Establishing a Routine for Your Baby

Establishing a routine for your baby has its ups and downs. I have successfully established an effective schedule for my son and during the first few months, it wasn't as bad as what I have heard from other parents such as myself. Caleb sleeps at around eight or nine in the evening and wakes up at around five or six in the morning. I get my usual five or six hours of sleep and if he does wake up in the middle of the night, it may be once or twice at the most and after a quick change or a warm hug, he is off to dream land once again.

I know that sleep is a major issue for parents during the early months of a baby's life and I pretty much have no complaints as to the adjustment but don't misunderstand me, before I had established a schedule and a bedtime ritual, it took a lot of sleepless nights. Stress and fatigue were my daily companion and there were times that I would almost fall off the wagon and just break from the constant routine. Watching Barney and Sesame Street almost drove me nuts too. But like I said the benefits of having a routine really pay off once your little one is used to it.

I start his day with a hug and a kiss then I give him a sip of water and we play on the bed for fifteen to thirty minutes. We go out to the living room to listen to classical music for at least twenty minutes and if the sun is out, we go out walking outside the house for thirty minutes. I sing to him his favorite nursery rhymes as we walk and after that we go inside and I give Caleb his daily vitamins. Breakfast soon follows and after a short rest, if he is a little sleepy and tired, I allow him a short nap. If he is still a little active, I give him his morning bath and then I read him a story and cradle him to sleep. He usually wakes up after an hour or two and then we go and watch Barney or Sesame Street. If he loses attention, we play games and I give him his toys to play with on the floor. Lunch can be a bottle of milk or some available solid food like fruits or boiled vegetables. Then its clean up time. Afternoon activities vary because sometimes we go and visit our relatives and cousins and sometimes we go to the mall or some place new. Come six in the afternoon, I feed him his dinner and then we watch a little TV and its off to his bedtime routine. First is a warm bath or spongebath, then a baby massage, a story and a little soft music and lullaby. After that we say goodnight to my parents who we still live with and Caleb usually is tired out by playing a little more and then we say our prayers and I give my baby his bedtime bottle and then I lay him in his crib and kiss him goodnight. That's our usual routine at home and I have been doing that ever since.

There are also days when we go for trips in the car, trips to the doctor, unavoidable appointments and sick days and there are alterations in the schedule, of course, when it comes to the welfare of your son or daughter, you have to be flexible. So, the downside of having a routine is that when a familiar environment, i.e. our house and the familiar items and things that are always used and seen by the baby are not present, the routine is changed or altered. The bedtime and naptimes as well as feeding times are varied and the activities and even the people who hold and care for the baby change too. During these days, expect tantrums and irritability, missed naps, and disturbed sleeping patterns. These are unavoidable but once you re-establish the routine, you are once again having fun and worrying less when it comes to taking care of your baby.

I Love Nursery Rhymes

I love nursery rhymes. I have been listening to them since I was little baby and thanks to my mother's influence I have adapted the habit of playing and singing nursery rhymes to my little one as well. I know most of you, like me remember Humpty Dumpty, Jack and Jill, Mary and her little lamb and so many other characters that have never changed throughout the years and if I am not mistaken, most of you, like me still have the lyrics and the verses memorized.

I believe that having your baby listen to nursery rhymes as early as possible has a very good effect. From my own experience, I have repeatedly sung songs like Old McDonald, Mary had a little lamb and other "M" containing nursery rhymes and as early as 4 months old, my son could babble and repeat the "M" sound and after a month he was saying "Ma" a lot. Not only that, he was always smiling whenever he hears me sing those nursery rhymes which I took as a sign of early recognition and familiarity. Whenever he is fussy or irritable, I always make it a habit of cradling my baby and having my old nursery rhymes cassette tape play in the background and soon after having played it, my son would yawn and eventually fall asleep on his own.

Those were just some of the benefits I have observed from my own personal experience. After having interviewed my mom about how she had raised me and my brother, I started to realize how important having these nursery rhymes were for our family. Humility aside, I could say I turned out pretty well from having been exposed to nursery rhymes and reading at an early age. This is because from early childhood up to now, I have adored reading, learning and singing. I plan to impart those habits to my son too. My husband agrees with me as to how important training your kids to learn and love reading since these are the building blocks for a bright and intelligent future.

