Coffee With Kim

Traveling With Ease

2012-02-29T09:07:00.000+08:00

I love traveling and I love exploring the places I go to. This is why I often avoid going to a travel agency for my travel needs. However, I learned that it is not always that easy to travel without the help of people who really know the place you are planning to visit.

For instance, when I went to Scotland, I had no idea where exactly to go. Sure, I was able to go around Edinburgh easily (it is a city where you can walk from one end to another, anyway)... but when I wanted to go to other tourist places in Scotland, I was a bit lost. That's when I decided to hire the services of a travel agent. Instead of going places alone, I decided to join a group tour - and I was not disappointed. I got to see places I would never have reached by myself!

Autumn is on its way and my husband and I are planning to go on yet another trip. We currently have three choices: re-visit the United Kingdom, experience Autumn in South Korea, or enjoy spring in Australia. Some friends also recommended that we go to Japan, Russia (oh my!), or Israel! I'm also very interested with the latter, but I have yet to search for reliable (and affordable) Israel travel agents.

We have about seven months to decide and plan for our trip. Where do you think is the best place to go for an out-of-the-country family trip? We'll be traveling with baby Kelly so somewhere family-friendly would be nice!

Because I've been MIA.

2012-02-27T23:47:00.001+08:00

Wow. I just realized now that I haven't posted on my blog for almost three weeks already! So first of all, I'm very sorry for being missing in action. How are you all? I can't wait to read all the blog posts I've missed. My me-time is becoming scarcer and scarcer now that Kelly is growing up and demanding more of my time. Add to that my online job. The result? MIA for three weeks!

Anyway. Although I've been busy with work and taking care of my daughter, I was still able to squeeze in a few day outs with my family.

For starters, we went on a post-Valentine's trip to Tagaytay last February 15. Apparently, Arjay tried to book a restaurant on the 14th but all of the good ones were booked. So, he decided to book a dinner date in Antonio's Tagaytay on the 15th instead. One day late, but that's nothing. It's the thought the counts. <3

We also let Kelly try horseback riding. We were in Tagaytay anyway, so might as well let her have a try at things we don't usually do in Manila. She's been bugging her Daddy for piggy back rides ever since.

The little girl also turned nine months last February 19. She's growing up really, really, really fast, isn't she? She has become even more talkative now, she has been attempting to make her first step, and she has become very clever. She now knows where we hide things she shouldn't play with - that's why I have to keep both of my eyes on her.

That's about it for now. I'm lucky I was able to spend a few minutes of my time to update Coffee With Kim. I do hope to find more time in the coming months!

Until next time.

Valentine's Day 2012

2012-02-14T23:54:00.004+08:00

We weren't supposed to go out today. One, because we are on a tight budget. You'll know why later this year. And two, because I was feeling super lazy! Eventually, though, Arjay and Kelly persuaded me to get out of my jammies and get into my going-out clothes.

We figured that restaurants would be packed if we go out for dinner, so we decided to have lunch out instead. Surprisingly, restaurants were still packed! Fortunately for us, we were able to squeeze in a reservation at Little Asia in The Venice Piazza. I will publish a different post on Little Asia. We always go here anyway. For now, let me focus on Kelly's first Valentine's Day.

After having lunch, we went to The Venice Piazza's playground to let Kelly have some fun time. This is when I noticed how big Kelly has grown - not only physically, but mentally as well.

Bravely sliding down the big kids' slide!

Trying the swing for the first time. :)

She already knows how to really pose for pictures. She looks at the camera when I call her name. She makes funny faces when I'm about to click. She even waves her hand when I tell her to!

Waving at the camera!

She would often stop playing, too, just to give me time to take a few shots of her. In the following photos, Kelly was about to jump off... but stopped herself upon seeing the camera pointing at her.

We played all afternoon there. Before we knew it, the sun was already setting and restaurants were already preparing for the next batch of couples.

As usual, Kelly was quick to crawl to her Daddy when it was time to go home. And that's how we spent Kelly's first Valentine's Day and our first Valentine's Day as a married couple.

How did you spend the day of hearts?

Meal Times Are Always Fun with Kelly

2012-02-13T22:04:00.001+08:00

Today, Kelly and I accompanied Arjay to Laguna to submit a mini-project that his boss asked him to do. This has nothing to do with him being a fireman, but since he has a good hand on designing and graphics, he was asked to design one of the buildings in the regional headquarters.

