Look up and close your eyes

My son Lex dislikes taking a bath. He didn't always hate it. I remember a time when he was eight months old and he just started using the baby tub, he'd play with his rubber duckies and he'd enjoy the water. When he turned one, for some reason he started being averse to the water. His yayas had to make a production of sing and dance in the shower to distract him from the water getting into his eyes while they rinse shampoo off his head. This was actually the reason why I also dreaded bathing him the first few days sans yaya.  

In the two and a half months that I'm the one personally giving him a bath, I have tried so many strategies to make him unafraid of water entering his eyes. I tried letting him bow down low but he is still very much afraid that when water starts cascading down his head, he would lift his head and guess what will happen?

Lately I tried telling him to look up and close his eyes. I thought that rinsing his head "salon-style" would be a much better tactic than making him bow down low since it obviously wasn't working. Last night, I went down to his eye-level, looked him the eye and told him, "Trust me, Lex. Look up and close your eyes. Trust me, anak." Guess what? it still didn't work. He still cries out of fright. I am determined to be consistent in telling him to trust me but if it still won't work soon, then I am resigned to just let him outgrow the fright on his own.

And then I realized how symbolic that moment was. Because isn't that how we are also with God? In the midst of our circumstances, God tells us to "look up and close our eyes" but we don't. We try to fight off the burden on our own, not trusting that God can and will do a better way. In the same way, even if God is consistent in telling us to trust in Him, we need our faith to grow in order to really understand what He is telling us. That we need not do anything. Need not worry about anything. But trust in Him. Surrender to Him wholeheartedly.

Recently there has been an article circulating in Facebook about Courageous Catie, a three and a half year old girl diagnosed with JMML, a rare form of leukemia. Even as a parent, I cannot begin to fathom how much grief her parents must be feeling. I can only imagine it to be so immense and overwhelmingly paralyzing. But indeed, as I follow news via their Facebook Page and blog, I can see God moving in every direction. 

Not all parents have the faith Catie's parents have. And I am really amazed, as in really amazed at the amount of faith that is shown by Jayjay and Tine. It is truly inspiring in every way. 

Here's an excerpt of a status that was posted last March 3 in Courageous Catie's Facebook Page:

"Today, I have been flooded by messages that our life story is inspiring and encouraging. That Caitie's story is spreading like wildfire. Honestly, at the back of my mind I didn't want to be. Like any parent, I simply wanted my daughter to be healed. If only all the messages, help and gifts could cure Caitie by the cell. This is all I wanted. I don't want and don't care to be inspiring. 

Then tonight, I broke down in tears when I received a letter from someone who has been visiting everyday and giving us letters. Yesterday she shared how she realized from our journey that suffering should not be wasted. And today she shares that she is still waiting for the results of her lump. Even with a financial problem, she still gave to help us. 

Strangers who come in and cry with us, who go through sickness and emotional pain themselves have learned and continue to learn how to respond and experience a revival in their relationship with Jesus because of Caitie's life. I cried because I was so selfish. Who am I to stop God from speaking through our pain to a person. Each person has their own battle to face. Ours may be in sickness but for others, it may be emotional, mental or financial battles. The manner is different but the pain is the same! We are not alone. 

We bless others because we ourselves have been blessed. Somewhat a great circle of life. 

Another step forward maybe so difficult but it moves us closer to the kind of person we should be."

I wish I never have to live through the pain or worse, a death, of a loved one. But if I ever do, I wish that I can have even an ounce of faith and grace that Catie's parents have shown through this whole ordeal.

Throwback Thursday

It's amazing how babies can sleep this way all throughout the night and never get a stiff neck.

#logan11m
#tbt

No place I'd rather be

My baby boy stirred beside me, rousing me from my slumber. It was midnight. And although I've actually been sleeping for only a couple of hours, it certainly feels like my body has regained much strength, as if I've already slept for 8 hours rather than 2. I felt my bladder screaming release and got quite annoyed because going to the bathroom at this hour only means two things. I'm going to fully awaken my sleeping brain and spend the rest of the night awake, or I can crawl my way to the bathroom and convince my semi-awake brain into thinking that I am still asleep and to not let go of what little sleep is left. Unfortunately (or fortunately!), it was the former.

I succumbed to my desire to check my social media accounts in the middle of the night and after about half an hour into it, I gently rolled over to my husband's side and whispered that I can't sleep. Unfortunately for me, the husband has not an ounce of strength to spare to keep me company. He dozed off before I even finished my sentence.

