We went to Singapore last November to have the other embryo implanted. It went well and two weeks after the procedure, our test result was positive - we were pregnant. I had mixed feelings about the entire situation though, as I wasn't too fond of my last pregnancy despite it being uneventful.

And because we're now back in Manila, I had to look for a local doctor who was familiar with IVF. Turns out, there aren't that many IVF doctors here compared to Singapore. The level of care was also quite different - basically, I prefer Dr. Kelly Loi's version of doing things.

The baby though stopped growing after five weeks, and while I felt sad that we might have lost our last chance to have another child, I also felt relieved. I am aware how lucky we were that we even had the opportunity to do this again, but it is what it is.

Try Again?

New York is not my favorite city. The subway stations rarely have escalators or working elevators, and there is no air conditioning. But my major problem was that there was hardly any place to change our daughter's diaper, and the few places that did provide a changing table, needed cleaning. I think we got so used to super efficient Singapore where almost every mall has padded diaper changing stations, hot and cold water, soap and paper towels.

We were in the city that never sleeps last October for a wedding, and that's basically all we did. It's also possible that the fact we spent most of our week adjusting to Hannah's jet lag contributed to our not enjoying ourselves much, as we didn't really get to see or do anything. So, I'm thinking of taking another trip there and starting all over again. Second time's the charm?

Singapore Zoo

This is an extremely late post.

One of the freebies from Earl's former office were free tickets to the Singapore Zoo. We never got around to availing them until his last day at work.

At first, Earl wasn't too keen on going as he thought our daughter was too young to appreciate it. At one year and seven months, Hannah enjoyed looking at the smaller animals, but completely zoned out when it came to the shows, and looking at the elephants, and tigers (the big mammals).

She also fell asleep midway through the zoo, and due to the heat, we decided to just go home instead of checking out the other attractions. We're thinking now that we'll bring her back once she's a bit older and can actually go through the whole area in one day.

Char

Right now I feel like I just want to mindlessly munch on Char's Butter Chicken. I've passed by this restaurant before as it's just a two minute walk from the apartment, but never even thought of stepping foot inside. It wasn't until a friend suggested that we have lunch here that I got to try them out and now I think I'm in love!

Butter Chicken (SGD 14)

The star of the show is actually their Char Siew, which was good, but I just can't get enough of their Butter Chicken. I've since had it many times and have yet to tire of the taste. Truth be told, I liked everything I've eaten here including the vegetables.

Special Char Siew 100g (SGD 6)

Three Treasures (SGD 14)

Chinese spinach cooked in a delicious broth with salted egg, century egg and egg

And the best part is, I don't have to miss any of this because they recently opened a branch here in Manila!

For those in Singapore, the place is usually packed during lunch so it would be best to make a reservation beforehand.

Ollella

Many stores have come and gone in the four years that we lived on Petain Road, and I was never really interested in any of them until Ollella opened shop. Named after the owners, sisters Marcella and Olivia, they mainly sell desserts - luckily for me. But as someone who has tasted everything on their regular choux menu, I can attest that not only do they taste good, they also look great! (I wish I had a picture of their packaging as I loved that too.)

It was so convenient to have them downstairs especially when we needed to give a gift. I would just call and our order would be ready for pick-up by the time we got out the apartment's main door.

Though there's one thing on their menu that I really loved - the Smoked Salmon Choux (SGD 7.50).

For me, this particular choux has the perfect balance of sweet and salty, soft and crunchy. And the only thing that kept me from eating it everyday was the fact my wallet would suffer greatly along with my weight.

Here's hoping they will still be around by the time we go back to Singapore for a visit.

Back on Home Turf

The one thing I miss about Singapore is our apartment. Malls, museums, and parks can all be visited again, but not the one place we called home for four years. In the past, whenever we would go on vacation, we could not wait to get back. Now, that is no longer an option.

Hannah is also missing the only home she's ever known. Since we arrived, she would sometimes wake up in the middle of her sleep and have crying bouts where neither Earl nor I could console her. The more we talk to her or touch her, the more upset she becomes and she starts pointing towards the door.

While I'm sad that we've left, I feel worse about how our baby seems to be heartbroken. There is nothing to do though, but to wait it out and let her get used to her new surroundings.

On a more positive note, I will be spending my time window shopping for our house and updating this blog with posts from our last month in Singapore.

Choupinette

We once had an early morning appointment at Coronation Plaza so I decided to search for a place nearby where we could have breakfast. Luckily, Choupinette was just across the street.

