Happy Birthday Mama!

To my ever supportive, loving, and caring mother, happy happy birthday! They say, nobody is perfect, but to me you are! I love you to bits and pieces! HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAMA!!! :)

A Letter to my Men

How time flies so fast and I couldn't describe how blessed I am to have 2 wonderful boys in my life. They both celebrated their birthday last November and that is magical. Matt was born on the 23rd while Jef was on the 25th. Everytime I tell people of their birthday, they always throw me a joke that I should have waited on the 25th to let Matt came out for them to have same birthdays. And I always laugh out loud.

Anyway, November will always be a happy month so I want to share a letter to my Boys so that they can always remember that November is the month I am really thankful for. 

Dear Matt, 

You're two years old now. As you read this letter from me your Nana (Nanay) as you always call me, I want you to know that you are everything I wished for. Everytime I browsed your pictures, I still can't believe that I have raised you for two years already, time's gone so fast and your totally nearing big boy now. I loved you dearly as a baby kept and embraced in my arms. Now that you're grown little by little, I want you to be as good as you can be, live in your childhood dreams and build yourself as how God spiritually created us. 

Dear Jef, 

You are actually four years older than me but don't worry darling, we looked as if we're of the same ages. In short, you looked also 27. LOL. Your being older to me is a gift for bringing up the maturity in me. I have been childish for some reasons but hey, I thank you for always showing me the positivity beyond my immaturity. As I always say and will forever do, I am happy to have you as my husband and best friend. You never fail to cheer me up when I am stressed and depressed, and those pizzas every Friday are well enough to show how much you care for my little thoughts of Joy. You know what, I like to say that life is like a pizza, full of toppings and you can add different types of sauce. The toppings are the people you have shared your slice and the sauce is your memories. Eeeek! How funny realization is that right? Haha. Thank you for our pizza-like life, I enjoy eating it with you. I love pizza so I love you! 

Love lots,

Julieanne

Yehey for November!

Well, hello there November! I have three things to look forward to and I really can't wait anymore.

My boys are celebrating their birthdays this month and a beach vacation is waiting for us. (A little bit sad because the toddler is not going with us on the beach)

I am hoping for a very jolly and exciting November! Yehey!

A Delightful treat on Papa's Birthday

I was kinda feeling good because I just got lucky again. This year is a lucky one for me for winning in different blog giveaways, And as before the year ends, I got totally surprised when I knew that I am one of the five winners in Frugal Pinoy's Max's Free Delivery giveaway. The very good thing on it was it timingly happened before my father's birthday. As a treat, I made his birthday delightful for he is the one I chose to receive the free delivery. 

Free delivery from Max's

The food came on time, very hot and properly packed. Who would want to have lunch for free, especially on your birthday? My dad. :)

Package C

Package C includes boneless bangus, whole chicken, liempo, sinigang, kare-kare and buko pandan. It is good for five persons. Yummy!

                            

Here's the photo of my father and how he delightfully smiled on his birthday. Thank you Frugal Pinoy and Max's!

MKJ's Big Day: Our wishes

As part of the program, J and I were called in front to give our birthday wishes to our 1year old boy. We didn't prepare a script for that. We said it straight from our hearts.

Here is J's wish for MKJ:

"...For him to become a good boy; good health and to have a bright future..."

J is so private and shy. He's not used to speaking in large audience. Okay, it's you.

And here's what I wish for MKJ: (teary-eyed)

"...gusto kong lumaki syang masunurin, masipag, mabait at may takot sa Diyos. Nais ko na magkaroon sya ng malusog na pangangatawan. Gusto ko rin ng bright future. At sana gumawa siya ng tama sa lahat ng oras..."

After saying all those things, I felt the motherhood within me. Oh, yes I am a mommy to a 1 year old boy and it's a challenge in life to raise him with all my love and support.

Happy Birthday, my little one!

MKJ's Big Day: The Birthday Boy and his costume

I have no means of dressing MKJ as superman nor batman on his birthday. I don't want too see him too on animal outfit. J and I decided to have a semi-formal theme party so we wanted to see him on a cutie gentleman outfit.

This was my peg of how my little one will look on his big day. My bad, I didn't reserve a piece so the stocks went out. My other resort was to have it made by a seamstress.

And here's the finished product! My little boy really looks like a gentleman, cute and bubbly.

Everyone in the party asked me where the costume was made. They were amazed of how MKJ looked. Everyone was so delightful on how the costume was worn. I love this little boy on his costume!

MKJ's Big Day: The Celebration

It was a blast that our celebration turn out happy and smooth. I guess, because of the feedbacks I've heard from some family members and friends .I am very happy seeing my guests with smiling faces.

We chose a well-established restaurant in the city, Ho-Tsai, to be the venue of my little one's party. Their function hall is simple and clean plus it gave us a comfortable feeling because is air-conditioned. Their food is sumptuous and delicious. We got chicken, beef, pork & fish on menu; leche flan & fruit salad for sweets; and lechon that really tasted so well. Burp burp burp is all that I can see on their faces hehehe.

For the entertainment, we gave the stage to a magician and clown. I didn't get the chance to see their performance but as per my siblings, they did a great & funny job.

As for the cake, we have it from Goldilocks because J doesn't want modern cakes. He's old-fashioned anyway. =) As for him, fondue cakes are super sweet so he doesn't want that.