And so there I lay in my state of wakefulness, staring into what just earlier in the night were fully charged glow-in-the-dark stars in our bedroom ceiling and decided to write down my one and only thought this peaceful night.

The reality of the moment is this, I am squished in between my sleeping husband and baby. And as I feel the warmth of their bodies on either side of me, I think, there is no place I would rather be than here. I may be the only one awake at this time but I don't feel alone at all. My heart is full.

I smile as I offer up a silent prayer to the Lord, thanking Him for His goodness and grace. And for the gift of here and now.

As I stare at my son in the darkness, I can see the outlines of his face, the gentle waves of his hair, the slight pout of his lips, and I think, "Hey, little guy, I look just like you!" I smell his hands, catching a whiff of milk that had dried up from his most recent feeding. I memorize his scent. I stay this way for a while, staring, drinking him in, until finally a bout of sleepiness envelopes me and I sleep, deeply and blissfully into the night.

It's Lex's birthday! Let the preparations begin!

I'm in total denial. I can't believe that it's almost a year since I gave birth to Lex. What happened to time? It feels like it just magically disappeared. Like, poof!

But looking at my boy, my sweet sweet boy. I know how far he's come. From that tiny little baby who cries "waah-ah! waah-ah! waah-ah!" every few hours to this fast crawling, self-support standing, loud singing baby who constantly lures his parents' attention either by making pacute or by fake crying (whatever works!), I can see he's really changed a lot. And everyday, I am in awe of him.

There are times, late at night, when it was just my husband and I talking, that we marvel at these changes. "He was just in my tummy before!" I cry. "And now, look at him!" I gush at the sleeping Lex beside us.

At first, I didn't really want to hold a party for Lex. Aside from the fact that he won't remember anything from it, a party is another thing that will take away a chunk of Phps in our budget which we could spend on other things, like say, travelling.

But one day, and this is not a joke. I woke up and felt God impressed in my heart that this party, if we were to have one, is not just for Lex. It's for Mon and I too! Because as Lex turns a year old, we also turn a year old as parents. So, it's not just Lex's milestones we're celebrating, it's ours too! And besides, it would be fun to gather a small crowd of close family and friends in one place so we can make memories and catch up.  Just as we did at Lex's Christening when he was just 3 months old.

And so I made it my mission to create a wonderful party for Lex. A simple yet wonderful party. Having researched quite a lot on how first birthdays are being celebrated these days, I can say that I am aware of how the industry has changed. Gone are the days when noodles, fried chicken, lumpia, and hotdog sticks are good enough. Now, birthdays are teeming with magicians, balloon twisters, clowns, food carts, photo booths, and other what have yous. But the truth is, this is not at all my desire for Lex's party. And I think, this is not something Lex wants also because knowing my son, he's not very keen to loud noise and a busy, rowdy environment.

Not to say that I have anything against those who choose to celebrate with all the extravaganza. I'm just saying that that is not my style or Mon's style. And as we know of our son, nor is it Lex's style too.

Suffice it to say that we would just want his family, both Mon's and mine, to be there. Close friends who have celebrated with us all throughout my pregnancy. People who were happy for us when Lex finally came into this world. For me, a good meal shared only with those who have a genuine relationship with us and our little boy is good enough. Just that will make it all wonderful.

Maternity Shoot with Sofia Genato

Super late post!

As you may have read in the title, my story for tonight is about my maternity shoot with Sofia Genato. Sofia is the photographer behind the name The Stork Studio Lifestyle Photography. I came across her work when I was researching for a good photographer who specializes in maternity/newborn/family photos. And I must say, I am very impressed with her portfolio. 

After considering the cost of a maternity shoot with her (read: she does not come cheap!) and consulting it with Mon, I decided to book a session at The Stork Studio. Here's how my day went by the day of the shoot.

MAKE UP

My appointment with the make up artist for this shoot is scheduled at 10am. I left the house at around 9am to get to Makati on time. 

Waiting while the glam team prepares their stuff.

Seated on Cat's make up chair.
A quick photo with Mon before they transform me into a pretty preggy.

That's me feeling all donya.
The preggo gets a pedicure while the glam team works their magic.

The girl in black is Cat Cantada. She did my make up for the shoot.

Here's Cat again checking my make up. I think this is the point when I told her to tame my eyebrows a bit.
It looks so stariray kasi. Hehe.

The preggo gets her hair fixed.
It's funny because I can't didn't want to put on too much hairspray since I was pregnant.
As a result, my hair lost all its curls during the shoot. Haha!

