Wednesday, 7 August 2013

Sweetie's Life May Not Always Sweet


(Warning: Full of Negativity)

Yeah, my life is  not always sweet as I always daydream. What is life without stress? without problems? without hassles? and without failures? and without contrabidas? But at the end of the day I just hold on to this: 
True right? Mabilis lang yan. I can attest to that because when I usually get so mean with somebody in less than a hour andyan na agad-agad yan. Oh well there are people that can withstand that. Waley sila pakealam at bakit mo pa nga naman napapansin yun e you're swimming with the fruits of your illegal labor na diba? 

I just don't get it why there are people who are so selfish? I know sometimes we need to, pero ung iba greediness na yan. Paano kaya sila nakakatulog sa gabi? Or nakakatulog pa ba sila? I remember my professor way back in college said that "bago ka matulog sa gabi, reflect if may nasaktan ka ba the whole day if yes, make sure you will correct that the other day, or pray for forgiveness". I totally agree, fast-faced corporate life sometimes make us tigers and unitentionally hurt other peoples feelings, that is so normal but you have to correct that, bawi ba kungbaga. Because at the end of the day, konsyensya mo na din yan and babalik din saiyo yan. 

My mantra in life is that as long as you are doing your job and you play fair, you have nothing to be afraid off, no worries. I just don't get it that some people who will pull you down crab mentality talaga. Life is so simple. Give=Get. Work=Earn. Good=Bad. Share=Receive. WorkHard=Sucess. Spend=Save. New=Old. And if there's a will, theres a way. Why do some people keep on complicating simple things? I just don't get it. 

It doesn't mean you have the power, you will overuse that. Sabi nga ni Superman Great Power, comes great responsibility. Kawawa kasi yung nasa baba. They are helpless. 

Now, Is it just me? my hormones? my frustrations? my disappointment? certainly no. I have basis. They also have. Lahat kami. But what can we do? So if we everyday we will stress ourselves because of that, hay buhay na talaga. So lets just Keep Calm. 

All is well, 

Monday, 5 August 2013

Mommy Sweetie's Breastfeeding Journey

Whenever someone ask me "Hanggang kailan ka magpapabreastfeed?" I always tell them "Hanggat may milk ako at gusto ni baby D". As a working mom, I feel like my breastmilk is the best gift that I can give to baby D and breasfeeding is the only way to sustain our bond as mother and son. 

Prior to giving birth, I thought that only stay-at-home moms can breastfeed their babies. So when my mom asked me if I will breastfeed my baby, I always tell her "until my maternity leave" which is usually up to 60days. I need to return to work, I have my career and still have many aspirations. But when I held baby D in my arms and saw how peaceful he is whenever I breafeed him, I made sure that I will do my best to breasfeed my son as long as I can and as long as he want. 

Our first weeks was never easy, but like other new mothers, there is nothing that we cannot do for our little angel. We can endure all the pain, just so see our babies peacefully and contently sleep in our breasts. That even all we eat is with malungay and bathe/drink with hot water, that we cannot go out of the house for more that an hour, that we cannot have a proper position during bedtime and even if it means goodbye to coffee and chocolates (*this really made me cry) we will still sacrifice for our baby.

I am proud that baby D is now 19 months breastfeed baby. My journey will not be this sucessful without the help of my family and considerations of my employer. During our first days that baby D will not latch in my other breast, Inang (my grandmmother) was there to help me. She even tied (ouch!) my nipples via strings she called it (Silo or siluin) to help baby D latch, after 2days of tears and tieing baby D latches perfectly. My family and R was also very supportive, even if breastfeeding baby D means lying and sleeping all the time for us. My employer also understands(well I think) my situation and allowed me to express and store milk at office. So baby D was fed breastmilk via bottle at daytime and direct feed during night. 


Kiss after feeding. 

I love that even I leave home when usually baby D is still sleeping and sometimes arrive at home and baby D is sleeping again baby D still recognize me. And I believe we will not bond like that if I did not breastfeed him. I am so thankful that I have all the means to research and find the best breastfeeding accessories for a working and travelling mom like me. 

