Guess What...?

... we have a new PUPPY!

It's just an ASKAL, but I find it to be one of the cutest dogs in the planet. =) Its name is Kroko (or Croco... dunno how Daddy intends to spell it), but I sometimes call the pup Baby or Puppy. =) It's hair is a fluffy brown-black-white, it's got cute black eyes and a bushy little tail. =) It's MAARTE when it comes to food (parang nagte-taste test lang palagi), it devours lots of water, and it learns fast (Kroko already knows where he should pee or defecate). And, it follows its owners wherever they go. I remember just this Saturday, when I was alone in the house... I went inside the toilet to take a bath, and Kroko was whimpering because he doesn't know where to find me... I kept on calling him so he would be pacified... and when I got out of the toilet, there he is... right in front of the toilet door!

And then, when I went inside the bedroom to read some broadsheets, he went inside, too, and found someplace where he could fit in snugly and went to sleep. When I went out of the house as silently as I could to check the water, when I turned my back, there he was... right behind me, following me!

Then, this morning, as I was prepping for work, I found Kroko standing outside our bedroom door, and following my footsteps wherever I go. I find it so adorable! =)

How did we find Kroko? Well, he's actually Charming's puppy. Charming is Daddy's first-ever, and favorite, pet... right now, she's with the in-laws. =) But lately, Charming has gone haywire... she seems to have been struck by the deadly rabies, and she's been wrecking havoc to everything and everyone, from the soil in their backyard to the wooden doors, from visitors to members of the family. :o So, Daddy decided to just sell Charming... it was heartbreaking for him, as Charming was his first and favorite dog.....

The night before Charming's departure, Daddy drank with his brother. I and his brother's girlfriend were around to make "kwento" with them. But my purpose was really just to stand guard beside Daddy, because his brother tends to drink too much. Also, he said he's going to visit Charming and talk to her for the last time, and only his brother knew then where she's at, so he's just kinda getting along with his bro.

I almost pierced him on the ear upon their third bottle of booze, because he was already tipsy. But he hugged me, and said he needed to see Charming... she was his first and the closest to his heart. So, I just promised to stay beside him, sans the fact that he's puked on my back (eww, hehe).

They have just made three shots on the last bottle when Daddy said, "Tara na, punta na tayo kay Charming." And off we went... but it wasn't that emotional. Daddy isn't emo.. but I know he's been really sad.

The following day, Daddy and I slept 'til past 12 noon because our heads ached terribly (mine because of the heat and lack of sleep, his because of the hangover)... and then, we slept once more after lunch 'til around 4:30pm. Come evening, we both went to bed at around 10pm... he summoned me to hug him and wrap him in blankets because he feels cold and I don't want to turn off the electric fan (pregnancy ups your body heat, you know).

So... that's it. =)

My Mommy Journal's Online Now! Yehey! =)

Check this out:

My Mommy Diaries.

This is my online Mommy Journal! =)

You see, I've been writing on a mommy diary since I hit 2nd trimester... wasn't able to share the contents online yet for lack of time... but now, since I'm scheduled to begin my maternal break next week (wink), I think I'll be able to attend to this na. =) An excerpt:

"Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Baby. Mommy loves you. Daddy loves you, too. And we wanted you so much. We'll do everything to give you the life, the future that you ought to have....."

Aww? :)

Happy reading! =)

P.S.: I forgot to say that membership is strictly BY INVITATION ONLY. :) If you want to view the contents, please gimme your Multiply username or the email address attached to your Multiply account. =) Thanks! =)

And... it's still under construction, so for the moment, please bear with me. =) Grazie! =)

Recent Realizations =)

You're my peace of mind in this crazy world.....

He really loves that song. And I love that it speaks about him....

You see, these days, maybe ever since we lived together, I've been having a hard time going to sleep (as in, a restful sleep) when he's not yet beside me. Once he lays down beside me, I hug him, and once I feel him close to me, that's the only time when I'd really get a restful sleep.

For him, though, it's the other way around. 0_o He says he's having a hard time dozing off while I'm blissfully hugging him in my sleep. =) Blame that on the balmy weather, but I think it's also because he's aware that he's putting somebody to sleep, that's why he himself is being deprived of it! Haha... poor husband! :p

That's why sans that, I'd really like to thank him for sleeping beside me still. It has made not only my pregnancy, but also living in a home other than my childhood one, more comfortable and bearable.

