Pregnancy 101

34 weeks 3 days and counting... Gosh! I could not believe I made it this far without the symptoms at all.. no nausea, vomiting, weird food cravings, etc. In fact, I was also able to travel to and from Japan three times all alone. Just imagine tagging along my big luggage and handcarried bag. I was also able to work part-time. Lucky me!
Before I knew I was pregnant, I felt fatigued most of the time. I sleep after arriving from work. But the first thing I noticed is that my breasts were sore, somewhat like the symptoms before having my period. So I just let it pass, thinking that my period will just come in the next days. But that symptom does not last long, after 3 days I usually have my period already. It lasted for weeks. But I did not expect anything because I might just end up feeling disappointed. So I traveled home to the Philippines, without knowing I was pregnant. But there was that instinct in me and I just prayed that if ever there is something growing in my womb. Mama Mary, please take care of him/her. Since I just rode the train to the Kansai, Osaka airport.
It was my bestfriend, Amor who insisted that I take the pregnancy test just to be sure I was pregnant or not. So I bought a kit, then took the test early morning when I woke up in order to get the best result. It was 6am then, no excitement whatsoever because I took the test a couple of times already just ending up with disappointment. Then the red lines were showing, 2 lines appeared!! I could not believe it, so I rushed to my mom with the instructions of the kit and all and asked her if it was positive. She was not sure since pregnancy kits were not used during her time. I ran to my sister in law and she confirmed it, yes it was positive. I was speechless! Then I called my hubby who was still sleeping. I told him to turn on Skype, he asked why but I just said i have something to show him. And I broke the news and showed him the kit. Antok pa sya during that time, but when he saw the 2 lines, his eyes got bigger. His first reaction was he was not impotent. Since his cousins were teasing him already. Excited as we were, we already thought of our plans.. After 2 days, when I went to the doctor for confirmation, I was already 7 weeks pregnant. Then the old wives tales kept going on and on. I have heard all the advices and stories from the moms who already experienced it before me.
So remembering the first trimester, I kept sleeping right after eating. Talk about gluttony. I just wanted to sleep and sleep. And since I was in the Philippines for 1 month, I got to eat all the foods i craved for. The frequent trips to the bathroom at the middle of the night was somewhat depriving me of getting uninterrupted sleep. Since my tummy was still small, it felt like I was not pregnant at all.
When I reached my second trimester, the craving for sleep was gone, but I noticed my tummy got bigger each week it was the time I had to sleep at night in one position only, on the left side. The dilemma of clothes that does not already fit came in. Taking a bath was sort of easy, picking up things on the floor was a little bit hard, driving was still easy. Hmm, I remember always craving for ice cream. We also kept reading articles on baby center each time I reach a certain week. And the book my bestfriend gave me, What To Expect When You're Expecting really helped a lot. Then the fight over what to name our baby came along. We even slept 3am already just discussing what names to use. Oh, the fifth month! During my pre-natal visit, the doctor asked us if we wanted to know if we're having a boy or a girl. My hubby asked how many percent was he sure, he answered 80%, it was a big chance already so we agreed to know the gender. We're having a girl! It was also during this time when me and hubby first saw my tummy move. It brought irreplaceable joy and the thought of being a mother and a father soon brought excitement. What kind of parents would we be? And for sure I have to ask my own mother on how to take care of a newborn. It is during this time that I need her most.
Third trimester, as my tummy got bigger and bigger.. picking up things on the floor was a burden, taking a bath and cutting my toe nails was hard since I could not reach my toes I had to ask Mama to cut it for me, driving was still manageable but I could hardly reach the door to close and my parents were telling me not to drive anymore so Papa was my dakilang driver when I had to do errands for ZheZtah. Gosh, nobody told me that sleeping at night was so uneasy since I have to look for a comfortable position wherein she can sleep too. And my tummy was heavy I could only move slowly to avoid hurting her. I could already feel her kick my rib cage. Gosh it kinda hurts. I could also feel her move around. And her hiccups, it is that constant rhythmic movement you can feel on your tummy. Kicking my bladder wants me to pee all the time. I got heavier, my tummy was. And at this point she is about 5 pounds already. Her face is well defined, but we still do not know if he has chinese-looking eyes like her father or big eyes like mine.. Everyone's excited to see her. And with merely 1 month more to go, the big wait seem to be longer.
Pregnancy may be quite hard and delicate but it is the best 9 months a woman can have.. It is a gift, a miracle, a blessing from above. Just imagine that from a tiny cell she was back then, now she is already human-looking, like a little me.. Now it is time to learn how to be a mother.

