I know it's too late (or maybe not yet too late ) to diet a few weeks before my delivery!

By the way, when I ate my breakfast today, I still indulge in two cups of rice + a cup of hot milo +  a slice of sweet potato. What a burp! 

It's actually been a thought to start dieting as early as my 1st trimester of pregnancy but I can hardly resist foods to get my cravings satisfied. Anyway,  I'll be undergoing cesarean section so dieting is not that priority to me (hehe). Unlike those who will undergo normal delivery (as they said), should at least follow recommended diet so the baby won't grow fast and big to make the delivery a lot easier.

But what gives me the heads-up to start dieting is when I visited my OB a couple weeks ago for my prenatal check-up. Ideally, before my pregnancy begins, I only weigh 47 kilograms. But when the secretary of the doctor asked me to weigh myself, I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw 58 kilograms on the weighing scale. Oh-My-Gosh!  This would have been the cause why I do get intense cramps from time to time.

Pregnancy at 8 months and 2 weeks

Recent Ultrasound - Baby at 8 months and 1 week

These are the variety of foods that I am planning to prepare daily starting tomorrow (fingers' crossed) without compromising the needed nutrients that every pregnant woman should get.

a. Breakfast 

I can hardly give up rice, but in the meantime,  I will go light breakfast. For example just the other day, I happily settled into a bowl of oats lavishly poured with milk. Oats are packed with plenty of nutrients including a fiber which aid digestion process. Whenever I feel hungry, I back up some slice of fruits or bread between regular meals.


b. Lunch

I am currently working home-based so I feel hungry whenever noon time strikes. During lunch time, I am planning to eat not-so-heavy lunch. For instance, my lunch yesterday, I only ate a handful of rice plus a bowl of red beans with broccoli. This viand is loaded with protein, vitamins, and minerals to keep me energized until my work ends at 3:30 pm.  I see to it to include fruits to get a well-balanced diet. I also take a break to munch a slice of fruits such as apple or bread.

c. Dinner

Like breakfast, I plan to go light dinner as much as possible. Most of the time when I eat too much, I suffer from indigestion and can barely breathe and sleep at night due to bloating. A glass of milk paired with sweet potato or crackers will do.

I do hope I can implement my meal plans religiously. After all, only three weeks left to endure. And there's nothing more exciting than seeing my new baby girlalooo very soon!

On the one hand, social media like Facebook helps us connect and catch up easily with friends statuses and photos they post. On the other hand, I choose to remain as private as I am now so my friends barely see me post in my FB account.

As you can see, my tummy is as bulky as the cow's and ready to pop.

And speaking of Facebook, allow me to share a story.

Last week, before my online job started, I posted a status on FB (actually a hint about pregnancy symptoms) just to see how my friends reacted. As assuming as I am, I thought my close friends would guess what I was trying to imply. One of the reactions that amused me when one of my childhood friends, who is also a first-time mom, expressed concern that I had to see a doctor at the same time watch my diet.
Oddly, a seasoned mom, who is supposed to guess quickly about my pregnancy, made a joke that I already feel what aging people feel like her. But here comes another friend of mine, Luisa, revealed that I am going to give birth next month.  My friends who were able to read and follow our conversation would have been surprised.

Honestly, I've never posted anything yet about my pregnancy until last week, which marks my 7 months and 3 weeks pregnancy. On my way to 8th month next week. And I'd like to share with you how it really feels when you are on your way to 8th-month pregnancy. I am actually no longer new to these symptoms because I had experienced the same with my first-born. Here they are.

1. Bulky Tummy

Beginning 4th month onwards, my tummy grew faster month by month.  I don't know if "bulky" is the right term, but in my case due to its bulkiness, I feel that my womb seems crowded which limits me from doing what I want. For instance, when Chesska drops her toys or any stuff on the floor, I can hardly pick them up because I can already feel the weight and size of my tummy and it acts as a barrier whenever I want to bend my body. (lol)


2. Leg Cramps 

My home-based job entails long hours of sitting which may have triggered my leg cramps.  What I do is take a break by standing up awhile or putting my legs up. Good to know that husband always came to the rescue to massage the cramped muscle. Good to know that my employer understands my situation and she allows me to take breaks when really needed.


3. Swollen Feet and Hands (edema)

I don't have beautiful feet, to be honest. But looking at my swollen feet makes them uglier (ugh). I already find it normal because I experience this with Chesska when the third trimester of pregnancy begins. Temporarily, I did not wear my wedding ring because I can hardly take it off every time I use the bathroom.

