Do You Really Look Like Pappie?




We just spent a weekend with my in-laws where he was perfectly spoiled and where he also charmed everyone. He was just all smiles and lambing all the time, even cousins Lianne (3) and Iya (2) attend to his every want and need.

Sigh. My little prince charming having two princesses who will let him have his way... how lucky can a boy get? :) (woe to Mommy if he gets spoiled beyond measure though)

We watched OUIJA last night and it was Yakee who was last of the three kids to fall asleep. What's more, he kept making those hissing, whispering sounds he makes that prompted BIL to say that Yakee's scaring him more than the movie was.

Then, this morning, BIL woke up at 6:00 AM to grill the liempo and chicken they marinated and brought all the way from Pampanga. After cooking the lot, he decided to bring a plate to us in the hopes that we'd wake up when we smell it. Funnily enough, it was Yakee who woke up to the smell of barbecued chicken.

Hay.

*~*

Meanwhile... it's nice bonding with in-laws. Aside from making us new additions understand our spouses more, it also allows us to become more a part of their family. Plus, you know you've reached a certain level of history with the family if you sometimes catch yourself telling stories about some of them to the latest addition (in this case, my BIL's wife-to-be).

*~*

I sort of consolidated the common ways we earn from home these days, you might want to check it out.

And in case you want to, I have a Pinoy Parenting Blog Carnival Entry as well.

Jacque's Perfect Client
When Jacque decided to start a balloon setup/party business (partyboosters), there was no question anymore as to who we'll hire for Yakee's party.

It's not just because she's a friend and we felt obliged, but because we know her passion for giving her 101% all the time in her projects. So we knew Yakee's birthday would be in good hands with her.

Anyway, I met with her this afternoon at Mega. And I am proud to say that I was the perfect client. How so? Because I wasn't demanding anything, I wasn't even specifying anything. Nada. Zilch. Zero.

Good thing am her friend or she probably would have bopped me. Hehe. She was actually more dismayed about my lack of progress too... and was all too eager to throw in ideas. Hehe.

But I love her. She got me excited. And I can't wait for the balloon drops at Yakee's party.

Serious Conversations
Hubs and I have a tendency to be morbid. I'm guessing most couples don't even talk of the scenarios we talk about. But like what I tell hubs, I like talking about those scenarios not because I want to dwell on their possibilities, but because they ARE possibilities that are bound to still catch me off guard and the conversations we're having now would at least serve as a sort of anchor when we're feeling lost at sea.

One of the bigger nightmares we talk about is having one of us die sometime soon. I think it's a scenario that haunts my Mom very much too, esply since I am now a SAHM. What if hubs dies, leaving me with a child (or children) and no job?

Well, that was considered when we agreed i'd be a SAHM. Aside from hubs having an insurance plan I can fall back on, he also has pretty well-off parents who would rather die than know their grandson is not provided for. So, although I am not exactly expecting my in-laws to support us, I trust that they will help in any way they can. Plus I know my parents would be there for me as well. Plus, one of the incentives hubs' company offers is several months-worth of his current salary if he dies while working for them. So, all these things will buy me time to grieve and land on my feet before I join the workforce again to support my family.

And if I die, I also have two insurance plans to help them along. And am sure my MIL would only be too happy to help my husband raise my son while he works.

I asked hubs if he ever thought or worried that I might not be able to give our son a comfortable life if he dies on us. He thought about it, and then said NO, because he knows my standards of comfort and my issues with security.

And of course, I need not worry as well because I know of hubs' issues about being a good provider.

*~*

I told hubs that what concerns me most if I die way before he does (or anytime soon) is his happiness. Because I want my kids to be raised by happy parents. And I worry that he might not get married again (hehe) and end up depriving himself of another chance at love (and depriving our kids with a chance at growing up with a mother). I've promised to haunt him naman if he marries someone very unsuitable.

*~*

Of course, there could be other things that can challenge our family... like long, drawn out battles with serious illnesses that will gnaw at our finances and spirit.

But love will find a way for us, am sure of it.

