preggointhecity

Pasalubong

2009-11-09T02:51:00.004+08:00

Pasalubong - a common thing in Filipino culture, which is one way of showing thoughtfulness to family, friends or co workers by bringing or giving them treats. Pasalubongs are common especially if the giver has been away for a long while, but the word can apply to take home treats that parents bring to their kids after a day's work. It can basically apply to anything that's brought home and given to someone with love.

I have enjoyed pasalubongs as a kid. "What do you want for pasalubong?" My mom or dad would ask before going to work, and then I'd tell them my special request. Then I'd wait for them to come home at night with my pasalubong. Tell you honestly, I didn't really care if they brought home my pasalubong or not. Being the nervous and anxious child that I was, I was happy to see them walk through the front door safe (and alive hehe).

Getting to my point, my mom and dad work in two different and faraway places, but they never fail to bring some goodies when they get back - even when it's just a box of hopia or ampao or ensaymada. Or on more festive occassions, like that Saturday my dad got back from Manila (I gave birth the Thursday before that), and brought two cakes and a lot of sweets from Goldilocks to celebrate the arrival of his first grand daughter.

--

Last week, my brothers went to Manila to visit my mom for the semestral break. While lived off on Seven Eleven meals, fast food and yummy restaurant meals as well, I lived off on instant noodles. Kidding. Well, they had a lot of fun and I was left at home. With the baby. Not that staying with the baby isn't fun. But still..you get the picture.

After a week there, they went home with my special request: a box of Krispy Kreme (which we devoured instantly!!!) and Organic cookies for baby girl. Thank you momma for the pasalubong, and thank you brothers for bringing them home safely.

But wait, my mom sent more love, so aside from the organic cookies (which were terribly expensive - php200+ for 9 pieces) from Marks & Spencer, she got me cookies for myself as well. The Milk Chocolate Viennese Swirls were to die for.

She also sent baby girl a bottle of organic insect repellent and a pot of baby balm. She bought Human Heart Nature products (my mom's an Organic buffie) - their Guava and Aloe Cleansing Gel is just wonderful to the skin (more reviews, soon)! And oh, get this, she didn't forget the dog and got him organic soap as well.

Thanks for the love mom. While you can never really measure love by the number or the amout of material things given to you, I just think that it's a good way to show that you care and that you remember the person. It doesn't matter if it's a Chanel bag from your recent trip abroad, or a bottle of Spanish Sardines you got on your way at home (or maybe some red eggs from the market..yumm!), what matters is the thought behind that.

The pasalubong. What a nice aspect of the Filipino culture.

Going Back To School

2009-11-03T21:58:00.006+08:00

I would like to take back what I said on my previous pos t about not going back to school this October. I will be going back to school, and I will be enrolling this Thursday. That's two days from now! :)

Can't wait, I am very excited. The last time I went to school was second semester of SY 2007 - 2008, which ended on March 2008. This means that I have been away from school for a total of two semesters and two summers. Whew. That's a long time.

I really want to go back to school because I just want to get it all over with. Now, tell me, with a full time job (writing), a starting business (diapers) and a one year old plus kid to take care of - will I be able to survive school?

I have no idea. But I like the prospect of me juggling all those things. Makes me feel like superwoman.

Good luck to me! And Xavier, good luck to you. I will be back with a vengeance, and with that, I mean good grades.

--

PS

Just to show that I haven't been to school for quite a long while, I have just recently found out that Xavier has an Integrated Class Schedule.
Yeay XU! Should have done that a long time. How about online enrollment the next time around?

On Baby Wipes

2009-11-03T02:33:00.009+08:00

Ah, the ever indispensable wet wipes. I can't imagine how difficult a mother's life would be without them, and I show great respect to the millions of women today (and of the past as well) who have survived child - rearing without the help of these moistened (and sometimes scented) pieces of paper.

While I try as much as possible not to rely on wet wipes, there are just those days when poop - cleaning and neck/back/hand/feet wiping become awfully burgeoning tasks. I can't even bear to get up to take and moisten a piece of cotton or towelette with my ever trusty water sprayer. So, I take my wet wipes pack, open it, take a moist wipe and wipe away. Easy as that. :)

Oh, I forgot to mention how horrific it would be to change nappies in the mall restroom without them (que horror!)

In the short thirteen months of my daughter's life, I have tried more than ten types of wet wipes already, but I already have my favorite choices. Here's a review of some that I have tried (not necessarily my favorites - but just because I have photos of them!) Haha!

BONUS BABY WIPES

I think these were the first wipes that we ever tried. 80 pcs costs around 80 php. There's a 50 - pack plastic can that's sold as a bundle by 2's in baby section of the SM department store, and I think it sells for around 100 php. They're affordable, easy to use, soft, mildly scented and they're thick enough (meaning you won't have poop passing through on the other side of the wipes right into your fingers).

Beware of these, though. Bonus baby wipes come in different colors - the plastic packs come in yellow and white, while the plastic canisters come in green, pink, blue and white. They all cost the same but there's a variety that's thin and rough. I'm not sure what color it is though for the plastic canisters. Similar wipes of these quality and pricerange are Giggles, Prokids and I forgot the name of the other one. LOL

Quality: 4 out of 5
Price: 4 out of 5
Great for: Diaper changing, quick punas when too tired to give a real sponge bath.

NIVEA BABY WIPES

This is relatively new, the wipe and the plastic container costs around 130 php for 60 pieces, but the refills cost only around php100 for 60 pieces. I love the blue container, the lid of which pops open when you press the open button. Perfect if you have little babies who already know how to peel away the cover for plastic wet wipes and pull out the wipes just for fun. It takes them awhile to work out how to open the Nivea Plastic box.

Nivea Baby wipes has a different texture which reminds me of plastic party napkins. The wipes have small blue drawings on them - cute, but not really necessary. A waste of ink, effort and resource, if you ask me.

The smell reminds me of sanitary napkins, though, and comes off a bit too strong.

Quality: 4.5 out of 5
Price: 3.5 out of 5
Great for: Diaper changing, quick punas when too tired to give a real sponge bath, using it in front of plenty of people because it looks sosyal.

BABY'S CHOICE BABY WIPES

This has got to be the most affordable baby wipes available on earth! You can get this from sellers in Manila for php30 for 80 pieces. Here in Cagayan de Oro, they cost anywhere from php45 to php60 for 80 pieces. These are China made wipes - they're thin and rough and what's weird is that there are actually different brands (they look different) that cost the same, feel the same and actually SMELL the same - and they're all made in China. While they're not great, quality wise, I still get a couple of these packs per month to wipe a lot of things other than baby's skin. You can get them at local diaper dealers and local Chinese/Taiwanese owned stores in Cogon and Divisoria (Novo and Kaking/Unitop to mention a few).

Quality: 2.5 out of 5
Price: 5 out of 5
Great for: wiping mirrors, items, windows, my daughter's puzzle mats, dresser, tables, my feet

KIRKLAND BABY WIPES

They're not available locally, so basically, if you head to local grocery stores, Nivea Baby Wipes is the best one there is in terms of quality. Kirkland Baby Wipes, however, are available from numerous online sellers, Jing F. being one of them. Kirkland wipes are soft, thick, unscented and very nice to use. But its quite expensive, at php 260 for 88 wipes (plus shipping because the seller is based in Luzon, so make sure you buy plenty to save up on shipping fees.)

Quality: 10 out of 5 :p
Price: 3.5 out of 5
Great for: Diaper changing, skin wiping, feet wiping, face wiping, staring at and showing off to friends! :)

GIGGLES BABY WIPES
Giggles baby wipes are very affordable, and very mild on baby. I love the fact that they're alcohol free, and they are also unscented. I just don't like the funny yellow packaging that it comes in. It's very affordable, but it's not thin and flimsy, so I don't have to worry when it comes to poop cleaning.

