Tala Pre birthday on Location Session

My little girl's one year old already! Here is her pre-birthday video. I wasn't able to show it on her birthday party so I am going to share this video to you here. Happy viewing! 😊😊😊

A Tala is Born: A Birthing Story

Next to my wedding day, February 20, 2014 is now one of my favorite and memorable day. It's my favorite because it's the day that I finally gave birth to our baby girl. My husband and I have been waiting for THE day that we'll be able to see, hold and kiss our first born. It's also a memorable day because technically, it wasn't my due date. Our daughter wasn't suppose to come out, not until March 4, 2014. I was simply scheduled to have my regular check up/follow up with my obstetrician. It just so happened that when my OB-gyne requested for a fetal testing scan she was able to notice some irregularities with my baby's heart rate. Further study/check up shows that the baby's umbilical cord had already twisted around her neck and that every time she moves, her heart rate slows down. With this, my doctor decided to deliver the baby as soon as possible. 

I was hoping to maybe deliver at midnight so that my baby and my husband will have the same birthday (my husband's birthday is on the 21st) but my daughter's already getting stressed out, with the umbilical cord getting tighter with her every move. I wasn't able to go home that day but it was alright because I've already had my maternity and baby bags prepared and stashed in the car for emergency cases such as that day. 

Going to the hospital and having myself checked-in at the emergency room, I never felt any nervousness. It was actually quite the opposite. In my mind, I'm already trying to picture what will happen and I was already thinking of what status message I'll be posting on Facebook! Haha! That's how excited I was to deliver my baby girl. Getting a C-section hasn't even sank in my mind nor was I feeling sad because I'll be having my first operation. My dad was there and he was even surprised that I seem to be taking the situation pretty well. I was pretty talkative that night. 

At around 11pm, after further monitoring, my doctor finally told me that it was time. Oh, the excitement that I felt as they wheeled me inside the operating room couldn't be contained. For a brief moment, I felt fear when the anaesthesiologist approached me to explain the epidural procedure (FYI: I hate needles). I was asked to lie on my side in a curled position and someone helped me maintain that position as the procedure started. I was so nervous about the pain the injection might cause that I farted! That was one embarrassing moment! Ha-ha! After a few minutes, I was already numb from my waist down. During the operation, I even managed to chat with my doctor and jokingly told her to perform liposuction while she's at it. I was even chatting with the nurses who were monitoring my heart rate and blood pressure. It was a good thing that my doctor was really good, she wasn't even distracted by me babbling about. The only time I was rendered speechless was when they finally asked me to push to help them pull my daughter and when she let out a loud cry. My heart was beating with excitement and I waited for the moment when they will put my daughter next to me. When they finally did, I wasn't able to stop myself from showering her with kisses. She smelled so good!!!

Prior to delivery, I requested my doctor that she let my daughter lie on my chest and let her breastfeed. Imagine my disappointment when they didn't do it. Instead, they simply put her next to me for the purpose of getting our photograph together . Most hospitals nowadays let the babies make skin to skin contact with the mother. This it the time where they place the baby on the mother's chest immediately after birth. Sometimes, they even let the baby breastfeed. In my case, I think they weren't able to do that because I have anaesthesia coursing through my blood stream. After whisking my daughter away, I totally blacked out and when I woke up, I was already in my hospital suite (Oh, yes! I chose the executive suite!).

I was in the hospital for 4 days and during my stay there, I was able to breastfeed my baby on the 2nd day and the day before I was discharged did the nursery finally decided to room-in my daughter. I was really annoyed.

Annoyance aside, I never felt so wonderful and in-love as I held my daughter for the first time. She was awake and was staring at me (I'd like to think that she can already see me at that time) as she tried to wait for what will happen next. Ah, such innocence in those big eyes. 

So, there goes my birthing story. I was looking forward to having a normal delivery, with labor pains, pushing and all that, but in the end, I am still grateful that my daughter, Tala Mari Yzabelle, was born healthy and normal despite being cord-coiled. Even though my husband wasn't there during my delivery, I am still thankful and blessed that he was able to spend his whole vacation with Tala.

1st family photo

                     

It's a baby girl!

Last Friday (Nov 15) was my scheduled doctor's appointment and 4D ultrasound. I was super excited to find out my baby's gender and see that beautiful face. The doctor happily announced that my husband and I are having a baby girl. I guess it was kind of expected since a lot, and I mean a LOT, of my friends are already assuming that I'm going to have a girl due to my happy-go-lucky personality and glowing appearance (He-he!). But unfortunately, we weren't able to go through the 4D ultrasound because my little angel was not facing us but only her cute behind, enabling the doctor to easily see that we are indeed blessed with a girl. It would be a waste of time and money to go through the 4D if you can't see the face. 

