I'm a Newbie Wife

Breastfeeding Gifts

2011-12-13T23:45:00.004+08:00

Welcome to the Milk Mama Diaries Carnival (December). For this month, we want to honor breastfeeding for having enriched our lives and blessed us, maybe even empowered us, in a way that only breastfeeding can. Please scroll down to the end of this post and check out the other carnival participants.

Breastfeeding is one of the best things I did as a mom. There's no better way to bond with my little Yumi than by holding her close while nourishing her with nature's most perfect food.

From among the many gifts that breastfeeding has given our family, I am listing here those that we are most thankful for:

A healthy baby. I've always been amazed at how strong Yumi's immunity is. Our little girl is now almost eight months old and has never been ill - not even a sniffle.

When she was just a month old, I had the flu; and a few days later, her Itay got it too. She continued breastfeeding even while I was sick but she remained healthy as always.

Strong mother-and-child attachment. Yumi and I spend lots and lots of cuddle time together. I've noticed that our little girl have grown so attached to me - something that I'm very happy and proud about. Yes, I know it's selfish but I'm the type of mother who delights in the idea that she's the only one who can pacify (pun intended!) her baby. (Sorry Itay!)

A ready solution to (almost) every baby trouble. All I need to do is let her nurse and she almost always calms down when she's:

hungry
sleepy
bored
hurt
upset.

Travel convenience. I bring Yumi along wherever I go and nurse her whenever she wants. We never needed to pack bottles of formula in the diaper bag.

Free flowing milk. It's free and it's supply can last as long as we need it!

And finally, perfectly-prepared meals served with love. ^_~

Source: Baby Blues - July 19, 1996

Read on and discover how breastfeeding enriched the lives of my fellow moms:

Shaps - Beyond Being Thin
Gretchen – Breastfeeding Gifts for Christmas
Carol – The Gift of Miracle
Jenny O.- The Gifts of Breastfeeding
Anne – The Gift of Breastfeeding
Nats – We Wish You Merry Nursing
Jenny R. – If the Magi Were Queens
Em – The “Breast” Gift
Isis – Got Milk?
Liv – My Breastfeeding Journey
Laya – Time in a Drop of Milk
Mec – The Gift of a Changed Man
Marnellie - From a Donee to a Donor
Icar - Breastfeeding Gifts

Baby Wearing is Ma-SaYa

2011-09-04T22:48:00.000+08:00

About baby wearing

Baby wearing, I recently discovered, provides much more than making travel with baby convenient for us parents. I must admit that it was the only thing on my mind when we purchased our sling carrier. Turns out that baby wearing is an attachment parenting tool, along with breastfeeding and co-sleeping which we also practice.

Attachment parenting, as described by Dr. Sears, is a style of caring for your infant that brings out the best in the baby and the best in the parents. Learning about this makes me happy knowing that we somehow managed to start right, although we still have to work really hard to discipline ourselves and improve our lifestyles so that we can raise our little girl well by being good examples.

SaYa: the sling that introduced us to baby wearing

Itay bought his SaYa when I was still preggy. And because our little angel is still snuggled inside my womb then, we practiced with this cuddly little fellow instead. These shots where taken during our maternity photo shoot.

Practice shot: I was trying to figure out how to put it on.

Excited as we were to try it when Yumi comes out, we waited until she was about a month old before we start wearing her. As first time parents, we needed to be confident in carrying a delicate little baby first before we proceed to the next level - using a sling carrier, that is.

Itay, practicing the Duyan (cradle carry).

Yumi hides from the paparazzi!

We love baby wearing with the SaYa because:

It's convenient for the parents. It doesn't take up much space and can be tossed into the bag when not in use. We can also move freely while walking around, no need to push a bulky stroller.

But it does take some getting used to. Since it's a double sling, it can be difficult to put a squirming baby in for the first few tries. Just be patient and you'll get there eventually. ^_~

I just noticed the baby in the stroller at the back.
NEVER ride the escalator with baby in a stroller.
Use the elevator instead!

It let's baby get a better view of the world around her. Yumi is happier when she sees what's going on. She likes the Tangan carry (front facing like the photo above) because she loves babbling and smiling at people who talks to her.

Although it's not the safest position, she prefers the Tangan with her arms outside the carrier. I think I really need to get a SaYa stabilizer soon.

It feels like a hug. Keeps us close even while on the go. This helps soothe Yumi so she could sleep soundly even when we're in a crowded place.

It doesn't hurt Inay's back. The double sling distributes baby's weight evenly.

It keeps baby warm. The downside though is that Yumi is very pawisin so we avoid wearing her when we're in a warm place (if we do, we make paypay furiously!) or else she'll be dripping wet after just a few minutes.

It transforms into a nursing cover. Here's a picture of us at the reception of baby Jared's Christening ceremony. After the moms had lunch, it was the babies' turn to drink milk. ^_^

Breastfeeding session with baby Jared and mommy Lordilene.
(Thanks sis Jenny for the photo!)

