Surprise Baby Shower

CLASS PICTURE ;P

Little did I know that my friends planned a surprise baby shower. Of course, how else can it be a surprise if I knew it in the first place hahaha! They have set a conspiracy with Dennis to make me go to Ulrik's place. He told me it's Yanah's (Ulrik's younger sister hahaha!) birthday so I was insisting on buying her a gift. Dennis said we'll just buy the gift some other time. So, off we went to Sunny Spring condo. It was quiet outside their unit so I was thinking the visitors haven't arrived yet. We rang the doorbell twice, the door opened and there stood my friends hollering "Surprise! Happy Birthday!!!" (It wasn't my birthday though) hahaha! I was stunned and didn't know what to do. I was really surprised! So at first I stayed outside and I can't help but laugh. Their plan was a success! I haven't got even a smallest hint. Two thumbs up for you guys! Ang galing nyo talaga! I can't thank you enough for this *hugsssssssss* =D

Kain tayo! =)










































Hanzel once again shared the product of his cooking prowess. He made the chili shrimps with complimenting ensaladang mangga. The others also brought food. There's pizza, bbq, roasted chicken, cassava and blueberry cake. Yum! =9





















Opening of gifts

Bliss

Another baby checkup last Saturday! Doctor Esther, Dennis, and I were so amazed on how cute baby Alex turns out. She kicked as the doctor maneuvers the ultrasound equipment through my tummy. Baby Alex/Lexi's right arm is raised against her head, her right hand kept playing with her right ear, she pauses for a moment and then yawned! Yes... she yawned!!! She was so cute!!! This is the first time we saw her like this. A teardrop fell from my eye for I can't believe that she now really looks and moves like the babies we see. Tears of joy it is! Her big cheeks are noticeable. I wonder where she got that?! Hahaha! Unfortunately, the doctor says she cannot give us a copy of the baby's full face. I guess it's part of Chinese superstitions, correct me if I'm wrong.

As of today, I'm 9 months pregnant! Hooray!!! A few more days to go!

Next visit to the doctor is scheduled after two weeks. Doc said it could be our last check-up as my due date is fast approaching. So, tata for now! Still have to prepare my maternity bag! =D

Here Comes Tita Yolly and Yoya

Last November 17, Ate Yolly (my sis-in-law) accompanied mother (my mother-in-law) to Singapore. Mother will be staying with us to help us take care of baby Alex.

"Alex: It's my Tita! (kicks and squirms forcefully)"
This happened several times. As Ate Yolly talks, Alex turned my tummy into a punching bag. Little parts protruding as if it's going to come out. Hahaha! We'll tell her it's just her Tita Yolly explaining something. Imagine Dennis talking with his lawyer-like voice then you'll get the idea hahaha! Before Ate Yolly went back home we made trips to Orchard Rd., the mall and had consecutive days of buffet.

We were so grateful our dear mother will be here when Alex comes out. I'm sure she knows how to handle a baby as compared to me, a first time mom. Though I'm excited and very eager to learn how to take care of our sweetie Alex. Oh, and didn't I tell you mother is a great cook? Finally we can have a taste of her Filipino dishes once again.

Mother accompanies me everyday on a 15-minute walk along the streets of Geylang. They said this is to help the baby move further down. Whew! It's good to have sweat a lot.

Orchard Road at night...












Suntec City...
<- Stolen shot daw hahaha!




















<- Fountain of Wealth









Plaza Singapura...
Mother enjoying her cup of cappuccino








Mother.. can I have one sip of your coffee?!
Puhhhhleazzeee!







Twins! (Ate Yolly and Dennis)
Hehehe!








Sizzler - Toa Payoh...









* Before I forget, I would like to thank Papa, Mama, Rich, Mother, Ate Yolly, Ate Sally, Dico and Nico for the all the nice pasalubong/gifts you gave us (me, Dennis and baby Alex). Xie xie! =D *

Countdown continues...

People confused me for Gwyneth in Shallow Hal hahaha! Just kidding. I weigh 64 kilos/141 lbs and my waistline is now 40 inches. At night, I've been tossing and turning in bed 6-8 times on an average, changing my sleep position. Moving my bump from one side to another, like moving a watermelon with no hands! Regarding comfortable sleeping position on late pregnancy, I have attached here an excerpt I got from Baby Center.


One of the privileges of being pregnant is getting offered a seat on a bus or in an MRT when all seats are taken. I guess my tummy sticks out big time or is it just my forehead with a "Pregnant lady on board" sign hahaha! Well, I'm not used to getting this kind gesture during my pregnancy not until I hit the third trimester. My tummy was less noticeable during my second trimester since I only got a small bump, they may have confused me for a lady with lack of exercise ;p

As of now, I'm taking quite a number of tablets/capsules per day (OBmin, folic acid, DHA, calcium, and the two tablets for hemoglobin and vitamin C). The DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid), an omega-3 essential fatty acid, is for brain development. How I wish I got a doze of it when I was still on my mom's tummy hahaha!