Meet the magician! Oops, I mean my make up artist! :)

THE SHOOT

I was advised by Sofia to bring several outfits to wear during the shoot. But since I wasn't fashionably conscious throughout my pregnancy, I had to shop around for some nice maternity clothes and who better to assist me than my very own fashion consultant, (Oh-em) Aze! I gotta tell ya, shopping with that lady is absolutely hilarious. She's frank-- no wait, make that very very very frank. 

"Oh I love it!"

"No, mukhang daster."

"Panget, hindi ko type."

"Hmm, keri lang."

Kita naman sa reactions diba? Mas madaming nega comments than positive. Super taas ng standards, ang hirap hirap i-please! But lucky for me because my pictures turned out to be ah-may-ziiiiing! Thanks, Oh-em! :)

Here are some of my favorite shots:

I super love this photo. Ang cute diba!?

I look a li'l fat here but I like this because ang pogi mo, Honey!

My own version of a dramatic shot. Haha!

And here's Sofia!

Whew, what a tiring day this was. Mahirap palang maging model. Haha! But I'm grateful that I was able to experience being one even just for a day. Hindi ko naman na ito uulitin (maybe?) so I'm glad that I went to the right people to document my first pregnancy. 

Want to hire these people? I highly recommend them!

Cat Cantada

Belle & Cat Nail and Wax Studio
Mobile: 0917-851-6608

Sofia Genato

The Stork Studio Lifestyle Photography

E-mail: thestorkstudio@gmail.com

Lex looks like...?

'nuff said.

Hello, Lex!

Taking a break from watching Disney Junior. 

After three months, I am finally able to bring out my trusty camera to take Lex's picture. What a cutie!

We attended the Cirque Du Bebe fair!

For quite some time, I have been reading about baby fairs in the different mommy blogs I follow. I always find it cute when they feature their loots. Nakakatuwa lang because I discover so many different baby brands that I previously don't know about. I look forward to the day when I too, can go to a baby fair and blog about my loots. Malay natin, a reader might pick up something from it, just like how I picked up a lot of things from the blogs I read.

Last month's Cirque Du Bebe event at the Bench Tower in Bonifacio Global City gave me the perfect opportunity. It's the second baby fair I have ever attended, and the first I have gone to with Lex. We didn't stay long enough to attend the talks because Lex was getting fussy. Hehe. Besides, I didn't really need anything. I only wanted to look around and learn about new products and innovations baby brands have to offer these days.

So here are my loots!

1. Cycles Sensitive Natural Insect Repellent

Since getting sick of dengue last year, I've been extra careful of the places I go to. Kapag malamok, count me out! But one can only do so much. I mean, what if the lamok comes to you diba!? Hence, the purchase.

There are other mosquito repellent products available at the fair. Pero kilala ko na ang Cycles e. I use their laundry detergent on Lex's clothes and I am very satisfied with it. Kaya out of all the insect repellent products I saw there, I still chose Cycles.

2. Medela Harmony Manual Breast Pump

This is my second breast pump. My first is a double electric pump which I use at the office everyday. Since my electric pump is heavy to lug around, I bought this as a spare for when I have to pump milk at night.

Let me just say that I love Medela! This is a fairly inexpensive pump considering that it works wonders.

3. Simple Wishes Hands Free Breast Pump Bra

I originally only have one of this since I find it soooo expensive! But it was offered at a discounted price at the fair so I took advantage and got another one. Yey!

4. Lassig Diaper Bag

Ok, this one I got out of impulse. I just find it so pretty! Since we don't have an "official" diaper bag yet the one we got as a free item when we bought the crib just didn't cut it with me... aesthetically. haha!, I bought one.

Mind you, I didn't just buy any bag I fancy. I bought it because it's not only stylish, it's functional as well! Let me walk you through.

The bag has two organized compartments and it comes with a portable changing mat where you can lay the baby during nappy changes.

It has an insulated, removable bottle holder, a zip pouch, and an additional adjustable shoulder strap.

It also has a water repellent wet pocket for soiled diapers and
three pockets for milk bottles, fitted to prevent it from tumbling around the bag.

I'm the type of person who pays attention to detail. And though it isn't a part of its functionality, I love that the brand is engraved in each of its zippers. It gives the perfect finishing touch to the already perfect bag.

And the best part is...

Oh yes! This purty, purty bag is greatly marked down to my utmost delight!

So these are my loots at the Cirque Du Bebe fair. I am so in love with all of them and I always look forward to using them each time.

Before I close this post, let me just share with you a couple of photos taken at the fair.

Here I am with Lex, who was not in the mood. Hehe.

The baby daddy who found something to enjoy besides shopping.

