:)

So/too many things happened in 2011 but I think only one thing is worth remembering over, and over again...

Thought that was the best day of my life.  Didn't know the days after would even be better :)

Bump Update!

So I guess they weren't kidding when they said, wait until you get to 5 months and that belly won't stop growing! Here's the bump at 23 weeks and 5 days!

It's getting harder to sleep at night as I don't quite know how to position myself.  I've read that lying on your back is not very good for blood flow for the baby, so I try not to.  When I lie on my side, the baby keeps moving about so, there.  Good thing I'm on Christmas vacation so I can afford sleeping in + afternoon naps to catch up on sleep! Two more days before the 2011 ends! Here's how I intend on spending the 30th and 31st:

30th - Go to the gym in the morning to do some light cardio, lunch at home, maybe nap or get work done in the afternoon then dinner with some friends at night

31st - The last day of the year will be spent with family, over a nice lunch at Tagaytay! Hoping for a cool breeze then!

Then, 2012! 2011 has been amazing, to say the least.  I'm sure 2012 will bring in even better memories! I mean, how can I not? I'm due in 4 months! <3

My ThINSPIRATION

This was taken May 2010.  Hopefully by May 2012, I'll be back to this! 

A Very Merry(ied) Christmas

...get it? :) Hehehe.  As the title implies, this is my first married Christmas.  As H and I were pulling out of our driveway on the 24th (to spend CHristmas eve with my in laws), I couldn't help but feel a bit emotional saying goodbye to my mom.  HAHA.  Drama! But really, it was my first Christmas eve away from home - not that we have anything special back at home.  We usually just have a big home-cooked dinner then by Noche Buena time, have coffee and dessert.  So it wasn't so much on what we did but just the thought of being at home with my family.  Of course, I knew being married also meant being married to another family which I also had obligations to.  I had a nice Christmas eve with my in laws - had really good home-cooked lunch and dinner (really cannot imagine going on a diet with my father-in-law who cooks amazing meals), Midnight Mass then Christmas ham back at home.

The next day, 25th, H and I drove back home to spend it with my family.  We had a hefty lunch at The Corniche, Diamond Hotel - buffet galore! I promise, this is the last buffet I'll be having this year until the end of the pregnancy! We hung out at Diamond Hotel until around 4:00 PM then headed home.  Slept from 5:00 to 8:00 PM!

Over-all, I'd say Christmas this year was calm, quiet and...complete - in every sense of the word.  I realized I don't need a huge celebration with so many relatives around or Christmas presents left and right.  I'd rather a small and meaningful Christmas with the people who matter.

The best part about this Christmas is knowing that next year will even be better with baby in tow.  I seriously cannot wait.

Merry Christmas To Me!

Husband's birthday + Christmas gift! :) See, I've never really been a fan of expensive watches.  Not as much as he is - researches about Omega, Oris, Rolex, etc. and obsesses about it *rolls eyes* He had to make me lambing several times for me to let me buy his Oris (although he did use his money, which according to a good friend, is also mine.  So maybe I shouldn't have said yes, haha)

So anyway, this is what he gave me! I've been wanting to get a Garmin (which is priced at about Php 15,000 and above for the one I want - Forerunner 610) but A, my running "coach" said I didn't need it and frankly, I guess I just wanted one, thinking buying something expensive for running will make me feel the pressure to go back to it.  But nah, I think my current weight gain (which might even be doubled in my last trimester) will be enough to motivate me.  BUT ANYWAY! So H knows I've always been lusting over TechnoMarine but never thought of buying an expensive watch.  I guess H thought otherwise.. :P

 I researched for what I wanted and I thought of the TechnoMarine Cruise.  I saw it "in person" and figured it was too...white.  So I got something under the Cruise model (Cruise Beach) instead.  It comes in 3 other colors: pink, royal blue and purple but opted for this one.  Always found turquoise blue to be a pretty color.  The best part about this is that the straps can be changed.  I actually didn't know that all models came with an extra strap.  The extra strap is in turquoise as well.  

This is my first (and last) expensive watch! Malamang hindi naman ito and pinaka mahal out there but a watch over Php 5,000 is already expensive for me! Thank you, husband! <3

***

In other news, here's a recent baby bump photo! 

 23 weeks tomorrow :) I STILL cannot buy baby stuff but going to Rustan's in Shangri-La Mall this afternoon to go window shopping.  Heard renovation is over and done with and the baby section is pretty comprehensive.  Will tell you about that adventure later!

The 26th December 20

I've always bugged Alvin about how I no longer received flowers.  So for my birthday, at exactly 12:01 AM, he leaves the room and comes back with this :)

Set our alarm at 3:30 AM since I wanted to hear mass on my birthday - Simbang Gabi!

