Ozzy's Mom

In 3 Weeks,

2009-11-24T15:44:00.002+08:00

3 weeks more!!

I still can't believe Hubby will be home in 3 weeks. It's weird, I feel really anxious. Excited and yet anxious. We've been apart for too long that I have forgotten how it was to be a couple. I make decision on my own, I do the groceries on my own, I sleep alone and everything else I do without him. Admittedly, I don't even mind if he has brought home any pasalubong or not, as long as he's home. I know that many of his friends from here are asking for a little something like Dutch Master cigars and some fancy chocolates. I miss him too much to even care about what he brings home as long as he brings himself safely I am good, however I should get ready to make adjustments. This would surely be like when we were newly married.

Ahia Is Here.

2009-11-24T15:32:00.002+08:00

I am so proud of my little Ozzy, he has been very helpful lately. Whenever I am cleaning his baby brother's poop he would gladly help me by throwing the dirty diaper in the trash bin. He also packs away his toys without me telling him to. He offered me water once when I was too sick to stand (this one I was amazed as to how sensitive he was).

One time, when I was getting something outside the room, I left the 2 boys inside, after a few minutes the baby started crying. As I was about to enter the room I heard Ozzy comforting the baby whispering in his ear,"That's okay Shoti, Mommy is busy, I'm here." Isn't that just the sweetest thing?

Pump It Up

2009-11-20T10:30:00.005+08:00

My brother, the #1 slacker and procrastinator of the house FINALLY (after months of talking about it) signed up for gym. Last I checked with him, lots of plaster strips were all over his sore and aching body. Talk about total body workout - and that was only his 3rd day! His goal? bigger body and abs so that he can show off his new body next summer. My unsolicited advice for him, I think he should consider bodybuilding supplements so help him in his goal! Hey, that was my goal too not too long ago. With 2 kids under my belt, I've stopped dreaming of the perfect 6-pack and settled for my 1-big pack. Right now, I am just happy to keep the weight off even though I won't have a super flat belly. Anyway, good luck Bro - I'd give you a month, more or less.

Friday Fill-Ins#150

2009-11-20T10:20:00.005+08:00

And...here we go!

1. The last band I saw live was TOO long ago, but I remember it was a sweet, sweet date for me and Hubby!!!.

2. What I look forward to most on Christmas is the food and family gatherings. (if you don't celebrate thanksgiving, insert your favorite holiday)

3. My Christmas/holiday shopping is way overdue.

4. Thoughts of my hubby's homecoming (26 days more!) fill my head.

5. I wish I could wear knee length boots here in the Cebu without being stared at.

6. Bagpipes look awkward to play.

Happy Weekend!

Amazing Ozzy

2009-11-18T15:49:00.003+08:00

It's amazing how advanced, technologically-wise kids are nowadays. My son at 3 years old can operate my laptop, the tv, dvd player, iTouch and cellphones. I bet if I would teach him how to he can even do more. All those things I mentioned above he learned just by simply observing how we grown ups did it. Amazing. I had to put a password in my laptop because that's the only thing stopping him from playing with it when I am not around (unless I hide it from him).

Anyway, I saw him man handling the DVD player earlier and I just hope it didn't get busted or else I'd have to get a new one for the house. A new bluray DVD player sounds good. I've also wanted a portable DVD player for the longest time now. I hope I can find something on sale.

10 Things You Wish You Knew How to Do

2009-11-18T15:39:00.002+08:00

Play an instrument. (guitar or piano)
Dance very well.
Cook.
Bake.
Draw very well.
Take extraordinary photos.
Know how to to do web design.
Speak another language maybe Chinese or French.
Think out of the box.
Know my way around computers (repair aspect) more.

Am I Doing The Right Thing?

2009-11-18T15:17:00.004+08:00

Been quiet these past few days because I was sick. So sick to even stand and carry my own baby. Good thing I pulled it through because I never ever want that to happen again. Anyway, you can read about that here.

Just a quick update on Ozzy's mealtime drama. I have noticed he has been losing weight and that worried me. Although I will stick with my guns and follow the plan. The idea is to let him be. If he doesn't like to eat during meal time, then so be it. He doesn't eat. Mostly what happens is he skips breakfast and eat a hearty lunch and supper. Sometimes he doesn't eat as much during dinner time but I just let him be. I guess its better this way so that we won't spend so much time and effort forcing him to eat. If we force him, he spits the food out which is pretty frustrating. He would run around the house and hide from us. So, I let go. He would have to learn the importance of food sooner or later right? I hope I am doing the right thing here.

