52 Realizations of 2013

You may remember my 2012 Realizations, now a year older and wiser here are my "A-HA" moments of 2013 (not in any particular order)

1. everyone will speak to your kid in english. if you want your kid to know your own native tongue then it's up to you to reinforce it daily, ideally without the use of TV
2. it's really nice to have a life outside of home even if it's just going to work - i can speak to adults!
3. carry lots of snacks in your purse, always have fruit in the bag
4. if all else fails, fried rice with peas, carrots, and eggs is a great dinner that meets food group recommendations
5. add at least an extra 45 minutes to your trip if you need to go out, kids are distracted easy or want to stop drop and roll in the middle of the sidewalk for fun
6. sometimes you just have to go to bed at 9pm because the kid is taking forever to go to bed and startles awake at the cracking of your joints (co sleeper rant)
7. (food) rules are broken at grandma's house
8. best place to cut finger nails and hair is in the tub, Max just sits still with no problem
9. balls, measurement cups, random cups are great bath toys…no need for anything fancy or specialized
10. sometimes there's just no reason for that tantrum …or the reason is so minuscule that it doesn't even register to the adult what the problem was …but it can be a huge deal to the kid
11. having facial hair is your ticket to being snubbed by Max. For my dad, it took about 20 months for Max to accept him
12. sometimes you just have to shower with a crying kid going hysterical behind the curtain, but in short matter of time (maybe 7 showers?) they'll understand you're coming back…but they'll still be right there waiting for you and wanting you to be done ASAP
13. there is nothing better than waking up to a kid lying beside you saying HI and smiling and giggling
14. brushing teeth is a nightly BATTLE but it must be done and it's worth it
15. shirts and cotton pants that no longer fit are the new pajama's at night until they really no longer fit
16. patience is the key to parenting a toddler. PATIENCE
17. i admire kids who are well dressed, I'm just satisfied that Max is dressed to begin with…it's a daily battle, the kid thinks it's enough to be in just diapers
18. i need to take Max swimming during the winter months
19. poo stains take forever to come out in the wash, it's ruined so many clothes
20. white shirts don't fit a toddler's lifestyle…let alone white pants
21. Max despises jeans because they hinder his range of motion when playing and climbing things
22. Max despises button up shirts for no apparent reason
23. after having a kid, menstrual bleeding is near paralyzing in the first 48 hours (so heavy)
24. these are probably the last few weeks of baby wearing Max…it hurts afterwards, wow! shopping isn't worth it
25. you don't have to come out of a toy store with something bought, give them time to play and get bored
26. stairs and escalators are two ways that delay the completion of errands quickly…why do they have to go up and down multiple times?
27. after a crying tantrum, it's beneficial to give them a hug and say you're there for them and love them. it's really strengthened our bond and i hope it opens up the doors for Max to be emotionally honest with me
28. it doesn't hurt to let your kids choose what they want to wear…seriously, who cares as long as they're appropriately dressed for the weather
29. ask for kisses and hugs all the time. hold hands as you walk
30. get them out of the stroller and let them walk. yes, they're slow.
31. talk to them at their level, get down and make eye contact instead of always towering over them…sometimes it really gets the point across faster or a resolution is achieved quicker
32. there are times when having memories is more important than having money
33. there are times when learning experiences are more important than having money
34. craigslist is still our friend…to add to the club, we've also joined kid swaps and buy and sells on Facebook
35. there's really no break for mom's. at work you work, on your days off you're 'working' by taking care of the kids
36. having kids is a great way to keep off the junk food, if they see you eating it they want it too. so unless you want your kids on junk food, don't have it in the house or at least don't eat it when they're around
37. Max likes to sleep in cold rooms, he wakes up cranky and crying if he was hot or sweating (even if he was having a peaceful sleep during)
38. i need to learn to drive in 2014
39. having a beach tent is VITAL to a great summer day. great place for them to nap and take a break, otherwise you either baby wear and sweat, risk a cranky over stimulated toddler, or go home in the middle of the day for your kid to nap and lie down, uncool
40. watch the f-bombs, toddler's pick up the bad words so fast!
41. meet up with your friends at least every 2 months sans children
42. meet up with your maternity leave buddies at least every couple of months to not only socialize the kids but see how much everyone has grown….it's hard to see their growth when they're your kid, easier looking at other's
43. online shopping is your new go-to
44. i have so much stuff from Max's infancy that it's really not apartment friendly in quantity, remember your child not only grows up fast, they get tired of things quick, they don't need all that STUFF
45. ban the iPad, turn off the TV. turning the radio on works or just dumping the toy bag in the middle of the living room works wonders for distraction when i need to cook
46. tell them what's going on, give them verbal instructions, talk talk talk to them …these kids understand even if they can't reply verbally all the time…damn they're sharp!
47. take photos, but don't let that take away from your experience. live life! on the flip side, get a good camera!
48. i still don't know if i want to get a data plan for my upcoming cell phone term expiration date. do i really need to be connected and subsequently distracted?
49. i feel really strange doing extra curricular things without Max …i always feel the need to rush to get back to him even though he's ok. he's my velcro child
50. this blog has been really awesome at helping me remember so much of our life together…I'm glad I'm keeping up with it even though it takes up my scant amount of free evening time
51. im not ready for a second child, even though in theory it would be better to get it done now
52. you need your husband, kid needs dad. totally different relationship than mama and Max

MAXI is 18 months old!

