Mrs. A's Home

A Song for My Baby

Mrs. A — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 10:00:48 +0000

Someone’s Waiting For You

OST “The Rescuers”
Music: Sammy Fain
Lyrics: Carol Connors and Ayn Robbins

Be brave, little one
Make a wish for each sad little tear
Hold your head up, though no one is near
Someone’s waiting for you

Don’t cry, little one
There’ll be a smile where a frown used to be
You’ll be part of the love that you see
Someone’s waiting for you

Always keep a little prayer in your pocket
And you’re sure to see the light
Soon there’ll be joy and happiness
And your little world will be bright

Have faith, little one
Till your hopes and your wishes come true
You must try to be brave, little one
Someone’s waiting to love you

On-line Help for a First Time Nanay

Mrs. A — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 00:41:47 +0000

Since I recovered from my first trimester horror (bleeding and all), I was able to come in the office and surf the web. The web has been a great source of knowledge for someone as excited as me to finally be a mom. There are so many things I should know and thanks to these sites, I think I have a pretty good start.

Pinoy Baby
This blog is the most recent resource I found and is a huge help for me. The author is so organize and practical in the information she shares about pregnancy and preparing for the baby. It also helps that our due month is the same, if not very close. *I especially like the entry when she shared her shopping list and the prices of the items. We are both on the nesting stage now, so I can totally relate.*

1. Parenting Weekly
2. Baby Gaga
3. Welcome Baby Home
As of today I subscribe to a total of 3 pregnancy-to-parenting update sites. I just can’t help but want to know so much about my baby’s development every week. These sites give updates weekly about the baby on the womb, the mother’s body, and so many more helpful articles that we as parents-to-be ought to know. I have 3 because each site has its strengths and weakness. For instance, welcomebaby.com shows a weekly 3-D image of a baby. So cute to look at!

Boy or Girl? Old Wive’s Tale
Even at the start of the pregnancy, we so wanted to know whether our baby is a boy or girl. So when I had my hands on a computer (just about in my 4th month), I took this on-line funny test to determine the baby’s gender. The Westerner’s term this as old wive’s tale. If your preggy and up to it, taking the test is fun! And ei, it got mine correct – baby boy it is!

Boy or Girl? Chinese Lunar Calendar
The Old Wive’s Tale test still wasn’t enough for me. So through the Chinese Lunar Calendar, I checked again whether our baby is really a boy (just as we prayed for). Viola – it’s a BOY! (Though it’s not until my 24th week that our OB announced that we are having a boy and was confirmed on the 27th week.) Hmmm… will these sites guess your baby’s gender too?

There are more sites I visit but Pinoy Baby blog has actually more of these helpful sites and pinoy tips. If you are an expecting Filipina mom, I strongly recommend you read her blog.

Still in my 7th month, and I am already losing sleep due to excitement… With more readings, help from the web and with God’s grace, time will fly and soon our healthy baby boy is in my arms.

We’re Having a Baby Boy!

Mrs. A — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 02:28:16 +0000

When Tope and I got married, we immediately wanted to have a baby. We included this in our prayers. Even then, we were specific in our prayers – we wanted a healthy baby boy.

Nine months since our prayer brigade, I am now on my 24th week or 6th month of pregnancy. Thank God my 2nd trimester was a breeze. With His grace, I will also sail through the last trimester smoothly. (As they say, this is the most difficult chapter of pregnancy.)

I had my 23rd week prenatal check-up last Friday, July 26, 2008. On my last OB visit (19wks) we were told that not until the 28th week can the gender be determined. Because we were so excited and atat, I planned a scheme on this recent OB visit for us to find out already the baby’s gender.

Having gained an excess of 2 lbs. for the 2nd time (argh, I shouldn’t stuff my mouth all the time!), I told my doctor that I wanted to see if my baby is just in the right size. (My OB, by the way is also a sonologist with her own sonogram machine in the clinic.) Being so sweet and nice as always, my OB obliged after checking the baby’s super strong heartbeat. (Praise God!)

