Birthday Party (Part 1)

On a very rainy Sunday, July 26, we celebrated Vien’s first birthday at Shakey’s, Domestic Branch, in Pasay City, with a Mickey Mouse theme. People started to arrive at around 4pm. I was happy to see the venue jam-packed with family and friends including kids and babies!

 

      

 

 

The program started with singing of the birthday song with me, A., and the birthday boy who appeared dedma to the world hahaha. He didn’t know what was happening around him.

 

 

Kids and adults alike participated in the games: hide under the blanket, bring me, face drawing, mime game, and guess the title of the song/movie. My pamangkin Moja was active during the games. I think he participated in most of the games and got most of the prizes hehe.  There was also a parade of pizza, including the 39-inch giant pizza and the 10 boxes of manager’s choice pizza. May balloon twisting pa at face painting!

 

Mickey Mouse Themed Birthday Celebration

This Sunday, July 26, Vien will have his first birhday party at Shakey’s Domestic Road, Pasay City. The event was coordinated by my dear friend way back from college -  Joy from JCC events group. 

*****************

On the ranting side,  the party was supposed to be held at Shakey’s Bluewave, Macapagal Highway. The Shakey’s manager offered us the Bluewave courtyard to be the venue instead of it’s branch dining area. We excitedly accepted it with a condition that we should have at least 100 guests. My friend Joy booked the date and paid it full as early as first week of July.

Last Wednesday, we called them again to ask if the venue is all set  for our party. The manager told us that we won’t be able to use the courtyard anymore because the Bluewave management did not allow them. We then found out that they only submitted the reservation letter just this week, as in few days before the event! How irresponsible!

They were so apologetic and offered to give us a free giant pizza and free appearance of Suzy the mascot. Yun lang? Imagine all the hassles they gave us!

Anyways, I won’t let them upset me further. I refuse to be a victim of an irresponsible crew. I accepted their offer and a change of venue. But the talk is still ongoing. Joy is demanding more. I hope we get what we fully deserved.

Happy 1st Bday Vien!

Dear my baby boy,

Frankly, I wasn’t expecting much from our first year together. I thought, you’d be this just little being who would eat, sleep, and poop, and I’d be just this rookie mom who would let you do all three and make sure you’ll grow healthy. I was delightedly wrong!!! There were sooooooooooo many things, wonderful, terrifying things that had happened.

Your tatay and I have been the witness first-hand how incredible life has become when you came to our home. We didn’t know what to do the first night. Actually, there were many nights and days we were clueless if what we’re doing was right. You pooped, we changed your diaper, and then after a few minutes, you pooped again. You pooped quite a number in a day! Woohaaa! Was that normal? You got us very worried. We called up every mother we know asking if it’s ok, or if you’re already having a diarrhea. But now we know, it’s just you doing your normal thing.  Pooping almost every meal. The first month was quite a disaster. Being a parent wasn’t that easy, as in! We definitely didn’t pass with flying colors.

But as months go by, and as poops have become less frequent, you have become the “human being” we normally see on TV and read in books or magazines. You didn’t just lie there soundless. You started to wiggle your legs and flap your arms. You let out a smirk then a smile. You have learned to “talk back” which is OK, really. We don’t care if it’s a complain or what,  we’re just happy you’re making/jabbering words. You’re finally one of us!!!

You have given us cute surprises every month. In your own naïve way, you’ve made us cry and laugh at small mundane things. We watched you yawn and it made us smile. We let you kick our faces and we said you’re getting stronger. You peed on us and we just laughed about it. Your first fall, first bump, first mosquito bite made our hearts cry a little. But all these things, we knew, are part and parcel of this thing called growing up. Yes, you really have grown so big now! You can sleep by yourself at night without me carrying you. You wake up to nurse less frequently. Your bath tub looks small on you; you used to just lie on it with a bath recliner but now you already want to step out of it! You prefer to go outside than play in your crib. You want to have a “taste” of everything you see, literally. You’ve become this strong little fellow who looks far from that tiny baby we used to have. Where did the time go?

Truth of the matter is, from day 1 up to to this day, we are simply sooooooo happy to have you. Life made a major turn, now with a more meaningful aim. This journey is something different, enjoyable, and requires sacrifices and hard work, but one that your tatay and nanay are willing to take.

So on your first birthday, we wish you a bump- and fall-free day. You can do it! Enjoy your first cake my baby. There will be more cakes to eat and candles to blow. Happy, happy birthday! We love you so much.

love, 

tatay & nanay

Wish List

Some of my friends and relatives are asking me about what I want them to give Vien for a birthday gift. I hurriedly told them that anything will do, and I mean it. I really do.

Vien wouldn’t mind receiving such gifts like toys, books, clothes, or any combination of the three.

However, as I browse through the net, I simply couldn’t help myself but gasp in delight and wish that my little boy would receive something like these:

1) A cute cap

2) Goodnight Moon or Dr Seuss’s One Fish, Two Fish, Three, Four, Five Fish!

3) Stacking blocks, shapes, or colors

4) A Junior trike

For Vien’s ninangs and ninongs as well as titas and titos who really have no idea what to give my boy, here are some stuff you might like to consider.

clothes, shoes, bathing essentials, and feeding sets 

For clothes and shoes, it is best to tell the salesperson that the item is for a 1-year-old boy. The sizes may vary, but if you’re not sure it fits, try one size bigger.

For toys, read the labels carefully. Look for the age warning: “Not suitable for children under 3 years of age”, with a symbol like this:

There are so many cute stuffs to shop for, but so little time (and cash!) hehe…

Happy shopping!

 Photos from amazon.com

Those First Magical Steps

Here is my little guy “window shopping” :0)