staycation weekend

We checked in at the Amara Sanctuary Resort in Sentosa over the weekend. It was great to finally get away--even if it's just in Singapore--from all the busy-ness of home. I really loved getting the chance to relax and just be with my husband and son. I didn't have to worry about chores that needed to be done, which was wonderful.

Aside from eating and taking naps, we hung out at the pool. The water wasn't heated though. Since it wasn't severely hot that Saturday, it was quite uncomfortable to get in and stay in. 

Ziv wasn't thrilled at all! His lips turned bluish after a couple of minutes in the pool so we parked our butts on the deck. We were surprised that Ziv tried walking on his own without any prodding from us. 

 

It's amazing to see him bravely put one foot in front of the other and move. I know it takes a lot for him to do that and we're just so proud of him.

returning to work

                                                 Source: pinterestschunt363.blogspot.com via Leonora on Pinterest

I finally got myself a job!

I'm a bit sad that my days of taking care of Ziv full time are numbered, but I'm actually excited to go back to work. It's an editorial job at a travel media company and I'm going to be an assistant editor at one of the inflight magazines they publish.

I've been interviewed twice for an assistant editor role for the same company, but for a different magazine. First was back in 2010 but I never got called back. The second time was just last April but the editor who was supposed to hire me left. The process got stalled and I wasn't hired. I was so bummed about it and even cried out of frustration. It's just so difficult to not get what you want!

On the last Friday of May, I got an e-mail from the editor of another magazine saying that she needs an assistant editor and she wants to meet me. She said the editorial director, whom I spoke with before, forwarded my resume to her. So the following Monday, I went to their office, we talked, we clicked and voila! I got the job. That Wednesday, the HR manager sent me the contract, I signed and sent it back. After two attempts, I'm finally in! Suh-weet! The editor said, "You were meant to be in *insert magazine title here."

Everything happened at the right time. My ego was close to being crushed and I was getting desperate in my job hunt. Just a few days before I got that exciting e-mail, I was ranting to one of my closest friends, George, about how it's taking so long for me to get a job. She told me everything would eventually work out and shared to me an article written by Bo Sanchez about detours in life. It was comforting to think that perhaps I was in a detour and soon I'd get a break. I just needed to remain faithful and open.

Around the same time, I had an online chat with my friend Dani. She asked how I was and I told her I was getting frustrated in my job search. She asked me if I really wanted to go back to work. My knee-jerk response was "No. Ayoko na. Kailangan lang kasi."

Up to that point, I haven't really given returning to work much thought. I never gave myself time to process that decision. Going back to work once Ziv turned one was always something I knew I needed to do. I never felt I wanted it.

However, during one of my morning walks with Ziv, I realized something. I can't remember the thought process but I came up with the realization that I missed being utilized for something big. I missed being part of a team that worked together to produce something useful. I realized I missed working and being productive! I was surprised because I didn't think I'd feel that way.

I guess I was just afraid. I was afraid of taking on more responsibilities. I was afraid of not having enough time for Ziv. I was afraid of not being a good enough mom. I was afraid to want things for myself. I was afraid of change. Fear just had me in its grip. But I think the moment I realized that I do want to work again, I was released from my fears and I became ready to receive God's blessing. The Universe' wheels turned and I got the break I was waiting for. Might sound too New Age-y but it's true!

---

Only 19 days are left till I start working again. I still get anxious about all the changes that are coming our way. I don't know how we'll cope but I know that we will. By hook or by crook. 

I sometimes feel sad when I think I have to be away from my son, but it helps to think that I'll always be his mom. Working doesn't mean I stop being a mom; I'm just adding a new dimension to my mom-ness. I know being a working mom ain't easy, but it can be done.

it's hard to be plump...

In the land of the skinny.

I've proven that yet again last Sunday. I went out on my own to shop for work clothes (yes, this momma is rejoining the rat race! more on that later) and after scouring three malls, I went home with just a piece of knitted top and a swimsuit (for our staycation this weekend). 

There are choices here for big girls like me but not as much as the options for slender ladies. I currently wear a size 14/16 and only a couple of boutiques carry that: Marks & Spencer, Dorothy Perkins, New Look and Warehouse. Large at Forever21 can fit me too.

This is why I love to shop in the US! There are plenty of plus size options there. Just take a look at my Pinterest board and you'll see what I mean.

There is no shortage of stylish plus-size clothes--just have to know where to look

Maybe I should just start buying online.

life is one long laundry day

                                                                                                    Source: tradingphrases.com via Valerie on Pinterest

It's laundry day. I was sorting our dirty clothes earlier. As I made piles of whites, lights and darks, I found myself wishing I could sort all my thoughts and feelings like that. Just pile them high on the floor, by color. It would be definitely easier to make sense of all of the intellectual and emotional clutter when you can organize them like that.

Ziv, lately

Ziv turned 14 months old yesterday! He's still not walking but he's got a lot of tricks up his sleeve.

He can now follow simple instructions such as "Help mommy put this in the dryer." He loves to be involved in some (everything?) of the things I do so I let him. It's way easier to make use of his curiosity than to resist and put a damper on it.

Ziv loves the playground. He thoroughly enjoys going up and down the steps, crawling around and climbing the slide. It's quite difficult to keep up with him though so I prefer having ze hubby around when I let him play there.

Crawling on the park is another thing he loves to do. The surface there isn't smooth at all but he doesn't seem to mind. When the bumpiness gets too much for him to handle, he raises  his butt, straightens his knees and uses his feet and hands to go around.

One funny thing he does is hand me the stuff he discovers while crawling around, from a grain of rice to a piece of meat from yesterday's lunch, to fallen twigs and cracked tree barks. I don't know why he does it but I find it so amusing!

Ziv has also learned about the magical powers of the remote control. He knows that when he presses a button, he could make snowflakes appear on the TV, and he knows that when he points the remote on the AC, it will turn on. Amazing how much kids could learn simply by watching.

 

Things have improved in the food front. Ziv tries everything we offer him--from sweet and sinful ice cream and chocolate chip muffins to uber healthy blueberries, strawberries and dragon fruit. I'm very happy with the way he eats.

We also got him his own table and chair because I want him to be able to walk away when he's full and/or no longer interested to eat. It was difficult but I've learned to trust him when it comes to hunger and fullness. I believe he knows how much food he needs and that he knows when to stop eating. I don't want to override his body's cues just because I feel he hasn't eaten enough or because we have to stick to a schedule.

On the other hand, things aren't going as smoothly as I want to in the snooze department. Ziv's transitioning from two naps to one and it's been a rough couple of weeks. He sleeps really well in the morning but he refuses his afternoon nap with vigor so ends up being very tired in the afternoon. 

The boy even had disrupted sleep a couple of nights ago but I was relieved that he was able to sleep well last night. I guess putting him to bed early helped. He slept ultra early yesterday (6PM) and he woke up for his morning bottle around 5 today. To my surprise, he went back to sleep and got up for the day at the fabulous, sunny hour of 8!!! 

We don't get to sleep in very often in this household so me and ze hubby were so happy. I know that wishing it would happen everyday is shooting for the moon but I do hope the sleeping situation will get better soon!

It's amazing to see Ziv become his own person little by little each day. A child growing up is indeed the best show on earth, and we're extremely lucky to have been blessed with front row seats.