Suckered

Zoe is officially a fan of Dora the Explorer.  She enjoys watching her shows everyday and whenever she sees Dora on TV or at a store, she instantly points and smiles.  Today, while shopping at Walmart for some groceries, I got SUCKERED.  As I was pushing the cart in the baby section, Zoe spotted a Dora chair.  She squealed, smiled, pointed to the chair and clasped her hands together to say "please".  I was suckered. I didn't want to but it for her but her reaction was so darn cute.  That was the first time she had ever done that to me.  I looked at the price and was shocked that it was $20!!! $20 at Walmart is A LOT!  Against my better judgment, I bought it anyway but told myself that if she didn't "really" like it, I would return it the next day.  I gotta admit, that girl is good (and I'm weak sauce to that kind of cuteness).  Good thing she didn't ask me to be her a gun or something like that because I probably would have bought it, too =).

Here she is enjoying her Dora chair while watching her Dora show.  Damn you, Dora!!!

* Note: Mommy finally came to her senses and returned this chair the very next day.  Besides, it wasn't even comfortable -- Zoe kept falling out of it =).

Chatterbox!

My little girl is growing up way too fast!!! Aside from being so physical active these days (running, never walking ... climbing on things ... ), she's also starting to get more vocal.  She loves trying to repeat things now.  However, in true Zoe form, she usually refuses to say "easy" words.  She prefers the more challenging two-syllable words/names.  Jeric is "jdek jdek" ... she can say "grandpa" and "lolo" or "roro" ... she can also say mamay, wowa, isabelle, tasha (tah-cha!), francis (pancis), etc. etc.  It's so cute listening to her little voice!!! Everyone MELTS whenever she's able to say their name (I really should start charging a fee).  Check out this hilarious video of my little chatterbox.  I know without a doubt that she will be a "talker" once she really starts going!!!

Sad, but true

Just had to share this:

It's kind of sad, but totally true!!! Technology is both a gift and a curse.  I remember when I didn't have all the convenience that the above products provide ... but I also know that I'm a much more resourceful and hardworking person because these things weren't in my life at an early age.  I actually had to go to the library to do real research when it came to my schoolwork.  I know a lot of younger "kids" (like high schoolers and college students) that seem to be "lazier" in some way because they've had all this cool technology for most of their lives.  It's like they're not as "hungry" as we were at that age ... like they feel more entitled to things (and at lightning speed) and aren't willing to put in the blood, sweat and tears into things like their school work or even their jobs.  I just hope that me and Mike will be able to teach good work ethic and drive to Zoe ... her life is all about technology and "super easy convenience" ... while that's great for her, it also makes it more important for us to teach her how to get things down without all these gadgets and to trust herself and be confident in her real skills (and no, there isn't an app for that!).

Hunger Games with friends!!!

The theme of this weekend: HUNGER GAMES!  I've been waiting patiently for this movie to come out ... I really enjoyed the book series and was looking forward to falling in love with the whole franchise just like I didn't with Twilight.  Hey -- Twitards can be fans of other books, too!!

Our friends from CCC organized a movie night for Friday evening and I organized a Saturday movie day with our college friends.  Yes, that's right ... we were watching it twice =) ... but to my defense, watching it with different groups of people makes it feel like a different movie =).

I enjoyed the movie (both times) ... there were some complaints about the "shakiness" of some scenes (some of my friends actually got sick watching the film) but I didn't mind it so much.  I though the film was decently made and that all the major stuff from the book made it accurately onto the film.  Since Mike didn't read the books he had A LOT of questions during the Friday showing (thank goodness we were watching it twice just in case I missed something while I was whispering to Mike every 5-10 minutes).  I'm looking forward to the next two movies (it can only get better, right?  Just like the Twilight series ...).

What I really enjoyed was being able to hang out with great friends.  It's always fun to discuss a movie everyone is passionate about before and after the film.  Thank goodness we always have willing babysitters that affords us the luxury to watch the same movie two days in a row =) ... blessed, blessed, blessed!

