Gimme a Break...

Got quite irritated awhile ago. I know I shouldn't but can't help when you're too tired and drained. My baby was very cranky, I had been carrying her for almost 3 hours. Sometimes, I put her down and in a short while, she was wailing so I picked her up. Full time mommies I guess can understand this scenario that you need to rock your baby for awhile, cuddle her, sometimes you have to dance or sway a little or hum a song just to calm the baby and put her to sleep.

Until I almost ran out of patience and I just want to leave her on her crib wailing. But I can't stand listening to her cries so I picked her up again. And it has been on an on until hours had passed. I was done giving her milk, water, played with her but same thing happened. I guess she was just cranky this day.

I was just too glad that she finally went to sleep because she already gave me an achy breaky back! I think I need a massage for this. Now, it's quiet in our bedroom and I'm glad coz in a short while, I will try to rest and take a short nap peacefully...

Finally Arrived!

Chloe finally arrived 15 minutes past 12 and I already carried Zoe at that time because she was already wailing. But I've no choice but put her down on her crib again because I have to open the gate for Chloe. These are the times that makes my head go on spinning. Sometimes, I asked why was she awake at that very hour, minute, seconds?... Anyway, I know all I can do is to set my priorities or just balance everything. Timing is the key here. And when I was done with Chloe, I ran right away to Zoe as she was crying hard and put her down to sleep. Good thing my husband decided to go home and brought some food so that I don't have to cook anymore. Gaaaahhd, I wish times like this will be over. I love taking care of my kids but I hope I won't be put in this situation...

Zoe's Progress

When baby Zoe turned 6 months old, she made a lot of progress in her milestone. She's now starting to crawl by trying to slide her tummy and use her knees to push herself forward. But most of the time, she pushed herself backward :D :D And I don't let Zoe sleeps beside me at bed at night anymore. She's safe on her crib, safe from mosquito bites and safe from fall especially now that she rolls so fast.

She still wakes up at night to ask for milk but at times, she sleeps thru the night and wakes up at 5 am. This is where Chloe and Zoe differ for I remember Chloe slept thru the night when she turned 4 months old and woke up only to ask milk the following morning. But every child is unique so I'll just enjoy every moment of it.

Zoe is starting to eat her solid food, too. Starting last Monday, she ate Cerelac Rice and Soya flavor 2x a day and so far she loved it! I'll be feeding her this flavor for the whole week and next week, I'll let her try another flavor.

But what I am happy about her in new development is that I don't carry her most often these days. Before, I used to carry her until she's asleep but right now, she sleeps by herself in her crib. But there were times when she wanted me to carry her for awhile until she's contented, then I put her back on her crib and then she sleeps. I am so glad for this progress!

Chloe's Progress

Last Friday, I went to Chloe's school for the Parent-Teacher Conference. Actually, it was just getting my daughter's report card and talk to the teacher if there was a certain aspect that my daughter needs to improve. Gladly, my daughter maintained her grades and I was told that her interpersonal relationship with her classmates improved. I know my daughter is smart (sorry if I sound like a braggart, haha) but I'm also concern of how she's coping her new school, her classmates, teachers and others and all I can say this time is that she's doing fine.

Chloe's report card. She got straight As in all her subjects for the 2nd Quarter.
1 A- is her Relationship with others but that's already very fine with me =)

As for her studies, I'm always proud of her achievements, her scores on her quizzes or quarter exams. However, I think she needs to work on her study habit coz she's a little bit lazy, hehe. I don't asked her to study if she has no quizzes or major exams and I don't mind her playing or sketching on her drawing board/paper if she has no assignments. But I do quite 'nag' her to study if there's a quiz, assignment, exams on certain days. If not, she won't bother at all. Sometimes, she just relied on her memory but I don't like that way, hehe.. Anyways, if there's no class, I let her be. I don't even want to enroll her in other tutorial class coz I don't want her to feel overloaded. I want her to enjoy her life. So, during weekends, she's free to use the computer, draw until she consumed all the paper and get tired, read whatever books she likes or play with her toys. But usually, every Saturday, Chloe and I go malling. I need to unwind, too, and it's our way of having a quality time together.

