Saturday happenings

Yey Daddy A didn't have work so we had some quality time at home during the day and in Trinoma that evening.

Sabi ko kay Daddy A bantayan si baby habang inaasikaso ko si ate. Baligtad ata:



We watched the UAAP basketball finals, syempre mga tigers ata kami. Kaso ayun talo. For our snacks, Daddy A bought burgers from the Burger Project.

We then headed for Trinoma kasi nangungulit na si R. Our first stop was True Value. We had to buy a leash for our bantay. We got disposable potty seat covers as well for R and a rug for the banyo.

R was mesmerized wih the Christmas village in True Value. Kung di lang mahal ang ganda magkaron nito sa house for the kids.



Si JD naman enjoy sa kanyang mga daliri.
Bato-bato pick! Uhm yum!



Next stop was Landmark. I bought breastmilk bags while Daddy A bought perfume (for the nth time) at Penshoppe.
Enjoy si R in watching her favorite One Direction:



R had her usual rides and games at Timezone. Before heading home, we bought Fenugreek capsules (breastmilk supply booster) at Healthy Options and passed by Toys R Us kasi sale.

Hmm what to give the kids for Christmas?



For the meantime, we got R a Disney Princess magazine for being good and for doing well in potty training. Then we headed home sweet home.

My typical 24 hours

Here's a peek into what my typical day and night looks like:
4:30-5:30am : JD's first morning feed. I try to squeeze in a pump as well on the other breast. I usually blog around this time, pero most of the time weekends na.

5:30-6:30am: Prepare for work, which includes preparing my pumping gear, cooler, my clothes, banyo rituals, and squeeze in a few kisses and cuddles with these cutie pies:



6:30-7:30/8am: Drive to the office. I say my morning prayers, I put on my makeup, and manage to eat a sandwich, all because of the horrendous traffic.



8:00-8:20am: First pump. Check emails and to dos. I also eat my cup of oatmeal or a bagel. Here is my workstation a.k.a. battlefield. You could see my pumping paraphernalia to the right. Baka sabihin nyo area ng tamad ung cubicle ko dahil ang linis and walang files. I just strictly comply with our clear desk policy given the confidential nature of our work. And I really can't work well with clutter.



8:20-10am: Work mode

10:00-10:20am: Second pump pero multi-tasking parin with work. I have a double electric pump and my hands-free bra. Take note my area is hidden and I have a breastfeeding cover. Check out my pumping gear in this post.

10:20-11:20am: Work mode

11:20-12:15nn: Lunch then afterwards brush my teeth and clean my pump.

12:15-12:35pm: Third pump and surfing the net.

12:35-2:00pm: Work mode.

2:00-2:20pm: Fourth pump and I squeeze in a snack and work parin.

2:20-4:00pm: Work mode

4:00-4:20pm: Last pump while working parin.

4:20-5:00pm: Work and prepare to leave the office.

5:00-6/6:30/7pm: Drive back home. Ugh hello again horrendous traffic! Unpredictable talaga, it doesn't matter if I leave at 5pm, I still don't get home at the same time. I even experienced pumping in the car because of the terrible traffic (I know bad driver).



6:30-8:30pm: Breastfeed JD, catch up with R on how her day was, then dinner. If hindi overtime si Daddy A, complete ang family for dinner and we get some family cuddle and playtime as well.

9:00-10pm: Put the kids to bed. I do get to fall asleep as well. Daddy A and I get to catch up on our day's happenings.

10:00pm-2am: Uninterrupted sleep (fingers crossed). Sometimes JD wakes up 12mn for a short feed. If not 2 to 3am na.

2:00-5am: JD feeds, I try to squeeze in a pump as well to make up for lost pumping time during the day.I also do some work (if meron) and blogging time as well but it's usually early morning na. Sometimes I don't get to fall back asleep narin, derecho na until JD's next feed and preparation ko for work.



So that's my typical 24/7. Somedays aren't perfect and most of the time I don't get to strictly follow that schedule. Adjust adjust lang.

Every morning I just pray to God to make me work efficiently and to bless the traffic so I'll have more time with my family.

