A Night To Forget

Hubby and I had a fight last night (few hours ago).
The reason was so petty but we both ended up shouting at each other until
 he got sooooo furious that he left the house in rage.
  I was so shocked that I stopped crying.
 I never saw him like that!!!
I was literally petrified that I didn't know what to do next
expect to breath! hahahaha
Then, he returned back then he asked sorry.
We were both wrong but he explained that we were
both stressed, him with co-worker Peona
and me with all the household chores,
baby responsibility and other stuffs.

It was definitely a night to forget but
for the sake to document this, here are
the reasons why we fought.



Trying to make this post as personal as possible =)
What's important is Luis and I were able to fix it right away and we both
recognized our mistakes
It was our 2nd serious fight ever here in Canada
and I am not looking forward for another one!
I'm just happy for the reason that I appreciate how mature my
partner was being able to control himself and handled
 a fight that we never had before.
He is a good man.
I am blessed.


@>-<@
Sassy Mommy Tine

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Brielle w/ Her Dress & Shoes

To celebrate my sister-in-law Olive's birthday last on Vday, we had an early lunch at River Rock Hotel: The Buffet Restaurant last Sunday with the rest of the family.  Luis and I both decided to make Brielle wear her spring dress since it already fits her perfectly!  She even wore a matching floral shoes!

Look at my pretty doll! All dressed up in a Sunday morning :)


Sassy Mommy Tine

@>-<@
mommy tine,

Kudos Sears Gift Registry

When I checked the mail box the other night, I was surprised when I got something from Sears Richmond Mall.  Details in the envelope was hand written so i thought that it wasn`t just a promotion letter, coupon or flyers which I usually get every week.  When i opened it it was a cute welcome card for Brielle from sears Gift Registry =)

 

the cute welcome card

I remember signing up but didn`t finish my registry because I registered in Toys R Us instead.  Yet, they still sent me one and It was so sweet of them. =)  I appreciate such efforts like this and it really made my night.  This is just one of the things I like here in Canada -- people always try to find ways how to be thoughtful.  Plus the fact that I usually get superb customer services from most of the stores and poor service is absolutely unacceptable here.

Kudos for you Sears!

Mommy Tine
the Sassy Mom

Brielle`s Milestone: Turn Towards Sounds and Focus on Objects

My friend Mona told me that it won`t be a good idea to keep carrying Brielle all the time.  She also advised me that it would be best if we`ll get her used to sleeping in the crib as early as now to prevent her from getting spoiled.  As an immigrant I do believe she has a point.  My life is different now, no yaya, no sister to help and no mom to depend on.  With all the household chores and lots of other things to do, as much as I want to spend time with Brielle, it just impossible here in Canada.  So I need every piece of advice on how to maximize my time.

So my husband and I started the routine of putting her back to the crib right after she fell asleep or after she burps.  At first it was hard, but I just found out yesterday that putting a big pillow on her back, giving her the feeling of being elevated prevents her from waking up when she`s on her bed  (she probably thought she was still being carried.... hehehe).

 

Brielle on her crib with big pillow on her head

That pillow worked like magic!  I was able to finish my laundry, cooked two meals and I even made a balloon pillar (for her 1st monthsary)!  Then when she woke up for her feeding I was surprised when Brielle just remained silent. I saw her staring at her crib mobile!  Most of the time it won`t take too long before she cries after waking up but yesterday she was following the zebra hanging on top of her! Her first developmental milestone: turn towards the sun and start to focus on objects!  Just right before her first monthsary =)

 

Brie watching her crib mobile move
(mobile crib: gift from Tita Minda)

I can`t wait to see the next milestone she`ll do !
Good job Brie! We`re proud of you!
Time to bring out the play gym!

 

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 Baby Diary


Saturday, January 29

Started my day early.  Brielle woke up around 4am and I fed her.  She was able to sleep right after feeding so I decided to not go back to sleep and start with my dialy errands early since I know we\ll have a busy day!  I sterilized, prepared breakfast, printed my coupons and of course pumped milk! I woke hubby around 8am and started preparing B's tub.  Hubby and I gave her a quick bath, placed her on her Winnie The Pooh outfit and put her back to sleep.  I took a bath right away since we have to see Dr. K (family doctor) for a 1pm appointment.

