10 Great Things About Having A Baby!

Got this article from "Im Pregnant" Magazine (Oct. Nov. Dec. '05 Issue)...

1 YOU'RE EXTRA SPECIAL
As soon as you announce you're pregnant you are the center of attention.
Even complete strangers want to touch your bump!

2 TOGETHER FOREVER...
Many couples find that having a baby improves their relationship.

3 TAKE IT EASY
Pregnancy is a great excuse for putting your feet up and watching
episodes of Friends.

4 TALKING SHOP
It's great fun planning what to buy for your new arrival.

5 SPEND! SPEND! SPEND!
You can spend lots of money - without feeling guilty!

6 MUM'S THE WORD
Having a baby can bring you closer to your own mum.

7 FANTASTIC FUN
Just think how great it will be being able to act like a kid again.

8 NEW FRIENDS
Pregnancy is often a time when you make new friends who will
completely understand your hopes and fears.

9 WHEN TWO BECOME THREE
Having your very won family is a wonderful feeling.

10 CUDDLE UP!
Nothing can beat having a cuddle with your baby.



But although there are "10 great things" ...there are also a few not so good things...

As soon as I entered my third trimester, I have not been sleeping very well ...(actually ever since I gave birth to Paul...hehehe!!!)..its my bump..its getting bigger and bigger everyday...and every turn I make, it seems that I can't find a comfortable side...I read in pregnancy magazines and sites (storknet.com) "Sleeping on your back can put too much pressure on your back and compress important blood vessels" and "With a big belly, there is now no way to sleep on your tummy and it gets painful to lie on your back, putting all the weight of your belly on your back." and, so I have to lie on my left side, with lots of pillow between my legs and under my tummy (thanks ninang carrie, im using Paul's Lightning McQueen pillow).

And when I am able to find a good position, I am awakend by my need to pee in the middle of the night, not just once but every two or three hours...ha? And before I knew it, its 6am...I have to get up and say good bye to hubby...and eventhough I can go back to bed, it will be very hard again...haY!

What's more? Heartburn; indigestion; achy back, legs and feet (cramps); nasal congestion; shortness of breath; abdominal aches and itches; mild swelling of face, feet and hands....that's just to name a few...hahaha!!!!

Waiting is another story, since I am in my 3rd trim, I am really excited and can't wait to see Sam...I can't wait to get this over with..hahaha...the waiting is killing me! More or less 10 weeks to go, hay...! I am a bit scared...I hope that I will have an easy delivery, just like when I gave birth to Paul.

Thirst For Serving You

Last Saturday, I had to wake up very early (as in 4:30am) coz my hubby had to be at work by 6am. While preparing breakfast for him, I also ate a few bites coz baby Sam was a little bit complaining :). But my biggest mistake was to eat a few spoonful of ice cream… yup, you read it right, ICE CREAM @ 5am…BIG MISTAKE!!! Not because my stomach ached, but because I wasn’t able to go back to sleep as much as I wanted to.

So, still dark outside at 5:30am, Paul was still sleeping, and still I can’t sleep. I took the time to read a few chapters of the bible and said my morning prayers…and after I listened to some praise and worship music. Listening to it made me reminisce the days when I was still very busy serving the Lord through our Catholic community (God Loves Prayer Community - GLPC). As the memories came back, I became a little bit sad, sad because I miss it terribly.

Before Sanny and I got married, I was very active in GLPC, as I’ve mentioned from my previous post (Writer’s Block), I was not only serving the music ministry, but I was also serving the liturgy and the outreach program in Molino, Cavite. When I gave birth to Paul, all of those activities were gone…because I decided to be “hands on” in taking care of Paul, so I decided to sacrifice my time serving the Lord.

What do I miss most? Of course…singing!!! But it’s not just about singing…serving is the reason why I am doing it. It‘s my way of showing my gratitude…of thanking the Lord for all the blessings and the talents He has given me. Serving has this kind of satisfying effect, a feeling of happiness, knowing I was able to share God to other people. It’s also my way of sacrificing and going out of my way to help and serve other people.

