There's so many things about motherhood I still do not get. Though I'm strong physically, emotionally, and mentally, motherhood knocked me out good. It's November 25, 2016 and I don't remember the last time I wasn't tired ever since I became a mother.

I'm exhausted but I've also never been this happy since Julian was born. This boy came along and changed our lives, especially mine, forever. I certainly became better because of him. I practically had no choice but to step up my game because Julian deserves nothing but the best from me. Aside from him being my kid, he's the sweetest, most loving person that came into my life.

Months before July, he'd do a birthday countdown! While I want to give him a lavish party, I know it would be unwise to do so. I love this kid so much but I would never spoil him. So the plan was to greet him with a cake, take him to school, pick him up then go swimming, then have dinner.

Chocolate caramel cake from Aggy's. Super yummy!

He was all smiles when he went up and saw his first cake on the table.

Picking him up from school is so fun 'cause he'd be so happy to see me.

His favorite thing to do, swim!

Waiting for our turn. He said he just wanted to eat at McDo but immediately changed his mind when he saw what's inside Viking's.

Super gutom.

Of course his plate was full of bbq! Me: O eto 200, mag-McDo ka na. Julian: Eeeeeehhhhh.. I love it here! Where's the fried chicken at?

One of my faves!

Our favorite spot

I loved the fudge and pudding best.

This makes everything right in the world tbh!

Super pagod from swimming, then super busog with dinner, ayan bagsak!

We really hope he had a good time. We're celebrating again, this time with the whole family, this coming weekend at Neil's Kitchen. Hopefully, we'll be able to throw a big party next year since it's his 10th. I'm sure he'd love it if he can invite his friends and classmates to a party. What's a good theme???

Happy ninth birthday Julian. We are all so lucky to have you. I feel so relieved, so proud, and so happy that you are my son. You'll always be my rock and my guiding star. Thank you very much for everything you do for me kiddo. I love you to the moon and back pudgy. Happy birthday!

We were in the middle of a very strenuous activity (Okay, we lazed around the whole day) during our trip to Bacolod when my sister told us about the piso fare of Airasia. We booked tickets to Cebu right away then sent a screenshot of our impulsiveness to our group chat in viber. My sister’s response was, “Let’s celebrate mom’s and dad’s birthday there then!” Her words were clear and simple but flying the whole family was a complicated idea for me.

Well we had to make it happen. So we did.

We were a little bit worried that the trip might be cancelled or ruined due to the horrible weather. Thankfully, some God somewhere was nice enough to hold the rain long enough for us to enjoy our vacay. Anyway, here’s a summary of what we did, where we went, and where we ate:

DAY 1 – Arrived in Cebu at 8:30 AM then travelled to Oslob for about 3 hours. Checked in at Hotel Sebastian, had lunch there, then drove to Tumalog Falls. Had dinner at the BBQ strip along the road near the hotel.
DAY 2 – Early breakfast at the hotel, swam with Butandings, went to Sumilon Sandbar, drove back to Cebu City, then checked in at Alba Uno.
DAY 3 – Bohol day tour, dinner at Seafood Island (Ayala Mall in Cebu), coffee and wine at La Vie.
DAY 4 – Breakfast at McDonald’s. Went back to Manila.

I’d say the trip went pretty well. We were able to do all of the things we said we’d do, visit the places we said we’d visit, but didn’t get to eat lots of lechon. There were no delays or major setbacks. Over planning and planning way ahead paid off. Aside from spending time with the family and taking a break from our busy lives, I’ve learned a few useful things from this trip:

1. Research well. Make sure you have the latest and active contact info of hotels, tours, etc. Read other people’s reviews. Watch out for promos and fine prints. Consider the location of your destinations. ASK ASK ASK..
2. On accommodations. Be picky, it’s okay. Ask questions, from the obvious to the small details. Bug them to answer your questions. If they answer, then good. If not, then they have crappy customer service and start looking for another place. Look at what they post online. Read about other people’s experience with that hotel. There are many wonderful accommodations waiting to be discovered, so many to choose from.
3. Book and reserve stuff ahead. You don’t want to get the last seat or the last room. You want to be able to choose freely. Ask for their payment terms and mode of payment. Make sure they send you the invoice as soon as you send them anything. Make sure they confirm your reservations through email or text. Document everything.
4. Delegate tasks. While I did most of the research, the whole thing wasn't as troublesome as I thought it'd be because everyone pitched in. it would've been crazy if I tried to do everything on my own. 

