Another Day in a Military Wife's Life

The sound of rain drumming on the rooftop woke me up around ten this morning. “Tap tap tap”, said the rain as if cuing me to get up, take a shower, and have breakfast. My growling stomach (or my baby pushing the gases out from my digestive tract) made me pull myself out from bed thirty minutes later.

I was in for a treat at breakfast. I feasted on fried fish, boiled egg, seasoned okra, and red apple plus the necessary anmum milk and folic acid. Our cook is not only good in the kitchen but also considerate about the health and wellness of the troop especially with me after he learned my condition. Every menu is well-thought of. My most favorite amongst his special dishes is katuray, a mixture of vegetables and shrimp which only a true-blooded Ilonggo can concoct.

After that.. alas! My eyes were slowly and involuntarily drooping again. Was it because of the gloomy weather or the effect of having a baby growing inside me? Hmmm.. I guess it’s the latter. My mother must be right when she said, “liwat jud ka nako magbuntis day, di maselan, but sige lang katog and kaon.” And so while half the world is on the go, I nailed myself into our tiny yellow bed once more.

At one thirty in the afternoon, I roused vaguely from the half sleep which I had finally succumbed. I half opened my eyes and shut off the incessant sound of my alarm. Then I had lunch of sinabaw na baka with cabbage and freshly squeezed orange juice. Slurrpy!

Right now, I’m fighting off my droopy eyelids yet again but I need to feed my mind and so after posting this I'm going to blog hop, check mails, catch up with my friendsTER, and keep myself abreast with events in the tennis world particularly the ongoing ATP Masters Series in Indian Wells. I’m such a tennis fan, you know. I even mentioned to hubby that our child is going to be a professional tennis player someday. (Ops, stage mother is in the making!) When we’ll move to our new house inside the base, the first thing I would like to install is cable TV so that I can watch a match as it happens.

Speaking of hubby, he is still in a nearby island accomplishing an assignment for the glory of God, country, and people. He will be back on Saturday yet. It’s his first time to be away from me since we learned that I’m expecting. The upside is I could cheat on my curfew which is 9 pm. Last night, I watched "The Other Boleyn Girl" and slept around midnight. One thing I can't do if honey is around. (By the way, I download movies via Mininova using uTorrent.) The downside is I’m feeling so alone. I miss my hubby na.

Oopss.. I can’t fight my drowsiness na naman. It’s time for me to go back to slumberland!

ZZzzzz..

Smokin' Hot

One of my perks on being pregnant is that I tend to get all my cravings in just a snap. It seems like I have a magic wand that makes people eager to please my indulgences. Like I ask for pizza or sundae or kinilaw na squid and then it would be on my table right away.

Lucky me? Not so, because my tummy gets bigger and bigger!

As a result, I need to have a fashion overhaul. Hubby said I shouldn’t wear my old fitting jeans again as it might throttle our baby. Instead, I should buy new suitable clothes for an expecting mom. I totally agree. Shopping here I come!

Being pregnant doesn't mean I shouldn't feel confident, stylish, and desirable. So, I envision myself to look smokin' hot like my celebrity style twin and also a hot momma of two - Nicole Richie!

Pregnancy Survey

Is this your first baby? Yes!!!!

Were you trying to get pregnant? Yes for a year.

How far along were you when you found out? 5 or 6 Weeks.

What was your reaction? Amazed, excited, and scared all at the same time.

Who was the first person you told? After my husband Mark, my sister Jill.

How did you tell the father? I texted him saying “Honey, you are going to be a dad soon. It’s positive. Finally!” then I called him up. (He was at Shangri-la for a conference at that time.)

What was his reaction? He sounded so happy. I could imagine him smiling from ear to ear. When he came home, he hugged me tightly. Then he set up a happy hour in the barracks.

When is your due date? November 8, 2009.

Do you have any morning sickness? No, I don’t. My mom said I take this smooth pregnancy after her.

Do you want a boy or girl? I want a girl while hubby wants a baby boy.

Do you know what you’re having? No, not yet.

Do you plan on a natural or medicated birth? Natural but if I can’t take the labor pains, I will take epidural.

Are you scared about labor? Yes. Super. What if I can’t push the baby out? Heaven forbid.

Do you think you will cry when you see the baby for the first time? Yes, I'm 101% sure of it.

Who is going to be with you? I want my mother, my father, my husband, and my two sisters who are RN’s to be with me inside the delivery room. I need an army of support. LOL.

Are you going to video tape it? Yes, that would be exciting!

Do you know what you will say to the baby when you first hold it? No clue. I am waiting for that moment!

Do you have a name picked out? Not yet but I like names starting with M and J, like Maisie Jade (precious jewel).

Is your baby going to be named after anyone? No. Though I want a greek or latin name but hubby wants something modern and unique like Forecastle Hatch. What?!

What do you think the baby will be a "daddy’s girl/boy" or a "mommy’s girl/boy"? Mommy's boy/girl- totally mommy's boy/girl!

My Journey to Mommyhood

It’s time for me to announce that I’m pregnant – finally!

While I was tempted to shout my happy news out from the top of a mountain after I took the home pregnancy test last Wednesday, I held it as I was afraid the two red lines were only a trick. The following day, I had an appointment with my obstetrician, Dr. Panares of Chong Hua Medical Arts, and she prescribed Anmum for my milk and Meganerv F-A for my vitamins. Yesterday, my OB sent me for an early ultrasound to know the heart rate of my baby and for various lab tests. After learning the result that my pregnancy is indeed progressing at forty days, I then shared the wonderful news with my family and friends.

They were all ecstatic, telling me what’s and what-not’s, do’s and don’ts.

Honestly, the reality that I’m gonna be a mommy in November hasn’t sunk in until minutes ago. When it did, it came as an epiphany that my life is going to change tremendously. Yet I wouldn’t exchange for anything in the world my experiences on a well-traveled road of motherhood. I am willing to be transformed from a not-so-conventional wife into a selfless mom.

Last night, I bought a book entitled Baby Love, A Pinay’s Practical Guide to Pregnancy, by Marivic Soliven Blanco and Ipat Luna, and read it in just one sitting. I liked it and it made me appreciate the essence, grace, and humor of pregnancy. Then I changed my playlist from pop to everything instrumental – guitar, sax, piano, and violin. I've heard it would keep me calm throughout my pregnancy and increase the emotional quotient of my baby as well. I also created a blog to chronicle my journey to mommyhood. It's still under construction though, but please drop by if you have time.

Well, you may wonder, how did Mark react for the “bomb” that he’s soon-to-be dad? I will tell you about it in the succeeding days.

Keep posted!