Smiling Blogger Award

Thanks dear sis-in-law Bogie for this award. My husband sometimes describe me as "gangis." Know what this means? In our local dialect, it is a shortened term for "gangisi," which in English means "smiling." There is a lot of reason to smile.... God's gift of life, the gift of love, and the gift of family and friends.

BEST MOM

Thanks to my dear sis-in-law Cookie for this award, for considering me as one of the best moms.

Truly, the essence of being a woman is to bear a child. Now that I have a baby of my own, I feel complete. Being a mom is a great responsibility but is a worthwhile and rewarding career. During the first month of Baby CK, I may compare myself to the fictional superhero "Batman." Why? Because I am awake even during the darkest time of the night until the rising of the sun especially when CK doesn't feel like going to sleep. Even then, carrying this fragile little baby in my arms, hearing his soft voice and loud cries, observing his tiny fingers, and looking at his innocent face bring joy and happiness.

The rules:
1. Show the award logo in your post.
2. Pick a picture you have with your kiddo(s).
3. Post should include your best experience as a Mom.
4. Nominate other blogger moms out there that you consider the best mom, like yourself.

I am passing this award to all mommy-bloggers out there!

The WORST Husband?

I was curious with the story featured on Yahoo website entitled "Worst husband ever."

It was about the Long and Fowler families in a reality show Wife Swap (I guess I don't have to elaborate what this show is about, the title says it all.) I watched the firt part (of five) of the video in youtube and was stunned by the atrocious behavior of Stephen Fowler. I could not imagine that people like him still lived. He was so arrogant, so prejudicial, and totally egotistical. And I should say, "he really would be best described as worst husband ever."

If you have not seen the video, try the link below. It's only the first part but you will find the succeeding parts on related videos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uG2GwSpO7tc

After watching the video, I said to myself that I am truly blessed to have tied the knot to a loving, thoughtful, and simple person.

The Birth of the Little Hero

In the morning of January 15, my biophysical profile showed a score of zero in terms of fluid, which made us decide to go for Caesarian operation as recommended by our obstetrician. The operation was scheduled the following day.

After the OB handed me my admission slip, I returned to the office, completed my pending tasks, emailed my associates of my scheduled absence, went to the house to prepare my and my baby's things, and went back to the hospital for admission at around 10 o'clock in the evening.

The photo above was taken before the operation (obviously!). And the photo below is my cute little bundle of joy. So this is the baby who loves kickin' while inside my tummy. hihi.


It was almost 8:00 am of January 16. The nurse on duty went inside my hospital room with a lab gown that I should wear in the operating room advising me to get ready and to proceed to te OR for the preparation. It was around 8:40 when the anesthesiologist arrived. I was sedated and did not know what happened next UNTIL I heard the cry of the baby and the voice of my OB saying, "Liwat kaayo sa Daddy!"

The 7.48 pounder baby was named Clark Ken "CK", after the superhero known as Superman!

It is a privilege to be a mother. I am truly privileged and blessed to be the mommy of Baby CK, our little hero...

The SOLE

BEFORE and... AFTER.

It was 7:00 am of January 13... The water might have subsided already from waist deep last night at CM Recto Avenue.

I decided to wear my dirty OLD sneakers for two reasons:

1. It's muddy outside so I should not be wearing newly washed shoes.

2. If my shoes get stuck in the mud, it's time to discard them.

I was walking towards the gate of the plant where I worked, about to leave, when... alas! the sole of my left shoe was left behind. Aside from the sole of my shoe, walking behind me are three associates who said, looking at my husband, "Paliti pud na ug shoes bai!" I faced them and SMILED. T'was an embarrassing situation but I said to myself, "What's the big deal of wearing old and damaged shoes?" hihi. I just remembered my elementary days when I placed a small piece of floormat inside my torn school shoes. A classmate saw the mat protruding and exclaimed, "Ann, there is something on your shoe!" What I did? Well, I told her what it was and why it was there. hihi.

I must have missed to mention that there should be a third but most important reason for wearing this pair of dirty old sneakers. And what was it?

3. This pair has only one day to live.

Alphabet Tag

Thanks Princess Chloe for this tag. Actually, I'm still learning how to post this one. I just hope this'll be posted perfectly on my site :)



A. Attached or single ? - Attached.. Happily married!

B. Best friend? - My hubby.

C. Cake or pie? - Cake. Moist chocolate, in particular. hhhmmm. Yummy!

D. Day of choice? - Sunday. It's God's day, family day, and my day!

E. Essential item? - Cellphone. Can't leave the house without it.

F. Favorite color? - Maroon, white, black

G. Gummy bears or worms? - Gummy bears

H. Hometown? - Cagayan de Oro

I. Favorite indulgence? - Feel my baby's kicks.

J. January or July? - January (my expected date of delivery)

K. Kids? - Still kickin' inside my tummy :)

L. Life isn’t complete without? - God, family, and friends.

M. Marriage date ? - May 21

N. Number of magazine subscriptions? - 2 (Fortune & Reader's Digest)

O. Orange or apple? - Orange

P. Phobias? - Cockroaches!

Q. Quotes? - "True friends are like diamonds, precious but rare."

R. Reasons to smile? - Life is beautiful!

S. Season of choice? - Do we have springtime?

T. Tag 5 people - Bogie, Cookie, Bong, Liz, and Phebie

U. Unknown facts about me? - Nothing to hide

V. Vegetable? - Please don't mention Okra.

W. Worst habit? - Not so healthy diet.. No gym, no exercise.

X. X-ray or ultrasound? - Ultrasound

Y. Your favorite food(s)? - Spicy gambas, Mac salad, Leche Flan

Z. Zodiac sign - Libra

I'm pregnant!

It's a blessing!

I was 2 weeks delayed by then when I consulted an officemate, a nurse by profession, if in my condition, a home or one-step pregnancy test would yield reliable results. Upon hearing the words "I'm 2 weeks delayed," my officemate shouted to her excitement and immediately volunteered to buy a pregnancy test for me. Twas around ten o'clock in the evening. Well, she didn't have to do it so I called up my dearie and asked him to drop by a 24/7 drugstore for a one-step PT. (I realized today, I should have surprised him back then.) To make the story short, the result was POSITIVE, just as we hoped and prayed for.

My dearie and I have been waiting for this moment for two long years. And now this most wonderful blessing has arrived... a bundle of joy carefully and delicately placed inside my womb where he will develop, be taken cared of, and be nourished to prepare him to his new world, our world.

Our First Family Picture (who's missing?)

This is supposed to be our first family photo, with my married brothers and their kids. Why supposed to be? You'll find out.

We are very excited to see our eldest bro who just arrived from outside the country. He's been away for a year and we are eager to know how much weight he's put on and how his color might have changed due to the hot climate where he worked.

After a sumptuous dinner, we went straight to the studio to have our very first complete family picture. Okey, kids showed their truest smiles in front of the camera while the older group were busy putting on some face powder, a little make-up, and brushing their hair (talaga naman). After the kids, the elders followed. and the group.

How many are we, anyway? The group is composed of 4 couples, 1 couple has 3 kids, the other has 2, and another has 2.... and that makes us (4x2)+3+2+2=15.

And here is our supposed-to-be first complete family picture. Count them and help me look for the missing one.