Kulit Pappie

Chat conversation with the hubs just now.

me: ampangit nya tingnan....awawa
tho ala sya lagnat pero dumadami rashes nya
Jojo: gusto ni ms. mimi na mag mall of asia and baka market market
naku ano kaya yan
baka may nakain
me: we cant go w/ you mahal
kasi sick si bebe
hindi sya pede mall
Jojo: yun lang
me: naah.... i thought of food allergies din pero nilagang baka lang din kain nya kahapon
and fried tilapia pala...
Jojo: magmumukha ako driver ehehehhe
me: but may rashes na sya before he ate tilapia
Jojo: so sa tilapia siya alergic?
me: may rashes na nga sya before he ate tilapia
mwahhhhhhhh
Jojo: ohhhh
okies
hmmm
eh ano kain niya before the tilapia
?
baka kelangan nang dalhin siya kay doctor
baka kailangan nang ipatawag ang coast guard
baka kelangan nang idulog sa presidente
baka kailangang magalay kay bathala
baka kailangan dilaan ng mother niya ang pisngi para malawayan ang rashes

Nine Months of Happiness



Wawa Baby, we're not cooking for him anymore! But my sister arrived from the US the night before so everybody was, including Yakee, lacking sleep. So I just braved the rains last Monday to buy pancit from Chowking and cake at Goldilocks.

Yakee is having a blast anyway, because he's realy crawling everywhere now. And when he's in the mood to climb stairs, he will not be denied. Or we could deny him but put up with a bucking, upset child. He just loves being mobile.

He's also started pointing to things somewhat. And begging for food. His pedia gave the go signal for everything for him, provided the meat are ground. So he's been eating all the broths we can cook for him. We just make sure to cook the usual tinola and nilaga with less salt and spices for him. And yes, he's had ice cream and yogurt and taho.

Heck, he even insisted in having siomai the other night. And he had jolly good fun eating sinigang na bangus at Seaside last night. On a highchair too (pics to follow). But apart from last night, I still wouldn't say he's "matakaw" or "magana". He's more of a, feed me a little bit of everything Mommy. Sigh.



He still actually refuses to wear shoes, which is too bad because he has three really cute pairs (i've already given most of his old, unused, ones away), aside from new slippers, and this imitation crocs I bought in Divi for P60 (which he prefers playing with insteadof wearing).

He has lockjaw moments when he's sleeping... and woe to me who has to disengage my nipple from his mouth. Ugh.

He loves the "Makulay ang Buhay" commercial. And he dances to most of the popular dance hits right now (like Get Low). He dances to the Noddy jingle too.

Pappie sometimes complains that Yakee doesn't like him anymore, esply when Yakee wakes up in the middle of the night and, not finding me there (because he often wakes up when I go pee), would absolutely bawl (as if he's being maltreated or has just fallen off the bed). He absolutely refuses to be consoled by anybody else, which makes things a little more challenging for me. Now I really have to do most of my blogging and studying in the wee hours of dawn.

Jojo and I often marvel at how fast he's grown... at how long he's gotten. When I was tucking away some of his old clothes to be given away, I couldn't help but feel sad. But then again, I know I am not missing his babyhood at all because i've just been here.

Yakee doesn't consider me a proper playmate, for that he turns to my cousin and Pappie (and now, my sister). So sometimes he gets upset because I am not playing with him the way he needs me to. So I get sad and wondering if I shouldn't have stopped working to be with him, since he doesn't like playing with me anyway. Good thing hubs has a ready pick-me-up for moments like those... he puts things in perspective for me by telling me that had I been working, i'd probably be too tired to play with him and he wouldn't be attached to me so.

But yes, my take on his attachment to me is confusing. I love that he's attached to me, but it does make things harder for me. But when push comes to shove, I pick him up and tell myself that the days when he wouldn't be asking for Mommy will come all too soon so I had better enjoy it while it lasts.

Even if it means losing sleep because I have to cram.


Credits: Kati by Tinette bow and flower
Miss Mint Wild Weekend Frame
Font: Al Sandra

*~*

Totally unrelated post but it sure is a good read, I posted a forwarded e-mail on surviving infidelity which offers good insights for even the infidelity-free marriages.

Pondering Glasses
I am currently looking for round glass frames, much like the ones John Lennon popularized and the same one that Harry Potter uses. I need it for my son's birthday party.

So during my research, I chanced upon the incredible Stylish New Frames From Zenni and actually contemplated buying Zenni Optical $ 8 Rx Eyeglasses. I mean, at least it's really, really cheap.

