Having A Baby Shower

A Baby Shower is a way to celebrate the pending or recent birth of a child by presenting gifts to the parents at a party. The term "shower" is often assumed to mean that the expectant mother is "showered" with gifts. (wikipedia)

It used to be that, only when having the first child can you have a baby shower and usually, both women and men are invited. Nowadays, there are no hard rules in having a baby shower. You can be given a baby shower with your 2nd or 3rd child, depending on the host of the event. Some have diaper shower, where guests are asked to bring diapers, instead of baby items. And others have book shower, a chance when guests can give books to the baby and older siblings, it may be new or used. Some still invite both men and women, while others still want an all-women affair.

As for me, I didn't get to have a baby shower for my first born. I didn't want to entertain guests or see friends because I felt weird looking "different" and feeling fat. I've gotten over that, but not the fat (sadly). But for this second pregnancy, my sisters and mom wanted to host a baby shower for me. Since it's not gonna be a surprise party, I told them I wanted to be part of the planning process. I get to choose my theme, colors and decors to be used. I've looked online and was surprised to see that there are a lot of blogs dedicated to baby showers! Lucky me, I was able to gather enough inspiration for my own baby shower. Here are some of the ones I liked:

I adore these Parisian-themed baby shower! I always enjoy our trips to Paris and our little girl was actually conceived in Paris, which makes this theme more special to me. Fingers crossed, I'll come up with something as nice for my own baby shower.

Photos: Google

It's A Girl!

Yes, we are pregnant and it's a girl this time!

We are so ecstatic and cannot wait to meet the new addition to our growing family. I found out I was pregnant last May, during my trip to Manila. I haven't been feeling well for a few weeks and decided to try and use a pregnancy test kit. It was positive on the 1st test, and since I wanted to make sure, I did another test the next day and it still showed positive. I went to my OB-Gyne and he confirmed that I am pregnant, 6 weeks pregnant that day I tested! Hubby was in Vietnam, so I had to tell him via web chat. I'm so glad I got a screen shot of his reaction when I told him the great news, it was priceless!

We found out our baby is definitely a girl via 4D Ultrasound in Hanoi last September. Here is a photo of our little bub:

I am now on my 29th week and this little girl is kicking up a storm in my tummy. My doctor said everything seems ok and baby is thriving well. Unfortunately, this pregnancy is much more difficult than my first one, as I am not getting any younger. But this baby is what we have hoped and prayed for, so I'm sure all the things I'm going through now will be forgotten, once we have that first glimpse of our little bundle of joy!

Motherhood as a Career?

Here's something for all the SAHM (stay-at-home-mom) and WAHM (work-at-home-mom) like me.

Moms who take care of their kids full-time should be given a more worthy title. It's just fair for someone who works full-time with no paid leaves and no overtime pay, isn't it?

Not sure who the author is, but if anyone knows the author I would love to credit them.


A woman named Ann renewing her driver’s license at the County Clerk’s office was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation. She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself. “What I mean is,” explained the recorder, “do you have a job, or are you just a …..?

“Of course I have a job,” snapped Ann. “I’m a Mom.”

“We don’t list ‘Mom’ as an occupation… ‘Housewife’ covers it,” said the recorder emphatically.

I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same situation, this time at our own Town Hall. The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient, and possessed of a high sounding title like, “Official Interrogator” or “Town Registrar.”

“What is your occupation?” she probed. What made me say it, I do not know… The words simply popped out. “I’m a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations.”

The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in midair, and looked up as though she had not heard right. I repeated the title slowly, emphasizing the most significant words. Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.

“Might I ask,” said the clerk with new interest, “just what you do in your field?” Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply, “I have a continuing program of research, (what mother doesn’t), in the laboratory and in the field, (normally I would have said indoors and out). I’m working for my Masters, (the whole family), and already have four credits, (all daughters). Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities, (any mother care to disagree)? I often work 14 hours a day, (24 is more like it). But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money.”

There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk’s voice as she completed the form, stood up, and personally ushered me to the door.

As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants — ages 13, 7, and 3. Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model, (a 6 month old baby), in the child-development program, testing out a new vocal pattern. I felt I had scored a beat on bureaucracy! And I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than “just another Mom.”

Motherhood... What a glorious career!

Does this make grandmothers “Senior Research Associates in the Field of Child Development and Human Relations” and great-grandmothers “Executive Senior Research Associates”? I think so! I also think it makes Aunts “Associate Research Assistants”.

Kids View on Moms

My hubby and I read this together and we were laughing out loud at the kid's answers. Kids really say the darndest things! I can't wait to hear what my little boy would answer to these questions. This is a nice read to end the day!

Answers given by elementary-school aged children to the following questions:

Why did God make mothers?

1. She’s the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
2. Mostly to clean the house.
3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.

How did God make mothers?

1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.
3. God made my mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.

What ingredients are mothers made of?

1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.
2. They had to get their start from men’s bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.

Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?

1. We’re related.
2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people’s moms like me.

What kind of little girl was your mother?

1. My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.
2. I don’t know because I wasn’t there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.
3. They say she used to be nice.

What did your mother need to know about dad before she married him?

1. His last name.
2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?
3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

Why did your mother marry your dad?

1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my mom eats a lot.
2. She got too old to do anything else with him.
3. My grandma says that mom didn’t have her thinking cap on.

Who’s the boss at your house?

1. Mom doesn’t want to be boss, but she has to because Dad’s such a goof ball.
2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.
3. I guess Mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.

What’s the difference between mothers and fathers?

1. Moms work at work and work at home. Dads just go to work at work.
2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.
3. Dads are taller and stronger, but moms have all the real power ’cause that’s who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friend’s.
4. Moms have magic; they make you feel better without medicine.

What does your mother do in her spare time?

1. Moms don’t do spare time.
2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

What would it take to make your mother perfect?

1. On the inside she’s already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.
2. Diet – You know…her hair. Maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your mother, what would it be?

1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I’d get rid of that.
2. I’d make my mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it and not me.
3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on her back.

NOTE: I got this from an email sent by a friend. If you know the author, please let me know, so I can give proper credits.

Happy Mother's Day!

What really is a Mother's worth? Being a Housekeeper with no day off, a Nanny who lives in, works full-time with no breaks and a Guidance Counselor with no handbook included ? Mothers should be worth a million bucks!

But all we really want is - hugs, kisses and unconditional love!

A Tribute to my Mama

(same places in both photos! i'm the one on the right)


Happy Mother's Day to all the hardworking, loving, perservering and most patient people in the world!

I LOVE YOU, MAMA!