Nice Surprise

I wasn't expecting this one. Mom's friend promised me that she will share some of the expenses for my baby shower. But due to busy schedules and hard to find friends to have this occasion, she told me to use the money nalang to buy Baby J's things. So, last weekend while Dad was in Laoag for my late grandpa's birthday bash and Jason was in Pampanga for a UAP Capitol Chapter Conference, Mom, Kuya Stan, Butchoy and me went to the mall to shop. My mom was aching to have her feet massage while Kuya Stan and Butchoy is itching to buy new clothes (as usual sweldo kasi) kaya sumama ako. I had money enough to buy all of this ...

I could feel that Baby J was so happy ... coz while we were having a talk with the saleslady, she's so malikot. Avent has a promo, whenever you buy a set of their products, you get a 4oz feeding bottle for free. Since I bought 2 (sterilizer and breastpump), we have 2 4oz bottle for free. Included with the sterilizer and breastpumps some freebies like pacifier, 2 feeding bottles, bottle brush cleaner, bottle nipples, and nursing pads. Hindi na muna kami bibili ng maraming bottles. Sabi naman ni Mom if I'm planning to breastfeed exclusively, baka nga daw di magamit yan mga yan hehehe. So far ok na muna yan 6 bottles.

Thanks to Ate Del for the gifts!

Now let me check my list ... so far so good!

BABY CHECKLIST:
Shirts,Pajama/Night Time Wear, Going Home Outfit, Newborn Diaper, Baby Wipes, Baby Toiletries, Baby Book, Breastpump, Robe, Nursing Bra, Mittens, Bottles, Bottle Nipples etc., Stroller, Booties and Cap, Towel/Blanket, Cloth diapers and Diaper clips, Diaper Cream, Baby J's first aid kit, Baby Classical CD's, Bathtubs, Toys, Crib/Playpen, Beddings, Pillows, Sterilizer, Bibs, Pacifier, High Chair,Books, Diaper Bag, Baby Sling

Weeeeeee .... konti nalang! Hay, we still have plenty of time ... we still have less than 2 months to do all that. Hirap talaga pag lagi busy si hubby, pero natutuwa naman ako kasi pag maraming project marami dadating na blessing :) Thanks you Lord for all your help mwah!

Happy Hearts Day!

Credits:
Valentine QP by: © 2008 Sailor and Lula (SaL)

Shopping List

Here are some of the baby stuffs mom had bought for Baby J. Puro puti no? Kasi mga pambahay lang naman yan. Sabi din niya, it's best to buy white ones kasi para makita yung dumi ... and obviously, lampin baby si Baby J, she bought 2 dozens of cloth diaper. But guess what she forgot to buy ... diaper pins wahahaha! Si mom talaga oh, makakalimutin talaga ... naku I'm sure magiging ganun na din ako ... ganun daw pag na-anesthesia daw, nagiging makakalimutin.

Since I'm just staying at home, and never letting boredom get in the way, I'm starting to make a shopping list for Baby J's stuff. Though some of the small things are already in hand, medyo kulang nalang yung mga big stuffs. I got some of the list from the N@W files.

BABY CHECKLIST:

