8 Things

Saw this from a friend’s blog. She got tagged. Just wanted to do my own enumeration.

8 Things I’m Looking Forward To

1. CJ growing some teeth
2. My LV bag (from UK, Monogram Neverfull)
3. The new built-in cabinet to be installed in 2 weeks time
4. Buying GAP, Old Navy and Nike stuff for CJ
5. CJ’s 1st birthday celebration
6. Having a baby girl next year
7. Traveling to Hongkong Disneyland with the family
8. Winning the lotto and saving it for the future

8 Things I Did Yesterday
1. Went to work
2. Ate lunch with girlfriends at Mom and Tina’s
3. Got the stuff (party favors) I ordered on line
4. Spoke with my agent at Manulife regarding and educ. plan proposal for CJ
5. Ordered cake at Goldilock’s for my mom’s 60th birthday on Saturday
6. Played with Daddy Cloyd and little CJ till 10pm
7. Surfed the net
8. Watched TV

8 Things I Wish I Could Do
1. Shop everyday
2. Travel every month
3. Take care of CJ 24/7, wahaha! Feeling super mommy!
4. Buy a house (300 sq. meters lot at least)
5. Go to the gym, exercise and get a massage
6. Speak several foreign languages like Latin and French
7. Work from home
8. Eat at Spiral tmrw for breakfast or lunch

8 Shows I Watch
1. Nigella Feasts
2. House
3. Desperate Housewives
4. Handy Mandy (cartoons, I make CJ just listen to this)
5. Disney Playhouse (also cartoons)
6. Only you (Teleserye of ABS CBN)
7. project Runway
8. CSI

 

Halt the travelers!

I texted my travel agent friend the good news that I’m 2 months on the family way.  She was very happy and excited for me.  She had been praying (like everyone else) that I conceive a baby soon, and indeed it was answered.  But you see, I guess it also meant for her “no business with Cloyd and Charity” because I suppose traveling won’t be an option to us for the next 2 years or so.  Actually, the fact that I won’t be traveling for quite some time saddened me.  Not that I like traveling better than having a child, but because it means our happy “couple only” traveling days are over.  Our responsibility now is to our child.  Gone are the days that we would only think and spend money on ourselves.  I will surely miss those days when I and Cloyd would just book a flight, get a tour package and off we go.  Good thing is, we have enjoyed somehow our 4-year honeymoon stage.  We have been to the States, been to various places in Asia and have experienced cruising!  Somehow, these travels made us better persons.  By now, we probably understand each other better.  We probably know how to please each other already and learn to love the idiosyncrasies of each other’s person! And on a more positive note, probably, we have half-fulfilled each other dreams.  Cloyd always says that we were just readied by time and I would like to believe that our castle in the sky has been built in a strong foundation.  Truly, everything happens for a reason.  

 

But back to the point I’m driving at.  It would really be painstaking for us not to be traveling the way we were used to.  Just recently, we were even eyeing Macau as our next destination, until the pregnancy test pack showed two clear lines.  J

 

At any rate, the next time we travel again, we’re not just a couple.  We’re a family!  As to where on earth, what country, what beach or what place will be heading for, via land or an airplane or in a cruise ship, we will have to plan it well, save and set aside enough money for leisure, execute the plan smoothly and enjoy.  By then, no one or nothing else can ever halt the travelers!  Now, that sounds comforting to me!

 

Positive (+)

After four long years of waiting, I am happy to reveal to the world that I’m finally pregnant.  I and Cloyd would like to thank God for this blessing and we are truly happy that God indeed answers prayers in His time.  I wasn’t really expecting the baby at this time.  We had a fertility work –out early last year but we only lasted till the 1^st stage.  I wasn’t brave enough to go through the next stages because of the more invasive procedures as our fertility doctor has explained.  Anyway, I really didn’t keep track of the days.  I got tired of it actually.  I got tired of answering the usual questions too.  “How are you?  May baby na?” “Di ka pa ba pregnant?” “When are you having kids?”  Until early this month, I was wondering why I still haven’t used up the sanitary pad I bought last February.  Then I started counting and told Cloyd that I haven’t had my period.  He told me to buy a pregnancy test pack just to check, I shrugged the idea off thinking my period might come the day after.  He reminded me almost 4 times.  The last time he talked me into buying (we were talking on the cell phone), I was exactly passing thru a drugstore and bought one.  To cut it short, I did the “home” pregnancy test.  I saw the first line appear but waited for a minute or two to see the second line appear clearly.  I immediately called for Cloyd.  He was in cloud nine that he just kept on kissing me.  Of course, I can’t help but be delighted too but I wanted to confirm with my doctor if indeed I was pregnant.  I went to my obgyne the day after and she congratulated me.  I was 6 weeks and 4 days pregnant with our first baby.  Had an ultrasound and saw the little baby’s heartbeat!  I really got so excited.  The feeling can’t really be explained.

