Yummy Lunch!

As usual, I had another food craving early in the morning. I thought I am smelling Sinigang na Hipon all around the house even though nobody is cooking or eating Sinigang na Hipon. So, when lunchtime came, I was making 'kulit' again to hubby that we eat out. I wanted to eat Sinigang na Hipon at Max's Restaurant. He said, "ang sosyal ni baby ha, ang mahal ng gusto." What else can he do? Nothing, so he gave in. Yay!

When we were there already and were looking at the menu I saw a picture of Gambas con Aligue and immediately changed my mind. Hubby said, "Akala ko ba gusto mo ng Sinigang na Hipon?", to which I replied, "Mas gusto ko to may taba ng alimango, mas mura pa." He then thought to order the Crabmeat Fried Rice since I'm in the mood for crab daw. 

Yummy, yummy lunch! I super enjoyed this mini date with my husband and again thanked him for giving in to my food cravings. Even if he's so 'tamad' to get up and go out of the house, he still did it for me (knowing that nowadays it would take so much for me to eat even a small amount of food, he gladly gives in everytime I am craving for something). Thanks so much, Hubby. I can't wait till next Sunday! I wonder what to eat then. =)

Here are a couple of pics of our superb lunch today, taken from the internet (I am so hungry earlier, I forgot to take pics of the food):

Credit of the pics goes to HappyFoodies for the Gambas con Aligue photo and Max's Restaurant for the Crabmeat Fried Rice photo.

 

I miss home

After getting married, I moved in with my husband and his family here in Manila. It's at least a couple of hours travel from my parents house in Laguna where I grew up. Now, being pregnant and a difficult one at that, makes me more emotional and terribly makes me miss home. How I wish I could go home to my parents but under doctor's orders I have to stay in bed for a couple more weeks and refrain from traveling.

What I miss most:

• My father's head massage with Vicks Vaporub. Everytime I have a headache, Papa would always take his Vicks Vaporub from the shelf and massage my temples.
• Mama's Chicken Noodle Soup and Ginisang Giniling. I cannot find anything close to how my mom cooks those two dishes.
• Watching corny tagalog comedy movies with my youngest brother. My youngest brother laughs at the silliest antics. 
• DVD marathons with my sisters or watching Ellen, Tyra and Oprah on cable tv.
• Breakfast of pandesal, fried egg and coffee at our lanai. Mornings in Laguna are the best. Especially at Mama's garden where there are lots of flowers. 
• Lying in bed with Mama and my sisters reading Yes Magazine. Mama loves that magazine and wishes to have a home like those of the celebrities being featured.
• Biking around the subdivision. I used to ride the bike every morning for thirty minutes before Papa takes away his mountain bike to go to the tennis court for his daily tennis games.
• Mama and Papa's fave pasalubong when I was still working in Alabang, Goldilocks Pancit Malabon and Fresh Lumpia.
• Sharing glasses of Mango Shake and Fresh Pastillas with Papa. Papa loves the Fresh Pastillas from Goldilocks. (He would even cheat me on this and hide some pastillas and eat them when he thinks nobody is looking. But, he usually gets busted.)
• Papa's old songs on a Sunday morning. This has been a ritual of his, to hear his idols: Frank Sinatra, Matt Monroe etc. and bug us with his singing on a quiet Sunday morning. Sometimes he also dances with Mama or one of his girls (me and my sisters) while singing.

This list can be endless but I'm afraid I might tear up again which is really the last thing that I need. I'll just get to bed early with memories of home to accompany me to sleep.

On Pregnancy

• Before you were born I carried you under my heart. From the moment you arrived in this world until the moment I leave it, I will always carry you in my heart -  Mandy Harrison
• I begin to love this creature, and to anticipate her birth as a fresh twist to a knot, which I do not wish to untie - Mary Wollstonecraft
• Whether your pregnancy was meticulously planned, medically coaxed, or happened by surprise, one thing is certain -- your life will never be the same -  Catherine Jones

Thank you

To my dear husband for keeping up with my mood swings and food cravings,

- thanks for getting up at 2 in the morning to buy me porksilog to satisfy my hunger

