The Big Three Seven!

Finally!!! The moment I have been waiting for, okay, second to the real labor pains, that is! Today, Liam turns 37 weeks in my belly and I'm happy because I know he can come out anytime soon without much complications (but still always praying, of course).  According to my pregnancy references (mostly the iPhone application: Whattoexpect which is based on the book, What To Expect When You're Expecting - have this, too).  I'd have to say, as a first-time mom and one without a lot of pregnant friends, this was really very helpful!

Luckily, my good friend Ritzi lent me the next phase of this book ;)

In other news, I had a really productive day today! Extremely so that I'm so pooped out now! Woke up at about 9AM, had breakfast, lounged around - okay, it gets better - had lunch, did a general cleaning of the room (specifically cabinets, drawers and the like).  I figured I won't be able to do this for a while so might as well.  This was when H went to play basketball (which he does so every Saturday).  H & I had dinner at Cafe Dome in Shangri-la Plaza then walked around for about an hour or so.

Phewwww!

Pregnancy does take a huge amount of effort! From the mere a fact that I've already gained about 30 lbs. or so, I know that it isn't an easy feat.  Hey, not easy to walk around, up and down, with the belly! I do not claim to be the world's most awesome mother since I could not even completely forgo caffeine, hehe.  But I can say that to a certain extent, I've grown so much (not just horizontally) the past 9 months and I just really cannot wait to be the best mother ever to my son.

He can pop out anytime but there's really no telling when exactly - this week, tonight, in 2 weeks...? I hope he doesn't take too long, though.  We'll see! :)

2011-2012

Running down the many ways this year has been eventful, to say the least:

1) I had to re-learn Salvation History and figure out how to teach it.
2) I entered the school year at a very irregular time (Second Quarter)
3) I lost a very dear friend, Jen :(
4) I no longer walked around the corridors as Ms. Ng but as Mrs. Guce
5) I experienced teaching in the fourth floor - with baby in tow
6) Oh, for the first time EVER, I didn't have a fair booth! :) hehehe

I think that although I complained a lot about this year (my colleagues know this well), I can sincerely say that yes, I am still grateful for all that I have experienced this year.  It has been a life-changing experience, having to teach high school freshmen and has really prepared me well for motherhood, if I may say so.  This year I learned to be persistent and to never give up on people who matter.  I learned also that sometimes, you just have to accept that not all goals are met in the specific time you'd like them to meet.  I learned that as a teacher, your worth can never be measured in the classroom, sometimes the success of a teacher takes years to be seen and discovered.  Like I told my kids (advisory class), I may not have changed you but I hope I at least planted the seed for that transformation.

Last year, I learned that "love makes what is difficult, easy".  This year, more than anything else, I learned that giving up is only for the weak.  The strong never give up, even if things seem hopeful.  Love never gives up :)

Here's to ending the school year right, and starting another year in 2 months! :) My sixth year of teaching will be awesome - I can feel it already.  Will not only be a mother to the girls, but to my little boy Liam - who turns 35 weeks in my huge belly today! :)

Waiting

So, I'm currently 34 weeks and 1 day pregnant.  Time just really flies by so unbelievably fast! One day you're counting down, the next, you're out of days to count! It's a good thing, though.  The school year is over and tomorrow, the kids are taking their exam on my subject, which means, i'll be busy checking papers from tomorrow to Wednesday (assuming I'll be done by then).  After which, it will be mostly paper work for us, until the 30th when we'll be off for summer break.  I've never been THIS happy about ending the school year - seriously.

While my co-teachers have trips planned left and right, it seems that the only trip I'll be taking will be to the hospital for weekly check-ups and, well, the big day.  By March 31, I'll be 37 weeks preggo so that means I'll be ready to pop anytime after that.

As for now, I've got all I need, save for the breast pump, which I will be getting by 2nd week of April.  I can say I'm ready for motherhood although I must admit on some days, I feel a little unconfident about how prepared I am to raise a child.  Sometimes I think, I can't even say I can take care of myself, what more a little one? But I do trust that God will prepare me well, plus, I have a wonderful partner so I'm not going to have to do this alone.

Sigh, the anxieties of motherhood :-) Nevertheless, the ultrasound scans have gotten H and I really excited to see baby Liam so here's to counting down the last 6 weeks! <3

Haircut Shmaircut, And Other Things

For the first time in a long time, I regret having my hair trimmed! What's the use of showing the stylist a photo if it will turn out totally different? :(( Here's the photo I showed him (left) alongside what happened to me (right).  Now, tell me, hindi ba kalokohan?

Hah, I am obviously upset! But, well, there's not much I can do - actually, nothing AT ALL I can do but wait for it to grow a bit and then have it cut the exact way I want it to be.  I guess I can have another haircut in a month's time, right before I give birth.

Speaking of giving birth, mom and I went to the grocery after my disastrous trim.  I ended up buying newborn diapers! <3 Such cuteness, hihi.  I will be needing these for my hospital bag, so as not to end up having to use the hospital's (I'm guessing they will charge me double the actual price).

