I felt weak (ok ok, lazy is more apt) to go to work this morning on account of my tummy acting up last night and keeping me awake into the wee hours. And the kids didn't have classes today. So I thought another half-day of rest added to Saturday & Sunday wouldn't hurt, would it?.



Then my cellphone alerted me at 800am. My boss texted we should meet at 900am. What? I texted I wasn't feeling well (yeah right) and would be coming in after lunch.



So the time flew by with me and Kyle spending time drawing, watching tv, cuddling and eating some junk. Then Jerry and Matt came home for lunch (Matt had to attend their school mass earlier.) bringing with them the beads needed for Matt's project.



After lunch, the four of us were all hunched in the living room trying to string together the beads. Jerry helped Matt with his project, while I made extra for Kyle. In 30 minutes, we were done with the rosaries, white for Matt & blue for Kyle.



*Sigh* I really would want to be able to do things with my family... sometimes even to the point of missing half-day of work....

All About Thursday



My work day yesterday went fine and I was a bit energetic to finish up on some minor backlogs *blushes*. Though there were some irritants (like my superior who kept texting me his requests/directives instead of putting them in writing *grrr* ), my day in the office was uneventful, really.



The kids had half-day classes so we all had lunch at home. It was great knowing that the kids had a free afternoon to rest, play or catch up on something. Jerry thought it was a good time to take the kids and their granny (they call A-ma) to dinner.



By 6PM we were on our way to fetch A-ma from her house. Dinner was at Big Mao where we enjoyed some dimsum, patatim and fish. Hmm, not really my idea of mouth-watering food, but I still got my fill. Though I found the place kinda pricey for a Chinese resto, service was quite impressive, I should say. Dessert was at La Marea where I had my sans rival. After some light conversation mostly about the kids & my pregnancy, soon it was time for A-ma to be brought home.



Time spent with A-ma was all pleasant and relaxed, we intend to take her out more often. (Though I married into a Chinese family, buti na lang I have no problem with my mom-in-law. Heehee.)

Of Food and Reality TV



Yesterday's cravings were "banana-cue" for my afternoon snack and "paksiw na lechon" for dinner.



While watching the television and gawking at Kris Aquino's confessions on her love-affair-gone-sour, I was also enjoying my lechon paksiw and rice tv-dinner. Either the reality tv show was longer than it should have been or I was really hungry when I noticed I was going back to the dinner table a few more times to get food.



When I finally let up, I already had too much ... too much of the lechon paksiw and too much of the surprise revelation about the sordid details of Joey Marquez' unfair treatment of poor Kris.

Slept last night & woke up today to the same bagatelle of a headline... that Joey Marquez allegedly poked a gun at live-in lover, Kris Aquino during a verbal tussle over a text message.



True or not, that's Philippine media feasting on anything to sell copies and airtime.



*Ho-hum*

I was roused from sleep in the middle of the night to find Kyle standing by the bedside, looking a bit worried... "What is it?", I sleepily asked him as he stood there looking half awake. He was holding a bit of something between his fingers and was trying to show me. "Ma, my tooth fell off. See?".



Jerry woke up amused at our unexpected guest & invited him to spend the remainder of the night with us. I motioned him to hop into bed between me and Jerry, tucked him under the sheets and cuddled him back to sleep. I then looked at the tiny piece of enamel on the side table...



Aw... Kyle is now missing his front tooth.

Kostka Wins!



Matt's team/section won in today's basketball game! Highlights of the game according to Papa Jerry are the ff:



1. Matt was the first to score a basket.

2. Matt contributed 4 points to a team total of 12.

3. Final score is 12-11.







YEY!!!

Where's the Towel?



"Boys, take off your shoes & socks and wash your hands", I recite like a mantra, everyday without fail the moment Jerry,the kids and I enter our house after a long day at school/work. I then plop on our bed and grab a few minutes of rest until it's time for dinner.



Last night, as I lay in bed enjoying the peace and quiet, Kyle, my 7-year old son, came in to use our bathroom. Jerry was giving me a good back rub (pregnant mommies love this!). Then I heard Kyle blurt in Cebuano, after washing his hands: "Uy, wala ma'y towel diri, panty ra man!" (Hey, there's no towel here, there's just panty on the rack!)



*Woops!*....



(Then Jerry and I burst out laughing....)

Kyle finished his lunch in my office surprisingly early today and I, sort of, felt in the mood to go with them back to school. This would give me a short change in scenery at least, a very much needed break after hours of paperwork.



Nearing Kyle's school gate, I looked out the window and said: "Uy, Jer, parang ang sarap nun..." (hey Jer, that one looks yummy...). Being the dutiful, thoughtful husband that he is, Jerry promptly maneuvered the car to a halt and ran to the peddler ...





*hover*



...to buy me my preggy whim for the moment --- cheap tempura and fishballs!

Michael Buble



Just came across the official site of the now famous 25-year old Vancouver vocalist, Michael Buble (click name), and soon found myself swooning over his songs. His cd has been a recommended "good buy" by Lifestyle channel. And he is scheduled for a 9/18 concert tour at the PICC.



I think my parents would surely relive fond memories if they hear the remade songs of '50-'60's artists... Calling Junnie and May, Ma's birthday is coming up. Wouldn't you be generous enough to take them to the concert? Just tell me how much I owe you guys.



