Kirstin's First Halloween

Our Little Angel...

For He will give His angels
charge of you to guard you
in all your ways.
-Psalm 91:11

There are so many costumes to choose from for infants but I already knew what she's going to be this Halloween. She's going to be herself...an angel to us! Hehehe! (Though I must admit, she's not always an angel! Lol! Especially when she opens her mouth and scream at the top of her lungs and we have to guess what's bugging her, more or less, do a trial and error in a middle of a photo shoot!)

Early that morning, we went to a portrait studio to take a picture of her in her angel outfit. She was in a bad mood so only few pictures turned out good. The others did not even remotely portray a little angel. (I told ya so!)

We did not go trick or treating yet but we went to my brother-in-laws halloween party! That was really fun! She's not aware of it yet but I'm sure next year is something to look forward to!

HALLOWEEN FUN FACTS

Black cats, ghouls and goblins, sugary treats — just about everyone's familiar with the traditional trappings of Halloween.

Halloween history

• Many experts believe the druids were the first to observe Halloween. Dating back to 700 B.C., they celebrated the festival of Samhain (the end of the harvest and a time to honor the dead) on November 1. In the ensuing years, the night before became known as the Eve of All Hallows, a.k.a. Hallow Even, a.k.a. Hallow e'en.
• Ever wonder how trick-or-treating got started? On the evening before Samhain, people left food on their doorsteps to keep hungry spirits from entering the house. Festivalgoers started dressing in ghost, witch, and goblin costumes so wandering spirits would leave them alone. To this day, these are Halloween's most popular costumes.
• The word witch comes from the Saxon word wicca, which means "wise one."

Just for Dad: Welcome Home

I will try to put in some articles here that I come across for Dads because while it's true that we, moms are the ones who give birth, as a father, you are the most important man in your baby's life.

Most couples are anxious and concerned right after they take the baby home. It takes about six weeks for most couples to feel better about having a baby. Here are things you can do:

• Hug your partner a lot. Tell her she's doing a great job.
• Be patient with the baby and with your partner. This is new for all three of you and takes some getting used to.
• Ask friends and family members for help with cleaning up, grocery shopping and meals. This is not the time to be shy about asking for help. Everyone needs help with a new baby!
• Try to rest whenever you can.
• Help out with the baby during feeding time. If mom is breastfeeding, you can bring her the baby. Help them get comfortable.
• Help with other jobs too: change diapers, give baths, rock the baby, cuddle the baby, read to the baby and sing the baby to sleep. Most babies love to sleep on their dad's chest.

Bates' Monte Carlo Night

This is the first time Kurt and I went out...just the two of us...after having Kirstin! And it was fun! It was nice for mom, Cris (Kurt's brother) and Val (Cris' wife) to watch Kirstin while we were drinking and gambling! They thought we needed a break and we also thought we deserved one...so off we go! Hehehe!

Mommy's Birthday

I have a lot of things to celebrate and one of them is bringing life to someone I can truly call my own...

I remember having a phone conversation with melds on my birhtday last year. Me and Kurt are having dinner at our favorite place, Tony Roma's. Why is this conversation significant? Read the transcript and see (DISCLAIMER: This is from memory...and I just gave birth...ok? heheh! Oh, and also, this has been translated into English!)

MELDS: Happy birthday Jocy! What are you doing today?
ME: We're having dinner at Tony Roma's...you know...our favorite place too!
MELDS: So what are you having?
ME: Some baby backs and some margaritas...Kurt is having twice as much!
MELDS: So what's his gift?
ME: Nothing yet...I think he'll give it tonight!
MELDS: I bet it's something he'll do tonight!
ME: Hahaha! Oh, by the way? Have you talked to Mhar recently? She already have a baby! MELDS: I heard about that. Are you gonna be next???
ME: Yeah...we'll make one tonight! (I said that jokingly!)

And the rest was history! 10 months after that, I had Kirstin! Thanks Melds for giving me the idea! Hahaha! Good thing, it turned out well for us...or I would never forgive you! *just kidding* Going back to the present, I'm now 27 and I've grown so much. I really feel that I have matured overnight since I know that parenting is a huge responsibility and one can't screw it up! Can you imagine how stressful that is? But like anything else, it comes with a reward and just being able to hug my baby, cuddle her, kiss her and make her smile, makes it all worth it...believe me!

Though we go out for dinner on many occassions, we chose to stay at home and celebrate my birthday quietly as a family! That choice, for me, is one of the most special things that Kurt and I have done. Everything was perfect! We had dinner by candlelight...with stuffed portabello mushrooms for the appetizer, Lasagna and Baked Ziti for the main dish and cheesecake for dessert. We dressed up and took some pictures! It was simple but sweet!