Quality: 4.5 out of 5
Price: 5 out of 5
Great for: Diaper changing, feet wiping, face wiping, etc

FARLIN BABY WIPES
Another cheap find. The quality is just like Giggles Baby Wipes, the only difference is that it has a soft powdery scent to it. The pack also has a lid on top, which means that I don't have to worry about losing the peel off tab. :-) Oh, and I like the blue packaging better than the yellow packaging of Giggles.

Quality: 4.5 out of 5
Price: 5 out of 5
Great for: Diaper changing, feet wiping, face wiping, etc

**
Which reminds me, I have yet to try Boogey Wipes. Review on that as soon as I get my hands on it.

Why Buy Expensive Baby Clothes..

2009-10-24T10:31:00.007+08:00

when you can get nice clothes at..
...
...
...
...

Gaisano Carmen. LOL.

My relentless search for affordable baby clothes has led me to one of the places I would have never expected. Gaisano Carmen. Yes, of all places - Gaisano Carmen.I went there to get little angel figurines for my daughter's Christening give-aways.

But due to my curiousity, and again, my incessant search for cute baby apparel, I went up to their Children's section. I was amazed that there were some great choices, considering that I was in Carmen, after all.

Actually, I was eying on two dresses at Gingersnaps for Hillarie, and those would have set me back by about php1000 plus. I left Gaisano Carmen, however, with two new dresses that would have rivaled my branded choices, and I spent less than php500. With that amount, I was already able to put together Hillarie's christening outfit (headband and shoes included), and I was able to get the other dress as a present. Here's what I got:

Please excuse the shopping bag behind the dress. That was for a top I bought for Hillarie a couple of weeks back which cost three times the price of the dress. The other dress was a white sleeveless cotton dress. I decided on letting her use one instead of the usual Christening dress for babies. Christening gowns and Christenings at noon are never a good mix. The church provided a Christening robe for all of them anyway (thankfully, it was made of cotton, too!).

preggointhecity revamped

2009-10-24T09:39:00.005+08:00

I've been having some free time on my hands lately (because I don't have articles to write, which basically renders me jobless). So I decided to pick up on where I left off with my blog, which I have tried to layout. I have been quite unsuccessful at my attempts, and this is due to a couple of reasons, the first of which is that I have no skills. Not that I'm a dunce and all - I just don't have the time to read instructional posts. Even when I have time, I'd rather spend it doing other useful things, such as arranging my daughter's clothes according to color and style, perhaps. Or sterilizing her bottles.

A couple of months back, I used this very basic template and just added another column for the extra widgets, courtesy of http://www.threecolumnblogger.com/. Last night however, I decided to change my template design, without saving a back-up of my old template. Then I decided I wanted the three column blog again, so I had to start from scratch and ended up with a left sidebar that wasn't functioning at all.

Good thing I woke up way ahead than my daughter - which means that I haven't had enough sleep. But, well, I figured out it would be a good time to spruce up my blog's template. I may not have originally thought of the design, but heck, at least I have myself a good (if not, acceptable) layout just in time before my daughter wakes up, which will probably be in just a couple of minutes.

Glad to be back - again.

2009-10-23T02:31:00.003+08:00

I'm back from my hiatus from the blogging world. I haven't had time to write for myself lately. Not that I don't write - I actually churn out around 5000+ words a day for other people so that I can afford to buy the things that I want to, and the things that I have to.

Sad to say, I haven't been able to save up money lately. Don't remind me, I spent bucks on Hillarie's christening last September 20, and spent twice that on her birthday on October 2!

I've been spending cash here and there on food, my daughter's needs, my needs, my wants and almost every other whim that comes out out of the blue. Two months back, I even ordered three thousand pieces of diapers, half of those I haven't been able to dispose of yet. Well - if they don't sell, my daughter can always use them. On a side note, you can check out the diapers HERE.

Going back to money matters - I won't be going back to school this October because I need to double up on my writing work (so please if you are a buyer and you need writing jobs, hire me on Elance! LOL), fix up our Diaper business and get the Fried Chicken business up and running - again. Which reminds me, we need to have our stalls made and our tarpaulins printed. But that's another story.

Going back to my budget. I need to keep money for a lot of things, and these are:

College money. (I have one more year left in college, haha, I wish.)
Hillarie's Needs (Believe me, when you add milk, diapers, allowance for medication, vitamins, meals and snacks, toys, doctor's visit, clothes and other stuff together - Hillarie's needs sums up to A LOT)
My Needs (Well, I basically live with my parents and do the budgeting and groceries for the house since both my parents work out of town, but still - I have my special needs like My Local Obagi Set, my shoes, my tops, jeans, affordable designer bags and more.)
Three separate savings account. One is an ordinary savings account. For ordinary things. The next is an emergency account, which is for - you guessed it - emergencies. The last one is for Hillarie.
Hillarie's yaya. Yes, I have to pay for her nanny. With my parents paying the salaries of two house helpers, I don't think they'll want to bear the brunt of my daughter's nanny's salary.
My everyday needs, which I call my allowance. Of course, there are instances when I need to get my daily fill of ice cold coke or eat some bibingka or banana cue. There are also days when I need my fill of fast food or times when I just need to get out of the house.
Extra money for the house. Well, just because. My parents pay for the bills and all, but I just feel like helping out in the house. Sometimes my help comes in the form of Ice cream or cake! LOL

When you think about it, that's already a long list - and that doesn't even include the rent, the utility bills and food (which will evidently be on my list in the future, after we move out from my parent's home). It doesn't include school bills as well, as my baby is still a year old.

So I'm not complaining just yet. A lot of people have longer lists to deal with than what I have. So for now I'll just keep on writing. And writing some more. And sell diapers. And chicken. Fried chicken. And what else - click ads? Write reviews? As long as it's for money, I might try those out.

Maybe, as soon as I find time.

2009-07-25T14:19:00.005+08:00

I took these photos of me and Hill a couple of months back, and I've been looking for them ever since. I have tons of photos on my laptop, and I haven't had the time to sort them out. But since I found these, I wanted to share them. She has this talent of copying facial expressions. Smart kid. Haha!

Hello, homies

2009-07-25T14:03:00.005+08:00

After spending some eons writing for money, I am very happy to announce that I DON'T HAVE A JOB RIGHT NOW. Well, I'm not really jobless, I just don't have projects yet.

I have always promised myself that I will take a much needed break from the computer the moment I don't have anything to write and spend some more time with my daughter (who's on the bed, behind me, with her nanny). But I guess I haven't really fulfilled that promise since I've been slaving away for two hours trying to make my blog look a little bit..well..lookable. Whatever that word means.

So, after two hours of tweaking and experimenting with colors and fonts - I have a new looking blog. Sorry guys, I'm illiterate at HTML and other codes, and I can't afford Xsitepro or Thesis theme (as if I have a Wordpress blog, anywaay) - so this is the best that I can do.

But since I'm done (for the day, I mean), I'll go fulfill my promise and TAKE A REAL BREAK FROM THE COMPUTER. I'll go out and have a swim (I live just meters away from the beach) or maybe I'll keep myself in the bathroom. Give myself a nice sloughing, a good scrub, a wonderful foot soak and some great body moisturizing after.

Whichever way, I'm going out! See you soon!

cerelac with love

2009-07-25T01:02:00.005+08:00

We've been feeding our babies with Cerelac, or Milupa or Gerber - ever since they started eating. Who can blame us? We work eight hours a day, sometimes even more. And some of us can't trust our yayas enough to prepare our baby's food, afraid that she might mess up while cooking. And we're all feeling guilty, because as much as we want to make food for our babies - not all of us have the time or energy to do so.

