Happy New Year!

As the new year unfolds,

May you be blessed with the joys of new begginnings

Prosperity to live life to the fullest

Serene moments to bring peace and happiness...

May each new day bring for you new joys and new hopes!

Happy New Year!

December Top Entrecard Droppers

I am posting this earlier than planned because I might not get a chance to blog about it with the excitement of the new year celebrations... I am thanking the following for being the most frequent droppers on my entrecard this month:

I hope you continue to visit my blog...

Sick & Waiting

There's nothing worse than getting sick at the peak of the holidays... Oh, but there is... Getting sick at the peak of the holidays while pregnant and waiting just a few more days before "labor day"!

I have been avoiding going out precisely because I know the fumes from the firecrackers and whatnot that plague the air as the new year comes would trigger yet another asthma attack but still... Now I can barely breathe with this blasted runny nose... I just pray that this wouldn't develop into a full blown asthma attack as I am having hard time with the pregnancy as it is without further complications.

My OB declared it's highly probable that I will be giving birth by the 2nd week of January and I can hardly keep the excitement at bay... but this sickly feeling I am having now is putting a damper on things. Right now, I am just thankful that my baby continues to be "active" despite my being sick and having to take medication (of course, approved by my OB and pulmonologist) and that it's not for a few more days that I have to go back to work. I wouldn't want to start my maternity leave too early as I want to spend as much time with my baby after he comes out...

Mitsado

Everyone calls it Mechado but I prefer calling it Mitsado because of the "Mitsa" or "wick" of pork inserted in the beef. It's one of my favorite viands to cook and eat! I have posted it's recipe in my other blog before so I'm just posting a step-by-step picture of it now. As I cooked it last Sunday when I had a sudden burst of energy and was able to prepare a feast for our lunch...

And here's comical hubby, very impatient and wanting to sample the dish even before I had time to take a picture of it!

Happy Holidays!

I have been completely lazy these past few days in updating this blog... I've been busy preparing for the coming of "Charles Adam Yadao"... yes folks, that's what Charlie and I have decided on naming our first baby. Recently, all purchases has been in preparation of our baby boy's arrival, like a crib, several clothes, baby beddings and all the other stuff babies need. This year, my godchildren would have to just understand their ninang's inability to buy them personalized gifts as they just received an enveloped monetary equivalent as their "aguinaldo". I just didn't have the energy to brave the malls and tiangges before the holidays hit. And now that I have more time, I have been avoiding stressing myself and excessive walking as I have not reached my 36th week of pregnancy, which my OB and I are aiming for before Adam decides he can't wait anymore and it's time for him to come out. As of the moment, he's still in breech position and although I have been trying everything everyone has been telling me to do to get this boy in the right position, he's just not moving as desired. Anyway, I still have a couple of weeks and hopefully he heeds mommy's requests really soon.

Right now, I'm here at my parents' house... waiting for my godchildren to collect their gifts... trying to stop myself from attacking the refrigerated cake that my sister made... and preparing myself, conserving a bit of energy before cooking spaghetti this afternoon...

To everyone.. HAPPY HOLIDAYS! May the spirit of the season fill our hearts and may love, giving and selfless touch everyone's homes all year round. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Sale Shopping!

Today I went to the office super late... I just couldn't let the chance to shop Factory Sale items for my baby boy and so I asked my sister, Zelle, to accompany me to an early morning (the sale started at 9am and we were there by 9:30) shopping for baby clothes and beddings. I found out that there's going to be a sale from my Aunt who works at the same factory (Hello Dolly Manufacturing / Canadian). Today is the last day before they do their annual inventory or something. Imagine baby mittens for only one peso per piece. Newborn onesies for Php 45. Newborn sleeveless shirts (the ones with buttons on the shoulder) for Php 27. Baby briefs for Php 30. Short sleeve button down shirts for Php 33. Baby Pajama bottoms for Php 35. Crib comforters for Php 250. Baby pillow cases for Php 20. Baby bolster pillows (with pillow case) for Php 50. Breastfeeding pillows for Php 225. And Bolster pillow cases for Php 25. There were also comforter sets and beddings for king size beds but I didn't really want to get distracted from my baby things shopping so I didn't pay attention to their prices anymore. The sale lasts until 5pm only today and I just had to partake in it! I can't get over how many I was able to buy with only Php 1,300. I would have bought more if I wasn't worried that my sis and I wouldn't be able to carry it all and that I really had to go to work today because we're going to have our office christmas party (4:30pm) and I'm one of the people in-charge of the decorations. Anyway, I am satisfied with what I was able to take home without making a big dent on my budget!

Happy House

I know it sounds like the name of a biscuit (here in the Philippines) but it's not about that. It's my first time to join Tuesday Toot and I hope I'm doing it right... here goes:

Today I was able to finish cleaning the spare bedroom at our apartment (it might sound as not such a great accomplishment to most people but when your 8 months preggy and you almost always feel like your tummy is going to "pop" any minute from it's sheer hugeness and heaviness... this is quite an accomplishment for me!) and now it's ready for when my hubby's cousin comes to stay with us (maybe 2nd week of January). She's going to help out with the baby when it comes specially since I only have a couple of months leave (maternity) and then I'd have to go back to work again. I believe a clean house is a happy house and so I feel that my house is happy now that I got to finish clearning out the boxes and whatnot from that spare room after almost 4 months!

