Chinese New Year

This year, we celebrated Chinese New Year (or Lunar New Year, as we've known it in Korea) in another part of Asia - Guangzhou, China, to be precise - and it was c-c-c-old! For those of you living in Northern China, South Korea, and Canada, it was certainly not as cold as you've experienced. However, one thing remains to be said: YOU have central heating (whimps!!), we do NOT.

In Guangzhou, Chinese New Year is usually the COLDEST time of year, reaching only a few degrees above 0 celcius, and legend has it that if it is not, the year will bring "bad luck".

So to bring in the New Year, Glenn and I ventured over to the Sports' Stadium and partook in the festivities.

I can't say I understand the reason behind all the inflatable hammers, but to each his own!


I was absolutely intrigued by this unique plant, so I enquired about it. Expecting to hear some exotic and scientific name, I was a little taken back to learn that it's called the nipple plant . . . I kid you not! Now aren't you glad I asked?

Angelica and I dressed to the nines in our winter garb!



The 15th day of the New Year is called the Lantern Festival. This festival is celebrated at night with beautiful lantern displays and often a parade of children carrying their own.

Baby Belly

If you were wondering about my growing belly, you can see for you yourselves that it is now apparent that I am pregnant. I am 15 weeks now and I have decided to ask for help the next time I want to take belly shots. I can't imagine why I found it hard to juggle three things at once when I constantly multi-task throughout the day! But for some reason, I couldn't manage the following: holding my sweater up; focusing the camera and keeping it steady; and trying to avoid drawing attention to my rather dirty mirror. Remember, I am almost a mom of 2 now, and both take a great deal of my energy. Dirty mirrors - pshaw! What's that!

Play Date!

Being cute has it's advantages: you get to be the first in line, people all of a sudden treat you with celebrity status - snapping photos of you like crazy - and sometimes, you may even look cute enough to eat! Hopefully the latter has never happened to you, but one can never be sure.

Saturday, we decided to have a pizza party. You should never have to have a reason to eat pizza in our house, but this Saturday was special. AISG was hosting the first volleyball tournament of the season for the juniors; it provided a much needed break from cooking for Kelly, Bethany, and I; and it meant that our children could play together while we dined on Papa John's finest! Could there BE a better reason than that? I didn't think so either.


Meet the crew. You all know Angelica, since I post her pictures everywhere, but the handsome boys in red belong to our friend, Kelly. Zach is the quarterback and Luke is crawling in the background. He's the best big brother anyone could ever hope to have! Both boys adore Angelica. Luke is always giving her hugs and kisses, and Zach thinks she's good enough to eat: Clothes, hair, skin - if it fits in his mouth, in it goes! The funny thing is that Angelica doesn't seem to mind. She just takes it all in stride in her usual calm way.

Did you notice that all the kiddies are wearing red, white, and denim? We totally didn't plan that!

Zach is 7 1/2 months and he loves to sing! "Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee," he bellows.
Should we tell him his zipper is down? Shade your eyes please! Poor little fellow. Fortunately, when you're cute, you can get away with anything!

Like I said, Angelica just takes everything these rambunctious boys do in stride. She loves them and the feeling is mutual.

Our First "Canadian" Family Christmas

After 4 long years of living overseas, we finally made it home for a Canadian Christmas. It was our first Christmas in Canada together as a couple, as a family, and it was Angelica's first Christmas celebration - period - so, it was high time to make a trip home.

It was certainly an arduous journey just getting there. Our flight was delayed 3 hours due to bad weather (as if our flight wasn't LONG ENOUGH), and it felt like we spent most of our time waiting in airports. Before we left, I had joked with my mother-in-law about praying for snow . . . that's the last time I'm going to joke about being delayed! Whew! Ah well. For those of you who know me well, then you will also know my email just HAD to be written in VERSE! Here it is:

It's Karen's fault, she prayed for snow
She's very naughty!
She said, "Dear God, I WANT THE STUFF! Please send a lot-ty!"
The snow came through, God listened great,
But now we hope her plane ain't late!
It's Karen's fault, she prayed for snow - it's true!
And that's the tale I have to tell to you!!

