It's a SHE!!!

It's a GIRL! Yup, another girl is on the way to rock the home. The ultrasound conducted today revealed that Evie is going to have a sister. She's 18 weeks old with an estimated due date on June 12. That date is quite significant to me. It's my (deceased) foster father's birthday and the Philippine's Independence Day. Although I am sure yet if we'd go for the said date because I will be undergoing C-section, so most probably, the doctor will give us date options. I might go for it too. I'll see how things go as this journey continues.

The little one was moving a lot during the ultrasound. Actually, she has been moving around so much since last night. Perhaps too excited that her Dada, Mama, and Ate Evie will get to see her the next day. I'll be undergoing a Level 2 Ultrasound on the 12th of February to find out more of the baby's anatomy. Ultrasounds are perhaps the most precious activity I get excited about with pregnancy. It's just amazing for me to see the tiny miracle thriving inside of me.

Have a Name Yet?

We haven't really come out the final list of names that we will give our daughter yet. Few weeks ago, I came out with the name "Felicia." It's a combination of my grandfather and mother's name. My husband gave me the honor to name our next baby because he chose our first daughter's name (and I chose the middle name). However, I am still undecided. There are still more months to come, to think, and to come up with the final name. Although, it seemed like we agreed for the middle name as "Hope." We thought between "Grace" and "Hope," but the latter sounds the closest to our hearts. it's not as common as Grace, and besides, we will complete the three important things that the Apostle Paul mentioned in 1 Corinthians 13:13— faith, hope, and love. Evie's middle name is Faith, and now Hope is on the way. Love? Our family as a whole symbolizes "love—" the ultimate instrument that binds us together. Who needs "Love" as middle name? Not us. We already have it. Sounds a little bit corny, but that's how it goes. :)

Walk, Make Love, Spicy Food

A lot of people have been telling me and my husband that walking, making love, and eating spicy food help the baby to come out. Well, we did all of it last night. After all, there is no harm in trying. Who knows?

I ate spicy chicken wings from Native New Yorker for dinner (not the spiciest one), and we strolled in the mall for almost an hour after sharing our evening meal.

Making love was beautiful. I did not only feel the physical connection with my husband, but as well as emotionally and mentally. Physical intimacy gives me the feeling of oneness with him. We didn't feel sleepy after, so we just absorbed our time together talking. It was already 2AM when both of us were so exhausted and just slammed our dead-tired bodies on bed.

Today has been a tiring day. As usual, it was so hot outside. We went out for lunch and ate at Black Angus. I didn't have spicy food though :) I was amused when my husband said the grace because he was asking God for us to have the baby either today or tomorrow.

We did a lot of walking. Went to Target and Toys R Us, proceeded to the cheap movie theater and watched Land of the Lost. We chose to watch a hilarious movie because hubby was wondering if laughing helps trigger labor as well...lol. I was so tired when we got inside the movie house and fell asleep with my head on his shoulder during the previews. I woke up when the movie started, but still so drowsy that I fell back to sleep. There were times my husband's laughter woke me up, but was overwhelmed with my heavy eyes and tired body. I think, I only saw half of the film.

I felt much better after coming out from the theater, so we spent time walking around the mall. Dropped by at some shops, bought See's chocolates, and had a 15-minute back massage on a shiatsu massaging chair (oh so soothing and relaxing).

Anxiously Waiting

I am starting not to like what I have been feeling for 2 days now. I started to feel anxious and impatient of Evie's coming. As much as I try hard to relax and wait, it looks like the anxiety is getting stronger. Is it because I tried so hard not to feel too excited? I don't know. Maybe.

Now, I am wondering if she will come out this week. That's what my husband predicts. I think the thought of it increased my anticipation.

I had that needle-poking contraction again this morning while I dozed back to bed after waking up so early again. The tinge woke me up at times, but decided to ignore it. This time, the not-so-painful contractions stayed longer than last night's.

It's getting harder for me to feel relaxed. I am beginning to ask the question "when?" This must be normal?

Those Needle-Poking Feeling

I had been experiencing some tingly feeling in my belly last night. The feeling was like being poked by the tip of a needle. I presume they were contractions. It should be normal because Evie's big day will be anytime from when she was 37 weeks. I also noticed that my back hip was a bit sore. Had a hard time shifting my sleeping position too last night. I felt a little bit of cramps on my groin. The cramps were like those mentrual pains I had prior to pregnancy. This baby should be here so soon. Isn't that exciting? :)

Now, I should start cleaning our nest before she comes! Our living room and kitchen look so cluttered right now :)

Hungry Morning

Woke up 3 hours earlier than usual this morning (5:20). My stomach was growling. I was hungry. Perhaps because I didn't eat anything that heavy last night. I had 3 pieces of Native New Yorker's chicken wings that my husband brought home (as per request), a can of coke and 5 pieces of Hershey's Bliss milk chocolate. I remember that later last night I had a slice of coconut bread.

Well, my husband found me wide awake at 5:30, so, we found ourselves in the kitchen. I had another slice of coconut bread and a glass of hot Milo chocolate drink.

Quite grateful that after my husband left to work, I was able to doze for 2 and a half hours. I woke up feeling hungry. It was already lunch time. I had 4 chicken wings and a coffee milk shake :) I feel much better now that I have rested enough and filled my belly.

Week 18 (March 6-12)

I have been feeling more the reality of my pregnancy. Most of the things become too obvious to me. I can finally say that my belly is growing. I remember there were mornings where I would complain to my husband about my belly not getting big at all. He thought it was funny. Funny indeed. He would just tell me that I still had a long way to go and will have a big tummy in few months to come.

