October! Liane's 6th month + Baby Led Weaning

Liane is our Love Child. The moment we found out Raymond and I were expecting, I knew in my heart I wanted to be there for her. Be the one to care for her hands on. And that is exactly what I got. For the past 6 months, I wake up and see her smiling her big gummy grin and flash her dimple at me, it jump starts my day effortlessly. My nights are filled looking forward for our next feed. I am so inspired and excited by this little person who surprises us everyday.

10.19.13 Saturday

We dedicated her formally to the Lord in time for her 6th month birthday.

10.21.13 Monday

We started BLW. She was a natural. I gave her a slice of papaya for breakfast and she instantly knew what to do with it.

I am a walking ball of emotions. I will miss changing her exclusively breastfed diapers and our 10pm, 1am, 3am breastfeeding sessions. She had a growth spurt at 5mos and 3wks in time for her 6th month... She suddenly learned to crawl effeciently and has slept longer.

Where has the time gone? I have been with our baby daughter for the past 6 months and yet I still miss her even while she sleeps. What a blessing she is.

South Mommies 1st Breastfeeding Meet

Today, October 5, 2013, at Asian Hospital was our first breastfeeding meet for South Mommies. 

I was there with Raymond, Liane and Ate Inday (her nanny). We met new friends and it is nice to finally put a face to some mommies at the Breastfeeding Pinays support group online. 

Let me just say how passionate everybody is and how cute all the babies are! My Liane was instantly so excited, bouncing, babbling, squeeling the whole time.

Here's a photo of her with her new friend Tita Mau, NICU nurse at Asian and Tita Virgie.

The mommy treats were so good. Especially Mommy Christine's muffins!!! I did not get to take photos as I finished off 3 instantly. (Oops)

My favorite breastfriend Jah was there with Jacob and James, too and we had dinner at Conti's right after.

I know I should have taken more photos at the event, it really slipped my mind!

Here's Liane sleeping in between activities during car rides, pooling her energy! Adorable!

On our way to Asian

From Asian after the event to Conti's

On our way home to Tagaytay trom dinner.

Of course, Ellie the Elephant is her favorite buddy. She held my hand for comfort when she was fussy on our way home and slept. What a good girl!

Liane at 5months

Has it been 5 months? The days have gone by so quickly. 

My girl is now 5 months. I have been with her each day, striving and trying my best not to blink and eye that I might miss something. But how is it that even then, I feel that she is just growing too fast? Why do I miss her even though she is just sound asleep in the next room? 

The truth is, I have been her world for the past months. I have been her only source of nourishment and comfort. We just started cupfeeding because she doesn't like feeding from the bottle as we nurse direct exclusively. In another month, she will start eating solids and I will not be all she needs. I am only going to be a part of her world starting then...

(This is the little boss in her carseat @ 5mos.-- she just woke up from her nap)

But until then, I have still another month. And I intend to change every diaper as it will never be the same again :( I love you so much Liane girl. 

Happy Birthday Lola Nena!

(Late late post.)

I never got to meet her in person, but her beauty and goodness radiates until today  through her children and from those who knew her. 

Happy birthday Mommy Nelia! I am sure you snuggled, huggled and showered our Liane girl with kisses and wrapped her with love in heaven and held her hand then to make sure she got my eyes and her daddy's good looks (hehe!). 

She is by the way, Liane's namesake. When we found out we were expecting, Raymond requested with puppy eyes to name our girl after his mom. 

NeLia = LiaNe

Bubbahwearing at the Oval

Today was a beautiful day and we had visitors over, my sister, Karyll and our friend Paula. 

We ate so much at lunch and decided to go walking (for myself Pao and L) and jogging (for R & Karyll at the oval because Dadduh is cooking steak and salmon for dinner (nom!!!).

Cheers to babywearing. SaYa is indeed a gift for moms, especially breastfeeding mummahs!

I did away with the nursing bib today and decided to breastfeed in my SaYa. I wore Liane 3-ways today... We breastfed in the cradle carry, walked in the oval in the yakap carry with her feet out and the kangaroo carry when we bought steak and salmon to cook at Santi's.

Liane girl was content, observant and happy to be worn! She had a good time watching people jog, feel the breeze gently blowing on her hair and grazing her cheeks and then fell asleep in mommy's arms after 3 rounds at the oval.

(4mos ago: almost due at 37wks!)

And here's our dinner! Notice the staple malunggay soup, my most preferred galactagouge. 

Bubbah on a Growth spurt

For the past 4 months, breastfeeding Liane girl has been as easy as it could be. She was a master-latcher from the moment she was born and she has always been such an "easy" baby. She rarely ever cries and the fussiest she had been was when we had her ears pierced at 7 weeks, which lasted 8 hours max, and I even got to sleep at night and during vaccinations wherein she wakes up a little more than she does and comfort feeds at wee hours; no fever, no crying spells, she is such a good baby and I am so blessed.

For the first 3 months, my milk was leaking and overflowing to the point of discomfort. I slowly decreased my pumping sessions from every other feeding down to twice or thrice per day. I noticed however that she never fussed or fed too long then. I still have a stash of over 20 bags of frozen milk left after Liane and I shared some of her milk to our Breastfriends, Mommy Jah and Baby Jacob yesterday at the Breastfeeding Event at SM Center Las Piñas.

Everybody talks about growth spurt and unli-latching at a forum, Breastfeeding Pinays I joined. Now at our 4th month of successful exclusive direct breastfeeding, I experience Liane feeding every other hour and find that I am trying to catch up with her demand. I'd like to think it's because of the weather that she has such a hearty appetite, but I believe it's a growth spurt. It says it could go on up to 3 days. She fed longer and "deeper" now than she ever had which makes me concerned that she has to excert more effort to get milk, so it means I am not producing as much as I used to. I am not worried she would grow hungry as we have our stash of "frozen delights", just that she barely feeds from the bottle which is okay so that in the long run, I wouldn't have trouble weaning her off.

So I am once again rebuilding my supply by adding more pumping sessions every after feed just to balance it with her demand. I feel like a super hero because everytime she squeek-whimpers (we don't wait for her to cry), I know she wants Mommy, particularly, milk from Mommy which makes me smile because I am the only one who can love her this way.

Photos to follow.

Baby's Day Out

After almost a week of heavy rainfall, Mr. Sun finally shone today. About time he did because the little girl was a little bored at home. She really likes to go out and look and be around people. 

It doesn't matter where, we can just walk on the lawn, "count" bread at the bakery or look at Ate Amy iron clothes or we could go ride the car which she really enjoys because she knows we will go somewhere-- to church, the mall or do groceries.

Today we went to visit Daddy at the City Hall and Ninang Mayor Agnes too at the Mayor's office. As usual, she was quiet, fuss free and cute. She said she'd love to keep her but then we're not giving her away! 

Afterwards we had lunch at Chine, really yummy Chinese Cuisine at PAGCOR Tagaytay. We got to take home a couple their huge Jumbo Pao, too. (Really good!!!)