Eating On Her Own

She is well-trained by her nanny Mila (oooh, I feel so lucky that she's around) to feed herself with either a spoon or with her bare hands.

During meal or snack times, she pays the fridge a visit and Yaya Mila asks her if she wants to get something from the gallery.

During a recent kiddie party, I seated her in the kids table up front. She was still crying when a plate of spaghetti was set in front of her. And the wailing stopped. Without any thought, she plunged into the noodles with her bare hands and I happily watched her. She's such a big girl already. I love that she can do important things on her own. If only we can teach her how to prepare her milk bottle...

Happy Last Weekend

Everyone's enjoying each other's company.

The rest of the household drove to Tagaytay to get away from the very warm weather of Manila. It's for the sake of everyone. We were all feeling so very warm. Glad to have a okace to stay in Tagaytay. It was also warm there because we had to switch on the air conditioning.

The kids didn't mind the weather though. But everyone was very careful and made sure they were hydrated constantly.

Her Favorite Spot

My daughter frequently goes to one corner of the room to sit, rummage and do a balancing act. She climbs the bookshelves which actually a danger zone already.

We keep a close watch when she's in that corner.

Carousel Fun

My daughter and I spent one afternoon in Eastwood Mall park. I let her ride several rides and let her roam around freely. She had some bumps and scratches in the process but she is quite happy so she didn't mind.

Attended A Party

My Via attended a kiddie party awhile back. 

She was so happy to be there unlike during her own birthday party.

She was messing up the chair arrangements on her own. 

She is such a special person.

All I want to do is make and keep her happy.

We got some stuff from the loot bags!

But I think the bracelet is not going to hold on to its beads for that a long time, 

so it headed straight to someone else's arms.

Feeding Her Is Getting Harder

I don't know about other mothers but I am noticing that Via is keeping her food in her mouth

for a longer time these days.  I'm not sure if she have a hard time chewing or swallowing or

she just doesn't like the food.

She is becoming like her cousin, Kuya Gabino, more everyday when it comes to food.

We need more distractions on the table whenever it's time for them to eat or else, 

they go running off.  The television is sometimes effective and sometimes, ain't effective enough.

On Valentine's Day

It's still February, isn't it?

Family spent Valentine's day together.

We had dinner in Shangri-la's lobby which was covered in tent-like tapestries.

I got flowers from the usherettes.

I'm expecting a sumptuous dinner during that night

because I came from work and the last meal I had was more than six hours ago.

LOL!

 I

Here was my favorite: macarons and truffles!

I went to the ladies room in order to talk to my husband on Skype.

I guess that was the best that we can do during that time.

The dinner was made more special with live music singing romantic songs, of course!

Fan Day

I had the whole weekend off so I can go wherever and waste time whenever.

Early Saturday morning, I had myself drop off at the nearest coffee shop 

to catch up on my reading.  I planned to spend the whole morning by myself

in order to get some "work" done. 

There were so many customers wearing lemon yellow clothes yesterday.

They all came from the nearby EDSA monument after commemorating 

EDSA Revolution decades ago.  Today, they go to Starbucks to refresh themselves.

Of course, I couldn't take pictures of those who were there.
They might not like the extra exposure ^_^

After having lunch at home, we all drove off to MOA.

Yes, we went as far as MOA.  The weather was perfect to spend outside.

But I think my Via wasn't too happy to stay under warm weather.

The purpose of the long travel to Mall Of Asia was to go to 

Chico and Dell's Book Signing!  

There was a long line outside National Bookstore.

We bought the book from Megamall but we weren't able to

attend their book signing earlier.  Hence, we have to sacrifice a bit to meet

my favorite radio show hosts to whom we have been listening to since

late high school days (I think)!

After locating the bookstore, we decided to roam around and look for snacks.

There were so many people in the mall. 

Later that day, I couldn't take it and asked everyone if we could drive to

Shangri-la instead for dinner.

Finally, it was almost our turn.