Contact Details:

SaYa Baby Carrier
Web: http://www.sayababy.com

SaYa Facebook page

We bought our SaYas from:

INDIGOBaby
Web: http://indigomanila.multiply.com
Makati Showroom (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm)
3892 A-Quingua St. Bgy. Pinagkaisahan, Makati City
Phone: (632) 8827857 or 09228499892

How I Taught the Family to "Breastfeed"

2011-08-17T20:00:00.013+08:00

Welcome to the Milk Mama Diaries Carnival (August). For this month, we join the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action in its "Talk to Me!" theme where participants will share personal experiences, insights or recommendations in communicating breastfeeding intentions and goals to their support system. Please scroll down to the end of this post and check out the other carnival participants.

I didn't really have a proper talk with my husband nor with other members of the family about my decision to breastfeed. I just knew I wanted to do it and so I did!

It helped that my family has been very supportive and they're actually happy about it. The precious baby has never been sick even though her Inay and Itay both had the flu when she was just a few weeks old. "Breastfed kasi.", they'd say.

The little milk monster in action:

But going back to work and leaving my little Yumi for several hours a day is a different story. This time, the baby sitters would play an active role in my goal to exclusively breastfeed.

I asked my Lola Ising (my Mom's aunt and Yumi's lola sa tuhod*) if she could take care of the little girl while I'm in the office. I was so happy when she agreed even if it means she has to commute to our house everyday.

I'm also grateful that Glenn will be able to stay home most of the time because he's schedule is quite flexible. And then there's my Ninang Sally (who's a seasoned nurse and who also happens to be my baby sitter when I was a baby), my Dad, and Yumi's uncles. That little girl is so blessed to have them!

So here's how I taught them to continue breastfeeding when I'm away:

I read, read, and read. Since I became a mom, articles about pregnancy, breastfeeding, and parenting in general suddenly became like the newest Harry Potter book to me - I can't put them down!

The more I knew about breastfeeding, the more I’m convinced that I’m giving my daughter the best start in life and the more I become confident talking about it. Some of the sites I frequent are BabyCenter, Kellymom, AskDrSears, and Ms. Jenny's blog.

I let THEM practice. It’s better if somebody else introduce the bottle other than the mom. So a few days before I return to work, I had my husband try and feed Yumi with expressed milk. She had a hard time swallowing and milk dribbled from her mouth so we had to stop and try again another day.

I learned that I need not obsess about baby accepting the bottle . It’s true that breastfed babies usually won’t take alternative feeding methods unless they’re really hungry and realize that they don’t have a choice.

During my first day back at work, I couldn't help but cry when I was told that Yumi doesn't want to feed from the bottle the whole morning. I was planning to go back home then but thank goodness she finally took it before lunch time and everything went well from then on.

I posted some quick reference notes. I printed these handouts from Kellymom and pasted them on the cabinet doors in the baby room:

I also badgered my husband into reading these articles. It actually paid off because on the nth time that I asked him if he’d read them yet, he showed off by reciting what he’d learned. Good job! Hihi!

Being the OC mom that I (probably) am, I also put up a handwritten list reminding them:

to check the smell and temperature of milk before feeding;
not to shake the milk, just swirl it gently; and
not to give Yumi any food other than breastmilk. I had to include this because my dad once tried to give her a taste of soy sauce from adobo! I wonder if he did that to me too when I was a baby?!
and the list goes on but they're already too personal to put here. ^_^

Doing this has helped me shake off some of the separation anxiety that started to creep in - so forgive me if I seem too controlling.

At the end of the day, we assess. We always take note of the volume of milk consumed so we'll be able to gauge how much milk I need to pump everyday to keep baby happy while leaving a frozen supply in case I get home later than usual. We also try to take note of her mood as well as her pee and poop output so we'd be assured that she's feeding well.

I thank them. Because they're doing this for the love, I like to let them feel my appreciation. Simple things like writing a thank you note, sharing a cake, or texting I love you goes a long way.

It's been around a month and a half since we started and I'm happy to report that we've been so far successful. And oh, my husband is now a black belt in bottle-feeding!

_________

*Lola sa tuhod means great grandmother.

_________

Read on and get more helpful tips from other breastfeeding moms:

DaintyMom's Creating a Pro-Breastfeeding Culture in the Family (Facebook and Twitter: @Dainty_Mom)
Wifely Steps' On Breastfeeding: Say It, Claim It, Get Support! (Facebook and Twitter: @macaronigirl)
Truly Rich Mom's How To Get Others to Support You in Breastfeeding (Facebookand Twitter: @tinasrodriguez)
EthanMama's My Best Breastfeeding Support System - My Husband (Twitter: @ethanmama)
Raising Baby Lia's A Shoutout to my Breastfeeding Buddies
Jen CC Tan's I'm Breastfeeding, and That's That! (Facebook and Twitter: @next9baby)
Project Blog by Kate's Talk and Make it Happen (Facebook and Twitter: @kate_demetrio)
My Mommy Kwentos' How I Recruited my Top Breastfeeding Buddies (Facebook)
Apples & Dumplings Communicating and First Time Breastfeeders (Twitter: @apple_dumplings)
I'm a Newbie Wife's How I Taught My Family to Breastfeed
TouringKitty's Communication Through Breastfeeding (Twitter: @Touringkitty)
Mec as Mom's Pre-Natal Pediatric Consultations Are Necessary
Escie's World's Ready, Get Set, Go! for Breastfeeding (Twitter: @Escielicious)
Nanaystrip's BreasTALK : Text, Retweet, Share your Knowledge and Experiences(Twitter: @bunsonimaestro)
Superwomom's A-S-Ks (on breastfeeding questions, help, support) (Twitter: @dsedilla)
Go Help Yourself's “6 persuasion tips for breastfeeding moms and advocates”
Legally Mom's Breastfeeding Talk Between Me and My Formula Fed Daughter(Facebook and Twitter: @legallymomPH)
Handy Mommy's Couple's Communication and Decision: Key to Successful Breastfeeding
Chronicles of a Nursing Mom's Effective Communication Bucket List (Facebookand Twitter: @mamababylove)

