Mommy L's Word of the Week: Achievement

Photo from Pexels.com

These days, I have very different definitions for the word "achievement".

Bathing Pablo by myself? Achievement!

Being able to fold and put away the newly laundered clothes? Achievement.

Putting the baby to sleep? Achievement.

Waking up ahead of Pablo feeling alert and well-rested? Achievement.

Also, waking up ahead of the baby and getting a complete breakfast meal? Achievement.

Grabbing a quick lunch on time? Achievement.

Putting on lipstick? Achievement! With an apostrophe no less! Haha

Organizing stuff around the room? Okay, SOME of the stuff in our room. Achievement.

Now that he's a lot more awake than during his first few weeks, putting Pablo to sleep? Achievement.

Getting to win over my husband on Words With Friends? (Hahahaha!) Achievement.

Not being snappish with my poor husband? Achievement. Will try harder, okay?

Getting Pablo on a onesie with sleeves? Achievement.

Being able to post a new blog entry? Achievement.

Oh, I'm such an achiever! 

We expected to have a daughter but were gifted with a son

Back in December, when I was on my sixth month of pregnancy, my OB recommended that I get this Congenital Anomaly Scan (CAS). Basically, it is like an ultrasound but more thorough. My baby will be checked from head to toe; eyes, heart, spine, fingers and toes, etc. Of course kasama na rin dito ang gender.

I went in for the scan on a weekday kasi mas konti ang tao. I just arranged to meet Mr. L after office.

I thanked the Higher Being because everything turned out well for my baby according to the ultrasound. Then came the gender reveal. I was so excited! My husband and I wanted a girl. During the early months of pregnancy I told him I "felt" we were having a girl. Ang confident hahaha! So when the doctor told me that she was almost sure I had a girl in my tummy, there was no doubt in my mind that she was right. To be fair, she did tell me that my baby's umbilical cord is between its legs making it more difficult to tell for sure but she wasn't seeing any other, um, protrusion. She said she was about 80% sure. Ako naman dedma na sa 20%!

I met with my husband after work that day, brought him to TWG (special occasion eh!) and showed him the ultrasound with my scribbled handwriting in pink pen that said: It's a girl! Tuwang-tuwa si Mr. L. Naka-post pa sa Facebook hahaha!

A couple of months after that, a very good friend of mine organized a baby shower for me with my former colleagues and some of our close friends. She asked me for a wishlist and good thing I told her to "lessen" the pink stuff kasi feeling ko madaming magbibigay ng pink(speaking of, kailangan ko din palang maiblog ang baby shower haha).

Come April, my OB said she was leaving the country for a couple of weeks starting Holy Week. My Expected Date of Delivery (EDD) was April 28 but if I was to give birth on the weeks my OB wasn't here, a reliever would have to deliver my baby and I didn't like the sound of that. Siyempre, as much as possible, I want to limit the number of people checking in on my vajayjay.

I told my husband that I felt (eto na naman ako sa kaka "feeling" ko eh no? Haha) that my baby will come out on April 8th latest. I came in for my prenatal checkup on April 3rd and my OB said my cervix has started to open. Yiii na-excite ako! The following days were filled with me packing and unpacking our hospital things hahaha and of me trying to determine possible contractions. However, April 8 came and went and wala pa din. Naiinip na ako.

2AM of April 10th, I woke up with a pain similar to that of a menstrual cramp but this one extended to my lower back. Sabi ko "this is it!" haha! So I took a shower, I lathered, scrubbed, shaved, lahat na! Ang tagal ko sa banyo mga 45 minutes! Hahaha! All the while pinapakiramdaman ko kung masusundan yung pain, wala naman! Until I finished my shower and fell back asleep. After Mr. L left for the office, I went back to bed. Napuyat ako eh. I woke up noontime na eh may prenatal checkup ulit ako and my OB's clinic is only open until 12nn. Dedma, I still went kahit 2PM na yun.

I got to Dr. Vicencio's clinic just before 3PM and there were no other patients anymore, ako na lang talaga haha! We went about our normal routine. Then she checked my BP, 160/80! Kalerkey! She did an Internal Exam and told me my cervix has dilated to 3CM na and that I was to go to the Pre-Labor Room ASAP. I called my husband and my mama to tell them the news.

I was in the Labor Room by 5PM. The pain didn't start until they popped my waterbag. It was around 7PM. For those who are curious, yes, labor is painful! It's like LBM and menstrual cramps combined and to the tenth power! Hahaha! Good thing there are three to five minute intervals and thank goodness I learned yoga breathing techniques. It helped a lot!