That is why I want to share with you my love for nursery rhymes. It takes a lot of patience, time and effort to raise your children right but all of the hard work pays off whenever your child reaps the benefits of having been taught by diligent parents who spend time each day reading, singing and playing with them. Make it a habit to keep these nursery rhymes alive in your family, because I am sure, that in the future, your children will look back on these memories and thank you for it.

If you want to listen, read and remember those childhood nursery rhymes, come take a trip down memory lane and check out the Kididdles site.

I found this site containing all the beloved nursery rhymes and songs that were and still are popular for the kids, adults and young at heart.

Random Ramblings

Crappy internet and power outages or blackouts spell trouble for a daily blogger such as myself. These are major obstacles for me during these past few days. And add the smoldering heat of the drought we have this summer, the constant crying and tantrums of my son and the constant nagging of my parents, equal hell for me. I really have don't want to make my blog site a place for my rants, my ramblings but I just hate the fact that I can't do anything about these things and having the chance to spill my outrage and ill feelings gives me relief somehow since I don't have my husband to tell my problems to or my friends to call on. It's really pathetic of me, I know but still, if you happen to read this, it means you have nothing better to do or you share my pain and or think that you are better than me and are grateful that what I am experiencing is not happening to you. Well, good for you then.

Anyway, that is how it is for me living in the province of Nueva Ecija in the country of the Philippines. I'd like to say sorry to my followers for having to endure my absence from blogging but unlike other countries that have good wireless internet connection and no regular blackouts, I am just unlucky. I wish I was in another country at this moment, away from the heat, the hard to please parents and the nasty internet and electric service. Then add the corrupt government officials, the hospitals that don't pay for even allowances for the nurse trainees, the lack of any kind of paying job, and the absence of your support persons - nothing can convince me and my son to stay here. I really wish I could go away and live independently and be well supported and truly very happy. Oh how I really wish for that day to come soon.

The New Pup on the Block

Mojo the Second

I would like to say that no dog can ever replace our dearly departed Mojo, see related post here.
But my mother had never gotten used to not having a dog in our house and she never did get over the death of our dog. One morning after so many tears have been shed, Mom said, "Do you think that reincarnation is possible? Maybe Mojo can come back if we find his parents." I couldn't say anything but just pat my mom's back and hug her as tears swelled from her eyes.

We set out to find Mojo's breeder and with much time spent from calling up pet stores and researching the Internet for known Pekingese breeders, we found Mojo's breeder, who luckily had Mojo's mom still in her possession. And that dog, had just given birth to 5 beautiful puppies. That gave us hope that we could still have a loving pet that would remind us of our Mojo. I had always thought of naming our new puppy something other than "Mojo", because personally, I do not believe in reincarnation. But Mom is so very stubborn and we couldn't do anything to reconsider. And since, the new litter had a different father than Mojo's, the group consisted of pure white puppies instead of the three-colored puppies, Mojo originally came from.

But Mom went with the dog's personality or traits, because when we first bought Mojo from the pet shop, he was the only puppy who came near and played with my mom. So, my mother took the friendliness and closeness as a sign and bought the only white puppy who resembled our late Mojo's characteristics.

I am proud to present our new Pekingese puppy, Mojo the Second.

He is a bundle of joy and very playful. He knew his name at once and whenever he hears us, he comes running toward us. He loves playing with our late Mojo's toys and is also as loyal as his predecessor. Although, he was a new puppy, he did remind us of how it used to be when our other dog was with us. So far, Mom is not crying anymore and the hole that once was gaping in our hearts had finally started to close. So if reincarnation is true or not, I still think its crazy but now that we have a new pet, we are starting to move on.

I pray that God watches over and protects our new pet because he is after all, a new member of the family.

Gag with Beans: Beanboozled!

Jelly Belly has been world-famous for their gourmet jelly beans. They have more than 50 flavors including their other blend of different-flavored beans.

Having been a fan of their curiously colorful and delicious candy, I have discovered a safe and great way to trick your friends and have a good time. I present to you my experience and review of their brand of jelly beans, Beanboozled. The name itself readies the buyer of the deliciously deviant prank you will inflict on your family and friends.

It was a good thing that I was passing by my favorite candy store and stopped to browse for something sweet to nibble on before I went to the movies with my friends. I wasn't a fan of going into stores, trying on and staying for what seemed like hours of browsing paraphernalia and tidbits, so I wandered around and lo and behold found myself buying this small box of trick beans.

