She's a GIRL!!!

We had our second sonogram last December 23rd and we were fortunate enough to find out the gender of our baby. Well...she's a GIRL! We have lots and lots of photos of Nola (well, that is going to be her name), and seeing her get so big was so absolutely amazing.

My daughter is about 9 ounces at 20 weeks - that is give or take about the size of a coke can. My baby moves quite a lot inside my tummy - but too bad, I can't quite feel her movements just yet because the doctor said that the way my uterus is positioned is a bit odd (retroverted, I think was the term). I am pretty sure I've felt her move, but the movements were very slight...they call it "quickening" - it feels more like butterflies in your stomach.

My daughter was moving a lot during the sonogram session. She has really long legs and long arms. The doctor caught this photo of her with her hand on her forehead ("I am stressed pose"). We all thought it was so cute, and so very diva-ish of my little one.

I am 5 months pregnant now. I probably won't see Nola again until March. Keep growing my daughter. See you soon.

Introducing, Bear Emralino

Losing Teddy has been a devastating and heartbreaking experience for me, for my husband, and for my little doggie, Rascal. There is not a day when I do not miss him, and there is not a day that I wish he was still with us.

To help us cope with the loss, and to help us move on, we have decided get another doggie in memory of Teddy. Rascal always had Teddy with him, and we were afraid that he was going to feel neglected especially when the baby comes, and we will not be able to give him 100% of our attention.

Having said that, we decided to get a 6 month old, 9 pound Coton de Tulear dog. The breed, Coton de Tulear are pretty much like Bichon Frises, but their hair is straight and easier to maintain.

We named our new doggie, Bear, in honor of Teddy Bear. Here is a video of Rascal and Bear's first meeting at the park.

I must admit, I do not yet have the same connection to Bear as I did with Teddy. However, I am sure that affection and caring will come in due time. Additionally, Rascal is still very aloof with Bear, and I guess, he was trying to figure out if this white fluff of hair is staying in his house. Bear has been very nice but very shy.

Welcome to our family Bear.

Mama's Getting Big - 18 weeks

 

My body is undergoing a lot of changes as I progress through this pregnancy phase. I am now 18 weeks pregnant (19 weeks on Tuesday) and I am now starting to show. 

I work in a law firm full of women. Since I started sporting a mini belly, the women in my office are NOT SHY on commenting that I am now showing and that my belly is so super cute (I look like I swallowed a cantaloupe! That's not cute).  As they make these comments, however, they feel that we are close enough as to touch and rub my stomach! (Hello! Personal Space! That's my tummy you are rubbing! I don't know you that well.)

Anyways, I don't mind it really - I just thought that was weird that people feel the need to touch your belly when you are pregnant. I am sure I will get used to it, as my belly continues to grow.

I am starting to put on weight. I no longer fit in my regular work pants and had to buy maternity pants over the weekend. I also had to buy a few maternity tops. I need more though, but I will take my time in buying as I don't know how much bigger I'll get. Hopefully, not too big. I don't want to gain too much weight as women in my family tend to keep their pregnancy weight after the baby is born. 

Just a Dog?

From time to time, people tell me, "lighten up, it's just a dog," or,

"that's a lot of money for just a dog."

They don't understand the distance traveled, the time spent,

or the costs involved for "just a dog."

Some of my proudest moments have come about with "just a dog."

Many hours have passed and my only company was "just a dog," but I did not once feel slighted.

Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by "just a dog," and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of "just a dog" gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.

If you, too, think it's "just a dog," then you will probably understand phrases like "just a friend," "just a sunrise," or "just a promise."

"Just a dog" brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy.

"Just a dog" brings out the compassion and patience that make me a better person.

Because of "just a dog", I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future.

So for me and folks like me, it's not "just a dog" but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment.

"Just a dog" brings out what's good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day.

I hope that someday they can understand that it's not "just a dog", but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being "just a man or woman."

So the next time you hear the phrase "just a dog" just smile... because they "just don't understand."

Teddy...My heart, my love, my joy always

Today is a very sad day. I lost a good friend today, a faithful companion, a loving part of our family. Teddy died today at approximately 8 AM in the morning.

