Where Gab is now, Mom and Dad are surely very proud.

Since Gab started to lift his head (this happened before he turned 2 months old), browsing articles on baby and child development has become our (me and my husband) pastime. It’s amazing how a baby learns new things. Gab turned 1 year and 4 months this February and we are so happy he’s learned a lot already. I am not sure if my mom is merely proud of her youngest grandchild or my baby is just smarter than all other kids in the family. Hehehehe. Why? Because she always tells us that Gab is outstanding and that she’s always surprised every time she’s told about the new things that Gab can do.

I found this article and decided to get my hands writing comments on every item. I realized my husband and I are doing great as first time parents. See my comments below.


Development Through Your Child’s Eyes: 8 to 18 Months

I Learn About What My Body Can Do

I can make marks on paper with crayons. I can stack and line up books. I can feed myself with my fingers. If my family encourages me, I can use a spoon and can drink from a cup.
Gab knows how to hold pens and crayons and he knows that you use them to write on papers... or sometimes magazines... or books... or on the walls!!! Isn't my son cute?

I can crawl, then walk, then run! I love to try to climb stairs but still need a lot of help with this.
Gab climbs stairs and hurries when he knows someone is after him.

I want to help you get me dressed and undressed. I can push my foot into my shoe and my arm into my sleeve.
Yes, he knows these too.



I Learn About My Feelings and Who I Am

I feel important and loved when you listen to, talk to, and play with me; when you love and cuddle me; when you encourage me to explore and join in my discoveries; when you show that you are proud of me.
Yes this is true. He can play all day when he’s playing with me but he never enjoys it when I leave him with his toys while I do my errands.

I have favorite people, toys, food, and clothing. I can point to and tell you the names of many parts of my body. I begin to use “me” and “mine.”
favourite people: grandma, tito bong, mommy, daddy and manang
favourite toys: green car, ball and its hoop, “the noisy gun”, the broken laptop toy
Favorite food: milk, soups,cakes, chips
favourite shirt: yellow sponge bob shirt (watch him get the shirt from his drawer... he’ll shortly kiss and dance with sponge bob..)

I have strong feelings and may express them with gusto. I might say “No!” a lot or give orders, like telling you to “Sit there!” to show you I know what I want and that I have a mind of my own.
He shakes his head so hard when he means “NO” and he nods a lot when he means YES.

Separations are hard. I may even cry when I see you again after we have been apart because I’ve missed you so much.
The first thing he asks me to do (after being away even for just an hour) when he sees me is to carry him. He will hug me tightly and tap my back as if saying...It’s nice you came back already or I’ll be very sad.

I like to make choices. Doing so helps me feel that I am competent and that I have some control.
He changes channel on the TV.
He gives me the disc that he wants to watch.... recently, he always picks Barney at the Zoo.

Routines help me know what to expect and to feel safe and secure.
He's got his own routine too.

I can get frustrated and angry pretty easily because there are so many things I want to do that I can’t do yet. I may push, hit, or bite. I need you to help me manage my strong feelings, but it will still take time for me to learn better self-control.
He likes reaching for things that are somewhere he can’t reach them. He becomes frustrated but forgets about it after some tries. Perhaps he realizes he needs to wait (for him to grow taller or for someone to help him).

Even though I understand when you tell me “No!” or “Stop!” I still can’t keep myself from doing things I shouldn’t.
Yes, he still hits the screen door a lot!!!

One minute I might act really independent. The next, I act like a little baby who needs you to do everything for me. Being a "big kid" can be scary sometimes. I need to know that you or someone else I trust will always be there to care for me.


I Learn About People, Objects and How Things Work

I like to be with other children, but kids my age still don’t know how to share. You can help us learn to take turns.
He likes to be with children a lot but kids in the neighbourhood loves to hug him and touch him and pinch his cheeks... Oh he hates it!!!

