Medela Moms hosts annual baby shower

Medela Moms threw its second annual baby shower for expectant moms at its premises in New Manila on Aug. 4.

The Medela House was filled with pregnant mommies and their supportive husbands who were equally attentive to the discussions on breastfeeding, finding a good yaya, and tips on going back to work, and were even very participative during the fun games.

Loot bags and game prizes awaited participants which included two portraits of each mom by photographer Lawrence del
Mundo and lactation brownies by Mommy Treats, among others.

PGH-certified Lactation Counsellor Abbie Yabot talked at length about breastfeeding, among them, its benefits, the proper latch, and the likely challenges.

She mentioned that the baby is full from the placenta in the first three to five days of life and only needed about one teaspoon of milk to hydrate his or her tummy. Hence, there really is no need to give water or formula as these may disrupt breastfeeding, she said.

Beginning breastfeeding is not a walk in the park. The first two weeks are the hardest, but equipping yourself with the right knowledge can do a lot to help you succeed.

So if you are serious about giving what's best for your child then consider breastfeeding. And once you have decided on breastfeeding your child, plan ahead and seek out support groups or attend seminars such as those offered by Medela Moms. Connecting with other moms during said seminars could also give you the needed pat in the back when you need it the most.

You do not have to be alone in your journey - during your pregnancy and once you give birth. Apart from your immediate family, there's a whole network of supportive moms out there who are wont to help and encourage fellow mommies in their quest at giving what's best for their child or who are simply open to share their experiences to help you as you build your own.

- Mommy Smiley

Some of the treats and prizes for the expectant moms.

Lactation counselor Abbie Yabot talks about breastfeeding.

Happy Breastfeeding Month!

Breastfeeding is one of God's ways to let us know his wonders. It is indeed such a wonder how a mother can produce food for her infant child and how that will be enough for the baby to thrive in his or her first six months of life. Breastmilk, for me, is akin to God turning water into wine - a miracle. A miracle, too, is how a woman's life is changed when she becomes a mother. Becoming a mother and breastfeeding my child Saffron for 16 months now make me feel fortunate to have experienced God's wonders.

So as we celebrate the breastfeeding month this August, let me greet my fellow breastfeeding moms and thank those who helped me in my own journey.

To those who are still breastfeeding, keep it up! To the new moms who doubt their ability to produce milk, believe! You can do this for your baby. To the moms who fight for our right to continue breastfeeding our child vs the monster bill, thank you. We are grateful. To the moms who are advocates of breastfeeding, we need more like you. To my co-blogger mommy Smiley, thank you for being my support (group) so that we can give what's best for our babies. May God continue to bless you and may He always keep you and your babies safe. To my mom for breastfeeding me for the longest among my siblings, thank you. To my Ate for helping me during the first few months of my journey to motherhood and to my ninang Virgie for always encouraging me to breastfeed, my profound thanks. To Maricel and Beng of Medela Moms, thank you for always opening your house to new moms like me and for answering my calls when I was almost at the verge of giving up. To Abbie Yabbot, for sharing your gift and knowledge in breastfeeding to all the moms, thank you. I am also grateful to Dra. Joy Ty-Sy for helping me and encouraging me to breastfeed.

And to my loving husband who's so proud and supportive of me, thank you for giving up your space where I can confortably breastfeed and for waking up every morning to take care of Sam so I could rest more.

So before Saffron turns 1 year and 4 months on August 10, I surprised him with a cake to mark his birthdate and to celebrate the breastfeeding month as well.

Happy breastfeeding!

- Mommy Raquel

Happy breastfeeding month!

Happy Father's Day!

