First three weeks with Abby

I can't say I loved pregnancy. Too many complications. Too many dietary restrictions. Too many aches and pains. Motherhood is a totally different story. I finally get feedback on my efforts. When I pick Abby up, she stops crying. If I feed her, she looks full and content. Sometimes, she lets out a whine (or perhaps a ear-piercing scream) just because. And we respond. We sing her songs. We tell her how beautiful she is. She appreciatively stares back at us (or continues her ear-piercing scream). I love this feedback.

Abby on December 19

Little Abby is now three weeks old. We are almost exactly 30 years apart. I haven't even had time to reflect on the fact that I've turned 30 because things feel so busy all of the time. Luckily, Albert got 3 weeks of paternity leave. Some people ask how we do when we are together 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Albert and I do very well together in such a situation and it looks like Abby fits into the fold well too. We don't have a schedule but Albert takes lots of photos - duplicates upon duplicates.

Birth of Abigail Miyuko Ko

November 25 started out as any day after Thanksgiving ought to begin - we got up at 6AM to make sure we got to Stanford Shopping Center to claim a prime parking spot in preparation for "Black Friday" - the busiest shopping day of the year. We were surprised that it was actually quite empty when we arrived around 7AM.

Post Thanksgiving Shopping
Originally uploaded by amiura.

We first went to Nordstrom's where we bought some shoes (Ann got some nice leather boots, Al got UGG house slippers). We also got presents for friends at other stores and managed to finish part of our Christmas shopping. We were so involved in our shopping we almost forgot our 10:30 appointment with the OB (the final one before giving birth). Luckily, we remembered in time and headed over to Redwood City.

There, we did the non-stress test to make sure the baby was moving and then had an ultrasound to check on the baby. The doctor commented that the amniotic fluid was very low and continued to look around the baby. After he finished up, he came back into the room to tell us that the amniotic fluid was so low that he wanted to induce that day. We could go home to pack but I should head back to the hospital in the next 3 hours. The doctor was so calm that we asked if it would be possible to induce tomorrow since we had a birthday dinner planned for me that evening with over 25 friends attending! The doctor, however, was pretty insistent that we induce that night so we went home to pack. At home, we spent some time figuring out our video camera and sending out some last minute emails. We tried to contact friends to make sure they knew the party was off. 3 hours later, we headed off to the hospital. My mom was so nervous that even after I told her I was leaving for the hospital, she headed to our house. We luckily spotted her driving towards our house and we stopped so that she could wish me luck.

At the hospital around 6PM, we started with a very mild way of inducing labor using a foley catheter. Unfortunately, the catheter fell out but I had not progressed in dilation. They called the doctor again who said he would come back to put in a larger foley catheter. They were monitoring the baby's heartbeat and my contractions. I didn't know but I was having contractions every 10 minutes or so. My doctor had been in China for two weeks adopting a baby so he had a huge backlog of patients that day. He didn't make it back to the hospital until 10PM. At that point, he checked and felt that I was almost at 3 cm so he decided to break my water. I felt a big gush and within an hour the contractions were pretty painful.

Contractions for the whole night came anywhere between every 1 to 10 minutes. Some of the contractions lasted only 30 seconds whereas some of them would last 3 minutes. The lack of consistency really made it hard to fall asleep and the pain made me tense up as soon as I saw the monitor show that a contraction was about to take place. Albert was very supportive all night whether it was through back rubs or words of encouragement. At 8AM after spending the whole night awake, I asked the nurse to see how much I had progressed. I was so discouraged when she reported that I was tenuously at 4 cm. I had only progressed 1 cm after 8 hours of really painful contractions! I asked for the epidural at that point. For the ladies out there who are wondering, the epidural was well worth it. I was so tired from the night and the thought of having to spend many more hours in pain and then having to push was overwhelming. The epidural was done well so that I actually had quite a bit of mobility in my legs and feet. I didn't fully dilate until 4:30PM that day. I could feel a good deal of pressure so I could push with the contractions. Pushing took 3 hours - or as Albert said, the length of the USC football game. My doctor arrived around 7PM to coach me through the remainder of the pushing. I could sense the excitement as I pushed and the people in the room could see the baby start to emerge. With each push I could feel the baby move just a little bit lower but she would move back as I relaxed. I asked if she had hair and everyone was nodding. The pushing was both physically and emotionally taxing. Knowing that my baby was just a few pushes away from being here, I wanted to push more and push harder but physically, it's a full body workout. I'll never forget when she finally came out. The sense of relief and the joy at seeing the baby whose kicks and hiccups I'd felt for so many months just surged forth and I burst into tears. The doctor placed her on my belly and Albert cut the umbilical cord. Before I could even compose myself, they took the baby to the table to check her and clean her off. I delivered the placenta and the doctor put in a single small stitch. Within an hour, I was able to stand and walk a short distance.

