Seven

When I was single, I was never that into kids.  It's okay to play with them for a while but I never imagined myself spending the whole day with them.  You see, I'm not into people who can't follow instructions easily.  This is the same reason why I don't like taking care of animals.

But of course I've always dreamt of having my own family.  I remember I had this old maid teacher in college who would brag about her achievements in life.  As I listened to her, I was so sure that I don't ever want to be like her...my life will be incomplete without my own family.  Having my own happy family became my greatest dream.

And so I was blessed to fall in love with a man who loved me in return and we got married.   We never planned to have a baby right away.  In fact, my period was already a month late before I decided to take a home pregnancy test...It was positive.  But I was doubtful of the result (or I was just in denial), that I went to Patient's First and have them do the pregnancy test for me...again it was positive.  Even with that, I still thought it may not be accurate since it was also just a urine test.  Finally, I went to an OB Gyne, showed her the result and she scheduled me for an untrasound.  It was only when I've actually viewed it on the monitor did I believe that I was pregnant.  I wasn't happy, I wasn't excited, I didn't want to be pregnant. I don't know why God gifted me with a baby so soon.  But then the people around me - my family, my in-laws, my officemates were all so happy and excited for me that it was hard to remain disappointed.  Pregnancy was a breeze, very seldom did I have morning sickness or cramps, no complications whatsoever.  And so the excitement finally sinked in and on August 2002, I gave birth to Yuan- made in Manila Hotel on the night after our wedding....kasama na pala namain  siya sa honeymoon sa Palawan. :)

After giving birth,  I was so sure that I would return to work after my maternity leave...and so I did.  I loved my job and never thought that I would ever give it up.  But as months draw by, my priorities changed.  I was missng Yuan so much while I was at work,  I regret missing his milestones.  To add to that, workload has become quite heavy and for some reason, I could never get a permanent yaya...I had 3 in one year!  And so on September 1st 2003, the day my promotion to Senior Team Lead took effect, I passed my resignation letter.  I left a very promising career because I wanted to be a fulltime mom.  A lot of people say "sayang"  but I don't agree.  Some people take it as I'm sacrificing my career for my son...but I view things the other way around - I was sacrificing the time I should be spending with my son for mere career and money.  It all boils down to what's important to you.  It took several months of prodding before Paul allowed me to resign because for him, his salary alone won't be enough for us to live a comfortable life but I was ready for the change in lifestyle.  As if God was on our side, a few weeks after I resigned Paul got a job offer in Singapore and we stayed there from 2003-2005.  To be a fulltime mom is a privilege not every one has because some really need to work to provide for their family.  God has given that privilege to me, and I'm glad I took it. :)

Our two years in Singapore was a very challenging adventure.  You see, I was a lazy child. So lazy that I would complain about simple household work like washing the dishes.  But when we lived in Singapore, I had to do everything as we didn't have a maid. It was difficult, it was challenging, but at the same time, it was bliss, an ideal family setup, a dream come true.  I was a fulltime mom in the very essence of that term.  And God was so good that he gave me a well behaved child and a very supportive husband.  I guess He really wanted me to enjoy motherhood. :)

By November 2005, Paul's contract ended and we decided to just go back here in Manila.  I want Yuan to study here as studying in Singapore is very demanding.  Paul was back to his old job and life was easier especially with a maid around.  January 2007, I got pregnant again.  It was a planned pregnancy.  We wanted to have a baby girl.  I even checked a Chinese calendar to know which months to conceive a girl.  Pregnancy was a bit difficult this time.  Morning sickness galore, and I feel like throwing up upon smelling several types of food.  I was so convinced I would have a baby girl.  Apparently, I was wrong and again, was disappointed. But after several weeks, I was able to accept my fate.  I gave birth to Yuro September 2007.  I may not have been given a baby girl but God made up for it as He gave me one that's so cute and so "bibo" :)

It's been said that when you're pursuing your destiny, all of nature conspire to help you achieve it.  For the past seven years, I felt God has been in control of my life...and I'm not complaining.  I planned to get back to work last April but my maid left and even now I still haven't gotten a replacement yet.  Maybe, God wants me to a be fulltime mom a little longer but I know it's not gonna be forever, and I'm enjoying it while it lasts....

