Back to Work Countdown

One week.

One week is all I have left before I head back to the corporate jungle and say goodbye to my full time mom status. Just thinking about how I'd spend every day away from my baby already makes my heart ache. :(

June 15 is my first day back on the grind, far from the sweet smiles and cute cries of my 2-month old. It's going to be the first time I'll be separated from her, and the anxiety I feel now is almost as intense as when I was about to go into labor. :(  I wonder how other moms did it the first time. I'm gonna need some serious advice.

Lia usually dozes off to dreamland after her bath. This whole morning, however, she stayed awake and alert, and her eyes were always on me. I guess she felt what I was and still am feeling, and maybe she's a little sad too. Maybe she stayed up so we could talk and cuddle more, so I could enjoy her longer. Haaaay, nase-senti ako. :( I hope my baby will not forget me. I hope she would still love me more than her nanny even if she'll be spending longer hours with her. I hope she would still recognize my face, my hugs, and my kisses when I get home. :(

Fighting off the urge to sleep so she could play with mommy

Oh well, I'm just gonna have to endure it and face reality. It's not as if I don't miss working, because I do. I really do. I miss wearing my thinking hat, I miss my office desk and even the clutter, I miss my office friends, I miss being busy with work. I just wonder how differently it would feel now, now that I'm gonna leave my heart at home with my baby. I bet it's going to require more focus and concentration, but with God's grace, I know I can do it.

Please wish me luck.

Lia's First Day Out

It was our baby doll's first day out last Saturday, hooray! :) Of course she's been out a few times already for her pedia visits, but those are not for leisure so they're obviously not counted.

For this new 'first,' we decided to go to Alabang Town Center.

Family :)

Lookin' around :)

Daddy's girl :)

Hungry na! =D

While waiting for our food at John & Yoko

Lia seemed to have enjoyed a lot! Her eyes darted left and right, she didn't know where to look at for there were too many things to see. She was quiet almost the entire time, she was only upset once when she got hungry. Hehe. 

Looking forward to more pasyal days with our baby! ❤️

Two Months

Today is the 28th of May, and that means it's been two months since you, our cute butterball baby, came into our lives. You've already grown so much, sweetie! :)

Taken this morning after your bath. :)

Your eyes used to be glassy because you couldn't see clearly yet. Now they are huge, always alert, and full of curiosity. When we hold you in our arms, you couldn't stay put anymore because you always want to look around and survey the walls. When your eyes are on me or your dad, you don't just glance, you stare. It's as if you're studying every bump and line on our faces. Hehe. You like focusing on things, and when we suddenly turn the lights off, your eyes almost always grow really big and wide, the white part around the iris showing. Seeing that always makes your dad and I laugh in amusement. You're so cute, baby.

During times when you're not crying, you used to be quiet. Now you've already found your voice, literally. There's not a day when I don't hear you holler a 'waah!' which is your favorite expression at the moment. I will try my best to record it when you do it again, so you'll know what it sounds like when you grow up. :)

Just a month ago, carrying you was a piece of cake. Didn't put any pressure on my arms at all. Now, it's as if you've been eating cake everyday! You've gained a considerable number of pounds and carrying you now feels like a workout. But make no mistake baby, mommy's not complaining. I actually love the fact that you're growing and gaining weight, and it makes me feel proud that my body is your source of nourishment.

the obligatory diaper pose. :)

Happy two months, baby girl! :) We're celebrating your birthday tonight when daddy arrives from the office. We love you! 

Lia's First Real Smile

Our baby doll finally did it! She flashed her first real smile (not just one of those reflex lip curls she's been doing since birth) for mommy and daddy last Friday, May 22, when she was exactly 7 weeks and 6 days old. Yippee! 

According to parents.com, a baby's first real smile usually makes an appearance "somewhere between one and a half to 3 months (or 6 and 12 weeks) of life (our little Lia is on track!). You can tell the difference between a reflex and a real smile by the timing and duration. Generally, reflex smiles tend to be shorter and occur randomly, when the baby is sleeping or tired. Real smiles, on the other hand, occur in response to something, like seeing her mama's face or hearing a sibling's high-pitched voice, and they are consistent... When it's the real deal, you will see the emotion expressed in your baby's eyes."

I had been waiting for Lia's first social smile every day, and when it finally happened, I immediately recognized it. I was changing her clothes that morning because she just finished a spit-up episode, and as usual, I was talking to her in my motherese voice. She made her usual 'waaa!' sound and cooed, then she flashed the sweetest toothless grin I have ever seen. I knew it was real because it wasn't brief, and it was sandwiched in between other sounds she was making, as if she was conversing with me. I was soooo happy I couldn't stop talking to her until she got overstimulated. Hehe. 

And it didn't stop there! After a couple of minutes, she cried when I was already busy pumping milk. Her nanny picked her up, and pointed at her daddy's picture on the wall in an attempt to divert her attention. Once again, her face lit up and flashed another smile! Nakakatuwa! Nakakawala ng pagod at puyat. :)

It's been 3 days since, and she's been practicing her gummy grins. Too bad I wasn't able to capture her first smile on camera. Her first captured social smiles were taken the day after, during her playtime with lola...

This morning, she treated us with another batch of happy smiles. :)

Yaaaay! Thank You Lord for this milestone of Lia! :) I eagerly await her next one: laughter! :)

Cheers,