Positive Parenting

Since the article is already out (and has been for quite a while now) just wanted to re-post the article I did for SP Online about Positive Parenting. :) You can also find the official post in their website here.

Positive Parenting: 10 Phrases that will Make your Child Listen  

Your child will be more attentive and will be more likely to follow if you use positive words instead.

Ever catch yourself always beginning sentences with “Don’t…” or “Stop…” when talking to your kids? It’s a very common thing for moms to be saying these same lines over and over again with little or no effect at all. So before frustration and exasperation set in, think about trying a different approach. When dealing with determined kids, an effective way of getting your message across is using positive reinforcement.

Here are 10 common “nay” statements that can be turned to “ayes”:

1. Instead of “Don’t do that!”
Try “Mommy would be happy to see you do this instead.”

2. Instead of “Stop crying or else!” or “Don’t be a cry baby.”
Try “I know that you felt bad about what happened, Mommy is here to help you.”

3. Instead of “I’m busy.”
Try “I want to play with you. Mommy just needs to finish something important and then we can play.”

4. Instead of “Hurry up!” or “Move faster!”
Try “Can Mommy help you with what you are doing?”

5. Instead of “Stop that!”
Try “If you continue to do that, you might hurt yourself.”


6. Instead of “You’re so kulit!”
Try “Can you be Mommy’s little helper and do this (a chore) for me?”

7. Instead of “You never learn!”
Try “You are a big boy/girl already. You already know what you should and shouldn’t do.”

8. Instead of “You don’t listen to me!”
Try “Mommy will really be happy if you follow what I say.”

9. Instead of “Why can’t you be more like your other sibling?”
Try “Your brother/sister is doing something really pleasing to Mommy, You should do that as well.”

10. Instead of “Hala! Isusumbong kita kay Daddy.”
Try “Remember what Mommy said about that (fault)? You should know what to do by now.”

Remember, kids don’t respond well to commands, especially if you are asking them to do something other than what they want. The best strategy is to explain why you want your child to do a particular thing. Try using these alternative statements when faced with similar situations and you just might get the response you are looking for.

Make sure that you also devote enough time with your kids, because one of the reasons children often act up is because they are seeking your attention. It is important to have that special “mommy and me” time, as it will surely boost your child’s confidence and self-worth.

Why My Children Make Me Proud

Often times in the busyness of life and everyday things to do-- be it work, preparing meals or doing errands and chores, and just the million and one things that moms (and wives) do to run a household, we tend to get caught up in the "craziness" and tend to focus on the little and seemingly unimportant things that our children do to make us proud. I am guilty at times when I catch myself scolding my kids for this and that, and then realizing.. hey, this is no longer healthy. Sound familiar? I bet it is. You know what I do? I take a moment (even just a few seconds will do) for myself and remind myself that children don't think the way I do, and therefore do not act in ways we expect them to. Breath in. Breath out. Now smile and tell Kuya to "please don't do that." :)

These past few weeks have been quite hectic but precious moments spent with my little ones and how fast they are growing and blooming can't help but make me feel soooo proud!! Our eldest, Santino, who has been part of a number of wedding entourage's in the past has NEVER walked down the aisle. And I mean never with matching bawling and tantrums refusing to wear his coat and tie. And so naturally, when he was asked yet again to be part of a friend's entourage last week, my husband and I found ourselves talking to the couple to actually think of having another bible bearer instead. I guess the soon-to-be newlyweds had much more faith in him than we did coz they insisted. And to cut thr long story short, my husband and I were floored when Santino not only wore his coat and tie (YESS!) but he ALSO walked down the aisle by himself and even posed for pictures!!! Even to this day this thought bring such a smile to my face!  I was over the moon that day.  Just goes to show that you can't really limit a person's capabilities and believe in people because good things will happen when you believe and trust in people you love. :)

Our Bible bearer!!! :)

Super good mood. Posing with Daddy.

The search for the right Pre-school.

Every time summer starts to come to an end and June is just around the corner, I, along with other "last-minute" moms are frantically in search for the right pre-school for our kids. We recently moved to the Pasig area (from Antipolo) and being new to the area, I was anxious to find a pre-school for my very curious, hyper-active and eager to learn 3.9 (in June :)) year old boy. As of today, I have enrolled my son in a pre-school already. I am happy with my choice.. for now.. but just like any mom, I am hoping that the teachers will be able to address the needs and bring out the best in my son.

