Caitlin's new Dress

Caitlin after changing to the hospital gown. This was taken in ER. Later on, she was x-rayed (3 of us had to hold her to the x-ray bed). She was found to have Pneumonia. As of today, she's doing better than yesterday.

Caitlin Waiting....

Until last night, Caitlin had recurring fever since Thursday. Yesterday early morning, we decided to bring her to the hospital. These pictures were taken while she was waiting for the rest to come down.



Caitlin has

Visited National Museum with Sarah

When I was still a kid, Tito Ninong brought me to Ayala Museum. This time around, I brought my cousin, Sarah, to National Museum and Vargas Museum. She's into painting, so it was an opportunity for her to see the artwork of great Pinoy painters.

She was completely impressed by Spolarium.

By the time we got to Vargas Museum, I was already tired of walking. I just stayed on the Museum Coffee shop while she went around the museum.

We also dropped by the arts galleries in SM Megamall. I asked some experts on how to start a exhibit and get in touch with the likes of Sarah. It was a good conversation and very educational.

Kitchen Training

Due to the mess after the kitchen cabinet almost collapsed, I decided to inventory all the stuff that we have, including those inside the ref.

I focused my attention (yup, my OC side is on the override) on the onions and garlic. I asked Manilyn to take the peel off the bulbs and put the cloves on separate container. Then, Caitlin passed by - a good opportunity to expose her to household activities.

She never complained and immediately sat down on the floor. I am still amazed how she takes instructions.

The container in the foreground with fewer cloves is hers. It was her own initiative to put the gloves there, though I asked her to put it on the other container (almost full with garlic gloves just infront of her).

I really want her to grow up like her mom who knows the stuff in the kitchen (I consider myself a late bloomer in this competency).

Here she is trying to separate the cloves....

Hanging Cabinet

This pictures were taken last Friday night, May 14. The cabinet almost fell off completely due the weight of the mineral water container (we put it on the right corner). Luckily, it didn't damage the kitchen sink and the stove.

Nobody was hurt and nothing was broken. All of our plates and a couple of bottles, the most important in my perspective, were placed on top of the cabinets.

The rangehood frame is damaged though and I can't put back the cover. We can still use it though, and it seems that the alignment of the fans are not affected. We'll see in the long run.

Cebu Day Trip

I have a business meeting in a couple of hours, and I am at Bo's Coffee shop at the Asiatown IT center in Cebu. We landed right before 6am and went through the airport without a hitch. Except for the fact that neither (I am with another colleague) of us brought a Cebu map.

I got a map from the info counter before we went out of the airport. Then I realized that I have a GPS apps in my mobile - it worked perfectly with very strong sat signal.

The sandwiches that Tin made me are also handy - I just ate 2 pieces.

I met a couple of familiar faces, though they never recognized me - they are docs from UDMC, seniors of Tin. There's a OB-GYN event this week just 1 block away from our afternoon event.

Another good thing - Visibility works!

Before I left home, I missed Tin and KT terribly even though I will be back later tonight (last trip out of the island).

Those (Quite) Naive Look

We dropped by at Jollibee-Gumaca, on our way to Bicol. I took these pictures before she had her upper - a cup of Coke. After having several gulps of soda, she was like a spinning top in a very narrow room.

In any case, these pictures are one of those rare candid shots of her expressive face.

Kanin-o siya mana?

Recent Family Picture - March 2, 2010

The picture was taken in Capitol Park, Sorsogon City.

Beware of the Message You Tell Your Kid

If you have read my blog last time, apparently Caitlin got the message that it's "OK" to lie down on the floor of our monitoring center (in the office).

I brought her again to the office due to a couple of urgent meetings. Thus, Caitlin had to join me in all the meetings. I noticed that she simply rolled down to the floor when she felt like it. I thought she was tired or something or simply acting up. Then I realized that the last time I brought her to the office, I let her take a nap on the floor (it's carpeted, and I brought a mat with me).

I also realized that at home, we have a carpet where she plays on or take a nap on.

No wonder.

Lesson of the story - realize what message I am really telling my kid, beyond words.

