Dance parties, Dental hygiene, and Dresser drawers

What we've been up to:

All of us - 

• Dance parties -every afternoon around 4, the kids wake up from their naps.  It's usually a break time from work, so it is the perfect time to crank up the tunes and dance.  The kids love it, I love to dance too, and heck, even Marei will admit he looks forward to them.  A medley of Jaya's favorite tunes to shake it to are on the video below.
• Wiping snot.  Dance parties have been postponed for a couple of days while the kids recover from colds.
• Waking several times a night due to congestion, and/or engaging in marathon nursing sessions and/or sleeping upright and/or pacing the floor with a sick child in arms and/or needing to hold hands with Daddy and/or needing to be held by Momma.  

Jaya - 

• Using the potty.  Jaya showed signs of being ready to use the potty a couple of months before Raja was born, and again a short while before we were about to move here.  Both times, we decided not to push it, with such huge impending life changes on the way.  We decided we liked that route with Jaya's personality, and so we haven't pushed it since being here.  A few days ago, Jaya pulled off her diaper and went potty all by herself with no encouragement.  Since then, she has been using panties all day, and letting us know when she needs to go, and sometimes just doing it all on her own.  So far, it's been a very stress-free potty "training."  
• my friends! - lately, when we go out, Jaya will see another child (who we've never seen before) and exclaim, "My friend!"  Somehow, she always picks the kids who aren't shy, because they always respond with joy and the two scamper around the store or restaurant while we, the parents, all sit around grinning at the absolute cuteness of it all.
  
• brushing, and now flossing, teeth - her dedication to dental hygiene is resulting in cleaner teeth for mom and dad too.

Raja - 

• waving bye bye - his wave is more of an excited beating of the air right now.  He can't be fooled - he won't wave bye bye unless you actually walk out the door.
  
• giving high five - his favorite person to do this with is daddy.
  
• continued babbling - and yes, I am happy because I hear "ma-ma" pretty often now
  
• clapping - just another way of expressing his near-constant state of excitement while awake.
  
• climbing up and down the stairs
• opening and closing drawers - he has been doing this a while, but now he wants to play all kinds of drawer "games."
• peek-a-boo - now he plays peek-a-boo with us!  And thinks it is the coolest thing ever.

We think Jaya and Raja are the coolest things ever.

Happy Birthday Mommy!

This morning our friends, Alvie, Merck and Brian came to surprise Leatha with two delicious cakes, one chocolate and one carrot. Jaya led them to the room, opened the door and everyone started singing away.  Our family gift to her was a gift certificate to a local spa to enjoy a full body massage of her choice! After the nice suprise and nibbling on the cakes we all got dressed and went to the mall. Birthday girl was informed by an awesome friend that she would deposit some money into her account so that she could buy something she can pick, try on, and get it cheaper than in the US. At the mall we window shopped and then ate some nice Thai cuisine. Leatha was able to stay and look around for 2 hours while I brought the kids home for their naps. Supermom returns home with gifts for all of us and a nice pair of jeans for herself. How unselfish this woman is. I truly am blessed to be married to this amazing, incredible woman. Words can't describe how much she means to our little family. I'll just leave it as she is perfect for me and our wonderful children. The day finished by going out to eat with our good friends Alvie and Eduard to eat at a nice Italian restaurant.

Happy Birthday to the best wife and mom!

The sun woke up!

When we night weaned Jaya last year some time, she started waking up very early. As in, 4 am or so. So we told her she had to wait until the sun woke up to wake us up, and that worked very well indeed. (Until Daylight Savings time screwed that all up, but that's another post altogether). Last Saturday, we gave her the opportunity to watch the sun wake up, and she was quite excited. So excited in fact, that she didn't seem to mind being woken up at 4 am one bit. We went with the batch of students from ACE to the aptly named Tops, the top of a mountain here in Cebu, and we were able to see all of Cebu.  The kids were amazing, tired but perfectly content and not fussy at all to be dragged out of bed at that hour of the night.  We watched the sun rise and even got to see a double rainbow.  And we even experienced the feeling of being cold and needing jackets without the use of AC.  