So if, like me, you can't live without instant baby food - then why not simply ADD something cooked or real to it - if only to take some of the guilt away.

As a busy mom, I've created my own Cerelac with Love. I add a couple of extra touches to her cereal - and it doesn't even take so much time. I usually add either potato, squash, carrots, sayote, avocado or mango to her rice cereal. You might want to try it too.

Here's a time saving tip that you might find healthy: prepare the extra touches in batches, ahead of time.

Here's what you'll need:

A couple of hours FREE
Baby tummy friendly vegetabes of your choice: squash, carrots, sayote, potato. Sometimes I also use mango or papayas.
A steamer
A food grinder/fork/blender/food processor - anything to puree/mash the food with.
Ice trays with cover
A Freezer
Some zip - loc bags

Here's What you'll do:

1. Wash, Peel and slice your vegetables of choice.
2. Steam them (separately, of course). Steaming baby's food is better than boiling them since
boiling sucks out the food's nutrients into the water.
3. Mash, grind or puree the food.
4. Fill the ice trays with the pureed food.
5. Freeze the ice tray.
6. Once the food is frozen into cubes, take them out of the ice trays and transfer them into
ziploc bags.
7. Label the ziploc bag with the type of vegetable and the date when it was cooked. These
baby food cubes can last for two months.
8. Repeat the procedure for the next vegetable/fruit. You can make as much as you like, and as
many varieties as you like. The last time I checked my freezer, I had squash, carrots and
papaya food cubes.

Here's How To serve (the yaya can easily do this):

1. Every night, pick out three cubes of frozen baby food, and keep them in the chiller or the
refrigerator's lower compartment to thaw overnight. I usually pick out different baby food
cubes and place them inside baby bowls with lids.
2. When it's time to eat, prepare baby's cereal (preferably brown rice or rice with soya) and put
the defrosted baby food cube in along with the mixture.
3. Mix well until the baby food cube has thoroughly been melted and mixed with the cereal.
4. Serve to hungry baby. :)
5. Thawed food cubes should be served within 24 hours.

Preparing these baby food cubes don't take a lot of time. When I cook, I make the most out of my time and cook around four or five vegetables. I make a lot - enough for two weeks, at least. At least, with this - I add a special touch to my baby's food. I may not be there to make sure she gets the real thing, but at least there's that little bit of love that makes what she eats a whole lot better.

ps -

My ice tray creates heart - shaped ice, which takes the title Cerelac with love a bit more literal than usual. :)

heart wrenched

2009-07-01T17:32:00.000+08:00

I wrote this post on my notebook a couple of days ago. I have trouble with writing blog posts on the computer - I reserve that for work. :)

Anyway, this is the first post that I've written after a long hiatus from the blogging world. And this is the first piece of writing that is personally relevant to me that I've written in a long time now. So I write this out of my own accord, because my heart is wrenched. But let's talk about the details later.

Today is spectacularly spectacular (wink, wink). Mubo ko ug kalipay. I don't have work, and I get to lounge around, lie in bed, drink tons of water, eat lots of vegetables and tofu. Haha, I'm kidding. But yes, I don't have work and I will spend this by:

Giving myself a super pampering treatment rivaling those from spas. This treatment will include a mud pack, a total body scrub, a good leg (and other unmentionable body parts) shaving, hot oil treatment, facial regimen and total body moisturizing. But of course, I'll be doing them myself. Why spend when you can save? :)
Watching TV - MTV, Channel V and CNN. RIP MJ all over!
Listening to my MJ playlist.
NOT surfing the net. NOT turning on the computer.

Good luck to me. Now, let me end this blog with the heart wrenching stuff that have prompted me to pick up my pencil and notebook.

First, MICHAEL JACKSON'S DEATH
Call him anything you want - he has (and will always be) an icon of my childhood. I grew up listening and singing (yes! I used to sing) to his music. I am sad not only because of his demise, but because along with his death, a huge part of my childhood went along with him.
Farewell king of pop, and thank you for the wonderful music - your music will always be wonderful, and your memory will never be lost forever.

Next, NEDA AGHA - SOLTAN'S DEATH - A DISTURBING VIDEO
I didn't have enough guts to view this video. First MJs death and now this? Too much for this week already.

Neda Agha Soltan drew international attention when the video of her death circulated through the internet. She was shot during the 2009 Iranian election protests. Neda died on the streets while her friend tried to comfort her and make her last moments on earth at least bearable. Onlookers could do nothing but just stand and look helplessly.
Neda, may you find peace wherever you are. You are the voice of the young and the oppressed and those who rise to stand up peacefully for their rights. May your death inspire people to not be afraid to believe and stand up for their rights and demand justice.

Which also brings me to the question: How many other innocent people die this way each day? I have no idea, but my heart also goes out for each and everyone of them, Nedas in their own way.

And lastly, The EVIL NANNY VIDEO
I saw this video in Facebook. I was brought to tears while watching the nanny kick, stomp and abuse the little girl in the video. Through the research that I have gathered, the incident happened in Indonesia during 2007.

The parents of the poor little girl suspected that their child was being abused by her nanny, so they hid a spy camera to find out if their speculations were true. And they were. They were brutally and insanely true. The nanny was sentenced to two years in prison (WTF, 2 years!?!?).

How many children go through the same thing? How many children go through worse? What about those children who have no parents to install hidden cameras and file cases in court?
How many parents leave their houses and return at the end of the day not knowing the horrors that their children face with their "care" givers? How many children experience these things not only from their caregivers, but even from their parents?

This incident happened two years ago, and I wonder where the child is and how she is doing now. I hope she is well.

As a mother, I can only imagine how the child's mother must have felt when she watched the video. And as a mother, I can only pray that this horror never happens to my daughter - and to any other innocent and helpless child out there in the world.

The Hill and The Baby Measles

2009-05-09T00:11:00.003+08:00

Day 1 - Tuesday (May 5)

Hill developed a fever in the evening, and it was a bit high. Ack, thoughts of the H1N1 virus came into mind immediately. I shook the nonsense off and finally decided to believe that she was teething. Of course, she was! Her lower front gums were swollen (as they have been two months since), as in very swollen. I tried massaging it and yes, the gums were hard, and rough - which probably meant one thing: her tiny teeth were about to pop out any time soon.

Gave her paracetamol for the pain and the fever, which eventually subsided in an hour. Her fever spiked up again at dawn, and she was cranky and irritable as ever.

Day 2 - Wednesday (May 6)

She woke up with a smile, but was still warm. She had low fever but was busy moving about, crawling, falling off the mattress (which was four inches thick) to the other mattress (which was two inches thin), grabbing things, trying to sit down, doing full push ups. The fever lasted for the whole day and she was still cranky.

Before we went to sleep, I noticed a rash on her arm. That was okay, I thought. I didn't give her a bath for the day because of her fever, and she usually develops small rashes when she doesn't have a bath (the heat and humidity, darn it!). I also assumed that it was because of her teething, so I simply wiped the part with a wet tissue and rubbed some HOPE (Jar of Hope) on the rash.

Day 3 - Thursday
Hillarie woke up without any signs of fever, but -- aack! Rashes were all over her body. Small, pink spots that reminded me of prickly heat. It made Hill look so bulingit and yagit, which was not exactly my cup of tea. My baby has always been rash free - I have always made sure of that. Unlike babies who easily develop rashes, or develop rashes because of negligence - she doesn't. And seeing her all covered in rashes was so..ew.

We decided to go to the doctor. Before we left, my aunt told me it was measles.
I told her it wasn't.
She told me it was.
I told her it wasn't.

So we betted on it with Ice Cream.

Fast forward to the doctor's clinic. It was Roseola, or baby measles, or hangin - hangin in the vernacular. So my aunt didn't win the bet. Neither did I.

