baby diaries: 1st OB visit for June and 1st trip to Akachan Honpo

Hi Baby. Your Obachan visited us during the weekend and very thoughtfully first went to the Ward office last Friday to inquire further of the benefits and help the government now offers to pregnant moms.

Of course we all went together to the maternity clinic the following day. It was nice that your Obachan can also see you directly from the monitor. And oh did we see you! Your daddy was so happy. Because it seems his wishes about you are coming true: you’re a girl (!) and you have such prominent eyes! It’s really big baby. And, it seems his other wish, that you take after me, is also coming true – you look like me baby. But I’m hoping it’s still too early to say. I’m still hoping though you’d look like your dad, girl version. 🙂

Mommy have to take iron supplement from now though. No wonder recently, mommy gets tired easily and on two occasions almost fainted. But everything’s fine now. The important thing is you’re healthy. I’m sorry I took too much Vitamin C last Thursday and Friday. I was afraid I’d get the virus that seems to be circulating last week in the office. And up until that time, i haven’t read yet of the negative impact it will have on you. Thankfully, I read about limiting Vitamin C friday night so it was so timely to ask the doctor the following day. True enough, mega doses of Vit C is not allowed. We hope you’re ok baby.

After the OB visit, we went to Lalaport to seriously window shop for baby stuff on several baby shops there although of course the main intent was Akachan Honpo.

Supposedly, it was just window shopping at first. But, well, your excited Mom and Dad just weren’t able to control ourselves from purchasing needed stuff. Thankfully your Obachan was there to stop us from buying what shouldn’t be bought yet at the moment haha.

Still though, we weren’t able to stop your very excited Daddy from purchasing these (expensive) gadgets:

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The one on the left is a stethoscope, so that we can hear you move around, and hope to hear your heartbeat as well. See the ribbon on the cover? It says the Emperor’s family also use this gadget for their babies. As your Obachan has pointed out, you’re also the princess in the noble house of Yuasa. 🙂

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The one on the left is a prega-phone, which we can supposedly use to wholly transmit our voice to you. Here’s your dad assembling his gadget.

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Your dad looks so cute as he talks to you with it. I sang to you earlier using it and oh how strongly you kicked! I just hope you liked my singing because it seems that you kick a lot when my lying position in bed is not good haha.

Found the perfect stroller for you! We still didn’t buy it yet though.

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Look at how part of the flap can be raised during sunny days. Isn’t the design just pretty?

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We finally found the red version of the baby carrier I’ve been seeing around. You’d look even cuter with red. 🙂

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Would you like this crib?

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This cutie Pooh bear futon would probably be very comfortable.

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And since we can’t put up a hammock in our house (all your uncles and your mom as well and your cousins besides grew up in a hammock), we have to buy you a rocker.

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These are nice to have but we saw in a magazine that we can rent these out. I’m sure you wouldn’t mind if we just rent these and not buy.

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All these, we didn’t buy yet Baby. But we did buy you new inner wear and a wrap! Aren’t they cute? 😀

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And oh, since we’d probably be in Akachan Honpo a lot for your stuff, we applied for membership. They gave us this starter set.

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With lots of freebies! 🙂

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So excited for you Baby. 🙂

on my wonder years and Kaloka

Looking back to our “growing years”, boring is certainly not a word in Elna’s (aka Kaloka) vocabulary; where there’s fun and excitement Elna was sure in the thick of it. And when I say “growing years”, I mean almost the whole span of it for Elna has been my longest running classmate ever – we were classmates since 1st grade and got accelerated together in 5th grade (accelerated being we jumped to the next higher grade within the same year, hence graduating elementary a year ahead from our real batchmates). We were both quite active in academic and extra-curricular activities back then and as Math Quizzers in high school, together with Rezza and our Math mentor Sir Iroy, Elna and I also went to trips to different towns to compete (and win! Hehe) against other students with our Math prowess. Those girls and our Math mentor surely made Math easy and very interesting despite the fact that we had to spend even some of our weekends with Math. Had I pushed with my plans months before graduation to pursue accountancy, Elna and I would have been classmates all the way to college since we also went to the same university. But I found out about Chemical Engineering and pursued the course and so struggled with Math from thereon hahaha (thankfully, struggled just enough to keep my scholarships).

