TICK TOCK

I went to see an OB-Gyne (not my personal OB, but someone who was an affiliate of my health insurance) yesterday for my annual pap smear.  She says everything down there looks fine and then I mentioned that I felt a sharp pain before my last period so she decided to also give me a transvaginal ultrasound.

OB: This is your uterus, and that's your cervix, looks healthy and clean.  This is your left ovary and this is the right one. Ang ganda ng ovaries mo! See the follicles? You have plenty! Those will turn into eggs.  You can still have many babies.
Me: Uhmm, until what age can I get pregnant?
OB: 35.
Me: Ha? I only have 1 year?
OB: 34 ka na ba?
Me: Yes.  What happens after 35?
OB: You can still get pregnant after 35 but you'll be more prone to a high risk pregnancy.

Hear that?

Yep. That is the sound of my reproductive system ticking.

I can't imagine life without my sisters. When Papa passed away and when Mama moved to the US, life was easier because I had my sisters. Back when I was younger, my sister Marby and I would always cover for each other. And even now that we don't live together anymore, that bond has never been broken.

I want Joaquin to have the same remarkable bond with a sibling.  Maybe I'm being too hard on myself when I say this, but I would feel like somewhat of a failure if I cannot give Joaquin a sibling.

And I only have one freaking year, if I want a worry-free pregnancy, that is.

Well I'm pretty darn sure it's not happening this year.  And besides, I'm not yet desperate enough to do the deed with just anyone.  I want it to be with someone who I'm inlove with--unless of course, your name is Ryan Gosling, in which case, PLEASE, i-dirty dancing mo ako before you impregnate me.

But you know, God has a plan.  And I have always trusted that His plans are good.  So if He feels that I am destined to only have Joaquin, that is fine, for as long as He gives my son friends like mine. Because the friends I keep, are very much like family to me.

CONGRATULATIONS, JOAQUIN!

I'm so proud of you, my love.

 So proud that it makes me kind of proud of me, too.

May you be braver, happier and smarter.  I promise to be with you every step of the way.

The world is yours for the taking!

SHAPES AND SONGS

Joaquin identifying some shapes:


Singing "Wheels on the Bus" with me:


Notice how he likes to jump around? That is the kind of ruckus I go through everyday before he takes his afternoon nap and before he goes to bed at night. Sooo much eneergy!

GLOOMY FRIDAY

I bet you had a hard time getting out of bed this morning.

I, on the other hand, saw the sun come up today. I was up all night (only had about 3 hours of sleep) because Joaquin has cough and colds. He would sleep for awhile and then wake up crying. Then he would ask me to carry him and he would sleep on my shoulder. If I lay him on the bed, he would cry and ask me to carry him again. I would have to wait for a pretty long time until he falls into a deep slumber before I can put him down. Now, I cannot feel my arms! Hehe!

V offered to do the carrying but Joaquin refused to be carried by anyone else. Whenever I would hand him over to his Papa, he would cry louder and stretch his arms out to me. (Sweet noh?)

So anyway, I took the day off from work so I can stay home and take care of my son. Also doesn't help that I already have sore throat and colds and V has the same thing Joaquin has. Hawa-hawa na kami. Guess we are staying indoors all weekend.

What brightened my gloomy friday was watching Twilight's new Trailer. If you're also a fan, you'll love this! It's kileeeeeggg!!!

Enjoy this and enjoy your weekend!

TERRIBLE TWO

Joaquin is turning 2 next month and as early as now (actually, it started a few months ago), he is already on the "Terrible Two" phase.

According to Dr. Greene:

Gradually, though, sometime after he had mastered walking, an irresistible urge to make his own choices began to well up inside him. This is an exciting development, but the difficulty with his making an independent choice is that he must disagree with you in order for the choice to be his own. Now, when you ask him to do something, he refuses.

And it really is quite terrible. Lemme tell you why:

Then: We would force him to walk.
Now: We run after him.

Then: He falls asleep before we do.
Now: We're sooo sleepy and he's still climbing up and down the bed and running around the room, etc.

Then: Loves afternoon naps.
Now: What afternoon nap?

Then: Stays and plays in his playpen.
Now: Climbs out of his playpen.

Then: We wake up with him in bed.
Now: We wake up with him standing by our bed.

Hehehehe!

Have a good work week, everyone!

MAKING HIS MOMMA PROUD

One of the things I love about being a mom is discovering my son's tiniest feats and being mighty proud of it. Aside from the usual "close open", "high five" and "bye bye", Joaquin can now identify my eyes and nose, (he still has confusion with the mouth). He also dances to "I have two hands" by clapping at "clap them softly..." and showing his hands at "clean little hands are good to see.." (I promise to take a video of this soon to show you). He also rubs/pats his tummy when we sing, "rub rub tummy, yummy yummy yummy!"

I don't want to sound like a Nido commercial but Joaquin also eats healthy and sleeps well. He eats a serving of strawberry yogurt every morning. He also can't get enough of mangoes, bananas, kiwis, avocados and peaches. Last Sunday, we ate at a Japanese resto for lunch and he finished his miso soup (he also ate the tofu in it). He loves it when I cook him spaghetti, lasagna and ginisang sayote. He even likes sinigang and he eats the kangkong!

My son is also never sick. He's a year and 2 months old and he's only had fever once and it only lasted for a day, and that fever was caused by his vaccination. The most serious ailment he's ever had to date is cough and colds. Everyday I pray that it stays that way.

I know that no matter how hard I try, I can't be a perfect mother but only one thing is certain-- I only want to give my son the best--my best. And when I see how happy, healthy and lively he is, I thank God for the shower of blessings and I realize that all my efforts are paying off (even when they sometimes burn a rather large hole in my pocket. Haha!).


He loovveeesss bubbles!


Big toes to go with his big feet!


V and Joaquin, feeding me. Hehe!