When weight gain does matter....

I am happy to say that I have been breastfeeding Laureen for 3 months now! Though I must admit, breastfeeding is not a "walk in the park" task for me. The fact that I must always be available for feeding even outside the home makes it more difficult and challenging. I have to think twice of what clothes to wear if we're going out because it has to be convenient for breastfeeding, means lesser wardrobe choices :) Don't get me wrong as I am not ranting :) Maybe I just miss the times when I can be very carefree. Oh, the sacrifices of being a mom!

We had her checked with her pedia today and had her vaccinated. She only gained 1/2 a kilo since last month and though it is still within the acceptable range, it might be a concern if she won't gain at least 1 kilo next month. This would mean that my milk supply is low and that we have to increase her formula intake.

Overall, Laureen is thriving really well and all is well with her health. Meanwhile, she has to re-learn drinking in the bottle since she often refuses it.

On Being A Parent

I am a member of an internet yahoogroup called NewlyWedsAtWork and I have been learning a lot from the members of the group in managing our home. I would like to pick up the topic that was posted by a n@wie-mate Jeng Agustin and she posted a question "Why do you want to have children?"

I am so amazed with how the group members were able to share their insights regarding the topic. Yes, being a parent is a choice and it is a lifetime responsibility and I would like to share my insights:

Being a parent is a choice and a privilege.

A choice.

When hubby and I got married, we know that we both want to have a child. And we are blessed that we had a honeymoon baby :D Inigo is 6 months now and nothing compares to the kind of fulfillment that me and hubby feels. Yes, there are endless of sacrifices that we have to do along the way and as long as we live. But the fact that we chose to have Inigo in our lives makes us realize that it's all worth it.

A privilege.

Every child is a gift from GOD. No matter how hard we pray and how a couple wants to have a child, if they are not blessed by GOD, it won't happen. I know a couple who tries and tries to have a child but until now they haven't been pregnant. And all it takes is patience and faith to the Lord. The couple that I know will have theirs in God's perfect time.

I want to quote a n@wie-mate Mylene when she said. "But you know what, you'll never know how much love your heart can hold, until someone calls you a Mommy or Daddy :-)" She's hit the bull's eye!

Another thing, you will have an additional special day (aside from your birthday) every year - Mother's Day or Father's Day! Teeheee!

CHILDREN completes the FAMILY.

Inigo's Baptism Day

Having a new baby in the family is very fulfilling and exciting. Of course, to moms like me who loves to organize family gatherings and parties, baptisms and birthdays and other baby occasions are ways to "show-off" ideas and actually making it happen.

Just like organizing and planning our wedding, I had so much fun and stress at the same time planning for our Inigo's baptism. I only had 3-weeks to organize the event and yet, I am happy with how the day went.

Here's how my planning went:

1. Inform your church. Before, members of the Catholic church can choose which church they want their children baptised until recently, a memo was released ordering the strict implementation that baptism should be held where your parish is. For example, if you live in Alabang, you can only have your child baptised in the parish of Alabang.

2. Pick your baptism date. Most of the catholic churches administers baptism every sunday but you have an option to have a special or private baptism at your preferred day and time. For us, we opted to participate in the mass baptism because the priest is not available to administer the baptism on feb23 hence choosing feb24 mass baptism schedule.

3. Determine your guests and Godparents. This will determine your budget when it comes to food and other stuffs like giveaways/souvenirs. We had apprixmately 150 guests so that's where we based our budget.

4. Look for reception venue and caterer. This is the next logical thing to do after accomplishing 1,2 and 3 tasks. It would be better if the reception venue is near the church so as to save guests time and effort going to the place. As for the catering service, look for one who is reputable in delivering good, tasty, and yummy food as this will only be your guests' concern since usually, there is no program involved in a baptism reception unlike in weddings and birthdays.

