LABOR PAINS

As of writing I am currently in labor, 2-3 cm to be exact hhehehe. Patty is finally coming out tonight or tomorrow!=)

Rushing to the hospital now, wish us luck! :)

PARENTING 101

TOUCHDOWN!

 I finally reached my due date yahooo! Patty is now full term, and is ready for delivery!!! :) Thank God for Youtube, and Google so I equip myself parenting tips for the lack of maternal instincts and basic mommy knowledge. HAHA! I was consoled when told that some mommy stuffs come out naturally like carrying your new born. So I guess I should relax now? hehe

TEAM KRAMER:

Okay fine, before I share with you a few things I learned, Let me share with you a video being a team Kramer fan! I am such a huge fan of this family, and I can't wait to have this much fun with my darling pie. I just know i'll have this much adventures with my Pattypoo. hehehe! :)

Time, attention, along with love is the basic need of every child. Me thinks, that Team Kramer does just that. They lovingly spend every available time they have for their kids, and that is exactly what I offer Patty. So baby, come out na! :) hehe

If you haven't heard of this crazy-cute family, check them here: TEAM KRAMER

CARRYING A NEW BORN:

The Eight Principles of Attachment Parenting:

Attachment Parenting International (API) is a worldwide educational association for this style of parenting. API identifies eight principles of attachment parenting. Parents have considerable leeway in how they interpret and put these principles into action. The eight principles are:

1. Prepare for pregnancy, birth, and parenting. Proponents of attachment parenting believe it is important to eliminate negative thoughts and feelings about pregnancy. Doing so, they say, readies a parent for the emotionally demanding work of being a parent.
2. Feed with love and respect. Breastfeeding, proponents say, is the ideal way to create a secure attachment. It also teaches infants that parents will listen to their cues and fulfill their needs.
3. Respond with sensitivity. With attachment parenting, parents consider all expressions of emotions, including repeated tantrums, as real efforts at communication. Those efforts are to be taken seriously and understood rather than punished or dismissed.
4. Use nurturing touch. Attachment parenting proponents advise maximum skin-to-skin touching. Ways to achieve that include joint baths and "baby-wearing" -- carrying babies during the day in a front-facing sling.
5. Engage in nighttime parenting. Attachment parenting experts advise making "co-sleeping" arrangements. With co-sleeping, an infant sleeps in the same room with parents so they can feed and emotionally soothe the child during the night. Some parents practice "bed-sharing" or sleeping in the same bed with babies. It's thought that this creates an even more secure attachment. Precautions are advised, though, to help prevent sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS.
6. Provide constant, loving care. Proponents of attachment parenting advise the nearly constant presence of a parent. That includes during walks, parents' night out, and work. They advocate against childcare for more than 20 hours a week for babies younger than 30 months old.
7. Practice positive discipline. Parents are advised to distract, redirect, and guide even the youngest of babies, and to model positive behavior. Attachment parenting aims at understanding what a child's negative behavior is communicating. And parents are encouraged to work out a solution together with a child, rather than spanking or simply imposing their will on children.
8. Strive for balance in personal and family life. Parents are encouraged to create a support network, live a healthy lifestyle, and prevent parenting burn-out.

 SOURCE: http://www.webmd.com/parenting/what-is-attachment-parenting

The Ungits

As you all know, my pamangkins and sibs stay with us every weekends consistently after losing my Dad the past year. We always try to make every weekend count and spend as much fun time with the kids as they will never stay small so long. 

.. and even greater news in, Ate Mish is preggy! We have a new baby for 2014 na! :-) We will have 7 babies for 2014, and Marikit is going to be an ATE! Our family is so fertile, we always welcome a new baby! hehehe! :-) We are so blessed indeed! hehe

The perks and pains of pregnancy

PAINS

"Patty must be a future gymnast." I used to think. Her somersaults were amaziiiiing. Now I think she's doing Muay Thai inside my tummy!!! My organs are probably her favorite punching bags! Her movements are painful na talaga! What's worse is the heartburn that keeps me up until 2 am, and feeling helplessly tired in the middle of the day. While all these symptoms are normal it's a bit hard to keep up with my daily chores especially now that i've gained more than 10 kilos include being clumsier than usual. It's such a breeze to know I am due next week, and all these symptoms will go away soon. 

PERKS

So yes, I've been driving without a license for more than a year. What's been keeping me from getting a non pro license is the whole day processing. B-but I thought this is the perfect time for me to make use of my PWD perks! :-) It didn't take me more than 4 hours to get my license, that was hefty convenient indeed!!!! :) 

Something to ponder on..

New born buying guide!

Preparing for the first baby can be draining for your wallet making budgeting worse as the big day comes closer or what we call *drum rolls pleaaaase* DUE DATE. Despite frequenting the baby department store, I never seem to have enough stuff for the baby. It's like a never ending list of baby must haves, and trying to weigh the essentials from fancy things I can totally deal without. It raises questions "Do I need a car seat already?", "What do I need for my tub, the sponge or the net type?", "What's the diff between birds eye and gauze cloth?", "How many bottles do I need?", "Do I invest on 4oz bottles". etc. Trust me, one day you'll find yourself smacking yourself in the head saying "Shucks I need this pala." With only two weeks to go, and after hundreds of trips to the baby department store, I still still and always end up saying this. You really have to settle all the things you need before the big day, because sleep will be rare, and trips to the mall...IMPOSSIBLE.