Then and now

Have you seen this website:

http://www.thenandnowphotos.com/

I have my own share of photos for this as well:

Me (at 4 years old) and R (at 2 years old) as Wonder Woman 

Me at 2 years old with a real giraffe in Manila Zoo, while R at 2 years old with a fake giraffe in Manila Zoo

Abangan niyo nalang ung kay Daddy A at JD hehe.

Pocoyo and The Voice in Newport

After mass we had lunch at Mama's. Dahil nakabili siya ng ox tongue sa S&R, Lengua ang ulam namin. I will post the recipe of this fave family dish soon.



Right afterlunch, we went to Newport mall. Nabalitaan kasi namin na nandun si Pocoyo, one R's favorite characters. When we got there, we saw a family friend K and his wife and daughter. We learned that to be able to meet and greet Pocoyo, you need to have P2, 000 worth of purchase in Newport mall. Ay no thanks nalang, nakakasilay naman kami kay Pocoyo from where we were standing. For those who have tickets though, we could see their free cotton candy, popcorn, and balloons. Wanlu also did a magic show.



We also wandered through the mall and found ourselves near Newport theatre wherein the grand finals of The Voice of the Philippines will be held.



The Noise of the Philippines:



Cinderella starring Karylle and Christian Bautista will be staged here as well. Ang mga feeling Cinderella:



We continued exploring the mall, window shopping at picture picturan lang are all we could afford there.



Afterwards, hinahanap parin ng katawan namin ang SM so gora kami dun. We just bought R some panties (toilet training in progress) and we got mini tables that Mama will turn into modular shelves for the kids' room. I'll post the pics nalang once it's done.

So that's how our siksik Sunday went.

Handling my three year old and three month old

This has long been in my draft folder (since I gave birth pa to JD). It's my post sana on how to handle your toddler and newborn. Kaya before mag debut ang daughter ko at mag binata ang baby boy ko, dapat ma-share ko na tong post na to.

When we found out I was pregnant with JD, we immediately prepared R for the pregnancy. We told her there is a baby growing inside my tummy. We let her talk to the baby and she would say "ate R ito", although we doubt she understood already. But I guess it became apparent when she saw my growing tummy and she was really mesmerized when it moved. She would also understand the times I couldn't carry her anymore and she'd say "kasi di pwede mommy, daddy nalang".

I thought it was going to be smooth sailing until I gave birth to JD. She even visited us in the hospital and seemed to be excited with her new baby brother.

But once we got home and we started with our new routine, she didn't easily adjust right away. The first few weeks were particularly tough. Here's what I experienced with R:

• She wanted to lie down in the crib too
• She would tell me "bigay kay daddy/lola si JD, carry me, or lagay sa crib/bed si JD, play tayo" 
• She actually admitted to Daddy A that she was jealous
• Whenever she sees I'm carrying/breastfeeding JD, she would call her yaya and would cry if she wasnt in the room and ask would ask her yaya to carry her or make her timpla milk
• May ilang instance din na bigla niya napalo si JD when he was crying incessantly

But I guess it just really takes some time, effort and a lot of explanation. Here are what we did so R could adjust:

• I try to kiss and hug her with my free hand while JD is nursing or I read her favorite book to her, or we sing together
• Whenever she shows me something (specially something she learned from school) I respond to her with glee and I always tell her I'm proud of her
• She has lots more playtime with Daddy A, specially the rough and tumble type which she likes 
• We signal visiting relatives or friends na siya muna ang pansinin before the baby.
• We regularly go for her carousel rides and meryenda dates
• I showed her baby pictures and videos to her and explained that when she was small all our attention was on her since she was still small and incapable. Naaliw naman siya to see herself as a baby before.
• Most importantly we teach her how to share her toys and to love and care for her brother. We also tell her that she's a good ate.

Those worked naman kasi now she can't get enough of her brother. She just kisses and hugs him all the time. More importantly she shares her toys with him (except ung Barbie at makeup, ay mahigpit na pinagbabawal yan ni Daddy A!). She is even more than willing to help in changing the baby and giving him a bath (alalay lang dapat and never leave a toddler and baby unattended).

I'm really glad I have a mature and loving daughter. I really hope and pray they have a wonderful sibling relationship even in the future. They have to know that they're all they've got specially when we, their parents, are no longer around. Sana kagaya rin namin ng bro C ko, at si Daddy A and his siblings na "we got each others' backs" ang peg.