GTKY jinkel (Kelli)

[Miss Juice]

Hi Kelli! Hope you aren't shy :)

Has this pregnancy been different from your first? In what way?

How did your older child respond to the news?

What is the weather like where you live? Would you change anything about it if you could?

[cjcolorado]

Hi Kelli,
Do you have any favorite traditions you hope to pass on to your kids?
What's your favorite place to visit when you get a chance to play "tourist" in your hometown?

[sewaneecook]

What's the most spontaneous thing you've ever done?

If you could go anywhere for one day, where would you go?

[jinkel]

Has this pregnancy been different from your first? In what way?

It’s been a bit different. This time I’m growing a fairly generous a** along with a belly. Truth be told, I would actually appreciate this bounteous booty if I weren’t pg. But as it stand now, it just accentuates that oh-so-attractive swayback look us pg mamas tend to sport.



How did your older child respond to the news?

He loves the idea of a younger brother (or sister). But I’m sure a lot of that has to do with having NO idea of the needs of a newborn. I’ve been slowly adding books to his nighttime reading that explain more of what newborns *do*(and don't do) - so it won’t be a total shock. He’s still trying to wrap his 4yr old brain around the fact that the newborn won’t be able to play tag with him from day 1. :D



What is the weather like where you live? Would you change anything about it if you could?

It’s 80-85%, and 85% humidity all year round. We’re originally from the U.S., but moved here (Singapore) 7 months ago for my husband’s job. Well, if I were changing *weather*, I’d remove almost all of that humidity (ick). If I were changing *Singapore*, I’d make it a little more open-minded, less uptight.



Do you have any favorite traditions you hope to pass on to your kids?

Aside from our Christmastime rituals (which of course, I’ve begun to pass down), I’m working on putting rituals into their daily life that I never had, but wished for as a child (i.e., mom/dad reading to them every night before bed).



What's your favorite place to visit when you get a chance to play "tourist" in your hometown?

Hmm. I’ve lived many places, and only in Singapore for 7 months – so for definition of “hometown” I’m gonna go with the place I lived the longest (Long Island, NY). If it’s summertime, I love a trip to Robert Moses Beach. Add a walk through Cold Spring Harbor (a quaint little town, with cute little shops), a hop on the train to the city (NYC) for a visit to the Museum of Natural History (where dh & I got engaged), a slice of NY pizza, and a bagel (of course!) and then I’m pretty much in HEAVEN. :love



What's the most spontaneous thing you've ever done?

Throwing a “surprise” wedding. For my wedding to dh, we decided at the last minute to (instead of just the two of us at the county courthouse) throw a party at our house, but not let any of the guests know they would actually be attending our wedding. It was easy to do - - we had just bought a house, and they all thought it was a housewarming. But when they opened the door, they were greeted by me, in my dress and veil. It was a perfect day. Wouldn’t change a thing! (we were living in Nevada at the time, so a marriage license was quite easy to come by so quickly)



If you could go anywhere for one day, where would you go?

If I could just bend that question, and add some time travel, I would go back in time (to when my grandparents were still living). I’d spend the evening sharing one more beer with them, in front of their fire pit in their backyard (on four acres of untouched land), listening to my grandpa tell another long, unbelievable tale (where you weren’t quite sure if he was telling the truth or not – turns out, he was ALWAYS telling the truth). The whole time, listening to the crackle of the fire, and having your eyes continually drawn upward to the brightest star-packed sky….

[~pi]

Do you have any favourite childhood memories?

If you could spend one year (and one year only!) living anywhere -- price/work situation no object -- where would you go and why?

[jinkel]

Do you have any favourite childhood memories?

My favorite childhood memories are from Christmas morning (every year). When I was a young child, my mother was a struggling single mom with four kids. We lived on public assistance, and our home life could be summed up in two words – conflict & unrest. But no matter how little money we had, or how stinky the other 364 days of the year were, my mom somehow managed to pull the rabbit out of the hat EVERY Christmas – it was the kind of day that was a dream come true (for any kid, but even more so for kids that only experienced it once a year). As an adult looking back, I am still in awe at how she pulled it off every time....


If you could spend one year (and one year only!) living anywhere -- price/work situation no object -- where would you go and why?

Hmm. Actually, there are so many awesome places to vacation - Hawaii, Thailand, Ireland, Scotland, GB, Australia, China (Shanghai), Greece - - to name but a few. But to LIVE for an entire year, then it gets trickier. I would want a place that could offer my kids a culturally rich environment, with solid exposure to other races.

So if I didn’t have to worry about money/work, I would probably choose Manhattan (NYC). It’s definitely a mixing pot as far as ethnicities go, plus it has no shortage of museums, theatres and music venues - large and small. Additionally, you can hop in the car for an hour, and you’re out on Long Island with the beaches and gorgeous parks. Hop in the car for ~5 hours and you can be in Vermont to ski, or Washington D.C., or Boston. And less than 3hrs on a plane can get you to Bermuda or Florida.

And did I happen to mention the pizza and bagels?? :Sheepish:

[Mama2ABCD]

Hi Kelli!:D

What are your favorite lines/quotes from a movie, song, or book?

What's your favorite time of year? Why?

