Sunday, September 23, 2012

Birthday Greetings

Let me tell you a secret. I am very easy to please. I am a very appreciative person that’s why I can be happy and thankful at even the littlest of things other people do for me. Yesterday, I was very happy to see that a lot of my friends took the time to post birthday greetings on my Facebook wall.
Simpleng birthday greetings pa lang ‘yun ha. Imagine how I felt when I saw hubby’s birthday message for me:

I was teary-eyed because I was so touched. I felt very loved and appreciated. Thank you, hubby. Sabi ko nga sa reply ko, “I was born for you. I love you, baby. I always will. I look forward to many more birthdays to spend with you and our kids.”

34 on 23

Yes, I turned 34 last Sunday. There are times when I still can’t believe I am on my 30s already. Parang kelan lang, college student lang ako. Parang kelan lang, kapag may mga gatherings, ako lagi ang youngest or isa sa mga bata sa batch. Ngayon, isa na ako sa mga ina-ate. Kaloka!
Anyway, my birthday celebration was very simple but because I spent it with my boys, I was very happy and felt loved. We heard mass at Sto. Domingo Church (11am). I thanked the Lord for all the blessings He has given me, especially for the gift of a happy marriage. I prayed for good health so I can continue to take care of my hubby and our kids. After the mass, we had lunch at Gerry’s Grill. We had sisig, grilled tuna belly, chicken skin, and pork bbq (as requested by the little guy). The kuyas had mais con yielo while I ordered leche flan for dessert. We enjoyed our lunch so much we forgot to take pictures. Simot na simot din ang mga plates. Haha! J
We then went to SM Centris because I wanted to check out the tiangge. As you know by now, hindi ako mahilig bumili ng mamahaling bagay.  Low-maintenance, ‘ika nga.  Masaya na ako sa mga bagay-bagay na nabibili sa tiangge. J  Unfortunately, I didn’t find anything I liked so we transferred to SM North EDSA because the kuyas wanted to buy shirts. Hubby let me buy perfumes because (1) paubos na ang pabango ko, (2) ‘ yun na ang kanyang birthday gift, and (3) sayang ang 35% discount!  I was very happy.  We bought a mango roll from Red Ribbon before going home. We also bought lechon manok from Baliwag. Simpleng buhay pero masaya.
When we got home, it was plantsa time for me. Hubby naman had our car washed. The Kuyas studied and prepared their things for school. Si bunso, happy nang makipaglaro with his cousins.
My birthday dinner at home was spaghetti, the chicken that we bought from Baliwag and the mango roll from Red Ribbon. We gave half of it to my in-laws (katabi lang namin ang bahay).  After dinner, I had some time to check my Facebook account and thank my family and friends who posted birthday greetings on my wall.
I know it was nothing grand. No big party. No expensive gift. But I feel loved and blessed. I am happy and thankful. I have gifts that money can’t buy. I have a wonderful husband. I have beautiful and intelligent kids. I have supportive friend and relatives.
The only thing I pray for every night is to always be blessed with good health. I want to live long because I want to be always there for my husband and our children. Not for myself, oh Lord, but for my family. Always for my family.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

