Dear Alee,

I can’t wait for this day to be over…Tomorrow, we will be traveling to Davao to visit your dad. It’s a long weekend and I am looking forward to spending it with you and Daddy. Dad hasn’t been home long enough these days and each time he bids goodbye, I always feel a prick in my heart, knowing that it will be awhile soon before we three could be together again. I hope someday you will understand why it has to be this way for the three of us. And I hope and pray much harder that this situation will only be temporary, and that one of these days, we will have dad by our side every day so that not only will we be able to personally share with him our day, but we will also be able to listen and witness his struggles and accomplishments.

We love you so much, Alee. Daddy and I. When you were still in my tummy, we would always imagine how your toothless grin would look like and how your giggle would sound like. We counted the days of your coming out and indeed, when that day came, it was the most wonderful and meaningful days for both of us. Daddy wanted to cry, but as always, he held tears back, for fear of an endless teasing later on. The very first time I laid my eyes on your newborn face, I thank God for you, Lee. You are His most precious gift.

My officemate once ask me what I want you to be when you grow up. I told him, I want you to be an artist. A singer perhaps. A pianist. A photographer. He was surprised about that. He told me, it was the first time for him to hear that from a mother. I told him, I just want you to be what you want to be. Maybe that would sound like the most selfless ambition of a mother for her daughter. But deep inside, I know it is selfish of me to want those things for you. The truth is, I want you to be someone that I wanted to be but never really achieved. I am a frustrated singer, mind you. Then I’ve always wanted to be a photographer. I guess that must be innate to mothers. To want their children to be what they’ve always wanted to be but never got around to being one. Your granny wanted me to join the school band as a majorette because she had always wanted that when she was a child. Like mother, like daughter, so they say.

After awhile, I realized, I want you to be a doctor. I have always admired looking at doctors walking down hospital lobbies in their usual white coat and stethoscope. Same old selfish reason, huh?! But more than that Lee, I wanted you to make a difference. Really make a difference in this chaotic, poverty stricken land we live. I don’t mean that doctors are the only professionals who can make a difference for our nation. No. That’s not my point. I just think that doctors are more connected to people, and they can easily touch lives ----and hearts---- and even souls.

My dream for you was reinforced by my discovery that your guardian angel is the Archangel RAFAEL. The Healer. When I learned that, I realized that in you is the gift of healing. I long for that day you will use that for the glory of God. Not only to heal people physically, but spiritually as well. Such a big dream for a 5-month old baby girl huh?! Well, you know what they say… always start with a dream. And start out with certainty and purpose. Your Dad and I will do everything to provide for you, Lee. We are always praying that you will be what God had in mind when He created you. It will not be an easy journey for us. But if we stick together… You, Daddy, Me…and with our mighty God, I know we will make it.
I’ll see you later today, my sweet little Erelah.

I love you,

Mommy

Aleeza's Milestones @ 5 months



@ Five months (last November 8, 2009), Alee now knows that crying is just one of many ways to express her emotions. At this point, she cooes a lot... she smiles at familiar faces... brings her brow together whenever she's uncomfortable, and expresses her irritation by pulling on her ears, hair, and rubbing her eyes. She laughs at the sight of little kids playing and dancing. She kicks her legs ever so fast and waves her arms each time she wants to be carried. She can now reach her toes. She would grab hold of anything she sees, wave them about before bringing them to her mouth.

She fusses a lot everytime she's sleepy. She gets annoyed each time you rid her of the toy she's playing. She's more than 6 kilos now. She's growing to be a fine lady. I only pray that Boboy and I will be bestowed upon with wisdom and grace by God, for the sake of this beautiful angel HE had blessed us with.

Alee's Travel Debut

Alee's First Bus Ride. September 31, 2009 - Bound for Digos to meet Daddy's Family & Relatives

Hmm... What could she be feeling? A little uncomfortable perhaps?..


We've brought Alee to Kidapawan when she was barely a month old. She slept through the whole to and fro ride. Also we were aboard Papa's old but very reliable multicab then. Last weekend's travel was a little different and I would like to believe that it should really be considered as her very first travel experience.


Boboy and I decided that it would be best for Alee to spend the long weekend (since Monday was declared a holiday) in Kidapawan so that she would be able to meet Boboy's side of the family. Everyone was gonna be home (well, except for ate nini & chi) .


We departed Gensan at around 7:30am. We expected Alee to sleep it through but apparently, the new environment captured her interest so that she was almost awake the whole ride. Nanay and I were amused at her facial expression. She was constantly looking around and at us, as if asking where she was and why so many unfamiliar faces passing by.


