Tuesday, May 30, 2006

You know you're really busy...

...when you don't show up to blog the whole week except for this Thursday's Thankful Thursday post. Yeah, bummer that I will be kept away from the blogging world for a few days, yet really great that I've got projects that will keep me busy (and bring in much-needed provisions for the baby!).

So, I thought I'd leave you with a post that I stumbled upon recently in Blogthings, and maybe give you a glimpse of my heritage. Now, not all of these information are accurate. In fact, some are just exaggerated and I don't think it applies to all of us. Nevertheless, I just thought of posting it here because I found it amusing and it may (or may not) reveal a little bit more about my background. Please note that I put my personal comments beside each of the bullets in red :)

You know you're Filipino when....
  • Your middle name is your mother's maiden name. - True.
  • Your parents call each other "Mommy" and "Daddy." - Surprisingly, this is true. I realized that they do this so that the kids will get accustomed to calling their parents moms or dads, instead of hearing a different name called out when its between spouses.
  • You have uncles and aunts named "Boy," "Girlie," or "Baby." - Haha, for lack of ingenuity, i guess.
  • You have relatives whose nicknames consist of repeated syllables like "Jun-Jun," "Ling-Ling," and "Mon-Mon." Mine by the way was "Che-Che." - I have one cousin who is a Jun-Jun.
  • You call the parents of your friends and your own parents' friends "Tito" and "Tita." - Yes. EVERYONE is a tito or tita, as long as she is elderly and is acquainted to you. It's a show of respect without having to call them ma'am or sir.
  • You have four or five names. - I don't. I only have one, and I don't like it. My hubby and son each have only 2 names.
  • You greet your elders by touching their hands to your forehead. - It's called mano. This is done with the older generation. Nowadays, a buzz on the cheek is enough.
  • You always kiss your relatives on the cheek whenever you enter or leave the room. - Yup, it's our way to greet people who are close to you. Similar to how the Italians do it.
  • You follow your parents' house rules even if you are over 18. - Uhm.... even if you are 31 and living there you still do!
  • You live with your parents until and at times even after you're married. - Yup, like me! :) Still saving up for our own place...
  • You decorate your dining room wall with a picture of the "Last Supper." - Guilty! But it's my dad's decision...and it's his dining room....
  • You keep your furniture wrapped in plastic or covered with blankets. - Uh....NO!!! Never did that in my entire life!
  • You have a Sto. Nino (a statue of the baby Jesus) shrine in your living room. - No, we don't do that. Some do, but not my family.
  • You have a piano that no one plays. - Sold our years ago, and for that exact reason that nobody plays with it anyway.
  • You keep a tabo (dipper) in your bathroom. - Yes. All bathrooms in the country have this.
  • You use Vicks Vapor rub as an insect repellant. - Hmmm.... never tried that before. Vicks helps me breathe better, but it never kept mosquitoes off me...
  • You eat with your hands. - No, I don't. I don't even know how to do that (unless it was a pizza slice I was holding).
  • You eat more than three times a day. - Well, there's breakfast, then a snack, then lunch, then a snack, then dinner, then dessert. What's so strange about that??
  • You think a meal is not a meal without rice. - For some, maybe. I eat a lot of pasta and bread, too. Just that rice is our country's staple food, so it's an available companion to meat as potatoes and bread are to other countries.
  • You think sandwiches are snacks, not meals. - Well, yes. Sandwiches are sometimes considered snack foods here. Lunch is much heavier than a sandwich.
  • Your dining table has a merry-go-round (lazy Susan) in the middle. - Only when the dining table is round. Doesn't make sense if it weren't.
  • You bring baon (packed lunch) to work everyday. - Not always. This works only for those who try to save more by not eating out.
  • Your pantry is never without Spam, Vienna sausage, corned beef, and sardines. - These are emergency food, just as frozen TV dinners are to other countries.
  • You love to eat daing or tuyo (dried fish). - It's a Filipino delicacy.
  • You prop up one knee while eating. - NO!!! That's weird....
  • You eat your meal with patis (fish sauce), toyo (soy sauce), suka (vinegar), banana catsup, or bagoong (shrimp paste). - These are common condiments used in Filipino dishes.
  • Your tablecloths are stained with toyo (soy sauce) circles. - Gee, this only means your maid hasn't been doing a good job in cleaning the dining area...
  • You love sticky desserts and salty snacks. - Again, Filipino delicacies...
  • You eat fried Spam and hot dogs with rice. - Just as hotdogs go with bread, they go well with rice also.
  • You eat mangoes with rice--with great GUSTO! - Not me. I don't like mangoes.
  • You love "dirty" ice cream. - They aren't really dirty, though they call it that. They are homemade ice cream that are more available to the masses because the ingredients are cheaper and the process is more manual than the usual branded ones. I like them, though!
