There were lots of exhibitors and brands giving discounts even on their premium items. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to take pictures of the exhibitors and products because I was too busy being a mom in a sale haha! There was also a free "swag bag" for Mom Card holders and it includes lots of freebies. I recommend Moms-to-be to go to events like these because of the discounts and bargains. Premium cribs and baby gear are all on sale and you'll get a lot of savings. Plus, they have lectures and "talks" about parenting.

Here's what I've learned and what I'll be doing next time I attend an event like this:

1. Take advantage of the "preview" for Advantage/Mom Card holders so you can get the baby gears you desire first because they usually have limited stocks. Or come early and on the first day.

2. Make a list of what stuff you want to buy. Read on reviews of the baby gear or products before buying, you don't want to regret buying something your baby won't be using even if you got them on sale. 

3. Stick to a budget (or at least try to)

4. Proceed to the area where your desired baby gear/ item is first, so you won't be frustrated when the last item goes to the lady in front of you (ehrm, the super sale carseat...still having nightmares about it lol).

5. If you're bringing your baby, place him in a carrier and leave the baby gear outside the venue.

6. Don't go alone, you need someone to at least hold the line for you and help you carry the stuff you bought.

7. Look around the venue for similar items that may be cheaper on the next booth.

8. Take advantage of all the freebies and join their games to win prizes

I'm definitely attending the next Grand Baby Fair next year, and other fairs this year. 

A friend suggested that Skyler should become a lawyer or a doctor, but I said no. I said he's going to be what he wants to be, as long as he is a good person. After giving birth, I only wanted one thing, to be able to raise him in a nice world, but that is impossible, because life on Earth as we all know is not exactly a picnic. With that, all I want now is to raise a good person. I want him to grow up fearing God, and respecting his elders and every other creature on Earth. I want him to love women, but one at a time, and respect them. I want him to be patient, and to be kind, but will not let people push him around.  I want to raise a person that takes full responsibilities to his actions, and I want him to learn to work hard to get what he wants, and not step on people's toes while achieving his goal, and I want him to learn to help other people get what they want. 

It may sound so ideal, but I just want to raise a good person. In this world full of envy, greed and hatred, all I want is to raise a boy who's love and kindness can somehow help alleviate the difficulty that is surviving this world. 

That same friend who suggested that my son should be a lawyer also asked what I want to be remembered as when I'm gone. If I should be remembered as something, if ever I would leave at least one legacy, that is, I was able to raise a good person. That's it. That simple. 

Since the late years during college I've been getting hair treatments- hair straightening/relaxing then finally moved on to getting it rebonded at about every six months. Yes, I would set aside a whole day of sitting on a salon chair while stylists would strain their arms ironing my thick hair straight. I eventually would sometimes get lobs (long bobs) or have my bangs shortened after hours of rebonding just so I'd have a different and low maintenance look. But then, pregnancy came and I had to skip hair coloring and rebonding for almost a year, not that my OB advised against it, but I'd rather just put my hair in a ponytail and be safe. 

A couple of months after giving birth, I was ready for a makeover, but was hesitant to get a rebond because one, I needed my hair up everytime I'm with my baby, and two,I don't have the luxury to spend the whole day in a salon anymore...and not be able to wash my hair for three days. After some research and asking my bestfriend (several times) on what to do with my hair, I decided to get a perm. Yes, the very one hair type I've been avoiding. 

The stylist was actually kind of hesitant to give me a perm because I still have rebonded hair and it was still damaged and dry but after some persuading (okay, a lot lol), he said yes, and gave me a perm...the end result-- curly hair that I can put up and let down without worrying of "the dent" or me looking like Cousin It. I love how it looked on me, making me feel a bit different and helped me gain more self confidence, yes, really, no exaggerations. People said I looked good with curly hair too. I guess I've always been a "kulot" girl inside hehe. 

However, curly hair didn't equate with low maintenance hair, and I eventually ended with frizzy hair-- thus, the hair care research. I started treating my hair with hot oil treatments at home, and using damage repair shampoo and conditioner--I have used Dove and Pantene. I have yet to try those shampoos made specifically for permed hair, the choices at Watson's wasn't as extensive as I had hoped. As for styling, I used to use Vitresse to lessen the frizz but it won't last the whole day. I recently discovered Monea Curl Defining Milk and it is really great-- it holds the curls, makes my hair look less frizzy and it doesn't smell bad, and it's cheap too for only PhP 99 per bottle at Watson's. 

I still have to explore other hair care products to manage my new hair. If you have suggestions or recommendations, please let me know 😊

We are a small family, my parents and just me and my brother, the rest of my closest family members are cousins who are more like siblings, and an aunt who's my second mom, and uncles who are like second dads-- regardless, we are a small family. Most of them are abroad anyway. In our home, it's just me, my younger brother and my mama and papa.