I am a fan of manual breastpumps. I don't know why but electric pumps do not work for me. After trials, frustrations and exhanges of different breastpumps I settled with PM breastpumps. I like the precious moments manual breastpumps because the flanges fits well with me and it has a stong suction that enables me to express 4oz. of breastmilk in 10mins. It is not also bulky and easy to clean and assemble. It comes with extra spare parts and affordable. 

My BP collection at home. I also used farlin, but I like PM bests. 

Little but powerful parts. It is also BPA free. 

What made me "almost" stop breastfeeding is that my work requires me to travel regionally during trainings. My main dilemma is the storage and transport of my breastmilks. Again, I thank all the generous posts of breastfeeding mothers for all the ideas and tips. Here's how I do mine. 


All my accessories are packed in a sealed container and packed inside my hand carry bags so it will not be damaged during flights. 

I always check if there is available fridge in the hotel room or check if the hotel can accommodate storage of breastmilks. 

I utilize AM, Lunch and PM breaks to sneak into my room and express milk. 

I prefer to use disposable milk bags during travels since it is less bulky plus I read somewhere that It can sustain pressure in the plane unlike bottles that has a tendency to pop. 

Since travelling regionally took only 4-6 hours of travel, I don't freeze my BMs,(BMs can be stored in fridge for 8days) instead I bring along Ice packs and insulated bag. And I usually hand carry them. 

And my best pasalubong to baby D is my fresh breastmilk.

I sacrificed a lot in order to breastfeed baby D. I forgo a lot of opportunities because grabbing those means little or no time to breastfeed. And even my intimate moments with R are also affected. I gave up my gimik nights social life because I need to be home early to feed baby D. But do I regret it? Certainly NO. Baby D will just be a baby once in his lifetime, and I want to make and give him the best. And I believe that my breastmilk is the best thing that I can give to baby D. 

And I hope that all mothers, I they can also breastfeed their baby, please do. 

Happy breastfeeding month!

All is well. 




Wednesday, 31 July 2013

Dehdhie and a lot more!

"Akala mo nauuto ka ng anak mo, pero actually ikaw ang nauuto niya" - my friend said. Funny but true, actually mas nauuto niya ang Lolo at Lola niya. I'm trying to train him na if NO, NO talaga, na not all things that he wants to play ay pwede, na hindi lahat ng gusto niya pwede. Yeah I'm sounding like a monster mommy teacher na. There are times that baby D is crying because I'm telling him that my mobile phone is not a toy, then the Lolo will walk into our room to the rescue, always. Hay... my little spoiled baby boy. And actually minsan, sumusuko din ako when he starts wailing and coughing because of arte-iyak he's making, nakakaguilty din. Well, maybe he's not yet ready for that kind of discipline, I will read more on that. 

Moreover, I'm loving that he's having his security object na. For a long time kasi I feel like me, or should I say "the dede" is his comforter, ung tipong the whole day and night whenever I'm around nakadikit sa akin yan, when he's afraid, when he wants to rest, etc. sa akin siya didikit, so wala akong ibang magawa and I really miss having my own body mine lang haha. Good thing Dehdhie (Teddy) is there na. I don't know how they became close, how everything happened (hay the working mommy in me is feeling sad again). We had Dehdhie as a christmas gift from his nong-nong (ninong) and before hate pa niya yan, ngaun they're inseperable.

Baby D watching TV while playing with dehdhie. 

-When you ask him, D where's Teddy? He will stand up and will look for it, and will shout dehdhie! (like he's saying I found you!), then he'll kiss and hug teddy. hay hangkyut lang. 

-While we are eating dinner, as usual tapos na kumain si baby D dahil sobrang likot niya, but si teddy gusto din niya pakainin. haha he kept on putting teddy sa upuan ng Lolo niya, as in inaayos niya pa na nakaupo. It's so funny that his Lolo kept on putting teddy sa floor, but baby D is so insistent to sit teddy sa chair. Kanino kaya nagmana sa tigas ng ulo yang bata na yan? lol

-baby D will not kiss me until pinilit ko siya, but if si teddy? palagi niya kinikiss. 

-Kailangan sakay niya si teddy kapag sasakay siya sa car niya. Actually hirap siya na pagkasyahin silang dalawa. (Note to daddy R: you need to buy D a new and bigger car! hahaha )

-Whenever I'm attempting to put him to sleep without dede, kailangan si teddy ang katabi niya. 

