"Mr. Pogi"

Mom likes these pics of me. She thinks I'm a little cutie. The shirt was given to me by my cousin Kai.

ONE Month Old

MAY 18 - Hello Joaquin,

I know this is not your most flattering picture but I thought it would be nice for you to see this wailing pic of yourself when you are older. Hehehe

Anyway, at one month old, I am happy to say that there have been no sleepless nights for us. You have been sleeping in your crib almost half the night and the other half in our bed beside me.

And although your pic shows you crying your lungs out, you've actually been a very calm baby... hopefully it stays this way ;) Only crying when you are REALLY hungry or uncomfortable.

At this age, you seem to already respond to voices. Your sister's voice especially, whenever she talks to you or sings. You are also able to control your head a little more.

Oh, and lastly, some nicknames people have given you:
1. from Mama Lily - Quino (from JoaQUIN and SantINO)
2. from Tito X - Santi (for more obvious reasons)
3. from Me - Joax (pronounced as "wax")
4. from Ate Sam - Cinnamon (from her Blues Clues show. She says she's Paprika, Lola B as Grandma Cayenne, while Dad and myself are Salt and Pepper respectively!)

Nothing has really stuck yet... although I am beginning to like Cinnamon! :)

First Mother's Day

MAY 11 - Spent most of my first Mother's Day asleep in my car seat while the rest of the crew dined on sushi, lechon, oysters, and crabs at the Hilton buffet! The other memorable thing that happened today was my FIRST bottle-feeding of breastmilk (c/o Lola B), what my pediatrician calls the "freedom bottle" so that Mom can get much-needed help in caring for me :)

Look-Alike

Is it too early to tell who I look like?

Mama Lily and Auntie Paula were the first to say that I look like Tito Bondy or Tito X. Tita Aussy commented I look like a "Chinese Bondy"! While Tita Manang said that both she and Tita Lisa agree that I got Lolo Beling's hairline! (Lolo Beling is my Mom's paternal grandfather).

What do you think?

2 Week Well-Baby Check-Up

MAY 5 - Here I am for my mandatory 2-week check up.

According to my doc, everything looks good. I have gained back my birth weight, plus more, and am now 8 lbs. 14 oz. I've also grown longer and am now 21 inches. Yipee!

Chillin' at Home

APRIL 26 - It's tough not being able to talk yet. Here are Mom and Ate Sam trying to figure out what I'm trying to say...

First Well-Baby Check-up (at 4 Days Old)

APRIL 22 - Mommy was ordered to come see my doctor 2 days after our discharge from the hospital. There was a minor concern about infant jaundice, which we are told usually occurs for Asian babies, and my doctor just wanted to make sure everything was going fine.

It was a good visit. After 4 days, I am slowly getting back to my birth weight of 7 lbs. 14 oz. and am now 7 lbs. and 7 oz. The doctor also said that my color was getting better and that Mom should take me out more often for some sunshine.

First Few Days

Just stayed at the hospital for 3 days. Was out of there by Sunday morning.

Here is a video of me as Mom was preparing me to leave the hospital...



The trip back home, all 10 minutes of it, was not as "stressful" as it was when Mom and Dad first took Ate Sam home. I did not really cry too much and was pretty receptive to the pacifier Mom stuck in my mouth! :)

Once I got home, all I really did was eat, sleep, poop, and pee. I did not even cry too much.

Vital Stats

Stats for Joaquin:

Weight - 7 lbs. 14 oz.
Length - 19 and 1/4 inches

Imagine if I had given birth closer to his due date of April 30!!!

Welcome!

Just as I did with Sam, I am now starting this blog for Joaquin, only I am starting this one earlier. I hope Joaquin will enjoy this as much as Sam has enjoyed hers.

I guess I should begin with this post from SAM's blog:

Here is my new baby brother... JOAQUIN SANTINO A. TORRES! He arrived on April 18, 2008 at 5:21 a.m. I am officially a big sister :)



Joaquin came 12 days early, and with Mama and Gunc up in Modesto for the weekend and Lola Baby still in the Philippines, it was really just Ninang Bebing who was around to lend Mom and Dad a hand... and it was a good thing she was there too because Mom and Dad had to leave for the hospital at 2:30 in the morning! If Ninang was not able to come and babysit me, Mom would have had to go through labor and delivery by herself since Dad would then have had to stay home with me! Whew (what a relief for mom)!...

By the time I woke up on Friday morning, Ninang said Mom and Dad were at the hospital and that I was now a big sister! At about 12 noon on Friday, I finally meet my baby brother...