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...

The Prepared Mommy...

My good friend (& co-W@Wie) Marion Miral gave birth to her first baby Yuki last September 17, and so, in the motherhood department, she's way ahead of me. We would often exchange ideas and compare experiences in our daily preggy lives, most especially since we share one OB Gyne which she personally referred to me.It's amazing how time flies so fast, it seems only recently that she was planning her preparations for the arrival of baby Yuki, and now, she's already taking on the role of a new doting mommy...

I too have become more excited and giddy as months pass by, as my belly grows bigger, so does my enthusiasm to get everything perfectly ready for my baby ChingChing's coming... Though there are certain customs as to not buying things until you're ready to give birth, I'm opting to bend the rules for myself. In reason that I wouldn't want to cram when my due date gets near. I don't see anything wrong with being prepared, and so, as early as now, (six months), I have been collecting some basic baby necessities for ChingChing with the help (and generosity) of Mommy who's more than eager to choose the stuffs herself..

So far, we've purchased a few newborn clothes, but some are hand-me-downs from my sisters-in-law's babies. I thought it would be wise not to spend too much on newborn clothes since the baby grows fast,and it would be nice to have some used clothes from his Kuyas... Mommy got ChingChing her own Graco stroller, and a few booties and mittens, some grooming items, diapers, beautiful hooded blankets, and a lightweight Snuggle Nest where she'd be sleeping in the next few months. I wouldn't have gotten the Snuggle Nest if it weren't for Marion's advice, and I must say it's a good buy since we are planning to have our baby sleep beside us on our bed. Leihson however got his baby some Avent bottles, (I'm thinking of adding a few more and a sterilizer to go with it). We only have a few pieces of clothes for her, no shoes yet, no toys, I guess we still have a long way to go...

newborn shirt & shorts....

ChingChing's secure sleeper (a.k.a. Snuggle Nest)

some of my baby's first things..

booties, mittens & blankets...

something she could wear when we leave the hospital...

hooded blankets

bibs..

for her head..

Good thing I have a few more months to prepare for her other necessities... Baby stuff is way over-priced here but piece by piece, I'm sure we'll get everything she needs before January steps in... For starters, I think this is pretty good enough... =)

Renovations

Ever since I found out I was expecting, Daddy and Mommy have been more than excited to prepare for our baby's arrival, after all, she's the first grandchild so you get the picture...

the green inspired bathroom

Daddy thought of having some parts of the house renovated for ChingChing, and also, to make the house much more pleasant for us to live in. His first project was to get the bathroom & the garage totally rebuilt, but this time, it was me who gets to decide what design I wanted. I was more than happy to oblige.

Leih, Mommy and I headed off to Manila to look for accessories and tiles and though I must say, three of my first choices were actually sold out, (at Home Depot), we were happy to find the least expensive yet very simple design..

The workers reconstructed our bathroom and the garage at the same time. I knew it cost a big chunk since the garage was made of heavy steel, and the bathroom construction was too meticulous to do, it took them a few weeks to finish it.. But after all the anticipation, it came out beautifully as expected...

Below are a few shots of the renovations being done...

I wanted everything spic and span

our newly-reconstructed gate & garage shed

Baby Shopping!!!

As I'm writing this, I am sprawled on the bed lazily blogging my boredom away as I wait for Leih to come home... It had been a tiring day for me and Mommy, though I must say, it proved productive in a lot of ways.
I had my Congenital Anomaly Scan today and thankfully, everything went well. I am 23 weeks on the way, and my baby's findings were confirmed normal, she is complete in every sense. She moved restlessly while I was undergoing my ultrasound, the doctor even noticed how she would shift her position from one side to another, only to bury her face on some part inside me but even if it brought a little discomfort (and sometimes pain when she kicks), I was happy enough to see my little angel's face for the second time. And so did my Mom who had her first glimpse of Chingching today...

just a few of Chingching's things...

After our procedure, Mommy and I enjoyed the rest of the day just looking at baby clothes and things, from one store to another, until we got our hands full with a few important items for my little girl. I must say, shopping for your baby could be the most wonderful experience ever.. I went home realizing that I wasn't able to get anything for myself. We decided to buy only a few pieces from time to time just so I wouldn't cram when January steps in. I want everything ready when my baby girl arrives...

