Love Mother's Milk!

I read a news article through my friend, Toting a breast feeding advocate herself, regarding The Philippines getting support all over the world on Milk Code stand. Read full news article here.

At least our government is recognizing the dying breastfeeding culture in our society. I must admit that I have no idea that formula milk companies have violated the Philippine Milk Code.

In one of the videos being highlighted in Boycott Nestle blog, an introduction states: "In 2003, the National Health and Demographic Survey found that only 16% of Filipino Infants were exclusively fed with mother's milk, a sign that the breastfeeding culture is declining."

It breaks my heart to know that some parents actually believed that their babies will turn out geniuses if they use formula, or that formula has more advanced benefits than breast milk. Anything for formula milk for their newborns. Look what evil advertising brings. It twisted the consumer's minds and made facts out of pure marketing.

I have not fully breastfed Zaiid due to my postpartum depression. Unfortunately, I only made it three weeks because I needed to take hard medication which prevents me from breastfeeding. It was a sad way of ending it but some situations needed desperate measures. I was not a perfect breastfeeding mother but I hope I can do better with my second baby.

Love breast milk, no to formula!

bellylove: 20weeks

I'm 20weeks on my second pregnancy now and I feel much better: goodbye morning sickness (I've stopped taking Navidoxine) yey! Although I get nauseous at some days or get really annoyed at little things, my little bump and I are getting through each day with a smile.

For a little bit of fun information, Zaiid has stopped calling my tummy "eggsss" and now refers to it as "ball". And just before we went to bed tonight, he placed his head on my naked belly, embraced it with one arm and gave five pats. Sweet little thing, I know Baby Manghud's going to have the coolest brother he's ever asked for.

Zaiid's Baby Shower Invi-Tag

This is my Baby Shower Invitation-Tag when I had my first pregnancy. I enjoyed composing the invitation note, sewing the little stitches and and one by one naming each of the invitations with names of my girlfriends. At the same time each invitation becomes their name tag with matching blue baby pins! It was a fun labor of love.

I'm not planning to get another baby shower for my second pregnancy - well, not yet. Should I decide I'd get one, I'd like to get big brother Zaiid involved in it. How? Will post soon (self brainstorming coming up!)

To the littlest of The Puddings

You're all tiny kicks and punches since yesterday. What's up little love?

We found a name for you, we hope you will treasure it until you get old...

You, getting old, is too far for my imagination yet. From this point, you are our angel, my little tummy dweller number two, my eggbelly love, kuya Zaiid's little sister, the littlest of The Puddings.

Don't worry about the future, you will like it here. Maybe way much better than my tummy-home. You will see how magnificent God works in nature, the family you have, the home your papa and I provide, and the person you will become.

When we meet finally, all my silly guilts and worry trips shall pass. And I can only think of one thing: to love you with all of me...

typical Sunday

After I got home from work, The Puddings and Yaya head out to Deira CityCentre. That's me and the Baby Kuya doing grocery... well sort of. My husband is at the counter while Yaya took a quick snapshot of us. After we've accomplished all the home needs, we head off to St. Mary's church to thank God for all the blessings he has given us.

What a lovely typical Sunday :)

I think it's a _____!

I woke up excited and anxious today. I couldn't even get myself to decide what to wear! Al Rafa hospital is just at the back of our building, so there's really no need for wardrobe panic. But yes, I was restless, wanting to look extra pretty, silently aching to meet the little dweller in my eggbelly through an ultrasound again.

My 1.10yo came with us and enjoyed fooling around with other kids, smiling to nurses and strangers, or swimming on the floor. Of course I got all the stares because of my petite (extraordinary small-sized) frame with my big belly out. But at least with Zaiid around, he's got everything to put on a show, not just his BabyManghud.

We waited for 20 minutes...

The sonographer amazed us with how she does it. She kept going without saying a word. My husband kept pushing me to ask for the sex of the baby. "Still measuring" she replied. Patience please. While she continued to "measure" our little love, we saw complete set of hands and feet, head, spine, and the heart in an orange and blue thunder-like circles dancing and bumping each other... it was another magical sight.

After all the "measuring", the sonographer said she couldn't see what's between the legs and that the baby is in cross-legged position. "C'mon baby let's see what you got..." and I added "Cge na Baby Manghud kit-a mi beh..." No, she remained poised and secretive. From the sonographer's mouth the words came out:

"I THINK IT'S A GIRL."
My heart skipped a beat. I felt like jumping. I wanted to be sure and asked, "No testicles?"

Although it wasn't a hundred percent statement, my husband and I are convinced. But I don't want to go ahead and shop for little pink stuff anyway, I just want to imagine her in little baby ribbons and flowers. But not over-the-top kind of girly... just a little baby girl holding his big kuya.

I hugged my little boy and kissed him all over. "Nana ta baby girl Zaiid! Baby girl si Baby Manghud!" His reply was "Ar!" - translates to: I'm happy too Mama! I got a red toy car! I think he's as excited as we are.

Swarovski CRYSTALIZED Wedding

We went to Burjuman today for Zaiid's friday ki-at. We found this showcase along the way. Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED Wedding, an exhibition of one-of-a-kind wedding design pieces, embellished with CRYSTALLIZED - Swarovski Elements. Makes you go wow.