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.

Son #3's Love-Hate Relationship with Jollibee

"Abeeee!"

Mako squeals with delight everytime he sees anything with Jollibee's face on it. He gets excited, flashes his uber cute smile, jumps up and down, and even makes silly faces just to show how happy he is to see Jollibee! Hubby and I love seeing our little guy this happy that we have started collecting Jollibee toys and stuff for our little boss via promos under these Jollibee clubs:



Recently, we got invited to a Jollibee kiddie party. Hubby and I looked forward to seeing how our little guy will react upon seeing his favorite character up close and personal. Here are some photos taken outside the Jollibee store while we were waiting for the party to start. Ayaw niya umalis sa tabi ni Jollibee!



Mako was well-behaved during the party. He's my little shy guy so most of the time, he was just beside his Daddy watching the other kids play. Finally, it was time to meet Jollibee!



Anak, anyare? Akala ko ba you like Jollibee? Nakakaloka, he cried when he saw the mascot and refused to have his picture taken with Jollibee! Look, we couldn't come near Jollibee because he was practically crying his lungs out!

Sa ngayon, he still likes his Jollibee toys and still gets excited everytime he sees Jollibee ads, stores, and pictures. Pero after what happened at the party, Hubby and I know na may hangganan ang pagkagusto niya kay Jollibee. Haha! =)

The Year That Was

Here's a quick look at the events and people that shaped my family's 2009:

• I got a little teary-eyed on New Year's Day (Jan. 1, 2009) as I reminisced how happy Hubby and I were when the home pregnancy test showed two lines (positive) exactly a year before (Jan. 1, 2008) and how thankful we were that everything went well for me and our baby who was almost four months old then. We were reminded that God listens and He knows what is best for all of us.


• I met Jen (of Latch) who helped me survive difficult phases of my mission to breastfeed my baby for at least a year. Thank you, Jen, for all the support you have given me. Truly, breastfeeding is a wonderful experience. Our family continues to enjoy the benefits and rewards of breastfeeding up to now and the decision to breastfeed is something I will never regret. I continue to pray that more mothers will choose to breastfeed.


• Our trip to Roxas City during the 2nd quarter of the year brought the family closer and gave Hubby and I our much-needed break. It also felt nice to go back to my hometown and reunite with relatives and old friends.


• The family enjoyed 3 getaways last 2009: Roxas City trip last April-May, EK and overnight in Laguna last June, and 3-day stay at King's Royal Hotel (Pampanga) last August.


• Our baby turned 1 last September 2, 2009. Although the celebration was simple, he enjoyed the company of people closest to him... Mommy, Daddy, Kuyas, Mamu, Dadu, cousins, Tito Ninong, Titos and Titas, and his Ate Ging.
  
• My long overdue project of setting up a blog for me and my family was finally taken out of my "to do list!" Hello, Mommyholic and A Peek Inside Our Box! :)


• Mako also attended his first Halloween party in Mommy's office and got a special award. He came as a baby bat. Hehehe.


• Kuya Maki received his First Communion last December 8, 2009...another reminder for Daddy and Mommy that the kids are growing up fast.


• A big family secret was revealed by Daddy and Mommy to the Kuyas last Christmas. Clue: They officially became newly-appointed Santa helpers. Hehehe!
  

2009 was a great year for the family. Our home continues to overflow with love, warmth and happiness. Thank you, Lord, for all the blessings and for keeping our family together. Please continue to watch over us and our loved ones. You know what is best for all of us...

Another must-try from Estrel's!

I recently found out that Estrel's also makes really cute character cakes. Check out my baby's birthday cake... it's a 12 x 16 caramel cake with caramel filling and butter icing. They customized the letters in the blocks to spell out my baby's nickname, MAKO. Sweet. Oh, the blocks are edible, too!

We only added PhP450 for the Sesame Street motiff. The 12x16 caramel cake with filling costs PhP 1,580. I ordered the cake a day before my baby's birthday and was happy to be accommodated given that they strongly suggest placing orders at least two days in advance. Cakes for Christmas, New Year, Valentine's Day and other occasions must be arranged way before to better your chances of booking an order.

One nice thing about Estrel's is that they also inform you when your cake is already available for pickup. Moms, this really is a must-try! =)