Check-up and Mega

I noticed a quaint cough from the little boy since Thursday night. According to the yaya, the cough became more pronounced on Friday and he vomitted several times. He is very irritable also because there are four teeth peeking out.

That is why we brought him to the pedia this Saturday. Not to his usual pedia but to one of the accredited doctors in Clinica Manila covered be Val's health insurance. Also on this check-up I asked the doctor to see the pimple-looking bump on his birdie that I have noticed about a month already. He gave his prescriptions for the cough. For the bump, he said there's nothing to worry, "mawawala din yan ng kusa". Although he gave us a topical cream that we can apply twice a day.

After the check up, we ate lunch at our favorite Mann Hann. As usual, the orders are fresh lumpia, lechon macau, fish and tofu and the never missed manggo cheesecake. Neo wasn't eating much, walang gana.

And since nasa Mega na rin lang. We breezed SM department store. I wanted sana a jacket for Neo for this cold weather pero wala ako nagustuhan. And the we saw this Mossimo jacket. Maganda sana kaya lang Php1,090. Too expensive!

See our megamall short shopping results:


Avent milk powder dispenser (Php309), Avent easy sip soft spout (Php 499.00), Johnson's shampoo with honey, Huggies XXL 30s diapers, Neo's T-shirt (Php 149.00), two bed sheets on sale at 50% (Php 250 each).

Friday night

Gigi is in Manila. And she's staying for a week only.

She is Val's cousin, his closest one. She took a break as a stewardess in the States to visit family here and their lola in Guam.

Val with Neo picked me up from office around 6:30 PM. After dropping off Mama in Pandacan, we went straight to the hotel where Gigi was checked-in.

Gigi was happy to see her pamangkin and picked-up the little boy right away.

We had dinner at Aristocrat. Sa Endagered Species sana (now with a new name or management?) kaya lang may band performance kaya di pwede sa bata. Sa Aristocrat, Val and I both had chicken barbeque, Neo had cream of asparagus soup and Gigi had pancit palabok (which she craves for) and ripe manggo shake.

While dining, there was this cute little girl na natuwa at nakipaglaro kay Neo. She kept on pinching Neo's cheeks.

Ayan, nagalit tuloy! hahha!

After dinner, we checked out the bakeshop. Naku, ang daming masarap! Lahat na yata! We didn't buy cake, cheesy ensaymada, one muffin and one egg tart lang for Neo. Next time nalang.

We brought Gigi back to the hotel mga past 9:00 PM.

We thank her for all the pasalubong! For Neo, converse sneakers and three sport shirts. For Val, converse sneakers also. And for mwah, a pouch of body shop lotion etc, and a Reeds silver chain.

Photo Exhibit

Every third week of January is National Autism Consciousness Week in the Philippines, by Presidential Proclamation 711 of former President Fidel V. Ramos. As part of the event is an exhibit "Colors of A Spectrum" where Val was featured as a volunteer photographer (click on the picture to enlarge and see Val's name on the roster).

He is excited and we are mighty proud! But more than the hype of being part of the project and this being his first public exposure, he said it was the encounter with the families with children afflicted with "A" that made this experience worthwhile. He got first hand stories from the family assigned to him and he can't help but admire and be inspired by the dedication, perseverance, patience and solid love these parents have to their children under this state.

Kudos and thanks! to the organizers for promoting this awareness and touching the hearts of others. And let us all be thankful for all our blessings in love and in life.

We will be on the venue on Sunday.

Neo's feet

These tiny feet on the left are Neo's when he was only a month and a half old. And the next are his year-old size! He has outgrown his havaianas tsinelas and is now comfortably wearing his pelican crocs. Maybe a month more before he can use his caymans. And yey! his black chuck taylors are arriving soon!

He is walking very well now, without assistance. Although, my ever praning self would still brace him most of the time. Heheh, takot pa din ang mommy!

What's goin on?

Neo is 14 months old and he has been growing and going day by day. He surprises us with new and cute things day all the time. Words and non- words are coming out from him that really amazes us. This little walker is constantly on the go, always wanting to be on the floor to strut his steps. Kakatuwa at kakapagod!

He likes anything with wheels. Plays with the wheels of his strollers and his toy trucks. Loves to watch wheels of other cars on the road.

He enjoys eating and refuses nothing. Really loves kalabasa. He drinks in straws. There should always be merienda! Always delighted when you hand him a craker or biscuit. He will show frustration if he sees you eating and he is not.

He imitates mouth sounds and other mouth gestures. He nods his head as in "YES" and nudges it as in "NO". Act out YES and NO and he will imitate.

He can follow simple instructions. Show him how to open a wallet, or press the remote button, or snap open a watch and he will do the same. I showed him only once how to flip and small latch from his book and he readily got it.

He blesses, not consistently though. Still plays saw-saw suka.

He is aware of his daily schedule. He knows when it is time to take a bath, have his lunch, take his afternoon walk etc. He surely knows that mommy is coming home anytime.

He fakes his cries when he wants something.

He is working on making an escape from his playpen. That's why we made strict instructions to the yaya never ever to leave him unattended.

He likes Barney. He's really attentive with matching reactions while watching the episodes. Bakit kaya? Naaasar nga ako kay Barney eh! He has two new CDs of Barney from Tata Ritzie.

His interest with books does not tarry. Apart from flipping the pages, I think now he appreciates the content. He listens when I read to him. From his many books, he damaged just one.

He forever enjoys the play, Bulaga! or yung english version na peek a boo! As in, di sya nagsasawa ever! Tuwang tuwa pa din.

"pompom" means time to change diapers. pauso ni yaya.

He hates all head wear.

Two pairs of teeth pa rin. Two up, two down. Pero I think the other will pop out soon kasi namamaga na yung gums nya and I can see white peeking out.

He loves his baths. Ayaw pa umahon kaagad.

He sleeps na nakasiksik sa akin.

What a joy to be a mother!

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Val had two sessions of his photography seminar down. Three more sessions to go and he'll have a photography certificate! He is learning a lot, he said.

Below is a sample of an assignment they had. Subject: Coke. He was explaining about composition (whatever that means). Heheh. I think this was a good shot, according to the teacher.

By the way, he upgraded his DSLR from a Canon 400D to a 20D.

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As for me, I have jumpstarted my scrapbook work. I have to finish the one on Neo's first birthday muna. Details soon nalang. Office work ... as usual.

More presents

Gifts still trickled for Neo even after Christmas.

From Tita Leddie, a King Kong stuffed doll
From Tita Rhaindie and daughters Kim and Tintin, a squeaky hammer and colored floor mats
From Tita Gladys, my best friend from the US, shirts, denim pants and Shrek projector book
From Tata Ritzie, fisher price giraffe toy, leap frog alphabet tray, blues clues hardbound book
From Tata Ruthie, six printed pajamas

It was a fun, fun Christmas for us. We are looking forward to a healthy, happy and peaceful year!

New Year

Hello 2009! What do you have in store for US THREE?

We were hearing the 8:30 mass at San Sebastian with Mommy, Daddy and Ritzie as 2008 was ending. Unfortunately, Val had to work early on January 01 so he had to stay in the apartment alone! During the turnover festivities, Neo did not mind the fireworks and noise. In fact, I think, he enjoyed it as I pointed to him the lightning displays viewed from our terrace. For our medya noche meal we had spicy tuna pasta, our home recipe tacos, manggo float (all prepared by Ruthie).

We spent the rest of 2008 in Cavite. Because we are having our apartment fixed, me and Neo had to stay away from the dust, paint odor and the clutter.