miss this blogosphere! will be back sooooon!

Hello Sabado!

It’s a Saturday and I am here in the faculty room working and trying to finish a lot of “to-do” things. I needed a break so here I am again blogging my thoughts out.

The 1^st semester has almost come to an end. In fact, I only need to check their final outputs and record their scores and then… I can finally say “hello sembreak”!  But no, I still can’t because I still have to update the syllabi and I have 3 more to enhance. That requires time and effort so I guess sem-break is just really for students.  I was also asked to be one of the panelists during the grand demo of the students come 3^rd or 4^th week of October so I guess I just have to say goodbye to sembreak.

Two days ago I told my brother that I have come across some teaching job in his area and that I am quite interested to try. His answer was a firm, “FINISH YOUR PHD”. And then I realized that it’s been a year that I completely abandon my dreams of getting that degree. I am quite sad but I just can’t juggle 3 things at a time. In my hearts of hearts, I really wanted to finish it but I know that my son also needs me this time. Time with my son (or my family) is non-negotiable. My husband and my son will always come first.  Little Nate is also busy these days (hehehe) and is also busy hitting his milestones. He really likes to talk but for now it’s hard to decipher the “C-V” and syllables that come out from his mouth. Oh well, in time he will be able to talk in phrases and sentences but for now we will just equip him with the necessary skills, knowledge and processes that will help him in building up his vocab. I just ordered puppets from my co-teacher and I hope Nate will really enjoy it. He likes it when I read him stories so I am finding ways to make it more fun for him. I also prepared some arts and crafts for him to work on. It will be FUN and MESSY!

Anyway, my husband and my brother are really busy these days especially that the opening of our pizza joint is now a week away. I am praying that everything will be in order and that they will be able to manage it smoothly. I mean there will always be challenges along the way but I pray that they will be able to manage it properly. I also pray that we will have many customers and that our product will be selling hot like pancakes.

A pat on the back for my husband and I. We finally got an insurance policy that will really help us in the future since it is investment-linked. We had it diversified, he signed up in another Insurance company and I also got one from another company. Soon, we will also get one for Nate as a pre-need for his college fund (in another Insurance company).

I am also handling the finances starting this month. Since my husband is so busy, I am now taking the role of budgeting and paying our bills. It’s quite liberating.

Ok, enough for today. Feels good to be writing again. Bye for now! Time to work. Tata!

Sunday Post

I woke up pretty early today and a lot of things have been swirling on my mind. On a mental note, I "bulleted" all the things I need to accomplish this week. And I am totally overwhelmed! And I kind of panicked because I am not yet halfway through it all and here comes another set of to-dos! Plus, the juggling part of being a mother, a wife, and an instructor sometimes takes a toll on me.

And so, while my little family was still on their deep slumber mode, I got my laptop out and positioned myself in our porch. I read my all time fave mommy blogs and I got inspired by their posts about being a working mom, being able to multi-task and being able to balance everything. Life’s been uber-crazy for my husband and I. Come October; we will open our first business venture which is a pizza joint in my father’s hometown. My hubby is really, really busy right now and I know when the opening comes, it will be uber-crazy busy. On a positive note, I am proud of my husband for having the courage to catch that dream of having a business of his own. Of course, a big credit also goes out to my brother who is also working hard for it to really come into fruition.

As a newbie mom, I also have lapses in bringing up my little boy. But I guess that’s fine. There will never be one single perfect book that will really guide newbie mothers on how to raise up a child. It’s really just mother’s gut or instinct. Books are there to guide but it’s ultimately the mother who knows what’s best for her child. It helps that I am teaching Preschool majors especially when we tackle about developmentally appropriate practices and interactions for infants, toddlers, preschooler and graders. It really helps a lot!

As an Instructor, I am still learning the ropes of this and that. It’s never easy to adjust especially that I was a preschool teacher for many years. Although it is not really a major shift, I still have the hard time to balance everything. I am just blessed to have colleagues in the department who are really willing to extend their help when I need one. I am not sure if I will still be around next semester. I am not sure if I will be teaching college for the rest of the next 10-15 years of my life. So, this time I just go wherever the ebb of life will take me; to be a preschool teacher again, to be an Instructor in college, to be a business woman or to be a full time mama among others. I will just have to cross the bridge when I get there.

