Why do I breastfeed

I am a member of Breastfeeding Pinay in Facebook. Somebody asked (for a survey) - Why did you decide to breastfeed your baby initially? Give at least 3 reasons.

Napaisip ako...bakit nga ba? Sa panganay ko di pa ako member ng group na to. I am not sure nga if 6 years ago may Breastfeeding Pinay na =) I am not that aware of the pros of Breastmilk and cons of Formula Milk. Basta alam ko lang na mahirap ang breastfeeding and dapat pag handaan.

Di kaya ang reason ko is it is a challenge for me? Alam kong mahirap, gagawin ko! And maipagmamayabang ko sya haha! 

Maybe yes maybe no. But I know I have given the best to my panganay (though mixed fed sya...e kasi nga di pa ako member ng forum...how sad!) until he was 3 years old!!! and now, I am giving the best also to my bunso...eto exclusive talaga! Thanks to the mommies at BFP, I have learned a lot and learning everyday. 

I also thank my husband for supporting me...alam nya kasi ang effect sa panganay namin - smart, high EQ and my eldest eats what is on the table (though konting pilit sa veggies).

I pray to God that I can sustain this until my bunso is ready to wean!

Our Answered Prayer

After 228 heparin injections, 3 LIT sessions, hours and hours of waiting at the doctor's office, more than 10 ultrasounds within 9 months, daily prayers, begging to the Lord for a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby -- Angelo Mateo was born last February 6, 2015. He is truly our answered prayer!

While I was pregnant, sabi ko gusto ko na syang ipanganak kasi mahirap din yung mga injections and yung halos weekly OB visits...nakakapagod! And para matapos na yung takot ko everytime I go to the Doctor's office and everytime may ultrasound. When I look at my son's face, parang nawala lahat! Ang bilis bilis lang pala. Sulit lahat ng sakit at kaba!

Pregnancy Issues

I have shared to you before that I had a miscarriage last February 2013. I learned I was pregnant siguro mga 7 weeks then had spotting, then tuloy tuloy na. Nailabas ko rin yung baby. My doctor told me blighted ovum daw. Masakit, super. But we need to accept.

End of December 2013, I learned I was pregnant again. Then had my ultrasound second weekend of January 2014 parang 7 weeks din ata...there was a sac but walang laman. Sabi ng doctor baka delayed lang so we had another ultrasound and another and another (I lost count na), still the same. Wala pa rin laman. So we have to induce the baby to come out. Good thing, di ko na need mag D&C. Kung nung February 2013 masakit, the second was nakakagalit. Galit na galit ako.

So my OB asked me to undergo APAS test and Thyroid test. And tadaaah, I was positive with APAS. Kaya pala I had 2 miscarriages na. So my OB recommended me to go to another OB, who specializes this case. She gave me 2 choices, I chose Dra. Angela Aguilar. I love Dra. Aguilar...kahit ang haba ng pila nya =) Ang cool nya, promise!

Dra. Aguilar asked me to undergo another test...the LAT. Ayun, galing, positive din ako =/ So I need to see an immunologist and Dra. Angela recommended Dra. Lara Therese Aleta. Like my new OB, Dra. Aleta is also cool!

Magastos, yes.  Pero di na namin iniintindi...all for the love of our family. And God provides naman =)

Nakakalungkot lang kasi habang nakapila ako sa clinic ni Dra. Aguilar and Dra. Aleta, I realize na maraming mga babaeng nahihirapan magbuntis at hirap magbuntis. Pero for those who have the same case as mine or who also have immuno problems, I am praying for all of you. Kaya natin to =)

Trick or Treat 2012

So sorry for super backtracking...Throwback Thursday lang ang dating haha! Naghahabol lang ako ng post for documentation purposes =)

Antonio was into Spiderman last year...as in halos lahat ng pictures nya everytime naka spiderman pose sya haha! Since he wanted to have a Spiderman costume, naghanap talaga ako ng magandang costume. It was a good thing, the brother of Arch went to the US and sakto sa Halloween ung uwi nya =)

We attended 2 Trick or Treat Events - One in Paradiso Terrestre, a few days before Halloween:

Then we went trick or treating in Ayala Alabang on Halloween.

Punta Fuego Getaway

We went to a lot of Beaches last 2012. First, we went to Calatagan in May with my Family, then to Laiya in June with Arch's Family, then to Punta Fuego in October together with Arch's childhood friends =)

Here are some pictures during our Punta Fuego vacation:

Life goes on...