I already had everything prepared the other night.  Fixed her diaper bag and made sure I had everything.  Packed the breast pump, brought with me 3 bottles of ready to drink Nestle formula milk and made sure I have extra diapers, wipes, bottles and change clothes.  Everything was set, so we left home yesterday around 1pm.

At the clinic, everything went okay.  I was anxious about her weight  that's why hubby and I were relieved that she gained 400 grams since the last time she was weighed. So form 3300 grams from her first check up last Jan 18, 2011 she's now 3700 grams.

Growth Record:
                         weight               length               head size
Jan 18 -           3300 gms         52.5 cm                 34 cm
Jan 29 -           3700 gms          56    cm                37 cm

I still want to push her weight a little bit because she only gained 168 grams form her original weight.  She was supposed to be starting gaining weight form her birth weight last week.  But since she got dehydrated for the first few days... her weight gain was kinda delayed.  But i have no worries at all, because B's appetite had extremely increase, like I do worry most of the times that I won't meet her milk demand.  but I am promising myself  to always try to produce enough milk for her =)

After the check up, we went to Ate Nilda's place in Queensborough after we had a quick drop in Windsor Court to check a townhouse for rent which we didn't like by the way.  Both of my sisters-in-law Ate nilda and Ate Olive did some short baby sitting =)  Brielle and I waited for hubby at her house who went home because Shelly our landlady had our erator done and hubby also picked up my parents-in-law in their house in Cambie.  During our stay in my sister-in-laws place, B poo twice!  It was heavy soaked!  She finished 5oz so I wasn't surprised.  I changed her 3x and i only had 1 diaper left.  I also tried pumping for milk while Ate olive was holding B, and I got 2oz.  I wanted to pump more, but Olive had to prepare and Brie was left with me awake that's why i wasn't able to pump more milk.  With guilt, I had to prepare the formula just in case she'll need it in the restaurant.

Our day didn't end there, Ate Didi (Luis' cousin) made a reservation for the DINE OUT VANCOUVER Event in The Keg Restaurant in New Westminster last night for 5:45pm.  We were late as usual!  Ate Didi was kinda  pissed! Well, she was actually.  Good thing our table was in the corner which gave me a big space to put B's stroller.  She was asleep when we arrived there.  Mama rode with us so it was only her, Luis and I and Ate Didi and Kuya Rey who arrived first in the table.  Then Ate Nilda, Ate Olive and Papa followed then next is Auntie Rosita. 

At first Brielle was sound asleep, but before we get our orders she cried a little bit that's why I gave her the formula I prepared.  She fell asleep again while hubby was making her burp so I put her back in the car seat again. The whole dinner she was asleep but I noticed that her diapers were already soaked.  Hubby and i decided to just change her in Ate Nilda's place.  But we weren't able to go home right away so sad to say she was pretty soaked with her diapers last night.  Im such a bad mommy =(

Auntie Rosita, before she left gave B $20 (since she said she didn't pay for her dinner).  Ate Didi and Kuya Rey gave her welcome gifts too.  A very nice pink fluffy blanket and 4 packs of kirkland wipes.  More gifts for B!!! I was really surprised and of course happy =)

Wehn we were about to leave, B started crying... so ... I gave her more formula.  I tried giving her the soother but she was really hngry and didn't like it.  The thing was, since we were about to get in the car, I wasn't able to burp her.... that's why when we arrived Walmart to buy diaper and other stuff for her she threw up in the car.  Hubby was with her so Luis called me up and sounded really really worried.  Of course I hurried up because he made me worry too!  When I got back on the car, found out that she expel quite large amount of milk.  Luis and i really felt bad!  On our way home we felt so guilty for bringing her out for a long time.  We promised that it will never happened again. i even got paranoid that she was turning blue last night. Actually I cried, cried of guilt because I saw my daughter got really harassed with last night's dinner.  I even remmeber my hubby telling me "Be strong baby!, walang iyakan" lol!  Oh well, when we got home... I cleaned and changed Brielle's wet clothes right away, fed her and put her on sleep.  My husband and I found both of ourselves sitting in the living room, watching Brielle sleeping and none of us even bother to open the tv.  We felt like we fail to take care of her properly and we kept talking to her saying sorry for letting such things happen.  We promised not to bring her out again not unless she turns 1 and half month.  Hubby was afraid that Brielle got some virus in the resto last night.  He kept googling for forums about what could possibly happen if you bring out a newborn.  Brielle was only 17 days old... and we were too dumb to recognize the serious risks we're trying to give our daughter. 

