Josh @ 6 months

Where did the time go?  It seems like I just gave birth a few days ago and my baby is half a year old now!  Time really flies so fast, and no matter how much we want it to stop, just for a minute, just for a second...it won't.  So it's best to cherish each and every moment that we have.

I never thought becoming a mom would impact my life so much... physically, mentally, emotionally.  

Childbirth was probably the most painful thing that I have ever experienced.  It was really excruciating, but also the most rewarding.  I didn't know that my body was capable of doing so much, and now I have a healthy baby boy to be thankful for.  Breastfeeding was probably the most frustrating thing that I had to go through, but also the most selfless and giving thing I have ever done in my life.  The sleepless nights, the hormonal turmoil, the cracked nipples, painful clogged ducts, and even the fact that most shirts didn't fit me properly made me just want to cry and quit.  But with the support and encouragement of our pediatrician and my husband, I was able to do it fully till my son was 5 months old, and still do it partially now.

My son Josh is now 6 months old and he's able to do so much.  From being a little, helpless and soft baby who is so dependent on me for all of his needs, he is nowstarting to show his personality and independence.  Josh has been a blessing to me and my husband.  He has been a very easy baby to take care of...seldom cries and smiles a lot.  A simple greeting from mommy or his Yaya Ruby can elicit a smile from him.  And laughter from people can send him into fits of giggles as well.  Hearing him laugh is just pure joy, because you know that there is no other reason behind it but contentment and wanting to hear the sound of happiness.  He can also rollover now and I think he's staring to learn to crawl as well.  Sooner or later, he'll be able to sit up on his own and start walking.  I wish he could stay this cute forever, but seeing him grow up also fascinates me.  It never ceases to amaze me that this perfect creature and miracle came from me and my husband.  I can't wait to hear him start calling us "Mommy" and "Daddy".

Rod and I are doing really well as first time parents.  We learn along the way, but I love my husband more today than I did when we got married.  I have learned a lot from him and about him the past two years that we have been together.  He has been very supportive of me every step of the way.  During my pregnancy, he took really good care of me ...from making sure that I took my fruits and vegetables everyday, to accompanying me to every hospital and doctor's visit, to being with me in the delivery room to help me welcome our baby into this world.  When I decided that I needed to go back to work after giving birth, he made it so easy for me by supporting me to buy an expensive breast pump, so that I can still continue breastfeeding even though I am at work.  I have also learned how patient he is because he knows how to handle my crying jags and unreasonable fits.  I blame it all on my hormones, but he has always been there to wipe my tears away and listen to me even if I am not making any sense.   And he even supports my bag and shoe habit!!!!  What more can a girl ask for?  

Now that we have a child, I am sure that Rod will be as good a father as he is a husband.  I know that he will teach Josh how to be a loving, God-fearing, honest and strong man that he is.  As for me, I just hope that Josh grows up to be a good and happy man, who realizes how fortunate he is to have two parents who love him very much, grandparents who adore him, and an extended family (aunts, uncles, cousins, etc) who will be there to love and support him as they watch him grow up and learn the ways of the world.

Welcome to the world Josh, Mommy and Daddy loves you!

Another day in bed.  Today I’m officially 24 weeks.

I thought being on bed rest would be sheer heaven, days and days of doing nothing.  Not until I was actually put on it.  I can’t even go down to have my meals anymore.  I’m only allowed bathroom privileges like going to the toilet and taking a shower.  Other than that, I’m stuck in bed, and I take my meals in bed.   

And with the long endless hours that I spend in bed, you can’t help but have all these thoughts and worries. 

I worry that I won’t be able to carry our baby to term. 
I worry that with all the medication I am taking right now, that our baby will be affected and not be healthy. 
I worry that I will have an emergency and I won’t have any way to contact Rod to take me to the hospital. 
I worry about all the work that I have left behind in the office. 
I worry that I won’t be able to cope with the pain of labor. 
I worry that I won’t get better and I will be on bed rest for the rest of my pregnancy.
I worry that my husband would get sick and tired of me and just leave me all alone.
I worry that I won’t be a good mother.

