Rebuilding lives

All the talk about how the bad the storm was in Manila makes me feel sad. There are so many people now trying to rebuild their lives and homes after the big destruction. Apparently there is another storm headed the way of Manila again. I am hoping that the city and its surrounds do not get further damage, and that the storm will whisk it’s way as soon as it arrives.

I know so many friends and relatives who are doing everything they can to help by volunteering their time and giving donations. I wish I could do the same. For now I will only be able to offer my prayers and a bit of my monetary contribution.

I would not know where to begin if I would have been one of those whose families were personally affected by the storm. I have cousins and friends who are undergoing this and I feel for them. I remember reading somewhere that Siem Reap also experienced this sort of catastrophe in the past. The city has managed to rebuild itself and become one major tourist spot. I pray Manila will be able to cope and come out as a winner in the end of it all.

Getting all hormonal

Early this week I had a bit of a glitch in my system. At work I suddenly felt quite down for some reason. I was late for work by a few minutes and that made me feel bad. I also was not in for work the day before, and one of my colleagues said that one of my passengers' files had an issue with it. Those triggered something and I ended up having to excuse myself for a good 15 minutes to get myself composed again.

Now, watching all these videos about the horrible storm that has hit Manila yesterday, balls of tears are forming in my eyes. I am easily emotional, more than usual. I consider myself one of those generally happy people, and even while pregnant for that past 23 weeks I have been a happy 'buntis'. Only recently have I been getting these glitches, which I hope and pray won't last long as I am wanting a happy baby too! I feel for hubby who's asked me if it was him who made me cry the other time. He must be confused with my recent emotion swings.

I am trying to gather people to donate to Manila's flood victims and I am praying this move will make things better for those affected, even in a small way. God bless the Filipino.

The week that was

I so need another long break away with hubby. We were meant to have a week off and take advantage of some cheap holiday deals, but then I was called to work and re-schedule my time off. Not the best thing for employer to do, but I guess they were desperately needing staff!

Early this week I had a major exam at university which drained my brain. It’s good that I was able to concentrate on the subject instead of dreaming about Cheap Holidays in Greece or Hotels in Alcudia. Now that university is on a short break, I would like to wallow in the dream of a holiday! I have been researching for weeks about where to travel to for our babymoon. As much as we would like to go on a luxury travel frenzy, we have limited our budget in order to accommodate to buy baby things. It’s times like this that I wish I was in Manila to be able to go shopping! I know there are a lot of nice and cute baby things back home at a much cheaper price. I guess that will have to wait. For now, I will have to just be smart and buy necessary things first.

Bucks and Hens

Soon I will be needing ideas for Hen weekends! Two of my good friends are getting married, and have expressed their interest in a fun girls’ weekend to celebrate! I guess as much as I would love to have my usual bottle of wine, I won’t be able to! I will have to make do with enjoying the girls company while remaining sober. Next weekend we’d be going out to brainstorm about how to celebrate this once in a lifetime pre-wedding event. The funny thing is that the bride-to-be does not want to know anything about how his groom-to-be will be celebrating his bachelor’s party. Fair enough. I guess the couple is both mature enough to know their party limitations! I just hope the groomsmen know as well.

I wish I can share about my own hen’s night, but I did not have one! Our wedding was even just planned a mere four weeks before the event. Perhaps when we prepare to celebrate our church wedding we will have those pre-wedding parties! Or, maybe not anymore. After all, we are really married already and by then we will have our baby with us.

October is Crave Sydney month!

Hubby, and I and a few other friends are hoping to get a spot at the Breakfast on the Bridge morning! Only 6,000 people will get tickets, and they are drawn randomly, so we are crossing our fingers that we secure tickets!! It is the first time this event is organised and it is one cool idea if I may say so.

The whole month of October ushers in a range of festivities and events around the city. Noodle nights, markets, art events, etc... So many activities to choose from. Hopefully I still have enough energy by then to be able to go around town!

Crave Sydney!

First love : Travel

I took the day off today since I had to study for my university exam this evening. I am hoping to pass this subject in one go! Hopefully in a year I am able to shift industry so I can try something new. Although I don’t think I am totally able to leave the travel industry as I am sure I will always be drawn to the exciting world of travel. I will forever be excited with the challenge of booking a passenger on a flight to a popular destination at peak season, find the easiest website to book Car Hire Lisbon, and find a room available in a city that claims to have reached one hundred percent hotel capacity. I guess booking travel will always be my first love, however I must spread my wings and discover my other interests. I can’t wait to graduate!

Guess the baby's gender!?

To find out? Or not?

A month ago hubby and I went for my 19 week scan (ultrasound), and it is normally at that time in the pregnancy that one can find out the gender of the baby.

At work, people were volunteering their opinion about whether to find out the gender or not. Some of them were really old school and have said that for the first baby in the family, it is best to keep it a SURPRISE! I know two of the ladies who recently gave birth left the gender unknown until delivery day. It is pretty exciting I suppose. If you can stand to wait that long and not find out!!

A few other people have been asking me about the gender of our baby. Especially my Filipino friends :) I know in Manila, almost everyone finds out the gender as soon as it is possible! I don't think I know anyone who's opted to keep it a surprise.

