Claire speaks English!

Well, let me rephrase the title. At 19 months, my little girl can speak three (yes, that specific) English words. I am teaching her little by little so she wouldn’t had a hard time (unlike her Kuya) mingling with her classmates when she enters preschool.

SHUSH (shoes). That’s her first word. Bad mom, I can’t remember when did she first utter that word. She has a special bond with her shoes, always love to wear them. You can hear her repeatedly say the word most especially if she wants to go out of the house. And if we were inside the mall, she would frantically say shus whenever she sees one.

NO MO (no more). I find difficulty teaching this to her as she always say nana (Tagalog word for no more) whenever she has consume the last drop of her milk. She also says nana if she has finally swallowed the food we gave her. I have to say no more everytime she says nana so she would understand that no more and nana is the same.

TATER (water). Last but not the least word for her vocabulary. She has learned to love drinking water in a glass and always asks for it by saying mamam (Tagalog baby talk for water). This is a little hard for her to say so it’s always mamam then I would correct her and say water not until I did something which made her say that word. I was eating lunch alone when she was asking for mamam and I purposely ignore her then she says tater. Nice one baby!

I just have to constantly remind my caretakers (my mom and my aunt) to keep on correcting for those three words until she’s comfortable enough to say it.

Claire’s ATE

Claire has started to mumble a lot of stuff but I don’t get to count how many words she can say, unfortunately. She can say PAPA, MAMA, DEDE, LO (hello) and a lot of words. Sure thing you’d think I was the one she was referring to as MAMA – not! She calls me ATE. (a-te) She calls her stuff toy ATE.

ate: n.from chinese: ate. first born daughter. Nowadays in Tagalog it usually refers to an elder sister but is also used as a form to show familiar respect to someone no too much older than the speaker.

I came clear to me when we were on the bed and she was playing beside her dad. She crawled on my side, raise my shirt and says “ATE DEDE.” Hubby laughed when he heard it. Joshua even commented, “No, she is not ATE, she is our MOM.”

Claire @ 11 months

Whoa! In less than a month, my youngest, my princess, my doll, is turning one. Cliche as it may sound, but where did all the days and the months go?  She can now walk a few steps without any support, save on the times when she walks in a hurry. She crawls fast and stands up without support too. She loved to eat table food as well. She now speaks a few words - “dada,” “mama,” “ate” to name a few. She loves to clap her hands, kiss you, lie on your tummy. She has 4 teeth now and thankfully still doesn’t bite mommy during nursing time.

From WhatToExpect

If there's trouble to be found, chances are your little one is on the hunt! Chances are your baby has developed an uncanny knack to get ahold of things he shouldn't have and get into places he shouldn't go. If he hasn't already done so, be prepared (with video camera on perpetual standby) for those first few steps as your child makes both physical and verbal strides this month. He loves games — especially those that involve pointing — and his interest in books will grow exponentially as he begins to comprehend more and recognize familiar pictures. A few things not to be concerned about: bowed legs (almost always normal and temporary); parental nudity (he doesn't care if you're naked as a jaybird as long as you're there!); and hitting milestones later than his peers. Remember, every baby is different and they master different skills — like standing and walking — at different ages. Children learn best and build confidence when you let them learn at their own pace, but if you're truly concerned, check with your pediatrician. More things to ask the doc: dietary questions, such as restricting fat and cholesterol in your baby's diet, and the best ways to ensure he gets the nutrients he needs. As for you, Mom, take a hint from your baby and get a move on, whether you're struggling with post pregnancy weight or not. Regular exercise will not only help you shed pounds, it'll boost your mood and help you sleep better at night. Now who wouldn't want that?