Hello there, Tala Mari Yzabelle!

Oh, well. We'll simply try again next time and hopefully Tala will be facing the camera by then.

Top 10 Baby Essentials for Moms-to-be (including ME!)

Here's a list of my 10 baby essentials that I would surely need from day one:

1. Avent Classic Infant Starter Set 

2. Avent 3-in-1 Electric Sterilizer

3. Babybjorn Baby Carrier Miracle (recommended for mommies like me with bad backs)

4. Britax B-Agile and B-Safe Travel System (came highly recommended as one of the safest stroller and car seat)

5. Wooden Crib 

6. Diaper Bag

7. Grooming Kit / Tools

8. Snug-a-Hug Pillow

9. Bath tub

10. Rocking chair

Buntis Diaries: Almost Halfway There!

It's been 5 months since I've taken the time to write on my blog again. A lot of things have happened and I wasn't able write down all the things that I've gone and is going through. With my last blog I announced to the whole world that I'm going to be a mommy soon. It's such a wonderful feeling knowing that a life is growing inside of me, my own flesh and blood. With that discovery came the decision that I would have to go home to the Philippines and put a hold on teaching for a while. The first 2 months of my pregnancy were quite delicate as I've experienced a lot of abdominal pains, and being in China and going to their hospitals proved to be quite difficult for a lot of reasons, one is having a lot of communication barrier with doctors and not being able to express what exactly I'm feeling at the moment. I wanted to make sure that I get the best of care as I go through my pregnancy.

The moment I arrived in the Philippines, I had myself scheduled for my first thorough check up at Makati Medical Center. I was already 3 months and 1 day pregnant at that time and it was my first time to see my baby's form as I had my ultrasound. I also found out that I had urinary tract infection (UTI), thus the reason that I was having a lot of abdominal and back pains for the past 2 months. It was such a relief to be able to express all my fears and apprehensions without inhibitions.

Piglet at 3 months and 1 day (13 weeks)

After staying for a week in Manila, I then flew to my hometown where my parents live. There I'll live for the next few months until I give birth. My husband and I also decided that I stay in the Philippines for a while until my baby turns 1 before going back and joining my husband in China. 

The first few weeks that I was at home was busily spent looking for the perfect gynaecologist that would take care of me and cater to my needs. This is my first pregnancy and as I've mentioned earlier, I want everything to be ready, stress-free and perfect. Call me "maarte" but I wouldn't risk anything for my baby.

Here are some belly shots taken during my second trimester. I didn't get the chance to take some photos during my early 1st trimester.

My belly at 4 months (16 weeks)

My belly at 5 months (21 weeks)

Current photo of myself at 6 months (23 weeks)

I was already 4 months pregnant when I heard its melodious heartbeat.

Baby's heartbeat at 15 weeks

My baby's first ultrasound video didn't show much because piglet was still shy and refused to move. The second one showed progress and you can even see him/her wave hello.

Shy baby at 15 weeks

Active baby still at 15 weeks

My baby's movements have been getting stronger and visible with each passing weeks and I was quite lucky to capture that moment. Here's a video of my piglet kicking and saying hello to his tatay (dad).

Piglet saying 'hello' at 23 weeks

I'm due for my doctor's appointment soon and I can't wait to find out whether I'm having a lil' big Bryan or an adorable Majal. I'm so excited for this little bundle of joy that sometimes I wish it's February already so I can snuggle and cuddle my baby in my arms. I also can't wait to start shopping and buy my piglet's stuff!

Until my next post then. I will be sure to keep you updated this time. :)

1 + 1 = 3! We're gonna have a baby!

My husband and I have been trying to conceive for two years now and finally, the stork found its way and answered our prayers. Having been experiencing period-like cramps for the past few days turned out to be my little miracle burrowing its way into the lining of my uterus, looking for a comfortable place to call home for the next nine months. I wouldn't even find out about it if my mom didn't persuade me to go to the hospital and have myself checked just in case I might be having appendicitis or some urinary tract infection (UTI). After a series of test, the doctor finally confirmed that I am indeed pregnant. Yipee!

It's positive!

There it is at 3 weeks!

Unfortunately, I also got sick the same day I found out that I was pregnant. With the weather becoming unbearably hot, one can easily catch a cold with how we easily turn on our air-conditioner after being exposed from the heat. I made that mistake thus I ended up with a cold and fever. These two aren't a perfect combination especially for a pregnant woman like me. So I ended up going back and forth to the hospital, getting Chorionic Gonadotrophin shots to nourish the egg after it has been fertilized and becomes attached to the uterine wall and be prescribed with a lot of medicine, including Folic Acid and Vit E. But I am not complaining. I am willing to endure the pain (the shots are pretty painful!) and get well as soon as possible to ensure a healthy pregnancy. My husband is all supportive and has bought me tons of fruits, gives me back rubs and kisses my 'still small' belly. Talking about being an excited dad! 

