Happy Christmas Day!

Ho! Ho! Ho! It's Christmas Day! Well, the day is almost over in my side of the world. I just actually spent the whole day at home watching movies, listening to music and resting. The whole family already had an advance Christmas get together on Sunday night because my sis and her family have to go on a road trip today. My brother-in-law's brother is getting married on Saturday and my two nieces are going to be flower girls so their presence is a must.

Hubby went with them today as well. He wanted to see his family in Manila so...He wanted me to go with him but I declined. I don't think I can handle the long drive at this point. Sitting for long periods is getting to be quite tiring for me. And I also can't stand the long distance walks involved when navigating the streets of Manila so I'm just here staying put at home this holiday season.

Anyway, it's not boring at all because there's baby to talk to. He baby moves around a lot! He also has his favorite spot in my tummy. He likes to rest a lot on the right side. I just feel and see him bunching on that side. It's a joy to see.

By next year we'll have our own baby boy to play with during Christmas! I can't help but wonder what kind of temperament he'll have. I'm excited!

Anyway, I hope you all are enjoying your Christmas Day! 

Manny Pacquiao Knocked Out Cold by Juan Manuel Marquez

The whole world, especially the Filipinos were shocked by the outcome of today's boxing match between the People's Champ Manny Pacquiao and Mexican boxer Juan Manuel Marquez. This was their fourth match and for the first time, Marquez knocked Manny out during the sixth round! Yes, Manny was knocked out cold by Marquez's right hook!

Everyone, including those watching live in Las Vegas and those viewing from their homes, were shocked when Manny landed in an unconscious heap on the floor! His wife Jinky Pacquiao was shown on TV crying when her husband failed to get up a few seconds after his fall. It was a nasty fall and I guess a lot of people were worried that there was something physically wrong with him that's why he was unconscious for a period of time. They were only able to breathe a sigh of relief when Manny gained consciousness and immediately began smiling as his assistants talked to him.

But the knock out during the sixth round wasn't the only exciting thing about their match. During the third round, Manny was also knocked to the ground but he recovered immediately. Manny got back at Marquez during the fifth round as he was also knocked to the ground by his powerful left hook. And before Manny was knocked out cold, he was able to pummel Marquez's face pretty badly, leaving it swollen and bloody.

Oh well, as the saying goes, you win some you lose some. I'm not really a huge boxing fan but I just think that this is a sign that Manny needs to retire already. His attention is not focused on boxing anymore and at his age and considering what he has achieved, it's about time he leaves boxing behind. He should have done so while he was undefeated.

Did you watch today's Pacquiao vs. Marquez match? Do you think it's time for Manny to retire?

Photo Credit: 4umf

It's a Boy!

It's a boy! This little bundle of joy inside me is a boy! My hubby got his wish and he's so thrilled. He's the first grandson in my side of the family; my sis and bro both have little girls. We've actually known for two weeks now but I just got around to writing about it today. I hope that the ultrasound's accurate. We just got the common ultrasound and not the 3D one that a lot of expectant parents get these days.

Sometimes, ultrasound results aren't accurate especially if done in the early staged of pregnancy so I hope ours is correct because I already started buying baby things fit for a baby boy. I mostly got blue wraps and baby clothes. I only bought a few so far. Whenever I go out, I buy one or two things for the baby so that it won't make an huge impact on our budget. But anyway, come Christmas we really have to buy all the necessities.

A boy. No wonder he's so active in my tummy. There were times in the past months when he just goes on a kicking spree! Some were so strong they couldn't be ignored. Looks like he's going to quite a handful when he comes out! Hubby better be ready.

Anyway, now that we know our baby's gender, we're caught up in another dilemma still! What name to give to our baby boy! As much as possible I want it to be a combination of my and hubby's name but it's difficult. We might have to choose another as long as it begins with R and is unique.

My baby boy! Can't wait to meet you!