*WARNING: Unflattering photos ahead but this doesn't get any real than this so kebs!

Kaya pa besh?

For Mr. L to be allowed into the Labor Room,
he had to change into this scrub suit. P450 siya teh!
Tapos kailangan isoli after. KLK!

At past 3AM I was wheeled into the Delivery Room. They called my husband (he was with me at the Labor Room but after a couple of hours I told him to go get some sleep because who knows when we'll get to sleep again? Haha) but I requested that they don't let him in until the baby is almost out. I did not want anyone to see me so, um, defenseless? I don't know, just the picture of me spread-eagled under bright lights and strangers, it sure wasn't a pretty situation.

Ayun na nga, after a few unsuccessful pushing, the pain started again and they had to up my epidural shot. Kaso mo, the person assisting the anesthesiologist misplaced her apparatus! NACACALOCA! Namimilipit ako sa sakit and she was running around trying to find whatever and wherever it is. In reality it probably just took her a few minutes but my gahd it felt like hours! She got reprimanded na nga. In between pains I was like "uy take your time naman, okay lang talaga ako eh!" hahaha kaloka si bakla!

After a few more pushing, Dr. V said the baby's heartbeat is starting to slow down so she has to use forceps to get the baby out na. There will be a few marks on her head and face but they will go away after a few days din daw. They called my husband in and the next push should be my one big push daw. Okay game!

The contraction came, I pushed like I never pushed before and next thing I heard was my baby's hesitant cry and my OB explaining to my husband why she had to use forceps. She was talking a mile a minute. Then the doctor to my right, I think she was a pedia, said to me quietly, "Congratulations! You have a baby boy!" I tell you, at that moment it didn't quite register to me just yet.

Ito yung medyo nahimasmasan na si Mr. L at nag-picture na siya LOL!
Look at that baby! Nakadikit talaga siya kaagad sa'kin huhu! Adorbs!

I do not remember this. I asked Mr. L what was this doctor doing
kasi mukhang sasampalin niya ako hahaha!
He said she was asking me how many fingers I see.
Hala eh di ko maalala, I asked him what I answered,
di niya na rin daw maalala hahaha!

Then they put the baby on my breast for our first skin-to-skin contact when I glimpsed his widdle penis and that's when I thought, "bakit may pototoy?" and then one of the doctors said to Mr. L, "Oh daddy, hindi ka ba magpi picture?" hahaha! Natulala na yung asawa ko eh! Sobrang funny nung moment. So "us". Hahaha!

When the nurse asked for his change of clothes, towel, and swaddle, yung pink talaga ang pinadala ng asawa ko eh hahaha! Yun naman kasi ang ibinilin ko sa kanya. Everyone who saw our baby at the Recovery Room commented on how cute our baby girl is and I was too tired and also too mischievous to correct them.

Aminin na nating ang chaka ko dito pero dedma na,
first family picture namin to eh!

This was when he was first wheeled into our room.
Their first itay-and-son photo. Oh diba pink? Ang cute cute huhu!

Over the next couple of days, it's been kind of a challenge to alter our mindset. Although we are just as happy that we have a boy, we have been expecting for a baby girl for months and what with our baby wearing pink stuff (hahaha!) we sort of still thought that he was a girl.

It was just for a couple of days though. Ngayon okay na.

What a nice surprise, having a boy. I can't wait to see the bond he and my husband will form in the years to come. We're excited to raise a man who will treat women the way they (we) deserve to be treated. I'm grateful we are given this opportunity to raise a human being and we're determined to do right by it.

At 'yan and delivery story ko na mix of pain, suspense, gore, and comedy hihi!

Waray words with no Filipino/Tagalog equivalent

My mother-tongue is Waray. I grew up in Samar and it wasn't until I was in school that I learned to speak Filipino and English. Since I came here to Manila, I've been switching from three languages depending on where I am or who I am talking to.

Flitting in and out of these languages requires me to translate thoughts and ideas from one language to another. There are some words, however, that you can rephrase but can never directly translate. Let me list three Waray words that I think do not have direct translations to Filipino/Tagalog.

1. Intawon. This is best delivered with a sigh or an exclamation of pity or sympathy. Ito yung word na ginagamit when the best effort has been exerted but it's just not enough.

Example:

a. Nag-diet naman ako pero intawon, ito lang talaga ang nabawas sa timbang ko.

b. Intawon, wala na halos magkasyang damit sa'kin. Lahat masikip na!

