The Daddy and The Baby

Among the baby pictures my daughter has with her daddy, this one's my favorite.  It was taken when my baby was 2 months old.  At her young age, she could already sleep on her side, and copy her daddy's sleeping pose! Haha!  Ok...I know that she was not aware of what she was doing, but the sight of that two adorable persons I love most with the same sleeping pose really made me smile. So cute! The moment I saw them sleeping together like that, I hurriedly grabbed the camera and took a shot of them.  And when my husband woke up, I let him see the picture and he was also delighted.  It's one of those kodak moments we had ever seen in our lives!

For those who first encountered the term kodak moments, it means a special, priceless captured shot (by camera or video) which is not directed, nor edited. According to http://www.urbandictionary.com/, kodak moment  is a rare, one time, moment that is captured by a picture, or should have been captured by a picture.  And that special picture above is one example of it!

Somehow, that picture reflects the similarities of my husband and my daughter in terms of personality.  Both are hard headed and very persistent.  They never stop until they get what they wanted.  My husband loves computers and other techi gadgets...I think, my daughter would like them too.  Hey, whenever I place my baby infront of the computer, she would always want to press the keys.  And she also gives a lot of effort to grab our cellphones and play with them! Haha! Hmm...what else...well, they say that my baby looks more like me.  But when she's asleep, she looks like a mirror image of her daddy.  They both have the same facial expression while sleeping.  Not to mention same pose, as well!

It's not just the picture that gives me extra joy, but also the times when they bond together (whether playing and laughing together, until the baby cries and so, my husband would pass her to me).  I love the sight of them together.  I hope they would not just be father-daughter, but also best friends.  I really love those two very important persons in my life---my husband and my daughter.  Daddy and baby.  I consider myself lucky to have them! :)

P.S. Now that my baby is 8 months old, she does more than copying her father's sleeping pose.  She can now hug him while they are sleeping, as well.  Someday, I'll be going to take a shot of another kodak moment--- a picture of the daddy and the baby embracing each other while sleeping.  Nice idea, right? :)

Being a New Mom, Having a New Lifestyle

**I began to write this post a week when I was still a full time homemaker, before I got hired from my new job.  But I finished this a week after I started my new work.  Therefore, to avoid confusion, I maintain the persona of a housewife as I continue and finish this entry.**

My baby now turned 8 months, and this stage is really different from her early months.  When she was 1-3 months old, she barely keeps awake and therefore I could do other household chores that needs to be done.  When she was 4-6 months old, our sleeping nights were quiet (unlike when she was 1-3 months old wherein she would always wake up at night because she was hungry).  She had learned to sleep throughout the night.  But when she turned 7 months old, she started to wake up again in the night, not because she's hungry, but because she wanted company.  She also now has longer time being awake...which means she always look forward to play with me...and because of it, I couldn't do other chores (and even finish this blog!).  Being a mom really is a new lifestyle for me!

My new lifestyle of being a full-time mom of an 8 month old baby girl (with no helpers around):

1.  Having only a 5 minute brunch meal break.  But if I want it longer, I eat my meal while my baby is sleeping at 11:00 am, which would take an hour, if I'm lucky.

2.  But having my meal breaks while she's sleeping would mean moving my bath time at her afternoon nap, which is around 4:00pm.  This nap time of hers usually takes only 30 minutes.  So I would just splash my whole body with the liquid bath soap, put some shampoo on my hair, and rinse myself as fast as I can.  Scrubbing is reserved for weekends, wherein my husband could babysit for our baby longer while I do my things.  Sometimes if I'm unlucky (means my baby would just sleep for a few minutes), I would have my bath time at night before I go to sleep.

Preparation for the baby: Shopping time!

Shopping is one of my favorite things to do! That's why I was really excited when my hubby and I took our first baby shopping together when I was 7 months pregnant at SM Lipa, Batangas.  It felt like buying Christmas presents for someone very special.  Before that shopping day, I already made a list of what to buy.  I got ideas from magazines (Smart Parenting) and internet sites and forums.  I'll be running thru that list and share it on this blog entry so that you may also have an idea on what to buy when expecting.  I'll include the brand and price (Can you believe I kept the receipt!).

Baby clothes.  The infant's wear section of the department store was our first stop.  My husband and I didn't have the idea whether to buy the smallest size for our future newborn or just the small size (or the medium size, so that she could still use it after a few months).  We asked the sales lady for suggestions and she said that the safe bet would be the medium sized clothes because babies grow fast.   So we ended up picking medium sized 2 3-pc white tie sides with sleeves, 1 3-pc white shorts, and 1 3-pc white pants.  We didn't purchase much clothes because relatives already pledged to buy some for our baby too (they bought half dozen sleeveless white tie sides which they sewed colorful patches infront).  And we didn't buy overalls/onesies because the weather in our town was too hot, the baby might get annoyed if she would wear it (and I might get annoyed too when changing her clothes and diaper).  We also purchased plain white mittens, booties, and bonnets to keep the baby's hands, feet and head warm.  We also included bibs in our list (and we chose colorful ones!)

The Baby Inside Me

Hi Baby! This blog entry is made for you by us, your mommy and daddy. It is a blog diary about you, which was written while you’re still an infant.  We hope that when you grow older (and already know how to read), you would be able to browse this blog of your baby moments, and be able to appreciate and inspire your life more as you face the beauty and challenges of life on this world we live in.

We, your mommy and daddy, loves you so much, baby! You are our most precious milestone. We promise to take care of you! Mwaaah!

THE FIRST TRIMESTER

The first 2 months of my pregnancy had been somehow critical because of slight bleeding / spotting and UTI (Urinary Tract Infection). The doctor advised me to take weeks of bed rest, and take medicines until the spotting and infection is gone. This is to ensure your safety and health while you’re still in my womb.

I had several nausea and vomiting but not terrible like other moms-to-be. Foods I crave during those times were fruits.

During the check up on the third month, Doc Grace (our OB-Gyne doc) let us hear your heartbeat by using a device that is placed on my tummy. It was the first time your father and I heard your heartbeat...and it was magical!

Your father and I got married on January 31, 2009. Just before the wedding, I told you to behave well at the ceremony so that I would not feel bad or faint. You were a very obedient baby!

Here you are, baby, inside your mother's womb! This was taken during your first ultrasound (you were 8 weeks and 4 days that time). Remarks of the doctor said that "within the gestationl sac is a yolk sac and an embryo with good cardiac activity" and that you are "live and singleton". Your fatal heart rate was 162 beats per minute (Wow! You already have a heart!). Your expected date of delivery would be on July 19, 2009. Ultrasound was taken on December 11, 2009 at OB-GYN Ultrasound Center at Festival Mall, Alabang.

THE SECOND TRIMESTER