I want to write again... my last post was only yesterday but  I feel that I need to update my blogs. Today has been tiring since we went to Manila to attend a birthday party this morning. We got home by 6pm but I feel so tired already. If possible, I still want to write about our trip.

I'll just write it in bullets so that I can update it once I am more relaxed.
* Ron's 1st birthday
* shopping for baby G's bike
* start with baby G's birthday planning
* go to grocery
* attend the mass

Simple as it looks like but it consumed most of my energy. Remember, I still have a litte one to look after. So instead of reading about rv repair, I would have to forgo of it today. I hope the monitor works tomorrow so that I can work on the desktop already.

        

I am late when it comes to my Christmas shopping but at least I have already listed the names of the people that I am giving gifts this year. Mostly are family members and inaanaks, the others are G's officemates and some good friends who have been helping us throughout the year. Last year, we just chose those whom we gave gifts to because we were saving for my delivery. This year, we are giving to more people but we have limited budget again. We are saving for baby G's first birthday on January and my giving birth again on April or May.  And so to make up for the previous year, I am thinking of what I could do to earn extra. There's my assignments but I still need more. I was thinking if I could sell motorhome but I do not know where to start. I have also joined the Paypal Wishlist thing already at Facebook but I still want more...

Do you have any ideas that a pregnant woman can do? It is very timely if I could sell anything online, but G won't allow me to go to Divi.. need help please

        

It's Friday again... and there are a lot of things to be thankful of...

* having a helping hand - I didn't thought that having a 10-month old baby girl is this tasking. She has been learning to walk which makes it easier for her to explore the house and everything that she gets close to. Thank God my cousin agreed to stay with us for the time being. She has been helpful and it is a breeze having someone to help me around, when I don't know where or when to start picking up things.

* afternoon naps - I so missed this. For a couple of days now, I am able to take afternoon naps, undisturbed. It is so relaxing and relieving whenever I wake up.

* safe family - From any harm. I am thankful that we are still together at this moment. Why? Because the other night tatay's car was almost hit by a delivery truck. The RC truck was going fast that it even went to tatay's lane. Good thing he has alert, he was able to direct the car to avoid the truck. What made the scenario worst was the driver of the truck even had the guts to get angry at him and blow the horns. This made me think if we should reconsider the insurance quote given for tatay. WIth accidents around, this might came handy in the future.

* a weekend to look forward to - G is attending a training on Saturday but Sunday will definitely our family day. We will attend my inaanak's first bday party at The Fort and after that we will go to the mall to buy baby G's motorbike and/or bike :p. It is also our schedule to go to mass and do our groceries. It will surely be another tiring but fun day for the family.

        

This is one of my christmas wishes for this year. It is not that we have been sick but it is simply because I do not want anybody not enjoying Christmas because of an illness. 2009 is special for my family because we got baby G this year. We started 'right' because everything went according to plan. No one in our family got sick even if the weather has been unpredictable. Even if we do not own any furnace filters, which we can use to filter the air, we are still lucky that we are healthy to be able to cope with the weather. But if given a choice, I would definitely want to own one.

Aside from good health, I also wish for peace in the country and in everyone's heart. It is still best to celebrate the coming of Jesus Christ with no anger and hatred in our hearts.

Advance Merry Christmas everyone.

        

sweetheart,

you are now on your 10th month and you are changing more each day. Physically, your bigger and heavier. You have grown more hair too. You have mastered several skills, like showing your happy face and the ever famous close-open. I must say that you are just few more steps from walking on your own. You have started pushing yourself up without any assistance. You are also enjoying the liberty of standing longer than usual. But with these developments, you are also growing to be more makulit each day. You are starting to explore things that sometimes you make me angry. There are instances when I think of the amount of wrinkle cream that I could use to cover the lines that you help produce on my face.

In the end, when I lay down to sleep I can't help but think of the wonders that you are undergoing now. And more, I am thankful that I am able to experience these developments with you.

I love you little sweetheart. You're the reason why I am called a mother

        

Another post that goes to my househelp diaries.

She lasted for less than a month. She had her day-off Saturday afternoon. We even dropped her off so that she didn't have to spend on her fare. Sunday, she texted that she was down with flu so she can't go back to work. I told her to take her rest and to get well soon. The next day, she again texted that she is still sick. I was beginning to worry because the laundry is piling up. She wasn't able to wash last Saturday because there was no water supply, this was due to the brownout. Tuesday, I didn't hear anything from her in the morning so I texted her again. She replied that she would go to our house and get her things. She is still sick and she needs to rest more.