Here's a preview of what he did. He only designed the building on the right since the one on the left is already built.

Building design by Arjay Reyes

Nice, huh? :D I'm a proud wife! Lol. Anyway. Before heading to Laguna, we took a stop at one of the gasoline stations in South Luzon Expressway to have lunch. Since we're on a tight budget and since it's Kelly's favorite, we ate in Jollibee.

We let Kelly eat Jolly Spaghetti at least twice a month. It's fastfood, I know. But hey! Any Filipino kid's childhood won't be complete without a Jollibee experience. :D Kelly showed her extreme joy about eating her favorite meal in this video I took:

Have a good look at 0:17 to 0:18. What a funny expression! She does that a lot when she's teasing me or her dad. Cute!

Because he's a chef wanna-be.

2012-02-10T17:51:00.000+08:00

My husband just loves cooking. He's a huge chef wanna-be that he even serves our regular meals in beautifully furnished platters. Yep, he's all about the taste and presentation! Because of this, it takes him ages to cook and prepare our food when it's his turn in the kitchen. No one ever complains, though. Why? Because when it's his shift, we all feel like we're eating in a 5-star restaurant. :D

Take this simple breakfast as an example. This is just your usual corned beef and egg breakfast-- but he added spices, mango cubes, almonds, and a chocolate truffle!

Isn't that fancy? Lol. It was supposed to be a surprise breakfast-in-bed for me, but I caught him preparing it. Here's another one of his creations:

This is my favorite Filipino food... Chicken Afritada. Delightful! I have to admit, he's not just good at presentation. He's also really good at tweaking recipes to make his dishes more personalized.

Is your loved one just like my husband? Here's the perfect gift for him/her - a Family CookBook Project!

It's not just perfect for Mother's Day... it's perfect for any occasion if you're giving it to someone who enjoys cooking. I'm definitely getting one for my husband!

Safe In Mommy's Arms

2012-02-06T15:36:00.001+08:00

The little girl finally went to sleep. I can't help but take photos of her peaceful slumber. She just looks so worry-free and relaxed-- very different from how she was a few hours ago when she had a tummy ache. Poor girl. She almost didn't sleep all night because of a bad stomach.

Good thing we had the ever reliable Efficascent Oil in stock! I'm not sure about its contents, but it works great on stomach aches.

I should be putting her down by now so I can work (or at least rest after a sleepless night), but her tender face keeps drawing me to her. I just want to cuddle her all day.

Perhaps this is one downside of being a work-at-home-mom. You just can't resist spending a little more time with your kid; time that should be given to work. But, isn't that just the reason why I chose to stay home? Ok, I'm rambling on and on and on.

I'd better end this post. Have a nice day everyone! Here's a quick video of Kelly this morning, disappointed because her Daddy left for work without letting her know (LOL!):

My Talkative Girl

2012-02-02T15:25:00.000+08:00

Yesterday, Kelly accompanied her Daddy and I to the mall to pay our bills. The traffic was insane because apparently, ABS-CBN was shooting in one of the stores in the main road.

While we were stuck in traffic, Kelly started baby talking. She had a look of disappointment in her face and a complaining tone in her voice. It looks like my little girl is not a huge fan of heavy traffic!

Ever since she learned to baby talk, Kelly never stopped. She'd talk the moment she wakes up and until she goes to bed. She even likes butting into conversations and pretending to understand what we are talking about! Or maybe she does understand? Who knows.

An attempt to make her sick Mommy laugh...

2012-02-01T12:49:00.001+08:00

The weather has been crazy these past few days. It gets really hot in the morning, then rains in the afternoon. Because of this, the flu successfully entered our home. I'm thankful, though, that I'm still the only one that has it despite Kelly (and her Daddy) constantly sneaking kisses while I sleep.

I've been down for days now and I know Kelly is itching to start playing with me again. No wonder she makes every effort to get noticed!

This was Kelly's attempt to make this sick Mommy laugh. Notice how she'd make eye contact with me before letting out a loud laugh. Lol! She was successful, though, because she got me up on my feet to record this.

I'm a proud work-at-home-mom!