I had an eye opening experience to Max's growth rate the other day when i asked my friend how old her baby was, 6 month's! We're starting solids, she exclaimed. In my head I was seriously like wasn't your baby just born a couple months ago? Much to my surprise, the little girl- born the same month as Max but in 2013, was truly 6 months and Max in turn is 18 months old! 

I dont know about you, but this realization truly opened my eyes to the changes that have literally taken place before my eyes since i last checked in (or is it checked out of the every day familiarities) and objectively looked at my child that is not only growing mentally, intellectually, emotionally, but also physically. Today, I saw Max standing beside the diaper genie and he's half a head taller than that thing- last time I paid attention to this, he was the same height as the genie! To boot, Max wanted to jump in his crib so i put him down and the rail is chest height to him...again, last time i paid attention, the rail was chin height! Please stop growing so fast! ;o)

Q + A with Maxwell at 18 months old:

What is your hair and eye colour? light brown hair and hazel eyes

What size of clothing do you wear? at the lower end of 18-24 month sizing in pants and shirts (maybe even 16 months to be more specific). In shoe size 6.5-7. I think I am about 31" tall and 24lbs. #4 Pampers Baby Dry (the #4 Cruisers are too big)

What foods do you like to eat? grapes, mandarin oranges, watermelon, raspberries. water and milk. Goldfish, mum mum's, toast, rice. asparagus. french fries. mac and cheese. (these are the foods mamma doesn't have to hide in the food)

What books do you like to read right now? this, this, and this

What are your favorite toys? any ball and my Step2 Car. i love my pacifiers (much to the disapproval of my parents!)

How many teeth do you have? 12! still missing 4 canines and 4 back molars

Do you still breastfeed? stopped breastfeeding on July 15 (this was a sad day for mamma- he literally pushed me away and shook his head no. prior to this though he was nibbling at bedtime routine for about 2-3 minutes at most)

How many words can you say? mamma has no idea how many words i can say because it's a 'healthy amount.' i can imitate most words adults say, i can understand english and tagalog words and commands. i usually talk a lot unless im asked to talk in front of people i dont know then im shy!

What time do you sleep and wake up? bed time routine starts at 830pm, down in bed at 9pm. wakes up in the middle of night - mom or dad co sleeps - and we wake up sometime between 730-9am. I nap usually around 2-4pm, and cosleep during this time. if we're out, i need to be woo'd to sleep on the carrier.

What do you do for fun? during the summer, we go to the swimming pool at least 4x a week. we also go to the playground every single day (seriously)!  i love the swings, not a fan of the slide, i like playing with sand if there's a water fountain attached to the pit, and i go up and down large flights of stairs at least 10 times a day!

Biggest change according to mom? within a span of 1-3 days, Max all of a sudden is not loving bath and bedtime routine. Prior to last week, we'd have a 10 minute bath, get in our bed time clothes, sing lullabies, get rid of pacifier easily, hug/dance/rock and in bed within 30 minutes. Now, with the mention of bath time he is instantly crying, he goes into the tub crying and out within 1-2 minutes. Not so happy getting dressed for bed, refusing the breast, not wanting to be cradled like he used to be during lullabies, death grip on the soother and needs it to be literally ripped out of his hands, and hug/dance/rock for at least 10 minutes. hmmm...not sure why the change. No, he's not teething :op

Precious!

^^ Max and I being silly with the frog effects! ^^

all in all, im feeling pretty sentimental about all this as Max will soon be turning 2. when people ask how old your kid is, you're not like - or at least im not going to be like he's 29 months! He's 2! and then 3! Then 4! Then school..and then the little boy becomes a little man! maybe it's time for another one? hahaha! looking forward to what's in store for us next!

Spring Changes!

Ah toddlerhood!

