Javi's 3rd Birthday in SG - F1 Grand Prix

The next day we had breakfast at a food court just beside our hotel and then Javi went to play at the hotel playground.

We then took our baths and made our way to Orchard to meet up with Ariel. At Orchard we got to see Darth Vader hehe.

Then we went inside the Apple store at Orchard.

Ariel treated us to lunch at Song Fa Bak Kut Teh at The Centerpoint. It was so yummy, even Javi ate so much! I think he finished a full bowl of rice all by himself!

After eating lunch, we went to Gate 3 of the F1 track (rode the MRT at Somerset station and then went down at City Hall station). Whiled away time at Raffles City and saw these photo exhibit. Dyan palang kinilig na ko hahaha!

We entered gate 3 of Zone 4 because we only got Zone 4 walk-about tickets on race day.

When we got inside, we were just in time for the Ferrari Challenge. Apparently there are two pre-races before the F1 grand prix race. Javi enjoyed watching the cars zooming past us.

Hinahabol nya ng tingin yung cars

After the first race, the rain poured. We had to take shelter and because Javi was becoming restless, we let him watch Youtube videos.

The Porsche race was delayed for 30 minutes.

This was infront of the Esplanade

During the race we transferred places because we wanted to scout where to watch during the F1 race. We went across the Espalanade which was also near the food stalls.

After the Porsche race, we ate early dinner, freshened up and went back to the first spot we went to. Here's a map of Zone 4 and a legend of where we stayed at
1 - Ferrari race/ F1 race
2 - Porsche race
3 - Porsche race
4 - parade of drivers

Unfortunately, it rained just before the race started. I'm thanking God, we were seated beside a Pinay, #TitasofManila, because she held the umbrella beside us so that Javi won't get wet, she lent us her jacket when the hard rain stopped but Javi still needed to be covered. I would have had a very hard time carrying him (because he fell asleep before the race started) if it weren't for that Tita. So thank you very much, Tita! We were standing up the whole time we were watching. When I was getting tired, I left the viewing area and tried bringing Javi to the area where we could sit down comfortably. I had to change his shirt because he was soaking wet with sweat because it was so humid! So yeah it woke him up. He insisted to go back to the viewing deck to watch the race afterwards.

haha sorry had to put it here to commemorate this day

So yes, we didn't even see the two Ferraris at our corner. Good thing there were practice laps so that time we saw them. But during the race, we didn't even see the cars! (They crashed on the first corner!)

Umuwi man kaming talunan, masaya pa rin coz we got to experience the race. Next time we'll save up so that we can watch the qualifying session as well.

The next day (our last day in SG), we didn't really have anything in our agenda. We just had lunch with Ariel at Bugis.

With his Lego car

Then it was time to bid SG goodbye!

Javi's 3rd Birthday in SG - USS and SEA Aquarium

So as I've mentioned in my last post, we went to Singapore for Javi's birthday. Joma and I went with Javi, yes just the three of us minus the two girls. Well, our thinking was Miya got to celebrate her birthday as a solo child when she was still the only child so we figured we should let Javi and Nina experience that as well. So for Javi's 3rd birthday, we decided to go to Singapore since his birthday coincides with the Formula 1 SG grand prix plus he likes Elmo, Cookie Monster, the Minions and he really likes cars. It's like hitting two birds with one stone hehe.

We left on the night of the 15th and arrived around 1:30am in Singapore.

At NAIA waiting to board our flight to Singapore

The lines at the Immigration was super long so it took us longer to get out of the airport. We arrived at our hotel around 3am. We slept for a few hours and then met up with Ariel at Vivo City before going to Universal Studios Singapore. At USS, we only did what Javi wanted to do. We didn't go inside any rides that he didn't like - that is, we didn't ride anything hahahaha! We only watched the Sesame Street show and then we lined up to have his photo take with all the characters he loved. We bought him toys and souvenirs for his Ate and Nina. So he enjoyed every minute of our stay inside USS. Well, almost every minute because he got scared inside the Sesame Street show hahaha! It was near Halloween so the show had a Halloween theme and there were thunder sounds as The Count counted, so he got scared of that hahaha!

When we got inside, we immediately saw Gru but unfortunately photo taking with him was up and he was whisked away by the USS staff. So we went inside the Minion Mart to get something for Javi.

Then we walked further down the road and saw Elmo and Cookie Monster!

Elmo was right across this haha

We waited a bit inside the Sesame Street store until the show.

The video below shows Javi's nervous face while watching the show hahaha!

After that we ate lunch and went back to wait in line with the Minions.

Then right after, it was the Sesame Street's gang's turn.

Then Gru!

After that, we went to Shrek's castle.

We ate ice cream and watched Donkey on his comedy show.

After that we left USS and went inside SEA Aquarium.

More photos after the jump...

