Would you believe in a few weeks it'll be the first year anniversary of my joining Weight Watchers?

Since then I have grown to like healthier stuff more like veggie salads, eaten less cafe sandwiches, more peanut butter sandwiches, more vanilla ice cream cones, less premium ice cream pints, more gelato, zero jumbo cookies, less meat, some buffalo wings, some Popeye's fried chicken, some deep dish pizza, grown enormously fond of tofu etc.

I still eat out an average of 3x a week. I still do 30 minute cardio 4x a week without fail. I need to get back to a regular schedule for my resistance training though. I haven't attended a WW meeting in 2 months. From the 20 pounds I lost after being on Weight Watchers for 7 months I gained 2. I am currently on my church wedding weight and I am more than happy with it.

However I am nervous about the fast coming holiday season starting with Thanksgiving next week, so I am preparing for it by doing (crossfingers) the following:

1.) Stick to 3x a week 20 minute resistance training.

2.) Do 10 minute stretching everyday (done 2x already).

3.) Continue doing 4x a week cardio. Find motivation too (maybe run half marathon next April?)

3.) Keep food diary.

4.) Weigh every week.

5.) Attend Weight Watchers meeting every week until January.

6.) Take walks during lunch breaks maybe 2x a week.

7.) Make reward chart with Weight Watchers healthy lifestyle guide (see above image).

This should keep me well behaved for the next 6 weeks.

Plugged into: 1,2,3,4 (Plain White Ts)
Currently reading: Parenting Magazine
Currently watching: Sound Of Music (Julie Andrews)

A family friend who has a little girl around Evan's age asked us if Evan has seen a dentist yet. I told them that I had our family dentist said to wait until he was 3. "That's what we were told too until we noticed that something was wrong with C's teeth and brought her in. It turned out that a lot of her teeth suffered from tooth decay. She ended up with having 4 caps put in," C's parents related to me.

Evan flashing a smile while watching the Aristocats video on a dress rehearsal night before Halloween.

What was scary was that, the first dentist they went to even recommended to have 8 or more teeth worked on which would have costed the couple $8,000 (they didn't have dental insurance for the little one or so they thought.) They went to another dentist for a second opinion, thus only 4 teeth were capped (upon this dentist's finding). They were also relieved that by some twist of fate found out that C's dental insurance was covered all along. They "only" paid $800 of the $2,000 bill.

I asked them what was the cause of C's tooth decay and to my shock, according to their dentist, it was breastfeeding before bedtime after C  had brushed her teeth. It was the first time I have heard of breastfeeding being the culprit for rotting a toddler's teeth. Books have warned about bottlefeeding as toddlers (especially with juice) and dropping off to sleep while nursing a bottle. That was why as soon as Evan turned one year old weaning him from the bottle was my first priority, a project I gradually started when he was only 4 months old.

I am pretty firm about brushing Evan's teeth that it is rare he goes to bed without doing it, even on many nights when he isn't very cooperative. I have read that children needs to have brushing of their teeth closely supervised until the age 6. Evan started brushing his teeth when first tooth appeared, initially with a washcloth as recommended by the pediatrician, then eventually with an infant toothbrush. He brushes 2x a day nowadays. By himself in the morning (copying mommy) and with my help at night.

So you can imagine how I got paranoid for a second when this couple told me their story. I was already thinking of bringing Evan to the dentist the day after. But the couple reassured me that if there was something wrong with Evan's teeth it would be noticeable. As I would tell Evan every night, "open your mouth wide so that mommy could sweep the germs away from your teeth so that they can't dig holes which will be painful for Evan."

Three and a half more years till my little boy can be trusted with his own toothbrush. Sigh.

Awwww....

I was busy doing notes on a legal pad when my 2 year old came to me with a pen and scratch paper on his hand asking me to draw a truck. I told him, "later Evan, mommy's writing something," as I continued doing my shorthand. He sidled beside me and scribbled on the same page I was working on. He asked again if I could draw him a truck (my hundreth truck drawing this month), so I gave in and doodled the usual image I have been doing for him.

He then asked me if I could draw Evan. So I also doodled the usual Evan drawing.

My son looked at the drawing, then looked to me with an usual intensity. He climbed the coach and sat beside me. He put a hand on my chest, another hand on my shoulder brought his face close and said, "I love mommy."

Plugged into: Come On Get Higher (Matt Nathanson)
Currently reading: The Wrecking Crew (Thomas Frank)
Currently watching: Forgetting Sarah Marshall (Jason Segel)

bebe04

every year, life battles are different.  they get tougher and tougher.. more complicated. but all these make you stronger, braver and more importantly closer to God.  