On to another topic, the parentals arrived last night and so the giddy dance! My little boy cried when Ma and Pa tried to carry him but after awhile he loosened up and was running around the house like crazy. He got some of the stuff from the luggage and was especially delighted with that small little ball that sparkles/flashes when thrown. He also got Gap tee-shirts, shorts, Sippy cups, Mustela and stride Rite sandals from his Tita Jessel. And I am forever blessed to have a sister who loves my little boy just like her own. She’s been generous to me and to my little family and so I am grateful for her kindness and generosity. I don’t have to buy clothes for Nate and it’s really a blessing to receive those from her since these days we are really on a tight budget.

I guess all is well. We may have some temporary setbacks and roadblocks along the way but we will make it through. God is with us! 

HAVE A BLESSED SUNDAY TO ALL!

Tuesday Blues

Today isn’t really one of the good days or the better days of my life as a working mom. I woke up quite early this morning and was cranky and grumpy the whole day. I had an upset stomach so I have to stay at home. I don’t like being absent because that means I have to double time the next day or that I have to schedule a make –up class.

And yes, midterm grades will be due next week and I haven’t finished checking. Next time I have to utilize e-learn so that I can save time and energy.

Lately, I have been feeling bad about myself for some reasons.  I am way too stressed-out juggling different roles in life. I feel like I did not give time for myself and I kind of hate it that I can’t stay in shape. I am overweight and my clothes won’t fit me. It took me minutes to decide what to wear and there aren’t many options to choose from. I can’t wear sleeveless in school and most of my blouses are in that type. I hate that I can’t drag myself to exercise, to join zumba class and to run. I know I need it but I am LAZY or sometimes I am already so drain the whole day that going to the gym will be the last thing on my mind.

I miss going to the gym. I miss dancing! Totally! I miss feeling all my fats going down the drain. I miss eating healthy foods. Right now, I kept on snacking junkies.  When I am uber-busy, I tend to eat chips and chocolates which will make me forget all those job-related stresses. I just want to pour all my pent up emotions right now so that I can totally feel it and then gradually toss it behind.

Ok, I have been complaining lately. I have to stop and do something about it.  I made an action plan few days ago and it all started by buying this multivitamins loaded with all vitamins, minerals and that body-boosting capsules. Most of the times, I forget to take my vitamins because I am always running to catch up my time especially that I am commuting every day so I tend to forget it. So I registered in Amway, got a huge discount and now a member.

Yesterday, I had bread and water for breakfast. Over lunch, I ordered a cup of rice and jackfruit salad (nangka) and ….a small BROWNIE! HAHAY!  I always fall off the wagon with my diet. Gaaahhh! I already shed an awful lot months ago but I think I am now gaining fast. Hate it!

So, tomorrow I will try ZUMBA.  There’s one session in my workplace and I think I can fit it in on my Wednesday schedule. Note to self: prepare  leggings or jogging pants, a t-shirt and shoes.

What else? Hmmm… break down my tasks. I’d do the urgent tasks first before going down to other simpler ones. And I promise to do that after lunch so that later in the afternoon, I can use the treadmill for 30 minutes.  And yes, I need beauty rest for 30 minutes too before burying my nose with lots of papers and materials to check.

The key there is: BALANCE… I have to learn how to set things in equilibrium so that I will be productive in all areas of life. And yes, Prayer…  A 5-10 minutes of silence and conversation with God will really unload all my fears in life.

God bless ya’ all and have a wonderful Tuesday! I miss a day in class but it will be okay. I can’t force myself to be in there and having to go to the toilet every now and then. I guess this day is really meant for me to re-think what I have become and to really do action plan and goals to make life more worth living.

Weekend Thoughts

This afternoon as it drizzles, I finally have the time to open my laptop and blog. My little boy who is not-so-little anymore is sleeping in our room with his Mamita and I choose to stay here at my parents’ bedroom so that I would not be able to disturb their afternoon siesta.

The past few weeks for me and for my husband are really that uber-stressful. I have so many things to do yet I don’t seem to fit them all in my regular schedule. The paperwork never seems to have an end and it keeps piling up day after day plus a number of projects and quizzes to check and record. Gaaaaahhhh! I miss being a preschool teacher and I also miss staying at home taking care of my little boy. But I am now in the so-called battlefield so I need to arm myself with whatever necessary skills and processes to help me through last a day, a week…a month

.

Every day, I just have to give my best shot and trust the Lord that what I am doing is all for His will. I just need a little bit of personal space, a little bit of me time, a little bit of comfort for what I am going through right now. I sometimes feel inadequate for my students. I know I can still do so much more than what I am giving to them now but I just don’t have ENOUGH TIME to read and research more. There is just too much preparation to make and I can’t seem to catch up.

