shopping for baby
Christine shopping at Babies R Us
Happy Birthday Dad!
It would normally be my day off, but I’m spending it at the office since my counterpart is on vacation this week. I just want to send birthday greetings to my father.
Happy Birthday Dad 
Love ya!
31 weeks, 5 days
Long time no see. Sorry I’m late. I should’ve put this up 2 weeks ago. Baby weighed approx. 3 lbs, 13 oz when this was taken; as of a week ago, approx. 5 lbs! Can you make out the baby’s face? I’ll be honest with you – I’m just now seeing it today!
late Christmas
We celebrate a late Christmas with family (and celebrate Derek’s birthday as well).
update 012308
Hello again Sorry for the lack of posts. I’ve just been too busy. My in-laws are moved in and settled. Progress on their house is moving along quite nicely. At work, I’m still in the midst of data collection; I was hoping to have it done this week, but I hit a lot of road blocks. I’m lucky to be part of 2 teams that get along well and are fun to work with, unlike my fellow analysts who seem to be on teams that are not responsive or cooperative, or just downright idiotic. And, of course, we’re getting ready for baby at home. CL decided on a theme for the nursery, and it’s very cute. I’m prepping myself by reading books for new dads; there’s a lot to this, and I want to be ready when we welcome Baby Jose to our world.
baby pictures
Christine’s in her 20th week; click on the image above to see captures from her 2nd ultrasound.
update 010208
Hope everyone had a nice holiday season. It’s been fairly subdued for us. We didn’t travel anywhere nor did anyone come visit us for Christmas. CL worked Christmas Eve, and we both worked the day after. Our Christmas photos can be accessed by clicking on the pic. The new year also came quietly. The news of my grandmother’s passing may have set my mood. We kept busy by working on purging items in the garage and in D’s old playroom.
Resolutions? Looking back at mine from a year ago, I don’t think I did so well. I will probably carry these over into 2008. This year brings lots of change into our world, and it’s all good. A busy year ahead for me at work with the clinical system implementation getting under way next week. My in-laws move back to town in a few weeks as their new house is being built. And, of course, we anxiously await the arrival of Baby Jose in late May/early June!
Finally, I say goodbye to my grandmother. She was a strong woman, strong to the very end. Farewell, Lola; you are greatly missed by all of us who loved you very much. I’m happy to know that you have reunited with those who went before you, especially Lolo and Tito Teddy. And to my Dad, my aunts and uncles, and to my cousins in the Philippines and here in the States – you are in my heart, my thoughts, and my prayers.
boy or girl?
Do we want a boy or a girl? I wouldn’t mind a boy. Being a male myself, it’s only natural. Christine would like a girl, since she already had Daniel. Her parents would like a girl. A boy would carry on the Jose name one generation further. But a girl could play sports and do all the boy stuff as well. Besides, they do make pink Cardinal baseball caps. And I really love the phrase “daddy’s little girl”. (more…)
update 120807
Christine’s parents were in town for the past week for her mom’s annual cookie bake in St Louis. While they were here, an offer was made on their house back in Charlotte. After several counteroffers back and forth over the weekend, the buyers accepted the final offer on Monday. My in-laws have to be out of the house by the 2nd week of January. So they extended their stay and spent the entire week making arrangements for movers and storage while also customizing every aspect of the house they’re building here in town. Christine and I are working on cleaning out Daniel’s old playroom so her parents can stay with us while their new home is being built (the guest room is being converted into the nursery).
Her parents bought us a new bed for Christmas; the previous mattress was so old it literally was a pain to sleep on it. And with Christine pregnant, it’s not good for her to have sleepless nights and back pain. The new bed is a welcome change; king-size and firm. We still wake up several times at night – she because of the pregnancy, me because of Salem (I’ve been told that the dog is prepping me for the baby).
Happy Birthday Mom!
Just want to send my best to Mom on her birthday. Here she is with Dad at Epcot last May.
Happy Birthday Mom!! 
expecting the unexpected (revised)
Christine tells me that my version of the story in which she tells me she’s pregnant is inaccurate. This is how it went down:
“It’s a pregnancy test.”
