Wednesday, January 28

A Letter to my daughter

To my dearest anak,

Happy happy birthday Gabz !!! I'm always surprised how time fly so fast. It has been three years now since I went to labor for almost 15 hours just to help you see this world. It has been three years now since the first time I hold you in my arm. It felt like only yesterday since you give us your first sweet smile. Now your three, but still sweet, adorable and sometimes naughty ! But no matter, I would always love you. You would always be my baby no matter how old you are. I would give up everything just to see you grow up and be a good person. You lift up my mood with your thoughtfulness, and your hugs and kisses give me strenght. In your most simple ways you gave me so much more. Anak, I wish I would be able to give you more. I may be harsh to you at times, but it does not mean I don't love you. I wanted to instill in you the good values that I have learned from your lola and lolo. I hope those values will guide you as you grow up and face the challenges of this world. Thank you for being a good daughter to mommy and daddy and for the joy and happiness you brought in our life.

I love you so much anak. Always remember that Mommy will always be here for you.

Love,
Mommy

Monday, January 26

Her Smiles are Priceless !

Last Saturday, we gave an advance Birthday party for Gabz at Chuck E Cheese's. Some of our closest friends came. It was just a small group compared to the one she has last year. But this year, I have seen how happy Gabz was. The moment she saw her birthday cake with Little Einsteins topper, she could not hardly take her eyes off. Her smiles are priceless !!! She has been sitting beside the cake all throughout. (as if the cake will suddenly disappear ?) She give high fives with Chucky, and have fun playing games with her friends. She was having a blast last Saturday !


Me and my husband were glad that Gabz enjoyed the party. That was really the most important thing, right ? And of course the party will not be successful without our friends who always came. Thanks a lot guys !!!
Of course, the excitement does not end there ! Opening the presents was the next big thing. She does not know which one to open first ! LOL. She love everything, since most of them are toys. Another additional to her bunch of stuff which hardly fits into our tiny apartment. I think I have to remember making a spare space for her toys the next time we rent an apartment or buy a house. What do you think ?

Thursday, January 22

And THREE becomes FOUR

Kaye of RandomWAHMThoughts never cease to give me an award no matter how depressed she is. Thanks a lot Kaye for this Honest Scrap Award.

The rules are to list ten honest things about yourself - and make it interesting, even if you have to dig deep! and pass the award on to 7 bloggers that you feel embody the spirit of the Honest Scrap.


I am still waiting for a few more days before I have to tell you all about this. But this award just compel me to divulge whatever secret I am holding right now. This award is about honesty...so I will be honest to the max.

1. I am six weeks pregnant !!!! There you go....we have been planning to have another child for quite some time. I have come to the point where I accepted and decided that we will settle to have just one child, and then suddenly miracles of miracles happened. I found out I was pregnant. GOD has a plan for us.

2. I am so happy because I wanted Gabz to have a sister or a brother. Now she is ecstatic about it.

3. I am cranky and moody that my husband started to noticed.

4. I eat like a horse !

5. I feel queasy most of the time. Never experience on my first pregnancy.

6. I have a lot of pains. And my heartburn, oh man...It started sooo early !!! I was having heartburn with Gabz when I was on my third trimester already !

7. I am scared giving birth again ! But giving Gabz a sister or brother is more important.

8. I am bored.

9. I crave for sushi and shrimp tempura ! I know..i know....sushi is not allowed to pregnant women...I will try to eat something which does not have fish on it. My husband promised to bring me to sushi house tomorrow.

10. Have not seen a doctor yet. But have scheduled an appointment already which is one month from now. They will not see you unless your eight weeks pregnant. So, by then I will be 10 weeks already. That sounds good ! I just need some prescription for the vitamins, and check if what kind of exercise I could do. I do not want to gain the same weight I have on my first one.

There you go ! I got ten exciting things about me. Now, it's my turn to give this award to some amazing people on my list. To iris of thesearchforwellness, nowawife, and to cristina,
who has been doing magnificent things for her daughter. I will pass this award to three people only. Sorry for breaking the rules...but rules are meant to be broken sometimes, right ?

Good luck guys !



Tuesday, January 20

Itsy Bitsy for Gabz Party

I have been preparing for Gabz party this coming Saturday. Since I have made this preparation quite late, almost all party venues are now fully booked and if not, the time slot available are late. So, we decided to have it at Chuck E. Cheese's (again). She said she wanted to have Little Einsteins cake and a Princess Party. That' quite a challenge right ? Oh well, we tried to find a Little Einsteins cake but they said that it is not available because the patent right was not sold. Something like that...So, what we did is to buy a Little Einsteins Cake topper figurine at Ebay and just order an ordinary cake. I guess that will do !