Awesome Giveaways from Chronicles of a Nursing Mom!

2011-06-24T19:04:00.001+08:00

I've been itching to buy one of those tutu-like skirts for my little Yumi since I saw one on display at SM when I was still preggy. So imagine my excitement when I learned that Ms. Jenny, the mom behind Chronicles of a Nursing Mom, is giving away this oh-so-cutie purple pettiskirt (ooh, now I know what to call it!) and a flower clip courtesy of Celestina & Co.

I want!

If you wanna get a chance to win these too, check out the Blog Giveaway: Celestina & Co. Pettiskirt and Flower Clip post on Chronicles of a Nursing Mom.

Hurry! Contest ends on June 30, 2011.

My Father's Day Wishes

2011-06-19T20:29:00.003+08:00

For my Daddy, I hope you'd quit smoking already and start running in marathons again.

Daddy and little me chillin' at the park.

And for little Yumi's Itay, I hope you'd lose the belly fat and start competing on table tennis tournaments again.

Little Yumi enjoying a tummy rub from her Itay.

Yumi and I love you both! (^_^)y

What a lucky first Mother's Day for me!

2011-06-16T16:36:00.006+08:00

I'm a winner of INDIGOBaby's The Yummy Mother's Month of May Promo! ^_^

I bought a set of Sensible Lines Milk Trays during the first week of May giving me two raffle coupons. I didn't know then that they have this promo so when I received the email confirmation from Ms. Denise, it was really a surprise! I'm so thrilled because I rarely win in raffle promos like this. Hihi!

I bought the trays in preparation for my going back to work.
I need to start storing frozen breast milk early
so my little girl would have enough supply while I'm away.
Sigh, just thinking about going away from her makes me sad already. :-(

The prize I got is a dress of my choice courtesy of Ms. Angel's

Browse the shop's collection on Facebook.

Here's the shop's 18th Collection video teaser featuring Ms. Angel herself:

Breastfeeding Station at SM City Calamba

2011-06-15T22:51:00.000+08:00

Going out with baby can prove to be a challenge especially when she starts crying for milk. The prospect of having to breastfeed in a public place is enough to discourage moms from leaving home.

This is why I'm glad that more and more establishments are responding to the needs of breastfeeding mothers. We were in SM City Calamba a few weeks ago when I discovered their breastfeeding station at the third floor. It's so nice knowing that moms and babies could have a clean, quiet, and comfortable place like this to nurse even when away from home.

The entrance at the third floor. Come in, it's free.

The breastfeeding area. So comfy.

At the nurse station, waiting for Itay to finish taking photos.
Yumi has fallen asleep after the feed.

This, however, doesn't mean that I only go to places with designated breastfeeding stations. We started taking Yumi out since she was four days old and all I need is a nursing cover (or any piece of cloth) and a surface to sit on and the little girl could nurse whenever she wants to. ^_^

Mayumi's Birth Story

2011-06-12T12:09:00.006+08:00

On the very day when my pregnancy reached its 40th week, Glenn and I went to the hospital for my scheduled labor induction. You see, my much anticipated true labor pains did not come despite the frequent Braxton Hicks I was experiencing for the past several weeks.

I've long been preparing myself for the labor pains - almost looking forward to it, actually - parang luka-luka lang, excited makaramdam ng sakit. @_@

After the routine check-up, we proceeded to the ER to get my IV drip and then I was wheeled to the DR where my baby's heart rate was monitored using, well, a fetal monitoring machine. I thought this would be just another routine check after which we'll proceed with the labor induction.

Apparently, I was wrong.

The fetal monitor showed that my baby's heart rate was too erratic, so it would be risky if we push through with the labor induction. In this case, a caesarean operation would be our best option.

Did you say caesarean?! [Insert suspense thriller sound effect here.]

Weeks before my due date, Dra. Renelle, my ob-gyne has been telling me that she cannot guarantee a normal delivery. Yes, my baby Yumi's size is right for her AOG, but the problem is I'm petite. There's also the fact that my tummy is insanely huge, I had a bad case of edema for weeks because the weight is too much for my lower body to carry. Despite this, I'm still hoping and praying for a vaginal birth.

