Baby Blues or PPD

I've read about baby blues and PPD (post partum depression) while I was still pregnant. Akala ko, I wouldn't have it.

A few weeks after I gave birth, ayan na... lagi na lang ako nalulungkot. There were even times na umiiyak na lang ako for no reason at all. It went on for a few weeks. Since medyo aware ako about the condition, I tried to cheer myself up. Di ko masyadong in-entertain ang nararamdaman ko.

Akala ko, tapos na yung phase na yon... Feeling ko okay na uli ako.

Then, for the past few weeks, I've been feeling stressed and really, really depressed. I always feel like crying. Kahapon, bumigay na ako... umiyak ako for reasons I don't even know. May times pa na naiinis ako sa isang tao na hindi ko naman alam kung bakit. Like yesterday, nainis ako sa hubby ko... ewan ko kung bakit... basta di ko na lang sya pinapansin (sorry Honey!). Pero after a while, nagwe-wear off din yung inis ko.

I then remembered the things I read about baby blues and post partum depression. Napaisip tuloy ako. I searched the internet again and found some resources on it. I realized I have some of the symptoms, like:

~ feeling restless or irritable
~ feeling sad or crying a lot
~ having headaches or hyperventilation (fast and shallow breathing)
~ very tired
~ trouble focusing, remembering or making decisions

Though, medyo napaisip lang rin ako if these are caused by hormones. I'm on the pill din kasi.

Whether what I'm experiencing is due to the blues/PPD or just hormones, I know that acknowledging I have it is the first step to helping myself. I think I'll also follow some suggestions that I found on the net to help me feel better:

~ get good rest and relax
~ stop putting pressure on myself
~ talk to my husband and family
~ go out
~ spend time with my husband

I hope mawala na 'to soon.

on the verge of breaking down...

i am so stressed out and depressed...
parang ang daming nasa loob ko pero di ko mailabas...
naghalo-halo na...

feeling ko, sasabog na ako... konti na lang...

In My Daughter's Eyes - part 2

I actually haven't heard this song yet when I posted the lyrics here. Nagandahan lang ako sa message. Thanks to Mama Meeya, I was able to hear the song. For those of you who haven't heard it as well, here it is...

In My Daughter's Eyes by Martina McBride

PS - I always get teary eyed while listening to the song.

The past week

... Nag-self-impose si Caitlin ng name nya. She only responds when we call her "Caitlin Honey". Since naririnig nya akong tinatawag ang daddy nya na "Honey", akala nya siguro name din nya yon. Hahaha!!!

... Our little girl started to giggle out loud. Nagulat na lang kami nung tumawa sya one time na naglalaro sila ng Daddy nya. Nakakatuwa!

... Caitlin had her first taste of orange juice. Actually, 2 tsps of orange juice lang na diluted in 4 oz of water. She liked it naman.

... She's starting to grab food from our hands and from the dining table. Gusto na yata nyang kumain! We asked her pedia if we could start feeding her na. Hindi pa daw... on her 6th month pa daw. Kawawang baby... patakam-takam na lang.

In My Daughter's Eyes

In my daughter's eyes I am a hero
I am strong and wise and I know no fear
But the truth is plain to see
She was sent to rescue me
I see who I wanna be
In my daughter's eyes

In my daughter's eyes everyone is equal
Darkness turns to light
And the world is at peace
This miracle God gave to me
Gives me strength when I am weak
I find reason to believe
In my daughter's eyes

And when she wraps her hand around my finger
Oh it puts a smile in my heart
Everything becomes a litte clearer
I realize what life is about

It's hangin' on when your heart has had enough
It's giving more when you feel like giving up
I've seen the light
It's in my daughter's eyes

In my daughter's eyes I can see the future
A reflection of who I am and what will be
Though she'll grow and someday leave
Maybe raise a family
When I'm gone I hope you see
How happy she made me
For I'll be there
In my daughter's eyes

- Martina McBride

You Are a Life Blogger!

Your blog is the story of your life - a living diary. If it happens, you blog it. And make it as entertaining as possible.

What kind of blogger are you?

Some of Caitlin's Favorites

This is the first book that we bought Caitlin. It's a lift-the-flap book. Caitlin loves it when we read this book to her. Yun nga lang, napansin namin na she looks at the words more than the pictures. Hmmm... Ano kaya ibig sabihin nito? Hehehe...




