Isn't SHE Beautiful?

We went to the shop the other day. Instead of using a pram for Ian, we just left him on his capsule and prop it on top of the shopping trolley, so he was sort of like very exposed. He was wearing a white jumpsuit with blue piping and there was a yellow blanket on top of him.

While MCJ and I were busy comparing stuff, there was this woman who cooed Ian. She was kind of like talking to her daughter or MCJ saying, isn't SHE beautiful? isn't SHE gorgeous?. She stayed for about a minute and after they passed us, MCJ made a remark, she called Bubby a SHE. The woman might have overheard us that she went back and said sorry. Well, we're not really offended or whatever. Actually, we find it funny. It wasn't the first time that Ian was called a SHE and if not, people would ask what's his gender first.

The first time MIL saw Ian, she said, he was too beautiful to be a boy. She might be right as most of the time, Baby Ian is mistaken to be a girl given the boyish clothing and stuff.

With Ian's mistaken identity, I would always be reminded to buy more masculine stuff for him. :)

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The Big Guy!

Baby Ian turned 3 months last Sunday! It only seems a few weeks ago when he was born. :) But with the nappies that we've changed.... it wasn't just a few weeks. lol.

He's on 5-11kgs nappy size now... means he's growing?

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Bilingual Babies???

I speak Ilonggo, Tagalog and English. MCJ speaks English. We live in Down Under and talk English at home, so obviously Ian will learn and speak English. But do I want him to speak or learn a second language, Tagalog maybe? Yes, but I haven't given a thought on how or when to teach him when I was pregnant nor after giving birth.

I read him stories, recite or sing nursery rhymes in English and sometimes in Tagalog inconsistently. I really didn't have a BIG goal in mind in doing those exercises but I know my/our efforts will not be futile in the future.

Teaching kids second, third or fourth language has advantages and disadvantages:

Learning other languages alters grey matter - the area of the brain that processes information - in the same way that exercise builds muscles. What's more, the younger the adults were when the learning started, the smarter they were. Those who started when aged five and under had the highest IQs. They not only learn a second language, they also obtain "softer" skills, such as better socials skills and self-confidence.

Babies who hear two languages from birth often start speaking later than monolingual bubs. But even though might experience a few month's delay, once they start, they catch up quickly. The child can also show signs of confusion by using word from one tongue while speaking in another. This usually takes a few months to overcome, and certainly doesnt put them behind in their development.

Seems the advantages out-weighed the disadvantages, but is it really worth giving a try?

I've had a big discussion with MCJ about it, and actually.. a bit of dis-agreement, as he doesn't want me to teach Baby Ian a second language. His reason? English is already as complicated as it is. We must stick to the basic first and work our way up. Okay, so it is status quo for us. There might be a school that teaches Tagalog in the future, I'll enroll Ian there surely. lol.

But I want to share these tips in going through this exercise:

1. Whatever approach you choose to adopt, they key is to be consistent.
2. The more your child is exposed to both languages. the better the results.
3. People are more effective as teachers than CDs and DVDs.
4. One language might become dominant for a while, but that will change with time.
5. When teaching at home, adopt the dame approach for all your children.

Credits

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Smile!

Ian was a whingy yesterday morning... actually, we had a big drama as he was fussy while eating so to lighten him up, we both looked at the mirror and coo him. That always did the trick but that time, it didn't. He was not even looking at the mirror yet he was looking down to the magazine with a baby cover. The baby was smiling in the photo.. and Ian did exactly the same, smiled while looking at him. It was soo surprising for me. I think, it's a sign that he's ready to socialize with other babies.

I know he smiled because the baby in the photo was also smiling. From what I've read, babies will smile at you when you talk to them smiling. And you develop their social skill by doing so. So Mummy always gets a big smile from the Little Man because, I'm always smiling while looking at him.

Since, Ian had been showing some signs of liking others, I am planning of joining a Playgroup soon... maybe, when he turns 4 months.

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The Way!

... to Mummy's heart, that is!

Ian woke up around 2 this morning for his feed. He hasn't learnt to sleep through the night yet.

He ate for at least 30 minutes and dozed off while in my arms. Thinking that he was already in deep sleep, I decided to put him to his bed.

But the moment his back touched the mattress, he stirred and opened his eyes. He didn't cry though. I rocked his cradle and told him to go back to sleep, to which he replied with his sweetest smile.. a smile that melts Mummy's heart.

What can I do?

I picked him up, played and talked to him for a couple of minutes and topped his feed up so he'll go to sleep. And he did eventually.

He's been doing his charm to me especially when he's tired playing by himself.

I'm afraid, he has me in his fingers err.. smiles.

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Happy 2 Months

Ian turn 2 months today. Time really flies so fast. He's growing fast also!

But when I think the stuff that he's capable of doing and the happiness that he brought in the family, it feels like more than a couple of months.

At barely 2 months, he weighed 5.25 kg and 58cm long (as of Sep 10).

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Happy!

One fine day, Ian had a good afternoon nap. I put him in his pram to take him for a walk.

Then, MCJ cooed him and he smiled, a lot. I tried to catch it in snap but nah!

We had a rest in the shady area and I cooed him while I'm holding the camera infront of him and it just amazed me that he's actually looking at it and smiled. Hummm... I did the trick.

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I want the real thing!

