Growing like a weed...

Both kids are growing like weeds right now. It occurred to me recently when Tyler climbed up in my lap, how very big he is now...no longer is he my skinny toddler. When he sits in my lap, there is no lap left anymore! And Celestia is also growing about a pound every 2-3 weeks. At our last doctors' appointment she weighed 8 pounds 10 oz. Not bad for a kid who was a lightweight at birth: 4 pounds 11 oz. Here are some updated pictures of the kids...gosh I love saying that...my kids...





Celestia is smiling quite a bit now and loves kisses from mommy, daddy and Tyler (who wants to hold and kiss her all the time he's home)

She's HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well so much has happened since our last post. Celestia decided to come 6 and a half weeks early (we think she was inspired by the pumpkin on my belly!) She was born October 28 at 4:59 pm, and she weighed 4 pounds 11 oz and was 17 inches long. She was born at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, NY. After a 3 week hospital stayat their NICU, she came home to us on November 15. She weighed 4 pounds 15 oz at discharge.

We celebrated a very quiet Thanksgiving with just the four of us, Tyler, Al, Celestia and myself.

Celestia's first moments in this world are on this video, shot by Al, the proud papa



Christmas was celebrated, Celestia's First, with Al's family joining us at our house. Besides the traditional cookie baking, I made a pork crown roast with cornbread sausage stuffing, potatoes au gratin, green bean casserole, creamed spinach, shrimp cocktail, crab rangoons (homemade---they were yummy!) Al's mother brought lumpias (filipino spring rolls) and poncit (a very popular filipino noodle dish--a Wong family tradition to have at holidays). For desert, we had home made egg custards, made by Al's mom, and two cheesecakes, made by me: pumpkin and cherry (my personal fav!)

Even though we did not have a lot of money for material gifts this Christmas, the gifts we received were extremely generous. The gift of family was the most precious for us this Christmas, with us celebrating our first as a family of four, and with Al's family joining us, which made it even more special. Unfortunately we were not able to travel up to see my family, but will get up there as soon as the doctors think it's okay for our preemie to travel.

Tyler gets his Wii from Uncle Panchito

Tyler with a state map of quarters from Lolo and Lola

Tyler with his Bumblebee transformer from Poppy and Grandma

Lolo and Lola hold Celestia

Celestia's Uncle Santiago

Celestia is held here by Auntie Vangie

Here Celestia is held by her Uncle and Godfather, Francisco Wong


Here are pictures of quilts Lola (Rosalie Wong) made for Celestia

Here's Tyler assisting me in showing one of them off:

And here is a picture of a beautiful afaghan blanket and pillow made for Celestia by Susan Sullivan who works for Al's parents

This was our best Christmas present ever...