I still can’t get over that Mikee won’t be a cheerleader (cheerio) this Halloween. I still kept browsing for sexy cheerleading uniforms for her. Yeah sexy. Hahaha. I was hoping she and her brother will have coordinating costumes. (I have not divulged what Theo will be, unless you’re a twitter follower. Just a couple of days more, and I will post their photos here.)

Anyway, I am slowly accepting that she’ll be mermaid this year. We tried her red wig earlier today. I was glad to see that her wig fits her well. Although I am still not comfortable seeing her in red hair with her jet black eyebrows.

I wonder how many other mermaids will show up in the office for trick or treat. Ariel is quite popular on Halloween.

It is common practice that a baby stays home (and gets out only for church or visit to the pedia) until his/her christening. Now, what do you do if you want to go out and your baby is not yet baptized? Just to “pacify” the grannies, a mom may opt to have her child blessed. There’s a children’s blessing mass every Saturday, 8am at the Malate church (Our Lady of Remedies Parish).

Knowing that I have no choice but to bring our little Theo to his ate Mikee’s school party, we went there last Saturday. Well, we went there not knowing what time the mass would start. So we got there at 7am and seeing a lot of kids already, we thought it was the “blessing”. So after the mass, we went in front to greet the priest. I noticed that a lot of moms asked for blessings. One baby, I’m guessing as young as my Theo, was carried by the mom’s aunt. How did I know she’s the aunt? Because I unintentionally heard the mom said so. I was waiting for our turn when I heard the young mom asking for blessing to find a job, being a highschool grad so that she can provide for her baby, and that she’s single and the baby’s father is nowhere to be found. I’ll admit I was teary eyed at that moment and was trying to control the tears. I scolded myself “You should have not listened! Now you’re crying for listening.”

When it was our turn and the priest asked me what blessing would I want, I stood there not knowing what to say. I felt so blessed just after hearing the mom before me. After a minute, I just told the priest I want good health for my kids.

We have decided long ago that husband and I will only have 2 kids. There are several reasons behind it like the family budget, time allotment for each child and my capabilities to “spread” myself as a mom. Little did I know that I will add another reason: I was traumatized by my last delivery. Well traumatized is such a strong word. But let’s just say that I don’t intend to get pregnant again…ever. Two weeks after I gave birth, we went back to (the pedia’s clinic and) my OB’s clinic, and as soon as I put my foot on OB’s medical step stools, my knees shook. I dread lying on her table again, much more to be examined again.

The husband had been “suggesting” that we can have another addition 2-3 years from now. I’m still sticking with our initial decision to have just two kids but who knows, 2-3 years from now, I might change my mind.

I have finally given birth to our baby boy! My day (and night) are just made up of feedings and cat naps. Yes, cat naps, who sleeps these days anyway?

I try to squeeze in my meals, some reading, Instagram and blogging. If only my energy would permit, I would have loved to start planning the baptismal party, even just drafting the baptismal invite would be a good start. Instead, I stay in bed letting my mind get filled with ideas for our daughter’s school party and our son’s baptismal party (yes, two different parties), and just compute the budget mentally.

Sometimes, I let my mind wander even further planning our next family get-away. It could be a long drive to Baguio with bikes in the pickup’s hitch bike rack, or a short flight to Boracay or Palawan. Anywhere as long as we get to enjoy quality time together. Yeah, these are just some of my daydreams. As I am not even allowed to get out of the house while recuperating for 2 weeks. So I just take advantage of having quiet time with my little one.

I wanted a different maternity photoshoot. I wanted the photos to look fun and playful. So I asked some of my digiscrapper/photographer friends who cover baptismal and birthday parties if they can do the maternity shoot that I want. Since I want it fun and playful, where else should we shoot but in a playground!

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These are some of my favorite shots from Litzie:

View more shots from her, click here.

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These are some of my favorite shots from Jojo&Alpha:

View more shots from them, click here.

During the planning stage of our team outing, I told the organizers I’ll skip it because I was afraid the travel will be too tiring for the pregnant me. However, just the day before the actual trip, I was informed that two moms are bringing their kids of just about the same age as my daughter. I thought it would be the best time for my daughter to bond with other kids. So yes, we decided to go, although I forgot some important items such as my prescription glasses.

So the question was: Is it a good idea to bring the kids to Balai Isabel?

