A Baking Weekend

One thing that I look forward to when I have my own kitchen is to be able to bake goodies with my girls and for my girls. (Okay, the husby can also have some, hehehe)... One weekend, with all the eggs the we gave to my folks, I decided to bake. Yssa suggested that I make cupcakes (with her tried and tested super yummy and sinfully rich recipe) and I'd have Elissa help by putting on the sprinkles...

Cupcakes while cooling


It's actually nice to have Elissa do this as aside from it being an activity that would help enhance her fine motor skills and improve concentration ...


its definitely a bonding moment for us


I hope that we do this more often... With Katrisse, perhaps?

Eli.... want to taste?


Finished cupcakes with Elissa's sprinkes


Papasa na bang Nigella Lawson? Hehehe...

She's Really a Size 11! (Or maybe a passable 10)

Ok, I'll admit. I'm addicted to Multiply. I like posting pictures, blogging and surfing around my contacts' sites to see if they have anything new. One thing that I discovered are Multiply sellers that post their items and as you order, you can pay via bank deposit then the items will be delivered to you. I just find this so convenient and with the higher gas prices, I don't have to spend much to go "malling".

Sometimes though, in as much as I know the size of my girls, there are times that you cannot get them right. Once a bought Katrisse a pair of leather shoes and some dresses, intending for her birthday, but when they were delivered, the shoes were just right, almost making her toes curl inside. It was a good thing that the distributor was also multiply seller (in my contact list!) and I was able to arrange for an exchange to a bigger size (actually, their biggest size!)

Katrisse in her exchanged shoes

Although most of them do not do meet-ups to check the actual sizes and items, there is one seller whose warehouse is in Alabang. Perfect for me as it's just a short drive away and I really like the things that they're selling - affordable clothes for the girls (branded items), some toys and other kid-related stuff. I'm glad that they allowed me to go to the warehouse as I am able to actually see and even fit the item/s, if needed.

My first (and I hope not the last) time there, I brought my two girls some shirts and a skirt for Elissa and a dress for Katrisse. While fitting, I saw this pair of sandals that were really super cute! I wanted them for Elissa. She already needs a new pair of sandals as the ones that fit her are already 1) overused and 2) almost tight.

Elissa in a size 8 shirt


And size 10 sneakers

I asked for the biggest size, a size 11 that normally fit 4 or 5 year olds. As sometimes expected, but I was initially hopeful, it was tight :( Elissa's feet are "matambok" (can't think of a better English term... feet entrance are too high?) so not all shoe styles fit her. Sometimes, one cannot believe that a two-and-a-half year old would have feet that big (or her size for that matter) but I guess, with her genes and a healthy appetite, I am not surprised. I'm just glad that she's a super active kid and that whatever she has been eating, gets burned up somehow.

Elissa's new outfit, bought from the multiply sellers - George size 7 shirt; size 8 red cheerleader skirt; size 11 Gap shoes (a little big because its wide but fits anyway)

The problem with with this "convenience shopping" is that I just might end up buying so much, so soon! Of course, my justification is that the girls are growing up so fast and they need something to wear! :) And I'm not breaking the bank --- yet! ;)

Elissa, my English-speaking toddler

Elissa goes to school three times a week at Toddlers Unlimited and one thing that I look forward to is her teachers' weekly anecdotal report. Sometimes the teacher mentions about Elissa liking the train toy and how she would be "extra playful" (aka magulo?) and would get to settle down during singing time.

Recently, the teachers mentioned that her words were clearer now and that she'd name the animal first before playing with it, such as "cow", "pig", etc. I wasn't so surprised with that as I knew she was very familiar with the usual animals and their sounds. In fact, she knows most forms and shapes of animals that when she saw a lechon earlier at Tita Ahlee's party she had to shout, "Look Mom! Pig!" Oo nga naman... Hehehe...

Elissa, admittedly is very conversant in English. I think I have myself to blame as I talk to her in English, even her yayas speak to her in English! Not to mention her TV watching and books are all in English. Her common expressions are "oh man!" similar to Swiper of the famous Dora cartoons and "wake up Daaaaaaddy!!!" Which can be very very cute :)

Funny moment, one of Adrian's cousin's mom-in-law was talking to Elissa in straight Filipino. Elissa replied, "sorry". Gosh. Was she sorry for not being able to understand or not being able to speak in Filipino? Or she just had nothing to say so "sorry"? Haaay... Need to teach her the language now! Besides, this should be the best time to learn a new language :)

Playing with the Girls

How fast time flies! Elissa is almost two and a half and Katrisse is turning 1 next month... These videos are so precious! It's a good thing that with the digital age, it's so easy to capture special moments such as these...

Katrisse walking and Ate Elissa making pa-cute



Kiss Mommy, with beautiful eyes



Dancing Queens

Going to the Market

I prefer to surf the net than to watch TV. I suppose it's my multi-tasking habit. If I watch TV, then I would have to switch channels or endure the commercials. With the internet, I can choose to ignore the ads, read and reply to email, chat, read websites and the news, upload photos, get entertained by the videos and if I can even watch TV if I want to.

