...Gone Wireless ;-)

My dearest Benedict,

Mommy is actually in bed next to you and Daddy...but not asleep. How could I? When it's the first night I am using the wireless connection in my newly-resurrected Compaq.

Hay, our Holy Week (Black Saturday to be exact) has gone mad bec. I discovered that I can not log in to Yahoo. A few days before that, I've lost my YM connection but can still check emails and multiply site. So dedma lang me. But I have gone crazy calling up friends on a supposedly holy Black Sat. to ask for help! Bless your Mommy's closest of friends who have indulged my panic-driven state =D I was so beside myself with worry that my laptop might have totally crashed and with it all our important files from way, way back...esp. worried abt my wedding files. Not much with your baby pics as I have recently been very religious in doing back-ups written in CDs as soon as I have uploaded em in my various blogsites too.

But how about Mommy's online biz? It's plain torture to not be able to check on my site every single day as I have been used to it since the biz kicked off early this year. I am so blessed to have a very reliable girl scout partner in my best friend, your Tita Che. She has single-handedly taken charge of the queueing queries and orders. It should have been my turf. She was forced to learn to navigate multiply site herself. I hope she wont fire me for slacking off...hehehe. I can only put the blame on the viruses (several of them) which had inflicted my unprotected gadget. No excuse, just dumb enough to not install Norton sooner. Haay, may na lang gani sweetheart angels abound in this world.

Since it was a Black Saturday, I wasn't able to accomplish much except bombard my friends with questions & worries...ahihi...good thing they are real friends =D Only on Monday was I able to bring the poor laptop to Dataworld SM and there we found another angel who is your own Daddy's namesake. He was very competent & knowledgable. And I was immediately assured that I came to the right place when he didn't overcharged us...and instead gave us all the infos. and advices on how to handle such inevitable crashes. We were about to go when your dear daddy asked how much would going wireless cost? I stopped dead on my tracks, too excited to even ask if he was going to buy me a wireless broadband router...hehe, I admit that's the melodramatic side of me talking...your Daddy Marlon's always like that. I'm sure if he could only afford the glossy, white Macbook on display that day, I would have taken it home with me that day too...(wishful thinking!) Nah, but seriously, I am so humbled bec. my dear spouse (your dad) is such a darling...always thinking of our convenience (to the point of spoiling me rotten). Good thing I am such a good wifey and mommy too...hahaha (patting my own back). I got my newly reformatted laptop last Tuesday. Imagine just staying overnight with the technician and being good as new the morning after? Some people can really make magic. And so, bec. daddy expected to be able to pay more, he bought me the broadband router and agreed for the technician to come by our place this afternoon to install it himself.

So, after about an hour of troubleshooting since my Internet Explorer had been acting up (it just needed a newer version download lang diay), the techician was able to configure the broadband router and I was able to enjoy a Wi-Fi zone in our humble abode. Our place is just tiny so the 250 meter radius is really huge, but he has set up a password so that the neighbors wont be able to tap into my connection as this will affect the kind of signal I will be getting. And I have enjoyed browsin' thru the websites of my friends while having coffee in the veranda. Pure bliss to be able to sit beside you, my boy while you are watching your Barney while I am discreetly checking on my emails.

Oh well, I just loved typing away while you guys (your Daddy & you) are deep in slumber. But this time I am just right here beside you instead of being in the confines of my comp. table. I can easily pat your back, son at your slightest whimper...hmmm, another spoiled-brat in the making?? Ahhh, the joy of mommy-hood! I soo love your Daddy, my Babes and you, Benedict, the little babe we have produced...

Nighty night...love you both!!!

Baby Pouch

For the longest time I was contemplating on getting you this baby gear. You see my boy, you still love being carried around esp. when we go malling. At 18 months, you now weight 12.2 kls. And my back's been killing me all these time. I've always been a believer of attachment parenting & had been advocating it to friends even. Apart from breastfeeding, cuddling you, my son is the single most fave activity of mine. I love smelling your freshly washed hair & the creases & fold of your chubby neck too. Ahh, heaven for mommies like me!

