Lola's Advice

I overheard my mother talking to RJ the other day and was so touched by what she said to him, ever so tenderly:

"Take care of your mom, okay? That means don't cry when she is busy. See how much she sacrifices for you? Every two to three hours she pumps milk for you to eat because you were not able to latch on properly when you were first born. It is important for her to do this for you so you must be a good boy and be patient when she's doing this, okay? Just because she is busy does not mean she doesn't love you. She will pick you up and hug you when she is done. She loves you very much, just as I love her and just as I love you too."

Barbie Black Label

Oh my gosh - could it be? Barbie has finally come out with a Black Label collection, and in this collection she's wearing... wait for it... a little black dress! I saw it at ToysRUs the other day and absolutely had to buy one for my collection. What's so sweet is that my hubby encouraged me to purchase it - hahaha, here I am at thirty-something still buying Barbies. Gotta love it!

I am now the proud owner of a Barbie Black Label Basics Collection #001 Model #002 Barbie Doll. Whoo hoo!!!

I couldn't find an image to post, but here's a link to the product:

http://www.barbiecollector.com/shop/product.aspx?sku=R9918

2009 - A Year of Firsts

I can hardly believe that there are less than three weeks left to 2009. Looking back, I feel so very blessed this year. There were so many firsts, as well as other events, that I will never forget and am most thankful for.

January 2009 - The last month that I worked. The first month that I was placed on disability. The first time I successfully carried a pregnancy into a second trimester. The first time Rob and I took a childbirthing class.

February 2009 - The first (of many) progesterone shots throughout my pregnancy. The first ultrasound where we found out we were having a boy!

March 2009 - Rob and I started our confirmation classes. (I know, it was a long time coming... we're sorry it took us this long!)

April 2009 - Our first baby shower. It was awesome - we were so incredibly blessed!!!

May 2009 - The first time I gave birth to a live baby - welcome RJ!!! The first time our son peed on Daddy (hahaha!) The month we were finally confirmed into the Catholic church.

June 2009 - Our first month as new parents - boy did we learn a lot that month!

July 2009 - RJ's first 4th of July. He slept through the BBQ we hosted, but it was still fun for everyone!

August 2009 - RJ's first photo session (so much fun!) RJ's first road trip (we drove to San Francisco to visit Ninang Jane & family). RJ's first trip to Legoland.

September 2009 - RJ was baptized - yay! The first time the entire San Mateo family was together to visit Angelina.

October 2009 - RJ's first Halloween. He was Baby Darth Vader. We trick-or-treated with Mel, Phil and RJ's cousins, Kuya Kane (Charger's/Ninja Boy) and Baby Ryder (Dinosaur - his first Halloween too!) Good times.

November 2009 - RJ's first trip to Seaworld. RJ's first Thanksgiving.

December 2009 - RJ's first trip to Disneyland. RJ's first photo with Santa. And in just a couple of weeks it will be RJ's first Christmas, we can hardly wait!

Almost 6 Months Old

In two days my son will officially be 6 months old. Wow, I can hardly believe it. He's grown so fast. Just yesterday I was pregnant and on bedrest, and now, he's growing bigger every week. Thank goodness for our Baby Bjorn, I couldn't hold him for a long period of time otherwise!

Hubby and I worked so hard for this little guy, and he was so incredibly worth the tough journey that we went through. I truly do believe it was a blessing in disguise that I was laid off from work and I am so thankful that I've been able to spend this time with my son. What a blessing, in so many ways...

Victory Is Mine!!!

I am SO incredibly proud of myself right now... I figured out how to convert my Bugaboo Chameleon stroller from a bassinet to a child seat... ALL BY MYSELF... WHOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOO!!!

I asked the hubby to do this last month since RJ is getting bigger and is no longer interested in laying down in his stroller. He's been super busy at work, so that request is low on his to do list at home. Thankfully we have a Maclaren stroller that I've been able to use - but the Bugaboo is a lot more sturdier and I believe will be better for long walks. Anyhoo, I decided to try and figure it out myself - lo and behold - I did it. Victory is mine!

BEABA Babycook

When I was pregnant and on bedrest I remember that I saw this product featured as a "must have" on Oprah, Martha Stewart or Rachel Ray (one of those daytime shows). It is officially on my wish list.

http://www.diapers.com/Product/ProductDetail.aspx?productId=14266&cm_mmc=mrkt_email-_-agebased-_-baby6-_-prod1image

While I love being at home with my son right now... it sucks that we don't have the disposable income that we used to. One one hand, this thing is only $150... on the other hand, this thing is $150! (Sigh)

Missing the Hubby

Hubby works for a nuclear power plant. Twice a year they have what are called "outages" where one of the two nuclear reactors is shut down for testing, maintenance, etc. I believe this is mandated by the nuclear power commission - or something like that. They have to meet the deadline set by the nuclear power folks, or else the plant will be shut down and there won't be any power - so yeah, failure is not an option. Anyhoo, that means that my hubby's team works 10 hour days, 6 days a week, alternating shifts so that folks are working 24/7 (a deal that their union worked out).


We knew this was part of the job, but it still sucks. On one hand it's awesome - because this is the time my hubby makes A LOT of money considering all of the overtime that he has to work. It's especially great right now considering I'm not employed at the moment. It sucks because hubby only has one day off, he's exhausted, and we don't get to spend much quality time together as a family, much less as a couple.


Right now he's passed out on the small sofa that we have in our bedroom. He was feeding RJ a bottle and they both fell asleep. Tonight is the second night that I made a special dinner for him and he fell asleep before he had the chance to eat it. I won't wake him up because I know he's tired and he needs his sleep. I won't wake him because I know that even if I try, he'll barely stir. I won't wake him because he already took out the trash, took a shower, played with our son, read to our son, gave me time so that I could eat dinner, and got our son to fall asleep. I appreciate him.

