Happy Fourth Month, Riley!

We love you to bits!

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My Preggy Looks

Eventhough I am a bit active on facebook, I have posted only a few pics of me being pregnant. With Riley turning four months now in a few minutes, I can help but reminisce the past. :) Seems like yesterday that he is still in my tummy while me and hubby can't really wait to see and hold him. Time surely flies.

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Addicted to Lego Minifigures!

Yes, I am.. I have taken some pics of the ones I already have. I have completed both series 1 and series 2 and yet to complete the third one. It's actually more than what I have photographed because I got obsessed (literally obsessed in getting more than one of each type). I would be taking pictures of the entire Lego Minifigures Army that I already have if time permits. :)

Here goes some of series 1, 2 and 3!

SERIES 1

Left to right: Caveman, Robot, Deep Sea Diver, Magician, Cowboy, Spaceman

SERIES 2

Top to Bottom, Left to Right: Maraca Man, Spartan Warrior, Ring Master, Witch, Vampire, Traffic Cop, Explorer, Lifeguard, Mime, Weight Lifter, Pop Star, Skier, Disco Dude, Karate Master, Surfer, Pharaoh

SERIES 3

Top to Bottom, Left to Right: Hula Dancer, Mummy, Race Car Driver, Race Car Driver again, Tennis Player, Babseball Player, Hula Dancer again, Sumo Wrestler, Snow Boarder

You can find more information here: http://minifigures.lego.com/en-us/Default.aspx

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A Parent's Prayer

Being a parent is not easy. We are responsible for providing the best to our kids and make sure we are bringing them up as Godly kids. I came across this wonderful prayer that is very helpful for us parents. This prayer made me seek God's help more for me to become a parent that will bring up a kid according to His will. Here it goes:

A Parent's Prayer

Help me give my children the best... not of trappings or toys,

but of myself, cherishing them on good days

and bad, theirs and mine.

Teach me to accept them for who they are,

not for what they do;

to listen to what they say,

if only so they will listen to me;

to encourage their goals, not mine;

and please, let me laugh with them and be silly.

Let me give them a home where respect is

the cornerstone, integrity the foundation,

and there is enough happiness to raise the roof.

May I give them the courage to be true to themselves;

the independence to take care of themselves

and the faith to believe in a power

much greater than their own.

See that I discipline my children without demeaning them,

demand good manners without forgetting my own

and let them know they have limitless love,

no matter what they do.

Let me feed them properly, clothe them adequately

and have enough to give them small allowances...

not for the work they do but the pleasure they bring...

and let me be moderate in all these things,

so the joy of getting will help them discover the joy of giving.

See that their responsibilities are real but not burdensome,

that my expectations are high but not overwhelming

and that my thanks and praise are thoughtful

and given when they're due.

Help me teach them that excellence is work's real reward,

and not the glory it brings. But when it comes.. and it will..

Let me revel in each honor, however small,

without once pretending that it's mine;

my children are glories enough.

Above all, let me ground these children so well

that I can dare to let them go.

And may they be so blessed.

by Marguerite Kelly

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Back to Regular Programming

Just got back from a three-week vacation in Pinas. And I must say that it's....

happy.wonderful.memorable.fun.love.

Now I'm back here at SG. Back to work. Back to reality. But hey, reality can still be fun! :)

Hope to post some pics soon. :D

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Chuck Fanatic

Yes I am! I initially am not interested with this series but hubby keeps saying it's really good so I gave it a try. Now it's all a memory.. I'm hooked!

Chuck Bartowski (Zachary Levi) is a computer expert in the Nerd Herd from Buy More, a large electronics store. One day, he receives an email from his former Standford University room mate, Bryce Larkin. The email contains secret US government information which got embedded in Chuck's brain. He was then considered the Intersect. And from a boring and monotonous life, now comes a life full of adventure and action. Together with Agent Sarah Walker (Yvonne Strahovski) and Major John Casey (Adam Baldwin), he re-discovers himself and his capabilities as a CIA agent. Additional complications are also there, with Chuck trying to still be normal and working out to protect his family and the best of all, Chuck and Sarah being romantically interested with each other.