I heard my Mom just bought herself a new pair and availed herself of the bargain. After all, Zenni Optical was on FOX news! So she heard about it, and she went out to buy one.

Maybe I should also order a pair for my husband since we seem to have lost his second pair (the one with the red frames).

Why Have Children?
This is a belated response to a question Jeng floated in our N@W ygroups. And I shall answer it this way:

BECAUSE WE CAN
It isn't just a matter of having the right equipment to actually reproduce, especially since hubs and I established early on that in case of fertility problems, we might choose to adopt rather than go the fertility workup mile. But more because we are of age, we've had our fun, done our share of stupid things, and are actually married now and in a relationship that's good and thriving. It's because we're economically able. It's because our friends and family would have blessed such an addition and our relationship is solid enough to be enriched by it. Having children was not something to complete our happiness, it was just something else we can really do together, a decision and commitment we can enter into without fear of being underserving or selfish about it.

BECAUSE WE WANT TO
We both grew up wanting to have kids, wanting all the rewards of delighted smiles and being regarded as a hero, a saint, a mentor, a mover and shaker in this world if only in the eyes of one (or three) people. And we knew those rewards would have their price... like never-ending worries, crisis situations, soiled diapers, teenage rebellion and inability to watch our favorite shows on TV in peace. We want the privilege of caring for scabbed knees and first heartaches. Irrational, true. But it's also actually very self-serving. All things worthwhile are never easy, so yes, we're willing to put up with much for something that could never be taken away from us. Nothing could ever beat having the glorious power to bring a smile to a little one's lips and have him equate you with home, after all.

BECAUSE WE BELIEVE
We both grew up believing that a family is composed of parents and children, that the circle of life continues and keeps moving forward, and that the best is always yet to come. So within our families' imperfections, the shameful histories and bad genes, spirits triumphant abound, and love was always there even if some love stories ended in separation. Hubs and I believe that our parents did the best they could, and so would we. We believe that we have something to give, that we have what it takes to inspire, to teach, to guide and then let go.

And most of all, we believe that the world is still a good place in which to bring forth, raise and let loose our hearts.


Credits: Happy Holidays Paper, Frame and Ribbon by Ameliescrap
Fonts used: James Fajardo and Koch Rivoli

Two Sick, One Success
Yakee has roseola infantum. Since we're past the fever now, we just have to deal with the rashes (and hopefully it's connected, his lack of appetite and tantrums).

I, on the other hand, suffered from gastroenteritis early today. As in stomach cramping, diarrhea and vomiting from 1-5 AM. I'm feeling loads better now but my tummy is still not really good. This led hubs and I to start kidding each other that I might b preggy again because the only time I ever had similar problems was when I was preggy. Normally, my stomach is a hardy one.

But anyway, tapsilog is banned for the meantime at home...

And may I proudly share that Pappie Jojo passed his ACE exam (it's a certification in IT that basically says he's an IP telephony expert). Their boss is just as ecstatic as we are!!! I am really happy for my beloved because he's managed to accomplish one of his targets for the year. And yes, it means some incease in pay, hehe.

Have a happy weekend! Hoepfully I can bloghop soon.

Because I Refuse to Meet Assignment Deadlines...
... allow me to share instead a recent photo of Baby Jojo and Me, taken just last Saturday when we attended a wedding of one of his colleagues.




I know... Photoshop and right cropping does wonders, but so does genuine happiness, right? :)

If truth be told, however, we were just really ecstatic to pretend we're on some kind of date :D It's been ages since the last time we were out without baby Yakee (we paid dearly for this afternoon glee as Yakee got sick the day after, hehe).

Excuse the Absence
... not only have we been usually busy during weekends but Mommy also started classes, see.

And now, Yakee is sick. Three days of on and off fever and two trips to the ER already but we still don't know what's really wrong with him. It looks like he has UTI again though, but Mommy instinctively knows that's not what's causing the 39.5 grade fevers.

She cannot explain it, but she knows.

Oh, and Mommy's kinda starting to really attend to Yakee's party planning requirements. Hehe.

I promise to return the visits though.

*~*

In case you're from Cavite and thinking of having a Jollibee party for your child, consider Dasmarinas branch.