Just as I know there may still be a few moms out there looking for a school, it's never too late to post the different schools I personally went to and inquired at. I would also like to make a short definition between Traditional and Progressive schools, as this is always the area which parents decide among when it comes to picking the right school for their children. Knowing the different teaching and classroom styles are important in making a choice between schools.

Traditional	Progressive
School is a preparation for life.	School is a part of life.
Learners are passive absorbers of information and authority.	Learners are active participants, problem solvers, and planners.
Teachers are sources of information and authority.	Teachers are facilitators, guides who foster thinking.
Parents are outsiders and uninvolved.	Parents are the primary teachers, goal setters, and planners, and serve as resources.
Community is separate from school, except for funding.	Community is an extension of the classroom.
Decision-making is centrally based and administratively delivered.	Decision-making is shared by all constituent groups.
Program is determined by external criteria, particularly test results.	Program is determined by mission, philosophy, and goals for graduates.
Learning is linear, with factual accumulation and skill mastery.	Learning is spiral, with depth and breadth as goals.
Knowledge is absorbed through lectures, worksheets, and texts.	Knowledge is constructed through play, direct experience, and social interaction.
Instruction is linear and largely based on correct answers.	Instruction is related to central questions and inquiry, often generated by the children.
Disciplines, particularly language and math, are separated.	Disciplines are integrated as children make connections.
Skills are taught discretely and are viewed as goals.	Skills are related to content and are viewed as tools.
Assessment is norm-referenced, external, and graded.	Assessment is benchmarked, has many forms, and is progress-oriented.
Success is competitively based, derived from recall and memory, and specific to a time/place.	Success is determined through application over time, through collaboration.
Products are the end point.	Products are subsumed by process considerations.
Intelligence is a measure of linguistic and logical/mathematical abilities.	Intelligence is recognized as varied, includes the arts, and is measured in real-life problem-solving.
School is a task to be endured.	School is a challenging and fun part of life.

Source: http://www.wingraschool.org/who/progressive.htm

Ok, with that in mind, I was in the search for a progressive school since I knew that my boy needed this type of education in order to really bring out his talents and basically bring him out of his shell since he does have moments when he is very shy and introverted. Some of the schools I was able to visit in the Pasig Area:

Aheadstart Developmental Center

www.aheadstartpreschool.com

Britesparks International School

www.britesparksschool.com

LEAP School

www.leapschoolforyoungchildren.com

Kids Academy

www.kidsacademy.com.ph

Creative Beginners

www.creativebeginners.com

There are also an increasing number of parents out there who have turned to homeschooling, bit just because of how expensive education has become, and if I only had the drive and discipline to do this (am not one to pretend I can do this), I would definitely pursue it.

I found my school for my son, I hope you also find yours! Good luck! :)

Mompreneur :)

Can I just share?! I am a certified Mompreneur! haha... or at least in Smart Parenting magazine online.
Thanks to my friend, and fellow mom-blogger Tina for the feature.

My online shop that sells Ikea stuff was featured :) Read more about it here.
Am soo kilig!! :)

Thankful at 30.

I turned 30 on Feb 25, and I can't help but feel very much blessed and grateful for everything that I have. I decided to take this time to reflect about all the things I am so fortunate to have.

A few things I am thankful for on my 30th year:

Boracay honeymoon

1. My Husband, Santi. I am not the easiest person to love and get along with, but he does a pretty darn good job at it. I love how he gets me and complements me in areas where I need improvement. How he always looks out for our family's well-being.

2. My kids, Santino, Ysabella and Giovanni. They are my life's greatest treasures. My life is complete now that I have them in my life. My ultimate desire was fulfilled when I became a mom to these three little munchkins. :-)

My bundles of joy!

3. Good health for me and my family. As one grows older, this becomes so important. We need to be healthy in order to be able to live our lives to the fullest.

4. Wonderful and Loving parents. I am blessed to have the most understanding, generous and prayerful parents on the planet. I am who I am because of them. Marrying Santi, I was blessed twice over with in-laws who share the same values and passions as we do and who are there for us and support us unconditionally. No difficult in-laws here!

our HH (some not in picture)

5. Our Household in Community. Santi and I are fortunate enough to have a wonderful support group of fellow young couples in CFC-FFL who journey with us and give very practical and helpful advice when it comes to family, marriage, relationships and everything in between!

6. Girlfriends. When you want to spend some QT with women you can share anything with, there's nothing like spending it with real friends who get you. I am fortunate enough to have those from all parts of my life- high school, college, in community, work and in extended family.