This is Chloe's latest pic. My little girl has grown up.
She looks quite different now especially with her 2 missing teeth =B

Zoe At 4 months

My baby Zoe turned 4 months last November 12 and boy she's getting heavier! I've been following doctor's order to reduce the scoop of her milk during nighttime coz she's way above her ideal weight. I hope she won't get that fat but I don't want her to look thin, too. Some times, she's such a good girl and it's easy for me to put her down to sleep. But there were times that she's so cranky that my shoulder ached after carrying her for several times for several minutes. Sometimes, I thought I might get paralyzed, hehe...kidding, though ;-)

But no matter how tired and messed up I've been after carrying her, my heart would just melt everytime she looked and smiled at me. It's hard to resist her. I really treasure this moment but still, I look forward for her to grow a little bigger where I won't be carrying her that much, hehe. I guess you moms out there understand how I feel :-p

Baby Zoe @ 4 mos with her cake bought by her grandma

Cranky Zoe

Zoe was quite cranky yesterday. After I fed her milk, she was still crying. I tried giving her more but her tongue pushed it out. I thought she might be a colic baby but she had burped and even released some air *><* I decided to rock her coz she was a little bit sleepy but she was restless. I kept changing to different positions until I, myself, got tired. I decided to put her on her crib, but her cries became louder. I transferred her to our bed, still she cried. I let her be... at the same time, I tried talking to her... And she listened and looked at me. Then, she smiled...

It was like magic, because her smile released all my stress. I got energized again. I felt for my baby as she was so helpless for I don't know what she wanted me to do with her. She was responding to me, as if she understood what I was trying to say. She do like this for several weeks already, talking something to me and I answered as if we were conversing. After that, my most awaited part finally came - she fell asleep!

I guess she was just feeling cranky before going to sleep. Babies (or even bigger kids!) are like that so we, parents, should be more understanding and patient about it. I am just thankful that she's fine and healthy and nothing serious has been noted.

Be On Guard

I have no house help again this time. I think she ran off with her boyfriend. She went home last Saturday and promised to be back by Monday but she never returned. She never even bothered to call just to inform if she's coming back or not the way she used to do before. Ever since she had a cellphone, she was beginning to be a pain in the ass but I tolerated her. She was good to me for the first 2 months and on the 3rd month, she became lazy and spent most of her time talking over her phone. Even have the guts to lie to me that she was only talking to her cousin. She never wakes up early and I became her alarm clock, knocking her door to wake her up. When it was her schedule to do some chores, she did it in the afternoon so that she can spend a lot of time talking to her boyfriend at her cellphone while I was busy taking care of the baby. Okay, fine, she went home and never returned. I just hope she told me the truth for I was never strict on her.

So many times my house help went home but most of them informed me ahead if they won't come back. I'm used to have no maid anyway, it's just that this time, I have a baby to take care of and worry about Chloe's safety at school. I'm just too glad that Chloe's quite big now but she's still 7 years old, and I can't help to imagine that somebody might harm her. My helper usually go to school at lunch to watch over Chloe while waiting for my hubby to fetch them. Now, I've to trust the school and their guard not to let Chloe go out of the campus if her dad won't pick her up yet. Still I'm afraid... that's why I kept telling my daughter never go with strangers.. and now that my helper is not coming back, I told her never go with the helper if ever Chloe's sees her there. And I will just pray that no harm will come on her way and that she will be safe when I cannot be with her. I how I wish I could still drive and fetch her to school the way I used to but I can't this time because I've a 2 month old baby that needs my care at home. I'll just pray for Chloe's safety and I hope to resolve everything by this week...