Claire @ 7 months

From What to Expect

7-Month-Old Baby I like that song, mommy! Sing it again…and again…and again… Babies this age love predictability (it makes them feel powerful and secure), so be prepared to croon "Itsy Bitsy Spider" a couple thousand times over the next several weeks. Seven-month-olds also love to explore, so expect some serious efforts (or attempts at least) by your little one to get around independently. That means it's time for a thorough babyproofing if you haven't already, and time to stay extra-vigilant about what your mini octopus can get his tentacles on. By now, your baby might also be able to wave bye-bye, play patty-cake, or blow kisses. Along with new skills and burgeoning independence comes a whole new attitude: I want to be in charge of me! Don't be surprised if this shift results in some major meltdowns with Mommy (perhaps the first but certainly not the last!) especially during transition times, e.g., when you walk in the door from work. (Not to worry — there are several strategies to smooth your reentry.) Baby's appetite is on the uptick, so snacking now plays a supporting role to the three-meals-a-day plan. And while snacking in moderation is good, grazing (snacking all day with no real meals) is not suggested for a host of reasons, including the fact that grazing interferes with play, sociability, and proper nutrition. Finally, some moms may be wondering about weaning and that's fine. But if breastfeeding still works for you and your baby, keep it up!

Claire nowadays loves to babbles, babbles and babbles. She seldom giggles but screams in delight every now and then. She knows how to play peek-a-boo. She closes and opens her hand when you sing "close-open". She screams when she sees her brother coming. She screams when she hears us singing "London bridge". She loves to roll-over and occupies the whole bed. She sleeps tummy down. She can sit head unsupported.

I, on the other hand, plans to wean her. I'm giving myself another month before she goes formula 100%. Work is getting more hectic now as we gear towards 24/7 support - me not exempted from it. So, I have to follow the shifting schedule now.

This month, we finally changed her supplementary milk to Nan 2.

Drool all over

One week after we celebrated Claire’s 3rd month, we said bye-bye to her mittens. Behold, she has discovered her hands and was inside her mouth everytime – hungry or not. In short, drool is all over her face. It’s high time to use her bibs.

 

 

 

 

 

Bubble thought: Should we buy her binky? Joshua never used one when he was a baby.

37 weeks pregnant

From BabyCenter

Your baby weighs close to 6.5 pounds/ 2.8 kilograms and may be about 20 inches/ 50 centimeters long from head to toe. Your baby's head is now cradled in your pelvic cavity - surrounded and protected by your pelvic bones. This position clears some much-needed space for her growing legs and buttocks.

 

Many babies now have a full head of hair, with locks maybe around one inch/ 2.5 centimeters long. But don't be surprised if her hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes taken aback when their children are born with bright red or blond hair, and fair-haired couples likewise can produce babies with dark hair. And then, of course, some babies don't have any hair at all.

 

Speaking of hair, most of the downy coat of lanugo that covered your baby from 26 weeks has disappeared, and so has most of the vernix caseosa, the whitish substance that also covers her. Your baby will swallow her lanugo and exterior coating, along with other secretions, and store them in her bowels. These will become your infant's first bowel movement, a blackish waste called meconium.

36 weeks pregnant

From BabyCenter

Your baby is still gaining weight - about an ounce/ 28 grams a day. She weighs nearly 6 pounds/ 2.7 kilograms and is 19 inches/ 45 centimeters long from head to toe.

You may begin to feel an increased pressure in your lower abdomen and notice that your baby is gradually dropping. This is called lightening or engagement, and your lungs and stomach will finally get a chance to stretch out a little - breathing and eating should become easier. However, walking may become increasingly uncomfortable - some women say it feels as if the baby is going to fall out. Also, you may still feel as if you need to go to the toilet all the time.

The good news is that by the end of this week, your pregnancy will be full-term and you could give birth any day now. (Babies between 37 and 42 weeks are considered full-term - a baby born before 37 weeks is premature and after 42 is post-term.) At your weekly visit, your doctor may check to see if you've started dilating (when the cervix opens) and effacing (when the cervix thins). The doctor will also check what position the baby is in, in order to estimate how far the baby has dropped into the pelvis. This information will be entered into your maternity notes so that your doctor in will know the position of the baby when you go into labor.

35 weeks pregnant

From BabyCenter

Your baby now weighs about 5.25 pounds/ 2.4 kilograms and measures approximately 18 inches/ 45 centimeters from head to toe. His elbow, foot or head may protrude from your stomach when he stretches and squirms about. Soon, as the wall of your uterus and your abdomen stretch thinner and let in more light, your baby will begin to develop daily activity cycles.

This week, your little one is now sporting fingernails and has a fully developed pair of kidneys. His liver can also process some waste products.

