The OC & The Inflatable

We are scheduled to go swimming tomorrow with my cousins so I prepared Ching's things early on, wanting her to have an unforgettably enjoyable first time in the water...

Turns out I was more than excited than the little girl. I got her a new Hello Kitty swimsuit and will be bringing 2 more tomorrow, some mini inflatables for her arms, and of course, I got her this umbrella type inflatable  two weeks ago... Isn't this the cutest?

Just looking at it gives me the shivers... It will be her first time in the pool tomorrow.. I don't think I'll be getting any sleep tonight... (ano beh).....

Cheesy Dynamites...

Being a cheese lover, I am forever busting my brains out on what else to cook, with cheese in it...

So for our merienda, I decided to make some Cheesy Dynamites... I cleaned the insides of my green peppers, stuffed it with quickmelt cheese, rolled it in lumpia wrappers, and fried it in olive oil at a low flame to a golden crisp until it turned out this way..


I had to make another batch for the husband after my  mom and I finished the whole plate in one sitting.. That's how good it is! Crunchy, with gooey cheese inside and a wonderful spicy kick from the pepper.. Perfect combination!!!

Saying Goodbye....

my Kuya Borge...

April is a month of mixed emotions for me... So many things are taking place too fast and though I must say, it had been a blessed month so far, I couldn't hide the sadness I feel as two of my loved ones are leaving for abroad, a week apart from each other... First, my dad will be leaving back for Jeddah tomorrow, and a week after, my Kuya Borge will be flying to Chicago for good...

        Kuya Borge and I grew up together. Him, me, Injey and Jates who happens to be the youngest. The three of us (Injey included) were born a few months apart from each other. We literally played & slept in one crib, shared meals and other things, had the usual petty fights, we pretty much have one memory of us growing up...

       They are the closest  I have to real siblings. But when  Injey left for Germany after graduation, I was heartbroken. I could still remember the day I cried a bucket when she left. It felt like losing a loved one.. Little did I realize that this familiar feeling would be back very soon.


      Kuya and I have always been there for each other... We may live in different houses now but still, he is a very big part of my life, him and Jates We've gone thru graduations, birthdays, weddings, heartbreaks, practically all the ups and downs (even silly instances like trips to the doctor for rabies shot which he loves making fun about) name it, I have a long list on standby...

      Whenever I am sad or troubled, it's him I run to for help. With Kuya Borge,  I  feel safe because I know I have someone to back me up. That whatever happens, he'd be there for me and he will love me just like he does his sisters.. And if you must know, I love my Kuya more than words could  measure, (maybe soooo much wouldn't suffice). Leih would tell me how amazed he is at how I've grown to love my cousins, and he feels sorry for me for not having a brother of my own.
 

Jates, me, Ching & Kuya...

          In a few days, he'll be off to start a new life in Chicago for God-knows-how long, and that's what chokes me to tears. I've been crying a river to Leih  since I learned about the possibility of my Kuya Borge leaving for work and now, the inevitable is slowly taking  place. It won' take long before Jates follows in next and just thinking about it drives me into deep depression.

      But as much as I would love him to stay with us here,  I am more than happy that he's finally going to start a whole new chapter in his life, I'm not sure if I told him how proud I was of him when he passed the PT State Board Exam with flying colors and how he got himself hired by a reputable rehab facility in the States. Not everyone could accomplish the things he did... I always knew he was an achiever.

Ching's 1st Christmas with Kuya...

 And despite the "separation-anxiety" I am now experiencing,I am thankful  for all the things he has now, even if it means I might not be able to see him for years... I just wish it won't take him long to go home back again..

      Ching will miss him more than I will... For now, all I can do is pray and wish him luck that wherever the wind takes him, he'll have a great life ahead of him...(and hopefully, he'll give us nieces/nephews in the future)

    We love you  so much, Kuya Borge... we'll miss you for sure..

Ching's First Car

         Back when I was young, toys like these didn't exist. Maybe because life then was simpler, kids were satisfied with whatever toys they are provided with, to add, we grew up playing outdoors... But if I were a child, I would love to have this... Kids nowadays are much more priviledged. It's a usual thing for me to see kids holding tablets playing online games that I hardly have any idea about.

