Perks of Being a Mom

1. You get your hair combed with fascination, and utmost care by your 18-month-old daughter :)
2. You get to play hide and seek all day, and have an instant playground without going out your house.
3. You get inspired to read more books because the little one makes it a point to read her book again and again everyday.
4. You will always have someone running to give you a hug.
5. You are taught a new song everyday and do a duet as well.
6. You will learn that cellphones don't need installation guides. Hey, a toddler can always fix one!

Amazing Baby Development

*I would update this post every time I would see something new, which I tend to forget. I would also look into my journal entries to write here skills which she had learned when she was younger.

Four days from now my daughter will be turning 11 months old. And I couldn't believe the developments which occurred these past days while my husband is away. (Tomorrow he's finally coming home since Sunday afternoon.)

Each child develops at her own pace. I don't intend to compare one child to another. I see that some children walk early, like I did at 8 months old, but that doesn't mean those who do it late will become a weakling years after.

Let me share with you my daughter's milestones:

10.16.2014 *almost 11 months old
She now knows how to hug me, her desperate gesture when I come near her crib and she wants me to take her out.

10.16.2014 *almost 11 months old

After done talking with my husband via Skype, I saw her pajamas on the other side of the crib! She was able to remove them. Now I understand how important diaper covers are.

10.17.2013 *almost 11 months old

She and I were listening to Katherine Jenkins's concert with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, while writing some article assignments. I realized she was standing on her own for about 5 seconds. She looked like she didn't realize that she was already doing it without support, as she busied herself scratching the laptop cover.


8.26.2014 *1 year and 9 months old

Finally, she now learned how to sleep on her own. For months, I've been worried about her sleeping routine. In a few months' time, she would have to sleep on her own for 3 days since I would have another C-section for our second child.

My milk has been putting her to sleep ever since she was born. Being away from her (she's not allowed to stay in the hospital) makes me worry a lot. Now I'm relieved.

It was just part of her pretend plays, closing her eyes as if asleep, and getting up each time. But eventually she succeeded. I left her alone in the room for about 10  minutes, and when I came back she was sleeping deeply. Wheew.

Babies nowadays

I went down to prepare my baby's food and left her on our foam bed. We didn't want to get a real bed yet, since we have a plan to move to a new home soon. I left our laptop (open), as I was still working on an article for my part-time job, while my girl was busy playing with her toys.

It is I and my husband's routine to chat each other while he's at work (don't worry he's allowed to do it).

About 3-4 minutes later, I found a chat message sent to my husband from me.

It was really funny because our 8-month-old baby did it. And she even sent more than one. I guess babies nowadays are really different. I can't imagine how she figured out where ENTER was.

It was pure coincidental I know. And I guess some moms have experienced it, too.

 

When babies are teething

My daughter would have her upper two front teeth seen very soon. She has been fuzzy since yesterday. At first I thought she had an allergic reaction from yogurt after I had her taste a little. I went down to our first floor to wash her clothes, and heard her crying loudly. She had some reddish spots on her eyebrows. I panicked because she sounded in pain.

Good thing my husband called and comforted me. He then reminded that it was usual for our baby to get those reddish spots when she feels hot. He told me to turn on the air conditioner and see if the spots would go away. Minutes later, and after I had her settle down, the spots were gone. And she looked like nothing had happened.

Later, I noticed she felt warmer than usual. She was to get a fever. And I realized she was uncomfortable with her gums that she kept on biting her lower lip.

Today, she was fuzzy and would cry every ten minutes or so. It was hard for me to put her to sleep. She didn't get any since she woke up at 7.15am, until 3.45pm. She's sleeping right now but whenever I make some noise she would cry and would ask me to feed her.

So she could forget the pain, we played almost all day. She loves taking pictures, and we did :-) 

She doesn't have an upset stomach. She's just fuzzy. She refused to use her teether. And it was also challenging to feed her. But I feel good knowing she's just doing fine. I mean it's normal for babies to get fuzzy when they are teething.

Baby Items You Should Not Forget

My mom is living far from my city so I had to rely on 'mummy blogs' to know more the basics of baby care. They were really helpful, but no one could evaluate me better, on how I am applying those, but my mother-in-law.

She helped me prepare my baby bag long before I delivered my child. She taught me the basics (though I always forget) and she keeps on reminding me, which was very helpful.

These are some of the things that should be in a baby bag:

• Alcohol (70% solution)  - You use this before holding the baby. It's my SOP : )

• Wet wipes - Helpful when changing diapers, only when there's poop. I've learned from a pediatrician that you should not use this often because it contains chemicals that may cause skin rashes to baby.

• Microfiber towel (extra) -  When your baby is sweaty, spits out.

• Disposable diaper (extra) - Bring at least 3-4 pieces if you plan to be away for 3 hours or more. They are better than cloth diapers when going out.

• Clothing, socks (extra) - You don't know what may happen. She could throw up or spit out, or she could soil what she's wearing.

