No baby shower for Chicklet

Two people had mentioned "baby shower" to me in three days.

First was my aunt who lives in Vancouver. She's very excited for my baby and regrets that they are too far away (about 13-hour drive) to give me a baby shower. It's her thing eh, she loves cooking and decorating, and throwing parties.

And just yesterday, a "new" friend who came over our house to look at it (they want to buy a townhouse din here in our area) saw some of the baby stuff we bought and commented: "Ay sayang, sana hindi muna kayo bumili. Baka may magregalo niyan sa baby shower." She's just given birth 7 months ago and she's had a nice baby shower. I simply answered her: "Haha, sino naman ang magpapa-shower sakin dito?"

Actually, the thought that I won't be having a baby shower here in Canada started a couple of weeks ago when we went to Dollar Tree. They are selling so many cute baby shower stuff and I realized that nobody here in Edmonton would throw a shower for my Chicklet.

I felt a sad, honestly. Aside from a couple of new friends that we've recently met, it's just me and my husband who are living here. I don't work so I have no co-workers who'll party with me. Again, there were times I wished that I am in the Philippines during my pregnancy. There, I have friends and relatives who'll make me feel special and loved. I am sure I'll have a fabulous baby party there if I want to.

But I choose not to dwell on the negative. A party is just for a few hours, I keep on reminding myself. I have to focus on the good side of giving birth here - that is, I'll have a Canadian baby who will reap all the perks of first world living. That's more important than a party, right?

I also reminded myself that a baby shower is a western thing. In the Philippines, hindi naman talaga uso yan simply because we have baptismal parties where the baby receives so much gifts. Redundant na kapag nagpa-baby shower ka pa. Chicklet will be baptized in Pinas so iyon na lang ang party na paplanuhin at ilu-look forward ko.

They say we can't have everything and that is true. I am glad though that even without a baby shower party, our baby will have everything he needs when he finally shows up. Thanks to my hardworking husband!

Tired of turkey bacon =(

Every single day (since the second week of August), I've been eating this for breakfast...

... and this for midnight snack...

I am so tired of eating turkey bacon! But I couldn't find a 'healthy,' good alternative for protein. That's the downside of being finicky with food, ang dami kong hindi kinakain.

I can't wait till this pregnancy is over. I hate having gestational diabetes!

Di bale, konting tiis nalang.

Baby Chicklet @ 33 Weeks

Time indeed flies! And just like that, I am already 33 weeks pregnant!

I am now having a weekly ultrasound because of my gestational diabetes so I get to see Chicklet often.

I wasn't able to see him in 4D last week because he was 'hiding' his face. Luckily, he decided not to be shy this morning. This picture though is not as clear as this one pero keri na rin.

Chicklet @ 33 weeks and 1 day / 5 lbs 3oz / 65th growth percentile

I am so excited! The sonographer informed me that he's got hair already. Yebaaah! I have a very thick hair so sana sa akin siya magmana at hindi sa daddy niya.

Anyway, I am really curious on how his nose would turn out. Haha, I am such a bad mommy for being fixated with nose. Admittedly, I don't have a nice nose so I want him to have a good one. Oh well, pangarap lang naman! Kahit ano pang nose niya, siya pa rin ang pinaka-cute na baby sa mata namin ni Pod.

Buchickchick ko, we love you!

Konting tiis na lang!

I will be giving birth in a couple of weeks and I couldn't wait to eat my "comfort foods" again! Pregnancy really is a sacrifice, deprived na deprived talaga ako sa food especially since last August because I've developed gestational diabetes pa.

Anyway, babawi talaga ako pagkapanganak ko haha! Ito ang mga kakainin ko:

MC DONALDS! I am a self-confessed fast-food lover and I am really craving for their fries again! Saka chicken nuggets... with bottomless diet coke!

At yung sundae cone nila!

DENNY'S. I love pancakes at talagang miss na miss ko na ang Denny's at ang kanilang slam breakfast! Gusto ko rin yung spaghetti nila.

COSTCO. I've developed a liking for their hotdog sandawich. Ang cheap kasi. Saka yung chicken strips and fries nila. Hay!

IKEA. Hay, who wouldn't love Ikea food? It's been a long time! Fish and chips, I heart you! Pati garlic bread nila love ko din.

