This is might be because of tight budget and we prefer of telling the people who are close to us in person. We prefer to be humble. But then, it doesn’t mean that we are not proud to be parents. It’s just we don’t used to it.

When I was pregnant, I really search in the internet some beautiful layout for birth announcement. I wanted to give this to all friends and relatives.  In this way, they will be inform the name, birth date, weights, height and perhaps the meaning of the baby name(s) of the cute baby who is now a new member of the family.

Sad to say that I wasn’t able to make this for I didn’t have an ink of my computer. Moreover, I didn’t have a chance to make it due to my operation.

To all first time parents, this is my advice to all of you.

1. You must take the opportunity that your baby is still a baby for time runs so fast.

2. While you are still pregnant, do everything that you can still do like scrapbooking, making birth announcement. ( print it out while you still have an ink)lol!

3. Capture all her/his first moments and record it. I just able to do this while I still have my camera. When it acted out, I really missed her 5,6, 7,8 months of her life. This is really disappointing.

4. Spend time with your baby.

In other to achieve this plan, I made a program. Woman like you, should know that there are big muscles become bulge when we get pregnant. These are arms, thighs, hips and rear, and stomach. Six weeks after giving birth, I applied the program which I made. Want to know my program?

Here it is:

You have to do it 15 minutes a day.

Odd Numbered  Days:

Work up a Sweat:

• Run up and down the stairs
• Do jumping jacks
• Dance with the music
• Walk with my baby

I only choose one of those on the list on a particular day. Like yesterday, what I did was dancing. Tomorrow will be jumping jacks. Variation will be the key so you will not get bored.  You can modify it if you want.

Even Numbered Days:

Tighten and Tone

Stomach: Crunches – 10 repetitions in 3 sets

Thighs : Side Lift legs – 30 repetitions for R, 30 reps for L.

Arms: Bicep Curl – 30 repetitions

Hips and Rear: Squats – 30 repetitions

Moreover, I included an exercise for woman’s curve. You can do it by squatting position, bend your knees without bending the body. Keep your back straight. The knees should be parallel to your toes. Extend the arm sidewards, shoulder level. Twist the body slowly to the right. Alternately to the left. Do this in 30 repetitions.

Still in squatting position, bend your knees without bending the body. Keep your back straight. The knees should be parallel to your toes. This time, put your hands at the back of your neck. Claps the fingers , or you can use a small tube/pipe. Place it at the back of your neck, the length of the tube/pipe will be resting in your arms. The arms will be forming an inverted T position. Starting with your right, bend the body sidewards, alternately with the left. Do this in 30 repetitions.

Keep in mind that you have to do light stretches first before doing such exercises. Drink one glass of water before, during, after exercising. The most important thing is you have to have a cool down to bring back the muscles into place.

May this program be helpful to other mothers who just gave birth or pregnant woman who wants to get their body back. I will post  next time if I get my desired shape with  label before and after. Good luck!

My entry goes this way….

I am Rose Jane or burn, a Filipina, teacher, choreographer, dancer, mother and blogger.  I started blogging since January of this year. My blog is 7 months and 7 days old as of today. When I started to blog, my interest of writing was about my experiences of being pregnant, our own festivities which is Sinulog. In this event, I am one of the performers of group called Lumad Basakanon. I have been writing some reviews. Lately, my perspective in writing the blog was changed. My lessons in MAPEH (Music, Arts, Physical Education and Health) is also part in this blog. I used this site as a tool of learning for my students. Moreover, this blog also caters about parenting and my baby Chloe, who is now 1 month and 3 weeks old.

You are most welcome to read some of my write -ups. I will be glad to hear from you whatever feedback it may be.

You  can follow me on twitter or subscribe my feed.

Sometimes when I have time to come online in the internet, I read slimming pills reviews so that after giving birth of my 3rd baby, I can gain lots of information about healthy drugs and tips of how to get rid of my unwanted fats.

How about you? Do you have any suggestions of how to have a healthy, slim and fit body?

Yesterday, I was able to buy a magazine entitled “PREGNANCY”. It really fits to my situation so without any second thought I bought it. One of the topics in there that gives me an insight about frequently asked questions. “Is it a BOY or GIRL?” It is based on folk- wisdom clues.
For those who are expecting, even if you think you know the gender of your baby, you can have fun testing these clues.

You’re having a GIRL if:

• Your baby’s heartbeat is 140 beats per minute or higher. This means, girls are more active in the womb compared to boys.
• You’ve gained weight in your hips and back.
• You crave to eat sweets or fruits
• Your face breaks out more than usual. You’re blooming, pretty than before.
• You’re the mood-swing queen.
• You had morning sickness during your first trimester.
• Your left breast is larger than the right breast
• Your gets reddish highlights.

You’re having a BOY if:

• Your baby’s heartbeat is less than 140 beats per minute.
• You’ve gained weight mainly in your stomach
• You crave salty or sour foods.
• Your feet are always cold.
• You have to shave your legs more often.
• Your nipples and areola are much darker in color.
• Your husband is gaining weight, too.
• Your nose as if it’s getting wider.

In my situation, I guess I have an idea as to what gender do my baby have. I think she is GIRL. Well, we will find out this Saturday, April 4, 2009.

Last January 26, an annular solar eclipse – the first of the six eclipse events this year – was observed in the country. I was informed by my co – teacher that there will be an eclipse at 4:00 p.m. She wasn’t sure if it was true. If it is true she advised me hid in a dark place for she believes that there is an effect to the pregnant woman. Based on what she observed, others may have difficulty in her delivery; others may have a baby with defects. I told her abruptly that whether it is true or not, I must believe on what you said. I called my husband to check if there is an eclipse. After he reads the news at the internet, he confirmed that there will be an eclipse at 4:00p.m and another will be on February and July. So I hide before the said time.

Perhaps I could say there is an effect of an eclipse because as of February, one of my cousins who gave birth in caesarean section; the daughter in- law of my co – worker also experience the same way of giving birth.

On the other hand, last February 9, another eclipse begins when the Moon enters penumbra at 8:36 p.m. and ends the following morning at 12:39 a.m. I and my husband heard this over the radio as we rode on a taxi. I was afraid that we might be caught by the traffic and I will be hit by an eclipse. Fortunately, we able to make it, we arrived in our home 45 – minutes before 8:00 p.m. I just stayed inside our house. Out of curiosity, my husband went out and took some pictures of the moon. However, due to its cloudy atmosphere, he wasn’t able to capture even one.

As I wrote this, I am upset with the effect of this eclipse to my pregnancy. Imagine, there are four more eclipses that will hit in our country. The next lunar eclipse is my expected due date. I just hope, that God will save me this day.

Source : NASA