BeanBoozled, consists of 20 flavors, 10 flavors belong to their most famous and favorite gourmet flavors, and the other 10 are mirror colors with different flavors.

Make a game out of trying the different flavors and letting your friends and family guess what flavor they got. Be fair and try one with them. They can try and smell and study the small seemingly harmless bean, but once they taste it. Let the giggles rain as you observe each and every one of those reactions.

Some of my friends were really brave and didn't mind the awkward tastes of the different, they chewed and finished eating the oddly flavored beans and some had to spit out the unusual tasting ones. I really had fun seeing their faces. I might post their pictures once I have my camera handy after buying the 2nd edition.

This is a good buy for those who have yet to try and let their trickster sides lose. It doesn't come cheap but having seen your friend's weird reactions is always priceless. So, why not try a box today.

Check out the Jelly Belly site to have an idea of those oddly flavored beans and also their other products.

Have fun!

Baby Separation Anxiety

My own personal experience of missing my little one is not as serious as most mothers experience. Let me share with you though, how difficult it is to be away from your source of happiness and purpose. I have been away from my son for 4 days now and I have been constantly thinking about how he is. He is being taken cared of by my parents at home and because of business matters, I had to leave my son with them. They are all very capable of taking care of him since they have years of practice with me and my brother but as a fairly new mom, it still is very hard and it definitely yanks your heart strings just missing an angelic face such as this.
I am definitely coping and surviving the nights I have not been sleeping beside my little darling. I know that it is completely natural to feel as if you're incomplete and a big gaping hole has been left in your heart when you know that your little one is in the arms and care of persons other than yourself or your husband. I wonder if my baby knows that I miss him so much? If he has trouble sleeping at night, if he looks for me whenever he does the routine I have established with him? Those are the common questions that plagues my mind during these moments of non-productivity or boredom during work hours.

If you are just like me, I got these tips below to help you cope with what they call "separation anxiety". Usually this is felt by both the mother or primary caregiver and the baby so it helps to be prepared before you leave your little one.

According the the Babycenter Site:

To help the Mommy and Baby weather the goodbye blues:

• Say goodbye in an affectionate but matter-of-fact way. Try not to draw out farewells or let yourself get emotional in response to your baby's crying.
• Stay away once you say goodbye. Resist the temptation to turn back and check if he's OK. This will only make things more difficult for you both.
• If it will make you feel better, call when you get to where you're going. Chances are he stopped crying straight after you left and got diverted by an activity.
• Spend some special time together when you pick up your baby.
• Read the signals and trust your instincts. Does your baby react the same way when your partner does the drop-off? If not, perhaps getting him to do the dropping off is a better alternative. Does he seem unhappy when you pick him up? It's unlikely – but possible – that your baby and the babysitter or carer may just not be a good "fit".

I have done all of these and it makes me feel a lot better knowing from the updates from my parents at home that li'l Caleb is a happy little spud despite me, not being there. My heart aches still, but I know that I have been able to do good things in raising my brave and smart little boy.

The Day Mojo Died

"In loving memory of our dear Pekingese, MOJO"
June 16, 2007 - December 14, 2009

"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy, when skies are gray...
You'll never know Dear, how much I love you...Please don't take my sunshine away..."

Do you believe that all dogs go to heaven? Then perhaps, I would be relieved to know that our little darling, is up there with our Creator, frolicking in the gardens, chasing after other dogs, eating all the pandesal and sweet milk and chicken
to his little heart's content...

"Oh Mojo, why did you have to leave us so early?"

I regret not having brought you for a walk in the park that morning. I regret not paying attention to you that day.

I'm sorry for not showing you how much I love you and for not playing with you when I had the time. "I'm so sorry Mojo-puppy koy."

Our dearest Pekingese dog, Mojo, died last December 14, 2009 at around 4 in the afternoon. He was hit by a jeep carrying vegetables.

Our maid tried to pull him to safety, but our dog desperately tried to cross the street to get back home to our house.

He just had his "libot", his walk, at our other lot across the street and our maid had forgotten to close the gate.

Our Mojo had the habit of running back home whenever he was tired and when he wanted to see us. Our loyal, Mojo. He never wanted anything but our attention. And now, how I wish I could've played with him everyday.