Being on bed rest is very isolating and it can be depressing.  You feel so all alone and you just wait for the time to pass you by.  The television and your laptop become your best friends.  The most exciting time of my day is when I hear the gate opening and I know that my husband is home.  How pathetic is that?  You also feel like you are sick with some grave disease because people tend to stay away and keep their distance.  Seems like they don’t want to catch whatever is bothering you. 

In spite of all these worries and sadness that I am feeling, I am still thankful and happy about some things.

I am thankful for the time that I get to spend on my own so that I can get some much needed rest.     
I am happy when I feel my baby kicking me hard in my belly.  This reassures me that he is growing fine and healthy.
I am happy because every uneventful day that I spend in bed means that I am a day closer to delivering a healthy baby.
Most of all, I am thankful that my husband is still very malambing and very caring.  He takes very good care of me and never fails to tell me and show me that he loves me very much.

That’s all for today.  Later.

Honey, two lines....

After being married for 8 months, we are finally pregnant.  The last 4 months have been a roller coaster ride for me and Rod.  A lot of stress, tears, as well as joy and laughter.

Finding out that I was pregnant was definitely a surprise for us.  Rod and I decided to wait for a few months after we got married before trying for a baby.  We still had a lot of things to do, and we still needed to move into our new house, so we decided to wait till we move in before getting to work, so to speak. 

We officially moved into our house on August 4, 2007.  Moving was an experience in itself.  I learned how OC my husband can be when it comes to the cleanliness of our home, and how disorganized he can be when putting away his clothes and other junk.  In short, I had to be the one to put all of his clothes into the closet.  Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to finish it in a week!

Adjusting into a new routine was a good exercise for us.  We had to establish new times to wake up to get ready for work, time to come home so that we can have dinner together, new times for Rod to get some exercise into his routine, and time for us to do our weekly grocery shopping.  We also had to “break-in” our new maid with our requirements and with our own quirks.  We also had to establish our finances and who had to pay the bills on time.

We officially found out that we were pregnant when I was thinking of going to visit a gynecologist for a routine checkup, and it suddenly dawned on me that I haven’t had my period in a while.  I was a bit worried about it because I’ve never had this before.  I decided to ask Rod to buy me a home pregnancy test so that we can both find out, before visiting the doctor.

When I tried the home pregnancy kit the first time, I couldn’t believe my eyes when two purple lines popped up!  I told Rod to buy me another kit just to be sure.  Rod was cooler about it than me, but lo and behold, the second test also came out positive.  So off we went to the doctor’s office for my first prenatal checkup.

My obstetrician / gynecologist is Dr. Anita Poblete.  She’s the same OB that my cousins go to so I was relaxed when I first visited her.  She’s also very accommodating and has very light hands, so the dreaded speculum and internal exams are not so bad.  Our first visit did confirm that I was pregnant at about 6 weeks.  Both our families were ecstatic about the news.  Only thing I was bummed about was I had to cancel our trip to Bali for Ros and Mark’s wedding.

The first trimester of my pregnancy had been uneventful.  I can say it was a textbook case as I experienced the occasional queasiness, food aversions, frequent urination, general sleepiness and fatigue.  I could sleep for hours, there was even a time that I slept for 12 straight hours and took a nap in the afternoon on top of that!  After getting through the first trimester, I thought things will be a breeze after that, but boy was I wrong!

My fourth month started out as uneventful as the previous months, but on my 20^th week, I experienced some slight spotting.  This got me worried and I had to go to the delivery room, as my OB was sick on the day that I experienced the spotting.  Gosh, the whole experience was so stressful.  The resident OB had to do a speculum and internal exam on me and it was so painful!  The doctor advised me to go on bed rest for a week and I was also prescribed Duvadilan, an anti-contraction medication.  Dr. Poblete told me that the reason I might be bleeding was because the baby’s position was upside down and his kicking was causing the pressure on my cervix.  After one week of bed rest, I was allowed to go back to work and some light activities.