We went to a birthday party for the one year old daughter of our friends James and Cynthia.  Amanda is so adorable and the kids had a blast.  There were games and fun for all, adults included.  Marei won a prize for Jaya by winning the nerdy one-side-of- a-Rubik's cube challenge for the dads.  I was tricked into participating in a spell-the-birthday-girl's-name-with-your-hips-game for the moms, which I did not win.  These hips don't lie but I think they might embarrass easy.  Jaya played with the other kids for a while, and then decided to go off on her own in the corner to write and draw.  She needs to go off and do her own thing sometimes.  She likes to find her own oasis in the midst of all the people.  The other day she put off going to the park so she could read her book.  Who do you think she gets that from?  Her imagination has been running rampant (hence her love for monsters and wild things), and she has been telling us some funny stories about whatever pops into that little head.  From a young age, she has always enjoyed getting dirty, but not staying dirty.  True to that, she has now decided she wants to brush her teeth every time they get dirty.  It is kind of funny to have to tell your toddler she is brushing her teeth too much.  Jaya seems to have been born with a finely honed sense of right and wrong, and has been telling on herself since she could talk.  What started with, "I made a mess," has become "I was being naughty so I can't have a mango shake now but I can have one tomorrow 'cause I will be a good girl." (Before she could really talk, she used to smack herself in the hand when she thought about touching the camera or the computer).  She has become even more particular about her clothes, doing her own take on the high-waisted trend by insisting on tucking in everything, and then yanking the bottoms up as high as they will go.  She likes to change clothes a lot, and is very definite about what she likes to wear.  I believe in letting her make choices, with a limit.  So I let her choose between a couple of things to wear, and she is allowed to change outfits sometimes as long as she keeps things clean and puts them back.  I personally don't care if she wants to sport an....uh....unusual look so long as she is weather-appropriate.  She is so sweet and obliging by nature that I like that she is a little strong-willed on the topic of what to wear.  Our girl's got some spunk.  

Raja is growing and growing.  He is such a playful, joyful kid.  He already displays quite the sense of humor.  His memory is quite impressive, as is his agility and speed.  The little athlete is also quite the risk taker, and he gets injured more than Jaya ever did.  He clearly understands the word "No!" but the little stinker stops what he is doing, waits until attentions have been diverted and goes after the forbidden once again.  He eats when we eat, and has so far shown the same expansive taste in food Jaya has.  He grizzles and growls and grabs fistfuls of it himself if you don't get it in that mouth fast enough.  These are the things (other than water bottles and his ever-increasing mobility) that thrill him the most right now - being naked, taking a bath, anything Jaya is playing with, getting books open by himself, sneaking into the bathroom when someone leaves the door open inadvertently, Jaya being a wild thing/monster, Daddy doing the haka, Mommy singing silly songs, being a dentist and examining mouths, opening/closing anything, loudness, banging objects together/on the floor repeatedly, cell phones, being out and about in the city in the mei tai, anything that involves electricity, sharp objects, and reaching for anything that is dangerous and/or costly.  All of these things are met with glee, and when any of these things suddenly become unavailable, they are met with baby Badge.

I love that our kids are so expressive!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Adorable monsters

Raja has the most adorable facial expressions. He makes this kissy face when he is tired (cutest face ever!), and thinks empty water bottles are hilarious. He has always had a thing for water bottles, but now Daddy's taught him some new tricks with them, so he is overjoyed about that. He is still trying to walk, and still trying to push those teeth out. At this rate, it's anyone's guess which one will come first. He might be walking before those little nubs finally push through his poor little gums.

Jaya ventured into the ocean in her floatie, alone. A big deal due to her extreme aversion to getting her face wet. Lately, whenever she is hungry, she wants rice and curry, no matter what time of day it is. She had a playdate the other day with a neighbor and was SO excited to have a friend come over. Her imagination has been running rampant, and she tells stories, especially as she draws. She talks about monsters a lot lately, and gives her impression of one in the video.

It was a nice weekend. We went to the beach on an overcast day, which was great. Not so exhausted, not so hot...and great timing. It started pouring raining the minute we arrived home, literally. That night, we went to a teppanyaki place, which we all thoroughly enjoyed. It is getting slightly cooler here, although it doesn't feel like fall, it's still nice. We've been walking more because of it.

Enjoy our little monsters!

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

The original plan had been to start off Marei's day with some breakfast in bed. However, I stayed up late with work the night before, and had some work to finish up as soon as I woke up. By the time I got downstairs, Marei already had both the kids and himself fed and ready for the day. What a man! I'll have to make it up to him with some breakfast in bed this weekend. Then we took him to get a relaxing Swedish massage. Here, when it is your birthday, you treat others - so we bought a cake and some goodies to share with our friends at ACE and our buddies the trike drivers. We had a nice relaxed dinner with our friends Alvie and Edward at a Mexican place called Mooon Cafe (not a typo) - we were excited to have some spicy food! Here are some moments from today...

