It's in the Genes?

Liam had their mother's day program this morning. Last night up until this morning he kept on singing Advanced Australia Fair -- the national anthem of Australia. He told me they will be singing it this morning.

Now when it was time for them to sing (programs here are VERY simple as compared to Manila. They don't even have a stage, props, etc)...parents are just standing up, while the kids sat on their corner, Liam did not sing! I was recording it because I wanted to show his singing to his Papa when he gets home from work. But no! After three or was it four songs, he didn't join them. He was just sitting there observing. Hands in his pockets. He's telling me something, I thought he was telling me: "I'm tired." When he looks at me I try to give him encouranging glances to sing, but no effect. Well, let's just say the last straw was when they had the last song and this time it was an action song, everyone stood up, except for him!

When the class finished with their songs, I went to him (to tell him as well that I and his sister would have to go and leave him now because we still had to go to Sam's swimming lessons) and asked him what was wrong. His reply was: "I told you Mama, I was thirsty." Head bowing down. I whispered I'm sorry and told him it was alright and I bid goodbye. He was ok after that. When his teacher called his name for the class roll, he now responded.

Two things: First, was it my fault he did not perform well? I remember him acting like this way during their Christmas concert at Yogies last December. The thing was after we gave him water and food during the break, he was already performing well and happily! So should I have given him water this morning so I could have seen what I wanted to see?

Second: Is it in the genes? I will not be surprised if he suddenly becomes shy and tongue tied and quiet when there are a lot of people he is not familiar with. Why? Alvin is like that (though he has improvd already LOL). And Liam's grandparents, uncles and aunts. All in the Balintec family are like that. Now, how can I beat that? Sometimes, it's ok with me when Alvin acts up like that, but at other times (and more) I am wishing he and they weren't. Their silence/quietness is just too much. Sometimes I feel they need to step up and go out of their shells already!

So now, I am praying Liam will outgrow his shyness, if ever it is case number 2. But I am praying, that it's just case number 1. Really, I'd rather take the blame than him to be growing up being extremely quiet, all because it is in his genes!

Five Chapters

I am writing this a day before our fifth wedding anniversary.

Alvin and I have been a couple (bf-gf) for a decade now but only a husband and a wife for five years. Is there a difference? Many. To those who are married or who have been married, you know and you can understand what I mean.

Two weeks ago I was doing the draft for my second term paper. Our topic for this term zeroed in on Sacraments and I found myself reading a lot of things about the Sacrament of Marriage. At the end of one reading there was a reflection part where it was asked: If you are to write your own book about marriage, what would be the title? What will be the chapter titles of your book? We had to expound on each chapter.

As I scribbled down my reflections I suddenly found myself already reflecting on my own marriage. As a result, my book's title will be: "A Work in Progress." In our wedsite, we wrote that as we start our journey as husband and wife, we don't know what the future awaits...but, after five years in marriage, there are now a few things that we can share.

Personally, the numbers are senseless on its own. What gives meaning to this number are the experiences that we have had for the last five years. The highs and lows that we shared. The joys and the tears. All of these make the quality component of our marriage. To name a few -- our struggle to finish our graduate courses on our 1st year; to adjust to the duties, responsibilities, joys and pains of parenthood for our first-born on our second year; the adjustment, sacrifices and hardships we had to endure and surpass as a family as we uprooted ourselves from our comfort zones and start all over again when we migrated to Sydney on our third year; the adjustment and sacrifices we had to do as our family became bigger, with me getting pregnant with our second child for our fourth year; and the big decision to put my career on hold for the welfare of the kids for our fifth year. I haven't mentioned the fights and arguments that we were able to settle, the times both of us wanted to get out but decided to stay, the times we had to let go of our ego, the times we had to forgive and forget, the times we chose to love in spite of and despite of. The times we had to go an extra mile for the other. Without all of these things, the number 5 will be meaningless for us.

We are now done with the first five chapters of our book and our journey continues. We still don't know what the next five years (and hopefully more years) will bring but just like what we wrote on our wedsite before we got married, "with love, faith, and blessings from The One, Up Above, they know everything will be well" and that being married to each other is the best thing that ever happened to the two of us...

Happy Anniversary my dear Vinot! Love you to the moon and back!