  • You love to eat, yet often manage to stay slim. - Well, for some who are blessed this applies :)
  • You put hot dogs in your spaghetti. - Not all. I don't cook spaghetti this way. It's the equivalent of putting meatballs in your bolognese.
  • Everything you eat is sauted in garlic, onion, and tomatoes. - Yes. And all food cooked this way tastes yummy!
  • You order a "soft drink" instead of soda. - This is what we were taught how to say soda.
  • You hang a rosary on your car's rear view mirror. - Not me. We never hang anything on our rear view mirror.
  • You get together with family at a cemetery on All Saint's Day to eat, drink, and tell stories by your loved ones' graves. - We don't because our dead loved ones were cremated. And the urn is with us in our home.
  • You play cards or mahjong and drink beer at funeral wakes. - The masses do this a lot.
  • You think Christmas season begins in October and ends in January. - Yes, the holiday brouhaha begins when we hit the "ber" months.
  • Your second piece of luggage is a balikbayan (a souvenir box) box. - And we look forward to this always!
  • You've mastered the art of packing a suitcase to double capacity. - Well, we don't want to pay for extra luggage, do we?
  • You collect items from airlines, hotels, and restaurants as "souvenirs." - Sure, if you've got like 15 relatives all waiting for you to come home to receive your pasalubong "gifts" from abroad, it's really the cheapest way to go!
  • You feel obligated to give pasalubong to all your friends and relatives each time you return from a trip. - Like I said earlier....
  • You use paper foot outlines when buying shoes for friends and relatives. - Last time I saw this was when I was a kid. It's a smart way to make sure you don;t get the shoe fit wrong!
  • You're a fashion victim. - Uh, do i have to be Filipino for this?
  • You can convey 30 messages with your facial expression. - Cool, huh? :)
  • You hold your palms together in front of you and say "excuse, excuse" when you pass in between people or in front of the TV. - It's funny, but I've seen people do this. Have no idea why...
  • You ask for the bill at a restaurant by making a rectangle in the air. - Yes. It saves time to just make this hand signal than to wait for the waiter to approach your table and verbally say the words "bill please", before he gets his butt moving.
  • You cover your mouth when you laugh. - Simply because it's disgusting to laugh with your mouth wide open for people to see the condition your teeth are in!
  • You respond to a "Hoy!" or a "Pssst!" in a crowd. - Only for the undisciplined and unbred...
  • You'll answer "Malapit lang!" ("Almost there")--no matter the distance--when asked how far away a place is located. - Guilty. Especially when I'm running late.
  • Goldilocks is more than a fairy tale character to you. - It's the name of a famous bakeshop in the country.
  • You refer to power interruptions as "brownouts." - Power outtages during the daytime are often called "brownouts", while ones in the evening are "blackouts".
  • You love to use the following acronyms: CR for comfort room, DI for dance instructor, DOM for dirty old man, TNT for tago nang tago (in hiding), KJ for kill joy, KSP for kulang sa pansin (lack of attention), OA for over-acting, TL for true love, BF for boyfriend and GF for girlfriend. - Again, we prefer shortcuts to everything. Time is precious. Even talking takes up too much time :)
  • You say "rubber shoes" instead of sneakers, "ball pen" instead of pen, "stockings" instead of pantyhose, "pampers" instead of diapers, "ref" or "prijider" instead of refrigerator, "Colgate" instead of toothpaste, "canteen" instead of cafeteria, and "open" or "close" instead of turn on or turn off (as in the lights). - Oh well, you said toe-may-toe, we say toh-mah-toh.....
  • You use an umbrella for shade on hot summer days. - I rarely do. I hate lugging umbrellas around.
  • You like everything imported or "state-side." - Just as people from other countries like buying European clothes....same banana....
  • You love ballroom dancing, bowling, pusoy (poker), mah jong, billiards, and karaoke. - Sometimes. It's just a pasttime.
  • You have a relative who is a nurse. - Oh yes. My mom is a nurse.
  • When you're in a restaurant, you wipe your plate and utensils before using them. - You can never be too careful! Cleanliness is healthiness!
  • You can squeeze 15 passengers into your five seater car without a second thought. - Oh geez, never attempted to do that in MY car...
  • You wave a pom-pom on a stick around the food to keep the flies away. - Golly, who does that in their home? I only see them in fresh markets!
  • You always ring a doorbell twice, assuming that the first ring was not heard. - I don't. Once is enough.
  • You let the phone ring twice before answering, lest you appear overly eager. - Haha, yes, I do this a lot.
  • You use a rock to scrub yourself in the bath or shower. - Why use a rock when you have a loofah? I have yet to visit a home that uses rocks...

