countdown

In a few days I'll be leaving my job, and I'll be staying at home full-time. The thought kinda excites me, it's been tough getting up in the wee hours of the morning these days. I can already imagine myself spending precious quality time with our bed and the couch, LOL! On the other hand, I'm kinda worried because of two things - I might turn into a couch potato, and be cooking and eating like there's no tomorrow. Whether or not Mon's at home to eat with me, I'd often find myself looking for something to cook and enjoying the food kahit wala akong kasama kumain. And after that I'll be feeling so tired I'd go straight to the couch and be snoozing in no time :p 

- - - - - - 

Anyway, I guess I'll just have to challenge myself to be more productive than that. I'll have the laundry to do and stuff to fix. I'll be working on honing my transcription and proofreading skills too, as I plan to go back to my previous bread and butter of transcription work. Blessing talaga, this opportunity came to me just when I needed it. God knows just what we need, and His timing's always perfect :)

- - - - - - 

I've also started counting down the days before the little bebe boy comes out. During our last check-up, our OB said I could deliver as early as last week of March. Wah! I've set my mind on April - around 2nd week! Kaya ko tooooooooo!!! *Inhale,exhale* haha. 

Like I said before, I've been talking with bebe boy and telling him to be good to mommy when he comes out. Sabi ko, anak make it quick ha. When the doc says 'Ire!' that's our cue - for me to push and him to make an appearance. I think he understands naman, kasi whenever I tell him that, he'll give a slight push of acknowledgment :p

- - - - - -

Barely 2 months to go until the most awaited day. Hihirit muna kami ni Monmon ng last gimik by the end of the month, I guess I deserve it. Kailangan ko ng fresh air and a change of environment. Hehe. Thanks to Terence I'll finally get to see their farm in Laguna, and I hope Yohann will enjoy the outing, too. :) 

- - - - - -

Samahan niyo ko sa countdown! :D

feelings...nothing more than feelings..

I am a kaleidoscope of emotions at the moment. 

I'm excited and anxious, thankful and just a wee bit worried, serious and carefree at the same time; plus smitten, insatiably curious, frustrated, sometimes afraid, uneasy, hopeful, easily touched and easily pleased. I guess it's partly owing to the hormone boost that comes with my current state.

In a few weeks' time I'll be saying goodbye to my Hello Tomorrow family to prepare for Yohann's coming. I've set my mind on resigning from work so I could take care of the baby full-time; I couldn't imagine leaving Yohann for a day while he's still so little..I guess I just wasn't made to be a corporate mom. But, I can't deny the fact that sometimes I think of all the things at work that I'll miss -- my co-workers who've also become my friends, the stuff we do, the talk during lunchbreak, and lots lots more. Sometimes I look forward to the end of Feb, other days I dread it. Hay.

At the moment too, I'm unconsciously counting down the days til the little boy comes out..nakaka...praning? excite? takot? I don't really know. Of course I'm excited to finally see and hold Yohann, but I can't deny the fact that childbirth is on top of my fear factors. I've feared it since the day I first had my period. I try to fight it every day, I talk to Yohann and tell him that when the time comes, to be quick about it and try not to be too harsh on mummy; I ask him to please not make a surprise entrance, so that mummy and daddy will both be prepared to welcome him. Every day too, I pray about it. I ask God to please, please give me the courage to do it, to push the baby out, that every muscle and bone will cooperate to make a safe, normal delivery. I claim it, it's going to be a normal delivery. And it will be quick and easy. And I'll be out of the hospital in no time (this will be my first ever time to be hospitalized!). 

To ease my fear, I just look at the newborn pics of FB friends who recently gave birth. And then I'm teary-eyed naman. Looking at babies just has this effect on me. Even ultrasound pics can move me to tears :p I can't begin to explain how amazed I am at the concept of carrying life in your tummy and then birthing that life into this world. And hearing news, too, of abandoned babies and fetuses thrown carelessly just makes me weep. Pano nila nagagawa yon? 

