Remembering the Past

We met with the hubz' cousin on Sunday at Gerry's Grill in Union City. It was funny to see the two of them bonding as if they've only seen each other recently when truth of the matter is, they haven't seen each other for the past 20 years or so!

The conversation drifted to our first few years in the US. To most people back home, they think that life overseas is heaven when in fact, it isn't. This is why a lot of people would give anything to be able to get that seemingly elusive tourist visa.

Life in the US hadn't been easy for an immigrant like me. I left my comfort zone in exchange for a life of uncertainty here - all because I wanted to give my future children better lives. I was hired directly from Manila. I was one of those Y2K programmers they brought over to help with the conversion. I had no relatives close by - I relied heavily on my friends' kindness. My first apartment didn't have a decent furniture, everything was bought from the thrift store. I was sleeping in a sleeping bag. I walked a lot (because I didn't have a car) and took public transportation. On days when I had to work late, I would sleep on my cubicle. I worked long hours even on weekends. It was tough being the "kid" in your group (I was only 24 then) and I felt that I had to prove myself so they would take me seriously.

I wasn't born with a golden (even silver) spoon in my mouth so everything I have now, I worked hard and prayed harder for. My perseverance and hardwork did pay off, and thankfully, my husband and children wouldn't experience walking home uphill (I used to live in Daly City) on a cold and rainy winter night. They wouldn't have to sleep in a sleeping bag, and sit on the floor. They wouldn't have to run after a bus because they were at the stop a few seconds late. They wouldn't have to slave away because their greencards are in progress and one bad move and they'll be shipped home. They wouldn't have to go to a laundromat to get their laundry done because the washer and drier in the apartment complex is broken.

Ah, the things you endure for the people you love! I hope that someday my kids will realize how blessed they are. I hope that they would learn to appreciate and value all that they have because behind every penny is someone's blood, sweat, and tears.

It's back to work yesterday after the 3-day Martin Luther King Jr. weekend. I got the chance to clean our bedroom, scrub the bathroom, do loads of laundry, complete my ironing, take care of Kail. On Sunday, we took Kail to the Oakland Zoo which he enjoyed very much. At a tender age of two, we have seen his love for animals. At the zoo, he never failed to amaze us when he was able to name most of them - from elephant, to zebra (which he calls horsie), to girraffe, to the pig, and a lot others. He also enjoyed taking the sky ride with his dad.

It was a wee bit cold when we were there so the next day, I have sore throat and I began coughing. I guess I wasn't bundled up properly. It definitely was a sunny day, though the temperature was in the 50s. Now I'm hacking again.

Kail and I had a funny conversation yesterday while he was watching his Baby Einstein DVD:

Mommy: Kail, that's a driveway

Kail: Car

Mommy: No Kail, it's a driveway for the car

Kail: No mommy, CAR! (pointing at the car easing in to the driveway).

Oh well, Kail won this debate of course.

The holidays have come and gone. And then, while busily counting down for Kail's second birthday on Jan. 4, the little boy got hit by a virus. He was harboring a 102.9 degree fever on his birthday - very clingy and oh-so-irritable. Poor guy! At about the same time last year, he was also sick, and has just gotten out of the hospital in Manila.

We did nothing fancy on his birthday. I was hoping we could go to Disneyland but good thing we didn't book anything. The Bay Area was pounded by a winter storm which left a lot of households in the dark (thankfully, not ours though). Kail was down with a nasty combination of fever, cough, colds. He was up and about almost all night because he couldn't breathe properly. He's a little better - no more fever, but he passed the virus on to me. So, I have clogged nose, sore throat, and I'm barking like a dog. I couldn't take any medicine because I'm pregnant so I'm relying mostly on good ol' natural remedies like gargling with warm water and salt (and sometimes with cayenne pepper instead of salt), eating lots of oranges, drinking tons of liquids, and trying to stay warm.

Hubz, on the other hand has been spared. Perhaps because his antibodies are imported from the Philippines... ;)

Hopefully we'd be well soon and the weather will finally clear up. We're still hoping we could take Kail somewhere for his birthday.

Have a blessed 2008 everyone!

How was everyone's Christmas?

Christmas is still my favorite holiday, apart from a couple of years not so long ago when I played "The Grinch" and hated celebrating it. That was before the husband came to the US and before I had Kail. Now, even when Christmas is the most expensive holiday, I enjoyed it even more because I saw it through the eyes of my son.

We attended a christmas party at the Escudero's on Christmas Eve. After the party, we went straight to church for the midnight mass. Kail was up until the First Reading, and then he fell asleep in daddy's arms. It felt good going to church with my family.

The next day, we had a couple of friends over (Kail's godparents) to celebrate with us. Kail had a blast opening presents. He was so excited to play with toys. I never remembered having this many gifts when I was a child. Even the husband commented the same thing. We'd be fortunate to have new sets of clothes (and shoes) for Christmas. Call it reliving my childhood, but that's exactly how I felt while Kail was opening his presents. I felt more excited than he is!

It has been confirmed - we're having another boy in the family! Looks like I'm the only rose among the thorns, hehehe! Our little boy proudly displayed his "patutoy" when we had the ultrasound on Monday. The husband laughed because he wanted another boy. I would've wanted a girl but hey, I don't mind being the only queen in the house - as long as the baby is healthy and he looks like me again, hahaha!

Now we need to search for a boy's name. I only have a girl's name ready... ;)

Our East Coast photos are finally up. You can browse them here. Just be warned that there are lots of photos!

To those who congratulated us on our family's new addition, thank you.

This pregnancy is so much different than my first. I always feel queasy, I have frequent headaches, and I feel crappy. I am past the first trimester but I still feel queasy all the time. My friends say that it's because I now have the husband around to pamper me with attention so I'm feeling like this. To those who have been in the same situation, you probably know I'm not acting up. And because I feel different, I do hope it's because we're having a girl this time! My husband would roll his eyes over this and would say that this would give me a chance to share my ka-kikayan with someone. How true! ;)

On Kail-front, I took this photo of him with the tree over the weekend.

I didn't have a hard time making him smile for the camera. My son is definitely not camera-shy. I have trained him well, hehe! He has grown fondness with Barney and Elmo. He loves to sing along (though we couldn't understand most of what he's singing) with Barney, he imitates the action songs, and he loves to dance. He's still a happy and friendly kid - would say "hi" to anyone and "bye" to people leaving. He's starting to show a little bit of independence. But we still call him our "terrible two". He throws a very bad tantrums when he doesn't get his way. He gets upset when we couldn't understand what he's saying. If he doesn't want to wear the clothes I'm asking him to wear (or even shoes), he'd say "ayaw" and would refuse to wear them until he gets to pick what he wants. He says "oh no", and can now say "mommy" (finally! It used to be "mama").

Father and son are still inseperable. Yesterday, the husband had a job interview. When Kail woke up, he was wandering around the house looking for daddy. He thought his dad was merely playing hide and seek with him. Whilst I was able to leave him immediately for babysitting before, I now have to sneak out so he wouldn't cry.

I still marvel at the rate my son is growing. It seemed just yesterday I was holding this newborn infant who was solely dependent on me to survive. Now he's slowly showing that he can do things on his own. I'm having a hard time letting go. How does a mother actually accept that one day, the children she so carefully raised will be on their own?