Happy Birthday to an amazing husband and dad!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Fauxhawk and Fashionista

Today, Raja started dancing!  We were playing some music and he started going wild.  We don't have it on video yet, but will soon.  He is such a happy baby.  Lately, he has been cracking himself up.  He just looks at one of us and starts giggling.  So cute!  He is so handsome with hair.  Although he did look adorable with his shaved head too.  I love his perfectly shaped round head.  He is so smooth now with cruising, walking with anything he can hold and slide across the room.  For a while, he was waking me up multiple times a night, but that has slowed down, and he is back to getting up just once or twice.  When he wakes up in the middle of the night, he sits straight up before his eyes are even fully open, and wobbles and weaves with eyes blinking, and then usually topples back over for a midnight snack, and is out again within minutes.  It's hilarious!  If there is any chance of us getting that on video, we will.

Jaya is our baby fashionista.  I think we saw this coming when she taught herself to walk in my heels within 2 weeks of learning how to walk, period.  She loves to accessorize, loves skirts and dresses and all things girly.  She has definite opinions about what looks good and picks out her own clothes and puts them on, asking for help if she needs it.  She loves wearing my clothes, belts, shoes, and jewelry.  She likes to pick out my earrings, and when we go out, she looks at my clothes and picks out the shoes I should wear.  She even understands the advanced concept of shoes that "go" but do not necessarily "match."  She often prefers the shoe section to the toy section of the department store.  

She has loved to write and draw for a while now, but lately, she's shown a renewed interest for it.  She refers to everything she does as writing, and what everyone else does as drawing.  She has also been bringing us books, magazines, receipts, anything printed, and saying, "Teach me to read this."  She "reads" everything that she has memorized.  She is still singing a lot, and has expanded her repertoire.  

Raja is just as enthralled with Jaya as ever, and Jaya is big sister extraordinaire.  He wants anything and everything she has in her hands.  We often hear her reprove him with a sharp, "Mine!" followed by a gentle, "Raji, that's not safe for you" or "That's only for little girls, not for babies."  She is always looking to entertain her brother, and make him laugh.  All in all, looking over the last nine months, we feel so blessed with how well she had adjusted to no longer being the baby.  She is his Chechi, his little momma, and seeing the two of them together, playing together more and more every day, has been one of the best things about parenting thus far.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

American Football in Cebu

This week we were able to watch the Raiders' first game, live in high definition, through the nfl.com website. Oh was it painful! Here are some pictures my lovely wife snapped that led up to the game, during and after. Ignore my angry face after my team lost 41-14 to their rival the Denver Donkeys.

Some updates on them bof' together

This week, both the kids got a little virus.  A fever, some fussiness, difficulty staying asleep, nothing too bad.  Just some sleep-disruption for mommy and daddy.  They got better quickly.  Marei and I, on the other hand, took a little longer to recover from the sleep deprivation.  I have been cranky and tired a lot this week.  Good thing kids (and Marei) are so forgiving!

Jaya is still singing her little heart out.  She is talking more than ever, and has a few new uniquely J-Bugs phrases.  

"Also too" - as in, "Mama, I am coming with you also too."

"Bof' (both) together" - almost always refers to Raja, as in, "Daddy, you can carry us bof' together."

"Not yet, later" - usually refers to bedtime, naptime, or mommy work-time.

She has developed a cute little stutter, it usually appears when she has something extremely exciting and/or lengthy to tell us.  She has also been using the "L" sound to replace other sounds.  Instead of Ayala, she says, "Alalla," instead of Mary Lou, she says "Mellalou," and instead of Amooma, she says "Amoola." 

She is hilarious, sweet, even profound.  She makes us smile and laugh all day long.  Here are some of the things she's said recently that I remembered to write down. (There's also a gem in the video below).

Upon seeing a model in a turtleneck - "The lady is wearing a shirt that will make her SO hot.  Her body will be too hot 'cause she's wearing that."

After seeing me start work for the day, grabs her own toy laptop and says, "I'm working.  Don't bother me.  Only if Raji need me."

When Daddy came home from playing football - "Daddy, why did you put your shoes in the bag?  Your shoes are dirty.  You're making the bag all yucky!"

After getting better from her fever, referring to earlier in the day - "Daddy and Heavenly Father gave me a blessing 'cause they love me."

After seeing someone with a shaggy 'do - "That guy has crazy hair like us, mom.  He has crazy hair also too.  Why he has crazy hair like me?"

Just sitting around thinking - "When I get bigger, I will get taller and I will get two big milkies right here (patting chest)."

Speaking of which, Raja now does this cross between a headstand and a triangle pose while he nurses.  He attempts this whether we are home or out, lying down or seated.  It makes for some interesting nursing sessions.   He's also developed an unusual crawl style in his attempts to be up on two feet like sister.  He wants to be in the center of everything, and needs constant watching.  He is so quick and tries to climb anything and everything in sight.  He knows how to climb the stairs, and will fight to get down if he sees something nearby he can climb.  The other day I came home to find that Raja had drawn all over his body with marker, and Daddy had somehow missed it.  Today I dropped a (closed) bottle of nail polish, and couldn't find it for a while because the kid pounced on it so fast.  

