Playtime with the baby

When I first started working from home, I only did sideline writing and designing jobs. I was still pregnant then with a full-time day job. It was difficult but, with the help of my husband, I was able to do it. Nights were stretched and I did work even during the weekends.

And then, I had to stop working online when Laika was born. By December 2012, I resigned from my job with the plans of working again on January. I was very eager to work that I eventually forgot my reason for adopting this lifestyle--the work-at-home mommy lifestyle.

One day, I saw Laika smiling more when she is with her Ate Sharon (the nanny). Being a happy baby that she is, of course, she still adores me but when I saw how she looks at her Ate, I had to reassess. This is what I have been avoiding and which led me to resign from my work before. Mommy is jealous and she has to do something about it.  

Right then, I had to stop getting projects from people. Quality over quantity this time. I wanted to still be able to play with my daughter in the morning and be there for the husband when he needs me.

I devised a way for this to be possible. Sharon was reassigned to do household chores in the morning while mommy and Laika play in the room. By afternoon, when it is Laika's nap time, I get to face my jobs and be more productive. I also do work when Laika sleeps at night.

Now, Laika has a playschool time with mommy as the teacher.

What do you do to make working at home possible?

Tummy Time

My husband and I do not believe in pressuring our little one into achieving any milestones. Every person is different. One baby may get "there" sooner, others may be late bloomers. But if we can do something to help her get "there", we are all for it.

During Laika's first few weeks, she only eats, sleeps, and then poops. Those are her only activities. The result--when she's asleep, I am asleep, too. And that's most of the time.

We thought of introducing tummy time to her. From the Babycenter.com website: "The experience of being on their tummy helps babies learn to push up, roll over, sit up, crawl, and pull to a stand," explains Danette Glassy, a pediatrician in Mercer Island, Washington, and chairperson of the American Academy of Pediatrics' committee on early education and childcare.

We started during Laika's 4th week. On her first try, I was nervous. What if she will have difficulty breathing? Why is she crying? Why is she rubbing her nose on the mat? But then I thought, I would have to let her do her thing for her own development. In the end, I was able to witness her hold and turn her head. By the 3rd day, we discovered that she loves her caterpillar toy so much, she follows it through her eyes wherever it goes.

Here's a link of a video of her during tummy time. According to what I read, it's okay if the baby cries. She's just not used to being on her tummy. You just have to let her feel that you are there for her.

Laika's tummy time @ 4 weeks from Anna Talia Basman on Vimeo.