When I was still alone (and I mean literally living alone), it seemed like life was so simple. I used to live in a small room (around 12-15 meter squares) with just a bed and a closet, I don’t even have my own bathroom, I had to share it with other renters. I eat anything at anytime I want, hey! I may even just go sleep without eating (it’s a lazy way to get sick, hahaha!). I can go window shop every afternoon, dreaming about owning this and owning that… ahhh… life has never been easier!

Then Nicholas came and bang! Everything has to change!

Well, before I continue, I would like to say I am never sorry that I became a member of the prestigious motherhood club. I am never sorry that I was blessed with a very handsome, smart and healthy bundle of joy. No, this is isn’t about me feeling sorry for myself because I have to change my lifestyle. This is about a realization, this is about me embracing the wonderful life of being a mother.

Ok, let’s go back to business shall we?

As I was saying, it’s different now. With my angel, I choose not to settle for anything less. I want to give him the best, to do everything I can to make him a very happy and secure baby. Like, I had to buy my own computer for me to be able to work at home and personally attend to his needs. Or I had to go shopping for all his needs even before he was born. Or I had to go for monthly visits, maintain vitamins, make sure I was healthy and safe for him. I mean, I am a single Mom, and I was earning for myself. I didn’t have much money then. I didn’t even have enough for the cesarean section.So when did I get the money for this? Yeah, I borrowed. I have a credit card, I used it to prepare for my baby’s arrival, and now, I am still paying it. Oh well, I will pay until I ran out of money, I’ll borrow and borrow again if it means I can give my baby everything he needs.

Yeah, even buying him Cheetos so he can snack on it while watching his favorite kiddie TV commercials/ads, hahaha! That’s really cute!

Or shopping for his daily needs or even wants if I can give it to him. Errr… his stuff doesn’t really come from Ace Harware, but well, I can’t let him carry a heavy bag of baby liquid soap, baby lotion, milk, diapers, and more!

Or making him look smart and cool especially on an event like pictorials for his passport

Or going to a playsite where he can have fun interacting with other kids or have access to toys he doesn’t have at home.

So yes, now, I’m not enjoying the cellphone plans that I used to overpay anyways, hehehe! And now, I don’t see any movement or growth on my savings account. And yes, I’m not using my credit card anymore. I need help in saving money, I need help to shrink my bills. And I have to do all these not to the expense of my son’s needs and wants. Do I need a part-time job? Or maybe I need to change jobs (hey! that’s tempting considering the never-ending salary delays). Or maybe I just need to change my spending habits? But heck! I don’t even have much to spend! My salary comes and go, faster than my college allowance I’ll just laugh about this then. I’ll just enjoy every moment with my son, enjoy his smiles and laughters, enjoy his happiness, his health, his well-being… I am ok with the present situation (well, as long as the credit card company doesn’t put me in jail, hahaha!), I am surviving. Thanks to Mark and his kindness, thanks for his loving support and matured guidance.

Ok, shall we talk about finding another job? Hehehe!

Wow! I love the books that I got from WhatToExpect.com! It arrived this week and oh boy! I’m impressed! Maybe because I am a book-lover or maybe because I am a first-time Mom and I am overwhelmed with too much information in the book or maybe because What To Expect kept its promise to send me these books

Let me see, I received the following:

“What To Expect When You’re Expecting”,

“Eating Well When You’re Expecting”,

“Pregnancy Journal & Organizer”,

“Baby-sitter’s Handbook”,

“What To Expect the First Year”, and

“What To Expect the Toddler Years”

I think the last book is the most useful for me now since Nicholas is already one year old. But of course I can still use the other books especially with the fact that Mark and I are planning to build a BIG family

Now I can start my reading and then share what I’ve learned to my angel’s blog’s avid readers, yes you guys WhatToExpect.com also promised to send me more books to give out to my blogfriends. So yes, watch out for the contests that I am launching at this site so you’ll win the same series of books as well. Isn’t that exciting?

Hey! Thanks  to Tony of WhatToExpect.com for this wonderful gift!