Roseola, or baby measles, is also called the SIXTH DISEASE (pertaining to the six diseases on the skin that babies acquire - who ever uses that term nowadays?). Anyway, the rashes only appear once the fever has subsided, and there's nothing else that we could do except to wait for the rashes to subside.

Thankfully, Roseola rashes ARE NOT ITCHY. Filipino superstition tells us to swat the rashes with the mother's hair, so it will subside, which, of course, I did not follow. My hair hasn't been shampooed in two days, what if it makes worsens the rashes?!

Roseola spreads through contact with another person's saliva or respiratory secretions (so no more kisses for Hill!!!), but it usually affects children only. Unlike measles and other viral infections that are super scary and deadly, Roseola is typically mild, and does not require any medication, except for the accompanying fever.

Day 4 - Friday

Hillarie doesn't have fever anymore, and she's back to her usual likot self. Still has rashes all over her, and she looks more yagit than ever and yeah, still no teeth. :-)

To All My Newly Registered Nurse Friends. Because Saying Congratulations is Faaaaar from Enough

2009-02-20T23:17:00.000+08:00

And I was supposed to put this on my BLOG , but Lord knows nobody visits that - so this, here, is more appropriate. Consider this as my big fat hug.

Oh I'd love to put your names..every little detail, down to your number on the results list. But the fear of missing out some names has stopped me from doing so. Oh well, your names are HERE and that's what matters.

You've made it. After the sleepless nights and..well, what have I got to say, I've never been there. But everything has paid off. Perhaps I feel strongly about this because I might have been one of you (LOL), or then again, I might have flunked at 2nd year, or 3rd year - or the licensure exam at that! But the thing is, you made it. And as happy as I was this lunchtime, browsing through the results, seeing your names - I know my happiness does not measure to the joy you guys now feel.

To my dear newly registered nurse friends from five, six, seven and eight years back in high school, mostly from 4 - Mayer, Regis and Taegon. To those I've met along corridors or have exchanged smiles with. Gradeschool buddies from Lourdes College Grade School. 1st Year Nursing Blockmates (NJ) and some sister blockmates, people I've exchanged nods with at XU and Crusader Yearbook Buddies (and you all resigned because you were busy!). To all those I've tagged, and to those I haven't..To you..all of you.

My heart joins the collective beating of your hearts, a beat so fast it becomes a tune to dance to, a sound so loud it resonates throughout the whole universe.

No words can explain how proud and how happy I am for you guys. Congratulations and lots of love to you all!

I love her. I just didn't know her until she died.

2009-02-17T01:16:00.002+08:00

I have never been a fan of the rock scene - or the Pinoy rock scene at that. My music IQ is so low. I'm stuck with basic guitar, futile piano attempts and post grunge alternative of the mid - nineties (which is way past my age) and classical music for Hillarie. So I didn't really know who Anabel Bosch was - until yesterday when I came across the Inquirer's Sunday Magazine. It was lying on the dining table, along with the rest of the newspaper sections and the tabloids my father buys daily.

I actually just took it with me to the to the toilet (Lord knows - like my mom and my brother - I HAVE TO READ in the toilet), when I came across her picture. Her back to the camera, revealing those big, blue wings. Ah - just another one of them rock ladies, I surmised. I didn't even read the article.

I brought the magazine with me to the room, to show Cococ the tattoo (and then this one: Lord knows I've been dying to get a tattoo since twelve). Because he was still playing poker on Facebook (therefore I could not work because he was hogging the laptop), I had no choice but to lay down beside my sleeping little Hillarie and read the article. And lo, did I just realize that it was actually a tribute, an obituary of some sort - well written and moving. And the article lead to another thing, and then another, and another. Instead of finishing the Ebook I was writing (on Mothers Going Back To Work), I visited Anabel's Blog, read a couple of posts, watched some youtube videos, did some Google searches..

..and found beauty.

How can I say this without sounding like a fanatic? (teehee). Her blog burns with her spirit..I cannot begin to say how much I love her blog, I love how every piece and every word just oozes with soul. How everything sounds so simple and so honest. I have always been a voracious reader, and I have always been choosy with what I read - but I will continue visiting her blog until I have read every single post.

Why? Is it because she writes so well? Is it because I see part of myself in what she has written, or a part of who I think she was? Is it because her voice is awesome (sorry, running out of adjectives). Maybe because secretly, in my past life I have always dreamed of becoming a rock star. I have no idea. And I don't really care. You see, that's what goddesses do, they touch lives of people - even those they don't know. Even when they aren't around anymore.

So there. I'm halfway done with my Ebook and the deadline's tomorrow. And I stopped to write this blog post.

Anabel, you are beautiful. =)

shemu shmoil

2009-02-16T15:28:00.004+08:00

Okay, I'm bitter. I want Emu Oil. And because I don't have cash on hand at the moment (actually, I do, but it's not for buying things off the internet) so I can't get one. I have just recently heard about the rave on emu oil, and I would love to try it myself.

So what exactly is Emu oil? And this site says:

Emu Oil has been used for thousands of years by the Aborigines of Australia to reduce the pain & swelling of arthritis, heal wounds & burns including sunburns, and to reduce the pain, itch & swelling of insect bites and stings.

Scientific studies verify that Emu Oil has unique healing properties.

Emu Oil is highly moisturizing, a natural skin softener and has rejuvenating properties
( has been shown to reduce the depth and length of fine lines & wrinkles ). It is also non greasy and highly penetrating. In fact Emu Oil has demonstrated to be the fastest and most penetrating oil into the skin, making it an excellent trans-dermal carrier for any other added moisturizers or therapeutic ingredients.

Emu Oil is natural & non-toxic, non-comedogenic (does not clog pores), hypo-allergenic (non-irritating) and gentle for all skin types.

Emu Oil is an effective anti-inflammatory. The potency of the anti-inflammatory effect from Emu Oil is similar to ibuprofen without the negative side-affects frequently common with traditional prescription or corticosteroid based anti-inflammatory medications.

Emu Oil has demonstrated to benefit the following conditions and problems:

acne
age spots
arthritis
athletes foot
bed sores
bruises
burns
bursitis
calluses
carpal tunnel syndrome
chapped lips
complexion problems
conditioning hair
contact dermatitis
cracked skin
cuts & lacerations
dandruff
diabetic bruising & ulcers
diabetic neuropathy
diaper rash
dishpan hands
dry skin
eczema
eye irritation
fever blisters

fingernail cuticles
frostbite
gout
gum disease
growing pains
hair loss
headaches
hemorrhoids
in-grown toenails
insect bites
irritated skin
itching
joint pain
keloids
lumbago
massage
medication carrier
moisturize skin
muscle pain & spasms
pain relief
pet hot spots
pet injuries & wounds
psoriasis
radiation burns
razor burn & nicks
recent scars

rheumatism
rhinitis
rosacea
scar prevention
sciatica
scrapes & scratches
shin splints
shingles
sinus headaches
skin rashes
skin grafts
skin hydration
sore muscles
sports injuries
sprains
stiffness
stretch marks
sunburn relief
surgery scars
swelling
tendonitis
thin, aging skin
tired feet
varicose veins
wasp, bee stings
windburn
wounds
wrinkles & fine lines

Doesn't it sound beautiful? Note that I specified two things in the list: STRETCH MARKS and SCAR PREVENTION. Now, a match to my ever trusted Virgin Coconut Oil. Although a bit more expensive (I think around PHP 300 plus for 20ml), they claim it works right on DAY ONE. I'd really like to try it because I've been using VCO, and although I swear by it, I haven't seen any great changes on my scars and stretch marks.

So, I want this! I want EMU OIL! But I cannot have it as of the moment. Most of the sellers in Multiply (less than a handfull) do not accept PAYPAL. Why the hell is that? Arrggh.

