Alicia's first Christmas

It's the most wonderful time of the year.

Christmas is always a special season for me. The Spirit of love is spreading in the air. It is a time to celebrate Jesus's birth, and also a great time to teach our children about Jesus Christ.

We are so busy to settle down after we are back to Hong Kong, but we never forget to prepare a Christmas gift for Alicia! On Christmas Eve, Kay and I bought a new toy for Alicia, and we give it to her on Christmas morning. We are still debating if we should tell her the story of Santa, since we really want Alicia to understand the true meaning of Christmas is to remember the birth of Jesus.

After many years, we can finally celebrate our Christmas with our family, although we only have a simple Christmas, my heart are full and grateful for the opportunity to spend time with my family.

Alicia: E? What is this?

Alicia: Wow.. It is very colorful..

Alicia: Okay! Mammy and Daddy, I love it and I am ready to open it! :D:D

Alicia, thank you for spending your 1st Christmas with us, mammy and daddy enjoyed it a lot! Sorry for not being able to put up Christmas tree with you this time, we promised we will do it next year! Mammy and Daddy can't wait to see you run, jump and walk around the Christmas tree and sing along the Christmas song with us! Love you my dear~

My timeline in BYU-Hawaii

In January 2007, I came to Hawaii. I was only nineteen.

In December 2008, I left Hawaii to go on my mission in Hong Kong, I was twenty-one.

In September 2010, I returned to Hawaii to finish my degree, I was twenty-two

In January 2011, I have met a new friend called Kay, who has become my best friend and later become my eternal companion, I was twenty three

In April 2012, I graduated and returned to Hong Kong, I was twenty-four

In September 2012, I got married with my best friend and returned to Hawaii, I was still twenty-four

In November 2012, I have found out that I was pregnant. I just turned twenty-five.

In June 2013, I had given birth to one of the cutest babies on earth -- Alicia Au-Yeung, I was twenty-five.

Hawaii - a place where made me to become who I am. Thankful for all the great experiences that I have received in this special place. Words couldn't explain how much I love this place, it has prepared, strengthen, and transformed me from a teenager to a mother. I will never miss bugs and insects in Hawaii, but I will always remember the Aloha Spirit that carry with the people from this land Hawaii - the rainbow States. 

Two more days until I turned 26. It will be my last year celebrating in Hawaii until we meet again. Life goes on, and I am excited to move on to the next journey, but I promise I will re-visit this place someday.

4 months and 2 days

Today, Alicia got poked 4 times, she was extremely fuzzy in the afternoon; she cried so hard and loud, and needed comfort constantly. I was holding her for almost 2 hours until she calm down completely. When she was crying so hard and loud, I don't know what to do, Kay was in class and I was scared, I have checked her temperature and Nope! she didn't has fever, she must just felt very uncomfortable. I tried my best to comfort her, calling my sister in law for advices, praying, singing, and using some warm cloth to relief her pain.

Being a mom is not easy, especially a full-time stay home mom or single mom. Basically you have to deal with any situation alone for your children because your husband will not be home 24-7 to make decision with you.  Sometimes in an emergency situation, you still have to stay calm and THINK! Today, I had one moment that felt so lonely, scared, and helpless, no one was around and baby just won't stop crying, and I didn't know what to do. Although it was hard, after today experience, I felt accomplished.

There are really so much to learn to be a mom, thank you Alicia for giving me this opportunity to learn. I will keep learning and become a better nurturer:):)

Everyone in the world can make a different, it doesn't matter how "small" it is

Click here to my story

Many people in this world often think of themselves are ordinary, there are nothing special to talk about themselves. However, you should really believe that your personal story will make a different, it can inspire and influence others in any aspects of their life, because it has happened to me.

Couple months ago, one of my friends approached me and asked, "Would you like to publish your personal story on a website?" and I response,"I don't think my story is special enough to publish on any website, I am just an ordinary girl." Then, she continues,"everyone think their story is not special but I am telling you, it is not true." Because of her encouragement, I decided to accept her invitation and started to think of my own personal story.

My friend and I did a skype interview for my story, and I was able to reflect my life a little bit and ponder of the decision that I have made 8 years ago. Three months later, my story has finally ready to publish, However, I was still hesitated to post it because it is very personal.  After reading it a couple time, I just hope that this story was able to reach someone who need it. 

My story has finally published on www.mormonwomen.com, and I have also shared a link on facebook. I couldn't believe how fast people responded on my story, some of my friends even shared it with their friends, all of a sudden, I have received many thank you messages from sharing my story, at the same time, I am also grateful for the opportunity to share it with them. It truly made my day!

You never know how your "small", ordinary story can influence other people's life. Everyone of us are special, we all have different experiences, even your experience may be similar, your thoughts and feelings toward these experiences will never the same. Although I don't know how many people I have inspired or touched, I know I do make a different.  Therefore, Share your thoughts, Share your mind, Inspired Others, and Get Inspired! 

Kay and I --- Parenthood

Heavenly Father has trusted us enough to bring His children into our family,and we know we should not let Him down. However, it is the first time in our life to be parents, so Kay and I always discuss how we should be good parents, how to raise Alicia, or how we should teach her.

As a mother, I also worry about Alicia since the world is very "CRAZY" nowadays. Although Alicia is still small, I can't wait to teach her many things so she can "SURVIVE" in this "CRAZY" world. However, what is the most important thing to teach her? 

Tonight, when I was feeding Alicia, I was singing "I am a child of God". I have sing this song more than 100 times since I was young, but tonight,the Spirit was so strong that made me stop and ponder about the lyrics, and I've found this lyrics more important and meaningful to me.I have found my answer!