Meanwhile, this morning while I was prepping for work, I just had this realization: I'M MEANT TO BE A MOM! =) Why did I say that? Well, while I was trying on dresses to wear to work this morning, I happened to peruse some of my body features... and I just realized that they're really tailor-made to carry a baby and build a family! =) I've got wide hips, big thighs (which, I've read on Reader's Digest, helps in a baby's brain development), big boobs (xp), and all. =) Plus, a lot of people are saying that I look prettier now that I'm pregnant, sans the extra pounds. :)) So, maybe hiyang talaga sa 'kin magbuntis. To think that I once decided to stay single and childless for life!

Yes... when I was younger, I'd fall in love and get into relationships, but I never saw myself as a married person.

That is, until I met my baby's daddy (yihee!).

But the realization did not arrive to me overnight. We were, I guess, already five years into the relationship (super on-and-off!) when I finally realized that I want him to be the father of my children and my partner for life.

It all started when he brought me to his childhood home and introduced me to his family. We talked in their backyard... and it was the first time we really hugged each other (with matching closed eyes! =). While he was hugging me with his eyes closed, I suddenly realized what a catch he is... I suddenly realized how handsome he is. =)

It was also our first time to engage in a long conversation... a conversation which I found so meaningful, I wanted to be engaged in it forever.....

I hope he feels the same way......

Daddy, I love you. With all of me... guaranteed! =) I want to spend my life forever with you.

God, bless us. =)

My Baby Is Healthy! Yehey.... =)

Just had my monthly checkup last Saturday... I arrived, I guess, past 4pm already and was only attended to about 30 minutes to an hour later, as there has been an influx of patients. Maybe that's the reason why the doctor just told me to get my 2nd ultrasound next month. Next week, I'll get my 2nd anti-tetanus shot... they weren't able to give me this weekend because they ran out of stock. That's just it.

But that's not exactly what I want to share. =)

What I've been itching to blog about since Sunday was the fact that the doctor commended me for having a very healthy baby. =) My baby is already six months old, measures a little over 8 inches (which, I found out, is short for a six-month-old but is OK because at least, I won't have to go through so much trouble upon delivery), and has a very, very strong heartbeat. =) The doctor also advised me, ten times, to avoid sweets and salty food, because she once had a patient who was so fond of pancit canton that it made not only her legs, but her tummy bloated and displaying signs of edema as well. :o

So, here's what she exactly advised me as she wraps up my checkup session. It serves as my inspiration in everything I do right now:

"Wala namang problema... OK naman 'yung baby mo, napakalusog... Basta iwasan 'yung maalat at matatamis, ha... Tapos ipagpatuloy mo lang 'yung vitamins 'tsaka 'yung folic acid with ferrous sulfate...."

Hahahaha. Wala lang. My baby is healthy. =) And I can attribute this all to God.

Why to God? Kasi, truth is, madalas akong nagngangata ng keso de bola (it's not really that salty, but my friends have been reprimanding me hehe), my breakfast is often noodles, and it's been weeks since I last had my vitamins and folic acid (kasi wala nang stock... at wala ring pambili :o). Aware din ako that I've been uber stressed these past few days... tumaas nga ang BP ko e, although normal pa rin naman daw (110/80). So, you know what I do? Aside from making sure that I get to eat veggies whenever I can, I always pray. Kasi, there's really nothing else, and nothing better I can do, right? My prayer has always been this:

Lord, ang baby ko. Please keep him safe, happy, and healthy in my tummy.....

And, whenever I get the chance, I really talk to my baby. During the evenings, before I doze off, I would "play" with my baby by drawing circles 'round my tummy, which I think it really likes. =) Then, I sing songs to my baby, and I think Baby likes that, too. =)

How about his daddy? Just this Friday, on the eve of my checkup, he has been letting me lie down on bed, and he will lean there and observe my tummy's movements. He really seems to be having fun seeing my tummy heave and feeling bumps 'round it every time. =)

The other night, I woke up to find him smoothing the creases of my shirt so that he could see the contours of my tummy better. When he saw that I was awake and watching him, he looked kinda embarassed... and pretended he was fixing my clothes. =) But it was so touching, all I did was hug him and motion for him to touch my tummy, which he did eagerly. He was like a kid who just discovered a new kind of candy or toy. Huwaaaahhhh.....

