Temporary Post
Posted by: Sheenah on: February 11, 2011
Danah has grown so fast. She now eats (a lot), has more antics, recognizes people, gets jealous of people, and she is becoming more active and beautiful.
I just got really busy with work so pardon me for leaving this page outdated. I will post updates over the weekend! 
Time Flies
Posted by: Sheenah on: January 3, 2011
It felt like it’s just yesterday when I posted my first entry to this page. Danah has now grown to be a playful little girl.
It felt like it was just yesterday when Danah used to cry for milk, and latched, and be cradle-carried. Now, she’s screaming and blabbering, playing with the odd-looking stuffed toys in her crib, choosing whom she wants to play with. She’s now five months old.
We had to put her in her crib since she’s getting more playful. Last Sunday I just found her on the floor and although the floor is covered in rubber puzzles, still, she could have been hurt. The thing is, she turns over and moves so fast that sleeping on the mattress is not safe for her anymore.
So far she likes to crib. She has lots of musical toys in there.
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She quite dislikes her pediatrician. Doc said Danah now recognizes her clinic. She has tantrums everytime we go there as if she knows what’s gonna happen. Her ability to recognize people is apparent now.
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We’d like to thank everyone who greeted her and sent her Christmas gifts. Happy New Year to all of you!
Danah’s Christmas Wishlist
Posted by: Sheenah on: December 10, 2010
Danah is too young to be wishing for Christmas so I’m making her a list based on her needs, wants and the things she still lacks.
Godparents and those who plan to give Danah something for Christmas, this list will definitely help.
1. Learning books – Danah now appreciates images like drawings and pictures. She needs learning books so we’ll have more to share to her during playtime and even before she sleeps at night.
I have no book titles in particular but Danah would love books with colorful pictures and drawings.
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2. Hats - Danah has a few hats already, but adding some more would be awesome
January and February are gonna be cold months so Danah will find it really useful if you could give her warm hats (knitted or thick ones) that can cover her ears. LIke me, Danah gets cold easily so these hats could be her weapon against the coming colder season.
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3. Weaning materials – Danah might start eating solid food next month but as early as now we’re practicing her with her spoon and tumbler. Materials such as water-proof bibs, soft spoon, and bowl would be very helpful.
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Danah’s 4th Month
Posted by: Sheenah on: December 5, 2010
When Dr. Resa told us that Danah’s weight and height is ahead of her age, we were already thankful. She has been a very active baby ever since and it sort of surprised us that her weight gain is consistent (and good).
Doc said she already recognizes people and places. Danah had tantrums when held by Dr. Resa. She was not comfy in the clinic (so we did all sorts of distractions). She was already crying on her first few Rotarix drops and she cried more on her HiB vaccine. Not surprised.
Doc said Danah’s behavior is way too advanced of her age too. Some kids would learn to be picky and recognize people at eight or nine months, but Danah, at four months already chooses her toys, and the people she will cry on (huhuhu she doesn’t really like me).
We were also advised not to have her earlobes pierced. She can now scratch her body parts and piercing her lobes might be harmful. We’ll have to wait til she’s six years old because Doc said that’s the time when little girls would just sit while being ear-pierced and they probably would request you for that.
We’re ending Danah’s vaccine sooner than scheduled. Even though the vaccines are pricey, we want to be assured that Danah gets all the immunity she needs and that the injections will not traumatize her.
Her pedia also told us that if her weight gain next month is good, she’ll start taking solid food at five months. We think she will be ready for that since she now appreciates the food wee eat. Whenever Dave and I eat and she’s watching, she makes munching sounds as if she wants a bite. For her first solid food, we’re getting mashed potatoes without salt, pepper or butter. Tasteless food, as some people believe, makes kids less picky.
We’re also switching to Similac Plus since that’s what Abbott released in replacement to the regular Similac. It has more nutrients so it’s better.
Danah is 62cm tall, 6.1kg heavy and has not been sick so far. Thank God!
Danah’s 4th month celebration blog to follow…
The Project 52
Posted by: Sheenah on: November 28, 2010
Some people ask me how come I take awesome pictures of Danah. I’m flattered, actually, because I am no professional photographer (not even a millimeter next to Anne Geddes). I just tell them that I am very patient in capturing Danah’s moments.
Babies are not like adults whom you can instruct or tell what to do during a photoshoot. You don’t tell them what to do and instead they tell you. Photographing babies may be tricky since you really have to keep your eyes open lest you miss a moment but capturing that very moment is already a trophy for you, especially if you’re the mom of the subject.
