MOMMY POTPOURRI: What is it about the Neverfull?

MOMMY POTPOURRI: What is it about the Neverfull?: I know a lot of folks would frown upon a bag that looks kind of ordinary, albeit with some exterior chessboard design and pull up strings o...

MOMMY POTPOURRI: QUESTIONING THE SINCERITY OF 'PRAYER' POSTS

MOMMY POTPOURRI: QUESTIONING THE SINCERITY OF 'PRAYER' POSTS: I am almost troubled by the posts I see on Facebook by people in the form of prayers seemingly addressed to GOD asking HIM for help, guidan...

MOMMY POTPOURRI: GRIPE WATER FOR COLICKY BABIES

MOMMY POTPOURRI: GRIPE WATER FOR COLICKY BABIES: I first came across gripe water when I read about a thread on the Baby Center website about moms dealing with colicky babies. Some of the m...

MOMMY POTPOURRI: DISCOVERING LAS FLORES

MOMMY POTPOURRI: DISCOVERING LAS FLORES: Last night, my husband and I decided to go out and have dinner.  It was our seventh year anniversary, after all.  Braving the torrential ra...

MOMMY POTPOURRI: NEW MOM WOES

MOMMY POTPOURRI: NEW MOM WOES: I will be as honest as I can.  It took a while for me to get used to the idea that I am a Mom, that I am somebody's mother.  The mome...

What is it about the Neverfull?

I know a lot of folks would frown upon a bag that looks kind of ordinary, albeit with some exterior chessboard design and pull up strings on the sides which do not look awfully ostentatious in appearance. The Neverfull Damier Ebene does not scream "Notice me!" at all, in my opinion. So why do people (me included, joining the bandwagon) want to have it so much that others would spend months saving for it while still others opt to spend months paying off credit card debts for the purchase of the neverfull.  

I was strolling a few days ago and I crossed paths with a couple of different women toting their own neverfulls.  I also had mine that day. So, that makes three of us  with the same bag in the same place at the same time. I wonder, is it too ordinary that anyone can buy it nowadays? Or s it too much of a status symbol that anyone ought to have it?

MOMMY POTPOURRI: QUESTIONING THE SINCERITY OF 'PRAYER' POSTS

MOMMY POTPOURRI: QUESTIONING THE SINCERITY OF 'PRAYER' POSTS: I am almost troubled by the posts I see on Facebook by people in the form of prayers seemingly addressed to GOD asking HIM for help, guidan...

QUESTIONING THE SINCERITY OF 'PRAYER' POSTS

I am almost troubled by the posts I see on Facebook by people in the form of prayers seemingly addressed to GOD asking HIM for help, guidance, protection and whatnot. They appear in droves, flooding my newsfeed minute by minute.  At the wake of the latest catastrophe in the form of a magnitude 7.2 earthquake that hit Bohol and Cebu the strongest, almost all posts that I could see are all about people seeking God for personal and collective supplications.  

Sure, I am touched that people care about those that were hardest hit.  But posting prayers on Facebook? Is this the venue for prayers? Has prayer forms evolved to now include posts on Facebook? If people are truly sincere about praying to God, should they not just pray to God directly?  Some of those posts even end in AMEN. Like, AMEN.  Are these posts prayers then? 

I remember one friend on Facebook, Mark, posting this on his FB page +Mark Manginsay: "Oh please, pray in ur room or some prayer rooms. Not on facebook!"  He couldn't have said it better, in my opinion.  In fact, I could have said the exact same thing.  

I do not remember getting a memo on this one about posting a "prayer" on FB as an acceptable way of praying.  Or is one really praying when one posts a "prayer" on FB?  I almost wonder about the sincerity of it.  Do you really want GOD to hear your intentions? Or is it that you just want others on FB to know that you are "praying?"  

