Aimeeee, YEY!

7,776,000 seconds ---  that's how long I've been waiting (and still waiting) till my loving wife comes back from maternity leave! 

A painstaking 129,600 minutes of going through work and living in the absence of my wife.  Each minute ticking away like a snail pacing a large stadium.

2,160 hours of staying sane, unmindful of the fact that I am alone and oftentimes making my self numb to the point of ignoring my emotions.

3 months of easy-to-cook meals (fried, microwave, freebies, take-outs or eat-ins, init-init food).

A quarter of a year that felt like ETERNITY!

But hey, my time of agony is soon coming to a halt --- Aimee is coming, YEY :)  And this is actually the last week of waiting.  Come Thursday, at 1300H Abu Dhabi time, my wife is back again! 

Oh Be, I so terribly, overly, exaggeratingly miss you so, so, so much, hehe!

So in preparation, it also means that I still have time to do the following while I still have time to spare:

1.  Major, Major Clean-up - Don't get me wrong.  I do a weekly tidying up routine.  You know the usual basang-basahan, punas-punas-the-alikabok thing, walis-walis the alikabok after punas-punas, throwing away the garbage accumulated within the week, etc.  But of course this week will be a double, make it triple, clean up project! 

2.  A Full Fridge - Need to find time to buy food and stock up.  I miss my wife's cooking and I know she misses cooking for her hubby too!  I am so glad that I will get to savour different viands soon.  (A far cry from pritong itlog, pritong hotdog, pritong maling or tocino everyday!)

3.  Running shoes, you will be running again! - we were not able to even jog when she got pregnant (of course), so we plan to exercise again (and it is an approximately 9+3 months of just munching and loading up fats down our waist). 

4.  Clothes Inventory - need to fold-up and tuck-away (for now, **wink**) those maternity dresses that she left in our cabinet.  I also have this nasty habit of pulling clothes from beneath, leaving the ones on top dangling.  Kailangan ayusin baka mapalo hehe :D

5.  and a SURPRISE!

Aimee, my Be, I honor you for being so strong all throughout our journey.  Having us apart made me realize that --- I might have done something good, to deserve someone so great as YOU!

I love you Be :)

Dear CALEB

Hey it's Daddy --- and this is my first letter to my Son . 

How are you Caleb?  If you are reading this post, it means that you are a grown up now (and my Multiply site is still around  ) and I know that you are very happy while reading this. 

How is it going so far, Son?  How's your jorney?  Let me tell you Caleb, you are up for more --- a lot of learning experiences ahead, important decisions to make and a lifetime to enjoy!  Sounds fun Son?  We hope so.

Caleb, we really can't wait to witness the fulfillment of God's promises to you.  You are bound for greatness!  You are going to surpass whatever Mommy and Daddy had accomplished; but you will stay humble as you know that your strength is from the Lord.  Just continue to learn more about God for He is your refuge.   

Do not be afraid Son for we are with you every step of the way.  We will guide you and teach you like when you were still little.  And if you ever make mistakes, just stand up again.  Life is about making mistakes (that you don't really mean to commit -- hope we're clear!) and having to learn from it. 

Love your family.  You are so blessed to have one.  Be polite and courteous to Mommy and Daddy, Lolo and Lola, Aunts and Uncle.  They all have a story to tell.  Emulate their wisdom and understand their stories.  They are well experienced so remember all the lessons of their conquests.  Savour each moment with them.  There will come a time that you may need to leave us to be with your own family.  But I guess, discussing about having your own family is too premature, hehe  .  Just the same, I want you to know that.  And if Naomi Aim is finally with us, love your sister the way we loved you. 

If you are a student, be a student!  Learn.  Be the best student that you can be.  Never get tired of doing everything on your own (that includes the projects!).  And if you need help, Mommy and Daddy will hep you.  But you have to finish your project on your own .  Lessen your gimmicks (I know it is inevitable).  Know your limitations and never succumb to peer pressure.  You are unique and God gave you a free will.  Never do something because everybody does it.  Life is about knowing what you want and doing it without hurting people around you.  Never rush to have a girlfriend.  The Lord has provided one for you, your future wife, when you were still in Mommy's tummy.  So trust God the way we trusted Him.   

Lastly Son, I suggest that you enjoy your youth.  It only comes once in your life so don't waste it bumming around.  Travel a lot!  Learn how beautiful the earth is and enjoy God's creations.  Mingle with people and learn about  different cultures.  Capture all those great moments through photography.  Learn music and play all the musical instruments that you like.  Music is the food of the soul.  Along with singing, it is a great way to vent.  Learn how to swim.  Then after swimming, try surfing.  Be 'stoked.'  I only learned about it lately and until now, I still reminisce of how challenging it is to merely stand on the board.  Really a fun time.  Be sporty. 

So Caleb, just always remember that Mommy and Daddy loves you very much!  Just promise us that you will be a good boy --- for that is all we are after Son!