Right now, I'm on my desk here at the office... did I tell you that Friday will be my last day here??? But anyway, right now... my baby's making my tummy heave na naman... and it's going right-right... left... right-right... left. =) Grabe baby ko. Kaya na niyang pagalawin si Mommy. =) Hehehehehe. I admit it can be painful at times, especially whenever the baby kicks while I'm standing or walking (it makes me hunch my back talaga)... it even makes me want to pee... but I feel happy whenever Baby kicks. Why? Because I get to know that the little angel trapped inside me is alive. =) Thank God, really... super thank God. =)

A while ago, my baby's daddy is telling me he's getting depressed because of our problems, all stemming from our lack of resources and support. Well... I often experience that depression, too... but 'you know what keeps me strong? It's my baby. And its daddy. The family that we are starting to build. I hope that inspires him to work hard, too.

Lord, ang baby ko. Ang daddy niya. Please keep them safe, happy, and healthy always. And thank You so much for everything. We'll be counting on You to be the center of our family. All praises be to You! Amen....

What Marriage Is

This story has been circulating Facebook-ville for some time now. First heard about it from Hubby... now, I'm reposting it here. Credits to Ms. Jobelle Ruiz:

To those who are married, .. Not married .. and
soon to be married, I hope you will be touched with this story...


MARRIAGE



When I got home that night as my wife served dinner, I held her hand and
said, I've got something to tell you. She sat down and ate quietly.
Again I observed the hurt in her eyes.



Suddenly I didn't kn...ow how to open my mouth. But I had to let her know
what I was thinking. I want a divorce.. I raised the topic calmly.



She didn't seem to be annoyed by my words, instead she asked me softly,
why?



I avoided her question. This made her angry. She threw away the
chopsticks and shouted at me, you are not a man! That night, we didn't
talk to each other. She was weeping. I knew she wanted to find out what
had happened to our marriage. But I could hardly give her a satisfactory
answer; she had lost my heart to Dew. I didn't love her anymore. I just
pitied her!



With a deep sense of guilt, I drafted a divorce agreement which stated
that she could own our house, our car, and 30% stake of my company.



She glanced at it and then tore it into pieces. The woman who had spent
ten years of her life with me had become a stranger. I felt sorry for
her wasted time, resources and energy but I could not take back what I
had said for I loved Dew so dearly. Finally she cried loudly in front of
me, which was what I had expected to see. To me her cry was actually a
kind of release. The idea of divorce which had obsessed me for several
weeks seemed to be firmer and clearer now.



The next day, I came back home very late and found her writing something
at the table. I didn't have supper but went straight to sleep and fell
asleep very fast because I was tired after an eventful day with Dew.



When I woke up, she was still there at the table writing. I just did not
care so I turned over and was asleep again.



In the morning she presented her divorce conditions: she didn't want
anything from me, but needed a month's notice before the divorce.

She requested that in that one month we both struggle to live as normal a
life as possible. Her reasons were simple: our son had his exams in a
month's time and she didn't want to disrupt him with our broken
marriage.



This was agreeable to me. But she had something more, she asked me to
recall how I had carried her into out bridal room on our wedding day.



She requested that everyday for the month's duration I carry her out of
our bedroom to the front door ever morning.. I thought she was going
crazy. Just to make our last days together bearable I accepted her odd
request.



I told Dew about my wife's divorce conditions.. . She laughed loudly and
thought it was absurd. No matter what tricks she applies, she has to
face the divorce, she said scornfully..



My wife and I hadn't had any body contact since my divorce intention was
explicitly expressed. So when I carried her out on the first day, we
both appeared clumsy. Our son clapped behind us, daddy is holding mummy
in his arms. His words brought me a sense of pain. From the bedroom to
the sitting room, then to the door, I walked over ten meters with her in
my arms. She closed her eyes and said softly; don't tell our son about
the divorce. I nodded, feeling somewhat upset. I put her down outside
the door. She went to wait for the bus to work. I drove alone to the
office.



On the second day, both of us acted much more easily. She leaned on my
chest. I could smell the fragrance of her blouse. I realized that I
hadn't looked at this woman carefully for a long time.. I realized she
was not young any more. There were fine wrinkles on her face, her hair
was graying! Our marriage had taken its toll on her. For a minute I
wondered what I had done to her.



On the fourth day, when I lifted her up, I felt a sense of intimacy
returning. This was the woman who had given ten years of her life to me.




On the fifth and sixth day, I realized that our sense of intimacy was
growing again. I didn't tell Dew about this. It became easier to carry
her as the month slipped by. Perhaps the everyday workout made me
stronger.



She was choosing what to wear one morning. She tried on quite a few
dresses but could not find a suitable one. Then she sighed, all my
dresses have grown bigger. I suddenly realized that she had grown so
thin, that was the reason why I could carry her more easily.