Here now is another question.  Does GOD select which prayers He will hear? Or how they are made? Or has HE joined the internet age and now checks on his FB account ( does He have one?) to see which friends of HIS are posting prayers to which He will grant requests to: help, protection, enlightenment, discernment?  

I see  many of these or similar posts every single day: "Please God protect my family from harm. Amen."  Is this really addressed to GOD? Really? Virtually? Actually?  And then wait for others to "LIKE" your post or even put down comments on them.  What exactly is the objective? 

Pray tell.

GRIPE WATER FOR COLICKY BABIES

I first came across gripe water when I read about a thread on the Baby Center website about moms dealing with colicky babies. Some of the moms there raved about gripe water and its effects on calming colic attacks. I decided to try it.  My daughter was crying too much for no apparent reason and after reading the symptoms of colicky babies online and thinking everything fits, I ought to try the gripe water on my then three-week old baby.  

Here was my problem: Is gripe water available here in Manila?  I was desperate to find it! From what I gleaned on Baby Center, gripe water is being sold online or in stores in the US.  Nothing here in the Philippines, not even on ebay.ph.  So begun my quest.  I asked a few mom-friends of mine and no one has heard about gripe water.  I did not want to purchase it  through online stores as I need to read labels first and actually hold the product in  my hands.  I did not want to do virtual inspection of what I planned to administer on my little daughter.  

As fate would have it, I passed by Healthy Options in Trinoma as I was heading towards the  Marks & Spencer store. What did I have to lose? And there it was on the baby product section,  MOMMY'S BLISS GRIPE WATER!!! HOMYGED, I finally found it! I excitedly held the box in my hand, read the label and decided to buy it 

( P800++ per bottle).

When Maggie ( my daughter) had her colic attack, I administered the gripe water, but instead of  following the dosage as instructed, I underdosed, as some of the moms on Baby Center recommended.  The box on Mommy's Bliss says it will have an immediate effect on the baby.  So after giving the baby a few drops of the gripe water, I waited for a few minutes for it to take effect.  Indeed after a few minutes of wailing and crying, my daughter calmed down.  I held her close and stroked her hair and face to coax her to sleep.  It was not long before she started dozing off.  I guess, the gripe water really did work.

Now, my baby, at two months, is not so colicky anymore.  She only cries when hungry, when she has a wet diaper, when she poops or when she wants to be held.  Thank GOD! And looking back, in helping my baby calm down, I ought to thank Mommy's Bliss Gripe Water too.

++++++

DISCOVERING LAS FLORES

Last night, my husband and I decided to go out and have dinner.  It was our seventh year anniversary, after all.  Braving the torrential rain, we headed to Bonifacio Global City to check out this Spanish restaurant that somebody mentioned to me was really great and worth every penny, LAS FLORES.

It took a while for us to find the place.  It was on 25th Street, but it was quite nondescript in color that we had a hard time spotting it.  Plus, 25th Street was not very much well-lit.  If you are not familiar with the streets in BGC, you'll consume a ton of gas driving around trying to find what you are looking for.  

Finally, we found it, just before we reached the 25th Street rotunda.  There it was, LAS FLORES. The place was quaint and very intricate in its details.  The exterior was exquisitely inviting, with its black and white textures.The facade was glass so you can actually see the interior of the restaurant from outside.  Of course, the first thing I noticed was the movie star seated near the entrance.  It was Agot Isidro.  Sure, this place must be good. 

We had done our homework beforehand and checked out the restaurant's menu online.  We had then predetermined the food we will order.  So, what we had were Scallops Ceviche ( with prosciutto), the Ensalada Las Flores, the Angus and Foie Gras Minis and the Paella Negra.  For our drinks, we ordered from their MIXOLOGIA Menu, the Kalamansi and Cherry Blossoms Moscow Mule with Ginger Slice.  

PRESENTATION

The food was well presented.  The dishes were served in classic white serving bowls and plates, except for certain items like the Paella Negra which was served on a hot grill plate. The Moscow Mule mixed drink was served on a bronze tin mug that reminded me of  classic American Westerns.  

