Nathan is now five months!

Our little boy turned five months last April 13, 2015 (Monday). Isn't he the cutest??? #biasedmom

For a change, I asked the husband if we could celebrate Nathan's fifth month somewhere other than our house. Nakakasawa na kasi hehe. Malaki na rin kasi si Cheeky Boy so we can take him out of his car seat na for the picture-taking.

I suggested that we go to Max's Restaurant. September pa nang huli kaming kumain doon (when Tito Ric, Tita Lita, and Chanitz came to visit us) kaya parang nami-miss ko na.

The little boy behaved well at the restaurant... thank goodness! The past weeks, nagkaproblema kami sa kanya when there was a crowd, sobrang umiiyak. He's not used to being with people eh, kasing kaming dalawa lang palagi ng daddy niya ang nakikita. =(

 
More picture taking while waiting for our food.

Family groufie!

Ford and I were minding our own business haha!

Anyway, I wasn't able to prepare well for this month's cake. Kasi nga kakain kami sa labas, mahirap magdala ng cake na maraming anik-anik. We just stopped at Safeway on our way to Max's to get yet another small cake. Then I bought a piggy topper at Dollarama. The candle was from Walmart (which I bought a couple of days before).

I love the pig topper because I am fond of calling Nathan "Cheeky Boy Babooooy" haha!

Here's what we ordered - fried chicken, pork sinigang, pork sisig, and spaghetti (for long life).

Ford also indulged on halo-halo.

Getting Nathan's attention is quite difficult now. Masyado na nga kasi siyang curious sa paligid.

Blow your candle, anak!

Wacky shot daw sabi ng server. The two boys looked good, ako lang ang mukhang ewan.

Yehey, another month has passed! Nathan is getting bigger and smarter every day! And look at his gorgeous skin. We always receive compliments about it. In fact, the Filipina server at Max's said that his skin is even better than skin ng mga puti... ang kinis daw kasi. At rosy cheeks talaga!

We love you, Cheeky Boy aka "Batang Daldal"! You're filling our home with your sweet noises and we couldn't be happier. You bring so much joy into our lives. Thank you for being such a good boy, always smiling. Hindi ka mahirap alagaan kaya sobrang lucky ni Mommy!

And they visited us for 15 hours!

My cousin Sarah (aka Cha) sort of 'promised' me a few months ago that she would come visit me here in Edmonton. She's Illinois-based and working in an airlines company that gives free plane rides to its employees as part of the benefit package.

Last September 22 (Monday), she messaged me on Facebook and asked if we are available on September 25 (Thursday) because she might come already - and she's bringing along her parents Tito Ric and Tita Lita. I was shocked when she told me that they'd only stay here for a couple of hours. They'll be arriving Thursday afternoon and leaving early Friday morning!

I haggled and asked her if they could stay a bit longer. Subok lang muna daw kasi day off niya. They can't extend until the weekend because flights by then would be fully booked. Alrighty, a few hours with them is better than none at all!

Ford had to take a half day off that Thursday because we were picking them at 2pm.

It was my first time to be at Edmonton airport again after my arrival here in November 2013. I couldn't help but wish that it is me who'll "use" the airport (i.e. in going home to the Philippines).

Anyway, we parked our car and saw them just a few minutes after. I was so happy to see them!

I asked them if they would like to have late lunch. They said they ate at around 10am and would just want to try Tim Hortons for 'merienda.' Tita Che, our Vancouver-based aunt, vacationed with them last July and she kept on mentioning Tim Hortons so they became curious. It wasn't their first time in Canada but they haven't tasted Tim Hortons coffee yet.

Cha and a fellow-Bulakenyo Barista haha!

I am glad they liked Tim Hortons! They are from the beautiful Chicago area and I was afraid I could not offer them anything interesting here in Edmonton haha!

They even bought a lot of Take Home Tim Hortons Coffee as pasalubong for their friends!

It felt surreal, having them here in Edmonton (albeit for only a few hours!).

