Busy Busy

Wow! Time flew so fast, I didn't I've been gone so long from my blogging.

Starting June, I started working again. First it was just during the weekends. I'd go on duty at St. Martin Maternity and Pediatric Hospital, Cavite on Saturday then go home on Sunday. A month went by when I started to work also on weekdays. Of course, I moved my weekend duties to Cavite to Friday so that Sunday would be a family day. When I get home, I'm just so exhausted that I choose to sleep or spent quality time with my son.

A few minutes ago, I just signed up for facebook (at the insistence of my husband, who has, for the past several weeks, become a what I'd like to call as a facebook-holic. he wanted me to sign up so he could add me as part of his crew for the games). Since I was online already, I decided to blog again. I've missed so much! :(

Aside from work, I've also been busy preparing for my son's first birthday. Ang hirap! Ang dami na pa lang kaartihan sa children's parties ngayon. In my quest to create a memorable party for my son (though hindi naman niya maaalala, makikita naman niya sa pcitures), I discovered that there are balloon decorations na, game booths, entertainers with a wide range of repertoire (hindi na simpleng magic show lang), photobooths, etc. At marami nang usong pamigay ngayon, hindi na simpleng loot bags lang - towel cakes, towel lollies, customized key chains, customized bags, etc. Hay! Overwhelming! ...

Mommy Moments - That's My Dad!

One of the things I admire in my husband is his love for children. Despite being a first time daddy, he took to it naturally. He did a lot of "firsts" with our baby, especially during the first 2 weeks of my recovery (I had a CS).

JT @ 1 day old. We took turns sleeping with JT so we'd each have a few hours of rest.

JT 2 5 days old. Cooling down after an hour of sunbathing so JT wouldn't get jaundiced.

Hubby expertly changing diapers, giving JT a bath, and rocking him to sleep. He used to take care of his younger brother who is 16 years younger.

Serious pics ...

Not so serious pics ;)

Happy father's day! Click here for more daddy stories!

Mommy Moments - Outdoor Fun

Outdoor Fun

JT loves to swim. He has a kiddie pool where he splashes around happily as often as the weather permits. And when we go out of town, we make sure that we're staying in a place that has a pool.

Acuatico Resort, Laiya Batangas

Hanging out with Iya Villana (Aquatico Resort)

Having fun at home in his kiddie pool

Swimming in Baguio

Sunbathing in Baguio

For more outdoor fun, join us at Mommy Moments.

Anniversary Prayer

Anniversary Prayer

Years ago You took two selfish, self-centered people
and taught us to put You
at the center of our hearts and marriage.
You taught us to take our problems to Your first,
then each other.
You taught us the delight of putting our
mate's needs over our own.
You taught us to serve one another in love.
Your taught us that sharing disappointments and pain
was another side of sharing our love.
We have experienced the sweetness
that together we're stronger than either one alone.
From the wellsprings of my heart,
thank You, Lord.

Thank you, Ninang Angie, for sharing this prayer! It's a wonderful gift. God bless always!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Today is my hubby's birthday.

For the past few days, I've been trying to find him a gift without him knowing it since he likes to join me whenever I go out shopping. Finally, last Friday, on the pretext that my Mom and I were out for some "girl's only" shopping, I found what I was looking for. It took too long that hubby was already calling me (to say that he and Yaya was having a hard time pacifying JT because he wanted my milk) before I've even bought the stuff. So, my Mom and I connived that she'll be left behind so she can buy my gifts while I rush home. Once I got home, I saw my husband took a subtle peek inside my bags (which he now completely denies) so I was really glad that I schemed with my Mom.

With all these secrecy, I was able to surprise him today :) He thought I didn't have any gifts for him. I got him this casual yet smart-looking jacket and a pique shirt that almost matches JT's since he mentioned before dreamily na na-i-imagine niyang naglalakad silang magkaterno ni JT.


We celebrated his birthday with Sinigang na Baboy, his all-time favourite, and Pansit Bihon, for long life.

Happy Birthday, Baby! I love you so much! Mwah!

I Can Sit

Date: May 25, 2009
Age: 7 months 18 days

JT has started to sit on his own. From his belly he'd push his trunk upward, twist, then push away from the bed and viola! He's sitting up without help or support.

