Saab (Newborn-11 Months)

This post will be of just pictures of Saab and me from when she was born until she's 11 months old. Then I will be posting pictures of her first birthday on Sunday (err.. or when I have time to do so)

Newborn

1st Month

2nd Month

3rd Month

4th Month

5th Month

6th Month

7th Month

8th Month

9th Month

10th Month

11th Month

Song For Saab

When I first heard this song, I knew every word of it says how I feel about you, Saab. Because it is your birthday, this day has to be filled with blog posts about you. I know this song sings of romantic love but this song means more to me because for me, this is just about you.

For the way you changed my plans
For being the perfect distraction
For the way you took the idea that I have
Of everything that I wanted to have
And made me see there was something missing

For the ending of my first begin
And for the rare and unexpected friend
For the way you're something that I never choose
But at the same time something I don't wanna lose
And never wanna be without ever again

You're the best thing I Never Knew I Needed
So when you were here I had no idea
You're the best thing I never knew I needed
So now it's so clear I need you here always

My accidental happily (ever after oh oh oh)
The way you smile and how you comfort me (with your laughter)
I must admit you were not a part of my book
But now if you open it up and take a look
You're the beginning and the end of every chapter

You're the best thing I never knew I needed (oh)
So when you were here I had no idea
You're the best thing I never knew I needed (that I needed)
So now it's so clear I need you here always

Who'd knew that I'd be here (who'd knew that I'd be here oh oh)
So unexpectedly (so unexpectedly oh oh)
Undeniably happy (hey)
Said with you right here, right here next to me (oh)
Girl you're the... 

You're the best thing I never knew I needed (said I needed oh oh)
So when you were here I had no idea
You're the best thing I never knew I needed (needed oh)
So now it's so clear I need you here always
Baby baby
Now it's so clear I need you here always

First

I can't believe it's already been a year since you came into my life. 2011 ended so fast and before I know it, you are already 1 year old! Anyway, because I am the kind of person who do blog posts or random acts of sweetness when it's the birthday of someone close or dear to me, then you get to earn yourself a blog post! And though you cannot read yet (and I don't know if I ever can teach you how to, since I everyone knows I don't have enough patience to do so) I know someday you will and so I will try to make this special and heart-warming to the point that when you read this, you'd say, 'eew, ang mushy!'. But I will keep this short, I promise.

Dearest Saab,

You, coming into my life was very much unexpected and I can say that it was not properly timed, too. I was just starting to discover what career I want to pursue after college but then you came and I pretty much had to stop doing so for a while. It was tough as not a lot of understood the situation I was in. But when you were born, all of the heartaches, the anger, the doubts, all the negative feelings disappeared. I know I wasn't still ready to take full responsibility because I don't even know where to start. Everything was new to me but I just know that I have to.

Anyway, being with you every single day of my life is just amazing. Everyday, I get to learn new things about you and about sides of me I never knew existed. I always thought that I was selfish, inconsiderate, and not capable of caring but when you came, I realized that I can be motherly, too. HAHAHA! I once hated having to sit at 2 am and carrying you on my arms just because you would not want to sleep on our bed but you know, I kind of miss doing so now. You're now heavier and carrying you for even just 15 minutes give me cramps and strains. You always give me reasons to smile and laugh and feel good about the world and life.

You always make me proud. Whenever you do or say something new; when you made that first step on our stairs; when you were able to get a grip of your bottle when you were about 10 months old (yes, I know, you're a late bloomer). When your first tooth appeared (I though one or two was cute, but now you have 8 of them and you're like wearing dentures or something). And when every person who sees you thinks that you are cute and adorable. Although sometimes, I admit that I do feel bad when people say that you and I don't look alike and that you don't look like my daughter. HAHAHA! But I know that's just because you are fairer than me.

