September to Remember

1 year...since the last time I have updated this site! In fact when I tried to log in, I had a draft from last year I didn't even managed to finish. How are you holding up? This Corona virus thing has reduced us into work from home employees, well at least most of us are in wfh set-up or better yet work from anywhere at home, living room,  dining room, garden area, or bedroom- ha! living the dream. So for us, things are better than they were..2020 was more than just a Covid-19 year, because 2020 we found out that we were expecting! Yes indeed a blessing in these times!

The How I Told the hubby

Ok ok before I go into the details of my pregnancy journey, let me tell you how I shared the news with Daryl. September's indeed a month to remember. I did my test twice in the morning for 2 day straight to be sure. The second time the 2 lines appeared I was shouting in my head! So I went back to the room, not sure how to tell so I sat beside the sleepy husband, and quietly asked if he is even ready to become a tatay. Still in his dreamland state he opened his eyes not sure if he even heard me. When he saw the test and realizing what it was, he sat upright, and almost instantly, he had this huge smile. We hold hands for a while, then he hugged me..no words. I guess that's what happens when something so enormous as this news comes up. There were no words enough to express the certain bliss and happiness the heart contains. Then almost suddenly, Daryl dashed out of the bed- to the bathroom!!! Pretty much romantic then turned frantic! He came back after a while and we stare some more at this thing, both teary eyed, and I remembered him asking, is this for real? From romantic to frantic then its melodramatic, quite a pattern. 

The next hours when reality has sinked in, we were booking appointments to see a doctor first and foremost! Grateful to have this mobile app so my first appt. at TMC-Ortigas was confirmed immediately.

This is it

I can't even begin to tell how my first appointment gave us the scare of our life, the first TVS result came in that there was no fetal heartbeat (yet)  and we were advised to do a repeat test the following week. We asked also the opinion of Daryl's sister, Nang Dyan  also an OB-Gyne and she advised the same to just to be on the safe side. The entire week we had to wait for the retest was the longest week ever!  I don't know how I came through the ordeal of waiting. I  remember a word I read from my reflection to be just Pray-very from words prayer and bravery. Praying the hardest when its hardest to pray.  I trust the Lord and claim that this blessing is meant to be.

So came Thursday for the retest, and finally- that tiny blip on screen was sure enough to bring me to tears, I was choking up when my OB asked me if I'm even ok. By the time we finished the check-up, Daryl was eagerly waiting outside, and when I told him about baby's heartbeat, he fell on the chair- almost crying and let out a  big sigh of relief! Dinaig pa ang walling grabeeee! Trust Daryl to always make everything so dramatic. 

The How we told the Family

So here comes birthday weekend and we wanted to share the good news! Daryl suggested we make it something special, so we ended up making a short video which we uploaded on family's VC. Soon after we shared it, we were on messenger call and congratulations poured in- oh this is the best birthday gift so far. So touched of family's love and support! See video below:

Our baby announcement video! 

Starting Anew

So pretty much my life these days includes bathroom trips more than thrice at night, waking up feeling exhausted more than ever, cravings- and more cravings. I would blog my experience for my own sake, just to record my entire pregnancy journey. This is such an exciting time for me and Daryl as first time parents. I'm counting the days until every milestone achieved as I grow this baby inside me, and looking forward to the day I could finally hold this human. 

Love and light,

itsmelory (^.^)

Quarantine et Quarantreats

With everything that's happening these days..sometimes I still need some pinching, is it for real? I remember only February this year I woke up excited while preparing to be finally moving in, and the last thing I knew, the world shifted to something really new. No more waking early to get to work, traffic is bearable the least, check points,barricades, police everywhere, no people flocking to the malls, coffee shops are empty, people concerned about hygiene and when that sounds like heaven, it has also some repercussions: no more travelling outside your city, no more get-together, no more celebrations, no handshakes, no hugging, no kissing. Everything that we always do to intimate and gather now everyone do separate and scatter. Let me share a rundown of our pre-quarantine to lockdown days and how we spent our days working and being at home! 

Valentines Day

First quarter was a milestone, our 2nd valentines date with a simple dinner, window shopping for plates and glasses, table covers etc. (yes very much adulting) then coffee afterwards. We also welcome the newest member  of the family- Summer the fluffy, hyper, golden retriever. I remember writing about it before when I recall the fond memoirs  of our old aspin Shanshan here.

I LILY love you, but buuuuut now accepting potted plants and greens too!

I guess I will miss eating out, ok tbh not much

Throwback: Here's a captured photo of what I wrote on my blog.  

Here's the 8-week-old fur baby we named Summer.  

The warm memories of our childhood,  summer days were about playing and having fun.  Better days in summer days...that's exactly what we named her for.

