For My Two Boys With Love

Noah and Kaiden,

Each moment you cross my mind, I praise God, and my eyes tear up with joy. As an individual, I have been blessed with so many wonderful memories and incredible accomplishments. I have been all over the world, talked with famous people, spoke in front of hundreds at conferences, participated in the Rose Bowl while with Washington, worked in the NFL and World Cup Qualifiers for the USA. Won All-Star Awards in Hockey, National Championships as a Rower and a few times Daddy even brought home Inspirational Awards. I have been to Major League Soccer Championships and was blessed by God the fate to win. I am respected in the medical field by my colleagues and valued by them to share my opinions. To me, that is an honor which in time you will understand more clearly.


But NOTHING. NOTHING I have experienced in life compares to, or comes remotely close to the simple act of watching you sleep peacefully next to me in bed. There is NOTHING as gratifying as watching you roll over and put your thumb back into your mouth and continue sleeping. NOTHING is so reassuring as hearing the air pass through your tiny nostrils so quietly. NOTHING more precious as your rolling your little body up against me in the middle of the night for protection and comfort. NOTHING more satisfying as to hear you laugh uncontrollably out loud. NOTHING that touches my heart more deeply than your little voice say "Daddy" or in Kaiden's case, "Da Da". NOTHING that melts my heart more easily than your tender kiss against my face.

You boys are my life. All I think about each day are ways to keep you safe, and ways to give you opportunities in life that make you feel complete and happy. Most of all, I want you to know your Daddy prayed to God for you to be his children before you were even conceived. I waited most of my life to have you and at the Lord's perfect time, I was blessed with two incredible boys.

Noah and Kaiden, I love you with all my heart. You are my reason for living. You are gift from God entrusted in me to raise you up properly in order to be good young men. I am not perfect, and I may unknowingly and unintentionally let you down, but I will always love you. Neither of you are perfect, but I will love you unconditionally with each passing day. For you are my sons. Two of the greatest people on this Earth. Two people that if given the choice of all those in the world, I would choose you to spend my day with. Yet the Lord has given me even a greater reward. He chose me to spend my life with you two. I am truly blessed. I love you boys. Always remember and be assured that your Daddy treasures every moment he shares with you. You are his happiness. You are his Joy. You are his son for whom he is so proud. You are his greatest accomplishment.

Love,

DADDY


Two weeks in Mexico, my husband just misses the boys so much that he thought of writing them a letter.

Sports Trophies

Boy, I'm so glad that my little Kaiden has finally recovered from the nasty stomach flu. It's certainly no fun having a sick child especially if it involves changing diapers every now and then because of loose bowels. Last Sunday was the first day his stool changed from being watery and runny to thick and less frequent. What a relief for him, and Mommy! :) During those days that I was home taking care of him and Noah, I happened to go over some of my husband's old photos. They won the MLS championships and he's holding their soccer trophies. One picture was with the team's 2 doctors. The other was him holding the big trophy in front of the team's banner. He looked pretty good on those photos, I must say. I still have to wait for him to bring home golf trophies one of these days. When I was in highschool, I joined our class's cheerleading squad. We didn't win, but the cheerleading trophies that were given to the winners were just spectacular. We were jealous, needless to say.

Trophiesales offers trophies, awards, plaques, medals, certificates at a price lower than its competitors without compromising great quality and excellent service. Name it. They have trophies, awards for every event or occasion such as sports trophies, retirement plaques, employee awards, even lapel pins, and a lot more.

The Pocket Parent

Couple of months ago, I got a book from Amazon called The Pocket Parent. As a parent of a toddler and a baby, I would need all the advice and help I can get on how to raise them well. I'm glad I made this purchase. Before I finally made up my mind on this one, I initially made a research on several parenting books available. I like how handy it is. It's fast and easy to locate the topics you're looking for such as potty training, tantrums, etc. Topics are alphabetically arranged, and different techniques, suggestions, or advice are enumerated in a simple manner. I like how the author presents the solutions on handling a particular situation in a story-like way. It's light to read, not overwhelming. This book serves as as quick guide for me and my hubby. Most of the time, it's in our bathroom along with the other magazines. Funny it may sound, but this is the only place in the house where I can be by myself and have time to read. hehe :) Other times, the book is in the living room for quick reference.