Thursday, May 25, 2006

Thankful Thursday 19



Thankful Thursday: What CHRIXEAN is thankful for this week


1. God's loving protection. Our life is but a fleeting moment in God's time and it is only in His hands that we can be assured of health, security and safety.

2. Support of our Christian community. With all the trials that each human being faces daily, I am blessed to know that I have my brothers and sisters in community to support me and to encourage me.

3. My healthy baby who gave me a "peek" in the ultrasound to let me know that she is really a SHE :)

4. To all my blogging friends who are helping me decide my baby's name!

5. To everyone who are continuously praying for my auntie's health. She's slowly improving in health and because of the hope that comes with believing in God's power, she is regaining the strength and will to live.

Links to other Thankful Thursdays -->


A Child of God
A Revision
Anna's Place
As My World Turns
EPH2810
Friday's Child
Imagine Bliss
Journalling Through the Valley
Momma's Life
Mommy Does It All
Mommy Needs To Vent
Nightingale
no_average_girl
Show Them Through Me
Uzi's Musings
Blog Charm
Russell And Aine's Haven
Gabrielle





Click here for the Thankful Thursday code
Click here for Chrixean's blog

Trackbacks, pings, and comment links are accepted and encouraged!





Wednesday, May 24, 2006

The Same Name Game

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Somehow I am having more difficulty thinking up names for a baby girl than when I was making my list for my son Nicky. I guess a major reason I can think of right now is that the nickname Nicky was already chosen way ahead of time, regardless of whether the baby turned out to be a boy or girl. The full name was to be Dominique Victoria if it was a girl, and Nicholas Keith if it came out to be a boy. Well, the result was the latter and so he was awarded the nickname Nicky. This time I could no longer use the named Dominique Victoria for two reasons:
1) With Dominique I would really want her name to be Nikki too, which would really upset my son. So forget it.
2) My soon-to-be nephew (my cousin's wife is pregnant also) is a boy and they've decided to call him Dominic. Victoria could have stayed... but it just seemed to work perfectly in our minds with Dominique that we decided to just scrap it altogether (my, my, aren't we the difficult couple?)
So, I had to come up with a whole new loooooong list of name possibilities (with their origins and meanings taken into very careful consideration). Right now I am down to 2 name combinations (hopefully these are the last to chose from). Allan and I like both, actually. I still couldn't decide which would sound nice together so I was hoping you guys could give me your thoughts about the names, and maybe help me decide which to finally go with (maybe meaning I will consider your choice, but no commitments that I will actually go with it, hehe).

Keira - Origin: Celtic Meaning: Dark-haired
Caitlyn - Origin: Celtic Meaning: Pure beauty
Kirsten - Origin: Greek / Old English Meaning: Holy / The annointed one
Soleil - Origin: French Meaning: Sun


What name combination do you like best for my baby?

Keira Caitlyn
Kirsten Soleil

Free polls from Pollhost.com


Saturday, May 20, 2006

Thursday, May 18, 2006

Thankful Thursday 18



Thankful Thursday: What CHRIXEAN is thankful for this week

1. Gabrielle, one of our newest Thankful Thursday participants (welcome her with love, will'ya?), created some lovely Thankful Thursday banners to share with everyone. So I am thankful for the effort she put into these lovely creations, and for sharing them with the participants :-) You are welcome to use them in your posts, preferably, in addition to the original TTh banner on the top of your code. Just that I would still like to preserve the identity and the visual recall that the original image carries with it (created by the TTh founder Running2ks) intact.