I also miss him. Unlike before the outage, our conversations during the day are rare and infrequent because there is no cell reception inside the reactor. RJ and I can't visit him at work, or meet up for lunch, because special security clearance is needed just to be in the area where he works.

I'm not complaining. I'm just saying... We make the most of the time we have together... but still, I really really miss him...

Recertification - WHAT!?

Aw crap, I just recently realized that my PHR certification is going to expire in 2010. I have less than 10 months to earn 60 recertification credit hours... otherwise I have to retake the test. Crap, crap, crap, crap, CRAP!!!!

Considering that I was (1) disabled for almost a year due to pregnancy/bedrest/giving birth and (2) unemployed for a few months, I can request an extension - but that's going to cost me $100 just to make the request!

I guess worst case scenario I can retake the test. But with the little guy at home, I don't know how I'm going to be able to prepare for it. Last time I took a great prep course at Cal State San Marcos - I would want to do that again. Last time I prepped for the PHR, but if I'm going to take the test again I may as well go for my SPHR. Last time I didn't have a baby at home and had all the time and energy in the world... this time, not so much.

Ugh... I will figure it out. Crap, crap, crap, crap CRAP!!!

Rest Of Your Life

This was the song that Mr. and I danced to for the first time as husband and wife. We loved the lyrics then, and still love them now. Thank you to Na Leo for writing and singing such a wonderful song (they're huge in Hawaii)...

What are you doing for the rest of your life?
We could watch the stars at night, twinkling high above.
'Cause I promise you, for the rest of your life
I will be there by your side, I will be your love.

What are you doing for the rest of your life?
If you believe in destiny then how can you not see,
that I'll be with you for the rest of your life.
Someday you will realize we were meant to be.

Time flies on guilded wings and faith in my heart it sings,
but I just have to know one thing...

What are you doing for the rest of your life?
Could I be the only one to know this part of you?
And you will find, for the rest of your life
that I will love you for the rest of mine.
Yes I will love you for the rest of mine...

To Work or Not To Work w/Hubby

Last night I saw a job opening at my husband's company for an HR Manager. I told my husband about it. Here's the funny conversation that we had:

Me: Hey, mahal, look there's an opening for an HR Manager position at [insert name of husband's company here].

Hubby: Really? Lemme see the job posting.

Me: Hmmm, what do you think, should I apply for it?

Hubby: Yeah....um.... I don't think so.

Me: Why?

Hubby: (Laughs) Our union would eat you alive!

Cherish

I'm still looking for a job - I've come pretty close to a couple of offers, but nothing has quite come through yet. I've never been in this situation before - I've always been the top candidate for the positions I've interviewed for. Oh well...times are tough and I am well aware that there are plenty of well qualified people out there applying to the same jobs as I am.

Rob and I are praying, and we trust in the Lord, so when the right opportunity comes up, we know there will be a clear sign. Until then I am doing my best to cherish every moment that I have with my son right now - I am so thankful that I've been here for him for his first four months so far. If I had gone back to work back in August I would have missed his first laugh, the first time he was alert in his entertainer/bumbo/playpen, the first time he started grabbing things, etc.

I love my son so much - and while I really need to go back to work, and look forward to doing so, I'm going to miss him so so very much. I must remember to cherish, and continue to cherish, every moment I have with him right now... even when he's screaming and kicking and fighting his naptime ;)

Make It Work

I had an awesome phone interview today. It's for a temp position, but a job's a job, and it will most definitely pay more than unemployment, which is currently only $450/week. In this current economy I understand that I need to be flexible - thank goodness the position is in HR.

Anyhoo, I've got a wardrobe dilemma... they want to meet me in person tomorrow... due to my pregnancy, I haven't had to wear a suit in over a year. Needless to say, I highly doubt any of them fit me, especially since I was losing weight right before I got pregnant. I refuse to buy a new suit because I own so many.

Thankfully, for whatever reason, when I lost weight, there was one pair of black pants that I did not have taken in. As they say in Project Runway, I'm gonna "make it work". Here's hoping RJ does not spit up on me between the time I get dressed and the time I drop him off with my cousin to watch him!

My baby is a BOY!

Last week we took RJ to the Carlsbad Outlets for a nice stroll and to search for a much needed floppy hat. He was wearing a bodysuit that was white with brown monkeys on it. While I was holding him over my shoulder a lady tapped my shoulder and said, "Excuse me, she's spitting up." I thought to myself, who's spitting up and why should I care? Then I realized (gasp!), #1 RJ was spitting up and #2 the lady thought he was a girl! WHAT!?

Oh no she didn't... so that's it, I went through his "going out" clothes and will make sure he's got blue on from now on!

Four Reasons He Cries

There are 4 reasons why my son cries:

(1) He's hungry (accompanied with the extreme arching of his back)
(2) He needs to burp (or fart)
(3) He's tired
(4) He's got a dirty diaper

I hope it's always like this...I've been warned that it's not, so thus I will cherish the present!

Postnatal Things No One Tells You

When I was pregnant I read a bunch of books and spoke to a lot of my girlfriends who had babies. Here are some postnatal things that no one told me:

(1) That my nose was going to get huge - really really huge - and would take weeks before it went back down to normal. Needless to say, there are very few pictures of me with the baby in his first few weeks.

(2) That I would retain fluid and my feet were going to swell up so large that not even my flip-flops would fit. I had elephant feet - I never saw anything like that ever before!

(3) That my belly button would be loose. I knew my body wasn't going to be the same, but I wasn't expecting that one!

