17 days to go!!

Yes, I'm counting down and anticipating with excitement and maybe a bit of anxiety on the delivery of our 2nd baby. Excitement, because it's always a joy to receive God's special gift of LIFE. Anxiety, because I'm not so sure how we can handle two kids at the same time apart from the other responsibilities we are facing. BUt rest assured, we know God's grace is always sufficient to us.

Lately, I have been complaining that I haven't be able to sleep well for the past weeks. Yes, when your tummy is just soo big.It's so difficult to find the right sleeping position with all the heartburn, leg pain. frequent trips to the bathroom and all the other discomforts. Then, our friend told me, "It's ok you'll be able to sleep well maybe after three years!"...hahahah! and yes, that's so true because once the baby is born, maybe then I'll have to wake up every 2-3 hours as I plan to breastfeed the baby..so, bye bye to straight sleeps for now and see you after 3 years..heheheh!

So, 17 more days...and before that, I'm also excited with the arrival of some family members...wow! it'll indeed be a busy week starting next week since our leaders are also coming and Kid's workshop will be starting..but anyways, before the busyness starts...let me just relax myself, surf the internet and chat....

Buko Salad 4ever!

For many months now, I have been craving for Buko Salad from Jo's Chicken Inato from my hometown...Oh, how I would imagine eating that delicious buko salad and been telling my friends and family about it...maybe hoping that they'll send me one!..haahha!Anyways, I always get the same suggestion from them which is, " Why don't you make one?". My husband even suggested that why don't I try the Thai Version of the Halo2?...but I said, never mind..I might just end up disappointed. I also didn't try to make one a few months ago since I'm too lazy and besides ( i thought) some of the ingredients won't be found here.

Anyways, finally..a few days ago..I got surprised when my husband brought home about 10 bukos (green cocomuts)! Actually, a friend gave it to him...and so I got excited and thought..ok, why don't I try to make my own buko halo?..So, we went to Carrefour and managed to buy a buko scraper, evaporated milk, nata de coco, red beans, corn flakes and Swensen's Ice cream (YUM)! My husband is really trying to pamper me esp. with the ice-cream... I told him any ordinary ice-cream will do...but he "forced" me to get the Swensen's one ( to my delight! hehehe!)which is my favorite.

So, the mission to make the BUKO Halo was on....I didn't have ube jam, leche flan and the most important of all..the shaved/crushed ice because our blender just got broken a few days ago ( that's what you get for buying cheap appliances, their lifespan is just so short!) But surprisingly, that didn't dampen my excitement to make the buko halo. So, I just use iced cubes instead..:(

A few minutes of mixing and putting all the ingredients together...tada!! I made my buko halo and had a taste of home.....hmmmmm..yum...never mind if the leche flan, ube and shaved ice were not there..never mind if the thai Nata de coco has this funny jasmine flavor....I was just felt at "home" for a few minutes savoring my own version of buko salad. Even Tricia enjoyed it..actually she just wanted the 'cubes' (nata de coco) and we fought over who gets to eat the Nata de coco first..heheehe! Think..I need to make another one tomorrow..:)

My Little Assistant Part 2

( Wrote a blog about this last night..but unfortunately it was deleted while I was trying to put the slideshow..aiyyooo...)

My Little girl has been quite a help around me these days. The latest 'chore' (but actually more of a "play" ) for her is setting up the table for meals. A few months ago, while we were doing her activity book on Moral Values, there was a portion on how to help the moms at home and one of these is 'setting up the table'. From then on she kept asking me if she could help me set the table. I would just often ignore her offer and tell her that she can do it when she's bigger. ..I was more afraid of the 'damage' her help can bring than good..hehehe! yOu know, the glasses and dishes might end up getting broken and the mess it will make...heheh!

But a few days ago, she asked me again if she could help in setting up the table..but when she asked, she was already ready holding all the spoons and forks she got from the drawer. So, I told myself, why don't I give it a try. So, I put all the glasses, and plates on the main table and asked her bring it in the living room ( which has a lew "japanese table' and within her reach). So, I just left her alone in her task and I saw her happily going back and forth the dining and living room bringing the dishes and utensils while I finished up my cooking. When I went to the living room, I was quite surprised by her 'work". She indeed made a great job! The plates are placed at the middle and the spoon/fork are each side of the plates, the glasses are place on the upper right/left of the plates! She even designated a seating arrangement for us!..hahahah!!

So, for a few days in a row now..that will be her share of help for Amma in the home. I'm quite proud of the level of independence that she now has and also she can share a bit of help for me and her Appa.

Here is a list of her "development" in the "helpfulness" area ( hehehehe) :

1) She's the one who usually closes the gate everytime we come back home. Everytime we get back home she instinctively gets down from the car, runs to the gate and closes it. She loves to do this..you know why???because she rides on the gate while she closes it!

2) We can easily ask her to get anything we forget to bring downstairs from her diapers, milk bottle, her appa's glasses and etc. She happily goes upstairs and bring down what we ask. This one is really a BIG help for me specially I feel so lazy and tired to go up and down with my BIG tummy.

3) Throwing any trash in the trashcan is also her favorite.

4) Now that she's pottytrained. She goes to the toilet all by herself during the daytime. So, she washes her hands to after everytime she does her business. But I need to constantly check her on htis cause she usually ends up playing witht he water and she gets so wet at times.

5) SHe can bathe herself now..but still we don't let her do this often because..it's WATER...and she really loves water and ends up playing..playing..and playing..