It's such fun to shop for these cute little items...

Only a few more months to wait and my baby's going to be here with us, with God's good grace... For now, I'll try to catch some sleep as I'm feeling my sweet little pea move again... =)

Our Love Story....

"What and If are two unthreatening words, but if you put them together side by side, these two words can haunt you forever." This was the first line in Sophie's letter to Claire which prompted the old woman to start her search for the man she truly loved, 50 years ago...And they hit right smack into mine.. What if Leih and I ended up with some other people? What could have happened?
Love indeed works in ways we couldn't all define. Everyone has their own love story to share, some of it sad, some of it romantic, and some of it even unimaginably magical... Love makes life interesting, more colorful, more meaningful... And stories of love as beautiful as this one makes most of us dream that someday, we too will have our own to share with the world..

For me, that time arrived more than a year ago. When I met the man I was destined to be with, I knew my search was finally over. I was skeptic with the thought that love just comes when you least expect it, and in my case, I was totally mistaken. I may be a hopeless romantic but after having gone through heartbreaks, my belief in destiny got a bit jaded until Leih came into my life...

It is only now that I'm going to let this out. I had the weirdest short-lived infatuation with someone who seemed to share certain feelings for me, at the time that Leih was also pursuing me. I was single for a year and was busy enjoying the dating scene. Though I wasn't committed, I felt giddy as a stupid teenage girl falling in love when I started to hang out with this "somebody".. Other guys didn't seem to matter, I just lived by the moment, found excitement as I went out on friendly dates with this mystery guy. But then I knew from the start that it wasn't going anywhere. We were from two different cultures, two very much different worlds, and though I liked him just as much, I was sane enough to stop.... It was the second time I felt my heart breaking, only this time, I caused it. And Leih was a witness to all of it. He knew everything, and even if he felt that he had no chance on winning my heart since he lived thousands of miles away, he never left my side. He continuously made me feel that I am the only woman he would ever love, never failing to prove in little ways just how determined he was to make me fall. He made a decision to go for me even if it hurt him, coz he knew he had no right to feel that way yet towards me...

I realized how blind I was with all the efforts he had been giving me. I even remember when he confessed how painful it felt for him to know that I was starting to like somebody else, but he chose not to give up on me, coz he knew somewhere in his heart that I was the one.. I was his destiny. We both cried on the phone as he shamelessly poured out his feelings that night... And after that night, I started to look at Leih in a different light... I guess that's where my love for him began... I couldn't believe that such a wonderful guy still exists in this lifetime, and that I was lucky enough to snare one...
A line from Charlie from Letters To Juliet which quotes, " "I live in London, and you live in New York... But since the Atlantic Ocean is a bit wide to cross everyday, I suggest we flip for it... And if those terms are unacceptable, leaving London would be a pleasure, as long as you're waiting for me on the other side. coz the truth is, I'm deeply, passionately and madly in love with you..." 

  I can totally relate to Charlie as Leihson made practically the same decision when he asked my hand in marriage.. He had his life going just fine in the US, for 10 years he never thought of going back home. He was perfectly independent, living his life the way he wanted, but decided to give it all up just to be with me, knowing that my heart is where my family is... And though it sounds selfish on my part, I must admit it was the best thing someone ever did for me...
In a few months, we'll be celebrating our very first wedding anniversary, and the month after, our first new born will be arriving, finally completing our family. Nothing has changed, Leih has perfectly put on the role of a loving partner, only more caring and understanding, I couldn't ask for anything more... I do not know what could have become of my life if it wasn't Leih I ended up with. I couldn't see my life without him anymore... He has completed me in so many ways....
As I look back, I can now say that destiny is indeed for real. All we need is to have a little faith... Destiny really works, just as it worked for the woman who wrote her Letter To Juliet., and Sophie who got the fate she deserved.. =)

It's A Girl!