What's your favorite color? Favorite color to wear?

What do you picture yourself doing with your children in 5 years?

[jinkel]

What are your favorite lines/quotes from a movie, song, or book?

I know most of you mamas had some wonderful, witty, intelligent quotes that you shared. I wish I could say that I had something of that level that I truly connect with – but the truth is, I don’t. I'm a bit more lowbrow, if you will. :W My favorite quote is from the movie The 40 Year Old Virgin (I won’t put the entire speech here, although ALL of it is just so perfect):

“…If I have to hear ‘Yah Mo B There’ one more time, I’m gonna Yah Mo burn this place down...”

The character in the movie has put up with something for so long without ever voicing his feelings about it. His unhappiness has built up to a point that he truly doesn’t care about the consequences of his ultimate outburst to his superior. The ONLY thing that matters is expressing himself.

It’s such a JOY to watch this scene - - although the U.S. is all about free speech (thank god!), there are still many circumstances in one’s life where we really aren’t able to express our feelings about a particular situation (its not socially ‘proper’, it could potentially damage a job/friendship, or we’re just plain too wussy to do it) - - he gets to say what so many of us would just LOVE to, given the same situation. It’s just so beautiful. Not to mention funny. :D



What's your favorite time of year? Why?

Well, when I live in a place with four seasons, I have *two* favorite times of year, Fall and Spring. I’m all about the *anticipation* being almost better than the actual thing. They’re both just bursting with the promise of the next season, all the possibilities. Fall is ripe with all of the wonderful things to come in the holiday season; Spring is like watching a pregnancy – an impending ‘birth’ of a season.



What's your favorite color? Favorite color to wear?

I love this question, because I can finally answer it. I’ve never known how to answer, when I’m asked ‘what’s your favorite color?’ because I never knew if they meant my fave color *on me* - which is NOT my favorite color.

Anyway….my favorite color is burgundy/maroon/merlot (whichever color others might identify it by). It’s so rich, and always soothes me, seeing it in my home.

My fave color to wear is pink. I’ve hated it all my life, until about 4 years ago, when I realized it happens to go well with my coloring, and heck, anything that helps me look better I’m all for! :wink



What do you picture yourself doing with your children in 5 years?

I hope to be having a spirited debate, and losing (at least with my older one). I would be so proud! I would love for my 9 yr old (he will be, in 5 yrs) to have learned the skills to argue his point with logic and back it up with research/data – it’s the best way to arm yourself in any debate. I would love to see him use these skills on myself or dh (or *anyone*, for that matter)! I’ve already seen him do it a couple times (on a 4yr old’s scale, of course). So, I will do all in my power to help him continue to develop these skills...

[lotus.blossom]

Before singapore/chidren/other circumstances did you have a career? Have any aspirations for a new career in the cuture (besides motherhood of course!)?
Whats your favorite hobby that you just don't have time for anymore?
And what is your favorite thing to do with your son?

[jinkel]

Before singapore/chidren/other circumstances did you have a career? Have any aspirations for a new career in the cuture (besides motherhood of course!)?


I was an executive assistant before motherhood – and I LOVED it. I had the good fortune of working for some amazing execs – great people who challenged my mind, and truly appreciated the assistant(s) and what they brought to the table. With that said...I had NO idea how much I would love being a mother. I knew I would love it, but I had NO idea. It took all of .025 of a second to decide whether to continue working, or stay at home full time with my son. :love So, If we can continue to afford it, I plan on being a SAHM until my children are finished in school. I look forward to the days of bringing the kids to soccer practice, music lessons, (or whatever extracurricular activities they pursue). And if, along the way, I happen to have time to take up a new hobby, do some volunteering, or take a class here and there, heck, that would be the icing on the cake. :D




Whats your favorite hobby that you just don't have time for anymore?

Sleeping in. :lol But seriously, I actually never really had any hobbies. Weird, huh? Okay, not so weird - more like LAZY. :p

I had always wanted to learn to knit – and just finally took some lessons a few months ago, and have been working hard to bring my basic skill level/confidence up enough to try a pair of booties (I know, I know – for those true knitters out there, a pair of booties is literally *nothing* - but for me, I was even afraid to try *that*, until two nights ago – and it worked out so well – I was so insanely proud! :Sheepish:), and now I’m DYING to knit some soakers! I’m not sure that I’m quite ready for that, but I’m so eager to try it anyway (wish me luck)!



And what is your favorite thing to do with your son?

Talk. Truthfully, I find nothing more fascinating than a child’s mind. I love hearing the stories he makes up, I love hearing about what he did at the playground (or the pool, school, anything), I love the pure honesty of emotion while he explains his disappointment or pride or joy in something. I truly cannot get enough of that, especially when I realize (as my dh is so fond of saying to me, with a chuckle) “he’s so cute – just think….before we know it, he’s gonna be a zit-faced backtalking teenager who’s ashamed to be seen with us in public....” :wink

[Miss Juice]

Good luck with your soakers!!! They are so much fun to knit. And not that difficult. I've tacked soakers but I'm afraid to try booties.

What are your favorite things to do in the springtime? Is there spring in Singapore, or is it mostly the same year round?

Have you had any strange or interesting food cravings with this pregnancy?