Baby Shower for the Little Sailor

I'm on my 36th week now. By next week, my pregnancy will be on its full term and it means that I can pop out anytime. I'm about to give birth to my most precious one. What a wonderful journey. <3

Last week, another baby shower was thrown for us made possible by friends and family. It was an idea brought to life--a sailor/nautical-themed party for our little sailor. Our sincerest thanks to those who came to celebrate with us the coming of our child, and wished me a safe delivery. Thank you for your time, much appreciated! It also felt like an advanced birthday celebration for me and Paolo. My thank you's will never be enough! 

Blue, red, stripes, and boats. <3

Cake made by Chef Allan Tolentino and cupcakes from our dear Kimonei. Thanks, guys!

My best friend was the earliest bird!

Girls and soon-to-be-moms! :)

High school represent! 

BOYS!

Again, few more weeks before we get to see little Paolo, little Pujo, our baby, our little sailor! Please pray for my safe delivery. God listens! 

♥,

Marianne

Bump, Baby Bump, Bump

Someday, when our little sailor's no longer little, I will show him how he looked like inside my tummy, and how big the bump is I carried him.

During our wonderful staycation at Marriott Manila last Labor Day, mister and I had a mini photoshoot session to document my 35 weeks tummy. It was so random, we didn't even have a peg, but the photos came out wonderfully. 

Here are some of my favorites:

A couple of weeks to go before my pregnancy goes full term. I love you, little sailor! You will soon be welcomed happily by this beautiful world.

Love,

Mommy

Happy Misis

A couple of weeks ago, I married Paolo. To be honest, I just can't find the right words to say how I felt that day, and even the day before I became a misis.

It was one of the many happiest events in the new chapter of my life now, joining the precious moments when I first heard about my pregnancy and that I'm bearing a baby boy with me. In a few weeks, I'll be soon birth and we want to start a family full of love, hope and happiness. 

It wasn't the ideal wedding I've prayed, dreamed and hoped for. But it was real. And from that day on, I  knew I'll be staying with the man I chose to be my forever partner, the father of my son, my better half. And in his eyes I was once again reminded, this is what true love is all about, far from the glamour of what I thought a wedding should be. Everything was just so simple, yet sincere, because even if I'm pregnant or not, I will never think twice of marrying him. 

Special thanks to Judge Bernelito Fernandez of RTC Branch 97 for accommodating us even with just a week notice. :)

And of course, our most heartfelt thanks to our parents. 

Our titos and titas as our witnesses.

And only the closest of the closest friends came.

Proud mister and happy misis! :)

♥,

Marianne

The Difference Between Today and Tomorrow

..is my idea of forever.

Today is the last day of my yesterday, and tomorrow is the first day of a lifetime commitment.

9 Years: Babymoon

Nine long years and counting!

Our ninth year together starts a new page for both of us. And because I am now on my 23rd week bearing our little one in my tummy, we can't go out of town for a celebration like we did in the past two years. We decided to just stay in a good hotel for an overnight stay and spoil ourselves a little. 

Sofitel did the justice. We felt like we were in Plantation Bay, only nearer and better! The view of Manila Bay eased the pain of me missing the sand, and its poolside, great food and service made us real VIPs! Paolo and I lived a luxurious life there. No worries at all! If we could only afford a 3D2N stay, we would definitely stay longer!

We'd like to thank, by the way, our lovely friends who came to celebrate our special day with us! Toto, Kimmie & Mon and Jovy came over for a night swimming session and movie night special showing Black Swan! Thank you, thank you! You made it more special! Love you guys! 

Our extra special anniversary dinner.

Everything is good about this place.

As we enjoyed the famous Manila Bay sunset.

Me and my girls Jovy and Kimmie. Swimming party! Toto Bee took our photos. Thank you, lovey! :*

A panorama shot of what our morning looked like..

...before we enjoyed our buffet breakfast as Spiral.

Pogi:)

Now this is what my bump looks like at 23 weeks.

Our first family picture, I must say. ♥

What's good about short/overnight trips is that you'd get to enjoy every second, if not, every minute of it. We wasted no time, I must say. We enjoyed our bonding with our little one's quickening. 

I am not sure what's gonna happen next year, on our tenth. But what's really, really up next is that my ultrasound is scheduled next week. Can't wait to see our baby inside me! 

To my dearest Paolo, I may not be the perfect girlfriend/fiancee, but I promise that I am going to be the wife and the mother to our child that both of you deserve. Thank you for all the love. Everyday of my life I am devoted to take care and be the best for you. I love you, babe! 