Blog Advertising

Most bloggers nowadays get paid to blog. I mean since most of us spend a significant amount of time updating our blogs and coming up with posts anyway, wouldn't you want to earn while doing the things you like? Opportunities to earn come far and wide when one is online and so one cannot help but grab them specially during these times when any additional income is most welcome. Besides, one need not understand rocket science to be able to earn while blogging... It's fairly easy once you get the hang of it. The basic principle is you write about a topic either assigned to you or something you have grabbed in a pool of opportunities which has been presented to you and that's it! All you have to do then is just submit your post wait for it to get reviewed and approved and voila! You get paid! If you update your blog more often and present your readers with frequent fresh posts that you would definitely have an edge over others. The possibilities are endless. A blogger could earn as much as he or she wants as long as you are willing to let your creative juices flowing and open yourself to a multitude of topics. Plus there are also tips that you could follow to be more effective as paid bloggers so you aren't entirely left to your own devices. The best way to start of course if find a network where bloggers and advertisers can meet. One such network is payingpost.com. They offer a friendly environment for bloggers to be able to seize prospects from advertisers seeking to promote their products and/or services. Registering is as easy as 1-2-3. Instructions are easy to follow and getting approved is quite fast too. So if you're like me who enjoys writing about almost anything and everything that strikes my fancy, then you definitely should give it a try!

Excited!

My bloghoppers and frequent visitors may have noticed that I have not updated in a week, here's why...

Monday, December 8, I went on my regular bi-monthly check-up (since I'm already in the last trimester of my pregnancy) and was declared still fit to work. The only concern my OB had was that I still had signs of UTI and my RBC was low. And so she prescribed a higher dosage of meds and scheduled a repeat urinalysis and a BPS for my next visit. She wanted me to come every three days now but since the hospital is quite far from where we live she conceded for me to come on a weekly basis instead.

Tuesday, December 9, I felt really bad... sort of heavy and my thighs were cramping. I dismissed it as just fatigue from my visit to the doctor the previous day (hubby and I walked and climbed and walked most of the day) and told my husband I was just going to rest for the day and call in sick at work.

The following days (Wednesday and Thursday) I was still feeling the same, in fact the pain was getting harder to bare because everytime I get up to go to the bathroom or get something for myself (I was alone in the house) I felt sharp pain in my lower tummy, thighs and upper legs. I didn't have any unusual discharge though so I thought it was just something I had to endure.

Friday, December 12, was my Mom's 61st Birthday... I really wanted to come but I was still feeling the same so I texted her my greetings and explained to her that I wouldn't be able to come for her "family only" celebration. By lunch time my Dad texted me and told me that he was going to pick me up so I could partake in my mom's birthday lunch and merienda celebration. Of course before I could protest he was already there, pressing the doorbell, waiting for me to get dressed, hehehe... very typical of Dad! Anyway, when my parents saw me, they said I looked pale and it shows that I was really in pain when I walk or shift positions even when sitting down so my Dad insisted that he take me to the hospital. When I arrived, the OB said she was not going to let me go home because I was 2cm dilated. What?! I was only going on my 34th week! I'm not ready yet! Hubby (who arrived about an hour after I was admitted) was acting calm and collected and kept telling me to "just let it be" and "you're going to be fine" but I could sense that he too was also nervous and wasn't expecting this yet. I kept praying and praying that I be given more time to prepare myself. Good enough, by around 9pm of the same day I was told that I was down to 1cm and if my condition continues to improve, they were going to discharge me the following day. Thankfully, I was allowed to go home by Saturday noon. And here I am again, back to work... still feeling heavy and my legs are still cramping a bit but not like before. Hmmm.... baby boy would just have to wait until mommy's good and ready for him to come out. Hehehe! Seriously though, I would love to see my baby as soon as possible (in fact no one could be more excited to see him but me) but I really want to try and deliver normally and right now, he's still in breech position so... Baby boy, heed your mommy's request and position yourself properly...

Boys Names

Lately I have been getting a lot of suggestions as to what I would name my baby... well, guess what? I have quite a list of names I already but I am still taking suggestions. The thing is I want his initials to be C. A. I have recently shortened my list from about 20 combinations to just three but I have an absolute favorite right now that I would probably be using if I get no other great suggestions. So what do you think? Do you have a name in mind? I am accepting suggestions until middle of December and then after that I am going to announce my final choice. Calling all experts and novices alike, hehehe! The names doesn't have to be fancy or ones that have extraordinary meaning. The requirement is simple, I want two names complementing each other which start with the letters C and A. Oh, and of course they have to be BOYS NAMES!

Friendship Tag

Here are the rules for this tag:
1. Copy the badge and put it on your blog,

2. Link back who pass you this tag,

3. Spread this tag to at least 7 or more bloggers those who you think you are friends with.

And lovely are the blossoms
That are tended with great care,
By those who work unselfishly
To make the place more fair.
And, like the garden blossoms,
Friendship’s flower grows more sweet
When watched and tended carefully
By those we know and meet.
And, if the seed of friendship
Is planted deep and true
And watched with understanding,
Friendship’s flower will bloom for you.

Thanks to Che for tagging me.... Now I'm passing it on to Ann, AidiSan, Anna, Meng, Mec, Mae and Zelle

November Top Entrecard Droppers

I would like to thank my top entrecard droppers for November... I hope you continue to visit my blog frequently. I try as much as possible to return the favor by returning each visit, but just in case there are days that I don't get to drop ECs on you, please know that I appreciate each and every drop and bloghop that I get... THANKS a lot!

