Johan Matthew's Christening

It was held last Saturday, November 27th at the same church that hubby and I got married in and was officiated by the same priest that married us. Cool huh?

It was a sunny morning and I was pretty stressed out after arriving at the church 30 minutes before the scheduled time without one godparent in sight (except for Ninong Chris who was our official driver for the day). I made a text brigade to all the godparents reminding them that the ceremony will be starting in a few minutes. Imagine how mad I would be after paying for 20 godparents and only one will be present for the ceremony. All hell will break lose, surely. Hehe. Fortunately, Father Sonny del Claro started the ceremony late. A few godparents arrived just in time so I was a little bit calmer when the ceremony started.

The ceremony was solemn and fast. I think we were done after 30 minutes. Our photo ops went even longer than the ceremony itself. :)

The reception venue was colorful and festive. Thanks to my cousin and Johan's Ninang, Ate Leslie for the decors. I super like everything you did. Nagmukhang bongga ang reception ni Johan eventhough simple lang ang food package that we got from Shakey's.

Johan cooperated and was awake during the reception so everybody got to see how cute he is with his chinito eyes. But, he grew fussy after so many photo ops and cried a little bit.

All in all, it was a successful event. We got to share our cute little man with everyone we love. Here are some photos:

Souvenirs for the guests

 

Brazo de Mercedes cupcakes 

  Tarpaulin designed by Ninang Les and printed by Ninong Lloyd

   Bunch of Lunch package of Shakey's

 Souvenirs for the godparents

Johan banderitas by Ninang Les

 

Cupcake tower

 

Johan before changing into his second outfit at the reception 

 

Fr. Sonny del Claro - NSDG Parish Priest, the same one who officiated our marriage now baptized our son

 

Great shot by my sister Roan in collaboration with our friend JJ

 

Family picture 

Johan Matthew fully awake at the reception

Please Vote for Us (Again)

Johan and I entered another photo contest.Since we both enjoy baby wearing and Mommy wants to collect slings, we joined the contest of Yoga Baby Bliss on Facebook. Up for grabs are the following:

1st Prize: a Brand New Hotslings Ingrid Reversible Baby Pouch
(Valued at Php 2,500)

2nd Prize: a Brand New SaYa Baby Carrier Teal Floral Design
(Valued at Php 1,000)

3rd Prize: a Brand New Blissful Babes Avatar's Home Tree
(Valued at Php 800) 

I would love to win any of the three so please, please, please show your support and vote for us once again. 

To vote please do the following:

1. Go to the Yoga Baby Bliss Fan Page on Facebook here and like the page.

2. Follow this link and like our photo.

3. If the link on number 2 does not work, please go to the album "A Babywearing Festival!" on Yoga Baby Bliss and look for our photo like the one below and click "like". 

Thanks everyone!

Babywearing

I’ve been curious on the use of slings even before giving birth. Back then, I wanted to purchase one because I find them fashionable after seeing a mom wearing her baby at the mall and find it so cool. Now that Johan arrived, I wanted to own one to have my hands free to do other things (like blogging, heehee!). Good thing is a fellow n@wie is disposing her old Rjellybean sling (thanks again, Mai!). At first, I thought Johan wouldn’t like to be in the sling because it is too hot inside and I’m scared to put him in cradle position because I think his legs are being squished too tightly inside. So, I tried a different position, the front carry. This time we were successful! Johan loves it and easily fell asleep after I put him in the sling. Here are some pictures:

Camera conscious na ang baby ko. He’s looking straight na at the camera.

“Emo” moments naming mag-ina. Hehe. This was taken at dawn while putting Johan to sleep.

I love wearing him and I look forward to wearing him when we go out on his baptism this Saturday. Super excited!

