Must Haves for 2012!

I have a lot of things in mind that I want to have this year. Well, it's mostly things I wanna buy this year. Heh. Yes, I already have a baby and of course, he's our priority (may it be his basic or luxury need), but I could give myself a break sometimes! Haha!

1. Blackberry  (January 2012)

2. New Sneakers   (February 2012)

Thanks to my Sodexo incentive!

3. iPhone 4! - I just want an iPhone 4! 4s is too much for me right now. Heh.

4. Singapore trip. - Well I already filed my mandatory leave for this trip. I hope this pushes through!

5. New shoes! Oxfords in particular. - Now that I can finally buy shoes since my feet edema is already gone, I've been buying a few pairs the past weeks. Let's see, a wedge, heels, and 2 flats. I want to try wearing Oxfords one of these days!

6. Pink Swatch! - I already bought my lovey a Fossil watch last year so I think it's time to buy one for myself as well!

7. Playstation 3 

8. LCD / LED TV - For our condo in Manila. Of course, this is for our Playstation 3 hehehe!

9. Lastly, we are planning to buy a new car before the year ends. It's hard having a baby without having our own car. We're already starting to revive our savings again since we used most of it when I gave birth last year. 

Well, this list inspires me to work hard so that I can earn bonuses again! Thinking about all the incentives I got last year, maybe I can afford all of these. Well, cutting off impulse buying would help as well! And some loan that I can get from work (for the car! Lol.).

This could also work as my BIRTHDAY and CHRISTMAS wishlist! Let's see what are the things that I'd scratch off my list by the end of the year.

What's up, Ketchup?

And I say hello to Makati again 5 times a week. Ugh, how I wish I could afford to just stay at home and not work at all, but with all the expenses and responsibilities that I have right now, that's next to impossible.

Anyhoo, we already have a nanny! Finally! I'm still a hands-on mommy, but having someone to watch over my baby while we're working, or even help with the chores when we're at home is a great thing. It's a good thing as well that my grandma was able to find someone who's trustworthy enough to take care of my baby.

And how about an update of my cutie patootie baby? Heh. He just turned 2 months last Friday, and it's so sad that we're in Vigan that time. We'll make it up to him this weekend by going out and buying him new clothes! Haha!

His latest photos:

He grows up so fast! Or to put it better, he's getting fatter and heavier each day. Lol. He's a big baby I think, cos people would always comment that he doesn't look like a 2 month old baby. Well, what do you expect on having a 6 footer daddy? Heh.  Also, he keeps on cooing when we're talking to him! And he's already smiling back at people.

Oh, I love seeing him reach new baby milestone each day! :D

First Month of 'Mommyhood'

December 24, 2011 10:11 AM

Yessir! I gave birth last Christmas eve. I remember telling people that I want to give birth at least after Christmas so that I can spend Noche Buena at home. But lo and behold cos at around 4AM of December 24, I started feeling true labor pain and was rushed to the hospital an hour after. I gave birth via cesarean section cos I've had a case of pre-eclampsia and cephalo-pelvic disproportion (in layman's term, high blood pressure and baby's head won't be able to pass through my pelvis.) I used to be the one assisting an operational procedure, and now I was the one undergoing an operation lol. 

And everything changed after that day.

I would be lucky if I will have a 5-hour sleep at night cos my baby would wake up every 2-3 hours for his feeding. Well, the trick here is just sleep whenever your baby is sleeping so that you won't be sleep-deprived. I miss having more than 8 hours of sleep but well, that's just the way it is. Or, maybe till we find a nanny. Hmm, not really cos I still want to be a hands-on mommy.

This sounds cheesy, but it's true that no matter how tired you are, once you see your baby smile, hear his coos, or just simply looking at him, you'd feel better afterwards. Heh.

So now let me show his weekly photos!

I'll be posting his weekly photos on my facebook account and tumblr so that I can document his weekly progress!

Ugh, my maternity leave is almost up. So much for my vacation.

