// morsels of life //

I'm back

2010-03-13T20:43:00.018+11:00

Hey, hey, hey!!! Finally! Got the spare time to blog once again. It's been a while since I wrote in this journal so it's time for updates.

Anyway, since I became a working mom, my daily routine really did change. I got used to it already that I tend to be surprised whenever I have idle times.

But I like how things are improving now. More dreams are gradually coming true :)
One of them is owning our first house here in Australia. Yes, we have recently purchased a place to live in!
I will tell the house purchase details soon as I don't want to put a jinx on it.
But so far, things are falling into place and we thank God for it :)

Working Mom

2010-01-14T20:48:00.018+11:00

My life as a mom has changed since Tuesday.
I am a working mother now.
The job opportunity that I've been waiting for so long came when I wasn't expecting it! :)

I was hired by a web and graphic design company based in North Altona (20-30 minutes away from our place by public transport). They've been in the business for over 14 years.
My role is web programmer/designer. I will be handling some of their existing projects and hoping to get my hands on new projects as well.
I'm just grateful that they are willing to provide some training. Perhaps, a chance for me to prepare myself for the challenges of being in the IT workforce again.

As for our schedule at home, we just have to manage our time nowadays. I admit that sending Lori to daycare every morning is dreadful for me. Not to mention that separation anxiety attacks me every now and then. God willing, Mama will be here on March to help us out.

I believe in my heart, we'll get through this "big change" eventually.

Balikbayan 2009

2010-01-04T10:41:00.011+11:00

36 days of catching up with our family and friends in the Philippines. Best Christmas season we have ever experienced. Thank you for all the great memories. See you again on 2011! :)

More photos here.

City Zoo

2009-11-03T21:39:00.016+11:00

It's Melbourne Cup again so it's a holiday today. But we took the day off to go to the Melbourne Zoo instead. The place is just few minutes drive from our place.
It was Lori's first visit to the zoo, so we're all very excited.
Packed some sandwiches, drinks and chips and off we went.

First stop, Gorillas! The lovely weather made it so good for the apes to come out of their caves and "mingle" with visitors.

Then it's time to check out the Elephants, Giraffes, Reptiles, Lions, Bears and Orangutans. It's really a nice thing to hear our little girl while she repeats the name of the animals she sees. She even took time to stop for a while and listen to birds chirping when we were at the Aviary area. Did not have the chance to take a glimpse of some animals (such as other big & small cats) as they were on "hibernation" (just had their lunch and sleeping).

Before we head home, we took Lori to the zoo's play area. She even won a free second ride in the carousel but the little girl was probably too tired to finish it.

Got home before 4PM.
Looking forward to more fun family days.

Oh Manila!

2009-09-28T16:03:00.010+10:00

A strong typhoon (Ondoy/Ketsana) hit Metro Manila and other areas once again and left tragic scenes throughout the metropolitan.
Watching the news last weekend was very heartbreaking to see a lot of people displaced and trying to brave the heavily-flooded streets. Read more here.

Thank God, my families and some friends are all safe.
If you know any person/organization in Melbourne who accepts and sends donations/relief goods to the victims of this disaster, please leave a comment or message me via this blog. Thank you.

Westfield Doncaster

2009-09-26T20:00:00.011+10:00

Decided to take an afternoon stroll at Westfield in Doncaster today.
Half-hour drive from the city.
So far, it's one of the biggest and fab shopping centres I've ever seen.

I like the interior of the mall. It has some resemblance with Powerplant (Rockwell) mall in the Philippines. The structure is also neat and has touch of affluence.
Westfield houses the two popular retailers, Myer and David Jones and other typical Australian stores. They also have wide choice of cafes and restaurants.

In fact, we had yummy snack at T.G.I. Friday's. It was the first time I've seen their resto chain here in Australia. Made me miss my Accenture days.

Then, passed by Toys R Us store where we purchased a little pram for Lori's doll.
Lori enjoyed pushing it around and learning to have sense of direction.

Lori's Tu-TWO Birthday

2009-09-22T13:55:00.009+10:00

Our baby girl is turning 2 tomorrow! Yipeee! :)

We actually had a celebration last weekend in our place.

Lori wore a lady bug inspired tutu dress. So charming!

Our friends came over to join us. Glad they enjoyed the food and treats.

We were hoping to hold the party at Carlton Gardens, but the Melbourne weather was really "stubborn"!

That's why our house was jam-packed. But it was a happy party, afterall.

Winston and I noticed that Lori is in her "terrible two's" stage already a week before her birthday. She often throws tantrums and always making demands.
But despite those things, she knows how to make amends by giving us sweet kisses and warm cuddles :)

Happy Birthday, my dearest baby girl.
I love you!

D Day

2009-09-06T19:47:00.008+10:00

Happy Father's Day to my dearest husband.
Thank you for being so patient and loving through the years.
Lori and I love you so much!

Hope you liked the pair of Levi's jeans :-)

Kyut!

2009-08-30T20:07:00.006+10:00

The little girl, Anna, is sooo cute! I like the part when she sort of said, "Eversince I was a kid..." Hahaha.

Babies are just adorable!!!

Kilpatrick

2009-08-16T11:11:00.012+10:00

An easy recipe everytime we crave for something different, Oysters Kilpatrick.
To make this, all you need is a dozen of shucked fresh oysters, diced bacon, Worcestershire sauce.
Arrange the oysters on a bed of rock salt in a baking pan. Sprinkle the bacon bits and put few drops of Worcestershire sauce. Grill it in the oven for 8-10 mins on medium-high heat.
Serve with lemon wedges and salad or potato chips.

Delish and lovely! :)

Pocoyo

2009-08-14T10:43:00.010+10:00

Lori's current favorite pre-school show, Pocoyo.

It's about a little boy (Pocoyo) and his gang.
Elly (pink elephant), Pato (duck) and Loula (dog) are among Pocoyo's crew of friends.

For an animated cartoon, I find it so neat and fun to watch.
The stories encourage kids to learn through laughter and gentle humour.

Winston likes the show as well so he's trying to collect all the DVD's for Lori.

Kenny's Birthday

2009-08-09T17:46:00.022+10:00

Joined the Telan family to celebrate the 3rd birthday of their son, Kenny. The theme was Thomas the Train.
It was held in their house yesterday in Wyndham Vale, 45-minute travel from the city.

Lori had a great time dancing and playing with the kids.

My daughter also met one of the big sisters in the group, Janelle. She just loves to cuddle and look after Lori during the party.

My super cute godson, Ethan loved the attention while everybody is watching him eat his cereals and "doing raspberries" (sticking his tounge out).

It was an afternoon of chikahan and kulitan. The boys showed off their "talents" as they try to hit the right notes with the Magic Sing karaoke.

Enjoyed the home-made food prepared by Beth, Kenny's mom.

We all had a full tummy as we head home.