My siblings and I were all delivered via c-section. Seeing the scar on my Mom's tummy and imagining that it was ripped open three times is enough to scare the wits out of me. This is why since I was a little girl, I'm terrified of the thought that I might go through that too! I also used to be scared of needle injections, I remember one time when I was fifteen, my Ninang Sally, a nurse, tried to give me a shot of measles vaccine. She ended up pricking her own finger. @_@

Anyway, back to my birth story.

When the doctor told me the news, I was surprised at how I took it. It's amazing that at that moment, although I was faced with the prospect of having my tummy ripped open, I felt calm.

My husband and my Ninang visited me inside the delivery room. It was them who decided to get on with the operation. After the consent form was signed and the anesthesiologist and pediatrician were contacted, I was transferred to the OR. I admit the room creeped me out a bit - the operating table and tiled walls reminded me of torture scenes in horror movies.

It wasn't as bad as I imagined, though.

The medical team made sure that I was as comfortable as possible. Everyone introduced themselves to me as they entered the room and they assured me that all of the people inside are medical professionals so I need not worry.

While the equipment and paraphernalia are being prepared, Dra. Renelle held my clammy hands and prayed with me. I surrendered everything to God, trusting that He would keep my little Mayumi safe and healthy.

Then the anesthesiologist briefed me before the procedure: I'll be awake during the first part (I guess this is when they cut open my uterus) but the anesthesia will make me numb from my breasts down; then after seeing my baby, I'll be sedated for the rest of the operation (I guess it's when they sew me up).

The only time I got a bit scared was when they told me that I'm about to get a shot of spinal anesthesia - my old fear of needles kicked in. I was told not to move while the needle is being injected (I was held tight into a fetal position by a very strong set of hands) because I might damage my spine if I did, so despite my fear, I didn't dare move - I didn't even dare breathe! A few breathless seconds passed, I finally heard the doctor say 'Very good Armi' and I started to feel numbness spreading from the point of the injection to my toes.

They put a sort of curtain between my head and the rest of my body - like what I use to see on TV and the movies, to prevent the patient from seeing th gory details of the procedure.

Feeling kinda silly, I did a little experiment. Remembering a scene from Kill Bill when Uma Thurman's character tries to regain the use of her legs (she just woke up from a coma) and attempts to wiggle her big toe, I also tried to move my legs. Turns out the drug is very effective - I can't move them nor can I feel anything from breasts down. Amusing, isn't it?

I couldn't tell how long I was on the table when I heard my Mayumi cry for the first time. It was surreal.

I was already groggy that time but I remember asking 'Baby ko na ba yan?' to the person nearest me. Then I heard someone say 'Kamukha ng tatay! and then someone - I think it's Dra. Renelle - confirmed it. I then asked her jokingly, 'Pero cute pa rin naman po di ba?'.

Then I heard a nurse went out of the room to get the camera. The next thing I knew, I'm smiling for me and my little Mayumi's first picture together.

Me and my perfect little angel.
She looks soooo much like her 3D UTZ photo! ^_^

Thank you God! She's perfect!

Then I drifted off.

I woke up to the sound of voices chatting somewhere to my right. I figured I must be in the recovery room. Tried to open my eyes and when the nurses noticed that I'm awake, one of them brought my little girl close to me so she could try to latch - she got it right the first time - galing ng anak ko!

After a while, we were brought to our room at the third floor where Mayumi's excited Itay, lolo, lola, aunts, and uncles are waiting.

Preggy with Yumi Maternity Photos

2011-05-02T11:05:00.001+08:00

Our little Yumi had already come out into the big wide world more than a week ago. I'm actually nursing her while preparing this post. ^_^

So yes, this is a bit late but we'd like to share it nevertheless. The photos were taken by Cris of Flickerhappy when I was 35 weeks pregnant.

Contact Details:

Flickerhappy Photography and Design Studio

Web: www.flickerhappy.com

Email: flickerhappy@gmail.com

Phone: (02) 8363235

My online shopping find: Babinski Baby

2011-04-15T00:09:00.000+08:00

Shopping for baby is lots of fun! It's actually kinda more exciting if you're buying for a girl, don't you think? ^_^

I found Babinski Baby through Topaz Mommy and I'm glad I did! I love that their style is not the usual cartoon-ish stuff you can find in baby stores elsewhere. Here are the items I got for my little Yumi so far:

Reversible crib bedding set. I love the dainty parasol pattern paired with blue/turquoise polka dots.

We won't use the pillow and bolters yet as it's recommended NOT to put
crib/bed accessories for the first few months to avoid suffocation.

Blooms edition onesies. Aren't these so adorable? I can't wait to put these on Yumi! ^_^

Trivia: Onesies® is actually a brand name for infant bodysuit which is often used like a generic term much like Colgate is to toothpaste and Coke is to cola/soft drink.

Heart dress. I also bought a dress for our cutie little niece Anika's first birthday.

It came with this bag so I didn't need to wrap it anymore.
See a photo of the dress here.

