Baby Chronicles: Presenting baby Gabriel

Born on February 22, 2010 at 10:04 PM.

I’m so relieved..and happy..and tired! Details soon. :p

Baby Chronicles: Still waiting at 38 weeks

I’ve been talking to the baby often now. Yesterday I told him if he comes out na, I’ll give him a toy. Hehe.. My mom is here already, we’ve ironed all his clothes and he’s the only one missing. I want to see who he looks like already, or if our combined genes will look good on the baby. I’m more intrigued than excited, really. I know it’s going to be hard, the labor I mean, but I think I would want him outside, than inside me now because I want to share the burden now with my husband. Don’t get me wrong, he’s been really supportive. I would hear no complaints when I asked him to do certain things (like massaging my swollen feet, getting my evening milk before I go to sleep, picking up things that I’ve dropped because I can hardly bend now, etc), but since he told me he’ll share the burden of taking care of the baby (dapat lang di ba?!), then he’ll get what he wants! :p

Before I give birth, here’s the picture of my weird distorted belly:

 

And here’s my mom! She’s so excited about the flora and fauna, she even thought this is a real dog!

She’s cute, my mom. Haha.. And I’ve missed her..And now she’s here! Yey! :p

Perfect love…

…drives away all fears - 1 John 4:18

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone! Enjoy your day with your loved ones! :p

After I give birth, I will..

1. Yes, drinks lots of coffee! You don’t know how much I’ve missed drinking coffee. True, I sometimes still have coffee (like once a week and only when I really need to be awake), but I don’t drink more than half a cup because I know the little one will keep me awake at night. Just a few more weeks, I can hardly wait!

2. Eat chips! Because of my feet and hand swelling, I haven’t been eating salty food, and of course chips with all its additives and MSG, is a definite no-no!

3. Start losing weight by Pilates. My pre-pregnancy weight is only 54 kilos. Don’t ask about my weight now though! I gain more than I’d like to. So I better start getting into shape. That’s why I’m also so adamant in breastfeeding. I’ve heard they really do help in uterine contraction thus helping you lose those excess weight you’ve gained especially in the tummy area.

4. Continue my driving lessons since we already bought a car. I’m hoping to get my P license before we go to the Philippines for a vacation.

5. And of course, care for our little one. That’s my top priority. :p

Baby Chronicles: 36 Weeks Today!

Wow, I’ve been pregnant for 252 days now! I can’t believe I only have a month to go! This is my last day at work today too. After today, my husband told me the other day, my new job is to take care of our baby. Aba, sinuswerte! It’s both our job to take care of our baby, I told him! Kala niya ha?! Hehe..

Last night, I dreamt about our baby boy. It’s weird because I know he’s just a newborn in my dream but he can crawl and sit up already. The other weird thing is he’s already eating and his favorite? Pretzels!

Anyway, I don’t think the baby’s gone down yet (lightening), but it sure is uncomfortable now in my pelvic area (especially when I sit too long),my legs and feet (when I stand too long), and my back and ribs (when I sleep). See, I can’t stop complaining now that I’m almost near the finish line. I’m learning now that it will take so much sacrifice to become a mother, and pregnancy and giving birth is only a small part of it.

On a lighter note, I can feel the baby getting bigger and stronger as I would always feel the knees and elbows now when he moves. How do I know that it’s the elbows and knees? Well because it’s pointy and it hurts more. There I go again, another complaint. Ok, I’ll stop doing it now. Gotta.Stop.Complaining.

Maybe I’ll just think of my baby boy, at how cute and healthy he will be when he’s already here with us. When I think about it, I can’t help but smile and get excited. :p

Cebu Dancing Inmates

Saw this from my friend Pat’s blog.

The man in the middle is Michael Jackson’s long time choreographer. I’ve read that choreography actually finished in just 2 days and this video was professionally filmed by Sony Pictures. Galing!

Australian Open 2010 Update and Baby Talk (again!)

I was originally rooting for Nadal to defend his Australian Open title but last night’s match with Andy Murray proved that a new winner should emerge. Yes, I am always rooting for the underdogs. Federer needs to be challenged once in a while, so I am rooting for Andy Murray. Okay, part of the reason why I like him is his accent. Hehe..

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The baby’s not breech anymore, thank God! I had an ultrasound last Monday and the baby’s doing fine. All the baby’s measurements are all good, except that the doctor warned me to lie low in eating sweets and carbo because I’m too much weight already (I already have a mini double chin! See pictures below..). So goodbye sweets (for now!).

