keeping it real

This last stretch in my pregnancy has been rough. Gone are the days of relishing in that pregnancy glow that everyone seems to be talking about. These days, I often find myself complaining about the 101 aches and pains that I feel all throughout my now unrecognizable body. Sometimes I look at myself in the mirror and don't recognize the person I see. Not to sound so much of a girl but this is the biggest and heaviest I've ever been in my entire life. And for a girl who managed to stay within the realms of 100 lbs for most of her life, I find it hard to look at 150 lbs register on the weighing scale (especially when you weigh in for your regular check up and the nurse's reaction to your weight is a resounding and unmistakable "WHOA!". Ah yes, please feel free to keep your opinions to yourself, thankyouverymuch).

I know this may sound selfish. After all, all this is for my baby. But sometimes, you got to keep it real. And I feel terrible to have to admit that there were days I caught myself saying I just want to get this over with.

But my husband, who is made of pure awesome, has a way of taking away all those nasty feelings. His encouraging words like "I'm so proud of you" or "Thank you for carrying my seed" (yes, it makes me laugh every time he says that), remind me to look at the bigger picture.

And this morning, he gave me another bit of sage advice. After telling him how boring it is to stay at home (did I mention that I am now in full time hatching mode?), he said that every day that passes is one day closer to meeting our little one.

And that thought changes everything.

the salad days

Lately, most of our days are spent like this. Relishing the quiet stillness of our apartment, indulging on spur-of-the-moment dates and late night dinners, unabashedly sleeping in til noon, and taking long guiltless afternoon naps after meals.

As much as we will miss the quiet, the freedom, the spontaneity of being just the two of us, I can't begin to describe how excited we are to welcome the new addition to our family. 60 more days til the little one arrives. D and I can't hardly wait.     

berlin on my mind

Wishing I was in Berlin right now.

baby shower rave

For the record, majority of my friends are single and have never been to a baby shower in their life. So when my dear friend Alex organized a baby shower for me, we were faced with the question: so what do people do in these shower things?

We ate, we drank (well, they did), and saved a stuffed animal called Mr Fluffy from flying away, Up style (as in the movie Up...long story).

Ah well, we had a blast. Thanks again, Ninang Alex!

baby boy kicks

The little one was kicking like mad all weekend. And made momma giggle every single time.

But just the other day, I didn't feel a kick all day and started getting worried. When I got home from work, I asked the little one to kick for momma, and he did! Thought maybe I was just lucky. Tried it again when D got home and asked the little one to kick for poppa. And whaddyaknow, he did! The little boy can hear us now. It's an amazing feeling of connection.

I still find it hard to wrap my head around the fact that a little person is growing inside me. It's surreal.

October can't come sooner.

to my father-to-be

Today is Father's Day, and although you are not officially a father yet I want to honor you today. Why? Because I know in my heart you will be the best father any child could ask for.

We love you poppa!

i keep comin' back to manila

Thanks to a speaking engagement at a conference in May, I had the chance to fly back home to Manila for free. The conference was held in Subic, and just my luck, my parents were going to the beach house that same weekend I was in town.

Being the awesome parents that they are, my parents made sure they were in Subic just in time for my turn to speak on stage. They watched and cheered on as I got on stage and nervously delivered my presentation to 100 or so people.

After the conference, we then made our way to the beach and spent a lovely weekend at El Paradiso with family friends that I haven't seen in ages.