jacque and I went to Goore's, the local baby store, so I could set up my registry. Two hours later, your grandmothers had plunked down big bucks for a crib, stroller, extra car seat base, and a beautiful Little Giraffe blanket, another celebrity mom favorite.

All the while, Daddy half-jokingly protested, "What's wrong with Walmart? Better yet, Goodwill." He really flipped when I showed him a $200 teddy bear I'd been considering for your first Christmas present. Totally frivolous, I know. You don't have an overpriced, but highly collectible, teddy bear now do you?

One night I had a terrible nightmare that the doctor told us something was wrong. I was still shaken when I woke up. "I had a nightmare last night, too," Daddy said, hugging me. "I dreamed Emi was born carrying a Gucci purse."

There was a great deal of anticipation surrounding your impending birth. Maybe it was because you were the first grandchild on both sides of the family. Your father and I had been married for eight years, and we'd been a couple far longer. Everyone had been waiting a long time for you, and the closer we got to your due date, the more we wanted to shower you with the very best.

Auntie Noriko was so excited, she immediately began planning the baby shower. We were under strict orders to call her the moment I went into labor, so she could drive home in time for your birth. She also gave you your very first book, Goodnight Moon, her childhood favorite. Uncle Justin and Aunt Sandy told your daddy how excited they were about having a niece.

See how much everyone loved you before you'd even been born? It really hit me a few days ago, when I got an email from Pau Pau asking how many friends we wanted to invite to the red egg and ginger party she was planning.

The Chinese throw lavish banquets to celebrate the birth of a child. Eggs, dyed in the lucky color of red, are served to guests symbolizing fertility and happiness, while the mother drinks a special ginger soup to help her regain her strength. Traditionally, these parties are held when the baby is a month old - for boys only. But we ABCs, or American-born Chinese, have tinkered with tradition over the last few generations and nowadays red egg and ginger parties are also given for girls.

We hadn't even set a tentative date for your red egg and ginger party yet, but Pau Pau wanted to get a rough head count. Both our families alone brought the guest list up to nearly 70 and when we added friends, spouses and their kids we we looking at 150 people - roughly the size of our wedding.

"I feel like Brangelina - all this hoopla over one little baby," I emailed back, slightly panicked.

"Would that make you guys Bimiko?" Auntie Noriko chimed in.