I’m now on my 23^rd week 6 days, and I am back on bed rest again for 2 weeks this time.  I had some bleeding again last Sunday and I was told that I had a cervical polyp which is causing the spotting.  I was prescribed some antibiotics and a vaginal suppository to stop the bleeding and also to ward off infection.

I never thought pregnancy can be this hard.  If it were this hard, how come so many people still give birth to so many babies?  Look at Chinaand their 1 billion population!?!  And all people can tell you is either to take care, or “ang hina mo naman”, or “it’s going to be ok.”

I have to continue this tomorrow, my husband is home and it’s time for dinner.

Happy 1st Anniversary Pappy!

Dear Pappy,

 I can’t believe how fast time went by and we have now officially crossed the one year mark of married life.  The past year had been a very busy year for us.  We were able to travel and visit new places for our honeymoon, buy new furniture together, move to our new house, had some fights, and we even had the time to make a baby of our own.  I don’t think I can remember a time in my life when I have laughed this much, nor cried this much in a year!

 I just wanted to say thank you for everything that you have done for me, and continue to do for me.  I know the last two months have been very hectic and stressful for you, not only at work, but also at home.  Though sometimes it may seem like I don’t appreciate what you do for me, I want you to know that I am thankful for every little thing that you do.  Like doing the grocery shopping, or doing the laundry, or taking me to my doctor’s appointments, or putting lotion on my feet, or massaging my back when it is aching, or doing the Christmas shopping while I am stuck in bed (on doctor's orders).  I’m sorry if I am cranky or weepy sometimes, you can blame those episodes on my being hormonal.

 I hope you enjoy your trip to China with your family this time, coz this might be a last for you in a long time, hehe.  The next time you go on another trip like this, you might have to be hauling diapers and feeding bottles as well. 

 I am looking forward to the year ahead when we welcome a new addition to our family.  I’m sure you will be as good a father to our child, as you have been a good husband to me.  I can’t wait to hear our baby start calling you “Daddy” and have you wrapped around his/her little finger, hehe. 

 I love you Pappy!  Hope you also have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

It's My Birthday!

Time flies... I'm now another year older, and hopefully a year wiser as well.  July is a special month for me, because aside from me celebrating my birthday this month, there are also a lot of people in my life who celebrate their birthdays in July.  They are:
- both my brothers Donald (July 15th) and Aaron (July 10th),
- my cousins Tuts (18th), Benson (28th), Hans (19th),- my Auntie Susan (24th), 
- my nephews Sean and Ryan (both 21st) and
- my "shiobe" Puwetie, who shares the same birthday as me (25th)!

  Seems like I've been celebrating my birthday since early July, hehe.  My husband gave me my presents early.  He got me an 80GB iPod and a digital photo frame.  Isn't he the sweetest?  Also treated my good friends Cheryl and Jennifer, together with their partners Rafael and Jeff, at Kimpura last July 21st and had a sumptuous teppanyaki dinner.  Finally, last Saturday, July 28th, I had a joint birthday celebration at the Outback Steakhouse with Tuts, Benson, Sean andRyan.  We tried all their specialties such as their Angus Prime Rib,  Angus Steak, Steakhouse Pasta, and Grilled Pork Chops, just to name a few.  We all had fun celebrating and having the kids make lots of noise.


My 30th year has been a good year for me.  A lot of good things and big changes happened during this time.  I officially became an aunt when my sister in law gave birth to their daughter Kaka last August 2006.  I also officially became Mrs. Chua last December 2006 and we also bought our first house together last year.  

I'm hoping that my 31st year will be as good or even better than my 30th year.  Change is good...so my first order of business for my 31st birthday is to chop off my hair, haha!  Here are some pics my husband took of my new 'do :) ... The verdict is still out whether the hair suits me or not.  But right now I'm really happywith it because it's 100x easier to manage.  

