Wishes Do Come True (Wish List Updated)

Wow, remember this blog post? Who thought that I'll be able to get, if not all, more? Yes! My generous sister-in-law, who was so excited with the birth of my baby Zeke, bought these:

Graco Pack N Play Playard with Bassinet and Changer

A playard is not just about how comfortable the child is, it is also about how much convenience and peace of mind it offers the parent. The more practical features it has, the more convenient for you. It is therefore important to look for a playard that has great features that actually help to make taking care of your child easier. That is what the Graco Pack ‘N Play Playard with Bassinet and Changer is all about.

It comes with a removable and full size bassinet that is perfect for your child’s nap time wherever you are. Since it is detachable, it can be used separately if need arises. Additionally, it also has a strong and stable changing table. You can attend to your child without having to run around with them to another location. This truly is convenient if you ask me.

What’s more, the Graco Pack ‘N Play Playard with Bassinet and Changercomes with a storage area. It has a diaper stacker so that you can keep your baby’s changing gear close at hand. Everything you need to attend to your child kept in one convenient location, genius!

The playard is also extremely mobile. It is very light and easy to set up or simply fold up. Even expectant mothers can handle it single handedly without straining. Once you have folded it, simply store it in the carrying bag for easy storage options or travel convenience.

When your child is happy, you’re happy too. That is why the playard comes with a mobile that has some soft toys for your child’s amusement. When they are busy enjoying themselves, you have peace of mind.

The Graco Pack ‘N Play Playard with Bassinet and Changeroffers so much more than the convention. The best part though is that you do not have to pay a premium price for this premium product!

Safety 1st Warm Me Shower & Bath

The Warm Me Shower & Bath makes bath time fun and easy. Its dual showerhead for spray or stream options provides control over how to shower your baby, and the best part is that it doesn’t need batteries! The built-in “just right” temperature strip helps you make sure that baby’s bath water is “just right” while the warm water filled backrest soothes baby and keeps her comfortable from the first bubble to the last.

• Dual control showerhead with spray or stream options
• “Just Right” temperature indicator
• Warm water backrest
• Mold and mildew resistant
• No batteries required

Chicco Cortina KeyFit 30 Travel System (Car Seat and Stroller)

Chicco Cortina KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat

• Energy-absorbing Foam.
• Secures baby from 4 -- 30 lbs.
• Removable Newborn Insert.
• Cushioned Seat Pad.
• Five-point Harness.
• Easy Installation Process.

Car Seat Comforts

Padded with Energy-Absorbing foam, this car seat provides improved side-impact protection for your infant. Additionally, there is a removable newborn insert to cradle smaller babies in comfort and further safety, granting you peace of mind.

Lastly, it has a thickly cushioned seat pad for added comfort and a five-point safety harness for added security, whether in the car or attached to the Cortina Stroller.

Easy Installation

With its Spring-Assisted Level Foot, Bubble Levels, and “Center-Pull” adjustment, installation is amazingly simple.

Chicco Cortina Keyfit 30 Cortina Stroller

• One-hand folding.
• Storage latch.
• “Memory Recline” Seats with Adjustable Leg Rest.
• Storage.
• Canopy.
• All-wheel Suspension.
• Birth to 50 lbs.

Easy to Fold and Store

The Cortina Stroller has a simple to use one hand folding system and an automatic storage latch, making folding and storing this model as easy as pie!

Comfortably Reclined

With multi-positioning seats capable of a totally flat recline, and “Memory Recline” feature, your child can sit up and watch where you are going or curl up and fall comfortably asleep.

Additionally, the adjustable leg rest allows those little legs to be stretch out comfortably for the ride! The all-wheel suspension makes even rough terrain comfortable.

Plenty of Storage

The Cortina Stroller under review showed to have plenty of storage space in its undercarriage storage basket, along with both parent and child cup holders and a large, easily accessible tray, making storage and retrieval simple.

A nice little travel system, the Chicco Cortina Keyfit 30 Travel System meets all expectations admirably, in my personal opinion!