September 8, 2010. Mama Mary's Birthday.
I wasn't scheduled to see my OB until the 25th of the month but because I was experiencing pain in my lower right abdomen, Leih and I decided to undergo an early pelvic ultrasound and a urinalysis, just as the doctor advised.
I was thankful enough that my urinalysis turned out normal, the next exam would probably determine what was causing my tummy trouble.
We went to "In My Womb" at Mall of Asia to have my ultrasound before we headed to the hospital. Since I was having bouts of pain, I wasn't in the mood to eat anything even if we only had oatbran for breakfast. It was nearing 12 in the afternoon. Good thing, the other scheduled patients haven't arrived yet so the receptionist was able to squeeze us in. For some reason, my nervousness vanished, maybe because I knew somehow that there was a chance we could find out the gender of my child.

And just as the doctor worked on my tummy, for the first time, we were able to see our baby - fully formed, moving and squirming inside. I couldn't explain the feeling it gave me, knowing that there was indeed a budding life inside me. It felt so magical, I couldn't imagine how that tiny adorable blessing was living inside. It just all sank in to me, I am going to be a mother soon and this is for real.
I could see Leihson's face as he stared at the monitor with his eyes perfectly glued to his child's every move... He was the picture of a very happy father, an excited happy dad who just witnessed his own child's movements for the first time. It was priceless. And just as the doctor confirmed we're having a baby girl, we were both at loss for words. It was a wonderful moment for the both of us.
The results proved normal for the baby, though the OB confirmed that I had a low-lying placenta which would require enough bed rest for me so as to avoid any premature contractions or bleeding.. I was still having pains from time to time, but after finding out this wonderful news about the baby, the pains didn't seem to matter that much anymore.
As I trekked down the way towards the car, I had nothing but a beautiful smile on my face and a heart that felt so light. I knew it was going to be a beautiful day....

Deliriously Scary....

It was a common day for me, all I did was sleep the whole day since I've been feeling queasy and nauseated very early in the morning. It's weird that I felt exhausted when I wasn't even doing anything at all. But I was okay, I was getting the hang of it all. It wasn't something new.

That morning, I asked Leih to get me some local "kutsinta" with shredded coconut for breakfast. He happily obliged to my craving and got me some from the market. Before I went back to sleep, I almost finished it all.I think it was the coconut which gave me the upset stomach as I was suffering from LBM that very same night.

It was already 9pm when I started feeling a terrible discomfort in my tummy. Little did I know that I would be in a two-hour ordeal after that. I was in and out of the comfort room, drenched in cold sweat, crying out of pain. I thought I was losing my baby that night. The pain was agonizing. I even almost lost my consciousness for a minute or two, much thanks to my mom who never left me and hugged me until the ordeal was over. I never had the chance to wake up Leih since I knew he too was suffering from migraine. Thank God, the pain subsided little by little and after the ordeal was over, I was literally knocked out.

Looking back at that night, I could say it was one of the most scary moments in my life. Just feeling the pain on my lower abdomen was enough to drive me to think that my pregnancy days were over. The idea of losing what could have been my first baby was a nightmare, something I wouldn't wish to experience. I was thinking, if labor would be synonymous to the pain I felt that night, then I'm in for a very frightful experience in the next 7 months. But then again, it would be unwise for me to worry about that this early.

That night, before I fell asleep, I hugged my mother tightly, thanking her for never leaving my side.. I realized how much help and caring I was getting from my mom. Now, she's been more attentive to my every pain, to all the things I need. I am indeed so lucky to have her especially at times like these.

And just writing this, I am in tears again. 'Guess it's part of my mood swing but who cares, I'm glad that night's finally over.. =)

Her First Heartbeat....

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I knew it was going to be a busy day for us. Leih and I had a restless night as I suffered from back pains and leg cramps. Lucky for me, Leih was patient enough to rub my back and legs until I fell asleep, I wasn't sure though what time he went to bed after that.

I had my own worries while we headed to Makati Medical Hospital the next morning. I had a history of increased glucose in the past, so the idea of developing gestational diabetes scared me. I was also wondering if my baby's got a heartbeat by now considering I'm 8 weeks on the family way. So many things raced in my mind as Mommy, Leih and I traversed Makati.

I underwent a glucose challenge test which thankfully turned out normal together with my CBC though my arm got bruised from the blood extraction but everything was tolerable. I was happy enough that one of my worries was over.

