Mommy Diaries: Baby Shower

This is a super duper belated post, but when I was cleaning my album in my office PC, I saw these pics. I just had to share them.

A friend advised me not to buy stuffs for the baby until after the baby shower. In that way, we would buy only those that we or the baby needs. True enough, we got almost all that we needed and more! After the baby shower came our son's baptism, then Christmas! Imagine the tons of gifts that we opened. 

Happy. Giddy. Parents.

Speaking of gifts, we have yet to buy Joaquim a Christmas gift! Tsk, tsk. 

We held the baby shower at Cafe Sarree located in Escario Central. It's named after the owner/chef, Sarita aka Sarree. I loved everything that she served that night. I will definitely go back. I have yet to taste her lamb adobo-- a best-seller I heard.

Mommy Diaries: Manual vs. Electric

I am talking about breast pumps.

via                                                                                                              via

Any new mommy will have the problem of deciding on what to get, a manual or electric breast pump. I had the luxury of using both. My cousin lent me her manual pump. A few weeks after giving birth, I bought an electric one. So, which one is better? It depends on your needs, comfort and tolerance for pain (physically and financially. Lol.)

MANUAL vs. ELECTRIC

The manual pump is convenient in a sense that you need not look for a socket to plug in the pump. You can do it anywhere, unlike the electric pump where you are constrained to pump in areas where a socket is near. There are some electric pumps that also run in batteries, hence convenience is not much of a problem.

The manual pump is takes a lot of effort compared to an electric pump. Your effort and time is cut down by half or more! My almost one-hour manual pump can be achieved  by the electric pump in less than 15 minutes! For working moms or mommies on-the-go like me, the electric pump scores a higher point on this aspect.

The manual pump is less painful as you can control the frequency of your pumping. It is harder to control the pressure of the pump in an electric one, although there are some brands where you can choose the strength of the pressure. For me, it doesn't matter that much as I have a high tolerance for pain. The higher the strength of the pressure, the faster it can pump my milk.

Depending on the brand, the manual pump is, of course, cheaper than the electric pump. But as I've said, it depends on your needs and comfort. If you can't spare a chunk of your time just pumping or if you need to go back to work, then investing on an electric pump might be a good idea. If, however, you have the luxury of time or you cannot take the pain, going manual is the way to go. Either way, the important thing is, you can express milk for your little one, especially when you are out of the house or when you want to catch some (much needed) sleep.  

P.S. Did you know there is a more manual way of pumping breast milk, like using-your-hands-kind-of-manual? It's free. It's not painful. And it can pump milk. Want to know how? Haha.

Happy 2!

Prenup Shoot (2010)

December 2012

12.20.12

We certainly have gained in pounds.

So does my love for you (char! Lol.)

Happy two years Clove!

And on our 2nd year, we've become 3.

Mommy Diaries: Joaquim's First

12.11.12

On Joaquim's first month, he had his first mall experience.

Pardon the haggard/sleepless nights-look. Haha.

Maternity Shoot

After two months of cyber absence, I'm back! No, I am not pregnant again. But I will surely miss being one.

I've been meaning to share these maternity pictures but I was too preoccupied with my new role in life-- motherhood.

Looking back, my pregnancy made me realize a few things. Save for my 'morning' sickness which happens at night, the 9-month journey was rather blissful.

Here are the top 5 things I liked about being pregnant:

1. I sort of have THE excuse to binge and make every day an eat-all-you-can day. Haha. My OB frowned on this. She said I couldn't afford a six- or more-pounder baby.
2. Speaking of excuse, I had a valid excuse/reason to postpone my court hearings. Yay! 
3. People, even strangers, are EXTRA NICE to me. Really. I will surely treasure the random kindness I've experienced from people I barely knew. 
4. I'm always in the PRIORITY LANE-- CR, taxi lane, elevator, cinema ticket booth, and even in CD-R King! Haha. Yes, ka-level mi sa senior citizens and people with disability. 
5. My husband became sweeter and more considerate. Of course, I had to take advantage of that! Haha. So I bossed him around, letting him pick things up for me and demanding a good back massage.

The BEST thing about my pregnancy is giving birth to our little bundle of joy, our sweet angel and the one who will probably have the powers to tame my kamalditahan (joke! haha)-- JOAQUIM FELBERT.