Specifications:

• Car seat for use from 4 to 30 lbs.
• Stroller for use from birth (in fully reclined position) to 36 months, up to 50 lbs.
• Stroller weight: 22 lbs.
• Car seat weight: 16.4 lbs.

Chicco Marsupio GO Baby Carrier

The Marsupio GO baby carrier from Chicco is a baby carrier that not only comes in a beautiful light grey and black colour with a sleek and contemporary design but is also great to use from the first day that baby is born for those times when you need to tote baby around while doing a million other things at the same time. Whether you want to wear it so that baby is inward facing, or outward facing, your hands will always be free to shop, pick up the mail, or hold your other little one’s hand!


Baby will be strapped to you safely and securely with an adjustable side system that grows as she does and the back has extra padding to ensure that the spine and neck always have all the support they need. And not only will baby be safe and comfortable but she’ll also feel extra cozy with the cuddle pocket that lets her stay close to you.
The light mesh and polyester fabric can be thrown in the wash and it even comes with a bib so that baby’s messy face doesn’t ruin your clothes – and of course, this can always be thrown right in the wash too!

Now that I've got these handy items, taking care of my little Zeke until he grows older will be a breeze. Hmm, I still got a few items to add on my wish list. You might never know, it could come true! LOL.

UPDATED WISH LIST

Chicco DJ Baby Walker

A padded seat and rounded lines give a comfortable ride, while six brake pads help prevent falls on stairs. 3 height settings allows the walker to grow with your baby. DJ tray features keyboard, drums, buttons, lights, sounds and rattles. Folds flat for easy storage and seat liner is removable for washing.

• Promotes development with music and rhythm
• Padded seat, removable for washing
• Folds flat for easy storage and travel
• 3 height adjustment settings for a customized ride
• Brake pads to help prevent falls on stairs
• For use with children up to 26.5 lbs

Chicco Polly Highchair Double-Pad Vinyl

 

The Polly Highchair's seven height positions, three reclining positions, and one-hand tray removal make the Polly the most convenient highchair to maneuver. Its highlighted and clearly visible buttons won't leave you searching for how to adjust the highchair to make your child most comfortable.
The Polly also makes cleaning easy with its dishwasher-safe, tray insert and two cushioned, seat pads that are easy to clean. All vinyl seat pads are Phthalate free.
The Chicco Polly puts safety first by including a five-point safety harness and brakes on all wheels.

• Seven height positions and three reclining positions for increased comfort
• Most convenient maneuvering with one-hand seat recline and tray removal
• Two cushioned seat pads that are easy to clean
• Phthalate free vinyl seat pads
• Adjustable footrest to accommodate growing children
• Safety comes first with the five-point safety harness
• Slimmest fold in its class
• For children up to 37 lbs 

Chicco Sea Sound Rocker

The Chicco Sea Sound rocker is a great place for your baby to relax and have fun. This top of the range bouncer chair is suitable from birth to 9kgs or until the child can sit up unaided.

The seat is soft and comfy with an insert pillow that can be adjusted to 3 different heights or removed to give more space for your growing baby.

The electronic sea themed toy bar has fun melodies, accompanied by flashing lights. The toy bar is designed to entertain and stimulate baby's manual co-ordination skills at the same time. The chair also has Mp3 connection so you can select and add baby's favorite tunes to the music already on the toy bar. The toy bar is removable to make it easier to place or remove baby from the chair.

The chair also features relaxing vibration ideal for soothing baby to sleep. Using the single action control at the rear, the chair can be used either in a fixed or rocker position. The adjustable leg rest and multi-position back rest means baby can relax, play or feed in the chair.

The bouncer has practical carry handles to make transporting the chair from one room to another very easy. It also comes with a soft fleece blanket for extra comfort at nap time.

Looking Back (Our Love Story)

I just revisited my old blog and after re-reading all Dydy-related posts, I realized that's exactly how I feel until now. Fate has been good towards our relationship and after all the storms. we're still together. And yes, we have actually gotten married.And yes, we have created a wonderful miracle.