 Honestly, though i have said "i liked it when he was more stationary" once or twice in the last few months, this 13-14 months old stage has got to be my all time favorite life stage so far!

doing 'wheelies' at 14 months!

i've just recently realized that i havent whipped out the stroller in so so so long because the ERGO keeps Max CONTAINED. To illustrate, if i didn't have the ERGO, Max would be whining like crazy wanting to be picked up then put down then picked up (again and again), darting out into the streets or through a sea of big people, refusing to hold my hand as we walk, falling down stairs, climbing anything and everything. oh you know, normal stuff for his age that would triple the time allotted for our errands and basically make my heart jump because i'm scared for his life and safety!

Ever since i've been back to work, i've seen some big changes in the father son bonding that im most definitely happy about with a little hint of jealousy (hey im no longer in denial that 'dada' was his first word and even when he sees husband from afar he goes 'dada' and runs to him! aww). aside from the fact that i speak to him in a total different language, i think Max knows that with mama __x__ happens, and with daddy __x__ happens instead. with some expected good days and bad days, Max has definitely adapted (and so have we) to our new schedules. Gene and I have our own little routines, give shift reports to one another, and most importantly are now working better together (and less fighting) when it comes to the child rearing. Phew, our marriage survived! 

what boy doesn't love trains?

Sleep in the house is still an issue, but when will it ever not be right? i think once one becomes a parent, they'll always be wondering if their child is ok whether they still live with them or not...and this equates to sleep quality nowhere near pre-baby days! When i'm off, I co-sleep with Max after his first night wake, and Gene does the same when im on my work set. This is really working out well as instead of waking up at 530am/6am and starting days off early, Max is waking up at 700-730am, it totally makes a huge difference in his mood when he not only gets a good nights sleep but sees us beside him when his eyes first open. We do let him CIO after the bed time routine just so he knows how to put himself to sleep sans pacifier, in his crib, and alone in his room- im waiting for the day when all of these dots are connected for 10+ hours of uninterrupted sleep nights! Bedtime continues to be at 8pm, and get this...we dropped a nap, and now only have 1 nap a day! Usually a 1.5-2 hour nap, but this is definitely a significant change in the routine as we have always known.

Though i still breastfeed twice a day (first wakeup feed, before bed feed), i only do this when i'm off. During my day shift, i dont attempt to dream feed or even wake Max up early to nurse. I just let him sleep and Gene says he has adapted. When i come home from a day shift, I continue to give Max his bedtime feed which has significantly changed from 6min (in January), to a whopping 20-30 minute nursing session per demand! During my night shift, I no longer feed him before going to work because he refuses (too full from dinner) and there have been night shift transition days when i dont even feed him for 24 hours, and again, Gene says he's adapted. I have noticed though that his morning feeds are quite short, more like a snack in terms of time length...i think a weaning process for me and him has started. I am ok with this rate, but not this rate!

Im really happy with what's been going on lately in terms of our work-life schedules and balance. I'm trying to not get TOO comfortable though as i think Max's senses it and thus decides to change things up again...it'll always be something!

Right and Wrong. Wakeup Parent!

photo credit

We've been taking Max to Strong Start oh for about 2 months now and yes, for the majority of the time he is there things are well, he is thriving, and having a lot of f-u-n! When Gene tells me how their school days go, there are always stories that include unruly kids who are CRAZY  need a time out and it makes me laugh. However, more often than not Gene tells me about kids who have picked on Max and this just makes me want to blow a gasket!

Ok, so kids will be kids and kids of the 0-5 age don't always know any better. I never hold it against the child per say, but i honestly feel a surge of heat and visualize an act of verbal assaults (directed at the parent) when i see/hear the parents are either absent (too busy gossiping with other parents), just let things go without telling the kid what they're doing is right or wrong and thus not correct them, or just present physically but too busy on their mobiles to even know WTF is happening. 

• mom is too busy chatting with her people and thus too busy to notice that her crazy son is terrorizing other kids (kicking toys, tackling other kids, running around like a mad person and creating hazards for the already over populated room)
• the one f'n toy that Max is playing with, a kid rips it out of his hand and takes off (mom does nothing) - this happens one too many times 
• Max (13 months) is in the way of a kid (over 2 y/o) who wants to pass him, so the kid slaps Max on the chest or pushes him out of the way
• Max is playing and having fun walking around, so a kid gets a pillow and shoves him "gently" to the ground

My blood is boiling. Max is one of the smaller and younger kids in the group, he is definitely vulnerable. What does Gene do when he sees these things? Fortunately, he's more in a state of calmness and will talk gently to the kid (or at least this is the story I get). When I see these things, I also say something in the realms of "be careful, he's a baby" or "Dont ________," sometimes the parent/guardian is present and right then and there we 2 adults 2 kids talk and settle. Again, other times....ARGH, i just end up giving the mom the evil eye as they're doing NOTHING. I cant believe the makings of a bully (and even the presence of bullies) start at these tender ages! 

