Week 36

By the end of this week, Baby Stefan will be full term!

Here's some of my belly shots taken yesterday morning before hubby went back to Singapore for work...

My belly!

Daddy talking to his son inside :)

Us!

We will meet again in approximately two weeks to a month time -- that is, after Stefan decides when he wants to enter the world :)

Pray for us!

Week 33

I went for ultrasound last Saturday, January 21. So, here's Baby Stefan at Week 33 in my womb :)

He is now 1.97kg and gynecologist said everything is okay. Head in normal delivery position, and due date should be in approximately 6 weeks from now; which is estimated at March 6.

Praise be to God!

And I'm praying everything will stay okay and I'll be able to deliver normally. Love you, Stefan!

Sign of the Cross

St. Cyril of Jerusalem in his "Catecheses" (xiii, 36) remarks: "let us then not be ashamed to confess the Crucified. Be the cross our seal, made with boldness by our fingers on our brow and in every thing; over the bread we eat and the cups we drink, in our comings and in goings; before our sleep, when we lie down and when we awake; when we are travelling, and when we are at rest".

This morning was very different to me. Today was the day when my husband had to leave me for work to Singapore for one month. I've been through this before, but it felt kind of different now. I reckon it is because for over one year since we got married, I have never actually stayed away from him. And maybe also because I am 31 weeks pregnant now, so all those emotional build-ups just sink in easily. It must be that. This distance makes me realize that I do, I do and I DO want my dear husband to be with me all the time. Maybe this awkward feeling will go away once I'm settled with the new environment. Anyway he will come back in a month time, so everything will be just fine. I am actually counting the days.

Now I would just like to share what happened this morning. Something that really, really touched my heart. After packing and getting ready, my husband sat down at the side of the bed and told me that he wanted to say a prayer. So I watched him praying in silence. Finished praying, he turned towards me and said, "Let me bless you and our baby". And he placed a gentle sign of the cross with his thumb, first on my forehead, and then on my gravid womb. In return I did the same on his forehead. Then he gave me the warmest hug I have ever known. And yes, I was teary because, that, really, really touched my heart. I just feel so blessedly loved by my dear husband. And I thank God for the very wonderful moment I have just experienced, and the beautiful soul mate He gave to me.

This I will cherish for always, and will keep me strong whenever I feel lonely or down or afraid.

Your Daddy loves us so much, my baby Stefan. May he always be blessed by God too, every hour and every second of every day.

Have you ever really loved a woman?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3v7rDQEF9Rc

Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman
To really love a woman
To understand her

You gotta know her deep inside
Hear every thought

See every dream
And give her wings when she wants to fly
Then when you find yourself lyin' helpless in her arms
You know you really love a woman

When you love a woman you tell her
that she's really wanted
When you love a woman you tell her that she's the one
She needs somebody to tell her
that it's gonna last forever
So tell me have you ever really
really really ever loved a woman?

To really love a woman
Let her hold you
till you know how she needs to be touched
You've gotta breathe her - really taste her
Till you can feel her in your blood
And when you can see your unborn children in her eyes
Ya know you really love a woman

When you love a woman
you tell her that she's really wanted
When you love a woman you tell her that she's the one
She needs somebody to tell her
that you'll always be together
So tell me have you ever really
really really ever loved a woman?

You got to give her some faith - hold her tight
A little tenderness - gotta treat her right
She will be there for you, takin' good care of you
You really gotta love your woman...

According to Bryan Adams.

I really, really, REALLY like this song. As a matter of fact, I posted it in my Facebook profile. In the hope that a particular someone might read it, or at least have a glance at it...

I just think that a special someone has got to have an important role in someone's life... A special place in that someone's heart, a special 'treatment'... And then because that particular someone is so special in a person's heart, he or she should be the first person who should know of the other one's doings in particular... Well, I could be wrong. But that's basically what I have in mind.

And I guess I deserve that special treatment too...

Catholic Engaged Encounter, Penang

March 5-7, 2010

I and my fiance were all the time anticipating the moment when we would finally attend to this pre-wedding course; 'the weekend' as they called it.

We did not know what to expect. What seemed to be important to us was only the certificate to fulfill one of the criteria for us to be able to get married in the Catholic Church.

The first day was already so overwhelming. We were greeted by lovely people (presenting couples and also the team in charge). In the icebreaking session, we were asked to introduce ourselves by telling others the most attractive thing about our partners :). I did not know what to say, as to me my fiance was attractive all over! So I said the most attractive part of him is that he is very loving... he sure is. He said I'm most attractive because I'm kind... That touched the inner side of me.

There were sharing by presenting couples on their experiences in living their married lives. They touched on many topics, most of which we did not talk about during our courtship. We were asked to spend time together and discuss on important aspects that are considered vital in our future married life. We also planned for our future together; money, children, sexual relationship, priorities etc.

The sessions were all very interesting indeed and most of them brought tears to my eyes, they made me realize how important 'togetherness' is and how love plays the vital role in our couple relationship, in particular our married life. How important it is to live the romance, think more of 'US' rather than 'ME' and to accept each other's flaws and still be in love.

We learned that to love is a decision, not just mere euphoria. It is a decision to love our partner. It is life-giving. We learn to say things out to each other, not to be afraid to tell it to each other's face, and forgive each other. I particularly like one of the rules of argument, which is 'hold hands while arguing'. Boy, that sounded so new to me... Can we do that next time? I don't know... but I sure hope so!

But above all, we learned that God must always be the hearth of our relationship. There must be no third person, the only third 'person' allowed and must be there all the time is God. Marriage is a Sacrament, a life-long vow and is really SACRED.

We also had prayer session where we had our first couple prayer together. It was so surreal. We wrote our betrothal pledge to each other, and I received the best love letter ever from my loving fiance... a letter that I will keep and cherish for a lifetime...

CEE teaches us to love more and give more everyday to our relationship. It ended with lots of smiles and the air was so filled with Love... I knew at once that my love for my fiance becomes stronger now and I know that we are now"US".

To my fiance, you are God's gift to me, the answer to my prayers. My burning bush, thank you for choosing to love me despite my flaws and temperaments... I choose to love you too... May God help and bless "US".