Home Alone

There's not much I can do on weekends nowadays. I used to go to malls together with the rest of the population. But I'm having serious fears about acquiring the flu, H1N1 or otherwise; I'd rather keep away from crowds until the baby turns 18 years old (at least).

I used to also spend weekends chatting with friends over a cold beer or two. But drinking's obviously out of the question now, plus there's the second-hand cigarette smoke in bars that I can't get exposed to.

I could watch a movie again. But, damn, those things cost a lot. If I had my MTRCB Deputy Card again I wouldn't care. But since I have to pay for movies now, I have a self-imposed limit of watching only two per week. Too bad I reached that limit yesterday. Besides, there aren't too many good movies showing anyway.

So as in the past two months, I'm staying at home on a Saturday, alternately writing and reading a book with trusty Pipo for company. I still look forward to weekends, because I get to sleep in and eat breakfast leisurely. But things are not the same. Maybe I should start a hobby? Pottery? Knitting? God forbid, cross-stitching? Hay.

Ikaw. How do you spend your weekends?

Not True

Like I said, I have not had any discomfort related to pregnancy so far, or at least none of those that I couldn't handle, i.e. nausea, aversion to food, extreme mood swings. My only complaint is that my skin has been breaking-out like I'm a teenager again.

This should not be a cause for medical concern, but it gets pretty annoying. Clothing-wise, I've resisted wearing dresses that show off my back because it's blotchy and peppered with rashes. Accck.

I'm sure this is all related to the unusual surge of hormones in my body, but I asked my doctor anyway. Surprisingly, she just brushed off my question with: "Ganyan talaga. 'Pag buntis, pumapangit." 

I would have willingly believed her were it not for how these celebrities looked like while they were carrying a child (or two)...

                                                                    Heidi Klum

                                                                 Angelina Jolie

                                                          Daphne Osena-Paez

Except for the big baby bumps, these ladies look the same as they did before getting pregnant don't they? Hindi sila pumapangit. So why, why, must anyone suffer a different fate?!

Ah, mother was right once again. Sometimes, life can be unfair.

(Last photo from Daphne's blog. See here.)

The Case of the Assumed Pregnancy

Okay. I am eight weeks along and still feeling generally fine. I have no unusual cravings for food. I don't have morning sickness/es. I'm not at all feeling depressed. As far as I know, my armpits are still the same color as they were before I became pregnant. (Too much information, teehee)

People tell me I should be thankful for having such a pleasant first trimester. I am. The fact that I've developed rashes all over, and that I often lose sleep at night because I can't seem to empty my bladder enough before going to bed, are nuisances that I can still handle.

However, I feel sorry for Pao because I think he is accordingly deprived of the experience of playing the role of expectant father. For example, since I don't have food cravings, I have never asked Pao to buy seedless grapes for me in the middle of the night like pregnant women do in the movies. Talagang kailangan ito!

So to make up for the lack of drama, I sometimes ask Pao to bring home random things, like a book I've been wanting to read, fruit shake, Jamaican Patties etc. Mostly I try to limit myself to things that can be bought at the mall, considering these aren't really legitimate cravings but just off-the-top-of-my-head-taking-advantage food/shopping orders.

I don't know if Pao has noticed. Well, maybe now that I've written about it, I'm sure word will get around about my pretensions. But I'm also sure that Pao won't stop scavenging for the items in my wish lists even if he knew that I was simply making them up. He's so excited about the baby to even care. I think, based on objective evidence below, that he's even the one having food cravings on my behalf.

                                   BEFORE : Friday's burger the size of a human head

                                    AFTER : What's left of the ketchup and a butter knife

I Found It!

I've been hoping I wouldn't have to wear maternity clothes until really late in my pregnancy because maternity wear is fugly. They are frilly and garterized, with unflattering prints consisting of cats and sunflowers. Like this offensive piece of clothing. Hala. 

Fortunately, I stumbled upon Rouge Couture's New Maternity Line due to this feature in Kikay Exchange a few weeks back. I haven't really ordered any of their clothes yet, so I wouldn't know how well they're made. But their maternity clothes look work-ready and at the very least,non-losyang (I loooove Florence and Santino). I'm especially loving the wrap-around tops, because those can be worn even after the baby's born.

I must buy myself some Rouge Couture when my belly gets big enough for what I call the "baby belly provision." In the meantime, we can all check out Rouge Couture's other lines, i.e. architectural work wear, beach coverups and dresses, here. Their corporate collection also rocks.

All By My-se-he-helf

Being pregnant has its advantages: I'm excused from all manual labor. I get one of few remaining chairs during office parties. I can take a "nap" for four hours on weekend afternoons and not be called lazy...

The downside is, especially with a delicate pregnancy, I don't get to move as much as I'd like to. I've stopped taking my weekly jogs. Pao won't let me drive to places alone (except when I have to go to work.) And today through tomorrow, while everyone in our office has gone to a Team Building/Outing in Tagaytay, I'm left at my cubicle, with nothing to do. I blame it all on my OB, who won't let me wear high heels, much less travel. So see, all of the cubicles in my Department are empty. There's just me. Boohoo.

Since my boss isn't around, my To-Do list today consisted only of finalizing and filing two pleadings, one of which I didn't even draft. That's all done by 10 A.M. In addition to writing this blog, other options to occupy my time until the workday ends are: (1) Blog again in two hours; (2) Read that book that I brought; (3) Go to Saizen - the 800 sq.m. store that sells useless knicknacks from Japan - after what I plan to be a verrrrry loooooong lunch; and (4)...well, that's about that.

Writing this blog took about 15 mins. Very good. Now all I have to worry about are the remaining 360.

For the Round and the Round-at-Heart

Some of my body parts have become "rounder" as expected. I'm sure the extra weight is notall directly attributable to the baby, who is just the size of a blueberry at this point. So I'm guessing it's due to all the milk and vitamins that I've been taking, and to the pathetic absence of any physical activity in my life for the last few months (Goodbye, PhilSports track oval).

Fortunately, since billions of expecting mothers have gone this route before, someone somewhere has already devised a way to deal with the extra baby weight while causing the least amount of financial damage.

Introducing: (1) The Bra Extender -


- detachable extra hooks that you can use with your existing undergarments to accommodate your, uhm, "expanding upper body."

And (2) The Belly Belt -


- also detachable garterized straps that you can use to extend your existing bottoms, i.e. skirts, pants, shorts, mermaid costumes, so you won't have to buy maternity clothes until absolutely necessary. Sheer genius, see?

Obviously, you'd have to cover your Belly Belt with an untucked shirt. Naman.

Mind you, use of the Bra Extender and the Belly Belt is not necessarily exclusive to pregnant women. I know a husband, for instance, who's able to use the Belly Belt ahead of his pregnant wife, because his jeans have gotten too tight around his love handles. Husband's initials? Paolo. (Ay, hindi pala initials yun. Haha)

Anyway, question is, would you consider wearing one of these yourself?