UNHEALTHY SNACK COMBINATION. Burger, chips, chocolates. and diet soda -- my idea of a perfect snack!

STARBUCKS MOCHA FRAPPUCINO. Hindi ko man gusto masyado ang frappucino dito sa Edmonton kumpara sa Pilipinas, hinahanap-hanap ko pa rin every now and then. Hay, I want a venti please!

DONUTS AND MUFFINS. I am so tired of wheat bread! Gusto ko naman ng matamis-tamis na pastries.

SBARRO PIZZA AND NY FRIES. Tsk, high carbs kasi kaya tiis-tiis muna sa ngayon.

WENDY'S FROSTY. Maisip ko pa lang, takam na takam na ako! Pinaka-favorite na ice cream ko ito.

LECHE FLAN. I am not a dessert person. Leche flan lang talaga ang isa sa ilang dessert na gusto ko. Di bale, kahit mahal ka ay bibilin kita talaga!

What else... isip pa ako!

Oh maple leaf!

For the nth time, forgive my kababawan... but I was overly thrilled again today because for the first time, I was able to see and touch a maple leaf!

Alright, I must have seen a maple tree before pero di ko lang siguro napapansin. Now that it's almost fall, nahikayat talaga akong mag-observe ng mga puno. Ang ganda eh, nagiging yellow/orange na ang mga dahon. And then this afternoon, while I was walking towards home (from my gestational diabetes check-up), some small "red trees" along the borders of Lewis Estates caught my attention.

I stopped. Shaiks, maple tree nga!

Hindi ko talagang napigilan ang sarili kong pumitas ng isang dahon haha! Biglang na-feel ko uli na nasa Canada na nga talaga ako! Ang tagal ko na kasi talagang gustong makakita nito as in!

Haha, simple joys ng isang newcomer. Ito yung isa sa mga bagay na later on ay ite-take ko na for granted. Buti na lang I have an online journal (this blog) that documents this experience.

Grateful for new friends

We are thankful to the Cuencas - Bal and Cecil - for introducing us to very nice people. They make Edmonton a nicer place to live in for us. =)

You see, Ford immigrated here alone in December 2009. Since then, he's lived a fairly friendless existence, not because he is anti-social but because he's girlfriend-centered haha! He has spent all of his free times talking with me over the phone. Ayun, diretso bahay lang talaga siya after work. He's working din in an engineering firm where there is no other Filipino employee kaya wala talaga siyang makabarkada. But his co-workers were nice naman. They would always invite him (when he was still single) to have a drink or two on Friday nights pero hindi talaga siya sumasama.

In 2010, he learned that he has a distant cousin here pala. Si Ate June. Ate June became his constant eating buddy. Siya lang ang gustong kasama ni Ford.

Then entered the Cuencas. Cecil is my BFF Raxie's first cousin. We've met since college pa and we would always see each other every now and then. In 2009, we learned that her then fiancee Bal is working in Alberta din pala. In 2010, nakasakay ni Ford si Bal sa bus and we were able to "introduce"them to each other. Ford saw Cecil's picture in Bal's phone wallpaper kaya niya nakilala. They "dated" (haha!) after that and became friends. Pero hindi sila constant nagha-hangout because again, Ford was not always interested in gimmicks and Bal naman is working in Fort McMurray. He's only in the city one week every month.

Cecil came here in Edmonton in 2011 (as Bal's spouse/dependent) and I was happy kasi at least may magiging kaibigan na ako dito. Except for Ate June, wala na kasi talagang iba eh. Cecil went back to Pinas in October 2012, a few months after giving birth to their first baby. Bumalik lang siya uli dito last February 2014 when they finally received their PR status.

And since then, we were able to meet their friends din. All of them are working in Fort McMurray too and they all love to cook. Ayun, naiimbita na rin tuloy kami sa mga kainan.

Just like last Sunday (Sept. 14) at Joy's new house in Callingwood.

Picture taken from Joy's FB account

Picture taken from Joy's FB account

Ford and I are always deprived of delicious homecooked meals so we will never say no to kainan haha! #pataygutomnamagasawa

Our "latest" friend, Ate Celina, is a very kind and generous lady who invited us as well in her new home last Monday (Sept. 15). Nabitin yata ang kuwentuhan noong Sunday so she graciously offered to cook for us again the following day!

