Kirstin Got Baptized!

May baptism be just the start of a life of faith that comes from the heart!

"As the deer panteth on the water
So my soul longeth after thee...
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship thee..."

Kirstin Johanna Walla was baptized on November 20th, 2005, the Feast of Christ the King, by Father Ludvik of Our Lady of Lourdes Church. It was so solemn and she was very well behaved throughout the ceremony. Needless to say, we were very proud of her. Reception followed at Izzy's Restaurant. Not all the sponsors made it but I'm sure she's in their thoughts!

Here's the list of her sponsors:

1. Mr. & Mrs. Dane & Barbara Walla
2. Mr. & Mrs. John & Lourdes Bleuler
3. Mr. & Mrs. Sean & Cristina Bergman
4. Mr. & Mrs. Roberto & Imelda Buque
5. Mr. & Mrs. Christian & Eleanor Resurreccion
6. Mr. & Mrs. Paul & Tricia Baysa
7. Mr. & Mrs. Sherwin & Aleen Dimaculangan

Thank you all guys for allowing yourself to be part of our lives and most especially of Kirstin's. God bless!

Kirstin's Personal Milestones (0-3 months)

Oh baby! Look what you can do!

THE 1st MONTH

Physical

• She's able to see now but still near-sighted - only able to see things about 10 inches away
• She stares at objects but doesn't know how to reach yet
• She loves being cuddled and enjoys breastfeeding even more when there's skin to skin contact (which is not really a sight to see! heheh!)
• She's growing very fast and is 95 percentile rank when it comes to her height and weight (that's coz she drinks 2-3 oz every feeding and 24-28 oz a day)
• Movement is reflexive (which freaks me out coz it seems to me that she's shivering more than anything else!)

Mental

• She only appreciates looking at high contrast patterns and colors
• She seems to be alert 1 out of every 10 hours (most of the day she's sleeping!)
• Behavior is reflexive
• Will cry if overstimulated or understimulated

Language

• She responds to voices
• Small cooing begins (awww...that's the cutest sound I've ever heard in my life!)

Social

• She likes it when we talk to her (what can I say I have a beautiful voice...heheh!)
• She smiles in her sleep
• She enjoys eye contact (especially since her mommy's eyes are big and animated all the time...lol!)

THE 2nd MONTH

Physical

• Her muscles relax and twitch less
• She's able to lift her head when you put her on her stomach (though she doesn't like that very much)
• Her hands start to unfold
• She can roll back to side
• She follows moving objects with her eyes
• She has strong legs - can briefly bear weight on legs already

Mental

• Starts to make associations - she knows a little about cause and effect (she knows now that when she cries, mommy will come running to soothe her...hehhe!)
• She wants visual stimulation (she has this crib mirror that stimulates her vision at the same time with its contrasting patterns and colors)

Language

• She gurgles, coos, and squeals
• She communicates her moods

Social

• She knows the art of responsive smiling. She smiles when we make funny faces.
• She exhibits emotions
• She studies faces and tries to reach for things
• She's starting to develop her personality

THE 3rd MONTH

Physical

• She can stretch her limbs all the way out
• She's able to hold her head
• She's able to hold a rattle but for a short period of time
• She can stand up with help
• She plays with her hands

Mental

• She learns cause and effect more profoundly
• She's fascinated by her hands and her feet
• She likes detailed high-contrast images and toys that stimulates her sense of touch (toys that have a different feel and texture to them)

Language

• She begins to really enjoy babbling to me
• She starts to laugh
• She has different cries for different needs

Social

• She makes eye contact
• She smiles at faces
• She begins to identify us as her mommy and daddy
• She can easily be soothed as long as she's not having tummy ache or anything (though she's never was a cry baby - she only cries when she needs milk or when she needs to be changed but other than that, she's a happy baby!)