This is the birthday invitation I made for all her friends. I bought an envelope and inserts at Target, then stick a cute stickers on it. Design the details and paste in the middle. Easy but CUTE right ?


Since she wanted variety in her party, we decided to put a little bit of different characters. Lunch boxes with a few things inside for her party favors !


These are the stuff we will put inside the lunch boxes. Small books, pens, key chains and toys for the boys and lockets, necklaces and other kikay for girls. These you could get for one dollar (each set) at Party City. Some items are on sale..so I tried to grab them. It is fun planning and buying, and it is a good thing you could almost find everything in one store. It is not so taxing putting things together. I just wanted a simple, stress free yet exciting and FUN party for Gabz !!!

Thursday, January 15

Gaining her Independence

Have you ever thought what would you feel when your daughter will be moving out of the house, having her own place and stuff like that ? It make me sad just to think about it !
It makes me realized this when Gabz started to sleep alone beside our bed. We have an extra foam where we put in front of the fireplace every time we wanted to relax in front of the fire. She used that one and pretend that it is now her bed. We let her sleep there thinking that it is just for the night, but then it happened the next night and the night after that. We thought, since she wanted to sleep in her own bed, why not buy her one ? So we got this cute Tinker Bell Bed for her!!!
She love this bed a lot !!! Every night her Dad would asked her to move back in our bed, but then she is very insistent on sleeping in her own bed. I think her Dad has separation anxiety ! He was telling me that Gabz is still too young to be sleeping alone ! But I guess, she is learning to gain her independence in some ways already, sleeping alone, going to the bathroom, choosing which clothes to wear, etc. She started doing this a few months back already...and she is just turning 3 ! For other mothers, this is just normal, but for us Filipinos this is quite early ! We love to take good care of our baby as long as we wanted to, right ?
But this bed gave a tremendous work for my husband to assemble. After 3 hours of grunting and complaining, he was able to fix it. Not after he hurt himself with a screw driver. He was telling me, that I should rate this product in the web because the parts and instructions on how to assemble, really sucks !!! It is very complicated and the parts are very tiny. This bed was bought in Toysrus and are the product of DELTA Enterprise. He almost returned this, if not for Gabz hovering and very ecstatic to see it done !
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Tuesday, January 13

The Union of the body and mind with the spirit

Yoga is the union of the body and the mind with the spirit.

When you feel lost, sad, confused, stuck stiff or are in pain, our bodies are telling us that we have lost contact with the most important part of us, our spirit. Therefore, we must use our breath, actions, thoughts and feelings to welcome our spirit into our first and most important physical home, our bodies. Yoga teaches our mind, body and emotions how to be at home with our spirit.

Going to class and doing yoga sometimes feels like a chores. Sometimes, you tend to forget how good it feels after the class. Your body wanted to scream in exhilaration and contentment. yet despite of that, we are sloppy in doing our job taking good care of our body. Doing yoga twice a week feels like a burden to me...even though everything i do everyday, I owe it to my body. When you feel aches and pains, depressed or frustrated, you usually hit the gym, right ? Same thing with yoga, you try to work with your mind and body to get rid of those bad energies. All the days work of your body you try to channel it into a good energy. The result, your body is screaming with joy !!!

There are different types of yoga :
Ashtanga, Bikram, Iyengar, Kripalu, Kundalini, Power of Yoga, Viniyoga Purna Yoga


source: purna yoga

Monday, January 12

The Fourth Edition Tag

Iris of The Search for Wellness gave me this Tag a few days back. Thank you sis ! It is only now that I was able to do it, been busy in a few days. You would know in the next few days why.. Well, here it is :

Four favorite things to munch :


Gabz and me love to bake cookies or brownies. So this is one of the chicha that you could always find in my pantry.


Aside from cookies, brownies and bread, fruits is always present. But right now we have Banana and Kiwi.



Seedless grapes is always a fav !

This is my favorite among chocolates ! BUT I am trying not to indulge myself in this, because I gain a lot of weight. I can't stop once I started munching !


Four places I like to visit and why :


This is not the map of the world ! But how i wish I could tour around the world though. For now I will settle a tour around Europe. I have been most part of the US and Asia, so this time I want to see some part of Europe too.

I love to visit Rome one day and meet the Pope. Who does not ? The Vatican, St. Peter and the rest of the churches surrounding it.


Africa ! I wanted to visit Africa not because of the Safari, but it has been my ultimate dream to be part of the world mission visiting and helping the people there.


The wonders and rich history of Egypt makes me wish to visit this place one day !

Ok. Next on the list is my favorite sites for online shopping. I cannot put it here since I don't do online shopping. Going to the mall is much more FUN !!!!