25 drops

17 drops
16 drops Hip to be Mom - 13 dropsBroke as a Spoke - 13 dropsC'est La Vie - 12 dropsJuliana's World - 12 dropsMrs. G - 12 dropsCouple's Footprints - 12 dropsMira's Web Journal - 12 drops

Stay You

Hubby and I were on our way to the Doctor last Saturday when this came on the taxi radio...

STAY YOU
Wood

I love the way you speak
And I love the way you swear
I love the way you walk around with your head held in the air
I love the way your words move
And I love the way you drive
I love the way you're scared of people scared to be alive

Stay - stay you that's the toughest thing to do [x 2]

I love the way you dress upon a Saturday night
I love the way you never speak until it feels just right
I love the way you're spending all your money on yourself
I love the way you answer the phone and pretend you're somebody else

Stay - stay you that's the toughest thing to do

And now I don't want to talk about the things you overcame
By dragging up the past I'll put you through it all again
I've got the greatest admiration for the way that you got through it
Couldn't ask nobody else to do it better than you do it

Stay - stay you .......

~ * ~

He was lipsync-ing like crazy with matching action as if he was singing the song to me with feelings! Nyahaha! I saw the taxi driver smiling while glancing at us in the rear view mirror. Hay! One of the moments Charlie, once again, shows his comedic side... but it was touching nonetheless. I love the song!

P.S. Details of the doctor's visit to follow really soon... I just have a lot on my to do list now that I can't seem to sit still long enough and compose my thoughts and produce a post containing one cohesive thought!

Cheese Popcorn

Today, right after I got off from work, I went straight to the nearest mall... Quickly bought groceries for the following week and then bought this:

A bucket of cheese popcorn from popperoo!

Hubby and I made tonight a movie night and watched the DVD of Stephen King's "The Shawshank Redemption". I know it's an old film already but hubby has yet to watch it and since an officemate of mine lent it to me for the weekend, we decided to make a movie night of it. Of course by the end of the movie our hands were orangy yellow from the cheese flavoring of the popcorn and it was already time for an uber late dinner but it was fun. It's been a while since Charlie and I went out to watch a movie but this is better. We get to kick off our shoes and put our feet up and cuddle while watching the movie. We must do this again soon!

Momdot.Com

MomDot is a mom blog listing site that is run by mommy bloggers, trisha, alicia, and bridgette.They run contests weekly, reviews on awesome (and not so awesome) products for family and kids, and talk about their lives. But more importantly, they feature bloggers and mom boutiques to give them an avenue to get thier name out there, also assisting in google links! You can head out and list your blog for free and talk to them about doing an interview about you. Head on over and see what MomDot is about!

Charlie Bit Me!

No my husband did not bite me... I was bloghopping and dropping ECs when I happened to see this...

I just couldn't resist to share it here as well... just in case, you're like me who isn't one of the thousands who has seen it already on youtube!

The Year I Was Born

I was tagged by Ann... Thanks girl!

In 1974 (the year you were born)

Gerald Ford becomes president of the US Hank Aaron hits his 715th home run to beat Babe Ruth's record Impeachment hearings are opened against President Nixon by the House Judiciary Committee President Nixon resigns President Gerald Ford issues an unconditional pardon to ex-President Nixon for all federal crimes Muhammad Ali knocks out George Foreman in the eighth round to regain the heavyweight crown in Zaire Heiress Patty Hearst is kidnapped by and eventually joins the Symbionese Liberation Army Dungeons & Dragons officially released People magazine is published for the first time Kate Moss, Alyson Hannigan, Penelope Cruz, Alanis Morissette, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Ryan Seacrest are born Oakland Athletics win the World Series Miami Dolphins win Superbowl VIII Philadelphia Flyers win the Stanley Cup Blazing Saddles is the top grossing film All the President's Men by Bernstein and Woodward is published "Killing Me Softly With His Song" wins Grammy for song of the year

What Happened the Year You Were Born?

JODY - 1977; (your name - birth year)
JOANNE - 1980
GRACIE - 1978
MANDY - 1975
NIKKI - 1979
ANN -1977
HEIDI - 1974

I'm passing the tag on to AidiSan and Maeyo

Weak-end

Saturday, 11.15.08

Spent the whole day at home. Charlie went on leave from work and my youngest sister slept over so we all just ordered food from a nearby fastfood and watched DVDs until the early part of the afternoon. By around 3pm my brother came over to fix my PC (which has been on the blink since last month) and we all just lazed around, listening to music while waiting for the re-formatting of my PC to be done. Way to start the weekend, right? Sitting around, watching tv for the early part of the day and then lying around just sound tripping the rest of the afternoon? Hahaha... I just feel so weak.... I don't even feel like cooking.

~ * ~

Sunday, 11.16.08

I finished a couple of layouts for my baby shower invitations... I am still not decided on the exact date yet (but I'm leaning towards the 12th of December) so I didn't print it out. Plus my guest list is still unfinished so...

~ * ~

Today, 11.17.08

It took me a long time before I became fully awake and ready to get out of bed... I feel so sleepy. I didn't feel like going to work and had to drag myself to the bathroom to wake myself up with a shower. I feel so lazy. But I have to finish several tasks at the office before the personnel audit so...

