Lately, we’ve been receiving compliments from officemates, friends, and family that my wife is blooming, that pregnancy suits her, and that our baby will most likely be a girl. While I would admit though that we are silently rooting for a girl too, we don’t want to associate the people’s kind remarks with the baby. I think most women use pregnancy as an excuse to not fix themselves up.
Long before we got pregnant, my wife promised that she wouldn’t look as “haggard” as most pregnant women we commonly see. That no matter how lazy pregnant women can sometimes get, she’d make an effort to look good, not just for me or the people around us but for herself. So despite the fatigue and the frequent trips to our American Standard toilet at night (we’re thinking of getting an arinola), nausea, dizziness, sleepiness, and general laziness, she makes that extra effort to dress and look good. And I support her all the way. And I think that all pregnant women will be like her too, still striving to look and feel good despite the circumstances.
We were in Glorietta two days ago to check out the BPI Express Credit Installment Madness Sale that’s happening until the end of March. We were primarily there to window shop for an aircon. But coming into the Sony booth had us drooling for their camcorders. One of our plans was to buy a camcorder for the baby, and those we saw were drool worthy. We initially thought that buying one would cost the same thing as getting an orlando timeshare. But we were surprised to see one particular model at just around Php19,000. We talked to the salesman, and he did the demo.
This can be yours at staggered payments for 12 to 18 months. As always, I asked he could give us a discount if we pay cash (the benefits of paying cash). He went to his supervisor and we got an initial quote of just Php17,000. I further pressed on and he said he could arrange something to get the price lower. Incidentally, KG’s sister is also looking for a camcorder. We will have to talk to her and see if we could get bigger discounts if we will get two units.
We’ve been enjoying Max’s champorado for two breakfast Sundays now.
We ordered Adobo Flakes and Max’s Tapa and added an additional Triple Chocolate Champorado. The Adobo Flakes had thin shreds of chicken and pork adobo that was then crispy fried. Served with garlic rice, fried egg, and an atchara side dish, this dish was very satisfying. Max’s Tapa on the other hand had tender slices of beef, and it also came with garlic rice, fried egg, and an atchara side dish. The beef portions were so generous that my wife wasn’t able to finish it. The Triple Chocolate Champorado was delicious! We tried it with their Gourmet Tuyo but it didn’t hit home for us. It was actually my first time to try eating it in this combo style, and I didn’t get what the fuss is all about champorado and tuyo. Do you enjoy this pairing?
Nevertheless, and while I’ve yet to see a decent nutrisystem review of what they put in their champorado, its chocolatey goodness is worth visiting Max’s again, and again.
I don’t want to sound redundant but I just can’t believe just how perfect everything is falling into place. Ever since we found out that we’re having a baby, I prayed for provisions and more blessings. And true enough, we are witnessing little favors as we go along. My wife’s workload is very light, which is actually a good thing because there’s almost no stress on her part. Our project on the other hand is blessed with abundant loads. This means that I have overtime work everyday and during Saturdays.
In addition, the company has this program where I can earn extra by doing some more work while at home. The time I usually spend playing games on the computer or being a rockstar is now spent making that extra money that we need preparing for the baby. And that’s not all. I am also blessed with some more extra online assignments. With all this work I’m currently juggling around, I’m having second thoughts if I’d buy quick trim to reduce my bulging belly from eating and sitting all day long. But that’s the least of my concerns now. Proper time management to get all these things done with very minimal stress is the way to go.
MANILA, Philippines - It’s official: summer is here. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) yesterday announced that the northeast monsoon season in the country has ended, giving way to the dry season.
This is one of today’s news headlines. Funny how when we stepped out to have our breakfast, it’s raining! With the El Nino phenomenon causing the temperatures to rise, the past few days have been really hot. And the rotational power interruptions from Meralco that last for 1.5 hours make things worse. But this morning, just when the very reliable PAGASA “officially” announces that summer is here, it rains! I don’t know whether I’d laugh or cry at these people. I’m better off reading reliable inspections from allireviews.com. Seriously.
