Rollercoaster

I'm sorry for being MIA these past few weeks. Things have been pretty hectic lately, to say the least. For one, we found out we're expecting Baby Number Two. We couldn't be more excited. As of this writing, I am entering my second trimester. You see, I have three siblings who mean the world to me, and it just seems off to not give Kaelana at least one best friend who share her flesh and blood. In my 30 years of existence, I have never felt alone because I know I will always have my brothers and my sister. To be truthful and candid, I was more than happy to settle with just one child but it seems God has more adventures and love and blessings in store for us.

I grew up attending reunions for both of my parents' sides and it just seems happier and livelier with more members. We're stopping at two kids, though, because that's really all we could handle. Kaelana and this little one will have a seven-year age gap - just like me and my sister. Also, we were really toying with the idea of conceiving our last child before I turned 31. Now that idea is a reality and I'm due to give birth in November.

So how am I REALLY doing? Well, if my blog title is any indication, I've had my ups and downs. My pregnancy's first trimester was plagued with really bad episodes of nausea, gastritis and even cardiac arrhythmia. My cardiologist had me go through tests, and everything came out okay, but my heart rate is slower and my blood pressure is lower than usual. I've been religiously taking my prenatal vitamins, drinking my milk, trying to get a lot of sleep and watching what I eat. My family, most especially The Husband, has been really supportive and every day, I pray for a safe, healthy and easy pregnancy and delivery.

The next few months will be awesome. I can feel it. There's nowhere to look but up.

Random Memories Sept

- My older brother, Jhzryl, went to high school at Don Bosco. To my then seven-year-old self, it was an  overwhelmingly massive campus filled with boys who played sports and instruments, boys who served at Catholic Masses where loud, rock-ish music was played live, boys who created projects made from wood and electrical stuff, boys who were good at art and boys who called each other by their last names. We attended all of my brother's school events, and I remember playing at their playground wearing my "My brother is a Bosconian" shirt.

- My nanny used to make bubble solution from scratch. It had detergent, water and hibiscus extract. The bubbles it made were huge and didn't pop easily, unlike the store bought bubble solutions. Did anyone used to do this too? Can you tell me the measurements?

- The Husband and I found out we were pregnant on Valentine's Day. I kid you not. It turned out I had been pregnant since November.

- On the first day of college in UP Diliman, I had an entire entourage with me: my mom, her sister and her husband and their cousin who was a professor there. I am not ashamed to admit it. My family is just really supportive and the university campus was intimidatingly huge. We were given maps to navigate our way around. Funny story: My mom's brother-in-law, my Tito Biyo, was helping me find my classrooms. One subject's venue read TBA. We thought it was a real place. Good thing, my uncle was able to find out it meant 'To Be Announced' from a helpful upperclassman. My aunt, the professor, said that if it were I - the obvious freshman - who had asked, some upperclassmen would intentionally give misleading and incorrect answers like "It means, Teodoro Benigno Aquino hall. Just ride the Ikot and you won't miss it." Of course, no such hall exists which would equate to the hapless freshman riding the damn jeepney in circles. Shudder.

- We had sewing projects for Home Economics class in high school. I got low marks for an apron I made because the pockets I sewed on were askew. Oh well. I tried.

Christened

Our little girl was christened three months after she was born. She was baptized at the Sacred Heart Church's Chapel of the Transfiguration.

The chapel was being renovated at that time.

Now, the baptistry is in an an entirely different space.

She didn't cry when the water was poured on her tiny head.

Kaelana had quite a number of godmothers 

and only one godfather, who wasn't even present, which is all right.

Her white christening eyelet and lace gown is from Rustan's.

I was wearing a halter neck Esprit striped dress because I was already mixed feeding her - part breast milk and part formula. I had gone back to work a week or two before.

The lunch reception was at Mooon Cafe. We had a buffet set up. Those are our good friends, Kaelana's godmother, Karen (and her husband, Mark) and Pam. Karen and Pam are my friends from high school in STC and were bridesmaids at my wedding.

