I Want That

(Seoul, South Korea)

I kissed him goodnight and told him to sleep well because tomorrow is going to be halloween!

"It's halloween! It's halloween! Weee!" He shrieked with glee, just as I've told my husband that maybe it wouldn't really hurt if we don't get our little boy a costume this year. My bad! I can't forgive myself for denying him this sheer joy...

(Talisay, Cebu)

Earlier this evening, we went to the party store and looked for a costume. It only took us a few minutes. He knew what he wanted and as he saw the display he knew he just have to be a fireman. We got a size, he tried it on, and never took it off. We checked out and got home, and he wanted to show it off to his Mommy E in Cebu.

As I kissed him goodnight, he was tired but smiling. He was looking forward to wearing his costume tomorrow. I want that joy, I want that peace, I want that... for him, for everyone.

Happy halloween!

Shouldn't Bother

There are more to life than the whatnots. What the snowstorm brought was peace and quiet. A loving and warm home is so comforting that the snow glistening outside seem like a picturesque of sort. I know I wouldn't feel the same way if I have to drive my bum to wherever I needed to be. I asked the husband to skip work today because it's just ridiculous to risk driving in the middle of a snowstorm/blizzard and our community is well buried. Our trash is still outside the walkway, only the universe can tell how we will be able to stroll it back to the garage. The husband would need to shovel a foot of snow so we can meet our appointments tomorrow.

The point is, I love being home with my boys. Watching Fringe episodes at yulu (awesome) and singing my way through the kitchen. I am happy and excited about the uncertainties and the possibilities that will come our way. I should not be bothered by the little pinch God will give us. At least we know things are going 'normal' as it is supposed to.

As I clasp both hands, I fervently wish that we will get our questions answered before this year ends. And that we may be guided to do everything according to the great plan of the architect up there. May we be formidable despite the trials and may we be pliable to adjust to changes. I wish we will bend like the bamboo!

Life is beautiful, I know it is...

In Silence

How do you console yourself? How do you let your worries escape you? We cry in silence, hoping that some day things will get better and brighter. We whisper to our hearts not to despair. We hug ourselves and pray.

There are no words apt for something you feel helpless about. You can only just stand there, be there, and watch... just be there. You need to be strong, even stronger than what you've always been. You hold on to that string of happiness and bliss.

With God's love, we ask for more compassion and understanding... that we will go through life unscathed not allowing every bit of pain to affect our young children. We ask for strength and grace to handle whatever life throws at us.

We hope, we pray.

My Girls

A day before I left Cebu, I went to have dinner with these lovely ladies. They've kept my vacation wonderful as always. I am already missing them. Some are not here, you know who you are. But rest assured, you were all with us in spirit and in chismis LOL! Next year, when we all get together we will be a big family!!! Oh my gulay!!!

"Koreanini" hairstyle, both of us went to Tony and Jacky's for a hair chop hehehe! We would have wanted to go together, but she said her husband wouldn't want her to crop her locks. So I went ahead of her not knowing she was planning to ask me to come with her too, how creepy. Gadungan gyud ug huna huna! Oh well, so here it is our new hairstyle. Back in March, we got our haircut at about the same time with an almost same style. Spooky!

And here are the lovely ladies, who laugh with all their might... if you've heard Mimi laugh, you know your insides will jiggle like crazy that you would need disposable underpants! Then you couple that with Jane's 'hyena' and 'halloween' shrill you will definitely either jolt or roll on your belly with tears hahaha!!!

The food was great, the company was even more fabulous! I can only dream of you my dearest friends... but until our next gabfest we will see each other in our cyber neighbourhood! Sending you my hugs and kisses on this beautiful, sunny, albeit cold Monday morning =D

The Winter

It's a bit too early for winter, but oh well it feels like it is already here. It's cold, cloudy, dreary outside. It's even chilly inside the house. Something like this makes me want to snuggle and do nothing else. But alas, the world has to start because my little ball of energy woke me up. Can't linger in bed when there are hungry mouths to feed including myself. The husband is still indulging, after all he didn't take a nap yesterday, stayed up late, and woke up early to feed the other little one who woke the household because it's already morning he said.

Maybe it's the weather, I really hope it is. I am feeling this melancholy. This longing to gab and just laugh with all my might. This pang that only girl-friends can fill. I am missing you all, oh so terribly. I don't know where the perfect home would be, but it must exist. There should be a little nook in this world that could fit us all in together with all our loved ones.

Now, I'm back in my kitchen with tales about my thoughts and whatnots. I am back to that quite familiar scent of nostalgia. The last thing I want is for that crazy dark old soul to eat me up without me noticing it. Life is too short for these demons. I resolve to be happy always, because maybe, just maybe these are just pregnancy hormones or the lack of anything better to do but sulk.

Here's wishing that the aroma of the rice cooker and coffee pot will awaken me from this emotional slumber or jetlag... and enjoy this supposedly SUNday. Oh what a bummer!

