Organic Little Chef

On Friday, I enjoyed a girls' day out with Nicole while Max and Daddy enjoyed a boys' day in. I pumped a bit of breast milk before I left that morning and prepped some formula to get Max (and Daddy) through the day.

Well, we learned that Max is living up to his in utero name. Some time the past month, our Little Chef became quite picky about food! It had been four or five weeks since we last gave Max formula (to supplement feedings during my bout with mastitis). Since then, Max seems to have developed his taste buds and was less than enthusiastic about formula--apparently, he outright hated it. After furrowing his brow and fussing at the bottle, Max was offered a bit of breast milk which was promptly mowed down. Ah, our organic little chef.

Conversation with Max

Max recently started to coo in response to us. Daddy and Maxwell have a conversation.

Max Aggressively Yawns While Leaning On A Capybara

Maxwell is chillin' on Auntie Nicole's and Uncle Eric's couch next to their giant stuffed Capybara, aka, 'Chimichanga." Capybara: Wikipedia Definition

Boxing Makes Max Happy!

This is one of the first times Maxwell has ever laughed. We had Uncle Mike over for pancakes, and after breakfast, we decided to work out to burn off the calories. It turns out that Maxwell loves to box!



Max seemed to get the hang of it pretty fast, and he actually punched back a couple of times. I guess sparring with Rock Lee, the Green Beast of Konoha, has really honed Maxwell's boxing skills.

Motorcycle Maxwell

Recently, Max learned how to hold his head up (decently). Anytime Max learns to do something new, Daddy has a compulsion to push the limits.

Gugu!

"Gugu" is Chinese for "father's sister." Because of the patriarchy that is the Chinese culture, there is actually a difference in what you call your mother's sister, "a yi," versus your father's sister, "gu gu."

Anyway, Gugu (Flora) came out for 4.5 days to visit with Maxwell, and it was a blast. We had so much fun with Gugu, and she was able to impart much wisdom upon us. For dedicated OLC Blog fans, Gugu's children have their own blogs (which is where we got the idea for OLC Blog in the first place), and you can click on the cousin links to check out her super awesome, super adorable kids, Ian and Lia. We are also extremely thankful to Jeff (Gu Die) who courageously and magnanimously took care of the two kids so that Gugu could come out to visit.

Take-your-baby-to-work day

Mommy and Daddy took Max to each others' respective workplaces. So we just wanted to give a shout out to the working stiffs (we are all thankful that we still have jobs), and say thanks for the support and welcoming Maxwell with such open hearts and minds. Farrah, our host at the Orbit Baby holiday party, threw a kickin' shindig that was fun for the whole family!

Nai Nai wants more!

Nai Nai wrote me an email.

"Hey, please give me more Max's photo!!
He is so big now. I love his smile, so lovely !!"

Here you go, Nai Nai!

@ the de Young Museum with Gong Gong

We took Gong Gong to the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park to see some exhibits by Asian American artists. Gong Gong actually knows some of those artists personally, believe it or not. Golly, that's a guy!

In addition, auntie Hoi allowed us to borrow a very special edition of the Orbit Infant Car Seat and Stroller Cargo Pod made with 100% wool from Maharam, with a pattern designed by Paul Smith. Of course, uncle Colter and Daddy had a hand in putting this little ditty together, but the mastermind behind it all was most definitely auntie Hoi.

Maxwell didn't seem to have an opinion about the Stroller, but he did seem to gravitate towards post-modern Japanese paintings, with little interest in Maya Lin's exhibits. A good time was had by all.

Gong Gong's back from China!

Gong Gong went to China for a week to give a talk on "homeless housing" at a university in GuangZhou. At the same time, he went to see family, which included seeing Maxwell's JinWei Yi! Here she is (cropped from Gong Gong's really big family photo of the Liang family, which is XW's Mom's side of the family). Hi to JinWei Yi and all of the family in ZhongShan!! We believe that she is OLC Blog's #1 International fan!



Little Chef got dolled up in his Totoro hat to meet Gong Gong at the airport with eyes wide, and ears perked up. Gong Gong was in great spirits, as were we!

Two Months!

Maxwell turned two months old yesterday.  To usher in the occasion, he set a personal record of seven consecutive hours of sleep last night. (Thanks, Max!) 

At this morning's two-month well visit, Max weighed in at 11 pounds, 5 ounces and is measuring 22.5 inches long.  The little guy received four vaccinations (three shots, one oral) and took it like a champ.  I think the shots were harder on me than on Max; as I held him tight, Alan was rubbing MY back when the needles came out.

As Thanksgiving approaches, we wish to share our thanks to all our friends and family for the incredible love and support you've shown us, particularly the past two months since our little boy's arrival.  To all our loved ones far and near, we hope to see more of you over the holidays!

Our Little Chef wishes you a warm, happy and tasty Thanksgiving!