2012-01-29T09:00:00.000+08:00

"The formative period for building character for eternity is in the nursery. The mother is queen of that realm and sways a scepter more potent than that of kings or priests." ~Author Unknown

I love being a work-at-home-mom. Not because it's less of a hassle for me, but because I love being with my baby. Many of my friends always tell me to get a real job because I need it for my career record. I often get annoyed, but I eventually realize that they won't understand why I chose this until they become mothers themselves.

"What will happen to you in, say, ten years if you finally decide to get a job? You'd be so behind!" people often tell me. "Sayang four years mo sa Ateneo," they would add. All their comments made me feel bad at first, then I would recall what my Theology professor told us: "One day you will become parents. When this happens, know that you can always catch up with your career... but you can never turn back time to catch up with your kids."

This is why I chose to work from home. I may not have a stable income, but at least I get to witness Kelly grow up. She knows I'm her Mommy and that I will always be there when she wakes up and before she goes to sleep. We are practically inseparable now.

Kelly loves taking goofy pictures every morning.

And she loves laughing at those goofy pictures! Lol.

She bathes with me. Eats with me...

...and shops with me!

Although some people say that I made a huge mistake about getting married and having a baby at 21, I know that I did the right thing. And although I get a lot of negative reactions when I say that I work from home, I know that I am still getting the best out of my life. It's not like I'd be missing a whole lot if I don't get a real job! Kelly is no waste of time. Kelly is not a waste of talent, of education. She is a gift.

My Secret Hobby

2012-01-27T09:00:00.000+08:00

One of the perks of being a work-at-home-mom is that I can easily make time for anything. If my hubby or my little girl requests for something, it's not difficult for me to leave my work desk to tend to their needs.

Baking is a hobby I just recently learned. I love cakes and cupcakes so when I finally graduated from school and had all the time in the world, I decided to give it a try. I took a few tries before I got a hang of it, but all the work paid off.

The whole family adores my cupcakes! I haven't tried putting frosting on my little creations, though. I have tried tweaking recipes a bit. For instance, when I bake chocolate cupcakes, I add a little bit of instant coffee.

When I feel comfortable enough, I will venture into baking a cake. I really want to learn how to make a fondant cake so that's something I'll be practicing this year. I'm also thinking of joining workshops for personalized cakes and cupcakes. Does anyone have any idea where I can enroll?

Restaurant Review: King Bee

2012-01-25T09:00:00.000+08:00

We are no way near to being a Chinese family, but in lieu of the Chinese New Year, our family agreed to eat in a famous Chinese restaurant in our area - King Bee. It was the night of the Chinese New Year. As expected, the restaurant was packed and we had to wait a few minutes before getting a table. It's not always like that, though.

For starters, we ordered our favorites: Pork Siomai (Php 80), Bird's Eye Siomai (Php 90), Shark's Fin Dumplings (Php 90 - my sister was super against this lol), and Barbecue Asado (Medium, Php 375).

Medium Barbecue Asado, Php 375

I'd love to have more photos on our starters, but everyone dug in the moment the dumplings were served so I had no chance to take a shot. I was, however, able to sneak a shot at the Barbecue Asado, my favorite starter in King Bee.

We ordered four main courses. Yes, we were that hungry. First up was the extra spicy Szechuan Shrimp. I took a couple of bites then gave in. I couldn't take its spiciness so I let my dad and Arjay finish the rest of the plate.

Medium Szechuan Shrimp, Php 525

The waiter then brought our next two orders to the table. My sister's favorite, which is a platter of Fish Fillet with Butter and Cheese, and my dad's order, Deep Fried Squid with Salt and Pepper. I found the fish fillet a bit too salty for my taste - my sister loved it, though. I don't eat squid so I let Arjay give the verdict. According to him, it's so spicy that he had to take sips from his glass of iced tea after every bite. Good thing we ordered bottomless iced tea!

Medium Fish Fillet with Butter and Cheese,
Php 435

Medium Deep Fried Squid with Salt and Pepper,
Php 375

My order, Half Soy Chicken, came in last. I don't know what happened, but it tasted bland. This is another favorite of mine in King Bee so it was a disappointment. :(

1/2 Soy Chicken, Php 220

Of course, we ordered the very delicious Yang Chow Rice to compliment our orders. For drinks, my mom ordered Ripe Mango Shake (Php 85) while Arjay, my sister, and I went for Bottomless Iced Tea (Php 80).