Mommy made me look like a newborn again boo-hoo-hoo :(( Not fair! I just turned one! Give me back my hair! LOL!

Honestly, I actually enjoyed my first haircut Too bad Mom’s phone doesn’t have a cam, she wasn’t able to capture my first ever haircut (or hairbald??? hihihi!). Grandy Jane however took pictures and a video so I’m sure Mommy will ask for them and have them printed as well

So what do you think of my new look? I know I know, it’s an old new look I used to look like this last year, so nothing much is new except that I’m bigger and taller now, and hey! Don’t forget more handsome too LOL! See? Mommy wants to show off how handsome I am with or without my hair… hmmmmm.. I know! I look like Daddy Mark now! See how handsome we are? So handsome that we both captured my Mommy’s heart Yes, she’s madly inlove with both of us

I’m 1 year old! Yipee! I’m a grown up!

Mommy and Daddy really went out to make my birthday celebration a huge one! Why huge? For so many reasons. First, my happiness is so huge I am with my Mommy and Daddy called to wish me a Happy Birthday. Second, a clown hosted the party. He looks huge and a little scary with his face white but I didn’t really cried. I’m a big boy now Third, a huge version of my Mickey Mouse stuff toy was there and danced for me and my friends! Yipee! Fourth, I was able to get huge smiles from my guests with my Micky Mouse and friends’ cupcakes and giveaways, and games, and prizes, and more! It was a very wonderful day!

Mommy hired someone to take pictures and take a video too. But I can’t post the video here, it’s too large… So you can visit my Mom’s Facebook photo album and see all of my pictures there.

I really enjoyed my party. Many kids came and I received many gifts too! LOL! I’m sure my guests enjoyed themselves too especially with the clown’s magic tricks and games, Mickey Mouse’s dance and picture taking sessions, the overflowing softy ice cream, the yummy mickey mouse and friends’ cupcakes and all the mickey mouse goodies that they get to bring home!

I also enjoyed the company of my loveones, aside from my one and only Mommy. There’s GrandPa and GrandMa, my aunts, my cousins and my many grand-aunts! Ahhh.. I love celebrating my birthday!

By the way, Mommy made changes in my blog just in time for my birthday. She thinks making it look brighter will mirror my sunny and happy disposition. Yes, I love being happy, I smile and laugh a lot. Why not? I have a Mommy and a Daddy who both love me so much, I have grandparents, aunts, cousins and friends who care for me… who wouldn’t be happy? So do enjoy my blog’s new look and share happiness and contentment with me…

Hey! Happy Birthday to me!

And I’m a grown-up kid! Not that I still look little

This is my grandparents’ place, this is where I’m gonna have my first birthday party. Everybody has been busy making sure the place is clean and ready. Even GrandPa scraped the old paint of the gates and painted it a fresh one! Actually, it’s GrandPa’s 50th birthday too (yes, we have the same birthday) so he wants to make sure the place is beautiful for both our parties

So Mommy and I took pictures (again LOL!) on the lawn. Mommy even faked riding a motorbike huh! Hmmm.. Mom, errrr… I don’t think your foot’s on the right place hihihi!

We also took our picture on the swing. Yeah, I love this place! Mommy and I sit on this swing every morning and every afternoon to relax The breeze is just great here!

So let’s go back to my birthday. Tomorrow is the day. Yes, I’m excited and I know Mom’s both nervous and busy too. She’s been doing many stuff to make my party a success, her main goal — to make sure I enjoy my first party and have lots and lots of beautiful pictures for Daddy Mark (and us too) to enjoy. I really wish Daddy Mark is here on my birthday, I’ll be happier and Mommy too. But I guess I’ll just have another party with him when he comes back!

I’m not sure but I guess this will be my last post with this old design. I saw Mommy designing a new template for my website and I like it very much. Why? Because I see my family’s picture in it! Yipee! Well, below’s a preview of Mommy’s new design. I guess she’ll be busy with the designs and updating this website when I turn 1.

I can’t wait! Hey! See you all in my party tomorrow!