Hay. Three more months...three more months and hopefully this kaleidoscope would settle into something more stable and constant. I know it will. :)

misis diaries 3

Adobong chicken

Adobong pork

Mais with malunggay

Bangus steak

Pinakbet

Paksiw na fish

Ginisang munggo

Chicken macaroni soup

Tinolang chicken

Poqui-poqui

Pork chop

Tortang talong

Tortang talong with tuna omelette

Chicken macaroni salad

Plain rice

Garlic fried rice

Vegetable salad

- - - - -

Nope, hindi yan part ng menu ng fave resto ko, hindi rin yan ang listahan ng mga paborito kong pagkain. Listahan yan ng mga so far eh alam ko nang lutuin :D

I just recently discovered that I enjoy cooking. Sabi nga ni Meyms, cooking is therapeutic. Ang stressful lang is thinking of what to cook and what to buy pag asa palengke na. I tend to forget kasi what I need and then realize when I reach home na may nalimutan pala ako. But I found a way to avoid this -- bili na lang ako nang bili ng alam kong kakailanganin ko soon para di na ko makalimot :p

This morning I was watching a show that featured the many different ways of cooking sinigang, and I think that will be my next project. Mukang madali lang naman but I've never tried cooking it yet kasi I don't know what to put para umasim siya. Monmon kasi doesn't like using sinigang mix, he wants it old school. Eh saan naman ako hahanap ng sampaloc? Wala pa ko nakikita so far sa NGI market. Bahala na :p

Alamat na din sa family namin ang molo soup. Every time may get-together since I was a toddler and maybe even before pa, hindi pwedeng walang molo. It's easy naman to cook pero a little ma-effort to prepare. Imagine making siomai. And then you put it in a soup. Madali lang naman no? Tamad lang ako :p

Another one of my favorites is my ate's emobotido with tartar sauce. Yun ang ma-effort talaga. Haha. I'd like to learn how to make embotido din, but maybe reserve it just for special occasions lang. Hehe.

Lastly, Monmon's mom and my ate #2 make good chicken cordon bleu. Yummy to, lalo na with the sauce, yuuuummmm! I think Mon already knows how to make it, kaya sige ipaubaya ko na sa kanya ang pag-career dito. Hahaha. Bahala na lang ako sa white sauce :p

- - - - -

Sorry puro food itech, obvious ba what my new hobby is? Cooking and eating :p 

A little kwento na lang, I'm now on my 6th month with bebe Yohann a.k.a Moymoy. I am now a whopping 135 lbs. and feeling chubby everywhere. I'm also manas especially sa hands and feet. My feet are normally swollen in the afternoon when I get tired from all the day's work, pero I just keep them up before sleeping and they feel better na. But my hands are a different case. Every morning I wake up with manhid hands, lalo na yung right one. They're puffy and parang dinikit sa ice for a long time, ganun ang feeling. It's hard for me now to grasp things, text long messages, hold the phone to my ear for a long time, cut things with a knife or scissors, and even take a bath. My right hand is often weak I can't use it as much as I used to. Ewan ko bakit, binigyan na ko ng OB ng vitamins for the nerves. I guess I'll just have to get used to it for a few more months.

 

- - - - -

I'm already counting the days 'til I resign from work. I have until end of Feb. na lang, and after that I'll be home everyday na. I can think of a lot of things to do, pero pag asa bahay na ko I can't do everything naman. Like the other day, I planned to clean the house, do the laundry and iron our clothes for the week. The only thing I did was clean downstairs and wash only half of the laundry. Oh well, I guess ok na rin yon so I won't run out of things to do pag nag-resign na ko. But, I still need to look for work that I can do at home. Help me pray that I find one soon :)

- - - - -

I'll be busy this year with a lot of kids -- my own and others included. Mader invited me to work again with the foundation and I'm excited to be back to where I used to be. I don't know yet exactly what I'll be doing but just being with the kids is enough to excite me. Naisip ko rin, this will be a good start for Yohann, habang bebe pa sha ma-expose na sha sa ministry with me. Hihi. Nakakatuwa lang.

- - - - 

Wala na kong ma-chika, next time ulit at manhid na my hands. Meryenda muna ako ha! :D 

Hello, 2011!