Oh my, it is already the 4th weekend of June...ang bilis ng oras!!! Syempre I was not able to update my blog again =(

I mentioned here that I was on bed arrest. Sad to say, we lost the baby the week after that post. Nagtuloy tuloy na syang nawala. I was really crying when I learned pero nakakatawa naman. With the help of Archie and Antonio and a lot of prayers from family and friends, I was able to go through that ordeal. Paminsan minsan bumabalik yung lungkot, lalo na when I went back to my OB for a check up recently or when I see pregnant women. Naiisip ko I should have been 5 or 6 months na...but I try not to dwell on it. Kasi I know I have a lot of things to be thankful for =) 

San Juan, Batangas

2012 was a good year...stressful yes. But we tried to de-stress as much as possible.

Last year we went to 3 different beaches. First was in Calatagan during the Holy Week. We were with my family. You may find my post about that here.

Second, we went to San Juan, Batangas last June 2012. This time, we were with Arch's sister and her family. We stayed at Laiya Coco Grove. We really enjoyed our stay there. Medyo di lang maganda yung beach kasi madumi, maybe because it was habagat season na. But there was a pool that the kids enjoyed, may trampoline pa na okay sa mga tweens na kasama namin. The food was also great. Kasama na yung meals sa bayad namin, buffet pa. Mura pa yung ibang food like coffee, beer, and coffee hehe! =)

The accommodation was so-so. Luma na siguro. Pero ayos na rin naman. Important naman sa amin is comfortable yung mga bata.

Next beach stop...Boracay! =)

Calatagan

We went to Calatagan last Black Saturday til Easter Sunday. The resort/house is owned by my kuya's friend. Kaya di kami pwedeng magreklamo haha! Though, for the price okay naman. I am thinking nga dapat pag may bata medyo high end ang facilities. Though, dapat masanay din naman maging cowboy ang mga bata, lalo na puros boys ang kasama namin =) Antonio enjoyed playing with his cousins and kahit kokonti ang sand, enjoy na enjoy pa rin sila! =)

We should have spent 2 night na lang pala talaga kasi sobrang bitin ang overnight. The beach in front of the house is not good for swimming e. We have to go to the middle of the sea to swim haha kasi sa Calatagan kung lowtide, lowtide talaga! =)

Here are some pictures of our vacation.

Updates updates

Yes, I am still alive! Haha!

Have been busy with work and house thingies kaya I was not able to update this blog. Bad bad me. I do not even have the time to blog hop. Yes, ako na ang reyna ng kabusyhan haha! Wala na ako sa circulation' Ano nangyayari sa Philippines? Tapos na ba ang impeachment? Haha!  Oh diba, walang alam.

I am thinking when kaya ako magiging parelaks relaks ulit? Though, hiningi ko to kay Lord, tanggap lang ng tanggap =)

What have transpired in the last few weeks? Weekends are allotted for grocery time, shopping for house items and time for Antonio and Arch...or diba, kahit weekends busy pa rin?

We went to Calatagan last Black Saturday and Easter Sunday...and I so want to go to the beach again!!!!! Hopefully, we will have another family outing first weekend of June. If not, I have to wait for December. Boracay here we come! Woohoo!

Oh by the way, I have reserved for Antonio's preschool na. Which reminds me, I have to enroll him na pala haha! I am also looking for his school service. Tricycle na lang ba or school bus? Hmmm.

Antonio is enjoying naman playing with our kid neighbor...Palaging nasa labas. Minsan, ayaw muna kumain lalabas na. Unfortunately, he got sick this week...so bed/house arrest muna sya. Ang sama ng ubo nya grabe. Last Monday, he was coughing all through the night...kawawa naman. So I asked my husband to bring him to the doctor. I was ready na our pedia will give him antibiotic kasi ang sama talaga ng ubo. I told Arch, wag sya bibili ng gamot pa kasi I can get free medicines. Ayun, pagtapos sa doctor, sabi ng doctor..sipon lang yan. Viral lang yan. She just asked us to give Antonio Dimetapp, Solmux and Calpol. After 3 days, wala ng ubo (paminsan minsan na lang). Wow I so love my pedia!