That was the last that we heard from her. Come Saturday, G was already furious because she is not texting at all informing her status. I already asked MIL's laundry woman to wash our clothes. The vegetables inside the ref had gone wasted (I can't cook that much) and my budget was destroyed... to make up for her incompetence. She replied, telling G that she is sick with cough and colds and that she doesn't know when she would get well... and that we find a replacement for her! Grrr...

I am too mad at her too. I don't know what I'd tell her once I see her. After all the things that we did for her, this is what she does in return. I thought she is way better than my previous househelps. It turned out that she is even worst that they were.

Now, we are back to the usual set-up. The house is cleaned only when the little girl is sleeping. I can clean and cook when she's with her ninang. Just like before, I only do the important chores. No more time to wipe the dust off the cds and bluray disks. I can't even switch on the computer to check on my mails or start with my assignments.

This Saturday, a cousin is coming over to help me with the chores. I hope she'd be patient enough to stay until Christmas. I am realy having a hard time looking after the little girl, running a house and manning a store alone.

        

My Sissy's coming home on November 15, after working for more than 3 years in KSA. Despite being deprieved of eating pork, she is now chubbier than when she left home. She is supposed to lose down weight because she and her fiance plans to get married next year but everything is not as she planned for. To make up for it, she will now have to work double time to slim down. She only has 5 months to at least lose more than 50 lbs of her weight. She's asking for my help, she needs an effective fat burner. She may even have to exercise and visit the gym as frequent as she can. I told her that she should also watch her diet... but when she heard this, she said that it's okay to be fat on her D Day as long as she marries the person that she loves. Howel, what do I expect? If only she inherited mom's body size, we wouldn't have to deal with any diet and diet pills here.

        

Christmas time is usually reunion time for most families. Ours will have one too... earlier than most families. BIL and FIL are coming home early this November. I think they wanted to bond with the family this early because BIL and his family won't be able to go home on Christmas. FIL, on the other hand, will go home for New Year's Celebration as he always does. We won't be able to join them for the New Year's Celebration because we are going home in Isabela too. 

Actually, I'm more excited for us going home in Isabela. I has been over a year since we last went home. It will also be baby G's first time there. I am sure that most of my relatives are also eager and excited to see us again. In preparation, I have already informed my friends and families about our going home schedule. I have also searched for Eagle Creek luggage that we can use for our trip. I am even scouting for a trunki for baby G's luggage. But I haven't booked our plane tickets yet. I am still not sure whether G's coming home at the same time as we are or we are going home ahead of him.

Nways, as long as I and baby Gel are healthy, we will surely go home then. Whether we take the plane, the bus or the car, we will definitely go home. This is a homecoming

        

My G and little  are both down with colds and cough. They have had runny nose for the past two days. I wish we can avail, not just of the health insurance but the medical travel as wellsince we are always out during the weekends. This is really important these days especially with the frequent change of weather. Aside from suffering from these illnesses, it also pains me to see them experience sleepless nights. This applies more to the little girl who constantly wake up from time to time. She also cries a lot at night which makes us restless as well.

I hope they get well soon. It is really difficult for me since I am their 'barrier' at night. I hope I don't catch their virus... little Gel will surely be affected even if he's still in my tummy.

Right now, our househelp is also sick. She's absent from work today. I hope she gets better immediately. I am having hard time working at home and looking after the little girl.

        

The past few weeks has been tragic to the Philippines. Several super typhoons hit the land which cause disaster in Northern Luzon. We were not among those who were flooded (thank God) but roads leading to our neighborhood were submerged in water. As I wrote before, G had to walk through waist-deep flood just to be able to go home that day.

Since the typhoon, we have been trying to help clean the environment. We have started recycling plastic bags and have been requesting for boxes for our groceries lately. In line with this, I am looking for a box cutter that I can use to 'redesign' those boxes. Aside from reusing the boxes, there are times when we collect them and sell them to the neighborhood junk shop. In addition to recycling, we have been cleaning the drainage openings. This is to avoid any stock-up of water which also sets as a breeding place for the mosquitoes.

Anyway, I am joining other people in uniting and requesting for action. This is the time that we move and help in anyway that we can. We are the ones who will suffer, if we continue wasting mother earth's resources.

        

I do not know if this applies to self-employed only but here is my story...

I have been a member since I opened my business which is on 2002. Since then, I have been contributing monthly not just for me but for my brother also, who acts as my assistant. Because of this, I have 2 SS numbers: one is my personal number and the other is my employer's number.

