It's holy week!

I admit to not being religious but I love the observing the season of lent. I am a sucker for traditions "holy week" is filled with it. 

Today is Holy Monday and I couldn't help but wish that I am in the Philippines right now. Ibang-iba kasi ang pakiramdam ng holy week doon eh. Ang saya, ang kulay. Dito parang wala lang talaga (though people here 'celebrate' Easter). Buti nga ginawa pa nilang holiday ang Good Friday eh. Second holy-week-in-Canada ko na ito so I know.

Oh how I miss my mother terribly. We used to watch the Holy Wednesday and Good Friday processions together for 33 years. I feel guilty na iniwan ko siya. I am hoping na someday, magkasama uli kami sa holy week kaso parang hindi ko kakayaning umuwi sa Pilipinas kapag summer dahil sa sobrang init.

Anyway, we are going to my aunt's place in Bristish Columbia this coming Good Friday. Ford got bored and wanted to do a long drive this coming long weekend. Para daw kunwari nasa Pilipinas lang kami at uuwi sa probinsya dahil Mahal na Araw. Kaloka, hanggang ganito na lang kami -- papretend-pretend. 

Bag downgrade

I saw a yellow bag at Guess (WEM) and I instantly liked it. Perfect for spring, I said to myself. I was hesitant but the husband insisted that we buy it. It's only $115 (plus 5% tax), after all.

Haha, I never thought that it will happen again. That I will think so hard before buying a bag that's not even that expensive. I started buying designer purses a couple of years ago and akala ako tuloy tuloy na.

But then you see, motherhood happened.

Let me say that I am not the type who will let go of my personal luho just because I am a mother now. To be clear, I am not buying Louis Vuitton bags FOR NOW because I am jobless (because I have to take care of my son) and we solely rely on my husband's income.

When I was still pregnant, a friend told me that I will change after I give birth. That I will lose interest in shopping blah blah. Four and a half months after Chicklet's birth, I can affirm that I am still the same. I still salivate over expensive bags and hoping that someday, I can afford them again.

As I am not working right now, many will ask why I need a new bag while I still have tons inside my closet. My answer: "Bags are my thing. Just give it to me." I don't splurge on cosmetics or clothes or parlor services, I really am just a bag person. I will hoard as much bags as I can. I don't want to bury my real self just because I became a mother. That's not healthy.

I am just financially limited at this point so I have to downgrade my bag choices. Ok lang, I realized that I was still happy and excited when the cashier handed to me my Guess purchase. Same euphoric feeling kapag may bago akong mamahaling bag noon. =)

Nathan @ 4 Months

Hello, hello... I am now four months old! -Nathan

I guess I will keep and keep on saying this -- TIME FLIES! My Nathan doesn't look like a baby anymore!

March 13, 2015 (Friday). It's another happy Friday the 13th for us because we got to celebrate our son's another month.

For our simple handa, Ford bought Palabok (our favorite) from Manila Grill Express. I cooked fried chicken and we baked pizza na rin.



I wasn't that happy with how the cake turned out. I should have put the toppers in the middle. Or I could have written Nathan's name (I just didn't know how). Di bale, I'll make it up next month.

Ford always has good shots with Cheeky Boy. Pag ako na, laging palpak. He couldn't make Nathan look at him eh. Di rin niya masyadong mapatawa hmmmp!

My heart melts whenever I see my son getting bigger. Imagine, napapadede at napapalitan ko siya ng diaper! I am not completely useless after all haha!

Again, I am wishing somebody could take a decent family picture for us.

I love this picture. It's obvious who is the boss now lol!

Something really interesting came up after dinner. Ford put Nathan on his play gym and as usual, tumatagilid siya. I noticed that he's started doing that in our bed a few days before (March 10 to be exact).

But to our surprise, he finally was able to roll over! Exactly on his fourth month! I really thought it would take a while before he can do that.

Ford and I were so happy for this another milestone. Too bad that it happened so fast, hindi ko na-record sa video.

Hay Cheeky Boy, you never fail to make me and your daddy very happy! We are so proud of you.

Admittedly, you made me so worried the past weeks because I noticed that you were so tamad na dumede. In consequence, feeling ko hindi ka masyadong bumigat. But the nurse at the health center assured us that it's normal because you were starting to get curious about your environment kaya nawawala ang attention mo sa feeding.

Speaking of curious, yep... you are indeed very curious and smart! Parang big boy ka na talaga, "nakakausap" ka na namin at nakakalaro. You have a very charming smile, kaya nga ang dami mong fans sa Facebook at Instagram eh!

