A Trust Fund and Gold Investment.

It really feels good whenever I get to transfer some of my hard earned salary to my son's trust fund. We didn't get him an educational plan for his schooling because we're just too hesitant especially that even those pre-need plan companies that we think are stable over the years are now shadowy, too. Some have shut down while some are on the brink of closing. So we agreed not to risk our money on that kind of investment but instead, maintain a trust fund savings account for the little one. As a supplement, we can perhaps try precious metal investment like buy gold coins as a start up. I heard from the news that gold is doing way better now. Analysts and expert traders foresee that gold will continue its high competitive value in the weeks and even months to come as the euro dollar entails favorable gain over the US dollar.

On Preschooling

It may be a little too early but I'm trying to familiarize myself already on how pre-schooling goes for the first time. Asher's 2 now and in a year or two, he may then be ready to start schooling. I'm not really into aggressive preschool hunt yet. But I have started researching on the web for pre-schools having close proximity to our soon-to-be Batasan home. Further, I'm more on reading about the different preschooling approaches and methods. Whew! Unlike searching for work philly jobs, I never imagined that finding the perfect preschool can be so challenging. So whether it be homeschooling, traditional, montessori or progressive method, I absolutely do not have idea yet which to go with. I'll do an intensive research first and from there, I'll decide.

Too Many..Too Little.

Too many celebrations and happenings..too many photos to share..but too little time to upload and organize them in my Flickr gallery. If not for my micro sd running out of space, I wouldn't be forced last night to transfer the photos that were taken 3 weeks ago.

Geez..I guess it's not only the "lack of time" that is to be blamed. Sheer laziness, too?

My Prayer as Asher Turns 2 Today..

Every mom in the world wish nothing but the best for their children.

Today, as my son turns 2, my prayer is exactly outlined in Rachel Aldous' song: A Mother's Prayer.

Happy 2nd Birthday Asher!

A Mother's Prayer (HANNAH'S SONG)

Verse:
My sweet baby on loan from above
no better treasure could I more love
I stand here beside your bed as I pray
I lay my hand on your head and I say:

Chorus:
May you grow up to serve Him
all of your days
May He lead you and guide you
in all of your ways
May His hand bless your future with
friendships that last
May you cherish your youth
and not grow up too fast

Verse:
I stare in wonder at your tiny frame
Just to think that God knows you by name
He knows every hair on your beautiful head
He knows all your thoughts before they are said

Chorus:
May you grow up to serve Him
all of your days
May He lead you and guide you
in all of your ways
May His hand bless your future with
friendships that last
May you cherish your youth
and not grow up too fast

Prayer:
May God grant you peace
in the midst of a storm
May God give you strength even
when youre forlorn
May you answer the door when
Jesus comes knocking
May wisdom guide you when
your mouth is talkin
May discretion protect you
and keep you pure
May you never stumble
or fall for a lure
May your heart remain humble
to the very end
May uprightness and truth
be what you defend
May the world not ensnare
or change who you are
May the light that's within you
shine like the stars
May angels surround you
body, spirit, mind
May favor and peace be yours to find
May rejection and pain
never reach you
May your spirit grow bold
for what youre called to

As you rest in Gods care I will rest too
Knowing that Jesus is watching over you
Amen

Hannah speaks: I love you, Mommy

Asher at 2 Years Old.

Someone's celebrating his birthday tomorrow. So before I go working and study about these term life insurance quotes that were forwarded to me and before we go out tonight for a special dinner with the family, let me share how the little tot has been in the last month.

1. His comprehension is incredible. He perfectly understands every word and instruction I say. Albeit he still has limited vocabulary, he can convey whether he agrees or not and can combine 2 to 3 words (and hand signals) to say what's on his mind.

2. Answers "Pow" (Paul) when asked of his Daddy's name; "Ninin" for his Mommy's name; "Jun" and "Affy" (Raffy) for his Lolos' names and "Ish" (Liz) for Lola's name.

3. Favorites are "Babab" (Spongebob), Barney and Animal Planet. He wouldn't want any other than his "Babab" and Barney evening shirts.

4. Separation anxiety is still as intense ever and wants nobody but Mommy for most of the time.

5. Doesn't display any readiness signs of weaning from breastfeeding still.

6. Knows the idea of sharing as he gives a portion of his food to his Lolo and Lola or to anyone around first before he eats.

7. Bit by bit learning how to answer by himself "opo" to the elders' questions.

8. Is more assertive and throw tantrums more frequently now.

9. Looks forward to attending the Sunday Mass so he can make "mano" to the priest after and drop money bills and coins into the collection basket during the Offertory.

On Our Tin (10th) Anniversary

Paul and I will be celebrating our 5th wedding anniversary this year. Just five years to go and we'll fulfill the "agreement" we made on the night we got married that we'll get wed again to renew our vows on our 10th anniversary. It's too early to plan really but it won't hurt if we'll start thinking or more of dreaming to how we shall have it. For now, there's only one thing in my mind. Blame it on all of the destination weddings photos in every wedding photographers' portfolio I've seen in their sites. Plus, KarismaHotels.com's photo gallery of weddings held in their highly acclaimed resorts and beaches entice me even more. I think, there's nothing more romantic and sweet than renewing vows with toes in the sand, under a charming gazebo with sublime Riviera Maya sea views. A beach wedding is what I want so I better start saving up for it.

