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When The Storm Is Over

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As Metro Manila is bracing for the wrath of Super Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit), I am safely holed up inside  my room. I have watched quite a bit of news coverage in the central regions of the Philippines who endured the storm's brunt and I am relieved that the loss of property and loss of lives is much less compared to the destruction experienced during the onslaught of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) a little more than a year ago.

A few more landfalls were forecasted and I know everyone are still on their toes hoping and praying that this too shall pass. As of the moment, all we could do is to prepare and pray.


I hope that the more than 35 million citizens of the Philippines will not be disheartened but rather be encouraged that there's always a rainbow after the storm and that ample preparation can always save lives and property for that matter. Perfect reason why the quote above really resonates. 

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I Was Diagnosed With Gestational Diabetes

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I got the pregnancy sugars and my level is way above the benchmark.

I had my oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) on my 24th week and the result is not encouraging at all. I was diagnosed to have gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). It is my first pregnancy and it seemed like I have ALL the conditions with fancy medical terms - hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and now gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). I have never had the most hospital trips in my life before compared to this year. I have never had the most number of needle pricks in my entire life either. I say I am generally healthy except for the occasional colds, cough and fever.

I was a little hesitant to undergo the test but decided to push through anyway. I kept on thinking that I am doing all these for the sake of our baby's health (not so much for myself to be honest). I was asked to fast for at least 8 hours before the first blood sample will be drawn from me. After the blood was drawn out, I was asked to drink the super sugary orange-flavored beverage within 5 minutes. It wasn't so bad, I kinda liked it but yes it was undeniably sweet. I was then asked to come back after an hour so the second blood sample can be drawn out.  After the second sample was drawn, I started to feel nauseous and really about to throw up. I was determined not to throw up because then I have to repeat the entire process. Good thing my husband came to the hospital with me. I leaned on his shoulders and closed my eyes and battled with my gag reflex. Next thing I know, it was time to take the third blood sample. After the sample was drawn out, I threw up all the beverage. It was still orange, same color like what I drank 2 hours ago. I quite had the inkling that my body never processed the beverage.

What is gestational diabetes mellitus? 

Gestational diabetes mellitus is a type of diabetes that some women develop during pregnancy. When you have diabetes, there is too much glucose (sugar) in your blood. GDM can also lead to health problems for the mother and the baby during and after pregnancy.

  • Before birth, the baby will likely grow bigger than usual/normal. This could make giving birth more difficult and would be more likely through caesarian delivery (C-section). 
  • The baby may be at risk for childhood obesity after birth. 
  • The mother may be at risk to develop Type 2 diabetes after pregnancy. 

After discussing my OGTT test results and all the possible effects during and after pregnancy with my endocrinologist, I was really scared. I'm deeply concerned of my daughter's health and well-being. I would not want her to develop diabetes and worst I don't want to lose her before she even sees the outside world. My doctor told me that there's a risk of the pregnancy to terminate even at 32 weeks. I know this is something serious and that I have to take this seriously.

I was asked to monitor my blood sugar level before breakfast, an hour after breakfast, an hour after lunch, an hour after dinner and before bedtime. I was also advised to see a dietitian who would help me create a meal plan to follow and then go back to the doctor again after a week.

I am now mid-week into testing my blood sugar and I don't understand why it fluctuates so much. I can't wait for the week to be over so I can go back to my doctor and have her interpret my results. I would not want to go on medication (insulin shots) but looks like I am leaning that way. For now, all I could do is to pray and pray and pray some more for my baby daughter's health.

Have you had experience with gestational diabetes while pregnant? 

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Cath Kidston Spring/Summer 2015 Preview

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I was lazily browsing through my mailbox until I saw the newest email from Cath Kidston. I was overjoyed to read the subject of the email: Look what's coming next. I immediately opened the email and found a preview of the Spring/Summer 2015 collection. Woot!!!


I was expecting something bright and floral but I saw something blue and with clouds illustration. I am not sure if I like it as much as I like the floral and dots designs. Good thing there are some products with floral and dot hearts design as well.




I wish there's a plimsoll with the dot hearts design though. I might need to scroll over the products in the website some more before I decide which ones to get or maybe start praying that these will all be eventually available at the Cath Kidston store here in the Philippines.

If you are still not done with your Christmas shopping, you may want to visit the Cath Kidston website and choose that perfect gift for your friends and family.

Click the picture below to start browsing:

Cath Kidston Christmas Collection
Happy Holidays!!! 


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PicMonkey Royale 30-Day Free Trial

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If you are like me who likes sprucing up (read: adding colors, experimenting with fonts, throwing in some banners and graphics alike) pictures before adding them to my blog and with little to no working knowledge on premium photo editing tool/software, then PicMonkey could be your best friend too.


I have been a Royale member for about 2 years or so now and I have been enjoying the services from day 1. The site just keeps getting better and better every day. I love that you don't need to shell out as much money compared to buying complicated photo editing software. Editing is also super easy and the myriad of features makes it so much fun to use.

I've also used PicMonkey to create Valentines Day cards and I have started editing Christmas note cards as well. Sweet!


If you want to read more on why you need a Royale membership, read up on reasons through this link.

Happy holidays my dear readers! Cheers to a joyous and bountiful season! 


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My 2014 In Retrospect

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I ended 2013 and welcomed 2014 in chilly Denmark with my husband and his family. I still vividly recall when we walked the family dog, Maggie, on the fields while we watched fireworks from different corners of Hillerod. I brought my camera with me that time but the pictures didn't give justice to the beautiful pyrotechnics. This year, I welcomed 2015 just peeping out the window because I was down with the flu and I was scared to inhale the fumes from the firecrackers that our neighbours gleefully lighted to welcome the new year.



