Postpartum Check-up (March 27, 2008)

I just had my postpartum check-up this morning at Kaiser. I'm glad everything is progressing normally, as it should be. I actually lost all 10-15 pounds I gained during the pregnancy right after I delivered Sebastian and I continue to lose pounds some more maybe due to the combination of breastfeeding and lack of sleep. It's a good thing, I guess, since I started out on the plump side (I know, I gained a lot when I came here to California and couldn't get rid of excess lbs). The bleeding still comes and goes, but the nurse midwife said it's still normal to bleed until 6 weeks. Let's see when this stops.

Nancy, the midwife I saw this morning, was actually the one who delivered my baby. She was surprised to see Sebastian so big in such a small amount of time. A lot of people actually say he's big for his age, and he is! He's heavy too. And I'm glad to say he's as healthy as ever.

Sebastian's 1st Month - Happy Easter!!!

It's Sebastian's first month today! Aside from it being Easter Sunday. It's amazing how many people come to church on Easter. The church auditorium was fully packed, as in overflowing - standing room! And after the last Sunday service (11:00-12:15nn), CPC held a baptismal ceremony...

Baptism



Onlookers

After church, we just headed home...

...and did a small, intimate celebration for Sebastian...

Happy first month, baby!

Happy 30th Birthday, Bondi!

It's my hubby's big 3-0! Somehow, I thought I'd be throwing him a big party on this special day, but having been preoccupied with our precious little guy, coupled with our recent financial situation, plus soooo much stuff to do (like studying and preparing for my nursing boards and packing/moving our stuff out of the apartment), it was an impossible task.

So, I just asked him what he wanted me to prepare for dinner as we celebrate his birthday and he just wanted simple stuff - the usual stuff his mom prepares whenever there's a birthday in the family: spaghetti, chicken, cake, ice cream, plus other stuff like lechon paksiw, asado, etc....


I thought it was just gonna be my parents and the three of us, and we had all these food!

But Bondi's sister Grace & family dropped by, also his brother Ton, and his sister Lou & family and it was an instant party in our small cramped apartment. You can see happiness in Bondi's eyes. It was a simple family get-together (nothing fancy, in fact we weren't even dressed up), but it was pure fun.

I realized I'm a mom when...

...I wake up with a pillow in my arm, thinking it's my baby and panicking he might have suffocated
...I find myself creeping up to my baby's crib often, just to check if he's still breathing
...it's no longer "me first", but my baby's needs
...I have no choice but to wake up whenever baby cries and wails in the wee hours of the morning because he's hungry, has a dirty diaper, or just because he wants to be held
...I can tell by the sound of his cries exactly what he needs
...having 2-3 hours of straight sleep is a rarity
...my daily routine consists of only two things: feeding and changing diapers
...it seems like my baby's breastfeeding and always next to me 24/7
...I always look forward to hearing those cute little sounds he makes during feeding time
...my purchases consist of nursing pads, breastmilk storage bags, tubings and other pumping accessories
...during shopping, all I could think of are things to buy for my baby and not for me
...instead of a nice cologne, I'm wearing his spit-ups
...I look in the mirror and see that I'm always wearing my hair up in a pony tail
...I cried during all the painful procedures he had to go through when my baby was confined in the hospital a few days after his birth
...our room started to fill up with all things baby
...our house had bottles and burp clothes and blankets everywhere
...I had to do laundry almost everyday, and it's mostly baby's

Oh, there's still tons that make up that list. But I'm not complaining. It's such a joy to be a mom, specially to a very wonderful and handsome baby. I couldn't ask for more. These mother-son moments are very precious and I am so looking forward to more as he grows and develops. The Lord has truly blessed us and I'm just forever grateful...

3rd Week

Another week of random pix:

Getting a Passport

Today, we went to the Post Office to get his first passport.


We made sure Sebastian was well-fed and comfortable before we went there.

He was an easy baby. The lady at the post office never had any problems taking his passport picture. Maybe since he was so accustomed to having some camera lens pointed at him, he didn't fuss and bother at all. All we did was put a white cloth underneath his head (passport photos are headshots in white background) as he sat on his car seat, and the lady just took some shots of his face.


The task was short and sweet, so we headed home shortly after. Now we wait for his blue passport in the mail...

Baby's First Bath at Home

We waited 2 weeks for his cord stump to fall off. It finally did on March 8, 2008. A few days later (tonight), we finally gave him his first bath at home, contrary to his regular sponge bath. He seemed to like it a lot and didn't cry at all. He was very calm and contented, enjoying every moment in the tub, feeling refreshed and smelling good after getting all cleaned up.

His 1st Bath

Looking Like Dad

All Clean & Bundled Up

Clean & Fresh

Final Touch

1st time in church

Last Sunday, we brought little Seb in church. He was such an angel and slept through the whole service. I guess it's a good idea to feed him before going so he's not fussy at church. Here are some snapshots:

Our little man with the proud grandparents ~ wearing long-sleeved "polo" and corduroys!

2nd Week

Too many random pix... no time to sort out...

1st Major Trip Out

It was a nice sunny day last Saturday so we went around San Francisco and toured little Seb. We even had a "before and after" shot at the Golden Gate. Here are some pictures:

Sebastian's First Doctor's Appointment

He was supposed to have his 1st doctor's appointment on Day 3 but the day we got discharged (Day 2) we ended up going back to the hospital due to fever. While confined, they did the routine bilirubin test usually done on their first appointment (they had to cancel his since he's already in the hospital) and it turned out okay - normal levels. So, on his 2nd week, he had his first formal doctor's appointment with Dr. Easter, the same doctor who checked on him and did the tests when we rushed him to ER that fateful night.

Sebastian was perfect. He gained back the weight he lost - and more! The doctor said we're doing a great job. Yay to the parents!

Waiting our turn


Gained back his weight, plus some 6oz


Happy to get his diaper back


Talking to mom


Waiting for the doctor


Healthy baby - check!


All done & ready to go


Bye!

1st week

Random pictures of Sebastian's 1st week: