SECOND TRIMESTER WITH MANNY

Click here for our journal on the first trimester.


Verses that Comfort Us
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." -- Philippians 4:6-7




On Manny

Did you spot the "turtle"???

So we found out from the doctor that you will be a BOY.  :-)  You've been growing steadily.  We could finally feel your kicks, moves, and stretches.  You often let us know how you feel through your different moves.  We found that very interesting!!!  You also enjoy the "tummy time" with Papah and Mamah ... the time when we sing, talk, and read to you.


This is also the first time you met Engkong, Ema, and Encek and heard them directly talking to you.  They were here from Thanksgiving time till New Year.  We knew you recognized their voices from the video hangouts we'd had with them before their coming.  And you greeted them with lots of kicks which they also found very exciting.


Another great experience was finding your name.  We involved our immediate families to help us find the name for you.  Since we live far away from them, we thought this will be a great bonding experience for everyone so we can feel connected with you since very very early.  We want to bridge that distance by allowing them to be a part of one of the most important experiences in having a child ... which is finding a name.  They thought carefully and sent us some of their recommendations that involve their hopes and prayer for you when you grow up.  Finally, we narrowed it down to ONE.



On Mamah and Papah

Finally the belly popped!!!

After we shared the good news to the bigger groups of people about us expecting, it's very overwhelming for us to hear their advice and opinions.  May they be about pregnancy, giving birth, parenting, caring for newborn etc.  Some are good.  Some are REALLY good.  Some other are either contradictory to our belief or made us less peaceful.  Though we appreciate everyone's care towards us, we needed to filter out some of the stuff that we should or do not want to hear.  And then we let God fill that gap for us and guide us to what He desires us to hear and do.  Hence, the Bible Verses above.


Not only that the Bible Verses helped us filter out people's advice and opinions, they also guided us through some difficult times with my mom's health conditions and finding out that I have glucose intolerance -- which is an early stage of gestational diabetes and if not cared for as early as possible could lead into the real diabetes and reduce the chance of having the unmedicated natural birth that we have been preparing for.



Things that We Learned or Got Reminded of

• It is harder to expect someone to change.  It is easier to change our own expectation towards this person to avoid further disappointment.
• Disappointment happens when what we expect is not what we get (of an event, from someone, of something, etc).  But God is the ONLY thing that NEVER changes and is ALWAYS faithful.  He is my only rock and the source of my satisfaction.
• Giving up the driver's seat to God is the best thing ever!!!