Why won't you breastfeed?

Recent studies show that the Philippines is the most emotional country. No, I'm not going to attempt to prove the truth of it; I'm just going to cite the study the justify this emotion I feel toward women who don't want to breastfeed.

As much as possible, I try not to pass judgment to those women. After all, I don't know what they're going through. But what I don't understand is why some mothers won't even try. Even when I was still a child, I already dead-set on breastfeeding my future children. This is funny, considering all of us siblings weren't exclusively breastfed. My younger sister was only breastfed for the first two months, I think, and it wasn't even exclusive.

But I knew I would breastfeed because I know it's the best for my baby. This is what I don't understand with some women. Here are some of the common reasons I encounter:

Baby won't latch - Mommy, the baby was used to eating 24/7 when he was still inside the womb. The realization that he actually has to do something to eat is shocking for him. You need to work together, not expect the baby to suck on his own. Practice, practice, and research!

Not enough milk - Newborn babies have a stomach that is just as big as a large calamansi. Can you imagine how small that is? Now, imagine filling it with milk. The newborn baby doesn't need as much milk as you think, mommy. In fact, in the early days of life, they don't even need milk to be full. They only need to suck to feel comfort.

Stress - Mommy, when I gave birth, my baby's father wasn't there. My family didn't want the father to be there. I had to take care of my baby virtually on my own. I spent the first couple of months (yes, 2 months) of my baby's life fighting postpartum depression. On top of that, Y had colic. I stayed in the living room day and night because I barely slept. So don't get me started on stress.

Baby prefers formula milk - Seriously? You think that? I urge you to make yourself a mixture of formula and also pump some breast milk. Taste the difference. Hello? (And yes, I do taste my breastmilk. It's crucial when you pump so that you'll know if the milk is still okay to feed the baby with.)

Inconvenience - Would you rather breastfeed in public, or lug around a huge diaper bag full of formula and bottles and water? And if you run out of water, where will you buy? How will you sterilize it? How can you even travel with your baby, mommy?

Had CS - I had CS. Enough said.

Work - And here's the number one reason why some women won't breastfeed. Work. Mommy, there are a lot of pumps out there. All you need to do is invest on one. Sure, they cost a lot, especially those that are hospital-grade, but cans and cans of formula still cost higher. And they aren't even half as good as breast milk.

Unless you have undergone breast surgery, have infectious and serious disease (like TB), or are undergoing radiation therapy, among other things, I think there's no reason why you won't breastfeed. Heck, even mothers with Hepatitis-C can breastfeed!

Shocking realization: We have this notion that most breastfeeding moms are those who can't afford to buy milk, or those living in remote barrios or something. Now, I am online most of the time, which gives me opportunity to observe some of my Facebook friends who are already moms. I observed that the moms who belong to the upper-middle class and the ones who have high educational attainment are the ones who strive to breastfeed their babies exclusively. 

Well, considering the knowledge it takes to breastfeed, the realization may not be that shocking after all.

Breastfeeding 5-month old Y in church: excuse the bra straps. 

I'm dating a keeper

Well, aside from the fact that we already have an 8-month old baby, I really knew from the beginning that J is a keeper. Even before I read this article on Thought Catalog. You haven't read it? Lucky you, because I'm copying it here. You just have to deal with my comments and annotations. :-)

Image taken from Google

32 Signs You’re Dating A Keeper

1. You don’t have to wait three or more hours for a response for a simple text every time you send one.
- Actually, he's the one who has to wait for my reply. He understands my situation (long story) and knows I can only respond when it's "safe."

2. They aren’t embarrassed or put out by introducing you to their friends/including you sometimes in their outings.
- Hindi naman. Proud naman sya sa akin kahit papano. Hahaha!

3. They are willing to give, or at least share, the last slice of pizza.
- Not applicable because he really eats more than what I could eat. In other words, he eats what I couldn't eat anymore.

4. You are not afraid to be yourself around them — your strange humor, your occasionally awkward mannerisms, your interests in things that other people might consider a waste of time.
- Naman! I'm never self-conscious around him. Sya din. Haha!

