It was a busy weekend for us. Imagine 2 parties with my online friends?

But even before those events, our Saturday started with my weekly check up at my OB. I'm 36 weeks already, and since I told her that Im experiencing some pains already she performed an IE on me. Of course, i got scared with the thought of having an IE. It went well than how I expected it to be. So Im not dilated yet and OB said that it might be 1 - 2 weeks from now before I give birth. So that's around 37 - 38 weeks. I actually wanna give birth at 37, just like with my first pregnancy coz I dont wanna grow bigger (and the baby too!). Maybe a little (okay, not just a little) walking will be great. I cant imagine having 2 kids in a few weeks. Our finances would definitely hit the sky, so Im considering venturing in a business soon. I saw some available small business for sale , im just going through the list to see what might interest me.

We will see babydoll soon. Let the countdown begin!

I am so sleepy during mornings and afternoons, but come night time, I am WIDE AWAKE! Whew! I usually sleep now at 3 - 4 am, can you imagine? Add to that my frequent visits to the loo. Is this a sign? Is it really getting near? Oh well, I think im a bit ready, just a bit hahaha! I just need to pack the baby bag, and finish arranging things at my hospital bag too. I need to arrange my breastfeeding items too , it's still inside my cabinet. Oh well, im gonna do that tomorrow.

Been cleaning here and there for the past weeks, and I feel so happy that I was able to fix Joaqui's clothes in his new cabinet, and I was able to arrange his books at the shelf. His playroom is getting full since he has his drumset there and a basketball court. I wonder where will I place some toys of the little girl in the next few months. So I have decided to pack away his elephant tent since he doesn't play there that much. A few toys need to be kept too , to make way for new ones that will arrive in no time. We need to get some moving boxes again.

I haven't started arranging the stuff of babydoll since the box is yet to arrive this week. I only have a few clothes of her, neatly placed now in our bedroom. I bought some newborn diapers, toiletries and the likes. Its a good thing there's a department store near our house, so getting something is not that hard at all. I just can't wait for the box to arrive.

Im already on my 35th week.. I can feel that it's near , and yet I still dont have my little girl's balikbayan box, LOL! My mom sent it mid September, so I am expecting it anytime next week. So hold on baby, you still have nothing to wear Hahaha!

Remember her white beret my mom got from Gymboree? I might get it this weekend since one of my mom's officemate will arrive here in Manila on Saturday. It was a late purchase and mommy thought of having it pouched thru LBC, but luckily, an officemate will be home this week. SO yeah, she will have a part of her going home outfit.. a matching beret and socks! :) I just hope it fits, or il do anything to make it look good on her. Pilitin daw ba?

I will have my checkup on Saturday , its weekly now..that is if I'll still make it til my 38th week. I hope to give birth as soon as the baby is in full term already , and as long as Im done with the 2 parties im attending next week :) What a way to end my pregnancy.. 2 parties!!! Woohooo!

.. sa 2 parties next week.

eh pano nga kaya kung hindi ???

Hala.. ang baba pa naman ng tyan ko. Hahaha! Plus with Joaqui's birth, wala pa ko 38 weeks nun. Got dilated at 36 weeks and gave birth at 37. Hmm.. lets all wait and see =) im on my 35th this week. Wish me luck!

So i am now on my 34th week :)

• I feel and look so heavy.
• I have a clean tummy. I think the marks that I am seeing are still the ones from my 1st pregnancy.
• No Edema yet. But I noticed, when I get tired from walking, my feet looks "manas" , but after resting a bit , its back to normal. Thank God.
  
• I still crave for sweets! I cut down on my rice intake, but i cant resist cakes and donuts.
• My hospital bag is almost packed.
  
• Babydoll's stuff might arrive by next week. I can start arranging her cabinet and her bag
  
• OH! and before I forget.. she's BABYDOLL NO MORE . We finally have a name for her :) At Last!
  

I gained weight .. from 123 to 129 lbs! What else can i do? Im almost 34 weeks pregnant and i just can't stop myself from eating rice and sweets (bad!) . I actually noticed that I am on the heavier side, because I easily got tired when we were at the grocery last Friday ( the first time it happened in this pregnancy. Never ako napagod sa mall ! ) .

Hmmm.. im thinking of a little contest in line with my pregnancy weight. I might announce it soon, so stay tuned!

From Babycenter..

How your baby's growing:This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds and has passed the 17-inch mark. He's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

Finally, I'll be seeing Ging Lorenzo on Oct. 4 for my maternity portrait session . I can't wait ! Im exchanging emails with her lately, and we haven't finalized the venue yet. Outdoor shots would be great because of the lighting, there's no way I am showing my belly, LOL!

