My Little Boy's First Birthday Party

As promised I am going to write all the things I can recall on Yanis' First Birthday party. This is a very late post but it's worth to tell since every child's first birthday is the most significant of all.

Every parents goal is to make that 12th month possible with no underlying problems of health. It's very critical to a child's life especially ours because he is a preemie. I always remember what the doctor had told us at the hospital and specifically informed us that our baby is special in a way late preterm babies should not be treated ordinarily. So every month from that time on we try to document in photos and videos our baby's development. As of this day, with God's grace Yanis only did one hospital visit when he was 4 days old and at the 11 month he did got a flu and cough from our vacation when we were out of the country. We as a parent did a good job I should say. I am proud of that and I will continue to work on something for my baby so he could be a good person when he grow up.

So when I planned about what theme I like for his birthday. I randomly searched famous Disney movies and I had eyed on minion. I told the husband and he said well it's an option so I was kind of hesitant to do that in the end. We later decided Little Baby Bum theme. They are just very recent and not many know their existence but it's the only nursery companies that Yanis loved. He started listening to LLB( in short ) very early on maybe 6 months or less. That time, the song captured his attention and he smiled every time it was played on or I would sing was the Five Little Speckled Frog and then at a later part he loved Hickory Dickory Dock where the mouse ran up the clock. In the kitchen I always played him the companies nursery songs and he loved it.

Now I have the theme planned, I need a vendor in the Philippines that I can work on so I could put up a backdrop that I need to the party. I searched LLB song lists and what captured me was to get the Row row your boat part 1 scheme where cupcakes, pretzels and lollipops where in the background. It will be a perfect backdrop and I used that concept in making the invitations and I used a few characters from their abundance of lists.

I worked for days to get everything in place and send it to all my family and friends via social media. I did all the prep 2 months in advance. I think I did good in this one and the prints were really eye catching ( I made a dozen for those older crowd that don't use the internet ). The distance was hard and the only way to get the invitation on schedule was through social media which most of the people I know used it very well and always up to date with what's new. It was very effective in the sense and I got all the response I needed in time.

The venue was difficult because I had only few place to choose from. There were a lot of venues out there but getting the right people to talked to was hard when dealing internationally. Hotel places are good but it's way out of my budget though I found a good one but I wasn't able to get the time I want so I choose a venue where everyone knows it. The place is very convenient and the food is good. A friend of mine helped me reserved it and transacted all down payments via money transfer electronically.

I searched Cebu artists and party coordinator in Facebook and also friends recommendation helped to to booked the party decor, cake, hosts, photographer and videographer so easily using FB. The small details like the party favor, piñata, and tokens where all done in Cebu with the help of my sister in law. To sum it up, I did it all without using my husbands energy. But with good help from a few people it was possible.

I got this idea from the Happy Birthday Song - Little Baby Bum. My cake artists did a good job. 

The cake dessert buffet was amazing. Don't you think so! I didn't conceptualize this. The cake decorator did all this. What I just asked to get the cake right and she did and she made cupcakes, lollipops and other sweet treats. The cake was moist and delicious.

Ain't that nice? It's perfect love the combination. Though I wish the rainbow color scheme was used. But still they did a good job working on the characters and designs that I told them to do.

I asked for this and it was cool.

At the entrance, look at the mouse and clock!

Centerpieces, the itsy bitsy spider!

I made the favor tag but bought the bag through amazon.

My own design personalized mug. I did the photo session too.

It was the same company I used to print the refrigerator magnets. It was perfect.

13th Month Update

Oh my golly! I haven't posted anything for so long. I am MIA for couple of months now. Being a mom is a wonderful blessing. No doubt about it, completed my whole being. Sometimes I wish that I could have a help here to watch my son. The problem with that is, I am hesitant to have a stranger in my house and really the trust issue is my ordeal. I am not willing to take that risk yet. Also, financially we are just depending on the husband, I wanted to used that money for a baby sitter to something else.

This past months Yanis' growth and development is doing good. We had his appointment early October and everything is good. There are some issues that I am working on with him but his okay. Nothing about delay. I was expecting too much from the little guy and comparing him to others that achieved earlier progress physically.

His not walking yet, just recently doing his 4 steps which is quite an achievement for him. I was glad I caught it on camera. The physical training his doing now can take so much of my time and I barely spend a time to do much for myself. He needed attention and play time. His a very active little man. I have to watched him closely. I may doing it more than he should but on that aspect the husband wanted me to do it regularly. So I do agree watching him closely can prevent and avoid any mishaps or accident so I did it. But I tell you, it's a lot of work and taking so much of my energy.

