Happy 8th Birthday, Gaby!

Happy 8th Birthday, my sweet little Gabrielle! :)

Continue on being the best in everything you do and doing it all for the glory of God.

Stay happy at all times!

God loves you

and

I love you so much! :)

An Update On Their Adventures

I'm updating this blog - finally!  It's been more than a month since my last post and I haven't shared anything about my precious kiddos.  Well, they've been really busy with school and their weekends have been pretty occupied, too.

Early this month, we met with my uncle and cousins from Dubai, and together with some relatives, had lunch at Savory near Marriott Hotel in Pasay City.  They spend their summer vacation here yearly and stay for about a month.  My kids were happy to see them, enjoyed the food, and just loved chillin' at the hotel where they're staying.

my kids and my beautiful cousins 

my little boy with his new toy 

my precious kids! :) 

quiet time - busy watching cartoons

We were also a part of the Moose Gear Grand Fans Day  held on July 3, 2011 at the Robinson's Galeria Activity Center.  They enjoyed watching the performances of the celebrity kids, the magic show by Ala Kim, and they also had a photo opp with Mika Dela Cruz, Moose Girl celebrity endorser.

My kids truly enjoyed their first cupcake decorating experience at the open house of One Serendra the other week.  They also had a great time listening to the live story telling of the teachers from Make Believe.

More adventures of my precious ones to come, so stay tuned! :)

They're now in Facebook

My kids now have an account in Facebook.  Well, I know I shared in my other blog last year my reasons of why I don't allow them to have Facebook accounts just yet, but I just thought that I'm keeping them in the dark by not letting them know how to use these tools.  I thought that at least if I teach them early on how to use and navigate these online tools, such as these social networking sites, they'd know how to be responsible users, and of course, they would have something to share with their friends.  I'm a soft-hearted mom, and when my daughter shared that when their friends are talking about Facebook, they couldn't share anything in the conversation because they don't have one, and I know how it feels to not belong.  I realized I can't control them being a part of the modern world, so I agreed to, finally, creating their Facebook accounts.

Of course, they were really happy that they could finally chat with their friends and play games in Facebook.  I just made sure to set their privacy settings to be viewed by only those that they know and that they're really friends with just to keep them safe.  

For now, they're sharing one account, but probably by next year, I'd allow my 2 girls to have their own Facebook accounts.  I'm sure they'd love that even more. :)

their Birthday gifts to me

Kids are very thoughtful in their own little way, and I was very happy with the gifts I received from them yesterday.  They were simple birthday cards that they made, and it's such a warm feeling to receive these cards from my precious ones.  Gwen made the card from Gerard so that my little boy would hand something to me.  So thoughtful! And Gaby made her own unique birthday card for me. Such a sweetie! :)

Love you, babies! :)

my little savers :)

My kids were finally able to open a savings account.  I've always wanted to do this for my kids, but every time they get money during Christmas, they just end up buying toys and other things they want.  Well, I can't blame them.  But I am thankful that this year - after all my "lectures" on saving (lol!) - my 2 girls finally gave in and decided to save the money they got in the bank.  Well, my little boy has no choice because I have his money (lol!).  And with monthly help from their Dad, they'd start building up their savings.

my girls are now proud savers! :)

still had to take that picture even though he's sucking his thumb (lol!)

We really want to train our kids to be more of savers than spenders.  And having their own savings account is a good start. :)

Gaby's field trip

Though extremely exhausted, my daughter Gaby really enjoyed her field trip yesterday.  I had no problem waking her up early yesterday (unlike when I'm waking her up on school days), because she's really excited about this day.  She also made a new friend, a 1st grade student named Dwight. Well, not all students joined the field trip and their school arranged the bus assignments of students in such a way that Grade 1 and 2 students were mixed.  Gaby is really great in making new friends, and that added even more fun in her field trip.