There's much less amniotic fluid and much more baby in your uterus, which has expanded to a thousand times its original size. You've probably put on between 25 and 30 pounds/ 11 and 13.6 kilograms and your weight gain has hit its peak. Even your belly button has got bigger and has popped outward. You may be feeling breathless now that the top of your uterus is up under your ribs. Try getting down on all fours to take deeper breaths. Although the pressure on your bladder will make the bathroom your second home, don't drink any less water - your baby needs the fluids. But you may like to cut down on diuretic drinks like tea and coffee, which will make you have to urinate even more often.

Your doctor will probably want to start seeing you every week until you give birth.

34 weeks pregnant

From BabyCenter

Your baby now weighs more than 4.7 pounds/ 2.2 kilograms and is 18 inches/ over 45 centimeters from top to toe. She's filling out and getting rounder - she'll need her fat layers later to regulate her body temperature.

If you don't already talk to your baby, this is a good time to start - at 35 weeks her hearing is fully developed. Don't feel ridiculous if you're already chatting in baby talk. Some evidence shows that newborns pay closer attention to high-pitched tones.

If you've been nervous about going into premature labor, you'll be happy to know that 99 per cent of babies born at week 35 can survive outside the womb - and most have no major problems. Although your baby's central nervous system is still maturing, her lungs are nearly fully developed by now.

Many women start to notice a tingling sensation or numbness in the pelvic region or pain as they walk. This may be caused by the pelvic joints loosening, ready for labor. If you're terribly uncomfortable, mention it to your doctor and check out our self-help tips.

33 weeks pregnant

From BabyCenter

Your baby now weighs about 4.2 pounds/ 2 kilograms and measures approximately 17 inches/ 44 centimeters from head to toe. Your baby should already be getting ready for birth by turning upside-down - his head should be pointing down.

Your doctor will be paying careful attention to your baby's position in the coming weeks - some babies do decide to turn back round again.

Your baby's skull is still quite pliable and not completely joined, so he can ease out of the relatively narrow birth canal. But the bones in the rest of his body are hardening. Your baby's skin is also gradually becoming less red and wrinkled.

f you're a first-time mother, your child's head may move into the pelvis this week and press firmly against your cervix. (This happens for about half of all first-time mothers.) If you're a second-time mom, you can expect this to happen a week before labor - and for some this won't happen until the start of labor. Hoping to manage your labor naturally? Here's all you need to know about natural pain relief.

You may notice that your feet and ankles are quite swollen by the end of the day. Water retention, also known as oedema, is often worse in warm weather and late in the day. Surprisingly, keeping hydrated helps reduce water retention. Your body - particularly your kidneys - and your baby need plenty of fluids, so drink up. If you suddenly feel swollen or puffy in your hands or face, however, call your doctor - it may be a sign of pre-eclampsia.

32 weeks pregnant

From BabyCenter

Your baby now weighs approximately 3.75 pounds/ 1.7 kilograms and is about 17 inches/ 42 centimeters long from head to toe. Although his lungs won't be fully developed until just before birth, your little one is inhaling amniotic fluid to exercise his lungs and practice breathing.

Some babies have a head of hair already, others have only a few wisps. Thick hair at birth doesn't necessarily mean thick hair later on but children with fine hair in childhood usually have thinner hair in adulthood.

If your baby is a boy, his testicles should be descending from his abdomen into his scrotum. Sometimes however, one or both testicles won't move into position until after birth. In two-thirds of all baby boys who have undescended testicles at birth, the condition corrects itself by the boy's first birthday.

You're probably gaining a pound/ 450 grams a week, largely because your baby is likely to gain more than half his birthweight during the seven weeks before birth. Make sure you are eating well in these last few weeks.

31 weeks pregnant

From BabyCenter

Your baby's arms, legs and body continue to fill out - and they are finally proportional in size to her head. She weighs about 3.3 pounds/ 1.5 kilograms and looks more like a newborn. She measures about 16 inches/ 41 centimeters from crown to toe.

You may notice your baby isn't moving around as much. Don't worry; she's just running out of space in your uterus. As long as you can feel her squirming, you'll know she's just fine. Believe it or not, she still has plenty of growing to do. You can expect her to gain at least two more pounds/ 900 grams before birth.

Your baby's organs are continuing to mature and she is passing water from her bladder: good practice for the urinating she'll do after she's born. Soon you can wonder what your baby is wishing for - brain scans have shown that fetuses have periods of dream sleep around month eight.

