 | I Can... | Nov 30, '09 8:34 PM
for everyone |
 Getting engaged was exciting. Getting married was way even better than just being engaged. Having a baby was a totally different story. While my husband inspires and encourages me, my son helps mold my mothering skills. Here are a few things that I discovered recently since we had a baby.
While I was doing my quiet time, I came across this verse in the Bible: "Children's children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children." Proverbs 17:6
I have been a mom for two months now and I am enjoying every moment of it...
 Once a week, Dane is able to spend his time alone with our son, Benaiah. During this same time, I am able to take a short break from my motherhood duties. Here some of my thoughts.... click HERE I never expected nor had any idea how baby blues would hit me after I give birth. For those who don't have any idea what "Baby Blues" are, click HERE.
Here are some of my baby blues stuff. Please take note that this is based on my personal experience.
- I was highly emotional and sensitive. In short, I would cry a lot on certain occasions. [I don't cry everyday]
- My reasons for crying: mixed emotions, hormonal adjustments, myself adjusting to my new role as a wife and mom, overwhelmed with what's ahead of me, lack of sleep, and sometimes, I JUST DON'T KNOW WHY I CRY. ^.^
WHAT I AM LEARNING:
- Though my husband, family, and friends have been very supportive in my postpartum stage, I am learning that I should also help myself how to deal with it and not let it control me.
- Dane and I talked about ways how to make things better for me. Aside from our usual date nights, I can also go out and take a walk, get some fresh air, call and talk to friends, read a book, watch a good movie on dvd, among others - just to start off with.
- I know that this is temporary and I cannot do this without God's help. The joy of the Lord is my strength.
- Baby blues definitely makes me pray a lot!
- Parenting is a huge task but it is very rewarding. This is just the beginning of an awesome journey with our son.
- I love my very supportive, patient, encouraging, and understanding husband and my healthy, growing, son.
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. Psalm 28.7
I still can't believe I am now a mom to our little bundle of joy, Ben.
Here are some insights from a new mom: - Labor and delivery is definitely LABOR OF LOVE.
- Grace and wisdom - what you need as you learn which cry means, "I'm hungry, I need diaper change, I need to burp."
- It's amazing how you can stare at your baby for a long period of time without getting bored.
- The "baby smell" - I just love the purity of it!
- Dane and I enjoy talking to baby. He really listens. Wonder what are his thoughts about the stuff that we tell him. ha!
- Blessing your child everyday is really awesome!
- I appreciate the hubby for being so into the parenting transition that we are going through. He is so supportive.
- Baby blues... not really fun but it is faith-building!
Sons are a heritage from the Lord and children a reward from Him. Psalm 127.3
| Benaiah | Sep 22, '09 3:06 PM
for everyone |
Introducing Benaiah Cruz Tokushige...
Checkout my husband's blog:
Thank you everyone for standing with us in prayer. We appreciate you guys. - Dane, Liz, & Ben | I Wonder | Sep 13, '09 2:31 PM
for everyone |
I wonder what it feels to be inside my tummy... it must be really tight in there... I wonder if you ever get ticklish or sleepy every time I rub you gently with my hands... I wonder if you ever smile whenever we talk to you... I wonder what you are doing every time I see waves in my tummy...
I wonder when you'll come out... we are all excited to see you!
I prayed for this child and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. 1 Samuel 1:27
 Here are some stuff that I was not aware of until I got pregnant.
Doula - a person, usually a woman, who is professionally trained to assist a woman during childbirth and who may provide support to the family after giving birth. - I never thought that you can actually have a doula other than your spouse. I'm not gonna have one when I give birth and I trust my spouse that he will be a good coach. ...Right babe? You won't faint? ...haha
Car seat orientation and installation - I thought you can just install the car seat on your own by following a manual. Didn't know you have to be oriented and should be able to install it following a certain standard. And yes, you can't go home from the hospital if you don't have a car seat yet or if you have one but it's not properly installed at least.
Even baby car seats have expiration dates - During the car seat orientation and installation, we were told that our car seat will expire on 2015. It was printed at the bottom of the seat as we were asked to read it. A reminder in case we plan to save the car seat for future babies.
Now I know... I'm learning a lot from this season and I'm enjoying it!
 About 3 to 4 more weeks and we will already see baby. Just want to share some insights that "baby taught me" for at least the past 8 1/2 months that I have been pregnant.
- Patience. 9 months in anticipation for baby can be boring if I don't take it one day at a time.
- I wondered, "What's with 40"? In the Bible, there is 40 days and 40 nights of rain, 40 years in the dessert. Then it's also 40 weeks of pregnancy. I am not so sure what's in it. But I know it's a season of God molding my character in preparation for the next season. This time, it's parenting.
- Accountability. I think motherhood starts at the moment of conception. I think I have never been so cautious about what I eat and what I do until I got pregnant, all because of the care that I have for baby.
- Pregnancy is faith-building. You just gotta trust that God will take care of you and your baby and make it through full-term.
