The Beauty and Horror, that is Pregnancy.

Sitting here in the hospital lab waiting for 3 hours for a series of blood tests and urine samples with only a bottle of water to be taken (after making you gulp a disgusting bottle of sugar drink!); after fasting for at least 10 hours all because I’m pregnant (glucose test) and aching everywhere! I need to eat NOW, dammit!

After 1.5yrs, I’m back again to the cycle. Welcoming back 3months of nausea and puking, a bit of spike of energy in a couple of months after, and then back to hell without remorse.

Sure, before I even got pregnant with my first child, I deemed of pregnancy as something beautiful to experience, the very essence of a woman they say. I always see grace from these pregnant women, despite how they look and walk showing signs of difficulties. It boasts their sheer strength. It is so admirable. Not to mention, that beautiful small being you are making inside, a miracle for sure. Then, I have experienced it myself.

It is a beautiful experience indeed but a horror at the same time. And I am not yet talking about labor and delivery!

I am a working mom and chose not to have a nanny, I drop-off and pick-up our son to/from the nursery and takes care of him at home with the time left for the day. Mothers don’t rest, and I am amazed of the energy that I have everyday even while I am pregnant with our second. But some days, pregnancy just takes toll of my EQ and energy, or sometimes -all of me -and I’m unapologetic…

• Hormonal: I can go crazy in a snap and break your bone if provoked; at the same time cry like a baby for seeing a sick hippopotamus on TV. The same culprit for putting more pimples on your face and everywhere else, and those creepy hairs on your growing bump!
• Nausea & vomiting: no, I don’t care if I vomit in front of you, so get out of the way. And please move away, your perfume smells horrendous!
• Heartburn & bloating: Painful gassy stomach due to bloating (because your stomach muscles are relaxed due to hormonal changes). You eat because you are easily hungry (even at midnight) then your stomach backfires with pain. Then later it puts you to shame, making you fart more than usual for relief! (so much about beauty in pregnancy!)
• Cravings & weight-gain: I will eat anything I want and no one can stop me, or I will eat you too! One pint of dark chocolate ice cream and dark chocolate cake slice on the side please?! Then at the end of the day, you’ll cry for looking like a whale but you just can’t help it!
• Body aches and pains: This one’s a winner. It takes all your good vibes in pregnancy and drowns you with all sorts of sore, especially back and pelvic pains. Nope, you can’t sit too long in the office without feeling pain; nah you wish you can stand still for 5 more minutes; and walking makes your pee slip out like a criminal! And on weekends, I could not even outrun and chase a toddler around. Sitting down and standing up makes you look like a granny.

Imagine all that to be endured in 9 freaking months (except nausea, if you’re lucky) on your own. It’s an emotional battle more than a physical one in my opinion. But you know what, you’ll find new admiration for yourself for going through it even if you’re screaming inside. I feel the miracle of having my unborn child and that eternal bond between us (even if he often does karate inside while I’m having a good sleep). You feel so much love, that is the very thing that keeps you going.

It’s true what Science says, women have selective memory -if not, no woman might choose to have another child (and a dozen more!) after experiencing one pregnancy/delivery. Because after all the aches and pains, and much more horror during delivery, you forget everything!… I bet you, nothing beats the moment you finally see your baby and holding the beautiful miracle in your arms. Love will overflow, forever.

Review: Vaticano Apartments St. Joseph 8

Finding a place to stay in Rome for your vacation is tricky and tedious, especially if you are working on a budget! My husband takes care of our flights and I take care of the nitty-gritty (hotels and tours, as we fancy -okaaay, more of an “I”). Hence, when it comes to our accommodation for holidays, I spend a lot of time researching to find the right one. Shabby-chic at fair value is always the goal.

We opted to stay around the Vatican (Prati/Borgo neighborhoods), at Vaticano Apartments St. Joseph 8, since we are attending a wedding at St. Peter’s and we could just walk (but ended up late on the day, blooper!). Versus hotels, holiday apartments are a great deal -you are guaranteed with more space with living room and kitchen -at a lesser price. Such is a good choice for a family or those travelling as a group.

The apartment gives you a very homey-holiday feel. The bedroom has good lighting and the bed is big enough for the three of us! Our son is taking 2/3 of the bed space by the way.

With an apartment, you have a kitchen space and proper kitchen tools. Here, we are provided with our 3-day grocery for breakfast plus condiments for your pasta cooking -yey!

The long bathroom with its cheerful yellow tiles. The shower is lovely too, my husband liked the glass wall beside it. 😉

The peaceful view from the apartment.

Staying at this apartment made us feel like a local. It is within a proper neighborhood, not crowded and almost no tourists. It also gives you an advantage of a nearby market for cheeses and cheaply priced wines (as in 3.5Euros for 2); and the cafe (La Fiorentina) which gets you an espresso, cappuccino and 2 pastries for a cheap 4Euros.

Down the apartment building gate, someone was thrilled to find a new friend…

The best thing about being away from a touristy spot -you get access to cheap and reasonably priced food and drinks! And sometimes get a freebie, when you tag along a cutie.

The apartment’s owner, Simona, is cordial and very accommodating with our early check-in and taxi requests. I could say that the only negative part is the fee of 21Euros for the cleaning of the apartment upon check-in. But for the price we paid (a total of 280Euros for 3nights) vis a vis the overall experience, I will not complain. I highly recommend this apartment, like all the others who have stayed here.