leaving on a jet plane

Why do Filipinos leave the country? There are too many obvious reasons that I can think of. The standard of living, career opportunities, the government, politics etc. But most of us will say that our main purpose of working overseas is to improve our standard of living. Earn more than what we currently get from our blind employers that does not see our worth. Raise our families in a better environment. OFW (Overseas Filipino Workers). My father-in-law is one for the past decade or so, and now my only brother. He left for Singapore last Monday to face a new chapter of his life. Away from his family and his friends. His dream of working abroad is at hand, an opportunity he didn't pass. Before he left, we shared with him reminders of what Singapore is, its workaholic culture, their laws to respect and fun places that he should visit. I gave him the SG map and the 7 SG$ bills that I kept as a remembrance from our Singapore trip last year.

Yesterday I received an email from him that he is ok and settled already with his co-workers. He said he misses us. And made me realize that I miss him too. He won't be able to witness and share with us the birth of his first-ever nephew/niece. He'll miss out on mommy's delicious cooking everyday. He'll miss my baby shower, and miss on my baby's christening. But there are sacrifices to be made in order to live your dream life. I'm just thankful for emails, online messengers and blogs that keep us in touch with our loved ones abroad.

mommy's day out

Our plan to finally know our baby's gender was postponed to another two weeks. Dissappointed. Yes, with a capital Y. My OB scheduled my ultrasound before my next appointment together with some blood tests and glucose test. Anticipation is killing me but I have to be patient right. Some parents what their baby's gender to be a surprise but me... I want to call my baby by his or her name already even if he/she is still in my womb. That's my object. For the first 3 months, I've been calling my baby Andre and for the last 2 months been calling her Ashley. Sometimes I call them Ashley and Andre. Ok, I must admit that part of it also is so I can start buying things for my baby. Though neutral colors are prefered like light green, yellow, lavander, I still want to buy some blues and pinks. I hope this week and the next week passes by fast so I can share with you if its a boy or a girl.

I also gained 10 pounds from my last doctor's visit. Now I'm 140 lbs (gained 20 lbs already since the wedding). Now I must only gain 4lbs till our next appointment. The baby should be the one gaining 1 pound a week and not me. So I have to cut down my carbs and sweets and must eat more meat, fish, veggies and fruits. Sometimes you just can't help eating.. everything seems so delicious to eat.

My baby's kicks are getting stronger by the day.

dreams & charms

2 nights ago, I dreamed about my baby. She got dark thick hair, amazing brown eyes, and a fair complexion but she's so small she can fit in my palm. Just like Thumbelina. It was such a weird dream i say.. then she felt hot and rushed her in the hospital. The doctor say's she need's to be operated, but didn't say why. After the operation, the doctor said "She's OK now, you can return her to your womb because she's still pre-mature". The rest I can no longer remember.

Talk about my worries as a pregnant mom... this dream is kinda over the edge don't you think?

Anyway, might be stress related. So I decided to shop for a new pair of jeans (maternity jeans that is) and with my shopping confidant, Rachel, we headed to the department store after lunch break and guess what? They're on SALE! so aside form the jeans, I also bought 2 tops (a cotton striped button shirt and a linen blouse).

And that's not all, as a shopaholic in me, I decided to treat myself with some charmed accessories. My boss' friend makes them and I got 3 necklaces, a pair of earrings and a charmed bracelet. Opps.. my husband reads my blog so I have to justify this! Ok, my justification is that, in less than 4 months, I won't be able to make this kind of impulsive buying anymore since I have my little one to think of. .. so i'm taking advantage of it before time runs out. :D

Charms by Candy

roses are red

I got a dozen beautiful red roses for valentines day!

They arrived about 10:30am in the office. When my officemate told me that I have something to receive at the lobby, I was thrilled! I knew Adrian has a surprise. It came in a small box that says "friendster flowers". As I opened it, I gasp at the sight of them. The words in the card had the same gist as the one I wrote yesterday [he wrote the message of the card last Friday] ~How cute is that? We even think alike. I called him to say thanks and can't wait to see him later for dinner and shower him kisses.

Earlier in the morning, I asked him to buy breakfast at Jollibee (local fast food chain) so he can get a free copy of the morning paper [Philippine Star]. Since my employer has a partnership with the said newspaper, my officemates and I placed some love notes in the LOVELINES special section of this broadsheet. Told him to look for my surprise inside the pages. Unfortunately, he couldn't find it so I gave him a clue to look into the Business Section [the Lovelines was at the second to the last page of the Business section].