When I come home from work, I need to put on another mask and let the “mother mode” button press on so that I can really take care of my son without thinking about my job.  I read books to my son, feed him, bathe him and play with him before I put him to sleep. Thing is that, he sleeps around 10 pm and that’s the only time when I can finally give myself time to wash up, brush my teeth and other stuff. By 11 pm, I am already so sleepy… BUT BUT I need to prep up for the next day and that makes me really dog-tired and exhausted.

Sometimes, I lash out on my little boy and I am quite impatient especially if it takes me quite a long time to put him to sleep. I easily get mad whenever he keeps on playing and playing late at night. In my mind, thoughts of job-related tasks keep swirling and swirling like no other. I am pressured! Really! And I don’t want to be a bad mother to my son.

Should I still keep on pressing on? I know I can finish my tasks, I know I can deliver whatever is expected of me.. but along with that, I need to make big sacrifices. One of that BIG SACRIFICES is the TIME I will have for my son.

Lord, guide me and show me the way. Am I still adjusting to my new routine? I am just so exhausted all day long. I don’t have any decent sleep anymore. Should I shift gears? Should I press on?

My husband is also struggling these days and complaining to him about my situation will just make our lives miserable. So maybe I’ll just have to face life’s daily challenges head-on and yes, I will try to survive each frigging day.  

Nate's Development :)

Yesterday, I spent half of the morning with my little boy. I was kinda emotional because he has learned a lot of new things without me, or without me teaching him to do it. I wish I am there for him all the time but I know it is nearly close to impossible. Sacrifices have to be made. But hats off to my Aunt, my cousin and my brother for being there for him when I am not around.

I observed him yesterday and I am quite teary eyed. He is already walking on his own. From ten steps last month, he can now navigate which direction he wants to go and he laugh and laugh if I clap my hands. (sniff sniff.. tears falling!)

He knows a lot of things already and can follow instructions. My Aunt told me Nate knows where his eyes, nose and mouth like he would point those parts when asked. When we tell him “happy feet” he will sit on his bum and do the happy feet movement. When we tell him “knock on the door Nate” or: knock knock” he would look for a wall or door and knock. He knows where to look for a lizard, bird, dog, books and some other animals/objects. “Turn on the aircon Nate” and he would get the controller and point it towards the aircon.. He knows where his “tin-tin” is and would look down when ask to locate. (hahahaha!) silly!

 He can point, do the close open perfectly, clap his hands, nod his head and the “no no” finger movement and a whole lot more. How I love it that he is fond of books. “Nate, get that book and give to Mama” and he would go get the book and give to me. Then, he will sit beside me as a cue that I have to start reading him a story. We can finish 4 books in one sitting--- usually before bed time. And now, he has his fave books already like he would pay more attention to those books he likes more than the others. “Baby Can’t Slee”, Polar Bear, what do you hear”, the “Alphabet and Number” book and “The Little Turtle”.  He is also interested with pop-up books.

Best of all, he knows me that I am his Mama and Clyde as his Dada. When we are at home, he would look and cling to us. It made me feel good knowing that he still needs us more than ever. We love you dear baby Nate. You will always be Mama and Dada’s little wonder of love.

June-July

JUNE

It has been a crazy work month for me. I seem to be running against the nick of time which left me pretty exhausted all day long.  Paper works here and there, a pile (a mountain) of papers to review and check, grades that need to be recorded, books to be read (I need to be chapters or even a book ahead of my students) and consultations during my vacant time in school. Add to that… a mother and a wife at the same time.

I still feel guilty leaving my little boy to my Aunt and some other people at home. I usually get that feeling whenever I arrive home late and he is already asleep. I wonder if he played for a long time just to keep himself awake to see us (his Dada and I) home. 

It really makes me real sad leaving him. It feels like someone jab a knife to my heart. I often wonder whether I am treading the right path or whether I made the right decision. So, to appease myself I read mags like Working Mom and Smart Parenting and I read blogs of mothers who work and how they are able to cope with the so-called separation anxiety. My only prayer is that Nate will always be at the pink of his health and that we will never be going back to the hospital again. For the past two months, we had frequent trips at the hospital for some treatment. Prayerfully, Nate will just be going to the hospital/clinic for vaccinations and not for health reasons.

