MANILA, Philippines? Ceana Lee, singer-actress Vina Morales? baby, turns eight months old on Christmas? still a few days away, but her mom was already... there.

?Everyone in the family will spend Christmas Day with us at my house. It?s going to be quite a gathering. I put up lights and holiday decor as early as October,? Vina told Inquirer during a visit.

?Ceana still doesn?t know what Christmas is, but she?s thrilled to see so many blinking lights around the house. Just like other babies, she is attracted to anything red,? said Vina, a first-time mom at 33. ?She likes people fussing over her. She responds with a smile or, if they?re lucky, a loud giggle.?

Happy baby
Ceana was born at the Capitol Medical Center in San Juan. Her dad is Chinese businessman Cedric Lee.

?She?s a very happy baby. Thank God, hindi siya sakitin,? said the Cebu-born actress. ?It was tough all through her first month. I had to wake up in the middle of the night to breast-feed her. It was very painful because I didn?t have enough milk.?

Vina admitted she had post-partum depression. ?One of my fears was whether I could be a good mom. I knew I had to regain my self-confidence quickly. I was worried about work. Although I had other businesses, like the Ystilo Salon chain and a laundry-and-alter shop, performing is still my true love. I know that I?m competing with younger artists.?

Thankful
She?s thankful, Vina said, that family and friends were around while she battled the blues. ?They encouraged me to go back to the things I enjoyed doing. I started dieting two months after giving birth,? said Vina. ?At one point, I was afraid I might have to resort to liposuction. I certainly didn?t want childbirth to be an excuse for being fat. Now, I think I?m thinner than before I had Ceana.?

When the baby was four months old, Vina started going to the gym, spending a maximum of three hours there daily. ?I would go as early as 7 a.m. I did yoga and belly-dancing, too, and enrolled in contemporary dance classes. I did a lot of cardio exercises.?

For this interview, Vina wore a white ruffled sleeveless mini and a pair of red pumps. Ceana was her cheerful mini-me.

Show biz for Ceana? Nothing wrong with that, Vina said. With a mom and an aunt (actress Shaina Magdayao) paving the way, Ceana will certainly have things easy. ?I wouldn?t stop her if a life in show biz is what she?d really want. My family supported me fully. We relocated to Manila from Cebu, though it was hard for them to live so far away from their comfort zone,? Vina recalled. ?I just hope Ceana finishes schooling first. Not doing that remains to be one of my regrets.?

As she starts work in television again, Vina is concerned about time away from her daughter. She?s one of the hosts of the Sunday noontime variety show ?ASAP ?09.? ABS-CBN also plans to cast her in a drama series. ?I hope to be allowed to bring Ceana to the set. I think (actress) Jodi Sta. Maria and (TV host) Kris Aquino do that?bond with their kids while working,? Vina noted.

Tour plans
She?s also concerned about her schedule when she starts touring again. She explained: ?I usually do eight American cities in a little over a month. I don?t think I can be away that long from Ceana. Maybe I can bring her to one city, leave her there and just visit her when I get the chance. Plane rides are harmful to baby ears.?

While she can, Vina is stocking up on quality time with her baby. ?We?re always in Tagaytay where the weather is cool,? she said. ?We listen to music. I sing to her a lot. At night, I whisper in her ears, ?I hope you will become one of the most influential persons in the world. I hope you grow up healthy and happy.??