Sunday, September 28, 2008

Baby Clothes Shopping

Leo and I went shopping today for baby clothes and like any pair of excited parents, I think we overdid it. :)

We first went to SM Makati to canvass for cribs and strollers. We found a nice wooden crib that can be converted to a toddler bed but it costs a freaking P29K! We did find a nice Gracco crib for more than half the price (P12K). It can be converted into a playpen later on. It also has a changing pad so we're considering that as an alternative.

We're also choosing between a Gracco (P12K) and Chicco (P11K) stroller. I'm more partial to the Gracco because it has this thingee that monitors the temperature.

After that, we then looked for other baby stuff. These are what we bought:

The yellow thing at the top is a foam thingee where I can place the baby when I give him a bath. There's the rubber mat as well which can be placed underneath the foam among other uses.

I also bought 3 4 oz evenflo feeding bottles. My friend Cess, recommended this to me. She also suggested Gerber but SM says they're out of stock.

The chicco thing underneath the bottle was actually a gift from my sister-in-law. It's a crib mobile which will go well with the crib.

The white thing on the right is a hooded sweater with pants that can be worn by the baby. I bought a lot of Winnie the Pooh stuff at SM.

After SM, Leo and I went to this place at Bel-Air for more baby clothes. The two items on the left are some stuff that I bought. Actually, the two items are just some of the stuff that we bought from the Bel-Air place. I think we went crazy as everything's so cheap! Our P2K got us more than 20 pcs of baby clothes! I love the hooded and flannel blankets that we got. I'm really so excited. The picture above shows the number of baby clothes that we already have. Most of it was given to us by my sister-in-law. I already bought Cycles detergent to wash the clothes before I give birth.

I really can't wait seeing my baby wear all these baby clothes!


Baby Clothes Shopping

Leo and I went shopping today for baby clothes and like any pair of excited parents, I think we overdid it. :)

We first went to SM Makati to canvass for cribs and strollers. We found a nice wooden crib that can be converted to a toddler bed but it costs a freaking P29K! We did find a nice Gracco crib for more than half the price (P12K). It can be converted into a playpen later on. It also has a changing pad so we're considering that as an alternative.

We're also choosing between a Gracco (P12K) and Chicco (P11K) stroller. I'm more partial to the Gracco because it has this thingee that monitors the temperature.

After that, we then looked for other baby stuff. These are what we bought:

The yellow thing at the top is a foam thingee where I can place the baby when I give him a bath. There's the rubber mat as well which can be placed underneath the foam among other uses.

I also bought 3 4 oz evenflo feeding bottles. My friend Cess, recommended this to me. She also suggested Gerber but SM says they're out of stock.

The chicco thing underneath the bottle was actually a gift from my sister-in-law. It's a crib mobile which will go well with the crib.

The white thing on the right is a hooded sweater with pants that can be worn by the baby. I bought a lot of Winnie the Pooh stuff at SM.

After SM, Leo and I went to this place at Bel-Air for more baby clothes. The two items on the left are some stuff that I bought. Actually, the two items are just some of the stuff that we bought from the Bel-Air place. I think we went crazy as everything's so cheap! Our P2K got us more than 20 pcs of baby clothes! I love the hooded and flannel blankets that we got. I'm really so excited. The picture above shows the number of baby clothes that we already have. Most of it was given to us by my sister-in-law. I already bought Cycles detergent to wash the clothes before I give birth.

For those who intend to give us baby clothes, please give us something else. :)


Saturday, September 20, 2008

IT'S A BOY!

Yep, it's definitely a boy. My congenital ultrasound this afternoon confirmed this. The baby's very healthy and very "malikot". The sonologist had a difficult time trying to catch him as he keeps on moving around. (At least now I can refer to my baby as a "he" instead of an "it"!)

Now comes the difficult task of choosing a name. Before anything else, we want everyone to know the following:

1. The baby will NOT be named Leonardo IV (it's going to be quite confusing when you have 3 Leonardos living in one house)
2. The baby's name will start with "S"
3. The baby will only have one first name

So here are our choices:

Sebastian (origin: Greek) - revered; commanding great respect; impressive
Sandrino (origin: Italian) - defender of men
Santino (origin: Italian) - little saint
Salvador (origin: Spanish  - savior

I'm already partial to Sebastian but we're checking out other options.

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Libre ang Mangarap (Dreaming is for Free)

While browsing around at the mall today, I came across two gadgets which I would want but don't have the heart to ask or buy. I'm due to give birth on January and we have to save for that.

Nevertheless, if by chance of miracle we have some extra money, there are a couple of gadgets which I want but don't really need.


This is a Nokia E71. It's specifications are a mile long so I won't elaborate. It's been such a long time since I've owned a high tech phone and I really like this. It has email, wifi, 3g, 3.2 megapixel camera, music player, fm radio, oh and it can call and text too. At least I won't be ashamed when I attend meetings and out of the high-tech phones littering the table, my current Nokia 5070 and 1110i looks so out of place.






