It’s our 6th Wedding Anniversary. I thought I’d share my wedding memories. To be honest, the events of our wedding is mostly a blur to me. It’s like it happened so fast, and I was just going with the flow. It’s like I had tunnel vision, and I was only reacting because I was just so overwhelmed. If not for the photos, videos and my especially-made wedding rites, I would not be able to remember some of the bits and pieces of it.

We didn’t go traditional on the wedding, because I didn’t want it so long. Also, I was limited with what we can really do, keeping it simple was the best option. It has a mixture of Catholic-Filipino-American ceremonies. I am so happy that  Father Blais, the officiator, didn’t insist on doing the Traditional Catholic Matrimonial Mass, and he was open to do the Filipino-and-American Symbolic Ceremonies.

And although, I am so grateful to my friends who helped us with taking the photos and videos, nothing beats wedding ‘photo and video’ professionals, that we didn’t hire. We concentrated on the ring, the cake, the flowers, and our wedding attires; and of course the food for the small gathering after the wedding ceremony, which by the way were prepared as favors by friends. We ordered the flowers from the nearest flower shop and my mother and I made the corsages, while hubby prepared the candles and ordered the wedding cake from Yokota. And our wedding attires are bought and custom made in the Philippines.

It was a cold and snowy in Nagano that day, I don’t know how I’ve survived in that dress.

Read about the days leading to the wedding:

• Our Love Story, In His Words (Part 1)
• Our Love Story, In His Words (Part 2)

Our Wedding

Michael and Charlotte
March 7, 2004
Okaya Catholic Church
Okaya City, Nagano Prefecture, Japan

Pre-Ceremony Wedding Song

I Can’t Help Falling in Love With You

Wise men say “Only fools rush in”
But I can’t help falling in love with you.
Shall I stay, would it be a sin
If I, I can’t help falling in love with you.

Like a river flows, surely to the sea,
Darling so it goes, some things are meant to be
Take my hand, take my whole life too
For I, I can’t help falling in love with you.

Like a river flows, surely to the sea,
Darling so it goes, some things are meant to be

Take my hand, take my whole life too
For I, I can’t help falling in love with you.
No I, I can’t help falling in love with you …

The Walk Down the Aisle

It was a short walk down the aisle. I was looking at everyone but not really seeing. But when I saw hubby’s smiling face as he was looking at me, I just kept smiling myself.

Exchange of Vows

We made our own vows. I remember I was so touched and teary-eyed after hearing hubby’s wedding vows that I grabbed his face to kiss him, but he stopped me and told me – it’s not time. Everyone was laughing.

You will always be my angel… -Michael

I will always love you no matter what … - Charlotte

We did the traditional vows as well.

I take you to be my lifetime partner
to be none other than yourself,
to have and to hold; for better or for worse;
in sickness and in health; to love and to cherish
both freed and bound by our love
for as long as we both shall live.

Blessing and Exchange of Rings

The wedding ring is the outward and the visible sign of an inward and spiritual bond, which unites two hearts in endless love. The circle, the emblem of eternity, and gold, the type of what is least tarnished and most enduring, are to show how lasting and imperishable is the faith now pledged. Let the rings, a fit token of that which is unending, be a symbol of the value, the purity, and the constancy of true wedded love; and the seal of the vows in which is pledged in the most solemn and sacred honor.

For we will laugh and cry,
Support and be supported,
Grow and then move forward into a greater world and
Through our love bring more love onto others,
I give you this ring in solemn token and pledge
Of my constant faith and abiding love
And as a seal of my vows to you,
Whom I will love and cherish above all others, forever.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son,
And of the Holy Spirit.

Candle Ceremony

Two candles that represents the bride and groom are lighted. The candles symbolize the Light of Christ, the same light they received at Baptism and now receive again to lead them in their new life as a couple. Our candles were lighted by the Best Man, Phil and my mother.

The Best Man, Phil

Mother of the Bride

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.
(John 1:1-4)

Lighting of the Unity Candle

From the American Wedding Tradition, using each candles that represents the bride and groom, the center unity candle is lighted. This ceremony symbolizes the union of two individuals, becoming one in commitment.