5. Even if what you like might not be their favorite thing, they are always willing to give things a try if they are important to you.
- I love desserts and sweets, but he doesn't. Kumakain naman sya ng konti kung meron. :P

6. They don’t fill your Facebook wall with inappropriate “OMG baby it’s been almost a week! Miss u so much!”-esque posts, because no one deserves to have to look at that.
- Not applicable. No Facebook. :D

7. They respect not only you, but the people you love in your life — if they are super sweet to you but constantly ragging on your parents/friends, you need to cut them loose.
- Seriously, yes. Despite the issues, I can tell that J really respects my parents because he's always planning on what to say to them later on.

8. You are both able to communicate honestly with each other about your feelings and needs in the relationship without feeling like it’s going to turn into a horrible fight.
- Unfortunately, it's me who likes to pick fights lately. I'd like to blame it on the hormones, but I know it's partly because of the long distance.

9. They are a firm, enthusiastic believer in cunnilingus.
- LOL. TMI.

10. You never feel as though they are slumming it or doing a favor by being with you.
- Never! Swerte nya sa akin no! Hahaha, feeling.

11. They surprise you — and not just with random gifts of flowers or chocolate. They are evolving into a better person from being with you (just as you are with them).
- Yes, yes, yes! I really think he's now a better person. I'd like to think it's because of me, but I know it's because of Y. And, yes, the surprise gifts (flowers, chocolates, etc.) are great, too!

12. You don’t have to have some extravagant night in an expensive restaurant in order to both enjoy the evening and feel appreciated.
- Not applicable. We're both uncomfortable with formal settings.

13. There is never a question as to how they actually feel about you.
- Yes. If ever I questioned something about the relationship, most often it's because of my own insecurities, not because of something he did. Then all I need to do is tell him I need reassurance.

14. Sex isn’t used as a placeholder for other emotions that might not be there, or not be there in high enough quantities.
- Hindi naman. Actually di ko naintindihan. Hahaha.

15. They are just as capable of having a ridiculous night in, eating junk food and watching crappy TV, as they are of shining up and attending an important event.
- Oh yes. The nights-in I miss. :-(

16. Your mom likes them.
- Oh. Next please! No, seriously, I honestly think my mom just needs to get to know him better. Mothers are not perfect. I can say that without hesitation, because how many times did I let Y chew on a toy that I haven't cleaned yet?

17. You are capable of both doing your own thing from time to time without the other becoming irrationally jealous, suspicious, or angry.
-  We're both jealous people. A little jealousy goes a long way in a relationship, as long as it's the "cute" type. Teehee. So no, not irrationally jealous, suspicious, or angry.

18. There is never any doubt that they are thinking of you, that they consider your feelings, and that you are important to their life.
- Naman. :-)

19. You both have generally similar visions of the future, and what you want out of life. (You don’t want there to come a moment where things can go no further because, say, one absolutely wants children and the other absolutely doesn’t.)
- Yes, we have generally the same outlook, although he's more grounded and I'm more ambitious. I mean, who doesn't want to become a young millionaire?

20. If you suffer a moment of weakness or need help with something, they are eager to support you and not shame you for being incapable of handling it on your own.
- Yes. :-)

21. If they’re straight, they don’t say f*g, and if they’re white, they don’t say the n-word. (Any keeper needs basic home training.)
- Never did a bad word come from his mouth, seriously. He doesn't even curse and swear. And I'm so proud of him because of that.

22. They don’t make fun of your taste in music/pop culture/entertainment. (Well, a little teasing is fine, but they shouldn’t be seriously judging you over it.)
- No, but I tease him hahaha.

23. They encourage and support you in pursuing your dreams in life.
- YES. :-)

24. You feel welcome and comfortable around their family — even if no future in-laws are perfect.
- Yes. When I went to Surigao, they didn't treat me like a stranger. And in their place, "family" means entire neighborhood. Literally.

25. There aren’t any secrets between the two of you, or things about yourselves which you feel you need to seriously hide from one another.
- No secrets at all. Well, maybe except for the fact that I just ordered new clothes for Y. Again.

