i miss my lovelove :(





On his recent trip to SM Pampanga



spoiled by his parents, my brother, my mom, and of course me 

 

Chok in his Christmas clothes

my Balikbayan Box arrived, finally! Chok is ready for his treats :)

Pre-Christmas Visit

Gary and I were under a lot of stress the past few weeks because we moved to a new place after our lease expired with our previous apartment. While I didn't really do anything during the move...just the whole transition thing is pretty tedious. Luckily, the husband was extra sipag packing and unpacking our things. He even managed to buy me a real Christmas tree! How he managed to drag this fat tree into his car and into the house remains a mystery. LOL

i love the smell it gives out :)

Then two days ago, I got a call from my Tita Pining (Mama's cousin), who's based in Anaheim. She said she and her husband, Tito Gus, were in Merced to visit some relatives. Merced is only about two hours away from Sunnyvale so they decided to visit me and Gary as well. It's so nice to have family during this season, especially since my hormones were on overdrive and I've been sooo emotional about not seeing my mom, brothers and other relatives for Christmas.

tita pining and tito gus are also our ninang and ninong from our wedding



i didn't realize how super pregnant i already look :P



Winchester Mystery House Holiday Party

Gary and I attended his Army Reserve unit's Holiday Party last Saturday, which was held at the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, CA. The mansion, which normally operates only until 5pm, graciously hosted the event and offered tours around the area for all the soldiers and their families.

Famous for its oddity, the house was built by Sarah Winchester, widow of the Winchester Rifle magnate William Winchester. It was said that the Winchester mansion was constructed after Sarah lost her only daughter and her husband, went to a medium and was told that the family was cursed by all the people killed by the Winchester Rifles. She believed that she needed to construct a house for all the lost souls that haunt her, so for nearly 38 years since 1884, Sarah directed the non-stop construction of this Victorian house until her death. http://www.winchestermysteryhouse.com/

I'm normally scared of my own shadow, and watching an episode of Ghost Hunters International on the Winchester Mystery House made me more fearful, but I was also very excited to see it. The truth of the matter is, the tour was too tiring for me. It's like an endless maze of small spaces, with the smell of old, pungent wood following you throughout the tour. The details of the interiors are very lavish and intricate, and one can only imagine what ran in Sarah Winchester's mind as she masterminded the construction of this monstrosity of a house!

Excited to go out :)

Gary and his Filipino friends

one of the many Christmas trees in the mansion 

Our patient guide showing us around

The ancient pantry

The carved walls of the Winchester mansion

My favorite Christmas tree

Me and my honey bunny

The best way to end the evening? Catch the last full show of Breaking Dawn Part 2 at AMC. We got home at around 3am. Not the perfect thing to do as Stellalela's parents, I know, but we don't really stay out too late often. Despite my aching legs, I had a lot of fun. It was the perfect night :)

Gary Just Made My Day...

Leche Flan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We're having....

A Baby Girl! :)

I was so convinced that Gary and I were expecting a boy because, well, I look like a guy these days and the doctor said the baby's a "mover" with a fast, strong heartbeat...so we're still processing the fact that we're having a little girl soon :)

Everyone predicted the baby would be a girl though. Even when Gary and I went to the Asian store, the Vietnamese cashiers whispered profusely to each other and told me that I was going to have a girl. My mom wants a baby girl for me too, and while I initially wanted a boy (Gary will tell you he's okay with either but really I think he was on Blue Team too) I'm getting really excited about the arrival of my sweet innocent daughter.

She registered very well on her latest ultrasound. My doctor gave her a shining assessment. We're so thrilled!



the wonderful e-mail from Dr. Nomura

We tried to get down to business right after learning the baby's gender. Gary wants two names (so typically Filipino LOL) and I've picked her first name already. This is subject to change really, but we already started calling her Stella. The name just came to me out of the blue and when I searched for the meaning online, it said it's Latin for "star." You can't beat that :)

Our Stellalela

At 19 weeks, I am HUGE. It's funny how everything gets bigger during pregnancy. My nose, my tummy, my feet...you can pretty much see what else inflates :P

I can't say enough how utterly lucky I feel to finally be expecting. We can't wait to see how our little bundle of joy looks like. Personally, I want her to look more like Gary, but ask him and he'll tell you he wants it the other way around. Either way, we just want mommy and baby to be healthy.