Seven years ago, I made a decision that changed my life, and I'm glad I did because:
- I witnessed every milestone that my children reached
- I was there to comfort them everytime they're sick
- I was able to take care of their every need.  Even with a maid around I was the one bathing my children, sterilizing bottles and putting milk in the dispensers, giving them vitamins/medicines, preparing their meals, helping Yuan in schoolwork and getting him ready for school, potty training, etc.
- I'm there whenever they need assistance, and in their age they still need a lot of it.
- I don't think I'll be this close to them if I had been a working mom
- I have a lot of memories to treasure
- Yuan and Yuro will only be kids for a few years, and I'm happy to have been a great part of it.

Thank you Lord for the privilege...
Thank you Paul, for the understanding and support....
Thank you Yuan and Yuro for an experience that no amount of money or success could ever match.

To all fulltime moms that I get to interact with - through Facebook and in Yuan's school,  you have all been an inspiration to me (without you knowing it).  I hope more women will get to experience the joy and fulfillment that motherhood brings. :)

FB files

This is nothing but a compilation of Yuan and Yuro related posts I've made on Facebook.  Wala lang, misan masarap at nakakatuwang alalahanin. Indeed, the greatest perk of being a fulltime mom is experiencing life with your children. :)

Yuro (ayaw ng ulam) : ayaw ko kain mommy. Beng: Hindi pwede, di ba sabi ko kung ano'ng nandyan yun ang kakainin kasi bigay sa atin yan ni Bro? Yuro: si Nanay si Bro?...hehehe, galing kasi kina Nanay ang food namin. :)

Kwento ng nagyayabang na Yuan: "Mommy, sa Makabayan pinasulat kami ni teacher ng makasaysayang pook na napuntahan na namin. Sinulat ko Jose Rizal Park. Doon binaril si Jose Rizal. Sabi ni teacher 1-2 (sentences) daw. Kaya nilagay ko ito ay nasa Calamba!" hahahaha! Okay na sana, pumalpak pa! Sana 1 sentence na lang ang sinulat. :))

Sabi ni Yuro habang nasa kotse: "Mommy, dinosaur oh". Ang curious na mommy tumingin sa labas kung may poster, statue or kahit ano'ng dinosaur. Nang wala akong makita, tinanong ko "Asan?" ang sagot ng nakatawang Yuro "weh, joke lang!"....naisahan ako dun ah, hmpf!!!!

Sabi ni Yuro, "Mommy wrestling tayo...ako dog ikaw puta".....patay tayo diyan! iba na ang bulol ang anak!

Matapos uminom ni Yuro ng tubig, linapag niya ang cup sa kiddie table niya at sabi sa akin "Mommy ubos na o, lagay mo na dun" pointing to the dining table. Dahil may ginagawa ako, sabi ko "Dyan na lang muna, ba't kailangan ko pang ilagay dun?" Ang sagot niya "Kasi pag nabasag ko 'to papagalitan mo ko."...hehehe, maypoint siya dun, kaya sumunod na lang ako. :)

Habang nagplaplantsa, sinabihan si ayaw sumunod na Yuan ng "Yuan, pwede ba mag-aral ka na lang diyan?" at kay malikot na Yuro naman "Yuro, tigilan mo yang pagtumbling-tumbling mo, baka mabalian ka". Ngumiti lang si Yuan, si Yuro ang sagot sa akin ay...."Mommy, plantsa ka lang pede?"....minsan napapaisip ako kung mag-3 yrs.old pa lang ba talaga 'tong bunso ko eh.

Nag-away si Yuro at ang pinsan nyang 3 yrs old. Tinawag ko sila pareho para ikwento kung ano nangyari. Sabi ng ngumangawang Yuro "ayaw ko nga kwento eh!" Kaya ang sabi ko sa pinsan niya "Sige, Liam, ikaw na lang ang magkwento." Tumayo si Liam, humarap sa akin at sinabi "May isang bata..." hahaha! nagkwento nga! :D

Overheard Yuan and Yuro fighting and shouting "ang pangit mo" and "mas pangit ka" to each other. After several exchanges, umiiyak na tumakbo sa akin si pikon na Yuro and said "Mommy, si kuya oh, sabi pangit daw ako kaya sabi ko pangit din siya"...Ang sagot ko, "Ah okay, e di pangit kayong dalawa?"....Sumigaw ang Yuro ng "Hindi ngaaa!!!!" sabay ngawa!!!! hahahaha! ang sarap mang-inis ng pikon! :D

Upon hearing the story of Adam, Eve and the evil serpent, Yuan asked "Mommy, di ba si God ang gumawa ng lahat ng animals?" Mommy: "Opo."...Yuan: "E di siya gumawa dun sa bad snake?" ... Mommy: "Opo.".... Yuan: "Ba't niya ginawa yun?".... Mommy : "Di ko rin alam eh.".....