Yellow Yum Birthday Giveaway

Char of Yellow Yum is giving away the following for her birthday:

Grand Prize:

Pair of Glambox Minc Lashes

Pair of Sole Sister Shoes

3 My intimate Bra Converter

Whole collection (6x1g) of HOL Mineral Cosmetics Sweet Dreams Edition

Megaga Professional 12s set MAC Replica

Strip It Big Wax Kit

Strip It Lip & Cheek Tint

Skin Hour Body Cream & Liquid Loofah Combo

XScents Perfume Lady 45ml in W1

 

1st Runner Up:

2 My Intimate Bra Converter

3x1g HOL Mineral Cosmetics from Sweet Dreams Edition

Megaga Professional Retractable Spot Brush

Strip It Trial Wax Kit

Strip It Lip & Cheek Tint

Skin Hour Shampoo

XScents Hexagon 30ml in W4

 

2nd Runner Up:

1 My Intimate Bra Converter

3x1g HOL Mineral Cosmetics from Sweet Dreams Edition

Megaga Professional Retractable Lip Brush

Strip It Lip & Cheek Tint

Skin Hour Family Pack

XScents Aromatherapy Room Spray 50ml

 

For the contest mechanics, click here.

A Chance to Dress Up

I never had the chance to go out since giving birth except for doctor’s visits and grocery trips. With the hectic schedule of expressing milk, Johan’s feeding sessions, bath time, nappy changes, sleepless nights – I usually look haggard around the house being unable to even comb my hair sometimes. I miss dressing up, putting on make up and wearing killer shoes (literally killer as in nakakamatay either ng kuko or ng veins sa sobrang high heels) Haha!

I’m excited for Johan and also for myself on his baptism this coming Saturday. This gives me a chance to dress him up and myself too. I already bought Johan his christening clothes (Thanks, Ninang Yaya Sheila!), his shoes and he’ll be changing into an Osh Kosh B’gosh onesie at the reception (again, thanks Ninang Yaya!). Hubby will be wearing one of his polo shirts (he doesn’t want to buy a new one, kurips talaga hehe!). As for myself, I already bought a short printed dress (which hides my post pregnancy tummy) and for the shoes, well, I’ll be wearing these…



Good luck to my feet and I do hope I don’t slip!

Deathbyplatforms X Cole Vintage Blog Give Away!

Deathbyplatforms is giving away a Cole Vintage Gift Certificate worth P2,500. I do hope I win as I would like to purchase this dress in time for the holidays.

 

For more information on the giveaway, go here 

It’s Okay

• Even if I have dark circles around my eyes, it’s okay, Anak, it just shows that I am taking care of you even during the wee hours of the morning.
  
• Even if my breasts are bruised from the many pumping sessions a day that I do, it’s okay Anak, as long as you have a running supply of Mommy’s milk for consumption.
  
• Even if my nipples sometimes crack from your nursing, it’s okay Anak, because I get to see you looking up at me while you’re nursing and that look is priceless.
  
• Even if I have to eat too much malunggay and drink lots of sabaw, it’s okay Anak, if it could help in nourishing me and help my milk supply from not dwindling.
  
• Even if I don’t get to go out as often as I wanted to, it’s okay Anak, as I get to see your all your firsts like your very first smile.
  
• Even if my arms hurt from carrying you, it’s okay Anak, because I love holding your soft little body against mine.
  
• Even if I have one obvious stitch down my tummy and stretch marks all over, it’s okay Anak, because having those marks mean having you as well.

Having a Baby has taught me…

• to give thanks for warm coffee. Johan has perfect timing, just when I was about to drink my coffee with just-been-boiled water, he starts wailing making me forget my coffee and is already stale when I suddenly remember. So, it is such a treat if I get to sip my coffee even if it’s just lukewarm instead of boiling hot.
• to eat with only one hand while the other arm carries the full weight of Johan while he sleeps.
• to complete (almost) 8 hours of sleep in 20-minute to 30-minute installment. When I was still working I thank the Lord for a 4-hour sleep a day, now I praise the Lord for a straight hour of sleep.
• to take a bath in less than 10 minutes.
• to sing or hum all the nursery rhymes I know even if the lyrics are incorrect just to put Johan to sleep.
• to sway even if I’m not carrying Johan. This is funny because I unconsciously sway my body after carrying Johan all day and then realizing I’m not carrying him anymore.
• to banish all pretenses – when breastfeeding and pumping. Well, not entirely because I still cannot breastfeed with a male around (except for my husband, brothers and father). I can breastfeed and pump in front of my MIL and SIL though.
• to go the entire day without combing my hair. I just tie my hair into a ponytail and that’s it. That’s why I’m in great need for a haircut.

