Umi's job application at mom's office

Disclaimer: Do not take this post seriously. (As if my other posts can actually be taken seriously. :-p )

Wearing her white jacket that made her look like a baby gorilla, Umi and her entourage visited mommy's office last Friday, 26 October. The visit was actually a potential job interview for Umi with mommy's boss. It was decided that Umi could take a job while she's up in the middle of the night.

After registration at the office gate, the group had their photo taken by the fountain.

Umi all set for her interview

Umi's entourage by the office fountain

Since the interview was only in the afternoon, Umi joined her entourage for lunch at the cafeteria as she took a quick nap.

Lunching at the office

Of course, it would not be Umi's day out without her poses. So here they are.

Umi doing her stunts while her entourage was having lunch

Hanging out for coffee after lunch..

And still doing some stunts

After lunch, the time of the interview finally came. So she headed straight to mommy's work area for the interview. However, mommy's boss deemed it fit for Umi to stay at home and try her best to sleep through the night. And so, Umi instead entertained mommy's officemates with her seemingly refined and delicate hand gestures while pretending to be asleep.

Umi asleep with mom's officemates 

See? She's really asleep! :P

And that's how the story went for Umi one Friday at mommy's office.

But wait... Later that evening, Umi insisted that she's actually big enough to take on a job.

Look, mommy, I have an office bag!

Towards breastfeeding gracefully in public

Ah, the joys of breastfeeding. And to think I almost gave up because of the pain. Thank God I didn't! And thank God for the milk. Such an amazing experience. (As if motherhood is not happiness and fulfilling enough!)

And I intend to breastfeed anywhere for as long as I have milk (and Umi wants). Join me as I perfect the art of breastfeeding in public, gracefully and in style. =)

Beside F. Hidalgo's paintings at the National Museum of the Philippines

Spent one holiday afternoon lounging over coffee and good music

Before Juan Luna's Spoliarium

Before Felix Hidalgo's painting

With collegemates during Umi's baptism reception

Umi having lunch at my office

While waiting for our turn with Umi's pediatrician

Celebrating our 4th month of breastfeeding
while attending a baptismal party

Feeling sick - while waiting for my turn
(and yaya's) to see the doctor 

This is how I actually start to nurse Umi
- playing with her underneath the boncho
as she doesn't like to be covered.
Not graceful at all.
Yes, I have already given up on my quest
to become graceful while breastfeeding
and instead focus on how to entertain
Umi to keep on breastfeeding in public.   

A pose with Umi's yaya
(who looks like my hairdresser in this photo!) 

Just after a session with Umi
at Thai Me Up in Cagayan de Oro City, Phils.

At CoffeeWorks, Cagayan de Oro City

At Lumbia Airport, CDO
waiting to board the plane back to Manila

Breastfeeding Umi in 3 steps (at Boracay Island)

Breastfeeding before the Boracay sunset

Crushed, bothered, heartbroken after listening to a friend's recent unfortunate experience in Shanghai, China

That I can't focus on work anymore. Details to follow on my colleague friend's personal account of his experience.

It was the most awaited beer in 10 months!

Finally, I had my first San Mig Light after 10 months of fasting. The pregnancy book I was reading said that it was fine to drink small amounts of alcohol even when breastfeeding. We feasted at Uncle Cheffy's two days before my mom returned to Bukidnon.

Umi's day out

Umi had her first day out yesterday. We took her to Podium Mall which is just a few meters away from our condo. We could have taken Umi out earlier if not for the bad weather. Finally, yesterday turned out to be one sunny Sunday afternoon, permitting us to walk to Podium.

R was very proud to carry her little lady.

Umi initially looked terrified with the bright lights, several faces, and multiple colors around her that she took refuge on her father's chest. But she eventually warmed up and started to cheer up. I was able to breastfeed her in the mall while having coffee and got to change her diapers peacefully. Later during dinner at the mall, I breastfed her again. It was a fine day out except that Umi became too stimulated back home - she slept at 4 am!

Happily breastfeeding

And my maternity leave starts now…

A recollection of the start of my maternity leave on 6 August 2012, 12:30 pm

It was a rainy Monday afternoon when I started my maternity leave. To celebrate it, I invited Mama and R to have lunch with me at the office, where R finally tried the much-celebrated MOD – meal of the day! At Php55.00, you already have 2 cups of rice, a vegetable dish, a choice of the four main dishes, a bowl of soup, and a dessert. And it’s even served by Barrio Fiesta, famous for its kare-kare! Now, who would not agree that is a very good deal? No wonder it's my no-brainer lunch at the office.

Of course, R was very happy with his chosen meal. Mama and I, on the other hand, opted to order from Café Mediterranean, which just recently reopened at the office cafeteria. Mama had roasted chicken with buttered rice and I had the falafel meal with lentil soup. And of course, since it’s Café Med, the tabouleh was not spared. Umi shouldn’t be a stranger to Greek food any longer. =)

After lunch, we dropped by the newly opened deli where we had coffee and some pastries, including the famous crinkles. On our way home, we checked the items sold at the office shop. R checked some new books that are for free at the shelf. He would usually get some reading materials from the shelf for his toilet reading. It was there that I noticed a nice coffee table book displayed on the shelf designated for stuff that can be taken freely. I asked R to get a copy to which he declined because it had a price tag – Php1,000.00. Unconvinced, I asked the person at the cashier if the book was actually sold at the said price, to which he said, “It’s free! You want more?”

R was ecstatic to hear this that he ended up with four copies in his arms! He planned to give them to colleagues as presents. We also planned to give a copy to our obstetrician after I give birth. This gesture would actually pay off as our lovely doctor really liked the book she even gave us a discount for her professional fee!

See how happy he is to grab copies of the book???

I also shared the news to an officemate. And, indeed, I didn’t fail in making two guys happy with a freebie!

Umi pics

A photo with the birthing team

Umi's adorable photo minutes after she was born

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Pics taken at home