First Trike

2009-08-03T23:17:00.019+10:00

Winston came home one afternoon with a "pasalubong" for his unica hija...
A kiddy trike which Lori has been really eyeing for everytime we visit Toys R Us store.

I reckon she started to be fond of "ride-on" toys in the past few months that she's in day care.
One of the Sunkids carers once told me that Lori has a constant companion in her triking/biking moments. And it's one of the boys in her age group! Naloka ang mommy!

For now, this trikey is for indoor use only. But we'd probably need to buy a helmet one of these days because I know sooner or later, this little girl will ask us (or at least give some signs) if she can drive her trikey in the yard.

Updates

2009-07-19T22:49:00.020+10:00

Just been occupied with my online course these past weeks.
I enrolled in a self-paced study that serves as a "refresher" for me.
I'm happy with what I've learned so far. Makes me more eager to plan ahead.

I'm also taking driving lessons and aiming to obtain a Probationary licence soon.
In fact, my husband let me drive our car last Sunday which I think is a good sign, hehe.

As for Lori, she will be 22 months this week.
I can't believe how fast she has grown. I don't even know how to keep track of her milestone already.
It seems like everyday, she develops some new good things in her.
One main thing, my daughter can recognize and recite 95% of the English alphabet! Amazing!
She also loves to hear stories. She can say few two-syllable words and very keen to learn more. Catching bubbles is her new hobby while shouting "BABU". Too cute! :)

Winter bonding

2009-06-17T10:15:00.003+10:00

Happy times!

Party at Daydreamers

2009-06-14T10:08:00.012+10:00

Attended Alex Caday's (the little girl with eyeglasses) birthday yesterday at Daydreamers in Windsor.

They have a function area for parties and nice play space too.

Lori experienced to slide down a tall chute with her dad.

I also accompanied Lori and had a go on the slide. It was so much fun!
But after few attempts, I was too tired already as I had to carry her all the way up.

Lori also enjoyed "driving" mini cars on a mini race track.
Her hands were holding the steering wheel the whole time pretending that she's a good driver and totally in control, hehe.

Fun times! :)

Taylor the Trolley

2009-06-03T19:53:00.012+10:00

Whenever we go to the supermarket, Lori tends to grab anything that's within her reach.
If she could only speak already, I think she would say "Can we buy this, mom?"

On weekend, we bought this shopping cart toy, Taylor, the talking trolley.
Well, not to encourage Lori to splurge or whatever, but to make her realize that someday she will help mommy to do the shopping and spend wisely :)

Scones

2009-05-24T19:17:00.010+10:00

One of the things that completes her day ~ scone for snack.
Whether it's a fruit scone by Brumby's or choc banana scone by Bakers Delight, life is sweet and delightful for my baby girl.

Craving Japanese on Mother's Day

2009-05-10T21:28:00.010+10:00

Celebrated Mom's day by having dinner at Tomodachi restaurant.

Tried the crab roll (super yum!) and chicken teriyaki sushi from their sushi train (no photos coz we immediately ate them!)

Our mains was composed of sizzling beef bbq with rice (Ton) and beef Yaki Udon (mine).

Lori tasted all of them (hehe, takaw!)

Heard the Sunday mass afterwards.

Happy Mother's Day to all the mommies out there!
Cheers to us! :)

3 Years

2009-05-06T12:40:00.011+10:00

It was our third wedding anniversary yesterday.

We did not do anything fancier than exchanging cards because Lori has been sick since Saturday. Thankfully, she seems ok now after she had a big dose of paracetamol (as what the doctor advised us to give). She was able to sleep through the night.

This morning I received a new Apple Earphone set and a card from my husband.
I'm very happy to realize that our bond is stronger than ever especially in tough times.

Glittery

2009-04-30T10:12:00.007+10:00

Scored a pair of new Converse Chuck Taylor shoes for Lori yesterday.
The style is called "Lucky Star" with glitters on each shoe.
Sooo cute and kikay :)

Lori at Sunkids

2009-04-28T17:50:00.020+10:00

It's Lori's first day at the Sunkids Children Centre today.
Sunkids has a city location in Collins Street.

We enrolled her last Wednesday and she is booked to attend once a week.

Our aim is for her to develop social skills and be somehow prepared for school (yes, as early as now).

Lori got positive remarks from the Sunkids' carer, Lisa (who is a Filipino-Vietnamese).
She told me that my kid was well-behaved and cooperative most of the time.
Quite good for a first-timer in a day care. :)

Lego Duplo

2009-04-21T17:35:00.013+10:00

Lori is very interested in assembly toys.
So, as we passed by Big-W store this morning, we grabbed a new toy for her.

Lori's first Lego toy to assemble is this Postman set.

Look at her as she was trying to think of the next step on how to bring the parts together. Hehe.

Good for her concentration! :)

Weekend at the Great Ocean Road

2009-04-12T19:25:00.050+10:00

Spent the Easter weekend at the Great Ocean Road with my husband and daughter.

We travelled thru the coastal road with several stopovers at the connecting towns such as Torquay, Aireys Inlet, Lorne and Cape Otway.

In Torquay, we stopped by The Esplanade which has a nice view of the long beach. We also visited the "Surf City", the shopping point of surf enthusiasts. Torquay is famous for its surf beaches.

Aireys Inlet features the Split Point Lighthouse and lovely rock formations down the cliff.

Lorne is a popular place for caravan parking and camping near the Erskine River.

The Cape Otway was one of the highlights of our trip. The view of the ocean with the towering iconic lightstation was a beauty.

We stayed the night at Loch Ard Bed & Breakfast. The property is owned and run by the couple Don & Win Mckenzie, which are two of the most warm and kind people I have ever met. Their guest rooms are generously big and so cozy. The bluestone English-style country house is so beautiful and situated in a very relaxed farmland.
We also met Marsha (one of the house guests), a fellow Filipino and her partner Deck, who is an Irish.

The following morning, we headed to the "not to be missed" attractions of the Great Ocean Road - the 12 Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge. The picturesque view of the ocean plus the rock formations was truly magnificent. The sound of the sea waves and swish of the shrubs made me feel that i'm so close to nature.

GOR's sights and sounds are beyond words.
Two thumbs up! :)

Bunch of photos here.

Happy Easter everyone!

Milestone at 18 months

2009-03-20T15:50:00.022+11:00

Lori is turning 1 1/2 years old on Monday. Here's a summary of the things she can do and loves to do now:

* can walk like a pro...
* run as if she's always in a hurry...
* can say several words such as "mam", "dadi" & "dede"...
* first pair of lower molars appeared already...
* can wave goodbye...
* being clingy at times...
* throw her favorite ball (thankfully, just on the floor) and watch it bounce...
* loves to watch quiz shows, weather news, and anything with dancing kids...
* likes to see us applauding about something good she just did...
* loves to pretend (e.g. stomping like a dinosaur)...
* can recognize the letters "A, B, C"...
* can sip on a straw...
* gradually learning to drink from a cup...
* a veggie-eater now!

