Wowwwwww!

I can't wait to share that the little one is now capable of appreciating even those silly, simple and small things. Just let him see our neighbor's bright and twinkling colorful christmas lantern and he'd go "Wwwooooowwww!" in a very impressed, cute and even toned little voice. I won't be surprised if he says "wow!" if we'll get to open plasma mounts as Christmas gifts but probably, we'll be chorusing a big "wow!" as a family if we'd really have one especially if it comes with our much-coveted, dream Plasma TV.

Earlier as Planned

I can just feel that my long term goal of pursuing a masteral degree is just an arm reach away. Well, not really very soon but I can sense that it will materialize earlier as planned. The numbers 1 and 2 in our long term goals are unexpectedly going on a fairly fast phasing hence, speeding up the succeeding goals too. What I'll just keep on working now is to save for the educational funds and check out online prospective online colleges. I have a couple in my list now and it seems I'll more likely go with Capella University, a fully online and accredited university headquartered in Minneapolis. Their course offerings and curriculum are attractive and it's no wonder why a lot of students and alumni rave about their education system as seen in their latest Inside Online Education podcast. Kudos to these podcasts because they really are alluring and make one be interested to check out their institution.

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In the Fitting Room (?)

Last Friday, aside from our New Moon movie date (that deserves a separate blog post), I met up with my Twitter best buddies to get my shopping loots coursed through Glo and Kathy. Upon reaching home and after hugging each other tight because we were separated for 8 hours, the longest that I remember since I became a Stay-at-home Mom, the little one excitedly brought out of the bag the Old Navy loots. He perhaps sensed that most of the items are for him so upon snatching a pair of red Carters' shirt and shorts (Tita Litzie's gift), he demanded that we put them on him then same happened when he saw Tita Glo's gift, a Stride rite brown leather shoes. He tried each piece one after another as if he's having a dress rehearsal. Check out a few pictures below.

He even tried his Daddy's ON shirts. It's a good thing that I didn't buy some for myself or else, he might have put on women's apparels like those Free People tops and blouses. Actually, I forgot to buy some for myself...as it has always been whenever I shop online. My boys' needs come first over mine...yes, that's how I love them dearly.

Ready To Party

The pre-school kids practicing their dance numbers for the LFLS' Christmas program convinces me that the season is really near. They practice twice or thrice a week after classes and they are often joined by Asher. You're already aware how my son loves dancing, right? In fact, my MIL (the school directress) is even suggesting that we secure a costume for him so he can join on the side (saling pusa). I can already imagine how the husband would make fun of my being stage mommy. Apart from the program, the school administration has also started preparing the Christmas party invitations and the raffle prizes for the party. I'm sure that the kids are already looking forward to this great event.

My Kettlebell.

I haven't been able to update this blog about the little one's development and newest antics. It's not that he doesn't have one but actually, there are so many that my blogging can't cope up with them. He's continuously surprising us with new discoveries each day. Added to that, it seems that his energy level is increasing too in heaps as days go by. He's so active, energetic and so spirited. He loves to run and being chased. I have also observed that he hasn't gotten over his separation anxiety and has even become more clingy to me. So don't wonder why I am so all bones and skin now because I have a human Kettlebells in him toning my arms and shoulders. That's why I'm really thankful that he has his Yayi Becca to take over especially when I need to rest or resume my work.

The Dissuaders

Many believe that breastfeeding is like my appetite suppressant pill that's why I look in my thinnest and skinniest body. If only they know how voracious my appetite is..if only they can understand how I'm so decided to give nothing but the best for my son. Sadly, there are still a lot who don't understand the holistic benefits of breastfeeding.

Send Them Soon.

Oh boy I am so swamped with my online assignments now after being occupied with offline activities and...hmm, okay I admit, after getting hooked with Cafe World at Facebook. I know I can't afford to stay unproductive and I NEED to get moving especially that the busiest time of the year is fast approaching. Speaking of the upcoming holidays, I suddenly recall to prioritize the task of making our christmas cards real soon like perhaps, tomorrow. Although, I'll be sending them mostly to my relatives and friends online, there are still a few that I'll be sending via airmail. You know how the parcel system sucks during the Holidays so I better avoid having our cards received after the Holidays by sending them the soonest.

Then and Now.