And because the baby’s position is head down now, I’ll have to get ready for labor now. One thing  I’ve learned when I came here in Australia is that they have many labor positions you can choose from where you’ll be most comfortable. In the Philippines you only have to lie in bed, but here they actually encouraged you standing up or squatting so gravity can help you push the baby out. I actually saw how it’s done in this DVD “In the Womb“:

My husband was the one who freaked out when he saw how the baby will be delivered standing up. It’s not shown in this video, but for new parents like us, this is a really good buy. :p

Baby Shower at 34 Weeks

Our place! Yesterday! Fun Thanks Ate Marlie!

Excited parents-to-be

Where’s the watermelon? (With Jim)

The ladies (With Ned!Hehe..)

Ladies only

Some of the gifts..

Hit for Haiti Charity Fund Raiser

Sorry but I’m so into Tennis right now. I even thought I’ll have to enroll the little one into a tennis school near our place. Hehe..

Anyway, it’s nice to see these world class Tennis players enjoy the game and stop thinking about winning from time to time. :p

Communicating with your baby

They told me to always talk to the baby at this time of my pregnancy. So at home, especially when I’m alone, I try to talk and sing to the baby as much as I can. I can feel so much of the little one now, especially when he moves. His bones are getting stronger, especially his head (hard headed na daw says my husband..hehe..). I asked my husband once if he thinks it’s weird that I’m talking to the baby. Good thing he says no and doesn’t think I’m crazy.

I think talking to the baby even when he’s still in the womb is a good way of bonding with him and for him to get acquainted to the sound of my voice when he’s already outside. But sometimes, effective communication between mother and child doesn’t really happen until your little one starts to talk. To support this, there is an efficient way to enhance the child’s communications skills. The good thing about this is that they have specifically designed programs that can make learning fun for your child. And this speech online resource is easy because you can do it in the comfort of your own home.

There are so many avenues these days to make your child socially active. But I think the best thing is still to love and understand their needs by simply being there when they need you.

Australian Open 2010

Love the look of women’s tennis this year!

Ana Ivanovic

Source: http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0gBDbgX8sj4WQ/429x.jpg

Maria Sharapova

Source: http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/01/18/article-0-07E6C2FF000005DC-635_306×434.jpg

Baby Chronicles: Feeling bloated

I’ve been back to work for more than a week now. At almost 34 weeks, I still feel good and strong. The baby’s doing fine (as far as being active is concerned). But I think I’ve started swelling already. It’s particularly noticeable in my feet at the end of the day and the joints of my hands hurt in the morning when I wake up. They said it’s normal at this time of my pregnancy. I still wanted to be sure so I went to the doctor last Saturday and the doctor ordered a blood test done. I don’t know if it has something to do with me walking to the clinic that day but he said my blood pressure’s a little bit higher than normal. I’ll get the results tomorrow afternoon. Until then I’ll just have to take it easy and pray that it’s nothing serious.

Baby Chronicles: Less than two months to go!

I can’t believe I’m almost at the finish line! I am on my 32nd week now. Whew! When one of my colleagues told me that the third trimester is where the “fun” starts, I didn’t really thought about it after. Now I know what “fun” she was referring to. The other night, the baby didn’t let me fall asleep until 2 AM! He just wants to party all night long by kicking and punching me. And I have to get up every now and then to go to the toliet (did I tell you that the baby’s still in breech position? Yes, his feet keeps on  kicking my bladder!). But last night, the little one’s so good to me, I only felt a few little movements when I turn and we both slept like a baby. I guess, he’s really becoming a little person now. He’s got his up and down days too.

As promised, here are the photos of the “big” things we bought for the baby.

Sniglar cot from Ikea (Can be turned into a toddler bed and with 2 adjustable heights)

Chicco Travel System (Stroller and Infant Seat which can be turned into a car seat)

I love how both items can be tuned into something else when the baby’s a bit bigger. Hehe.. Para isahang bili na lang di ba?!Practical!

I’ve also got my hospital bag ready for the big day. Now all we need is a ticket for my Mom and the Baby of course. :p

Having Skin Problems?

* The following is a paid review.

I remember last winter having very dry red skin everytime I would go out in the cold or wash my face with cold water. I checked in the internet and I thought I was having what they called “Rosacea”. I was about to buy a popular skin product (and quite an expensive one I must say!) at the mall, when I saw this rosacea treatment. This product looks promising and less expensive than the product I was eyeing at the mall (believe me, you can eaily spend hundreds of dollars just to get rid of those skin problems especially during winter). There are two skincare system you can choose from, for oily and dry skin. And since I onle get these symptoms during winter when my skin really dries up and get these red spots, I think I’ll be opting for the dry skin treatment.

