A lot of people are saying that you can’t really plan on when to have a child. It’s not just something you can plan. It comes when you don’t expect it to. During the first few months of our marriage, naturally, we wanted one. People expect it. But after some thoughts, we figured that we weren’t ready. But the pressure was there. I mean, what’s left after marriage right? But after almost a year of building our relationship, I think we’re ready. We’re trying to conceive (TTC).
We get to practice our parenting skills with Yuan. We are his foster parents during Sundays. Sometimes, when we attend parties for kids, we bring him along. And it’s exhausting! Especially now that he’s at this stage where he’s so fond of jumping. And since he can’t support himself, you’re basically stuck holding him. Thankfully, when I’m starting to notice my arms going numb, I hand him to my wife. And when she gets tired, she passes him to my in-laws, who then passes him to the yaya. I wonder if I can stand taking care of my own son (or daughter) 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Taking care of a nephew is different. When we get tired, or he has become too much to handle, we simply give him back. I don’t think I can do that with my own kid, what with the social services and child custody cases I’ll get.
Ooooh! I forgot, I have to support a kid all through the 21 years of his life, or until he graduates college. 21 freakin’ years! That means that since I’ll be turning 30 this year, and provided God bless us this year, I’ll be working my ass off until I’m 51! Sheesh! I’m praying pretty hard right now that we get a good one. If not, I really have to get two jobs to save for his bail money! Oh the shame!
I jest of course. With the wedding and baby boom that’s happening in our department, it seems like everybody’s getting pregnant. Here’s hoping we get our moment in the sun. We’ve waited long enough.
Just a personal opinion. I’ve never really believed in lucky charms. I don’t get how a piece of something can help you, or even save you, from such disasters as the recession. I don’t put my trust on a stone, I put it on Him. Some carry around these stones to protect them from danger. And rather ridiculously, some stones can help you find that special someone. Other people even believe in Feng Shui. They have everything they do consulted before a Feng Shui “expert,” like when the most auspicious day to get married is. I even came across someone who buys dwendes (dwarves) from a so-called Feng Shui “expert” and have these dwendes live in their house, for prosperity and luck kuno. Of course, these experts make a lot of profit from something that they said they brought into your house but you can’t really see.
The same goes for agimats. I grew up watching a lot of Ramon Revilla movies. Remember Nardong Putik and Pepeng Kuryente? As a child, I did wish to be able to turn into mud or maybe harness the lightning’s power. And I did have fantasies of buying myself agimats in Quiapo just to see if I’m really scratch proof or maybe bullet proof.
Times are becoming hard. Hundreds of people are loosing their jobs even if the government says otherwise. It isn’t enough to put our faith in our God, whatever each of us may perceive Him to be. That piece of stone won’t save you and your job when you yourself is slacking off. Refuse to be dictated by the norms. Just because everybody else is slacking doesn’t mean that you should too. Do what is right.
The apartment was a mess! The bed hasn’t been made for two days now, scraps of paper and ribbons are scattered on the floor, and craft materials are strewed everywhere. For two days, we’ve been busy making Zach’s cupcakes. The hard part was folding and assembling the one hundred cupcake boxes, which had three different parts, which meant folding and assembling around three hundred different pieces. And while it didn’t involve Ferrari parts to assemble, it was still a pain. We made the mistake of not asking the store attendants how to fold the pieces that we spent a lot of time figuring out how they all come together. Good thing I’m an engineer and my wife’s a human calculator (?), or we would have driven back to the store and asked for assistance. The only fun part was putting the stickers.
Unfortunately, we weren’t able to show up for Zach’s christening because of another birthday party that we had to attend. It was Enzo’s first birthday. We picked up Yuan at my in-laws and brought him to the party at The Columns, Makati.
The tables were decorated with Sesame Street toys. We have Bert, Ernie, and Elmo.
The kids’ tables were similarly decorated in Sesame Street theme.
Here are the ceiling decors.