And because my "anniversary" special entry is short compared to the past years I wrote, feel free to take a trip down memory lane. Read our Iloilo-Guimaras (7 Years) and Cebu-Bantayan Island (8 years) adventures. Big cheese alert. Don't tell me I didn't warn you. :D

Kung Hei Fat Choi, my loves! 

♥,

Marianne

Stay Sunny!

The rain's been pouring for more than ten days now but it should not stop us from doing what we're supposed to be doing.

IT'S GONNA STOP, SOON.

It's Monday--the start of the week, and a start of the new month. Let's all start it the good way.

Even though bad stories happened last week and much tears were shed as July ended, we have to welcome the new month with high hopes and more love to give. 

I honestly miss the times when my everyday life ends at 6PM. No home works, no other things to do and to think of. But I also have to admit that I like how I'm asked to go to work on a 10PM of Saturday and go back to it on a 7AM of Sunday. It gives me the feeling of maturity. And who am I to complain if I'm surrounded by "friends"? I'm thankful to be working with the BusDev group. :)

But of course, despite my hectic schedule, I have to spend time with my family and loved ones. We make sure to go out for lunch/dinner when given the chance.

Sundays with the family.

And dinners, if kaya pa ng schedule, with Paolo. 

Hope you're loving my hair color and my collar necklace as much as I do. Let's all keep dry and stay sunny despite the wild weather!

♥,

Marianne

Summer Girls

The summer never ends (even if it's raining damn hard while I write this post)!

If there's one thing my Girlfriends and I love doing, it's going to the beach. Always and forever. We'll never have a strong bonding like this if we weren't gone to the Philippines' most famous beaches--Boracay, Bohol, Cebu, Palawan, and Pagudpud or spent a day or two in the nearby towns of Batangas, Subic and Potipot Island to get our tans and flaunt our bikini bods. Naks!

In the past, we'd go shopping for straw bags in the same style but different colors to have a little bit of identity as a group. We were also called Ribbon Girls once because we wore the same watches with ribbon straps but of different colors in Boracay. Green for me, pink for Phoebe, purple for Kim, yellow for Cha and more. Eventually, we called ourselves Girlfriends because we all realized that all of us are in a relationship. 

We still have beach trips even after we finish college although some can no longer make it due to work and family. I'm pretty sure you know that three of my friends are now moms and two of them just got married. But we make sure to find time to spend with each other to catch up on things and to make our friendship stronger. 

Just when my friend who's based in Macau went home for a while, we called for a reunion. It's nowhere else but on the beach! Cheenee was not able to attend Maan's wedding and my 24th birthday that's why she promised to spend a weekend with us. We drove our way to Subic, thanks to Paolo, and had a wonderful time together. Sun, sand, sea and a company of good friends! 

Susie, Jovy, Dhana, Phoebe, Cheenee, Cham, Kim, Rachel and I. 

Chammie and Jovy's cousin, Dhana, joined us and made the adventure happier. We wished Maan, Cha and Anne were with us though. It's gonna be the happiest for all of us, surely!

In the nipa while our two boys, Paolo and Mon, were cooking.

From denim shorts to bikinis, I missed this kind of scene:

Ooh la la! <3

Kim was wearing high-waist bikinis because she just gave birth to Nei Nei a couple of months ago. Look how fast she loses weight from pregnancy! Hot! :)

I love your long hair, girl!

Looking at my best friend doesn't seem like she also gave birth to our another little princess, Khara! Phoebe's abs are the abs to die for when you're already a mother!

Woot!

No budget for a new pair of bikinis, I wore my Topshop pinky/hearty ruffled bikinis which I wore to Guimaras last year! :)

I gained weight but kebs!

Making the most out of this trip, we recorded our video while singing and dancing the hottest song of the moment, Call Me Maybe! We have version 1 and version 2 by Mon and Ate Mai respectively. Thanks, guys! 

I think our bikinis reflect our personalities! Can anyone tell? 

Oops, before I forgot! Pleased to introduce the two mighty men who drove and cooked for us. They also took our photos and videos. Hee hee.

Marianne and Kim gone men.

Yaaay I love this photo! 

This is also one of my favorite group pictures. 

I had the chance to take photos with each of my Girlfriends! It might take another long time before we have a repeat of this. 

Phoebe

Kimmie

Cham

Rachel

Susie

Cheenee

Jovy

Of course I never left the island without a photo with my Papao! :)

Uhm, I just realized we're both in pink. 

It was a short day tour but every hour of us together is like our moment together back in college. Nothing's really changed. Sarap sa pakiramdam to be surrounded by happy people! 

Love you, girls!!! :)

This weekend is definitely one for the books! It's amazing how best things happen in a day, regardless of what you've been through in the past. 

Love your friends as you love your life! 

♥,

Marianne