But I believe that although I am not active in our community, God gave me another opportunity to serve, and that is my family. The biggest responsibility that God ever gave me: To serve my husband, my son and my child inside my womb. It is not an easy task, unlike the one I did in GLPC, coz after our prayer meetings, my service is finished, but with my family, it’s a 24/7 kind of job. Like any other service, I do need a lot of prayer also, because like I said, it is not an easy task…I need a lot of patience and understanding especially in dealing with my kids…hahaha :) I know it is important to serve my family, especially my children, because I am able to share with them the love of God. I am also happy because I am able to give my whole time, effort and affection to them.

Hay! Enough of this drama… Lesson learned? Never to eat ICE CREAM in the morning…;)

My Celebrity Look A Likes

I got this idea from Faye and I tried it also. Wow, mala-koreana pala ang beauty ko. Hahaha! My mom will be happy about this (she's so addict sa mga koreanovelas!!!)...And I am happy too coz fave korean celebrity ko sila, especially the girl in "Love Story in Harvard"!

Please check it out! (I used my wedding photo here!)





As for my hubby, although I wasn't able to find many celebrities, but guess who is his handsome and famous celeb look-a-like:



Try it out, so much fun...hahaha!!!

www.myheritage.com

God bless!

Easy to Forgive, Hard to Forget

"Wrongs are often forgiven, but contempt never is. Our pride remembers it forever." - Lord Chesterfield-

As I was about to finish with my prayer time the other night, the last prayer I read was about forgiveness. And as I was about to say the prayer, the people who I have forgiven came to my mind. After saying the prayer, a thought came to me: "Did I really (totally) forgiven those people?" I guess that was the Lord asking me.

It is so much easy to say that we have forgiven those who have caused us so much pain. But can we truly say that we have forgotten the incident, the reason for the misunderstanding, the painful words that were spoken and the mistake of that particular person to us?

I am not perfect, and I confess I have forgiven "them", but at the same time, I am not sure whether I have totally forgotten it. Honestly for me, it is hard to forget the things that caused so much hurt, the painful words that were uttered, and the trust that was destroyed. I do not hold any grudges or harbor any resentments, but when memories of it flashes back, the pain I felt came rushing back as well.

My friend told me that the only time she can totally say that she has forgiven and forgotten, is when there are no more "sumbatan" over whose fault it is, or why it started, or how it happened. As the cliche goes,"Time heals all wounds." I guess it hasn't healed yet...or maybe its just my pride over taking me. For me, another reason might be that there were no closure between the two parties. After the incident, we were not able to talk about it, we just drifted away and thought that we'll just forget the whole incident and stay the same. I confess, I am not good at talking, I am not comfortable with confrontations...I rather keep it all to myself and pray that things will work out.

For now, all I do is pray that I might be able to forget the past, and that I might be able to face "them" if the situation calls for it. And also that the people who I have hurt in the past, will also forgive me.

PRAYER:

"Heavenly Father, bless me with the grace of Forgiveness. Forgive my sins and annoit me with the love to forgive those who hurt me.

Jesus my Saviour, I thnk you for changing my heart to forgive and I am asking this through Christ our Lord. Amen."

"Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." - Ephesians 4: 31-32

SAM

September is here and for Filipinos, that means Christmas season! But for me, I am more excited of another thing...and that is giving birth on November.

SAMUEL ISAAC if its a boy...

SAMANTHA IRENE if its a girl...

SAM for short...

Almost seven months have passed but still I can not believe that I am going to be a mom...AGAIN (for the second time)! I still can't believe that I'll be carrying another innocent child in my arms...I still can't believe that I would hear another sweet voice will call me "Mommy"...will be kissing, hugging me and will cuddle close to me every night.

Carrying a child in your womb is not that easy. All the pain and discomfort will come your way and yet you can not do anything, but just to endure it. For the 1st trimester, I did not feel any pain, but I suffered a lot of nausea and vomitting (which I did not experience w/ my 1st pregnancy). Eating (w/c is my fave) was hard to do (can you imagine that???)... On my 2nd trimester, I didn't feel any pain and I'm not suffering from any morning sickness, but my appetite came bcak...hehehe... My tummy was not yet showing, friends and relatives who saw me thought that either I am not pregnant or that I gave birth already. But I can feel that there's life inside of me coz I can feel SAM do the summersault and kick as well.

