After three kids, it isn't surprising that Kristine Hermosa Sotto has not really gone shopping for Baby Vin, her fourth baby with Oyo Sotto. She has an overflowing supply of hand-me-downs for the new baby to use especially since it has only been two years since Kaleb came along.
“Actually, ang dami ko nang napamigay before,” the actress tells SmartParenting.com.ph. “Mahilig din kasi ako bumili, but when new stuff come along that are more portable and cute, less bulky, you get those and give away the rest. Pero it’s all good, because you can bless other people with what you give away.”
For this pregnancy, Kristine says she chose to get a few new pieces of baby clothing. Based on her Instagram posts, her new baby gear includes a Maxi-Cosi car seat and an Aprica stroller. But there are posts of "maternity" clothes, ones that she can easily rewear after she gives birth, and another where she's looking for a buyer for a massage chair. Friends have always described Kristine as practical.
So how has this pregnancy been? Kristine says she's better prepared for this one, and she has her past two pregnancies to thank for.
“Sobrang smooth yung pregnancy ko kay Ondrea, ang dami kong nagawa. With Kaleb, completely different. May morning sickness, sluggish yung feeling, and very irritable. So now, with this pregnancy, I know how to fight it. I’m more disciplined now. With another baby on the way, it’s getting more challenging. But better, because you have experience already, you’ve learned a lot with every child. So kahit papaano, I know what I need, not much trial and error is needed anymore.”ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW
Kristine has always been a hands-on mom and prefers to take care of the needs of Kiel, Ondrea and Kale herself. But pregnant with three kids is no walk in the park, so she recently got yayas for the two younger kids. She is still doing her share of the household chores though.“I’m the type of person who doesn’t like sitting or lying down, I always want to be productive,” she says, adding that fixing and cleaning the house is a form of stress release for her. Her husband will also attest that she's quite the handyman, changing bulbs and repairing broken electric fans.
She and Oyo also help Kiel and Ondrea with their studies, although Kristine proudly points out that Kiel hardly needs their help. "He’s good at everything." Ondrea is at the stage where she’s learning how to read, write, and spell. Kaleb, who just turned 2 last October 11, loves to doodle and converse already.
“He’s super advanced for his age,” the proud mom exclaims. “Parang ang galing niya makipagkwentuhan. He has EQ (emotional quotient) -- he knows when something is wrong, when someone is sad. Ang galing niya mang-cheer up. He’s very sensitive, and sobrang cheerful na bata. And malakas! Hindi siya iyakin.”CONTINUE READING BELOWwatch nowJust before our chat came to an end, our topic fell on what Kristine has learned about motherhood. Kristine says that she’s learned to prioritize what God wants her to do daily, and let everything else fall away. “Pray for the things [na] gustong pagawa ni God sa’yo."
Ever the practical mom, she added, "‘Yun ang natutunan ko eh, na kailangan kung ano lang yung priority [yun ang gawin mo]. Or else, mapapagod ka, and in the next few days na kailangan ka ng anak mo or family mo, wala ka na di ba, kasi burned out ka na. Kapag too much na, parang misan hindi ka na masaya sa ginagawa mo, eh. You’re no longer excited or fulfilled. Know your priorities, and pray for grace so that you can see the joy in what you have to do and want to do.”
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