They are both growing so fast!  I marvel at how much they learn and grow each day.

We've experienced so many wonderful things being here, but I think that one of my favorites is all the family time we get to spend together.  I feel especially grateful to have a job where I can still be with my children all day.  I reread The Family: A Proclamation to the World today.  Reading it was sobering, as it reminded me of the importance of the work Marei and I have to do, but it was also exciting and joyful - I can't think of a single thing I'd rather be doing than being a wife and mother.  This week, even though I knew the kids were fine, I couldn't help feeling so sad for them that they had to deal with the discomfort of illness.  The feeling that comes from worrying about your kids and wanting the best for them is like nothing I've ever felt before. 

"Making the decision to have a child is momentous.  It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body."  Elizabeth Stone

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A little pampering...

We went to the salon today for a little pampering.  Marei's feet have never looked better, I have polished fingernails for the first time in a long time,  and Jaya is sporting an interesting shade of green on her little piggies.  Taking a two-year old to get a mani-pedi sounds extravagant, I admit.  Not something I thought I would do with Jaya for a long time.  But considering that all of this...

1 pedicure (Marei)

1 manicure/pedicure (Leatha)

1 manicure/pedicure (Jaya)

1/2 hour body massage (Marei)

...cost $7.77 - about what getting four fingers of my left hand manicured in the US would cost - I am okay with pampering my J-bugs, and grateful to be able to do it.  Jaya was so excited too, and was just the most well behaved little lady, sitting as still as she could and thrilled to be able to pick out her very own shade of polish.  Marei was amazed at what a pedicure could do for his hooves, and truly enjoyed his massage.   I think I am going to get used to having nice nails while we are here, so I need to learn how to do an excellent at-home manicure before leaving Cebu.  We had a nice meal out at a nearby Italian restaurant, where we were able to capture a modified shimmy-shake on tape.  We ended the day with fun at home.  The kids are in bed now, and we too, are off to bed.  Happy Labor Day!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Health Class Part 2/ Recipe for Black Bean and Corn Salsa

I taught health class at the Academy again yesterday, this time on exercise.  I focused on 2 primary things - 1) The extraordinary benefits of regular exercise and 2) how to exercise without gym memberships and special equipment.  It was such a fun class to teach.  I won't go into the litany I went into with them, but I will just share with you some of my reasons for loving exercise:

1)  It gives me energy, especially on those days where the night before was disrupted by a wakeful baby.

2)  When I exercise regularly, I get sick much less often.

3) I put on more muscle, therefore, higher metabolism, therefore, I can eat more and still lose weight.  Especially helpful after those sleepless nights when I need to eat more to offset the sleep deprivation.

4) It helped me, both times, lose the enormous amount of weight I gain when pregnant.  

5) I feel dang good!  My mood is elevated because I work out (all those endorphins), and I feel good because I am vain, and there is no feeling quite like fitting into your pre-pregnancy clothes, or those jeans that used to fit perfectly.  As much as I love the health benefits, and the future benefits, I have to admit that the improvement in the view in the mirror is one of my favorite things about working out.  

6)  I feel like a better mom because I am being proactive about my health.  I am an example to them by prioritizing my health, and I am more likely to be around for them in the future.

I also have to say that it is pretty cute when Jaya picks up 2 cans of mackerel and starts "liftin' weights."  

As you can tell, teaching this health class has been awesome for me.  I get to talk about the things I am most passionate about.  

I promised some recipes to help with the increasing your fruits/veggies, so here is one.

This is one of my go-to easy lunch/light dinner recipes.  It is kind of summery, but I use it year-round, and those of you in the US could make it now before the summer is totally over....

Black Bean and Corn Salsa

2 cups frozen corn, thawed (I like to heat these up in a dry pan, they kind of "roast" and smell and taste yummy, but you can just thaw or defrost in the microwave)

2 cups canned black beans, rinsed and drained

1 red bell pepper, diced

1 small minced red onion

1/2 bunch cilantro, chopped

1 minced serrano chili (optional)

juice of 1 lime

Combine, and salt and pepper to taste.  If I am in a hurry or feeling particularly virtuous, I have a few scoops on some salad greens.  You can also add diced tomato. For a more substantial meal, keep reading.

Guacamole

2 ripe avocados, diced

1/2  onion, minced

1/2 bunch cilantro, chopped

1/2 serrano, minced

juice of 1 lime

Mash one of the avocados and leave the other diced.  Combine all the ingredients, and salt and pepper to taste.