For the first time, after a month, my OB happily confirmed that my baby already has a heartbeat. Leih and I were so ecstatic. I underwent another ultrasound, this time with Mommy and Leih with me inside the clinic, and they were able to see the baby's form and hear her normal heartbeat for the first time. It was quite unexplainable upon seeing this little human form on the monitor. Just 4 weeks ago, my ultrasound barely showed an embryo and fetal pole, and yet after only 4 weeks, my baby's already complete and alive... I couldn't explain how amazed I am with this miracle unfolding before my eyes.

We arrived home late in the evening, exhausted yet very fulfilled. Again, I fell asleep with Leih rubbing my back. But before then, we mumbled a short prayer of thanks for this very unforgettable day...=) This is indeed a milestone in my baby's journey to the world....=)

The Future Mother...

It's confirmed!!!! I am going to be a mother early next year!!! =)

I am now 4 weeks on-the-family way, as revealed in my ultrasound this afternoon. Though the result didn't show any fetus yet, the fetal sac was already visible and I was advised to take a few medications to improve the growth of my future baby. A few more tests are scheduled for me next month, and before I went home, my doctor, Dra. Arlene Bravo, gave me a dose of her flu vaccine.

Good thing I immediately looked for an OB-Gyne after taking the pregnancy test because I was allegedly a candidate for threatened abortion, having mild spottings lately which I have no idea about. Little did I know that one wrong movement and I'm bound for a miscarriage.

For now, I'll be on bed rest for a few weeks until everything improves. My Dad couldn't be any happier.. Everyone in the family is so excited about the news...

Hearing this news has been very rewarding...

Two Lines

For a week now, I have tried using more than 5 pregnancy tests which gave off negative results. And after what seemed like ages, I tried another one for the nth time.

This time, it yielded a different result. Two lines? A barely-there second line after 5 minutes of waiting in the bathroom. I was excited but also a bit uncertain whether this could really be it. I told my mom about it and she was so happy!

could this really be it???

When I told Leih about the test, he too was sooo happy, he decided for us to get scheduled with the Obstetrician. Good thing my friend Marion (who was also pregnant) knew of this doctor, Dr. Arlene Bravo at Makati Medical Center with whom she started seeing a month ago.

I haven't been experiencing any "signs" yet but just to make sure, Mommy will be accompanying me to the doctor next week to have me checked...

Another milestone in my life....

The Accident

We were on our way back from Tagaytay when we accidentally got hit by a motorcycle along Indang, Cavite. It was 2:00 in the afternoon.

Leihson and my cousin Jates came to visit our uncle who was in the hospital that day, and since we haven't voted yet, we decided to go home early so we could catch the 5:00 cut-off time. Leih has always been the defensive driver, having experienced how to drive in the States for years, he got disciplined enough to follow the rules on the road.


It was my first time to ever be in a car accident, (and I'm hoping it would be the last). I was seated at the front beside Leihson when this speeding motorcycle encroached the lane towards us from a blind corner... It was terrifying. I could still replay in my mind how it all took place. Leih saw the oncoming motorcycle and so he tried his best to swerve to the rightmost side of our lane, doing his best to avoid the speeding vehicle.

My first thought after hearing the collision was that the man in the motorcycle could have died on the spot, seeing his bike fly like paper...

Good thing, it turned out that he was able to jump from the bike and only got bruised. But what flared me up was after we stopped to check what was damaged. The Revo was a mess. And the driver and his other companions even had the audacity to blame us for the accident when in truth, it was his sole fault why this all took place. I wasn't able to control myself from answering back, but Leih asked me to just get in the car until everything was taken cared of.


To make the story short, we called the police and from there, the biker admitted his fault and made arrangements on how they'd be dealing with the damages incurred.

We arrived home and just in time, we were able to vote... But the drama of it all still overtook me.. I will never forget this experience, and how my ever-cool husband managed to make things okay at the end of the day....

Cuddling Moments... Priceless...

Just thinking about how time flies so fast gives me an overwhelming feeling... We're almost 5 months married now and every day seems just as happy as the last. Of course, there would be times when misunderstanding sets in, with all the pressures from work and everything else, couples would just have to find ways to make each day worth smiling about...

Before Leih and I go to bed, we would usually talk about how we see ourselves a few years from now... On how we are going to raise our kids and save up for their future... And from small topics like these, the conversation would always end up in small laughing fits and I'll find myself "torturing" Leihson with my unending tickling which will send him off the bed, bursting into uncontrollable laughter and tears at the same time. Though at times, he would seriously beg for me to stop, he says it is one of the sweetest craziest things I have come to share with him, and so does he.

