Meet My Baby Chicklet!

Finally, he's here!

With hearts full of love and joy, we welcome Nathan James Levin Reyes Blanco, born on November 13, 2014 (11:41pm) at Misericordia Community Hospital (Edmonton, Alberta).

Thank you everyone for your prayers and warm wishes! =)

I'll be back!

Hello!

Just wanna say that I won't be able to post in the coming days as I am already scheduled for birth induction tomorrow (November 13).

Baby Chicklet Blanco @ 39 weeks and 5 days

And that makes me really scared!

I admit, just thinking about it now makes my blood pressure soar high. But I am trying to be positive. There is no way Baby Chicklet will come out on this world without me experiencing some pain, right?

I went to my OB last Monday (November 10) and she told me my cervix is still closed. That's why I'll be induced. I have gestational diabetes so we cannot delay the delivery and wait for normal contractions.

It'll only be and my husband who'll go to the hospital tomorrow. My doctor told me we'll meet there before 7am, but I have to still wait for the hospital's call to check on the availability of room/staff. Hay, it will be a very long day tomorrow (and/or the day after). Please pray for me and my baby.

Anyway, I promise to return as soon as I am back on my feet. I am going to miss this blog terribly, I know!

See you! =)

A hair cut, finally!

Finally, my husband had his hair cut and beard shaven! Hallelujah!

This was his BEFORE look:

And the AFTER!

Looks very different, noh?

The last time he had his hair cut was last May pa in Pinas (when he went home to attend the burial of his grandmother). Ngayon lang uli naulit, imagine that!

I couldn't blame him though. Ang mahal magpagupit dito. He would spend around $30 (tip included) for a basic cut eh. My husband is an Ilocano so kuripot talaga (haha!). Despite my nagging for several months, talagang hindi siya nagpagupit. Kapag manganganak na lang daw ako para sulit, kaloka! Hindi na rin siya nag-shave kasi hindi bagay sa long hair niya ang ang bagong-ahit look.

Luckily, he saw an ad for a $12 men's cut near my OB's clinic. He went there last Saturday kaso $15 daw kapag weekend. Sige, pwede na rin. He didn't give tip anymore kasi yung naggupit daw ay yung owner din ng parlor. Plus under the table lang yata kasi walang tax. He paid in cash. Haha, me ganun din pala dito.

I am one happy wifey! My husband looks decent na uli. I remember last week, we were at Old Navy and I saw one of my former co-workers (Pinay din). I deliberately didn't introduce Ford kasi nga mukhang hoodlum. First impressions last pa naman haha! Nahiya talaga ako!

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And because he looks better now, I asked him to join me and Baby Chicklet in our powder room wefie yesterday!

Baby Chicklet at 39 weeks and 3 days

Ooops, I myself need a hair cut na. It's been more than a year since nagpagupit ako. I came here in Edmonton with a very short and newly rebonded hair. Ngayon mahaba na at buhaghag. Pero nahawa na yata ako sa kakuriputan ng asawa ko, mukhang sa Pinas na lang din ako magpapaayos ng buhok pag-uwi ko. I really don't wanna spend at least $50 for a trim haler.

I am glad kasi hindi naman talaga ako parlor-person kahit noong nasa Pilipinas pa ako. I am more of a shoes and bags gal so hindi naman ako feeling deprived kahit na hindi ako nakakapagpa-salon dito.

If only I'll learn how to cut a man's hair, malaki ang matitipid namin. Para pati kay Chicklet ako na rin ang gugupit. Hmmm, mag-aral nga kaya ako?

Hello Kitty Happy Meal

I was at West Edmonton Mall for almost the whole day last Friday (November 7). I went on my 10th weekly ultrasound at 10am and I asked the husband not to pick me up anymore during his lunch time. I wanted to walk and walk (my cervix is still closed) and do a bit of shopping hihi.

I had my lunch at T&T (as usual), shopped a little, and read a book while resting. At around 3:45pm, while lounging on the mall's couch, I saw a little girl carrying a McDonald's Happy Meal box. The box has a hello kitty print on it.

Sabi ko na nga ba, hello kitty ang toy ng happy meal ngayon eh! Parang may nakita kasi ako sa Facebook na ganito, I just wasn't sure kung available ba dito sa Canada.

My heart palpitated, I am always like this whenever there's a hello kitty happy meal on the market. You see, I was (still am) a hello kitty addict. I have one room in our Philippine home that's filled with kitty (no kidding!).  There's really something about this sweet feline that makes me giddy.

And so I went to the foodcourt where there's a McDonald's to verify if they indeed have a hello kitty happy meal.

