AUNTIE'S BIRTHDAY

So many birthdays to celebrate recently! This time it was my Auntie Amanda's birthday. She's my Mamu's little sister and my godmother as well. She is also my favorite aunt. She is my only aunt. We celebrated her birthday with lunch in a Greek restaurant called Cyma, over at Eastwood Mall. My Lolo Ferdie, Lola Irene, and cousins (well, actually, they're my aunt and uncle) Bianca and Rapha came too. We all went shopping after lunch - my Opa, Mamu and I all got sneakers in this store called Superga. My Mamu is determined to have my shoe collection catch up with hers', I think! Never mind that I wear them for only a few months! Silly Mamu!

December 19, 2009

I took a long nap while everyone was having lunch!

Here we are wandering around Eastwood Mall after lunch!

My Ninang ("godmother") Pam Merencilla got me the tee and shorts for my birthday last month when she and my Tito Nyeng came to my party!!! My Opa and Oma got me those sneakers (my first Nikes, haha).

That's Opa's Superga, Mamu's, and mine!

I think my feet are almost as big as my Mamu's already!

Tee - Gingersnaps; Khakit cargo shorts - Gingersnaps; Sneakers - Nike

MY 1ST BIRTHDAY PARTY!

Almost a month after my real birthday (I turned ONE!) - I finally got to have my first ever birthday party. My parents booked Shakey's and got the pizza parlor to take care of everything! The party was held right after lunch, and we played games, ate pizza and ice cream, and met the pizza mascot! A lot of my relatives came, as well as my Ninongs ("godfathers"), Ninangs ("godmothers"), and my parents' friends and their children. I have to admit I was kind of grumpy during my party - I was feeling a bit sleepy! But I did get into it halfway, and more than anything, enjoyed my own balloons, hahaha.

December 12, 2009

I had a name tag too!

My parents made me wear a buttondown shirt and long pants - which I hardly ever do, considering how hot it is here in Manila!

Here I am, still looking kind of sleepy.

Not too sleepy to receive my gifts though!

THANK YOU!

MY GODMOTHER'S BABY SHOWER

It was my Ninang ("godmother) Bles Cuaycong's baby shower today! Together with my parents and yaya ("nanny") Nida, we met up with my Tita Marge and Tito Jvic, Tita Neva and Tita Dan - and my godbrother David! We had lunch in a restaurant called the Stock Market in Bonifacio High Street. It has been a loooong time since I last saw David - last time was during my baptism! We had a fine time catching up.

November 28, 2009

David and I "ran" into each other in High Street, with our yayas in tow! Heehee!

I'm not really grabbing David's shirt, see? I just need to hold on to someone because I'm not quite steady on my feet yet!

I can do short bursts of speed though!

(My Opa and Oma got me my shorts and shoes, while my Ninang Bles got me those socks!)

David has a wardrobe change. I would have to get in touch with his Mommy for the details!!!

My Ninang Bles is expecting a little girl.

Look at all the pink stuff everyone got her! Ewww!!!

After the baby shower, I "drove" away in my new car! Teehee!

This is the big present I got from my parents for my 1st birthday.

My dad has a remote control he uses to steer the car, while I sit there all pretty.

I sometimes think my daddy enjoys this toy as much as I do!!!

(My Tita Ina Alazas got me that tee! I had to change before we left since I got all sweaty running around with David!).

White tee with car print - Gingersnaps; Cargo shorts - Moose Gear from SM; Sneakers - Florsheim Kids; Baby blue socks - Baby Gap

White tee with animal print - Carter's

MY FIRST BIRTHDAY: A LITTLE SHORT STORY

I turned ONE today!!! It's not every day someone gets to celebrate his or her First. Birthday. Ever. Teehee!!! My Papu and Mamu took the day off from work to be with me on my very, very special day. And what a day we had! Instead of having my big party today, we decided we wanted to spend my first birthday with just the 3 of us - and my yaya ("nanny") of course. This is how we celebrated my special day:

November 18, 2010

I woke up and I was 1!

Tank top - a gift from my Lola Des and Lolo Ben Insigne!

We went to a commercial complex called Nuvali. It's out-of-town, in Santa Rosa, Laguna.

They have a man-made lake there, and a boardwalk with restaurants and cafes. My parents wanted to get me outdoors!

I explored the boardwalk first before lunch and tried to decide what I wanted to do.

On my list for today: take a boat ride around the like and feed the kois!

(I was too small to go on a bike ride. Maybe next year! Teehee!)

Here I am exploring the boardwalk! I like to walk around and see everything before settling down somewhere. My Mamu calls me Curious George.