I am now typing this at the office. I just need to have a break from working so hard this week (Yes,a visit to my blog & other working moms’ blog is a break for me---a break of the daily grind of things)  It’s a Saturday and I have been dreaming of staying at home whole day to be with my son…but I just can’t because I have tons of things to do and every week, or every day the paperwork and other work-related stuff keep piling at my desk. Sometimes, it takes me awhile to think on which to do first because I have to think which task is more urgent. Arrgggghh!

I hope…really hope that in time I will be able to adjust. I pray that I am making the right decision. After all, I am doing this for my son. For his future, right?

I also pray for my husband’s new project which will hopefully materialize soon.  Everything he does is for our little family and we hope that maybe soooooon, another angel will join us.

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JULY

And so I am back! I forgot to post the one above because I am very very busy! Right now, it is almost 6pm and I am still here working. I need a break so I decided to write down my thoughts.

Today I got my salary from June up to 15^th of  July which is today. I will be dining out with hubby in awhile to thank God for all the blessings. It feels good to be earning on my own and to contribute to our bills as well.

 To motivate me to work some more, I plan to splurge a little on my outfit. Hehehe! The rest of my salary goes to my savings…hurray!

I am not that fully adjusted with my new daily routine in life but I will be just fine. I just have to keep on swimming. I will take this as a challenge and besides I am learning and growing every day— like multitasking, juggling life as a mother, a wife and a career woman.

So many things to share but right now I am hungry as a horse..so tata for now!

the week that was

This is my first time to blog using my new laptop/notebook. And I kinda like it because it is not that big, bulky and heavy. This will come in handy especially when I’m at work or mobile. It will be my third laptop and I hope we will get along just fine.

This week has almost come to an end. The past few days were kinda stressful and I really do pray that my son will never have to be admitted at the hospital again. Such a pitiful sight to see my little son wailing every time a needle is inserted on his hand or when blood is being extracted. He is still so young to experience such pain. I have been silently dreading on that scheduled date that my son will undergo his next ultrasound. His schedule should have been next week but since he was admitted few days back (another health-related issue), his pedia here in Phillips suggested that it’s better to have it ultrasound than to wait for another week. I was scared and my heart pounded like crazy. But God is so good…all the time! My son’s kidneys are functioning well and no hydronephrosis at all. All praises and glory to God! Gracias Gracias for healing my son. I pray that my son will never be admitted in the hospital again and that he will always be in the pink—and in a clean bill of health. 

That is my wish for him on his 1^st birthday ---- that he may be spared from illnesses and diseases.

As for me, I am not feeling well right after our stay at the hospital.  I have cough, cold and a runny nose. I am feeling so much better now compared to yesterday and I am set to work tomorrow. I have a loooooottttt of things under my nose so I need to go to school tomorrow. I pray that next week will be an easy, slow, steady kind of week for me since my son’s 1^st birthday will be on that week. I am not yet done with the preparations!!! I am too busy. So, I am letting go some of my grand ideas. It will just be a dinner and then of course some treats for the kids. 

Ok, I think that is all for now. I just want to blog because I am STRESSED OUT! And blogging is just so therapeutic.  Goodnight folks!

Afternoon Thoughts

It’ s a gloomy afternoon and my little boy is with his Tita in our room sleeping. I will surely miss afternoons that I get to spend with my son. I will miss putting him to sleep and I will miss playing with him. There’s this tiny guilt that pops up whenever I think of working again. This is not easy for me but I know that I also need this for myself. It is an opportunity for me to explore endless possibilities and at the same time I will also be able to do something which I am passionate about—and that is teaching! Also, with the demands of time, I also need to help my husband with our monthly bills. We need to work hard for our son’s future.

I know that my son will be in good hands. My Aunt will look after him while my parents are out of the country. My cousin will also be there for him and we also hired helpers to do the cooking, laundry and other household chores. It really takes a village to raise a child and I am just blessed that I have my loved ones to look after him while my husband and I are working. I pray that this set-up will work out and that my son will be able to adjust being away from me. I promise myself that I will be the one to put him to sleep at night and that my husband and I will play with him and read stories before we retire to bed. I will finish whatever I need to do on a Saturday (like readings, materials , paperworks etc) so that Sundays will be a solid, quality time with God and family.

And yes, Friday nights will be set aside for my husband and I.  With the daily stressors in life, I believe that we should have time for each other—to simply catch up, relax and de-stress. Nothing beats the comfort of having the love of your life by your side. I believe that it is really important to nurture one’s relationship and this can be done by simple acts of love.