But maybe I’ll just consult with a dermatologist first to make sure that I do have Rosacea. I know I ‘ve been guilty several times of “self diagnosing” just by checking my symptoms at the internet. Hehe.. Anyway, I still have 5 months before the onstart of winter. For now, I want to enjoy the summer first.

Speaking of summer, I heard in the news that this year’s summer here in Australia is going to be the hottest! It’s strange how I miss the cold weather during winter when it’s going to be so hot this summer, and how I tell my husband I can’t wait for summer to come during winter. Oh well..That’s the good thing I think, there’s something always good to look forward to.

Shrek 4!

Showing on May 2010. I can’t wait! :p

Love and Marriage

One day, Plato asked his teacher, “What is love? How can I find it?”

The teacher answered, “There’s a large wheat field in front. Walk there without turning back, and take just one leaf. If you can find one leaf that you think is extraordinary than all the other leaves, it means you have found love.”

So Plato walked… and not long after that, he came back empty handed.

The teacher asked him, “Why didn’t you bring any leaf?”

Plato replied, “I can only bring just one leaf and when I walk, I can’t turn back. Actually, I have found one extraordinary leaf, but I dont know whether there’s anymore extraordinary leaf ahead, so I didn’t take that leaf. When I walked further, I realized that all the other leaves I found are not as extraordinary as I’ve found previously. In the end, I didn’t take any single leaf.”

Then the teacher told him, “So… that is love…. and you lost it!”

Another day, Plato asked his teacher again, “What is marriage? How do I know that I have found it?”

The teacher answered, “There is a forrest in front. Please walk there and don’t look back. You can only cut one tree, and cut the one that you think is the highest, because that means you have found marriage.”

Plato walks there, and he came back not long after that bringing one tree. The tree is not a very good tree and not a very tall one either. It’s just a plain and ordinary tree.

The teacher asked him, “Why did you cut that kind of tree?”

Plato answered, “Because, according to my previous experience, after walking thru the wheat field, I came back with nothing. So this time, when I saw this tree, and I think this tree is not so bad, I decided to cut it and bring it here. I don’t want to risk loosing it again.”

And the teacher said, “Well… that is marriage and you found it! Marriage is the continuity of love… The more you look for love, you will find nothing… Love is in your heart… the place where you can control your desire and your hope to find something better… When you have endless hope and wish of love, you will only get emptiness .. because you wont get anything and time can not be turned back. Accept love for what it is… Marriage is a process of taking chances, and you choose the best option among all the alternatives… If you want to have a perfect match and a perfect marriage, you are wasting time… because there is no perfect marriage.”

* Re-post from: http://maryannparcutela.wordpress.com/

I just realized..

..that this is the year when I’m going to become a Mom! Oh, how exciting!

Baby Chronicles: Eddie Bauer Infant Travel Bed

* The following is a paid review.

We are currently on the process of finalizing the things the baby will be needing when he’s “out of the oven”. We already bought a stroller ( I’ll post the picture soon!), a crib and mattress (from Ikea, I love it!), some clothes, and other things I’ll need at the hospital. I even prepared the hospital bag  for when I need to go to the hospital for emergency purposes. After all, I’m almost 32 weeks pregnant now and in a few weeks, I’ll be holding and kissing the little one. Happiness!

But when I saw this infant travel bed, I just know I have to have one too. It looks comfortable enough and easy to carry. This is especially useful during sleepovers or when I just want to put the baby in a secure bed here in the living room. What I like about this is how secure my little angel will be because of the frame (which you can also collapse when you need to). I would hate the thought of just leaving the baby on the sofa or in the bed when I need to go and check something in the kitchen or somewhere in the house. Plus, the mobile toys are a bonus. So when he suddenly wakes up, he’ll have something to occupy him. I love the side pockets too. In the bags that I use, I need to have lots of pockets so I can organize things easily. So having these pockets on this travel bed is a must for me, so I can put some nappies or bottles. On the downside, I think it’s just good for newborn, not for infants whose learning to crawl. Or maybe I can just use it for when the baby’s sleeping.

I am definitely having one. Now, there’s another item on my list of things to buy. I just need to convince my husband first. Haha.. :p 

Happy New Year!

This is my first try in baking chocolate crinkles! Haha..Palpak! 

I guess I wouldn’t be serving  something round for new year’s eve. Oh well.. Happy New Year everyone! :p

When you expect nothing, you will not be disappointed

Because I can be a control freak sometimes, this is going to be my Christmas motto this year and for the coming new year. Ihave to learn that not everything goes to plan and the only thing I can control is how I act. Merry Christmas everyone. Don’t forget what Christmas is all about - Christ :p