Aren't you too old for that?

Yes, Brianna's too old for those but I decided to put them on again because she keeps on snacking on her fingers and they probably are sore by the way they look.

Thumbsucking is normal for babies, according to Brianna's pedia but should be stopped early on for it is highly addictive. It's like cigarettes for babies. Her pedia said I should distract her from sucking her fingers by toys. I got her one of those jungle gyms but whenever she gets excited, she automatically puts her hands in her mouth. Yes, in it, not on it.

Anyway, this solution doesn't seem to work. She still has her fingers in her mouth as I type. But at least her hands won't look bruised anymore.

I need help on this issue, moms. Fo realz. 

Binyagan blues

So last Saturday was Brianna's christening. It was held at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes and it was a very inspiring ceremony. There are times during the ceremony where I catch myself about to cry so I stop myself. It was really hot because a red head was set up in the church, near us (Thank you, TVSTYLE, for the coverage of this momentous moment - redundant much? - of our family's life.) but Brianna was surprisingly quiet and calm throughout the ceremony. The priest even said that he barely baptizes a baby who doesn't cry. Even when water was being poured to her head, she maintained her silence...she had her super cute sad face on, though.

After the church ceremony, we went to Master Bee in Ortigas (I personally like the food. The pancit was uber yummy.) for lunch. Most of the people we invited were there and I really had fun (trying to) entertain them. I secretly thought of it as practice for when Bry and I get married. Hee. So, anyway, the whole time I had Kat as my aliping sagigilid (Thank you so much, Lovey! I shall be your PA again... Pagdating ng panahon. Haha!) while I was busy trying to breastfeed in public.

I was so touched by my parents - in fairness - because they actually mingled with the De Leons and they ENJOYED it. I was kinda thinking that they'll be hesitant to talk to them and end up not talk to them. This is faaaaaar too good. As Joanne has said, ang susunod nito, kasalan na.

As I've previously said, TVSTYLE was kind enough to cover this very memorable ceremony (for free?) in video and in photo. And since everyone (almost) is a PSI grad and sales people, they were friendly to almost everyone. Apprently but not surprisingly, Sir Aries was the one who stood out because of his really friendly personality that some even thought of him as papansin. But he doesn't really care about what other people think so...

My and Bry's friends, of course, have been really awesome for just being there. I've missed everyone and I'm very thankful that they are there to celebrate with us. Lau, Ella, Jackie, Jayvee and everyone who didn't make it, I know you would've been there if you could and for that alone, I am thankful.

Red ampaos (spelling?) were flying their way to me the whole time that I got so overwhelmed. Ganun pala yun? Hee. I'm sorry, I am not observant during my inaanaks' binyags. Hee. But I have to say that Malia's "ampao" was the best one. Sorry, Kat, Jill and Sara, natalbugan kayo ni Malia.

So, anyway, after lunch, we went to Packo's in QC for the Thank You party for everyone who wanted to have a drink and (surprise, surprise) I didn't have any alcoholic drink. Which is okay, I guess because I don't think I will like drinking alcohol again. Pero di ako magsasalita ng tapos dahil malay ba natin, diba?

Got to have a heart-to-heart talk with Joanne which was nice. What's nicer was seeing my parents' bonding sesh with Bry's parents. It was heartwarming and, again, as Joanne said: Kasalan na ang susunod niyan.

After Packo's we went to Stone House for Joanne's Starshooters goal. She sang two songs with the band while the gang ordered 2 rounds of San Mig Light. As for me, I had a can of Coke and a glass of water.

All in all, I was really happy that day both for Brianna and for our little family. I really can't wait for Bry and I to get married and all of us three live under one roof. That day will probably be the happiest day of my life.

Note: This entry will be reposted with pictures as soon as I collect all photos of mi Bebe's baptism.

Brianna's growing up so fast...

We went back to Brianna's pedia last Saturday in St. Luke's in E. Rod for her monthly check-up and here's what the pedia has to say about Brianna:

1. She grew 2cm since the last time we saw her... which was just 2 weeks ago.
2. Brianna also gained a few pounds since we last saw her pedia. I thought her gaining that much was disturbing but Doc said it's normal for breastfed babies.
3. The pedia complemented her about raising her head longer. Doc Pau said she's "advanced" than most babies her age. This gave a huge grin on my face which lasted 'til the next day.