I imitate you. I see how you talk with other people and how you do things like cleaning, caring for the dog, cooking dinner, fixing things around the house.
He likes to water the plants. (water the plants = play with water)

I am a little scientist. I want to explore during? every waking moment so I can figure out how everything works—from how to get you to read my favorite book to how to make the block fit in the hole or how to make my music box start again.
Little scientists can be very dangerous most of the times. He already found out how to unplug appliances from the wall socket and he already knows how to fit things in a hole!!! Amazing! He unplugs the fan, pushes the button and tries to plug it back when the blade doesn’t spin!! GGGGrrrrrrr.

I learn that people and things exist even when I can’t see them. (This ability is called “object permanence.”) So I may protest when you leave the room, start calling for you in the middle of the night, look for the ball that has rolled behind the couch.
He learned these too.

Separations can be really hard. Seeing that you always come back will help make separations easier over time.


I Learn to Communicate and Relate

I use my body, sounds, words and facial expression to let you know what I am thinking and feeling.
He taps on the chair when he wants to join us on the table.
He smiles a lot and frowns often.

I point to show you what interests me, so you'll look too and tell me about what I see.
He knows where the cows live.

I create long babble sentences. I may be able to say a few words or use consistent sounds for words, like "baba" for bottle. I may push the cracker that I don't want off the high chair and say "nuh."
I understand a lot more than I can say. I can follow simple directions like "Go get your ball."
Absolutely right! He understands a lot more than he can say!!!

I imitate what you say. So don't be surprised if you hear the words you use coming out of my mouth!
We see him on the floor holding his grnadpa’s newspaper and pen and writing as if he’s really solving the crossword puzzle!!!

Household Manager

I was chatting online with one of my best friends the other day and she told me that another company wants to hire her as the new HR Manager. I was so happy to hear the news because I know that for the longest time, she's been stressed with her job. I congratulated her and told her that I am so glad that her time to really refresh her life has finally come.

"You can bid the trash place (that's what we call her office because of all the junk=heartaches=problems she gets from the place) goodbye!"
And I continued, "I miss the old days.
When there were not many complications.
When we could go out to eat or see a movie even if the only money we had left in our pockets was enough for a ride home.
Student life was just so amazing.
We were so relaxed.
We had so much freedom.
Not like now, there are just a lot of concerns.

With great power comes great responsibilities, yes?"
We both laughed.

She remained quiet, as if thinking about the changes that she'll soon embrace when she starts with the new company.
I told her, "A manager's mind is always after the long term welfare of the business, whatever that is.
Now that we are managers, we should always be careful."

After saying that, I thought for a moment that maybe my friend's internet got disconnected. Then my phone started to ring and it was her. She was screaming on top of her lungs.
"Why did you not tell me you are working again?"
And she added, "How could you keep a promotion like that from us, your best friends? I can't wait until the rest of the girls hear about this".

Her mouth was like emitting lightning, faster than sound. I never got the chance to say anything until my ear drums were swollen. When she calmed down, I explained. "I told you all about these! You were just not listening. I've been promoted as the Manager of our Household! Yes, I have a full time work and I think I finally found my career! Who said I put my college degree into nothing when I quit my job? Being a Household Manager is not as easy as most people believe it is. They don't have a clue.

Mothers are managers.
And as long as their hearts beat, no worldwide crisis of any form will let the business down.

All she muttered was "O yeah, right. I miss my mom. Hey, is it mother's day yet?"

And we both laughed again.

P.S.
Household managers are not always mothers. They can be fathers in some cases. Be it a father or a mother, the job stays the same.... Tough but always splendid and thrilling.

look at me mom, i'm watching the television

When I decided to stay at home, another thing that I found time for was watching the TV. I was aware that the ad for Nido has been airing for quite a while then but it was only after I stopped working did I really stop and listen to the music. I loved it and my baby loved it too. He would look at the direction of the TV screen when he hears the music. He was only a few months then.

Just like in the song, "I see you and the signs that bring joy", I started looking at details again. And I became very refreshed.

Lyrics below.

