First few months

First few months of motherhood are very overwhelming. It is not easy to manage. You feel that are you going to do this whole of life. Time flies and it gets better and you tend to forget about it. 

I had csec. My mom was there for first month. First month was all fine, just sleeping and feeding the baby. My mom took care of rest all household work. After that i was on my own. Good thing is my son started sleeping in the night from 1.5 month onwards. I was able to have decent sleep in the night, so i was able to manage the day. I had maid for utensils and basic cleaning, washing machine for laundry. I used to do cooking and taking care of baby myself. i used to get up at 6, cook breakfast and lunch before hubby leaves to office at 9am. Cook dinner after he is back at 7pm. In between whole day with baby. Another good thing was he used to take two naps in daytime 2-3 hrs each. At any given point if more than one task is pending, I had set the priorities in order (1) baby’s feed (2) My food (3) My sleep (when baby is also sleeping) (4) massaging/bathing baby (5) household work/my bath.   During his first nap i also used to sleep. During his 2nd nap, i used to have my food/bath/wash nappies etc. I used to cm online/make calls while feeding him.

At the end of the day, i am content that i am doing it myself. Moreover i knew i have to resume work at 5 months, so probably these were only 5 months that i get to be with my baby 24x7. 

Sterlization

Babies immune system is very weak. It is strictly recommended to sterlize all the feeding utensils, bottles etc till 6 months, good to do till 1 year. Nature has taken care of sterlization for breast feed. You know breast areola secrets some liquid which keeps nipple sterlized. But for top feed/ solids we need to take care of it.

This is how i do sterlization for A.

• I boil water in pan for 5 mins. Then put all the feeding utensils like sipper, bowls, spoons and keep for 5 mins.

• Then I pour it in colander and collect water in another big bowl and let utensils cool down for few minutes.

• Then i put other utensils like strainer, masher, big spoon etc that are used in preparation of food in strained water. I call it secondary sterlization.  

Vegetable puree

Here is the step by step recipe of carrot beans beetroot puree. I make all vegetable/fruit puree in this way. I use stainless steel pressure cooker, as steel is most non reactive metal.

• Cut vegetables in small pieces and put it in cooker with water. Quantity of water depends upon the puree consistency you want. Pressure cook for 5-10 mins. Amount of time again depends upon vegetables. Apple takes only 2 mins. Veggies like beans take more time.

• Once boiled, mash it with masher or blender.

• Strain it well with strainer, so that there is minimum wastage.

• Puree is ready. I dont add any extra salt/sugar/jaggery. I mostly put apple or carrot in all the purees that gives it sweet taste.

Cloth diapering story

Here are the modern cloth diapers that i use for A. 

I started with 2 diapers (2 covers and 2 inserts). Currently I use these jn daytime. 9 to 7 when he is in daycare. Cotton nappies/undies at night. Almost 5 diapers daily. I do laundry daily, machine wash, quick 30 cycle. I have total 10-12 diapers. I have got wet bag to carry soiled diapers. For long travel, flight etc I use pampers only.

Inserts need to be stripped once a month.

Its a challenge

Blogging is a challenge for me. There are so many thoughts and memories in my mind that I want to record. But I am not good in puting these to words. And I am not good in writing as well. I always keep postponing writing, I just spend my online time on Facebook and chatting etc.  I need to face it and put more sincere efforts to it. Wish writing will become very comfortable for me some day.

7.5 month

He is crawling. Yes he is. Like a caterpillar. He comes up on all the fours, then throws himself forward. It is so sweet to watch him doing this. When he gets up from sleep then also he directly gets up on all fours. He just doesn't seem to be getting enough of it. He has not yet cracked proper crawling by bottom shuffling. Feels he will do it soon.
His two white pearls are coming out. Very clearly seen when he smiles or opens his mouth.
Till now he was making single sounds mainly like aaaaaa, heyy, aagu. Now he is trying how to make words and sentences. Few times he said some incomprehensible 3 word sentence.  We were like 'what was that? Say it again'. But they say na golden words are not repeated ;)

7 month

Yes he is 7 month. And he is big boy now. Does not feel like calling him infant or baby. His cheeks, legs, bums are not as baby-soft now. Its so much fun playing with him now. I hug him tightly and he laughs and enjoys. He reciprocates it back by touching or patting my face.
That white dot is tooth shape now. It has come out little from gums, will come out full in few days. And seems 2nd one is also on the way.
He is able to cruise and move 360 degrees easily now while on her tummy.
He has taken first step to crawling.  Earlier he used to  raise his head high while being on tummy or raise his hips. Now he tries and raises both together, gets on all fours and tries to move forward. He moves one step and falls.