Room Repainted for Baby at 23 Weeks

Baby and I are halfway to the finish line! We are now on our 23rd week and my pregnancy couldn't be any better, well except for the slight swelling of my feet and hands. The swelling just manifested itself two days ago after hubby and I went to the city for some errands. It was only after I removed  my shoes that I noticed my feet looked bigger than they used to be. We had to walk some distances so that's probably the reason for it.

Anyway, my tummy is getting bigger with each passing week. I keep staring at myself in the mirror sometimes because I can't believe how big my tummy has become. I hope it's just because of water retention and not because baby has grown super huge (I don't want to undergo CS thank you very much!). But I also noticed that baby is more active these days. In fact, if I stare at my tummy while baby is moving I can see some of the movements through my clothes! It's amazing! Baby is usually active at night, kicking and squirming for a few minutes. Even though I haven't had an ultrasound yet I think baby is doing very well inside my tummy and that's what's important.

Since we're already halfway through the pregnancy, I've already started preparing for his/her arrival. Got my room repainted so that we'll be more comfortable staying in it. I know baby won't be able to appreciate it yet but a room with a good ambiance will be more restful for him/her and me as well of course.

My room's new color is a mixture of lavender, pink, and white. Very girly eh? I know that's what hubby said too but it's the color combi that took my fancy. Anyway, if our baby is a boy he'll be too young to know it's too girly.

Aside from the paint I've also rearranged the room's contents to make it look tidy.

So, these are the things I've accomplished for baby so far. Next on the agenda is shopping for baby clothes and other necessities.

I've included a photo of the repainted bedroom. What do you think? Too girly? 

Baby's Heartbeat for the Second Time!

Heard my baby's heartbeat for the second time today! I'm so happy! I know this might not seem like a big deal to some of you out there but for a first time mom-to-be like me it's beyond words! Hearing my baby's heartbeat makes it him/her more real. I'm already 5 months along and although my tummy is already bigger and it's become more obvious, directly knowing that she is really growing inside makes me feel more excited to finally hold him/her in my arms.

Will my baby be a boy or a girl? I'm really not sure but all I know is that this baby is so active! My ob had a difficult time tracking her heartbeat this morning. She placed the device on the left side of my tummy, then on the right. Just when we thought there was a heartbeat it was gone! Baby moved! She had to reposition the device several times until finally baby was cornered at the center of my tummy. This is so unlike the first time, that was four weeks ago. My ob was able to locate the heartbeat on the left side of my tummy without any trouble. Oh well I think it's good that baby is active even at an early age.

Anyway, aside from hearing baby's heartbeat for the second time, we also found out that I gained 7 lbs. in one month. Doc had to prescribed a multivitamin that serves as an appetizer at the same time because I wasn't gaining any weight since my first trimester. I have to take the vitamin/appetizer for another month. I'm afraid i'm going to get really fat because of it. But I just keep thinking, it's for the good of our baby. 

Being fat is not the only thing, I had to have an anti-tetanus shot today too. Ouch! I'm so afraid of injections but then it's a necessary evil for the good of our baby. I'm going to have another injection on our next visit :(. I'm so not looking forward to that part.

But what I'm most excited about is knowing the gender of our baby. To be sure that there won't be any mistake it will be done in December. By that time, the sex organ is fully developed and so it will be clear in the ultrasound. I'm so excited! Can hardly wait! 

Who wants to bet if it's a boy or a girl? ;)

The Baby Inside!

A BABY! Yes we are having one! In fact, I’m already on my 14th week. We’ve actually known about it in the last week of June but I just got too lazy to write about it here. Don’t blame me too much from what I’ve read that laziness and inability to concentrate are among the things that occur to pregnant women during the first trimester.

Wow I can hardly believe there’s a tiny human being growing inside of me. Sometimes I still don’t think it’s real you know. And my tummy doesn’t have a proper bump yet and I can’t feel the baby so, sometimes I talk to myself and ask, “Is there really a baby in there?” But my OB assures me there is. In fact, she told me I’m lucky that I don’t get morning sickness or dizziness that a lot of pregnant women experience.

