so what did E get?

I mentioned in a previous post about my mum’s birthday that even though it was her birthday it was E that received a present. Actually he got two, one was a space police lego that he has been wanting for a long time (leave it to mamita to buy it for him haha .. lucky for him that it was one of the cheap ones and that it was on sale) and this … a BEN 10 bike. Early Christmas and birthday gift for E. We asked him if he wanted the cars one (which was cheaper) but he really insisted on getting the Ben 10 bike. It’s timely too that it’s nearing summer when we can bring him to the park so he can get lots of practice riding the bike.

mum’s birthday

Mum flew in a week before her birthday, I specifically scheduled it that way because her birthday would already mark my 37th week which means that I could give birth anytime. Anyways, on her birthday we celebrated it with a yum cha lunch at hilltop phoenix at castle towers.  We initially intended to have the yum cha at eastwood but then we learned that they had a granny smith festival parade that day and preggy me didn’t want to walk a lot that day. After lunch we walked a bit around the mall and even though it was my mum’s birthday it was E who got presents haha. Talk about spoiling the grandson :p I’ll post what E got (a super early Christmas and birthday present) in another post.

At the resto ..

Helping mamita blow the cake …

sugarcane

My brother and his partner opened a new branch of their sugarcane business today at Robinson’s Galleria in Quezon City. Before the end of the year they are looking at opening another one at Robinson’s Manila, they’re just working out the details with the leasing department. Looks like they can use good pos systems for all their branches to make updates of sales and supplies easier to monitor. Please visit their branches located in different SM malls and now Robinsons Galleria. For more info on the branches check out their facebook page –

surprise!

Two saturdays ago, tin, roselle & their families hosted a get together in honor of siobe. It was planned as a surprise for me but a couple of hours before the dinner ichi had no choice but to tell me as I really didn’t feel like going out that night and he had no “valid” excuse to get me out of the house haha! Had fun catching up with them and E had tons of fun playing the whole night with C. Thank you too for your gifts for siobe!

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Last Saturday we went to Corner Cubbyhouse in Five Dock for E’s classmate’s birthday party. Funny though E was all excited leading up to the day and even on the way to the play centre but when we got there he suddenly didn’t want to join the party. It was weird seeing him that way because it was the first time that he really refused to participate, it took us a while to convince him to finally join the fun. It was also nice meeting some of the other parents as we rarely see them at the day care. It was crazy at the play centre with some of the other parents running after their younger kids following them everywhere, they sure don’t need fat burners with all the exercise they’re getting there.

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After the party, we were on our way to a baby store in Castle Hill but got detoured to another baby store in Parramatta. We decided to check out the store since there was a bit of traffic. It turned out to be a good decision since the stroller that we were eyeing turned out cheaper there (Ichi asked for further discount hehe), the newborn nappies was cheaper too (compared to the nappy warehouse we checked last time). Earlier in the week too we were able to get siobe her portacot and thanks to the gift card from the manabats we were able to get it at the budget we set. With this we were able to get most of the big items off the list and some others we plan to get as needed. I still have to get some small items plus ready the hospital bag soon. Just over a month to go and our little family of 3 will become 4!

maternity tour

Last Wednesday, we were finally able to tour the maternity wing at the hospital we’re booked in for my delivery. They showed us the rooms, delivery suite and nurseries. As well as discuss some of the policies they have in place like the visiting hours, visitors (they recently restricted the visitors to family only because of the flu season, swine flu etc), times the front doors of the hospital close (you have to pass through the A&E after 9pm) and other stuff. Their tub in the delivery suite has a spa so we can use that while in labor, the spa filters are changed regularly so we can rest assured that it is maintained properly. A few more weeks to go and we’ll finally be able to meet our baby girl. I’m just hoping for a safe and easy delivery, hopefully a quick labor too!

birthday boy

I didn’t get to plan anything for Ichi’s birthday this year. Preggy mama here didn’t really feel like planning anything for this year. Although initially we planned for him to take leave on his birthday and have yum cha lunch and a movie after. But with him being busy at work these past months, he wasn’t able to get the leave.

