The Beauty of Giving Birth Naturally

Yes, it's been months since my last post, but instead of explaining why I haven't blogged for quite some time, let me just share my life at present.

So I gave birth last September 9 to a beautiful baby girl at 5:05am in the morning at the Birthing Clinic of the Cathedral of the King.  It was around 1am, early Sunday morning, when I felt like going to the bathroom to make #2.  I felt constipated but got through it anyway after a few attempts.  Right after that, I felt a heavy pressure on my lower back--something very similar to what I felt when I went into labor with Caitlin.  I told my husband, "Hon, parang malapit na ako.  I'm feeling what I felt with Caitlin last year."  So we went back to bed, and because Caitlin woke up, I nursed her lying down.  I was feeling contractions already getting stronger by the minute.  I suddenly felt the urge to stand up, then I felt something trickling down my legs.  I couldn't see what it was because it was dark.  When my husband turned on the light, it was blood!  The contractions were very strong then and so we called Mama Chato right away.  She told  us to prepare already and she will see us at the birthing clinic.  We got there at 2:30am...

Many thanks to Mama Chato Flores, a registered midwife, for her anointing!  It was my first time to give birth naturally... as in no medicine, no anesthesia, nothing at all!  Just God's grace and favor upon me and my baby.  I couldn't thank my husband, Mon, even more, for being there with me all the way.  I couldn't have done it without his strength guiding me and supporting me.

Yep, that's me and Catherine Elise just minutes after giving birth.  Such an ecstatic feeling I had at this time--yes, there was pain, but the beauty of seeing your baby and getting to hold her right away is incomparable to anything else in this world!

That's our Catherine Elise!  All glory to God! :)

Getting Busy with My New JOB

I have been very busy lately with writing--obviously not in this blog, but for my new job.  Or should I say, "jobs".  I have gotten myself into oDesk for the past two weeks or so, and have landed on new jobs.

oDesk is a marketplace site for contractors and employers.  Usually short-term work, freelancers are best for the jobs posted by employers.  As a contractor, you must create your own profile, take some oDesk readiness tests (such as U.S. English skills tests, etc.), which will be posted on your profile for employers to see.  You can find jobs that suit you and your skills.  In my case, skills that I posted are more on writing and blogging.  You can either find jobs and apply, or employers themselves can find you and if they think you have the potential, they can ask for an interview from you directly.

It's amazing because in just a matter of days, I was able to land on a number of jobs already, and even got interviews.  I have been writing for 2 steady employers now about a variety of topics--from online dating to window tinting to menopause.  I've been learning a lot from it, and I'm actually enjoying it.  Besides, I get paid for it, too.  As a starter, I've already earned almost $20 in two weeks.  Of course that's still a bit small because I have not had the chance to write regularly yet.  I'm still mastering the art of writing in between Caitlin's baby naps.  But it will increase soon--hopefully!

The Surprise Breakfast Meeting

This week has been quite special for me because I got to go out of the house at least three times!  Yey!  Before you think I'm a loser, here are a few valid reasons why I almost never go out:

1. I am pregnant with baby #2 and I was advised by my midwife to lessen activities (that obviously includes outdoor activities).
2. I have a 6-month old baby, which makes it less easy for me to go to some place any time I want.
3. I am a work-from-home mom.

So before I sound defensive, I'll end there.  But they do sound valid, don't they?

Anyways, I hope you had a lovely Valentine's Day.  While my husband and I never really celebrated it, it was quite special this year.  Well, he made it special. :)


Last Monday night, he told me that he will be having an early breakfast meeting at BGC with his former classmate.  He even told me how bizarre it was for him to meet this old classmate of his at our favorite supermarket--of all places.  His name was Rommel Diaz, a rich entrepreneur who used to live in Caloocan but moved to Pasig with his family; and now he's interested in Mon's business, and so the breakfast meeting.


I was excited for him and he told me that Caitlin and I should come along because he wants to introduce us to this Rommel guy.  And so I agreed.  Leave at 7am to meet old classmate at BGC at 8am.

Well, that night, Caitlin didn't let us sleep until 4am.  No need to go into detail, but that's pretty much what happened.  We woke up at about 9am already--so much for our original plan.  Well, Rommel didn't text yet anyway so I thought it was okay.  We left at about 10:15am already and headed to BGC.  Mon said Rommel was on his way.


I was starving by then and I was picturing a hearty breakfast meal.  That's the time Mon said, "Krispy Kreme daw."  Uh-oh.  I wasn't up for any sweets then; in fact, I did not want to eat any sweets that time.  I wanted eggs, chicken, sausages, rice--something like that.


And so we were walking already to Bonifacio High Street when he led me to the direction away from Krispy Kreme.  I knew he was up to something by then.  Well, turns out, it was a surprise breakfast meeting with me at Pancake House.  Aww.


Might sound too simple, but these are the reasons why the surprise made me extra happy that day:

1. My husband has not surprised me in a loooong time.  I think the last one was on my birthday in 2007.
2. He despises Pancake House.  0% chance--of all the many times I have asked him for us to eat there.

Well, I ordered my favorites: Pan-fried chicken and Best Taco in Town!  Definitely a hearty breakfast with my hubby and baby! :)


Too bad we weren't able to bring the camera!

Finding the stage mommy in me

Okay, I have to admit that I've been searching for local photo contests where I can join Caitlin.  Teehee.  She just has so many cute photos!  Although I honestly think she's more beautiful in person than in pictures, it's a thrill for me, as a first-time mommy, to involve her in these local promos.  Not really up for the prizes (yeah, right), but it's quite exciting.


