Special

First Steps

September 2006

October 2006

November 2006 - Mia's First Birthday

I can't remember exactly when Mia took her first step. All I know is that before she reached her first birthday, she can walk and even run (after she kicks her soft ball.) I guess that's one of the many perks of having a home with carpet. As overactingly worried as I sometimes get when it comes to Mia, the carpet made it easy for me to "let go" during those times when Jose and I practiced her to play base to base the baby way. :D

Mia has always been early this and that for her age. I remember when I do the checklists in my What to Expect books, I always find myself ticking boxes from chapters that I should not be visiting yet. A lot of people around us suggested that there could be really something special about Mia but I chose to ignore it. My take on it is that all children are like sponges. They are all willing and able but they have their own ways and paces that need to be respected. Not because some start or show very early signs of development doesn't mean that they are "more" than the rest. For me, as long as my daughter is happy that's all that matters and she'll always be special to me whatever and whenever... I will never ever push her because that's not my cup of tea. I am not so sure with my husband though. Hmmm... In his words, he has to "encourage". ;)

What's your take about first steps? Please share it here.

Money Envy

This is the title of the tv show that I watched last Monday. Most of you probably know that I am not a TV person but Money Envy really caught my attention because it does not just show the viewers how much money those successful entrepreneurs have but they also shared the stories of how they had lots of money. I was so sleepy that time but I pushed myself to watch it especially when I saw the Lamborghinis! Haha! They were asked if they have seen and actually experienced how people got envious of their success and they even described how much they enjoyed the “attention”! Scratch marks to a Lambo? Erm... Anyway, the entrepreneur whom I was most glued on was the owner of Embassy London. It’s amazing how he does the entire job except handling the checkbook. All finances were handled by his wife. He has the concept and dream but he admitted that he could sometimes get carried away that’s why he got his wife to watch his back. That for me is sweet and sensible. And so I got inspired and came across 1800Vending through their 1800Vending Blog. The business promotes immediate cash flow with a worker that works 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and just involves very little TLC. So if you’d also like to know all that you will need to start and probably become one of those Money Envy stars, go to 1800Vending Org. :D Good luck!

I Need and Want One!

My whole body has been sore for days now but I am trying to fight the pain by just ignoring it. Months ago, I have been religiously following all the exercises advised by my physiotherapist but when I stopped doing my visits, I also stopped doing the exercises. I know everything is my fault. I am obese and still very lazy. Best of all, I love to cook and eat. I could not take painkillers all the time. I have been feeling pins and needles sensation all over my back every time I feel excited or the least annoyed. The doctor said it could be caused by stress and of course I need to keep myself “fit”. So there’s that word again! Stress... I am stressed of what? Of thinking how I can lose weight? Haha! Oh I hope I could get a massage chair since I like to sit all the time. But I’d like to have a massage chair that actually massages just like human hands. I know it would cost a lot though. I remember in 2006 we’ve actually considered getting one from ATC when they were offering 0% interest for 12 months through BPI but then the UK opportunity came... I can't remember if the brand was Human Touch but until now, what I can still remember was how that massage chair massaged my back, neck, legs and feet! Yes, legs and feet! And when I checked their website, I’ve seen the iJoy Board and iJoy ride; the effortless way to exercise! Sounds and looks good to me! Christmas is just five months away... This definitely tops my list.

Now let me share the other good bits I found including Massage Chair Benefits :

When it comes to your comfort and wellbeing, there’s no settling for
second-best. This is how Human Touch® feels about its products, which is why
they use only the most advanced robotic massage technology and systems in their
industry-leading massage chairs. By analyzing the treatments used by leading
massage therapists, chiropractors and physicians, and applying decades of
experience as the world leader in massage technology, Human Touch engineers have
developed the most advanced Robotic Massage® systems ever devised.

Within every Human Touch massage chair, proprietary and patented
massage systems expertly replicate the hands and techniques of expert massage
professionals.
• Amazingly human-like massage that replicates the rolling, kneading,
compression and percussion techniques of massage professionals
• A full-body massage that follows the contours of your spine and body
from neck to foot
• Unique three-dimension movements provide maximum relief to sore,
tight muscles
• Multiple automatic programs that allow you to customize massage area,
intensity and techniques used
• Intuitive controls that put you in command of your massage
experience.

Discover the beauty of the advanced technology in every Human Touch
massage chair. It’s the first and best choice for your wellness and
comfort.

Ika-Tatlong "Mary"

Nang nagsabog ang Panginoon ng talento sa pamilyang Alfonso, masyado atang maraming ini-reserba para sa bunso naming kapatid na si Angeli. Sa ganda ng kanyang boses at likas na galing sa pagluto, hindi mapagkakaila ang lubos na pag-giliw sa kanya ng mga nakakatanda sa aming pamilya. Alin, kung hindi lang siguro kami kambal ni Ate Twinkle, lagi siguro kami maechepwera. :D

Cake by Mama Jean - Mary Twinkie, Mary Angeli and Mary Twinkle

Naalala ko noong kami'y mga bata pa, lagi kaming niloloko ng Papa ko na kami raw ni Ate Twinkle sina Anastacia at Drizella; ang mga stepsisters ni "Cinderella." Ako naman ay inis na inis dahil kapag kami ay naglalaro, ako talaga si Cinderella, si Ate Twinkle si Snow White at si Angeli ay si Sleeping Beauty! Grrr! Pero may point naman si Papa dahil sadyang malayo ang ugali naming kambal sa aming bunso. Kami ay ubod ng tataray samantalang napakabait namang talaga ni Angeli. Hindi ko sinasabing hindi kami mabait ng kakambal ko, pero hindi nga lang 'yon ang una mong masasabing katangian namin. Bwahaha!

