Thursday, May 26, 2011

We're Back!

I totally owe it to my daughter that I update this blog. I started this because of her and now I can hardly update it. Sorry, babe! You may not remember, but so much has been going on lately and I'm sure you'd understand.

So. I'm actually typing this using a desktop computer. Something's wrong with my laptop and I haven't taken it to a repair center yet. Anyway, of all places, my laptop just had to give up on me while we were in the hospital.
We, pertaining to my husband and I. Due to inevitable circumstances Jai was hospitalized on May 18th and was diagnosed with Urticaria, Hiatal Hernia, Esophagitis, and Gastritis. He's been having heartburn for a long time but we have always dismissed it because before it was always relieved by burping. But recently his attacks were too much to bear (it was affecting his work) so I knew I had to get him to a hospital.. and it was a good decision. What we initially thought were a simple allergy and heartburn turned out to be big stuff after all and and should be taken very seriously. Iaine was left in the capable hands of my in-laws while I (and other nurses) nursed Jai to health. He's okay now although he's still on meds to cure Esoph. and Gast.

He was discharged on Saturday and that night I was the one who fell ill. My sinuses were acting up again but on Monday we still made it to MOA/SMX for Maroon 5's concert. He got us tickets weeks in advance and I tell you, he wasn't gonna let anything keep us from seeing that band. I was looking forward to it too, but more because that was a day for us to actually DATE. Movie dates and dinner dates are fine, but this was a special day. He set up a day for us to be together, just the two of us, act like teenagers, love-struck lovers, and just enjoy each others' company. I admire him for giving intimacy a huge importance in our relationship. Being "great parents" is good but being "great parents and a great couple" is way better!
I had fun at the concert even though I wasn't familiar with some of the songs. But I really like the band and I was there to have fun with Jai so I did. And that's all that matters.
We got home on Tuesday around 3:30 in the morning and immediately I felt worse than ever. I also developed a cough which was just great. I didn't stay home though because I had to get Jai a medical certificate so sure enough when I got home I felt like wanting to be hospitalized myself. I got worse and I was sick for days. I still have a cough now but I'm better.
May 27th was Iaine's day! I took her to the Dora/Boots Meet & Greet at SM Batangas and had to buy merchandises worth a total of 700php just to get in the VIP area. She's only a year and 3 months old so she wasn't allowed to play the games on stage but I could tell she really enjoyed the event, cos by the time it was our turn to take a photo with Dora and Boots I realized she was already asleep on my shoulder. Too much running ang playing wore her out. I was carrying her and no earthquake could have woken her up. But that was alright, she saw the mascots dance the Dora theme song before she drifted off to sleep. We went home with Dora stuff, digital photos, and smiles on our faces.
And we're down to the last stop of this short trip on Recent Memory Lane. We have Jai's paternal grandfather and Jai's step-grandmother's 25th anniversary. It was held in Fernbrook Gardens (one of the most glamorous function halls in the South of Luzon) on May 28th. I was dressed in a deep red gown, Jai in a black/white/gray number, and Iaine in a royal blue/silver dress. It was a glamorous and fun night to remember (I'm a flaming shot virgin no more! LOL)
Everybody got home exhausted, but on May 29th Jai and I went on a movie date/grocery shopping at the mall. Kung Fu Panda 2 was awesome!

Life is an adventure. Just keep the happy memories coming! :)

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Saturday, May 14, 2011

Fit and Foxy

Monday, bum. Then came Tuesday and I decided to join my mom in her fitness program. So, Tuesday, dance session/aerobics. Wednesday, dance session/aerobics. Thursday, had a good run around the village. Friday, dance session/aerobics. As you can see I'm turning over a new leaf here! No pain, no gain! ;D

Feels great to sweat and burn burn burrrn!!!

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Monday, May 9, 2011

Mothers Day 2011

My second mothers day was simple, and to me that was enough. Can you imagine the mothers in jail? Mothers who have missing children? Mothers who have lost their own mothers? Mothers who couldn't reach out to their own kids because of some kind of rebellion? Mothers who don't have a home? Mothers who have lost their kids for any reason? What about women who want to be mothers but can't have children?

I'm sorry if anyone reading this has experienced any of those, but I just want to make a point across--my mothers day, even though spent in the comfort of our home and my grandmothers' house, was spent in the loving presence of my beautiful happy family and that's more than enough. I have an awesome husband who was home and we have the most precious and important piece to complete the puzzle, our adorable daughter. We were together on mothers day and I'm very thankful.