Our giveaways are very local! Yes it is, from the shopping capital--Divisoria it is! And take note, it is cheap compared to other giveaways. So, let me describe it in three words - cute, affordable and useful.

Our guests consists of three groups of people - J's relatives, my relatives and some of our dear friends. They made it to 100 guests!  Thank you for coming!

MKJ's 1st birthday celebration is truly an awaited part of his growing up. I really cherished that day and I am thankful for that.

My Little Boy's First Haircut

One of the reasons why I am very excited about MKJ's birthday is to have his first ever haircut. He was born with dark, thick hair and I didn't let it touch with a pair of scissors for an old saying that babies should have their first ever haircut when they turned 1. That is to keep them healthy and strong, away from different illnesses. Okay, I followed. And so, when he turned 1 last November 23, J and I had his first haircut. It's not the official and legal (as I may call) haircut, for we just only cut some strands of his long hair and put it inside the books. J chose Legal and Law books, Computer books and I chose English and Science books. As an old saying, again, strands of hair should be kept inside books of your choice so that the child will grow intelligently on those fields. Ok, I followed again.

And so, after we have gone to a thanksgiving mass, we immediately went to a barber shop and had his first haircut. 

At GQ Barber Shop

MKJ while having his haircut, with a biscuit. 

Don't tickle me, Mister.

And he's done. SOOOOO CUUUUUTTTTEEEE!!!!

It's so cute and refreshing to see my little boy's hair done. He is so cute!!!

Today, My Little Boy is 365 Days Old

MKJ at 1 day old

At exactly, 5:17 PM of last year, November 23 I gave birth through normal delivery to a healthy baby boy. My world that time was as surprisingly happy as I was to embrace motherhood and babyhood. And later at 5:17 PM, that little baby boy will be 365 days old. Yes, you read it right. He is one year old, and that is an achievement, a gift, and a life.

A gift. I got married and pregnant at the same time. As I remember, I was 5 months pregnant then when I married J. And when I knew that I am pregnant, my heart was filled of overflowing happiness because I knew that God gave him to us as a gift and not really by chance. Although, in the eyes of our parents that marriage should come first, I never regret that journey of my life. All the time, I thought of having MKJ as a gift from up above.

A life. I know that his life was purely from God. And I do believe that God gave MKJ to me to make his life meaningful, beautiful, and with purpose. And as a mother, I gave him life by giving him the best of what I have. And that is through breastfeeding. I breastfed MKJ for one year (today) and will breastfeed him until he wants to because I want him to have a healthy life. I nourish him through my body, my milk, and my existence. To breastfeed my little boy, is to giving him a life I know he would be thankful for.

An achievement. To raise a child on your own, with the help of the people that surrounds you is an achievement on my part. And I will proudly give myself +A. I lived to be crazy and insane all at the same time whenever he is demanding. I discovered different tactics to please him and make him silent. I survived a year with no nanny and am looking forward to many years of not hiring a nanny for him. Totally, to have MKJ is an achievement and I believe that all moms are proud to have an achievement like this.

MKJ at 364 days old

And now that my little boy is already 1 year old, I wish him all the best in the world that will make him happy. I pray to God almighty to give him a healthy body, mind, heart and soul. And lastly, I wish him to be just simple because indeed, the world is so simple to live in.

My super late birthday GIFT!

It's been almost 4 months when I write a post about what birthday gift I want from J. And all I want was a hair make-over. I was eyeing this salon that will open in a nearby mall within our city for I couldn't afford to go in Manila to have my hair done. Hassle it is, because I need to leave MKJ away from me, and do pumping while travelling. I chose to wait, and it took me 4 months to have my gift. And waiting is rewarding! Yessss!

It was expensive though, but my hair really needs to be done. It's been 21 months since I had my hair make-over  and waiting for that is totally worth it!

So you want to see my hair ha?

I lav eeeet!!!

I had my hair done at Tony and Jackey. They recently opened their branch at SM City Batangas. 

So what say you?

When I got home, J was really surprised with how I look. He said, "Wow!!!"

Thanks J for the birthday gift. So sweet of you! 

An overdue post: My 26th birthday

This post was almost a month overdue. Actually, it’s not really on my plan to blog about the things I did on my birthday but since I am blogging about the encounters in my life, okay, I will right now.

There is nothing much exciting on my 26^th birthday. Although I planned to have a hair make-over at Tony & Jackey, it didn’t happen because it is not open yet at SM Batangas. I have no plans of going to other branches because I don’t think it’s really important. I can wait until December. I still love how my hair looks.

I had three important persons whom I celebrated my 26^th birthday.

I had a date with GOD. Early morning of June 10 I visited the church with MKJ to pray and light candles. I prayed for good health, successful financial plans, love for my family and love for Earth. The lighted candles are for myself, MKJ, J, in-laws, family and Earth. I always see to it that church is the most prioritized place I always visit on my birthday.

I went home. Yes, home is where I was when I was not yet married. My mom cooked spaghetti for me and I bought a gallon of ice cream. I also made refrigerator bars which I read from the blog Wifely Steps. If you want to know how to make it, please go here. Celebrating your birthday with your loved ones is LOVE. I had fun!

Lastly, I had a pizza TREAT with J at Yellowcab. I love PIZZA and it is definitely my comfort food. I ate more pizza than J and I really enjoyed it. And because it is my birthday, we took home another box of Pizza.

My birthday was just an ordinary day but I celebrated it in very fruitful and special way.