E and I went to the mall the day before Ichi’s birthday to buy him his gift and a cake. E was very excited to get home and wrap the gift for his dadai and I asked him to keep everything a secret. Which he did for a while at least haha, he couldn’t wait to tell his dadai about the cake and the magic candles we got for it. So he kept mum about it up until dinner time when he finally couldn’t hold it in and told Ichi about the cake and the candle. Good thing he still didn’t tell about the gift.

He (E) was so excited about the magic candles that he couldn’t wait until 12mn, he kept on looking at the clock. He didn’t want to go to bed without having his dadai blow the birthday candles. So when 12mn came, he quickly reminded me and off we went to the kitchen to get the cake and give his dadai the birthday gift.

E had so much fun watching the candle light again and again. After the candle blowing, E went  promptly to sleep

schools

So we’ve finally managed to send off the application forms over the weekend. I don’t doubt that we’ll get the authority to enroll soon but I’m hoping that we get approved with the installment application for the tuition fee. Hopefully, we’ll get the results by end of the week or early next week. I want this to be done so that E will be formally enrolled for next year and that this will be another item that’s crossed off my to-do list. Well, at least one thing crossed on E’s list for school, they will have two half-days of beginners group program this November to get them acquainted with how things are in big school. The school also assigns a year 5 buddy for them so that when they start classes next year there will be familiar face to ask or to help them around. The principal and the kindy teachers have said that the program has been very helpful in the transition of the kids into big school. One of the things that I’m not looking forward to are the numerous tests that E will have to sit, well that would be part and parcel of going to school but really not really looking forward it hehe. Well, if I won’t be able to handle it we can always try to find tutors or review courses that are similar to lsat prep to help us. Ok, no need to worry myself over that now, it is way tooooo early! Have to start with kindy first haha!

numbers

Earlier today while E was in the toilet waiting to finish what he was doing. He started counting ..

E: 1, 2, 3 … 10, 11, 12 … 15, 17

Me: 16 (prompting him)

E: 16, 17, 18 … 21,22 … 29, 29

Me: (prompting him again) 30

E: 30, 31, 32 … 39, 39

Me: 40

E: 40, 41, 42, 43 … 49, 49

Me: 50

E: 50! Mommy, up to what number did I count?

Me: 50

E: Wow, 50! That blows my mind!

Ichi and I were laughing our heads off. The things they say Oh, and I hope he gets well by tomorrow, he’s been sick with fever the past days.

lately …

I had my 27th week checkup yesterday and so far so good. My tests for sugar and iron intake came back good. I think my OB is a little concerned that siobe might be small, coz every now and then she would ask me again how much E weighed at birth. My next scheduled checkup will be the start of fortnightly ones.
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I was also able to schedule a maternity tour of the hospital for September. I know it’s a bit late but then we’re already booked with the hospital, it’s more of a familiarization of the facilities they have.
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No new purchase for siobe’s stuff except for some clothes (couldn’t resist the closing sale and was even able to get a couple shorts and shirts for E) and some blankets.
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Another thing off my to-do-list is getting the Application for Enrollment for Temporary Visa holders signed by the Principal of the school. We have to send that in to the Temporary Residents Program of the Department of Education to get the authority to enroll so that E can be officially enrolled in school. We rang to inquire if there was a possibility of getting fee-exempt and was able to find out that they also take in application for installment payment of the fees. Now, to just complete the documents required.
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Ichi’s birthday is coming up and I haven’t planned anything yet. I think he’ll be able to take leave that day since he’ll be working that weekend’s saturday. So maybe a day out with E would be what we will be doing, probably lunch and a movie? Hmm .. we’ll see.

2nd trimester

In about two weeks I’ll be on my third trimester and I’m just starting to sort out stuff and make list of things to buy for siobe (little sister). We haven’t decided on a name yet but we’ve started calling her siobe for E so he can get accustomed to it. We haven’t started buying stuff except for the carseat. Target was having it’s toy sale and baby items were included too. The one that we were originally set to get wasn’t on sale but the other model was at the same price as the one we wanted so we ended up getting the one on sale. A stroller would be the next on the list as E’s old stroller isn’t really suited for newborns.

I do wish though that we can do a quick weekend getaway, up the north coast maybe? Rent a house similar to the ones in the outer banks and just enjoy a weekend away from all the things that need to get done. Well, I doubt if we can really getaway with the expenses and stuff right now. But one can dream right?