Cheese Quesadillas

tortillas (preferably whole-wheat)

canola or other vegetable oil

shredded cheese (your preference)  I like using a combo of Sharp Cheddar and Pepper or Monterey Jack.  Cheddar for flavor and Jack for melty goodness.

Put a small amount of cheese (if it's good cheese, you won't need much) on one half of a tortilla, and fold the tortilla over.  Make a non-stick pan HOT, so the tortillas will get nice and crispy.  Instead of putting the oil in the pan, brush the tortillas with oil so they get nice and brown all over.  Cook, and flip when browned and cheese is melted.  Serve with the corn and black bean salsa and guacamole.

This has satisfied many a carnivore, in my experience.  I wish I had pictures, but I don't have the ingredients to make this here.

Now I'm hungry.  

Enjoy!

Look what Raja figured out today...

Brother is obsessed when it comes to learning how to get around as well as sister....and Sister is obsessed when it comes to what she used to call "bellets."  Good thing it rains in Cebu as often as it does...

Check out our little darlings...

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Eat more! / How to add more fruits and vegetables to your day

So, I forgot one major rule in the post below. And that is....Eat 5+ times a day, not 3. I eat about 6 times a day. Snacking is good! Better for your metabolism, your energy level, and your waistline.  

So, I thought I would list some (easy) ways to eat more fruits and vegetables....
For breakfast -
- Saute veggies (whatever you like, I use anything I have, I especially like spinach, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, bell pepper...) in a non-stick pan, and when they are done to your liking, scramble some eggs in there. If you are really ambitious, make it an omelette instead. You can add a little bit of cheese (full-fat and full-flavored, please), or a little ham or bacon if you like.
- Cut up fruit and put it in your oatmeal. I like bananas, apples, and dried apricots for this especially, but try anything.  I also like to add nuts.

-Have fruit with your (high fiber) cereal.
- Have a fruit smoothie. I like the ones that are all fruit, not much milk or ice. Put a spoonful of peanut butter and a spoonful of oatmeal to the blender too. (Sounds crazy, but it tastes so good and helps keep you fuller longer too). My new favorite - throw an avocado in there. So tasty! And good for you! (Yes, I know it is high in (healthy) fat and calories. So eat it instead of those 2 glasses of Kool-Aid and that bag of Doritos).
- Have yogurt and fruit. Or yogurt, granola, and fruit.
- Make pancakes (use whole wheat flour), and add frozen mixed berries or frozen blueberries to the batter.
- Think outside the box. Eat last night's leftovers (full of veggies,of course) for breakfast.  I love doing this.
For lunch -
- Eat salad. And not iceberg lettuce and salad dressing. I never liked salad when I thought that is what it had to be. Try spinach, romaine, arugula, watercress, spring mix,etc. Add some sliced apple or pear, orange sections, strawberries, dried cranberries, etc. Toss in some pecans, almonds, cashews, pine nuts, walnuts, etc. Add blue cheese or feta or goat cheese or Parmigiano Reggiano. My favorite lunchtime salad - a plate of spinach, a small handful of toasted pine nuts, a small handful of dried cranberries, crumble some goat cheese on top, and drizzle on some balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil. Try it. I have served this to some very picky salad/spinach haters who loved it. I will post more salad recipes in the future - I have a ton!  And then I can live vicariously through those of you who will use them, because fresh greens are hard to get here.
- Microwave a bag of frozen veggies, add a little pat of (real) butter, salt and pepper, and enjoy. My favorite vegetables (and Jaya's) to eat this way are broccoli and green beans. When you are feeling motivated, saute it all in olive oil instead and add a couple of crushed garlic cloves to the oil. Stores now sell really good mixed vegetables, with lots of variety. Try a good bag of mixed asian veggies with a few drops of sesame oil and some slivered almonds or sesame seeds.  Add salt and pepper.  I truly believe a lot of people don't like veggies because they have only had them overcooked, which kills their flavor, and without seasoning to enhance their flavor.
-Make a sandwich and pile on the veggies. Buy jarred roasted red peppers, bagged spinach, jarred artichoke hearts, olives, and regular and sun dried tomatoes. All good added to sandwiches. You can use cold cuts, or try throwing a portobello mushroom in a saute pan with some olive oil and garlic and using it as the "meat". (Or even throw it in a George Foreman grill). Use avocado or hummus a spread for bread instead of mayo.
For snacks -
- Eat edamame. You can buy it frozen now, and it is very fast to make. Jaya loves this!
- Eat fresh fruit. (Duh).
- Eat apples and peanut butter. Or try almond or cashew butter. My favorite pre-workout snack.
- Eat a small handful of nuts (I know, not a fruit or a vegetable. But a plant food nonetheless.)
For dinner - ok, I promise I will post more recipes. But a couple of ideas...
- Eat pasta and load it up with veggies.  I may have a million pasta recipes.
- Roast vegetables. So easy and so tasty. Toss veggies (sweet potato, tomatoes, eggplant, asparagus, cauliflower, etc.) with just enough oil to coat, salt and pepper. You can add garlic and/or herbs and/or spices, and roast at about 400 degrees until tender and delicious.  
- Eat beans. We love beans!  And throw beans in your salads too. I will post some bean recipes also.

