The beginning of a new journey

Our baby Gabe is almost a month - these past few weeks were definitely a whirlwind - our concept of day and night is so out of wack. But just now am i able to get to the computer and blog for a bit.

I've loved every experience thus far. You can read all the book and articles you want, but nothing prepares you for this big milestone in your life.

I want to backtrack and record my labor story - just because i don't want to forget that incredible experience.

I knew baby was coming. i had 2 major signs:

1) on the morning of May 19 - i had a dream (keep in mind that i barely dreamt at this point bc i could hardly sleep. in my dream, i saw my dad and he said to me, "He's not coming today, he's coming tomorrow."

2) I received that beautiful forward from Wil's dad - the one i posted on May 19th, where God told the baby, you'll meet your guardian angel tomorrow.

Everything was referencing "tomorrow."

May 19th - 7:45 am - I woke up feeling cramping - but not unbearable - but i had no clue what to feel so we called the doctor and they said to come in.

1:00 pm I stayed in triage for a few hours for them to monitor the baby's heartbeat and my contractions. They also checked my dilation and i was only 1.5 cm dilated. After they checked my dilation my cramping became more severe but they were still like 8 minutes apart.

4:30 pm - They figured i was in early labor so they recommended i go home and wait it out. At home i was miserable.

10:oopm - The contractions were getting stronger and stronger, but they still weren't 5 minutes apart like the dr suggested they should be before i went to the hospital. Wil was so sweet to me. He rubbed my back everytime the contractions came. He lit candles all around the living room and played relaxing music for me. He knew how important it was for me to have a "spa-like" experience during the labor.

For me, the contractions felt like severe menstrual cramps combined with the feeling of my lower back being pulled apart. The cramps i could deal with, but my back was torture. The only way i could get through them was Wil rubbing my lower back.

May 20th 3:00 am - I couldn't bear the pain any longer so we got ready to go the hospital. I took a shower and made sure everything was packed in my hospital bag. I kissed sushi goodbye for a bit and we made the real trip to the hospital.

4:00 am - we arrived at Emory University hospital and i was officially admitted because i was 4 cm dilated.

6:00 am - I finally asked for epidural because the contractions were coming every 2 minutes and i couldn't stand the pain anymore. i was cringing all the time.

7:30-9:00 am - the epidural arrived sometime during this time frame - i don't even remember anymore. i just know it was like a dose of heaven. People say the needle is so scary looking because its huge, but i didn't look at it and i didn't care. I just wanted pain relief - STAT!

(I was feeling happy after the epidural :) )

9:00 am - 11:00 am - Heaven! Wil and I were able to finally get some much needed rest. we hadn't slept for over 24 hours. The dr's were checking me and i was gradually dilating as i should - without the need for any medication.

11:o0 am - the Emory team broke my water

12:00pm - i was given the ok to start pushing. At first i had a hard time trying to figure out the right way to push - since my legs were so numb i couldn't concentrate my efforts on the right spot, i was pushing into my chest. But once i figured out the feeling of pushing right, the baby came out in no time. Dr. Fennessy and the Emory team was amazing. they were cheering me on, encouraging me to push once they could see the top of the baby's head. All they kept saying was, he's got a full head of hair! Even wil saw this. Amazing can't even describe how wil was during this whole experience. he was there for me the whole time. he encouraged me to push when i needed to. he helped me rest when i could. He held my hand the entire time. I am so lucky to have him as a husband and now a father to our son.

1:51 pm - Gabriel Viggo Cayetano Leano arrived into the world, crying his little lungs out with a full head of black hair weighing 8 lbs 5 ozs measuring 20 inches long. I couldn't stop staring at this little baby. The most wonderful moment though was when baby Gabe was crying his first cry, and wil starting talking to him in a soothing voice and he stopped crying! The baby recognized Wil's voice! That was a moment i'll never forget.

It's so true when they say that you forget the pain once you see your baby's face. All the pain was worth it - i would love to try for another one in the near future :)


1:51 - that was the moment my world changed. It made me a mom.

Be extraordinary

I met Kelly Cutrone.

Now don't get me wrong. I'm not one of those teeny boppers who follows anybody from tv around town. I've known of Kelly from watching the Hills in the past.

I recently became more intrigued by her when I caught up on "The City."

What struck a cord with me was how she was constantly telling people how she started her business from the ground up without having a clue as to what she was doing. That's what drove me to google her....And that's where i found out she just came out with her book,

"If you have to Cry, Go outside."