"Cinderella" with her two stepsisters...

Gusto kong kunin ang pagkakataong ito na taos pusong magpasalamat muli sa pag-aalaga niya sa akin noong ako'y nagdadalang tao pa lamang kay Mia. Grabe! Para akong may personal masseuse! Sa mga gabi bago ako manganak, imbis na si Jose ang gusto kong katabi, si Angeli ang hinahanap-hanap ko. At nang ako'y nanganak na nga, at sa kumplikasyon na inabot ng aking tahi, inalagaan niya si Mia na parang sa kanya ito isinilang. Siya ang isa sa mga magpapatunay na ang "mother's instinct" ay hindi lamang talaga akma sa mga mothers na nanganak.

Ninang Angeli and Mia

Naikwento minsan ni Ate Twinkle sa akin na iniyakan daw siya ni Angeli dahil miss na miss na raw niya si Mia. At natatakot siya na baka raw 'di na siya makilala dahil sa tuwing mag-magicJack o Skype kami ay palagi siyang nasa trabaho o 'di kaya ay pagod na pagod na mula sa trabaho. Paano ba naman siya makakalimutan ni Mia e kamukhang-kamukha niya ang anak ko! Mas mapagkakamalan pa nga na sila ang mas mag-ina hindi ba? :)

We are all in this together!

Ngayong ika-dalawapu't limang kaarawan niya, hiling ko na sana ay magkaroon din siya ng katuwang sa buhay na mag-aalaga at magmamahal sa kanya ng higit pa sa pag-aalaga at pagmamahal na walang sawang ibinibigay niya sa aming lahat...

Angeli, sana ay lagi mong isipin na kahit nasaan pa kami, hindi magbabago ang pagmamahal at pag-aalala namin sa'yo. Maligayang kaarawan at wag masyado marami ang kain ha! :D Mwah!!!

MK Pinoy Sportsfest

Playing Time

The Lovelies: Alex, Mia and Sammie

The first Saturday of this month welcomed us with our first ever Pinoy sportsfest encounter. We couldn't have known it if not through Ate Cech and Kuya Rob. Apparently, their new found co-CFC friends were members of the Milton Keynes Pinoy community. In other words, we gatecrashed the said event! But the entrance fee of £5 per family made us felt at ease in salvaging the buffet especially the pancit and cassava. Yum! Too bad I forgot to take pictures of the huge spread!

Now on to the playing theme, here are some photos of how our afternoon fun turned out... We actually played a good game of volleyball but I forgot to ask Mia to take our picture. Haha!

Mia can't wait to run! Look at her smile. Is she saying "Hurrry!"? Haha!

Bouncy Castle / Ring-a-roses

Frisbee and Cartwheel! Who's the most playful of them all? :D

Love to play? Join us by clicking this.

Is it Sunday Yet?

Our family together with the Escaños is planning to go to London on Sunday! My youngest sister’s birthday falls on that date and I would celebrate that day thinking of her the whole time. Oh time, time... It comes by really fast. (Just to segue, if you’ve ever thought of getting a new watch, why not go to this Rolex site where the Finest Watches is the best for buying Rolex watches?) Well the next thing I know, we would be stepping on the earth’s Prime Meridian at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich. (The 24-Hour clock at Greenwich on the left is a photo I got from Wiki.)It is just exciting to see the actual point of division (in longitude)! I hope it would not rain. We checked the weather report and the forecast is quite promising. So wish us luck! It’s been a while since we last went for an actual day out in the parks of London. We are planning to have a picnic at Green Park. So Skyla and Denden, if you girls are reading this, you are most welcome to join us! :D It would be lovely if you grace us with your presence together with your hubbies. We also plan to bring the kiddos at the Natural and Science Museums. I’m sure Mia will appreciate these places more and she would be very happy to share the experience with her best girlfriends, Alex and Sammie. We are so excited!

£5 More?

Three years ago, we were worrying about what set-top box to buy. Now, we are worrying whether to go back to our set-top box or pay extra £5 on top of the £26 damage for Sky Cable TV. Argh! To think that Sky Movies and Sky Sports or Direct TV are not yet included in that package. We only use TV for Mia’s Disney Channel and Nick Jr. shows and CNN for Jose. I have never been a TV lover. Entertainment (Reality TV) shows like X-Factor and Britain’s Got Talent could be watched clearly through a set-top box... Now what are we going to do? Good thing there is a price comparison site for cable TV and satellite TV. Like for people in the US, they have Satellite TV in Alabama to go to. And speaking of satellite TV, I wonder why we have two satellite dishes in our backyard. I wonder which one is working...

