Have You Googled Yourself?

I was googling myself just a few minutes ago when lo and behold, what do I find but my first ever published article for an independent website. I got the "job" thru the website helium.com. It's a community for budding writers to share their knowledge on a range of diverse topics on anything under the sun. You can write on subjects of interest to you and if a publisher picks up your work you get paid for it.

The first article I ever wrote was really easy for me. It was about how to hire a professional make-up artist for your wedding. I must have done that piece in less than an hour, because it was something I enjoyed writing about. I knew my entry was chosen but had forgotten that it was to be published in another website, until I googled myself. Haha!

I beg your indulgence. Click on this link to view my article.

Cravings

I found out I was pregnant a couple of days before Christmas via a home pregnancy test. I hadn't gotten my period yet and I was feeling weird. Nausea at odd times of the day and preferring soups and salads to any other dish were another hint. I also suddenly craved for sinigang, anything with vinegar or with a sour taste. I now can't eat too much of anything or I'll feel sick to the stomach right after. Sometimes I think it would be better if I just actually threw up instead of constantly having a bad taste in my mouth. Ahhh, the "perks" of the first trimester. I wasn't this way with Raine 2 years ago, but I did crave for salads as well.

Hmmm, I think I'll have some green mango now.

Baby on the Way

It's finally confirmed! I'm indeed pregnant, 8 weeks and 3 days! We are hoping for a boy this time and as early as now, hubby is thinking of unique, sometimes funny boy names.

I went to the OB yesterday and got an ultrasound. Like in my first pregnancy, there's subchorionic hemorrhage so I have to be on bed rest for two weeks. Notice, my blog entries, one after the other? I do hope the hemorrhage will disappear soon like with Raine. It's very small actually, just 1.0 x 0.7 x 0.4 cms but we are still being cautious so it won't grow bigger.

Do include us in your prayers.

Three 's a Charm

On our third anniversary we were able to get away, just the two of us for the first time since we got married. We spent our first anniversary quietly at home because Raine was barely two months old at the time. For our second year, we were in Marshall Islands and had a simple dinner at a nearby hotel's restaurant, with little Raine in tow.

This year, my Dad conveniently took Raine to Fun Ranch for the day so the hubby and I were able to hie off to Tagaytay. We had lunch at the T House followed by a relaxing massage. We then went around scenic spots around the city to take pictures. Thanks to hubby's trusty tripod, we were able to take pictures of the two of us. It was very, very cold which put a little damper on the day but mainly because I didn't bring a jacket. But I had fun nonetheless. We capped the night at a smorgasbord buffet diner that served German, American, Italian, Chinese and Filipino food. Yummy!

Happy Anniversary B! I love you.

My Brother's Wedding

My brother Sonny got married 2 days after Christmas, it was the third wedding in the family; following my younger sister's in 2003 and mine in 2005. Sonny's wedding reminded me of my own since it was held around the same time, the holidays. It can be doubly chaotic having a wedding during the Christmas season, what with the flurry of activities going on, but for me it's the best time to hold such an important event. It adds just a little bit more romance and nostalgia to the big day. Relatives who wouldn't normally be able to come at other times of the year, make an extra effort to attend because they get to do more and see more with one trip.

It was a day of firsts for the family. My dad, who you'd think would be more relaxed by now after giving away two daughters, said it was definitely different since we were on the groom's side this time. I was the commentator for the holy mass. In the past I would only get to do readings or the responsorial psalm. As commentator I had to closely follow the priest through the missalette which proved to be a fete at certain portions of the mass because he changed some of the wordings so I got lost for a few seconds. Raine was flower girl too. We had practiced walking along the hall at home but come showtime, she got cold feet and only walked a little of the way. Dad had to come to her rescue and escorted her the rest of the way.

My dad's speech was well-applauded and got a some smiles and laughs from the guests. I helped him edit it and added a couple of things to spruce it up so I felt good about that too. Hehe! But for me the highlight of the wedding was Sonny and Anna's first dance as husband and wife. We really got the surprise of our lives. The newly weds didn't just do a simple waltz, they did a choreographed dance with turns and dips. My sister and I were laughing and clapping the whole time because we had never ever seen Sonny dance like that before. He looked a bit shy and it was clear that Anna was the one who was more confident but Sonny just trained his eyes on his bride the whole time as if getting inspiration from her. That was definitely a memorable moment.
Instead of the usual bouquet and garter toss, there were games for married couples and a Jeopardy-type game with tequila shots for the singles. The night ended with dancing and revelry as party hats and horns were passed around to ring in the new year.

The Whirlwind Holidays

The holidays are over. Bah-humbug! It's back to reality and back to the daily grind. We had a jampacked Christmas and New Year, I didn't even have time to sit down and write down any of it. I did finally get to update Raine's multiply site. Family and friends are welcome to check it out.

The festivities started pretty early for our family. There was the red-letter despedida de soltera for my sister-in-law where we all discovered Raine's dancing skills, my brother's last birthday as a single guy, my father-in-law's 60th bash in Negros, my own dad's 66th celebration, the arrival of our relatives from the U.S., my brother's wedding, our 3rd wedding anniversary, reunions left and right and of course New Year's Eve. Whew!

Now it's all over. The gowns and party clothes have been put away, the visiting relatives have left for their homes, we're on our last vestiges of leftover party food. I love the holidays and the anticipation of it all. I now see it through Raine's eyes and delight in the many gifts she received as if they were for me. She got to watch her first fireworks display at the Fort on New Year's Eve and she was in total awe of it all. I look back at the hundreds of pictures taken this past month and realize how time flies. In 2007, we were celebrating an ultra-quiet holiday season in Marshall Islands.

This 2008 was the total opposite. 2009 promises to hold more surprises for all of us. Stay tuned!

The Real Meaning of Christmas

The global economy seems to be plunging further down the drain and salvation doesn't seem to be anywhere in sight. One would think that the holiday season would somehow liven up the economy but no such thing seems to be happening. People just seem to be spending less and even cutting back on their Christmas list. Santa Claus will probably have lost a considerable amount of weight this year.

Remittances from OFWs which usually brighten up the season are also on the downturn. Workers are being sent home and retrenched and their dependent families are feeling the heat. Even the rollback in gas prices and public transportation, although always a welcome treat, are still not enough to lift up the economy's sagging spirits.

The average Juan just has to tighten his belt a little bit more. Fast cash payday loans are an attractive way to get a loan these days. However, such quick-fix schemes should be used for emergency purposes only since they usually have higher interest rates.

No matter how you spend the holidays, the important thing is you are able to be with the people you love. After all, the first Christmas was celebrated in a dingy little stable with just a Mom, a Dad and their little Baby Boy.