How was everyone's Thanksgiving? We spent ours at home with a few friends over. I didn't cook the turkey this time but ordered from Boston Market instead. It was the husband's first Thanksgiving, and because he is finally here, we truly have a lot to be thankful for.

I also went shopping the next day. I didn't wake up as early as 4am to brave the crowds though. I went to the mall at around 8am, went to Kohl's first, then to Old Navy, and lastly to Target. By 11am, I was done with my shopping. I went home, had lunch with Kail and hubz, then we went to Toyota and came home with this baby - a new 2008 Highlander Hybrid Limited in Iced Amethyst Mica.

We went to the LV store in San Francisco on Saturday to exchange my Tulum bag with the Manhattan PM. I found the Tulum GM too roomy for me.

Here's a cute conversation I had with Kail:

Mom - Kail, can you show me where the baby is?
Kail - Babeee there (points at mommy's tummy, and kissed it too)
Mom - Good boy! Now can you go to daddy and show him where the baby is?
Kail - Babeee there (goes to daddy and points on his tummy).
Mom - nyahaha - you have a big tummy daddy!

So looking forward for a 4-day weekend so I can finally upload our vacation photos, put up the tree, decorate the house for Christmas.

Have a great Thanksgiving everyone... just in case my next post takes a while... ;)

We're Back!

We're finally home from an eventful trip to the East Coast. We were living by the suitcase for 2 weeks as we trotted from New York to Canada to Chicago.

When we got back, it felt summertime in the Bay Area when compared to the weather in the East Coast. It was already in the 30s when we were there!

Kail was harboring a fever on our flight back. Thank God the Tylenol kept him sleeping all the time. I was really afraid we'd get a repeat of our trip home to the Philippines where he cried the whole 12 hours! I guess the weather really got to him. Stubborn as he is, he refused to wear his bonnet, nor his mittens, and he doesn't even want to wear socks at times!

Hubz aunt gave me an LV bag as a birthday gift. She took me to an LV store and asked me to pick any bag I wanted and she'll pay for it. I was beyond shocked. She has done too much for us. She paid for our hotel the whole 6 nights we were in Chicago. She lent us their van so we could get around. She would take us to dinner on most nights they're not busy with their business. And then she took us shopping! After too much prodding, she got me this bag (the Tulum). After all, if it was just me, I couldn't imagine myself spending that much money for a bag.

Funny thing is that my husband was so shocked of the price that on our way back, he kept checking if I have the box at hand. When we were boarding the plane to San Francisco, we left the box at the boarding gate. My husband ran with Kail in his arms to get it. In the midst of all the flurry, the flight attendant at the gate asked where he was going and he blurted out in Tagalog "may kukunin lang ako". He said he was so worried that he couldn't think how to translate that in English, hahaha! All's well that ended well because he found it just sitting where we left it - whew! Hubz said that bag's going to give him a heart attack, hahaha!

I still haven't uploaded the photos. Will hopefully do that one of these days!

Taking off on a jetplane...

I'm sooo in need of this break that I can't wait to leave. We're going to exciting places starting tomorrow until the 10th of November.

The Big Apple... The City that Never Sleeps!


Niagara Falls

Chicago

I'm so out of here... if only our stuff would pack itself!

Ciao!

Vocabulary of a 19-month old toddler

Kail's vocabulary is increasing by the day. Though he still blabbers in a language we couldn't understand, he at least has some words we could decipher:

baby - ah dee
daddy - dah dee
mommy - mama
ball - ba
balloon - lol
thank you - eh ooo
cat - tat
dog - dot
elmo - momo
no more - momon
banana - nana
wala na - nana
milk - dede
water - tater

I can't wait for my son to finally be able to speak in phrases. At the rate he's going, he's probably going to be as ma-kwento as mommy, hehe.

***************

Jody tagged me, so here are some weird things about me:

1. I'm a bag lady (not that I hoard bags) but I carry lots of 'em. I have a laptop roller with my laptop and work-related documents, my lunch bag, and a big shoulder bag which contains reading materials and personal items.

2. I sleep with a blanket all the time - even when it's scorching hot in the summer. I just have a fan fullydedicated to make me comfortable and the aircon is in full blast, hehe.

3. I'm a shopaholic - whether in store or online.

4. I love window-shopping. I can get out of a store without carrying anything, but just looking at things to buy satisfies me.

5. I can't sleep without hugging a pillow, even when I have my two boys beside me to hug.

6. I wipe my bathroom sink and faucets everytime I use it.

7. I keep magazines and books in the bathroom for reading when I'm on the "throne", hehe.

8. I have a LOT of scrapbooking stuff, but I'm not cranking up enough LOs to make a dent on my stash.

9. Some women crave for bags and girly stuff, while I have a love affair with cameras. I have a film SLR (Nikon N80), a DSLR (Nikon D80), a point and shoot digital camera (Olympus Stylus). I have 3 lenses - Tamron 28 to 200 mm, Nikon 50mm f/1.8, Nikon 18-105 f/3.5-4.6. I am salivating over Panasonic DMC-LX2 or Leica D-Lux - point and shoot cameras with 16:9 wide CCD, f/2.8mm wide angle lens. Also in my wish list is an SB-800 or SB-600 external flash.

10. I pray the rosary on the train (on my way home from work).

My Creative Endeavors

I've been in a creative rut since October 2005, back when I was pregnant with Kail. After I have given birth, the more I didn't have time to scrap because I was busy solely taking care of an infant. When I got back to work, the more it became impossible for me to sit down and scrap. I was faced with the responsibility of taking care of Kail and then having to work full time. I was on a hectic schedule with a demanding job. My need for creativity was easily satisfied by scrap shopping and reading scrapbook-related magazines. Now that the husband is home with us, I can now sit and be able to scrap a little here and there. In fact, whenI told hubz I needed to get back into shape by going to the gym, he quipped that I didn't need to do that, and that I ought to spend whatever free time I have scrapping. I'm glad he supports my need for a creative outlet and that he sees the importance of documenting our lives.

So, what have I been up to these days? I have enrolled in two more Big Picture Scrapbooking classes - Brushworks by Renee Pearson and Write Now by Amy Sorensen. I can now create brushes with photos, swirls, even my own handwriting for my layouts. With Write Now, I am able to journal the fast and easy way. It's not perfect journalling but it's the type of journalling that focuses on the why, not necessarily on the who, what, where type of stuff. I am also close to completing the All About Me album. This is a kit I got to benefit Breast Cancer research last year. I just have to add the photos and do a little bit more on the journalling and I'm done. Next on my plate is Kail's baby album. This is also a kit I had purchased on sale at Simple Scrapbooks. I have printed off the photos and am now doing bits of journalling. I'll be ready to assemble it as soon as I've completed my All About Me album, hopefully before Kail turns 21, teehee! I have also completed 5 journalling entries on some of our everyday happenings. I guess you can say that I'm the type of scrapbooker who prioritizes our everyday lives rather than the special occasions. I feel that our life may be mundane to some, but it is that little bits and pieces of our everyday that creates the special big picture of our life. I just hope I won't lose the momentum - what with our hectic weekend schedule as we take hubz on a tour of California.