Now, Luis and I swear that we'll try to be smart next time in making decisions concerning our daughter.  We do admit that we consider ourselves as new parents because it was my mom who almost took care of our son Rafael during his first few years.  But that doesn't give us the reason to be stupid parents.  No more taking risks and no more taking chances.  Our kids will always be our priority and assure their safety.

Baby Diary

Baby Diary

Wanting to document everything about my new baby Brielle makes me decide to add this Baby Diary segment here on my personal blog.  I know it's impossible to write everything!  Like I can't even blog most of the events in my life because I don't have the time... but still this will help me and my kids remember everything we are going through with this part of my life in the future.


Brielle After Two Weeks

Okay, so now I feel really bad for not being able to blog the first two weeks I had with our daughter B!  But yes, I shouldn't be blaming myself.  What do you expect? I am far away from my family, mom's not here with me, no dad to assist me, no sister to ask favors from, no brother to give extra help. I mean aside from my caring husband Luis -- I'm all by myself taking care of B.  Not to mention the sleepless night, the 3- minutes to 1 hour nap, the endless breast pumping and the every hour diaper change.  Totally exhausting yet a rewarding experience for me.

So I'll probably find time to blog about that first 2 weeks and let me just start blogging from this day about what's been happening to me, to hubby, Rafael who is still in the Philippines and of course our baby girl BRIELLE!


Day 15 (Jan. 28, Friday)

TGIF!  I really want Fridays to come because it's gonna be my off!  Oh well, it's not that I can't wait to walk away from taking care of  B but it's just because I know I can get help from hubby and I won't be guilty of it because he has no work tomorrow =)  Actually I really can't call it my day off  because I still try to do lots of stuff here at home.

So early this morning I already slept around 3am.  B and I slept in the sofa because we don't want to wake up her daddy because I really wanted him to get enough sleep this time.  Besides, B finds it so comfy to sleep in the sofa rather than in her crib.  But  Brielle woke up around 5am and she was really really hungry!  She was crying so hard. So I fed her with 2oz express milk I already prepared for her.  That she finished right away and didn't settle and wanted more.  I have another 3oz in the fridge but I still need to warm that up so I decided to give her my breasts.  She latched on it at first, but just because she probably got used to the bottle nipples she then started moving away from it.  She didn't like it anymore =(  That makes me feel bad because I really have lots of milk and I know that breastfeeding is way better than express.  But I really can't blame myself because pumping milk is way convenient for me here at home especially that don't get any help.  But I'll try to get her back in breastfeeding.  That's a promise.

So, hubby woke up when he heard that his little princess was crying.  Then I asked him to get the express in the fridge and warm it up.  Before giving the bottle I changed her soaked with poo diaper so that she can go back to sleep comfortably.  She only finished 1oz fro the bottle and I brought her back to sleep -- we still stayed in the sofa.  I fell asleep too.  I was suppose to stay awake to pump milk but I was too sleepy that I didn't even noticed that hubby already left for work.  The only thing I remember is that he asked me to go back to the room.  Brielle and I already woke up at 10:30am.  I had a quick pee and all i know she was crying out for milk.  That was a long sleep so I bet she was really hungry that time. Poor baby!  Gave her the 2oz express left in the bottle however she didn't settle and wanted more.  I panicked because I realized I wasn't able to pump milk.  So I placed her down for awhile and did a quick pump.  Good thing I had a good sleep which means I'll have a good supply of milk.  I pumped 2 oz for only about 6-7 minutes.  That's a real quickie!  My B finished the 2 oz and settles for awhile.  I changed her soaked diaper again and pumped more milk.  I am very thankful for a having lots of milk.  A lot of my friends said I'm really lucky... and I am happy because that means I can provide enough nutrients for our daughter and I have no plans of stopping it anytime soon! =)

Here's a photo of my Brielle sleeping in the sofa. (5:50pm)

 princess Brielle sleeping in the couch

I noticed that Brielle is demanding for more milk.  She can consume an average of 1 - 1.5oz per hour.  I really hope she'll gain more weight tomorrow on her follow up check up with our family doctor.  The last time she was weighed, she was still a bit under her original weight.  She was supposed to be starting to gain weight.  Oh well, no doubt about it.  I can see that she's bigger and heavier now.  I can tell...

