Celebrating The New Year Together

This will be the first time for Leih and I to celebrate the incoming New Year together... I'm just glad that RWM granted his request for vacation leave and so far, he's been with me to celebrate all the special occasions this December.

We didn't get any fireworks, just a simple spread of food at the table which we shared at midnight with Mommy. Leih honked his car as loud as he could as I set the music at it's maximum, and that was it. Mommy & Leih watched the fireworks outside afterwards, while I opted to stay inside our room.

Zach got very scared of the non-stop noise everywhere so I had to keep him company, making sure he knew he wasn't alone, and since I tried to avoid the fumes seeping inside the house, I stayed away from the open space.

This was a first indeed. Maybe next year, we'll have a little baby girl to celebrate the holidays with.. That, I am so looking forward to. =)

My Cleaning Project...

After Christmas, I decided to take the rest of December off so I could rest at home as we await for our little bundle of joy... But being at home can be very boring, at least for someone like me who's always on the go.

And just this morning, upon waking up, I felt great that I decided to help with the household chores.. I was really up for it. Before I knew it, the whole house was sparkling clean, I just couldn't miss not taking pictures of it.

our living room..

see the sparkling floor?

our very own bedroom...

the dining area....
I felt so accomplished, having cleaned everything. It feels so light to see your place as orderly and well-maintained... I just hope I'll still have the time and energy to do so even after I've given birth..

Christmas Eve with "KAOS"...

Leih had been planning this surprise for weeks now. He even asked me to tell Jates that all the four of us including Mommy are to go somewhere nice. To where, I only had the vaguest idea. He barely gave me clues. Little did I know that we were headed to Resorts World Manila where he got us four tickets to the KAOS musicale. Oh how happy I was!!!

my beautiful baby Jates, Mommy & me..

with Jates on Christmas Eve..

It was my first time at RWM ~ the place where Leihson works. I met a few of his friends along the way. The casino was closed that day so I just had a glimpse on where his "office" is, but definitely, the place is magnificently beautiful. He toured us inside the hotel which had a mini mall and some nice plush restos to try. Good thing I brought a camera with me. I am sure to go back here maybe after I've given birth.

my greatest blessing.. Leih...

with KAOS the lion..

Jates, Mommy and I had such a great time watching the musicale. It wasn't just an ordinary musicale, it had live acrobatics in it, real lions, magnificent costumes, a set so beautifully prepared... It was all in one package.

the musicale, taken by Jates on her iphone..

Jates & Mommy

Leih wasn't into musicales that much, but knowing we'd enjoy it, he thought it would be a nice Christmas treat. After the show, we decided to go to Serendra where we had an early Pre-Christmas dinner at Larry's Cafe before going back home. The place was so crowded and there were hardly any other places to eat, good thing we enjoyed our food there despite the crowd.

Mommy & I as we wait for dinner..

It had truly been a wonderful Christmas eve for the four of us. My cousin Bobby is coming home in a few hours with 3 of his friends in tow. This will be a great Christmas for everyone, I'm sure...

Leih's Surprise Dinner Date...

Since I had been pretty much depressed after yesterday's check up, Leih decided to surprise me by taking me and Mommy out to dinner in Tagaytay.

Josephine's Resto on a cold December night..

He had a table reserved for us at Josephine's Restaurant where the three of us shared a bountiful array of food. It had been months since we last went to Tagaytay. I would often ask Mommy and Leih to bring me there in the weekends just to relax but the long drive from our place makes Mommy worry that I might go into premature labor or something. But tonight was different. Leih was determined to make me enjoy the rest of the holidays and before we headed back home, I was pretty much stuffed. We also had coffee at Starbucks and for the first time, I didn't think twice of ordering a Venti Hot Chocolate. Tonight, I had my fill of my favorite drink.

My dearest Mommy & I enjoying dinner..

me & my very thoughtful hubby...

It was a great Thursday night surprise... A wonderful romantic dinner on a cold December...