Other banner designs can be found here.

2) For all my friends and fellow bloggers who prayed for my auntie Mercy and who still are praying for her, and for trusting me with their personal prayer requests for their specific needs. Rest assured I will keep on praying for all of you and will keep on storming heaven with your petitions.

Links to other Thankful Thursdays -->


A Child of God
A Revision
Anna's Place
As My World Turns
EPH2810
Friday's Child
Imagine Bliss
Journalling Through the Valley
Momma's Life
Mommy Does It All
Mommy Needs To Vent
Nightingale
no_average_girl
Show Them Through Me
Uzi's Musings
Blog Charm
Russell And Aine's Haven
Gabrielle





Click here for the Thankful Thursday code
Click here for Chrixean's blog

Trackbacks, pings, and comment links are accepted and encouraged!





Wednesday, May 17, 2006

Alphabet Attack!

I saw an alphabet meme that I liked on Eph2810's blog and I made a schedule to do it on one of my posts. Then just as I was about to make the post, I received a tag by Gabrielle which was also another type of alphabet meme. So now I've got two memes to post today which involves the 26 letters of the alphabet.

Here are my answers. Now let's all sing together...."A, B, C, D, E, F, G........."

GABRIELLE'S MEME:


Here are her rules:
1. You must answer ALL of the questions.
2. They are "this-or-that question". "Or" means you can NOT choose both
of the options. You have to choose ONLY one option.
3. Write your reason why you choose the answer.
4. If you blogged it, link you post back to this entry
http://gabrielle.blogsome.com/2006/05/15/abcs-of-me-what-i-am-what-i-prefer/
and/or trackback
http://gabrielle.blogsome.com/2006/05/15/abcs-of-me-what-i-am-what-i-prefer/trackback/
it. AND copy/paste this five rules, too.
5. If you didn't blog it, answer these questions in the comment section.

A - America or England? England maybe. Although I’ve never been to either country, I know tons of people who’ve been to America and not a lot who’ve traveled to England. I’d want to be one of them ☺

B - Beauty or Personality? Beauty. I’m not being shallow or anything, but I can try to develop my personality but because I believe that beautiful people are naturally born that way, it would be harder for me to acquire this (unless I have plastic surgery done or something). But this is me, so hope nobody gets offended.

C - Cats or Dogs? Dogs. We have one named Zeus and he’s a Doberman. Not too fond of cats. I’ve got allergies.

D - Dance or Sing? Definitely sing. Although I don’t think I have two left feet, my hubby doesn’t seem to have much confidence in my dancing talents.

E - Extrovert or Introvert? Extrovert. Because I’m an only child, my only way to cope with loneliness or depression is to surround myself with friends. Venting is my way of life, hehe.

F - Fiction or Non-fiction? Fiction. Life is already too real. I need an escape.

G - Goofy or Pluto? Definitely Goofy. Just makes me wonder why Goofy walks around and talks like a real person, while Pluto, who is also a dog, acts like a….er….dog!

H - His/Hers or Yours? His. I’m all His.

I - Irritated or Irritating? Irritated. I am easily ticked off.

J - Juice or Yoghurt? Juice. Watermelon or strawberry juice with lots and lots of ice!

K - KFC or McDonald's? KFC! Original recipe with mashed potatoes and gravy! Mmmm……

L - Love or Lust? Love. I love love. God is love.

M - Money or Looks? Money. When you have lots of it, you can improve your looks ☺

N - Night or Day? Night. Lots of good shows on and I can rest better.

O - Older or Younger? Older. I need to be taken care of.

P - Pale or Burnt? Pale. I don’t like burnt anything...toast, cookies…ewww.

Q - Questioned or Answered? Answered. I hate being left hanging without knowing what's next.

R - Red or Blue? Red because it’s hot and it gets all the attention.

S - Stay or Go? Stay. For now, till God leads me elsewhere.

T - Take or Give? Give, definitely. It’s the only way to please God.

