Goodbye 2009, Hello 2010

Have a great 2010 :)

Enjoy your magic moment today, as it will not be here tomorrow.- quoted from Paolo Coehlo's blog



Cheers to a fresh start...

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Boxing Day Dinner

Get together at Joy's Surrey home :)

A day after Christmas...




* Joy was in a busy hostess mode to be included in the picture...

Had a great boxing day get together... makes Christmas less lonely with you guys as friends :)

Things that make my life easier...

The bouncer that was given to me by my thoughtful sister in law :). This has been Kenzo's special seat once he wokes up. It keeps him still and contented and let us do some other errands...

THANKS SAB! :)

...and the cradle swing which was passed on to me for the time being by a good friend, Sarah :) This is a lifesaver... I got a couple of hours alone time everyday because of this great swing :)

THANKS SARAH! :)

* Kenzo with the person who makes my life easier :)
- Special Thanks to ERIC

Our most precious gift...

Christmas month has always been special for us... in the four Christmases that we have been married two of the most precious gift have been given to us, and because of these precious gift, December has been more meaningful for us and more cause to celebrate.

Year 2007, 4th of December
Our baby girl, Kimi was born



Year 2009, 17th of December
Our baby boy, Kenzo was born

WE LOVE YOU VERY MUCH
KIMI AND KENZO
***

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL

Sear's Christmas Portrait

Kimi had her Sear's pictorial once again wearing her Birthday dress on November 30th :)

The best thing is that we got this for FREE :)

Kenzo Mouse

This is taken with a gift given to Kenzo at the hospital from K's cousin...


Credits: Paper and word art from "Mouse in the House" Kit created by britt-ish designs; Embellishments from Remember the Magic Kit created by No Reimer Reason Designs © by Amber Reimer 2009
Font: Arial
Software: Photoshop CS3 Extended

THANKS CHRIS AND ANNE :)

Chocolate Galore

One of the great things regarding doing the "ge lai" or the postpartum practice in Chinese is the amount of Chocolates you need to consume :)

With this knowledge, friends and family brought different types of chocolates for me to enjoy...


From my mommy friend, Glenda... the best chocolate balls there is that money can buy :)

THANKS GLENDA

Ghiradelli treat from my friend and kumare, Honey...

THANKS HON :)

A Variety of Chocolates from different parts of Europe... :) YUMMY!

Amicellli Sticks... A wafer type of chocolate that is oh so good...
I haven;t yet tried the others... but it all looks so good....


Praline and Truffles... I am almost done with the Truffles... It is SO GOOD... I have to restrain from eating way too much...

THANKS ERIC :)

Secret Santa revealed...

One of my oldest friendship are the FC group... It is composed of seven ladies who met in college and formed a lasting friendship despite the distance and time...

As of the present, we are scattered into 4 countries. 2 in Manila, Philippines, 2 in US of A, 2 in Dubai and of course, me, in Canada.

Despite the distance and our busy schedules, we managed to make a kris kringle for Christmas 2009...

I got my kris kringle present a few days ago via my brother :)

Thanks Kc :)

I actually opened 2 of the gifts and reserved the others for Christmas day :)

I love the Postpartum Recovery Kit and the Car seat wrap for Kenzo :)

Special Breakfast from the heart...

My brother just arrived and with him he offered his special service of making breakfast despite the possible jet lag he had experienced... I am really appreciative of the effort he put into making it easy for me to recuperate by doing chores for me and making sure that we have everything ready...

It is the good intentions that matters the most...

THANK YOU ERIC :)

Outpouring of Love...through food

One of my concerns in giving birth here without my family is that how hard the recovery would be afterwards... I am so lucky that all the things fell into place and I met great friends with kids that Kimi and Kenzo can grow up and be friends with who shares the same background and moral which I want to impart to them.

I also got to experience firsthand how friends become family in a place far away. Friends who really did take the step to make things easier for me after the delivery. Some people I have encountered do have the initiative to say the right things and offering words of help but never did take the action, but here, I really felt the effort and their words were backed up with real action... :) Thanks guys.


On my first day home, my friend Sarah surprised me with big pot of Arroz Caldo which she did on her own. I know for a fact that her weekend was jammed with parties and stuffs but she managed to make a pot for me...Aaaaw I am really touched with this gesture.... AND, it was really really good.... CLAP CLAP CLAP!!!

