Family Day + Johan's New Look

Having a kid's haircut is expensive, no? Imagine having it monthly, it's even pricier than mine and hubby's haircuts combined!

Yesterday, we scheduled a family day for just the three of us: me, hubby and Johan. We went to SM City Dasmarinas for Johan's third haircut since he turned one. Hubby and I decided to cut Johan's hair really short to minimize his trips to the kiddie salon and also because this summer is ultimately the hottest, with the temperature hitting the 35 degree mark last Thursday. Whew!

I also allotted some 30 minutes of play time for Johan inside one of those play areas inside the mall. The little boy sure had a lot of fun and Mommy sure became really tired when the 30 minutes was over. Hehe!

Here are some photos:

A final photo of Johan before his haircut

He behaved pretty well as always

Then asked to be carried by Daddy after a few minutes. He probably got scared
of the sound from the razor.

My Little Shaolin Kid

Playing with cars and trains inside one of the play areas...

and instantly met a playtime buddy!

Going up the mini stairs...

...to slide down. This is his favorite!

And then he got tired and just laid there on the mattress. The other kids can't slide down
because Johan refuses to get up.

It was a very tiring but very good day for us. 

Today's Sunday, we already heard mass at our usual time of 6am, hubby and Johan are both taking a nap and I'm here typing away this entry #bantaysalakay. Hehe!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Anniversary Plans: To Go or Not to Go?

Our 3rd wedding anniversary is coming up in a few weeks and I really, really wanted to spend time with hubby.  This year I want to celebrate the day in Tagaytay where we had our honeymoon.

I'd love to order a huge bowl of steaming Bulalo while enjoying the picturesque view of Taal Volcano, I'd love to go to the Pink Sisters Chapel to say thanks for yet another year of wonderful marriage bliss (and more to come!), I'd love to head over to Mushroom Burger for merienda and Amira's to buy boxes and boxes of Buko Tarts and finally, I'd love to spend some quiet time alone with hubby over a mug of hot chocolate and a slice of Blueberry Cheesecake from Bag of Beans.

But, I just cannot accept the thought that my son will be left at home while me and hubby are having a great time somewhere else. I know that I can bring Johan with us but the means of transport is one huge problem. Most probably, hubby and I will go there on commute or ride hubby's Suzuki Mio. Johan is one hyperactive toddler and I'm sure it'll be difficult to bring him by commute.

I am definitely torn as to pushing through with the plans or just go to a nearby mall so Johan can come with us. I know that husbands and wives should take care of their relationship and take some much needed quality time together. Hubby and I needed that because we don't see each other that often, except during weekends, since I started working. But, I am overridden with guilt to leave Johan at home.

I still have a few weeks to decide. Help?

Summer Outing 2012

Crying Johan during 2011's Summer Outing

Mommy and Johan spending quality time in the grass

This was Johan last year, he's so scared to get into the water so we spent the entire day lounging at the grass in the resort's garden. Wondering how he did in this year's outing?

Warming up

Splashing water, yay!

Into the pool he went where he wanted to stay all day!

Family photo in the pool

My not-so-picky-eater enjoying a stick of hotdog

This are some of the photos from our annual family outing which happened last Easter Sunday. I am so happy that Johan got to enjoy the pool and played with his cousins. He showed a huge improvement from last year's pool drama and we are just so proud of him for braving the cold pool water.

I should receive a pat on the back for exerting just a teensy little effort for this huge change. I did this on Good Friday and Black Saturday to prep Johan up for the outing on Sunday.

Practicing on a giant "palanggana"

I would have let him bathe in his small inflatable pool but I wasn't able to have it inflated hence the "palanggana". But still, my effort proved to be quite effective because Johan had a fun time swimming in an actual pool.

Now, I can't wait to bring him to the beach! Will he enjoy as much?

Tidying Up

A few weeks ago, I decided to clean up and pack some of Johan's small clothes and shoes. They're taking up too much space in our already small storage closets. While doing this, I also noticed his Silver Cross Dazzle Stroller under our bed, gathering dust.

It's been a long time since Johan rode his stroller and now that he's already running walking, I thought it's time to bid the stroller goodbye and pack it properly for the next cutie who will own it.

Here's Johan the first time he rode his Dazzle

I wasn't able to buy huge, clear plastic bags for the job and I only had a couple of extra large, black garbage bags in hand. I hope the black won't mesh with the red color of the stroller, sayang naman.

Anyway, here's a photo of the stroller, all packed up and ready for storage.

While I was busy with the packing, my son was also busy doing something inside our bedroom. Here he is crying his lungs out when he saw me putting his stroller inside the plastic bags. 

Believe me, he cried even harder when I took his Dazzle to the other room and kept it there. At his early age, my son already developed an attachment to his Dazzle. 

