Reading: The Happiest Baby on the Block

Baby daddy got this as gift for his birthday. Knowing him, this will just gather dust. So I decided to read it.

This book is great for moms with newborn babies. It basically talks about the first three months of life (or what they call the 4th trimester)

So far I can say that I have done most of what techniques discussed in the book :

1. Swaddling
2. Side / Stomach lying position
3. Shhhh (soothing sound)
4. Swinging
5. Sucking

It's nice to read this book because it reaffirms that I'm doing ok.

Yaya Diaries Part 3: The Case of the Missing Nanny

This is the third time I'm writing about my nanny issues. You can check them here and here.

Sadly, we are still "nanny-less". We have been expecting Yaya 5 since the beginning of this month. Her flight has been moved three times already! I don't know who's telling the truth ... yaya or the agency!

I  already took one week off from work last week. Baby daddy took some days off this week. And now we found out that yaya is going to be rebooked again! I hate it... i hate it... i hate it!!

/deep breath

niplash

NIPLASH n. [Fr. nipple + whiplash]: When a baby decides not to take a break from nursing and suddenly and energetically jerks her head around to look up down and all around the room (still firmly latched onto your boob).


Credit: mammalingo

Cupcakes

I love baking (although it seems that it doesn't like me) I can make pretty decent cakes and I have tried making bread too.

Tonight, I made a batch of vanilla cupcakes with chocolate frosting.

Batter ...

Vanilla Cupcakes ... 

And then I ruined it by putting frosting. It was too runny. And this was from Betty Crocker! I should have stuck to the recipe!

Anyway, until next time. 

did you spot the baby on the background?! LOL

Yaya Diaries : Part 2

I opened my blog list today and most of them are about yaya stories! I think this is a sign for me. *sigh*

A few weeks ago I blogged about our yaya woes (Yaya Diaries : Part 1).  It saddens me that "Nanay" is leaving us soon. She has to go back to her original "alaga". Haay!! Blake is so used to her now and I'm very comfortable having Nanay around. She takes care of everything! She even takes care of us.

What concerns me more is that Yaya #5 is still far from finishing her requirements so she can fly here. You see, her husband died two weeks ago. As much as I feel sorry for her, we still need her here! We gave her more than a week to finish whatever she has to do. She confirmed that she still wants to come here and work, especially now given their current circumstance.

But since she just started doing her employment papers (whatever crap we OFW's have to do before leaving the Philippines), I don't think she'll be arriving before Nanay leaves.  That means I have to look for a temporary yaya again!

Ooohhh, my head hurts just thinking about the hassle. One, I will be letting a stranger in our house again hoping that she's trustworthy and good with babies. Two, Blake will have to adjust again. My baby is in her most kulit stage. Grabbing and pulling everything. Eating whatever she gets her hands into. Squirming and twisting all the time since she's very curious. I just hope that whoever is going to take care of her would be very patient.

Having read Frances' , Mommy Fleur's and Cai's blog post about their yayas, my hormones are in overdrive. I can't wait for this nightmare to be over so we can just all go back to regular programming.

Broccoli Baby

She's 7 months old now and she eats broccoli! Loves it too!

Baby likes standing up. She pulls herself up whenever she's in her play pen. She holds on to whatever she can grab and just stands! I'm thinking she'll start walking in a few weeks... She haven't even mastered crawling!

10 Things You May Not Know About Breastfeeding

This is a reblog of an entry by Amy Spangler in babygooroo.com. Original article can be found here I find this article very informative and it inspires me to keep breastfeeding my little one. No copy right infringement intended.

by Amy Spangler April 10, 2012

Whether you plan to breastfeed or are undecided, here are 10 breastfeeding facts that may tip the scales in favor of giving your baby “nature’s best.”

1. Mammals are the only animals that produce a unique and complex fluid that protects and nourishes their young. Infant formulas nourish but do not protect.
2. The human breast contains hundreds of milk-producing cells ensuring an ample supply of milk for one, two, or more babies! Instances of insufficient milkare rare and are usually due to lack of knowledge or lack of support.
3. Aristotle was among those who wrongly thought milk produced in the first days after birth (colostrum) was unsuitable to drink. So much for genius!
4. There are over 200 known ingredients in human milk and they are all free! Mothers that breastfeed save as much as $2,500 the first year alone in bottles, nipples, and formula.
5. Babies are born with reflexes such as rooting, sucking, and swallowing that make learning to breastfeedeasier. But it takes patience, persistence, and practice to become proficient.
6. Babies who must cry in order to be fed often have difficulty latching on. Crying also triggers the release of hormones that affect brain development and personality. Keeping your baby close—day and night—during the early weeks, will ensure that you see your baby’s hunger cues long before you hear his cry.
7. Breastfeeding can be painful at first. But the pain should only last a few seconds. If the pain persists, it can be a sign that your baby is poorly latched. Break the suction, remove your baby from the breast, and try again. Still hurts? Get help from someone trained to help moms breastfeed.
8. Breastfeeding a child beyond their first year is normal. Mammals most like humans—chimpanzees, orangutans, and gorillas—nurse their young for 4–6 years.
9. The portions of the brain associated with maternal sensitivity are more active in breastfeeding mothers compared to formula-feeding mothers. The significance of this and similar findings are yet to be gleaned.
10. In 2010, a group of Swedish scientists discovered a substance in human milk that kills cancer cells but spares healthy cells. Dubbed HAMLET—human alpha-lactalbumin made lethal to tumor cells—these cells serve as a reminder of how little we know about human milk and why artificial formula will never compare.

Human milk is a marvel of evolution—six million years in the making—with a delivery system that has truly endured the test of time!

 While breastfeeding may not seem the right choice for every mother, it is the best choice for every baby.

I totally agree with that last note. I realized that breastfeeding is not easy and its the least I can do to give my baby a head start. That is why I decided to disregard my own comfort in order to give what's best for my daughter.