2. Pastilan is an exclamation of frustration. You use this expression when you are trying to explain but your message just doesn't get across. It can also stand on its own. When you say "pastilan!" the person you're speaking with will get the idea that s/he needs to back off a bit. The closest phrase or word in Filipino would probably be "Naku naman!" or "Maryosep!"

Example: 

a. Pastilan ano pa ba'ng gusto mo? Kumain ka na ng pizza, isaw, ice cream, nilagang manok, hindi pa ka din busog?

b. Nagsi-selos ka don? Pastilan para namang may iba pang papatol sa asawa mo!

3. Sagdat. This one's actually subjective. I asked ten people from my hometown and five said there is an equivalent translation in Filipino. The other five said there are none. 

"Sagdatness" is a negative trait. A sagdat person usually hogs all the attention to him/herself, in a bad, cringey, icky way. S/he also wants to take and take and take without giving something in return. S/he is the person you don't like hanging out at your place because everyone in your home end up hating him/her, and all the food from your fridge goes missing after s/he left. Sagdat is a little more than epal but a little less than gahaman. Some of the people I asked said the direct translation is "buraot" but it doesn't sound about right to me.

Example:

1. Wala ka na nga'ng ambag, ikaw pa yung pinakamalakas mamulutan! Grrr sagdat ka talaga!!!

2. Kaka-mop ko lang ng sahig tapos heto ka at dadaan-daan dito suot ang napaka-putik mong sapatos!??! Sagdat!

Now, I don't know how many Waray friends you've got, but congrats! You've just enriched your Waray vocab by three words! Pastilan, tatlo lang yan pagpasensiyahan mo na, yan lang intawon ang nakayanan ko. Huwag kang sagdat. :D

*Disclaimer: This is a personal claim and has not been verified by a professional. If it turns out that there are indeed Filipino/Tagalog equivalent for these words, my apologies. This entry is based on my personal opinion.

Gag Show: Mr. L Edition Part 1

My husband is a joker. He may not look it but he is and even when I'm really mad, he can still crack me up. Here are a few of his funny antics:


Scene: Early evening. There's a slight shower that could turn into rain any moment. We just got off the jeep.

Me: (Galit) Bakit dito tayo bumaba? Eh diba mas malapit dun sa kabilang gate?
Dimple:  Bakit ka  ba nagagalit kaagad?
Me: Eh kasi nakita mo na nga'ng umaambon, dito pa tayo bumaba kung saan mas malayo sa bahay!
Dimple: Magwi-withdraw kasi ako.
Me: (Even more angry now) Magwi-withdraw ka pala bakit di ka na lang nag-withdraw sa Cubao? Hindi mo man lang iniisip ang convenience ko?
Dimple: Hindi totoo yan!
Me: Ano'ng hindi totoo??!!
Dimple: Ganito. Habang nagwi-withdraw ako, dito ka muna sa 7-Eleven. Kung hindi ko pa naman iniisip ang CONVENIENCE mo n'yan eh nasa convenience store ka na, ewan ko na lang!

Nagpigil ako ng tawa mga beh pero di ko kinaya.

***

Scene: Bedroom. Morning. We were both preparing to go out. Me to a meeting with a client. He saw me putting my MacAir in my bag together with an external keyboard and mouse - you see it just recently got broken.

Dimple: Dadalhin mo yung external keyboard and mouse sa meeting?
Me: Oo, wala naman akong choice otherwise hindi ko magagamit ang laptop.
Dimple: Kawawa naman ang asawa ko, sira na 'yung laptop.
Me: (Paawa) Oo nga eh, nakakahiya sa mga clients ko minsan.
Dimple: Gusto mo ng...
Me: (Looks up to him hopefully)
Dimple: ...madaming keyboard?

Ay waw.

***


Scene: At my old apartment. We were watching TV and he kept on changing the channel.

Me: Huwag ka ngang lipat nang lipat! Ang sakit sa ulo!
Dimple: Patalastas pa naman eh!
Me: Doon na lang sa pinapanood natin!
Dimple: Teka lang, ibabalik ko din.
Me: Ibalik mo na! Huwag ka nang maghanap ng iba!
Dimple: (Looking at me) Hindi naman na talaga ako maghahanap ng iba eh. Ikaw na.

Ayiii ewan ko sa'yo!!!

