Hello Again UP!

So today, Leslie and I revisited an old friend - the UP Acad Oval :) Of course, ever reliable Greg was there with us, too.  Since we weren't going to run a far distance (we were thinking 10km max but ended up with just 6kms haha), we said we wouldn't go too early - we were there by 6AM.  Surprisingly, considering it was Holy Thursday, the place was packed! Even saw good friend Mitz (whom I haven't seen since she left school for her maternity leave), her hubby and baby Aaron (finally!).

Chill/relaxing run.  Not bad, considering I did lunges and squats just yesterday :p

Oh, look who's ecstatic to have both mommy and daddy home on a weekday(s)!

11 months and a week old

Ultra Running

You read that right, ultra + running.  No, not running longer distances, as the term ultra running alludes to hahaha.  So far from that.  I remember saying a few months before that 2013 might just be the year to consider running longer.  I'm changing that now, haha.  Not that the marathon traumatized me or anything - but before I start punishing my legs/thighs any more, I figured I'd focus on going back to my pre-pregnancy weight first... and I have about 20 pounds to go before that happens.  So for now until after 20 pounds, it will just be leisure running, lots of dieting, yoga and strength training.

ANYWAY, what I meant was running in Ultra (Philippine Sports Commission), haha! I remember the last time I was there it was to have the deadly massage (I had 2!) by Coach Salazar.  I was kind of excited to run on a track, since I haven't done that in a while (last time was years ago in Ateneo's Moro Lorenzo sports center).   Much to our disappointment, the track was closed! So we had no choice but to run around the complex - horrible.  #1, cars were passing us every few minutes.  #2, the ground wasn't smooth - bako-bako, to say the least.  Definitely not for running.  #3, there was a part that's a super steep uphill (the one sort of across the track gate).  Fine, maybe #3 was actually a good thing - I totally felt my legs burningggg.  At some point in the incline, I thought to myself, "Am I even moving pa?" Kasi parang hindi na ako gumagalaw... yun pala, numb na dahil sa sakit haha.  The only saving grace was we ran easy since I just went there to follow Sharl and Kaka's run-walk program.

Although I may have cursed those uphills, I suppose with the level of difficulty, I burned more out there than if we had done the track!

Summer '13

The most awaited time of the year!!! ...fine, next time Christmas, hah! As a teacher, one of the nicest benefits is having April off...especially now that I have Liam, this really is something welcomed with open arms.  What to do this April?

1.  Lose at least 10 pounds.
Seriously.  I have to be able to fit into my pre-pregnancy casual clothes by May so that I won't have to buy new ones! The plan? Yoga + squats + lunges + running/gym-ing when I get the chance and of course, DIETING!!! I've already lost about 40 pounds from my pregnancy so another 10-15 should be doable.  Fight!

2.  UBE (Ultimate Bonding Experience) with Liam! 
Since yaya will be on (permanent) vacation, I expect to have a lot of time with Liam <3 Which explains "running/gym-ing when I get the chance".  The past months that I have spent training for the marathon, I admit I counted on yaya too much.  This time, running will take a back seat and Liam will be #1, I promise.

3.  Liam's first airplane ride
Will be visiting my 90-year-old grandma in Cebu on the 13th so she can also see Liam.  It'll be Liam's first airplane ride so please help me pray it goes well.  It will also be our little family's first out of town trip.

4.  Read books!
...at least at night and while Liam is napping, hehe.  The books I plan to read/finish reading are:

• Born to Run by Christopher McDougall
• Why We Run by Robin Harvie
• Mere Christianity by CS Lewis

I will end there because I don't want to bite off more than I can chew!

**

I guess that's it.  My workload for the school year is not yet final but if what's being planned (by my bosses) pushes through, then I'm going to have a crazy busy school year ahead! So far, Ive already got the following on my plate: Faculty Club secretary, CLE teacher, CLUB moderator.  There are 2 more things that have yet to be finalized :p So for now, hush hush muna.  