Call me a hopeless romantic, cheesy, cornball, whatever, I DO NOT CARE. I don't know what's up with tonight's weather but I felt like reminiscing. Maybe because I'm actually looking at my husband and baby while they're sleeping.

The missing pieces of my wonderful puzzle

I feel so lucky to have ended up with a man like my husband. Our love story is not as magical as most fairy tales nor as romantic as most movies but it was uniquely ours and to have defied 6 years and ended up married, wow, the Lord must have truly made us for each other.

Love has always been my favorite topic. Of course, I have not been spared of heartaches but I stood up strong and yes, I still consider love as an ally.

Zeke, if you're reading this and you have clicked on the links, yes, your father was not my first love. But do not despair, little one. They say first love never dies --- yes, they don't. But, they fade away. You want to know why? Because of true love. Everyone has a first love but not everyone is lucky enough to find their true love. Always remember that. And, like what I've said earlier, I am truly blessed to have found my true love.

Six years with your father as my boyfriend/fiance had been the best years of my life. I learned, realized, cherished and most of all, did so many things I never thought possible. I'll admit it was not smooth but the rough times only made our relationship stronger. As the saying goes, "tried and tested through time".

Celebrated birthdays

Ate dinner on ordinary days

Went sight-seeing

Rocked on concerts

Took pictures

Made unbreakable promises

Supported each other on game days

Had simple summer vacations

OUR FIRST PICTURE!

Attended weddings

Went to Bohol

To Boracay

To Tagaytay

Hiked to Mt. Pinatubo

To Pagudpod

Rode on planes

Did extreme sports

Watched sunsets

Took care of a labrador

Vacationed in Baguio

Shared kisses

Made memories

Settled our differences

Held hands

Now, you've added flavor to our relationship. You're like the missing spice to make our concoction tastier. And today, life gets better and better as the three of us sail through life.

Zeke, I love your father and of course, I love you too. And, as I have promised on our wedding day:

Once in a lifetime

"I will take care of you and our children as a child takes care of his most prized possession. I will love you forever and I will love you for always. Because with you, anywhere, I am home."

Choosing The Right Breast Pump: Manual vs Electric

I'll be returning to work on the last week of September but I refuse to give my baby milk formula. I am sticking to breastfeeding because that's what I really want from the very start of my pregnancy.

Good thing science has invented the breast pump. A long time ago, it might be difficult for working moms to breastfeed their babies because of several reasons and I can't blame them. I mean, it's hard to hand express breast milk (trust me, I tried).

Now, the million dollar question would be: what kind of breast pump should I buy? And, like a happy camper, I Googled it again.

I ended up buying Avent manual breast pump and look at my stash!

DIFFERENT TYPES OF BREAST PUMPS:

