The Kindness of a Stranger

I think I've mentioned in my previous post that a patient of my brother-in-law gave Kaelin a LOT of things --- clothes, a pair of shoes, a hooded towel, receiving blankets, a doll and a bouncer.  She doesn't even know us and yet, she showered our baby with such kindness and love.  Seems like Kaelin has found a modern day Santa Claus, and its not even the start of the -ber month.  :-)   

To you Ms. Annie, a very big THANK YOU!  Not just for the material things, but your sincere thoughtfulness, generosity and goodness greatly overwhelmed us, warmed our hearts and put a smile on our faces.  We hope to meet you soon.  :-)

I just want to share the gifts that she gave our dear baby Kaelin.  I'm so excited for her to use them.  :-)

see those teeny tiny shoes? =)

baby gap onesies!

love the teeny tiny skirt and lady bug onesie!  also the terno spag strap blouse and polka dots bloomers and onesie!

more baby gap onesies!

i've been looking for blue dresses here but i can't seem to find any, puro pink and yellow.  now Kaelin has two! =)

such a cutie sexy dress!!!  can't wait to see Kaelin in this! =)

yellow, orange, pink --- such colorful dresses! love it!

I have to restrain myself from looking at them everyday.  I've been folding and refolding it for a few days already.  I'm that excited for Kaelin to use them.  But first, Kaelin needs to make her grand entrance into the outside world, outside of my tummy that is, soon.  I'm 38 weeks and 5 days along, and still no signs of Kaelin wanting to come out already (except for the Braxton hicks).  Hopefully, during my check up tomorrow, i'll hear some good news from my OB.  *keeping my fingers crossed* 

Here's the picture of the bouncer that hubby needs to assemble, and what it should look like after.  Hehe. =p

Baby's Things!!!

My parents-in-law got back from the States last Friday and Kit and I couldn't be more excited!  Why?  Of course, because we missed them.  And because of the numerous things we asked them to buy for Kaelin.  =)  

Finally, Kaelin's crib, stroller and car seat are here.  Kit even assembled the stroller and car seat already.  It's so cute!  Can't wait to finally use them.  And see Kaelin in it, of course.  He'll assemble the crib next Monday at my parent's house since we'll be spending Kaelin's first month there.  

Aside from those, we also got my breast pump (a gift from Juls.  Super thanks again!), diaper bag, and Kaelin's health kit (tri-scan thermometer, nasal aspirator, medicine dropper, nail clipper, etc).  And my mom-in-law bought Kaelin a lot of clothes!!! Yey!

And to top it all off, one of Juls' patients (a complete stranger to us), bought Kaelin lots of clothes, a pair of shoes, receiving blankets, a hooded towel, a doll and a bouncer!  Talk about the kindness of strangers! And we are truly grateful.  Thank you so much.  =)

We won't need to shop for Kaelin for a long time with all the clothes that she has now.  We bought her clothes, my mom and sister bought her clothes, my mom-in-law bought a lot of stuff, and our friends gave her clothes too.  Truly, she is a well-loved baby.  Thanks everyone!  You never fail to put a smile on our faces with your never ending kindness and love.  Kaelin is one lucky baby.  =)

Si Kaelin na lang talaga ang kulang.  See you soon baby.  Mommy and Daddy love you! =)

The Chocolate Lovers' Club

I went to National Bookstore Galleria yesterday with no intention of buying anything at all.  Don't get me wrong because I'm such a book lover.  I don't mind being in a bookstore for hours.  It's just that hubby and I went there the other day and wala naman akong nagustuhan.  I just went there (again) to pass time.  And then I saw it... A big red sign that says "less than P100".  So the cheapskate that I am, trooped to that area and browsed and browsed and browsed.  Mind you, the books are all hardbound and really priced under P100. 