What should I do with these parents when they're not to be found? Im really inclined to say something snarky and condescending when i see trends in behavior and lack of parenting follow up. There really isnt a relationship with these women that i would be sorry to lose, but the peace keeper that i am i just dont want to start stuff up! I just want to protect my child, prevent my son from learning/adopting such behavior, and prevent these kids from becoming news headlines in the future!

When I See Parents Not Paying Attention To Their Misbehaving Kid(s)

Eating

Less than a month ago, I wrote an update on Max's current eating habits. Since then, a new milestone has us totally oooo'ing, ahhhh'ing, and cheering at mealtimes- he's feeding himself using utensils! the first day we used this OXO tot Spoon and Fork set, he knew what to do with them right away. i'm just astounded by his dexterity at such a young age!

most of the time he can pierce and pickup the food himself with the fork!

the spoon is taking a bit longer to learn (read food falls off easier). sometimes 

i help him by scooping up some of the food and leave it to the side for him to pick up

Filipino style: spoon and fork working together! (you don't often see knives on a Filipino's placemat)

quinoa, roasted veg, and tender beef? yes, please!

Indoor Fun

the look of F-U-N

I'm now living with a child who no longer can tolerate prolonged periods on the stroller! (gasp) We have a tagalog word for kids like this, "Malikot" (i think that's how you spell it), it means restless, ansy, go-go-go! Gone are the days when Max would just sit for hours and fall asleep, watch the hustle and bustle of life, eat, back in the stroller, and probably fall asleep again. When out, i get about an hour or so of stroller time before he arches his back, stretches out his arms, tears start flowing, and he must be let out and walk around. I used to judge parents who had those backpack leashes for their kid, recently i've contemplated the perks of having one- but i think it's a decision that shouldnt be made lightly. 

indoor activity idea #1- reading. He loves his books!

I hate to admit it but i'm pretty tired during my days off. Sleep is definitely not the same since having a child, and definitely not any easier working shifts with a child who wants you and only you (i want to consolidate my pre-work naps, not stagger!). We've been having plenty of indoor days as my body tries to adjust to these new hours all the while noting what works and what doesnt work (trial and error). trying to figure out the ideal schedule for me and techniques to keep Max distracted without too much whining and tears is a slow process!

indoor activity #2: balloons

Max has been obsessed with this balloon for at least 3 days now. At first it was floating full of fresh helium, now it's just a ball on the floor which he picks up by the string and waves around hitting himself as he runs across the room shrieking in delight. nothing beats cheap + simple sources of lengthy  entertainment! i realize rubber balloons are a major choking hazard once deflated, but i'm always supervising his play.

indoor activity #3: soccer balls

my mom gave Max this soccer ball when he was too small to do anything with it. I've seen the progression of him just enjoy looking at it, then pass the ball to me, and now he's learning to control the ball with little kicks and foot manipulations! No joke! Perhaps a futball star in the making? He gets so excited watching us do little kicks from one foot to the other or just follow the ball around the house but doing some not-anywhere-near-fancy footwork. Kids are so easy to please sometimes I tell you!

Ah days off....they come by so slow, yet goes by so fast. I so miss my little man when im working xoxo

Food Journey 6 months In!

Max and I's food journey has been a roller coaster (naturally) since the day we started. As with anything else in life, it can be better (ie. he eats something new every single day) but it also certainly can be worse (ie. not eating at all and health is affected by it).  i'm happy, Max is happy, Max is eating and thriving (22lbs 9oz and 74cm), what more can one ask for? 

October 2012, he loved these nutrios so much we were going through a box in less than 4 weeks

I followed the path of least resistance and went for the 'best of all worlds' practice from the very early stages - some purees, some lumpy, and some in their natural form. Today, Max continues to be on this path as evidenced by my fridge (fresh) and freezer (frozen) stash of foods. My no-big-deal issues these last few months were:

• Max was more than willing to try new foods, but wont eat an entire meal of this new food (exclusively at dinner). i always have to have his favourite meal (tomato sauce pasta) ready after he's done with the new flavours. it was easier during the day as Max would get fruits and crunchies which he welcomes with open arms
• the best time to get him to love a food was to feed it at his hungriest time- breakfast. reject last night's dinner? Surprise! you're eating it for breakfast!
• Max prefers to try new flavors when i feed him sitting on my lap. he wont eat as much if he tries new foods on his highchair. once it's establlished he likes the food, then he's ok to go back to the high chair
• he wont always eat on the highchair, sometimes i let him play around and he comes back to me like a yoyo when he wants another bite. other times i go to him.
• the introduction of certain foods and when. the current literature states that there's no need to delay certain foods in fear of the baby developing a reaction from the early introduction, but it just seemed more logical to me to be patient and wait instead of rushing to feed everything i possibly can (when he really has his whole life to eat) and then developing a sensitivity or reaction, and it in turn has affected his ability to eat everything he possibly can. we are both pretty cool with staying patient

I wasnt really consistent with the latter idea, i just listened to my gut feeling

- wheat --> early

- citrus --> early

- baked goods with egg whites --> early

- whole milk --> early

- egg whites or entire eggs --> waiting

- strawberries --> waiting

- peanuts and shellfish --> waiting

January 2013, wouldnt it be nice if he fed himself with the spoon? He seems interested in learning!