(4) How seriously important it is to do your Kegels. Okay, people did tell me, and I did read about it, but I just didn't take it seriously enough. Whoa is me...

(5) Breastfeeding is hard and you need to have patience.

(6) Most importantly - not all babies latch on right away in the beginning - AND THAT'S OKAY.

(7) The right Lactation Consultant can be a godsend and don't listen to anything anyone else tells you - LC's are the true experts and know what's best!!!

Baby's First Mass

We took RJ to mass for the first time today. He had one wet diaper, a couple of farts (that we thought were poopie diapers), and was only fussy twice... other than that, he was an absolute angel! Ahhhhh, we're hoping he'll be like that all the time... we'll see ;)

Filipino Curious George

Ever since my son was in my uterus, I read to him. Yesterday I checked out childrens' books from the library. The little guy is only 8 weeks old so I try to find stories that are short and that I enjoy reading. Since I love monkeys, it only made sense to get some Curious George books.

My mother-in-law is so adorable... she reads the stories to him and puts her on spin on the stories. For example, when Curious George was eating pizza - she taught my son that vegetables (gulay) are better than pizza, and he should eat that instead. So for a couple of days she kept asking him "You want pizza or gulay?"

Today she read another book to him, but in Tagalog. I love it. I'm crossing my fingers that my son will be able to understand and speak Tagalog :)

Baby's First Outing

My son is finally 8 weeks old - the age his pediatrician said he could "go out". So we took him to Babies R Us today so we could try on some baby carriers with him actually in them. It was weird - last time I was in that store I was pregnant with him... wow. His next outing will probably be his first mass on Sunday. Our parish priests have been asking about him and wondering when he's going to attend mass - can't wait for him to meet that Fathers and receive a blessing from them :)

Lastest Discovery

I recently clipped a coupon for Premium M&Ms and decided to pick some up when I went to the grocery store yesterday. Wow - my tastebuds were in heaven - Mint M&M's are DEEEEEEEEEELICIOUS!!!! Why hadn't I tried them before??? Oh yeah, they're like $3 a box. So totally worth it... I better slow down though, I've gotta lose the extra baby weight that I gained ;)

Baby & Me - Week 6

Today is the first time I've truly been "home alone" with the baby. No girlfriends, cousins, aunts, or other friends or family are over to lend a helping hand (my parents are in Vegas). So far it's been okay, but I have to admit that at 2am I was a little overwhelmed as I was operating on less than two hours of sleep. It's only the afternoon but so far I'm proud of the following accomplishments (in no particular order):

1. Emptied the Diaper Champ and took out the trash from our bedroom and bathroom.
2. Threw bedspread in the washer and it's now in the dryer (baby had peed on it several times already this week).
3. Learned how to cut my baby's finger nails and did so without shedding any blood - yay!
4. Went to the bathroom on several occassions and let the baby cry it out while I did so. (When you gotta go, you gotta go!)
5. Realized that I must pump after the baby is fed (not before) and did so accordingly.
6. Did #4 and allowed the baby to cry it out while I did so. It was tough, but I did it.
7. Prayed, several times, for the Lord to help me and the baby through the day.
8. Exchanged emails with my boss and the travel coordinator regarding my first trip when I return to work next month.
9. Ate a Fiber One bar for breakfast and inhaled leftovers for lunch.
10. Left a message with my Lactation Consultant.
11. Took a nap with the baby.
12. Had time to write this blog.
    

Things I'm looking forward to:

1. Hubby will be home from work in a few hours... I'm hoping I can get out to get some fresh air and recharge for a couple of hours.
2. Mom-in-law arrives next week to help take care of the baby.
3. Sunday, July 19th - baby will be 8 weeks old, the age his doctor said he could go out, whoo hoo!!!

Week 5

Today my son is 5 weeks old. I can hardly believe it. Each week the hubby and I learn something new. One week it was how to give RJ a bath/shower. Another week it was how I could squeeze in tasks such as laundry, paying bills online, etc. in-between RJ's feedings. It's challenging, but I wouldn't trade it for the world. Yeah, I don't get any sleep, and I usually have to inhale my food (which is usually cold), but it's so SO SO worth it. :)

Baby & Me - Day One

Hubby went back to work today. So far day one of just baby and me has been okay. God bless him, except for the usual crying when he's hungry or wet/dirty, he's been an angel. Ahhhh, hope he's this good for a looooooong time :)

Motherhood - Week 2.5

I am sooooo in love with my son. So much, that no matter how exhausted I am, it doesn't matter... Because he was born as a "late pre-term baby", I've had every challenge in the book with breastfeeding. I'm working very closely with a Lactation Consultant, and slowly but surely we're making progress.

Some days we take one step forward, two steps back... but the times he latches on for a good feeding are priceless.

I will continue to try, continue to pray, and continue to stay patient... we'll see what next week brings when the hubby goes back to work.

Baby San Mateo is Here!

It's amazing how much a mother and father can do on such little sleep. Hubby and I are adjusting to having our beautiful baby boy in our lives. It's tiring, but SO incredibly worth it.

Baby & I are having challenges with breast feeding. Thank goodness I found an awesome Lactation Consultant. Here's hoping that we'll get the hang of this soon!!!

Harnessing My Chi (Again)

I am trying, so very very very hard, to have patience with my parents. My mother is constantly screaming - it's driving me crazy. How the heck am I supposed to relax, in my oh so pregnant state, with her constantly yelling and screaming in the house?

I am trying, so very very very hard, to harness my chi... but it's difficult.

I know my parents are older. I know my mother is disabled. I know they are both hard of hearing. But dang, seriously, SERIOUSLY... why must they act the way they do?