So I am bitter. Hmph! See this bird?

They use this to make Emu Oil!! I have no idea about the process though (maybe the same way they get lard from pigs), but I do find the bird cute.

shopping online

2009-01-26T21:55:00.004+08:00

My relentless quest for natural & organic products initially led me to indigomanila.multiply.com, where they sold baby bath and skin product made up of natural and organic ingredients (yep, no parabens, ptalathes, petroleum, mineral oil and other synthetic chemicals). I bought some stuff for baby. But I wanted more ;P, so I led myself (after typing "organic products" on multiply's search engine and going through the results) to oneplanetnoah.multiply.com and it's sister site, botanyworks.multiply.com.

Where do I start raving? Well, oneplanetnoah.multiply.com has product line great enough to rival that of indigobaby's (yes, their site is indigomanila but their product line is indigobaby). They only have bath salts, baby oil and baby lotion though. I just love the fact that they use VCO as their base.

Since I already have bath soaps and lotions for Hill, I ordered oneplanetnoah's Oasis Soothing Baby Oil. She has plenty of baby oils already, three variants of Johnson & Johnsons and a Baby Spa VCO, but I wanted to try this one because it looked promising. It's made from the best botanical oils out there - VCO, olive oil, grapeseed oil avocado oil, with these additions: colloidal oatmeal, aloe vera extract, calendula extract, chamomile and lavender. And I quote the blahblahs written on the bottle "recommended for dry, inflamed or itchy skin irritations like eczema, psoriasis, cradle cap, diaper rash, insect bites and scars.

The sister site, botanyworks.multiply.com has plenty of essential oils (peppermint, eucalyptus, lemongrass, lavender, patchouli..more!) and base oils that it release the chemist in me! I'm a big fan of Virgin Coconut Oil. I sometimes find it irritating how VCO can be so expensive when sold commercialy when the raw materials can be found anywhere (and I do believe . Finally, botanyworks gave me the solution. Imagine, their 500ml bottle of food-grade VCO was only 150 pesos! I ordered one and a 5ml bottle of peppermint essential oil. I wanted to buy their Aloe Vera Gel but had no more money to spare. Maybe next time. Huhu.

Botanyworks and oneplanetnoah do combine shipping, so I placed my orders, paid for them and got them two days after. Here they are..

SoooOo happy. Product reviews next time!

2009-01-23T01:37:00.004+08:00

Here's a random text message exchange by me and my mom:

Mom: I'm on the plane to Cebu. Text you when I get there.

Mom (two minutes after the first message): If anything should happen to me, my account number is #########.

Me: Why? What's wrong? What do you mean "if anything should happen to you"?

Mom: Very old man gud ang airplane, basin ma Hudson River.

Me (actually very worried): Ay! You get down and ride something else!

Mom: I can't. It's flying and I'm actually on it na.

---

Never in my life have I heard my mom say anything that before. And to think she's a frequent flier (I suppose I can give a rough estimate of around eight flights a month) and has even seen one engine of the twelve-seater plane she was riding to Sulu burst while they were 30000 above the ground (she and her officemate just stared at it with deadpan expressions saying, "Hala. Na sunog lagi.")

Knowing her, I guess the plane must have been RRREEEEAAAALLLLYYYY OOOLLLDDD to have caused such reaction.

The Bad OB Experience

2008-12-12T17:26:00.006+08:00

Lesson in life. Never settle for an ordinary OB. No, I don't mean that your OB has to be the best one available and that you have to book three weeks in advance for your check up. What I mean is that you should be comfortable with your OB. I don't know if it rarely happens to other people but my OB and I had a falling out. She wasn't really like the OB - Gyne of my choice, because when we first knew that I was pregnant, we went directly to the first OB available.

Anyway, back to her. We had a falling out. You see, when I was eight months on the way we talked about the possible amount we were expecting to pay for a normal delivery. We told her we wanted to save, so we didn't mind if it was the smallest private room available as long as it was private. So she quoted an amount for us to prepare, and that was fine with us because it was still within our budget. After two weeks (I was two weeks away from my due date already), I went back for my routine check up and issued an admitting note to me. I was shocked when I saw this written on the admitting note: "admit to ward". Then she even suggested (which was more like a it's-your-first-time-and-you'll-have-a-hard-time-because-giving-birth-is-painful-plus-your-stomach-is-awfully-big kind of suggestion) that I should have an epidural.

The thought of having an epidural was okay, but what didn't sit well with me was that the suggestion sounded like a threat, and that she didn't keep her word on the amount for delivery. Imagine, the next amount she quoted was twice the price of the original amount!

So after much contemplation, I decided (and it was a bit foolish, I admit) to change OBs 2 weeks before my due date.

It wasn't so much about the money. It was more about trusting your life to someone whom you could trust. And after that incident, I just felt that I couldn't do that with her.

glad to be back

2008-12-12T17:08:00.004+08:00

I haven't found much time to blog right before and after I gave birth. Most specially after I gave birth. Hell, sometimes I don't even have time to take a five - minute shower. And when I do have the time, I'd just be downright exhausted. It takes a lot of getting used to, late night, poop wiping, baby handling - the like.

I've never really had that much experience. I was ten years old when my youngest brother was born, and he had a yaya (and two other house helps), so I really didn't care much and I don't have nieces or nephews. So I guess I had to start from scratch. Add the fact that my mom just visits every two weeks (she works in Davao), and that my baby doesn't have a yaya, let's just say that parenthood has been quite experimental. Lucky that I'm a big reader, so I spent my whole third trimester reading baby books, visiting baby sites, which in turn lead to me visiting baby products sites (where I found myself impulsively buying). But again, the fact is, I was completely clueless about the whole pregnancy, childbirth and baby care thing, but did what I had to - read.

So I've made it through the pregnancy and childbirth stage (thank God I didn't die..hehe). And when it comes to bringing up my baby, I think I'm faring pretty well.

I guess before I begin with everything there is with regards to mothering a kid, I'll probably start telling you about October 2 then.

shopping for baby.

2008-08-12T16:32:00.005+08:00

here are a couple (okay, my mistake - A LOT) of things that need to be prepared before baby (aka pipit) arrives:

FURNITURE and BIG THINGS
baby crib/playpen, bassinet (or both if you have money to spend)
baby tub (and what goes with it like cloth/ sponge tub supporters & seaters)
stroller
baby seater or bouncer
diaper changing table (some cribs have diaper changers attached to them)
baby mattress
diaper pail
dresser for clothing storage

CRIB EXTRAS

fitted crib sheets (a couple of them, since babies are pee machines)
waterproof pads (can also be used for diaper changing)
comforter sets/extra sheets (to cover the waterproof pads to allow air circulation)

studies have shown that babies don't need pillows or anything else in their crib as these extra things may be dangerous or may possibly suffocate them.

