Umagang Kay Saya :)

These are some of the best photos of our children. With such happy subjects, natural lighting and enthusiastic photographer/parents, how can one go wrong?

Fun Family Photos

It's been a while since Brandon took pictures of fun moments with the kids (that's what I call the second-kid syndrome: less excitement to take photos hehehe...). These were taken this morning, before Trixie went to school.

Trixie's Questions (Part 1)

Over breakfast this morning, Trixie asked me, "Mama, do you know the muffin man?"

On the way to school while looking out the window, she asked, "Mama, why the trees have the same color?"

When it's raining, she often asks, "Mama, why is it raining?"

While playing with her baby brother, Trixie asked me, "Mama, why syoti come out of your tummy na?"  And another, "Why is syoti a boy?"

While watching Veggie Tales she asked me, "Mama, where are their hands?"  Looking at the tv I answered, "They don't have hands eh."  She asked again,  "Why they don't have hands?"

Just out of the blue, she asked, "Mama, why I only have one nose?"

Trixie asked, "Why babies need to dede only, not eat?"  So I answered, "Babies don't have teeth yet."  Still another question, " Why babies don't have teeth yet?"

Trixie was breastfed until she was two.  So seeing other babies she asked, "Mama, why the baby drink from the bottle and not from the dede?"

While taking a shower together, Trixie asked me, "Why is your belly button brown?"

Looking up at the shower she continued to ask, "Why is the water falling down?"

After taking a bath, Trixie asked me, "Mama, why I don't have school today?"  I answered, "Because it's the weekend."  Another question, "Why no school in the weekend?"

While eating at the restaurant, she asked out of the blue, "Mama, why it's not Christmas anymore?"

Tuna and Mushroom Fusilli

Description:
We are turning in a new leaf this year. Brandon and I are now taking a conscious effort to eat healthy in 2009 (except for the occasional indulgences) and so for my first recipe this year, here's a light yet very flavorful pasta that we had over dinner. The Spanish-style tuna gives it a little heat, and the shiitake mushrooms give it a nutty and fresh flavor.

Ingredients:
Half package fusilli pasta, cooked almost al dente (You can use any kind of pasta)
Extra-virgin olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
5 large fresh shiitake mushrooms, sliced
1 can Spanish-style Tuna (I like this better than the Hot and Spicy variant)
Dried basil leaves (Fresh is best)
Grated Quezo de Bola (A gift from last Christmas)


Directions:
In a large sauce pan, pour about 6 tbsps. olive oil and saute the minced garlic until flavorful but not brown. Add the sliced mushrooms. Add the tuna while continue cooking.
Add the cooked pasta, then the dried basil, and toss to combine thoroughly.
You may add more olive oil if the pasta appears a bit dry.
Season with salt and pepper. Off heat, toss in the quezo de bola.

Almost 3 months old

It's been a long while since I posted photos of our new baby, so here is Brenzie who is turning three months old next week. Notice he is wearing a shirt that says he is my little monster... but on the contrary, he is really such a darling.

A Mother’s Heartbreak

My heart broke this week when our little Brenzie got hospitalized due to cough and colds.  He got the virus strain from Trixie and Brandon, so just imagine what our family is going through these days.  We decided to admit him at UST Hospital because he's barely a month old and he can't fight the virus on his own.  I was fighting back the tears while we were at the pediatrician’s clinic, waiting for the doctor’s orders for admission.  At the hospital, I witnessed twice how the doctors inserted tubes in Brenzie’s nostrils to suck out the thick mucus.  I also saw how they put in the needle through his wee little hand for the IV.  Watching those procedures was okay for me (I think Grey’s Anatomy prepared me for it) but hearing my baby’s cries was unbearable.  My poor little baby, you were so brave!  If only I could take the pain for him.  Thank God his lungs cleared already and he is now at home recovering.  I pray that something like this won’t happen again to any of my kids.

What to Expect When You're Breastfeeding

Through these three years that I've been a mother, I've had many friends who have asked for my experiences in breastfeeding.  Like most moms out there, I learned how to do it the hard way.  There are plenty of books about breastfeeding which tackle the science and how's of breastfeeding, but nothing quite prepared me for the real thing.  And so at 3am while breastfeeding Brenzie, I thought of writing about my experiences breastfeeding, hoping this might be of help to moms out there who are planning to breastfeed. 

So, what does it really mean when a mother decides to exclusively breastfeed her baby?  Well, aside from the fact that the baby will be getting a lifetime of benefits and the family will be saving a great deal of money (plus the nice perk of mom losing weight quite swiftly), I will honestly say that mom is about to experience something totally new and shocking.  Exaggerated, huh?  Well, it was really shocking for me.  Nobody warned me about the physical and emotional turmoil breastfeeding would bring.  Let me share my experiences.

1.  Breastfeeding was really painful.  Talk about sore and bleeding nipples for about a month.  Even though the baby's latch was correct, the nipples took getting used to, so everytime my baby nursed (which was like every hour!), I would cry and keep the pain to myself.  When my milk came, engorgement came along with it, which was also painful. 

2.  Breastfeeding was a sacrifice.  I had no sleep for about a year and I had this feeling that the only reason I'm alive was to be a "milking cow."  I couldn't go out on my own or have a date with my husband without bringing baby along.  (See photo on the right.  We brought Trix to HK and I breastfed on board the ferry to Causeway Bay.)  I didn't pump my milk; it didn't work for me--- I found it more of a hassle- sterilizing bottles, storing milk, having somebody else care for my baby (I didn't hire a yaya and we didn't live with our parents; we were truly on our own.)

3.  Starting to breastfeed was depressing.  I found breastfeeding (and baby care) to be more difficult than the lamaze birthing experience!  The struggle and pain seemed endless and I needed support badly.  I came so close to buying formula milk had it not for fervent prayers and Brandon who really supported me all throughout.  He was there when I cried and he never pressured me.  He encouraged me to go on by printing out flyers about the benefits of breasfeeding which he posted all around the room to constantly remind me that I'm doing the right thing.  This I couldn't forget: he told me that even Lucio Tan couldn't give our baby what I have- my own milk.  Thank God for my husband!

4.  Breastfeeding was the most difficult challenge of my life.  With all the pains and emotional struggles plus learning to love the baby in my arms, breastfeeding really tested my endurance and perseverance.  It took me a lot of strength of heart and body to keep going but after a month or two, everything normalized ("I got used to it" is a better way to put it) and I got to enjoy nursing my baby.  The bonding between Trixie and me brought fulfillment and I'm so glad I did it.  There were no regrets whatsoever.  Simply put, it was one of the best things I've done in my life.

To end, I just want to point out that this is my personal account only; other moms might have a totally different experience from mine.   I wrote this as honestly as possible just to give a clear picture of what's to be expected, but my hope is that moms would not be frightened by my account, but instead, be ready and eager to take the challenge.  I have become sort of an advocate of breastfeeding and I really, really want every baby out there to be breastfed.  Breast is best :)