A Blissful Wife .... And Mother ....: November 2005

Chickenjoy baby

Beach Umbrella AlphabetCreated by Jamie Rousselle

Moment

Moment Word ArtCreated by Tina Chambers

Malling and Sitting

Big EasyCreated by Kelly Meaux and Jamie Rousselle

One more Block to make it Ten

Moment Word ArtCreated by Tina Chambers
Jeans BG by Escrapper

Early Christmas Treat

Buds of May Page KitCreated by Lauren Bavin

Happy Birthday Bestfriend Venus!

My best friend for 9 years, whew! I really missed this girl.

Pastel birthday Page Kit and Bottle Cap Alpha
By Lauren Bavin

A-year-old Blogger!

You have to congratulate me guys! I turned one last November 24 as a certified blogger!!! In line with this, I wanna share with you my very first ever post, and the subject, none other than my baby Jett.

5 Things I learned after one year of blogging:

1. Blogging is "addictive"
2. Blogging is the perfect avenue to vent-out
3. Blogging gives me more opportunity to express how much I love and appreciate my two signifact others, Honey and Jett
4. Blogging brings-out the artist in me
5. Blogging serves as a medium to share my day to day ups and downs with my friends and relatives

DATE: November 24, 2003

TIME: 1:58am

LOCATION: Bangkok, Thailand

HUBBY WAS IN: Bangladesh (two weeks then)

Ralph Jarreth "Jett" Santiago, is our son's complete name. He is exactly 11-month old now (11/24/04). If my hubby is my "better half", this little guy is my "other half". He calls me "mam-mam", and he calls his dad "bab-bab" (first name basis???). Everybody in the hotel where we live, loves him, and funny, Jett loves them too! I remember an instance, when we were compelled to stay home because Jett was sick, the receptionists called me in our room to ask why Jett did not play with them that day ... I bet, they will cry when we leave this place.

We always spend time to air out, at the mall on weekends or holidays, or at the park on daddy-is-in-the-office days. And during these days, I anticipate these lines ... == "puying?" (girl?) .... no, "puchay" (boy) ... ah, "narak" (lovely) ==.... and of course, do not forget the wipes for the kiss-taker :)

Just like his dad, his eyes' color is brown, and the hair is dark brown too. And whenever the lights of the sun touch his face, his cheeks turn rose ... everytime he bids a sweet smile, his dimples in his right cheek and in chin show-up.

Now, he just started performing his first independent steps, apparently, his dad is not here to witness how Jett gracefully, carefully, and slowly, watches his step, just to keep his balance and reach his destination. His dad is very much excited to see him showing off. Jett is no longer a baby.

I really can never explain the elated feeling of seeing my child growing up right before my eyes. I just wish .... that he remains to be a child ... forever ... just .... a wishful thinking .....

Digi-scrap Thanksgiving Sale!

Last night, I was browsing the DSP website, as I usually always am. I found out that there was an on-going sale only for Thanksgiving season, and the deal is 50% slash off the price for "all" as in "everything" you find in their shop! Wow, that was really a great bargain! The thing was, sale expires till midnight of Black Friday in US (Saturday noon in Manila), only to give tribute for the occasion. I've been thinking of buying digital scrapbook kits several days ago, and favorably, I caught-up the discounts. Of course, I should not forget to thanks Honey for always letting me use my credit card, hehe. Can't complain with my selections, they are gorgeous! I love them!

23 months to celebrate!

Sunflower frame Created by Lauren Bavin

Happy 23rd months Jett!!!

elements by Lauren Bavin
Gold Page Pebble AlphabetCreated & ©2005 Lauren BavinFonts used Times New Roman - http://www.fonts.com
Stages Overlay
Created by Suzanne C. Walker© 2005 Suzanne C. Walker
Fonts areRequiem by Chris Hansen, www.geocities.com/crizcrack666CK Maternal by Creating Keepsakes, from the Heritage Vintage and Retro CDCK Legacy by Creating Keepsakes, from the Heritage Vintage and Retro CDSplendid 66 by Johan Holmdahl, http://www.free-typewriter-fonts.com

A Sunday with Divine Mercy

VirginiaPlain tag alphabetby Lauren BavinFont used is Virginia Plain- from www.girlswhowearglasses.com

Preparations

-- Today, I started to make an arrangement of my most important christmas things-to-do list, JETT'S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION. We went to Caloocan, confirmed a reservation, discussed the details, and we need to be back by early December for the invites. Well, I need to admit, preparations for the 2nd birthday celebration is less taxing compared to his "1st". That was to make sure his 1st birthday memories and details were meant to last forever. For now, I need to find birthday souvenirs appropriate for Jett's personality, this is my homework.