Now that I am in my 3rd trimester, I am feeling a lot of pain...from my back, hips, my legs and from my "butt area". I can not sit, lie down or stand for a long time. I am not able to sleep the required amount because its hard to find the perfect position with my bump getting bigger and bigger. I am constatly hungry and yet I can not eat so much coz heart burn will surely come my way.

All of these pain are just an icing on the top..."wala pa ang sakit sa panganganak"...hahaha (that's another topic)!!!

All mothers will say that all the pain they suffered and endured are all worth it. As soon as the nurse places the baby in the mother's arm and saw her baby for the very first time, all of the pain and discomfort vanishes from her memory. They say a baby is a blessing, but for a mother, its not just a blessing..its her joy...her passion...her life.

Two more months and I will be able to hold SAM in my arms, breastfeed SAM, cuddle SAM and give SAM all my love.

Songs That Refresh My Soul

Music is my life...its the air that I breathe!!! Whenever I am happy, sad, excited or in whatever mood I am in, there's always a song that would describe how I am feeling. Whenever I feel bad, down or depress, I would calm my soul and revive my spirit by listening to inspirational songs.

There comes a point in our lives that although we are happy with what we have, we still feel down or just sad about something. And in these times, we really need a lot of inspiration, not only from our family and love ones, but also from books and of course from SONGS...songs that would make us light up whenever we are gloomy.

I know its kinda oldies na, but when I read the lyrics of Rico J. Puno's MAY BUKAS PA, I realized that there will be better days and always to think positive...

Two other Worship songs that refreshes me are MY SOUL FINDS REST and GIVE THEM ALL TO JESUS. Whenever I have a problem or somethings bothering me, these songs would remind me to lift up all my worries and fears to God, and that He alone will make me strong and at peace...

For those who are feeling down or just sad...I hope these songs would inspire you like it did to me...

God bless!!!

MAY BUKAS PA

Huwag damdamin ang kasawian

May bukas pa sa iyong buhay

Sisikat din ang iyong araw

Ang landas mo ay mag-iilaw

Sa daigdig ang buhay ay ganyan

Mayroong ligaya at lumbay

Maghintay at may nakalaang bukas...

May bukas pa sa iyong buhay

Tutulungan ka ng Diyos na may lalang...

Ang iyong pagdaramdam

Idalangin mo sa Maykapal

Na sa puso mo ay mawalan nang lubusan

Ang iyong pagdaramdam

Idalangin mo sa Maykapal

Na sa puso mo ay mawalan nang lubusan....

MY SOUL FINDS REST

My soul finds rest in God alone,

My salvation comes from Him

He alone is my rock,

He alone is my salvation

My soul finds rest in God alone,

All my hope I place in Him

He alone is my fortress,

He is my deliverer, I'll not be shaken

GOD alone is my rock and I'll not be moved

I'll find shelter in his wings

HE alone is my stregth and shield

How my heart leaps for joy.

I will ever give thanks unto Him

For you have been my refuge, Lord

A strong tower against the foe

My help in times of distress

My joy in times of affliction

For you have heard my cry o God,

Listen to my supplication

From the ends of the earth I cry,

Lead me to the rock that is higher than I

GIVE THEM ALL TO JESUS

Are you tired of chasing pretty rainbows

Are you tired of spinning round and round

Wrap up all the shattered dreams of your life

And at the feet of Jesus lay them down.

Give them all, give them all to Jesus,

Shattered dreams wounded hearts and broken toys

Give them all, give them all to Jesus,

And He will turn your sorrows in to joy

He never said you'd only see sunshine

He never said there'd be no rain

He'd only promise a heart full of singing

About the very things that once brought pain

SUNSHINE & RAIN

"No life is useless and no day is vain,

For God has a purpose for sunshine and rain.

All are discouraged and everyone cries,

But we're never alone beneath cloudy skies.

All hearts can break...they're fragile as glass

But God will mend them, and this too shall pass.