I have drafted this post for quite some time but I was not able to publish it as my attention was caught up into the preparations for the baby shower and other things I needed to accomplish before the little one comes along. I did devote some time to reflect on the year that was and so here goes...

1. Travelled a little bit. 

Toured the streets and harbor of Copenhagen and admired the unassuming beauty of Malmö in Sweden. We also took a 3-hour train ride from Hillerod to Fredericia (western Denmark) to visit my husband's cousins as well as took a trip to Blåvand to visit the summer houses. It was a little weird walking along the beach wearing layers and layers of winter clothing. It was extremely cold (well, at least for me). Click the hyperlink if you want to read my Denmark Diaries.

2. About Me Page revamped. 

I decided to have the about me page of my blog revamped. I can't believe it's been almost a year. I guess I need to update it again soon. I just wish that I will have more time to blog this 2015 even with the little bundle of joy coming along.

3. I got pregnant! 

I found out I was pregnant on my birthday. It was the best gift ever! I have long wished to be a mom and  I could not be any happier. My pregnancy was not at all easy and I have been admitted to the hospital to treat different pregnancy-related ailments/conditions (hyperemesis gravidarum, gastroesophageal reflux disease, gestational diabetes, among other things). I did not enjoy my pregnancy to say the least but I am happy that the little one has developed normally and in less than a month we will finally meet and see her. I still can't fathom how you can love someone that you have not seen yet! I feel nothing but overwhelming love for our little princess, Viktoria Summer.



4. I quit my job (kind of). 

I started my medical leave before my second trimester ended so I can get rid of stress and the whole nine yards at work. I could not thank my boss and our HR enough for letting me take some much needed rest to take care of myself and the little one. There were some changes that disappointed me at work but I don't think it is proper to discuss it here so I will spare you the details. In time, I know I will make a decision - a very big career decision that has my husband's approval already.

5. I became less vain. 

This is clearly related to me being pregnant. I can only remember a single trip to the hair salon this year and I can also count how often I had my nails did. I also didn't care if I don't have a tinge of make-up on when I go out of the house. I sometimes don't even brush my hair and just settle on putting it up messy-bun style. I don't know, I just couldn't care less. Haha! I also have very few bump pictures because I didn't want my picture taken most of the time. My skin regimen was downgraded to just washing my face with soap and water and putting a little moisturizer on.

So yeah that was my 2014! I am sure that 2015 will be more colorful, more exciting, more memorable albeit more challenging but I am more than eager to welcome it with arms wide open.

How did your 2014 go? 


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A Letter To My Future Daughter

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Dear Baby Summer, 

I decided to write you this letter because I want to officially include you in my online journal which we now call "blog". Your far (Dansk for dad) and I were talking about jointly writing a letter for you before we went to bed last night. By the time you're old enough to read and understand every word that mor (Dansk for mom) wrote in this post, we'd have shared so many wonderful moments as a little unit of love we will fondly call family. We waited for you for almost two years after your far and I got married and when you finally came our first challenge was as petty as what name to give you. Eventually we agreed to give you the name Viktoria Summer.

After the first ultrasound session, we started calling you Baby Corn because you looked like a corn kernel. Mor will show you a picture for sure so you would believe me. You were the best gift that I received on my birthday and because your far was overjoyed he also gave me a "positive pregnancy test" gift which I am now using to type this post. You see that a lot of far and mor's family and friends  were incredibly excited to know that you are almost 4 weeks old and everybody had their own well wishes as well as guesses if you will be a boy or a girl.

On your second ultrasound, you looked a lot like a peanut and so we started calling you Baby Peanut. We also finally found out that you are a girl. We were incredibly overjoyed. Far was onboard the tanker ship Nord Bell when I went for my check-up so I waited until he was online to tell him the good news. You see far really wants to have a daughter as much as I do.

I did not have an easy pregnancy but I know all along that all will be worth it. I was diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum (morning sickness that is worse than the normal morning sickness). I had to be admitted to the hospital twice so that I can be properly hydrated and nourished and so that you will also be adequately hydrated and nourished. Apart from the hyperemesis gravidarum, I was also diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease and some form of thyroid disorder as well as gestational diabetes mellitus. I started to track my blood sugar by pricking my fingertips before each meal and inject insulin on my third trimester. I told my endocrinologist that I would rather prick my fingertips a thousand times more than the nurses pricking your heel for at least a week in the neonatal intensive care unit if you suffer from hypoglycemia.

Mommy had to brave all the illnesses so she can safely nurture you inside my womb. In between all these, I also had occasional high blood pressure which was a definite cause of worry for my OB-Gyne. She asked me to monitor my blood pressure and prescribed some medicine to avoid any complication. I would like to let you know however that I was never worried for myself but more for you. I wanted you to come out healthy, I want you to come out strong.

You look a lot like your "far" no doubt about that. 


As I write this, I am now on my 36th week and it will only be a few more days until you will signal that you are ready to come out. All your needs are ready as well as far and mor's hospital bags. We have fixed your crib and we love how your little princess corner is coming together. Your dad is mom's trusty handyman for sure. Now that we have prepared for your arrival, all we could do is pray that both you and I will be safe on your "birth day". I also pray that you will grow up appreciating all the hardship that your mom and dad had to go through to bring you into our world.