That's just a very little info about the series. :) You have to watch it to know that it's really a wonderful series. :) It's already season four so there's quite a lot of catching up to do. But it will all be worth it!

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Happy with Flickerhappy

They're our official photographers for Riley's Christening. Their package actually includes a studio photoshoot but they are very nice to have the shoot at our house. And what's cooler is that they still accommodated studio pictorial since Riley slept after most guests left the reception. :)

Their work speaks for itself so here are pics of Riley's pictorial. Some of Riley's Christening pics can be found here.

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Just Love Sweets Couture

Sweets Couture is the cake supplier we got for Riley's Christening. Cheska is very easy to talk with, very prompt in answering and open to any ideas from her clients. When I told her that we want an animal themed cupcakes, particular with the Fisher Price animal looks, she's very enthusiastic and even encouraged me to do the design with her.

Well, the cupcakes are yummy and we, along with all the guests are raving! Cheska got the exact look of the animals and she included almost all of the animals I requested. Here it is!

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Riley's Christening

We came back in Pinas just in time for Christmas 2010 and New Year 2011. It has been three loooong years since our last Christmas season holiday back home. And I must say, it is very wonderful and meaningful to us. It is Riley's first Christmas and New Year. So glad to spend it with our loved ones.

We also planned this vacation to include Riley's Christening. I love love planning for celebrations like this though we are really working on a very tight budget. I just made sure this time to invite the people close to our hearts. Pics galore below :)

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My Pregnancy/Birthing Story

After a very heartbreaking event (our little Angel joining God), I thought nothing good will ever happen to me again. Every night is always crying time for me. I am just really thankful that hubby, our families and friends are all there to support me. The agony turned into joy, as God has allowed me to heal and immediately gave us another wonderful blessing. I got pregnant after three months. :)

The second pregnancy is also not easy for me. I had spotting at the start and come third month, I had a very bad bleeding. Worse is I am alone at home 'cause hubby is at work for night shift. Good thing my very good friends are just staying nearby so they rushed me to the hospital. Fear is all over me. Thinking I might lose a baby again. But then, God showed me that He's by my side all the time. I got through it.

The next few months was easy for me. I am thinking that God re-assured me all the time that I and my baby are both going to be okay. This time, it's a boy for us! But it took me and hubby 7 months before knowing it. My baby is also in breech position so I have to try several ways to naturally "teach" baby to go into the proper position. From the lying while having a slightly raised hips, to using flashlight and music to encourage him come towards it, to the most difficult one, which is to tilt (place my feet up, with my head down) since I have a big watermelon shaped tummy.

Also, approaching my 8th month, I was on a 3-week bed rest because my amniotic fluid is a bit low. And having a low one could mean I'll have premature labor. My doctor says this is also one factor why probably baby cannot really position well. She cannot also do the external cephalic version as it can also cause premature labor especially my fluid is low. I drank lots and lots of water to help increase my amnio fluid. And it paid off! I'm out of the premature labor zone! :p

Given all these circumstances, I am really glad and thankful to

my boss and the company I work for. My boss is really understanding and supportive of me and my pregnancy. He allowed me to just work from home so that everything will be better. :)

But still, baby is in breech position. So I have to undergo caesarian procedure. It initially frustrated me because I really wanted to deliver normal. But it was just for a while because what's more important is me and baby's safety.

So August 28, 2010, I gave birth to a very healthy baby boy! We named him Riley Ezekiel. :) The c-section was just a breeze. I was awake the entire procedure as I want to see him right away. It took a lot of courage for me to do that considering that I am really terrified at one point in my life on hospitals, needles, doctors.. everything! :) But now things are different. It's for baby. :)

Here are some pictures:

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..And NOW I'm BACK!

Really!

It's been a year since I posted something here. The previous two years is bittersweet for me. A lot of things happened but bottomline, I am still alive, happy and thankful to God for helping me endure all of it. :)

Expect a bit of backtracking on the next few entries. :)

Good to have my groove back. :D

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