Friday, November 29, 2013

DIY-ing

I have been doing a bit of DIY for our home lately. As my friend said DIY stuff is not all the time equal to saving money and i guess it's true that's why I only have allotted budget for something i want to do. 

Like this one below. My husband wants me to change the display in our coffee table in the living room. We had candles before but I suggested we moved it to the dining table instead so I made the following.

- Ikea Kulort in purple
- Ikea glass vase
- Ikea plastic flower

And turned out to this

Not bad, yeah? 

Blessings ♥







Thursday, November 28, 2013

38 weeks

Haaayzzz it's been weeks since my last post. I was not on hiatus, I actually have drafts but wasn't able to publish them because I'm always lazy but today, hurray! I am on my 38th week! waaaah! I should be giving birth soon. I want it really soon.

My concerns:

1) The baby is growing fast. I'm afraid I cant let her out naturally if she's fat. My qouta is only 6.5lbs and I'm serious!

2) Since were going home to the PH next year, I want her to be mature enough by that time so having her earlier now means she's bigger when our travel date comes.

3) My maternity leave starts on Monday, I want to make use of my free days being physically with her, holding her and already taking care of her. Weird though, I think I can do all these even when she's inside me anyway. Haha.

Here I am at 38 weeks. On Saturday, we will see our doctor again and I really hope to give birth SUPER SOON!



The Lord help me. :) 



Blessings ♥






Monday, September 30, 2013

29 weeks


I am making my own me-me. Worldless Monday. Hehehe


29 weeks! I still don't look fattey! Yey. We'll see how I look like in the next coming days. Entering 30ish weeks! Wooot!

Praise the Lord my God!

Blessings ♥

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Wednesday, September 18, 2013

28 weeks + saving tip

      I'm on my 28th week! Wohooo! Happy 28 weeks baby Halle!!!! We are 12 weeks to go (or less). We can't wait to see you. Your wardrobe is ready, you have your sleeping essentials with white cot that Daddy chose, little bath tub and some more! We will go the the Singapore Expo next month to find other stuff for you. I hope we can take home Daddy's dream pram and I hope you will like it.


This is what I currently look like. I think I have a big bump. Waaah!

In other news, I posted the below in Facebook. Nothing to do with my pregnancy though, I just stumbled a post from FemaleNetwork.



Saving tip: “Live below your means, if you make a certain amount, there is a way to live below that. There are certain things that you don’t need to buy yet..” It has to wait and wait. – Maricar Reyes


I want to highlight and make sure I remember that always. :) I think one of the most important thing for me is to make sure we don't reach zero balance on any of our savings accounts. I recall when I lost my job during recession, someone asked me how can we cope on this situation and told him we can still live normally as we are now for 5 months and then after that we really need to stretch everything so we won't reach zero. I didn't know that it was an ideal plan until I read articles over the internet which suggest that for security reason, like losing job, you may want to have an emergency cash available for 5-6 months use until you find a replacement job. Well, good to know. I was only jobless for 1 month so no fuss.

The Lord continue to give us wisdom how we can be good steward of the blessings He gave us. We don't want to overuse or over spend because at the end of the day, it will only be us who will greatly affected if we're left with nothing. So always be wise. Life is easier when we have extra. :)


Blessings ♥


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Thursday, September 12, 2013

27 Weeks with Nick name announcement

Today marks my 27th week! Praise the Lord!

The 10th of September was my birthday. I didn't plan for anything at all. We just ordered pancit malabon and had dinner at home. Bought the cheapest but cute cake and blew my 31st birthday candle. It was not extravagant but as usual for every birthday, it was special. Photos to follow.

There were hundreds of Facebook greeting as expected. I'm sure it happens to all that you can't keep up replying back to every single greeting there is so I showed my love with this photo below. Now my friends know that my 2nd baby is a girl and her nickname is Halle. Cutie! I love her so much and Ate Hershey. :)


On my 27th week - This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (about the size of a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with her legs extended. She's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if she were to be born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother her, so just relax and enjoy the tickle.

Blessings ♥


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Friday, August 30, 2013

25 weeks

Friday and I'm buzzing, NOT! I'm so tired waiting for time to move fast. I finished my work early and read work related documents but still got so much time to waste. I'm also stressed reading about this Janet Napoles hype in the PH. As if I can do something about that. It would still be the same drama. The news is hot now, people seems affected but after a few weeks or lets wait for another controversy to unveil and surely, this news now will be long forgotten.