Finally Home 

Come February, we finished packing our bags, bade goodbye to our apartment neighbors who turned friends and drove to what we could finally call our "home".  The past months we have spent our weekends setting up the place, it was exhausting physically and financially but it was all worth it. Thank God for your grace! So the first 2 weeks being at home went very well, except that the Summer was a bit stressed with the new environment, and that we are away most of the day when at work. I feel sad every time we had to leave her behind, but guess no choice. By 1st week March, the quarantine news was looming in, but initially we were planning to have our house blessing. We decided to move ahead with the house blessing by mid of March.  

Thank God we did,  because the week after, the city was under locked down.  

Picture with Fr. Eric after the blessing. Grateful that family was able to graced that 

simple thanksgiving! 

House blessing gift is the best! Hand made gift from Lee, thank you dear babe

The start of Quarantine 

The first few days dragged so slow, it was quite a change! I remember waking up thinking what's going to happen now? It felt like I have withdrawn from something important, I didn't know how and where to begin and it feels unreal that that this is how its going to be in the next days. 

Finally, when reality settled in, I've come to accept this truth. This pandemic is real and deadly, staying home is the safest thing to do. Thankfully , I read online how to kick off work from home scheme, starting with setting my area for work. So feeling refreshed, I set-up my work station, near window because I enjoy a good view as well an alcohol within reach, but not the alcohol you have in mind. 

Working from home is the new norm, 

I could work in my comfy pambahay! How cool is that?

And of course, books keeps my mind away from all these stressful news. 

Sometimes I wear my on-site shirt less the hard hat of course 

to keep the motivation, also an eyebrow and lipstick to complete the look! 

So after a while I have my new morning routine, a mandatory 30 min walking-running with Summer, prepare breakfast afterwards and start work by 830.  Somehow by 2nd-3rd week we managed to adapt to the new normal, since we were still advised to WFH. What felt weird first turned well because somehow I enjoyed the idea of working home. Imagine being  able to work in my comfy short and shirt,  make my own coffee, share lunch with the hubby except of course if internet is being a pain! Afternoon strolls after work with Summer, I didn't imagine that I would be doing this on a weekday when I'm used to coming home late, oh how grateful I am indeed. Quarantine turned quarantreats! 

Afternoon strolls and solitude with Summer

Sunday mass at home, always blessed with good health and work.

K-drama weekend is LIT , crushing Hyun Bin  from CLOY!

Another milestone, first birthday at home, quarantine style

Happy birthday from a social distance my love

By 2nd month, Daryl and I finished the DIY shelves for our compiled photos, I made a scrap book of our pre-wedding dinner and even re-modeled our room! So much we have accomplished I am grateful for the times we have during these q-days. Taking care of Summer also kept us busy, and boy we are just glad! Who needs summer when sunny fur pup keeps warming our hearts with cuddles and belly rubs!

Quarantreats

One of the most valuable skill I got to use more while in quarantine is cooking, because there's no where you could buy foods these days. Hay naku, these days  when you crave it, you cook it. So beginning of quarantine, both take turns to cook. Like when I'm stuck in a web meeting, Daryl cooks for lunch or dinner while I take my turn when the hubby is occupied with work. Here's what we had for our quarantreats, to keep the boredom away!

My breakfast in a pic, black coffee and perfectly made sunny side, 

peanut butter on the side!

Weekend treats are made of  pasta and home made lumpia

Shrimp with garlic and butter paired with  Mung beans with pork 

Something healthy as well ampalaya and ensalada

Definitely the house specialty, did someone ordered for Carne prita? 

Usual perfect fish medly and veggie

Obviously we enjoy pasta and lechon kawali

Some local food- Batchoy in the house!

P.S. We take picture because now a days this is the only  way we communicate with our family, and friends. So foods are snapped and shared to our family's group chat, di ba? 

The New Normal

Now a days, being healthy is everyone's priority. Coming from grocery or anywhere outside home, we always make sure to take a bath first, practice good hygiene, wash hands often and sanitize like crazy!  I'd like to think ang masakit ko mas lapit sa  pasma mong,  funny single liner, di bale praning basta di kaging. This pandemic has taught us to take extra care about cleanliness, but also in the brighter side learn to appreciate every little thing we took for granted before. Like the mere fact you could talk to a barista in coffee shop, exchange good mornings to people you meet,  the full shelves in a grocery, Sunday mass, eat out with family, eat out with friends, taking trips, friends you could hug when you say hi and bye. Quarantine has isolated us in the world we have comfortably lived and enjoyed.  These days, we learn to appreciate social media because we are able to stay connected to people that we care about. Chismisan and kamustahan  done via messenger or a more improved platform like Zoom. 

Virtual meet-up and catching up  with friends 

Weekend bonding with family like how's your diet so far? Urgh. 

These days, I've also turned to trend by becoming a plantmom too, 

taking care of plants are so invigorating! 

Trying to stay fit as much as possible, biking, badminton, 

 running with Summer, anything to keep me active. 