You've probably gained three to four pounds/ 1.3 to 1.8 kilograms this month. Gaining a pound/ 450 grams a week is quite normal during the last trimester as your baby has a final growth spurt before birth.

30 weeks pregnant

From BabyCenter

Your baby's lungs and digestive tract are almost fully developed. While your baby may soon slow up growing in length, (he measures about 15.7 inches/ 40 centimeters from crown to toe by now), he will continue to gain weight until he's born.

This week your baby continues to open and shut his eyes. He can probably see what's going on in utero, distinguish light from dark and even track a light source. If you shine a light on your stomach, your baby may move his head to follow the light or even reach out to touch the moving glow. Some researchers think baring your stomach to light stimulates visual development. But don't expect 20/20 vision when your baby is born - newborns can see a distance of only about 8 to 12 inches/ 20 to 30 centimeters. (Children with normal vision don't reach 20/20 vision until about age 7 to 9.) To complete the picture, your baby now has eyebrows and eyelashes.

A pint and a half/ around a liter of amniotic fluid now surrounds your baby but that volume decreases as he gets bigger and has less room in your uterus. As you and the baby continue to grow, don't be alarmed if you feel breathless, as if you can't get enough air; it's just your uterus pressing against your diaphragm. There is a light at the end of the tunnel though. At about 34 weeks (or just before birth, if this is your second or third pregnancy), your baby's head will move down into your pelvis as the baby gets into the right position for birth. That will make breathing and eating a lot easier.

29 weeks pregnant

From BabyCenter

Your baby now weighs around 2.5 pounds/ 1.1 kilograms and measures about 15 inches/ 38 centimeters from head to toe. In boys, testicles descend from near the kidneys through the groin en route to the scrotum. In girls, the clitoris is relatively prominent because it's not yet covered by the still-small labia. These will grow to cover it in the last few weeks before birth.

Your baby's head is getting bigger, and brain growth is very rapid at this time. Nearly all babies react to sound by 30 weeks.

Your baby's nutritional needs reach their peak during the third trimester. You'll need plenty of protein, vitamin C, folic acid, iron, and calcium (about 200 milligrams is deposited in your baby's skeleton every day), so eat foods rich in these nutrients. The skeleton hardens even more and the brain, muscles, and lungs continue to mature. So take a look at our eating well guide to make sure you are getting the right minerals and vitamins.

28 weeks pregnant

From BabyCenter

You're in the home stretch. The third trimester typically starts at week 29 and lasts until week 40 and sometimes even beyond. (Don't worry - 42 weeks is the maximum! After that, a woman usually is induced to give birth.) Most women gain an average of 11 pounds/ 5 kilograms during this trimester.

By this week, your baby weighs nearly 2.3 pounds/ a little over 1 kilograms and may measure 14.8 inches/ 38 centimeters from top to toe. At about this time, your baby can open his eyes and turn his head in utero if he notices a continuous, bright light shining from the outside. His fat layers are forming and his fingernails appear.

You're probably vacillating between feeling as if you've been pregnant forever and being nervous about labor and birth. Checking off things on your to-do list can help. Start selecting possible baby names and begin thinking about life after the birth as well.

You'll probably be seeing your doctor more often in these last few weeks.

27 weeks pregnant

From BabyCenter

Your baby now weighs nearly 2 pounds / 875 grams and measures 14.5 inches / 36.6 centimeters from head to toe. Her eyes open and close, she sleeps and wakes at regular intervals and she may suck a finger or thumb.

Sweet dreams, little baby! Some experts believe that babies begin to dream by the 28th week. What do they dream about? No one knows for certain but the brain is active this week as well. The characteristic grooves on the brain’s surface to start to appear and more brain tissue develops.

Chalk up any rhythmic movement you may be feeling to a case of the hiccups, which are common this week and throughout the pregnancy. Your baby has them but is breathing in amniotic fluid rather than air. A paper bag can’t cure her hiccups, obviously, but an episode usually lasts only momentarily. The sensation for you may be strange but not unpleasant.

Since your uterus is now up near your rib cage, you may now find yourself short of breath if you haven’t already. Starting now and continuing through the last three months of pregnancy, you may be plagued by leg cramps, hemorrhoids, varicose veins and an itchy abdomen. Are pregnancy discomforts getting you down? Try some natural remedies to perk you up.

