dmaxxxification

jeepney chronicles part 3: ang haba ng hair

2012-01-21T23:43:00.000+08:00

minsan pag nasakay ako ng jeep..

naranasan nyu n rn siguro..
mabiktima ng ganitong modus..
simple lang ang formula..
makatabi ang isang babae..
mahaba ang buhok..
mabilis ang jeep..
syempre bukas ang bintana..
at ang iyong mukha..
equals..
makating biyahe..

kasi ang buhok ng katabi mo..
kasing haba ng pasong tamo..
e parang inilalatag sa mukha mo..
malas mu pa kamo..
pag ang ale e may kuto..

ipapanalangin sa itaas..
pampuyod e isuot na bukas..
upang hindi abutin ng banas..
katabing hirap umiwas..
wari'y minamalas..
hanggang biyahe'y magwakas..

sabay tayo

2011-12-11T00:00:00.000+08:00

sabay tayo

sabay tayo
magsaya..
ibuhos ang ngiti..
umiyak..
tapusin ang pighati..

sabay tayo
magtampisaw..
maglaro sa ulan..
sumukob..
lamig ay takasan..

sabay tayo
sumagwan..
bangka ay pagsaluhan..
magtiwala..
pagtaob ay iwasan..

sabay tayo
mahiga..
matulog ng mahimbing..
mamahinga..
pagod ay pawiin..

sabay tayo
mag-aral..
dunong ay dagdagan..
makinig..
isa't isa'y pahalagahan..

sabay tayo
magtapat..
baguhin ang karuwagan..
umunawa..
matuto sa karanasan..

sabay tayo
magsipag..
susuungin ang hirap..
magsikap..
kakayanin ang lahat..

sabay tayo
umawit..
sumaliw sa himig..
sumayaw..
ihakbang ang pag-ibig..

sabay tayo
maglambing..
samsamin ang tamis..
magka-akbay..
magmahalan ng labis..

sabay tayo
maglakad..
tahakin ang landas..
mangarap..
harapin ang bukas..

the baby challenge

2011-12-03T19:00:00.001+08:00

patience..we needed this virtue even more..taking care of a baby is really a big challenge..especially for first timers like us..the stories i have been hearing are true..sleepless nights can be inevitable..and all will never be the same again..our focus now is on the baby..

they say that crying is normal for babies..its their only way of communication for this stage of their life..it really breaks us when he cries..we'll leave everything behind and do everything in our capacity just to see him well and smiling..and prevent him from any harm..maybe that's what they call parent's instinct..and we're still learning..and we're still always figuring out what to do..what's the best thing to do..we need to understand human nature at its raw stage..

the road of parenting surely will be long and winding..bumps could be on the way..the trip may not always be smooth sailing..but no matter what..we'll still keep on moving..pass over any of the obstacles..up to the challenges..the road of parenting surely will be long and winding..and we already have taken the first steps..together we'll walk the miles..at the end of the road..we'll see him grown up..patting our back..

jeepney chronicles part 2: biyaheng langit

2011-12-01T13:08:00.000+08:00

minsan sumakay ako sa jeep..

tanghali na..tingin sa cellphone..
kinse minutos na..
wala pa ring masakyang bus..

patience is a virtue..
pero late na 'ko..
bahala na..
mg-jejeep na lang ako..

tingin sa mukha ng driver..
siyempre dapat hindi mukhang magulang..
hindi mukhang kaskasero..

tingin sa cellphone..sige na..
huwag na mapili..

pili nang pili..
sa bulok nauwi..
at ito ang patotoo sa salawikain..
looks can be deceiving..

unang harurot pa lang ng sasakyan..
parang nahawi na ang daan..
kumapit ka ng mahigpit..
kung ayaw mo maipit..
sinubukan ko ring pumikit..
tadhana sadyang minsan malupit..

mamang tsuper..pwede ga..
gusto pa naming mabuhay..
mag-ingat naman..
pagmamaneho mo..
parang aral sa sagingan..
pwede naman magbigayan..
manibela e hindi maintindihan..
kung kakaliwa o kakanan..
bigla mu na lang bibilisan..

buong biyahe..
ako'y nagdadasal..
matapos na sana ..
commonwealth..philcoa..
circle..quezon ave na..

para na..para na..
salamat po..
paghinga ay bahagyang kumalma..
salamat po..
katawan ko ay buo pa..
salamat po..
biyaheng langit..tapos na..

ruan's christening day tarp

2011-11-10T14:36:00.001+08:00

(many thanks to jigz and grace for the design and printing..)

welcoming my son to the christian world..