Little Abby
Originally uploaded by amiura.

Little Abigail Miyuki Ko was born 7lbs. 8oz., 20.5 inches lon at 7:37PM on November 25. Abigail means “Father’s joy” in Hebrew. She is already the source of many happy memories. We also were inspired by Abigail Adams' strength of character and the love she had for learning and family. We also that Abigail will have the same affect on us that Abigail Adams had on John Adams:

You who have always softened and warmed my heart, shall restore my benevolence as well as my health and tranquility of mind. You shall polish and refine my sentiments of life and manners, banish all the unsocial and ill natured particles in my composition, and form me to that happy temper that can reconcile a quick discernment with a perfect candor.
- Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams before their wedding in 1764

Miyuki is a Japanese name meaning deep snow. It reflects the season in which she was born as well as a sense of serenity we had hoped she would embody. So far, this has not been the case but perhaps she'll turn a new leaf in the coming weeks.

Thanksgiving redux 2006

I love this time of year because it's really all about food. In particular, Thanksgiving is an amazing time to load-up on the carbs. That's why it's so much fun when you get to spend it with people who really love to eat. Last year, we had Cindy (Albert's sister), our friends Julie and Bob along with Bob's parents and my dad over for Thanksgiving. We made way too much food and had a fantastic time. This year, even though it was a year in which we were supposed to be in LA (we switch off each year between Albert and my family), we decided to spend Thanksgiving close to home since my due date was only a week away. I didn't want to overload my mom with Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's duty so we took up Julie's kind offer to have all of us over to her house for a mega-Thanksgiving feast. This year, Julie really outdid herself because we had 14 people over at her house!

The people: Julie, Bob, Bob's parents, me, Albert, my parents, Aileen, Chris, Jeffrey, Nancy, Linda and Joseph (Linda's husband).

Thanksgiving Turkey
Originally uploaded by amiura.

It was a packed house with a packed menu: turkey, way to much stuffing, curried peas, corn, grilled vegetables, orange glazed yams, broccoli quiche, beans in mushroom sauce, mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce.

Dessert, which was a entirely separate meal, consisted of: flan, sweet potato pie, pumpkin bread, fruit tart (an Aileen specialty), cupcakes and apple crumble.

I was anticipating a depressing Thanksgiving for myself in which my diet was entirely restricted (due to gestational diabetes) but I figured, "how much damage can I really do in one meal anyway?" and ate with gusto. I had stuffing to my heart's content as well as a sampling of every dessert. I later confessed this to my doctor but only after I checked my blood sugar with Julie an hour after my meal... I was at 98 - meaning I could have another carb serving! Julie who is not diabetic had a higher reading than me!

Al and Ann
Originally uploaded by amiura.

All in all, Thanksgiving was a great success. This year in particular I have so many things to be thankful for. I have fantastic friends who give great advice and unconditional support and love. I have wonderful parents who continue to serve as role models to me. Last but not least, I have a husband whose companionship is all I can ask for - who understands me and loves me with a completeness I never expected to find. I look forward to sharing all of this with my baby who is due any day now!

Halloween Fun

Albert discovered a long time ago my love for the holidays. The holiday extravaganza starts in mid-October when I get my ghost lights out along with a little wooden ghost and pumpkin that says "Boo!" I, then, agonize over a costume and usually become too busy at some point to really think it through and then panic the day of some party we're supposed to go to. This is how Albert and I ended up as hula dancers a few years ago when we were in Boston.

Halloween 2001
Originally uploaded by amiura.

This year was a bit different since the pregnancy makes me too tired to party and the costume options become a bit limited - I could be a Mrs. Federline and Albert a big mooch. I guess I could also dress up as a cow since that's generally how I feel these days... and Albert a farmer?!? Instead, Albert got too busy with work and I poured my holiday enthusiasm into my pumpkin.