Four things that pop up when you Google my name:

There are a couple of results here that surprised me.

Melanie - is a 2D electrophoresis Gel Analysis platform one of today's market in analyzing, annotating and querying complex 2D - gel samples. Whatever that is...my name is a software ! It's cool right ?

Melanie - is a font. As in computer font ! This i do not know.

Melanie - this one I have know the moment I learned how to used the computer. I have to searched the meaning of my name, right ? It was derived from Greek word (melaina) means "black, dark"

Melanie - the most popular though were the names of famous people who's name is Melanie. e.g. Melanie Safka, Melanie Thierry, Melanie Marden, Melanie Phillips, and the list does not end.


Now, it is time to pass this Tag to amazing people in my blog list, nowawife, marj , Faye , Janis , Addie . Goodluck sisters !!

Thursday, January 8

So Much Time In My Hand

I will give you a glimpse of my life, so you have to bear with me on this. When I first came here freshly out from the busy life of the corporate world and decided to become a stay at home wife, I have not thought of what to do with so much time in my hands. Aside from doing the house works and waiting for my husband to come home, I went back to my hobby...reading. But it was not enough to kill time. After a couple of months I decided to spend my time volunteering at Red Cross in Pennsylvania. I work in the office 3 times a week, so I was quite happy about it. I was able to used my skills for the common good.

Then I got pregnant, I have to stop because it was quite a long commute by train and a mile walk to the office. I have so much time in my hand again while waiting for the baby to come. So, I was back thinking what to make used of the time in my hand ! During that time my sister swayed me to do crosstitch. I was hesitant at first because I hate anything that uses needles ! But then I was running out of options, so why not give it a try ?

When the baby came, my hands is full ! I don't have time anymore to do some of the things I wanted to do. Well, I guess this is LIFE . For more than a year my hands is full that sometimes I scream for space, and time alone. My life revolve around Gabz and my husband. I am not complaining but there are times that you felt drained.

Now, I have a lot of time in my hands again ! Gabz is quite old enough. Hmm isn't it ironic ? Life is really a cycle huh ? I keep on thinking what to make used of this time....So, I enroll to Yoga class, not only I spent time for myself, but at the same time taking good care of my body (not losing weight ha ? 'coz i'm still chubby hehehe). Of course reading is always part of me no matter what my life status is. Then I decided to become a blogger ! Blogging is taking a lot of my time. Since I am a newbie, I spent time reading and visiting other blogs. Believed me it take most of my time. But it is fun, because aside from learning things, you meet other people too.

But, I wanted to do more. Now, I am trying to check the possibility of going back to school. Getting a certification or something, in case I decided to work again. I used to say that I will never go back to school again, as school is not really meant for me. But who knows, I might go back again. I used to hate needles and yet I was able to finish four crosstitch right ? Hmmm
that remains to be seen.

Ok, now you might say, what's my point in telling you all these ?

I just wanted to let other wifey and mothers out there, who are in the same situation than me, that there are a lot of options out there. Being away from home with a few friends, and in a foreign land you feel depress, miserable, alone and deserted. You have so much time in your hands always, I tell you there are so much things you can do to spend those time that is worth fulfilling. You can either used it to help others or do things that would make you feel good about yourself. You can do volunteer in the community, church or Red Cross (if there is one in your area) or go find a hobby.

Tuesday, January 6

It's Party Time

I have been burning the computer for two days now trying to find a good place for Gabz Birthday Party. Last year we had it at Chuck E. Cheese's, but this year I wanted to come up with something unique. This winter season, you have very limited venues....I tell you ! I have been racking my mind for ideas and venues but until now nothing comes up.

So far I have here a list of birthday venues around Bellevue area. This might help other parents in planning their kids birthday without spending a gazillion minutes in their laptop !

Inflatables are quite popular with kids right now aside from amusement centers and educational tours.

1. Kidz Bounce
8178 304th Avenue SE
Issaquah, WA 98027

2. 3-2-1 Bounce
13434 NE 16th St Suite 110
Bellevue, WA. 98005


3. Pump It Up
11605 NE 116th Street Kirkland

4. Astro Jump - if you want to rent your own inflatables

5. Seattle Children's Museum
305 Harrison Street
Seattle, WA 98109

6. KidsQuest Children's Museum
4091 Factoria Blvd. SE
Bellevue, WA 98006
425-637-8100

7. Pacific Science Center
Pacific Science Center
200 Second Avenue North
Seattle, Washington 98109

8. My Gym Bellevue
1 Block East of Crossroads Mall
900 160th Ave. NE, # 1
Bellevue , WA 98008
425.451.1393

9. Gymboree
575 Bellevue Square #310,
Bellevue, WA 98004 US

10. Studio3Music
South Bellevue Community Center,
14509 SE Newport Way

11. Bellevue Club
(Pls. check as there is a membership)

12. Skate King
2301 140th Avenue
Bellevue, WA 98005

13. Chuck E. Cheese's
2239 148th Avenue NE
Bellevue WA 98007

A note to all mommies, book the venue two months in advance. I still have one month which I though enough time, but almost all venues are booked. Only late schedules are available :-(

I hope this helps a little. Have a great party !!!!