My husband called me at work, in a panic, and informed me that when they were taking their usual walk this morning around our block, Teddy, my 8 year old Bichon Frise, got out of his leash because he saw two big dogs across the street. In his attempt to bark at the two dogs, he got out of his leash, slipped through his neck collar (which was new and I just bought yesterday), and ran across the street. In a matter of seconds, a fast approaching car ran over him, one of the tires hit him through the stomach. The car didn't even stop.

My husband was in shock. He carried Teddy home, he was still alive but barely moving. Teddy was looking at him calmly but in pain, and before they reached home, Teddy passed away. He took him to the vet, but there was nothing else they could do.

Tears starting streaming down my cheeks as soon as I put the phone down and headed home. I cried out loud all way from Los Angeles to Anaheim. I was hoping and praying that he was just injured and that he was going to be okay. I had this sick feeling in my stomach. I was so filled with grief.

There are so many, "I should have known better....I shouldn't have bought him a new collar chain....We could have trained him better so he would be more friendly with other dogs...." regrets going through our heads. My husband and I are incredibly sad. Teddy was my first rescue dog. I took him home with me on my very first trip to the pound. There was something in his eyes, I couldn't dare leave him there. I had to take him home. There was a part of me, that said, he was supposed to be mine. The pound was going to put him to sleep, if no one adopts him. He was a stray, they found him wandering on the streets of Riverside. He was so skinny, so dirty, so scared. When I took him home, he was so hungry that he ate the whole can of dog food so fast, like he has never eaten before.

I remember, how he wouldn't let me touch him the first few weeks, he would scower low to the floor, afraid that I would hurt him (his previous owner probably did). He didn't trust people. God knows what he has been through.

With love and patience, he started to trust again, and he loved us. Boy, did he love us! He was thankful that he was part of our family. He would follow me around the house. He would wait for hours under my office chair, until I got back from school. My husband taught him how to kiss, and lick our faces. He would pick up a tennis ball, and drop it by our feet, in a shameless effort to force us to play fetch with him. He would pace up and down by our side, signaling us that it is time for a walk. He contently sat by our sides, and was happy just to be near my husband and I. Our schedules rotated around our dogs.

We loved Teddy, as if he was our child, as if he was a person. We were so incredibly attached to him emotionally, and now that he is gone, I don't even know how to cope. He was eight years old, and I knew he'll have to leave us someday....I just didn't imagine it'll be this way, or that it'll be this soon. Gosh, this is going to be so difficult. No one else could have loved a dog, as much as I loved mine.

I hugged his lifeless body at the vet's office, and my heart was so filled with grief. I didn't know what to do with myself....I know, it sounds weird, but for us, he wasn't just a pet...he was an integral and significant part of our lives, he was family, he was my baby.

I am going to miss him so much. It is going to be awhile before our household goes back to normal again. It will never be the same again.

Teddy, my heart, my love, my joy always. Mama loves you. I am going to miss you so so so much.

What's for dinner? Tinolang Manok! (Chicken Ginger Stew with Vegetables)

Now that I am going to be a Mama...I am "trying" to make an effort to do more motherly duties such as cooking dinner, in order to practice and someday, be decent with these chores. I have spoiled myself the last few years, as I have not had to worry about anything really, except myself. When I am hungry, I buy food or my hubby cooks me something. But obviously, now that I am going to be a Mama, I'd like to someday be able to feed by child, healthy and edible food.

Here is the recipe for our dinner tonight....Tinolang Manok. I used to eat this chicken ginger stew a lot, when I lived with my parents. Lately, I've only had the chance to eat it when I go to the Filipino eatery places (and what they have was never that good).

Ingredients:
Chayote, Spinach, Chicken (cut into desired size), Ginger, Onion, Garlic, Patis or Salt, Pepper

Procedure:
Saute, ginger,garlic and onion. Add chicken and brown all sides. Add patis or salt, ground black pepper and let it simmer. Add enough water to cover your chicken, more can be added if preferred. When chicken is almost done add the Chayote (or Papapa if you can find it) and do not over cooked it. Lastly, add the spinach. Once the spinach and chayote are cooked, it's ready! Serve hot with steamed rice.

Yummy!