Fast forward: I closed my shop and transferred the management to my brother.  Despite this, I still continue paying for my contributions. Even if I already moved to Laguna, I still pay my contributions in their Baguio branch through my SIL. On one of her payments, she unconsciously used my Employer's number. The problem started here... I gave birth January 2009. When I went to SS Binan for my claim, they traced that I do not have payments from April to September 2008. When I checked the payment form, I noticed the different number. What they advised at SS was that I file for an amendment. Changes will be visible after 6 months. Now it is already October, about 8 months after I filed the amendment there are still no updates. I still couldn't get my maternity claim. In addition, when they checked my number, they said that it was still temporary and that I need to submit necessary requirements. Imagine my dismay... I have been a member for  years already and they haven't informed me prior about this. I have changed names already and even got a new id card but they didn't tell me about my temporary number. BUT when it comes to penalties, they are updated. There was this one time when I wasn't able to submit the necessary forms for my employee, they were at my shop the next month. They were giving me a notice of penalties... duh!!!

SS really sucks! They are just good in collecting fees but when it comes to customer service they fail. They treat us like we are uneducated people. I've seen members being shouted and treated unruly, when in fact, its these people who are paying for their salaries. When would this change?

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While writing this, I still feel my anger. I hate how irresponsible they are. I can make a list of my rant but it would go nowhere! I better work on other things like look for some horse supplies, not because we have a horse but for reference. I read that I could get quotes on several items for the horse online, cheaper than what I saw from the agri farm.

        

I wished it was all a dream but when I saw the car, I knew that it wasn't. Something happened to G yesterday morning. He was hit by a Don Mariano bus while he was driving his way going to QC. I was just glad that nothing serious happened to him and that he was safe when we saw him.

These days it is always wise to have all forms of insurances, whether it is for individual, for property or even a travel medical insurance. Travel insurance is something that I really wanted to invest in. Since G started driving, he has not gotten himself in any road accident but I know that it is not only him who can cause accident but other irresponsible drivers as well. And in fact, insurance helps in times when you least expect something to happen.

I don't know if I am sounding well at this moment but I am just happy that tatay didn't have any scratches or anything... just the poor car.

        

One of my concerns during pregnancy is Gestational Diabetes. I wasn't aware that I could have it until I was 8 months pregnant with my eldest. Now with this second one, I am trying my best not to acquire it again. So what I am doing now is I watch my diet. I still have sweets but it is very limited. I still eat anything but now in moderation... in the end I feel so 'bitin'. There are times when I wanted to eat more than I should. Being pregnant really makes me hungry. Remember that I am now eating for two but I am suppressed from eating too much. To compensate for it, I eat more often. I have snacks in between meals, I also drink more water to make me feel full. I wish I could take appetite suppressants to relieve my hunger.

While writing this, I am hungry again. It is only 10:30 in the morning and I had my breakfast at 7 am... hay... for the love of my child.

        

I am not about to write something regarding any game match or what... rather this is what my small family is on our 4th wedding anniversary.

Ocotber 29, 2009 we will celebrate our anniversary. This time, there will be 4 of us celebrating it. This includes my family; me, G, baby Gwenks and ading Gel. We have waited for this to happen to us. We know that our kids will be given in the right time and so they were. As much as we wanted to celebrate it in a more memorable way like enjoying one of the ft lauderdale resorts, it is still not possible for now. traveling with an infant and a pregnant woman is too risky. In addition, G can't leave his work easily since he is the only network engineer available in their office. Maybe we can just go somewhere nearer since we are also attending a wedding one day before our anniversary.

For now, I am just grateful that we are celebrating it again with another blessing. This year has many ups and downs but nothing major. We are more blessed that we had expected... having baby Gel is the best gift we have this year.

        

It has been sometime since I last joined thankful Thursday, now that I had the chance again to sit down early in front of the pc I make sure that this is one of my first agenda for today.

The past weeks has been really disturbing for the Philippines. It has been affected by 2 succeeding typhoons that changed lives of many Filipinos. Since this week's thankful Thursday is counting all blessings, even how small it is, I think I have a number to share.

* Being saved from the flood - The news said that Laguna de Bay reached 14m high level already but even if this is the case, the water didn't reach our area. The subdivision where we live is very near the bay which caused panic to some of our relatives. They insists that we evacuate but we held on to our prayers. Truly, we didn't need to transfer and there wasn't even any rain during the weekend.

* Work-free weekend for G - This time he didn't received any call from a client. He got to spend 2 days with us., uninterrupted with work. He never got the chance to fix our roof but he bonded with his daughter.

* Healthy pregnancy - For this pregnancy, I am more active and strong. I didn't need to take bedrest for the first trimester. I am still able to take care of lil G fulltime without worrying that something might happen to lil G2.