One day when you are old enough to understand every single thing that I wrote here, I hope that you will remember that your mom and dad loves you so much even before you were born. I know that eventually I will lose all the eases and simplicities that I am enjoying now but know that your birth will bring me and our family the best memories that we will all treasure. I know that at some point while you grow up, you will challenge me and I hope I will be the woman you will look to for inspiration and for encouragement. I want to be able to foster your every ambition, to nurture your every dreams.

Apart from being excited to finally meet you, we are also looking forward to hug you and kiss you for the first time. We look forward to hold you, bathe you, care for you, feed you, and the whole nine yards. But through it all, I hope that you will grow to be a very healthy child - loving God and your parents just as much as we love you.


With all my love, 
Mor


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My Baby Shower

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I did have a hand in planning my baby shower along with my sister, mother, cousin and uncle. My husband was still out sailing and was onboard tanker ship Nord Hummock during the planning and the day itself so he was not able to join. He was able to join me pick up the items when I registered at SM Baby Company so he wasn't totally out of the loop.

We picked a colorful and floral theme for the simple get-together and I invited a few of my workmates from work. Since it was only a day after New Year's Day only a few were able to attend. Baby's edited 3D/4D video was also shown during the party.



I am truly grateful for all my friends who attended and brought gifts for the little one. I am also very touched by the wonderful messages that each one wrote on the "advice book" we made for Baby Summer. It was a day full of fun and games and we shared a light dinner with a few sweet treats.

Baby Viktoria Summer's first ever cake - she will always be the apple of our eyes!




We moved all the chairs and couches to the side of the living room so we will have more space for the games that Uncle Don prepared. I loved how everyone was so happy to participate and we all had a good laugh for sure. 


My mom and sister busy preparing the food before the invited guests started to arrive. 

NASDAQ Manila officemates - Gene and Mitch

PeopleSupport and Dell Manila officemates - Joy, Joyce, Majo and Jonah with my niece Eana


Let the fun and games begin... 

With my good friend Mina


I have more photos than these but most were candid and with poor lighting so I just shared a few from the event and yes obviously we were just having too much fun that we did not have a thousand pictures. I was also not able to take pictures of all the gifts so I opted not to share photos of any of the gifts. But yes, thank you, thank you, and a lot more thank you - we now have tons of cute outfits, crib,  toys and other newborn essentials.


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Discover #SoMuchMore With Johnson's

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I just got home from attending an event which was the launch of Johnson's new campaign aimed to show that baby baths are "So Much More". How apt is it for me? Very! I am due to give birth to my little princess any day now and I was actually having contraction but were still few and far between and not yet painful while the event was ongoing.



For future parents like me, one of the activities that I really look forward to doing with my baby is bath time. During the event and after listening to the talks and watching demos, I realized that bath time isn't just about cleaning my baby - a bath should be "so much more" and can help stimulate a baby's senses. I also listened intently on how doctor's talked about the impact of parent's daily rituals with their newborns, particularly during bath and bedtime, on early child development.



The process of bathing a baby was simple enough to follow and I particularly loved the idea of swaddle bathing. The scent, lather and bubbles from a bath using Johnson's products enhances the bath experience for baby while my touch will help nurture her mind. How awe-inspiring could that be? For now, I would read up on this while I am waiting for my turn to push my little baby out.

Newborns aged 0-6 months use their senses to survive. Their senses allow them to feel safe, stable and secure. Johnson's advocates newborn rituals for sensory security. - Johnson's Event Press Kit

4-Step Newborn Bathing Ritual - calms the baby's senses to help him feel more safe and secure. 


Step 1: Massage baby with Johnson's Baby Oil to leave a warm protective barrier on her skin.

Step 2: Wrap baby in a swaddle to mimic the feeling of the baby while inside the mommy's womb. This will make her feels are and secure as you lower her down in a tub of lukewarm water. Using Johnson's Top-to-Toe Wash, start cleaning baby's face first, and then slowly unwrap her to clean her body. This ensures that she isn't stripped of her skin's natural moisture.

Step 3: Rinse baby and pat dry. Lock in the moisture with Johnson's Baby Pink Lotion.

Step 4. Apply Johnson's Baby Powder on baby's body, including the nappy area, to protect her from irritation-causing wetness and keep him comfortable.



Quite easy enough eh? Thanks to Johnson's for sending me home with some products that I could try when I start my bathing ritual with Baby Summer. I also learned soothing nappy ritual  and the all-essential bedtime ritual. These make me more than excited to doing my mommy duties soon.

To all mommy's out there, what mommy and baby bonding rituals do you value the most? Do you spend enough time to massage your baby? Do you talk to your baby? Please do share with me by leaving a comment below and help calm my new-mommy nerves down... I know life will never be the same in the next few days for me and I couldn't be more excited!


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Every Life Begins With A Story

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And this is Viktoria Summer's birth story...

The birth of my daughter was the happiest and most terrifying day of my life thus far. For one, watching One Born Every Minute while I was pregnant did more harm than good to me (only because I am scared at the sight of blood and needles and all that) and two just the thought of delivering a new human being out into our world is just plain terrifying and too tall an order. I feel I did a pretty good job amidst all the health conditions that I had to go through though and today I want to tell the story, my story, our story.

I had three biophysical profile prenatal test to check on my baby's well-being in a span of two weeks conducted by three different doctors - Dra. Sandee Go, Dra. Jocelyn Bambalan and Dra. Christine Tantoco. Baby scored 8/8 on all tests except that her estimated weight was constantly increasing. My OB-Gyn Dra. Karen Alessandra Torredes discussed the possibility of delivering through cesarian section to me on my last visit as I was only 1cm dilated on my first internal exam and then progressed to 2cm after a week and that my cervix is still thick and baby's position is still not birth ready. She recommended natural ways to induce birth such as walking, having sex as sperm contains prostaglandin that  causes the cervix to ripen and she also recommended the use of evening primrose oil capsules. See, I had gestational diabetes mellitus so it's a little bit risky to go beyond the 40th week although I made it clear that I really would try to give birth without undergoing a major operation, I wanted to experience the act of "pushing".

