It's a bit sad how our neighborhood, or let me say the whole country, lacks a pleasant place for kids to play in. Kung meron tayo neto I'm sure lahat ng bata dun na magdamag. Haha!
Playgrounds are one of the reasons we love going back to Singapore. They have one in every block. It's free, spacious and really fun. Packo didn't even want to leave the place even after we've been there too long. He can't get enough of climbing rocks, ropes and stairs and he always raised his hands as he slid. Ang saya lang!
Can you spot him? (:
I'm dreaming of one day every neighborhood, or block perhaps, will have a play ground as nice as these! And for free! I bet if we have one of these around, we'll spend as much of our free time there too.
I wish everybody a prosperous and happy 2014!! And I hope you had a great Christmas!!
I'm grateful for an incredible 2013 and it looks like 2014 going to be better than the last.
I also didn't realize my son turned 27 months on the 1st. How time flies so fast! Where have I been?
My son had been so "bibo" or active in English (I don't think there's an exact translation on bibo because it means being smart and active) lately.
He is officially talking now. He knows his letters already (most of the alphabet). He's constantly pointing letters when we're out and sometimes enumerates words that starts with that letter. He's so smart. I'm so proud how he's faring out.
Last 31st, we heard our evening mass and he was being loud so I had to bring him outside. He met other kids sitting at the pavement and he casually joined as if he was part of the group. (how extraverted!) The other kids were also friendly they were giving him high fives! It led to imitating what the older kid does and they were having so much fun. They asked how old my child is and when I said he's two, they said he's taller than his age and so bibo and cute. I can't help but smile and shout yeah that's my son! I didn't do the latter cause we're at church!
On our family's Christmas party, he performed a short Christmas action song "Oh What A Special Night" for the whole clan. We actually practiced 3 songs but decided to go for one. We only practiced it for a couple of days and I can't believe he fast he absorbed everything. I think we have a budding dancer/performer right here.
I can go on and share more stories about Packo but we've little time here and I just really want to wish everybody a glorious new year.
Watching the aftermath of the tragedies that hit Visayas breaks my heart. It was October 15 when an earthquake with a 7.2 magnitude shook Bohol and less than a month later Typhoon Haiyan almost washed Central Visayas out.
People lost their loved ones, shelter and livelihood washed out, no running water, gut-rutting stench from decaying bodies, looting and so on... I wonder how they manage to survive a day and where they get the courage to face another. And to think Christmas is just around the corner, perhaps they don't want to celebrate it, or perhaps this might be their saddest one.
We're grateful that we don't live there because if we do I can't imagine how I would handle it. I know it's not enough to be grateful. Being in a relatively better position, we can do something, we can help.
And amazingly people from around the world acted so fast; donating, organizing charitable auctions/ plays/ concerts/ dinners,sending medical aid, lending transportation vehicles and more creative ways. It's simply overwhelming. We couldn't thank you (world) enough. With this help, Visayas shall rise again.
I also like to believe this is the true meaning of Christmas.
I want to share this video of ABS-CBN's Christmas Station ID (gave me goosebumps all throughout the song) and the lyrics are found below. (Pardon, I can't seem to format and put it in the center)
Bawat Pasko'y may dalang himala
Malakas mang ulan, ito'y titila
Bubuhos ang pagpapala
May kapiling ang nangungulila
Ano mang lungkot, tayo'y aahon
May lunas sa sugat ng kahapon
Sa isa't isa'y mayrong paglingap
Mga pangarap, ngayo'y magaganap
Laging masaya ang kwento ng Pasko
Kahit sino ka man, may nagmamahal sa'yo
Ngayong Kapaskuhan ang pangako ko
Sa puso ko'y magkasama tayo
Sa iisang awit ngayong Pasko
Magkayakap ang tinig ko't sa iyo
Sa 'ting himig, ipagdiriwang ang pag-ibig
At ito ay tatawid sa buong daigdig -
See more at: http://www.tsapsuy.com/2013/10/abs-cbn-christmas-station-id-2013-theme.html#sthash.3LmwtaM6.dpuf
When Packo had his last immunization and check-up for this year yesterday, Dra. Leonila Dans reminded me for the nth time not to use my breasts as his pacifier. She knew I'm guilty as charged. He is a comfort nurser while I find it most convenient if he just nurse till he falls asleep. It simply works for both of us.
