Sapphire Mommy 101

I guess it's time for me to share some weird facts about myself, getting to know Sapphire Mommy a little more.Let's start the ball rolling! :D

*I AM AMBIDEXTROUS (able to use either the left or right hand to perform a task and write). Among my sibs, ako lang ang kaliwete in terms of writing. echa pwera talaga eh.wayback in my younger years I just don’t like the discrimination when all my classmates are using right-handed chairs tapos yung saken kakaiba kase made for kaliwete talaga.jeez! sa desk naman during our elementary days,may instance pa na nagagalit seatmate ko kase sakop ng elbow ko yung space nya ng sulatan.kaloka! But although I use my left hand in writing, I do other stuffs naman with my right hand.Up to now I'm still curious bakit ganun.weird ba ko? :)

Pero take note naman,some of the lefties celebrities include: Kristine Hermosa,JC Tiuseco, Megan Fox, Angelina Jolie, Nicole Kidman, Ashley Tisdale, Tom Cruise, Matt Dillon, Robert De Niro, Bruce Willis, Oprah Winfrey and the one and only, President Obama are all left-handed.and the list goes on. Oha! So hinanay ko talaga sarili ko sa kanila no,walang basagan ng trip! :D

Trivia:The left-handers’ primary distinction from right-handers is that they use more of their right cerebral hemisphere, responsible for image, visual space and sensory perception and intuition, in their everyday life. That’s why a lot of artists, composers, musicians and poets are left-handed.

*I AM AN OLD SCHOOL CHIC. I love compiling memorable sweet notes, love letters, cards, candy wrappers, old receipts and tickets, dried flowers, assorted abubot and just about anything that is memorable to me especially during our bf-gf days ni hubby, I love making scrapbooks way back because I really want to document just about anything.In short,sentimental!

*LOCO OVER CHOCO.Chocolate is my ultimate comfort food. mapa-cake, ice cream or candy or any dessert as long as chocolate flavor, happy na ko nun! Pero take note, I don't like the taste of chocolate drink.weird much?

*LOVE LOVE WATERMELON. I can eat 1 whole watermelon in a span of 1 hour,my ultimate craving when I was pregnant with Xian! No wonder the little man love it too! :D

*I REALLY WANTED TO BE A TEACHER. During my younger years, people asked me "What do I want to be when I grow up?" and that's always my response - to be a teacher. But I had a sudden change of heart when I enter college. I took up BS Biology. anlayo! 

More weird facts next time! :)

Xian on Turning 2

It was a whirlwind of activities leading to our little man’s 2nd birthday. In fact, we had been singing the birthday song to him since last month and he had so much fun blowing his dad's birthday cake the last time.

Our little one isn’t so little anymore. He's turning out to be like a mini-Daddy though.Here’s his “report card” at 2.

1. He already knew the alphabet in his wall chart from A-Z and what word corresponds to each letter.

2. Can count 1-6 without any assistance (1,2,3..6!) 4 and 5 omitted.hehe!

3. Can identify most of the animals and things whenever he saw one.

4. loves bread and cookies and his daddy's specialty "ginataan" mixed with rice.

5. knows when to say "yes",  "no" and "mya-mya" (later)

6. follows simple instructions and errands (like pick his toys, get something, rub daddy's back etc.)

7. absolutely loves cars. Whether riding one or driving his own small version of toy car. His daddy let him sit on his lap.He knows when to press the horn and to say "bilis!"

8. Still walks barefoot in the house but at times, will wear his favorite mickey slippers.

9. Very fond of watching cartoons (his favorites are Cars, Herbie Fully Loaded, Shrek, Toy Story, Madagascar, Alvin and the Chipmunks, Wall-E, Stuart Little, Chicken Little, Finding Nemo and Shark's Tale)

10. He is generous with his affection to us, he loves to hug and kiss and show us the sweetest smile especially when he's in the mood.

11. Loves TV commercials and dances to them using his half sway step or full way step. I think Xian have inherited his dad’s dancing skills (haha!)

12. He calls us  Mah-mii and Dah-dii in his most distinguished tone.

13. Favorite song is the instrumental song from Brainy Baby.

14. knows different facial expressions and make silly faces which always amuse us.

15. He is almost 3 ft tall (his pedia said he's kinda tall for his age) and weighs 15 kgs.
16.  His interests are Lightning McQueen, coloring books and toy cars.
17, already has a clothing preference and knows how to remove his clothes when it's bath time.
18. partly wean from the bottle, he's using his McQueen tumbler during daytime  but switched to bottle during night time. partly potty-trained, we're still on that process.

