Golden B(o)(o)bie!!!

As my ticker says,

So Yes, I earned my GOLDEN B(o)(o)BIE Award! Yey!

I am ofcourse happy and very much contented that for more than 12 months and still counting, I am able to nurse and feed my baby and give him the right nutrition, bonding moment, patience, perseverance and endurance a working mom can give.

Though I am no longer exclusively breastfeeding Jared, still I feel so much blessed.

I really really thank God for this gift a mom can offer to her baby.
I promise myself that never will I stop nursing Jared until the last drop or Jared decides to wean on his own.

Afterall, it's Natures gift...FREE MILK! :-)

Bday Preps #2: Aedan Jared's 1st Birthday!

Hah! I'm back again, after a long hiatus. I'm trying to balance work, mommyhood and being a wife 24x7, so some personal-blogging-time has to be sacrificed. I'm sure my fellow N@wies can really relate. :-)

Allow me to look back and gather my thoughts so as to update this blog. Ok, I'm supposed to give updates on our baby toddler's first birthday.

From the first blog entry about preparations (click here), I was able to pull it through in a month's time. (ofcourse with the help of hubby A, my brother, mother and Anna - our househelp. Thank you guys!)

Party Theme - Jollitown. As if there are many choices. Just two for boys, Jollibee itself and Jollitown. The other one was Barbie Party for girls. We chose Jollitown.

Invitation - They are included in the party package that we avail from Jollibee. 30 pcs in total. However, we were not able to distribute all. Still have 5-7 invitations with us. I wish I did not write on them so I can make use of it by next year. hahaha.  The Guest List ate most of my time. It's always a challenge on who to invite and updating who will be attending. *Sigh*  We are targetting 100 guests (adults + kids combined). But we are blessed with friends and big families from both sides so the list went on 160. Wow!!! The rest were invited online via FB and email.

Guest List and Invitations

Jollitown Them for Invitation

Party Favors/Loot Bags - All from Divisoria. Ofcourse!!! So that we can stretch the budget and give Jared's guests (kids) some cool prizes and nice take home goodies.

B for Boys; G for Girls

So what's inside the loot bags?

Total of 8 items per Loot Bag:
Sulit na sulit!
Peso Power = Php 35/loot bag
:-)

Pencil + Eraser Top

Candies in Cola Can and Mini Gas Tank

Coloring Books to match 8-pcs of Crayons

Mini Toys for Boys: Robots and Cars

Jack Stone for girls

Bubble toy and plastic balloons

Game Prizes

Party Crew:
My brother Jett, Me & Anna

Photo Booth - By Party Boothster: We got them on promo!!! Booked last year (2011). As expected "BLOCK BUSTER"!!!! Guests keep on coming back. For a 3-hour packaged, we dearly enjoyed it a LOT! The photo printing quality is very nice and printing itself was speedy! I can highly recommend them.

Loved the Photo Layout. Swak na swak sa party theme!
Peso Power: Php 4000 (Photobooth=3500 + Customized backdrop = 500)

Party Clothes - For our baby, its Debenhams for Toddlers for his shirt and Market Market mall find for his maong pants. His shoes are from SM Baby Company but are no longer new because his Nike shoes from Tito Ninong LA that is supposed to be his shoes for the party are still too big for him he may look like a little clown. :P

Cake - On the actual day of Jared's birthday, I'm supposed to bake him cupcakes. Unfortunately, I didn't have the luxury of time. I will make more kwento on what transpired on his actual birthday (June 28) and a separate post on the birthday celebration at Jollibee (June 30).

Chocolate Cake from Red Ribbon.
I customized the design to have a unique look.
DIY cake candies are from Goldilocks. 

Party Cake from Jollibee c/o Red Ribbon
Flavor: Chocolate

Photo/Video -  It's Daddy A. We are working on a tight budget so professional photographer and videographer were out of the game. Good thing, Daddy A is good at this craft. Sulit din! :-)
Video were taken using my humble iPhone. Enough to capture the highlights of the party. Tito Ninong Raymond (my youngest brother) and Daddy A were responsible in taking videos.

I am proud to say that we were able to fit in within our allotted budget of 25,000 (max)!
Promise, I will give more details. More kwentos on next entry. I hope I can find the time! :P

Good night for now.

Bday Preps #1

Yes, our little one is turning 1 already in exactly 1 month and 4 weeks as our ticker says. (found at the right sidebar).