Baba,
Thank you for always playing with me.
Thank you for giving up your coffee days to spend the afternoon with me.
Thank you for changing my diaper (even with my poop.)
Thank you for giving me Saturday bathtime. I enjoy them 'cause mommy is strict.
Thank you for waking up very early to catch the morning sun with me.
Thank you for shopping (your past time) clothes for me.
Thank you for doing grocery every Sunday so mommy can have more time with me.
Thank you for making gourmet foods for me. I enjoy all of them.
Thank you for supporting mommy with breastfeeding. You know what's best for me.
Thank you for co-sleeping with me, so mommy can sleep well during the night.
I love you baba! ----Saffron

To our loving Baba, thank you for being a hands-on dad to our Saffron. We love you!
Enjoy your day off today. =]

- Mommy Raquel

Caitlin turns 1, the birthday party

The happy birthday girl.

The pictures are in, and they tell the story of how Caitlin's first birthday party went - from the do-it-yourself (DIY) decorative pompoms, home-made cake to the teacher-led games for the little ones, boy, were we exhausted!

The Gymboree party did not start until 4:30 pm on April 29, but I was already making the pompoms, souvenirs and game prizes for the kids weeks ahead at home. A day earlier, I spent it baking the cake while Caitlin was away with her grandparents.

On the party day itself, I woke up early to decorate Caitlin's cake with fondant so I can already relax.

Meanwhile, Jay was the busy bee preparing spaghetti and then packing them in carton food boxes.

It was a DIY birthday party of sorts. We weren't driven by costs, but by sheer desire to provide Caitlin something we made ourselves. It was labor of love the way we understand it.

But as her party drew near, Jay and I knew that we would not do it again. The preparation did not stop from the planning, sourcing vendors and caterers, and coordinating with them on the day of the party because we were also part of the catering and event styling.




DIY party pompoms.

But it all worked out. The one-hour lead time that we've allotted was more than enough for us to put everything in place - many thanks to my brother Dino who pinned all the pompoms to the ceiling, a task I thought was for me to do at three months pregnant! Jay's eldest brother Michael also helped with the hauling of our stuff from home to the mall. And who would deny the friendly and courteous guard at the mall as well as the staff of Gymboree? They were all very helpful to us.

So when every decor, cocktail, cake, and gift tables were set by 4:00 pm, we started relaxing.

But as the guests began arriving one by one, the birthday girl who was coming with her grandparents was still nowhere in sight!

It was past 5:00 pm when we saw her and because there were already a lot of people, it did not occur to me to nurse her first before we begin with the teacher-led activities. So by the time we were on the play floor, she was not as active or smiley as she usually is at home. I think a lot of factors played, too, from the many new faces, foreign environment to the lack of sleep and snack.





Playing on her own this time.

Her mood lightened after dinner as she was playing with our helper. Finally, she was all smiles and our photographer Lianne Bacorro captured it. What any parent would want for his or her child is for him or her to be happy. So the birthday party that we planned ideally for a one-year-old came to be - a happy child discovering and practicing her motor skills in a safe environment.


As for everything else, Jay and I couldn't be happier. The guests were inquiring about our caterer for the food and even the styling of the place that we had to tell them several times how we made a lot of them ourselves. Also, Abi Ong of Forks and Beans supplied a wonderful treat of chicken and salmon sandwiches with potato salad on the side while my mom provided the fried chicken which we packed together with the pasta.


Although my co-blogger Raquel Chua could not make it because Sam was sick, Daddy Jon came over with her freshly-baked red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. They were a hit, and so was my cake which made all my hard labor pay off.





L-R: Raquel's red velvet cupcakes and my home-made lemon cake with fondant.



It was a day to remember, and another wonderful story to tell Caitlin of how we spent her first birthday when she is old enough to ask for stories. Despite agonizing over how her party will turn out to be with all our hands-on participation, we could not imagine having it any other way.

But please don't ask me yet whether we'll do it again for baby number two. Planning a child's first birthday is not as easy as it seems.

For now, let me continue to savor the milestone that Caitlin has achieved and how we are blessed to have celebrated it in the company of close family and friends.



- Mommy Smiley

PS: All photos posted here were taken by Lianne Bacorro.






DIY souvenirs for the kids. The boxes were filled with chocolates.





