At The Beginning

I am at the office when one of my friends sent me a message via YM saying she is depressed– well apparently because of her menstrual period. To be honest, I don’t like using that excuse for one to be depressed. But she is not feeling well and as a friend, I tried my best to cheer her up. One of the things I suggested for her to feel better is to listen to lively songs. And a song that came to our mind is At the Beginning sang by Richard Marx and Donna Lewis. It’s a song from the Disney movie, Anastasia.

I really like this song because of the beat, the rhythm and the lyrics. It’s also memorable for me because we used this song for the audio-visual presentation shown during my wedding reception. Well, just want to share this wonderful song to the rest. Enjoy!

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I Am 39 Weeks Pregnant!

Wow I can’t believe the last 9 months have gone by in a flash. I can give birth anytime now but I am still working. My OB said it will be better if I start my maternity leave when the baby arrives. But I plan to take a leave on September 15, in case I still haven’t given birth by then.

So this is how it feels to carry a baby inside for 9 months- a mixture of disbelief, amazement and gratefulness. I believe that the most important part of this journey is about to happen in a few days and I am both excited and nervous.

I am eagerly anticipating the arrival of my baby. Please help me pray for a safe and happy delivery. By the way, here are some facts about being 39 weeks pregnant:


The average baby is about 20.5 inches / 51 centimeters long from head to toe and weighs approximately 7.5 pounds / 3.4 kilograms at birth, but anywhere between 5 pounds 11.5 ounces and 8 pounds 5.75 ounces / 2.5 and 3.8 kilograms is a healthy range for newborns.

Your amniotic fluid, once clear, is now pale and milky from your baby's shedding vernix caseosa. The outer layers of skin are also sloughing off as new skin forms underneath.

In TV programs, labor always begins with the waters breaking - in the middle of a crowded room, of course - just before contractions start. If you've been worrying that this scenario will happen to you, you can stop. Membranes rupture in less than 15 per cent of pregnancies and when it does happen, the baby's head tends to act like a cork at the opening of the uterus. (If you lie down, however, you may notice fluid leaking.) You should stay calm - it may be hours before you feel your first contraction - and call your doctor right away. Your body will produce more amniotic fluid until the baby is born, so your carers may suggest you wait at home until contractions are under way or may suggest an induction.

And if the week passes and there's still no baby? Don't panic - only 5 per cent of babies are born on their scheduled due date. Most doctors wait another two weeks before considering a pregnancy overdue.

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September: Another Special Month

The ber months has started. Here in the Philippines, September 1 is special because it signifies the start of the Christmas season. But for this year, I have another reason to consider September as very special month. And that is because I am due to give birth this month. I wonder what will be the birth date of my daughter.

I have a number of favorite months- February- because it is my birthday month. August because for some reason, my current and past relationships started at the month of August. January is also a favorite because it is the month I got married and of course July because it is hubby’s birthday month. Now, it’s September. my daughter birthday moth. Here are some interesting facts about the month of September:

According to the Georgian calendar, September is the ninth month. But, on the Roman calendar, it was the seventh month. September has had 29 days, and 31 days; but, since the time of the emperor Augustus, it has had only 30 days.

September is one of the warmest months in the Southern United States. Northern states have warm September days, but the nights get much cooler. It is also harvest time for crops. And, in Switzerland, it's called Harvest Month.

The sapphire is the gem for September.

The morning glory is the flower for the month of September.

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Together for Two Years Now

My husband and I will celebrate our 2 years of togetherness today. You see we became an official couple 2 years ago -August 30, 2007. Some would say ours is what you call a whirlwind romance. I met him July 27 of that year and after just a month, we are boyfriend and girlfriend, quite fast but I have no regrets. For some reason, he seems to be in a hurry too because he mentioned the idea of marriage after a month I guess. That thrilled but almost scared me then. He wanted to get married right away, the earliest would have been April of 2008 but there are other things to consider like the financial aspect and others so we had to wait.