6) She cleans up..after she plays..that is putting al her toys inside the basket, her crayons inside the box and etc. This is one task that I think she dislike because, it means that her playing time is over..so, she really procrastinates doing this.

6) Then the latest, she can sleep in her own room now. We still read stories for her and be with her before she dozes off...but after that she sleeps all byherself in her own room and jsut see her in the morning. :)

Ok..that's all for now..how i wish that on my next list I could include : She could wash the dishes..she could iron the clothes...she could clean the house..hahahah! just kidding!! I'm not a slave driver...I'm just trying to help my girl develop in this area, but according to her own timetable and as long as she's having fun! Coz anyways, she still is a child. It's just amazing to see how my little girl is growing up so fast and being a little help to me even at this stage.

My Little Assistant...

Tricia's Corner

Finally, after months of thinking and planning to set up Tricia's room, we've done it! It's quite an accomplishment for me and Jesu especially when we don't have much time ( and not to mention: budget..heehe) to spare to work on it.

So, came Thursday, when we didn't have any classes at the Center, so Jesu started to paint her room pink (yes, as most girls, her favorite color is pink and specially requested to have a pink room). We managed to borrow a special roller brush too that makes star, moon patterns when you roll it. Months earlier, we already found some sale items like a small pink rug, piglet lamp,pink sheets and etc. We actually bought all these things slowly, like 1-2 items a month to suit our budget.hehehehe! The highlight of the things we bought was a cute pink dressing table which was 80% discounted sale at Carrefourre! I think it was originally 1,000 baht something, then lowered to 700 baht then finally for 200 plus baht. Oh, we how we had trouble hiding all these items coz we wanted her "finished" room to be a surprise for her.

So, today was the opening day for her room. Words couldn't express the joy on our little girl's face. Of course, the stage parents were also so happy to see such excitement. I realized how funny stage parents like us can be , because we deliberately planned everything ; the day and the timing (plus prepared all the documentation hahahah!) for such opening day.

Click on the link to see video:

http://leonettelalaine.multiply.com/video/item/7/Tricias_New_Room

Still have to put up a sign "Tricia's Corner" as requested by the room owner.

The small pink room..

Her favorite part of the room...her dressing table.

ngdinalaga na si Ate Tricia!

So, after the 'opening ceremony'. Our little girl thanked us so much and even prayed and thanked God for her new room

Excited!!

Our little Tricia is just so excited for "tomorrow" to come. She just couldn't wait for her suprise..Actually, it's no longer a surprise as we already told her what's coming tomorrow. She's going to have another rabbit! Hahahah! I just truly hope this time the rabbit will survive and live a long, healtly life. :)

Actually, we are not buying a new rabbit ( as her pet rabbits died only a week after we bought them) but we are adopting one for a year. The owners of this rabbit will be going back to England for a year and that's why they were looking for some "home" for this poor creature. It just so happened that they got to know that our little daughter loves to have one. And they themselves are so thankful and happy that their pet has found a home. Hmmmm.... I jus treally hope that we can really take good care of this one. heheheh! But I think there isn't much to worry since this rabbit is already grown and it has her own big cage.

I think I'm excited too and looking forward to see the expression of my little girl. :)

I'll post photos soon..

The Last Wedding...

Last week we went back to Jesu's hometown to attend his brother's wedding. Jesu will never fail to mention with emphasis that it's the LAST wedding in his family...hmm...it must be an Indian thing, coz for our family, our wedding was the LAST one but I''m not sure if everyone had that in mind or maybe everyone was just too busy preparing for the wedding itself.

Anyways, so as promised to the Groom I volunteered myself to personally bake the 'goodies' to be given away to the wedding guests - BROWNIES. My sis and I also baked some brownies for our wedding in Malaysia..and from then on, the brownies as wedding give aways became an instant hit..so I also did for Susan's wedding ( jesu's sis) last year and this year, with my Big tummy I baked for Francis' wedding. Baking goodies to be given for Indian weddings is no joke..in the Philippines, we normally have 100 plus guests..but Indian weddings can range frm 500-1000 guests! So, the day before the wedding I did my task of baking...I got a lot of help from Jesu and Susan..but I think baking more than 10layers of brownies is such a big task for a 7 and a half month preggy mom, because starting that night, I was having pain in my tummy...It was not that serious..so the next day, I still helped out decorating the Bride and grooms room. Cut the letters and hearts, painted them and put them up on the wall..well, i really must have thought I'm some kid of superwoman..hehehe!...but on wedding night itself, I started to feel more pain in my tummy.. this time, the pain was a sharper and piercing kind of pain on my lower abdomen. First, my tummy would contract then the pain would start. This time I was really worried. I couldn't enjoy the wedding reception anymore because I was alwasy thinking that what If my baby will come out earlier than expected??!!...The pain was becoming more regular and there will be more pain whenever I stand up and walk. I also didn't want to time the interval of the pain because I was afraid that if it's indeed regular then maybe I have to go to the hospital! Still I managed to smile and talk to some people. Good thing I was able to talk to one of the family's relataive ( Susan's sis-in law) who's a nurse. Didn't know then that she's a nurse. She asked me a lot of questions regarding my pain and when she asked me if I'm having back pain, and I said "NO"...then, she felt relieved and said, I just need to rest.

SO, praise God,...when I laid down and rested the pain indeed subsided...and praise God my baby wasn't due to come out yet..heheheh!

Well, a lot of other things happened for the wedding..but as for me,,,that was the highlight of the occassion..hahahah! I just thank God that my baby is still here tucked in my tummy, safe and secure and will only come out as skeduled..hehehe!:)