Can I be just a Stay At Home Mom (SAHM)?

Wow! It's been 7 weeks now of my mommyhood! Yey! I'm surviving each day of dirty diapers, less sleep pa lang at night (wag naman sanang sleepless nights), alburuto/ligalig moments (alburuto means agitated) and sore nipples but I'm still equally happy and contented.

In 2 weeks time, I will be returning for work. *Sigh*
Can I just be a Stay at Home Mom (SAHM) like some of my friends? *Sigh again*
I don't want to leave my so cute baby at home. Feeling ko, even if I go to office, my mind will be at home thinking of my baby. How is he? If he has been fed on time. If he burps after each feeding. If he squirms and cry before sleeping. If this and if that... Aaaarrrggghhhh!!! Grabe, totoo pala yung mga narinig kong testimonies of my friends who had babies. You can't just let someone look after your baby when you're at work. Mas gusto mo pa rin na hands-on ka on your baby.

We're lucky because my mom agrees to stay with us to help me look after our baby. We have been blessed as well because we didn't get a hard time looking for our house-help to take care of all the house chores. But even if with Mama with us, I am proud to say, I am all hands-on to baby Jared.

Hay (Sigh), If only A's salary can cover all of our expenses, or better say GROWING EXPENSES, I will definitely wear my SAHM hat. But for now, I have to go back to work and help out A to provide for our family.

At 7 weeks, our baby has grown so fast!!! We believe he is now at between 7-8kgs. He doesn't look like a 7-wk old baby but a 4-month old one. Hahaha!!! Super takaw kasi. As in!!! His Pedia said his brain has developed faster than regular babies at his age by the behaviors he is showing us. We are really thankful to God for giving us such a wonderful child. We are confident baby Jared is intellectually gifted too just like his parents!!! : P

Aaaawww, just by looking at him now (Baby Jared, sleeping while I create this entry) my heart melts.
Well, who wouldn't be?

Photo taken on Aug. 17, 2011.. Playtime with Mommy... Baby Jared is a certified Happy Baby!

Photo take on Aug. 18, 2011. It's a bit gloomy weather that is why lightning is not so good. :D Baby Jared loves it when we talk with him and he replies with a cooing sound!!! Kakatuwa!

I won't go weary

...to stare at you, my precious,
my joy, my love
and now my life.

Take each day slowly.

Don't be in a rush to grow.

I want to witness each step you take as you explore the wonders of the world.

Don't be afraid,

I'll be on your front to make sure the road you'll take is safe.

I'll be at your side to guide you on each journey and

I'll be at your back to catch you if ever you will stumble and fall.

Take each step bravely my son,

Mommy will be there for you, no matter what.

Mommy loves you so much!!!

Sharing my side: August is breastfeeding month

I am a month-old nursing Mom and counting....

I already talked about my experience on breastfeeding on this entry but let me continue and share some more since August is the month of breastfeeding.

My son, Aedan Jared is a vigorous sucker. It is painful everytime I feed him. My nipples are sore (as always since day 1). Even if he latched on properly, still, the pain is there. There are times he will bite on my nipples and Boy oh Boy, that is really painful. Recently (about 2 weeks ago, apart from biting), he learned to pull my nipples when he is upset or when he tries to get his best position to sleep (He do this everytime inaantok na sya) Hay naku! Talaga naman! Napapasigaw ako.

My MIL (Mother in Law) used to teased me na "Nag-aaway na naman kayong mag-ina..."

I tried putting on nipple cream to help ease the pain and soreness. It works, yes, but as mentioned, everytime I feed my son, the pain is there as well because he is indeed a vigorous sucker. As what I read from books, babies who suck vigorously are also called "Barracudas". Dabbing on my very own milk on my cracked and sore nipples helps and actually heals them. Yun nga lang, nasusugat ulit.

I have been away from home and my baby for more than 3 times now. My baby fed on extracted milk from which I pumped out manually from my boobies and put in the fridge so A and I can have our "US" time. Being away from home for several hours resulted to big, swollen, hard and painful breasts or termed as "breast engorgement". With this condition, we need to immediately go home. And when we get home, I still need to rest at least 30mins before I can feed baby J or pumped the milk out just to be relieved from pain. But pain does not stop after pumping out milk, it is still there. A throbbing and itchy feeling combined. Hu hu hu. Hardships and sacrifices all for your little one.

I admit, there were more than a couple of times I thought of giving up breastfeeding. I even consulted our Pedia for a formula to give just in case my milk is not enough or dries up when I report for work a month from now. I confess, that in my head, I am really thinking of mix-feeding.

But despite of these pains and rants on breastfeeding, I still do it and don't have any plans (as for now...hehehe) to give up breastfeeding. I do a lot of reading on breastfeeding so as to keep me in the zone and be positive on continuing breastfeeding. I also follow old-school-tips on breastfeeding that really works such as:

• good diet and nutrition since I am still feeding for two
• Malunggay, malunggay and malunggay always on my food with soup or sometimes, it's just malunggay soup only mixed with Knorr cubes.
• Making sure I drink lots of water every day to keep me hydrated.    

I know my son will benefit most from this sacrifice. Basta, all the best for him. I will provide and give my all as long as I can even if it means that I will undergo hardships. To moms, mom-to-be and women who will happen to read this, I am telling you to help promote breastfeeding. I have talked about its advantages on my previous post.

Bottom line, I know i made the right choice of having my shot on breastfeeding and hoping, I can sustain this for x months and even years for my son.

just a month-old-nursing-mom and counting...