Anyway, as of the moment, it is 50-50 still. Possibly a baby ballerina girl, or maybe a soccer playing boy. Months before the 19-week scan I was partial in wanting to find out baby's gender. Part of me wanted to go old school and not find out (hubby was fine whatever I decided on)... And then on the day of the scan, at the very last minute I asked the U/S technician. She said she thinks baby is a girl. As she couldn't see anything in between the legs. But then again, she did not want to confirm. She went on and said it could be a boy, and that she was unsure. SO there. Still 50-50. Unless the technician was really just playing safe.

Now, now, now... we still don't know really. Soon, we have to start baby shopping seriously and we will have to stick with the neutral colours... whites, yellows, light greens, baby blues. Honestly, I am not that fussed now to find out. I don't know when the next scan is. I might ask again if baby is in a better angle. Or, I might not ask. We'll see. Either way, hubby and I will be happy for as long as baby is healthy and normal.

Would you go old school and not find out baby's gender?

Good nights sleep

Every pregnant woman knows how challenging it can be every night to find a good sleeping position. It helps if one invests in a good mattress, with the help of the bed experts one can find solace in sleepy nights. I wish we had consulted an expert when we bought our mattress. I thought I wanted a soft cushion but I just realized I really want a sturdy and firm mattress. For now, I will have to settle with really nice and comfortable pillows. I do hope they sell maternity pillows at the baby show that hubby and I are attending tomorrow.

Firsts, Seconds, Thirds

FIRSTs
1. What's the first thing you do when you wake up? Check the time
2. What's the first thing you wash when you take a shower? Hair.
3. What's the first thing you do when you get in the car? Put my bag in place.
4. What's the first item of clothing you put on when you get dressed? Underwear.
5. What age did you give your first kiss? Late bloomer me... 20
6. What age were you when you first drank alcohol? Officially.. 18.
7. What's the name of your first love? Korean boy
8. Where was your first vacation? Baguio
9. What was your first car? Never had my very own.
10. How old were you when you got your first job? 19

SECONDs
1. What is your second favorite food? Thai
2. What is your second favorite animal? Cat
3. What is your second favorite drink? Iced Tea
4. What is your second favorite song? Too many
5. What's your second favorite store? Coles
6. What's your second favorite saying or quote? It is better to have loved and then lost, than never to have loved at all.
7. What's the second thing you seen this morning? Pillow
8. Name one of your second cousins? Sheila
9. What is the name of your second favorite restaurant? Pancakes on the Rocks
10. Who was your second grade teacher? Dont remember

THIRDs
1. What was the name of your third boyfriend? Hubs
2. Where were you three days ago? At work
3. What's the third job you ever had? Travel agent
4. In high school, Freshman year, what was your third period class? Dont remember
5. What did you do on the 3rd of this month? Eat
6. What will you be doing in 3 hours? Sleep
7. What's your third siblings name? (if you have one) Grace
8. What's your third favorite sport? Nada
9. What's your third favorite car? Benz
10. What is the third thing you thought about today? What to eat.

Shutter dreaming

When I think of outdoor shutters, I think of this really nice beach front hotel in California. I wish I could go and visit that place for real, but for now I am satisfied with just looking at its website! Perhaps one day when I visit friends in the west coast. Meanwhile I will just go back to my california dream about the sun, beach and sand.

Kids at the workplace

Let me whinge for a bit.. Kids at the workplace.. They're so moody, always gossiping, talking about silly things.. Sometimes I don't mind. But sometimes they can get to me when I am not feeling up to it. With kids one would have to adjust to their level. Too much effort sometimes. They take something so small and make it a big deal. Ugh. Life is about other more important things you know. Hay. C'est La Vie.

A new one

Was surfing around and came across LinkFromBlog. I guess I want to be able to blog actively as much as I want again. Maybe in a few month's time I would have a bit more time to do these things which I like. But then again I would not know what to expect once bubba is born. I guess at the end of the day I am just glad to have found an outlet to be able to say what I want, when I want. The rest will just follow suit.

I could get used to this

... Wake up early to cook hubby's lunch

... When hubby leaves for work, I have my breakfast

... Watch news on the morning show

... Check my emails, read, answer messages

... Blog!!

... Call my parents

... Do the dishes

... Clean the house a bit

... Head off to the city to window shop

... Have lunch, maybe with a city friend

... Stop at the park to rest, maybe take a few photos of the flowers

... Do the grocery

... Head home

... Watch dvd

... Siesta

... Cook dinner

... Wait for hubby to get home

... Watch tv

... Have dinner

... Do the dishes

... Sleep

I think I am wanting to be a housewife!!! Oh how I wish!!

(Photo from laynekennedy.com)

Still undecided

I still haven’t found a place to spend a week long ‘babymoon’ with hubby. Initially I wanted to travel about six hours north, and spend some time along the coast. But then given my bigger bump now, I am thinking it could be too long a ride for me. Maybe a maximum of three hours road trip would be fine. Perhaps we could save budget perth hotels for next time, and instead settle to choose from cheap hotels Sydney cbd. I guess just really a few days away to spend quality time as parents to be would be what we are after.

A few months ago I watched this travel show where some hotels do offer special babymoon packages. Some of these packages even included a massage treatment specifically for pregnant women! Writing about this makes me so excited to plan this getaway! I am sure whatever we decide on we will have a great time.