The Laundry And Me...

I've been a little stressed out lately since our digital washing machine broke down two days ago. Fairly enough, it has been with us for 10 years now and it hasn't given me any trouble.

Personally, I don't feel like getting some help to do our laundry. It's just not the same as doing the deed yourself. So Leih and I decided to get a new digital washing machine last Saturday after finishing from Ching's check up.

From the several brands we saw, I chose a 9kg. digital washing machine from Electrolux. Just  like our old washing machine, but only  even better. You literally dump all the clothes in, turn on the waterhose, put the detergent & the fabric conditioner, set the program and just leave it there to do the work. The time length will be displayed on the screen so you can come back a few hours afterwards and it's all done. Great right?

Yesterday, we had someone from the main service center install the machine and we were shown how to use it. Upon arriving home, I started doing the laundry. I left it after I've set the program and came back an hour later after I've fed my little one. The newly-washed clothes were almost dry, all that was left for me to do was to hang it  to let it dry even more. I can't believe how chores like doing the laundry could be such a breeze.

Now, I don't mind taking care of the clothes. Just as long as I have my trusted washing machine with me, everything's well taken cared of. =)

14 Months & Counting!!!

   
       Ching is 14 months today!!!!

       As expected, it's another excuse for the mom to get Ching two order of mini moist chocolate cakes from Sweet Solutions...
       Happy 14th month Little Girl!!!! We love you very very much!!!

My Video Journals...

I would like to believe that whatever things and preparations I did in the past were not born out of pessimism, rather, because I am the kind of person who always thinks way ahead.

one of my videos which I recorded while on Saturday duty....

When I was pregnant with Ching, I made a couple of video journals that I kept in my laptop. It was a video for my daughter, I tagged it as  my "just-in-case-something-happens-to-me video clips". You see, my pregnancy didn't go quite as smooth as the others. I have been watched closely since I had a history of diabetes and hypertension, not to mention,  a mild heart problem. The first 7 months proved to be a struggle.

Because of these, I couldn't help but worry. This is not to discourage other pregnant women out there but pregnancy doesn't come without a risk. We even have a saying, "Nasa kabilang hukay  ang paa ng isang babaeng nanganganak".  There is always a chance that something might get wrong in the end. I should know... coz I have a friend who died while on her 7th month of pregnancy. It was her third baby girl, supposedly..

After her  sad passing,  my friend left two lovely young daughters behind, it was enough to scare me to the core. I then decided to make my video journals for my then-unborn baby, starting when I was 5 months pregnant. I said to myself, I had to be prepared for the worst, though I am always praying and hoping for the best, but up until I am ready for  everything, I will not be at peace.

I made a video for Chingching when she turns 3, when she starts going to school at 6.... when she graduates from gradeschool, highschool and college, a video when she turns 18, a video about me ranting about boys, relationships and love, and another one before she gets married. Yeah, that is a lot. And I know I sound over-the-top.  I used to think so too. But last night as I was declogging my desktop, I chanced upon these clips and started watching them one by one.

Every video I made was filled with love,  telling my daughter how much I wished I was there to take care of her... giving her advices just in case she meets a certain problem, telling her my own love story, recounting to her the wrong things I've done, the good lessons that came out from those mistakes, and the one thing that I always kept repeating to her ~ reminding her to always love & respect herself, give due importance to chastity even if modern times dictate otherwise.. My thought was, the video was the only way to be with my daughter..  Maybe if I eventually fail to make it through my pregnancy at that time, I will not leave my child not knowing what kind of  mother she had...

The last video that I did was for her wedding day. That gave my tears away... It made me realize how much I love and value my baby even if she wasn't born yet then.

I am still keeping my video journals. Though it isn't for anyone else to view, but still, I would like to feel that wherever fate takes me, I will always  be there for my little girl,  loving, caring, and  guiding her no matter where I am.

If in case this article gives off a twisted or weird perception of me, then so be it.  (^_^)

Starbucks Hot Chocolate, Anyone?

Knowing how much I love hot chocolate, my cousin Beng sent me sachets of Starbucks Double Chocolate & Chocolate With Marshmallows along with the other gifts she gave Ching last February. At first, I didn't know how to make it. I tried mixing it with water and it tasted bitter.

But after Leih got us a carton of full cream milk, we discovered how to whip a mean hot chocolate drink. I would  pour a cupful of full cream milk and heat it in the microwave, afterwhich I'll be putting in one sachet of the delicious brew...  ALAS!!! Instant Starbucks hot chocolate!!!!

For our breakfast today, I scrambled some eggs along with some  fried bacon and bread on the side, and prepared 3 cups of delicious Starbucks Hot chocolate, one for me, one for Leih & one for Mommy... It's just like having your own Starbucks coffee shop but in the comforts of my own home

Now, who wouldn't want to wake up to that every morning, right?

The First Carousel Ride...

  A usual rest day for me would be a trip to the mall for some shopping therapy. Sometimes by myself, most of the time with my mom.

But lately, I find myself liking different activities which includes my whole family.

Today, we spent the whole afternoon at Mall of Asia with Leih and Chingching.. I planned on taking Ching to her first carousel ride...Since it was so humid, we decided to have  some Sticky Chewy Chocolate ice cream as soon as we arrived at Swensen's. We did  a little shopping, helped Chingching practice her daily walk with the use of her Walking Wings,  got her a small pool and a small teddy bear at the toy store, and then headed to the carousel.

 Daddy took charge of the camera while Ching rode the horse with me by her side...  An hour after, we grabbed a quick sumptuous Chinese dinner  at Lugang's Cafe, and  before going home, we had another round of Coffee Toffee ice cream..

balloon watching on a Sunday afternoon...

Ching busy looking at the balloons..

She was overwhelmed with all the balloons, she didn't know what to choose..

We had a great time at the carousel with Chingching. Daddy clicked away on the cam while I took charge of the little one on the horse. I felt happy seeing my baby shriek with joy. She has always been amazed whenever she sees the carousel at a mall nearby, so we let her get the real deal on it. She also had fun looking at the balloons, and toys at the toy-store... We even got her a small pool that she'll be using next weekend.

I took her carousel riding today..

Ching was looking for Daddy....

I had a sudden craving for Chinese food so we went to Lugang's Cafe for dinner. We had crispy chicken nuggets,  roast duck,  dumplings, pineapple rice, and a big serving of Mango & Coconut Cream Pudding on shaved ice for dessert while Ching had some plain congee & a few spoonfuls  of mashed squash.  

They provided Ching her very own feeding set.. =)

Roast Duck

my favorite... Mango & Coconut Cream Pudding on shaved ice...

Pineapple Fried Rice

Pork & Shrimp Dumplings...

Taiwanese Crispy Chicken Nuggets

   We fetched Mommy from SM Bacoor upon our way home, obviously, my mom had her "Me-Time"... Came home with a few paperbags and a recharged aura.. =) Awesome.

a little tired from walking, but still very talkative...

 So far, our Sunday had been awesome. I just love weekends...