This pumpkin was no simple pumpkin purchased from Safeway weeks in advance. I naively went to 3 stores on Monday October 30th asking if anyone had anymore pumpkins. Apparently, people are not just competitive about getting their kids into daycares and pre-schools here in the Bay Area. Pumpkin purchasing is also something that must be done well in advance. Whole Foods, my last resort, informed me that they had been sold out since Saturday!

Ann and Pumpkin
Originally uploaded by amiura.

You see, people are just not as resourceful as a desperate pregnant woman in search of a pumpkin to carve. I scanned the entire store of Whole Foods after being informed that there were no pumpkins available. I found not just 1 pumpkin but 4 pumpkins on display on the top shelf of the bread section. We found some people to get a ladder and bring it down and I ended up with my perfect pumpkin from Whole Foods for $5.


I went home and carved it and the results can be seen here: I call it pumpkin perfection...

Pumpkin 2006
Originally uploaded by amiura.

The Delinquent Blogger

I've been very delinquent in updating but am trying to catch up with a few posts so here we go...

We are now only 5 weeks away from the due date! I continue to negotiate with baby Ko in the hopes that she will come a few weeks early with a relatively small head and narrow shoulders. Gestational diabetes hasn't been nearly as bad as I thought it would be. This is, of course, because I cheat. The best example to date is the dinner I had a Boulevard this past Friday. Cheating has never been quite so delicious...

Boulevard

Cuisine: French

1 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 543-6084 Reserve Online
www.boulevardrestaurant.com


Hours:
* Mon-Fri 11:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
* Mon-Wed, Sun 5:30 p.m.-10:00 p.m.
* Thu-Sat 5:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m.

Website: http://www.boulevardrestaurant.com/
Address: 1 Mission Street San Francisco, CA 94105
Telephone: 415.543.6084

What we ate:
Foie Gras with toast and currant sauce
Hamachi Sashimi with Daikon Salad
Roasted Veal Filet with Sauteed Shrimp
Wood Oven Roasted Iowa Berkshire Prime Rib Pork Chop with Butternut Mashed Potatoes and Roasted Quince
Chocolate Medley Dessert
Vanilla Ice Cream Sandwiches with Chocolate Fondue and Berries
Lychee Juice with Club Soda

My overall assessment of Boulevard, while positive, is that it wasn't really amazing. I would give it 3 out of 4 stars. Comparing it to a restaurant we recently went to and loved, Quince, Boulevard didn't give us more than what we expected: great ambience and solid food but no surprises. I didn't feel like doing cartwheels after I ate dinner like I did at Quince when I tasted their pesto sauce. It was to die for. I was full and happy with the meal from Boulevard but I didn't feel any exclamation points.


The one exclamation point I felt was after I cheated and ate a Vanilla Ice Cream Sandwich with chocolate fondue and found that my blood glucose level was low enough to warrant yet another serving of carbs! The company we ate with was great and the building is truly beautiful but I can't say that it was everything I hoped it would be. I have to say, though, cheating on this gestational diabetes diet was truly divine!

Fajitas para me

My heart goes out to diabetics everywhere. I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes a couple of weeks ago which hopefully means I only deal with this condition for another two months. Then it's back to full on gluttony with respect to chocolate dipped ice cream, french fries, and white bread.

We've been trying out a bunch of different foods just to see how it affects me versus him. I was saddened to see that the In 'n Out double-double (despite the reassurances of my dietician) caused my blood sugar to go above the desired 130 limit. Albert's blood sugar had already self-regulated down to a 93... and he had had the whole plate of fries with ketchup.

Still, there are lots of things I can eat that are quite tasty. My favorite so far has been our version of the fajitas so here is the recipe:

Chicken Fajitas for the Diabetic who loves to eat

1 whole wheat tortilla
1/4 cup shredded mozzarella
1/2 purple onion
1 chicken breast
1 orange bell pepper
1 red bell pepper
1/2 avocado
bunch of cilantro
salsa (as much as you want - go crazy because this barely has any carbs)

Cut the chicken, onion, and peppers. First sautee the chicken. Salt to taste and add course ground pepper. When the chicken has almost fully cooked, add the onion and peppers. Continue to sautee until the the onions are fully cooked and slightly translucent. On a separate frying pan, heat the tortilla and sprinkle the shredded mozzarella over the tortilla. Warm until the cheese has melted. Slice the avocado. Over the tortilla, add the chicken, onion and peppers. Add the sliced avocado, cilantro and salsa and you are ready to eat!