Upon confirming that they do, I had a three-minute self-deliberation:

     Bibili ba ako? Haler, bawal sa akin ang fast food kasi may gestational diabetes ako.
     Eh sayang naman, yan lang ang hello kitty souvenir mo para sa 40th birthday ni hello kitty.

I haven't eaten fast food since I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes so I was really hesitant. In the end, my love for hello kitty prevailed.

     Sige na nga, minsan lang naman. Hindi ko na lang uubusin ang fries, saka maliit lang naman ang cup ng orange juice. 

After paying $4.50 (tax included), or approximately Php180.00, I was one big happy girl carrying this!

The big cup was just water.

It was my first time to buy a happy meal here and I didn't know "how." Basically, you have to choose an entree pala (and that would determine the price), then the side, then the drink. Unlike in the Philippines, ginawa nilang "healthier" ang options dito, ni hindi nga rin pwede ang softdrinks (or pop as what they call it here).

I was also happy that they put everything on this box. Namimiss ko ito eh. Sa Pilipinas kasi madalas wala ng box, naka-paper bag na lang.

The complete meal -- 4 pieces chicken nuggets, small fries (I only ate a few), small orange juice, strawberry yogurt (na hindi ko din kinain kasi ayaw ko nun)...

And the toy!

Too bad I wasn't able to choose the toy. Maliit lang kasi ang McDonald's sa foodcourt at maraming tao, nagmamadali ang mga crew. They just asked me kung for boy or girl ang toy and that's it. Wala rin silang display o poster man lang ng happy meal toys.

Buti na lang I got the one with a cake. Here's the complete set pala:

Picture taken from the internet (credits to the owner)

There are eight designs. Tsk, if only I can buy them all, just like what I always do in Pinas. Kaso ang mahal din kasi, saka hindi ko na siya priority.

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I remember, whenever I learn that hello kitty is featured on the happy meal, my Mamoosh and I would rush to McDonald's Bocaue or SM Marilao and we would buy all the designs at once! Haha, those were the days!

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Happy meals do doubt will become part of my life here in Edmonton as I will soon have a child. Kaya lang boy kasi sya, magkaiba kami ng preference sa toys haha!

Hello, Winter!

I woke up this morning to this...

View from the second floor (master bedroom)

Nakakasilaw ang kaputian sa labas, kaloka! Ito yung snow na hindi na matutunaw. Hanggang March or April na na maputi ang paligid.

It was snowing the whole day. Ford and Daddy Jaime were able to change our car's tires na into winter tires. I wanted to go out and walk but I am afraid na baka madulas ako. I also do not like to wear winter boots yet (wearing socks and boots is tedious if you have an 8lb+ baby in your tummy).

According to Yahoo's weather forecast, it won't snow tomorrow and in the next few days -- but it will be a lot colder!

Oh well, what can I say but... hello, winter! Please don't be too harsh on us this year, oki?


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NOTE: Winter technically starts on December 21, 2014 pero talagang winter na winter na ngayon pa lang eh. Kaloka! 

TFC.TV subscription renewal

We had to renew our TFC.TV subscription today. Whew, time indeed flies! One year ago na nang dumating ako kaya one year na rin ang TFC namin.

Unlike others who have TFC installed on their televisions, ours is just internet based. I prefer it that way so that I can watch anywhere, kahit sa Ipad, desktop, o laptop. Ford is not into TFC naman kaya siya na lang ang manood sa TV namin noh.

We were just surprised though kasi $124.99  na pala ang 12-month premium. Dati parang less than $80 lang, walang movies included. Ngayon wala ng ganung option, kaso puro luma na naman ang movies. Parang di nila pinapalitan.

Anyway, I am happy na rin kasi tuloy ang ligaya sa panonood ng teleserye hehe! When you're living abroad, magiging "jologs" ka yata talaga. You want a piece of home kaya dapat updated ka sa Philippine TV shows and showbiz happenings!

Oh Boy!

I took another preggy selfie last Saturday (November 1). I included a side view for a change (I was never fond of side views because it's not my angle lol!).

For the first time, I realized na patulis pala ang tiyan ko. At katulad ng sabi nila, boy ang baby kapag patulis.

Baby Chicklet @ 38 weeks and 2 days

And then I come across this Chinese Gender Calendar. Chicklet was conceived on February and I was 34. Sakto!

Picture taken from the internet (credits to the owner)

Haha, I really am destined to have a baby boy!

To be honest, I am so happy. As I keep on saying to everyone, this could be my first and last pregnancy (I am already 35 and I am fine with having just one child) and I am glad that we're having a boy. Boys are easy and closer to mommies, right? Plus of course, sexist as it may sound, each family needs someone to continue the family name -- so meron na kami!