In the meantime, I'm posting the last digital layout I made from the Brushworks class. The background paper is a close-up photo of Kail I converted into brushes. Cool huh?! :)

Very Picky Eaters

Kail used to have an appetite of a horse. He would eat anything and everything that he could get his tinyhands on, even when he's not supposed to eat them because of his allergies. Lately he's been refusing food. I somehow blame my ever-picky husband for it. Hubz is an honest-to-goodness carnivore. He doesn't eat veggies nor fruits. Even with meat, he's very picky. He won't eat anything that he's not used to seeing/eating. His favorites are simply sinigang and fried chicken (not very challenging to cook!). He doesn't eat leftovers, and this is because his lola owns a canteen so he was spoilt not having to repeat food the next meal, and having a variety of choices when he eats. He doesn't cook either because his lola does that for a living anyway. Kail sees him picking out his food so he probably thinks this is how it's supposed to be, since they're together 24x7.

I'm really finding it hard to feed my two boys these days. I'm practically pulling my hair out to find a way for them to eat. As a working mom, I don't have time to cook three meals a day. Since migrating to the US a couple of months ago, hubz doesn't eat lunch anymore. He would eat a bagel and it'll last him 'til dinner. Come dinner time, I noticed that whenever we have veggies or leftovers, he would eat very little. But when it's meat, he eats even the last bit of rice.

I don't know what else to do to make my boys eat. At least Kail eats fruits and veggies, but hubz, forget it. It's like talking to a tree when I tell him the health benefits of eating these types of food.

Any ideas mommies? I'm really desperate for tips.

I am one who have always believed in the power of prayer. I have seen it in my life and I can definitely attest to this.

It is with this same faith that I would like to humbly ask for your prayers for a friend and her unborn baby. Please check out Kaye's site for details. She is one very strong wife and mother. Her unwavering faith in God is truly an inspiration.

Thank you and here's to the power of prayer!

At the airport last week, I saw this poor woman carrying loads of baggages (on a cart of course), trying hard to keep up with her husband who is carrying absolutely nothing but a laptop bag. Then, he boarded the elevator well ahead of us (my roommate, me, my husband, and my little boy). His wife boarded last. In fact, the elevator almost closed up on her. The husband said something in their native language, and the wife just kept quiet. It sounded like he was berating his wife for not being able to keep up.

I told my husband I wanted to take the suitcase out of the cart, hit the husband on the head for not respecting his wife. My husband replied that in their culture, such is normal. It was then that I realized that though I came from a third world country, I have a lot to thank for. As Filipinos, our parents always reiterated the value of respect - especially to women. I remembered men would always say "ladies first". I am also grateful for the fact that my husband treats me as a partner - an equal. We walk hand-in-hand - nobody lagging behind. He consults me on his decisions, respects my opinions, allows me to control our finances, does his share of household chores, is a hands-on dad when it comes to Kail.

Related to this, I have a teammate asking a Filipino male friend how they are at home. My friend responded that we equally share household chores. He was aghast. In their house, he is the king. He would lie on the couch all day - doing whatever he feels like doing, while the wife does everything. I could not believe my ears! If that was my husband lying on the couch while I scramble to get stuff done, I would really hit him with whatever I can lay my hands on.

Unbelievable that in our modern day and age, there are still cultures who treat women as second and third class citizens (seemed lower sometimes). In my opinion, these men do not deserve wives, they ought to hire slaves!

I swear, this is like eye-candy! I like the the hobo, gypsy fringe bag, and these two purses - this and that.

Sigh, I'm not a bag person, but I couldn't resist these bags that looked like patterned papers - so yummy! How I wish money grew on trees!

Have a great week everyone!

I've been Tagged!

I've been tagged by Jigi!

I must post the rules, 7 random things about me and then tag others to do the same. Sounds fair enough, right?

These are the rules… each player starts with 7 random facts about themselves on their Blog. People who are tagged need to blog 7 facts about themselves and post the rules as well. At the end of their blog list 7 people you are tagging. Let them know that they are tagged by leaving them a comment.

1. Shopping is my therapy. I head out to the mall when I'm stressed.

2. I take online classes at www.bigpicturescrapbooking.com to hopefully curb my creativity back on track, and to encourage me to start scrapbooking again.

3. I love to read. Whenever I have an idle time (like my commute to work), I read books, magazines, or anything that piques my interest.

4. I'm a shoe fettish. A woman can never have enough shoes.

5. Fall is my favorite season. The weather is just right for me and I have to admit, I look cute in boots, hehe!

6. I collect Strini handblown glasses. I have not purchased a single one though because everything I have are gifts.

7. I'm a light sleeper. I wake up with the slightest noise, but can easily get back to sleep.

Please feel free to tag yourself...

Happy Father's Day (belated)!

To my hubz...
To my dad...
Happy Father's Day!
I love you both

I've always admired "hands-on" dads and I'm thankful to find one in my husband. It doesn't matter that he wasn't physically present for the past 16 months of Kail's life. He had only been here for a month and yet, he and Kail are inseparable.

To all dads I have had the pleasure of knowing, this day is made just for you.

After a Long Hiatus...

Yes, the husband is finally home with us. He has adjusted to his "domesticated" life pretty well. He has learned to change nappies, feed and take care of Kail, give baths, wash the bottles, mow the lawn, vacuum the carpet, help me with cleaning the house, put out the garbage. For someone who grew up having maids around, this is definitely a 360 degree change! I asked him if he gets homesick and his response, well, he doesn't even have time to be homesick, hehe!

I took him around the city on his first week, to Discovery Kingdom on his second, and to LA during the long weekend. As you can see, we've been pretty busy.

I've also decided to change skin and change blog title. However, I lost all the links to the blogs I frequently visit. So, if you're reading this, can you post the link to your blogs on the Comments section? I'd truly appreciate it!

I'm leaving you with some photos of our newly-reunited family... 'Til next post!

The Long Wait is Finally Over...

After four years of waiting, hoping, praying... after all the tears and heartaches, the disappointments and frustrations... the sacrifices, and the challenges of maintaining a long distance marriage, hubz is arriving in the US on May 10 - in time for our fourth year anniversary.

This time, new challenges will emerge, but one that we'll face head on - together.

Thank you for all those who offered prayers for us. That was the one thing that kept us going. We know that the Lord will eventually grant our prayers, at a time He feels that is right.

My baby will finally have a father of his own. He doesn't need to "borrow" someone else's.

Doing it Digi Week 3

This week, I have learned to create my own digital patterned paper and alphabet. Isn't that cool?!

Doing it Digi Week 2

Here are my latest layouts for Week 2 of Doing it Digi workshop:





I'm so loving this class! Today is our third week and I say... "bring it on"!

Today Kail walked on his own. I've always known he can do it but he's a little scared of letting go. So while I was at work, he made his first steps, and he's been walking like a pro since then. He walks fast, but surprisingly, he doesn't fall. It's as if he has been walking for a while now.

One of the things I hate about being a working mom is that I get to miss these firsts - special moments that I thought I should have the priviledge of witnessing. It broke my heart that I wasn't there when he took his first steps.

I thought about telling hubz about my sentiments but decided not to. After all, at least I was able to see him walk when I came to pick him up. He, on the other hand, has missed a lot more firsts. He can't even hug his son! I have no right to complain. I'm seeing my son grow right before my very eyes, and today, he just proved that he is, indeed growing up fast, faster than I would've wanted.

Doing it digi!

I finally did it! I enrolled in Renee Pearson's Digital Scrapbooking 4-week workshop at Big Picture Scrapbooking, and it was one of the best decisions I ever did!