He did get sick though when we went to the Philippines. He got the bug first and I got his and my hubby got mine. We were all sick for more than a week. I was the one who got the worst bug but eventually I got rid of it by constantly drinking lots of fluid and medicine. Yanis was having the bug and he was teething too. Poor little fella. His first 2 teeth though came to appear after the trip and it was rapidly sprouting lol. Now he got 5 and I believe 2 is going to come out soon. His appetite would change every time and his nose would leak too. I don't know why his nose would leak but it happened. Coincidence maybe, but surely I saw it. The weird thing is his first 2 teeth was one at the bottom and upper. Strange but I asked the doctor about it and she said infant teeth just appear every where there's no text book to say which one would go first.

His babbling a lot and he speak a lot of words. It's very pleasant to the ear how this little guy voice range can fill up the room lol. Of course not the whining and twisting but when his talking on his own words. I just loved his voice.

Music is his thing as well. He likes to dance to an upbeat song. During our travel, we have noticed how he reacted to the different sounds and his feeling every rythm by moving his lower body and moving his arms in the air when he likes a song. He also snapped his thumb and point finger following me when I like to jam to a song. Though you can't really tell what his doing but if you look at closely, this trying to copy what you are doing. My boy is like a sponge.

This will be it for now. I will try to do more update in a few days. And also will share photos from his first birthday party.. Promise!

2015 Pumpkin Patch - this is just today's whereabout. Went out to a farm and he was having a blast with the hays.

11 month Update

Here it goes another month had passed and it's almost a year since I delivered my miracle baby. His 11 months now and time flies indeed. Yanis is doing great. His a smart boy. I am lucky and blessed to have him in my life. No greater feeling than to be a mother of an angel. Despite the sleepless nights, no matter how tiring my days could be, seeing him with his smile and laughter can take all of it. There's nothing to compare the joy he brings to my life.

His so mobile during photo session. I took this photo with so many tries since he cant sit still. I am glad I got at least a few good ones. The thing with him, every new thing he finds it amusing and likes to touch and feel it. You can't have him seat and relax. His very active little boy.

He doesn't have any full grown teeth yet. His bottom tooth is still peaking. I thought by this time it will come out but it didn't. I still love the toothless gummy smile. I don't worry so much. The doctor told me not to worry about it.

He does still cruise by the furniture and walls. His afraid getting off balance. I tried to check on him so he can practice walking alone but instead he will just sit. His not confident yet. Well, due to the fact he had fall a few times and it scared him. I hope one of these days he will try and do it. I know it will be fast when it happen. I am not sure if I can get in time for photos lol..

Update 10th Month

Yanis' has grown and very active. Before he reached his 10th month, he was able to stand on his own by grabbing anything that can support his weight. His crawling and finally can sit on his own. His been crawling since 5 months but starting on the 9th month, his been exploring all over the floor. Though he has very limited space at home, whatever we've got he managed to progress on his own. 

He did his first trip outside CA last month. He did pretty good in the plane. We booked a night flight and he was able to sleep on my lap. I mostly did take care of his needs. It still quite getting used to. I need to be organized next time for his next long flight international which will going to happen soon. We did follow what other mothers did tell me to give him food during take off and landing. Landing is hard to follow but I can tell that he naturally sense he need to suck his thumb during that time. His not into pacifier and all. He just did what comes to him naturally which he suck his thumb for comfort and somehow really worked for him. Next time, I won't stressed about it if his sleeping. If his awake I will make sure he will have something to chew so he could equalize his ears. But the opposite did happen when we came to CA. Daytime flight was not his thing. He want to explore what he can see so he was anxious in his seat to walk around. He make some squeak sound and I am sure the person next to me had a terrible experience with us. But at least Yanis is not a screaming baby. The stress of making Yanis feel comfortable was a task with that flight. I was stressed out. I just hope the next trip will be easy for him and us. 

Right now, his into cruising around the furniture. I tried to hold him and let him stand on his own and pull back my hands but his smart enough to not let go. He will sit down right away when he noticed I am trying to test his skills. Hubby is not pressing the issue of him walking soon. For me, I just don't want Yanis to delay anything if I can help it. What other's are saying, let the baby do his own thing. He can walk by his own when his ready. So far, he loves to walk around the furniture and crawling. He love to explore tiny spaces. 