What about you? Any mommy loots you want to share? 

I'm baaack!

Miss ko nang magblog!

Believe me when I tell you that I have been thinking about blogging many times during the last few months but I just didn't have the time motivation to pick up my computer and actually do it. 

Plus! Mon has been using my Mac for his programming needs so I'm stuck with his Asus which I absolutely dislike using. Ok, that's a lame reason, I know, I know!

Not to mention, there is no space in the house that is conducive enough for blogging. Erm...

In conclusion, I have no real excuse for not blogging. Hehe. I'm just tired and lazy and I lack sleep. I'm also fairly new to this whole motherhood business and I'm still at that stage where I'm struggling to juggle everything on my plate. I just had to take time off to find my groove back.

Me logging in to my blogger account is actually a big step. Congratulations to me! I deserve a pat on the back. Mwaha.

Updates!

Ze bebe is three months old today. Yey! Yes, it's been three months since Lex was born and in those three short months, so much growing up has happened in our little family! Literally and figuratively. Basta all I can say is that (responsible) parenthood is not something that a couple can just trudge into and expect that it's all going to be a walk in the park. No. It is difficult as it is glorious.

The first three months was extremely difficult. I had suffered from postpartum depression and as I have only begun exploring the fascinating (and exhausting) world of motherhood, I also had to learn and unlearn so many different things. Being a mother is like being in a whole new universe. And one will not understand nor appreciate that statement until one becomes a mother herself. Kasi it's not just taking care of the child e. It's the child plus everything that goes with it: managing the in-laws, managing the yaya, managing time for yourself and the expectations of the husband, managing work (if you work full time), managing the finances, managing social responsibilities.. so many things diba!? And a mother does all that while trying her damn hardest to function with zero sleep. 

I admit that I couldn't have done so well during Lex's first months without my very supportive and helpful husband. More than any other time in my life, it was in those months that I realized na I really chose my husband well. I am very lucky to have him by my side as we raise our son in this world.

That's it muna for now! Ang dami pang naka-line up na topics to blog about. Stay tuned!

Labor & delivery: how it all happened

So I have finally given birth to our darling baby boy Alexander.

Labor

It was dawn of January 9, around 2:37, when I felt it. I was already on leave from work since Monday and though I am already feeling very mild contractions then, it was nothing like I've felt that fateful morning. I monitored the contractions for an hour and established that it was 10-15 minutes apart.

Hon, wake up!

I told Mon about my contractions and we monitored it again for another hour. By then it was already coming faster and more painful. 6-8 minutes apart. Ok, time to go to the hospital! This is it! 

By the time we got to the hospital at around 5:00, I was told that I was 4cms dilated already. That's when they decided to transfer me from the maternity unit to the labor room.

Mon was not with me during labor. In St. Luke's, there are two rooms where women can stay in during labor: the Labor Room and the High-Risk Pregnancy Unit (HRPU). They gave us a choice if we wanted to be together during labor, but the price kind of dictated it. Hahaha! You see, if I opted to stay at the HRPU, we would have shelled out around 4k more than if I choose to stay at the Labor Room. My husband was willing to stay with me at the HRPU and we can afford it too, but I just don't find it practical. So it was, "Hey, see you later, Hon! I love you!".

How my contractions felt like 

I've read that contractions and labor feel different from woman to woman. Mine felt like menstrual cramps, you know that squeezing feeling when you have your period? Only it was loads more painful! Shiz, nakakaiyak siya. It's like having dysmenorrhea x 10! You know what got me through the whole ordeal? Praying! Trust me, it works!

Funny story. During labor, a nurse approached me and asked questions about my medical history. I kept asking her to wait while my contractions subsided. As in, "Nurse, wait lang ha, masakit eh, hindi ako makasagot." Then as the contraction reaches its peak, I would tightly clutch the side bars of the hospital bed, crunch my face, grunt "Oooouuuccchhhh.", and breathe "Hoooo... hoooo...". Once the contraction was over, "Ok Nurse, game na." 

Delivery

After about an hour of active labor, they gave me a sedative, which is why I felt so groggy the rest of the time. I was awake or I think I was awake, but I felt so high. Parang on drugs lang. The next thing I remember, I'm at the delivery room and there are hordes of people in front of me counting "1, 2, 3, push!". That's when I realized that I was about to deliver the baby! As the final contractions went through, I felt a sudden whoosh and it felt like I peed in front of everyone! As it turned out, it was my water breaking. Another contraction, everyone counting "1, 2, 3, push!" in unison, and bam! The baby's out. 