Labor Induction

I would usually feel contractions at night - most were Braxton Hicks though but I appreciated each and every contraction. I stayed up late so I can time contractions or I would be awakened by stronger than normal contractions in between baby's kicks and rolls and hiccups. I did basically all the normal things that I do daily and we even went out of town to finally close the deal on the parcel of land that we had our eyes on. When we got home, I danced and danced to induce labor as advised by my cousin, Kate. I was hoping that my bag of waters will break or the bloody show would finally show up as I danced but nothing happened and it looked like baby held on to her position and didn't want to move down.

I was both excited and nervous at the thought of labor because as a first time mom I really didn't know what to expect aside from the stories of labor that I have read or heard. A couple of days passed and so on February 9, I sent a message to my OB-Gyn and told her that I am ready to be induced to labor. As soon as we got to the St. Luke's Medical Center - Global City High Risk Pregnancy Unit and got our room, doctors and nurses started attending to me and my situation. I was hooked up to an electronic feral monitor that picked up my baby's heartbeat and recorded the frequency and power of my contractions.

I went in 3cm dilated/40% effaced and with moderate contractions. After about 4 hours, evening primrose oil was inserted to my cervix to hasten it to ripen all the while monitoring my blood sugar level as well. Before midnight, I progressed to 4cm/60% effaced. As I was progressing very very slowly, my doctor deemed it necessary to augment my labor by giving me oxytocin (Pitocin). My contractions improved but baby just won't budge as I was still 4cm/60% effaced at dawn of February 10. Just after breakfast my doctor came by to ask me if I still want to try to deliver normally. I said yes with much gusto and prayed again when she left. I also talked to my husband and that's when we both decided that if around noon there would still be no progress then we will opt to deliver via C-section.

Biggest Decision

When I was checked around noon and still with no progress noted, I finally resigned to the fact that I will be cut open. I was scared and terrified but I have to trust the expertise of my doctor. I just wasn't prepared to go under the knife. I distracted my thoughts by watching TV and talking to my husband, my uncle and my sister. A couple of hours before the scheduled operation, I asked my nurse to unhook me from the fetal monitor so I can shower. I knew I would not be able to shower immediately after the surgery so I was so happy when I was cleared to shower.

Around fifteen minutes before my scheduled delivery (5PM), the anesthesiologist came in to interview me and he asked the usual questions and I had a chance to ask questions as well. At exactly 5PM, I was asked to prep for the procedure (wear hospital gown, remove all undergarments, remove all jewelries and that stuff) and two nurses wheeled me to the delivery room. I was laughing nervously as I said my goodbyes to my husband, sister and uncle. We entered the room at 5:15 and was promptly transferred to the operating table. I was cleaned up and given spinal anaesthetic, which removed the feeling from my waist down. I remained awake while they cut me through to get Summer out. I liked how the anesthesiologist assured me that all is well and that my vitals are looking good. I was staring at the lights above me all the while praying that I will be able to go through the operation successfully and that my baby will be safe and healthy.

"Baby Out"

At 6:03PM, I heard the doctors announce that baby is already out. I was overcame with emotion, tears started to well up. I cried and cried and the anesthesiologist was nice enough to wipe my tears. I didn't know if I cried silently or I sobbed. I knew my heart skipped a beat at that moment. I still cry every time I remember it.



After 39 weeks and 6 days inside my womb, our lille smuk pige Viktoria Summer, finally came - 52 cms long and weighed 7.11 lbs. She was checked, cleaned, weighed and a lot of other standard steps before she was made to latch on to me. I started to tear up again as I kissed my baby daughter for the very first time. I knew she was worth every single medical condition I had to go through my pregnancy. She looked so beautiful, so precious and she is my daughter.



But the ordeal didn't end there, the doctors still had to check Summer's blood sugar level to ensure that she was not severely affected by my gestational diabetes. We were wheeled to the recovery room and that's where they pricked her heel to get a wee amount of blood to check. I was torn when she cried in pain but relieved to know that she is perfectly healthy and that she is not hypoglycemic.



We were both wheeled to our room six hours after birth. I threw up on the way because of the anesthesia and I felt itchy because of the morphine administered to me. I felt so groggy but  overflowing with happiness. My husband was overcame with his emotions too and cried as soon as he saw his baby daughter. Oh such pure joy! We now have our own unit we will call family.

Self-Actualization

I am finally a mor, mom, mama, mamang, nanay and all there is to it. I am now a parent. My life, my husband's life, our lives will never be the same again. The miracle of life is like no other...



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Welcome Home Viktoria Summer

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Until now I am still bursting with joy, so much joy that finally our little princess, Viktoria Summer, has arrived. She's a day shy of her 40th week when we decided to give up on delivering her normally and instead opt for caesarian delivery. My OB has explained to me the risks involved if my baby will go over her due date so it was an easy decision on our part to trust the experts. We welcomed our first born on the 10th of February at 6:03PM weighing 7 lbs 11oz and 52cm in height.

Our little princess, Viktoria Summer, minutes after she was cleaned up and handed over to her daddy. 


Our lives have changed! Using the word "changed" is really an understatement for that matter. Eating time, sleeping time, daily routine, priorities, among other things has changed since Day 1.