Baby Update

Hi guys! Was missing in action again :p Actually, I've been visiting my blog almost everyday and I have so many things to share in this blog until everything's mixed up in my head and in the end, I don't have anything to write, hehe. Well, I'm quite busy doing the mommy thing. My baby, Zoe, is already past her first month and she's really keeping me busy. I've to wake up about 3x from midnight til morn to feed her and put her down to sleep. I'm trying to catch up with my sleep, too, and that's why I rarely do blogging or surfing in the evening coz I'm very sleepy when the clock strikes at 8 or 9 o'clock --- I easily dozed off... However, taking care of the baby for the 2nd time is manageable unlike my experience with Chloe that I ended up looking like a zombie. This time, it's easier but I now have a problem with my weight especially on how to get rid on my flabby tummy :-( My doctor says I've to wait for about 3mos to return to my pre-pregnancy form but I'm doubting it... Guess I need to back it up with exercise and lessen my food intake because I really love to eat these days, hehe.

Sharing to you some pictures of my little ones:

Chloe with newborn Zoe

Zoe's 1st month (Taken last August 12, 2010)

Chloe's School Update

Last August 20, 2010, I went to Chloe's school for a Parent Teacher Conference. Parents were asked to go to school to get their child's report card and talk to their adviser for some updates. I went there in the morning and so far, I got a very positive feedback on Chloe. Her adviser told me that Chloe's got a very good penmanship and creative, as she's very good in drawing in coloring. Actually, her preschool teachers already mentioned this to me so her comment was just an affirmation that she's good in that aspect. Her grade 1 adviser's only concern was that Chloe only had few friends at school, in fact, she thought she's aloof. But of late, she was glad that she gained few friends when she (the teacher) reshuffled them in their seats. I told the teacher that Chloe's a sensitive girl. When somebody's trying to bully her, she doesn't want to be near that child again. But I know my daughter very well. She's not a silent type but perhaps she became quiet when her teacher's around because she's a pleaser, hehe. She was aiming to get 20 super tickets that her teacher will mark on her notebook because she will be given a prize --- and she really got it! :p

But I won't deny that my child's a little bit choosy with friends and she can really live by her own self. She better draw or make some sketches than to play with others and ended up bickering. Still, I encouraged Chloe to be friends with others but not to follow the bad manners :-)

After I received her report card, I got a very big grin on my face :D. I'm proud to say that my daughter has maintained her good grades even now that she's in grade one and in a new school. She got straight A's in all her subject (Filipino, English, Math, Science, Civics or Sibika and Computer) the mere fact that I don't even pressure her to study everyday. I still find playing, napping and relaxing a very vital aspect in Chloe's life apart from studying. Her 2 A minuses were not academically related/graded so, I can say that my daughter's life is normal. It would be too hard to believe that she has no flaws at all, I want her to have fun or enjoy her childhood. As a proud mommy, I've scanned her report card that you can see below :D
The following day, Chloe and I went out for a short while and asked her what she wanted to get as a reward. She only wanted to buy the hat that she saw at the mall with a very cheap price so I bought it, hehe. Kids are really not that hard to deal with :D :D

Chloe's Report Card for the First Grading (click to zoom):

Family Is The Best

My hubby's in Davao City today until tomorrow so I'll be the one to pick Chloe up at school. I asked our house helper to look after Zoe while I'll be out for about 10-15minutes, depending on the traffic. Times like this, I'll just have to trust our helper to think she's only good in taking care of the house. I've always been a hands on mom to my kids and other than myself, I only trust my relatives in leaving the baby for a long time. But if there's no family member around, then that's the time that I have to trust somebody else but pray hard that no harm will come on my kids' way...

Few More Days To Go...

I have few more days left before I am sked for C/S. Currently, I've experienced Braxton Hicks contraction, a mild cramping. It's actually a false labor but quite a discomfort. My husband, who was away for more than 3 weeks now for his training in Manila, will arrive on July 10 and I will be admitted to the hospital on Monday, July 12. I have also prepared things that I needed to bring at the hospital and I hope everything is in place now... I'm on the nesting stage, too. I love to sleep anytime of the day... except during hot, humid afternoon! But other than that, I love sleeping :) I guess it's just a natural phase for any pregnant women to experience this especially on the last trimester. I guess this is it for now. I hope to post pictures of the baby in here after I give birth.