Dieting Gone Overboard

I've just finished wiping my tears as I write this... Today, we saw our doctor and the last ultrasound report of my baby wasn't as good as the previous ones... I was asked to take another ultrasound just to be sure since her weight hasn't been very satisfactory for her fetal age.

I felt so guilty upon learning that my baby has become underweight, with her abdominal circumference a little below the normal range than the rest of her body. My OB told me to eat as much as I could, ~ contrary to what most doctors advise their patients in their 8th month of pregnancy. In my fear of getting gestational diabetes, I have probably gone overboard with the dieting which led my baby not to gain the much needed weight.

I was literally ice-cold in her clinic as she read the results of my ultrasound. Leih had been very patient with me, holding my hand and assuring me that it still can be fixed and that our baby will be okay, provided that I eat to my heart's content during the holidays which I vow to do.

I have no plans of controlling my urge to eat, not in the next weeks to come.. I just hope she gains more before our next appointment with the doctor...

Early Christmas Presents!

With all the cute onesies, mittens & booties Chingching has received the past months, I believe we are pretty much covered. She has way too much onesies neatly stacked in the cabinet, waiting to be worn. I am just so excited.

just look at all those girly stuff!!!

Today, Tita Chim & Tito Vernon (our very good friends), gave Chingching their early Christmas gifts. Three pink-colored super cute onesies, mittens, bonnets & booties to match... I soooo love the designs of the booties, they're just so feminine... I hope it fits my baby well. It'll look perfect on her I'm sure...her uber-cute booties....

Thanks Tita Chim & Tito Venz! You guys are the sweetest...

Francesca's Scrapbook...

I just started scrapbooking for my little one... I have yet to fill it with her pictures when she arrives, but I'm hoping I get to complete every detail in the book starting from her first hair cut, her first steps, up to her first birthday..

the cover of Chingching's scrapbook..

details about her dad...

details about mommy...

It's still a work in progress, but so far, I am enjoying every page of her book. I'll post more pics as the day progresses...

her first ultrasound pictures..

her family tree.. (some pics are still missing..)

her very first gifts...

Our Very First Wedding Anniversary...

Upon waking up this morning, the very first thing I did was pray and thank God for the wonderful year that Leih and I were blessed to share together... Today is our very first wedding anniversary and I couldn't be any happier.. Just thinking how time flies so fast that it seemed only yesterday that we were preparing for the big day, I could still remember the flowers, the ceremony, everything....

I didn't expect it would be easy for me to adjust to married life, after all the things I hear from other married women. True enough that there are a lot of changes once you decide to take the plunge, but for me, it had been a wonderful transition.Every day is something we both look forward to, every day seems like a brand new story, and a year has passed but the love has grown much deeper. I could say I haven't loved anybody as much as I love this man. And if I would be given another chance to do it all, it would still be him I will choose..

Leih has made me very happy...

Leih and I don't seem to have grown up much. When we're together, we're more like kids teasing each other, having fun, laughing at the smallest things... these are the moments I love the most... It's like being in love for the first time all over again... I love doing things for him, having to care for all he needs just as he does mine, praying with him before we go to bed.. and every night, as we both go to slumber, we would find our hands intertwined just before we lose ourselves in our own dreams...... small things that matter so much...

after a wonderful dinner at Rockwell...

In my life, not everything is a fairy tale. But true indeed that we are the ones who make our own fairy tales. And now as I look back at the year that has passed since I married Leih, I definitely conclude that God must love me so much to have given me Leih as one of my biggest blessings in life... I don't think I could ever find a more loving, more kind, and more responsible man than Leihson. And for that, I am more than thankful.

Hoping to spend a lifetime with Leih.. more kisses and hugs every morning before we start our day, more happy moments with our families and friends...

For now, we would just enjoy what seems to be the start of more wonderful years to come..

A Crib, Finally!!!