My brother and I grew up close with our parents, and we would have the usual "family days" out in a mall or eating out after church, but as we grow older, even though we are still close, we ended up doing our own things-- me with my hospital work and usual night outs with friends, my brother in his own world, and my parents, who mostly stay at home or busy with my mom's pseudo-political career. Family days are rarer and spending time at home together became minimal, and holidays aren't really that much exciting anymore until my baby dragon came

It is probably one of God's reason why He had given me Skyler-- for me to reconnect with my parents and brother again, for our family to be closer than ever. Beginning this journey as a single parent, my family has supported me in so many great ways, even more than one can imagine. After Skyler came, my brother and I started spending more time at home and with our parents, mostly playing with Sky or taking turns taking care of him. 

My baby cemented our bond as a family even tighter. He gave us a reason to work together and spend more time with each other again. I can't wait for future Family Days with my son, my parents, my brother and his future wife (and kids soon).

The Holidays (and regular days) will never be the same again, and coming home is always something I look forward to now. My family (including my extended family and best friends) are the best gifts anyone could ask for, and my little angel, my baby dragon, is the greatest blessing, gift, reward the Universe, God and fate has given me. I must've done something good to deserve him. 

Can I just say... I am so #blessed

Merry Christmas to all, and have a great rocking New Year! 

PS: I am owning 2016, just saying. 

I kinda forgot what we were initially talking about before it got shifted to baby things and life after the baby. We used to just talk about medical stuff and other things, but now, it's all "mommy stuff." I never thought I'll be like other moms, who gravitate to each other and talk about their kids and share tips and experiences...but, I still don't welcome unsolicited advices and don't talk to strangers about my kid and motherhood (when I say strangers I mean randon people and people I know but I'm not close with or fond of). 

My birthing story isn't ordinary and it isn't also what I expected. I didn't get to meet my baby until around 15hrs after I gave birth, and I met him in the NICU, inside an incubator, under an oxygen hood (long and very technical story). Seeing him inside the incubator with an OGT inserted (feeding tube) made my heart melt. Meeting him for the first time was overwhelming- I was so happy and grateful and scared and excited and numb, okay, numb because I was still hungover with the anesthetics and I was just feigning strength because I really wanted to see him (plus I was so frustrated that people on Facebook who's friends with my mother saw him before I did). 

In the three months that I've had him, I've had a lot of adventures and misadventures with him, parenting achievements and fails, frustrations and scary moments, proud moments and pure joy (obviously my feelings about being a mom has made me lose the ability to construct a proper sentence 😜). Every minute with this little guy is a blessing and is a wonder, and every minute away from him, well, simply put, sucks. It is true that all your fears and tiredness and being jaded goes away when you see your kid. 

I never thought I'd love anyone as much as I love this little boy. His smile makes my heart melt and skip a beat every single time.  His very existence makes me want to make the world a better place. I have learned to be careful and take good care of myself so I can be there for him and care for him. I finally have learned what unconditional love is all about. 

As I have said when I first posted a picture of my son, I have started living with my heart outside of my body. 

Yep, I'm a momma now, and I'm sure going to try so hard to be a good one. Let's bring it on! 😜

Twelve days before my due date, thirty-eight weeks and two days pregnant and I can't wait to have this baby! The wait is killing me! Aside from being excited to see my little boy, I am just so tired of having to sleep on my side, roll out of bed (literally), and waddle from one point to another. I am just so heavy. 

Patience isn't one of my strongest traits, that's why I became a surgeon (but that's another story), and waiting for this baby is one of the hardest tests I had to take. I just can't wait to put him in his cute onesies, and push him around on his brand new stroller and drive around with him in his carseat and show him off to relatives and friends and break the internet with tons of pictures of him...you know...well anyway, I don't think he's ready to come out yet. 

I've already cleaned everything, washed all his things, and packed my hospital bag (more than two weeks ago fyi), oh, and I've read almost all mommy blogs and websites there is....and yes, I did read a part of my old OB book because someone told me to read it again so I'd know if I'll be in labor (and because I'm a geek like that). I also started doing yoga again so I can listen to my body more and know if it's time. I've done so many things that I thought I'll be giving birth this July but I guess not yet, besides,I still have 5 more days until the end of the month, and I'm not yet due until the first week of August, so I guess I have more waiting to do...and more waddling. 

I've been talking to my baby a lot lately, asking him if he's ready to come out but I'd usually get a kick on the liver or a squirm, so I guess not yet, it's still cozy inside for him. Because of the anticipation, I keep forgetting that everything will happen in the right time, all in God's perfect timing. So a few days ago I've decided to just wait and pray, and be ready, and one day, when God says it's time, then it's time.