Puerto Galera 2014

9 - 11 May 2014

This was a long awaited vacation for us as we planned this a few months ago. Epoy was coming home for his holidays and we wanted to go on vacation with him. We initally planned to go to Davao but since we're all in a tight budget, Epoy offered going to his hometown in Puerto Galera instead. 

We left for Puerto Galera the day after Joema’s birthday. He paid for the place we stayed in and we split all other expenses. It was a long day of travelling for us. We first went to pick up Epoy from his condo in MOA and then went to Paranaque to Joy and Mek’s house. We agreed to take just one vehicle going to Batangas Pier. But before going to the pier we went to Mek’s parent’s house in Lipa first to drop off their puppy. And then from the pier we rode a ferry going to Puerto Galera. We didn’t stay at the white beach instead we stayed at a nearby small hotel just beside Epoy’s grandma’s place. All our food were taken cared of Epoy courtesy of his mom’s cooking. We arrived in Puerto Galera just in time for lunch.

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After eating, our first agenda for the day was mud karts. But a little side story here as this was where my first hormonal breakdown happened hahaha. So we freshened up after eating. We all took a bath, by we all of us in our family – Miya, then yaya, hubby and me. Miya because she hasn’t taken a bath for the day as we left home very early and she was still sleeping when we carried her to her car. Then yaya decided she wants to take a bath too. And since we’re all sharing one bathroom I let her go first after Miya. So I had to wait for my turn. When it was my turn to take a bath, I was feeling so tired and hot and sticky already. Epoy was already hurrying us up so we can still go to the beach. Joema and I decided to take a bath together so it will be faster. When we got to the bathroom, the heater was automatically turned on and the water was so hot. I really want to take a bath already but Joema was so masungit with me and telling me to wait for the water. Hay naku I broke down in the bathroom because I was really hot and I wanted to take a bath na hahaha! As in parang pelikula, I was crying while taking a bath. Anyway, Joema said sorry afterwards. But I really felt kawawa at that moment – pregnancy hormones I tell you hahaha! 

Refreshed and ready to explore!

When we got to the karting place I knew I can’t do anything with them but watch (I was 17 weeks pregnant at that time).

So I took photos of them instead.

Still clean...

They really enjoyed mud karting!

All mudded up! 

In fairness, they said they felt their skin felt much smoother after they washed off the mud hehe.

After mudkarts we went to white beach to swim for a bit (only the kids) and we also hired a boat for our island hopping the next day. We also had our hair braided at the beach. 

I wanted a silhouette photo of my bump - at 17 weeks and 4 days

The next day, we went island hopping! Yes, all of us even Miya and our yaya. We negotiated with the boatmen to let Miya and our yaya ride free for the island hopping since they won’t be able to go snorkeling anyway. Our hired boat took us around Mindoro’s island first and then went back for our snorkeling adventure. From the big boat, we rode small boats to go to each of the attraction. I was so scared because the boat can only fit 3 adults. Miya was with us and she had to stand in between Joema and me. I was scraed but I can’t show it to Miiya because she might get scared too. So instead we pretended that it was all okay hahaha kunyari we’re all playing and we’re saying “Weee” while the boat was crashing into the waves. Our first stop was the underwater cave. If you’ve been to Crystal Cove in Boracay, this is similar to that but much smaller. When we took Miya underneath I told her that she’s like Ariel, the Little Mermaid, because it was pretty dark inside. I don’t want her to be afraid. Good thing, it was only for the first few minutes we were inside that she was afraid. By the time we left the cave she wasn’t scared anymore. She was saying that she was like Little Mermaid. If you’re going here, better wear a rubber sandals with straps or aqua shoes. I was wearing ordinary slippers when we went there and my slippers kept on floating hahaha. I don’t have photos of us inside the cave because it was in Ky’s underwater camera but I will definitely update this post once I get those photos. After that we went snorkeling to see the big clams and the beautiful corals in Puerto Galera.

Here's a photo of Mya and yaya while the rest of us went snorkeling

We ate lunch at our boat and then we went to an island were we just whiled away our time.

When we got back to the main island, we went to Tamaraw Falls.

Miya was knocked out by this time

There was a pool that catches the water from the falls where you can also swim. Only Mek and Miguel were brave enough and had enough energy to still swim.

We were all so tired here. From the bottom of the falls where the pool was, we had to go up a few flight of stairs to come up again to the main road where this was taken. 

That night we went to a bar and they had some drinks while watching Epoy’s cousins band perform. But I don't seem to find any photos of us there hehe. 

On our last day, we just chilled at the resort. Miya was the only one (with yaya) who swam at the beach in front of the hotel hahaha! You can’t really take out my baby from the water. She loves the water! Well, actually the boys did some exploring.

Kala mo mga haciendero!

They even borrowed a boat from the local kids, which they sank!

Then it was time to eat our last meal in Puerto Galera...