April 28, 2006...five years and two kids ago :)

A Very Beautiful Place

My family went on a three-day holiday at Port Macquarie. Port M is a five hour drive from Sydney.

I fell in love with the place.

After visiting Port M, I am definitely convinced that Australia is a very beautiful (and clean) place! The beaches are clean, the forests are protected, there are plenty of trees. The air is clean and not humid. Glad my children will be growing up in this kind of environment :)

Shelly Beach



Sea Acres Nature Reserve



St. Agnes Catholic Church




Port Macquarie Town Centre Marina



Lighthouse Beach




Tacklepoint Lighthouse





Town Beach



Lake Cathie

Easter Celebration

All our bags are packed, we're ready to go...no, correction, our suitcase is packed. Literally, it's a suitcase! I thought my sister was joking that for our 3-day long drive holiday to Port Macquarie, I will be needing a suitcase, well apparently, she was not joking!

It was a bit stressful preparing for this trip. Well, aside from the clothes, I had to prepare the other so many stuff that we need in the trip, which includes the toys, First Aid Kits, etc. I'm glad it's all over!

Before we head off up north, we spent our Holy Week attending various Church activities. Thursday we attended the Lord's Last Supper celebration at our Parish, Mary Immaculate. It was a bit hard to consentrate as I had Sam with althroughout the mass. Today, we had Stations at the Cross at Mt. Schoenstatt at Mulgoa. After the Stations of the Cross, we headed to Tench Reserve and had a luncheon picnic with our CFC bros and sisses. The kids enjoyed the beautiful weather while playing at the playground. By 3 pm we attended the Veneration of the Cross ceremony at our Parish. Funny, but althroughout these activties, I kept on explaining to Liam what and why are we doing these things, because he kept on asking, "why?" -- the hardest of all possible questions! It's also a bit challenging for me as I need to explain these things to him within his level. Like when he asked, "Where is Jesus now?"..when I told him that Jesus was nailed on the cross. Well, I hope I was able to satisfy his curiosity.

Now, in a few minutes we'll be hitting the bed to re-charge ourselves for our long drive tomorrow. I pray that Sam will be able to endure the 5 hour drive (short break at Mackas/Mcdo so she can have a breather from her car seat and I can feed her as well). I pray for a safe and enjoyable holidays for our family. I think I really need this one.

But more than these things, I think I had a good holy week, especially after overcoming another trial -- finally letting go and realizing a lot of things...and getting the answers to things that have been bugging me and making me emotional the past days. Forgiving and forgetting :)

Have a blessed Easter!

the sweetest thing

the sweetest thing is when:
liam says: mama i love you so very much!
liam opens the car door for me even if i didn't ask him to
liam kisses a wound on my hand to ease the pain and asking if i would like him to kiss it again so it doesn't remain ouchy
liam embraces me and says: mama you're the best! for no reason at all!
liam hugs and does an errand and says: i love you mama

the sweetest thing is when:
sam opens her mouth and kisses or is it licks? me during play time
sam shows her sweetest smile when i make funny faces
sam giggles when i make her laugh
sam smiles and babbles when i talk with her

the sweetest thing is when:
alvin surprises me with a long stemmed rose before going out on a date
alvin gives me a massage at the back and the feet after a very tiring day without me asking for it
alvin hugs me and kisses me on unguarded moments :)
alvin wakes up early on a weekend to cook breakfast for me
alvin snuggles up with me and the kids on a cold morning
alvin loving me in spite of and despite of :)

Lynette

Call me a late bloomer, but yes, I am.

After six seasons on the boobtube, I finally found myself being addicted to Desperate Housewives.

The TV series is now on it's seventh season and suddenly I find myself enjoying the show. Why the sudden turn of events? Maybe I can already feel for them...maybe I can find myself in their characters.

Now that I am a full time wife and mum, I am going agog over the so many little things (this is aside from the big ones okay?) that needs to be done at home. I just can't understand why men do not seem to "see" them when they are around.

I see my traits every now and then in all of them, but among the housewives I can very much see myself with Lynette Scalvo the most. She is the housewife that has the most kids and a seem "perfect" family. She has a strong character, dominating at time, and a husband that looks like an underdog most of the time. She likes to have order and she wants things organized. SHe is a doting mother she is an independent woman.

