During a casual conversation with friends, the topic of having more babies was brought up. I brushed the idea aside jokingly by saying, I think two is enough for us. So we all laughed.

Some were of the same opinion. Others weren’t. Those who weren’t said more was always better, more cheerful, more fun. I understand their point. However, economy nowadays demand more, so much more, from way before.

Aside from the fact that job requirements are getting steeper and steeper, usual daily needs are also becoming more and more expensive. Plus, there’s the tuition, the school supplies and materials, and even their toys.

In fact, during our time, we make most of the toys we play. We construct them from materials we find in our backyard or in any place with lots of scraps. Now, most toys are bought, made to pass safety ratings, and overpriced.

We didn’t have NBA Live. We played tag or basketball. We didn’t have duncan yoyos. We made our own wooden yoyos. We didn’t have internet gaming. We baseball or soccer. Yes, we got scrapes, bruises, and sometimes even the occasional infections. But we survived.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about the environment now. Infections and scarier and deadlier. Materials are carcinogenic. And everything is way more expensive.

So, I’ll stick to our choice. 2 is enough for us.

What would you like to be when you grow up?

Sometimes I consider asking my little boy the question just to glimpse a view of what he would be 20 years from now. But then again, what can we expect from a 4-year-old? Heck, I know some people in their late twenties who still can not give a serious definitive answer to the same question.

But I still tried, because I want to see what his inclinations are. Yesterday, I asked him, what do you want to be when you grow up?

Without influence or taint from other people, kids are known give the most honest, sincerest answers, so his response would be a good marker (or at least I hope so).

When I saw him pause and think, my mind started racing with the possibilities – will he be considering Computer Programmer Jobs, or will he be taking up residency as  a doctor, or perhaps he’ll go through a teaching practicum.

His quick and unmistakable reply was: Rrrrrrrrggggghhhhhrrr! A dinosaur, dada!

I know the possibilities are endless, but I’m not entirely sure that his answer was even possible. huhuhu!

Instead of spending time researching about weight loss pills that work, andrea has committed to taking zumba lessons. Together with arlene, they go zumba-dancing on Tuesdays and Friday afternoons, usually leaving before 6 and then returning a few minutes before 8. I, on the other hand, become in charge of the kids and the house while they work out.

So far, it has been great. I get to spend some alone time with anika and mateo, while andrea and arlene get to spend some sisterly time together. There were a few challenging moments, yes, especially when anika would demand getting lulled to sleep for almost the whole 2 hours, but otherwise, it has been awesome. The girls seemed to be enjoying the workout (so much so that andrea has been persuading me to go with her lately) while the kids and I do a lot of catching up/bonding (during playtime).

Perhaps, when mateo and anika are old enough, we can all try zumba together. But until then, I’m okay with staying home. hehehe!

Health is a serious issue wherever you are. And now that we’re here in foreign soil, it just gets a little bit more cumbersome. Differences in medical procedures, treatment, and doctor-patient relationships can give pause to anyone who seeks medical attention in an unfamiliar place.

This is why andrea and I are trying are best to keep everyone in the family in top shape. We teach the kids to regularly wash their hands, bathe daily, and to recognize when they needed cleaning. Andrea and Arlene attend dance fitness lessons every week. I, however, just try my best to relax and keep my blood pressure leveled. As much as possible, I don’t want to end up on medication or as another Crestor lawsuit so I veer away from medication first. I employ more traditional, and less invasive methods such as reading a book, walking, and sleeping.

I hope none of us gets sick or would require medical attention anytime soon. We have very little support at the moment nor the means to seek medical aid at home.

Recently, I’ve been weighing the pros and cons of getting a digital converter. I’m convinced that it’s the best solution for us since it’s both a storage place and a TV processing accessory itself. It also picks up several different  channels as we.

Well, of course that will come after I get a TV first. But it just feels nice to think about what to buy with the money I earned from all the sweat and hard work. Maybe… next year. We’ll see.

The first time I saw a laminate floor in a local shop, I thought it was nothing more than an expensive fancy house accessory. I mean except for the looks, I thought it served no other purpose, so I didn’t pay much attention to it.

Now, several years and two kids after, I realized there was something more to laminate flooring than just elegant and customizable appearance. Because of its material, it’s actually a safer, baby-friendly flooring choice. It is much more effective in cushioning falls than wood parquet or hardwood, and definitely easier to clean too. Yes, it may not be as tough as marble, but whatever it lacks in the toughness department, it makes up for in safety.

What I’m basically trying to say is that I wish our room had laminate flooring so it’s a bit safer for our curious little explorer. But, I guess we’ll have to wait till we have our own place to fix already. Just hope though that anika would still be needing it by then.

Our youngest member of the family is turning out to be a voracious eater. She never rejects anything you give her. And she has no quams about showing her eagerness when it comes to food. At almost 9 1/2 months old, Anika has already eaten buttermilk bread, mashed potatoes, some Coco Crunch kernels, steamed fish, buttered fish, eggs, oatmeal, different egg omelettes, chocolate, cheese, and a bunch of there foods.

And these are just the edible ones.  On top of these, she’s already consumed an undetermined amount of stickers, paper, probably hair, dirt, and other things you won’t even think about putting in your mouth. Yes, she’s quick to put things in her mouth especially when we’re not looking.

So, by August (on her birthday), I’m thinking of giving her a strawberry cake like one of those Sharis Berries birthday gifts. I’m sure she (and probably her mom too) will love the choco-berry combinations.

Mother’s day has already come and gone, and I still have not been able to find a gift for my wife. I’ve browsed through several unique mother gifts already but nothing seems to either fit the budget or suit her.

She’s been wonderfully keeping the family together, patiently taking care of the kids and the house, and even manages to work while doing everything else. She’s definitely amazing. And although I’ve failed several times to tell her so, I hope this makes up for even just a little.

I LOVE YOU ny! You make our lives more than complete. Thank you so much for being the best wife to me and the best mother to our kids!

August is just a few months away so my daughter is just a few months away from turning one. Basically, this also means that we only have a few more months left in our search for the perfect gift for my little one.

I’ve seen many baby gifts already but I haven’t seen anything that either stands out or catches my fancy.   Besides, she has plenty of things to receive from kuya and the grandparents as well when they visit.

Ideas, anyone?

I’ve always been proud of how my son displays his curiosity about anything and everything around him – the way he frowns when I tell him only half-answers or just pieces of the explanation; the way he berates me with questions when he finds something interesting; or just plainly the way he talks and shares his opinions with me about his interests.

In fact, just a few days ago, when we were in a supermarket, he asked me about a pistol-looking apparatus he saw lying around on one of the shelves. What’s that dada? I told him that it was a bluetooth barcode scanner. It was not a real gun.

Then, he started insisting that it was a real gun. I proceeded to explaining what it was and what it does, but he still refuses to believe. Finally, in a last effort to settle the matter, he said, If that’s not a real gun, then let me touch it. I almost laughed when I realized that he was playing me all along, and he played me really well too.

I know I’m really happy and proud to have a curious and overeager son, but then again, I’m a bit scared too. hehehe!