So I actually found one photo contest by Babies and Hairbows. It's actually strange because the owner announced a contest without fixed policies, criteria, and anything you need to know about a promo.  At first she just asked mommies to submit photos of their babies 0-2 years old for her contest, "CUTEST baby photo." She just asked them to put their names and birthdates.  I think she got overwhelmed with all the entries because she got lots of them (naturally).  So she announced that the entries must have a description, like "Why should your baby win this contest?" and "What does your baby like to do?".  It's just funny because I felt her panic through her posts.  Hehe.  I don't even know how she's going to choose the winner because she doesn't have a fixed criteria!  Oh well.  At least I know now how to launch a contest if I ever have to launch one in the future.  :p


But anyhoo, of course I joined.  It's the stage mommy in me!  Here's my entry and a description of my cutiepie and skidamarink, Laura Caitlin :)

"Hello All! My name is Laura Caitlin Espiña, daughter to Daddy Sol and Mommy Lala, and definitely one of God's precious children.
One Sunday morning, I felt the need to push myself out of Mommy's tummy. I knew it was not yet time because I was still too little and I could hear Dad and Mom telling me from outside, "Baby, please stay there. It's not yet time for you to come out...". But then, I surprised them on August 1, 2011 when I came out as a 31-weeker baby. They said I was premature.

I didn't see Daddy and Mommy right away because I was put in a capsule-like container with lights and so many other things. It felt warm like when I was inside Mom's tummy, but it was still different. I missed hearing Mommy's voice just right above me. I could only hear voices of people I didn't know, saying they had to put tubes in my nose and in my lungs so I could breathe well; and so they did. After a few hours, I heard the sweetest voices ever--I heard Daddy and Mommy talking right beside me! And what's more, I felt something touching my little toes and caressing my chest. Mommy was saying, "Ang tangos ng ilong niya!" It was the loveliest feeling.

Days and weeks passed, and I was still in that capsule-like container (I think they call it an incubator). Although Dad and Mom couldn't be with me round the clock because of hospital policies, they still visited me everyday. My favorite time of the day would be when Mommy would come and sing to me and read to me my favorite Psalm 139. I would blush every time she would remind me that I am "fearfully and wonderfully made...". Everyday. Even in that cold hospital room, I felt very much loved.

It has been a long journey but as Dad and Mom would always tell me, God has been really faithful. The day came when I was finally home. No more incubator, no more tubes, none of those anymore. I found myself in the arms of my Mom and Dad--no, not just for a few minutes, but every minute and every hour. Now, this was the loveliest and most incredible feeling. I am truly blessed.

I guess I'm growing everyday because my clothes won't fit anymore! It's such a happy feeling to wake up everyday and put smiles on my Dad and Mom's faces. I thank the Lord for blessing me with a wonderful family who has never failed to make me feel loved, and who has never failed to remind me that even if I'm a preemie, I am still "fearfully and wonderfully made"."

 

Not forcing you to vote for her, but if you think our Caitlin could be the cutest baby, please click here and like away! :)

Enjoying the wonders of Photoshop

Photoshop has been a household name now for magically adding, editing, deleting--basically it can transform any photo to something unbelievable.  Like, let's say, this...

Yes, this is Charice Pempengco. As in the one who always wears a weird-looking hat.

Isn't Photoshop amazing?  Apparently, I don't use it for THAT purpose.  I've been going back to designing lately.  Not anything major, but I just really enjoy putting fonts and colors together, then adding a bit of this and that... and voila!  I've been recently asked by a churchmate who bakes and sells her own pastries to create her logo for her sweet business, called "Sweet Tooth" (FYI, she is a dentist), and this is what I initially came up with (with the help of Adobe Illustrator):

 She liked it, but she had this other idea, so she sketched it and I just did the exact same thing:

 Okay, I'm starting to sound really boring. But if you do have current cravings for sweets such as cream cheese brownies (drool...), profiteroles, blueberry cheesecakes, and a whole lot more, feel free to contact her. :)

The desire to blog. Seriously.

I have not blogged for a while now.  Have not been writing in any of my journals, either.  Since I gave birth last August 1, everything has changed.  I've been wanting to write about that experience but I never made time for it.  Yes, I have attempted to, but it stopped at the part when my midwife, Mama Chato, was checking me at the birthing clinic (the morning after I felt the reeeeaaaally painful contractions).


So now, this is the first step.  I am writing again.  Not just because I really miss it, but because I really need it.  With everything that's been happening in my wonderful life now, they deserve to be written down beautifully and preserved forever (technology, please don't fail me).


Aside from that, in my younger days, writing has always been my passion.  I've always imagined myself to be that person who would write anything and everything under the sun.  But I fail a lot of times.  Hehe.  This is the reason why I have a bunch of diaries and journals since I was a little girl.  My first ones were all regularly and consistently updated.  I wrote EVERY DAY.  Can you believe it?  Now, my most recent ones start with June 14, 2006 then the next entry would be August 28, 2006, then the next would be, May 6, 2007.  And each entry always started with a "Sorry I have not been writing for a long time...".  Well, there's a hint of exaggeration there, but you know what I mean.  If you would notice, even this blog has that.  Try looking for that similar line in one of the articles and let me know. ;)


But this time, I am challenging myself!  I want to be more productive now, and that includes writing and blogging.  In a large way, I want my kiddos to learn how beautiful and fun it is to write.  Because it is fun!  Even the mental blocks are fun (I use those blocks to say to myself, "Okay, I can't think of anything else to write yet, so maybe I'll just play a game first...").


Writing, please welcome me in your arms again!