A Day In Las Vegas

2009-11-11T11:40:00.002+08:00

I've mentioned in my other blog how my parents just left for the US last night. Its a scary yet exciting time for me to be left in-charge. It would have been fine if my elder sister, Jennie was here with me but she's now based in Manila so that leaves me. Anyway, for this trip, I am excited for our pasalubong because the parents are going to an outlet store. I've checked online and its a pretty big outlet store which carries branded items from shoes, jewelry to babies stuff. I told Mom to buy me a cool pair of shoes. For the boys, I told her to buy t'shirts instead of toys. When Dad asked Ozzy what he liked he immediately answered chocolates!

...What's cool is that they are going to Las Vegas for a day to try out the casinos! Dad was trying to book a room in one of the hotels in las vegas nv. However, if their schedule won't permit it they would just have to go there in the morning and leave at night. I am sure Hubby is all jealous right now. I am pretty sure he would have loved to visit Las Vegas. Especially when Pacquio's fight with Cotto is scheduled this weekend.

Manic Monday # 188

2009-11-10T11:44:00.003+08:00

What does it mean to you to have courage?
To have courage for me means to trust and have faith in the Lord's plan no matter how difficult life may get sometimes. Trust that everything has a purpose. Never doubt for when in doubt you didn't have faith in Him in the first place.

Is your favorite time the past, present or the future?
No doubt, the present. I live for the day. Besides, I feel the past was too boring and the future is uncertain.

What makes you a good person?
...I guess I consider myself a good person because I believe in the goodness of everyone. I love selflessly and I basically do what is right.

The Pill.

2009-11-06T15:24:00.002+08:00

Dieting and exercise can be such a disappointing thing especially if you do it religiously and see minor results after weeks of trying. That's why we need a supplement to aid the slimming process like adipex diet pill. This pill is more like an appetite suppressant and is used to treat obesity. Keeping in mind that such pills should be taken with great precaution. Some of the known side-effects is insomnia. So, never take this after 3PM.

In my part, I've never personally taken any diet pill. I am not saying I will never try one though. We never know.

Snakes, Snales and Puppy Dog Tales

2009-11-06T10:19:00.006+08:00

I wonder..are little girls really sugar and spice and everything nice?

I am asking because my 3 year old boy is a little pilyo already. Does this mean its true, he prefers being naughty as opposed to a girl whose predisposed to be nice? I wouldn't say he is a bad boy rather I see it as a stage where he is testing his boundaries. He is looking on how far he can go before we really3x get mad. His favorite words right now are, "No", "Later", "I don't like." He insists on getting what he wants like dominates the tv, not eating with us on the dining table, walk around barefoot, not washing his hands, climbing up stuff then jumping around. There are many more and I know a lot of parents out there can relate as well. He also loves bothering his little brother when the baby is sleeping no mater how many times I've asked him not to. Once when the baby was crying in his crib, I saw Ozzy cover the baby's face with a blanket. He would say sorry and promise me he won't do it anymore but then again, he's a 3-year old? 10 minutes later he's at it again.

A study once said, when given a doll, many boys choose to use it as a hammer or weapon, whereas girls tend to feed and nurture the doll. These differences have led parents and teachers to believe that there may be biological differences between boys and girls even when the environmental conditions are similar. An interesting observation, right?

I love my boys no doubt, but I was just thinking how differently it would be if I had girls? Would they be easier to raise? I don't know, girls are pretty complicated beings. I would know, I am one.

Ready for Preschool?

2009-11-05T15:04:00.002+08:00

Next year we will be enrolling Ozzy for pre-school. Some parents started their kids early at 3 y/o but I felt mine was not ready yet so I just had him start of with Gymboree to have a feel of how it is to sit down for a few hours, have a teacher and classmates. So far he is doing really good. He participates and he listens to the teacher. As a parent, I am curious on how to choose the right preschool for my kid. I don't want it to be so rigid yet I still want him to learn discipline. Research, research, research! Finding the right mix is the challenge for us. Also, the travel time of the school from our house should be considered. The schools environment and its safety precautions should also be on top of our list, for example if it has a school alert system or not. This mass notification system can be used to broadcast urgent messages relating to safety, closings, or any critical situation that can put the parents at ease.

I've read that here are a few key points to consider when choosing the school, firstly, to what extent are children allowed to make choices about what they learn and when? secondly, How much of the activity is teacher-directed versus child-directed? Thirdly, how holistic is the school in its educational ideas? That is, does it take children's social and emotional growth and developing values as seriously as it takes the Three R's? Fourthly, do the environment, activities, and the attitude of the teachers seem pleasing to you, and will they suit your child's personality? Does the atmosphere seem warm and joyful? And lastly, how involved are parents? How actively does the school seek out parents' ideas as well as their help? How actively involved in the school do you want to be?