I promised to make this post short, right? Okay, to end this, I just want to thank you for everything. Thank you for coming into my life because now, I have a great paying job that I love where I can sleep whenever I want to and spend time with you at the same time. Thank you for coming into my life because now, I don't ever have to sleep alone again. Thank you for coming into my life and made me realize how good of a person I am.  Thank you for coming into my life because at such a young age, I was able to realize that I am capable of loving someone else unconditionally.

Happy birthday, Saab! Please don't grow up so fast yet. I love you!

Love,
Mother Dearest

Saab's Christmas and Birthday Wishlist

This Christmas is going to be Saab's first one. Her first birthday is also nearly just two weeks from now. Since all that's coming from her mouth are "tata", "mama", "dad", and other things with meanings unknown to everyone around her, I will be the one making her a wishlist. Yes, a wishlist is indeed needed these times. First of all, for you people to not anymore stress over what to give her on Christmas and on her birthday (yes, I meant that separately, one for Christmas and one for her birthday. HAHAHA!). And second, so that SAAB would not be disappointed once she opens your gifts. :)) alright, without further ado, here's Saab's 2 occasions-in-1 wishlist:

1. Clothes-- Although she doesn't have enough room for more clothes, It's great to have cute dresses, body suits, and other fashionable clothes for Saab here. Admit it, clothes look cuter and more adorable when they're smaller. I love shopping for Saab's clothes and so will you. Perhaps, you can buy her another closet or storage for her clothes, too. :))

2. Shoes-- Of course, to match those cute clothes, there should be cute shoes, too. 

3. Swimsuits-- We are planning to go to the beach in the summer. Since I cannot wear a bikini for myself, thanks to all the stretchmarks and the flabs on my tummy, I would let Saab wear all those nice bikinis instead. HAHAHA!

4. Toys-- Saab prefers educational toys, musical toys (is that the term used for toys that produce sounds?), toys that she can ride on. No stuffed toys please. 

5. Play tents-- I remember when I was a kid that I always want to have a fortress, so I always built one with blankets and pillows. I know almost everyone of us did that when we're kids. I would like to spare Saab the energy and the effort and settle with play tents instead. Hah!

6. CDs or DVDs of nursery songs and 'educational' cartoons-- I need this so that once in a while, Saab would sit in one corner, would not want to play at all, just sit there and watch, or listen to music. Besides, to those who watched, you know how the Twinkle Twinkle video affects her and I kind of like it when she's almost hypnotized just like that.

7. Huggies Dry Comfort Large-- Well, if you cannot find any of the above, if you are too lazy to to find one, or if you have read this too late and you do not have time left to find the perfect gift for Saab, then you can settle with this: 

Well, I hope you find this list useful. Actually, it really is useful, right? Okay, guys, make me a happy mommy and let's make Saab a happy baby this Christmas and on her birthday! :)

A Mother's Prayer For Her Child by Tina Fey

“First, Lord: No tattoos. May neither Chinese symbol for truth nor Winnie-the-Pooh holding the FSU logo stain her tender haunches.

May she be Beautiful but not Damaged, for it’s the Damage that draws the creepy soccer coach’s eye, not the Beauty.

When the Crystal Meth is offered, may she remember the parents who cut her grapes in half and stick with Beer.

Guide her, protect her when crossing the street, stepping onto boats, swimming in the ocean, swimming in pools, walking near pools, standing on the subway platform, crossing 86th Street, stepping off of boats, using mall restrooms, getting on and off escalators, driving on country roads while arguing, leaning on large windows, walking in parking lots, riding Ferris wheels, roller-coasters, log flumes, or anything called “Hell Drop,” “Tower of Torture,” or “The Death Spiral Rock ‘N Zero G Roll featuring Aerosmith,” and standing on any kind of balcony ever, anywhere, at any age.

Lead her away from Acting but not all the way to Finance. Something where she can make her own hours but still feel intellectually fulfilled and get outside sometimes and not have to wear high heels. What would that be, Lord? Architecture? Midwifery? Golf course design? I’m asking You, because if I knew, I’d be doing it, Youdammit.