5. Shop for the stuffs. Next is shopping for baby's christening clothes and other baby needs such as white hanky, white cap or bonnet, etc. Also, scout for stuffs needed in decorating the reception venue like, balloons, table centerpieces, cakes, tarpaulin, giveaways/souvenirs, etc. Better if you incorporate a theme which will help you decide and give idea on how to decorate your venue. Inigo had the Little Prince theme. The colors are yellow and royal blue. We put in his tarpaulin the little prince character and so in the invitations. We had cupcakes as giveaway to kids which had a crown as the topper.

6. Distribute invitations. A week before the event is the ideal time to distribute invitations so that guests don't forget the date (most of the time, guests forget the event if invites are given too early) and at the same time, give them ample time to look for a perfect present for your little one. Baby registries are now available in selected baby shops which you would want to take advantage of. We have registered in Rustan's and MaxiStores. This is also the perfect time to inform your chosen godparents that they are indeed chosen.

7. Attend your seminar. The catholic church requires that parents and two godparents attend a seminar or a lecture prior to the event. Usually this happens on the day of the baptism, an hour before the event.

8. Enjoy the event and celebrate the christianity of your child. As parents, we should not forget to celebrate the real essence of baptism which is welcoming our child to the world of christianity. Let us remember that our responsibility of bringing up our child in our faith only starts in the day they were baptised.

I and Daddy Ian are truly praying that our Inigo will grow up to be God-fearing and has faith in the Lord.

8 Random Things About my Inigo

Thanks Issa for this tag!

For the past almost 2 months of his life, Inigo never fails to surprise us with even the littlest thing he does! These are just 8 things he does that really make our day:

1. He giggles even while sleeping.
2. He pouts his lips every after feeding which looks like he wants to give everyone a kiss!
3. He can open his one eye while the other one is closed. Haha!
4. He replies with a sounding "cooo.." if someone talks to him.
5. He cries so loud if in a few a minutes you failed to give him his milk if he's already hungry. (Talk about a demanding child, eh?)
6. He has so many facial expressions that sometimes you can't guess if he is smiling or crying. hehehe..
7. He finishes 4oz of milk every feeding and sometimes asks for more.
8. He makes a sound with his tounge which sounds like he is a disappointed big fellow!

Now I'm tagging all n@wie bloggers on my link list! Enjoy motherhood!

Inigo is 3-weeks old!

It's amazing how time flies. It seems only yesterday that I am still sporting a very big tummy and now our baby is about to be a month-old come next week! I am very happy that I get to spend so much time with him (poor daddy ian 'cause he only gets to play with Inigo in the evening.. hehe..) I am able to see his little milestones of accomplishments each and everyday. Just today, I realized that he can already stay put in his crib or in our bed. He can just lie down and kick and punch and stick his tounge out - all just to entertain himself. He can also stare at the tv for a few seconds. I put him on his crib and I was happy to see that he can already stare with pooh and his friends hanging on the top of his crib. It was a milestone because I now know that he can already see things and focus on them. Here's the picture I took while he is busy following stares with pooh and his friends and seems to be trying to reach them :)

Burp, burp, baby..

I have never imagined that burping a baby can be very challenging and difficult at the same time. Inigo likes to bottle and breastfeed a lot and burping time is quite a task for me and daddy Ian. Darn we find it difficult to have him burp after he makes almost 3 ounces of bottle milk all the way down! Mind you, it doesn't count the amount he takes from my breasts!

We have been researching in the internet on ways and means of solving our dilemma but it seems that we still can not find our match. Inigo still takes time before he gets his burp and more often than not, he usually spits up and hiccups before he gets the magic word - "burp". What's making us more worried is that we see in his facial expressions that he is feeling a lot of difficulty if he doesn't get to burp and finds it hard to sleep, settle down on his crib and calm.

So to those mommies and daddies who can share their style and strategy of burping their babies, we would looovveee to hear your suggestions. *sigh

My Birthing Experience

I finally gave birth to our bundle of joy last January 2, 2008. Here's how it went:

8am – I had an inkling that my bag of water sort of broke. I was not really sure about it so I immediately send an SMS to my OB asking if I indeed was right in thinking that way. She said that it maybe a leak and told me to go ahead to the hospital.