This is Caitlin's favorite toy, "Octo". It's the Octivity Time from Lamaze (thus the name :P). When she turned 3 months old, she began to appreciate this toy. Kahit umiiyak sya, basta ibigay namin 'tong toy na 'to, tumitigil sya.









Another one of Caitlin's favorites. It's a plush prayer doll from Precious Moments. She stops and listens everytime she hears her doll pray.

My Prizes

Last week, I wrote that I won Smart Parenting Magazine's SPAmpering from Head to Toe promo (for August). Below are the gift certificates that I won.

I won!

Natuwa lang ako kasi ito yata ang first time kong manalo ng medyo malaking prize.

I joined Smart Parenting Magazine's August promo - SPAmpering from Head to Toe. All I did was send my entries via email. 3 entries yata ang pinadala ko. Sabi sa promo, they'll pick the winners on September 1st.

During the first week of September, I kept checking my emails to see if I won. Eh wala naman akong natatanggap na notification. So hinayaan ko na.

Then just this morning, I saw an email from Smart Parenting informing me that I won the raffle!

Prizes are P5000 worth of gift certificates from Foot Options Spa and P5000 worth of gift certificates from Capelli Salon Cafe.

O di ba?! Email lang ang puhunan ko dyan!

UP Naming Mahal...

Got this from Meeya. Makikisagot na rin ako.

Ano'ng studeng number mo?
~ 93-02860

Nakapasa ka ba or waitlisted?
~ Yup, first choice ko pa... BSBAA

Paano mo nalaman ang entrance exam result?
~ Classmate ko ang tumingin para sa akin

First choice mo ba ang UP?
~ Nope. Gusto ko sana mag-Ateneo kaso di ko nakuha yung first choice ko don.

Alam mo ba ang UPG score mo?
~ Hindi eh

Ano ang first choice mo na course?
~ BS Business Administration and Accountancy

Second Choice?
~ Di ko na matandaan. BS Business Administration yata.

Ano naging course mo?
~ BS BAA but had to shift to BS BA dahil sa bwisit na buntis kong prof sa accounting!

Nagplano ka bang mag-shift?
~ Hindi. Napilitan lang ako dahil nga sa bwisit na buntis kong prof sa accounting!

Nakapag-dorm ka na ba?
~ Hindi. Ang lapit lang kasi ng house namin sa UP Diliman.

Naka uno ka na ba?
~ Of course! And hindi lang once! (hehehe... yabang ba?)

Nagka-3?
~ Nope.

Highest grade
~ Uno!

Lowest
~ 2.75

Worst experience sa UP
~ Nadukutan ako ng wallet sa loob ng BA canteen. To think, nasa kabilang table lang yung bag ko.
~ Yung elective subject ko na anthro... amoy pipe kami pagkatapos ng class. Ang lakas kasi mag-pipe ni Prof. Bailen. Tapos ayaw nya iwang bukas yung doors ng classroom dahil maingay daw yung mga dumadaan. Ayaw din nyang buksan yung ceiling fan kasi takot syang bumagsak. Ayun, ang baho naming lahat pagkatapos ng class nya! Hahahaha!!!

Lagi ka bang pumapasok sa klase?
~ Depende sa subject. Yung anthro subject ko, wala pa yatang 10 sessions ang pinasukan ko. Bad me!

Ano'ng Org mo?
~ UPJMA

May scholarship ka ba?
~ Wala

Pinangarap mo bang mag-cum laude?
~ Actually hindi. Pero I tried. Sayang nga lang di ako umabot... by 0.01! (1.75 kasi to qualify... 1.76 grade ko)

Kelan ka nagtapos?
~ 1997

Fave Prof(s)
~ Prof. Benjie Sandoval

Worst Teacher(s)
~ Yung bwisit na prof ko sa accounting (di ko na matandaan yung name), Prof Bailen (dahil lang sa pipe nya at boring pala yung class nya... akala ko kasi interesting yung class... sex and culture... kaso, boring ang prof! hahahaha!)