How to Find the Right “Gym” for You… The Weight-Loss Challenge after the Babies

When I was younger, weight was never a problem. I never had to go on a diet. I ate anything and everything I liked and never had to worry about gaining weight. I was happy with my size.
Then, motherhood came and suddenly, I am bigger and heavier.
From small/medium to large to extra large!
(Don’t get me wrong. I love my kids. I love being a Mom. The happiness they bring into my life is beyond compare. If I can do it all over again, I will still have all three of them.) I have never imagined myself to gain this much weight! My clothes don’t fit me. My appetite has gone haywire! I look at my old pictures and just sigh. I look at other moms who remained slim despite the pregnancies and sigh some more.
But, but, but! I am also the type who never gives up. So I decided to inject exercise into my life and become more conscious of the things I eat. I have to admit, though, that the diet part is more challenging for me. I have three growing boys, you see. J
Yup, I have been through three pregnancies which means I have been through that post partum stage of deciding what would be the best weight loss plan for me three times. Each time had been different so here I am sharing what I have learned, so far.
After my first pregnancy, I gained 30 whopping pounds! However, I was a stay-at-home-mom-and-wife so I neither had the time nor the money to go to the gym. I knew two things, though. I enjoyed dancing and I had “free time” when my baby was asleep. So I took out the Jane Fonda workout tapes my mom gave me and started doing aerobic exercises daily at the comfort of my room. Every single day, I went to “my gym”… my own room. I couldn’t quite remember if I went on a strict diet during that time. Hubby says I did but I can’t really recall. You see, I love soda and I didn’t give that up even when I was trying to lose weight. Jane Fonda’s workouts were perfect for me because I felt like I was attending dance classes. After three months, I was back to my pre-pregnancy weight and size. Victory!
Then my second baby boy came and I was back to stage 1. However, I also had a full-time job so finding time for my workouts became very difficult for me. With a household to manage, an eight-hour job, and my boys to attend to, I was always tired and just wanted to sleep during my free time. Every morning, however, I looked at myself in the mirror and was just so unhappy with my weight. So I had to find a way to be able to squeeze exercise in my daily routine. Again, I could not go to the gym because I wanted to go directly home after work. What worked for me, then, was to eat late afternoon snacks at work (which served as my dinner) and exercise while my boys were having dinner. That way, after dinner, I got to spend quality time with my hubby and our boys. Victory #2!
You know what’s next. Rather, who’s next. Yes, baby #3. After giving birth to our 3rd baby boy, losing weight has become even more challenging. It’s actually a challenge I am still facing up to now. My metabolism has definitely slowed down now that I am older. I developed a thyroid problem and I learned that it affects one’s weight loss/gain. My work has also become more demanding leaving me way too exhausted for workouts in the evening. For a couple of months, I went back to running and joined race events on weekends. I conquered 10-km distance categories. It felt good but eventually I didn’t like the thought of waking up very early in the morning so I put running on hold. I took a closer look at my schedule and realized I have a couple of hours in the morning before work that I can devote for workouts. You see, I am usually in the office as early as 6am because my hubby and I share a car (because this is more practical for the family) and his office hours start at 8am. That gives me almost three hours of free time in the morning. Hence, I enrolled for a gym membership. So that’s my battle plan for now, to go to the gym at least three times a week before I go to work.
In a nutshell,
(1)  Exercise does not really mean going to the gym that we know and lift weights. Our “gym” can be anywhere. We just have to find a physical activity we love and do that more often. Like dancing, or running, or biking.
(2)  Creativity is key. Our schedule can never be too busy. We have to be creative enough to find ways to squeeze in exercise in our routine. We need to. Anything for our health and wellness is always good investment.
(3)  Persevere. I once read that you didn’t gain that weight overnight so don’t expect to lose it overnight as well. One step at a time, baby. You’ll get there. I’ll get there.

Sunday, September 16, 2012

One Step at a Time

Last weekend, son # 3 told me, "Mommy, malapit na ako mag-5."

I could not help but smile. You see, the little guy just turned 4 last September 2. Kaka-4 lang niya, malapit na siya mag-5? Mga bata talaga. Nagmamadaling tumanda. I remember I was like that also. When I was 10, I couldn't wait to become a teenager. When I was 13, I was so excited to turn "sweet sixteen." Then I dreamed about how it'll be when I turn eighteen. Haaay. Now, I keep forgetting my age (maybe my brain refuses to remember na. haha!) that I always have to compute for it when I fill up forms/documents.

I wanted to tell my little guy na 'wag magmadali. Enjoy niya muna ang mga panahong simple lang ang lahat... 'yung lahat ay provided for ni Mommy at Daddy. Pagdating ng panahon, babalik-balikan mo ang kabataan and you'll miss the good ol' days na simple lang ang lahat. Wala masyadong responsibilities. Wala masyadong problema.

There are so many things on my mind and in my heart but I'd rather keep them to myself for now. I lift everything up to the Lord. He knows what's in my heart. He hears my prayers. He know how much I love my family. I know I'll get there. One step at a time. 'Wag magmadali.

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Mako's Birthday Celebration

When son #3 turned 1, si Enie ang favorite niya. Naturally, we wanted an "Ernie birthday party" kahit sa bahay lang. Pero, pakipot ang Ernie. Hubby and I had a hard time looking for toys, party favors, etc with Ernie on them. Even the cake! Shusme, cake man lang sana di ba. But no, hard-to-find talaga si Ernie. So we settled for a Sesame Street cake from Estrel's.


When he turned 2, Toy Story naman ang favorite niya. Maybe I didn't look hard enough or maybe I wanted his cake pa rin to be from Estrel's that's why we settled for this theme.



When he turned 3, he was a big fan of the Little Einsteins. He wanted his cake to have that theme. E ang siste, we got blank stares everytime we asked if they had a theme na Little Einsteins. Homaygulay. Anak ko lang yata ang may kilala ng Little Einsteins! Even sa mall, we couldn't find a toy, shirt, kahit pencil na Little Einsteins! Pano na?! Mommy's last resort was a DIY theme. Ito ang resulta.


In fairness, he loved the cake. Hanggang ngayon, everytime he watches Disney Jr and sees a plug of Little Einsteins, he would proudly say na ganyan ang cake niya dati. :)

This year, on his 4th birthday, son #3 wanted an Angry Birds cake. Given na nagcancel na kami ng birthday party sa McDo, I didn't want a DIY cake this year. So we looked for a cake shop that carried the theme and had this made. 
Chocolate cake from Goldilocks

The cake has chocolate chips inside plus all the Angry Birds toppers are edible

We couldn't find party favors, loot bags na Angry Birds ang theme so I decided to make DIY party loot bags and banners for our little guy this year. Look!



