Last Sunday + Halloween Plans

I'm having a lot of fun putting Yuri's "outfits" together now that he's a toddler! Well, compared to other Baby OOTDs, Yuri's are simple to fit his personality. But then, I always try to bring some kind of a subtle "punch" just to make it cute! Also, I love that now, hindi na ako limited to baby clothes. I'm so tired of letting Yuri wear onesies and rompers no!

Last Sunday, here's what Yuri wore:

Shirt: Carter's

Busha pants (Which I got for only P50! Can you believe it?)

Shoes: Children's Place

(Both shirt and shoes I bought from Charles Goodies.)

Sorry, I took the photo before na-plantsa yung shirt. But don't you find it cute? #loveyourown. Haha! But I like how this outfit is sooo comfy and light, perfect for the still-humid morning weather in Davao. But the colors are Autumn-ish, so it fits October well. Yay! Here are more photos of the little boy waiting for us to get dressed:

Bored Yuri

Impassioned Yuri

Engrossed-at-the-TV Yuri

Let me tell you a short story about these shoes. I actually bought this pair almost one year ago, when Yuri was only around 10 or 11 months. I didn't know the first thing about shoe sizes and buying baby shoes online, so I just picked a design I liked in a big size, knowing it will eventually fit Yuri.

I picked a size-7, which was, of course, too huge for Yuri's baby feet. So I kept it in the closet for a while. I almost forgot we had these shoes! Buti na lang pagkakita ko kasya na/ kasya pa kay Yuri. Whew! And I love how it looks on Yuri's feet!

The power of self-timer haha!

Yuri barely smiles in photos, did you notice? :D

Yuri kept running in church:

And in the mall:

Wearing his Crib Couture cap to complete the outfit.

I love the shoes. But the point of the photo above is that abot na nya ang patungan ng paa sa high-chair. Yay! Big boy na. Huhu! #bipolar

So what about our Halloween plans for this year?

We originally wanted to attend SM Lanang Premier's Trick or Treat on the 31st. We headed out last Sunday to look for costumes. However, Yuri got terribly afraid of the costumes. Take note na costumes pa lang yan ha. He was even scared of the pumpkin baskets. Oh noes!

And SM, in my experience, goes all-out pa naman on Halloween. Last year, on this day exactly, we were at Cebu for a mini-reunion. On Halloween Day, we visited SM Cebu. Here are what greeted us:

Super scary, not to mention their costumes smelled foul. Haha sorry, I just have to mention that. The point is, if Yuri got terrified of Toy Kingdom costumes, what would happen if he sees these salespeople walking around the mall? Gah, terrible!

It's a good thing, though, that there's gonna be trick-or-treating in our village. That we'll surely attend! At least, kung matatakot si Yuri, eh di uwi! No pressure. We got his costume na yesterday, and my mom has already prepared a lot of treats. I'll blog about it soon!

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12 Things I'm Thankful For This Year

2012 has been a roller coaster ride for me. No kidding. I started the year very clumsy and bloated; I was already 7-months pregnant with Y when January rolled in. And I was blowing chunks, literally. Apparently, pregnancy does not sit well with my body and I had "morning" sickness all throughout the ordeal.

Then, for the first time ever, I gave birth and became a mom. Y's first months with me were very hard because he had to remain admitted in the hospital. I also had postpartum depression. I used to think it was just baby blues, but looking back, I now know it was depression, which was a result of too many factors - which I won't elaborate any longer.

However, the good things that happened to me this year are far too many compared to, well, the not-so-good things. I'm thankful for so many good things that I don't think I even deserve, but I got, because of God's grace. To sum up this year's blessings, here are the 12 things this year that I'm very thankful for:

12 - I'm thankful for being comfortable in my own skin.

I cut my hair this year, and thanks to a misunderstanding with the parlorista, my hair was cut very short, this short:

Not the most flattering photo of me: taken last April, I think

Sure, for the first few days, I spent a lot of time wondering if I can ever go out again. However, logic got the better of me. Who cares how I look like when I go out? Most probably, people will look at Y (who was just almost 2 months at the time) and not at me.

