* . . Serendipity is Love . . *
Crazy For Pastries
Tuesday, July 1, 2008 / 11:10 PM

SOPHIE'S FOCCACIA BREAD

It all started two Fridays ago when my cousin brought a box of Dunkin Donuts for Sophie. While my cousin's children went swimming down in the garden of our condominium, Sophie and I sat on the bench watching them play in the water. Then I started feeding Sophie bavarian munchkins. Lost in my conversation with my cousin, I have lost track of how many muchkins Sophie has eaten already. When I checked the box, it's down to half. Goodness! Has Sophie really gobbled down half a dozen munchkins already?

When I brought Sophie with me to Starbucks to hang out with F, Sophie was again presented with a plate of tempting chocolate frosted donuts. Sophie's eyes followed the plate of donuts until it landed on our table. In her stroller, Sophie struggled to reach for the donuts. She got one and stuffed it in her small mouth, savoring its sweetness. F and I can't help but laugh at how adorable she is! That afternoon, Sophie ate about four donuts!

Sophie was again presented with a basket of pastries when I took her with me at Piazza Pazzo. She was staring longingly at those slices of foccacia bread. When I didn't give her a slice because she still hasn't finished her Gerber lunch, Sophie threatened me with a loud crying spell. No amount of sshhhh-ing calmed her down. I lost and Sophie won! I gave her slice after slice of foccacia bread to her heart's content.

It's beyond mommy's control. Sophie has gone crazy for pastries. :)

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Sophie Belle's Baptism & Birthday
Monday, June 16, 2008 / 7:34 AM

SOPHIE BELLE'S BAPTISM
MAY 18, 2008
MARY THE QUEEN PARISH


SOPHIE BELLE'S 1ST BIRTHDAY
MAY 18, 2008
CORINTHIAN GARDENS CLUBHOUSE

It took me 5 crazy months to plan for Sophie's party. Brian and I both wanted a Hello Kitty theme. First, I made a reservation at the newly renovated Corinthian Gardens Clubhouse. The next step was to schedule Sophie's baptism at Mary the Queen Parish. I personally requested our family friend, Mgsr. Bong Lo, to officiate the baptism. He was actually the same priest who pronounced Brian and I, man and wife. Next, I coordinated with one of the most talked about party shops in the city, Jelly Bellies Party Experts. There in the little party shop, I was pleased to be presented with a whole lot of party choices like balloon decors, mylar centerpieces, princess booths, magic shows, dog shows, and more. It was definitely hard to choose when you have so many wonderful choices. After a few days, I finally made my final decision on the balloon decors and motifs. Then Brian and I have decided on the mascot, magic show, and bubble show to entertain the guests. Next, I called our cousin, Leilani Marcelino, for catering services. I wanted a Japanese dinner buffet to be consistent with the Sanrio/Japan theme. I chose Sushi and Tossed Green Salad for the appetizers. The main course consisted of Japanese Fried Rice, Chicken Teriyaki, Ebi Tempura, Beef Salpicao, and inevitably, Lechon Cebu. Chocolate Fondue and Decadent Chocolate Cake for desserts. For Sophie's birthday cake, I contacted cake artist, May Santos of Kitchen Krafts, to bake a 3-layer Hello Kitty fondant cake. I also ordered a few dozens of Sanrio cupcakes to surround the cake. When all the major party details were finalized, it was finally time to go dress shopping. Sophie needed 2 dresses, a baptismal dress and a birthday dress. After searching all the malls for the perfect dress, I finally bought Sophie's dresses at Purple Candy. Sophie's baptismal gown was a long white chiffon dress with laces and embroideries. Her birthday dress was a two-toned mix of velvety red and white ruched chiffon worn over a petticoat. Then I bought my fuchsia bubble dress at Okasyon and Brian's maroon button down polo at G2000. The last in my list is to shop for giveaways and loot bags. And there is only one place to shop for these... 168. I bought plush Hello Kitty and Keroppi bags and happily stuffed each bag with Sanrio toys and candies.