That's it for now.  Have to get some sleep, or I won't be able to wake up tomorrow. Later!

Vancouver, British Columbia (Dec 28, 2006 – Jan 6, 2007)

This was the last leg of our trip, and we had no plans whatsoever but to relax, spend some time with family and friends and eat, eat and eat. Rod had a list of restaurants he wanted to eat in even before our plane touched Vancouver soil. We had a nice New Year’s Eve potluck dinner with family and everybody was there – Marms & Steven, Matt, Kelly, Maya & Bailey, Auntie Sally, Uncle Norbert & Nicole, and Uncle Johnny (Rod’s Uncle). We celebrated with lots of good food and good champagne. We were also able to visit several parks, places of interests and golf courses with Uncle Johnny even though the weather was freakin’ cold. Think Rod and I gained a combined 10-15 pounds this trip (I’m not telling how the sharing of this is, hehe).

I’m really thankful that Rod and I had this chance to just enjoy each other right after the wedding and get to know each other better. This trip has made us closer because we’ve learned more things about each other during this trip…our pet peeves, our likes and dislikes and what things make us laugh, scream and cry. Can’t wait for our 2nd honeymoon in the near future.

Las Vegas (Dec 26-28, 2006)

Day 1: We arrived Las Vegas at around 2pm in the afternoon and first order of business is to check into our hotel at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino. MGM Grand is the largest hotel located along the Las Vegas Strip. Since we had tickets for the David Copperfield show at MGM that night, we opted to have dinner at one of the nice Japanese restaurants, SHIBUYA. Shibuya offers traditional ingredients with a modern twist and it offered a big selection of sake. Rod and I enjoyed their kani salad, Australian wugyu steak, salmon and black cod and a nice sushi platter. Rod wanted to try their Kobe Beef from Japan, but we almost choked on our drinks when our server said that an 8oz piece of beef costs US$320, hahaha. So we opted to go with their Australian beef instead, which was really good as well. David Copperfield’s show was performed at the intimate Hollywood Theater, and after all these years, he still looks the same. Although I’ve seen his show previously in Singapore, he still managed to make me say “wow, how’d he do that” with his magic acts.

Day 2: Spent the day showing Rod around the different beautiful hotels along the strip. We visited Caesar’s Palace (and the Forum Shops), the famous Bellagio, New York New York, and Monte Carlo just to name a few. We also got to see Cirque du Soleil’s “O” at the Bellagio. The show was simply breathtaking, complete with a magical stage that changes from water to land, and graceful dancers and acrobats performing.

Day 3: It’s our final day in Vegas before we leave for Vancouver tonight. We spent the day walking around and had lunch at Emeril’s. Wanted to try his food, just to know why he’s so famous on tv. The food served was not bad, but I won’t say it’s great as well. I enjoyed Shibuya more than this meal. Before leaving for the airport, Rod played a few rounds of Paigaw at the casinos and lost US$400, ouch! Good thing we had a plane to catch or he would’ve lost more. I guess lady luck wasn’t on his side this time.

Los Angeles, CA (Dec 23 – 26, 2006)

Day 1: This was my first time to meet Rod’s Go-i. She is Mama’s youngest sister and she also happens to have a twin Si-i. She lives with her husband Uncle Valentin, but Uncle Valentin left for a business trip and Goi wasn’t able to join him because she wasn’t able to get a leave from work. My first impression of LA was that people there were not as friendly and laid back as people in Hawaii were. The drivers there were crazy as well! They drive fast, as in really, really fast on the freeways it’s scary. Anyway, this day was a rest day for us. We just had lunch with Uncle Valentin’s sisters at a local Chinese restaurant and had dinner at Whole Foods Grocery store. Rod said the food at the Chinese restaurant was good, but the food at Whole Foods was yuck. Guess he didn’t enjoy all the organic food they were serving for take out.