I am now on my 39th week and still no concrete signs of labor. That's one disadvantage, I guess -- boys tend to arrive later than baby girls daw talaga (especially if first born). Mga paimportante, hmmmp!

Did I say expensive?

We went to Lucky Supermarket (one of the two biggest Asian supermarkets here in Edmonton) last night to buy some mauulam.

And to give you an idea of how expensive Asian/Filipino foods are here, take a look into our cart.

Not much, huh. At the bottom were just some vegetables and fruits.

This was our total bill:

Yep, almost Php8,500.00! Mind you, mostly pang-ulam lang yan ha (that will last for just a few days). We buy our other household necessities at Walmart.

Cliche as it may sound, we Filipinos may be earning dollars here but we also spend big time, especially on Filipino items that we need for survival.

After I recover from giving birth, I guess I really need to be mindful our grocery budget. That's what good housewives do, right? We couldn't go on like this, or else we won't have any savings at all.

Christmas in my Me Room

I was feeling blue today so I decided to cheer myself up by fixing my "Me Room." Yep, I have my own room in this house. Actually it's more of a 'work/craft area' where I store all my nonsense (but kawaii) stuff like pens, papers, and other stationery. I have a huge shelf here (I'll have to show it to you later, when it's already filled up haha!) and a computer table. I also have a white couch which can transform into a bed in case we have additional house guests.

The theme of the room is white and pink but since it's only fifty days before Christmas, I decided to temporarily replace the pinks with the reds.

This couch (or sofa bed) was bought in Ikea. 

It now looks Christmasy noh? And oh I really really love my Hello Kitty Santa! I feel a lot better now.

We only have three bedrooms in this house and I know that in a few years, I would have to give this room to Chicklet (unless we move to a bigger home?). We have a guestroom but we have to reserve that for guests, especially my in-laws who I know will often come to visit us (they are just 3-hours plane ride away). So for the mean time, let me enjoy my Me Room first.

One year ago today...

One year ago today...

November 5, 2013 (Philippine Time) @ NAIA Terminal 2 

I left the the Philippines with a heavy heart. It was so painful leaving my mother...  and the life I had for more than 34 years...

I had to go though... to be with my husband who has long been waiting for me...

Oh how time flies! I still couldn't believe it that a year has already passed. I admit, I am not yet fully adjusted. But I am getting there.

Tawilis in Edmonton

We were at T&T Supermarket last Sunday and my eyes rolled in disbelief when I saw several packs of this...

Tawilis, is that really you???

I've been here in Edmonton for almost a year now and that was the first time I saw frozen tawilis in the supermarket.

You see, I am your typical promdi who grew up eating different types of fish. I love fish, yung mga non-sosyal fish daw sabi ng asawa ko like bangus, galunggong, dalagang-bukid, ayungin, hasa-hasa, tilapia, etc. I also love salmon and tuna but because I immigrated here, talagang yung mga Pinoy fish ang nami-miss ko. I even told my mother that when I go home next year, puro fresh fish ang ihanda niya for me. That is what we lack here in Edmonton eh, fresh seafoods. Lahat frozen.

Crispy fried tawilis is one of my favorites so talagang naatat ako nang makakita nito. I grabbed a pack and put it in our cart.

I was shocked though when I learned (after my husband has paid for it) that it costs $7.33 (or approximately Php300)! Waah, ang mahal naman pala! Around 20 pieces lang yun ha, kulang pa na kainin ko in one sitting. When I called my mother, ang sabi niya kabibili lang daw niya sa palengke nito... Php40 isang kilo! Asar-talo ako.

I mentally took note that this will probably be the last time na bibili ako nito, unless  i-sale ng 50% off haha! I just convinced myself that since I am pregnant, entitled akong kainin ang mga gusto kahit mahal (pampalubag-loob).

Hay, buhay-Canada! Filipinos here might be earning dollars pero sobrang taas din naman ng cost of living. Nasa disadvantage position ang mga Pinoy because of course, the food that we like to eat (i.e. Filipino products) are all "imported". Hence, doble o triple ang cost kumpara sa food ng Canadians.

Oh well, I guess kailangan na talagang mag-adjust soon. In order to save, we need to find cheaper, non-imported alternatives to some Filipino products that we like.

Finally, My Hello Kitty Santa!

Last year, we saw this big Hello Kitty Santa at Walmart. I (of course) wanted to buy it but we were still living in Pod's tiny studio suite then and I had no choice but to content myself with "minimalist living."

Yesterday, while I was 'strolling' at Walmart Stony Plain and browsing through their still raw Christmas shelves, I saw this Hello Kitty Santa again. Just one piece, mind you.

