I was awakened by an early morning SMS announcing that baby girl who will be named Maxeene was finally out!  I’ve posted a week ago about my officemate who is due for delivery and well, it did not take long after her last working day in the office because barely 3 days after her off from work, the baby was born.  Oh! I can feel how relieved she must be!   Further to the text message, the cervix would not dilate further to accommodate the engaging head presentation so her  OB gyne, already  prepared her and she went under the knife (Ceasarian section) after 20 hours of hard labor.  Although, the procedure will no longer prolong her labor but I bet  how she wished that Maxeene will come out by normal birth since operation will somehow make a a slight dent on their savings…. But that’s how it is.. The most important things is both mom and baby are fine.

This morning I received another SMS that they will be discharged soon… I was not able to visit them in the hospital because I was also having my own battle with flu and it is not advisable to go out unnecessarily so as not to spread out the virus.   I just text back welcoming them to the 24/7 world of babies….

Ah.. sleepless nights…

OMG.. my officemate is all swollen now and it is really evident on her face.. the nose is rounded as a bulb (as we teased her)… it’s her due date in a week’s time and we are all anticipating her delivery.  Wonder of all wonders…. think of how pregnancy can change a woman’s face and body… she was the darling of the department because she can command attention and a second look since she was young, fair skinned and charming. When she got married and got pregnant the guys world crumbled… and that was the end of their illusions.  My officemate  is obviously  is much much bigger than I am now as she is already counting the days till her daughter (as per ultrasound) showed up.   Oftentimes I would hear her complain about her sorry feeling that she is no longer desirable and that her skin is having rashes and that her tummy is so big and might burst.   It was very hard for her to let go of body image issues and who would not?   I can relate with her sentiments because there was also a time during my pregnancy that I felt I was really that undesirable and insecurity was there.  They said it is called pregnancy woes!

Already on her last trimester and she is having muscle cramps and pelvic region discomfort.   4D ultrasound picture of her would be baby excites her no end and her aches seemed to be gone instantly.  The excitement relieved her of the discomforts that has  been bothering her all throughout as her pregnancy progresses.  Few week ago, they threw a baby shower for her and she went home with assortment of useful baby stuffs.  Too bad, I was not around.. I missed their baby shower games….

She is on leave now and awaiting for her delivery.. it’s either normal or Ceasarian section but whichever way as long as she and the baby will be perfectly fine.   Hoping too that she will bounce back to her old figure soon.   Definitely, it would mean discipline and action on her part!   And she has a lot of hard work-out to do.

charming as ever

awaiting the baby .. soon

On our last day in DAvao City, we dared tried to taste  Durian. Have you tried this spiky fruit which is also known as Asia’s King of Fruit?  Exaggeratedly said “smells like hell but taste like heaven”   so our curiosity grew more to really find out for ourselves.  The locals really loved the fruit even though it has poignant smell.  Even when the husk is still intact, the edible flesh emits intense odor which evokes different reactions from others who are not accustomed to the fruit and for first timers like us, we can’t seem to appreciate the taste because we were anticipating how bad the smell is.   Imagine, it is not allowed in public transportation, hotels, and other establishments.

Our group accepted the challenge to taste durian.  All were reluctant because of the aroma but I think 2 in our group were able to appreciate the taste.   Gee, my friend was right afterall when she told me that it smelled like a ‘rotting gym socks”…lol…   But if you have not tried it yet..take time to read on how Wiki describes durian:

The five cells are silky-white within, and are filled with a mass of firm, cream-coloured pulp, containing about three seeds each. This pulp is the edible part, and its consistence and flavour are indescribable. A rich custard highly flavoured with almonds gives the best general idea of it, but there are occasional wafts of flavour that call to mind cream-cheese, onion-sauce, sherry-wine, and other incongruous dishes. Then there is a rich glutinous smoothness in the pulp which nothing else possesses, but which adds to its delicacy. It is neither acid nor sweet nor juicy; yet it wants neither of these qualities, for it is in itself perfect. It produces no nausea or other bad effect, and the more you eat of it the less you feel inclined to stop. In fact, to eat Durians is a new sensation worth a voyage to the East to experience. … as producing a food of the most exquisite flavour it is unsurpassed.

Anyway,  the experience is again for the books… And to show you how we reacted to the challenge, I’ve posted our pictures in our un glamorous moment ever..  We were really rolling down with laughter as we reviewed the pictures with Asia’s King of Fruit!

spit it out!

hold it!

raised eyebrows!

Yes! It is very evident that hubby is fast learning the tricks of photography.   It’s been 4 months since our photography class wrapped up and it’s really up to us if we really wanted to be competent and good at it.   My hubby sustained his interest with trial and error shots and of course he upgraded his camera with essential lenses and you will really see the difference.  Like when we went to a butterfly park, he used specialized lens called macro to be able to capture the beauty of his subjects.

a quick and closer shot of a butterfly

I don’t want to think that he had grown weary for the past weeks that he had me as his model.   Has he  gone tired and ran out of poses to teach me, thus, he shifted subject to nature?   Indeed, it inspired him most everytime his shots yielded very good results and he would always brag it to me.  Yes, I believed that he has improved a lot because he’s been into  practice shooting every now and then.   Definitely, he is putting into good use what he learned from the class.   His D90 camera is his best buddy nowadays which he always carries with him  because it is ready for shoot anytime, anyplace!

another interesting subject

He still buys specialized lenses though they are a bit pricey like the macro camera lens which is for close up photography.  Upon knowing that he will have the chance to shoot on orchids and butterflies, he really planned ahead and saved for lenses.  And it did opened him to the world of extreme close up photography that creates exciting pictures.  You bet, he is already hooked into it and he is starting to make compilations of pictures.

macro lens used here

I just hope he won’t use that macro lens on me… I believe even the tiniest dirt, lines and age spots on my face will be captured.   There goes my image down the drain….if my stubborn hubby will focus that lens on me..  no way!