May she play the drums to the fiery rhythm of her own heart with the sinewy strength of her own arms, so she need not lie with drummers.

Grant her a Rough Patch from twelve to seventeen. Let her draw horses and be interested in Barbies for much too long, For childhood is short – a Tiger Flower blooming Magenta for one day – And adulthood is long and dry-humping in cars will wait.

O Lord, break the Internet forever, that she may be spared the misspelled invective of her peers and the online marketing campaign for Rape Hostel V: Girls Just Wanna Get Stabbed.

And when she one day turns on me and calls me a bitch in front of Hollister, Give me the strength, Lord, to yank her directly into a cab in front of her friends, For I will not have that shit. I will not have it.

And should she choose to be a mother one day, be my eyes, Lord, that I may see her, lying on a blanket on the floor at 4:50 A.M., all-at-once exhausted, bored, and in love with the little creature whose poop is leaking up its back. “My mother did this for me once,”she will realize as she cleans feces off her baby’s neck. “My mother did this for me.” And the delayed gratitude will wash over her as it does each generation and she will make a mental note to call me. And she will forget. But I’ll know, because I peeped it with Your God eyes.

Amen.”

-Tina Fey

Christmas Wish List

Now that Christmas is fast-approaching, and so is Saab's first birthday, I am having my Christmas wish list posted for everyone, including strangers, to see. Why? Because my priority now is to save for Saab's first birthday ballerina-themed party, ergo, I cannot or I should not buy things for myself. So I am leaving all my wants and needs for you guys to buy if you ever feel like sharing your blessings this coming Christmas...NOT! No, I am not asking, I am mandating you to give me gifts! Haha!

So here's the list:

1. Eye glasses: NEED
Because I spend more than 12 hours of my day, 6 days of my week in front of the computer I don't have the 20/20 vision I had just 2 years ago. Now, I my eyesight is so poor, I probably won't recognize you if you are walking towards me from 3 or more meters away. I am also having severe headaches in which I attribute to my poor eyesight as well. You see, eye glasses (check-up, lens, frame) cost P4k or more and I cannot simply afford to buy one. Yes, I am just being stingy. And because New Girl is my new favorite show, I want glasses like that of hers.

UPDATE: FOR THOSE WHO ARE PLANNING TO GIVE ME NUMBER 1, YOU CAN CHOOSE AMONG THE OTHERS BECAUSE THIS HAS JUST BEEN BOUGHT (A BIG THANK YOU TO THE ONE WHO GAVE ME THIS!). Well, not exactly like Jessica Day's because it did not look good on me because one, I have a small face, and two, I have like the worst nose ever. So I opted for this:

2. HP Pavilion G6 Luminous Rose Laptop or Karim Rashid Asus 1008P Pink 10.1-inch Netbook: NEED and WANT

Okay. So maybe, 70% need and 30% want because the laptop I am using now for work is working perfectly fine. And I know nothing about laptop specifications and whatever technical features these laptops have. I only want them for their color, obviously. A regular black laptop looks too boring to look at, especially if you have to look at it for more than half a day. Seriously, I need one of these laptops, you guys! 

HP Pavilion G6 Luminous Rose Laptop

Karim Rashid Asus 1008P Pink 10.1-inch Netbook

3. Rompers, Cardigans, and Dresses: WANT


Again, I love New Girl and I love Jessica Day's style. It is quirky and fun. I know I wont really look like Jessica Day nor Zooey Deschanel but I still want to have that kind of style. Besides, I know it is weird but I feel guilty now whenever I buy things for myself especially if those things are just 'wants' and not 'needs' so I am letting you do the job.

4. Flats: WANT

I know I do not have a social life. I know I don't go out that much because of work. I know I don't need this much of flats but heck, they are all adorable. And I don't wear heels, at all. So, I think flats are kind of a need for me, too. 

