Thoughts on Having an Online Job

As you may know (yes, all three of you who regularly visit my blog and is definitely a close friend of mine), I have been working on online jobs since last year when I decided (or should I say, when I was forced to stay at home because of the birth of the cutest little thing on Earth) to just stay at home and take care of my baby. Well, almost a year after that, I guess I can say that I am enjoying my life right now as a work-from-home corporate slave.

Perks:

1. I can work wherever I want. No, no workstation for me. I prefer to work on my bed, from 7 am - 4 pm. Can you imagine how nice it is to just work while sitting (or sometimes, laying) on your bed comfortably, almost all day, everyday? It is so comfortable that I sometimes fall asleep unintentionally. Shhhh! Don't let the bosses know! Which brings me to point number 2.

2. I can do whatever I want besides work. Provided that I will be able to finish all tasks due at a specific day, I have the freedom to do whatever I want. I can doze off (during breaks, of course! hehehe), I can eat while working, I can catch up on the TV series I have failed to watch during the week, I can sing loudly as I want to, to any songs, not having to worry if my co-workers don't like the song that I am singing--or more likely wouldn't like my voice. You get the point, right?

3. I can be with Saab all day long. And the most important reason of them all, the very reason why I chose to work from home, in the first place, is that I can be with Saab all day, I can watch over her and even play with her. With these online jobs, I don't have to worry that I might be missing out with all the milestones she has achieved and she will be achieving as she grows older.

Not forgetting the tax-free salary, along with the flexible work hours and quality time for my baby everytime, who says you can't have the best of both worlds?

I have worries though.

In March, we will be having our annual conference/team building sesh in Boracay. Being the introvert that I am, I kind of feel nervous regarding this. I know it will be weird for me. I am not the kind that can easily make friends. I am not the type who loves small talks and getting-to-know-you convos. Heck, I am not even the kind that will say hi or hello with people who looks nice or friendly.

I know it will be kind of weird for me to finally see faces for the first time whom I have been talking to for months now. To actually be talking to them face-to-face. Is it just me?

Well, I guess I will just have to see. After all, meeting new people, going out and talking to people would be somewhat refreshing since I go out, I don't know, just once a month?

I Enjoyed it More than She Did

Last Sunday, we celebrated Saab's 1st birthday through a ballerina-themed party. It was nice seeing other people than me wearing tutus and ballet shoes. I got the idea from the thought that I want Saab to be a ballerina someday or any other sport or passion she wants to pursue- I just wanted her to be better than me. What I mean by that is I want her to have passions better than what I was passionate about when I was a kid--tamagochi, spiders, pokemon text cards, and cartoons. I want her to be passionate about dancing, singing, painting--just anything better than what I had, hence the ballerina-themed party. 

So, Saab was a bit grumpy that day. I don't know if it is because the dress she was wearing or because she didn't have enough sleep or food that day. One thing's for sure: I enjoyed the party more than she did. I rented face painters and a photobooth service among others. The cake, despite the initial disappointment about how it looked like and how small it was when we picked it up, surprisingly tasted great. The tutus I made for me, Saab, and for some other people looked nice and it was actually really fun to dress up like a ballerina at least at one point in your life, right? You see how excited I am in talking about these? No? Okay. Let the pictures just speak for themselves of how much I enjoyed Saab's first birthday more than she did:

See my DIY ballerina costume? I enjoyed wearing them very much
but apparently, people who stand beside me in photo ops or any
other instances didn't because I was 'itchy' to be beside at.

She's watching the clowns and you can see in her face how boring the clowns were
that day. If she could only talk, she's tell them to shut up but all she could do for now are smirks.
Poor kid.

She did enjoy the part where we gave her marshmallows. And that was it. 

Even the blowing of the candle was something I had fun doing more than she did.

Saab was given a lot of things to munch on during photo ops just so
she'd not throw tantrums. Still, no smiles were given that day. Sorry

Again. No smiles.

Thank goodness I have best friends whom I can share the  sort of embarassing
act of wearing tutus. But hey, we all looked adorable, right? 

Face paintings were not just for kids.

Oh, she did enjoy seeing these gifts on the bed--well just because she has something
to step on and it looked like a mountain to climb, too.

All in all, I think I succeeded in planning and executing Saab's birthday party because a lot of other people enjoyed the party as much as I did. Which brings me to the idea and frustration of putting up an events management business. If I had one, I will hire my brother and a friend of mine to do the photobooth and photo coverage services. I will hire my tita Myla for all the balloon twisting. I will hire my tita Liezel for the catering services specializing in desserts. I will be the overall consultant for parties, weddings, and other events. Hey, anyone who's got money for capital can join, too. Who's with me?

Maybe Saab really didn't enjoy the party. But that's okay. Maybe someday, when she sees all of these pictures, when she reads all of the birthday greetings, and when she reads my birthday blog post for her, she'd think that she had an awesome first birthday party. :)

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