all the BEST in 2010

Let the coming of 2010 be filled with bountiful and wonderful blessings..let it be as colorful as the jelly beans! Whatever 2009 had brought us, good or bad, for sure God made us tougher. As said in the Bible, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people..”-Luke 2:10.

To all my blogger friends, keep on entertaining, informing and inspiring others..HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF US!

Have yourselves a Merry Christmas...

With just few days away from Christmas day, let me take this moment to greet everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New year!..I'm doing it now before everybody gets too busy with reunions, parties and everything..
May the coming year 2010 brings much blessing, peace, love, happiness and prosperity to one and all! God bless to all of us..

milestone in my married life...

A "post-dated" post on our 3rd wedding anniversary...

On a cold Wednesday, Nov. 18 that was, Daddy Jonathan and I celebrated our 3rd year together as husband and wife. How was it different from the past annivs? One, it was a very cold day, temperature down to 11 degrees celsius that we decided to just stay at home. Two, this time we already have our baby dearest(Joelle Nikolai) to celebrate with. Three, no roses but another kind of flower(pardon me for i don't know the name, w/ the resemblance of carnation). Hasn't withered yet, daddy jon must have picked extra special for me huh...And four, a home-made hawaiian pasta fussili especially prepared by my husband added spice to the special occassion.
yum...yum...yum...

Every year, we try to make this special day an extra-ordinary one...such a milestone worth celebrating! I thank God for always being at the center of our lives, keeping us strong in every challenge that we may encounter. I wish my husband and I more fruitful and colorful years together.

What's-up Mom?

In my last post, i mentioned how difficult to be a mom, especially being full-time. What is really up with me?
It's unbelievable how a full-time mom can be, working on a 24/7 basis. Round the clock, my attention is focused on the baby. The more, i exclusively breastfeed her. So just imagine how motherhood have consumed much of me. I have no complaints about it, in fact i love it as it gives me broader perspective on the real essence of being a mom. I can have quality time with Niko as much as she needs and deserves. The best of all, I get a chance to document her every mode...


...when she yawns...


she just knows when being photographed...


...when she's tired playing alone..her cry tells you to pick her up and snuggle.

you just can't miss when she flaunts her beautiful smile!

So, no matter how difficult it can be, you can never trade with anything in this world. Again, i love being a full-time mom!

"Job: Full-time Mom"

A teacher, turned call center agent, turned a wife and a teacher(again), turned administrative officer, back to teaching--and now? A FULL-TIME MOM.

Most of the time i am asked, how it is to be a mom? i would always answer them its very difficult but it is the MOST FULFILLING role i've ever played.

Living abroad, oceans apart from your family makes it even more difficult! i remember the first few days after my mom had gone back to Philippines, i really cried along with my baby. I couldn't stop her cry, i have done everything i know to soothe a baby crying but still. But as days passed, i have come to learn and understand how to be a mom. I do most of the thing for the baby except for bath time. That is dad's role. I'm scared i might slip the baby off my hands.

Being a full-time mom is the most enjoyable, fulfilling, rewarding, satisfying of all jobs. Though it can be the most difficult and demanding, with just a beam and blab of my baby, everything is just so fine.Blogging seem to be the last thing id be doing as i always snuggle my baby. she likes sleeping while being snuggled. its not a good practice though, but once you're a parent, you would understand.
It really feels great to be a FULL-TIME mom!

aquamarine remodelled...

barely a year ago, Pusang-kalye encouraged me to enter the blog world. for what reason? let say, to kill time but it has brought me more reasons to do it..yes, i even found it as a therapy to my anxieties ..:)
as it required a blog title, i first thought of aquamarine being my birth color and have chosen this photo featuring the aquamarine water of Blue Lagoon in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte.
and now i have entered the world of motherhood, surely my time and attention will be focused on my baby..blogging will be my way of keeping a record of her growth and development..and share with you tales of love, joy, pride, fulfillment and satisfaction from the heart of a mom.
and thus the remodelling!..

meet JOELLE NIKOLAI R. DONES

On a peaceful evening of august 22, i delivered a healthy baby girl. just after i saw my baby, i have forgotten all the pain which lasted for about 30 hours.
a certified mom...at the delivery room, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Chaiwan Hong Kong....and now we're three...our first family picture!

Time flies so fast,so as our baby growing so fast..Just as every first time parents, excited are we..we never let a day pass without a picture of our baby, capturing every smile, yawn, cry, blink, kick-her every action!

Check on my other site for more of Niko's pictures..

changes in me during my pregnancy...

Who would think i am 6 weeks pregnant in this photo?...taken during our Christmas vacation in Ilocos Norte...

And weeks after, this was how i looked. Notice the little bump on my tummy? 18 weeks on the way to motherhood.. taken during the HK Flower Show last March 22, 2009 at Victoria Park.

