Mellow Yellow Monday: Yummy Cake-y Yellows

I missed Mellow Yellow Monday last week because I was busy at work.  Anyway, here's my daughter's Christening cake and first birthday cake. :)

My husband and I personally preferred the Angel theme of Max Restaurant for the Christening Celebration of our daughter, Rian.  The theme included the cute cake, as shown above.  We celebrated this last December 2009, around my baby's 5th month. P.S.  The blanket on the baby's head was edible!

My daughter loves Spongebob Squarepants.  That's why we ordered a Spongebob cake at Goldilocks for our baby's first Birthday Party last month.  P.S.  The jellyfishes were edible! :D

Happy Mellow Yellow Monday meme blogging! :)

My FB Post Story: On Miss U QnA

" Anong Ms. Universe question kay Ms. Philippines and ano sagot nya?  Can't access net @ office e.."  (August 24 at 11:32am via Mobile Web)

Pipo: Ano daw biggest mistake nya na nagawa at pano nya tinama yun. (August 24 at 11:41am )

Pipo: Ang sagot nya, wala pa daw syang "major, major" na ginawa dahil supportive ang family nya at suportive sa kanya. (August 24 at 11:42am )

Roy: wag mo nang alamin vane..baka mahiya ka lang sa sagot nya..sayang. (August 24 at 11:43am)

Katrina: Something about major mistakes in your Life and how or what did you do to make it right.
Her answer is somewhat... For the past 22 years of her life, she never had any major mistakes bec of her family's love. And she's thankful for making it sa Ms. Universe. (August 24 at 11:44am)
 
Vaneni: Wow,kung job interview pala un, bagsak na cya. Hehe.ü anyway congrats nalang din sa kanya, nkpasok cya sa top5 dahil sa beauty nya. Hehe.ü (August 24 at 11:49am)
 
Jin: hey vaneni! disappointing noh? over over over over confident that venus raj!!! (August 24 at 12:19pm)
 
Vaneni: Hehe..major major tama ka jan ms jin!ü (August 24 at 12:25pm)
 
Chelle: I dont think it's fair for us to judge her like that. Self-assessment yun e, kung tingin nya wala e d wala.
Tsaka 4th naman sya. Baket ba ang hirap i-please ng mga Fililpino. Kung kayo kaya. Naranasan niyo na bang sumali sa ms. universe par...a masabing kung kayo yun e magiging bongga ang sagot niyo? (August 24 at 1:13pm)

Alen: @van: now meron na siyang major mistake.. if ever she will be asked again.. hehheheheh.. (August 24 at 1:40pm)

Vaneni: For me kc, she's in a contest kaya hindi pwede ang pwede na. Must strive for excellence. And she's in the position to be judged talaga. (August 24 at 1:59pm)

Chelle: SAbagy judging portion nga e hahaa. Pero kase yung ibang tao mega react na kala naman nila pag sila yung andun sila magshine (August 24 at 2:02pm)

Vaneni: Hehe, ganun tlaga ang buhay. Yaan mu na, bukas ibang isyu na ulit ang pag-uusapan..parang ung hostage news lang yan. (August 24 at 2:09pm)

Jacq: hi vaneni! question goes lyk dis. wat was d biggest mistake uve ever done nd wat did you do to rise above it. her answer was 'thank you for dat question..gud evening las vegas...im proud dat in my 22 year of existence ive never done a MAHOR MAJOR mistake...blah blah..'. an answer worth of d 4th place. :( (August 24 at 2:35pm)

Jacq:  i meant worthy of d 4th place. (August 24 at 2:37pm)

Vaneni: buti nalang ang Q and A ginagawa during the Top 5 na. (August 24 at 10:01pm)

***********

That ends my FB status message chit-chat with my FB friends.  I'm glad that there's FB on mobile, coz I'm getting connected more with other people, and it makes me more updated with the world outside my boxes. Teheee! :D

Mommy Moments: My Baby's First Gadgets

When my daughter Rian turned 1 last month, she got a lot of toy gifts, and one of them was a toy laptop, given by my husband's officemates.  I wanted to thank them because I had always wanted Rian to own a toy laptop because she was always messing up with her daddy's laptop, especially when her daddy (or I) starts to type on it.  Having one of her own would somehow keep her away from her daddy's computer. Hehe.