Javi's 3rd Birthday

A week before Javi's actual birthday, we went to Singapore to celebrate. But this post is not about that (hopefully, I get to post a separate one about it) heehee. On his birthday, we stayed at home. His co-celebrant Lola Tess together with Lolo Arthur went to our house in the morning and they blew their birthday cake.

In the afternoon, his Ninongs and Ninangs braved the traffic from the South going to the East to celebrate with him. Blowing his cake with Ninong Mek who celebrated his birthday a day before him.  Lolo, Lola and Ninong Jay also joined us for dinner. But no photos aside from these. We just enjoyed their company that night.

The work week after his birthday was hell for me and Joma, so we decided to go on a staycation, sort of an extended birthday celebration of Javi. But also at the same time just to spend the weekend with the family, just us five. It was a major feat for us because the last time we did this was Mother's Day 2016. But then we only stayed inside our room and ordered room service for breakfast. This time around, we were braver and swam at the hotel swimming pool with all three kids and ate buffet breakfast at Heat. Was definitely a high-five moment for Joma and me, handling all three kids without yayas hahaha!

More photos after the break.

Little Miss Sunshine Is One

I can't believe Nina is now a year old! I took a day off from work yesterday to celebrate with our (now officially a) toddler.

Took her photo for her monthly milestone pic

Ate Miya and Kuya Javi sang "Happy Birthday" while the birthday girl clapped along

Then the whole #BrgyAlano trooped to a nearby Chinese restaurant to have noodles for long life.

We were all pooped when we got back home so everyone had a nap. In the afternoon, the kids played in the garden.

The celebration is not yet over as we're going to Tagaytay tomorrow with my side of the family and next week will be a small party with her Ninongs and Ninangs.

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My dearest Nina,

I really can't believe that you're already one year old. It's as if time wheezed by. You are God's gift to our family. When you were in Mommy's tummy, Daddy and I wanted your gender to be a surprise so we didn't see the scan of your gender during my pregnancy. We prepared two names for Baby Bashful, a boy's name and a girl's name. But I was secretly praying and hoping for a baby girl. I wanted your Ate to have a baby sister because I know how special it would be to have a sister and best friend rolled into one perso. I also wanted your Kuya to have a baby sister because I was afraid he'll have the middle child syndrome if we have another boy. Oh anak, like your Ate and Kuya I've prayed for you since you were in my tummy. I thank God for you everyday. Know that you are loved by all of us. I was a bit surprised when you came but God's purpose for you is greater than our plans. Little did I know that it was the perfect time for you to arrive. You complete our family, Nina. As your name suggests, you bring sunshine to our lives. We love you so much!!!!

Love,

Mommy

Letter To My One Year Old

Dearest Javi,

Tomorrow you will be turning one. I can't believe you're already a year old. Has it really been 12 months already? I feel I haven't been able to savor all those months, all your milestones, your firsts! Even though I'm not able to keep track of all your milestones like what we did with your Ate, know that I love you every minute of the day with every fiber in my being. You know my darling boy, I feel guilty about so many things. One of that is not giving you enough time to be the bunso. When I first knew I was pregnant again, my first thought was you. I worried how you'll be with the next child coming so soon. I know you're still too young to know what is happening but still I worry about you. I worry about the middle child syndrome. I hope it won't have negative effects in you. When my phone crashed last month, I was devastated. I lost 3 months worth of your photos. I was guilty of not taking enough photos of you. I was guilty of not using a proper camera when taking your photos but instead rely on my camera phone. I cried over those photos. Those photos represent all your milestones in those 3 months (June to August 2015) that I can never recover. Please know that I will forever pay for these. Habang buhay kong papatunayan sayong mahal na mahal ka ni Mommy. I love you so much that my heart feels like bursting just thinking about it. Before you came, I was worried I won't have enough love to give to you. But they said a mother's heart multiplies, and so did my heart. I had more than enough love to give you. Unfortunately, I couldn't multiply myself physically to always be present for you and your Ate.

I don't want to make this letter seem like a sad story all over. Because you bring us so much joy. Your smile that you give us every time we call your name. The smile that you give your Ate every time you want to play with her. I had difficulties when I was pregnant with you. I had other mommy friends who had miscarriages when I was pregnant with you. But one year ago, I gave birth to you. When I heard your cries in that delivery room, I was filled with emotions I had to keep myself from crying. I thought, after all those difficulties here you are at last in my arms. I know you are destined for great things! Because why would our good Lord bring you here but not those other babies. You are destined to be alive here and now and do great things for humankind. I know that deep in my heart. You may not be a doctor or a lawyer or a successful professional, but I know you will bring forth so much greatness in other people's lives.

I always give thanks to our Lord for giving you to me. And I always pray for Him to guide me and your Daddy in parenting you. May He always bless you Anak and guide you all throughout your life! I love you so much! Words are not enough to tell you how much! Happy birthday my darling boy!

Love,
Mommy