My two and a half year old son said something funny yesterday coming from our lunch at Panera's. We were standing on our condo building's front yard looking at a squirrel perched on a short, leafless tree. I told Evan  that the squirrel was looking for food. "Do you want to give him your cookie?" I asked my son wondering how he would react to giving up his first gingerbread man cookie which had him fascinated, then delighted after having the initial sweet taste. His answer? "No, no way. You eat leaf!" he ordered the squirrel.

Dress Up Evan. He put on the baseball cap, whistle and mommy's running shoes himself. Maybe he wants to be a coach or something. Evan at 2 1/2 year old.

His daycare provider related to me an incident which broke his longest sentence record. He was sitting on the table longer than usual after lunch, M asked him if he was done. "No, I still eating it's delicious!" was his reply.

If there are several marked progress to Evan this month, one will be his newfound love for eating meat, he now demands for a second serving of turkey bacon, ham or sausage. Although nothing tops veggies on his list. I still have to remind him to eat more of his meat and pasta than just beans, peas, corn or green salad. He got his food preference happily reversed.

As I mentioned in another post, at this stage he is able to entertain himself more. On some mornings while his mom and dad are still in bed, he will be at the living room playing with his pirate ship, farm toys, building a Lego tower or reading books. I recently reorganized his toy bins separating them into all balls, all cars, all sophisticated/big toys and all small/cheap toys bins and he spends more time with the small/cheap toys box - his favorite is a plastic snake he got from a halloween bag last year.

Video of Evan with his favorite activity book, Look And Find. Luckily the company I work for makes them and I get them for free or at a hugely discounted price.The video is badly edited because it was taken from a camera which I have only 50 seconds at a time. Some elaboration of the Evanspeak - Cayden is his daycare classmate as I would remember later. He also said "rock guitars", from an Elmo book. He can easily count up to 20. The Thomas The Train letters, he meant the train schedule.

I am also tasking him to putting back his stuff to where they belong, like his empty sippy cup to the kitchen or his folded socks to the socks basket in his bedroom. He is at that age where he thinks it is a game and doesn't require much urging from my part, yet.

At church this morning we unfortunately weren't able to avail of the nursery so I had to bring him to the chapel with me. But unlike in earlier months, gone was the wildman toddler who would pull everything he sees and run everywhere. He would still run around the lobby, climb up on the waiting bench, would want to drink from the water fountain and was content to sip from a disposable cup instead, but he did pretty good considering he didn't have a coloring book or toy with him. The same can be said during Thanksgiving at my brother-in-law's house. He kept himself amused with the toys, mess free colored markers and portable dvd player we brought along. He also ate heartily the turkey with gravy and sweet potato dinner too. 

It seems Evan has grown overnight. We woke up the next morning to find his clothes were too short for him. Time for mommy to dig up some hand-me-down larger sized outfits in the storage and go shopping. The only shopping I did for him the past year were this winter's gloves, hat, a pair of shoes and Thanksgiving clothes. He already has 4 winter coats courtesy of his cousin Rohan.

Did I say I love this age?

Plugged into: Single Ladies (Beyonce)
Currently reading: Supercapitalism (Robert Reich)
Currently watching: Kit Kettridge (Abigail Breslin)

jaywalker_1982

Sorry for the lack of updates. The intarnets has melted my brain. I don’t think I can write anymore but I will still try.

Luckily I still have enough brain cells to play the guitar. Here’s me playing weezer’s butterfly”

This entry contained scripting, which has been removed for your safety. Click here to see the entry in its entirety.

Movie	Rating
Tarzan
Alladin
Charlotte's Web
Peter Pan
Little Mermaid
Lion King
Aristocats
The Rescuers
Dumbo
Emperor's New Groove
Bambi
Toy Story 1 & 2
Monsters Inc.
Dinosaurs
Finding Nemo
Beauty And The Beast

5 Trucks = elicits laughter, full concentration, asks to watch the movie regularly

4 Trucks = asks to watch the movie sometimes, very interested when watching

3 Trucks = gets bored on a some parts, too scary on some parts

2 Trucks = too scary on some parts, doesn't hold attention

1 Truck = mommy was bored

Plugged into: Human (Killers)
Currently reading: Newsweek
Currently watching: Dancing With The Stars

For some reason that Pink song kept playing on my head while I went running outdoors this morning. I guess I was happy to be taking in fresh air instead of the smell of sweaty bodies inside the gym. I was especially elated of doing something new - running outside in the cold 36F (2C) and finding out that my body was up to the challenge.