Mary the Queen at 4 AM

Us, trying to look very awake.  We went home with puto bumbong, bibingka and Jollibee for the help :)

After breakfast at home, we decided to take a nap before heading to Cardinal Santos for my check-up.  The first one's my doctor :)

While waiting for Achi Paulene :)

We got home to pick up my parents for my birthday lunch! We decided to try out The Manila Peninsula's Escolta buffet.  DESPITE being told by my OB to limit the food intake.  It's my birthday anyway! :) 

With parents :)

To my husband: You're all I need to get by...

...but because God is so good He decides to bless me with so much more! My favorite birthday message was from Auntie Nancy: "Happy birthday! By next birthday, you will have baby on your lap, not in your tummy.  Truly blessed, MB!"

3 days to go til Christmas! :)

That's Me

I'm 26 and both my parents are still around and healthy.

I have wonderful in-laws, a job that fulfills me and makes me feel I make a difference.  

We can afford private transportation so I never have to take the commute.

I have more than 5 meals a day, I can read, write, hear and speak without difficulty.

My wardrobe, although not too abundant, is enough to keep me warm and comfortable.

I have over 5 pairs of shoes.

I have a husband to come home to and I'm lugging around a 5-month-old baby boy in my belly.

And, most importantly...

I got flowers from my husband at exactly 12:01 AM on my birthday :P

Seriously.  What more can I ask for? 

New Desktop

Something to motivate me on a Monday :) I had a tiring but good day.  Hope you did, too! :) Last week before Christmas vacation! <3

Shopping Shopping!

...because I really want to post about today's purchases, I had to make another entry.  Ayoko naman isama sa reflection ko something that seems so trivial and materialistic :))

So, today's purchases:

Bought another top from my current favorite store: Gingersnaps! I love how their maternity wear is just so chillingly pregnant.  I mean, nothing even that's empire cut and has a ribbon that can be tied at the back.  No offense to those kinds of tops, though since I have a few of them from SM.  But Gingersnaps just makes normal-looking clothes but tailor-fit for the pregnant body.  I've been to the Greenhills branch so many times that all the salesladies greet me when I enter! :))

This is obviously not for me.  My husband does not wear any other jeans but Levi's.  I, on the other hand, am fine with 700-peso jeans from herBench.  He was so happy with this purchase that right when we got home, he tried it on again with other tops/shoes to see which ones go well with it.  *rolls eyes* HAHA

I mentioned this on my Facebook wall but here I am again, raving about Parisian shoes! I got 2 pairs for P999.50! What a steal.  I did see some nice flats in Greenhills' tiangge - forgot the brand but really pretty and unique designs, but for P799 each.  Good thing this was after SM :p Bad news, I still have those flats on my mind... but, no, will not buy any more shoes!!

I've always wanted to buy this but since I've been looking for a Kris Kringle gift for my faculty room baby, I thought of giving her this.  The trouble with having so many new teachers is that I still haven't gotten the chance to get to know them all! I guess this is also because I wasn't in during the summer and first quarter.  Anyway, she's an English teacher so I'm assuming she likes to read!

Okay, I think that's it for the day! :) Things on my to-buy list for the rest of December : Gifts for some co-teachers, my advisory class and NOTHING ELSE.  Should start saving up for baby stuff <3

Gaudete Sunday!

Sometimes I have these moments when I just sit still and have the urge to burst into tears, tears of joy that is.  Today is Gaudete Sunday, the third Sunday of Advent and in today's Eucharist, we were reminded of the many reasons to be JOYFUL - joy in the life of holiness and joy in reaching out to others.  In my mind though, was a different source of joy....I was channeling something more like, joyful thanksgiving.  Yes, very MIC.

But, really, I've always preached to the kids that there is nothing that can make one feel happiest than to count one's blessings.  Counting my blessings always gives me a bazillion reasons to be joyful.  Like, I have this wala-akong-karapatan-umangal feeling after I remember the many things I have been blessed with.  Most especially this year 2011.  This year has been just life-changing, in so many different ways.  Let me count...

1) I resigned from my 4-year teaching stint.  I said goodbye to my favorite place in the world - the classroom, and...

2) Hello to a whole new world: The corporate set-up! I had to shop for clothes, shoes and a bag good enough for the office.  I met really cool people and great friends in them, too (I still keep in touch with a few of them - Wel, Ja, Bianca and Macky).  

3) I said goodbye to my short corporate stint so I could go back to being a teacher! :)) God really does have His ways.

4) I got married! :) July 9, 2011.  Best day EVER.  It has been 5 months and I still have those moments when I just stare at my husband and think to myself, "How could I have been so blessed?"

5) To add to this, I got pregnant! :) Just when things couldn't have been better, God decides to bless us even more.