On our first visit, we ordered the Eggs Royal's (not sure why it's spelled with an apostrophe) which Earl and I both liked. Their brunch sets are quite generous with the drinks as it comes with two beverages - one cold and one hot. For me, this is great if you're having a leisurely meal as I couldn't finish both drinks due to time constraints.

We so enjoyed our breakfast that we said we would come back. But since Choupinette is a 15 minute cab ride from our apartment, and the fact there's nothing suitable for our baby to eat (she throws up with anything that contains eggs), it took us a few months to return. We finally got around to it when my sister, Katrina, came to visit.

Earl got The Tristan's which was just okay (your usual breakfast sausage) while I ordered the Eggs Royal's again. Though after tasting what Katrina ate (Le croque-monsieur), I wish I had gotten that instead. My meal was still good, but my sister's order was better. Well, this will just give us another reason to come back.

Eggs Royal's (SGD 26+)

Eggs on toast with smoked salmon and hollandaise sauce + any fruit juice + any hot coffee or hot tea or hot chocolate

Le croque-monsieur, poulet or vegetarien (SGD 19.90+)

Grilled sandwich with a choice of ham, chicken or eggplant with emmental cheese and bechamel sauce

The Tristan's (SGD 24+)

Scrambled, poached or fried eggs with pork or chicken sausage, mushrooms, a "tomate provençale" and a wholemeal bread roll with butter + any fruit juice + any hot coffee or hot tea or hot chocolate

The restaurant itself is small (can be cramped) but cozy and they only accept reservations during weekends for groups of six or more. So, if you do end up waiting for a table, you can either shop (they also sell cheese and freshly baked goods) or pop by the German Market Place next door to pass the time.

A Bend in the Road

Things are still up in the air, but after four wonderful years in Singapore, we might be going home.

On the one hand, I am very excited at the thought of finally being able to fix up our house. We are now thankful that we weren't able to sell it or have it rented out because it means we get to be the first to live there. Another appealing prospect is having friends and family nearby (hooray for babysitters!!!).

On the other hand, I really like Singapore as there are so many advantages to living here. It's safe, so very easy to get around (no traffic), and we get to save more. Not to mention that it's an ideal place to raise children.

So which would I prefer? I'd honestly be happy with either one.

Five Seconds of Fame

Earl is in a magazine! Okay, it's a group picture and his name is not exactly mentioned, but as the Regional Head for Learning & Development and Talent Management, he's played a part in at least three of the five highlighted achievements.

Baptism Supplier Ratings

Here's how our suppliers fared during Hannah's baptism - 10 being the highest and 1 the lowest score.

Church - Santuario de San Antonio
Price - Php 4000
Rating - 9

Pros:
Transacting with the parish office was a breeze and the baptistry was clean.

Cons:
The only baptismal candles that can be used are the ones purchased at the parish office. This wasn't really a problem, but I wasn't too fond of the color or the design.

Reception Venue - Conti's Bakeshop & Restaurant (Greenbelt)
Price - Php 55,580 or 694.75 per person (80 pax)
Rating - 5

Pros:
Both the food and venue weren't bad. The function rooms are located on the second floor and has its own toilet (two actually - separate for males and females).

Cons:
- Initially they didn't want to honor the contract. We paid the deposit in May and signed the contract for 60 guests. But when we inquired about increasing our guest list, they informed us that the original rate they quoted is no longer valid as they will be having a price increase in July. I asked them what was a signed contract for if they had no plans of honoring it? In the end, the rate for the first 60 pax stayed the same and they applied the rate increase for the additional guests.

- Terrible customer service. We had an appointment with them at 3:00 PM to check the venue and pay for the extra guests. We arrived on the dot and was met by one of their sales agents. After less than five minutes she went downstairs and WE NEVER SAW HER AGAIN. We waited for 15 minutes before checking up on her, then we asked at least four other people and either they said she was coming back or we didn't see them again too. Our event stylist was also there with us to confirm the schedule and the layout so we were both just waiting for someone to show up.

After 30 minutes, I got mad. I was able to speak to an agent named Mia to inquire on who we could talk to and she basically asked us in an exasperated tone, "What else is there to talk about?" I replied back, "A lot!"

Take note, we had an appointment. If they're so busy that they can't attend to their customers properly, then they shouldn't have confirmed.

- They wouldn't let our guests in the venue. The reception officially started at 1:00 PM but I told them during our meeting that I've asked the guests to arrive at 12:30 PM. They said okay. On the day itself, they refused to let our guests in until 1 PM. One of my friends had to convince them to open the doors.