But you see my love, I am scoliotic. In fact, lately I've been to my doctor twice already for a lengthy 10-day physical therapy sessions due to my aching back...and the single culprit is you... my carrying you often, my little boy. Dra. Grace told me that she could not believe that I had been able to deliver you via normal means considering how bad my curves were. I had been her patient since more than a decade ago and I trully believe in her capabilities & expertise...but I totally put my trust (even more so!) in miracles too. And I know there are such in my life. Way before your Daddy Marlon & I got engaged, the kindly doctor gave my then-boyfriend (now my loving husband and your Daddy) a heart-to-heart talk explaining that I may not be able to bear him a child. When I think back to that day, I always say a short prayer of thanks bec. not only am I scoliotic, recently we have discovered pa that I also have a case of polycistic ovaries. So it's nothing short of a miracle that you, our Benedict were conceived immediately during our honeymoon. Our miracle & prayed-for baby...trully a blessing, as your name suggests.

Anyway, a few months back...I was really thinking of purchasing a baby sling for you. In fact I had been checking out R' Jellybeans then and was able to exchange a few emails with an online buddy of Mommy - Jen CC Tan (who bdw, is a very gracious lady who offers free advices)...She told me to check with my doctor first. Unfortunately, Dr. Grace was giving me the stern look when I asked her if I could use the baby sling. I know she only means well. That motherly doctor...but I also heed her advise then and didn't push through buying the sling from Jen. Now what made me purchase this baby pouch instead? Aside from defying my doctor you mean, my boy? hehehe...I was after the price. It's the most affordable one I have found in the market so far, cheaper but still done with great style and does not sacrifice good quality too. This is trully just to test if baby pouch will still work with us, me and you, my Benedict. I personally think this will only last for a few months if we are lucky. Most likely, a few weeks (i hope!). But sometimes, we just have to take the risk. Wont really know 'til we try it out if it's gonna work right? But I am crossing my fingers that it will serve its purpose. After all, the price I paid for the baby pouch is a small fraction of the PT session fees I will shell out to cure my aching back.

And I trully wish that this will work for us. If it is any indication though, (I am totally hopeful about this), when I put you, my Benedict on it when my package arrived this afternoon, you instantly take on to it. And in fact you felt sleepy while I was wearing you & dancing around. Less than 3 mins. (promise this is no exag!) you were off to dreamland na. I had to take you down and ask yaya to handwash the baby pouch & have it machine-dried as well as under the sun. Had to take advantage of the scorching heat of the summer time sun so we can use it sooner.

And voila! barely 3 hrs. after, it had been washed and pressed na. All ready to go malling with us later. Can hardly wait to try it out. Hope I wont forget to ask your Daddy to snap some pics of us - me & you, my little munchkin on it later. These are some of the mommy stuffs which excites your Mom. Thanks to these lovely ladies, Monica & Denise, yummy mummies of Indigo Baby for bringing in these stuffs into our lives. Looking forward to sharing more bonding momments with you on it, my love.

P.S. Mommy loves you very much.

Huggies Fun Time For Mommy? and Baby Christmas Promo...

Hi little prince!

This is Mommy's account of how I made complaints to Kimberly Clark regarding their inefficient handling of their Christmas promo, which gave us your Chicco slide...and this is a happy ending. At least now, I got you your Chicco slides. But for all the hassles and inconvenience we went through, haaay super not worth it. Had we known, we should have just gotten you the same slides from the local toy shop. It might have cost us more in terms of hard-earned moolah, but it could have spared us the agony of trying to contact their hotline and playing their waiting game...all because, for the life of me (and Mommy's getting all-heated up again...) I still couldn't understand how & why, they couldn't have foreseen the "demand". Oh men! such a lame excuse for marketing people...i mean they owe us, Mommies much better explanations.

But anyway, what's important for us, my boy is that their Sr. Marketing Officer did deliver on her promise. She said they will have the slides delivered to our place on March 15 (a Saturday) and she made good. She had a representative send the item over at around 7pm. I totally pity the girl who had to make the delivery. She was on a tricycle, inspite of the bulky box she's bringing. I mean, a taxi would have been best given the circumstance. Our place is a bit on the outskirt of the city na and it's & it's 7pm for goodness sake! Haay, I can only see how lousy Kimberly Clark is as a company if this is how they take care of their employees. Oh well, just my opinion. I hope their pay is worth it. When you grow up son, hope you wont be joining the labor force and being unfortunate enought to be employed by such companies. And if you will be lucky enough to have your own company, pls. remember to take care of your employees and treat them accordingly.