4. Backache

One of the symptoms that I complain the most is a backache. Whenever I stand or walk longer, the ache starts. I make sure to sit or lie down for a while after doing household chores to at least ease the pain.

5. Craving and Aversion

No certain foods that I am really obsessed of. I have never tried to get "lihi"(as what other old folks said) ever since I conceived my first child. But I have been noticing that I ate more than what's only recommended diet for pregnant. Also, whatever foods pop up in my mind, I include them in my shopping list with my next visit at the grocery. While  I am averse to foods being prepared over and over again.

How about you moms? Have you ever experienced the same symptoms? Feel free to share your thoughts below.

In my previous posts, I mentioned about how Chesska struggled on the first day of school. I also wrote a letter to the teacher, requesting her to find out why Chesska cried during her class which happened during the fourth week of June and making an appointment for a parent-teacher conference. But prior my talk with the teacher, I suspected that my child was somewhat frightened when the teacher allegedly got angry in front of the class as what my child relayed to me. But I soon dismissed the story by the time I talked with the teacher two days after writing her a letter regarding the "crying" issue. I interrogated her as politely as I could with what happened, and I finally realized that my daughter went through separation anxiety. No wonder during the first week of school, she kept begging me to stay by her side all the time. But this issue was already addressed by the teacher, I supposed because I saw some improvement in my child's behavior.

Sorry, it's a long introduction and contrary to the title of this post! (hehe)

By the way, we are almost nearing the end of July. A lot of great things actually happened this month which I regretfully failed to blog (sooooo busy). But the most surprising part (well not totally surprising because I know my child's capacity in terms of academic ) was Chesska's test scores in the first preliminary exam, knowing how she wrestled with separation anxiety over the weeks.

Chesska has aversion to writing but unexpectedly the teacher got Chesska to write her name nicely (applause to the teacher).  She also got a perfect score in the Reading test with the topics involving vowels and beginning sound. As a kid, I had never encountered this type of test until Kinder so I was wondering if a 4-year old could overcome this. Suffice to say, my kiddo did it with flying colors.


While in Math, she got 24 out of 25. The topics consist of shapes and colors. Find out where she got wrong.




This test was done orally and I am clueless how the teacher facilitated the oral test. Maybe my child was just really confused with the shape of the eggplant.

Lastly, her score in Language is 20 out of 25 (not bad!). She got all correct in Test 1.



However, in test 2, she mistakenly matched the name of the persons to the correct picture particularly the carpenter and the singer.

Test IV is the introduction of self which, I believe,  is the weakest part of Chesska's personality. While she was confidently practicing at home days before the exam, she became timid in front of her classmates. If she had met all the criteria below, she would have gotten 23 out of 25 in Language test. But it is no problem at all because Chesska is still going through the adjustment period.


Ironically, seems like I wanted her to get all perfect scores but it's pretty unfair on her part. She's just a child after all. I should have lowered my standard (hehe). From now on, I will train myself to only expect a passing grade and I hope Chesska will keep up the good work and at the same time enjoy the remainder of the preschool days.

We survived one month of regular schooling! But it was not as smooth as I expected!

All along, I thought my 4-year-old daughter, Chesska,   finds big school more enjoyable for she can already gain new friends to mingle and play with. Though she's not a kind of kid who usually takes the first step to make friends. When it comes to the academic side, I believe that she can keep up with her other classmates because she has been home-schooled since last year. I mean, she's no longer new to holding a pen, answering worksheets, coloring, counting, and writing so I am quite confident that she will not be left behind.

However, the issue does not lie there!

Throughout the first week of school, I always accompanied her inside the classroom so she would somewhat feel comfortable with the new place. I even approached her classmates, introducing her name and setting up a play with them (since the teacher is not yet around).   But every time the bell rang and it was time to leave her in the classroom by herself, she started to be anxious. She even begged me to stay with her.  But I told her "mama is just outside watching you, ok?" Then during dismissal, I would find time to talk with her teacher how Chesska was doing, she said Chesska was so quiet and never talked when asked. I oriented the teacher that Chesska is a shy girl, just motivate her to participate.

On the second week, each time Chesska arrived home, I consistently checked how's her school. She gleefully mentioned that they sing and dance (with action). But what bothered me was when she said "mama teacher got angry, she said likes this "grrr" (with gigil action)". "Maybe you and your classmates were misbehaving, that's why teacher was angry", I said.   But I was elated when she began to share stories.