Just a favor: please include me and the baby in your prayers, will yah? Thanks a million for that ;-)

Chloe's School

My daughter, Chloe, is in her first grade and as I've said before, I just enrolled her to a new school. Yesterday, it was her first time to wear her uniform and she was so excited about it. I managed to take a picture of her before she left the house. Her school starts at 7:40 am but I have to wake her up by 6 am. Gosh, I missed waking up at 8 o'clock, hehehe...

Chloe goes to school everyday with her cousins who are also our neighbor. I am very thankful for that because I can't drive Chloe these days because of my very big tummy - so, bless my husband's relatives soul for offering to drive and fetch Chloe from school :D

Grade school is different now from her preschool. I have to check her work and assignments everyday unlike her preschool days that what she only bring was her snacks and everything was provided to them. Unlike now where she needs to have a huge bag to accommodate all her books and notebooks plus snacks and everything. I have to let her bring umbrella, too, because our weather these days is unpredictable. But so far, everything turned out good with Chloe. I always believed in her capabilities but of course, I should not rely on that and I know I need to attend to her to monitor her progress. Sometimes, kids will just get tired and you will never know if you don't try to bond with them....

Nostalgia

I'm feeling nostalgic today. Chloe, my 6 yrs & 11 months old daughter is already a grade 1 pupil. She's turning 7 years old next month and I can't help but recall the day when she was born. She was a gift from God & I remember how happy we were to have her in our lives. I used to rocked her, cradled her, sang lullabies for her (and danced, too) and a lot more. With just one glimpse, she just grew up, as if those times where just a fragment of my imagination. She may have learned basic things from me but I learn more a lot from her. It was thru her where I knew how to take care of babies. She taught me motherhood... Now, I'm getting really sentimental.

Since I am to give birth next month also, I guess taking care of my second born is not that difficult anymore. I mean, at least, I had an experienced already but I still welcome new challenges. After all, each child is unique but someway, somehow, I know what to expect.

Last week, I was forced to drive Chloe to her school as my husband was sent for a 3 week training in Manila. We thought this seminar would take place last May but it only happens now. I still agreed to let him attend as long as he will be home on my due date. What I was only worried about was Chloe since she is new to her school and my house help is also new. So, after getting blessing from my OB-Gyne, I drove Chloe to her school (it's a 5-minute drive only if there's no traffic but the street is quite steep). Luckily, our neighbor who is my husband's first degree cousin sent his kids to the same school and offered us to bring Chloe to school with them starting this week. One of his sons is Chloe's classmate anyway so I'm quite relieved of the situation. I am very much thankful for this arrangement as it's already a big help on our part. God bless their kind soul! But even though the situation is like this now, I can't help but miss my little girl. I guess I have to accept the fact that my baby is starting to grow up and will be on her on own one day and I can only sigh....

Tummy Talk

Hello Again! I tried to update my blog but I get sleepy every time I do it. As I've mentioned in my previous post, I'm on my 7th month already. Take a look at the pics below, that was taken last mother's day and you can see my bump. My brother & I, toghether with our families went to Pryce Plaza hotel and spent the afternoon there. I would love to swim with them at the pool because it was very hot but that would be very funny :D All I did was watch them and our things and took pictures of them. Of course, my tummy's big and it's getting even heavier everyday, so I might drown if I swim, hehe. My laptop just kept me company. Anyway, what was important was all of us had fun that day and everybody was full.

L: My sweet Chloe R: about to go home..noticed my bump?

In less than 2 months, I'll be giving birth already. Everybody's excited especially my daughter Chloe and I'm very happy for that. In fact, I kept her involve in my pregnancy. Now, she's busy finding names for her baby sibling and got so engrossed about the baby's development when reading it at her encyclopedia book or at the net. And she's a big help actually especially during the time when I was put on a bed rest. Glad I can move around now but I can't escape back pains so, at times, my husband helped me get up on the bed whenever I want to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night or sometimes, Chloe tried her best to help me to get up, too, after I took a nap in the afternoon. I'm glad I have these people around who I love and loves me in return. Thank you, Lord for my family, I couldn't asked for more!