I happened to log in and browsed my youtube gallery earlier this evening and I couldn't help but get teary-eyed on how Asher has indeed grown over the year and months through his videos we captured. There's this one video captured some time on his seventh month in which he displayed his being inquisitive and smart by placing our cell phones over his ears without our cue as if he's talking to somebody. He might have observed from us so he imitated the action upon seeing a cellphone. And now (13 months later), give him that thing and he will act as if he's really talking to his daddy by exclaiming repeatedly..."daddy, daddy, daddy!". He can now utter words so that's the major difference if I am to capture a video of him now while holding a cellphone.

Que Sera Sera..What Will Be.

Just like many Mommies out there, I can't help but wonder and imagine sometimes what my little A would become in the future. It's not that I will dictate or control his decisions over time but of course, all parents would wish nothing but the best for their children. If his Daddy is to be asked, I'm certain that he'd love to see him someday being addressed with an Engineer title just like him. As for me, I would love to see him in a surgeon's scrub suit or one who's skillfully drawing house plans on blueprints or a Certified Public Accountant employed in the top Las Vegas accounting firms such as KondlerCPA, the trusted leader and provider of accounting and financial business solutions to big companies in Nevada. He may become whatever he wants to..que sera que sera..we'll always just be beside him and support him all the way.

Mommy Moments: Sporty Day

Even though my little one is way too young for serious sports playing, I can see that he's growing and developing interest in various athletic and rigorous activities like playing balls (he loves throwing and kicking them), horse-riding (he loves back riding either me or his daddy or his Lolo), riding his bike or driving his Chicco car and he loves to run! He also likes going and passing through the mini-gym steel bars in the playground of the pre-school putting his balance to test. He has also developed liking to playing hide-and-seek with his Daddy using our blankets. If he gets a little bit bigger, I won't be surprised if he'll be more adventurous and hide inside the stainless steel drums of his Lolo. Yes, I just know he'll be that mischievous.

I just also know that he'll be so into sports particularly basketball. The proof, these NBA character shirts that his Daddy bought him. Talk about influence.

On Wedding Destinations and No Invites

A close friend of mine is getting married in two weeks. Although, she had invited me through a phone call last month, I'm actually doubting if we're lured to come since we haven't really received the formal invitation yet. I don't know if it's safe to assume but we're really one of the closest friends in college and she's my son's baptismal sponsors. I'm just a little bit worried because I don't even know the specific wedding details with the absence of the invitation although I can call and ask her but I think that's too tacky on my part. I asked our fellow groupmates and they haven't received their invitations too. This caused me to wonder if they're having a Cancun Destination Wedding or that sort of destination wedding that's why they might just be limiting the guests to immediate and closest friends. There goes my paranoia again. I just hope that she's just caught up with a lot of wedding preparation works and that we'll be handed our invitation soon.

Speaking of destination weddings, I really fascinate how it feels like to get wed in such a romantic place as the beachfront of the Karisma Hotels. A tropical setting, a dream destination, unique ceremony settings, value-added packages, hassle-free wedding planning services and ultra chic honeymoon suites...the couple couldn't ask for anything more.

Asher's 20th Month Updates.

To my dearest Asherito,

As you turned 20 months old last November 2, I could say that I'm little by little convinced that you're no longer a baby. Just 4 months to go and you'll soon turn 2. But as early as now, it seems that we do not only get a preview but I believe you're already nearing the peak of your Terrible 2 Stage.

As always, here's the list of what I noted about you on your 20th month:

1. More often, you only just nap once a day now. You usually skip your morning nap but your eyes get heavy come lunch time so I see to it that you've eaten your lunch by 11:30 PM. However, napping early in the afternoon makes you hit the hay as early as 7 PM! It's actually tough adjusting but I think I've mastered your system and body clock pretty well.

2. You love to run! You can perfectly balance yourself as you can also jump by yourself with two feet off the ground without holding onto nothing. You can also tip your toes for a few seconds.

3. You gained a kilo as of your last well check up last month. You looked a little taller too with the dining table as my gauge. According to your doctor, you're almost through with your immunizations and what's just left are the booster shots for your toddler years. You also graduated now from a monthly routine well baby checkup as your next checkup won't be until first week of December..so perhaps, you'll have it just every other month now.

4. You can already eat by yourself using your Barney spoon and fork. However, you tend to experiment and play with your food that's why your high chair tray ends up a one big mess afterwards. You can also tell Mommy that you're already hungry or thirsty and that you want something to take in. You love pasta..specifically Jollibee spaghetti and Mommy's carbonara. You also love to drink your yakult and pineapple juice using a straw. Mommy fears of typhoid, amoebiasis and tummy flu so just to be sure I still give you distilled water to drink. Hopefully I can give you the purified one that we drink or those treated with water softeners by the time you turn 2.

