Keisha's First Birthday

Our Princess turned 1 year old. Its was a party all the kids had fun and got wet. We celebrated Kei's birthday with lots of prizes and surprises. There were lots of games all the kids including the adults had fun. The Bubble show made it more fantastic. It was my first time to see such show and I myself enjoyed it. Kathy is the expert when it comes to planning and preparing a special occasion for us.

The first camp out of Iggy

Last June 2007, we went to Kopiat Island in Davao del Norte. The island is owned by Lapanday were Kathy works. Its was a team building activity by the MIS Department. The activity was overnight so we decided to bring along Iggy. It was his first time to go outdoor or even sleep on a tent. The beach and the place was nice. Iggy had fun swimming and playing on the beach.

Then came the time to sleep. The problem is that Iggy is used to sleep with an aircon. I hardly slept that night because I have to fan him so that Iggy can sleep.

But when he woke up, well went swimming again and forgot what happened that night.

Techie Kids

What Iggy misses on me most that I have is the laptop. I can hear him say "Daddy I want to play Hangaroo" when Kathy and I are talking on the phone. But Kei wants to play the bowling game instead. Iggy can easily know what the commands are and even the keys to press by letting you play first. He will just watch and later on play it already. The cellphone was the first thing he experimented. Then discovered the games on it. Then later on the video.

We also had a bad experience with his PSP. I didn't bought it but I just won it on a raffle. He is more master on it than his mommy. But we let him play with it during weekends only. Anyway regarding the bad experience. When he was about 3 years old, he accidentally or not knowingly being a child put the PSP on a bucket of water. It went dead instantly. Luckily I was able to recover it. Opened everything and let it dry in a cabinet by one week.

Kathy is planning to buy a laptop for communication and for the kids at home to see me often and not forget my face especially Kei. I m sure Iggy will master it easily and play Hangaroo again.

Teach them to eat by themselves

We never have a problem with them when it comes to eating. They eat by themselves. Although mostly Iggy just wants fish. Kei isn't picky with foods yet. But of course kids favorite will always be there like fried chicken and hotdog. But we don't let them eat with it regularly.
The trick is to let them eat by themselves. But not during the first few months of infancy of course. But still we give them their own spoon during that stage. Just to develop them to hold the spoon and later on fork. When they are able to control it, we let them eat by themselves and even make a mess. Although we still assist in feeding. Until such time they will develop and master the feeding process.
Right now we just give them food on their plate and they eat by themselves. They will just ask for more fish or rice if they want to eat more. Then we just give them a cup of water or ice tea later on when they are about to finish there food.

For the love of water

These kids really love to play with water. They would always ask us to go to the beach. Even take a bath outside the house.

Partners and Friends

We want them to help each other when they grow up. To be best friends and partners. It was not easy for Iggy at first to be a kuya. For two years he has all the attention. But when Kei came, we have to divide it. It was not easy for us either. Kathy will take care of Kei and I will take care of Iggy. Or the other way around if Iggy will be tutored by Kathy. Its quite hard but its fun. Seeing them grow up playing and even quarreling. Iggy is a kid who doesn't want to get disturb sometimes. Kei is playful and wants to play along with his kuya. Though they play with each other, Iggy get irritated first. If Kei doesn't get want she wanted, will ask for help to us. Iggy is the idol of Kei. She follows what his kuya does and even say.

We taught them to read and learn early

Even while they were inside mommy's womb, we read them books already. We taught them the value of reading and learning.We read them books in a manner that they will enjoy it. Although at first we introduce pictures and later read word per word. Right now Iggy can read common words. He will ask if he doesn't know a certain word on how to read it.

We also let them count number. Right now both of them loves to paint. We just let them make a mess. The important thing is, we let them enjoy the activity. Its developing the habit first.
Justin right now is in Senior Casa. He's not the an honor student but he excels in some aspect. We are proud of him. Last school year, he was given a certificate of recognition in his math subject. Just this recent exam, he was the top three in his class.Kei is showing some signs of intelligence in her early stage. She loves to sing right now "Twinkle Little Stars" and also follows word mentioned in her educational videos.

My Girl, Our Princess

Keisha Franchesca...Our girl, our princess. Her nick should have been "Chesca" but I insisted to just call her Keisha. But eventually fond in using Kei in short. Kei is sweet, charming, and adorable. She has her own style. She will stay in one place and play. She holds a glass, spoon, and fork with a feminine touch. But when time to play with Iggy, they will both make our room a mess. Her ultimate idol is his kuya.

One of my most worst experience as a daddy

When Iggy was about was about two years old he got sick. His fever was high and later on had seizure. Actually I myself experienced a convulsion when I was a baby.

