Ahhh...finally! Another major milestone, and it certainly feels like something to celebrate about.
Our little man started walking a few months ago, after everyone had their own opinions and guesses about when he would take his first step. Even though he had started with 'furniture walking' about two months before that, taking those first few steps on his own was like man landing on the moon for him, and more so for us.
Everybody warned us about ..'wait till he starts walking, you'll be running after him'....they were talking from experience off course...and I'm still running!
There's no greater joy then to be there when your toddler takes his first steps. It's a whole new level of independence, with refusing to be held or have his hand held, and insist on running in the opposite direction in the mall. It's just cute watching those little legs march off as though on a mission and then turn right back to you. Discovering what his little legs can do now have become a whole new adventure, with going to the post box to pick up the newspaper for his grandad, and check for mail.
What makes it more 'daunting' for us is ensuring that anything at his eye level and within reach that may pose a danger is removed. Baby proofing can be a big job, though toddlers at this age can understand more than we assume they can, and just by explaining the dangers can sometimes be helpful for them to understand than telling them that they 'can't touch this' or 'can't go there'. It becomes meaningful to them. But,as always it's better to be safe than sorry!
This is probably the part where they start 'growing up' and don't want to be your little baby anymore because they can get there on their own without been carried. Watching these moments are such a thrill and makes the best memories to relate to when they're older. Every place in the house is a special adventure for them...from pots and containers in the kitchen to lotions and powders in the bedroom, and not forgetting the electronic devices that they can get their hands on.
No matter how old he is, this little man will always be our little baby :)
When they say time flies, that's no lie! The last few months have been nothing but joy, smiles, oodles of hugs and kisses and some pushing of the boundary too.
Our baby boy is turning one very soon and to see him get this far has been such an adventure with wanting to get the camera out for every new trick and celebrate every milestone.
Just watching him grow and get to the point where he actually wants to be Mr Independent is amusing but it's all happening too fast. Once those two little teeth popped out, and he mastered crawling and discovering how he can get around with supporting himself, there's no stopping him. Feeding him now becomes a task when he insists on holding the spoon or grasping his own food, even though sometimes it goes nowhere near his mouth, and instead I discover them on his feeding chair or on the floor....where has our little baby gone?
Infants at this age are so daring and if they are not appropriately supervised it is very easy for home accidents to occur. From pulling everything within their reach to swiping that hot tea cup in your hand and finding the littlest thing on the floor, baby proofing and common sense is imperative.
I recently purchased a pair of cute crocs with charms on it, making sure that I couldn't try to pull the charms out first. They look hip and ideal for the beach.
He was busy playing with the crocs only to later observe him successfully pull and tear one of the charms! This was quite scary, as to an infant unsupervised this could have been a choking hazard. I am in the process of highlighting this danger to the related store.
They absorb so much and just want to learn something new everyday from hearing everything that you do and watching your every move. Picture books are always a great source of learning with being able to associate pictures to what they have. Toys are not really interesting to them at this age, instead they want everything they see you work with, the remote control, mobile phone, powders and the best one is taking all the clothes out of the linen bag and trying to rearrange them over and over again!!
It's definitely been quite an interesting journey for us this past year with our little angel, and when he drops off to sleep at night, there is nothing that can compare to that sweet angelic little face as you wonder ...'how do you have so much of energy during the day?'
The joys of parenthood are most certainly enlightening in every way and everyday there is something new to learn ourselves.
Be patient kind and loving with a humble heart. After all, most children strive to emulate their parents.
Just taking your baby out of the house for the first time can be daunting and challenging enough. How much more to be said for the time you take your little one through security and passport control of an airport and on their first 14 hour flight and consequent 8 hour flight?
It was definitely quite nail biting as I prepared his meal bag and diaper bag, making sure I knew how many bags I was allowed according to baggage policy of that airline. Having one bag with all the compartments I needed made my life so easy. Every time I had to pass through security (at least 4 times) I had to hope and pray they would not be stopping my baby bag to search the formula or his flask full of water...and thankfully they did not!
Travelling with an infant brings a whole new meaning to travelling light for yourself. It's really all about your baby...gone are my days where I can travel with all my lock stock and barrel of things that I really could do without ( as I have realised), and now just making do with bare necessities of items for me!