So this is it. This is really it! I need to bring with me a very positive attitude in everything that I will do. So help me God! Tomorrow I will be attending a seminar workshop for new teachers from 8-5 pm. I will miss my son but I know that when I arrive home, there will always be this little golden ball sunshine who will be excited to see me. That….. will surely melt my heart! :-)

Thoughts!

My little boy is taking his afternoon nap so I decided to write here. Oh, I will miss our afternoons like this. Few weeks from now, I will be back to work. Sometimes, I wish I could just stay at home and watch him grow day by day. Right now, he is showing lots of tricks and crazy antics that left us all laughing. He likes to talk too! ( talk meaning --- dada,mamam, ata, papa, laaaa,baaaah, tataaa)  He is my little chatter box and I know I will be hearing lots of stories from him when he grows up and when he is already in school. He can't take few steps yet (like on his own) but he can managed to cruise around the room by holding whatever is on his way for support. He tried to let go several times but he wobbled so I hold him before he loses his balance.

Oh boy, 2 more months to go and my little Nate will turn 1! I can hardly believe it but yes... babies do grow up real fast. I perfectly remember the day I gave birth to him. i remember pushing so hard and I lovingly remembered the first time I saw him and the first time I heard him cry. For the past 10 months, I was there witnessing every milestone of his development and so I kinda feel sad that I have to leave him in the hands of a sitter. My hubby and I agreed to get him a nanny/ sitter but I am still partial with that decision. I still prefer to have someone in the family to look after him. 

Right now, I am still trying to organize my uber cluttered brain. I have to finish a paper in my post grad studies. I need to finish it not because others expect me to get the degree but more so because I want to prove to myself that I can do it. That even if I have a baby and a husband to mind and a job that demands most of my time, I can still juggle those roles and can still keep up with its demands.

Why should I get back to circulation?  Why do I have to work when I can be a stay at home mom if I want to?  I have been contemplating on this and I have been weighing the pros and cons. At one point, I just decided on my own. Although, I did ask my husband and my family on their "say" but the final decision really came on me.

I decided to get back to work primarily because I want to grow in my chosen field of career. I want to hone and sharpen my skills in teaching. Now that I am already 31, I feel like I need to do the things that I love and excel in it. Aside from professional growth, I also want to foot my own bills and not to
rely on my husband everytime I want to buy something for myself or for my baby. I also want to help my husband tuck a portion of our collected salaries for family savings. It is deem necessary to save for the rainy days and I want to get an insurance policy for my little boy out from my own pocket. Or a savings of some sort. I believe those are the primary reasons why I decided to go back to work.

And yes, I also want to boost my confidence and self -esteem.
 And yes, I like wearing a little make-up ....
And yes, I like dressing up. I cannot imagine myself wearing muu-muu at home and doing household
chores for the rest of my life.
And yes, I want to be a career woman who can balance everything. Work.Life.Balance.

And I hope I made the right decision. So help me God! 

#13turning31

Cheers to life! 31 years of existence and is happily breathing life to its fullest…

I woke up pretty early today because my husband (King of Surprises) woke me up with a birthday cake w/ a dedication   “Happy Birthday Mama Bee.. from Dada and Nate..”  Then after he left for work, my little boy stirred from his sleep, tossed and turned then he sat up and looked at me…extended his arms,  wanted to be held and carried. That was prolly his way of greeting me on my birthday. He was up really early today (like 5:40 am) when his usual waking up time is around 7 or 8.

On my 31^st birthday, I choose to be grateful. Because there are times when I whine and complain so much about life and yet there are others who will trade anything just to be alive, just to live longer. I knew a lot of friends or acquaintances who are battling cancer. I dread cancer, I totally dread getting sick. I hate going to hospitals for lab tests!

That is why this year, I am really trying to stay healthy. There are countless times that I easily fall of the wagon and I hate myself. I hate that I love eating sweets and pasta. But then again, it’s really up to me to discipline myself. My goal is to go back to my pre-pregnancy weight which is 110-115lbs.

I am grateful to have a husband who is really so so so understanding and patient with me . He is the coolest person ever and he rarely gets angry and if he does, it usually lasts for just an hour. He works really hard for me and our baby and I thank him for that. I love him heaps!

