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!






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.




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.

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.


First things first. Finally, Kail's photos have been posted at Shutterfly. That has long been overdue and I thank my husband for taking the initiative. Proud dad talaga! :)
This mom has been terribly busy these days - being the only person who takes care of my little one. I must admit, motherhood is tough, but none is as rewarding. There are times though, especially when Kail doesn't cease crying, that I've wondered about taking him back into my tummy... :) Of course, that's just wishful thinking.
Next, to you who has been posting messages on my tagboard (you know who you are), I see it and I get the message. However, I believe that there is a proper time and place for everything. The web is not a place to hang dirty laundry for everyone to see. Right now, I am not ready to get in touch with you. I pray that in time, I'd find it in my heart to accept things as they are.
Lastly, I've been tagged by Liza and here's my take:
4 Jobs I've had in my life --> Production Engineer; Programmer/Analyst; Sr QA Analyst; QA Engineer
4 movies i could watch over and over --> Sweet Home Alabama; The Notebook; A Walk to Remember; Somewhere in Time (hopeless romantic kasi ako)
4 places i've lived --> Daly City; Novato; San Rafael; American Canyon
4 tv shows i love to watch --> Smallville; Seventh Heaven; Charmed; Gilmore Girls
4 places i've been on vacation--> in the Philippines: Palawan, Bohol, Cebu, Boracay; in the US --> Martha's Vineyard, Niagara Falls, New York, Las Vegas
4 websites i visit daily --> yahoo mail; google mail; blogsite; yahoo groups
4 of my favorite foods --> kare-kare; sinigang; spaghetti; pansit
4 places i'd rather be right now --> in the Philippines with my loved ones; in Torino, Italy for the olympics; touring Europe; Down Under