Merry Christmas

Someone is super duper excited to open his gifts...

As they say Christmas is for the children, but let us not forget to teach our kids whats the true meaning of christmas. The birth of Jesus Christ...

sharing unconditional love to all and most of all that we are all brothers and sisters. Lets pray for peace, love and that we would finally learn to love mother nature. From our family to yours, we wish you all a Merry Merry Christmas, a peaceful 2013, and may our good Lord bless us all! Merry Christmas. ~~Raquel, Jon and Saffron Chua.

Kindermusik and us

On my toddler's first graduation from Kindermusik classes, my mom said to me: those classes are more for the parents than the kids. What a funny observation to make. Imagine the parents signing up for the classes for themselves and bringing their young ones along to learn how best to entertain and stimulate their children.

But the comment was not without basis.

Since attending Kindermusik classes, my husband not only learned a few dance steps and a couple of exercise routines, but he also picked up a number of songs to sing to our daughter. Kindermusik has expanded his very limited children's song list of ABC and Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star to include The Keel Row, Aiken Drum, and Dance, Little Baby, among others.

I also picked up a lot of things and I no longer need to invent or search for songs or actions to them!

The classes even gave us the opportunity to find out our daughter's learning style. She's usually quiet in class, especially on the first day or when something new is being introduced, choosing to observe us, her teacher, and classmates than participate. Surprisingly, she absorbs everything and repeats them to us back at home. She's very attentive. When we play her the CD, she can even be left by herself to dance with her toy baby. She has memorized the routines. And imagine our delight when she started singing too!

Kindermusik offers so many activities for your child's physical, musical, cognitive, emotional, social, and language development.

For example, a steady beat makes them improve their fine motor skills. Foreign languages are brought in through another country's folk or children's songs while Singapore Math is being introduced through alternating dance movements.

But what I really love about Kindermusik is how the parents play a big role in their child's development.

Before they are three years old, daddies and mommies (or yayas) are on the floor, too. They waltz, jump, fly like a bird or wag their tails like the dog Rover as well. But you don't really need a class to play silly with your child, right? If you are imaginative enough, you can play with what you have and with the time you've got for your child. But if you don't have a clue, and want to learn how best to entertain and stimulate your child then let Kindermusik teach you too.

- Mommy Smiley

I love Christmas! =)

Last December 2010 was what we consider our first christmas as husband and wife in our own place & pregnant with Saffron. Well not really our first Christmas as husband and wife since we were married December 6, 2009 but the 2009 christmas was not really counted. hehehe! We received a christmas tree gift from our Ninang Marilyn. She said this was a hit in china. It saves space and money cause the tree has built-in lights. 

This was our first tree with my nephew Tristan. 

This year I am so obsessed with christmas decors. Why? Last year, we weren't able to put up any christmas decors, no Parol (christmas lantern) not even a real christmas tree. I was busy baking orders and busy taking care of Saffron. All I have for 2011 was some figurines I got from a flea market in Dagupan Manila. 

my oldest christmas decor which I got from Dapitan market each pair cost 250.00 pesos. I bought this around February of 2010. 

This year I  promised to make an effort to decorate our house. This year is more special since it's Saffron's first christmas that he knows whats going on around him. End of October we were able to buy our 1st parol. We choose this colorful parol for Sam cause his fascinated by changing colors. 

Sam and his baba. Photo taken last Oct 22, 2012. It's our first time to own a Parol (Christmas Lantern). This lantern cost 1,000.00 bought it at Gilmore street. 

I love transforming our house into semi-festive mode, but I'd be honest...I'm more into buying ready made decorations and hoping to somewhat alter it and make it my own.  DIY stuffs??? well I'm not so good at that, so lets leave it to our resident DIY diva mommy Smiley. hehehe!

Our foyer table, decorated with Santa cups

Candy canes are my favorites. =)

Santa Cups i got from Puregold Subic during our recent trip. 

Each santa cups cost 89.00 pesos

Baba, finally found time to hang our Parol outside our veranda.

Another reason to love christmas season...It gives me license to decorate our humble adobe and gives you license to spend for gifts without the guilt. hehehe! I'm also lucky that my husband supports my craziness. He has been brainwashed to be domesticated. hahahaha! 

This is my inspiration for my tree. Photo taken last Dec 2008 at a Hong Kong hotel lobby.