Hubby and I went for a checkup again last weekend and my OB tried to see if we can hear a heartbeat already but it was a no-go. She put a device (I don’t know what it’s called) with a sound detector attached to a speaker on my tummy and tried to listen for a heartbeat. Then there was a loud thudding sound but she said it’s not the baby but my pulse. She tried for several minutes but it couldn’t be detected just yet. She told me that by 18 weeks to 20 weeks the heartbeat would be easier to detect.

Pregnancy 14 Weeks

My baby is already 14 weeks I can hardly believe it! I kept reading about pregnancy at 14 weeks online. The articles say that my baby is fully formed at this point and the most amazing thing is that he/she can already make some facial expressions! He/she can now squint, grimace, frown and even suck a thumb! I’m really amazed how a baby can do that at just 3 ½ inches! Such is a miracle! 

It’s early stage yet baby so just relax in there. But know that Mama is excited to meet you!

Photo Credit: Babycenter

Masterpiece

 I will just let this photo and the song lyrics speak for themselves:)

PT tests on June 24, June 24 and June 29

Masterpiece

by Sandi Patty 

Before you had a name or opened up your eyes

Or anyone could recognize your face.

You were being formed so delicate in size

Secluded in God's safe and hidden place.

With your little tiny hands and little tiny feet

And little eyes that shimmer like a pearl

He breathed in you a song and to make it all complete

He brought the masterpiece into the world.

You are a masterpiece

A new creation He has formed

And you're as soft and fresh as a snowy winter morn.

And I'm so glad that God has given you to me

Little Lamb of God, you are a masterpiece.

And now you're growing up your life's a miracle

Everytime I look at you I stand in awe

Because I see in you a reflection of me

And you'll always be my little lamb from God

And as your life goes on each day

How I pray that you will see

Just how much your life has meant to me.

And I'm so proud of you

What else is there to say?

Just be the masterpiece He created you to be.

The Orange Gumamela

I found these at my sister's backyard. It was early morning and they still had dew drops on them that I could not resist taking some pictures. These pictures were taken using my Samsung Galaxy Y phone. They're quite clear aren't they? One of the reasons why I'm happy with my Galaxy Y is that it allows me to take impromptu pictures anywhere!

Anyway, I've always been fascinated by Gumamelas. I think they are beautiful.  My favorite is the red gumamela but I these orange ones look gorgeous too! These orange ones are so plump thanks to my Mother. She takes care of the plants really well. She has quite a green thumb! 

Family Getaway at The Village!

The Village Entrance

Before the summer vacation ended, our family decided to have a little out-of-town escapade! June is the start of classes for the kids and also for the teachers so there would less chances to just simply pack up and go somewhere. Lots of things have to be considered before we can take time away so, we decided to have one last hurrah for the summer!

We decided to go to a place called The Village in Camarines Sur. It's actually called The Village at San Bernardino. This place is located in Calabanga, Camarines Sur. I first saw this place at my friend's Facebook page and I thought it looked great so I suggested it to my sister. She liked it too that's why we decided we're going there some time in the future. The chance came sooner.

The place was very relaxing, it was far from the city so it was really quiet and peaceful there. It's the perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city! Some parts of The Village are still a work-in-progress but I'm pretty sure they're going to be awesome when finished.

Video of Our Swimming Time in Aguirangan Island

Aguirangan Island

Our time in Aguirangan Island was one of the most fun events during the summer. Even now, if I close my eyes, I can still feel the sandy beach under my feet, the sultry island wind on my face, and hear the rush of the tide on the beach. Oh what bliss it would be to be able to go back there.  

During idle times I can't help myself from taking a look at the photos of our fun time there. It's been two months since then and I've forgotten that I took some videos while on way to Aguirangan Island. While browsing through the files in my PC, I came across the videos and I thought I'd better put them to good use so I thought of uploading them on YouTube. 