I clearly remember last year' design and I knew it looks exactly the same. "Tira lang kaya ito last year?", I asked myself. I looked at the tag and it states 2014. So they just replicated last year's Christmas design? Parang hindi naman nag-uulit ng design ang Hello Kitty. I doubted din naman kung tira lang ito kasi sobrang in-demand ang Hello Kitty (meron din silang Valentine version na ganito kalaki) at siguradong nauubos.

Oh well, enough of my questions. The plushie looked clean naman so I grabbed and gave it to Ford para bayaran. That  might be my last chance na na makabili nito this year kasi malapit na akong ma-house arrest nang matagal.

Kitty and the Beast

POD -- O ano na naman yan?

BIM -- Hello Kitty Santa Claus haler! 

POD -- Eh aanhin mo naman yan, lalaki naman ang anak mo?

BIM -- Para sa akin yan noh. Pagbigyan mo na ako sus. After ko makapanganak eh hindi na nga ako makakapag-shopping eh. 

POD -- Hay naku, gastos naman!  

That's my husband, makasalita lang haha!

Anyway, the stuffed toy only costs $21 (+5% tax). Not bad for a huge and authentic Hello Kitty item!

I am so excited na picturan si Chicklet sa tabi ni Kitty. His mom is a die hard Hello Kitty fan so he better learn to live with it haha! 

Our Halloween 2014

Not an exciting Halloween, I am telling you now lol!

As I have mentioned in this post, Halloween excites me. But that excitement was cut short because I am pregnant and due to give birth this November. Hence, I don't have the energy and the funds to go all the way this year.

But not to let the spirit of Halloween down, I put up a tiny spot by our console table to 'celebrate' this event.

I realized though that I only had kawaii decors and not the freaky ones haha!

And mind you, they are cheap!

• Dancing/Singing Mummy -- bought at Hallmark WEM at 50% off ($8 + 5% tax)
• Hello Kitty -- bought at Papyrus City Centre last year at 75% off ($2.60)
• Purple Bear -- bought at Dollarama for $3
• Green Witch -- bought at Dollar tree for $1.25
• Ceramic Pumpkin Key Holder -- bought at Michaels

Now that Halloween is over, I am hoping to score more discounted Halloween items in stores. Wish me luck.

Oops, I remembering buying so many Halloween paper plates, napkins, table mats, etc. but i wasn't able to use them. Di bale, next year na lang.


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Rain started to pour in the afternoon of Halloween so I was disheartened. Tsk, lalong walang pupuntang bata para magtrick-or-treat, I told myself. The location of our house is not strategic enough for trick-or-treaters, lalo na siyempre kapag umuulan at malamig.

Still, we turned our porch lights on with the hope na may maligaw na bata.

We had an early dinner and at 6:36pm, I was already willing to go up to our bedroom to rest when suddenly we heard some kids' voices.

POD -- O ayan, may mga darating na.

Then the doorbell rang.

I was so happy! I asked the husband to give treats to the kids while I excitedly unpacked the other candies that we bought.

I put the candies in a bin (bought at Dollar Tree) and placed it near our front door for the next batch of kids. I did not unbox the Mini Chips Ahoy! yet, later na lang kako kapag nagkaubusan na.

Now what to do with these?

Kaso wala ng sumunod na nagpunta kaloka!

POD -- Buti nga di ka na-zero noh.

Kaloka, I was exchanging FB messages with my friends Cecil and Joy at marami na silang napamigay. Nainggit ako! Haha, it was so pathetic of me to "beg" for the visit trick-or-treaters. Pero ang sarap kasing makakita ng kids in costume at masarap din magbigay.

In my disappointment, napakain tuloy ako ng isang mini KitKat Bar. Cheat day, tutal Halloween naman.

My original back-up plan kung wala talagang pupunta sa area namin was to stroll around our community na lang and observe the kids. But since it was a cold and wet night, hindi na rin natuloy.

I wanted to go West Edmonton Mall din sana for the "largest indoor trick or treat festival" but my in-laws are here at nakakahiya namang iwanan. Saka di pa nga ako sure kung may pupunta bang kids sa bahay namin o wala.

Oh well, at least now I know. I don't think I'd be preparing candies pa for treats next year. I'd just dress my son up at kami na lang ang magtitrick-or-treat. We'd probably join some of our kids' friends para masaya.

For our loved ones in heaven...

I've been going to cemeteries every November 1 to visit our dearly departed loved ones for the past 34 years. This is one tradition that I really looked forward to every year.

Sadly, I cannot do that anymore now that I am living in Canada. I cannot even visit the grave of my grandfather who passed away less than two weeks ago.

For our loved ones in heaven, especially our grandparents - Nanang Leona and Amang Felimon - who just left us this year...

All we can offer now is a lighted candle and prayers. May their souls rest in peace.