If you were found to be Rh-negative earlier in pregnancy, you’ll probably be tested for Rh antibodies this week or next and have an anti-D injection to combat the incompatibility. You may be offered a repeat injection at 36 weeks.

26 weeks pregnant

From BabyCenter

Measuring your baby from top to toe with his legs extended, he is about 14 inches/ 35.6 centimeters. He weighs a little more than 1.6 pounds/ 760 grams. Your baby's eyes begin to open around now. Response to sound grows more consistent toward the end of the seventh month, when the network of nerves to the ear is complete. He also continues to take small breaths and although he's only breathing in water and not air, it's still good practice for when he's born.

Since your baby is now growing so fast, and brain development is so intense at this stage, your nutrition is very important. Continue to eat a well-balanced diet that includes plenty of grains and vegetables. Fiber-rich foods, including whole-grain breads and cereals, lentils and brown rice are high in vitamin B and help fend off constipation.

Your prenatal classes should start sometime in the next few weeks, if it hasn't already. Classes should provide you with good, clear information about the birth and the early days of parenthood. Keeping informed goes a long way toward calming any concerns you may have about giving birth.

25 weeks pregnant

According to BabyCenter

The baby now weighs nearly 1.5 pounds / 660 grams and is approximately 13.5 inches / 35 centimeters long from crown to heel. He makes breathing movements but has no air in his lungs yet. At 26 weeks, fetal brain scans show response to touch. If you shine a light on your abdomen, your baby will turn his head, which according to researchers, means his optic nerve is working.

At every prenatal visit, your doctor will take your blood pressure and do tests on a sample of your urine. In this way, pregnancy-related conditions such as pre-eclampsia and diabetes can be detected and treated.

Your fingers, wrists and hands may be feeling achy and numb. The carpal tunnel in the wrist is swollen, as are many other tissues in your body. Nerves that run through the tunnel end up pinched, creating pressure that manifests itself as shooting or burning pain. Wearing a brace may help; so will taking vitamin B6. Talk to your doctor about other ways to cope.

24 weeks pregnant

According to Baby Center

Your fetus weighs more than 1.3 pounds/ 600 grams. Though she still has little body fat and her skin is thin and fragile, she's now well-proportioned. Her brain is growing rapidly, and she is starting to fill the space in your uterus. From crown to heel she could measure 11.8 inches/ 30 centimeters. If you went into labor at this time, however, many obstetricians and doctors would make every effort to halt the progress of premature labor to enable your baby to continue maturing.

You may be noticing faint, red or brown streaks known as striae or stretch marks on your abdomen, hips and breasts. While creams won't erase them, wearing a supportive bra may help prevent or minimize them on your breasts. They are very common at this stage of the pregnancy - about 90 per cent of women get them. After you've given birth, the reddish or brown pigmentation in the stretch marks gradually fades, and the streaks become lighter than the surrounding skin.

Also, your eyes may be light-sensitive and may feel gritty and dry. This is a perfectly normal pregnancy symptom known as “dry-eye”. To ease your discomfort, use an “artificial tears” solution to add moisture.

23 weeks pregnant

From BabyCenter

Your baby now weighs a little over one pound/ 500 grams and measures about 11.4 inches/ 29 centimeters from crown to heel. Her hearing is well established and she can make out a distorted version of your voice, the beating of your heart and your stomach rumblings. Loud noises often heard in utero, such as the barking of a dog next door or the roar of a vacuum cleaner, probably won't bother your child when she hears them outside the womb.

Some studies seem to indicate that the unborn prefer classical music.

In addition to advances in your baby's hearing, her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing. She's swallowing but she normally won't pass her first stool (called meconium) until after birth.

If your baby were to be born now, she would have a small chance of survival (about 16 per cent) with the right care. Every day in the womb makes a difference at this stage. If she was born at 24 weeks her chance of survival would rise to 44 per cent.

As for you, you may feel clumsy now that your centre of gravity has shifted. Your gums may bleed when you brush your teeth and your belly button, once an 'innie', may now stick out. Don't worry. It'll revert to its pre-baby state soon after you give birth.

The middle months are a good time to think about a holiday. Find out all you need to know from suntans to vaccinations in our travel section.