There was one episode which had Lynette and Tom were discussing why Lynette let an opportunity pass to "boast" about her husband. It ended her telling Tom that she is tired of people saying how lucky she is for having Tom as her husband, but not one have mentioned how lucky Tom is to have her as his wife! Paw! Bulls-eye! I mean, for the longest time, people come up to me and tell me how lucky I am to have Alvin as my husband...but not one seems to notice how lucky he is to have me as his wife! Kainis?! I mean with EVERYTHING that I have been doing. During weekdays when he gets home, halos lahat tapos na. The kids are ready for bed time, clean and everything and in an hour or 30 minutes, they are already asleep. I just leave the dishes used for dinner for him to wash, or else wala na siya talaga gagawin. The thing is sometimes instead of saying "thank you" first, mauuna pa yung criticism niya. I tried to correct this habit of him a few times and I can see that he does try to remember it. I sacrifice waking up late in the weekends so I can get things done, so when he does his duties, he can still get to do things he wants to do during weekends, so he can spend more time with the kids. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying I am a perfect wife. I know that he himself have a lot to say about my flaws and weaknesses as a wife and a mum as well but like me, we tend to look at the more positive traits than the negative ones. But sometimes, I just want to zap out and stop being a super mum and super efficient wife! Wishful thinking. Sometimes I just wonder what he would feel if I'll be gone in his life just for one day. I mean everything all left to him. Just for one day. Again, wishful thinking. But actually, I already told him last time, that I knew what I will be losing in my life if he'll be gone, but I asked him if he knows what he'll be missing if I go.

On one episode, the two of them had this big fight and Lynette was so fuming mad at Tom. They were not in speaking terms until Lynette saw how their kids have grown and their family as a whole. Yes, we have our flaws and weaknesses, but seeing our children allows us to forgive and "forget" -- to overlook our indifferences. To move on and keep trying to be better.

And on the last episode I just watched, Lynette and Tom decided it was time for their twins to move out and learn about living, it was hard for her to see her boys leave but it was the best for their children. I guess I have that same attitude, wheret try as I might to shield my children from the reality of life, the sad and bad ones, I know that I have to let them aware of what is happening so they will be better prepared. Life, after all, is not really a bed of roses. So if they have to experience pain like accidentally bumping head while playing, to learn how to be safe and careful next time, then so be it. If they have to lose a toy because they were not taking care of it, then so be it. I know that in the long run, it would do them more good.

Lynette. Oh , I just love her character. She makes me laugh, she makes sigh, she talks and speaks for me, she entertains me :)

Guilty!

i feel guilty!

i just came back to pick up my niece and nephew from their holiday class and before picking them up i bought something.

this might be the most expensive swimsuit i have ever (and will ever?) bought!

i was looking a swimming shorts the past few days because I am not comfortable to just wear my swimsuit (without any shorts for that matter) when Sam starts with her swimming lessons next term.

shop after shop i tried to look, but most of them have already packed up their stuff and replaced it with their winter collection already.

now, there was this sports shop in stanhope and i just tried my luck...yes there was a short that i loved...but the impulse buyer in me saw these swim tops that i was also hoping to find as well in my shop hopping. so the end result? i did not only buy the shorts but the top as well...i feel guilty, one because it is expensive (for my standards) and it was not in the budget?!



the tp cost 60 bucks and the shorts 50 bucks...it's just that i'm converting it in Php and I can't believe that i just bought these two items! i mean, if i were in Manila, i would not buy a swimsuit for almost 4,500pesos! that is why i feel guilty.

now how did hubby react? i still don't know yet since he is still not home, but i already told him that i did something "bad" when he called before going home this afternoon.

i'm just thinking at least now i don't have to buy for our trip to Cebu and I can also use it in our Port Macquarie trip...trying to make an excuse...

It's a two piece swimsuit, yes, just like my older/other collection, but it's now more conservative. i guess after undergoing 2 cs operations, i am not in the position anymore to show my remembrances hehehe :) and i haven't really gotten back into my pre-pregancy figure/weight.

but, that still does not erase the fact that i still feel guilty @-@