Day 2: We joined a tour group for the next two days as Goi does not really drive on the freeways of LA yet. First day was going to be spent at Universal Studios, but since we were a bit early, the driver took us for a drive around Hollywood. We dropped by theKodak Center where they hold the Oscars, Graumann’s Theater and Rodeo Drive. After half an hour of taking pictures, we were off to Universal Studios. The whole day was spent enjoying the rides and movies. Some of the attractions we went into were:Shrek 4D, Studio Lot Tour, Jurassic Park Ride, Waterworld, BackDraft, and The Mummy Ride. Jurassic Park featured a huge drop at the end of the ride, while The Mummy Ride was a fast roller coaster, zigzagging its way through tombs and dark alleys. It was the first time that I’ve ever heard Rod scream, hahaha. We had a lot of fun.

Day 3: It’s Christmas Day and we are off to Disneyland! As expected, there were so many people today as most people like spending Christmas at “The Happiest Place on Earth”. We were off to spending the day walking around, going on the rides and eating lots of junk food. We went into rides like Indiana Jones Adventure, Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Jungle Cruise, and Big Thunder Mountain. We also had a chance to watch the Parade where all Disney characters came out in beautiful and colorful carousels. We ended the night by watching a spectacular fireworks display at Sleeping Beauty’s Castle. This was definitely a Christmas Day to remember. We are off to Las Vegas tomorrow.

Maui, Hawaii (Dec. 19-22, 2006)

Day 1: Our plane arrived Honolulu at 7:45am after a 10-hour flight from Manila. Whew, it was tiring! After going through immigration, we had to catch a short 30-minute flight to Maui, which got Rod worried. Short flights within the States usually mean small airplanes, which carry less than 100 passengers! True enough, it was a really small plane, but the ride was smooth. After getting our luggage and picking up our car from Budget Rent a Car, we’re on our way to our hotel. The drive to the hotel was about half an hour, but it was an easy drive… nice weather and beautiful scenery and beaches along the way.

For this leg of our trip, we stayed at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa. This is probably the nicest hotel that I have ever stayed in. The resort features tropical landscaping and exotic wildlife within the grounds. The staff and the service are top-notch. Our room also featured a beautiful view of Kaanapali Beach. Once we’ve checked in, we immediately went to sleep as we were so tired from the long flight. After a short nap, we drove down to Whaler’s Village to have dinner at one of the seaside restaurants. Food was just ok, but we enjoyed walking around and visiting some shops.

Day 2: We were planning on going to Hana today, as all guidebooks feature the Drive to Hana as the place to visit in Maui. But we were so tired that we woke up late and decided to postpone the trip to the next day. So we just stayed at the hotel today and lounged at the pool. There are two free-form outdoor pools with an underwater cave. We spent the morning and the afternoon lazing around, walking around the resort grounds and just relaxed. Our nighttime activity was the Drums of the Pacific Luau, which featured a full buffet and a traditional Polynesian show. It was a high-energy show, complete with hula dancing, singing and fire-knife tossing.

Day 3: Road to Hana

We woke up early and set off for a one day trip to Hana. The Hana Highway is a 60-mile stretch of road that connects the small town of Hana to the rest of Maui. The Hana Highway winds its way past waterfalls, beaches, bridges and spectacular ocean views. The road going to Hana initially was smooth and wide. But the closer we got there, the roads became narrower and more winding than we’ve ever seen. Many parts of the road would only fit one car at a time so the drive was really slow. We stopped by some beautiful spots to take pictures and rest like the Hookipa Overlook, Hana Bay and finally Haleakala National Park. All places featured beautiful waterfalls, hiking trails, streams and the Pacific Ocean. Our drive from the hotel to Hana and back was a total of 160 miles, that’s why this was a whole day affair. We left the hotel at 8am and got back at around 5:30pm

After the long drive, we decided to stop by Kobe Japanese Restaurant for some authentic tepanyaki style food. We ordered Kobe steak, lobster tail and some sushi. The chef showed some impressive cooking skills and the food was delicious.