Weird as it may seem, but not one night passes us by without us sharing a laugh or two... It's nice to finally find that someone you can share precious moments like these...with each passing day, I am loving my husband even more....

Transparency & Other Women..

It isn't easy being married. It's a fact. Lots of things change. You start thinking not only of yourself but also your partner's, and there are certain situations you must learn to perceive in a whole new light.

What am I talking about? Let me share with you what happened to a good friend of ours who got into serious trouble with his wife two nights ago over some woman's text message. Here's the rundown:

To make the story short, in an attempt to snag a free ride to work, a female co-worker sent our friend numerous text messages asking him if he could pick her up. For a while, she has been sharing rides with our friend without the wife knowing. Wife learns about it, blows off like a timebomb, and the rambling never stops.

Poor fellow came to us crying his heart out as he helplessly recounted how his wife humiliated him by hurling obnoxious remarks at the female co-worker whom we guess was quite shocked herself at what took place. You see, the wife is the impulsive, over-jealous type who tends to react violently whenever faced with something doubtful.This wasn't new to them though.

Before we went to bed,Leih & I talked about how we thought of this scenario. He then explained to me the two sides of the story, the way he sees it.

The wife was clearly over the edge. Jealous as she may have been, she should have given her husband a chance to explain his side and not go raving like a lunatic on leash. True, that she may have reasons to feel offended by what the other girl did (texting & asking her hubby to fetch her, blah blah blah), still, she shouldn't have lowered her propriety & manners in such a ridiculous way. And humiliating the husband is way out of line (I strongly agree).

With the husband, Leih explains to the guy that though he wasn't really doing anything bad, again, he should have taken into consideration the feelings of her wife with regard to specific things, more so, him already knowing how over-jealous his wife gets.

I agree that when one gets married, we should start becoming more careful with how we move or act around people, specifically careful not to give others any reason to think of us as rather promiscuous. It is a means of giving respect that is due to a wife and vice - versa. Not that it's a bad thing for you to hitch a ride with some guy from work, but think of how he would feel if he finds out you and the guy were the only ones sharing that long ride to Manila... hmmm, quite reasonable. Though the wife was partly wrong with her reactions, I couldn't fully blame her why she felt that way, she had her own point.

But most importantly, I have this to say to the other woman who by the way is also married ~~ Next time, she should be more considerate of other people whenever she asks for favors, especially from married friends or even those who are just plain committed. She should have thought how silly she would look, trying to snag a free ride, ignoring the fact that someone may get offended or jealous of her whenever she keeps sending wrong signals. Partly, she can't blame the wife for getting mad. She had clearly stepped into the wife's territory. (whoever said territories are just for animals? (^_^)

It may be true that she meant no harm. But still, as women, we all should be more careful not to make ourselves perceived rather wrongly. This is where propriety sets in. The small things we do can always be taken badly by others, but there are ways on how we could prevent this. After all, it all falls on how we put value on our modesty that we are judged, treated & respected. Sounds kinda unfair but it is the truth. We live in a double - standard country where women are judged and ostracized for almost everything. It's the system we grew up in and I have a feeling it'll stay that way for a longer time...

It was nice to hear a man's point of view about certain things like this. I'm glad I got to hear what my husband had in mind.

Hubby Turns 32!!!

Leihson turns 32 today and so, we decided to just celebrate his birthday by going out to dinner, nothing fancy.

Luckily, his schedule permitted him to take the rest of the evening off and so we headed to our favorite place in Alabang where we had a simple satisfying dinner. We were out til midnight but it was one of those special moments we loved, having so few night-offs make us cherish simple times like this.

My favorite Crunchy Tuna Maki


Fried Shrimp Salad

Mango-Watermelon Daiquiri


Very Moist Chocolate Cake...

Next month, we are planning on "starting" our baby project. (wink) I've given myself a few months-allowance after my last vaccination for Anti-Cervical Cancer. I guess we could start giving things a try, after all, we aren't getting any younger. Both of us have been eyeing on the Chinese Fertility Calendar and we're bent on using it next month.

Who knows, we might even get lucky... =)