Max's currently favorite foods include blueberries, mangoes, bananas, macaroni and cheese, open faced broiled cheese toasts, toast in general, white spot french fries, mum mums, nutrios, anything from the Baby Gourmet squeezable pouches, beef stew and my spaghetti sauce. It seems like quite the variety, but really it's not as at times he seems to have the same thing every other day and sometimes everyday. 

Im looking forward to our food journey future as after Max turns 1, more flavors can be added to the menu. Peanut butter and honey sandwiches? Brie and apple sandwiches? Stir fry prawn fried rice seasoned with sesame oil? Pizza with all the trimmings from Sunrise Pizza on the Drive? Yes! i'm already on pinterest pinning all these wonderful looking dishes, now i just need to make them!

Strong Start

the kid before school

Just this last week, Max dropped his morning nap- or rather, it took more than an hour for him to go to sleep despite our usual morning routine so i considered the nap as done and over with (otherwise it would've overlapped on breakfast time and then lunch time, and just messed up the whole flow of the day). I would've been patient and waited longer, but the weather was just WAY TOO GOOD to sit at home and wait for him to tire out (if even this would happen at a time not so close to his usual second nap), so i fed him and picked up our gear and went to VSB's Strong Start at our local elementary school.

WHAT is STRONG START?? 

"This program is offered to parents and caregivers with children ages zero – five years. There is no cost to families but the parent/caregiver is required to remain with their child and participate in the program. It is not necessary to have English as a first language to attend the drop in programs.

StrongStart Centres offer preschool aged children, quality early learning experiences. These centres offer play based early learning opportunities and demonstrate to parents and caregivers how they can enhance their child’s development. The emphasis of the program is on learning through play, language and positive social interactions."

I'm not sure if it's glue, old carpets, paper, or just kids in general but something about the aroma of elementary school hallways makes me feel nervous but also giddy. It's like i almost wish i could go back in time, but yeah if i think harder, no not really! Anyhow, Strong Start is held in a full spare classroom. Toys, books, art supplies, pictures on the wall, ceiling, floor, the entire room is very over stimulating! There is a program teacher who basically oversees the scheduling of the day, but also stands back and observes kids playing and parents interacting with their children. Maybe it was because it was our first week there, but the 'teacher' was very welcoming and keen on showing us all the activities we can do (lots to do) as well as giving us many praises for Max's behavior. 

For the first couple of hours, it's FREE PLAY time. Basically kids are near lawless and play with everything they see. It's a great place for kids who may not have a lot of toys at home to come and experience play things with play value. For those that want to bring toys home, they also have a program where you can borrow 2 toys each week for only $5 a year! Great idea to test out whether your kid likes the toy or not before you make a purchase (but probably when you end up purchasing it, they're sick of the toy already!) Max was thriving in this environment, he was shrieking in his own throaty way for the entire time as he zigzagged all around the room. Seriously, he's been a hoot to watch and his sounds of glee are hard to ignore. Many moms came up to us to point out how much fun he was having and laugh with me as we watched Max! After this 2 hour play time, the teacher gives a 5 minute warning to everyone that it's clean up time, and that 'Circle Time' is about to start. Toys are put back into place and everyone gathers in an area where they get read a story and sing interactive songs. Really very nice, and so cute when the kids memorize the songs and sing along (even the caregivers)!

About half an hour or so before the 'school' ends, there is then Snack Time where kids gather around a table and are served crackers, oranges, bananas, apples, and cheese. Parents are helping out in the background cutting up food, preparing paper towels, wiping tables, ensuring each child has enough food. Seriously, no one needs to speak much English but all the mother bears (and some pappa bears) are taking care of the little brood. Really heartwarming! OMG Max looked so adorable sitting in the big lunch table eating his little food as he watched other kids eat. when did he get so big?

(Yes, there are some negative things I can point out like: bullies, cesspool, kids like Max eating toys that can/cant be washed, people dont take off their shoes so if you have a crawler who puts their hand in their mouth a lot then EW. Let's NOT focus on this though!)

