My Stella's Baby Shower

Last Saturday, Gary's sister Debra threw me a baby shower to celebrate the fast-approaching arrival of our little princess. She really worked so hard planning everything, from the candy-themed dessert bar to the party favors down to the hanging decorations. Relatives, my co-workers and Gary's friends from work all came to wish us well. Now that the party's done, Stella has tons of clothes and baby things that don't fit inside the chest that came with her furniture set. I'm not complaining--lack of space because of these cute little things is a good problem to have. Everything is just so pretty...and pink...and pretty :)

Me and Stella with our favorite guy in the world :)

With Stella's daddy by the candy-themed dessert bar

Paris Baguette makes the best cakes!

The party favors

Here they're guessing the size of my waistline :P

Beer-in-baby-bottle game

Friends and family

The best part of the night: opening gifts for Lella

Baby Updates

I am 33 weeks into my pregnancy and it literally feels like I'm at a peak of a rollercoaster ready to take a dive. I am so terrified of the unknown, but I am so excited at the same time. February passed by so quickly that it's hard to document everything that's happened.

One thing I want to share though is my nephew Chok's funny reaction to Stella. While we only see each other online, I ADORE my nephew and he knows it. So when he learned that I was having a baby, it was almost like he was having an anxiety attack. Whenever my mom and I would be chatting on Messenger and would mention Stella, he suddenly excuses himself to go home. He didn't want to hear about Stella, and we have made a conscious effort not to mention her when he's around.

I'm so happy because last night, it sounded like he finally understood what's going on. He said he's going to play with Stella and go with her to Enchanted Kingdom. Which made me so proud of my ChokChok and made me miss him more. I can't wait to go home as soon as possible :)

Lella's big Kuya

March will surely be busy for us. My sister-in-law Debra is hosting my baby shower next weekend, and she has made the cutest invites :)

Diaper Invitation

My Stellalella's shower

My mom is also scheduled to arrive here via San Francisco on the 26th. I have classes and checkups scheduled left and right. We still need to buy a lot of things for my daughter. Gary finished fixing the basics of her nursery, and after seeing everything come together, we were just so overwhelmed by happiness---she's almost here!!! :)

My 28th

I had one of my best birthdays in years.

I must admit I was a bit skeptical during the days leading to January 26th because--let's face it--I am getting older and the excitement has started to wear off through the years.

Luckily, I have people around me who think I am worth celebrating, and that made me feel very special indeed :)

I was greeted by this sight when I went to work in the morning. My officemates "decorated" my cube in my honor. While it still isn't clear to me if they were greeting me a Merry Christmas, a Happy Halloween or a Happy 4th of July, I'd like to think that they knew it was my birthday, and I reminded myself it's the thought that counts :P

My pregnant belly didn't like cleaning up one bit

Then on my actual birthday, Gary took me to San Francisco with my good friend from work, Ate Lucille. We just walked around and enjoyed the street performances at Pier 39. The weather was pretty chilly but we managed to stay the whole day to see everything there was to see.

Me and Ate Lucille

Gary, Ina and Stella

The gifts I got this year were also exceptional. Gary's sister, Debra, gave me Urban Decay products. Pure love! I got the Naked 2 palette and a bottle of makeup setting spray. They're amazing!

<3>

But the biggest treat for me was Gary's present. I simply can't express how happy I am with his choice this year :D It's just PERFECT!

If it's good enough for Audrey Hepburn, it's good enough for me...

After opening my major present, we headed out to dinner, where I had to endure the attention-grabbing birthday song from the food servers.

The morning after my birthday, I woke up crying like crazy. I still think it could be the hormones, but it suddenly just hit me that I am so very lucky. I have a husband who absolutely adores me. I have a stressful but rewarding career. I have a precious baby on the way. And while I miss my family back in the Philippines, what right do I have to complain? I am just in a good place in my life and for this I am very thankful. God is good :)

stuff

For the first time in my life, I was told I'm overweight. Apparently, I've been enjoying eating for two so much that my doctor warned me I have now reached my end-of-pregnancy weight, at 27 weeks. Of course the husband went health-instructor-crazy on me so I started walking and eating healthier...for about a day or two! LOL 

 

I tried, I really did...

But how could one survive in this cruel world of yummy food?!? For New Year's Eve, I prepared dinner for two: Aligue Pasta. All Gary could do was shake his head as he watched me throw caution to the wind and reach carbs heaven.

My Aligue Pasta

 

On to a different note...the nights are getting too cold for my slowly swelling feet and I found the most comfortable pair of chinelas. It's as cozy as it looks I tell you!

 

 

AND!!! It's Gary's Big 3-0 today :) I don't want to spoil anything so I'll just stop right here, right now by saying: Happy Birthday honeybunny, Lella and I love you soooooooo much :)

Christmas 2012

Christmas was extra special for us this year because we finally have our little Stella with us. I know 2013 can only get better, so we’re really excited about the year ahead. So many blessings to be thankful for!

Let me share some of the highlights of this year’s Christmas celebration.

Christmas Eve, only Gary’s sister Con and her family visited. We were about to open the kids’ gifts but decided to wait until Christmas Day, when Gary’s brothers Jeng and Sherwin’s families would come too. While it was a little last minute, Gary and I managed to host the party, which was attended by all of his siblings who are in California and some of his cousins,  uncles and aunt as well. The gifts were hilarious this year, and it was good to see everyone have a great time.

Excited parents-to-be

Ate Con, Jake, Junior, Judee, me and Ty

Huli nanaman! Me eating for two...



resting my inflated legs

Annber loving her gifts

Ate Con

Kiana and her gift from Auntie Ella

Debra with her gift from Gary and I

Glenda and Ate Ellah opening their gifts from Debra at the same time

Jake with his gift from Uncle Gary and me

All the boys

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 :)