26. They are proud of you.
- Of course. I am, too. :-)

27. There is no pressure for either of you to adhere to strict, completely outdated gender roles — or a feeling that, if you don’t, the other isn’t attracted to you anymore.
- He clearly prefers conservative women, but he doesn't expect me to act like one all the time.

28. Your friends enjoy being around them, and generally think that they are a cool person who is good for you.
- I think so? I think they like him. Friends?

29. They make you laugh, laugh so hard you can’t breathe, laugh so much that you don’t care if you’re doing your “ugly, weird, cackly/snorty laugh.” (And they love your laugh.)
- Hahahaha yes. But I make him laugh even harder. Hahahaha.

30. You are capable of having thoughtful, intelligent discussions about subjects that — even if you don’t necessarily agree on the topic at hand — teach both of you something and remain respectful.
- Yes. I remember the time when we discussed mining, and taxes, and PhilHealth, and how he caught a bullfrog. Oh wait.

31. You feel fully comfortable around them naked, in bright afternoon light.
- Ang TMI naman neto.

32. You reciprocate all of these things for them, and are excited at the prospect of being a better, smarter, more caring person because of the healthy way in which you love one another.
- Yes, yes, yes. :-)

Based on my annotations, I think J scored a healthy 99%. Oh wait, I'm not good in Math. I was just guessing. Hahaha! But seriously, before I read the content of the article, before I even came upon it, I had no doubt that J is a keeper. I'm very lucky to have him, and I'm even luckier to be loved by someone like him. This post makes me miss him even more.

Arte-arte. :P

The day when I finally won something

Remember my post for Benetton's contest? No? Let's Move, Let's Love? From Nuffnang? Still no? Poor me. But it's okay because I got something out of it. I won!

Well, I am not the grand prize winner, but it's okay; it's a start. I was actually planning on winning a Benetton bag (plan talaga?), which was the consolation prize, since I'm not expecting to win or anything. I mean, I have a history. I never win raffles! On the other hand, this was not a raffle, but a writing contest. But I still wasn't expecting to win!

What do you know, I actually got a Paradiso Inferno perfume from Benetton:

This is the description on Benetton's website:

"Blue paradisiac hell"? Who writes these things? Interesting, hahaha. But it's for men! And besides, I don't wear perfume much. Hmm, I wonder whom I can give it to?

J: Mie, tamang tama, pasko na.

Che!

New Grocery Finds

If you have been reading my blog for the last couple of months (hello, handful of readers!), you would know that I'm in SM every week. (Hello, potential stalkers!) Kidding aside, ever since SM branched out to the northern part Davao City the other month, I have become an official fan.

Why? Because they got it all for me!

Seriously, they have everything. And it doesn't help that they have their own line of baby products, Baby Company. And they have almost every baby brand known to mother-kind. I can spend hours just browsing the aisles of the department store. Thankfully, Y doesn't have the same patience - even if the products were for him. Ugh, boys! Hahaha!

Last time I shared with you some of the products I used for Y. Those were pre-SM days. Now, every week, I discover new products - much to the dismay of Y's yaya, methinks. LOL. But who can resist affordable finds? Here are a few of them:

We have run out of the usual laundry detergent we use for Y. I normally use SmartSteps or Cycles laundry detergent, but I saw this brand in SM. It's called Baby Clean. I'm not sure, but I think SM owns this. It's very mild and I guess it cleans well, just like other brands. However, this is the last time I will buy a baby detergent. Y is 8 months now and his clothes are ready for Perla. I plan to buy lots of Perla bars for Y's clothes and my skin. (Sabi kasi ng nanay ko). Hehehe.

By the way, the 1000ml bottle costs only P150. :-)

We are also very strict with hand washing in the house. Even pre-Y, I wash my hands every time I pass by the sink. I don't know; I may have gotten it from my dad who's very OCD. And it's not the kind of OC that every girl on the block seems to have. He's seriously OC that he once considered psychological treatment. Before I digress further, this baby handwash from Baby Company smells really nice and, in my case, doesn't leave the hands dry.