Our dog was 2 years old. He would've had a great Christmas, a long life should've been his since the petshop owner told us, Pekingese breeds live up to 15 years.

He would've had fun playing with my son as they both grew up together. But now, it will never happen. And to think, Caleb is so fond of touching your fur Mojo. How could you leave us so suddenly.

I write this in such grief and sorrow. I may seem silly and foolish for having felt such strong attachment to our smart little dog, but our whole family will miss him. Terribly.

He was a great guard dog, a loyal and affectionate pet. Though he lacked the training to do tricks, he could understand us. He knew how to welcome us home, he knew how to cheer us up.

He knew how to get his leach and his collar when we went for a walk. He was my company when I was left alone at home. He was my closest canine companion. The only dog I grew to love so deeply.

I would like to share his pictures with everyone so that his memory will live on.

I remember the way you looked a few weeks after we bought you from the pet store. You reminded me of cute little "Ewok" from Star Wars.





When we go on car rides together.



That day when we played with Mom and Dad at the beach.



That halloween when we dressed you up in your very own costume.



My precious and loyal dog, Mojo, how regal and cute and kind and loving you were. Always looking at me with those trusting eyes, that I could not help but give you hugs and kisses almost every time.



I can write a whole book of how my dog meant so much to our family but I can't go on without tears clouding my eyes.

Dearest Mojo, I pray that despite our little time together, I pray that God takes care of you in heaven.

We'll see each other again Mojo, I love you.

Be Careful of What You Wish For

Another story about a very familiar quote, "Be careful of what you wish for", is Coraline. A story by Neil Gaiman, now turned into a movie by Henry Selick. Coraline is a girl who is bored with her family. Alone, ignored and lonely from having to move to a very plain and seemingly uninteresting town, she discovers a secret door that leads to a better version of her home where everyone - the neighbors, the pets and the parents are nicer and more exciting than the ones she had before. In this parallel world, everything seems perfect - its as if her wishes had come true but things turn scary when her "Other" parents, specifically her "Other" mother wanted to keep her in their world for good.

A story reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland and Peter Pan, its a story of trying to escape from the issues of the real world. In this "other" world, there are no pressures, no problems and the feeling of being loved and wanted is constant. You feel like everything is going your way and nothing can go wrong. Things get done without you having to break a sweat and people are at your beck and call. How wonderful, if places like Wonderland, Neverland and the "Other" world existed. But reality hits as hard and in this world, dreams may seem to only be achievable when we close our eyes and sleep.

I myself have wished to be blown away to these places whenever I felt like I'm neck-deep in problems and no one seems to understand or give a care. But in the end, I feel more depressed and disappointed because deep in my heart, I know that there is no such place, and that I won't be able to escape my concerns. But you know, even though its difficult to face your troubles, movies like, Coraline, remind you that a perfect world does not exist. Alice had to deal with the Red Queen trying to kill her, Peter is constantly hunted by the Captain Hook and the pirates and Coraline had to escape the "Other" mother. Perhaps wishing for a quick solution to your problems may lead you to even more trouble than you have begun with. That's why I believe in thinking twice when it comes to wishing. Unlike children, you don't think of the consequences but if you are an adult, its a whole new ball game. There is so much at stake when you make a wrong decision and one mistake can have a "domino-effect" that can make your life miserable and hopeless.

I want to say I have escaped my share of these wrong choices but I am after all still human and prone to mistakes so instead of just wishing for other worlds, dreaming of magical solutions, I turn to my own kind of escape, prayer. Silence and peace at the presence of God, I have never forgotten how many times I was recharged and comforted by just lifting my problems to Him. Though my problems remain after praying, I feel more hopeful that I can solve these issues with His help. By remembering His promises and feeling His love in the people that surround me, I get a new perspective and a new attitude that there is always a silver lining, that there is always sunshine after the rain and after I am reminded by that, "magic" starts to happen. I find solutions because my head is now clear of frustrations and negative thoughts.

I know that this life, obstacles, challenges, bad circumstances happen, even the people who you love and trust can betray and let you down, but be reminded that you are never alone. You can think that the whole world is against you and that nothing you do can make it all better, well, you're wrong. It's just a matter of having faith that God does not give you anything that you can't handle. He wants us to be brave and strong so that we can battle our personal demons and those of this world. Coraline could not escape the other world without first, battling head on the other mother, so we are not much different. We can't escape our troubles, we have to face them by ourselves but by first, getting help and being equipped with the right tools to confront our problems.