What I would do if I win the Lotto

According to the PCSO website, the Grand Lotto or 6/55 jackpot is already 456,404,688.00 with no winners as of November 15, 2010. Wow! I have to admit that I started betting when the jackpot reached the 300M mark. My sister and I even fell in line in one lotto outlet in Binondo last Saturday before heading to Divisoria to do some shopping for Johan’s baptism. It wouldn’t hurt to try our luck with the rest of the country, would it?

As they say, libre ang mangarap (it is free to dream) so I am listing down things that I would do should I get lucky and get the Lotto jackpot of almost 500M.

• I will allot 100M to be given to my family/relatives. Share your blessings and who else to share it with but to family first. Even if I give 1M to every aunt, uncle, cousin, niece and nephew there will still be a lot left for me.
• Donate to church and charities. It pays to say thanks.
• I will buy franchises of Jollibee and McDonald’s. You will never go wrong with these two giants. Every branch of these two fastfood chains never runs out of customers so investing on these two will make my money grow.
• I will secure the future of our son. I am not familiar with all the bank services on the matter of savings except for the time deposit and the normal savings account so I guess I’ll just put some on time deposit for Johan’s future.
• I will buy houses in Tagaytay, Baguio, Laguna, Cavite, US and Europe. Why in these areas? Tagaytay – just because I love this city and how accessible it is to Metro Manila; Baguio – to escape the summer heat in Manila and just imagine waking up to the scent of pine trees and fog; Laguna – because this is where I grew up and my parents still live here; Cavite – just an investment because I can see that there are a lot of residentials being developed here; US/Europe – so we can have a place to stay should we go out of the country for a vacation.
• I will travel to my favorite cities/countries around the world. First on the list would be Santorini, Greece.
• Buy myself and my family memorial lots. Not to be morbid or anything, but just so the ones we will be leaving behind won’t be left with the hassle and expenses of burying us.
• Buy the things that would make life a little more easier and less stressful. These are the small ticket items like cars, gadgets, appliances, furniture etc. etc.

Hayy, it is so nice to dream. I just hope I do win the lotto tomorrow. But for now, it is time to sleep and dream some more. :)

Some Things I Wish

Johan's baptism will be in a few weeks and some of my relatives are already asking what gift they could give him. I've been thinking about this wishlist and what to include but I'm having a hard time listing down things as I've got too much on my mind (and hands) already, what with Johan's daily schedule and me trying to plan the baptism as well. So, for now here are some things that I think Johan needs or will be needing.
 

Johnson & Johnson’s bath time products 

 

Aveeno Baby Products

 

EQ Dry Disposable Diapers

BPA-free Bottles (9 oz)

 

Bottle Warmer

 

Food Grinder

 

Feeding Sets

 

Baby Gym

 

Dr. Seuss Books or other children’s books

Baby Lamaze toys or other educational Toys

 

Baby Einstein DVDs       

 

Portable DVD Player

 

Monetary gifts – all of these will be used to open Johan’s Junior Savers Club account at BDO to be used as his educational fund

 

Can he see?

Even before he turned a month old, I noticed that Johan can already see reflections. It usually happens when I'm wearing a dark colored shirt and his eyes follow me when I move from side to side. Now that he's more than a month old, I wonder if he can already see. Look at him staring at the toys suspended on his crib.

Book Review: Love and Respect for a Lifetime by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs

Love and Respect for a Lifetime is one little book filled with bible verses and helpful insights on how to make a marriage work. Dr. Emerson Eggerichs has done an exceptional job on differentiating the needs of a wife from the needs of a husband and how each of those needs can be met by both parties. Think about "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus" but written in a spiritual kind of way wherein husbands and wives can reflect upon.

