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!

Julie's Bakeshop in Edmonton

We were at a dinner party last Friday and some friends mentioned that there is already Julie's Bakeshop in Edmonton. Really, Julie's??? Saang kuweba ba ako nagtago at hindi ko alam??? I mean, babad na babad ako sa social media, how come na-miss ko ito?

Oh well, I got so excited. A Filipino brand here in Canada (lalo na sa Edmonton) is very much welcome! Lalo tuloy akong umasa na magkaka-Jollibee rin dito soon haha! #asapa

I was not a Julie's fan way back in Pinas. There was a Julie's branch in our area (Marilao crossing) but it closed a long time ago. I found their breads "very ordinary," or mas masarap pa nga yung mga tinitinda sa local bakeries sa may amin.

Anyway, I am hopeful that this Julie's bakery will satisfy my craving for Filipino breads. We've tried buying from Filipino bakeries here in Edmonton but sadly, aside from pandesal, wala na silang masarap na tinapay. Ang layo ng lasa sa mga ensaymada at Spanish bread na hinahanap-hanap ko.

We thought bukas na ang Julie's so we went there last Saturday. It's located just across West Edmonton Mall (WEM), malapit sa clinic ng OB ko. Kaso sarado pa pala.

Still, we tried walking-in (the door was unlocked) and a very nice Caucasian lady informed us that they moved their opening date to April 27. They are still "perfecting" the breads, according to her. Nangangapa pa rin sila sa paggamit ng oven. She and her Pinoy husband went to the Philippines to train (franchise nga kasi).

There were some breads on their display shelf and she asked us kung gusto naming tikman. Ate June chose the pudding while I asked for the cheese roll (I don't know how it's called). We were so thrilled kasi ang sarap! Pinoy na pinoy ang lasa! We readily gave our seal of approval.

We are now looking forward to April 27 to taste their other breads. Sa wakas, hindi na rin kami made-deprive sa tinapay (lalo na si Ford who happens to be a 'bread person.'). I am so glad that the bakeshop is located here in the west area, kahit araw-araw makakabili kami. Sana lang affordable ang presyo.

I think this is the very first Julie's Bakeshop in Canada. Haha, nagle-level-up na talaga ang Deadmonton!

Excited for Nathan's Mickey Mouse Party

Ford and I have decided to throw a party for Nathan this coming June 13 (his 7th month "birthday") for our Edmonton friends because we (Nathan and I) are going 'home' in Pinas this coming July and will be back only after his first birthday in November.

Noong una, sina Mylene and Cecil and Joy (and their kiddos) lang naman sana ang invited pero naisip naming imbitahan na rin ang ilan pang kaibigan at kakilala namin dito. Sayang naman kasi ang preparation kung ilang tao lang.

Anyway, I am super excited. This is the very first kiddie party that I'll be organizing. Small party at home lang naman but still, I want to make it a little more special for our little boy. I have sort of planned everything na (from the menu to the decors and trimmings) in my mind, execution na lang hehe.

Yesterday, while we were at Dollar Tree, I've chosen Mickey Mouse as the theme na lang. Since we are strictly on a budget (magastos umuwi sa Pilipinas so kailangang magtipid), naisip ko na mas economical kung Mickey Mouse na lang kasi nga it's practically everywhere - mura at madaling hanapin. Eto nga at nakabili na ako ng ilang items (for just $1.25 + 5% tax each).

Plus Mickey Mouse is so adorable! Bagay na pang-baby kasi uncomplicated. When Nathan is a bit older, I am sure he would prefer different cartoon characters na. So baka ito na lang ang chance ko na magka-Mickey Mouse theme haha!

Ooops, this cap ang nagpa-final ng decision ko. It was given to Nathan yesterday by his Ninang June and it looked so cute on him!

I will try to tabulate all the expenses for this upcoming party. We'll be allocating a budget of $300 for this, sana magkasya. #goodluck

Blue Passport for Nathan

Yehey, the little boy now has a passport!

Ford and I became a little envious haha! As Philippine passport holders, we have so many travel limitations. We can't even cross the neighboring US without a visa even though we're already Canadian permanent residents. Itong anak namin, bongga! Blue passport na kaagad. He could go places without restrictions. That's what we Filipinos lack eh -- mobility.

Seriously, I was very happy to finally get hold of Nathan's passport. Our sacrifices in my pregnancy have paid off. There were times when I was still pregnant that I contemplated 'go home' and just give birth in Pinas. But my desire for my child to be a Canadian right away prevailed. Inasmuch as I love being Filipino, I would have to admit that my son will have a better chance in life if he becomes a natural born citizen of a first world country. Wala namang doubt dyan.

I will first bring Nathan in the Philippines this July (Ford will follow/fetch us in November). I am so excited as we will be staying there for more or less four months. We want our son to be acquainted well with Filipino culture -- despite him being a blue passport holder. Then in December, we are going to visit Ford's family in California.