As a parent just trust your instinct, talk to fellow moms and bring your toddler for a visit to the school and see for yourself if he enjoys it or not.

10 Ways to Waste Time on the Internet

2009-11-05T14:44:00.003+08:00

Play Bejeweled Twist in Facebook.
Lurking in Facebook.
Reading gossip sites like dlisted and perezhilton.
instant messaging people who is in the same room with me.
window shopping! in multiply, ebay etc
checking emails every 5minutes or so. I have 4 emails that I regularly check.
join forums and lurk on conversations.
watch movies/series online in surfthechannel
download stuff in mininova
reading random articles in yahoo main page.

Outer Banks Getaway

2009-11-04T15:18:00.003+08:00

I could sure do use some vacation time. A nice long vacation, I was thinking along the lines of Outer Banks vacations. Nothing better than an ocean-front property, quiet and serene to relax the mind and body.

I didn't work all morning today because I didn't feel like it. If I had my way I would have stayed in the room all day watching videos, playing with the boys and sleeping. But no, no, no...reality came knocking on the door right after lunch. There were contributions to be finalized and checks to be made. Here I am - at work, trying to insert some blogging.

Oh well, back to reality, back to work.
Xoxo

Upcoming Reunion

2009-11-04T14:56:00.002+08:00

This New Year, the family is going to have a reunion once again with my Mom's side of the family. We had one last year and it was so much fun and such a success that we had to have another one for this year. The cousins and I would hang out in the boys room and play poker, swap stories, play video games and just hang out. This reminds me, I should remind my brother to look for affordable video cards to update the one's we have. We sure can use a good gaming pc when the cousins arrive. Last year, they had to go to a cafe to play their games. Anyway, but the thing we all enjoyed the most was our night out. No parents. Only everyone above 16. It's fun this time because the last time we had a reunion, my cousins were mostly minors. Now they are all grown up and are in college. You see, all my first degree cousins (both sides) are younger than me and my sister. So when we were growing up, we always felt out of place because we were older than most. Now, its like the age gap isn't such a big deal anymore.

I can't wait for our reunion this year!

Tips For Picky Eaters

2009-11-04T14:40:00.002+08:00

What a breakthrough.

Today we decided to just let Ozzy decide whether he liked to eat or not. No forcing, no bribing, no arguing over what to eat and when to eat. So, in the morning when he refused to eat - I let him be.

By 11am he asked his nanny for food. He ate a whole lot of rice and veggies. This cycle will go on until he learns the importance of a good meal all by himself. I learned from the show Doctors that picky eaters should start their meals by an empty plate, they should learn to have the initiative of choosing what to eat. Ignore him if he does not start to eat and just continue eating in the table. To made mealtime fun, try having dips (Oz loves mayo+ketchup) or try cutting veggies in fun shapes.

Hope some of the tip helps. Xo

Softened Water

2009-11-03T15:34:00.002+08:00

Good thing I read the newspaper. Tomorrow our area is scheduled to have water interruption from 8AM to 5PM. That means I should wake up by 6AM to be able to take a bath then give Ozzy a bath then give the baby a bath. Whew. Also, starting this afternoon we should start collecting water for the washing of the clothes, dishes and for the toilet. We don't drink from the tap because it is unsafe, we order bottled water from a nearby refilling station so its safe to say we have enough drinking water available. Sure it is much more expensive than using tap water but safety is most important above everything else especially because we have kids in the house whose tummy's are much more sensitive. Diarrhea and LBM is not fun you know. Also, an ideal addition to the water system in the house is water softeners. Have you ever wondered why there are white scaly buildup in your kettle or sinks and toilets? Those are lime scale buildup due to the minerals found in water like magnesium and calcium. A softened water reduces amount of detergent used in washing machines and dishwashers and will leave hair and skin feeling smoother and less dry. I've noticed when I was in the province, their rain water was soft and it felt good in the skin unlike the water in the City where its fully chlorinated.

I hope they fix the pipes asap so that we can have the normal water running. I can live without food for 7 days but man can't live without water for 3.

Ozzy Is Showing Signs Of Regression

2009-11-03T15:25:00.005+08:00

Ozzy is a handful!!!

