365 with R

On this day last year, R and I exchanged wedding vows. And now, 365 days and a baby later, I could not ask for more. God's faithfulness in our life together is overflowing. 

I have always envisioned being married and having a house full of children and pets and being a full time mom and now I am living it. Ok, I have tweaked my plans a little bit, I am not having 10 children anymore, maybe just one more, but our little girl may have countless sleepovers and our home may still be filled with silly giggles and childhood memories. Huhu, just thinking of it makes me tear up. 

I married literally a man of few words. There are no overwhelming promises nor impressing stories and tales... But he never fails to buy lotion and diapers for LX and sometimes comes home with little surprises, a McFlurry because I saw it on TV, grapes and longgan because he knows I like it, muffins... Does grocery shopping, worries I am bored because my day is spent mostly at home with the baby... Anything. 

I have a wonderful, kind, generous and loving man for a husband who rarely says it... But shows it each day. 

I love you Raymond Ambion!:) 

As certain as the sun will rise, I am yours and you're mine, all mine.

Happy first of many wedding anniversaries!:) I sure am a happily married woman.

Baby Led Weaning

What is Baby Led Weaning? And why did I choose this route in introducing solids to my baby daughter?

One month into solids and people have been sending me messages about LX's videos where she eats independently so, Baby Led Weaning or BLW is an alternative way to introduce solids to baby wherein we do away with the traditional way of mashing food and spoonfeeding baby. We also do away with jarred and instant baby food.

The BLW way is simple; cut food into finger sized "french fries cut". Personally, I like to steam or give her table food veggies minus the seasoning or just serve fruit fresh. Baby has to be able to sit independently with or without assistance on a high chair or booster seat.

Some advantages of BLW are

1. There is no chance of overfeeding baby. As baby controls her food intake, she will stop when she is full.

2. Reduced risk of choking. Baby learns to chew first before swallowing. It is important to be able to contrast choking from gagging and learn first aid.

3. Food appreciation. Baby enjoys meal time because she is able to touch, explore and taste different textures of food in her hands and in her mouth. No picky eating! LX eats ampalaya with no fuss.

4. Eat in peace. Baby minds her own food, so mommy gets to eat happily especially when we are out. I always remember to bring her booster seat and bib because she is too tiny for the restaurant high chairs.

5. Convenient. I don't have to prepare her food separately.

I will add to the advantages as I continue to experience these all first hand. I am a first time mom as well and all these are learning experience for both L and myself. 

We are turning 7 months in 4 days and we are still exclusively breastfeeding. She eats 3x meals a day with us on the table. She enjoys and looks forward to meal times. 

Some of our BLW photos:

11.15.13 Squash for breakfast

11.15.13 Okra for lunch

11.16.13 Broccoli for breakfast

Photos Eating out:

11.12.13 Steamed Beans at Tita Leah & Tito Pj's wedding

11.10.13 Cafe George Cebu, Broccoli for dinner

November 2013. Cafe George Cebu. Lunch. Fresh Zucchini.

November 2013. District 50 Cebu. Banana and Cucumber. Lunch.

November 2013. Rib eye steak, Pearl Meat Shop Cebu. Dinner.

November 2013. Max's Ayala Cebu. Camote fries. Lunch w/ Pappi Jun.

10.30.13 Uncle Kevin's bday dinner at Marco Polo Cebu. Steamed Broccoli for dinner.

By far, here are the food she has tried:

1. Papaya

2. Ampalaya

3. Cucumber

4. Broccoli

5. Sayote

6. Beans

7. Squash

8. Okra

9. Banana (Latundan)

10. Chico

11. Rib eye steak

12. Brown rice

13. Egg (yolk)

14. Pandesal

15. Carrots

16. Zucchini

17. Camote

18. Potato

Her favorite are: Broccoli, Okra and Cucumber :)

By BLW, we are not just teaching good eating habits but also, values such as being independent, learning to wait, table manners and chewing food.

Eating independently also helps babies appreciate and explore food textures with her hands and her mouth. It helps them practice picking up food, controlling their grip and learning to stop when they are full.

At 6mos and 1 day, Liane can drink from a cup with a straw like a pro. We skipped feeding bottles and sippy cups all together and went ahead from boob to baso. (Breast to cup)

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.