Since my daughter just turned 1 year old, she was not yet interested with ABC's but she entertains herself with sounds and music in her toy laptop.  She loves to dance with the music!  Here's her photo with the toy laptop:

She has other toy gadgets and her favorite among them is the toy telephone which she always practices calling on it.  She knows how to put the receiver on her ears and say "Hello, hello?" (actually what she says was "kutsikuuu" which I think means "hello, hello?").  She also does the same with our cellphones.  I don't have a picture of her with the phone yet, but I will upload it sometime.

Happy Mommy Moments meme blogging!

My FB Post Story: On the hostage drama

Just last night and this morning, everybody was into the hostage drama which took place at Quirino Grandstand yesterday (August 23).  My Facebook was swarmed with news feeds about the hostage drama, exteding condenlences to the hostage victims and sharing disappointments and worries about the image of the Philippines, as well as our police force.  Since I learned in the morning news on TV that this Rolando Mendoza was dismissed from his position as police officer long time ago and received no retirement benefits because of certain criminal cases wherein he was accused of being involved, I thought of posting this message on my FB:

" Wala na ring retirement benefits ang hostage-taker after life!" (11 hours ago, on mobile)

True.  There's no benefit he can receive in hell.

I believe in the goodness of people.  But this certain criminal, with his past excellent credentials which don't matter anymore, and whose pledge he made before he became a police officer was to protect lives (which obviously he didn't value now), showed his evil side by killing innocent people, taking out his stress and anger towards them.  What he did was an example of cowardice.  He is a coward.  I could have pitied him for traveling the wrong path in life, but honestly, what I felt was hatred towards him.  I hate him not just for destrying the country's image but also for destroying the lives of families he victimized, including their joys and dreams.

My family and I pray for the souls of the victims, as well as for the strength for all the families they left behind.  May their souls rest in peace, and may their living families have strength to move on with their lives with hopes and blessings from God.  Justice will prevail, in earth and in heaven.

 

To know more of the story about the hostage-taking drama, click here or visit http://ph.yfittopostblog.com/2010/08/23/ex-policeman-hijacks-bus-load-of-children-adults/

Observing my baby's developments

My 1 year old daughter, Rian, is currently having a 2-week vacation at my parent's house in Laguna.  We had to leave her there for a while  because I was so busy with my work assignments.  Last weekend, we visited her and found out that she's already standing alone in a longer period of time, clapping with glee.  It was a happy milestone.  Aside from that, I observed that she had developed intellectually and emotionally.  When she tried to crawl away from the bed (which was placed on the floor so that Rian could play around on it), I shielded her with my legs.  She gave a loud impatient yell but she didn't wail.  Instead, she turned around and played with me.  When she sensed that I was already distracted, she would again try to crawl out of the bed.  Then I would put my feet and legs across her again so that she could not go through.  When the time I slightly lifted my legs (because she distracted me again with her games), she crawled fast under it, making way to get out of the bed.  She succeeded!  I was so fascinated with the incident because it showed how smart she was!

My husband and I took her out for the Sunday Mass at St. Therese of Child Jesus at UP Los Banos.  Before the mass started, we went to the Carabao Park and let Rian walk around (with my support by holding her hands).  When she saw other people looking at her, she deliberately walked away, knowing they were strangers.  During the mass at the chapel, she and her 6 year old cousin (Ate Alyssa) played following-the-leader, wherein wherever Alyssa went, she followed her.  There was a time when Rian was distracted with another toddler who could already walk alone,  but when Alyssa called out her name, she instantly turned around and followed her again.  She was an obedient baby and she knew who she should go with!  All of us (including Alyssa's parents) were so delighted! Rian also knew how to get her Daddy's attention to give her a snack (she loved Iced Gems...remember those little round cookies with icing on top?).