Lord help me, please???

Monumental Events

This past week there were three moments that I must document so I don't forget...

(1) Mom said to Dad, "Your daughter is right." Wow, my mother has NEVER said that I was right before.

(2) Mom also said to Dad, in Tagalog, "Just because we're old doesn't mean we know everything, and just because we're old doesn't mean we can't learn new things." Really? Really? Wow, who is this woman and what has she done with my mother? (Hahaha!!!)

(3) Rob cooked breakfast for me today. Emphasis on "cooked". Enough said :)

Mother's Day 2009

I'm exhausted. Happy, but exhausted. I just enjoyed a wonderful Mother's Day with the hubby, my parents, and family. It was awesome.

Hubby grilled, mom and dad picked up some tasty beef lumpia, and family brought over sides and yummy desserts. It was so nice to just chill at home with everyone...

I was also pleasantly surprised with flowers from a cousin as well as flowers from my neighbor! That was so sweet of them.

It's only 8pm, but seriously, I'm tired. I'm going to crawl into bed now....

I Must Cherish...

In just a few more weeks we will be welcoming our baby boy into this world. Until then, I must cherish...

- The long showers I can take, every day, and sometimes twice a day.
- Sleeping in...and sleep in general!
- My quiet afternoons.
- Being able to read a book or magazine with no interruptions.
- The long conversations I can have with my girlfriends on the phone.
- The warm meals I enjoy.
- Cuddling with my hubby and our occasional midday naps on the weekends.
- Being able to go to church and sit through an entire mass.
- All the special treatment that comes with pregnancy :)

Thank Goodness For Girlfriends!

I'm so thankful for all my girlfriends! Most of which are mommies now and they're giving me some awesome advice. Solicited or not, I appreciate every piece of wisdom that they share with me.

For example, I had no clue that there were special bottles that you stored breast milk in. I just thought they went into plastic bags. Turns out the plastic bags are for the freezer, and the container/bottle things are for the fridge. Good to know... Gotta go to Babies R Us and stock up on some of these before the baby gets here!

Hmmm, wonder what else I don't know? Guess I'll figure it out when the time comes ;)

Harnessing My Chi

Life is full of many challenges. For me, one huge one is finding balance in life with my parents. They live with me now - and as much as I love them both - it's tough. Their hearing is getting worse and worse, and because they refuse to wear their hearing aids, there's a lot of yelling that goes on in the house. It's exhausting.

That's only one of the many challenges. Every day I pray for peach and harmony in my home. Every day I hope for patience. Every day I try my best to harness my chi. It isn't easy... but alas, I must continue to try...

Bedrest Today

My blood pressure was high the other day, so the doctor ordered me to rest and lay on my left side. I did that, for the most part, all day today. I watched a lot of TV shows on the DVR, ate, peed, and that's pretty much it.

Things that didn't get done today:

(1) A load of whites are still in the dryer - hubby's gonna have to get that out and fold it when he gets home.

(2) Checkbook went unbalanced, so I have no idea what our budget is for groceries tomorrow.

(3) Didn't wash our bathroom towels - hubby's gonna have to take care of that too.

(4) Still need to send a card for my cousin's upcoming birthday. (And come to think of it, other upcoming birthdays in May.)

(5) Forgot to go online to order mom-in-law's Mother's Day gift.

...and probably some other stuff. Oh well. The only thing I need to work on is finding a way to get the little guy not to tuck his feet into my ribcage when I lay on my left side. Other than that, I'm looking forward to an exciting night of watching more TV with the hubby. We've got a couple episodes of LOST that we need to catch up on!

It's Cold

Hahaha, so the other day I complained that it was hot. Now it's cold. Man, the weather folks weren't kidding when they said it would "cool down" later this week. Not only is it colder, but it's cloudy too... I think that's what makes it more depressing. Oh well... I'd rather wrap up in a cozy robe with my window open than sweat all day with our fans blowing all over the house. I feel a bit like Goldilocks... I'm in the search for something "just right".

It's Hot.

That's all. It's freakin hot right now... 80s & 90s with plenty of sun. Unusually hot weather for San Diego right now. I know, it's better than rain and cold, but when my house hit 91 degrees the other day, I just couldn't appreciate the weather. It's hot.

Easter Weekend

We just had an awesome Easter weekend. On Saturday we went to our nephew's 1st birthday party and had a blast with hubby's family. On Sunday we hosted a BBQ and had a blast with friends and hubby's family. Rob took Monday off, so we took his visiting family members to a lovely lunch and to the Carlsbad outlets. It was another lovely day.

When we got home we were both exhausted. I had a fabulous one hour nap. The husband, on the other hand, is still sleeping. How he can "nap" for hours and hours I just don't get. The longest nap I've ever taken was 2 hours - and that was just last week. Oh well... he needs the sleep.

I was hoping we could catch up on some of our shows on the DVR tonight. No worries, I'll find other stuff to do instead...

Ice Cream

I just have to say, right now ice cream brings so much joy to my life. I can't get enough of this stuff. Mint Chip, Strawberry and Vanilla w/caramel have been my favorites lately. Mmmmm....

Nesting

I must be nesting, just a few of the things I got done this week:

(1) Organized hallway/computer area
(2) Cleaned up new guest room
(3) Redid bathroom decor in downstairs bathroom
(4) Reframed pictures
(5) Hung up new picture frames
(6) Ordered more checks
(7) Balanced checkbook
(8) Paid bills
(9) Wiped down Lladros in one curio (sp?)
(10) Many loads of laundry
(11) Put together a housewarming gift basket for cousins arriving next week
(12) Put together a gift basket prize for Cathy's baby shower raffle
(13) Went through my "box-of-crap"
(14) Wiped down half of our Swarovski crystal collection (couldn't reach the top shelf)
(15) Re-packed my hospital bag
(16) Sorted through a pile of hubby's crap
(17) Shredded old paperwork
(18) Updated pics on digital frame
(19) Wrapped Cathy's shower gifts
(20) Online research for cousin's Vegas trip
(21) Dusted hubby's Star Wars toys in the guest room/game room (why? I don't know - the cleaning lady's here today...)
(22) And much more, I just can't remember what...

