Mother's Day 2013

Hi Quin!

This was a really fun Mother's Day. Thank you to you, Ate Sam and Dad for making it fun and special :) I love your glass candle holder and also the 1000 kisses you showered me with all day!!!! :)

I love being your mom, it's the best job in the world! :) Thank you for making me laugh, smile and feel loved. I love you so much and am so proud to be your mom!

Mwah!! 😘

Love, mom

Happy 5th Bday, Joaquin!!!

Dearest Joaquin,

You just turned 5 years old and in a few days will be having your party with all your good friends from school.

You've grown so much in the last year. You've become more independent and confident and I'm just so very proud of you. I knew you would do well in school but you have surprised me just how well-adjusted you'd be. Our morning drop offs are a far cry from those first couple of weeks in September; now, you walk excitedly to school and stride confidently in class usually without giving me a second glance. I have to admit it's bitter sweet to see you so independent because I just want to hold on to you as my baby boy but it also warms my heart to see you thriving and happy at school with all your friends and classmates and teachers. (By the way, you really don't like it when I refer to you as my "baby boy". Lol!!! You don't like it more when I tease you "little man"! Haha you said "big boy" is good for now.)

Outside school, you've been enjoying playing with your Badgers Tball team. And every time, you go out on the field with the same quiet confidence you have believing that you are going to make a home run :) So much so that we have to remind you to be aware how far you've hit your ball or to look at your coaches to see if you should continue running to 3rd base! ;)

At home, you and Ate Sam are playing better and getting along more :) Still a lot of little arguments but it's mostly a lot of teasing and little contests about who gets to do what first (or second if you don't want to be "first is the worst!..." Hehehe) . You're also playing on your own really well: you're great at jigsaw puzzles and some days, you would just get a couple of sets sometimes even 3 and keep yourself busy for a couple of hours putting them together! Pretty cool actually :) Your reading has also been amazing!!!! You started reading really well months even before you turned 5! Your favorite long book was Dr. Seuss One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish :)

I am just so proud of you, Quin. You make me so happy. You still have those chubby little cheeks that I love to kiss and squeeze. It seems so soon to start letting go but I know the journey has begun once you set off for school. I will make sure to enjoy every moment we have and every story and joke and playtime that we can for as long as I can have it :) And I will cherish this time that you are still on our bed and ask for me to stay with you so you can lie on my arm at night :) I know you are growing up fast but you will still always be my big baby boy.

I love you so much, Quin!!!! Happy 5th birthday!!!

:) mom

Dr. Seuss

Wow, Quin! You're not even 5 yet and you can already read an entire Dr. Seuss book all by yourself!!! So awesome! I am so proud of you! Your favorites right now are: One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish and The Ear Book You've also been able to read other books like Biscuit books and some of your Ninjago stuff. I'm just so amazed. You continually surprise me!!

Badgers T ball

We had first Tball practice last Sunday. And like many other things that I've discovered surprise me about you, Tball was apparently no different.

You took to the practice field right away without caring if you had friends out there or not. When it was your turn to bat, you swung and did your follow through without hesitation. People in the stands with me and dad said you had a great swing! ;) So proud of and excited for you and the upcoming season!!!

"I just want Sam"

There have been times when I wonder out loud if I should have another baby now that you and Ate Sam are in school and growing up fast. I would usually think aloud and ask you guys what you thought. It's so funny but you've been consistent in your response that you don't want another sibling, even if it was going to be a baby brother. You said that you just want the 4 of us and that you just want Sam :) So sweet!

I Love You One Million Times

Hi Quin, Just wanted to post this note so that you remember that at one point in your young life (around 4 years old to be exact), you were not shy to shout to the world that you love me "One Million Times"!!! I love you too one million times to infinity! :)mom