-One night while the lights and tv are off, and nagpapatulog kami and breastfeeding him, as usual kayakap niya si teddy, and to my amuzement, he stopped nursing and let teddy to nurse with me. Naloka ako. But I'm happy that he is now willing to share. Masungit yang bata na yan e.

-One morning, because I slept at 2am na I woke-up to a playing baby D and dehdhie in bed. D is talking to teddy as if they're into a deep conversation. 

-After we woke-up from our afternoon nap, his Lola went to our room, kaso nung pagpasok niya nalaglag ung bote ng alcohol, baby D said: "hallla!" haha lagot daw si Lola. 

Kids really grow fast no? hay... If only all my daydreams of being a stay-at-home will come true. So I can really focus to baby D. Sobrang bilis niya lang kasi lumaki and he's discovering a lot nowadays, I'm missing a lot. I envy those moms that can stay and work at home. Well, sabi nga nila you have to be happy on what you have. So I just make the most of the time at home to play and teach baby D. Let's update daddy R?! 

- He loves the minions! whenever he sees our tab, he will say "ba ba ba ba" or the banana song of minions

- Recently, he's into water dispenser! nakakaloka at yung hot pa ang gusto pindutin? at yun na nga napaso na siya. tsk! pero mama said, he learned hsi lesson na, hindi na siya lumalapit sa water dispenser namin. 

- He loved being kissed sa kanyang cloc cloc "pototoy!"

- Loves to play "saw-saw suka mahuli taya!" haha at alam na niya panu manghuli ng kamay ko!

- Whenever he see water, immediately "mamam" yun!

-He loves running! parang ibon na nakawala sa hawla nung umuwi kami sa bukid. I also love that he's not timid na, nakikihalubilo na, pero may konting stranger anxiety pa din. 

- He's the master gaya-gaya! lahat nalang alam niya gayahin. 

-He loves flowers, and kiss anything except me (sad face!), well sometimes out of nowhere biglang nalang ako ikikiss, aw! sweet din!

-He recognizes that the sound of skype means he will see daddy r!

- While he's driving and playing with his car, maglalagay pa yan ng mats sa floor at duon siya dadaan, mama said: "kasi gusto niya rough road!" haha 

- He's now learning how to do distance shoot ng bola, hindi na dunk. And mind you, may whole court na siya sa bahay as in 2 rings na magkatapat, and after magshhoot sa kabila, lilipat ulet sa isa. (pakana ng lolo niya). 

- Last night, I'm training him to say jolibbee when asked "saan tayo pupunta?", but no ayaw makicooperate. "daddy!" pa din at galit pa. 

He's doing a lot of milestones lately,  and I always fail to take pictures. Hay... ang cute kasi na mas gusto ko nalang siya ihug and say verygood instead of getting a cam. Are we mommies like that so mushy? Haha. Hay basta I'm happy that baby D is doing well, thats all I wanna know and his smiles and hugs comforts me inspite of all the things we are facing at present. 

I know, at some point of our lives we need to experience some "rough roads" for us to enjoy the ride. I am just so thankful that I have daddy R with me (at least we now know the art of give and take and compromise, db? db? db R?) lol. Seriously, I have a very cute and happy baby, loving husband and a lot more things to be thankful for. So my thoughts have no more room for some negative vibes. Agree? 

And when when you're at the bottom, there's no way but to go up! 

All is well. 

Monday, 22 July 2013

Baby D: 1 year & 6 months

Baby D is growing so fast! his lolo kept on saying "dati nakahiga lang tayo sa bed, ngaun tumatakbo ka na!" haha so true, and when we complain that he's so malikot, he will say "dati nung hindi pa naglalakad gusto mo palakarin, ngaun naman naglalakad na, nagrereklamo ka kasi tumatakbo na".

He's a handful nowadays, in seconds he's climbing the couch, pulling the chairs, and picking and swallowing everything he likes! yay! kapoy! I'm not complaining though, (slight lang) because this stage also the cutest he will be. I want to enjoy every moment, mabilis lang yan, next thing I know, I am no longer his one and only girl. yikes!

Wanna see how cute our little pattoootie?

We spent last weekend in Baguio, and daddy R is the yaya for the whole day. They went to Burnham Park and walked around the city. I wish I was with them, kaso I have work, father and son had a great time though. R just complains that baby D is so heavy (kahit payatot) siksik kasi. lol!