Friends

I had a little scare earlier this week and immediately reached out to some of my closest and dearest friends. Within seconds they responded with postive thoughts and prayers. I was so touched by their concern, care and support... these are friends I've made through different journeys in life (grade school, college, work, etc.) I feel so blessed to have them in my lives and am so thankful for their love. I may be an only child, but these friends are my family and I can't imagine life without them.

Benihana's

Hubby and I met a couple of friends at Benihana last night for dinner. We had never been there before but had been to Shogun. Surprisingly it was the EXACT same experience. I was expecting more - I remember back in the day girls would get all excited if their date was going to take them there. Don't get me wrong, the food was delicious. Just not sure what all the hype was about???

I'm NOT Losing My Mind - YAY!!!

Back in college, we used to laugh at the girls from California. Whenever they felt a rumble on the ground (ex: from the T, a pipe under a floorboard, or maybe a heavy set person walking by) they would get a panicked look on their face. If you asked them, "What's wrong?" they would respond, "Oooh, that felt like an earthquake!" We used to think they were being silly.

When I moved to San Diego I slept through my first three earthquakes. I didn't even know they occurred until I was at work and people were talking about them. I was relieved that I slept through them. But then...

One morning I heard a low rumble (thought it was someone's car) then felt the start of the shake. It lasted a long time and was like nothing I ever experienced before. Hubby was not home at the time (I think he was in Washington his Naval Reserve Duty). I remember that I was scared, and had NO IDEA what to do. I grew up in Chicago, for crying out loud, I only knew what to do in case of a tornado - I never went through an earthquake drill before! Thankfully, it was over before I even got out of bed, and my first thought was, "So THAT's why Rob doesn't want to hang anything over our bed, ohhhhh!!!!" My second thought was, "Now I understand why the girls used to freak out when the ground would rumble in Boston!"

This morning, around 5am, I swore... I really swore that I felt an earthquake. Hubby was already gone, parents were fast asleep, so I had no one to turn to and ask, "Hey, did you feel that?"

I texted a couple of friends in the area, and they said they didn't feel anything. I called my husband at work, and he didn't feel anything either. I even got mad when he said, "Maybe you were just dreaming?" No... I felt an earthquake... I was so sure of it.

So I looked it up online, and sure enough, at 4:55 there was a 4.8mag (moderate) earthquake near Bombay Beach, followed by a 3.6mag (light) earthquake at 4:59am. I'm not losing my mind! Sure, that area is approx. 135miles away - but that's still close enough to feel the aftershock. Phew.. I am so glad that I am NOT losing my mind.... yaaaaay!!!

Who knew?

13 years ago, around this time of year, my BFF and I went to Hawaii for Spring Break where I met a guy who was in the Navy. I thought he was handsome, smart, and fun. We had a good time.

Who knew this was the guy I was going to marry? We've been happily married for 11 years. I think he's even more handsome, smart, and fun - and the best husband in the whole wide world.

11 years ago we were living in Hawaii. Hubby was going to get out of the Navy in a few months. We had to decide on whether we should stay in Hawaii or move back to the mainland. After much discussion with my parents, we agreed to move back to Chicago.

Who knew that we would experience one of the worst winters ever? Our one year anniversary party was cancelled because at least three feet of snow fell the night before. The weather was awful, the culture was soooooo different, and in general we were not happy there.

9 years ago we were living in San Diego. It wasn't Hawaii, but it was pretty darn close! We didn't have much, but we were happy and making new friends.

Who knew that we would still be good friends with those same folks today? One, in particular, has become one of our closest and dearest friends. He is part of our family and is missed if ever he can't make any of our gatherings.

6 years ago we bought our first home. It was a 3 bedroom/2 bath condo. We loved it and had so much fun making it our own. I was pregnant at the time and we were looking forward to raising our child in this home.

Who knew that shortly thereafter I would suffer my second miscarriage (I had my first one the previous year)? It was awful and we were so sad. We continued to try and try again.

4 years ago we sold our condo and bought our first single family home. It was amazing to have our own walls as well as our own front and back yards to care for. It was also very different because my parents moved in with us and that was (and still is) a challenge for us all.

Who knew that within a year I would be pregnant again, miscarry and bury my first child? After only 18 weeks I delivered our daughter, Angelina. We love and miss her very much. Thankfully she is buried at the cemetery that is on the same grounds as our church, so we are able to visit her often. Because of her we are parents, our love for one another is stronger, and for that we are thankful.

Today we're still in the same house. We like it here. This is the longest we've been in one place and officially consider San Diego County, "home".

Who knew that we would ever live in Oceanside? Who knew that the hubby would be so into landscaping/gardening? Who knew that I would ever join the Filipino Choir at a church and that we would be active members of a parish? Who knew that today I would be 29 weeks pregnant? God willing, all will go well and in just a couple of months we will be able to bring our son home.

I've Learned...

Got a great email today and had to quote it...

"I've learned.... That life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes."

So Far, So Good!

So far this week has been going well....

(1) I found out from a co-worker that the office closings that were supposed to occur the end of this month were postponed to May. That's kinda good news, right?