The ever dependable flip flop is my best friend nowadays. It's my feet's constant companion specially when me and Dennis go out of the house. What a relief for my sore feet! Good thing I don't have edema ("manas").

On food, my recent indulgence include cheesecake, ice cream, halo-halo, pearl shakes, coconut juice, anything sweet and cold. I just hope this doesn't make the baby too fat. Bad mommy! Too sad the chinese lady from Rochor food house tells us I can't take my chin-chow drink anymore 'coz it's not good for pregnant woman. Waaah! ='(

As for our little sweetie, Baby Alex is on the move! It's fun to see her little parts pushing
against my tummy. Dennis and I are guessing if it's her knee, foot or elbow. Sometimes there are little lumps that wiggle.. I guess it's the toes or fingers. We get to play with her when she moves and says "Huli ka! What's this baby?". Sometimes she hits my ribs, ouch! No, it's not painful hehehe, it's more of uncomfortable. But it's ok, as long as I know that she's perfectly doing fine. She's now accumulating more fat which explains my drastic change in weight week by week.

We were a bit concerned with baby Alex last time because she's still on a breech position, then the doctor is talking about cesarean delivery just in case she doesn't rotate. Gulp! I was scared because the last time I had an operation, I fainted while cleaning the stitches and that was only an inch long, what more with cesarean operation. Our doctor advised us to talk to our baby and plead for her to rotate, which we did every single day. Then last Saturday, we had another check-up, the doctor confirmed she's in the right position, head down yey! Very good baby! My due date is on December 26 but this time, Doc said, we are to expect the baby's delivery starting on December 12. That's less than a month now, Mommy and Daddy can't wait to hold our little princess in our arms!

Deja Vu

I won!!! This is my third time to win a raffle draw since my pregnancy. First I bagged a DVD player from a fund-raising activity from a church. Next was a $100 dollar voucher for a hair spa. The latest, I was chosen as one of the 15 winners of Singapore Indoor Stadium STAR PASS members to win a pair of movie tickets. A lucky baby indeed! ;D

Doc is IN

It was a long wait in our OB's clinic since it was a weekend. Daddy took a picture of me while waiting for my turn. Look how big my tummy is (at 7 months and 3 weeks). From once a month visit, she scheduled us to go back after 3 weeks(this was last Saturday). Next appointment is after 2 weeks. OMG! Were just counting a few more weeks until baby Alex/Lexi comes out! Doc says the baby is doing great =D

<- waaah! you should have told me daddy so that I could at least smile

<- "Huli ka daddy! Hahaha!"



















Your turn... say "Kimchi!"

OT: A day after, Rosiel went to our house. We had lunch together and had some chitchat.
To Rosiel: That was so thoughtful of you. Thanks a lot gurl! =D

Strolling in Babyland (or should I say stroller =p)

I'm on the 7th month of pregnancy. My back starts to ache and my soles are sore. Ouch! It's time to buy baby stuff before my feet can't carry too much weight. We went to Takashimaya and Plaza Singapura last Saturday, and in Suntec two weeks ago. Next week we'll be checking out baby stores in Marina Square. We were so excited to see all those baby stuff. Parents, as I have observed, were enthusiastic in buying things for their little ones. Their faces were brimming with zest just like us. I was overwhelmed with all the baby items to choose from. We checked the brands, quality and price. I didn't know that newborns would require their own closet until I made my checklist hahaha! The checklist were grouped as follows: layette, nursery, changing, bath, feeding, medicine kit, and travel. For layette alone, I have quite a number of items listed. Hmmm better start shopping early.

Big part of the budget would go to the stroller, since our Mareng Grace already gave us a cot *yey!*. Baby cots here costs around $400-600, so what a relief, whew! I've gathered some pointers on buying a stroller. This may be useful for moms-to-be out there..

• light weight
• handles that reverse so that baby is facing you
• sun/rain canopy
• storage basket
• reclining (for newborn)
• brakes that locks the wheel
• five-point safety harness
• removable/washable seat padding
  

Believe me, the first time we checked a stroller we don't have any idea how to pick a good one. Dennis, with confused face said "Walang akong experience sa ganito eh, ngayon lang" Hahaha! But now with some research we finally have an idea on what to buy. Dennis is now more observant whenever we passed through parents pushing their baby strollers. He now utters "Wow, Maclaren!", "O Combi sila", "Ayyy, Lucky baby" (don't ask me why hahaha !). After a few research and observation looks like Combi won our hearts. Most probably we'll be going to Tai Sing Showroom to checkout the wide range of Combi models (to a mom in preggy forum, thanks for sharing the info).

It's Our Birthday!

