My Nocturnal Baby

"Still up. Can't sleep. Baby Lanting is on hyper mode 2nyt! Mama can't get some rest.."

That was my last tweet before I tossed and turned in bed and bawled like a baby from the nagging backache I had last night, not to mention my wonderchild doing a breakdance in utero. I felt so exhausted and I just wanted to get some rest but the baby and the pregnancy itself just wouldn't let me doze off at 2:30 in the morning. I was going gaga for hours. I felt so uncomfortable, like there's not a single position that would let me relax.

When I couldn't take it anymore, I asked my husband for some help... Cried for help, rather. At first he was unsure how to handle it, but his hands worked like a charm anyway. He kept me from going totally crazy with his soothing back massage while he locked me in his loving embrace.

Hubbies, take good care of your preggy wives. They need you now more than ever!

Oven Toastin'

I had a really bad night last night and what better way to get rid of the blues than by toastin' in the oven? Here's a yummy snack recipe I'll be sharing with you. It's very simple to prepare too. All you need are these:

- oven toaster

- bread (I prefer bread loaves)

- margarine or butter (I use margarine)

- sugar (White sugar does the trick for me)

Just spread the margarine on the bread evenly and then on top of that spread the sugar. Toast it in the oven for about 5-10 minutes or depending how taosty and melty you want it to be. And voila! Instant yummy snacks.

Enjoy!

Nurse in the Farm

As you all know I've stopped working as a nurse while I'm pregnant with my superwonderbaby. That means sometimes days pass without anything to do but stay home.

Then Facebook comes and saves the day!

Farm Ville, Farm Town, Barn Buddy--I play all three farming applications! I never thought it would be fun to tend virtual vegetation and livestock. And what's especially nice about it is being surprised to find out who sends you gifts and discovering your friends' farm design skills. Hearing friends' frustrations in real life whenever they fail to harvest is just as precious too. Laughs.

I'm still trying to talk my mom into playing a farming application but as of now she's still hesitant and tells me she has no idea how. But I get she's quite intrigued about it and only needs a little push to start. She's quite amazed at the hype of these games--she told me even the bank tellers at BDO were talking about Farm Ville on duty.

Speaking of Farm Ville, I think I like it best. It's quite easy to learn the ropes; not as complicated as the others. And I have to admit, I enjoy the background music. My husband and I even sing to it. He composed the lyrics. Laughs again. :))

A Retreat

Since I got engaged and married I haven't been able to attend the Holy Mass on Sundays. It's always been a family tradition and not attending should have a major valid reason. But even though I've had some major life changes, now I'm trying my best to make room and go back to my religious roots and keep my values alive. I've been raised by two wonderful and religious parents who taught me good morals and almost everything about God, even the stuff they don't teach you in school. Ironically, I'm not an overly religious person. I believe there is a God, but I don't condemn others for not believing in Him. We all have our reasons for the kind of faith that we have.

This might seem like an unusual topic for me to discuss but this entry is on quite a religious note because this afternoon I started my novena for Our Lady of Perpetual Help. When I was in grade school, my sister and I tagged along with our Mom to attend this novena on Wednesdays at 4:30pm. My mom was carrying my now 10 year old sister in her womb back then. Well now that I'm pregnant I decided to follow my mom's footsteps and attend this novena. That was ten years ago when I first attended and it actually surprises that I still remember how the songs and how everything goes.

I attended the whole thing alone. I sent my husband off to a DVD hunt because I knew he would only get bored in there. He's a very wonderful guy, a very good man, but he's not a very religious person so I cut him some slack and let him kill time in DVD world.

My faith was obviously tested while I was there. This old lady who was dressed like a man drove me crazy with her mannerisms and I also felt shooting pains in my abdomen. It felt like there was a fireworks display in my tummy. Then I thought, maybe it was the baby. Maybe he/she knows that what I'm doing is for him/her and the only way to say thanks was by kicking me from the inside like crazy.