Some of the videos I took only lasted about a few seconds so, if I upload them separately, viewers won't find them fun to watch. I tried to fuse four videos into one through Windows Movie Maker but the error about a codec not being downloaded kept popping up. I knew it was useless. Good thing I remembered that YouTube had the Video editor feature and that sure saved the day! I was able to fuse the short videos together and here's the final result! It's the video of our Swimming Time in Aguirangan Island. 

Hope you enjoy it!

Kinahulogan Falls: Cool Wonder of Nature!

Kinahulogan Falls (Photo Credit: Doods Gigantoca)

 A few weeks ago I promised I would tell you about another great spot we went to in Sabang right after we left the pristine Aguirangan Island. We'll here it is and it's called Kinahulogan Falls! My brother-in-law said that it's a great falls but I really didn't know what to expect. All I could think of was that it's going to be another adventure! Before we even stopped by the shoreline, I could already see that the shore was full of rocks; it wasn't sand as most beaches have. When our boat stopped by the shoreline, we immediately got out and I got a closer look at the rocks which looked like the igneous kind.

The Way Up (Photo Credit: Doods Gigantoca)

It was about 5 to 10 minutes walk from the shoreline to the foot of Kinahulogan Falls. And when we reached the entrance, we didn't see the Falls just yet. We had to hike for a little bit because it was uphill! And the terrain wasn't easy! It was very rocky and we really had to careful where we place our foot or else we'll slip and get injured. Some of the rocks we stepped on were sharp so it was a good thing we had our slippers on. Other parts were slippery as can be expected from places like it. It was also a good thing we didn't carry much or we would have been in trouble!

Sights Along the Way to Pinamuntugan Island Beach

Summer vacation is already halfway over and I think many of you out there are trying to squeeze every bit of enjoyment from the remaining time. And I think that a lot are still trying to get the best beach experience that can be found at Pinamuntugan Island in Bacacay, Albay. The place is definitely getting rave reviews.

I just found out that Pinamuntugan is a beach located in Barangay Langaton, Bacacay, Albay. It's not actually Pinamuntugan Island. At the back of the beach are actually residences so those who live there can simply walk and swim to get to the beach. And of course they can paddle going there. And apparently the Barangay fiesta in Langaton was last April 28-29. For sure lots of visitors took time to bathe at Pinamuntugan Beach!

The Breathtaking Aguirangan Island!

Aguirangan Island, Lagonoy Gulf, Camarines Sur, Philippines

I told you that we had two fabulous summer outings last month right? BUT I was only able to write about one of them and if you read my previous post you'll know what transpired on our first summer getaway. I'm not going to talk about that here anymore since there's a more exciting destination that I have to share with you! I think you'll love this place more, like I did!

Our second summer getaway was in Aguirangan Island, Camarines Sur. It's really a tiny island about 30 minutes from Sabang port in San Jose. I think some of you who went to Caramoan  probably passed by this island.

The sun was high and not a cloud was in sight when we, my sis' family, and Uncle Boy's family and cousins, went there last April 9. The sea was calm as we sailed offshore around 9 in the morning. The seawater was clear blue from the Sabang port all the way to the Island,which made me think it wasn't that deep. The water's usually dark when it's really, really deep. The boat ride was great, we saw many fishing boats along the way. But the only thing I have to complain about was the sound of the boat's engine roaring in my ears! it was sooo loud! So you can just imagine how thankful I was when we finally reached our destination, the breathtaking Aguirangan Island!

Summer Getaway at Pinamuntugan Island!

It's summer time again here in the Philippines and boy can we feel the heat! And this is the reason why the idea of going to the beach is very tempting. Call us guilty but we did give in to the temptation!

We already had two beach escapades this month but I think that's just about it. Nothing else will follow unless we get invited again. But even if these two beach escapades don't get any follow up I won't be sad ecause at least I can let my skin return to its normal color. As of now I'm so sunburnt and my face is peeling that I don't really want to go out because I look hideous!

