Mama Bear's Christmas gift

Mama Bear got her Christmas present from Santa early this year. Yesterday, Mama Bear got a new DSLR camera. I have been wanting one for some time and finally got one. I got the Canon Rebel T2i (550D). I am very excited to learn how to use it and a friend gave me some online lessons to follow. I have gone through the first lesson on aperture and hopefully will become more comfortable with the manual functions of this camera. Even on auto this camera take amazing photos. I hope to capture some great moments this Christmas. Here are just a few while I was playing around.





Some photos by Papa Bear:

Gobble Gobble

Give Thanks

I look at Baby Bear and I am so thankful to have her in my life. She is absolutely amazing and the love that I have for her is indescribable. I didn't know that I could love the way that I love Baby Bear. I look at her and just love everything about her. Her smile just brings me so much happiness and her voice is music to my ears. She is the sunshine in my day (rain or shine) and I look forward to every day because of her. How could I not love this kid.

I am thankful for Papa Bear who is a wonderful husband and father. He is such a wonderful father. I knew he would be a great daddy, but he is even more than I ever imagined he would be. I am so blessed to have a partner in my life who is genuinely loving and kind. I know that Baby Bear is everything to him as I know I am as well (although I think I now fall to second, but I don't mind being second to Baby Bear). I love my family and I thankful to have a healthy and happy family.

I am thankful for the support and love of my parents and my in-laws. They help us out so much. We would be nothing without them. Lola Bear and Grandma Bear watch Baby Bear each week and we are blessed that Baby Bear has such a close relationship with her grandmas. I grew up with my lola being a big part of my life and I hope for that for Baby Bear as well. I am so glad that both of her grandmothers are a big part of her life.

There is so much to be thankful for this year. Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Happy 90th Birthday Lola!

On Saturday, we celebrated my Lola's 90th birthday. We went all out and had a great party for her. It is a huge milestone to reach 90. My lola is so beautiful and it was a great celebration.

I am the first born grandchild in the US and my Lola came from the Philippines when I was about 3 years old. So as for as long as I can remember my lola has always been a part of my life. She has been there to celebrate all my great milestones: graduations from high school, college, and grad school; and the most important days of my life: my wedding and the birth of Baby Bear. My lola has always been there for me and I have had the great fortune of having her be a large part of my life.

Growing up she and my lolo watched my brother and I. For a long time, it was just the two of us grandchildren since my other cousins were in the Philippines. We were lucky that she was always there for us and there to watch us grow. I am thankful for that special time. I am thankful that she has always been a part of my life. I am thankful to have such an amazing lola. I am thankful for my lola. She is strong and vibrant woman. I hope to have her strength or even a fraction of the strength that she possesses. She is the matriarch of our family. She is the ultimate mother. She always makes sure I am fed, I cannot visit her without her preparing me something to eat. It doesn't matter if I ate just moments before, as soon as I walk in the door she has something to prepare for me and there is no way I can say no. She is just an amazing woman, mother, and grandmother. She was a devoted wife when my lolo was living. I would be fortunate to be just a fraction of the woman she is.

One of my earliest memories was the first week of kindergarten. My lola brought me to school; I was a shy girl and she saw two little kids at a table. She asked them their names and introduced me to them, she told them we were all friends and so we became friends and were friends throughout my elementary school years. Those two kids were my first friends that I can remember. My lola helped me make my first friendships. My lola was always helping me and always helped me to be the best I could be. She helped me to become the woman I am today and is a woman I hope I can be.

My lola is blessed with 7 children, 12 grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren. She is deeply rooted with her family and has a strong faith and love for her family. She thrives on the love of her family as she is well loved by us all.

I love my lola!



My parents (aka Lola Bear and Lolo Bear) with my lola. Isn't my lola so beautiful. I hope I look as good as she does.



My girl and me.



My mom and my lola; aren't they beautiful.



The programs I worked so hard on and the fabulous cookies by Aileen from A Master Creation.



Silly girl.



Okay, Baby Bear you are too young for boys!