- The food was late. One would expect that if an event starts at 1 PM then the food should be ready by then - especially since they charge a fee if we stay past 3 PM. More than 30 minutes later, they started serving the buffet but it was incomplete. They told me that the missing food will be served to the tables directly. I said that would look horrible - buffet line with at least two chafing dishes empty?

The dessert (cake slices) was also not part of the buffet, so we had guests who never got to eat as they had to leave early.

- They ran out of dessert. I asked if we could bring home the excess cake slices and I was informed that there were none. I asked how could that be when an entire table of 10 left early and didn't get to eat? To make up for it, they gave a small cake to take home.

- They assured me that the venue can accommodate 100 guests. Realistically, it can only fit a maximum of 80 people. We had less than 90 guests and they were packed liked sardines. Many people had a hard time getting in and out of their chairs especially if they were in between other tables.

- No elevator. So if your guests are in wheelchairs, you'll need to ask for help. In our case, the servers helped my aunt in going up and down the stairs.

Event Stylist - Dianne Khu Designs
Price - Php 23,000* + Php 2170 for loot bags, crew meals & signage
Rating - 8

*Inclusions:
1. Overall Theme Design Mood board, layout
2. Stage Backdrop – Flat/Tarpaulin
3. Table Decor Custom Table Numbers and Flat Placecards
4. Ceiling Décor Lanterns (max of 3 colors)
5. Manpower & Delivery

Pros:
Dianne was easy to talk to, I loved everything she did, and her rate was reasonable to boot! I'd definitely recommend her to anyone who needs an event stylist.

Cons:
She initially came up with a design that I didn't approve of and already had it printed out, but she rectified the situation beautifully. Just tell her exactly what you want and ask to see the final layout before she sends everything to the printer.

Apparently, it's her policy to only get approval for the anchor areas - the stage and/or the dessert table - the other areas (such as small printables and entrance signages) are upon request.

Photographer - Mhel Mesa Photography
Price - Php 3000
Rating - 1

Pros:
The price.

Cons:
- Most of the photos were blurred and a lot of them had weird angles (as though they were trying to follow the rule of thirds but not quite making it).

- It seems they only took pictures at the start of the reception so some of our guests were not in any of the photos.

- Mhel said that they would send the DVD with all the shots (edited and unedited) three weeks after the event which was held on December 26. Almost two months later (February 20), she said she was already uploading the photos. More than a month after the first follow up, she claims that she had "issues in life" and thus was not able to send the DVD. As of today, we have yet to hear from her.

Planning a Baptism: Photographer Search

It took me a few months to look for a photographer mostly because I could not make up my mind. Do we splurge on a more experienced supplier or settle for someone not as known?

Little People Lifestyle Photography

Mhel Mesa Photography

Rio Jones Photography

In the end, we decided that we just needed a photographer who could do a decent job of documenting the day. So when someone recommended Mhel Mesa, I was thinking that trying out a newbie might work. The photos she posted online looked good to me and her rates were definitely appealing.

Planning a Baptism: Using an Event Stylist

Since none of my friends are creative or artistic, we decided to hire someone to spruce up the reception venue. After searching online, we asked the following stylists for a quote:

DianneKhu Designs

Party Magic

Choosing DianneKhu Designs was a pretty easy decision to make. Aside from the more attractive rate, I liked her sense of aesthetic.

The Ultimate Crab Feast

Either I read about it once the promo had ended or they were already fully booked. So after what seemed like ages, I was finally able to try out Plaza Brasserie’s annual crab buffet! So, was it worth the wait?

On the day we were there, they had Cereal Crab, Salted Egg Crab, Black Pepper Crab, Curry Crab, Steamed Crab with Dang Gui, Honey Rock Sugar Crab, and Chilli Crab. But despite having all these options, I've discovered that I like my crustaceans just steamed with lemon butter sauce (or soy sauce with calamansi) and a lot of crab fat.

The rest of the buffet was what I would call "low-key" as the dishes were simple and not overflowing. It kind of made me feel that since they were serving all-you-can-eat crabs, they decided to skimp on the rest of the menu.

So if you love crab meat and will focus mainly on that, then yes it's worth it. But if you're also looking for crab roe and a great overall buffet experience, then it may be better to look elsewhere.

The Ultimate Crab Feast will run until 23 August 2015.