Contact Details:
Babinski Baby
Web: www.ilovebabinski.com
Email: info@ilovebabinski.com

My online shopping find: Dr. Mom Health Journal

2011-04-13T22:31:00.001+08:00

I first saw this health journal sitting on a shelf in Rustan's, Alabang Town Center a few months back, though I didn't think of perusing it then when I saw the price tag (well PHP 1,800 is pricey, IMO).

A couple of months after, I came across it again at an online shop, Mama.Baby.Love, owned by co-N@Wie Jenny. This time, I got to learn more about it's features. Turns out, it could be used to record sixteen years' worth of health information so it's actually kinda sulit. It is in binder format so pages can be detached and rearranged. I can also bring just the pages I need for a particular clinic visit, no need to bring the whole thing which is, by the way, quite heavy and bulky.

Another factor that convinced me to buy it is that the online shop sells it at PHP 300-less than the Rustan's price. I realized then that if I'm willing to pay PHP 1,500 for a Harry Potter book every time a new one comes out, then why not pay the same amount for something I can use for my baby for sixteen years?

So my search for a baby book that's comprehensive yet flexible and convenient ends here. ^_^

My Dr. Mom Health Journal with free ecobag from Mama.Baby.Love.

About this journal:

The Doctor Mom Health Journal is a collaboration between like-minded mums and doctors. It is a concise and thorough record of your child’s health history from age 0-16 (yes we start at pregnancy!). Having one central book to record all your child's health-related events is essential, as memories fade over time. The information written here will provide clues and answers into health and psychological issues later on in life.

The baby book includes:
Records of Clinic Visits
Growth Charts (pre-term and term)
Baby Monitoring Sheets
Comprehensive Medical and Hospitalization Records (including dental, eent, derma, gyne, alternative healers)
Important Contact Details
Special pages for mommy notes, mementos and your child’s drawings

Contact Details:
Mama.Baby.Love
Web: www.mamababylove.com
Email: fabnaima@gmail.com

The (hospital) bags are packed, we're ready to go!

2011-04-11T18:01:00.052+08:00

Our Yumi is due to come out any day now! ^_^

As the big day approaches, I'm becoming more and more anxious about the looming pain that we would have to endure (yes, both moms and babies are in a lot of stress during labor) and at the same time very excited to see and hug her after months of infanticipation.

Excited as I was, I've started packing the hospital bag as early as February, which is, by the way, not too early considering some babies are born pre-term. I came up with my own checklist after consulting Baby Center Philippines. I also found some practical tips over at Manila Mommy and Pinoy Baby.

[Edit: 4 months after giving birth, I've finally gone back to this list to update it. I striked through the items that we didn't use.]

My hospital bag contents:

Documents: I placed these in a plastic envelope so Glenn could easily see what's inside.

Original and photocopies of the following:

□ Philhealth Claim Form 1 signed by my employer

□ Philhealth MDR (Member Data Record)

□ Philhealth contributions certificate - from my employer

□ marriage certificate

□ HMO papers

□ A piece of paper containing important information about baby and parents. This would help avoid the hassle of making corrections on the birth certificate and other important documents.

- complete name of baby

- complete name of parents

- home address

- date and place of marriage of parents

□ government IDs - at least 2 valid identifications for each parent

□ pens

□ Dr. Mom Health Journal. This comes with a heavy binder so I just included the detachable pregnancy and birth pages (especially the one for baby's footprints) so it won't take too much space.

□ Infanticipating pregnancy guidebook. This is a free Mommy Mundo publication we got from my ob-gyn Dr. Renelle Ibarra-Labtuon's clinic.

For Me during labor: [Edit: I was scheduled for a CS operation at the last minute so I didn't use a lot of the items here.]

□ ~~old nightdress or shirt - A hospital gown is likely to be provided but I brought my own labor clothes just in case.~~ I used the hospital gown which is an SOP when undergoing operation.
□ slippers
□ ~~socks~~ [I was instructed to wear nothing but the hospital gown.]
□ ~~lip balm/petroleum jelly~~ [forgot to use this actually]
□ ~~light snacks and drinks~~ [I was forbidden to eat before the procedure.]
□ ~~phone or any gadget that can be used to time contractions~~
□ hair tie
□ ~~iPod and earphone~~
□ ~~hot/cold water bag - to help ease labor pains~~

For Me after labor:
□ dress
□ nursing/breastfeeding bras
□ breast pads
□ undies
□ maternity pads
□ ~~underpads~~ [The hospital provided fresh beddings daily.]
□ toiletries and grooming kit
□ mobile phone and charger

□ U-shaped nursing pillow [I used a regular pillow when I breastfed in the hospital. Because I wore an abdominal binder that's too bulky, my tummy couldn't fit into the pillow. But my husband was able to use it to cradle Yumi so I'm not crossing this out.]

□ going-home outfit

For Baby Yumi

□ Set of clothes she'd use right after birth - packed in a clear bag with a name tag so Glenn would just hand it over to the nurses at the delivery room.

- receiving blanket
- tie side shirt

- bonnet

- booties

- mittens

- diaper

Yumi's clothes packed in a clear bag along with a piece of
paper containing her name and a list of items inside.