My parents and sister are in the picture, together with our friends, 

Kaelana's godmother, Chiqui, and Coleen and Mahmet.

We love our friends! We're lucky they're always there for us.

Happy memories!

DPE

I graduated from the University of the Philippines-Diliman in 2003. I studied BA Speech Communication. I had landed a great job - a job I keep up to this day. I was happy, but was I content? Well, three years after, I longed to be in a classroom setting once again. Because I was feeling antsy and I wanted to learn something new, I went back to school. I enrolled in my high school alma mater again. I went back to STC to get a Diploma in Professional Education (DPE). Yes, I wanted to be a teacher. I still do. I was working as a corporate trainer in a BPO. A career as a professional teacher in the academe sounded- still sounds - like a perfectly natural and perfectly wonderful route to follow.

I had to take 18 units of education subjects to get the diploma. I hear it's now 36. To qualify, you have to be a graduate of any four- or five-year college course. I took nine units in the second semester of 2007 and the next 9 units in the summer of 2008. I graduated from DPE after that. It felt great to graduate again!

my then-three-year-old

floral dress from her godmother, Snoopy sandals

#likeafashionblogger

stage

my mom and dad, and a snacking Kaelana

me, graduating

my class - that's me, third from the right, standing

Yay! We made it!

my family

This is for them!

my staunchest supporter, my greatest cheerleader

I couldn't have done it without him!

I am planning going to go back to school in June. I want to get a Diploma in Teaching Special Education (DTSpEd) so this post is brought you by Kiss Motivating Herself 101.

I can't wait!!!

What about you? What are you planning on achieving this year?

First Day of School

People always comment positively about my daughter's social skills. I haven't experienced tantrums and crying fits in public. Even at home with just us - the little girl, her dad and me - she doesn't act up and turn into The Problem Child. My friends are in awe of how well-behaved, friendly and sociable she is. I attribute this greatly to how much she loves school and how often she finds ways to creatively learn from the environment she's in, no matter what it is. (When we're out and she's about to get bored, she asks, "Mama, can I go explore?" I always say yes and let her, while reminding her to stay where I can see her.)

Kaelana started play group at age three. I let her attend during the summer. She went to the Woodridge School. Then she went to Maria Montessori International School when she was four for nursery school. I did a lot of research beforehand and requested to observe classes before enrolling her there. You know how some schools claim to be montessoris but really aren't. As a teacher myself, I had to make sure the teaching methods, materials and the learning setting remained faithful to "the montessori way." I was happy with what I found out and observed so The Husband and I enrolled her there.

My little girl stayed in MMIS for a year then I transferred her to my alma mater (and my sister's, and 80% of my girl friends'), St. Theresa's College. She is thriving and flourishing and we couldn't be happier. She was five and in kindergarten when she started in STC. Now she is seven and in first grade. She is a consistent honor student, and now president of her class. Time flies by so fast, indeed.

When she started school in MMIS, I had a lump in my throat. I was emotional. I felt like I had just given birth to her yesterday and yet, there I was, sending my baby to school.

up early!

Happy and excited, and yes, Yakult is good for pre-schoolers!

That's The Husband by the door.

pink Gingersnaps dress, fuchsia cat hair ties, Dora floral flats and Winx lunch kit

#likeafashionblogger

four and in nursery school!

in the car

outside the school with a headless me

She actually cried but it lasted for a good five minutes because a teacher's aide came 

and smiled at her and led her to a seat.

paparazzi shot of her coloring

I wonder how it'll be like when she'll start high school. Ulp.

