First taste of chocolate

Alexus is almost one year old (only 5 more days to go). I have delayed giving him foods that might give him allergies because I might pass it on to him being allergic to some foods myself. When he was an infant, he was also sensitive to the formula milk we gave him so I was very careful in the food he should take. The eggwhites should be given to a baby from one year onwards but one time, Lex ate Miggy's leftover quail eggs with the whites. Good thing, no skin rashes. Other foods that I'm still not giving him are mangoes, nuts, oranges, pineapples and chocolates until he is 2 years old. Today, I just left him a few seconds in the kitchen and I didn't notice he was able to grab a bag of M&Ms from the pantry cabinet. When I came from the washroom, I couldn't find Lex in the kitchen and I just heard noise from the kids room. He was with Kyle, both of them giggling and eating their bags of M&Ms. His was still unopened but the chocolates ooze out of the bag from his bites. I was shocked to find his shirt and jumper stained and, his face and hands covered with chocolates. He looked like he's enjoying his first taste of M&Ms. This photo entitled "Napabayaan sa kusina" (Left in the kitchen) is telling me that giving him chocolates cannot be delayed anymore. I just hope he will not have allergic reactions to it.

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Bottled Starbucks, anyone?

Starbucks coffee shops here are outnumbered by Tim Horton's which abound in strategic locations (just like Jollibee). I miss my coffee time with my girlfriends at Starbucks. The last time I was at Starbucks was when we went to Canada's Wonderland in summer and it's been ages for me hahaha. I used to have frequent visits at Starbucks when I was still working, we hold meetings there. There are other reasons - to meet my friends and chat, to unwind on a stressful day, to fill my sticker sheet to get the planner (I wonder what's the design for next year's planner?) or just enjoy the richness and aroma of the famous coffee. I'm so happy when Lito bought me bottled Frappuccino. He said it's his cure to my addiction (LOL). Of course, nothing beats the original Mocha Frappuccino but the bottled ones are not bad either. Now I can have my favorite anytime I please.

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Santa Claus Parade in Downtown Toronto

At last I can feel Christmas! I miss the early celebration in the Philippines where the Christmas Carols are being played in shopping malls and Christmas shopping is done as early as September. Today, we witnessed the Santa Claus Parade for the first time. This event is an annual thing here and the kids/kids at heart look forward to come and see this. The parade marks the start of the Christmas celebration here. It is supposed to start at 12:30 so we waited for at least an hour before we finally see the floats. Good thing, we found a nice spot at the corner of Yonge and Shuter in front of Eaton Centre. The kids enjoyed watching the marching bands, the clowns, the floats and of course, Santa Claus. Oh btw, the Heritage marching band from the Philippine community is really good. I feel proud. I have here some of our photos. Alexus was wearing a Santa suit that's why in the video (oops sorry, only my FB friends can view in my FB profile, cannot post here),Santa was pointing to him. He doesn't know this yet but he will be happy when he finds out once he can understand. On our way home, Miggy and Kyle were still excited, talking about the floats they saw and cheered on the parade. I heard their favorites were Mr and Mrs. Potato Head, the Gingerbread house, Santa's workshop, Barbie and the three musketeers, Clifford, Handy Manny, the polar bear of Coke and also the clowns who exchange high fives with them and gave them goodies. It was indeed another memorable weekend.

Taken in front of Sears with the mascot

Irmee and Lex in Santa suit while waiting for the floats




At Yonge-Dundas Square after the parade
In front of Rogers Building in Bloor
Forty days until Christmas and the temperature's dropping too. Look at me, wearing winter gear and feeling cold as if winter when it's still fall hahaha. HOHOHO! Merry Christmas

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Sharing Kyle's ABC Book

I have been busy these past weeks doing the kids and our travel photobooks. So far I have only finished 3 and the other one for Lex is still in progress, waiting for his First Birthday photos. I wonder if he will ever have a party (ninu-ninu-ninu). It's already the 15th and no party planning yet. Anyway, at least I already have my gift. I also made one for Candy as birthday present. But here's my latest, an ABC Book for Kyle's Toddler Years. I hope I can finish the Palawan and Hong Kong travel books before the free 8x8 (39 pages) from Artscow expires soon.

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I hope this doesn't happen to me or else...