Here he is playing alone in his crib. We bought this TinyLove toy to motivate him to reach up and sit and stand.

Doting Grandparents

I've been out for the past couple of days. First, I had a cold. Second, I've been going out a lot lately, trying to find a gift for my husband on his birthday (this Tuesday) and on our first anniversary (this coming Sunday). Because of the second, I haven't been able to rest well so I still have a cold. It's been a week. And poor JT caught it, too. This is his 4th day. So, third, I've been busy suctioning out his sipon as often as I can, and nebulizing him (Thank you for whoever invented the nasal aspirator!).

Anyway, eto ang pahabol ko sa Mommy Moments :)

Grandparents Bonding

JT is the first grandson on both sides, so everyone was really excited for his arrival. Two things I've noticed:

1) The two Lolas couldn't wait to hold him during their first visit to the hospital (Still can't up to now) and if I let them, they won't let him go hehe.

2) The two Lolos just looked on proudly but didn't want to carry him. Later on, we realized that both were too scared because he looked so tiny and fragile. Eventually they got used to it (it took about a month) and were excited to hold and cuddle him, too.


JT loves playing this game. He is lifted gently up then we shout "Superman!" and then he giggles and grins. He loves doing this with my papa because he can lift the highest.

One month old JT with Sherwin's mom. Sarap na sarap siya parating matulog sa kanyang Lola dahil marami daw cushion :) Eto ang Lolang walang pagod. Umaabot siya ng mahigit 4 na oras sa pagbuhat kay JT ng walang babaan.

7 months old JT with my Mom. This shot was taken in Baguio. Naunahan ako ng Lola. Kami ni JT walang picture.


3 months old JT with Sherwin's papa. Our families celebrated the 2008 New Year's Eve together.

For more doting grandparents, join us here.

Falling In Love Again

I've haven't advised or treated a patient for over a year. Recently, my husband has been pestering me to start working. Sabi niya kinakalawang na daw ako. Ayaw niyang masayang yung mga pinag-aralan ko. When we have medical discussions, there are times when I have to take a moment before I understand what he says and I'd think, ooooh I'm in deep trouble. Insecurities have taken root.

Eventually, hubby's pestering worked and both of us were scheduled for a 24-hour ER duty in St. Martin's Maternal and Pediatric Hospital in Cavite last Saturday. I tried to pump milk 3 days beforehand but to my dismay, I was only able to get 6oz. This was only good enough for 1 to 2 feedings. And he usually goes on a hunger strike when I leave him and only his milk formula is available. Malakas lang loob kong iwan siya kasi kumakain na ng ibang pagkain. Kaya lang hindi pala sapat etong lakas ng loob ko...

On the day that we were about to leave, I nursed him for the last time. And I couldn't stop the tears. Ang hirap! Especially since he developed a cold. Kung puwede lang umatras e aatras ako. Nakakahiya mang aminin e umiiyak pa din ako habang bumibiyahe kami sa Aurora Boulevard. Hindi naman hagulgol, tumutulo lang naman luha ko.

Eventually, the tears stopped. When we got to the hospital, hubby toured me around (siya kasi ang affiliated sa hospital na yun). And when we started working, JT was pushed to the back of my mind.

For the first several hours, hubby took most of the work. He gave me time to adjust to my surroundings and also from being apart from JT for the longest period ever. Eventually, I started noticing things, like how quick and efficient he works, how clearly he explains every detail to his patients, how he puts them at ease, and just how darned smart he was. This was the first time we've worked side by side and I was thrilled to see him in action. This was a new side of him and I love it! Let me just say that I feel smug and satisfied with the man I married.

With his help, I slowly regained confidence. By the following day I was confident enough to let him leave me alone to manage patients. I can't wait for the next time!

As for JT, well, apparently he didn't miss us. We left him with my mama and she said that he was very cooperative, didn't give her any trouble, and hardly cried at all. When we came back, it was as if we haven't left.

Before I Was A Mom

Thanks Bambie for this great tag! :) To everyone, feel free to do this tag! :)

Before I was a Mom -

I slept as late as I wanted and as long as I wanted. I didn't have a routine and I didn't have anyone depending on me. My time was mine.

Before I was a Mom -

I only shopped for myself. Now I rarely shop for myself.
I never had to worry about outgrown baby clothes and shoes, buying enough towels, sterlizings baby bottles, a baby-friendly room, what appropriate baby toys to buy.