However, during the parent's orientation of the same week, the teacher told me that Chesska had finally a close friend but she and her classmate were running around the classroom so I reprimanded them. At the top of my head, I remember what Chesska relayed to me the other day when the teacher made gigil (having a hard time controlling oneself out of frustration), which I presumed the teacher was angry at my daughter when she and her classmate were running around. But I never confronted her about that. I just let it pass because I understand her. I had been a teacher myself after all.

But on the third week, I already heard Chesska refuse to go to school. Oftentimes,  she would say with a frowning face "Mama Enough School (na), tired Chesska". But I rather chose to ignore her as If we didn't hear her complaints and tried to divert the stories into something else.  But several times in the morning before going to school she would always try to insert in our conversation "I want mama sit with me in school".  As usual, I reasoned out why I couldn't go with her inside the classroom but assured her that everything will be alright eventually.

As the days went by, the situation seems to get worse. Her teacher relayed to my mother that Chesska cried during her class and she didn't know the reason behind. My gut feeling told me that there was something else that had happened so I didn't hesitate to write the teacher a letter.

Just correct the grammar (na lng) because it was hurriedly done.


Dear Teacher,

Greetings!

My mother, who fetches Chesska in school, informed me that Chesska was crying during your class last week.  Chesska arrived home with a disturbing behavior and when I checked her snack, she didn’t even touch it.  I also couldn’t  figure out the reason/s because she wouldn’t tell me. Will you please take a little time from your busy schedule the reasons of crying?

a  Was she bullied in the classroom?
b. Do you think she is just anxious from being away from us (parents)?
c. Was she unable to make friends?
d. Was she embarrassed?
e. Did she feel OP (out-of-place)?
f. Did she feel intimidated?

Please note that Chesska always arrives at school before 7:00 am. There might have been things that had happened that you didn’t know.

Also, two weeks ago until now, she kept begging us that she didn’t want to go to school anymore. This happened when parents were no longer allowed to accompany their children inside the classroom. We have already used all our resorts just to convince her to attend school. Sometimes it is frustrating! I believe that Chesska can keep up academically, perhaps, she has still difficulty adjusting to the new environment and socializing with her classmates and teachers as well.

Kindly contact us immediately if her behavior persists such as crying, anxiousness, feeling of intimidation, or whatever you may have observed
.
If you advise her to see a guidance counselor for further behavioral assessments or whatever interventions you may want to do to improve her behavior,  just text me or send me a note. We are willing to talk with you or with the guidance counselor in the soonest possible time.

Thank you very much!

Truly yours,

Mother


I figured that Chesska may have been frightened when she was reprimanded by her teacher but I can't jump to a conclusion right away until she will respond to my letter or set a talk with me. I will let you know.

I have been dreaming of sending my daughter to a prestigious and competitive school. Our first pre-school option for Chesska was to enroll her at Precious International School of Davao at Matina crossing. I have been hearing a lot of good things about Precious. One of which is students are required to speak English in the campus. But upon knowing the heavy traffic during peak hours, and during school days - usually begins in the morning - it turned me off. I cannot guarantee the condition of our old car to get through heavy traffics, fearing it may get broken in the middle of the road anytime. It will be a total mess, haha.! Also, trying to commute daily can be exhausting for my 4-year old.

Let me tell you the important reasons why we enrolled Chesska at San Pedro College.

1. Convenient Location

Upon weighing the options between Precious and San Pedro, the latter is much nearer to our house. San Pedro is located at Ulas, just 15-minute ride from Bago Gallera where we live. On the other hand, a trip to Precious will take us for about 40 minutes in a moderate traffic. See the convenience?

2. Modern Facilities

San Pedro just started its operation in 2012 (if I am not mistaken).  As you can see, the school's facilities are almost all new and the environment looks refreshing which can help students learn effectively. That's why when we first visited San Pedro to check its facilities, we were already inclined to enroll Chesska there.

Fasten your belt as I tour you around the school's exterior. 

San Pedro College Basic Education Building

Pathway going to the main entrance.