Sometimes we succeed, and sometimes we fail,

So follow your dreams whatever the trail,

For no one's a loser who gives it his best,

And you can stand tall above all the rest,

Those who are faithful are noble at heart,

And no life is useless when God has a part.

Be swift to give praise and slow to complain...

God has a purpose for sunshine and rain."

-CLAY HARRISON

28 & I am Proud of It!

This is sooo looonnnggg overdue...and I am blaming it on the virus that took over our PC!!!

I am proud to say that I am 28 years old already...three more years and I'm out of the calendar...hahaha!!! But so what? I am not ashamed of getting old...I mean all of us are going to that stage anyway. Peole tend to ignore the question when asked about their age...but for me I am not because I am blessed that God still gives me reason to live.

July 27, 2006 was just like an ordinary day for me (waking up, doing some chores and keeping up w/ Paul's kakulitan), but what made it extra ordinary? The people who took the time out to greet me and wish me well on my birthday...

The first person who greeted me? My son Paul (although I had to teach him first...hahaha!!!) then baby Sam - whom I felt inside me moved. Thanks to my hubby Sanny, although he's so tired and sleepy (due to lack of sleep the other night coz he had to take care of Mommy Zeny), he woke up just to greet me with a hug and kiss.

Mapo, thanks for being the first person to text me. My KUYA B, who texted me @ 1am (busy with patients in the emergency room), my "rockistang" kapatid JC, and my younger "pogi" brother SEAN. My sweet cousins: Ate Bubette & Milette (my sis kuno)...My college barkadas: Det (yummy choco cake), She (i love the cologne), Carrie (ever reliable), Michelle (tnx for the lotion), and DYO (surprised gift? hehehe)...My kumares: Dea & Julie... My sister and brother in the Community (GOD LOVES)...Sis Richie & Bro Gener... and my ninong (although I wasn't able to take his call) Bro Rolly...

Of course thanks to my DAD, who welcomed us to his home...My MOM, who emailed me a very touching e-card..and also who sponsored my birthday lunch and dinner!!!

Lastly to GOD ALMIGHTY, who's always there for me and blesses me with so much!

Together Forever ... StickwitU...My LOVE!

"Love is blind...Marriage is the eye-opener." - Herman de Zwaan

I am always excited whenever I am coordinating a wedding. Not only because of the service fee (hehehe!!!) but because it brings me back to the state of being a bride again. Weddings are a very blissful occassion, people are in a festive mood and I can really feel LOVE is in the AIR. But after the wedding ceremony and reception, what happens?

Marriage is a COMMITMENT & people often forget its meaning especially when they are sssoooo much in love - living in a fairy tale, saved by his prince and will lived happily ever after...That is why the rate of divorce and annulment are so high. They realized after marrying the person that its not so animated anymore and more likely a reality show...hahaha!!!!

Why do some marriages fail? Is love not enough? There are a lot of reasons why marriages ends up in separation...and I think one reason is not knowing your partner enough. I know...you can never really get to know someone unless you live with him/her under one roof. But still, one can discern a person through his/her relationship with their family (especially with their moms), friends, co-workers and less fortunate people...their attitude towards their work, interests, politics, and etc...

I've been married to Sanny for 3 years now and yet there a still things I've discovered that I haven't known before. But, before I married him, I already knew what kind of person is he. Living with him for the past years, I realized and I can truly say that I did not made a mistake of marrying him. Although not perfect, he has some habits which irritates me a lot, still I can say that I am loving him more everyday! I am so much blessed by God because I do not have problems with him like some wives have with their husbands...I am talking about the 3 deadly Bs...babae...bisyo...& barkada!

Putting Christ in the center of our relationship is helping us cope up with the pressures and problems in life. Inspiration to be better parents for our children also make us work harder to stay stronger "TOGETHER...FOREVER".

I know Sanny and I still have a long journey to travel towards the golden wedding anniversary, but between now and 47 years from now, I am definetely going to "STICKWITU"!!!

Together Forver

Rico J. Puno

My love, forever you will always be mine,

Only love, forever you will always be mine,

Faithful love, it's always you, you'll always be

My love, forever you will be my first thing,

Only love, for you and I'll give my everlasting love

I promise you, you'll always be

Chorus:

You and I will never say goodbye,

We'll never even wonder why

You and I will always be together forever (2X)

In love...