Picture taken from Joy's FB account (I was in the kitchen, busy packing my take-out food haha!)

Ate Celina is a very good cook! Sobrang sarap ng puto, kare-kare, dinuguan, and spaghetti that she prepapred.

More than the food, we are grateful for having met these wonderful people. Salamat kasi tinanggap nila kami kahit saling-pusa lang kami sa grupo nila hehe. Masarap ang maraming kaibigan dito. Ford and I are self-sufficient couple. We can stand alone, I know. But we realized that we also enjoy the company of other people. Nakakabawas ng homesick din. I just hope that we could build a strong and meaningful relationship with them in the coming days.

Going nuts with nutcrackers

Whew, I couldn't contain my excitement. Why, it's only 99 more days before Christmas! Christmas mode na talaga ako haha! I was even listening to Christmas songs yesterday.

Anyway, I think I made up my mind. I am done with Santa Claus. I will now be collecting nutcrackers!

My interest in nutcrackers started last January 8, 2014 when I saw these "Nutcracker Fashionistas" at Shoppers Drug Mart in WEM. Haha, they look "ugly" and "gayish" I know but I was really drawn into them! I asked Ford to buy one for me (the one with the red bag and beanie) tutal sale naman.

Nutcrackers are not that "uso" in Pinas. This is my very first nutcracker item.

And then we were at Michaels (South Edmonton Common) just last Saturday. I found these nutcracker stuff in the $1.50-bin and I felt so happy! Gusto ko pala talaga ng nutcrackers!

Ayan, nagsisimula na naman ako! Sabi ng ni Pod, ang lahat ng equivalent ng ideas ko ay gastos haha! But what can I do, I have a manic tendency to collect anything and everything I fancy. It gives excitement in my boring life eh. But again, with limited budget (and now that I am about to become a mother), I know it will take time before I could build a nutcracker collection.

More greeting cards please!

I love receiving greeting cards -- even if they're not mine haha!

Ford's cousin Marjorie (from California sent) is so thoughtful. She never forgets her Manong Joel Ford's birthday. Ford used to live with them for a long time when he was still working in the US so they really are very close (though they haven't seen each other for almost six years now).

Thanks so much, Marjo! =)

I noticed that many people here in North America still send greeting cards. In this electronic age, I know that sending cards requires extra efforts and money so I really appreciate receiving them.

I hope many of my friends and relatives are like Marjorie. Pero wala yata haha! Now that we are living in isolation here in Deadmonton, it's nearly impossible for us to receive gifts (and I love receiving gifts!). Sana kahit cards na lang. There's really a joy in getting something from the mailbox eh.

All for Chicklet now!

Ford is such a good dad. When he sold his old tires last Friday, his first reaction upon receiving the "extra" cash was: "Kailangan may mabili ako para kay Chicklet!"

Haha, dati-rati lahat para sa akin! Ngayon kay Chicklet na. $10 na lang daw ang balato niya sa akin kaloka!

Last Saturday (Sept 13), we went to South Edmonton Common to finally buy that "something-for-Chicklet." We agreed on buying some Gap clothes for the baby. We were even aiming to buy Chicklet's first ever Christmas outfit na. Pero nabigo kami, wala kaming nakitang maganda. We were just able to buy one Gap Baby Blanket.

The distressed Dad was not happy. He has to spend his money daw for Chicklet talaga. Then we saw the OshKosh Shop.

For the first time, he excitedly entered a clothes store. You see, Ford is never into clothes. Whenever I would enter a baby shop that sells clothes, he would just wait for me outside. He said it's my territory.

Daddy was willing to really splurge for Baby Chicklet this time but nabigo uli siya. Wala siyang makitang type niya.

Thankfully, we saw this clearance rack haha!

We were so happy kasi ang cheap. We bought four pairs of clothing for the baby. Yung pang-six months ang kinuha namin. Very timely kasi by the time six months na si Chicklet, nasa Pilipinas kami. He'll be needing 'summer clothes' there.

Drowning in the sea of baby clothes!