Medium Yang Chow Rice, Php 300

If you like Chinese food, King Bee is definitely a must-try. Their pork siomai is one of the best I've ever tasted and you will definitely love their duck dishes. We always order different duck dishes for our meals here, but decided to try other dishes for a change.

Total Bill = Php 2,895.00 (5 persons)

King Bee (Antipolo Branch)

Marcos Highway

10:00 am to 11:00 pm

The Faces Behind the Names

2012-01-23T09:00:00.000+08:00

I find it funny (and sometimes sad) that people I have never met have seen Kelly grow up. They've read about my pregnancy, bore with my rants about motherhood, and watched my baby (and me) grow up. As most of you know, I became a mom at 21. A lot of people judged me because of this, but everything they said never really got to me. Why? Because I have Coffee With Kim and its readers who constantly remind me not to let people put me down.

Here are some comments from Mommy Cha and Mommy Kath to a post a made before:

Knowing that there are people - whether you have seen them face-to-face or not - who always wishes the best for you makes a huge difference. Somehow, people I've met through blogging made me feel as if I'll never be alone. That even if everyone turns their back on me, I will always have friends in the blogosphere. Friends who are mommies, wives, and daughters - just like me - who can relate and who will understand.

So what exactly is the point of this post? I've been blogging since 2009, but I never really met any of my blogger friends. I've seen other bloggers organize gatherings, but I never had the chance to join any. If my fellow mommies, food lovers, and travelers want to have coffee, lunch, or dinner somewhere convenient, just let me know so we can organize a meet-up with other bloggers!

Doesn't that sound nice? I think it's a good idea. :D Let's start organizing!

Our Latest Purchase: Baby 1st Car Seat

2012-01-21T15:01:00.000+08:00

When Kelly was still very small, we used her baby carrier as a car seat. When she grew and started to sit, we let her sit with one of us at the back of the car. It was okay until she learned to crawl. She would go up and down the car seat, play with the windows, and sometimes even find a way to get to the front of the car.

Traveling has become extra stressful since then. So, we finally gave in and decided to buy a car seat for her. There were a lot of choices, but we were specifically looking for something that can hold her until she is about four to five years old and is not too expensive.

After going to different malls and letting Kelly try the car seats (we want to make sure she's comfortable in the seat), we found the perfect seat in Baby 1st.

Baby 1st Car Seat, Php 3,009.75

It's a black and grey seat with a checkered seat cover. It has its own safety straps for the baby (as compared to other seats that use the car's belts as a strap). Parents can easily recline or incline the seat in case the baby wants to go to sleep. Finally, it has a tissue holder and bottle/cup holder on the sides.

Kelly is not a fan of being held "captive" by straps, so it was a surprise that she stayed still throughout her first ride on the car seat. Gone are the days that either my husband or I would literally crawl after Kelly in the car. I think this is a worthy purchase!

Kelly is 8 months old!

2012-01-19T18:02:00.000+08:00

Eight months. That's how old Kelly is now. How did all that time pass without me noticing it? She used to just lie and stare at me when I talk to her. Now she can crawl, sit, and stand up. She is also attempting to make her first step. She's super talkative, too, although it's mostly baby talk. Lol.

To celebrate her special day, like we always do every month, we brought her to Eastwood for lunch out and gym play at Gymboree.

For lunch, we decided to try The Flying Pig. We always pass by it, but we never gave it a chance before. :D We ordered the Queen Platter (Php890), which contains Half Slab Baby Back Ribs, Sausages, Smoked Barbecue Chicken, and two fix-ins of your choice. We chose to get garlic rice for one fix-in and mashed potatoes for the other.

I love their Baby Back Ribs. It's the perfect falling-off-the-bones type. However, I'm not a fan of their Sausages and Barbecue Chicken. They are a bit dry for me.

For our drinks, we chose to try their Citrus Spritz (Php85). It's a mix of mango syrup, orange syrup, and 7Up. I really like this drink because it's super refreshing (it was a really hot day!) and it compliments the barbecue platter. Total lunch expenses = Php1,1060. Fair enough for a platter of ribs, sausages, and chicken.

