Babymoon

Babymoon =  a vacation taken by a couple that is expecting a baby in order to allow the couple to enjoy a final trip together before the many sleepless nights that usually accompany a newborn baby. 

David and I took a short trip to Vail on Saturday, April 9th.  It was great to get away for a day.  On the way back we stopped by Blackhawk.  I lost $8 on the penny slots. 




Enough snacks for a two week road trip.  I'm eating for two!



David packing our lunches :)

Vail Village

Gondola Ride to the top!

Update

These past couple of weeks have flown by and now there's only 3 more weeks until Baby Choi makes his/her big arrival.  Here's an update of the latest happenings...

On April 13th, we had our 35 week appointment.  Our doc suggested we do one last ultrasound to make sure the baby is head down and that the placenta is out of the way.  The good news is that everything is where it should be!  The bad news is that Baby Choi has possibly inherited David's monster nostrils and my huge lips...

Sweet Baby Choi @ 35 Weeks

Last Sunday (April 17th), I taught my last Sunday school class.  I'm sad to leave the youth group but maybe someday after baby gets older, I'll be able to teach again!  My 9th graders are so sweet...they wrote me a card and bought me a cake made of cupcakes!

My 9th Graders!

Cupcakes!

Yesterday (April 22nd) was Good Friday.  David was able to administer communion for the first time ever.  We ordered a minister's robe for this special occasion!

Rev. David Choi or Harry Potter?

Currently (10:47 pm) David is watching game 3 of the Nuggets playoff like it's the end of the world.  He keeps yelling at the TV..."GOOD BOY!!", "PICK AND ROLL!", "GET HIM OUTTA THERE!" 

I'll be glad when basketball season is OVER. 

BAHAHA (please don't be mad at me)

Baby Shower Pictures!

Thanks to all of my family, friends and coworkers who made our baby shower extra memorable.  Everyone is so generous! 

Here are some pictures from our April 2nd Baby Shower!  Special thanks to J. Bok and Bob for all of your hard work and planning!

Awesome homemade cupcake lollipops!  Thanks J.Bok and Beau Day!

So much delicious food!



Watermelon baby carriage!

 

Thanks for all of the awesome gifts!



Thanks Umma, Ahppa and Priscilla for the mattress and changing pad!

Homemade quilt!

 

Homemade washcloth puppets!

Hand painted growth chart!



Mustache booties!

Friends :)

Diaper Game!

                

Me and Bob

         

Me and San San enjoying Amber's gift!





Here are some pictures from our April 6th Baby Shower thrown by my coworkers!  Thanks RMC :)

Our decorated conference room

David and I opening gifts!



David trying out the new burp cloths!

 

RMC onesie!



Thanks RMC!  Especially all of the ladies!

Baby Pools Galore!

Sorry it's been a while since the last update.  We've been so busy these past couple of weekends I haven't had a chance to blog.  On April 2nd, my cousin and my sister threw me an awesome baby shower.  Then on April 6th, my coworkers threw me an equally awesome shower.  So grateful!  I'll update soon with pictures.

As for now, baby pools are running rampant and with the big payouts who can resist?!  

Here's one submitted by family and friends.  Feel free to leave your guess in the comment box and I'll add it to the list.

Name	Date	Weight	Sex
David J	18-May	6.8	F
LJ	23-May	7.7	F
Chris	17-May	7.8	M
Big bok bok	18-May	7.2	M
Andy	8-May	6.9	M
Brice	5-May	9.2	F
Lea	14-May	7.2	M
Kendie	13-May	7.4	F
Mom	19-May	7.9	F
Wayne	12-May	7.3	F
Lucas	16-May	7	F
Kylie	17-May	7.2	F
Tammy	22-May	8	F
Rhonda	12-May	7.1	F
Jayme	20-May	8.8	M
Sarah	20-May	6.12	F
Little Momo	10-May	7.1	F
Martin	10-May	7.7	F
dad	19-May	8	F
Big Momo	15-May	7.3	M
Kim	22-May	7.3	F
Little bok bok	18-May	7.1	M
TT	13-May	6.8	M

Here's another pool started by my coworkers!

	Primary Guess		Tie breaker	Just for fun
	Sex	Birth Date	Baby weight	Birth Time	Baby Length
Joanne	Boy	12-May	7 lb 6 oz	7:35 PM	19.8 inches
Joanne	Girl	19-May	7 lb 1 oz	4:40 AM	19.7 inches
Kathy	Girl	17-May	7lb 12 oz	1:20 PM	19.5 inches
Leah	Boy	22-May	7.8 oz	10:30 AM	20 inches
Lori	Boy	9-May	7 lb 11 oz	9:02 PM	19.5 inches
Ray	Girl	10-May	6 lb 15 oz	3:00 AM	20.0 inches
Scott	Girl	18-May	8 lb 7 oz	14:00	21 inches
Sheri	Girl	15-May	7 lb 0oz	6:22 AM	19.9 inch
Tim	Girl	18-May	7 lb 0oz
Tim	Girl	16-May	7 lb 0oz
Tim	Boy	15-May	7 lb 2oz
Tim	Boy	12-May	7 lb 3 oz
Tim	Boy	10-May	7 lb 8 0z

 

Cord Blood

After some thought and consideration, we've decided to donate our baby's umbilical cord blood.  If you donate cord blood to a public bank, the cord blood can be transplanted to any matching patient.  This is different than privately banked blood, which stores the cord blood for private use at a hefty fee.   

Currently only two hospitals in Denver (Denver Health and Exempla St. Joseph) actively collect cord blood for donation to public cord blood banks that are part of the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) Network of banks.  However starting last October, the University of Colorado Cord Blood Bank (UCCBB) established a Statewide Umbilical Cord Blood Collection program where qualified Colorado residents can donate their baby's umbilical cord blood at any hospital for free.  So far, the process seems quite simple.  You just have to meet the following criteria:

1.) You are a Colorado resident
2.) You are not expecting a multiple birth or Cesarean section delivery
3.) You are generally in good health

If you qualify and complete all of the paper work, the program mails you a kit that you bring to the hospital with you when you deliver.  Once the baby is delivered and before the placenta is delivered, the doctor clamps the umbilical cord and withdraws as much of the blood remaining in the cord as possible (approximately 100-120 mL).  If all goes according to plan, the cord blood will be listed on the NMDP's "Be The Match Registry", where it is available to any patient in need of a transplant.  Here are some interesting facts:

• Cord blood is rich in blood-forming cells that can be used in transplants for patients with leukemia, lymphoma and many other life-threatening diseases. 
• Cord blood is one of three sources of cells used in transplants; the other two are bone marrow and peripheral (circulating) blood. 
• Racially and ethnically diverse donors are urgently needed.  For a successful transplant, the tissue type of a bone marrow donor or a cord blood unit needs to match the patient's as closely as possible.  Tissue types are inherited, so patients are more likely to match someone who shares their racial or ethnic heritage.  Patients from racially or ethnically diverse communities can have a harder time finding a match. 

I watched this video and couldn't stop crying.  Just thinking about all of the endless possiblites and all of the people that Baby Choi can help makes me well up with tears.  Blame it on the hormones.