Abi Ong's sandwiches and salad.



Gymboree's table setting for the kids.






Gymboree mascot.



With mommy and daddy at the play floor.




Playing with daddy.



Matt and colors.



Caitlin on a toy horse.

Siblings Pillar and Tommy at play.




Caitlin wondering what's happening.



We are happy as can be!



Jump!



Bubbles everywhere.



The famous Gymboree parachute.

Caitlin turns 1!

The birthday girl.




The older kids at play.

More arts play.



Older kids' art works.

What's important is that she had fun on her first birthday party.

Caitlin turns 1, a birthday party preview

All boxed up and ready to go. After a day's work, I finally finished the birthday girl's cake!


Caitlin's first birthday party will push through today. We had to move it from last week to allow her to heal from baby measles (roseola infantum). She's now well and we pray that she'll enjoy her Gymboree party this afternoon.


- Mommy Smiley

Caitlin turns 1, a poem

My dad composed a poem for the birthday girl who's sick on her big day. Get well soon, anak.

---

SMILIN' LITTLE CAITLIN

At twenty thousand feet enroute to Calgary

I pull a faithful companion from my hand carry

An iPad that conveniently stores

Photos of her who is so pure.

Browsing from page to page I see

Countless images of a smiling baby

Whose absolute beauty from head to toe

Is unequalled by the snow capped Rockies below.

From angelic poses on a chair

To one with a coiled towel on her hair

To proudly showing her two front teeth

Her charm will drive you to your death.

From yoga stance from bed to floor

To a drunken walk towards the door

To a grin that wrinkles her nose

Seeing them you will never ever doze.

From a perplexed stare at grass so green

To gazing at balloons flying to the beams

To wearing a new dress Mommy sewed

Forever to these photos you will be glued.

What more I ask if in person I see

Hug, kiss and cuddle this amazing baby?

My heart will leap I imagine it to be so

For my granddaughter is irresistible and true.

By: Bernie B. Julve

12 April 2012, South Western Canadian Skies

---

And here's a picture countdown of Caitlin Audrey's first 12 months.

0. Day 2 at the hospital.

1 month. Wearing the kimono I sewed her.

2 months. Smiling, happy baby.

3 months. Bringing her hands together for the first time.

4 months. Sitting on her own.

5 months. She found her feet.

6 months. Peek-a-boo.

 

7 months. Standing on her crib.

8 months. Happily eating her greens.

9 months. Rocking the froufrou onesie with matching headband that I sewed her.

 

10 months. Ears pierced.

 

11 months. Stroll in the park.

12 months. April 19, 2012. Sick with thrush. =(

- Mommy Smiley

Sneak peek at Saffron's 1st birthday party

I am so sorry I wasn't able to update you guys. I have been busy preparing for my son's 1st birthday. To be honest, I was extremely pressured during the preparations. 

Time flies by so fast. I am now getting emotional again. I can't believe that our son Saffron is now a year old. I can still remember how excited we were when we found out that I was pregnant, how scared we were when I experienced early contractions, and how excited and scared we were when Sam finally came out but more on that at a later post. 

So as Sam turned a year old, here's a sneak peek of the party we threw in honor of him. More pictures to come soon. =)

- Mommy Raquel

Happy Easter!

Let us rejoice for Jesus has risen. Take this time to bond with family, reflect and celebrate! Enjoy your weekend & be safe! Happy Easter everyone!

- Mommy Raquel, Daddy Jon and Baby Saffron Chua

Jesus take the wheel

Watching a whole episode of American Idol on one of those rare days when Caitlin sleeps for a two-hour stretch suprised me. It was not because I had the time to watch, even just the replay, of a show from start to finish. Nor was it because I got glued to a show without switching from start to finish. But it was because I heard someone sang a song that touched me.


Carrie Underwood's rendition of Jesus Take the Wheel was still more superior than the AI contestant's version (whose name escapes me now). But I was glad that she sang it because it made me look up the song on You Tube and finally appreciate it in its fullness.