Halloween 2012

the devil with the fivehead :P

Support Staffing Group

gummy worms and oreo

food!

the Halloween spread

The BIG Reveal

 

I've been itching, wanting, coveting to make this announcement for, like, three months now and following all customs and traditions, it is now finally time to let all loved ones and friends know that YES, WE'RE PREGNANT!!!!!

 

The funny thing is that I've long trained myself to dismiss any hope that I could be pregnant. It has been really disappointing to miss my period, feel "different" and end up negative on a home pregnancy test. The fact that I had a miscarriage in 2010 makes it even harder. So the past few months, I have consciously avoided any thoughts of having a baby.

 

What's weird though is that Gary knows me more than I know myself, apparently. Last August, he stopped by Walgreens after dinner and told me to buy a home pregnancy kit. I said no, we're wasting money (these tests are not cheap I tell you), I'll just get disappointed, I'm not even feeling anything...But he was dead serious about it. After a dialogue that sounded more like a dad telling his kid to eat her veggies, I finally stepped into the tub and tested myself.

 

The best surprise EVER.


So how's my pregnancy so far? Interesting, to say the least. The moment I stepped out of that bathroom, our roles have been reversed. Gary suddenly became the domestic diva that I was; and me? I instantly became the other half that didn't need to worry about dinner or what toiletries we need to buy. AND. I. LOVE. IT.

 

Gary seems to be loving it too. I guess it's the feeling that he has a family to protect. Or that another life will be depending on him. Or that he's seeing a little Gary soon. Maybe all. My pregnancy really does feel like magic. We have never been happier or more connected. I've never felt more loved, and I have never appreciated how really good a husband I have until now. Gary studies full time, works full time and reports for his Army duties one weekend per month all at the same time so we could give the most to our new addition. He does all this, yet I still feel that I have his 100%attention 24/7. How he does it, I have no idea!

Love at first sight. Our baby at 6 weeks 1 day.

As for me, I'm lazy, and grumpy, and just having a ball being a spoiled, fat brat. I make demands and they are always met to my satisfaction. Seriously though, it has not been easy on me either. While I have only one or two occassions of vomitting, I was always queasy and had to battle with my gag reflex non-stop. I didn't and couldn't eat the first three months of pregnancy. I always loved to cook but that all changed. I suddenly couldn't bear the sight of my own kitchen. I didn't (still don't) eat in the dining area because I could see the kitchen and it makes me want to throw up. And if Gary so much as puts a spoonful more than I asked for, I will just not eat from the plate that he gives me. My lower back hurts most of the time, and I also get headaches, which make me irritable. When I really get difficult, Gary jokingly tells me, "You can't bring me down!" LOL

 

 

A pea in the pod. At 8 weeks.

Yesterday I went to my third prenatal checkup with Gary. He normally goes inside the maternity room with me. The past two sessions, we saw the baby through ultrasound. This time however, the doctor asked for a urine sample from me and before I could even grab Gary to go see our doctor, I was already led by the medical assistant to my room. There was no ultrasound session scheduled for that visit. Which is for the best I guess since Gary was excitedly, patiently waiting outside thinking he would see our baby when I actually wasn't even going to get him anymore. My doctor is Dr. Wakako Nomura. She's been very pleasant and sensitive of my needs from Day 1. Yesterday, she just listened to the baby's heartbeat through a fetal Doppler. I got to hear it too, and she described it as "fast, strong and healthy." We still wish we were able to see our baby at 13 weeks through ultrasound but knowing that he's fine is really more than enough.

 



Excited parents-to-be. PHOTO BY ANDREA BRENHOLZ



 

We still have a long way ahead of us but my only prayer is that the baby's healthy and that I have a safe delivery. Oh, and that Gary still takes care of dinner ad infinitum. Okay, I'm not gonna push my luck. Just healthy mommy and baby is fine. :)  



 

 

 

Is This Even True?

I got readers from Canada, Germany, Australia, Russia, Ukraine, UK, Brazil and the Netherlands?!?!

No shit!

Family Time

Losing the Battle

Seriously now...how could one say no???

Hermosa, Bataan

I have the strongest attachment to my hometown that in college, up until I was working in Manila, I went home religiously to Hermosa no matter what. Even now, I miss the simplicity of the place where I grew up and if I could have my way, I'd take any chance to go home for a vacation.

So when typhoon Gener hit the Philippines, I was so surprised to see my very hometown on national TV. It was amusing at first, seeing the familiar onscreen, but when the southwest monsoon kicked in, I couldn't stop the panic that heightened in congruence with the flood level.

