MM #2: Daddy Bonding

 A. and I work in opposite schedules which is very very good for Vien because it means he is not left with only a yaya. It also means that one of us gets to be with Vien most of the day.  That would be A. And that would mean more bonding time with Vien. I can only wonder what they do while I am away.

It is true that A. dislikes his son’s poop. He doesn’t want to change Vien’s diaper. He would, in fact, pretends to be busy watching TV than watch me do it. But, for everyone to know, he was the first one who did it! On our first day at the hospital after the delivery, he was roomed in so we could have a momemt with him. While we were scrutinizing every inch of Vien’s body (it was our first time to see a newborn up close), Vien suddenly pooped! We  wanted to call a nurse to do the thing but we hesitated. We decided to do it by ourselves. If we want to learn things, baby care stuff, we have to do it at once, right? So A. did it! I just handed him some cotton balls and that’s it. I couldn’t be fully involved yet because, you know, there was still a raw wound in the middle of my stomach. So there, I was excused!

With a little shivering of hands, A. pulled it off. Was I proud he did it? Very. It has become his pride as well to have that momentous first experience (between us) in changing Vien’s diaper. And that was also the last.

Although he doesn’t want to  be a “changing-diaper father”,  it did not stop him from doing other awesome things.

He was the one who introduced “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and “Rainbow Connection” to Vien. He used to sing these songs to Vien when he’s only few weeks old, during bedtime, and it seemed effective because Vien would quickly doze off. While I was the type who just hum aimlessly, without a song in mind. So I bought a DVD copy of nursery rhymes which I play every weekend. After several days, A. was surprised to hear me sing “Bah Bah Black Sheep”, “Little Bird”, “Bingo”, The More We Get Together”, “Little Sunny Water” etc. And I was glad that both of them appreciate it.

He was also the one who carefully studies Vien’s medicines. He reads the labels painstakingly, taking notes on the expiration dates and the side effects. He even confirms with othe people like his mother’s doctors, his sisters, and sisters-in-law. making sure that we have the right med for our little boy. He asks the pediatricain a lot of questions. I also sometimes find him reading baby books and then would boastfully tell me things he thought I didn’t know yet (yes, we sometimes compete on who’s a better parent. hehe).

He loves to play silly games with Vien. I love the fact that he can get Vien laughing so easy. Effortless! I myself feel ashamed sometimes when jealousy creeps into me seeing Vien’s eyes light up everytime he sees his tatay with ”play-mode” face (told you we tend to be competitive). Vien seems to prefer his daddy as his playmate over me. My notorious boy would just go to me when his hungry and would crawl back toward his tatay right after he’s full. Aint that unfair? But on the brighter side, I feel specially thankful for the fact that A. has this wonderful parenting skill which I obviously lack (talk about complimenting each other).

There are a lot more to write about how I am thankful to God for having A. around. Their bonding moments are exceptionally sweet and funny. Thank you to Mommy Chris for this Mommy Moments theme. For more entries, click here.

Palakol

Vien has already four teeth. Yay! 

And because of that, nursing him becomes difficult for me, especially when he’s really hungry. His suckle is a bit stronger and feeling his teeth everytime I nurse him, I tell you, is like anticipating a snake to bite me. Although Vien does hardly bite when he’s really in business, that is nursing quietly, he does bite sometimes when he’s over, or when I force him to nurse more despite his struggle appearing ready to fight me. And when he does that, it really really hurt!

I do want to breastfeed and pump until Vien’s first birthday. But with the rate of what’s going on, how am I gonna last till then?

Yesterday, while at work, I only pumped 8 oz. I used to bring home 10-12 oz or breastmilk a day after work. I knew this would come since Vien has started on solid food. My baby boy feeds less at night, though he is not sleeping through the night yet. The more he eats solid food, the less he wants my milk at night. I don’t have any problem with that because I really want him to sleep through the night, if that isn’t asking too much..

He’d wake up 2 to 3 times during the night, either he wants to feed or he wants to know that we’re still nearby, so I’d pat him on his side until he goes back to sleep. It never bothered me really to get up with him in the night because I’d just pull up my shirt to nurse him and it would lull him back to dreamland, quickly!

But I just found out that nursing him to sleep is not good. It won’t help him learn to go back to sleep by himself. Hmmm… patience, patience, patience. So I told myself.

Mommy Moments #1: Special Day

 The day I brought Vien into the world was a very special day. It was my first time to come face to face with the little rascal who had been disturbing me in my sleep for 9 months.

The days thereafter have been special to me. Seeing him cry, yawn, and even while asleep was spectacular. I still can’t believe that this tiny being came from me. God indeed works in most splendid way.

Vien’s christening was also memorable to me. It was a sunny day, December 7, 2008. Our friends and family were all there to share love and support to my baby.

This is my first entry for Mommy Moments meme. Visit Mommy Chris for more entries.

On the go!

That’s how Vien has bee n since the first day he learned to roll over, crawl, and cruise. He always wants to be on the move, fiddling on whatever thing he can get his hands on, and after much thinking, he would then bite it — his shoes, my cell phone, his tatay’s watch, and the rest of our things including our room’s wooden floor! From sitting position, he would bend over till his mouth touches the floor. After “wood tasting”, appeared to be unsatisfied, he’d crawl toward our chair and push himself up. Then he’d do the tasting again, this time, our monoblock plastic chair. Grabe ang likot!

During bedtime, although Vien has his own big space on our bed (we put 2 single sized beds along side each other), he’d often ends up in our side of the bed, making us look crowded in one side while the other is empty. Sometimes, I’d wake up in the middle of the night finding Vien all curled up near my feet. How on earth did he…? He keeps on moving even while asleep! He even kicked his father’s face the other night, leaving A’s lower chin a little bruised. We probably need a bigger bed, or a third single sized bed to cover the whole floor, won’t we?

Honestly, the tight sleeping space, the crowding, the kicking, it’s perfectly fine with us. We savor every moment for we know a few more years from now, Vien would ask us to have his own room. By then, A and I would be left in one small bed and would still feel empty without our little rascal. And by then, we might think of having another baby to have our faces kicked once again