U - Usage or Style? Usage, especially when it comes to electronics.

V - Vain or Plain? Vain! I can’t live without new clothes, new shoes, a trip to the nail spa, or new hair color!

W - West or East? East. Don’t know why.

X - Xena or Wonderwoman? Wonderwoman. I love the classic female superhero with just her bangles and her lasso to fight evil and crime!

Y - Yes or Maybe? Maybe. I’m never really sure about a lot of things.

Z - Zip or Unzip? Unzip for now. There’s no way I can fit into my pants….

EPH2810'S MEME

No rules for this one. Just need to answer the questions.

Accent: None really. Filipino English accent, I guess. Depends who I’m talking with. I can have an American accent if I were speaking to an American at the moment.

Bible Book that I like: Psalms. I love the way David worshipped.

Chore I don’t care for: Washing anything. I don’t like getting grimy and wet.

Dog or Cat: Dog. Same reason as I mentioned in my first meme

Essential Electronics: My cellphone. I realized that if I got stuck in a mall and my cellphone died, I’d freak because I won’t be able to find my hubby. I’m such a wuss!

Favorite Cologne: Johnson’s Baby Cologne. It’s the only scent that won’t aggravate my allergies.

Gold or Silver: Silver. Or white gold. It looks better with jeans.

Handbag I Carry Most Often: I have tons of bags that i change almost everyday depending on what outfit I am wearing. So no favorites, really.

Insomnia: Only when hubby isn't home yet and it's late. Otherwise, I sleep around 10pm.

Job Title: Creative Director

Kid(s): One boy -- Nicholas Keith. And one coming soon. I don't know the gender yet.

Living Arrangements: We all live in the south of Manila where all my childhood friends and my other relatives live as well.

Most Admirable Trait: I actually have one?? Hehe. I don't know. My willingness to help out a distraught friend in a time of need?

Naughtiest Childhood Behavior: Crying bouts, foul language and tantrums (I must've been possessed or something...)

Overnight Hospital Stays: Tons! I was a sickly little girl. In college i had a heart attack ( i have a congenital heart disease called mitral valve prolapse), and in later years I had several diseases such as dengue fever, chicken pox, german measles and a thryoid ailment.

Phobias: SPIDERS!!!!!!!!!! Aaaaaaaaacccckkkkkkkkk......

Quote: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Philippians 4:6

Religion:
Catholic charismatic

Siblings: None

Time I Wake Up: Around 10am on a work day!

Unusual Talent or Skill: I don't know if anything is unusal with my talent. I just have a gift for design and art.

Vegetable I Refuse to Eat: Okra

Worst Habit: Scratch my head when thinking. Worry. Worry more. Overwork. Used to smoke.

X-rays: A lot. Can't remember when my last one was.

Yummy Stuff I Cook: Pasta! All kinds of cream-based ones.

Zoo Animal I Like Most: Giraffes. They're just so amazing to watch.

Do I want to tag anyone? Maybe not. But if Viamarie, Friday's Child, Ribbitus, Petite Queen and The White Rabbit would want to do it, then good! hehehe.

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

In My Stables: SELF PROCLAIMED SUPERMOM

I just adore blogging moms' sites. Because I am a blogging mom, I feel more at ease when a tenant is also a mom like me. For some reason you can just feel the love and passion that oozes out from a mom's blog (know what i mean?). Well, wait till you check out my newest renter -- she's not just any ordinary mom, but she's a supermom (self-proclaimed!). Folks, I am happy to welcome Rhonda of Self Proclaimed Supermom into my stables! APPLAUSE! APPLAUSE!

Rhonda's site is a really nice, cozy and fun site to visit. First of all I love her template design and color (the girl side of me appreciates pink, too), and I enjoyed reading her posts. She was given a Mom & Tots Award by BebeReviews.com which only means that her site's really good :-) To know more about Rhonda, you can read her 100 Things List here. To know more about her site, then you'll just have to trot on over to my sidebar and give her thumbnail a click! It's really worth your trip! Oh and don't forget to tell her that Chrixean whispered her name to you ...

Monday, May 15, 2006

Gathering Together in His Name

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I am opening up my blog today to accept your special prayer requests.


I believe so much in the power of prayer and how interceding for others can really storm heaven with our specific requests, that I would like to pray for each and every one's special prayer requests this week.