Bonding with my Daughter

Last Sunday, Caitlin's nanny left in the morning. Tin and I had to schedule our absences accordingly - I reported on Monday and have been absent since Tuesday. The replacement nanny arrived this morning but I still have to put her up to speed.

Honestly, it's tough not to have a nanny in the house. But I am just glad that neither the company I worked with or Tin's organization are not very strict on taking a leave with a short notice. Also, because of the technology I could work remotely; I am burning the lines in the last few days.

Due to inexperience of the maid, I had to cook boiled pork with veggies. My wife advised me the steps, but I forgot if the meat should be boiled first or should be boiled together with the veggies (I was quite particular with the veggies that they should be crispy and half-cooked). I decided to check the net and found the article on nilagang baka. To make the story short, my wife liked it and Caitlin also ate some. Personally, I thought it could still use a bit of fish sauce (I didn't use iodized salt). But I would say, I didn't know the word 'moderation' when it was served.

Yesterday, I had to show to the office since I need to meet with a couple of members; I coudn't do it over the phone. I had to bring Caitlin with me, together with 1 big bag full of stuff, including a mat, a pilow and a blanket. I was doing the meeting in a room, she was just contented on playing inside the room (Leah, one of the managers, let her borrow one of the former's dolls). And when I realized that she wanted to take a nap, I laid down the mat on the carpeted floor and let her lie down. She had a nap for 30 minutes or so, she didn't complain. She actually laid down there for another 30minutes. I even left her when I had to my rounds on the floor; she just stayed on the floor.

She did cry once and I almost went into panic - she was calling for her mom. But when I carried her on my arms, she stopped crying.

I took her with me when I had lunch with the managers. She was relatively behave, though I had to slap her hand because she threw some noodles on the table behind us. Luckily the customers on that table left early on. While I was having conversation with my colleagues, she was waving her hand and saying, 'goodbye' to everyone who passed by on their way out of the resto.

Every afternoon, I would take her out for a catch-ball. Normally, I am on the losing side - dead tired and short of breath. Everytime, she earned a scratch - yesterday was a scratch on her sheen, then another one this afternoon on her arm. Otherwise, she doesn't cry when hitting the ground hard.

I also had to deal with the inexperienced maid. Last Tuesday, I noticed that the maid left the stove knob still turned on. I could smell the LPG in the kitchen. She thought that it's already safe since there's no fire coming out of the stove. I immediately concluded that she grew up using a charcoal-based stove, which she confirmed. I made this conclusion because the bacon that she cooks, since she came in, would always shrink to dime size due to higher temperature - in a charcoal-based stove, there's no way for you to control the size of the fire or it's simply very time consuming to do so.

This morning, the climax - she left one of knobs on a 'high' position! When I opened the door (we came from Ali Mall to pick up the replacement nanny), I immediately got a headache because of the foul smell coming from the stove! She decided to leave it as is thinking that I was in a hurry - again, even if you leave the charcoal-based stove with fire, it won't spread as long as there's no element (e.g. strong wind) that will bring the amber to the nearest combustible materials.

Tin and I also found out that she left the washed clothes in the dry line upstairs - for 5 days now!!! I explained to her that in the province it's okay to leave the clothes on the dry line for several days since you don't have much pollution, but not in the city. Furthermore, it also damages the fabric if the clothes stay longer under the sun.

We survived! Luckily, the new nanny knows one or two in a contemporary kitchen. So I asked her to monitor the maid as well.

For now, I have to put the new nanny up to speed. On Saturday, it will be Tin's turn to be absent - we have a team building in the office and I cannot miss it.

It's one of those Mastercard advertisement, this experience is priceless.

Travelogue - In Macao's Famous Cathedral Facade

I
I decided not to climb the stairs (I already walked almost 1.5km and had to walk back to MGM hotel) and had this picture taken. When this was taken, I wasn't that adventurous; besides, I just missed Tin and Caitlin so much.