I know I've always wanted to scrap, but with a demanding job, caring for Kail, and a house to run, I don't know how I'll ever find the time. Like me, G is also one busy mama, but she'd manage to squeeze in "play" despite her hectic schedule. She gave me the idea of enrolling online, which would definitely force me into scrapping again. So, to cut the story short, I finally took the plunge, and I'm so glad I did.

The first week was about color blocking, and though the instructions were given on a step by step basis, I still had to re-do my very first page before I got it right. I spent a couple of hours doing that one page, but my effort paid off in the end. The next two pages were a walk in the park! Now I'm craving for more... ;)

Here are my first three digital pages. They're very simple, I know, but it's a definite start.









So, am I giving up my stash of scrapbook supplies over this? Nope, not in a million years. I'm merely trying to explore the digital side of scrapbooking, and hopefully be a hybrid scrapbooker in the future. I still like the feel of paper, the textures embellishments provide, and the therapy I get from shopping.

In the end, I believe that scrapbooking is not about the process, it is about the stories we want to tell, the memories we want to preserve, and the lives we want to cherish. Digital, traditional, or hybrid, all are merely "ways" to get there.

Here's to preserving life-long memories. Here's to life artists!

Kail had his nightly talk with daddy last night and his reaction amused me. He mumbled something over the phone and he laughed. And laughed. And laughed again.

I asked daddy what he said. It was the usual "hi Kail... sleep now... goodnight. I love you!" But Kail kept laughing.

He also recently learned to place his hand on his ears whenever he'd hear the phone ring and say "daddy".

These are way too cute moments that make me happy as a mom.

Baby Einstein Themed 1st Birthday

This is my favorite photo from Kail's 1st birthday party - one of the few where he's actually smiling! He was a bit grumpy that day, having been dragged out of his nap, and then greeted by lots and lots of unfamiliar faces. Next, the airconditioning couldn't keep the venue well-ventilated because of the almost 300 guests in attendance! Still, it was a great party, one we wouldn't have been able to pull off without the help of these wonderful friends:

Venue - Artist Pavillion, Makati Park and Garden
Rating: 9
The place was amazing. The only downside is that it can be a pain to book it. With the party in January, we were trying to book it in September, but was told they'd only accept bookings 3 monts prior. Syempre the OC in me wasin panic because what if the date wasn't available and we'd have a tough time looking for another venue? But, with prayers and a very reliable party organizer, we were able to book it in time.

I would recommend the place for those with less than 300 guests (that's the maximum capacity of the venue). Since we had a little over or below the 300 limit, the airconditioning couldn't keep the place cool. Besides, I felt that there was limited space to move around because of the number of people nga.

Party Planner - Pizzie Hernandez-Yap and Irish Pablo of Little Royalties.
Rating: 10
They came highly recommended by a fellow n@wie, Emillie. We've inquired from Jelly Bellies and Kiddie Parties but we were so disappointed with their responses (or lack thereof). Since we were planning from out of the country, I would depend heavily on a reliable party organizer. Pizzie was so good at keeping in touch via email and updating me on what's happening. She would also send photos every now and then of designs for approval. They were able to customize our package according to our needs (and wants).

Initially, I was hesitant on the Baby Einstein theme because I have yet to see (in n@w) a party with the same theme but Pizzie convinced me that it's do-able, and she was the one excited about it. Since it was Kail's favorite,we decided to push through with the Baby E theme. We didn't go wrong!

Because Kail was hospitalized when we got to Manila (due to pneumonia), Pizzie even shopped for the game prizes and lootbag contents. I was soooo relieved!

We wouldn't have pulled off a successful party without Pizzie's all-out help and very reliable party-planning.


Caterer - Blue Petals
Rating: 10
We weren't able to taste the food - yung leftovers na lang. Hubz and I were both busy with entertaining our gueststhat we weren't able to eat at all! Our guests told us that the food is great though, so that's a plus. The waiters were very efficient, and there was even a waiter who would ask us often (me and hubz) if we needed something to eat or drink. Food was even brought to our table kasi nga we were so busy roaming around. There were a lot of waiters during the event, but I guess because we had around 300 guests.


Photographer - Jeff Lopez
Rating: 10
Jeff was at the venue early - scouting for possible photo ops. He was shooting away when guests started arriving, and wouldn't stop shooting even for a bite. He would also ask us if there's anything we want him to shoot, etc.

Prior to the event, I emailed Pia (Jeff's wife - also a fellow n@wie) of my recommended shots. When we received the DVD of the 300+ high resolution photos, everything was there! Hirap lang mamili ng photos for printing but we were so happy with all of them!

Since we were leaving 5 days after the party, they were able to deliver all the prints, the DVD with the high resphotos, the shadowbox layout, and the clock in time.


Choco Fountain - Jeff and Pia Lopez
Rating: 10
Again, Pia was there at the venue early setting up the choco fountain. Medyo tago lang yung placement nung choco fountain but soon enough, it became popular with guests. Pia was there all the time to assist the guests. She would refill when the dippings or the chocolates are running low.

Again, we were so busy roaming around but Pia brought us strawberries dipped in chocolates because it was running out and we haven't even tasted them.

Galing ng tandem ng mag-asawang Lopez!


Make up - Emillie Cobarrubias of n@w
Rating: 10
Who says we only get to be made up during our wedding? As a stage mom (and proud of it), I believe we should also look good on our kids' birthdays. Emillie became a good friend since our w@w days so I was really flattered she got to do my makeup. Our friends and family told me I looked so pretty, and even with makeup on, it was very natural. The makeup lasted for hours, even amidst sweat.... :) I must say, I also looked good in photos, hahaha! Ems is very talented, and like me, kikay din kasi, hehehe!


Invitations - Adworks c/o Little Royalties
Rating: 10
When we got Little Royalties to plan the party, I asked them if it's possible to get Adworks to do the invites. Yun pala, their invitation supplier is really Adworks. I was so happy. Though we went through several revisions of the invites because of my OC-ness, I didn't hear a single complaint about it. They would also submit a photo of the draft a day later.


Video - c/o Little Royalties
Rating: 10
They arrived on time, and was shooting right away when guests started arriving. They asked for Kail's photos to be included in the DVD. They were able to deliver the output a month or so later. We were happy with the output. Even Kail loved watching his video because the music they used were mostly his favorites. Please note, we didn'teven tell them what music to use but they were able to choose appropriate ones.


Food Carts, Game booths, Face Painter - c/o Little Royalties
Rating: 10
The food carts were already set when we arrived, and even before the first guest started to arrive. They were ready to serve when the guests started tricklng in. Even Kail loved the food. We had waffle, ice cream, and fishball/squidball carts. Patok din sa guests - both young and old ito.

The gamebooths were positioned near the entrance and so with the face painter. We saw kids having fun playing games at the game booths. We also saw a number of kids lining up for the face painter. Ganda din ng mga designs niya. If not for Kail's skin allergies, I would've wanted his hand painted siguro.... :)


Photo Bag Tags - c/o Little Royalties
Rating: 10
Initially, we wanted to have Konsepto do the bag tags but they were already booked that day. Pizzie was able to source out another supplier that does the same thing. Weeks before the event, they submitted the photo tag design for approval.

During the party, they were positioned at the entrance so the kids were able to have their photos taken before they took their seats. Our guests loved the photo bag tags because it's cute and functional at the same time. We even had 5 or 6 made for ourselves, hehehe!