OLC Blog's #1 Fan

Meet Keely. She grew up with Xiao-Wei in Blacksburg, VA. And she is most definitely, far and away, our blog's #1 fan. If a picture hasn't yet been on the blog yet, she'll tell you. If we've made any repeats, she would know. This posting is an homage (and a jab) to her, partially because she's so self-conscious. But as everyone can see, she is a beautiful person whom Xiao-Wei and I love dearly. She even re-routed her business trip to stop through San Francisco just to see Maxwell. What an awesome auntie! In addition, she brought birthday gifts (that she has literally taken around the world - like from VA to Germany and back to CA) for Xiao-Wei and myself. Ridiculously sweet and thoughtful. Anyway, when questioned about certain photos on my phone, she said, "nope, haven't seen that one on the blog yet . . . oh yeah, that one is on the blog, uh huh . . . umm, nope that one isn't . . . " She's a veritable archivist for the blog. So, Keely, if you're reading this, we love you and thank you for stopping through our neighborhood for a hug and a kiss. Maxwell and his parents are so grateful! In addition, here's a shout-out to your lab-mates who check out the blog, too. Big ups to San Diego!

Sad to see Nai Nai go . . . but happy to see Gong Gong arrive!

We were so utterly sad to see Nai Nai go back to Taipei. She stayed with us for 3.5 weeks, and in her last two days, made enough food to last us 38 consecutive days. Our freezer is a veritable filing cabinet of home cooking. Xiao-Wei said that the last day Nai Nai was here, she found her in the kitchen cooking, doing laundry, doing dishes, sweeping the floor, and feeding Max all at the same time. But she is needed elsewhere because Ye Ye signed up for spinal surgery a little early, so she had yet another "patient" to take care of. One thing in common that Xiao-Wei and Ye Ye (my dad) have in common is that they are both impatient patients. Anyway, before Nai Nai left for the airport, we had some quality time with her. Maxwell was quite upset about her leaving, so we tested a theory that Daddy read somewhere: cry louder than your baby, and they'll stop.



It's been an exciting few weeks for Max. Nai Nai came and went. And Gong Gong has come to visit! Max is now officially in his 8th week outside of the "joint." We've been to baby showers, been to other baby's homes, had lots of guests, had dim sum for Daddy's birthday, lunch dates with Mommy out on the town . . . oh, man, it's been busy!



Xiao-Wei and I both realized in talking with friends that there are a lot of readers of this blog out there. Thanks for taking time to look at our son's growth and progress. We are blessed and proud to have him in our lives, and your silent support contributes in such a positive way. Thank you!

Faces of Maxwell - Love? or Cruelty?

Mommy and Nai Nai LOVE to dress up Maxwell. While at Day One, Mommy picked up a pair of sunglasses for Maxwell, and well, Nai Nai ADORED this new look. As you can see, we got a little carried away with the sunglasses (Daddy thinks it's kind of humiliating for the poor guy), but they do serve a purpose.

Ultimately, Max ended up topless, with gloves and pants on. He kinda looks like Russell Crowe in Cinderella Man. You know, kinda that 40's boxing look. Max can also pull off the "thug life" look, but he didn't like it for very long. Regardless, Max is gaining a good amount of baby fat, and it is making his parents very happy!

Week Five

It's been a couple of weeks since we've added to the blog, so we'll be clusterblogging over the next few days. Add to that, there's a LOT you dedicated LC fans have missed, so bear with us . . .

Week Five for Maxwell was great - we saw a whole slew of friends in and out of the house. All the while, Maxwell has been growing long and growing fast! He's quite a reasonable baby. Mommy and Daddy have no complaints.

Happy Birthday, Xiao-Wei!

To usher in Mommy's birthday, Maxwell decided to don his "First Halloween" outfit, a gift from his MMY. We also went to the pumpkin patch the weekend before where Mommy took full advantage of Maxwell's sleeping disposition. And on Mommy's birthday, our friends, Colin and Melissa, hosted a Halloween Newborn Party. "Cuteness overload" would be an understatement . . .



Halloween Newborn Paparazzi
Clear evidence that your offspring will turn you insane.

Maxwell vs. Rock Lee! Go, Max, Go!

XW has decided that we're going to measure Maxwell against Rock Lee, a gift from his Uncle Mike (aka Rev. Lopez) each month in his first year. This is the first measurement at one month.



Maxwell vs. Rock Lee - Round 1
Maxwell "Little Chef" Feng vs. Rock Lee. Little Chef throws a few punches, prematurely announces his victory, then shamelessly continues to pummel Rock.



Maxwell vs. Rock Lee - Round 2
Little Chef is reluctant when it comes to close-quarters boxing. You can see him shying away from his opponent, none other than the Green Beast of Konoha, Rock Lee! Near the end, the camera starts shaking cause Mommy is laughing her @$$ off.



The Making of "Maxwell vs. Rock Lee - Round 2"
A behind-the-scenes look at the filming of "Maxwell vs. Rock Lee - Round 2."

Happy One-Month, Maxwell!

Today is Maxwell's one-month birthday, and to usher in this momentous occasion (Nai Nai says Mommy can officially have a cold drink now - sort of), we present a suite of videos. Enjoy!