Wide playground

Ronan and Chesska using the pathway to stay away from the scorching heat of the sun

State-of-the-Art gymnasium

More tables in front of the canteen

Another school playground

School's canteen

Parents queuing as they claim their children's books

School's interior:

Ronan and Chesska looking for the prep-2 classroom

Chapel where students can pray and reflect

School's clinic with attending nurse

Numerous student's locker

Finance and Registrar's Office

Selection of vending machines

Healthy snacks vending machine

Clean comfort room for girls

3.  Integrate Christian Values to the Curriculum, not merely Pure Academic. 

Aside from it's Catholic, which is one of the factors that I enrolled Chesska in San Pedro, the Vision, Mission, and Goals of the school have convinced us to enroll Chesska in the said school. In fact, when I personally accompanied my child throughout the first week of classes, I noticed how the students were courteous, organised, and disciplined. The school has also read scriptures daily before the classes begin.



4. Preschool Classroom is Conducive to Learning

This is precisely the ideal classroom I wanted to have for my 4-year old. The pleasant ambience can effectively contribute to the learning of the child.

Air-conditioned classroom, proper lighting, and tidy classroom

Attractive walls painted with different animals and characters

Small and colourful workstations

Spacious classroom so students can move comfortably

Nice bulletin board

That is so far I have in mind why I enrolled Chesska in San Pedro College. For me, student and teacher's good relationship is more important and has more impact and long-lasting effect on the child's academic and social development. I overheard that their preschool teacher is still new and when I first observed her during the first day of classes, she didn't show a "motherly approach" to the young children as what I expected her to be (maybe she's shy to talk with us yet). Well, I will give her a benefit of the doubt. I wish she can help my daughter develop her self-confidence and overcome her shyness as the days go by. I know, it will take a while.

Preschool class has just officially started this week in San Pedro College Grade School Department, and I am proud to announce that I am now a parent of a pre-schooler (hehe). And definitely, there is a huge change in our daily schedule from sleeping time to eating time to bath time and the like. Let me share you my first-hand experience during the first day of class.
Nobody likes to be woken up especially when you are in a sound sleep. But we have no choice but to wake up as early as 5 am. Chesska was used to staying up late, but we just reminded her to sleep early just a couple of nights ago. I know, it takes a while for Chesska to adapt the new schedule. We should have trained her one month before the class begins. It's our fault anyway.
Chesska usually whines every time Ronan wakes her up especially if she's still sleepy. But earlier, we didn't have a hard time getting her up but in order to get her senses active, I turned on the TV and bottle-fed her right away. Chesska is still not weaned from the bottle so feeding time is really time-consuming. It took her 30 minutes to finish her milk.

Chesska also hates morning bath. She hates cold water or having her hair washed. So I had to mix warm water for her to go bathing.
Feeding time has always been a challenge. Preparing foods that suit to her appetite has been more challenging. Chesska is picky and slow eater. She's only enticed to eat if there's something new prepared on the table. As much as I want to avoid processed food as hotdog, I was forced to prepare it! But as soon as, she gets used to breakfast, I will try to prepare a variety of healthy foods. Feeding time will take 20-30 minutes.
As I have just mentioned, I am mainly concerned of how to wake Chesska up early in the morning so we can have ample time preparing everything before we leave the house at 6:45 am to avoid traffic congestion during peak hours. Luckily, our trip was very smooth as I noticed that only a few schools have just started their classes. I expect heavy traffic by next week.
Yes, I am excited but at the same time anxious of how my child behaves in school. We all know that first day of school can be scary for little ones especially if you introduce them into a situation where they are not yet ready. Though I have been schooling Chesska for several months but interacting with teachers and classmates is definitely another story.  So at the moment, I will have to accompany my child to school up to Friday so she can adjust with the new learning set-up.
We arrived early in the school. Suffice to say, the room is very attractive and conducive to learning. In fact, Chesska made a funny pose as I took picture of her.
But as soon as her other classmates arrived, she started to become shy. Some of them were roaming around and getting along with others while Chesska was just sitting on her chair, holding me tightly not to leave her alone.
But when the teacher instructed us, parents, to go out, she became teary-eyed. She told me "Mama don't go out". But I have to do so, not only because it was the teacher's instruction, it's because I want to teach her independence. But good to know, she didn't go hysterical, unlike the other boy who cried at the top of his voice when his mama left him. As I peeped through the door glass, I saw that she was so anxious, uncomfortable,  and just observing things around her. On dismissal time, I asked the teacher how Chesska behaved throughout the period, she said Chesska didn't respond to their questions nor participate in the activities. I told her "maybe teacher she is still adjusting to the new environment". The teacher just gave me a nod.

I am hoping that my child will overcome her shyness and fear. I am also hoping that the teacher will do something to motivate my child to participate and develop her self-confidence. I am looking forward to positive results as my child enters into a new milestone - the preschool years.

How about you mom, how's your first day of school?