Yesterday, I called my Mother to know how was my daughter doing.  She excitedly told me that Rian finally made her first few steps (exactly 3 steps, that is).  I was so happy that Rian finally reached her first step milestone.  But I was also quite sad because I wasn't there to witness it.  Well, that's the downside of being a career mom...you never get to see most of your child's firsts.  Anyway, every first step has its next one...and lots of another one.  So the next time I see her (which will be this weekend...it's time to go home with  mommy and daddy, Rian!), I promise to capture her independent steps...and hoping to share that with you in this blogsite.

My loves @ Carabao Park,

University the Philippines Los Banos

Mommy Moments: My baby's first books

I missed this meme last Friday, but anyway, I would still post something about it.  The topic's all about books.  Personally, I adored books since I was in grade school (and even younger!).  That's why I would also like my 1 year old toddler to be also fond of books.  Here's her first ever book:

I bought this when she was 5 months old.  It was not actually a story book with words, but a book with different textures inside.  I bought this so that my baby would be familiarized with different textures.  Back then she was fascinated with its textures and sounds.  Now that she had grown older, she fascinates herself with it by opening the little peek-a-boo's in each pages.  She realizes there are pictures inside the textured peek-a-boo doors, leaves, and clouds.

I observed that she was more excited now to flip pages of my mommy magazines and books.  She didn't anymore tear paper pages, but instead, she looks at pictures and words (and even try to just turn pages one by one).  That's why I introduced to her a hardbound bible book.  However, it was not a new book (it's my husband's bible book when he was little).  I make the book reading more exciting for her because I read the stories in it while she flips the pages.  Sometimes, she would babble, making comments out of the story.  We usually make the story telling before she goes to sleep.

I guess, she would love books like I do.  Curiously flipping must be the first sign of loving books!  I don't want her to become a nerdy bookworm but I want her to appreciate books because it would increase her vocabulary and widen her creativity and imagination.

Reminiscing the Past: Subic Galore!

December of 2007.  Jeff and I, along with some of his officemates, decided to take a Holiday out of town trip at Subic.  Subic Bay in Olongapo City is one of the famous tourist spots in the Philippines bceause it is developed to be an Eco-tourism place wherein you can experience different kinds of activities such as jungle activities, water sports, night life, and visiting historical and natural sites. As for us, since we only had two-days and one-night stay, just visited the Zoobic Safari and Ocean Adventure.  But we also had fun in the beach because we stayed in a bay-side hotel.

My hunny, me, and the beach of subic!

Our first stop after we unloaded our bags in the hotel was the Zoobic Safari.  It's actually a big zoo but the experience was more natural because at times, there were animals which was just lurking around!  Well, they were the friendly ones.  But there was a part in the tour wherein we had to ride in a bus because we would go inside a big secured place wherein tigers were freely doing their own thing!  Some of them were salivating especially when we threw them dressed chicken.  Some of them even jumped on the bus!  We also got to feed crocodiles.  I didn't like the feeling of feeding them because at first, they were so still, they looked like statues.  But when the moment you get showed them the dressed chicken (again!), they would suddenly jump to bite the it.  It startled me a lot.  But anyway, I really enjoyed the zoo tour.  It was like a tour in the African Safari.

Inside the bus cage...while the tigers are freely lurking around outside!

That night, after the kids of my husband's officemate had gone to sleep, we started to drink and relax.  I didn't drink much.  I wanted to dive in the beach waters...but since it was dark, of course, I was frightened to do so.  After drinking, Jeff and I walked on the shores, with hands clasped together, breathing the sea air, hearing each others heartbeat.  It was a warm starry night and I was very happy to be with the one I love.  I had dreamed of that scenario before...to walk on the shores with my loved one beside me.  We didn't talk much because the silence said it all.