Baby Oil Before Bath Time

One of the baby care practices that I was taught by the elders when I gave birth to Asher is to apply baby oil (Johnson's Body Warming) before giving him a full tub bath. They pointed out that the oil will keep the baby from getting cold and prevent getting him sick. Being the obedient daughter that I was, I obliged. Until now, it has been a habit and Asher's cue as well that applying baby oil to his whole body signals bath time.

It's only now that I learned through an online friend who attended the ParentinTV talk series that doing such is unnecessary. According to the doctor who discussed about baby bathing, applying baby oil before bath time doesn't have a scientific basis and explanation on how it will "warm" the baby's skin and protect him from getting cold. While there may be no baby and parenting sites explicitly detailing that such is a must-practice and the Nursery Nurse from the hospital didn't teach me that when the little one got discharged, I'll still continue the oil application. According to one reference, the oil closes the skin pores and helps in the body's insulation. It will also smooth and moisturize dry skin. So far, my son's skin is soft and smooth, not needing any natural acne cleanser yet or whatsoever.

How about you, do you apply baby oil to your offsprings before bathing?

Baby Shower Gift Ideas for the Mom

A baby shower is one of the things that pregnant Moms often look forward to towards the end of their pregnancy next to, of course, the actual birth. Mostly, close family members or friends are the party organizers. They plan on the food to cook or order for delivery, the games and activities to do, gifts to bring and the baby shower invitations printing and distribution. This is when the expectant parents feel so much loved and supported by their friends on the coming of their newborn.

Selecting gifts isn't as daunting as it may seem even if you aren't a parent and clueless about baby stuffs. Just go to a mall's baby section and a variety of baby basic stuffs abound.

Giving birth is one tough job for a mom. That's why Moms (and also Dads), too, deserve to be gifted and pampered with things that will relax, relieve their stress and make their adjustment as new parents a lot easier:

Some ideas include:
• a pregnancy massage kit
* a kymaro body shaper
* a spa and massage package
* a breastfeeding pillow
* a gift certificate to Mom's favorite restaurant
* movie tickets
* a manicure and appointment at a salon
* a gift certificate to a drugstore (to buy postnatal vitamins)
* a personal baby sitting and house cleaning gift certificate - I'm sure moms will truly appreciate that

"Bip" Tummy

Since I've just blogged about how the little one has been eating a lot lately, let me also share how he reacts and say "big tummy" when he sees how huge his tummy bulges are following a huge meal. He pats his tummy then he'll scream "BIP!" He can't enunciate the g-ending words yet correctly and he replaces the last letter with "P" instead. So when he says "bap" he's actually pertaining to a "bag".

Another word he recently learned is "yayts" for "lights". I wonder what he'll mumble when I ask him to say "differin". Perhaps, he'd say "peyen". Does not sound quite the same but at least, he's getting there.

Voracious Eater Now.

After his asthma struck again last month, Asher's at the point when he's getting back his old weight and even gaining more rapidly now. Thank God! He has been eating a lot and when I say a lot, is having 5 servings of his his lunch plate an exaggeration? That's how his appetite was like yesterday to my surprise. Further, for four days now, he's been constantly munching every time he sees a food that his taste buds desire even if it's not mealtime. I bet this is the appetite surging effect that is brought about by his steroids intake when he was sick two weeks ago. (It's the total opposite of slimming pills effects listed down at http://www.weightlosspills.net). Now I just hope that this goes on so he will gain more weight and and have a less skinny physique.

RIP, Tita Bess.

We welcomed our Wednesday morning last week with a sad news: an aunt-in-law died in her sleep. Although the family is aware how dangerous her ailments have been in the past years, they were still caught unprepared of her sudden demise. A combination of diabetes and high blood is as deadly as a malignant Mesothelioma. What's even worse about this complication is that a heart attack and failure may suddenly strike any where, any time without warning. And that's what exactly happened to Tita Bess. I feel for the family she left behind especially for her husband who hasn't fully recovered from a grave stroke last year. He still suffers from memory lapses once in a while and his speech can hardly be understood. When we visited the wake yesterday, my heart also goes out to my cousins-in-law when they hear their Daddy's utterance that he will follow her wife very soon.

Best Cousins and Best "Enemies"

Look at how these cousins are truly growing up so fast. They're both turning 2 this year so just imagine how crazy our world has been in the past few months (and in the succeeding months) as we all take part in their journey to toddlerhood. Emotionally, this is the period when they are really challenging our patience to the limits as they throw tantrums and fight and hurt each other. They can be the best of friends at one moment, but they can be the best enemies the next. Somehow, this is the time when I'm thankful I just gave birth to just one and not twins. Otherwise, their energy and outbursts equate already to tons of phentermine and might have gotten my body all sucked up to the bones. But I must admit, watching these two cousins play and get together can also be very heartwarming and truly precious moments to behold.