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!

That’s Mommy’s phone! Uh-uh! Ok fine! Eat it! Sigh….

While Nico’s cousins take my phone (anybody’s phone for that matter) to “fake” a call to their Dads (since their Moms are with them all the time), saying “Daddy? Daddy? Hello Daddy?”, Nico just watch them with intrigued and curious eyes. Well, Nico doesn’t seem to understand what his cousins are doing (or saying) since when it is his turn to hold the phone at last, he won’t put it on his ear and say “Da? Da?” He’ll quickly put the phone in his mouth as if it is a chocolate bar. Hmmmm…

Well, I don’t want to give my son false hopes though. I mean, if his Dad doesn’t want to call, be it. I know it’s important for kids to have a communication with their parents but well it’s the Daddy’s lost not my baby’s. I’ll make sure that Nico is well loved and taken care of. He actually looks up to his GrandPapa as his Daddy. Nico’s Dad could very well get lost on his own world. I don’t think he knows that phones, internet and even Internet Fax exist for communication purposes. If it’s true that he’s working outside the country right now, he can avail of many other telecom services outside the country, like Spectrotel.  Even small and mid-sized businesses rely on Spectrotel for their Internet and telecommunications needs. He can get to know more about the latest Spectrotel special offers and avail of their low-cost plans buy visiting their site. Or he can opt for other internet and telecom provider if he wants to. He’ll gonna regret abandoning his son. Nico is just the sweetest and the cutest baby ever! I just hope I’ll be ready for that day when he asks about his irresponsible Dad.

I know this is too late a post for my little angel but well, I was reading a book this afternoon and realized just how “unprepared” I was for my baby’s arrival. I mean, in the book, the heroine, Jo, was getting busy preparing a Baby Shower for her soon-to-be-Mom bestfriend. I know I’m a little jealous because no one really went through such trouble for my little angel and me but I guess I can’t blame my friends and relatives because I’m pretty far from them.

My Own Baby Shower of Love

Then I found myself imagining what could be my baby’s theme, his motif if I ever had a baby shower for him. I mentally “ohhed” and ‘ahhed” to the colorful and magical images that came into my mind. I got so excited that I went to my computer right there and then and started looking out for baby shower themes in the net.

I was rather delighted when I found Bellissimo Favors. It is actually a great online shop for bridal and baby shower favors and all other favors and stuff for all occasions! I excitedly clicked “Baby Shower Gifts for Mom-To-Be” and oh boy was I envious! Wouldn’t I love to have that adorable “Pig in a Blanket”? It reminds me so much of the silly game that my little angel and I used to play (we play “let’s sell this pig to the market” when he was still smaller and lighter).

Pig in a Blanket @ Bellissimo Favors

And what about that “Welcome to the World” gift set? Shucks! It’s way too cute! I want those! And gosh! They even have personalized baby shower hang tags! Sigh! Why didn’t I have my own baby shower? Now I’m really jealous of Jo’s bestfriend! Tsk!

Welcome to the World Set @ Bellissimo Favors

Oh well, I’ll make sure I’m ready for my little angel’s first birthday! I know it’s still 5 months away but it doesn’t hurt to be prepared right?

I’m currently looking up the net for good books. Nope, Nico is really smart but he can’t read yet Yet, I’m looking for children’s books to read to my little angel every night.

At his age, Nico is very curious about the different sounds and the different images that he sees. I think it’s the best time for him to learn from books. Hmmm, I’m not really grooming him to be a bookworm like me (sheesh!) but it seems fun to read those books to Nico.

Anyways, while searching online, I came across a site wherein various books can be found may it be academic (high school or college books), self-help books, religion, parenting, and more! It’s just sad that I found no “Children’s” category. I just think it’s a good place to buy (and even sell) books. I have nothing against second hand books as long as they’re still in good condition and Valore Books prides itself for its thousands of second-hand books in great condition.

I guess, I’ll shop for parenting books as well, along with Nico’s illustrated books. Shop with me! You’ll enjoy browsing