Runabout.

Vito’s pedia recommended that we keep a steady schedule of outdoor and indoor activities for Vito. Each morning he goes on a stroll with Daddy out in the garden so that he can look at the sky, the trees, the birds. In the afternoons, Mommy tries to take him out to the park if she has time after work. Since he turned four months old, he’s been more alert, more aware of the world around him. Thus, it’s been more fun to take him out and about town.

Vito, Daddy and Mommy at McKinley Hill Piazza, March 28, 2010.

He loves car rides, and grunts in protest when he’s not able to stare out the car window, so we make sure he’s positioned safely and able to enjoy the view. (Apparently he loves to watch the cars zooming along.) His other activities have included trips to restaurants and non-crowded shopping districts like Bonifacio High Street or McKinley Hill. He’s been more easy to manage lately on trips since he’s able to go through longer “awake” periods and more spaced-out feeding schedules (He is still fully breastfed).

At Ninong Kiddo and Tito Amy's wedding, March 26, 2010, where we met a new friend. (Hmm, he looks familiar...)

Once he gets started eating solids it’ll be easier to take him around. However, we enjoy the extra work involved in caring for him as long as Vito enjoys himself.

Vaccination vivisection.

To date, Vito has received the following vaccines:

1. Hepa B, dose 1 (Nov 8, 2010)
2. BCG anti-TB (Nov 11, 2010)
3. Hepa B, dose 2 (Jan, 2010)
4. Pentaxin (5-in-1), dose 1 (Feb 19, 2010)
5. Rotavirus (anti-diarrhea), dose 1 (Mar 17, 2010)

In short, Daddy and Mommy have deferred buying whatever they need for themselves (i.e. clothes, shoes, entertainment, date to Circles, etc). Let’s not talk about how much vaccines cost these days. Let’s just be happy that, with each shot, Vito has not had any side effects or experienced any illnesses. We have about ten more shots to go in the coming year, all of which amount to a small fortune (which, when you look at it, seems like we could afford to buy a car after all, haha.)

Pedia check-up no. 4

Here are Vito’s stats today, as of his most recent check-up with his pediatrician:

Age: 4 months and 8 days old

Crown: 40 cm (what a big head!)

Head to toe length: 67 cm (what a long/tall boy!)

Weight: 6.8 kilos (No wonder Mommy’s back aches!)

Constitution: Slight tendency towards allergy (inherited from Mommy) but overall resilience is good. A slight fever last March 12 was probably due to overheating as it’s been so warm lately

Development: Can hold his head up, turn his head. May be teething, although gums show no irritation yet. Improving in speech and is saying more syllables.

All in all, he’s one healthy, fat, bouncy baby. Yipee!

First haircut!

Vito got his first real haircut today, care of Lola.

The barber a.k.a Lola at work on Don Vito

Vito was very well-behaved during the job. Good baby!

In the end, he looked very fine indeed. Just look at that smirk!

Vito got his first real haircut today, care of Lola.

Alicia’s the key.

“Everything’s gonna be alright.” – Alicia Keys, No One.

Vito is a picture of contentment getting Alicia therapy while seated on Lola's lap.

It looks like Vito’s preferred form of pacification these days is Alicia Keys. Lola discovered this one day when little Vito was crying for unknown reasons. Since boredom is often a culprit and cause of his tears, those caring for him on that day decided to pop in some DVD musical comfort. To everyone’s surprise, Vito stopped crying as soon as Ms Alicia came on screen.

So far, “Alicia therapy” has worked wonderfully; Vito — in some strange way — keeps quiet and is attentive soon as he hears the first strains of the piano. As his parents, we totally understand any infatuation over Ms. Alicia. Baby Vito’s got pretty good taste in music, and fine women. Hehe.

Reaching another first.

Just today, Vito related to Mommy through touch. After figuring he could poke Mommy’s nose, pinch it and scratch it, he did it several times before he finally stuck those cute little fingers in his mouth (undoubtedly for a much-needed chomping). Good baby!