Before I was a Mom -

I've never been (in order of appearance, LOL) spit on, puked on, pooped on, peed on. I've never had to worry about having spare clothes in the event that the aforementioned happens.

Before I was a Mom -

I've never smiled after being on a 24 hour duty at the hospital. Having JT is like taking care of a VIP patient where I've had to wake every 2 hours to nurse him, groggily change clothes after being puked on, peed on, or pooped on in the wee hours of the morning, look after him when we wants to play or talk or cuddle at 2a.m. AND still make me smile when he wakes me up at 5a.m.

Before I was a Mom -

I've never blushed because I had to nurse in public, wearing a moving (he wiggles a lot) nursing poncho for privacy and receiving stares.

Before I was a Mom -

I'd like to quote Bambi since she has described exactly and perfectly how I feel:

"I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put it down. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt. I never knew that something so small could affect my life
so much. I never knew that I could love someone so much. I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom -
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body. I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby. I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child. I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important.

Before I was a Mom -
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay. I had never known The warmth, The joy, The love, The heartache, The wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom. I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much before I was a Mom."

Send this to someone whom you think is a special Mom...

And remember that behind every successful woman......
is a basket of dirty laundry.

-Unknown

Baby Steps

Age: 7 months, 11 days

Today was JT's vaccine day. It was his last shot for the pneumococcal series. Yey! So far, this series was the most expensive. But still, we believe that it's an investment. Mas mapapamahal kung ma-hohospitalize siya, di ba? Anyway, after his vaccine (he was still very cooperative, he just cried for a few seconds), we went to a baby store to look for a walker. We noticed that for the past few days, JT has started pulling himself upward. And he's usually pushing himself away from the one carrying him. Para bang gusto niya nang maglakad. Unfortunately, when we went inside the store, there was only one kind of walker for a baby boy. Nakakainis nga kasi, there were 4 choices for the girls. Wala naman kaming magawa, kaya pinasubukan na lang namin kay JT. He loved it! At first, he was engrossed with the toys attached in front of the walker. Maingay kasi pag ginagalaw. After several minutes, he was going forward then backward. As if he was just waiting for us to put him in a walker so he can walk! Naku, baka ayaw na nitong magpabuhat.

**For some reason, hindi ako makapag-upload dito sa blogspot. You can visit our multiply site for the pictures:
http://sherwinche.multiply.com/photos/album/58;
and video:
http://sherwinche.multiply.com/video/item/24/Baby_Steps_Video

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What is Plagiarism?

According to Dictionary, Plagiarism is the unauthorized use or close imitation of the language and thoughts of another author and the representation of them as one's own original work.

To all Bloggers who exert effort to create noteworthy entries and who continue to maintain a Blog which is a reflection of who she / he is, " Good job! "

To those who have the desire to Blog but are merely scraping contents from other people' s materials, " Whether you are monetizing your site to help you with your basic needs or to satisfy some of your wants, do it the proper way. Stop making money out of someone else's work. Otherwise, you are nothing but a common thief! "

Thank you!

Friendship Chain

Thanks, Mommy Chris, for the friendship!

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Rules :
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2. Put your own blog name and link.
3. Tag your friends as much as you can.

1. Picturing of Life 2. Juliana’s Site 3. Hazel-My Life, My Hope, My Future.4. Jeanne-The Callalily Space5.My Family is my Life 6. The Simple Life of a Baghag 7. On A Wonderful Day Like Today 8. House Everything 9. The Creativity in Me 10. Travel and Photography 11. Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow 12. You Are My Sunshine 13.Song to Remember 14. Super Blog 15. Philiippine Tv Marathon 16.Simply Blue 17. Breaking the Boundaries 18. Top Five 19. A Simple Life 20. Simple Happy Life 21.Mom's Special Diary 22. The Mommy Journey 23. Mommy Diaries 24. You Are Next!

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I am passing this on to All About Elizabeth, Smart Mommy, Twinkie Calls, Pages of Memories, and trust.loyalty.bliss.

One Lazy Afternoon

Silly Moments

We took these pictures when JT was still 3 months old. The three of us were just hanging around in our room one lazy afternoon doing nothing when Daddy started fooling around with JT.

For more silly moments, join us here!