Riley's Day Out!

Every time we went out, it is always me who was accompanied by Riley and not the other way around. I mean, he patiently wait for me while choosing clothes to buy, or pay our telephone bills, or meet with friends, or run my errands. I feel I am not honoring Riley's need to explore and enjoy himself! Puro na lang si mama may lakad at tiga tingin lang siya! Kaya naman itong lakad na ito ay PARA talaga sa kanya. At sasamahan lang namin siya! :)

san kaya kami punta?

go go go riley!

riley, the explorer

doing some window shopping

at Jolibee while he enjoys eating his favorite chicken nugget

your smile is more than enough to show you enjoy your day!

I promised we will do this often! muah!

My Year End Report

2011

my 2011 has been: 

- happy 

- a revelation 

- finding new passions in life - teaching, photography, baking 

the most memorable events that happen in 2011: 

- reunion with daddyko 

- riley's first bday 

- resigning as cad operator and having a new job as a teacher 

people that inspired my 2011: 

- riley (my iba pa ba!) 

- yeng 

- ina 

major purchase this year: 

- dslr 

- nokia e5 

- my electric oven 

2012

what i want to learn this coming year: 

- learn to drive 

- learn photography more 

- and learn to have lotsa lots of patience! 

what i want to achieve this coming year: 

- ride an airplane (sakay lang pro hndi lilipad. Aheheh) 

- save atleast 70 k (in peso yan pro pwde rin in dollars) 

- reopen and reinvent my online business R little shoppe 

what do i see myself this coming year: 

- more confident 

- more sociable 

- having a healthier lifestyle 

my new year's wish for our world: 

peace, love, and unity! :) 

Happy New Year Everyone! 

A Pink and Merry Christmas

In honor of the newest member of our family, Nyanne, we are wearing pink this Christmas!

Our day started out just fine

But Riley's mood is up and down

    

good mood :)

bad mood :(

 

good mood :)

bad mood :(

Oh well! Riley is just overwhelmed when our house is filled with people he's not familiar with. But it's nice to see friends, relatives, and inaanak again!

his very kind Lola Noemi

with my kumares and kumpares and my inaanak

im happy they like my chocolate candies :)

sleeping Riley with my inaanak shane

my youngest inaanak Allaine is also wearing pink! :p

My family on NZ. I miss you all guys! We used to have a blast during Christmas time.

And to you my cute love, I hope to meet you in person! Muah!

Merry Christmas To Us!

a new book, a straighter hair, new lens for my camera, a new eyeglass, and new clothes.
It is indeed a MERRY Christmas to me!

Cliche as it may sound but I waited 'till Christmas to buy and do all these pampering to myself.  I'm not being materialistic but this is my way of rewarding myself. I've been neglecting myself for many months now because 1. my time is consumed taking care of my son all day 2. I only spend money for milk, diapers, vitamins and other things that my son needs and 3. there is no one to improve my look for. :)

But I know, before I can teach my son the importance of self worthy, it should start with me. We shouldn't forget or take for granted our own personal being. May it be a makeover or buying that beautiful dress that flatter you're body or having that relaxing massage and a day in the spa you've been wanting for so long. Go on indulge yourself! Whatever your heart desires, follow it! No one deserves it more than us, my fellow moms! As long as its within our budget, be guiltless of spending a little for yourself.

♥ i love my gifts for myself! ♥

Being beautiful outside is not a bad thing. As long as you know how to groom your inner beauty as well. And with that, we can still help and donate to our fellow Filipinos in Mindanao region due to Bagyong Sendong. I know everything would be alright in due time. Whatever happens, whatever problems we're going through, in good times or bad, we can still all have a Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas to US! Cheers! :)

Christmas Goodies

This Christmas I'm giving away sweets, chocolates, and candies! And not just for the kids but for the kids at heart as well! :)

Christmas goodies, anyone?

yema square

chocolates

candy chocolates

and candies that my son helps me to pack!

a simple gift to show appreciation for all the love that Riley gets :)

Christmas is the season of giving! Have a Merry Merry Christmas! and Hope you like our gifts! Love, Joyce and Riley :)

My Happy EVEN After :)

I am a solo parent. Not by choice but by chance. My partner is working abroad and so I was left with the responsibility of raising our son alone. When I see a family, complete and happy, I get jealous. I wish Riley's father is here...