Then it was time to say goodbye and thank you to our hosts.

Joema's 35th Birthday

Joema’s birthday this year fell on a Thursday. We both went on leave to celebrate his birthday at home. But the Saturday before that, I helped Miya make a birthday card for Daddy. But I forgot to tell her that we weren’t supposed to give it yet. So when her dad arrived from work on that Saturday night she went up to me excitedly and whispered, “Mommy, where’s our surprise for Daddy? I want to give it to him.” Hahaha! Sablay!

The balloons read "Daddy" which Miya wrote and then she signed it also with her name. This blurry photo is brought to you by my iPhone 5 hahaha!

My inlaws went to our house on Joema’s actual birthday and we celebrated with cake and chicken.

The next day we left for Puerto Galera with our friends. 

Mother's Day 2014

4 May 2014

We were in Puerto Galera on Mother’s Day so we celebrated early with my side of the family. Went out for lunch on the Sunday before Mother’s Day. I helped Miya make a card for Lola.

We ate lunch at our favorite Poco Deli in Ayala Triangle.

We let the little girl have ice cream afterwards. 

Miya's Summer Class

Last summer we enrolled Miya for summer classes in her school. Nothing serious like advance reading or anything. We just want her to have an activity everyday and not become restless at home. For the first part of summer, the class we enrolled her to had cooking, art classes and singing and dancing. For their culminating program, their art projects were displayed for all the parents to see.  

Photos of their cooking class were also displayed. They made pizza, mac 'n cheese among others.

The children also presented some song and dance numbers. Their teacher asked us to dress them up with their best summer dress so I had her wear the dress she wore in Siquijor for her birthday.

With her Teacher Jonah who was very proud of her because she sang and dance throughout the program

Good job, anak!

For the second part of summer, we enrolled her to a pre-beginner’s class hahaha! Really, we just want her to enjoy the summer so instead of enrolling her in the reading program we just went ahead and enrolled her again to this even if she already knows what to do. On their last day, the parents were invited to sit-in during the class to see what the kids were up to. Here are photos of Miya cooking in class. 

Eating time!

Buntis Serye @ 32 Weeks

Yes, 8 months baby! Remember my list from last time that I need to do for our baby?

• buy his clothes  - I went back to Hello Baby inBel-air, Makati with my dear friends to buy clothes. Was able to buy white basics and other cute little things heehee.
• wash the clothes that we already have - I’ve already asked our help to wash baby clothes that we need to bring to the hospital.
• wash and clean the crib/playpen – not yet done, but I’ll probably send our crib to my parent’s house this weekend and ask their help to wash it. My parent’s home is more appropriate to wash and dry the crib by sunlight.
• rearrange our bedroom with the crib – not yet, will do this once we have the crib washed.
• general cleaning of our bedroom – not yet.
• get on rehiring our previous Yaya - I asked her to come back by the 1st of September 
• pack our hospital bags - I’ve actually already packed my bag and baby’s bag. Only a couple of things missing from our bag is my slippers and maternity napkin and then I can have my hubby store it in our car’s trunk so that it’s ready any time we need to go to the hospital. Hubby still needs to pack his own bag.
•  find our birthing class certificate from before – found it! Also found our old birthing plan, just need to update it and discuss it with our OB again on our next visit (34^th week)
• order my breast pump and teats for the bottles online – did not buy a new breast pump anymore because when I checked my previous pump it’s still working fine. Ordered new bottles and teats however because Avent released new bottles and teats and the new teats are not compatible with our old bottles (the ones Miya used) so I have to buy new bottles as well. That’s okay because Amazon’s prices are much, much lower than the ones in the local stores here.
• have our sterilizer fixed – didn’t have to. My friends threw a baby shower for me and they gifted us with an Avent sterilizer. Was so happy!

Praying doubly hard that baby will stay put until the 37^th week. I was put on bed rest again for a week on the first week of August. I experienced some pains in my abdomen, like cramps when you have dysmenorreah. And I got worried because I remembered this was the feeling I felt when my labor during Miya’s birth progressed. I’m now drinking duvadilan three times a day as per my OB’s advise. I’m still experiencing some contractions every now and then but not consistently. I don’t really mind the pain because the contractions doesn’t really hurt I’m just really worried that I’m already experiencing labor when my baby is not yet big enough to come out.  My only cue that I’m having contractions is that tightening feeling in my tummy, just like when I was already in labor with Miya and the nurses in the hospital kept on telling me that my contractions are already strong and consistent. So if you’re reading this, please say a little prayer for us. Only five more weeks to go and I can give birth safely to our baby.