Last year, the day we celebrated our 1^st anniversary, he and his family all the way from La Union went to our house in Cavite to do the traditional pamamannhikan. I remember last year at this time, we were both so busy and excited for that memorable event. I remember that we even had a mild fight the night before (laughs). There are lots of emotions involved in that day but after everything, the wedding was set and we were married January of this year. So we are a couple for 24 months now, known each other for 25 months, been married for almost 8 months and I am 9 months pregnant (laughs).

We are just an ordinary married couple, still learning the ropes of this new life we entered and we seek the help of God along the way. I am so grateful to God for giving him to me and for the life we are starting to form- a life that we will share forever.

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UP: The Movie

My husband and I watched UP, that animated Disney movie at the Shang Cineplex today and I can say that it is a good movie. It is entertaining though the story is a little simple and quite short. I am touched and moved by the way the movie tackles marriage and old age. The main character, Carl and Ellie seemed to love each other so much. What the movie shows is what marriage should be all about.

Well, it is the story of an old man who instead of settling in a retirement home decided to pursue the dream that he and his late wife always dreamed of but never gets around to doing. Carl is a balloon maker and he attempted the impossible of traveling by making his house fly using the power of what seemed like a million colorful balloons. A little cute boy named Russell accidentally joined him in his trip and together they embark on the adventure of a lifetime. I am glad I have watched this movie and recommend it to both children and adults. Here’s a sneak peek:

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Friday Jitters

It’s Friday but I can’ say TGIF yet. This is because we have a reporting/learning activity at the office today and I am one of the reporters. I am a little nervous because as a writer, it’s been ages since I last did a reporting in front of many people. I think I am more used to communicating with my PC (laughs). The report will tackle the basics of copywriting for the web and hopefully we can apply it in our jobs. Aside from me, other writers and sales people in the office also has a topic to report.

What’s makes this reporting even more challenging is that there will be six topics and each of us need to study the entire material because we will only know the topic to be assigned to us on the day of the reporting itself. It’s like an on the spot reporting. Well, I studied the whole material and made some notes. I just wish I can deliver my report properly later. Wish me luck J By the way; here are some tips on public speaking:

Know your material. Pick a topic you are interested in. Know more about it than you include in your speech. Use humor, personal stories and conversational language – that way you won’t easily forget what to say.

Practice. Practice. Practice! Rehearse out loud with all equipment you plan on using. Revise as necessary. Work to control filler words; Practice, pause and breathe. Practice with a timer and allow time for the unexpected.

Know the audience. Greet some of the audience members as they arrive. It’s easier to speak to a group of friends than to strangers.

Relax. Begin by addressing the audience. It buys you time and calms your nerves. Pause, smile and count to three before saying anything. Transform nervous energy into enthusiasm.

Visualize yourself giving your speech. Imagine yourself speaking, your voice loud, clear and confident. Visualize the audience clapping – it will boost your confidence.

Concentrate on the message – not the medium. Focus your attention away from your own anxieties and concentrate on your message and your audience.

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Load Up With Calcium-Rich Foods

Since I was a child, I am really not into milk. The taste makes me puke sometimes. But I need to drink lots of milk now that I am pregnant to make sure that my baby and I are getting enough of this nutrient necessary for stronger bones. Well, I can’t say that I followed the 2 glasses of milk a day that the OB advised. There are days when I skipped a drink or two and just settle on the caltrate plus supplement. I also make sure to eat foods rich in calcium like fruits and vegetables. Especially now that my day of giving birth is drawing near. Here are some foods to eat besides milk that will give one the recommended 1000 mg. of daily calcium needs:

½ cup of macaroni cheese- 180 grams of calcium

1 grille cheese sandwich- 371 grams of calcium

1 medium papaya- 73 mg. of calcium

1 cup of broccoli – 90 mg. of calcium

1 slice of cheese pizza – 180 mg. of calcium

8 medium canned sardines- 370 mg. of calcium

1 cup of orange juice with added calcium- 300 mg. of calcium

1 cup of yoghurt- 450 mg. of calcium

½ cup of chocolate pudding- 150 mg. of calcium

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