I didn't receive any flowers, cards, although the greetings have out poured since I woke up that morning, so it's totally fine. You can't summarize motherhood in a day. Motherhood is 24/7, 365 days a year until the last breath. Celebrating it for a day is good, but mothers need so much more than that, really.

To me, reciprocated love, appreciation, and the occasional vacation is what mothers need to keep on. Mothers should be selfless but we are also people. I myself am not a superhero, and although it would be awesome that my daughter looks up to me like that, that isn't what I really am. We have weaknesses too, and none of us are better than the other. We all have our secrets.

Iaine is only 15 months old and I have more to learn about motherhood, but right now I'm on a good steady pace. Sometimes she can be quite a handful and raising her gets tougher as she grows older but that's what I'm here for. Yes, I can delegate chores to someone else or let them babysit, but I can't rely on anybody else to be there for her as a real mother.

Motherhood isn't something you think about and want to happen in a snap like deciding whether or not you should get a puppy. Whoever said that getting a puppy is just like raising a child is a moron, by the way. Dogs aren't people, babies aren't dogs. I'm not saying that giving dogs attention like what you'd give a child is bad, but the truth remains, you can't substitute one for the other. Motherhood means dealing with emotions, chores, marriage (if you prefer), your period, pregnancy, the house, budget, in-laws, family ties, family affairs, miscellaneous errands, and a thousand more motherly duties. Dads can also do all those things but truth be told, society has always expected mothers to take care of that stuff in general. It's unfair for some, but to tell you the truth, husbands and dads should consider themselves so damn lucky!

Bottomline is, mothers need more than a day to be appreciated. So dads and kids, work your butts off to show your wife or your mom the best kind of love there is.

Happy Mothers Day

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Sunday, May 8, 2011

For My Mothers

My mother-in-law...
And my amazing mother...
HAPPY MOTHERS DAY TO US!

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Thursday, May 5, 2011

Great Weekend

April 30th and May 1st were spent in bliss!
Jai, Iaine and I took a trip to Laiya [Batangas] with my side of the family for an overnight outing and everything went better than I expected. It wasn't supposed to be a long drive but because we were all excited to get there the trip felt like forever!
The weather was beautiful. The sun was high up and the sand was chalky to fine, and the environment was laid back. There were all kinds of people; people who came there for the same purpose--to have a good time and enjoy summer. It was hot and the wind was barely there, but to me it was perfect. Normally I would complain about how hot is is because it was the same weather in the city but being in a different environment changed the feel of it entirely.
We were all so excited to be there. Upon arriving, we just dropped off our bags in the rented rooms and proceeded to the beach. My husband and I are thrilled about this because it's been a long time since our last outing and what more is that it was Iaine's first time to actually be at a beach.
The water was warm and the seashells were uncomfortable to step on, but it was so nice to immerse my feet in the sea. The crisp splashes of the water were soothing and reassuring. This is a vacation. Have the time of your life (dirty bit)!
Our pack was more than 10 people so we rented 3 bedrooms for sleeping/bathing, a cabana for cooking/dining, and a videoke machine because what's a family occasion without one, right? It's a Pinoy thing.
My daughter was such a dearie for being in a good mood the entire time and it was adorable to see her explore the simplest of things there. She enjoyed watching small waves crash and exploring how the sand felt under her feet and between her pretty toes.
Wearing our rash guards, the 3 of us hit the water. Iaine wore her new life vest too. So fun!



Buying some hot and sweet taho! Taho is a Philippine delicacy made of fresh soft/silken Tofu, Arnibal (brown sugar syrup), and Sago "pearls" (which are similar to Tapioca pearls). Yom!

At sundown my cousins and I decided to get some henna tattoos. At first I wasn't sure I wanted one because I had one before and I know how it looks like plain dirt on the skin in a faded state, but I got one anyway. Well actually, two sets.
This is my lower back and a heart tattoo with some extended tribal design. I wanted something simple but definitely noticeable.
And these two stars represent the most important people in my life--Jai and Iaine. This design was a freebie I asked from the artist.
Power rangers!

That night was vodka night and I think I downed most of it LOL. Maybe that's why I had so much fun dancing to California Girls and the like. Under the influence, I couldn't care less there were strangers around us LMAO
There was a lot of dancing, storytelling, and lovelife discussion among me, Jai, my sis, and our cousins. It was the first time Jai and I opened up about our past and gave them a short but beautiful gist of our unique love story.