So ayan, hopefully, I will be able to update this blog regularly na =)

Officially Southerners

We moved in to our new house last Saturday. That morning din, we had the simple and small blessing. It was only Arch, Antonio, our Yaya, my parents and sister (dahil they helped us with the move) and I who were there to catch all the coins...ay to witness the blessing of God's gift. I specifically told my husband na ipabless agad yung house kasi at least kampante kami diba? And para wala ng reason to host a big event hehe!

Though, that night, my brother and his family visited us. Gusto lang nilang istorbohin kami haha!

Anyway, when we left San Juan, Arch's lola was crying. Ahuhu. Naiyak na rin ako. E kasi naman mamimiss nila si Antonio. Almost everyday, Antonio was there...nakikikain! Also, our manang (the maid of Arch's siblings) cried. Then, the sister of Arch wrote a message in FB (she was traveling kasi last Saturday) na she misses Antonio and she is having a separation anxiety. Hay, nakakalungkot but I know they are happy for us. And this is a dream come true talaga. When we stayed at my in-laws place, sabi ko talaga kay Arch, dapat 3 years lang kami dun. Ayun, ang galing 3 years and 4 months lang kami nagstay dun....God is good! =)

Magulo pa yung house. May mga boxes pa rin kami dito. Pero slowly, nililinis na ni yaya yung mga kalat namin. Mas OC pa yaya ko. Haha! May mga kulang pa rin kami...though hinay hinay na lang muna sa pagbili at kailangan magtipid =)

Valentine's Day gifts

We do not normally celebrate Valentine's Day on the 14th...ayaw namin makipagsiksikan. This year, we do not have plans yet...basta sabi ko lang sa husband ko manonood kami ng Unofficially Yours...maybe we will watch it on Saturday! Hehe!

I decided to buy my husband a cake (Frozen Braso de Mercedes from CaraMia) last Monday and I gave it to him na rin that night...because I knew he will have a busy schedule yesterday, February 14.

Yesterday morning, I was surfing the net while my son was playing. He formed this thingy into a heart and greeted me - "Happy Valentine's Day, Mommy!". He is such a sweet boy!

We made this heart card naman, which was Antonio's gift for his daddy. I cut the heart and wrote the dedication at the back. Antonio drew the face =)

Since busy nga si hubby yesterday, I did not expect him to give me flowers or a gift...pero naghahanda na ako ng 'tampong' script in case wala nga syang gift. Haha! When he arrived, he surprised me with a bouquet. =)

We capped off the day with us watching 50 First Dates. Hay, kinilig na naman ako! =)  

Year of the Water Dragon

How did you spend your Chinese New Year Long weekend?

Last Saturday, my husband and I went to Ahavia Spa. Finally, nakapag massage na ulit kami.

Last Sunday, after hearing mass, we went to Greenhills. Antonio had a haircut and played at Timezone. Nakakatuwa si Antonio kasi after 3 years, umupo na rin sya sa car chair ng barbershop. Then, we ate at Papa John's. Grabe ang sarap ng pizza! =)

For dinner naman, we ate at Zhu at the Fort. Okay lang naman yung food. Mas gusto ko pa rin sa Kanzhu. =)

After dinner, we walked towards Boni High. We tried Jamba Juice and stayed near the water fountain. At first, nagbububbles lang yung mga kids...then, di na nila napigilan, naglaro na sila sa fountain. Buti na lang si Antonio medyo takot so di sya nabasa...hands lang =)

playing with bubbles

Nieces of Archie, running around

Then, last Monday, we just went to Megamall to look at some sofa sets and appliances needed for the house.

What a way to start the Year of the Water Dragon =)

New Year's Eve

Since we celebrated Christmas Eve with Arch's family, we celebrated New Year's Eve naman with my side.

I thought of preparing games for my siblings plus in-laws and parents. Para naman di lang kwentuhan ang activity namin...Haha! We played Q&A and charades. Dapat may bingo pa, di na namin natuloy at tuwang tuwa sila sa charades, nagisip pa sila ng mga movies na pwedeng i-act. Haha!