How about you? What's going to keep you busy this April? :)

So, thank you SY 2012-2013! As for next school year, will worry about that in a month's time.  For now, partayyyy!!! .. NOT! Yaya-mode, actually <3 

Yaya Blues

I've had the same yaya for Liam since his birth.  Actually, she came about 2 days before I gave birth! Talk about timing.  She was referred to us by my uncle's midwife.  Thirty-seven years old, mother of 2 and separated from husband.  Although she's never ever been a yaya/househelp her entire life, she did take care of her kids (21 yo and 7 yo) as well as her pamangkins.  

The thing is, I've been thinking of changing yayas for Liam for the longest time.  Here are my top reasons why:

1) My mom hates her.  According to my mom, if it were up to her yaya standards she would not have stayed with us for this long.  

2) Our cook, who is older than her and more experienced, has been teaching her how to do things better and she hardly listens.  Case in point: For Liam's meals, she prepares lapu-lapu fish with congee.  Lita, our cook, has been telling her repeatedly to transfer the fish to be used from the freezer to the refrigerator the night before so that it could thaw a bit and would be easier to cook/prepare.  So far, it's been 5 months since Liam has started on solids and she has NEVER done it.

3) I bought floor mats for Liam to use, so he could play on the floor and practice his crawling as well.   I told yaya to give Liam about 30-45 minutes per day to stay and play on the floor.  So far, she has done it maybe 5x since I told her to do so.  When did I instruct her? Maybe 7 months ago.

4) I caught her forgetting to give Liam's vitamins maybe thrice already.

5) She used to make Liam wear a bib while taking his meals but for the past couple of days, she has dropped the bib and I even caught her using Liam's sando to wipe his face! :( She used to always carry around a lampin, too.  Not anymore.  Tinatamad na ata, kasi the more she uses lampin/bib/etc., the more she has to wash, too! (Yaya washes Liam's clothes, etc. on Saturday mornings)

6) She moves too slow! 

Actually, the list goes on but I think I've made my point clear.  Basically, I'm happy that she loves my son and is very patient with him.  But as a growing baby who's almost a toddler, I think we'll be needing more from a yaya.  I need someone more active, one who would take more initiative and a teacher who can also discipline Liam, with tenderness. 

So, my husband and I have decided.  When yaya goes home for a vacation this summer, I will tell her not to come back anymore.  The problem now is, how.  How does one go about firing a househelp.  If you know better, please do enlighten me!    

I need divine intervention.  

NatGeo 2013

A good friend Wel messaged me on Facebook and sent me the link to this:

(screenshot from http://www.natgeorun.com)

Soo excited! <3 The last NatGeo Run I went to was in 2010 with the husband wherein we ran 10km.  I'm still thinking if I can do a half-marathon distance of this or just another 10km.  Hmm.

BDO Race for Life!

Next run! Registering for 10km, first run after the marathon :) Should be good! See you there!

"NO!"

"NO!" seems to be my favorite line these days.

With Liam being so active, I sometimes miss the little him - easier to carry, does not complain much, wala pang alam sa pagiging naughty! These days, I find myself giving Liam a firm, "NO!" more and more.  Just this morning, I had to give him a strict, stern "No!" because he was playing with his food! At 3 days shy of being 11 months old, he now knows the concept of being shouted at - he responds by first frowning and then crying out loud :( It breaks my heart to know that I'm the reason for his tears but I do want to raise a disciplined child.  I don't want him to grow up thinking it's okay to do anything at all! The paranoid in me tells me that all the NO's might damage our relationship and might make him hate me or whatever - yeah I know, OA much.  One of my favorite go-to websites, babycenter.com, has an article on the matter.  According to the article, although discipline should be enforced, spanking should never be an option.  I don't have plans of the latter, but H believes that moderate and purposeful spanking should be okay - he wants to be the type of father the his child fears to a certain level.  I think that should be fine, right?

Liam at 2 months, roughly 9 months ago.











Liam with mommy and daddy on Chinese New Year, at 9 months old.









If I were to think of every single thing I would do or say to Liam and it's possible effects both long-term and short-term, I think it will drive me nuts!!! I guess the best I can do is just to make sure that I do all things out of love - after all, what other reason could there be?

My 5th Batch: Phoenix '14

Out of all the academic years, I think this year went by the fastest! It was probably because I was 24/7 busy with something teaching/running/family-related.

Since this batch was in their first year, my good friend Jen has always raved about them (Phoenix '14).  After she handled the batch in their freshman year, she told me, "Abangan mo sila! Sobrang okay na batch!" And when she was eventually assigned to teach H3, she genuinely looked forward to having them again as students.