It's a Cookie Monster party for the birthday boy!

Simple lang ang plano eh: magdala ng food sa class nila (sa Monday) tapos lunch out lang or dinner with the family. Kaso...

Me: Jewel, tanong mo nga anong gusto nya.

Sagot: Gusto daw nya spaghetti, fried chicken, ice cream, cake, pizza, hotdoggies, tocino.

Check! Yes, tocino talaga. Lahat naman naluto at naubos. Medyo nahiya na lang ako nung patapos na kasi nung may matitinong bisita, tocino talaga kinakain nila. Sana nagluto pala ko ng kaldereta, kare-kare, o lechon. Joke lang. Sarap ng tocino ha!

Loving the ballons!

Effort ang cake! Thank you sa mom ni Ate Micah for always living up to our expectations sa cake, kay Tita Len sa pagbayad, and Tito Jigs sa pag deliver.

Kay Tita Wel sa pag ihip at pag kabit ng balloons. Pati sa pag drawing, pag tulong sa pag luto, pag ayos ng place, pagsama sa pag grocery, at pagbili ng ubod ng mahal na lecheng kisses na panghalo lang sa pancake.

Kay Lola Toona na punong abala. Sa pagpagawa ng Kubo de mansion! At kay Lola kasi hindi masyadong kumanta. Buti na lang.

Kay Tito Jigs sa pagiging beks at all around boy.

Sa mga pumunta. Nagbigay ng gifts. Yung pumunta kahit hindi invited, pinapalayas ko na nga andun pa din. Sa mga bibong opismeyts na nahanap ang bahay namin. Sa mga nalasing. Sa mga natuwa sa tocino. Sa mga naghangad na makapag uwi ng cupcake but failed. Sa mga nakapag uwi ng cupcake. Sa mga sarap na sarap sa spaghetti (ahem!). Sa mga kumita ng datung sa pagkanta dahil feeling galante ang tatay ko. Sa mga hindi nakarating, belat. Salamat!

Cartwheel boy

With Toona

Cookie monster lover

Deacon!!!

Pamilya Kadiliman

Cookies for giveaways

How's that hot-dog doing?

With Tita Wel and Tito Ronnie

So happy to open his gifts

Artsy fartsy time

Ain't this lovely?

Pinterest worthy if you ask me.

Cupcakes for giveaways

Love you baby!

Happy 7th birthday sa pinaka malambing at mapagmahal na bata sa bahay namin at buong Guard’s Quarters. Very good naman at masaya ka sa party namin for you. Maging masipag sa pag-aaral, laging bantayan si Lola Mamang, wag pasakitin ulo ni Mama Baby, at kumain ng madami pati matulog sa tanghali (wow, nanay na nanay lang ang bilin).

Until next year!

Naka ilang birthday na si Julian sa Jollibee at palaging konti ang pumupunta. Ang ending, ang daming inuuwing food na sobra. After ng ikatlong chicken joy medyo mahihiya ka na kasi sa sarili mo at may umay factor na din. So this year, dalhin na lang ang food sa classmates.

Hindi ko masyadong naplano ang lahat! Kaya mga 7AM ng Monday, nagpa-panic na ko. Buti na lang ang galing din sa Jollibee samin kasi in ten minutes ready na yung lahat ng order, deliver na lang. So umabot kami sa recess time ng mga chikiting.

Pagdating ko sa school, asa labas pa lang ako ng building, “MOMMMMMYYYYYYY”. Sabay yakap ng makulit na bata. Sakto palang papunta daw sya ng C.R. Anyhoo, pagdating sa classroom, boom! Parang nagsabog dun sa loob ng lahat ng mga makukulit na grade 2 students. Sarap pingutin sa tenga isa-isa talaga. Pramis. Na-gets ko tuloy bakit parang pagod ang peg ni Teacher Charity eh 8 pa lang ng umaga.

Dahil nga ang kukulit, sabi ng teacher, “O let’s play the silence game. Pag maingay walang food.” Sagot nung isa, “Okay lang. May food naman ako.” Di ko sana talaga bibigyan eh. Yung isa naman, “Ay walang chicken?” Kasi nga spaghetti at soft drinks lang dinala ko chaka yung cookies na give aways. Sabihin ko sana kay Ate, “Aga aga chicken?! Bumili ka!”. Syempre napigilan ko naman bibig ko. Medyo kumalma lang sila nung may mga spaghetti na sa bibig.

Tuwang tuwa naman si Julian kasi kinantahan pa daw sya tsaka happy daw classmates nya dun sa food. Win! Ganito na lang pala dapat lagi.

