baby food chef! ;P

I've been preparing Hunter's food for the past month now and I can say, it is the most fulfilling thing ever. 

Thank you, Baby Bullet, You make me feel like I'm such a good mommy. Hehe.

When we travel and need to store food for a longer period of time, we bring organic baby food from Healthy Options which Hunter loves so much.

I can say this works really well for a breast-fed Hunter. We have yet to experience tummy problems. He never had digestion issues and constipation. I say, try this first before buying baby food from the Grocery. =)

Project 1: Hunter's Playroom

I've been busy with my little projects right now and most of them are about home improvement.
When we came back from the States, in less than two weeks, we had the house sanitized, the window screens and air cooling appliances replaced, the floor rugs and carpet changed and the cabinets organized.
Yes, I am turning into my mother.

I'm halfway done with Hunter's Play room. We are still waiting for all his stuff we sent here through a courier when we were in the States and Its taking too long! I can't wait to finish his animal/jungle theme  play area. Anyway, so far so good.

I still have to replace the Yo Gabba Gabba rug, I'm thinking of an animal print one but my sister Hazel says its an overkill, pun intended. :/ We'll see as we go along fixing the room.

I especially love the monkeys "hanging" from his toy shelves. There were actually six monkeys but I only included five. My sisters and brother know why. Hehe =)

I'm done with just one corner but I think the overall theme is coming along well.
 I used to want a vintage-y, soft color baby theme but I read somewhere that vibrant, loud colors are appreciated by babies more and contribute well to their development.

Loved that Hunter sign from Hunter's Mama Hazel who is also the one checking me all the time if I started working on his play room already. Ayan na po, madame.
What can I say?  Hunter has four mommies (Thankfully, though =)). 


I still have to wait for most of his stuff but I'm happy with how things are going. I'm simultaneously working on our room upstairs to make it comfortable for us three since we are co-sleeping with the baby. I'll post photos of that too soon. 


I just want the best possible environment for the little one. I must admit, I am enjoying these little projects!

Leaving Home, Going Home

Hunter is such a good baby. It was like we just brought a teddy bear (who poops and drinks milk =)) during flight.

We already miss lolo and lola very much!

Sleeping in his bassinet. Such a good boy, he made the whole flight enjoyable for mama and papa.

Watching and loving Pororo! A new discovery!

While waiting at the most beautiful airport in the world. =)

Hunter in Sando adjusting to his bigger car seat, a must for crazy driving in the Philippines!

We miss everyone already so, so much! I'm back to my crazy time calculations. ;)

Blog Binge

Three posts in a day. I know.

We will be leaving soon and right now, all our things are just everywhere. It will be a while again before I come back here so I guess I went a bit overboard with stocking up on my favorites that I only get to buy here. I think I have make-ups right now to last me a lifetime. I just had to get back-ups of everything because prices are totally jacked up back in Manila. =|
I just need this last one.

Tarina Tarantino Dollskin Cheek Palette


I am seriously going to miss Babies R' Us and Buy Buy Baby. =( I hope I'll be able to find these "jean diapers" back in Manila. I bought a big box for Hunter since I know it'll be too hot and he will be only wearing these and sandos or onesies.

Cutie Pie.

I just love having a baby boy!

Now that we are just waiting for Hunter to get all his check ups done and start his immunization shots, I feel that our trip back to Manila is near.
I'm in a sort-of panic mode since I am still not done with my shopping for baby things that will last me until the next year.

We've accumulated so much stuff from the last three months and now I feel like shipping all these back in the Philippines would be the greatest challenge. Well, that and the courier fees! :/

I still have yet to find a high chair and a playard for him to use back in Manila.
Somehow all the stuff we have right now are in Green and has a Jungle theme but his nursery in the Philippines is in Blue and has vintage planes theme so now, I'm thinking of how to mesh the look together.

I really like this playard by Maxi-Cosi. It has a built in changing table and other compartments. I love that it will grow with him until toddlerhood.

I'm still looking for the perfect not-so-colorful and wooden high chair that will not stand out like a sore thumb in my mom's old furniture.
At least, I have something to do at 2 a.m. after waking up for the baby. =)))

Our last three weeks

The last almost three weeks went by in a blur. We are in such a happy albeit chaotic place right now.
You can't really explain the unconditional love one feels when one becomes a parent until you are there in that situation meeting your child for the first time.
I always ask Paolo how can I love this tiny human being so much when I've only known him just barely three weeks?