However I know it's time for my son to fall asleep on his own. I need to take action, train him while it's still early and before a bad habit to form. Why bad?
He's turning 2 in a month.
Most children should sleep on their own at his age.
He is biologically, emotionally, psychologically ready to fall asleep on his own.
I am only teaching him to be dependent on me and me alone.
It will have a psychological impact if he dependent too much on his primary caregiver
I noticed that being a comfort nurser not only manifested in sleep but also in most things like everything! Which is not a good thing. I don't want to be a Momma's Boy! Plus, I gotta work!
I took action yesterday but I was only hopeful. Here are the things I did:
Since I don't want to eliminate breastfeeding in our routine, I only kept it in a minimum. How long and how frequent? He fed 4 times for 10 minutes max yesterday, night nursing was already included!
I talked and counseled him on what we're doing, what it is for and why.
I eliminated his afternoon nap.
When he signaled he wanted to nurse, I gave him food. This worked each time.
I let him play all day.
What else can you do?
Let other people from your household put your child to bed.
Make sure your child's primary needs (he's full, has a clean diaper, etc) before putting him to bed.
Read your child bedtime stories. Sing lullabies.
Create a bedtime routine.
Have a substitute Mama in the form of a pillow or teddy bear who will give cuddles and kisses. (You may include them in your stories.)
Be firm or consistent. But never be angry with a child who only wants to be with you when he sleeps.
What happened?
I noticed he understood what we're doing and what he's supposed to be doing.
I let him nurse but only for 10 minutes.
He cried each time I stopped him from nursing.
I know he's trying to sleep on his own.
He kept waking up. He woke up twice last night.
I finally nursed him, that was his 4th time, and finally he slept soundly.
He's now having his afternoon nap. Since he didn't have enough sleep last night, I know he's tired. And I took advantage of it.
You know what I did? I hid from him. He kept looking for me until he got soo tired he finally slept on his own!
In my rarely-happens spare time, I put together some Packo's pictures together in PhotoGrid.
I noticed most of the pictures I took were blurred because he was either moving or doesn't want to have his picture taken. These pics are the few pictures worth sharing.
I let my child explore his world and that includes shoes. I know some mothers would raise their eyebrows at me or might even call me a careless mother because I let him do that. Well, I sanitized his hands after. Here he is playing shoemaker.
Tantrum in action. Enough said.
Every time we go to malls, we stop by at a play place. He plays most of the time at the ball box. He just loves balls. He calls them baa. And of course who doesn't love mobile toys?
My son's friends are mostly girls. One Saturday morning, I went to put the garbage out and his friends called me and asked where Packo is. Since they haven't seen my son for a few days, I let them in and play. They were still in their pajamas and they're the cutest. It's nice have the house filled with shrieks and fun once in a while.
I believe play time is essential in every child's well-being. It enriches their physical, emotional, moral, cognitive, and social development. Play also promotes their creativity and it also determines what they also want in life. Let the child explore the world through playing.
This will be a quick post as we have a few grand visitors coming a thousand miles away from here any minute now.
I have been busy again not because of money work but of domestic work that I barely even have time to comb my hair each day (as if I really do, haha). And of course I felt a bit of down because of all the work this week.
I want to share with you what-I-call my self-esteem saver, my Revlon 028 Cherry Blossom lipstick.
Brush your teeth before applying and you're going to feel like a domesticated diva in no time. :)
It's been a while since the last time I posted here. My son and I have been sick, plus with my mom being away (she's back in SG) who do you think did the household chores? Yep, me.
Anyhoo, I'm so excited! My son has been babbling for a couple of days now. And he babbles nonstop.
I've been waiting for this time actually. You know how some boys talk a little late than the girls.
Though he used to make sounds like he's babbling, this is the real thing. You could hear him utter different syllables distinctively.
I'm so proud of him.
I'm so excited to hear him talk. He calls me Mama, says wowa every time he thinks I'm mad at him or he slips and that's just that.
I'm excited to talk with him, to actually make a conversation (in a teeny tiny voice, cute). I'm starting to daydream on what topics we would talk about- pretty sure a lot, how his voice would sound like and how he would look like absorbing whatever it is we are talking about.
No pressure baby, just take your time haha.
For now, I'm definitely enjoying and making the most out of this you-look-so-cute-whenever-you-babble stage.