One of the websites i frequent is Market Manila. His blog layout is pleasing to the eyes, his writing style is easy to read and his topics - from food, markets, kitchen gadgets, flowers, recipes (some of which I have yet to try), holidays, experiences and rants on customer service and local politics - are all interesting. What's nice is that he regularly updates so there is something new all the time.

Recently, he had a Christmas fund drive to provide free lunch to public school children. I was more than willing to donate as I believe that children need to be fed the right food, to develop their brains. Kids in our public schools are most often malnourished or undernourished so this was a worthwhile cause. Imagine if each child just eats better, he'll do better in school, hopefully get encouraged to learn, maybe finish school and finally, be more productive to society. So I purchased some shirts and two totes, the plan for the latter to be my staple Alabang Saturday market bag.

Let's go to the market, Mom!

I have been going to the Alabang Saturday Market for a few weeks now. I used to accompany my Dad to the Sidcor, now Lung Center Sunday Market to buy fish, vegetables, breakfast food for the week. It was our little bonding every week, not to mention pre-breakfast as I'd be eating barbecue (Ineng's!) while walking.

When I got married and moved to Alabang, I missed going to the market and I'm glad that there is a "mini-Sidcor" here. Now, it's my bonding time with Elissa, with the usual barbecue and puto to keep our tummies full, lest we start buying more than what we need.

Elissa's Marketmanila Suki bag

The Alabang market is not as extensive as the one at the Lung Center as it does not have my favorite tapa and fresh fish. But it's good enough for the usual veggies, breakfast and cooked foods. And at least they have breads (I get this really good foccacia from Monster Bread) and kesong puti (from Mrs. Oppen with very good bibingka)! I wasn't able to take pictures as I just wanted to take a photo of Elissa with the bag... Maybe next week...

Now if only I can wake up earlier to catch the Salcedo Market....

Elissa and the Breastpump

This is proof that kids initially learn by imitating others. Us grown-ups really need to watch what we say or do... See Elissa and her attempt at breast pumping!!!

Oooohh... Mommy's shields

Need to put up my shirt

Now where does Mommy put it?

Need to put both of 'em on

There's the pump! Lets put our shirt down...

Where's the switch?

A Party Filled Weekend

Elissa had a full social calendar this weekend, celebrating three (actually, four) birthdays. The celebrants ranged from ages three to seventy-nine!

October 5, Friday, was Lola-lola Mila's 79th birthday. Ninang Faith organized a party for family and friends at Matahimik. There was a merienda cena of Mongolian food, halo-halo, bibingka and puto bungbong that stretched to dinner. A pianist provided the music and Lola's Wednesday Group friends came to try a Mary Kay facial and make-up trial. The pianist stayed until the evening and some of us got encouraged to sing and dance along.

Groovy Lola-lola singing (note Elissa in a Mary Kay headband),
Lola Pearl and Mommy Karla singing along

See Katrisse in her party outfit

Elissa was shy at first as she didn't want to sing nor say Happy Birthday. When most of the guests have left, her Auntie Bea gave her the microphone again and she didn't want to let go!

Elissa with her Ninang Yssa having a Mary Kay "facial"

October 6, Saturday, was Mommy Mel's birthday. We heard mass at St. James as we offered the 5:30PM mass for Mommy's birthday thanksgiving. We had a scrumptious dinner at Old Swiss Inn and ice cream at home for dessert.

The birthday Wawa with Elissa (holding hands pa sila!)

The afternoon of October 7, Sunday, was spent at Outback restaurant to celebrate the birthdays of Adrian's friend, Ritchel and his daughter, Nicole. Ritchel was turning 30 (or 31?) and Nicole was celebrating her 3rd birthday.

Elissa did not join the games but enjoyed playing with the balloons and eating the chicken wings, with her fingers - "Ammy!" (translated as "Yummy" in Elissa's language) Too bad my camera's battery ran out and I wasn't able to take a picture of Elissa nibbling on the chicken bone. Oh, I could have taken a picture with my celphone but I was too busy nibbling on the chicken bone myself - hehehe...

Elissa with the birthday girl, Nicole, and her balloon

Elissa clowning around with her balloon (taken with the cameraphone)

It was a tiring weekend but well spent with family and friends :)

Potty Training

Elissa is now 1 year and 8 months and I have yet to properly toilet train her. She used to like the potty chair but I think with the change in yayas when she turned one and since I was always tired (most likely lazy) when I was pregnant with Katrisse, I wasn't really patient enough to put her in the seat. I even bought a seat that you put on top of the water closet, hopefully to change her image of toilet training because she really didn't "move" anymore in the original potty chair.

After several mornings of putting her in the bathroom, she was willing to be brought to the toilet yesterday. She said "poopoo" and we brought her there. After several minutes, SUCCESS!!! :) As a bonus, it happened again this morning! :) I just hope that I'm not just lucky and that she's really prepared for the potty already.