Here's some funny pics of Zoe during our Friday night out.  She still refuses to sleep unless I'm right next to her ... even if that means she has to be up until past midnight!  Mike and I didn't get home until almost 1 am and I was stressing out the whole time knowing my baby girl was up waiting patiently/impatiently for me to come home (I guess I do have a curfew after all!).

My little eskimo!

Eating a literal midnight snack while waiting
for mommy and daddy to get home

Facebooking to pass the time until we get home ... 

Getting sleepier and sleepier (as she should! it's past midnight!!)
This girl has an iron will!

My favorite lunch buddy!

Aunty Lisa left yesterday so today is the first day in a week that it's just me and Zoe ... she was knocking on the door of our guestroom looking for Oma this morning (I had a feeling she'd get attached to Oma!).  It was the cutest thing!  Later, during lunch, I decided to take a picture of my little lunch buddy.  I remember when I was working in DTLA, lunch time was the time I'd spend with my co-workers just relaxing, having a good time and trying to forget about our stressful jobs (and also gossiping).  Sometimes, I wouldn't even get to have a lunch since I was too busy working.  I couldn't help to notice just how different my lunch break was these days and I suddenly felt extra extra blessed that my "new" lunch buddy is my amazing, funny and sweet baby girl.  I swear, I would NOT trade this for anything in the world!!! It's almost unfair that I get to spend my days and nights with Zoe =) ... yes it's hard work taking care of a baby 24/7, but man, is it rewarding!  This is the most fulfilling job I'm ever going to have (ever) and I'm trying my best to enjoy every moment.

Just look at this face!!!

Oma/Aunty Lisa comes to visit!!!

Aunty Lisa is in town to celebrate her birthday with her kids and with Zoe, of course =).  While we did the usual nice dinners with her, Bryan and Liana, we also had the chance to host her in our home for a few days!  She wanted to make sure she got enough "Zoe time" so she split her time between staying with Liana in Marina Del Rey, with Bryan in DTLA and with us in Oxnard!!

It was nice to spend some quality time with her -- I know Zoe definitely had a blast.  She got super attached to her Oma while she was here and they both enjoyed each other's company.  During the day we would go up to Carpinteria to lunch with Mike and then the evenings were mostly spent at home eating take out (I offered to cook but no one would let me!).

Here's some pics of her visit with us:

Zoe really enjoyed playing hostess to Oma Lisa

They were totally BFFs during her stay

Zoe stepping in the sand for the first time in Carpinteria

She had mixed feelings about sand ...

Lunch with daddy at Padaro Grill!

Enjoying chicken strips and sweet potato fries while looking out onto the ocean ...

Zoe LOVED all the seagulls and other birds

She also enjoyed playing chase with daddy!

Catch me if you can, Dada!!!

As if we weren't already having a blast just hanging out, Mike was able to take Wednesday off so we decided to go whale watching!!!  It was so much fun and Zoe really enjoyed being on the boat.  We were out at sea for almost 4 hours and that little girl survived!!! She ate A LOT of goldfish crackers and seemed to enjoy the ocean ... we also got to see whales, sea lions, and dolphins!!!  Even though it got kind of cold on the boat and it felt like the excursion was one hour too long, we all had a great time!  What a blessing to be able to do something like that on a "regular Wednesday"!!!  I was proud of Zoe for being such a good girl on the boat.  No melt downs or anything!  Woot!!

Matchy-matchy shades!

B**** stole my look! Lol!

Look!!! A dolphin!

Oma got cold on the boat!

My little explorer

The bjorn definitely came in handy on the rocky boat!

Oil platforms!

Perfect ending to a perfect day!

Oma even got to spend time with my mom and Tita Bot

Eating at our favorite Vietnamese restaurant in Alhambra with the whole fam!

Monkey monkey!

I'm so glad we got to spend some extra time with Oma Lisa ... I know she'll miss Zoe a lot more now that she's had the chance to really "bond" with her (vice versa).  Looking forward to more future visits with her!!!  She is definitely one of God's greatest blessings to our family ... even though she's "just" Michael's stepmom, she's been a "real" mom/aunty/grandma to our family.  God blessed Mike with two amazing moms and we're so fortunate to be constant recipients of their love and generosity.