12nn – I was already at the Paranaque Doctor’s Hospital with my mom to meet my OB.

130pm – My OB arrived and confirmed that I have a leaking BOW (bag of water). She then prepared an admission order and told me to go straight ahead to the labor room upon going to the admissions department of the hospital.

3pm – I was wheeled to the labor room. I was attached with a fetal monitor in the first few hours of my stay in there kaya I was not mobile. Buti na lang after a few hours, tinanggal muna yung monitor so I had the chance din to walk around kahit saglit lang. The hospital does not allow hubbies to be in the room kaya ako lang talaga mag-isa. I had the chance to bring my word search dun sa labor room. Hehe. I was not feeling labor pains so I was sort of bored.

6pm – I was induced to start off the labor. Antibiotics were also given to me since I had leaked for almost 10 hours.

Around 9pm – I was again attached to the fetal monitor. My OB found out that my baby was having a bradycardia. The baby’s heartbeat is getting slower and it was a big concern. I might have to undergo a Cesarean Section since I was also not progressing in my labor and not yet dilating.

Around 10pm – Hubby was informed of our baby’s status and me. He then gave his consent for me to undergo a CS operation as soon as possible. I was 2-3 com dilated at those times and was experiencing just a little labor pain.

Around 1030pm – I was wheeled at the operating/delivery room. The anesthesiologist informed me that I would be given a spinal anesthesia. He also told me that I will be awake in the duration of the operation but will not be feeling anything from my stomach down to my feet.

1128pm – Inigo had finally arrived! It was such a great feeling when I heard him cry. Though I was not able to see him came out of my tummy, his cry was enough to make me feel overwhelmed by the fact that I finally have given birth. The pediatrician was signaling “ A – Ok” to me and telling me that I have given birth to a very beautiful boy. Right after they washed up Inigo, they let me kiss him.

Around 1230am (January 3) – I was wheeled at the recovery room.

Around 3am – I was wheeled at my private room and was greeted by my hubby and my mom.

Random Thoughts...

I have been contemplating on what to write about this past week. Nothing much to share. Guess I am just overwhelmed that in less than a month, I will be giving birth to our first baby. Nothing is much more exciting than knowing that in a few weeks time, I will be able to call myself, a mom. Teehee!

Our weekends are filled with attending gatherings. Last saturday, we attended a college friend's wedding in tagaytay and went to a friend's birthday right after. Wonder why I can still manage socializing, huh? I can even stay up late. hehe.. This coming saturday, we are off to attending another friend's wedding (hopefully, the last one for this year :)) and a dinner with my college friends in Makati. Lubos-lubusin na ang paggala hangga't kaya pa.. hahahha..

I have been trying to cut with my eating. Mahirap! Lalo na because of the season.. Geesh.. I also can't help it when my stomach grumbles. And I can't eat just a portion. hehe. Kelangan talaga I feel that I am full before I stop. haayy..

Here are some pictures from the wedding we attended. I have been trying to stay away from the camera as I hate to see myself nowadays. I look so ugly. haha. But I have accepted the fact that I am not a pretty-preggy. More of like a piggy-preggy. hahaha.

Our first baby picture

We had the chance to have a 3d/4d ultrasound last November 6 at In My Womb Ultrasound Centre. Unfortunately, baby inigo wasn't very cooperative at that time so we had to come back after 2 days. He had been sticking his face to my placenta that's why the OB really found it hard to get a good shot of him. Seems like camera shy, huh?! Come two days after the first attempt, still he managed to stick his face in my placenta. Placenta in tagalog is "inunan" - which our inigo really lived up to the use of it.. Ginagawa nya talagang unan.. hehe.. Just last monday, we returned to the clinic for another attempt. At this time naman, trip nyang mag thumbsuck and cover his face with his two hands.. Mukhang ayaw talaga magpa-picture :) I was the one who finally gave up and settled on his shots kahit half-faced lang.. Cute din naman yung pose nya while thumbsucking.. the 4d dvd will be released in two weeks time pa.. Seeing him in pictures just heightened our excitement of him being born..