Reaching for the stars

Jasmine's hair been growing alot, and it only goes in one direction. UP. Unlike her brother, who practically lost it all by her age today. :)

She is also appearing more fair these days. She might end up being pasty like me. :D

Photosession

We had a photoshoot day recently this month since our friends Vince & Irene started their photography business. We had alot of fun, and hopefully Nicholas would smile more often for the camera as he used to when he was a baby!

Another year, another baby...

Yes, I'm getting up there.

But this time it's more special because there's an extra >squeeze< in the family. :) I'm grateful that we now have a little boy and a little girl. Life wouldn't be the same without Jasmine or Nicholas. They are alot of work but they are worth every pain.

I also love the cake decoration Mike did for me. Thank you Mike, Nicholas, and Jasmine for making the day unforgettable!

Jasmine's Baptism

Yesterday we baptized Jasmine into the Catholic religion. I remember we also baptized Nicholas around the same time 3 years ago at the same church. Luckily, Jasmine mellowed out in the beginning and slept through the entire baptism! She did wake up a little bit when Father Anthony wet her head with the holy water, but as soon as we dried her up with the towel, she went right back to sleep. Father Anthony even acknowledged that "Jasmine likes to take it easy!" Of all the babies that were baptized yesterday (5 babies and they were all girls!), Jasmine was the only one who kept her eyes closed the whole time!
Congratulations Jasmine!

Jasmine's Smiling & Laughing

For the longest time I am always too slow with the camera, but yesterday Jasmine was in a good mood and was smiling for quite a while. So I finally captured some nice shots of her smiling! These days she loves to smile when she wakes up in the morning.

Jasmine turned 1 month!

Last Friday Jasmine turned 1 month old. (That means that's 1 month gone off my 1yr long time off! *grumble grumble*) It is already 1 month ago that she was born. I guess I will document her birth, just so she can read it in the future.

I woke up around 3am the morning of Tuesday Oct 14, 2008, to do the usual night peeing routine. I peed lots in the middle of the night with this second pregnancy! (Too much info? Well here comes more...!) I noted some pink spotting and I was actually very excited! This means the baby is finally coming! I woke Mike up and he said to call the hospital. Of course, the hospital told me to stay home until either my water breaks or if contractions were 5 min, or less, apart.

I waited till about 3 pm the afternoon of the same day. By then my contractions were 3 to 2 min apart, and I was starting to see stars everytime I had it. Finally I got to the hospital around 3.30pm. They admitted me (thank God!!) and I quickly called for the Epidural Man, who didn't show up till about 5pm!

After getting the epidural, life was good again. Time was passing by till about 7.30pm when the nurse who cared for me that afternoon came in to say goodbye since it was time for their shift to change. She stepped out of the room, when suddenly I felt something funny came out of me. I told Mike to go check it out, but he was still playing with his Nintendo DS (how rude!). Finally he checked and said I was "leaking". Yikes! I told him to go get the nurse fast before she goes home! He ran out and got her. She came back in. She said it's only a little bit. She was to tell the next nurse to look after the leak. But right at that time, I felt something bigger pushed its way through the tunnel. It took the nurse by surprise when my water broke entirely and the baby's head was practically crowning. She didn't expect it since the plan was for them to break the water at 8.30pm. Jasmine was an hour ahead of the game. Apparently Mike said my nurse was totally surprised that she forgot to speak in english after that. Next thing I knew, a dozen of women came in. Some were helping me to push, the others were waiting for the package to come out. Twenty minutes worth of big pushes later, Jasmine made her entrance into the world.

Totally different than my experience with Nicholas, who took about 2hrs worth of pushing & a shopvac before he finally showed up!




And now, she's already a month old.

We did the same small cake baking and picture taking celebration as we did for Nicholas when he turned 1 month. Nothing big, but it's also a good excuse to make and eat more butter cake. ;) This time we also did a repeat of Dada's b'day celebration which we didn't really complete last February. He didn't get his "gift" yet, but now his gift has arrived. Yes, last February he only got a notice as his gift, to tell him that another munchkin was on the way. :)

Brother's Love

It's nice to see them like this while they're still both small and innocent. Till this day Nicholas always looks for Jasmine and asks to give her a kiss and a gentle rub on her head. Hope they will always get along and love each other like today.

Jasmine Update

She's still eating and sleeping lots. She's also starting to smile, but I'm always too slow with the camera. She is getting some baby acne right now. :( Hope it goes away by her baptism day next month.

Chobama update

Well, it's been more than a week now since Chobama gave all of us hope. And so far so good. He kept telling us whenever he had to go use the bathroom.