Don't worry, at first, it might seem impossible but remember, help comes to those who have faith and believe that there is always light at the end of dark tunnel.

Barney's Silly Sad Happy Mad Video

I know what you are going to say. "Eww, Barney? Isn't he the purple gay pedophile dinosaur?". I was a skeptic myself as to the effects of watching the silly antics of a weird purple mascot and I had doubts before letting my kid watch Barney but hey, if it works, then why not continue letting your children watch the Purple Dino?

I bought this first video of Barney in the hopes of introducing my son to bright colors and happy songs. Caleb has been watching this since he was a two month old baby. Perhaps you are wondering as to why I had to introduce my son to Purple Torture? Well, mothers always have the best interests of their child in mind and since my purpose was merely to have Caleb not be bored at home, this video did the trick.

It's colorful, entertaining, and there is a lot of movement. It helps to have 3 colorful giant looking stuffed toys dancing. The songs are a bit catchy too. Caleb, now an 8 month old baby, recognizes the songs like "Clean Up" and "Colors". He smiles when he hears the songs being sung to him. He never fails to pay attention whenever the video is setup. If you want to distract your little one, then this is a good video for him or her to watch.

Of course I plan to wean my son from the Purple Guy before he learns to love the creature and ask me to buy more videos but for now, I'm still enduring the "I Love You" song. If it Caleb is happy, then so am I.

Jonhson's Head to Toe Wash: A Review

My Caleb's first baby wash was Johnson's Head-to-toe Baby Wash. I had no idea of what my baby's wash products where going to be so I assumed the tried and tested Johnson's would be a good choice. And I was right.

First of let me tell you if you want that baby fresh scent then this is it. It has a mild, sweet and almost floral scent that leaves your baby smelling so nice, you just cannot resist hugging and kissing your son or daughter all day.

It's easy to use since you just need water, your hands or a washcloth to apply on your little one.

The same no-tears formula goes into this convenient baby wash, so you don't have to worry about the soapy lather getting into your darling's eyes.

It can be used as a shampoo and as a body soap. You don't need to reach for any other particular product during your baby's bath time. When I give my little one a bath, doing it alone might seem very difficult, especially if your young one reaches the more active stage, where he squirms a lot and weighs more than during the first months of life. I have a very heavy baby and preparing his things takes a lot of time and juggling. With Johnson's Baby Wash, all I need to prepare is the bath water, the bath towel and my son, (rubber duckie, optional). It takes me just a few minutes to have fun in the tub with my son.

The head and body wash is easy to wash off too. Thanks to this product bath is quick and easy.

One word of advice though, for those with newborn's and a case of hypersensitivity, I suggest you dilute the wash first then place it on a washcloth. The first time I used this on my son's face I applied it undiluted, on his head and face, he had a temporary reaction to it...As you can see, the tiny bumps on his forehead and cheeks. I had to have his pediatrician take a look. It wasn't serious or anything, thank God.

Anyway the product is still a winner for me and my baby. Check out the Johnson's link here to learn more about the product. http://johnsonsbaby.com/product.do?id=1

Human Meat Pies - A Review of Sweeney Todd

"Could I interest you in the worst pies in London?" - Mrs. Lovette

Appetizing or could this be the most disgusting thing you’ve ever heard? Well I blame myself for having been influenced by the movie, "Sweeney Todd - The Demon Barber of Fleet Street".

For those of you who don’t know, Sweeney Todd is a dark tale of revenge, set in the 1840’s. Justice was a distant memory. Authorities abuse their powers and the commoners either resort to conformist living or take matters into their own hands. Accused of a crime he didn’t commit and torn away from his beloved wife and daughter, Depp stars as the vengeful barber, Sweeney, who returns to Fleet Street armed with his "friendly" razors he seeks the throat of the evil Judge Turpin, the one responsible for the ill-fate of Depp’s wife. During the process, he slashes unsuspecting and unfortunate customers looking for the "closest shave of their lives". Along for the ride isMrs. Lovette (Carter), the accomplice, who uses the corpses of the victims for her infamous, meat pies. What a truly dastardly pair! Honestly, fun to watch, if you love dark and gory musicals. But what can you expect from the director of Sleepy Hollow, Tim Burton?