Ito naman ang mga loot bags niya. I forgot to take pictures of the contents. Haha! Anyway, may participation ang birthday boy dyan because he signed the thank you cards. Cutie! :)


He had fun helping Mommy put the candies and toys inside the loot bags. He also enjoyed signing the thank you cards. #mommy's-little-helper
 His handa was simple lang. We didn't invite naman kasi. Kami-kami lang sa bahay. Look, I only prepared 10 loot bags... for the kids at home lang 'yan. Haha. Hindi talaga namin hilig kasi ni Hubby ang mag-host ng malalaking parties.


But you know what, our little guy was very happy. His birthday celebration was very simple but he celebrated it with the people he loved most. Yung nakakasama niya sa araw-araw. He was very comfortable kasi kami-kami lang. :)





Happy birthday, little guy! Mommy and Daddy love you very much!


The Little Guy Turns 4

September 2 is a big day for me because 2 very special persons are celebrating their birthday on this day - my Mom and son # 3. Unfortunately, my Mom is living in the US so the two couldn't really have a joint birthday celebration.

Anyway, son # 3 turned 4 last Sunday, September 2. Hubby and I originally planned a McDo birthday party for the little guy because we thought ma-a-appreciate na niya ang mga ganitong parties. We asked son # 3 if he wanted a McDo birthday party and he said yes. He also picked the Toy Story theme. As early as March, we already had the date pencil-booked. Come April, we attended a birthday party of his cousin. McDo rin. From the start of the party, I was already having second thoughts about his readiness to have his own party. First of all, he was super shy! He hated being the center of attention. Hindi siya bibo kid. He's my little shy guy. He didn't want to join the games. He cried when we asked him to say hello to the other kids at the party. Finally, when the mascot entered the venue, our little shy guy cried. Yes, as in cried! Takot to the max!

We attended another kiddie party during the summer and everything was a replay for our little guy. Weeks after, he declared, "Mommy, ayaw ko na ng McDo birthday party. Takot naman ako sa mascots e. Doon na lang ako bi-birthday sa bahay ni Mamu (hubby's mom). Basta 'yung cake ko Angry Birds." At first, we thought it was just a spur of the moment thing. Pero nanindigan ang bata! Talagang ganito ang sagot niya everytime we asked him about his birthday party. So, Hubby and I decided to cancel the McDo birthday party we originally planned for the little guy.

Mabuti na lang din because when Habagat struck, we were among those affected by the massive flooding. I will tell you more about our experience on another post. Basta, in short, ang daming gastusin bigla after Habagat that we were thankful na we didn't have to spend na for a McDo birthday party.

Though simple, we made sure our little guy was happy on his birthday. We wanted him to feel very loved and special even without a bonggang birthday party. Here's how our day went.

We heard mass at the Parish of the Holy Sacrifice in UP. We wanted to thank Him for all the blessings He has given our family and for giving us son # 3. Then we had lunch at Shakey's because the boys wanted chicken, pizza and pasta for lunch. We had some pictures taken before the food was served.



The little guy wasn't in the mood for picture-taking.


When he finally was, Hubby naman kept goofing around.


See? Wala talagang matinong pic! :)


Awww... my three little Michaels!

Akala ko, matinong family pic... akala ko!


Haaay, may batang nagduduling-dulingan!
Then we went to TriNoma so he can check out the toys at Toys R Us. Hubby and I wanted to see what toys he liked. When we knew na what he wanted, I bought them secretly and had them wrapped so he can open them as presents later during his birthday dinner.

After TriNoma, we picked na the food that we ordered for son #3's birthday dinner. I will tell you more about his birthday dinner on my next post. :)




Thursday, August 2, 2012

Hubby

I love these pictures of me and the love of my life...

Hubby and me, one fine day!
14 years of marriage and this man still makes me feel like a high school girl being courted by her crushie! :)

He takes me out on Friday nights.
He makes sure we have hubby-and-wife time despite the many things we have to attend to as mom and dad of our three boys.
He drives me to and from work every single day.
He gives me flowers... delivered to my office with handwritten love notes. He writes well, by the way, so these notes may be short but they can really elicit "kilig!"
He never forgets to say I love you every single day.
He kisses me a lot. No, we kiss each other a lot. Haha!

I thank God for this gift of a happy marriage and I pray (every night) that we remain strong, happy and in love with each other.

Another Rainy Day

I usually love rainy days. I find myself more productive during rainy days. I think better, I work faster and I am usually in a better mood. Pero this week, nauumay na ako sa ulan. My gulay, it started last Sunday pa yata. Isang linggong pag-ibig na, mga atey! Nasasayang na ang gym membership ko at sirang-sira na rin ang diet ko (I forgot to mention that I also tend to eat more during rainy days. Hihi!).

I pray for better weather next week... I really need to go to the gym. I have a 10-km run next Sunday. Haaay.

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

More About "K" (My Amazing Kindle)

It has been a little over a week after I got my Kindle. What can I say? I have no regrets at all that I got K. Look at her after one week of being with me.

My favorite thing!
I bought a black leather cover and screen protector for my beloved K. She looks really nice in her new "home." Hubby also bought a booklight for me so I can read in the evening after they turn the lights off. Bliss!