"When you become a mother, you are no longer the center of your own universe. You relinquish that position to your children." -Jessica Lange

I love every single moment that I spend with her and I am sure her daddy does too. I feel like we both matured overnight, in an instant. We are still trying to learn how to handle the needs and demands of our little bundle of joy and we are more than willing to go through all these all over again. What is sure is that she looks so much like her daddy and that gave him so much joy and pride. Oh and yes we are starting to become experts in nappy changing and burping.

Baby Summer soaking up the sun's rays (1 day old) at the hospital zen garden. 

Our lives, I feel, have a new sense of purpose and meaning and we have nothing but excitement and pure joy as we go about each new day. We certainly love every squeak and squeal, every amusing facial expression, quite frankly every little thing she does. This little human being which happens to be our dear darling daughter has wrapped us around her tiny fingers. We're clearly smitten!

Baby Summer with her cousin, Eana when we arrived home from the hospital (3 days old). I am sure they will grow up and be BFFs no doubt. 

I can't believe it has been 10 days since she was born. She has lost a little over 100 grams but her pediatrician assured us that it is perfectly normal for newborns. I still am in awe at how Summer lights up my life.

If you want to see more pictures of Viktoria Summer, visit my Instagram as she has taken over it since she was born. 


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My Newborn Essentials Shopping List

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If you have visited my blog for the past couple of weeks, you would know that I recently gave birth to our little princess and we are slowly and ever so cautiously adjusting to a new life with her in it. It is quite nostalgic as each day comes and goes at her newborn stage. I could not believe how fast time seem to fly by. I cherish the fact that she is so fragile and so dependent on me and my husband. I admit that we are both struggling to say the least and this new thing called parenthood is really humbling. I am just so lucky that my sister and her husband agreed to stay with us and provide much needed guidance to us newbie parents.

It has been two weeks since our baby was born and my stash of newborn diapers is almost used up. It is a challenge for me to go out and replenish my stock because I am still recovering from my cesarian operation. It is a good thing that Lazada carries an assortment of diaper brands so I don't have to personally get my recovering self out of the house and head to the supermarket. Score! I don't think I can manage the demands of using cloth diapers at this point.


I am currently mix feeding my baby (breast milk and formula) because I can't seem to get my BM supply on a steady stream. The hubby and I need to do some extra steps to get it going so sometimes when time and supply isn't just on our side we resort to feeding baby cow's milk (S26 HA). I feel guilty to be honest but I am left with a choice between starving baby and the latter. Feeding baby with formula means using cups and/or baby bottles thus this entails frequent washing and then sterilizing. I have not bought a sterilizer yet thus my mom has been bugging me for days to get one. At the moment, I am improvising and so far it has worked for me but I might as well get one over the weekend to satisfy my mom and of course ensure my baby's health. Come to think of it, it really isn't worth it to scrimp on this.

I also wanted to buy more swaddle blankets and I love this stars and butterflies set. I like that it is made from 100% cotton and is hypoallergenic. I also like that it can be used as swaddle, towel, breastfeeding cover, stroller cover and of course blanket. Win! Oh and yes, a couple of HALO SleepSack Micro-Fleece Wearable Blanket too.

I still have a lot of the Mustela products that I bought when they were on sale last December so I am not going to restock on this yet. I highly recommend for you to try the different product ranges of this brand. Please do note that there are different product ranges so choose that which is suited for your baby's skin.

I am not keen on buying a stroller at this point because I don't think I can manage to lug around such a heavy thing on my own. I am leaning towards buying a baby carrier/baby wrap. I like the idea of baby wearing - I love how you can get as close as you possibly can with your baby whilst you go out and about. If you have tried any wrap or sling or any newborn carrier, please let me know which brands you recommend for me to check out. I would really appreciate suggestions.

The rest of my newborn essentials were already gifted when we had the baby shower so I feel extremely lucky to have such thoughtful family and friends. Thank you again to everyone who joined us to welcome Baby Summer. I am still overflowing with so much joy.

If you are reading this and currently building your own shopping list, please visit my blog again as my next post will be a checklist of the items that you will need before your own little one arrives. I am also going to write about what I packed in the hospital bag that we brought to the hospital when I gave birth so please watch out for it.


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Preparing For Baby Checklist

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It is really tempting to overbuy for your first child and in fact I think I did. While I was scouring the internet for guides and checklists, I was a bit overwhelmed because there were too many items in any given checklist and of course as a newbie mom I found it difficult to determine what is absolutely necessary. I had to enlist the help of my sister who gave birth last year to trim down my list. Oh and yes, the list that the malls hand out has a lot of non-essentials in it too.

Well truth be told, a newborn just needs you, a place to sleep securely and comfortably, milk (breast milk or formula), diapers and clothes for the first couple of weeks. You actually need not complete your entire list the moment you find out you are pregnant. As you start taking care of your newborn's needs you will be able to identify what you really need and then go out and buy it.

Here's a checklist that I created before I gave birth (the original list was longer to be honest): if you want printable versions of this list please let me know by leaving a comment so I can send you the document


but wait there's more...



It's a long list yeah? It could undoubtedly overwhelm just about anyone and this long list means a long tape receipt as well and you have to be ready to break the bank as you start your motherhood or fatherhood journey. I have not completed this list so far and I have yet to buy a few more items that I think I need. My suggestion at this point is to not buy too much newborn clothes as the little ones grow up too fast. I made the mistake of buying quite a number of dresses in newborn size and I feel that in a week or two such dresses will not fit Baby Summer anymore. Bummer!