I read that most of the stuff on the list are just normal for her age so no need to bother at all. It's truly an accomplishment to know that nearly everything is on the right track. To cherish all the time I have now for my daughter, is certainly, the most right to do.

Car Blessing

2009-03-19T10:10:00.002+11:00

Father Loi (a Filipino priest) conducted the short ceremony at St. Brigid's Church parking area yesterday.

Vroom...Vroom!!!

2009-03-14T20:14:00.012+11:00

Picked up our first family car this morning at Subaru Docklands.
It's a Forester 2009 model. Very pleased with it's look and presentation.
After a week of negotiation, we finally got the one we want at our desired price (special thanks to my husband's wit and charm, hehehe).

Strange as it may seem, as Tonton was driving the car out of the display area, the rain began to pour. It's like, heaven is blessing our recent purchase! :)

Anyway, our first stop... shopping centres!
But we only grabbed the essentials.
I think we're just too excited to test drive the car.

Nice to see that the passenger on the back seat, Lori, looked so comfy during our first all-wheel drive trip.

Long Weekend in Ballarat

2009-03-09T18:19:00.012+11:00

Ballarat is almost 2 hours drive from the city. I find the location very relaxing and perfect for a family getaway.
Stayed at Wyndham Resort with our pinoy friends.
The resort has one of the most grandest mansions in the region.
The place is truly a heritage. I liked the way they preserved the old but elegant structure of the houses. The rooms were cozy and nice.

For the two days, we enjoyed lots of fun activities and road trips.
Visited the Kryal Castle (which is 20-minute drive from Wyndham)...

I had the chance to dress up as a "royal queen" for only 10 bucks, hahaha.

The men played poker at night, while the ladies watched tagalog movies...

Soaked ourselves in the warm pool...

Photo ops at the lake...

Played tennis, basketball and indoor golf.

A fun, chillax weekend! :)

View more photos on myFlickr.

Catching Up

2009-03-01T19:49:00.012+11:00

Visited couple Eian and Gina yesterday at their cozy home in Bonbeach.
It was our first catch up eversince the sad moment last October when they lost their first born, Caleb.
Good to see them again and know that they're doing ok.
Looking forward to more meetings to make them feel that we're always here.

Summer Lunch

2009-03-01T18:29:00.009+11:00

Hosted a BBQ lunch at our place yesterday.
Our pinoy close friends came over to have pika-pika with us under the nice sunny weather.

Tonton cooked sausage barbeque and I made leche flan for dessert.

The kids enjoyed running around the compound and played with Lori inside our apartment.

At the gazebo area, we simply setup two long tables, had potluck food, chitchat with our guests... and voila! A fun summer get-together! :)

(Photos below courtesy of Joni Ibarra)

More photos on my Flickr.

Car Hunting

2009-02-23T09:58:00.009+11:00

The actual hunt for our first car begun last weekend. Even before Tonton got his full Victorian driver's licence, we've been scouting for a nice family vehicle already. It started with a bunch of choices and we narrowed it down to a very short list. And now we're choosing between the two popular car brands.

Here's Lori roaming around and helping us to "inspect" this one...

As of the moment, we're still waiting for calls from sales agent and we're hoping to get a great deal, of course. I think this hunt will be quite exhausting and exciting.

Hearts Day '09

2009-02-14T15:03:00.013+11:00

Our Valentine family date was simple yet so enjoyable. Visited the Melbourne Aquarium this morning to see the much talked about Penguins of Antarctica.

We were able to watch the presentation as the keepers feed them and take a closer look at those adorable creatures. I personally liked the King Penguin with yellow feathers on its chest and beak. Looks like my favorite sanrio character, Badtzmaru! :)
Lori also loved the penguin show and I can say that she can now somehow appreciate our aquarium tour.

Then, we headed to Crown Casino to just roam around and purchase my much-awaited lux bag *wink*.

Photos here.

Happy Hearts Day! :)

Farewell Dinner

2009-02-08T14:58:00.010+11:00

Friday evening, I prepared a simple dinner for my good friends, Jo & Joni. It was also a despedida for Jo as she is moving to Perth this week due to job relocation.

It was January last year when I met Jo. It's been a wonderful thing to know a person like her.
Like me, she's also a homebody and loves to watch TV series.

from left: Jo, Joni & me

I will definitely miss her. But looking forward to visit her soon in Western Australia :)

One Hot Saturday

2009-02-08T08:57:00.014+11:00

It was not a good summer day for Victorians yesterday. In fact, it was the worst ever as temperature reached almost 47C and resulted to bushfires and home blazed. Death toll is also feared to climb. It's such a catastrophe.

As for us, we just spent the hot morning at the Victoria Gardens shopping centre. We don't have airconditioner in our "ancient" apartment and staying at the mall is one of our ways to stay cool. Here's Lori playing in the baby care room...

On the brighter note, we joined our friends and Apiado family to celebrate the 3rd birthday of their dear son, Joshua later in the afternoon. Venue was in Laughs Galore, Deer Park. It's an indoor play centre with facilities for kids to enjoy and have fun like jumping castles, huge slides and ball room.

Lori particularly enjoyed tossing the colorful balls in the ball pool.

As for us adults, we totally enjoyed the abudant meal served that was composed mostly of pinoy favorites such as pancit, sisig, dinuguan and lechon! Yum!

Got home before 12 midnight. Felt thankful to be alive.

Impacho

2009-02-05T22:54:00.004+11:00

I consulted a doctor this evening 'cause i've been suffering from stomach ache/indigestion/slight heartburn since morning.

Headed to the new location of Royal Women's Hospital along Flemington Road, Parkville and I was amazed how their site has improved compared to the old one in Carlton (where I gave birth). The place is bigger and I almost got lost trying to find the emergency section.

Unfortunately, their emergency department doesn't accommodate cases like mine. It is exclusively for patients who are in labor or pregnant. Thank goodness, the RWH building is connected to the Royal Melbourne's Hospital where the triage nurse put me through so quickly.

Anyway, the GP (doctor) just advised me to take antacid and avoid salty & sour food.
Thank heavens for Mylanta, I feel well now.

Rafa vs. Fedexpress

2009-02-02T08:43:00.009+11:00

One of the most entertaining tennis championships I've ever seen happened last night.
The most awaited finals match of Rafael Nadal & Roger Federer in Australian Open.

I was pinned down to the couch as I watch them vie for the cup with their own respective goals. Federer was hoping to score for his 14th grand slam and to record-equal Pete Sampras. Nadal aimed to be the first Spaniard to win the open and maintain his #1 rank.

Both of them gave their best and it resulted to a heartstopping game.
Power versus finesse!

Read more here.

Shoe Shopping

2009-02-01T10:29:00.010+11:00

The city stocktake sale is not over yet. There are still some items in the mall that were further reduced, like children's footwear. So we grabbed the chance to check out a pair of walking shoes for our tot.