Overall, it's a great place for kids to burn a lot of energy, socialize, and of course to learn. Great for parents to interact and get some support from one another (especially new immigrant parents), and great for the budget as it's all free and you don't have to buy all these toys for your 700sq ft apartment because they can play with it in the classroom! Once im back at work, Gene will be taking Max to his little class and well, is it unrealistic to ask him to videotape the entire 2 hours? 

He's so exhausted after going to a morning class and half an afternoon class that he literally lies down on the ground ready to pass out! 

I LOVE HIM! 

It's a Toddler!

[Today I had 2 mini breaks from my baby responsibilities due to work related issues and the fact that husband is developing his own little night routine with Max for when I am no longer available. Husband did great, Max was status quo, and well the only one who really was affected was ME - signs of my mat leave ending! Change! Insert anxiety right about NOW!]

Max has been so fun to watch lately! Ever since he learned to walk, he's evolving ever so rapidly. Daily, he's been 90% walking around the apartment. When i lower him to the ground, it's no longer bum down but feet down! he paces all around the house (like the energizer bunny) deciding on his own where to go, where to turn, where to run from. He goes to toys that he wants and plays, he goes to our cat and lowers his body to pet him or attempt to kiss him, and when one of us is in another room we don't hear crawling, but instead see a little person walk into the room and greet us with his smiles and babbles. I love this little man!

July 2012, Still a baby! 

January 2013, look at this toddler!

As Max's first birthday draws near, i have to say im feeling more confident in the parenting department - like "Hey what are we naming our second child?" type of confident! We survived first time parenthood, our marriage survived, Max is thriving, this has been the best year of my life and according  many other mom's out there, it just gets better from here! Excited! 

This time last year we were prepping for a newborn. Then he became an infant. In a week or so he'll be an official toddler. This time next year, a little boy! 

My Love is 11 months old!

What's my 11 month old up to these days?

• curious about a lot of things, lots of hand gestures and sometimes pointing towards an object and says "ayyyyy" or "ohhhhh"
• loves the toilet paper roll
• he really enjoys going on his belly and looking for stuff under big furniture (ie. the couch) so i just drop stuff under there and he gets them ...and then he drops it again to see where it goes, watches it come back, and then retrieves it again 
• he's finally noticing (not just looking) things above him and things that surround him like photos, decals, lights
• he's got mild patches of eczema throughout (thanks Winter!), he's been getting daily applications of Aquaphor and so far under control
• footless sleepers! size 12-18months for tops and 6-12 months for bottoms, size 3 Pampers cruisers
• he can turn his walker on his own and even do a full 360
• sleeping from 8pm and waking up sometime between 6-745am (towards the latter part of his 10th month he's been sleeping 8pm-730am with no feeds or wakeups overnight)
• 2 naps a day, first nap 2-2.5hours after waking up and he can go about 4 hours awake until the next nap. Average length 1.25hours
• still naps in my arms, i LOVE our special time together, so though not the best thing for someone who has to go back to work, im not in a panic to change this yet
• he used to enjoy me throwing (in the lightest sense of the word) him up in the air and catching him, now he gets frightened

                        

 

• 3 breastfeeds a day, 3 solids a day and sometimes he gets a snack (i think his favorite food are bananas, he can eat the whole thing in one sitting just cut in half)
• he's a good eater but needs to be on my lap and me pretending to eat it if it's a new food item
• he does not like goats milk ...tried it just after 10.5months and he's not into it at all
• loves watching birds fly
• cries when men he doesnt know interact with him, but not so with women 9/10 times
• developed a separation anxiety with husband, but only when we're grocery shopping and he's on the cart. even if im in front of him, he's still wants Gene
• can crawl while holding onto something or pushing his cars
• sometimes walking or cruising with one hand! a few times ive caught him standing on his own without support and then he drops to the ground
• super clingy with me just after waking up, he needs to be carried/held for quite a bit
• if im not making eye contact with him, he pulls on my pant leg and holds on to my leg jumping and escalating until he's picked up
• lots of high pitched squeals and shrieks when happy, excited, and having fun
• shares everything but doesnt always let go of it (he'll offer someone his food, but just let their mouths touch it and then he eats it) 
• shy around new situations and doesnt really interact with other babies in groups. sometimes he's even scared of other babies and will cry
• able to do partial waves but not always on queue (think open your hand and drop finger each down to make a loose fist
• you know that pampers commercial where the baby is moving chairs and other furniture around? yep that's what Max is doing
• about 21.5lbs, 2 upper 2 lower teeth (i can see two more coming in the upper part, but they haven't cut through the gums yet)
• arms up when wants to be picked up or just held 
• i just need to lean in and i get kisses kisses kisses! (ok open mouthed wet kisses)

• he took his first steps on December 17th at approx 6pm! Since then, he's been able to walk 3-4 steps and stand up on his own for like 10 seconds or so. he wont do it on command (naturally) but instead suprises us by either ditching the walker and just going to walk or ditching a toy and coming to us a few steps away!

crappy quality video with even worse lighting!