19. Gets excited when he sees playmates, but prefers older kids who run around (and whom he chases) rather than kids closer to his age or kids younger than him.
20. Gets smarter and smarter each day.

We really did not plan of having a big party for him since we’ll be having a simple  and intimate one at home to celebrate with family,relatives and friends on his actual birthday plus a family getaway the next day, we're planning to go to Tagaytay which will be Xian's first time. Supposedly in EK, but the thing is they'll be closed for public on the 26th because a certain company will rent the place for a big company event on that day. good thing I was  able to check it in their website beforehand. Anyway, I'm sure the little man will surely enjoy his day as an upgraded family bonding whatever mom and dad prepare on his special day, no doubt about that :)

Advance Happy Birthday baby love! We love you so much! 

I was browsing through Xian's old pics when I saw these pics. he's 5 months old here, look how much he have grown! :)

Xian's Photo Entry Won in MomCenter Philippines PhotoBlog Contest!

 

photo courtesy of MomCenter Philippines

I'm a self-confessed proud momma but I seldom join online photo contests, this is only the second time. The very first time was August last year when I joined Xian’s entry in MomCenter Philippines’s Pic of the Week together with other babies and toddlers of his age. But since the chosen winner is based on number of likes from fellow fb users who need to like and register first on Mom Center’s page before they can actually like the actual photo entry, Xian didn’t win the first time.

Then last January this year, my sister informed me that Xian’s photo entry won in Reader’s Digest Asia (I blogged it) How come that happened? I was clueless because in the first place I don’t remember any instances that I send Xian’s photo on that famous page. You see I’m very careful with photo sharing. Turned out, my sister send the photo entry pala! Because that time the contest's theme is photo that depicts Christmas spirit. My echoserang kapatid (hehe,but I uberly love her for that!) send Xian’s photo without my knowledge. Luckily, Xian’s entry won one of the major prize which is Troika Travel watch and some reading materials from Reader’s Digest.  Of course I just let my sister have the prize, for me seeing Xian’s photo on their page with recognition is enough.That's already a mom's happiness and source of pride.

Then last week of January,here comes Kodak Precious Moment Photo Blog Contest with the concept Any Christmas Related Photo and Why Do you think it is a Precious Moment? (Since the contest is sponsored by Kodak Philippines)

Having Xian’s winning photo entry from the previous RD Asia’s contest I join again. why not? I know every mommy will agree but for every mom, there’s an innate proud momma in us, but I know my limitations naman. Besides, life is too short to let every passing chance like this be bottled up.In my thoughts that time, malay mo lang naman.The thing is, I actually send my entry a day before the cut-off! Here’s the lucky photo :D

But lemme tell you first the story of this photo and why do I consider it as a Precious Moment:

This is taken the first time we set up our Christmas tree in our house. It's obvious, the tree is still bare with decorations,just a few hanging balls and Christmas light, yet the first time we light up our Christmas tree and we let Xian pose beside it, believe me,that’s really his instant reaction! there's a certain happiness that emanates in his eyes. Simple yet so pure,really a candid shot to think I just used a simple digital camera.

 MomCenter's Notification:

Then after two weeks after I send the photo entry via LBC (told yah, it's not only based on the total # of fb likes the Kodak representatives judged the actual photo based on their concept "Precious Moment"), I received a call from  Ms. Abby from MomCenter that Xian's photo entry won! They've been trying to call me na pala since last week but I'm always unattended.

My initial reaction is of course, happy! but a bit hesitant at first when Ms. Abby told me about the claiming of prize since we need to bring Xian to Manila. Di pa namin sya natatravel ganun kalayo! Supposedly,first time pa lang nya. plus hubby and I have work on weekdays, plus our schedule always didn't meet and a lot of PLUS issues.. So, isip-isip.. I told Ms. Abby that we'll inform her within the week what's the best date for us to go there since we have a toddler in tow.