With Daddy

Noah and Kaiden patiently waiting for the pizza

Noah and Chuck E Cheese

His Daddy giving him his Whopper

That weekend before he left, my hubby decided that we treat Noah at Chuck E Cheese for his birthday, while he's still here. There were a lot of kids, apparently because it was a weekend. Pizza was great, as well as the salad! Oh, just loved their salad! It was one of the best I've ever tasted! Noah had a grand time with the slide, the rides, and definitely with his Daddy.

Sophisticated Living

Most of my relatives and friends live in New Jersey and New York. My parents have been residing in New Jersey for a number of years now. They like the convenience of living in the city. Stores are nearby that they can just walk a block or two to buy things they need, immediate or not. My friend whom my brother and I grew up with has been looking into Tribeca Coops. He just got married and they are already expecting a child. They have been searching for Tribeca Coops for sale or NYC Condo for sale for sometime now. He has been a living an upscale life eversince he was single. He desires the sophisticated experience that the New York City Condo brings. No doubt he can very much afford such modern lifestyle for he has a high-paying job to start with.

34Leonard brings luxury and sophisticated living at its best. It provides the ultimate upscale NY living to each of their lofts. The NY Condo is designed by world class architects who won awards for their creative and unique designs. As soon as you enter the lobby, you will be mesmerized by the classy ambience it projects. Bedrooms, kitchens were carefully and artistically arranged to accommodate a growing family. If you want to witness beauty and elegance, visit 34Leonard.

Noah's Birthday At Home

On his birthday itself, we had a simple yet sweet celebration at home. It was just the 3 of us- Noah, his brother Kaiden and myself. His Daddy was not home that day for he had to go to Mexico for another Spring Training. Sad, but he made up for his absence by calling that night to greet him. For his birthday, I made sure I got his favorites. We had his all-time fave spaghetti, chicken nuggets, meatballs, chocolate ice cream and not to forget, his Thomas the Train cupcakes! Oh, how he loved his cupcakes!

I had to take his shirt off for he could get very messy. :)

Kaiden was still sick, but he had a share of the spaghetti and nuggets.

Noah's birthday is not complete without these- Thomas the Train cupcakes!

Cruise The Road

The time I pick up the kids has changed since last week. I get off work around 2:00 pm. At most times, I pick them up at 4 pm. But, the daycare provider asked if I could get them earlier than the usual. That means, 3:00 pm. My husband and I were guessing that the reason for the change was that she wanted to spend more quality time with her family. It's alright. The unfortunate thing is, I have to rush up my shopping in order not to be late. At most times, I do my grocery shopping after work. This is also the time I get to unwind and have some precious time for myself. I don't have to be in a hurry. Most of the time, I take time looking at newly built houses, even foreclosed ones while driving. At the same time, I get to see and be mesmerized by the latest models of cars as I cruise the road.

If you are into cars, and even if you're not, Acura TL is a must see. Out of 10, it got an overall rating of 8. It does get your attention with its sleek style. The Honda Civic Hybrid or the Honda Hybrid can boast of its elegant, futuristic style and fuel efficiency as well. Since they're hybrid, that means you can save a good deal on gas which is very important in these trying times. Nissan Altima is another great find. It does have a rating of 8.4 out of 10 according to TheCarConnection. Rating is based on style, performance, features, etc. You can count on TheCarConnection for honest reviews on different cars. You may want to check their site first before purchasing to be sure you're getting the right one for your taste and budget.

Happy Birthday Noah!

"You are our first born... our beautiful, precious child... I can't believe that you're a big boy now, no longer a baby... Gee..Mommy's having a hard time accepting that :) But, I'm happy and proud of what you have become for the first 2 years of your life... We treasure your every giggle, your smiles, even your tantrums and naughty ways... Continue making us laugh with your silly, funny ways. We love your kisses and hugs at bed time before you sleep. Your brother baby Kaiden surely doesn't mind waking up for your good night kiss, likewise your cuddly friends- brown bear, fluffy doggy, hairy lion, Chicken Little and Thomas the Train. Sweet, sweet Noah... Mommy and Daddy love you very, very much! Happy Birthday our lil boy!

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Daddy, you O.K.?

