Addison, Halloween, and our new home

Dear Addi

This past week has been a bunch of firsts for you. From moving into your new house with your own bedroom to your first halloween that you were able to go trick or treating like the big kids do to eating your first bowl of cereal all by yourself. =)

We finally moved into our new house last Thursday, you were so thrilled about having your own room that you spent nearly the entire day there while we moved all the furniture in. It's so thrilling to Mommy and I to see how proud you are that you now have a room to call your own. You even brought every visitor we had upstairs to show them what a neat little space you have.

We celebrated halloween with your Uncle Ben, Lala and Ang Kong (Grandpa). We took you trick or treating for the very first time. You did so well up until that big dog scared the living daylights out of you. It was so fun to watch you take inventory of all your candy after we got back.

Here are your latest milestone achievements:
You can count to 20 in english, 10 in spanish, 5 in japanese and chinese. Ilocano and tagalog needs some work but with what you know already I don't think it matters at the moment.

You know how to say please, thank you and your welcome. It's really cute when you really really want something that you reply with "thank you, your welcome!" from all your excitement.

We love you Addison!

-Daddy and Mommy

Here are some photos of you from the past month:

Our new home!

The day after we closed we spent the day cleaning, you amused yourself by playing with sponges.

We took you to a pumkin patch to take pictures of your halloween costume.

As always, you totally hammed it up.






The Friday before Halloween we went to your daycare for a Halloween parade.

After the parade, you and mommy decorated your very first pumkin.

"I AM AN ARTEEST!"

Halloween day was quite warm and you begged an pleaded with us to go outside to ride your bike.

Updating mommy's facebook status before going out trick or treating.

House number 1.

Our new neighbors

The two ladybugs.

Candy inventory

mmmm milk duds.

oooooo sugar rush!

Miscellaneous Monday

"Whoa..." -Keanu Reeves in every movie he's ever done.

It sure has been a while since my last Miscellaneous Monday entry. Talk about dropping the ball...

Starting yesterday until Tuesday will be me Addi's first time alone without Mommy since she was born. Audrey left yesterday afternoon to Atlanta for a business trip which leaves me with our almost 2 year old terror. I'm absolutely terrified! LOL! No seriously, as a family we have never been apart for more than 24 hours and I'm a bit nervous about the whole deal, actually Audrey and I were away in Vegas for a few days this year but with Addi being watched by here Nana (my mom), she didn't even bat an eye. Thank goodness Audrey's mom is kind enough to help out and take Addi to day care for me.

It's about 6 am now and Addi is sound asleep. I got to bed around 11:30 after doing my nightly routine of washing sippy cups and bottles and cleaning up the living room after Addi's nightly physical inventory of all her toys.

Audrey's mom should be here in an hour or so to wake her up and take her to day care. I didn't sleep much last night, I miss my wife... I never realized how connected at the hip we are. It's pretty pathetic, but you know what? I wouldn't have it any other way.

...only 36 hours left to go... and just think, I get to this all again next week when Audrey leaves for Baltimore. Wish me luck!

Riela and Emmil

Riela is like a little sister to Audrey and I. So much so that we asked her to be Addi's Godmother. Her boyfriend Emmil was visiting for the weekend from Las Vegas and she had been nagging at me to take a few shots of them (little sisters do that I guess).

We finally had the chance last night after I came home from work. It was nothing fancy, we shot this in the common area of our apartment building just outside from our patio. We had a lot of fun, and Addi kept herself entertained with her new lawnmower bubble blower thingamabobber that Riela got for her.

Here they are... enjoy!

Emmil. He really is this serious. All the time. Seriously... =)


Riela.






Here's the promise ring Emmil gave Riela on their anniversary... awwwwww!

Addison at 18 months

No misc. monday today... instead a letter to Addison!


My dearest little Addi,

I can't believe how big you've gotten in just the past couple of months. Here you are, 18 months old, going on 19 in a couple of days... it just amazes me.

We visited our friends Shivanee and Nirav at the hospital on Friday to see their newborn baby boy. He was only a couple ounces heavier than you were when you were born. But, seeing him next to you really put things into perspective. It really is a miracle to me how a little helpless baby can develop into such a personality in just a few months.

You've really become a little jabber jaw and always have your piece to say in all our family conversations. My heart beams with joy when you come up to me and ask me such simple things like "What's that?" or "Where's Mommy?" or my favorite, "Milk Please?".