Then, eventually, I started going out by myself. I don't know how but the simple logic got replaced by self-confidence - which stuck to me until now. Now, I can wear dresses, shorts, anything that I usually am too self-conscious to wear. I'm no longer self-conscious ; I can walk knowing that I look good simply because I feel good - maybe because I know I am loved. :-)

11 - I'm thankful for this blog.

I have been blogging since 2008, but it's only this year that I took blogging really seriously. I'm thankful because this blog has been an excellent outlet for me. Working from home discounts me off the benefits of having someone to talk to (read: officemates), so what I did was talk to this blog. I'm also thankful that I was able to buy my own domain name; even though I don't have a huge readership (yet), just seeing my dot com makes me feel like I really, truly, own this nook in cyberspace.

10 - I'm thankful for knowing who my true friends are.

I have spent most of my college life with a lot of friends and org-mates. Then, when I graduated, my circle narrowed down to a trusted few, with whom I shared my utmost feelings and thoughts. Around August this year, a couple of those trusted friends suddenly stopped speaking to us, and I don't even know why. Seriously, I don't even go outside the house. But I let it go already. If they decide to come back, I'll demand for an explanation, but I'll take them back, like I always do. However, I'm thankful for the handful of friends left with me. We may not see each other often, but I know they'll be there for me when I need them - just like how I'll always be here for them.

9 - I'm thankful for having the capacity and desire to give.

For the longest time, I excused myself from giving to others because I thought I needed help, too. I had this "poverty mindset," where I thought I can't possibly give because I can't even afford the things I like. However, God made me realize that by giving, I become richer. Maybe not in the financial sense, but I become richer because I am able to liberate myself from material possessions and even money.

8 - I'm thankful for having a trustworthy Yaya.

I wouldn't have been able to do or experience half of the things I did and experienced this year without Honey, Y's yaya. I'm thankful for being able to find a yaya that is not only trustworthy, but also loves Y as if he's her own little brother. She's still very young and has a lot of flaws (don't we all?), but I'm really very thankful I have her to mind over my baby while I work - and earn.

7 - I'm thankful for being able to bond with my family.

This year, I was able to strengthen my bond with my immediate family. Frankly, from the time I set foot in the university and until I started working, I barely saw my family. I was always too busy with academics, extra-curricular activities, church (not that it's not important), and my boyfriend. Now that I'm working at home and taking care of Y, I see them everyday. More importantly, I'm now able to "treat" them sometimes, which makes me feel better as the oldest daughter in the family.

Right before we left for Cebu: my mom asks for your forgiveness for still wearing pambahay slippers.

6 - I'm thankful for being able to meet my relatives from Cebu.

While most of our relatives (father-side) live in Cebu, we are raised in Davao City. This means we barely see them. In my case, I never even saw most of my relatives before. So when we had a chance to stay in Cebu last October, I couldn't be more thrilled to finally meet the rest of the Laxa clan. And Y, at the tender age of 7 months, was already able to ride a plane for the first time!

With some of my cousins in Cebu's IT park (tama ba?)

5 - I'm thankful for my ability to breastfeed.

Even when I was still a child, I already had my mind set on breastfeeding my children. I didn't know why; my mom didn't even breastfeed us exclusively. So I guess it's DOH's doing. Good job, DOH! Anyway, I'm very thankful that despite Y's birth mishaps, I am able to breastfeed him with virtually no problems. Sure, it hurt like hell the first time, but I was able to adjust soon enough and we never had a problem with latch. :-)

4 - I'm thankful that I have the perfect job.

I can't be more thankful for the job I currently have. If you read my blog regularly, perhaps you've had enough of me saying that it's everything I could ask for. I've been working in Netsourcephil since July 2011, but I only decided to work with them full-time this year, when I resigned from my office job to take care of Y. And now I know it's probably one of the best decisions I have ever made.

3 - I'm thankful that I am able to "spoil" myself sometimes.