Fave subject(s)
~ Math

Worst subject(s)
~ Economics

Fave landmark
~ Wala eh

Building
~ BA building

Paboritong kainan
~ Yung beach house sa main lib

Noong estudyante ka pa, magkano ba ang binabayad mo sa jeep?
~ P1.25 yata (di ko na matandaan)

Lagi ka ba sa lib?
~ Yup, sa BA lib... dahil aircon... gusto ko lang magpalamig :-P

Nagpunta ka ba sa clinic nung minsang nagkasakit ka?
~ Hindi

May crush ka ba sa campus?
~ Meron pero secret na lang :-P

BF/GF?
~ Wala and by choice ko 'to :-P

May balak ka ba mag-masters o mag-phd?
~ Gusto ko sana

Anu-ano ang mga naging PE mo?
~ Table tennis, Bowling, Social Dance, di ko matandaan yung isa pa

Kamusta naman ang block nyo?
~ Ok lang

Nakapanood ka na ba ng graduation sa UP?
~ Yung graduation ko... hehehe...

Memorize mo ba ang alma mater song?
~ Nung student pa ako. Ngayon, nalimutan ko na.

Member ka ba ng UP Varsity Team?
~ Nope

Naka-perfect ka na ba ng exam?
~ Yup, sa Philo. Open books yung exam eh :-P

Ano'ng ayaw mo sa finals week?
~ Yung exams

Dito ka ba natutong uminom ng beer?
~ Hindi. Ayaw ko lasa ng beer eh. Pero natuto ako uminom ng hard drinks. Hehehe...

Ano'ng gusto mo sa UP?
~ Yung freedom and yung campus mismo.

Ano'ng ayaw mo?
~ Hmmm... teka, isipin ko

Maganda ba ID pic mo?
~ Ewan ko. Pero alam ko maganda ako! (walang kokontra! hahahaha!)

May ginawa ka na bang illegal sa loob ng campus?
~ Sa pagkakaalam ko, wala

Kung isa ka sa mga nag-aral sa UP, sagot na rin! :)

Carbon Copy

my honey and my baby... carbon copies of each other?! hahahaha!!!

Kiddie songs, anyone?

Having a baby in the house makes one sing a lot... and I mean, a lot!

In the almost 8 years that I have known my husband (6 years as my bf, 2 yrs as my hubby), I have never heard him sing. Well, maybe twice or thrice... and never a whole song!

But now that we have a baby, he sings everytime he's with Caitlin. Not the usual nursery rhymes and kiddie songs though. He makes up his own.

Here are some of his "concoctions"...

~~~~~
love ni mommy si baby caitlin
love ni daddy si baby caitlin
sleep na yan, sleep na yan
love namin yan

