Random Things and Stories

Went out on coffee date with husband yesterday morning (3 days ago na irl). Sinusulit dahil by next week new yaya na. More praning na ulet and hindi maiwan bb.  

The coffee shop we went to is called Sentro Fortis Café. It is located just by the gate of Victoria Homes at the end of Daang Reyna.

Mas mahal than our usual indie kapehan, but they brew Yardstick coffee and etong pain au chocolat is so delish.

The year is 2022 and "Team Building" is still a thing. Ang layo ng venue buti na lang mamsh Doanne is sipag and magaling mag navigate bandang Gatchalian. 

And buti ka-team ko sila. I enjoyed mga dating team building back nung Diageo and extended fam ka-join. I have still yet to connect with "new" teammates. Fortunately, office besties are in the same team, so I don't really feel left out. 

From now on, this is my official hotel breakfast buffet combo starter. Kaya kapag walang Egg/Omelet station, nakakalungkot. 

Also, note starter. Dahil kakain pa rin ng all of the above depende sa kung ano offered. 

This beauty of a platter was from Crimson Hotel; P900 for walk in guests. We had breakfast there to celebrate Mina's birthday last 9/10. 

Finding Donna.

Barely a guest on a Saturday morning. 

I miss her. It's been a year and I'm still lost for words.  

And for now, all we can do is gather every now and then, and be there for each other. 

 

I wasn't this adventurous with food when I was younger. Now, mga favorite ko are from nearby Periperi and Thai food place, Tolit's Peri-peri and Somthai respectively. 

Random Maternity shoot photo. Hindi ko na nabalikan yung Photobook project ko dahil tinamad ako coz I keep getting an error na kulang ang images. 

Sobra Cafe in Molito Alabang and Cafe Beam in Baliuag are like aesthetics sister cafe. Posting for interior inspo kahit forever changing ang taste.

You've reached the end of this post. Here's bb enjoying bibingka. 

Kthxbye.

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Sobrang miss ko na sya. She deserved so much more than what the universe had given her. She deserved more from us, her children.

Nahihirapan pa rin ako mag cope. I was told to "honor your grief". Pero hindi ko kaya to move a step closer to acceptance. 

A lot of days I look okay, but that's probably my refusal to realize that I'm trapped. Na, eto na yun, wala na sya. 

Palagi ko kni-kwestyon bakit di man lang sila pinag tagpo ng anak ko. 

Mahaba habang panahon pa siguro na ganito yung sakit. 

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The Walang Makakwentuhan Post

Will my blog turn into "All-things-baby" blog? 

As much as I prevent it from happening, I am slowly turning into "THAT Mom". Yung meron 971 photos ng baby sa phone gallery, yung dating travel, food, lifestyle Feed sa Instagram turned to baby photo album, and over sharenting (root: share + parent) on Facebook. 

It's inevitable.

LO started solids few weeks back and I never thought that it could be this enjoyable to watch at the same time extremely nerve wracking! 

We attended webinars for infant first aid and learned about gagging vs choking, but still the first time he gagged on his food, I felt blood drained from my face.  

But how fun to watch him enjoy his meal eventhough most of the food we prepare end up on the floor.

I suggested to Ali to serve him salmon, partly coz I'm also craving for it. His response was "Bakit ang mahal ng mga gusto mong ipatapon sa kanya?!".   

Looking at the list of the food that he has tried so far, I see that I was partially biased. First food/veggie - squash, first fruit - avocado. 

Side kwento the Tarlac trip, avocados, tray of eggs.

It's OG Team Gastritis Little Espresso, Tobias Griffin's 3rd Birthday. 

I guess, yes time flies!

Another staycation sponsored by Team Condo. We went to Tarlac City to attend Toby's birthday party. 

Naki pictorial and kain lang kami coz it was a pool party and baby is not allowed to go swimming yet. 

Before going back to Cavite, ang daming pabaon ng pamilya Puri plus all of Toby's hand-me-downs.

On few occasion, I return to my old self. 

Last July 14, I had late lunch slash coffee date with friends after our onsite shift. 

We are scheduled to report onsite once a month which equates to catching up day with whoever is also in the office. RTO = Chika slash pictorial slash foodtrip day.

Jenna left Vz last year, but went to Alabang to meet us and tagged her bunso along; her Copy + Paste, Hayley. 

Before we bid our goodbyes, Erliza said "Sana next time may dala ka na rin maliit (pertaining to Nikolai)" and I immediately cut her off "Ay hindi, dalaga ako pag RTO".

Sorry na 'nak, Mom needs a bit of "Me time" for my sanity. 

But being away from baby is tough; even more if he's only left with yaya.

We are fortunate enough to get a trustworthy and mabuting tao yaya. I feel her sincerity towards LO and trust her enough to leave him with alone with her sometimes. That's why we have takas na movie dates and cocol.

Yesterday was my cousin's wedding in Antipolo. 

Babies and weddings don't really mix well, so we ultimately decided to leave him home kahit pumayag naman si Jay for us to bring baby. 

I was already missing him before we even left the house! He was taking a nap and I couldn't play with him.

I guess part of my worry is that we are couple of hours away, and wala nearby relatives sa bahay coz we're all at the wedding. 

But we survived, kahit medyo eat and run kami. 

I felt guilty because I know how much time, effort, and money it takes to prepare for an event like this, tapos hindi tatapusin ng guests.

But circumstance was different. Anyway, we were home in time for afternoon play. And ODK, baby was soooo excited to see us!!!

I've never felt more loved! 

I enjoyed playing with him, give him bath, read to him, and cuddled til he fell asleep. 

