Today, April 11, 2010, is our son's birthday.
Happy 2nd Birthday, lil dude!!!!! We love you so very much, even when you get your brat on.
Love,
Mama, Papa and Bebey <3
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Learning from the first baby
The age gap between our two kids is 20 months. We know first hand, and have always been reminded, every child is different from each other. We realize that their age gap means they're very closely aged to each other, and yes, it's been hard for now. A toddler and a small infant both require so much attention, which has been the hardest part for mama. Our toddler doesn't quite understand why mommy's attention has shifted more to another baby. However, as they get older, we know this age gap will be very handy. And also, because our toddler was a baby only a few months ago, the things we did with him are still fresh in our minds and have we learned a lot!!
First, breastfeeding. Unfortunately, I don't think our toddler got the best benefit from this. It was very hard in the beginning, but I really tried to go exclusive between the 2nd and 3rd months of his life, just before I went back to work. But the first month was hard -- it didn't help that I couldn't get him to latch. But with our new baby, all we needed was the most basic advice from the lactation consultant: don't force feed. That was something I did with my toddler -- I thought I was supposed to feed him by a certain time, but it turns out he was more sleepy than hungry. This time around, new baby has probably consumed more breastmilk than her brother did. Yes, I feel guilty. But on the bright side, our toddler is on track with all his developments.
Second, now that we know what to expect with teething, I am more prepared. Our toddler developed finger sucking to sooth his teeth and hunger at times, but now it's hard to get him off it. I do think, all the finger sucking has affected his teeth. They are on the crooked side. So with our new baby, we're going to try to guide her not to suck fingers. And if she grows crooked teeth despite this, it would mean she got it from me :(
Third, solid feeding is the one phase I'm looking forward to. With our toddler, his pediatrician didn't advise solid food until 6 months, but we jumped and did it at 5 and a half months. We will probably stick to the same schedule. And when time comes for me to make baby food, I'll know how to better prepare them. Before, I would always put the wax paper over the freshly pureed food and when frozen, they got stuck to the food. So I won't do that next time ;-) It always took me one Sunday a month to prepare a month's worth of food. Our toddler never liked the commercialized baby food, so we stuck to home-cooked meals.
And lastly, our toddler's favorite word is "no." I'm afraid our new baby will pick it up as her first word, as she hears it so often. I don't know how to prevent it. Any ideas? ;-)
First, breastfeeding. Unfortunately, I don't think our toddler got the best benefit from this. It was very hard in the beginning, but I really tried to go exclusive between the 2nd and 3rd months of his life, just before I went back to work. But the first month was hard -- it didn't help that I couldn't get him to latch. But with our new baby, all we needed was the most basic advice from the lactation consultant: don't force feed. That was something I did with my toddler -- I thought I was supposed to feed him by a certain time, but it turns out he was more sleepy than hungry. This time around, new baby has probably consumed more breastmilk than her brother did. Yes, I feel guilty. But on the bright side, our toddler is on track with all his developments.
Second, now that we know what to expect with teething, I am more prepared. Our toddler developed finger sucking to sooth his teeth and hunger at times, but now it's hard to get him off it. I do think, all the finger sucking has affected his teeth. They are on the crooked side. So with our new baby, we're going to try to guide her not to suck fingers. And if she grows crooked teeth despite this, it would mean she got it from me :(
Third, solid feeding is the one phase I'm looking forward to. With our toddler, his pediatrician didn't advise solid food until 6 months, but we jumped and did it at 5 and a half months. We will probably stick to the same schedule. And when time comes for me to make baby food, I'll know how to better prepare them. Before, I would always put the wax paper over the freshly pureed food and when frozen, they got stuck to the food. So I won't do that next time ;-) It always took me one Sunday a month to prepare a month's worth of food. Our toddler never liked the commercialized baby food, so we stuck to home-cooked meals.
And lastly, our toddler's favorite word is "no." I'm afraid our new baby will pick it up as her first word, as she hears it so often. I don't know how to prevent it. Any ideas? ;-)
Thursday, February 18, 2010
The movement of a parent
Being a parent is comparable to the movement that of a Nascar crew, or a burglar. Eh?
When I've got two young kids at the table, it's a fiesta of cries, laughter, warnings and good food. Oh, and a whole lot of mess. Our toddler Gerard is the master behind the mess (his little sister Aubrey, who is only 2 months of age as of this writing, will soon follow). When we have our meals together, I often feel like I work as a Nascar crewmember... I eat fast, wash my utensils and plates fast, keep him busy with dessert so I can wash his plate and utensils, and then finally clean up his mess.
And when it's naptime, I have both kids sleeping in the same bed. I often find myself crawling out with the most silence I've ever heard just to not wake up Aubrey. Yes, for sure, I have learned to move like a burglar.
When I've got two young kids at the table, it's a fiesta of cries, laughter, warnings and good food. Oh, and a whole lot of mess. Our toddler Gerard is the master behind the mess (his little sister Aubrey, who is only 2 months of age as of this writing, will soon follow). When we have our meals together, I often feel like I work as a Nascar crewmember... I eat fast, wash my utensils and plates fast, keep him busy with dessert so I can wash his plate and utensils, and then finally clean up his mess.
And when it's naptime, I have both kids sleeping in the same bed. I often find myself crawling out with the most silence I've ever heard just to not wake up Aubrey. Yes, for sure, I have learned to move like a burglar.