I said nothing.
“It’s a positive pregnancy test,” she says.
“Is it yours?”
“Yes!”
“Are you serious?”
expecting the unexpected
One night, Christine came home from work. I was in the bedroom watching TV and working on the laptop.
“Close your eyes and put your hand out,” she says to me.
I do as I’m told. I’m expecting candy, chocolate, maybe a homemade cookie baked by a patient of hers. Whatever it was, it didn’t feel edible. It was made of plastic. My first thought was a handy dandy toothpick holder, a freebie from my employer, something I can probably pick up on my own from HR. I opened my eyes to see what looked like a white plastic letter opener. I sat there, quiet (only because I didn’t know what it was).
“That’s a pregnancy test,” she tells me.
“It is?”
“Yes. It’s positive.”
I’m pretty sure my mouth hung open as I stared at the test in my hand.
“Really?”
She nodded.
“You’re pregnant?”
“Yep!”
When we got married, Christine’s clock was ticking. But we couldn’t conceive, no matter what we tried. It got to the point where we both accepted the fact that it wasn’t gonna happen. I think we were both ok with that, but sometimes I wonder “what if”. Daniel is my stepson. I treat him as my own, but I constantly remind myself that he is not my child. When we picked up Salem from the pound, he helped fill that void. I spoil that dog rotten; he is my child, my son, my boy (even if he has four legs and a lot of fur).
Needless to say, Christine’s news was a pleasant surprise and wonderful to hear.
“Well, this changes everything!” I said.
“Yep!”
Hamilton and Dawson
Hamilton is the 2 yr old son of my cousin Rowena and her husband Dave. He happens to have his own website: Hamazahn.com. The site has been updated by my cousin Ren, who’s now had time to catch up with family since his return from his world tour (see the journal of his travels at Global Transmission). Ham’s website features lots of great pictures and stories told by Hamboy himself (transcribed by the Godfather).
And not to be outdone, Hamilton’s younger brother Dawson (seen here with his mom) just celebrated his 1st birthday on September 20. Be sure to also check out Daws’ own website, Dawboy dotcom.
birthday greetings
It’s my cousin Rowena’s birthday today (seen here with her husband Dave on their wedding day – May 2003). Happy Birthday Rowena!
Happy Birthday, Jean!
Sending best wishes to my mother-in-law Jean (seen here with her husband Derek and their grandson Daniel in Myrtle Beach – June 2007). Happy Birthday Jean
Happy Birthday, Sarah!
Sending birthday greetings to my niece Sarah (seen here with her brother Tyler and cousin Daniel, taken last Christmas). She turns 18 today! Happy Birthday Sarah
in memoriam
Teodoro M. Jose, Jr.
November 23, 1950 – September 1, 2006
We miss you, Tito Teddy.
birthday greetings
Today is my sister’s birthday. Rochelle is seen here with her husband Steve and their daughter Jasmine when we were at Disney’s Animal Kingdom last May.
Happy Birthday Rochelle!
MIA?
Got an email from my dad yesterday. He noticed the lack of postings on this blog and was wondering how things were going. To be honest with you, it’s been hell. I’ve been so busy at work with the lab project that I’m just mentally and physically drained when I get home. Because of this, I don’t really have much energy to do anything. (more…)
update 062007
Hmm… what’s going on? Busy at work, tired at home. I still have 2 days’ worth of pictures to upload from our vacation. I’m gonna have to better organize my time so I can have this done by the end of this weekend. Daniel returns home next week when my in-laws come to visit. It’s getting hotter outside now that summer’s officially here. I’m feeling the pressure and stress at work as the lab project is almost live (5 weeks away). Maybe once that’s out of the way, I can rest at ease, relax, and get back to some kind of normal in my job. I am happy to say that, today, my new manager announced to me that I would be getting a raise effective next pay period!
class of 2007
Daniel and his classmates graduated from 8th grade (and was “promoted” to high school) last night. We’re all very proud of you, D!!