We first saw his head and hands as he was playing with it and touching his face. And as I suspected, his size is 1 week bigger than he should be. (tsk. tsk. tsk. Totally my fault!) THEN, I “out-of-the-blue-not-planned-at-all” asked, “Mahibal-an na ba iyang gender, Doc?” (Can the gender be determined already?) “Tingnan natin,” (Let’s see) was her reply as she moved towards the other side of my tummy. (Yup, my OB is also Tagala.) She looked and looked some more then “lalaki!” She pointed something on the monitor which looked like a tiny pair of you-know-what with a you-know-what in the middle. “Lalaki nga!” She confirmed. I was just ecstatic! And so is Tope! He said the baby was in “bikang2x” position displaying all his jewels. Hehehe…

But my OB said the images will be clearer on the 27th or 28th week. Even so, we know that our prayers were truly answered! Once again, God showed His goodness to us. We are so blessed and so happy! In 3 months plus so weeks, we will welcome our dear Baby Boy! Thank you Lord!

Trivia (That you might not find interesting at all)

My baby’s position is okay – cephalic (head down). But the thing is he is so comfortable making the placenta his pillow. (Naa gyud tawon sa iyang uluhan, gihimog unlan) So still, my placenta is low. I still have to be extra cautious with my daily activities and I can’t make “pahilot” the baby’s position for the placenta might be moved and will cause yet another bleeding. My OB said that we will just have to wait for the placenta to move up on its own. Otherwise, birthing will be difficult and a CS might be necessary. Please help us pray for my placenta’s position and for me to have a normal delivery…
Coincidentally, my baby’s name is the same with my cousin’s baby’s name. It was funny when I found out that they had planned the name a long time ago too (the first name only is the same though). Theirs is due on September, ours is on November.
My pregnancy outfit is courtesy of some generous friends and family – Nene Jul, Mama, Ophel and Debbie. Debbie probably provided 90% of my preggy wardrobe. She let me borrow two-huge-bag-full of clothes. Thanks so much!!! Mmmwah!

My Pregnancy So Far…

Mrs. A — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 10:02:39 +0000

Our Baby is Doing Great! Thanks to God!

Our baby at 11weeks… so tiny…

As of Monday, June 30, I am in my 5th month of pregnancy. I have put on hold my blogging and the e-business I started (w/c I’ll close na) because I prioritized my family for the pass 5 months. I had a difficult first trimester with off and on spotting and bleeding. For those times, I spent most of it just lying in bed, going to the OB-GYN’s clinic and missing out on so many happenings around me – the MSU-IIT graduation, summer trainings, cousin graduation and birthday parties, a friend’s wedding in Cebu, etc., etc., etc. But the funny thing is, I didn’t feel left out nor sad, I’m just so happy that God answered our prayers for a baby after only 5 months since the wedding. Indeed God is so good, that he prepared everything for this pregnancy.

He knows I am like Mama who experienced bleeding even until her 6th month of pregnancy. So, He made sure I got pregnant during summer break for me to get enough rest. He also gave us a car early this year so it will not be difficult for me to leave the house. God surrounded me with people who supported me in so many ways; my officemates who covered for all the work I left, my bosses who truly understands my situation, circle of friends who always pray for me and a family who never fails to support me and Tope. Thank you very much! My husband and I, plus our baby is very much thankful!

My Husband, My Hero

my Hubby Tope, with our dear parents before his final defense.

My husband Tope, on top of his piled up papers and lab manuals to grade, thesis to finish and defense to prepare, PLUS household chores to do, he made my pregnancy experience a breeze. During my bed rest period (3 months or so), he did everything for me, even serving me food in bed. I knew then he was over fatigued from all the pressures from work, from his thesis adviser, from my condition, but he did all these with a great heart… He is even the one who gives me hearty laughs everyday. Until now, we still are very cautious of my condition, thus everyday I am still my hubby’s princess. I thank God everyday for all His blessings, most especially for my husband whom I can’t wait to raise a baby with.