7. Family Catechesis and Liturgical Bible Study. This was truly God-sent to Santi and I. One night we just happen to have found ourselves in this small Sunday group learning the word of God and how alive it is in our lives. Santi developed it even more into Family Catechesis and we have been blessed to see families learning the work of God and being transformed through it. Check it out here- www.liturgicalbiblestudy.com

8. Our Yayas. They are practically like our children's older sisters or second parents when it comes to care and concern. We are fortunate enough to have great, honest and loving help in our home.

9. My work. I am blessed to be part of a company that is not only fun and interesting, but is a challenge to work in and puts family first.

10. This blog. It started out as a hobby and a passion for writing. Now, I have quite a number of blog entries that tell a story or special event in my life. I am grateful for this outlet, to be able to also express my thoughts and for others to (hopefully) pick up something good.

11. Our own home. We recently moved out of the motherhouse (or my parents backyard - haha) and delved into the independent life. I am loving it. It's a lot of work but it's all worth it. This was the best decision (and most natural I think :)) we could have ever made. We are making our own path as a family.

12. Milk tea. This just makes me happy. Add on extra sago and coffee jelly and I am over the moon.
13. Shopping in Divisoria. Simple joys and great finds that are great for the wallet!

14. Nightly walks with my husband. Santi and I recently started this habit of going on evening walks around our village. It's great exercise and a wonderful time for us to catch up and talk about anything and everything. A must-have in every relationship.

Meet Gordon

15. Cooking. I have recently discovered my love (and talent) for cooking! Will share those in my next blogs... but it's pretty exciting for me making meal plans and discovering new recipes and being able to actually do it!! :)

16. Gordon, our dog. The newest addition to our brood.



PHEW that's a long list! But then again, it's always great to take the time to look at what you've got and how fortunate and blessed you are to have it. ;-)

Change is Good.

After almost 30 years (just a few days short of) of living in Alpadi- the home I grew up in... I finally left. It is one of the saddest and happiest moments in my life. After spending 29 years as a daughter, 4 as a married woman and 3 as mother (now of 3 wonderful kids) in that HOAM or as my dad called it- Heaven On top of A Mountain, my husband and I felt that it had been about time to spread our wings and go on our own. It was indeed our own little piece of heaven, and I cannot help but feel a slight pinch or tug at my heart when I think and remember all the fond and wonderful memories I had growing up. Every major milestone and every important event in my life has been tied at one point or another to that place. But then as the famous saying goes, "The only thing constant in life is change" and I do believe that our decision to move out was a good change.

It's been a week already since we moved (to a much more centrally located area) and it has been the best decision we had ever made. I feel flattered when some friends (who have already come over) comment that when they come in our home it feels as if we have been living here for years.. and I like that. It validates the feeling of peace and contentment that I feel every morning when I wake up and every evening before I go to sleep.

It's just a few days before my 30th birthday. Others would want to get some lavish gift or go on an extravagant vacation, but I am very much happy to be spending my birthday with  my family. My family is my greatest treasure, and with our "big move" life just got even better. Although I will admit that it is quite an effort on my part, but one that I do and fulfill gladly. I've recently had a lot of "firsts" this past week- first time doing fresh market shopping (at a REAL palengke haha), first time doing real meal planning and the cooking! and just being the best wife, mother and homemaker I can be. I never realized how fulfilling it would be to have your kids and husband gobble up the food you make (it must be good! haha) or my son saying to me the first thing when he wakes up- "mommy, I love your banana bread" after I had just, for the first time, made it from scratch. My heart is full!! This I think is the best "gift" I could get for my 30th birthday. Everything else would just be the icing on top!

There is always room to grow when you make positive changes in your life. As my husband says, all it takes is a leap of faith. Make the effort and God will take care of the rest... and so far, God has not only lived up, but exceeded his part of the "deal"... What [positive] changes do you want to make but are hesitant to do?

I've got someTEA on my mind...

Excuse the corny heading. The fact of the matter is I am a milk tea addict. I am absolutely loving the fact that tea drinks have become quite the rage now... the only problem is, there are so many out there that it's getting quite confusing which one to buy. So for serious milk tea lovers like myself, I am continually in search of the best one out there.

My love affair with milk tea began 5-6 years ago in 7-11. Sago, pudding or whatever "pearls or sinkers" were not yet uso at that time. It was just honest to goodness milk tea. I have no idea what the brand it, but believe me it's GOOD. And for the price, if I remember correctly around P30+ for a huge bottle, it's quite the steal. Not to mention that packaging looks pretty authentic. ha ha! Have any of you tried this before?