A growing belly
One look on me and you will know that there is a baby growing inside me. Unlike my first three months where people could mistaken the bulging part of my stomach as love handles, right now, my belly is showing the obvious. One thing that came to my attention are the veins on the sides. I don't have these before. I am pretty sure the primary cause is my stretched skin. I am anxious of developing stretched marks as most women have after pregnancy. At this time, I applied either baby oil or lotion after a nice shower. I wished I apply more from time to time. But I keep forgetting. My friends are recommending lotion with cocoa butter. They said it is a great weapon to battle against stretched marks.

Eating more; gasping for breath
One of the things I have been enjoying now is food. My first two months was not at all pleasant when it comes to filling my gut. Like other pregnant women during their first months (specially first trimester), I also experienced aversion of most of the food I liked eating. Good thing, I liked eating fruits that time. I am quite grateful that by this time, I am already eating a lot. I no longer feel guilty of not feeding the baby like when I didn't like food that much.

Most of the food that I eat are Filipino food. Well, it's what I've grown up to. I am just glad that there are Asian supermarkets around where we can grab a few Filipino products for Filipino dishes. One problem I used to experienced though is gasping for air everytime I get too full. The feeling is like running a 5-mile marathon wherein you feel like you are catching your breath. Most of the time, I couldn't help eating a lot. It was quite the opposite during my first trimester. It is like a sweet revenge.

Hello new clothes
Most of my old clothes no longer fit on the waist and breast parts. My husband is the most supportive when it comes to this. Well, not only on this matter but everything about my pregnancy. There was one night he got home carrying a bag of new maternal shirts. He's the one who is too aggressive on getting maternity clothes for me. I have been starting to wear them since my old clothes seemed so tiny now that our baby is growing. I didn't miss wearing them at all. I am enjoying my new clothes and quite proud showing off my bulging belly.

Corned Beef and Egg

It's Saturday, a favorite day of mine (aside from Sunday). Why not? I get to spend the whole day with my loving husband. He's off of work and we have 24-hour straight to be together.

I got up from bed at 9:30 in the morning. As usual, Tom (our sweet adopted cat) was there laying beside me. I went out from the bedroom, sat on the chair where my husband was sitting with the laptop, and spent a few minutes hugging each other. What a beautiful moment to start my day.

I was thinking of breakfast. My husband had been preparing breakfast for us two mornings ago. And I thought, this this morning, it's my time to show my care by preparing breakfast.

I took the can of hash corned beef which he got me days ago. I had a problem with breakfast lately. My once favorite pancake and french toast are no longer that appetizing to me. These past days, I didn't like eating breakfast that's sweet. Pancake and french toast needs syrup and I found it too sweet. So, most of the time I ended up eating either fried or scrambled eggs. The problem is, I have skin allergy with eggs (though it's just mild). My husband was feeling concerned about it, so he thought that he'd get me something that I can eat in the morning aside from eggs, potatoes, buttered saba banana or tuna sandwich. That's how he ended up getting cans of corned beef.

I cooked the corned beef as instructed in the can, toasted sliced breads and prepared the table. My husband likes orange juice for breakfast, so I poured a glass and put it on his side of the table. I went to the baby's room where he was busy sticking in painter's tape and told him that it's time to eat.

Breakfast time. Before we started praying for grace, I asked if I cooked the corned beef the right way. He said that he didn't know because he had not cooked nor eaten corned beef. I was shocked! I continued, "so you don't eat corned beef? I didn't know!" My emotion started to go crazy. All of a sudden, my trying to please my husband by making breakfast this time turned into ruin. I was so disappointed of myself. I stood up, blood boiling for myself and inquired what he wanted. He said that it's ok, he can try eating corned beef. I didn't listen to him. I went to the fridge and looked for something that he can eat. I wanted to make him something that he eats and asked what he wanted. He continued reassuring me that he can try. We went back to the table and he tasted the food. He didn't like it, and gently told me he can have fried egg. I grabbed the pan, turned on the stove, took the box of eggs out from the fridge. Lo and behold, the one and only egg left, slipped from my hand. Fell on the floor. Egg white and yolk are scattered.

What a failure I thought! With my high emotion boiling inside me, I started to wail. I felt so bad of failing to show my husband about my care for him by making breakfast. Very simple breakfast. With great love and concern for me weeping, he hugged and told me that "it's ok, it happens sometimes." I kept crying, feeling awful for myself. How could I break the one last egg left which he wanted to eat for breakfast?

But you know what? My husband has this kind of love and care that never fail to soothe everytime I am disturbed inside. He managed to calm me down from my crying and feeling bad. He made me feel that I am always loved despite what happened. It's no big deal at all. My feelings are more important to him than his breakfast. We hugged each other so tightly until our butts were numb (we were sitting on the floor with me leaning on the fridge).

He prayed for grace and saw tears in his eyes after we said "Amen." I stood up and put my arms around him. I asked what's the matter. My heart was so touched when he told me that it's just his emotions bursting out of his love, care and concern for me and our baby.

The corned beef and egg didn't work. However, we had one of the best breakfast together. He ate the cheese-filled coffee crumble cake, a toast with strawberry jam, a glass of milk, and half glass of orange juice. Well me, I ended up eating all of the corned beef, a toast and a cup of coffee that he made.

What happened on breakfast made me think about what pregnancy books and friends (who'd been pregnant) said about the highs and lows of emotion during pregnancy. I think this experience is one of those. Nonetheless, with my husband's love, we managed to pull it out. Our bond is stronger.

Even if I have to experience this emotional struggle from time to time, it's ok. I love being pregnant. I love to have the knowledge that I am carrying and nurturing inside me the most special "thing" exclusively shared and made by my husband and me...most of all, with the Creator.