This 500ml bottle costs only, get this, P50!

I swear by Huggies because it never left rashes on Y's skin. To those who keep on saying I should use lampin instead: yes, I used lampin when I was the one who exclusively took care of Y. I was very vigilant on changing the lampin every now and then, but Y still had rashes. It disappeared when I used Huggies again. Huggies Dry are currently on a promo (in every mall, methinks). It's 34+5, but unfortunately, I forgot how much the entire pack costs.

On a lighter note, we're on XL now! :-)

I also bagged larger goods some three weeks ago, namely a stroller (for only P999!) and a baby mat (for only P300!). I would have liked to feature them in my blog, but they're currently located at the back of Y's crib. Here:

There they are, stuck in a corner right behind the crib! We only take out the stroller (black, very hidden) when we're taking Y out. And the mat (blue, very visible) doesn't have its proper place yet. Hmm. I wonder where I can place it...

Unfortunately, I don't feel like moving the (giant) crib and pulling those two things out. But don't worry, they're there. Ano daw? Teehee.

Zip-front Dresses

Ever since I gave birth, I developed the penchant for dresses. I don't know why, but suddenly, I can't leave the house without wearing a dress - and it has to be a girly dress. If you knew me pre-pregnancy, you would know that I'm the type of girl who's okay with shirts and jeans. If I wanted to be dressy, I would slip on a long top and leggings. That's it! But now, it has to be a dress.

Now, dresses aren't exactly the easiest thing to wear when breastfeeding. When I'm with Y, I can only confidently wear a dress when I know there'd be a breastfeeding area (like SM). Imagine pulling everything up when Y wants to breastfeed? I do wear shorts underneath, but the sight is still indecent.

Enter this front-zip dress that I got in Cebu. When we were walking around SM, I spotted Meg, a boutique which I'm pretty sure is not in Davao. I wasn't really planning on buying something, but I found this cute, retro-style dress in a color I love: gray! And what sealed the deal was the front-zip. Here are some photos (albeit unflattering) of me wearing it:

At the airport: The dress is ideal for trips where you use a seatbelt because you don't have to pull anything up. Just cover  yourself and zip the dress open. 

Blurred photo in the hotel room, posing for a full view of the dress. Can you see the front zipper?

And at the lobby, waiting for our sundo. Wala lang.

I'm no fashion blogger; I know. I'm sorry I ambushed you with photos showcasing my thunder thighs and arms. Sorry! Hahaha. The point is that I should have made this discovery months ago. I should have stocked up with front-zip dresses for breastfeeding (and looking cute, too!). Good thing I never bought any breastfeeding dresses.

So to all mommies (and future mommies) out there, you don't need to spend thousands on breastfeeding dresses or clothes. All you need to do is be creative and look for possible alternatives, like front-zip dresses!

The Meg dress above originally sells for P999. It was on sale that day, and I got it for only ... secret! Let's just say that if the dress came in more colors, I would have bought one of each. :D

SM Lanang Premier Breastfeeding Room

Last week, I wrote a post on SM Cebu's breastfeeding room. Breastfeeding there was a good experience: there was no hassle of having to wait for an empty cubicle (unlike Abreeza), there's the convenience of a nurse just outside the door, and the entire facility is clean and sterile. Everything was really thought about. It is no wonder why Henry Sy is the country's richest man.

Back home, we are frequenters of another of Sy's malls, SM Lanang Premier. It was a new mall, so I was excited to try the breastfeeding room out. I was actually able to breastfeed there a number of times already, but I only had the common sense to take photos the other week.

I don't know what the stencils are for, but they provided a nice touch to the room.

The door and the stenciled wall

Like the breastfeeding room in SM Cebu, the one in Lanang Premier also had a clean sink. However, unlike the former, I noticed the latter doesn't have a diaper-changing table and mirror. Also, I noticed both have log-in sheets. What are those for?