Brianna had her third set of shots last weekend, too.

Add that to the fact that we had to buy her clothes (again) already because she outgrew most of the clothes we have here. Yes, even those white wrap arounds (I dunno what it's called) that make her look like (what I like to call) a "generic" baby.

Plus she wakes up na when it's noisy or when you leave her alone on the bed. Before, you have to wait for her to get hungry for her to wake up. Now, all you have to do is to turn the volume up and viola! She's awake!

She also has another "vice". She "hangs out" in front of my boobs whenever she feels like it. She cries when I move away. As Ran said, "mga batang adik sa boobs".

I'm happy I can actually witness all these changes in Brianna and that is why I am having second thoughts on going back to work before she turns one. I need your opinions...

Like mother, like daughter.

Please forgive the tacky photo editing, I just rushed it. And I HAVE TO edit it because my tummy looks all weird because of the black line that runs from under my belly button 'til my pubes and the shape of it is just...weird. My sleeping face is never pretty so I also had to cover it.

Photo taken by Patrish. No thanks to her for taking a photo of my ginormous post-pregnancy tummy.

Merged this blog with my personal blog so I only update one blog (Puro blog)

http://aletotski.blogspot.com

Sleep? What sleep?

I've decided to be a fulltime mom...at least for the first 6 months of Brianna and can I just say that after 2 weeks of being that, it's pretty tiring. I am enjoying every minute of staring at my baby for hours and talking like a baby and all, don't get me wrong but it literally is tiring. I must have slept for a total of 20 hours the past days all because I didn't - and couldn't - adjust my body clock the same time as Brianna's. I know her body clock will match mine soon... I just hope 'soon' is soon enough.

(Ooh, I'm good... I'm typing this while breastfeeding Brianna. Now that's what I call multitasking.)

I've been very busy lately, sorry.

Everything's supersized!

Big nose.

Manas feet.

On other, much brighter news...

WE ALREADY HAVE A CRIB AND A STROLLER!

Thank you, Baby Company fair! ☺

False alarm.

Last Saturday, the family and I were supposed to go to the Baby Company fair at Megatrade Hall but passed by the clinic for an emergency check-up because I had this white mens-like discharge that morning. Long story short, she had me admitted that same afternoon at the labor room for having 3cm dilation and contractions.

I stayed at the labor room, bored to death with literally nothing to do, for almost 12 hours. I entered at around 1:45 in the afternoon and was sent to my room at 12 midnight. Bry stayed with me through the night then I had to get back to the labor room again for observation at 4am, Sunday. This time, I stayed 'til 6 in the afternoon but I slept through most of the day since I got really, really bangag the day before.

At 6pm, Sunday, I was sent back to my room. My OB visited me and told Bry and my parents about the situation (Dilation's still at 2cm [where she got 3cm last Saturday, I don't know] and the contractions stopped) and that I will be under observation until the following morning. She said I will be having another biophysical exam for the baby and that's when she'll decide what to do.

At 6am the following morning, I had the NST exam before breakfast then went on to have the ultrasound. Brianna's in very good condition and my OB said I'll be discharged from the hospital. She gave me a few more reminders before I got back into the room. Nurses, Medocare coordinators and staff kept on knocking on the door probably for their procedures whenever someone will be discharged from the hospital.

Was released at around 11am and waited 'til 2pm for the bill. Here's where everything got crazy:

• DELIVERY SUITE (a.k.a. The Labor Room) - Php 21,971.00 --The bulk of the final bill was this! I stayed here for around 26 hours, they
• OB PF - Php 8,000.00 --Twas like she delivered my baby already.
• Medocare initially added another day to our bill so we had to let them know they were being madaya and we had everything checked again.

Those are just some of the hassles we had to go through in the Billing department.

Anyway, the grand total of the bill is... Drumroll please...

Php 37,409.20 

Panu pa kaya pag nadeliver na talaga si Brianna? Oh well, it doesn't matter as long as she's healthy and delivered safely into the world.

But, yeah. I think it's too much. Especially if you see my room.