Because of limited time, we already toured them around, specifically in the downtown area, before going home. I kept on telling them that Edmonton is "boring" but booming lol!

We stayed at home to show them our humble abode and rest a bit. I am glad they liked our house.

At around 6pm, we were all starving so we headed to Max's Restaurant (they know I don't cook!). Again, I was grateful because there is no Max's in Illinois. At least we were able to feed them something that they miss.

We ordered Fried Chicken, Bangus Sinigang, Sizzling Tofu, Sizzling Pork Sisig, and Pancit Palabok. They enjoyed the food, so they said.

It's happy to be with happy people!

Cha requested for a Tim Hortons coffee again after dinner. We went home after and spent the rest of night with lots of chikahan.

We just stayed in the living room because they refused to use the guest room na.

I almost didn't sleep. At 4pm, I started making breakfast for them - just bacon and eggs.

And then they left at 5am. It was only Ford who dropped them at the airport because I needed a bit of rest for my ultrasound at 9am.

And that was it. They were here for merely 15 hours! It was really "bitin" but I am grateful because they took time to visit us before I give birth. I wish they could come back again.

Thanks so much, Tito Ric, Tita Litz, and Ate Chanitz! Salamat din sa pasalubong! =)

Pork Sisig in Edmonton (to be updated)

Are you a pork sisig lover just like me? Sisig is my default order in Filipino restaurants (here and in Pinas) so I've decided to compile the different types of sisig dishes that I've tasted here in Edmonton.


Little Asia Noodle House

Max's Restaurant

Summerside Grill Restaurant

Cusina ni Mutya

Lola Emma's Filipino Cuisine

Panciteria de Manila -- the best sisig in Edmonton so far! (10/1/14)

Will update this post later! =)

Pod's birthday 2014

September 6, 2014. With nothing else to do, the birthday boy and I decided to just go to Cross Iron Mills in Calgary to do a bit of shopping (for the baby) and to 'break-in' our one-week old car.

Before leaving the house, Pod joined us in the mandatory powder room wefie haha!

Baby Chicklet @ 30 weeks and 2 days

We left at around 9:50am. Subaru even greeted his boss lol!

It was a three-hour drive to Calgary. We were already starving by 1pm. There are no restaurants inside Cross Iron Mills, only a foodcourt. We ended up having bourbon chicken.

Daddy Ford spent his birthday shopping for Baby Chicklet. Buti na lang may mga sale sa Babies "R" Us.

Normally, my trip to Cross Iron won't be complete without acquiring a purse or two from either Coach Outlet Store or Michael Kors. But I wasn't able to buy any last Saturday. Haha, nagbago na ako! We need to save for the baby. Si Chicklet na lang ang focus namin ngayon. Dalawang Lacoste beanies lang ang nabili ko for myself kasi necessity saka sale naman.

The husband didn't buy anything for himself. He just had crepe and was already happy. What a simple guy he is!

We only stayed at the mall for less than three hours and then drove again for another three. Buti na lang masipag mag-drive si birthday boy!

At 6:40pm, we picked Ate June up so we could eat dinner with her.

Sa Max's Restaurant din kami bumagsak. Ford was very hungry from driving so he wanted tried-and-tested dishes. We couldn't eat at non-Pinoy restaurants (like Tony Roma's or Chili's or Boston Pizza) naman because I won't be able to calculate my carbs intake there.

We love Max's food honestly...

Nilagang Baka, Sizzling Tofu, Lechon Kawal, Fried Chicken

Haha, I just wished he had a hair cut before his birthday so he'll look good on pictures! Kaso kuripot ang lolo mo, saka na daw siya magpapagupit.

I will always be grateful to Ate June for always being there for Ford, especially when I still wasn't here...

Edmonton Partners...

Baby Chicklet ought to have a picture with his future Ninang June.

Happy happy birthday, Dear Pod Pod! I have no gift nor any surprise for you because I lack money and mobility. Bawi ako next year (hopefully)! I love you so much!