I'm so far on my 33rd week now and it has been becoming more and more exciting as the days pass.  School's about to be out and normally, I'd be reflecting on the year, missing my students, and the like.  Not this time, I guess my mind has been rightfully (I think) preoccupied with baby and birth related matters that there's really not much time to ponder on work issues.  I suppose this is good, because it allows me to stick to just getting the work done.

It's Tuesday tomorrow which means I'm going to have a relatively light day, yay! God knows I can only handle so much "heaviness" seeing that I am literally HEAVY at the moment and getting heavier by the day!

Plus, it's PayDay Tuesday! :-D How can I complain? :-)

How Can I Not Love You?

I got a text from In My Womb Ultrasound Clinic today and was told that the CD containing the soft copy of Liam's photos were ready for pick up.  So of course I had to troop over to Megamall to get it! :-)

Here are 2 of the 25 photos we got.  Sigh.  8 more weeks before the REAL thing.  We all cannot wait! :-)

Been singing this song for baby... :-)

Take my hand in the meantime
And let's walk into the sunshine
Everybody got something that they want to sing about, laugh about, cry about
It's true
For me it's you <3

Goodbye :(

Jenelyn Belisario-Quinto

August 10, 1986 - February 5, 2012

Today, I lost a good friend.  Met her in May of 2007 when I first started teaching.  I knew she was from the province and initially, I found her quite odd.  I remember one time we all came to a session from a break - she had a grasshopper in her hand and said she found it outside and natuwa daw siya. Immediately I though, uh-oh...weird...?

But as the weeks, months and years passed by, she proved me wrong by showing me who she really was.  She was outspoken, fearless, she fought for what was right, as a teacher she was strict yet with a warm and compassionate heart for the students.  She loved the ICANs and showed it very well.  As a friend, she was accommodating - in as much as she can, she helped even if it meant sacrifice on her part.

I have countless memories with her (being seated next to each other for five years) and I cannot begin to describe how much I will miss her.  Although I initially thought we were opposites, her being from the province and me growing up in the city, I have grown so close to her through the years that we even text at night after a long day at work!

We got married the same year (only 3 months apart), got pregnant also the same year (1 month apart).  We often talked about what kind of wives and mothers we would be, how we would raise our children and how our kids (boy and girl) would be playmates one day.  Most of our free time was spent talking about brands that were good for the baby, breastfeeding, what kind of diaper to use, etc.

I know this shouldn't be the case but being a mom now has a bittersweet ring to it.  I've always imagined being a mom with her.  At the same time, though, this also makes me even more determined to be the best mom I can be - not only for my baby, but for Jen whom I know wanted so badly to become a mother.

**

God's ways are different from ours.  I don't know what God's plans are - for her husband and her 4-day old baby.  But I know He knows best.

They say time heals all wounds but for some reason, I don't want this wound to ever heal - if it means always being reminded of a dear friend and sister.

I'll miss you everyday, Jen!

What Happened???

I've been so caught up with everything (work, the pregnancy, etc.) that I just realized tonight that it's been a while since my last post! I was already in bed, trying to sleep but, no.  I just couldn't.  So I got up and decided to visit you, you poor blog thing.

What's been up? Well, I am currently 28 weeks and 5 days pregnant, which translates to 7 months!!! Are you thinking what I'm thinking? Yes, I hit the you-can-go-shopping-now, mark! And I have! So far I've gotten:

1 Avent sterilizer
1 newborn kit from Avent which includes 4 bottles (2 different sizes), 1 brush and 2 extra nipples - I'm actually not so sure I'll get to use this and if ever what for, since I'll be breastfeeding for at least the first 2 months when I'm still on leave.
1/2 dozen side-tie shirts with sleeves;  1/2 dozen side-tie shirts without sleeves (both I asked our helper to get from divisoria - pure cotton, but much thinner which I think are good for using during the day so it won't be too hot)
5 plain white rompers from Rustan's 
1 infant nail cutter - I heard that a baby's nails grow so fast to the point that there might be a need to clip the nails every other day!
3 pairs of booties; 3 pairs of mittens; 3 hats/caps - I know this is probably not enough, but I got these at Rustan's (i.e. much more expensive that SM Department Store, I'm assuming).  I can always get more from SM ;)
3 rompers from Debenhams (they were marked down! I was able to get three for about P750)
2 rompers from Mothercare - I just love, love, loooove Mothercare! See?

5 bibs for feeding from Debenhams (also marked down - 5 for P265!)
3 receiving blankets from Rustan's
1 hooded towel from Enfant
2 tie sides from Enfant
3 towels for bathing and swaddling


So far, that's it and that has already cost H and I a fortune! It doesn't even include baby's bed/crib! I think next shopping trip will be in a month - gotta space out the expenses :P I'm going to drop by Mothercare in The Fort this weekend, though.  Plus, saw a couple of stores selling really adorable onesies (I'm crazy about these onesies/rompers) in Greenhills so will check them out tomorrow.

Almost ready for baby! <3