- I appreciate my husband for being supportive; standing with me in prayer, reading and learning about childcare, attending classes with me, among other stuff that he had to go through in this entire pregnancy. Did I mention, being patient with my emotional hang-ups too?
- I thank God for supportive family and friends who have been giving words of encouragement, waiting with me and Dane, and who has blessed us with so much baby stuff! We pray that God would indeed bless you back in return.
- Baby made me and Dane realize that "kicking" can be exciting.
I'm due to give birth on Sept. 18. Doctor said 1 to 2 weeks earlier than that would also be just fine. Keep you posted!  I went shopping for some everyday wear clothes with the hubby yesterday.
As I was shopping, a Filipina who was holding a pretty dress, started talking to me: "Eto, mas bagay sa yo kesa sa kin. Kakapanganak ko lang [pointing to her baby in the stroller], pag-nanganak ka, tamang tama sa yo to. Hindi ata pwede sa kin to. Sukat mo, maganda siya, sosyalin ang dating!" [yez!, pinay nga siya!]
[Try this one, I think it looks better on you. I just gave birth. When you give birth, it will look just perfect on you.I don't think I can wear this. Try it on. It's nice...so sassy!]
And so I responded: "Ok lang naman din sa 'yo to" [This would look good on you too.]
I still got the dress as she excitedly handed it to me. I then headed to the fitting room. When I asked for a tag, I told the lady, "Dalawa" [two]. For a second, I knew I should have said, "Two". But then, surprisingly, she handed me the tag with the number 2 on it. She was also a Filipina!
I guess I got carried away with the Filipino conversation.
 I have been trying to blog for the past few weeks. Got so much stuff in mind but the creative juices are just not there. I guess I might as well give updates. - I'm 33 weeks on the way now, 5-7 weeks to go before I give birth. [takes about 40 weeks to carry baby in the womb]
- We are pretty much set with all the stuff that we needed for the baby.
- Dane and I started attending an "Expecting Parent's Class". It's once a week for 6 weeks. We had a maternity tour at the hospital during our first night.
- The class and doctor visits help me familiarize myself with certain medical practices here.
- Dane and I have been attending a parenting small group in church and have been learning a lot from other parents. We are excited to explore and find out what parenting style works for the Tokushige's.
- We are gonna attend a "car seat orientation" for the baby in two weeks time.
Parenting is gonna be a great responsibility and we are looking forward to it.  Are You Ready To Be A Mom?
...It's the question my husband has been asking me for a few days now. I have about 6 weeks before I give birth. I just started washing baby's clothes. I can just imagine baby wearing them... so cute! ... I am bracing myself for that time when we already have the baby.. new season, new sleeping schedule, additional priorities, among other stuff that Dane and I need to adjust to. ... I can't believe I will be a mom soon. With all the plans going on in my head - as a wife, teacher, mother-to-be - in terms of child-rearing, I know that I cannot do it without God. ... I thank God for giving me a supportive husband who has been pondering about fatherhood as well and taking the time to talk things out about parenting when baby comes. I know that I will never be ready enough to be a mom. To me, this is faith-building and it makes me excited to discover how God will move in our behalf as Dane and I walk through the season of parenting. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. Philippians 4:13 [The Message Bible]  Aside from peso to dollar, here are other conversion stuff that I've been up to since we got here in Hawaii:
kilo to pound
- it's not "ilang kilo" anymore, it's "how many pounds" when i buy meat from the grocery
liter to gallon
- gas here is bought per gallon not per liter
kilometer to mile
- i don't drive here yet, but i think i'm getting used to seeing signs with MI on it
celsius to farenheit
- i got confused when i was checking on the climate the first few weeks we got here. no wonder the numbers were so high. they measured it in farenheit. ha!
I would still catch myself converting dollars into pesos whenever I'd buy stuff. At a certain point, I thought I should stop doing it because I'll end up buying nothing.
 Dane and I went to a bakery called Nanding's Bakery.
- the bakery was located in a place called Kalihi. They also have a branch at Waipahu. If you come to Hawaii, Kalihi and Waipahu are places known for Filipino communities
- it's like going to a bakery by the corner street [sa kanto lang]
- they sell really good pan de sal. like pugon-baked taste.they also have hopia, cheese bread, ube roll, and a lot more
- they have other kinds of bread with stuffing too, adapted to the culture here [bread with ham & cheese, portuguese sausage, hotdog, among others]
- of course, you can't miss a good pan de sal with a "palaman". so i was just surprised to see Lily's Peanust Butter, Lily's Coco Jam, Star Margarine, and even Ligo Sardines. Oh did I mention they also have Kaong?
- in one corner, they also have a tamarind soup base - yes, Knorr Sinigang Mix!
- everything is more pricey compared to how much we'll buy them in the Philippines
- it's funny how you just crave for something that you hardly even eat right where they are always available [in the PH].. and you get so excited to eat them again in a place you least expect to find them!
- click here for some pictures
I felt so at home just being in the place. And if you ask for Filipino restaurants, yes there's a lot here too. Might check out one soon...