2011-11-06T08:20:00.000+08:00

jeepney chronicles part 1: nagpagasolina na naman

2011-10-30T18:06:00.000+08:00

isang araw, sumakay ako sa jeep..

wala naman akong balat sa pwet..
pero bakit dumaan na naman sa shell ang jeep na ito..

parang minsan e nang-aasar talaga ang pagkakataon..
kung kailan ka naman ma-lalate na..
kung kailan ka naman nagmamadali..
kung kailan ka naman tinatawag na ng kalikasan..

hayun si mamang driver..
kumilo na sa gasolinahan..
swerte na kung mabilis pa sa sampung minuto ito..
malas pa kamo pag humingi pa ng resibo..
at nagpalagay pa ng tubig ..

wala namang masama magpakrudo..
at baka mamaya e tumigil naman ang chubibo..
wala namang masama magpakrudo..
pero sana naman e hindi sa oras de peligro..
simple lang naman ang hiling naming mga pasahero..
magpa-gas sa tamang oras..

welcome to the world my son!!!

2011-10-16T15:27:00.002+08:00

ruan iñigo

sleeping child...

emo pose...harhar..

still thinking of a name...

2011-09-07T11:44:00.001+08:00

did you know how your name came to be??

did you know who gave it to you??

wait..i'm puzzled here..i don't know neither..i don't exactly know but i have a guess it would be all my parents responsibility..if my memory serves me right..my mom said it was my "lolo" or my grandfather who thought of mine..

"A name is a label for a noun, normally used to distinguish one from another. Names can identify a class or category of things, or a single thing, either uniquely, or within a given context. A personal name identifies a specific unique and identifiable individual person, and may or may not include a middle name. The name of a specific entity is sometimes called a proper name (although that term has a philosophical meaning also) and is a proper noun."(wikipedia)

i don't know in other places..but here in the philippines..we have no choice but to grow up with the name that is given to us by our parents upon registering us for our birth certificate and in some chances upon our baptism..that would be our first name to be coined with our parents surname..and that equals our complete name..

going back to names..there are many ways how parents name their child..

some names are based on their parents names..the juniors, the seconds and the thirds are the most examples..fathers name their son by their name..maybe to make the name eternal..or if the father is famous, the child could probably use that fame some time in the future..or can't think of a name that instant so why not give the father's.. and another version of this is coining the name of the father and the mother..or from their gradparents..

most parents also prefer naming their child in honor of saints..that is in the case of catholics like us..maybe expecting their child to get the traits of these holy people and grow up as prudent citizens..there is this calendar of saints where most based the names of their child..

there are also names based on famous people..scientist..artists..philisophers..singers..actors..maybe hoping their child could be in line with their "tokayo's" expertise..many parents would admit that they would like to name their children with their idol's or the leading roles at that time's telenovelas..

the inventive ones think of unique names..the problem is that it might create difficulty in pronouncing such names and determining accordingly the gender of the name holder upon reading..

naming options are endless..from flowers..fruits..birth month..places..hospitals..occassion..product brands..colors..book/film characters..even maybe to an ex-lover..harhar..

and now it's my time to give a name to a newborn in this world..my wife actually had some series of research over the net and gave me her recommendations..it's quite a difficult task indeed..giving an identity is crucial..i dont want my child say to me one day the lines "why this name Dad!?"

and i am still thinking of a name..

zodiac and zen

2011-09-02T11:37:00.002+08:00

"hindi hawak ng mga bituin ang ating kapalaran..gabay lamang sila..meron tayong freewill..gamitin natin ito..magbabalik po ang..umagang kay ganda.."