We had a bit of trouble choosing a nice and comfy pair 'cause Lori's feet grow so fast. Thanks to the Myer shoe assistant who gave helpful tips.

Lori's first pair of Clarks summer sandals :)

Scorched

2009-01-30T09:56:00.005+11:00

For two straight days, Melbourne experienced a heatwave like no other and is likely to break a record if the temperature will reach 43C again today. More info here.

Aussie Open '09

2009-01-27T12:51:00.006+11:00

I'm afraid I won't be able to watch the Aussie open live this year due to some personal reasons.

But anyhow, the games are heating up again as the championship round is approaching. I'd love to see my favorite player be in the finals again. Go, go Novak! :)

Geelong Adventure Park

2009-01-24T20:54:00.017+11:00

Just got home from our day trip to Geelong Adventure Theme Park. The location is a 1.5 hour drive from the cbd. It is a perfect summer getaway for kids and kids at heart.

We had a blast despite of the weird weather today (sunny and windy). The place is full of water fun amenities and thrill-seeker attractions.

I experienced to have a go in the "Six Lane Aqua Racer" giant slides where Tammy and I raced bravely and overcame our acrophobia instantly. It was an awesome experience!

We also enjoyed the ride at River Torrent, went Go Karting, bounced ourselves in the Jumping Castle.

Lori really enjoyed the Bonito's Bay and Tiny Tots that feature splash pools and tipping water-filled buckets.

Had picnic and celebrated one of pinoy kids 10th birthday.

Summer fun day indeed!

Summer Days

2009-01-22T12:01:00.012+11:00

Eversince Lori learned to walk on her own (that was two weeks ago), I try to give her the chance to explore more.

So one day, I let her frolic in the courtyard.

I just cautiously watched her pick the small flowers and some dirt too!

She's not a baby anymore, I uttered.

But I realized that it's a pleasure to look at my girl enjoying the things around her.

I reckon summer will be Lori's favorite season.

Ethan's Baptism

2009-01-17T19:52:00.014+11:00

Attended Ethan's baptism this morning at St. Brigid's Church in Fitzroy. I was one of the godparents.

(photo courtesy of Cherry M.)

It was an exclusive gathering of Ariz & Roch's filipino friends. The priest who conducted the ceremony was also a pinoy.

Reception followed at Sante's restaurant (Crown Casino complex). We enjoyed the yummy buffet and almost three hours of chitchat with friends.

Lori had her first face paint... a cute ladybird bug on her cheek.

(photo courtesy of Cherry M.)

Tutti Frutti

2009-01-11T20:29:00.009+11:00

Guess what's behind those tiny hands?

It's a piece of nectarine as Lori's afternoon snack.

Just one of my baby girl's favorite fruits.

As a mom, it's a delight for me to see how this kid loves, loves fruits.

I remember when she has not started to wean, I was concern on how to encourage her to like fresh produce. Thankfully, she did not refuse to eat some the first time I offered. And now she eats all kinds ~ strawberries, melons, mangoes... to name a few.

Keep it up, my dear :)

Practice makes perfect

2009-01-07T09:20:00.011+11:00

Konti na lang! :)
We will finally see her walking around the house and soon at the park!
Hay. Lori was more baby-like for longer. And seeing her now, starting to become a full blown toddler. What a milestone!
Watch her taking more steps now...

I'm more than ready for the chasing game soon!

ABCDEF... Cookie Monster!

2009-01-01T19:23:00.001+11:00

This is sooo cute!
Katuwa ang ending :)

Welcome 2009!

2009-01-01T10:18:00.007+11:00

There are so many things to be thankful for the past year ~ family, friends, health, job, lifestyle and good relationships.

I admit that living away from our family brings sadness every now and then but I'm still grateful that we find some ways to communicate with them constantly. God is good.

We welcome the year ahead with a more positive outlook and hopeful spirits.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Sitting pretty

2008-12-30T10:00:00.004+11:00

...while watching her current favorite tv show, Playschool.

Boxing Day '08

2008-12-26T20:45:00.013+11:00

It's the time of the year again where everybody is out to join the last installment of the annual stocktake sale.
I went to Myer this morning to grab a set of Mini-Jumbuk quilts, Sheridan bedsheets and towels on sale. I'm happy with my purchase as most of them are 40% off which is I think did not happen last year.
Plus, we were able to buy a nice car seat for Lori.

Anyhow, the Recession might be one of the issues that would stop people from spending money nowadays. But we're still grateful that somehow we still manage to buy what we want once in a while.

Christmas '08

2008-12-24T15:44:00.017+11:00

Our second Christmas in Melbourne.

Prepared pansit, beef morcon & leche flan for Noche Buena.

Attended a gathering with fellow pinoys few hours ago.

At home, Lori loved the opening of presents. As usual, she got cute toys & lovely dresses.

We're glad that Lori was amazed by Elmo.

I got a pretty night gown, parenting books & Ton got new shirts.

We thank the Lord for all the blessings this year.

MERRY CHRISTMAS! :)

Baby Ethan

2008-12-23T16:33:00.010+11:00

Sunday, we visited the couple Ariz & Roch and their first born, Ethan.

Roch & I almost have the same "birthing story" -- 20 hours of labor, same hospital and pain relievers rescue!

Well, I'm sure the new mom was strucked by baby love upon seeing her boy.

Ethan is so gorgeous.

Ohh, how I love the sight of newborn babies and how they sleep at peace.

Elmo Live

2008-12-21T18:37:00.015+11:00

This is one of the toys that made me gawk and giggle like a child.
I hope my baby girl will love our gift when she opens it on Christmas eve.

Gathering at Taylors Hill

2008-12-14T11:53:00.012+11:00

The weather yesterday was a bit bad but that didn't stop us to meet our pinoy close friends and have a simple assembly in Apiado family's residence at Taylors Hill. A 30-minute drive away from the city.

It was a pre-christmas celebration.

Good and yummy food were served.

Lots of games (both for kids & adults) were played.

We also had kris kringle.

Lori received lots of gifts from her fellow kids.

Of course, she enjoyed playing with them as well.

Baby Pictures

2008-12-08T11:37:00.007+11:00

Left: Me, 5 months.
Right: Lori, 4 months.

Anything in common? :)

Julian & Siony's 50th

2008-12-02T18:22:00.021+11:00

One of the main reasons of our Manila trip was to attend and celebrate the golden wedding anniversary of my parents in-law.

It was held last November 16 in Quezon City.
Thanks to my brother in-law, Kuya Sonny (who organized everything) for making this event a very momentous one for all of us.

Tonton, Lori and myself were part of the entourage together with the rest of Morasa family.

I know my husband was very proud of his pamangkins as everyone of them showed their talents and messages as part of the reception's program.

Tears & laughter filled the occassion. Especially when Tonton gave his heartfelt speech for his beloved parents. I was so proud of my hubby.