My love, forever you will always be mine,

Only love, forever you will always be mine,

Faithful love, it's always you, you'll always be

STICKWITU

Pussycat Dolls

Ohhh.. Oh Oh..
I don't wanna go another day
So I'm telling you, exactly what is on my mind
Seems as like everybody is breaking up
and throwing their love away
But I know I got a good thing right here
That's why I say (Hey)

Nobody gonna love me better, I must stick wit u forever
Nobody gonna take me higher, I must stick wit u
You know how to appreciate me, I must stick wit u, my baby
Nobody ever made me feel this way, I must stick wit u

I don't wanna go another day
So I'm telling you, exactly what is on my mind
See the way we ride, in our private lives
Ain't nobody gettin' in between
I want you to know that, your the only one for me

Nobody gonna love me better, I must stick wit u forever
Nobody gonna take me higher, I must stick wit u
You know how to appreciate me, I must stick wit u my baby
Nobody ever made me feel this way, I must stick wit u

And now, ain't nothing else I can need
And now, I'm singing.. 'cause your so, so into me
I got you, we'll be making love endlessly
I'm with you, baby you're with me

So don't cha worry about
people hanging around
they ain't bring us down
I know you, and you know me
and that's all that counts
So don't cha worry about
people hanging around
they ain't bring us down
I know you, and you know me
and that's why, that's why I say

Nobody gonna love me better, I must stick wit u forever
Nobody gonna take me higher, I must stick wit u
You know how to appreciate me, I must stick wit u my baby
Nobody ever made me feel this way, I must stick wit u

Its The Hormones!!!

I haven't entered any post lately and I blame it on Trojan - the virus who sucked out the life of our pc....

Since our pc suffered the virus on the day of my birthday, I had a hard time logging on...not on the net, but logging on to my thoughts...hahaha... Its my so called sickness... "pag natigil, ang hirap simulan ulit..."

But what's worse, is adding this pregnancy hormones to my existing so called sickness...and presto -- KATAM...hehehe...KATAMARAN!!!!

Due to these hormones, not only do I feel so "tamad" but I also feel so miserable. I have a lot of negative thoughts, which even watching tv and sleeping is hard to do. Playing with Paul is even worse, coz I can't stand his "kakulitan"... I end up shouting at him!!! Hay!!! I feel so guilty...bad mommy!!!!

I have still not posted my fun and memorable lunch date with my college dabarkads...still haven't posted a lot...its all written in my notebook...hay...so until this "depress-depressan" disappears...I think this will be all for now...

Rainy Days & Mondays...

No, I am not pertaining to the song. I hate mondays, but I love rainy days. I love the cool breeze and hearing the sounds of the rain drops. It has a calming effect on me...which leads to the state of "KATAM"...hehehehehe!!!! Yup, you got it right, "KATAMARAN"!!!

I haven't posted any entries lately because of "KATAM". I always love sleeping a bit longer and cozying up with my pillow and blanket everytime rainy days come. I think my mind and body wants to stop functioning and just lie in bed while I take advantage of the cool breeze.

So, so much for snuggling with my pillow.... before my "self" shuts off entirely, I have to move and begin writing again or else, it will be awhile before I will have the energy to think and write again. HAHAHA!!!!

Ha? Barney Nanaman?!?

While writing this post, I can hear from the other room that my son is watching he's all time fave show...BARNEY !!! Yup, I should confess that my son is so addicted to barney. Hay!! As soon as he wakes up, barney...lunch time, barney...before nap time, barney...at night, baney...hay!!! I've memorized all the songs, movements and dialogues ...hay!!! But it sure is a great way to bribe him to drink his daily dose of vitamins...hehehe!!! It's the only show were you can see him sit and watch actually...other cartoons? nah...after 5 mins. he'll walk away and play na lang.