At the beginning of 2010, I wrote this:


And once more, I am amazed at how God fulfilled His promise. :)

I remember what brought about the post. Sal and I, as usual, were at the veranda the previous night, talking mostly about heartaches and what we wanted to see happening in our lives. Whenever talk turned to that topic, we would lift our eyes to heaven and exclaim, 'Looooord! Alam Niyo na po!!!' Hahaha!

And after that talk I remembered browsing through multiply posts and seeing Sarah's Day 1 photo of the day, a verse from the Bible which also happens to be my life verse. So I copied the pic and claimed it as an answer to our veranda moment.

Fast forward to today and I can definitely say God does answer prayers :)

He knew the plans He already laid out for me even from the beginning.

He knew what I wished for and decided that His will for me coincided with my desires (and vice-versa) and decided it is the right time to give them to me.

I, too, know that God has been orchestrating all the events of my life - from the mundane ones to the major ones - to bring me to where I am now.

I know that not only is He in control of my today, He already has the future mapped out for me.

So I leave the planning for 2011 to Him, believing in faith that all my worries and fears are inconsequential if I only trust in Him :)

Hello, 2011! :)

Top 10 in 2010

Pastor Mark made VCF Metroeast's Top 10 in 2010 last Sunday, naisip ko good idea sha to look back and thank God for the year that was. Kaso parang kulang ang 10 eh. Hehe. Pero sige, I'll pick the top 10 lang talaga, the highlights of the year and what I'm most thankful for.

10. Working at Avon. I've been here for a year and a half, and it already feels like home to me. Blessing sa kin tong work na to, because I learned a lot, I gained new friends, and met all kinds of bosses. Nakakaaliw lang. Although I've already decided to resign once I reach my 8th month, I know I'm gonna miss Avon peeps big time. Hay.

9. Travel. Every year for the past 4 years I've made it a point to go to new places that I've never been to before. This year I got to travel to Bondoc Peninsula, Bacolod, CDO, Camiguin, Iligan, Bukidnon for the first time. But the highlight was definitely CDO where we went white-water rafting. At first I thought di ko kayang gawin yon because of my fear of drowning, pero like surfing, I immediately took to it at gusto kong ulit-ulitin pa sana. Kakaibang rush! :)

8.  I quit my 'happiness'.  Hihi. Hirap gawin nito, pero it just happened. As in. When I was struggling to quit it, hirap na hirap ako. But when I totally forgot that I wanted to stop na, that's when it happened. I guess my body knew I was preparing for something 'big' kaya sha na ang kusang umayaw :)

7.  Volunteer work at VCF. Kahit ilang beses ko lang nagawa, happy pa rin ako I was given the chance to serve. Hopefully, mas marami pang opportunities na darating. It's always a joy to give back and to be of help, maliit man o malaking gawain, when done for God  never fails to give a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction.

6. Renewed and strengthened friendships. This is something I always am grateful for, that every year I get to know who my real friends are, I get to reveal my true self to them, and still they stick with me. Sweet :) Kaya thank you, thank you, Angels, multiply friends, my childhood and Marikina friends, even friends I only met online but feel like so much a part of my life na. Without you all, hindi makulay ang buhay. Para kayong sinabawang gulay. :p

5. Living with Sal and family was another highlight of my year. Thanks to them, I experienced many home-cooked meals care of Mader, the joy of having a bebe at home - si Gabgab, at maraming veranda moments. Hehe. I will never forget those moments sa veranda where we cried, laughed, at nag-moment nang todo todo! Hahaha! Amishuuuu Sal and family! I will forever be grateful to all of you sa pag-ampon niyo sa akin :)

4. A new home. It's only been a few months pero it already feels like home to me, where we are right now. I am enjoying this new life, learning to cook, fend for ourselves, keep the house clean, doing the laundry, etc. I may be alone at home most of the time I'm there, but I guess that's what keeps me going too. I need those alone times when I can recharge, be quiet and just meditate on the latest events of my life. Shempre I enjoy it better when Monmon's home, at least may relyebo sa pagluluto haha! :D