1. Hospital-grade electric breast pump If you're pumping constantly throughout the day — perhaps because you or your baby isn't able to breastfeed — you'll need the most efficient pump around: a heavy-duty hospital-grade model with a double collection kit. These pumps have a rapid suck-and-release cycle (referred to as the cycling time) that draws milk from your breasts at about the same rate as a nursing baby.Using a double collection kit means you can pump both breasts at once, which can cut pumping time by more than half and drain both breasts more effectively. Keep in mind that these pumps are usually heavy — weighing as much as 18 pounds — and bulky.
2. Top-end electric personal-use pumps
   Combining the efficiency of hospital-grade pumps and the convenience of more portable models, top-end electric pumps are a popular choice for moms who return to work full-time. These pumps are fully automatic, with quick cycling times, adjustable suction levels (to help you avoid nipple discomfort), and double-pumping capability. Some newer models are designed to mimic a baby's sucking patterns: They start with short, quick sucks to elicit the letdown response and then move into a slower, deeper sucking pattern. This feature can make pumping more comfortable, but it doesn't necessarily mean you'll produce more milk. Weighing in at 8 pounds or less, these pumps can come in attractive carrying cases with accessories included — like storage bags, labels, clips, bottles, and nipple ointment. Most top-end pumps can run on a car's cigarette lighter with an adapter that's sold separately, and some even come with a built-in battery pack — both handy options if you're pumping on the go or in a room lacking an electrical outlet.
3. Mid-range electric or battery-operated pumps
   These pumps are best for short-term separations — for instance, moms who want to leave their baby with a sitter every now and then and don't want to supplement with formula. These pumps are more portable (most weigh less than 2 pounds) and more affordable than the high-end models. On the down side, they generally take a little longer and require a little more effort to use than the top-end electric pumps. If the pump is battery-operated, the batteries may need to be replaced frequently. Most mid-range pumps allow you to pump only one breast at a time — and slowly at that. While there are some double electric pumps in this category, the motors may not last as long as those in the more expensive models. Semiautomatic models tend toward long cycling times. (Some produce only about 12 sucks per minute, compared to 50 to 60 per minute for top-end and hospital-grade pumps.) The suction can often be too strong or too weak, although some have adjustable suction.
4. Nonelectric manual pumps
   Manual pumps require you to pump a piston or squeeze a lever to create the suction to empty your breast. These pumps empty only one breast at a time and may require two hands to operate, although a few are designed for one-handed use. While most moms who need to pump regularly opt for a more efficient electric model, some women rave about manual pumps' simplicity and convenient size. Many also say that some manual pumps feel more natural and more closely mimic a baby's sucking, and that they like being able to control the suction by hand. Hand pumps are generally more affordable, smaller, lighter, and quieter than electric pumps. And if you like to pump on one side while your baby is nursing on the other, he'll probably prefer the quiet of a manual to the noise of an electric. While some moms get the knack of effective manual pumping, others find these pumps maddeningly slow. (It depends to some degree on how quickly you can squeeze the pump handle — and this can get tiring for your hands.) Some moms have trouble getting any milk at all with hand pumps. Others say that hand pumps don't completely empty their breasts, which can lead to a lowered milk supply.

Basically, there are two types of breast pumps out in the market -- manual vs. electric. Now, I have gathered the pros and cons of both:

Manual pump pros:
* Much more cost effective
* More discreet than an electric pump
* Easy to use anywhere
* More comfortable to use

Manual pump cons:
* Takes manual labor
* Takes a bit more time than an electric pump
* Pumping is not as consistent since it is manual

Electric pump pros:
* Pumps milk very quickly automatically
* Pumps out more milk without too much effort

Electric pump cons:
* Machine and replacement parts can be expensive
* Needs electricity
* Tugs at nipples more than manual pump

Hmm, interesting. Now that I have been informed, let's see what's the BEST out there (according to Baby Center):

STAR BUYS (Manual)

ISIS Breast Pump from Avent
Price: £25
What type? Manual

Features: This manual breast pump is portable, discreet, quiet and comfortable to use. The silicone petal massage cushion stimulates the letdown reflex by mimicking the baby suckling at the breast and encourages the milk to flow. It's ideal for mothers returning to work. It comes with two 125ml bottles; two newborn teats and the newer models include a spare diaphragm and valve.

Claire says: "This pump is easy to operate and the instructions are easy to follow. It also feels comfortable. The pump is quiet and fairly efficient at expressing milk. It comes with two storage bottles, which are useful as you could use one to express into and another to store milk in. It's a good value-for-money breast pump."
Claire's rating: 8/10

Sarah says: "The instructions are easy to follow and Avent even send you instructions on how to succeed with expressing. It's so easy to operate, you just squeeze the pump and you have full control. The pump is very comfortable and comes with a soft massage cushion, which is very comfortable on your skin. It's very efficient and only takes a few minutes to express 1oz milk. It's very quiet and discreet and there aren't lots of fiddly extra bits to lose. It comes with lots of extras, which makes it great value. I would definitely buy it."
Sarah's rating: 10/10

Harmony™ Manual Breast Pump from Medela
Price: £25
What type? Manual

Features: This manual breast pump features advanced 2-phase Expression™ pumping. This mimics the baby's nursing rhythms, enabling faster letdown, increased milk flow and reduced pumping time.