The Sound of Life

I woke up this morning to this:


Can you hear the sound of life
Heard in the laughter of children at play
Can you hear the sound of voices sing
Feel the magic and joy they bring

Can you hear the laughter
Can you hear the music
Sing with your heart
It's the song of life

Can you hear it, can you feel it
It's the magic in your heart
It's the music, the sound of life

Can you hear the christmas bells ring
And the sound of the carolers too
Can you hear the message far and near
Merry Christmas, the Lord is here

Can you hear the laughter
Can you hear the music
Sing with your heart
It's the song of life

Can you hear it, can you feel it
Sing the message loud and clear
Merry Christmas, the Lord is here

Lalala...

Can you hear the laughter
Can you hear the music
Sing with your heart
It's the song of life

Can you hear it, can you feel it
It's the magic in your heart
It's the music, the sound of life

The sound of life... oh

Can you hear the message far and near
Merry Christmas, the Lord is here

Can you hear the laughter
Can you hear the music
Sing with your heart
It's the song of life

Can you hear it, can you feel it
Sing the message loud and clear
Merry Christmas, the Lord is here!

Wow, ilang days na lang pasko na...

Hot Pandesal & Cold Milk

This was my late merienda yesterday as I was so hungry already when I got home from work but have yet to make dinner... I said to myself, dinner would be late anyway (hubby has overtime work so he would be coming home late) so I would have space to spare for a quick merienda. I ran to a nearby bakery and found newly baked pandesal so I bought some and just spread butter and liver spread in them as filling and washed them down with a tall glass of cold milk. Hmmm.... quite satisfying. In fact I was still a bit full by the time hubby came home so I wasn't able to eat as much of our pork adobo dinner, hehehe!

Swamped!

I'ts good that I get to blog now... I have been waiting for the opportunity to do so since this morning. I have been buried in paperwork and other work stuff because I had to go on leave yesterday for a checkup.

~ * ~

Yesterday's checkup was an advanced one... I decided to go early this month because my scheduled checkup on the 21st will coincide with a personnel audit at the office so I cannot go on leave then. What was surprising about my visit to the doctor was that I found out that I lost 2 pounds! What?! I couldn't believe it... I have been pigging out on whatever food strikes my fancy these days and yet I lost 2 lbs.? Anyway, my OB says it's no cause for alarm as long as the baby's fine and I am eating healthy. It's just that my blood pressure is still stuck at 90/60. Plus, despite my calcium supplement intake, I am still getting cramps. Haay! just a little less than 3 months to go and all these would pay off... I am just focusing on the wonderful fact that I am going to say our baby soon.

~ * ~

The tentative date for my baby shower has been set to December 12. It's my mom's birthday but she says it's as good a time as any to hold the small party so it wouldn't coincide with Christmas Parties of the attendees. I was actually thinking of holding it on January but my sisters said it would be better to have it next month so I could start ticking off possible gifts for the baby and buy the rest of the baby needs after the shower. Makes sense...

~ * ~

Finally, my office is going to get the attention it needs from maintenance this week, hmmp! If the Personnel Audit wasn't scheduled for the 21st, I'm sure I would be waiting until next year pa for the much needed light fixtures maintenance and the installation of a new airconditioning unit!

Singing Saturday

Several months ago, I wanted to be consistent as to what I post during Saturdays and so I started Saturday Self Portrait... I was able to post for several Saturdays but I was not able to continue doing it for several reasons. Now I'm starting another Saturday Meme... I'm calling it Singing Saturday. I just want to be able to post a song that most appeals to for the moment. Maybe a song I heard on the radio and can't get off my mind the whole day or week. Or a song that best suits my mood and thinking for that particular time. Hopefully, I would be able to continue posting from now on....

******

My current song of the week is:

WISH LIST

by M.Y.M.P.

There are a lot of things I want this Christmas
I have a list of what to give and receive
But they don't come in boxes wrapped in fancy paper
They just come in the simplest of things

Something weighs more than gold, the truth be told
Something means so much more
Something's better than anything tangible
And it's all we need
It's all we need

Love
Peace
Joy
Kindness
Humility
Positivity
And not to live in fear
Love
Faith
Hope
Friendship
Forgiveness
Happiness
To last through the years

[Interlude]

If there's one thing I have to be this Christmas
Is that I'd be a good example to the kids
To give my heart out to everyone who needs it
Life is not about the physical things

Something weighs more than gold, the truth be told
Something means so much more
Something's better than anything tangible
And it's all we need
It's all we need

Love
Peace
Joy
Kindness
Humility
Positivity
And not to live in fear
Love
Faith
Hope
Friendship
Forgiveness
Happiness
To last through the years

[Interlude]

Something weighs more than gold,
Something means so much more, so much more

Love
Peace
Joy
Kindness
Humility
Positivity
And not to live in fear
Love
Faith
Hope
Friendship
Forgiveness
Happiness
To last through the years

Love
Peace
Joy
Kindness
Humility
Positivity
And not to live in fear
Love
Faith
Hope
Friendship
Forgiveness
Happiness
To last through the years

Love
Love
Love
Love

******

For anyone who wants to grab this meme, feel free to do so. Just don't forget to leave a note at the comments section of this post so I could check out your Singing Saturday Post also.