 

The first ever to know of the news is of course my family, then I started texting my other relatives and friends.  They were all elated with the good news I’m announcing.  We also checked the Chinese calendar just to see the gender, and according to it, it’s a girl.  Well, let’s see if it’s true.

 

I am not feeling any morning sickness yet and hopefully I won’t.  I am not craving for any particular food too.  I just have to take extra care now and I could only pray for my baby and my safe pregnancy especially that a lot of people have been telling that the first trimester is very crucial.  But I would like to stay very positive about my pregnancy.  I will carry this baby for next 8 months or so with utmost care and a happy disposition, and I will deliver a healthy baby by the end of this year.

 

 

Cruise Experience

  

Charity & Cloyd, cruising!

Early this year, my husband and I were able to experience cruising via Star Virgo, an Asian world-class luxury cruise ship for almost a week. It was a dream that had to wait for four long years since we got married.  As everyone may know, it’s an expensive way of traveling although very unique, exciting and different.  We had to reserve months in advance so we could get early bird discounts.  Believe me, it’s worth it.  I got our package at almost 40% discount.  Good thing, I had a very dependable travel agent.  Thanks to her for concerting all efforts just to put us on the go at the dates that we wanted.    (Leave me a note should you want to get in touch with her.)  We had to reserve the dates where my birthday and our wedding anniversary would exactly fall.

 Anyway, we only got an inside stateroom.  Getting a room with an ocean view and a balcony was way too much.  Our budget might just go ballistic although it could really have been better if we got the rooms with a view.  J  But what’s important was we have a place to retreat when we’re exhausted getting nomadic in the ship.  Another important thing, which I made sure, was the food.  All meals were included and served on board.  The food was just overflowing at Star Virgo.  They have a great selection of restaurants.  They have Japanese, Chinese and Indian restaurants.  Their Mediterranean buffet was superb.  They have an exceptional variety of meals to choose from.  My husband was particularly happy with the overflow of summer fruits like watermelon, honey dew and pineapples.  We never really got hungry.  We even really had to schedule our meals in a way that each meal doesn’t overlap with the next meal.   My favorite was one time when they served dinner near the pool.  It’s like a barbeque party for everyone in the ship and it was a happy site.  They also have this gala night where ship guests are given a chance to take pictures and talk to the captain of the ship and its crew.  Of course, it meant getting dressed up for the gala moment.  It was another noteworthy moment.

The ship’s crew/s were also very gracious and courteous.  We really felt at home.  Take into account that almost 50% of the crew population were Filipinos.  Front liners and receptionists were mostly Filipino.  Luckily, our cabin attendant was a Filipino too.  We were really pampered to the max and I could really say that cruisin’ through the Pacific Ocean was such a breeze! Aside from the endless eating we did on board, there were other fun-filled activities in the ship.  They have the Parthenon pool and four Jacuzzis where you could take a dip.  They have a gym wherein most of the trainers are Filipinos. At the ship’s roof deck, they have the basketball hoops, mini golf area, the tread wall and the disco area when you feel like dancing and grooving at night.  They also have the Lido, where nightly shows are being held.  It’s like a big theater.  On our second night on the ship, the crew did a beautiful musical presentation.  We also had a chance to play Bingo.  Unfortunately, luck wasn’t on our side.  We didn’t win anything, not even a consolation prize.   The countries visited by our cruise were Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.  There were shore excursions offered for the areas of Penang, Port Klang/Kuala Lumpur and Malacca at Malaysia; and Phuket in Thailand.  Phuket was the place I enjoyed the most.  It’s like Boracay but Phuket was more crowded mostly white foreigners.  We also saw the place hit by the 2005 tsunami.  It’s amazing though how fast the place was easily brought to life after the catastrophe.  At Kuala Lumpur, we just saw the Petronas Twin Towers and that’s it.  Well, that would depend I guess on the excursion you’re getting.  Of course, we were on a budget.  I’d like to think that we’d just travel to KL again some other time to really travel around the place. Overall, our cruise experience went astonishingly well.  It actually exceeded our expectations.

Now that I’ve got the feel of if, we just might try a Caribbean or a Mediterranean cruise next time. God willing.  J