Anyway, when you saw the new slides, all dirty at that...i mean it has not been cleaned with our usual Lysol on playthings (lol) but you don't really care. I have barely said thank you to the representative and you were all over the new slides already. Your yaya quickly cleaned it up and in no time you are climbing up and sliding down like you've been doing it forever. Oh maybe my letting you try it out at Wonderland helped a lot. But mostly it's your attitude. You're very adventurous...and doesn't fear the new experiences. If anything it even excites you. How i love seeing you, my little boy enjoying your new toy. Maybe the wait & inconveniences are small stuffs when I am seeing you in all excitement playing with your new toy with gusto. Hayy, if only we remain kids forever. Then life would be so much more simplier.

Glad you liked this slides of yours, sweetheart! Mommy now is happy seeing you enjoying yourself. Love you so...

Our Mac Quest buggy is here na!

Hurray!!!

This is a late Christmas gift for you, our dearest Benedict. Actually, this was purchased online last December pa but was delivered to a relative's address in Canada. Your Tito Michel brought this home last week when he came for his family. (Thanks so much Tito Michel & Tita Syvel for this favor...we will be missing your cousin, Christabelle, their cutie little girl.) And we had to ask your Kuya Vergel to personally get it from Mapang pa. Both Mommy & Daddy are excited to have you try it out. We are just crossing our fingers that you will like this buggy better than our Graco stroller. Our greatest fear is that you still wouldn't want to be strapped in the stroller long enough for us to do our grocery task. uh-uh... Now that you're mobile, you are literally everywhere. You seem to think SM is a big playground. And you do have your own agenda... playing catch with the poor SM salesboy using their beach balls. To you, my mischevous tiny tike, pure bliss! I pity the look of the salesclerk which spells a-g-o-n-y

It's scheduled mall time for us later so we will be able to "road-test" our new Mac Quest buggy. I just luv it's color and the fact that it can be washed because the pad can be easily removed from the stroller. But of course we will be missing our ever-dependable Graco stroller...with the spacious basket & sturdy handle where we always hang our baby bag and shopping purchases.

Mommy Musings: When you, my Benedict grow up, what will you be?

a TEACHER?...or maybe a VET...coz you just luv animals. You can identify all of 'em in this chart ;-D

a PILOT? that was Daddy's dream occupation...

perhaps become an EQUESTRIAN, a world-class at that, huh?...

or how about becoming a KARATE CHAMPION? just like your Ate Gabby is right now?

will this qualify you to become a MODEL?

Oh well... if you'll turn out to be a beach bum, then being an uber-cool LIFEGUARD, complete with abs would be it! Life will be a beach...

of course, there's always the usual, you might want to be a DOCTOR as often claimed by tiny tikes like you when asked what will you want to be when you grow up...

however you would turn up to be, little boy, please know that Daddy & Mommy will always be behind you 101% all the way. You are our little prince! Love you so, Eng Sim...

The Little Leaps and you, my little boy..

Amongst his Leap Frog loot is the Little Leaps Grow-with-Me Learning system which we had ordered pa together with our merchandise. Actually, I think I am more excited than the little boy to try out this particular toy. I have heard/read lots of raves & reviews over this award-winning educational toy, inspite of its short circulation in the market. This was only released recently. But already amongst the best-sellers in the Leap Frog extensive variety of educational toys. I'm sure as a mom, most can relate to this excitement...

My only worry is that my friend told me a few days ago that she had a hard time setting up the system when she tried hers. I was worried it's going to be difficult & all-technical. I wish Marlon need not go to the office early so he could have been the one setting it up. Haay, I can only follow the manual and instructions, but you know how men are more wired to understand the technical stuffs? (But I guess, it's not really true to..I must admit that it just gets me off the hook easily..hehe) But in times like these, I have to rise to the occassion..no choice na, the little boy is patiently waiting for me to set-up his new toy. It's TV & DVD-connected, so I have to read through the manual for the codes and all. And it doesn't help that the little boy is so "hands-on"... (read: hilabtanon..hehe) But who am I to complain? Whose toy is it anyway? hahaha..

But with Baby Tad around to keep him company, I was able to set-up the new Little Leaps system in peace...after a few missed attemps on the codes, 'coz Benedict was occupied with his new friend.