Eme eme

Para sa mga hindi well-rounded sa Gayspeak, “eme-eme” came from the word “emote” na sabi sa Merriam Webster (oh diba, may reliable source?):

            Emote: To express emotion in a very dramatic or obvious way

Sa madaling salita, pagiging OA. So emote-emote pina-iksi naging eme-eme. Now, like its predecessors “chuva, churut, keme”, eme-eme is used differently depending on the conversation. Gayspeak is fluid and progressive like that. Pak.

Anyway, yesterday was not a very good day for me. Malalang eme-eme ang naramdaman ko; I didn’t want to get out of bed, I didn’t want to eat, I didn’t want to read, write, or even do something as lazy as watch TV. I just flitted in and out of consciousness basically the whole day.

I could not pinpoint the exact reason. Perhaps because it was my nephew’s 5^th birthday and I wasn’t there to celebrate with him (he lives in Samar with my sister and my mother). Maybe I was tired from the previous day kasi I was out on meetings from morning until late night. Or was it because the weather was so conducive to sleep-all-day eme-eme. Pero ang sad ko kahapon talaga.

When ze husband came home, I was doing half of the week’s laundy. Half lang kasi nga wala ako sa mood haha! I knew he could tell that I wasn’t in my best mood. I got annoyed at him for the smallest reasons and kept trying to pick a fight; lahat ng sinasabi nya kinokontra ko, lahat ng reaction n’ya to anything kina-counter ko hahaha! As in ang lala. Siyempre hanggang bago matulog sinubukan ko pa ding mang-away pero sabi niya lang bakit ang drama-drama ko daw hahaha! Kainis.

Buti na lang, hindi siya patola. That’s one of the many things I appreciate about him. When he knows something is up, kung hindi naman major, he doesn’t dwell on them. He goes around like nothing’s the matter, like everything is fine until everything calms down...I mean until I calm down. He trusts that I’m a matured woman who will right herself soon. I realized that there was no point to my eme-eme and, also, that I am indeed a very lucky woman to have a husband who doesn’t dignify my ka-eme-han sa life. Thank you, universe.

Megan Fox on Ellen

Photo grabbed from ellentube

Megan Fox was on Ellen some time ago and I just saw it online. She talked about turning 30. She said, when she was young she thought 30 was ancient! But now that she’s not going to be in her twenties anymore in a few months' time she realized that nothing much has changed. This is Megan Fox that we are talking about, ladies and gents. MEGAN FREAKING FOX!

Cut to me: an overweight, freelancer, dream-chasing 30 year-old (turning 31 in a few days btw), who, like Megan Fox, used to think that 30 is ancient! I used to think that by the time I am 30, I will have it all figured out but my-oh-my! Now that I am here I don’t have it all figured out! In fact I am far from figuring it all out. I am this close to panicking (holding out my index finger and my thumb just an inch apart)! For one, I don’t look anywhere near like Megan Fox, I gained about 15 lbs. since I was 25 years old and I’m still chasing my dreams. Yep, until now!

Oh well, maybe when I’m 40 I’ll have it all smoothed out.

How to cook paksiw:

Ingredients:

4 slices of fish (Or whatever you want aside from fish. Wait, may iba pa bang pinapaksiw? Oh yeah, lechon paksiw! But I cooked fish. So..)
1 cup of chopped onions
1 cup of chopped garlic
1 cup of chopped ginger
1 cup water
A dab of salt (or as desired)
1/8 cup of pepper granules
1 cup of vinegar
5 heaping cups of self-assurance
7 cups of determination
10 cups of lurve


1. Drink the 7 cups of determination.

2. Ask. If your mother and/or husband are awesome cooks, like mine are, ask them what to do. Or you can always google.

3. If frozen, defrost the fish. Duh.

4. Dump the water, garlic, onions, ginger, fish, salt and vinegar to the pan. Tak-pan. (Get it? Tak-pan? Takpan ang pan? No? Oh, well.)

5. Let it simmer. This is also about the time when you need to slurp your 5 heaping cups of self-assurance. Also, pray.

6. When you see the little bubbles it means the vinegar and water are boiling. Pahinaan ang apoy.

7. Pray. Again.

8. Once the fish looks cooked, I mean when it looks different than when you first put it into the pan (double duh) then it's already done!

9. Dab with 10 cups of lurve.

10. Serve.

What do you mean where's the picture? Of course I don't have a picture or else you will forever be discouraged to cook paksiw! Anyway, I'm really good at making pasta and sandwiches. Perhaps I can post those next time complete with pictures.