This post is so exciting!  I love talking about food.  I will stop now and save some for another day.

Wait!
One last thing. 

I have talked to a lot of people who say....but eating healthy is so expensive. To that, I say:

 Buy fresh, in-season, locally grown produce and shop wisely (sales and coupons and bulk).  Cut down on meat.  Stop buying pre-made frozen food and processed items.  If you live in an area where even with all that, it is costlier to eat healthy...well, to that I repeat my mother's words. "Health is wealth." If eating like this gives you a longer life span and a better quality of life, isn't it worth cutting your spending somewhere else?

Cruising, Shimmying, and Eating

Raja has been cruising (walking holding furniture), pulls himself to stand up every chance he gets, and has even momentarily stood on his own. It is so fun to watch him grow. He has started nibbling on solid foods here and there, grabbing from our plates, and seems ready to add to his diet. Those pesky teeth have still not come all the way through yet though, and he is still struggling to push them out. He is not ever content to be left out of things, and wants to be "in the mix" every chance he gets. He always wants to play with whatever sister plays with, climb on whatever she is sitting on, and grab whatever she is grabbing. She is always making him laugh.
Jaya is quite obliging to her little brother, and it's a rare occasion that she doesn't willingly share with him. If she really wants to hold on to whatever it is she has, she will ask us, "Can you grab Raji please?" How did we get this girl? She is always teaching us by example. She has also been teaching us that maybe we should sometimes keep our mouths shut:
Jaya: (in whiny, crabby voice) Momma!
Me: I don't like that voice Jaya. Don't use that voice.
Jaya: (still whiny) Moooooom!
Me: Jaya, I don't like that.
Jaya: (normal, excited voice) You mean when I get pissed Mom? You don't like when I get pissed Mom? I won't get pissed no more, Mom. I won't get pissed no more! (big Jaya grin)
One of our favorite J-Bugs quirks is that since she started eating solids, she shimmys her shoulders and shakes her little booty when she eats something delicious. She has been doing it less and less over the last few months, but this week she brought it back into her toddler repertoire. We will do our best to get this on video before it is replaced with some other, though probably equally cute, quirk.
Marei and I are getting back into our pre-pregnancy shapes (I know, but Marei gained sympathy weight with each one. A small fraction of what I gained, but he gained nonetheless).
I taught a health class at the Academy this week. So fun! This one was on nutrition/ healthy diet. We covered a lot of different things, but I will share with you what I consider MY rules for eating healthy. (I am not an expert, this is just what I apply to our family, and it works).
1. Eat lots and lots of fruits and vegetables (as many as you can fit in, and as much variety as you can). And if you don't like them, well then you just haven't tried the right ones and/or haven't had them prepared properly. So try some more! If you only change one thing about your diet, make it this one. The other things will follow.
2. Make most of your carbs whole grain.
3. Make most of your proteins beans, nuts (protein from plant sources) and fish/ seafood. Most of the time, use meat sparingly for flavor rather than as a main dish.
4. Make most of your fats healthy fats from plant sources.
4. Control portion sizes.
5. Eat high-fat, high-sugar foods in moderation. And when you eat them, eat the real deal (see #6)
6. Don't eat, or rarely eat, foods that were made in a laboratory or whose ingredients read like a chemistry lab inventory. This includes soda, fat-free and sugar-free food, margarine, and processed food. Also, choose low-fat foods carefully - if it doesn't taste good, and you'll end up eating twice as much to try to satisfy yourself - don't eat it.
7. Don't ever go on diets. Especially weird extreme ones that cut out whole food groups. Just gradually change your lifestyle if you have poor eating habits.
8. Drink lots of water.
9. Moderation in all things. Learn to be satisfied with smaller portions. If you love something, don't cut it out. Just eat less of it, and less often, and make sure when you eat it, it is the real deal.
10. Enjoy food! Eating should be a pleasurable, gratifying experience.
I love butter, cheese, and a good rib-eye. I just don't eat them all the time, and I'd rather have real butter on a warm roll once in a while than margarine on toast every day. I'd rather have a big fat juicy steak with a gob of gorgonzola once a month than a burger from McDonald's every day. I've got a wicked sweet tooth, I've just learned to be satisfied with smaller amounts of what I like. I've learned (am still learning) how to eat s-l-o-w-l-y and savor every bite. Food is....oh so good...(insert shoulder shimmy and shake).
Happy eating!