(2) Got a letter from our bank that our property taxes have been lowered, thus decreasing our monthly payments a couple hundred bucks as of May 1st - whoo hoo!!!

(3) In the same letter, enclosed was an escrow refund check - perfect timing considering we just had work done on two of our cars - yay!!!

(4) I received a personal check in the mail - totally forgot someone owed me money - sweet!

(5) I also received a package from a wonderful friend that included two awesome books, and the MOST DEEEELICIOUS cookies the hubby and I ever tasted. Oooohhhh....

God is good... thank you Lord!

This Past Week In Review

Lowlights from this past week:

• Thursday - Rob's truck battery died. Thankfully he was still in the parking lot at work so someone was able to give him a quick jump. He made it to the battery place and got a new battery installed. Thought it was okay, but then...
• Saturday - My car made a weird noise, then the "check engine" light turned on. Last time this happened I remember there was some major work that needed to be done. Not a good sign.
• Sunday - Rob saw white smoke while driving his truck. He popped the hood and found that his radiator was busted. It's currently sitting at the shop, courtesy of a free tow (thank you Geico Roadside Assistance!)

Highlights from this past week:

• Monday - Marked the beginning of my 27th week of pregnancy, yay!
• Tuesday - Heard the baby's heartbeat at the doctor's office and he is continue to do well!
• Wednesday - One of my best friends from college was in town for work and came by to spend some quality time and hang out.
• Thursday - Same BFF treated me to a much needed mani/pedi.
• Thursday - Had lunch with two of my BFFs.
• Thursday - Hubby brought home a 6-pack of Cinnabons for me to enjoy. (Don't worry, I only ate two.)
• Friday - Hubby brought home the Filet-O-Fish sandwiches I was craving from McD's.
• Saturday - Enjoyed a delicious home-made dinner, and company, with friends.

So while all the bad crap happened at the end of the week, I will harness my Chi and will focus on all the good stuff that happened at the beginning of the week... ohmmmmmm....

Then and Now

Then...
Growing up an only child was lonely at times. Especially since I lived on the Northwest side of Chicago and went to school in the South side of Chicago. I had friends in my neighborhood, but through the years they moved away. It was hard to make new friends in the area because I didn't go to the nearby schools and there weren't that many kids on my block.

Don't get me wrong, I had plenty of friends from school and extracurricular activities (piano classes, dance classes, music classes, Filipino organizations, etc.) but they didn't live close by. In the summertime I would get super excited when friends would sleep over (I was never allowed to sleep over anyone's house) because that meant we could play for two days. It was fun.

My aunt, may she rest in peace, used to play with me. As I got older, it just wasn't the same as playing with other kids. So I used my imagination a lot (since we didn't have computers and video games back then... I didn't have Atari) and had fun with my Barbies, other toys/games, and I can't remember what else . I would just close my bedroom door and found ways to fill my day. Often, very often indeed, it was just me, myself and I.

Now...
I'm on leave from work and find myself, for the most part, home alone (until the hubby comes home from work). My friends are all at work, or at home taking care of their kids. Every now and then friends come to visit me (since I'm not supposed to drive), which is usually on the weekends, and that's always fun. Hee hee - kinda reminds me of my childhood summers.

I fill my days with tasks, small chores, and just about anything to keep busy (there's always something to do). I'm not allowed to lift anything heavy, nor do anything strenuous, and am absolutely not allowed to exercise. I'm rarely bored, and if I ever am, I remind myself that this "me" time that I have right now is precious. I will never have this calm, quiet and alone time ever again.

In just a few short months the hubby and I will be bringing a baby into this world. We look forward to this with great joy and Lord knows we've waiting a long time for this! The 11 years of marriage that the hubby and I had, of just us, will be changing soon... and we wouldn't want it any other way.

I'm thankful for what I had "then" and am eagerly waiting for what's to come "now"...

Now What?

I need to vent...

I've been on leave from work since mid-January. Since then co-workers have been keeping in touch from time to time. Hubby and I have discussed it, at great length, and agreed that it is necessary for me to return to work after the baby is born.

Last month, via text message, I was alerted that our company let 10% of our staff go to cut costs. I was safe.

The other week I was updating my personal address book. I called my office, expecting to speak to the receptionist (who was a temp), and found out that she was let go. I was surprised to hear my co-worker answer the phone (as she's usually out in the field visiting clients) and she informed me that to continue to cut costs some of our field offices would be closing at the end of this month. I wasn't surprised to hear that our office was going to close - especially since we have two other offices in SoCal. We've done this in the past and employees simply worked from home. Not a shocker - most of us do this anyway and go into the office once, maybe twice a week. No one from our office was let go, so again, I was safe.

The other day I texted a co-worker to follow up on an expense check that I hadn't received yet. Then, and only then, was I informed that our company had been bought out (literally the day before) and a merger was taking place. What!? Could no one have called me, texted me or emailed me, to let me know of this news??? Granted, yes, I know I'm on leave, and yes, I know that maybe (just maybe) no one wanted to stress me out considering I'm pregnant - but still - THIS IS HUGE!

I went online to find articles about the merge, and sure enough, there were plenty. One quote that really stuck out to me was, "It is unclear whether the remaining employees at [name of my company here] will remain as part of the larger merged business." Wow.

If I weren't on leave, if I weren't pregnant, I could probably take this news a little better. Since I'm out of the loop - it's taking me some time to digest this. I've always, ALWAYS, ALWAYS survived RIFs at every company that I've been with. Not sure about this time...

I'm sure we'll figure it out. I'm sure we'll find a way to be fine. But still... with my hormones and a baby on the way... I'm not thinking as clearly as I did pre-pregnancy. So.... now what???