I do not have a DSLR. I just use a Canon Powershot S3IS and sometimes a Sony Ericsson phone. Sometimes I use a reflector and a black satin cloth (for background). Dave makes Danah smile or laugh and he tries very hard to coach her (no matter how impossible that is). All post-processing ad enhancements are done with Adobe Photoshop CS3. There are times when editing is minimal (when the lighting is good) but due to lack of resources, I have no choice but to edit each photo.
I do not take a photo everyday, which is why I made the project on a week-by-week basis. I make sure I took at least three photos in a week, edit them, and then upload them on Facebook where my friends vote for the best photo (by ‘Liking’ each). The best photo becomes my primary picture. It also appears on Danah’s baby book.
Photographing Danah and uploading the better photos is like a way of life to me now. I am not obligated to complete the 52 weeks but I am very inspired and determined to do so. It’s been only Week 17 but the space is not enough for all of Danah’s photos to fit in an album (studio photos not included). Indeed, a friend is right: Danah is the most photographed baby she ever know.
The Project 52 will be concluded on Danah’s 52nd week, which is sometime before/after her first birthday.
Updates, Updates
Posted by: Sheenah on: November 23, 2010
I know updates are getting more seldom but I try, as much as I can, to make up for the outdates.
November 22, 2010 at 1:57pm, Danah had her first real laugh. Dave made her giggle so hard on her baby hammock.
Whatever magic Dave has, I’m happy he has it. He’s the only one who can make Danah giggle so hard that she gets hiccups afterwards. She’s so full of energy, as always.
One thing I’m kind of sad about is her being snobbish and ill-tempered. Maybe it’s just a phase. She had several tries of sleeping on her side but she always ended up rolling, and so she cried. A few hours ago we found her succeed:
Danah on her right side
Danah on her right side
One more thing she loves is making her voice husky as if she were a monster. She loves “scaring” us. It’s so cute:
Danah’s New Doll
Posted by: Sheenah on: November 19, 2010
Dave and I have long been discussing about giving Danah the things she wants and needs. We do not intend to spoil her by giving her lots of things she could only want for awhile. However, this afternoon at the mall, we sort of had second thoughts about that. I showed Danah different kinds of stuffed toys to give her a good mood (she has been in a totally bad mood since lunchtime since she lacked sleep.)
The first toy I showed to her was a red Chinese bear. She cried a bit, which meant she hated it. I showed to her a white elephant (with all sorts of kiddie dialogues and puppet gestures) and she again cried. I showed to her a maroon doll, a beagle, Winnie the Pooh, and she made the same reaction. I was about to give up on her bad mood until salespersons took out stocks of Christmas dolls.
I asked the salesperson if I could take one doll off the shelf. When I showed the doll to Danah, she smiled and reached out to the doll. She held the doll’s hand. Dave and I looked each other and agreed to buy the doll.
We just couldn’t resist Danah. She’s so young (she’s only about to turn four months) and we can see her preferences already. She may not need a doll, but the way she showed love to that doll tells us that it now becomes her first. I want her to love that doll and so we have to control ourselves from getting her more dolls (stuffed toys are an exception, hehe).
I got really addicted to buying Danah dresses and gowns. Some of her clothes don’t fit her anymore and sadly she has only worn them once or twice. Seeing her angelic face just makes us feel like we’re gonna give her everything aside from our time and love. By the way, I really get drawn to the infants’ section of every mall we go to and I cannot leave without anything for Danah, be it a pair of pajamas or a pair of cute booties.
I don’t have any idea on Danah’s preferences. I see this as another milestone though.
The doll is now wrapped. Danah will play with it tomorrow. It’s such a cute doll.
Danah Finally Meets Her Great Grandma
Posted by: Sheenah on: November 15, 2010
I am so sorry for not updating for a long, long time.
Yesterday, November 14, 2010, we brought Danah to her great grandma’s house. We took a bus to Manila and then took a cab. She was well-behaved throughout the trip and she enjoys the motion.
Lola Fely was so hapy to finally meet her first great grand daughter. I cannot describe her expression upon seeing little Danah. Dave’s aunts (who are now grandmoms) were so excited to finally have a baby girl in the clan (they have mostly boys). They all played with Danah.
Lola Fely playing with Danah
Perhaps Danah isn’t used to the city yet. She cried a lot probably due to noise, but I think it tells me and Dave to make her used to other types of noise. A few hours later and Danah finally hushed. She was back to her all-talkative mood, laughing and smiling occasionally over things (like the framed brass horses on the wall and the television).