Are we secretly monitored? #praning

The sink and the log-sheet (Not in photo: wheelchairs)

The chairs are exactly the same as what they have in SM Cebu, but there are only individual chairs; there was no "couch." It's a small room so a bigger couch would not fit.

Some armchairs and my overflowing bag

It's actually a small version of the breastfeeding room in Cebu. The entire facility is a clinic (with a nurse) and there's just a room devoted for nursing mothers. It's also very clean, but not very conducive for sleeping since construction noises can be heard from the other room. It's a new mall after all. But overall, it's still a good breastfeeding room. :-)

*Blurry photos courtesy of my 2-year old, non-Android phone and a wiggling little boy

Y the Imeldific

Let's face it: baby girls are a lot more fun to dress up than baby boys. Heck, the only time I can dress up Y is during special occasions. And just how many occasions does a 7-month old baby get to attend? Other than his own baptism, I think the odds are close to none. Harhar. Also, isn't it unfair how there are sooo many selections for baby girls and so few for baby boys? And baby boy clothes are more expensive!

Because of my "dilemma," I resorted to buying as many baby shoes as I could. If there aren't "dressy" clothes for boys, then I will buy handsome shoes. There was a time when I was buying at least one pair of shoes per week. Zara Baby, Pitter Pat, Fisher-Price, Champion, Disney, name it, we got it. Now, anywhere in the house, at least one pair of pint-sized shoes is scattered. There's a need for organization - ASAP!

From Instagram: Y's 11 pairs of shoes, not including the ones he regularly uses at home

What you need to organize baby shoes:

Every mom's BFF: lotsa lotsa Ziplock!

My mom found a lot of these hanging organizers for cheap in Gaisano Mall's clearance sale. Each one only costs P40! I just need to find a way to cover the text above, though. :| 

I cleaned each shoe using wipes and then placed each pair in individual Ziplock bags. Y's smaller cloth shoes went into medium-sized bags, while his current shoes went into large-sized bags. After the tedious process (chos!), I inserted each bag into the pockets of the hanging organizer.

Then, I hung it on my belts hooks. Voila!

Organized at last!

Of course, because the organizer only has 9 pockets, some shoes did not fit. They went back into their respective shoe boxes. 

One of the two shoe boxes

 But at least, Y's shoes are definitely more organized and will stay cleaner for longer! :-)

Last Week in Photos

Nothing happened much last week, but I was able to take many cute photos because of my new-found addiction to Instagram. I love Android! Before I go off-track, here's a summary of last week in photos (from Instagram, of course):

Y begins to use the walker. It's an old walker; it used to be my sister's 10 years ago!

2 weeks ago actually: Bought the November ish of Working Mom magazine. I guess it's goodbye Cosmo!

Y and his ducky terry robe c/o Ninang Sarah

Early Christmas the other Sunday at #SMLanang: We were lucky to catch Santa. He wasn't there anymore yesterday!

Baked warm sugar cookies with melted peanut butter to combat the cold weather. Just kidding! These cookies were store-bought. I just slathered peanut butter on them and popped them in the microwave. #FAIL

Just this morning, Y slept for more than 11 hours straight!

And this is my favorite photo as of now. Cutie patotie!

Thoughts on #Amalayer

Yes, that's a hashtag on my post title. I don't know why, but hashtags seem to be taking over the world now: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram.

I digress.

Alright, so I assume you must be familiar with the #Amalayer issue. If not, please come out of that rock and soak up some chismis. Or better yet, watch some news. Anyway, it's about this irate girl - Paula Salvosa - who yelled at lady guard in the LRT and made a scene. I know it's been two days since it has happened, but #amalayer (which is derived from I'm a liar) is still trending on Twitter, which led me to really think about it.

My two cents:

I'm glad I was raised by a family who doesn't have scandalous tendencies. I experienced public humiliation many times (trust me), but I never had the urge to retaliate. Although I'm prone to running some pretty gruesome scenes in my head when I get home.

