moments

When in the middle of the night, there’s a sudden pain on my abdomen and I can’t help but whimper and moan. And yet even when he is sleeping soundly, his arm would be around me and then his hand would rub my arm or my back to comfort me. Joyfulness.

When I can’t sleep and I just stare at his face and he happened to wake up. And then he’d smile and say twice, “pretty ne”. Well that really lends me some self-confidence especially now that I feel and look so bloated with pregnancy. Joyfulness.

When in the wee hours of the morning I’d get up because I’m thirsty and needs to go to the loo as well. He’d get up also, pour me a glass of cold water before pouring a glass for himself. And after which hug me really tight. Joyfulness.

When before leaving for office he’d always make it a point to kiss and hug me goodbye and say “i love you” even when the remnants of my dream still lingered and I’m still cross-eyed from sleep. It’s like having a very good dream before going back to sleep again. Joyfulness.

Thank you A for making me really happy. Baby is so lucky to have you for a father. πŸ™‚

Brad Pitt in our HAZOP

HAZOP “season” again. And what with the other deadlines piling up, i’ve been having long nights at the office the past couple of days; making up for the other deliverables after a whole day in the meeting. A colleague said i’m a “tough worker”, said his pregnant wife – just two weeks behind me on our baby’s due – already gave up working late.

But i’m able to do the feat because there’s lots to be thankful for.

Thankfully, I have the energy to work just when I needed it. My pregnancy fatigue came early last week just when I wasn’t too loaded yet.

Thankful because Hubs has been really helpful and supportive. When I told him last night I was tired, he readily agreed we take the taxi going home. Mind you, taxi rates here in Japan are really high, especially late at night. And our home is quite far from the office.

When I also told Hubs my back was aching (pregnancy related) and I couldn’t find a good sleeping position that could alleviate the pain, he readily rubbed my back until the pain ebbed. Thankful.

Thankfully, the HAZOP for one of my compressors is done already.

Oh yeah. I’ve mentioned before how our meetings have celebrity look-alikes. This time, we have a Brad Pitt look alike in our HAZOP. Didn’t swoon over him, because after all, I have a husband who himself looks like a celebrity (hehe, dare to object???). But what I really liked with him was when he tried to make some small talk with me. I was expecting that his personality would be like that of a playboy or charao in Japanese. But no. When he talked with me, he asked about the dynamic simulation we did. Serious work stuff. Other women might be disappointed. But I guess I liked the fact that I’m talking intellectual stuff with an absolutely celebrity-looking person.

Going home now and meet my celebrity looking husband. πŸ˜€

our wedding video is finally in

Finally, after waiting for more than a year (yes, it was well over what was agreed in the contract), we finally have our wedding video with us. And it being a Jason Magbanua video, it sure was well worth the long wait. Sure I bitched and complained around in twitter on it being so late. Who wouldn’t?? Albeit when we finally got our parcel, we could say that it was really worth it. No mediocrity at all with the presentation.

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We were travelling when they had to finalise our video cover. And since we’re travelling, I couldn’t give them photos for the cover, hence they asked some from our photographer Dino Lara. I needn’t have to fret what photos would they choose. Both Dino’s and Jason’s team have excellent taste so as expected, the photos chosen were among my favourites.

Even when I asked of it, Jason’s secretary didn’t ask us anymore for courier fees for sending the package to Japan. I think it was their way of making up for being late. Fair enough.

Was laughing how hubs was reacting while watching the video. It reminded me again of how much courage he needed to muster to kiss and hug me like he did in front of our loved ones knowing that going along with tradition will really make me happy. Thank you A.

Of course I was teary eyed the whole while we were watching the video. And more so while watching my dance with my father. There was a time years back when I thought I wouldn’t be able to give him that. But by God’s grace, I met the perfect man for me, who gave me a beautiful wedding where I was able to dance the big dance with Papa.