I Am So Thankful

Several months ago a friend talked me into joining Facebook. Since I'm on modified bed rest, and am no longer working from home, I have plenty of free time. Facebook is addictive. Especially now that hubby hooked up the scanner to the computer in our bedroom. I found a ton of old pictures (i.e. before we had a digital camera) and have been scanning them for months. I've even posted a bunch of them on Facebook to share with friends.

In scanning these pictures I'm reliving all the fun we had - especially at past parties. I see the pictures of all our friends and am overwhelmed by all the friendship, support and love that we have been surrounded with through the years. I am so thankful that we've made so many friends, and am even more thankful that we're still in touch with many of them.

Maybe it's the hormones... but really... I am so so so so very thankful.

Scandal at McDonald's

Today is Ash Wednesday... in the past, McD's had a special on Filet-O-Fish that started on Ash Wednesday and the discount pricing would be effective every Friday through Easter.

This year we went to 5:30pm mass. As always, after mass we went to McD's drive thru. Lent is the only time of the year we eat their Filet-O-Fish sandwiches. Imagine our shock to find out they were full priced and NO promotion was going on - WTF???

There are greater things in life to be upset about... but I have to confess that I'm a little pissed that McDonald's is taking advantage of the Catholics this Lenten season. Argh.

I Used To Wish....

I used to wish...

... That I was a little bit taller. Anything over 5' would have been great. But now I've come to accept my height and love myself the way I am. Plus I have a ton of awesome shoes that compensate for my vertical challenges in life.

... That I had bigger boobs. Don't all girls at some point wish for this? Anyhoo, through the years bra manufacturers have made some great inventions. On top of that, I've learned some simple tricks on how to wear certain items in my wardrobe to flatter my "petite upper body". It's not a concern for me anymore. I'm happy with what I've got... however let's revisit this one 10 years after I have a baby and breastfeed (LOL!)

... For more jewelry. Through the years I've built a great collection of sparkly and shiny stuff. Yes, there are still some items I desire, or some pieces I'd love to upgrade, however I'm happy with what I have now. Don't get me wrong - I will never decline another piece from Tiffany to add to my growing collection, nor will I ever decline any pieces or upgrades my husband offers, but I am happy to say that right now, I'm good. (Of course I say this after I received my chocolate pearls last Christmas!)

... For siblings. I grew up as an only child and always wanted a brother, sister, or both. Now I have some of the most fabulous friends, who are like sisters, and brothers, to me, and I feel so blessed to have them in my life. In addition, my husband comes from a big family with lots of first cousins, who all live in the U.S. (most of my family is still in the Philippines). Thankfully we all get along great and I love them just as I do my own family.

... For Mr. Right. I found him and have been happily married to him for over 11 years. Even though we may disagree or fight from time to time, I still love him and couldn't imagine my life without him.

... For a big house with pillars. For whatever reason, I've been obsessed with houses with pillars since I was a kid. I think it has something to do with the big houses in teen movies (Pretty in Pink, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, etc.) We moved into our first single-family home three years ago, and I can't complain. There aren't any pillars, it's not a McMansion, but it's nice and big enough for me, Mr. Right, my parents, and baby-to-be. What matters is that we have our own walls, our own front and back yards, and a fabulous walk-in closet with cabinets and shelving that we designed and put together ourselves.

... That I would quickly and successfully climb the corporate ladder. Two years ago I took a job that is (1) not in the company's corporate office, (2) not a management or leadership position, (3) requires me to work in the field and see clients face-to-face, and (4) I have no one that reports to me directly. I never thought I'd make a change like this... I was in management for so long and was so eager to be the first female, minority, (insert-big-title-here) at a large corporation. Pfffft, whatevers, I'm good. I'm happy. I like what I do and I make good money.

... That I could speak several languages. Man, I tried. I took German from the 4th grade through senior year of high school - no success - can't speak the language at all. I took Spanish senior year of high school and four semesters in college... I used to be able to carry a conversation with customers when I worked retail, but since I don't use it that much anymore, it's a struggle. I bought some tapes to learn Arabic (since I was really into my Islam classes in college), but other than "Marhaba" (sp?) I don't know how to say anything else. I never took a formal class in Tagalog, just learned it from my parents, family and friends through the years. I get by pretty well - but I wish I had bigger vocabulary. I figure I'll focus on this one so I can teach my kid how to speak it too. Hopefully I can better master this one soon.

I used to wish for so much more... I could go on and on... but now I count my blessings and remind myself to thank God for my health, my husband, our family, and our friends. For the love and support that we are surrounded with constantly. And for so much more... I am thankful.

My only wish, is for the son I'm currently carrying... that he may be healthy, strong and live a happy life :)

Things I Recently Discovered (In no particular order)

1. Ducks are not yellow. I have no idea why I used to think this (probably from the ugly duckling in Tom & Jerry and yellow rubber duckies.) But for real, up until about a couple of years ago, I seriously thought there were ducks that were yellow.
2. While it's really annoying, my husband insists that we keep a checkbook register. No, not the electronic kind, the old school kind where you write in EVERY transaction. Through the years I've found it to be a pain, however recently I've discovered that it's quite helpful. Had it not been for the register, I wouldn't have been able to prove that I made a couple of payments online and for some fluke reason they didn't go through and got lost in cyber space.
3. You can check out DVDs from the library... for free! Yeah, it's been a while since I actually checked something out from a public library. Imagine my surprise that they have videos there - that's so cool!
4. You can donate books to a public library and it's a tax write off!
5. Cinnabons are pre-made. The people that work there get them in a box and they just pop them into the oven. I was disappointed to see this - I honestly thought they made them from scratch... the way some of the pretzel places make pretzels from scratch.
6. I have waaaaay too many hotel towels. Yeah, I admit it, I take towels from hotels. Through the years I've accumulated too many and finally purged my collection.
7. All pets are welcome at Petco, as long as they're on a leash. They mean it, all pets. I once saw a lizard on a leash and thought that was funny. Today I saw a cat on a leash - WTF???
8. The best days to go to Costco are Thursday through Sunday. Those are the days that the roadshow vendors come out and when you can score the most free samples.
9. Also at Costco, if a price ends with a "7" then it's a clearance price. That's the lowest price an item is going to go. So if, for example, you see a Lenox crystal vase for $12.97 or Scrapbook paper for $9.97 and you're debating whether or not you want to buy it... get it, because most likely it won't be there tomorrow.
10. Coach makes awesome umbrellas. My girlfriend gave me one for Christmas. It rained a lot this week and I got good use out of it. I was impressed - and it dried quicker than any other umbrella I ever owned before!

