Haircut & Bday developments

*Updated pics...sorry the formatting is horrible btw.* Cal enjoying his smash cake!

 

Work is getting in the way of my life, and all that's important to me.  I know we all make this sacrifice - but it just seems ass backwards.  Lately, I've been having to request time off work to tend to Calvin as he'd had repeated ear infections and viruses.  I even feel bad when I need to come in late, because of scheduled doctor's appointments.  I don't know why I feel bad about that - maybe it's because I'm still considered "new" and I feel the pressure to play by the rules.

I'm missing out on being with my son.  I tell myself that I work to provide for him, and to secure a better life for us - but I can't help but feel the irony, that I'm telling myself this as I commute an hour to and from work every day, racing, pushing the speed limit, just so I can salvage what's left of the daylight.  

I usually walk in the door at 7pm. Poor lil guy drifts off to sleep at around 8 or 9. It leaves us precious little time to bond and get that quality time in.

I'm seriously contemplating acquiring part-time work, and just focusing on getting into grad school, and then working on my studies.  

These are some pics of Calvin getting his first official haircut at Snip N Snap For Kids  in Surprise, AZ. 

He was such a little trooper, and he loved his "chair". They even had individual telly's for the kids, where they could watch the movie of their choice while getting their hair cut.  

And the stylist was a real pro - she was fast, and so sweet. No tears, or tantrums - he thought it was fun (despite this look on his face.) 

We also celebrated Calvin's 1st Birthday Party!

I regret that I didn't take many pictures of the event - I was too busy trying to tend to Calvin, saying hi to guests, and making sure my mother-in-law was having fun.  We rented a Pokemon bouncer for the yard (which all the kids loved), a hot dog machine (which heated hot dogs that no one ate), and my mom and mother-in-law cooked up an Asian food bonanza (which everyone gobbled up!)  

I ordered this cake from Gina at Takes the Cake AZ.  If you live in Phoenix, she's a self-taught cake designer in the West Valley and her prices are great, and her craft and attention to detail are first-class.  

All I told her was that I wanted a cake that had children of different races, holding hands around the globe, and I wanted the flags of all the diferent backgrounds in our family (Philippines/Taiwan/Japan/U.S./Texas)...and this is what she came up with:

She even threw in this little smash "cupcake" for Calvin:

The aftermath!  I chose red velvet cake, with vanilla creme filling. Everyone loved the cake - she made it for 50 servings, and honestly, by the end of the day, it was pretty much gone. Everyone remarked on how moist, and how good it tasted -even those who regularly don't like cake. 

I will have to find more pics later - lol. Like the invites, and of the amazing cookies my friend David make. *sigh   Just thought it'd be nice to get some kinda update on here.

The invites my sister made. Thanks sis!

Oh, let's end this post with a playful pic of Cal on one of his birthday presents.........Vroom vroom!

A recent pic of me and Cal from Easter (oh yeah, I cut my hair.) :)