Current schedule +/- 30 minutes

745am wakeup and feed

10 am nap

1115 am wakeup and breakfast

2pm lunch

245pm breastfeed and 2nd nap

430pm wakeup

530pm dinner

630pm snack

730pm bedtime routine and breastfeed

8pm in bed, lights out, hopefully asleep

Max Has Hit Double Digits! 10 Months Old!

little Max is now 10 months old. I say this every month- where the heck did the time go?

What's a 10 month old Max like these days?

• he says 'mama mama' all the time in long run on sentences, sometimes we get a 'dada dada'
• he's playing with various volumes of his voice
• he's loves sharing/offering his nutrios and pacifier
• sleeping straight from 8pm-7am with only rare wakeups (no night feeds!), ravenous in the morning as expected!
• naps 2 times a day (sometimes 3), in my arms, for about 1.5hrs each time - this is prime time to get up to date with everything happening in the social network
• a really sweaty sleeper when sleeping in my arms, his hair is soaked when he wakes up
• learning to point at things he wants or at people he wants attention from
• offering hand still, but not as often (same gesture)
• can walk by himself using the walker! (watch the video)

• really good appetite, with breakfast being the best. still feeding on lumpy/pureed but good at feeding self whole apples, cheese, nutrios, peas, and carrots
• loves nutrios, rice rusks, cottage cheese, and all apples (i think he would eat these for breakfast lunch and dinner if he had a choice)
• puts arms up when he wants to be picked up. if already up in someones arms, he stretches arms out towards another person he wants to be carried by
• he can crawl while holding onto something with one of his hands
• wants to climb over everything to get through (instead of crawling around the object like, ie. ME!)
• loves giving open mouth wet kisses. i just need to lean forward close to him and his mouth is open to give a wet kiss
• breastfeeding 4x a day

• 4 teeth (2 up, 2 bottom)
• 3-4 poops a day
• still loves and whines for his pacifier
• he really likes watching mike the knight - i think it has something to do with how big the characters are on tv
• he loves the IOGO yogourt commercials! we were playing in the kitchen, he hears the first 4 notes of the commercial, he pauses and then bolts out of the kitchen to watch the commercial. one of those wave-your-hand-in-front-of-their-face-and-no-blinking moments. again, probably has to do with how simple and big the images are
• attaached to me big time (aka major separation anxiety). i cant leave room without him crying, or him looking/finding me. i cant be in the kitchen without him wanting to be carried by me and will escalate to crying if i dont pay attention to him or move around too much

everything goes in his mouth

Max's 10 month old 'schedule,' (times are approximate +/- 30 minutes)

7am: awake, breastfeed

9-1020: nap

1030: breakfast

12pm: breastfeed

130: lunch

230-4pm: nap

4pm: breastfeed

6pm: dinner

730: bath, bed time routine, breastfeed

8pm: asleep

10pm: my bedtime!

WOW 

Songs of Nostalgia

back in August at the pool

As much as i'd love for lullabies to work on the little man, they dont. but lullabies aren't just for sleeping right? they can be sung any time of day and maybe even 20 or more times a day. one better at least enjoy the songs they're singing!

i have 2 particular songs i like to sing to Max because they're 2 songs i distinctly remember from my childhood back in the homeland (there's the other issue which i've also mentioned HERE). One is in Tagalog, and the other is in Visaya- a Philippine dialect which i don't at all understand. one of those 'it sounds like Tagalog, i feel like i should know it, but if i listen closely, no i don't.' Who knows what i mean? Singing these songs just makes me feel connected to my inner (and outer) Pinay and super nostalgic. im actively passing my heritage to this little half breed and i'll be damned an unhappy mamma if he grows up not knowing what's flowing in his blood!

One of my few early song memories is when someone sang "Bahay Kubo" to me. This song brings forth a deeper tagalog. im UNfamiliar with about 97% of the words in the song, but the tune is 100% deeply routed in my memory. My dad started singing it to Max, and then i was like, 'oh yeah...' so i hit up the internet and literally forced (but happily) myself to memorize this song. I thought it meant something different all this time in terms of translation, but alas, its about a little nippa hut. Max does fist pumps and 'sings' whenever someone sings this with him (by singing i mean he sings one note for a prolonged time- i love it when he does this)!

Bahay Kubo 

Bahay kubo, kahit munti,   (my humble hut may look tiny)

ang halaman doon, ay sari-sari. (but the veggies around it, sure are many.)

Singkamas at talong, sigarilyas at mani, (yam beans and eggplant, wing'd beans and peanuts)

sitaw, bataw, patani. (string hyacinth, and lima beans)

Kundol, patola, upo’t kalabasa,  (winter melon and loofah)

at saka meron pa, labanos, mustasa. (and there is more, radish and mustard!)