I couldn't believe it! It's done and I really did it! But it honestly felt like I didn't know what was happening the whole time. I had to ask Mon, who was beside me, if I had given birth normally. Hahaha ang weird ko. What was even weirder is that I remember asking him afterwards, "Hon, when did you get here?".

Everything happened so fast. I didn't even remember if I was given an epidural. But I must have been given one, since I didn't feel a thing when they were giving me stitches down there. 

The epic moment

The very first time I saw Lex was when he was latched on to me in the delivery room. But no, the feeling wasn't epic. I had none of that "Hollywood-style wave of emotion when you meet the baby for the first time". Instead what I felt was relief. Relief that it was finally done. He's out. He's really here. Like whoa, he's really here? Is this really happening?

Our epic moment didn't come until a few days after we got home. I was breastfeeding him one night and we were alone in our room, the lights dimmed so he could go straight to sleep. As he was happily suckling at my breast, I gently touched his hand and his tiny little fingers curled into mine. I tried prying my finger off but I just can't. He has a tight grip, my little boy. And I imagine him telling me right then, "Hi, Mama! I am very happy to meet you at last." to which I replied, "Hello, Alexander! I am very happy to meet you too!" I know it sounds weird but I really think that Lex and I have an unspoken bond. At that point, my heart swelled with so much love I didn't even thought I was capable of. My heart is peaceful, content, happy, and grateful for this wonderful gift from God. And that, my friends, is when I finally felt that I am a mother.

First pregnancy update for the year

Ahoy there! 

How have you all been? Me, I'm just cooped up at home since Monday waiting for D-Day. I came from the OB's clinic last Saturday and she said that I'm already 2-3 cms dilated so she advised me to take a leave from work because I could give birth any day this week. But it's Wednesday now and still nothing. Our little bebe is still taking his sweet time in my womb. Can't complain as the thought of giving birth kind of scares me but we're also so, so excited to see him so... mixed feelings actually.

Are we ready? We're ready as we'll ever be. I'm at the point where I just offer everything up to God and just wait and see what happens, ya know? I'm scared but He pacifies me. And because of that, I become less worried. 

I wonder when this little bebe is coming out? Sigh. Ready when you are, Baby Lex! 

Oh hello there, you!

Yesterday, we went to The Baby Ultrasound Company (for the third time!) for Lex's 3D/4D ultrasound. The ultrasound was already re-scheduled twice because Lex simply won't cooperate the first two times. Either he's covering his face with his hand or foot (he's in a breech position as of the moment) or his umbilical cord is in the way. Suffice it to say that we are very insistent parents trying to catch a clearer glimpse of our son.

While bonding with Lex the night before, I told him repeatedly to please, please, be in the mood the next day because Mommy and Daddy really want to see him. I promised to give him a treat if he does. Hah! Bribery comes early.

Anyway, Mon and I are very happy with the results. Not only did Lex show his face, he was even caught smiling and yawning (tricks he got from his Daddy, I'm sure). ;p

Hello, everybody!! I'm Lex! I got my Daddy's eyes and my Mommy's chubby ching cheeks!

Are you done fussing over me now ? I'm sleepy...

I'm going to sleep now. Good night, Mom and Dad!!

After the ultrasound, we headed to Baby Company to give Lex his treat as promised. We got him this!

Newborn to Toddler Rocker by Fisher Price

Good job, Lex! :)

Baby Company, truly your one-stop shop for all your baby needs!

From the title of this blog post alone, you can tell that I am one very satisfied customer of Baby Company. Sadly, their sale month is coming to an end tomorrow. Aww. But I'm still happy because I was able to take advantage of the sale for 3 whole weekends! Hooray for all the savings!

Now before you think that we hoarded baby stuff during the sale, no, we did not. We really just bought items that we're sure no one would give us,

...like a crib! :)

This item was not on sale but we still got 10% off the original price
because we registered in their baby registry.

We opted for a Pack & Play instead of a wooden crib because of its size and portability. We originally wanted a wooden crib that grows with the baby, you know those ones that convert into a toddler bed, but its size just wouldn't do in our teeny tiny apartment! Whereas the Pack & Play already has a changing station and a musical crib mobile and a baby mattress. It's no brainer for us to get this one really. We picked a brown theme with blue and green patterns for our baby boy. Oh, and we got a free diaper bag because of this purchase!

...pillows! :)

We were quite surprised, we didn't know that beddings can cost so much! We got beddings with a safari-themed design. So cute! Especially the lion cub bit on the upper-left corner of the head pillow. As you can see in the picture, it has a white, yellow, and brown combination to match the brown crib we got Dotty.