I returned home this past saturday night from a 16 hour workday shooting a wonderful wedding. I was exhausted after the drive home and knew I still had another 3 hours of work ahead of me before I could come to bed. When I walked in the door, I saw a piece of paper that mommy helped you draw. It had your hand prints and a little note that said "Happy Fathers day Daddy!" I didn't notice the part about the note that night, but the next morning when mommy gave it to you to show me... my heart just melted. You are such a sweet spirited little girl.

You aren't all fun games though. As you grow you are starting to become more self aware er... moody. I understand your frustration, when you have so much to say but don't know how to express it. I do get frustrated at times when we don't understand each other and you start throwing a tantrum and I start to get upset with you and put you in time out. Honestly, though, at those moments, I think I need a time out as well. You go to your corner and I go to mine... =) I'm no perfect father. I am learning as I go. But I am thankful that you are the one that was chosen for me and your mommy to grow with.

Thank you for being such a wonder daughter. Try not to grow up too fast ok?

Love,
Daddy

Here are some pictures from the last couple months.


This was one of your "moody" days.


Same day...


Cupcakes makes my cupcake happy... =)




But she's not the only one it seems...


The happy dance.


Here's my cupcake playing model as I test out our new backdrop and light kit for our photobooth!



JoJo wanted to play too.


Addi: "Dude! You're in my shot!"
JoJo: "No way man... I was here first."


JoJo and Addi take photography very seriously!


Ok not really...


I love the expression on her face in this shot.


This is how Addi is most of the time.... she can't help but laugh at herself. She is definitely my girl!

Happy Anniversary Honey!

Today Audrey and I are celebrating our 4th anniversary. We were married on May 29, 2005 in Danbury, CT. I'm so blessed to have a wife as amazing as she is. Here is a slideshow I have put together of photo's going all the way back to our first date in 2001 to our recent trip from Las Vegas. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY HONEY! I love you. =)

A most grateful thank you to our friends Frank Amodo and Ohana Photography for our anniversary session and family portraits!

Las Vegas

As an early present to ourselves for our anniversary (May 29), Audrey and I flew to Las Vegas this past weekend to party with some friends and just have some "us" time. We didn't do too much gambling but we did eat a lot. I even brought along some of my photo gear so we could do a mini photo session for ourselves.

Virgin America is awesome!


I get a little antsy after sitting for a few hours but luckily, our flight had wi-fi available. Not to mention, movies, games and TV.


As soon as we checked into our hotel we quickly got cleaned up and went to Roberto's taco shop to relieve our desperate cravings for carne asada anything! Audrey ordered the Carne Asada chips...




I had the burrito.... I tell you what, who ever said that NYC is the food capital of the world has never travelled to the western US and Hawaii. No where else in my travels have I ever found better mexican food out of mexico other than the American southwest... this is the truth!


The same night of our arrival we met with some friends who were also in town to go watch the Cirque de Soleil show, KA. Talk about visually stunning. It.was.amazing.

The following morning, Audrey and I got up early to go do a quick photoshoot of ourselves. It's tough being the subject and photographer at the same time.




















I must admit, Audrey and I are big time foodies. If there is a place to eat that we have never tried before, or is unavailable in NY, you can bet your booty, that we will be there. We had lunch with our friends at Goldilocks bakery and cafe... I love filipino food.


Kare-Kare... Oxtail and tripe in a peanut butter based stew. OMG!


That night we had dinner at Wazuzu located inside the Wynn Encore Resort. I must say the food was delish!
Seared Ahi anyone?


ha...ha...hamachi!


Sushi platter...


Tempura roll for the non adventerous sushi eaters.


Trout... I didn't get to try this bur Audrey said it was yummo.


This is Riela and her boyfriend Emil. Riela is like little sister to us. We love her to death! =)


Oh yes it's ladies night... oh what a night!






On our last morning before we flew out Audrey and I went for a short walk across the street from our hotel to the Bellagio to check it out.








After our little walk we packed our bags and said goodbye to our hotel room and headed out for breakfast at Jollibee, a fast food restaurant with a filipino twist.


Audrey had the fried chicken and spaghetti plate... wait what? Yeah, fried chicken and spaghetti. Don't knock it till you try it. one bite and you'll never buy fried chicken anywhere else... EVER!


I went for the hamburger steak with eggs and garlic fried rice.


Me and the bee.