There are times I feel defeated when I hear gossips about me. People can really be harsh (and creative) when "making" a story. It just makes me sad when the story turns out with me ending as the loser. Now, define loser: loser is someone who loses. But when people call you a loser, it means you're either unsuccessful, or hate your life & what you have become, unable to think for yourself and others, and you're going nowhere in life. (from answers.yahoo.com)

Am I a loser? I don't think so!

(kung loser magkaron ng gwapo at makulit na anak, cge LOSER na ko!)

My source of strength

My happy even after starts with me. It starts in my outlook in life, my beliefs, my principles, my own self being, my self worth, my compassion, my faith. My happy even after starts today. It starts with me completely happy even if it is just me and my son. The two of us together. The two of us caring for one another. The two of us loving and needing each other. JUST the TWO of us. For now. :)

"A charmed life

starts with a choice, 

not a prince"

(from Happy Even After)

all i want for Christmas........

is YOU!!!!!

New Babies bring back Memories

New babies bring back memories. Good one actually. The giving birth, the labor, the joy, the love. And with every new cute and adorable baby that is born, is a mother whose journey is about to begin. I remember my story, I woke up around 3 am. I pee and I thought its just the usual contractions. Then just as I was about to go back to sleep, a whooshing sound and felt like a quick gush of liquid happened. A steady stream going down my leg. I am not sure yet if that was my water bag, so I waited a little. And when the pouring didn't stop, I awakened my sister Janice, and went to hospital. All throughout the ride, I was panicky. AKALA ko kasi, pg pumutok na ang water bag, kasunod n ang baby. hehe. Yun pala it takes hours (in some cases days!) before the baby would come out. So at first, "ay hindi naman pla masakit manganak. oa lng ung ngkkwento n masakit. mga chicken lang sila!" But as the labor and the contractions and riley's eagerness to come out of my small belly heightens, YUN NA! I was screaming in pain! LOL. The doctor was like "o isang ire na lng, o isa pa ayan na, o isa pa, and so on and so on." I thought it wouldn't stop. Until finally, she lay Riley in my tummy, I was high with the medicine they give me, but I remember everything. I remember I was carefully patting his head and saying over and over and over again "hello riley" Then at the room when they brought my son, I look at him carefully examining him and blurted out "bakit ang laki ng bibig nya?" lol. But nonetheless, I knew I would love him for the rest of my life, no matter what he looks or be like. Finally, I get to meet him. Ah, memories.......:)

hi! my name is riley! i've been hospitalized my first day in the world because of a blood infection :(

but I bounce back and became healthier ( i don't want to worry mama :)

and mama says i look like daddy in this picture :)

After one year, 2 months, and 14 days, here is the boy I carry in my womb for nine months. Not so tiny and fragile baby anymore. A kid who is not afraid to conquer the world!

i like to play and walk and help mama a lot!

mama likes taking my picture. sometimes i have to put up a smile :)

On that note I would like to congratulate my cousin Fatima and Kris, my cousin's wife Che, and of course our one and only ate who is now a proud mama of Nyanne Regine! Nadagdagan ang mga mga cute babies s mundo! Hehe. Congratulations to your wonderful and super cute babies! I can imagine how happy you all are, just like me when I finally have Riley in my arms. :)

"Babies are always more trouble than you thought -- and more wonderful."

Breaking Dawn Part 1

Finally, I've witnessed another great movie yet again. I just have to watch BREAKING DAWN in the big screen. I decided that I HAVE to watch it even if I'm alone. My friends and fellow twilight buddies Roselyn and Grace are busy so I have to do it myself. This is a first for me. Twilight, I watched with an ex bf. New Moon, with Gian. Eclipse with Rose and Grace. Breaking Dawn, me, myself, and I. :)

But that didn't stop me from enjoying the night. The movie itself is soooo good! I hate to admit it, but at the talk about wedding of Edward and Bella, I shed some tears. I was just so happy for both of them. Lol. It's hard to choose a favorite part, 'coz I love the whole movie. The wedding, the honeymoon, the wolves, and of course, the last part where sleeping Bella transform to a beautiful vampire. Books are better than movies. But in Breaking Dawn's case, I love both!