No Nanny Today

Caitlin's nanny didn't show up today as scheduled. My sister took care of her in the morning and afternoon, and I was in-charge in the evening. She didn't put any resistance (yes, that's the most appropriate word) when I asked her to take a bath. She readily went with me to the bathroom. Since I am not that familiar with my kid's stuff, I couldn't find the shampoo and the soap - Pantene and SafeGuard seems to work. I just hope that Caitlin has no rashes tomorrow.

But it seems that my daughter is ready for eventualities like this. Here are some pictures taken, she's trying to have a soup by herself. She's sitting on the plastic chair that her lola bought her during our first day in Bibincahan.


I am anticipating tonight she's going to bed late since her nap lasted almost 4 hours today. Oh well, at least my mom is here to help me out.

[Caitlin In the Airport]

Last year, she traveled with her mom. Tin didn't realize how much distance she had to cover while carrying Caitlin - she never realized that NAIA Terminal 3 is no comparison with Manila Domestic Airport. Admittingly, it was a lapse on my side since I thought it would be easy for her, forgetting that she's way smaller than me and she had to carry a lot of kids' stuff.

So this time that I was traveling with Caitlin, with no nanny in tow, I ensured that all the bags could be hanged on my neck or my shoulders, while I could hold or carry Caitlin on my arms. I was also banking on the fact that Caitlin doesn't lose her temper due to lack of sleep (she stayed awake until midnight, playing with her great grandmothers and her Tita Karen).

My dad took us to NAIA 3 at 330am, together with Tin and Mommy Pat. Caitlin was amazed of the place. I immediately looked for the check-in counter for Legazpi and quickly found it. Caitlin simply stayed beside me and letting her eyes wander around. I think she was intimidated by the place, plus there were lots of people walking around. The picture above was taken while she was yawning. The picture on the right was taken on the check-in counter.

She was just trying to figure out where she was, I guess. It wasn't a problem traveling with her. She didn't even throw a tantrum, even though she lacks sleep. I ensured that she was always nearby and she never let her out of my eyes. Ironically, while I was checking our ticket (and she was just under me, behind the luggage trolley), she turned around and trip on the trolley wheel. She fell flat on her face. She cried for a few seconds, but after I took her on my arms, she stopped crying. That's my kid.
We were early, so I took time getting through the security check. I even took her shoes off, though, I am confident that the security won't ask me to. The boarding time was 520am (flight was 6am) so I decided to have a cup of coffee in Go Donuts. I let Caitlin sat on the chair (picture on the left) while I bought some donuts (orange juice for her). I was confident she wouldn't get out of her chair - she didnt. The only time she asked me to let her go down was after taking a few sip of juice. She started walking around, but not too far.

I realized that I need Caitlin to fall asleep in the plane. I was afraid that she might complain when the plane gains altitude due to pressure difference. Since she was getting more restless every minute, I let her run to the designated terminal. And when she was too far for comfort, I would just call her name and she would wait for me to catch up.

I was having fun looking at my daughter running, without tripping over. When we got to the terminal, I brought her near the window and showed her the plane we were going to take. After a while, she was pointing to our carry-on luggage and was saying "mon, mon" and pointing towards the plane. While waiting, she was wandering around the area, but not too far that I couldn't ask her to come back to where I was seated.

The picture at the bottom was taken while we were aloft. Caitlin was so tired running in the terminal that she just fell asleep on her seat. While the plane was being pushed back from the tarmac, she was still awake. While we were taxiing down the runway, she was keeling on her left side. So I put my arm to support her head, then positioned her knapsack on the same side.

Her position, for me, was uncomfortable so I just waited for the seat-belt sign to turn off. I took her out from her seat and put her on my arms. The lady beside me noticed that Caitlin has to fold her legs to fit on the 2 seats, she volunteered to transfer to the next row infront of me. I let Caitlin lie down on the 2 seats. But she woke up and immediately cried. Then I tried letting her head rest on my leg, it worked.

[Look Who's Lying on the Sofa Now]

[Caitlin Alone in her Seat - Never do it again]

Last December 13, a couple of hours we reached Tin's place, my father-in-law asked me to drive him to La Union, approx. 18 km north of Sorsogon city proper. It's one of the barangays of Castilla.