aminado na nga ako..namimiss ko na si zen..at parang hindi kumpleto ang umaga naming mag-asawa pag hindi namin naririning ang daily horoscope ni zen..ilang buwan na sigurong nawala ang segment na ito sa ukg..at ilang buwan na din na hindi ko nasusuot ang lucky color of the day..hehe..hindi naman kami hardcore na naniniwala sa lahat ng sinasabi sa horoscope..natutuwa laang..natatawa pa minsan..at nakaka-excite din syempre pag swerte ang forecast..

sabi ni wiki:

"In astrology, a horoscope is a chart or diagram representing the positions of the Sun, Moon, planets, the astrological aspects, and sensitive angles at the time of an event, such as the moment of a person's birth. The word horoscope is derived from Greek words meaning "a look at the hours" (horoskopos, pl. horoskopoi, or "marker(s) of the hour.") Other commonly used names for the horoscope in English include astrological chart, astro-chart, celestial map, sky-map, star-chart, cosmogram, vitasphere, radical chart, radix, chart wheel, or simply chart.

It is used as a method of divination regarding events relating to the point in time it represents and forms the basis of the horoscopic traditions of astrology. However, no studies have shown any scientific support for the accuracy of horoscopes, and the methods used to make interpretations are, at best, pseudo-scientific."

oha..malalim pala ang meaning ng horoscope..

basta ang mahalaga e positibo palagi ang outlook dapat sa buhay..all is well..sabi nga ni rancho..

at dapat e me sipag at tiyaga..hindi ka naman dapat laging aasa sa puro swerte laang..

home sweet home

2011-09-01T08:14:00.000+08:00

it's official..we're now residents of flora vista, fairview, quezon city..

it has been a tiring rainy weekend but it's all worth it..queen size bed..air-conditioned room..big sofa..cute kitchen..cozy bathroom..windows..peaceful neighborhood..the long wait is finally over..

thanks to tito martin..he got up early in the morning to help us move-in and transport our things from KNL to FV..

thanks to my mom for helping us out..she cooked "tutong" and "pinindot"..and together we prayed for a good start..

thanks to GOD for making it all happen..

ang urinal na ito ay malinis at mabango

2011-08-24T11:01:00.004+08:00

everytime..mostly every morning we pass by the sidewalks of philcoa near landbank..i always read this text on the public urinal for men..and i'll always watch my wife cover her nose with her hanky..trying to prevent the gross smell entering her nostrils irritating her olfactory nerves..and i likewise stop breathing for about a minute until we reach the place where the smell would be bearable enough..and breath..and then we’ll laugh..

how morbid..

ang urinal na ito ay malinis at mabango..which means..this urinal is clean and not smelly..but it’s not..it’s stinking..reeking..foul..malodorous..putrid..fetid..

this urinals are suppose to solve the sanitary problem along the streets preventing people taking a leak on walls, trees or posts..but I guess it added up to the problem..MMDA should think of a way to make this public place live up to its tagline..and should this be included in the provision of clean air act..

but for now..we still have to prepare our hanky or stop breathing for a while..

chicken not so deli

2011-08-15T09:53:00.005+08:00

before anything else..i got to blow the horn..knock knock..please excuse me but i got to let this out..

just this last sunday..on our search for the the resto where to have our lunch..our feet landed us to this new chicken barbeque place at sm north edsa..

chicken deli..

smoky ambience indeed..my wife and i actually changed table where the smoke is tolerable..

chicken deli is said to be one of bacolod's pride for its chicken inasal..i wonder how it differs with one of my favorite..mang inasal's chicken..

we ordered of course their original flavor chicken inasal and my wife wished for their turon for dessert..

a long wait came next..not fastfood i guess..

and the food was served..

talking about the chicken..i can't help but compare it with mang inasal's..the flavor seems to be lacking..nothing special..not deli which their store is suppose to serve..and we even have to request for the recooking of the bloody chicken because it's not well done..quite disappointing..

are you ready to talk about the turon..the expensive tiny banana rolls is a big disappointment..first, its small size..second, not worthy of the cost paid..3 pieces of tiny rolls for 35 pesos..&^$&^^%^&**@#$..and the sugar is even not caramelized..just rolled into this raw brown sugar with cinnamon..they said there is cinnamon..but i can't find it..i really am not delighted with it..

sorry but i will not recommend eating at their place..

matagtag..matigtig..matugtug..