Karl's Aunt also did make an appearance as well and bought the folding bed we were going to borrow from her for my brother's visit. She took the time to come here and bring the bed as well as a box of chicken and sweets for us to eat... :)

Thanks to Sarah
...my domestic fairy godsister for the
Yummy Arroz Caldo

and

Thanks to Auntie Felissa
for the KFC and Mrs. Field Treats...

Experiencing labor...

I have uploaded the contraction timer application through my iTouch in the hopes of distinguishing pre-term labor and the real one...

but when the time really tell, I wasn't still sure. Panic arises as I deliberated over the option that I might go to the hospital and then sent home to endure the pain until I am in the right stage.


I am glad though that everything went smoothly from the time that the contraction started coming every few minutes to the dropping off of our Kimi to a friend who had been sooo helpful, Sarah and Steve. Thanks to Sam Sam's valuable contribution to keeping Kimi occupied while mommy had her baby.

The time we arrived at the hospital was also just as good, I was in pain but still able to move a little even if there was a wait for admission. I was wheeled into the birthing suite and I had the luck to have a very kind nurse who babied and cheered me on even if I was really bad at pushing and kept on asking her to give me the pain medication even before I changed into the birthing gown. Yes, I was that paranoid! I was reciting my birth plan from my first pregnancy and asking for all the pain medication which can be put into my body even before the nurse had the chance to check me physically he he!!!

I also had the urge to push right when my doctor arrived and popped my balloon. Good thing because I was also scared of having them use a popper to pop them. Dr. Ross was also right on time. She came just when I just dilated fully and alas the birthing began....

Kenzo Maverick Chua
* * *
Date of Birth: December 17th, 2009
Time of Birth: 12:08
Length: 20"
Head Circumference: 13 1/4"
Weight: 7.1 lbs

Everything was clear to me from the pushing to seeing little Kenzo's head coming out of me. The stitching then even the pushing of the placenta afterward. Everything! They wouldn't give me anything for the pain except the laughing gas which was of NO help. I really wanted to throw that laughing gas everytime the contration started but had to hold on to it to keep my hand occupied. Every part of me was thinking that these people are trying to kill me by expecting me to push a baby out without any pain killer... They even go as far as to comment that I was not that good in pushing was because I had twilight for my first pregnancy. I am grateful though for the nurse who was so cheerleadery during my whole birthing and even helped push the bay out of my tummy. Dr Ross was also very positive which also helped. I can't complain much because the labor was short and not as painful as I am expecting. (Take note: Not as painful but it isn't painless... I had a swollen privy part after all the trauma from pushing and sitting is really an effort...)


Overall, I am so happy that it still isn't as traumatic and I have a Kenzo to show for all of it :)

The new man in my life :)

He finally decided to make his appearance :)




Presenting Kenzo Maverick Chua

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Welcome to our life Kenzo :)

The perfect Christmas gift for my hubby....

his Baby Boy :), Kenzo...

* * *
Credits: Paper from Family Ties Kit created by Digi-Deisgns by Nicole,
Word Art from Christmas Word Art Kit by Jule, Embellishments from
BGS Snow Christmas created by Badgirlz Creations, Gift Tag,
Christmas Button Embellishment from Holly Jolly Brag Book/ Merry
Christmas Little One Kit created by Just so Scrappy..
Font: Rockwell Extra Bold
Software: Photoshop CS3 Extended.
* * *

...he came out on December 17th, 2009 :) We are now a family of 4

Life is so good :)

Winter ready

Please mum offered 50% for their outerwear and had to grab these items for the snow that's supposed to be coming soon...

Kimi also have new boots that matches this outfit :)





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Kimi's Christmas wish list

Kimi has got herself fascinated with playing cook...

She keeps on asking mommy abd daddy for a kitcgen. Uh oh. We missed the last sale anf she kept on reminding us of the kitchen that didb't push through...





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Nursing Mommy freebies...

Finally! I got my Uddercovers Nursing cover and the only thing I paid for was the shipping fee... I am so excited to go back to breastfeeding even if just to try out this product :)

Procudct description:

Our Carson Udder Cover is marked with our signature Udder Covers™ logo. It is red, brown and white and has a stylish contemporary print that is unforgettable.