Coincidence? I think not

Yesterday we went to the Ayala mall (It is so different from the US - I LOVE going to the mall here. Marei calls me a mallrat). Anyhow, we were walking, I told Marei we should go up to the 4th floor, where we had never been before - primarily because it was just a food court, mostly fast food. Seeing as how I try not to eat much fast food or feed it to my family, he said, are you sure, and I replied, yes, let's just go up there. I didn't know why we were there, until, someone jumped up and said to me, "Are you Leela's daughter?" Crazy, I know. My mom's co-worker of several years is from Cebu. She had told my mom she would be here visiting, and needed my contact info. I emailed it to her weeks earlier, and she hadn't gotten it. She had wondered the night before we ran into her how she would possibly be able to find me with no contact info. How? Well, we just ran into each other in this city of 3/4 of a million people. Amazing! So Emmalina and her husband came over today for some dinner and it was so lovely to have them. Everything happens for a reason! Thanks Emmalina and Joe, for the wonderful visit!

what percentage of eternity is 5 years?

Thought we'd give you guys some insights into us...on our anniversary...
How long have you been together?
We've been married for 5 years.
How long did you date?
We dated for one year before we got married. We got engaged on the 4th of July (America's Independence Day) and got married on August 15th (India's Independence Day).
Who eats more?
Marei, but Leatha can give him some serious comp.
Who has more speeding tickets?
Marei, by far.
Who does the dishes?
Marei.
Who cooks dinner?
Leatha.
Who is more sensitive?
Leatha.
Who is more stubborn?
Leatha overall, but Marei has his moments.
Who is more laid-back?
Marei.
Who is more flexible?
Leatha.
Who is more creative?
Leatha.
Who is more extroverted?
Marei.
Who is more demanding?
Leatha.
Who is more independent?
Leatha.
Who is more friendly?
Marei.
Who is more competitive?
Marei.
Who is funnier?
Leatha.
Who is more fun?
Marei.
Who is bossier?
Leatha.
Who is nicer?
Marei.
Who is more patient?
Leatha.
Who is calmer?
Usually Marei, but sometimes Leatha.
Who is more analytical?
Leatha.
Who is more decisive?
Leatha.
Who does the laundry?
Both of us, but Marei right now.
Who is more practical?
Leatha.
Who is more daring?
Marei.
Who is more athletic?
Marei.
Who has a more addictive personality?
Marei.
Who is thriftier?
Leatha.
Who is more optimistic?
Marei.
Who is nerdier?
Debatable.
What do you have in common?
We have the same values and beliefs. We love being spouses and parents above all else. We come from different cultures but have a lot of things in common culturally. We love family and friends. We love food. We love to laugh. We both have passionate natures and strong emotions. We both can get fired up, albeit about different things. We like things neat and clean, and life orderly, although Leatha is more OCD about organization. We see eye to eye on parenting, for the most part. We both love trying new things, whether it is a different food or a different country.
How are you different?
Every other way. (See above). Leatha is cautious, Marei is more reckless. He's trusting, she's a New Yorker. She worries, he doesn't. We are so opposite, but it is perfect. Looking back, it really is incredible how much we have been blessed with in the last five years...we feel so blessed to have found each other. Life is awesome when you are married to your best friend.

As Jaya says, Happy Nam-a-ver-sa-ee!

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Two months already....

The last week and a half have been punctuated with bouts of illness. Nothing major, just those annoying little blips of discomfort on life's radar. It was the kids, and now I am the one who is sick, in bed with the laptop blogging away. I thought I'd take some time to reflect on the last two months...

What we miss about our life in the US -friends and family (all of us) -hot running water (Leatha) -driving (M and L) -HD TV (who do you think misses that most?) -working at Willowcreek (Marei)

What we will miss about our life in the Philippines -all the great friends we've made -the friendly, hospitable culture -being able to play basketball almost every day -how kid and baby friendly it is here -how breastfeeding friendly it is here -our ward at church -cost of living in general -being able to eat out when we feel like it, for cheap -the cost of clothes, shoes, accessories, massages, almost everything -being able to afford housecleaning help -the rain, and the air after it rains, and how green everything is -all the time we get to spend together as family -learning about a new place and new culture -fresh seafood anytime -having time to relax -the beach/ ocean -fresh mango, fresh pineapple, baby bananas -friendly driving - to some it might seem like crazy driving. But to us, people CAN drive this way, because they are always looking out for each other. -how everyone loves to sing -did I say shoes? -the scenery -no more eczema/ dry skin for the kids and I -it's not unusual that we all sleep in one bed -it's not unusual that we've got a nursing toddler -being able to afford babysitters whenever we'd like some help -malls are fun here -lots of things revolve around food - just the way we Kingis like to roll

We'll make a new list in a few more months. There are other inconsequential things we miss, like watching What not to Wear and the NFL. But we love the Philippines!

