Dear Lukas, Letter Number 4 (Month 4)

New Toy!
Originally uploaded by siraulo

Dear Lukas,

Four months! I can't believe how much you've grown over the past month. You're trying to sit up now. You love to stand up with our help and it takes all your strength to resist when its time to lie down again. You are still having a love-hate relationship with your hands, but every so often you are quite the thumbsucking expert.

I started working this month and it was really hard to leave you for so many hours. Up until then, it was pretty much you and me 24/7. Now we just have to subtract 8 hours from that. Thankfully, I get to be home by 3:30 and work is just minutes away. Lolo Ernie is getting the hang of caring for you and I know you're have tons of fun with him and Lola Aida when she's not working. I'm glad you get to spend time with your grandparents but I look forward to those couple of hours when its just "us" time again. The hours are less, but much much more cherished. Could it be possible that I love you more and more each day? I'm not sure how much more my heart can take.

We spent your first Thanksgiving surrounded by family who love you very much. Grandma Let, Grandpa Jes, Uncle Poy, Lolo Ernie and Lola Aida all came to Tito Manny and Tita Marlene's house for a meat heaven holiday dinner. Daddy made a yummmmy stuffing and Uncle Poy made a delicious spicy creamy soup. You were such a good boy, all smiles and babbles. I can't wait for Christmas!

Speaking of Christmas, we had a makeshift photo shoot at home for our first family holiday card. You were much more fascinated by the red parol than to look at the camera. You looked very cute in your red "First Snow" footsie. I think we took a little too long to get just the right shot, because you started to fuss after the hundredth shot, hehe.

I'm going to have to cut this letter short this month, Mama has some last minute school work to do. You're sleeping right now by the way and we're STILL waiting for you to finally sleep through the night!!

We love you TONS!

Love,
Mama

Back at Work

With Lolo & Lola
Originally uploaded by siraulo

Mom & Dad get to spend quality time with their grandson while I have to go back to work. Been at work for barely 2 weeks and I've already lost my voice. Thank goodness being a computer teacher rocks. :)

Why B is the best hubby in the universe

Rouge
Originally uploaded by siraulo

B is the most awesome hubby because when I get on his nerves, he takes me out on dates. He thinks I'm being bitchy lately because we haven't been out (without the baby, having fun) in so long we don't even remember. Thank goodness for cool ninangs like M who live in the neighborhood and can babysit so we don't have to shlep the poor baby past his bedtime to the grandparents.

Its a pain to prepare to go out though now that I'm a mom. I had to clean up around the apartment. I had to get the baby ready for bed, give him his bath, read his story, feed him. I had to cook dinner (well I didn't HAVE to but isn't it nice to prepare dinner for someone doing you a favor?) - angel hair pasta with pesto (fresh thanks to the magic bullet!) and a salad. I also made an accompanying pork adobo, just in case. I don't know how I managed to do those things AND meet B in time in front of the movie theater but I did. I just had to skip lunch to get that stuff done. Well I had bites here and there of a simple salad.

Funny thing though, just as we were entering the theater to buy tickets, we bought decided we'd rather have a nice dinner than watch a movie. We ended up at Rouge on Austin Street. I had the "Rouge Flight" - four glasses of different red wines. We had foie gras and a "pizzette" which had carmelized onions and gruyere for appetizers. Then he had the duck cassoulet and I had the rack of lamb for entrees. Then a white chocolate mouse for dessert. Yum.

We were home by 9:30. Waaaaaaaah!?

Adobong Manok

Adobong Manok
Originally uploaded by siraulo

About 5 minutes into cutting up a whole semi-frozen raw chicken, I realize I've never cut up a chicken before - cooked or non-cooked. Well, can't stop now, I think, as I continue. I start with the familiar parts, the legs, the wings and also realize I'm not totally grossed out by this. Cool! As I go along though, and the chicken defrosts further, I'm thankful that I started cutting before the blood melted. Right now the blood was just crystal chunks. I'm sure I haven't cut out as much as I could. Cutting a chunk of pork is way easier.

I can finally make adobo just the way I like it - the way Mom makes it - flavorful and just the right amount of saucy. This is probably the third time i'm cooking it, after several much more complicated attempts. Online recipes vary widely. The best thing to do is just to ask the person who cooks it for you the best how they do it. Mom's way is way simple. She puts whole peppercorns and garlic in a mortar and pestle to get the garlic juices seeped in with the crushed pepper. Then you get equal parts vinegar and soy sauce. In my case, I like it saucy and I have a whole chicken so I have a cup of each. Then you put it all together in a large pot with the chicken and bring to a boil. Then lower the fire to medium until the chicken cooks and thats it! Right now the fire is off, I'm letting the chicken cool so I can skim out the excess oil. And B is buying some greens for a nice accompanying salad.

Countdown

My baby sitter
Originally uploaded by siraulo

Less than a week now til I have to return to work. It's 7:44 in the morning and I can't wait til my little one wakes up. Trying to get organized, finally found all the paperwork I need to prepare for my return to school. I'm a little excited now about being in a new position. Who knew that one day I would be a computer teacher?! Trying to get familiar with the programs I'll be using, getting all my mayer johnson tools ready, planning out my first day which will be wholly non-computer related as I still havce to set up the computers. Thank goodness my first day is a half-day for the kids. I'll have a chance to set up once the kids have left for the day. I'm trying to find a Thanksgiving related lesson to do for my first day back. It's gotta be something that will work for my verbal and non-verbal kids. Hmm.

Cool Ninangs

Bubbles!
Originally uploaded by siraulo

Lukas has really cool ninangs (Tagalog for Godmothers). One is a nurse that spoils him by buying all sorts of outfits and calls me to join her for pedicures. Here is Shay, a speech pathologist who just started a program called, Ready, Set, Play! a learning playgroup program for children with special needs in Tribeca. We went to visit her open house, which was in turn Lukas' first trip to the city! He had tons of fun visiting the preschool where her program is being housed. Ninang Shay tried out her new toys with me and Lukas. I always come away feeling inspired after hanging out with Shay. I had my eyes and ear perked for much needed inspiration for my upcoming return to work. One week of freedom left.