LAYETTE

a couple of:

tees ( short & long sleeved: side ties, pull-overs, kimonos)
short sleeved onesies (i like these because they look like bathing suits)
rompers and body suits (for cold nights)
receiving blankets (also a couple as they can be used as towels)
cloth diapers (unfolded ones can double as burp cloths)
baby washcloths
socks, booties, mittens, hats

FEEDING ITEMS

breast pump (if breast - feeding)
a lot of baby bottles
milk storage bottles or bags (some baby bottles come
with sealing discs and can double as storage bottles)
extra nipples for baby bottles
bottle brush
bottle sterilizer (some sterilizers double as drying racks and bottle keepers)
drying rack
bottle keepers/containers
nursing bra, breast pads & lanolin cream (not for baby. haha)
pacifiers

DIAPERS & WASH ITEMS

disposable/cloth diapers
diaper pail
changing pads
wet wipes
baby wash
alcohol
lotion/oil/powder
rash cream/petroleum jelly
cotton pads, cotton buds
washcloths

EXTRA THINGS

first aid kit (includes medicine feeders, thermometer, nasal aspirators etc2)
nightlight
baby sling/carrier

well, these are probably the basic things one would need for a newborn. and it's weird because i'm in my eight month already (33 weeks) but i only have the layette part complete oh. the feeding items too, but they wont be here by mid - September pa because they're coming from america pa (from bear's sis and some that i ordered online). i have parts of the diaper/wash items covered (ordered baby wipes and disposable diapers in bulk) already. but other than those, i'm still not ready.

well, i would love to buy baby's mattress and sheets already but i still don't know the color of the crib. and since i'm being my usual arte and kikay self, i'd like to wait until we have Pipit's crib so that i can match the sheets with the crib color. not that the baby really cares.

oh, well. i still have seven weeks. or five. or nine. whichever. =)

baby shower for pipit star

2008-07-19T19:29:00.000+08:00

thanks to everyone who came for pipit star's baby shower (and my b-day at the same time).
pictures will be uploaded soon. =)

GirLy Boi

2008-07-07T18:00:00.000+08:00

see. i always felt Pipit Star was a girl.

not that i really prayed hard for my baby to be a girl. having a baby boi or a baby girl didn't matter as long as she/he was healthy. well guess what? she's a she! (funny sounding sentence.)

we went to the doctor this afternoon, and since pipit star was already 28 weeks (7 months), it was the right time to know if the baby was a girl or a boy (we had two previous ultrasounds na, for various reasons at 2months and 5months).

---

well, bear and i waited for almost an hour (madonna hospital only has one radiologist - but believe me, the doctor was very great & accommodating so it was worth the wait) before it was our turn, so this is what we did to pass the time. -->

hehehehe. we had the normal ultrasound, not the 3d/4d whatever you call that. anyway, our turn came and pipit star refused to cooperate. her position kasi was breech and her legs were in my pelvic area, so they were pressed together. because of that, the doctor had a hard time telling whether pipit was a girl or a boy.

after over fifteen minutes, unsuccessful pa rin, so the doctor told me to take a walk outside. which we did. finally when we came back pipit decided to cooperate. and so we found out.

it's a GIRL!

i found i found!!!

2008-07-01T15:38:00.006+08:00

bear (little angel's dad) and i hung out, window shopped and had dinner at limketkai yesterday (you can actually include DID PRENATAL WALKING in the itinerary.) we were just going around, looking at some stuff when we decided to go to that toy store behind robinson's sOooOO much and made my heart jump.

the store sell playtex ventaire bottles!!!! (read my previous posts.) i may sound crazy, and yes but i have been eyeing on them for months, never mind the facts that i can't actually afford them. but they look so cute. they have this ventaire system (which makes it anti- colic), and they're bpa free. okay, so let me get this straight. avent bottles also have those features, but taking bottle design and look into consideration, these babies are waaaay more fashionable (see picture above.) bear even agrees.

bottles in threes. they're sold individually, or by five (which is called a starter pack.) i saw pink, green, blue and purple. i guess they used to be available in SM but SM phased them out, and that broke my heart. so it's really great that they're still available locally. the only downside is that they don't sell the ventairei'll wait for awhile, maybe they'll have boxes of threes.

well, if anything else, they're still available (AT A LOWER PRICE) from two manila based merchant sites moirahjing.multiply.com and babyuno.multiply.com (they ship orders too). so there. =)

leave comments

2008-06-21T16:20:00.004+08:00

hi friends. i've been busy for quite some time. and PIPIT STAR has also been very busy moving inside my tummy. hehehe. so anyway, if you happen to drop by, do leave a comment (there's a shoutbox at the right side) - and let me know it was you who dropped by. =)

save the earth.

2008-06-02T14:41:00.007+08:00

i came across this as i surfed through some online philippine shopping sites, and it really did get me thinking.. bitaw noh, why don't we try this when the baby arrives?

as an expecting (and super excited) mom, i started worrying about our baby expenses even before my baby bump started to show. that meant me waking up in the middle of the night to compute estimated costs of diapers, milk, vitamins and other baby needs per month. so imagine my excitement when i found out about the tushy wushy cloth diapers. they're leak-proof cloth diapers (made with fleece) that are healthier for baby (some chemicals used in making, and those contained inside disposable diapers are apparently toxic - and can cause rashes.) they look really great (since they come in different colors and can be worn on their own without shorts). aside from that, they're eco-friendly (because they're reusable and baby's poop goes into proper waste management - i.e. down the toilet and not into the landfill) and they save you a whole lots of bucks too.

at first look they seem quite expensive (at Php 300/peice), but take this into consideration:

suppose i used 10 diapers everyday for six months (baby would outgrow the size small by this time so that's my estimate), and a regular diaper would cost about php 8/piece. it would look like this:

php 8 x 10 tushy wushy diapers x 30 days x 6 months = php 14,400

that's a whopping php 14,400 in six months. if i get tushy wushies, i guess i'd only need about 15 pieces (just to be sure). that would only cost me php 4,500. or i could get 18 pieces, which would still only be php 5,400.

the question of convenience also ran though my mind, so i figured out that even if i used disposable diapers for my baby at night and during trips out of the house at an estimate of 60 disposable diapers per month, that would look like:

php 8 x 60 disposable diapers x 6 months = php 2,880

that would only come up to an additional php 2880. which would mean:

tushy wushies (php 4,500) + disposable diapers (php 2,880) = php 7,380

that's only php 7380 for the whole six months. you can add water and soap expense if you like but the thing is, php 7380 is a big, big difference from php 14,400. so you get the picture.

and to add to that, i also learned that "Disposable diapers promote aggressive consumption of both renewable and non-renewable resources and overburden landfills. Do you know that it takes 550 years for disposable diapers to decompose?"

so there. aside from doing my share in saving the earth, that would mean i would able to save more money for other things in life. guess i'm starting out good at this mommy job nah, no?

tushy wushies are available at next9.org.

and our baby's name is..

2008-05-30T21:00:00.002+08:00

pipit star!!!!

hahaha. no, we aren't crazy - and we will not be giving that as his/her real name.

some random tips.

2008-05-29T10:07:00.005+08:00

from the beginning of pregnancy, preggos around the world have always been continually told to keep their heads cool, or not get mad too much because it's bad for the baby. but what happens when you really want to burst at someone? now, i just thought about this last night. this is just an example because i'm not even mad at this person (okay, i am maaaad about this person - but that's a different thing.)

when mad at boyfriend (or anybody else) this is the best way to let your anger out in the least aggressive way. (creative too) ;)

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mummy mummy.

2008-05-29T09:59:00.004+08:00

i'm showing off my pregnant face now because my pimples have cleared up na. damned these hormones!!! =)

baby moves for papap.