As for me, being pregnant in Cebu and all, I'll make do with the website's player to listen to the songs and transport myself in another time.

Last Saturday was the report card distribution, so it was an early morning trip for the four of us to the kids' school to avoid the traffic.



And these were posted in their classrooms...







Matt & Kyle's names were included...Smart kids noh? Hehehe....

Kobe Shoes and Jersey No. 15







This was yesterday's game where Matt's team lost to the other section. Matt's section now has 1 win and 1 loss.



1 loss? It didn't matter much, as long as Papa Jerry and brother Kyle were there to watch him.

Junnie made a good post on the ubiquitous jeepneys on his site which got me thinking. Jeepneys are perfect examples of Filipino ingenuity, I agree.



If only these jeepney drivers were more courteous on the road, then I'd refrain from turning my bright headlights on. Knowing that these jeepneys have oversized rear-view mirrors, I normally do when trailing a slow-moving jeepney on a narrow lane that refuses to give way or one that decides to load/unload passengers in the middle of the road. Proves quite effective for me.



These jeepney drivers are the antithesis of what the jeepneys symbolize.

The morning sickness these past few days was mild. My cravings were not really far out unlike last week when I wanted to have "saba" with caramel syrup, milk and ice, and bibingka only from Mandaue.



Getting up these days and doing the regular morning chore of taking a shower and putting together the day's wardrobe didn't render me weak and dizzy. Thank God!



I now have a renewed zest to finish my finance reports on time. Not to mention the desire to keep posting on the blog in between office work.



I guess the prescribed new prenatal vitamin, OB-Smart, is really doing wonders for me.

Tomorrow is Osmena Day which means tomorrow is a holiday for the province of Cebu.



YESSS!

It's the Blessed Mother's birthday today and what a good way to start the workweek - with an early morning mass. Jerry and I heard mass to celebrate the special Marian occasion....



Prayers to the Blessed Virgin Mary



Father of mercy, give your people help and strength from heaven. The birth of the Virgin Mary's Son was the dawn of our salvation. May the celebration of her birthday bring us closer to lasting peace. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen



Our Father – Hail Mary – Glory be to the Father.

Old wives' tales say that pregnant women could eat anything they fancy without the risk of having indigestion. I could attest that there is no truth to this at all.



I just had one of the worst tummy aches last night after partaking of a buffet dinner at Laguna Garden. Perhaps I had too much of the beef caldereta...



----



We attended the 3rd birthday party of my cousin's youngest son (my kids' 2nd degree cousin), Hans yesterday. It was a big gathering of relatives and friends. While doing the rounds of greeting my relatives, they all congratulated me for being in that interesting phase.



Good news travels fast indeed.



---



Though my tummy was threatening to "go" any minute, Jerry, the kids and I still took the time to drop by our friends' place where there was yet another gathering. Wine was overflowing and cheese was a-plenty. I refrained from taking any and contented myself with the exchange of stories by the wives whose kids were there too.



We were talking about child-rearing and the potential hazards of teenage life these days. Years before we would see each other only during kiddie parties. Now, we were talking about being parents to kids on the brink of being teens.



Ah, time really flies.

8wks 0day

Had my trans-v ultrasound yesterday (for those who are not familiar, this is not the ordinary routine pelvic ultrasound) and found out that I was 8 weeks heavy with a new bundle of joy.

My last pregnancy being 7 years ago, during a time when ultrasound was only done on the 2nd half of a normal pregnancy, yesterday, I was quite impressed with the new technology I subjected myself to. At this very early stage, it's incredible seeing my baby's tiny but clear image on the monitor with its heart beating really fast at 175 beats/min.



Life is really growing inside of me now. What an honor...

I'm in the mood for a small bar of Nestle Crunch...

I finally had my fill of the ube flan today, after two days of pining for it. Jerry bought 3 cups for dessert. Kyle and I heartily shared a small cup a while ago. I still have another cup on my desk for later.



Looking at it as it sits on my desk, its little white spoon beckoning me to take another scoop of its yummy purplish creamy gelatinous consistency - now makes me queasy.



Darn...I wish my appetite were back to normal.

Just an Update



Just a while ago, I craved for beef steak for lunch. After indulging myself, I felt I couldn't take another bite of it. Then I thought my officemate's "pinakbet" looked more appealing. Short of requesting the utility man to go buy for me, I changed my mind.



Not only with food do I manifest a different behavior. I used to think watching tv was a big waste of time. I'd rather go online and blog. Last Saturday and Sunday, I didn't even touch my laptop, because I was literally glued to the sofa surfing channels.



Why is it that when a woman is expecting, her whole life suddenly makes drastic changes that are unexpected? I've been a mom twice over with Matt & Kyle. Now after 7 years, I'm going to be a mom again. I'm supposed to be used to this right? I should now have a working knowledge of how to handle this delicate phase, right?



Hmm... Not me. I'm going through the same symptoms I had back in 1993 and 1996 - the same hormone-induced appetite and mood-swings that surprise even myself. And yet it feels I'm going through it for the first time!





(I feel like eating ube flan right this very minute... Not just any ube flan but the one from Mother's. At least that's what my "lihi" dictates....)