Well, we made it home to c-c-c-cold Canada . . . a terribly long journey to make for only 2 action-packed weeks . . . but it was worth it. Hopefully our family felt the same way . . . although some may be breathing a collective sigh of relief now that we're gone . . .
"'Dem dern Jacobsen-folk! 'Dem dern critters eat up all ma cheese!!"

To that, I only have one thing to say: Life in Guangzhou ain't no picnic. If you've got cheese, Imma gonna git me some! What's that got to do with Christmas, you ask? Absolutely nothing . . . except that I wish I had packed my suitcase full of cheese to take back . . . sigh. I'll know better next time. What's that? You're on to me, you say? Well, all right . . . but let's keep it between us that I REALLY go back for the cheese once a year and not the visits . . . shhhhhhhhhhhh. It'll be our little secret.


"Yes, I'd like the Creme Brulee with breast milk, please."

Angelica loves to make funny faces . . . I wonder who she could have learned that from?


Hangin' with Uncle Derek . . . "I'm not so sure about this guy, Mommy! He wants me to do WHAT?! I ain't walkin' out there!"

As you can see, she was very impressed with me for taking this photo . . .

Preparing for the winter wonderland that awaits . . .

"T'was the night before Christmas . . . "
Actually, the photo was taken on New Year's Day, but THIS talking bear says otherwise . . .

3 months pregnant and you can already see the baby bump . . .

This is the only shot we could get with my mom's eyes half-open.

I just LOVE to be silly with Daddy!

We're NUMBER ONE!

The Announcement

We were 23 in all, seated around a very long table. Gray, the gentleman you see on the end, was the recipient of the Lindor chocolates . . . and the fabulous reciter of my poem.



If you thought 3 Jivin' Jacobsens were enough for this world...then, I've got news for you - now there'll be 4 rockin' this world!! That's right, Glenn and I are expecting our second child in July. The expected due date is July 16th, but we all KNOW that ain't gonna happen. Since it's a Jacobsen, it'll come when it wants (and I mean that in the most endearing way... remembering back to our little Jelly Belly. She was the early bird who graced the world 2 weeks early... and it would have been sooner than that if she had had her way).

On Christmas Eve, when all of Glenn's extended family were gathered for dinner, we decided to share our big news in verse. I had made the place setting cards for the elaborately decorated tables, and inside one of those cards, I placed an origami Christmas tree. The person with this tree was given a flute of Lindor chocolates, but first they had to read my poem aloud.
This is what I had written:

Christmas comes but once a year
Bringing forth great joy and cheer;
Snow-topped trees and twinkling lights;
Family, friends, and chilly nights.

We're thankful for this time with you
And hope you feel the same way too
'Cause in 6 months we'll be one more!
The Jacobsen clan will soon be four!

The reactions were priceless and since I was pregnant, I had to choke back the tears. It was certainly a Christmas to remember, and one I will treasure always.

Angelica enjoying a few quiet moments with her favorite Uncle Don.

Santa Visits Guangzhou

Is it just me, or is Santa cuter this year?


Is that for ME???

Hey! Where did everybody go?

Two Front Teeth....

Angelica cut her first two teeth on Friday. I can already see two little pearly whites poking through her bottom gums, and she is not afraid to use them! She likes to test out their "strength" during feeding time....I bet she spends her napping HOURS sharpening them! OUCH! As always, she continues to drool, gnaw, and lick anything and everything ....even arms of complete strangers. Here is her story:


On Wednesdays I have my ladies' bible study group in the afternoon and my Home Group in the evening. Of course, Angelica comes with me to both. At my ladies' bible study she usually sits beside me on the couch, and plays quietly with her toys.

Shelley, another lady in my group, sat beside us this past week and Angelica was very playful with her. She thoroughly enjoyed all the attention she received. Halfway through the study, however, Angelica's centre of gravity eventually started to work against her. That's right! My leaning pillar of baby started inching her way, closer and closer toward her new companion. So what did she do? She gently put her hand on Shelley's arm, braced herself, and then proceeded to lick her! Overcome by shock, I apologized and gave Angelica her teething ring to gnaw away on, yet in that same moment I had to laugh. Talk about acceptance! It's not everyday a baby thinks you're good enough to eat! That's her way of saying, "Savoury, but sweet. Yes....I think you're OK!".


The other ladies enjoy having a "younger" member in the group, and I am so thankful for that. Angelica loves being in the spot light, and I enjoy being able to share her with them.