2008-05-25T00:08:00.004+08:00

i've been talking about our little angel moving a lot on a previous post, and true, our lil angel has been moving inside my belly for 2 weeks already. the movements were usually random and sporadic at first (prior to that, i thought he/she was moving already - turned out it was stomach gas..ahhhk). but then, two days ago, baby's movements became more predictable - lil angel became more active at night when i lay down to sleep, and less active in the morning.

i've been telling cococ (aka papap) about the changes in baby's movement. he listens, his eyes gleaming with excitement when i tell him how funny it feels everytime. i don't know about all mothers (and fathers) out there, but feeling the baby move is just the nicest thing in the world. it is a comfort too, knowing that having a moving and active baby is a healthy baby. and i really wanted, wanted, wanted to share that feeling with him all through out the pregnancy. i just didn't know how because that wasn't possible at first because our lil angel's activities were too slow to be felt by anybody else.

then today, our lil angel moved really hard for papap (weeeee!! pak-paki ang baby namo!!!).

we were sitting down on the couch this afternoon, when i felt baby kick the right side of my belly. so i told cococ, "baby, put your hand over here." i took his hand and placed it on the left side of my tummy. just right when his hand touched my tummy, our baby kicked - real hard. :)

"did you feel that?" i asked.
"yes. i thought that was your stomach," he answered me.
"no, that was lil angel, moving for papap." :)

-----------

the wishlist part 1 (bottles and feeding items)

2008-05-21T10:20:00.018+08:00

an upcoming baby is always met with excitement. and being only four months away from my due date, i've researching and reading about what i'll need to buy like crazy.
aside from scouring the malls for baby items, i have also been looking at online merchant sites (moirahjing.multiply.com and babyuno.multiply.com - both are based in manila.) they sell goooood quality imported bottles for cheaper prices than those in the malls.
items like strollers, cribs, baby clothes are easy to find here. but being really particular with the feeding items/baby bottles i'd like to get for my baby (should be bpa free, tummy friendly, breastfeeding friendly, etc), the ones i really like are hardly available in cagayan de oro, aside from avent bottles.
here are some other nice bottles that i found (part of my wishlist - i must say), which are available online. (or in cebu/manila - probably). hope i may be of help to other moms-to-be:

these are 90z. PLAYTEX VENTAIRE REUSABLE BOTTLES. they have airvents that keep air out (less colic and gas for baby), they're naturally shaped, they promote feeding in upright positions and they're BPA free. a little more expensive than regular brands, but you'd be pretty sure about the quality. they're not available in cdo anymore, so i really don't know how much they sell in malls. but they're available at two online merchant sites that are based in manila (they do shipping). and they're priced around Php 750/775 per pack of three 90z bottles.

oh, i forgot to tell you - they look really good. then again, wait till you see it's hybrid.

the 90z. PLAYTEX VENTAIRE NATURAL SHAPE WIDE NECK BOTTLES actually work like the regular ones, but it's wider NaturalShape R Nipples are designed for easier switching from breast to bottle feeding. it's also wider around the neck, which makes it easier to grip.

and they look way, way better and sleeker, don't you think? they come around a little more expensive at Php 950/980 per pack of three 90z. bottles.

these 4oz. AVENT BREASTMILK STORAGE CONTAINERS are great for moms who want to continue feeding their babies with breast milk, but cannot be there all the time because they have to go to work (or school - in my case). these containers are actually your normal feeding bottles without the nipples (so you can actually just buy more feeding bottles and buy extra sealing discs). they come with the silicone sealing discs and screw rings, and are compatible with avent breast pumps, so you can pump milk directly into the bottle, store it and replace the sealing discs with nipples when ready to serve. that means not having to transfer milk from different containers (thus lessening the risk of contaminating the milk). they sell for around P900 for a pack of four.

but wait! i did my calculations! i figured out that if you added P520 (for four airflex teats), you'd already have 4 bottles that convert into storage containers. for the price of Php 1420 only. hahaha.
this is a 9oz NUBY STANDARD CONTOUR NON-DRIP BOTTLE, and they come in a multitude of colors. the nipples have teething nubs (those little bumps right there) that are really great for teething babies because they massage and stimulate the gums. it has an anti - colic air system and a non-drip nipple, and its vari-flo valve allows the baby to control the liquid flow rate.

and again, like most of the bottles i really like, this one looks really great too. this sells at Php 350 each.

finally, nice bottles available locally. i saw them at SM last week and the loooook really great. the contour is sleek, and it had two nipples require both suction and compression, just like breast feeding and baby controls the flow of milk. the outer nipple is really, really, really soft while the inner nipple keeps it from collapsing. It's the bottle most like breastfeeding.

wishlist to be continued.. (mga soon to be ninongs and ninangs - abangan. hehehe. peace.)

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she moves a lot.

2008-05-19T22:00:00.005+08:00

now don't get misinterpretations about me using SHE to refer to the baby. we still don't know the baby's gender but i don't like refering to our little angel as IT. and it sounds tacky to keep on saying HE/SHE. so i use she. because i haaaaaveee a HUGE feeling that she's gonna be a girl. =) just have. but either way, boy or girl is fine as long as SHE's healthy. i'm getting mixed up with the pronouns here.

now back to the story. she moves quite a lot now. a couple of times daily. sweet.

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they call it feathering my nest

2008-05-17T12:44:00.008+08:00

i call it cleaning.

this is just 10% of the clutter in my bedroom. and with a new baby coming, i need to make space. although our little angel isn't arriving until september, i'd like to clear up the mess so i can plan easily.

now where do i put the crib? and the plastic drawers. and the dressing table, and the baby books. (hahaha, as if i have them already)

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pregnant in the philippines. debunking the myths.

2008-05-16T11:43:00.006+08:00

i like talking to people about my pregnancy and as much as i appreciate tips and opinions from people who are really concerned, sometimes it just puts me right off. who doesn't get annoyed by intrusive and unsolicited advice? it wouldn't be half as bad if the tips were really helpful - but those that have no scientific basis or are just downright mythological really get on my nerves. to add to that, people who give them just seem to have an air that they know it all - and that i don't. when people tell me, "hoy, you're not supposed to do that. that's bad for your baby." i feel like telling them off, "hello. can i be that stupid to do something to harm my baby? as if i don't know anything. if you must know, i prepare for my baby. i read. i ask questions from reliable people so i don't end up giving incorrect and unsolicited shit to other pregnant women too." *yes. i can be a btch* ;)

here are some of the most out of this world advice i've ever encountered (as in bordering on tinu-ohan na sa buktot, as they say.)

ayaw kaligo sa hapon or gabie kay panuhoton ka unya sakit pagpanganak. (don't take a bath in the afternoon or in the evening because it will cause panuhot it will really be painful when you give birth.) first things first. those ‘knots’ or ‘panuhot’ which they say is caused by air or cold when you take a bath in the afternoon or in the evening is called Myofascial Pain Syndrome. cold air or water or taking a bath has nothing to do with it. a knot, panuhot, or trigger point, is a small mound of muscle that is lacking nerve impulses and circulation. and no, even if one does have Myofascial Pain Syndrome (which is just a fancy term for muscle pain) it does exactly not cause the pain in childbirth. there will always be pain in childbirth - the cervix dilates, the uterus contracts. how can there be no pain in that? the things is, women have varying pain thresholds and different ways of managing pain. her overall health, physical stregnth and the position of the baby, anxiety may be determine how much pain she may feel during childbirth - and trust me, it's not caused by taking a bath in the afternoon. or the evening. moreover, being pregnant in the tropics brings its own set of challenges. increased metabolism + baby + increased blood volume = more heat generation. and overheating can be dangerous to both the mummy and the baby. guess what helps in bringing down body temperature (aside from staying indoors and drinking lots of water)? taking showers - whether it be in the morning, afternoon or evening. so go figure.
pag purong/kalo kung mu gawas sa balay kung gabie kay panuhoton ka. (wear a cap or turban over your head when going out at night because you'll get panuhot - again.) this brings us back to the panuhot or cold air theory. i suppose they believe that the cold will enter your system through the holes in your scalp? now, i don't think i still need to take that any further.
constantly eating or drinking cold food/drinks (ex. ice cream/juice/coke) will make your baby bigger. food or drink temperature has nothing to do with how the baby grows. what makes the baby bigger are the extra calories you take in. i think we have this myth because most of the pregnant women who like eating ice cream or drinking soda to the point of excess have big babies. (read, ice cream = too much sugar, too much calories.) again, it's not because of the cold - it's because of the extra calories you get from what you eat. even if you all you eat are non-cold food, so long as they're sugar and calorie laden -you're gonna have a big baby.
the food you crave for determines the color of your baby. love eggplants? = dark baby. constant buko craving? = white baby. now who would fall for this? the color of your baby is determined by you and your partner's genes, no other explanation. even if your both dark skinned there is a chance that you have a fair skinned baby if you have family members who are fair skinned. iron supplements can also give you a darker baby.

to be continued..(because it's really hot and i have to take a bath - again. hehehe.