1. Shirts
   
2. Pajama/Night Time Wear
3. Going Home Outfit - eto ang wala pa ako, it's for the baby and the mom kasi after giving birth. Kay baby J walang problema kasi kumpleto na siya sa damit. Ako ang wala pa wahahaha. I have to buy something na may buttons in front para madali daw magpabreastfeed.
4. Newborn Diaper
5. Baby Wipes
6. Baby Toiletries
7. Baby Book - Jason bought this for me last December through my mom's friend. Sinabay sa pagbili ng Harry Potter 7. But I'm still planning to buy a baby album for more pictures. Kasi tong Baby Book parang nililist lang yung mga important dates sa buhay ng anak mo. Kaya bibili ako nung paglalagyan ng photos.
8. Breastpump - dati hesitant ako to buy, pero ngayon bibili na ako ... pero manual na muna since SAHM naman ako. Some choices are Avent, Medela and Pigeon. But I'll gonna stick with Avent.
9. Robe - Kailangan daw to pag mag-stay ka sa hospital para magpabreastfeed sa baby. Pero maybe I'll choose nightwears nalang na may front buttons for easy access.
10. Nursing Bra
11. Mittens
12. Bottles, Bottle Nipples etc. - Avent na bibilhin ko ... all the way hahaha!
13. Stroller - A lot of people I know were suggesting to buy Graco strollers, kasi suer naman daw sila na masusundan si baby J kaya magagamit ang stroller na to kahit bulky siya. Nakita kasi namin yung mga umbroller, parang hindi durable.
14. Booties and Cap
15. Towel/Blanket
16. Bouncer/Carrier - wala pa din kasabay na to ng stroller
17. Cloth diapers and Diaper clips - nakalimutan bilhin wahahaha!
18. Diaper Cream
19. Thermometer, Nasal Aspirator, Nail Cutter
    
20. Baby Classical CD's
21. Bathtubs
22. Toys
23. Crib/Playpen
24. Beddings
25. Pillows
26. Sterilizer
27. Bibs
28. Pacifier
29. High Chair
30. Books
31. Diaper Bag - order ako from a fellow N@Wie, Morning
    
32. Baby Sling - order ako from a fellow N@Wie din, si Jen

May nakalimutan pa ba ako? Just leave some love kung may nakalimutan pa ako ha. Hindi ko pa pinapakita kay Jason to, baka nga lagnatin yun pag nakita yung gagastusin niya hahaha. Pero sabi nga niya sa text nung isang araw "Kahit ano basta para kay Baby J, bibilhin natin dahil siya ang prinsesa ko". How sweet ... starting to get jealous now hahaha. Baby J is now 25 weeks ... here's how she's growing:

Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. His weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but he's beginning to exchange his long, lean look for some baby fat. As he does, his wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and he'll start to look more and more like a newborn. His hair is probably recognizable now (in color and texture), although both may change after he's born.

Baby J's First Gifts

Credits:

Sleepy Dreamer Background by: Divas Playground

Weathered Decor frame by: Misty Cato
Alpha Bonbon by: chriscrap
Dream in Coloured Alpha by: Mónica Guerra Leiria

Thanks to Tita Evelyn, Tita Yolanda and Tita Josie for this wonderful gifts. I'm sure Baby J will love them. And I can't wait to let her wear them all. Obvious na girl anak ko no? Puro shades of pink hehehe!

I had my prenatal check up last Wednesday. Baby J's already in her 24th week. 6 months to be exact ... only 3 more months to go weeeeeee! I'm on medication right now due to colds and cough for almost a week now, OB gave me antibiotics... actually, I have no colds anymore, but the thing is ... hinog na ang plema ko (pasintabi sa mga kumakain) kaya I need medical help na. I've been having series of I'm-having-a-hard-time-breathing nights, that's why I need to take antibiotics. OB told me it's ok naman with the baby kaya never worry. Thank God for Neti Pot ... my Tita Yolanda gave this to us because my kuya watched this in Oprah one time. Good thing she did watched that episode. It's a Nasal rinse similar to Salinese drops babies uses. It really do wonders ... it gets rid of those sticky mucus in your nose. After the nasal wash, just sneeze and it will all come out without effort.

Baby J is now super duper active ... I could always feel her moving even at day. When we were at OB's clinic, OB felt her move, too. She's so malikot hihihi! That's a good sign I know. Even if I'm gulping lots of medicines right now, I know she's fine and active. According to babycenter.com, this is how Baby J's growing:

Your baby's growing steadily, gaining about a quarter of a pound since last week, when she was just over a pound. Since she's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), that makes a pretty lean figure, but her body is filling out proportionally and she'll soon put on more baby fat. Your baby's skin is thin, translucent, and wrinkled, her brain is growing rapidly, and her taste buds are developing. Her lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" and cells that produce surfactant, a substance **that helps the air sacs inflate easily.