My Pregnant Buddy

Isn't it amazing to trek motherhood the second time around with a soul sister?! A dear friend who is (almost) family to me already... we are due one week apart of each other, I can't help but giggle and look forward to the possibility of going through labor together =)

***

Jopie, sending my love to you, Ben, and Baby Benjamin!!!

***

I have another wonderful news, but it's not my story to tell... (invisible).

When You Wish Upon A Star <2010>

I reviewed my checklist last year and thought that I haven't really accomplished much yet and 2009 is about to end. But I am most grateful for getting the wish I secretly prayed for... a little angel, a beautiful gift!

Below are some nuggets of what I want for 2010:

• I pray that for next year, my little family will be healthy and safe. May I have the most graceful labor and a wonderful delivery!
• Sanity, I'd like to buy it if I must! I don't ever want to go down in that dark nook with my own crazy thoughts. I refuse to even entertain the possibility of going through the same hell all over again!!!
• A bountiful year, prosperous business endeavours, bonuses, and a FATTER bank account for me...
• To be able to drive around town, so I can drop and fetch my little boy to school. It's about time, he will be turning five. I don't mind driving our old car but a minivan would be a lot nicer.
• So, a minivan please the red or black one. You know that one in the H shop, I loved it!
• That oh so elusive DSLR! Still D90 on my list, still elusive. But if I achieve number 3, I should be able to tick off the ones that followed. Oh please, please!!!
• Party platters in different sizes, shapes, and colors. Need I explain? I love kitchen stuffs.
• A full time nanny/help in time for my delivery and recovery, and a part timer aftwerwards.
• I'd like a red purse, good size, durable. Perfect for a mom of two (read: almost a diaper bag), can handle stress, vomit, spit, emergency kits, and whatnots.
• A new make-up kit -- eye shadow, blush, lipsticks, eye liners, mascara, nail polish, lip gloss -- that comes in a bag. I think I still would prefer an Estee =P
• PJs, tank tops, shirts, shorts, bedroom slippers, furry, cosy, and comfy...
• A gift certificate to a spa so I can have my nails done, massage, facial, and whatever pampering I can think of prior to and after giving birth. Sorry, I am so indulgent.
• Oh I would love to have that rock garden in the backyard with the little ones' swing set and sand box...
• Love, happiness, good health, good fortune, LOVE! Another wonderful year with my dearest husband... another set of memories... LOVE!

Wishing upon a star... dreaming on a rainbow... may the 2010 be truly magical!

Back...

Quite quiet lately... my thoughts escape me every time I try to update my site. I have scribbled a few in my tiny tickler notebook which I carry all around but found no time in posting them. I have pictures to share and stories to tell... but where to start?

• I am now back in the US. Got here on the 19th, Monday morning after a very nasty and turbulent flight. I guess crossing the Pacific Ocean when a super typhoon is brewing is not a pretty good idea. I think my bum jumped a foot before it landed back on my seat. The passengers who were luckily awake screamed a lot. I kept quiet and held on to my son's hand for comfort and one hand over my belly. I had to pretend and glee with delight every time the plane rocks as if we're at the adventure zone somewhere out there. My son didn't show a sign of fear and trauma. By far, that was the worst flight I've ever had! It wasn't pleasant to be four months pregnant in that turmoil, I didn't want to move lest provoke myself to vomit. I am happy we made it... wanted to do a sun dance the moment we landed!
• If you've travelled via LAX, you will know what I mean by unpleasant and rude. However, the universe conspired with me that someone helped me picked up my luggages from the carousel and brought me to the arrival gate! What a relief! At least something came out good from that flight. =)
• I am getting bigger. What do you expect? LOL!
• Still jetlagged, waking up at midnight and falling asleep at three in the afternoon. Oh I can't wait to be home this Friday! See you my LOVE!
• Prior to coming here, I was like a headless chicken doing errands and tying up loose ends. Had to accomplish the very reason of my trip... and in between, I had to indulge myself with treats that I can only dream about when I am back in my own queendom! Massage, facial, manicure and pedicure, haircut and hair treatments!
• I miss my sisters and my girls! I don't want to elaborate because I will cry... =(
• Baby is kicking up a storm, kicks are past my belly button already!
• Struggled at the bathroom awhile back, little boy is very constipated. He was crying a lot! My poor baby... good thing "it" came out after I sang Somewhere Over The Rainbow! =P
• The little one and I stayed at the Incheon (Seoul) Airport Transit Hotel for a good six hours! We slept a lot! Thank God, we were able to rest prior to that horrible trip! Yes, it was blissful to enjoy that sleep while waiting for our flight to LA.
• What else? Again, I babble and I don't know what to say anymore....

Until next time!

Two Weeks

I have two weeks to furnish the things I need to do here, to accomplish the main purpose of my travel, to meet friends, make use of my time, and to have quality time with my family. I am leaving on the 19th that is two Mondays from today. It's three weeks ahead of my original return flight but I felt the need to go back this soon because I can't prolong the agony of being away from the husband who is not doing so well with his health and all alone at home.