This or this?

Online Treats

"I'm a beautiful princess with a pretty Saree!" This is a line Mia always uses whenever our theme for pretend play is about Indian princesses. She got this line from Nick Jr. I forgot the title of the story but I know how it went 'til the end. Wherever we go in this country, Indians are everywhere. And what beautiful clothes Indian women wear! I am always intrigued on how they are worn. When I have watched 27 Dresses which stars Katherine Heigl, the Indian-inspired wedding, for me, was the best. I hope that one day, we could attend an Indian bridal affair that would require us to go all out at Online Salwar Suits Shopping. A hundred reasons to shop in this site could be seen here. As much as I'd like to post pictures of the sarees Mia and I are eyeing on, the site does not permit it. So do give them a visit if you must. :)


And while I am at online shopping, the lucky items bought through my Cash Calls earnings are these:

Yes, I just can't get enough... :D Mia was actually hoping for a purple one because she's got pink na. Haha!

And with some change from Cash Calls plus Waterstones' card points, this was the supposedly Father's Day gift I was expecting but ran out of stock... Better late than never!

Dance Me Daddy by Cindy Morgan (Chris of MM recommended this. Thank you!)

Another online activity that we (Jose included) have been active with these past few days is ebay-ing! Jose ALWAYS wins! And these are the items he successfully got:

BNIP (Brand New In Packaging) for only £11.01 (RRP£25)

All these for only £30.50 (Brand new would cost around £100!)

I am on the hunt for a good DS Peppa Pig deal. Wish us luck!

MUSIK LOVE

Mia LOVES to sing and dance. Even if she has not attended any Baby Music Class, her love for music, especially classical, has always been on the rise. She would sing and dance whenever and wherever. She sleeps and wakes up with the cd player on. She calls her music, “Little Einsteins.” (Most of you probably know what I am talking about.) I guess it’s just her Filipino nature of being into music and of course, her Dad is a really good singer too... Jose and I are thinking whether to enroll her to a ballet class or piano class. Classes as such are really expensive but Benefits Of Music Education to a very willing music student like Mia is really worth every pence. Unfortunately, the ballet studio Jose inquired with did not recommend having our child to take classes until she is five. Luckily, I have checked kindermusik’s website and they have dance classes at Stony Stratford which is just 15 minutes away from us through one bus ride. They offer dance classes specifically for preschoolers. Oh I really hope that they do ballet. I’m sure Mia would have a blast. I tried to check their online chat but it’s too late. I’ll definitely give it a try tomorrow. I also hope that they have summer classes.

This is Mia while waiting for the bus...

Now THAT's what I call LOVE. :D

Summer Vacation '09 Starts Today

By September she’ll be taking morning classes from Monday to Friday. Here she is on her last day at preschool (afternoon class):

I would also like to share some pictures I've taken two weeks ago at the Woburn Safari Park... I wonder how turbo fast the car ahead of us would go if ever the animals in the Safari went havoc. I hope it has been geared with a good turbocharger. Should I have my own car (I am choosing between an Audi or VW), I would definitely go to this turbocharger site and have a good check on turbo, turbochargers, superchargers and nose covers be it the new ones or remanufactured. As long as everything is covered with warranty, I'm all good. Anyway...

Here's Mia with her classmate, Veronika, and her souvenirs from her first field trip.

Open fields for frisbee, here we come! I hope Mia's summer vacation will really be "summery"! :D

Frechie's World

First Blog in my Blog List

A weekly Monday meme you'd all see from my site is the You Are Inspirational genius by no other than Chris of Mommy Moments. It's a way of introducing blogs to other co-bloggers but with a charming twist. And for this week, the theme is about the first blog in my blog list. Of course, the first blog in my blog list is also the first blog that I admired; which was the theme last Monday.

I started reading her blog during her wedding preparations. I was stalkingly glued when I've known that they are in UK. I laughed and cried secretly with the experiences that she shared. To cut the story short, her blog was like a guide book for Filipinos who are new in England... (And more!) I admire her for being so true, so beautiful but also very simple. I've said many times how I admire beautiful women... Well, she is a cut between Eula Valdez and Daphne Oseña. :) Seriously.

Frechie's World

Now, she is a mother of a very cute little boy. They are all the way from Southampton but she still sent an invitation for her son's christening. Unfortunately, due to Jose's status at work, we can't afford to stay away from MK. I know that sooner than later we'd see each other in person and it will be emotional. You know... I'll be like an avid fan meeting her idol for the first time! Hahaha!

Let me take this opportunity to shout a big thank you and HAPPY BIRTHDAY to CHECHE! I know in Filipino time, it's already your day. :)

She's Got "The Pout"

Pouting Face

Mia is a natural when it comes to pouting. She has many versions or it's just that she was born with a pouty upper lip. Anyway, enough talk from me, here's how she does every pout imaginable...

Beautiful Pout

Grumpy Pout / Obedient Pout

Emoting Pout / Engaged Pout

Peaceful Pout

Now, did you see what I mean? :D

To see more lovable pouting babies, click here. Happy weekend!