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As it is written:
"For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." Matthew 18:20
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Just last week I asked special friends and community brothers and sisters to join me in praying for my auntie Mercy who is very sick with leukemia. My auntie has surrendered her body and spirit to the Lord already and has refused any further treatments and medications. Of course we were all deeply affected by this and saddened by the possibility of losing her to the sickness. But it also gave us a reason to help her in fighting the battle in the spritiual realm, by declaring in faith her healing. It meant a whole lot to me and my family that so many people are thinking of her and are praying for her to be given an extended lease on her life. I wish to be able to give back in this aspect to help others in prayer for their specific needs as well.

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Just post your prayer requests in the comments section or email me here. Please add your name to the linky list if you want me to pray for your concern, AND leave me a comment if you decided that you to just email your prayer request. I promise that every prayer request will be treated with confidetiality.

I'd also like to ask each of you to pray for whose ever request is up. Even if the person didn't leave a specific one, just lift him or her up in your prayers.

Please continue to pray for my auntie Mercy.
As we gather in His name, let us all pray for each other's concerns. Thank you.

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Sunday, May 14, 2006

For All The Sexy Mommas

What's better than being one hot sexy momma on Mother's Day?


Getting a special greeting from one that's just as hot and sexy! Yup, that's me!

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HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL OF YOU!

Friday, May 12, 2006

Thankful Thursday 17


Thankful Thursday: What CHRIXEAN is thankful for this week

1) I am thankful that Nicky finally has regained his confidence in swimming. It took us 5 years to get him back into a pool without the usual screaming and crying sessions. Thanks to his very patient dad, Nicky went back into the pool and not only did he just dip in and wade, he actually floated alone onto the middle of the pool, paddled around from end to end, get out and literally jumped back into the waiting arms of his cousins! Great job, son!

2) Seeing my old highschool friends. My good friend Don came home recently from the US to visit his ailing dad. Sadly, his dad passed away just a few days after he arrived and so we all decided to drop by the wake to visit him and his family to pay our respects. It instantly became a mini reunion of sorts because I suddenly had the opportunity to see old friends (not old in the literal sense, though some may have passed as such, hehe) and catch up on old times. It was great seeing Don also because he was a great bud in highschool and we shared a lot of fun stories together, as well as unforgettable and quirky experiences. I look forward to seeing him again soon along with my other highschool pals (hopefully when I've already given birth so I could share a few drinks again with the gang), and hopefully the reason for it will be under happier circumstances.

3) Serving in Nicky's musical show called Jeremiah Goes Home. Allan and I were given the opportunity to use God's gifts to us by serving in the production, promotions and creative marketing aspects of the show. It's a musical produced by our Christian community and we are assigned to serve as a couple, while our son is part of the song and dance ensemble. Really cool and fun! I directed an afternoon till late evening photoshoot yesterday for the souvenir program and though it was really tiring (did I forget I was pregnant again?), it was really fun to do. I got to do what I do for a living as my way of serving God's purpose.

Links to other Thankful Thursdays -->


A Child of God
A Revision
Anna's Place
As My World Turns
EPH2810
Friday's Child
Imagine Bliss
Journalling Through the Valley
Momma's Life
Mommy Does It All
Mommy Needs To Vent
Nightingale
no_average_girl
Show Them Through Me
Uzi's Musings
Blog Charm
Russell And Aine's Haven





Click here for the Thankful Thursday code
Click here for Chrixean's blog

Trackbacks, pings, and comment links are accepted and encouraged!