We decided to have lunch at Italiannis. It was a beautiful day out. Sunny, but not too hot.

Here I am trying to decide what to get for lunch.

The folks in Italiannis brought out birthday panna cotta for me and sang happy birthday!

My Ninang ("godmother") Bles Cuaycong got me that tee!

Boat ride comes first! My first boat ride ever! On my first birthday! Woot woot!

My other Ninang Anna Devanadera got me those shorts!

I LOVED THE BOAT RIDE!!!!

There were sprays of water shooting out of the lake.

It completely made me giggle the whole time!

Time to feed the fish! They tried to show me how to throw the fish pellets into the lake, but I couldn't do it.

I don't know how to pinch my fingers just yet, you see, so I couldn't grab the teeny tiny pellets.

And also, the fish kind of made me nervous. They seemed so hungry!

But I have always loved fish. I make a beeline for ponds and aquariums every time I see one!

Soooo.... after Nuvali, we drove back to Manila and went straight to Manila Ocean Park.

More fish! Yay!

I kept running towards the huge tanks. I was gawking at everything.

I got to touch a huge starfish too. It was all bumpy!!!

I couldn't get enough of all the fish I saw in the ocean park!

We went to visit a jellyfish exhibit too!

When we headed home for dinner, I found my grandparents, Auntie Amanda, and Uncle Jino at our house for a mini-celebration!

I also got to "blow" out the candle for a little cake my parents got me!

And that's how I celebrated my first birthday!

Thank you to everyone who greeted me and spent the day with me!!!

Tee - Gingersnaps; Shorts - Calvin Klein; Sandals - Florsheim Kids

ANNUAL PICTURES

Every year my Papu's side of the family has an annual picture-taking day. This year, we had it at my cousin Josh's house. This is the first time I got to be part of the picture! Yipee! Last year when they had the annual picture, I was still inside my Mamu's belly!

November 15, 2009

My Lolo Roland and Lola Mitch Lorilla got me those shorts!

This is one of my favorite tees - my Papu picked it out all on his own for me!

(You can see my family picture over here).

It was also my Uncle Choi Kapunan's birthday celebration.

I had a bit of his birthday cake. Teehee.

Tee - Gingersnaps; Shorts - Gingersnaps; Sandals - Florsheim Kids

HIGH STREET

Ooh, my Mamu made my Papu and I wait for three (THREE!) hours while she had her haircut in The Fort. So my Papu and I, together with my Ninong ("godfather") Vince Escobar, and my yaya ("nanny") Nida went to check out a car show nearby. I wanted to clamber on the SUVs there! Then we went to Bonifacio High Street, this outdoor shopping complex in The Fort. I had a blast running around the lawn there, with my yaya chasing after me. I'm still learning how to walk on my own - I'm a bit wobbly still, but I'm getting there!

November 7, 2010

Here I am playing among the art structures in High Street.

(My Opa and Oma got me my shorts and sneakers!)

I can't walk properly yet, but I do so love climbing!

(That's my yaya holding on tight. My Mamu blogged more about our day here).

I can do this, I can do this.

Hear me roar!

Time for a donut break!

Tee - Gingersnaps; Shorts - Moose Gear from SM; Sneakers - Florsheim Kids

MY FIRST HALLOWEEN

I went as Count Dracula for Halloween! My First Halloween EVER! It was an impromptu costume - my Mamu and Papu dashed into a bookstore (yes, a bookstore) called Pandayan, found the costume, and snatched it up. It was too big for me! I had a big orange collar printed with bats, a white ruff, and a black satin cape. Then we headed over to my cousin Josh's house for the Patajo Halloween party. I missed trick-or-treat though. But I did have a blast running around entertaining my relatives and playing with all the Halloween decors at Josh's house. My folks even got me a little pumpkin bucket for my candy - not that they let me have any. I'm too little for candy, they said! Phooey!

October 31, 2010

Ready to conquer Halloween!

(My Opa and Oma got me my shorts and sneakers!)

I have to wonder why I am hugging this pillar! Heehee!

Little Count playing the piano! (Sort of!)

Tee - Gingersnaps; Cargo shorts - Moose Kids from SM; Leather sneakers - Florsheim Kids; Halloween costume - Pandayan Bookstore

STRANDED!