Sophie's party was filled with so much fun and laughter. The children were all amazed by the bubble show and mystified by the magician's tricks. They were also very delighted with their Sanrio giveaways! As for the grown-ups, I'd say it was the kind of party where they felt young at heart once again. It was only when the party was over and all the guests have left that Brian and I realized how exhausted we are. But despite our exhaustion, we found ourselves smiling silly while we loaded Sophie's gifts in the car. And Sophie, still in her velvet petticoat dress, truly looked like a princess as she fell asleep after her birthday banquet. :)


PARTY SUPPLIERS

Jelly Bellies Party Experrts
Shaw Blvd. Mandaluyong
02-7247695

Kitchen Krafts
Calbayog St. Mandaluyong
02-5335288

Leilani Marcelino
0922-8330016

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The Story of Sophie Belle
Saturday, June 14, 2008 / 3:10 AM

MOMMY & SOPHIE
LATE AUTUMN IN VANCOUVER

Has it really been a year? I close my eyes and look back at the year that had gone by so fast. It was as if it was only yesterday. Only yesterday when I carried a watermelon-sized tummy strolling at the parks of Vancouver. Each heavy step anticipating the birth of Sophie Belle.

I clearly recall the pack of Diane 35 I got in the drugstore. I told Brian that I wasn't ready yet. To please give me a year or two. He nodded with love and patience. With that, I was set to start on the pills on my next period. But my period never came. A home pregnancy test revealed that I was pregnant. Positive!

I don't want to lie and say I am overjoyed. Frankly, I felt scared. I have only been married for 2 months. Yes, I wanted to marry the man I love. I wanted a beautiful wedding and a romantic honeymoon. But I've never thought about having a baby. It was the farthest thing in my mind. A tear rolled down my eye as I realized that it's never gonna be the same again. Silly carefree crazy live is all gonna be part of yesterday. I am going to be a mommy. I smiled and cried as I lay a hand on my tummy.

But that was me. Brian was overjoyed. I remember how his eyes shone the day he knew that he was going to be a daddy. That's what he really wanted. It was then that I suddenly saw a change in him. He worked more and dreamt more. Dreamt more and worked more. He wanted to give the best and only the best of this world to the little baby in my womb.

l remember the 1st ultrasound I had when I was only 6 weeks pregnant. My gynecologist pointed a tiny little dot in center of what looks like my uterus. The dot was as tiny as a pea with no features and bodily form at all. The only thing it had was a heartbeat. It was pounding strongly for its tiny size. Brian held my hand as we looked at our baby in the screen. "Baby is due on May 8!", my gynecologist announced.

Brian had always wanted a girl. I had always wanted a boy. The odd thing was that despite how much I wanted a boy, I instinctively knew that I was carrying a girl. The ultrasound on the 5th month of my pregnancy announced that I was indeed having a girl!

Canada or Manila. It was a difficult decision. It was even more difficult because I knew what the right decision is but I don't have the courage to make it. I was procrastinating. As the weeks went by, I found myself presented with a plane ticket to Vancouver. My mom has already planned and prepared everything for me and her granddaughter.

BRIAN & SAB (6 MOS. PREGNANT)
SHANGRI-LA MACTAN ISLAND, CEBU

Days went by and it was time to say goodbye. He never let go of my hand as he drove me to the airport. I remember how my heart felt as heavy as the luggages he unloaded from the car. I forced myself out of the car. The pain of parting killing me inside. There were tears building up in the corner of his eyes as I released myself from his tight embrace. Goodbye for now, Brian. The best decisions are made with sacrifices.

The flight was unbelievably long. There wasn't a second that I didn't feel like screaming and pleading the pilot to fly me back to Manila. But the exhaustion has taken over. And when I woke up, I saw peaks of snow-capped mountains from my window. Was I really half a world away from Brian now?



