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!!!)

2012: A Year in Review

Best year by far.

We had Arabella early this year. This sweet little girl who is displaying her intelligence early on. She's one smart lady and she is truly the apple of our eyes.

Agie finished his CPA, passed the last three subjects he took in the same semester. Hats off to you my hubby, very well done!!!

Agie became a permanent employee which means Abie can now join their company-exclusive, Montessori-based childcare. Woohoo!

A short but sweet vacation to the Philippines for Abie and I. My Guardian Angel was with me the whole journey, making the travel less tiring and stressful for me. Abie get to see her cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents and they were able to cuddle her as well.

Life is sweet. Life has been easy.
Thank you God --- you've answered my prayers (big and small) even before I prayed for it. Your generosity and bountiful blessings overwhelms us. We are humbled, we are forever grateful!

This 2013 we pray for good health;
This 2013 we pray for work-life balance;

This 2013 we will share more;
This 2013 we will live more and love more;

This 2013 we will laugh more;
This 2013 we promise to be the best we can be.

Thank you Lord for an awesome 2012, we know 2013 will even be better.

December 27

Is our 4th year anniversary and Abie's 10th month! We are enjoying ourselves here in the Hunter Valley for a much needed break for Agie.

Cheers to more years!!!!

Christmas 2012

It's Abie's first Christmas and she enjoyed the rainy day spent with friend whom we consider our family here in Australia. Here are random shots of the different parties we attended.

Nine Months

To our dear Arabella,

Happy 9th month sweet little girl. Thank you for continuing to be our inspiration. Thank you for your little squeals of laughter, thank you for your wet kisses, and thank you for your beautiful smile.

Today marks another milestone in your young life. At 9 months, you've travelled by land, air and sea. And you have been a very good travel buddy, thank you Anak.

I know that your Dad missed you so much, I hope that the nightly FaceTime sessions we had have eased the loneliness just a little bit. But I am glad that you get to spend quality time with your Lolos and Lolas, your cousins and aunts and uncles. Seeing your face lit up everytime they play with you made our travel so much more worth it.

Our little one, we pray that you continue to blossom, to be healthy and to be wise. Remember, we love to the moon and back!

Hugs and kisses all over,
Mum and Dad

8 months

Dear Abie,

Eight months. Where did time go?

You are getting bigger and bigger each day. Your laughter brings tears to our eyes; you're a character you little one.

'Dad, da, da, da, dy, Dad Dy'.
High pitched laughter.
Baby Einstein Baby Newton's 'Shapes' song and you singing along with it.
Sing-along with Dad at night time.
Size 1 clothes.
Passport photo. Lots if it.
Discovering your shadows.
Playing on your own for 30 mins in the morning before waking up Mum or Dad.

These are just some of your milestones Anak. You are one smart baby, and I'm pretty sure you'll grow to be a smart lady.

Your tight hugs are so precious, your cute little smiles heartwarming. You know how to do 'beautiful eyes' and your 'kisses' are the sweetest. Anything you do we are in awe, for you are our world.

Soon, you'll start crawling,walking and running. Then you'll want your own space. One day, we know that would come (as much as we dread it). But for now, we'll cherish the moments you're in our arms.

Let's continue to create wonderful memories our Arabella, and do remember, we love you to the moon and back.

Tight hug and a thousand kisses,
Mum and Dad

Passport photo

I literally have hundreds of shots of these. Haaaay, should have taken a photo when she was less mobile, would have been so much easier.

Cheeky little girl

She just woke up from her afternoon nap and gave me this sweetest, cheekiest face! Oh Abie, how I love thee.

Observant Chy

Since it was school holidays last week, Chy spent a day with us. It was a breath of fresh air being able to have a two-way conversation with a grade schooler. Chy, being her usual observant self, made a few comments that literally made me LOL!

While dressing up Abie after her bath
Chy: why is her butt and body dark but her face is white? (Bisto ang pagkaitom sa akong Anak!).

Checking out my screensaver of Abie doing her tummy time at 3 months old
Chy: what happened to her here? Was she sick? (Malnourish ug eye-baggin pa man intawon si Abie before)

While breastfeeding Abie
Chy: Ang laki ng tummy nya, taba taba! Ikaw din, big din tummy mo but smaller na compared to before. (Kinahanglan nako mag sit ups again!)