A necessity for any mum that makes travelling much more convenient is a baby harness. I found that it made it less cumbersome with having my hands freed up, and also exciting for him looking out at others and to see where he is going, as well as making it easy going through security and boarding the plane. It's a definite must have.
We were very fortunate with our little one as he was so well behaved that you would not have known there was even a baby on board. He slept most of the flight,and even though a bassinet was provided, that he almost fit the length of, he much more preferred taking turns sleeping on my husband's and my chest. Nursing him on take off, descent and landing really helps with air pressure that babies would normally have discomfort with, and also takes their mind off the loud engine sounds.
You have to make sure that you have everything covered for those long hours or 14 hours would seem much longer... from extra baby wipes, diapers, spare clothes, burp cloths and their favourite distraction toy (sometimes their bib!!) to having enough formula, bottles, bowl and cereal. We certainly can say that our flight was comfortable barring the fact that I could not watch as many movies as I wanted:)
On board changing facility for babies was actually as comfortable as could be, and a fair amount of space provided especially when you have a wriggler at hand!:)
Thankfully most babies usually sleep at this age and travelling with them is not as cumbersome as I might have expected.
Well, at the end of the journey,there was nothing more comforting than seeing most of your family members waiting at the arrival lounge to welcome you, and the new family member.
It can be said that well and truly the greatest love of all must be what a parent has for their child.
To be a new parent, aunt or uncle and experience an overwhelming sense of love and protection is beyond what words can describe.
When I look into my little angels' big eyes there is an immense feeling of delight that perpetuates my infinite love through my beaming smile, I catch my breath..... and my heart melts, and I feel like the most proud mother around...what an awesome feeling!
How a little life can bring such joy, happiness and love is indescribable, and at this point, as a parent you would cross any boundary and move mountains for your child....they can do no wrong!
Just to see your child return that smile, laugh and giggle, is such a precious and breathtaking moment that will always remain indelible.
It really is an incredible blessing in life, and after all this kind of love is just priceless!
As a mother this song, as old, timeless and popular it may be, brings new meaning now when I hear it...who could convey it better than the the classic late Houston!
For Noah... you make my everyday a special blessing xoxo
It's simply amazing how time flies. My little boy has just completed his four month mark and it's just incredible how much has happened in that time...from fragile little body to huggy cuddly baby. Watching the milestones as they happen are so awesome and such a proud moment for the parents especially when they reach them well before they should.
From all the unwarranted worrisome little frets of sensitive skin and thinning hair to staying up most nights...a lot of things definitely get better for new mums out there. It really is all about what works for you, and not necessarily what has worked for others you might have heard of. Having information on what to expect is always useful and very helpful indeed. Babies are so receptive to everything around them as young as they are...with colours, sounds and textures.
Love, laughter, happiness and hugs are pretty much the most simple basic yet imperative needs that they can demand...not forgetting clean diapers...which comes so easily as a parent, and all it takes is just a gaze from their angelic little eyes that makes every sleepless night ever so worth it.
With every coo and babble and what sounds like some word, and excited little shrieks when they see themselves in the mirror, and their first roll, it makes any parent so proud and the camera comes out in time for any new skill that their little superstar has learnt or has experted.
Every day and moment is a learning one for both baby and parents, and just to know that your child is growing healthy and is a hearty happy baby is all that matters in the end.
As for making time for everything else....somehow or the other you eventually get around to it! Some days you feel like superwoman and other days...well.. you just don't go there ;)
It's been 6 weeks already and feels like just yesterday since our little angel entered the world.
Everything seemed so surreal as we entered our home with this little bundle in his car seat. It all seemed so hard to believe that we could leave as two and return as three....& before you know it you had all this responsibility that suddenly landed in front of you ... that ultimate knock of reality!
Natural child birth is truly an experience beyond words and it really makes you understand why women are resilient, so equipped and just so strong to go through this process in life...it's hard work!
When you see that little face for the first time, you're filled with all the awesome feelings that were building up during the nine months and how you waited to meet this little person who already has so much of personality & knows you too well, not to mention being the first person to hear your heartbeat from within.
We don't realise how the time just flies. When one month passed it was hard to believe how I'd got through it already...we all survived, and pretty well too...thank God!! With the change in sleep patterns, the change in feeding patterns, and not forgetting the change in poop colour, it was all happening the way it should, thankfully!!
Indeed there's endless things to learn about a newborn, trying to understand every different cry, a grimace, and other looks you just have to figure out through the process of elimination, literally and figuratively!