My Top Emerging Influential Blogs 2011

Alright! This would be the first time I will be doing this, being that I am away from the Philippines. But I get updated about events that has been happening in my hometown through reading these blogs..

Here goes..

1. Pinay Travelogue -- this blog is authored by Ms. Nette Gallinero, who is a wife of a photographer too like me. It informs me about the places I have yet to visit in Mindanao.. http://www.pinaytravelogue.com/

2. Eat's Terrific -- authored by Mr. Orman Manansala, being a foodie myself, reading his new posts about what's delicious to eat in Gensan makes my foodtripping hobby hassle-free because I already know what to order in the menu when I arrive home. http://www.ormanmanansala.com/

3. General Joana -- i just love how Ms. Joana Grace Lapore writes her blogposts. It tickles my writing skills. I first met her when she and her husband ate at ZheZtah Chicken and Burgers and loved the foods we served. http://generaljoana.wordpress.com/

4. Bookworm of Gensan -- I may not be a bookworm myself but I love to read what interests me. He has become a good friend of mine, sharing the same passion for someone we admire, Sir Gilbert Tan shares his love for books in this blog. And I get entertained reading his posts. http://www.bookwormofgensan.com/

5. Scribbles -- my personal blog that pushes me to write about my life's sojourn as I believe that it is in sharing a piece of you that helps other people realize and discover new things they have yet to exlpore about life! It mainly shares my first love for baking, with easy recipes anyone who has a sweet tooth like me can do themselves. http://dimpaylim.blogspot.com/

There you have it!

This contest is made possible by the following partners: Cyber Monday Deals, TRIbeca Private Residences, How To Videos, Palawan Beaches for Sale, Green and Natural Lubes Philippines, Philippine data center, Philippine online shopping, Singapore Jobs, and Pinoy Party Food.

Bottle 02-06-04

when the night is old and the dawn is new
i scream for more of what's to come
unending. bottomless. the abyss of this meaningless life
comes out of the blue, out of what is not you, plus the bitterness and strife.
at some point the end is near
as i puke in pain i have no fear
coz this battle with rhum can never replace
the happiness it gave and the redness in my face..

rmdz
02-06-04

== I wrote this poem during my single days, inspired by the bottles of SanMig light I consumed every time I was with my drinking buddies Eric and Ping. Those were the days of pure clean fun. Memorable moments.

Saya

Saya

panandaliang saya
ngayo'y tinatamasa
wag ipagwalang bahala
wag na wag ipasa
biga'y mo sa akin ay
panandaliang saya
pinilit na tanggapin
pinilit na damhin
panandaliang saya lang
ngunit sing sarap ng alamang
basta't ako ay napaligaya
kahit sandali man lamang..

rmdz
05-30-03

Precious Moments..

It is every married couple's dream to have children of their own. Some are blessed to conceive easily, but to some, it takes hard work and patience to finally know that there is something so precious inside her womb. It just so happened that we belong to that some who waited long.
Planning to have a baby takes two to decide. Since we underwent a long distance relationship that deprived us to be with each other's arms 24/7, we decided to have a baby after we have enjoyed ourselves to the fullest, and knew each other more. But at some point, when we were ready to have a baby already, it became hard. There was even a time that we regretted family planning. I had myself checked, my ovaries were okay. The doctor said maybe we were just stressed out. Well, it was not time, we said. But like other couples, we tried everything. We took other couple's advices on love-making, the do's and dont's. We even tried monitoring my basal temperature to check the day when I was fertile. In the long run, we gave up doing those stuff. But, we never gave up on our prayers. We continued on asking God to bless us with a baby. We waited. He gave it.
It took us 2 years. When everybody's debating over the RH bill, here we are just wanting to side on the anti, since it became hard to conceive.
Just looking at those 2 lines on the test kit overwhelmed the both of us. It was surreal. But when I finally went to the doctor and had my first ultrasound, I could not believe what I heard, the baby's heartbeat. It brought me tears of joy. Having a baby in a mother's womb is indeed a miracle. A wonderful miracle to be taken cared of, and be grateful for. While I am still in awe, i have to prepare myself for this journey. It somehow scares me, since it is my first time I think there are a lots of things I do not know about motherhood. But I am lucky I have my Mama beside me all the time, to teach me everything she knows. I know I will be a good mother someday, because Mama raised me how to be a good daughter, I will raise our baby the way she did.

