baby stuff

I have posted before I gave birth some of the baby stuff that we were planning on investing on: crib and mattress, milk, bath and skin care. Just wanted to finish what I have started (for once?) so here's the rest of it.

Milk/Feeding
We gave the baby whatever kind of milk that were given to us. Yeah. We're cheap. He was breastfed primarily so any other milk sufficed (Nestle Good Start, Enfa and Similac). But we mostly gave him Enfa after all of the freebies were gone and after he has stopped liking Mommy's milk. Now that he's a toddler, we are giving him homo.

For feeding bottles, we used Avent. Did not try any other ones. Avent were also the brand that we used with Kid #1. We used Dapple and Greenworks for the baby bottle dish soap. We also received Babies R Us sterilizer from the Baby Shower and that's what we are using until now. For Kid #1, we used Chicco.

Skin Care
I bought a lot of baby skin care before having the little one. Usually got the sample size if the brand has one. I bought Dr. Bronner's, Mustela, Wedela, Badger and Earth Mama Angel Baby. I've tried all of them. What stuck? I like Dr. Bronner's in washing his baby bums, specially when going out? It smells nice and it rinses easily well. But for total bathing and washing, I like Mustela the best. And that's what we are using still until now. For shampoo, he uses J&J. For moisturizer, we also stick with Mustela.

For diaper rash, I tried Badger and even Lanolin. But still went back to Desitin. Desitin worked with Kid #1 and still what worked with Kid #2.

Clothing/Bedding/Garment 
At first, I only used organic textiles for him. Bought them from Under the Nile, Sckoon, Aden & Anais, Perlimpinpin, Little Bamboo. We got gifts that came elsewhere and we used them also. Now, mostly all of his clothes are from major commercial retailers. But I must say that those initial investments I've bought were all great. They were really, really soft. Even the nurses from the hospital made a comment that, those were the softest swaddling cloth they have ever touched.

Stroller/Car Seat
We got the Graco Click Connect Stroller and Car seat combo. I forgot the actual Model/Type. We are still using both. The car seat is up to 35 lbs. Although Kid #2's legs and feet are now dangling outside the car seat, since he's still within the weight limit, we are still using it. We will get a new car seat once winter is over. We brought the stroller with us when we went back to the Philippines but it is not public commuter friendly, so we bought a slimmer stroller from Chicco and brought it back here, we will not buy umbrella stoller anymore once Kid #2 is too big for his baby stroller.

Diaper
I bought Naty diapers online to try on. It was okay. But  they were expensive. I believe they are also available on our local grocery store. But since J was the one doing the grocery while I was at the house with the baby, and he will not look for it at the store and he will not buy it since, it costs more, we used Pampers swaddlers. That's the best compromise that we can afford.

Toys
I tried to limit our purchase of toys. We have enough clutter at home and I don't want bins and bins and bins of toys overtaking our house. The toys that I bought were Sophie, 2 wooden toy cars and a teething dinosaur from Etsy, wooden Catterpillar from Begin Again, wooden Grasping beads and wooden Fish rattle from Haba, Uncle Goose's wooden alphabet blocks, Janod Animal Alphabet Cards, and Share Sorter and Stacking Cups from Green Toys. I highly recommend these toys because they are safe for babies and kids. I purchased some mainstream toys too, a soft book from Skip Hop and a few soft toys and stroller toys. We have received a couple of battery operated toys too, mostly from Fisher Price.

So far, he enjoyed Sophie, the Grasping beads, wooden blocks, alphabet cards, shape sorted and stacking cups. He still enjoys them except for Sophie. But he likes Sophie Books.

There.

Oh, the places he will go!

Yes, after the post about Birth Announcement/Birthing Story comes the 1^st Birthday post. I know I am just kidding myself when I wrote that I shall be trying to write while I was on maternity leave.

Anyway, I am back now at work. Bunso is one year old. What a year that was!

The first days were terrifying because of the G6PD deficiency complications. Bunso displayed an early onset of G6PD Deficiency symptoms. So bad that we have to leave him at the Hospital’s NICU. His bilirubin was at alarming level, his pee was tea colored, he was losing weight more than is expected. That is just too much for his tiny body. And too much also for Mommy. I am just glad that I did not have post partum depression and that Bunso is okay after about 9 days.

