Quarter Backtrack

A quarter-year had past since my last (decent) post. Looking at how things are going on right now, it seems a quarterly update is this site’s scorecard for this year.

Evan’s arrival last September had triggered this blogslacker mode. My prose juices (as if I had any to begin with) might have been flushed out together with my amniotic fluid. Well, as I always like to say (or use as an excuse)… everything now takes a backseat to “motherhood”.

Greatest Show in the World
Motherhood…ah yes! That had been my priority this 2006. Evan, as of this writing, is already 8 months old. My global colleagues fondly refer to him as the “little one”. But I always correct them that it’s not an appropriate term to use anymore, Evan grows so fast he now measures like a one-year old kid! And his mental and motor skills development is advanced as well. He can now walk (actually he run most of the time) and jump with minimal support and can hum a lullabye already (yes! my son is showing the gift of music! Hooray!). He now sits on his own and knows how to turn the TV off (amazing isn’t it?). He can now say “Daadee” to his old man. Still waiting for him to say "Hot Mama” yet though. Maybe when he get his first tooth. Yes, that’s where he slacks. No dental activity yet for my hyperactive kiddo. Sigh.

Watching him grow each day is really an exhilarating experience, you wouldn’t trade it for anything else in the world (yes, even for the season-ender of Prisonbreak!). One of my favorite mother, Wanda Wizowski-MacPherson, said it perfectly. “I am lucky to be a mom. I have the front row seat to the greatest show in the world – watching my kids grow up.”

Everything said, I whole-heartedly and proudly share this greatest show with everyone. If you want to see how my little man grows more adorable every month, view his online monthly album in our smugmug site, here.

Pimp My Ride, Mom!
During our pre-Evan days, going out of the house is as simple as getting your wallet and dashing out of the door. But alas, when you have a child, even the simplest trip to the supermarket or the mall becomes a major (as in MAJOR!) production. Aside from your wallet, it is also a MUST to grab the diaper bag (make sure you have enough diapers, milk preparation, baby wipes and bib in there!), the stroller and the toys. And in our case, the yaya and my mom. Yes, we are yet to brave the outside world with Evan without the latter. The only time Riki and I ride with Evan alone in the car is when we brought him home from the hospital. Thereafter, my mom and yaya have been a formal and fixed member of the Garcia entourage for all out-of-the-house events and trips.

More stuff, more passengers. Our old and battered sedan thus seems so crowded and inadequate.

This gave me the valid justification to FINALLY push through with my long-time plan of buying my own car. I have been postponing this dream purchase for three years already, always finding a financial excuse NOT to buy yet. But this year, the universe seems to conspire to help me get my dream ride. A hefty performance bonus and a promotion at work (SALAMAT SOX!!!) also helped facilitate the decision-making process. It is HIGH TIME indeed.

Last April, we brought home the newest member of the family, GAEL. Charolastra!

And since I have been waiting for him for the longest time, Riki was generous enough to get me a customized plate. My name + Evan’s bday. Woohoo! And as a family tradition, Gael was also baptized at the Santuario De San Antonio. :)

After thirty-one years, I finally bid farewell to commuting.

Brighter Than Sunshine
Three weeks ago, I flew to North America for a semi-annual three-day meeting. I stayed there for ten days, the longest time I had been away from Evan ever. Before work, during work and after work, I was able to squeeze in some leisure trips.

Walking in the City of Angels
I always treasure my time. So after arriving at the SFO airport and checking-in at my hotel, I and my friends from Vallejo drove straight to Los Angeles. Hollywood and Universal Studios here I come!

Where is the moment when needed the most
You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost

They tell me your blue skies fade to grey
They tell me your passion's gone away

You stand in the light just to hit a new low
You're faking a smile with the coffee to go

You tell me your life's been way off line
You're falling to pieces everytime
And I don't need no carryin' on

Cause you had a bad day...

Theme parks are indeed for all ages. I had a blast at the Universal Studios! The best I have gone to so far (well, the other ones are just Enchanted Kingdom and Ocean Park). The 4D/3D rides (Terminator 2, Back To The Future, Backdraft, Shrek, etc.) had been so much fun, I almost lost my voice shouting all throughout the ride/show. The Studio Tour was also enjoyable, we went through the “plane crash” set of Spielberg’s War of the Worlds, Wisteria Lane, and various studios and stages where Universal shoots its TV series and movies. Amazing!

For more pictures of my LA adventure, go here!

I opted not to visit Disneyland at Anaheim. I am reserving that first Disney experience for a future trip, with Riki and Evan.

My First Major League Game
One of my meeting’s after-office team activities is to watch a baseball game, to immerse the participants (majority of which are from outside NA) in an American tradition and favorite pastime. So off we go to SBC Park to watch the San Francisco Giant vs. The New York Mets game!

This is my first time to watch a baseball game and what do you know, I am watching it in style! Since this is a company activity, my group was given not just free tickets to the game, but the privilege to watch it from the company’s own suite box, complete with all the special freebies and overflowing food and drinks! Sweet!

Now I don’t just know who Barry Bonds is, I have watched him play live. The Giants won that night! Lovely!

Obviously, I enjoyed this trip, unlike the one I had last year. The only bad thing about this experience is my air carrier. I flew via PAL this time and let me tell you, their business class sucks. The chairs are uncomfortable (and sometimes, even defective!) you cannot sleep soundly, the entertainment system is so low-tech, the food and service is bad, and as always, the flights are delayed. The only good thing I got from flying PAL are the miles – I now have enough for 3 round trip tickets to Bora! At least my family’s summer vacation next year is now covered. Yey!

FNT
From all my raves above, you can say 2006 is a good year for me so far. New experiences, new places visited, new purchases.

Here are my other Fascinating New Things for 2006:
1. House, Grey's Anatomy and Prisonbreak series
2. Wentworth Miller!!!!!
3. Dora The Explorer (Yum Yum Yum Delicioso!) (We did it! We did it! Hooray!)
4. Blink and Tipping Point
5. Royce Nama Chocolates (Mild Cacao)
6. Toy’s R Us (but Ikea is still my favorite store in SG!)
7. Leap Frog Toys
8. Baby Blues comic strip
9. The Killers and Aqualung
10. Wentworth Miller!!!!