So anyway, I'm on my 25th week and baby H2 is cool and strong. I didn't have another episode of Braxton hicks, thank God, I am very normal this past weeks. He He. We had our wedding anniversary celebration last Saturday and it was fun although tiring. I will post details on that someday. Yes, someday because I don't know when will I have time. Ha ha!

Alright so I was browsing my phone to see if I have useful pics to post today, I stumbled upon these two photos.

This one where Im wearing blue, I was 21 weeks preggers. That is a non edited, non filtered photo. See the sink from the office ladies' room. LOL

21 WEEKS
 And this other one was from the other day, almost 25 weeks. I still don't look too fat, just alright I guess.

25 WEEKS


I'm not heavy but I've gained weight already. I've stopped my morning sickness, it reached its finale on the 22nd week. I can eat and appreciate food now, yey! So far I'm craving for ice cream. I eat ice cream everyday! Ha Ha!

25 precious weeks!

How your baby's growing

Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. Her weight — 1 1/2 pounds — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but she's beginning to exchange her long, lean look for some baby fat. As she does, her wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and she'll start to look more and more like a newborn. She's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture.

 Thank you Jesus for being with us. 

Blessings ♥


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Friday, August 16, 2013

Braxton hicks at 23 weeks

Before I fully reached my 23rd week of pregnancy, I had a little panic first. Wednesday afternoon at 3PM, I have been feeling pain in my lower abdomen which concerned me because it never subside until the evening. I rested when I reached home after work but even after dinner I still feel the pain on my lower back and abdomen, so for my peace of mind, I decided to just proceed to the hospital.

I was with my husband, our daughter and her yaya. Family trip? LOL. We reached the hospital before 10pm but when the nurses knew the pain started at 3PM, they asked me with frustration why I only thought of going to the hospital now. I should have went there straight when I felt the pain. Oh well, I'm here now, lets do the test.

Cardiotocography


My OB was monitoring me, getting updates from nurses every 30 minutes. I had CTG for fetal heartbeat (cardio-) and the uterine contractions (-toco-) monitoring. I also had urine test and was given Ventolin to help stop contraction.

ME feeling sleepy but not worried because I prayed to my God for the safety of my child

After almost 4 hours of lying down with the CTG on my tummy I was discharged by my OBGY. The contraction was controlled in the last hours that there was no more pain at all. Praise the Lord! I was asked to meet my doctor this coming Saturday to check me again thoroughly.

See you on the scan tomorrow, Baby Pea! Hang on there and just be healthy. Still got a long way to go.

Mwah. Love you.

Blessings ♥


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Monday, August 12, 2013

22 weeks + Facebook announcement

Hi there!

Been a while. I wanted to really sit down and share some update on my life since my last post but  I've been lazy. That word - lazy! I always use it that my 5 year old like saying that too. My gas! LOL

So I am on my 23rd week this coming Thursday! Yipee! Baby pea is kicking non stop. She is really strong.

Almost all my friends have known that I'm pregnant, after I posted a photo of Hershey on Facebook [below]. I get a lot of private messages asking if I'm preggers, you know and even after posting that, I still get some asking if I am for real! Ha Ha. Crazy friends.

More to come!

See you again.

Blessings ♥


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Monday, July 08, 2013

17.5 weeks

It was a fruitful weekend because we were able to watch Despicable Me 2 on it's first day of showing, 2nd time slot of the day. Haha Excited much! Had lunch at McDonald's and went home to be lazy the whole day.


I didn't have a sound sleep Saturday/Sunday because baby Pea is moving non stop. Especially when Marv and Hershey are loud and playing, she wouldn't stop herself from being excited too! She's only 17.5 weeks but she's strong, or he. :)


I'm uploading photo from Baby Center again, I'm sure I have my own photos to upload I just don't have time to blog at home. Ha Ha.

I can't wait for end of the month when we see her/him again. We really can't wait, Baby Pea!


Blessings ♥


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Friday, July 05, 2013

17 weeks


CTO

Yesterday marked my 17th week of pregnancy. I'm still cool! Praise God.

We had our monthly check up last 2 Saturdays ago and baby Pea was more than okay. We saw her opening her mouth and moving a lot. My OB Gyne tried to check out the gender and she thought, baby Pea is a girl but didn't really confirm it because my husband and Hershey want a boy so better spill the beans when we're 100% sure. Ha Ha! Whether a boy or girl, it doesn't matter. We will love baby Pea dearly.