3. My Family. Kahit kulang-kulang na kami, I never feel a lack of love in my family. Though we're not the expressive kind, I just know that we're gonna stick with each other through whatever. They've always been an encouragement to me kahit wala silang gawin, and I love my pamangkins to death. I just know they'll love the youngest member when he's here na :)

2. Close tie for number 2:

Monmon. Hanggang ngayon nagtatanungan pa rin kami nito ng mga paano, bakit, kailan... hahaha. Medyo mabilis ang mga pangyayari I know, pero still I know everthing was according to plan and I am grateful for him. Blessing talaga sha, I couldn't ask for a better man. Better half ko talaga sha :) (yiheeee, kilig yan! :D :D )

and Moymoy. My baby Yohann, kahit na di ko pa sha nakikita face to face at nahahawakan, is already a bundle of blessing and joy :) Just his kicks are enough to make me smile especially on days when I'm too tired or feeling the pains of pregnancy. Parang alam niya when I need cheering up, he would move and move and respond to my voice. Nakakatuwa. I can't wait to hold him though and feel how it's like to have my own bebe right in my arms :)

1.God's faithfulness and love. Every year, He never fails even when I have been unfaithful at times... hands-down, Siya ang best highlight ng 2010 ko. :)

Happy 2011 everyone! Let's celebrate the year with a big offering of thanksgiving and praise, alright? Alright!!!

wanna be blessed?

I was on the way to work this morning, aboard the shuttle, watching the tangled mess of vehicles that's causing the early morning traffic. Imagine at 6:15 am the roads were already congested and cars and vans and jeeps and other motorists were fighting over road space like madmen.

It's a rare occurrence that you'll see a vehicle stop and give way to another overtaking (or sumisingit) vehicle. The rules of the road are, to them, if you see an opening keep going, never stop till you get ahead of them all.

It was while I was looking at that scene of vehicular madness that this small voice whispered to me: when you are presented with the chance to give, you are also given the opportunity to be blessed. 

It may be easy for us to give when times are great, when funds are aplenty, and when things are all going fine and dandy.

But how about when times are hard, the going gets tough, and the funds are dwindling? 

Pano pag traffic na at nagkakaipitan na lahat? Magpaparaya ka pa rin ba?

Pano pag nagmamadali ka na at may sumisingit na sa harap mo? Magpapauna ka pa rin ba?

Pano pag gipit ka na tapos may lumapit na mas gipit pa sayo? Tutulong ka pa rin ba?

That is the acid test.

I believe it is during those moments when it's hardest to give or give way that greater rewards await us. 

Sometimes the rewards are what we expect - financial blessing, material things, etc. But oftentimes they are more than that - not just what we want, but more importantly what we need - healing for when we are sick, encouragement for when we are weak, peace in the midst of conflict, protection from harm and danger, wisdom in difficult situations, a hug when we feel down, surprise gifts and many, many more. Matalino naman kasi si Lord, He knows just what we need at the right time and under the right circumstances. And the best part is, even if we give without expecting for anything in return, it will still be given back to us, in greater measure and greater intensity. Ganun ka-amazing ang ways ni Lord :)

misis diaries 2

I don't really have much kwento, but I think I need to write something so that my multiply won't fade into oblivion :p

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Just like ateng judy, all's quiet in the homestead, medyo walang happenings ang buhay lately but that doesn't mean it's not exciting. Everyday still excites me, especially when I feel the little kicks in my tummy, exciting na sakin yon. Lol. 

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Bebe's been getting more and more active by the day...for the first time last Sunday Mon felt the sidekicks :p. We were in church and listening to the preaching when I pulled his arm and placed his hand on my tummy. Sumisirko ang Momay. Naririnig niya ata ang sounds sa church at nagre-react sha. Natuwa naman ang daddy at nakaramdam na din sha ng sipa, convinced na sha na tao nga ang laman ng chan ko at hindi katakawan ko lang.