Well, I have to admit I have been staying up late in the evening because of my reading. I promise myself I'll set and follow a reading schedule so that I won't be sacrificing sleep and rest over reading anymore.

Anyway, after a week with K:

(1) I am still loving her E-ink display! It really feels like you're reading an actual book. Even my boys were amazed when they looked at K's display.

(2) I am very much impressed with her battery life. When I got her last week, she had an initial factory charge... I read almost everyday for at least an hour and a week after, I still do not need to recharge her battery. Awesome! In this day and age when people usually charge their cellphones almost everyday (especially those hi-tech touchscreen phones), K is a treasure!

(3) I was able to store over 200 ebooks and did not see any sign of slow down on K's end. Amazing!

Kindle is a very good investment for voracious readers like me. I'll tell you a secret... I read 3 books already since the day I got K. Hihi. :)

Favorite Shades

I love these shades. Whenever I buy stuff for myself (clothes, bags, shoes, etc), I am usually more inclined to getting the items in these shades...



Lovely, right?

Study Time

Mako loves to study. Oh yes, he does! He enjoys answering Math exercises. He listens eagerly when I teach him new letter sounds (he knows the alphabet and already sings the alphabet song clearly and without mistake) and lately, he has been giving signs that he wants to learn how to read already.

Hubby and I are, of course, delighted. We beam with pride and lovingly give each other our usual anak-talaga-natin-to and we-did-a-great-job looks everytime we see how smart our boys are. Yes, all three of them. Haha! #proudmommy

This is how much my little boy loves studying:

(1) Everytime he throws a tantrum, I would manage it by saying, "If you stop crying now, we'll go up our room and study." And guess what? It works! Haha! Mommy's magic. :)

(2) I usually stay up late during Friday nights because I read hanggang antukin knowing that I can sleep until late morning the following day. Saturday 6am - I hear Mako whispering, "Mommy? Mommy, pwede na ba tayo mag-aral?"  That scene also has a Sunday morning replay.

(3) I usually spend my Saturday afternoons helping Mako with his assignments and giving him a review of his lessons during the week. This usually takes about 1-2 hours only because the little guy knows his lessons very well (proud mom again!). Because of that, his assignments are usually a breeze for him. When we're done, he would, in his very cute and irresistible way, ask me, "Mommy, gusto ko pa aral. Pwedeng aral pa tayo?" This is why I buy workbooks for my little guy... so he can answer more Math and English exercises because he reallly, really loves to study.


My little boy happily working on his writing exercises
I wish the little guy's love for learning will continue to flourish even after college. I believe we should always have the eagerness to learn new things.

For now, I'm happy to see that he loves going to school. I love listening to him talk about the things he learned from his teacher that day. I love hearing him sing the songs he learned in school.

I am one happy and proud Mom!

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Happiness Starts With A 'K'

Aside from dancing, singing (via videoke) and listening to favorite tracks on my music player, another activity relaxes me and takes my mind off day-to-day worries.... reading. I started reading pocketbooks when I was in 3rd grade. I remember finding a hardbound copy of a Nancy Drew book at home. Out of curiosity, I tried reading the first few pages and ended up not only reading the entire book but visiting the school library more often to borrow pocketbooks. Alas, another bookworm in the family. From Nancy Drew, I also read The Bobbsey Twins and other detective series I could find. Back then, it was a given in our school for the girls to read Nancy Drew and for the boys to be more inclined to reading The Hardy Boys. Well, out of defiance, I read The Hardy Boys as well. Haha.

Francine Pascal's Sweet Valley series became a favorite when I reached 5th grade. I was lucky enough to have a friend who had a collection, so I was able to read each and every book in the series (SV Twins, High and University). I also loved Sweet Dreams.

In high school, I read Sidney Sheldon and Stephen King. When I read Erich Segal's Doctors, I decided I wanted to become a surgeon. Haha. I also started reading historical romance novels.

When I started working and became a mom, however, a lot of things changed. I found myself having less time for reading. There were also several instances when I suddenly had the chance to catch up on my reading but can't because I didn't have my book with me (e.g. waiting for hubby to pick me up in the office, waiting for school programs to start, etc). There were also times when I had a book with me but I felt like reading a different book but can't because, again, the book was at home sleeping in my shelf. I can't naman bring my library with me, debba?

But all that changed when this darling came into my life last Monday (July 23)... my very own Kindle Touch!


This baby can store over a hundred ebooks! I can bring my "library" with me anywhere! It's small and light so it easily fits my bag. Battery life is also longer (I heard it lasts for more than a month) so you don't have to charge as often as you do when you use your phone or tablet as your ebook reader. The E Ink display is also a delight! Ebook reading without the glare is bliss for me. I love my "K!" Oh, I do. I do!

Thank you, dear Mommy and Hubby. I am very, very happy with my new baby. :)

PS: I got my unit from an online seller I would be very happy to recommend. She has great after sales support. Look for Nelson KRX on Facebook.