Everybody's getting excited already especially me and Jason. We're planning to buy Baby J's things next month. It's the big stuffs we'll gonna purchase, like Graco playpens, strollers, infant car seats, beddings, Avent sterilizers and Avent feeding bottles. Mom's gonna purchase the lampin and white sando or shirt for baby J. She said kasi, it's better to buy infant clothes in white, para daw makita kung may langgam, or kung ano man dumapo sa kanya. I won't buy breast pump muna, kasi hindi ko alam if I'm like a milking cow. Mom and her sister never did breastfeed because they're not capable of having one. Even my Dad's sisters are the same. When I asked OB about it, sinabi niya na it's heriditary ... pero these days wala ng impossible ... meron na daw iniinom para magkaroon ng milk ang isang nursing mom. Well, I'll just keep my fingers crossed, sana nga magkaroon ako ng milk by the time Baby J's here na.

Baby J's have a name already but Jason wanted to keep it a secret for a while. Saka na daw i-reveal pag lumabas na daw siya. Mom did won on the baby's name. We don't want to argue with her kasi baka magtampo. It's a nice name naman kaso a lot of girls have that name already. Gusto kasi ni Jason yung wala pa sa Google yung name hahaha! I don't know if she'll gonna have a second name or what ... I was thinking that maybe if ever we'll give her a second name baka mahirapan magsulat sa school ng pangalan niya. The first name is quite long na din kasi ... oh well ... We still have 3 months to decide on that.

Baby J @ 21 Weeks

Some snaps of baby J's congenital screening last Saturday, Jan. 19, 2008.

Credits:
Back multi paint stripes background by:Melany Violette (at Simply Clean Digi Scraps)
Felt Alpha Pink Scallop by:Melany Violette (at Simply Clean Digi Scraps)
Frames by: Benthai
Oval Tag by: Anne Langpap (Two Peas in a bucket June 07 Freebie)
Funky Flower Stickers by: Misty Cato

Baby J is a ...

Yup, it's a girl ... big hunch ko pa naman it's a boy... before I'll tell you about the congenital screening, kwento ko muna what happened yesterday.

Since Thursday kasi di kumikilos si Baby J. Medyo napraning nanaman ako and may I text si OB about what's happening. She told me to go to FEU Hospital sa Pay Treatmeant Room at hintayin ko daw yung resident OB dun. She wants to know baby J's heart tone. Pagkadating ni Jason galing sa clieant meeting eh dumiretso agad kami sa hospital. Nandun na ang OB pero wala pa ang doppler... naliligaw pa ... namasyal mag-isa ang doppler hehehe. Nung napakinggan naman ang heart tones ni Baby J, normal naman. In other words, nasa deep sleeping state si Baby J. Or she's doing some moves pero small lang kaya di ko masyado nararamdaman. Then my OB texted me na tomorrow na ako magpa-congenital screening, kasabay ng sister niya. Super na-excite nanaman kami ni Jason ... sa wakas malalaman na namin yung gender ni baby weeeeeeeeee!

Since biglaan ang decision ni OB sa aking congenital screening, eh hindi nanaman nakasama si Jason. Ang bilin naman niya, pag nalaman ko na ang gender tawagan ko daw siya agad. Kasama ko si mom at dad sa ultrasound room. Everytime the sonologist would tell it's diagnosis, I can hear my mom saying "Hay, salamat sa Diyos". So kung 15 diagnosis yun, naka 15 na "Salamat sa Diyos" din siya. Lalo na nung nalaman na ang gender ni Baby J eh girl ... I can't forget the look at mom and dad's face ... grabe PRICELESS! I wish I have my camera. Sarap nila kunan ng picture wahahaha! Yung ngiti di natatanggal. At first naman talaga, they wanted a girl pag galing sa akin ang apo. Pero gusto niya pag galing kina kuya at kay bunso, gusto niya lalaki para may bearer ng family name hehehe.