My vomiting has lessen a bit. Hershey has been over protective of me. When I'm not doing anything and just stare blank not talking, she would ask me if I'm alright or if I want to vomit and she's correct, I'm really feeling that way. If I stay longer in the toilet she would knock on the door and check if I'm vomiting again or ask her Daddy to help me. She's too concern. Sweet baby Bee.

My husband likes taking a photo of me, well, even before being pregnant he really does but now he would take different angles of my tummy. Ha Ha. One excited Dad. He's been busy roaming around the city for pram options. He likes the Stokke one but I'm not too happy because it's bulky. We had Quinny Buzz before and it's like having another child to carry around when the baby is not using it.

I will have my detailed scan on the 27th, I know baby Pea will be just perfect. I am just waiting to know the gender so we can start buying stuff. Oh! This is one of the most exicting part! Ha Ha.

See you again and pray for all pregnant women around the globe that they and their babies are just safe.

Blessings ♥


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Monday, June 17, 2013

14 Weeks

CTO

I am on my 14th week - actually going 15 on Thursday. :)

My morning sickness doesnt really happen in the mornings anymore but it would usually start after lunch and would get worst in the evening. I cannot go inside the hawker center or the food courts anymore. I don't like any food that I see. Most of them taste bland.

The last time I had check up, my OB said I have low lying placenta. The placenta is usually attached to the upper part of the uterus, away from the cervix, the opening that the baby passes through during delivery. On rare occasions, the placenta lies low in the uterus, partly or completely blocking the cervix -- called a placenta praevia or low-lying placenta. The level of concern is not too high as I'm still on my early stage of pregnancy but my OB suggested me to stop strenous physical activities including sex. Ha Ha!

I dont feel too much cramps anymore but I think I'm feeling occasional contractions. I dont really know if it is contractions or if it is just the same with cramps but I feel my tummy hardens - abdominal tightening or something. I have a schedule visit to my OB this coming Saturday and will surely report.

Aside from that, all feels normal. Went to church yesterday, I am at work today and just doing the normal stuff. I thank the Lord for that.

Blessings ♥


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Thursday, May 30, 2013

12 weeks

Hi there!

From this I am now on my 12th week. Surprise! Yes, I've been to the OB many times already and since then it's confirmed I'm carrying baby # 2. How's that? Cool, ya?

Baby Peanut is a planned baby. We thought we could have him/her later this year after our major plan is done but unfortunately due to unforeseen circumstance, major plan was moved to next year and I can't wait to get pregnant anymore. If it has to happen now, then let it be. What if major plan will be moved again? Gosh, I'm already old by then. So we prayed and the Lord opened my womb one more time. Haha.

Only few friends and families have known. I'm not excited to post it really on FB. I am actually planning to keep it a secret and then just post my baby's picture when he/she's out. Nyehehehe.

So far, its been a not so easy first trimester. My vomiting is worst. I feel very tired all the time and I having cramps which is a serious thing. On my 7th week, I was suggested to stay home so I had to bed rest for 9 days. It was fine, it really helped me cope with the difficulties. I became a full time mom to Hershey. Hehe. I wake up with her, help Manang prepare her for school, bring and pick her up from school and play with her. I just feel bored when she's not around - that's 5 hours in 5 days Kinder 1 class.

I went back to work feeling energized but the nausea and vomiting never really stopped. Do I have a choice? I have to endure. I was given some meds but really didnt help much. And it's a personal choice not to upgrade my med dosage or add more capsules because I think this is normal anyway and it's a priviledge to have experienced this. Never really had this with my 1st born before.

As of today, I already lost 2.5kgs in 3 months but thank God baby is okay. We had our monthly check up last week and at 11 weeks we already saw baby galloping. Baby Pea is like swimming but doesn't leave his place. Haha. That was so cute! A very active child.

I want to thank the Lord for this blessing. We're so happy. Hershey is very excited she always talk to the baby and pray for him.

Been checking some stuff, like strollers, hospitals, clothes but I guess still too early. :) Let's see in the next coming weeks.

See you again, I plan to update my blog often. I love this moment of my life.




Blessings ♥


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Monday, April 15, 2013

From CNN: Why I fled North Korea

Repost:

Editor's note: Hyeonseo Lee was born in North Korea and left for China in 1997. She now lives in South Korea and is an activist for North Korea refugees. Lee spoke at the TED2013 conference in February. TED is a nonprofit dedicated to "Ideas worth spreading" which it makes available through talks posted on its website.