5. High-Waist Shorts: WANT

Again, I just need a closet revamp and I want this new closet to be Jessica Day inspired. So, yeah, high-waist shorts would be perfect! They are ultra-comfy and they would definitely hide those unwanted fats on my tummy. Or not? I don't know but they look really cute. 

6. UP Shirts: WANT

I am into UP t-shirts now, too for I think I didn't buy UP shirts when I was still at the University. I don't know. I just thought that going to school everyday and then wearing UP shirts is a bit OA. But now that I graduated already, I would like to remind myself where I came from, once in a while. And I really think UP shirts now are more badass than those released before. UP pride! HAHA! 

Shirts and Jacket From Diliman Republic

7. Harry Potter Books: WANT

I know you would not call me a Harry Potter fan anymore if I would tell you that I have not read any of the books yet. Believe me, I want to! But, the old lazy me just didn't want to. As anybody of you may know, I am not such a fan of reading books but for Harry Potter, I am willing to do it. So, for this Christmas I would really like to have a complete set of Harry Potter books for me to read (or for Saab to read when she grows up so she could relay the story to me). 

I really want the hardcover set in a chest...

...but the paperback set will do, too.

8. Harry Potter Complete DVD Collection: NEED

Yes, this, definitely I need. I need the original DVDs so I can be able to watch the special features and documentaries included in the DVDs. But if you can find pirated ones with those included, I would definitely appreciate them as well. I need these. Seriously, I have been asking stores at least once a week if they already have a complete set but they still don't. Please find a set for me! 

9. DVDs of Movies and TV Series: NEED

As you may know now, I am more of a TV-person than a book-person (Harry Potter books and Mitch Albom books would be the only exception). And I really hate waiting for an episode a week of TV series. So you can really make me happy by giving me (pirated or original) DVDs of movies and the TV series that I watch and I want to watch. In terms of movies, any genre would do except horror films that involve ghosts and exorcism. As for TV series, I would be a really happy and hoppy bunny if you would give me House M.D. seasons 6 and 7, F.R.I.E.N.D.S. seasons 1-10, How I Met Your Mother seasons 1-7, and One Tree Hill seasons 7-9. I've got the complete seasons of Grey's Anatomy and I have been watching the latest seasons of Gossip Girl and New Girl online so you don't have to get me those. 

10. Make-up: WANT

Specifically, lipsticks of these shades (pink, brown, and  bright red), POWERFUL concealer, and blushes. Apparently, I gave up on the eye make-ups when I realized there is no way I am going to learn how to use them. Just a waste of money, so I am opting for these instead. 

11. Chocolate: NEED

These are my favorite chocolates, Lindt pure white chocolate, Toblerone white chocolate, Galaxy pure milk chocolate, and Ferrero Rocher. You can give me these for these are a need to my life right now but other brands of chocolates will be welcome, too. 

A heartfelt letter on a greeting card, a picture and a greeting posted on Facebook, a phone call

UPDATE: THESE ARE FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE JOBS LIKE CHILDREN, BABIES, AND THE ELDERLY. 

Of course I am not at all that materialistic so these three above would also do (Hi, Paula! I want one of these 3 + one of the other 9 from you :)) 

So friends and family, you know what you have to do. Besides greeting Jesus a happy birthday, you have to make this happen. Yes, I am putting the pressure on you guys. HAHAHA! 

Mischief Managed

It was eleven years ago when I watched the first installment of the Harry Potter films, the Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and it was a week ago when I watched its final installment, the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. Up until now, the whole movie, and the whole series, perhaps, still lingers in my brain. When I remember bits of the scenes in the Harry Potter 7.2, I cannot help but still feel sad, not only because the scenes were basically depressing, heavy, and quite really unbearable, but secondly, because I thought that it will be the last Harry Potter movie that I am going to watch inside a movie theater. I even cried lots when the epilogue was showing because I know there will not be another scene next to it, nor another film to be shown the next year that I can patiently anticipate. For me, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 was not just an end of an epic book and movie series but also marks the end of my childhood.