According to babycenter.com:

How your baby's growing:

Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long — the length of a carrot. His eyebrows and eyelids are fully developed. And you can certainly feel him move. He's oblivious to your schedule, though, so don't be surprised if he starts working out just when you're settling down for the night. If you're having a girl, her vagina is formed now, though it will continue to develop until birth.

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.

How your life's changing:

You're probably feeling pretty comfortable these days. You're not too big yet, and the usual aches and pains associated with early pregnancy are, for the most part, gone. Relax and enjoy it while you can — the third trimester will bring some mild discomfort from carrying a baby who is nearly full-term.

That's not to say you don't have some minor glitches to deal with now. Increased oil production may have given you a mild case of acne, for example. If that's the case, be diligent about washing well with a gentle soap and water twice a day, but don't take any oral acne medications — or even use any topical acne products — without checking with your practitioner first.

You're also prone to varicose veins now (especially if your mom has them). That's because pregnancy puts added pressure on the veins in your legs. (Your blood volume is increased and your uterus puts pressure on the inferior vena cava, the large vein that returns blood from the lower half of your body to your heart.) As if that's not enough, an increase in the hormone progesterone causes the walls of your blood vessels to relax, so as your baby and uterus grow, the veins can become more and more prominent. Varicose veins tend to worsen with each pregnancy, and while they're most likely to show up in your legs, they can also appear on your vulva.

If your legs ache, put maternity support hose on first thing in the morning. Increasing your circulation with a brisk walk each day can also help, as can elevating your legs and sleeping on your left side with your feet propped up with a pillow.

So now, we are on the name hunt already. Ang daming pangalan na cute pero kailangan isa lang ang mapili hahaha! Oh well! Goodluck to us!

A Birthday and New Year's Celebration

I've been slacking in updating my blog again. Since our housemaid left last Dec. 28, there were some responsibilities again that I have to handle like cooking the food for the family and doing the dirty dishes. Gardening, the dogs, and house cleaning was kuya and Jason's responsibility. I've been keeping myself busy lately. My OB told me that some of the symptoms I've been encountering this past few days are just normal and nothing to worry about. She told me to keep myself busy so as not to concentrate too much on my pregnancy and live normal. In other words ... napapraning lang daw ako hehehe!

Last Dec. 30, I celebrated my 30th birthday ... yes, I'm another year older. Hay o hay! Well, that's life, ika nga nila lahat naman tayo patungo dun. So far, lahat naman na na-envision ko na mangyayari sa akin bago ako mag-30 eh nangyari na except to ride a plane and travel abroad. Yun lang ... anyway, magagawa ko naman yun even if I'm married and have kids di ba?

Credits:
Springtime Quickpage by: Alma Townsend

Yup, this is me on the day of my birthday. We didn't plan na maghanda pa sa bahay kasi ayoko na mapagod dahil wala na nga kaming maid. But when my friend, Me-anne told me they're coming for my birthday, eh nagpa-deliver na ako sa Goldilocks! Good thing, I have a friend there who works in Goldilocks. I just texted my order and on the day of my birthday, it's ready to pick up na. Ang saya nga may gift pa ako hihihi!

Credits: Celebrate Frame Element by: Lindsay Jane Designs

Yan lang matino namin shots that day wahahaha! Ang kukulit no? And ang tummy ko... looks so like bilbil hehehe!

Credits: Girl Thing Pink Flower Background by: by: Lynnie Smith of Younique Photos Grungy Pastel Journal Element by: Lindsay Jane Designs

Here are some of the gifts I got from them. Natuwa ako sa gift ni Angie, hindi talaga nila ginagawa to for sale sa Goldilocks, pero nagpa-personalized siya just for me. And mind you, sarap nung cake na yan. Royal icing ba naman binamit.... cake pambata hehehe. I so love the bag Relly and Me-anne gave me. I haven't used it but I'm sure I'll be using it anytime soon hehehe. Vena gave all her friends this cute dog stuff toy ... and it's so sweet of her at naalala niya ako. But the best gift I've receive this year is the coming of baby "J" on May 2008. Just like what Jason told me, it's the best gift ever hehehe! Oh, hubby bought me the Harry Potter 7 book and My Baby Book. Never been so happy!

