Look how Celestia's grown!

Make a scrapbook - it's easy!

Celestia's Baptism

On Feb 17, 2008 we baptised our precious girl. Baptism was held at Grace Episcopal Church in Monroe and Rev. Alon White baptised her and we celebrated afterward in the parish hall with about 40 people. Then moved to our house where everyone hung out and had a great time.

It was a beautiful day and very special in that we were surrounded by our family and friends.

Godparents are: Francisco Wong, Godfather and Michelle Boczko, Godmother

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...

Now THAT'S the BIG PUMPKIN, Charlie Brown!!!!!!!

After a day spent pumpkin and apple picking nearby in Warwick, NY, Tyler and Al were inspired to find an even BIGGER pumpkin than the farm had....

Here is how it all went down...



A good time was had by all, and the memories are priceless!


Not sure what to say about this one...




The Artists and their Muse!








TA DA!!!!!!

8 MORE WEEKS....

Well, we're almost there! 8 more weeks until our scheduled c-section (unless SHE decides otherwise!). It's been a long hard journey, but the payoff is priceless!

As the end approaches, I thought the fears would dissapate that plagued me this whole pregnancy. After losing 2 babies, I guess that fear never leaves you. Unfortunately, Tyler has that fear also. Last week he asked me if the baby was going to die before we got to the hospital. He was 7 years old when we lost Gaby and I guess he remembers it all very well. I told him God wants us to have a healthy baby.

So, preparations continue....and we wait with unbridled joy at our baby girls' arrival.

Happy Birthday, Tyler!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yesterday marked a milestone for Tyler...his 9th birthday! He started the weekend of festivities out early, on Friday, by being sent home from school because he threw up in class...not a good sign. But, after being home for the whole of an hour, Tyler announced he was feeling better and "starving." So, three bowls of chicken broth and two jellos later, with still no sign of fever, he was pronounced well by doctor mom. The nervous stomach was attributed to the anxiety or excitement of the upcoming celebrations.

Saturday was Tyler's first sleepover party, with 4 guests: Luis Valenzuela (Tyler's best buddy from White Plains), Kevin Gilson, and Joseph and Nathan Greco, all from our neighborhood, and bus buddies. Here is a picture taken at a (very) rare moment of relative silence:

The festivites continued on Sunday with the gathering of old friends, new friends and dear family with a fiesta of food lovingly made by yours truly. We feasted on baked ziti, meatballs, sausage and peppers, chicken adobo, rice (thanks to mom and dad for letting us borrow the rice cooker as ours is still packed up somewhere), salad and of course, the kid friendly chicken nuggets, mozzarella sticks and french fries. Seems like everyone enjoyed it, as there was not much left in the end.

Pictured are Al, his brother Santiago, his mom Rosalie, me (attempting to hide my pregnant bulk), friends May and Ben Eng (our old neighbors in White Plains). In front is Al's brother Francisco holding birthday boy Tyler. In the second picture, Ben is taking the picture and Al's dad, Santiago joins us.

At the end of the exhausting weekend, Al and I reflected and thanked God for blessing us with such a rich tapestry of family and friends around us. It was our first party at our new house and it was such a delight to see everyone we loved in the most special place to us, our home. There were of course family and friends missing from our celebration physically, but were most definitely in our hearts and spirit there with us.

This sums up the weekend...

ZZZZZZzzzzzzz....thanks everybody!!!!

Shucks, I'm sure tired from panting & beggin all day!

Where did everybody go??? Is there any cake left for me????

Thanks to all, and to all a good night!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!