It was a once in a lifetime celebration that we really couldn't afford to miss.

Subic Trip

2008-12-01T17:30:00.013+11:00

We're back in Melbourne and despite of our hectic schedule in Manila, we still had the chance to go out of town with my inlaws during our second week. It was a short notice trip but we were able to buy some swim stuff for Lori as it was her first time to go to the beach.

Lori loved the sand and the water. She wore her first two-piece bathing suit (soo kikay!) and she looked adorable while playing with her cousins.

I allowed Tonton to bring her to the sea and make "tampisaw" in the water. I just can't contain my happiness to see my baby loving the nature.

Just one of the pleasant days to remember.

My 29th

2008-11-27T10:39:00.014+11:00

I spent my special day with my babies and my two mothers.
We strolled around Rockwell mall in Makati.
Tonton and I really planned it as a "treat day" for my mom & his mom. But I'm glad that Tonton did not forget to tell me that there's something special waiting for me in Melbourne, hehe.

Had a good time just seeing my moms enjoying the precious moments with their apo.
God willing, I pray that my family (siblings & papa) will be with me when I turn 30.

Family Portrait

2008-11-25T18:53:00.006+11:00

Grabbed the chance to book for a session with a professional photographer here in Manila.
I sooo love this shot :) Haang puputi namin, hahaha!

We're still on vacation and be back on weekend.
Will post more photos soon.

Visa grant

2008-11-13T12:32:00.009+11:00

Finally!
Got our 136 visa (permanent residency) approval notice last Monday, and we're very, very grateful for that. I can say that it's the best christmas gift to our family this year.

Thank you, Lord :)

Going home

2008-11-04T17:48:00.014+11:00

While everybody else is busy with the Melbourne Cup today, we just stayed home and excited packing our stuff.

We're off to Manila in a few days. First time to fly home together as a family.
I'm so "nawiwindang" how to squeeze in all our activities to a 3-week long holiday.
I reckon this vacation will be full of reunions, errands and shopping.
But hopefully, there will also be some time to relax and unwind.
I badly need some "ME" time!

Ok, counting down...

D.I.Y. Calendar

2008-10-30T20:57:00.010+11:00

Whenever I get so bored, I normally look for something to customize.
Glad to score this Do It Yourself Calendar from Kikki.K shop.

I like it's black & white concept that would enable you to decorate it with colorful stickers or write notes using a white/colored pen. Each month page is a blank canvas that you could embellish with your own photos and drawings.

Just a nice thing to have for the year 2009.

Farm Animals

2008-10-28T13:19:00.024+11:00

Dropped by at the Carlton Family Resource Center this morning to check out the weekly playgroup being held there.

Good thing, they have some "special visitors" today -- it's a group of farm animals provided by the Leigh Farmyard Friends.

The kids were cheerful to see and mingle with the creatures.
There were chickens, ducks, sheeps, pigs, goats and a lovely pony!

Lori watched me as I feed the goats with chopped grass.
She stared inquisitively at the animals running around and passing by.

My baby girl also loved the experience of meeting new kids and play with them.

I also got to chat and make friends with several first time moms.
A morning well spent, indeed.

Grill'd

2008-10-18T14:57:00.015+11:00

For the past weeks, i've been aiming to eat as healthy as possible to get rid of my "bulge".

I hate to say this but I gained few pounds last month. Huhuhu.

The issue is, I don't want to take a strict diet as I am still breastfeeding.

I'm just happy to discover a burger chain that serves healthy and superbly yummy sandwiches.

It's the Grill'd.

My favorite is the Summer Sunset -- grilled 100% lean beef, avocado, bacon (i sometimes remove this), pineapple, salad, relish and herbed mayo in wholemeal bread.

Absolutely love the idea that I'd still get to enjoy a full & nutritious meal without the guilt.

I can actually make something like this at home.

I could just avoid white rice and opt for this burger for a week or so. ;)

Melbourne Playgroup

2008-10-13T14:37:00.011+11:00

Lori and I attended the kids-parents playgroup session in the city this morning. It's one of the maternal and child health programs of the city council of Melbourne.

"Playgroups provide parents and caregivers with the opportunity to meet new people, gain support and exchange parenting ideas. They allow babies, toddlers and preschoolers to socialise as they play and learn together. All playgroups are different but the emphasis is on fun and friendship. "

The session was very enjoyable. There was food sharing (fruits & muffins) and singing & reading afterwards.

Lori had heaps of fun. She had the chance to meet other kids, play with them and mingle with babies same age as hers. We've been wanting to join a group like this and we're so happy to found one.

Half Day in Canberra

2008-09-25T18:50:00.019+10:00

I flew to Canberra then went to the Philippine Embassy there early this morning to have my passport renewed.

Going there all by myself was the only logical option I got coz my passport will expire on December. Plus I need to have a valid passport when we fly home on November.

The embassy requires personal appearance as they have implemented the MRP (machine-readable passport) effective last September 1.

I find Canberra a bit boring, based on the "blue" ambiance when I arrived there.
Luckily, I only needed to spend few hours there.

But anyway, I took these pictures just to kill the time while waiting for my return flight.

Lori's First Birthday

2008-09-21T12:12:00.033+10:00

A simple yet very delightful gathering was held yesterday in our place.
It was the celebration of Lori's first year.

The theme was Spring Flower party.
Lori wore her bumble bee costume. She was so cute! :)

The birthday cake was the center of attraction on the table.
We loved the presentation and it was so yummy too!

Our pinoy friends came over to celebrate with us.
Tonton and I cooked and served pinoy food and we were glad that they enjoyed them.

Fortunately, the weather was quite fine during the afternoon.

Our guests had the chance to roam inside the compound and chat for a while.

As parents, Tonton and I feel so blessed for having Lori and seeing her growing up as a bright and sweet girl. She just never know how much happiness she has brought to our lives. We wish that God continue to bless her with good health.

Happy Birthday, our dear Lori!

Daddy & Mommy love you so much.

Yum Cha lunch

2008-09-07T22:35:00.014+10:00

Our "official" (Ton is a dad now, hehe) father's day celebration was spent at Dragon Boat place along Lonsdale street in the city. Delicious dim sums, chinese delicacies and tea were served. Flavored with an enjoyable conversation with our pinoy friends and their families.

I'm glad that Lori is now used to public's noise and she somehow likes the attention from other people. She also enjoys sitting with us while eating.

Anyway, Happy Father's Day to my loving husband.
Thanks for everything, Bi!

New Place, Same Suburb

2008-09-02T23:22:00.010+10:00

We're almost done moving our stuff to our new apartment. The place is just few blocks away from Swanston Street, but it's still in the same suburb, Carlton.

Our new flat is located in the St. Nicholas Apartments along Rathdowne street.

