Cutty

This morning I woke up thinking that it is THE time. I've had non-stop dysmenorrhea -like pain in my abdomen. It extended to my lower back. I called up my mother to ask if I should take any meds for the pain. I was told that I may be experiencing labor pains already. Hmmm . That got me nervous, to say the least. Mother, on the other hand, got all excited. She already called in our room reservation. There are still so many things to be done. I still don't have a second name. Besides, Vic still has cough and the sniffles. Johann has the same. My mother dropped by to examine her patient. Verdict: Baby #2 is not yet ready to come out. The pain has stopped and there was no bloody-show. The cervix is still sealed shut. At least, the contractions have started. We may still have a few days. My other OB suspects that I may give birth on Nov 1. ---------------- Good news: I called up the hospital this afternoon. The Lamaze room may be used. The patient will just ha...

We had a wonderful time last night, specially after hearing all these: 1. The winner gets a 3 days-2 nights stay at the Pearl Farm b*tch resort. 2. Please claim the GCs to her. 3. Let us all welcome Carla Ramona and her theme. 4. May we request you to come up the steej. BAD, I know. If you were there, you would have cringed too. I have my "Cutty" moments also but not as many as hers in one night! If someone had to talk in front of Manila's high-society, it should've been someone who had better hosting skills with good grammar to boot. In fairness, she looked really lovely last night.

My group, the ACS, is back from their three-week North Am tour. This means that we are back to the old grind. Just this evening, we already faced our first audience at the Rockwell tent. The event, entitled Flavors of Spain, catered to the Spanish community in the Philippines. The event aims to promote tourism in the Philippines and Spain. Wines, cold cuts and cheeses from Spain over-flowed. I was very fortunate to taste the famous Jamon Iberico. Due to my current condition, I had to limit my intake of the smoked meat varieties and wines. Cocktails and dessert were provided by Bizu. Entertainment was provided by our choir and the famous Carla Ramona and her Flamenco dancers. The highlight of the affair was the free trip to Madrid c/o KLM. I would've gotten the chance to join the raffle if I brought a business card with me. Several lucky individuals got free stays at the Fuego hotels, travel luggage from Rudy Project and the Travel Club, and gift bags from Clarins. Seen ...

We are less than 60 days away from Christmas. We are in the -ber months already and the air is still too "friggin" hot. Is it just me or is really global warming?

Walking around is so difficult nowadays. It seems that every time I take a step, I get the urge to pee. Every stride I make engages the baby's head deeper into my crotch. Ouch! Did I feel this way when I was carrying Johann at 38 weeks? I hope this discomfort will make this second delivery more bearable. Baby #2, on the other hand, is quite inconsistent. There were days when he is enjoying his time inside mommy. He would kick and stretch out his limbs several times. There were days when he is not as hyper-active. He is quite familiar with Kuya Johann's loud voice. His going home outfit is ready. He has brand new supplies coming in a few days. He already has a name, by the way. But, I am not satisfied. I still want a second name that Vic and I both favor. They say that most moms are more nervous about giving birth for the second time. I feel the same way. At this point, I have done minimal reading on the stages of labor and delivery. Getting too much information ...

I've been bugging my husband to take me out of the country. It has been three years since we've gone on a major vacation together. Both of us had opportunities to visit places but with other people's company. We haven't gone out of the country since we had our little boy. Putting that aside, I've been very fortunate to visit a lot of major cities in my lifetime. I hope I could add more to this. View my profile Create your own travel map or travel blog Travel Info at TripAdvisor Traveling is a luxury nowadays, specially with the Peso-Dollar rate fluctuating. But, like any other luxury, it is something that needs to be invested on. Traveling exposes one person to a world outside our comfort zone. It is where we test our strength as a person and our tolerance as citizen of our nation. This is how unforgettable moments are made. As they say, memories are priceless. It is something that can not be stolen from us - unless you're inflicted with Alzheimer...

Our little boy, Johann, is afraid of male strangers. He usually smiles at female strangers. This is the reason why we frequent Cut4Tots in Trinoma, where they have female stylists. However, this time, going to Trinoma for his haircut alone would be too far and too much of an inconvenience. We decided to try out the Kid's Salon at the Podium. We initially didn't like the Kid's Salon branch in Rustan's. First and foremost, they only had male hair cutters. That posed as a big distraction to Johann. There were other factors that I do not care to elaborate on. You may read it here instead. Anyhow, we gave the salon at the Podium a try. I was very pleased. The stylist knows how to handle kids. He knows how to divert the child's attention to the TV or toys. He talks to them gently. He is also very careful with handling scissors, making sure that the pointed part is away for unexpected head turns. Most importantly, he cut Johann's hair according to my spe...