* A reliable househelp - I've been 'maidless' for several months now. The one that was referred to me didn't arrive due to some family reasons. Because of this, G told her not to come at all. Now, we got another one. Someone who doesn't need instructions and yet she fulfills everything I wanted to be done here at home. In addition, she adores my daughter. Even if it is not her responsibility to take care of her, she would look after her especially if I'm doing something... like writing.

* Financial blessings - God continue to provide for us. There's G's work, my online sideline and our little sari-sari store. Everything compensates for the other and we could still save something from it. It really helps that the company lends its car for G's transpo. It is a simple vehicle (doesn't come with lambo doors) that provides its purpose. Our house has been totally comforting during typhoons (a good investment really).

* Healthy Family - Something that I am most concern of. Even if the weather keeps changing our bodies have been adapting well to it, especially the lil G. she hasn't been sick after her mild colds last month.

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Counting our blessings can brighten our day. Join me and other friends and head to Lynn's site to join us for this week's Thankful Thursday.

        

I think this is not the right time for house renovation since Ondoy just passed the country. We are not thinking of a major house renovation but just few posts and a roof on the side part of our home. As I was able to write before, we are slowly adding parts to our home to expand its size. We (G actually) have already set up several posts and placed a trapal to cover the side part of the house. This is where we placed our washing machine and was set-up as the laundry area. With the coming of Ondoy, the trapal was torn due to the heavy rainfall. Now that he has enough budget for a more stable roof, but not enough yet for glass tiles, he plans to have it fixed. But I am thinking that materials may be more expensive.

        

That's my daughter... and most of the children these days. I noticed that kids now are into gadgets. Lil Gwenks would prefer playing with her cellphone than her other toys. She would also grab the keyboard when she sees me using it. When her tatay arrives, she would grab his bag and request for the laptop to be brought out (she does this by opening the zipper of the laptop bag).

For Christmas, G is now scouting the best laptop deals for her. No, he won't buy the real lappy. He is eyeing for the Vtech laptop that we previously saw on the mall. We know that lil G will love it. It has features similar to a real laptop and yet fit for her age. It is also educational which can help her develop different skills. Most of all, it has sounds that attracts her attention.

        

After what happened last weekend, the pouring of typhoon Ondoy, I feel thankful and blessed that we are not one of the families who had to go up to their roofs in order to survive. Saturday was a long day for me too... especially hubby.

I was supposed to have my OGTT lab test last Saturday but I changed my mind because of the rain. Instead, I decided to stay at home. That morning, G had to go to Alabang to bring the car to the office. It was scheduled for its PM so he really has to go there. I think there is something that needs to be check in relation to its parts (something related to some spring plungers or something, I really am not familiar with). So he left the house at 8 am, hoping to be home by lunch time but only got home around 9 pm after wading his way through the flood. As much as he wanted to just stay in Pacita for the night, he can't do so because he has baby's supplies with him.

Listening from his story, I was thankful that he got home safe. It was no joke walking through the waist-deep flood with strong current underneath. He was lucky that he walked during the day with several other people. There were also several vehicles that allowed him to hitch with them. As for us here at home, I am thankful that we are dry and safe. The water was only until the ankle and it didn't pass over the sidewalk.

As of now, as I am writing this, we are again experiencing another typhoon. We are praying that despite it being a super typhoon, it will spare us the experience that we had with Ondoy.

        

That's one of my goals for next week. I noticed that I haven't been writing on my online journals unless it is required. It is difficult balancing mommy jobs with wifey jobs and writing, if you are alone at home with a growing active little girl. Whenever she sees me typing, she'd always ask to be cuddled or she'd ask to sit on my lap. Then, she will be the one playing on the keyboard... so by next week, I'll have more me time.

To start with, I plan to improve the lay-out of my blogs. I wish to add one more but I'll still think of what I would write on it. I'll also update myself with the list of free web directories and will ask to be included. I'll also have to update my blog rolls and even my friends' list...and a lot of bloghopping. I know that I am missing a lot of updates from friends' blogs.

I'll start by Tuesday since Monday is again a holiday... yipee!!! This will be spent as bonding time for the family. It is nice to just lay in bed without thinking of anything. By then, breakfast will be ready when we get down to the kitchen...

        

There are a lot of things to be thankful of...
here are my top 10 on the list...

  1. healthy family despite the frequent changing weather during the day
  2. 24/7 work for tatay but he doesn't have any calls for the night
  3. sinigang na hipon from Mang Nitoy's
  4. 2 teeth for the little girl
  5. 8th month celebration of baby
  6. online opportunities
  7. additional allowances for tatay
  8. G
  9. baby G
10. and baby G #2