Sunday, July 22, 2012

Low Maintenance

All these years, I thought I was very kikay and shopaholic. Many times I felt I bought clothes, shoes and what-have-yous too often. Pero over the weekend, I realized low-maintenance pala ako after learning how much a lot of my friends spend for shoes, bags, clothes, scents and makeup! Shusmio, wala pala sa kalingkingan ng mga binibili ko! Walang halong pag-judge ito ha. This is not about whether it's practical or not or if they can afford it or not. Hindi ganun. Comparison lang ito ng shopping behavior. Haha!

I just realized that I am not as magastos pala. I am not so particular with brands. When I buy shoes, I prefer buying comfortable shoes I can wear often. At konti lang pala ang mga sapatos ko, gamit na gamit pa lahat! Whew! I buy basic scents only... light ones I can wear on weekends and another one I can wear to work and on night outs. Yun lang! 

Akala ko rin I have a lot of bags na pero shuskoday, I don't spend more than P3000 for my bags. Kuripot lang siguro talaga ako. Haha! And when I buy bags, yung talagang hindi na ako nakatulog sa sobrang gusto ko kaya gamit na gamit ang bawat isa.

No inggit here and no plans of shopping to catch up on my friends. I'm just not like that. Hindi ako competitive pagdating sa gastos. Hahaha! I just felt like hugging myself for being practical and low-maintenance after all. :)

I realized though that my being more adventurous when it comes to fashion seemed to have taken a backseat when mommyhood came... maybe because I always have a lot of things on my mind that I don't have time na to plan my outfit and just take out whatever is most comfortable for me. Hmmmnn... maybe that part I can change. I think I should find time to plan naman my outfits and experiment more often with my wardrobe. Kuripot pa rin no? Experiment (meaning mix and match) lang talaga with whatever is currently in my closet. Haha! Well maybe I can buy a few pieces next month. *wink*

Weekend Warriors: July 21-22

Nope, I wasn't able to go to the salon, therefore, mahangin-sa-labas pa rin ang look ko today. We weren't able to do the groceries either. Hindi rin kami nakapagpamasahe. Haha! So what did we do last weekend?

Well, I think ang bukod-tanging natuloy sa mga weekend plans namin ay ang paglabas with friends last Friday night. Hubby and I met up with friends at Nipa Hut (in Valle Verde) last Friday night. Inuman, kwentuhan at tawanan hanggang 1 am. In fairness to Hubby and me, we woke up early the following day because we were supposed to accompany son # 2 to his Math competition. However, his teacher called to inform us that the event was cancelled due to the heavy rain. Hubby and I happily went back to bed after breakfast. It felt so good to be home on a rainy day so Hubby and I decided to stay at home the whole day which was also great for me because I was waiting for something to arrive (this deserves a separate post). After lunch, son # 3 kept asking me if it's study time already. I can tell he was so eager to work on his assignments so I said yes. After that, we were all back to kain-tulog-internet-basa routine and it felt soooo good and relaxing! It's official, I love stay-at-home Saturdays!

The following day, we went to UP in the morning for some errands. After that, we went to Trinoma to watch The Dark Knight Rises... another wala-sa-plano-pero-masaya family activity. Well, son #3 slept 90% of the time but he woke up just in time to see Batman in action so I guess sulit na rin. Haha! :) After the movie, we tried to look for a pair of shoes that son #1 can wear to a school party he will be attending this Friday. Ang hirap pala maghanap ng sapatos para sa binata! I didn't know what was uso. Haha! Son #1 didn't find anything he liked and I think he wasn't really in the mood for shoe shopping so he asked if we can go home na.

When we got home, we had merienda then it was plantsa time for me. Pakonti-konti lang because I didn't want to overdo things and get a relapse (I got sick the other week and was not able to report for work for three days). Dinner time was 7:30pm and because it was raining again, we were all in bed early. Ang sarap matulog kapag umuulan! :)

So there. Maraming hindi nagawa last weekend pero you know what, I enjoyed it because I was able to rest and relax. I feel so well-rested today! :)

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Plans for the Weekend

My Hubby and I... we're weekend warriors. We work hard from Monday to Friday and then try to make the most out of the weekend. Here are the things we have to do this weekend:

* Friday night - night out with friends and then some Hubby-Wifey quality time after
* Saturday - accompany son #2 in a Math competition; do the groceries; study time with son #3
* Sunday - hear mass, salon time for Mommy (yey!), plantsa time for Mommy

In between, we hope to squeeze in time for...

... Facebook.
... reading.
... spa.
... a movie.

Busy much? Yes. Happy much? Definitely!



Kung...

Kung ibebenta ang utak ko, malamang sa murang halaga lang... kasi sa araw-araw na pag-a-analyze ng data, gamit na gamit, mga atey. Hindi kagaya ng iba dyan, good as new! Har!

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

If

Hmmm...

If I had more time for myself, I would...

- go to a salon and have my hair rebonded.
- write more posts for my blogs.
- read, read, read.
- sleep, sleep, sleep.