Fettuccine Alfredo & Chicken Wings

Last night, after work, I went straight to my parents' house. The original plan was that I was just going to pick up the money and gift check from my Mom but hubby texted that I wait for him there because he has a basketball game after office hours so I'd be bored if I went home early. So I waited for Charlie to pick me up and then afterwards, we went to a Pizza Hut in a nearby mall. I feasted on Fetuccine Alfredo while hubby had Garlic Shrimps and Mushroom Pasta. Aside from that, we decided to split the Chicken Wings and Garlic and Sausage Pizza. O di ba? Super takaw kami, hahaha!

4 years and counting

Today, I celebrate my 4th anniversary as a blogger. It has been that long since I started my online journal. It has been that long since I started my on and off relationship with my blog. To this day, I still consider myself a newbie, trying to discover new things to learn on how to be a better and more consistent blogger, but one thing's for sure... I have gained quite a number of online friends through this blog! I hope to continue accumulating more and enjoy reading their blogs as well!

What's Sexy About My Name?

I was browsing through blogthings and this caught my eye, so I gave it a try and here's the result:

What's Sexy About Your Name

You are sexy because you are very generous. You are a giver both in and out of the bedroom. And while you enjoy pleasing your partner, your generosity doesn't extend much further than that. You have all the love, patience, and attention in the world for one person. You get a lot of satisfaction from doting on and spoiling someone. When you're in love, you tend to create your own little world with your partner. You can spend the whole day in bed together and hardly notice the time that's passed.

What's Sexy About Your Name?

Rainy Monday

If we were'nt so serious, it would be comical... What is? Our hurried version of this morning's flag ceremony! We had to do everything double time because tiny drops of rain has already started to come down on us. Oh, and our usual monday morning breakfast together had to be hurried as well because everyone had different field assignments they had to run to right after the flag ceremony! It was like a scene from a cartoon.

~ * ~

Now it's almost 10am and I hungry again... You know what's bothering me these days... It's that I'm always hungry and yet after a bite or two, I feel like I'm busting at the seams already! It's the same with my liquid intake. I'm usually a healthy drinker - you know what they say, you have to drink 8 to 10 glasses of water a day - nowadays, after a couple of gulps of water I feel like going to the toilet already because I have to pee! Haay... just when I thought I have this pregnancy thing licked...

~ * ~

Today's whether made the busted lights at my office even more noticable than before... It's quite dark now despite it being just the start of the day. I have reported it to maintenance twice already, but still...

On All Souls' Day

Hubby and I weren't able to go to Ilocos to visit his father's grave since I still wasn't allowed to go on long drives plus we only had the weekend to do so, so... We offered candles and prayers instead to our dearly departed...

Prayer for the Departed

O Master, Lord our God, Who in Thy wisdom hast created man, and didst honor him with Thy Divine image, and place in him the spirit of life, and lead him into this world, bestowing on him the hope of resurrection and life everlasting; and after he had violated Thy commandments, Thou O Gracious lover of mankind, didst descend to the earth that Thou mightest renew again the creation of Thy hands. Therefore we pray Thee, O All-Holy Master give rest to the souls of Thy servants, Eleuterio, Ildefonso, Arsenio, Jesus and Eduardo, in a place of brightness, a place of green pasture, a place of repose, and, in that they have sinned in word, or deed or thought forgive them: For Thou art a good God and lovest mankind and unto Thee do we ascribe Glory, together with Thy Father, Who is from everlasting and Thine All-Holy and good, and ever giving Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Mushroom Burger

Yesterday afternoon, my youngest sister, Mae texted me that they (My Mom, Dad and her together with a couple of my Aunts) were on their way to Tagaytay to look for a plant to add to my Aunt's already wide variety of collection. I wanted so much to come but since I had work, I was unable to. And then later, Mae texted me again that they were near Mushroom Burger already... and so I texted her back that if they came home without a "pasalubong" from MB for me, I would really, really be disappointed! Nyahahaha! It worked! Last night, I had a King Mushroom Burger straight from Tagaytay!

I have only good memories associated with this burger... As a child, we would always stop at the Mushroomburger joint whenever we're near it... On our way to visit my Aunt's family who lives in Batanggas, when we go to Tagaytay for day trips, or whatever. Basta, I have happy recollections when I think about eating a mushroom burger. Haaay, plus it's so sarap pa!

Tita Lily's 50th

Last night, Charlie and I went to my Aunt's 50th Birthday celebration... Here are several pictures we took during the event:

To my Aunt, who helped take care of me as a child and became a very good friend as I was growing up... Happy, Happy 50th Birthday Tita Lily! May you have many more birthdays to celebrate with us and may you continue to be the happy and energetic person that you are!

Monday Madness

I was 5 minutes late today, hence I was not able to attend the flag ceremony. But that's not what's bothering me now... It's this freaking cough and colds I am suffering from! I have tons of work to finish here in the office plus several errands to run to during lunch break and I can't seem to stop sneezing or coughing! Oh and did I mention that everytime I cough my tummy aches and I wonder if my baby is still ok... hay...