These fajitas were tasty and kept my blood sugar level fairly low. It should be pretty healthy as it's not too high in fat (except for the cheese). I'll keep adding recipes that end up working for me!

Girls girls girls

56 more days until the due date!

It feels like I've been pregnant forever. Now, I have the look to go along with the feeling. The belly is pronounced. I waddle. I even let out that unattractive grunt when I bend over to pick things up.

With a daughter on the way, I look at my niece who is four years old now and think of how quickly those years have flown by. My brother and his daughter came for a visit from Japan a week ago. I think she's great and that feeling only grows when she tells me how great she thinks I am. My mom asked her:

"Michele, what do you want to be when you grow up?"
"I want to be just like Reiko."

Al and Michele
Originally uploaded by amiura.

Of course, that also meant she wanted to have a baby. We had to explain to her that she had to first study and become a big girl (possibly getting a Ph.D. in some scientific or engineering field) before she could have a big belly just like Reiko.

I took her to Palo Alto Toy and Sports World to buy her something. She immediately rushed to the pink corner of the store where they had dress up costumes for princesses and her favorite Calico Corner toys. I brought her back to the front of the store where they had Legos and "build yourself a robot"-type toys in an effort to expand her horizons into more engineering focused toys. Isn't that why they say boys are more likely to become scientists and engineers than girls? Michele's response was textbook.

"Michele, what do you think of this really cool machine we can build that will dig up dirt using a remote control?"
"Um, Reiko... that's a toy for boys."
"Michele, this is not a toy for boys. It's a mechanical toy that is completely unisex."
"Um, Reiko... I want the Calico Corner doll set."
"But, if you want the mechanical toy, you can have them both."
"That's ok. I don't want it."
SIGH....

After all, she is only four. She loves pink. She loves dolls. She loves playing make believe. If you ask her to pound your shoulders with her fists, she'll patiently do it for more than ten minutes. She pretends to like soy milk because I'm drinking it. She's fiercely competitive and has a deep love of learning new things. If I pronounce new words to her in English, she repeats them back to me until she gets it right. So even if she doesn't love the mechanical toy that I probably would have hated at four as well, I think she has so much ahead of her. I look at my belly which shifts and moves even as I type this and think of what this little girl will love and what she will say that will make me laugh years later.

Ode to Al

I'm a lucky gal. What can I say? Albert is the best husband any girl can hope to have. Gag all you want, but it's true. We've been married for two years already. We have been warned that at some point in time, the honeymoon ends. Luckily, we haven't hit that point yet. Our secret, you ask? Well... for one, we're pretty busy so the time have together never gets dull. Another thing is that we just love hanging out together - co-dependence in others' eyes perhaps but pure joy in ours. We love the same foods (ranging from Afghani to Korean to Foster's Freeze). We love the same kinds of books (except for Albert's current obsession with the capture of Osama bin Laden and the war on terror). We love the same TV shows. We also like to bike and swim together... which has led us to compete in triathlons. This year, I'm sitting out because of the future triathlete I'm carrying, but next year I'll be back.

Fresh before the Tri
Originally uploaded by amiura.

Today is Albert's birthday. The big 3-2! We celebrated in a number of ways but the most important is that Albert competed in the Santa Cruz Sentinel triathlon. This is an Olympic length triathlon so only the hard core need apply. And the hard core did apply. Here we have Albert with some of our friends including Bob, Katrina, and Mark. Katrina and Mark were particularly brave since they had just returned from their trip to Europe a couple of days before and were clearly still jetlagged. A 1 mile swim, 25 mile bike and a 10k run lay ahead for these athletes. I can't recommend this triathlon, however, because they don't provide anything except for water along the way AND they ran out of the needed water at the end. Poor Albert bonked at the end after having only 1 gel after his swim. To put this into perspective, I had at least 3 gels and countless bottles and cups of Gatorade when I did the Pacific Grove Triathlon.

Al starts his run
Originally uploaded by amiura.