--I feel bad, I really wanna go to Divisoria, especifically in the newest 163 shopping mall going to Binondo. We passed through the mall this afternoon, and there are lots of shoppers already bustling the place. Honey wants me to wait till he got home to be my tiangge-buddy but I want to prepare the christmas decorations, importantly the gifts (it has been a habit for me that every christmas, I gift-wrapped all the presents personally, that gives me a different spirit of celebrating the season) as early as now, especially I have a long list of people to give gifts. So I need not to cram as the holiday is fast approching. I gonna pick a schedule for this.

A walk through the bay ...

Guiding Light (freebie 2)By Tina ChambersFonts are-Century Gothic and Castellar-Agfa Monotype-www.fonts.comZenith Script ES-ES Typography-http://freefonts.fateback.com/es_typography/

Meet Teddy!

Teddy has been a family member for almost two years. I personally am so thankful that Jett has a comfort object especially when it comes to sleeping. He needs not to thumb suck, or sleep from the bottle, or use a pacifier. He sleeps by himself with teddy by his side. Honey bought three new pieces of teddy as he passed through Bangkok the last time. WE LOVE YOU TEDDY!

Natural Kit Alpha
Created by Suzanne C. Walker© 2005 Suzanne C. WalkerFont is Eggo by Bay Animation, from the Cosmi 1000 Best Fonts CD, http://www.cosmi.com

CONSTANTINE rules!!!

CONSTANTINE MAROULIS is in town!!!

I really "lllllove" to see this multi-talented rocker perform live, but evidently it is not possible for me at this very moment. Of course, I do not wanna go alone! I wanna watch him with my husband.

He was our pick together with Carrie Underwood during the fourth season of American Idol, and we were literally "stunned" after we learned from the AI website (coz we missed that part on tv), that he was voted-out. We were in state of denial for one sec of our lives.

And now, I can't believe he is visiting the Philippines.

Well guys, you still have a chance, if you haven't read his Ayala Mall Tour schedules, here it is (big big sigh!) ...

Constantine is set to focus his vocal magic on Filipino fans in an eagerly awaited concert at Greenbelt 3 Park, Ayala Greenbelt in Makati this 17th of November, at 8:00 p.m. He then sets off to continue his tour with appearances at the Alabang Town Center Activity Center on the 18th, at 7:00 p.m and Ayala Center Cebu, Food & Entertainment fountain area on the 19th at 8:30 p.m.

My Yesteryears

Jett was messing-up my childhood photo album, so I decided to make a digital copy of few of them before Jett will torn them apart. ENJOY!!!

Moving UP!

Last Saturday, we were in St. Luke's for Jett's visit to his pediatrician. I am more than happy that in less than a month (after he lost weight as he got out from his 4-day hospital confinement), he gained 700grams, from 11.6kilos to 12.3kilos. That is such a relief for a Mom like me. And now, we are moving from Large diaper size, to Extra-Large! Yahooo!!!

Reading is Learning

BEDTIME ROUTINE
(we've been doing this routine since Jett is 4-month-old)

-- eat midnight snacks
-- cleaning time
-- put on the pajamas
-- brush his teeth
-- read books
he can now identify pictures by pointing the objects from A-Z in his A-B-C book
he can also identify Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, and Eeyore in his books
-- put back his books in his book corner
-- he turns-off the lights
-- kiss Mommy and Daddy goodnight
we tell him "goodnight, sleep tight, sweet dreams, see you tomorrow"
-- he sleeps ten straight hours or more

Baby Blues KitCreated and ©2005 by Valeri Brumfield
Fonts used: BibleScrT

Jett's eldest Tito

Kuya Ronnie, the eldest among my husbands' siblings, completed my list. I have ten sisters-and-brothers-in-law, and I finally met their oldest. My mother-in-law told me they have not seen each other for seven years, that is why it is a momentous event to cross their paths again. It is also Jett's first, to be held by his Tito Ronnie.

We hope to see you more often Kuya Ronnie!!!

My Greatest Fears

There are three things that I'm petrified to happen though I know they're imminent

1. I'm scared to get old. I'm scared that I can no longer do things I am capable to do now. I'm scared that no amount of facial or diamond peel will hide the lines in my face, and the excess skin due to gravity. Also, aging comes with gaining. I'm scared to look big and not be able to wear clothes that I want to wear.