So I asked Jon to get me my tree. He was actually considering of buying a real christmas tree from S & R. When I say real, he was to buy the REAL tree, fresh pine tree. I asked him not to cause there's no need for us to have that kind of tree. He said I thought you wanted the same in Hong kong? Plastic tree is fine for me. =) So, he went to true value again wanting to buy a tree and then I remembered that my mother-in-law has 2 christmas trees that she doesn't like using anymore and is just kept on our commissary attic. So we got the "slim tree" cause the other tree from Designer's bloom was sooooooooooooo huge.  Since I'm only 5'2" I needed the man of the house to put up the tree for me. 

Photo and caption grab form Jon's FB post:

Jon: Work in progress.... Well I must say, even a chef should know how to do house chores and crafts. Hahahaha Hindi Lang ako marunong magplancha. The rest, I can handle. Especially this Christmas tree. Hehe

I asked Jon to buy christmas lights. I wanted warm white christmas lights and he end up buying white lights cause that's what he wants. Marriage is give and take so i let him have the christmas lights na. hahaha! We hang some red and matte gold balls up our tree but the tree looked so sad...so I asked Jon if we can use the old christmas tree ornaments thats was kept in the attic. He said yes... It got me excited. So I worked on our tree for 3 days. 

1st day I just grab some flowers and ferns (i just call it ferns cause it looks like one but I'm not really sure if it was) and put it on our tree but still the tree looks sad and kalbo. 

 flowers and ferns 

I asked our maids to look for more ornaments. They were able to find pears, oranges, twigs, yellow and red grapes (even in our tree there is food! hahaha).

The addition of fruits made it more full but i was not really happy. Cause I think there are still spaces thats needs filling. 

I asked them to look for more. When Jon found out that I asked for all the ornaments he said...you'll use everything? our tree is so slim how can all of those fit in there? All i said was... I will find a way. =) 

I added some red twigs and some mapple tree leaf. 

after 3 days of fixing and re-arranging...That moi fixing and obsessing about my tree. =) I also have to find time in between motherhood and baking to wrap gifts & write gift cards...I just hope i can still finish everything...  =)

Here is our final tree! 

not so kalbo... I just love it... I know I might raise some eye brows...but all i can say is This is my/our tree go get yours. hehehe! =)

Oh...and I still need to buy a nice and cute belen for our house. This belen will teach Sam about our faith and about God. How's your Christmas decorations? 

Mommy Raquel

Pre-school homeschool

To homeschool or not to homeschool my toddler in her pre-school years was relatively an easier decision to make than choosing between sleeping and eating when you are both tired and hungry looking after your kids.

Since deciding to work from home, attending a childbirth class, choosing natural childbirth, becoming a stay-at-home mom, breastfeeding, co-sleeping, and baby wearing, the next "attachment parenting" course to take seemed obvious already. The question is no longer whether I should homeschool, but how do I do it and where can I find the needed support.

Luckily, I need not look further.

The moms of children attending classes at Kindermusik with Teacher Suzette and friends have organized a talk on Pre-school Homeschool (You can do it too).

Coming out of the two-hour talk, I just realized that I am already on the right track and that most of my worries are pointless.

Reading, singing, dancing, playing, teaching Caitlin manners, giving her daily routines, and even letting her help out in household chores are already teaching her life skills and developing her character. On top of that, we are bonding.

And that is what pre-school homeschooling is all about: relationship, routine, readiness, and reading aloud. At least that was how the author of a literature-based curriculum defined the four Rs in pre-school as quoted by event organizer Mariel Uyquiengco of The Learning Basket and a Kindermusik teacher.

Before the seminar, when I think of pre-school, I think of playschool and children as young as two being taught their ABCs, 123s, colors, and shapes. But those are only icings on the cake, said teacher Mariel.

What I picked up from the talk is that pre-school homeschooling is a play-based learning that centers on the child's relationship with the parent who helps develop her life skills such as helping out in the house, taking care of herself, or becoming independent and building her character to ready her for the world. It would also take lots of creativity and imagination on the part of the parent in teaching her child the love of learning whether it be in reading to her out loud or playing with her at home.

As I did with breastfeeding, or any other thing that concerns my kids, I will once again take pre-school homeschool one day at a time, rejoicing at little milestones and taking a breather when everything doesn't seem quite right.

My children will only be young once and I do not want to rush them out into the world. I want them to cherish their childhood. And I not only want to witness that, but I also want an active role in it.

To those who are considering homeschooling their children between ages 2 and 5 and are interested to hear how other moms do it, there will be another seminar on Dec. 1, from 9-11 am, at Medela House in New Manila for its customers. Limited seats are available for non-members. For more information, call Medela at 725-3723 or 738-6272.