2008 started off with a healing heart and soul-searching (don't we once in a while?).  and man i say, i'm proud i've managed to move forward and faced every single endeavor i had to.  i was scathed and i won't deny it.  mid-year, major decisions, major changes i had to bear.  sure, there were problems along the way - big, complicated ones, though most of the time, shallow and endurable. and God never did leave me, as well as my family and friends, throughout this whole phase.  happy or sad, they were there, to which i can't be grateful enough. 

i know it's too early to for a year-end review, but i just can't pass this realization.  people will leave you. and it will hurt. but there will always be replacements - better replacements.  people who will accept and stay with you forever and never will think twice of deserting you, no matter what happens.  i might've lost somebody dear to me recently and that's sad but i cannot dwell on that feeling for a longer time anymore.  and God heard me.. as today I've gained a lasting relationship, one thing that i've actually wished for since i was little. 

 thank you Lord for giving me another reason to smile and be happy. thank you for that that orange guy, my dad.

my 2008 hasn't ended yet.  and i'm actually pretty excited for the rest of it.  it's just that i want to start the coming year right.  and i'll make sure of that. 

bebe04

O wag kang tumingin
ng ganyan sa ‘kin
wag mo akong kulitin
wag mo akong tanungin

Dahil katulad mo
ako rin ay nagbago
di na tayo katulad ng dati
kay bilis ng sandali

O kay tagal kitang minahal

Kung iisipin mo
di naman dati ganito
teka muna teka lang
kailan tayo nailang

Kung iisipin mo
di naman dati ganito
kay bilis kasi ng buhay
pati tayo natangay

O kay tagal kitang minahal

Tinatawag kita
sinusuyo kita
di mo man marinig
di mo man madama

O kay tagal kitang mamahalin.

maraming komplikasyon. hindi makakompromiso. ilang taong naggabayan. panahon lang ang talagang makapagsasabi kung anuman. isa lang ang masasabi ko, masaya ako sa lahat ng mga nangyayari sa buhay mo ngayon.

nandito lang ako, malayong malapit man. hanggang sa muli.

Me: "Evan let's change your stinky diaper."
Evan: (cheerfully wags hand, closes eyes, shakes head) "No, thanks."
"Let's eat dinner."
"No thanks."
"Wash your hands."
"No thanks."
"Brush your teeth."
"No thanks."
"Time for your bath."
"No thanks."
"Go to bed."
"No thanks."
Tom: "At least he's polite."

Evan's first painting. It's 98 3/4% all his. It's still a work in progress. Evan at 29 months.

Go Ahead
Ever since Evan started sleeping in his own big bed, after storytime, I'd lay down with him for a few minutes before he goes to sleep. It's my favorite part of the day. Early on everytime I got up to leave him I was afraid he would make a fuss. The first few times he did. But he eventually learned and was assured that I wasn't far away from his room.

Lately, before I would rise to get out of his bed I'd tell him, "Evan, mommy has to do the dishes in the kitchen, you sleep na okay?". When an unprotesting "okay, goo-bye," was what I got I was intially startled, relieved then amused. His response to that question in the recent nights even got funnier, he'd say, "okay, go ahead" complete with pointing to the door. That's Mr. Independent to you.

Evan helps daddy make a fire.

Longest Sentence
The longest sentence my soon to be 2 1/2 year old said so far was, "I can't zip much more," he whined when trying to zip up his pajamas higher to his chest. He says more stuff that continually surprises us like, "do something" he implored to me when my baseball cap keeps slipping to cover his eyes. Or after saying our good-byes to everybody at daycare, he exclaimed "wonderful!" as soon as we closed the door behind us.

Ms. M from daycare told me something really nice the other morning. She said that I was very lucky to have a cheerful and even-tempered child. She further added that it takes a lot for him to get upset. And I thought it was a mother's bias that made me think of my son as that. As I have time and again observed to my husband, "I have never seen a small child smile as much as he does."

Plugged into: Closer (Ne-Yo)
Currently reading: Children Learn What They Live (Nolte)
Currently watching: The Wind That Shakes The Barley (Irish Film)

If you're still feeling heady from our victory like me, this video is for you:

Not to be missed is the artist's will.i.am's Yes We Can music video too. In my opinion it is even better than New Day, the video featured in this blog. I have become an instant fan of this founding member and frontman of Black Eyed Peas. So has Evan ("again, again, again" he says). I think we have found 2 songs to alternate the Tarzan cd with. I am not familliar with the Black Eyed Peas songs but it's something I will be checking into soon. I miss the MTV days.