Claire says: "This is a good hand-held pump. It's easy to assemble and comes with a stand for when not in use. It expresses milk very quietly, efficiently and quickly, and is comfortable to use. It's a good pump - I would definitely buy it."
Claire's rating: 9/10

Sarah says: "This is very easy to use with clear diagrams. The handle can be used two ways - one to stimulate and the other to express flow, which is clever. The SoftFit massage cushion breast shield is very comfortable and the handle is ergonomic and easy on the hand. It works efficiently - I expressed 1oz milk in under five minutes. It's very quiet, too. There's just a quiet clicking of the handle. It's easy to assemble too, and great value for money. I would buy it."
Sarah's rating: 8/10

STAR BUYS (Electric)

ISIS IQ UNO handheld electronic breast pump from Avent
Price: £85
What type? Mains and battery

Features: The ISIS IQ UNO electronic breast pump comes with a let-down massage cushion and fingertip control that aim to make the pump's action feel natural and comfortable, like a baby suckling, with the addition of an iQ: an electronic brain. Mums have variable fingertip control on the breast when they need it and the technology allows mums to personalize their pumping rhythm.

As you depress the control handle, electronic signals are sent to the microprocessor that memorises the suction, speed, and the interval you have chosen between each depression of the handle and how long you maintain the vacuum during that depression. This is known as the dwell factor. When you press the control button, iQ takes over until you tell it to change. It also comes with an ISIS Breast Pump, the iQ UNO Control Handle, manual breast pump parts, one 125ml/4oz and one 260ml/9oz breastmilk storage container, two extra-soft, wide anti-colic teats, battery pack, and a mains power lead.

Emma says: "This is a straightforward pump to use. It's just a matter of attaching the control handle to the pump to turn it into an electric pump. It's also extremely comfortable to use. This pump combines the best of both worlds: it's an electric pump which feels as comfortable as a hand held one. The let-down cushion makes expressing easy because it stimulates the let-down reflex and feels like my baby feeding. The adjustable control handle means that you can choose the speed at which the machine pumps and change it at any time, making it very efficient. It only took a few minutes to express 1oz, for example.

The only thing lacking is a bag or a box to keep the pump and all its accessories in. This is a really good breast pump for someone who needs to express milk every day, but not every feed. This is certainly my favourite of all the electric breast pumps I have been testing and the one I would buy."
Emma's rating: 10/10

ISIS IQ DUO electronic breast pump from Avent
Price: £250
What type? Mains

Features:The ISIS IQ DUO electric breast pump comes with a soft petal massager and fingertip sensitive control that makes it feel natural and comfortable, like your baby suckling. Press the button on the handle and it will continue your exact pumping rhythm. Express from both breasts at once, and if there is any discomfort, press the button again to revert to manual until the ISIS IQ DUO has learnt your new pumping rhythm.

It comes with a small dome-shaped motor with inbuilt iQ microprocessor, which drives the two breast pumps, one of which includes the iQ control handle. It includes four Avent Breastmilk Containers with cool packs inside two Thinsulate® Carriers to keep expressed milk cool for up to six hours. It also includes manual breast pump parts in case you need to use the ISIS iQ DUO as a manual pump when power isn't available, a microfibre Travel Bag, a CD of Sublime Sounds for Serene Mothers and a five minute Get Started DVD.


Emma says: "The instructions for this breast pump are easy to follow, but they are very long! The pump kit includes a full instruction booklet, plus a DVD demo disc showin you how to set up the pump, and a one-page leaflet showing you how to assemble the pump. To assemble and use the pump, you definitely need to read the booklet in full and follow the diagrams and instructions. Once the pump is set up though, which does take a while, it's very easy to operate. It's even easy to use pumps on both breasts at the same time because you can adjust the controls on the handle and not the pump motor, so you don't need an extra pair of hands.

