Baby C Birth Story

Our second child, our daughter C, is actually 8 months and 2 weeks old now and I'm in the midst of planning her 1^st birthday party. LOL. It's just that my sister is in labor right now with her first child and I remembered that I have not blogged about C's birth story. While I'm the only one who reads this blog now, it's nice to have an online record and read it from time to time.

My due date was October 25 and during one of my check-ups, the OB remarked that it could be a Halloween baby. However, when October rolled in, I had my constipation episodes again (gah) and during the BPS screening, my amniotic fluid was a bit low. The OB then had me repeat the BPS for a couple of times, advised me to hydrate, and to keep it easy.

We went in for a check-up on October 20, I was 39 weeks and 2 days then I think. My OB did not perform an IE but put in Dinoprostone to ripen my cervix. She warned me that I will be feeling contractions for 6 hours and any contractions after that will be the real thing. This was at around 6:00 PM. We then went home. True enough, I had contractions and could not sleep but it was not yet six hours. At around 11:00 PM, hubby and I had a McDonald's snack. I must have dozed off and woke up at around 2:00 AM in pain. I thought, is this it? I timed the contractions and they came every 5 minutes for one hour. I showered and put on face powder and lip tint (LOL) and woke up the hubby. We left for St. Luke's at around 4:00 AM. When we got to the ER, I had a hard time talking during a contraction. When they IE'd me in the labor room, I was already 6cms. na pala. Yikes. So they wheeled me into the High Risk Pregnancy Unit (HRPU) so I could labor with my hubby beside me. He went down to have me admitted. With our firstborn, I labored for 19 hours so I thought we were going to be there for a while. But I was in so much pain that when the attending IE'd me, I was already 9cm. My requested anesthesiologist was still in another operation so they decided to put me to sleep. I remember feeling so much pain and then I was out. When I came to,  my Ob and husband were there, they had already put epidural and I was 10cm. I was really groggy and could not answer some of the questions correctly. They wheeled me into the delivery room. And just like her Manong, C came out after three pushes at 7:43 AM of October 21, weighing 3064 grams and 51cm. long. They say succeeding babies come out faster but I did not realize it was going to be this fast!

We heard the heartbeat!

Yesterday, at our 12th week check-up, we heard the baby's heartbeat through the Doppler. Yay! It never gets old, noh? For the past few days, I've been feeling some strange movements in my tummy. I asked the OB if it was possible for me to feel the baby this early but she said no. Oh well. My tummy is funny, too, sometimes I look like I have a bump, sometimes I don't. I still can't invoke pregnant privileges in lines hehe.

The only problems so far are my constipation and the waking up early in the morning then having a hard time going back to sleep. I experienced constipation the last time but in my third trimester already. I don't remember the insomnia part though, so not sure what's causing that. I rarely drink any caffeine nor chocolate, only when I'm really really craving it. Hay, why kaya?

#Blessed 2.0

I never read “The Secret” but I do believe in the power of writing something down and attracting it to com true. While I was reviewing for the Bar, I wrote my name over and over with “Atty.” before it, and it came true.

So late last year, my Annus Horribilis, I wrote in my little notebook, “Baby Girl 2018”. Also wrote that in my previous post.

Lo and behold:

Since my ovarian cyst was removed last July, we've been trying to have a baby. We've always wanted more babies but my PCOS was making it difficult for us to do so. The OB who operated on me suggested that we undergo fertility work-up but the thought made me tired already. When my ultrasound revealed that my ovaries were “normal” (not polycystic), I did some research. I bought a bottle of Vitex capsules and male fertility blend capsules for the hubby at Healthy Options. My office mates and I got into essential oils so I bought Eden's Garden Gal Pal and diffused clary sage and geranium while in the office.