After lunch, we headed to Kelly's most favorite place in the world - Gymboree. We used to just bring her in for thirty minutes of gym play. But, since she's older now and it's her 8th month, we allowed her to play for a whole hour.

I thought she'd get tired after thirty minutes. To my surprise, she kept climbing and crawling around until the last minute of her session! The moment we left Gymboree, though, she went straight to sleep. After three hours of uninterrupted sleep, Kelly woke up with a smile. This only means one thing: she really enjoyed her day out.

She always makes my day!

2012-01-17T09:00:00.000+08:00

We have good days and bad days. But Kelly always makes my day eventually. What makes yours?

Taken with an iPhone 4S
13 January 2012

Art. More Fun in the Philippines!

2012-01-15T02:26:00.000+08:00

"Patriotism does not only mean dying for your country, but also about being proud of your country - in whatever way you can express it." This is what my husband, Arjay, said when I asked him about his art works. Coming from a military academy, this is an unexpected answer. Like most people, I'd expect him to say that patriotism is all about fighting for your country until death. But, he would rather show his love for the Philippines through his art, which he believes is one of the most honest forms of expression.

Pencil Sketch by Cesar Arjay A. Reyes

This is one of Arjay's masterpieces when he was still training as a cadet in PNPA, featured in the academy's literary folio (Shako Maroon and Gold Edition, 2009).

I Don't Mind Spending A Lot on Vaccinations

2012-01-13T09:00:00.000+08:00

Rotavirus, two shots worth Php 3500 each. 6-in-1, three shots worth Php 3850 each. And Pneumonia Vaccine, two shots worth Php 4500 each. This is how much we spend on Kelly's vaccinations - which is a huge chunk of our budget. That's not even half of the list of shots Kelly has yet to complete!

Not too long ago, we were having a conversation with another couple about the cost of check ups and shots. Apparently, their baby has been missing a number of shots because they think it's too expensive. "Kailangan ba talaga 'yon? (Are those really necessary?)" they asked us. Arjay and I were shocked. Would you really ask if these shots are necessary when you know these can protect your child from illnesses? No wonder their baby gets sick almost always and sometimes to the point of hospitalization.

This is why I don't mind spending a lot on vaccinations. They may cost a lot, but they will lessen the likelihood of baby Kelly getting sick. Imagine how much more we'd spend if Kelly gets sick and gets confined! That will cost a lot more than her shots combined - so might as well spend on prevention than cure.

Tip: If you lack the budget for shots, you can always bring your child to a health center. Don't let your little one miss a shot because some shots can only be given at a certain age!

Palmer's Massage Cream for Stretch Marks

2012-01-11T09:00:00.000+08:00

Php500+

I think I just found the cream of all creams for stretch marks. Well, I haven't tried all of them - but this really works! Anyway. When I was still pregnant with Kelly, I remember talking about my search for the a stretch marks removal cream that actually works. My research led me to shea butter, which is fat extracted from the nuts of the African shea tree. I looked for a local store that has it and I was led to Body Shop. Thing is, the shea butter products of Body Shop are really expensive (about Php3000+). Was I willing to experiment on such a pricey product? No, thank you!

Eventually, I gave birth to Kelly and I suddenly had to face the stretch marks issue. I had a lot on my waist, which really got me searching for a cream again since we had a beach trip planned. My friend recommended Palmer's to me. She tried it herself and according to her, it really works. So, I went to the nearest Watson's store and bought myself one.

It is a bit pricey, but less expensive than the shea butter products that Body Shop offers. Palmer's, however, makes use of cocoa butter or theobroma oil with Vitamin E, collagen, and Elastin instead of shea butter.

As advised by my friend, I applied the massage cream on my waist and tummy areas twice a day - after taking a bath in the morning and before going to sleep. I did this for two weeks straight and to my surprise, I saw that my stretch marks lightened significantly. It really does work!

My dermatologist told me that products like this cannot remove stretch marks completely, but can lighten them. If you want to avoid stretch marks, it is best to apply this cream during your pregnancy to moisturize your skin. It is also important to keep yourself hydrated so your skin won't develop stretch marks.

House of Wagyu Stone Grill

2012-01-09T09:00:00.000+08:00

I am a huge fan of steak, which is why when we decided to dine out, I grabbed the chance to bring the whole family to a famous steak house that we have never tried before: House of Wagyu Stone Grill.