Then Jesus spoke and said, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”
(John 8:12)

Veil Ceremony

The veil ceremony is one of the symbolic ceremonies of a Traditional Filipino Wedding. A white veil is placed over the shoulder of the kneeling couple. The veil symbolizes living under God’s protection and being clothed as one.

Veil Ceremony with Friends, Patrick and Lucelle

The man said, “This is now bone of my bones, And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.” For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.
(Gen 2:23,24)

Cord Ceremony

The cord ceremony is another symbolic ceremony in a Traditional Filipino Wedding. The cord is looped in a figure 8, the symbol of infinity, and placed over the couple. It represents the ties that bind the couple together who will now walk through life as equals.

Cord Ceremony with Friends, Arvin and Grace

Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures forever. Love never fails.
(1 Cor 13:4-7)

Marriage Prayer

O God our Father, we honor You in thanksgiving
for the joy, the beauty, and the sacredness of this hour
and for the gifts of life and love;
in life and love, for the gift of Matrimony.
We thank You for our lives, which we now pledged
to live for You, and for each other.
Lord, use our married life according to Your will
and make our love strong yet gentle and true.
In all that we are, let us glorify You.
O Lord Jesus Christ, You are the True Light.
We come before You as unique individuals,
but now clothed as one and bound together in unity.
Together we ask You, to bless us and our marriage.
and with Your light, enlighten our path and warm our hearts.
Strengthen us in the trials of life.
O Holy Spirit, be in our midst.
In the joining of our lives, grant us Your gifts.
When selfishness shows itself, grant us generosity;
when mistrust is a temptation, give us moral strength;
when there is misunderstanding,
clear our minds; give us patience and gentleness;
in pain and in sorrow,
grant us compassion to comfort each other,
strong faith and an abiding love.
Grant that we see long and happy days
and be united forever in the kingdom of Your glory.
Amen.

Nuptial Blessing

The Officiator – Father M. Blais

We call upon You, Almighty God.

Let each of us now ask God, in silence, to bless Michael and Charlotte, His children as they begin their married life.

(From the book of Common Catholic Prayers)

Father, by Your power You have made everything out of nothing. In the beginning You created the universe and made mankind in your own likeness. You gave man the constant help of woman so that man and woman should no longer be two, but one flesh, and You teach us that what You have united may never be divided.

Father, by your plan, man and woman are united, and married life has been established as the one blessing that was no forfeited by original sin or washed away in the flood. Look with love upon this woman, Your daughter, now joined to her husband in marriage. She asks Your blessing. Give her the grace of love and peace. May she always follow the example of the holy women whose praises are sung in the scriptures.
May her husband put his trust in her and recognize that she is his equal and the heir with him to the life of grace. May he always honor her and love her as Christ loves his bride, the Church.

Father, keep them always true to Your commandments. Keep them faithful in marriage and let them be living examples of Christian life. Give them the strength, which comes from the gospel so that they may be witnesses of Christ to others. Bless them with children and help them to be good parents. May they live to see their children’s children. And, after a happy old age, grant them fullness of life with the saints in the kingdom of heaven.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Declaration of Marriage

For as much as you, Michael and Charlotte have consented together in Holy Matrimony before friends and loved ones, and have pledged your faith and declared your unity. I now pronounce you, husband and wife.

- The Officiator

The Commentator, Susette

After-Ceremony Wedding Song

Looking Through the Eyes of Love

Please, don’t let this feeling end,
It’s everything I am, It’s everything I want to be
I can see what’s mine now, finding now what’s true
Since I found you – looking through the eyes of love.

And now, I can take the time,
I can see my life as it comes up shining now;
Reaching out to touch you, I can feel so much
Since I found you – looking through the eyes of love.

And now, I do believe
That even in the storm we’ll find some light;
Knowing you’re beside me, I’m all right!

Please, don’t let this feeling end,
It might not come again, and I want to remember
How it feels to touch you, How I feel so much
Since I found you – looking through the eyes of love.

The Wedding Entourage	The Wedding Entourage
With Friends of the Groom	With Friends of the Bride

Click photos to enlarge photos.