Once again, I religiously tracked my cycle, so much so that I had 4 apps hehe. Last Chinese New Year, February 16, my period was a couple of days away but I felt different. I had tender breasts, back pain and cramps which are usual pre-menstrual symptoms but they felt different. Since it was a holiday, I had a lot of free time (haha), and a stash of pregnancy tests, so I decided to take one. To my surprise, there was a faint second line. I hurriedly called the hubby and we hugged in the bathroom. I wanted to go for an ultrasound already but hubby said it might be too early.

So logic prevailed and I resolved to wait until I was really delayed. I took a test almost every day and the second line always showed up. I finally went for a check-up and ultrasound on March 1 and there was a yolk sac and embryonic pole at 6 weeks. Another ultrasound was recommended two weeks after, and there's a heartbeat! Yay!

Despite the nausea and constipation, I am more relaxed this time around. I don't have the first time jitters and is not worrying about looking for a job unlike in 2014. My morning sickness is not as grave, but my cravings are on an overdrive, haha. 

I know I wrote down that I wanted a baby girl but I'm happy to have a normal and healthy baby either way. Normal delivery again, too, please! :)

Raising a Bookworm

I grew up, and am still, a bookworm. My father loved to read, but I don't remember him reading to me. I also don't remember my mother reading a book to me, but she loved to talk, so I guess we could pretend that she read to me, haha.

I've been reading books to P since he was a baby. He progressed from seemingly intent on listening to grabbing the book and trying to destroy it. He's not a big talker but he likes singing nursery rhymes. Sometimes he sings even while still half-asleep. Just recently, he has started handing me a book he wants me to read. I've also discovered that he knows some of the words, as I've been reading the same books to him for two years now, hehe, I really really really hope he grows up to be a bookworm, even if his love for basketball and running around is really strong. :)

 

23 Months Old

Yesterday, P turned 23 months old! One month until the terrible two's, eeep! Although I feel like he's been transitioning to his terrible two's as early as last month. We went abroad for around two weeks sans yaya thus we were together 24/7. The good thing about the trip was that he was without a TV for a long time and he became more talkative and yakked gibberish all the time. The bad thing is that we discovered he can now throw tantrums, throw things when he's on a tantrum and even hit people! So far, he has hit me and the yayas and it's been a struggle to control my temper. Admittedly, I've yelled at him a couple of times and he cries and then we make up. He has not hit his Daddy as it seems like he is more afraid of him.

He had the time of his life during our trip as he had more space to run around in. He has taken to singing “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” all the time, with the tune and some discernible words. He also sings the alphabet song and “The Wheels on the Bus”.

Last week, after much insisting from my mother, I started teaching him to eat using utensils. I have been putting off this task because the thought of the mess alone is stressing me out. But we have two househelpers right now who are sisters, might as well take advantage of the plenty of manpower. So, when he was spoonfed, he is a voracious eater. We call him “Boy Buffet”. But when we introduced the spoon and fork to him, he has used them to play with his food. So much so that after a few minutes, I tell the ate to spoon-feed him already. I figured the utensils are still a novelty? Ay, caramba! One week-end or holiday I will sit with him and we won't get up until he starts and finishes eating by himself.

Also, I am still breastfeeding him at night because he still demands for it. He is so heavy though and likes to nurse while on top of me so, poor mommy. I plan to wean him after he turns two. Yikes. And then maybe potty-training time? Double yikes.

 

Finally, Mommy!

Last Saturday, July 30, I was cleaning one of our electric fans, hence, I was dusty and grimy. P was with his yaya and I kept passing them to wash my hands. I'm not sure if he knows it was a Saturday, or probably he was wondering why I was at home and I was not holding him. Suddenly, he extended both his arms and called me, "Mommy, Mimi, Mama", over and over. Oh, my heart. But I still did not get him then because I was dirty, hehe. Sorry, baby. :)

Took him nineteen months! Finally, MOMMY! <3

Lower First Molars

Last Wednesday, July 20, two days before he turned 19 months, I spied P's two lower first molars when he laughed with his mouth open. I don't know when they first erupted, but they're there. The little bugger won't say "ahhh" so I can take a closer look. 