Video #1: Tummy Time Turn
At 2.5 weeks, Maxwell shows us that he's determined to gain his freedom. Meanwhile, his Mei Mei Yi cops a feel.


Video #2: Tummy Time Superman
Always on a quest for his freedom, he does his best impression of Superman for Mommy, Daddy, and Mei Mei Yi.


Video #3: Hanging with Hiccups
Maxwell hangs out with Mommy, and has a very subtle case of the hiccups. Just another day in the life . . .


Video #4: Green Sneakers Part 1
Mei Mei Yi gave Maxwell some green sneakers (as if he can walk), and Nai Nai and Mommy could not resist.


Video #5: Green Sneakers Part 2
Nai Nai, Mommy and Daddy take a "walk" in the park. Ironic that Maxwell has shoes on but can't walk yet. Sheesh.

Week Four

Maxwell is four weeks "old" today. He is showing his personality more and more each day, along with new grunts and facial expressions. Living up to his in-utero nickname, Max is quite the foodie and is all too punctual with his feedings. When he's super hungry, we call him Baby Barracuda for his intense latch (ouch!). Amazingly enough, Maxwell's umbilical cord stump still has not fallen off. I guess the little guy just can't let go of the past....

Also on the home front during week four, Alan has returned to work (working from home and part-time in the office). There has been lots of excitement at the office about "The Office"; Orbit Baby was featured in last week's episode!

Click on the link below to view Orbit in "The Office":
"THE OFFICE"

Nai Nai's here!

Maxwell's Nai Nai (Alan's mom) came this past week, and she nearly gobbled him up on sight! It's been a blast having her here, and we have been eating and sleeping well. The one-two combo of Maxwell's Mei Mei Yi followed by Maxwell's Nai Nai has completely spoiled Maxwell's mommy and daddy. Maxwell has very very lucky parents.



Click on the link below to go directly to the album:
LINK TO ALBUM

Sad to see Mei Mei Yi go . . .

We were so sad to see Maxwell's Mei Mei Yi go last week. Her stay here was a total godsend, and we could not have survived without her!

We miss her already.



Click on the link below to go directly to the album:
LINK TO ALBUM

Tummy Time in October

Maxwell's strength training regiment began this morning with his first attempt to lift his head. Videos pending. Here's a small slideshow in the meantime.



Click on the link below to go directly to the album:
LINK TO ALBUM

The Mei Mei Yi's

Xiao-Wei's sister, Mei-Lun, dubbed Maxwell's Mei Mei Yi (MMMY), has come to Mountain View to help out, and boy are we glad that she's here. Alan's Mei Mei Yi (AMMY, aka Maxwell's Mei Mei Yi Po) came yesterday to hang out, as well. Check out the slideshow below.



Or click on the link below to go directly to the album:
LINK TO ALBUM

Week Two

Boy, oh, boy. Little Chef has had a whole host of visitors in his second week out of the "joint."

Maxwell had his first pediatrician appointment and weighed in at 7 lbs, 9.5 oz (w/o diaper), and 20.5 inches. We are past his birth weight, woohoo! So, he is healthy and strong. He has apparently grown an inch, as well.

Coming up in our next posting: Maxwell's visit with his Mei-Mei Yi (Auntie Mei-Lun/XW's big sis).  She has been spoiling all three of us with home-cooked meals, laundry, cleaning, etc.  Not to mention, it has been a great comfort having a pediatrician in the house.  Thanks, MM!

Maxwell's Home Movies

Maxwell's Sweet Dream
October 1, 2008


Maxwell: Extreme Close-Up
October 1, 2008

Work it, Max Baby

With thanks to the fabulous lactation nurses at the Kaiser Newborn Club, Maxwell is now back to his birth weight. He's eating and pooing like a champ. It's rare that he's awake these days, but last night we managed to take his first glamour shot. Work it, Max Baby!

(Totoro hat knit by Auntie Tina!)

Week One

Maxwell is almost one-week old and it's been the best week of our lives. In between feedings, diaper changes and naps, we've made a few trips to the Kaiser Newborn Club, enjoyed breakfast on Castro Street in Mountain View, made a supply run to Target and taken a few short walks to the park on Easy Street.

Thank you to friends and family for your phone calls, emails and loving wishes for Maxwell!

Maxwell Joseph Feng

September 25, 2008
5:34 pm
7 pounds, 5 ounces
19.5 inches

One Hour Old

72 Hours Old

Nesting

Two-week count down to Little Chef's due date!

We finally put the finishing touches on his nursery.

Of course, we love our Orbit Baby Bassinet,

with thanks to the C&S Team at Packard!

Little Chef Couture

My very talented friend and coworker has been knitting for Little Chef:

Little Chef has his own personalized, knit, dark-wash jeans.

Goodness.

Coming this Fall...

Our Little Chef is due October 3, 2008. Here he is at 13 weeks, contemplating the meaning of life (or perhaps sucking his thumb). We gave him the in utero name, "Little Chef," after watching the adorable film, Ratatouille, and learning we would be having a baby born in the Year of the Rat.