Anyway, I am challenging myself to cut this list further into 10 absolute essentials for newborns. I will trim the list at least a month after baby is born and I will share it with you. If you have an absolute essentials list, please do share it with me.

What are your newborn essentials? Anything crucial/must-have that I may have left off my list? 


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Newborn Photoshoot: Viktoria Summer

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Every newborn photoshoot is adorable on its own so I didn't really bother preparing much for my baby's first ever photo session at the studio. All I cared for was for us to document an hour or two of my ever-changing little one and completely trusted the expertise of the photographer who took care of us at The Picture Company in Greenbelt 5. And yes, we survived it - baby survived it, she made it through her first photoshoot.

Summer was a trooper! She had a few crying fits (maybe because of the temperature at the studio) but her trusty soothie calmed her down. She became so comfortable that she peed on the faux fur blanket.  Here's a sneak peek of the photo set.






I am completely in love with my daughter. I feel nothing short of blessed when she came into my life, our lives. I really never knew how amazing motherhood would be until she came into our lives. I am definitely loving every minute of being a mom. She just lights me up and gave a new meaning to my life.

If you would like to see more pictures of Baby Summer since the day she was born until the present, you can see them on my personal Instagram account: @ktnielsen24

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New Mommy Wishlist

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It has been almost three weeks since I gave birth and all the online and store shopping I have done are all for baby. Yes, it's true and I definitely agree now that when you become a parent, you start to forget about your wants and you tend to focus more on the needs of your child. Suddenly I just want to streamline my life and I want to minimize daily decisions so that I will have more time spent with the little one. Even the things that I want to buy for myself are still directly related to satisfying my baby's needs.

BOOKS


1. Bringing Up Bébé - I have noticed that most if not all of the mommy bloggers that I follow have read or wants to read this book. Based on the reviews that I have read, this book is an interesting read. I want to be able to raise a bébé who can self-soothe during sleep and enjoy ALL kinds of food. Sounds promising no?

2. The Happiest Baby On The Block - This book has been highly recommended by a friend and I have a good feeling this could serve as a lifesaver one way or another. One can never go wrong with a book dubbed as the most important parenting book of the decade.

3. What to Expect the First Year - I own What To Expect Before You're Expecting as well as What To Expect When You're Expecting so I think it is only but important to me to supplement my reading with this book. This could arguably be my new baby bible. I love the trademark month-by-month format of this book and I also love that this book has a chapter on breastfeeding.

BABY GEAR


1. Ergobaby Baby Carrier in Pink/Grey Chevron - I want to own this carrier and use it when baby reaches the desired weight. This would be good to use when travelling I feel. I like the print as well as the adjustable hood feature that supports baby's head while sleeping. This carrier also allows three different carrying positions: front-inward, hip and back.

2. Moby Wrap Designs Baby Carrier in Tree - This carrier is what the husband wants me to get because it looks very comfortable as well as lightweight.

3. Kid Kanteen Stainless Steel Complete Baby Bottle Set - I am mix-feeding now and I am currently using Avent bottles that my sister gave and a few other bottles that were bought from the baby shower registry. I am however very eager to get a set of stainless steel baby bottles. I love that these bottles are phthalate-free, latex-free, BPA-free and also lead-free. Win!

4. Marpac Dohm-DS Natural White Noise Machine - I've tried lulling baby to sleep using lullaby's on Spotify and it works but not all the time. I noticed though that she likes the sound of white noise so getting a machine that has this function should be a big help to make her sleep calmer and longer.

BLANKETS/CLOTHING


1. Aden + Anais Classic 4-Pack Muslin Swaddles in Make Believe - I literally swoon over these pretty fabrics that are technically blankets but are also good for use as breastfeeding cover,  burp cloth, among other things. Ah it can also be used as bed cover for your little one maybe. Oh I also love the Princess Posie pack.

2. HALO Newborn Micro-Fleece Sleepsack Swaddle - I have read a lot of mommies that swear by this sleep sack so I would like to give this a try too. The sleeveless design reduces the risk of overheating and the design can't be kicked off by baby too so enough warmth is an assurance all night.

So yeah those are all the items that I really need to buy for now. Like I mentioned above, a baby can take over your life in an instant - when you become a parent you forget about your wants and focus more on the needs of your little one.

Oh and yes a year's supply of diapers and a whole lot of patience and strength to battle sleepless nights would be a welcome treat...


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D&G and Motherhood: Viva La Mamma

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Mother's Day was celebrated early in Milan, Italy as Dolce&Gabbana showcased its fall/winter collection which included drawings by children as well as models on catwalk carrying babies and walking with toddlers. Tres chic!



D&G designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana went all out with this concept/theme. The show featured a model who was six months pregnant and a few of the models even carried babies. To add effect and nostalgia and to evoke emotions on the runway, the Spice Girls' 1996 hit song "Mama" played. Yes, human props at its finest. I personally love the concept - celebrating motherhood on the runway.

Here are some of the clothes from the collection:

Scribbled dresses remind me of Angelina Jolie's wedding gown. Oh and yes, this six months preggy model worked it! Bianca Balti could just be one of my pegs when I get pregnant again eh? Oh I hope I would look half as gorgeous as her when I am all bloated carrying a baby. Wishful thinking! 

I love the muted colours - classic and elegant. 

Roses and scribbles and the simplicity and elegance of black and white. 

Don't you just love that mommy and me ensemble? I love it! 