Hanami

Just loving spring. To start it off, we went to Kakamigahara, Gifu to witness the cherry blossoms. We were lucky enough it was their "Hanami" as the Japanese call it, which means to have picnics while watching the Sakura trees. There are stalls that sell street foods like Takoyaki, barbecued squid, manjus, taiyaki (fish formed pancakes with red beans), crepes, caramel apples, etc. It is some sort of a festival where people from all over the place look forward to during spring. These flowers only bloom for a while, then the petals shed off to let the leaves grow.
The sakura trees were breath-taking. I have never seen that much sakura trees here in Japan, with a small river in between to get that romantic feel. These trees make me feel like I am in a fantasy land. Nature and its beauty.

Naturally speaking

I walk about 5 minutes to and from our apartment to the bus stop everyday. Whether the weather be chilly cold or rainy, I walk- for work. It might be quite far but I consider it a form of my daily exercise. Think positive, I always do.
Today on my way home, it was so lovely to see the blossoming sakura trees all around town while the golden sun was waving goodbye. Sakura depicts spring time, my favorite season. Oh nature and its beauty.
I have always been in love with nature. Each day becomes a different one when nature works itself wonderfully. It may be raining at one time, then later you see a colorful rainbow. Or when at night, you see the full moon at its roundest and brightest, or sometimes a golden moon comes out to say hello. This and all that makes me feel grateful I am alive. It makes me feel lucky I can see all these magnificent sights. It makes me feel that God truly exists and I should thank Him for dear life .

Only A Mother Could Love

If there's one woman I totally admire the most, that would be my Mama. We all look up to our mothers. They are our first teacher. My mom taught me everything I need to know about life and how to live it. Maybe when I was still young, I did not appreciate the things she was teaching me, like how to clean the house, wash the dishes, cook our food, wash my own clothes. But if she had not taught me those things, I would not know how to be a wife.
My mom is just a simple woman with simple dreams. I once asked her what she really wants in life, and she answered that she just wants our family to be complete and happy. Lately I realized, I think Mama was deprived of her single life. Like going to gimiks with friends, buying stuffs she wanted for herself, etc. because she had to prioritize the things I needed most when she had me at a very young age. I could not imagine how hard was it for her to be a young mother at that time, but she managed to responsibly nurture us. She has sacrificed her happiness for us. As long as we are happy, she is happy. She never gets tired of taking care of us, making sure we have something to eat when it's meal time. And not only us, she also never gets tired of taking care of Grandma and Tatay and Isha and Popoy. Simply put, she never gets tired. Cleaning the house, doing the laundry, going to the market - like all in one day. Then when I come looking for her, there she is flat on the bed - asleep. =)
Mama has always been patient. I recall when Papa was just brought home after a long stay at the hospital due to aneurysm, he was irritable at that time and grumpy. She bursts out what she feels to me, but still she was still there taking care of Papa. Sometimes she tells me she feels like quitting, but she does not.She goes on. She never gives up. She may just be quiet but she fights when it is needed. And I think I got that trait from her.
And after all the trials our family has been through, she remained strong for us all. For she does not want a broken family like what she had. Family to her is her only treasure. Family is love.

Sa walang sawang pag-aaruga..
Labis na ninanais ang iyong kalinga..
Kalinga na galing sa isang mapagmahal na Ina.
Sa walang kapagurang pag-aalaga
Sa walang katumbas na init ng iyong yakap.
Hanap-hanap ko ito hanggang sa pagtulog.
Ngayon at magpakailanman,
Tanging ikaw lang
Ang makapagbigay ng lubos na pag-ibig
Na nanggagaling sa isang huwarang Ina.
Salamat, Ma..

