Saturday, January 16, 2010
After!
Thursday, January 07, 2010
aren’s 1st christmas
December 24 was Kuya Christian’s birthday. They came to our house and we celebrated it with lots of food. Tatay and Tito Egay were with us, even if Tita Ricci was not. In the afternoon, we had games, prizes, and exchange gifts for our annual Christmas family get together.
That night, we went to UP for noche buena. Aren still had to get used to lots of people, so he kept on crying. Besides, it was also his bedtime already. He eventually fell asleep in Ate Mikka’s room. We went home at around 1am.
December 25 morning, we spread his floor mats in front of the Christmas tree. Aren opened all his presents, of course with some help from tatay and Lola. He received lots of nice clothes and some toys and food.
"I wonder what this is..."
In the afternoon, we went back to UP. We had more games with his cousins there. We went to church at 6pm, and Aren had his first jeep ride! We brought his stroller in the Ikot jeep, but he did not have to use it in the UP chapel during the mass.
Beside Christmas tree in UP Chapel
In front of Oblation and Admin Building
December 27 was Ate Ria’s party at University Hotel in UP. First, we had Sunday mass at Lourdes, and took pictures at the belen. We picked up Ate Mikka and Tita Tess at UP. It was a nice ballerina party, and we got to see many of our relatives.
In front of University Hotel with Ate Mikka
December 29 was Aren's 1st Eastwood trip. We met Ninang Christy, and balikbayans (and newlyweds) Ninang Nancy and Tito Sindre, for lunch. After that, we strolled around, checked out the new mall, and had dessert at Dulcinea. Aren sat on a high chair for a second time this day. He was so tired that he fell asleep in his stroller late that afternoon!
December 31, we went to bed at 9pm, when the firecrackers were not yet that loud. Mommy covered Aren’s ears everytime there would be loud and continuous explosions. However, when it was 11:30pm, the noises became too loud that Aren woke up! It was also nice because it was like he wanted to be awake like the rest of us to welcome the new year. We went down in spite of the smoke. We tried to bring him out to see some of the fountains and fireworks, but he became so afraid. But he was brave enough not to cry; he was just holding on to mommy. At 12 midnight, mommy, tatay and Aren jumped!
"The firecrackers are too loud lola!"
We had a few things to eat afterwards. The noises had died down at 1am, and we went back to sleep.
Brave baby did not cry, he was just overwhelmed
January 1, we woke up at 8am. We had to get up to go to church to start the new year right. Aren’s cousins were also coming for lunch. We did not have games, but Tita Gigi brought their magic sing. Unfortunately, we had to leave at 4pm for UP because tatay’s balikbayan relatives sponsored the food for a get together there.
Happy New Year, Ate Ria!
Aren was not very fussy when we got there, maybe because it was held outside at the garage, where it was easy for us to push his stroller around, or for him to practice walking on the street. He was very friendly with his cousins, playing high five, shake hands, and peekaboo with them. But at around 7pm, he started crying, probably from exhaustion and sleepiness.
Aren played with Ate Icia and Kuya Mig
With other cousins from tatay's side
When the guests had left, we went inside Tita Meang’s house. Aren enjoyed it there because he got to practice his walking some more. He would take a few steps towards Kuya Mig, Lola Pining, or tatay, then back to mommy. We were also able to discuss some details about his invitation. As soon as we rode the taxi home, Aren was asleep in literally 10 counts! He was so tired!
January 3, Feast of the Epiphany, we had mass again at Lourdes. He was so active during the 1st part of the mass, only to fall asleep towards the end. It marked the last day of the advent season.
As of today, it is still a busy time for us, because we are starting the countdown to Aren’s first birthday. Preparations are underway, but it will not be a big and overly expensive event. It will simply be a celebration and thanksgiving of Aren’s life and his milestones. At 11 months and 4 weeks, his brain is very receptive to new things. His motor and language skills are developing probably twice by the day. It has become easy for us to teach him actions and new vocabulary. He is also growing physically at an astounding rate! Two new upper teeth (he has bitten mommy, tatay, and lola already!) , weight gain, and I can’t wait for his haircut on the day of his 1st birthday on January 15 courtesy of Tito Peter! All the walking and playing is getting him all sweaty especially at the nape! Tatay acknowledged that he is indeed no longer a “baby,” because his bodily “excretions” all smell like that of a big boy already! :)