Look at me mom
Shining like the sun
Bright as the day
You’re my number one

And there’s no treasure
That i will cherish like you

And when i smile
They all see you glow
And they all know
You’re my number one

My one and only joy
Is to give you my love

(bridge)
My one love for you
I give through and through
I see you and the signs that bring joy
That all the world can see so clearly

Look at me mom
Shining like the sun
Bright as the day
You’re my number one…

I started by organizing.

Just like in a common job, you start by organizing. I did the same by filing important documents related to my ex-job. I arranged my personal things according to “the most commonly used” to the “not so used” stuff since I no longer will be reporting to the office. I bagged and disposed things that are not used, in short, junk! (Hey, I should mention that I made money by getting rid of the clutter.) I also organized the house. I placed things where I wanted to see them. I enjoyed it. I got the chance to scan through old pictures... I saw the things which I thought were lost, like the lovely watch given to me by my husband during one of our anniversaries... It was a great start. I was so excited. I knew that if I continue feeling the way I felt during those times, I would be a very happy full time mom!

After almost a year, I still enjoy ORGANIZING. (I'm not saying I was never organized before I became a full time mom!! It's just that I was a little out of focus.) When you realize you have a business to run, i.e. our household, you spend a lot of time thinking and organizing. See, that’s one thing I thought I never would have enough time for.

I read a lot about organizing. I mentioned I get a little out of focus sometimes right? That's why I need a lot of information to feed my appetite for being organized. This one is a great list of tips (from organize.com) which I printed out the moment I found it. I read it at least once a day hoping (by acting of course) that I can be as organized as I have always wanted.

P.S. I especially love this one. Very true.

29. Mental Clutter. Professional Organizer, Maria Gracia, says that the most important things to toss at the end of the year are any preconceptions and limiting ideas you may have. “If you see yourself as always being overwhelmed and in a state of constant crisis or chaos, you will be. If you always feel that you are behind the eight ball, it's time to move the ball. Your confidence and positive attitude are your most valuable assets. Before you can have a clean home and an organized life, you must be convinced that you CAN. Never forget that being organized means having your life functioning in an efficient manner. It's not about having your stuff in perfectly matching, color-coordinated boxes. It's about having your things in a place where you can find and easily access them. It's about having systems in place that allow us to pay our bills when they are due, make it to appointments on time and prioritize our obligations in a way that best benefits ourselves and our families.”

i am a full time mom and i love it

i am a full time mom and i soooooo love it! it's just so great i can't wait to write about it. there's so much to learn, so much to share. there's just a lot.

i am a full time mom of a healthy charming baby boy who just turned 1 year and 4 months. i was working when i realized that what i really want is to spend time with my baby (and my other babies in the future) and my lovely husband. i gave up my career for one that's more challenging BUT FULLFILLING. yes, i said it's challenging... it really is! (this challenging part i did not realize until i had a taste of it... i bet those who gave me a "no" advice on quitting my job are raising their eyebrows now. hah!!). but, did you notice i was on caps lock when i said the BUT?

here is a list of the few things which hit me when finally i had a taste of being a full time mom:
1. i lost the right to complain about not having enough sleep.. yes, this is on top of the list. sleeping was the only reason i'd give up a yummy snack!! can you imagine how difficult it was? hehehe.
2. i started to work for a very young boss... my baby. and this young boss is more demanding than my previous bosses. he will start screaming if i don't move fast (like when he needs to be fed. hahaha). this is not covered by any labor law or something.
3. no money ever came out of my atm account... my payroll atm account. bye to the "buying without thinking" days.

there's a lot more i think that i should add on the list above. but everything comes sweet every time i see the real reason why i love to do this. i know deep inside me that i should share it to all moms... and dads... and kids.. to everybody.

one very important thing that i found out was that i have plenty of time. i always thought that there's not enough time no matter how hard i try to budget it. i was wrong. i realized that the more time i spend in doing things that are "BIG", the more time i have left for all the other things that i want to do. you puzzled now?