Tuesday, May 09, 2006

Preggy Postings 6


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I've totally forgotten how pregnancy feels and although this second trimester is getting easier on the travels and the queasiness, there are other discomforts that I'm getting reacquainted with.
  • Swollen feet and ankles. I am not happy with the fact that every so often my feet and ankles puff up to an alarming size that makes me look like I've got marshmallows in my shoes. Although they aren't painful, they can be annoying to look at. Plus, my head starts to fill up with awful thoughts that every normal girl worries about -- what if my shoes no longer fit? NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Luckily, I have a loving hubby who makes sure my legs get propped up on towers of pillows every night, and gets a mild and loving massage it well deserves. :-)
  • Sudden stabbing pains in the lower abdomen. There are these certain days when I probably forget I am pregnant (days when I probably become schizophrenic and forget my name and gender as well...) and I work and move around as if I were my normal self. Not a good thing to do. I checked with my Ob-GYNE and my trusty old "What To Expect..." book while doubled up in pain, to see if I needed to panic and rush myself to the hospital. Fortunately, this sort of thing is quite normal (for careless people like me) especially when the pain comes after a sudden movement (like getting off a bed or a chair).
  • Pimples the size of peas. Ok, I'm exaggerating. But they sure feel like they've grown to enormous proportions! I've never ever had to contend with more than 2 zits on my face all at one time. Now I have more than 8 across my face, down to my neck and a few more on my back. Need I describe this ordeal further? Maybe not. You probably get the picture. AAARGH.
  • Bloodied gums. YUCK - is all I can say about this.
But of course, to every pregnancy blah there is a corresponding pregnancy AAHH.....
  • Because my feet are well taken cared of by my pampering hubby, it merited a stare from a well-know international singer who I happened to stand next to at the mall (who also happens to be pregnant and should be giving birth really soon. hint. hint.). Haha.
  • On days when I am more relaxed (and lazy), I enjoy the occasional kicks that the baby gives. It gives me peace to know that it is active, well and most likely, happy swimming around inside me.
  • Despite my irritation with pimples, people have told me that I looked glowing and have complimented that I looked beautiful pregnant (awww, shucks....*blush*).
By next Friday I will hopefully be given the chance to know my baby's gender (if the baby doesn't get camera-shy and decides to turn it's back on us). I'm looking forward to this as much as Nicky and Allan, because we are raring to bring out our pens and paper to make our lists of names for the baby.

So wait for my next post! If all goes well, I'll have a new ultrasound pic up and hopefully, new names to choose from! :-)

Saturday, May 06, 2006

Late Breakfast: A Blind Contour



So sorry for this late BCF post. I was tied down to a magazine layout I needed to submit to my client yesterday that there was absolutely no time for me to scan and upload the drawing. *Sigh*

Excuses aside, I am posting my VERY LATE Blind Contour Drawing for May which is based on this month's theme -- BREAKFAST.

I haven't been able to have a decent breakfast meal these past days due to my late hours of working. Probably not a good move for a pregnant woman, but I'd much rather miss out on a full breakfast rather than my much needed hours of sleep. For this BCD I made sure I had a tall glass of iced cold Skim Milk. I actually had rice porridge before this, but decided that there really wasn't anything exciting to draw with a white bowl and wet white rice.

To the uninformed: BLIND CONTOUR FIRST FRIDAYS, are basically a series of fun drawing activities participated in by several illustrators, which require members to post blind contour illustrations on a monthly basis. In this case, it's the first friday of the month. How exactly is it done? Participants all draw "blindly" by focusing our attention entirely on the subject being drawn holding a pen and a pad but WITHOUT LOOKING at our sketchpads (ok, we cheat from time to time...but we can't help it!). BCFFs are hosted by Niff and Sutter of Inkfinger.

To see more exciting BCDs for "Breakfast", please visit Inkfinger. Really cool drawings here! :-)

~~ooOOOoo~~

Guys, please don't forget to visit my tenant Yulia! Her blog is one that you wouldn't want to miss! Don't believe me? Read more about her here, then go over to my right sidebar and click on her blog thumbnail!

Thursday, May 04, 2006

Thankful Thursday 16


Thankful Thursday: What CHRIXEAN is thankful for this week

  • A good night's sleep
  • Time with my family
  • Work for the company
  • Being part of a community that loves and prays for one another
  • Good health for everyone in my family, including myself
  • God's mysterious ways and how he moves in our lives without us ever understanding it
  • Feeling my baby's movements inside

Links to other Thankful Thursdays -->


A Child of God
A Revision
Anna's Place
As My World Turns
EPH2810
Friday's Child
Imagine Bliss
Journalling Through the Valley
Momma's Life
Mommy Does It All
Mommy Needs To Vent
Nightingale
no_average_girl
Show Them Through Me
Uzi's Musings
Blog Charm
Russell And Aine's Haven





Click here for the Thankful Thursday code
Click here for Chrixean's blog

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