What a nice guy

For the first time this pregnancy, someone gave up his seat for me on the crowded subway.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Bellywatch 2010 - 14 weeks

A Sweet Day

So now that word is out, I thought I’d elaborate on one of the best days of this pregnancy. This goes back to this post.

Before I elaborate though, I must provide some background information. Being the youngest sister of five sisters has been and always will be a ride. You know how sitting at the back of the school bus or at the back of the roller coaster gives the best experience? It’s like that. Yes, you get all the hand-me-downs, but you also get the best advice, the best tips and the best lessons. I wouldn’t trade my position for any other for anything.

At the same time, being the youngest sister AND having the largest gap between all us siblings (my sister before me and I are around 5 and half years apart, the largest gap among us sibs), I’ve watched my sisters all sorta grow up together. I admit that there have been times where I secretly cursed my parents for waiting longer to have me and then my brother, but I know that the benefits of all this had to outweigh the costs some time. And they did, as I mentioned before.

So when my sisters decided to relay to me THE BIN, I had no idea what was in store. There had been jokes about this event so I knew it would be a funny experience, but I didn’t know how much more special it actually was going to be.

Let me first explain what THE BIN is. This is THE BIN.

I had never seen it before that day, so to me, it has been a sort of legend. In it, are the maternity clothes of my sisters, compiled over the last EIGHTEEN YEARS. Clothes that my oldest sister had with her first born in the 90’s all the way to clothes my other sister had with her youngest, just last fall. So, you can imagine the array of fashions contained in THE BIN.

My sisters had decided to make this day extra special and planned a tea. We had gone for tea before, and loved it (it’s so dainty and pretty!) but this time, it was going to be all home-made (with the exception of the teas), which, when with my sisters, is even better than going out for tea.

When we got to my sister’s house, I saw they had prepared beautiful little sandwiches, scones, pastries, cakes and cookies along with the appropriate spreads and had even brought out their pretty tea cups. Before tea, my sister prepared sparkling orange juice in flutes and asked us to go outside.

Then I saw this.

I wanted to cry when I saw it, and now that I’m writing about it, just the memory brings tears to my eyes. There is where I would officially be welcomed into motherhood with my favourite mothers, the exact women who have both paved the way for me and prepared me for this huge event in my life. This was my rite of passage.

Our teacups

Our sister's place - there in spirit

After my sister made a toast, we clinked glasses and were each crowned with little tiaras my sister bought. Each of them, including my sister who was there in spirit (and in Seattle in person) had a pretty tiara, all mothers of three or four. Mine was made from pipe cleaners since I’m a newbie, but it was still really pretty, and well, CUTE!

My other sister said a prayer in thanksgiving for the food, for mothers and motherhood and for my pregnancy, and then we ate and drank. It was a scorching hot day and there were a lot of bees, but I was able to do my “thing” ;) and the bees left us alone. We talked about all sorts of stuff as usual and enjoyed the delicious tea and treats. Meanwhile, my nieces and nephews watched us from a window (they were supposed to be eating too with their fathers and uncles haha), some wondering what we were doing, others wondering why they weren’t allowed to come outside. Some even started crying!

After we finished, we brought everything inside, and then came…the fashion show. I was asked (or told!) to put on several different outfits they put together and “model” them. Thankfully, I have no pictures of these crimes…but my sister does.

The day was absolutely amazing. I am so grateful and so blessed to be a mother AND number five. :D

OH. MY. GOODNESS.

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A Different Kind of Autumn

Fall’s here! Hello Fall! You’re my favourite season of all the seasons, but don’t tell the others!


So yes, autumn is my favourite time of the year. It goes by quickly, it seems because of Indian Summers, Jack Frost’s impatience, the end of DST…things like that. But it seems that this autumn will be a different one for me.

Yes, I won’t be able to wear most of my fall clothes or jackets or even my closed-toe shoes with slight heels that have been itching for the light of day. My interest in fall fashion is simply a dream due to the fact that I can no longer fit nor wear the pieces out there. Nonetheless, it’ll be a beautiful season. I’m not lamenting.

TV shows start up again. Businesses get back to the grind. Kids get back into the study groove. Our duvet makes its glorious return back to our bed along with our darker linens. A/Cs get their breaks.

And here I will be, enjoying my last autumn before I begin my new life with a New Life.

VMAs

Not all the buzz from the MTV VMAs should go to Kanye's misbehaviour. I thought the Michael Jackson tribute was VERY WELL done.




Even though I'm sure a lot of people would have liked to see more of Janet in the tribute, I think her part was awesome.

P.S. What's with Lady Gaga?!

Bad Form

Something needs to be said about/to Kanye West.