Also, the Santa Cruz Sentinel Tri gave out really ugly t-shirts (tie die) that we promptly put into the Goodwill pile. Still, Julie and I ran around trying to capture the key moments in the tri. We had our trusty camping chairs and signs to root on our husbands. All in all, I was so impressed with everyone's performance. Bob obviously did quite well because he has turned himself into the Korean equivalent of Bruce Jenner. The man is a workout fiend. Albert has improved his time significantly from last year with a harder course! That in itself was a fantastic birthday present and well worth the 4:30AM wake up to get to the race on time.

If there is one thing I can say for sure, Albert and I share great friends. We have the kinds of friends that are virtual family. They are shoulders to lean on as well as the friends you want to have around just to celebrate another year passing.

Happy B-day Salute
I had asked Al if he wanted to do anything for his birthday and he had said he didn't... mostly because I asked him after he had done one of his epic 50 mile bike rides. Still, his friends Ian, Ped and Greg still managed to put together a bbq that would make any grown man smile complete with sausages, steaks, some veggies and 2 birthday cakes. By the way, the ugly t-shirts are on full display here on Bob and Al.

Happy Birthday Albert! May the 33rd year of your life be as wonderful as the 32nd!

The things we do in the sun

Albert and I love Kauai not only for the food but also for the fantastic activities we've enjoyed there. Everything we do there leads to a deep and dark tan that leaves us looking... well, Polynesian. It generally takes us about 2 days before people ask us if we are locals. We love that. Getting back to the things we love to do in Hawaii, it boils down to a few things: snorkeling, golf, surfing, and hiking. Unfortunately, we didn't do much hiking on this last trip because I am more at a waddling stage of pregnancy which is not conducive to climbing down steep inclines. So what did we do?

Captain Andy's Sailing Adventure
Telephone: 335-6833
Cost: $130
Logistics: 5.5 hour trip leaving Port Allen around 6AM. Lunch and breakfast provided.

If there is one definitive guide to any of the islands in Hawaii, it appears to be the blue book you see most tourists lugging around. In general, we have loved this guide and have bought it for every island we have visited. But now that we are Kauai "experts" we feel that there are a few revisions we would seek to add. The first is the Smith Family Luau which we comment on in our restaurants posting below. This came highly recommended in the book.

Napali Coast aboard Captain Andy's
Originally uploaded by amiura.

The second was a negative review they had of Captain Andy's snorkeling trip. I've done three snorkeling trips in Kauai and this was actually a very well run trip. We had few complaints. Sure, the snorkeling left a lot to be desired but the other boat trips weren't that great for the snorkeling either. We got a great view of the Napali Coast, the boat was smooth since it was a catamaran and Albert got to jump off of the side of the boat. Not to mention, this was one of the few boats that would take a six month pregnant lady out to the Napali Coast.

This is where we ended up snorkeling towards the end of the trip. They were pretty strict about the boundaries where we could snorkel and the coral was too deep to really see a lot of fish. The aggressive fish that you see pouncing at the bread they threw into the water near me know that when the boats arrive, food is also nearby so they gather. Unfortunately, it's not the pretty fish that gather. Also, the turtles that were there in the morning were gone by the time we came back for snorkeling.

The real highlight of the snorkeling trip were all of the dolphins we got to see. They followed along the catamaran as we travelled up towards the Napali Coast. It was an incredible sight to see. We even saw baby dolphins that were trying to still get the hang of riding the waves.

Kukuiolono Golf Course
Where: On Papalina Road off of Highway 50 in Kalaheo
Cost: $8 per day and $7 for cart rentals and and another $7 for the most dinged up golf clubs you'll ever find
Logisitics: This place only has 9 holes but we thought that was plenty

We are complete hacks when it comes to golf. We started taking lessons 3 months ago. We both don't own our own clubs but we think it's fun. This golf course was the perfect place for us. It doesn't have quite the beautifully manicured lawns I'm sure you find elsewhere but the views are just as nice and the locals who come out to play are a lot of fun.

Ann goes for the winning shot
Originally uploaded by amiura.

Inevitably, you end up playing with a couple of other locals who you can chat with while you get in your golf game. Also, when you're talking $8 for golf fees and not $170 like at the Kiele Course, it leaves you with $162 of extra lava flows you can consume throughout the course of the trip. Here I am channeling my inner Michelle Wie except that I'm 7 inches shorter. We discovered that Albert has mad skills when it comes to putting and my strength is in chipping... which is why I look so nervous to putt. Golfing here was so relaxing and fun we ended up doing it 3 times!