The rest of the afternoon and even after dinner, was spent playing with his Little Leaps...he also liked pushing & pulling the buttons. So far, he likes the red circle button on the center, but he can say "boo" (blue) which means he can actually identify the blue rectangular button on his left. I think I am more excited than Benedict..hahaha..I tried pushing the buttons myself. And we had fun late in the afternoon bonding over his new toys.

I have only opened two CDs which are all played in the "baby mode"...The first one has a title of"Say It, Baby" which will teach about common first words... but today, we only tried the "Play & Move" CD. I thought it would be best to open a new one every month so that he can maximize the learning moments...get to really tinker with each & every title and its respective lesson/fun games. Just enough time to really get to play with each CD extensively. I had this Baby Mode CDs kept in the closet...

• Leap Ahead
• First Steps
• Creative Baby:Discovering Music & Artistic Expression
• Winnie The Pooh: Exploring Feelings and Friendships

And after his 2nd birthday, he will be ready to move on to the "toddler" mode CDs which has the following titles:

• The Backyardigans:Learning Rhythm and Movement
• Thomas and Friends: Exploring Manners and Emotions
• Dora The Explorer: Discovering Words and Language

When I see my little prince enjoying his new toy like this, it makes me so thankful that we get to buy stuffs for him. And I love my husband even more bec. he makes effort to work hard just so his son can "play hard". Thanks so much Babes! We love you so, Dada...

Your new learning friend, Baby Tad

Yu were so tired of yesterday's activities my little boy!... imagine skipping your usual 2-4 hr. afternoon nap altogether...but that was partly our fault too. Sorry little one, we dragged you to the airport with us to fetch Auntie Heny. And to Mama Abel's clinic where Auntie had a dental appointment. And of course, you were excited to play with your Ate Gabby. No wonder that this morning, you were teary-eyed when you looked for me the moment you woke up. I was already in my work area checkin' my emails. But you were all smiles when you saw your surprise!

We finally got your boxful of Leap Frog stuffs...but most of the books I have kept directly in the closet to avoid being lugged around by who else but you, my the little boy. You wont be needing them just yet. But I am already satisfied with the purchases I have made...which your Daddy obviously had to pay for... In terms of educational materials such as this one, we do not scrimp. It doesn't matter if we have to sacrifice a few shopping spree, dining out & dates... your Daddy Marlon & I always agree, when it comes to you, our Benedict... better more, than less. We make ways to be able to provide you the necessary tools but of course we can not afford everything also, but for the most part at least we try our very best. And nothing beats personal attention...being physically present ever...Oh! how you prefer more cuddles & kisses than new toys and gadgets. At least, we are consoled that the right values are in place.

Just the same, you, my little munchkin are so happy with your new stuffs. Of course the first thing to catch your attention is the cute little thing...your new learning friend we named "Baby Tad". I am so lucky to have such a sweet little boy in you for a son, Benedict. You hug me tight for no reason at all (with matching "hmmmm" sound) occassionally accompanied by kisses on the lips pa. And you do the same too on some of your fave toys...esp. Mickey Mouse. But this morning, after Mommy's good morning hug & kiss, the receipient of your affection is the new toy still in it's box.

In fact, after your lunch I was able to set-up your new Little Leaps system in peace...after a few missed attemps on the codes, 'coz you, my Benedict were occupied with your new friend. Baby Tad was singing a counting song (which I am actually not familiar with) and by mid-noon, you my little boy were already adding "ten" to your few counting vocabulary consisting of only "eight" and "nan" (nine) at this time.

You were so smitten with the new toy that when you napped in the afternoon, you were hugging the stuffed toy to sleep. And you're constantly hugging (or maybe wrestling is the more appropriate word?...haha) Baby Tad again tonight just before your bedtime.

I just removed the toy from your arms when you were in deep slumber 'coz it might sing and wake us all up in the middle of the night should you, my little guy roll over it. I feel satisfied that we can now "guess" what kind of toys you prefer. Oh, it mostly involves cars & everything with wheels, and balls of all sizes...Lately you love books too, the ones with flaps most especially. I hope this Baby Tad would be amongst your fave ones, so that Mickey Mouse can be given a rest too.

