Salamat, President Cory

Sorrow is in the air. Today is the internment of the 11th president of the Philippines and mother of Philippine democracy, Cory Aquino.

Gratitude will always be there for her. She has made every Filipino proud. Watching the news, I was amazed to how many lives she has touched. And how she lifted everything to God. Heaven must really love her, the weather is gloomy and rain is drizzling, like the sky is shedding tears.

People lined the streets to pay last respect. She, a very gentle and calm natured person, could ignite the hearts of thousands, reaching out to any class or status. Her legacy will leave on...

harry made me go solo, not once but twice

It was the movie. I watched Harry Potter's 5th and latest movie alone. I watched both on the first day on the first MF. It was easier, not that hard to spot a seat for one.

Am not one of those who got disappointed with the latest movie. In fact, I am pretty much pleased. When I read the book, it was a sad sad story. But when I watched the movie, I saw the light and young side of the lead characters, their lines were young and witty. The effects were so nice. I would never have thought that the muggle's bridge was destroyed like that. Just that there were really some scenes that if I remember correctly, didn't happen that way.

Nothing more, just posted my fondness,errr love for HP series.

a dream is a wish your heart made

I believe that dreams come true. And that they are whispers of the heart.

As I watch my baby sleep, I wonder what her dreams are about. She smiles, and now she also frowns. Inay told me that this is because angels are playing with her. Anymore reasons?

With Ecai's sleeping cycle, she sleeps almost the entire morning. Wakes up to feed, that is every two hours. She then wakes up at 10pm and will sleep at past 1am. And when awake, if she's in a good mood, she now knows how to interact, can you believe she already laughed at asel's and jut's funny faces and sounds. And oh, she follows my lead when we invite poop.

Love my baby girl.

PS. I received a blog award from Gwacie. She's a girltalker and a talented digiscrapper. (Sori sis, I am not able to follow the rules of the award.) People, head on to her blog, her layouts are something not to be missed. Thanks again Gwacie

my girl

Ecai is turning 3 mos, can you believe it? I do. I am guilty for wishing that she grow up a wee-bit faster.

Took her pictures some time ago and was only able to make this layout so far. Elements are from some kits I downloaded over a year ago.

Alphas: Art Nation

Papers: Park Avenue, Heart

Elements: SS by Lisa, Hidden Garden

When she turned one month, her hand found its way to her mouth. I go crazy whenever I see her sucking her thumb, nibbling her fingers, and even gnawing her fists and arms! I head over and googled,err, yahoo fanatic here, so I yahooed remedies for her addiction. I found relief when I read that this is a childs' way of finding comfort by their own. So from now on, let her be.

she holds my heart

Ecai is growing up, she's putting on weight and adding on length. She's wiggly and cooes and ahhs and demands to be held all the time, which of course, stresses me out. It's tiring specially when she wakes up every two hrs for milk, then have to burp her and dance her to sleep again. I am not complaining, just sharing. No right to complain specially when I have all the help of my mother and mother in law. wink wink. Can't wait for my baby to grow up. We can do things together like scrapbooking, I'm not selfish so I can share my supplies as long as she can share hers. Ha ha ha. But will we share the same interests? Hope so, besides, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

Finally had the time to finish a digi layout. I have started this one like, saturday and only finished it now, a wednesday. Whoa, 4 days... aw.

and if the shoe doesn't fit?

The transition is not easy. Deciding to stay at home and be a mum is a breeze but standing by it and doing the chores is a roller coaster ride. My back aches, my legs and shoulder blades feel sore, and I cannot do any of my hobbies at all, no scrapbooking, no digiscrapbooking either, no learning photography, no cross stitching, and no time to start beading. No free time, most meals I do not enjoy, bath time is a rush, and sleeping soundly is currently just a thought. Office work sounds like a vacation. Whining and complaining.

When she cries and screams at me, oh well, yeah she does scream at me and she is only two months old, I feel like giving up and just sleep the crying off. But the first time that she looked at me and smiled after I said hi to her, wow, that would be something to really look forward to. How could I forget the reason why I quit my job? I resigned just to let my daughter feel that I will be there for her. Of course working moms won't agree, but for me, I want my daughter to look for me when she cries, go to me when she has some stories to tell, chooses to spend her spare time with me, and delight in my presence. And for me this all starts asap. How can I stop her cries if I do not understand what hurts and upsets her? How can we share stories if I lose the time to listen to her? How can we enjoy spending time together if we have outgrown each other? How can she delight in my presence if she already feels I won't make any difference at all? So I am a SAHM. I am very lucky that I have a husband who supports what I want. And very blessed that he wants it too.

So now that she is two months, she stays close when I cuddle her at night. And she sleeps on top of me, contentedly. She falls back to sleep when she hears my humming, well sometimes. She amazes me. For now, I am okay with a few minutes for all (with stress) of my hobbies.

And if the shoe doesn't fit? I'll try on a pair of sneakers or flip flops. Or I can walk motherhood with bare feet. All with God's grace.

Cheers to all moms and moms-to-be!

it has been 3 weeks

and forever with regards to blogging.

well, it was 3 weeks since i gave birth! the experience was not quite what i expected it to be. i thought it would be easy... just push, 1...2...3, deep breath, etc and baby will be out. it was so different for me.

on may 07 at 7am, i woke up feeling i needed to pee. but as i sat up, i felt i couldn't hold it much longer, and when i stood up, water trickled. i told my inay, i think i wet the bed, but she told me, take a bath and go call your doctor. i called the doctor and told her that i am not sure if it was my water bag that broke. she told me to go to the hospital and she'll meet me at the delivery room. at 8am, i was changing to a hospital gown not believing that i am about to give birth. i was only 1 cm dilated but since my water bag broke and that means i was prone to infection, i was not allowed to go out of the room anymore. some pregnant ladies in the delivery room were already 4cm but they can choose to leave if they wanted to. iv was administered and a medicine that would help me dilate. not sure of the time, but they have to inject magnesium sulfate because my blood pressure was getting high, one thru iv, and 20cc to be injected on each butt cheek. aw. the one thru the iv was really hot. resident doctors maximized the aircon, but i felt hot with fever, my palms were hot, my feet, my back... but the injections were worse. i do not dream of having butt augmentation anymore! butt was sore, felt like i underwent fraternity initiation and was paddled on my butt big time. doctors asked me if my contractions were painful, i said no, my butt is.

at 5cm, still not much pain, can still smile. but hey, i cried for epidural! anesthesiologist was stuck in traffic... know why? typhoon emong hits manila! aw. right after epi, ie was at 9cm! i have every right to claim that i endured the pain upto 9cm! this was at 8:30 pm. i was transferred to delivery room, waiting for the baby.

we reached 11:30 pm, baby doesn't descend, and doctor noted that baby's heart rate changed, instead of risking it with a normal delivery, was rushed to emergency cs. baby girl was out by 12:03am, may 08, 2009.
baby was born early, 37 weeks. almost everyone predicted that she'll be big since i have grown to 163lbs. baby weight is 5.11 lbs and 47 cm. we stayed at the hospital for 7 days because of my bp. my feet were still swollen even after giving birth, water retention.

till now i am on maintaining medication for my bp and have a follow up checkup with the cardiologist. i weigh 130 lbs and she weighs 9lbs. delivering a baby may not be what i expected, having her is an exhilarating ride. glad to have my dimpled bundle... eilise caitlin joy