It started out as a pretty normal day. I was out of the house with my Papu, Mamu and yaya ("nanny") Nida at 7:00 am on a Saturday. There was a slight drizzle but no dark clouds so we weren't really worried about the weather. We picked up my Ninong Zito, then my Tita Kar, and we all headed to the Manila Polo Club where my folks played squash as usual. Then BOOM! The rain fell! Typhoon Ondoy (international name: Ketsana) unleashed 1-month's worth of rain in the Philippines - in just 6 hours! Oh boy. The flooding was horrible. We tried to stay in my Tita Kar's house but the water came streaming in. We had to evacuate. My Papu had to carry me because the water at that part of Forbes Park, the village where my Tita Kar lives, came to right below my Papu's waist. My parents and I stayed stranded in Market! Market!, this mall in The Fort, in Taguig City because the roads were jammed with both traffic and flood water! Mamu, Papu and yaya Nida had to buy new clothes and everything because they were soaking wet (I was the only one kept dry!). We couldn't go home because the village where we lived, and the highway leading to our village, was completely flooded and unpassable by cars. (My grandparents, Opa and Oma, had to evacuate!). It was really bad. We had to stay at my Lolo ("grandfather") Ferdie's condo-hotel over at Discovery for three days. We were only able to go home on Monday morning, when the water receded enough for us to head home. It was a bad bad bad experience - but at least we are all safe and sound! My country has been placed under a state of calamity. People say it's like Hurricane Katrina. This is the worst rainfall recorded in Philippine history, and in a lot of areas, the flood water was over six feet tall. A lot of people did not get as lucky as we did - our homes at least stayed intact and no one in my family died or got hurt. I am really praying for the rest my kababayans ("countrymen").

September 26, 2009

Here I am at the Polo Club, engrossed with my Papu's squash racket.

At this point, we were all still completely clueless about the horrible effects of Typhoon Ondoy.

Tee - Gingersnaps; Shorts - Baby Armstrong; Sandals - Florsheim Kids

My Opa and Oma got me those shorts. I didn't know at this point that I'd only be seeing them Monday!

(That's my yaya Nida holding me!)

My hair has grown soooo long this month.

They've taken to tying it back or, worse, even clipping it back! Grrrr!

Here I am in Discovery now, with my Lolo Ferdie, Lola Irene, Ate ("big sister") Bianca, and Kuya ("big brother") Rapha.

We couldn't go home to our own place (unless we swim back! Plus, there was no electricity there).

Here I am, getting all fussy, with my Mamu. I get cranky when I try to fight how sleepy I actually am!

I've changed for bed - my yaya gave me a shower.

We didn't have extra clothes when we left. I'm wearing shorts my Mamu got me from Market! Market! (We also loaded up on formula there and water for me, because we had no idea where we'll be stranded, or for how long).

My Kuya Rapha lent me his shirts all weekend!

They kept calling me Casper, because Kuya Rapha's tees were all too big for me! I looked like the friendly ghost.

I'm too little to be of much help but I send out a hug to all the Filipino flood victims out there!

BAR OPERATIONS ENERGIZER

What a busy busy day I had! First, my parents and I left bright and early to go to the PAL (that's the Philippine Airlines for you!) ticketing office over at this mall called Ali Mall - first thing in the morning, I might add! My parents are flying to Naga in October - without me. Boo! We had lunch at Hap Chan there. I looooved the Yang Chow fried rice - more than the congee. I've been finding plain old congee, well, plain. Give me some flavor, people!!! After lunch we rushed off to the Manila Polo Club to play squash again with my Ninong ("godfather") Monzit and Tita Karla. Then we all took a nap at home before we rushed off once again - to Malate this time. It's Bar month - September! All the law students are taking the national Bar Examinations this September - every Sunday of September. So we went that night to visit my Mamu's sorority sisters - the examinees are called "barristers" and they were all billetted at Pearl Garden, this hotel in Adriatico Street in Malate. Sororities, fraternities, and law schools all have bar operations to help their barristers. I helped too! Even though I fell asleep while we were there, I did manage to visit all the barristers!

September 19, 2009

Here I am at the PAL ticketing office, waiting for our number to be called!

My Oma and Opa got me that tee, and my Ninang ("godmother") Anna Devanadera got me those shorts!

My new favorite game this month - dipping!!!

Tee - Moose Kids from SM; Shorts - Calvin Klein; Sandals - Florsheim Kids


We picked up my Tita Kar on our way to squash.

Here I am with my Ninong Monzit, getting acquianted with Chowking, Tita Kar's Chow Chow!

Trying to grab Tita Karla's squash racket!

My Mamu's sorority sis, Tita Monica Villanueva, got me that tee!

Tee - Gingersnaps

I was asleep when we got to the hotel for Regina Iustitiae's BarOps!

Here I am surrounded by my Mamu's sorority sisters!

My other Ninang Pam Buen-Merencilla got me that adorable onesie!