"Daddy, juice?", Daddy, crackers?". Our sweet boy, Noah took care of his Daddy when he was sick. He had been rubbing his back making sure he's OK. He never left his side even when his Daddy had to go to the bathroom. Stomach flu has been going around, and unfortunately we were not spared from it. My husband was in bed the entire day yesterday for he had been throwing up and had been having frequent bowel movements. It seemed that his body shut down. Baby Kaiden has his own share of vomiting and diarrhea as well. I can't remember how many times I've changed his diapers! He has been sleeping more than usual. Ironically, he doesn't look weak or acting like one. He's active and plays like normal. I'm just glad that he could drink a good amount of Pedialyte, Gatorade and milk. He gets fussy though whenever I change his diaper for his bottom is almost covered with bright red rash. Poor lil guy. :( Noah had the illness too, but it only lasted for a day, which happened last Sunday. So, he's good the rest of the week. I hope my 2 other men get better soon. Although not completely recovered, my hubby needed to get up early this morning for a trip to Mexico. Yeah... oh, well... It's work so he couldn't really afford to stay home and recuperate. My poor hubby. :(

Anyenye!

It happened so fast. Just turned my back for a second, and to my surprise... :)

Cool, Fun Site

When my Dad was here, he shared with me a great recipe of his famous Chicken Mami Noodles. It's simple to do, yet the taste is just spectacular! Mmmm! My Mom and I even teased him that he could open a restaurant and earn big time from his Chicken Mami. The recipe includes chopped onions, scallions, pork rind or chicharon, toasted garlic, ground pepper, beef and chicken bouillon, Mami noodles, and of course the main ingredient, chicken. My hubby could finish a huge bowl of the soup. The little ones, Noah and Kaiden couldn't stop opening their mouths to eat a spoonful of it Today, I tried the recipe and while waiting, I came across Acobay.

Acobay sounds like a really fun idea to share your stuff. For a start, I thought of putting my blog with the aim of boosting more traffic to my site, meet new friends who share the same interest as I do. Then, I also thought of including our dogs under Pets category, a Chocolate Labrador and a Jack Russell Terrier hoping to meet owners who have the same dogs as I do. Hmmm... How about sharing my Dad's Chicken recipe? Why not? Acobay is indeed a cool, fun site. Join us now.

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Noah- A "Thomas" Boy

Noah likes Thomas The Train, A LOT!. In fact, for his birthday, we got him Thomas the Train Bike with matching helmet and pads, Thomas the Train bedding set and pillow. My husband wanted to get a desk for his room. So we got him that as well, but had to be returned because of some factory defects. I have been practicing him with his bike in the hallway. ehehe! Couldn't do it outside for it's a bit chilly. :) Last night, before going to bed, Noah hugged his Thomas pillow and kissed it many times. He loves it so much! We can see in his face that he's sooo happy. We're so pleased to see his face light up. Our children's happiness is ours, too.

Here are some of his birthday presents from Mommy and Daddy.

Hope To Bad Credit

The day after my husband arrived, we went out on a shopping spree to buy gifts for our birthday son, Noah. His birthday is still next week though, but we just went ahead and shopped that day since my husband has a busy schedule. We could see in Noah's face that he's so happy with what we got him. Unfortunately though, the store didn't have as much as customers as it used to. Well, we all know why. The majority of the people are affected by the recession. Everyone has a tough time making ends meet. Lay-offs, cutting work hours, etc. are some measures that employers take to save the company. Because of that, people may have a hard time paying off their credit card bills, mortgages, loans, etc.

Some people know how to handle their finances, and some don't. Credit card companies charge incredibly high interest that make it difficult, if not impossible for customers to pay. It can really be frustrating. A few would need a credit repair. Having to repair credit isn't simple to accomplish. Online you could find sites that could fix credit, and help you get approved in most loans like home and car loans, etc. Visit RepairYourBadCredit.com now. They have the solution right for you.

Sincerely

Thank you so much, Melissa, for this Noblesse Oblige Award. Reading your blog inspires me truly. I get a lot of valuable information on parenting, and on everyday life as well.