I am grateful for a baby boy who is our source of happiness. He easily perks up our moods and he has this uber-charming smile that melts my o.a. heart. So blessed to have him in our lives.

I am grateful for my supportive family especially my parents. My little boy is so blessed to have them as grandparents and I wish they will live long to see my boy off to college or beyond that. I am also grateful for my siblings. We keep tabs on family matters and we always draw each other for comfort and strength.

I am grateful for my friends for they make life more fun fun fun!

I am grateful that I’ll be working part-time this year. I get to finish my long overdue paper and still have ample of time to bond with my little boy. Leaving my baby so that I can work is truly difficult. There’s this hard lump on my throat whenever I think of it. I am just so happy that the offer given is for part time only.

So, I thank God for every single thing I have in my life right now. I couldn't ask for more. I pray that I can control my temper, that I can control my crazy cravings of buying stuff (THIS.HAS.TO.STOP!) and that I can control  myself in everything (buying clothes, eating, dilly dally etc)  and just keep things in moderation. I guess that’s it for now.

Happy 31^st birthday to me! Cheers to a life!  

Hello world! Glad to squeeze in some blogging time before my little boy will rouse from his nap. I just finished 6 rounds on the treadmill and I burned 220 calories. That is quite something for this week since the calories I usually burn hovers from 150-170. I know I can still push it some more but for now or for this week I will not go higher than 230… or it depends on my mood! Hahaha! It’s just that I have other things to do and I can’t spent an hour or 2 on the treadmill. I have a little boy who needs my affection and attention. I am just blessed to have my parents and my cousin who look out for him while I am busy burning fats at the basement.

So, my aim is to go back to my pre-pregnancy weight which is 112-115 lbs. That is still a looooooooongggg way to go but with discipline and perseverance I believe I CAN DO IT! I just hope my husband will not bring sweets. It’s my weakness! I can eat 2-3 servings of ice cream and 2-3 slices of cake. Arggghhh! This time though I will try not to indulge myself with sugary sweet treats.

I am doing this not just to slip back on my jeans or to fit on my dresses and blouses back again but I am doing this more for my health. I want to have a clean bill of health and I want to be healthy for my son and for my husband. Hearing stories of friends or acquaintances suffering from the Big C makes me cringe, or the thought of acquiring one is downright scary. A fibrocystic cyst was taken out of my right boob years back and now I can sometimes feel a tinge of pain. I am quite scared.

Anyway, I WILL REALLY WORK HARD ON THIS. I CAN DO THIS! Time to get physically fit and healthy for myself and for the people I love.

hodge-pogde 101

It’s been a long time since I wrote here and I kind of miss it.  I was just preoccupied with so many things for the past few months that I barely have enough time for the things I used to do when I still don’t have a baby. However, the joy of being a mom to Nate is such a great feeling and I’d say I wouldn’t trade this moment to anything big out there.

I feel so blessed to have a son who makes us all happy and excited everyday with his crazy antics and his new milestones.   At 6 months, I started feeding him with solid foods which consist of veggies, fruits and organic rice cereal and I am so happy that he eats everything I feed him. It is really a good decision not to feed him with sweet rice cereals because right now he eats veggies with so much gusto. At 6 months, he can also sit by himself for 2-3 minutes without support. He also scoots around and loves to play with his toys, moving one toy from one hand to the other or simply dropping it down and picking it up again.

fameleeh of 3! Happy 2015ya' all!

At 7 months, he can sit perfectly well on his own and can hold for as long as he wanted.  He also started to go down and crawl on fours and learn to stand with support. Days after his 8^th month, two pearly whites erupted at the middle bottom part of his gums. Gaahh! I’d love to see him sporting those pearly white gems but the whole teething thing is really difficult for him.  Days ago, he came down with a high fever –a first for him and for me too. His firsts also become my firsts so imagine the anxiety I felt during those oh-so-sleepless nights. Thank God that he is healed and is back to his normal happy self – laughing out loud and cruising on his walker from the living room up to the kitchen area. I AM NOW A HAPPY MAMA!

With regards to my relationship with my husband, I guess we are still a work in progress. We have some disagreements, we fight over some petty stuff but we always make it a point to be ok again at the end of the day. Handling and managing our finances is such a heavy challenge on my part. I need to curb down my “wants” to buy things for Nate which are unnecessary.  Although my heart was broken, I am quite proud of myself for controlling not to send a message and purchase that stuff. Hubby receive some share in the Cooperative but we chose to save it for the rainy days instead of splurging ourselves with material stuff.