First 100 Days of School

Congratulations, Quin!!! You've just completed your first 100 days of school :) Dad and I are so proud of you. Just a few months ago getting you to school was a real struggle... we'd have to wake you up early just to warm you up to the idea of school... play an episode of ninjago and sometimes even promises you little favors just to get you out the door. And once we got to school, you wouldn't let me go until you showered me with at least 10 kisses for "baon" on my cheeks, forehead and palms! Hahaha Now, after 100 days of school, you've adjusted so well and are enjoying school so much. It's actually really surprised me :) You usually wake up earlier than Ate Sam and get yourself dressed and ready for school. So independent! And by this time, your also already able to write your name "JOAQUIN" so well! When to think just a few months ago, it was a drag just to get you to trace your name! Haha Another thing that surprised me is how well you can read at this age! You're not even 5 yet but you can read more than just the basic sight words!!! So cool! You can easily read the first level books and I'm really excited at your progress and how far you'll go :) Having Ate Sam around was really helpful because she's challenging you to do all these things every time you guys play school or day care in her room :) So proud of you, Quin! I am sure you will continue to do work and perform well in school. At the parent-teacher conference last November, Mrs. Rynn said that you were a great student and that all your classmates really like you. I'm not surprised! :) Keep up the great work! :)mom

My Little Sweet Boy

Dearest Joaquin,

You are the sweetest little boy ever. I wanted to write this letter to you so that I can keep this memory forever! :)

You are very generous with "I love you"s. You tell me, Dad and Ate Sam even without any prompting. Just last Sunday, we were hanging out at Verdugo park on our camp chairs. You kept on following Sam around and placing your seat beside her every time she moved. And each time, after you'd settle down on your chair, you would turn to Sam and say, "I love you, Sam." :) So sweet! I wish you and her will always be friends and will always stay close and to always remember that you guys have each other.

Early this morning, you woke up at around 5am asking for milk. I said I was going to get you milk in a sippy and you started to cry because you wanted milk in a bottle. It broke my heart not to give in but you've been so good without a bottle for over three weeks now so I held my ground. You were upset at me and when I went back to bed with your sippy, you turned away from me and said "I'm not going to look at you, Mom." Broke my heart, baby! I asked if you were mad at me but you didn't answer. I offered you my arm to sleep on like you always do but you moved further away. I asked you not to be mad and told you that I love you. In your upset voice, you answered back "I love you." That was enough for me :) A few minutes later, you inched your way back and turned towards me, pushing your head onto my arm. Ahhhh, bliss. These are my simple joys, baby :)

This morning, I left the house for work at 10am but you were still asleep. You must have been very tired from our little episode early that morning. I was just staring at you, lying on your stomach with your mouth half open and cheek pressed against the pillow. I was thinking how big you've grown. I wanted to keep that picture of you embedded in my mind forever.

You're my sweet little boy, J. And I love you so much! Don't grow up too fast now!

love,
:)mom

No more Bottles

It's been over a week since you stopped drinking from a bottle! Woohoo!!!

It all started over Labor Day weekend. I forgot to buy your milk on Friday night but thought maybe we can get away with not giving you a milk bottle and start weaning you from it. I still offered you some juice in a bottle but you didn't really go for it.

What surprised me was that the same night, you asked Dad not to put diapers on you anymore!!! This was a big deal! I wasn't ready for this and thought we would not have to go through the weaning-form-the-bottle-and-diapers-at-night process until after your 4th birthday since that's the time Sam stopped with nighttime bottles and diapers! :) Way to go, bro!!! So proud of you!!! :)

MIssing Daddy

It was the first time we were apart from Dad for this long (2 weeks!)! We had a great time in the Philippines for Tita Pam's and Ninong X's wedding. You and Sam had a great time playing with Popsie and Momsie and Ninong BOndy and Tita Aus but when night time fell, you always asked to go back to Burbank already because you missed your Dad :(

Sammy dealt with the separation better maybe because she had so many distractions and playmates: Tita Pam, Ninang Aus, and Tita Asia. As for you, you just wanted to be with me all the time even if you were having fun with the family.

Anyway, the best part about coming back to Dad in LA was the reunion at the airport. As soon as you saw him, your eyes welled up with tears and without any prompting, you hugged him and said, "Dad, I'm so happy you're here with me now."

You are just the sweetest little person I know! :)

Yosemite 2010

October 22-24, 2010






My first ever camping trip! And it was the first ever family camping trip too and to the great Yosemite no less! :)

Ninong Bondy and Tita Aus were here on their sembreak so we decided to do a roadtrip together. Tita Pau and Tita Lyk completed the group.

We stayed at a tent cabin but it was nice because there were heaters and hot water and breakfast buffet!

