I miss you Noy!!!

I wrote this poem October 25, 2008, a day after Noy's birthday, and 2 months before our wedding day. Every time I am discouraged and emotionally down, I read this poem to remind me how blessed I am to have a husband like Noy.

It's almost one week since Noy left for the U.S. to attend a conference in Atlanta and visit a couple of friends in San Francisco. I miss him sooooo much! I don't know if I will be able to survive another week without him. Of course, I have Elle who has been keeping me busy BUT life is never the same without Noysky... Thank God he is coming back tomorrow midnight! I love you Noy!!!

Noy

I think that I shall never see

A Noy, as perfect for me…

A Noy whose imperfection is the key,

In sweeping me off my feet with a glee.

A nOy that makes me smile the whole day,

And gives me only positive things to say.

A Noy that makes me feel so lovely,

Together with her prince she longed so dearly…

Together, I know we'll be forever

For God has made us perfect together…

Noy was made just for me

And I was made just for Noy.

Elle Marie and Lola Moyette in Zoobic

Elle Marie and Lola Moyette in Zoobic!

I went to study in Manila as early as ten and I go home twice a year (every summer and christmas time) to be with my family. This has been my routine until now...

I did not get to bond with Mama before because of the distance. I remembered that everytime I go home, I would go straight to my Nanay's home and stay there for weeks. I would not blame mama if there were times that she felt jealous of Nanay or Mommy because I know I would also feel the same. That is why everytime I am given a chance to bond with Mama, I see to it that I have quality time with her. When she said she'll visit us here in Manila, we prepared everything for her... Nene and I knew how much Mama love tigers that is why we decided to bring her to Zoobic for the close encounter with the tigers.

This was Mama's first time in Subic and Elle's second time . When we entered the Tiger safari, Elle was all smiling and shouting "Roaaaar" to the tigers! I guess after reading the books about the tigers and going to Zoobic last February, she is no longer afraid of the tigers. Rather, she fell in love with them.

Elle was so busy "roaaaaring" with the tigers when all of the sudden someone from the back of the car screamed! That someone turned out to be Mama screaming because the two tigers were right beside her trying to get in the car! When Elle saw that it was her Lola Moyette who was screaming, she laughed and pointed at her lola as if making fun of her! It was a perfect video moment that I unfortunately was not able to capture. Yet will always remain in my mind...

I thank God that I am so blessed to have a loving and understanding family that despite the distance, we were able to nourish our love for each other. I owe a lot to my family who I am right now and what I have become... I love my two sisters, my Tito Joemel, my Papa and Mama. I miss Nanay and Lolo...

My very own Merbaby

The story of our Very own Merbaby...

Elle is so in love with "water". One of the first words that she uttered clearly was "Water!" I remembered one time, we were going to Bonifacio High Street and we passed by the park beside Makati Post Office. She shouted "Water! Water! Water!" and pointed towards the fountain in the park! I was surprised because aside from the usual first words of babies, i never imagined that it would be one of her's.

Last Monday, we went to Market! Market! for my check up and Noy's Rotary Meeting. As soon as we boarded the pick up, Elle ran to the fountain area and play with the water! She was giggling and laughing the whole time. She was shouting "Water! Water! Water!". We were so consumed with watching her have the greatest time in her life with the water that we did not notice that she was all wet already! Her "Latina" look went into "Basang Sisiw" look! Hehehe

Despite the wetness, she still would not stop playing with the water!!! Thinking that she might catch cold, I carried her to the nearby restaurant to change her clothes, eat and rest. Funny though, Ate Yan yan forgot to bring extra short or pants! So Elle ended up with her her "I love Papa" shirt and a raffled undergarment! We were all laughing because she looked funny with only an undergarment on! We got so used with her on complete get-ups that we already forgot how she would look with only her under garments on! Added to that, I never realized that Elle is that big and tall already! O my! my little baby is already a toddler!!!

It seem just a few months ago, I was praying that she starts walking straight so that I can play and ran with her but look at my daughter now?!! Time really flies fast... that is why, I have to make every minute with Elle counts or else, I will miss my daughter's journey...

Preparing for Elle Marie's first international trip Part I

Meeting new friends in Hong Kong

It will not be a surprise for everyone to know that I started preparing for elle marie's first international trip last month, almost four months before our planned trip to Bangkok-HongKong-Macau. It will also be my first time to go to those places hence, I don't have any experience to rely on.

Our bangkok trip is courtesy of Noy's friend, samran who offered to host and be our tour guide. That's minus one task to prepare for me. Samrah is thai married to a Pinay...since we are there, we included in our itinerary a visit to old friends kareff and kissy. Kareff is a close friend back during my dr magno days. She's the cameron diaz of the Philippines. She can literally sweep you off your feet with her smile. I met Kissy through Kareff. SHe is doing her university paper works while Kareff has a full-time job already.