The place is a beauty and well-maintained. No wonder it's one of the sought-after places in the locale. It has a private courtyard/garden, pool & sauna and secured gate and carspaces. Plus it's just stones throw away from the famous Carlton Gardens, Melbourne Museum & IMAX theatre.

We just feel so lucky that we got the unit. Hoping to call it a "home sweet home" for a year or so.

Can't wait for this!

2008-08-27T14:32:00.007+10:00

xoxo GG :)

Google's Street View

2008-08-06T16:33:00.012+10:00

We've been apartment hunting for quite a while now. Our 10-month contract for our current unit will end soon.

And few days ago (while I was browsing some properties), I discovered something so amazing over the internet. Domain.com.au website now features a Street View (courtesy of Google) of the property alongside the conventional maps and photos.

This one will enable you to check out a street level view of properties and walk down the actual street by panning, rotating and zooming the map. Isn't it cool?!

I find it very useful especially if I want to familiarize myself to a certain place. And since we'll be doing inspections on several apartments this week, I'm really glad to learn about this feature. I can now explore the whole neighbourhood and see the nearest shops and establishments around the place.

2 more months to go!

2008-07-23T16:59:00.019+10:00

Lori turned 10 months today. I can't believe how time flies so fast!
So far, the progress report...

~ Her first set of teeth has finally emerged! Though the upper incisors are the obvious ones (cute!)
~ She can crawl now :)
~ She can sit on her own.
~ She eats a lot and still likes pumpkin & potato. I tried giving her tuna & rice last weekend... she loves it as long as it has potato! hehe.
~ She has started playing with water everytime I bathe her.
~ Watching Trotro makes her day.
~ She shouts and babbles a lot.
~ She loves to wake us up every morning.
~ She adores balls, books & toys with flaps.
~ She enjoys listening to music with animal sound.
~ She loves to kiss her dad & mum on the lips. (now that's our favorite!)

Those are the things I can remember at the moment. But I can think of more things my baby would do in the coming days :)

Caricature

2008-07-17T00:10:00.004+10:00

Lori as caricature.

Drawn by a Myer staff during our stroll in Highpoint Shopping Centre last weekend.

Notice the pouted lips... exag! Hehe.

Lori Published

2008-07-13T12:34:00.014+10:00

This week's issue of Melbourne's Sunday Herald Sun featured our baby girl.

Lori's picture (taken when she was 4 months old) was among the cute babies chosen to be placed in the Hello Baby section of the paper (page 101). We were so happy to see her photo in the middle of the spread! I really liked the way they presented it.

We're so proud of our bubba! :)

Thanks Jo for informing me about this ad few months ago. I know, I owe you a copy ;)

House of the Dead

2008-07-12T23:20:00.010+10:00

Tonton recently purchased a new game for our Wii -- The House of the Dead.

It's our favorite arcade game. We used to play it at TimeZone in Manila. Those were the times that we're just bf-gf. (how gory romantic noh?! haha).
But seriously, this game was one of the things that made us closer. It's like everytime we finish a stage/level and kill the creepy zombies, we achieve a bonding goal as well. And the peculiar thing was, I sort of overcame the fear of corpse! Hehe.

Newest Kapamilya

2008-07-08T16:39:00.012+10:00

My new niece, Trisha Clare Olesco was born on 26th of June.

It was a scheduled cesarean delivery because this bubba is a bouncing eight pounds (big girl, isn't she?!)

Thankfully, she is ready to go home within this week as she has been incubated for couple of days due to respiratory problem.

Prayer is so powerful and babies are simply adorable.

Little Miss Puffy

2008-06-25T10:35:00.008+10:00

I was trying to "organize" our files earlier when I saw this photo...

She looks like a Chinadoll! Luv her puffy cheeks!

My Tiffany

2008-06-22T21:00:00.007+10:00

Got my first Tiffany yesterday. It's a lovely piece, eyeluvit!
More to come, i think :)

SATC Movie

2008-06-14T21:49:00.013+10:00

I had the chance to watch Sex and the City movie this afternoon. Yey! :)

I missed it last week because Lori was sick. Thanks to my good friend Joni, she was willing to accompany me and watch the film for the second time.

The movie was the way I expected it to be. Still fabulous and hilarious.
I still love the friendship of the foursome (Carrie, Samantha, Miranda & Charlotte).
However, I feel bad for Samantha to just end up single again (oopss, spoiler!) inspite of doing everything to save her relationship with Smith.

Anyway, luv SATC! Wondering if there will be SATC movie part 2 :) why not?!

Haigh's chocolate

2008-06-12T20:57:00.013+10:00

I am not a chocolate lover, but I just recently found out that sweets can be so addictive!
My recent "guilty" pleasure -- Haigh's chocolates.

Haigh's chocolates is an Australian-owned company. They have a wide range of delicious chocolates. From simple moulded ones to especially boxed/wrapped choco.

I particularly like the milk chocolate coated macadamia nuts (costs $8 per 200g)
What I like about it, is that the size of each macadamia is big enough to enjoy it in your mouth one at a time, compared to other brands that seems so "tinipid". Plus the taste of the chocolate is not sooo sweet which I prefer.

Trotro

2008-06-11T10:34:00.009+10:00

Lori loves to watch TV every morning. Good thing, there's a local channel, the ABC kids, that features children's show.

Among Lori's favorites are Pokko, Elmo's world, Sesame street, Playschool, Fimbles and of course Trotro.

Trotro is a little donkey with a head full of ideas. Each episode is just 2-minute long. I'm already looking for a DVD set, hope to find one soon.

Lori likes it so much and I enjoy watching it too. I like the intro song, I sing it to her always :) I think Lori will be a fan of TV shows like her dad.

FYI, Lori got sick for almost a week. The doctor said she's at the teething stage already. Lori is back to her happy self now. We can't wait to take a peek of her first tooth/teeth! Don't know when, but we're very excited :)

Feeding the bub

2008-05-23T21:27:00.023+10:00

When Lori started taking solids (about 4 months old), I thought preparing and thinking of next menu for her is as simple and easy as 123. I admit that so far I don't have problems feeding her as long as she likes the food. My baby's recent favorites are Cerelac (a Filipino-brand baby cereal) and mashed pumpkin with milk. I tried giving her Aussie & US brand baby foods, but she doesn't want them.

I just recently realized that I should be serving her something that is fresh and healthier. My mom has given me some tips on how to make it in traditional way. I also browsed all the corners of internet (exag, i know) to look for some practical tips on how to make homemade baby food. Thankfully, I found several sites written by hands-on parents. Gotta score a stick-blender/food processor and try those recipes asap.

Enough of the dilemma, here's the result of Lori's first pumpkin fight :)

Young Jetsetter

2008-05-22T15:35:00.024+10:00

When I was still pregnant with Lori, I've been thinking about her future career.

I didn't think of any specific ambition for her. For us, whatever she likes to achieve when she grow up, we will support her all the way.