"Much like the basic and natural joy the pregnant model, the toddlers and children evoked when they walked the runway, the fashion was nothing less than joyful. Pastels and cream colours, typical of a spring palette, and in keeping with the trend we’ve seen thus far on the Milanese runway provided colourful accents to a darker, and very Sicilian portion of the collection, where Dolce&Gabbana always come into their own". - Valentina Zannoni


With words of Edoardo Bennato’s 1989 hit Viva La Mamma as a soundtrack, the Dolce&Gabbana Fall Winter 2015-2016 collection was a celebration of motherhood. A declaration of love to the mother - as a woman, as a modern icon, as the embodiment of the highest love possible, the mother was celebrated in all her incarnations.






What do you feel about the collection?


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New Mommy Tips From Me To You

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It hasn't been that long since I found out I was pregnant and quite clueless at that. Yes, I know of a few things that one needs to know before getting pregnant but one can never be too prepared when that certain time or phase finally comes. I appreciated solicited advices but I cringed at unsolicited advices to say the least. I browsed the internet on a daily basis to read a thing or two about what to expect and how to deal with my situation. I also read books and the book What To Expect When You're Expecting was practically my best friend and my bedside table staple. Of course, I asked friends and family who have been pregnant and had babies in the past for advices too - mainly tips and tricks for that matter.

A photo posted by KT Nielsen (@ktnielsen24) on

I gave birth three weeks ago and being a mom has been life-changing for me. It is not easy, in fact it is quite hard when you're just starting and adjusting and there will always be a constant inner struggle within you for being a new mom and that's exactly what I experienced. Suffice it to say that motherhood is a major learning curve. These and more but yes, I don't regret a single second of being a mom to my wonderful daughter.

Here are a few new mommy tips that I would like to share to you:

1. Overheating is a cause of SIDS. We live in the Philippines so it is almost always warm. We keep our room between 22-25 degrees celsius depending on what she is wearing. Oftentimes, we keep her in just a onesie and a swaddle blanket and she's fine.

2. Newborns cry for a myriad of reasons. They cry when they are hungry, when their nappies need to be changed, when they need to be burped or when they are tired. As a new mom, you have to learn to distinguish what your newborn needs when they cry. Learn to read your baby's cues.

3. Learn the 5 S's - Swaddle, Shush, Swing, Suck and Side (you can read more about 5 S from The Happiest Baby On The Block)

4. I learned a good way to put Summer to sleep only on her 3rd week and that paved the way for her bedtime routine. We give her a warm bath and then a gentle massage using products from her Mustela Newborn Pack. She then gets her milk, a little dance session with mom or dad and then swaddled before we put her inside her crib.

5. Babies love to be soothed especially when you talk or sing to them. It will remind them of when they were still inside her mommy's tummy.

6. It is not supposed to hurt when your baby is latched on correctly when breastfeeding. If it hurts then baby might not be latched on the proper way.

7. Rubbing Summer's cheeks activates her suck reflex so this helps when she falls asleep during feeding.

I have only been a mom for less than a month and I can say that being a parent has taught me so many lessons and I know that I will be learning more lessons in the days to come. I am excited and definitely looking forward to waking up to a brand new day with my baby.

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Unboxing The March 2015 Pond's Exclusive BDJ Box

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I just finished feeding my little one when the doorbell rang. I requested hubby to check the door and when he returned he had a huge box in his hands from the courier. I immediately checked what the box was for and was pretty surprised. I ripped open the packaging and the usual BDJ box was an exclusive Pond's BDJ box for this month. I got even more excited because the box felt heavy - it means it has a lot of goodies inside. Yay!



The box is filled to the brim with Pond's Flawless White products as well as the recently launched Pond's Pearl Cleansing Gel as well as the Dewy Rose Gel. It is the first ever whitening gel-based facial cleanser that is perfect even for sensitive skin.

Unboxing is quite fun so let me share to you what's inside the Pond's Exclusive BDJ Box:


"What makes you DIFFERENT makes you BEAUTIFUL!"


Pond's Pearl Cleansing Gel, 100g, Php155 (box comes with an extra 50g tube) 
Pond's Flawless White Ultra Luminous Serum, 30ml, Php480
Pond's Flawless White Dewy Rose Gel, 50g, Php399 
Pond's Flawless White BB+ Cream (Light), 25g, Php299
Pond's Flawless White BB+ Cream (Beige), 25g, Php299 
Pond's Flawless White Re-Brightening Night Cream, 50g, Php340 

Total Cost of Box for March = Php1,972
(monthly BDJ Box subscription = Php580)


POND'S PEARL CLEANSING GEL, 100g, Php155
I have been intrigued about this product since I started reading about it on social media. My Instagram feed was actually abuzz about this product when they launched it last week. I was itching to try this because ever since I got pregnant my beauty regimen has been cut into the basics - cleanse, tone, moisturize - no more, no less. This could be a welcome product in my cleansing regimen.


Pond's introduces a breakthrough to add to your beauty regimen. It is the first whitening facial wash in gel formulation that cleanses your skin, making it whiter and fresher, without drying it. It has Vitamin B3 and Pearl Essence known to whiten skin. With its oxygenated formulation, it cleanses and refreshes while locking in moisture, making skin softer and smoother. This newest beauty trend is also perfect for sensitive skin as it has milder ingredients compared to drying, whitening soaps. 




POND'S FLAWLESS WHITE ULTRA LUMINOUS SERUM, 30ml, Php480
Worrying about uneven skin tone caused by exposure to sunlight and pollution? Now you can unlock flawless, radiant skin in just 7 days! With 9x more radiance power in a single drop, the serum seeks to achieve spotless, radiant and even-toned skin. It contains VAO-B3 technology that helps block skin pigmentation from appearing in the surface and helps renew our skin. Formulated with GenActivTM, this layering serum interrupts the skin's melanin cycles. Stubborn dark spots and discoloration are reduced in one week. 