The weather did not permit grilled baby back ribs, unfortunately! It has been raining. At least it didn’t snow. But we placed the ribs in the oven, and had some roasted ribs instead with corn-on-a-cob! Yummy! We haven’t even touched the cake because we were so full…

Hubby did everything, from cooking to washing the dishes! And, he got me a really nice plant. I had to tell him not to go overboard when I told him I wanted a plant on my birthday. He does that – go overboard! When he and Matthew was out to get me that plant, I had to remind him again. In my imagination, he was going to get me a tree, and I will be really problematic if he did get me a tree.

It was a great day of lounging in the couch, watching movies, taking naps. Unfortunately, the nap time only goes for me and hubby alternately. Matthew didn’t nap at all, which is always bad during hubby’s day-off especially on my birthday, when we are looking forward to a nice hubby-and-me time. Sigh.

The day ended well, with me telling Matthew that we will continue mommy’s birthday the next day to eat the cake.

Celebrating my 32nd Birthday with family. All photos are taken on March 2, 2010. Click photo to enlarge the photo.

It’s not a maternity dress I’m wearing, but it’s a more forgiving dress for someone like me with a 33-weeks bulge in the belly.

I’ve often heard that it’s quite normal when nose bleeding happens. I’ve never really thought about it until Matthew’s nose was bleeding early this morning. I was alarmed, worried, …

We had been under the weather for a few days now. I’ve lost my voice since Valentines Day, but I’ve so far recovered a little bit… getting there. On the other hand, Matthew seems to be following along. He’s had stuffy nose and couching. And then, this morning was the first time that Matthew had a nose bleeding incident. For the past nights, he keeps waking up in the middle of the night, crying because of nasal congestion and probably some soreness. He hasn’t learned how to effectively blow his nose so, all we could ask him to do is drink water and keep his head up. Then he falls right back to sleep only to wake up again in an hour or so. Medicine drops can only work so far.

Last night, I’ve decided that the two of us to sleep in the living room so that hubby can get his much needed sleep – so he doesn’t have to wake up with us when we had to get up. Very early this morning, Matthew woke up to his bad spells again, but that time was much more alarming when I saw blood dripping from his nose. I’ve often heard the nose bleeding is normal and I’ve taken it as that, until I saw my own child’s nose bleeding for the first time. It doesn’t feel normal … all I was trying to think is if he had injured his head or something, or if this is a symptom of something bad, worse than the cough and colds he has. Hubby was already up, getting ready for work, so I called him out. He said it’s normal, and it’s probably caused by dry air. I read more about nosebleeds. I am relieved by the information I got that there really is no cause for alarm since the nosebleeding didn’t persist so far.

Daytimes are pretty much easier, except today, Matthew has pink eyes (sore eyes). Hubby and I had mild pink eyes, aside from the cough and colds. Hubby got it first and then me. We thought we had it pretty much under control, got some eye drops and my hands had become so dry for constantly washing my hands. Mine is healing now. And then Matthew got it too. He looks droppy with swollen eyes and he can’t keep his hands off his eyes! So he has stuffy nose, now he’s got stuffy eyes! His will take longer to heal. Sigh!

As of this writing Matthew is taking a nap. I’ve had him drinking lots of fluid and resting, just watching Mickey Mouse the whole morning. He is not really his energetic self. I hope we get better soon.

It’s Alabama’s first taste of snow this winter! It has been forecasted to snow yesterday, and it finally did just before lunch time.

Matthew had so much fun in the snow. As soon as we were out, he knows what to do – which was to make snow angels! Later on, when hubby joined us, they had snow ball fight. I was by the tree, chilling. Just happy to see Matthew’s delight over the white snow.

Click photo to enlarge photos.

From this point forward, I’d be seeing the OB every 2 weeks. I saw him yesterday. I found out, after much worrying, that I do not have gestational diabetes. I still have to eat right, keep myself hydrated and all that, but i’m just happy i don’t need to follow a portioned diet or worse, have insulin shots, as what’s needed for someone with gestational diabetes.