Texas Burger at Japan

Been wanting to try their burger since I saw a friend in FB who posted pics of this burger joint. And so me, my hubby and, Jen went to Texas Burger today to have a taste of their burger, being a burger aficionado myself.
The place was just little, 10 seats only. The open kitchen slash counter was amusing. You get to see how the burgers our prepared by only 2 staff, one was the owner. The decors shows that the owner must be a Harley Davidson rider of some sort, someone who have lived in the US.
So we were famished, I did prepare myself for this huge burger as they say. I only ate one meal before having it. We ordered the set Texas burger special with potato fries and a cup of soda. And when it was served, gracious, it was big and tall. All a burger-lover can ever ask: crispy fresh lettuce, lean bacon, fried egg, onions, 100% beef burger patty, soft bun, and I think 3 kinds of special sauce that made the burger distinct. It was burger heaven. Me and Jen were thinking how to eat it, it touched my nose as I take a bite.Hubby finished in 10 mins. while we finished the burger in 20-30 minutes. The skin-on fries was good too, crispy. But I like ZheZtah's mojo fries better.
The chef-owner was friendly enough to talk to us. I noticed that there was a Mr. Sushi car plate hung on the wall. We thought he must have been a chef in the US. At first we were conversing in Japanese, but I told my hubby to ask if he knows how to speak English and he said "No problem" in an American accent. Whew! I had a hard time speaking in Nihongo, marunong naman pala mag-English. He was a military chef for 20 years in Guam, and have worked in several hotels in Australia, New Zealand, etc. Quite an amazing resume, an aspiring chef like me could relate to his stories and outlook in life. We even mentioned that we owned a burger joint too in the Philippines but I said it was not huge as his burger. But he said it's always nice to eat burgers that are big. One thing that struck me was when he said "As long as the customer is happy, I am happy."

Dear Diary - 1.2

March 18, 2010
11:22pm (PHL)
12:09pm (JPN)

Dear Diary,

Feeling homesick today. The recent calamity that struck Japan makes me wanna go home in an instant. It's scary. I was at work when that 8.9 intensity quake hit Sendai. We were so blessed it was just 2.0 here in our town. Many what if's has been boggling my mind lately. It kinda make us prepare our own survival bag, with Swiss knife, passports, rope, lighter, flashlight to name a few. You will never know when to use it.
For now, I am still working as usual. I know that the Japanese government will announce if it is really dangerous to stay outdoors. Everyone here is bothered whether they will still have work or not because of the lack of spare parts that has been stranded in Tokyo. It is really affecting everyone. Could the 2012 prediction be true? Is it time to repent so we will be saved? No one knows. But we still have to live one day at a time. Whatever will be, will be.

My Very Own Pancake Recipe

When I was still a kid, I remember playing "luto-luto" with my childhood friends. I used all the leaves that i saw in our backyard, and all the utensils in our kithcen. Hehe. Not knowing that it showed my passion for food now that i am a grown-up. More over, i used to observe my Grandma Lala while she was cooking us some pancakes when i was around 8 years old. She was also the one who taught me how to cook pancakes when i was ready enough to face the gas stove.

Well, i sure did learn from those moments. And i realized that my Grandma Lala has taught me a lot of stuffs pala while i was growing up. I miss her though.

Anyway, for a long time i have been searching for the perfect pancake recipe.. a pancake that is soft, fluffy, and yummy and of course, something i will make from scratch.. While still on the search, i tried a lot of ready mix pancakes available in the market. Not Pillsbury, Maya hotcake mix is good. But when Magnolia Pancake mix came out recently, i certainly loved it. It's the best pancake mix ever.
Now that I am in Japan, I was desperate enough to have my favorite magnolia pancakes. So i continued my research, and viola!!! I tried some internet recipes and tweaked some measurements to suit my perfect pancake! Super soft, fluffy, not too thick and yummy . And when it gets cold, it is still soft as when it was freshly cooked. And I will share it with everyone who also loves pancakes as much as i do..

1 cup all-purpose flour (sifted) (120 grams)

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

4 tablespoons white sugar

1 large egg

3/4 cup whole milk (175ml)

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted or 3 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

>extra melted butter for greasing the pan.

It's easy as 1, 2, 3.