Posting this here for future reference:

Source

P's Words and Gibberish at 18 Months

I am subscribed to Baby Center, and lately, the articles I'm getting are about language or talking milestones. A few of my friends have their kids in therapy now because of speech delay. At first I wasn't worried because P has been delayed in most milestones, but well, the articles got to me. So I'm going to list down here the words P has been saying lately.

1. Dadi
2. Dede
3. Ka for cat
4. Kaki for Snorkie, our dog, and all dogs
5. Bo for ball
6. Ba-ba for bye-bye, with waving motion
7. Ah-te
8. Tita
9. Papa
10. Teet-wa for peek-a-boo
11. Sus for shoes (heard once)
12. Ba-ho (heard once)
13. Apo-Apo for ligo
14. A-li-ka (for water, or when he wants something)

GIBBERISH

1. Da-du-de for 1, 2, 3?
2. Ba-ba-bu with matching patting of the head with both hands.
3. Tats

Baby Center also says that he should point to at least one body part when asked, and all he can do is lift up his foot when I say "fooot!" Attempts to have him point to other body parts are ignored, huhu.

He babbles though and tries to sing along to A, B, C and Wheels on the Bus and that darn Tatlong Bibe Song.

Morning Good-bye Routine

P is 18 months and 2 weeks tomorrow. He can now say "ba-ba" for "bye-bye" with waving motions and flying kiss by saying "mmm" with his chubby hand over his mouth. When you say "hi!", he gives a rigid wave with splayed out fingers, as if doing a karate chop over and over. :)

Kennedy Space Center

I'm devoting a separate post for this because we loved this place! Hubby and I are geeks but he's a bigger science nerd that I am. In fact, it was his idea to have "outer space" as theme for P's first birthday. Too bad I forgot to pack P's astronaut costume and hubby's NASA shirt. Sayang!

 Anyhoo, the Kennedy Space Center is a two-hour drive from BIL's house in Ocala. A two-hour drive in the USA, we've learned, is farrr, considering we took the Interstate.

We're heeeere!

Rocket Garden

Daddy inside a mock-up capsule. He enjoyed NASA more!

Florida 2016

From Narita, we flew around 12 hours to Chicago. Before the trip, I saw that while we will land in O' Hare's Terminal 5, we will be flying out from Terminal 1 to Tampa, Florida, with around two hours between the flights. However, that would mean going out of the airport and riding the airport train and once again go through Immigration and Customs. I was nervous about missing the flight to Florida.

The 12-hour flight to Chicago was pretty uneventful because I breastfed P during take-off and he just slept. The plane was not full so the two of us transferred to two vacant seats where I laid him on one seat as I tried to sleep. Before landing, I decided to go back to our seats, but, not to our original seats but on the adjacent row one seat away from a Caucasian couple. I figured we needed space to get the bags and rush out of the plane as hubby, me and MIL were crammed in one row. However, for the last five minutes of landing, P decided to bawl his eyes out, as in all-out wailing! And I suddenly got shy about popping out the boob infront of my seatmates. I was so mortified, huhu. Lesson learned: just pop out the boob!

It was raining in Chicago and this was the time when the Belgium airport bombings occurred so I guess security was extra tight. We barely made it to the gate in Terminal 1 and saw that the plane was delayed. We spent around two hours waiting then boarded another plane to Tampa. 

Tampa was an hour drive to my BIL's house in Ocala. I was expecting the kiddos to be tired after 19 hours of travel but they still had the energy to watch Disney Junior.

Tickle Time and Ba-ba

One of the reasons why I choose to stay in government service is because I can still go home early even if the commute takes one to two hours. Unlike if I'm in private practice where 9PM is probably considered early. Hence, I still have time to play with the little curly top unless he's too tired from playing and already asleep after I eat dinner and shower.

