Family

Our little family is growing! In a couple of months and more, our happy bundle will join us soon! Her wiggles and squirms are still graceful and gentle. I wonder when she will give me jolts that could make me wince in pain, I hope never.

I pray for a healthy pregnancy, graceful labor, and a safe normal delivery when the perfect time comes. I ask the Lord to bless our little munchkin to be healthy, smart, strong, happy, and adorable. May she never have any food allergies or any problems whatsoever, may she never be colic, and may she always be an angel... it doesn't hurt to ask.

Panting

At twenty seven weeks, it feels like I am carrying the world on my shoulder. It sounds exaggerated but that's how I feel! I am catching my breath most of the time as if I am on a race. I used to babble on the phone while I do my rounds around the house doing whatnots, coupled with going up the stairs while carrying the laundry basket with the phone in between my shoulder and ear. Now, it's like torture! Hay!

How can I feel hot when it is below freezing?! I wonder how it is to be this huge on a summer... aaah!!! Which reminds me the husband was wondering how come he never had to put my shoes on when I was pregnant with our little boy. Dear, it was because I was expecting on a summer when flip flops are fine! It is such a sight to see the husband put on my socks, tuck in my jeans to fit my winter boots, and oh he even clipped my toenails =) (Tell me how many husbands would do that? Hehehe!)

On the other note, it is such a joy to see my tummy move! The little munchkin wiggles like mad every time she hears the chaos in the house! We can't wait to see her! (At the same time I am somewhat scared of the labor pains)...

Twelve more weeks, twelve more.

Weight

Today, I sit at 117lbs. I should discount a pound or two because I was in full winter gear (plus a full armor of maternity belt) when I was at the clinic. I didn't want to take off my snow boots which tucked my maternity pants perfectly, courtesy of my dear husband. You see, it's pretty hard to wear my shoes on now how much more tucking in my jeans inside my boots (which needs a bit of work because it is quite long for me, no time to have it altered at all)!

I was scared to see the scale. I know I have been having a healthy appetite (pretty much) over the past weeks. I was expecting a maximum of four pounds gain, but tough luck! I gained double my expectations. Not that gradual considering I barely gain a pound a month during the first five months of my pregnancy. Well, not including the four pounds in a week during my bedrest in Cebu.

But I won't fret, I am on my third trimester and I will be getting bigger. My body needs to so I can also bear this growing belly of mine. I should just take things slow especially that we are going to attend holiday parties. How can I resist Pinoy hospitality? Wah! I hope to just gain half a pound weekly so I meet my target weight when I'm full term already.

I also need to be conscious of the housework that I do so I don't see myself indulging in the couch way too much while stuffing my mouth with nonsense (read: sweets) and a lot more! In two weeks, I will have my glucose test.

On the other note, I went to the dermatologist to have my bald spot checked. Yes, I have one! I noticed this one almost a month ago. Alopecia. Wah! The derma checked if it was fungal infection or sort but it wasn't. I was kinda' hoping it is just external. We will have to wait for the lab results. They are checking my thyroid. Well pregnancy does a lot of these things, I just hope it's not that serious for me and the baby. For now, I will make use of this topical spray which will hopefully regrow my hair...

Now, time to finish wrapping gifts for the little one, bake cookies for Santa and wish everyone else a lovely Christmas!!!

TwentyFive

The pants which was falling off of me when I bought it in Cebu is now tight, real tight! I think this will become a post partum bottom. I don't think I can use it anymore a couple weeks from now. The top not maternity at all, is now hugging my belly. I am definitely getting bigger! Face and nose have fattened up, including the arms and thighs. I feel so heavy already and I am almost always catching my breath. That, and I have fifteen weeks to go...

Squirms and kicks of the little munchkin are getting stronger and hurt a little now. I do get the braxton hicks every so often at night especially when I am standing too long. She is still very active every three in the morning! I notice that she responds to kuya's squeals and laughter. Can't wait to come out, can you little one...?

I am due for my prenatal this coming 23rd. We'll see how much I've gained in one month, I think quite a lot... I have a healthy appetite now =)

Squirms

At this very moment, I saw you wiggle and squirm. You are kicking up a storm, getting ready to be fully awake in a couple of hours. Oh how you make my heart swell, happy, and cheery! I always look forward to this time despite my frustration of not being able to sleep well through the night. I can't wait to hold you, to cuddle you, and kiss you...

Twenty five weeks now, and fifteen more to go... you will be with me, with us. You are a very precious blessing this year for the family! Thank you for keeping me company when I feel so blue this holiday. I don't even know why I am sad... but little one, I love you already long before you were conceived...

Thrive my munchkin! See you soon =)

Three

Every three in the morning, without fail, this little munchin wakes up and kicks up a storm that makes me so amused and sometimes frustrated. It is already difficult to sleep with the belly how much more with all her commotion? And more often than not the moment she wakes up I have to pee every so often which drives me crazy and grumpy in the morning! Oh well...

Nesting

At twenty four weeks, we have already done the following in preparation for the little munchkin:

• hospital tour, will pre register within the week
• playpen/bassinet in the bedroom and crib in the loft
• got toilettries and diapers, baby organizer, newborn clothes
• breastpump and milk containers ready
• wash receiving blankets and clothes, crib sheets, bumpers, mattress pads, etc
  
• arranged for a helper for one month

These are quite the essentials. I hope we'll be fine. I need to pack the maternity bag now, so by the time I'm on my third trimester I won't have to fuss about preps anymore. There are so many things to do around the house, so I'd rather save my energy.

Oh, I am just so excited for the little one! And she is kicking a lot more frequently and stronger now!!! I bet she is as excited as we are too hehehe!

24

I am approaching my twenty fourth week. Baby's kicks and squirms make my day. She moves rather gracefully with bolts of kicks sometimes that jiggles my belly like crazy hehehe! Oh we will see what she does in the later stage. I don't remember graceful tickles from my little boy before. It always felt like there is a storm inside my belly that time hahaha! I am trying to convince myself that I am right, I am having a girl (we will see about that).

To date, I have been eating well. I crave for something, I make it myself. Yesterday for snacks, I had an apple, pop tarts, and a spam/cheese sandwich! That is way too big for a snack for me hahaha! The other night I tried to make champorado out of rice pudding, evap, and hershey's cocoa only to just take a few bites then ate spam (again) with leftover rice and raisins. Sometimes I'd make omelette because I just like to. Last night I made embotido, lami man beh hehehe!

I feel that I am getting heavier, well I am heavier most definitely. My belly is rounder and bigger like I swallowed a watermelon (reminds me I need to take a photo). I can see it jiggle when my baby kicks, and I am so amused by it as if it is my first pregnancy hehehe! One thing though, I noticed I am having braxton hicks (contraction) daily. I hope it is not too early, though textbooks say it usually comes earlier the second time around.

Left hip is still the enemy and so is peeing too much at night time! It is definitely getting harder to sleep. I hear the boys snore and I welcome it, their symphony keeps me company. Although I am tired in the mornings. Too lazy to do anything, too bummed out to do the things I have planned. And the bittercold doesn't help at all... talk about living in winter wonderland COLDorado! Blah!

I find myself catching my breath all the times, talking on the phone while I do my chores is quite an ordeal now... much more going up and down the stairs... and living in a dry high altitude corner! So there, I need to down as much water as I can... pee (sometimes at the wrong time hahaha) and deep breaths often.

Talk about accidents, I need more undies LOL! So I make use of panty shields or thin pads to prevent me from leaking especially when I am out of the house. Oh dear, embarrassing! When I laugh, sneeze, or whatever... I need to do kegels often =P