Happy birthday ulit baby!

Julian just got home from his month long vacay in Palawan. He was definitely tanner and a tad bit taller. Anyway, he has a blister near his neck that’s almost the size of a five peso coin.

We were talking about this blister one time.

Julian: Bawal daw ako sa malansa sabi ni Mama Baby.

Me: Ah. Bawal daw ang eggs, chicken, at fish.

Julian: My, ano nga yung sour?

Me: Maasim.

Julian: Maalat yung salty di ba?

Me: Yes.

Julian: Ano yung malansa?

Me: *cricket sounds* Di ko alam..

Julian: Ano ba yan. Nag-i-English ka hindi mo alam.

“May bulaklak ka nga, malalanta naman yan!”
“Hindi naman nakakain yan!”
“Nakakataba kaya ang chocolates.”
“Dapat hindi lang tuwing Valentine’s nagde-date.”
“Yuck. Naka-red pa pareho!”
“Baduy mag-celebrate ng Valentine’s ha.”

I was never excited for this holiday. While it’s true that I hate couples who are PDA-ing, especially the ugly ones, I don’t hate the idea of giving your significant other flowers or gifts on this day. Or maybe treating them extra special just because everyone else is doing it.

The hate grew because well, I dated guys who are not romantic or sweet and I didn’t want to impose on them either so right before Valentine's, I'd tell them that I don't want any fuss. I'd convincingly tell them that I'm one of those girls who hate this holiday. Expectations are clearly set.

However, my sister and brother-in-law have had a completely idea. Ever since they've been dating, two occasions MUST BE observed well: my sister's birthday and Valentine's day.

All day, last Friday, my sister kept asking if I'll be home or if I'll be going out. Strange questions. When she didn't hear from me, she asked if something arrived in the house and I said there was none. Of course that ticked me off. The whole day I was nagging her on what it was and she wouldn't tell!

"Maya de Castro daw!", howled one of my co-workers one Tuesday afternoon. Weird. I'm usually the one ordering stuff for us in the office but we didn't order anything that day! We didn't have any idea of what it was. We thought it was the same thing that happened a year ago when food was delivered under my name (complete with all my contact details!) but I was mighty sure I didn't order anything. We went out, and lo and behold, flowers!

The girls and I giggled the whole time the delivery guy was unpacking and when we got inside the office. Everybody was teasing me. "Uy kanino galing?!", asked most of them. When I said it was from my sister and my brother-in-law, the awwwwws grew louder. One of them even said, "May sister din naman ako ah, pero di sya sweet."

Thank you so much Chong and Kimy. :) I was so proud carrying that box home and hitting lots of people with it while commuting home. Mother loved them, too! A million thanks for the really sweet surprise. Happy Valentine's Day!

Video here. Thanks Ms. Marj! Super proud about his Ippon Seionage since it's my favorite technique.

A couple of months back, Julian joined his very first Judo tournament and he got a silver medal without sweating too much.

Today, he got another silver medal because he was just so AWESOME!

Me: Julian! Picture tayo! Julian: Kiss!

Me: Ulit!

Chong, Jayson, Jewel, Mother, and Me

Julian, Chong, Jayson, Jewel, Mother, Ate Net, Deacon, Me

Cutest participants. Hello Kazuma!

"Mommy, champion ba ko?"

Thank you Tita Wel and Tito Ronnie for the dinner! This was the full match (thanks Chong!): Good job baby! Until your next tourney!

This one's already SOLD. Oh yeah!

The youngest sister is actually talented. Believe it or not. This is her latest work. 

She'll paint for food! But money is better. WAY better. Lots of paintings scattered around the house, some we use to cover unwanted holes on the walls. 

It's high time we earn money from all the paint, canvass, and shit you waste sister!

The model's not me, by the way. But if you have the guts, she'd gladly do your very first nude painting!

I just know that I can never pose like that. Cheers!

Happy first wedding anniversary to two of my favorite people in the world, Chong and Kimy!

I hope you guys had a blast at Canyon Cove. Congrats Chong for getting that watch you were raving about.

To Kimy,

Thank you for putting up with my sister, for taking care of her, for being patient with all her quirks, and for loving her almost unconditionally. Wala kang masyadong choice eh.

Weeeeeeee! A silver medal!

My mom's idea. Told her that Julian's probably not ready yet and he might take it really bad if he loses. So I refused to enter him in the tournament and didn't pay the fee.