I am quite disappointed at myself for some reasons which I choose not to really share this time. There will still be a silver lining behind that decision. God meant it for good.

For this year, I am hoping for growth… Growth in spiritual aspects, growth as a family and also growth in our chosen field of career. I am still praying that God will lead us to where we should be at this point in time.

And oh, hello 2015! I will be wearing different hats for the next 360 something days of this year and I am praying I’ll be able to fill out the different roles cut out for me. Excited also for my little boy's first year.

That’s all for now folks! Tata and have a nice day ya’ all! 

The Big Apple-- NY (Part 3--US trip)

lovers in NY

Our quick visit to the big apple that is NY was memorable. How I wished my husband and I stayed a little bit longer—one week was not enough to really experience and feel NY at its finest. We arrived there last week of November and gosh, it was frigging cold. All bundled up as we toured around the big city.  

It was actually one my dreams to set foot in the city that never sleeps. I have seen a lot of NY in the movies and TV shows that I super duper love to watch like Gossip Girl, Sex and the City and FRIENDS and romantic films which include Serendipity, Wicker Park and Sassy Girl among others. I often dream't of standing right in the middle of the mall in Central Park with the one I love! I want to have a photo of the Statue of Liberty and visit that little café called Serendipity.  I've always wanted to experience the diverse culture and throw myself in to really get the feel of being in the city that never sleeps. I love to visit Long Island, Coney Island and Staten Island which I often heard from my brother who lived in NY for a year or so. And yes, to see all the 5 boroughs; Manhattan, Staten Island, Queens, Brooklyn and Bronx.

Broadway show! Phantom of the Opera

Anyway, I was beaming with such delight as our plane touched down to NY.  On our first day, Kuya Sam (my sister’s brother in law) toured us around. The cold weather never bothered us as we walk in Manhattan area. It was rather a quick tour but we were able to take snapshots of that charging bull which is also referred to as the Bull in Wall Street.  It stands in Bowling Green Park in the  Financial District in Manhattan. We also got to see the September 11 Memoriam Wall and the site where the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center once stood. 

Moreover, I am so happy that my husband and I got to experience our first Broadway show ever–and that is Phantom of the Opera. When I was still in college, I watched the movie version and also read the sequel Phantom of Manhattan. So, it was such a big feat to finally watch the show. I am such a big fan of Broadway shows! And for the first time, I met Tita Luching and how I wished we have more time to talk about the days and years of our lives.

Happy Thanksgiving!

For Thanksgiving, our host family (the Larrazabal-Barrios—Keena, Adrian and Kids ) my cousin Leah, my husband and I spent it over at  Kuya Sam and Ate Vicky’s house in Queens. It was my first Thanksgiving dinner and my husband and I were so blessed to be able to experience it. We had a sumptuous feast for dinner and it was also my first time to eat turkey. I had so many things to be thankful last year and one of it, of course is our baby love. 

       

   On our last day in NY, we met up with Ronie (my husband’s cousin), Joie (Ronie’s wife and also a cousin/relative from my father’s side of the family) and their little princess Zethry. We took the train going to Grand Central which is one of the nation’s historical landmark. Then Ronie and Joie took us for a ShakeShack experience for lunch. Yummy burgers!  

        Then off we went to the Empire State building, took snapshots and then to…. Central Park!!! I LOVE IT THERE… would have been nicer during spring or fall. But just the same, I am one lucky girl to finally set foot at the mall in Central park. It is a walkway leading to the beautiful Bethesda Terrace. I often see it in romantic films and finally..... I was able to stand right in the middle! Got to catch a glimpse of the Wollman skating rink too. 

@ Central Park

9/11

with  Joie

    Joie and I had so much plans on the places that we will visit but time is just so short. We were not able to visit that cozy café called Serendipity. Too bad we were so pressed out of time and that we had to hurry for the Broadway show… but then again there’s always “next time”.

     In a nutshell, our short visit in NY was memorable and I hope that someday we will be able to visit again. Maybe this time with our little son. Ohh…I can still remember NY’s crisp winter air… ah, nostalgic!

after the Broadway show with Tita Luching, Leah and her friend & Aya 

Opps! I almost forgot our Washington trip. I will be blogging about it next time. tata for now!