Sibuyas, kamatis, bawang at luya. (onions, tomatoes, garlic, and ginger)

Sa paligid-ligid, ay puno ng linga! (if you look around, sesame seeds abound!)

Our second song is called "Ili Ili Tulog Anay" which means 'sleep for awhile' in the aforementioned Visaya dialect. This one i definitely remember my dad singing to my sister and I when we were kids during bedtime or just anytime to calm us down in prep for sleep. Again, my dad sang this to Max but not as much as the first song probably because to him this is an actual lullaby and he isn't trying to put Max to sleep at any time. 

Ili Ili, Tulog Anay

Ili-ili tulog anay,  (sleep for a while)

Wala diri imong nanay.  (your mother is not here)

Kadto tienda bakal papay. (went to the market to buy bread)

Ili-ili tulog anay (sleep for awhile)

does it make you feel sleepy? hehe

do you have any special songs with your little ones?

Addendum: the boy is walking!

ok so i left him alone for a split second, he heads for the walker. i turn around and he's pushing the walker by himself and walking! even regulating speed at which to push based on floor surface. no face plants! i managed to capture this a few minutes later...

please slow down, you are growing up too fast!!

Practicing His Little Walk!

With a little guidance and a lot of husband preventing the walker from exerting forward too fast (and Max subsequently doing a face plant on the ground), i think this Melissa and Doug Push Toy was one of our best garage sale finds this year! It's really fun to watch him exercise, practice, and burn some energy! Right now he wants to go back and forth back and forth constantly.

From a nurse point of view, it's ironic how some of us start out with a mobilizing aid such as a walker, and end our lives with a possible need for a walker too (just like incontinence pads...)

my baby talk/voice is really annoying. mute your pc's! haha

Pros

• Max loves it 
• uses it as an anchor to hoist himself up on carpet and on floor (think squats and lunges)
• it has rubber treads around the wheels so there's some traction against smooth floors
• the alligators moving are cute
• relatively 'safe' on carpeted surface

Cons

• the screws loosen, so they should be checked a few times week and tightened to prevent injury
• the treads are a weak security measure, on smooth floors it can still zoom forward. always supervise kids!
• depending on how Max hoists himself up, ive seen the walker tip backwards part way or all the way down with the handle on the ground 

Taga-Lish

photo credit

When my family moved to Canada from the Philippines, my parents maintained the practice of speaking to us at home in Tagalog (with the occasional English word as English is widely spoken in the Philippines), while in school we learned and spoke English.  I honestly can't thank them enough for doing this because i feel it really kept me in touch with my roots, and especially the fact that i can go back to the homeland and interact with my family and the people of the country.

What's unfortunate though is that neither of my parents encouraged us to reply back in Tagalog (maybe in fear of getting confused and do poorly in school), and that we were so surrounded by a majority English speaking community that we just couldn't help but think and learn in that language. Now, although i can understand Tagalog, I 99% will reply in English (even though I can reply awkwardly in Tagalog) as i feel that i sound ridiculous with a non-pinoy accent speaking filipino. This also makes for an awkward scenario and conversation, especially when you're trying to have a 'secret' gab! 

So this brings in Max who is 50% Pinoy. I am adamant that Max learn how to understand and speak the language (as well as eat the food). Besides my parents, who i persistently need to remind to speak to Max in the native tongue, i honestly don't know what my Vancouver resources are. I dont have THAT many filipino friends that are fluent, there are no Tagalog schools like there are Chinese schools and French immersion classes, my husband isn't Tagalog speaking so I can't exactly converse at home, so what exactly are my options? 

Since Maxiboy was born ive been trying to speak to him in as much Tagalog as possible. I even take moments/pauses in our conversation to try to figure out how to translate this english phrase into the language or say it in english and then retranslate into Tagalog.  Again, i think i sound ridiculous and i dont know how to translate every word! but putting that aside, ive got some phrases covered and so far so good. I slightly dread the day when I no longer can do small talk, and have to do sentences and phrasing as i just suck at it! 

Getting ahead of myself, i'm also planning to surround Max with some Philippine culture. Once old enough, im eager to enroll him in some Filipino Folk Dance Classes- the bottom line, surround him with Filipino's.  I've read about this company based in Vancouver called Kababayang Pilipino, and they're company stands for "celebrating Philippines through Dance and Music," a total WIN-WIN scenario if you ask me.  Youngest pupils are age 5- i'm so excited for Max! I can't wait to go to his recitals one day! (did someone say tiger mom?)

a traditional folk dance called "Tinikling"

"Pandanggo sa Ilaw"