It's like he has regressed and started showing signs of wanting to become a "baby" again. He would cry when he wakes up alone in the room, he would ask for more milk and demand to put it in the bottle instead of his sippy cup, he would demand I carry him, he crawls around a lot, he baby talks etc etc. I know he is just acting up so that he will also get attention just like his baby brother. I don't know what to do anymore. According to an article I read, it is quite common, at least for awhile, for older children to experience regression when a baby is born. Although a new addition to the family is a joyful experience, it may be quite traumatic to a toddler especially if he has been the center of attention for quite some time.

According to the article:

On some level, whether it is conscious or not, an older child may observe the new sibling’s behavior and be learning from it. She sees the new baby yell and kick, and be rewarded with a bottle. She watches the baby wet himself and get his diaper changed for him. She may very well see the immature behaviors asa source of reward. Because of this, it is important that you reward more mature behaviors in your older child.

When regression first starts, there isn’t necessarily anything big that you need to do to address the issue. The most important thing in early stages is that you make sure that you give your toddler a lot of praise for acting “grown up.” Tell him that he is doing a great job when he learns a new skill. Thank him for using the potty like a “big boy.” Give him attention when he is acting his age, and encourage your toddler to be prideful of all of the things that he can do that his new sibling is unable to do.

Friday Fill-Ins#148

2009-10-30T11:25:00.004+08:00

And...here we go!

1. It was a dark and stormy night, the lights went out, the winds howled outside and I prayed so hard for the storm to pass.

2. Important documents and papers were found in the first floor, and the water started creeping in so I offered to take the books myself.

3. Rushing out, I realized that was a bad idea.

4. The water was waist deep already and ...I think I heard a howl!

5. Shhhh... good thing I saw rescuers in sight.

6. I asked them to give me something good to eat!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to sleeping early as usual, tomorrow my plans include grocery shopping and cleaning and Sunday, I want to hear mass and rest!

Bag Hags

2009-10-30T10:45:00.004+08:00

In 55 days it would be Christmas once again. 55! This year came zooming by. The Holidays last year is still pretty fresh from my memory and now - 1 year later, I have a newborn son and Hubby will be coming home once again. This only means one thing, I have 6 weeks or less to shop, shop and shop!!! Our family is big on gatherings during the Holidays so everyone should be accounted for in terms of gifts. With the new baby around, I don't think I will have the luxury of time and money to buy the presents leisurely. Good thing I have found a great way to save while shopping this Holiday and that is thanks to the great shopping deals and promos available at BagHaus. I am eying to give the ladies of the family bags or purses.

Every woman enjoys a good, sturdy bag that is stylish yet functional to store all their valuables. In my case, I prefer big bags which can also double as my diaper bag for all the baby's needs. This way, I will only bring 1 bag instead of 2. Others prefer a small bag for their essentials like cellphone, wallet and keys. Either way, bags are an important accessory to a woman. I'd like to think of it as an extension to the outfit. So anyway, thanks to BagHaus coupons, I can shop for my family and save at the same time.

Destination: Orlando

2009-10-29T10:44:00.006+08:00

A local airline is offering seat sale for the next couple of months and my Dad was asking if we wanted to travel to Hong Kong again next year. Although the idea is nice, I declined the offer thinking Jacob would be too young to appreciate it just yet. Maybe wait until he's over 1 year old for that. We never know, right?

Maybe, in 1-years time we can save enough to bring the family to Disney World - Magic Kingdom in Orlando. Ahh it would be a dream to visit Florida and have a real family trip and orlando vacations is just the way to do it. There are many attractions to chose from that the whole family will enjoy. There's theme parks, Sea World, also Resort and Spa's for the grown-ups tired feet after all the touring!

Ohh I bet that would be so awesome!

I Want...

2009-10-29T10:31:00.003+08:00

...to soak in a warm tub, just me, myself and I. No screaming kids and crying babies. Such a perfect way to end a stressful day if I do say so myself.

These superior walk in tubs are not only innovative, they offer comfort and safety without compromising the deep relaxing soak we look for in a convectional bathtub. A walk-in tub is perfect for the elderly or those in wheelchair. It has a 16” Chair Height Seat just perfect for a deep soak.

If only we had one. I'd be so relaxed I may never want to leave the bathroom ever again.

TT: Halloweenie Version

2009-10-29T09:50:00.006+08:00

This week we will answer some crazy questions brought to you by Berleen, the color Blood red and the number 31.