The Pink Kitchen at the Rockwell Tent This is an annual event organized by the ICanServe Foundation. Guests are requested to pay a P200 entrance fee as donation. This fee will allow patrons to enjoy cuisines prepared by different renowned chefs. Vic and I tried to sample what we do not normally eat. Unfortunately, not all food were exceptional. Here are the items we tried out: * La Tasca's canneloni - The serving size is quite small. I could have gotten two for the price I paid. The dish left an after-taste that I couldn't wash off for some time. * La Tasca's Paella - This dish tuned out to be very tasty. The serving was also just right for one person. * Everybody's Cafe's Murcon - It looked very appealing from where I stood. However, it turned out to be very salty and dry for our taste. The cup of rice they served with it tasted like it was the cheapest variety. This is totally not worth the price I paid for both items. * Dimpy's Frozen Brazo - Th...

After an uneventful Thursday, the succeeding days were jammed with places to visit and things to do. Mall-wide Sale at Megamall I was looking forward to this sale since I really wanted to jump start my Christmas Shopping. It may be not worth going if you are not going to buy a lot. Most items are marked at 10% below its original price. Very few are at 20%, 30% or even 50% off the original price. It took me two hours to finish the home section because of the crowd. The other floors were less crowded. I haven't even gone to the mall part. Raves: I was very thankful for the valet service. I didn't have to tire myself out and lose my patience over a parking space. The mall employed extra attendants to help people like me carry big items to the package counter or to the car. There were stools for people waiting in line at the cashier. It makes the wait more tolerable. Best purchase of the day was the Igloo ice chest at 50% off. It came with a smaller ice chest and a small wate...

image by associatedcontent.com I guess, I should be thankful. But, I am itching to get out of the house. I'll probably have some food delivered to boost my spirits. Thank God it's Thursday. The weekend is just a few winks away.

I don't like dealing with spoiled brats. I wasn't raised as one. I was brought up to live simply and practically. I had to work hard for my rewards. I had my own share of anxieties and punishments. These people were over-indulged when they were little. They grow up to be holier-than-thou individuals who are proud enough to believe that they are always right. I pity them for not being equipped to handle bigger challenges that the real world throws at them. Having said that, I would like to share with you some guidelines how NOT to raise spoiled brats . 1. Don't indulge every request. Children should be taught boundaries to nurture emotional growth. It is important that they learn how to delay gratification and to get over their own stumbling blocks. I believe this is known as EQ today. 2. Don't be a safety net. Parents shouldn't feel obligated to rescue their child every time. Children should be allowed to feel frustrated, unhappy and angry. These feeli...

I just finished viewing the first few episodes of Grey's Anatomy and Desperate Housewives. I am trying so hard to recall how those shows ended. At least, now, most of my questions answered. However, it opened up new ones. What would you like to see in this coming season?

It has been a long time since the family went out without any yayas in tow. Today, we accomplished just that. I did my bank errands while Vic and Johann stayed in the car. Johann was content with steering the wheel and the occasional honking. Surprisingly, today's short outing wasn't that difficult. He behaved when we're inside the car. There were the usual tantrums but, nothing that Vic and I can't handle. I've forgotten how it felt to be by ourselves, with no other person to be responsible for except for my family. In the beginning, I found that lugging a nanny can be so intrusive. I would have to be on my guard in everything I do or say. On the other hand, it can be very convenient specially when the parent's patience is about to run out. I hope we have more days like this. However, with the little kid being too fussy and active, and with the mommy too sore and slow, days like today will not come by more often. Well, at least not for another year.

This is what the quiz told me. Mej mahal nga lang. Occasional visits pwede na. You Belong in London A little old fashioned, and a little modern. A little traditional, and a little bit punk rock. A unique soul like you needs a city that offers everything. No wonder you and London will get along so well. What City Do You Belong In?

Yesterday, I made an unscheduled visit. My family went out of the way, all the way to The Fort, just to get to the NBC tent. The main purpose was to get some sleep-shirts that could double as nursing gowns. Of course, I had several more items when I came out of the tent. My mission was accomplished. ------------------------ When the Holiday season nears, I frequent this specific bazaar at The Fort. Before I had Johann, I always stop by the NBC tent after hearing mass. I love this place because it has a very wide selection of clothes, accessories and food. This bazaar is also the perfect place to search for unique gift items. Most importantly, I can haggle (not as much as I can in Divi but still....) One drawback, however, is the entrance fee. It's not much. But, if you are used to going to the mall that doesn't charge upon entry, you would be dismayed. Now that we are approaching Christmas, more options are available to the ever-generous gift-giver. I plan to make...

Vic and I were just talking about our stock of Royce Nama Chocolates. We still have several boxes tucked inside our freezer. No matter how tempting it is to finish off, we wanted to savor each cube at a leisurely pace. We also had to consider the issue of gestational D. Consuming our supply slowly is a must. Now, that plan is no longer in the picture . Vic noticed that all those will expire in a couple of weeks. Our hopes of prolonging our supply went up in smoke. So, imagine my delight when I found out that we can get our regular supply locally. CVS announced in her famous blog that Royce will open its flagship store in Rockwell this November. I can't wait!!! I wonder how much one box of Nama would cost?

In less than five weeks, we'll have a new baby in our arms. My list of things to do seems never-ending. Apart from the fatigue, dizziness and immobility that result from my condition, I am feeling excited, more than anything. I can't wait to see how Johann will react once he sees his new brother. I can't imagine how Vic and I will share the load of taking care of two children, both below two-years-old. I can't begin to imagine how I will cope with breast-feeding this time around. Lastly (and definitely the least important), I can't wait to get into my pre-pregnancy clothes and shoes. I've been neglecting them for too long.