The picture on the right is an ipod Touch. I originally wanted an iPhone but according to reviews and my friends, this is better--though it can't call or text it has the same features as an iPhone. It makes a really nice and entertaining gadget. It's originally an mp3 player (like the ipod) but it can do other things as well--save and play videos, games, surf the web (wifi) and other applications which can be downloaded from the web.

Obviously, both items are quite expensive. Around $400-450 each. Hay, libre naman ang mangarap.

8 Ways to Comfort with Grace

I've always followed Rita Avila's journey towards motherhood, ever since I saw her being interviewed at the defunct S-Files wherein she shared her frustration on getting pregnant. I felt mad in her behalf when the show somehow twisted the story of her dolls. See, her husband bought her two dolls which they treated as their babies. The talk show somehow insinuated that she lost her mind in treating the dolls as real life people. Of course she was the guest and she cleared it up afterwards but some people can just be very insensitive in the feelings of other people.

I was overjoyed for her when she gave birth to a baby boy November 2006 but that feeling of joy turned into sorrow when I read in Ricky Lo's column at the Philippine Star that they lost their baby due to a heart ailment a month after his birth.

Almost two years after the death of her child, she came out with a small book titled "8 Ways to Comfort with Grace". It contains tips on how to comfort grieving people. I wanted to buy it as I'm always at a loss when I find myself in such a situation. Usually, I just sit with the crying person and offer my shoulder to cry on and try not to say anything. So when Leo and I went to the Bookfair today, I really looked for her book amongst the dozens of exhibitors that covered the whole floor area and was glad when I found it with minimal help from the Secretariat.

Upon getting home, it was the first book I read. I was really touched by her story. Maybe because I have relatives and friends who share her story as well. I'm glad too that the way I comfort is considered acceptable. I try as much as possible, to be sensitive to the feelings of the grieving party as I try to put myself in their place. After all, I have lost people who are dear to me so I could relate to their grief.

I really do recommend this book. It's published by St. Paul and cost me only P100 (it was on sale as it was the Bookfair but regular price is P125).

Birthing Classes with Rome Kanapi

Start:     Oct 11, '08 09:00a
End:     Nov 15, '08 12:00p
Location:     Forbes Park, Makati
Start of the birthing classes that we've scheduled with Rome Kanapi. It will run for 5 Saturdays (Oct 11, 18, Nov 1, 8 and 15)

Tuesday, September 09, 2008

Sixth Month Check-Up

Start:     Oct 4, '08 10:00a
Location:     Asian Hospital
I'll be on my 24th week then. Time for more tests!

Congenital Ultrasound

Start:     Sep 20, '08 10:00a
Location:     OBGyne Ultrasound Festival Mall
Other than checking out the baby's stats, we'll finally know if it's a boy or a girl.

Sunday, September 07, 2008

Five Months - The Halfway Mark

Yes, I'm almost there. I had my monthly check-up yesterday and so far, thank God it has been uneventful. I only gained 2 lbs since I got pregnant and I'm on the right track. My target is to only gain 10 lbs when I give birth. Hopefully, I'll be able to do it else I'll be high risk already. My doctor wants me to go walking or swimming as my form of exercise. I'm still on my prenatal vitamins, but will have a new set of tests next month. I am so NOT looking forward to that. I absolutely abhor that oral glucose tolerance challenge. That orangy-sweet thing is just nasty.

However, when I woke up this morning, my belly felt heavy and my right leg and right arm felt uncomfortable (ano bang english sa "nangangalay"). Maybe because I was lying on them too much throughout the night. I slept so heavily. The baby was actively moving and it must've been pushing against an organ or nerve as my right side felt painful for awhile. If this persists tomorrow, I'll call in sick and see my doctor again.

I've been encouraging Leo to talk to the baby. I just told him to aim for the bump and just talk so that the baby will recognize his voice. I haven't been listening to classical music that often, but I've been listening to an instrumental piano CD and the Madrigal Singers.

I enrolled us for Rome Kanapi's childbirth classes starting October 11. I'll be on my 6th month by then. I'm looking forward to that. Leo will hopefully learn how to change diapers and take care of the baby.

We'll know the sex of the baby hopefully on my congenital ultrasound two weeks from now. I'm not really particular with the sex--as long as our baby is healthy.

Tuesday, September 02, 2008

Frances' wedding - 30Aug08




Frances is an officemate and part of the Credit Top Team. She got married last Saturday, Aug 30. Sta. Rita de Cascia Parish at Philam Homes while the reception was at Gazebo Royale along Visayas Avenue. Being North people challenged that we are, Leo and I opted to just go to the reception--thus the limited pictures.
For those asking, I did my own make-up :) My officemates said that I should wear make-up more often, unfortunately, it takes me an hour just to put the gook on. Besides, with the worries that I face everyday, I have this tendency to rub my forehead or my face so I'm better off with no make-up.

Subic Trip - 31Aug - 2Sep08




We celebrated our first anniversary at Subic. Stayed at Venezia Hotel inside SBMA. Went to Ocean Adventure Park and went Duty Free shopping. Nothing much. Just relaxed and caught up with sleep.