Quiz ni Yuan sa Filipino, given ang Pangngalang Pantangi (Safeguard), required ang pangngalang pambalana....ang sagot ni Yuan, "guard" !!! hahaha, pasensya na, Dove ang sabon ng anak ko eh. :)

Gustong umiyak sa sobrang galit, pero pati yun di ko magawa kasi mamasa palang mata ko, ngangawa na si Yuro....kaya dito na lang ako iiyak...hu hu hu hu hu hu hu...waaaaaahhhhhhhh......

Yuan: Mommy, bakit pag 10 years old na, wala ng birthday party? Beng: Ano'ng 10 years old? 7 years old ang huling birthday party! Kaya ikaw, wala kang party sa birthday mo!.....after a while narealize ko, parang hindi ko yata nasagot ang tanong ng anak ko, feeling ko kasi nagpaparinig lang siya....hehe

Referring to Yuan's score in a quiz. Beng: Yuan, bakit 12 (out of 20) ka lang dito, naaral na natin 'to di ba?! Yuan: Meron nga dun 2 lang eh!!!.....tameme ako, as in...wala akong masabi sa pangangatwiran ng anak ko.

Beng to kids: Tulog na, matulog na!..Yuan: may nalilimutan ka mommy... Beng:ano yun?... Yuan: I love you, mommy... Ang sarap malaman na mahalaga pala sa kids ko ang nightly iloveu-han namin. :) Gud nyt every1. Sana may ka-iloveu-han din kayo. :)

Minutes palang brownout ang sambit agad ni Yuro eh "Mommy ang init, paypayan mo nga ako." Hay, hirap maging alipin. Kung d lang cute 'tong anak ko binatukan ko na 'to eh...hehehe...

Matapos ang gera sa bahay.....Yuro: Mommy, sana di ka na galit kay kuya ah. Beng: Bakit ayaw mo ko magalit kay kuya? Yuro: kasi iyak din ako pag iyak ka eh....hay, ang sweet talaga ng bunso ko. 

Tip for the Day (galing kay Yuan) : "Mommy, sabi ni teacher kapag may nawala ka, kunwari toy o kahit ano, hahanapin daw yun ni St. Anthony pag nagpray ka sa kanya" ....hmmm....so pag may kausap ka na parang nawawala ang utak, sabihan mo ng "magpray ka nga kay St. Anthony!" hehehe

Ay naaapakan ni malikot na Yuro habang kinukuha ko ang sinampay.... Beng: Yuro, ano ba! Tingnan mo, ang dumi na tuloy ng paa ko. Yuro: eh kasi nakaharang ka dyan eh... Hay naku, ang mga anak ni Paul....

Yuro: Mommy, bakit matulis kuko ng dog? Beng : Di ko alam eh. Yuro: Bakit nga? Beng: Eh di ko nga po alam. Yuro: Kasi dog siya kaya matulis kuko niya!.... Ang ngokngok ko, simple lang pala ang sagot di ko pa alam!

Napanood ni Yuan ang kissing scene (ng puppets) sa Karate Kid movie. Ang reaction niya... "Eeeeeewwwwwww". Yebah! Bata pa talaga ang anak ko, ako lang ang pwedeng magkiss! hehehe

Pinuri ko si Yuan kasi perfect ang seatwork sa Religion book. I said, "Wow kuya very good, ibig sabihin nagbasa ka (hindi nanghula)" And he proudly replied, "Nakapikit pa ko niyan mommy!" toinks!!! Binatukan ko nga...magyayabang lang, palpak pa!

isang napakaagang nakakabagabag na tanong mula kay Yuan: "Mommy, ba't ang liit ng boobs mo?" grrrrrr.......walang kaduda-duda, anak ni Paul ang batang ito!!!!

