Quiet Times

This week's Mommy Moments theme is ... SENTIMENTAL MOMMY MOMENTS.

My baby is very malikot. Even when he was only a few weeks old, he was never still. His feet would be kicking or his arms would be waving all over the place. Even breastfeeding, one foot would anchor itself on whatever (my tummy, a pillow, the person beside me) and the other foot would be kicking or wiggling. One hand would be anchored on my back, scratching or twisting my shirt, and the other one would usually hold my finger, pushing and pulling into tiny circles.

While nursing, he anchored his foot on my arm.

Likot ng kamay kahit tulog...

His Lola would give up carrying him after a few minutes because he is so restless; wanting to stand up, trying to twist around, looking at things that attract his attention (like the tv, computer, a moving person), kicking, or waving, or sometimes all these at the same time.
I'm pretty active myself, used to pushing patients on wheelchairs or hospital beds (hey, I worked in a government hospital, what do you expect?) so it was pretty easy for me to carry JT despite his kalikutan. But lately, he's grown so much that I think he's almost half of me (I'm on the short side so he's not that big yet, just big for me, LOL) and I have to give him over to his yaya (She's waaaay taller than me).

My sentimental moments kick in when I look at his old photos and videos or when he quiets down, i.e. (1) when he wakes up in the morning , (2) when he's almost asleep while nursing, (3) when he's asleep, and (4) when he settles down on my chest, rests his head there, then hums softly (minsan kasi ayaw niya, gusto parating nakatayo, para bang sinasabi niyang, Mommy, big boy na ako).

Only during these times will I notice the physical changes, how fast he's growing, recall his new tricks. I remember how I could cradle him with one arm only. He used to sleep on either mine or my husband's chest and now he's on his own bed ...er...crib. Time flies so fast! If I could only slow it down. ;(

I see this most mornings...JT opens his eyes, stretches, yawns...






I greet him, Good morning baby! ... and he smiles...

Sleeping time

...Yes, he's asleep...

For more sentimental mommy stories, join us at Mommy moments!

Diaper Graffiti

When Sherwin was studying for his board exam, he occasionally took breaks.
By his schedule, he should have been finished by Friday and relaxing by Saturday; his exam was Sunday (040509). But due to unexpected interruptions, his schedule was disrupted and he was cramming like crazy come Saturday. On one of his brain cell-refreshing breaks, he had an idea.

It looked fun. So I had to do it, too. See the little scribble on the side?

JT didn't seem to mind. So, on his next diaper change...

Si Yaya, nainggit. Nakigaya din.

*** Thanks to TJ (and Twinkle) for the suggesting the title :D

'd TAYAGs

Introducing ..... dum dum daaaaaa!

Make your Stick Figure Family at FreeFlashToys.com

Thanks for this tag, Chris! It was really fun :D

I'm passing this on to Twinkie, Ninang Angie, cousin Eariel, Beth, and Jeng. Hope you enjoy this, too!

Catching ZZZZ's

My mom said she never had any problem putting me and my brother to sleep. We'd sleep straight from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. And every parent we knew had their kids sleeping straight by the time they reached 4 months. When JT turned 3 months, we were so delighted that he showed "the signs." He slept less during the day (around 2 to 4 hours) then slept 8 hours straight for 3 consecutive days. Then it stopped. Then it happened again. This cycle occurred only thrice. He reverted back to sleeping with 3-hours interval. He turned 4 months. He turned 5 months. He turned 6 months. There was no improvement. In fact, it only got worse. He'd sleep the 3-hours interval until 4 a.m. then he'd wake up every hour crying. Oh the headache! My husband (who is a light sleeper) and I despaired.

Then Beth suggested I read her blog "Zzzzzzzzz....." She mentioned how useful this site was to her - Johnson's Baby Nursery. So I checked it out. There you can download lullabies with lyrics, create your own ambient sound, create your child's sleeping profile and give you tips if the results were not so good, as in our case.

JT's sleep profile showed a disrupted sleep pattern.One, he was so used to being rocked (he has this very useful rocking cradle) that he can't sleep on his own. Two, sometime during the night, we transfer him to our bed. Apparently, a high percentage of babies who sleep in their parents bed experience a disrupted sleep pattern. I noted that he flails around and search (with eyes closed, head turning, and pursed lips) for...ahem...my breast. Third, JT had a hard time adjusting to our routine since our hours were pretty much unpredictable. So, following Johnson's advice, I made a "before bedtime" routine.



6:00 p.m. Cerelac
6:30 p.m. Breastfeeding
7:00 p.m. Bath time
7:10 p.m. Massage with Physiogel AI cream
7:30 p.m. Rock and cuddle him to ABBA's Golden Hits (He loves their song! He stops crying when he hears 'em)
8:00 p.m. He's fast asleep on his crib

The first 2 nights were difficult. He would wake up after a few hours. Once he realized neither his Daddy or me were going to pick him up, he cried hard and loud. It was heartbreaking. I only pick him up after several minutes, after making sure he really is hungry. Once he was asleep, I put him back on the crib even though I was so groggy that I didn't want to get out of bed. Finally, our efforts payed off! It's been 5 days since JT started sleeping through the night. I checked his sleep profile again and Voila! It said GOOD SLEEP.

Thanks so much for the tip, Beth!

First Feeding

Our much awaited moment has arrived - JT's first feeding! Yehey! For the past 2 months, we've noted how JT would watch closely the food on the table or stare at us while we put a spoonful of food in our mouths. Sometimes he'd smack his lips. Parang natatakam na siya. However, both his pediatrician and allergologist insist that we feed him at 6 months. Well, tama naman sila. Aside from being capable of swallowing at 6 months, a baby's gastrointestinal tract (from mouth to anus) is near an adult's maturity already. Another reason is because he has atopic dermatitis. He has a high probability of having food allergies. We have to give food one at a time so we could easily detect which ones will cause an allergic reaction.

And so, on April 7, 2009, I got up excitedly and immediately fixed JT's first meal - Cerelac's rice and soya. Once he saw the spoon coming, he automatically opened his mouth. Walang kahirap-hirap. Well, medyo makalat lang nga dahil ang likot-likot niya. He finished in a few minutes.

It's been a week and there are no signs of allergic reaction. We can now try a different kind of food.

Brave Little Boy

Yesterday, we went to JT's pediatrician for his vaccine. Time flies by so quick and I didn't realize that yesterday was his last for the Hepatitis B/Polio/DPT/Hib series (this is given in 3 doses). Next month he'll be getting one for pneumonia and one for flu and then there'll be a long rest for him before he gets his measles vaccine at 9 months!

We're lucky that JT doesn't mind the shots. He's so cooperative and hardly cries at all. There was one time when he was getting restless in the clinic while waiting for our turn. But during his vaccination he just looked at us as if to say What are you doing? then promptly fell asleep after his Daddy picked him up. Last month, he started staring at the the syringe and needle while the vaccine was being prepared. He started crying when we put him down as if he knew it was gonna hurt but he started howling when his Daddy started teasing him Ayan na ang karayom, tutusukin ka na. Yesterday, he stared again at the syringe and needle but he didn't cry. His Daddy was softly whispering, in a comforting way. I wonder if he understood.

I hope he continues his brave streak until he gets his last vaccine.