Change is Coming : The New Me!

Hello, pretties!

Although I hibernated from blogosphere for 2 years, I was able to be active on my other social media accounts.  I was able to change my Instagram username into babiesbooksandlollipops.

What made me change my username? 

After giving birth to our second kid, a baby boy, and while contemplating what to do during my more-than-2 months of maternity leave, I had more time browsing and updating my Instagram account.   Aside from taking care of the newborn baby, his Ate and the husband, at the same time juggling house chores despite the presence of a house helper, I was able to take time reading my dusty books piled in the corner cabinet of our house that were not touched for the past months because I always felt tired and sleepy during my entire pregnancy.   It was also during these period that I was able to eat all the sweet foods I would want to eat (I was deprived on these during my pregnancy because I was having gestational diabetes.)  The husband has been so generous to provide me with these.

Back From Hiatus : My Personal Struggle

Hello, pretties!

It's been almost 2 years since my last blog post here.  Although I made a commitment to give blogging a priority, I could not help but to set aside this due to several personal issues.

Four years ago, our loving mother suffered a very rare disease called cerebellar degeneration.  Mother physician first gave a diagnosis of mild stroke due to her trouble in speaking, walking and moving.  We have tried all the medications and therapy necessary for her recuperation.  But after 5 months with no improvements on her condition, we seek for a second opinion.  There we discovered that she has been suffering from cerebellar degeneration. 

You may ask, what is this disease?  Cerebellar degeneration to be understood by non-medical individuals is the state of cerebellum becoming degenerate or deteriorate.  In the case of our mother, her cerebellum shrink to a size of a 3-year old kid.  And once the brain, the cerebellum in her case, is damaged or deteriorate, there will be no chance for it to be repaired back to its normal size

My First (& Definitely the Last) Salad Box Experience

Okay, so I also joined the hype on subscription boxes.   Just to also feel the excitement of waiting for the box to arrive and what's inside it.   

So here's my story : I searched through the internet and asked fellow bloggers what's the best subscription box so far.   To make it short, I subscribed to a Salad Box 3-month starter plan and BDJ Box which the Bellas from BDJ confirmed that I am included on their August subscribers.   I was able to place my Salad Box subscription on June 23, 2014.   I was able to to follow-up through email asking the schedule of my box to arrive or as to the month of subscription.   I received a confirmation from Salad Box's operations associate that I am in line with the trio box lot which is SkinFood, Regatta and Runway Ready boxes and they are on its way already.  I was a bit curious why I will be having a trio box lot but anyways I disregard it due to excitement again!

Finally, my box arrived in my office.  I was a bit tempted to open it but I still remind myself not to do it. (That's me being so excited...)  So, I went home and quite frustrated upon seeing that they already sent me the three boxes intended for a 3-month plan.  As stated on their website :

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SaladBox Starter Plus
Overview. The best way to start up on a SaladBox subscription. Three months for PhP1,500.
Modes of Payment. The Starter Plus Plan can be paid via bank deposit or electronic cash (Globe GCash).
Cancellation. This Plan will automatically be canceled after the third month.

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I am expecting that they will deliver the terms as stated on their website.  It is clearly stated that the starter plan is good for three months and will automatically be canceled after the third month.  So, where's the third month here since I received all the three boxes on the first month?  So disappointing, very disappointing and deceiving...

 

Anyways, what's more frustrating is that they sent me boxes intended for the months of March, April and May subscriptions.  I already read unboxing posts from fellow bloggers of their March, April and May SaladBoxes.  And upon seeing the items, the excitement's gone.   Okay, so the SkinFood box is such a good catch.   But the Regatta items?   Hello, summer's over, long gone.   I received the boxes on July 10, 2014 and the boxes I received are boxes dated four months ago.   What are these?  Left-over boxes for those unlucky individuals?  I paid for a subscription box intended for three months but I did not deserve to receive three outdated boxes from you, guys.

Gardening : Pure Relaxation

Gardening has been a therapy for me; a way to release all the stresses and demands from office works.  Well, of course, aside from cuddling and kissing my little girl, gardening relaxes me and brightens my mood.

Ornamental plants in different colors...

