Our Little Nicholas

Whoa! How time flies! I can still remember that day when I first held my little angel on my arms; and now, he’s not so little anymore… though he’s growing more and more handsome and angelic each day I have here photos of my gorgeous little honey on his 4th month and now on his 6th. I’m telling the truth right? He’s really growing into a handsome boy each day! (Just don’t mind me ok? I’m having bad hair days, as always hahaha! And gosh! I still look pregnant! I wonder when I’ll finally shed these fats away?)

Anyway, I’ve read from a baby book that babies at Nico’s age tend to have the “clinginess syndrome” as well as the “separation anxiety”. Meaning, they are now very demanding of their mother’s presence and attention and will do anything to get what they want from their Moms. Oh well, I’ve seen that in my little angel since he was in his 3^rd month. He clings to me like I’m the only one he’s got in this world (it rings a truth though). I don’t mind, I love loving and spoiling my baby, he’s my pride and joy. I guess it’s high time to call my baby “the older baby”. At six months, he’s not the “young baby” anymore!

He’s super duper cute alright!

He is struggling to get his head up on that pillow, it doesn’t show does it? Well, he knows there’s a camera somewhere and when he sees one he looks at it intently as if it’s something from outer space, so there.

But my little darling is really getting his arms and legs exercised nowadays. He’s nearing his 4^th month mark and he’s ready to crawl! I’m sure it will come sooner than I expected and by then, it will be very difficult to just leave him alone on the bed! Oh my!

But of course, I am excited!

Since we’ve been “talking” about Nico’s milestones, I decided to capture my super baby doing his great moves. Well, these  pictures do tell how Nico loves to socialize! Here he is with his GrandPa and cousins.

He’s soooooooo cute!

The lost buddha? Hahaha! See how strong he is? He can hold himself in such position even with his heavy head, hihhi! I love my (not so) little angel!

.. but I can do this, and that, and this, and that, and…..

I’m so amazed with my baby! He’s all grown up now, he’s got milestones! Because of that, the next posts in his blog site will be about those milestones, his dramatic change from a completely reliant and dependent newborn to an energetic, dynamic and receptive infant, which are shown through the following actions and/or characteristics:

Movement Milestones

• Nico is able to raise his head and chest up when he’s lying on his stomach, that’s a pretty neat accomplishment considering the fact that his head looks so heavy! :))
• Nico can also support his upper body with his strong arms when he’s lying on his stomach, Mr. Muscle huh!
• I also find it cute and funny when he stretches his legs out and kicks with gusto as if he’s playing with his legs when he’s lying on his stomach or on his back.
• He plays “close-open” with his hands though he doesn’t really understand the meaning of the words yet. He just likes watching (intently) his hands while he plays with it (open and close)
• Nico also pushes down on legs (even stomp his feet huh!) when his feet are placed on a firm surface
• Nico seldom goes without mittens even when his nails are neatly trimmed because he’s fond of scratching his face. But everytime I free his hands from his mittens, the first thing he’ll do is bring his hands to his mouth and then suck his fingers. So cute!
• Nico likes swiping every dangling objects with his hands, even my hair!
• He seldom grasps and shakes his hand toys though, he’s more attentive to his hands than to any other toys, no matter how colorful they are. He loves watching those colorful toys instead of touching them.

Visual and Hearing Milestones

• Nico loves to watch faces intently, his expression is so intent that sometimes his forehead creases and bis eyebrows are raised!
• He’s also fond of follows moving objects and people especially his favorite ones, like, ahem! ME!
• He can also see at a distance of let’s say, 3 meters, and recognizes the people he loves
• Nico’s hands and eyes are now moving in coordination. Yep, his eyes follows the movements of his hands
• What really makes me smile, (as in big smile) is when Nico smiles at the sound of my  voice. Awwww… isn’t that cute?
• Nico babbles nowadays and how he babbles! His grandparents are starting to think he’ll become a reporter or news anchor someday! He loves to talk to anybody!
• He also imitates some sounds, especially when I sing, he sings along!
• Nico turns his head towards the direction of a sound as well, which means, he already recognizes different sounds and signals.

Social and Emotional Milestones

• Nico already have his so-called toothless “social smile” which he gives to anybody who makes his smile
• He loves playing/talking with other people too, he even cries when playing/talking stops
• He can also communicate his feelings better through his facial expression and body language
• Nico also imitates movements and facial expressions, like when you smile at him, he smiles; or when you show your tongue, he also shows his own tongue!
• Now this is what Nico loves so much! He enjoys his bath time and likes playing with the water through his feet and hands. Yes, it always is a “wet” bath time!

I know each baby develops in his own individual way and at the different rate — each baby is unique. Some babies may have more milestones than Nico or vice versa but experts say that when a baby fails to reach certain milestones may mean that the baby may have medical or developmental problems which require special attention. It is much better to consult a pediatrician if the following warning signs are seen:

• The baby doesn’t seem to respond or even acknowledge loud and varying sounds
• The baby doesn’t notice his hands nor smile at the sound of his Mommy’s voice at the age of 2 months
• The baby doesn’t follow moving objects or persons with his eyes nor smile at people at the age of 3 months
• The baby doesn’t grasp and hold objects nor support his head well at the age of 3 months
• The baby doesn’t reach for toys and other objects at the age of 4 months
• The baby doesn’t babble nor bring objects to his mouth at the age of 4 months
• The baby doesn’t push down with his legs when his feet are placed on a firm surface at the age of 4 months
• The baby crosses his eyes most of the time and doesn’t pay attention to new faces at the age of 4 months

Nico is now in the age when he seems to be busy with developments and milestones. He is learning so much and is now making everybody around him smile and laugh. The next thing I know, he will be walking on his own, huh! Nicholas is surely learning new skills everyday and I will be sharing this cute little things for the world to see. Isn’t it obvious that I’m proud of my baby’s milestones?

Look out world, here comes my Little Nicholas!

Sigh… Nico has a scratch on his face AGAIN. It happens everytime I take his mittens off. I mean, he’s already 3 months old, he shouldn’t be wearing those mittens! But he likes “playing” with his face you see. Especially when he’s really sleepy, he scratches his face, from his forehead to his chin! I already trimmed his nails, they’re really short, but the way Nico plays with his hands and face, scratches are but inevitable.

Yesterday, his face bled. Ouch! he’s really small and helpless, so he wailed when he scratched his face and it bled. Ohhh poor baby. I want to develop his grasping abilities but it won’t be possible with his mittens. But I guess Nico’s welfare comes first, milestones will have to come later. I can’t bare to see his face with scratches anymore. So, he’s back to his mittens… Sigh… It doesn’t suit him anymore, he’s a big boy, but what can I do?

I just hope this will come to pass… fast! I hope he’ll stop hurting his face I don’t want a scarfaced baby, I don’t want him to mar his handsome face.