2011-08-06T15:29:00.005+08:00

sa tuwing luluwas kami..me isa lang akong napapansin..pag dumaan na ang bus sa southern tagalog arterial road..aka star toll way..siguradong mapapansin mu..chug chug chug..kumakalog-kalog..matagtag na ang sasakyan..wish mo na lang e maganda shock absorber..pag hindi e tiisin mo na lang..at sa kamalas-malasan e sa likod ka pa nakaupo..mapupurnada tulog mu..

ang star e expressway from sto. tomas to batangas city..at ngayon e kadugsong na din ang calamba slex para hindi na dumaan sa turbina..

oki na sana itong naisip nila na gumawa ng expressway pero ang nangyari naman e bumabayad ang mga tao sa daan na hindi naman komportable..sino kaya ang gumawa at nagmementena ng daan na ito..hindi kaya nila napapansin na hindi talaga maganda ang kinis ng pagkakalatag ng daan..walanag sinabi sa slex at nlex..

sana naman e ayusin nila ito..bumabayad na rin lang..sana e worth it naman..

at isa pa..two lanes lang ang lipa to batangas city..san ka naman nagkita ng expressway na ganito..kaya hayun..takaw aksidente talaga..tapos mahal din ang bayad..grrr..

libre lunch libre concert

2011-07-18T07:33:00.004+08:00

nitong sabado lang..kahit me kainitan ang panahon..tagaktak na talaga pawis namin e tuloy pa rin ang lamyerda naming mag-asawa..

first stop...punta sa birthday party ng pamangkin ko sa kuya ongki..si nicklaus e 3years old na..sayang nga laang at nasa abroad pa ang ama..masaya ang party..children's party syempre kaya me baloon at magic show..in fairness magaling mag-show yung nakuha nila..kahit simple lang ang magic tricks e dinaan naman sa patawa..kahit nangawit ng konti ang bisig ko sa pagkuha ng video e ox lng kasi nakuha ko naman ang moment..

alas dos makatapos ng party e tinahak namin ang papuntang sm north..nagbakasakali kam na makabili ng mga items para sa pinapaayus naming condo unit..nakakita naman kami ng rangehood sa the block..sana e kahit sale namin nabili yun e tumagal naman..

at ito talaga ang winning moment ng araw na ito..nakapanood kami ng libreng concert ng isa sa pinakamagaling na banda dito sa pilipinas..SIDE A lang naman sila..oo..at take note..swerte talaga ang buntis at naka-upo pa kami..nostalgic nga..sobra..naalala ko tuloy na bumili pa ako dati ng tape nila..ang tape na walang side b..puros side a kasi (kornix!)..hindi pa uso ang cd dati e..hehe..galing nila..at walang kupas ang boses..panalo talaga ang forevermore..ang saya talaga pag libre..

pansin ko lang sa audience..typical na filipino audience..medyo passive..pwede naman mag-enjoy..seryoso masyado ang iba..parang nanonood ng opera..hehe..o talagang nagkataon lang na ang nakapanood e hindi masyado fan ng banda..

kulang na lang..bibig mu..weeeeehhh!

2011-07-14T13:49:00.006+08:00

minsan kinailangan namin kumain sa labas at medyo alanganin na magluto ng hapunan at gutom na ang kumakalam na tiyan..dahil nga gusto ni misis ng siomai..siyempre nasa philcoa area lang kami..sa chowking kami babagsak..

pagkagaling sa cr..umorder na kami..si misis e shanghai lauriat..ako naman e yung pinagmamalaki nila sa commercial na chinese-style fried chicken..matindi din ang marketing nila sa produkto nilang ito kaya ako naman itong si curious consumer..try q nga..sa madaling sabi e umorder aq ng 1-piece with rice..

hanap ng table..kain..

excited..tinikman ko na ang manok..sabi nga sa commercial..kulang na lang e bibig mu..eto na nga ang bibig ko..e nasan na ang masarap na manok..no offense meant..nothing special..at maliit pa serving size..buti na lang kamo at umorder ako ng tokwang may toyo..este tofu pala..
medyo disappointing yung experience..baka dahil nag-expect lang ako ng mataas..at yung isa pang tag line..lutong and linamnam in one..sana nmn e it would live up to its advertising promise..

ndi ko naman inaasahan na maungusan nila ang chickenjoy o ang dokito..pero sana walang false advertising..kahit mahal..basta masarap..

sorry na nga lang..baka "it's just a bad day"..nagkataon lang..chow!

cebu..b..