My newest nephew Job Immanuel. Isn't he the most precious and cutest little baby in the world? Show in the picture being held by his doting kuya Jude, who suddenly looks like a very matured 8 year old beside his 2 week old baby brother.

I had 4 layers on top (tank tee, long sleeves running shirt, long sleeves running jacket, down vest), thick gloves, yoga tights, baseball cap and ear muffs in my pocket. 3 blocks later I was warm and sweating I wanted to get rid of the gloves and down vest. I just unzipped the vest and stashed the gloves in the pockets instead. It was good because on some parts of the 3 mile run it got too cold that I would wear them on and off again.

I wonder if I could do the half marathon in April since it will still be technically winter in Chicago; spring doesn't really arrive here until May. Plus I would have just gotten back from my trip in the Philippines which I am not sure how my training will go with the heat.

I got asked the second baby question again yesterday. It always is interesting to me how a casual question would involve a deep thought from my part whenever I try answer what usually is a passing question. It's still something up in the air leaning towards as unlikely as more time passes. Timing and being older parents are big factors. A few days ago I heard the inconsolable crying of a 2 month old in our health club's kid care and it brought a flashback of panic attacks and stress, something I am definitely not ready to experience yet. But we don't have the luxury of time of waiting until Evan is 5 years old either.

But IF we do decide to being parents to a newborn again, one of the things I will sure miss the strong body that I just got back and the challenges I enjoyed giving it. That and being able to watch 2 straight reruns of Ugly Betty with minimal interruptions as my 2 year and his toys do their own thing.

Plugged into: If I Were A Boy (Beyonce)
Currently reading: Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban (J.K. Rowling)
Currently watching: Ugly Betty

Would you believe in a few weeks it'll be the first year anniversary of my joining Weight Watchers?

Since then I have grown to like healthier stuff more like veggie salads, eaten less cafe sandwiches, more peanut butter sandwiches, more vanilla ice cream cones, less premium ice cream pints, more gelato, zero jumbo cookies, less meat, some buffalo wings, some Popeye's fried chicken, some deep dish pizza, grown enormously fond of tofu etc.

I still eat out an average of 3x a week. I still do 30 minute cardio 4x a week without fail. I need to get back to a regular schedule for my resistance training though. I haven't attended a WW meeting in 2 months. From the 20 pounds I lost after being on Weight Watchers for 7 months I gained 2. I am currently on my church wedding weight and I am more than happy with it.

However I am nervous about the fast coming holiday season starting with Thanksgiving next week, so I am preparing for it by doing (crossfingers) the following:

1.) Stick to 3x a week 20 minute resistance training.

2.) Do 10 minute stretching everyday (done 2x already).

3.) Continue doing 4x a week cardio. Find motivation too (maybe run half marathon next April?)

3.) Keep food diary.

4.) Weigh every week.

5.) Attend Weight Watchers meeting every week until January.

6.) Take walks during lunch breaks maybe 2x a week.

7.) Make reward chart with Weight Watchers healthy lifestyle guide (see above image).

This should keep me well behaved for the next 6 weeks.

Plugged into: 1,2,3,4 (Plain White Ts)
Currently reading: Parenting Magazine
Currently watching: Sound Of Music (Julie Andrews)

A family friend who has a little girl around Evan's age asked us if Evan has seen a dentist yet. I told them that I had our family dentist said to wait until he was 3. "That's what we were told too until we noticed that something was wrong with C's teeth and brought her in. It turned out that a lot of her teeth suffered from tooth decay. She ended up with having 4 caps put in," C's parents related to me.

Evan flashing a smile while watching the Aristocats video on a dress rehearsal night before Halloween.

What was scary was that, the first dentist they went to even recommended to have 8 or more teeth worked on which would have costed the couple $8,000 (they didn't have dental insurance for the little one or so they thought.) They went to another dentist for a second opinion, thus only 4 teeth were capped (upon this dentist's finding). They were also relieved that by some twist of fate found out that C's dental insurance was covered all along. They "only" paid $800 of the $2,000 bill.