SERVINGS/PORTIONS

At first, you'd think the portions are not quite generous, but you will be in for a sweet surprise.  You'll soon realize there is a reason for the serving sizes.  The portions are actually just right for your appetite.  I came in hungry and I thought I could devour an entire pailful of food, which was why I thought I would be disappointed by the portions.  Alas! Every bite was just absolutely right so that when you are done with the dish, you are full and satisfied enough to not want for more. And this is actually good. You are full without being gluttonous.  Even the Angus and Foie Gras Minis ( with only four pieces on a serving dish) are just perfect for two persons. 

QUALITY 

I ought to say the Angus was exquisite.  It is a must-try for first-timers and a must-order for comebackers. It was so worth the P800++ price that came with it.  The scallops were great as well as the bacon topping.  Every peso spent here was well worth it.  

AMBIANCE

It was one romantic restaurant that couples should go to for a relaxing night out.  The furniture and interior displays were tastefully placed. The dimness was just perfect for intimate conversations.  

PLUS POINT:

If you enjoy people-watching, this may be the place for you.  Not only did we see Agot Isidro here, but before the night ended, the restaurant's visitors included Lulu Tan-Gan, Audrey Tan-Zubiri, supermodels Apples Aberin and Tweetie de Leon.  This place is really this good if it is hounded by celebrities at any given night.  

++++++++

NEW MOM WOES

I will be as honest as I can.  It took a while for me to get used to the idea that I am a Mom, that I am somebody's mother.  The moment the hospital staff handed me my baby in the OR ( I delivered through C-Section), there was no sudden surge of tears as I realized this little bundle just came out of my belly, that this tiny living being is mine.  I did not cry. Not at all.

That alone made me wonder.  They all say once you hold your baby in your arms, the first skin to skin, eye to eye contact, it will be pure, indescribable joy.  I did not feel that at all.  No euphoria. No eureka-finally you're-here moment.  All I felt was the grogginess, the effect of the anesthesia.  I just wanted to sleep. Maybe for twenty-four hours straight.  

The hospital I was in has this practice of handing you the baby at once and encouraging some sort of  initial breastfeeding session to teach the baby to latch. No ifs or buts. But all I had in my mind was 'I need to sleep. Take her away until I have rested. Maybe for a day.'  Of course, I never said that out loud, but I wish I had.  All I could hear was my baby crying her lungs out and myself fighting to fend off dizziness.Just take her away, was all I silently wished for.  

This scenario in my head kept on playing for the first two weeks of my baby's life.  Even when we got home and the reality had set in that I have a baby to care for, to feed, to bathe, to soothe, it became overwhelmingly scary.  I am responsible for this tiny being's life! I felt like I was sinking in the depths of a vast ocean and there were no oars to get ahold of. This was not the ideal set-up I had in my mind when I was pregnant.  This was  no bed of roses.  Not at all.

I struggled with the challenges of motherhood.  I crave sleep.  I am a person who values sleep so much that I absolutely cried when I could not get any.  My baby demanded so much of my time, day and night, that sleeping straight for even an hour seems almost impossible. Plus, the constant feeding, burping, changing diapers, putting her to sleep and then doing it all over again took its toll on my health.  I was weak and lethargic. My goodness, it was becoming endless! 

 

My baby is now two months old. She smiles, she coos, she hugs.. She could now even engage in baby conversations ( of course, only sounds could come out of her tiny lips).  These are now my rewards.  She smiles and then everything falls back into place again.

  It's a continuing struggle, still.  There are highs and lows. There will be challenges ahead.  I may cry. I may break down, but this is my life now.  There is a baby completely dependent on me. I have realized, as my maternal instincts slowly anchored in, that I could drop everything, every possible thing, to be with her.  

YES, INDEED, I AM A MOTHER.