The baby has good heartbeat and all measurements are great. However, with this pregnancy I had been experiencing contractions on irregular basis (Bracton Hicks). My belly gets too stiff and painful at times that I have a hard time moving. Shifting positions at night means actually waking up and struggling to move, and catching my breath at the struggle. I get cramps in my legs as well.

Hubby and I can’t help but compare this with my previous pregnancy. When I was pregnant with Matthew, I was really active. We were in Japan, and my sister and brother visited us from the Philippines. We brought them to places for sightseeing and more and I never ever felt that I was taken aback by pregnancy.

But this time, I get too tired easily and it seems like whatever I do causes contractions. Plus the baby’s movement has become more and more vigorous. When I told my OB about this, he told me that usually subsequent pregnancies will be harder because the uterus has become more sensitive and stronger from the previous pregnancy. For short, “Shut up, You are pregnant for crying out loud. You are suppose to feel this way.” He didn’t exactly say that, but my previous OB did. When I was pregnant with Matthew, I complained about pricking discomfort in my left side. My OB then shushed me with those exact words. And to think, now I feel that pregnancy, even with gestational diabetes, was a breeze compared to this one.

With all my pains and discomfort, I can’t wait when this pregnancy is over. I have more or less 10 weeks to go. So far, Matthew had been feeling impatient as well for the coming of his baby brother. At one time, he came up to me with a can opener in his hand, attempted to raise my shirt and said “Baby brother wants to come out now.” Although, our can opener is not sharp or pointy, and it is relatively safe for Matthew to be holding around, with what he tried to do, I have to hide it from him now. Where does he get these ideas?

Matthew, while in bathroom, at potty time …

Matthew: (yelling) Mommy!

Me: Are you done?

Matthew: It’s not working.

Me: What’s the matter?

Matthew: It’s stuck.

Me: You got to push. You got to push really hard.

Matthew: It’s not working.

Me: Maybe later. All done now?

Matthew: No! Poopoo some more.

Moments later, repeat from start 5 times until he gives up. Sigh, if only I can poop for him.

Matthew has been potty trained. A few accidents here and there, but for #2, there has been no major setbacks. He is independent, would sit in the big potty and does his business without messes. He still needs assistance cleaning up and lot of reminders with washing and all, but he is there. #1 is another story. When he is busy, in a hurry or too excited, he thinks he can hold it, but he can not. So there’s lots of getting wet on his pants.

I just wanted to wash him a little bit, brush his teeth and get him ready for bed. It was a really long day of chasing Matthew with no nap time. I was feeling crappy, haven’t showered for days, my hips were hurting and my head was heavy with stuffy nose. And all he still wanted to do was to jump and down the bed, run around and make me chase him. He is in his most playful mood. While I wasn’t in the chasing mood!

I used my scariest voice, scariest face and even spanking him just to get him to settle down and listen and just do what I want – which was to get in the bathroom, stand still at the tub so I can wash him. But nothing I did worked. I was really frustrated. It seemed that he is even enjoying my frustration as part of his game, as he made me chase him again. He laughed everytime I wouldn’t catch him.

As I have managed to get a hold of him, literally dragging him to the bathroom, I was out of breath by his struggling to get off my tight hold. I was able to wash him but not too easily. The next task was to brush his teeth, but as soon as he was able to get off the tub, he ran off like he was happy to have escaped. He ran off towards the door and started slamming the door.

I just heard a ringing in my head at the slamming of the door. I told him to stop but he continued to do so. I was afraid he was going to place his other hand at the slamming door like he did earlier that day, so as soon as the door closed I locked the door. I was inside the bathroom by myself, while he was outside, yelling out ‘Mommy!’

I didn’t open the door. I was pacing myself, just hiding inside the bathroom. I was just so tired, that I started crying. I heard hubby’s voice from the outside then he opened the door. Somehow, him seeing me crying like that made my feel even worse, that I cried even more. I just wanted to brush his teeth and him ready for bed, so when he’s fallen asleep I can take a shower and hopefully feel better, but Matthew wasn’t cooperating and i was feeling really frustrated.

