Showing posts with label baby milestones. Show all posts
Showing posts with label baby milestones. Show all posts

Thursday, February 05, 2009

New Year. New Milestones.

It’s been a while since I last blogged about Janus’ new milestones. Ever since the holidays, I had also been busy on his birthday preps.


We celebrated his 1st birthday, January 10 at McDonald’s Restaurant in Tomas Morato, the one with a big French Fries building. I practically chose that place because it has a big Play Place for his kid guests. I didn’t want the parents to go gaga over their kids running around the party place. The whole second floor was exclusively for his party. We had about 70+ guests – approx. 30 kids and 40 adults. Aside from those who are abroad, a few of his godparents were not able to make it due to different unavoidable circumstances. Overall, everything went well.

Going back to January 1, I first dared Janus to walk unaided. And to my surprise he did 4 to 5 steps bravely. I was teary-eyed and overjoyed because I was beginning to get worried since his cousin started walking before her 1st birthday. I have been also seeing babies about his age already walking. I was so happy to discover that he’d walk unaided at 11 months. For awhile he was too lazy to walk and would crawl instead but now his self-esteem is back, he walks more than ever.

About this same period of time, he started to refuse using his pacifier. Before, we can’t go anywhere without it…it was my lifesaver. But now, he can sleep without it; he can stop crying without it; he spits it out because he doesn’t want or need it anymore. I have read a lot about parents trading and bribing their kid’s pacifier with toys or food or a walk in the park. I am lucky because I didn’t have to go through all that.

On the day of his birthday he started climbing up the stairs. Oh my God...what a headache! I therefore conclude that at this stage and age, they dare to explore the stairs and everything around them and nothing’s gonna stop them. Hahaha…

He’s also learning more hand gestures and action songs. I see him often doing “close, open”. He sings along with me and his daddy whenever we play our favorite music. When I play his nursery videoke, he listens and watches attentively. He talks a lot too. And when I say “AH!” he answers “AH!” too with a hand gesture…it’s just so funny.

Lastly, his upper teeth have come out. They’re two and big. :D

Now I think Janus is starting to throw tantrums. He’s been unmanageable since he got sick a week after his birthday. He had bronchitis and been taking a lot of medicines. He was also exposed to persons with tuberculosis and was prescribed with Comprilex for 3 months. This means 3 months of wrestling over his medicines. And since then he’s been very very cranky and a cry baby. He cries a lot during day time and at night time which makes me and his daddy really pissed. He cries over nothing. He cries because of the very slight (and I mean split-second) delay on his feeding time. He cries even though we pacify him. He cries for hours. He doesn’t stop. I still don’t know what can make him stop from crying. When he stops and remembers he was crying, he’d cry again. I really don’t know what to do. I am still in the quest of finding out how to deal with the situation. May God help me! =)



Despite all of his tantrums, we still look forward to his new milestones. He’s gained a lot of weight and it matters to us. He’s become taller and it matters. He’s not sick anymore and that’s what’s important to us. Whatever new thing we will discover from Janus will make us prouder parents. We love you baby!


Wednesday, December 10, 2008

All I Want For Christmas is My Two Front Teeth

Finally! Janus’ first tooth (or teeth) finally came out Monday Dec 8. I noticed it but was in denial. Even asked Vhic to check and if it was not just my imagination. I’ve been waiting for it since he was 6 months and when he was 8 months his gums were starting to look swollen, which is part of the teething process. That’s why when (I think) I saw a little part of his teeth I thought I might be again just convincing myself…LOL! He’s 11 months today, I thought they’d never come out until he turns 1. :( Our pedia said that if they come out all at the same time, Janus can get a slight fever or feel a little pain. It’s going to be a hard time for him, she said and I don’t want my son to go through all that. I am super happy to see his 2 front lower teeth, just in time for Christmas. Thank God for his teeth! =D

Friday, December 05, 2008

THE SPOILED BABY MYTH

Can you actually spoil a baby?

Your baby cries a lot and you're uptight. You're not sure if you're supposed to soothe him or let him weep.

You are not alone. Many parents know very little about what to expect from babies. Your motherly instinct may be to comfort him, while friends and relatives tell you "No, you'll spoil him." The question is can you spoil an infant?

Spoiling means teaching someone to expect that his every demand will be met each time he makes it. Babies under three months exist in the present. And because crying is your infant's only way of telling you something is wrong, you need to listen to him so he can begin to make the connection between his cries and your reassuring, which happens around 6 months of age. Even then, an older baby probably is incapable of manipulating you to get your attention.

Young babies should not have to wait for a response, either. Too much stress on an infant's nervous system such as crying continuously is not healthy for him development. After three to six months, you can try stalling your response a bit with a gentle "I'll be right there", but it's never a good idea for babies younger than 6 months to "cry it out."

So trust your gut -- pacify your new baby when he weeps. Turn a deaf ear to everyone's advice not to your baby's cries.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Something Fishy

Yesterday my son turned 8 months and he always surprises me with his new tricks. He’s beginning to be more talkative, more hyperactive and more makulit. Well, he started jumping and stomps his foot at 5 months; had separation anxiety, sits and crawls on his chest at 6; but at 7 months he’d sit on his own, crawls on his knees and hand, kneels, sits on his legs, getting up holding on his crib, and babbles a lot. He could say “dada”, “tata”, “jaja”, “daaaa diiii” but not mommy. :-( He even ALMOST fell off the bed 3 times. Also, he laughs a lot especially when he recognizes someone since he’s 3 months old.

Before this day arrived, I noticed that Janus makes a lot of funny faces. He sticks his tongue out, makes a grumpy look, rolls his lips in like an old man without a denture (lol) and this fishy lip is my favorite. I wonder why babies make different facial expressions so naturally. Every baby finds ways to communicate and here are some cues to consider:

A. "I’m interested—let’s do more of this.” *

  • Has eyes wide/bright
  • Looks at you or an interesting object
  • Smiles or shows expressions of joy
  • Reaches for things (like your nose)

B. "I'm hungry!” *

  • Shows rooting behaviors—rubbing/sucking on your shirt
  • Makes mouth movements
  • Puts things in her mouth

C. "I'm sleepy.” *

  • Rubs her eyes
  • Rubs her face on your shirt
  • Pulls on an ear
  • Gets fussy

D. "I need a break!” *

  • Turns away
  • Arches his back or twist
  • Fusses or cries
  • Closes his eyes
  • Shows dull or glassy eyes
  • Grabs his hands or his body for comfort
  • Kicks or wave arms rapidly

Some babies try to get their moms to interact with them by smiling or making happy sounds. When that doesn’t work, the babies get upset. So maybe this fishy look means something I have yet to find out. ;-)

* Getting In Tune With Baby - Talaris.Org