POND'S FLAWLESS WHITE DEWY ROSE GEL, 50g, Php399
Pond's Dewy Rose Gel is the first expert whitening product that comes in a refreshing gel, formulated by the Pond's Institute. It goes deep within the skin and is clinically proven to lighten dark spots and to smoothen pores. Its unique gel formula is gentle to the touch, instantly cools and hydrates your skin. It has Rose Lumiere serum which is made from alpine rose extract that helps lock in moisture and reduces skin dullness from within. The result? Dewy, soft skin so flawless, it glows. Great as makeup primer, too!

POND'S FLAWLESS WHITE RE-BRIGHTENING NIGHT CREAM, 50g, Php340
As skin renewal hits its peak at night, use the Flawless White Re-Brightening Night Treatment, a regeneration night cream enriched with GenActivTM that repairs skin damage, lightens and evens out dark spots while you sleep. Wake up to radiantly glowing skin as the night formula actively lightens and more importantly, evens out your complexion. This miracle night cream saves you from all the daily torment your skin goes through. This amazing skinovation makes sure that you achieve your skin's potential by matching your skin type and ridding it of impurities.



POND'S FLAWLESS WHITE BB+ CREAM, 25g, Php340
Get instantly spotless and radiant skin with the Flawless White Whitening Expert BB+ Cream with SPF 30 PA++ from Pond's. It is especially formulated for Asian women who want the benefits of spotless finish and illuminated-from-within radiance. Enriched with GenActivTM, it hides blemishes instantly and repairs damaged skin permanently. And with an SPF 30 protection, never worry about the sun's harmful effects on your skin again! Its formulation is light, non-oily and non-comedogenic, so it does not clog pores giving both skin care and makeup benefits. 




I am thrilled with this box and I can't wait to try out these products. I have not tried any of the products in this box so I may also be participating in the BDJBOX 7 Day Challenge. Exciting!

Have you received your box? Send me your unboxing post by posting a link in the comments box below. I would love to read about it too...

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Our Week In Photos

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I am going to start a new series here in my blog. As a new mom I could never get enough of taking pictures of the little one so please expect a lot of photos of our dear darling daughter. I aim to chronicle moments and the minute changes that I would otherwise forget if I don't take pictures.

Here's the first entry for this series: (these pictures were taken between February 9 to 22 - technically two weeks as the first week was spent just soaking in the precious first days)


I love how I can recall the emotions that I felt when these pictures were taken just by looking at each one of the frames. Oh such joy, pure bliss! Giving birth to my baby Summer is one of the best moments of my life. I dreamed of having a baby for many years and my pregnancy and her birth is just but part of a sweet journey that our family will share.

It still feels surreal that I am now a mother but I am willing to go through all the new-mom experiences all over again if given another chance. This is real, this is our life story and I am so glad to be a part of it!

If you have a similar series in your blog, please send me the link so I can visit it too. 

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Our Week In Photos - Surviving The First Three Weeks

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I started a new series in my blog last week and I sure am glad that I did. I was euphoric and still am to this very day for all the things that has happened and I am looking forward to all new-mom challenges that are still yet to happen to a rookie mom like me. I am sure that I am going to face a lot of hurdles - breastfeeding problems, work dilemmas, losing the baby weight, sleepless nights, hoard of pressures to be a "good-enough mother" and whole lot more. I am just extremely happy that we (my husband and I) are surviving each and every day thus far without losing our sanity.

Every morning as I wake up, I feel thankful (in between yawns) for surviving another night with our new baby. I am sure many of you moms out there can relate to this feeling of relief as soon as you wake up. It felt like nights have been both long and short (if you know what I mean). I say long because you can't wait until your baby will be able to sleep through the night already because the first few weeks of their lives are spent sleeping during daytime and seems to be allergic to sleep during night time. I say short because no matter how long your sleep was (2-3 hours tops every night) you would still feel zombie-like. Watching my baby fall asleep after every feed gives me a different kind of joy within me and I know I will never regret every waking minute that I spend with her during the night.

Okay, that's all for now! I will leave you with these pictures before I start to be teary-eyed again. For some reason, I have become so much of a crybaby ever since I transitioned to motherhood. It's like my heart has expanded and I feel emotional with just about anything easily.


I would love to hear from you - let me know about the joys and struggles when you became a mom, share a story or two, drop me some advice on how I can be a better than good-enough mom, anything!

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What My Dream Kitchen Looks Like

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I was sitting on the couch earlier this afternoon when I chanced upon a featured kitchen in Style Me Pretty Living and my heart skipped a beat. Oh not because of the three cups of coffee that I have had but because it felt like I was staring at the master plan of my dream kitchen. There's something about white kitchens that excite me - makes me happy inside.

So what exactly is your ideal kitchen?

Wifey: White. Ethereal. Clean lines. Functional. Understated elegance. With lots of storage space.
Hubby: Just make sure there's an island in the kitchen where I can have my morning coffee. 

Aside from taking care of my baby daughter, cleaning her bottles and washing her clothes with occasional preparation of our meals, all I basically do when I am not squeezing in some sleep is browse the internet and for today it felt like the most productive site to visit is SMP Living because then I can 
bookmark pegs for our future home. We recently bought a property but we plan to build a house only after a year or two. So in preparation, I collate as many ideas as I can and come up with the final design when we finally meet our contractor.

Yes, for now I can dream...









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