I've read a lot about using dummies (pacifier) for babies and even if there are advantages, I still don't approve Ian to use one. Which was seconded by MCJ.

But there were times in the first month that we got too desperate and overtired at day time, thanks heavens it's not at sleeping time, and wished that we could have bought a dummy for him.

Then, one day Granddad bought Ian dummies and told us to just use it during desperation. lol.

At first, I tried it when he's not whiney - that's when he's full, and he just spat it out. It didn't occured to me that he doesn't like it because he might just had enough food. My purpose was just to see if he'll like it.

Then "desperation" came, I put a dummy to his mouth and again he just spit it out. And it made him more aggitated and whingy, sort of like screaming "I want the real thing!".

I didn't gave up. I still tried several times but to no avail.

We've concluded that he's not a dummy baby. lol. After all, he's not whingin' as long as he's full, has a clean bum, had burped and warm and comfy.

-----

We've been topping up his feed in the afternoon when my milk supply was getting low for 2 days now. He was doing the same thing as what he did to his dummy, spitting it out of his mouth but after a few minutes, I reckon, he found out that there was something dripping out of the teat so he just let it stayed in his mouth but still he was not sucking it - just letting the milk drip. Just a lazy sucker. lol. That was the first day.

The second day was pleasant. He knew how to suck the teat properly and he had finished the 60ml formula and still wanting more - but we are taking the topping-up slowly so it's just one 60ml a day.

We are using the close to nature teat and it helps, as it feels like breast when he's sucking it except of course, he has to do it harder in silicon.

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The Biggest Showoff

Ian was the biggest show-off for a 7-week old baby.

We had visitors last Saturday, MCJ's sister, C, and her daughter, M, who wanted a baby bump soon. They came handful - presents for Mummy and baby.

Ian had just gone to asleep after a long walk when they arrived. We want him awake but didn't intentionally do. Oh well, he eventually did after being passed around.

At first, he looked around at everybody's faces and listens to the voices. When M put him lying on her legs, he showed his exercises - punching in the air, kicking and cycling. C cooed him and he showed his big dimply smiles - smiling like he was a push-button laughing machine. Much to the joy of everybody when he was facing the camera, smiling.

MCJ showed his buddha look - sitting on his legs while C took several shots and Ian was just at his best.

C was amazed at how strong he is that he can stand straight on his two legs or one at times. He also pushed himself up when he was on his buddha position.

He was so alert and entertaining. He had everybody's attention and affection.

I reckon, Ian had known at an early age the art of entertaining and how to be grateful for attention bestowed on him as well as for the goodies he gets. lol

So far, that was the longest time (2 hours) that he was awake and not whingin'.

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Happy Father's Day, Dad!

My proud Daddy!

He shows me off with my new stunts to Nanna and Granddad and to all our visitors.

He carries me almost all the time when we're out.

He pushes my pram whenever he can, that is almost all of the time when we're out.

He has more photos with me than Mummy.

He's my Dad and we love him!

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The Boss

Some of Ian's latest photo op.

Daddy says this is my cutest photo of all. Do you agree?

I'm serious, really! Can't you see it with my big eyes?

The eyebags! Got them from Dad according to Mummy!

The fourth soprano. I'm not Spanish nor Italian... I'm filoz.. and my voice is ear-piercing. Just ask Mum. See my little dimple?

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Musings of a Proud Mum

I carried him in my belly for 9 months, suffered pregnancy sickness, went into excruciating pain and had 4th level tears to deliver him in this world, had sore nipples for feeding him, woke up several times at night or worse even stay awake all night and be tied-up for more than an hour feeding at times. Despite all these that I've been through and how dependent he is to me, I know that whatever my little one is capable of doing isn't entirely because of me. For some extent, I may have contributed to his good health and his looks but most of what he is now and what he can do are from HIM and the course of nature.

But being the medium to bring him in this world and just being a "cow" for him (in the meantime), you can't take it from me to be proud and take credits for his achievements (as if he won an award.. lol).

Our Big Guy constantly gets attention from women where ever we go.. one lady had even asked if he can give him cuddles. Maybe because he's sooo tiny? Or because he has beautiful bright eyes? Or he's soo alert? One way or another.... it just warms my heart everytime people notice him. It's only been over a month and I'm already a stage mum. Shame on me. lol.

These days, I want him to be awake most of the time except late at night. He can now perfectly see things and people and he can recognize us especially me. My heart leaped when he gave us his first real smile three nights back (not the wind smile). He seem to be talking back to you when you talk to him and well, never miss to give you his soundless laugh.

For all the "firsts" that he had and will have.. I will always be the proud mum who will remember them in my heart. I may not be able to catch them in snap or record them in my diary but they will forever be stored in my heart and mind for me to dig and reminisce in the future.. or even tell him how great he was as a baby.

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Burpies

"Give Mummy big burpies". That's what you can often hear from me while our Big Guy is on my shoulder.

He must really burp in between feeds and after, though it would mean waking him up or disrupting his feeds. Often times, he burp right away or burp while still feeding but if not after a couple of minutes he'll get hiccups. If I put him to his bed without burping him, those nasty hickin'-ups would wake him up. I can't win.

Our little one has really a big appetite and I would say a glutton. He swallow his milk too fast and gulp some wind.

One thing I learned though that if he's thumb is inside when he's making fists, he's in pain. And a burp is a must.

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