I was kinda worried before that because she was just four months old. I was wary if she could bear the stress of a three-hour ride. But my little girl went through it all nicely. Thank God.






Like Father; Like Daughter




Our Little Heroine.... ;-)

Wolverine's lost daughter... ;-)

Little DARNA! Zoom....

Aleeza Erelah: Head Gear Fashion Statement @ 3 months







Trying Times


Our little princess turned three months old last September 8... then she caught a cold... Since September brings along the cold wind that makes all of us think about Christmas, it is just ordinary that most people come up with a cold... and so, there goes our little aleeza erelah with her nose dripping of clear watery substance after each heart-wrenching sneezes... and the cough...oh dear! I wish I could cough for her...


Despite financial shortage, Boboy and I brought her to her pediatrician for a check up... We were relieved to find out that she's perfectly fine and it is normal for babies to catch cold at this season. But to prevent it from getting worse, Doc prescribed for her two medicines. One was Anti-asthma (after we revealed to him that Boboy has skin asthma inherited from Mama Sally) and the other one was Anti-histamine. It was Boboy's first time to meet Alee's pedia and it was a good thing for him to go with us on that day because all his questions about Alee... and I think that the pedia also appreciated his being there so he was able to know both of our health histories.


Aleeza is a lot better now...after three days of medicine intake, her runny nose isn't that "runny" anymore and her cough had subsided... still, I cannot for the life of me sleep so soundly during night times. I keep waking up to check her out each time she stirs... hmm... nakabalos na jud akong nanay sa akoa... ;-)



My OWN....


Aleeza Erelah @ Three Months - Sept. 8, 2009

Daddy's Girl

Mommy's Little Princess


Milestones:

1. Almost ready to be on her chest
2.Stares at faces
3. Smiles
4. Squeals
5. Brows are drawn together when she stares at an unfamiliar face
6. Knows how to put her hands together and plays with them
7. Fingersucks--- "fingers-sucks...lahat kasi ng fingers nilalagay sa mouth... ;-)
8. Sleeps longer during the night


Future DBP - South Min Regional Head


Aleeza Erelah: Second Month




Milestones:

- Lifts head 45 degrees
- Makes sounds (hmms and oooes)/ Cooes
- Stares at faces for a couple of seconds
- Laughs even in her sleep (must be dreaming)
- Squeals
- Can roll on one side (almost on her stomach)
- Almost has a sleeping pattern (sleeps at 6 pm;wakes up at 12 midnight for feeding; sleeps again at around 1am...and wakes up at 4am)

Little Fingers...


SO BEAUTIFUL...
SO SERENE....
SO ALEEZA ERELAH...
WE LOVE YOU, BABY...
- Mom & Dad

Princess Act...


We were so amazed with the way she positioned her hands one beautiful morning while I was nursing her... Very princess-like, isn't it?...
Princess Aleeza Erelah... ;-)

Aleeza Erelah's Fashion Icon: SURI CRUISE!
















Aleeza Erelah Anonuevo Duka

Baptismal Attire...

Hmmm..... what am I suppose to think?


SleepyHead....

My Dad is really gorgeous! ....



Lee's First Month.... -

July 8, 2009...We celebrated Lee's first month with ice cream and loaf bread at Kidapawan with Boboy's Family... It was a simple thanksgiving merienda for the gift that is Aleeza Erelah...

Having her for a daughter has bring about major changes in both mine and boboy's life. For one thing, a night out with friends is a limited event. Even travelling with them has come in second after diapers, milk, and vaccination.

With Lee in our lives, I have come to know Boboy better everyday. When I married him, I saw him as a responsible, caring brother, son, and lover. And now, in my eyes, he is one loving father. Lee couldn't have a better father. My officemates and some married friends once told me that with children in our lives, there will be more fights and misunderstandings between husband and wives. These fights can spring up from petty things as who's gonna change the nappies or lull baby to sleep in the wee hours. I have prepared myself for that even before I gave birth. I told myself that I would endure waking up in the middle of a deep sleep to change Lee's wet diapers and etc. And that, I would not expect Boboy to do those things because after all, he is the man in our small family... and men are not expected to tend to infants, are they?... But my husband completely surprised me when one night, about a week after we got out of the clinic, he woke up, at the same time I did, to Lee's wailing and told me that he will take care of Lee and that I should go back to sleep... It was the most caring words I've heard from him...It had touched me so much... He never failed to surprised me since then... He would dance Lee around when she's crying (which, is not always, praise God)... He would cook me soup and viand..prepare our merienda..and then get back to changing Lee's diaper or washing the used feeding bottles. I am quite ashame of myself for totally underestimating his capacity to care for me and our baby. Then again, I couldn't have found a better husband.