There was a photo booth where you can have your pictures taken, a Hopper’s Store where you can get candies (chocolates!) and place them in little takeout boxes (we took home three boxes), an ice cream booth (which I had seconds, or thirds, and fourths), a cotton candy booth, a market booth that gives out pritchon in your choice of sauce (liver, honey mustard, honey lemon, hoisin, white garlic, sate, and chili tagalog), and of course, my favorite, a lechon booth!
Even Yuan had fun with the decors.
T’was another cupcake saga. T2rad and Grace’s son, Zach, had his christening last Saturday. My wife was informed Monday that they will need one hundred cupcakes by Saturday. We didn’t have time to rush to Sweetcraft and buy cupcake toppers so we improvised. We used candies shaped as pacifiers that were bought from the nearby Candy Corner.
It was a collective effort. The five Betty Crocker cupcake mixes were given by Mimmy Jo. The sticker labels were made by Kumareng Grace. And my wife pretty much put everything into place. My wife’s been doing a lot of cupcakes, and party decors, lately that I think she’s become the official cupcake caterer of our department. I think it’s high time we put this lucrative hobby listed at Fandemonium and make real money.
When couples get married, all manner of privacy evaporates. My wife was suddenly faced with the reality of sharing everything. Her once spacious bed with Sferra sheets is now cramped, wrinkled, and stained (don’t ask!). And the clean air now stinks of my wickedly pungent fart! Kidding! I, on the other hand, didn’t mind the sharing. Living in a tiny condo with a sister and a brother that borrows everything made me like this.
On our recent trip to Subic over the holidays (which I forgot to write about), we came back with some chocolates in tow, along with other things bought from the duty free shops there. As always, when I’m getting my chocolate fix, the sound of the wrapper tearing as I try to open it calls the attention of my wife, who instantly appears on my side, all glassy eyed and pleading for a bite. So on one particular night when my wife was in the bathroom, I stole a piece of Twix from our stash, went to the bedroom, turn off the lights, and decided to have a moment with my Twix. I wanted to finish a bar, for once, all by myself. I gingerly opened my Twix and took a bite. Aaah! Sarap! I took another one, and another one, all the time my eyes were closed. Eating chocolates slowly and with your eyes closed seemed to heighten the experience. Try it if you haven’t. After a few more bites, I was more than halfway through my bar. Suddenly, the lights turned on, my wife jumped on the bed, and shouted Pengeeeee!
He couldn’t have come at a better time. I’ve seen a lot of Black US Presidents in movies, but now it’s real. The sight of a Black man taking oath as the US President was thrilling. What electrified the people all over the world was that this guy comes armed with positivity and hope, “a new age” in a nation confronted with lost jobs and businesses, home foreclosures, huge debts, etc., and a world of wars and terrorism. These are big serious problems of the world really, unlike our quest for the best diet, slimming solution, elliptical, or whitening product. The new President has a ton of work. And it would take a lot of effort and cooperation to overcome these problems. I’m waiting to see what he will do and how he will do it. I’m sure the world is watching.
Photos from the New York Times.
Ooh! A copy of his inaugural speech is posted below (click more).
A picture does not lie but it does not tell the whole story either.
So I did it. I took a big step. A huge step, really. I’ve been thinking of doing this for a while now (months actually). I never really thought I’d do it. I was trying to write a post on this blog, and somehow it doesn’t come out the way I want it to. It was frustrating! I needed flexibility. I needed freedom.
So I consulted with a few people. Talked (or rather e-mailed) to a few who are trustworthy and can provide insights. Truth be told, I was excited. After a few days, I took the courage and bought myself my own domain, plus hosting! It was hella expensive! It burned my pocket, but it was exhilarating nonetheless. And what’s worse is that I haven’t told my wife yet. I’ll sure need myself a Lexington personal injury lawyer from the beating I’ll get for this. But all is good. The domain will remain a secret for now. I’m still tinkering (playing) with it.
So there. That’s what I’m busy with. What’s up with you?
A husband's weblog of thoughts, observations, interests, opinions, and adventures. For comments, reactions, suggestions, and donations, you can contact me at thehusbandspeaks@gmail.com.
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