Cake, Tarp, Backdrop, Venue Decors, Pinata, Pabitin - c/o Little Royalties
Rating: 10
We loved the cake! Even Kail loved looking at it because he recognized the characters there. Pizzie submitted the design months before the party and I approved it immediately. We upgraded on the cupcakes and cookie lollipops and they were a hit among kids.

The venue decoration was amazing. Gulat din kami with the pinata and pabitin. Kids had fun with those too.

The mylar balloon at the centerpiece was sourced out from US Balloons, so we brought it home with us. All others were sourced out from Manila na. I was really amazed that Baby E supplies are locally available din pala.


Lootbags/Backpacks - c/o Little Royalties
Rating: 10
The design was great that I even got 2 backpacks for Kail alone, hehehe. We opted for primary colors para generic.

I initially brought home some chocolates and small cans of playdohs to put in there but Pizzie texted us mukhang kulang so if it's ok, they're going to fill it with local chips. Tuwang-tuwa yung kids when they lined up for the souvenirs. Even I enjoyed munching on the chips that are in there, hehehe!


Host/Magician - Wanlu
Rating: 10
Wanlu brought the house down! This was one part of the party both adults and kids enjoyed. I was scanning everyone's faces and they were alllistening intently at Wanlu's tricks. He even made sure hubz, me, and Kail are part of his gig. He would often call us for games, or tricks.
He took care of everything - from the games, to the pabitins and pinata, to singing Happy Birthday, to blowing the cake. He truly was the life of the party all along. He's a little on the expensive side but truly worth every penny.


Lechon - Lydia's Lechon
Rating: 8
Those who were able to taste the lechon told us it was very yummy. Unfortunately, wala halos kaming nakita even when we bought the biggest one because we had Bllue Petals chop it so hindi buong lechon yung naka-display kundi chopped na. Wala rin kaming naiuwi - but this was because my MIL gave them to relatives. Favorite pa naman ng husband ko ito, so we were really disappointed we didn't even get to taste it. In fairness to Lydia's, they brought the lechon early even before the first guest arrived.

Baby Einstein paper plates, cups, napkins - Party City

These are some more stuff I brought from the US. Not all Party City stores carry them so I had to scout for one that does tapos dinayo ko pa yun. All for the love of Kail! :)

Reading all the exchanges in n@w, I first thought that planning a party in 3 months would be a total chaos, considering we were having a party after the holidays pa. But ours turned out a very successful one. Everyone texted us after the party to thank us for inviting them because their kids had a great time, and they also enjoyed the party.

The reason why we ended up with only 3 months to prepare for the party was because hubz and I were debating on whether it was practical to have a big celebration for Kail's birthday. I wanted it small and intimate, while he wanted to go all out. Since he was the financer, I had to give in. He brought up a valid point anyway. Since we are based in the US, this is the one occassion when our friends and families would see Kail. Who knows when the next one will be? Besides, we have waited a long time for Kail to come. What couldn't we do for him?

Photos can be browsed here. Disclaimer: Those with filename starting with DSC* were taken by my roommate so they look blurred. Only those with IMG* filenames were taken by Jeff. Baka kasi isipin ninyo Jeff takes blurry photos, hehehe!

Here is the altered wall clock from Jeff and Pia Lopez:

Here is the shadowbox layout from Jeff and Pia Lopez:

Kail's 1st Birthday Invitation

This is for those asking what Kail's invitation looked like.

For more photos of his first birthday, please check this out.

TGIF

I can't believe it's Friday! The week had been long, tiring, and stressful that I couldn't wait for the weekend. So, to celebrate , I had coffee for breakfast for the first time in YEARS (yep, you’ve read it right). The last time I had my favorite Starbucks’ café mocha was before I had gotten pregnant. Coffee is bad for my migraine so I’ve been avoiding it like the plague. Today though, I had to have some caffeine in my system. I went to fasting since last night to have my blood drawn for next Friday’s doctor’s appointment.

Like J, between the house chores, caring for a busy 14 month old, working like CRAZY, and an impending spring cleaning for a garage sale on the 31st of this month, I am so overwhelmed and so exhausted! I’ve even picked a fight or two with the husband the past week or so. It was that bad, and I hope it won’t get worse than it already is. When I put Kail in bed for the night, I had to sneak out and work again. I think I’m brain dead already!

However, this post from D opened my eyes that I ought to be spending a lot more time with the little boy. I grieved for her because as a mother, I know that she must be losing her mind right now. When I learned of that, I logged off immediately at 5pm, went to pick up my little boy, and spent time playing with him. It made me realize that my job is a means to an end, and not the other way around. Though I am working for my little boy, I shouldn’t let work run our lives and our schedules. It’s not fair to Kail who’s growing up faster than I would’ve wanted.

I still haven’t gotten the time to post on Kail’s 1st birthday. But, thanks to Jeff and Pia, you can browse photos of his party here.

Next week is an exciting week for me and hubz, but I'll post about it after the fact... :)

Have a great weekend everyone! Enjoy the weather!

A Valentine's Day Greeting

To these two guys who captured my heart - I love you both!

I pray that this is the last Valentine we'll spend apart.


Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Some Photos of our Busy One Year Old

Yep, Kail just turned one on January 4. I couldn't believe how much he's grown! He had a successful birthday party on the 7th of January, but will post more on that later... along with some kwento on our trip home. In the meantime, I hope you'll enjoy looking at the photos.





And presenting our first ever family photo... :) So, sino'ng kamukha? ;)




All photos by Picture Company at The Podium.

Happy New Year to all and hope you all had a meaningful Christmas. Here's to a bountiful 2007...

What's Going On???

I have neglected this blog (again) for far too long and I thought I'd drop by to share what's happening with us these days.

Of all the days to sprain my ankle, I did so last Thursday when I was running down the stairs, reading a work-related document, and missed a couple of steps down. I thought I broke my ankle but a quick trip to the ER proved otherwise (thank God). I wouldn't want to be on a cast on Christmas day, moreso, being pushed by my roommate on a wheelchair at the airport, while I push Kail's stroller. Wouldn't that be a funny sight? Now I'm walking with an aircast (which I can remove when I feel like it).

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I am done shopping, wrapping presents, distributing them (almost), and sending Christmas cards. I am almost done packing for our trip to Manila on Monday night (yay!).

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Friday the 22nd was my last day at work, and I'm now officially off on holiday. I will be back on January 16th (the 15th is a Martin Luther King Jr. holiday). I have been so swamped the last few weeks leading to my vacation. I have a lot of To Dos on my list that I have (thank God) all ticked off.

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I am looking forward to seeing father and son meet for the very first time. Just thinking about it has gotten me teary eyed already. I can sense hubz' excitement whenever I talk to him on the phone. He kept buying stuff for Kail, and making sure everything's perfect for his big birthday.

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I got a letter from NVC (National Visa Center) yesterday to inform me that they received my request for hubz' petition upgrade and they are currently looking at his case. They will keep us informed of the result. I pray, pray, pray... AMEN!

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2006 in Review

God has blessed us with so much this year that our hearts are overwhelmed with joy and praise. We also have had challenges and struggles but they were outnumbered with the many graces God has bestowed upon our family and our loved ones. So, let me take this moment to take you back in time as we review the highlights of our year...