Appreciating the littlest thing, like this Jco donuts after 4 months. 

So worth the calories!

Enjoying the Vet visit after a while with this fur thing

Sweet sweet Summer

And how much you've grown during q-days! 

I think I've been over-feeding you?

Most especially, grateful that we are in this together

Quarantine. Such an overused word these days. I remember reading this from "Love in Time of Cholera" how quarantine came to be. Quarantine comes from Latin word "quarantena" which means 40 days. After the great plague in Europe, all ships, passenger and crew are required to be quarantined or be isolated for 40 days for any symptoms of diseases.  

Indeed, being isolated, quarantine has given me personally a great amount of time to do a lot of reflection which aspects in our life matters to us. I am grateful for this time to be home. I am blessed to know what it's like to work from home, like the rest, you have to acquire the routine and somehow I'm getting the hang of it. I am grateful that everyone in the family is safe and healthy, and that alone, is a blessing I'm thankful everyday.

So while we don't know how this one ends, here's my prayer and wish to everyone that you may be in good health... physically and also mentally. May you take care of your health by getting enough rest, take a pause from all the stressful news you hear everyday, eating well, literally and eating well for your soul by a tantamount of prayer. Remember to take your C's and most importantly, be human. Be considerate. Wear your mask and shield, sanitize at all times, and remember to physical distance. If others don't practice it, you do it anyway! Protect your self to protect your loved ones. Join me in prayer, snipped from my daily dose of prayer from The Feast. 

Dear Lord, thank you for this day, please help your people to stop the spread of this virus. I ask that you guide our path today, most especially our thoughts and actions. Please be with us, and help us navigate to whatever that comes our way. Most especially, help us to reflect and live out our lives in a way that is honoring you. In Jesus name we pray, Amen. 

Here's me on the first day I drove to office after the Q-days. 

Do I look too happy to be outside? 

Oh, the joy of being able to enjoy a good ramen. 

Grateful to the people in this shop!

Stay safe, stay healthy, stay sane,

itsmelory (^.^)

2020

Is definitely a promising year for me. 2019  was a blissful year for me personally, being able to travel abroad both for work and for holiday. If you've been following my blog, we went for a week-long vacation to one of my favorite countries - Goryeo! Oh the Kdramaland. Yay. I enjoyed every moment and every kimchi I put my chopsticks on. Check our Seoul trip here.

We also kicked off our project "home", and I would say, it's always exciting when you're starting something new, and planning for future together. Oh the many beautiful plans for 2020! 

Officially 1 year 

The 1st year went really fast! It's fun celebrating milestones like first official valentines day as married couple,  birthdays, and counting monthsaries until the 1st year! Add to that is adjusting and trying to enjoy what each other enjoy, so a lot of balancing between hobbies, which series to watch, foods to eat, to work out or not (nevermind)..but overall good. So just like that,  Daryl and I celebrated our 1st year anniversary last 28th! We opted to do this really casual and lowkey, perhaps a drive out of town, coffee and you know, chill.  Oh, but its a different story when you're with family, everything is transformed into something else, like a siopao with extra bola2x  or additional leche flan to your halo2x scooped with ice cream- yes in short, extra special!   

Oh, what an apt concept, we are just enjoying the walk in the park

journey of being married.

The casual banters like,  what to eat what? Where to eat where?

Its great to be reminiscing that one fateful day we got married. 

And the day shouldn't end without a cup of love, naks these days we call caffeine. 

Our love affair continues. Happy 1st #Darylory

Looking forward and beyond

Indeed 2020 for us is a year of many happy new beginnings! Nothing excites us more than our moving in to our love nest, put up the rooms, and everything else. The planning is exhausting and also I have that panic attack moments, what happens next? What will be the life of me afterwards? How is it going to be? So many questions in my mind but in the end, it all goes down to the reason why we do what we do in the first place. It all goes down to this, love always finds a home and this I'm sure of. This home we have built out of hopes and dreams for our future and our future kids. I'm more than ready to take that with a clear mind and a vision, perfect 2020 vision! My heart is overflowing with gratitude. 

Cheers to 2020,

itsmelory (^.^)

Annyeonghi gyeseyo!

We took the bus to Namdaemun and walk back to our hotel for check out. The last 4 days in motherlandia went so fast especially when you're having such a good time, but hopefully we could come back next time during springtime. 

Hey smiler...

I thought I would stop gushing about an amazing time in Korea, but also our flight back home was also a breeze! 

Thanks to JinAir's Smart Bag Drop, queue no more!

Simply put your bag to weigh, check in with your flight details

Some reminders..

Take the tag and put in your bag and good to go!

Also they serve one of the cutest foods on board!

Yes, I thought it was chocolate

Hm, bawal judgemental. 

Thank you Jinair for the quick and hassle free travel! 

Love,

itsmelory (^.^)