But yesterday, Chobama was feeling a little too down from all the pressure he is facing and is expected to handle.

Chobama: "I want to wear diaper again, please."
Dada: "Why? You can't wear them because you're a big boy."
Chobama: "I'm a big boy? Only little boys wear diapers?"
Dada: "Yes, only babies wear diapers."

Later on Chobama came back, looking all stressed & very concerned.
Chobama: "I want to wear diaper again."
Dada: "Why? Do you need to poo? You smell poopie. Can I check your butt please?"
Dada checks
Dada: "Do you need to go poo?"
Chobama nods.
Dada: "Ok, let's go to the potty."
Chobama: "no, I want diaper."
Mama: "If you poo in the potty, I'll give you a Diego sticker."
Chobama: "I want Thomas sticker."
Mama: "Ok, you can have Thomas sticker, if you poo in the potty."

So off they went and Chobama pooed in the potty. He then claimed his Thomas sticker and all is well again. Now let's hope that Obama does not get weak when stressed out with all the problems he inherited. :)

Small Size

Do you remember ever being this small that a face towel can cover your entire body and serve as a blanket???

Chobama

Just when the U.S reached a turning point by electing the first African-American President, we had our own achievement in the house. Yes, Chocho has finally had an awakening and has come to peace - with the potty.

Previously he was afraid of pooing in the potty. Everytime we knew he was about to poo, Mike would quickly take him to the potty and encourage him to do it there. But he would always cry and decide to keep it "inside" until the diaper comes back on.

But earlier this week when his teacher told us to just try making him wear real underwear (the regular kind we all wear!), things began to change. We actually tried it before and it didn't work. So we haven't tried it again since. But when Obama won the election, Chocho also made history.

While wearing his undie, he actually said "Dada, I want to pee", and off they went to the potty and did it. Later that same night he says "Dada, I need to poo", Mike and I stared at eachother, while our jaws dropped down to the floor. Mike quickly escorted his highness to his royal potty, and then he pooped.

Wow! Now that's something to talk about! I think his potty training was just as long as the US election!! Now hopefully both Obama & Chobama will sustain their victory and continue to make all of us proud!

Jasmine updates

Jasmine has been a very good baby so far. She sleeps all the time! I'm not used to having her sleep this much. When she was born, I was ready for another Chocho-loud baby. I remember he never slept the first night he was born. But Jasmine was the total opposite. Which was a good thing, because Mike was not welcome to stay over night at this hospital. So I got enough sleep. I remember changing her first diaper at the hospital, she didn't even make a sound while I was doing it. She slept through it all.

Today Jasmine still sleeps alot, but is starting to open up her eyes more. She still feeds every couple of hours and wastes alot of diapers. She is starting to be aware of her surrounding and likes to stare into your eyes while you're holding her.

Chocho & Jasmine

So we know that Jasmine is tiny, and Chocho is big, but we never really compared them side-by-side until now. And the result? See for yourself.



Jasmine: "I don't want to be compared to anymore!!!!"
Chocho: "A-ha! I win!!"

Halloween 2008 - Chochosaurus

Not only was this our 4th Halloween as parents but starting this year, Jasmine has joined us with our halloween extravaganza. This time Nicholas dressed up as a dinosaur, Chochosaurus. And Jasmine dressed up as herself, sleeping beauty.

Chocho wanted to be a lion initially, and we found a lion costume at Walmart, but unfortunately it was too small for him. Mike & I went to several Walmarts and we could not find a lion costume in his size. So Mike decided to buy him the Dino costume instead and luckily he agreed to wear it. He's got a matching green pumpkin basket which he chose himself at Walmart as well (yes we are loyal Walmart shoppers).

We went back to the same neighbourhood we went to last year, and just like last year, there were alot of action going on. Lots of kids, and lots of homes that got all decked out for the occasion. One house is always super decorated, we talked to the owner about it and apparently he spends a good 6-7hrs just to put up all the decorations on his lawn!

When we got home, Chochosaur continued the night by giving out some candies to the kids who came to our house. It was a fun night, and luckily the weather was not too cold.

Jasmine 3 days old

Here's....Jasmine! (and Chocho)

We've been prepping up Nicholas for the new baby, and he seemed to always respond well about the fact that he is going to be a big brother. But when Jasmine finally arrived, his actions are very surreal. He is beyond happy to be a big brother. He told everyone in school that Jasmine is his new baby sister and that he's gotta be gentle with her. He also keeps saying how Jasmine is his, not Mama's or Dada's, just his. :)