Emi's stashDearest 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.
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.
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