~~~~~
sleep na ang baby
love ng mommy
love ng daddy
si baby caitlin
maganda at mabait

~~~~~
acha baby, acha baby, acha baby yan
love ng mommy, love ng daddy, love ng mommy yan
acha baby, acha baby, acha baby yan
love na love ng mommy
love ng mommy, daddy yan

Caitlin is 3 months old!

3 months old na ang baby namin :)

Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy Birthday to my Mom! We love you!

Finally, a new look!

Finally changed the look of my blog. Hope you like it! :)

Seven, Seven, Seven

Been tagged by Jeanny. Here goes...
Note: kulang sa 7 yung iba... hehehehe... update ko na lang pag may naisip ako :)

Seven things that scare me...
~ Death
~ Fire
~ Earthquake
~ Sleeping in the dark
~ Bugs
~ Rats
~ Snakes

Seven things I like the most...
~ Hanging out with family
~ Long drives
~ Shopping/malling
~ Precious Moments (http://www.preciousmoments.com)
~ Ice cream
~ Cheesecake
~ Strawberries/cherries

Seven random facts about me...
~ New mommy
~ Auditioned for Regal films when I was around 5-6 years old (hahahaha!!! so embarrassing!)
~ Loves anything pink
~ Eldest and only girl (Daddy's girl pa nga eh)
~ Graduated from college at the age of 19
~ Collects shotglasses and magnets (from places I've visited)
~ Masungit (hehehe...)

Seven important things in our bedroom...
~ Bed
~ Pillows andcomforters
~ Fan or AC
~ Lamp (or night light) - can't sleep in the dark eh :-P
~ Clock
~ Curtains
~ Honey and Caitlin, of course!

Seven things I plan to do before I die...
~ Travel to Europe
~ Own a house
~ Watch the Formula1 Grand Prix with my Honey
~ Send my parents off to a holiday/vacation to a destination of their choice
~ Have more kids (preferably, 2 more)

Seven things I can do...
~ Cook
~ Read a book in one sitting
~ Do my christmas shopping in 1-2 hours
~ Crochet

Seven things I can't do...
~ Drive
~ Swim
~ Drink milk
~ Eat okra and ampalaya
~ Play any musical instrument
~ Bake
~ Draw/paint

Seven things that attract me to the opposite sex...
~ Sweet
~ Thoughtful
~ Nice eyes
~ Makes me laugh
~ Intelligent
~ Responsible

Seven things I say the most...
~ I love you
~ Hi there!
~ How are you?
~ Are you ok?
~ Gosh
~ Shocks
~ Ngek/nyekers

Seven celeb crushes (whether local or foreign)...
~ Sean Connery
~ Pierce Brosnan
~ Chad Michael Murray
~ Keanu Reeves

Seven people you want to take this quiz...
~ chiqui
~ ameeh
~ ther
~ lala
~ grace
~ micki
~ alvin o.

A new look?

i'm still thinking whether or not to change my blog template. medyo nabo-bore na kasi ako sa itsura eh. hehehe :)

we'll see...

This week on WifeSpeaks

Yethski asks, Acceptance or Change?

The past months...

How time flies! Now, I'm back at work and I can't help but miss Caitlin! Every few minutes, I stop and stare at her photo on my desk. Every few hours, I call home to check how she is.

We were inseparable for the past 3 months. Where have the days gone? Let me recount...

May 29
- I experienced one of life's greatest miracles... I gave birth to our little angel, Caitlin. She weighed 6.7 lbs and was 52 cm long.

June 1
- We took Caitlin home. She looked so tiny, delicate and fragile!

June 3
- My Honey's birthday, made more special by Caitlin :)

June 11
- Caitlin's first pedia visit. She weighed 7.7 lbs and measured 53 cm long. She had her 1st dose of Hepa-B vaccine.

June 29
- She's 1 month old!

June 30
- We got the results of Caitlin's Infant Screen Test. Thank God! All results were negative :)

July 7
- Her first "pasyal". We went to deliver invitations to relatives for her baptismal party on July 23rd.

July 9
- Nabigla yata sa unang pasyal nya... nilagnat. So we had to take her to her pedia. She was given Naprex drops. Her urine was also tested. Buti na lang, negative ang result. We also asked about her rashes sa face. It turns out, she's allergic to her milk. We were asked to change her milk from Enfalac A+ to NAN-HA.

July 11
- Her second "pasyal". Wala na syang fever eh. Went to Shopwise and SM Cubao. I bought her a pink dress :)

July 16
- Caitlin's sight is getting clearer.
- Her 2nd pedia visit. She weighed 9.6 lbs and was 55 cm long. She had her first dose of BCG/DPT vaccine.

July 18
- Pasyal again! This time, to Hi-top, McDonald's, then to Mama Suna's home.
- She can now hold her rattle.

July 20
- Off to Jollibee in Ali Mall

July 22
- Caitlin turned on her left side by herself while asleep.

July 23
- Caitlin's baptism.
- Churh: Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Parish Church
- Reception: Max's Restaurant, Level2 Gateway Mall, Cubao

July 24
- Caitlin attended her cousin Kyle's birthday party at Storyland SM Southmall

July 28
- Another day of pasyal... Went to Gateway Mall. A saleslady at Chronos thought Caitlin was a foreigner (hahaha!!!).
- Caitlin began to make clicking sounds (like that of a lizard's)
- Grandma (my mom) said Caitlin muttered "ma-ma" while crying. Di kaya imagination lang ng mom ko 'to? hehehe...

July 29
- Caitlin is 2 months old!
- She can make eye contact and can already communicate... She coos and smiles when we talk to her.

Aug 3
- Caitlin rolled over... twice!
- She now plays with her saliva and makes bubbles with it.

Aug 4
- Went to Gateway Mall (again!). The waiter at Burgoo thought Caitlin was a foreigner (again!). Maputi daw kasi :)
- Went to Ali Mall. Tamang-tama, re-opening ng McDonald's. Ronald and Grimace were there. So we took Caitlin's picture with them (syempre kasama ang Mommy... hahaha!!!).

Aug 11
- Caitlin reaches for her toy Octopus
- She sucks her fist instead of just her thumb!

Aug 19
- Caitlin fell into the water (in her tub) while taking a bath. She did not cry. Nagulat lang nung sumigaw ako kaya sya umiyak.
- She can now sit straight without neck support.

Aug 23
- She scratched her nose. Kawawa naman :( Ang bilis kasi humaba ng nails... nakalimutan kong putulan. Bad Mommy!

On Monday, Aug 29th, she'll be 3 months old. Ang bilis talaga ng panahon!