Surfing
Now I did mention that we did some surfing. In truth, it was Albert doing the surfing this time since I have experienced a shift in my center of mass. Albert doesn't want me sharing these videos because they mostly consist of far away shots of someone paddling and then me making snide comments. However, I will mention that the area by the Sheraton Poipu is great for beginner surfers. It's where all of the schools are. If you don't want to pay money to have some surfer dude push you so you can easily catch a wave, you can always rent a surf board from one of these schools for around $10 and go at it by yourself.

Pork Lau Lau hear my cry

Ever since I can remember, I have planned most of my vacations solely around food. I remember planning an entire itinerary to Japan based on where I wanted to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner. Albert has only served to reinforce this obsession. Fortunately for you, we not only love to eat, we love to share the wealth of knowledge we accumulate along the way.

Before we begin, we ought to share with you our rather simple rating system. For those of you who really just want to know if we liked it or not, just look at my face. Any questions? For the nuances, check out our comments.


Here are the highlights and lowlights of our trip to Kauai:

Plantation Gardens

Cuisine: Hawaiian
Hours: Daily 5:30-10pm dinner (open at 4pm for pupu, pizza, and cocktails)
Website: http://www.pgrestaurant.com/
Address: 2253 Poipu Road across the road from the Kiahuna Shopping Center in Poipu
Telephone: 808.742.2121

What we ate:
Dungeness Crab Rangoon
Garden Isle Bouillabaisse with Mahi Mahi, Prawns, Bay Scallops, Mussels, Potatoes, and a Kamuela Tomato-Saffron Broth
Kiawe Grilled New York Strip Steak with Goat Cheese Potato Gratin, Broccolini, Caramelized Maui Onion and Shiitake Mushroom Jus
Virgin Lava Flows

Second Meal:
Kiawe Grilled Tiger Prawns with Coconut Infused Thai Black Sticky Rice, Baby Bok Choy, Mango Salsa and Thai Red Bird Chili-Garlic Beurre Blanc
Seafood Lau Lau with Mahi Mahi, Shrimp, Jumbo Scallops wrapped in a Ti Leaf
Local Lilikoi Cheesecake
Iced Tea
Mango Smoothie

IMG_0036
Originally uploaded by amiura.

Our friend Geoff gave us this recommendation and a good one it was. We liked it so much we went back again - a hallmark of a good restaurant we find while on vacation. My personal favorite was the Bouillabaisse and the Seafood Lau Lau. If you're a dessert person, the Lilikoi Cheeseke was divine. The food was so good, Albert couldn't wait for the first photo and insisted on taking a bite of his steak.





Koloa Fish Market

Cuisine: Fresh Fish, Plate Lunches
Address: 5482 Koloa Rd., Koloa, Kauai, HI 96756
Average Price: $7-9
Telephone: 808.742.6199

What we ate:
Kalua Pig and Pork Lau Lau Deluxe Plate Lunch
Ahi Poke

I love Pork Lau Lau and this place knows how to do Pork Lau Lau. It's crowded with locals around lunch time which means it's not only good, it's cheap. I think it's a close call between thi place and Fish Express but if you're staying in Poipu, Koloa Fish Market is really close by.

At the risk of obliterating any credibility we have built up to this point, we need to point out one of our Hawaii favorites:
McDonald's

Believe us when we tell you that you need to try their pies. They deep fry them the way they should be served on the mainland. They also have creative fillings. In Oahu in January we had Taro Pie which was unbelievably delicious. We went to almost every McDonald's in Kauai to inquire about this elusive Taro Pie with no success but did discover the Red Bean Pie which is a close second to its Taro Pie cousin.

Hanalei Gourmet

Cuisine: Sandwiches, Burgers, Salads
Address:5-5161 Kuhio Hwy
Location: In downtown Hanalei close to the Bubba's Burgers
Phone:808.826.2524
Hours: Open Daily 8a.m. - 10p.m.
Website: http://hanaleigourmet.net/
Average Price: $7-10

What we ate:
Fish and Chips (Mahi Mahi)
Chicken Salad Sandwich
Oregon Bay Shrimp Sandwich

We came back here twice because we liked the food so much. Prices are reasonable expecially for lunch and you can have something other than a burger. Albert liked my Chicken Salad Sandwich so much that the second time around he got it. Then he woefully looked at my delicious Oregon Bay Shrim Sandwich which I quickly scarfed down - just to guard my territory.

