This is (again) a late post but better late than never.

Luigi turned 5 month last February 08.

For this month, I decided to buy pansit na puti and puto with cheese from LSS plus a mango cake from the bakery in Shopwise.

We had a mini-celebration at home with my uncle and aunt. We all sang "Happy Birthday" and blew the candle for the little boy.

For the very first time, we brought our little boy with us to the mall.

At almost 5 months, we decided it's time for him to "see the world". Actually, this already seems long over due. Given that Luigi was born a few weeks before the typhoon Ondoy occured and right before our car was severely damaged by it, we never really had the chance to go around the mall with him coz we didn't have a properly-working car. Before this day, he has only been out of the house for his routine check-up at the pedia's clinic and to go to Sunday mass with us (but that's only a few steps away from our home). But now, thanks to Lolo who temporarily lent us his other car, Dad said that little boy could already tag along now as we run some errands at the nearby mall. :-)

Anyway, here are some pics to remember "the" day.

I noticed that he likes looking around and staring at people. What could really be on his mind kaya?

I'm sure we will be enjoying more fun times together at the mall when you're a little bigger honey.

Before I resume looking for nice rear spoilers for our red car that are available online and before this gets forgotten in my N73 photos folder, let me just share with you this priceless moment which we captured last December 31, 2009 (well, better late than never!).

This one's all about Luigi's very first time to roll over! *u* I'm so glad I was there to witness it.

Actually, it came unexpectedly. Luigi was just try to lie on his side that time.

Out of our excitement, after he successfully rolled-over, we hurriedly made his sit on his tush and let him and his Ate Zoe pose for a picture! (Notice how Zoe is all smiles for this wonderful feat!)

Every time February 1 falls, I can't help but feel emotional.

Luigi turned 4 months last January 8 and we celebrated it with a cake from Red Ribbon.

As always, it was Zoe who blew the candle for her baby brother (almost burned her lips doing so. Ouch!!!)

We are one happy family!!!

Zoe, do you want to be a teacher (like your Lolo, Lola and tita) when you grow up?

How was your holiday celebration everybody?

Ours was celebrated quite simply. It was all about family and simple joys this year. There were no pompous food preparations nor any bit of firecracker for New Year. We just had one big family reunion on both sides of the family where we prepared yummy traditional dishes that didn’t really cost that much. What was important that everyone in the family had good health and were prepared spiritually for Jesus’ birth and the new year.

Part of that spirit of Christmas is learning to give without expecting anything in return. It’s so easy to say but very hard to practice. I think my own parents, through the years, had tried very hard to teach us this lesson. This year is no exception on trying to live this virtue that they had struggled to instill in us: charity.

Our (more of my) charity this Christmas mainly revolved on F. He returned home for Christmas and it was a homecoming that was like that of a prodigal son. We had been away for some months now. He had lots of sad stories about his life in the province: experiencing hunger, no money, no means, and a difficult school life. Indeed, he lived in a sad state there. He also talked about his father and brother needing proper Addiction Treatment. I think they are somewhat hooked on marijuana and needs Drug Treatment. Oh if only we could both send them to a drug rehab so that F can stay in the province without any bad influence from his family. Minus that problem, he can better manage his finance and schooling there and learn to be truly independent. Anyway, he's already back in the province. I only pray and hope that he will survive there.

You turned 3 months last December 8th. T'was the feast of the Immaculate Conception and we thought that it was marvelous timing to celebrate life ~ your life!

You have been steadily gaining weight this month and have grown quite rapidly, in my opinion. You are a very talkative baby, do you know that? Your constant cooing, giggling and ooohh's often fill the room with much joy. Sometimes, you seem to act like your sister when she was your age but also sometimes not. I believe that you have a character of your own and we are more than excited to know your very own temperament.

We celebrated your 3rd month with spaghetti, eggpie and ginataang mais (your Grandma made it just for you!).

With your Grandma staying with us for the past weeks, you have grown to enjoy being carried and rocked by her. You love it when she holds you in the rocking chair and how cute you tenderly fall asleep in her arms. I'm sure you feel the love and care that she has for you!

Meantime, your sister also shows how much she loves you by always wanting to kiss you in the forehead. She likes to act like Mommy by repeating what Mommy usually whispers to you, "Luigi, baby boy, sweetheart....". She likes to say that over and over again!

And how lucky you are for your Dad is truly very hands-on in taking care of you. He takes over looking after you and your sister whenever he can (he's a great Dad and yes, he wakes up at night to hand you to me for your feeding).

I feel truly blessed for having all of you, my 3 darlings, to come into my life. And for that, I'll be forever thankful to God.

I have been wanting to do this tag for the longest time. I think it's a very nice tag.

FOR TODAY (December 08, 2009)...

Outside My Window...the sky is slightly overcast. Christmas is just around the corner.

I am thinking...of my Christmas list and how I’ve managed to not to do it. Harhar. I'm also thinking of my Lola Maring. It's her death anniversary today. It broke my heart when she passed away.

I am thankful for...for my two children. They mean the world to me!

From the kitchen...we are preparing for Luigi’s 3rd month anniversary! There’s spaghetti, ginataang mais, egg pie (with a #3 number candle for blowing later!).

I am wearing...a white blouse, gray skirt, gray Pashmina and silver shoes!

I am creating...a letter for my boss.

I am going...to go to this emptied room a bit later and try to pump some milk for the baby.

I am reading.../was reading somebody’s blog and wish I could write like that too.…if only I can get my act together.

I am hoping...to receive my very first pay by Friday (after more than 3 months of no pay). Yipee!

I am hearing...”Forevermore” by Side A on the radio.

Around the house...I have a bunch of things to clean up and organize. I guess I'll have to take that up when I get home tonight.

One of my favorite things...is feeding my baby boy.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: do some grocery shopping, go to confession, attend Zoe's Christmas party at Kindermusik, get-together with friends (karaoke maybe).

Here is picture thought I am sharing...*Zoe and Luigi last weekend*.

“Married life: an occasion for God’s presence on earth”

There are many good reasons to honor Saint Joseph, and to learn from his life. He was a man of strong faith. He earned a living for his family - Jesus and Mary - with his own hard work. He guarded the purity of the Blessed Virgin, who was his Spouse. And he respected - he loved! - God's freedom, when God made his choice: not only his choice of Our Lady the Virgin as his Mother, but also his choice of Saint Joseph as the Husband of Holy Mary. (The Forge, 552)

Being a victim of the recent flood, I just can't help but be worrisome whenever a new typhoon is said to approach the country's area of responsibility again. People say that if it happened before, then it can happen again.

I really don't understand how all this came to be. I think what we need is for everybody to really make the effort to take care of the environment. In particular, we all have to practice proper waste management in our households. Plus, the government has to employ the best means to collect the community's garbage and to recycle it. They can use a good Waste Management Software to implement a good waste management plan. When this is done, then we can be assured that waste will become less a threat to our environment.

Luigi turned 1 month last October 8. We just cooked pancit, sopas and fried chicken for dinner. Simple but yummy! To top everything, my sister who flew in from Iloilo that day was thoughtful enough to bring us a white chololate cherry cake from JD.