Thank You, 2012!

The world did not end last December 21. Coincidentally, it was the same date as our flight to Tacloban, so if the world ended, we would have been up in the air.

As I look back at the year that was, I can definitely say that 2012 was definitely OUR year. We claimed it, and great things happened not only to me, but to the people who are dear to me.

- We transferred to our own HOME last August 2012. Yes, OURS.
- We continued to thrive in our work.
- We celebrated a lot of Rocco's pre-first year milestones!
- A baby who did not give me a hard time during his first year.
- We celebrated Rocco's first birthday with our family and friends in Cebu.
- Both sides of our families came to Cebu for a vacation.
- My brother-in-law got a job at Boeing USA.
- My sister and her hubby bought their own HOME in the USA.
- My parents went to the USA for a month-long vacation.
- My sister-in-law getting engaged.
- Good business for my in-laws.
- My sister finally decided to break free from the corporate world to follow her dreams.
- We've got reliable and caring yayas who look after our son while we're at work.
- Slowly losing the pregnancy weight. Yes, I'm starting to fit in my pre-pregnancy jeans!
- Good health for our parents. My mama and papa are strong and healthy for 64year old grannies.
- Rocco passed his first year with a clean bill of health.
- A great husband who is so supportive and loving.
- A stable and  marriage.
- A happy family.

I cannot thank the Lord enough for all the blessings, and I'm so looking forward to what 2013 has in store for us.

Cheers!

Grandma Marlyn's Happy Birthday

Ever since Sieg and I became BF-GF, my side of the family would always get invited to spend noche buena at Sieg's house because it's also my mother-in-law's birthday. It has become a tradition for 6 years already. Nasanay na din ang family ko kaya we don't prepare anymore for the Christmas Eve dinner, instead we transferred our family celebration to Christmas Day lunch.

For this year, it became extra special because it was Rocco's first time to celebrate the holidays in Tacloban. Everyone was excited!

Meet my mother-in-law, Mama Marlyn. She's the most thoughtful, generous and supportive MIL one can ever have. We are so blessed to have her.

Wonder where Rocco got his chinky eyes? I get asked all time time. Wonder no more. I also found out from my FIL (in red) that Sieg's great grandfather is 100% pure Chinese. Rocco is a 4th gen Yu-Morden (the maiden family name of my MIL) so he may have gotten all the chinese genes.

My son is being dressed up for dinner but he's still super kulit :) 

Our last decent picture for the night. As soon as my family and by husband's relatives arrived, everything was a blur. Plus I was too focused on Rocco not knocking out because he's super likot!

 My family enjoying their dinner. Those 2 grandmas (in eyeglasses and white hair) are my father's sisters. Auntie Esther came home from the US for the holidays and they stayed with us in our house.

With my papa (in black at the back) and mama. Sayang we don't have a decent picture together :(

Happy Birthday Mama Marlyn! 
Wishing you more blessed and healthy years ahead.

Rocco tours Tacloban for the first time!

As if naman madami mapupuntahan :) Because there was a storm from December 25 to 26, we had no choice but to stay home and enjoy the cold weather and enticing bed. Thank you kay Papa God and Mr. Sunshine decided to show up by the 27th.  Since we had no itinerary at all, I made a last minute decision to tour Rocco around Tacloban. Kill time lang before we die of boredom :)

What's a Tacloban tour without stepping on the majestic San Juanico Bridge? Still as beautiful as ever but we were also freaking out because the bridge trembled everytime a big truck would pass by.

We also went to Palo to visit the McArthur Park and the new Oriental Hotel, but first, we had a stopover at the coconut stalls and sipped fresh buko juice.

As usual Rocco was his active and hyper self. Hindi kaya ng powers ng isang tao lang ang magbabantay sa kanya.

Of course we had our group shot taken with Lolo McArthur and his gang.

We then headed off to the newly renovated Oriental Hotel to kill off time while waiting for my side of the family. We planned to visit the Christmas lights in Palo before having our dinner at Ocho. Here's a nighttime shot of the Oriental pool area.