Photography: Joel Lopez

Styling: Psyche Castillon

MUA: Roger Salazar

St. Gerard Majella

Tomorrow, October 16, is the feast day of St. Gerard Majella. He is the patron saint of Expectant Mothers and those who have been praying for a child. 

I suffered a miscarriage in July last year and around October, we learned from our doctor that I was not ovulating. It was then during this time, through a friend, that we learned about St. Gerard. On his feast day last year, we started praying the Novena to St. Gerard. The doctor gave me numerous medications with specific instructions that I could hardly keep up sometimes. It went on for months and nothing happened. Our doctor suggested to take a 'break' from the medications by end of January this year. I welcomed her suggestion, not only because of the expenses, but I was honestly getting tired from hoping and getting disappointed and frustrated all over. My husband and I thought, maybe, we need this 'break'-- to simply just enjoy each other's company.

By end of February, I got pregnant.

Since then, we've continued praying to St. Gerard until now. But this time, we're praying for a healthy baby and a safe delivery. And on his feast day tomorrow, I thought it would be nice to share his novena:

St. Gerard, whose heart went out to the unfortunate,

who relieved so many poor,

healed so many sick,

comforted so many afflicted,

I am worried and troubled as I kneel at your feet.

In vain do I seek this world's help and consolation.

Graciously pray for me, St. Gerard,

that being freed from this trial (mention your petition),

or strengthen to bear it for the love of God,

I may praise and thank God

and serve him with greater love and fervor. 

Amen.

St. Gerard, our friend and helper,

come to our aid and beg the Lord's blessing

on our most urgent need.

St. Gerard, pray for us.

Maternity Shoot BTS

These photos were taken by either my husband or our designer/make-up artist
friend, Roger when we had our maternity shoot last weekend.

Post-editing was done by yours truly using Photoshop CS3 and Photobucket.

Can't wait for the official takes of Joel and Psyche.

OUTFIT: Gold

I love gold and all that glitters. From clothes to shoes to bags and even nail polish-- I have it in gold.

No, I have not given birth yet. These were taken almost a year ago. I miss my normal clothes and my heels. Shallow, I know. But I really do miss having to move around without bumping my tummy into something or someone, having to bend down with ease and most especially having to sleep soundly at night-- things that I just take for granted before. Anyway, I have a few more weeks to go! 

I've worn this dress so many times already, to two weddings actually. Much as I want to retire it, I can't. I love the soft fabric and the fact that I can wear it to a formal event or I can wear it casually depending on the accessories. So I am thinking of doing a little alteration to the dress. Right now, I have successfully taken out the shoulder pads. I am thinking of sewing beads & sequins on the dress, but I am short of an inspiration for now. 

Romwe (dress) | Mango (belt) | Charles & Keith (shoes)

Designer In Focus: Roger Salazar

It's hard to find a decent formal or even cocktail dress when you're pregnant since you won't know if the dress will fit you once the event comes. Lucky me I happen to have known and befriended a budding designer, Roger Salazar. He was kind enough to dress me up during the formal gatherings that I had to attend.

 

I wore this Filipiana ensemble to a Toastmasters event. I was around 5-6 months pregnant here.
I particularly love the drapings. It didn't make me look all too preggy-ish in some angles.

In this one however, there is no way to conceal my 8th-month tummy. What Roger did was to make a comfortable room
for my bulging stomach with soft material and one that is not clingy to the skin.

 I am all the more fortunate that this designer friend of mine is also a make-up artist. He did my hair & make-up for the wedding of my cousin (bottom pics) while I did my own hair & make-up aka sariling sikap, during that Toastmasters event (top pics). Can you see the glaring the difference? Haha.

To Roger, remain humble and continue to chase your dreams. Thank you for making me beautiful and coming into my rescue when I don't have anything to wear. Haha.

For those who want to avail of Roger's services or just to simply befriend him (hehe), you may reach him through this number +63 922 974 9879.

 

Mom Card

My wallet is full of reward cards, loyalty cards, privilege cards and the likes. They have outnumbered my ATM cards and credit cards (as if I have many. LOL). And their latest member is this-- Mom Card!

I used it right away. I availed of the discount voucher right away. Excited much? Whenever I see the words SALE, DISCOUNT, LESS, __% OFF, the pupils of my eyes dilate, my heart beats faster and my hunger fades away. Haha. 

My priorities have changed when I got married. I don't just decide on my own. I (sometimes) seek my husband's opinion. Now that we are expecting our first child, my priorities will have to take another 360-degree turn.