This book can be a great tool in helping couples deal with their marital problems and learn how to understand each other without being too critical. It engages husbands and wives into meaningful conversations, teaches them how to read between the lines, how what we say is different from what we actually mean, and basically just makes them realize that they are a completely different person from their spouses but it does not mean that being different makes it impossible for marriage to work.

Dr. Emerson Eggerichs merely explains how to work around the differences and learn to love and respect each other. One of my favorite lines in the book reads, "It is crucual for husband and wife to see that neither one is wrong, but that both of them are very different - in body functions, outlook, and perspective."

I would highly recommend this book to married couples as it could open up your eyes on how to understand your spouses better and make your marriage work for the both of you. Love and Respect for a Lifetime makes a great present for married couples and even for those still planning to get married.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”



Time Flies

It seemed only yesterday when I was posting my thoughts on how frustrated I am for not giving birth yet and now a month has already passed and my little one is not so little anymore.

Johan is now a month old, weighing 4.8 kilograms and measuring 55 centimeters. He can now follow sounds and I think he can already see because when you talk to him he makes gurgling sounds as if he's talking back and when you mimic a laugh he will laugh back at you. He can now move his head from one side to other while lying on his tummy, he kicks hard and screams loud.

We went back to the Metropolitan Medical Center today for his first monthly check-up. Dra. Emily, his pedia, adminitered the 2nd shot of the Hepa B vaccine, gave us an ointment for the rashes on his face and told us he is looking good at one month.

We then went to Ermita Church to book the date for his baptism and paid the downpayment at Shakey's for his reception.

Then off we went to the Mall of Asia. We ate spaghetti and burgers at Jollibee in celebration of Johan's 1st month and we walked around the mall until our feet couldn't carry us anymore. Before leaving MOA, we dropped by Red Ribbon to get his cake for candle blowing at home.

My little one has grown indeed and I can't wait to see more of his milestones in the coming days. Happy 1st month, anak. Daddy and Mommy love you so much!

Baptism Planning

I've been planning for Johan's baptism long before he arrived. I've already set my mind on booking Ermita Church for the ceremony and Hap Chan Tea House for the reception like what we did for our wedding. Hubby then gave me the thumbs up on this plan. But, when we moved here in Cavite he changed his mind. He wanted to hold the ceremony in a church here and the reception at their house where we are currently staying. I was so against the idea because

1. Most of the guests are from Manila and QC and traveling all the way down to Cavite is too much of a hassle to them.
2. I don't know any decent churches here in Cavite.
3. I don't want to hold the reception at home because that would cost an entire day of cleaning the house in preparation for the event, stress on the day of the event if everything is ready and just the thought of cleaning up after everybody has left makes me tired already. It is just too much work.

Last weekend, me and hubby drove around to scout for churches. We wanted the ceremony to be held on a Saturday and we wanted a special service because we don't want the ceremony too crowded because Johan might be uncomfortable as I'm sure the church won't be properly ventilated what with too much crowd. We went to three churches - the first two don't have Saturday baptisms, the last one does but the call time is too early at 8am, that would mean the guests from QC and Manila would have to leave their homes at dawn just to make it in time for the ceremony and all three churches does not offer special baptisms. We did not try to search for other churches as we are sure that they would have the same regulations as the three that we inquired at.

Hubby and I talked and he then suggested to try our original plan of having Johan baptized in Ermita Church. Hurray! I then asked a friend to inquire if they have Saturday baptism and indeed they have. Only hitch is that we have to attend the seminar on the 2nd Sunday or the last Sunday of November before we could book a date. That would mean another long travel from Cavite to Manila which hubby is not so fond of.  We will be dropping by the church and the reception venue on Thursday when we drive up to Manila for Johan's check up. Well, I just hope he doesn't change his mind this time. I will be praying big time that he won't so I could then proceed with the planning.