While cleaning Abie after she pooped
Me: Chy, can you grab some toilet paper for me please!
Chy: ieeeewwww she pooped?
Me: You don't have to look.
Chy: ieeeewwww I don't wanna be a Mum, I don't want to clean a dirty baby!
Me: But you want a baby brother or sister right?
Chy: Oh, Mama can clean the baby.

Thanks for staying with us Chy, Abie enjoyed her day and so did I.

Seriously

Does a seven month old baby needs all these?

And she's becoming a Shoeaholic too! Tsk tsk tsk.

Seven months

27/9/2012

Our Dear Arabella,

Seven months ago, you came to this world. And since then, you've turned our world upside down, and we mean this in a good way.

Today, you went with Mom for an office visit. You were your bubbly, sociable self once again. Even if you didn't have your morning nap, you never got cranky. You really are a people pleaser and you love to be the centre of attention. How we love that trait of yours Anak.

You finally cut your second tooth, you are starting to back crawl, you stand (assisted) for a few seconds and you just babble to your hearts content!

We think you are starting to develop separation anxiety specially when you're alone with Mom. You just want to be held, otherwise you'll cry. As long as you can see your Mommy, you are calm but once she's out of your sight you start to scream bloody murder! We know this is part of your mental development so we are not too fussed about this.

You are eating solids now and your favorite food is sweet potato;
You don't like prune juice but you get constipated so you have to drink it;
You still love your playtime with Daddy and you really look forward to it;
You finally do the 'milk sign' but only when you are already drinking milk! Hehe

We still can't get enough of you little one, we love to give you cuddles, we love to smell you (and your stinky feet!), and we love everything about you.

Thanks for being a good girl Arabella. You make your Mommy and Daddy so proud.

Love you to the moon and back.

Lots of hugs and a million kisses,
Mommy and Daddy

Iremit + Jollibee

I went to Iremit in Blacktown to send some money back home. I could have done the transfer online but because I was in the area anyway, I just went to their office.

While waiting for my transaction to be finalized, I saw this:

I didn't know that they have this service since 2009! They partnered with Jollibee and have a set menu that ranged from Php800 - 1,500. You can choose the package you want, pay it at current exchange rate plus $2 processing fee. They will then transmit your order to the nearest Jollibee branch who will then deliver it if the recipient is in Metro Manila, otherwise they will receive a call for the pickup time/ dine in time if in the province. This is such a brilliant idea, great way to surprise your loved ones!

Perfect timing for me, it's my nephews birthday last Sunday and I forgot to send a present for him. So, I ordered a package for the whole family to enjoy and it only cost me $36.70!

I can't wait for their feedback on Sunday!!!

I love giving surprises. ;)

How I wish we have Jollibee delivery to Australia too. :(

My MCN Stash

two in one One Size Fits Most (OSFM) nappies

My trial use of modern cloth nappies (MCN) was a success and I've decided to do it full time during the day when I am at home. Because I have the microfiber inserts, I need two inserts so I don't have to change hourly. With my initial stash, it meant I only have 6 nappies available for use and I have to wash them daily. So I've decided to increase my stash.

I checked EBay and Gumtree for China cheapies as I can't justify paying $30/nappy for Aussie made ones when the China-made does the same work. I got lucky and found $3 per nappy with insert included, and any additional insert will only cost me a dollar! How's that for a bargain. This particular seller also have printed nappies for $6 a piece, not bad at all. So I ordered enough nappies and inserts to enable me to do the laundry every two/three days.

Once you've used MCNs and shift to disposables, you'll notice how awful the 'sposies smell! Hopefully, I can get one or two night nappies so I can say goodbye to disposables for good. It's better for Abie's bum, better for our pocket and better for the environment too.

So far, I've spent $87 for my 16 nappies and 32 inserts. For washing, i use baking soda and vinegar so its really cheap! I also joined the Annual Cloth Nappy Hunt and hopefully, I'll win something from the sponsors (really eyeing the night nappies or even night boosters).

Cloth nappy is really easy to use and becoming popular nowadays. Why not try it on your next bub?

cute nappies