We love dressing you up, would you believe? Kasi ang dali mong bihisan. Lahat bagay sa iyo kasi Tisoy ka (unlike Dad!) hahaha!

We love you so much, anak. Please continue being a happy baby! Happy 4th month!

Hello, Spring!

Just like last year, we welcomed spring last March 20 (Friday) with so much snow!

My husband was asar-talo. He already changed the tires of our car (from winter tires to normal tires) last March 14 eh. I was stopping him, telling him na magi-snow pa. Ayun, hindi nakinig! He was so excited magbutingting ng sasakyan kasi.

Anyway, I am happy that spring is here -- although mafi-feel pa namin yun in a couple more days. I wasn't able to enjoy last year's spring time kasi I was on my first trimester of my pregnancy (I found out I was pregnant mid-March) and I stayed mostly at home because I wasn't feeling well.

I really am excited! I am done with jackets and boots. I want to wear light and colorful clothing! I want to stroll around with my Nathan. I want to eat barbeques again!

It's Pop!

In the Philippines, it's soft drinks.

In the US, it's soda.

Here in Canada, it's pop!

Haha, I've been living here in Canada for almost 17 months already yet I am still not used in referring to Coke or Pepsi as "pop." Is it because I associate the word pop with a brand of cola (i.e. Pop Cola) in the Philippines? Kaloka!

Both Ford and I use the term "soda." Americanized ha. Ford kasi lived in California for almost 8 years. Ako naman, nahawa na rin sa kakapanood ng US films and series. But I guess it's about time that we adopt the term "pop" na. I am tired of living in Canada yet 'not really' living in it. Gusto ko ng maka-adjust fully sa buhay dito. Ayaw ko ng maging parang isang isda sa disyerto.

So sige sige, from now on, it's pop na talaga!

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NOTE: Ford and I are both pop-addict!

Our dining area -- March 2015

This is how our dining area looks like now.

I was happy I found a nice (and cheap) table cloth at Target. But how I wish our dining table has a glass top. Hindi kasi uso yun dito. I've researched and pwede naman magpa-customize. Pero ayaw ko ng i-attempt, malamang mas mahal pa ang abutin kesa sa presyo mismo ng table. Sa taas ba naman ng labor cost dito!

This area is still a work in progress. We still lack the bench seat cushion. Sa Pilipinas na lang ako magpapa-customize pag-uwi namin. Kulang pa rin sa curtains kasi wala pa akong mahanap na bagay at sakto.

The throw pillows at the bench were actually just 'borrowed' from our living room. We need to free our couches kasi from those bulky pillows para hindi hassle sa baby. I'll buy na lang later on.

Our house interior is so monotonous - mostly white and beige and turquoise/teal. I like it that way.

Current Obsession: RESP

I've been reading and researching maniacally about RESP (or Registered Education Savings Plan) since yesterday. An agent came to us last Saturday, convincing us to open an account with Heritage Educational Foundation. She lent me a book to read.

Now that I am feeling physically better, I can now plan concretely about my Nathan's future. We definitely want him to have an educational plan that will aid us in his college years. Ford and I are very particular with education (who aren't?) so we really are taking this seriously.

It's easy to get swayed by an agent's sweet talks and promises. But I am not gullible, I have to study things to on my own. Sorry, but I am way smarter than the agent hahaha! To be honest, the 'arrogant' person that I am only wants to listen to those who are more "intelligent" than me.

I am hoping to come up with a good decision in a few days. I need to read more.

Guess List Card

I bought a purse from Guess last Sunday and the cashier asked me if I have a Guess card. I said no and I queried on how I can get one. She said she could sign me up. After a few mins, voila! I have my new Guess List Card.

Haha, excuse my kababawan. But I really love getting store cards. Aside from the points, syempre panlagay sa wallet haha!

I miss all my cards in the Philippines. Lahat yata ng cards noon meron ako, sobrang bulging tuloy ang wallet ko.

Seriously, each new card that I get here in Canada means that little by little, nai-incorporate na talaga sa akin ang buhay dito. Iba na talaga ang buhay ko -- hindi na SM Advantage Card, Air Miles na.

It's been one year and four months since I moved here. Ambilis talaga ng araw. My son and I are going 'home' in Pinas in June or July. Excited na ako. We'll be staying there for four to five months. Sana magamit ko pa uli yung mga cards na naiwan ko. Not for the points or freebies, gusto ko lang din kasi ang idea na may babalikan pa ako. =)