Because every exit is an entrance elsewhere :)

Sometimes I can't bring myself to wonder, "Am I ready to be a mom!?" I mean, Lord are you on drugs? really!!? ME!!? I can't even give my car a regular carwash or keep my newly polished nails decent looking for a week. Prior to being pregnant I was happily engaged in social activities with my organization, with regular visits to the gym, casual dinner with friends, and frequent travels. I swear I felt my world crash before me. Those two lines marked the end of my dalaga days. I ditched my 1 week Cebu-Bohol trip the following week, and fled to my pity party.

The Waiting game!

My BP was horribly fluctuating from normal to 130/40 or 120/50. I didn't gave it much thought since I asked advice from nursing friends. I've been advised however by dr. Jen, to see my OB because of persistent headache, and constant feeling of light headedness. I decided to visit my OB first thing in the morning the next day. I was given instructions to get an ECG because it may or may not be a symptoms of a heart problem. I tried to suck up all the bad news i've been receiving the past weeks every check up.

On bigger news, I am most likely to give birth in 3 weeks!!!! NOT 7, but 3 weeks! OB estimated my due date between Oct. 10-Oct. 31! :) :) :) Yep, I'll meet my Pattylove earlier than expected!!!!!!!!! :-) No matter how much bad news I hear, good news continue to soar too! :) Our mini bahay-bahayan is almost finished, and our room is fully furnished with the tv, the bed, and Patty's crib. hehe I'm so excited since I the bed, and the tv was my personal choice, and got it at perfect bargain. I canvassed in every possible store in Lipa to bag the best value and now tadaaaahhh OUR HOME :)

Bought the 39'' TV for only P16,000, and the bed for 12k including the inch Uratex! Oha! :D

Hello, MATTEO!

Mateo Dominique Fabie Besenio

6.10lbs.

49cm

Sept.8,2013

8:46am

My sister had to give birth a few weeks earlier than scheduled to a healthy baby boy Matteo! :) Congrats! Can't wait to see you play with my little Pattypoo! :) 

Buntis diaries

Patty and I went to the doctor yesterday for our bi-weekly check up when our doctor delivered bad news. My swelling was beyond normal, and my legs were pitting because of water retention. I was warned by my doctor to stay home, stop working and to monitor my BP 3-4 times a day, and rush to the hospital once it is over 90. I've been waking up to swelling legs for two consecutive days, and was told that my BP can strike high anytime within the day. I was flushed with ice cold water upon hearing the news. 

Pitting that lasts for more than 2 minutes.  

IT'S A GIRL! =)

After the long months of waiting, our OB finally announced that we're having a GIRL!!! :) Yahaaayyyyyyyy! :-) But she delivered better news when she said our darling PATTY has complete set of limbs, ten toes matched with ten fingers and no congenital defects!!!! :-) Now we're just praying for our baby girl to arrive on schedule, and for a safe delivery too!!!!! :) 

I know I know, I was initially hoping for a baby boy, but I eventually prayed for a baby girl. HAHA! It's been a constant betting game between friends and family whether its a boy or a girl. On my first trimester I was looking like a train wreck despite my constant effort to look blooming. My sister was at her prettiest (No, actually she was VAVAVAVOOOM) during her first pregnancy while I on the other hand had the looks for Warm Bodies movie. Pfft. But on my second trimester I was finally looking better after my horrendous first trimester. I kissed morning sickness goodbye, and hello sexy mommah! :-) Tables turned, and bets changed and everybody thinks i'm having a baby girl! :) --and we are!

I had a sudden change of heart when I followed fashionkids on Instagram. And these are the looks that exponentially made my go Awwwww! Say hello to the future Patty guys! Heeeheee!

I had a long list of baby boy names to choose from, Juan Miguel, Juan Antonio, Juan Inigo, Ramon Inigo and the list can go on forever. But for baby a baby girl? NONE. I thought of Patrice though, so we can call her Patty (Yes, as in PATTY LAUREL!!!!). hahahaha But weeks after the ultrasound, I am still cluelessssssss! By far these are my options and still nuthin':

1. Agnes Patrice (Agnes from Despicable me)
2. Marie Patrice (Marie Curie)
3. Regina Patrice
4. Martina Patrice
5. Patrice Gabriela
6. Anika Patrice
7. Anna Patrice

More suggestions? Anyone? I'm kind of running out. 

.. of another happy ever after!