- Mommy Smiley

Teacher Mariel answers parents' questions on home schooling.

Happy Halloween

Last year was my Saffron's 1st halloween event. I dressed him up as a sumo wrestler and participated at our condo's celebration. Click here to check out our Japanese costume Matching costume for mommy and baby. This year we were invited to join trick or treat at The Podium. We were excited and decided to let Sam come as a bee and Kuya Tristan as Superman. 

Mother-in-law called and said the event has a theme...I panicked cause I don't know where to get costumes for Sam and my nephew Tristan in less than a week. This years halloween celebration was sponsored by National Geographic with a Animal Safari as it's theme. Again...I am against halloween theme, simply because for me trick or treat is supposed to be a license for kids to dress up whatever way they want so why give a theme?! I called bumblebee to ask if they have safari costumes available, sadly sold-out. So I went to rant on facebook, asked friends and relative if they have safari costume that I can buy/borrow/rent? Good thing my cousin Alma Chan has safari themed costume that I can borrow. Thank God!!! =) 

My Saffron with his collection of costumes from bumblebee. =) 

Before the actual Halloween celebration Nat Geo sponsored this animal display. All animals were moving. =) Nice for kids to see.  

Here's Sam loving the zebra. Maybe because his familiar with this from his crib mobile. 

A bit scared of the Lion. =)

Fascinated with the Elephant. 

Amazed with the Giraffe. 

With kuya's favorite the lion. 

Actual day of event...mommy went to raid her closet for her costume. I have to have a costume too. Right?! hahaha! 

I went as tigress with my tiger headband. hahaha! =)

Sam as Chicken...I know it doesn't go with the theme...but as i quote my husband...to hell with safari theme! my son looks cute dressed as chicken. hahaha!

I like how the event was planned this year,  they were more organized. Each participant was asked to register so each kid is assured to have a loot bag with candies from Hershey's. Each participants also received stubs for face painting, balloon twist, tattoo, ice cream from nestle & free session from Picture company (which for me is like hold-up, cause actual printing is not free!!!!boooooo!). We were also given list of participating merchants. At first there were just 10 participants in the list... until I guess others joined in. I like how the merchants participated, it's actually a marketing strategy for them to let people visit their store, more like to let people know that they are there. hahaha! almost all merchants were able to participate except for some few party poopers. hahaha! 

 Kuya Tristan dress as a giraffe! Thanks to his Tita Alma Chan who lend this costume. Oh...Kuya won best in costume! hahaha! =) 

Photobooth from Dr. Smiles. As I mentioned some of the merchants took this event as marketing opportunity. Dr. Smiles has a free photobooth session but in order to redeem your photo you need to like Dr. Smiles facebook page. Wise right? oh...they have a ready computer for you to login to your fb account and like their page right inside the clinic... Genius!!! 

Picture...picture...picture

Photos c/o Dr. Smile @ The Podium

Kids waiting for the program to start. 

We have filled 3 buckets full of candies...now what to do with all this candies??? 

Prizes for Kuya after winning as best in costume and in one contest he joined. Glad Toy Kingdom sponsored the prizes. =)

Over all we like celebrating halloween at The Podium, place is air-con ideal for thick costumes for kids. The mall is not too crowded and it's just 5 floors that one can really tour in less than 2 hours. =) How was your halloween? What was your costume?? Would love to hear from you guys. =)

~~Mommy Raquel  

United Nations Celebrations

Inspired by this week's celebration, here's Saffron look of the day: KATIPUNERO (chinese version) hahaha! =)

Katipunero look: simple white shirt and red pants.

My Chinese katipunero, minus the scraf and hat. hehehe! =)

All clothes are from Mothercare. Shoes from Nike

What is your child's costume for this year's United Nations celebration? Share it with us. =)

~~Mommy Raquel

Babywearing convert

I am not aware that October is babywearing month until I read Mommy Raquel's post. I am actually a recent convert to babywearing, thanks to her. We received a baby carrier - not the sling type - for Caitlin when she was young, but my husband wasn't convinced because it made him feel hot. On my part, I also worried whether it is strong enough to hold my child. So we shelved it and instead took turns in carrying our daughter when she doesn't feel like sitting on her stroller when we were out.

When we had our second daughter, however, things had to change. She was prematurely born at seven months and needed constant cuddling. We did Kangaroo care (skin to skin contact) while she was still confined at the hospital and I'd like to believe that it greatly helped improve her weight in conjunction with the vitamins that she was - and still is - taking.