I saw my doctor today... It was a relief to hear that everything seemed okay. I was asked to get a series of tests just to make sure. But the most exciting part of the day was when we went to buy a crib and some baby stuff for my little Chingching!!!


We finally got her a beautiful crib!!!! I so totally dig it!!! Loved it upon seeing it the first time, it had a neutral creamy brown color, complete with a musical mobile & rocker, a hood & a diaper changer... Not as expensive as other cribs & playpens are, but totally worth every cent. 'twas a great buy!

I also got her a few blankets, another set of bedding, 3 cute dresses & some other stuff that we will be using when she arrives... We went home with a lot of loot in hand...

Shopping for the baby invigorates me big time!

Our New Dining Area...

After our scheduled ultrasound today, Mommy, Leih & I headed to look for a new dining set which we planned to replace a few weeks ago. We were supposed to get only 6 dining chairs since our dining table is still very much in good shape. But upon comparing prices, we realized it would be a much wiser move to just get the whole set than getting only 6 chairs. We ended up getting a good buy at Furniture World. I just so love how our new dining area looks like, and mind you, I personally chose this design!





I posted some pictures of our new dining area.. Hope Daddy likes it when he comes home in February! It'll be a surprise!

A Bagful of Stuff For Chingching

My aunt Mommy Mel arrived today from the States for a 3-month vacation. Sadly, my cousin Injey & her bf Shay couldn't join her as they had their own schedules to fill.

But still, my cousin managed to remember my baby and even shopped pretty clothes & stuff for her which my aunt hand-carried on her way home. I am just so touched with the gesture, thinking how much they love my baby even if she hasn't arrived yet..

a few pairs of onesies from the bagful of pasalubong we got.

Mommy Mel gave me swaddling blankets of different designs, cute newborn onesies & even big ones, feeding bottles, bibs, mittens, bonnets & booties, Russ Bears from Injey & a very cute pair of sandals, even boxes of baby wipes! I went home carrying 3 bagfuls of baby stuff!!! I couldn't be any happier...


My most favorite however is the Baby Gap onesie & this lovely little sweater... They're just adorably cute... Super thanks to my Mommy Mel & cousin Injey for the pasalubong!!!

Craving Granted!

Finally, after seven months of craving, Leih allowed me to have some Hawaiian Maki at Tempura Grill.. Too bad, their Uncle Sam's maki wasn't available. Not my luck I guess... But it's better than not having anything at all. Since I got pregnant, I refrained from eating raw foods especially tuna, as advised by the doctor..

would you look at that?? mmmm...

For this, Leih deserves a big hug and a kiss!!! Panalo!

Side Trips To The Doctor..

Before heading to my 7th month check up, Mommy and I decided to drop by Greenbelt 5 for a quick lunch and a short window-shopping date... I went to Mothercare & Hobbes & Landes to look for the Fisher Price Swing Cradle I saw online and the Richell Baby Bath Tub i've been eyeing for the past month. With the Cradle swing, we were hoping they'd have one here but unfortunately, they sell it only in the States so my last option is to have someone order it online for me and bring it home, or I could ask my dad to just get another brand of swing for my baby (which he would willingly buy in a heartbeat). We ended up getting a beautiful SUMMER comfort baby bather in pink color which I fell in love with the moment I laid my eyes on it...

Summer Comfort Baby Bather... isn't she a beauty?

Upon exiting Greenbelt 5, I happened to find this ice cream haven, and boy was I so overwhelmed with their ice cream display! Even Mommy couldn't resist! We ended up getting two cups on our way to Contis Resto for our lunchdate...


I just loooove ice cream...

The Vain Mom-To-Be

I was in the mood to take a few pictures of me and my growing baby bump. =) I feel like going to the salon later on to have my hair done.. and maybe grab a maternity dress upon hitting the mall.... oh well, the more I gain weight, the more I feel vain. hahaha..

one of my favorite ballet shoes.... =)

goofing around with Leih after a busy day..

whatever... =)

A Special Family Dinner...