In January, I gave birth to a healthy 8.10 lb, 22 in. Caerwyn Mikhail via C-section at Sutter Solano Community Hospital in Vallejo, California. Ten days later, friends saw me dancing the night away at my roommate's big milestone birthday bash

In February, I continued to adjust to my new role as a mom. Kail was very colicky so he would cry incessantly the whole night. The lack of sleep contributed to my low milk supply.

In March, I brought Kail to the office so my teammates would see him. He flashed his toothless grin on everyone! Such a friendly little fellow!

In April, Kail's Grandma Luz (my mom's sister) and Grandpa Bertil (my aunt's husband) came to visit. We took them to Lake Tahoe with the then 3-month old Kail - his first out of town trip. I think I brought along stuff good for a year! I also went back to work in April - leaving Kail to lola L's care.

In May, hubz celebrated his 35th birthday while Kail celebrated his 4th month. It was also my first Mother's Day as a mom. We also had Kail's christening that same month.

In June, I started getting busy at work with a huge project for October install. It was quite a challenge juggling on my new role as a mom, and my responsibilities at work.

In July, Kail celebrated his 6th month with a bang on the 4th of July!

In August, we saw Kail's rashes clearing up a bit. His allergist determined that Kail has allergies to eggs and nuts so he couldn't eat anything that has those on it.

In September, I celebrated my 33rd birthday with my handsome little prince. We had lunch at a Thai restaurant with my roommate, then dinner with very close friends at my favorite seafood restaurant - good company, great food, a handsome escort - what more could a girl ask?!

In October, the huge project I was working on was implemented. It was such a relief to find that there were no problems in Production. On a sad note, Lola L, who has taken care of Kail since I went back to work, has decided to come back to the Philippines. Thank God for good friends because N and J referred me to their aunt who has taken over caring for Kail.

In November, I became an American citizen through an oath-taking ceremony on Nov.14. Coincidentally, I first came to the US on Nov. 13, 1997. That same month, we also celebrated Thanksgiving with a few friends. There is a lot to be thankful for this year.

In December, we are counting down for Christmas and for Kail's first trip home.

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Here is my gift to myself (a new Nikon D80 DSLR camera with 18-135mm lens):



My gift to Kail (Venturer Car DVD player with Dual 7" screens and players):


Santa's gift to good boy Kail (Baby Einstein Collection #2):

Daddy's gift to Kail - a set of drums, and his big birthday bash on January 7, 2007.

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See you all next year!

From our family to yours...

A blessed Christmas and a prosperous 2007. Amidst the hustle and bustle of the season, may we never forget that Jesus is the reason for the season.

I had my citizenship oath-taking at Nob Hill Masonic Center in San Francisco yesterday. Who would’ve thought I’d get there?

Coincidentally, Nov. 13th was my 9th year here in the US. I first stepped foot in the land of the free on Nov. 13, 1997. I was a scared-out-of-my wits 24 year old then. People at work didn’t take me seriously because according to them, I looked like a kid. I had to earn their respect. They gave me the toughest and most complicated projects. I would sometimes spend the night at work, not having a car during my first year, and overly dependent on public transportation. I slept on sleeping bags because I had to save my money for a car downpayment. I wasn’t paid overtime even when I work 60-75 hours a week. I was paid measly by the agency that hired me. After 2 years of slaving for them, I finally accepted the client’s offer to convert me into a regular employee. I had to make sure I am over the 2 year period, or I’d pay $12K to the agency that milked me!

I decided to leave for the US because opportunities in the Philippines were limited. I was overlooked for a promotion because I did not graduate from UP, Ateneo, DLSU, nor from any of those “exclusive” A-list schools. Whenever I’d apply for jobs, I would always get asked whether I came from a reputable university. I swear I’d see smirks whenever I’d mention “Adamson University” – my alma mater. I may not have come from those A-list schools but I’m just as smart (if not better than most of their alumni). The Philippines’ corporate ladder is not designed for someone like me.

Looking back, I may have had lots of struggles here in America but my adopted country has been good to me all these years. It gave me a chance I would never have gotten in the Philippines. I was never discriminated because of my education. I am getting the comfortable life I deserve. I am able to help my family, and I can ensure that my son will have better opportunities. He will be spared of the obstacles I had to go through.

In yesterday’s ceremony, the speaker said “you’ve set your own destinies, you overcame your own obstacles”. With God’s help and constant guidance, I have truly reached my goal. I am part of the 1,327 new citizens from 95 countries that took the oath yesterday.

Who would’ve thought that this poor girl from the Philippines would get to where I am now? Not in my wildest dream!

Look who we saw at the mall on Saturday....


The stage mom in me had to rush into The Children's Place, got him that cute little polo shirt for that snapshot with Santa. I'm so proud of my little guy because while other kids his age cries at the sight of a big bearded man, he looked at him with a bewildered eye, and when the lady at the camera called his name, he flashed a smile! He's so well-trained by his papparazzi of a mom, hahaha!

The Vocabulary of a 10-month old baby...

While I was giving Kail a bath the other night, he kept saying “mamamamama”. This sounded like music to my ears. For the first time since he started blabbering, he finally uttered it! Though his first word was “tatatata” (for Tita, I think), then “dedede” (for milk), then “dadada” (for daddy), I’m proud to say that I am now part of his very limited vocabulary!

Trick or Treat!!!!

Kail was so cute in his hand-me-down from Kuya P's Tigger costume... :)

Yesterday was my citizenship interview. I showed up minus the interview appointment notice because I misplaced it a few weeks prior. The guard wouldn't let me in because I have to have an appointment letter before I am even allowed in. I cannot pose as a companion for my roommate who also happened to have the same interview date because mine is at 8:20 and hers is at 9:40. You will only be allowed to go in 30 minutes before your appointed time. Three weeks before my interview, I called the USCIS hotline and was told that I can come in without the notice because they would have a record of my interview schedule. She failed to mention I wouldn't go past the guards though!

I believe it was divine intervention because I was able to secure an InfoPass appointment just across the street. I was able to come through the gate where you can ask questions about your case. I told the USCIS officer about my case and he gladly handed me a referral slip and asked me to go straight to the 2nd Floor and show that slip to the Receptionist. Once there, the Receptionist verified that I was indeed scheduled for the interview, sent me to wait on Door A until my name is called. While waiting, I was really teary-eyed because I couldn’t believe how blessed I am. I am so thankful that I was able to get in, even without my appointment notice. I am also grateful for my roommate who was there to support me. If it wasn't for her constant push, I probably would've gone home and called it a day!

The interviewer asked me questions about my application, had me answer 10 US History questions, and had me write down "She was happy with her house". I was then asked to wait for my oath taking appointment and the rest was history!

The night before, I really prayed hard to get through the day and be able to pass my interview because I really would like to upgrade my husband's immigrant petition very, very soon. I am not complaining, though it would be nice if my husband will be able to help me take care of Kail. Most of the time, I'm just swamped and extremely overwhelmed. God heard my prayers. He truly is the greatest!

Yesterday was a very emotional day for me. I had to drag Kail out of bed by 5:40am, was on the road by 5:45, and dropped him off Auntie C’s house by 6am. By 6:05, I was back on the road on my way to work. While driving away, I was really crying. I feel bad having to take Kail out on a 51 degree weather but I don’t have a choice because I have to go to work. Even when Kail was his usual happy self, humming and baby talking, it still didn’t change what I felt.

J said it best – we do what we gotta do. If we had a choice, we wouldn’t do it otherwise. It’s true, I don’t have a choice. I have to work because my son is depending on me, and I’m depending on me, and my whole family is depending on me.