My Pregnancy Test Result Drama

Mrs. A — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 09:55:07 +0000

Below is the blog I wrote last March when we found out that I’m pregnant. Because of my critical condition, I decided not to post this then. Now, with the rest of my pregnancy photos, I’m posting this “madrama” na entry.

Rissa Singson-Kawpeng is Kerygma’s editor-in-chief. Since I was engaged, I was able to read up Kerygma issues that my then-fiance has. I was able to follow Rissa’s story when she got engaged, got married and when she got pregnant. I even welled up reading her story on how she discovered she was pregnant. You see, Rissa is not-so-young anymore, and getting pregnant on her honeymoon is truly a miracle from God. I cried when she narrated how she wept in the OB-GYN’s office looking at the ultra-sound monitor. I cried with her because I was so happy for her… and that I so envied her – I too wanted to be pregnant like her.

On the March issue of Kerygma, Rissa’s article was about her pregnancy and how she is putting all her faith to God knowing how delicate the first three months and the succeeding months of being pregnant are. I thought to myself, when will I have these concerns?

Four days delayed of my scheduled menstruation, March 11, 2008, I woke my husband at 4:00 in the morning to stand guard outside the bathroom as I was to pee and take the pregnancy test. (‘cz if I was positive, I didn’t want some “kikik” looking through the window without my husband nearby. Hihihi…)

Using the dropper of the kit, I placed 3 drops on the specimen well. Having used a pregnancy kit for the first time, I was amazed as the liquid ran through the result slot forming the first line, and… as it reached the end part a thicker and clearer line appeared. Two lines!!! Two lines!!! I’m pregnant!!! But as I looked closer, the first line was lighter or more blurry than that of the second. It’s obvious that there were 2 lines, but is this it? Does it count even if both lines are not equally clear? It was 4:00 AM, we had no one to ask about it. I had to wait for morning and ask my friend Ms. N.

Morning seemed too long as Tope and I talked of how we are so happy and blessed by God. As soon as I finished getting ready for work, I went to Ms. N, an expert on pregnancy stuff (she was on her 5th pregnancy then. ;D). Alas! The answer I needed was finally confirmed – the lines were valid, I am pregnant! Praise GOD!

Baby Bump Showing, Papparazzi Prowling

Mrs. A — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 09:33:39 +0000

just a gag photo gallery… hope you enjoyed. got the idea from looking at pregnant hollywood celebrities being stalked by papparazzis.

Bratty to Wifey and Launching my eBay Store

Mrs. A — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 09:54:41 +0000

Having been pampered and living a care-free life, budgeting, paying of bills, cost-cutting and even doing household chores is something I have to live with now. Surprisingly enough, with the help of my husband, the transition was easy for me. Thank God he gave me such an understanding and knows-his-way-around-the-world hubby. As what I have been telling my best friend, I have my very own McGyver in the house. Go figure! (He fixes everything around the house, from carpentry, electrical, plumbing and even car troubles… I think the list is endless… ‘) awww… proud wifey!)

I now pass the stage of being drawn to sale in boutiques, splurging in not-so-cheap restaurants, having expensive hair and beauty treatments, going to out-of-the blue outings (out of town or not) or just simply spending money with little or no care at all. As I would joke to friends, I’m over the pa-tweetums role but now taking on a mature role (though luckily, most of my friends are in the same transition too ;D); meaning – monthly budget, house beautification, extra income rackets, etc, etc on top of my regular day job. Basically, not just living for the day, but living for our future as well (Oh, diba? So “tinigulang”! / See? So “oldie”!)

Notice the phrase “extra income rackets”. I have one brewing already. I started days ago but today I am officially launching it. (Though a certain friend of mine, beat me to it already last night. Hint: kenblog! Hehehe…) I have been an eBay shopper since November 2005. I took my being eBayer to the next level – I AM NOW A SELLER!