...and everything in between.  Talking to my superiors in ICA and explaining my resignation, job hunting, learning to survive in a new environment and practicing my social skills, wedding preparations, that feeling I had right before I entered St. James the Great Parish on that very special day, coming to terms with the reality of my pregnancy plus the horrible first trimester, shopping for maternity clothes, husband and I just lying in bed, feeling Liam's gentle kicks and movements.

Life is, indeed, made up of tiny moments.  Every moment is a gift.  From the movie 300, "They envy us because we're mortal, because any moment might be our last.  Everything is more beautiful because we're doomed." Looking forward to making the last 20 days of 2011 count, and even more excited for a blessed and beautiful 2012! :)

21 Weeks!

Here's my evidence to being 21 weeks pregnant:

I don't know if that belly's huge only because I just had lunch...? Nah, I do think I'm getting bigger by the day - more so now, than ever! I guess they were right...once you reach 5 months, it just keeps getting bigger.  Oh, please excuse my humongous arms, haha! Some people would be witness to this - I used to always complain about gaining so much weight and not being able to run but now...? I'm so way past that. Just really looking forward to 4 months from now.  Naks, nag mature ;)

**

Yesterday, Friday, classes were cancelled due to non-stop rains (no typhoon).  I decided to head over to Greenhills Shopping Center, since my best friend-of-too-many-years had something work-related in the area.  We had lunch at Le Ching - where I had my Le Ching favorite: Beef brisket with rice ;)

Walked around on my own since Shar had to get back to work (The Travel Club).  Bought gifts for a co-teacher expecting a baby girl (3 rompers and 2 pairs of mittens) and my 2-year-old godson, Miguel (super cute tops from Gingersnaps).  At around 4:00 PM, I felt my belly getting stiff and since this usually happens when I've been walking long, I decided to stop by Bo's for DECAF coffee.  Around 5:00 PM, Shar texts me saying, "Fitflops on sale again, want to get a pair?" And since then, I just kept thinking about it until about 6:00 PM when we'd finally meet again so I could hitch a ride with her.  Well, BUY IT won since, #1 it was 30% off.  #2, Shar put it on 0% interest for 6 months so I'd only have to pay about 500 from January to June, not bad! :P Here are my 2 pairs of Fitflops (black pair was also bought on sale months ago):

They're just so comfy and plus it has that exercise-while-you-walk technology which I don't really understand...but since this is probably the closest I can get to exercising, I'll take it.

I also bought H an iPhone 3GS case.  We've always been in love with Speck's Candyshell and we've each broken 2 cases already (from removing it and putting it back on - which we will no longer do): I have the black one while he has the one in violet :P

**

I think I've had enough shopping for yesterday.  Staying home this Saturday afternoon (and possibly night) to: sleep in, watch Vampire Diaries or get some work done.  Have a feeling the first option will win over the other two!

Baby Names

I wanted a common name for our baby since we didn't want something his teachers would have a difficult time pronouncing in the future.  Hahaha, speaking from experience, I guess.  I saw this link and found that both names we were thinking of made it on the list! I hope there won't be too many kids with the same names in his class ;)

Link: http://shine.yahoo.com/parenting/hottest-baby-names-2011-045700462.html

See? Not that this is making me change my mind, I'm falling more and more in love with his name and have started calling him Liam <3 Hubby still insists on Coby though = (Ja)Coby, get it? Then Coby = Kobe = basketball prodigy.  We'll see.  At the end of the day, of course, we'll be supportive parents even if it's chess he's into :P

20 days before Christmas and 15 days before my birthday! :) Happy Monday! :)

Oh, and ...

Awesome apps are <3 (Applications used: Days Until & Instagram)

Hello, December :)

I know Christmas is so much more than gifts and parties but I cannot help but feel the spirit ALL THE MORE when there are gifts.  Today, Husband and I received our first gift - from his boss! Pretty cool, if I must say so..

Two complimentary drinks from Starbucks

Two movie passes for Ayala Cinemas

Fully Booked GC for that parenting book 

:)

Exactly the things we love! <3 This just inspires me to go out and buy gifts for people already! 23 days to go before Christmas! This year will be different.  Have my family to spend the holidays with, as well as the in laws.  And it doesn't help that one is down South! I guess this is one thing I'll have to adjust to when it comes to married life.  There is, after all, not just an additional person in my life...but an additional family.  It's actually a good thing, but it's just that sometimes I feel bad about having to leave home to be with the in laws (which we do about once or twice a month).  My brother barely talks and I'm pretty much the only one who makes all the noise at home.  Hrmm.  

Here's to hoping H and I figure out how to make things work this year (and the years after).  In the mean time, hello, Christmas shopping! :)