Its getting more and more obvious, i can no longer hide it. Just like other first time moms-to-be, i was proud to show off my tummy. 23 weeks and 5 days to be exact taken during our church beach outing, May 1, 2009.

And for my latest pregnant portrait(courtesy of my husband), my personal favorite! The smile means a lot- proud, happy and excited! 33 weeks and 5 days and have gained about 15 kilos...oh no, that is a lot to shed after delivery. This photo can be seen in all of my networking sites...just too proud,really! hahaha.

And now the question is, am I ready for the big day? Baby's bag is ready since June, my suitcase, hmmm, not yet! But I know, God has prepared me in all aspects- spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally.

Thank you so much to everyone who has been praying for us, for a healthy pregnancy, good health and safe delivery.

Embracing 3rd Trimester...

I am welcoming my last trimester of pregnancy with much joy and thankfulness. Second trimester is over and everything just went well - no vomiting, nauseating, a little of backpain but totally tolerable..thank God!

While everyone is asking for the gender of our baby, we decided (as of the moment) to take the old-fashioned way of not knowing it and just wait for the big day..for a big SURPRISE!!! It really doesn't matter if it's a boy or a girl for as long as it is healthy and normal. But there are some parents with gender preference. Que sera,sera..we are very much thankful to God for the wonderful gift.

I'm on my 25 week and at this period, i could feel the movements of my baby. I just could not explain the bliss and thrill i feel and even get tickled whenever the baby kicks and punches. The feeling is so amazing when you talk to the baby and would answer back with a kick.

While it is also on these days i have some difficulty in breathing, sleeping and easily gets tired, i know and understand they're all part of it. After all, I have tons of things to be thankful with.

As the big day is fast approaching, me and my husband are both excited. I don't deny, I'm kinda worried too. But thinking back of all the wonderful things God has done for me, the fear is gone.

Gold Coast, Tuen Mun,HK

It was supposed to be an afternoon swimming(or maybe just wading) but then we arrived so late. The golden beach in Gold Coast is the first man-made beach in Hong Kong. A one-good site to view the beautiful sunset...
...a perfect place for breaking away from a noisy and busy metropolis...
...and maybe just pick up some shells for souvenirs...
...a walk along the shore gives relief to the tired feet.
One of my favorites shots. This reminds me of the lines in "Footprints in the Sand" - God said, "During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you."

...two goldfish at the entrance of Gold Coast Hotel.
The Gold Coast Marina Club is Hong Kong's premier niche for local and out-of-towner mega yachts.

offering a seat to pregnant women: is it necessary or just being nice?

I've been thinking to make a post on offering a seat to pregnant women until this afternoon when i fainted just after getting off the train after standing for 15 minutes. Fainting is a sudden loss of consciousness caused by decreased blood flow to the brain. Usually a slow heart rate causes a drop in blood pressure, which reduces the blood flow to the brain and pregnant women are among the people at risk the most. I'm 18weeks pregnant and my tummy is already obvious but nobody offered a seat..ever! I miss being in my own country knowing the Filipinos are very courteous when it comes to offering a seat. Eyebrows raising??? Okay, but still many of us carry this manner. Filipinos here in HK are very courteous, hats off! This is one manner i always teach my students and when I wasn't preggy yet, i used to give up my seat. Locals never or very seldom gave up a seat to those in need. This made me think, is it because our race is among the lowest in their society or just not their characteristics? I have read articles about this topic and signages are even posted on the sides and ceiling of the public transpos. Its heartbreaking that many just ignore and fail to offer a seat. What do they do? Pretend to be sleeping or hide behind newspapers.

Thank God, everything was fine just after few minutes. I went to my doctor and told me nothing to worry, just try not to stand for a long time and have enough sleep.

So, is offering a seat to pregnant women necessary or just being nice?

birthday bash 2009

my husband and i have the same birth month--March. He's 363 days older than me. This year is extra special to us. why?..because on this year, we'll soon have a baby!

It's a week-long celebration which started last Mar. 8. My cousins joined us for a lunch at Kowloon Park.

On my day, we had a Japanese style dinner at OIE Sushi in Causeway Bay.


I loved the foods...and the price is affordable too.
And of course, nothing could be more romantic than spending the night with your everdearest...


On Jonathan's day, dinner with some friends.
It was a very wonderful evening with so much laughs, great foods...
...and triple treat of drinks.


And on Sunday, Mar. 15, celebration with other March celebrants at the church. Just like one happy family celebrating for the very special day.(left the camera at home so I wasn't able to capture some pictures)

For this year's birthday celebration, again I'm reminded, it feels great to have many friends who show you love and care. Even your families are not around, you can have them as your real family!