As for hongkong and macau, I started with a short list of things I must not miss based on my previous readings and discussions with friends. To top my list are Disneyland, Ocean Park and SHOPPING! I showed my short list to Ami, Brian's cousin living in hongkong who is also a mom to a cute baby girl, Valarie. When asked about hongkong, BOC immediately thought of introducing me and ami over the email because he knows we can relate with each other given our backgrounds. Indeed, BOC is a genius because Ami, being a mom know all the places I must bring Elle! It was so light talking with her and I am excited to visit her family after our ocean park trip. Most of all I am excited to see Elle and Valarie play together.

A Confession of a Guilty Hypertensive Mother...

Everdearest Elle,

You may not be able to understand now what I am telling you but once you do, i want you to know that i love you so. You are the greatest gift God has given me. Having you validates the intensity of God's love... Your presence tell me that having faith in God is the only thing that I should have in life.

I love your Papa even before you came but now that I have you... I love him even more and everyday I look at him with gratefulness for all the things that he had to give up just for me and you. We could have ended separately in another person's arms; have a baby girl and name her Elle Marie but I know that she would not be as beautiful, good and intelligent as you, my Elle Marie Oplas.

I would give up anything just for you.

Last week my doctor told me that i am hypertensive. I know it's coming but I never thought it would arrive this soon. The first thing that came in to my mind is You... that I should review all the food that I am giving you. I should not give you food with so much msg, too much sugar, too oily... I should engage you more with physical activities so that you will not end up like your couch potato mama... I want you to develop your Papa's energy, go dancing as if it's your last day on earth; go mountain hiking; conquer mt pinatubo, mt pulag... The second thing that entered my mind is your Papa... i know that he will make fun of me because considering my persistence for him to have his back bones checked, I was the one ended up sick! I kept on worrying about his age but it never entered my mind that he could be more healthier than I am.

Last Friday, I told myself that I will give up my sedentary lifestyle and "junk" food cravings. I will break up with Ronald McDonald just for you and you alone Elle... Not even your papa was able to make me do it but for you, i will.

Elle, there are things that I know I should control. Like my food intake, my physical activities, my mind set, the way i speak and most of all my patience...

I was not patient with you last night. I spank you once but very lightly. And, from the look that you gave me, you were surprised as i am and could not believe that I am capable of doing it.

Yes, Elle I did it. But, it does not mean I love you less.

Elle, I am really sorry. I know that I should have been more patient with you considering your age. I know that you did not mean to cause me stress; I should have been more patient with you because you are just exploring; trying to see your capabilities, power and strength.

Elle, I am really sorry. Please forgive me...

Last night I stayed up late crying and crying because I know that i disappointed you. You just don't know how hurt i was when you tried to mimic my spank and would not face me. I really did not mean to hurt you.

Elle, I am really sorry. Please forgive me...

This morning, I really waited for you to wake up and see if you can still remember what happened last night. I was really when you gave me a ready BIG smile!!! I am happy because I know that you have given me another chance to show what I can give up for you... and I am giving up impatience... For you, for myself and for our future, I will try to be more patient; think twice before speaking or acting; count 1 to 100 before i do anything in haste...

Elle, I am really sorry. Please believe me.

I love you Elle...

I love your Papa...



Your one and only
Mama

Happy Birthday Hughe Constantine!!!

Happy Birthday Huggies!

Hughe Constantine just turned one last April 9, 2008. He is Tita Peachy and Tito Jun's youngest son. I remembered last year when Mama and Papa got a text message from Tito Jun that Tita Peachy gave birth already. We rushed to their residence in Quezon City to visit Hughe... He was soooo tiny that time because he was just three days old:-) Next time I saw him was during his baptismal early this year... I was surprised by how big he has grown!

Happy Birthday Huggies! from Me, Mama and your Ninong Noy!

-Elle Marie Oplas

Elle Marie goes to Bugallon, Pangasinan

Elle Marie went to Bugallon, Pangasinan for the "araw ng kagitingan" long weekend. She was so happy to meet new friends and see in person the "farm" animals that she would usually just see in her books.

The kids were so excited to play with Elle... they kept on calling her Ella! Ella! and I would continuously remind them that I am Mama Ella and Elle is Baby Elle... They flocked around Elle and take turn playing with her.

Seeing Elle happy with her new found friends made me decide to celebrate her 2nd year birthday party in Bugallon. For one, I know that this would be a great, unforgettable experience for the Laguit Kids as well as for Elle. Oooo... I am so excited! The events organizer in me is clamoring to go out in the open and start the preparation for Elle's 2nd year birthday party.

I am thinking that for Elle's 2nd year birthday party, she will have an "enchanted paradise" theme. Boys will wear "dwarft" hats while girls will wear flowers on their hairs... plus wings! everybody will wear wings! To complete the enchanted look, I will have white and pink ribbons all around... on the trees, on the tree house... everywhere! God! I am sooo excited!

Anyways, we tried to look for a place where Elle can swim on the pool but Elle ended up swimming on the "sapa"! Elle was even wide-eyed when she saw her friends swim with their underwears! Hahahaha But! I must say that she really enjoyed the experience. I know that Elle is looking forward to her next visit in Bugallon!