Yes, Iggy got convulsion when I was carrying him. I saw Iggy shaking with his eyes all white. I went nervous and we rushed him to the nearest hospital on barefoot. It was so terrifying seeing my son having seizure while carrying him. I thought I will loose him during that moment. He later on normalize when the doctors attended to him. I wasn't able to get a good sleep that night. I cried all night long. It was so traumatic.

Iggy is not that healthy during his infancy compared to Kei. He was admitted to the hospital several times. His lungs is weak and probably got it from her mommy. Unlike Kei, She hasn't been admitted for once. Just went to the doctor for check-up.

The problem with Iggy is we always had a hard time to let him take a medicine. Just like me. I don't really like to take syrup. Unlike Kei, she will just sip without any problem when she gets sick. Kei is tough as her mommy.

Our Princess with beauty and charm

We never thought that Keisha would be pretty and charming. I call her princess sometimes. Kei has some differences with his kuya. Like Kei would take medicine syrup without any problem or quarreling unlike his kuya. Kei is more "maarte". Typical for being a girl. Like she would say "amoy" when making "popo". Like she would say "yayay" when hurt. Kei however does not get sick easily unlike his kuya.

Kei also loves to paint using water color as what his kuya does. Every morning Kei would ask to go out and watch my flowerhorn fishes. It was our bonding time. Actually it took some time before she played with me. She was used to just be with her nanny. It was when she got an accident with her bike that wounded a small area in her arm. I would slowly blow it to eased the pain. After that when even if the wound was healed, she will still let me blow to it if I would ask her were is the "yayay"
When Kei came out, her hair was kind of bald unlike his kuya. Her hair is somewhat thin and semi blondy. Compared from his kuya, Kei was able to talk earlier. She loves to watch Jollibee educational videos. Both of them also loves to watch or just watch Disney Playhouse channel. Their favorites are Pocoyo and Mickey Mouse Club House.

Its been week now

Its been a week now. Life has been going on. Thanks with this technology. I can chat with Kathy always. So it somehow made my life easier with it. Being able to communicate always. Kathy was pregnant with Keisha at that photo. Kei came to our life in a surprise. We were happy especially when we knew its a girl. Its a one complete ideal family. The gap was about 2 years between Iggy and Kei.

We were worried at first that Iggy might get jealous but somehow Iggy managed to accept his new role as a kuya. Both have a different personality. Iggy is more like me. Like father, like son. Active, loves to explore things, loves to play with water, and has this temper also. While on the other hand, Kei is sweet and charming. Girlie and much the same as her mommy. Kei is pretty. We were somewhat surprise as she grow each day, she looks more prettier. Unlike his kuya who is "moreno", Kei is "mestisa".

Another Day spent without my family

I am in Jebel Ali Freezone right now. I stayed on my brother's flat. Heres a photo when Justin was about 2 years old. He loves to play with toy cars and reads books. Right now he loves to write on any places. On any paper, walls, and even on the floor. Aside from that, he loves to paint using a watercolor. Life was so meaningful when "Iggy", his nickname, came to our family life. We gave all our support to him. Although we don't spoil him. We read him books even he was still a baby. We let him watch educational movie only not just anything on TV. We also decided to talk English even its kind of crooked. Our family was complete when Iggy came.

Kathy said "Yes" to me when we were in junior college. Lots of first thing happened to us. Anyway it was a 6 years relationship before we got married. Our married life is not a perfect one. Its a learning process. We never let a quarrel or a problem go by without talking and solving it. We developed an attitude to sit-talk-listen-resolve. We settle any issue big or small when it is still manageable.

Even with that 12 years from college sweethearts to married life with two kids, still we learn new things from each other. Its a learning process. As what they say its not a life in a bed of roses. We are open to one another. No secrets and no lies. All our earnings are declared. No hidden agendas. We can never make make a relationship perfect. But we can always work things out in a right way.

A way to divert my homesickness with my kids

To start with, I am in Dubai right now. I arrived last August 7, 2008. I left my family at home in the Philippines. I made this blog to divert my homesickness. I badly misses my wife and especially my two lovely kids; Justin and Keisha. Justin is 4 years old and Keisha is 2 years old.
This is my first time to be away with my family. I can talk to my wife, Katherine, normally. Its not that I don't miss her, because I know she's old enough to handle being away with me.
But when I talk to my kids, I really cant help myself to cry. Even right now as I am writing, my eyes are filled with tears. Take a look at this picture, isn't that a nice family picture.
Justin is such a smart kid. I am sometimes amazed on how fast he can learn things and even talks a better english than me. Keisha is sweet and charming. Cute as ever just like mommy. She loves to play with his kuya. But the kuya is sometimes strict. Just like daddy.
I know in time I will be able to adjust in this situation of mine. Its a sacrifice we have to take for the future of our family. My wife is as ever supportive with me. I thanked God for giving me such a wonderful wife. She may not be the perfect wife, but is definitely the right one. The decision of leaving my family is not easy. We always pray to God that we want to give what is the best to our children. For their future.