Anyway, I had very little done over the weekend because I have been feeling sick since Friday afternoon so I have nothing much to report. Just did a much needed shoe shopping yesterday (since my old office shoes are getting their well-deserved rest for a couple of months now - they don't fit me right anymore plus I prefer flats nowadays) and had a bit of room re-arranging (with the help of my sister, Mae) so as to accommodate the coming of the crib for the baby. Oh yeah, did I mention that hubby had a change of mind recently? Before, we were so set on moving to the townhouse we were able to acquire through Pag-ibig Housing Loan by January of next year - right before the baby arrives. Now, he's saying we should stay at our current apartment for a while longer and wait until the baby is older before we move so we would still be a stone's throw away from my parents' home and look in on their grandson while we're at work. I know it makes a lot of sense, but our apartment is so cramped that I had to be super creative as to the furniture arrangement so we could fit in our baby's coming stuff! It's good that my sister is currently on her Semestral Break and she was able to help me with the moving of the larger pieces of furniture (Charlie had to work over the weekend). And then after the exhausting re-arrangement, I treated my sister (and myself) to a meal at Karate Kid where I really enjoyed the potato balls and the bottomless iced tea, hehehe!

Hmmm... now it's back to work for me so I could meet my deadlines! I just wish this blasted cough would go away really soon, so I could concentrate better.

5th Anniversary

5 years ago today, Charlie became my confidante, constant movie date, pillar of strength and patience, text and phone pal, shock absorber, kissing buddy and partner forever. Yes, it was October 24, 2003 when Charlie and I became an item, "exclusively dating" in more recent terms. So to my honey... Happy 5th Anniversary! You continuously amaze me with your patience and understanding, your never-ending humor and your loving ways! I love you! Mwah! Mwah! Mwah! Hahaha!

Busy Weekend

What I thought was going to be a relaxing and restful weekend turned out to be the exact opposite. Saturday morning started out normally enough with Charlie off to work by seven while I am still lingering on the sofa with my morning hot chocolate while reading a three-day-old newspaper (sorry, I don't usually read the paper, I get my daily dose of current information from the evening television news). And then my sister, Hazelle texted me inquiring as to what time I would be coming to our parents' house where we were supposed to meet before proceeding to the nearby mall so she could treat me to a meal at yellow cab. She just got her first paycheck from her new job at a call center in Mandaluyong and she promised me this treat a week ago so I replied that I would just take a bath and will immediately proceed to our meeting place. As it turned out, she was still at work when I arrived at our parents' house and so I had to wait for her for a couple of hours. While waiting, I played with Marian, my adorable neice, and when we both got tired, we fell asleep, hehehe! We (Me, my sisters, Hazelle and Mae) made it to the mall at around 3pm where we stuffed ourselves with New York's Finest Pizza which we gulped down with iced tea. By 4:30, we couldn't eat anymore and decided to take out the remaining slices of the 18" pizza and walk off the calories while window shopping. I was not able to restrain myself when I saw the adorable infant clothes and bought a tie-side shirt, pajamas, onesies, mittens and a matching cap and booties!

the baby stuff!

Charlie and Marian, posing before riding the bighorn which we used to go to my Grandma's birthday party.

The next day, Charlie had to do the laundry early in the morning (yes, eversince I got preggy, hubby has been doing the laundry while we still don't have help) because we were going to my Grandma's house for lunch to celebrate Inang Chayong's 90th birthday. The lunch prolonged until dinner as it has been a long time since we have had a get-together with my other cousins, Aunts and Uncles. When we arrived at our apartment at around 9pm on Sunday, Charlie and I were both so tired and ready for bed that I just ironed our Monday office attire and left the rest for the following day. The two days "rest" just wasn't enough to accomplish our weekend chores and have time left enough for R&R. But, tiring as it was, the weekend was quite a happy one... at least now, I could tick off several items from my baby shopping list and several of my cousins hinted at an impending baby shower for me...

I Want A New Look!

Lately I have been browsing the net for a new layout for my blog... I guess I'm just irritated that my header image doesn't show anymore... But really, I want something less cluttered-looking and simple. Any suggestions as to where I could find a suitable layout for my blog? I would still like to retain the butterfly theme or maybe just add a simple butterfly picture in the header in keeping with the title "Winged Words". Help! I really want to have a new and cleaner look for my blog really soon!

It's a...

Yesterday, Charlie and I took a leave of absence from our respective offices so we can go to my monthly prenatal checkup. I was also scheduled for an ultrasound so this appointment was specially exciting... I was going to find out if my baby was a boy or a girl. Of course there was also the chance that we might not be able to see due to the baby's position or something but I was really hopefull that we would sneak a peek so we could start buying baby stuff already. And there it was... It's a BOY! Yes folks, the OB announced that we are having a baby boy. It took quite a while before the Dra. Malit announced this because our little angel was quite active and continuously moving during the ultrasound but after a few minutes, it was determined that we are indeed having a baby boy. Needless to say, Charlie's face lit up like there were string upon string of christmas lights around him when this piece of information was divulged. He was so happy that his super early predictions (as in I was just a couple of months preggy when he said we were having a boy) proved to be correct! I was not able to scan the ultrasound photos yet but I'm happy to report that everything's going well with our baby and that he is continuously making me feel his presence by constantly kicking and shifting positions. As of now, he's still in breach position but my OB says it's ok for now because I'm just on my 6th month and the baby would most probably change positions as I near my due date.