This Award is presented to bloggers who display consistency in any one or a combination of these conditions:

1. The Blogger manifests exemplary attitude, respecting the nuances that pervades amongst different cultures and beliefs.
2. The Blog contents inspire; strives to encourage and offers solutions.
3. There is a clear purpose at the Blog; one that fosters a better understanding on Social, Political, Economic, the Arts, Culture and Sciences and Beliefs.
4. The Blog is refreshing and creative.
5. The Blogger promotes friendship and positive thinking.

The Blogger who receives this award will need to perform the following steps:

1. Create a Post with a mention and link to the person who presented the Noblesse Oblige Award.
2. The Award Conditions must be displayed at the Post.
3. Write a short article about what the Blog has thus far achieved – preferably citing one or more older Post to support.
4. The Blogger must present the Noblesse Oblige Award in concurrence with the Award conditions.
5. The Blogger must display the Award at any location at the Blog.

I started this blog with the goal of recording my children's development through the months or years. It's also my aim to share to everyone stories of my kids as they grow up, my family's adventure, etc. I would want to laugh with them, or tease them when they get older as I show them their baby photos, funny videos, and hilarious stories.

White Top and Jeans

Wow! Low, low prices! Every Sunday, I would go through all my ads, or circulars that go along with the Sunday paper. Oh, I can't believe how much the prices have gone down. A clearance item is already a good deal. Some stores would still give a huge discount on top of that. There are wholesale clothing shoes, accessories, etc. I can't remember when I bought clothes for myself. I guess it's time to look for one.

For comfort and style, I like wearing jeans except on work days when I wear scrubs. I would look for a nice shirt or blouse from the clothing wholesale to match it. Simple yet trendy is what appeal to my taste. A white top and jeans make a perfect combination for me. And, of course, being a mom of two little kids, it has to fit my budget, too.

Take Care Of Your Heart

Sadly, I have had relatives and friends who died from heart attacks. I remember my husband telling me a story about a colleague who seemed to be healthy, but succumbed to a sudden heart attack after an early morning jog. According to statistics, the No. 1 killer for women is heart disease. There are warning signs that women tend to shrug off and not take seriously. A good example would be if you experience tightness in the chest. One may think it's just a heartburn. Sometimes, it's harder to tell for women for they are subtler.

In line with this, I encourage everyone to join this inspiring program from American Heart Association Go Red For Women and Chiquita, Fresh Express. Show your support by simply signing-up and uploading your photo to the site. In fact, every time you buy marked Fresh Express Salad or Chiquita Fruit Bite, a portion of it is donated to the program. I signed up myself for I believe in the good cause. Be healthy and feel good.

My Sweet Man

Happy Hearts Day!

Today while I was making a collage for my dear hubby, I'm reminded of the days when we first met, the surge of electricity that flowed from our hearts to our veins... I love looking back on those days, and with the years that had passed by, he still amazes me with his loving, caring ways... my sweet, strong man.

Kid Again

It was fun, but it was sooo hard. The first 3 days was a challenge for me. I'm talking about hula hoops here. hehe :) There were hula hoops stored in our garage and I thought of giving it a try, for fun. I felt like a kid again. The first time I hula hooped, my little boy Noah couldn't stop laughing! It just kept on falling! I could only do it for 5 counts, and that's it. Even less than that, like 3 counts. I couldn't keep it up. Gee! I didn't know it was that difficult. Amazingly, this morning, I was able to do it longer, without the hula hoop falling. Counted 30 seconds and it's still up. Yipee! ehehe :) 'Twas nice to be kid again. :)

Web Hackers

After that embarrassing experience at ALDI, I went to Walmart to buy the stuff I needed. My husband is coming home from a training in Florida tonight and I didn't have any milk at all. So, I got milk for him and Noah, eggs and bananas for me and my little munchkins. Noah loves bananas a lot, and Kaiden loves them especially when mixed with pureed green peas. As I was shopping, I remembered my cousin asking for suggestions for a good web hosting service. He just moved to New Orleans last October and he's aplnning on having a website of his own. I recommended to him this awesome site called Webhostinggeeks.com. They do have a lot of information that would definitely help him with his decision making. I stressed to him the importance of internet security. There is an absolute rise on hackers these days; therefore, he needs to be wary about it. Aside from getting a reliable web host, he also needs to be sure that he's site is highly protected.