Below are just some of the pics I took of her and her new friend from yesterday's field trip:

I'm so happy that you enjoyed our bonding time yesterday, Gaby :)  Mommy loves you so much! :)

nail art

My girls didn't sleep in the afternoon after coming home from school yesterday, because they just wanted to play since it's already weekend.  They played with their Barbie dolls while their little brother was asleep (because he keeps on bugging his sisters while playing with their dolls) and also bought nail art stickers at the nearby store and did this to their nails:

I'm kind of picturing what our favorite activity would be when they're teenagers already: we're going to be frequent visitors of a salon or a nail art spa and getting our nails done. :)

she's gaining a lot of weight

My daughter, Gaby, already has maintenance medicine for her asthma and she’s also taking medication to treat the onset of primary complex.  I just feel so bad that at her age, she just had to take maintenance medicine, and will continue doing it for a period of 9 months.  Every month we’re also required to go see the doctor, so that she can check on her progress and the effect of the medicine she’s taking on her.  Well, the doctor said that one of the effects of the medicine she’s taking is that she’d gain weight.  In other words, she’s going to get fat.  And I’m starting to notice that on her because there a few of her clothes that no longer fits her. 

Well, at least she no longer has asthma attacks.  It has been nearly 2 months since her last attack that got her in the hospital, so I’m very thankful that at least the medicines she’s taking are doing her good.  But I just wish there’s another option for her so that she wouldn’t have to take medicine.  She’s just too young and I don’t want her doing this for the rest of her life.

You’re going to be fine, Gaby.  I know our good and faithful Lord will always be with you.  Mommy’s always here, too. :)

my talented dancers :)

Every parent’s pride is to watch their kids perform in school programs or plays, and I did get to be one of those proud parents who watched their kids showcase their talents.

Gwen on their school's Linggo ng Wika Presentation last year, 2009

This year was Gabrielle's turn to perform for Linggo ng Wika.  Every year, Linggo ng Wika performers not only perform for their school, but they also get to perform in malls.  Last year, Gwenevere's group danced at SM Muntinlupa and this year, Gabrielle performed at SM and also at Festival Mall in Alabang.

Gaby during this year's Linggo ng Wika Presentation in their school

Gwenevere participated in this year's United Nations celebration in their school. It's her first time to join for the United Nations program, so she was really excited about it.

Gwen wearing a Malaysian costume with sister Gaby

What costumes will they be wearing next year?  Well, like them, I'm also excited for next year's Linggo ng Wika and United Nations celebration and I'm hoping that they'll be chosen to participate in these programs again.  :)

my Girl Scouts

My daughters are now officially Girl Scouts! :)

Gwenevere on her Girl Scout Investiture, September 25, 2009

Gabrielle with her little brother on her Girl Scout Investiture, September 23, 2010

Aren't they pretty in their Girl Scout uniforms?

I didn't experience being a Girl Scout when I was still in grade school - being a Girl Scout back then was not a requirement, unlike today when every grade schooler automatically becomes a Girl/Boy scout.  So seeing my girls wearing these uniforms just made me happy.

Proud of you, babies! :)

my cute little Gaby turns 7!

Gaby just turned a year old yesterday, August 1.  It just all seems like yesterday when I gave birth to her.  We were already at the hospital on the afternoon of July 31st waiting for her to come.  After 9 months and a long and painful 13-hour labor, Gabrielle finally came.  She was such a cute little bundle of joy!  Since I got the privilege of naming our first child, it was my husband's turn of giving our second child a name, and he thought of the name "Gabrielle" meaning "God is our strength."

Gaby, you are truly God's gift to us and I will forever bless the day when you came into this world and I become your mom.  Happy 7th Birthday, baby! I love you :)

all grown up

It has been a long time since I gave my daughter, Gabrielle, a bath.  Well, she's already turning 7 so she knows how to bathe herself.  But yesterday, I gave her a quick, warm bath - she needed help because she just came from being sick.  It felt strange and funny because the last time I gave her a bath, she was still small.  And of course, it made me feel happy.   I miss doing these kind of things for my kids.  

Don't grow up too fast, Gab. I love you! :)