I have also just finished reading the Newsweek's lengthy behind the scenes article of the election titled, "How He Did It". Needless to say it was very interesting, entertaining and an eye opener. I would also recommend the John Adams 3 CD HBO movie which my husband and I just finished watching last night.

I dedicate New Day to my nephews Miguel, Jude and niece Ina who I learned from my sister watched all the Obama videos I have posted in this blog. You'll be getting chocolates from me this February for being such loyal fans

Plugged into: New Day (will.i.am)
Currently reading: Newsweek
Currently watching: Indiana Jones And The Kingdom of The Crystal Skull (Harrison Ford)

Election Day I got up at 5:00 in the morning. At 5:30 I was at the polls with 3 other voters. Voting started at 6. At 6:04 I was done and found 40 other people waiting in line already.

Obama celebration at Grant Park, downtown Chicago. Photo courtesy and with permission from my officemate Lindsey.

I voted with the paper ballot I was handed with. I was glad because I was a little bit leery of doing electronic voting anyway. What if I had Oprah's nightmare? I don't trust those things. In my heart I was convinced that Obama would win this election handily but I couldn't get the fear of voter fraud and the Bradley effect off my head.

I thought about going back to bed for the next hour but I decided to celebrate my first voting experience with a cup of coffee and breakfast sandwich at Starbucks. It was just too glorious a morning to spend inside the dark confines of the bedroom. That done I realized I still had 45 minutes left and I did some grocery shopping. I made an important discovery. Early morning is the best time to run errands. It's fast, uncrowded and toddlerfree.

The rest of the day went by so slowly. "Will he win? Will he win?" went on in my head. I learned that several of my officemates were going to Grant Park that night for what could be Obama's victory speech. As Grace said, "It's going to be like MLK delivering the histroic I Have A Dream. It's a historical moment that you just have to be there." If my husband and I didn't have a 2 year old to babysit, we would have been there too.

I was determined to avoid the broadcasting of the election returns on tv. My plan was to sleep early and just be roused from sleep to be told of the favorable result at 11pm, midnight, 2am whatever that time be. But by 6:30 after giving Evan his dinner I was already nodding off. I had to take a nap. I left instructions to Tom  to wake me at 8 for Evan's bath and bedtime. And when 8 o'clock came it was so hard for me to get up that I was convinced I was going to keel over in the middle of Evan's bathtime. But as I made my way groggily in the hallway my husband told me with a quiet smile on his face how it was looking good for Obama, he won Pennsylvania and Ohio. The news did more than perk me up, it splashed a bucket of cold water on my face.

When the 55 electoral votes came from California at 10pm it was over for McCain. A few minutes later McCain delivered a great and touching concession speech. For his sake, I wish he could've done a lot of things in his campaign differently.

Shortly after 11pm Obama, with his beautiful family, walked onstage. I have waited for this night. I have visualized this night. It had finally come. The 47 year old African American president elect spoke to the world. For that night our city Chicago was the epicenter of the earth. The universe has shifted, change has come to america. When his speech ended he stood there for a while waving to the crowds, his smile a little bit strained at times. Perhaps from weariness. Perhaps of the enormity of USA's problems that now rests on his shoulders.

Vice president elect Joe Biden came in. The 2 greatest men in the universe to my eyes, together onstage on that victorious night. What a team. With such capable, intelligent and more than qualified men at the helm of this country is a very exciting and reassuring thought. Michelle came back with another beautiful, just as impressive figure, Jill Biden. Two inspiring women. Two inspiring working moms.

Tom and I finally called it a night. I checked on my sleeping son for the last time that day. Looking at his asian features as I pulled blanket on top of him I smiled. President Evan. Anything is possible for you my son. The world has gotten a little bit more promising tonight. 

Plugged into: Shery Crow's Change in my head
Currently reading: Newsweek
Currently watching: John Adams (Paul Giamatti)

Thank goodness I was able to convince Evan to wear his mouse costume for Halloween. What made it easier for me was that my being able to show him through our window overlooking the streets that all kids were in costume. This was our second perfect Halloween weather at an incredible 69F.

Compared to last year, he was able to haul in more loot and lots of chocolates too to the delight of his mommy. So far he has only eaten one lollipop and was he in heaven! Whereas mommy has eaten more than she should've. We went around 4 blocks of houses and got his pumpkin bag incredibly half-full. We were with his sidekick, friend, neighbour and his parents. Despite my coaxing he never uttered the phrases "trick or treat" or "happy halloween". Only "thank yous".

But he did say "treeeeatttt!" the day after. A day too late and a year too early.

Plugged into: Better In Time (Leona Lewis)
Currently reading: Children Learn What They Live (Nolte)
Currently watching: John Adams (Paul Giamatti)