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.

My Own Dose of Slimming Pills.

My folks' arrival from abroad this week paved way for instant mini-reunions with our relatives. Since we're now based in Quezon City and it's only now that they've seen me after several months, they're wondering and asking tips for crash diets that work because of my skinny body. I said, I'm not taking any slimming regimens and pills but the fact that I still breastfeed my son and he's being a bundle of energy keeps my body so slim and in fact, underweight. Well, I've always been on the skinny side so getting back to my pre-pregnancy weight wasn't an ordeal actually.

23 Months

Dearest Asherito,

We saw you over the last month getting more matured in terms on how you try to converse with us. Well, you can not exactly express yet through words your thoughts but your efforts are great and you're inch by inch getting there. Even though sometimes, your delighted shrieks and loud mumbles can be very irritating and deafening, I love your jolly spirit so by all means, feel free to be noisy. As you turn 2 years old in less than a month, I'm so excited to hear you talk more. I can't wait to see see you getting better and better with your vocabulary day by day. Although I know that in the following weeks and months, we will see you rowdier and we're very sure that our patience will be tested to the limit, I'm ready to witness another chapter of your toddler life. I'm so ready to guide you and be with you on every discovery and learning.

Here are things I noted about you on your 23rd month (Jan 2 - Feb 2):

1. Just like December, you were not in the best health in January. You got tonsilitis and your asthma was triggered again. You didn't get admitted but the duration of your cough was a bit longer. Mommy decided that we see a specialist that can help you better on your asthma. Glad we met Dra. Rivera (a pedia pulmonologist at UST) because the prescribed corticosteroids and bronchodilator certainly did wonders and you got better. Hopefully, the treatment will challenge your asthma and you totally recover from it. By the way, save for the x-ray procedure, you're really one brave little boy whenever you're seen by a doctor. You comply to the doctor's instruction to "breathe in and breathe out" by doing your "smelling trick". You also stick out your tongue when the doctor wishes to see your tonsils and sits still when she takes a peek inside your ears.

2. You didn't gain much weight last month but you're still one active boy. You insist on climbing the stairs by yourself. You love to keep on running and jumping and even though you're already panting and tired, you never run out of energy, it seems. Even a bruise or a tiny booboo when you stumble can't stop your energy.

3. Daddy was delighted to see how you are able to throw the ball the way a basketball player shoots. He says you're an athlete in the making and Dad's looking forward to the time when you can play together.

4. You have developed love for numbers, too. You can not count yet from 1 to 5 but it's amazing of you to say "two" whenever you see things or animals in partner. You also say "two" or signal "five" through your hands when you hear the questions "how many", "what time" and "how much".

5. It's heart warming to see how you've develop compassion sympathy. You say "wawa" (short for "kawawa") when you see an animal being preyed and eaten on the Animal Planet channel or an injured person around you.

6. You're still a water baby and I think you will be for the rest of your life. You say "wow!" in delight whenever you see waterfalls (like the one in SM's Skygarden) or even pools and tiny ponds. I'm certain that you will run towards them if we let you go and the next second will be us witnessing having a splash or playing with those pond filters.

7. It's also amazing how you associate the correct owners of the things (cellphone, clothes and even glasses) to the people in the house. You love hanging out in the balcony where the clothesline is and enumerate the owners as you point to the hanging clothes.

8. You now decide which clothing you will wear, otherwise, you and yayie end up debating and you fussing when you don't want the apparel that we've prepared for you. You also get to choose which pair of shoes or slippers to wear before going out of the room.

9. You're almost fully potty trained now. You say "Mama, wee-wee" when you feel your bladder is full and "Mama, poopoo" when feeling like doing number 2. We didn't have any little accidents in the last couple of months so we're saving a lot on diapers.

10. You note the absence of things like saying "na na" (short for "wala na").

11. There are only 2 things that scare you: 1. a mascot (even if it's your favorite Jollibee) and 2. the deafening and jolting sound of fireworks.

12. You love requesting Mommy and Daddy make a pig doodle while singing the "Small circle, small circle, big circle.." nursery rhyme.

12. The latest additions to your vocabulary are the following:
- "big" which you pronounce as "bik"
- "opo" as a sign of respect when answering the adults
- "Bo" for "Bro"
- "You" for "I love you"
- "baby"
- "Nong nong" for "Ninong"
- "Tata" for "Tita"
- "Wa" or "Ya" for Kuya
- "Wowo" for "Lolo"
- from "lra-lra" your term for Lola now is "Wawa"

Birthday Plans.

Finally, we, or I must say, I, have finally decided how we'll be celebrating Asher's 2nd birthday next month. I have initially wanted and saved up for a Jollibee party for him but we decided to forgo the party this year and opt for a simpler celebration since we're anticipating tremendous savings damaging expenses come summer time when Little Mansion's ready for the big move.

So instead, we'll treat him out on a special lunch and dinner together with our families (my side and paul's) on his birthday then we'll troop to Manila Ocean Park on that weekend. I'm sure Asher will enjoy viewing the fishes.

Don't worry, Cher-cher, we'll make up to you next year.

I can't believe that the little one's turning two already. Wasn't it just yesterday when I first cuddled, fed and cooed over him? The memories of his first weeks are still vivid, the happiness and contentment of having him as well as my struggles as I adjust to the world of motherhood including the experience of applying hemorrhoids cream. Yep, unfortunately, that's one of the post delivery challenges I was made to deal with. Time flies fast by really fast, huh?

I'm so ready to face more Terrible Two's pangungulit and paglilikot from you, my Cher-cher!

He's On "Steroids".