I am so relieved that it's over, and that my kababayans have weathered the storm literally and figuratively. Here are some news reports on my beloved  town:

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/video/nation/regions/08/01/12/hermosa-bataan-submerged-deeper-floods

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/video/128623/unangbalita/update-ng-pagbaha-sa-hermosa-

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/video/128528/balitanghali/9-na-barangay-sa-hermosa-bataan-binaha-dahil-sa-pag-ulan-kagabi

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/video/129398/stateofthenation/maraming-barangay-sa-bataan-lubog-sa-baha-bunsod-ng-umapaw-na-mga-ilog

Sooooooo Excited!

Proof you're Filipino: you show up too early for the Bourne Legacy premiere thinking there would be a line and that you absolutely positively have to get the best seats in the house. 

Turned out there weren't a lot of people who were as eager as us to see it. But that doesn't dampen our spirits!!!!! Go go go Philippines!!!!!!

-----------------------------------
UPDATE: What I thought of the movie I'll write later on but I just wanna share this.

We got home from the movies and we turned on the TV to see today's episode of Charlie Rose featuring the three lead actors and the director of Bourne Legacy. At the very end of the show the conversation went to why Manila was chosen for the film. Director Tony Gilroy only has this to say: That Manila is very Bourne-ish because it's so colorful and ugly and gritty, raw and stinky and crowded. I'm not even gonna argue about that but knowing the excitement and interest and hospitality of the Filipinos in welcoming this Hollywood production, I can't help but feel like this is a one-way love kinda thing. They needed Manila for the chaos that it is and they're done with it. Let's not be the pathetic ex-girlfriend that hangs on after being dumped!

The Return of My Japanese Obsession

I came across the Japanese discount store Daiso through Yelp and I thought it'd be interesting to see what it has to offer. I have fond memories of the 99cents store that closed down in Subic years ago. So when I realized that Daiso is less than 10 minutes from Sunnyvale and that beside it is a Japanes food mart, I dragged Gary (who was still in his Army uniform from his weekend duty) to do some spending.

Now Gary is your typical guy--he hates shopping. But since we haven't spent time all weekend, the boy obliged. We scoured Daiso and I got me some cheap kitchen tools--some cooking spoons for $1.50 each, a knife for $5 (I just hope that despite being dirt cheap, it lives up to its reputation, what with it being a Japanese knife and all) and a wooden mat for $1.50. I would've stayed longer at Daiso to ogle to my heart's content but I knew Gary was tired from his run this morning so I went on to Marukai, which specializes in Japanese food.

They have heaps of beef sukiyaki and yakiniku, ready-made bentos and aisles and aisles of Japanese snacks. I bought a sushi mat, some nori, sesame seeds and Japanese mayo. I can't wait to make me some California rolls! We also bought some treats, which we ate as soon as we got to the car. The visit was a little too short so I'm definitely going back!


My Daiso/Marukai haul--the other goodies vanished without a trace :)

What's for Brunch?

I used to hate Sundays. Sunday used to signal the start of another work week and my need to commute from Bataan to Manila. These days however, I enjoy it more than any day of the week. Gary rolls up all the window drapes early in the morning while I make my shopping list. Everything's bright with the sunlight hitting our white furniture and fresh air circulating from our porch. We head out for the Asian store where we buy fresh meat, vegetables and seafood. We also tidy up the place and do laundry on Sundays then go to church at night. I guess I appreaciate Sundays more now because I feel productive and so much more connected with my partner. Today after our grocery run, we were both starving and needed a quick meal so I took the palabok sauce that I made yesterday out of the fridge and assembled pancit for brunch. The sauce is fairly easy to make. I saute onion, garlic, tiny cubed tofu, ground pork and finely minced shrimp. On two separate pans I boil eggs and shrimp for garnish. I use the shrimp stock to dissolve 2 packs of Mama Sita's palabok mix and two cans of cream of mushroom. I add that to my pan, throw in the ready made tinapa flakes that I get from the Asian store and some fish sauce and pepper to taste. I wait for the sauce to thicken and that's it! So I cooked the noodles and transferred it on my serving dish, lather the sauce on top, sprinkle the surface with ground chicaron, line up my shrimps and egg slices and top with onion leaks. I paired this with the ripe mangoes that Gary and I picked up today at the store and voila! A hearty Sunday meal 😊

What's for Dinner?