...blankets and waterproof mattress pads! :)

We got extra receiving blankets because as I've learned, marami palang gamit ang receiving blanket!   Pwede siyang pansapin everywhere! Sa bed, sa stroller, sa carrier... everywhere! We also got light cotton blankets for sleeping.

...extra comforter and pillowcases! :)

The first time we saw this design, we were instantly smitten! Looks so grand diba? Sad that a pillowcase and comforter set was not available the first time we saw it at Baby Company. So I just got the pillowcases first and vowed to look for the matching comforter at a different branch. Success!!

We haven't bought Dotty any item of clothing yet since my sister gave me her children's newborn clothes, which I just sorted out a while ago. Twas fun looking at all the clothes, imagining my niece and nephew in it some 9 or 10 years ago. Yes, the clothes are THAT old! But still in very good condition. We'll probably just get cute onesies for Dotty para hindi naman lahat ng damit niya puro hand-me-downs. LOL!

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post.

The shopping has begun

Now that we know Dotty's gender, let's go shopping na! :)

Confession: I had no idea kung gaano karaming gamit ang kailangan ng isang baby. When I first got Baby Company's Baby Checklist, I was honestly overwhelmed. As in tumaas ang stress level ko! My mind was screaming, "My gosh, ano 'tong mga 'to?!?!?!" I think other first time moms can relate to this.

So first thing I did was to visit baby stores to acquaint myself with some of the items in the list. I also asked mommy friends for advice on what to buy first. "Research research din pag may time" ang peg! It literally took me few months bago ko paka-titigan yung checklist ulit. Na-trauma ata ako! Hehe.

As I've mentioned here, the first thing we bought for Dotty is a chest of drawers. My sister gave me her children's baby clothes and since wala nang space sa closet namin ni Mon, we decided that we might as well buy a big chest for the baby.

Then next we bought were baby bottles, extra teats, bottle cleaner, and a bottle sterilizer. Amazing nga si Baby Company kasi ang daming freebies! Sale month kasi this month kaya timing din. I got a free night lamp for Dotty and an Aranaz "mommy bag" which looks something like this:

source
Mine looks exactly like this, but with blue lining.
Nice noh? :)

Next up will be nursery furnishings and linens, bathing and grooming accessories, then other newborn basics. We still have a loooong way to go but we're enjoying every moment of it.

Gender announcement

source

"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; What is essential is invisible to the eye."

I hope our prince grows up to be as poetic and smart and true as the little prince.

source

Mon had thought all along that this baby was going to be a girl. But in the days leading to my ultrasound, I just had a strong feeling that it's going to be a boy. So imagine my surprise when the sonologist told me I am indeed having a boy! My instinct was right!

Beauty and Pregnancy

A lot has been said about beauty products during pregnancy. While my OB did not really prevent me from using beauty products (except for creams containing Retinol), I became extra cautious on what I slap on to my face since I became pregnant.

In my first trimester, I was too lazy to use anything except moisturizer and concealer and I only did it because I have to (read: I have very dry skin on my face and dark circles under my eyes). That's it.

In my 2nd trimester (which is where I'm currently in), I suddenly became addicted to "fixing" myself. I think maybe it's because of the pounds I'm piling on (which so far has reached 15 lbs.) since I got pregnant and because some people are telling me that my nose is starting to swell. I am so not used to rapid weight gain nor to any negative comments about my looks thrown in my face so I started making it a point to at least hide my physical imperfections.

Now some people might react to pregnant women using creams and makeup but if my doctor gave me a green light to use 'em, then I will. I really don't want to be depressed throughout this whole pregnancy by hearing insensitive people's comments and unsolicited advices. Though some people really can't help themselves (haha!) so when I encounter those kinds of people, I just either laugh at them (when I'm in a fairly ok mood) or completely ignore them (when I'm not in the mood). I mean, I know it may be rude and unpolite for me to NOT respond but in my defense, their comments are rude and annoying and hurtful too, even if said in jest. And I know for a fact that I'm not the only pregnant woman who feels this way. :|

So anyway, here's a list of skincare and beauty products I'm using while pregnant. I think these products are fairly safe to use for us preggies as they don't contain any form of retinol or salicylic acid. Disclaimer: I don't claim to be an expert in this so if you really want to be sigurista about it, do check with your OB first.

1. Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser for all skin types - this is my all-time favorite cleanser. Been using it for more than four years now!

2. Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream for dry, sensitive skin - I love, love love this moisturizer so much. I literally only use this product once a day (during the day, before I apply makeup) but it keeps my skin moisturized even after cleansing at night.