Indeed the first few weeks all babies truly care about is eating, & sleeping, and all we as mums end up doing is feeding, burping, changing diapers, rocking, swaying, singing, humming, bouncing and bathing our precious ones, oh and when we have the time...feed and groom ourselves...if you can remember what that is:)
It's so important to find time to look after your health and ensure that you're on track with a healthy diet, as well as finding time to get out with your little one, apart from keeping your sanity in check, all that fresh air and sunshine does a really great deal for the two of you.
As a new mum you tend to want to hog all the baby time naturally as this is the moment most women dream of, from the day you received that pram for Christmas when you were as young as 6 years old, or even much younger today. You just become instinctively protective with every cry, and real proud with every new sound.
They seem so precious and tiny when they're a few days old and many new mums are cautious about handling their little ones, but as a mum who's carried a little one for nine months, who best to know her baby than mum herself!! And it's all about listening to your natural borne instinct, when it comes to bathing your little one, deciding where he/she sleeps ( ideally in the cot ), when to take your little one out of the house for the first time, and many other things new parents discover...all of which should be done sensibly and responsibly.
As for babies, as they grow, all they want is to be fed on time, a clean diaper,hugged, loved, entertained and spoken to. It's amazing how much they develop in just a few weeks that they want to communicate with you in their own language by making eye contact, smiles and laughs, and cooing and babbling with sounds that almost resemble 'HI' or 'HELLO' and 'MA'.
All the while, you stay amazed and in awe that one can create and produce such a little being that smiles and laughs in his sleep...times when you're completely fixated with every move and sound that seems new.
So you might lose track of days and look like a complete zombie most days, get to have that luxurious shower eventually, but those days get better and gradually wane out as much as you want to hold them as little as they are for as long as you can.
For sure motherhood is as good as it gets with all the priceless rewards and unforgettable treasured moments.
For Noah...our little angel xx "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me." Matthew 18: 3-5
From the moment that stick draws two lines, you know that your life will change forever...and only for the most awesome reasons.
It's a start to a journey that each one has her own experience of.
Even though you're so well aware of what to expect, it's never the same when you're actually in the situation. Nobody and nothing can prepare you for the long road ahead. Staying healthy and trying to maintain a well balanced lifestyle plays such an important role and really contributes to a healthy pregnancy....and then again some things are just not in your control no matter what you do.
Millions of women have gone through this wonderful and exciting part of life which truly is a blessing and miracle. It's amazing how you get the energy to stay strong through it all, and support together with a stress free environment is key to making this journey a happy, special and memorable one.
Preparing yourself for motherhood is a huge and life changing moment that hits you when you start your shopping for the crib or stroller, and then more towards the end of the pregnancy...when you go into labour! It's a realisation that your life ahead will completely change, especially if you've been an independent woman most of your career life and live life spontaneously.
The last month has to be the most challenging I would think as you grow heavier, have a stomach that feels like it's in your chest and develop that waddle that you just can't control, and not omitting the constant need to void!! It's amazing how you just gradually slow down, and your sleepless nights begin before your little one can even arrive because you toss and turn to find a position of comfort at night...which would be on your left, and just as you try to sleep, you have all the lovely kicks that wake you up if it's not the dinner you just had that night.
In the weeks arising to the delivery date you want to squeeze in every thing you could possibly do while you still have the time, but nature always takes its own course and can surprise you when you least expect it...like when your bundle of joy arrives two weeks before EDD.
Nobody can tell you exactly what contractions will feel like until you've gone through it yourself...till a point when you've actually gone so far into labour that you could have actually got that close to delivering at home!
Going through labour and giving birth has to be the most rewarding and strengthening experience a woman can have.
To think that this little bundle has been kicking and hiccuping the last few months, and finally plans to make his début before expected, is just an awesome wonder and truly such a miracle.
The nine month journey goes so quick and it's so important to record every special moment like the first kick.
It is an absolutely amazing part of life for any woman to go through & really be proud of!!
This is probably the part where they start 'growing up' and don't want to be your little baby anymore because they can get there on their own without been carried. Watching these moments are such a thrill and makes the best memories to relate to when they're older. Every place in the house is a special adventure for them...from pots and containers in the kitchen to lotions and powders in the bedroom, and not forgetting the electronic devices that they can get their hands on.