I am starting with imported products from my Tita in the US. But I’ll definitely follow it up with 2nd hand products at home that are saleable (bags, shoes, clothes, etc that are just stuck in the closet); to de-clutter the house (my parent’s and ours), to help my Mama and extra income, of course! I don’t know if this will be a hit but it’s worth the shot! Aside from blogging, I have a new habit on the net. Hehehe… I am so totally married! Hehehe…

We do go through stages in life. I am honestly surprised how comfortable I am to be in this stage. Knowing the “me” before, this is a shocker. I am so happy to be in this point in my life. I guess God just has his way with us. Right?

Visit my eBay store by clicking here.

Interested friends from Iligan will have the advantage of purchasing the product at the cost my Tita set.

Hair Drama Queen

Mrs. A — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 05:28:57 +0000

I did it. After days of pondering then deciding; then convincing my husband that I do it –finally I did! And I’m happy with the result. For the first time in the history of my hairstyles (always long, below the shoulder length), I am proudly wearing my hair short.

I woke up lazily today, even dragged myself out of bed. Then it hit me, “today is the big day” – I’m, going to have my hair cut. So I excitedly hurried to school (I have first period every Tuesdays and Fridays), then enthusiastically discussed my lessons. Finally, 9:00 PM came, I said my goodbyes to my students and I was off to the parlor…

I went to my wedding (hair and make-up) stylist. I gave all my confidence to him. As he cut away, I never had a feeling of doubt if I was doing the right thing (hmmm… maybe once or twice. Hehehe…). But when he was done and I was examining myself in the mirror, my round face showing, in my new above-the-shoulder-a-little-above-the-chin-slashed hair cut – I thought, “I like my new look.”

Here I go again fussing about my hair. I have been wearing my hair long for the longest time. And cutting it is always a big decision for me. This is the shortest my hair has ever been, thus I can say, I was really brave today. (hahaha….)

My hubby, being a typical Filipino guy prefers my hair long. I hope when he sees me, he won’t regret that he agreed for me to do this. *fingers crossed, mwah-mwah!*

So, as of today, I’m all set for the summer… *Rain-rain go away already… *

Acknowledgement:
Thanks to my husband, who finally agreed for me to cut my hair.
Thanks to Eyay, my friend, who inspired me to make a dramatic change to my hairstyle. *You look amazing in your new short hair, by the way.*
And to Ikang, my best friend, who bullied me to do this already.

Bow. Fin. My hair drama ends here. (until my next hair cut)

Love. A Very Simple Message

Mrs. A — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 07:31:32 +0000

I received this forwarded email from a friend; that I think all of us should read. Its message is so straightforward and simple, but it’s something we often neglect. The message is authored by George Carlin. He is a Grammy-winning American stand-up comedian, actor, and author. I hope his message will strike you, as much as it struck me.

Subject: Take a Moment to Enjoy the Simple Things in Life

What a difference a sad event in someone’s life makes.
GEORGE CARLIN (His wife recently died…)

Isn’t it amazing that George Carlin – comedian of the 70’s and 80’s – could write something so very eloquent…and so very appropriate.

A Message by George Carlin:

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life. We’ve added years to life not life to years. We’ve been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We’ve done larger things, but not better things.

We’ve cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We’ve conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We’ve learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete…

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn’t cost a cent.

Remember, to say, “I love you” to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

If you don’t send this to at least 8 people….Who cares?

George Carlin

February’s Here!

Mrs. A — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 05:00:36 +0000

It’s January 31, 2008!!! Do you know what that means? Meaning- tomorrow is the start of the Love Month! *heart-heart eyes*

Here I am again with my mushiness. Every year I make such a fuss about this month. This year is extra special for me. For the first time, as a couple, we will celebrate Valentine season as husband and wife. Awww… hehehe… And… to add how special this year’s love month is – its leap year! One more extra day for us to stay in the love spell of February!

So tonight, let’s wonder off to dreamland and have the sweetest dream ever, for when we wake up – it’ll be the 1st day of the Love Month! Spread the love peeps!