I'm also glad I was raised thinking that the world does not owe my anything. I work hard and nothing was ever handed to me on a silver platter just because I wished for it. My parents never spoiled me, and early on, I learned that if I wanted anything, I should work for it. Well, we all should work hard to get what we deserve - but still that doesn't mean we deserve to be treated like royalty.

Finally, if I were in the same situation as Salvosa, I'm sure I wouldn't have done the same thing. Why? Even though I write using English, I can't - for the life of me - speak well. If someone treated me badly, I would simply write to the management to save me from public speaking. So there. :D

Here's the video:

SM Cebu Breastfeeding Room

Traveling with a baby is a breeze when you are breastfeeding. Well, I don't mean breeze as in easy peasy exactly, but it certainly is a lot easier than traveling while formula-feeding. Imagine having to lug around bottles, cans of formula, water (sterilized, that is), a sterilizer, bottle brush, nipple brush, etcetera etcetera! Imagine the baggage weight!

When we were in Cebu, I didn't have the trouble of having to carry all those things. However, I did have the trouble of having to look for breastfeeding rooms. I mostly breastfed in the hotel room, though, and only carried solid food when we went out, but Y would inevitably crave "boob-time" every now and then.

The Ayalas are one of the successful developers in Cebu. Unfortunately, the Ayala Center is outdated. Not only does it look - and feel - old, there was also no breastfeeding room! When I asked a saleslady where their bf room was, she actually pointed me to the nearby fitting rooms. Oh, the horror. I had to breastfeed in the food court. Which looked like the food court of Gaisano South. I know.

Thankfully, the best mall in the city (me is biased), which is SM Cebu, has one. Apparently, it's also called the "Pink Room." It's located at the second floor of the North Wing - or instead of looking for it by yourself, try to go to an Information Booth for directions. Even I don't remember exactly how I found the BF room. Yes, SM Cebu is that big. 

I'm happy with the breastfeeding room because it is clean and spacious. There are also nurses to attend to your concerns, if you have some. It wasn't as fancy as the one in Abreeza, but I like it better because there are no cubicles. But enough with words, let the photos do the talking. I was alone in the station so I was free to take these pictures:

The station is easy to spot because of the huge sign.

A couple of arm chairs on one side - this is where we sat

And a long "sofa" on the other side

The popular breastfeeding poster just beside the door

A diaper changing station and a sink (with a mirror!)

A couple of wheelchairs

One last picture before we went out

PS: While I prefer breastfeeding in BF rooms, I also am used to breastfeeding in public. I also breastfed in SM food court, as well as some restaurants we ate in and boutiques we entered, with no problem. :)

Finally an Android!

I've had my mobile phone for more than two years. That's almost a decade in gadget-speak. I've had a Samsung Corby Plus for so long now, it's not funny anymore. Here's a photo of my ancient phone:

A black Samsung Corby Plus

It's a pretty basic phone. I loved it because it was touch-screen and had a QWERTY keyboard, but it's basic. As you may have guessed, it came out when Android phones were still priced at P30k+, similar to iPhone prices. So it's not an Android phone. Heck, it's not even WiFi! But when cheap Android devices started to come out, I realized na nagpaiwanan na talaga ako ng panahon. However, I still did not want to buy one because my Jurassic phone was still working very well and as much as I love technology, I prefer using my laptop.

I only use my phone to talk with J. #cheesy

I only realized I needed a new phone when Instagram became a hit. I need an Android phone, ASAP!

So yesterday, we went to SM Lanang, (as usual), and I checked the stores in CyberZone for a cheap Android phone. I went first to Tekpone and checked out Sony Xperia Tipo. I originally made up my mind already on this phone, but somehow, when I got a demo unit, it did not feel right. Yes, I buy my stuff using gut-feel. Sorry, spec-snobs. I got out of Tekpone to look for another phone.

Why didn't I ask for another phone in Tekpone? Because they didn't treat me very nicely. It was as if they didn't want customers. Or siguro they thought I wasn't buying. Poor me.