After it was over I had some quiet time to myself while I was waiting for Jai to come back and pick me up. I just sat in the pew and reflected. I felt peace and assurance that everything will be ok. I felt calm knowing that someone out there is listening and that prayers will be answered, one way or another. It just had this overwhelming feeling of being very blessed. And for that, I'm very thankful.

8 more Wednesdays to go. :)

The Baby Loves Lolo

The baby is keeping me wide awake. It's 12:15 on my laptop and I just realized... Maybe the baby wants me to write something about his/her late great grandfather. And when I say great, I mean GREAT.

Today is officially August 29, 2009 and it marks the 1st year death anniversary of my beloved grandfather, Benito Munoz. He died of complications of stroke last year. He was in a comatose, paralized, and just gave up on life one day. We all figured maybe it was really his time to go. It was depressing to lose him, but in another light, we didn't want him in any pain anymore. It hurt a lot (and it still does) but we had to accept that he finally let go. And so on August 29, 2008 he went with the angels to take him to heaven.

I was never really close with him but I'm proud to say that I was the only one whom he entrusted some of his last thoughts about his life. One day I visited him to take a reading of his blood pressure and what seemed to be an ordinary checkup turned out to be a heart to heart talk. He cried in front of me and we shared a very serious conversation. I comforted him and just tried to keep myself together and be strong for him when deep inside, it crushed my heart to see him cry. I will never forget that day, and I will never forget what he said to me.

I miss him. I miss everything about him. I still think about him all the time. Even the old man in the movie "Up" reminds me a lot of him. He always wanted to be alone. I just wish we had more time to make him feel that he wasn't.

I pray that he's in heaven now. He deserves to be at peace. My Lolo Benito will always be remembered as a good man, a good friend, a good brother, a good husband, a good father, and a very great grandfather. I just wish the baby could have met him before he left this world so he/she can experience what a loving grandfather he was.

Lolo's 72nd birthday.

He died at 76.

Rest in peace, Lolo. We miss you so much.

Mahal na mahal ka po namin and you will always be remembered.

Quickening

The past couple of days have been wonderful. I can now feel my baby move!

It's overwhelming whenever I feel a flutter in my tummy. It as if I'm being consistently reminded that I'm a sacred vessel to another human being who is just beginning to take form and experience life. I'm excited for the next weeks to come; I'm sure to feel him/her kick me harder from the inside.

Sometimes the baby wakes me up in the middle of the night and it can be very uncomfortable. But the funny thing is... it makes me smile every time. :)

Hot Heat

Is it just me? Or is it scorching hot in here?!

I know heat is supposed to be hot but goddamn--the weather is on fire!!! My husband just installed another electric fan in the room so now we have two. We don't have to share only one anymore. There's always the option of installing an airconditioner but we just can't put that into high priority for now. Settling for fans is good enough, as long as they stay on for the entire day. LOL

The Pregnancy Diaries 3

This mommy has just started her second trimester! I'm starting to feel my tummy stretch. It's getting a lot rounder than in the past months and it's now easier to tell that I'm pregnant just by looking at me. I even bought a bottle of Palmer's® Cocoa Butter Formula™ Massage Lotion for Stretch Marks. I can't wear buttoned or zipped shorts or jeans anymore. Now my casual wardrobe consists of dresses, loose shirts, and leggings. I actually like it. Very comfy!

I'm still easily fatigued so I feel drowsy often but I'm ejoying the fact that the nausea and vomiting have subsided. Back in the first trimester it was hell for me. My body felt like it was on roller coaster mode everyday. Now I feel a lot better. The only things that have been bothering me lately are my back pains and headaches. They keep nagging me at nighttime.

My husband? He's a sweetheart. He treats me like a queen. And I especially enjoy it when he kisses and caresses my tummy and talks to our baby.

So what's next for the pregnant foxy mama? This coming Friday I'll be having my 3rd prenatal checkup. I'm going to see my baby for the third time and I'm really excited to see if it's a boy or girl. I keep telling my baby to show it... ;D