Yuan: Mommy, bawal ba yung namimili ang taxi driver ng passenger? Beng: Opo, bawal yun. Yuan: Ano yun mommy, venial sin or mortal sin?......patay tayo dyan!

Ang favorite expressions ni Yuan lately ay "Fine!" , "Oh Great!" at "Bloody Hell" , pero ang pamatay eh yung kay Yuro, "What da hey!"....Minsan napapaisip na lang ako kung anak ko nga ba itong mga ito! :D

Beng : Yuan, linisin mo nga yang kwarto mo. Yuan: Ano ba marumi sa kwarto ko, mommy? Beng: Ayan o, ang daming nakakalat. Yuan: Eh mga toys ko yan mommy, natutulog sila. Beng: Ah ganun ba? Sige, gisingin mo na at tanghali na! .... Ay naku, ang mga bata ngayon, ang nakakachallenge ang pangangatwiran

(Naiinis sa bagal kumain ni Yuan) Beng: Yuan, ano ba! Yung pagkain mo! Aba...ba..ba..ba..ba!!!!! Yuan: Baa baa black sheep? (sabay ngisi) Hay naku, ba't ko naituro ang nursery rhyme na yun?!

Kung ang panganay mo ay isang malaking asar at ang bunso ay isang malaking pikon tapos pareho silang malaking whiners...what do you do? what do you do???!!!

Yuro Strikes Again

Habang naglalakad kami papuntang tindahan, walang humpay sa kakadaldal si Yuro.  Nang makarating kami sa tindahan, sabi niya:
"Mommy, ikaw na sabi pabili Royal ha, kasi pagod na ang bibig ko."  Hahahaha!

Nung kinagabihan, kwinento ko kay Paul yun sa harap ni Yuro.  Ang comment ni Paul:
"Aba, napapagod din pala ang bibig mo?"

Ang sagot ni Yuro: "Syempre, kasi ang daldal-daldal ko eh."

Hahaha! :D

Mommy Moment

While copying some notes from Yuan's classmate,  I witnessed one mommy (also copying notes) scold her son.  It went something like...

Mommy:  Ano ka ba, natalo ka pa ng babae! blah...blah...blah...blah...blah...blah...
Son:  Mommy, eto  pambura ng ballpen, bili mo ko...
Mommy:  Hwag ka na magballpen! sabi ko sa 'yo hwag ka magbo-ballpen eh!..blah...blah...blah...blah...
then the son mimicked his mother...

At that point, I realized that with so many disappointments I've had with Yuan (unfinished notes to the point that he's not aware which subjects have homework, not paying attention when we're studying, so messy and unorganized with his things, etc..),  I'm still lucky that in so many cases that I've scolded him, not once did he mimic me, shout at me or even cover his ears.  He would always just keep quiet, listen and say "sorry mommy".  It's frustrating that he never seems to improve on his ways, but at least he never lost respect for me.

Truly, God has his ways of showing us that we have a lot to be thankful for. :)

Craves and Faves

This is nothing but a list of food I like in no particular order or preference.

Best Catfish Salad - Dusit Thani @ Glorietta 3
Best Iced Tea - Red Iced Tea @ Tokyo Tokyo, Lemon Iced Tea @ Wendys, Rasberry Iced Tea @ CPK.
Best Lemonade - Northpark (fresh), Auntie Anne's (concentrate)
Best Fried Chicken - Chickenjoy, Wings @ Hooters
Best Potato - KFC Fries, Potato Corner BBQ fries (deep fried), Tony Roma's Potato Skins
Best Popcorn - Taters Texan BBQ
Best Cheese steak - Elbert's (Powerplant)
Best Pasta - Spaghetti Shrimp Garlic and Mushroom (Pizza Hut), Tutto de Mare (Don Henrico's)
Best Dumpling/Siomai - Siomai (Chowking), Pinsec Frito (North Park), Fried Shrimp Wanton (Oodie's)
Best Ice Cream - Haagen Dazs Choco Choco Chip
Best Lechon Manok - Mang Bok's / Kevin's
Best Green Mango Shake - Abe
Best Popiah - a kiosk @ Singapore Expo
Best Cereal Prawn - Hawker @ Marine Parade Community
Best Pearl Shake - Zagu chocolate with extra pearl and crystals

hay, kakagutom! :)