If I had millions or billions in my bank account, I would...

- have every inch of my body checked so I can be sure I am healthy and cancer-free.
- ask my Mom to come home to the Philippines.
- ask my Dad to stop working and just enjoy life.
- pay for the heart surgery of my niece.
- make sure that my children and their children's children will be able to live very comfortably in the future.
- set aside money for retirement (for me and hubby)
- set aside money for a business or businesses hubby and i can manage while working full-time
- buy a nice house for my brother. He has a been very good Kuya to me all these years...it will be a very nice way to say "thank you" to him.
- help my in-laws (hubby's dad, mom and siblings... I dunno how but I'm sure hubby and I can figure out a way we can help them live more comfortable lives).

For the simple joys (which are not so simple right now because of budget constraints... hehe), I would...

- buy my little guy an iPad. Remember how he cried the last time because he wanted us to buy him an iPad?
- buy laptops or netbooks for the two Kuyas. I swear, the ones they are using right now, gusto na talagang magretire. Haha!

Haaay.... ang sarap mangarap! Makataya nga sa lotto mamaya. Malay mo. :)

Thursday Delight

I love the new look of this blog! Clean, crisp and simple. <3

The Letter Ff

Last weekend, to keep Mako busy while I was preparing the things we needed to bring for our Sunday family day out, I gave him his book and told him he can look at the pictures while waiting for Mommy. Mako's face lit up and he eagerly started browsing through his book.

Mako (while pointing to a letter in the book): Mommy, tingnan mo, letter Ff!
Me:  Tama!
Mako: Sound ng Ff.... fffff.... (then points to a picture) Ffff.... fish!
Me: Very good!
Mako (goes through the rest of the pictures on the page): Ffff.... flower! Ffff.... fan! Ffff... four! Ffff.... fa-a!

>>> Oh my cutie patootsie! Feet, anak. Feet. :D

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Test



Uuuuy! Pwede na ulit mag-upload ng photos! Finally. :)

Monday, July 9, 2012

Rawr!

I can't upload photos from my computer! #annoyedblogger

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Before You Officially Become A Pre-schooler


My Dearest Mako,

How time flies! Parang kelan lang, I was still breastfeeding you. It seems like yesterday when I would pump every three hours or so at the office so I can bring home breastmilk for you. It seems like yesterday when Daddy and I would teach you basic things like close-open and where's the light. Parang kelan lang, anak, beybing-baby ka pa. 

Now, look at you. You're Mommy's little boy now. Tomorrow, you will take your entrance exam. This June, you will start pre-school. Ambilis, anak. Mommy has mixed emotions.

I am a little sad because you are growing up really fast. Baka hindi ko mamalayan, may girlfriend ka na. Haha. OA si Mommy. But seriously, when I look at you and your Kuyas, I can't help but wish that somehow, Daddy and I have provided well for you... given you a comfortable life and happy childhood. Daddy and I love you and your kuyas very much and we will do our best to give you a bright future.

I am also excited because you will be starting a new phase in your life. I know you are very smart like your kuyas. I know you will also do well in school. I also look forward to seeing you meet new friends in school. Don't worry, anak, Daddy and Mommy will always be here for you. Tingin ka lang sa likod, nandyan kami ni Daddy... always supporting you and ready to help you.

Pero bago 'yan, galingan mo muna sa entrance exam bukas ha? Haha! 'Wag mahiya at matakot. I know the exam will be very easy for you because Mommy already taught you things hanggang pang-Preparatory level. Hahaha. Ang pinakabalakid na lang natin ay ang pagiging sobrang mahiyain mo. But I know that eventually you'll warm up and enjoy going to school and being with your teachers and classmates.


I love you, my dearest Mako. I love you very, very much.

Mommy


Wednesday, April 25, 2012

This One's For Daddy


Dear Daddy,

I'm sorry we weren't able to stay longer when we visited you last week. Manoy Joji and I wanted to but we really had to go back to Manila because of our work and our family. Thank you for understanding.

When I saw you at the hospital bed last week looking very weak, I felt like crying. Hindi ako sanay, Dad. I have always remembered you as someone very fit, healthy, and strong. Maybe you really didn't want us to see you sick and weak kaya you kept on insisting that you were okay (even if you weren't) and that we didn't need to fly home (when we really needed to). But it's okay to be weak, every now and then, Dad. I have come to realize that now, after 33 years of my existence. You don't have to be Superman all the time for us, Dad.

I will always be here for you. Alam ko Manoy Joji feels the same way. Please don't ever think na makakaistorbo ka sa amin and that you would be a burden to us. You have raised us well. We will take care of you and Mommy. We will always be here for you.

Thank you, Dad, for everything. You have taught me so many things. They weren't really "fun" then but now I am grateful that you have been very patient with me because now I understand and appreciate all the words of wisdom and discipline you have imparted to me.

I will always be your little girl and you will always have a special place in my heart.

I love you, Dad.

