Guess what... I'm still preggo. I'm almost at the end of baby's 37th week now and although she's not due until October 3rd, she could arrive as early as next week! I'm still hoping for the full 40 weeks, though... or maybe a little more. I'm just so jittery, I am not physically and emotionally ready! Ah, but they say adrenaline will kick in when the time comes and the body will know what it needs to do.
Friends and family have been really wonderful throughout this whole journey. They threw us two baby showers and gifted us with practically everything we could possibly need for the baby! We love, love, love you family and friends. Really! From the bottom of our fat hearts. The few items that Rambi and I had to buy ourselves were all discounted, too. How amazing is that?! Really, you can get crazy low deals when shopping in the west that you'd start to feel bad paying full price when you're back home.
I've been wanting to post about the stuff we got for the baby, just because the items make me so, so happy when I see them. Who knows, maybe it could give you an idea of what to give a friend who's expecting?
So to start off, this baby is our most expensive purchase. (Although we still got a sweet deal on it.) A friend told us the importance of investing in a stroller/ travel system and our choice is the Chicco Urban, which we like for its versatility. Chicco is an Italian brand, and I kid you not, the Italians don't take their baby gear lightly. The Urban falls under the upper middle-end category of travel systems, and we are very happy about the price and quality.
I was originally thinking of getting a more lightweight option, like an umbrella stroller that could accommodate a carseat (Graco Literider or the Chicco Liteway, etc.) which our friends told us would be more convenient for travel, but then decided that I wanted something sturdier. Hence the Urban!
Okidoks, that's it for tonight. Another post maybe tomorrow? (I wouldn't count on it, hehe.)
I'm going to have to make this short though, since I really have to get to bed soon. Here goes...
Surprise!
At 10 weeks the little one has been very active and has a heart rate of 183 bpm. (I am now on my 11th week.) Almost everyone predicts it's a girl because baby girls tend to be more active and have higher heart rates than boys.
As far as preferences go, Rambi and I originally hoped for a boy because we simply think boys wouldn't be as fragile as girls. Plus the thought of having a daughter to protect stresses Rambi enough, what more if the suitors start knocking on the door? Hahaaa! But really, a baby girl brings us equal excitement and happiness! I'm going to get a new doll house every week for me -- I mean for my daughter to play with! Hehe.
We don't get to confirm the gender for a couple more weeks but really, all we are praying for is a healthy (and cooperative, bwehehe) baby.
Enters myself in a novelty store owned by a Chinese family. Marvels at how cheap the items are compared to those in Italia. Chinese lady at the register starts talking to me in Mandarin, eyes a-twinkle and hands flailing.
Lady C (as in Lady Chinese): Ni hao! Ni hao! (String of Chinese words, I do not comprehend.)
I: Bu shi, bu shi! Wo bu shi... ah... chino?
Lady C: (Laughs apologetically, followed by a string of Spanish words while her hand hovers over her face) ... come chino!
Myself proceeds to wandering about the store, amused. That was a first!
I: (To myself) Kailan pa ako nagmukhang intsik?! Hindi naman ako singkit.
Walks down an aisle, encounters Spanish lady checking out a merchandise.
Lady S (as in Lady Spanish): Disculpe, ¿cuánto es?
I: Ah... ahm... (Trying hard to remember my Spanish 10 class) No... trabajo... trabajar... aqui...?
Lady S: (Smiles politely) Gracias.
-End of scene-
I therefore conclude, mukha na akong intsik. (Siyempre hindi.)
Haler LJ stalkers! In case there's still any of you out there, please do visit our travel blog: Got Love Will Travel. It's a work in progress and has been the cause of so many arguments, but we believe it's finally decent enough to present to our friends.
Rambi does most of the travel writing as blogging seemed to have indefinitely left my system. But looks like idle time here in good ol' Italia is finally getting too much for me, I just might get on with writing long overdue posts. Or maybe not. Zzz.
You might also encounter a few familiar posts since the husband copied a few off this blog during GLWT's early days just so we would have content. (Yes, I screamed, "Plagiarism!!!" picked a fight, and then we made up.)
I am in charge of keeping the website neat and tidy; you will notice the same monochromatic palette I sport in LJ since I don't work well with colors. Or rather I'm too lazy to try.
Follow? Comment? Share with your friends? Suggestions are very much welcome!
P.S. As for the future of my LJ, expect a few posts coming since my chronicles in housewivery have been pointed out as hilarious by one of my best friends. She recommends a dose of blogging to cure boredom, and since she's a doctor that means she's right.
Work. Too fun, too fun. It breaks my heart a little when I remember how this will all be over too soon. I'm growing fond of everything and everyone. I'll shed a tear, maybe two when I leave. But change is good.
And who knows? Work might be more fun in a foreign land and in a foreign tongue.
I was jolted awake when the plane roughly came into contact with the runway. The pilot needed more practice. I've actually slept through plane landings, believe it or not. It felt as if only fifteen minutes had passed since we took off in KL and already we were landing at 9 or so in the evening, still very much exhausted from the incident in Malaysia. I lazily unbuckled my seat belt and stayed seated for a good 5 minutes, watching everyone else exit the plane laughing and hooting in excitement. For a minute there I couldn't remember where I was. Then a guy walking past my row exclaimed, "Fuck it, Phuket!"