2. I'll be unhappy when the moment comes that Jett will be starting to spread his wings, and he want me no more to kiss and hug him in public. Then, he will meet a girlfriend, and get marry eventually, and at the end of the day, it will be me and my husband left, us and only us.

3. I'm afraid that HE will take one of us (me or my husband) away. I know this sounds creepy, but if it is possible, I want HIM to get us together.

Just to vent-out ...

It's Finding NEMO (this time)!

Several times I have encountered these dialogues while watching FINDING NEMO with my son. And I know as a mother, that these wordings made an impact and somehow change my view on when to say "NO" to my son.

Find out yourselves:

FIRST CONVERSATION:

CRUSH: Curl away my son. It's awesome jelly man. The little dudes are just eggs . We leave 'em on a beach to hatch, and then, coo-coo-cach they find their way back to the big 'ol blue.

MARLIN: All by themselves?

CRUSH: Yeah.

MARLIN: But dude, how do you know when they're ready?

CRUSH: Well, you never really know. But when they know, you'll know, you know? Ha!

SECOND CONVERSATION:

DORY: There, there it's all right. It'll be okay.

MARLIN: No, no, it wont.

DORY: Sure it will. You'll see.

MARLIN: No, I promised him I'd never let anything happen to him.

DORY: Huh. That's a funny thing to promise.

MARLIN: What?

DORY: You can't never let anything happen to him. Then nothing would ever happen to him. Not much fun for little Harpo.

THIRD CONVERSATION:

DORY: He says its time to let go. Everything's gonna be all right.

MARLIN: How do you know? How do you know something bad isn't gonna happen?

DORY: I don't!

Exhausting!

We went to PNP Marilao this afternoon, I filed a formal complaint against my former helper who stole my silver bracelet, two blouses, and several pieces of undergarments of mine, my mother, and my niece. Apparently, we found out that there are missing pieces, five days after she took a day-off on November first, and never came back. The clothes were recovered, but the bracelet is still left out. According to the suspect, she pawned it.

My husband dissuade me not to waste time on this and charge what happened to experience.

But I beg to disagree, yes, I think, I am spending or wasting time, but I need to go through a process that will take a little bit more of my hour. What were taken from me and my family, are very minimal in value. What I want not to happen again is for this girl to victimize another household, and she will not stop, unless somebody stop her by sending her to where she belongs, in jail.

She was found this evening by the people whom I told to indict if she won't turn-up.

The MORAL of the LESSON? Ask for NBI or police clearance if you plan to hire help, period!

So long Tatay Dodong ...

At 3AM, I shut my eyes off, and I finally laid to sleep.

At 4AM, Tatay Dodong shut his eyes off, and he finally laid to rest, forever.

530AM, we were in the hospital. He is a picture of a person in his deep sleep. A totally different state from yesterday, he was seizing for life with those gadgets on him.

I kissed him goodbye in his forehead.

Tatay, thank you for the memories you left with us. I will cherish those moments in my heart forever.

I barely cry, coz I know he wil be resting in peace he haven't had in this lifetime ... but with HIM.

So long Tatay Dodong ... so long to my favorite tito ... so long ...

Getting Worse ...

He's been showing signs of getting better yet, instead otherwise. A machine is helping his heart to keep on beating. I'm wanting to grasp to the littlest hope that I can see. I spoke with Tatay Dodong this noon, I told him on a light note, that he looks fine, though I know to myself, that he is not. He answered me by grinning the tube in his mouth. I saw the traces of blood left in his teeth, proving the hardship he gone through to put that tube. And I burst to tears quietly. Painful, indeed. But we have to ready ourselves for the eventuality.

THY WILL BE DONE ... THY WILL BE DONE ...

I feel bad ...

The amount of money that I spend on microdermabrasion ... is also the amount of money that could save an ailing life ... and I FEEL BAD about it.

The amount of money that I spend when I swipe my credit card ... is also the amount of money that could extend the life of the sick ... and I FEEL BAD about it.

The amount of money that I spend when I buy costly make-up ... is also the amount of money that could use to buy medications for a weakening body ... and I FEEL BAD about it.

My Tito Felix, (I call him Tatay Dodong) rushed to the hospital this early dawn, he can't breathe, has fever for days, with blood and lungs complications. He is now in ICU for intensive monitoring of his condition. When I came to see him this afternoon, I couldn't help the tears, I didn't expect to see him like that ... and I REALLY FEEL BAD about it.

More prayers for him from us.

I've been very grateful to have my husband by my side at this lowest point.