The polka dot dress

Taken last December

Then, 6 months after 

Ambilis ng paglaki ni Arabella!

Lunch with International Flavour

Our lunch with international flavour was a success. Four years ago, we did a morning tea and back then our group was a mixed of Fijian Indian, Filipino, Chinese, Korean, Kenyan and Aussie. Fast forward to today, our Team has changed - Chinese (4), Fijian Indian (2), Indian, South American, Lebanese, Sri Lankan, Filo, Portuguese and Dutch. Everyone brought a lovely dish and I think I over ate again!

Mozzarella Sticks (South American)

creme caramel cake (Filipino sponge cake)

pancit canton (Filipino noodle)

Indian Daal 

Chinese pork and chive dumplings

Chinese Vegetarian Spring Rolls

Sri Lankan Fish Cake

Indian Chicken Curry

Samosas

baklavas

Portuguese Egg Tarts

empty plates while waiting for some more team members heating up the rest of the food.

It was nice to eat different flavours of home cooked food once again. Happy tummy=happy Gracy. ;)

A Letter to Arabella

Dear Abie,

Its been a while since I wrote you a letter my love, and you know the reason --- we are just too busy these past few months.

I know winter has not been kind to us --- we all got sick. Its harder on you because you still don't know how to blow your nose. I hope the humidifier at night somehow ease the congestion a little bit.

Everyday we watch you in awe at how fast you've grown --- you walk and talk like there's no tomorrow, you sing and shout like we cannot hear you. You are a really spirited girl, our Abie.

My prayer is that you will grow to be a respectful and kind lady. I know, the tantrums and the hard headedness that is manifesting now is just a phase --- it's difficult when you cannot voice out what you want so you cry and shout.

The allergy scare we had last week, I hope it was not because of nuts. And I am really hoping that your exczema will go away soon. I cannot bear to see you scratching yourself and hurting yourself in the process.

Remember, Daddy and Mommy loves you so much. You are our world.

Tight hug and a million kisses,

Mum and Dad

Mother's Day 2013

Celebrated the day with very good friends, catching up over food and drinks. I am so thankful to have these Mommy-friends who I can always count on. They made my Mommyhood journey a little less daunting. ;)

And from my loves --- a beautiful mug with Abie's photo and a molded hand of my little one with this inscription: 'This is my hand. My hand will do a thousand loving things for you. And you will remember when I am tall, that once my hand was just this small.' 

Thank you Daddy and Abie. I strive to be a good, if not the best, mother I can be. You both are my inspiration. Love you to the moon and back.

Xoxoxo

My Little Talker

I stayed home for the past two days because Abie is sick, her temperature was a high 38.8 and the GP said its viral and should be gone by the next day or two.

Even if sick, she was still very active, and talkative too. Because she has enunciated her name clearly the day before, I was curious if she knows how to respond to the question 'what's your name'. So I asked her --- what's your name? Abie? And she answered back Abie! I was so ecstatic!!! I can't stop asking her this question over and over again! And seeing my delight every time, she would answer louder and louder and repeat her name a few more times! I think I got a little talker.

At the Parent-Teacher conference at her school, Teacher Lily told us how social our Arabella is. She greets everyone who comes in their room and says goodbye to them when they leave. She can clearly say 'bird' and gets excited when she sees them. Even if we are raising her in a bilingual home, it does not seem to affect her language capability. Thank you Lord!

She is becoming her own person, she knows how to say no. She shows displeasure over things and she is testing boundaries! The joys of having a toddler is creeping on us, tantrums and all haha.

Every little thing she does is magic and I am continually amazed at how fast she's growing.

We love you so much Abie, please be a good girl ok?

Oh, and she knows how to do beautiful eyes now. What a fun, productive leave I had!!!

Arabella, you are One today!

Dear Abie,

We still can't believe that you turned one today. It feels like it was only yesterday when we heard your first cry, held you in our arms, bathe you our fragile little one. It's amazing how Dad and I (with the help of your Titos and Titas) were able to survive our first year unscathed! We love every minute of every day spent with you Anak. You are OUR world now.