I can't wait to hear our baby's heartbeat. But for the meantime, it's time for me to get my daily shots. I will keep you all posted to this new journey that I am about to embark.

Zongzi and an English Competition

On the 5th of the fifth month of the Lunar calendar, a festival is celebrated by the Chinese called the Dragon Boat Festival (Duan Wu Jie). This festival started because a great patriot poet, Qu Yuan, was so disgusted by the corruption of his mother country, the Chu State, that he decided to end his life by flinging himself into the Miluo River. When people heard about his death, they were dismayed and hurriedly raced with their boats to find his body but were unable to do so. The people then decided to throw zongzi, eggs and other food into the river to feed the fish and to preserve Qu Yuan's body. Since then, people try to remember Qu Yuan by holding dragon boat races, eating zongzi and other activities. 

The Chinese Dragon Boat Festival

Feeling hot? Visit Green Lake Park Club!

With the past few days being unbelievably hot and dry, it's hard to believe that it's still spring in China. So when a friend of ours mentioned swimming to us, she had all our undivided attention. Luckily, we didn't have work this weekend so we all decided to go swimming yesterday. 

Green Lake Park Club is located inside the Charming Lakefront community.  It's a 10-minute bus ride if you're coming from our apartment. The community has just been built recently and hasn't been quite discovered by most people. It has this Victorian-inspired look and is quite foreigner-friendly since all of its signs were in English and there's even a Western restaurant just outside the gate (prices were pretty expensive, though!).

Entrance to Charming Lakefront and direction going to the clubhouse

A shot of the Western restaurant called the 'Western Restaurant'

Hot pot on a hot day?

Last Tuesday, some of the Chinese teachers in our school decided to invite us for some Chinese hot pot for lunch. 

Hot pot (also known as Chinese Steamboat or Chinese Fondue) is a Chinese way of cooking where they serve you a big pot of soup, or in our case, our own individual pot of soup and some various food materials that are put in the pot such as sliced mutton, beef, leafy vegetables, mushrooms, glass noodles, frozen bean curd and seafood. There are built-in burners on our table and as soon as the soup boils, we put our foods and wait for them to cook for a few seconds. We were also served different kinds of dipping sauce to add flavor to our dishes since we don't need to eat rice with it. I usually prefer the peanut sauce with a little bit of garlic, meat oil and spring onions.

A typical hot pot setting where you have the choice to choose between a spicy or a non-spicy soup

A variety of ingredients to make your own dipping sauce

Hot pot is usually ideal in winter because it keeps us warm while giving us more time to talk and socialize with friends as we wait for our soup to boil. It's also a fun way of sharing a meal together where everyone cooks their own meal right at the table. 

Thinking of making your own Chinese hot pot?

Climbing Qinling Mountain in Xian, China

Every school term, Aston School usually holds team building activities to promote camaraderie, teamwork and to fully know each other since we get new teachers (both foreigners and Chinese teachers) every term. For this year, we went to Qinling Mountain last March 19. We were instructed to come to school early (as in 6 in the morning!) and to wear comfortable clothes. 

We took 2 buses and travelled for almost 2 hours to get there. Days prior to the trip, it was still a bit chilly and windy. Thus, it was such a relief that the weather was absolutely gorgeous that day. I guess I mostly slept throughout the entire trip because I was still sleepy that time plus the fact that I am not a morning person.

Hundred Islands in Pangasinan: We came, we saw & we conquered!

"Well, hello there, sunburns!"

On January 29, 2019, my husband's family decided to go island-hopping therefore off to Hundred Islands we went. We left Urdaneta at five o'clock in the morning and reached the port after two and a half hours.

We were greeted with this as we reached the port.

A well-spent 5-day holiday

Chinese holidays are quite different with the ones we have back home. Philippines usually have short holidays whereas here, it sometimes lasts for a few days up to a month (e.g. Chinese New Year).

Working in a language school, we sometimes don't follow the exact number of days for some of the holidays because we usually adjust to our students' holiday schedule in their regular schools. Schools in China like doing make-up classes. Whenever there's a holiday and there's no classes on those days, they make sure to have advance make-up classes for the kids. When regular schools do that, class schedule in our school gets affected. So we also need to adjust our schedule to make sure that we still stay on schedule.

Since we're expected to work on May 1st, the school decided to give us a 5-day holiday from April 26 - 30. The first day of our break, the Aston gang decided to go bowling and had dinner outdoors. 

Another year younger for me

What I love about celebrating my birthday is that the more I get older, the more I enjoy life and the company that comes with it. Plus the fact that even though I am getting old, I never look old. It's a gift, I know.