2014's Top Three

Today is December 31.  In just a few hours, the clock will strike twelve, and 2014 will already have passed.  But before that happens, let me spend some time writing about the top 3 highlights of my bestest year so far. :)

1.  My HK-Macau Valentine Trip with Hubby.  Of course we've already been to Hong Kong before but it was our first time in Macau! :)  My favorites include our visit to St. Paul's Ruins and our private gondola ride at The Venetian.  

I was looking for my blog entry about this trip so I could link it here, but I realized I wasn't able to write anything at all! :(

2. Our Tokyo Travel.  The best part?  Cherry blossoms and Hachiko! :)  And needless to say, the company of my darling officemates and friends! I would also have included Tokyo Disneysea if not for the horrendous queues we had to endure just to experience the rides. 

The nest time I'll be flying to Japan, it's going to be hubby already! :)

3.  God Granting #DreamNumber1.  Nothing could beat this, our most awaited blessing has come, and she's now rapidly growing in my tummy.  Thank You Lord for this sweet gift of life! :)

Little Munchkin and I are already 25 weeks along today! :)

These are only my top 3, but God has showered me and Rolly with countless other blessings this year! He's really the best, answering our prayers in the most perfect time, and giving us many other things we never even knew we needed or wanted.  I can only look forward to 2015 with a big smile on my face, knowing fully well that it will be another wonderful year.  Maraming salamat po, Panginoon!  Sa lahat lahat lahat. :)

Grateful,

Our 3rd Merry Little Christmas

This year, we have received the sweetest Christmas present! :)  Thank You Lord!

We can't wait to 'unwrap' her come April!  Merry Christmas everyone! :)

I had to crop the photo this way because my body screams "FAT!" all over!  Hehe.

#BellyBlessed,

Daddy Milestone

Dear baby doll,

You and daddy have a shared milestone today! :) His hands were on my tummy and he felt you move for the first time!  Hooray! :)

You know I've been feeling your somersaults for quite some time now, but your dad never had until this afternoon. We were wondering when you would let him feel you, and today you did.  We were inside the cinema watching a movie when it happened.  We're so happy!  Thank you for the kick, baby doll.  Keep them coming, you're making your daddy feel giddy with excitement.  :)

We love you!  Up to the moon and back! :)

Your mommy,

Baby Essentials

The year is almost over;  Rolly and I are about to get to the happiest chapter of our lives as we meet our precious little munchkin come April 2015.  I know it's still a few months to go, but I've already started thinking about the list of baby stuff that we need to buy or register for (especially since many of my friends have been telling me to write down a wishlist so they don't have to rack their brains guessing). :)

Been researching for newborn checklists for days, and I found the one from makeitblissful.com the most helpful and the least overwhelming.  I rearranged the list in order of priority, and added a few other wishes for our baby doll. I'll be updating this entry from time to time to cross out the ones we've already bought or received. :)

APPAREL:

• 12 tie-sides (so I won't have to pull shirts over baby's frail little head) [I already have 6!]
• 6 short-sleeved shirts (the ones that open from the front)  [Got these already at Baby Company's Grand Baby Fair! :)]
• 4-6 receiving/swaddling blankets  
• 6 pairs mittens 
• 4 caps [Got these already at Baby Company's Grand Baby Fair! :)]
• 4-6 pairs socks [Got these already at Baby Company's Grand Baby Fair! :)]
• 4-6 pajama sets/frog suits (those that open up around the nappy area)

DIAPERS:

• At least 5 dozen newborn diapers (disposable)
• Cloth diapers

FEEDING:

• electric breast pump [Got these already at Baby Company's Grand Baby Fair! :)]
• nursing pillow [Done!  From the Baby Fair also! :)]
• nursing cover
• sterilizer [Consider this done! My friend JJ's gift :)]
• bottle rack
• 6-8 4 oz. BPA-free bottles (Pigeon) [Already have 3!]
• 6-8 8 oz. BPA-free bottles (Pigeon)  [Already have 3!]
• bottle brush [Got one from the Baby Fair!]
• sterilizing tongs
• nursing pads
• nipple cream
• milk bags for storage

I browsed many product reviews, and moms say Pigeon bottles and nipples are better than Avent's.
The teats are especially ultra soft and flexible, which babies like. :)

NURSERY FURNITURE:

• crib [We already bought this from Baby Company! Size is 24x48.]
• crib toys, mobile
• bassinet / moses basket (I super like The First Years' Close & Secure sleeper whose photo appears below. It's sold at Baby Company!)
• changing table
• baby monitor
• diaper stacker
• clothes hamper
• mosquito net

NURSERY LINEN:

• 4-6 fitted sheets (size should be the standard 28x52 to match the size of Munchkin's crib mattress)
• 3 crib blankets (those that are 100% cotton are nice :)
• 2 crib bumpers
• 2 pillows and 4 pillow cases
• 2 bolsters and cases
• 2 waterproof sheets

TRAVEL:

• stroller [Bought this already! We got a red Chicco Simplicity.]
• stroller pad  [Got this already at Baby Company's Grand Baby Fair! :)]
• baby carrier (I'd love to have Aprica's Easy Touch carrier in Fitta Red; Ergobaby and Tula are nice, too.)
• diaper bag [Got this already from Cess! :)]
• car seat  [Got this already from Mommy & Daddy! :)]
• changing pad
• baby wipes
• insulated bottle keeper

BATHING/ GROOMING:

• 4 hooded towels [I already have 2!]
• 4 wash cloths
• newborn to toddler bath tub and bathing support net
• nail cutter, hairbrush, and comb
• rubber bath mat
• 3 canisters/jar sets for small essentials like cotton balls, cotton buds, etc.
• sponge/mitt
• basin and dipper