5. You love driving your mini-car around powered by your feet...hehe!

6. You ask me to play the Barney DVD whenever you hear me sing even just a line from any of Barney's song.

7. Your favorite nursery rhymes that you can perfectly dance or do the hand actions with are My Toes My Knees, Hello Helle (Kumusta ka), the Butterfly song.

8. You can correctly point 15 body parts: head, hair, eyes, ears, nose, lips, tongue, teeth, armpit, tummy, toes, hands, butt, knees and "birdie".

9. You can express whether you want bottled milk or Mommy's milk.

10. Favorite word now is "mama"..to my delight, of course! Your vocabulary is still a bit limited but you can understand a lot more words than you can say. Further, you can express yourself through signing or body and hand gestures.

11. You feel extra possessive of Mommy. Your separation anxiety, I think, even worsen.

12. You've become more demanding too of Mommy's milk so I don't think that weaning will be an easy process for us to go through by the time you turn 2.

13. Mommy's challenge now is how to curtail or manage your hitting and biting habits. I know that it's just normal and it's something that toddlers undergo through since you can't fully express for now your thoughts and emotions through words.

14. Mommy's amused of your patriotism. You can recognize the Philippine flag and say "Ba-ba"..which is your term for "Bayang Magiliw.." while you tap your chest with your hands.

See how you've grown now, my son. You really never cease to amaze us with how you're growing smarter as day pass. Mommy and Daddy will never get tired being amused with your antics so just keep 'em coming, my baby.

Xoxo,
Mommy

No Educational Plan.

The bankruptcy and closure of pre-need plans companies these past few years prompted us not to get an educational plan for our little one. In the past, this was proven to be a good investment but with the world recession and plummeting economy that we have, this isn't so anymore. That is why we opted to just open him a trust fund and soon, a time deposit account and that's where we'll pool his educational fund. We're also thinking to try investing in other forms like gold or other hard assets. My research led me to realize that gold never devaluates and can withstand whatever the economic challenge is. Gold may be in the form of coins or ingots which are pure bullion cast in a convenient size and shape. There's so much more that I need to learn about this type of investment but with companies like Monex Deposit Company (MDC), the precious metals investment leader for 30 years, I know I will be armed with the right information and proper guidance from their dedicated hard asset professionals.

Christmas Fashion

Last month, I bought little A his first ever pair of sunglasses from Old Navy. Whenever we go out, he gladly wears it as he imitates his Daddy. I wonder if I can scour for Holiday Fun Eyeglasses type for him in time of the holiday season for his Christmas getup.

Speaking of themed eyeglasses, have you seen lately the New Arrivals at Zenni Optical? Their $8 Prescription Zenni Glasses have now become more fashionable with their Holiday themed eyeglasses. These are perfect for the fashionistas out there.

Single Holidays.

I really can't believe that it's November already and soon it'll be December, the favorite month of most of us. It's also the busiest yet the merriest month because of the Christmas Holidays which means - endless partying, gift-giving and certainly, it's the favorite time for travels and vacations likewise. No wonder December is tagged as one of the peak months for traveling. This also explains why airfare and hotel rates are steep and uncontrollably sky-rocketing during this time. Whether it be Single Holidays or Group/Family Holidays, the festive month of December has so much to offer for the traveller wherever he may go around the globe.

For our family, it's been customary that we spend a few days of the holiday break in the City of Pines up north. We have tentatively booked our favorite inn that we stay at and we're yet to pay the reservation by mid-month. We have likewise started to plan our itineraries - no Group or Single Cruise..just the usual park and famous landmark hopping in the city. Although we've frequent most of these popular tourist spots, the experience and joy of traveling with the family gives the ultimate holiday fun.

While traveling with a group and the family is preferred by most, doing it the solo way or the so called Holidays for Singles are resorted to by many travelers who want to take the trip in solace by themselves. It may appear boring to those who are used to traveling with a group but actually, such solo trips are worthwhile still especially that they get to enjoy the reasonable rates. It may be a notion that single travel is pricier but with Justyou.co.uk, the travel specialist for Single Holidays, it's not. They have various special promotions, reasonable single rates and fun discovery weekends adventure wherein one gets to meet fellow solo travelers and make friends with them. Now who says that single holidays are boring and not fun at all?