1.  I am a child of God,
   And he has sent me here,
   Has given me an earthly home
   With parents kind and dear.
2.  I am a child of God,
   And so my needs are great;
   Help me to understand his words
   Before it grows too late.
   
   
3.  I am a child of God.
   Rich blessings are in store;
   If I but learn to do his will
   I'll live with him once more.
4.  I am a child of God.
   His promises are sure;
   Celestial glory shall be mine
   If I can but endure.

Chorus

Lead me, guide me, walk beside me,

Help me find the way.

Teach me all that I must do

To live with him someday.

It is very direct, I need to be a parent who are kind and dear to my children. I need to help my children  to understand Heavenly Father's words and learn to do His will. I need to teach them to endure or even endure with them.  I also need to lead, guide, and walk beside(support) my children, and help them to find THE WAY, teach everything that they must do to live with Heavenly Father again, and to obtain the Celestial Glory.

I know NOTHING is more important than to teach our children about Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and His teaching, to help them build their own testimony and strengthen it. I know when we are teaching our children to live righteously, the Spirit of the Lord will help them throughout their life, to continue to choose the right even when their parents are not with them someday.

Now I should say, I can't wait to teach her everything about Heavenly Father,Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost.

Alicia! Daddy and Mammy loves you!

Alicia - 2 months and 2 weeks

Time flies, baby Alicia is already 2 weeks and 2 months old. She is such a happy, peaceful, and easy-going baby. Alicia, mommy and daddy love you so much! We really love seeing your smile, hearing your laugh. We love your burping, farting, and hiccup noise. We love seeing your pee pee and poop poop diapers, because all these things show us that you are developing well and feeling happy. We love playing, bathing, singing, talking, and sleeping with you. Although you don't know a lot yet, we can see you are enjoying your life.

Alicia, please continue to smile and be happy, this is all what mammy and daddy want you to be. we love you so much! sorry that if we made you cry, because we are still learning how to be  parents. In the future, we will also make mistakes, please forgive us, please always remember that daddy, mommy love you so much! you might not remember how many times we kiss you every day and tell you we love you, but we hope you can feel our love and keep this love in your heart. Alicia, stay healthy and stay happy!

As a mother, I cannot describe how much joy I had with this precious baby, and how much I've learned from being a mom. I am so thankful for this opportunity to raise a child, and teach her everything about this world, her Father in Heaven, and the love that He has given us.

I love you baby Alicia!

A day that I will never forget.

June 28th, Friday. 40 weeks of my pregnancy. Doctor and I had decided to induce baby. Yes! Most of the time, induction is not necessary until 42 weeks of pregnancy, however, after discussing with my husband, we decided to do it.

We woke up at 4:45am, make sure we had everything, and drove to the hospital. When we were on our way, I still couldn't believe I was going to deliver and see my baby, I was nervous and worried. haha! well, I tried to look calm so my husband would stay clam too. I kept praying that everything would be alright.

We've arrived to the Castle birth center, Kaneohe,Hawaii at 6:15am. The nurse confirmed some of my information and directed us to our room immediately. Since I went to their birth tour before, I got familiar with the place already. While Kay was organizing our bags, the nurse told me to change into the hospital gown, I felt super nervous. After changing, she started to poke me with needle. I am glad that I wasn't too afraid of needle because that needle was quite thick. Haha! Although I was nervous, I felt super hungry since I haven't eaten anything. Luckily, I could still eat solid food.

Since it was induction, it took time..so here is the story:

we have waited for about 4 hours (around 11:00am) and only dilated 2cm!! I guess baby just not ready to come out yet. Well, there are no turn back, so I waited patiently, after another 4 hours (around 3:00pm) my dilation is 5 cm and doctor is ready to break my water, I was so excited since I finally have some improvement on my delivery, and luckily, I still didn't feel any pain. About 1 hour later (4:00pm) it dilated from 5cm to 7cm, and within another 45 mins, it dilated from 7cm to 9cm! I AM IN PAIN!!! I tried my best to control my pain, (keep thinking about food, keep thinking about so many random stuff to try to distract myself), but it didn't work,I CAN'T STAND it anymore! Controlling my pain is really tired and I am so worry that I will have no energy to push when the time come, so I asked for an epidural. At 8:30pm, doctor instructed me to push a few times, honestly, I didn't really feel anything after the epidural, but I do feel the pressure that I need to push...so I have been pushing...pushing...and pushing for 2.5 hours(around 11pm) and baby is still not yet come.. I am exhausted!!! Doctor suggested me to take some rest for 30 mins, so I will start pushing again at 11:30pm,(That scared me because baby is in my tummy for soo long after the water was broke, and now he still ask me to sleep.. ) At 11:30pm, I started to push again! and the very last push before I need to have a C-section, SHE IS HERE!!

(Left) The 1st picture took by her daddy. Alicia Au-Yeung, was born on Jun 29th at 12:47am at Castle Birth Center in Kaneohe, HI, she is 7 pounds 11oz and 21" tall. She is so precious!

I cannot describe the feeling that I had when i am holding this precious baby, she is so small and so cute! My heart is full of gratitude, joy, and love. I felt so proud that I am being able to bring this special and loving spirit into my family. I feel the Lord's love and He is very happy to see Alicia was born healthily.

After laboring, I was exhausted! but I couldn't take my eyes away from her. Look at her, she looks clean and peaceful after a bath.

I have stayed in the hospital for another day before I discharged. During that time, I am so thankful for my husband for his love, when I was laboring, he has never let go of my hand, he hold it tight, and pray constantly, he is so brave, and I was comforted.


The second day of Alicia, she is still calm and peaceful. We are ready and excited to go home. This is an experience that I will never forget. I am very happy and excited for the new adventure and the joy that will bring to our family.




I love you Alicia! please always remember that! :)