Dave and I concluded that what Danah needs are frequent visits to her grandparents. Anyone can tell that Danah is very well loved by Dave’s relatives and I am just so blissful to see the smiles Danah painted on their happy faces.
It was also Danah’s first time to ever get to Manila, to North Avenue, QC. Tito, or should I say, Lolo Alex drove us to Trinoma (it’s up north in Manila). Danah seemed to be still so energetic that afternoon until she fell asleep:
Danah is not pissed; that's her normal sleeping face
We placed her on the pile of stuffed toys and one guy said “ay totoo pala yon!”
Danah sleeping on the big pile of toys
Seemed like she loved sleeping there. Anyone could mistake her for a doll, just like her Uncle Jared. His parents said he mistook Danah as the doll in their house. Danah’s a living half-China doll with rosy cheeks and brown eyes. Tell us she isn’t cute and you’re lying.
Next week Danah will visit her great grandma again. It’s Lola Fely’s 80th birthday and Danah can’t miss it. Her lola loves her so much and so we’re gonna do everything to make them as close as possible.
I’m so thankful that I have a grandmother through Dave. Lola is full of wisdom and pure love, and Danah is so fortunate to have her.
All love, love, love!
Milestones Part 1
Posted by: Sheenah on: October 30, 2010
Danah in her sailor dress
We are very proud of our daughter. At nearly 3 months she has already shown signs of being talkative, active and playful.
At 2:58PM today, she made a 180 degree turn on her DaddyLo’s bed. She stayed on her belly for a minute then made a 360! She actually rolled! She again tried but sadly she could only do that roll just once. Now it’s easier for her to make a partial turn since she now knows how to do that using her legs! Videos to be added tomorrow.
Daddy drove us to SM Calamba for Danah’s first studio photoshoot. I thought Danah will fall asleep since she finished 4oz of milk in the car. But no. To our surprise she was giddy upon entering the crowded mall. We brought her to Great Image.
Danah at Great Image
Before her photoshoot. We brought 3 clothes for Danah’s shoot.
Danah's Photoshoot
Action photo. Oops, sorry, Great Image, I just had to document this.
Danah Exploring the Mall
Danah exploring the mall.
Danah Holding Her Bottle
Danah can hold her bottle! But she still can’t have the best angle for it. Her bottles are mostly wide neck and so she finds it hard to get a grip.
Playtime!
A day won’t be complete without her playtime!
Tired.
Now, she’s tired. It was time to go home. We went to Baby Company to buy her gifts and stuff. Since it’s Danah’s first time to go to the mall, she was so excited. She talked to this particular pink shirt and everytime Dave held the shirt for her, she laughed. We are sure she liked that shirt but sadly it still doesn’t fit. We resorted to get a sando version of the shirt. The salesladies loved her! She talked to them and smiled at them. She was so excited and so she got the attention of all the Baby Company sales ladies there. They again asked me to list her on Star Baby. I definitely will, after completing the requirements. Everywhere in the mall she caught people’s attention. She was so happy and so she made people happy. I am so proud of my cute little princess!
Here are the prints:
Baby in red
- Danah on Furry Rag
Angelic
The Cutest
Little Princess of the Sea
There.
Bonding with Danah
Posted by: Sheenah on: October 25, 2010
Although I get tired at times, I will not miss a chance to play with Danah.
It’s as if she understands what Dave and I are saying. Whenever she’s being talked to, she looks back, smiles and make a sound. This afternoon I was asking her who’s the most beautiful girl in the room and she said “akkkow” then she laughed. I repeated the question and she gave me the same answer.
She loves to answer back even when she just overhears conversations.
She still tries to be on her belly by turning on her right. Even when I’m feeding her, she makes this extra force on her side. She gets all red and frustrated but she tries again and again. Until she gets tired, she’ll keep on trying. She would just laugh at me after getting tired.
She can now be carried upright, but still with extra care. I am now able to carry her on different positions. At times she likes to be on my lap, on her belly. Sometimes she just likes to be on her back and being talked to like an adult. She especially likes poking her cute chin while being talked to.
She likes diaper changing. She gets giddy and excited whenever I’m taking off her nappy. I’m not surprised about it since like other babies, she hates making the wee wee and poop linger on her diaper. Not even for a minute.
There’ll be a lot more to discover about Danah’s progress and I am very excited about it!
Recent Loves