2011-06-19T12:56:00.007+08:00

i had the chance to stay in cebu for about two days last week to attend meetings..i have to thank my boss by the way..i seldom do have the chance to travel..

it's cebu..so i really expected cebu as i hear it in their stories..but i have to accept that it was not a leisure trip..poor thing..haven't even seen one of them..i got a chance to go to the "tops" but sorry..rain..rain..rain..

the place is nice..a hang-out at the summit of a mountain overlooking the city of cebu..drink some beer..chit chat..

but..rain..rain..rain..so have to go back to the hotel..

oh well..at least the hotel is good..

marco polo plaza hotel..love the breakfast buffet..the pastries are the best..and thanks also to mam betchay for a very nice accomodation..

have to wave goodbye to cebu without seeing its beauty..but it's not the last..i'll be back to experience cebu..

i hate it when she don't text right away..

2011-06-14T14:17:00.006+08:00

thank god she texted..after 3 hours..
paranoid maybe..but can't help it..
my head is really in a jam..
i can't focus here..
i'm working at the office..
but my mind is travelling somewhere..

i am not a worrying person..
but in her case..
i just can't deny that fact..

yes..okay..
boomerang..
i'm a serial case in this crime..
i'm sorry..
me neither..
don't want to suffer..

loving the rainy days

2011-06-09T08:29:00.006+08:00

it's not that i hate summer..

but the cool nights of the rainy days really is way better than the sultry humid days..no need to switch the electric fan to three..no need to wishful think for an airconditioned room..no need to splash water to my face just to extinguish the heat..no need to sleep with "less clothes"..no need to wake up in the middle of the night sweaty..

really loving the rainy days..cool nights it bring..it's been a long time since we've used our blanket..harhar..i missed that..and now i can crave for a "la paz batchoy" or a "bulalo"..

an umbrella is a must have..good thing my vintage unit is still ready to serve..as well as a jacket..it's freezing cold here in the office..a hot tea or coffee is more of a drink during this time..

love the rainy days..don't you..why do they have to tag it as a bad weather..nay..

nice game..

2011-05-31T11:14:00.003+08:00

just an hour ago..we've had our last game for the season..though it's not for the championship game but for the third place only..we really give them a fight..

they got the first and second set but we managed to stop the killing spree..the third and last set was ours..the fifth set is a struggle..tired enough..the game goes to them..

but hey..nice game..nice season for us..at least we played at the semi finals unlike last year..and i'm proud to be part of the team..

winning the game is just one of the goal of the team..but the other more important things are enjoying it..promoting team building..breaking free from occupational stress..and the free jersey shirt..haha..

i'm looking forward for next year's game..

kudos team!!!

it's not all about winning..

2011-05-20T14:56:00.003+08:00

up to the last seconds on the announcement of the winner..i'm hoping for the win..

but it's not us..

a competition is bounded by rules but the winner depends on the choices of the panel of judges..and that may be the thing..

i think this is the first time we really felt like winners..though not the official winners..because we did our best..because we prepared for it..because they appreciated it..maybe that are the only thing that really matter..it really did..

yes..we lose..we may be bitter..but at the end of the day..it's not the result that counts..

it's about the experience..
it's about the bonding moments..
it's about overcoming the challenges..

it's not all about winning..
it's all about the achievement..

a photographer without a camera

2011-05-06T11:25:00.005+08:00

or more of a a camera-man not into photography..i believe not..

i just feel everytime i see a good shot or a good angle at people or place..i wish i had a camera with me..i mean a good camera..not the one in my phone or the point-and-shoots..maybe i'm just being the hopeless romantic for photography..hopeful more..