But Paul learned a lot from watching Barney. He's so sweet and friendly with other kids. I can say, although I have to watch it, I'm not getting tired of it coz all the songs are good hehehe!!! Paul and I had a chance to watch Barney and his friends live at Araneta last year. It's a funny story coz I really didn't planned on watching it. The ticket cost too much for a 2 hour show. And I thought that Paul will not remember it when he's 12 or even 7. When ABS-CBN televised series of barney, even though I'm KAPUSO, I swallowed my pride just so Paul can watch new series of Barney. And everytime the show ended, ABS will promote the show in Araneta, they even had a contest so viewers can win free tickets. Boom! It hit me, Paul can watch it live if I join the contest (eventhough I do not believe in that kind of promo coz I am never lucky in contests/promos/etc...). So every morning before the show starts, I will ready my cel and type the format...and one morning, a call came in and told me I won the contest. I was really shocked! Me? Win? So, to make the long story short...we were able to watch it live. Funny as it may sound, but while watching it w/ Paul, I was teary eyed...not bcoz I saw barney in person (hhmm!!!) but bcoz I saw how happy my son is. Kahit nasa dulo kami ng walang hanggan at super liit si Baney and his friends...kahit na napaka gulo ni Paul ....and kahit na iniwan ko lahat ng baon namin ni Paul sa gate (kasi bawal pala)...its all worth it. Im so happy coz my son finally saw Barney!!!

posted last July 19, 2006 @ my friendster blog

A Time for Everything

Reading the bible "religiously" is not an easy thing for me to do. Its very hard to concentrate on books and chapters while Paul jumps up and down the bed and keep on asking so many things. So I try to find time reading at night when everybody's asleep...but sometimes due to exhaustion, I find myself asleep too. :)

But everytime I find time to read a few chapters, a verse or two will surely strike an issue, doubts or struggles I am facing that day. God really knows how to make a point!

The other night after reading the book of Ecclesiastes chapters 2 & 3, it really made me reflect a lot about my life. Everything that happened in my life was planned, not by me, BUT by God. When I was a teenager, I've always dreamed of a lot of things for my future...and yet a few just came true. I am not saying I am a bad planner, but that we can not really tell what is in store in our future, not even a "manghuhula" can tell...only God knows. But I am happy because what I really wanted ...God gave it.

When Paul turned two, I've been thinking of getting back to work (as much as I don't want to). I felt that its time for me to help Sanny financially since Paul will start he's pre-school next year (2007). People started asking us when will we have another baby, & I always say "matagal pa...probably 5 or 7 yrs pa coz its not easy caring for a child..." and I think it will give me more time and money to save up for the next child. But God has other plans for me and my family. When I found out that I am pregnant, at first I was kind of worried because a lot of questions came to my mind. Are we financially ready? Will I have enough time for another baby while taking care of Paul, my hubby and myself? But after realizing that God planned it, I became secured coz I believed that He will not bless us with another baby if we are not ready. Also, I never thought that we will move to another place to live. Again, God planned it for us. And when it happened Iwas not shocked anymore coz I know God has reasons and I am happy coz those reasons are for my family's sake.

I am not living in my dream house, I do not own a hi-tech and expensive cellphone, I do not have the latest fashion clothes and fancy accessories, but still I can say that I am happy and contented in what I have right now. The most important blessings are already with me: Sanny, my understanding and loving husband; Paul, my active, clever and handsome son; Sam, my unborn sweet child inside my womb; my family, who's always there to guide me; my friends, who listens and laughs with me; & of course My GOD, who strengthens me and the reason for my living!

"When we have the proper view of God, we discover that real pleasure is found in enjoying whatever we have as gifts from God not in what we accumulate." - Life Application Study Bible (N.I.V.) -

posted last July 17, 2006 @ my friendster blog

What is a Mother?

Searching on yahoo, I have come across a lot of famous quotes on mothers, and I really would like to share it here so that I can truly say what mothers are feeling, experiencing and hardships in becoming a good one. Like the cliche goes "you can never truly appreciate your own mother until you are one..."

"Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to
have your heart go walking around outside your body. " -Elizabeth Stone-

"Mothers are fonder than fathers of their children because they are more certain
they are their own." -Aristotle-

"Mother love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the
impossible." -Marrion C. Garretty

"Some are kissing mothers and some are scolding mothers, but it is love just the
same – and most mothers kiss and scold together." -Buck-

"A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five
people, promptly announces she never did care for pie." -Tenneva Jordan-

"A man loves his sweetheart the most, his wife the best, but his mother the
longest." -Irish proverb-

"A mother who is really a mother is never free."
-Honore De Balzac-

posted last July 17, 2006 @ my friendster blog

Looking Forward to....

It's Monday and five more days to go before I get to see my college barkadas...I miss them so much. Thanks to Carrie, my ever "reliable" best friend...sa walang sawang pag txt brigade mo sa kanila, sa lahat ng efforts mo sa pangungulit sa kanila at sa pakikinig sa aking mga sentimientos...hehehe...I really do pray na lahat kayo makapunta. It's been a lllloooonnngggg time since I had a chance to go out and have some fun with them. If I am correct, the last time was ...uhm? kelan nga ulit yun? hehehe!!!! ah!!! That was last January, the baptism of Det's son, Dylan. Kaya lang di naman tayo complete eh. The last time ata na complete tayo was last 2003 pa ata...bridal shower ko. hehehe...

The first and foremost reason why I am really loking forward to our gimmik (considered gimmik ba ang lunch date? hehehe!) is because its been awhile since I had a chance to go out by myself ...yup...alone at last...its not that hindi ako happy to go out with my hubby Sanny and son Paul, but now I will have time (again!) for myself. Since being a mother, you have to sacrifice a LOT for your family...and time for one's self is the most thing that mothers have to sacrifice. And now that I am pergnant, I am sure it will be hard for me to go out again after giving birth on November.

The second reason is: baby shower....I am happy that my friends are giving me another baby shower...I have my wish list na ..hehehe...pero ok lang kahit ano, basta cute....hehehe...First born always has the advantage of so many things...like baby showers and new clothes, new things and new toys...unlike the second, the third, and so on....So its just fair for my second baby (Sam) to also experience baby showers, new things and not just hand me downs...I like to be fair with my babies...

The third reason: MY BIRTHDAY! Yup, my birthday is fast approaching...I initiated this gimmik coz its my birthday. When I was still single, I always celebrate my birthday with parties...not naman "grandeng" celebration, just a simple dinner @ our house with my friends. My mom always kid me "bakit ako lang sa amin sa family ang mahilig maghanda?" hehehe....I don't know why, but I love to entertain my friends eh. Anyway, since its my 28th birthday, and I can't celebrate it sa house (coz its now hard to entertain guests with a kid in tow...hahaha)...i opted to meet na lang w/ my barkada in Eastwood...(hey paging Sheryl, this time malapit na sa iyo ha).

I am really EXCITED...thanks to my hubby, who will be the "yayo" for Paul...I will have the time...all for myself...alone ... at last...! Mothers out there will surely understand what I am talking about "time for myself"....hehehe!

Hey calling Michelle, Sheryl, Det, Dyo & Tina ...I am looking forward to our lunch date this coming saturday and you know the reasons why!!!

posted last July 17, 2006 @ my friendster blog

What Inspires Us?

I have read a lot of stories, poems, novels, essays, etc. about mothers and everytime I read one, it inspires me to become a good one and to keep on going whenever I want to give up. Everyone of us needs an inspiration to keep us going whenever we face trials, obstacles and problems in life. It helps us face life with a positive attitude, makes us happy and stand up whenever we fall on our knees. To all mothers out there, I want to share a poem by Deanna Beisser, and I hope it will also inspire you!

If anyone ever told a woman pondering motherhood
how many dishes she would wash,

how many diapers she would change,
or how many spelling words she would relearn,

she'd probably think twice
before having a child.

If anyone were to mention

that the terrible two's aren't half as demanding

as the turbelent teens,
that school and sports activities

require a mother's lifetime commitment,
and that friends, phones, and malls

are the essence of a young one's desires,
she might have a second tought or two.

But the funny thing about motherhood
is that once you ar a mother,

you can never imagine your life
without the love and joy of your child.
Because with each and every obligation

and the endless amount of responsibility
there is a wonderful feeling of happiness that enters your heart
and stays with you wherever you go.