The rest of the night was easier with hubby’s presence but I couldn’t help my tears from falling down as I was brushing his teeth and putting his jammies on, while his lips were curled down like he was about to cry but preventing himself to cry. To his innocent mind he was only playing and having fun, but at that time, my poor baby was scared and absorbing my negative feelings.

Then hubby took him to his office, made him sit in the corner and not letting him play for slamming the door and not listening to mommy. I brought him his milk, then he dozed off while drinking his milk. Then he was off to bed, finally.

This happened a week ago. I was definitely not at my best as a mother. Frustration got the best of me. I had to cry.

So I saw the doctor and had our 4D ultrasound!

I don’t know if I have gestational diabetes yet. I will find out if the doctors calls in a few days. In the meantime, I will eat whatever I want! But I am measuring well. The baby is about 3-pounds now, and his heartbeat is strong.

The 4D ultrasound is exciting. Just don’t think how much it cost, but oh well, it’s so worth it. We didn’t have a hard time finding the baby’s little winky. I’ve been saying, he’s a flasher! But he kept covering his face with both hands and a foot! His hand would cover his mouth and nose, and one foot would cover his forehead or nose. I had to twist and turn a few times hoping that he’ll move a little bit and show his face but, no! We got lucky though when he partially shows his face.

Of course, hubby and Matthew didn’t miss it! Matthew was identifying the parts of the baby’s face. We saw him pout his lips, open his eyes and curl his forehead like he’s showing an attitude. We saw his little nose, which we kept saying that, just like Matthew, the baby too, got mommy’s nose! But he’ll still be cute, just like Matthew. (LOL)

It has been more and more apparent that Matthew is aware of his baby brother and is so ready for him. Everyday, he ask me while touching my belly, “Baby brother want to play?“. And we tell him, “He’s not ready yet. He still needs to cook inside mommy’s belly.“

At one time, about a week ago, I was using the bathroom, sitting in the toilet, doing my business, and then Matthew slid open the door. And then, in all seriousness in his face, he asked me, “Is baby brother coming out now?“. I was stunned. I told him, “No. baby. It’s not time yet!“. Then he closed the door.

It was the first time he asked me that. And I am still wondering how and where he got the idea to ask me that while I was in the bathroom.

Drinking Warm Milk with a Straw. Photo taken on Jan 22, 2010. Click photo to enlarge photo.

I don’t know what it is about milk that Matthew had a hard time drinking it from a glass when he drinks everything else, water, juice, smoothie, from a cup even before he turned 1! He had always been drinking regular whole milk from a milk bottle, but I am happy to announce that it has been more than a week since the last time Matthew had his milk in a milk bottle. I have hidden the milk bottles away from his sight, and we have been using a regular glass or the sippy bottle with straw to drink his milk. Although, he didn’t exactly throw himself crying over his milk bottles, it wasn’t exactly easy to get him to drink milk from a cup/glass. At most times, he would still specify he wants milk on a bottle. I’d say ‘NO’, give his milk in a glass, and put a straw on it. And he is fine. Somehow, the straw made the transition easier for him. Also, the milk has got to be warm too. It’s easier and quicker for him to finish warm milk than cold milk.

About food, I got to be honest! I think I have to stretch my creativity when feeding him! He only eats – macaroni and cheese, noodles, plain pasta, bread, pancakes, cheese, eggs and that’s it! NO hamburger, hotdog, chicken, nuggets, fried chicken, fruits or vegetables, etc.!

At one time, I sneaked in a few green beans in his macaroni and cheese. Spoon-fed him while he was watching cartoons. I carefully placed mac-and-cheese on top of the spoon while hiding the green beans. Halfway He didn’t have a problem until he strategically spit out a few green beans to his hand, and told me – “Mommy, there’s dirt!”. I wanted to laugh about how he has caught up with my tricks but didn’t want him to see me laughing at his remark. I just told him “It’s not dirt, eat it!”. He didn’t want to eat anymore after that. If only the green beans wasn’t green but yellow, so it can camouflage itself better with the mac-and-cheese! If only green beans can take the taste of mac-and-cheese, maybe that would have worked!