4 Months.

Dearest Vito,

Happy 4th month birthday!

It’s me again, your Mommy, writing this letter to you. You’re so much bigger, louder, smiley-er, and funnier than you ever were, which makes your birthday a joyful celebration. Today, on your  17th week of life, I say a prayer of thanks to God for you, for your health, your smiles, and the thousand other things that Daddy and I love about you!

Sometimes I have to stop and stare at you, especially while you sleep, and reminisce the day that you came into the world. You were so tiny, and yet so strong already, even in the delivery room. Back when you were just born, I knew you’d have a clear strong voice — your first cries were inklings of how strong your lungs were, and how loud your voice could be! Today, you have such a loud voice, you shout and holler whenever you can. I also remember the first time the nurse changed your diaper; you cried and cried at the strange new thing that was happening to you. Today, you love being changed, especially when you’re on your changing pad. I remember how you first cried when we gave you a bath in the tub, how strange water must have felt for you, as well as baby bath and shampoo. Today, you love the water so much, you spend a good time kicking and splashing around the tub, and always complaining when we take you out!

You’ve made so many accomplishments this month! You can now have tummy time for a straight 20 minutes, holding your head up ever so high and playing with Daddy and Mommy noisily whenever you do. You can reach for your crib toys, pillows, and rattles, gripping them tightly in your chubby little hands. You can recognize Mommy and Daddy now, smiling at us in ways that makes us weak! You also recognize your Lola, Lolo, Lola Ma and Lolo Pap, your grandparents who love you. You love playing with Ninong Kiddo, who can make you stop crying when you feel alone or sad. You put everything in your mouth now, practicing each day how to bite, which is a telltale sign of your first teeth probably appearing in the coming weeks! Teeth! Where’d the time go that you are already probably expecting your first pearly whites! Baby boy, you’re growing up so fast!

I am savoring these months when you’re still small enough to cuddle all the time. I know time will pass all too soon, and you’ll be running around all over the place. I just love to hug you, take a whiff of your baby breath, nuzzle your neck, and hold you tightly to me. I love you, Vito, and I pray God will bless you in a special way today.

Love,

Mommy 🙂

Smiles and giggles.

Dear Vito,

Your giggles and chuckles these days are becoming more and more frequent. You obviously learned that laughing is a fun and pleasurable act! You love to laugh when Daddy nuzzles your neck or tickles you, and you let out the loudest cackles when Mommy does “airplane” or “tummy lift” with you. You don’t know, of course, but your laughter’s our favorite sound these days. So happy that you’re happy, little boy!

“Nangingilala.”

I think people expect too much of little babies.

Lately, Vito’s been dealing with people preferences. It normally kicks in during this time, at around 15-16 weeks old. He’s been more picky about who he’s with, and has come to realize that when Daddy or Mommy isn’t around, all’s not as well as he’d like it to be. Last weekend, after Daddy and Mommy jetted off for a while to buy some coffee, Vito rather lost it when we left him in the care of our relatives. It was probably the first time he ever cried that long, that hard; he probably thought we’d left him behind.

Yes, we expect too much from babies. We expect them to be OK with us, but in reality they’re frightened of the unfamiliar, they’re too small to understand the concept of family, too young to know how to trust.

Eventually, Vito will catch on. He’ll realize the people who love him and will one day let them take care of him. For now, we have to go with who he’s OK with. Like his ninong. Vito recognizes his ninong Kiddo quite well, as ninong is a regular pre-lunch time visitor:

Of course, Vito’s best friend and constant companion is Daddy, who is the BEST daddy in the world! It’s fun to see how bonded they are.

At home, Vito has been talking (or rather “a-goo-ing”) more and more. He was able to recognize his Mommy and Daddy sometime during the early part of three months, which is extremely satisfying for first-time parents. I suppose, given time, he will come to love and appreciate other familiar faces too.