fab preggy fotos

Being pregnant is one of the most incredible and unbelievable feelings in the whole world that a woman can experience. And I want to preserve that feeling. This is more than just a photograph; it is a piece of art that will always remind me of my special nine months.

I believe that there is nothing more beautiful than an expecting mother.

Photos are courtesy of The Picture Company. For contact details, click here

Excited!

I got an email from Eileen last Monday and she said that my "fab preggy fotos" are ready for viewing and can choose which I like for my protrait ... I'm so excited!! i know it will turn out great since the photos already looked great even without the help of Mr. Adobe. I'm just so excited! excited! excited! Can you tell how excited I am? hahaha! For the past few days, I've been telling my friends and family here and in the States what I've done to immortalize my pregnancy and to expect my pics soon. Of course I don't expect them to be as excited as I am but I just want to share with them the experiece I went through. Because I will never be able to emulate this again for my first pregnancy experience will definitely be different from my second.

Excited! Excited! Excited!

An experience quite unimaginable

Today, my officemates went off to Subic for our annual Team Building con Summer Outing. For the last 5 years that I've been with the company, this is the first time I missed this yearly anticipated event. I also missed shopping for bikinis this year... I tried once, but since I've grown from Medium to Extra Large, the one that I was keen on buying doesn't fit my upper body.. aside from me being wide, my cap size increased from B 75 to C 80. I left the store, frustrated.

But little did I know that on this same day, there was something else in stored for me. Instead of moping in the house, thinking of how fun it is to be at the beach and enjoying the breeze with friends, I was not expecting that on this same day I will experience something quite unimaginable. For others maybe not, but for me, Yes. At my 8th month of pregnancy, stretch marks and all, with a weight of 146 lbs and a bulging tummy... can you imagine me posing for a nude photo? I never planned to, but i did.

It all started last Tuesday when my colleague got a call from my client, Eileen Grey of The Picture Company. She was informed that I was working from home so she sent me an email. The email came with the usual content that a client sends to their account manager and at the end there's a question... "BTW, why are you working at home?" So I told here that I was pregnant. The next day, she told me about the new product line that they have and are looking for models who are preggy moms who they can shoot and use for their portfolio and store.


My reaction was ... This couldn't be more timing! I have been asking my husband to take a photo of me with my big tummy to immortalize my pregnancy but he does not want to. I wanted to immediately say yes to the offer but of course I need to ask permission from him. When he said its ok... I replied back immediately and told Eileen that I'm ok with it. And so by Thursday, we agreed to do the shoot today. She called me with a jolly voice that really showed her excitement. We talk about what things to bring, clothes to wear etc. So I rummage though my pre-pregnancy stuff to see what I can bring to the shoot.

Friday came and I had my hair blow dried... which I'm glad I did ( it was worth it!) and then head to Podium for the shoot. I finally met Eileen after being my client for 2 1/2 years. I learned from her that when my colleague Rachel told her that I was working from home, she was actually hoping that I was pregnant and 8 months on the way ... (is she a psychic or what?) She even guessed that we're having a boy (when we were talking on the phone yesterday). Anyway, before hand I told her that I don't do my own make-up, so she was kind enough to do some magic on my face. I met 2 of her photographers, Jill and Joie (sorry if I spelled it wrongly) who worked with her on the shoot. At first I was stiff and they keep on telling me to relax. I felt like I was on the TV show, "The America's Next Top Model" and Tyra Banks is surely not going to be happy about this. But eventually I became at home with my 3 beautiful photographers. They showed me my photos in their cameras to encourage me that I look great with my tummy exposed. And the more they showed me the eager I become ... and the shots taken gets better and better and I too am excited to do more... more shots and less clothing ... hahaha.. But it was made in good taste... I joked at my husband that my photos can be an entry to FHM for Mommy of the Month. Yup as I have said.. I posed nude but of course covered my private parts.

After the shoot they showed me about 200++ shots. And I can't believe that I was seeing me on that Mac slide show. I was amazingly, fantabulously and artistically beautiful. Eileen, Jill and Joie did a great job. I can't wait to see the shortlisted (and Photoshop) photos so I can choose for my own copies. Everything was worth it. I'd advice every future mothers out there to do the same... if you don't have the guts to pose in nude...just have your portrait taken with your tummy exposed so your pregnancy can be immortalized and have proof that a woman's true beauty is at its best when you are carrying a miracle inside of you.

"Bringing to Light the Beauty of Women during their Journey to Motherhood" - MOMS Pregnancy Portrait by The Picture Company.

You may contact The Picture Company at 6375929 / 6342632 (podium); 8903690/7550292 (Rockwell) ;8097388/8097370 (ATC) for kids, babies and family portraits too.

my final baby shopping

Before entering my 8th month of pregnancy, Adrian and I did our final baby shopping. We shopped for the essentials that baby Andre will be needing during his first month. We went to SM and there are so many cute things to choose from. If i had my way and just get all the things that caught my fancy, i'm surely gonna max out my credit card limit. But of course I did't. I'm a shopper on a budget. The budget is 5K PhP which is a company prize for being the best customer service awardee for 2005. But even if I have to work on this budget, we still went beyond it. As the items are being scanned in the counter, we ended up paying around 9K PHP because of the bottle sterilizer and breast pump which already costs 5,500 PHP. But we're not guilty of this since these two expensive items are really important.

Though we still have some remaining items in our baby wish list, I think all important things are already covered, ready and waiting for our baby andre to arrive.

baby shower part 2

My second baby shower took place at our home last weekend, April 29. The a-holics brought (for lunch) delicious pancit, roasted chicken and an ube cake which they dont want me to eat because of my high glucose level. My mom cooked kare-kare for them and served fruits and fresh lumpia as well. Everyone was so full when we left the table and headed to my room for the opening of gifts and some bonding.

Adrian arrived later around 3 pm from the car shop to fix the car's aircon that's why he was not part of the photos below.

Thanks to all my friends in college and at work for all your time and your gifts to baby andre. We hope to see you all on baby andre's christianing.

This is a swaddle cloth, a gift from Noy but
since Baet was not able to buy the bathtub yet,
kunware eto muna gift nya. hehehe!

Ate Maya and Kenny's gift from Rustan's.

Ano kaya ito, ganda ng packaging.

opening the gift while Maya looks on...

ahhh.. its a cloth book and breast pads!

Winnie got me a baby sling.

here, I'm wearing the his and hers baby slings.

so excited to wear this already.

Kim gave baby andre a nursing pillow.

cuddling my nursing pillow.

Me with our photographer par excellence, Vince Alcolea.

Author's Note:

If you are looking for a swaddle blanket or the popular baby sling, you may check out my friend's website to know where you can buy these amazing products. Their innovative products carry the trademarks "Worn" and "Natural Baby" and range from child carriers to a patented swaddling blanket. Contact Mr. Noy Consolacion at Telefax (63 2) 531-9677 for more details.