For a start, we had their soup of the day with bread and butter. Due to extreme hunger, I wasn't able to ask what the soup they served was. Lol! But that doesn't matter... all that matters is that it tastes really good! Anyway. For our main course, I ordered Ribeye Grade 6 (Php1900, solo). How was it? Drum roll please...

I felt like I was in steak heaven while devouring my Ribeye steak! It's super soft, extremely juicy, and full of flavor! The amazing thing is that it's only Grade 6. They offer a better piece (Grade 9); I cannot imagine how much better that would be! According to a friend, it's best with Cabernet Sauvignon... so I'm definitely coming back to try the Ribeye Grade 9 with Cabernet Sauvignon.

If you're a meat lover, this is a must-try. It's a bit pricey, but their food is worth every single penny. Plus, the service is exceptional! I am definitely going back!

Apps for Busy Parents

2012-01-07T08:52:00.000+08:00

What I love the most about my iPhone is that there are hundreds of free apps that I can download - games, books, cameras, and productivity apps. I think my favorite will have to be the productivity apps since they made my life so much easier!

My top and most recommended app for Mommies and Daddies will have to be the Spending Lite app. This is an expense tracker that allows its users to add income and expenses for tracking. Ever wondered where your money is going? This app will tell you all about your spending habits!

Tracking our money is very difficult for Arjay and I. I don't know, we just tend to spend, spend, spend when we have the cash -- until we realize that we're almost out. So this app really helped us keep track of our money since we can just input the money we earn and spend, put them under categories, and it's done!

Another helpful app to download is ShopShop app. It's not feature-packed, but it's simple enough to help you organize your grocery list. I always forget what I need to buy when we go grocery shopping, so this app is extra helpful in reminding me of my list.

If you love taking photos, you can download Instagram, Multi-lens Camera, and Vintage Cam. These all have pretty good features despite being free apps. For photo editing, you can download Fotolr. For game lovers, you can try out some of the most addicting games I know: Temple Run, Angry Gran, and Super Jump.

Enjoy!

My New Year's Promises

2012-01-05T00:00:00.001+08:00

Fat-To-Fit 2012

I have been struggling with my weight ever since I gave birth to Kelly. I used to be super active in the gym (I used to work out at least three times a week) and I used to have good control of my eating habits. But, with pregnancy come hormones that will basically take charge of everything. Lol! More than nine months later, I am 20 lbs heavier and fighting to lose the weight - but without success. I'm stuck, it sucks.

So, my promise for 2012 is to get my butt to work and get my pre-pregnancy body back. That means more control over the food I put in my mouth and more time for exercise. To motivate me, I'll be posting my progress in this blog at the end of each month - with full disclosure of my weight loss/gain (uh-oh!) accompanied by before-and-after pictures.

If anyone wants to join this promise of a healthier life, simply put Fat-To-Fit 2012 in your blog posts. :) Let's all be healthy this year!

The Blog Challenge

What I noticed in the previous year is that I'm still not consistent with my blog posts. So, for 2012, I promise to make myself more active in Coffee With Kim. That means at least one post every week with more PR work to bring the blog to the next level.

I'm also contemplating of getting a .com for the blog. But then I learned that coffeewithkim.com is already taken so... that's one issue I need to figure out. Any suggestions on how to go about this? Since we're there, do recommend good blog hosts and domains. :)

The Happiness Project

One other thing that I noticed from last year is that I always, always, always let myself get trapped by sad memories. So, this year, I will shake off all the bad vibes and welcome good vibes in my life. I will, then, attempt to put the Law of Attraction into practice!

Portia

2012-01-03T15:45:00.003+08:00

The holidays just passed and I'm pretty sure all of us received gifts. My favorite is a gift that my hubby, Arjay, gave. I didn't know he was serious about it, but apparently, he is true to his word. Lol!

He bought me an iPhone 4S! Yey! Last year, I've been ~~begging~~ bugging him to buy me an iPhone 4. My Omnia, which has been with me for three years already, was already starting to die when the iPhone 4 came out. I wanted to buy a unit already, but my cousin told me to wait a little bit more for the iPhone 4S. As impatient as I am, I waited.