 Dane and I have had a couple of interesting tagalized terms in our cross-cultural marriage. This might sound familiar to some of you:
Remote Control
RC - I was looking for the remote control the other day and asked Dane where's the "RC". Dane had a really interesting look on his face only to find out that I was referring to the remote control.
Well, they use AC [aircon]?! So quits lang! hehe
Refrigerator
Ref - Very Filipino term for fridge or refrigerator. I even remember some old folks say, "frigider".
Rest Room
CR - Comfort room. Dane knows this term and so the other day, while looking for a rest room in the restaurant, he looked at me & asked, "San yung CR?"
These terms bring laughter to us once in a while as Dane would use them in a sentence. I guess it sounds funny because of his english accent. One time he asked, "Asawa, san yung RC?" hehe...
I just love being married. I love my asawa.
Love doesn't make the world go round, love is what makes the ride worthwhile. Elizabeth Browning
 Last December of 2008, I posted a blog about the pinoys here in Hawaii. Click here for the link.
While having lunch with Dane, we happen to sit by three pinoys talking to one another in Filipino & Ilocano at a table next to us. With so much peace in the place, you can hear their conversation. Or was I eavesdropping at the same time? haha.
What were they talking about? Helping a relative move to Hawaii to have a "better life."
Here are some of my realizations:
- pinoys who work here really do some hard work: cleaning / janitorial services, carpentry, health care: nurses, doctors, etc. i guess anything from blue-collar to white-collar jobs.
- goodbye to the luxury of having a driver, maid, a yaya [nanny], & cook
- must be really tough to leave your family behind just because of money...
- i guess their families in the Philippines don't have much idea what these pinoys here are going through.
- i told Dane, for some reasons I feel burdened for the Filipinos here who are working so hard just to make things easier for their family. i won't be surprised if i find myself encouraging them whenever I have the chance.
- i pray that God will bless the fruit of their labor
 It's technically Dane's 1st time to celebrate Father's Day - with our son still in my womb...
I know that he will make a great dad:- we have been discussing, brainstorming about Biblical principles that we'll have in our family - and i appreciate his wisdom and leadership on this
- he definitely has maturity beyond his years
- yesterday we celebrated dad's day together with my in-laws [parents & grandparents] at a Chinese restaurant. three generations of great dads. i also greeted my dad and relatives back in the PH.
- i thank the greatest father of all, God, who's gonna be a great mentor to my husband and to us, eventually as parents.
As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.Ps.103:13  Since I am a "Pinay in Hawaii", I will be creating a new blog series about my new adventures here as a wife, mom, and as a Filipino.
Here are some stuff I've been through this past few weeks:
- Dane and I celebrated our 1st wedding anniversary last June 7.
- mom-in-law bought me pan de sal and spanish roll [we call it spanish bread in the PH]
- i've learned [through my mom-in-law who asked her Filipino colleagues at work] that some Filipinos actually have calamansi and malunggay planted in their yard
- summer here starts in June and ends in August.. warm during the day but really cool breeze at night as if it's not summer
- i thank God for accessibility to the beach as i do swimming exercises at least 3 times a week
- been enjoying the techie era. communicating with family & friends through ym, skype, & broadvoice [can call my family using a local hawaii number right there in the PH, no need for area code]
- been visiting other Every Nation churches. God is doing lotsa great stuff in here
- still learning a lot about lifestyle and culture
Overwhelmed. Last night, Dane asked me if I ever think that I am so far away from home. I told him, "Actually I was just talking to God today and I still can't believe He brought me to Hawaii. I would have never even thought of it."
God blesses us beyond what we could even ask or imagine.
 It's been a year since 06.07.08... How time flies! Last Sunday, June 7, Dane and I celebrated our first year wedding anniversary...
- it's been a fruitful year of marriage
- Dane took me to John Dominis - a seafood restaurant in Honolulu. i loved the place as it was overlooking the ocean. loved the food too! [great job, babe!]
- i appreciate my husband in so many ways, most especially how he loves God & sets his priorities before him
- i am excited with what God has in store for us even at this time that we are building our family. we have a long way to go!
- i am learning a lot from our cross-cultural relationship
- putting God at the center of our relationship is really a great decision
- i always thank God for giving me such a loving, caring, sweet, thoughtful, and understanding husband
- he is indeed God's perfect choice for me [even if we're both not]
It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him. Gen. 2.18
 I am on my 6th month of pregnancy...
- i started showing when i was 5 1/2 months
- i thank God for His favor, grace, faithfulness, love...i can go on
- i thank God for my loving husband who's been so supportive - even in the simplest way that he helps look for the restroom wherever we go. hehe :)
- i was almost tempted to wear an adult diaper to cut my "restroom trips"
 - i thank God for supportive & loving parents - my parents and Dane's
- i thank God for friends who's been there for me and Dane. thank you for your love, words of encouragement, and prayers! you just don't know how much we appreciate you guys.
Surely, goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life... Psalm 23.6
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