At the end of the day, we just had a simple but very satisfying dinner at Thai Kitchen. The waiter even gave me a red rose. We ended dinner with Starbucks Coffee [I had a chocolate cream frap since I'm not allowed to drink anything with caffeine] with Varian and Jan and availed of the "treat a friend and we'll treat you" coupons.

valentines at first sight

A day before Valentines Day and yet I still don't have anything to give to my husband. This year will be our first Valentines together as husband and wife, and I wanted it to be special. I want to give him something that he wanted but never came to buying it. So that's the challenge I've set to myself... There's a sale at Fila store and I was thinking of buying him a sneakers. But, I’ve already bought him shoes at Rockport last Christmas. So I scrapped that idea. I then decided to buy him a nice card and just buy the gift afterwards [when I know what to get for him].

And when I arrived at National Bookstore, it came to me immediately what Adrian wanted. And so I scan through the bookshelves and there it was at the bottom... a hardcover book novel by Nicholas Sparks. I vividly remember him telling me about the sequel to the novel True Believer, entitled At First Sight after he saw it at PowerBooks Greenbelt. For the past months he has been asking me if Maya [our friend who lent us the True Believer book] has already bought a copy so we can borrow it [Yes, a man who loves computer books and online games has a hidden appreciation to romantic novels too]. We used to drop by PowerBooks every time we're at the mall to check if the paperback version of the book has been released already but to no avail.

So what better time to give a romantic novel to the one you love but during this time of the year. So I called PowerBooks Megamall and reserved the book. To my surprise the cost is cheaper than the one I saw in National Bookstore [and to think that the2 bookstores are sister companies], the more excited I become. I planned to pick up the book today at lunchtime but then I changed my mind and picked it up last night so I can wrapped it nicely too. After an hour of wrapping and writing on the card, it was ready to be given. But of course I waited until midnight to give it to him. He read the card [smirks at me in every sweet, corny words I wrote] and opened my gift while we were in bed, snuggled up in our blanket and getting ready to sleep. He said that I should read it first :) [ahh he's reading my mind! actually I wanted to, right after I bought the book] Hehehehe! OK, i admit I have an ulterior motive when I bought it... Anyway, we kissed good night, greeted another Happy Valentine's day to each other and held hands until we fall asleep.

WARNING: Adult content in the next line.

I would have wanted to make love with him last night but my OB advices me not to due to my delicate condition. So maybe next Valentine's day *GRIN*. or if that's too long to wait.. 2 months after giving birth.

advance screening

Adrian and I were again invited to another advance screening at Glorrietta 4. Our friend Eric, had extra tickets for the movie Pink Panther (starred by Steve Martin as Inspector Clouseau). This is the second advance screening that we had a pleasure of attending which was sponsored by Star Movies and Eric’s employer. [The first one was GOAL!-which was an equally good movie]. And aside from a free movie, you get free popcorn [Taters, my fave] and iced teas... what more can you ask for?!

The movie was hilarious... And as much as I want to laugh so hard I just can’t because my tummy hurts if I do. There’s never a dull moment in the movie especially if the scenes included Steve Martin. It’s a definite hit! And that French accent just gets to you … we were even imitating Clouseau’s accent when we left the cinema. A great, funny and relaxing family, barkada or date movie this Valentine’s day.

new look for the new year

I've been yearning to post for months now but its just now that I really said to myself that I have to do this... for the sake of my friends who missed me in this side of the world.

So for my new entry for the year, I've prepared a little something new... a new template! I'd like to thank francey.org for this nice blog template. I actually spent the whole afternoon today just incorporating the side bar links to my new template from the old one. I also added some new ones too... like the baby-ticker, which shows you how many weeks I am in my pregnancy.

Speaking of pregnancy... my baby is starting to move. Movements, which I can feel every so often. Friends and colleagues have been unconsciously touching my very visible tummy and asking if I know the gender already. Unfortunately, we still don't know. I hope in my next doctor's appointment (on the 25th) we can take another ultrasound so we can already know our baby's gender. My mother-in-law (who is in the US) never forgets to ask if we already know the gender of her 4th grandchild every time he calls my husband. She wants to buy stuff for the baby already because it takes a month for a package to be delivered. In the meantime, she'll send me maternity clothes instead :) ...which I need so badly. Thanks Mama Ems!

early valentine's gift

I got an early valentines gift from Adrian last February 3. Together with Varian and his girlfriend, Jan, we went to watch the concert of M.Y.M.P. at the Araneta Coliseum. Since we are in the free seating section (Upper Box A) we have to be there early so I left the office earlier than usual and met Adrian at MRT station. We are already in our seats by 7:30 pm but the concert started after 9 p.m. But as soon as the concert started, I already lost track of time. Jan and I were pretty much entertained by Juris' (outrageously weird) outfits that night. But wait... don't get us wrong, we enjoyed their great performance (they did a medley of Madonna and Alanis Morissette, which Juris was very good at it) and the surprise guests (which includes Lougee of Mojofly, Barbie Almalbis, Ney of 6 Cycle Mind and Ebe of Sugarfree). And to top it all, for the finale, Juris sang my favorite .... Bonnie Bailey's ever after. If I wasn't pregnant, I'd be dancing like crazy.

Thanks 'Be for a great night at the concert!