The IMAX Experience

I booked tickets from IMAX MOA just a week before the date I intended to watch the movie. I even ordered a Gryffindor shirt online just so I can have something to wear that day and well, to show my support to Harry and all the other casts and tell them that I am indeed with them until the very end. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 2 is the only HP film to be shown in 3d so I want to watch it in not any theater but the best theater there is. I haven't tried watching anything in 3d yet so I was kind of hesitant to watch it in digital 3d so I opted for IMAX. Yes, I spent P450 worth of ticket for a movie only to be shown once and without any teaser trailers before it actually starts (I was really hoping for the movie trailers, actually. It's my most favorite part when I am watching movies in movie theaters).

The IMAX experience was superb. It is really eyegasmic and thought, Avatar would really fun to watch here. I thought I was going to wear those glasses with blue and red colors on them. I would say that the P450-worth of ticket was all worth it. The movie started on time, the seats were ultra-comfortable, you feel like you're in a VIP movie theater or something. However, I felt that it was very unnecessary for the Harry Potter producers to make the final movie shown in 3d. I don't think there were lots of scenes that called for a 3d effect. In fact, I can only remember three--the Warner Brothers logo shown at the beginning, the trio's ride together with the two goblins to Bellatrix Lestrange's vault, and the scene when Voldemort's face was breaking into pieces when Nagini was finally killed by Neville Longbottom. With the exception of the showing the Warner Brothers' logo, I thought that those two other scenes weren't really important at all. Or were they? Enlighten me, please.


The Performance


As for the artists' performances, I thought they really improved so much since the first film. Over all, all the cast showed their greatest performances yet. They all gave their all, I suppose knowing it will be the last time that they would portray those roles. There were not a lot of speaking lines for a lot of characters but you can see it on their faces that what they are doing were way beyond just acting.

For one, the last scene of Fred and George when they're both still alive was just heart-breaking. You can see them smiling, trying to be cool, pretty much being their usual self but you can really see it in their eyes--the fear that anytime something terrible might happen to any of them or any of their family and friends, yet they have to stay strong, or look strong, at the very least, for each other.

Another scene that brought me to almost-crying and whole-body-goosebumps was this duel scene between Minerva Mcgonagall and Severus Snape. This was the very first scene when I first felt my heart was growing its own tear ducts. I was not crying yet but I know my heart was already.

This scene was just heart-pounding and heart-breaking at the same time. You can clearly see from this two that they don't want to hurt each other because they are friends but they cannot just let their guard down because they are both protecting something or someone. Snape was hiding and protecting the truth because he knows it was not the time yet to spill it all. Mcgonagall, on the other hand was just fed up with all these dark forces on Hogwarts and she was not holding back anymore. I cannot stress enough how impressed I am with Maggie Smith, the actress who played Professor Mcgonagall. She was undergoing chemotherapy while filming Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1 and two yet she was able to deliver her role perfectly. well, I honestly thought she was not really acting, she and Mcgonagall are both very brave and battling cancer and death-eaters feel pretty much the same, I guess. 

Of course all the other casts did well, too. They all deserved to be part of the movie, lead by the trio, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, and Daniel Radcliffe, who played Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, and Harry Potter, respectively, but describing their performances one by one won't be that thrilling for me and won't be that good-to-read for the others. And no, I didn't forget about Alan Rickman who played Severus Snape, he deserves a whole section of this post. 

"Look at me. You have your mother's eyes."

This was Severus Snape's, played by Alan Rickman, last words before he died. That was exactly when my eyes decided to start acting like waterfalls. Snape's last scenes became the end of the calm me. Although it was not directly shown, Snape being bitten by Nagini, I don't know, three to four times was just so hard to bear. I cried so hard during that scene even more with his last scene and all the other scenes after this (actually, I did not stop crying since then until I was walking out of the theater already).