□ clothes for hospital stay
□ diapers
□ wash cloth
□ going home outfit
□ ~~SaYa baby carrier~~ [We didn't use the Saya nor the car seat when we brought Yumi home. Her Lola Sally carried her in the back seat throughout the trip.]
□ ~~infant car seat~~

[Edit: The hospital provided welcome kits for me and Yumi. You might want to ask the hospital about this so you need not bring your own anymore.

Here are the items included in the bags from what my then drugged and sleep-deprived self can remember:

For the mom:

- digital thermometer

- cotton

- feminine wash

- graduated plastic cup

- alcohol

- roll of tissue

- spoon and fork

For the baby:

- digital thermometer

- cotton balls

- alcohol

- roll of tissue

- eye ointment

- graduated plastic cup

- disposable diapers

- liquid baby bath soap

- plastic medicine cup

- nasal aspirator

- diaper rash cream]

For Glenn
□ camera and charger
□ change of clothes

□ his own delivery room outfit [He was allowed to visit me while I was in the labor room where baby's heart rate was being monitored. He wasn't allowed, however, to accompany me in the operating room.]

- ~~scrub suit~~
- face mask
- bouffant cap
□ toiletries

□ ~~gadgets and chargers - to pass the time~~ [Turns out we don't need these gadgets - Yumi kept us very busy throughout our stay in the hospital!]

For family members and other guests:

□ snacks

□ plastic cups

□ plastic plates

□ sporks

□ plastic bowls

□ a small pouch of dishwashing liquid and sponge

~~After Yumi's birth, I think I would need to go back to this entry to cross out items that I didn't use or add others that could've come in handy.~~

~~Just a few more days of waiting to go!~~ [Read Yumi's birth story.] ^_^

My online shopping find: Thirsties Diaper Covers

2011-04-10T22:11:00.004+08:00

Hearing about cloth diapers from my friend Lore once, I did a bit of research about it and came across Pinoybaby.com. Rowie, the mom blogger, posted her reviews on the different types of diapering systems and then made a follow-up post 3 months after. She has also put up a very comprehensive cloth diapering FAQs page on her online store.

After weighing the pros and cons, I was encouraged to try using cloth diapers on Yumi too. As early as February, I ordered 2 pieces of diaper covers (which I'm planning to pair with prefold lampins) and has since started building my stash little by little.

Thirsties Duo Wrap in white and Thirsties Diaper Cover in butter yellow
from Pinoybaby Store.

Whether I'd be successful with it or not remains to be seen though as I'm still waiting for the little angel to come out. ^_^

Contact Details:
Pinobaby Store
Web: http://store.pinoybaby.com
Email: info@pinoybaby.com

It's Itay's turn to carry the baby

2011-04-09T23:41:00.004+08:00

After our 3D4D ultrasound session at In My Womb last January 29, we headed straight to the Grand Baby Company Fair happening just across the clinic.

Not wanting to miss out on the great bargains, we bought some items including a stroller and car seat set, foam for the crib, cloth diapers, and some baby clothes.

But the highlight of the event for me was when we chanced upon INDIGOBaby's booth and bought a SaYa Baby Carrier. Glenn is already familiar with it because we saw one on display at Babyland in Festival Mall, Alabang and has since been interested to buy one.

I was so proud of my husband when he shamelessly tried the carrier on with lots of passers-by looking. I think he's more than excited to use this when Yumi comes out.

Can't wait to see Itay and Yumi bond like this soon. ^_^

Contact Details:

INDIGOBaby
Web: http://indigomanila.multiply.com
Makati Showroom (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm)
3892 A-Quingua St. Bgy. Pinagkaisahan, Makati City
Phone: (632) 8827857 or 09228499892

SaYa Baby Carrier
Web: http://www.sayababy.com

Sweet surprise shower for me and Yumi

2011-04-09T20:01:00.001+08:00

March 25, 2011. It was my last day at the office before I start working at home (thanks to my super thoughtful Bossing Mina for making this arrangement possible!). I scheduled a session with a waxing salon at 6pm that day not knowing that I would need to ditch it for a more important appointment.

I later learned that my girls - Bossing Mina, Kia, Lore, and Mira - planned a lot of surprises for me that day.

Surprise No. 1: A high chair for Yumi

I didn't really expect this since they already gave me a gift for my birthday last March. My girls are the sweetest! ^_^

A very pregnant me posing with the team's gift for Yumi.
Can you tell I'm really camera-shy?

Surprise No. 2: Ssamgyeopsal for dinner

The girls know that I love Korean food, especially ssamgyeopsal! We enjoyed a sumptuous dinner at the Koreana Restaurant in Westgate Center, Alabang.

Ssamgyeopsal! I love love love how the girls knew I was craving for these
juicy grilled pork belly slices dipped in ssamjang and wrapped in lettuce leaves.

The girls and Bossing Mina's husband, Pat, enjoying the Korean feast. ^_^

Surprise No. 3: Messages from the heart

After dinner, they gave me this really big ~~greeting card~~ scrapbook in an equally big envelope. I honestly got a bit teary-eyed after reading the letters - lucky I read them privately. @_@

It's BIG!