I not a big girl YET....

...as Jaya reminds us from time to time. Sometimes we need her to remind us of that, because it is so easy to expect too much of her because of the way she talks, and how old she appears to be at times. She is such a special little spirit, with so much joie de vivre. She has so much passion for everything she does. She is so smart and is constantly humbling us with her observations and her natural inquisitiveness. She just loves to serve - to take care of her brother, to rub Daddy's back, to bring Mommy water, to help us with chores. She loves to play kitchen and cook for us, so she got a kitchen this week made from a cardboard box, a mixing bowl and a cheap faucet. She loves it, and was very vocal about saying so - so polite. She loves music, and sings now more than ever. She is still very into being a mama, and likes to nurture and care for her baby doll. She loves all things girly - including nail polish, lip gloss, purses, and high heels. She is always cheering for and encouraging her little brother, and takes her job as his protector very seriously. We told her how important it is to keep Raja safe, especially now that he is crawling, and, true to her cautious nature, she is hyper vigilant about making sure there is nothing that can hurt him. "That's too little for Raji!" Raja adores his big sister and wants to be wherever she is, playing with whatever she is playing with. She is always making us smile. We love our little J-Bugs!
It is usually pretty difficult to get much good footage of her on video, as she gets somewhat camera shy when we start taping, but we got a few good shots of her recently. Here's to our two year and seven month old sweetheart!

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My first post and Raja crawling

After being asked by Editor-in-Chief to share some thoughts or comment on some of her posts...this is it - I've finally decided to write an entry! (if I sound smart or something its because my lovely intelligent wife has done the grammar and spelling check). I must say that Leatha does a great job at explaining in detail (I tend to leave those out) what happens here and how wonderful of a time we are having. I have no problem with Leatha doing all the posts because I enjoy her writing skills and she does a much better job than I could. The kids are growing up so fast and it is a blessing to be able to watch them daily and be there 24/7 by their side. As most of you know, my duty here is as a stay home Daddy. I admire Moms and Dads of this world who devote all their time and energy to their children day in and out. I'll admit that it has been hard for me to do this great duty full time. One important lesson I think that I can learn here is to how to be a devoted stay home Father and Husband and enjoy it, not thinking about what I am missing out on or what I want to do. Leatha is so unselfish and this allows her to put me and our children above her own needs. I realize how good I have it and that I was lucky enough to marry this great Woman. Enough of that. My dear son has decided that he wants to crawl now! Leatha cried when he did, saying that "he's not a baby anymore." He has been sitting up for the longest time now and often crashes head first (sorry boy, you got my jug) trying to move forward. Well, this evening we saw him on his four legs ready to unleash the beast inside of him! After many attempts to get him to move forward he did so and is loving every minute of it. Watch the video and see for yourself. Note that Jaya is his coach and motivator! Leatha added the slide show so can't take credit for that.

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the Baby Celebs

I've written a little about how much attention the kids get here. People are so friendly and just adore the kids everywhere we go. Whenever we go out, we have to plan accordingly and account for the time needed for the kids to greet the public. At church, people seem to be waiting in line for their turn to hold them, and at restaurants, waitresses offer to tend them while we eat. We've been calling them the baby celebs for a bit, but the name was stuck when the other day, a saleslady kept telling Jaya how sweet and cute and lovely she was. After I paid at the register, Jaya started walking to the door. I called to her, "Jaya, say bye-bye to the nice lady." Jaya paused, turned her head back and looked over one shoulder, and with her head slightly cocked and a closemouthed smile, the kind reserved only for her adoring public, she blew the woman a kiss.

Teething, Crawling, and Eating

So Raja has been working extra hard on pushing out his first teeth this week. He's been fussy, and poopy, waking (very) often, and had a low-grade fever for a couple of days. But he still gives us that big toothless (for now) grin all the time. He is just so sweet.
One of the ways we knew he was teething was that he wants to eat our food. He grabs rice from our plates and shoves it in his mouth. He also helped himself to my ice cream the other day, which Marei caught on video (see below). He is also very eager to crawl. He just wants to move, and can scoot around pretty well with a combination of lunging forward, rolling, and sitting. It is so fun to see the absolute joy in his face when he gets to where he wants to go. We love his mad face too, when he can't go where he wants. His new name is Baby Badge, Marei being the Big Badger. Why Badger? Marei's nickname from childhood - since badgers are little and ferocious. Like our Raji-paj. I just can't get enough of my baby badge.
Here are a few moments from the last week.

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