1. There are two (sets of) pools. One is at the new wing, which is bigger but I was told that it has no kiddie pool but kids may opt to stay at the shallower part of the pools. Near this is a small playground.

2. The second set of pools have a kiddie pool, and a slide.

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When we were there, there was a couple having their prenuptial pictorial at this place, just right in front of the kiddie pool (at the back of the restaurant). I bet they have awesome shots there.

I try to simplify as much as I can, things and tasks in my life including motherhood and work. So far, these are the updates on the items on my list, er, brain.

1. New place – recently, we “decided” to move in to a new place AFTER the baby’s baptismal party. That was the new plan but things didn’t turn out the way we planned so we’ll just move in to our house next year which was the initial plan anyway. I will have to pass on the very tempting le creuset sale. I got a bit sad about the delay but I’d rather think of the advantages of staying than dwell on something that I cannot control.

2. Shopping for new baby stuff – I checked my daughter’s baby items, and saw 6 white tie-sides, 3 white shirts, 1 comforter, 1 baby wrap, 1 frog suit, and 4 shirts. These are the only items that are unisex. All the others are in pink. Tsk tsk. I still have my breast pump, bottle warmer and sterilizer, but definitely need a new set of bottles. (I won’t buy Born-Free anymore, and will just get Avent again, BPA-free this time though, so that I can use my old breast pump.) And I will have to check if the bouncer is still around (or if the previous nanny took off with it, along with all the other baby items that went missing when she took off). I still have the baby bath tub, in pink though, I will just need a new sling (hope they can be bought separately).

3. Giving birth – for now, I’m concentrating on the documents that are needed in the hospital.

4. Baptismal party – husband likes to have the baby baptized in the same church as where daughter was baptized, as well as hold the reception on the same venue. We probably won’t hold it at the same weekend as daughter’s birthday as I was trying to plan (I was stressing too much on the baptismal/birthday party in one, I gave up on it) and will just add a cake, minicakes and cupcakes, and souvenirs to the baptismal party. It will be as simple as daughter’s baptismal party. Whew! When I gave up on the idea of double celeb party, I felt at peace.

Sometimes I look at my daughter and get surprised how time flies. It was just like yesterday when I first laid eyes on her calling her expecting her to recognize me (only after some hours that I realized she’s just few minutes old and does not know her name yet hahaha) inside the delivery room. Now she’s our senior nursery student who can do some things on her own. Just some more years and I know you’ll approach me to talk about falling in love, adult acne and other physical and emotional changes. I hope and pray you’ll prefer to approach me instead of opening up with your friends. I know you’d think it’s corny but trust me, mothers know best.

As early as now, my mind sometimes gets filled with party ideas for our baby’s baptismal party happening perhaps in August. Not only that, I started thinking of themes to use if in case the baby’s birthday comes close to Mikee’s birthday. Meaning, we will have to celebrate the baby’s first birthday and Mikee’s 6th birthday with just one big party.

I wonder if it would be a big deal for the 2 kids to celebrate their birthdays with just one party. It might not be while they were young but I wonder years from now, what would the younger one feel if everybody gets gaga thinking over big sister’s 18th birthday gifts on his/her 13th birthday. See? It’s different when you’re young, and when you’re in your teens. As they say, feelings are magnified and more focused on when you’re in your teens. These are the times when you feel the world should revolve around you. Or your parents are against your total happiness.

Geez, I should stop worrying, especially during pregnancy. I still have 13 years to do that.

Last Saturday was my scheduled checkup with my OB. Husband was on the other side of the house, so I texted him. Then I heard his mobile phone few feet away from me. Tsk tsk. So I went down and asked yaya to approach him to remind him that it’s my check up today, and it’s time for him to take his bath. Yaya nodded, so I assumed she heard and understood what I had just said.

After I took my bath, husband asked me why I told the yaya that somebody called, and that it’s very urgent. OMG! It only meant that the yaya didn’t hear a word that I told her, and just assumed things to tell my husband. I would have let go of this yaya a long time ago, if she’s not so dependable when it comes to taking care of our little girl.

Anyway, while waiting for my OB, the husband roamed around the mall looking for cheap car insurance, and checking cars on display to bide time. I will only have to call him when it’s my turn.

We waited for 2 hours, and the checkup just took 15 minutes. Sigh. Though I must admit it was reassuring to hear our baby’s heartbeat again. But we were advised to have ultrasound rather on our next visit just to make sure we have the correct gender.