While waiting for the bus to depart, baby D was looking at the bus stewardess (nagandahan ata), so we asked him to say HI! ayan with matching wave wave pa.. daddy R is so proud haha, may future chickboy na siya. 


I love this photo that R sent to me. (Sorry for the blurry photo, taken via ipod)
I'l cation this as "mother and son selfie" lol
I just love that R loves to take our photo. 

Baby D's latest words: 

Aside from BOLA, DADDY, MOMMY, DEDE, LOLA, LOLO... DEDIH (Teddy), BAH (barney) , 

Me: How old are you d?
D: Tyu (one yun actually) with action of 1 finger yan. 

Me: D lets count.. one... 
D: Tyu
D: reee (three)
D: Fol (four)
Me: Five

While playing basketball...
Us: oh shoot 1, 2 ...
D: Tyiii (three) sabay shoot ng ball sa ring... 

Tita A: Anu bibilhin mo D?
D: Pita, pita pita (haha buy daw siya Fita crackers!)

* Koochie = chuckie lol - and the boy can knock off little chuckie in minutes
* Cahhh = CAR
* Cahhh = CAT , I don't know why bitin lol
* Dhog = DOG

Me: panu iiyak si D? 
D: huhuhu (haha funny alam na magdrama)
Me: panu tatawa si D?
D: hahaha (asar na tawa talaga)

And he loves swimming at the floor and kissing the floor. NAKAKALOKA. I don't know where he learned that!

He LOVES RUNNING!

Currently, he's into spliting, may bukol nga kasi natumba. lol and again, we are in search kanino niya yun ginagaya!

His daddy and lolo is also worried that he might me "bakla", I don't see anything wrong with that. haha

Evidence No. 1: Mahilig siya tumili.. haha 
Evidence No. 2: He loves to wear my shoes.. 
Evidence No. 3: He loves to wear lola's bag and mine too
Evidence No. 4: Tita A gave him flowers.. he loved it ... 
                      When I asked asan na flower? tinapon na daw lolo niya kasi di un bagay sa kanya. haha

They're funny! allergic agad? I kept on telling them he's like a sponge kasi and still exploring at gaya-gaya pa. Aga naman nila magworry. lol

The only thing that alarms me is that his MEGA separation anxiety. I don't know if still normal or he's still adapting. We'll still research on that. 

Osha! I have to continue working with the overflowing papers in my desk. Sana friday na agad bukas. 

Laters!





Wednesday, 17 July 2013

Breakfast at Cafe by the Ruins in Baguio City

Last weekend was spent in Baguio City for a work+vacation getaway for the familia E. Since daddy R is based in Baguio for year now, baby D and I didn't missed this chance to spend time with the daddy and the in-laws.. hay the perks of a travelling mommy! yay! (sana lahat ng training ko ay sa Baguio nalang!)

Anyway, R's dream is to take me to Cafe by the Ruins, (I don't know why! lol minsan may pagkaromantic din naman siya). 

Since we are from Naguilian, we arrived early, as in the Cafe was closed pa, they open at 7am. So we just took picture. I love the weather in Baguio that morning... just cold to make you hug your hubby. 



The Entrance.

The Menu. 

Dream come true for my Babe. 

Breads... (Mahalia at first, but they have complimentaries that will make the price worth it naman.)

Free Fresh Fruits. 

Free Fresh Banana Shake for me. 

Free Fresh Mango Shake for R (for me too)

Us. I like the ambiance of the place, relaxing. Nature.  

Cheese/Kesong puti omellete with bread for me. 

Boneless na daing na bagus and Salted Egg with brown rice for R. 

So? Masarap ba? Is it worth it?


AFTER 15 MINUTES..... 



GONE! haha. 

The serving is sumptous, just right for the P600++ bill that we had. Breads and fruits are fresh, just enough to start the day. (I know! I suck doings food reviews... ) 

R is planning to take me there for Lunch and Dinner again, now I know why.. they have great food and  good service. 

Definitely will be back there to shop in their organic bazar again. I bought pack of chia seeds. And I'm loving the benefits. Will blog about that soon. 


 And the familia E is back in Manila again, looking forward to more adventures.. 

Laters!