My parents were already in 8Telcom, where we regularly buy our phones (in other malls, though). I entered and asked for a recommendation for my budget. The lady recommended LG, so I tried it. I liked it. I bought it. And it didn't hurt that the salesladies were very accommodating and were playing with Y. Alright, I buy stuff based on gut-feel and customer service. I am a very emotional buyer, I realize. Sorry, spec-snobs.

Here's my new phone in a pose I see many bloggers do: above their laptops and in front of their webpages. Teehee. :D

A white LG Optimus L3

It's not much but it does the job for me. I can say I'm happy with it and will stick to it for another 2 years, hopefully.

New Baby on the Block

Yesterday, I visited George in the hospital, and look who I found!

3-day old Andrei

It's cutiepie Andrei Paulo! He has the same name as my older brother, which makes calling him "cutiepie" a bit awkward. Hahaha! And he's the spitting image of his dad; he looks nothing like his mom. ;)

Anyway, welcome to the world, future godson - slash - future bosom buddy of Y! Don't break too many hearts, boys. :)

Belle de Jour Planners for 2013

It's still early November and 2012 is still a bit far from over. However, I'm already itching to begin the new year with, what else, a new planner!

I first bought a Belle de Jour (or BDJ) planner early this year. Now, BDJ has released a new planner for 2013, and unlike last year, there are more choices to choose from.

There's the usual chic cover in leather or matte printed, priced at P648 for the former and P598 for the latter:

But I'm also crushing on the minimalist exclusive leather cover, priced slightly higher at P680:

The one in upper left

Don't you think it's so effortlessly stylish yet professional at the same time? Of course, the original cover is cool, too. Here are some more photos on the inside of the planner, taken from BDJ's Facebook account:

This feature of the planner is my life-saver.

But wait, here's another planner also from the BDJ team:

It's the Everything is Possible (or EIP) planner, which is also priced at P598. It's a planner that is targeted toward people who want to focus on reaching their goals this year. Of course, I have many goals, and I would love to have this planner. More photos:

The content is good, but the deal breaker is the color. I would like to have this planner if there were more feminine colors to choose from. Also, I don't think this planner comes with coupons, so it's BDJ again for me this year. Teehee.

Should I place my order now, or should I buy one at the break of 2013? Everyone at Twitter is already raving about their new planner, but don't you think it's more meaningful if I buy one to start the year right?

Nostalgia over Newborn Clothes

Above are some of Y's clothes when he was just a newborn. I prepared them earlier tonight, along with my gift, to give to my new, future godson tomorrow. Don't worry George; they were very lightly used. :)

I was marvelling at how tiny the clothes are. Wasn't it just yesterday when these were too big for Y? It wasn't? It surely feels like just yesterday. *sniffs*

Now, Y is a big boy. He knows who I am and he knows how to make me laugh. Now, he can stumble and topple over without me panicking. He even knows what he wants and demands it. This reminded me of how fast babies grow up. Soon, he will be all over the place. Later, he won't be sleeping beside me anymore. Before I know it, he will be breaking curfews and sneaking out the house.

Dear Y: Even when you become taller than mommy, even when you start courting girls, breaking hearts, and getting your heart broken, even when you start living your own life, no matter how many clothes you outgrow, you will always be our baby.

Oh, the joys of parenthood.

Cebu City: Day 3

Finally, I'm able to blog again. The parents were at home yesterday and my mom's premenopausal (is there such thing?) attacks kept me busy, while Y is in that stage when he cries whenever I'm not within his sight. I had trouble working straight yesterday, so my blog was left alone. *sigh*

Before I forget though, here are what we did on the third day of our stay in Cebu (October 31). That day was assigned as our "turista day." That means all day, what we did was basically tour around the city and visit the popular tourist spots. The parents have seen them all already (20 years ago), but we were adamant to have our pictures taken. :)

Santo Nino Basilica

Magellan's Cross

Plaza Independencia

Fort San Pedro

We didn't enter Fort San Pedro anymore because it was too hot, my arms were already getting tired of carrying Y, and he was already ready for milk. So, we rode a cab and went to Ayala Center. Until now, I'm still regretting not getting inside the fort. :(

I'll definitely come back though. :)