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making up for lost time and blogs part 2

2008-05-15T11:01:00.004+08:00

my entrance into the baby blogging has been delayed by about five months, but so far i've been doing a great job catching up. (3 posts in one day - what can you say?).

i looked at some really nice feeding bottles at 2 online merchant sites and compared their prices with the ones i saw in the malls. the ones online are relatively cheaper (as brand prices go). the only trouble with online shopping is that although it's a lot less expensive (eg. avent 4oz 3's cost php 850 online while it costs php 1150 at robinson's), you still have to pay for the shipping - which may mean another couple of hundred pesos.

which is why, once again - i'll be doing my canvassing. the thing is, i don't want to sound too ambitious about wanting to buy expensive things for my baby but a mother's got all the right to wish for the best things for her kid, right? as much as possible, i'd like to find the best baby items, but i'd like to get them at the cheapest possible price.

i really have no problem with baby clothes, lampins or recieving blankets even if they're hand me down, or from dirt cheap stores in cogon, as long as they fit, the don't strangle my lil angel and they're made of cotton - they're fine with me. i just want to make sure about the feeding baby bottles - that they're safe, BPA free, have airvents and won't crack when sterilized. who wants a dozen bottles ( the logic is - cheaper = more) that might cause colic and have to be replaced after 6months? i'd rather have four or six easy to grip, easy to clean, safe, durable and good ones.

actually, as much as possible, if i had all the money in the world i'd really want to get nice things for my baby (hoy mga soon to be ninangs ug ninongs - pamati mo diha. hahaha.) but since finances are tight, the things i've been eyeing on right now are the feeding bottles, bottle sterilizers, breast pumps.

tell you more with what i find out from my..uh.. scouting. =) this might also help some mummies to be out there in cdo who are having a hard time with their baby shopping..

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my baby's dad.

2008-05-15T01:05:00.009+08:00

he calls me his angel, and our baby his lil angel. he keeps his cool whenever i go wild over small little things (he has kept his cool ever since) and keeps me grounded whenever i get too crazy and start to say or do mean things (or both). he tells me when i become too much and he understands me fully. i have had mood swings waaaaay before my pregnancy. and he's fine with me being a pain in the as*.

he shares my excitement for the baby and understands my desire for avent feeding bottles or other imported ones because he also wants to make sure it's BPA free and helps reduce colic (aside from the fact that it's sosyal), strollers with carriers and car seats that go over the four digit price range, cribs that come with dressing tables/removable bassinets/mosquito nets, baby clothes and shoes that are absolutely unecessary, baby products x times more expensive than the tried and tested johnson & johnsons. really.

we may not be able buy everything that i've been eyeing on, craving for and researching about, because we really can't afford them - but the fact that he understands, doesn't complain and actually agrees that we need them for the baby because he also wants the best - makes him a really great dad to be.

he accompanies me to the baby's section of the department store just because i like to ogle at recieving blankets and white onesies and wet tissues and bathtubs and diapers. he holds my hand when we walk and reminds me to drink my milk at night. he has been there for every doctor's visit and shares his opinion about every doctor/hospital/clinic we've been to. he slices the vegetables when i cook dinner because i get achy feet from too much standing up. he leniently gives in to my cravings but then reminds me that i shouldn't eat/drink soda too much. he offers to go walking with me daily. he massages my back and my feet when they begin to ache.

he takes care of me. and i see him filled with excitement everyday as he waits for the baby. i see him try to be better for me, i see him try to be better for our lil angel. he may be nervous and he may have second thoughts - that i do not know because he never shows it. we're going through the scariest and the most uncertain thing in the world, but he remains calm and steadfast. he understands that we can't just get married even if people tell us to - because we need to finish school. when i panic, he tells me to relax and take things a step at a time.

and he is quitting smoking.

he understands that i need to have ME TIME some times (though i never return the favor and throw tantrums when he tries to go out). he kisses my forehead before he goes home and tells me to take care of our lil angel. and he wishes us both good night, as if the baby was already here. and he still finds pretty and sexy even with a thirty - three inch waist line, a bigger bum and flabbier arms (or at least he says so. hehehe.)

these are just a few great things out of a million about him. my cococ. my bear, who constantly assures me i'll still be his baby even if we'll be having a baby soon. (lol. insecure na ko.)

pregnancy often poses a lot of uncertainties, specially for the mother-to-be. we remain financially dependent on family, and career wise - we have none because we're still students; but when it comes to him being a good partner and dad, i'm not afraid because i'm more than sure. i know him and he knows himself, and he'll be great with our lil angel. we may not be starting out with much and although there aren't any definite plans, aside from finishing school, but seeing him grow and try to be better for us makes me know that he is man enough to take on his responsibilty - and on any given day he can and will take care of us. things are going to be great. =)

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making up for lost time (blogs)

2008-05-15T00:11:00.003+08:00

we're pregnant. 5 months and 3 days.

i think that line sounds better than saying i'm pregnant, because i think Cococ is as much a part of this pregnancy as i am. see, i've been thinking of blogging about this whole pregnancy since day 1 (okay, not necessarily day one - but on the day we found out.) that was febuary 3, 2007 and we were one month and two weeks pregnant.

but as unplanned pregnancies usually go, cococ and i had to deal with the stresses that went with it. that meant early stages of denial ("no i cannot be pregnant, i'm still 19 and i haven't gaduated yet!!"), confirming the pregnancy by ourselves (3 more pregnancy tests that still gave us the double lines) and episodes of panic ("how will we tell our parents?" "what will everyone think?" "what will the baby eat?"), which meant blogging about this flew out and became the last thing on my mind. that five months have been quite difficult and stressful, - but be managed to pull through, a WHOLE LOT shaken but really okay.

after 5 months, we have:
- confirmed the pregnancy through 4 pregnancy tests in one week.
- visited the doctor and determined the baby's age through TVS (the doctor had a hard time determining the baby's EDD because my belly was smaller than the normal 16 week size - as estimated. it turned out that we were just 12 weeks pregnant.)
- seen the baby for the first time at 12 weeks. it finally confirmed that there this lil angel inside me. hearing his/her heartbeat was sooOo awesome and seeing cococ smile, almost crying, like he was a little boy who got a million presents for christmas was the best thing in the world.
- told our families (mixed emotions, mixed reactions. but they all got over and accepted it - we hope.)
- visited other doctors to find the one i'd be most comfortable with.
- had me tested for my blood type, and for gestational diabetes, hepatitis b and syphilis (all turned out negative. tg.)
- started exercising (which is more like malling.)
- started to feel baby (although lil angel's movements are still sporadic, and aren't too strong for cococ to feel them yet.)

and lastly, we have learned to relax, kick back and enjoy the pregnancy and wait until the baby arrives.

we may have had this unplanned, we may have initially dissappointed a lot of people (for that - we apologize), we may have to set our lives, dreams and opportunities back a little bit because of this but it's here now. our lil angel will be arriving in four months and despite the fears and uncertainties - we're really happy and we're hoping for the best.
we remain grateful to our parents - my mom, dad, his mom, our families for accepting the situation with understanding, love and support. we hope the baby will bring hoping them all joy.

we pray that our baby's gonna be healthy, that things are gonna be okay, and that despite the sharp twist and turns and the shortcomings, we know that going through this whole experienceour baby's going to inspire us to become better people.

so there. i finally posted our first baby blog.

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