New Pandora Charm: Rocking Horse

Yehey! I finally have a Pandora charm that will commemorate my son's birth!

It's a Rocking Horse!

Last November 22, I just showed a picture of it to my husband and he surprised me by bringing it home that same afternoon, after he went out to buy some groceries! He really is excited to buy anything for/about Nathan!

By the way, I actually saw the rocking horse charm at Pandora WEM when I bought my car charm last August. The sales lady gave me the idea that it's perfect for my upcoming son. I liked it and promised to get it the moment I gave birth. Sakto pa that both my husband and son were born on the year of the horse.

What I love about this charm is that it is quite 'big' (unlike my dangling stilleto) and not that expensive (only $55 + 5% tax). It's my favorite charm to date (not that I have many lol!).

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!