I asked them what was the cause of C's tooth decay and to my shock, according to their dentist, it was breastfeeding before bedtime after C  had brushed her teeth. It was the first time I have heard of breastfeeding being the culprit for rotting a toddler's teeth. Books have warned about bottlefeeding as toddlers (especially with juice) and dropping off to sleep while nursing a bottle. That was why as soon as Evan turned one year old weaning him from the bottle was my first priority, a project I gradually started when he was only 4 months old.

I am pretty firm about brushing Evan's teeth that it is rare he goes to bed without doing it, even on many nights when he isn't very cooperative. I have read that children needs to have brushing of their teeth closely supervised until the age 6. Evan started brushing his teeth when first tooth appeared, initially with a washcloth as recommended by the pediatrician, then eventually with an infant toothbrush. He brushes 2x a day nowadays. By himself in the morning (copying mommy) and with my help at night.

So you can imagine how I got paranoid for a second when this couple told me their story. I was already thinking of bringing Evan to the dentist the day after. But the couple reassured me that if there was something wrong with Evan's teeth it would be noticeable. As I would tell Evan every night, "open your mouth wide so that mommy could sweep the germs away from your teeth so that they can't dig holes which will be painful for Evan."

Three and a half more years till my little boy can be trusted with his own toothbrush. Sigh.

Awwww....

I was busy doing notes on a legal pad when my 2 year old came to me with a pen and scratch paper on his hand asking me to draw a truck. I told him, "later Evan, mommy's writing something," as I continued doing my shorthand. He sidled beside me and scribbled on the same page I was working on. He asked again if I could draw him a truck (my hundreth truck drawing this month), so I gave in and doodled the usual image I have been doing for him.

He then asked me if I could draw Evan. So I also doodled the usual Evan drawing.

My son looked at the drawing, then looked to me with an usual intensity. He climbed the coach and sat beside me. He put a hand on my chest, another hand on my shoulder brought his face close and said, "I love mommy."

Plugged into: Come On Get Higher (Matt Nathanson)
Currently reading: The Wrecking Crew (Thomas Frank)
Currently watching: Forgetting Sarah Marshall (Jason Segel)

bebe04

every year, life battles are different.  they get tougher and tougher.. more complicated. but all these make you stronger, braver and more importantly closer to God.  

2008 started off with a healing heart and soul-searching (don't we once in a while?).  and man i say, i'm proud i've managed to move forward and faced every single endeavor i had to.  i was scathed and i won't deny it.  mid-year, major decisions, major changes i had to bear.  sure, there were problems along the way - big, complicated ones, though most of the time, shallow and endurable. and God never did leave me, as well as my family and friends, throughout this whole phase.  happy or sad, they were there, to which i can't be grateful enough. 

i know it's too early to for a year-end review, but i just can't pass this realization.  people will leave you. and it will hurt. but there will always be replacements - better replacements.  people who will accept and stay with you forever and never will think twice of deserting you, no matter what happens.  i might've lost somebody dear to me recently and that's sad but i cannot dwell on that feeling for a longer time anymore.  and God heard me.. as today I've gained a lasting relationship, one thing that i've actually wished for since i was little. 

 thank you Lord for giving me another reason to smile and be happy. thank you for that that orange guy, my dad.

my 2008 hasn't ended yet.  and i'm actually pretty excited for the rest of it.  it's just that i want to start the coming year right.  and i'll make sure of that. 

bebe04

O wag kang tumingin
ng ganyan sa ‘kin
wag mo akong kulitin
wag mo akong tanungin

Dahil katulad mo
ako rin ay nagbago
di na tayo katulad ng dati
kay bilis ng sandali

O kay tagal kitang minahal

Kung iisipin mo
di naman dati ganito
teka muna teka lang
kailan tayo nailang

Kung iisipin mo
di naman dati ganito
kay bilis kasi ng buhay
pati tayo natangay

O kay tagal kitang minahal

Tinatawag kita
sinusuyo kita
di mo man marinig
di mo man madama

O kay tagal kitang mamahalin.

maraming komplikasyon. hindi makakompromiso. ilang taong naggabayan. panahon lang ang talagang makapagsasabi kung anuman. isa lang ang masasabi ko, masaya ako sa lahat ng mga nangyayari sa buhay mo ngayon.

nandito lang ako, malayong malapit man. hanggang sa muli.