As i told you the other week, i ordered this book along with some others. I read this book the minute it arrived in my mailbox, and honestly, i finished it in a day. It was THAT good.

Now, i love reading biographies in general, learning about how people started and how they got to where they are today, but this book is different. Its definitely in Kelly talk - if you didn't tell me who the author was, i'm pretty sure i could guess it was her. She narrated in her straight shooter, no holding back info -manner that she portrays on her shows. Yes, she comes off as bitchy. And yes, if she was my boss she would make me cry, and i would cry even harder if she told me to cry outside. But through this book, you see that she is genuinely a good person. She does care about her employees, her daughter, her clients. She does cry if a client says something mean. But she also avoids the bullsh*t and says the things that no one else will admit. How can you put her down for that?

If i were to explain her book, its like Keith's Ferrazi's, "Never Eat Alone" but for people in the fashion world. If you know me, you know i rave about keith's book ALL the time. But coming from the fashion world, Kelly's book hits home more since its specific to my industry. Her main point was that, there's no secret recipe to success. If you keep working hard, everyday, eventually, 1+1+1 adds up to something big. And she's an example of that.

So, i want to say, it was meant to be that my infatuation with her history came just recently, because i found out she was speaking at a local event here called, SCADStyle. SCAD is the Savannah School of Art and Design. I mean the time difference between when i got my book and the time she was coming here to Atlanta was like a week so it was perfect timing.

I attended her seminar and as i thought, loved everything she had to say. She was funny, very opinionated but i honestly agree with a lot of what she said.

I'll post some take away points in a separate blog.

What i loved the most about her was her "pay if fwd" mentality. She wasn't all about becoming big and popular. She learned what she learned and she made it a point to teach and mentor others. Her being there at SCAD just proved that.

She had a book signing afterwards. of course i was at the end of the line since i waddled my way to it. Well, turns out she had commitments afterwards so the moderators were already warning us, that incase she had to leave before us, we could go to her next location and catch her there. I was seriously bummed thinking i'd have to chase her around. I still don't know my way around Atlanta- plus i got to the seminar early so i righfully deserved to get my book signed. I don't know why, but from reading her book and listening to her speak, i got a feel for the type of person she was and i honestly didn't think she'd go without getting everybody in line.

I was right. As I got to her, she was probaby 20 minutes late already from the time she was supposed to leave. I expected her to take my book, sign it, and that was it. But no, she made time to chat with me. She was telling someone next to her how she had to pee really bad - that's totally Kelly for you. I was cracking up and nodding in agreement. She saw me, saw my baby bump, and said, you probably feel the same way. I totally agreed b/c i really did have to pee - i'm telling you it was a long line. lol. She made the time to ask me when i was due, and she looked me in the eyes, and said, "i sincerely hope you enjoy your experience when you deliver." and she wished me all the best of luck. I can't even explain how much that made my day, my year even. It reminded me of one of her points of advice, you should never just be ordinary, you should be extraordinary. Here i was thinking i was going to be an ordinary person getting my book signed, but my baby bump made me stick out and be extraordinary. My baby helped me without even knowing it. And that inspired me to make myself extraorinary on my own. Even if its for my son, i will make it known to the world that i am something special and that i do have a lot to offer. Thank you Kelly. More importantly, thank you baby.

My outfit for the seminar at 35 weeks:

Target-black leggings

Old Navy - chambray button up shirt - long but slightly fitted

purple sandals (not shown)

Spring 2010 necklace from Designs by K Cayetano

Pearl button earrings

Michael Kors watch

Relaxation

After going to birthing classes, aside from massage and touch techniques, music, and aromatherapy, they suggest having visual aids to relax your body during labor. Wil and I discussed it and the two places that make me happy and have great memories are of course, Boracay, a tropical island in the Philippines, and Santorini, Greece .

Here are some pics from Greece that i want to think about during labor. Greece is literally heaven on earth. The pics don't even do this island justice .

.My cutie pie Wil with Fira in the background, i hope baby looks just like Wil :)Sunset over ImperviogliThe crowd watching the famous sunset in OuiaEven the doggie has a VIP view of the sunset in OuiaOur view of Ouia as we waited for the sun to setCliff diving in Ouia3 bells adorned many churches in Greece, reminded us of San Antonioyum, fresh tomato salads everydayOur walk to FiraOne of the doors of Santorinibeautiful restaurant along the waterOne of my favorite views on the island, it really felt like the doorway to heaven
Not a view of Santorini, but this is the train in Greece, and this is my motivation to get back into my pre-pregnancy clothes after baby arrives. lol. I can't wait to wear a belt again!!!!