I'm not sure if this comes with having a baby boy, but P's bedtime routines are bedtime shenanigans. There are no bedtime stories or gentle cuddling. He prefers crawling and rolling and jumping all over the bed. The few times I've cracked open a book, he is not interested. Although I should strive to read to him before sleeping. Mostly we wrestle though, and last night there was a tickling session pa.

I now know what it means to consider something as "music to my ears" and for now, that is P's pure laughter. :)

On the talking front, Baby Center is filled with articles about a toddler's talking timeline. At his age, P is expected to say 50 or so words but since he has been late in a few of his milestones, I've decided to wait and see. This morning, I heard a new word, "ba-ba", for "bye-bye", with matching waving motions. When he saw his maternal lolo who wants to be called "Popsy", he said "Pa-pi, Pa-pi." So cute. But you know, still no "Mommy." SOB SOB.

Baho

Baby P can say "Daddy". So much so that last night when he saw his father's laptop, he started saying "Dad-di, Dad-di!"

This morning, as I was saying goodbye to him, he pooped. As I handed him to the yayey, I said "Baho!" And he said "ba-ho". Yet. Still. No. "Mommy". SOB.

Viruses and Working Mommy Guilt

I took a leave from work yesterday to take P to the pedia. He developed high fever Friday dawn. His temperature alternated between 38 and 39 degrees. Sunday evening we brought him to the ER. CBC results were negative for dengue. They put this urine catcher on him so we could get a sample for urinalysis, but as the hours ticked by, he was not peeing. We decide to go home. I checked on the urine catcher and the pee was on his diaper. Ugh.

All Sunday we stayed at home and I checked on his diaper from time to time. At around 4PM, he finally peed on it! Hubby brought the sample to the ER. After two hours, the diagnosis is that he has UTI and was prescribed antibiotics. Hence, we decided to bring him to the pedia.

The pedia saw sores in his tonsils and said that he has herpangina, the same virus that causes hand, foot and mouth disease. Thankfully, his fever has disappeared but antibiotics will continue until Sunday. As I prepared to give him his antibiotics Monday evening, I saw red spots on his face. I immediately texted the pedia who said that these will indeed come out. Tuesday though the rash worsened, and after Google-ing, I thought it didn't look like herpangina anymore. Pedia assured me that it was not measles because his vaccine is complete. But it could be roseola or tigdas hangin which was of the same virus family. He was not complaining but he looked kawawa with spots on his face and body.

This morning, the bumps have subsided. His fever has not returned, thank God. But I found myself wishing that I could afford to stay at home and take care of him myself. :( No matter how hard you work at being a good mommy, one bump like this (yes, pun intended) easily erases everything else and you are weighed down by guilt. Hay.

Nakem

I am such a bad mommy blogger. I thought that I'd regularly update this blog with P's milestones but... life gets in the way. You get swamped at work. Yayas leave. Or I'm just plain lazy.

These past few days, I observed that P already has “nakem”. AFAIK, it's Ilocano for “feelings” or “empathy”. He knows when he is being scolded because his face scrunches up and he pouts. Sometimes, there's crying, and his crying has a different sound from the previous baby wail. Like you can tell that he's emotionally hurt by his crying. Sometimes, his brows furrow and it is the most adorable thing because looks like an adult already.

He babbles mostly gibberish but he says “daddy”, “dede”, “ate”, “tita”, “papa”, “teet-wa” for peek-a-boo, “kaki” for Snorkie our dog, “kaka” for cat and for everything else (like when he wants something, he will reach out for it and say “kaka!”) He attempts to sing the ABC but we only understand “T-U-V”. He will be 18 months this month but still no “Mommy”. Sob.

24 Hours in Japan

Hubby's kuya has been living in the US for around ten years now but his family has not seen his place. Thus last year, they decided it was time to visit kuya. Ate and hubby proceeded to compose this "ambitious" itinerary of flying to Japan, then to Chicago, then to Florida for 2 weeks, then New York for four days, then California for four days, then Japan, then Manila. And oh, they thought it would be fun to stay in Japan for 24 hours before flying to Chicago.