Ever the fun and interesting person that she is, Elna has been maintaining a blog for the last couple of years or so where her posts on fashion are among my favorites. I remember in grade school how we waited with big-eyed excitement as Elna sketches pretty girls in pretty dresses.

Do visit her in her new address — thekaloka.com. I especially liked her recent post on marriage.

Elna also did a touching feature on us when our wedding got featured in the Martha Stewart Weddings Philippines magazine. Thanks for that El! 🙂

Here’s to more years of friendship! 🙂 albeit separated by continents. 🙂

Cheers!

happy birthday A!

A very special day indeed! Not because of the annular solar eclipse but because it’s the birthday of the most important person in my life. Been showering hubs of my feelings since last night so it’ll be just a simple greeting here, teehee.

Happy Birthday, my dear dear A! 🙂

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(this is the complimentary “birthday cake” that Kihachi prepared for us. We had my birthday dinner in this fine dining restaurant. Thought it best to have Atsushi’s birthday here as well).

They also gave us a birthday card with our souvenir photo.

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Will post the great food we had for dinner next time, in my goodfoodhunt blog.

A meaningful day for the both of us, in more ways than one.

Happy birthday again Hubby! 🙂
I pray you more happiness, blessings and love. And patience (for me hehe). Mwah!

the happy pregger

Receiving a warm email on a Monday morning is like a harbinger to a great workweek ahead. And when topped off by a surprise work of art, featuring you no less, you’re sure to start the week beaming with positivity.

From an esteemed mentor-friend, all the way from Houston, David Coyle. From the man who reminds me of the Bible adage

to one who has, more will be given.

Indeed, not just gifted with intellect and wit and sportsmanship, but with talent as well! Care to agree with me? 🙂

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The caption of the email (which I plagiarised here as the title of this post hehe) surely equates with the big smile on my face. And as I reflect, yes, I sure am a happy pregger. Indeed. 🙂

I love how my pregnancy badge was included in this watercolour painting.

Thank you David for this. Most importantly, thank you for the time you spent in doing this. This will not be forgotten. 🙂

nailaholics

Where we are at now, while my family is watching The Avengers (we already watched the movie while still in Manila).

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A year ago, I’ve converted Hubs into liking massage and facial. I wonder if he’ll be a feet care convert as well. 😀

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Ookagawa Sakuramatsuri

Been waiting for weeks for this weather. Thankfully, the great weather came on a weekend when most of the sakura where already in full bloom, roughly 80%. Of course, it’s gonna be a busy weekend.

First destination for the sakura season: mobile sakura matsuri (cherry blossoms festival) traversing the 4.5 km Ooka River. There were so many people as expected. But I’m happy I was lucky enough to take some shots of “serenity” and not chaos.

Love the last photo.

I also love shots of the sakura against the water.

Hello there duck!

Now these are both our (Atsushi’s and mine) favorite. Reminds me of my favorite line in my favorite cartoon movie Mulan,

The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all.

But lo, how beautiful the illuminated sakura is!!

But of course, it being a matsuri/festival, food stalls also line the street selling traditional Japanese street food like yakitori, takoyaki and okonomiyaki among MANY others.

Popular among kids are the candied strawberries, apple and banana.

Ahh tsukareta (tired). But it was fun indeed! Especially since we met up with Atsushi’s friend Kamio-san. I love listening to their laughter as they patiently wait for me while I was busy clicking around.

Time for bed as tomorrow is gonna be a busy one as well. 🙂

Thank you for today Lord! And thank you for technology – with it, my parents can see how big I am already even when they’re oceans away.