Holidays in the Tropics

First of all, happy new year, folks! 2012 was tough for me, for the most part, what with my frail health, my bouts of self-doubt and with the ties I've had to sever completely and permanently. I survived it with the love and support of my family, mainly The Husband, and my true friends. I prayed so hard in 2012. I prayed that I will do what's right. I'm not being holier than thou because I'm not faultless. However, I knew I had to listen to what my heart and mind were telling me - to not compromise my values, to never take advantage of others, no matter what. I made hard decisions last year but they proved to be the right ones because I can sleep well at night with a peaceful conscience and the knowledge that my daughter will be proud of me for doing what I did. I am still and will always be grateful for the things I've experienced and gone through last year. Of course, I patiently waited for the holidays because I knew that they would be the perfect way to cap off such a fulfilling year.

My family's fun December holiday getaway was six kinds of wonderful. We spent part of it in my parents' hometown, Iloilo, and in beautiful, breathtaking Boracay. I'll let the photos do some of the talking.

the little girl at Plazuela de Iloilo, which is beside SM City Iloilo, 

where we bought her shades for use in Boracay and some pasalubong

hoarded goodies from an Iloilo food institution, Biscocho Haus

This is their SM City Iloilo kiosk.

Speaking of food, here's The Husband and I about to eat a dish that's synonymous to Iloilo.

And that's...

batchoy!!! 

This was at Deco's Lapaz Batchoy.

Yum.

Then, it was time to go to Boracay. The whole clan wasn't complete but the turnout was pretty good this year. This is our second time to hold our reunion in Boracay. Caticlan, in Aklan, the jump-off point for Boracay, is a six-hour drive from Iloilo. Our family hired a coaster and a van to get there.

That's me and The Husband with my brother, my sister-in-law, my sister and our cousin, 

in the coaster, before the rest of the family came on.

Typhoon Quinta sadly ravaged some parts of Panay Island days before we left so we had to take a less familiar course to Caticlan. It proved to be the more scenic route. I mean, look at that!

somewhere in Antique, where we stopped for lunch

Finally, we arrived in paradise. It was my second time there with The Husband and the little girl's third.

a sight for sore eyes

The sun was so bright, the water so clear and comfortably warm, and the breeze was cool. We were blessed with awesome weather the whole three days and two nights we were there.

some of our family - The Husband and I not included - in beautiful Boracay

Spot Kaelana in her pink bathing suit with Disney Princesses on it!

photo taken by my cousin, Erik

Beachcomber Boracay laid out a feast for our reunion dinner the first night we were there.

Of course, lechon was present. And these...

And this:

There were card games, catching up, dessert that I wasn't able to take photos of, and laughter and smiles that we WERE able to take pictures of.

me with my cousins and aunt

me with my sister and our cousins

Then The Husband whisked me away for a romantic stroll down the beach. I love our quiet, introspective conversations together. I married the most awesome man ever. 

The scenery ran the gamut from frenzied and cheery ...

fire dancers

Christmas carolers in tropical colors

to serene and quiet.

intimate dinners in soft lights

me walking barefoot on the sand

The Husband was mesmerized by the crafts made by local artists. We wanted some stuff for our home but couldn't decide which ones to get. We ended up not buying any. That way, there's reason for us to go back.

Meanwhile, I admired the accessories. 

The next day, we swam, 

we played in the sand with Kaelana, 

went on a jetski ride,

photo by my cousin, Erik

shopped for souvenirs, explored, had massages, and ate some more. The Husband, my cousins and I also went on a banana boat ride.

photos by my cousin, Erik

Then we had this crazy idea to go on a Flyfish ride...

Here's me, my sister, The Husband, and our cousin nervously giggling.

which does this...

This wasn't us. This was my brother and our cousins.

photo by my cousin, Erik

You get it, I hope. CRAZYYYYY, I tell you. In-effin'-sane in a I-will-never-do-that-again way.

It resulted to this:

My left wrist got injured. It's black and blue right now, but thankfully, not broken nor sprained. Uhm, I think. I haven't gone to a doctor yet, but I will tomorrow, I promise. Heh.

photo by my cousin, Erik

Anyhoo, we survived! It was a truly unforgettable and fun vacay. One that we truly needed.

Happy New Year from us! It's back to work tomorrow but it's all good, because I'll be dreaming of this.

2013, I'm ready for you.