Yesterday our good JCI friend, Robison Icaro got hitched!!!! :) Singtinik sa chiks ni Dolphy, with the charisma of Derek Ramsey, that's how everyone describe Kuya Rob to me being the new "baby" of the JCI family. But all that soon changed, because yesterday he finally threw the hat for something far more important, spending the rest of his life with his wife and having kids--finally! :) While Kuya Rob will miss most of the fun, I guess its finally time to give way for "younger" kuya Rob to replace his old seat! hahahahahahahahahahaha! =)

The beautiful wedding was held at Chapel On the Hill, Nasugbu Batangas. The same church where my brother got married, and with the same Priest too! :) The girls and I arrived pretty early, but we  cling to our motto above anything, "Better late than fugly". hahaha I on the other hand were working on my Kate-Middleton-na-Buntis "peg". hahaha Though we were running fashionably late, we didn't miss the "kiss the bride part" hehehe. 

Fathers day post! :)

I think its safe to say I've seen every baby related video in Youtube. But this has got to be my ultimate favorite!!!! =) If this video didn't make you go "AWWWW" then I don't know what else can. hehe 

The best gift we can give our kids, is the gift of time. We may bust our ass working to provide them with nasty priced honey tinted Avent bottles, but the gift of time is one that they carry, one that helps them grow in their journey called life. They may be too young to remember, but pictures or videos will remind them how much they are loved and cared for. This digital generation, we are given the privilege to take advantage of moments like this. So, show it. Capture it.  I've given up night outs, parties even travel for our safety. Those are just one of the many things I've given up since I got pregnant, and complications kicked in. I may never be able to do any of those ever, but I know everything is going to be worth it. I may be sitting on a Friday night watching Disney cartoons, with Dora on cue while friends are out on a bbq party, gargling Jack Daniels, or maybe even on a kick ass  Avici party. Regrets? None. Happy? ultimately. :)

Happy Birthday self!!! =)

As the cliche goes, pictures say more than a thousand words. I cannot put to words how happy these people made me on my special day. Not only was it a special day, it was a beautiful day to thank God for being alive. :) 

In the middle of ordinary, life gives you a nudge on how awesome-cool things turned out. We wait for that sudden moment, that single miracle. Only to realize, it has arrived. Contentment contained, purpose fulfilled. :)

An open letter to my unborn

Hi my darling, my little pumpkin pie. 

You know for sure honey how hard it was for us the first few months. We frequented  to the doctor almost every week because of complications. Nanay had to take extra care with the fear of losing you, and it broke my heart every single day. But I know your 2 lolo's were guarding for your safety just above the heavens. We had a miscarriage scare on our second month, around the same time that your tito was in the hospital too.. Our bedrest meant going back and forth from Lipa to Makati Med for two good weeks, and going to work the soonest possible because our frequent visits to the doctor bore a hole in my pocket.

Inigo at 14 weeks

The awesome birthday getaway!

IT'S MAY!!! Daddy's, Kuya TJ's, Viela's, and my birth month so we decided to make that family vacation to motion! We've planned numerous family vacations to Baguio, Subic, Tagaytay, Bohol, Hong Kong, but none were put to life. Alas, it was election day, and this non patriotic family has the time and excuse to head to the beach! hehe

Ze crazy ass Fabie family! :-)

To mommyhood!!!!

The wandering dork,  embarks on her biggest journey to date... the road to mommyhood. :-) While some are rolling their eyeballs, and raising their eyebrows, I could not deny that this is an untimely gift. I firmly believe that God has his own timing, and that I should never question why he blessed with a tiny angel, I call my child. He/She may be unplanned, but he/she is never unwanted. 

ACCEPTANCE 

My journey of acceptance, wasn't taken with a grain of salt. I had a long list of go to's for 2013, New york, Bali, my first mountain climbing yada yada. The wandering dork in me continues to lurk and crawl out. But the option of abortion was totally out of the question. Never has it crossed my mind despite my personal ambitions and of my partner. I firmly believed it was such a great addition to our family after losing my Dad especially with my brother moving out in a few months. What God has taken away, he replaced immediately. While I didn't believe in the old fashion "kasabihan", now I know for sure that God has a way of healing you. Thus I welcome you, my baby. 

My partner, and I didn't normalize after a few days. We were still a bit shock, after losing a bit chunk of ourselves, and now an extension of us. A baby. You are going to be a parent soon. Those declarations didn't seem to help, but the excitement of choosing baby names, and how you are going to raise it, and what kind of parent you are going to be, were one of the thousand questions we couldn't quite sleep on. Up until today, I wake up in the morning see my baby bump, and I realize, "Hey I am going to be a mommy na nga pala".

THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT

I've seen a lot of people of my age (often younger) share the same boat with me. The big announcement isn't always an easy one, as much as hearing criticisms and being a victim of cruel gossip. None of these made me feel like lesser person though. I made the decision of making the big announcement than let my swelling tummy do the talking. I say, I am going to be a mother soon, and this is the biggest blessing yet. :-)

I lost the knack for writing when I lost my dad some months ago. I haven't even written much about my epic backpacking stint in Indochina. But a new life brought me back to blogging. And yes, this is my biggest, greatest journey to date. :-) Join me as I unravel great stories of pregnancy, mommyhood, and independence. :-)