So how did your day went?
Well, you woke up earlier than usual (well, you rolled over to your crib, and when you realized you are not in our bed, you cried), a bit grumpy in the car, but didn't cry when Dad dropped you off at school.
Then in the afternoon, Dad and I went to visit you to join in your afternoon tea with your classmates. You had your birthday cake (baked inside the school), ate a lot of icing but only had a sip of water.
We then went home early and Dad cooked pansit and you had a taste --- it's for long life Anak.
And then, because we're home early, playtime is longer and we didn't have to rush everything.
By 8:30 you are in bed already.

On Saturday, we will have a big party for you baby, hopefully the weather will be better than the forecast (no rain please...).

We love you Arabella... To the moon and back!


Hugs and millions of kisses,
Mum and Dad

Investment Update

I checked my online account and was so happy to see that in one of my investments, I already have a paper gain of more than 100%!

My portfolio is looking so green, I am stoked!!! Mining is in red though but I am not too worried as the value will appreciate soon (fingers crossed)...

I started investing last April 2011 and actively traded for 2 months. After I fell pregnant, I kinda stopped trading and kept my stocks as in until a month ago when I bought a few hundred shares of MER. Today, I already have 4.4% gain on that stock. Overall, the initial investment I put in last April has earned me a paper gain of over 40% already, and that is less than two years!!! I'm itching to buy stocks again but I will wait until close to May (elections), I have a feeling stock prices will go down (but not too low to affect my portfolio).

Happy days!!!

Weather please be nice

We are having an outdoor party at the park on the 2nd of March, Sun God please be kind to us and let your rays shine so bright.

11 months

You're a big girl now our dear Arabella.

In a month's time you'll be a year old! Everyday, Dad and I are still amazed with your antics, your cheekiness, your free spirited shrieks and your bawling cries, your blabbering and your mimicking. Everything you do and all of you, we are in awe.

We love you Anak, happy 11 months!

Saving for Abie's future

I wanted to open an account for Abie from the time she was born and only did it last Tuesday! The original plan was to deposit all the money she received from her baptism as a start up for her fund and for us to transfer a monthly amount to the account. It didn't happen because 1) I was too lazy to go to the bank and 2) I've spent her gifts to buy her some essential things.

To start the year 2013 right, I checked the youth saver account online and realized that I can open it without visiting any branch! That sold me to Commonwealth even though the rates are much lower than Westpac or Bankwest (I think Bankwest have the highest rate). The convenience of doing everything at the comfort of my home, with just a few clicks (or taps for that matter), and at any time I want made the interest rate secondary. I will revisit the rates when the fund is big enough to earn substantial interest, but for now this will do.

Beauty fund, school fund, dental fund --- she can do whatever she wants with her money when the right time comes. I can't wait to teach her the value of money saving and investing.


From little things big things grow...

Happybella

Yes, that's what the Childcare teacher calls my baby. She laughs, squeals and claps her hands as soon as she sees them and when I pick her up, she cries a little bit, hug me tight and starts squealing again. I miss her, my Arabella.

Anyway, I am busy arranging for her first birthday party --- searching the net for ideas, decors, give aways etc etc. Good thing I don't have access yet to our system so I have the whole day to do the planning and not get too bored here.

Seven weeks to go til the BIG party for the little one, can't wait!

First Day High...not!

Today is my first day back
At work after 10 months of maternity leave. So what greeted me here: new faces, no allocated workstation and no system access because they deleted mine! Lovely!!!

I hope I'll get my access back tomorrow so I can start working and building my SAP favorites once again. :(

And did I mention I miss my baby girl? Can't wait for 4 pm so I can get my bread and be done for the day.

Happy New Year

Our humble NYE's spread - pancit, roast beef with chips, teriyaki fish, sticky rice, fruits and wine!

Cheers for the coming year!

(No family photo because the little one is sound asleep!!!)