I enjoyed running around and exploring. Playing with twigs and rocks and seeing the waterfalls. Plus all those huge trees that were bigger than anything I know! Too bad I didn't see any black bears. I saw deer though, so that was nice :)

Mom and Dad said we will be back when I'm bigger so we can go on bike rides and go hiking.

Let's Go Lakers, Let's Go!

Mom and Dad took me to my first ever Laker game! And a playoff game at that ;) Game 1, Round 2 of the Utah-Lakers series. I had a great time. The noise level when we first arrived was a bit surprising, and overwhelming, but I quickly got used to it and enjoyed seeing my favorite players in person!

Easter 2010

Ninang Joy and Ate Alex came to visit us for the Easter weekend. We made fun Easter cookies and wrote down our letter to the Easter bunny :)


Here we are on Easter morning checcking out our loot from the Easter bunny!

Joaquin Turns 2!

Dearest Joaquin,

Happy birthday, baby boy!!! We celebrated your second birthday on your actual birthdate. This year it fell on a Sunday. It was a poolside bbq. We had great weather and lots of fun with close family and cousins.

You were so into Disney Cars so I made sure this was the theme of your birthday :)

Mama's Little Boy?

Hay Joaquin. It is with bittersweet emotions that I am writing this blog post.

You see, ever since you were a baby, you've always been mama's little boy. At night, you would only fall asleep with me (or sometimes lola when dad and I are out) and not with dad. It has been that way for almost 2 years until a few days ago :(

One night last week, we were doing our usual routine before bed but once we laid down, you started to cry and wanted to go out to Ate Sam and Dad. Dad finally went in the room and got on the bed to console you. I thought that was enough, as it usually was, but you decided to transfer and fell asleep in papa's arms.

Bittersweet. I have to admit I felt a little surge of sadness. That I didn't have that sole privilege of being able to put you to sleep. I knew the day would come, but I wasn't ready :)

You and Dada have gotten very close the past few weeks and couple of months. I think it must have started when we took that first family trip to the Philippines last December. It was jsut the 4 of us travelling so there were more chances to interact and bond. Your closeness with Dada just snowballed from there when we got back to L.A. First, as he introduced Lighting McQueen and the gang to you, then got you interested in the game of basketball and golf! He bought you the toys and DVD to match your Disney Cars fondness and also got you your first Nerf basketball and ring to play with while he watched the Lakers. You even have a "Kobe" bear from Build-A-Bear (who I initially named Peace bear clearly for lack of creativity on my part!) that Dada insisted we get you.

Tonight, it happened again. Although you finally slept in my arms, it was not before you called for papa to come and sleep beside you. Not before you snuggled in his arms first. You've made Dada feel very special and happy, Joaquin. And he's been gloating big time!

Haaaay. Mama's little boy is growing up.

On Our Way to Bayawan - Balanan Lake

Jan. 4, 2010 - Our next stop was Balanan Lake. It was a beautiful lake on top of a hill. So peaceful and quiet. The lake itself was like glass, just very still and beautiful.

On Our Way to Bayawan - Thalatta Resort

JAN. 3-5, 2010 - We went to Dumaguete (Bayawan), Lolo Bill's hometown, for a few days after the holidays to meet relatives on Dad's side, most especially Mama Rose who is Dad's 94 year old lola, and my ggreat grandmother!

Our first stop was at Thalatta Resort. It was a very nice and private little resort. A great way to relax and unwind after the very busy Christmas and New Year's celebrations in Davao and Manila. This was our time to just hang out and bond with Lolo Bill :)

Meeting Santa Claus!

I wasn't sure what was happening but Ate Sam seemed to be really excited. At the end of the line, I knew why... it was Santa Claus!!!! :)

Happy Thanksgiving in Cantara

This year, Mommy decided to have a quiet Thanksgiving celebration withh just close family and friends at Unc and Mama's house. It was just us, with Unc, Mama, Lola B, Tita Bing, Ninong Ags and Tito Arnie. Sit down dinner with Mom serving cornish hen marbella and some rib eye steaks. Yummy! I'm sure I'll enjoy this more when I'm older :)

Tita Alma and Uncle Shane's Wedding (11/15)

Mom says I looked very dashing at the wedding. I have to admit, I got quite a few stares ;) Between me and my Dad below, who do you think is more good looking?!