Aside from being able to spend as much time as I like with Y, the other perk of my job is that it pays quite nicely. It has already afforded me a few gadgets, which I all bought on cash basis. While none of my gadgets are considered high-end (hello, I don't even have a single Apple gadget), I value them dearly because I paid for them with my own money.

Yes, I succumbed...

Then, I am also able to shop for things that I don't really need but admittedly want. And I am also able to give other people special treats - or something like that. I do need to avoid being overly attached to material possessions, but I am thankful I can finally afford to buy nice things for myself and for other people.

2 - I'm thankful that I can talk to J everyday.

If I can be granted one wish right now, I would wish that J were here instead of there. However, I can't be more thankful that I met someone like him. He never gave up on our relationship, even though it is too complicated. He makes ways to talk to me everyday, even if that means going out in the rain to "make pa-load." Hehehe. But the simple gestures get to me, you know. And I know I wouldn't have to worry about him because I know he loves me and Y too much.

1 - I'm thankful I can be there everyday for Y.

You wouldn't think I can sum up this year without a special entry for Y, would you? I'm a proud mommy, and I think I have all the bragging rights in the world simply because for each of his milestones, I have been there. I never missed any of his firsts, and I plan to remain standing here, watching and supporting Y, while he does more of his firsts. And for this, I am very, very thankful.

Zip-front Dresses

Ever since I gave birth, I developed the penchant for dresses. I don't know why, but suddenly, I can't leave the house without wearing a dress - and it has to be a girly dress. If you knew me pre-pregnancy, you would know that I'm the type of girl who's okay with shirts and jeans. If I wanted to be dressy, I would slip on a long top and leggings. That's it! But now, it has to be a dress.

Now, dresses aren't exactly the easiest thing to wear when breastfeeding. When I'm with Y, I can only confidently wear a dress when I know there'd be a breastfeeding area (like SM). Imagine pulling everything up when Y wants to breastfeed? I do wear shorts underneath, but the sight is still indecent.

Enter this front-zip dress that I got in Cebu. When we were walking around SM, I spotted Meg, a boutique which I'm pretty sure is not in Davao. I wasn't really planning on buying something, but I found this cute, retro-style dress in a color I love: gray! And what sealed the deal was the front-zip. Here are some photos (albeit unflattering) of me wearing it:

At the airport: The dress is ideal for trips where you use a seatbelt because you don't have to pull anything up. Just cover  yourself and zip the dress open. 

Blurred photo in the hotel room, posing for a full view of the dress. Can you see the front zipper?

And at the lobby, waiting for our sundo. Wala lang.

I'm no fashion blogger; I know. I'm sorry I ambushed you with photos showcasing my thunder thighs and arms. Sorry! Hahaha. The point is that I should have made this discovery months ago. I should have stocked up with front-zip dresses for breastfeeding (and looking cute, too!). Good thing I never bought any breastfeeding dresses.

So to all mommies (and future mommies) out there, you don't need to spend thousands on breastfeeding dresses or clothes. All you need to do is be creative and look for possible alternatives, like front-zip dresses!

The Meg dress above originally sells for P999. It was on sale that day, and I got it for only ... secret! Let's just say that if the dress came in more colors, I would have bought one of each. :D

SM Cebu Breastfeeding Room

Traveling with a baby is a breeze when you are breastfeeding. Well, I don't mean breeze as in easy peasy exactly, but it certainly is a lot easier than traveling while formula-feeding. Imagine having to lug around bottles, cans of formula, water (sterilized, that is), a sterilizer, bottle brush, nipple brush, etcetera etcetera! Imagine the baggage weight!

When we were in Cebu, I didn't have the trouble of having to carry all those things. However, I did have the trouble of having to look for breastfeeding rooms. I mostly breastfed in the hotel room, though, and only carried solid food when we went out, but Y would inevitably crave "boob-time" every now and then.

The Ayalas are one of the successful developers in Cebu. Unfortunately, the Ayala Center is outdated. Not only does it look - and feel - old, there was also no breastfeeding room! When I asked a saleslady where their bf room was, she actually pointed me to the nearby fitting rooms. Oh, the horror. I had to breastfeed in the food court. Which looked like the food court of Gaisano South. I know.