December 24 came and voila! Arjay brought me to a Globe store to claim my iPhone 4S unit. I was super excited until we found out that people who are going to claim a unit will still have to line up in the customer service line. As expected, we waited for four hours before we reached the counter. And, upon reaching it, we were informed that the White 32GB unit that Arjay reserved is no longer available. No longer available? What's a reservation for, then?

Anyway. It was Christmas eve already so instead of getting pissed, Arjay decided to buy the White 64GB unit instead. It's pricier, but he said it's worth not ruining our Christmas. So that's how I ended up with Portia, my new buddy and my favorite Christmas gift! :)

What's the best gift you received this Christmas?

Kelly's New High Chair

2012-01-01T21:12:00.000+08:00

Since Kelly has started eating solid food, we couldn't keep her away from the dining table anymore. She just keeps crawling to the table and when we she sits on my lap or her Daddy's lap, she would just start grabbing whatever she could grab.

So, we finally decided to get her a high chair. My Dad insisted that we buy a wooden chair with Kelly's name engraved on it. The one's we usually see by the side of the road on the way to Tagaytay. But, since Kelly tends to do sudden movements and almost always bumps her head when she does, Arjay and I decided to just buy a plastic high chair.

After scouring the mall, we found this cute orange, grey, and white chair. I initially wanted to get the pink one, but my Mom told me that I should buy something unisex in case we decide to have another baby and it turns out to be a boy. Lol! Talk about planning ahead!

Munching on strawberries!

Now Kelly can join us during meal time and we don't have to run after her just to get her to eat. I think this is a good buy; and it's our first purchase of the year!

Goodbye 2011, hello 2012!

2011-12-31T21:31:00.001+08:00

2011 was a challenging year for Arjay and I. We have been tested in 2010 and 2011 challenged our ability to hold on to each other despite the not-so-nice year that passed. Although it was full of challenges, it was also full of blessings. Here's how we spent our year...

May 8, 2011 - Arjay and I had our civil wedding. I was almost due with Kelly, but we pushed through with it! Lol!

May 19, 2011 - After ten hours of labor, our little angel finally arrived. What a precious gift!

June 2011 - Arjay's first ever Father's Day celebration! He sure loved the customized fire truck cake I ordered. :)

July 31, 2011 - We finally welcomed Kelly to the Christian world. Look at that dress!

September 9, 2011 - For the first time, Kelly rode a plane. We headed to Tuguegarao to visit Arjay's family. It was their first meeting with Kelly.

September 30, 2011 - Arjay and I celebrated our fourth year as a couple in Shangri-La Makati. It was a surprise lunch date so I didn't dress up for it. Lol! Good thing the people in Red still let us in.

October 2011 - After spending one semester in London, I finally graduated from Ateneo de Manila University. I was one semester late, but who cares?! I graduated!

And look at us now... Arjay and I are growing stronger and stronger and Kelly is growing up really fast. What's next for this little family of ours? Who knows? All I'm looking forward to are more happy days with these two amazing people!

This year was definitely legendary! Now it's time to bid 2011 adieu and welcome 2012 with open arms.

Kelly at 7 months!

2011-12-19T20:06:00.000+08:00

Kelly turned seven months today. Time flies really fast, doesn't it? Her celebration for this month was a bit different since it's the holidays. Instead of eating out as a family, we joined the children's Christmas party in hubby's office. It's really nice that they organize a Christmas party for the employees' kids in the morning and have another one for the adults in the evening. At least everyone's happy!

Our little girl was extra happy during the Christmas party. She has never seen that many kids before so she really grabbed the chance to play with other children - with Mommy and Daddy always by her side, of course (Kelly is starting to walk already, but still needs something or someone to hold on to). Since she was in such a happy mood, we also grabbed the chance to take a family photo.

After the children's party, our family - with our two godchildren - went to Market! Market! for a laser tag session. Our family loves playing this game so we just had to go there and play. Kelly and I weren't able to join the game, but we were contented seeing the boys happy. They just wait until Kelly can run too!

By the time the game ended, it was already dinner time. We wanted to have dinner in Market! Market!, but there every restaurant was packed, so we decided to just buy food from a drive-thru fast food restaurant.

Her 7th month celebration was a bit different, but I'm sure Kelly really enjoyed it. :)