A year older, a year wiser! =D

It was Dennis' birthday. We went to Swensen's for a dinner date. We, as in me, Dennis and our sweetie, baby Alex hehehe. He gave a birthday treat for our BPI friends in Sakura.

Next is my birthday. My dear hubby surprised me with our living room in dim light, and there it was, flowers and cake for me at 12 midnight. Awwww so sweet! I love you daddy! =D I started to receive calls, txt messages/SMS, e-mail, greetings in FS and this one I'm not expecting.. flowers from my sis and bro-in-law in US. Thanks! I love you both! Dearest hubby and I went to Tony Roma's for dinner. Had a birthday treat for housemates in Kuishin Bo. (To my "galanteng" friend out there I hope you'll be reading this hahaha! thanks again for the gift!) =D

We invited pitibi friends in our house for a post celebration of our birthdays. Aside from
the food that we prepared, they also brought food and drinks. Parang "pot luck" hahaha!
Thanks pitibi! "Ayyyy.. lab nyo talaga kami ni Buru hihihi" ;D

Thanks to our family and friends who remembered and made our birthday special!

Prayer:
Thank you God not only for the blessings but the difficulties you helped us face in the past
year. Thank you for making us stronger and our lives meaningful. Thank you for surrounding us with people who loves us. We thank you most specially for giving us a chance to be a parent. All our joys and sorrows we lift up to you! Amen. =D

Bacon bits

"Family and friends are the Bacon Bits in the Salad Bowl of Life."

There was a point in my pregnancy when I was asked by my OB-Gyne to take bed rest. I even went as far as early resignation from my company, though I only have one month left on my contract. Dennis and I were so worried about the baby. Good thing our pitibi friends went to our house to cheer us up. Our family and friends from Pinas also gave their support. Such relief they gave us when the people we love show their concern and support even in the littlest way they can. So to our family and friends, our heartfelt thanks to all of you! Mwah! Mwah! Mwah!

Preggy Twix

Prenatal preparations:
-------------------------

• Sleep early (biggest challenge but still managed to do so)
• Get rid of coffee and sweets
• Avoid fish
  
• Eat healty foods
• Avoid strenuous activities

I'm pregnant!
-----------------
April 24, 2007:
I was getting menstrual cramps for days now although my period hasn't come yet. So we decided to buy some pregnancy test kit.

April 25, 2007:
At 4 o'clock in the morning. I grabbed a pack of the kit. hCG (Human chorionic gonadotropin aka pregnancy hormone) levels are very high in the morning as my research tells me, so its the most effective time of the day to test. I used it and waited for a few minutes... and then the result shows. Daddy is sleeping... I waked him up in a mellow voice... "dude..dude... it's positive" showing the test. He almost jumped out of bed. Our faces were filled with so much joy and excitement. At last! The blessing we've long been waiting for! We went to an OB my kumareng Grace referred to us. She did an ultrasound of the baby and there's our sweetie... a month and 3 days old =D Thank you God for the wonderful blessing! =D

A glimpse of the 1st trimester:
-----------------------------------
The most crucial part of pregnancy. It was a pretty good one for me. I didn't have any morning sickness. My mom says she didn't have it either for the 3 pregnancies she had. Lucky me, mana ata ako hehehe.. The only problem I had during this stage is the irony on how I can eat almost any food when I wasn't pregnant... now I despise the smell of chinese, malay and indian food. Pinoy and western food is all I can eat for now. Most of the time I crave for chicken, lutong andok's to be exact. I hate it most when the chix has been cooked with ginger ewww! To relieve my craving daddy and I went to Glutton's Bay, they have this grilled chix close to andok's taste. Can't count how much I ate that day hahaha! Yum!

2nd trimester:
------------------
My preggy tummy becomes noticeable. I started to wear maternity clothes. At 4 months I felt the "quickening" or butterfly-like baby movements in the tummy. At 5 months, our OB confirmed it's a baby girl. I can feel a part of her body started to poke in my tummy hehehe. At 6, the baby really wants to be noticed! hahaha! There's this sudden kick sometimes in multiples. At night, When I finally got my sleep there are times when she really kicked hard which keeps me awake. As for my food craving, I always think of all those kakanin we have in Pinas. Doodle's solution.. we went to Lucky Plaza to get my suman.. and mind you I even ordered halo-halo hahahah! A few days more and I'm on my way to third trimester!

Ei!

At last, my very own blog. It's been a long time since I wanted one... but the minute I start to think of it I get so lazy. Maybe it comes with the pregnancy... nah! Hahaha! Anyway, now I got the drive to write this first entry. I'm on the 6th month of the journey. Dennis and I will be having a baby girl soon. Right now my little sweetie is moving in my tummy. I guess it's her way of saying "Good morning mommy!"... cute. Everyday me and daddy awaits every movement of our dear little princess. Can't wait 'till we see her. Still have 91 days to go (according to my pregnancy ticker)! =D