Mikee's 1st Birthday!

Mikee turned 1 last August 29 while my grandfather turned 92. We weren't able to go to Zambales that's why we just celebrated her birthday with some close friends and relatives.

It was fun though we had a little problem with the food. I ordered online but was not so happy when the food was delivered. It came in a not so appealing presentation and it seemed not enough. Although I was already panicking at that time, I still managed to smile and started the party anyway.

My friend Jean started it with a prayer while Charm was taking pictures. Then, we sang the Happy Birthday song and Mikee wasn't able to blow the cake 'coz she seemed so overwhelmed with the event. . So I blew the candle. :)

After the guests ate, it rained hard so we had to get inside the house and there we had the pulling of the pinata for the kids although they were only four including Mikee. I felt happy at that moment 'coz at last it was a kids' party even so.

Then we ate the cake and took pictures of Mikee with the gifts. Daddy opened the gifts for Mikee while I took the pics (I think it should be the other way around!)

Anyway, it's time to call it a day. So after taking pictures, we ate and cleaned up the mess and slept. The next day, I am already planning for Mikee's 2nd birthday 'coz I want a more exciting and wonderful party than this one.

Mikee's First Time to Call Me "Mama"

I really felt so touched when Mikee called me "Mama" for the first time 'coz she usually calls me and everybody else, "Ate". It's an unexplainable feeling of extreme happiness. I was also surprised because whenever I teach her to say "Mommy" or "Mama", she won't listen and would just say "Ate" instead. Then, when I wasn't expecting her to say something, she blurted out "Mama" while looking at me smiling. When I said "Wow!", she began playing with the words then changed it to "Nanana".

Experts say that speech development varies accordingly and that some babies utter their first words around one year of age. Some may do this earlier. My baby can even utter "A-ko" when she was only 6 months. Then it developed to "Ku-ku" everytime she calls the dog with matching flicking of her fingers and tongue. Now, she can also say "Daddy".

I am very excited about what other words can she utter by the time she is already 1-year old.

Mikee's 1st Time at MOA

Mikee was exactly four months old when we brought her to the SM Mall of Asia.

She was so curious about the new world that she saw. It was also the first time my bestfriend Charm saw her. We took her picture with the Powerpuff Girls. She was Bubbles/Snowman in the picture. It was just so pure coincidence 'coz my aunts call her Bubbles.

Everything was so new to her like it was all pure magic and she seemed to observe so intently. We even watched the fireworks and then proceeded to eat afterwards. I believe that Mikee enjoyed her out-of-the-house trip.

Mikee's 1st Christmas

Mikee was almost four months when she experienced her first Christmas. And as for me, it was my first Christmas as a mommy. It was just a simple celebration but a happy one.

I was worried her delicate ears would get irritated by the loud firecrackers but she woke up with a smile on her face. After we ate, we took some pictures and went to sleep. The next day, we attended the church service at the Heritage Hotel. It was Mikee's first time to attend a mass and that was the first hotel she ever visited. It was also kinda different 'coz it was also my first time to attend a mass with my baby.

After arriving home, we took pictures of Mikee with her gifts. She received her first ever Fisher-Price toy. It was a fish rattle and teether. She enjoyed holding it though at this age, she still can't control her hand movements very well and she ended up banging her head with the toy. It was just so fun watching her play and I can't wait to see her next Christmas when she's a year older.

My Angel

We were so nervous when we first learned that I was pregnant and the fact that we're going to be parents soon. After a while, we already got used to it and was amazed and overwhelmed with all the physical changes and the emotional aspects that came with it. However, I became really anxious when I was already nearing my due date. But I'm glad because I'll be seeing my baby girl already. It was just a weekly check-up but then I became really nervous and excited at the same time when my OB said that I have to be admitted because I'll be delivering my baby already.

And so, I was admitted at around 10pm on Aug 28, 2007 and experienced labor pains (but it's not actually painful) soon after my OB induced me. I was trying to feel relaxed as possible amidst the cries of the woman giving birth next to me. Then I was given a shot and I felt drowsy while waiting for the right time to push (even with all the student nurses inside the delivery room and with me lying half-naked). Anyway, at around 5am I was awaken by the contractions that are getting stronger but still not that painful the way others used to describe it. I was really praying at that time that I and my baby could do it. I was actually talking to my baby even before I was brought to the delivery room. I was telling her to help me as I push and for her to come out easily. At around 6am, the contractions are really getting stronger and more frequent.. thus the interval time is getting shorter. And at last, around 6:30am, one last push and she's out of my womb! I heard her loud cry before I fell asleep. After a while, I felt something painful so I woke up and I realized that my OB is already stitching my perinuem! That was really an experience I will never forget.

Anyway, we got out of the hospital the day after I gave birth and that was also the time I first saw Mikee. I still can't believe at that time that I am already a mommy.