1. Place all dry ingredients in one mixing bowl -- flour, salt, baking powder, sugar. And whisk it to disperse all the ingredients.

2. Put all the wet ingredients in one mixing bowl -- egg, milk, and melted butter. And beat until blended.

3. Pour the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and beat it using a wooden spoon or wire whisk. Do not overbeat, beat until just blended. It is just fine to have lumps in this pancake batter or else the pancakes will be tough.

There you have it. In cooking this pancake, I suggest a non-stick pan so it is easy to flip it.

Heat the pan on slow fire. Brush some melted butter or oil on it. When it is heated pour enough batter, just big or small enough, any size you like it eaten.

Now here is the secret, you will know when to flip the pancakes is when there are a lot of bubbles forming on top. It is important to cook the pancakes on slow fire. The slowest possible fire in order not to burn it. The other side of the pancake will cook more quickly, maybe 15 seconds or more, so don't be afraid to flip it again to check.

Serve with butter and pancake syrup. I suggest Karo pancake syrup or better yet maple syrup. If you do not have syrup, orange marmalade will do.

VERSIONS:
-- Place slices of cheese after pouring the batter on the pan, and cover it using a spoon, so it won't burn when you flip the pancake.
--If you want thinner pancakes, add more milk.


Happy Eating!!!

My one and only Hero.

Me to him, his only girl. I am Papa's only girl. No words can express how much I thank him for taking good care of me, and for guiding me all throughout my life. You became "Papa" at 18. When every guy seem to just enjoy their teen years during that age, there you were preparing my milk making sure I don't get hungry, that I stop crying, and putting me to sleep on your tummy. It must have been hard for you. But later I knew why you were overprotective of me wayback. I may have been disobedient during my teenage years regarding boyfriend things, but when I grew older I knew for what purpose was he strict with me. He did not want me to fall in the arms of the wrong man. He just wants me to be with someone who will take care of me as much as he did.
Pa, I may not be expressive enough in actions how much I love you. But I know you do. Well I guess I must say these: Thanks for building a strong foundation for our family. For doing all your best just to keep us together amidst our trials. Thanks for guiding me in every decision I make. Thanks for always making us laugh. Thanks for taking care of me, Mama, Kong, and Jofran, and Isha and Popoy. Thanks for being a great father to us. Thanks for rescuing me during that dive. Thanks for teaching me how to drive. Thanks for teaching me how to swim. Thanks, I was able to graduate from college. Thanks, I have a happy married life and a loving husband. Thanks, for fighting for your life 11 years ago. And please continue fighting for us and for your other "Apo's" to come. We need you. And we will always do. Life is meaningless without you and Mama. Family is not a family without you. I love you Pa. And it's my turn to take care of you and Mama when your hair turns gray, grayer, grayest. Let us all grow old together as one family. Let's just hang on. Kaya natin 'to!

Happy birthday PA!

Dear Diary - Pilot post

January 24, 2011
Monday
8:48am (Phil)
9:38am (JPN)

Dear Bloggy,

im havin coffee on this very very cold day.. just got back from Pinas last thursday. i got too emotional, because it is always hard to leave home. Papa got teary-eyed upon knowing i was to leave soon. he forgot siguro na 1 month lang kami stay, he thought we would stay 3 months. i cried until i rode the plane. i never wanted to leave where i loved everything i was doing; baking, taking care of isha, playing with baby Popoy, chitchats with my folks, managing ZheZtah, bonding with friends and family. At home, I am at peace. I have nothing to think about as long as i am with my hubby, and my family. i am so much attached to my family.

we were brought up this way. Christmas was a bit lonely for us. Even though there was an additional 2 sa family, minus 1 temporarily. but i have always believed that everything has a purpose. I believe that God has a reason for every thing that is happening with our lives. I am not much of a pray-the-rosary, Angelus, and 3-0'clock prayer, never- miss -mass- on a sunday- type of Catholic, but my faith in Him is very much intact. I pray. I thank. I apologize. I ask.
I always ask God to make my parents happy and rid them of the emotional burden we are in right now. I just want them to be happy. I want them to be worry-free. I know it's a bit hard, but I just have to keep praying. Because I know He does not give us burdens we could not carry. Tiis lang. Carry lang.