However, we noticed that her recent plane trips have been so enjoyable for her. We're just wondering, will she be a future stewardess or a lady pilot? I prefer the latter :)

Anyway, while we were on our way back to Melbourne last weekend, an acquaintance from Women's hospital, happened to be one of the flight attendants in Virgin Blue. We were so surprised & happy to see each other again. Sandra was so fond of Lori that she asked me to take a picture of her and my baby girl. :)

Sydney Trip

2008-05-17T17:47:00.047+10:00

Hi! Just came back from our Sydney holiday. Second time for me and Tonton but we enjoyed it more this time. It was a week full of lakwatsa, exploration and fun times.

We really had a great time and so happy that we were able to travel (by plane) as a family eversince Lori came. We're also pleased that Mama had the chance to be with us, just in time for Mother's day.

We stayed at my cousin's (Ate Bibeth) place in Strathfield which is 10-minute drive from the city (Sydney). My cousin and her family was so warm and accommodating. Her kids, Asiong & Era were so fond of Lori. Thanks to Ate because she took one-week work leave to accompany us in our pamamasyal.

Our adventures & photos...

Celebrated Mom's day with Creencia's & Ouano's

Circular Quay, Opera House and Macquarie's Chair

Art Gallery of New South Wales, Hyde Park, St. Mary's Cathedral

Darling Harbour, Sydney Monorail ride

Sydney Aquarium, Wildlife World, Sydney Tower

Bondi Beach, Paddy's Market (China Town)

Blue Mountains (Katoomba)

Happy days! :)

Bleh!

2008-05-08T17:23:00.005+10:00

:-)

Werribee trip

2008-04-26T09:39:00.047+10:00

Yesterday, my family and some of our pinoy friends went to Werribee Park which is located in the southern part of Victoria and 30-minute drive from the city.

The place is a vast estate which was originally owned by Chirnside family from Scotland who migrated to Australia in the mid 1800s. The property is approximately 300 hectares with farming land and zoo. The land extends to the Werribee River which is connected to the Port Phillip Bay.

The Mansion itself occupies around 10 hectares which includes a formal garden, a rose garden and lovely lawn area perfect for picnic and photo ops :)

The house was constructed on year 1877 and has classic style. The Italian flooring, the grand staircase and the rooms are typical European yet extravagant. But the ambiance inside the house was a bit gloomy particularly the smell (like an old "baul").

We also had the chance to have a guided tour up to the Mansion's tower. The view from the tower was impressive. The tour guide told us the history of the place and some stories about the Chirnsides. It was creepy and sad to know that one of the Chirnside brothers committed suicide when he was 77 :-(

Anyway, looking at the bright side, we had fun time walking around the park and exploring it. There were some sculpture works around the place which I think were basically made for the tourists/visitors. We had picnic near the rose garden. We left the park around 4pm 'cause it's starting to rain already.

Then before we went back to the city, we dropped by Telan's place (one of the pinoys) in Manor Lakes which is 10-minute away from the park. Dinner was served around 6pm and we had enough time to chat with our friends.

Lori was lethargic but still enjoyed observing the people and mingling with other kids. It was a very tiring yet enjoyable day!

Baptized

2008-04-21T09:00:00.031+10:00

Lori's baptism was held yesterday at St. Augustine's Church in the city. Then reception followed at Michelino's Trattoria in Carlton. Thankfully, the weather was good! Almost all of our pinoy friends attended the ceremony and joined us in the reception. (thanks for coming, guys!)

There were three babies baptized including Lori. She's the only Filipino.
The ceremony was different from the traditional Catholic rite. It was lively and jubilant.
Father Wahid conducted the sacrament which also comprised of anointment & exorcism (to cast away the bad spirits).

The funny thing was, Lori had to "poopoo" when we were inside the church already! Fortunately the ceremony hasn't started that time and we were able to clean her up quickly. (almost ran out of wipes pa ha!)

But we're grateful that we were able to organize everything without major hassles. And the important thing is, Lori is now a Christian :) Our bub received a load of gifts that composed mostly of pink clothes and cute toys :)

Anyway, here are the photos from the event:

Church...

Restaurant...

Arkita's place

2008-04-14T09:12:00.016+10:00

One of Tonton's coworkers, Voytek Arkita invited us to his newly built house in Point Cook suburb (about 40-minute drive from the city). We were accompanied by our pinoy friends, Bong & Ann. We just rented a taxi van yesterday to go there.

Voytek and his wife Vicky are from Poland. They were very warm & friendly.

Vicky baked some homemade bread and made salad for dinner. Then delicious shortbread for dessert. We had a great time conversing with them 'cause they almost have the same traits and values as Filipinos have. They are Catholics too.

The house was so cosy & lovely. We were amazed to know that Voytek assembled the beautiful timber flooring of the place.

Vicky was very fond of Lori. And our bub was very friendly and well-behaved.

Lori liked to play and rollover on the flat floor in the place. How I wish we have something like that in our apartment. Can't wait to see Lori crawling!

Anyway, it's nice to know diverse people like the Polish couple.

Whew!

2008-04-12T18:06:00.004+10:00

just came from an all-pinoy badminton game. sarap pawisan!
i enjoyed it so much. now, my right hand has two shining blisters (pardon my adjective). waaah!
i missed playing the sport. i miss my racket with soft-padded handle.
well, despite of my suffering hand, i think i need to buy myself a racket :)

Flower and Garden Show

2008-04-05T19:01:00.044+11:00

Saturday, we spent the day in Carlton Gardens to see the annual Melbourne International Flower & Garden Festival.

It's an event wherein horticulturists from around the world display their works -- flower arrangements, gardening tools & techniques, landscapes, etc.

It also highlighted different plants, shrubs and flowers that are popular in Australia such as tulips, hyacinth & daffodils.

The exhibit also featured unique designs by RMIT fashion arts students. This one is my favorite -- it's called Bun in the Oven (won first place), a mannequin dressed with dried leaves & twigs, apples & small flowers.

I also enjoyed looking at Jane Davenport's photography works which she named - Frogoly. Here's a cute one... a hanging froggie!

The festival included sculpture and arts exhibition too...

Funny is, people here are so fascinated with plants which are commonly grown in the Philippines like these Bougainvillea flowers.

Meanwhile, Lori enjoyed looking at the mascots roaming inside the park, like this tiger who endorses artificial turf to be used for lawn making to save water.

There was a bubble generating hut for the kids. It was fun to see Lori gazing curiously at the bubbles :)

Then, after a series of long walks, we took some rest and photo ops beside the pond and enjoyed watching the ducks & birds.

Half Year

2008-03-24T08:40:00.041+11:00

Lori turned 6 months yesterday and there were many reasons & ways to celebrate it.

First, the reasons: Lori has been showing a lot of signs that she's a healthy baby -- keen eyesight, good hearing, strong reflex and a very loud voice! She loves to rollover, suck her fingers and scream whenever she wants somebody to play with her, hehe. The sound of her laughter really makes our day.

