march 2012

Happy First Birthday, Little Boy!

Around this time exactly a year ago, I was in a hospital recovery room, in my mind I was kicking like a mad horse. I had just been informed that I would only get to be transferred to my room once the anesthesia had worn off, and that meant me being able to move my legs. I tried and tried to kick with them, but it was literally an exercise in futility. I couldn't move my limbs, hell, I couldn't even feel them! You see, I had just undergone a Caesarean operation and couldn't wait to see my little Yohann for the first time.

That was a year ago. Tonight at 9:16 pm I lit up a number 1 made of wax, stuck it on a leche flan, sang Yohann a happy birthday song, and made him blow the candle. The little boy is now a year old! Hurray!!!

As I watch him sleep beside me, I am once again filled with awe and love for this little dynamite. I think of how much he's taught me and how much I am still learning from him and because of him.

Dear little boy, you just don't know how much joy you've brought us...please don't grow up too fast, take your sweet time and just be our baby as long as you need to be. Daddy and Mommy love you soooooo much! Always be a blessing, and keep teaching us how to be good parents. God bless you as you grow up. and may you always, always remember that you are precious and you are loved.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I am your CALM FACE, you are my GIGGLE
I AM YOUR WAIT, you are my WIGGLE

I am your DINNER, you are my CHOCOLATE CAKE
I am your BEDTIME, you are my WIDE AWAKE

I am your LULLABYE, you are my PEEKABOO
I am your GOOD NIGHT KISS, you are my I LOVE YOU.

:)

Yohann - February 2012

Yohann turned 10 months on Feb. 3. He took his first few steps, said "Daddeh!", had his first tooth all in the same week of his birthday.

He can walk na, pero biglang tinamad sha and enjoys cruising more than crawling now. He knows how to use common objects and toys na, he can play by himself for long periods of time, pero he wants me within a 2 meter radius. Pag napansin niyang malayo ako, he would either scream for me or crawl to where I am and cry. Adik lang.

He's already tall and looks like a toddler na. Malapit nang mag-1 year old ang bebe, pero wala pa kaming plans for his birthday. Hehe. Lolo is coming home kasi, and whatever plans we have will revolve on Lolo's itinerary while here. It's his first time to meet Yohann (and me!) kaya we want to spend as much time as we can with him and Daddy's family.

Ladies and gentlemen...Yohann at 10 months! (haha, adik lang) :p

Ten!

In exactly 8 hours and 25 minutes, the little boy will be 10 months old! Wooh-hooh!!!

Mommy and Daddy love you, Yohann!

Whaddayaknow, he's turning 10 months with so much flair - he got his two front (lower) teeth coming out, already learned to walk his first few baby steps, and already blurted out his first official word - "Dad-deeh!!!"

He's got me all excited and worried at the same time. He's just growing up too fast. Before I know it, Yohann will be waving good-bye for his first day of school in no time. Nooooooooo!

Dear little boy, please, please, PLEASE don't grow up too fast.

Yohann - January 2012

Yohann is now 9 months old! Parang nagdalang-tao akong muli at nanganak na! Haha.

I'm kinda missing his baby fat arms and legs, mukang pahaba talaga sha at matangkad like his daddy. Malakas naman kumain ng solids, pero hindi tumataba. And since he's breastfeeding, I know hindi sha tataba nang matabang-mataba like formula-fed babies. Okay na lang din, pero kakamiss lang manggigil sa chubby baby eh. hehe.

He can now sit, stand, take some steps while holding on to furniture, at nag-a-attempt na ding bumitiw at lumakad without support.

Nakakatakot! Binata na ang baby boy namin, waaaaah! :p

Thank you, 2011!

I'm a week late with this post, but fellow mothers will understand why. Hehe. In case you don't, it's 'cause it's hard to type a decent post while a) running after a baby on board a walker b) feeding a demanding boy who kicks your arms if you're typing while feeding him c) cleaning up after a little boy who bowls over everything within a 5-meter radius d) and so on and so forth :p

Anyhow, let me try to make a short tribute to the year that was and all that it brought us, of course while the little tyke is napping away.

2011 was basically a quiet year for us. There was barely any lakwatsa, which was the trademark highlight of my year since I can remember, but you can't say it wasn't any fun.

The first quarter of the year was all about endings. I resigned from my job at Avon, saying goodbye to my co-workers and friends of almost two years. It also meant less get-togethers and dinner/coffee dates with my friends, most of whom are Makati-based. That was a sad time :( But I knew it was a decision I had to make in order to prepare for a new beginning. Good thing we had a quick out-of-town trip with friends in February, thanks to Terence, and the baby showers held at home. Those were fun times! :)

The second quarter of the year was the most awaited one! The little boy's arrival finally came in April 3. Yay! After a day's labor, Yohann was finally delivered via C-section. He is definitely the highlight of this quarter, of the year even :) He was the timeliest gift Mommy and Daddy ever received for our respective birthdays :)

The third quarter of the year was mostly about raising up Yohann, getting the hang of being a mum, and starting this blog. We also had some friends come over and visit us at home, which I really, really loved. It's been hard leaving home even for just a few hours, so having friends at home is always a welcome break. We also got to bring the little boy out of town to Bulacan, have his photo shoot session at The Picture Company and attended his first ever birthday party with adults :p

The last quarter of the year was the most eventful! October was Yohann's Dedication Day. It was a busy month! It was also when he first got sick, and gave me a taste of Motherhood 101. I firmly believe you don't fully become a mother until your child gets sick and you go through the sleepless nights-worried sick-praning moments that come with it. Thank God, it was only Roseola and nothing  that needed hospitalization. The rest of the quarter was mostly visits to family, the mall, the park, etc. November saw the arrival of another family member, baby Juliana, making Yohann an uncle at the age of 8 months, hehe.  December, we partied with friends and celebrated the holidays for the first time with the little boy. Christmas was a bit trying, what with me and Yohann catching the colds. He also got an upset stomach on Christmas eve from the soup he ate. New Year's eve he was feeling better, that was also when he tried standing up without any support for the first time.

All in all, 2011 was a year of learning - tons of lessons in patience; adjustments, experimenting, growth, friendship, family. It wasn't a bed of roses all throughout, but with God's grace we survived. We are hoping and praying that 2012 will be even more fruitful and meaningful, and we are looking forward to some surprises along the way. Again, by God's grace, we believe that the days ahead will be even better :)

Yohann's December pics

The little boy is 8 months old now! How time flies! :)

He's grown longer, his feet bigger, his arms and legs stronger. Kung makahataw kala mo mama, kung makatakbo (sa walker) kala mo hinahabol. Haha.

He eats a lot, and I mean a lot, hindi tumitigil hangga't hindi natatapos ang pagsubo sa kanya. He loves rice and soup. And ripe mangoes too. And yoghurt. And clementines (kiat-kiat :p).

I love waking up in the morning to see him staring at me, then making me sampal pag nakita niyang dumilat na ako. Haha. Sutil. But I go back to sleep and he just plays some hanggang makatulog na ulit.

He's already a handful at ilang beses ko na ring napapagalitan. Sorry ka, strict ang mother mo :D