3. MAC Mineralize Concealer in NC30 - I used to use Benefit Fake Up Concealer but I found that it doesn't really moisturize my under eyes that much so I switched to Revlon Colorstay Concealer. Used the latter for a few days when I found that it contains salicylic acid (bummer!) so I had to change it again.

4. MAC Prep+Prime Transparent Finishing Powder - my sister has been convincing me to buy this since early last year. It's only now that I succumbed. I regret not buying it sooner. :)

5. The Body Shop All-in-One Blusher in Marshmallow - pretty in pink!

6. NARS Bronzer in Laguna - for contouring. I usually don't use bronzers but I need to now since my cheeks are getting a wee bit bigger (or wider?).

7. Urban Decay Naked 1 Palette (just sometimes) - still haven't mastered the art of eye make up. :( but I'm happy just using Virgin and Naked during the day. Basically, those colors are just a highlight and a base. Blend, blend, blend. Done!

8. Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Champagne on Ice - oh, this one is such a steal! I bought this lipstick on sale last year. I think I got it for only P300 in SM Dept. Store. In the picture it looks a tad bit orange but in reality, it has a pretty pale, light, nude color.

9. The Face Shop Lovely ME:EX Pure My Lips in #03 Juicy Peach - another lippie which I bought last year. I stopped using this for a while and only saw this again in my make up stash sometime last week. I found that this and Champagne on Ice make such a good combination so I've been using this everyday ever since.

10. The Face Shop Herb Day Lip & Eye Remover for sensitive skin - I know it says lip & eye, but this really does a good job in removing all face makeup. It has no fragrance too, which is a big plus for me because I'm not really fond of makeup removers with scents.

And since I can't chemically-treat my hair while pregnant, I opted to just let my stubborn waves be... until yesterday, that is! When I finally got tired of my buhaghag hair and bought this.

Philips Care and Control Straightener

Will try to do a product review on this soon. ;)

Today with the Santoses 08/22/13, Thursday

Mon and I first saw baby's movements in my tummy. Mon wanted the baby to move again.

Mon (sweet talking my tummy): Baby... baby... sipa ka ulit... sige na...

Baby (no movements)

Mon: Sige na, Dot-dot... Galaw na ulit. Sige ka, pag hindi ka gumalaw, kakanta ako...

Baby (no movements)

Mon (starts singing): Di ko kayang tanggapin...na mawawa... (BABY SUDDENLY KICKS HARD)

Mon and Jen: LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jen: Ayaw niya sa boses mo, Hon! Hahahahaha!!!!!!!!!

Sa dami naman kasi ng kanta, April Boy Regino song pa talaga???

I'm feeling you now, my little one! :)

Just a quick one! I just want to put it in the record that today (at 19 wks!) is officially the day when I first felt and saw my little sweetheart move inside me! Pure wonder! Thank you, Lord for letting us experience this! :)

Funny story in my next post. ;p

First purchase for the baby!

I'm exactly 18w5d today and already Mon and I have started looking for baby things! Excited much lang? Hehe. Better early than late, baka naman ang laki na ng tiyan ko saka pa kami mag-start eh wala pa naman kaming ka-alam alam sa mga kagamitan ng baby. Serious! We're both the youngest in the family so we have never experienced taking care of a younger sibling. Tapos hindi pa ako mahilig sa bata. Si Mon naman, while he likes kids, yung pagka-like niya is limited to playing with them lang. Haha! We have never tried changing a baby's nappy or putting a baby to sleep or kahit magtimpla man lang ng gatas. So how ever will we raise this little sweetheart? We'll need plenty of education and practice!

I received Dotty's very first baby item a few weeks ago. A cousin from the States oh-so-kindly sent me 4 pcs. of receiving blankets. Confession: nung time na yun, I didn't really know what a receiving blanket is. Ang alam ko lang, kailangan ko siya dahil kasama siya sa Baby Checklist ng Baby Company. Haha! Actually hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin ako sure kung ano yun pero I'm guessing na yun yung cloth na ginagamit to wrap a newborn baby?

According to wiktionary, a receiving blanket is a lightweight blanket that is wrapped around or placed under a partially or fully nude baby for warmth and hygiene. So yun nga yun. :)

Then last week, my sister sent me her kids' old baby clothes. Lots and lots of white tops and light pants. I'm guessing na mga pambahay and pantulog yung mga yun. So now I have a large paperbag full of baby clothes lying around the room.