It is the feeling of LOVE...
the most beautiful emotion in life.

posted last July 13, 2006 @ my friendster blog

Writer's Block

I love writing ever since I can remember. But not professionally. I remember when I was in highschool, I love reading pocketbooks (Sweet Dreams, Sweet Valley High, etc.) and I said to myself, someday I will write my own pocketbooks too. Yup, I wrote... but not a pocketbook that other people will be able to read... poems where I expressed my feelings, happiness, sadness or anything that inspired me. I kept those poems in a notebook, a place where no one can read it or even see it. I was afraid that my poems were "corny" and my english were "barok".

I still kept on writing poems even when I was in college, but still I kept it to myself. I was not confident enough to join our school paper or even just to let someone read my stuff. When i started working I was not able to continue my passion coz I think I got busy and forgot that I love writing.

When I had the opportunity to join a charismatic community (God Loves Prayer Community), someone believed I can write even though he hasn't read any of my work. I guess the Lord whispered to him and made my desire a reality. Thanks to Bro. Mhars, I was given the opportunity to write in the Community's newsletter. Eventhough my confidence level is negative zero, people still believed in my ability and I kept writing. I know i was inspired by God to write.

When I got married, I had to give up writing - because I had to go back to my first love...not because of sanny (hehehe) but my love for singing. I had to go back to our choir and serve. Eventhough I chose singing, I still wrote, and I still did it for sometime, but again to myself na lang muna.

After giving birth, i became so busy with Paul that I wasn't able to write again... When I learned about blogs, I really wanted to create one coz this is an opportunity for me to write again and this time people will be able to read it na. But I guess the years that passed by without writing anything gave me a major writer's block. I had a hard time composing and thinking what to write. I tried to read some of my friends blogs, but still I wasn't able to update my blog. Years passed and my blog contained only pictures of me, paul and sanny. Until someone inspired me, and without her knowledge that she has inspired me...Thanks Gelli, ever since I read your blog, I was again inspired to write.

posted last July 5, 2006 @ friendster blog

Blogging....

I started blogging just last month and I am enjoying it. But since I don't know much about it, I just started it at my account in friendster. A friend of mine introduced this site to me just last week and right now I am transferring all my past posts in friendster here.

I am right now in the process of fixing this new blog so I think I'll have my new post next week.

In the mean time, I'll just post a pic of my baby Paul...

My Paul playing with his fave toy....CAR!!!!

On Being a Mom

Its very fulfilling for a woman to have a child of her own. A child that you bore for 9 months, plus the morning sickness that usually strikes you all day...But the additional bonus of "eating for two", which for me is a super yippee!!! No more diets for 9 months...hahaha!

But being a mother is not an easy thing, I think and I believe it is the hardest JOB in the whole world!!! You are responsible for the child's life especially his/her future. Its not his/her option and choice to come out of this cruel world, its our fault...and its our JOB to make their life happy, comfortable and worth living for. Its a cliche, but one can't really know how hard it is to be a parent unless you experience it.

The hardest part in being a parent? DISCIPLINING!!! How can you tell if you are right and your child is wrong, and its just a normal phase of a child's life? How can you count from 1 to 10 just to make you calm, if your child keeps doing it and seems happy that you are really, really mad? How can you tell when it is right to spank, shout and punish your child? How will it affect your child, especially when he/she has his/her own children?

All mothers just want the best for their children, I believe...And prayers is what all mothers do for their children...Because we, mothers, believe only God can truly keep an eye on our children. Only God can really guide them to right path and not to travel the road passed by Satan.

To all mothers out there...Congratulations! We deserve all of it, coz we still have a long...long...way to go until we know that our children grows up to be very successful and God fearing people.

To my MOM, thanks for being a great and cool mom. Thanks for always being there, ready to help. Love yah!

To my Paul...please forgive mommy...and I love you so much! To Sam - who's in my womb, not yet sure if boy or girl - may God bless your heart, your lungs, your whole body so that when the time comes, you'll be a healthy baby. And may you grow up to be a good & sweet person like your Kuya. I love you too!