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Sa shuttle, natatawa ako whenever I get curious looks from my seatmates. Kasi naman siksikan lagi ang upo namin, at di maiwasan na madikit nila ang mga braso nila sa malaki kong chan. Sometimes when bebe gets uncomfortable during a ride, she squirms around and kicks a lot. Imagine the look on my seatmates' faces kapag nakatanggap sila ng sipa galing sa chan ko. :p

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Sa bahay naman, I've gotten into this routine of getting off from work at 5 pm to catch the first shuttle at Paseo Center, then drop by the NGI market and head home to cook dinner. Routine na yon. I just drop my bag on the table at derecho saing na ko. Kinda hard lang to think of what to cook for dinner, kaya mga 4:30 or pag wala na mashadong ginagawa sa office I seach for easy to prepare dishes hehehe. Some days I really feel sooo tired I don't have the energy to cook. Good thing naman Mon gladly takes over and whips up his magic sa kusina :p Sometimes I think he cooks better than me, pero shempre di ko aaminin sa kanya yon. Hahaha.

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My legs and hands are getting so manas I sometimes find it hard to walk or hold things for a long time. Lalo na pag nasisiksik sa shuttle, namamanhid ang legs ko and all I want to do is lile down and rest. Hay. Oftentimes tinatamad na akong pumasok because of this, like yesterday, I almost freaked out when I couldn't feel my right hand even after shaking it for maybe 5 minutes. We had to massage it para bumalik ang circulation. Pero even then, madali pa rin shang mangalay at mamanhid.

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>Since I didn't go to work na rin, we had our dapat monthly check-up yesterday. Two months akong di nakadalaw sa OB, bakit nga ba? Ah, nung October busy sa wedding, last month naman alanganin sa sched and busy sa paglilipat. So when the OB's assistant weighed me prior to the check-up, natawa sha at from 115 lbs eh 126 lbs na ko. Wah! Ang takaw kasi ni Momay! Hehe. Pero in fairness I think ok pa naman ang weight gain ko, hindi pa naman sobrang lumalaki ang mga limbs ko at chan ko talaga ang pinupuntahan ng excess weight. Anyway. I complained to the OB about my pamamanas, and she gave me some vitamins. I was told din to undergo the routine tests - CBC, RH testing and urinalysis to make sure all is well with my body. Medyo ninenerbiyos na naman ako sa CBC at RH na yan, hay! Last time na ni-prick ang daliri ko muntik ko nang mabuntal ang nurse eh. Sana konti lang kukunin at hindi isang vial =(

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The OB told me to have my pelvic ultrasound na rin! Weeee! Finally we get to know if bebe's a Momay or Moymoy na. Maybe on Thursday we'll go to the lab na and have the ultrasound. Excited na ko malaman. Sana girl, Lord. Pero kung boy naman, love ko pa rin si bebe. Gagawa na lang ulit kami ng girl. Hahahaha.

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I really need to shop for clothes na. I have a hard time every morning choosing what to wear. Isang pair of pants na lang kasya sa kin. Some of my loose tops then ay fitting na sa chan ko. Uncomfortable naman akong magsuot ng blouses na korteng-korte ang chan ko. I want them loose-fitting tops that will just skim over my tummy. Hay. When naman kaya ako makakabili? I need to do this soon.

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Our only Christmas decor at home is the 10-piece capiz balls I bought from a former officemate who's now in Avon San Fernando. Nung Wednesday ko lang sha naiuwi, at hanggang ngayon nakalatag pa rin sila sa sala :p Mon's been trying to figure out how to hang them from the ceiliing, kasi naman semento ang kisame :p Akala ko din nung binili ko yon eh hiwa-hiwalay sha para pwedeng isang ball i-hang ko sa corner ng kwarto to make it look like a hanging lamp, then fix a set of three sa corner ng living room para cute, kaso ayon nga, dikit-dikit sila at mukang chandelier pag nilagay lahat sa sala. Wahaha.

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I still haven't found a work-from-home job. I made an account sa Odesk pero wala pa kong ina-apply-an. I really should be working on this na, lalo na't madalas na kong tamarin at mahirapan mag-commute to and from Makati. Baka naman may alam kayo, heads up naman jan :)