WINTER IN CANADA

First things first. The day after my arrival was my first visit at Dr. Shelley Ross's clinic. I was asked to take off all my clothes for an internal examination. I laid uncomfortably in the examining table while I let Dr. Ross do what is to be done. And then I felt a force so strong and a pain so raw. I screamed. Then I was whimpering like a little child. I have never felt a pain of such degree in my entire life. And I feel cheated that I wasn't told about what to expect. Violated, even. But Dr. Ross showed no sympathy. My mom looked at me with pain in her eyes as she saw me limping my way back to our house.

MOMMY & I
SALMON HATCHERY, NORTH VANCOUVER

My tummy grew bigger and bigger each day. I had completely forgotten what my tummy looked like when it was flat as a bed. Will my figure ever go back to the way it used to be? Taking a bath is becoming very very hard. Standing upright, I can no longer see my toes. Do I still have toes? There were times when the soap slipped from my hand and I almost slipped in the tub trying to reach for it.

My day was never complete without a letter or a phone call from Brian. We miss each other terribly. It was his soothing voice that tells me to be strong and to conquer my fears. I was becoming impatient, waiting for the day that he'll arrive in Vancouver. I had made a count down in the pages of my diary. 58... 46... 34... 22... 12... 5... 1. And then I saw him come out of the double doors of the airport. I threw myself in his arms!

Anticipation becomes fun when you have someone who shares the joy of it with you. And that's what husbands are for. Each day we waited for the arrival of Sophie Belle, we explored the interesting places of Vancouver. We also attended those pre-natal seminars that taught us about the basics of labor and childbirth.

May 8 came along but I never felt any signs of labor. I was asked to wait for another week before they induce labor. The week went by and it was finally time. I checked in the hospital early in morning where the doctor inserted in me a hormone called prostaglandin. And then the contractions happened.

If you don't know what contractions are like, let me tell you. It's a strong force wringing and gripping my abdomen that leaves me breathless and weak every few minutes. It's a hundred times worse than my worst dysmenorrhea. But this is not the time for me to curl up in pain. Amidst the pain, I am to push and fight. "PUSH!", the nurses all shouted and encouraged. I was honestly using the last ounce of strength I have inside my tortured and battered body. And yet it wasn't enough. I almost thought I would die. I was crying and screaming for epidural.

I thought it would never end. The two other expecting mothers who checked in the hospital later than I did have both given birth to their babies already. I heard cheers and clapping of hands amidst my pain. It was already 4 am in the morning and I was the only woman left in the birthing center of the hospital. Is my baby ever coming out? Just when I was just about to give up, one of the nurses suddenly shouted, "The head is coming out!"

I mustered all my body's remaining strength for one last push. And then my baby was born into this world. I laid back in my bed, breathless, as Dr. Ross placed my newborn baby in my arms. The umbilical cord was still intact. Her frail little body still stained by blood. I looked at her and smiled. She looks like her dad, I thought. She's got chubby cheeks. Lotsa hair too. I was smiling down at her, cradling her in my arms. My baby was taken momentarily away from me as she took her first bath.



NEWBORN SOPHIE BELLE & DR. ROSS
BURNABY HOSPITAL

I woke up to a sunny spring morning and I found myself in a different room with a view of the garden. I looked to my right and I saw Sophie Belle, wrapped up like a burrito, sleeping innocently in her glass bassinet. That day, I became a mother. A mother to a beautiful baby who Brian and I named, Sophie Belle. Sophie that which means wisdom. Belle that which means beauty. Today, it's been a year since she was born into this world and brought so much joy into our lives.

SOPHIE BELLE

I may have never asked to be pregnant. I may have never wanted a baby. But now, I can no longer imagine what my life would be without my baby. I forgot what it was like to be living selfishly for myself only. I feel so much joy by simply staring at Sophie. I feel so much love when I carry Sophie in my arms. I never thought I can ever love as much as I love her.

I can never thank God enough for giving me the gift of family.

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