I'm excited for the part 2. For now, I would have to wait for Bella's comeback as a vampire. And Renesmee and Jacob. And all the vampires and wolves. And of course the Volturi. Weeee!!! I look forward to that!

PS: Thank you to my mom in letting me have this "me time" and understand my LOOOVE for this film. Her only concern is if its safe to watch movie alone. And I assure her that I'm big, er, old enough to take care of myself :)

Twilight

New Moon

Eclipse

Breaking Dawn FEH-VER!

HEHE, This is the real Bella. my girl crush.

my passport

Yesterday, a college friend of mine posted picture of their passports and saying something about going to Singapore. My mind then wander about my past. Did you know that I almost went to Singapore for my OJT? That was 2004. Our school offered an ojt to Singapore and I was one of the students who applied for the training. Luckily, I passed and was ready to go. All documents are ready including my passport. But the offer came a little too late. At that time, we're in the middle of the semester and I got worried  scared that if I did go to Singapore, I won't find any group mates to our thesis when I came back after a year. Silly, coward me! I wasted an opportunity because of my fear of being left alone. That's just me back then. I always rely on someone and have no sense of independence. Sometimes, I wish I had the mind of a thirty year old when I was in my teens. But then, I wouldn't be who I am today if that is the case, would I? It's ok because I strongly believe that everything happens for a reason. Anyway, that supposed to be OJT is one of my regrets in life.

That leads me to my passport. I have it for almost 7 years now but no, it got nothing but a blank page! I had the green version and the brown one when I renewed it. I thought I finally got to use it on my way to New Zealand but instead Riley came. Another missed opportunity but NOPE I'm not regretting that! Riley is the best thing that ever happened to me and life is much more full of adventure when you get to be a mother! :) But now that there's a little kid to tagged along, I'm much more determined than ever to use this passport! 

When Riley is big enough to travel, I PROMISE we will go and ride an airplane! I promise to bring him to Disneyland. And we will go to every country that has a Disneyland! I'll let him experience the wonder of traveling. Someday......soon....... :)

Year of expiration: 2015. Please, please let me use it before it expires AGAIN! ^_^

my little "BIG BOY"

Dear riley,

I can see by the look of you that you're going to be a an adventurer. When you walk, you're not afraid to fall. And when you do fall, you seldom cry. I think you are more afraid of losing sight of me and your lola for a second than getting hurt. You're not afraid to touch and chase the cats. They're much scared to you than you to them. You are not afraid of climbing stairs. You are not afraid of dark. Or even when you are alone in the dark (as long as there something that caught your attention there). You are not afraid when we lift you up in the air or when I carry you on my back or when I turn you upside down. In fact you enjoy all of them! I have a feeling you're the kind that is not afraid to ride a roller coaster when you grow up. The kind that will go mountain climbing and love the outdoor. The kind that will go on bungee jumping or skateboarding or any of those extreme sports. I feel that you're going to be a man whose not afraid to try new things. The man who's always up for challenges. You wont be afraid of the hard work or a hard life. I have a feeling you would grow up to be MUCH more like your father. And I have this feeling that I'm gonna be more scared when that time comes.

Oh my little big boy. Every day you became more and more independent. You're becoming your own person now. I can see it. I can see your desire, your curiosity, your courage to do and explore things. You seem to be in a hurry to do all the things by yourself. I know it's normal. But right now, just be my baby. You will learn all the things you wanted to do at the RIGHT time. Don't grow up too fast. And please take EXTRA care of yourself.

ok?

Love, mama

i love halloween!

I love Halloween! From now on, it will be right next to Christmas and New Year as my favorite holiday. :) There's something about dressing up and making costumes that makes me super excited for my boy! Hehe. It's so fun watching kids in their costumes of scary and fairy tale characters that they choose to imitate. I really wish Trick or Treat in the Philippines would blossom and that EVERYONE would participate. It doesn't need to spend a lot of money in your costumes, the only thing we need is our imagination and creativity!

Riley as "little devil" & me as "mickey mouse" (duh!)

My mom as a witch

Rapunzel

witch

a cute bumblebee

minnie mouse

a princess

a "possessed" spiderman :p

astronauts

a lost fairy

AND

Riley (again) as Lt. Riley "the soldier" :)