On the Bride Side: Hello Himig!

Meet Baby Himig!

Himig is Tagalog for melody. I came up with the name back in '06, during senior year in college: my org had a Christmas caroling project, and during the practice which Dong was facilitating (We were just plain friends then.), he kept correcting my tone/singing to the point that I vowed that I'm going to name my daughter Himig and she's going to have a beautiful singing voice. At that time, my only hope for the second part of my vow coming true was voice coaching - Anne Curtis sings better than I do. So good thing I ended up with Dong. That gives Himig a 50% chance at a good singing voice.

Three other reasons for Himig's name: 1) It's pretty; 2) It's short enough to make sure she doesn't get stuck in writing her name when the teacher is already in question number one; 3) It's unique enough to avoid hits when getting NBI clearance.

Today, we celebrate two things: Himig turning a month old, and Dong and I staying sane and alive all this time. Sharing with you our cutie pie's first 30 days on earth:

DAY 1 (Dec. 16): I gave birth to her at 3:37 PM. My first words to her: "Why, hello there! ...This is sooo weird..." It wasn't the sedation. Having a human being come out of you is really weird. And tiring. And a miracle.


DAY 3: Her first time to use Swaddle Me. She's very lamigin, so she loves this. I used to think that the Swaddle Me swaddle is pure capriccio; millions of babies, including me, have survived for generations without it. But I realized, for parents who didn't take swaddling tutorials despite being sucky at it, it's heaven-sent.

STILL DAY 3: Tita Elaine visited us at home...

As well asTito Holden, Tita Mia (high school/college friends), Ate Lielle and Baby Gayle. (Photos from Mia's FB.)

Love this photo! While I met Holden and Mia in college, these two went to high school together.

DAY 4: With Ate Aqui... This day was the first day of my postpartum blues. I thought deadline for grades wouldn't be extended for me, and that Himig was having LBM from all the grape juice I was drinking (for fiber), because after cleaning her poop all by myself (while she's crying til she's red all over) she pooped yet again. I ended up sobbing to Dong over the phone.

DAY 6: After giving birth, when you're moving like a Lola because your wound down there hurts something fierce and your whole body feels like you've worked out for hours without warming up and cooling down properly, and you're tired from spending a good part of the evening - and dawn - changing diaper and breastfeeding, and your nipples are sore because you didn't know your baby's latching to your breast incorrectly, it's w-o-n-d-e-r-f-u-l to have your mother around. Yes, even when she's bossing you about wearing pajamas and socks, and abstaining from gadgets.


DAY 6: It's also good to have a sister-in-law who's a hustler in matters related to babies - from making them burp to giving them a bath. Now I understand why mine works around the house like she's always in a hurry to catch a flight.


DAY 7: We did breastfeeding while lying down for the first time. After napping, I found her still lying on her side in this cute position.

DAY 8: Mama says that I slept like this too when I was a baby.

DAY 9: While holding her, I caught her in this pensive mood.

DAY 10: Himig's first Christmas Day

DAY 12: After breastfeeding

DAY 13 (I think): The night of Day 12, I went to bed with a fever because my breasts were so full. (I felt better after I fed Himig though.) Dong thought my wound infection was a factor too, so he drove to LB at 11PM just to buy me antibiotics. And a breast pump. I didn't think I would need a breast pump that soon, so I didn't buy one yet last time we went shopping for baby stuff. The morning after, Dong took this unflattering photo of me which he found amusing. The pink bundle beside me is Himig who was pushing me against the wall.

DAY 14: Dong and I fondly call this OOTD of hers The Chef.

DAY 15 Can't get over Himig's cute sleeping-sideways look

DAY 15: Himig's first bottled breast milk; Initially, she was playing with the nipple tentatively. When she found the foreign object to be agreeable, she sucked at it until there was nothing left of the 25ml content.

On DAY 15, my dgroup ates visited us as well. (Phot c/o Ate Di)

DAY 16: New Year's Eve - Himig tried to stay up during the festivities.

DAY 18: Titas Trina, Sarah and Melai visited and had brunch with us. I don't have photos with them though. What I do have are these photos of Himig doing karate.