He had some transactions with a certain Pena, who is a copra dealer. He asked me if we could bring Caitlin with us, which I readily obliged. I was confident that Caitlin will behave while on the road. Papa didn't want to sit with Caitlin, instead he sat at the back. I find this acceptable since I already trained Caitlin to get used to wearing seat-belt in the front seat (this is not recommended, since there are car seats for kids that has the proper restraints).

I took Caitlin with me on the driver seat, then let her seat on the passenger, front seat. This way, she won't think that I was abandoning her (since Tin is not around, if she loses sight of me, she just cries). She didn't complain.

While on the car seat, she was trying to look outside the window. She's well behave and didn't complain. On our way to Castilla, she tried to sleep while we were getting nearer the place.

She was very quiet. Meanwhile, I was conversing with Papa about his family's history who came from the place, Rizal (a barangay up north of Capuy), we passed by.

He was telling me that after the war, his father and mother was buying and selling bandala (abaca fibers), copra and other agricultural stuff. But when the HUK was active in their place, members of Battalion Combat Team (BCT, Philippine Army unit during 1950s) would stay in their store. Thus, when the BCT left, his parents also left.

He also explained to me why it's difficult to be a copra dealer - it requires a lot of capital - or go straight and sell to the coconut oil refinery . You need tons of copra to deliver to the refinery consistently, which is quite difficult to source out.

I didn't know what his transaction in the area, but when he came back to the car, he had 3 bags of Chicos and bundle of sacks.

When we went back to Sorsogon, Caitlin fell asleep. She didn't wake up until I opened the front door.

The following day, I drove my uncle's CRV from Legazpi to Sorsogon - with Caitlin on board. When I agreed to drive Tita Margie going back to Sorsogon (after bringing Tita Lyds and Tito Vic, who drove to Legazpi airport), I forgot that KT's nanny won't show up until 6am. We planned to leave at 530am; and my mom couldn't be absent that time. Last minute, I decided to bring my daughter with me.

Going to Legazpi was easy, KT was with me in the back seat. She fell asleep easily. Getting back to Sorsogon was tricky. KT didn't want to stay with Tita Margie. So I was confident enough to let her sit on the front seat with seat belt on. After Cumadcad, a barangay of Catilla, KT's tantrum kicked in and started taking off her seat belt (she knows where to press the release button). I had to quickly look for a place to stop, which I did.

She just didn't want to go back to her seat and preferred to stay with me. I obliged and let her sit on my lap. I know this is unsafe, but that was the best choice I had; otherwise, I could have strapped her on the seat, but might have distracted me. She didn't interfere with my driving, unsuprisingly. But she fell asleep and simply slid between my legs into the floor. I had to step on the break slowly and look for a place to stop (going to Sorsogon, from Legazpi, is not a straight line between point A to point B, unlike travelling in Northern Luzon). This time, she agreed to go back to the passenger seat and fell asleep quickly. When I got off the SUV infront of our house, she was still asleep.

[Caitlin With Tita Tuy (Joy) - First Day in Sorsogon]

We arrived in Legazpi (12132009) 5 minutes earlier than scheduled. I took Caitlin out of the airport and look for Joy; she was there alright, and left Caitlin with her while I went back to the terminal to get my luggage. Except for torn handle (of an inexpensive - got it from one of Tin's seminar, courtesy of a pharma group) coat back, the trip was uneventful.


Gary, Joy's hubby, took us to Jollibee for a breakfast. From there, Gary decided to let us check their place in Daraga. Their place has several stair cases, and I was catching up with my breath taking the stairs. But the view from the top floor was magnificent. Sadly, Mayon Volcano wasn't on her mood - the view was blocked by clouds (according to the legend, when clouds are blocking the view, the volcano doesn't want to be seen by the people). Caitlin freaked out when she saw Caleb, huge dog (I cannot remember the type). You have to realize that in our compound, askal and those dogs as large as German Shepherds or Doberman are not common, let alone dogs not in a leash. Afterwards, we proceeded for Sorsogon.