Since it's Mommy's birthday, we decided to treat her to a special seafood dinner with my cousins Kuya Borge & Jates.. We feel that she deserves more than just a simple celebration, too sad that my dad and other aunts & cousins are out of the country.
We opted to have dinner at Seaside ~ Mall Of Asia where she loves the crabs... We had ample servings of crabs cooked sweet and spicy.... shrimps & scallops, fish sinigang, and a big serving of grilled fish... whew... it was a satisfying night indeed..

the celebrant with my husband Leih, and my cousins Jates & Kuya Borge

I'm not sure if next year, my Kuya Borge will still be here in the Philippines to celebrate our birthdays with us, so we made sure to take a few pictures just for remembrance... It was a wonderful night with the family.... A night not so different from the other dinners we've shared but definitely, one I will always remember... =)

two of the most important people in my life...

my husband Leih...

my original baby, Jates...

The Birthday Girl!!!

Since I turned a year older, and gained a few pounds this year, I decided to post my picture, (since my tummy's not that big yet)...

Maybe next time, I'll have Leih take some pictures of me in my other preggy dresses just so my baby would soon be able to see how I looked while she was still inside..

picture muna before going to the grocery... =)

Here's my picture, the plump birthday girl with her 25-week-baby bump... (and I'm carrying it proudly)...

My Most Precious Gift...

As October 16 was fast approaching, I was having a bad case of indigestion from the early lunch I had last afternoon... I decided not to have dinner coz I felt like throwing up every now and then. I just hoped Leih would come home early today so I could get my back rub and rest..

But today, Leih was unusually late... I didn't get any calls or message from him telling me he's gonna be late, and it got me so worried. He would be home by midnight most of the time whenever he's on night shift, and as I patiently waited, I drifted off to sleep...

His kiss woke me up. He was finally home by 1:30 am. I hugged him tightly, asking him where he had been coz it got me so worried. I just stayed clinging on to him in tears, telling him how bad my tummy felt. Then he confessed that he went somewhere after getting off from work, little did I know that he bought me a beautiful bouquet from Dangwa at 1am.

Leih had always been the thoughtful one. He was the type who would shower you with flowers and little surprises even when he was still my boyfriend. But ever since we got married, I told him that there is no need to spend much on flowers,(budget wise) and his company alone would suffice, as long as we're together enjoying the day.

It was a very touching moment for me. Just thinking of the effort he gave so he could get me his present. He was already very tired from work but he managed to drive all the way to Dangwa just to get me something special, and drive an hour more to get home... Manila is a treacherous place and bad souls roam freely in the wee hours of the morning, this idea alone made me cringe, I'm just glad my husband's finally home safe and sound and in my arms...

I heated up some spaghetti I saved for him before we went to bed. And though I still feel sick to my tummy, I was more than happy to start my birthday with the most wonderful surprise...

He gave me my back rub afterwards and before I knew it, I was peacefully fast asleep, cuddled into the arms of the man who just started my day in the most unforgettable way....

Early Birthday Surprises...

It was a usual busy Friday at work as we had a scheduled hearing today. But since it's Friday, we were all excited for the weekend... And also, since I'm turning a year older tomorrow, I asked Mommy to cook her delicious spaghetti for all of us at work to share in the afternoon...

I was so surprised when Atty. Grace, our beautiful PAO lawyer, handed me something as soon as she walked into the office.. She remembered my birthday and that gesture alone was enough to make my heart melt.. It was very sweet of her... It was a lovely woven box with a crimson red ribbon, with some chocolates inside and a crunchy delicious apple for my baby Chingching... With the box came a beautiful "journal" that I could put some of my writings in... I felt very touched just having someone remember me...

It was followed by a another surprise in the afternoon as my Ninang Juliet (who also happens to be my officemate) surprised me with a lovely paper bag with some cute shirts and booties for my little one... The sleeveless shirts are of my favorite color, and the booties looked so pretty...

I went home with a big smile on my face... It feels so wonderful to be loved...