B crying for more!

Another thing I noticed today is that she wants somebody to be beside her whenever she sleeps.  She was already awake before I woke up this morning but she only cried when I stood up and went to the toilet.  That moment I knew that she felt that mommy left her side which I found really sweet of her.  I can feel that she has already developed a bond with me. which is probably expected because we're always together! Unlike with my son Rafael, he was closer to my mom before since his grandma was the one taking care of her during his first few years. ( I was still studying nursing that time)

As of now she is still sleeping while blogging and while baking some baby potatoes and baby back ribs.  Hubby is still not here because he checked an apartment today so it's expected that he's gonna be late for dinner tonight.

Be back tomorrow for more baby diary!

Honey to Relieve Nagging Cough

I was getting concerned when I noticed that my husband's cough wasn't getting better!  It was dry and causing him throat irritation.  I can imagine how it's making him crazy worried.  I know how he likes to get better as soon as possible in preparation for our little girl's arrival anytime soon this week.  I already brought him to our family doctor last week and he was given antibiotic to be taken for 10 days.  I'm sure the bacteria's gone by now because the mucus has turned to clear from yellow but coucg is still there and it's killing me watch him suffer from his nagging cough =(

This afternoon I made him some hot lemon juice to help soothe his throat.  I also made sure that his Buckley mucolytic cough syrup was on schedule as well as his antibiotics.  Rubbed some liniment and Vick's on both his chest and back and lastly made him some good baked pork ribs for dinner with salad on the side =)  I'm a registered nurse, so I better take care and nurse my husband really really well. 

 

lemon juice

 

my baked pork ribs with salad on the side

After all of that, late this night he still ended up coughing and I just couldn't help but to desperately look for a remedy just for him to get a good night sleep.  He's going back to work tomorrow and I want him to get a good rest and be able to finish everything he needs to finish in the office.  He mentioned to me earlier that he needed to finish some paper works just in case I'll give birth this week.  Of course, I don't want him to be worrying about work while Im on labor but instead enjoy all the experience of fatherhood!

Good thing I remember getting this book from a thrift shop called "Household Hints" -- a book of list if tips of efficient housekeeping.  I looked under "first aide section" and amazingly a found the tip a badly needed! 

Household Hints

Tip 606:  Putting a dab of honey on the back of your tongue can 

                bring relief from a nagging cough.

Right away took my honey from the fridge and did exactly what the book says.  Luis was hesitant at first, but he realized that he had no choice but to try all the possible remedies just to get rid of his discomfort.  Then, it worked!!! It was the best timing discovery ever! I am loving this book and I'll make sure that I'll make it accessible in the whole household.  I tried scanning for other tips and there are alot more that are so efficient, money saving and will be big help in the future.  Here are some other tip examples:

Tip 603: To get a young child to take distasteful medicine, run an ice cube over his tongue -- this temporarily freezes the taste buds.

Tip 609: Soothe monor kitchen burns by rubbing  it gently with the cut surface of raw potato.

These were the ones I think will be helpful for me... and there are more! So happy and I'll definitely keep this book!!!  It just made my husband's night comfortable =)

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A Review: Veseline Intensive Rescue

Ever since I was a kid I've always looked after my skin because I really really have a severe dry skin.  It was hereditary and my mom always made me believe that proper moisturizing is the only way to go.

When I first migrated here in Canada last February this year, my dryness problem got really worse. =(  I came from the Philippines and having used to a hot sunny weather was already an issue for me, but when i arrived here, i never thought that cold weather would be a more difficult distress to my skin. My hands were in severe condition.  The skin around my knuckles started cracking until it will become so sore. I was about to seek medical help when i saw Vaseline Intensive Rescue in the supermarket.  I always try the lotions first before buying and in my surprise I was really impressed when I first applied it to my hands. I knew right away that it moisturizes really well.  With a small amount I put my hands felt well hydrated.  The word "rescue" definitely got my attention because literally my skin needs some rescue!  And I was rescued indeed!  Plus it wasn't greasy and creamy unlike the other lotions and I just love the lightweight feel in every application.

Thanks Vaseline!  No need to see a doctor!