Maan



Why I Have Been MIA

                                                                                   My Daddy and my baby Mako

I know it has been awhile since my last post. I have lots of things on my mind to write about but I haven't had the chance to these past few days. Here's why...

Sunday (Apr 15) - My cousin sent me a message through Facebook informing me that my Dad was rushed to the hopital because he collapsed. I also got an early morning text message from my older brother telling me the same thing. I immediately called home to ask how Dad was doing. The information I got were: very high fever (40C above) with chills, high blood pressure, and severe UTI.

My brother and I agreed that since Dad was already in the hospital, the infection would be taken cared of via antibiotics. So I just checked on Dad from time to time thinking that he'll be okay. By the way, my Daddy is based in Roxas City (Region VI), our hometown. To get there, one has to either ride a plane or a ship.

For the nth time, I wished limang kendeng lang Roxas City na.

Monday (Apr 16) - Dad was still having high fever with chills. Hindi daw siya makakilala ng tao kapag mataas na mataas ang lagnat niya. Another additional diagnosis was pneumonia.

Side story: My Dad is an accountant... a very smart and hardworking one. Workaholic talaga si Dad. One important rule he always taught me even when I was in school was to always make sure that deadlines are met. At kailangan, maganda/maayos ang gawa mo...something you can be proud of. 'Yung hindi mo ikakahiya.

Anyway, back to what happened last April 16... I found out that Dad has been working really hard these past few weeks because of the tax season. So hard that he didn't get enough rest despite having fever. Ganyan ka-workaholic ang tatay ko. Because of this, fatigue and stress were also considered culprits for Dad's condition.

I was getting worried about Dad but I kept reminding myself that it has only been one day since his confinement and perhaps the medicines haven't kicked in yet that's why he was still having fever and high blood pressure.

Tuesday (Apr 17) - I called home again and found out that they still did not see any improvement. Dad was still having high-grade fever (40C above) with chills. Nagdedeliryo pa rin everytime he has fever. His blood pressure was still high. I was also informed that his doctor asked for kidney ultrasound to check Dad's kidneys because he was complaining of sharp lower back pain.

I was getting very worried and wanted to fly home to Roxas but my brother and I agreed to wait for the results of the ultrasound before deciding if we need to fly home. Mahal kasi ang airfare kapag malapit na ang travel date plus we both have very busy schedules at work and it was the baptism of my brother's daughter that coming Sunday (Apr 22).

I asked my cousin in Roxas to check on my Dad and get all information she can get from the nurses and the doctors. We have been asking for the doctor's number so we can call him and talk to him directly about my Dad's condition but somehow, we couldn't reach the doctor.

Later, my cousin texted me the information she got from the nurses looking after my Dad - high-grade fever with chills, pneumonia, severe UTI, high pus cells, left kidney has stone, right kidney okay, prostate glands inflamed, high blood pressure, and high fbs. She also felt that we perhaps we need to talk personally to the doctor about my Dad's condition because he didn't look well when she visited.

That was it. I knew I had to go home to see my Dad. You see, my Mom and my younger brother are now living in the US. My kuya and I are here in Manila. Noone is there to look after my Dad. I just had to come home.

I composed myself and talked to my boss about my Dad's condition and my need to file for emergency leave for the rest of the week so I can fly home and take care of my Dad. I was very thankful when my request was granted.

My kuya also decided to go with me. That night, he got us tickets to Roxas City.

I flew to Roxas City last Wednesday (Apr 18) and stayed there until Saturday (Apr 21). I have nothing much to talk about the trip because we mostly stayed in the hospital looking after Daddy.

The following day (Apr 22 - Sun), we attended the christening of my very cute niece, Maya Andrea.

Then Monday came and I became doubly busy because I had a lot of catching up to do at work.

So now you know why I have been missing-in-action (MIA).

As of this writing, my Dad is already recovering at home. I think he just waited for me and my kuya to go back to Manila before insisting to go home. Last time we talked, he admitted that the doctor only agreed to let him go home provided that a nurse will check on him from time to time and inject his medicines. Haynaku, Daddy.

I continue to pray for Dad's recovery. I still wish na sana limang kendeng lang, Roxas City na.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Summer Lessons for Beginners

Our little boy will start preschool this coming school year. He's our little shy guy so Hubby and I decided it would be best for him to take summer classes for beginners to prepare him for school.

We enrolled him at St. Mary's Angels College (where his kuyas went for preschool and elementary education). We were one of the early birds who signed up for the lessons, hence were able to avail of the limited free slots. Normally, one would pay P850 for the entire program (13 sessions). Very affordable pa rin! :)

Anyway, I didn't take a leave off from work to be with him on his first day. Bad mommy ba? No naman. My little guy is 1,000x more maarte when I am around. Last year, he didn't want me to leave the room. He didn't even want to take his seat. Gusto niya kandong siya sa akin. Hanuba. Fail talaga. So this year, I decided to let him go with his Ate Ging. I talked to him last night about going to school and agreed naman that his Ate Ging will be taking him to school but won't be allowed inside the classroom. Instead, she will be waiting for him outside. Oo naman daw. Tingnan natin later. Haha. #fingerscrossed

Here's a picture of Mako's uniform. :)


This one naman is the apron (or whatever you call it) which he will use during art sessions. Nakakaloka lang because of all colors, pink pa yung napunta sa amin. Buti na lang his cousin got a red one. Makikipagpalit na lang kami, bilang girl naman yung cousin niya.


