Merry Belated Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone!

How's your X'mas? Hope y'all have a great X'mas with your loved ones.

I'm truly blessed I know! =) This year was the first time I spent my X'mas with my lil' man (and I'm looking forward to spending more X'mas day with him). (^_^) Although we didn't have snow here (what a shame), but we did had an enjoyable time together during this special day.

As usual, daddy always didn't prepare any pressies for mommy... And as usual being the lazy old him, which he never intended to change for good, he will bring mommy to a shopping mall and asked her to choose the pressie all by herself.

So without further ado, mommy will choose whatever she wants as her X'mas pressie! ;-) And of course mommy knows what she wants and it's within budget!! :D It was actually a last year X'mas wish but until this year only mommy got it! Anyway, mommy still feel grateful to dear Lord and daddy.

As for baby J, this was his first X'mas (!!) and he got his first x'mas pressies which was the Vtech baby walker! It's great for him as he is still learning how to walk. Hopefully he will learn to walk very soon. Mommy can't wait to see him make his first move! :)

And finally, daddy also got his pressie. And his pressie is the most expensive one this time! It's an ipad! He loves it and carry it everywhere he goes.... even to his bed! Ha!

All in all, we spent time together as a family. Not to mentioned also, this is our first X'mas as family for just the three of us. Thank you dear Jesus for the greatest gift of all, that's baby J. At last, we had our own little family. Although it was not a huge family but I like it for just the three of us for the moment... it's warm and cozy. And I hope in years to come we will continue to spend X'mas together as a family.

Even Babies Can Be Confident

What can you do when your child is an infant to help him develop the confidence to "try, try again"? 

Create a predictable routine. When your baby knows that after having his bath he'll be fed and then go to bed, he doesn't have to worry about what's going to happen next. Instead, his mind is free to focus on mastering new skills, such as how to get his belly up off the floor so he can crawl.

 

Respond to baby's needs. Of course you're already doing this. Every time you pick him up when he's crying or kiss a boo-boo, you're not just soothing him so he'll be less upset. You're showing that you're listening, and that you understand what he needs, which makes him feel important.

Present small challenges. The rush that accompanies "I did it!" is a powerful tool when it comes to building self-confidence. A 5-month-old who tries to grab at the toys dangling from his play gym is going to feel a burst of excitement when he finally does it. 

The next time you put him down on the play gym, position him so that grabbing the toy is not as easy as it was before but is still doable. Your baby might be frustrated at first, but he'll be all smiles once he learns to overcome this challenge. "This is how you build confidence," says Borba. "You are guiding him so he feels he is getting better and better at something."

Encourage persistence. When a child can't quite get the right piece into the shape sorter or he topples over as he's trying to stand up, say, "You've almost got it. Let's try again. You can do it!" This lets him know he's safe, and it gives him the confidence that he needs to pull himself up again. Add a hug, and your child will feel worthy of acceptance even though he didn't succeed this time.

Baby's Temper Tantrums

My 10-month-old has a terrible temper. If you try to take something from her or stop her from doing something that might hurt her, she screams until she's red in the face. But when you give in, she's fine. Is there anything I can do to change this? 

Expert Answers

Sandy Bailey, certified family life educator 

Hold her, tell her she'll be okay, and distract her with another activity or object. She'll quickly forget about her complaints.

Babies have an amazing — and often aggravating — ability to make demands. But your baby needs to know that you care about her feelings, even when she expresses them by screaming or flailing her fists. It may look like she's throwing a fit, but she's really seeking reassurance.

As long as you stick with your original decision — for instance, that she can't play with the remote control — no one can accuse you of "giving in." You're just giving her what she needs.

One of the best approaches to tantrums is to avoid them as much as possible. Pay attention to your baby's cues and try to anticipate her desires. You can reduce her frustration even more by giving her a safe place to explore where you won't constantly have to tell her no.

Screaming comes naturally to babies, and you can't force her to keep her temper. Spanking, swatting, and yelling are especially unhelpful. Your baby will only become more unhappy and distressed. If you're feeling angry, it's okay to put her in a safe place, like a play yard, and let her scream and cry until you have a chance to calm down. She can't have everything she wants, but she has to be able to count on you for comfort.

Why is my baby suddenly waking in the night?

Babies' sleep patterns can be affected by many things, including illness, holidays, changes in routine, and development. Many babies who were great sleepers as babies start waking again during the night between six and 10 months of age. Doctors aren't exactly sure why this happens but believe there may be some physiological or developmental reason.

If your baby suddenly starts waking during the night, step back and evaluate the situation. First, is it something environmental? Have the neighbours started leaving on an outdoor light that is shining into your child's bedroom? If so, try to fix the situation, such as putting up a room-darkening shade.

Second, are the sudden nighttime wakings following a period of illness or a holiday? Or do they coincide with a developmental change? If your baby has learned a new motor skill, for instance, learning to crawl, he may want to try it out every chance he gets -- even in the middle of the night. Some babies get caught up in pulling themselves to standing but then can't get themselves back down without help.

The best way to deal with these sudden nighttime wakings is to stick with what worked before. That is, don't suddenly change your bedtime routine or how you get your baby to sleep. Remain consistent in what you do for several weeks. This will help your child return to sleeping through the night once the temporary issue is resolved.
Reviewed by Jennifer Hor, antenatal and Parent Craft educator specialising in breastfeeding and well-baby issues

Trying for Number Two

Among American women, the average interval between first and second births is about two and a half years, which may sound like a decade to you if you're ready to go again now! But really, it is best to give your body a year, at least, to recover from pregnancy before you start over again —  eighteen months, even better. But that's just the ideal. Of course, lots of women don't wait that long, and that's fine. (Look at Heidi Klum!) So why wait? For one thing, it takes a while for your body to recover from the vitamin depletion, blood loss, and wear and tear on the reproductive system from your first birth. And, whether you realize it or not, your body — and your spirit — are under a good deal of stress from caring for baby number one. 

The reality is that many factors come into play when it comes to spacing your children. But regardless of timing, the best way to increase your odds of having a healthy baby is to stay fit and healthy yourself. So if you do decide to jump right back in the pool, make sure you take extra good care of Mommy. You should try to shed most, if not all, of your first pregnancy weight but not by strenuous dieting. (That could deplete your nutritional stores, which are already depleted by pregnancy, especially if you're breastfeeding, but even if you're not.) Keep taking your prenatal vitamins if you're planning to go another round soon, check in with your practitioner, and eat as well as you possibly can. Most of all, listen to your body. Hope that helps! And good luck with your project, whenever you decide to get started with it!