I have met and become friends with some mommies of my son's classmates but I don't remember their names. I only know their's son's or daughter's names so I call them Elman's mom, Rifath's Mom, Andrea's Mom, Soliman's mom. One morning, I saw Soliman and his mom kiss each other before the boy lined up. I was kinda envious at the sight because Miggy was not that expressive to show his affection to me or his dad. Then, I also remember seeing Soliman's mother and Teacher Coleman talking about an incident during lunchtime. The boy accidentally (?) pushed a classmate while playing tag. Miggy and Soliman was also playing tag after school but I didn't see him push. This boy is bigger, a regular-sized 8-yr-old so you can imagine how I would feel if he pushed Miggy.

Today, I was about to talk to Teacher Coleman regarding Miggy's Project but I stopped on my way because he was talking to Soliman's mother and another teacher. I noticed that Soliman's mom was teary-eyed as they were talking. I asked Miggy why and he told me the story. Soliman's seatmates caught him copying the poem they were asked to do. It's a poem about Remembrance Day (which we are celebrating today) but Soliman continued copying and the seatmates started complaining. There was already a commotion in the last table where they were seated and Soliman was heard saying, "NO! I am not!" then shouted "I feel like slapping all your faces!" This made the teacher call their attention and they were all called to his table to explain the incident. When they were finished. Miggy heard the teacher telling Soliman, "You're going to the Principal's Office" in a manner like a Policeman telling a criminal "You're going to Jail! (this was the exact words of Miggy LOL) That's the most dreadful words that a student wants to hear but what's more dreadful is that the parents being called in the Office with the student.

I saw the dismal in Soliman's mom while she was talking to Teacher Coleman and the other teacher whom Miggy later confirmed as the Vice-Principal. I hope that doesn't happen to me, I would have wanted to be buried right there so that other moms and dads will not look at me. It was so shameful. But I was told that this is not the first time that Soliman was called in the Office and that they were to return with Soliman's dad tomorrow at the Principal's Office (sounds like courtroom to me). I guess the verdict is either a suspension or expulsion depending on the severity of his other cases. I really hope and pray that this doesn't happen to me or else I'll go back to the Philippines and never return. On our way home, I told Miggy how I felt about this but he assured me, "It will never happen Mom." I hope so.

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Dream Interpretation - Shopping and Shoes

It was ages ago since I last remember my dream but this week was different. I dreamt of me shopping for shoes. I guess I am missing my shopping escapades in the Philippines that's why these two items were the subject of my dreams. Here are the interpretation I got:

Shopping: Generally, if shopping in your dream is not a source of great stress and confusion, it suggests that those things which you need are available to you. Your environment may have readily available emotional, psychological, spiritual or physical support. However, you may need to learn exactly where to look, how to select what you need, and when to make a wise investment. This dream calls upon you to know yourself. Before you can ask for or get what you need, you first need to accurately identify it.

Shoes: First consider if you are currently having problems with your feet that are being carried over into the dream state. Otherwise, we only wear shoes that fit us well. Thus, you may be expressing unconscious feelings of self assurance or confidence. You may have issues concerning your self-identity, but if the details of this dream are supporting, you may be reassuring yourself that you are on the right path and have mastered a degree of self awareness.

There was a resemblance in both the interpretation given - self-awareness. I know dreams help us in identifying or solving some puzzles in our life and I'm not sure what the dream is referring to. Maybe I'm not really confident with my status right now but the dream also gave me an assurance that I'm on the right path. Thanks for this, I really need it.

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Getting ready for our First Winter

It's already November and I can feel the cool breeze up to my sleeves each time we go out and take Aloysius to school. This morning, the thermometer read 0 degrees and we wore double - our code for 2 jackets (or 1 jacket and 1 vest). By the time, it hits the negative, it's gonna be triple (thermal undies, fleece jackets then insulated jacket/snow suits(tops and bottoms)/vest). Aside from that, the gloves, bonnets and scarves are necessary.
Notice that the neckline is high. Once you wear this jacket, the part of your face up to the nose level is covered.

For my baby, aside from double, he should also be slipped into an over-all snowsuit. The ears, neck, hands and feet must be covered. We are also looking for a foot muff that can fit into his stroller to keep his legs and feet warm.


For the footwear, we already bought winter boots for the kids. I'm still waiting for a good bargain but I found one at Sportchek, I hope Ani can buy in my behalf. The boots are not the same as the fashion boots that we see in Sex Bomb dancers but those with little spikes to keep you from sliding and fleece material inside to keep your legs and feet warm. At first glance, it looks like a "bota" (rain boots) that I used to wear for floods but the materials are totally different. While the rain boots are plastic, the winter boots are suede or synthetic leather(?):
An example of a Winter Boots

Outfit-wise, we should be ready. I hope we are really ready to face winter.

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