So that went on for quite a while until the whole Zagu craze... I remember the super loooong lines at every zagu store, it was just crazy! But I was never a total fan of it since I found it too sweet and not very authentic. Until QUICKLY came along. I absolutely love their Taro-Taro... it comes with sago already and just for P55!! I was devastated when the number of outlets drastically decreased, but still grateful that there are still a few centrally located stalls to this date.

Then there was such a sudden boom in the whole milk tea business and all these stalls and small stores selling milk and bubble tea started popping up that it was already so hard to keep track on what was what! I must say, I have not tried all the milk tea places out there, but from what I have tried, I have to say that the Wintermelon is my favorite flavor. It's got that perfect taste of green tea (but not the yucky mapait kind) and sweetness (since you can control and dictate that now) of syrup, with those yummy jelly pearls.

By far the best one for me, and I'm not saying this because it's popular, but it's just really good, is the Serenitea winter melon flavor. Get the one with just 75% sweetness and sinkers like pearl and the coffee jelly ones are my favorite. The Hokkaido flavored one is also just as good.

Next up on my list is Happy Lemon. I've heard the "craze" over this.. sorry but this just doesn't make me happy. Salt and cheese with milk tea drink? seems like a recipe for bathroom disaster if you ask me. Anyhoo, I tried it and it wasn't anything great. But whatever floats your boat :) Maybe I should give it another try, but for now, no thanks. ha ha.

Lastly, I tried this small stall that also sold winter melon tea. Obviously a knock off from Serenitea since they even called the added jelly stuff "sinkers" and also had the percentage of sweetness you could pick from. ha ha. This one is Tea-rrific! -- that's the name of the stall. I got the winter melon one. For half the price (P55) of the Serenitea, it was good enough. A good enough sub when you don't have a Serenitea nearby or you are on a budget but just want to get the milk tea fix :)

Great. Ok now I'm craving for milk tea.

Proud Mama

I recently switched back to being a mac user and I am so happy I made the switch. Aside from better functionality and not having to worry about viruses, my kids and I have been utilizing the photobooth application a lot. My kids loooove taking pictures and seeing themselves in the screen. Here are some fun photobooth moments:

Me, Giovanni, Belly & Santino 

Gordon with Me and Ate

Looking back at photos of my kids I can't help but reminisce at be baffled at how they are growing up so fast! Feels like just yesterday that I gave birth! ha ha :) I am especially in awe when my eldest, Santino starts to have long conversations (that make sense) and when he reasons things out with me. It makes me laugh and smile when I hear his reasonings. Just to share excerpts...

At 1130pm. Kids wide awake.
Belly:"meow. Meow." 
Santino:"ha ha ha! You're crazy!" 
Me:"why is she crazy?" 
Santino:"Because she doesn't want to sleep!" 
#ANORAW

And another one...

Santino: "Mom, it's no longer mooning day."
Me: " WHAT did you say?"
Santino: "The moon is down and the sun is up. I can see Mr. Sun already."
Me: "Ahhhh..."

And this one liner that he told his dad one day while driving home from school...

Santino: "Daddy, is the one who fixes cars a CARpenter?" 

Makes sense, right? :) My Kuya is growing up so fast!!!
And my only girl naman, she gets super kikay by the day!! As in she picks her own clothes and shoes whenever we head out and whenever she sees something pretty, she says "nice." ha ha. One time I caught her putting on lipstick! And she also frequents wearing my shoes around the house. I guess all little girls are like this. Just recently I cam home from a spa day and had a mani-pedi done. She, of course, said "nice" while pointing to my finger nails. I asked her if she wanted nail polish too, to which she replied YES.. OF COURSE. Naturally, she posed with her new hot pink nails...

You just gotta love her!! :)
My youngest, thankfully is still very much concerned with just breastfeeding, eating cerelac and sleeping. But he is getting bigger by the day and is showing signs of a strong personality as well. I am just so thankful for all my kids and am so grateful to be here and see them grow up to be exceptional human beings. :) Thanks for taking the time to read and allowing me, yet again, to be one proud mama.