It's very comfortable to use and very natural. If at any time the pumping process began to feel uncomfortable, it was easy to adjust by pressing on the control handle on the pump. There are lots of pieces in this pump, which does mean that there are plenty of pieces to lose. If you use the pump as a dual pump, that is, both breasts at once, all the pieces you need do tend to fill up your steriliser.

There are tons of extras with this one as you would expect from a product that costs £250. The pump is contained in a smart black briefcase-type bag, which houses the pump itself, plus four milk containers and two insulated bags with ice packs. You also get several packs of breast pads, the instructions, plus a demo disc, and even a CD of classical music to get the milk flowing.
However, I don't think that I would buy it, not just because £250 is a lot of money, but because I am lucky in that I work part-time and don't plan to return to work until my baby is weaned onto solids, so I do not need to express milk for every feed. But if I were a full-time working mother and were serious about not giving my baby anything but breastmilk, it might be worth the expenditure."
Emma's rating: 9/10

Swing 2 phase electric pump from Medela
Price: £89
What type? Mains and battery

Features: The Swing electric pump features Medela's 2-Phase Expression which feels like real breastfeeding and is more gentle than traditional breast pumps. Medela's 2-Phase Expression offers an initial rapid rhythm to promote the milk ejection and then a slower, deeper rhythm for efficient milk removal. The aims of this unique system are to reduce pumping time thanks to a faster let-down and maximum milk flow. It comes with a gently massaging SoftFit breast shield, which is soft and flexible and massages the breast and areola.

Emma says, "The instructions are straightforward and the breast pump is easy to operate. It's a two-phase pump, which means that it offers two different means of expressing milk: a simulation phase, which aims to stimulate your let-down reflex and get the milk flowing fast, and then an expression phase, which is slower, once your milk has started to flow.

It's quite comfortable: the two-phase method of the pump does help to stimulate the let-down reflex: but doesn't feel as comfortable as the two Avent pumps I have been testing. It does work efficiently, it only takes two or three minutes to express 1oz. But although it works well, I find that after a few minutes the milk stops flowing and I have to keep switching breasts. It's quiet and it comes with a drawstring bag to keep all your bits and pieces in, which is handy. It's a good price too, but I'm not sure I'd buy it, because I preferred the ISIS IQ UNO pump which is a similar price"
Emma's rating: 8/10

Pump in Style® Advanced from Medela
Price: £199.99
What type? Mains and battery

Features: The Pump in Style Advanced features Medela's 2-Phase Expression, which is designed to feel like breastfeeding and is gentle and efficient. Medela's 2-Phase Expression offers initial rapid rhythm to promote the milk ejection and then a slower, deeper rhythm for efficient milk removal. It reduces pumping time and increases comfort thanks to a faster letdown and maximum milk flow. Designed for single or double pumping, the pump comes with a rucksack and removable cooler carrier, which you can use to cool, store, and transport your breastmilk.

Emma says, "The instructions are easy to follow and it's quite easy to use, but I find it difficult to adjust the controls on the pump whilst dual pumping. It is quite comfortable to use, but I need an extra pair of hands! Like the Swing 2 pump, it's a dual phase pump with a simulation phase which stimulates the let-down reflex, plus an expression phase to use once the milk has started to flow. It's very efficient: pumping from both breasts at the same time does cut expressing time in half.

As this pump costs nearly £200, it does come with quite a few extras. Some of the extras include four milk containers in an insulated cool pack to keep the milk cool for several hours if you don't have access to a fridge. The pump itself is stored in a handy small black rucksack.

I think it is very expensive, but you get what you pay for: a double pump which allows you to express from both breasts at the same time, cutting expressing time in half. I do think that it is worth the cost if you need to be away from your baby at long periods in time, say if you were returning to work full time while your baby is young. The only think that lets it down is trying to control the pump whilst dual pumping."
Emma's rating: 9/10

It seems to be a battle between Avent and Medela. Now that I'm armed with the knowledge, time to brainstorm with my husband and see which one we'll choose.