Since it was winter, Bunso and I just stayed home. We hibernate. We went out occasionally but that is just if it is needed. 

We only had walks about April or May? He was baptized in May in preparation for our back-to-the-Philippines trip (separate post for that trip).

By the time that the weather is ideal for strolling, we were also ready flying back home to the Philippines. 

We were not really planning for anything extravagant for his 1^st birthday celebration. I have learned my lesson that babies really don’t need that kind of party at that age. Plus it is costly. We had that fantastic Philippines trip so we were just planning to lay it low this time. 

 When we got back here, I re-started the party planning -- contacted and booked suppliers -- I did it mostly online, while trying to re-connect to the city. 

We have agreed that it should not be too fancy, yes, but I of course wanted something special for him too.

On the actual day of his birthday, we did a cake smash pictorial and simple party at home. 

While the actual birthday celebration was just a simple get together with relatives and friends. If I can have it my way, I would have wanted it at our home but I know that’s going to involve too much stress and planning for me and our house is not going to accommodate all the guests comfortably. We settled for a buffet restaurant.

A few balloons, a special cake, birthday banner, customized candies, and a theme-related souvenir. That’s it.

Here’s to more happy and healthy years and more places to go! We love you, Bunso!

Javier

Javier Alissandro

November 3, 4:18 am

6 lbs and 14 oz 

They say each pregnancy is completely different from another and I completely agree. I must say that it is also true with giving birth. My first one was uneventful and painless but kind of complicated because I needed blood transfusion. This time, I was also aiming for an uneventful labor and push day. Although I was a bit worried because I didn't know what pain management technique is going to be used during THE day. 

Thank goodness it was also uneventful but far from painless. 

I was awaken by a throbbing pain on my hips at around 2:30 am. I thought that was just because of my  awkward sleeping position. Since Ii was already awake, I decided to take a pee... Oppps there's a bloody show. And then I suddenly realized that the pain is still there. I calmly woke J up and told him, I think this is the time. We both got ready hurriedly but calmly. I can feel the pain and it was really hard to walk but was still tolerable. I was timing it and it is already within 15 to 20 seconds intervals. 

It is a Monday so my Kid #1 had to go to school. We informed my FIL (father in law) that we are going to the hospital and to please look after our son. When we are about 5 minutes away from the house, J decided to have my FIL go with us so he can take the car back to our house since we will be staying in the hospital and parking fee is way too expensive.  So we drive back home to pick up FIL. It is now 10 to 15 seconds interval. 

When we reached the hospital area J asked me if it is all right to go around the hospital area once so that my FIL would know where to park and where to drive back home. Okaaayyyy. I'm in labor here? I agreed because I don't want to argue anymore. I'm busy concentrating to hold it off until we are at the hospital room. 

We did the roundabout and finally we were at admission. A few questions answered, presented our med cards, printed the hosp tags and then we were instructed to go to the 3rd floor for triage. On foot. Yup. No wheel chair or whatever. At the triage, a a few more questions and room was given to us and a hospital gown for me to change into. I am just lucky and thankful that I just have to stay at one room -- from labor to delivery to recovery until the baby and I are ready to check out. 

Once I was settled in our room (J is with me all through out),  I was given internal exam and there... The dilation is already  9 cm and ready to push anytime. There were only nurses and the doctor was not yet with us so I am still holding myself not to push. They took my vitals, etc. and was telling them how my first delivery was. Come to think of it, don't they have a copy of my history? I have already told my Obgyn about that. Since I had a previous blood transfusion, they were trying to find a good vein to have it ready for blood transfusion, just in case. I was poked several times by 3 nurses until they found a good one. By this time i was already in pain and was already asking for the doctor because i know I am way too ready to push. There was no time for epidural or whatever. 

Needless to say it was a short labor. It was painful but bearable. The doctor asked if i want the baby on my chest once he's out and I said yes. He asked J if he wanted to cut the cord, of course J declined. Haha! 

So here's my bunso's birthing story, Needless to say, it was all worth it.