Zyan's First Christmas

It's time of the year again. Christmas time is at our doors and we are going to revive those traditions we learned during our childhood and taught to our own children.

Christmas is the most joyful time of the year, celebrated by all Christians. And there are many reasons to celebrate Christmas. Most people celebrate this holiday because it allows them to spend time with their family, some others celebrate it for religious reasons and many others for the gesture of giving. Most of us are hoping and praying for good times in the future.

And for the most of us, Christmas time is also a time for memories.

Zyan's First Picture with Santa Clause

Zyan's First Holiday Vacation

Going to Batangas ...

Zyan is praying for our safety trip to Manila :)

Zyan on his Fourth Month

By the time Zyan has reached 4 months old, i have learned his personality. I can tell when he is going to want something before he starts to fuss. I can start playtime on the floor on a blanket with some toys at this age. When he is awake i will notice that baby he able to:

• Hold up head at a 90 degree angle
• Lifts head and chest when laid on tummy and will attempt to move
• Rolls over from tummy to back, will quickly learn how to roll over from back to tummy once this is mastered
• Taste tests everything that is close enough to get a grip on (exploring everything orally)
• Recognizes food source (bottle, breast, or otherwise) and reacts
• Responds to sound
• Has distinctive cries for fear, discomfort, pain, and even loneliness
• Tracts items through a 180 degree arc

Zyan on his Third Month

During the third month of his life, Zyan has started to show a little more personality. Activities are a bit more social than they were a couple months ago when eating and sleeping were all that my baby was interested in. During socializing times my baby will start to:

• Lift head to a 45 degree angle from the surface that he is laying on
• Stiffen legs as if trying to stand when feet are on a hard surface
• Reach for shiny or dangling objects
  
• Grasps toys and shakes small hand toys such as rattles
• Imitates sounds that the infant hears
• Recognizes people and starts to develop trust of known people as well as distrust and fear of strangers
• Lifts head with much better muscle control.
• Starts to develop hand-eye coordination
• Energetically kicks and moves while awake to expend energy
• Brings hands together in clapping motion
• Watches and enjoys circles and spiral patterns
• Lifts head and chest when laid on tummy and will attempt to move

Zyan's Christening Day

Christening Day—One to Remember Forever 10/25/09

A child’s baptism, or christening is one that should be filled with moving memories. Planning for the special day is relative easy, though it does take some effort.

Your first task will be to call the church to see if they have special days set aside for christenings. Once you’ve received that information, you can then choose the all-important date and time to call back the church to confirm the date with them. At this time you’ll be told what preparations you’ll need to make, and what particular procedures you will need to follow.

Next, it is customary that the happy parents choose a Godmother and a Godfather. Being Godparents is quite an honor, but the choice you make needs to be a careful one as they not only will raise your child within the religious teachings of your church, but they will also have all responsibilities for raising your child should something happen to you, the parents. Thus, it is typical to choose from the family or to choose very close friends.

It is common for the Godparents to gift the child with a keepsake.

Occasionally, depending on your particular faith, there are baptism classes that must be held. Different religions have their own singular requirements, so again speak to someone representing the church about this matter.

Most people send written invitations to the christening, thus you should make plans to visit your local card shop or printer.

Make sure that the invitation you choose matches the particular religion involved, including the specific words used.

Next, if there is to be a gathering of the participants following the formal religious ceremony, you will need to make arrangements with a caterer, choosing the menu, the theme and all related information. You then need to make arrangements with the site where the gathering will be held.

Zyan's Christening Dress

Sometime in between all this, you will choose the child’s clothing. This is something that all parents love doing as they undoubtedly have a specific view in their minds as to what the child will look like in the pictures that will be taken throughout the ceremony and afterward at the celebration of this joyous event. Christening clothing runs from heirloom christening gowns and bonnets, to brand new clothing, shoes, bonnets, and christening blankets for the child. Shop around if your family has no heirloom clothing and find something that strikes you as perfect for such a wonderful happy day!

Some families begin by celebrating with a brand new bible for the child into which notes are made outlining who the parents and Godparents were, the date and location of the baptism. Notes are also made for the attendants and where the celebratory gathering was held. The bible then becomes a keepsake for the child and further notes will be made of religious moments as the child grows up. These bibles are also excellent for preserving family history for following generations.

Thank you for coming on Zyan's Christening :)

Zyan on his Second Month

He is be able to:

• Lift his head if placed on his stomach
• Open his hands
• Smile back at you
• Talk a little bit (grunting, cooing etc)

He is becoming more and more interested in “talking to” people for every day that passes.

Zyan on his first Month

Still a brand new little person, but now getting into the habit of living outside the womb. If put down on his belly, he will be able to lift and hold his head up for a little while and He focuses his eyes on my face.

My Baby Zyan at 1 week

Zyan spend much of his time sleeping during these weeks, often causing him to wake up is to feed him, change his diapers, etc. Finding myself wondering when I can play with my baby.
During the first two weeks of his life, Zyan won’t be doing much except sleeping. In the few minutes of him being awake, I notice that he seems to be able to focus on my face a bit more than before. I also notice that Zyan is trying to lift his head more frequently during tummy time. And smile when he fall asleep, which can relieve my stress.