(CNN) -- When I was young, I thought my country was the best on the planet. I grew up singing a song called "Nothing to Envy." I felt very proud. I thought my life in North Korea was normal, even though when I was 7 years old, I saw my first public execution.
My family was not poor, and I had never experienced hunger. But after my mother read me a letter from a coworker's sister who said that her family was dying of hunger, I realized that something was very wrong in my country. A huge famine hit North Korea in the mid to late 1990s, and I began to see suffering, hunger and death around me.

I can't reveal the details of how I left North Korea, but I can say that during the dark years of the famine when I was a young girl, I went alone to China to live with distant relatives. I thought I would be separated from my family for a short time. I could never have imagined that it would take 14 years for my family to live together again.
Since North Korean refugees are considered illegal migrants in China, I lived in constant fear that my identity would be revealed and I would be repatriated to a horrible fate back in North Korea.
One day, my worst nightmare came true when I was caught by the Chinese police and brought to the police station for interrogation. Someone had accused me of being North Korean, so they tested my Chinese language abilities and asked me tons of questions. I thought my life was over, but I managed to control all the emotions inside of me and answered their questions. They let me go. It was a miracle!
Hyeonseo Lee
Hyeonseo Lee
After 10 years of hiding my identity and living in fear in China, I decided to risk going to South Korea. Even though adjusting to life in South Korea was not easy, I made a plan and started studying for the university entrance exam. Just as I was starting to get used to my new life, I received a shocking phone call -- the North Korean authorities intercepted some money that I sent my family through a broker, and as punishment, my family was going to be forcibly removed to a desolate location in the countryside.
They had to get out of North Korea quickly. So I started planning how to help them escape.

I took a flight back to China and headed toward the North Korean border. Since my family couldn't speak Chinese, I had to guide them, somehow, through more than 2,000 miles in China and then into Southeast Asia. The journey by bus took one week, and we were almost caught several times.
One time, our bus was stopped and boarded by a Chinese police officer. He took everyone's ID cards and started asking questions. Since my family couldn't understand Chinese, I thought we were going to be arrested. As the police officer approached my family, I quickly stood up and told him that these were deaf and dumb people that I was chaperoning. He looked at me suspiciously, but luckily, he believed me.
We made it all the way to the border of Laos, but I had to spend almost all of my money to bribe the border guards. Even after we got past the border, my family was arrested and jailed for illegal border crossing.
After I paid the bribe and fine, my family was released after one month. Soon after, they were arrested and jailed again in the capital of Laos. This was one of the lowest points in my life -- my mind and body felt completely drained, and I felt like a failure. I did everything to help my family get to freedom -- and we came so close. And now my family was thrown in jail just a short distance from the South Korean embassy.
I went back and forth between the police station and immigration office, desperately trying to get my family out ... but I didn't have enough money to pay the bribes. I lost all hope.

At that moment, I heard a man's voice asking me: "What's wrong?" I was so surprised that a total stranger cared enough to ask. He would only give me his first name. With my broken English and a dictionary, I explained the situation, and without hesitating, the man went to the ATM and paid the rest of the money for my family and two other North Koreans to get out of jail.

I thanked him with all my heart, and then I asked him, "Why are you helping me?" ... "I'm not helping you," he said. "I'm helping the North Korean people."

I realized that this was a symbolic moment in my life. The kind stranger symbolized new hope for me and other North Koreans when we needed it the most. He showed me that the kindness of strangers and the support of the international community are truly the rays of hope that the North Korean people need.
Eventually, after our long journey, my family and I were reunited in South Korea.

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/04/14/opinion/lee-north-korea-refugee/index.html?iid=article_sidebar

Blessings ♥

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Thursday, April 11, 2013

I pray everyday

This morning I made a poem about what I do in the morning.

photo source internet




When I wake up in the morning I pray to the Lord
I thank Him for the brand new life, for His blessing unfold
I say the names of my loved ones, and ask for His protection
Oh Lord there is nothing I can do, I leave them in your affection

I ask the Lord to always love us
Our lives to Him we entrust
I ask for His angels to be around
With their wings they’ll surround

I know the Lord answers prayer
So I pray not only in despair
When I'm happy, sad, or whatever I feel
I ask the Lord to be with us forever and for real



Blessings ♥


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