Silly Yuri Stories: The Impromptu Shot

I think you'll agree with me when I say toddlers are truly a joy to be around. For me, it's because their innocent/naughty antics still pass off as funny and adorbs because of their cute faces!

Yuri is always fun to be around with because he's so bibo and talkative (he's kinda shy around strangers though). But out of all the funny moments we have with him, I think Wednesday tops it.

(Before I proceed, have you noticed the memes on Facebook? Yung about books, movies, memories, etc? I actually got tagged in a book meme, but I seriously haven't been reading books since I had Yuri. Bad! Anyway, I love the memes coz they remind me of what Facebook used to be like back in college, only before, we used to write the memes in notes!)

Okay, so much for that intermission. I know. Anyway, last Wednesday kasi, my mom stayed home to do Purok Leader duties. Free polio & measles vaccines were given, so she had the mutipurpose hall and facilities and food prepared. Her presence was also needed.

We really thought the vaccines given were for babies so I didn't pay much attention. Now, that morning, my mom wanted to bring Yuri along para wala lang, to play lang with the other kids and observe the nurses. My mom brought his records, too, just in case neighbors ask her what they should bring.

So yun na. As usual, Yuri was so excited to go out because he's quite the lakwatsero. Also, the multi-purpose hall is just beside the playground. I opted to stay home since I had work. Later that morning, I would receive a life-changing phone call. #chos

It's not a competition.

Last Wednesday, we went back to the Barangay Center for our MMR shot. I'm glad to announce that that was finally our last center appointment! Graduate na talaga kami, at long last!!!

Now, don't get me wrong. I like having the option to avail of free medicine and immunizations in the barangay. I think I have already saved around 30k just by going to the barangay center.

However, there are a couple of things I dread whenever the date of our appointment nears. First, even though the appointment is free, it is too taxing time-wise and effort-wise. Imagine, you have to be there before the center opens at 8. And when you arrive at around 7:30, don't expect to be the first in line. In fact, last Thursday, we arrived at 7:30 and we were 23rd in line. Also, it is not (never was) a comfortable wait. The center is cramped, hot, and full of wailing babies - Y included. LoL.

The second and worse thing I hate about going to the center is having to socialize with a lot of other mothers. I'm not antisocial, but there's something about sitting with a smorgasbord of women with their babies. This is because I notice that the conversation will always, always steer toward how well and how advanced their babies are performing. And sometimes, it boils down to pure boasting.

I would hear a mom taunting another because the other's baby is not sitting yet. Her baby, she claims, began sitting when he was still a few months old, a lot earlier than the other baby. The others can clearly tell whose mothering style is better. Guess who feels bad?

Another mom would proclaim that her 8-month old is already walking, making the others stare at her at awe. How did she do it? What kind of mothering did she do? She now reigns supreme in the field of mothering. The mommy queen-bee.

My 13-month old still uses the walker. Does this make Y a poor baby? Of course not!
He's wearing his aunt's headband, by the way. Hahaha!

Now, because the center is cramped, mothers would generally see each others' babies weight and height. We're stuck at the 9 kilogram mark, while other 1-year olds would have already achieved 10 kilograms. I saw a mom with a bigger 1 year old look at my card, but I just smiled at her.

I chose not to get affected. Why would I? Y is very healthy. He eats a lot, breastfeeds a lot, plays a lot, and sleeps a lot. He laughs at my jokes and I'm his favorite person. What more could I ask for?

Here's my question: Are babies trophies? Are babies sort of benchmarks we need to work on to prove to others how well of a mother we are? Are our babies' milestones something to compete over?

I'm a mother, too, and I know how it feels when your child has achieved another milestone. But I don't think we need to flaunt our babies' achievements in order to feel superior over the next mom. We have no right to do this because in the first place, babies are different. They develop at different paces.

Your babies' achievements are something to be proud of, yes, but they are not something worth gloating about. If your child develops early, smile, be thankful, and pray to God.

On the other hand, we might see ourselves on the other side of the competition. We might admire (or envy) someone whose baby seems so easy to pacify. Or we might envy someone whose baby has already started walking or talking early. But you know what? There's no need to keep stressing over the fact that your friend's baby is developing faster. Your baby is unique and special as he is.

Just be happy and keep loving. Isn't this the way it is supposed to be?

One of the possible reasons why he isn't fat: we're still breastfeeding. :-)

We're all mothers (well, not all, but you know what I mean). We're supposed to understand what each other is going through. We're supposed to be there for each other, not against each other. For a change, why don't we stop boasting about our own babies' achievements? Why don't we focus on the fun part? The playing part? You know, the loving part? 

Let's forget about the competition (if there ever was one). I'm sure we would all be happier mommies when we choose to talk happy. And did you know that happier mothers equal happier babies?

Happy Mother's Day!

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Y turns 9 months!

If someone got pregnant around the time Y was born, she would've given birth now or will be giving birth anytime now. Y is 9 months old already (yesterday, actually). It' so surreal; I actually can't believe it! I know it sounds cliche, but it really seems just like yesterday when he was still a small newborn baby. Now, he eats a lot (but still breastfeeds, thankfully) and plays with people!

So how did we celebrate his 9th month? Just like how we celebrated his 6th month - a morning at the Baranggay Center. He has to have another shot, this time for measles. Boo for pain! But yay for immunization! We arrived at the center at around 8am. Usually, the place is already jam-packed by then. But maybe because it's the day after the Christmas, there was only one baby ahead of us.

The untiring center volunteers and a handful of moms and babies

A strangely empty health center

Y being readied for his shot. Y didn't cry! Brave boy!

This is our last vaccine shot for this year. We also have a pediatrician, whom we are scheduled to see on February pa. When Y was still very young, we saw his pediatrician every month, and we shell out more than 6k each month. We could have bought an iPad with the total amount. But without free immunization at the health center, we could've been paying more than twice of that amount! Free health services rock!

On another note, here's a screenshot of baby's milestones, from BabyCenter.com.

Y is able to do all of the 8th month milestones already. And even though he just turned 9 months, he can already do most of the 9th month milestones: all of them, except the advanced skills. But we're getting ready for those. Good job, baby!

Y turns 6!

This very day, my Y turns 6 months old. We celebrated the day by going to the Barangay Center for his Vitamin A. Haha!

We got there a bit late and there are many people already. Number 23 na kami (monthsary hahaha). Anyway, the people from the center told us that the normal weighing scale for babies is broken (sinong baby kaya nakasira?), so we'll be using a spring-type scale.

What's that, you ask? Here's a sample picture:

Image taken from Google

If you ask me, that's a very scary looking weighing scale, considering they just tied it around a wooden ceiling beam. Nevertheless, I watched the other parents place their babies (very carefully) inside the hammock and waited for our turn.

When our turn was up, I placed Y (very carefully) with his legs hanging out. He couldn't fit in the hammock! I'm so proud! Hahaha! He actually looked very comfortable just lying in the hammock that I contemplated getting one for the house - when I realized his grandparents already bought him one. I guess we'll use it next time.

Y is heavy! He weighs 8.2 kilos already, or more than 18 pounds. Also, he is 71 centimeters or almost 28 inches long. We're thankfully on the good side of the growth chart. :-)

Usually, we would wait for the vaccination for more than an hour, but since we're only getting a dose of Vitamin A, we got to leave immediately. Y just slept through the whole ordeal. Goodbye for now, Barangay Center. See you on December!