The next day, we went to Ocean Adventure to see the dolphin exhibition.  Well, we first watched the sea lion's show, then in the middle of the day (and the sun was too high), it as a good thing we visited the fish museum (it was cool there because of the aircon! Hehe).  We were delighted with the fishes we saw in there.  Then in the afternoon, it was time for the dolphin exhibition.  Though the crowd was thick, we still managed to get good seats wherein we could see the show better.  The show was amazing!

And so we wondered...how was it like being the fish!

After the Ocean Adventure, we prepared to go home.  The tours were really enjoying and sooo sulit.  I promise myself I would tour my daughter Rian there when she turns 2 or 3 years old.  I'm sure she will love each moment of her experience there!

Mellow Yellow Monday: My "Bridal Magazine"

My "bridal magazine"...get yours at http://www.fototrix.com/

Geez...I missed being the bride...heheee

Mommy Moments entry: Fave Rian Photos

theme: favorite photo of your kid

This was taken when my daughter Rian was 11 months old.  I love this photo because when I told her to smile to the cellphone camera, I was surprised to see that she actually smiled! (she didn't grab my cellphone or just stare at it like she did before)  Now that she understands that she should smile infront of the camera! :)

My husband loves this pic.  He had this photo on his Facebook profile for the longest time. Our daughter was around 5 months old back then and she showed so much excitement when we introduced the walker to her.  Yup, she really wanted to be mobile back then...and now, she strives hard to be mobile by walking with support.  Hmm...now I imagine how mobile she would be when she starts walking by herself!

Nightime Routine

Now that my daughter Rian can sleep peacefully straight at night,  I can sleep for at least 6 to 8 hours, unlike before which I had to wake up in the middle of the night because Rian was crying and I had to either feed her or cradle her back to sleep (and I ended up having eye bugs and gloomy face in the morning).  Moreover, Rian can now put herself to sleep, as long as she sees us (her parents) also lying on the bed, preparing to doze off.  Getting off the bed or a nightime visit from other people is prohibited because when she sees someone else sitting or standing, she would also sit up and begin to play around (and it would be harder for us to make her prepare to sleep again!).  Well, at least I don't have to cradle her every single night, unless she miss it so much.

I had a few practiced tricks on how to prepare her for a sound sleep at night.  Before, I usually gave her a milk before sleep, and I still do that until now.  The difference is, before, she was fast asleep after drinking milk.  Now, drinking milk relaxes her before bedtime (which is better because milk residue in her mouth while asleep would be bad for her two front teeth).  After having milk, she would either roll on bed and find a perfect spot for sleeping or just lay on her back with arms and legs wide spread.

Aside from drinking milk, we also play quietly.  It means no rough play like tags, hide and seek, and other active games.  We would just get few toys like stuff toys and her telephone toy and play with them on her play mat.  We would play until she gets bored and sleepy.

Story reading is also one of my techniques to prepare her for bedtime.  I would either read her the Bible Story book (which she lifts the next pages even when I'm not still done reading the former page) or create a "Once Upon A Time" story which she loved listening to because she hears her name when I tell her that the princess' name is Baby Princess Rian. She even talks back at me when I tell her bedtime stories.

When she's already relaxed, it's a signal for me to dim the lights, get the baby oil and massage her all over her body.  I usually do the I-Love-U  massage on her.  And whenever I do that to her, with matching smile and cute voice saying "I-love-you" to her, she smiles back at me.  Obviously, she likes it!  When she starts to get fussy, I massage her legs.  She loves to have her legs massaged eversince I introduced it to her when she was one month old-- she was just lying on her back, watching me quietly while I touch her legs and feet.  And when I begin to massage her head, her eyes begin to feel droopy until she finally falls asleep.

Writing this blog makes me sleepy...so I'll probably say goodnight too. Goodnight everyone! :)

Daddy Jeff and toddler Rian, sleeping.  They both found a perfect spot for a peaceful sleep. 

Goodnight dearests! :)