SHAME SHAME SHAME on you.

iViVVa

As you know, I’m a Lulu girl. I’m a slave to overpriced yoga and running gear that stretches several sizes larger than you’d think, curves with the body in all the right places, prevents chaffing and always has something extra over the typical yoga gear. How can you not love a pair of pants that makes your ass look divine?

So now comes iViVVa athletica, Lululemon’s line for girls ages 6-12. I imagine the merchandise will be for active girls, probably mostly gymnasts, dancers and the like. I’m just excited to be able to go into a store, buy some good pants and not have to wait to have them hemmed.

I just hope that after all this, I still fit into a size 12.

Growth

I already know I’m growing. That much is both obvious and expected. I search my belly frantically for stretch marks, which haven’t come, and I’m ecstatic about that.

Then there are my nails. My nails will not stop growing. I haven’t really had long nails since our wedding and I haven’t missed them. It seems though that no matter how often I cut my nails, they just keep growing. And, they’re STRONG. Where I would usually have a chipped or broken nail, say, if I accidentally closed a drawer on one, they stay strong. I’m not complaining. It’s just odd. So for any of you women out there who enjoy long, strong nails, get pregnant. It helps!

And then there’s my hair. I got a haircut a few months ago. It ended up being one of those shorter-in-the-back-longer-in-the-front ones, which I specifically asked not to have. I have nothing against those cuts, but with my anal tendencies, I prefer to be symmetrical all around. These days, I don’t feel the need to fix my hair every day and instead stuff whatever I can into a ponytail. But here’s the thing – my hair is growing like weeds, only in different spots. I end up bobbypinning sections of my hair that don’t need to be pinned because the other side does need it. See? Symmetrical! Also, with this cut and the strange lengths, the actual ponytail is so ugly. I appreciate pretty ponytails. Mine are not and I can’t really do anything about it.

I had initially planned to cut my hair short. Like, short-short, until we found out we were pregnant. Using the experiences of some of my sisters as the deciding factor on what to do with my hair, I decided not to cut it. Quick hair growth during pregnancy is normal and if I did cut my hair, it’d grow back so quickly so then it wouldn’t really be worth it.

And now, here I am. Belly. Disheveled hair. Long nails. I think I need me a spa day.

Ask me!

Go ahead, ask me the question everyone has been asking me since “When are you getting married?” and “How are the wedding plans going?” became obsolete. Go ahead, ask me!

Know why? Because my answer is different from the last time you asked me.

Yes, we’re expecting. We. Are. Ex. Pect. Ing. It’s true, it’s true, it’s true! And you know what else? It feels good to finally let it out after three months of keeping it a secret, telling our closest family and friends in batches and now, finally letting it (and my belly) out.

This is definitely a whole new leaf. COMPLETELY. I’m going through a million changes and with none of them have I had any sort of personal insight. I’ve been told about a few of the changes, but so far, I feel completely clueless, especially because I’ve had so many questions but couldn’t yet approach my A-team (i.e. my sisters) since we hadn’t told them yet.

This is an absolute adventure. Life has come along and given us well, more Life! Days are sweeter. Sunny days are sunnier. Rainy days aren’t so gloomy. Food tastes better.

I’ve decided to post the posts I’ve written over the past few months relating to my sentiments so far, all tagged under “Pregzilla” or “Pregchilla” or something along those lines, so feel free to go back and check those out. I know I sound pretty unbearable in some of them but I promised myself that I’d catalogue as much of my pregnancy as possible and take you along for the ride…complete with pictures. Laugh at me all you want. I don’t care. At the end of this, I know I’ll be laughing at myself anyway. Or at least, all you experienced mothers will be laughing at me while those who haven’t treaded these waters before will be on the sidelines with their knees quivering.

Enjoy! I will!

Bittersweet

My sister will be arriving tomorrow with her 18-year old son. When she leaves this city, she will be returning home on her own. My nephew will be going to school here, at the same university and same campus as his father did. As excited as I am to have my nephew living back in Toronto after so long, my heart cries for my sister, my brother (in-law), their daughters and their beautiful boxer as they bravely and proudly send their son, Kuya and master with well wishes and much love. It can’t be easy.

I cannot fathom at this point what it’s like to sacrifice being in the presence of your child every day for his education and well-being. I admire parents all over the world for being so brave and so strong. I think about what it was like when I wanted to go away for university and at the time, I felt so much resentment towards my parents for not letting me go. But now, I realize that it was a good move because of where I am now. I know my nephew’s got a lot of change going on in his life, but I have complete faith that this decision made collectively by him and his parents is one that will shoot him up among the stars, where he’s always belonged.

I promise, we’ll take excellent care of him, Ate.

...and I’m holding on to the umbilical cord of my child for as long as I can. j/k