I was the one who thought of the movie titles. Di naman masyadong mahirap at di rin naman ganon kadali. Kasi baka pag mahirap, magreklamo ang mga kapatid ko. Reklamador kasi yung mga yun! Haha! I underestimated my siblings....grabe yung mga mahahabang movie titles, less than a minute lang kuha na. So sa birthday ng papa namin, we will play charades again...at hihirapan ko na talaga! =p

Home Along The Riles

Jaws

Walang Matigas na Tinapay sa Mainit na Kape

2011 Christmas Celebration

Last year, we spent Christmas eve with my family then New Year's eve with Archie's family. So this year, we spent the Christmas Eve with Archie's mother's side. Here are the pictures during the celebrations =)

December 24 Lunch - with Archie's dad

December 24 Dinner and Noche Buena - Archie's mother side

The delish Turkey made by dear Husband =)

green family =D

Antonio with his ates

December 25 Lunch - with my family

mga walang magawa hehe!

Antonio and his cousins

Merry Christmas!

Antonio's 3rd Birthday

We just had a simple dinner on Antonio's birthday. Red Ribbon Pancit Palabok and lumpia from DEC.

Syempre, we also had a cake (from Chocolat) with 3 candles, which Antonio blew twice that day. Hehe!

 
Here is the obligatory family picture. =)

Bali ABADventure Day 6

Day 6 / Conclusion:

We just walked along the beach. Konting swimming (kasi ang lamig pa rin), then we started the travel home.

We had a 5 hour layover in Singapore Airport. We thought we can just relax sa Changi, kasi super laki and ganda ng Changi diba? More or less complete sya. However, sa AirAsia pala, you really have to get your luggages and pass through immigrations og Singapore. From Bali, our boarding pass is until Singapore lang. We have to check-in ulit (sa AirPhil) pagdating ng Singapore, to think di kami budget terminal ha. Since di pa open ang counter ng AirPhil, we have to wait outside the departure area. Buti na lang, maganda din yung area na yun.

When we have checked-in, we still have 2 hours before our flight. So we went to Terminal 3 to kill time and to go to Charles & Keith. Wala rin akong nabili. Haha! Mahal din and yung mga styles meron na rin dito nun. Super okay talaga ang Changi kasi napaka convenient to transfer between 2 terminals. Nagenjoy si Antonio sa train. Haha!

Tuwang tuwa ang asawa ko to see the A380

Eventually, na bore na si Antonio

Learnings/Realizations/Conclusion/Tips:

1. This was the first out of the country namin na kasama si Antonio. So sobrang pagod talaga. Sabi ko kay Arch, if ever we will go to Hongkong or Singapore, di pwdeng kaming 3 lang. Dapat kasama family ko or family nya. (Parang di ko naman kaya magsama ng yaya. Kasi parang ang yaman namin ano? Haha! Though maraming magsasabi na kaya nga vacation, so the parents can relax relax din. Pero parang kaya nga family vacation para magbond!) Pagod na pagod kami e..to the point mainit na ulo ko haha! Pero kahit naman pagod kami, happy kami sobra.

2. Antonio is not a picky eater. Pero parang nanibago talaga sya, naku di nagkakakain. Tapos nagkasakit pa. Kahit french fries, di sya masyadong nagkakakain. Ang kinakain nya e chocolate and chips. Bakasyon na bakasyon ang dating ng anak namin. Buti na lang he eats watermelon. Sana, I brought healthier chips (?) Haha!

3. Charge the battery of the camera every night kahit di pa ubos. Haha! yan ang bwisit ako dahil nauubusan kami ng battery. Buti na lang madami kaming kasama na may camera din. hehe!

4. Bali is a beautiful place. Maganda ang kalye, walang lubak ha! At ang mga bus stops, okay din. Yun lang ang daming motorcycles! Haha! Nakakatakot. One time we saw a mom driving the motorcycle, one hand sa handle and one hand sa baby nya. Siguro wala pang one year old yun!

5. Will I ever go back to Bali? Pag libre! Haha! Otherwise, I will just go to Hongkong or Singapore. Kasi I think Bali is not for kids e. Unless surfers kayo or divers. The beach di naman maganda. Ang pupuntahan niyo lang talaga dun is temples and bars. Yung Safari naman, there is one in Singapore. Beach naman, nothing beats our beaches e.

6. Balinese people are uber nice!

7. I have read that their tap water is not safe for drinking. Even locals do not drink tap water daw. So to be sure, yung pang tooth brush ni Antonio, bottled water.

8. We really enjoyed this vacation. Kasi once in a lifetime to e. And I am thankful that the wedding was held in Bali. E kasi kung wala namang kinasal sa Bali, di din kami pupunta dun diba?

8. Time to think of our next vacation! Woohoo!!!