When I was pregnant with JX, it was obvious that I would also nurse JX.  I’m just happy that I already know the basics of breastfeeding so no worries.  I just have to review the numbers (minutes, days and months)  with regards to storage of breastmilk but other than that, I’m good to go!

The top 3 reasons why I tried (and loved!) breastfeeding AD were these:

1. Healthy for the baby;
2. Savings! (Oh yeah!);
3. Back to pre-pregnancy figure w/o effort! (for vanity purposes!).

What I didn’t realize was that the PROs of breastfeeding were more than I can ask for!  There are so many benefits that the baby and the mother can gain that’s why I encourage my friends to breastfeed their babies as long as they could.  And these information is what I share with them and now, to you..

Benefits for the BABY:

1. Nutrition
   • Human breast milk is the ULTIMATE health food for human infants.
   • Breastfed children like vegetables better than formula-fed infants when they’re first introduced to them, probably because they become familiar with the varied tastes and smells that come through the milk of their vegetable-eating mothers.  Thus, encouraging diverse and healthy diet when babies will be more receptive to new foods.
     • I have to agree with this one…AD eats almost anything!  He adores eating vegetables! He’ll even sing , “Ang gulay ng buhay.  Ang gulay ng buhay, sa sinabawang gulay!”
2. Health
   • Breastfed babies make fewer visits to the doctors’ office/ hospitals especially for diarrhea and othe gastrointestinal disorders, rashes and respiratory infections.
     • CORRECT!
   • Human milk feeding DECREASES the incidence and/or severity of diarrhea, lower respiratory infection, otitis media, bacteremia, bacterial meningitis, botulism, UTI and necrotizing enterocolitis.
   • And a possible protective effect of human feeding against sudden infant death syndrome, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, lymphoma, allergic diseases, and toher chronic digestive diseases.
   • There is also evidence to show that breastfeeding may increase child’s bone mineral density, and that it also protects against such lower respiratory diseases as bronchitis, pneumonia, and asthma during middle childhood.

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When I was in my high school years, my parents would often request (or more like require me and my other siblings) to massage them when they retire for the night. Tired from a day’s work, they wanted a massage to relieve their overworked bodies. More often than not, they would ask me or my eldest brother. One of the reason why I usually avoid staying in my parent’s room after dinner but, that doesn’t stop them from calling me. There is no escape for me.  I’m doomed until I got married…

Little did I know that it was their way of bonding with me.  Since they are busy during the whole week round, it is one of their way to communicate with us individually and of course, a massage to go with it.  Talk about hitting two birds with one stone, Dad and Mom!

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Surprise! Surprise! Surprise! 

As expected, Aubergine was full on V day.  We even saw Mrs. Imelda Marcos with BongBong Marcos and his wife and his son and…that’s it!  Made me miss AD who was left at home because it was Valentines’ day.  Actually, I really didn’t want to go out every Valentines’ but HubbyBubbly always insist that we go out on a date that day!  I hate the traffic (good thing, i didn’t experienced it) it causes and the bruhaha of the V day.  Anyway, if it wouldn’t be Valentines’, I’m sure he would still think of something to just dine here.

To start off, we had bread and olive tapenade.  I loved it!  Had to ask for more.  HubbyBubbly wasn’t able to enjoy this because he was too excited (as always!) taking photos.  I remembered that we also had this at Antonio’s last January (no post on this..yet) and we had seconds and thirds and fourth serving.  Talk about gluttony.  We met Chef Humphrey Navarro who we’ve met at In Yo’s 1st Year Celebration and told us about this new restaurant.  We were flattered that he remembered us when we dined at Parallel 45 last August 2005. (more…)

One thing I really look forward to is a good massage after a week’s hectic schedule.  I was glad to know that I can get one at Abe’s in Pampanga but then, got hesitant upon knowing that it was Nurture Spa who will be providing the service.  I can’t forget the massage I had because that’s the only massage that didn’t relax me.  I also had second thoughts …(1) Who will take care of AD while I had my massage? HubbyBubbly will be in a meeting, (2) cost (when expensive) and lastly (3), I might be uncomfortable when lying down because I’m a nursing mom.  After having debate inside my mind, I went through with my massage …

First, they cleansed and massaged my feet with crushed corn…this is to remove the calluses and moisturize my feet.

This is where I had my massage…

…the Igorot House.  Upon entering, I was surprised to see a split-type aircon in that small room.  Cool!  The music was soothing that was calling me to immediately lie down and relax…

and sleep for 1 hour…They say that a good massage will make you sleep…and I did! :)  Glad that I grabbed the opportunity to have 1 hr rest with massage.

We have been wanting to eat here for the longest time and at last, we were given this opportunity. We were with our friends, Lex and his wife, who just lives nearby Solomon’s and first time to also dine here.

You can dine the al fresco style but we preferred to dine inside. AD was with us so it was a no-no to eat outside because it is just a walk away from the gate where there are cars (although the driveway was not that wide but even so). And of course, because it’s cooler inside.

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