And this is what I bought for P99.00:

photo source

I am a certified self-confessed chocoholic and finding this book really got me excited.  I mean, I'm both a fan of chick lit and chocolates so this book is just perfect (i hope!).  I read the first chapter and so far, i'm liking it.  The only downside is that i want chocolates more NOW, as in this instant!  But I already gained a lot of lbs throughout my pregnancy and I don't want to gain unnecessary weight should my baby become big and have a hard time fitting through my birth canal.  Sigh.  Di bale, more or less two more weeks, and Kit promised that I can eat all the chocolates that I want.  Sooo looking forward to that!  =)

(I have side kwento:  I made Kit promise me that once I give birth, I want chocolates, ice-cold coke, cake and ice cream inside the ref of our hospital room.  Talk about sugar overload!  Hahaha!  But I can settle for just chocolates and coke.  =p)

Half Half

Kit and i found this cute onesie in Robinson's Galleria last night.

And hubby insisted to buy it.  Cute daw kasi and totoo naman that Kaelin is half Atenista and half La Salista.  At least, the next time we watch an ADMU vs DLSU game, may outfit na si Baby.  Hahaha.

38 Weeks and still counting...

Okay, so I had my check up last Saturday and my OB told me that my cervix is still closed and the baby is still floating.  And to be honest, that wasn't good news for me.  I so wanted Kaelin to come out already.  Not because i'm having a hard time this last trimester but because I'm so excited to finally meet her and see her and hold her and just be a mom.  Oh well... I guess I just have to be patient about it.  Kaelin will come out as soon as she's ready...  I hope soon.  =)

By the way, my OB told us that Kaelin is still in cephalic position (not breech).  Yey!  

And also, just want to congratulate two of our couple friends who gave birth last week.  First to Rhyan and Lhen, who welcomed their daughter Reese last August 13, and to Owen and Emily who welcomed their son Nathen last August 21.  Congratulations guys!  Can't wait to see your little angels! =)  And yes, I will claim it, kami na ang next!!! Haha.
 

Just a side kwento:  I have a lot of friends giving birth this coming September and October.  I'm due on Sept. 5, my highs school barkada Roxanne is due 3rd week of Sept and my college buddies Wenny and  Mauee are both due in October.  Baby boom!!! =)

Nursery Dreams

Ever since I got pregnant with Kaelin, I always found myself browsing for nurseries on the web.  Ang gaganda lang kasi talaga.  But since we're living in a condo, I don't think setting up a nursery is feasible given the limited space.  And even if it is, i don't think I would want her to sleep in a different room from ours.  Feeling ko magkakaroon ako ng separation anxiety.  Hahaha. :-)

Anyway, just want to share my so-called dream nurseries.  ;-p

Ang ganda di ba?!  Disney princess ang dating! (photo source)

I love the crib!  Who would have thought that cribs could  be round?  (photo source)

There is a dreamy feel to this nursery... clouds, white furniture... (photo source)

Love the color palette! (photo source)

Love the modern twist of it!  Not at all pa-cute and pa-sweet! (photo source)

Love the beach theme of the room! (photo source)

Nice di ba? =)

36 Weeks

I'm in my 36 weeks already... 36 weeks and 5 days to be exact.  The time to finally meet and see our bundle of joy, Kaelin, is getting nearer and nearer.  And I couldn't be more excited... and anxious... and scared... 

... excited to see her and hug her and kiss her and smell her and just hold her in my arms

... excited for her to see the wonderful world outside of my tummy 

... excited to finally have my own child and be a mother!

... excited to start a new chapter in my life with her and Kit

... excited for her to finally use those baby things that her dad and I shopped for her, and of course, those given by our dear friends and family  

... anxious of the birthing process... when is real labor going to happen... will i be with Kit that specific time or will i be alone at our condo... how do i/we go about it... how can i tell if its real labor... is it necessary for my water bag to break to say that i'm in labor... is what i'm experiencing braxton hicks or real contractions already... when is the right time to go to the hospital...