Come to think of it, I have simple dreams. I just want to be able to stay at home, watch my kids grow, and be able to take care of them.

I couldn’t help but count down for retirement – which is eons away!!!! Wish I could win the lottery!

Today of all days, Ma had the sniffles. I was so worried last night because she wasn't able to attend the J's birthday dinner since she wasn't feeling well. I needed to go to work today. It was our big install. So this morning, while I was washing Kail's bottles and preparing his things for the day, I was close to tears. The tears wouldn't fall though - maybe because I was just too tired, too stressed out, and too sleep-deprived to be emotional.

I asked whether she wanted to take the day to rest and reccuperate but she said she's ok to take care of Kail. I was prepared to call Auntie C (thanks J) to beg her to take care of Kail today. I really needed to come to work because I was on support. I'd probably lose my job if I don't show up - so there, it's that critical! In the end, I conceded because I saw Kail sound asleep. It just breaks my heart that I have to work and not be able to stay home like other moms can.

Tomorrow's another day… and yes, I also need to go to work.

My life as a working mom sometimes sucks! But everytime I see Kail happy and smiling and healthy, I just couldn't complain. He makes all the sacrifices worth my while.

A little more than a week ago, I celebrated yet another birthday. To those who emailed, texted, posted on my tagboard, called, sent a card - thank you all so much for remembering. Another year has passed and I am truly grateful for the year that was, and I have high hopes for the next ones to come. What's different this year? I'm a mom! I spent the day with my little guy - we went to church, had lunch with my roommate at a thai restaurant, then dinner with very close friends (his godparents) at my one of favorite seafood restaurant - The Dead Fish. Yummy food, good company, a very handsome escort - what more can a girl ask? Hubz also sent me a dozen roses, chocolates, and a cute little bear which Kail chewed on instantly! All in all, the day was great and life is good!

I am overwhelmed lately - working on a very stressful project to be installed on Oct. 13 (Friday the 13th - yikes!), taking care of a very active 8-month old, preparing all of Kail's food because of his allergies, household chores, planning for Kail's first birthday, keeping up with doctor's appointments (pedia and allergist). Keeping my sanity intact amidst all these is such a challenge. My therapy? Scrap shopping! I have evaluated my credit card spending these past few months and aside from baby stuff and necessities, scrap shopping has made a dent on my credit line. Have I churned up any layouts recently? Nope - not since October last year!

SO…I have decided that I ought to stop surfing on my favorite scrapbooking stores, and not spend a penny on scrapbook-related items UNTIL I have finished at least an album. BUT NOT UNTIL I have gotten my hands on that Ellison Big Shot AND paper organizers. Those Doodle Genies from Chatterbox sure looked yummy, so do the papers from Imagination Project/Gin-X, Cosmo Cricket stuff is tempting too…Well, you get the drift….

On Kail-front, he is now 8 months. It's unbelievable how much he has grown. He loves to crawl, stands up for long periods of time (with support, of course), sways his head from shoulder to shoulder, loves watching Baby Einstein DVDs, is allergic to eggs and nuts (and anything that has those on it), smiles a lot, knows how to use his charm to get what he wants (mommy needs to watch out for this).

This weekend, we are going out of town with some close friends (his godparents again) to Turtle Bay. This is Kail's second trip out of town. His first was at Tahoe in April with my aunt and uncle from Sweden.

My naturalization application is also underway. I needed to do this so I could upgrade hubz' petition. I pray that he'll be here very, very soon.

'Til next post - whenever that'll be! Note to self - need to get my thoughts organized! Take care everyone!

This baby knows how to work the camera... :)

Kail is now 6 months (turning 7 on Friday). Since he started eating solids, I feel like the best gourmet cook in the world because he devours everything I'd prepared for him (from scratch). Carrots is his favorite, and I'm surprised that he likes zucchinis as well. He loves gnawing at his teething biscuits and he prefers to hold a spoon when he gets fed. Baby pa, independent na.... like mommy like son, hehehe!

Funny how he won't take off a hat - no matter how uncomfortable he feels. My friends quipped "manang-mana sa mommy - sa ngalan ng porma, titiisin ang lahat!" To which I'd reply "ano'ng magagawa ko kung marunong pumorma ang anak ko 'no!"

Kail, I hope you'd keep that sense of style even when you're grown.

Kail's Christening photos are up and running. Thanks to A for these great shots! Will keep the website updated with his milestones as well.

Will update more soon. This momma's been busy with work (on weekdays) and children's parties (on weekends). My little Kail has been getting lots of party invitations! Such a sociable little guy!

Look Who's Looking

Here is Kail at four months. He had his well baby check-up on the 12th of May and boy has he grown! He is now 16.1 1/2 lbs., 26 3/4 inches in length. I can start him on solids by next week. He still has skin eczema (and I'm getting worried since his baptism is this coming Saturday). He's still on mittens because he tends to scratch his face. He's a very smart kid (coming from a stage mom) because he knows how to remove his mittens when he really wants to suck his fingers. He can hold his bottle with very little help, and what's funny is that he knows that a bottle equates to feeding. He gets excited whenever he sees it!

I have altogether stopped nursing him because my milk has dried up. I’m under a lot of stress lately – from work and at home. Taking care of an infant is not an easy task, and working 12 hour days is just as exhausting, not to mention being away from Kail for 14 hours when I go to work. I have done the best I could. I just feel so disappointed at myself for not producing enough milk to exclusively breastfeed him. But then again, stress could be a major factor there.

For the first two months of Kail’s life, he was very colicky. We’d be up all night. I would nurse him as much as he wants to, then give him formula. We would sit on a rocking chair as I lull him to sleep, while I’d also be pumping at the same time! I think the sound of the breastpump would soothe him to sleep, and when he does, I’d start crying. I have never felt so alone!

Now that I’ve stopped breastfeeding, I am now feeling nostalgic and sad at the same time. I don’t like to think I’m getting depressed, but it sure looks like it. Before I gave birth, I have envisioned myself exclusively breastfeeding for at least a year. I attended classes, read everything I can, bought myself a reliable but expensive breastpump and accessories. But nature had other plans. What I failed to do, though, is immerse myself in a breastfeeding support group like La Leche League. I found out that they have one in Napa with regular meetings every 2nd Tuesday of the month. Oh well, at least I know now. Until the next baby (hehehe!).

Here's hoping that everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day.

Before I go, I'd like to share this to all of you (especially to the moms out there). I found this message on my Inbox. Here goes...

Mother's Day is a thank you to every woman who has ever hugged a baby, kissed a boo-boo, taught a lesson, listened closely, cared deeply....

.... and passed on her love and wisdom to someone in the world who needed her....

The Long Overdue Post



The photo/s above is the same one we used for Kail’s baptism invitation. It’s prodly Philippine made by fellow-n@wie, Melisse. I’ve been getting lots of kudos on this!

I have been back to work for three weeks now and I have yet to get used to the idea of leaving my son very early in the morning on days that I don’t telecommute, and won’t get to see him again until nighttime. Crazy is an understatement, when used to describe how my days are like. As A puts it, I’m not just a mom, but a career woman, a breadwinner, a milk machine (at least I’d like to think so), a housekeeper. How I juggle with these roles is beyond me. I just know that I take it one day at a time, and hope that the next day will be better. I’m dead tired by the time I hit the sack but thankful nonetheless, for God’s greatest gift – my little Kail! He has given me a new purpose in life.