Don't worry, Dad. We'll find that perfect Christmas outfit for Chicklet soon!

Ford still wants to go back. He has lots of money pa raw. And hindi lang pala balato ang gusto niyang ibigay for Chicklet, he wants to spend all the money for him (minus my $10)! So all is for Chicklet now! Poor Mom, naagawan na sa affection and money ni Dad lol!

Ooops by the way, now that winter is approaching, it's best to buy out-of-season items na - like summer clothes. Hope we could find more good deals. =)

Ford's online selling stint at Kijiji

Haha, I still couldn't believe it! Ford was able to sell these tires and aluminum box in Kijiji!

I was actually very skeptic when he asked me to take pictures of his "merchandise." He's had these tires in 2011 pa when he bought his Ford Ranger. But only after a few months use, he replaced them with all-weather tires. Hence, naging kalat na lang sa parking spot niya sa building and later dito sa garahe sa house ang mga gulong na ito.

He finally had the guts to sell them when we finally let go of the truck last August 29. Naiwan din kasi yung aluminum box ng Ranger so kailangan idispose para hindi makasikip sa garahe.

Ford created an account in Kijiji, an online classified ads here in Canada (which I later learned is a subsidiary pala of eBay), last September. He offered the items for a very low price of $250 para maibenta na lang. And after 11 days, he's sold it! Haha, di ako makapaniwala!

Ford was so happy! Ngayon lang siya nagbenta ng gamit niya ever at na-excite siya. He's had those tires since 2011, bakit ngayon lang niya naisip ibenta sa Kijiji??? And now nag-iisip pa siya kung ano ang ibebenta. Pati yata ako gustong i-post haha!

However, I think Ford won't be a good seller. He couldn't negotiate eh. The buyer haggled for $220 and he said yes. I told him sayang ang $30! The buyer was already interested kasi good deal na nga and his goods were really in excellent condition so sana hindi na siya nagpatawad. He couldn't say no daw eh, kaloka!

Next time, ako na nga lang ang fo-front. Walang maaasahan sa asawa ko. He needs me in his life sa totoo lang!

A Dollarama Christmas

I was in Dollarama WEM yesterday and was happy to see that they are already starting to bring out their Christmas merchandise. Ahh, "the most wonderful time of the year" is coming!!!

If only we could skip halloween haha! I love halloween but this year, I am associating it with the anticipation of painful childbirth so sana Christmas na nga haha!

Last year, I feel that I was Christmas-deprived because we were living in Pod's small studio-type suite and we couldn't even put up a tree. So I had high aspirations for Christmas 2014. I even started buying Christmas decors as early as December 26, 2013!

We have all the ingredients to have a special and memorable Christmas this year -- we have a new house, my parents-in-law will be spending the holidays with us, and Chicklet will finally be here by that time! I am just not sure though if we can decorate the house fully because aside from not having a budget anymore for whimsical stuff (shopping for Chicklet already cost us a fortune!), I might not have the time and energy to do so.

But one thing is for sure, we are getting a tree. I want our son to have a picture by our Christmas tree every year.

I better start scouting for cheap Christmas decors now or else I will lose my chance. With a limited budget, thankfully there's Dollarama. You can find nice and sosyal-looking decors naman in dollar stores so doon na lang muna siguro ako bibili.  =)

First freebie for Chicklet

Haha, forgive me for my kababawan but I was really thrilled when the husband came home last night carrying this...

POD -- Oh eto, nakuha ko sa mailbox. Saan ka na naman nagsign-up???
BIM -- Ha, ano yan? (I still couldn't figure out what it was.)
POD -- Para kay Chicklet! Hay naku kung saan-saan ka na naman nagsa-sign-up!

Until now, I couldn't decipher what it really is. Kung wet wipes ba o diaper. Kaloka!

But one thing is definite, the small package was really for me. May name ko oh! And it came from Kimberly-Clark. Hmm, saan nga kaya ako nagsign-up? I really can't remember.