After my birthday comes New Year's Eve. We have a simple medya noche dinner ... leftover from yesterdays feast hehehe and some lechon, a gift from our ninong in Cebu weeeee! No videoke for that night since it's so foggy outside because of the fumes coming from fireworks. I was forced to wear a surgical mask during the event ... here are some of the photos:

Sino ba yan buntis na yan? Ang laki ng pata? wahahaha! Ngayon ko lang na-realize, di manlang ako nagbihis ng maayos for the New Year celebration hehehe. Di bale ok lang yun ... ayoko din kasi mapagod yung maglalaba sa amin wahahaha! So thats it... hope everybody had a blast in welcoming the new year. Sana maging maunlad ang ating bagong taon.

Merry Christmas!

Credits:
MERRY AND BRIGHT QUICK PAGE 01
Created by Ellie Lash
© 2007

Baby J at 16 Weeks

This was taken a few days before I hit 16 weeks. Di pa masyado halata no? Inip na nga ako lumobo ang tummy ko pero sabi ng iba pag first baby daw talagang matagal daw lumobo ang tiyan. Usually mga 6 months pa. Tagal pero malapit na yun hehehe.

Napaaga ang prenatal check up ko. Instead na Dec. 15 pa eh napaaga ng Dec. 5 ... bakit? Kasi nung Dec. 3 mega hanap ako ng dress to wear para sa wedding ng friend ko. Naging todo pagod ata ang nangyari sa akin, nung gabi na yun nahirapan na ako makatayo kasi I felt numbness on my back and butt. Kinabukasan, naka-lie down pa din ako sa bed. Nagtext na ako sa OB ko, I told her kung ano yung mga na-experience kong mga symptoms kasama na ang slight cramps sa puson. Pinapunta na niya ako sa clinic niya ng Dec. 5.

Since ako lang ang patient that time, nagkaroon ng maraming time hanapin ni OB si Baby J. Makipaglaro ba naman ng hide and seek at habulan eh. Kasi pag natatapat na sa kanya yung doppler, bigla tong nawawala ... siyempre hahanapin nanaman ni OB kung nasaan siya. Pag narinig na heartbeat niya, bigla nanaman nawawala. Susme! siguro mga 10 minutes bago siya nahanap ulit at napirmi sa isang lugar. Super duper likot kaya niya. Samantalang bago kami pumunta ng clinic, kinausap na siya ni Daddy Jason na wag malikot hehehe.

On medication nanaman ako to get rid of pangangalay ng likod ... Duvidillan or Isoxilan ... mga muscle relaxant yun para maiwasan yung pangangalay. Tinake ko siya until matapos yung day ng birthday ni Daddy. Sa ngayon ok nanaman ako pero kahapon kasi medyo nangalay nanaman ang likod ko kaya ayan slight bed rest nanaman ako. Hay o hay!

A lot of people were trying to guess baby J's gender ... majority hula nila boy daw ... ayoko na tanungin kung bakit kasi baka isagot nila dahil ang pangit ko eh ma-depress lang ako wahahaha! Since malikot daw and di daw ako mapili sa pagkain or wala daw ako pinaglilihian eh baby boy nga daw ang baby ko. Yung iba naman kaya girl ang hula eh dahil blooming daw ako. Hala sige hula pa... eh sa February pa namin malalaman ang gender niya eh.

Simula nung nalaman nila na buntis ako, wala na silang tigil kakahimas sa tummy ko. Ako naman pag may humihimas eh kinakausap ko si baby, "that's tita Rema baby ... that's Lolo baby" mga ganun ... nakakatuwa ... bilbil palang hinihimas nila, what more kung talagang malaki na tummy ko hehehe.