Johan, we're keeping the stroller for your future little sister, who hopefully will arrive in four years, the soonest. =)

Terribly Busy

I can't believe I've neglected this blog. It's just that since I started working again in February, I find it hard to write when I get home at night. It's as if my brain cells won't work and I've been mentally and physically exhausted. All I want is to snuggle next to my baby, since he's already sleeping most of the times that I arrive home or play with him during those few times that I catch him still awake.

I promise that I'll start blogging again soon. After the long weekend, probably.

For now, may we all have a blessed, meaningful holy week ahead.

Community Awareness - Lake Seeding and Tree Planting

Yesterday, I (together with my batchmates from work), woke up early in the morning to do something worthy for the environment. We participated in the Lake Seeding and Tree Planting Program spearheaded by the City of Muntinlupa. This is part of our company's Community Awareness Program.

We we're all prepped to working under the sun planting trees but we were all clueless what Lake Seeding means. It appeared that Lake Seeding meant releasing Tilapia fingerlings at the Laguna de Bay. I didn't understand at first how this could help the fishermen seeing all the fish cages installed in many parts of the bay until the person from the Laguna Lake Development Authority explained it to us.

The fish cages or fish pens are all owned by private individuals. Private individuals are the fish pen operators who more or less have the means financially to breed, raise and farm Tilapia.With the many fish pens installed along Laguna de Bay, this leaves just a small area for the humble fishermen to fish which means less catch and income for our lowly "mangingisdas".

When I understood the greatness and the long term effect of what the program is aiming for, I felt truly honored to have been chosen to participate in something as life-changing as this. In my own little way, I am able to help others and that feels really good.

All companies truly should have a community awareness program and be active in their own community activities that would benefit the environment and our fellow Filipinos.

Here are some photos from yesterday:

The early morning sun greets us warmly

The rickety bamboo bridge that we had to pass to go to the floating bahay kubo
where we were briefed and had breakfast and lunch.

Our very filling meal - hardboiled eggs, rice, tuyo, indian mango ensalada,
hotdogs, pork adobo and inihaw na talong

The Tilapia fingerlings

Our "port" - ladder made of bamboo

Boarding time

Our 30-minute banca ride. I just had to say that this is the scariest part of the activity
because we had to ride a banca without "katigs" on either side and we were standing up
because the banca has no seats.

Fish pens

Releasing the Tilapia fingerlings

Tree planting

Me and my awesome batchmates

It truly was a great experience and I will be very happy to do it again.

Monday Madness

As I boarded the passenger van I usually ride on my way to the office, I saw this unique but very ridiculous car. Or maybe it's just me.

Sorry for the blurred photo, I was just using my BB camera and the CRV's already moving

Why would anybody want to have their cars repainted and put the Louis Vuitton logo all over. It's not as if the car was designed by LV or something. Same thing goes for those customized pillowcases and bedsheets and curtains bearing the LV logo. I just don't get it. Or again, maybe it's just me.

Monday's already over, just four more days to go and it'll be weekend again. I hope you all had a productive first-day-of-the-week as I did.

Here's another Monday madness photo, me stealing a quick photo op inside the office comfort room. Hehe.

Sleeveless Blouse: Marks and Spencer

Goodnight everyone!

Holiday at the Hospital

Holiday announcement posted on the elevator door

Yesterday was Muntinlupa Day and since I am now working in Muntinlupa City, I, together with the rest of the employees, were given an off day from work.

I was so excited not to wake up early to cook my baon and to spend the day with Johan but I remembered I had so many errands to do - like pay the bills and do a bit of grocery - plus Johan's been coughing for a week and yesterday was the only time we'll be able to visit his pedia.

We were already at the hospital at 9:30am, his pedia's clinic starts at 9am and ends at 2pm. But, the pedia's secretary informed  me that Dr. Caparas won't arrive until 11am. Now, that's a really, long wait and with an active toddler, "really long wait" is such an understatement.

I could have went out first and paid the bills but it will too much of a hassle to go out and return to the hospital, add to that the extreme heat outside. It's been so hot these past few days it's like we're already in the middle of summer.

Anyway, since we have to wait for his pedia to arrive, I allowed Johan to run around the hospital because I cannot carry his entire 12-kilo weight the entire time. Here are some photos:

Up and down he went on the waiting area chairs

From one row to the other

Turning the bars on the window grills

Trying to open the glass window...

Trying again and again...

...and kicked it out of frustration. Hee hee!

Even if you're super kulit, you are still a cutie, anak!

I was able to finish everything I planned on doing yesterday and  was able to spend some quality time with my son as well.

I only hope he gets well soon, drink his meds and agree to his nebulizer treatments without putting up too much of a fight. 

Yay for Friday!