APOTHECARY:

• digital thermometer
• nasal aspirator

TOILETRIES (I prefer buying these ourselves so we could scrutinize esp. the product ingredients):

• baby soap/liquid bath gel [Got these already at Baby Company's Grand Baby Fair! :)]
• baby shampoo
• baby oil
• baby alcohol
• baby cologne
• mosquito repellant
• cotton balls
• cotton ear buds and nose buds
• diaper rash ointment

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Wow.  I remember saying this list's the least overwhelming but this is still A LOT!  Good thing we have a few month's worth of lead time so we could make sure everything will be complete before munchkin arrives.  :)

(By the way, photos here are all from Google Images. ;))

#BellyBlessed,

Munchkin's Congenital Anomaly Scan

Expecting a baby sometimes feels like a roller coaster ride as far as emotions are concerned.  One day you're in cloud 9 as you imagine your sweet pea's stubby fingers and toes and chubby cheeks, the next day you're a bundle of nerves as you fear that there might be a problem with your still unborn child.  

It's a good thing there's CAS or Congenital Anomaly Scan, sometimes also called mid-pregnancy ultrasound scan, offered during the second trimester between weeks 18 and 23.  This scan is more thorough than the usual ultrasound procedure as it takes a closer look at the baby and the uterus.  For worrywart moms-to-be like myself, having CAS done could offer reassurance that the baby is developing perfectly, and that nothing alarming is going on in the womb.

Anyway, I had my CAS scheduled yesterday; I was exactly 22 weeks and one day along.  Hubby and I prayed as we drove to Asian Hospital, trusting that the scan would give us positive results, that no "anomaly" will be seen in our Little Munchkin.  We knew we would also finally find out the gender, but more than that, it's the certainty that s/he's fine is what's important.

It was 10:30am when the sonologist, Dr. Maria Niza Reyes, arrived.  The first question she asked us was, "Do you want to know the gender?"  We said yes.  Then she started gelling up my abdomen.  

It was fascinating to see our Little Munchkin again! :)  Together, we watched as the doctor zoomed in on every part of our baby's body and listened fervently as she explained to us what she was seeing. As I mentioned in my previous post, we were delighted to hear that Munchkin is a baby girl, Dr. Reyes even mentioned that she's "very sure" of it as our baby's "hamburger" was really obvious in between her legs, as if she was displaying it and saying "I'm a girl!" :)  She also said that our baby was mabait!  She allowed her to see easily the critical parts that she needed to see... her head and brains, every part of her face, her heart, abdomen, umbilical cord, spine, neck, and extremities. However, during the last few minutes, our baby fell asleep while tucking her left hand and foot where the doctor couldn't find them.  Hehe.  The doctor used a bell to somehow wake her up, and she did! We were finally able to count all her fingers and toes - ten each!  Perfect! :)

Because our baby doll was relatively cooperative, the scan only took 20 minutes to complete.
And the results? Everything's NORMAL! :)

Thank God, we've been reassured that our baby doll is developing well! :)  Just as the Lord promised, He will give us a perfectly healthy baby.  Salamat po! :)  Little Munchkin will always be our most precious blessing! :)

#BellyBlessed,

It's A Girl! :)

The long wait is over.  Today, we already know for sure what our Little Munchkin has been hiding in between those legs.  Our baby is a SHE!  We're expecting a baby girl! :) :) :)

I used this photo as my "gender reveal" post on Instagram. :) 

Rolly and I are very, very happy!  Though we kept on saying that it doesn't matter whether it's a boy or a girl, in my heart of hearts, I was secretly wishing that Munchkin's a she, that I may be blessed with a mini-me that I can doll up with ruffles and ribbons and all things pink.  Haha. :) Rolly's excited, too!  He said munchkin is going to be daddy's sweet little girl, and she would always be his kakampi.  Hmm.. Let's see about that. ;)

#BellyBlessed,

My Glucose Challenge

I've always had a sweet tooth, pregnant or not.  But ever since I got a bun in the oven, my sweet tooth has gotten ten times sweeter, and eating chocolates and cakes has been much harder to resist!  You'd probably guess I'm prone to gestational diabetes (a condition in which women without previously diagnosed diabetes exhibit high blood glucose levels during pregnancy). Huhu. Glad my OB ordered an OGTT (Oral Glucose Tolerance Test) for me, so that we could catch it early on, if ever.

My OGTT schedule was last Saturday, and to prepare for it, I had to fast for 8 to 10 hours prior.  My last food and liquid intake was at 12:30 midnight, just in time for my 8:30am arrival at Asian Hospital.

Minutes after hubby and I got to the lab, a blood sample was taken from my arm.  Then I was asked to drink a sugar solution containing 75 grams of glucose.

Wasn't able to take a photo of the bottle, so I just grabbed this from Google Images. :)

The orange one was exactly what I drank. It tasted like a very sweet soda pop, think Sunny Orange (haha so 90s)! =D I was happy that at least it was chilled, I was already very hungry and thirsty at that time from almost 9 hours of not eating or drinking anything.  After that, I had to endure another two hours of starvation.  My blood sample was taken again at around 11:30am, then finally, I was already allowed to eat.  Well, I didn't just eat.  I pigged out! =D

The OGTT results would be forwarded to my OB two days later, so I will just know if I passed the glucose challenge when I pay another visit to her clinic within the week. :) Munchkin and I will be keeping our fingers crossed! :)

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UPDATE as of 11 Dec 2014:

I passed!  My numbers are in the second column below, and they're within the normal range.

Yippee, thank You Lord! :)

#BellyBlessed,