Smith Family Luau

Address: Wailua Marina State Park
Location: Near the Wailua River outlet in Kapaa
Telephone: 808.821.6895
Hours: Imu ceremony starts at 6. You can tour the gardens before hand (only 20 minutes required)
Price Range: $60

The more we think about this luau, the more we hate it. They lost all credibility when they decided to add "dances" from "our beautiful and humble Japanese friends" - mostly 5 girls walking around stage in cheap fake kimonos opening and closing fans. If you want to talk food, we had to wait for probably half an hour before we even got to the buffet line. This place attracts tour buses which means that it's way too crowded, lacks any semblance of intimacy, and is totally cheesed out. If you want cheesy in a good way, go to the Princeville Luau. We were there for our honeymoon and I got to see Albert on stage shaking his thang...

Shooting Sand at Queen's Bath

Some people ask me if I prefer having a son to a daughter. On most occasions, I say that I would be excited about having either. But... there are moments where I look to the heavens and thank my lucky stars that I am having a daughter. Albert and I went up to the north shore of Kauai and encountered 4 boys who were literally diving off cliffs, not into a safe pond or lake, but into the raging waters of the ocean as the waves slammed into the sharp lava rocks. These kids would try to goad the more timid (and smarter) kids into doing these same insane acts. What is it about testosterone? At such a moment, Albert turns to me and says, "See? This is why I'd love to have a son some day." Hmmmmm....

And this kid's famous last words: "Shoot Sand!"

Not to be outdone by some 12 year olds, Albert was easily convinced to swim through an underwater tunnel closer to where I was snorkeling in an area called Queen's Bath. The kids helpfully noted that Albert would not get stuck because "they had seen someone fatter than him make it through".

Babymooning in Kauai

IMG_0077
Originally uploaded by amiura.

This past week, Albert and I went to Kauai to pay homage to many of the activities we won't be able to do (or more accurately for me - already cannot do) with our bundle of joy set to arrive in early December. Our week was filled with delicious food, virgin lava flows, snorkeling, reading, and frolicking in the waves. We will try to catch up this week with all of what went on...

Albert outruns Ann by a whole second!

IMG_1983
Originally uploaded by amiura.

It's amazing what you can accomplish before 8:30 in the morning on a Sunday. Today, Albert ran 13.2 miles before most people had gotten up to eat their morning scones. I dropped off Albert near the Ferry building and was there to cheer him on when he got to the finish line in Golden Gate Park. In fact, we woke up at 4:30AM so that Albert could be at the start at 5:30AM.

IMG_1977
Originally uploaded by amiura.

I'd signed us both up a few months ago before I knew I was pregnant. When I initially found out, I was instructed by a nurse not to get my heart rate over 140. I'm sure that's easy for Lance Armstrong whose resting heart rate is something in the 30s but for someone whose heart beats as fast as a rabbit when she is typing, anything but a light walk would shoot my heart rate up beyond 150. So, as much as I love to run (let me be clear - there is not an ounce of sincerity in that statement) I decided I would stop until after the pregnancy. Well, subsequently, the doctor told me I could continue to do activities I had done pre-pregnancy until I felt uncomfortable but let's be honest - I've never been comfortable running. This is the girl who wrote in the Branford College face book that her motto was, "Whenever I feel the urge to exercise, I lie down until it goes away." I literally saw the inside of Payne Whitney Gym a grand total of 3 times during 4 years at Yale. I've come a long way since then. It all started when Julie and I decided to train for our very first 5k. We would call one another to brag that we had actually run for over a mile straight without walking. To tell you the truth, we chickened out of running that particular race but 2 years later we actually ran not only a 5k but also a 10k. Last year, I completed an Olympic triathlon.

Results
Originally uploaded by amiura.

Albert has been my loyal training companion throughout it all. Even today, he took me along on his race since I'd signed up but couldn't race. He took my timing chip and put it on his other shoe so that I would have a recorded time. I ran really fast for having been over 20 weeks pregnant I might say. I was only disappointed that Albert didn't put his shoe with my timing chip over the finish line before the one with his. He ended up beating me by a second.