        I'm not saying it's wrong, but I would like my little girl to have a more "traditional" childhood. I want her to experience how to fly kites, play hide-and-seek, "siatok" and "habulan".. I believe it would make a child more grounded...

       Don't get me wrong.. This doesn't mean I won't be buying her nice toys.. Of course,  every parent would love to provide the nicest things to their kids. Leih and I pondered hard on this as we thought of getting Ching a beautiful auto-manual car of her own - - - something she could use in the comforts of our home. Good thing we have a spacious yard, it did fit our plan perfectly.

          Leih and I purchased this beauty after his birthday blowout. I admit I was much more excited to get it for her maybe because I would have wanted one of my own .. And boy did she love it.. I'd say this is pretty classy of a car for a girl's first - a pink Beetle type which comes complete with an MP3 tuner/player and a dock, and of course, a remote which I could operate (and enjoy) when it's on  auto mode.. Every afternoon upon arriving from work, we get to have our mother-daughter playtime with this beautiful car.

By far one of our best purchases ever, though I must say, the  price tag made us want to wail. =)

An April Fool's Birthday Celebration

the free birthday cake from Vikings

      Days before Leihson's birthday, our little girl has been singing the birthday song non-stop, courtesy of my mom. She was such a joy to listen to even if we hardly understand what she's saying. She couldn't quite grasp the lyrics yet but you'll hear  "Daddy" at the end of her song, and add a silly smirk after she finishes it.

        Leih thought it was so sweet of his 2 -year old to actually sing to him and so, he agreed to give Ching a big surprise. We've been eyeing on this thing months ago and now that the store is on sale, we thought of finally getting it .

Ching with my parents on our way to dinner...

    Since it was the lenten season, we didn't plan much on how to spend his birthday, save for a special dinner reservation at Vikings. It wasn't crowded that night and the ambiance was so relaxed. We all had a great dinner, even Ching who loved the grilled fish and orange-peach jelly...As usual, I enjoyed 2 glasses full of frozen choco-shake, some maki, grilled seafood and a few more that I can barely remember...

After dinner, we went straight to the mall to get Ching her surprise... Seemed to me that it was Ching who was celebrating the day and not Leih.. But can you blame the dad for giving in? I know how rewarding it must feel to hear your child sing to you, kiss you and give you the sweetest hugs on your special day...

Ching with the birthday dad...

always ready to give a smile...

that's where she got her looks from... (my dad)

About the surprise, you'd have to read my next post... For now, let me share with you the beautiful pictures we took that night...

 

Oatmeal = Healthy Brekkie

Some would think I don't have difficulties feeding my child  because she's plump. But if they knew the "ordeal" I had to go through especially when she was just starting on solids, you wouldn't believe how I got over everything.

my Chingching....

My little girl is now over 2 years old and yet she doesn't chew as much as other kids her age... She still prefers soft textured food and gags when encountering big chunks inside her mouth. It isn't unusual for us at home to see vomit on the floor... But as patiently as we could, we try to feed her  the most nutritious meals we could whip.

Everyday, we cook separate meals for Ching, her own rice and stewed veggies consisting of brocolli, carrots, squash, beef or chicken, and spinach... She also loves fish and chicken, & steers away from beef. Thankfully, she is able to finish a big bowl every meal time, with fruits on the side.

oatmeal & bread for her....

For breakfast, that's another story... When she was little, I used to give her a bottle of  organic Spinach & Potatoes from Earth's Best... But when she got older, a friend of mine convinced me to give oatmeal a try. And so I did... For the past year, Ching has been eating oatmeal and milk every morning and I must say, it has done a great deal to her health. I have read somewhere that it has soluble fiber and could very well reduce the chances of hypertension, cancer and other illnesses in the future. I was hoping I could incorporate healthy eating into my child's system as early as now and looks to me like I'm on the road to that.

Lately,  I tried adding some variety to her breakfast, alternating oatmeal with spaghetti or palabok, and I always give her a piece of bread with fruit jams which she loves. But I'm definitely not steering away from oatmeal. 
         As they say, it's never too early to start your child on a  healthy habit... I'm glad I did...