Anyway, our first beach outing was last week, April 5 to be exact. I'm writing "our" because hubby was with me. We went to Pinamuntugan Island in Bacacay, Albay. We went there with my former officemates. I can say that the boat ride going there is an unforgettable experience because we were almost into the open sea, into the Pacific, and the waves were very strong! We had to make our way far from land because it was low tide, which would have been dangerous for the boat and us of course we went too near. Anyway, after like an hour's boat ride we were able to reach our destination.


Pinamuntugan Island has very light sand, though it's not white. But the water is bluish-green. When we were the current was quite strong is some parts that we were being tossed in the water like dolls. But it was fun. Though there were some parts that were very rocky and weren't good to swim in.


Anyway, here's a few snapshot of Pinamuntugan Island. Enjoy!

Meet My New Samsung Galaxy Y

Got a new phone! Surprising huh? Well, I actually had it for about a month now but I was not able to share it with you and I'm sorry for that. My new phone is not really that spectacular but it's enough for me. I don't need super high-end handsets that I won't even be able to use! You see, I don't really like to tinker much with my phone. I only do basic things with it like texting, calls, and play music. Other things I do in my PC.

Anyway, my new phone is the Samsung Galaxy Y. Got it from Smart network on a monthly 350php plan. Take note that's Y for Young. It's a lovely little phone that fits perfectly in my hands. With a dimension of 103.5 x 55.3 x 12.2 mm and 97.5g weight it should.

Now, I'm not going bore you with the tech specs but I just have to say it has great audio. Instead of turning on my PC to listen to my favorite songs I can now do so through my Galaxy Y phone.

By the way, this phone is my very first touchscreen phone. You might laugh but it's true it's because I don't usually buy a new phone unless it's absolutely necessary. In this case, I got so excited when I saw my brother using one and so I wanted to have one as well.

Just Airing My Frustration!

I took a long walk on the beach on Sunday for some fresh air and at the same time to clear my head. Sometimes things can just really get so overwhelming and frustrating that I just really want to smack somebody, particularly the cause of that frustration! This situation is just so tiring especially if you feel that you're the one who's carrying all the weight. It's supposed to be a partnership but most of the time it doesn't feel that way and I'm really getting tired of it! I hope I can still summon more patience or else, somebody's really gonna get smacked!

Anyway, just as I was walking the beach and watching the sky turn orange with the sunset, a foreign couple walked by. I thought they looked so sweet because they were holding hands as they treaded on the sand. I also noticed something funny. The woman was carrying a huge backpack while the guy only had a belt bag. Didn't the guy even offer to carry the bag for her? Where has chivalry gone? This made me think, it's just like in a relationship sometimes it's the woman who carries the weight, which should not be because it's supposed to be a partnership! I really don't know, maybe men in this era have become so dense and insensitive? 

Patching Things Up with an Apology

Misunderstandings are a given not only in a marriage but in all kinds of relationships. Correct me if I'm wrong but it's a reality that shouting matches can erupt even from the slightest and smallest misunderstanding! If you and your partner haven't argued in any way watch out because one of you is probably keeping it all bottled up inside. When that explodes it'll be more awful! This also goes for family members, siblings and even friends. This happens because each one of us is different, unique, as God designed us to be.

Our differences have a purpose. These unique differences give balance as we interact in our immediate surroundings and in the community. According to the book "The Adventist Home" by Ellen G. White, "It is in the order of God that persons of varied temperaments should associate together." These unique differences should allow us to associate together and not tear us apart. But sadly, it's the latter that happens most of the time. This just makes it more critical for each of us to know to go about the reconciliation process.

The key words to make things right again are forgiveness and reconciliation. This goes for both parties involved. But let's face it, if you are the wronged party it can be difficult to forgive right? The one who's in the wrong must know that sometimes simply saying "sorry' is not enough. Some people need to see it through action. As the saying goes, "Action speaks louder than words." Some people, including me, have difficulty apologizing and actually verbalizing an apology. For my my part, what I do is rectify it through action but I know it's not enough.