Shopping List

After our window shopping last week for baby stuff, I decided that I have to be completely rational about shopping for all the baby needs if I want to still be able to keep enough money for when the baby actually comes! All the cute stuff would have to be stayed away from for a while... I have to make a list first of what the baby really needs before I start losing my sanity and buy everything I find nice and adorable. Here's my list so far (and mommy friends, feel free to suggest/add anything that SHOULD be in the list but I have not thought of yet):

Clothes

• 5 undershirts or onesies
• 2 blanket sleepers
• 3 pairs of socks or booties
• 5 pajama stretchsuits
• 1-2 dress-up outfits
• 1 Hat
• 1 sweater

Bedding

• Bassinet or crib
• Baby mattress
• sheets

Breast-feeding

• 3 nursing bras
• Pillow to support baby
• Breast pump
• 1 box of breast pads
• Nipple cream (lanolin-based is best)
• Loose shirts or button-downs for me (easier for nursing)

Changing

• Diapers
• Baby lotion
• Baby wipes
• Diaper rash ointments
• Toys to distract the baby
• Changing mat
• Tissues
• Dirty-diaper bin or bucket

For Going Out

• diaper bag/backpack
• baby carrier/stroller
• diapers
• Travel-size tissues
• Baby wipes
• Plastic bag for dirty diapers

Like I said, I only listed the basics (and pardon for the repeated items, I just categorized them as to when they would be used so...) Oh, and I know, the clothes look super few, but I want to buy more (of course after the baby comes already).

Lazy Day

Today, being a holiday and all... I didn’t wake up until I really, really had to go to the bathroom already. And since my last nocturnal stroll was around 3:30am, I was able to “hold it” until around 11am. After the usual morning rituals, I immediately prepared “brunch” for me and my already super hungry husband (he only had coffee when he woke up at around 9am) and enjoyed a leisurely meal of tuna omelette, longganisa, fried rice and hot chocolate (a tall glass of ice cold softdrink, for hubby). And then after doing the dishes (while hubby cleans the house), here I am typing away at our PC as I wait for Charlie to finish taking a shower so I could take my turn at doing the same... We’re off to the mall today to do a bit of window shopping for baby stuff and maybe watch a movie. Yipee!

Flag Ceremony

Today I had flashbacks of when I was still in school and every Monday would mean standing under the early morning sun and facing the flag pole to pay homage to the Philippine Flag. Yes folks! I attended our office flag ceremony today - not because I had an inkling to wake up earlier than usual just so I could but – because I was in charge of the whole thing for this week. It’s not like we are not required to attend if we’re not in charge though... It’s just that I very rarely come earlier than 8am on Mondays and so it’s been a while since I was able to attend one.

I know, I know... some people reading this maybe already shaking their heads and saying “Where’s her sense of Nationalism?” But let me just say it has nothing to do at all with that... It’s just that I have always found it hard to wake up early in the morning (for as long as I can remember) but it’s specially hard these days when I’d wake up at around 3am for yet another trip to the bathroom and would not be able to sleep again until around 4 or 4:30am. So, by the time it’s 6am when I’m supposed to be getting up to see Charlie off to work and preparing myself to do the same, I’m still sleeping and hubby doesn’t have the heart to wake me up because he knows I didn’t get enough sleep... EXCUSES!

Anyway, my bosses and officemates seem to tolerate my absence during the ceremony quite well. I guess because they understand my predicament (or maybe they just got tired of reminding me to do so). But, like I’ve said, I was in charge of this morning’s progam and so I cannot make excuses today.

I woke up around 6am, took a shower before hubby and by 7am, we were both out of the house and on our separate ways to work. I arrived at the office at around 7:15am and started with the ceremonies right away. As this week’s leader, aside from assigning who among my “lucky” officemates would lead the singing of the National Anthem, reciting the “Panunumpa sa Watawat”, “Panunumpa ng Kawani ng Gobyerno” and saying a prayer, I was also tasked to choose and impart a quote or passage that would serve as our “Food for Thought”. I chose this verse from the book of Matthew (23:11): HE THAT IS GREATES AMONG YOU SHALL BE YOUR SERVANT. From which this quote was derived from (as found in God’s Little Devotional for Teens) “It needs more skill than I can tell to play the second fiddle well.”Explained: No matter how high you rise, never forget that you started out at ground zero. Even if you were born to great wealth and privilege, you still were born a helpless babe. Real success comes not in thinking you have arrived at a place where others should serve you, but in recognizing that in whatever place you are, you have arrived at a position where you can serve others.

Mommy and Me

They say a daughter cannot truly appreciate her own mom until she becomes a mom herself. I didn’t really believe this before because I thought I understood what my mom went through to have and take care of me and my siblings. I have always been thankful for having such a patient and self-less mother. My mom worked hard to help provide for us and give us things other children could only dream about. I wouldn’t say my brother and sisters and I had a luxurious childhood but we were very comfortable and didn’t really have to worry about stuff that other children would. My parents very rarely had fights in front of us and I could definitely say we were “blessed” with such a wonderful and happy childhood that we could only hope and pray that we would be able to provide the same for our kids.

For the past several months though (eversince I found out I was pregnant), I noticed a certain closeness my mom and I share… an understanding even deeper than what we shared before. I guess it is true… I appreciate her more… I admire her even more… I just can’t picture myself going through this pregnancy without Mommy. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I didn’t think she was supermom before, but lately I just have realized that there is so much more to being a mom than I thought (and my baby hasn’t even come out yet, hahaha!). I definitely recognize the value of having someone to go to when I need to share something about being pregnant. She doesn’t always have the answers but her presence definitely makes everything bearable. I mean, of course hubby and the rest of the family are supportive and happy and excited and all that but it’s just different when I talk to my mom.