Thankfully, the best mall in the city (me is biased), which is SM Cebu, has one. Apparently, it's also called the "Pink Room." It's located at the second floor of the North Wing - or instead of looking for it by yourself, try to go to an Information Booth for directions. Even I don't remember exactly how I found the BF room. Yes, SM Cebu is that big. 

I'm happy with the breastfeeding room because it is clean and spacious. There are also nurses to attend to your concerns, if you have some. It wasn't as fancy as the one in Abreeza, but I like it better because there are no cubicles. But enough with words, let the photos do the talking. I was alone in the station so I was free to take these pictures:

The station is easy to spot because of the huge sign.

A couple of arm chairs on one side - this is where we sat

And a long "sofa" on the other side

The popular breastfeeding poster just beside the door

A diaper changing station and a sink (with a mirror!)

A couple of wheelchairs

One last picture before we went out

PS: While I prefer breastfeeding in BF rooms, I also am used to breastfeeding in public. I also breastfed in SM food court, as well as some restaurants we ate in and boutiques we entered, with no problem. :)

Cebu City: Day 3

Finally, I'm able to blog again. The parents were at home yesterday and my mom's premenopausal (is there such thing?) attacks kept me busy, while Y is in that stage when he cries whenever I'm not within his sight. I had trouble working straight yesterday, so my blog was left alone. *sigh*

Before I forget though, here are what we did on the third day of our stay in Cebu (October 31). That day was assigned as our "turista day." That means all day, what we did was basically tour around the city and visit the popular tourist spots. The parents have seen them all already (20 years ago), but we were adamant to have our pictures taken. :)

Santo Nino Basilica

Magellan's Cross

Plaza Independencia

Fort San Pedro

We didn't enter Fort San Pedro anymore because it was too hot, my arms were already getting tired of carrying Y, and he was already ready for milk. So, we rode a cab and went to Ayala Center. Until now, I'm still regretting not getting inside the fort. :(

I'll definitely come back though. :)

Cebu City: Day 2

Today's a busy day of getting back to work (and talking to people I referred), but I need to write a blog entry in case I forget what we did in Cebu. Yes, my memory is actually thisshort.

Last Monday, October 29, was our second day in Cebu. That day was reserved for visiting our relatives in Compostela Province. For the uninformed, it is a fourth-class municipality, around 5 cities away from Cebu City. Again, I don't have any photos of our trip to Compostela, but I do have photos of our stay.

We stayed in one of my uncles' beach house. I'm quite reluctant to use the term "beach house" because you may immediately think of grand beach houses with floor-ceiling windows. But technically, it is a house by the beach, so it is a beach house.

It was a big lot, around 1000 square meters, with two little houses where my uncle and the rest of the family stays for vacation. It also has a small nipa cottage and some coconut trees to add to the ambience. It was so charming because the property was directly beside the water so it seems as if the property was built above the sea.

Anyway, let the photos speak for themselves:

Mama and Y by the sea

Helloooo!

View of the sea

Sister trying to do an emo shot - FAIL!

Fat, awkward pose, bad hair -- never mind the subject, the background is better!

The young ones (plus great grand-lola) under a coconut tree

And the "young once" drinking in the cottage

Charming view and wooden fence - kuno

Catching up on 20+ years of no communication

While the kids threw stones at crabs that climb the walls

More laughing

The sea starting to withdraw from the land

A pretty confused Y with one of his lolos

More beach houses by the sea

My sister and her nieces - Hahaha!

Overexposed photo of me and Y

Children and their tactics never grow old. :-)

The notorious Laxa's in Compostela, 50 years later :-)

I wish we can have a bigger family reunion, with everyone from Baguio, Pampanga, Cebu, and Davao. As we Bisaya say, puhon. On the other hand, I pray we will have a house by the sea, too, in the future. Perhaps in Lanuza, Surigao. #alamna