As for food, like his dad his very picky. He loves bread and cheese. His not into cereal and oatmeal anymore. But I mixed it in with other vegetable and fruits so he can have the carbs that needed for his weight. His still very tiny. In the 15 pounds range. Despite his under weight, he will eat when he really like the food. He wants to taste the food on our plate. We give him something what we can and have him taste all differently. He already got so much taste and now his starting to be picky. I hope one day he will not be as picky. It will be easier for me in the kitchen. Anyway, he solely into formula now. I stopped breast pumping the first of July. I decided to stop due to the fact I don't have enough milk to waste my time of the day and energy to just pump 10ml each time. It was an easy weaning and my breast did somehow have pain in a couple of days. The only remedy I took was ice pack and tylenol and the pain was gone after a week. It didn't last long. 

What Yanis' love to do during the day is listening and watching his favorite nursery songs. He loves to dance when the music is good. Just like his parents his musically inclined. He will be so happy with music and it calmed him down when his too cranky. I don't know what it is, Yanis likes Nylon or any strappy material, paper, tissue, remote control, laptop, ipod and cellphone. Toy's can't make him quiet if his not in the mood but if you give him what I enumerated he will be glad to just observe the things his holding. He doesn't have any teeth yet but I can see the gum is swollen and maybe in a week or two it will come out. His biting things when it irritated him. There were times too that we give him infant tylenol for his discomfort. For words, he can say dada, dadi, mom, mama , baba so clearly and just bubble with sounds I wish I know what it is his saying. lol..  His very talkative. 

I think this is all for now.. will update as soon as I can. 

5 months after Birth

Sounds very fast but it is. Time is ticking quick. I need to write down the things that happened since my last post.

So Baby Yanis is growing. His still a peanut. Length of 24 inch, weight 13 lbs and eats averaging 19 oz. Not a very drastic growth and weight but his following his own curve so I don't have much concern. As long as his eating and healthy, I don't think I have to worry.

For motor skills development, his spot on. Before he turned 4 months, he was able to roll over from back to tummy and a few weeks after that before reaching his 5th month he was able to roll over from tummy to back. His able to sit with assistance, reaching toes with his hands, smile a lot when you sing to him, talks back in his own language, sings to you when his focus or when his sleepy, giggle abundantly right before he sleep when tickle, tasting and biting fingers exploring his food senses, and can reach toys with less wobbly. His a very smart baby. He imitates what I will teach him to do. I really am very happy of his progress.

I wish he will continue to grow more and hope he can catch up on others. His mental development that I was so concerned about is so no longer my worry because I saw his very intelligent. I just wish for more better report the next time he will be at the doctor's office. But I guess if the doctor is happy, maybe I should take that and not to worry anymore. Sometimes, I just can't help it.

As for me, my weight is lesser than my pre-pregnancy weight which is really good. I am not doing any exercise at all and most of the time, I am home alone during the day with the baby. Hubby does come home at lunch so it's comforting when his around. Generally, I take care most of Yanis' feeding, changing diaper and bathing. I can sleep for 5 hours now provided my insomnia will not going to visit me. Yanis' bedtime usually falls between 9-10pm and only wake up at 1-3am to feed. Hubby does take care of that so that's where I get most of my straight hours of bedtime. I am still a little tired during feeding because he still eats between 2.5hrs to 3hrs with 60ml-90ml. I wish he can take more so less feeding but it's okay. As long as his eating, I should not complain. He takes 3-4 naps a day which I can spend a little time of myself but I wish he can take 2 and long hours so I could have more time to do something for myself. One day, I know he will change. For now, I am better and I am content.
  

The second week of my Preemie ( 36 weeker )

I know I posted today simultaneously. I forgot to post the first week video last week. Even so, I hope you could be entertained by this.

The second week was a breeze for us with my husband. Though we didn't get much sleep because we constantly check Yanis body temp, we did get down to regulate this temperature. He was doing good and the progress we saw in him was fantastic.

Here's the recap:

The first week of my Preemie ( 36 weeker )

This was a project that my husband wanted. A 30 days video of our son. Majority of the speeches, comments, interaction over video was done by my husband. With so little time and no help from family, it's hard for me to edit and post something. Now that baby Yanis is getting longer sleep, I have some time now to create and hopefully posts his progress week by week. I still have a lot of editing until I can get to the present happening but in the mean time, I hope you will take time to check out this video.

The day Everything seems Possible - Labor and Delivery 9/17/14

Sorry for not updating for months. Being a new mom is a lot of work. Not to mention I don't have anybody to support my physical needs except my dear husband who's trying his best as much as he can. We already down to our routine now and so I have time for myself. Time is not that many I tell you, but even just a few minutes from here and there it make up for something.

So I already posted on what happen the day I have my son. I just finally made a video. I've got plenty of clips and with such little time on my hand, editing and arranging is a bit of a handy task. I just choose those that are pretty much necessary, significant and memorable.

Hope you enjoy!