Saying hello to the world of Terrible TWO!

Dear Wan,

Right at this very moment while I write this its approximately about 30 more minutes before your second birthday. I just watch you beside me snuggling close to me like you always do during bedtime. Fast asleep and faraway dreaming. I am just so amazed on how time flies. Its seems like it was only yesterday that you were so tiny and fragile as I held you in my arms. Now I am just surprised on how big you have grown and the new things that you show me everyday. Whenever that smile on your face lits up, it never fails to amaze me.

I remember the first time you said BACKPACK and I almost cried over the fact that you just uttered your first word other than MAMA and PAPA. Then the list just went on... SHOES, FISH, CAR, TAXI, MILK, COKE, DOG, TRUCK, WOW, SEXY, JESUS and TOAST. You love calling everyone at home... PAT, BOK, SA, TITA. I love listening to blabbing endlessly like you're speaking Chinese. Blabbing and blabbing until I hear you say funny words. One day at a time baby and we will get there. =)

Next, you slowly had your favorites and you already know how to choose between two things. I slowly noticed your "new thing"... your love for cars. You love piling them up one after the other and how you would literally stare at them each one as you play. I remember how you would carefully look out the car window and stare at the different trucks, buses, jeeps, and cars that would pass by. The look of awe in your face is priceless. Another instance is your love for Showtime. Seeing you dance and sing is unforgettable and I am happy that I didn't miss any of that.

We have been through alot of tough times, baby. Our 2010 wasn't so good to us. We had five consecutive hospital admissions and I am just thankful for a fact that you are a fighter. For this year, I pray that we don't get to undergo another admission anymore.

Everyday is another new day for us both and everyday I learn new things from you. Mommy is hoping for a right start for us. And I am bracing myself for the new surprises that you have for me this year as you say hello to the world of the terrible TWO. =)

Happy birthday, my little Wantonball!

I love you,

Mum =)

My Little Dragon!

This is Wan's first ever experience on Trick or Treat at SM City Iloilo.

I was actually excited and all giddy with the idea.

We brought his costume 3 months before Halloween after searching almost 20 different sites. We were comparing brands for the right costume from one site to another.

Until finally, here's what landed on our hands

- a DRAGON.

It was supposedly a DINOSAUR but then the prices

were a bit too high and the sizes were out of stock.

So it was the Dragon costume instead.

I was just surprised on how people were amused by his costume.

It surely was a head turner!

After all, Dragons looked like a hybrid type of Dinosaur.

The resemblance isn't that far!

Happy Halloween!

Tuesday round up.

I am now up on my feet. After 2 weeks of looking for a job, I finally landed on one. Well I don't really call it a job. Its a sort of a challenge. I think it's about time that I do something productive for myself. Something that can help my badly injured ego.

My boss J is a supermom just like me. And I quite frankly admire MULTI-TASKING MOTHERS. The past 2 weeks was some kind of a big deal to me because I want to be busy. I want to be around. I want to be at my feet. Besides running an online store, I want to be out and about. I find it therapeutic on my part. It keeps me away from the negativity that slowly eats me up when I am by myself. So this new challenge is a therapy. And I like it.

Today, Wan was at his best. He was a real show off. Wiggling and doing his "Fruit-Salad" shake. It was so marvelous that I got teary eyed watching him. These are the moments I wouldn't wanna miss. These are the memories I can never trade in for.


I read a random FTP (Fit to Post) Blog on Yahoo! Philippines this evening: Beauty is in the eye of the baby by Toni Tiu. And I was deeply touched and can totally relate to it. I specifically quote this line that I loved most...

"The feeling of insecurity lasted the whole afternoon. It disappeared however as soon as I got home. My nine-month-old son was playing with his toys when he saw me come into the room. His eyes lit up so beautifully. He dropped his toys, gave me a huge, toothless grin, and began to crawl towards me. There I was with my messy hair, crooked glasses and rumpled shirt, and I felt like the most beautiful person on earth. As my son smothered me with his baby kisses, my heart lifted. I’m beautiful to this little boy, I thought. That’s all that matters. When your son looks at you with those eager eyes, it feels like you can conquer anything. Every insecurity is squished. Every strand of messy hair makes sense. I try to remember my son’s welcoming look when I’m feeling insecure about myself. Balancing beauty and being a new mom is a toughie. I’ll figure this out along the way."

I feel this exact same way every time Wan sees me as I come home. He'd look up and stretches his baby arms the biggest to give me the best baby hug he'd give. I'd smell him through and through. Its his scent that urges me to fly back home after a long day. There are times that whenever I am glued too much on the computer, he comes up to me whining and wants to be carried. Like telling me:"Mum you have to stop cos I miss you!".



The wet sloppy kisses are the best part above the rest. He'd cup my face with his tiny hands and kiss me a thousand baby times. PWAAAH! PWAAH! PWAAH! And like Toni Tiu, it is true that all your insecurities are squished into million little pieces when your son looks at you. I saw that and its the most wonderful feeling I have ever felt in my lifetime. And I am in love with him everyday.