Made of 100% breathable cotton Stainless steel d-rings allow a fully adjustable neckline

Machine washable

Rigid neckline bows giving you direct eye contact with baby yet our sizing keeps you completely covered while breastfeeding

$32.00

It was a bargain to have just paid for the S&H at USD $ 8+.

Try getting yours! it might still work
**Use Udder Covers Coupon Code: onefree

I was actually panicking because it took more than 3 weeks for the item to arrive and I though that Baby K would have finally come out before this appears in our mailbox...whew!

Thanks to JOY NG
for sharing this freebie with me :)

Pasalubong from Manila

My co-worker Elizabeth, went for a 2 week vacation to Manila.... (inggit!) to attend a special event. The renewal of vow and 50th wedding anniversary of his parents...

I got a little from the trip... :)

some durian candy from Lola Abon which is the most popular in Davao... It was really yummy and it didn't even reached home because I kept on eating it throughout my time in the office :( Sorry guys no picture but it was really yummy...

I also got some cute jams... a different flavor that is so Filipino... Guava :) from Pan de Manila. I started spreading this for our breakfast toast and it is a hit with Kimi ;)

Thanks Sonny and Bing

Beneath the Christmas Tree...

This Christmas, I have more gifts to buy. A testament to having more friends to share the event with :)

I am glad that I met the mommies wherein I can be myself and share my worries :) they keep me sane and makes me feel less alone in this far country...

I got caught up in doing the wrappings this year... I bought 5 wrapping papers and some old ribbons...Voila!

Batch 1 of my list complete :)

Bahay Kubo...

Kalen attended a Filipino themed birthday and shared her loot bags with Kimi for a pose in this pictures...

Kimi and Kalen
aka
"the magsasaka? (farmer) or the mamimili? (marketer)"

Upclose...

Off to the market

Getting into the Christmas Spirit...

With more time on our hands while waiting for shoti...

We decided to decorate our little home with some Christmas details... (It is still a work in progress... budgeting the decoration still he he!)

Small twigs, balls and heart shaped decor


Poinsettia with twigs to accentuate a side table


A cage with a decorative wreath for a base...
(planning to buy some string leafy items to surround the cage...)

Christmas Ornament 2009 :)

I started collecting Christmas Ornaments to symbolize the event of our life so that when we decorate our tree, I will be able to tell a story regarding each ornament.

The first one I bought was from a Seattle trip I had with my sister in law, Sabrina :)

For this year, I ordered a Christmas Ornament with a name of of our latest addition... KENZO :)


Can't wait to meet you baby boy...

Birthday Train ride

Kimi had her 2nd birthday party 2 weeks early this year...

and for her special day, she had the whole day spent with mommy and daddy.

First, we went to Dragon Palace, New Westminster for a delicious dimsum lunch. Kimi sampled all the Chinese Dimsum from Pork siomai, fried dumplings to siopao and down it with a cold soya drink... She enjoyed her meal immensely, uttering "more "as she finished each mouthful of food...

We decided to let her have her second train ride for her birthday at the Metrotown Mall. She was excited when whe saw the train passed by her and said "Choo choo train", uhmmm good idea...

We took a picture with the driver of the train and Kimi behaved herself as she settled into the blue coach, she excitedly shouts when she saw papa waving at her from the benches...

DADDY KARL and KIMI

KIMI POSES

THE TRAIN DRIVER, KIMI and MOMMY

I hope you enjoyed your birthday little angel.
Time flies so fast, I can;t believe you are now officially "2"

LOVE YOU BABY

Mommy's Little Nurse

Kimi is very caring at such a very young age... She knows that mommy always ask her to eat her animals (gummi bear vitamins...) and she returns the favor and reminds me to take my "amamals" as she fondly calls it... she even knows which container is mommy's, daddy's and her's :)



... Life is much more wonderful with such a sweet baby

I love you sweet imi...

Definitely a December baby...

The start of December....

I guess baby 2 will be born on the same month as his sibling, Kimi...



Wonder what you would look like... Can't wait to meet you :)

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I Heart Michael Cinco

What a talent!

A Filipino we can definitely be proud of...







If I could just wear one of his creation, I'd feel like a princess...

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