2005 Christmas Newsletter

Hello friends,

I just got into this new habit of writing a yearend Newsletter to touchbase with family and friends. Helps me to recount the blessings of the year that has gone by. I'll try my best to K.I.S.S (keep it short and simple).

2005 started with a blessing. After testing positive on last year's Christmas Eve, in January, my salary review got a "high score". The extra dollars added up to saving more for the coming of the new baby and to augment the months that I'll be taking my maternity leave. Luigi also started preschool at Angel's Castle.

February, I started spotting. I was 9 weeks pregnant and the doctor recommended an internal ultrasound. The baby was fine and the bleeding was coming from the placenta settling onto the uterus wall.

March, Luigi stopped attending at Angel's Castle and moved to Nanbaree in the city - closer to Louie's work (CBA building). They enjoyed the time bonding in the morning when they both take the bus going to the city. My belly started showing in this month too. Louie's cholesterol level hasn't gone down even with the change in diet and added exercise. So he has got to be on medication for God knows how long.

April, after watching Leapfrog Letter Factory DVD, Luigi spontaneously wrote letter "H" for his first letter.He has memorized the phonetic sounds of the alphabets. We left for the Philippines to attend Louie's brother's church wedding in Pampanga. (Before getting to Manila we took advantage of the 5 hour lay off in Kuala Lumpur to get a quick tour of the Petronas Tower. Actually, all we wanted was a picture with it in the background.) Luigi was the ring bearer and was a "winner" in his barong. We hooked up with college friends during our 2 week stay. Visited Teks and Cync in Cavite. My sister sponsored Luigi's 3rd birthday party at Jollibee. Luigi still pronounces it as Jelly-Bee. We visited the beaches of Batangas instead of the cool breeze in Baguio. I've yet to fulfill my promise to Louie to bring him to Baguio. He hasn't been there, would you believe it???

May, Louie celebrated his 28th bday and Luigi's 3rd bday party was incredibly fun again. He adored Dash Incredible. Mommy celebrated her 53rd bday with us here in Australia.

June, winter has kicked in and I was getting a lot of leg cramps at night already. I was into the last trimester of my pregnancy. Luigi can now write "LUIS". We went to Masterton for an estimate of knocking down and rebuilding a new house on the property we bought in Castle Hill last year. My bestest friend Anna gave birth to Caitlyn in Chicago.

July, my birthday month.. Turned 28th and boy whatta good day it has been! A day filled with loads of surprises from CFC family. My birthday coincided with Tita Nestor's (Tita Mila's husband), 9th day. Luigi can now write LUIS MIGUEL REYES.

August, Louie and I pondered on either selling or renting out our very first "domain" in Australia - our cutie townhouse. Whichever came in first was our decision. After 3 weeks on the market, a couple met our selling price. We agreed to settle in 8 weeks. Anyway, finished work on the 26th. After a day's rest, I gave birth to Leon Maddox on 28th at 12 noon weighing 8.5 lbs. He came in a breeze as far as I can recall now. I have forgotten all the pain I went through to this day. I see him and he makes me proud realizing I still have a lot of love to give.

September, one week postnatal, was already spendin a lot of time driving around looking for a temporary place to live while preparing Leon's Christening. I just hate the pressure (physical/mental strain) but I had to deal with it. Louie got his bonus from CBA and our tax refund. Woohoo! On a sadder note, we became a victim of internet fraud… EBAY SUCKS! Gain some, lose some. Luigi started in Kindalin.. His 3rd preschool for this year.

October, finally bid farewell to our wee townhouse. We currently live to the next suburb Castle Hill. (Friends our postal address is PO Box 709 Baulkham Hills, NSW, 1753). Leon started sleeping through the night - well at least 80% of the time. Spent some days choosing bathroom essentials, kitchen, bricks and rooftiles. Started reading The Five Love Languages. It's a good one.. :)

November, after a year of helping me out during my pregnancy and looking after Luigi when I was working, mommy and daddy went back to Manila. A day after they left, we flew to Gold Coast to relax. We visited SeaWorld and MovieWorld and enjoyed the beach each morning. After coming back from Gold Coast, we flew the next day to Sunshine Coast with friends Edgar & Evelyn and Ida & Cirilo.

It's December again and merry-making time again. First week of December when Leon started to roll over. He must be over 8 kilos now. It was great catching up with Carla & Jon and April & Francis early this month for our yearly Christmas get together. It was an intimate affair from lunch til dinner on a Sunday. Lately we found out that April & Francis are moving to Switzerland in February and it's all making me weepy. This month, development plan to build a new house has been approved. I'm looking forward to my yearend meeting with Louie who suggested that we reflect on things we did this year, cherishing timeless memories, thanking Jesus Christ for His guidance and all the blessings we received, as we set our goals for the coming new year.

Thank you for taking time to read our 2005 Newsletter! I'll try to post this in my blogsite (http://maan13.blogspot.com) ! We hope that you can share yours with us (if you haven't). And to my friends who have gotten me into making one .. Thank you!

Until next Christmas!

Much love,
Maan (Louie, Luis, and Leon)