I love you so much, Beh. I always thank God for you.

Ms. Early Bird: Ninang Betchilin!


My Visitors

Nang Nong Jasper

Ninong Adrian with GF Cherry


Tito Marlon and Kuya Aj


Ninang Chingkee



My mommy's DBP Colleagues

No Pics:
1. Granny's Friends
2. Ninang Jo1 and BF Caloy
3. Auntie Aires and Ate Aina
4. Tita Mahal

Ear Piercing: A Painful Experience





Done: June 11, 2009

Aleeza Erelah Anonuevo Duka








My name is Aleeza Erelah Anonuevo Duka.
I was born on June 8, 2009 at 12:38 am.
At the Well Family Midwife Clinic
Aparente St., Prk. Malakas, San Isidro
General Santos City
I weighed 2.2kg. or 4 pounds and 84 oz.
I was 46cm. long. My head size was 29 1/2cm.
Chest size was 28cm. Abdomen 27 cm.
My mommy's attending midwife was Ms. Joy Edel G. Enriquez,R.M.
My pediatrician is Dr. Rodrigo K. Salangsang, Jr.


LABOR DAY!


In pain... June 7, 2009... at my room inside the Well-Family Lying-in Clinic...



I saw this butterfly and her cocoon in the morning of June 6, 2009 while I was doing the laundry... I think that this was a sign that Baby was coming out soon...

I was able to get some sleep before the big push...but only for a span of five minutes...then came the pain....haaaa....



Another angle of the sign... ;-)


Preps for Aleeza Erelah's Arrival

We’re finally on our last stretch and we couldn’t wait to finally welcome baby Aleeza Erelah into this beautiful-wonderful world…. J

Boboy and I went on a shopping trip for baby’s stuff last Saturday…

First, we drove along Magsaysay Avenue to scout for a simple yet durable crib. We had a good find there. Then off we went to KCC Mall for the basics… Our timing was great… the mall was having a grand sale on most of their items…so we really were able to save. We also didn’t have to buy a lot because aside from advices that we shouldn’t, after all, babies grow really fast, a lot of wonderful people have already contributed several stuff for Aleeza. My sisters-in-law bought tie-side shirts, pajamas, towels, bonnets, and mittens some two weeks ago… My own sister and her friend bought a dozen cotton diapers and a pair of really cute booties… My former officemates gave us bolster pillows, rubber mats, flannel blankets with hood, bibs, baby bag, some really nice baby dresses, and socks… Bobet, a generous friend bought me my very own electronic breastpump complete with accessories when he came home from abroad last month… Eljoie promised to give Avent Feeding bottles for Baby Aleeza… Then just last week, Boboy came here from Kidapawan with a bag more of baby tie-side shirts and cotton diapers from a kind-hearted neighbor… Wow! How wonderful it is to be surrounded with such generous, loving people…

Basically, what we bought last weekend were just the following:

1. Crib
2. Baby Comforter (with a set of baby and bolster pillows)
3. Diaper clamps/pins
4. Mosquito Net
5. Small Flat pillow (pink with a very nice design. I bought it on impulse since I found it so cute and it was on sale…Just P49.00)
6. Pajamas
7. Wash Cloth
8. Mansanilla
9. Baby Wipes
10. Baby Powder Case
11. Baby mat
12. Nail Clipper
13. Baby Cotton Buds

Here is a list of what we still need for Baby Aleeza… These are actually not very necessary, but Boboy and I might buy them if we have extra money after the delivery:

1. Bottle Sterilizer
2. Receiving Blanket/Flannel Blankets without hood
3. Thin Sheet Comforter (we can use one more extra sheet)
4. Pillow Cases (for bolster pillows and the small ones)
5. One-piece sleepers for baby (just about three pieces will do)
6. Stroller (though most of my mommy-friends did not recommend this one because they said Aleeza might not like being straddled to it…)
7. Four-drawer cabinet for Aleeza’s stuff
8. Medicine Kit (we will really buy this one)
9. Baby Bath Tub

I must admit that sometimes, I get tired of really waiting for that very day when my tummy would give out the signal that Aleeza is about to come out of my womb… but all the preparations can really take my mind off the waiting game most of the time. Boboy has transformed into a carpenter overnight… He is currently busy with some minor room repairs. He’s really into transforming it into a mosquito-free area so he is into “screening” all possible holes of our small room.

Well, I guess we are all set then…Hurry now, baby girl… everyone’s so excited to meet you. We love you so much.


Dad and Mom

Our 8th Month...

Mommy with Ninang Sandy and Ninang Gaga... May 21, 2009


Mommy with Granny at Ninang Sandy's Wedding Reception...