It was last Monday when Asher met and was checked for the first time by a Pediatric Pulmonologist at UST. She was actually referred and vouched by a couple of friends. Their kids also have asthma and so far, they are currently handled and managed very well by the said doctor. Just witnessing how long the queue of waiting patients is in the hallway's convincing enough that she is indeed a good specialist. When she learned about Asher's history and heard herself Asher's breathing and cough, she immediately confirmed that it's the asthmatic type of cough. Asher's under oral Prednisone medications, a type of corticosteroids (the same medication used in eczema treatment) that is used to control acute asthma attacks. This is more commonly called steroids but it's different from the ones used by athletes.

Cortiscosteroids must be administered with precaution because of the following probable side effects:
1. Itching or hives, swollen face or hands, chest tightness, breathing troubles, tingling in mouth or throat
2. Headache, eye pain, or visual troubles
3. Increased urination or thirst
4. Seizures or dizziness
5. Stomach problems, stomach pain, bloody or black stools
6. Sudden pain, swelling, or loss of movement in the lower leg
7. Sudden fluid retention or weight gain

He'll be seen again tomorrow for a follow up checkup. I can't say yet that Asher has fully gotten better because he still coughs every now and then but a lot less frequent now than last week.

Top Search on Google

I was stoked upon learning that my post: Asher's Jungle Safari 1st Birthday Party is among the top page search results appearing on the first page (take note, first page) of Google when you search for the keywords "Jungle Safari Birthday Party". I guess, it just goes to show that a lot find the jungle safari theme cool, huh? Actually, if you take a look in my feedjit live feed, the referring page to this blog mostly come from google. I'm glad that I was able to make an organic content for this blog but sadly and confusingly, this hasn't gotten back the high Page Rank it used to have. Perhaps, I need to implore a seo software now to boost my blog traffic even more and hopefully, Google will be kinder to give me back my page rank.

Asthma.

I still haven't shared anything new about Asher recently. It is because I'm still crushed by the Pediatric Pulmonologist's confirmation on Asher's Pediatrician's initial diagnosis. Sadly, indeed he has asthma.

That explains the frequent recurrence of his cough and colds over the last quarter of 2009. It was a surprise for us because neither of us (Paul and I) has asthma. He was and still being breastfed at 23 months. He didn't have any known allergies since his newborn days. The Pedia Pulmo explained that he'd likely get it since asthma and allergies are positive in the family, my side, even though we, the parents, don't have it. My youngest brother had asthma but got totally cured before he turned 7. Then recently, I learned that my sister's 7 month old daughter in Doha is experiencing some kind of skin allergy of which her Pediatrician foresee that it'd likely develop to asthma by the time she turns one, as studies have proven. So looks like it's in the genes then.

The Pedia Pulmo also explained that he was made more vulnerable when he got Bronchitis on his 8th month. Then, perhaps, it was aggravated further when we transferred here in my in laws place last August by the presence of most of the asthma triggers: pets and dusts (unscreened windows) being the primary present allergens. Within the compound is a pre-school where the colds virus easily spread among the kids.

So there, it breaks my heart that my son has become sickly. The good news though is that it's treatable and he can outgrow it before he turns 5 provided it will be monitored well. Asthma could also be the reason why he looks skinny (as if he was given a thermogenic fat burner) and poorly gained weight these past few weeks.

But I have faith.

Asher will grown just fine and healthy.

The Law of Emotional Choice

We all have our low days once in a while. And it's just normal to feel moody and crappy when Aunt Flo's around during that certain time of the month. It's just normal, too, to get annoyed and displeased but sometimes people do over react over small and nonsense petty things. They tend to forget about The Law of Emotional Choice.

To quote Greg Anderson:

"You can't expect to prevent negative feelings altogether. And you can't expect to experience positive feelings all the time...The Law of Emotional Choice directs us to acknowledge our feelings but also to refuse to get stuck in the negative ones."

So true! And if I may add...."refuse to get stuck in the negative ones -- to save on acne treatment gels!" When we're being negative, we're stressed. When we're stressed, our hormones gets imbalanced. Imbalanced hormones can lead our skin to break out and have acne. So for a clearer and beautiful skin, just think and dwell on happy thoughts.

"Hair", There and Everywhere

Apparently, I'm faced with a hair loss dilemma again. I'm not really having alopecia nor needing intensive hair loss treatments yet but it's just frustrating. It's so irksome to pool together multiple strands of uprooted hair dangling on my finger tips or on my clothes whenever I comb in the morning. Sometimes it peeves the husband too because hair strands are everywhere in our room's floor and they get stuck in his toes. I'm not really sure if this is cause by the new shampoo from the US (are they really harsher compared to local ones?) or yet again caused by another episode of my hormones acting up.

Extremely Busy.

Hello everyone! I can't believe that it's been weeks since my last entry here. Don't think though that I've totally neglected this nook of mine. It's just that I've been totally busy working on my other online projects and concentrating on the best seo software that I just heard about.

Just as the cliche goes, so many things to do so little time. I feel guilty about not being able to blog about the little one's recent adventures and development but I'll try to make it up shortly with his 23rd month report. Yes, just one month to go and he's officially 2! I can't believe that I'll be celebrating my 2nd year of being a mom to the most adorable and loving son in the whole world soon. Where did the time go? Indeed, my decision to leave the corporate world to be with him 24/7 is the best and wisest judgment I've ever made.

Gold As Investment

I heard that any moment, it's always a right time to buy gold bullion. Experts say that it is the most stable precious metal regardless how the world economy is challenged since its value does not change at all. Its price may change and follow random trends but this has got to do with the fluctuating currency values and interest rates. Other than that, gold has always been a wise and profitable investment as proven by many successful investors.