Rocco didn't get tired for a bit even if it was already night time.

 Thanks to Mama Flor, we were able to visit the Saboren Christmas House ahead of everyone else. We were granted a special viewing before the public gate was opened. Ang ganda!

 Here's our group shot. Those two cute girls are my nieces, my kuya darling daughters.

Papa was also with us (the guy in red) though he didn't go inside the house because he was looking after our cars parked outside.

After our mini tour, we headed off to a yummy and sulit dinner at Ocho. By that time, pagoda na kaming lahat, especially me kasi wala akong bitbit na yaya for Rocco, kaya no more pictures.

It was just a mini-tour but it still turned out to be fun, especially because we spent the day with our families :) Till our next vacation!

I'm Back! Backlog Posting before 2012 bids goodbye!

And we're back in Cebu! We've been gone for 9 days. Sa Tacloban lang naman ang dayo namin at hindi kung saan pa. It was a very laidback holiday vacation. Sobrang laidback kasi bumabagyo at ilang sikat ng araw lang ang tumama sa aming mga katawan. I wasn't able to blog at all kasi busy ang aking diwa kakahabol kay Rocco. Kaming lahat, actually. Sobrang likot ng batang ito. Hindi na talaga sya baby!

We arrived in Tacloban last Dec 21. We almost didn't make it to our flight. Pag naiisip ko, nasstress ako kaya lessoned learned talaga. When you have a baby with you, be at the airport 2hours before the flight.

Because both of our families are from Tacloban, we had to plan out where we would sleep on each day, and how much time we would spend with each family. Oo, ganyan talaga ang buhay namin sa Tacloban, parang Nomads. Palipat lipat lang. Pero equal treatment naman para lahat masaya.

After 9 days, we travelled back with 83kilos worth of check-in baggage. Wala pang mga hand-carry yan. NKKLK! Kalahati ata puro stuff ni Rocco. He has a lot of gifts!

I'm still sorting out our things. By tomorrow, everything should be spic and span because we're welcoming 2013 with a bang!

More pics to come!

How was your weekend?

Mine was fun yet tiring! Hubby was and is still sick with flu so he is in isolation from the rest of the family. Mahirap na kung si Rocco ang mahawa because it will be really be hard for him, and for everyone.

Since hubby couldn't substitute for me, I spent the whole weekend running after and playing with my little boy. He is Mr. Energizer! From the moment he wakes up, play agad. Breakfast time is messy and chaotic with food sometimes flying around. I can't be too complacent anymore leaving Rocco in the high chair on his own even if he is strapped because he can still escape and stand on his high chair. Spell D-A-N-G-E-R. During bath time, it's still a riot! Our little boy super loves the water, kahit cold water pa! Kami na ang aawat sa kanya because he might catch a cold being exposed to too much cold water. During changing time, pahirapan! Ayaw palagay ng diapers, ayaw pa tooth brush, ayaw magdrink ng vitamins. Gusto play play play! Gladly though, I just take it all in stride and haven't lost my patience pa naman. Cute kasi! :)

We do have yayas who help us out but I still prefer taking care of Rocco as much as I can. I just hand him to them when I'm taking a bath, or eating. The rest of the time, he's with US. I think this is the reason why despite me being a working mom who is out of the house for 12-13hours a day, but the moment I am in the house, Rocco clings to me. Jelly na nga ang daddy sa sobrang pagka mama's boy ni Rocco :)

Going back, Saturday and Sunday just breezed by, and even if I am trying to be a super mom, I am but human, and I actually heaved a sigh of relief when my son finally fell asleep last night(after a gazillion attempts!!!). Because hubby was sick, he had to stay in the sick room so we won't be contaminated. Rocco must have missed his daddy so much because he kept on calling out PAPA PAPA PAPA non-stop. Napagod nalang ata kakatawag kaya natulog nalang siya :)

Next weekend, we're heading to Tacloban for the Holidays! I'm so excited!!!!