Word of the Day ( WOTD ): Bubbles He discovered something new while taking a bath. He saw small, round objects floating in his tub. He decided to lick them but we caught him, just in time. He was told that those were bubbles. As he was about to fall asleep, he saw the same thing inside his milk bottle. He said "bah- bol ." He kept repeating the word till it became "bah-boy." I couldn't suppress my giggles. If he only knew what he was talking about.

I always was a sucker for romance novels. I still am. It started with Sweet Dreams then I moved on to Silhouette and Mills and Boons. I made it a point to collect works of my favorite authors. I have enough of these trashy but feel-good novels to fill up a bookshelf. I don't know why I am into these things. Was it because of Cinderella and all those fairy tales? One thing is for sure. It is a mere mortal's belief that God has a way of making things right. At the end of the day, I know that everything will fall into place with God's grace. I want to share with you a story about love and about waiting for the right time for love. ---------------- First Love PEOPLE By Joanne Rae M. Ramirez Tuesday, October 7, 2008 Women go to the beauty parlor for pretty much the same reason. They want to look good. But they also go there when they ...

In one of the food blogs that I frequently visit, I just found out that The Peninsula brought back their famous chocolate buffet. It will run every Friday and Saturday till December. Vic and I tried it out in 2005. That was when I learned that one could get hazy just by over-consuming chocolates. No wonder it has an aphrodisiac effect. We have to try it again, before I go into labor with Baby#2.

That was how my day went. Frustration Factor: Interconnection to the Smart Mobile Eye I was excited to try out this little device. Before breakfast, I activated the SIM that came with the device. All I need is another phone and a Smart card that can make the video call. Or so I thought.... The Smart Wireless Center didn't have any prepaid phone kits available. I opted to get a prepaid SIM and top up card instead. Apparently, they do not have the top up card in the denomination I want. I waited nearly an hour for nothing. Aaarrrgghh! The Mobile Eye unit is fully charged. Both SIM cards are active and loaded with credits. 3G signal strength is sufficient. I switched SIMs just to check if they're both active and working. I still can't make a successful test call. Arrggh! Frustration Factor: The Hyperactive Toddler Vic decided to WFH (work-from-home) today. This seemed to excite the little boy. I think he missed playing with his dad, who was almost always aslee...

I saw an episode of Oprah featuring Gayle's Sandwich Search . One of the featured sandwiches is Cafe Muse's Classic Grilled Cheese Sandwich . It has tomato, basil, Havarti, Fontina and European butter topped honey. Gayle gave it a 5/5 rating. You know me, I easily get inspired. I remembered that I have the basic ingredients for my own version of Grilled Cheese Sandwich. I had the panini-maker brought out from its hiding place. Here is what I concocted. Kesong Puti Panini: 2 slices of bread spreadable butter Mountain Maid Strawberry Preserve Kesong Puti slices *On the bread, spread butter and jam according to your liking. Set cheese slices on top. Place the two layers of bread in the panini-maker. Grill to perfection. **You may use cottage cheese if you do not have Kesong Puti. You just have to drain it really well. Mozzarella would work, too. I finished it off with my home-made iced coffee: 1/2 cup low fat milk 2 Tbsps Nescafe Ice Java - Chocolate Mocha 1/2 cup ice c...

...the little boy is asleep. He has been very cranky these days. I don't know if he's feeling under the weather. His gums are swollen. In addition to that, he is itching all-over due to allergies. He may be seeking for attention also. I haven't been carrying him as much as I used to since he's putting too much weight on my tummy. His tantrums is making his yaya crazy also. I had to take him from her several times because he won't stop crying. I decided to bring him with me while I did my errands. I had hoped that riding in the car would put his sleepy head to sleep. It did not work. His molo soup dinner and a bath later helped him settle down. ------------------- ...my hospital bag is ready. Most of the Mama and Daddy stuff are in there. We just need to include toiletries, snacks and several nursing gowns. The camera is there too, together with the charger. I think we have enough to last us for three days. I hope we won't stay longer than that. ---...

I just got a barrage of photos about the ACS US Tour . It has been three years since my last trip to the US. Seeing them having fun in my favorite spots brought back a lot of memories, specially of NY. Between you and me, it made me really envious. I love NY because of the busyness of Manhattan. In one of the photos, I saw TGI Friday's peeking out in the corner. It is where Vic and I had dinner after the lighting of the tree in Rockefeller. Central Park was where my Tita and I would rest our feet after walking the stretch of 5th Ave. Penn Station was where Vic and I dragged our luggage down the flights of stairs. It didn't occur to me that subways and train stations in NY didn't have escalators. I remember feeling so tired and frustrated that I broke into tears inside the train. Who could forget our all-time favorite stop, Target (tar-jay)? I could spend hours in this store. Target kept me busy after work during my business trips. Shopping kept me sane in those ...