So we paid our OB a visit the other day to check the baby. We’re very anxious to see him/her. You very well know how excited we are and how paranoid we can sometimes be. Like most paprents, we just want to make sure that everything is great.
The baby was “swimming” during the first few seconds of the ultrasound, tossing and turning until it got its preferred position. And we were all too happy that its active. Then it slept! The OB was showed us the eyes, mouth, hands, and toes! All complete! Awesome! After a few more minutes, it started moving again. We actually saw it touching/scratching its head. Then it placed its right hand by its right temple, in a salute position, and we were all laughing! And then it started fully stretching its legs and kicking. The OB said that a few more months and those kicks would really hurt.
The OB said that we might have a boy since it’s very active, A few more years and I’d have a boy to play basketball and do elliptical with. But my wife and I are silently praying for a girl. But of course the baby’s gender is the least of our concern right now. What we want is a healthy mother and baby, for my wife to carry full term, and have a safe delivery.
All this talk about the baby does not mean though that we’ve forgotten about Yuan. We’ve been in constant communication thanks to webcam and Skype. The day they arrived in New Zealand, we talked via Skype. That was the first time I talked to him online; he said Nong-nong and then cried. And when he saw my FIL, he cried some more! We all got a bit sad that he’s so far away. And we’re all thrilled at the same time that he can still remember all of us, even the house help “Che” (Ate Che) and her son “Nyor” (Dayunyor).
What I miss most is when he shouts Nong-nong whenever I arrive. Then he’d find his “bam” (ball) and we’d play. Other days, we’d play “bang-bang.” I’d have to rely on fat burner pills now to shed some pounds now that I have no one to play with. I’m sure we’re all missing him, which makes us all the more excited about the coming baby.
These pics were taken during his day trips to the beach and around New Zealand. Look at how much he’s grown!
Ok. So I’m starting to read mommy blogs (I have yet to find a substantial daddy blog). And by mommy blogs I mean mommies who primarily talk about their babies and kids, and how to feed them, entertain them, keep them alive, that sort of thing. You get the picture right? So anyway, the first real gem I found so far is probably SimpleMom. Now I’ve yet to read her past posts but her latest one is truly helpful. It’s about the essentials for a newborn baby. You know why. If you’re curious about the article, you can see it here.
One thing that struck me was that we basically have all of these, apart from diapers and home insurance of course. You see, when Yuan left, he basically left all his things too. Of course one of last year’s greatest accomplishment was to be debt free. And He made it all happen in perfect order. And I just can’t seem to grasp how perfect our baby’s arrival is. He made it perfect. Before finally giving us the opportunity to have a baby, He made sure that we’ll have the things we need. And I am just in awe at how things are falling into place.
As you know, we’ll have our baby soon. And part of our preparations involve saving as much as we can so we can provide for his/her needs. But sometimes we get sidetracked from our goals. My wife and I are not the most industrious people in the world you know. Sometimes, we get lazy too.
I think it’s but natural to get sidetracked from time to time. After all, we can never really get away from these distractions. But we should always, always, find our way back, back to our own goals.
A few weeks ago, I was asking Him to bless me with more work and assignments. And He did bless me. I was so happy with the special favor and opportunity He has given. But halfway thru it, I lost steam. I got lazy. I was having second thoughts about finishing all the work. After a while, I got weary, and it gets really tiring. Work begins to be a struggle. It starts to look like it’ll eat a lot of my time. And I get pressured with the deadlines. I’m stressed so much that I’m hooked to a finger pulse oximeter to monitor myself.
But then it’d hit me. Didn’t I ask for this blessing? And now that He has given me this opportunity, isn’t it just fair that I do my part and finish all the extra work the best I can.
How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.
Proverbs 6:9–11
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