Owning a Home in Toronto

Oh – how I wish I can have a washroom like this in my future home – probably in my dreams.

Anyways – over the weekend Hub & I went out to look at an open house near where we live. Boy – you would not want to know the price of it. I was sort of expecting it to be at a price that we wouldn’t really like. I do want to live closer to families and friends. But sometimes what do you sacrifice? Would we want to sacrifice the distance or the stressfulness of mortgaging a home in the future? It’s not what I want – it’s the best for our family. Of course it’s much more convenient to get to places, see people, and run errands if we live closer but if we live further – the pro is – we get a bigger piece of land at a more affordable price. There’s pros and cons for both situation. Both is hard and I don’t even want to think about it right now – it will only add stress. Who knows what three years will bring right? Maybe Hub will double his salary? Maybe our investment will be doing fairly well? Maybe my online work will get to where I want it to be? Maybe the house market will go down?

Although – I’m such a planner and I like to plan things ahead. We seriously wouldn’t know how three years later would be like. I’m just very grateful to have a lovely place to live right now and that we can call home. Plus the little one can spend some quality time with his grandparents till he enters pre-school. I can stay at home and watch his growth while Hub goes to work.

Planning a kids future

As I’m counting down each day for his arrival – I’m really counting down for a lifetime commitment. Having a kid is a lifetime commitment – even if they’re in their 20s – 30s – 40s you constantly worry about them. It’s just part of being parenthood right? I didn’t understand this when I was a teen but since being pregnant for 8 months – I’ve realized a lot. A lot – so much of what parents are worried about. Parenthood doesn’t stop when they graduate, when they get a full time job nor does it stop when they are married. Being a parent is a life time thing – it never ends.

We’ve been planning a lot of things for this little one. Being a mom – I never had the things his father had. I want this little one to appreciate what was given to him and live a happy and normal life with lots of love and care from the both of us. When I plan – I plan far far ahead. It’s just very satisfying to me to know what is up ahead in life for all of us. I don’t like the “unknown”.

As of now – were holding off on the music part of his life. I don’t want to push this little one into doing something he doesn’t enjoy or like. We do have a list of instruments in mind though – piano, takamine, violin, flute, and etc. But this is all up to him. I just believe that if I push a kid into doing something he doesn’t want or enjoy – he’s just wasting your money. Like my husband – he was asked to learn piano when he was a kid but he didn’t enjoy it. Piano lessons ain’t cheap these days eh! So when he’s old enough to know what he likes – he will eventually tell us.

Valentine’s Ideas for Meals

Isn’t this heart shape pan cute? When I see these things in store – I just can’t help myself but get it. I don’t necessarily need it but I don’t mind having it. Do you call this crazy buying? I’m not even sure. But I did try this pan out – it’s not that bad. I thought I would just wake up and make Valentine’s day breakfast for my hubby – but I’m not too sure if I would wake up on time. *heheh* I’m still not a morning person till this date! But I’ll make him a heart shape egg one day – just not in the morning.

I’m planning to make his favorite lobster and steak dinner for this year’s Valentine’s day. The first year – I’ve made seafood dinner for him and the rest of the year – we just went out to eat. I mean -I love going out to eat but I hardly make dinner at home for him. So making dinner at home is a little more special on special days. I’ll see how that goes cooking in the kitchen with a big belly this year. What are you planning for Valentine’s day? I know there’s still a month to go – so still lots of time to plan!

Going on vacation on trimester 3?

Sadly, we didn’t get to go on our honeymoon this year – don’t really know when we’re going anymore. Maybe next year? I hope! One of the freedom I miss is being able to go on vacation whenever I want to. There’s still a lot of places I want to visit with my other half and friends. Having a baby doesn’t mean we’re not going on vacation for a couple of years. Just means – when we do go on vacation with this little guy – we gotta carry a lot more stuff and bare with a crying baby while traveling. A lot different than traveling alone right? I told hubs this “I don’t care what it is – we’re going somewhere once a year!” That was my demand. I used to travel twice a year – so once a year is good enough right?

So my girlfriends was asking if I’ll be able to go on a resort trip to Cuba in January and that’s when I’m on my trimester three. I got really tempted and I said I’ll confirm it with them after I ask my doctor if it is safe to travel during trimester three or would I even be able to allow to be on the plane?? We always wanted to go on a trip with the three girls but never really gotten the chance to. Now that I’m preggie – I don’t know if I can go. Yikes – just gotta see what my doctor says. What is your suggestion on this? Trimester 3 and traveling? I need your advice!