A and I decided that we will just make it simple. A party in a regular fast food store will suffice since Jared still don't know how to enjoy his own party. We are only targeting 100 pax (adults and kids combined).

So, before the sun sets in today, I started to inquire in the nearest fast food (the happy bee) in our place. I checked on the available themes to choose from and there are only 3 options. I learned that the minimum booking is 30 pax. We can bring cake of our choice but should NOT be the brand of their direct competition. Cake from not-so-commercial bakeshop will do but it's a Big No to eat the cake during the party. It's only for candle blowing and picture taking purpose. Well, this is acceptable since they avoid being blamed for food poisoning issues and if such thing happens, the only culprit will be the food served from their store and nothing else.

There are 4 Food Packages to choose from, well, technically 5 since the other one is Build-Your-Own-Menu.
From the packages, I can sense that we might will go for Package 5 (Build Your Own).

I could say, it's a blessing in disguise that we were not able to book for a face painter because the store does not allow it. They only allow Videographers and Photobooth. And it will cost us additional 200/hour for electricity for our Photo booth. Yes! We are having Photo booth too for Jared's birthday. hehehe. Similar to our wedding, Photo booth pictures will serve as souvenirs for his party. Actually, the Photo booth was the first supplier booking we had in preparation for Jared's 1st Birthday. We booked it last year pa! hahaha. (Adik lang mga parents pagdating sa photos. :P )

Ok, as the Q & A portion went on, I was surprised that it will really cost me almost 19K for 100 pax. Complete Birthday Package na ito.

• Food
• Party Fee (Misc) - Mascot with 30 mins appearance, guestbook, crayons, balloons (ceiling displays)
• Party Add-Ons (Party hats, party liners or the paper placements, 30 pcs. balloons (P12/pc for add ons)
• Special Loot Bags (P50/pc) - The Standard is P25, Premium is P80
• Cake - Only small and regular size available. Regular size is 900.

So If our guests will exceed 100 (I'm sure it will) then we will be over 20K budget! Waaahhh!!! Kami na lang kayang 3 magcelebrate. hahaha.

If we are to book with the happy bee, then my choice of having a themed cake like on his baptismal will never be possible anymore since they don't allow it. No famous characters or brandings allowed like mickey mouse, barney, ben10, etc. If we are to insist to bring in our cakes, the general designs will be acceptable. Hmm....ayos na rin....we can have a 12 x 8 in cake at 900 only. Tipid! :P

Well...this is just my initial inquiry. Will ask the pizza store nearest our place maybe this weekend. As for the the other happy clown store, the nearest is in Market Market, while the nearest chicken store is in Fort.

On this preparations, I will have to remind myself again and again of our Goal. Just a SIMPLE birthday celebration.

Let go of the nice and fancy loot bags.
Let go of the clowns.
Let go of the face painter
Let go of the party carts.
Let go of the balloon toy making.
Let go of catering service.
Let go of the professional photographer and videographer.

Hahaha...so far, I'm on track. (Can someone give me a pat on my back pls.)

Again, the photo booth is already booked so that's not counted as "Kaartehan". :P

More update on next posts.

Need to sleep for now.

Perpective 06: Zzzzzz

I never get tired of staring at him since the day he came to my life. Looking at him while sleeping is my favorite pass time. And each moment brings me to simple bliss. For couple of days now, his been agitated and upset. All because of HERPANGINA - is a viral illness that involves ulcers and sores (lesions) inside the mouth, a sore throat, and fever.

Symptoms

• Fever
• Headache
• Loss of appetite
• Sore throat, or painful swallowing
• Ulcers in the mouth and throat, and similar sores on the feet, hands, and buttocks

According to his Pedia, Dra. N, this type of illness is something that we just have to go through like chickenpox and let it cure overtime. Just use paracetamol to stop fever.

Poor boy. He can't sleep well. He's irritated. He can't swallow and eat the way he used to. He even rejected my boob and keeps on drooling. It must be painful every time he swallows. And to top it all, he's been bawling and wailing non-stop, reason he has hoarse voice now.

It's a tiring day and night not only for him but for us. For all of us including A, and my Mom. Good Heavens, he is doing well now. He starting to smile and laughs at us again when we play with him and little by little, he drinks his milk (still through feeding bottle). I hope when I offer my boob tonight, he will now accept it.

Rest well my sweetie. Mommy will not go to work until you get well.