"Seems a downright shame…seems an awful waste, such a nice plump frame, whats his name has had…has…
Seems an awful waste, i mean…with the price of meat what it is…when you get it, if you get it..could you got it?" - Mrs. Lovette

"Think about it."

Human Meat Pies - Why in the world would I ever consider that? Well maybe for some stroke of madness, I was thinking about it out of curiosity but then I didn’t mean eating it literally. It was a truth that was hard to swallow. The thought of it is inconceivable - if you’re one of the hypocrites who believe in a perfect world.

"Man devouring man out there. who are we to deny it in here…" - Sweeney Todd

When you put meaning into that verse, it’s been happening for decades and even centuries. I am appalled at our society. A solid example of this idea is the Crab Mentality of the Filipino Culture. Bringing down people for the sake of selfish desires to rise to the top. I doubt anyone has ever really admitted of doing this but we are all guilty. It is as common as the corrupt officials in our government. Whom I presume have resorted to this strategy to be in that position of power.

In my opinion, Todd’s case was not as taboo as people might think because like I’ve said if you conform to the ways of foolish people, you ignore the meaning of justice and no solutions can ever be made to solve a problem that was never addressed as one in the first place. Sweeney’s actions were something that served as an eye opener to the masses of his time. No one would have thought that a man of power, Turpin, hid behind the mask of righteousness and was in fact a demon in disguise. Only those who fell victim, with their silent screams, know of his treachery and they could not have done anything from beyond the grave. But here is a man, the dark barber, who was crazy enough to rage war against the oppressor.

Do not condemn me for justifying a murderer’s actions. Do not misunderstand me. I am merely voicing reflections on an issue plaguing our subconsious. I succumbed to thinking and this is the fruit of it. I have always tried to look into villain’s intentions and actions. It has been said that, "Villains are only misunderstood beings" and that is why I try to unlock the truth behind them.

The fact is murder is never a solution and we have never been given the right to judge people for their actions, but in fiction it is always presumed that the lead character in every play, movie, or story, can do pretty much what they want and that means going against reality, against the norm of what things are or else it would have been boring. Killing people just won’t solve anything. We imagine, we say things, we curse and we wish ill for the people who deserve to be killed - those who hate the current administration raise your hand. But we never pick up guns or knives to literally kill the person. We do nothing. And because of that attitude, our powerlessness - we turn blind, deaf and mute just to avoid the issue. To solve problems, to feel power, to do something, we resort to the very characteristic that we hated in the first place. "Nagpabayad, nanloko at nagsinungaling din tayo" - We corrupt ourselves as well.

Man eating man is like the saying "dog eat dog wor". Either eat or be eaten. That is the truth. Through the mistakes and the experiences of our early ancestors, we have learned nothing. It is sad but I am doing my part to change something here. I recognize the problem. And people such as writers, movie makers, artists, they let people know. If it wasn’t for the movie I saw I wouldn’t have been thinking about these things and now that I am. I am proud that I took time to consider this issue. I don’t want to conform anymore, instead of moping around and being a victim, instead of just bad-mouthing the people who cause us pain. I do my own thing. I believe. I have faith. Faith that someday, I know people will realize their ignorance. I pray for this moment. I pray for wisdom and I wait patiently and fulfill my role. I believe soon this madness will be over and we, the future generation, will reap the benefits.

The moral of the story…don’t be a cannibal. If you are tempted to take a bite of these so-called, "Human Meat Pies", refuse it. If you are not in a position to say no, taste but never swallow. Spit it out at once. Don’t be corrupted by what you see and think that other people do. "Mag-isip isip ka kaya muna?" (Why don't you think it over?)

A Filipino's First Winter

December of 2007. I consider myself blessed for being here in Wisconsin and experiencing what we Filipinos have never before seen in our entire lives in our warm and 2-season country - that is snow. Perhaps I, like so many others, enjoy the many firsts of being in a foreign land. The excitement of the first snow fall, the moments of anticipation and joy at the sight of falling snow flakes, thinking of capturing each second on camera and basking in the warmth of a heated home so as to escape Jack Frost’s whistle. I am glad to be here and yet I miss my homeland, despite the many discomforts, the people and the traffic, the thought of my family celebrating my success here and also the gift of Christmas is what fills my heart with joy during those moments of despair.

