Mothers' cliche, time sure does fly...

This was taken when Azumi was barely 7 weeks old.



Well, it really does seem like just yesterday that me and my cutie girl were hanging out in the bedroom almost the whole day. She was such a different person then. Back in her baby blob stage. She slept and nursed and slept and nursed. Sweet smiles and giggles when awake. I would always think what a cool thing to be her mom.

There were times at night we would wake up because she was crying. But we had some of our best threesome moments together during those nights.

I’m really so much fun being her mom (and so as her dad) -- teaching her about the world while the world is learning from her at the same time lol.

21 blissful months. We made it this far. We’re doing fine. Three more months to go before the big day.

Ohh baby don’t go too fast. I’m still trying to absorb this all in!

The thing I miss most about my motherhood is nursing… It was such a wonderful experience for me.... the closeness, the bond, and the knowledge that I was doing the best that I could for her at the time, which somehow, now, it never seems like I can do enough for her...


I feel sorry for myself (and my lil girl) that I only could've nursed her for four months =( If given a choice, I would want to be an exclusive, long term breast feeder, as long as my baby wants to.. But the thing is, she kinda weaned herself when I only refused to feed her with my precious breastmilk for a day because I wasn't feeling well during that time.



Seriously, sometimes I miss breastfeeding... I miss the moments.. I miss my baby being a baby.. I think it's one of the essences of motherhood -- the principle of being able to think and give the best you can for your child, the love.

For future moms, I strongly recommend breastfeeding your baby for 101 or more reasons...

Hello Mommies and sisterettes It's always been a busy week for me, and even got busier since last week. I miss surfing the internet, chatting with friends, and reading your blogs . I won't have much time to do it for awhile because... MY DEAR LIL SISSY is here , finally. She was actually supposed to be here last 2 weeks ago but ---- something came up and got delayed. Nevertheless, she's here and we still have 5 more weeks to bond and have fun before she goes back to PI for her classes.

My baby adores her Tita Nikka, it was an instant love the first time they met each other. She giggles whenever she sees her. I'm just so glad they get along well. My sista's been helpful in baby sitting her pretty lil niece .

Oh yeah, Anzu had been restless and couldn't sleep during my sissy's first 3 nights... Usually she sleeps at 9, but the other days, she couldn't have a goodnight sleep, she wakes up in the middle of the night. I guess when babies suddenly get hyper or excited during the day, they couldn't sleep at night.. that's what I noticed... NOw, she's back to her normal routine. She sleeps on her usual sleeping time , and wakes up so early like 7am . SOmetimes it's hard for me to get up that early because I always stay up late, but seeing her smiling when she's trying to wake me up, oh well--- when I try to sleep again, she makes noises, she tries to get my attention with her "ahh ahh ...s"

She's also seems to be enjoying now being outside, going out for shopping, seeing alot of people, and riding a train Hindi na sya hirap alagaan, dati kasi nagbubusit na sya pag napapagod na , now I just give her something to eat and/or play, behaved na sya

Photosharing

sharing some of Anzu's pics from 4.24.2009 ~ 4.30.2009

ANYWHEEZ, see you again. Enjoy your week. IT's GOLDEN WEEK over here in Japan, everybody is on vacation . My birthday is also coming, next week May 13 weeee

It's always a happy atmosphere whenever we feed our lil dolly princess especially now that She has learned how to swallow her paste-like foods. We began to introduce an another kind of feeding, aside from milk when she turned 5 months. We started with mashed apple, banana, and carrots. Followed by Veggies and yogurt. I give her Osenbe (baby crackers) during late afternoons as her Merienda, rich in Nutrients and calcium.

I wanna share a clip of one of our feeding moments. Taken during her most active time, morning ﾜｰｲ。(⌒∇⌒。)三(。⌒∇⌒)。ﾜｰｲ

WATCH please




Feeding her with solid foods has become one of our bonding moments. Her Dad usually feeds her every morning, but sometimes I do it myself just like today ヾ(〃^∇^)ﾉわぁい♪

ﾏﾀﾈｯ(^ｰ^)ﾉ~~ Jya mata ne! **hugs**

Our baby Azumi has just turned 1 month two weeks ago, November 8... Of course, the three of us celebrated it. Her hello kitty dress was given by her grandma... she looks like a cat right? hihi




The next day was her ceremony, OMIYAMAIRI in japanese.

In Japan, they usually bring their baby to a Shinto shrine on the 31st day after the birth a baby boy, and 32nd day for a baby girl for introduction and first contact with the gods. A Shinto priest performs this ceremony to ward off evil and give blessings of good health. A baby is dressed in kimono or a white gown. Our baby wore a white gown bought by her grandma.

Good thing about being HALF is you learn, practice and enjoy two different culture. We`ll be visiting again the temple where she had her first and have the ritual ceremony called OKUIZUME which literally means "start eating". When she turns 3, she`ll gonna wear a kimono and will have a ceremony again in the same temple where she had during her 31st day and 100th day.

However, We`re planning to have her Christening in the Philippines next year or year 2010. I`m excited. I`ll see to it that all her pretty ninangs and goodlooking ninongs will be present on that day. It would also be her first time to meet our huge and yet happy family. It would be fun for sure, kids will be all over our place again, like when I was still a kid, this time, it`s her generation.

r>

I can proudly say, I LOVE BEING A MOM.

My baby is so behave. She only cries when she`s hungry. Everybody was asking me kung napupuyat ba kami. Yes she wakes up around between 2 to 4 am, but she sleeps right away when I feed her. Her first two weeks was so busy. She always has visitors, almost everyday. Dami na nya na-receive na OIWAI =) In Japan, there`s a certain envelope for every occassions like weddings, funerals, etc. Meron din for new born babies. Of course, moolah ang laman nito =) Galante yata talaga mga Japanese... every visitor ni Azumi, meron presents and envelope hihi...