Summer Lessons for Beginners start today and will end on April 27 (Friday). Classes are grouped according to age (2s class, 3s class, etc). The kids have their official shirt which you can buy along with the Summer Kit for only P350. The kit contains the official shirt, apron and all other school supplies the kids will use during the course. :)

Mako's Favorite Pose

This is Mako's current favorite pose. Hubby and I do not know who taught him that basta everytime we take pictures of the lil guy, automatic ang kamay niyang naggaganyan. Haha! :)



Monday, April 9, 2012

Good Health

During younger years, kapag ang wish for you ay good health parang ang baduy 'di ba? Ngayon, I really really appreciate it if people wish and pray that I be blessed with good health. At isa na rin ako sa mga laging nagwi-wish for good health sa mga friends and relatives on their birthdays and other occasions. Deadma kung iisipin ding baduy ng mga kabataan ngayon. Alam kong pagdating ng araw, maiintindihan nila ako.

Totoo palang ang kalusugan ang tunay na kayamanan ng isang tao. My 33-year old self knows that now. Ako na ang praning sa mga sakit-sakit. Ako na ang super natatakot tuwing nakakakita ng mga feature sa TV tungkol sa mga taong may malubha or kakaibang sakit. Scared talaga ako, mga 'te, magkasakit at mamatay nang maliliit pa ang mga anak ko. Sino naman ang hindi, 'di ba? Kawawa naman ang mga anak ko kung mawawala ako agad. Alam kong wala nang papantay sa pagmamahal at pag-aalaga na kaya kong ibigay sa kanila dahil ako ang nanay nila.

I admire our lolos and lolas... ang galing nila... and blessed, too. To be able to see your children finish their studies, pursue the things they are passionate about and have their own family... malaking blessing talaga from the Lord. I pray to be blessed with good health and long life also. Gusto ko pang mag-alaga ng mga apo. Gusto ko munang makitang okay na ang mga anak ko... may trabaho, may asawa at mga anak na mag-aalaga, maayos ang pamumuhay, etc... bago ako magpa-game over.

Please, Lord. Please, Mama Mary. Dinggin po Ninyo ang aking panalangin. I promise to be good. Susulitin ko po, promise. Maraming salamat po in advance.



I love these boys dearly. Sila ang dahilan kung bakit gabi-gabi, I pray to be blessed with good health and long life... para maalagaan ko pa sila.


I'm so senti on my first day at work after the Holy Week.

Back to Reality

5:51am - I clocked in for work today after the five-day long weekend. Where did the weekend go? *sigh*

I miss my little boy already. How can I not miss my cutiepie? Look at how adorable he is! #no1fansimommy



The weekend is never long enough. Sometimes I wish I didn't have to go to work so I can spend the whole day at home looking after my kids and our home. However, I also want to help Hubby naman sa finances ng family. Haaay, I tell myself a few years to go na lang... we'll get there. Slowly but surely.

Dear Miko, Maki and Mako,

Konting tiis pa... ma-a-achieve din ni Mommy ang goal niya for the family and she will always be at home waiting for you when you come home from school. She'll learn how to cook and prepare delicious meals for you and Daddy.

Promise ko 'yan, mga anak. Just a few more years, my boys. :)

Love,
Mommy

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Maundy Thursday 2012

Warning: Photo heavy post

While most people go on vacation or out-of-town (I have nothing against them), hubby and I prefer to take things easy and just spend time with the family at home (well, at least during Good Friday and Black Saturday) during the Holy Week. We both want our kids to grow up associating the Holy Week with religious activities rather than vacation (beach, resort, etc). Again, I have nothing against people who go on vacation during the Holy Week.
Ito lang ang choice namin ng asawa ko.

Maundy Thursday was Visita Iglesia time for us (me, hubby, our kids and my in-laws). We did the Stations of the Cross and visited 7 different churches from Valenzuela to Bulacan (2 stations per church). Here are some of the photos taken by my dear hubby.





















Our bunso was so affected by the dramatization of the Stations of the Cross. He kept asking why Jesus had so many wounds and why Mama Mary was crying. He was asking us who inflicted Jesus Christ's wounds and why they did that to Him.

Later in the evening, on our way home, first time naman mnkakita ng mga kuya ng nagpepenitensiya (nagbubuhat ng krus at hampas-dugo).

Looking back, I think it was a good way to spend Maundy Thursday. We spent time together and prayed as a family. At the same time, the kids were able to reflect on the suffering and death of Jesus Christ.

As for me, I would like to say sorry for all the things I did that I shouldn't have and for all the things I did not do that I should have.