Of course we all know that didn't go as planned because, well, God had other plans.  So I became their third year teacher instead.  Well, it was a great year.  Like each school year, I meet a wonderful mix of students: some crazy, some straight, some really smart kids, some street smart ones, some smart Alec's, some witty students, some hard-headed ones, some awkward kids, some great athletes, some hyper kids, great writers, awesome talents...and the list goes on.

Inasmuch as I would have also wanted to be a stay-at-home mom to be with my months-old baby, my heart also somewhat belonged in the classroom where I could be with the students and do my share in helping them live a better faith life.  I'm glad to say that sacrificing time with my son to continue being a teacher was worth it.  I say this from the bottom of my heart - I sincerely enjoyed every single day with the batch and would do it all over again if I have to.

If you are reading this, Phoenix, Ms. Beli was right, you girls were worth the wait.  Thank you for the many classroom memories we all made, thank you for bearing with me when I had to limp because of some running injury, for listening to my stories and experiences (as if naman you could 'turn off' your hearing sense), for accepting me in spite of my weirdness (and my long ummmm's), for writing all those heartfelt reflection papers, for cheering for me whenever you'd see me run around ICA, for sharing your lives with me and listening to me share mine with you :) Most importantly, for inspiring me every single day to be a better me - a better mom so that my kid/s will grow up to be as smart and talented as you girls are, to run better and eat healthy so I could encourage you to do the same and to teach in the best possible way because you deserve no less.

Here's a special shout out to III-Mercy the only class that made an effort to actually write thank you notes to their teachers.  Much, much, much appreciated <3

To me, teaching is not just a job.  It's an opportunity for me to change the world in my own little way... because I believe that to make a difference, you simply have to go beyond yourself and give love to others.  Everything I have done this year (yes, even the scolding, lecturing and giving of SBFs), I have done out of love.  If you recall Randy Pausch and his Last Lecture, he says, "Your critics are the ones telling you they still love you and care.  Worry when you do something badly and nobody bothers to tell you."

Thank You Phoenix/Batch 2014 for a school year to remember.  God bless you <3

Much love,
Mrs. Guce

March 1-3, 2013

Spent the last weekend with the husband's high school barkada on a loooong road trip! Manila - Baguio - La Union - Manila

The trip in photos c/o Raf :)

Post Marathon Thoughts

So, it's been over a week since the marathon and I still haven't gotten around to writing my kwento.  Just been so busy with all the paperwork - papers to check, lessons to finish, documents to accomplish! See photo of my desk! Just piles of paper everywhere! Ughhh.

I realized that since I got that cesarean section my memory has not been so reliable so I figured I have to write about it now before it's too late! Lol.  Here goes.

In spite of not having trained AT ALL, Aimee still decided to show up for marathon day! So Van, Aims and I left Manila at around 1:00 PM, February 23, 2013 - Friday, a day before race day.  We got to Paseo Premiere, out hotel, at around 3:30 PM, checked in and all.  We met Van's boyfriend Em who was going to drive us to Nuvali to go around the race route.  Honestly, I told Van I didn't want to go around the route and pre-empt the excitement but since she was insisting on seeing the route, Aimee and I obliged.  

I wasn't feeling as excited for the race as I was months ago.  Since my injury caused me not to train for 3 weeks, I knew I wasn't going to be able to run as well as I wanted to.  I was gunning for 5:30, or 5:45 max but I just knew it wasn't possible.  But I also knew I couldn't not do it! I went to Dr. Rafanan on the Tuesday of race week and he advised me not to run TBRDM anymore and just rest but hard-headed me pushed his orders aside so I took Celebrex 400mg for the remaining days until race day and massaged my injured area (gluteus medeus) with a generous amount of Fastum.  It got better, yes, but was still not 100% and I knew right when I started running that race.  

So, at 1:00 AM Saturday, the three of us girls waited for Van's friend Herbert in the Paseo Premiere lobby so we could hitch a ride to Nuvali.  We lined up to get what we needed to get our times in (I'm not sure what you call that thing you put on your ankle), stretched with Van's Milo group, took our energy gels and waited at the starting line.