I Nested This Way

I really insisted on washing every one of my son's new garments (even the blankets and swaddling cloths) and ironing them for his first use. This isn't even the half of all I washed... and it even got to a point where i'd cringe when I get new things for his layette from people because I really end up hurting after.

I washed these on the sink because I obviously couldn't squat plus I started buying stuff and 'nesting' when I was in my 8th month already. It's irrational but I just really wanted that the first things to touch and hold my son would be things my hands lovingly washed. For me, it was a ritual of sorts... me attending to my son's needs.

I don't know anymore how many of each item I washed but I'm pretty sure of 3.5 dozen of cloth diapers (1 dozen Plain White gauze, 1 dozen printed gauze, 1 dozen Gerber pre-folded ones, and half-dozen Chino Pino pre-folded ones).

Ouch.

Your Baby's Sweet Tooth May be Your Fault

It was reported that Diet Influences The Taste Of Breast Milk.

Weirdly enough, I have noticed that my son is happiest to latch after I have consumed a criminal amount of sweets. Yikes. And yes, he hates nursing after i've eaten anything with garlic.

So, although a mother's diet does not really affect the nutritional content of breast milk (which is why it's so wonderful and magical), what we eat does affect our milk's nutritional value. And no, am not saying that we should always eat sweets so our babies will nurse more. Actually, this should be a call for us to lessen the sweets intake so as not to predispose our babies to liking sweets. And we could maximize this phenomenon by eating more veggies so our babies will grow up with a tendency to like vegetables!

* Please note that a mother's diet affects the amount of breastmilk she produces. Poor nutrition will ultimately result in decreased production no matter the direct feeding. It's only logical, the body needs nutrients to make nutrients.

Treat your Mom!

Old Swiss Inn is due for another Rollback treat for its patrons so treat your Moms to their favorite sausages and s'mores this August.

And remember, you shouldn't be asking yourself for a reason to treat Mom. Even if you tell her everyday how much you love her, and eventhough she'd be the first to scrimp, and save and budget money...nothing really beats the feeling of being pampered, thought of ands pent on (and it's not like you have to spend thousands for this).

Trust me. I just missed a wedding because I was feeling sorry for myself for not having the right accessories to wear along with my old dresses. It was a big deal for me to look great because I didn't want my husband's colleagues to see me so poorly dressed/kept, what with my husband being a manager and all... and it was my fault really. When I got preggy, I stopped investing on ME.

Motherhood makes it soooo easy to stop investing on oneself. SAHMhood all the more so. Hopefully, I will do better in the coming days.

*~*

Meanwhile, here are some ideas for fellow SAHMs to get them earning from home.

Britney Spears as a Mom

Honestly, I do sort of feel for Britney Spears.

But when I see pictures of her drinking while carrying her child, or smoking in front of her kids, I really can't help but feel she deserves all the crap being piled on her plate.

But then again, smoking is a pet peeve. And so many wonderful people I know smoke, or have smoked at one time in their lives. And I guess I will always be surprised that not all mothers' first instinct would be to protect and care for a child, not just her own.

PPBC 6: What type of parent are you?

PPBC 6: What type of parent are you?

If you are a parent of new born babies or a first time parent to-be, what type of parent would you want to be?

My nieces started messing with my SIL's cake, using their fingers to get the chocolate icing. My other SIL egged them on, and gently reminded us that it's one of the joys of childhood.

I commented that my son would be deprived, because it isn't something am likely to allow in our home, since I love icing and really don't want food being played with. I further said it's good that they can enjoy that in their grandma's house, because MIL is more inclined to let them have their way with most things.

I realized that I need not deprive my son of fun. I could purchase a cheapy-cheapy cake he can have his way with,or have him play with his own slice (instead of the entire cake).

But there it was again, an indication that I would be strict and uptight. And I worry. I worry that I will always confuse good discipline with being strict, conservative and non-fun. And I know it doesn't have to be that way. I know cool, fun parents can still have unquestionable authority with their kids. Nay, the kids might even respect and obey them more because they are allowed to BE kids.

I want to be the type of parent who my kids will want to be with in discovering things, and when they're enjoying things. I want to be able to instill in them a sense of fun and wondrous. I want them to be able to exercise their indepence, creativity, resourcefulness and individuality. I want them to feel that they have a bigger hand in how their lives are being lived.

But I have much to learn. And I accept that I am only just defining what things I really value most, the ones I want to inculcate in my children, the ones I want my family to measure success and and happiness against.

I read it from Tin

... that Pinoy Moms Network is up again, having just transferred to a new server.

I believe I wanted to join them last year (not sure if I have, and can I really blame anesthesia for this forgetfulness?) but wasn't sure if I could commit to their demands (one entry per week, which I didn't think I could handle then, hehe, maybe because I didn't know how consumed i'd be with motherhood just yet... but then again, I am really overwhelmed by it now and mis-managing my time generally... and I have got to stop rambling).

But anyway, I hope to join them (where else to find legions of fellow SAHMs?) finally and take advantage of the blog exposure they give to Mom Blogs. :)

What about you, care to join?

Loving Vivienne Marcheline

Yup. Angelina Jolie has given birth to her twins (5th and 6th children with hunky, yummylicious Brad Pitt) last July 12 I think.

I am not so hot with the son's name Knox Leon (it makes me think of the gelatin brand I use for my cathedral windows dessert) but I guess it does go with Maddox and Pax :) And yes, I am wondering if he will grow up as hot and smoldering as his parents.

But I truly love the girl's name Vivienne Marcheline. Marcheline came from Jolie's Mom. It's not so girly a name and it doesn't sound like a dominatrix or porn star name. And it's really a surprise that I liked it because i've never liked the names of the other kids (especially Shiloh's), except maybe Zahara (and from pictures i've seen, it seems she's the one who managed to channel Jolie's dark, seductive, mysterious and out-of-reach air).

Anyway, may Jolie and Pitt really raise these kids well.