I grow up seeing my parents' interest on gardening.  They used to tell me to help them maintain the garden or help in the gardening chores whenever there were new plants.   However, I used to tell them that I was not born to plant or rather I don't have a "green thumb", for that matter.   Haha!   It's just me being lazy.  I would rather sit or lie on the couch, watch a TV show or read a book.   (Imagine a middle child's life where the older siblings being so responsible in almost all the household chores including gardening.)   So to make the story short : I have now my own family with our own home.   It would be so dull and boring if I went out of our house or just peek out of our window and look at our yard that's so empty : no plants or flowers; no greens or yellows or reds growing in our yard.  

So I have to face a big challenge here : TO REALLY KNOW IF I HAVE THAT "GREEN THUMB".

A Letter to my Daughter : You Are Always LOVED!

How can I stop the clock?   It seems that my baby grows fast and I can't help but to enjoy every moment that I can still cuddle her, carry her in my arms and kiss her endlessly without her refusal or rejection.  

Now, I will take this moment to write this article for my baby (and hope she'll read this in due time).

To our little one,

I would forever call you baby.  I know there will come a time that hearing this from me would bring a frown on your face or you'll tell me that you are a big girl already.  (Actually, just a week ago, I was carrying you in my arms while kissing your neck that you blurted, "Mama, put me down because I am too heavy already.  I am already too big to be carried."  This made me sad... only for awhile..)   But I will never get tired calling you my baby. 

A real sweetheart...

Our journey together has been so overwhelming, rough, challenging, inspiring, beautiful and chaotic.  Actually, no adjective could best describe our journey together.   A journey of endless possibilities, of so many surprises, of so many emotions and learning.

Your first twelve months has been a discovery of firsts.  Not only your "firsts" but also mine as well.  Your first cry, your first yawn, first word, first solid food, first step and more.  My first breastfeeding journey, my first cradle with a super tiny creature, my very first significant accomplishment as a woman and so many firsts.   

As months became years, I discovered that  this little creature creates a big happiness in our hearts, in our home.   It is also a discovery that this little creature teaches me so many lessons in life and made me discover my potentials.   While teaching you how to talk and walk, the shapes and colors and the ABCs; you are also teaching me to become a better person worthy to be called as your ultimate role model.   While teaching you how to say your name; you are also teaching me to be patient and to be dedicated to my goals.   That while I teach you how to sing the Barney song, you are teaching me how to enjoy life in its simplest form through the simple things it offered.   While I teach you how to pray your first prayer, you are also teaching me how to pause for a moment despite the busyness of life and thank God for everything.  That while we watch your favorite movies like Dora, Barbie, Lorax, Despicable Me, Barney and so much much mooooore; you teach me the absolute value of quality time spent with our family.   That while you demand to eat pastries and other sweets that we bought in stores; you made me realize that I should learn how to cook and bake for my family.   That while your fascination on bows, hair clips, head bands and ribbons grows; you teach me to be creative so that I could personally make your own bows, head bands and hair accessories.   While you enjoy wearing my high-heeled shoes; you made me realize that material things does not last and what matters most is to enjoy every moment of our life.   That while I do my gardening and you do your "play-with-sand-and -stones gardening"; you teach me how to pause, breathe and get your hands dirty to enjoy life.   By teaching you the values needed to be a good Christian; you are also teaching me to be true to my words, to be more cautious on my actions and to set a good example to you.

Separated : Our First

Being a career mother, I always make it a point to stay away from possible appointments and activities that would lead me to not sleeping at home during nighttime.   With our little girl still breastfeeding and would not be able to sleep at night without me on her side, these situations left me no choice.

But now, I could no longer escape from certain responsibilities at work.   I was told that I will be attending a 5-day seminar-workshop and this means to be separated from my little girl during sleeping time since the venue is a 2-hour travel from home and the activity ends at around 7 PM.

Thoughts of an Expectant Mom

Being pregnant is one of the most wondrous and magical adventures that I ever experienced.   With my ever-supportive husband, I enjoyed the intimacy between me and my baby for nine months.  All throughout the process, everything grows rounder and wider and weirder, and I sit in the middle of it all and wonder who in the world our baby will turn out to be.  I looked forward to our baby’s arrival in this world with huge anticipation.  I longed for the day when I can finally physically carry our baby in my arms and look at our baby in the eyes.

THE MOTHER

Name : Carmela

Age : 29

Place of Origin : San Jose, Antique

THE FATHER

Father : Kenneth

Age : 30 

Place of Origin : Malaybalay, Bukidnon

  

 SO, IT’S CONFIRMED!!!   POSITIVE!!!!