My little guy and I are getting to know each other.
I'm slowly learning about his patterns and quirks and he knows my voice and scent.
It takes only so very little to appease him.
He is a pretty laid-back baby, something I think he got from his papa.
I always say he makes everything so easy for his mama: from my relatively easy pregnancy, to my less than just 7 hour labor in the hospital to my only three epic pushes for his official debut out into the world.

Needless to say, I am in love. ❤❤❤

It's also a joy watching the hubby morph into a papa bear.
I've always known Pao will be a great dad but I've never expected him to be so hands-on.
Since he became a dad a bit older already, I thought he will be the relaxed, laid-back one and I will be the one stressing out, being OC about everything.
Turns out, he's such a neat-freak when it comes to his son. I am the one who's much more calm. He is also the one who's more particular with Hunter's things from what stroller to buy down to the quality of Hunter's baby wipes!
He becomes a little snooty (so unlike him) when it comes to his son. I guess that's what parenthood does to anyone, you only want to give the best for your child.

My boys! I love their "late-night conversations." I only wake up to breastfeed, the rest Paolo does with much enthusiasm and love. I am a lucky mama. =)

I've always loved the name Hunter. It sounded so intrinsic, so basic, so strong.
A perfect name for my first-born son.
I remember reading about one of my favorite supermodels, Nikki Taylor giving birth to her twin sons Jake and Hunter when I was in grade school. And the name Hunter stuck with me. Secretly, a part of me wished I would marry a guy with a nice last name that will sound well with such a strong name. ;) The name has been with me for years.
I remember mentioning it to Paolo when I was in college and how we both agreed Hunter sounds so well with Yason. =) How it sounded almost like a title.
Months ago when we found out we were having a boy, Paolo was the one adamant about giving him the name Hunter.
Elias (pronounced with a long e) is an old name which I love and rarely hear nowadays. Elias is also a name after my mom's. Since we were expecting him this March, the same birth month as my mom's. Elias also means My Lord is God.
A strong name for a first born, I only hope and pray he lives up to his name.

More mommy updates soon. =*

a nice-smelling baby for me please.

First, I'm really thankful for a very supportive and caring family.

I just realized today how we are so taken care of, my baby and I and Pao as well. I mean, families are supposed to be that way after all but I've never been more thankful enough that I have this group of people by our side. Sometimes we take our family for granted and now that I'm starting my own, I realized how grateful I am (and the hubby as well) for the one I came from.

My very awesome sisters are planning to throw a baby shower for me. Since its a shower and I have nothing to do with it except to show up and enjoy, I'm so excited.
They had been asking me for my wish list of baby stuff and I just realized---I really don't have one! Up until a few weeks ago, I've never been the one to daydream about the latest baby gadgets and designer strollers. All I know is both my husband and I don't like frilly, cutesy stuff for our baby boy. No teddy bears, pastels and overalls for him!

So this upcoming baby shower made me so excited to look at things that will be needed by the baby. I realized I'm almost 8 months into my pregnancy and we haven't even started shopping yet for our son. No big ticket items yet nor little, cutesy baby clothes aside from a few gifts here and there. Up until some days ago my sister Hazel was the one more excited shopping for baby stuff for me. Thanks, tel for the head start. I love them all.

Now I'm raring to go. I figured it'll be much harder to get hold of stuff that we like once we go back in Manila so that means serious buying (hoarding?) for us and at the same time major self-control.

Two things though that I'm really quite sure about:

One, is I want to prepare the baby food myself, something I am sure about even before I got preggy. I remember deciding on this when a major brand had a big product recall about a year ago because of pieces of glass found on the jars inside. Urband legend or not, I'm not taking chances. Hence a baby bullet is a must-have on my list.

Next is exclusively using Johnsons bath products for my baby because a nice-smelling baby is one of the best things in the world. =D

I like to think I am an experienced babysitter. Aside from getting plenty of practice from nieces and nephews, I babysat for other people's babies here in Illinois during my summer break from school.
And one thing I found out--- Only Johnson's baby products "enhance" that lovely baby scent. I've encountered enough baby bath products, expensive ones, organic ones, etc. etc. and I came to conclusion its just Johnson's for my little one. Of course I'll use other brand products from time to time but for the most part, its just J and J for the bath stuff.

Can't wait for the hubby to get here! Two more nights!