Parenthood vs. childhood
When we were kids, we were disappointed with receiving clothes as boring gifts. Even money was boring, especially when it was meant to be tucked into savings instead of spending on toys. Honestly I don't remember what happened to any of the money I received growing up. Did my parents keep them or did I actually get to spend them?
As a parent now, we use the money our kids receive for our daily needs. But we buy them clothes and food with it. We had/have a savings account for Gerard, but it's not currently being invested in monthly. Times are tough. We use every dime for our needs today. Unfortunately, we haven't opened an account for Aubrey yet. I don't know when we will be able to.
Now what brings me to write this is that I just saw a TV commercial by Gerber for life insurance. We have been receiving mail for them about this as well. Life insurance. What every person needs. I have one, and now my husband has one. The kids don't have one yet. But as they grow into older kids, they might hate us or their grandparents for putting in money into life insurance every birthday, every Christmas. But from a parent's point of view, it's one of the things I want for them. But from a child's point of view, I'm sure they'd rather we spend on toys and recreation.
Every parent deals with financial trouble. Atleast, us parents who are making a modest living at the most. We all know the way through this is good financial management, which I think I possess. But I am a worrying mother, that's just how I became to be. Now, of course, I won't deprive the kids of toys either. I still love kids' toys. So I'm going to have to continue managing our finances and make sure everything is covered and they are happy. That's really what the bottom line is of what parenthood means to me. It's all love.
As a parent now, we use the money our kids receive for our daily needs. But we buy them clothes and food with it. We had/have a savings account for Gerard, but it's not currently being invested in monthly. Times are tough. We use every dime for our needs today. Unfortunately, we haven't opened an account for Aubrey yet. I don't know when we will be able to.
Now what brings me to write this is that I just saw a TV commercial by Gerber for life insurance. We have been receiving mail for them about this as well. Life insurance. What every person needs. I have one, and now my husband has one. The kids don't have one yet. But as they grow into older kids, they might hate us or their grandparents for putting in money into life insurance every birthday, every Christmas. But from a parent's point of view, it's one of the things I want for them. But from a child's point of view, I'm sure they'd rather we spend on toys and recreation.
Every parent deals with financial trouble. Atleast, us parents who are making a modest living at the most. We all know the way through this is good financial management, which I think I possess. But I am a worrying mother, that's just how I became to be. Now, of course, I won't deprive the kids of toys either. I still love kids' toys. So I'm going to have to continue managing our finances and make sure everything is covered and they are happy. That's really what the bottom line is of what parenthood means to me. It's all love.
What is The Little Things Blog?
Hello.
This is our new blog. We decided to open up one of these because as new parents, there are a lot of little things to write about. We did have separate baby journals for each of our two kids, but maintaining two blogs takes up more time. So this blog is to consolidate the thoughts that would go on those blogs.
We named this The Little Things (despite the many other blogs with the same name) because we feel that everything about family life is made up of the little things.
So in the days and weeks and months to come, we hope you find our blog somewhat entertaining. Thanks!
This is our new blog. We decided to open up one of these because as new parents, there are a lot of little things to write about. We did have separate baby journals for each of our two kids, but maintaining two blogs takes up more time. So this blog is to consolidate the thoughts that would go on those blogs.
We named this The Little Things (despite the many other blogs with the same name) because we feel that everything about family life is made up of the little things.
So in the days and weeks and months to come, we hope you find our blog somewhat entertaining. Thanks!
Friday, January 29, 2010
The clan :)
We welcomed our new daughter, Aubrey Artemis, last December 2, 2009 at CPMC. She was delivered at 3:14 pm.
Things weren't all that great, as we had to return to the hospital the day after we were discharged. Miss Aubrey needed a surgery to correct her intestines. The morning after we were discharged, she had vomited bile, prompting us to take her back. We were in the hospital for another week, but it was worth the wait for her recovery. She is a cute little button today :)
Our little fam is now complete. We will be blogging as much as time allows. Possibly even transferring our baby blogs from babycrowd.com on here now, so that we only have to update one blog.
In other news, our house is still a mess! Haven't had much time to unpack everything.... it just so happened that escrow and birth fell around the same time, so things are moving slowly on that front....
We are looking forward to happy times, though.
Things weren't all that great, as we had to return to the hospital the day after we were discharged. Miss Aubrey needed a surgery to correct her intestines. The morning after we were discharged, she had vomited bile, prompting us to take her back. We were in the hospital for another week, but it was worth the wait for her recovery. She is a cute little button today :)
Our little fam is now complete. We will be blogging as much as time allows. Possibly even transferring our baby blogs from babycrowd.com on here now, so that we only have to update one blog.
In other news, our house is still a mess! Haven't had much time to unpack everything.... it just so happened that escrow and birth fell around the same time, so things are moving slowly on that front....
We are looking forward to happy times, though.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
One and a half month later...
Since our last entry, little Miss Aubrey has gained so much weight! She is now 9 lbs and 4 oz per her last check up. She has a monstrous appetite! The girl gets angry when she's not fed enough, and she lets out a very serious cry. Aubrey is mostly breastfed with the occasional formula. Her doctor recommended we give her some Tri-Vi-Sol (Vitamin D supplements) so we started giving her some. She also is very gassy so we recently started her on gripe water - which she doesn't like.
Big brother Gerard is so all over her. Everytime I ask for a kiss for me, he insists only "bebey" can have it. He loves to look at her in the mornings. Too sweet....
Life just got busier. And I'm enjoying every moment, even the middle of the night cries that drive me crazy :)