Suddenly it hit me... she had buried so much pain and bitterness in her
heart. Subconsciously I reached out and touched her head.



Our son came in at the moment and said, Dad, it's time to carry mum out.
To him, seeing his father carrying his mother out had become an
essential part of his life. My wife gestured to our son to come closer
and hugged him tightly. I turned my face away because I was afraid I
might change my mind at this last minute. I then held her in my arms,
walking from the bedroom, through the sitting room, to the hallway. Her
hand surrounded my neck softly and naturally. I held her body tightly;
it was just like our wedding day.



But her much lighter weight made me sad. On the last day, when I held
her in my arms I could hardly move a step. Our son had gone to school. I
held her tightly and said, I hadn't noticed that our life lacked
intimacy.



I drove to office.... jumped out of the car swiftly without locking the
door. I was afraid any delay would make me change my mind...I walked
upstairs. Dew opened the door and I said to her, Sorry, Dew, I do not
want the divorce anymore.



She looked at me, astonished, and then touched my forehead.. Do you have
a fever? She said. I moved her hand off my head. Sorry, Dew, I said, I
won't divorce. My marriage life was boring probably because she and I
didn't value the details of our lives, not because we didn't love each
other any more. Now I realize that since I carried her into my home on
our wedding day I am supposed to hold her until death do us apart.



Dew seemed to suddenly wake up. She gave me a loud slap and then slammed
the door and burst into tears. I walked downstairs and drove away.



At the floral shop on the way, I ordered a bouquet of flowers for my
wife. The salesgirl asked me what to write on the card. I smiled and
wrote, I'll carry you out every morning until death do us apart.



That evening I arrived home, flowers in my hands, a smile on my face, I
run up stairs, only to find my wife in the bed - dead.



The small details of your lives are what really matter in a
relationship. It is not the mansion, the car, property, the money in the
bank. These create an environment conducive for happiness but cannot
give happiness in themselves. So find time to be your spouse's friend
and do those little things for each other that build intimacy. Do have a
real happy marriage!



If you don't share this, nothing will happen to you.



If you do, you just might save a marriage.





Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they
were to success when they gave up.

Let Everyday Be Earth Day!

We all know what Earth Day is supposed to be for.

But do we really imbibe in ourselves the message that celebrating Earth Day is giving us?

Get to learn more about Earth Day....

As well as what you can do so that everyday will be Earth Day.

Check this out: Maryan's Earth Day Advocacy

OVERVIEW:

22nd April is Earth Day, let's start with this day and make Earth Day Every Day! Our planet is facing bigger challenges than ever before. Our ancient forests are being chopped down and our oceans recklessly fished out and polluted at a breathtaking pace. Whaling, toxic pollution, dirty coal, dangerous nuclear energy and genetically engineered crops threaten the quality and even sustainability of lives around the planet There are many things that are out of one person's action influence, but there are even more things that each of us can change and make a difference!

Let's start today! =)

JOIN US IN OUR ADVOCACY... NOW!

LSS: It's Gonna Make Sense, by MLTR :)

I LOVE THIS SONG! I just heard this over the radio... naririnig ko pa lang yung melody, gusto ko na siya. =) Kaya I really vowed to get a copy of this song. By all means!!!!! =)

ANOTHER THING: I'm glad Michael Learns to Rock hasn't stopped making songs. I've always loved them, since time immemorial! Woohoo! =)

Life comes in many shapes
You think you know what you got
until it changes

And life will take you high and low
you gotta learn how to walk
and then which way to go

Every choice you make
when you're lost
Every step you take
has it's cause

[Chorus:]
After you clear your eyes
you'll see the light
somewhere in the darkness
After the rain has gone
you'll feel the sun comes
and though it seems your sorrow never ends
someday its gonna make sense

Tears you shed are all the same
when you laughed 'till you cried
or broken down in pain

All the hours you have spent in the past
worrying about
a thing that didn't last

Everything you saw
played a part
in everything you are
in your heart

[Chorus:]
After you clear your eyes
you'll see the light
somewhere in the darkness
After the rain has gone
you'll feel the sun comes
and though it seems your sorrow never ends
someday your gonna find the answers

to all the things you've become(and all day down)
at your expense
Someday it's gonna make sense

after the rain has gone
you feel the sun comes
and though it seems your sorrow never ends
someday it's gonna make sense
after the rain has gone
you feel the sun comes
and though it seems your sorrow never ends
someday its gonna make sense