Your Dad and I love watching you enjoy your toys little one. It makes us reminisce our happy childhood days too. We may not have as much toys as you have, I guess, but we were as happy individually. So our only hope and prayer at this point is for you to grow up equally blissful in our care too and in Papa God's guidance. God bless us all! We love you, little munchkin!

Huggies-Chicco promo

Hello sweetheart!

I was pissed off these past 2 days because a representative from Huggies delivered the wrong toy to our place. And bec. our houseboy didn't know the difference (a slide is...a slide to him) so he accepted it, gave the 50 points worth of empty Huggies wrappers and paid the cash portion of Php 2,000.

You can just imagine my dismay when an hour after, I saw the new "Chicco" slides, now all cleaned up (wiped with Lysol at that) and ready for you, my little munchkin to tumble down. Good thing that you, my little one are still napping. I immediately texted the representative first to ask if Step 2 is same as Chicco...he replied that Step 2 costs Php 500 more than the Chicco slides. hmmm, really? I told your Daddy Marlon to drop by our fave toyshoppe in the vicinity, Ventura--which carries all known brands of kiddie toys & gadgets (Little Tikes, Chicco, Playskool, the likes...) and guess what? The salesclerks there, whom we have befriended already for being repeat customers...told your Dad that said brand (Step 2) is not the same as Chicco. Their plastic is not only thinner but a bit more rought too as compared with the Chicco brand. Oh, oh! I am slowly heating up to a boil...grrrr!!! Mommy is definitely angry, my darling!

I immediately texted the same representative to make the complaint. To his benefit, he also made a Huggies representative call me. Explaining that they dont have the Chicco slides anymore & that Step 2 is a sister company (really? how come I never heard of the said brand before?). Anyway, Mommy told the said girl representative to just make sure that this slides delivered to me will be exchanged with the Chicco ones. And she did say that she will forward my concern to someone on the next higher rank. Okay...what else can Mommy do at this point? I emailed my sisters at Newlyweds@Work but it seem that aside from 2 other people, no one else is bothered by the same thing that's pissing me off.

I remembered your Di Ei, whom I have convinced to buy a boxful of Huggies diapers so she can avail of the same promo. I even hand-carried the said box to Cebu since we bought it here in CDO at special price from your Ah Ko's pharmacy. Anyway, your Di Ei said that she will also call the Huggies Cebu office to relay Mommy's concern in case they won't be calling me anytime soon.

The whole day almost passed by, no calls whatsoever..Oh, i got a text message from the guy representative (the one who delivered the Step2 slides to our place) asking for my email address. It gave me an idea, browsing through a Huggies leaflet, i got an email address. So I sent them a very detailed and lengthy email...recounting all the events starting from when I placed the first call informing them of my desired toy to redeem, to how your Auntie Kathleen and her son Kyran got her slides first when in fact I have placed my order ahead of her (I should know this bec. I have shared my extra wrappers with them AFTER i have placed the call)...to how I had been trying to call Huggies hotline up a few more times to make a follow-up to how the said representative even tried to make me meet him up for the exchange of slides & wrappers making me believe all this time that he is delivering a Chicco slides (even indicated it in his text messages), when in fact it was clearly stated in the same leaflet they have given out last year that FOR RESIDENTS OUTSIDE THE SAID AREAS (where there are respective redemption centers, such as Cebu & Davao), TOYS WILL BE DELIVERED TO THEIR ADDRESSES. I texted the same representative that I am so disappointed with the service they are giving and it speaks of the poor customer service of their company.

I don't know if that did it or the fact that I warned them too through that lengthy email that I wont hesitate to bring this case to the local DTI to make a formal complaint against them. Barely an hour or roughly 30 mins. after I've hit the sent button, I received a call from a certain Rowena Orbon, a marketing representative this time, apologizing profusely and promising to deliver the Chicco slides not later than 2 weeks from now, as she said there will be deliveries she had expected to come next week. So much for Chicco slides being faced out hence the exchange to Step 2...i pity how corporate people can be forced to make lame excuses and blatant lies?! So may this serve as a reminder to you, my little one..young as you may be now, there will come a point in time that you will be able to comprehend Mommy's stories such as this one...pls. remember to KEEP YOUR WORD at all times, because this will totally speak so much of you and your credibility as a person. And will also reflect on how effectively we have instilled good values in you, our dearest son.