Finally....Sweet Slumber

Perspective 04: Brushing

At 6 months, Jared starts teething and now at 7 months and 1 week old, his teeth are midway visible. His pedia recommended to brush his teeth as early as now to avoid having tooth decay. Dra. N prescribed a toothpaste that is Fluoride Free to avoid Dental Fluororis - is a developmental disturbance of dental enamel caused by excessive exposure to high concentrations of fluoride during tooth development. The risk of fluoride overexposure occurs between the ages of 3 months and 8 years. In its mild forms (which are its most common), fluorosis often appears as unnoticeable, tiny white streaks or specks in the enamel of the tooth.

Today, I brushed his teeth and it was successful!!! I was so worried he will push my hand and become agitated like what I normally witness to other babies and even from what I read from other forums. But my baby never fails to amaze us. I'm so proud of my baby! He enjoy and loves brushing his teeth. : D

See his teeth and how he holds his toothbrush? :P

Baby's First Day Out

Date: Jan. 14, 2012
Event: Celebrating 32nd Wedding Anniversary of A's Parents
Where: Tagaytay
What: Apart from the anniversary, it is also Jared's first out of town trip.
Sorry, not being lazy but I have really little time to do this. I'm watching the last episode of My Binondo Girl! hahaha.
I need to update so let the pictures tell the story. :P

@ Ming's Garden

@ Ming's Garden

@ Ming's Garden

@ Ming's Garden

@ Ming's Garden with Tita Kat

Believe me, it was my FIL's (Father in Law) first time in Tagaytay. Can't blame him. He spent more years in Middle East.

Father and Son bonding moment via Zip Line

Jared is one camera addict. Look at him smiling and looking at the camera while all of us are not yet even ready.

Lasing sa Buko? Lunch @ RSM Lutong Bahay

Bungisngis ever!

Pa-sweet lang...

MIL & FIL: Still Happy and In love after 32 years of marriage

Me and My Spoon....as always. Jared behaves when we give him spoon and so we can enjoy our meal and eat peacefully

My favorite shot of the day.

Jared kissing me back

3 Generation of Tria. Hahaha...Jared you are one cute funny baby!

The Star of the Day are not the celebrants but this little man.

Getting rid of Mommy's shades. hahaha

Our crepes @ Cafe Breton, Tagaytay

Sealed with a kiss

Jared: "Lolo, I have something to tell you."

Jared: "Secret!" very naughty look....naku! may future ka anak. :P

Such a cutie on his hoodie

Dinner @ Carlos Pizza

 Simply happy!

Wish List

Christmas is just around the corner...Bilis!!! Ilang tulog na lang. This is the first time I will be bold in telling what I want to get hopefully this coming holidays. Apart from Christmas, this month, will be celebrating our 2nd Wedding Anniversay on the 19th and my Birthday on the 27th. So, I hope, some of those in my list will be granted this month. *cross fingers*

And the list goes....

 My Wish List:
1. iPhone 3GS white butterfly case or
2. iPhone 3GS black and pink butterfly case or
3. iPhone 3GS case in Neon Pink, Green or Orange ^__^
4. iPad 2 with Pink casing! syempre!
5. iPhone USB cable...please, I badly need a new one!
6.1 Anne Klein Gold Watch Charm
6.2 Anne Klein Garden Watch Charm (can be Fossil Watch Charm too :p)
7. Estee Lauder Pleasures Perfume
8. blazer of that type
9. Kor Bottle
10. Knomo Serra Trolley Laptop Bag (I really need this one or at least a durable laptop trolley bag!)
11. pink floral shoes ^__^
12. Nude or Beige pumps
13. Red strap shoes ^__^
14. Out of the country getaway.
15. Longchamp Travel Bag (syempre pink pa rin! :P)
16. A trip to the Salon for a new hair color. (This time I want dark brown)
17. Pearl Necklace
18. A bouquet of my favorite chocolate! (Ferrero Rocher)
19. Boracay!!! Or a beach vacation
20. Cruise!!!! Can start at Asian Cruise :P
21. A relaxing body massage. Can be couple massage para kasama si Hubby. :-)

And for my baby boy....I hope he gets the following. Ninongs and Ninangs!!! Please take note of these!!!!

1. Stackable Toys
2. Shape Shaper
3. Diaper Supply!!! Pwede 1 year supply? Baby J uses Mamy Poko brand.
4. Stroller Pad
5. Ball (for now, soft ball muna kasi he is still so young)
6. Baby pants with cute animal bottoms
7. Baby Bedding (I want of green color or with animal designs)
8. Baby Car!!!
9. More white sandos

Wishing someone will respond to these wish list!!!