So this is it! The start of international travel for our little boy. The world is his for the taking!

It's holy week!

I admit to not being religious but I love the observing the season of lent. I am a sucker for traditions "holy week" is filled with it. 

Today is Holy Monday and I couldn't help but wish that I am in the Philippines right now. Ibang-iba kasi ang pakiramdam ng holy week doon eh. Ang saya, ang kulay. Dito parang wala lang talaga (though people here 'celebrate' Easter). Buti nga ginawa pa nilang holiday ang Good Friday eh. Second holy-week-in-Canada ko na ito so I know.

Oh how I miss my mother terribly. We used to watch the Holy Wednesday and Good Friday processions together for 33 years. I feel guilty na iniwan ko siya. I am hoping na someday, magkasama uli kami sa holy week kaso parang hindi ko kakayaning umuwi sa Pilipinas kapag summer dahil sa sobrang init.

Anyway, we are going to my aunt's place in Bristish Columbia this coming Good Friday. Ford got bored and wanted to do a long drive this coming long weekend. Para daw kunwari nasa Pilipinas lang kami at uuwi sa probinsya dahil Mahal na Araw. Kaloka, hanggang ganito na lang kami -- papretend-pretend. 

Bag downgrade

I saw a yellow bag at Guess (WEM) and I instantly liked it. Perfect for spring, I said to myself. I was hesitant but the husband insisted that we buy it. It's only $115 (plus 5% tax), after all.

Haha, I never thought that it will happen again. That I will think so hard before buying a bag that's not even that expensive. I started buying designer purses a couple of years ago and akala ako tuloy tuloy na.

But then you see, motherhood happened.

Let me say that I am not the type who will let go of my personal luho just because I am a mother now. To be clear, I am not buying Louis Vuitton bags FOR NOW because I am jobless (because I have to take care of my son) and we solely rely on my husband's income.

When I was still pregnant, a friend told me that I will change after I give birth. That I will lose interest in shopping blah blah. Four and a half months after Chicklet's birth, I can affirm that I am still the same. I still salivate over expensive bags and hoping that someday, I can afford them again.

As I am not working right now, many will ask why I need a new bag while I still have tons inside my closet. My answer: "Bags are my thing. Just give it to me." I don't splurge on cosmetics or clothes or parlor services, I really am just a bag person. I will hoard as much bags as I can. I don't want to bury my real self just because I became a mother. That's not healthy.

I am just financially limited at this point so I have to downgrade my bag choices. Ok lang, I realized that I was still happy and excited when the cashier handed to me my Guess purchase. Same euphoric feeling kapag may bago akong mamahaling bag noon. =)

Nathan @ 4 Months

Hello, hello... I am now four months old! -Nathan

I guess I will keep and keep on saying this -- TIME FLIES! My Nathan doesn't look like a baby anymore!

March 13, 2015 (Friday). It's another happy Friday the 13th for us because we got to celebrate our son's another month.

For our simple handa, Ford bought Palabok (our favorite) from Manila Grill Express. I cooked fried chicken and we baked pizza na rin.



I wasn't that happy with how the cake turned out. I should have put the toppers in the middle. Or I could have written Nathan's name (I just didn't know how). Di bale, I'll make it up next month.

Ford always has good shots with Cheeky Boy. Pag ako na, laging palpak. He couldn't make Nathan look at him eh. Di rin niya masyadong mapatawa hmmmp!

My heart melts whenever I see my son getting bigger. Imagine, napapadede at napapalitan ko siya ng diaper! I am not completely useless after all haha!

Again, I am wishing somebody could take a decent family picture for us.

I love this picture. It's obvious who is the boss now lol!

Something really interesting came up after dinner. Ford put Nathan on his play gym and as usual, tumatagilid siya. I noticed that he's started doing that in our bed a few days before (March 10 to be exact).

But to our surprise, he finally was able to roll over! Exactly on his fourth month! I really thought it would take a while before he can do that.

Ford and I were so happy for this another milestone. Too bad that it happened so fast, hindi ko na-record sa video.

Hay Cheeky Boy, you never fail to make me and your daddy very happy! We are so proud of you.

Admittedly, you made me so worried the past weeks because I noticed that you were so tamad na dumede. In consequence, feeling ko hindi ka masyadong bumigat. But the nurse at the health center assured us that it's normal because you were starting to get curious about your environment kaya nawawala ang attention mo sa feeding.

Speaking of curious, yep... you are indeed very curious and smart! Parang big boy ka na talaga, "nakakausap" ka na namin at nakakalaro. You have a very charming smile, kaya nga ang dami mong fans sa Facebook at Instagram eh!

We love dressing you up, would you believe? Kasi ang dali mong bihisan. Lahat bagay sa iyo kasi Tisoy ka (unlike Dad!) hahaha!

We love you so much, anak. Please continue being a happy baby! Happy 4th month!