Almost There

I'm on my 36th week right now, and d-day is fast approaching. I'm getting more excited each day and I can't wait to see my little angel. I was so giddy when we were buying his newborn clothes and items. Aside from the excitement that I am feeling right now, I am also getting paranoid if I will be able to take care of my baby properly. I can't stop browsing and watching those baby care videos like "Breastfeeding" and "Swaddling" 101. I am a believer of breastfeeding. I know it's hard and painful at first, but given all the benefits thatbreastfeeding offers, I am willing to learn all the techniques so that I won't have a hard time and get used to it in the long run. 

It's still 4 weeks away from my due date, but I chose to already start with my maternity leave. Aside from I can't bear travelling from  QC-Makati everyday, I also feel that I might give birth even before Christmas day. Contractions are getting more frequent and I just wanna rest in preparation for my labor and delivery.

I also can't help reading all the labor-related articles I find online so that I would know if I'm already experiencing true labor or if it's just false labor.

True Labor- Contractions gets stronger and closer together - Contractions are in a fairly regular pattern - Walking or changing position makes them stronger - Contractions are usually felt beginning in the back and moving forward - Cervix opens and thins 

Braxton Hicks or False labor- Contractions remain the same strength, distance, and length - Contractions may be irregular - Walking or changing position does not affect the contractions - These contractions may be felt up high in the front 

Signs that labor may be on its way Your body will usually give you clue that labor is beginning. You need to familiarize yourself with these signs. These are the signs that labor may be approaching, although they are not necessarily predictors of labor. They are good signs that your body is doing what is necessary to prepare for the birth. Some women notice them and others do not, either way is perfectly normal for you.

You should not worry if you do not notice these signs:

-	A sudden burst of energy or the "nesting instinct". This is an instinct in which the female of the species prepares the nest for the impending arrival.
-	Lightening or dropping of the baby (you may be able to breathe easier and urinate more). This usually occurs somewhere between two and four weeks before the onset of labor in first-time mothers. It is basically the beginning of the baby’s descent into the pelvis.
-	Sensations of increasing pressure in the pelvis and rectum. Persistent low back pain may also be present.
-	An upset stomach
-	Diarrhea
-	Bloody show (this may be the cervix beginning to open, or from sex or a vaginal exam)
-	Loss of your mucous plug
-	Rupture of membranes. Sometimes labor begins with the bag of waters or membranes rupture, however, this usually does not happen until very late in labor. If your water breaks you may notice a near constant trickle of fluid from the vagina or a sudden gush. You should talk to your care giver about when to call about your waters breaking, but you should definitely notify them if you experience the following: - Fluid is not clear, but green or brownish - You have a fever

Out of those signs, I think I already have the bloody show, lightening, increased pressure in the pelvis and increased lower back pain. I asked my doctor last week if my cervix is already starting to dilate, but after her examination, it's still closed. I was just paranoid cos of the bloody show I've had recently where you would see mucus secretions tinged with blood. Heh. That nesting instinct also explains why I am currently obsessed in cleaning the house and arranging the baby's stuff. I dunno, lol.

Also, did I tell you that I don't have gestational diabetes? Yay! I was so terrified when I've had my glucose test. Despite all the sweet cravings I've had during my pregnancy, my blood sugar is at its normal range. But my doctor as well as my mom advised me to watch what I am eating nowadays if I wanted to keep the size of my baby large enough to go on a normal delivery. With that, I already lessened my sugar and rice intake. I don't wanna go on caesarian section delivery but we'll never know till the big day comes. As of now, I am still okay for normal delivery. A lot of people also advised me to walk as much as I can everyday. It's a good thing that I live near UP Diliman. I hope it would stop raining so that I can continue my early morning walk again.

Ahh, a couple of more weeks and I can already see my baby! And it's just in time with my favorite season of the year!

Facebook Circa 2008

I joined Facebook probably around late 2008. A lot of my friends didn't have their accounts back then and I think that was the time before this social networking site became so popular here in our country. There was also a phase when I was addicted to Facebook games namely: Pet Society, Farm Town and Cafe World, and now I barely play any Facebook game.

Then I discovered Archivedbook.com. It's a site where you can look back on all the things that you had done on your Facebook account since Day 1. I can't help but reminisce especially when I saw those wall posts and status updates. Lol.

The first batch of wall posts

Status updates from 2009 lol. Look at those lines from Sara Bareilles's Love Song and Alesha Dixon's Breathe Slow

My Andrew Garcia obsession (American Idol s9) Lololol

Just when things were starting between me and the boyfriend. Heh <3 Also, I really love quoting HIMYM lines haha!