After my very own pictorial at Fernbrook last week, I am so excited to have another series of glam mommy shots. As if!

My boys will join me of course! I just wish Joaqui will be in the mood too:) All for mommy's kaartehan syempre!

** I feel (and look) so BIG now, really :) .

** I easily get tired. Tired from walking, and even tired from sitting

** I find it hard to sleep early at night. So I just spend my time surfing the net ( such a dangerous past time , tsk tsk! )

** Backpain is killing me.

** Naiinip na ko sa Balikbayan box, im expecting it to arrive on mid October, so yeah , I should give birth once it's delivered, LOL.

** I can't resist cakes. Bad !

** Experienced cramps twice last week. I almost cried in pain!

** Wala pa din name si Baby.

Thanks kathy :)

{{START COPY HERE}}–

Moms Who Played Along: Mai | Yen | Kathycot |Peachy |You

Preggy Facts:

1. Who did you first inform about your pregnancy and how?
:: The husband. Then for this 2nd baby, with Kuya Joaqui, since both of them are patiently waiting for me outside the bathroom :)

2. Maximum weight?
:: from 107 to 135 lbs with Joaquin. Now, I am 116 lbs at 6 months .

3. Cravings?
:: With Joaqui - Cheeseburger Meal at Mcdo. Asado Siopao at Chowking . Bangkok Tamarind.

:: With Babydoll - California Maki , Quickly Taro Ice with Choco Pudding , Watermelon Shake, Cream - O, Donuts.. and the list goes on. Pwede bang isama sa cravings si Gabby Concepcion? LOL

4. Aversions?
:: cant remember any. And so far, none pa din naman with the 2nd pregnancy..

5. Morning Sickness?
:: With Joaqui - It was the worst experience. I was admitted at the hospital because im nearing dehydration from too much vomiting (4 x a day, minimum) . All day sickness is the better term.

:: With Babydoll : Lesser vomiting , but terrible headache and dizziness!! But still, i had a hard time.

D Day Facts:

1. Number of Kids/Deliveries?
:: 1 .. soon to be 2

2. NSD or CS?
:: Normal with Epidural ..

3. Girl or Boy?
:: Naka jackpot na ko !

4. AOG (age of gestation) on Birth?
:: 37 weeks and 3 days during my 1st. Excited lumabas :)

5. How long in labor?
:: I was at the labor room around 12 noon, chika pa ko sa monitoring nurse. but i started to feel pain at 3:15 pm na.. then gave birth at 5:22 pm.. 2 push lang, labas agad si Joaqui ! Sana, same thing goes for the 2nd baby.

–{{END COPY HERE}}–

Tagging Vannie, Mich , Toni , Abie and Jacqui

I just ha a blood test (FT4 and TSH ) last Friday night at UST for my hyperthyroidism . Yes, I'm hyperthyroid and I found out everything about this when I was pregnant with Joaqui. Sad to say, I was given some medications then ( PTU ,that i have to take everyday). I am so not into taking meds while pregnant, but when i had a consultation with an endocrinologist, everything was explained to me clearly , and the meds given to me is considered safe for preggos.

I was really praying hard then for Joaqui's safety too. We all know about Hypothyroidism in babies, and that really alarmed me too much. Joaqui's newborn screening results were all OK, but to be on the safer side, my endo requested for some blood tests for Joaqui when he was 2 months old. Still, everything was on the normal range, but for monitoring purposes, we consulted a pedia- endocrinologist. He was monitored every 2-3 months then. Now, every 6 months na lang. Aside from the blood tests, pedia asked us on developments, like if he can sit unassisted, stand, talk, move around the crib, teeth eruption, constipation and a lot more. Joaqui was able to do everything and that gives me assurance that he's not delayed with his developments even before he turned 1.

I am so thankful to my OB for noticing my neck then..it gets bigger daw kasi when I swallow. Hahaha. Thats one thing she noticed when im talking to her. There are no painful symptoms actually, so I never thought that there was something wrong with it already. The blood tests confirmed everything.

One of the treatments for hyperthyroidism is thru radiation, one thing I wasnt able to do after giving birth to Joaqui since you can't be in close contact to a baby / child after a radiation procedure. I think 24 hours after the operation (im not sure on this ) , i need to be really away from Joaqui. Something that's impossible for me to do , thus i keep on postponing the radiation procedure.