I was anxious about the trip because we will be traveling with a fifteen-month old toddler who still drinks milk from a bottle, sans yaya, and the weather will be alternately cold and hot. Two words: "packing nightmare". Like a true-blue excited Mommy though, I shopped more for P's stuff and just bought Uniqlo heattech tops for me.

Let's goooo, Daddy! P was learning to walk at this time.

First stop: Japan!

We arrived at Narita then boarded the Narita Express to Tokyo. It was already around 5:00 P.M. when we arrived at our hotel, Shinjuku Washington Hotel. After freshening up a bit, we went out to have dinner at Fuunji. Before the trip, I gave hubby a list of recommended places to eat in Shinjuku, and he chose this ramen place.

Apparently, the place is really popular because there was a line outside. I thought it was not a bad-looking line but then (1) it was freezing; and (2) it turns out that the inside of the place was just a long counter and while you're eating, there's still a line behind you. See this post for more photos.

Inside, you punch in your order on this machine. They have the ramen we all know and tsukemen - which is also ramen but the noodles and soup are in separate bowls. Since I was carrying P (which would be the story of my life for this trip) and the place was cramped, I opted for the regular ramen.

 

Lined up in the cold for this.

Unlike the ramen I've tasted in Manila, the broth was really rich and thick. I found it a bit salty though. P liked it and just kept slurping the soup I gave him. I would have enjoyed it more if I was not carrying P hehe. After dinner, we felt so tired we just decided to go back to the hotel. 

Toy as Radio

Happiness is seeing Pio playing with his toy as a "radio". He received a bazillion gifts on his baptism and birthday and I'm slowly introducing them to him one by one. There's this toy (I hope to upload a pic later) with 2 rows of buttons and plays music. At first, he just kept pounding on the buttons repeatedly and created a ruckus. This morning, he was in his crib with it and another toy. Then I noticed that he would press on one button, then it would play a song, then he plays with the other toy. When the song is done, he'd press the button again to play the next song, and then go back to the other toy. He did this several times. I investigated the toy and discovered that only that particular button plays the songs. So he was like treating it as a radio! Haha, so cute! :)

First Steps!

Happiness is Pio walking! Well, taking his first few un-assisted steps tonight, February 8. We were hanging out at his cousin's house and he was with his daddy when he turned around and walked three steps towards me. We were surprised! Then we made him do it again for the video! Haha.

He's not totally totally walking though. As soon as we make him stand, he rushes forward so he loses his balance. Hay, baby, don't rush things!

OSJ: Slow Clap for Chocolate

* Happiness is seeing Pio's slow clap after bites of Crisp on the 28th's triple chocolate mousse. Too bad we didn't catch it on video. Or maybe it's good we didn't catch it on video. Hehe.

Pio turns 1!

I keep echoing Gretchen Rubin's line “The days are long, but the years are short.” Felt it especially when baby turned 1 last December. ONE YEAR! In hindsight, the first three months felt like the longest and the slowest and it just sped up from there.

We celebrated with a party at the clubhouse. The theme was outer space care of the daddy. Planning a party in December is harder than usual because the prices jack up and the demand is higher than the supply. Of course, there is the Christmas rush to contend with. Hence, Mommy OC started planning – and booking suppliers – as early as August. My sister and I bought the contents of the loot bags in Divisoria in October to evade the crowds. But even with the early preps, there were still a few snafus – my order with Nestle Ice Cream was doubled hence there was a LOT of ice cream; the fishballs arrived late; the candy buffet did not come with a choco fountain so were stuck with a ton of marshmallows; the print on the loot bags had a typo (which I discovered just recently haha). Di bale his next big party will be when he turns 7 so I guess I can “rest” from party stress until then.