I am inexplicably addicted to the cheap jambalaya that they serve at Popeye's. So the other day, realizing I had mussels, shrimps, sausages and a chicken thigh sitting idly in my freezer, I decided to do a rice dish for dinner. Last minute jambalaya meant I still needed to do my internet research and go to the store to get the right spices and I didn't have the time, so I decided to make it easier on myself by making paella (or close) using my imagination.

Gary and I went to King's Seafood to buy saffron (I didn't think the tomatoes would make the rice red/yellow enough) but they wouldn't let me use Visa for anything under $15 so we went to the tiny Filipino store by Duane instead.

When we got home, I started to cook rice (using uncooked rice on my "paella" seemed too complicated) and boil the chicken while we watched TV Patrol. By the end of the program, I was chopping garlic, onion, tomatoes, green and red bell pepper, the seafood and sausage while my rice was happily getting cold in the freezer. I stir fried everything, fished the stuff out except for the sauce after 10 minutes, then dumped the rice in my pan. I added a chicken-flavored cube dissolved in my chicken stock, the saffron, red chili pepper and some fish sauce and then assembled everything in my baking dish.

Voila! My makeshift paella that earned me heart-warming praises from the boy. Beginner's luck, so I have no idea how I'd manage to do it again--as obviously there will be requests to have this dish on the table in the future :P

Going Domestic

Gary and I made our usual Saturday drive around town and came back with some stuff to add to our place

The husband got his latest man-toy, a really cool bench press that he's been eyeing for quite a while. The porch is now judiciously divided into two sides: his exercise equipment and scooter on the left, my old sofa, table and the blooms I picked up today at the orchard supply to the right. I also got some wall decor for our bedroom.

The Daily Grind

I've heard all this before and it all turns out to be true: life in the States is all work, work and work. That's why I feel fortunate that i actually like my job; it's challenging, each day's different and despite the undeniable stress I deal with, I feel rewarded accordingly.

My little corner of the world.

Army Dinner

This was taken months ago at Gary's platoon event☺

:)

so random

Gary has been very busy since he started his Army reclassification course in Dublin, CA this February. He's still serving the military as a cavalry scout, and because we (okay, I) would like him to have a non-combat designation, he signed up for the Human Resources Specialist position with the Reserve. He needs to get certified for this, so for almost four weeks now, the husband has been driving back and forth everyday to get to his early morning class and back home to me just in time for dinner. He's been so caught up learning all these Army regulations and taking qualifying exams everyday that we didn't even realize he's almost graduating next week. So proud! :D

Which leaves me home alone on weekends because, yes, he has school Saturdays, even Sundays. And really you would think boredom would squeeze productivity out of me, but besides doing the dishes and picking up clothes from the floor, I just can't help releasing my inner slob. This morning, knowing that I was in no shape to whip up breakfast from scratch, I opened myself a can of clam chowder and jammed a slice of leftover pizza in the turbo broiler. (Yes, we have the very Filipino turbo broiler, which has got to be the best kitchen invention ever. Gary and I have been brainwashed by this contraption into believing anything cooked in it is Top Chef-material. Thus, my household's star dish is tinurbong manok, a recipe I inherited from my parents. I'm glad Gary loves it as much as I do; so much so that I think we will pass the love for this dish on to our future kids.)

After my makeshift meal, I turned my attention to the computer, which Gary rebooted last night. As I type this, I am re-installing all the programs that we lost last night, especially messenger and the webcam. It is Sunday in the Philippines, and I'm waiting to see Chok strut his stuff.

Speaking of the Philippines, Gary's parents are going home this Tuesday, and Gary and I are soooo jealous. Looking at all the balikbayan boxes, it seems like yesterday when it was us heading home. I don't think we'll be able to go this year because I still have to earn my leave, and Gary has Army duties. We want to go to the Philippines during the Christmas season next time. I miss the shallowness of Mall of Asia. The great bargains at Greenhills. The laid back atmosphere of Subic. The at-homeness of Hermosa... :D For Gary he just misses sitting at my Auntie's store, sipping on Pop with a straw, killing time :D

So yeah, this is pretty much it for now. Between waiting for my Sephora delivery and contemplating how I'll survive lunch, I think I'll hit the bed again. Ciao bella!

Thank you baby :)

Yogi Bear made BooBoo really happy last Valentine's Day with a tasteful gift :)