Christmas in 26 days!

Yeppers! Nearly a month! I’ve got all my events and gatherings organized this year – have you? This time of the year is just going to fly by so quick because everyones busy! Either out getting presents for others or having get together dinners! It’s been an awesome year and I’ve been counting my blessings! For wonderful friends, awesome families, and a wonderful husband. I can’t be greedy and ask for more right?

HO HO HO Merry Christmas! Merry early Christmas everyone!

Christmas in a month

Yes – Christmas in a month! Time is flying by so quickly. Hubby just told me that he felt like our wedding was just a month ago and look at the date now. It’s been four months of marriage and so far – its going pretty awesome. Christmas is on the way and I’m finished with most of the shopping already! What’s left to do is the holiday photo cards I got to customized. Other than that – I’m ready for Christmas holiday this year. I got a lot planned out – a lot of meet ups and special events before I end 2011. 2011 has been such an awesome year to me. I’m hoping 2012 will be the same as well!

Planning a Baby Shower

It was quite difficult planning this baby shower because I’ve never been to a baby shower and don’t really know how it all works. But thank goodness for good friends and the internet that helped me out. I’m half done with the invitations and booked the venue. Don’t get me wrong – I love the planning part – I was just confused about some stuff. This will be another huge party for next year to celebrate our little boys’ arrival. If I get to choose – I wouldn’t chose to have it in the winter. I’m totally not a winter person!

Going to be handing out invitation cards this upcoming months! Yes – two months early and that’s the way I roll. After these invitation cards – I gotta work on the one month celebration invitations. I wanna get as much stuff done as possible in these couple months I have left that I’m free. When the baby comes out – I doubt I’ll get much sleep. It’s always nice to get things done ahead for me – so I have less worries.

For all the events I plan – hubs never really helped but all he does is pay for the bills. Hahaha – I actually like it that way that I’m in control of everything and I know what’s going on. All I need to do is tell him the date and what bills to pay. Isn’t his job easy or what?

Halloween 2011 Celebration

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I decided to set up a mini event to celebrate Halloween. Halloween isn’t a big thing to me but I thought it would be fun just to invite some close friends over and have a dress up and hotpot party. I actually love planning events like this – gets me busy right? Since I’m free most of the time – I have some stuff to think about and plan.

Everyone all dressed up and had a blast that night. We ended the night with a scary Korean movie. I was dead tired by the end of the day – good thing I didn’t have to clean up the mess because I prepped everything! I should start planning Halloween parties every year and especially having a kid in the family – makes it more fun for him. How did you all celebrated Halloween?

Our first gift for our baby

We don’t know the gender of our kid yet but that doesn’t stop us from shopping right? Since Toys’ R Us is having a 30% sale on the bedding and room decorations this week – I’ve decided to pick this up for the baby’s crib. I haven’t yet gotten the crib yet but I’ll be getting the bedding first. It’s a great gift for your son or daughter because the Winnie The Pooh theme can be multisex. So I don’t really need to worry about if its a girl or a boy right? I can’t wait to get the baby room all set up and ready to go before winter arrives. We are quite excited to know about the gender too – get to plan things in advance!

Reality Check

A friend’s facebook posted: “What would you do with 1 million dollars?”

My reply: Invest!

When you think about it nowadays – one million dollar isn’t much because houses nowadays cost a million unless you move up north. The area I’m living in cost over a million and it’s just crazy. Comparing to years ago – this house I’m currently living in is half the price. The house market is going a bit crazy and it scares me. Scares me to think of what the future holds for our family with surviving on one income. It’s not that I don’t want to think about it – but it’s on my mind. Giving our child the best things and education in life is a must. I guess the best thing to do right now is save as much as we can now and worry about the rest later.

What do you do when you have high expectations and you can’t lower your expectations? Work harder. Sometimes I question if the road I’m walking is right – but I gotta believe in it. It works for others and it’ll eventually work for me. As my mentor said “Rome wasn’t built in a day” – everything takes time to built up. I just feel like I’ve been thinking a lot and rushing through things lately. Gotta slow down and take it step by step.

Believe in God.