Indeed a beautiful journey unfolding.

The Baby Wanderlust and Team Gastritis' Newest Espresso Shot

Just 5 months and kung saan saan na gumala si bb - Coffee shops and staycations. Same na same lang nung nasa tummy pa ng Mommy.

1. Cafe Beam, Baliuag, February 

Nagulat na lang ang lola Nancy nung nakabalik na kami sa bahay. Tumakas ang bb at nag quick cocol with Mommy and Daddy. 

Natakam kasi ko sa mga pastries na nakita ko sa Instagram, at ang aesthetics, super peg. Sarap sana tumambay, pero nag take away lang kami. 

Gusto ko sana picture-an every corner ng cafe coz soooo pretty, but hawak ko ang bb, and priorities have shifted. 

2. Calasiao Pangasinan, February 

Dito nya cinelebrate ang kanyang 2nd Month. Free statcation from kuya Toby because ika 13th Anniversary ng parents. Buti na lang masipag mag drive ninong Arjen, coz galing pa sya Cavite, while kami 2 hours away lang. He had to pick up Team Condo then meet us at NLEX.

2.a Starbucks at Petron Lakeshore  

Fortunately, nagka problem sila sa POS kaya stop muna dine-in, but since nasa loob na sila kuya Toby, pinapasok pa rin kami ni kuya guard. So halos walang tao sa loob.  

2.b Monarch Hotel, Calasiao Pangasinan

First Staycation Experience! Ganito lang ang madaling lakad coz babies nap every few hours; around this time madali pa patulugin si Nikolai. Oh so much has changed over the course of few months.

After our late lunch and afternoon nap ng bb, we made silip to Tondalingan Beach in Dagupan, which was only 30 minutes away from the hotel. 

3. Pico de Loro, Nasugbu Batangas, March

Just a week after, pack na naman ng bags for family staycation. Treat ni Papa for family while here in Pinas.  

This also marks the first night na nag sleep sya for 5 hours without waking to feed. 

4. Calamba, Laguna March

Lolo's Birthday Pool Party in Pansol. This is the first gathering of the family after Mommy's passing. Nakakalungkot, but we try to cope.  

Nikolai didnt swim here nor sa Pico. Medyo praning pa ko. What's important is he gets to spend quality time with family. Kahit sa tunay na buhay asleep sya 80% of the time.

5. Tagaytay + Silang, April  

The Not April's Fool Wedding of Dude and Master

After 13 years of being together, they finally tied the knot. We had late lunch that was supposed to be a brunch at Antonio's and then head back to Farm Hills Garden to stay for the night. We had cake and wine.

It was the Moscato thats been sitting in our fridge for a verrrryyy long time.  

Look at this cake I had made for them. Nag send ng peg si Claude, and Danica's cousin made it. Sobrang sarap! Ang layo lang ni Dan's cousin, kaya di ako maka order ulet.

6. Pico de Loro (again, this time with the Mombies)

6.a But first, coffee -- Starbucks, Westgate Alabang

Medyo nasayang ang oras namin coz it was sooooo hard to book Grabcar from Mina's house. Ending sinundo na lang sila ni Doe.

ps, not suitable to change nappy in their CR. 1 star rating.

How did I know? Someone's baby needed poopy nappy change. 

6.b Wais na Misis' Condo unit at Pico de Loro

Sinipag din si Doe mag search, halos wala na kasi kami ma-book. Snwerte lang that this unit was newly posted on AirBnb at available pa sa dates namin. 

Nag swim sila ate Riley and ate Zoe nung gabi. Hindi na kami nakapag sunset+beach, but had a quick pictorial in the morning before it got too hot outside.

Hindi pa sulit pictorial with Nikolai coz bawal pa sya mag stay sa arawan nang matagal, but ganda mga shots nila Doe and Mina.

7. Manila Memorial Park, Dasmariñas

I can't write without being too emotional, so a single picture na lang muna.

8. The Crossing Café, Bacoor, Cavite

Dinalaw kami ni Kiko here in Cavite. Okay na sana kaso nung lumabas ako, pinanood nya ng Cocomelon si Nikolai. Ang tawag na ni Ali sa kanya, si tito Kikomelon lol.

Babies are chic magnet, while umoorder sila Ali and Kiko, a lady started talking to me and Nikolai. She claimed na bb was staring at her as she was walking toward the direction of our table. 

She asked bb's age kasi daw wala sya clue as she doesn't have a baby yet, but hopefully daw, in God's time.

She has gone to her table nung pagdating nila Ali.

Missed opportunity tito Kikomelon, you should've talked to her! 

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31 Weeks 3 Days

Nawala sya kalagitnaan ng pagbubuntis ko. I've always been told "pakatatag ka", and that's what I've been trying to do eversince.
Pero minsan gusto ko lang mag breakdown; grieve the proper grieving that is directly proportion to my sorrow.

So when I say "okay lang" sa mga nangangamusta, that's really just saving the other person from the depth of sadness that does not have place in a casual conversation.

But not all days are that bad.
Yesterday morning nagising ako to the sound of repeating tiny scratches on a fabric. Ini-swat pala ni kulet yung pillow in between namin kasi gising na sya pero di nagccry.
There are moments when he look and smile at me na parang amaze na amaze sya and ako pinaka maganda nakita nya. Nakakakilig.

Haaay, mukhang matagal tagal pa kong ganito.
Sorry my love if hindi ito ang best version ng Mom mo, the one you deserve. I'm just really struggling right now, but trying very hard to cope.

Hello

Musta?

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Ang dami ko na naman gustong ikwento sa'yo

I miss you terribly Mommy