We laughed and were yet touched again by the speeches. Thank you for the words, beloved friends and mentors. We will always cherish and be grateful for them.

And speaking of speeches, I think I owe our guests an apology. My speech was soooo unorganised! But with my massive migraine at that time and of course the emotions churning inside me, I hope you understand why so and really, all I needed to say is “thank you” which I said quite A number of times haha. I dearly hope for your understanding our dear friends.

It was also really nice how, aside from the usual scenes to be selected – preparation, ceremony, program, vows, speeches – jason’s team added another scene selection in the DVD: our song number. It was of course the first time I saw and heard the songs we rendered. And again I can only be really thankful that I was able to sing like that despite my terrible terrible migraine.

Will try to share some parts of the DVD in the future. If and when I figure out how to rip parts of it. Teehee.

God is good. Thank you Lord for all the love and blessing.

our wedding is on Martha Stewart Weddings Philippines!

I remember it was a busy day in late November. My mind was still bent on figuring out the depressuring calculation for the LNG service at supercritical phase when the lights were turned off for lunch break. Mind wholly preoccupied, I was like a zombie when I opened my gmail and logged in. Then I saw Martha Stewart on my inbox. And thought that it was a spam mail. I almost tagged it as spam mail. And then the zombie me decided to open it. Of course from thereon I wasn’t zombie mode anymore! Suffice it to say that every part of me was tingling with excitement! πŸ˜‰

Back when I was still doing the preps, I had dreams of our wedding being featured on a bridal magazine (mostly I dreamed of MSW haha) or bridal websites like Bridalbook. But after the wedding, I decided not to submit our photos in bridal magazines or websites. Was thinking that posting photos of our wedding on our blog was enough. Hence MSW emailing out of the blue was much sweeter and thrilling. πŸ™‚

Liezl, the section Editor was really sweet with her email saying MSW is interested in featuring our wedding in their March issue and that they were wondering if we were willing to be featured. Of course we are willing! πŸ™‚ it’s a dream come true! She then replied how they loved our sweet details especially our little girls in kimono. Knowing how they probably encounter many ΓΌber sweet and cute wedding details everyday in their work, my heart glowed with pride when I read how the MSW team loved our wedding details.

Leizl then advised me that I’d later be contacted by their writer who’ll be covering our story. True enough, a couple days later, sweet Mimi emailed me introducing herself before getting on with the interview. Because we are based overseas, our interview was by email. Mimi gave us quite a set of questions and well, me being more expressive in writing, our answers were quite lengthy. πŸ˜€

The feature was really a great blessing and a bride’s dream come true, especially now that it came out just when we are celebrating our one year wedding anniversary. But there was one boon with the feature aside from it being a venue to reminisce – it provided us a venue for Atsushi to express some more what he felt during our wedding. Because of the nature of the questions, it made us reveal some more what we felt, hence hubs expressed what he felt then. And even for that alone, I am already very thankful for the feature. Yes, I was kilig to the bones with Atsushi’s answers. πŸ™‚

March rolled by however and MSW still wasn’t out. If truth be told, I was already having doubts that our feature pushed through, afraid they changed mind. I was already convincing myself (and I really am convinced!) that the special moment Atsushi and I had when we were answering the questions was a blessing enough already and of course the thought that we were considered to be featured out of the many weddings last year.

April rolled by and still nothing. My friends Kat and Rey were already checking the magazine racks everyday – haha, thanks guys!! And finally, all the waiting and checking bore fruit yesterday.

I thought we’ll just be designated half a page or one whole page at most. Was so amazed we got four whole pages!! πŸ™‚

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The cover in this issue.

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What better way to reminisce your wedding day on your anniversary than seeing your wedding featured in print – and in a Martha Stewart magazine at that?! Thank you Martha Stewart Weddings Philipines! πŸ™‚

Can’t wait to see the actual print next week!! πŸ™‚
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And the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true. – Over the Rainbow, Wizard of Oz