Birthday, birthday, what a happy day.

This year, the typhoon and rains were on our side. No "Pedring" or "Milenyo" stopped us from giving a surprise birthday greeting to our dear friend, Bubbles. The rain stopped we when went out of the house and it just started raining again when we got home. We chose to surprise her at the stroke of midnight. We brought midnight snacks for the soon-to-be-mommy birthday celebrator.

I know your wish has been granted already. On your next birthday, there will be one more person, a little person, who'll be surprising you, with us. I pray for you and your baby's health and safety.
Happy birthday Bubbles!

Happy Birthday Papogs

We celebrated Papa's 59th birthday with three birthday cakes: a small ube mamon, a junior Dulce De Leche cake and our ulam, torta. Ikoy got fond of asking papa to blow the candle. With Shashing and KS on Facetime, we sang three times, with Ikoy's version on the very last line, "Happy Birthday to you, you, you, you!"

Of course the little boy won't settle for not having a gift. What he did, he took the banana from the countertop and gave it to papa, "Papa, ito ang gift ko sa iyo, banana!" And he drew his own greeting card.

I do look forward to the day when baby comes and Ikoy will have a baby brother/sister. And Papa will have a grandchild. I can't wait for that.

My only wish for Papa is for him to be always safe, healthy and happy.

Certainty.

I know my life would be so much easier and so much better if you were here. Just a wishful thinking. Most days I will just put a smile on my face, being contented knowing, and keeping you here inside my heart. But give me just some days out of the almost ten years, to tell how much much I wanted you to be with me, with us.

Then, I will be fine again.

Your love is a certainty, that will always keep me going.

Happy Tummy

To due insistent sister's bright idea and to cheer up baby sister who's been sad the past few days, they made this to my tummy and we all had a good laugh. This is how my tummy looks like at 17 weeks. Denden was afraid of how my belly button looked like so I wanted to show my sisters during our chat conversation, there was no webcam so we just took a picture and sent to it her.

My happy baby inside my smiley tummy also wanted to greet my hubby a happy four years today.

For Kuting

After six years in the same office that included one year of living in the same apartment, five years of birthday surprises, parties and spending special occasions, weekend movie dates and dinner outs, a friend decides to pursue greener pasteurs. Eventhough it hurts for me to see you go, I wish you well on your new job. Know that I will always be your friend.

I love you always, Kuting.

Happy Lolo's

It was grandparent's day last weekend. No, we didn't greet the soon-to-be-lolo's yet, I will let baby do the honors next year. But we got to spend time with our two dad's over the weekend.

First was the dinner with the Felipe-Ong family. Papa Renren was anxious and couldn't help but ask if we knew baby's gender already, I told him, we'll know next month. I ask if he had a preference. A traditional Chinese answer would be a boy, so that was what I expected to hear from him. Surprisingly he said he hopes for a girl. I asked why, "Syempre, kasi dalawang lalaki ang anak ko." I told him perhaps my dad would want a boy because he had three daughters. Either way, one of them will be happier. We had a good laugh.

On yesterday's dinner with Papogs, I shared the story with him. Then I asked him what's his wish. He just said, "Kahit ano." He told us that when mommy was pregnant with my second sister, he wished for a boy. And he did the same for my youngest sister, but it wasn't granted. So this time, he'll just say, Kahit ano. We laughed all together because we were almost sure that he's still wishing for a boy.

My heart and my growing tummy is filled with happiness as we feel the excitement of the people around us. As for me, it doesn't matter if baby's a boy or a girl. My only wish is that he/she is safe and healthy.

Preparing Baby's Room

One of the tasks for Denden when I was in Singapore was installing the air conditioner in the blue room.

The first step that we needed to do was put an air conditioner in the blue room in preparation for baby’s room. We put off doing this during the construction of the house because we weren’t sure yet if we wanted to put an air conditioner in our baby’s room, we thought we both grew up without air conditioners in our rooms. Actually we both grew up not having a room of our own. I myself, slept on my parents bed with my two sisters until I was about 10.

Having giving it a second thought, we decided, what the heck!-- anything for our “long-awaited-for” baby.

We got a good deal from Abenson and brought the LG air conditioner with a free air cooler.

Thumbs up again for Denden. Now I am even more excited putting baby furniture and decorations on the room!

Mission Accomplished

Since we decided the Singapore trip was just us, sisters, I left Denden with some tasks to do at home. After all, it was a two-day Holiday, thus, the four day long weekend.

I thought that it would be the best time to change the laminate flooring in our bedroom, into tiles. I knew I wouldn’t be too good in handling laminate flooring because of the water spills, the unwaterproofed firewall during the first few months, and windows that I always forget to close during rainy season. So the solution was to change them into tiles. I knew this will be hardwork that I wouldn’t mind missing. The “walk-in closet system” had to be removed, our bed had to be disassembled, baseboards removed, then the laminate flooring. We chose the wood-looking rectangular tiles from Mariwasa with a darker color. After the installation, everything should be brought back to its old place.

I had to give Denden three-stars because it was a mission accomplished for him. Thus our bedroom looks brand new.

Sisters Day Out

Probably the last, if not the second to the last trip to Singapore, we booked our flight even before I knew I was pregnant. Fortunately, I got clearance from my OB to ride the plane. We decided that this visit will be just us sisters, with Kuya Shosh.

Unlike my previous trips to Singapore, this time, we had limited places to go. I couldn’t walk too far, especially go and up down staircases, and I get tired easily. Of course, I wouldn’t miss Ikea and its yummy meatballs! But I had to limit what I had to buy because of the baggage allowance, mostly baby stuff, decors for baby’s room. And it was Cherub’s first time to eat in Marche, and as always, it was a treat.

The five days went by instantly. It was a “mission accomplished,” we got to spend quality time with Lij. For some time now, I haven’t experienced having two sisters: living in same house, sleeping in the same bedroom, waking up and having breakfast on the same dining table. I missed that!
On the other hand, we also got to witness how her day starts and ends there, how she and K/S take care of each other.

I guess this trip was not for different places to visit, or tourist spots to go to. But it was for the sharing of stories of different people we knew, and sharing of experiences that isn’t only read thru emails or chats. This trip was for the endless talks and laughs on the MRT train that would almost make you miss your station. Or the long serious conversations on the bus that would make you wonder if you’re passed your stop already. It was for watching TFC teleseryes together even if you don’t really watch it back home. It was for old Tagalog movies that you wouldn’t mind watching again just to share with her, the feeling of being home.

When it was time to go, I asked her if she wanted to accompany us to the airport, she said she didn’t want to because she might cry. It was sad having to leave her and I know it breaks her heart as well. But what’s left is to cherish the last five days. After all, she exceeded half of the two years. A few months more and she’ll be back home. And we will look forward to that day.