On the GDM (gestational diabetes) front, I went back to my endocrinologist after a week and she was happy I was able to control my diet and my blood sugar. She asked me to continue monitoring and just fax her my weekly monitoring and then go back to her by the first week of September. I’m able to control my diet, just have to clear off desserts really because I can still eat rice and bread just in moderate portions. Last week I asked Joema to buy me sugar free chocolates from Healthy Options and I must say they really are sugar free. Although I did not eat the chocolate bar in one sitting, just one small sliver (square) whenever I feel like eating chocolate. But I already have a list of sweets/desserts that I want to eat after I give birth heehee. The good thing about this controlling my diet is that I'm able to not gain too much weight. For the past month I haven't gain a pound but the baby continued to grow. He is now 1.9kgs just the right size for his gestational age, while I'm weighed in at 124lbs. I've only gained 9 pounds so far. 

I'm also experiencing heaviness in my crotch area particularly after sleeping and when I stand up from bed. I asked my OB about this, and she said it's because the baby might be lodged in down there while I'm sleeping so I should put a pillow between my legs while sleeping to ease the baby's position. Well it worked the other night but last night it didn't. It's so painful to stand up from bed huhu and to walk down to our bathroom in the morning. Good thing I don't really feel it all throughout the day. 

And no we still don't have a final name yet. Although we now have a shortlist of names that we really like. 

Now, here are my preggo selfies hahaha!

31 weeks (taken 11 August) - wearing a Gingersnaps dress

31 weeks and 1 day (taken 12 August) - wearing a Gingersnaps dress

31 weeks and 4 days (taken 15 August) - wearing a tunic I bought in Pakistan paired with leggings

32 weeks and 1 day (taken 19 August) - wearing an And Apparel dress (non-maternity)

32 weeks and 2 days (taken 20 August) - wearing a tunic top (non-maternity) from St. Francis paired with leggings

Buntis Serye @ 29 weeks

I'm officially on my third trimester (29 weeks and . Does that make me happy? Well, I'm not sure. I'm excited to see our baby boy but at the same time I'm a bit panicky that we have a lot to prepare for him. I need to:

•  buy his clothes  - I already bought a few but after checking the white basic ones from Miya's stash, I need to buy white basics again as those of Miya's were stained 
• wash the clothes that we already have - of course, not me but Yaya
• wash and clean the crib/playpen
• rearrange our bedroom with the crib
• general cleaning of our bedroom
• get on rehiring our previous Yaya - we already asked her to come back by the 1st of September but I'm now thinking if we should get her by the 15th of this month
• pack our hospital bags
• find our birthing class certificate from before
• order my breast pump and teats for the bottles online
• have our sterilizer fixed 

Aside from those, I need to finish up all my reports at work at least those that are due until October this year so that I don't have so much pending work to be left behind. And I'm also worried about giving birth which I find a bit weird. I've had a very easy birth with Miya so I don't know were the anxiety is coming from. Might be because of the things I have to deal with with this pregnancy that are so different from Miya's. Aside from going on bed rest during my first trimester, I'm now diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Ack! After a glucose screening last June which turned up a high blood sugar level for me, our OB asked me to do a glucose test (OGTT) wherein I had to fast for 8 hours and then the clinic had to draw up blood from me 3 times (1 hour after the other). And that resulted to high blood sugar level again so our OB referred me to an endocrinologist. We went to the endo this Monday and she told me to monitor my blood sugar. So now I'm using a glucometer and getting blood samples 3 times a day. Also this Wednesday, I went to a dietician to get a meal plan. Surprisingly, I can still eat rice, pasta and bread but within the serving limits which is usually 1/2 to 1 cup per meal. The only no-no are desserts. And I have to really eat in moderation, small frequent meals. During our last OB checkup, I  also complained of having palpitations. So my OB also had me do a thyroid test as well. She said it might be a complication of a thryoid problem and the endo will check on it as well. But if it's not then I might have to be referred to a cardiologist. I think this was what ticked off my anxiety. I thought of dying during child birth! What if I my heart stopped while giving birth?!?! I know so morbid! And then I thought of how Joema will take care of my kids, if he will remarry, where will they live, will he ask his mother to live with them. Those sort of things! Haaay! It was just too much to think about! I almost wished I had a thyroid problem just so I already know that these palpitations are caused my something aside from my heart. Well, it turned out I don't have a thyroid problem. I hope I won't have to go to a cardiologist for a check. I've been monitoring my palpitations and I think I haven't had one since the start of this week. Whew! Praying this will continue. 

Anyway, here's the latest photo of our Baby Minion (he have got to pick a name for him already!!!!).

Can you see our Baby Minion? Tilt your head to your left. There he is, looking straight at you. He has chubby cheeks like his Ate Miya.

Now, here are some photos of the preggy momma!

26 weeks and 3 days (taken 10 July) - wearing latch a Babe nursing dress

28 weeks and 3 days (taken 24 July) - wearing Gingersnaps dress

29 weeks and 3 days (taken 31 July) - wearing a maternity top (forgot the brand but bought in SM store) and white cardigan