What I love about Azumi, parang she loves people. Lagi sya gising pag may tao, and as if she can see and hear na. She stares at you when you look at her. Even when she was newly born, tinitigan na nya ko pati dad nya. She doesn`t cry kahit lagay mo lang sya sa crib... sana lagi sya ganyan....

Although of course, may time na she cries lalo na lately, marunong na sya magpapansin =) kasi wala naman luha lumalabas, and she warns us muna bago sya tuluyan umiyak, like "ahhhh-----" ... "ah---", parang she`s calling our attention.

On her first week, she can handle her neck na which is rare daw for newly borns... kakatakot pag bigla sya gagalaw... she kicks so hard, parang soccer player.. she smiles alot when she`s sleeping... she can stretch both hands and feet...

All we do is stare at her when she sleeps... play with her when she`s awake... our life has change eversince she came. During her first few weeks, we`re witnessing her "first" things.

My say, one of the essence of a human being is to be a parent, if not, to raise a child with dedication.

It was my usual every week check up... I was gonna ask my doctor (Dr. Kaku this time) kung kailan talaga due ko coz supposed to be October 4 based on my last mentrual period. I thought another week na naman coz I don't feel any symptom yet. Then when he IE me, pinatawag nya sa nurse agad si Honey who`s waiting then outside... Akala ko kung ano na, my gosh bigla ako kinabahan...

He said that I have to be admitted na.. di na daw ako pauuwiin. May nakita yata sya water leaks "down there".. Upon hearing that, mixed emotions ako, excited and scared at the same time. Si honey full smile naman. That time, I didn`t feel any pain yet. Kaya I thought, swerte ko naman, baka di nako maglabor, agad na sya lalabas.

Pina-admit na nga ako, binihisan pa nga ako ng nurse =) Napaka-warm talaga ng staff and nurse sa hospital ko. Actually, maliit lang sya, 2 flloors, 10 private rooms... 1 dining room. Parang nasa house ka lang pero pang hotel ang service =)

Honey went home to get our things. My gosh, yung ni-ready ko lang, mga damit ni baby. Mga gamit ko lang daw dapat dalhin coz the hospital will provide for the baby`s stuff. Ang dami ko pa binalak dalhin sa hospital, di naman alam ni honey kung saan saan nakalagay mga things ko, and you know naman mga guys, tamad maghanap.

Sarap ng lunch ko, sinerve sa room ko... U know when you say hospital food, parang ayaw mo na kainin right. Pero iba talaga service ng maternity hospital ko. They really know patients' satisfaction. After ng lunch, na-feel ko na yung sinasabi nilang "my water bag has broken..." ... kaya pala pinampers ako ng makapal ng nurse kasi ang dami pala lalabas... not only once... soo warm and ang sarap ng feeling na may lumalabas na warm water from you.... Then nagsidatingan na mga visitors ko, family. Some said, agad daw sya lalabas kasi lumabas na tubig, worse daw pag blood... yung iba naman, warning nila ako, umpisa pa lang daw yan =(

Which is right, exactly 9pm, sumakit na tyan ko... Wala pa naman ako kasama coz di pwedi magstay ang family sa room, until 8pm lang mga visitors. My gosh every 3-5 mins sumasakit, pero yung sakit last about 1min. Di na ko nakatulog coz every time na nakakatulog ako, dun yung sobrang sakit pero bearable pa naman. Sabi nga ni sistah JL, enjoy ko lang ang labor of love... I thought, this is it na pero sabi ng nurse, di pa bumababa... Madaling araw na yun... Dinextrose na nila ako para daw magbaba sya, di ko gets ano yung sinasabi nila. Pero wala ako masabi service nila, ang bait and they encourage you talaga, parang kapamilya.


Akala ko before lunch ok na, kasi non stop yung sakit. Lalo pa sumakit nung mga 1pm na, as in tuloy tuloy na, di na every 5 mins. Di na ko nakakain ng lunch, sarap pa naman... Di ko na rin ma-enjoy yung labor of love sa sobrang sakit =) Naku pinahirapan talaga ko ni baby... Unforgettable experience talaga.


And yet most memorable naman nung lumabas na sya at 7:31 pm by my favorite Doctor Yamaguchi. All those hours of unbearable pains become the sweetest pain of my life. Dun ko na din na-appreciate sinasabi ni JL na labor of love. As in you'll forget lahat ng sakit naramdaman and nararamdaman mo. Tinatahi pa ni Doc yung ano ko pero di ko man na-fi-feel coz I was in cloud 9, overjoyed, while looking at them, my husband, the nurse and the baby...



Kainis nga lang yung mga no-ready ko na video cam and camera, di nadala ni honey sa Operating room sa sobrang panic.. naglowbat pa yung mga fone namin kaya konti lang na-captured =(

Sa mga friends ko na preggy din, enjoy nyo ang pregnancy nyo. When the time comes, don't be scared. All worth it. Wag sana ma-CS, after kasi yung sakit nun.



In a week, fully recovered na talaga ako. Super enjoy na pagiging mom... They all love her, kahit mga neighbors namin, kakatuwa. Sarap ng feeling, lalo na pag may OYUWAI kami natatanggap hehe... but of course, it would be greater if my loveones and friends in PI were here with me.

As of now, 3 weeks old na sya... Miss ko na yung first 2 weeks nya =). Always sleeping kasi and ang gaan nya. Ngayon medyo bumigat na and namumuyat na sya my godd...