Day 4: It’s time to say goodbye to Maui. Our next leg of the trip is Los Angeles. We’re going to stay with Rod’s aunt in Monterey Park. Our flight arrives at 8pm LA time so this day was totally spent on travel.

Forevermore

Dear Pappy,

I was looking at our wedding website and it hit me that I only have 1 month and 17 days left before I officially become Mrs. Rod Chua. I thought I should write you this letter before things start to become more hectic for both of us with all the planning for our wedding and our house that I forget to tell you these things.

First of all, I’d like you to know that I’m very happy and excited that I’ll be your wife soon. When I was a little girl, I believed in fairy tales and my favourite cartoon was Cinderella. Being rescued by Prince Charming from the wicked stepmother and stepsisters was the most romantic thing in my mind. And I thought that’s how all people found their partners in life and lived happily ever after. Then I grew up and realized that that wasn’t always the case.

In our case, I don’t expect you to sweep me off my feet and rescue me from whatever troubles I may have in my life. I don’t expect you to be Prince Charming or the guy we see in romantic movies. And I don’t expect you to always be perfect. We’re human, we all make mistakes. But in our marriage, I do expect a few basic things from both us. And those are love, respect, trust, commitment and honesty. I think if we have these between us, there’s nothing that will be too hard or too difficult for us to face.

For the past year that we have been together, I have learned a lot about you. Your likes and dislikes, your pet peeves, how quiet you get when you are pissed off at me, which parts of your body are ticklish, your favourite spot for me to kiss you, your favourite foods, how you treat your family and friends, how you look when you sleep, how much you love Shanghai, and so much more. But I think the most important thing that I learned while we were together the past year is how important I am to you. No matter how mad or “pikon” you are with me, or how tired you are from work, or how busy you are with all the wedding plans and our house, you always make me feel and know that I am your number one priority and top concern. And for that, I love you even more.

My dreams for us are simple. I don’t expect us to be rich, or to live in a big mansion, or travel the world. I just want us to grow old together, maybe have a couple of kids together, and share the good times and tough times together.

Pappy, thank you for making me so happy. You’re not only my husband, but you’re also my Prince Charming, my lover, my beloved, my rock, and my happily ever after.

I love you, forevermore.

A Girl's Bestfriend

They say "Diamonds are a girl's best friend." Although I am sometimes inclined to agree with this statement, I think everyone should be so lucky to have a "diamond" like my best friend, Cheryl.

You see, Cheryl and I have known each other since we were in Grade 1. She was the smart and popular girl in class, while I was the tomboy with the funny Afro who hung out with the tall girls in class. Little did we know that when we entered Grade 4, we'd get along so well and we've been together ever since. I later found out that she was scared of me coz I was always surrounded by the big girls, and I told her I was also intimidated with her coz she was always so soft-spoken and well-groomed, hehe.

Fast forward to more than 20 years later and we are still the best of friends. We’ve gone through everything together. From moving to a new country to moving back home again, from the pressure of having to get into a good university to graduation, new jobs, new friends, new loves and breakups. For all the important events in my life, Cheryl was there with me.

I believe it is fate that God has blessed me with a wonderful best friend. Talking and just hanging out is always fun. We can talk about anything forever and it’s never boring. I think she was given to me so that I would have a sister that I never had. Being born the eldest and only daughter in the family, it's sometimes hard to relate to boys how we girls are. They can never understand how crazy we get when our hormones fluctuate, how PMS works, how we cry just because, or how happy we get when we get to eat a good piece of chocolate truffle. And I think God gave me to Cheryl because she's born an only child and she can share all the good stuff that she gets from her parents with us mere mortals, haha... I was given to her so that she’d have an ally.

Now that I am getting married in a few weeks, there’s no one else who can take the place of my maid of honor.And even though I will have a new partner in my life, Cheryl will always be my best friend and partner in crime. I see us growing old together, with our kids playing together and us sharing more long talks over a good cup of coffee or a great bottle of tequila depending on the situation...haha! Cheers!