US versus OUR FIRST TOUGH CHALLENGE.

It was back in mid June of last year that I have stumbled upon our first toughest challenge. It was Wan's first challenge in the outside world and for me, my second challenge as a mother. Tonight, somehow I celebrate a partial victory for overcoming our FIRST TOUGH CHALLENGE.

As many of you recall, my previous entry back in September 2009, I wrote the toughest challenge so far....we did it! out of my overwhelming joy for winning the first leg of our toughest challenge. So tonight I do the same.

Sometime last December 2009, we had Wan's hemangioma undergo Ultrasound. With the help of friends in Tawam Hospital, it was made possible. According to one of the doctors (I forgot his name) who made the Ultrasound, Wan's hemangioma is not your typical hemangioma at all. It was diagnosed as a ARTERIOVENOUS MALFORMATION or AVM. In layman's term, an AVM is is an abnormal collection of blood vessels.

A typical hemangioma usually disappears as the child grows up, the blood vessels die down and becomes INACTIVE. Thus, it shrinks overtime. But an AVM is far more different. In Wan's ultrasound it was found out that there are active blood vessels underneath his hemangioma. The only lighter side of this discovery is that its SUPERFICIAL and it's not attached to any major organs especially his heart, since its located on his left chest. There is an active blood circulation underneath his hemangioma, the reason why its protruding and its very very RED. And in his case, as he gets older, it should be dying down but it isn't. Upon hearing this, all that I can think of is... the challenge is not over. But wait... there is more... If his AVM does not shrink and stays active, it will compromise the blood circulation to his heart thus might lead to a possible Congestive Heart Failure sometime by the age of 5 to 7. The only possible way to avoid this is by surgery before the age of 5.

You could just imagine how teary eyed I got... and how I suddenly found it hard to breathe and couldn't speak like there's a lump in my throat. Just imagine your son in surgery at the age of 2. And all I could think of is the fact that they'll cut my little boy's little body open. Me and my parents agreed on the surgery, if things don't improve. But still we HOPE and we PRAY... above all else, for no possible surgeries. That his hemangioma will shrink on its own, the blood vessels would die down as he grows.

Wan last February 2010

Somehow tonight, I have recalled the first leg of our first tough challenge, on this random day of June. Somehow I have remembered how bad it was and how agonizing it felt to see your child in pain. And how you wish that it was you taking all that pain instead of him...

Wan last March 2010

Wan's hemangioma is slowly getting lighter. Its still a bit protruding but in a way, its not as RED as it was back last year.

Wan last May 2010

Tonight I celebrate our victory on the second leg of first tough challenge... We still need more PRAYERS. We don't miss a day PRAYING for this big favor from God and Papa Jesus. I gave birth to a FIGHTER. He's been a FIGHTER and he's been the STRONGEST little boy since the day he was born.

Thank you to all those who love Wan and those people whom he never fails to amuse.

Keep the prayers coming. =)

Wan and his fondness for books.

6Wan is growing up soo fast. Almost about 2-3 months ago I read IndigoBaby's Monica Eleazar's blog about the benefits of getting your child to read at an early age. I was so inspired and motivated that I brought a new book for my son the very next week. I found this book first after rummaging through the messy and uncategorized shelves of the National Bookstore.

I read it to him that very night I bought the book and I was surprised on how well he actually listened. I continued to read it to him everyday not just before bedtime but also before he'd take naps in the afternoon. According to this article in the The Little Ones Reading Resource, reading 20 minutes a day helps your child's language to develop easily.

I was just surprised that one day after a week of reading to him his first book as a toddler, each time before we'd take a nap he'd point to where his book is. I think he memorized the story already cos he now knows what's going to happen as the page turns. I was so amazed at his fondness for reading that I brought him two more books...

This book came with the ERIC CARLE Mini Library, for now this is one of his favorites. This is his SLEEPY TIME book. And because of this book, he uttered his first word clearly, "Papa." =)

He also enjoys this book alot. :) Especially how the very hungry caterpillar created hole through everything he eats.

....and this one came from Mama :) It helps him recognize different animals. Now what do you see?

Reading is now one of his home works. His day shouldn't end without reading a book or two. And really its a major help. :)

Happy Mother's Day.

I am more than flesh & bone.
I am more than just a person.

I have made life & in return been given a reason to live.
I am a stronger better woman.

I am a Mother.

Happy Mother's Day!

Me bad bad bad.

I am luckily on my 4rth day of Taebo and a mile of walkathon at the Iloilo River/Efrain Trenas Boulevard. Last night or rather yesterday, I cheated on my way home after Taebo session. Yes, the poster was very enticing. I was tempted very much. VERY VERY MUCH. I gave in and I am ashamed of the fact that I cheated. Guilty Pleasure it is.