Zyan's First Latch

Did you Know that breast milk kills cancer cells? Breast milk contains alpha-lactalbumin, or alpha-lac for short. This type of protein is capable of targeting not only cancer cells but also other immature and rapidly growing cells, leaving stable, mature cells for growth and development. This is one of the many reasons why breast milk is the perfect food for your baby.

Ref: Discover Magazine June 1999

The Little King was Born

The long wait is over...

The Gift of God

I can't find the right words when i felt him in my arms ...

It was August 23, 2009 at 11pm while watching TV I sense minor contractions, so I just leave to the rest rooms and peed. I stroll around to diminish the contraction but it’s getting noticeable, so I went to the living area and sat down at the sofa. I went back to rest room once more due to nature calls and close by I found spotting blood on my underwear. So I said to my hubby to keep an eye on my contractions if i have every 10-15 minutes of contraction i necessitate to call my OB. It was 5am and i have no sleep for the reason that i can feel the painful contraction gradually ever-increasing. He called my Ob and told him the whole thing. So he inform us to go to the hospital where I was recorded around 8 am we arrived around and my Ob verify me and i was 8cm dilated and my Ob said i will give birth anytime in the morning. By 9am I was lying down on a bed and there they going ahead to set me several medication, like dextrose etc. I’m so fidgety my OB let me sleep first he would like me to have a rest and gain power and so, after 4 hours on the bed my dilation was progressing. After an hour of too much pain, the nurse rub my back and it was extremely painful and i want to get out the baby but it’s incredibly hard. I couldn’t take it much longer, so they checked me for a second time and my BOW was burst. Then, one long breath .. and POP OUT!! So, After 5 or 6 hours of labor, a very long one, huh! At 2:10pm, I gave birth to a healthy bouncing baby boy Zyan Daniell, he’s 6 pounds, 11 ounces baby boy. I am so delighted that I made it! the whole thing was excellent! It was an extraordinary, unforgettable moments of my life.

The Miracle of Life

Finally at the 5th month of my pregnancy I got pre-natal and an ultra sound here attached my 3D result a colored one showing a healthy baby and a handsome one as focus

That first 3D ultrasound was one of the best feelings I have ever experienced. It was a confirmation that this amazing thing was happening. It is the most exciting time.

Getting Ready For My Baby's Arrival

The moment you get pregnant, in addition to searching for a name for the baby, you are thinking and shopping for things for the baby. There is a lot of shopping to do and it takes a lot of time exploring your options and shopping for the best safest items and toys while keeping the cost low. Welcoming a new born baby requires many months to get yourself and your beautiful home ready for the new member to your family. It is always good to buy some of the baby things in advance to care of the baby during the early months. You will be busy in doing things like changing baby diapers, changing baby clothes and cleaning umbilical cord you will not have time to do detailed shopping. Here is a list that you will need to buy before the baby is born.

List of Items for the arrival of the new born

The birth of the new born is one of the greatest moments a woman life. Of course you know that there are so many things you must keep in place before the arrival of the new born. There are many things that you will need to do to prepare for your new baby's arrival.

You will think of so many things to buy right? No problems, i list here below some things that will help you as you prepare for the new baby arrival.

Baby's Room

Checklist of Items for New Baby's Arrival

The birth of a child is one of the greatest moments in a person's life. There are many things that you will need to do to prepare for your new baby's arrival. So many in fact that it can leave a new parent's head spinning and their wallets empty.

What is really necessary to buy? What can you do without? Below is a list of the items that we used with both of our girls and highly recommend. I've also made note of some of the more popular items that people buy that may not be necessary.

Baby's Room

1. Dresser - for all the baby clothes that you will be getting as gifts.

2. Nightlight – It helps not to bang your knee on the dresser when you go into check baby at night

3. Books – that will help the baby as she grows, like the bible stories!

4. Lamp – for checking baby always

Feeding

1. Nursing Pillow - help mom to be comfortable while nursing

2. Breast Pump - for those times when mom just needs a break or has to go back to work.

3. Bottles - make sure they are BPA free.

5. Booster Seat. - That will have you during breaks feeding

Clothing

1. One piece outfits - babies will live in these in the early months, so much easier than trying to put on a two piece outfit on such a wee baby

2. Socks and Shoes – shoes not necessary yet, but socks are a must

3. Teething Bibs – needed so you do not change cloths always once he/she starts drooling

4. Hat - baby needs it especially in cooler weather

5. Laundry detergent for sensitive skin - some babies can be really sensitive to the regular chemical detergents

6. Car Seat - keep baby safe!

7. Sweater - also need in cooler weather

8. Jacket - same as above

9. Diaper Bag - Away from home when you have a baby, make sure to get a big one and something that looks cool.

10.Changing pad - is also needed for the baby

11. Car seats and carries for baby

12. Baby clothing

13. Furniture

14. Nursery Decoration

15. Maternity

16. Entertainment

17. Nursing and Feeding

18. Health and baby care

19. Bathing and changing

20. Safety equipment

Fun Stuff

1. Play Arches - great for them to kick with their feet and fun to watch!

2. Swing - good place for baby to hang out for a while

3. Newborn Toddler Rocker or Bouncer - especially once they are older, toddlers love to rock, bounce, dance, move, groove

4. Wagon for going out for walks - a nice alternative to the stroller

And, finally, have fun with it! It’s okay to spoil the little one just a little bit. With a newborn baby checklist new parents are able to buy exactly what is needed without worrying about overspending, impulse shopping and under budgeting.