Subic Anniversary Trip

I'm so happy to be back home. Don't get me wrong. We stayed in a really nice hotel and the way going there was very smooth. The SCT-Expressway is as wonderful as they said it would be. However, one can only do so much in Subic, not to mention that Leo's cold was getting worse the longer we stayed there (odd considering that the air was very clear and it only rained once when we were there).

We left Manila, Sunday after we finished the 8AM mass. We had a stopover at Shell NLEX where we had brunch at KFC and I indulged on my craving for Cinnabon and Dairy Queen (of course, I just took out four buns of Cinnabon to eat when we got to Subic and had the Blizzard to go).

Guided that the map that we printed out, we managed to find the SCT (Subic-Clark-Tarlac) Expressyway entrance after the Dao exit. That expressway, though longer than taking the Dao exit was indeed a great thing. See some pictures of the SCTEx below:

Sorry, I'm such a lousy picture-taker.

Anyway, we left Alabang at 915AM and arrived in our hotel to check-in (including the stopover) almost 12noon. Not bad. Good thing the hotel allowed us to check-in even if it was pretty early.

We were booked at the Hotel Venezia in Subic. It's a nice and quite affordable hotel. The Superior room cost only 2K++ for a night. See a couple of pictures below:Yeah, that's me and my big tummy on the bed. Actually, the bed is very comfortable--and the pillows too! I really love the pillows. The bed, I think, is just double beds that were put together. It's ok as I couldn't go near Leo anyway. :) His sore throat became a cold and when we left this morning, it was slowly becoming a cough. Gosh, I can't catch whatever he has.

The room is L-shaped. The wall beside the desk is the bathroom. The thing about the bathroom is that it's segregated into 3 compartments and each compartment has doors. Too bad I wasn't able to take a picture of it. But the room's really nice. I can guarantee it.

After checking-in, we went out to look for a place to have lunch. We settled for Aristocrat where I had chicken barbecue and Leo had his usual salad.

We went back to the hotel afterwards to freshen up and at around 3 or 4PM, we went to Royal Subic Duty Free to do some preliminary shopping. We also visited the National Bookstore beside the Duty Free shops and browsed around. Then we went to the Waterfront Drive where we looked at the sea (with the very polluted beach). We settled for a place to eat which was Seafood by the Bay. Quite expensive but I love their Grilled Shrimp.

The next day, Leo finally persuaded me to visit Ocean Adventure. Didn't realize it was that far. The park opens at 10AM and we were the second group inside the place. It's smaller than a usual Ocean Park but it brought out the child in me.

We first saw the performing Seal and I couldn't help but smile the whole time and clap my hands. We were seated so close that I could smell the seal's fishy breath. Hehe.

The seal's name is Madison. :)

While waiting for the Dolphin show, we went to check out their small aquarium. Saw some stuff that I only saw at the Discovery Channel. We then went to their restaurant where we had a quick bite to eat. Then, we joined the other visitors at the El Capitan Theater to check out the Dolphin show.

I was once again a child when I saw the Dolphins frolicking around with their trainers. I was clapping my hands and squealing with the other children.I was feeling very hot after being out in the sun. We hurried back to the hotel and had merienda at Chow King at a Petron station. When we decided to go back to the hotel, we got caught by the SBMA police for "Lane Straddling". We immediately paid the Php200 fine at the nearby office and went back to the hotel where I cooled down and had a nap.

We ventured out at 630PM and had dinner at Gerry's at the Waterfront Drive. Food was cheap but nothing phenomenal. Had more seafood. We then went back to the hotel and slept at around 10PM.

I woke up early this morning after sleeping for 7 hours. I played with my Nintendo DS while waiting for Leo to wake up. He had a restless night because of his cold and I did not have the hear to disturb him. He finally got up at 7AM and we got ready for breakfast.

I wanted to have breakfast at Pancake House again but when we got there, it was still closed. We just went to Jollibee where I had an unsatisfying breakfast. We then went back to the hotel and started packing up. We waited for awhile as I wanted to pass by Duty Free again before going home.

I thought that the trip going home will only take 3 hours and we did make good time--until we got to EDSA. We left Duty Free at 1015AM and was at North EDSA by 115PM (that includes the stopver for lunch at Kenny Roger's at Shell NLEX). Not bad. However, we got caught in the infamous EDSA traffic gridlock that started all the way at West Avenue up to the Ortigas flyover and which took us an hour and a half to traverse. Seeing that it was a bus and the concrete barricades that caused all that traffic really stressed us further. It did not help that it started raining at 2PM.

We finally reached South Station Exit at Alabang at 3PM (and it was not raining when we reached South Superhighway). Thank God. My bladder was ready to burst and I wanted to buy medicine for Leo's colds and cough. We had merienda at Pancake House and we got home at 4PM.

By the way, going to Subic is not cheap in terms of toll fees. Breakdown of toll fees below:
Alabang to Nichols (if not skyway) = P65 (tama ba? Naka-epass kasi kami)
Balintawak to Bulacan = P36
Bulacan to NCTeX NLEX exit = P138
NCTeX NLEX entrance to Tipo Exit = P112
Tipo Exit to Subic = P18
Total = P369 x 2 = P738

That was how we spent our First Year Anniversary. It did help me unwind and I caught up with much needed sleep.