I generally don't like clutter. I grew up in a very clean home (as in my mom cleans the whole house every single day! I swear, pwede kang humiga sa sahig sa sobrang linis.) which is why clutter irritates me to no end! Especially pag araw araw kong nakikita (i.e. clutter inside the room), inis na inis talaga ako. And so because of that, we decided to buy Dotty his/her own chest of drawers for his/her stuff! 

I know a chest is not a very "baby" thing but at this point, it's what he/she needs! It's to be delivered next week at excited na akong ligpitin ang mga gamit ni Dot-dot sa drawer niya. 

We got Dot-dot's chest at Mandaue Foam.
For those on a budget, masarap mag-shopping dun kasi their prices are very reasonable. 

We've been looking at cribs and strollers recently but we can't actually buy one until we know the gender. We saw a crib we liked at SM Makati one time but the color combination is Teal and White. It's actually unisex but Mon and I agreed that the color is too girly for a boy. So, next time.

UPDATE 09/07/13: The chest was finally delivered last week and this is how it looks like.

All about my first trimester

How do I do this? Let me just start at the very beginning.

What I felt when I first found out. When I discovered that I'm pregnant, I was in denial. Promise! I even tested thrice with a home pregnancy test because I really wanted to make sure that I got the right result. Malay ko ba, baka defective lang pala yung first test diba? The same day, I consulted with my OB who told me that yes, home pregnancy tests are almost 100% accurate so I really shouldn't doubt too much. But she told me to wait for 2 weeks more before I undergo an ultrasound since it was too early to see the baby. I was around 4 weeks when I found out. That's technically 2 weeks since conception.

And then? When the feeling finally sunk in after a few days, I started to feel really really worried. Well, worried-slash-excited but more worried, I guess. I started having "what have I gotten myself into?" thoughts and, "can I/we really do this?". But all the worries faded away as the days pass. Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. For always and more so when things are out of my control, I am thankful that there is a God I can depend on.

First trimester experiences.

• I did not throw up, thank God! But I did have the urge to vomit sometime around the 7th week, but that was it.
• I gained 8 pounds. Because I wasn't very sensitive to food, I was unstoppable at the dining table. I especially liked everything cold. Fruit shakes, mais con hielo, halo-halo, ice-cold OJ, icy sago't gulaman... Basta everything has to be cold, cold, cold!
• My fruit intake increased. For some reason, I craved for fresh fruits such as apples, ponkan, melon, mango, and grapes. 
• I started eating food I didn't used to eat. Like, palabok and pancit. This got me into thinking that this baby inherited Mon's taste buds. 
• I was consistently hungry. As in I would wake up in the middle of the night and eat crackers while I concentrate on going back to sleep.
• Constant peeing. Before I used to pee only once during sleeping hours. But that once went to thrice or four times during the last three months. 
• Exhaustion. Felt this sometime around the 9th and 10th week. I was sleeping 8-10 hours a day and yet, I still felt slave tired.
• I experienced implantation bleeding, which is perfectly normal but is not experienced by all pregnant women. 
• Breast tenderness. Like, PMS tender times 2! Nonetheless, it's my most favorite pregnancy sign. I've now graduated from an A cup to a B cup. How cool is that?!!!
• Headache. Just mild and I only experienced it once.  
• Nauseated with the smell of oil used in deep frying and kalamansi-flavored pancit canton. 
• I was hospitalized due to dengue.

Baby names? We have begun thinking about baby names but nothing is set in stone yet. We have decided on a girl's name, but of course it can still change at the last minute. If Dotty's a boy, well, we really haven't decided yet. I wanted the name Raymond to be included as a second name but Mon completely objects! We kid around that if the time comes when we really need the names and we still haven't decided, we'll just name them Jimmy or Judy Ann. Haha! Corny.

What I'm feeling now. Happy and excited! I guess it helps that the people I am around with supports me with my pregnancy 100%. My family is super thrilled and my colleagues are very very excited! When they see me they always smile and comment (sensitively!) at the changes they see in my body. Like right now, at 14 weeks, my bump is starting to show and they feel so giddy and start touching my tummy! Good thing I don't have any aversion to tummy touching. I heard some women don't like it. But I really don't mind.

Realizations. As I've said, a time like this that makes me doubly grateful that there's a God I can depend on. Being pregnant is no easy feat. There's the constant paranoia and self-doubt that we pregnant women feel everyday. But God is really good! He pacifies me and strengthens me and He gives me hope for the future. In my every prayer, I always give thanks to Him for this blessing He has given Mon and I, His own child! And being a steward of God's child on earth is a great responsibility that Mon and I happily accept.