Super cute.

I always tell my son “love you ” anytime of the day. I even whisper it to him when he’s fast asleep like an angel. Earlier, after our morning bath, while putting his shirt on I said, “Love you !” again. Lo & Behold he replied.

“ah-poo ”

I’m guessing he means love you too! I’d take that any day! Love you more baby.

Mother’s day came and went by & I was pleasantly surprised on how many people even cared to greet me. (More greetings came than my birthday which was a few days ago!) Anywhoo.. That’s fine. Being a mother 2 years out of the 25 years that I am alive has been one great roller coaster ride.

How did mommyhood change me you ask?

• I am MORE conscious of time management.
• I have extended my patience (with kids & people in general) 100 fold. If you knew before you would know how I utterly impatient I am (especially with noisy kids)
• I am more aware. Aware of the environment & its safety, aware of the kind if diseases out there, aware of the hazards of not putting rubber mats on cr floors, and aware of restos to avoid because they don’t have proper high chairs.
• I have also been very keen on finance management. Before I used to buy little knick-knacks here & there but now, I stick to a budget & buy only what’s essential.
• I can now easily distinguish a real cry from the fake-mommy-i-need-your-attention cry.

Quick Updates on the little boy.

He can put 2 words together now, well sort of. Like two eyes (to ays), two ears (to ees), Mommy pees (please), Mommy baba (piggyback ride) and Mommy Bee! for Jollibee.

Ohhh remember I was saying before he never smiles for the camera? He does now. Yey.

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Today, marks his 22nd month. 2 more months to go and he is officially terrible err two. Up until now we are still undecided of the venue. I think it would be at McDo or Jollibee. Jollibee has an edge because Ozzy loves that mascot. Anyway, were still really thinking about it though because

a.) Ozzy has a few friends & relatives to invite (I’m the only one in my close circle who has a kid and he is the only apo in the family)

b.) Would his ninongs&ninangs mind eating in Jollibee(most of whom don’t have kids & are single

c.) Would he be able to enjoy his own party or would it be better to wait a few more years until he really appreciates it?

4 months shy of his 2nd birthday my grabby little monster still nurses with much gusto. I even joke that he ‘strikes anywhere’ like for example one time when we were watching TV, the boy was beside me… suddenly he was nursing! I was wearing a v-neck knitted shirt that time and yet he easily got though that. Another incident was when we showering together.. well you get the drift.

“Delikado sa chicks toh” my mom keeps on saying. Hahaha

Seriously though, I am slowly weaning him from nursing. But sad to say I am failing miserably! I know it’s partly my fault. When he insists on nursing instead of taking his bottle I oftentimes oblige because he gets into a fit & cry. Also, it is beneficial for me when I’m nursing him for example:

• I don’t need to get up in the middle of the night to get him milk, I just roll over & nurse him.
• Nursing easily puts him to sleep, without it; It may take hours for him to fall asleep. He prefers to be sung! And I suck at that when I nurse him I can get away without singing. nyahahaha
• We save a bit on milk. He consumes 1 900g. can in 1 week and a half. If not; he’ll consume the can in less than a week.
• It’s our little bonding time (as if we don’t get enough!). I feel one with my baby when I nurse.
• It’s like exercising without really doing much (the way I like it.)
• I have an excuse to eat more….what?! I’m eating for two. ahahaha

So with all these benefits why am I in a hurry to wean the boy? That got me thinking; Society dictates that breastfeeding should only be done with babies up to 2 years. But some women breastfeed up until the age of 3 and more. This is called extended breastfeeding or “sustained breastfeeding”. It is believed that all benefits of human milk (nutritional,immunological and emotional) continue as long as the child nurses. This would also be a means for the child to bond with his mother.

So I read on negative impacts of sustained breastfeeding and found none.

I’ve actually found a very informative entry on extended breastfeeding from the site called Skinship and she quoted from Dr. Sears’s Baby Book (p.198): “Life is a series of weanings for a child: weaning from the womb, weaning from the breast, from your bed and from your home to school. The pace at which children go from oneness to separateness should be respected in all of these weaning milestones. /…/ We have studied long-term effects on thousands of children who have had timely weanings and have observed that these children are more independent, gravitate to people more than things, are easier to discipline, experience less anger and radiate trust./…/ In the normal process of oneness and separateness, it is not the mother who weans the baby, but the baby who weans from the mother.”

Having read that, I therefore conclude that it’s my baby’s right to nurse. Given that there are no major disadvantage of extended breastfeeding I will allow my son to self-wean. In his own pace. In his own time.

That’s how I am lately, I am super busy with Ozzy + work + being a wife + updating my blog. I’ve been nanny-less since Thursday. The nanny left after our Island Hopping thing. I didn’t ask her to stay until we’d find a replacement, wrong move on my part? Maybe. But I was thinking about it and I believe it’s best for her to be gone as soon as possible. I didn’t want her attitude around my son any longer.

That is why I haven’t bloghopped since last week! I was not able to properly update my blog. Tsk. Tsk. The good thing is I’ve spent a lot of quality time with my boy. We watched the brainy baby video on animals! He loves it so much.

Just so you get the idea on how I spent my day here it is.

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There seem to be a substantial amount of ladies getting pregnant lately. In Hollywood, there’s Jessica Alba, Angelina Jolie & 16 year old Jamie Lyn Spears. In the local scene there’s Jennilyn Mercado & Kris Aquino (?) I don’t know if that’s true. And of course, in my blogroll there’s Darlene & Peachy! Congratulations ladies!

It’s not that I want to join the bandwagon but I seem to be touching my tummy a lot these days. I’m missing those months that someone was parking there. There’s was a certain bond that existed between me & my baby. I miss my big, a bit pointy belly. Besides, nowadays I can’t use the phrase, “Can I finish your ice cream, I’m eating for 2 eh!”.

I take offense every time some of my friends discourage me to have another baby this soon. 4 years is the ideal age gap, they say. Well, it’s not as if I can exactly predict when I’m going to have a baby right? That’s up to the big boss upstairs. Even if I take extra precautions to avoid unplanned pregnancy, if I am bound to get pregnant, I will.

Ozzy was an unplanned pregnancy, but a great blessing nonetheless. A life changing blessing actually. Some young couple prolongs having a baby saying they are not ready yet. But when are we ever going to be ready, right? When I was with child, admittedly I was not ready - at all. But I took the challenges one day at a time. Slow & steady. The results? Unexplainable happiness & contentment.

I am not saying that you give birth every year! That’s plain crazy & unhealthy (for babies & moms); all I am saying is if it happens, it happens; if not, then just wait a few more months.

I’m just reminiscing here…

The nanny gave her 2 week notice already. Everyone in the house is glad she’s finally decided on her own that it’s best to leave.

She is not happy here anyway, and I believe its for the best. For my part, I am a bit panicky ~ she’s the only nanny Ozzy has had since birth. Finding a new one might prove to be more difficult than we thought. I have already asked around my friends and family, and no one has good news up to now.

I hope Ozzy doesn’t have separation anxiety. I know how much he loves his nanny. So, anyone there reading this who knows someone willing to work as a nanny to a 19 month old boy, please give me a buzz.

Some important points to ask in interviewing new help or nanny:

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