All about babies

Hi Everyone, just want to introduce to you our newest addition, our 4th "baby"... Meet Gordon. :)

Gordon the Dog

He's been with us for a few almost 2 weeks already and we love him to pieces. We had decided to get a dog after our "incident" and decided on a small, perky, smart and super kid-friendly dog. He needed to be the breed that had enough stamina to keep up with 3 young kids!! And I must say he was the right choice. My kids love him so much and he's quite the character! The first few days we would put him outside our sala (outer kitchen) in a doggie cage and he would just cry the whoooole night. Kaka-awa! Then recently I bought him his own bed and he took to it immediately the first night. He now sleeps in our sale (outside our bedroom) and is super happy and content... as you can see, he loves posing for the camera. ha ha. Santino, my eldest, was the one who named him. Of course it is after one of his favorite trains, Gordon...

Gordon the Train

Hay. Si Kuya talaga... hindi mawawala ang trains. He literally misses his trains whenever we go out for the day and can't wait to come home and play with them. I think he watches too many youtube videos on Thomas trains because when he plays by himself he speaks in a narrative as if he is telling a story... for example one time I bought him talking to himself... "'Oh no! There are missing coaches,' said Gordon. Sir Toppom hat was cross."... imagine that with feelings talaga and change in tone when he shifts from the dialogue to the narrator. ha ha ha ha. I have such smart kids. Proud mommy right here. Pagbigayan niyo na. :)

Speaking of babies, I've heard great things about the SM Grand Baby fair in the Megatrade hall happening this weekend. I am seriously thinking about going... But then the mother of 3 inside me is saying I will just end up buying so much stuff I don't need anymore.... ha ha ha. But for first-time mothers, I would definitely recommend going here. Especially if you still have a lot of "essentials" that you have yet to get, it could be a chance to get a good deal on a lot of stuff. 

I remember (sometimes a bit vaguely due to all the anesthesia, haha) my first time being a mom (with Santino), I was buying all kinds of stuff especially whenever there was a sale. ha ha. I guess that's just the natural thing for mothers to do. nowadays, 3 kids later, it's more on how I can re-use or reinvent stuff from the first child up until the last one. ha ha. I guess in a way kawawa din young mga buns because they get hand me downs... but of course I make sure naman that all the second (or third) hand stuff is still in good condition. :)

My latest obsession nowadays is dressing up my 2 boys in identical outfits. hehehe!! It's just too cute!! Here's a photo of my kids during the Christmas season.. dressed my boys in matching tops and Belly in the matching hue. It's so addicting. 

When I was growing up my mom used to dress me and my sister in identical outfits ALL THE TIME.. and I absolutely hated it. I vowed not to do that to my children, but now I can't help myself!! It's just too cute. I can now relate to my mom.. or worse.. I am becoming my mom!! LOL. I'd post a pic of past matching outfits bet me and my sis but thankfully (or not) I can't find any. No evidence! ha ha.

What Ifs and Moving On.

14 days ago some people broke into our house while my family and I were sleeping and stole quite a number of our belongings... from cellphones to laptops, jewelry and even my engagement ring :( My husband and I only realized it when we woke up that morning to my mom barging in the house saying that our neighbor (my tita's place) had been robbed as well. I even joked about it saying that there seemed to be nothing wrong... as a matter of fact, neither Santi or I or even the kids woke up during the early morning so we did not suspect anything. After looking around though I realized that my wallet was open and was not in the place I had put it in the night before. I checked and there was no more money inside. I looked at my work desk and gasped because my newly purchased computer was gone as well! :( Panicked, went inside only to discover our cell phones were gone too. Even my jewelry in our bathroom was wiped clean! But despite all the things we lost, what was most unsettling was the fact that there were people that came into our house and invaded our space and came SO CLOSE to us. Just the thought or image that comes to mind keeps me unsettled.

I thank God for keeping me and my family safe. I guess it was a blessing as well that we didn't wake because God knows what could have happened then. I pray every night for safety and protection, and I am so grateful that none of my kids were harmed or stolen! Material things can be replaced, but my family is my life.

Continually talking about it with family and friends, and even writing about it helps. This has also become an outlet for me to process everything and be able to move on... and enjoy life. I write this a number of days after the incident since it has taken us quite a while to get used to sleeping in our room again. Even the slightest noise keeps us awake. The first nights after the robbery I couldn't even get a decent night's sleep. I guess you could say that that experience did traumatize me, but with God's grace we will overcome it. I continually trust in Him to keep me and my family safe.

Be safe and always pray for protection for you and your loved ones.

Boobs and Milk

Aha. That blog title got your attention didn't it? ;-) This post is about boobs and milk... or more specifically, breastfeeding.