What else have I been up to these days? Well, preparing for Kail’s baptism is no easy feat. I have dilly-dallied on reserving the venue so I ended up at a buffet place in Vallejo (the dancing plan is out). I am giving/sending out the invitations a couple of weeks before the said event, I have yet to order a cake, and as I write, I still have gazillions of things on my mind. I am also in the process of closing a deal, which I’ll be able to hopefully blog about one of these days.

As far as Kail is concerned, he just turned 4 months yesterday. As usual, we have invited his godparents/neighbors to celebrate. He can now roll on his stomach, sleep on his side, coos and smiles a lot (I am beginning to think he is going to be a very talkative kid), shrieks when extremely happy (especially when he sees mommy, hehehe!), sucks on his fingers, can soothe himself to sleep, loves tummy time, has strong kicks. I’m glad that even when he has skin eczema on his face and body, he’s still a happy camper. He would sometimes get irritated if you keep his hands from scratching (after all, eczema can be very itchy), but he always has a ready smile for everyone. As of Apr. 21, he weighs 15.3 lbs. His next well baby visit will be on Friday next week which, he will be getting 5 vaccines (I have to brace myself for this).

Well, that’s it for now. I don’t update often but I try to bloghop whenever I can, and leave a few tidbits on my favorite blogs here and there. If I don’t get the chance to blog again soon, I’d like to greet all the moms out there a Happy Mother’s Day on May 14. I still have a list of greeting cards to send to all the important moms in my life – my mom, my grandma, my aunt, and my MIL. The cards might get to them late but I still want them to know I appreciate them more after I became a mom myself. Whenever I feel the urge to complain, I try to remind myself that my grandma raised 2 kids all on her own and at that time, there were no disposable diapers yet, so I ought to count myself lucky. Also, my mom has taken on the responsibility of being a mom and dad to us when my dad left for the US. That, in itself, is not an easy feat (especially raising a stubborn girl like me, hehehe!). I love you all very much!

This Too, Shall Pass

This has been my mantra when Kail was born - amidst sleepless nights, crying spells, adjustments on becoming a new mom, bouts with post partum depression. Sure enough, when Kail turned three months, life became so much better. He could sleep through the night, waking up only for feedings, the crying diminished (or is it because I can somehow guess why he's fussing?). I'd talk to him and he would coo back, with a matching toothless grin or a shriek. Though I love this time, I realize that my baby is growing up fast!

Just when the fun begins, I needed to go back to work. I spent the night before my first day back just gazing at him, hugging and kissing him. I know I'd miss him terribly, after spending those wonderful but exhausting 3 1/2 months with him. April 17 came and I cried when the alarm clock went off. I was sobbing when I left home. I would find myself daydreaming at work, and a tear would fall from time to time. When it was time for me to go home, my car almost flew. Seeing my son again was pure bliss. He was crying when I came home. As soon as I held him in my arms, he stopped and beamed at me. When I fed him, he wouldn't let go of my breast even when I knew he wasn't getting any more milk there. He wanted to be held all the time. I guess he must've missed me too!

Our time together may have been cut short by my need to report back to work. The quantity of time spent may become less but I intend to make up with quality. My heart would always ache when I leave and I would always wish I could be a stay at home mom. For now, I have to take it one day at a time and know that my time at work will pass. Knowing that my son also looks forward to my coming home is a sweet thought that keeps me going.

Mommy: Q & A

Sorry Day, for not responding on your tag right away.

How did you feel during those first few days after the birth?
==> I had a C-section so it was really hard for me to move around. But, I couldn't keep lying down because I had a baby to take care of. Also, I find myself crying for no apparent reason. Sometimes, when my baby cries, I am also in tears.

How were you emotionally?
==> Like I said, I just cry for no apparent reason. I am emotional whenever I see (on TV) children being abused - those scouring for food to eat in the garbage. Being a mom truly makes you susceptible to all the plights of children in the world!

Is there anything you wish people had told you about the postpartum period?
==> I wish they told me that there will be times when my patience will be tested, especially when the baby cries all night.

How long do you plan to breastfeed?
==> Up to 3 months, hopefully. He's mixed fed right now. I had to supplement with formula because my breastmilk isn't sufficient.

Do you have any advice for getting through those first weeks of breastfeeding?
==> I was fortunate because Kail latched on perfectly since Day 1. My only problem was my milk supply. I'd advise everyone to persevere and keep at it no matter how frustrating it can be. The rewards are enormous, and it's for the baby's welfare. Drink lots of fluids, especially water.

Was there any stress between you and your husband over the baby?
==> On times when I'm sleep deprived and cradling a crying baby in my arms, I really detest him not being here. There were also nights when I had to hang up on him due to frustration. I know it's not his fault but I just can't help it.

Let's talk about your body, Did things get totally rearranged?
==> Not really - I just have some more weight to lose.

Care to share how much you weighed before and how much now?
==> I was 96 lbs pre-pregnancy, 133 lbs on the day prior to giving birth, and 110 lbs now.

What advice-or comfort-can you offer other new moms about their weight ?
==> It took us 9 months to beef up so don't expect to lose all those weight overnight.

How important is it for you to have a work identity?
==> More than work identity, I need to keep my job so my baby and I would survive. I am the breadwinner (at least until my husband comes here) so I have no choice but to keep working. Much as I'd like to be a SAHM someday, I also want to work (even part time) to earn money. Aside from my son, my family in the Philippines (mom, brother, grandma) are also my dependents.

Was your baby a lot of fun right from the start?
==> Oh no - he cried a lot!

What's your baby like now?
==> He now smiles a lot, coos, and so much fun!

It would be nice to hear from other mom's too, so if your not busy with your little one, care to share - Jody, April, Litcoo, Alpha, Olive, Leirs, Meeya, Marie, Josephine.

Things I learned from my son

I still couldn't believe this big boy (now 12.13 lbs at 2 months) came from me!!!! I carried him in my womb for 9 long months!

In as much as babies learn from their parents, my son has taught me a lot of things as well.

1. He's the BOSS. He dictates when I can sleep, for how long, and when I need to wake up. He also dictates whether or not he will allow me to do my chores at home.

2. Babies are not CUTE all the time. When he starts crying, I want to take him back into my tummy!

3. SLEEP is a foreign word. He sleeps all the time, when I need to be awake, and stays awake when I need to sleep.

4. SLEEP like a baby meant waking up every 5 minutes. I couldn't believe how light my son sleeps. A little movement beside him (when we're co-sleeping) will immediately send his arms and legs flailing.

5. It's easier to take care of babies inside the tummy than out. Inside, I just worry when I don't feel him move. Outside, I worry when he can't keep still (especially if he cries all the time).

6. Babies CRY, EAT, SLEEP, POOP, PEE most of the time... and SMILE sometimes.

7. A SMILE would melt your heart away - even when you're sleep-deprived and over-fatigued. You'll even forget the night-long crying feat.

8. A BATH for me now meant 5 minutes in the shower - tops, and probably 2 minutes dressing up!

9. SHOPPING meant meandering in the baby section of the store - drooling over baby stuff to buy.

10. ME time is a thing of the past. It's all about HIM now.

No matter how hard it is taking care of this little creature, I wouldn't trade it in for anything in this world. I love being a mom. It truly is my most rewarding career ever.