When I first came here in Edmonton as an immigrant, one of the first things I did was to sign up in different websites (especially couponing sites) with the hopes that I can get as much good deals and freebies that I was getting in the Philippines. My life in the Philippines the last few years revolved around promos and freebies eh haha! I've mastered it, lalo na yung credit card freebies. I had 12 credit cards in Pinas which I used in the business so I had a lot of perks. Most of my clothes, shoes, books, home stuff, stationery, and food came free -- imagine that! At iyon talaga ang pinanghinayangan ko noong umalis ako.

My interest in couponing here weakened (siguro temporarily) because I realized that we don't use most of the products that have coupons. Until now, our pantry is still filled with Filipino items. Even the soap I am using is Safeguard. Dalawa lang din kami sa bahay (as of now) so we have very limited needs - no need to hoard.

Just last week, I unsubscribed from all the websites that I subscribed to. I cleaned my mail box and was relieved that I can now see all my 'legitimate' emails (unlike before na natatabunan). It was emancipating. My only problem is that when I buy something from a store and the cashier asks for my email address so they can put me on their mailing it, I cannot decline. I just do not have the heart to do so! Haha, sabi ko sa sarili ko ia-unsubscribe ko na lang later.

But still, getting free stuff (kahit ano pa yan) is exciting! Sana more pa. Thank you, Kimberly-Clark!

Happiness = Chicklet

I have a new definition of happiness. It now means seeing my son's face and watching him peacefully asleep inside my tummy.

September 12, 2014 / Chicklet @ 31 weeks and 1 day

I love you, my Baby Chicklet! Your Dad and I couldn't wait to touch and hug and kiss you! See you again (in ultrasound) next week! =)

Rolymie Bakery Restaurant (Calgary)

I am craving for lechon right this very moment. Lechon really is my ultimate favorite and my mother (in the Philippines) would always buy a kilo or two of it at the local market every Sunday to my full satisfaction.

Now that I am living here in Edmonton, I feel so deprived of lechon haha! Lechon kawali or roasted pork simply won't suffice. I don't know any place here that sells lechon per pound or kilo. That's why when we went to Calgary last May 18, 2014 (Sunday), I asked my husband to look for Rolymie Bakery Restaurant. I've read somewhere that this Filipino restaurant sells tingi-tinging lechon.

There is actually a Rolymie Bakery in Edmonton too but we haven't eaten there yet at that time. Apparently, the owners of Rolymie Calgary and Rolymie Edmonton are brothers.

Rolymie Calgary, to my surprise, is quite small with only a few tables. It was Sunday noon and we were the only diners. But several people dropped by to pick their take-out orders and/or buy lechon.

They already have cooked dishes and you can order a combo meal. But for sure you can order other ala carte ulam if you like.

But since we were starving, we went for the combo. This combination of 1 viand and lechon plus rice only costs $10+ (I forgot how much exactly)! It was so worth it, because of the huge serving of lechon.

The taste? Admittedly, lechon here in Canada are being cooked in the oven and not in charcoal so expect the difference in taste. But lechon is still lechon, masarap din naman. Mas ok na kaysa wala haha!

Before we left the restaurant, I had to take a picture of this one whole lechon that was ready for pick-up. Ahhh, nakakatakam! The lady owner told me it's around $250. Not bad if you are holding an event. A Filipino party is never complete without lechon.

I will try searching for the best-tasting lechon here in Edmonton. I haven't tried any yet (except for those served in Rolymie Edmonton's buffet).

Missing Royal Star

I received an email today from someone offering us a livery for our bus fleet.

credits to the picture's owner

credits to the picture's owner

I regretfully informed him though that we already sold our city bus (EDSA) franchise last November 2012 pa.

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I suddenly missed Royal Star. My family started the bus business in December 1995 and life has become better since then. Those buses gave us a truly comfortable living and we will forever be grateful.

However, some good things have to end. After seventeen years of operation, we finally decided to sell our franchise because we couldn't take the "EDSA pressure" anymore. I was already married that time and was about to migrate in Canada already. We thought it's best to focus na lang on our more lucrative company, Roadlink Travel and Tours (which operates tourist buses naman).

Now how can I even forget Royal Star when the color scheme of Edmonton Transit System (ETS) is similar to our fleet?

Our very first bus actually looked quite similar to this.

Madalas pag nasa kalsada ako, I am secretly wishing na sana may dumaan na Royal Star o Roadlink at sasakay ako haha!