Big card cover page with our wedding photo (left)
and a collage showing my big tummy (right).

2 pages filled with heartwarming messages from my team and office friends.
Lovingly put together by Kiadoodles.

I'm so thankful that my life is blessed with a lot of wonderful friends - i'm sure my baby Yumi will be delighted to know that she's loved even before she's born. ^_^

Contact Details:
Koreana Restaurant
Westgate Center
Lot 301, Westgate Center
Filinvest Corporate City, Alabang
Muntinlupa, Metro Manila, Philippines

Korean-inspired birthday surprise!

2011-04-09T19:52:00.001+08:00

It's been our team's tradition at the office to celebrate each other's birthday together. Last March being my birthday month, I received a pleasant surprise from the girls. ^_^

Thank you Bossing Mina, Kia, Lore, and Mira! Kisses for you!

The new additions to my Asian dish collection. I only have a few pieces so far
- some chopsticks, spoons, maki serving plates, and teapots -
and couldn't really add lots since our kitchen is a bit tiny. ^_^

They're called ddukbaegi (Korean earthenware pot) and great for cooking and serving hot dishes since they keep food warm for a long time (more info here).

When we visited Seoul, Glenn and I had some authentic bibimbap served in these hot pots. We also had some stews served in them though I did't know what they're called - we just pointed at the photos on the menu when we ordered. Haha!

A BIG bowl of bibimbap displayed at a restaurant in Insa-dong, Seoul, South Korea.

To complete the theme, Kia - being the Korean culture fan that she is - wrapped them in a piece of pretty pink fabric mimicking the Korean traditional way of gift-wrapping. Too bad I don't have a photo of it but it was a lot like this:

I took the photo from www.ohdeedoh.com.

Don't forget your vitamins

2011-03-28T22:36:00.003+08:00

A month before we started planning to conceive, I already begun taking folic acid supplements. From what I researched, it is recommended to take the supplement at least 3 months prior to conception.

The Department of Health recommends that every woman who is thinking about pregnancy or is in the first trimester of pregnancy to take a daily supplement of 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid and eat a folate rich diet to reduce her baby's risk of getting some types of birth defects.

More on the importance of folate and folic acid on Baby Center Philippines.

Armi's Tip:
To make sure I don't skip a dose, I tried using a medicine organizer that's usually available at drug stores but I found it too bulky to carry in my bag everyday. I also think that filling in the individual pockets is too much of a hassle.

What worked for me is to label my folic acid capsules (or any medication, for that matter) with the date of the month that I'm supposed to take each, like so:

The numbers correspond to each date of the month.

I'm supposed to take 2 capsules a day for iron boost

so 2 capsules are labeled for March 29 and so on.

Yumi's first close-ups

2011-03-28T21:29:00.010+08:00

Yumi was 28 weeks and 2 days old when she had her first close-up shots. We scheduled a 3D4D ultrasound session at In My Womb SM Megamall branch on January 29, 2011 - the same weekend when the Grand Baby Company Fair was held at the same mall - so that we can go shopping afterwards and make the most out of our trip there.

The little girl seemed reluctant to face the camera during her first pictorial. She was sleeping when the session started and she didn't like it when we tried to wake her up. She had her arms over her face most of the time too. It's a good thing she cooperated towards the end of the session and we're able to get good shots - finally - after the pouty ones. ^_^

Baby Yumi inside my womb. We were very delighted to see her yawn ~ sooo cute!

Contact Details:
In My Womb 3D4D Ultrasound Centre
Web: http://inmywomb.com
Email: 3d4dultrasound@inmywomb.com
SM Megamall Branch
5th Level Building B
Phone: (632) 638-9629

Nobody calls me by my name anymore.

2011-03-07T15:03:00.000+08:00

When we announced my pregnancy several months ago, I was still known as Armi, the pregnant girl. Now that my belly precedes me by a few seconds whenever I ~~waddle~~ walk, everybody - from people at the office to the dispatcher at the van terminal - calls me Buntis (Filipino term for pregnant). I hardly hear anyone call me by my name anymore.

This is not a rant by the way. Just sharing. ^_^

We Finally Passed the 'Test'!

2011-03-07T00:00:00.001+08:00

It was in July 2010 when we started to plan on having a baby. I remember being so excited then that I was buying home pregnancy test kits almost every few days! But after 4 (or is it 5?) disappointing negative results, I opted to consult an doctor. It turned out that my cycle is longer than the average of 28 days so the calendar method didn't work for us.

And so we tried again the next month.

In the morning of August 25, before I began to get ready for work, I took the home pregnancy test kit I bought the day before, not really expecting good news. A few anxious seconds is all it took for the second line to appear. The feeling was so surreal that I didn't want to believe what I was seeing at that time. The first thing I did was to call Glenn over and show him the test kit. His still sleepy face suddenly lit up when he realized what it meant and then kissed and hugged me tight. ^_^

It was like the most important test that I took - and passed - in my life.

It was excruciating while waiting for the second
line to appear!