... anxious if Kaelin is doing okay inside my tummy... is it still comfortable for her knowing that the space inside is getting smaller and smaller with her constant growth... is her umbilical cord strangling her or does it have knots making it hard for her to get the necessary nutrients from me... am i giving her enough nutrients... is she still in cephalic position (with the head down; not breech; the right position for normal delivery)... am i hurting her with the stuff that i do...

... scared of the actual birthing process... i want a normal delivery and i know it will hurt big time... scared that i might not know how to correctly "push"...

... scared of the daunting task of being a mom, a great mom... can i do it?  i will definitely try my bestest best!

As you see, I have LOT of questions and issues which I think is normal for a first-time mom-to-be.  Of course, its a new experience for me.  And being paranoid, I think, is somewhat okay.  Because there is no formula for pregnancy, child-bearing, and being a parent so I cannot just ask others for tips and hope that it too would work for me.  It's different for everyone.  The only common denominator is that we all want our child/ren to be healthy, normal and safe.   

I will end this post with a prayer by Vienna Cobb Anderson.

Prayer for a Safe Pregnancy

This life you have given us
is so tiny, fragile, and vulnerable,
safe in the womb of flesh and hope,
yet subject to danger and death.
O God of love, creator of life,
hear our prayer.
We want this baby so much.
Please grant this child of ours
a full term of nurture,
the joy and mystery of life,
and the blessing of Your love.
Grant us the fulfillment of our dreams,
a baby to cherish and protect,
a child to teach and guide,
a blessing to our family.
Amen.

Have a happy and healthy pregnancy to all preggy ladies out there.  =)

Giddy over a Bath tub

After office yesterday, Kit and I went to Megamall to buy Kaelin a bath tub.  Here's a picture of what we bought her:

It came with a free Safety 1st Oral Care Set -- an infant teether, an infant toothbrush and gum stimulator, and a toddler toothbrush.  Freebies alert! =)

It's Safety 1st Complete Care 4 Stage Bath Center.  We've been eyeing it for a long time already but it was only this week, that we finally decided to buy it.  And i didn't imagine that by buying it, I would feel really giddy.  As in kinilig ako!  Hahaha!  Why?  Well, because it was the last item in our to-buy things for Kaelin.  Finally, we have completed all her things.  Yey! =)  

Now, si Kaelin na lang ang kulang.  See you in a few weeks baby! =) 

Baby Shower no. 2: We Feel So Loved!

Last July 30, Kit and I had a baby shower at Discovery Suites.  We only invited a few friends since we only rented a 1-bedroom suite.  We don't want the room to be packed to the brim.  But that was what happened anyway.  And we are not complaining!  Far from it!  The great show of people really overwhelmed us.  Dear friends indeed! =)

There were a few games but mostly what we did was share stories.  Kwentuhan-galore talaga!  I suddenly missed laughing that hard, talking that much and just smiling practically the whole time.  Hahaha.  There were so many stories that the supposed-to-be merienda shower spilled over to dinner.  And we forgot to take pictures of our friends!!!  And we almost forgot to open the gifts while our friends were still there.  Good thing my sister insisted that we open the gifts already should my dad pick her and my mom up early.  Nagagawa nga naman ng kadaldalan!  Hahaha! =p

And the gifts, we LOVE them!!! It was the first time that we had a registry (not even during our wedding), so we didn't know what to expect.  And having our friends go out of their way to give us what we wished for blew us away.  Thank you again friends.  We can't thank you enough.  And we can't wait for Baby Kaelin to finally use them.  =)

bottle-feeding!

Special thanks to Kit's BDO friends who helped us clean up afterwards.  They were so game that at one point, they settled in one corner and sat on the floor.  Hahaha! Thanks again L, M, W and X.  =)

pin the pacifier on the baby

the gifts!!! =)

the happy parents-to-be!

see you baby! =)

So ano, baby shower ulit next week?  Hahaha!  Nawili! =)