1. So Halloween is this weekend, if you haven't heard. Are you gonna open your doors up or not?
::: Nope, we don't do Trick or Treat in our neighborhood. I plan to stay home with my boys and just play around. Maybe watch a few cartoons but nothing scary for the babies. :::

2. You better open 'em cuz I'm coming... what are you putting in my treat bag?
::: Woops sorry Berleen. If you DO come, I have some lollipops here for your treat bag. :::

3. Since October is the bestest month for television (well for cable & dish subscribers it is) and there is a horror movie on at any given time of the day - are you sick of them yet?
::: Not sick of 'em, I just don't watch any. I get scared watching its ads, what more if I watch the whole show. :::

4. Which one of those movies can you watch over & over again?
::: I want to watch the movie 6th Sense again. :::

5. Tell us about a Halloween scare you've had....
::: I'm boring, I have none but Hubby had. I remember he telling me over the phone how scared he was that time because he kept on filling water in a pail only to find it empty again and again even though the pail had no crack or hole in it. :::

6. Did you watch the old Casper cartoons when you were a youngin? Well, back then they weren't old I suppose, but I'm sure you still understand my question.
::: Yeah I did watch. But I am an 90's kid and the Casper Movie with Devon Sawa and Christina Ricci was one of those movies I watched over and over. as well. :::

7. Have you ever found a four-leaf clover?
::: Never :::

8. Haunted Houses... you know, the kinds you pay to get in and they chase you with chainsaws and severed heads.... do you like 'em?
::: Yeah! I remember going inside one and we ended up attacking the "monsters" inside just for fun. :::

9. Do you use cute cartoon type wrapping paper for Christmas presents or the not cutesy paper? Or are you one of those gift card and/or gift bag people?
::: I wrap gifts in simple, christmassy wrapping paper. :::

10. How long do boiled eggs need to stay in the boiling water before they become hard boiled eggs?
::: Oh gosh I don't know how embarrassing....15 minutes? :::

11. Jason is coming in through your front door... Freddy is coming through your back door... zombies are at every window of the house and Norman Bates is calling to invite you to dinner... what do you do?
::: I wake up. Thank GOD that was just a dream. :::

12. Did you know that the scariest part of Halloween is giving all of your Reeses Peanut Butter Cups away?
::: I know!! That's why I don't open my doors for Halloween so I can keep all the candy to myself. :::

13a. If you were to play a part of a haunted house (not the ghosts in the attic kind), what would you want to be?
::: I want to be that person inside the coffin. It's creepy but I want to try it; the next time I'd be in one I won't be alive to enjoy it now would I. :::

13b. Have you ever played a part in a haunted house?
::: Never. :::

14. If Thursday Thunks had a Halloween party, what do you think Kimber & Berleen would come dressed as?
::: Witches! Just a thought. :::

15. Do you cook a turkey for Thanksgiving?
::: We don't celebrate Thanksgiving here. :::

16. Have you ever read a book that scared the pants off of you?
::: No. :::

17. Whats the predicted high temperature for today?
::: 25 deg C. :::

18. Have you ever howled at the moon?
::: Never. :::

19.You are in an alley and a werewolf and a vampire are coming at you - one of them has to win. Which one do you want to bite you?
::: Edward of course! Errr I mean the Vampire. :::

Tomorrow, I Exercise.

2009-10-28T15:38:00.002+08:00

I've been talking so much about my plans to lose weight before Hubby comes home right? Well, I haven't exactly acted on those plans just yet. I was waiting until 6 weeks after I've given birth to start because the Doctor says if I exercise before that my body isn't fully ready yet. Now, it is exactly 6 weeks from the day I gave birth.

Tomorrow I exercise!!! I promise to do 30 minutes of the stationary bike and a few sets of crunches. Those fitness equipment downstairs would finally be of use to me. It has been piling on some dust since dad bought it about 2 years ago. Mom is the only one using it right now. Let's see if I walk the walk and not just talk the talk. Wish me luck!

How To Handle A Picky Eater

2009-10-28T15:31:00.000+08:00

My child is a picky eater. It's a struggle every mealtime. Now, to avoid fighting with Ozzy, we just let him be. If he doesn't like to eat what is served then so be it. He doesn't eat. Usually he does not like eating during breakfast. Come lunch time he would be hungry already and meal time would not be a problem anymore. I've learned to just let go. He will eat or ask for food when he is hungry. Forcing him to eat would develop a unhealthy relationship with him and food.

Other times when I feel there's nothing in his tummy I let him have Yogurt or fruit. Sometimes he asks for milk but I've already limited his milk intake to 2 glasses a day instead of 3. The Doctor said 2 glasses is enough for a 3 year old and by giving him 3 may cause him not to eat more rice as he should.

How do you handle a picky eater?