Sunday, January 4

The Culprit ?

Pneumonia is the infection of the lungs which can be caused by viral infections. It could also caused by fungi, parasites and bacteria.

I wanted to talk about this because Gabz has cough and colds for more than a week ago. All the while, I though that this is just a common cough and colds or sore throat because of the weather. Until the eve of New Year that her cough worsen and got a fever. She has difficulty coughing with wheezing on her chest and hardly slept at night. After new year, we went to her doctor and she confirms that Gabz has an early stage of Pneumonia. Thank GOD that we were quick to brought her in early.

I made some research and got these:

Symptoms :
1. Starts with common cough and colds and got worsen after a few days.
2. Fever
3. Retractions (labored breathing)
4. Wheezing
5. Chest Pain
6. Abdominal Pain
7. Vomiting
8. Decreased of activity
9. Less of appetite
10. Nasal flaring

How Pneumonia is diagnosed ?
1. Chest X ray
2. Blood test
3. Sputum culture

Treatments : Antibiotics

What you need to know :
1. Pneumonia is diagnosed in about 4% of children in the US each year.
2. Can occur year round but is usually seen in winter and spring.
3. 10 to 15% of children with respiratory infection have Pneumonia.
4. The viruses and bacterias that cause Pneumonia are CONTAGIOUS and are usually found in fluid from mouth or nose of the infected person. It can be spread through cough or sneezes, drinking glasses or eating utensils.

To all mommies out there, encourage your little ones and of course yourself to make a habit of washing their hands often. This little act could help prevent viruses and bacterias harming our children.




sources: kidshealth.org, childrenshospital.org, about.com pediatrics

Saturday, January 3

The Kid in ME

The other day, we have to go to the grocery store at Fred Meyers. My husband has to go around the back so Gabz could not see Chuck E. Cheese, as we do not have time to go there. Unfortunately, as soon as he parked the car, Gabz asked ; " Dada (thats what she calls her Dad when she wants to make lambing) can I play at Chuck E. Cheese ?" Aha ! could not fool her, I think she is quite familiar with the place already. Of course as usual, the Dad who could not resist her daughters charm said; "Yes baby ". as long as she promise to behave inside the grocery store. She got the deal !

We have not been here for a couple of months now. They give the place a new face, the layout is more open with more tables and chairs and the most amazing thing is, they have a new set of games and rides ! A lot of sets are new AND working ! lol ! I'm so happy to see that, because it means we will have a lot of FUN !!!

Here in Chuck E. Cheese Bellevue, we could have fun as family, it is a place where everybody; kids, mom, dad, grandma or grandpa could be a kid ! This is where you could lost all qualms, inhibitions, and just be you and have fun ! I think each one of us still have a kid in us no matter how old we are.

Cowgirl Gabz loves this galloping horse ride ! I guess some kids do to, this is the only ride where kids have to cue in line.

Last year, Gabz celebrated her 2nd Birthday here. The program itself is not brilliant, but the kids had fun after.

The only complaint I have is that, the restroom is still filthy. I have not seen that restroom hygienic enough to use every time I was there. I just hope that management will give extra effort to tidy up that area. I cannot imagine the bacteria that could originate from there to the rest of the place !


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Thursday, January 1

First day of the year !

Can you believed it ? It is 2009 and i am getting old again !!! First day of the new year, and I could not think of a single thing to write. Do I have the hungover of the holidays ? hmmm maybe? or maybe not? Maybe the lack of sleep tend to inhibit my way of thinking. I hardly slept last night, Gabz sore throat or strip throat has chosen to attack in the most particular day and occasion. There are 365 days of the year and yet she has a strip throat on New Years Eve ! I just assumed it is strip throat, I still have to confirm that idea tomorrow when we get a chance to see her doctor. She is still throwing up a while ago, coughing continuously and thank GOD that her fever subside ! Just imagine how anxious you will be when your toddler is sick and do not know what to do..how she feels...if shes hurting :-) I always hate this feeling ! I just hope she could sleep through the night without so much coughing !

Not so good to start the year, but I hope this is just for today. Wishing all the best for the rest of the year !