(It's got a picture of a "legal pad" in front, in honor of the occasion! Teehee!)

My Opa and Oma got me those nifty blue and white shoes!

I had to change outfits several times today because I got so sweaty running around! (Or at least trying to!).

I'm being carried by one of the barristers, my Tita Ria Alazas, here!

Onesie - Pipsqueaks by David and Goliath; Shoes - Florsheim Kids

OH SHOOT ME!

Oh my oh my. I have a L-O-T of pictures to share today because - I JUST CAME FROM MY FIRST EVER PHOTOSHOOT! Teehee! It's nothing major (not like I'll be starring in my own movie soon - or commercial - no worries, I will keep you all duly informed, should that happen, hehe), but I did get to go to an actual studio. It was all my Tita Karla's doing - she's studying to become a photographer and I am her favorite subject!!! Wheeeeee!!! The shoot was fun - there were big lights and huge cameras everywhere. I sat right in front of everyone, in front of this big white wall, while the camera man (Tito Nico) and my parents, my Ninong ("godfather") Zito, Tita Karla, and yaya ("nanny") Nida were all infront of me, cooing and calling out to me and basically trying to make me laugh and smile! They all looked completely ridiculous - which made me laugh tremendously, hahaha. They also shot a little four-month-old baby called Jaden. He blinked a lot when the cameras went off (I am an old pro at that, thank goodness). Jaden and I made our acquiantances - he's pretty big for a kid, and didn't do a whole lot except for smile nicely at everyone from his chair. I, on the other hand, was tearing away from one end of the studio to another. I canNOT imagine myself being that tiny - or being that quiet! TEEHEE!

September 13, 2009

My Ninang ("godmother") Bles Cuaycong got me that tee, while my Opa and Oma got me those denim shorts!

That's a dragonfly, my Mamu pointed out to reassure me, and NOT a butterfly.

We actually started our day visiting my cousins Bianca and Rapha Insigne over at Discovery Suites in Ortigas Center in the city of Pasig.

My Papu, Mamu, Oma and Auntie Amanda joined my Lolo ("grandfather") Ferdie and Lola ("grandmother") Irene for a breakfast buffet. My Lolo Ferdie is my Oma's first cousin - they are extremely close, like brother and sister, so I get to see the Insignes a LOT!

Here I am strolling across the condotel (condominium hotel they explained to me!) lobby, supported by my Papu.

It was raining that day again, so I am wearing the windbreaker my Oma and Opa got me.

The bib I am wearing is a gift from my other grandmother, Luli.

My parents drove my Oma for a quick stop at Megamall, the huge shopping center two blocks from Discovery, so I stayed with the Insignes for a bit, with my yaya Nida.

Here I am having my own "breakfast buffet" on my cousin Ate ("big sister") Bianca's bed.

My Lolo Ferdie let me try his sunglasses and Lola Irene sent this picture via MMS to my parents while they were in Megamall.

Pretty bad-ass don't you think?

After visiting the Insignes, we went to the photo studio with my Ninong Zito and Tita Karla.

It's over at this road called Kamuning in Quezon City.

A big whig local photographer named Xander Angeles uses that studio, Tita Karla tells us. I have yet to meet him and let him take my picture, teehee!

Here I am sitting on my Ninong Zito's lap, waiting for my "shoot" to begin.

There sure is a lot of waiting around involved when you're a model!!!

We get started at last! I borrowed Jaden's toy for the first part of the shoot.

Silly parents (such newbies!!!) forgot to bring me a toy to keep me distracted while the photographer snapped away!

I smile for all am worth!!!

I got restless after about five minutes, so they let me take a break.

I trotted all around the studio!

When we resumed, I had an outfit change AND changed my hair style!

Ta-dah! How do like my mohawk??!!

(My Tita Karla used hair cream, hehe).

It was Jaden's turn after my shoot.

Then when Jaden took a break, I wandered over to get a good look at him.

He kept staring right back at me! Hihi!

We hung around a bit while Jaden had his shoot.

I practiced walking - sometimes I can walk while being supported with one hand instead of two!

My parents are going to get me those walking harnesses or "wings" to help me along.

I've been practicing walking around so much they worry I might tear a ligament or something from my shoulder, since I still need support!

My Papu snuck a quick shot of the photographer's laptop screen - with my pictures!

They'll send the prints to us soon, but here's a sneak preview for now!

Beige tee with dragonfly - Gingersnaps; Denim shorts - Baby Armstrong; Sandals - Florsheim Kids

Yellow windbreaker - Big & Small Company; Bib - from Landmark

Blue "Li'l Punk" romper - In The Crib