Magical Getaway @ Disneyworld (Part 2-US Trip)

all aboard for Disney World! :)

Our trip to Orlando Florida was simply breath-taking. My husband and I had a very fun-tastic experience there. Why not?!? One of my childhood dreams came true almost a year ago today. (and I guess my husband’s too!) It is so surreal, magnificent and truly amazing! Indeed, it is the happiest place on earth. And to top it all, it’s the “mother of all mothers” of any Disney places.. IT’S IN DISNEYWORLD! Soooo huge that a day is not enough to experience its majestic charms. We had to take the Disney bus, tram, train and a boat!

 We had heaps of fun, thrills and delightful adventures as we visited the four theme parks;Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disneyworld Hollywood Studios and the Animal Kingdom. At Magic Kingdom and Epcot, we were able to meet and greet some of the Disney princesses like Belle of Beauty and the Beast, Aurora of Cinderella and Snow White. Too bad we weren't able to see Princess Jasmine and to think she’s one of my fave characters. I shouldn't have let that moment passed by without a photo-op with her but my feet hurts so bad and the waiting time is still long.(there’s a specific time for the meet-and-greet) Anyway,  we truly had a magical getaway in Disneyworld and I am still beaming with excitement when I blog this or when I browse through the photos.

Magic Kingdom with thy husband

rides --- Disneybus, Disney Ferry boat, Animal Kingdom truck ride.. (tram-train ride not in the photo)

Disneyworld Hollywood Studios

fall in love in mini Italia @ Epcot

Animal Kingdom

Epcot :)

icecream break with our wonderful host

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Sweet November in San Antonio Texas (Part 1T-US TRIP)

downtown San Antonio

I know this is uber late but I still want to document in here our trip to the United States. It’s almost one year ago today—just about days more to go.  My husband and I were blessed to be given a chance to explore new and exciting places in the US. It was a short trip but all worth it. I wish we could have stayed longer but we also have tons of tasks and responsibilities back home.

cruising two-gether with hubby

Anyway, our first stop was in San Antonio Texas. It is the seventh most populous city in the US and the second most populous city in the state of Texas. (thanks wifi for the “fyi”) On our first day, my brother and my Tita Mayette took us (parents, hubby and I) for a wonderful river walk experience. 

The San Antonio River walk a.k.a. Paseo del Rio is a network of walkways along the banks of San Antonio River. It is lined by shops, bars and restos and a scenic view should one wished to take the river cruise—which we actually did! We also had a very funny, witty tour guide. Along with the knowledge we gained from him as he shared to us bits and pieces of info about the places/buildings/ we passed by along the river, we also got to enjoy his jokes and whatchamacall-it antics. Such a wonderful experience!

The Alamo

Our 2^nd stop was in The Alamo Mission in San Antonio which is simply known as THE ALAMO. It felt like travelling back to olden times. I took a moment to learn a little bit of its history and it is truly fascinating and inspiring as well. The Mexican army attacked the Alamo and by the end of the battle almost all of the defenders were killed.  To know  more, please visit their official website (hehehe)

Japanese/Chinese Garden with the gang

@ Tita Mayette's home sweet home

with Ma Fin @ the village sub-d (stayed here for a night) 

the happy gang!

We also went to San Antonio Japanese Tea Garden or Sunken Gardens in Brackenridge Park. It was beautiful. Of course, we took lots of photos! (but will not post all of it here)

Bible study group @ the Incarnate World University

My brother took my husband and I to The Incarnate Word University. It was huge! We also met some of his students and we also joined their Bible sharing/Study.

during the Ordination of thy brother
The ordination of my brother took place in Victoria, Texas. It was quite a long drive from San Antonio—approximately 2 hours or so.  I spent most of my time sleeping while on the way. I occasionally glanced outside to see hectares of farm land. 

We also had some other side trips in our short stay in San Antonio. We visited a Catholic Parish where our good, old family priest-friend was assigned. We mingled with fellow kababayans in there and ate sumptuous Philippine dishes.  Oh god, we were away from Phils for a short time but oh how we missed Pinoy dishes!  We also went to Barnes and Nobles and some other stores along the area.

@ the Lopez's  

brushing up my Spanish 101 lessons for my my Spanish speaking
nieces & nephew

photo-op with Mama

We had a great time in San Antonio and I hope someday we will be able to visit again. :)

This is just part 1 of our US Trip. I will have it in an installment basis (hahaha!) The 2^nd part was our visit to DISNEYWORLD Florida. I can hardly wait to blog and gush about our happy experience there. Truly, Disneyworld is a happy place on earth.