I am a newcomer and I have yet friends with whom I can share memories with and since I am working, I do not mind much. It is with the internet that I stay connected with what I call, a piece of my mind, a piece of my heart. For I have yet, to surrender my fondness for anime and the like. I check my email now and again, I post pictures of my "firsts" and then I go and search for countless things that pop into my head after a hard-day’s work. Ah, yes, work, the one thing I dread during my care-free student years, for I have been suffering a case of "Peter pan syndrome", wishing never to grow up and now, here I am, joining the planks of boring adults.

Rambling on and on about complaints I can never voice out, I sit in a corner of my room each night, contemplating my very reason of being here, and I stare outside my window, the neighbor’s house covered white glistening snow, I close my eyes and find myself in the embrace of my family and I don’t feel so lonesome and alone.

I love the snow, but like each snowflake, the joy of the white gold is just a fleeting moment in time. Give me the warmth of my country, the noise and the pollution, give me the lights of parols and the scent of bibingka, snow is just snow, but my Filipino family is what has been my driving force - their faith, their happiness and their love.

Weight Loss After Pregnancy

Weight loss had always been an objective of mine right after my pregnancy. After all those days of fattening up for the sake of my baby, it was finally my time to get back to my pre-pregnant weight. I started off with a weigh-in and a long look in the mirror. I had so many problem areas to deal with and I had a deadline to meet. I had psyched myself up to lose as much weight, the safest way before my son’s christening which was in 4 months time. Since all our friends and family will be attending, I had promised to look my best for that day.

I forgot to mention that during the entire pregnancy, I was pretty much in hiding, not because I was ashamed of how I looked but because I was very easily fatigued and the edema in my legs gave me a hard time walking for long distances. I was very much overweight during and right after giving birth and my road to recovery took longer than expected because I gave birth via C-section. Resuming daily activities and now, Mommy duties proved to be a herculean task for me. But still I was determined to not look like a mom and of course to be healthier and leaner for my age.

A big concern for would-be dieters who just had a baby is the breastfeeding. I must stress out that for breastfeeding mothers; it is a definite NO to dieting. Any type of alteration in a mother’s diet, directly affects the baby. And drastic weight loss leads to body fat being burned and turned into an excreted substance that is harmful to the baby. So how did I go about dieting then? It was an unfortunate yet inevitable choice for me. I had to stop breastfeeding after a month because of the demands of my work as well as the treatment I was undergoing through for a medical clearance which was also job-related. It was a sad decision but with this I had nothing to hold me back to start losing weight.

I grew up in a health-conscious family, which was an advantage for me because I get to eat vegetables and fruits almost everyday. The pantry was stocked with healthy options and I had no trouble following menus for certain diets. Yes, I had to start with decreasing my intake and eating the right kind of food. I wanted to try different “fab” diets but I was too weak to resist cheating on the menus and also most were too confusing to follow so I had to find one thing to give up and stick to it. I gave up eating carbs. I didn’t eat anything sweet, white, and starchy – that meant no rice, no bread, potatoes, and corn. If my family ate together, I ate small amounts of viand and drank lots of water. I ate only little portions of red meat. I didn’t eat junk food or drink soda. I didn’t eat at fast foods. I resisted eating sweets and dessert. A few days into my diet and I felt like I wanted scream. It was very difficult at first but eventually my body adapted. Every week I trained myself to eat as little as possible and only when I was very hungry. Coupled with daily exercise, an hour and a half’s worth of aerobics, I was finally getting a routine set.

A month of doing my routine, I didn’t notice much change. I kept weighing myself and in the end get very disappointed at only a few pounds lost. It was a good thing, my parents and my husband kept encouraging me. At that point, I thought I should’ve just given up, but I persevered. My patience and endurance for resisting good food were put to the test almost everyday. It didn’t help coming from a family who loves good food and I also have very good parents who can cook up such delicious and mouthwatering goodness during every meal. I was very deprived during my weight loss journey.