Rainy Day

It's raining.

Back in 1990 the song "It Never Rains (In Southern California)" by Tony! Toni! Tone! was on the top of the charts. It didn't mean anything to me then, but now that I've been living in SoCal for the past 9+ years, I get this song. It's true, it rarely rains here. When it does rain:

(1) Drivers go crazy on the roads and traffic is a mess because - People either (a) drive like they're invincible, going fast and then braking like the road isn't wet, or (b) they forget how to drive, going really really really dangerously slow.

(2) Stores dust off their back stock supply of umbrellas and bring them out onto the sales floor (if they have any). Cashiers and customers then have a long conversation (no less than 5 minutes) about the rain - discussing how it rarely rains here, when the last time was that it rained, where they were, what they were doing, how we need the rain, etc.

(3) People get moody. Seriously. Everone is cheery and in good spirits when the sun is out - but as soon as it gets cloudy and rainy - folks get depressed, irritable, cranky, and just not pleasant to be around in general.

(4) Everyone outside looks like a wet mop, because honestly, hardly anyone has an umbrella in their car. I think we have a couple in the house - they were free gifts with purchases and they're small. We used to have nice ones in our cars, but they've mysteriously disappeared.

(5) If they can avoid it, people don't go outside. It's funny, whatever plans someone has for the day are shot because it's raining and they don't want to go out anymore. This is actually a perfect time to get a mani/pedi, go to the DMV, go to the post office, go to the mall, and go just about anywhere that's usually crowded. Usually the employees are really bored, because it's a slow day for them, so they're really happy to see you and you'll get the best customer service ever!!!

(6) What's also weird is that it's not unusual to wear sunglasses when it rains - it was the oddest thing when I first moved here to see the sun out while it was raining.

What's really funny is that the "rain" here is nothing like it is back East. I'd compare it more to the sprinkles I experienced in Chicago and Boston. When the wind blows, it's tolerable, not the kind where the rain feels like ice pellets on your skin or the wind chills your bones. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I shouldn't complain... it really isn't that bad. I just might dig out my raincoat in the back of the closet - I bought it 2 years ago and I think the price tag is still attached!

Dad's Marathon

A couple of weeks ago a good friend of mine ran the Carlsbad 1/2 marathon. I was reminded of a funny story that my dad told me...

I don't remember the year (sometime between 1992 - 1996) my parents visited me while I was attending Boston University. During the visit the Boston Marathon was going on and our cab driver warned us about traffic. My dad, who rarely shares stories with me, said...

"Did I ever tell you that I used run races in the Philippines?" Nope, he never did.

So he continued on...

"I used to always come in 4th place. No matter how hard I tried I always came in 4th place!" Awww.

"So one year I finally made it to 3rd place... that's because the 4th guy dropped out!"

Hahaha - that's my dad :)

Random Thoughts

Considering the downtime that I've had in the recent several weeks, I can't help but wonder, hmmm....

(1) Why, on a roll of toilet paper, does it say how many "sheets" a roll has? Do people actually count the number of sheets they use? I mean, come on, who only uses one sheet to wipe? (Eeeewww!) I think they should label toilet paper like they do wrapping paper - by square footage.

(2) Why do people act like Wikipedia is an actual valid resource? Hello - according to their own website, Wikipedia is a "free encyclopedia that anyone can edit". I mean, yeah, it's a great tool to use - but it's not something I would seriously rely on.

(3) Who decided to cancel the tv shows "Prison Break", "Lipstick Jungle" and "Eli Stone"? I love those shows! My DVR will be so lonely without them (sigh).

(4) When you're own momma tells you that you can't sing, why oh why are you surprised, or mad, when Simon, Paula, Randy and Kara (the new chic) tell you that you're not going to Hollywood?

(5) How come when a white chick sings a song and makes up a new pronunciation to fit the beat - ex: "like-ted" in "I kissed a girl, and I like-ted it..." it's no big deal. Yet when someone black puts a twist on pronunciation to make words rhyme, or to add an extra beat, it's considered ignorant, ghetto, or not artistic?

(6) When are they going to make fitted sheets that are easier to fold?

(7) Where in the world is Carmen San Diego and why did we stop looking for her?

(8) Whatever happened to Steve Erkel and Laura Winslow? "Family Matters" was cancelled without a series finale!

(9) Why is it that when you purchase the extended warranty for an item, the day after the warranty expires is when you actually need to use it?

(10) Why is it that when you're bored, no one calls you, but when you're busy, and have places to go, that's when everyone decides to call and invite you out somewhere???

(11) Who uses 3-way calling anymore?

(12) Back in the day Ziplock came out with with the bags that boasted, "yellow and blue make green, it's sealed!" ... why didn't they tell us when they changed the seal to red and blue - when did that happen???