I also making sure I got these in my bag:

• Mobile phone - My baby was very sensitive when she was younger. She could wake up with a little movement or a little chatter. I used my mobile phone to ask help from my husband by texting even if he was just meters away from me. This is also VERY helpful when we go out

• Nursing bib - I can't live without it : ) I can nurse my baby anywhere, anytime with it.

• Toys - I think babies know what toys are. When they get fuzzy, their attention shifts to the toy when you start playing it.

• Headgear - Great backup when temperature drops or when it rains.

Feeding My Baby at 6 Months

My daughter is now more than a week and 6 months old and just as what the pediatrician told me, I could now feed her. Some mothers start to feed their children at 4 months or 5, and I was also tempted to do so.

The doctor said I should wait for the time when my baby will then have interest in food; the time when she will have more resistance to allergic reactions. And yes, I waited. 

She is very observant. Weeks before she turned 6 months, she was already mimicking my mouth movements when eating. She loved doing it. On the day appointed that she was ready to eat, I was so excited and made some brown rice porridge with a part of mashed banana. We placed her on a high chair, she was delighted to sit there, and started to feed her.

I was so surprised that she did not like the taste. Probably because it was a little bit sour. I don't know. I tried 3 times and she refused. She closed her mouth and moved her face away. I couldn't believe that she didn't like it. But I decided to try it the next day.

And again I was excited to give her food, and by this time I didn't add mashed banana. And poof! She liked the taste, though she was hesitant at first. I was anxious that I used the other spoon (I bought two spoons for her) in case she would associate the taste with the spoon used yesterday. Babies got good memory so be careful (wink).

I was successful for the next 5 days of course exhausted a lot of creativity. I figured out that she felt held in her high chair while eating so I fed her while she played. It took me 50 minutes on average for 1-1/2 tablespoon.

This week I'm feeding her with porridge with a part of mashed carrot. She's more particular with the texture so I should work on it.

I delivered my baby via emergency C-section because..

These are just my thoughts on why it happened:

• I was just sleeping all day.
• I only walked a little. 30 minutes 3-4 times a week.
• I ate and ate. I got big.
• I carried heavy things. When it flooded, I and my husband were able to bring our fridge to the second floor.
• I had HIGH TOLERANCE to pain. I knew I was in labor but was still able to bear it. Didn't ask for the nurse's help.
• I was worried if I pushed continuously during the labor, my baby would get stressed (which is bad for them).

FACTS

• The induction didn't work out. I was induced

Selling unused baby items

Months before my daughter was born, my mother-in-law accompanied me to buy some stuff for her:

feeding bottles for newborn, and for months after

powder milk container

organizer for feeding bottles

extra feeding bottle teat

 

Weeks before my due date, I and my husband bought:

aluminum sterilizer

pacifier

My daughter is turning 6 months now and we have never used those. When I gave birth, the hospital had me breastfed my baby. They encouraged me to nurse her that way so that she does not get sick, plus it was the hospital’s policy. I am actually glad they did it.

So what should I do with the items we bought? I came up with an idea to sell it to a friend who’s adopting a baby. Of course, she will not be able to nurse the child so she would really need the items I have.

Why not to sell it to expecting moms? I am not encouraging mothers to feed their baby with formula milk. I have tried breastfeeding and I have learned for myself that it is the best for babies. My baby is very healthy and we've never rushed her to a clinic/hospital for any illness.

I feel sad whenever I see a working mom leaving her baby with a formula milk. Breastfeeding is still possible even when away.

Baby Wrap: Go Where You Want to Go





 Bailey Wrap

Many mums here in the Philippines think that having a baby is the end of their shopping activities, meet-ups , and all other things that they used to enjoy before giving birth.

Some would resort to leave their small ones to their mothers and even to nannies thinking that it is the only way to have their young taken care of and at the same time do their activities without worrying. Well, this is just my opinion as what I have observed from others.

When I was about 6 years old (18 years ago), my mother gave birth to my 2nd sister. She bought a baby carrier and people from my hometown were very surprised to see someone wearing her baby. They reacted that way could be because we lived in a remote area.

My mother taught me at an early age that a mother could be almost anywhere she wants to be, as long as she has a safe carrier to wear her baby.

Before I gave birth to my daughter, I made it sure to have a baby carrier (bag type). I thought it was enough. When she arrived days after, I found baby wraps all over the internet and I felt that I made the biggest mistake of my life. I bought a carrier instead of a wrap.

Baby wraps are now becoming more and more popular among modern mums. They are very comfortable for the baby even when still days old. They could be worn even if the baby already learns how to crawl.

I checked where I could purchase such interesting innovation. Moby Wrap is the best manufacturer of baby wraps but they are located in the U.S. so purchasing one would mean I would spend a lot.

This is an instructional video of Moby Wrap:

Upon searching, I came across with Bailey Wrap: https://www.facebook.com/#!/Baileywrapcarrier
They are the Filipino version of Moby's.

My baby is now 5 months old and we are still using Bailey Wrap. It works almost the same way with Moby's except the type of material used.