And now I am pregnant once again. And this is really unplanned :)

So I have a feeling that my hyperthyroidism is active once again. And everything will just repeat itself - just like my first pregnancy. But still, im just hoping and praying for the best. Im not actually researching about it online, it gets me paranoid. I trust my OB and my Endocrinologist on this matter, so I always ask them questions directly..

.. and most of all, i lift everything to GOD.

Kicks here and there - It's getting frequent at night time , im telling you. Babydoll might be really awake . Sometimes , I can even feel slow movements , as if she's caressing my belly.. and you will see me with the "nagulat ako" move right after that. I can say that my tummy now is bigger than my 1st pregnancy. I just hope and pray that babydoll wont be too big , as im afraid to undergo a CS delivery.

Cravings - California Maki and Quickly still tops my list. We tried California Makis at Japanese fast foods like Tokyo2x , Rai Rai Ken , Tempura, Karate Kid and Teriyaki Boy (maki comparisons needs a separate post ) . Im too happy that Gelo is sooo supportive with my fave. Sometimes, I dont tell him at all to buy me maki.. then he would arrive home with one. He's too eager to try every Jap resto that he'll see on his way home. Though he's not into anything Jap too, he tried eating a few already :) He likes the Tempura Maki at Teriyaki Boy , and The Uncle Sams Maki at Tempura.

Quickly is my favorite drink. I need to drink 1 at the mall.. as in! I dont know the exact name of what im drinking. I would always tell the attendant what I like. So Its choco pudding + Taro Ice + choco syrup + extra choco pudding too :)

Physical Features - I certainly look better than my 1st pregnancy.. No big nose ( na mala red bell pepper, LOL) , no zits at my forehead , my skin looks better , no linea negra ( is that how you call it? The brown line at your tummy? I have a super dark one with Joaqui at 4 months! ), the only thing I really noticed is my bigger tummy.


I wonder how will i look like at 7 months .. I dont have my latest pic now.. im getting too lazy even with picture taking. Haha.

3 more months.. I just can't wait :)

I am definitely getting the services of Ging Lorenzo.. I just hope that the rates are still updated. Got this last May :)



I'm just waiting for my tummy to get a little bigger. I cant wait to have this shoot with my boys!

I am thinking of the Lamesa EcoPark after hearing good feedbacks from my friends.. any other suggestions?

My tummy it is.

It should be since I am 23 -24 weeks pregnant to date. Oh it just gets nearer! Im having mixed emotions actually and questions on motherhood is bugging me again. But as of now, I try to shooo them away , instead I think about other things , like shopping.. and when I say shopping, its not just for the lil princess , but for my two boys as well. Ayaw ko ng may jealousy , pati si Gelo, baka magselos na.

I can't wait to have my next ultrasound too.

Then I am planning to have a photo shoot with Ging Lorenzo. I already have her rates for the maternity session, im just thinking of a nice location. Maybe we can have that when im 7 - 8 months preggy.

I feel like a brand new mom :)

To our dear friends..

Thank You .

Sorry, I got too busy after hearing the news. We had 2 birthday dinners last Saturday and Sunday. But Gelo, Joaqui and I wasn't able to celebrate yet. Hopefully we can celebrate as a family this week too.

I will pick the 2 winners maybe tomorrow evening :)

Ultrasound on Saturday morning... And I am so excited as ever ! I have a feeling that we are having a girl this time *wink , wink*

And here's a little something for all of you. Just guess the gender of my baby , leave me a message here before Saturday morning. Just comment if girl or boy ( dude or betty, the Hollister way :) )

One winner will be drawn ( or maybe 2.. ) on Sunday :) Winner will receive something thru Paypal :)

Goodluck to everyone!

I still don't know the gender of my 2nd baby.. my schedule for ultrasound would be anytime this July, in time with my Blood Sugar test. I am excited (for the US ) and at the same time nervous for the results of the blood exam. I haven't been careful with my sweets intake lately and I am a bit worried that it might lead me to "not-so-good" results. I'm just praying hard for this :)

I wish I knew baby's gender by now. Why ? Because of some online sale going on at Old Navy and Gap . LOL. Babaw! I want to start on some shopping , you know!

I am feeling more movements now, usually during midnight, thus it keeps me wide awake at 11pm- 1 am. Sometimes, I would even have a biscuit before I go to bed. I crave for California Maki :) and I am a sleepy head still .. Thank heavens ! I am one lucky girl, I just don't get really fat at all. Here's my pic at The Boutique 2 weeks ago ..