rainbowfish photo – Girl Gone Cuckoo

I got pregnant but the world didn’t stop for me. Sure, I had to take extra care of myself and people around me were careful with me too, and gave me special attention but I had to continue working — 1) To do what I love and continue to pursue my passion for creating and 2) Because I needed to make a living considering I am a full-time stylist.

Throughout my pregnancy, I was lucky enough to have had stylists wanting to join the team. I had to laugh because God really does put everything into perfect timing. On my 1st trimester, Tara Chua joined Cuckoo Cloud Concepts as my co-stylist then Ephraim Rabanez on the 3rd trimester. I continued conceptualizing photo shoots but Tara or Phraim executed the styling for me, together with my production assistant, Amalia Bautista. I continued to attend all events {weddings} that we had to style and just made sure to sit down whenever I can and lie low on physical activities. Believe it or not, I even flew to Pagadian to style a wedding on the last week of my 1st trimester. A week before I was due to give birth, I attended the last 2 weddings of the month. Whenever I got afraid, I had to remind myself that God won’t give me something I can’t handle.

This post is a tribute to my support system all throughout my pregnancy and even after that. To Tara, Phraim, Amalia, my Uncle Jesan, my amazing mom and dad, my trying-not-to-be-supportive but awesome hubby Harry and now Phil (who just recently joined us as a stylist) and all my event assistants — THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. ♥

silk kimono from BFTS | floral crown by Cuckoo Cloud Concepts

photography by Rainbowfish Photo | hair & make-up by Markie Bautista

since we tried to keep my pregnancy hush-hush during the first few months, i haven’t really been able to talk about my pregnancy save for my family and closest friends and co-workers. this will be the first of my maternity diary posts, as a look back to the wonderful and challenging 9 months and also as a tribute to my awesome photographer and artist friends who kindly volunteered for my maternity sessions.

when we found out
to be honest, when we found out, we were flabbergasted. we got depressed when we lost our 1st baby but we didn’t realize how much it affected us until we found out we were pregnant again. our first reaction was joy. the next was deep, deep fear. i remember coming out of our bathroom, giving Harry the pregnancy test and just lying on our bed, stunned. yes, we were utterly happy that we were gifted with a new baby but we were also gravely afraid of losing it again. we couldn’t go through the same thing. it was too painful. luckily enough, we had the support of our family and closest friends who kept encouraging us and never failed to take care of us.

symptoms, cravings and complications
normally, i have a very big appetite. diet is not in my vocabularly because i love to eat but when i got pregnant, i couldn’t stomach most types of food. my love for pizza and pasta disappeared. i hated cheese and all things creamy. i was a very picky eater that it caused me to lose a bit of weight. i would only eat when i needed to. fortunately, i didn’t experience morning sickness. i was only drowsy, as in always sleepy that there were days that i wouldn’t get off the bed nor get out of the room.

the firsts
i realize now that when we first heard Maddy’s heart beat, she was declaring that she’s really going to stay. her heart rate was loud and fast. when we first tried to see her gender, she kicked and moved her legs too much that it was just impossible to really determine her gender. we already knew we were having a rambunctious baby (and she sure is now.) Maddy’s first kick was a jab and i never knew it could hurt. it was surreal and further reminded us that what was happening was real. it was not a dream. we were really having a baby.

white embroiders slip maxi dress – BFTS | layered necklaces – vintage store finds and forever 21

“maternity session taken at 33 weeks pregnant” | hair & make-up by Markie Bautista | photogaphy by Rainbowfish Photo | set design by Cuckoo Cloud Concepts

Tag Archives: rainbowfish photo

maternity diary: the pregnant stylist

maternity diary: the 1st trimester