My Version of Mango Salsa

2011-03-06T08:54:00.000+08:00

I've been itching to make mango salsa ever since I tasted some at Kia's birthday party - courtesy of her supercook Mama.

Here is the recipe. I changed it a bit so I could use ingredients I already have on hand.

Ingredients:

2 ripe mangoes, diced. Here's a tip on how to cut a mango.
1 medium cucumber, diced
2 tomatoes, diced
1 medium red bell pepper, diced
1 medium onion, chopped
wansoy (also called cilantro or coriander)
juice of 1 big dalandan (in place of the orange marmalade), include the pulp too for added texture.

Preparation: Mix all the ingredients in a bowl. Best served with grilled/fried meat (and nachos too!).

I cooked some pork steak to go with the salsa.

Tada! I served some iceberg lettuce too so we could wrap a piece
of pork and some salsa and eat them Korean Ssam style. ^_^

Late Night Snack: Bibingka and Salabat

2010-08-27T22:58:00.003+08:00

On my way home after work yesterday, I grabbed a box of Bibingkinitan from a stall in Alabang Town Center. I love it, especially since it has salted egg inside. ;)

When I got home, I paired it with a cup of my favorite sweetened salabat. Sooooo Pinoy! ^_^

Taba ng Talangka Rice

2010-08-23T14:56:00.017+08:00

We had this jar of taba ng talangka (crab fat paste) for over a month now, it was one of the local products in the gift bag that Glenn received in a seminar they conducted in Pampanga. I was not really looking forward to using it. You see, I have this unfortunate allergy to certain kinds of seafood. But since my husband and Daddy likes it, I searched for a recipe and found something on PinoyRecipe.net. As usual, I used it as a guide then tweaked the ingredients according to what's available in the pantry.

This is the star of today's breakfast:

Ingredients:

2 tbsp cooking oil
1 tbsp chopped ginger
1 tbsp chopped garlic
¼ cup chopped onions
2 tbsp taba ng talangka (crab fat)
100g shrimp, shelled and deveined
5 pcs. dried pusit, cut into strips
1 sachet 8g Maggi Magic Sarap
salt to taste
¼ cup Nestle All Purpose Cream
4 cups cooked rice
¼ cup green peas

Preparation:

1. Heat oil in a pan.

2. Stir fry dried pusit until crispy. Remove from pan and set aside.

3. Sauté ginger, garlic, onions until fragrant.
4. Stir in taba ng talangka and shrimps.
5. Cook until seafood changes in color or for about 3 minutes.
6. Stir in Maggi Magic Sarap and season with salt to taste.
7. Pour in Nestle Cream and continue cooking for another minute.

8. Add rice and green peas. Mix well and continue to cook until rice is completely heated.

9. Top with fried dried pusit and serve immediately.

The finished product. This should be more orange-ish in real life.

Warning: While this is a real mouth-watering meal, please keep in mind that crab fat is full of cholesterol and must be eaten moderately. ^_~

Pan-grilled Chicken Inasal with Dalandan Salad

2010-08-22T22:38:00.095+08:00

I found this recipe on Yummy Weekend Cooking magazine that we bought from the supermarket a few weeks ago. The original recipe is called Lamb Inasal with Dalandan Salad.

Chicken Inasal

Ingredients:

4 pcs. chicken breast fillet
1/2 cup white wine vinegar
juice of 8 pcs. calamansi
4 tablespoons crushed garlic
2 stalks lemongrass, crushed
2 teaspoons freshly cracked black pepper
4 tablespoons soy sauce
salt to taste

You can also add:

4 bay leaves
6 tablespoons gin or lambanog

Preparation:
1. Marinate chicken in a mixture of vinegar, calamansi juice, garlic, lemongrass, pepper, soy sauce, bay leaves, salt, and gin for 1 hour.
2. In a non-stick pan, grill the chicken. You can use the excess marinade for basting.

Dalandan Salad

Ingredients:

4 pieces dalandan (native orange)
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
1 red onion, chopped
2 lettuce leaves, shredded (optional)

Preparation:

1. Separate the orange into segments.

2. Toss with cilantro, onion, lettuce, and salt to taste. You can also add some chili flakes if want it hot.

3. Chill for 30 minutes.

Dalandan salad with cilantro.

Gourdo's Salabat (Ginger Tea)

2010-08-21T23:50:00.086+08:00

During one of my visits (a.k.a. window-shopping-that-almost-always-ends-with-a-swiped-credit-card) to Gourdo's World Market in Alabang Town Center, I chanced upon this instant salabat. I didn't think twice about buying it since I've been looking for one of these for ages. You see, I love the ginger tea served at V-Lounge Spa after a full body massage so I wanted to have some to enjoy at home too.

Gourdo's Instant Sweetend Ginger Tea, 200g at PHP 150.

Glenn and I tried it after dinner (2 teaspoonfuls for every cup of hot water). We love it! Glenn reckons the powdered ginger was mixed with muscovado. Well, it tastes like it although the label lists just 'pure ginger extract and sugar' under ingredients.

I hope it would last for at least a week though, it's been only 2 days and I consumed almost half the contents already. @_@