SLEEP

Most people would think that being a full time mom is an easy task. When I was single, and that was not so long ago, I thought so too. Taking care of your baby is something that will come naturally to mothers and you will have fun time always. Well, that is just plain wishful thinking.

It’s been two years and five months that I am a full time mom and I have to tell you it’s no easy task. Oh the motherly instinct is always there, you know when the baby is hungry, sleepy, etc. but just like in everything any person wants to do there is always a sacrifice attached to it. Having no job is no sacrifice at all since I chose to be with my kids fulltime.

What I’m sacrificing a lot lately is pure and simple deep sleep. You know, the kind of sleep when you close your eyes and it’s still night time like 10 or even 11pm and wake up refreshed and energized at around 6 to 7am. That’s the sleep I have been wishing for the last two and a half years.

Today is one of my most sleep deprived day. Louie slept at 12midnight last night and to think we were in bed at 930pm. I let him tire out on the bed, allowing him to roll over as much as he wanted to until he cried but that didn’t work. I thought that he was sleeping already by 11pm since his eyes were closed while feeding but he woke up after. Oh well. So I just let him do whatever he wanted to do in bed until he decides to sleep and finally he did. But by 2am, he wanted to feed again. Then by 4am and by 530am. And he woke up at 830am. Ugh. Since he was not crying and did not want to feed, I guess he’s full after feeding every two hours, I just closed my eyes for awhile to rest them even for a few more minutes.

Thankfully, my husband picked Louie up from bed and let me sleep for a few minutes more without worrying about the baby. Then I have to wake up, eat breakfast, take a bath, bathe Louie and make some lugaw for him. That’s my usual morning routine for the past month already.

Complaining much? Well, not really. I’m just amazed how a woman and a mother at that can somehow feel alright after all the sleep deprivation. I mean I can still get up and go and do whatever needs to be done and it’s not just limited to taking care of the baby, I’m doing the laundry, cleaning our room and at times cook for lunch or dinner. And once in a while I do bake when I have orders or when I just want to eat my desserts or my lasagna (and when hubby asks for them). I can still remember when I was in college, and being a sleepyhead I usually make up sleep whenever I can and sleep was not as deprived as it is now. Maybe I have upgraded, ha-ha.

Being a fulltime mom has its perks too. Louie’s sleeping now and what else to do? Make up some sleep, of course. Good day! ;)

On Being A Full Time Mom

October 2, 2009

Yesterday was the first year of my being a full time mom.

I can still remember my former officemate saying I'm lucky to be just at home taking care of the baby. And I can still recall the HR's 'Wow, ang swerte mo naman!' when she knew that I'm resigning to be at home with my son.

It wasn't so difficult for me to decide to be a full time mom. I mean if I were to choose between family and work, i would definitely choose my family any time, no matter what. Even if I have to sacrifice some extras that my income can afford for my family, I would still choose my family. I have always wanted to be a housewife.

After a year of being a full time mom, I could say that I really am blessed to be with my son everyday. Come to think of it I was only separated from him for maximum of three days (when I went to manila early this year). I have witnessed most of his milestones that most mothers nowadays don't experience. I'm not discounting that some moms really have to work, but I'm just glad I was there for my baby. Though I did have a yaya for six months and I needed one because my baby was born through C-section and I had to return to work back then after two months of maternity leave. But after eight months until now, it was just me and my baby.

Looking back, it was all worth it especially with just me, my husband and our baby and no yaya. Back then, most of the prepping was by the yaya. When there was no yaya, my husband and I have to make a schedule as to what we need to do. And to this day I'm very thankful for my husband who is a very hands-on dad. My hubby usually bathes our baby in the morning (he wakes up earlier than i do) and evening (because i'm too tired after the day's babysitting) and does the bottle sterilizing. I do our baby's laundry and I babysit all day. My hubby does the babysitting when he gets home from work.

So for now, basically that's my daily routine being a hands-on mom. Sounds boring, I know, but I'm loving every moment even with all the tiredness I feel and the sleep deprivation ever since I gave birth. And no it's never boring raising a child especially your own. =)

Holding Hands

August 26, 2009

My baby's asleep.

And it's true, you would still be amazed just looking at a sleeping baby especially your own. He has grown so fast now.

I know now how my parents felt before I got married, they always tell me how fragile I was when I was born, I was small as a family sized coke (they still have that size at that time). And I have grown into a woman ready to jump into the wagon and be a parent myself.

Now, i see what they mean. I'm the one who's saying that my baby is big already. It's been more than a year since I held him, so small, he could fit in on one of my arms, now he couldn't even fit in both of my arms. I have to balance him first in my arms to carry him, but somehow it has become second nature on how to carry him, i don't mind doing it.

Looking at him now makes me miss those times when he was still in my tummy, feeling his kicks, carrying him everywhere I go. Sometimes I wish being pregnant should be more than nine months because even if it's tiring to carry my baby around it's worth all the pain. Then again it's true, you'll forget all the pain and just remember the happiness a baby brings.

Nowadays, my baby's learning to walk on his own. Though he can walk without any support, especially when he feels like it, he still wants to hold his hand to one of mine to be sure he won't stumble down (though somebody told me it was some kind of separation anxiety, but whatever).
Part of me wants him to walk alone but a part of me wants him to not let go.

Because it will mean that it will be another thing I will miss.

So for now I'll hold his hand and cherish the moments.

I know he'll be running around one of these days but for now I'll just hold his hand.


P.S. To parents: always cherish the moments with your child(ren), have time with them especially when they're still young. It's not just for them but specially for us parents. =)