when my dad was still alive..we used to go to the town plaza every christmas to get our pictures taken..a family photo session which has been a tradition for us..it's just morbid that we have to break the tradition..but the thing is..it's good to see once in a while how we evolved over those years..from a toddler to grown ups..hairstyles and fashion evolution of the family..gives me something to laugh on..and something to hold dear..and something to watch over and over again..and laugh again..

capturing that moment is a treasure..even in just a split of a second..things are not what it is anymore..you can't turn back time..but a picture make that possible..i can't trust my memory anymore to remember vividly all the things that i cherish the most..but a photo album could save me from that dilemma..

photography is so phenomenal..it encompasses different levels of interest, ingenuity and vitality of human nature..

here i am again..dreaming of making someone smile..wonder..be inspired..remember..posed..candid..thru a lens..zoom..light..exposure..aperture set..click..flash..

the worst mouth sore ever

2011-04-27T07:56:00.002+08:00

this really &*%^$#@*&^ hurts..

its been 4 days i think..i'm enduring the pain from this mouth sore..i can't eat well..i can't brush my teeth well..i can't focus well..i'm not well..

I don’t know where it came from..i don’t know why..why me..and why did it place itself where it could hurt the most..this is the worst mouth sore ever..in my life..

I consulted mouth-sores.com..he said:

“Mouth sores are common in both adults and children, and affect both men and women. The term 'mouth sore' refers a number of different lesions of the mouth caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi and irritation. Common bacterial and viral mouth sores include canker sores and cold sores, where other sores are caused by loose or ill-fitting dentures, braces and retainers. Some mouth sores can also be caused by an underlying disease or disorder. It is always recommended to visit your dentist for a prognosis if you are prone to mouth sores.

Mouth sores are almost always painful, and regular activities such as eating and talking usually exacerbate the symptoms. Many people with various mouth sores have trouble eating or swallowing. There are, however, many ways to treat mouth sores. In many cases, mouth sores can be treated with natural over the counter ointments and medications. “

I think mine is a canker sore..consulting again mouth-sores.com..

“Canker Sores - are ulcers of the mouth, usually found on the cheeks, gums or under the lips. Many canker sores are 'roundish' in shape - a whitish film surrounded by a red outline - and are relatively painful depending on size and where they are located. Caused by a virus, Canker sores are not contagious, however once someone has a canker sore they have a greater chance of a recurring canker sore. Canker sores are caused by many factors or triggers: fatigue and stress can increase the chance of a recurring canker sore outbreak. Cuts to inside of the mouth from teeth, braces or dentures can greatly increase the chances of a canker sore outbreak. Lowered immune system strength or poor diet can also contribute to the recurrence of canker sores. Some doctors have found that digestive or intestinal disorders such as ulcerative colitis are linked to canker sores. Although doctors and scientists still are not certain exactly what causes the canker sore, there is significant evidence of viral or bacterial infections of the mouth contributing to the outbreak of canker sores.”

I guess I have to settle for common household medicine to cure this one..so i have to apply alum powder or iodized salt on the spot..it’s painful..like torture..but its better that way to make it go sooner not later..sigh..

hot..fun..yum..

2011-04-26T08:34:00.004+08:00

is it hot or is it hot..
summer in the philippines..
hot..hot..hot..
early morning sun..
sultry all day..
even the nights..
hot..hot..hot..

i wanna go to the beach..
mabini..galera..boracay..
pagudpud..subic..la union..
camnorte..camsur..siargao..
palawan..tambaron..hundred islands..
cool clean water..waves..
escape from the urban jungle heat..

i wanna eat halo-halo..
fruit salad..
buko-pandan..
strawberry milkshake..
zagu..fruitshake..
ice cream..
ice scramble..
ice drop..
ice candy..
ice water..
anything cold..
drop down the temperature..
quench my thirst..
rehydrate..

summer in the philippines..
hot..hot..hot..
beaches in the philipppines..
fun..fun..fun..
halo-halo in the philippines..
yum..yum..yum..

baby boy or baby girl

2011-04-07T11:34:00.006+08:00

everytime i tell someone that my wife is pregnant..two questions are frequently asked..is it a boy or a girl..and when i answer that it is still not determined..the next question would be..which do you prefer, a boy or a girl..and then i'll answer back..i don't mind about the gender..what's important is that our baby is normal and healthy all throughout his growth..

then i wonder..if i would be given the chance to really pick among the two..which would i choose..ooohhh..i really can't categorically answer..

i happen to google a site (netmums.com)where myths and old wives tales are presented to determine the sex of an unborn baby if decided not to reveal this thru the ultrasound..
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Cravings
If pregnancy has left us desperate for salty crisps and ham sarnies, we're said to be carrying a boy. However, if we've developed a sudden sweet tooth and can't get enough of chocolate and lollies, we're apparently expecting a girl! Unsurprisingly, health professionals have dismissed cravings as having no relevance to gender and are simply the body's response to changing nutritional requirements during pregnancy. (my wife is always going for sour foods)

High or low? Front or back?
The way that we carry a baby is one the most popular methods of predicting the sex and you're likely to encounter plenty of people who'll give an accurate gender diagnosis based on the position of your bump. It's generally believed that if we're low and out front, it's a boy but if the bump is high and we're visibly pregnant from the back, we've got a girl. Again, scientists have put a damper on this belief, citing that the way we carry is a result of muscle tone and the position the baby has adapted in the uterus. Spoilsports! (i'll wait for my wife's bump..hmmm)

Heartbeats
Next time you listen to your baby's heartbeat, make a note of the speed. According to old folklore, if it's under 140 beats per minute, it's a boy, anything above that? Definitely a girl! Your midwife may humour you if you choose to believe this one, but will probably feel it her duty to inform you that heart rates have no relevance until labour and birth when a girl's will generally beat faster than a boy's. (i think our baby's heartbeat is 154 on first ultrasound)

Pregnancy sickness
If we suffer from nausea and general sickness during the first twelve weeks, we're supposedly carrying a girl. But if that nasty sicky feeling strikes a little later, it's most definitely a boy. People also believe that the timing of our sickness is a clear indication of our baby's sex with boys making us sick in the morning and girls in the evening. Several studies have been carried out to find a link between sickness and gender, with no conclusive results. Hence, it's probably best to wait till baby arrives before splashing the nursery walls in pink or blue! (my wife is feeling the sickness both in the morning and the afternoon..how about that..)

Foetal Activity
Another fun belief is to monitor our baby's activity in the womb. If we have a particularly energetic tot, it's most likely to be a boy whereas a more chilled foetus indicates a girl. As good as this theory is, it's generally perceived that expectant mums detect their babies movements depending on their own daily activity. For example, a mum who spends the day at home with her feet up is likely to feel a lot more kicking and rolling around than one who's rushing about all day. (kicking ands rolling..our baby do that during our last ultrasound)

Your looks
It's not only our body shapes that change during pregnancy but our face and looks too. Some believe this is an indication of gender, with boys promoting shiny hair and rosy skin and girls causing dull hair and the odd pimple or two. However, experts would insist that outbreaks are merely a result of the various hormonal changes our bodies are undergoing and that women who usually suffer from spots are likely to have further outbreaks in pregnancy, irrelevant of their baby's sex. (the belief is the other way around in the philippines)

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Other gender prediction tales and beliefs
There are hundreds of other fun ways to predict the sex of your baby, originating from all over the globe. Some of the most common are:

The ring trick: Tie your ring to a piece of string and hold it gently over your bump. If it swings from side to side, you're having a boy but if it adapts a circular motion, it's a girl.

Your breasts: If your right breast looks bigger than the left, it's a boy - vice verse, it's a girl. If they're both the same size, then the myth is either complete nonsense or you're having one of each!

Chinese gender calculator: This is one of the most popular gender prediction tests and many women find it scarily accurate. It works by calculating your age at conception with the number of the month you conceived in. If the resulting number is odd, you can expect a boy, if the number is even - it's a girl.

Early gender tests: There are new home testing kits that claim to accurately predict your baby's gender by analysing the fetal DNA in the mother's bloodstream. The mother takes a simple blood test and the results are sent off for analysis before being posted online within a few days.

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to those mothers reading this..which method do yout think is the most accurate..hmmmm..