After a few more weeks of doing my routine and focusing on taking care of my baby, I finally noticed my shirts and pants getting loose. I could wear my old clothes again. I could feel my body getting lighter, and I had more energy. I felt good. People started to notice and I couldn’t believe it. It was because at this point, I stopped looking at the weighing scale for fear of being disappointed once again. After 3-4 months of diligence, I weighed myself that day before my son’s christening. Lo and behold, I lost 39 pounds amazingly enough, and I managed to lose that much with the method I chose. My friends and family gave me such good feedback that I really am very proud of my achievement. My husband too, he couldn’t help but ogle at how good I looked during the celebration. I really am so happy I found the strength and diligence to stick to my diet and exercise routine. So, from a huge 182.6 lb weight to a fair and fit 143 lbs, its safe to say that diet and exercise definitely work and people who support and encourage you during the process, play an important role to keep you motivated. If I can do it, so can you!

Welcome to Motherhood

When does being a mother start for a woman? Is it at the time you missed your period? Is it the second your pregnancy test reads positive? Is it the first visit to your OB-GYN? Or is it only at that point when you hold that precious bundle of joy in your arms for the very first time? For me, it started that night when I told my husband that I wanted to be a mother. It was a joint decision for us, since it definitely was a huge step for any couple. I didn’t have any regrets and at that time I thought I knew what I was getting myself into. But despite having a very good grasp of reproductive and women’s health, experiencing the whole process throws whatever stock knowledge you have into disarray.

It’s the whole nine-month waiting period, wherein for every mother the only thing that mattered was the health and well-being of their developing baby. It’s true that there’s a lot of material that helped in understanding what’s going on but to be honest, no matter how many books you read, no matter how prepared you think you are, each pregnancy is different, each experience unique in its own little way. I have proven most of the information to be either true or not applicable in my own situation.

Let me tell you, it was an emotional, psychological, and physical rollercoaster for me. The physical part was very obvious since the characteristic trait of a pregnant woman is the big belly. The inevitable weight gain was definitely a very big deal to me – but its safe to say that even if you’re not pregnant, your weight matters a lot. From a weight of 65kgs, I weighed a whopping 83kgs during my ninth month. It really felt like I was carrying a very big person inside of me. I kept wondering how my husband could stand to look at me since I got so huge and so ugly with all the darkened areas, and don’t get me started with all those stretch marks and cellulite. I couldn’t even recognize myself in the mirror.

Now comes the emotional part. Oh boy, the mood swings were terrible. I felt sorry for the people around me especially my husband. I cried about every little thing. I got mad about trivial things, I was almost always in a foul mood and I would get overly depressed or emotional over things that normally wouldn’t have ignited a simple, “meh” or “huh” from me. I was almost impossible to console when I’m having a tantrum or hissy fit. I always found something to argue about and I easily get mad with my husband, my parents, or my in-laws for the simplest reasons.

Psychologically speaking, I was a mess. I was stressed and utterly almost always on the edge of insanity. A lot of things kept crossing my mind with each passing minute of every day, week and trimester. I kept myself busy thinking about the baby, the cost, my job, my husband, my family, my health, the bills, literally everything that I usually trouble myself with plus the concerns accompanying the would-be addition to our family. I would space out and stare off at a distance just thinking about how to handle each and everything once I was about to give birth.

I was sure I wouldn’t be able to handle it since another problem I had was that my husband was away most of the time doing overtime and doing his best to save up as much as he could in preparation for our baby. This meant a lot of time I was going crazy was spent without the most important person in my life. I would often talk to my unborn baby to voice out my sadness and frustration, but I guess it was a definite blessing for me that we still managed to see each other and be together during those critical moments that I was feeling so helpless and alone even for a few days at a time. I was grateful I had family and friends visit me during the very difficult moments. Throughout the entire span of the pregnancy, I could sum up the ordeal as unpleasant since I was definitely agonized and shocked by all the changes. I was never really prepared for anything. But after those whole nine months, my entire perception was changed. At that moment in the delivery room, when I was so close to feeling like I was going breathless, the sound I heard was the most important and unforgettable sound I have ever heard. At that second, time stood still and every nasty feeling that I had, every worry, every concern seemed to have magically disappeared - that moment I had heard my baby’s cry. God’s perfect blessing our lives was born that morning, healthy and perfect.

It was then that I was truly welcomed into the ranks of motherhood. The whole process was indeed arduous and paved with pain and worry but every mother knows that the reward is beyond any measure, the moment you hold that precious newborn baby in your arms for the very first time. I knew everything was worth it, and at that time nothing else mattered but the feel of his tiny hand grasp my finger, the throb of his fluttering heart and the warmth of his body against my breast. I was now a mother.