Alan Rickman's acting was just so moving, it still breaks my heart when I remember all his scenes from this movie, including that of when Harry was viewing his past through the Pensieve. It made me cry buckets and I think he truly overshadowed the main characters. I think he was the true hero of the entire film. I absolutely love his character and the way it was portrayed was just great. The movie staff and most especially, Alan Rickman did justice to his character. Alan Rickman deserves all the awards! 

The Deaths

After Snape's death, all the other deaths of characters were shown. It was just too devastating and too hard for me to handle when Tonks' and Lupin's dead bodies were shown and then Fred's. I was just crying so hard and hoping the one on my left does not hear a thing at the same time. Thank goodness for the director and the writers not showing how they died because that would just be unbearable. 

And then there was Lavander's death. I hate her so much during Harry Potter and the Half-blood prince when she all just did was basically kiss Ron Weasley, and well, make Hermione Granger vomit. But seeing her being eaten by a werewolf was a shocker. It was just so...morbid. 

The Kissing Scenes

There were just two, Ron/Hermione's and Harry/Ginny's. 

Of the two, of course, I would definitely go with the Ron/Hermione kiss. Well, for an obvious reason that I have a huge crush on Harry Potter and seeing him kiss other girls just makes me cringe and wants to vomit, just like what Hermione felt when Lavander kissed Ron all the time at HP 6. And another thing, the kiss between Harry and Ginny, speaking as a completely third party objective with absolutely no personal interest in the matter, was really awkward. Ginny was kissing Harry's upper lip, which if you are keenly observing, is almost non-existent. It was just wrong and awkward. 

But Ron and Hermione's kiss was just romantic. It quite gave me a shock and as Ron said it, it was like a now-or-never kiss. It was something, I think they both waited for that all their lives (your fans anticipated for that too, as much as those two did).  That was a total pick-up-er for all those depressing scenes of death and war, actually. 

The Comic Reliefs

For those who have been watching Harry Potter movies starting from its very first installment, you would probably observe that all the movies, no matter how dark and depressing the whole movies are, there are still scenes that will absolutely make you laugh. Well, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2 is no exception to that.

I loved how these scenes and others more were able to be great icebreakers. It did not stop me from crying (yes, I was crying and laughing at the same time) but they were really funny and witty. 

And yes, all those minutes Harry Potter pretended to be dead seemed like a big joke for me. I mean, I get it, Neville Longbottom's speech is supposed to touch your feelings and it was supposed to be his 'moment' but that just seemed to be just like Allan's (Zach Galifinakis) speech from The Hangover Part 1. When I heard Neville spoke those mushy lines I was just "this is like The Hangover all over again!". And Voldemort's laugh when Neville stepped forward was just hilarious! 

Until the Very End

Yes, finally all was well at the wizarding world as the good defeated the evil but seeing them after nineteen years, with their children boarding the Hogwarts train almost became the death of me. I refuse to leave the theater as I was not done crying yet. It was just seeing the movie that you anticipated every year come to an end. It was just hard seeing them age and then reflecting on how much your life has changed as well.

But I guess, it was not the end yet. I mean, I can re-watch my DVDs when I feel the need to. I can still let Saab and my other children in the future to know Harry Potter and all the other characters and creatures that made my childhood mystical and magical. And hopefully, it would make theirs mystical and magical, too. After all, as J.K. Rowling, author of the books said, "Hogwarts is always there to welcome you home". 

Mischief managed.

DISCLAIMER: Well, I know those people would condemn me for feeling like this, as I have not read any Harry Potter book yet, and you might feel that I am exaggerating. But hey, at least I still have books to look forward to read still. I definitely will, when the lazy person inside me would allow me, soon. :)) And oh, the GIFs are not mine.