Zeke Turns A Month Old!

Time flies when you're having fun. Now I know what this statement means.

Last August 9th, my little angel turned a month old. It was amazing! Zeke looks bigger, chubbier and healthier, far from the newborn I have given birth to.

1 month!

When Zeke was born, all I can do was stare at him. It was the most amazing feeling, seeing your child for the first time. And when I first held him and kissed him, I cried. I didn't care if I underwent C section. I didn't care that my tummy was still open. I didn't care. It was like my baby was the center of my universe. Until now, I still can't believe that I am a mother.

Holding my baby for the first time was the cherry on top

It wasn't a smooth sailing month. We had to stay in the hospital for a week because Zeke was diagnosed with jaundice, a condition normally present in newborns. However, in my baby's case, his bilirubin level was higher than normal thus there's a need to undergo phototherapy.

All that we can do is wait

It was a frustrating first week for me and my husband. Stress, anxiety and unfortunately, lack of sleep don't go well. I was desperate to go home.

Zeke at 1st week

Finally, when Zeke's pediatrician gave us the go signal to go home, we gladly obliged.

The first week at home was chaotic. We had to deal with a screaming and fully awake baby in the wee hours of the morning. Good thing my mother-in-law was very supportive and easily lent us a hand, especially when my husband's paternity leave ended. By this time, I have noticed several mannerisms that my baby has. It was fun discovery time for the both of us.

Zeke at 2 weeks old

Zeke loves to do this while breastfeeding

His first bath!

He's smiling!

His mouth forms the letter "O" whenever he poops

On his third week, Zeke's sleeping pattern improved a little. He's still up by midnight but can go to sleep at around 3AM. He was latching on perfectly with breastfeeding and I was able to feed him solely on my breast milk. It was difficult to breastfeed him during our hospital stay so his pediatrician recommended him for mixed feeding. He was given Enfalac A+ and his diaper changes, which normally was seedy and greenish in color, (Pampers Newborn) were also monitored. So it was a big change when we got home. My breast milk became his sole food and his poop became yellowish and watery, which were  good signs.

Zeke at 3 weeks (his fave sleeping position)

Now, I'm glad to say that Zeke's sleeping pattern is gradually becoming normal. SwaddleMe blankets became my lifesaver because of the comfort it gives. Zeke sleeps soundly whenever he's using this amazing product.

Comfortable and secured

He also had his first pediatrician visit and he was given his second dose of Hepa-B shot (first dosage was given after birth and BCG was given during the newborn screening test, which, thankfully, had all normal results). He gave out a startled, loud cry after the shot! On his return check-up, he'll be given the 5-in-1 and rotavirus shots (which is a series of shots so that's 6k every visit).

4 weeks but not yet 1 month

Raising Zeke is becoming expensive as he grows old. But it's all worth it. I'm just happy that he's getting bigger and healthier by the minute (he's now 9.02lbs!) Although there had been problems (his cord stump has not yet fallen off which needs to be soaked in 70% alcohol to dry up, faint stain of blood on his poop which according to his pedia is normal, and sticky eyes which can be resolved by gently massaging the corner of his eyes), I am hoping to have an active and good-nature son.

By the way, my husband and I are also celebrating our 5th wedding month today. Can you believe it? I'll keep you posted on all his achievements next time. For now. I really need to sleep.

****EDITED (08.30.2011)

My baby's stump fell off when I was at the hospital (blog entry after the jump). We also celebrated his first month with a spaghetti party. He's now 7 weeks and could follow an object with his eyes! I'm so excited when he can finally play with his little gym set and crawl around the room!

My cutie baby at 5  weeks!

Look at him sleep, looks like he's praying :)

6 weeks, in his Moses basket

7 weeks! See how big he is! Don't grow up too fast, little Zeke!

Spaghetti party for my little angel :)