Well, it was my sister's turn but she is asking me to go there with her to have our picture taken.

I can sense that after three hours of smiling to strangers, these guys are dead tired already.

I'm so happy to see their marks in our single copy ^_^

Grabbed this photo from my sister's instagram ^_^

I Felt So Loved

I have never asked God to make a man give me white flowers to tell me that he is the one for me.

My husband and I celebrated Valentine's Day a little off the mark.

We had to postpone our celebrations because of our engagements with other people.

I spent last night with my husband. 

I have forgotten what he said he was planning to do

because my mind was so occupied with work and Via 

and so many other things.

And so last night, while I was in the apartment, everything came in as a surprise.

I was taking a shower and heard him change the songs on his computer.

Everything became very mushy!

The songs that I didn't really listen to before.

When I got out, I saw that it was a bit dark and a candle was lighting up the whole house.

He gestured for me to sit down on the chair and rubbed my legs dry with the towel.

He then said that he has something for me and handed me the flowers!

White ones!  

And I knew they were beautiful even if it was a bit dark.

He ushered me to stand up and he made me dance with him.

I couldn't help it but cry.  I was so overwhelmed.

He was a bit puzzled why I cried (and was even bothered)

He doesn't get it that I felt so loved by him that it moved me to tears.

We have been through a lot and we are still going to go through tough times some more.

But last night, I thought that everything is at it should be.

He is more than enough for me.

On Our Way To Breakfast!

Kuya Gab and Via at the back of the van with Yaya Rina.

We all just woke up and headed straight to Katipunan to

have some breakfast with the rest of the family.

I thought both kids were happy to get out of the house.

Chewing On Everything!

Here's the thing: Via puts everything in her mouth.

There's no exception.  Edible or inedible... it goes straight inside her mouth.

When she's with mommy, the room is a mess.

I try to give her all her toys at the same time

which I think is a bad idea because she could not

concentrate on one (educational) toy as she should.

When the nanny is around, everything is spic and span.

I try to make her play with her toys instead of chewing them.

She was trying to get the iTouch out of the stand 

And I helped her out to get it.

I thought it was time for her to figure out the gadget by herself.

Unfortunately, she thought it was food.

High Chair Alert

This High Chair was designed for safety and security.

Unfortunately, it wasn't designed for my daughter.

She could wriggle out of this high chair in a matter of seconds if she wanted to.

Hence, the nanny is on Red Alert whenever she prepares her food.

She couldn't take her eyes of my Via because she could just get 

out and fall from this chair.

Watching Via play with something (I don't remember what)

And I keep distracting her with the camera and kissing and smelling her once in a while.

There was one point when she pushed me away ^_^

Watching Her Sleep

I even took a video of this.

She looked so peaceful.  I didn't want to bother her.

So I did my best to be so quiet and watch her take her nap.

Every now and then, she makes a sound with her mouth as she sucks on her pacifier.

Couch Potato

This is Via having her afternoon bottle of milk.

When she's not scheduled for a nap, she could drink milk in front of the TV.

Otherwise, the TV is turned off or at least, turned down.

New Year's Day

 

It has been a perfect day. 

I woke up before 7am because I had to rush at work just to get "verified".

HR told me that even though I'm not on duty on the first day of this year, I still have 

to go do a finger scan in order to be registered as a resident who really started year 2012.

Anyways, I conjured up a plan so that I can drive myself over there.

This will allow me to pick my husband up from our apartment to spend just a few minutes 

with him.  It got better.  My daughter woke up as early as I did.  

And I told the nanny that she better hurry up before everyone else does.

WE GOT TO DRIVE TO VIA'S PAPA'S PLACE.

And all three of us (plus the nanny) get to drive to my work's place 

where I'm going to start working officially this coming year.

YEBBA!

 

2011 has ended on a very good note.

And I'm starting it in good standing!

I was able to spend this day with my FAMILY.  

Thank you Lord. 

 

And during the rest of the day, 

I was able to spend with the rest of my family.

This day is complete!