- thanks for these five days that I'm on bed rest, for always bringing me pasalubong (cheeseburger, chicken sandwich or spaghetti) every time you went home from work

- thanks for always urging me to eat something even if my tummy cannot take anything (solid or liquid), "it's for you and the baby", you say

- thanks for reminding me to take my medications on time (for stopping what you're doing to cheer me on, "kaya mo yan", when I'm gagging on those tablets)

- thanks for giving in to my food cravings (Carbonara lately) and for getting up even if you're too sleepy to accompany me to Greenwich for the Carbonara (even finishing up the rest of the dish when I can't already)

- thanks for hugging me and kissing me when I can't stop myself from crying the day we found out I had threatened abortion

- thanks for always hugging me as we lay down at night... and for holding my hand while your other hand rests on my tummy as we drift off to sleep.

Being pregnant makes one super emotional and extra sensitive. Thanks for keeping up with every change that I'm experiencing. You are one great husband and I know you will turn out to be one great dad as well. I love you.

What I Would Do

- I would take my four medications (or more) every meal even if it makes me gag every time I swallow each of those tablets if by doing so would mean you will hold on

- I would keep the vile taste in my mouth after throwing up due to morning sickness if by doing so would mean I could keep you

- I would try to eat as much as I can even if after every bite makes me want to run to the bathroom if by doing so would mean you will be healthy

- I would stop working if I have to if by doing so would mean I'll get to meet you

- I would stay in bed and not move an inch for the whole nine months if I have to if by doing so would mean you'll get to live

I haven't met you yet, but I love you already. 

(I was advised to a complete bed rest for 1 week due to threatened abortion. It is such a scary time for me but I try not to get too emotional for the baby.)

Cravings!

They say when a pregnant woman craves for certain foods, it should not be disregarded. For 3 days, I've been wanting to eat "Kesong Puti" (white cheese made from carabao's milk). Unfortunately, it is pretty hard to find here in Manila. I've scoured the streets of Blumentritt every morning after I got off from shift but went home empty handed. I could not find a single vendor of "Kesong Puti". I didn't know how disappointing this is to a pregnant woman, but it really is. 

Luckily, thanks to my supportive MIL, she was able to find someone selling "Kesong Puti" at another market. So, yesterday, I was so happy and I ate four pandesals with "Kesong Puti" for lunch. Yummy!!!

Today, Saturday, as hubby and I were hanging out at home, I had the craving to eat tofu. I asked hubby if he could go out and find me tofu so we can fry it.  Well, he doesn't have any idea where he could find fresh tofu so he asked his mom to buy instead. When my MIL came back, she had with her a huge slab of very white tofu!

Hubby asked that MIL fry some slices of pork so he can have his tofu ala "Tokwa't baboy" while I ate mine as is, just plain fried tofu. We even had separate "sawsawan" because I do not want mine with onions, chili and garlic (which I used to enjoy). I just want mine to be a combination of soy sauce and vinegar. 

Two very simple food cravings but immensely enjoyed by an ever-growing tummy!

This is it!

After almost three weeks (I thought) of having my period delayed, I finally had the courage to take a home pregnancy test this morning. I didn't hope for anything this time because the last time that I took a test, only one line appeared. So, imagine the joy I felt when two, very clear, very pink lines appeared on my kit! I immediately called my cousin who is working at the Metropolitan Hospital and asked her to schedule me for a consultation with an OB-GYN. I went to the hospital, underwent pap-smear, answered lots of questions from the OB, had my blood taken for blood typing, CBC and HBS (Hepa B Surface) Antigen, had a TVS (Transvaginal Sonogram) scheduled for the afternoon. I went home to have lunch and just went back to the hospital to have my TVS done. It is confirmed! I am 5 weeks and 6 days pregnant! What a wonderful birthday gift to hubby and me! We both turned 30 on Jan 31 and Feb 6, consecutively. Today is Feb 8, exactly 9 mos after we got married. God does answer prayers!

*We'll keep on praying, because the TVS has to be repeated after a month, baby's heart rate is slow at 94BPM when it should be at least 110 BPM.**

**I just relayed the good news to my hubby who is at work, he called and asked me the results, I can't help but cry (I am such a crybaby!). I am just really happy.**