Planning a Baptism: An Update

Overruled by both Hannah's pediatrician and grandmother, we have postponed her baptism to the end of the year. They pointed out that a one month old baby's immune system is still quite weak and she would needlessly be exposed to so many harmful viruses. They were also not in favor of the baby taking a plane ride to Singapore (according to her doctor, it will only be safe to travel on her third month). We did feel a twinge of guilt for risking Hannah's health in favor of being together as a family, but Earl needed to go back and we didn't want to be separated for that long.

So, the baptism has been moved to December - same church but with a different reception venue. I'm pretty happy with this date change because first, we'll be getting the 11 AM time slot. Originally, we had the 4:30 PM schedule, but since it coincided with the anticipated Mass, our guests would have had a problem finding a place to park.

Second, the family reunion I envisioned will now be possible. Because we will be seeing all our relatives on Christmas Day, they will most likely inquire about our plans for the christening and we can't tell them, "Oh, it's tomorrow but you're not invited..."

The new venue is Conti's Bakeshop & Restaurant located in Greenbelt and here's the buffet menu we've decided on:

60 pax at Php 625 per head = Php 37,500

Pumpkin Soup
Buttered Vegetables
Steamed Rice
Shanghai Rolls
Chicken Pastel
Baked Salmon
Lasagna
Sans Rival
Moist Chocolate Cake
Bottomless Iced Tea or Lemonade

Powered by Formula

I feel like a failure. First, I wasn't able to give birth naturally - I was deathly afraid of being operated on and I felt that my child missed out on all the benefits of a vaginal birth.

Next, I resorted to formula milk on the third day. I had been trying to breastfeed, but noticed that her diapers were clean (no poop or pee) and she also looked desperately hungry despite my efforts. I don't know how something that's supposed to be natural can be so difficult.

Hannah is now three months old, but I haven't made much progress as she still cries even after an hour of breastfeeding. She sometimes gets satisfied, though for most the of the day, I am just the human pacifier. I've kind of given up - anyway, my husband was completely formula fed and he turned out alright (my mother-in-law found the process too painful).

I really envy those who have so much milk that they store the excess in the freezer for other people to use. The most I've ever pumped was four ounces and that was just a one time event - usually, I'm lucky to even get two ounces.

Take note that I am still taking malunggay supplements and we even hired a lactation consultant, Nona Andaya-Castillo. Nanay Nona was extremely helpful and informative (we would definitely recommend her to anyone who needs help with breastfeeding), but there's not much that can be done if mother nature isn't cooperating.

Oh, well.

Hannah Louise

Initially weighing 3.463 kilograms (or 7.63 pounds), our daughter was born via cesarean section at 4:13 PM on a Friday.

I worried about a lot of things before she arrived and the fact I wasn't able to give birth naturally made me an emotional mess. Thankfully, everything turned out well in the end and we're just so happy she's here.

Baby Registries: A Comparison

We weren't planning on signing up for a gift registry since our guest list is quite short. But a staff member of the Baby Company told me that we could save 10% on regular items if we registered.

This got me thinking, if we bought the Graco Pack 'n Play On-The-Go Playard which costs Php 7999.75, the discount would be around Php 800! Also, some of our friends have already asked us what we want for the baby so this seemed like a really great idea. In the end, we did the registry, but not at the Baby Company as their options were a bit limited compared to other stores in Manila.

Baby Company (Mall Boutique)

Pros
- For a minimum of Php 500, registrants and their guests get a 10% discount for regular items on the wish list (cash or credit card)

Cons
- There are only a few branches - four (4) in Manila and one (1) in Cebu
- Toiletries and diapers are not included in the discount
- Only the guests get SM Advantage points

Mothercare

Pros
- Has a wider range of items to choose from including nursery furniture

Cons
- No discount for either the registrants or their guests

SM Store

Pros
- Registrants and their guests get a 10% discount for regular items on the wish list (cash or credit card)
- Registrants get a 10% discount on any regular item within the SM Store (including the in-store Baby Company outlets) for a month before the event date
- Bonus SM Advantage points for the registrants from guests' purchases
- Free delivery service to one destination within city limits
- You can view and manage your wish list online
- Free specialized wrapping service

Cons
- Personally, I find that the items here are more basic especially when it comes to clothing - I prefer the style selections at Rustan's and Mothercare

Rustan's

Pros
- Registrants and their guests get a 10% discount for regular items on the wish list (cash or debit card)
- Registrants get a 10% discount on any regular item within the Children's Section for a month before the event date

Cons
- Discount not applicable to credit card purchases
- Discount for registrant not applicable to the other areas of the store except at the Children's Section