Dancing with Lolo Bear :)

the last bag of pumped milk

Today we used the last bag of pumped milk. I stopped pumping in September and today used the last bit of pumped milk. In a strange way it seems like a milestone for me. I had pumped enough breastmilk to last almost 18 months (she turns 18 months next week). That just seems crazy. Baby Bear still nurses at night and in morning and on weekends. She shows no signs of weaning anytime soon, so for now we keep going. I have mixed feelings about this. I really want my body back but I also want to give her what she needs. There are just days when I want so much to be done. But then I think how this is just a tiny fraction of my life and she is getting so much out of it. Before I know it Baby Bear will be all grown up, so this is a small inconvenience that is worth it. Because she is so worth it all.

Boston: The last night

I wanted some really good pizza and since I didn't get to go to Little Italy during the day with Papa Bear and Baby Bear the day before, we decided to grab some pizza at the oldest pizzeria in Boston. We went to Pizzeria Regina, they have been around since 1926. My favorite thing about Boston was all the history. You just don't get that in California.



It is so hard to get a good photo of Baby Bear, she moves too quickly.





We ate the entire pizza, just the two of us (Baby Bear helped a little). It was that good.



Walking around Little Italy, we noticed that everyone was carrying around these boxes.



So I had to go there. We found Mike's Pastry and apparently it was the place to be.



We got a couple of cannnolis (lobster cream and chocolate chip mousse) to take back to the hotel. They were amazing!



Instead of taking the subway back to the hotel, we decided to take a petticab. It was a beautiful evening and a nice little ride through the city.



Our petticab driver was a zombie for Halloween.



Baby Bear had a great last evening in Boston.



We were sad to leave Boston, we will definitely have to be back. We flew home on Halloween in time for Baby Bear to buzz around to trick or treat around the neighborhood. Our first trip by air was successful and one to remember.

Boston: Baby Bear and Papa Bear go out and about

The reason why we went to Boston was because I had conference to attend. So I actually had to work while in Boston. While I worked, Papa Bear and Baby Bear went out and played. On their day out and about in Boston, they went to Little Italy and Cheers. Baby Bear loves hanging out with daddy!

Having some lunch in Little Italy



Fall in Little Italy





At Cheers, "where everyone knows your name."

Boston: Duck Tour

Between some conference events, I went with Baby Bear and Papa Bear on a Boston Duck Tour around Boston. We got to ride on an amphibious vehicle, called DUKW, around town to get in all the main sights. Great thing about these vehicles is that they are green; they run on renewable clean fuel made from soybeans, canola oil or recycled cooking oil. It was a great way to see the city.

Getting ready to board our duck tour bus.



Our duck tour bus, Old Gloria.



Baby Bear excitingly looking out the window at all the great sights.



Beautiful sights of Boston.





Copley Place



Our land vehicle turns into a sea vehicle and we see the sights of Boston on the Charles River.



Here goes another Duck Tour.

Baby Bear went to Harvard

While in Boston, we took the subway up to Cambridge for the day. Harvard is a beautiful campus. Walking around we found an unofficial tour by students, The Hahvahd Tour. We had awesome tour guides and had a blast touring the campus.



Baby Bear and I on the subway. Baby Bear wasn't quite sure what to make of this all.



Our Hahvahd Tourguides.





Baby Bear in the middle of Harvard.

Boston: The flight

Baby Bear went on her first plane ride. Destination: Boston, Mass.

Baby Bear at LAX. Riding around in her new stroller.



Getting ready to take off.



Baby Bear did really well throughout the flight. She napped most of the way there. I thought we were really lucky. We landed in Boston and all was great. Once the plane arrived to the gate and we began to gather our belongings was when Baby Bear threw up all over me. On the bright side, it was the end of the flight so we didn't have to smell like puke during the whole flight (especially since I didn't pack extra clothes in our carry-on). We were also toward the back of the plane so I was able to quickly get to the bathroom to try and clean us up. Once we got off the plane and got our bags, we changed and Baby Bear was happy as a clam, or clam chowder since we were in Boston (or should I say clam chowdah - trying to insert my best Boston accent). After getting to the hotel we went to dinner for some clam chowdah and watched the Lakers. It was quite strange to hear all the boos for the Lakers, but I guess we were in Celtic country.

More on Boston to come....

Trick or Treat 2010

Our little bumblebee...







Carving pumpkins with Grandpa Bear.



Getting ready to trick or treat. We went to a few of the neighbors' homes.







Scary Grandpa Bear.



Checking out her candy loot.