Nowadays, Saturdays or Sundays are usually spent with my mom, either just hanging around their house and being couch potatoes or going to the mall and browsing the shops for baby stuff. She even accompanied me to a prenatal check-up when Charlie was not able to come because of work... Thank you mom... for being the generous person that you are... and for being always available (specially now that she has retired from work) whenever I need to talk to someone who can be both sympathetic and objective as well. I love you mommy!

Going Through the Motions

Lately, I have been very slow in accomplishing work assigned to me. I feel tired and sleepy almost all the time plus the motivation just isn’t there these days. I guess because there are certain factors in the office that prevents me from being fully goaded into doing my best work-wise. Don’t get me wrong I still do the things assigned to me, but compared to what I can probably produce within an hour before… Let’s just say it takes me twice the time to finish a report I would normally accomplish way before the deadline. Nowadays, I would put off facing a certain report or task until I absolutely “have to”. Haay, I just pray that matters would improve in the coming months because I just don’t see myself working here long term anymore… It’s like I’m just going through the motion without really taking things to heart.

I read what I have written and I know I sound like I’m whining for no particular reason but believe me when I say THERE ARE REASONS! I just refuse to enumerate them and specifically pinpoint anything here in this blog because I don’t want to “incriminate” anybody and worsen the situation. Besides, for the moment, I have no other job prospects and intend to stay working here as long as I have to, if only for the monthly income (however low that income is). Times are hard nowadays even with both me and hubby working that I can’t really see us living the way we do now with just him working, specially now that we’ll have a little one to provide for soon. I guess I just have to stick it out here for a while longer…

Be patient, Heidi… There are others who have worse problems than you. And the way thing are now, I don’t think it could get any worse… Things could only be better in the future (however far that future seems right now).

Our Baby at 21 Weeks

I have been reading and reading about fetal development in textbooks (It's funny how I didn't find it as interesting when I was in College and now I dug up my old pre-med books just so I could read them all over again); maternity guides; and the internet and so far, this is what I know:

• The fetus now weighs about three-quarters of a pound/ 360 grams. Up until now she has been measured from crown to rump but from this point on the measurement will be from crown to heel. And from crown to heel she is approximately 10.5 inches/ 27 centimetres long. The eyebrows and eyelids are fully developed and the fingernails cover the fingertips.

I got this from babycenter.com... I'm so excited to have my 4D ultrasound this weekend! I can't wait to see the developments!

• Your baby can now hear your conversations. If you talk, read, or sing to your baby, expect her to hear you. Some studies have found that newborns will suck more vigorously when read to from a book they heard frequently in utero. If you want to try, pick a book now and read it out loud. Make sure you won't mind reading it over and over once the baby is here. It may be your baby's favourite bedtime story for a long time after birth.

For the past couple of nights, I have been reading different children's classic bedtime stories like, "Cinderella" and "Three Little Pigs" and sometimes I can feel the baby move while reading... Also, I have been repeatedly playing classical music on my office pc for the most part of the morning (Since I also read that classical music helps up the baby's intelligence).

I read somewhere that during the 5th month the nausea lets up and this the most pleasant you'd be feeling while pregnant but this isn't true for me because I didn't get the "morning sickness" bit during my first trimester (except for a couple of mornings and one noon when I threw up) but lately, the oddest of smells would trigger the onslaught of nausea! Anyway, I guess to each her own when it comes to these things... Basta, I'm super happy these days, and no matter how many problems I encounter in the office or with my new neighbors... They wouldn't be able to dampen my spirits!

Prayer for Safe Delivery

O great Saint Gerard, beloved servant of Jesus Christ, perfect imitator of your meek and humble Savior, and devoted child of Mother of God, enkindle within my heart one spark of that heavenly fire of charity which glowed in your heart and made you an angel of love.
O glorious Saint Gerard, because when falsely accused of crime, you did bear, like your Divine Master, without murmur or complaint, the calumnies of wicked men, you have been raised up by God as the patron and protector of expectant mothers.
Preserve me from danger and from the excessive pains accompanying childbirth, and shield the child which I now carry, that it may see the light of day and receive the purifying and life-giving waters of baptism through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

How big am I?

I received an e-mail yesterday from my cousin asking me to send him a recent picture because he wants to see how preggy I look already, hahahaha! If I know he just wants to see how big I have become now that I'm on my fifth month! Anyways, the obedient cousin that I am, sent him these pictures:

that's how big I am (taken a couple of weeks ago)

and this one was taken just this morning but I got the haircut last Thursday... I just felt so irritated with my hair that I had to go and have a cut!

Crib Choices

Lately, I have been looking at different possibilities as to how my baby's room would look like... (I could dream, couldn't I?) And these are a couple of the pictures I saw that I really, really liked.

Hopefully, I'd be able to set up a nursery similar to any of these two by December when we start renovations on our house in Cavite. But if our budget would not permit us to be as lavish as we want to be in setting up our baby's room, I would settle for a portable crib like this.

I'd like to thank Melisse for giving me this:

They all are charmed with the Blogs, wherein the majority of its aims are to show the marvels and to do Friendship. There are persons who are not interested when we give them a prize and then they help to cut these bows. Do we want that they are cut or that they propagate? Then let's try to give more attention to them! So with this prize we must deliver it to 8 Bloggers that in turn must make the same thing and put this text.

I'll be leaving messages to the blogs I'm awarding this as well...