Changes and Baby Names

Everything seems normal and busy (at work that is). But physically, everything is changing little by little. I can feel (and see) my belly is getting bigger (slowly), from a booby size of 34B, I’m now a 38B. Now I can say that pregnancy is the best way to escape a breast enlargement surgery (hehehe!) Nowadays, I’m so lazy and so sleepy during mornings, which Adrian hates because he is always late for work almost everyday for the past 2 weeks. But the good thing is that I have yet to experience morning sickness (oh no! not that I’m wishing for it). I’m also not craving for any particular food yet. So thank God! Though I have yet to visit an OBGYN. But we’ll have to schedule it after this long weekend since we are going to Batangas this coming All Soul’s and All Saint’s Day. For now, I’m watching what I eat ... more folic acid as advised by some bloggers and friends to help prevent birth defects called NTDs (neural tube defects).

Anyway, I already told my mom that we’re having a baby when she visited us last Sunday at our home. She was so thrilled and hugged me tightly and of course here comes the tons of advises and the do’s and don’ts. I can see in her eyes that she’s very excited for her first grandchild.

On the side of my in-laws... Mama Ems already got a name for our baby. If it’s a girl, she wants the name to be Ashley. No name yet if it’s a boy. Since my mother in law had 3 boys, she wanted all her first-born grandchildren to be girls. Adrian’s elder brother and younger brother both had girls as their first-born ... lets see if mine will follow the trend. But personally, I want my baby girl named Arwen and my baby boy Andre. Adrian wants Andre too and Andrea if it’s a girl.

Well, whatever the gender is... I just want a healthy and happy baby.

Positive!

After being delayed for 8 days, I decided to buy a pregnancy test. As you can see in the picture, double purple lines means positive. I’m happy to announce that we’re havin’ a baby! Yes, it’s confirmed! In 9 months time we are going to have our little bundle of joy.

A lot of thoughts came rushing to my head as reality of being a mother soon sinks in. It’s like I’m getting married again... anxiety and excitement came rushing in again. A lot of friends and officemates were congratulating me... and already calling me "mommy". Those who already have kids in the office (Winnie and Charles specifically) were very supportive and giving me tips and the do’s and don’ts.

I haven’t told my mom yet. I want to say it to her in person so I can see her reaction. This is going to be the first grandchild in my family and I so excited to share to them this good news.

I just pray that I’ll get through this (the nine months and the labor and all)... no out of this world requests, no outrageous stuff during my "paglilihi". I need all the prayers I can get.

discovery of a great meal

Hoisin Pork and Veggies

We tried another meal from our new Good Housekeeping recipe booklet. And we have discovered an easy to cook meal which is by the way very delicious. This time it tasted great! Coz we didn't experiment on it :) hehehe! So we decided to try more meals from this recipe booklet. I can't wait to cook that herbed chicken fingers soon. Oh before I forget, Adrian was the one who cooked this meal, I just help in the prep ... I knew it! He is a better cook than me. I think I may be able to persuade him to cook the herbed chichen for me [*evil grin*]

Anyway, here's how we or I should say he did it. And follow the instructions, ok? :) hehe!

PREP Time: 15 minutes. Cooking Time: 15-20 minutes. Yield 4-6 Servings.

Marinate 1/2 kilo sliced pork in 1/2 cup oyster sauce. Heat 1/2 cup oil in a skillet and brown the pork. Add water and cook until tender. Add 1/2 cup sliced baby corn, 1 small can sliced button mushrooms, 1 cubed carrot, 1/2 cup sitsaro and 1/2 cup hoisin sause. Add more water, if needed. Drizzle with 2 teaspoons sesame oil.

Enjoy your meal.. I know I did.

*The sesame oil adds more flavor and gives a very delicious smell to this meal so don't use any substitute.

my cookin' experience

Honestly, I am no cook. I'm so jealous of those who can naturally cook without the help of a cook book. Though cooking is not a my favorite pastime (eating actually is a hard habit to break)I wanted to really learn how to do different kinds of meals. But since I have yet to acquire a cooking skill, I would need some help from Mr. Cook Book.

While I was with Baet at Robinson's department store last Wednesday, I saw this compilation of easy everyday meals from Good Housekeeping. And I told her that I want to have that so I can cook for Adrian this coming weekend. And we I arrived at the office the next day. I saw the cook book in my table with a post-it which reads "as promised, Baet". I was so thrilled and thankful for the gift. So I decided that this weekend, I'll cook something from this book. As I browsed through it, I saw a lot of meals that I want to try my hands on... Gambas, herbed chicken fingers, hoisin pork and vegetables, chicken aloha, beef with oyster... ang dami talaga. But of course, I have to make these one at a time.

I was so excited to head to the grocery to buy the ingredients that I need and also our food supply for the rest of the week. I met with Adrian at SM Supermarket in Makati after work. I've always imagined myself, at the grocery with a shopping list, a push cart and a husband beside me, choosing the things that we'll buy together, discussing if we really need to buy it of not... its kinda fun actually. Convincing him to buy something that I want or craving for that is not necessarily important. And what a triumphant feeling it is if he finally gives in to me. Yup, my husband look so cute if he thinks he has no choice but to say yes to my plea (of course I used my tender loving convincing power).

Anyway, so it’s Saturday. Woke up late up late again (10am). After breakfast we headed to the wet market to buy some seafood and meat and veggies too. I was planning to do Gambas, but no shrimp was for sale at the market so what we bought was blue marlin, my ever favorite tilapia, pork and some veggies. So what happened to my gambas? It became a Blue Marlin with oyster sauce. I marinated the fish in salt, pepper, some Italian seasoning and lemon. Which in the end, I regret that I agreed with Adrian on adding the lemon in the marinade because it overpowers the taste of the oyster sauce. But it was edible enough to be eaten by both of us. We even ate everything... or maybe we are just too hungry to notice the taste. haha!

morning sickness

I woke up today, feeling not in the mood of getting out of bed. I'm even too sleepy to bring myself to open my eyes. Does that made any sense? I'm awake (mentally) but my body is not cooperating. I decided to call in sick. After a call from a phone banker of HSBC, friends sending text messages to me which I reply with one eye open and semi-consciously. I can no longer bring myself to sleep. I grab Nicolas Sparks’ novel (True Believer) and finished the last two chapters before getting up.

So why am I home? Alone. Feeling so lazy and sleepy. Erwin say’s its morning sickness; Emmy says I might be pregnant. And same comment came from Baet. She was so sure that I am. She even sent me the name of her sister’s OBGYN and her consultation fees. But the question is ... am I? We’ll I’m already 2 days delayed. I’ve never been delayed. I’m as regular as the morning paper... well maybe 99% regular. Sometimes there are months that I’m a day or two delayed. But I was not sexually active then. Now since I’m married that’s another story...

I’m both excited and anxious. But I need to know for sure right? They say that I should buy a pregnancy test kit first to be sure. Winnie, who has been here and done that, said I should wait for 10 days before doing the test, just to be sure that I’m not just delay and no in between menstruation. I've decided to wait. Let’s see on the 21st if I’m preggy or not. For now, I’m watching what I eat... just in case. No more coffee and sodas for me now, no more alcohol (I’ll surely miss my doze of vodka ice), no more junk foods. I should be eating healthy greens and fruits. And what I really must do is to go back to the gym so I won’t add more extra pounds to what I'm gaining right now.. with or with out pregnancy.