But I wasn't too drunk for the highlight of my night. My sweet husband and I reminisced our old beach outings together, our beautiful secret adventures like that first one when we had an entire shoreline all to ourselves (more of that in his blog). We also lied down on the sand, gazed into outer space, talked about extraterrestrial life, defying gravity, our future, and how nice it is to be at the beach. At the beach you can be anybody. Nobody cares about who you are, what you wear, and where you came from. Everybody's in conscious hibernation from all the stresses and hassles of the city.

Jai and I had a good conversation. He makes the best arguments, shares the best trivia, and never fails to engage me into the moment. He is truly a brilliant man who makes a simple stargazing experience so much more and so worthwhile.

Moving on to funny bits, I almost died laughing watching my cousins wash off their henna tattoos. Those things are tricky, I tell you. One wrong move and it's all over your bathing suit permanently!

Finally, we retreated to our bedroom. Iaine finally dozed off so Jai and I had some time to watch House episodes on his PSP. And when that was over, my sister and my cuousins did more wacky stuff in there--like dancing under a flashlight. Silly girls.

The next morning I woke up to Iaine and my husband still fast asleep beside me. My cousins have left the room and I assumed they were already at the beach. The air conditioner was on Antartica mode so I couldn't wait to get out of there and join them.

Not long after I woke up, my lovelies did too, and we all changed into our beach outfits. Then, we were out of there!

Because it was morning the sun was hotter than the previous day but even so, more people flocked the beach. They were everywhere. Hat vendors, tattoo artists, kids, seniors, teens, moms and dads, and everyone seemed to be having a good time.
After everyone else in the family was done swimming, Jai invited me to take one last dip. I turned him down and said it was too hot but I caved in anyway. He's just too charming.

We changed into our rash guards and went back to the beach. One of the best decisions of my life.

The water went from lukewarm to cold and I was just standing there shivering while Jai was swimming around me. He told me to stop whining and just swim. Being the stubborn brat that I was, he intentionally splashed me until I was soaked entirely. As a result, he left me no choice but to even out the wetness so I dove in at last. Then I didn't feel cold anymore. LOL

We were only in the water for about fifteen minutes but that was one of the best fifteen minutes of my life. We were like kids again, didn't give a single fvck about how the sun was burning our skin like pancakes on a stove. It was like our first beach outing. The world was ours, we were in a moment, our universe, our games, our rules. When Jai and I are alone together it's so easy to see that we're definitely made for each other. All the mysteries of the world are solved.

It took a while before we could pack up and leave. We left the resort at around 12:30 in the afternoon. The very accomodating resort owner/manager bid us goodbye and thanks. We did the same.
I was so exhausted from swimming, singing, running upstairs to our room and back to the resort, chasing after Iaine and other stuff, so I had short intermittent naps on our way home. I really wanted to stay awake to keep Jai from falling asleep (sleepy drivers are never a good thing) but I couldn't help drifting off to sleep even with my contact lenses on.

We got home safely but Jai admitted he was so sleepy the entire time too and that his eyes closed at some point. His eyes closed. On the freeway. I was like WAT

But all is well, thank God!

Jai took and nap that afternoon but I was too busy getting ready to go out again. Next on our itinerary was Thor in 3D!

We left Iaine in the care of my ILs and her nanny so we were sure she'd be alright. We drove to the nearest mall, got there at 5:30pm and decided to see the last full show scheduled at 7pm. We had an hour and a half to spare--and what better way to kill time than to eat and play some arcade games?! Shopping was out of the question LOL.

At 6:45 we were back at the theater but had to wait 5 minutes before the theater people could let us in. When they finally told us we could, Jai handed over the tickets, we received our 3D glasses, and walked in.

Okay guys, time for some analogy:

[Jai excited to see this movie] is to?
a. a little boy excited to open his present from Santa
b. a beauty queen anticipating to be announced as the winner
c. that feeling you get when you really have to go number 1
d. Obama just found out Bin Laden has been killed

We finished the movie and it was awesome. Didn't grow up with the character but it got me very interested to know more about Thor and the rest of the Marvel comic universe.

We stepped out of the theater, bought some meds, and finally headed home.

The weekend was incredible. I wish weekends are always like that. All fun, love, laughter, and Chris Hemsworth. Haha kidding.

Looking forward to the next outing and the next superhero movie. Live and love!

ps.
While I was typing, Iaine was animatedly telling me a story. The cuteness is just superlative!!!

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