The moral of this long story?

when you have become an adult...Know our basic consumer rights! I once made a complaint to DTI and won their favor and I won't hesitate to do it again...if only to teach these giant companies that we consumers should be their topmost priority when they go into promotions like this. After all who came up with these promo ideas in the first place? And they could have saved their sanity if only they had not forgotten to write on their leaflets a one-line all important waiver "offer good while supply lasts..." So make sure that you follow through with all your commitments my little boy. When you are all grown-up, you too will learn that it's a dog-eat-dog, mean world out there...but you can make a difference. By being reliable & trustworthy! So keep your promise at all costs...or never make one.

Anyway, I'll be counting the days when I get hold of the real Chicco slides replcement. And this time they better deliver on their promise...everything for you, our little prince! Mommy will do all in my capacity to ensure that our rights are not compromised, dear little Benedict. If only to teach you that we must stand for our rights. I hope you grow up o become a man of honor, sweet little baby. Hmmm, Mommy wants you to know you are so loved.

Benedict you are now 18 months old!

and we are more excited than you, our little one...

Mommy is thinking along the lines of POTTY TRAINING and DISCIPLINE, while your Daddy is more concerned with the 2nd Birthday Party Plans...o di ba? Life is sweet for those who choose to live simplier anak?!

Oh, how time flies! We now have a very active toddler in you... who wears us both when you are up to it, which is almost always.

We now can't get through the entire mass because for sure, 5 mins. after we would wheel you into the "church" (more like the airconditioned Atrium of LimKetKai mall converted into a chapel set-up), you would be fidgeting in your stroller (strapping you on it is sometimes a struggle in itself), and like you got ants on your pants, you are sure to roam around the place...to the glass-encased pond with the biggest Koi I've ever seen, and the man-made waterfalls that surely draws kids like you, my Benedict.

We can hardly match your energy thus we do not frequent the malls these days. Kapoy kaha ug gukod nimo anak sah? Ma-wa ang poise ni Mommy! hahaha... your Daddy Marlon's getting enough exercise following you, our dear little boy around. And oh Boy! do you love to...nope, not walk but break into a run...when you get excited by...almost anything...from the zooming mall train (which used to scare you off like a rabbit with its bells in the past) to the "neigh" (the horse) in the carousel which you now ride with gusto...promting your Daddy to buy 2 tickets nalang coz you are sure to ask for 1 more ride after the first one. And you love to follow little fellas like yourself. hmmm, you seem to think you are independent na huh? Ah, the mommy in me dreads the time when you get independent enough to not need me around...*sniff,sniff*

Your Daddy Marlon is constantly buying Bengay, the extra-strength variety at that..but then again it could also be because he is not getting any younger...hehehe. But I think we both know who the real culprit is for the Daddy's excruciating back pains. But then again who taught him that piggy-back is fun, fun, fun???

And you, our darling little boy can really wear us out, with all the climbing on the toy boxes...the couch...even the bookshelf. We really have to wish for extra pairs of hands & a pair of eyes to go with that positioned at the back of our heads pls... If I am to write Papa God a letter requesting such now, I'm sure Papa God would trully understand the simple wishes of a mom like me...

But on a more positive and happy note, we are excited..and happy...and looking forward to the joys you will surely bring the house now that you are fully mobile (running at top speed), communicative (saying words that only you can understand, "babbles" really...but you expect us to fully comprehend, lest you give us the raised eyebrow which seems to say "huh Mom! which planet are you from?" Oh men! And to think you, my little munchkin is only a year & a half old.) and aggressive! oh, you, my little darling knows what you want/or doesn't want for yourself. And it totally takes all of my willpower not to spank your little butt bec. you can really be a handful. I think I have to be contemplating on using the "time-out" na.

Oh well, we always take it one day at a time...and we take pride in raising you, our little boy the way we want you raised. The discipline, we will get to that...meantime, can I enjoy the sweet little hugs from behind (hmmmm, with matching sloppy, wet kisses) everytime you feel like it? (but I do seem to notice that follwing this is a no-nonsense request of a "nene" (milk), which suggests that you, my little prince somewhat has an idea about "suhol" na?

I trully relish the hugs and kisses sweetheart. So keep it going! Mommy loves you so...