I was also trying to find those status updates during the time when I was left by my ex-boyfriend circa 2009 and I was full of rage ad bitterness (just for the lulz), but I guess I already deleted them! It's also funny that when I was reading all those status updates, I can't even remember the reason why I had put them on my wall.

31 Weeks

A few months ago, I was just telling the whole world that I'm pregnant, and now I'm just 9 weeks away till the big day. I am scared and at the same time looking forward on finally seeing my little angel. 

Well, in a nutshell, here's how I would describe the last quarter of my pregnancy.

• Back pain is becoming unbearable and that also leads to trouble sleeping. You know that feeling that you just want to hit the spa and have a body massage, but of course, I can't. I remembered that when I've had an ultrasound in World Citi Medical Center, I saw they offer a prenatal massage service but I am yet to ask my doctor about that.
• FEET EDEMA. During the 2nd quarter of my pregnancy, I've been advised to avoid salty food cos  of course, sodium retains water, and edema can lead to preeclampsia (prenatal hypertension). As months go by, I am trying to avoid salty food and doing all the things that could avoid edema, but it seems that my feet is getting bigger that usual. I can't buy new shoes and a lot of my shoes don't fit me anymore. I envy my sister who didn't experience this when she was pregnant. I can't bear looking at my feet cos they look worse than sprained feet. 
• I feel ugly. People say that  if you're carrying a boy, you would look ugly and if it's a girl, you'd look prettier than usual. Well, even my mom noticed the changes in my face, like my nose is getting bigger and there's something different about the way I look. And then yesterday, a technician in CD-R King asked me if I'll be having a baby boy cos it's pretty obvious. Thank you for rubbing it in, huh?
• From 131 to 150 lbs. I know, right? Well, it's still within the 15-25 lbs normal weight gain, but I am praying that I can easily lose the gained weight next year.
• It's amazing when you see your tummy wave because the baby kicks so hard. And sometimes, you would also feel some lumps that would go away when you touch it. Could it be my baby's feet? Knees? Heh.

The only baby stuff that I have right now are the ones my best friend gave me. She bought a lot of clothes for her son and she didn't expect that her baby would be bigger than usual so some didn't fit him. I am planning to stock on the basic stuff by the end of November (after the baby shower that would be thrown by my high school friends). I can't wait to do baby shopping!

Weekend Mini Haul

The rain had finally stopped pouring last Sunday—wait, not really— and I finally had time to hit the mall to buy some personal stuff (read: it's also the weekend after my pay day, lol). 

I haven't used my wedges for about 2-3 months now. I am such a clumsy walker, and with this condition that I have right now, I better stick with them flat shoes. And it's really nice that we can now buy chic and trendy shoes from Parisian Shoes at an affordable price! I got these for just P600! :) You can also get a pair of pumps for just P1000!

Infant clothes are on a marked down price so I couldn't resist buying a dress for my niece. My sister and her daughter would stay with us for a couple of weeks and it's fun having a baby around the house. And soon, I'll also have my own angel! Heh. It's funny that I'm asking baby care tips from my sister— who's 4 years younger than me! 

I got these books for just P164! Don't you love the feeling of leaving Booksale with such precious finds? Lol. I've been meaning to read Cabot's works since I am a fan of YA fiction books. We all love the film adaptation of The Princess Diaries, so this should be a nice read as well. And who wouldn't know Amy Tan— the author of the National Bestseller, The Joy Luck Club? I might be able to start with these books after reading the first book of Confessions of Georgia Nicholson— Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging (you should watch its film adaptation, too!)

Milk Tea shops are everywhere! And of course, we just have to try this new store in SM North Edsa called Chatime. The place is so cozy and I am amazed cos this thing really lights up when your order is ready to be served. Lol. They currently have a promo of Free Upsize which would save you P10. And I think by next week, they'll also start with their Buy 1 Take 1 promo which would last for a couple of days.

Aaaaand who can resist Army Navy's Burgers and Burritos? Omnomnom~

I can't wait for the next pay day cos we might start buying baby items! Or is it too early for that? Heh.