Look Good, Feel Good

Many people say that when one is pregnant, the mom-to-be should try to always be happy and as much as possible think happy thoughts. In addition, they should always try to feel good and look good. As they say, whatever the mom feels, the baby also feels. So if you are one happy mom-to-be, then chances are, your baby will be one happy baby as well. (This is quite a challenge since most moms experience a roller coaster ride of emotions althroughout the pregnancy due to the hormones).

Well, I believe that yes, one should make an extra effort to look good during pregnancy but I think, we should also strive to look good after the pregnancy as well.

I am not the type who wears make up whenever I go out, but what I mean looking good, is trying to go back to your usual size after the baby has arrived. Some moms tend to be so hands on and focused with the baby that they forget to take care of themselves. Believe me, when you look good and feel good about yourself, you'd have a more positive attitude especially during those "gloomy" days. On my first pregnancy, there was really a big effort on my part that I'd still look the way I look before I got pregnant. I made sure that my old clothes still fit after I gave birth. I was able to do it. Many of my friends joked that I just "farted" my first-born. While I was pregnant as well, I took care of my tummy by applying Palmer's religiously. Lucky me, even after two pregnancies, I still don't have any stretch marks. My friends commend me nowadays when they see me, telling me that I really didn't grow big in the last 7 months, only my tummy did :) I try to look good by dressing well too. Not expensive clothes, but clothes that still show the happy aura that I have as I await the arrival of my child.

It will really require some extra effort on our part to look good during, and more especially, after the pregnancy. But hey, we do not only do it for others (so we don't receive any harsh criticisms), for our hubbys (so we can still be very appealing and the apple of their eyes), but most importantly, we do it because we owe it to ourselves! Let us take some time to love ourselves, let us try to feel good, by looking good!

Preparations for Baby Sam

Busy day everyday. Being a part-time primary school teacher and a homemaker is a very challenging role. By the time I'm done with all the work at school I have to attend to the chores at home, which for some reason easily piles up.

Luckily, I also have light days where I get to do some things which, for some people might be a little bit over, but actually relaxes me. On those light days, I choose to do some things for the coming of our little baby girl, Sam.

I'm on the 24th week and in a matter of 3 months, she'll be here. Past experiences have taught me that it does pay to be prepared in advance. What have I been doing the past weeks as I prepare for the arrival of Baby Sam?

Here's my list:
a. I have washed, folded and ironed the baby clothes she will be using once she is out.
b. I have fixed her cabinets as well. Things are grouped together (clothes, onesies, sleeveless, shirts, tie shirts, hats, undies, etc.)
c. I have asked Liam to make black and white pictures which we will put on Sam's cot together with the other black and white patterns I have made (black and white patterns are great stimulants to newborns since at the first few weeks, they are still color-blind).
d. I am almost done with the adult souvenirs for her baptismal party. Yes, the only thing lacking is the tag which I will put as I tie the bags.
e. I have started making the loot bags for the kids for her baptismal party. I have attached a picture of the first few finshed products I have made. I still have to put goodies inside and of course, put the tags.
f. I am done with the lay-out for the thank-you tags for her baptismal party. Pending for printing.

There are still pending jobs which are as follows:
a. Completing the list of the godparents.
b. Informing the godparents, espcially those who are not Australia-based. Though I have emailed one already :)
c. Printing of the thank-you tags.
d. Lay-out for the baptismal invites.
e. Thank you gifts for the godparents.
f. The date and venue of the rites and the party afterwards.
g. Laundry of the new batch of clothes and baby needs given to her by my brother and parents.
h. Laundry of cot covers, blankets and quilts.
i. Laundry and set-up of the cot.
j. Cleaning of the stroller frame.
h. Preparing mommy and baby bag for the hospital.

I am in no hurry because I know that I'll get to finish all of them as the date draws near. Some may think these to-do lists are not relaxing at all. Well, let us just say that I am glad I have these things to do because it not only serves as a breather for me, but it is also a reminder that soon, our family, will be complete.

Fears of A Second-Time Mum

It's confirmed. I am expecting. I am a second-time mum.

Funny, but just a few weeks ago I was exchanging emails with a friend who just gave birth to her second child. If I remember it correctly, I mentioned that this whole thing of caring for a newborn and for your first born is a whole new challenge. As a mum, we are faced again with a set of challenges, some of which maybe similar during the first time we got pregnant, but some will surely be new.

As a second-time mum I can't help but get worriesd every now and then about certain things. What certain things? Well, for one, I hope that this pregnancy will be a lot easier for me as compared when I had Liam. I had a very difficult first trimester when I was heavy with Liam. My friends and workmates in Ateneo can attest to that. I had to do bed rest for two weeks, I had all-day sickness, I needed to have a spitting cup. I was soooo ugly. I felt bad. Try as I hard, I felt I didn't enjoy the first 3 months back then. So now, I am hoping that this one is an easier one. A bonus for me. So far, I haven't felt anything unusual like when I had Liam. I hope it will be like this until I give birth sometime late November.

Next, I am worried how I will prepare Liam for the coming of his new baby brother or sister. Young that he is now, I can already sense that he is the jealous type. Everytime he sees me or his Papa playing with his younger cousin Francesca or when he sees babies approaching me or his Papa when we are in church, he quickly asks us to carry him and cuddle him. Oh, I think this is one tough job I really have to prepare for. So for my friends who are done with this stage, do you have any tips for me?

Third, I am quite worried how I will be able to manage caring for two kids and take care of our home, and possibly work as well, all at the same time? Does this mean saying goodby to my OC-ness forever? I don't know. Let's see when I get there.

What else am I worried about? Well, sibling rivalry, raising my children well, how will my next nine months be, what will be my diet again? What foods should I avoid? What if I miss something? Oh the list will go on and on!

I am worried or scared at times but right now, I don't allow my fears and worries to control me. I know that God will guide me and help me every step of the way. I am sure He will send His "angels" through family and friends.

So now, I just allow myself to embrace the fact and feel the joy of having this chance again to carry one of His creations. To be responsible for one of His creations. I am thankful and I am honored. And I continue to praise and thank Him for that.

Waiting Again

I am waiting again. My husband is waiting again. My little boy is waiting as well. What are we waiting for? Well, we are waiting if I am expecting again.

I was supposed to have my period a couple of days ago and since my husabnd I were trying to have another child already, I felt happy when it didn't come. I went and bought a test kit from the chemist. I was hesistant at first to do the test since I have only been delayed for a day. But I was too excited to postpone it. So I had the test. The result was positive! Of course I was happy! We were praying for this one. But in my mind I had second thoughts again. I felt it has been too long since I last saw a positive result on a pregnancy test kit. SO I decided to try again the following day.

The next day? The results were the same. It was still positive. Since it will be my first time to be pregnant here in Australia, I followed the advice of my sister. I went to the doctor to have my check-up, and to confirm at that and hopefully schedule my doctor appointments as well for the next nine months. But the funny thing is, when the GP tested me, the results were negative. Uh-oh.

So what happened? Well, I drank too much water before I had my GP test so I think that affected the results. Since I told the GP that I had 2 positive test results, she recommended that I have a blood test to really confirm if I am pregnant or not.The results will be available tomorrow but I can't go back and have my check-up until Wednesday.

So here I am, still delayed but still in doubt if I will be a mum again. I am excited. I am scared. I am worried. I am thankful. I am hoping. Well, I guess all I can do now is just wait and pray until it's confirmed that I am.