 Our MomCenter Experience:

Then finally after a week,we came up with the date. After confirming it with Ms. Abby,we went to Manila last Feb 28, Monday. Xian's first ever bus experience is so much fun for him. We didn't bring Azul,our car because hassle for us,hubby's just too lazy to drive plus it's Monday.traffic masyado! We arrived at their office 10:30AM, we we're graciously acknowledged by Ms. Abby, Ms. Arbee and the pretty lady in red nail polish that I forgot the name, So sorry poor memory! :D

 I was a bit surprised lang because feel at home kagad si Xian,walang masyadong hiya factor to think he woke up early than his usual tapos long travel pa.  Very energetic pa nga eh. Actually beforehand, I'm worried that Xian might throw tantrums since that will be the first time he'll meet those people but on the contrary, Xian smile and answer their simply questions during our conversation (in English pa ha,kaloka!), shook the ladies hands and even showed them his bibo side (when we're at Kodak Philippines, he saw a picture of a dog on the wall and he identify them to the delight of everyone who's there. they call him Bibo Kid and Baby Rockstar because of his hair's tail na takaw pansin!)

At Kodak's office, after the conversation they handed us the prize which is a Kodak Playsport Camera Sir Jerome told us the details about it. For full details of the gadget,  here's the link. :)

 The prize! Xian's new gadget :)

Too bad I wasn't able to take snapshots that time (andun lang si camera sa bag,na-shy ako.hehe!) Good thing Ms. Abby provided me with some pics through email.  Then early this morning, they finally post the announcement of winner in their fb wall.

announcement of winner in MomCenter's fb wall

It was indeed a very fun and memorable experience for us especially to our little Xian, although I know he don't fully understand it yet, but I'm sure that this will be one of our little man's fondest memories of his toddler days. Something that will make him smile remembering, moment like this is indeed priceless :)

To the people behind MomCenter Philippines, Kodak Philippines, to my fb friends who liked Xian's photo entry, to everyone, Thank You so much! Xian love y'all! :)

Allan's Birthday

Since hubby love's birthday fall on a Wednesday and he's in Subic for 1 week because of work, we weren't able to celebrate his birthday together. He'll be home pa on weekend. we're probably going to have a simple post-celeb at home na lang.

Anyway, exactly 12 midnight on his birthday, I send him a very long SMS greetings I composed in my drafts few days ago.haha! Btw, ever since our bf-gf days. we always make it a point to greet each other exactly at 12 midnight during occasions like this I dunno, pero in a way it seems more special.

 Before I went home last night, I bought a cake and palabok (because I don't have enough time to cook!) the little man enjoyed the candle blowing, naka-ilang candle blowing kami because aliw na aliw si kiddo, a good practice for him because he'll have his own candle blowing 2 weeks from now for his 2nd birthday :)

daddy's yummy birthday cake from Goldilocks

 

 

because there are 13 candles, Xian did the first candle blowing, I did the second part because the candle is melting on the cake already. 

But you know what made me happier for hubby's birthday?

  A car stuff from HANDYMAN for the birthday boy!

I already got the gift that hubby's itching to have, but always refuse to buy whenever we're in a mall (probably because from the start, he's expecting it as a gift from me.teehee!)

WISH GRANTED!

 

the little man is curious about the stuff :)

I'm not yet done wrapping it,besides I'll let hubby see it first that's why I didn't remove it from the plastic after the store attendant handed it to me. :)

We had a long distance phone conversation last night and we talked for hours but 60% of that time is daddy and baby moment on the phone. Even though Xian's speech are still limited, sobrang nagkakaunawaan na silang mag-ama. Excited much for the weekend!

Belated Happy Birthday hubby! Have a blessed year.We love you so much! ♥

Family Time

After our Manila trip last time, we headed to the mall for a date with our little man.Here are the usual scenario whenever we're in a mall.My two boys had a great time playing around.

 oh so serious with their thing,boys will always be boys,right? :)

my little Xian is no longer a baby..

my baby love

After playing, we went to Jollibee for Xian's fave merienda, funny thing is whenever someone (kids of his age) will approach Jollibee statue, he'll say "no-no!" but when we ask him to hold or even touch Jollibee,he doesn't want to and kept hiding on daddy's back but waived and smile when we're about to leave.

yeah i know softdrinks is not good for his age, don't worry, konti lang naman :)

Xian is very attach to his daddy, no wonder he always prefer to sit on his daddy's lap. 

 Family time is always the best! :)

What Made My Day

this uber yummy crabs cooked by me? harhar,joke! of course cooked by no less than my cooking master boy hubby! Hay, just one of the things I love about Sunday :)

When Xian Doesn't Want to be Photographed

yes, he has that moment, too! :)