According to babycenter.com, here is how baby J is growing:

At 4 1/2 inches long (head to bottom) and 3 1/2 ounces, your baby is about the size of an avocado. In the next three weeks, she'll go through a tremendous growth spurt, though, doubling her weight and adding inches to her length. Her lower limbs are much more developed now. Her head is more erect than it has been, and her eyes have moved toward the front of her head. Your baby's ears are close to their final position, too. Some of her more advanced body systems are working, including her circulatory system and urinary tract. Her heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, circulating her total blood volume through her body many times. (By the end of your pregnancy, this will increase to about 190 quarts.) The patterning of her scalp has begun, though her hair isn't recognizable yet. Although closed, her eyes are moving (slowly), and she's even started growing toenails.

Baby J, 5 months to go ... sana wag ka masyado makulit kasi minsan nahihirapan si Mommy. Pero ok lang, at least I know you're active and strong kaya nararamdaman ka na ni Mommy. Daddy is so excited na. We're planning to buy you books sa floating bookstore para he'll start reading stories na for you. So excited!

A Wedding Kwento

I'm such a bad blogger ... sorry ha! Anyway, I've been to some special events this past few weeks. Share ko lang sa inyo. Nakakapagod for me pero worth it naman.

Oh before I forget, congrats to Irene and Val ... I know you've been waiting for this the whole time and I'm glad you're already pregnant. Have a safe pregnancy okay!

Last December 8, 2007 ... we attended one of the best weddings ever. Hazel is Ninang Elsie's daughter. Ninang Elsie is my mom's bestfriend. Hindi kami lumaki na close. Pero kinakapatid kasi nila sa kumpil yung kid brother ko. And since ninang din namin si Ninang Elsie nung wedding namin eh naging kinakapatid na din nila ako. Tuwing may family gathering always present sila kaya kilala namin sila. When she started preparing for her wedding eh dun nag-start yung exchange ng email and text namin. Since I was the one who got married first, siyempre nagtatanong siya sa akin ng mga tips etc. etc. Brides talaga are so pretty on their wedding day. Hindi siya mukhang na-harass at na-stress... mega pretty siya on a Pepsi Herrera gown. Same as the groom ... gwapo si Elmer nung araw na yun. They are a perfect match made in heaven.

The Bride, Hazel

The couple doing their first dance

Church rites were held at Sta. Maria dela Strada, reception followed at the Mango Farm. Oh di ba ang sosyal. Ganun nila super prepared ang araw na ito. Medyo malayo nga lang yung reception venue sa church pero it's all worth it I'm telling you. Maganda sa Mango Farm. Wala kami photos masyado dun since gabi na kasi kaya more on the reception itself ang mga nakunan namin hehehe.

As usual, mom and dad was one of the principal sponsors. Most likaeable ninong and ninang naman talaga sila mom eversince. Lahat ng staff ni dad na kakakasal lang siya ang ninong, so as mom. Yung ibang barkada ko na kinasal sila din kinuha na ninong and ninang. Sa wedding ni Hazel at Elmer, siyempre kinuha din sila. Kumpleto kami nung wedding nila. Si Jason nga lang ang photographer dahil sa ako'y buntis, eh nakaupo lang ako at nanonood the whole time. Jason was such a darling... he made all the photo clicking! So proud of you, labs. You have to practice doing that kasi ikaw kukuha ng photo ni Baby J pag ipinanganak siya hehehe.

Mom wearing a gown from Ysabelle Fashions (Bridal Factory) and Dad wearing a Patis Tesoro Barong

Kuya Stanley and Butchoy

Of course, Jason and me ... ewwww pangit ng shot ko dito... I feel so ugly. Kaya ata nasabi nila na baby boy ang baby ko hehehe.

Mom and Dad with the Bride's Parents, Tita Elsie and Tito Dan

Ghed, sister of the bride and Maid of Honor

To Hazel and Elmer, Congratulations and Best Wishes. Stay happy and less worries ... God Bless you always mwah!