So because of her need to be constanly next to me, I thought of babywearing. I got Mamaway and taught myself how to use it by watching youtube clips. I have yet to watch the vcd that the sling comes with. I experimented on the Koala position with Caitlin and, surprisingly, she loved it at 17 months. My husband also loved it. He took Caitlin on a sling when he went to the grocery or the mall, and he even got pretty good comments (something like how responsible looking he is). I am sure they looked great together even though I wasn't there to take their pictures.

So if you haven't got a sling yet, it's not too late to convert to babywearing as my toddler and husband can attest to. And it's never too early to start too.

Happy babywearing month it is!

- Mommy Smiley

October Is BabyWearing Month

October is World Babywearing Awareness Month (Oct 8-14)

I'am a pro-babywearing mommy. We started using sling when Sam was just 4months. Why sling? I find strollers too bulky, heavy and we end up putting bags on it. I like how sling works. I get to carry my child with weight evenly distributed. I have free hands to use specially when using escalators and carrying of bags. I also love how i can nurse in public freely. When Jon and I decide to get sling we got the Maya BabySling.  

To know more about Maya BabySling read here http://www.mayawrap.com/
To know more about babywearing group you may view their page here babywearing international
To know more about babywearing you may read about it here wiki/Babywearing
To know more about babywearing (article) read on here smartparenting

Babywearing Sam at 4 months old

Babywearing at 6 months

Babywearing Sam on a out of town trip in batangas  6months 

Sam at 15 months with his Baba at SM Megamall

Sam with me his Mimi at Greenbelt 5.

Sam with me at Jamba Juice MOA

To learn how to properly wear your sling check out the video:Putting on your Maya Wrap Baby Sling

You on baby slings too? What sling you using? Would you consider babywearing too? Tell me about it. Lets share tips. Love to hear from you guys. 

Mommy Raquel

MybabySaffron look of the day:

Saffron Look of the day:

view full image

"#mybabysaffron look of the day. Long sleeves onesies & cap by mothercare (shangri-la), jeans by guess kids (sm baguio), shoes by Nike (location at Yabu megamall) "

Mommy Raquel

Weaning Caitlin from breastfeeding

It's ironic that as we celebrate the breastfeeding month this August, I have to wean my nearly 16-month-old from directly breastfeeding from me for medical reasons.

I have been diagnosed with placenta previa totalis and there's a rare chance that it will change before I am due. As is the case, according to my doctor, there is the threat of bleeding that could result to an emergency C-section before I reach my full-term. Since direct breastfeeding involves nipple stimulation and the release of oxytoxin that could contribute to contraction and trigger bleeding, I have been adviced to wean my child from suckling from me.

Although I don't feel any uterine contractions during breastfeeding and I haven't bled since I got pregnant, I can't take any chances for the sake of my baby. The goal is to bring her to full-term healthy.

On a brighter note, I am happy that Caitlin is past one year old with a very good appetite for healthy and nutritious foods so I need not worry too much about her health.

Besides, in the past six months, she has been feeding less and less from me. Sometimes even sleeping through the night without milk. It bothered me at first, thinking that I will dry out of milk, but was gently reminded that breastfeeding, then and now, continues to be demand-led.

So by the time that I have been told to wean, Caitlin has been feeding to sleep roughly four times a day.

Weaning, like beginning your breastfeeding journey, can't be established overnight. I am at least glad that I don't have to stop abruptly because of something I took that could harm Caitlin, for example. So I had the luxury to take weaning a day at a time.

On the first week, I have successfully removed one daytime session only to put it back one day to pacify her when she's all weepy and cranky from lack of nap.

On week two, breastfeeding has been cut to three sessions with the introduction of about one to two ounces a day of fresh goat's milk to her diet since that's only how much she would take.

We're now on the third week and have successfully increased her goat's milk intake to about two ounces during the day and another two at night. The breastfeeding sessions have been cut to two. One in the day and when she wakes up in the middle of the night.

She still prefers breasts at night and I give in or else we all wouldn't be able to sleep.

I have two more months to go before I am due, and I am uncertain what week four will bring. But I am happy to have reached this far, and provided this much for my daughter.

Breastfeeding is a wonderful experience. Yes, you will have your bad, awkward, tiring, and at first, painful moments. But when you get past those, the bond that forms between mother and child is priceless.

Happy breastfeeding month Everyday Mommy!

- Mommy Smiley

One of those rare times when she gets to drink her fresh goat's milk.