Good thing that I'm still able to breastfeed Lori up to now, I think that also contributed to her well-being.

I can still remember when the maternal nurse told us that if Lori would be lined up with other 10 babies same age as hers, Lori is one of the kids who belong to 90 percentile when it comes to growth & development. More than enough reason to celebrate, right?

Now, the ways: we attended the Easter Sunday mass and as our treat for Lori and as part of Mama's Melbourne trip as well, we went to Melbourne Aquarium yesterday.

T'was the second time for me and Tonton but we enjoyed it more now that we have Lori. We were happy to see her observe the school of fish, sharks, sting ray swimming inside the giant aquarium.

Also, we were able to watch Dorothy the Dinosaur's afternoon show. Lori had a good time watching other kids dancing and singing.

Then before we went home, we picked up our surprise gift for Lori -- a 9-inch mango cheese cake with greeting and cute Doraemon character on it.

Thank God for this child :)

Happy Easter to all!

Flagstaff Garden

2008-03-22T18:49:00.020+11:00

The weather today was so fine that we had "gana" to do all our errands (wet market & grocery shopping).

Also, it was a very ideal time to roam around so we headed to the park in the heart of the city-- the Flagstaff Garden. It is located along La Trobe & William Streets.

We spent an afternoon with a cool autumn breeze while enjoying rice in a box we grabbed in QV Square.

Lori enjoyed watching the birds while Mama was feeding them. It's such a good feeling to see Lori starting to appreciate animals and the nature's ambiance.

A happy family day indeed! :)

Mama in Melbourne

2008-03-16T18:27:00.013+11:00

My mother arrived last Saturday morning.

She's here to witness Lori's baptism next month.

I'm glad that Mama is here to help us in taking care of Lori before our bub starts to toddle.
And along with her luggage is Lori's new walker (which we bought in Manila).

Despite of the hot weather yesterday, we tried to accompany Mama to stroll around the city.

We attended the palm sunday mass...

strolled around Melbourne Central...

then went to Queen Victoria Market...

We hope that Mama will enjoy her stay.

Baptism Preparation

2008-03-14T09:56:00.010+11:00

As part of Lori's baptism, we have attended a sort of seminar last night at St. Augustine's church in the city.

Lori's godparents (Melbourne-based) -- Joni, Ann & Ariz were able to come and hear the lecture about baptism. Thanks guys!

The meeting was conducted by the resident priest Rev. Wahid Riad and there were several families who attended as well.

Lori's baptism is set on the 20th of April.

Manila trip

2008-03-10T17:38:00.032+11:00

Lori & I just got back in Melbourne from our one week vacation in Manila--minus Tonton, sad but true.

However, I was very thankful that we were able to travel safely and Lori was very cooperative and well-behaved during the flight (she just slept straight through!).

Anyway, during our stay we had mini reunions with my family, in-laws and close friends. I am very proud of Lori because she brought so much joy to our relatives & friends especially to her lolo's & lola's.

Pictures galore!

Lori with her lolo's & lola's...

with her cousins...

with her Tito Sonny & Tita Liza...

Olesco's residence in Marilao...

with Lola Mama and Lolo Papa in Quezon City...

with Ninong Jason...

with Maele, Ninang Liyan & Ianne...

with Ninang Joan & Jad in Jollibee SM North...

with Jad...

shopping for her first walker...

My mom was supposed to be with us in our return flight, sadly her visa came late. But she will be here in a few days :)

little jungle girl

2008-02-18T16:37:00.006+11:00

something to cheer me up --
Lori, playing on her rainforest inspired baby gym...

cute! :)

i miss home

2008-02-12T23:17:00.001+11:00

we can't go home and it frustrates me so, so, badly :(
i understand now why there are many "aktibista" in my homeland.
i think i became one of them.

Annoyed

2008-02-04T23:05:00.000+11:00

POEA's MC4 (new rule on direct-hiring of Filipinos) SUCKS!

i feel so affected by this damn memo 'cause our long overdue Manila vacation might be put off again! (sh*t talaga!).
we're having second thoughts on pursuing it because Tonton might not be able to renew his OEC (Overseas Employment Certificate) due to these very vague rules.
since Monday, we've been calling the POEA office to seek for some answers (if my husband's case is covered or not). unfortunately, the people there do not know how to answer our inquiries. aren't they supposed to be oriented first before they pick-up the phone?!!!

sorry about my rage.
i just hate that they implement it without gathering opinions from concerned people--the OFWs! up to this moment, there are still no clear explanations (at least from the POEA) as to what or who are really covered by the circular.

i am praying for a miracle that this new circular will soon be repealed or at least be revised.
*sigh*

please help abolish the MC4: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/antiOFWcircular/
thanks!

Dinner + Coffee with the girls

2008-02-03T23:15:00.000+11:00

saturday night, i went out with three of my pinoy girlfriends (Joni, Pam and Jo). had dinner at michelino's trattoria in lygon street. i was the one who organized the meeting and i'm glad that we were able to come.

afterwards, Joni invited us over for a coffee at their place. it was an evening of enjoyable tête-à-tête. Pam had the chance to finally see Lori. thankfully, Lori was in the mood for playing and mingling. we also watched Anya while she's entertaining us all with her improvised crown and plastic sword (Anya pretending to be a knight, hehe).

we did not notice that it was almost midnight when we called it a day :)

Aussie Open '08

2008-01-28T13:57:00.000+11:00

for the past two weeks, i've been religiously watching the Australian Open 2008 on tv. i swear, i will watch it live next year! to think that the rod laver arena & vodafone arena are just few minutes away from our place. nyak!

anyway, good thing that Novak Djokovic got the silver cup, he really deserved it! honestly, i was hoping for Jo Tsonga to win (for the sake of the French peeps) but then at the back of my mind, something tells me that Novak will get the victory. these two blokes gave a great & exhilarating match last night. they're so full of energy.

though i felt bad for Roger Federer that he didn't make it to the finals, but i think he's one of the best tennis players.

on the other hand, i was able to watch the women's single last saturday. Maria Sharapova & her long-legged legs (kaingget!) succeed over the Serbian gal Ana Ivanovic. i did not have a "manok" for that match, but i'm happy that Sharapova won.

see you soon, manila!

2008-01-16T13:22:00.000+11:00

i am so excited that we have finally did an online booking for our vacation to manila. our flight is on feb 29. gotta prepare our itinerary so that we will be able to make our trip worth every minute! gosh, can't wait! can't wait to be with our family, can't wait for the malling/shopping, food trip (jollibee, bananaQ, taho, etc.), the buzz, the traffic (duh!), everything!

New Gal Pal

2008-01-14T11:05:00.000+11:00

i met a fellow filipino yesterday. her name is Jo Chua. Jo left a comment on my blog few weeks ago and we decided to finally meet up yesterday afternoon. she's also an ex-ACN employee who is currently working here in melbourne.