Knowing Caitlin, she was trying to get the feel of Tin's house. The last time she was here, she was still an infant. When she saw stuff toys and dolls, she was overwhelmed and started saying, "wow, wow", with matching stretched arms as if trying to hug them all. She liked the doll with its panties/shorts on. Me? The first thing I did is to check the mobile signal - no difference as 2 years ago.

Caitlin didn't want to stay at the back with her Tita. So she stayed with me infront; she fell asleep on our way. When we reached Tin's place (Brgy. Capuy, approx. 8 km North of Sorsogon city proper), Papa was around to meet us.

My brother-in-law, took time out to prepare lunch for us. We had grilled pork and Chicken Curry, with a well-cooked steamed rice. My sister-in-law, April, and her hubby grilled the pork (I was out driving Papa to Castilla). Caitlin didn't want to join them; later on I found out that the dogs were sitting nearby and she's quite afraid of the dogs after the last time in Daraga.

We had a hearty lunch. Caitlin didn't have anything, though she did consume 1 bottle of milk before lunch time. Afterwards, I saw her with her Tita Joy, while holder her the doll she picked up from the shelf.

I also took a picture of Mama's orchids (pictured right) hich she started nurturing 2 years ago. It is a beautiful sight. The background is the hill where we normally camped out back in high school. When we were still kids, Mama sold different types of roses and was popular in our place. When we got married (and so was April), we got some of the flowers from Mama's garden.

Around 1pm, Caitlin took her regular nap. At 230pm, we left for Bibincahan. We are staying there until Tin arrives from Manila.

When we got to our house (in Bibincahan), Caitlin was trying to figure out again the new place (she's quite observant). In a couple of hours, she felt at home, just like in Capuy. It was rainy in the afternoon. I watched cable programs while my mom was busy playing lola to her apo.

It's nice to be back home.... But it will never be complete without Tin in tow. She will be joining us only on the 23rd of December.

[Caitlin in the Office]

I had to come back to the office today to send some emails. I took Caitlin with me.

Earlier Beverly was playing with her but I had to take her away since Beverly is reviewing for an exam.

She saw a door (server room) and asked me to open it. She also has the baloon given to her by Beverly.

She's well behaved and got the hang of the place.

[Update on the Pool atbp]

I just got off from a conversation with Dennis, admin manager, that the pool will be repaired soon. Their challenge is that the contractor doesn't want to use larger tiles since when it breaks, it can scratch the swimmers. It's still looking for smaller tiles; based on what I gathered, all the tiles will be replaced (crossing my fingers). It's a good idea to replace all since some residents are playing ball and pushing their strollers in the pool, this dislodge the tiles. Sooner or later, these tiles will come off.

Also on the whistling pumps at cluster 6 and 7, they are just waiting for the replacement bearings. The pumps kick in automatically based on schedule. I asked Dennis to reschedule it since it runs as early as 4am or as late as 10pm.

There will be an election on 1st Saturday of May for the homeowners officers. Let's see...

[Caitlin's First Tricycle Ride]

Today, I decided to bring Caitlin with me and join her mom on her way to the Ortigas bridge. Tin's misses KT because she's not going to see her for 10 days (we are leaving tomorrow for Sorsogon).

Going to Ortigas bridge' she stood infront of her mom (in Cainta, the tricycle's side-car can accomodate 4 passengers). She didn't mind - she was curious about the places she saw on the way.

Right after getting off the tricycle, we just said goodbye to Tin and crossed the street to take another tricycle going back.

This time I paid for her seat. She's so cute simply sitting there. She was trying to get the feel of it. When the tricycle started to move, she started waving her hand and saying, "mommy, mommy, babatch, babatch". Of course, by then, mommy was gone on her way to UDMC.

She was well behaved on our way back. She would glance outside enjoying the sceneries (of the squatter areas).

When we got back, she didn't want to walk anymore so I let her sit on my shoulders.

Family Picture as of Dec. 6, 2009

Note: Taken by Nokia E75, set to maximum resolution.