I've seen the video and heard the song before, but not with the same emotion as I have now.


It's a song about hard times and seeking refuge in a force more powerful than any of us combined.


The lyrics mentioned of a single mom with her baby on the backseat and then running an accident. As a mom, I know how tough it can get in taking care and being responsible for a little one. I can guarantee that there will be days that will break the most optimist of anyone. But just when you feel like you are about to crack - surrender and give it all up to Him. And you'll be surprised at how all things become possible with Him.


This Holy Week, may we all have the time for the important things in life such as family and faith.


- Mommy Smiley

Preparing Caitlin's 1st birthday

The first fondant cake I made my daugher.

In preparation for a child's birthday, the usual steps to take, among others, are: deciding on a theme and sourcing venues, caterers, and entertainment. But for those who want to complicate life a bit, why not add enrolling in a baking class in the mix? That way, you can bake your child's first birthday cake!

I do not know why I make things more difficult as it is in preparing for Caitlin's first birthday, but I do.

I feel that there is nothing sweeter in the world than the stuff you make yourself for your child.

So I got busy and enrolled in my first class on icings, frostings, rolled fondant, and glaze. But the inspiration and real labor came when I got into themed cupcakes where we molded 3D objects using only our imagination.

I went on to practice when my baby turned 11 months on Mar. 19. I made her first cake with fondant and gum paste. For the many clothes I sewed her as well as the do-it-yourself stuff I made her, nothing almost broke me than rolling a fondant.

Playing with gum paste.

It was my first attempt at making a marshmallow fondant. I've seen how to make it from stratch into absolute smoothness a couple of times but my chef-teacher doesn't even look like she broke a sweat in doing so. I, on the other hand, almost broke my back! And I also felt guilty at the same time for being away from Caitlin as she marked her 11th month just so I can make her a cake.

But for all the time I've already spent away to attend classes and to practice at home, the least I can do is not to give up and deliver. Most importantly, it's a story about perseverance that I can pass on to Caitlin when she's old enough to understand. And by that time, I might actually make her roll a fondant so she can appreciate what hard labor really is. Just kidding!

Happy 11th month Caitlin! The countdown begins.

8:30 pm. Caitlin woke up in time to celebrate her 11th month with her daddy.

- Mommy Smiley

Happy New Year Everyday Mommy!

People have various superstitions on how to conduct their affairs on New Year's Day. The belief is whatever you do will set the pattern for the year to come.

So don't fight, and pay the bills! =)

I am not superstitious, but if what we do on this day really set the pattern for the year ahead then I am glad to have spent it with my family.

On New Year's Eve, Jay, Caitlin and I spent it with Jay's family.

Before midnight, we were already huddled inside the bedroom with the windows closed to prevent the smoke from coming in. For others, that's also hindering luck from entering.

At the stroke of 12, Caitlin and I awoke at the sound of firecrackers. Jay got up ahead of us, almost expecting a startled, crying baby. But Caitlin was comforted by our presence and kept calm and quiet until the last firecracker went off.

For breakfast, it was only us three at Pancake House in Eastwood, Libis since neither Jay nor I wanted to wash the dishes but not because of the superstition. The helper was out and we were just not up to it yet.

We had my family over for lunch, and yes, we eventually washed the dishes. We then dined with friends and new acquaintances at night then called it a day by 11:00 pm.

Except for Caitlin, Jay and I didn't wear clothes with polka dots. We also didn't fill our wallets with fresh bills nor stacked up on 12 round fruits, among the many superstitious beliefs.

But whether you are strictly superstitious or only believe what you think works for you, what's important is to be with those you love.


Happy New Year Everyday Mommy!

The family that eats together, stays together.

Christmas gifts

Babies are so adorable at times. Between an expensive toy and the packaging that came with it, Caitlin, most of the time, chooses the packaging.

 Opening gifts at home.

Stack of toys.

She likes wrappers more.

- Mommy Smiley