I'm a breastfeeding mom and I'm proud of it. I feel very fortunate to have been influenced by family and friends to strive to stay determined despite the many challenges to breastfeeding. I remember when I had my first child, it was such a struggle. I got so frustrated when he didn't latch on automatically... Santino actually refused to breastfeed during the first few hours of his life... I guess he preferred to sleep more. ha ha... but this still made me feel frustrated and helpless... and a bit anxious since I would hear stories about how babies should automatically start sucking on the breast or else they'd grow hungry and then you'd have no choice but to give them formula or water... thank God I was determined. It took a few more tries, but eventually (Santino and) I got the hang of it. Breastfeeding is no easy feat (especially for first time mommies)... aside from the anxiousness and frustrations, there is also the tendency to develop wounds around the nipple.. so remember.. nipple cream!! I remember the time when my nipples got so sore that I dreaded breastfeeding... it felt like torture every time... but I knew I had to continue, not to mention that the expense of formula (milk) was something I wanted to avoid for as long as I possibly could. And I succeeded, well at least for 1 whole year!!

After Santino, almost 2 years later I gave birth to our girl, Ysabella. This time around I knew what to expect and what to do, so I was much more prepared to handle the whole breastfeeding process. I had less sore nipples and things were much more easier. I guess it also helped that Ysabella was a much more cooperative baby, meaning as soon as she came out into the world and the doctor put her on my chest, she immediately started to suck. I can still remember how cute she looked and how happy I was to finally have such an enthusiastic 'eater'. I successfully breastfed Ysabella for 6 months. This time around I was a lot less conscious, like I wouldn't mind breastfeeding in public (with a wrap of course) and things came much easier to me.

Breastfeeding by the beach :)

Breastfeeding now came so much more naturally for me. I also found myself encouraging other soon-to-be moms and fellow new moms to breastfeed for as long as possible. The benefits of this for mom and baby are so much that it's worth all the handwork and dedication. The only thing I regret was that I started going to the gym right away. I wanted to get into shape right away (Belly was only 6months) and so I started going to the gym and doing a little weights... I guess this had some effect on my milk production and so my milk started to lessen and then just diminish all together. I then had to put Belly on formula since my milk was no longer enough :( A few months after this I also found out I was preggy with Baby #3 (Giovanni).

A year and a half later our 3rd little bundle was born. Giovanni is by far the most mabait baby. No trouble in the feeding and sleeping habits. Now the third time around, things just went like clockwork and breastfeeding, parenting and motherhood were like second nature already. I love being a mother to my kids, and I truly enjoy sharing in extra special moments with each of them in different ways. Nowadays what's been crossing my mind is finding an avenue to which I can give back in way and causes that also give me much joy. Thinking about how I can help other moms as well... been thinking about how to go about getting involved in something that will help me achieve these goals of being able to counsel and help out other moms as well.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

My 3 little treasures.

Kids grow sooo fast. One day you gave birth.. and then BOOM suddenly they are all so grown up! I was telling my husband the other day that our kids seem suddenly so big already!

Santino (3 yrs) is quite the chatterbox.. he always has something to say! There are still times when I am still amazed when I am conversing with him. The things he says!.. sometimes I wonder where he gets them! lol.

Here's an excerpt from my hubby's conversation with our son:
Santino: (pointing to the Church) "Daddy, what is that?"
Daddy: "That is the Church!"
Santino: "The house of Lord?"
Daddy: " YES! That's right!"
Santino: "But where is he?"
Daddy: (How do I answer this?) "He's up there!" (Pointing to heaven!)
Santino: "Tell him I want to see Him!" 
Daddy: "Uhhh, Yeah, Me too! Not today ok?"
Santino: "OK!"


Belly on the other hand is growing up to be such a beautiful little lady. I can really see her character -- the definitely holds up her own next to kuya.. and is not one to be forgotten even with baby Giovanni around. She really knows how to make her presence felt! ha ha. She's super kikay, loves to wear my shoes, carry her handbag and put on make-up! I adore my little girl!

O diba? Parang sneaking away from the paparazzi lang ang effect ng isang photo niya. ha ha!!

And of course there's my bunso, or as I like to call him, my little body builder! He's only 2 months and a few weeks old but he looks like he's 5 or 6 months old already! haha. By far my biggest baby, but still equally adorable. He has such a sweet temperament... he only cries when he is hungry, sleeps a lot and smiles often. I am slowly starting to see his character, I think he will be the most "mellow" and gentle of the 3.

Kids are really such a blessing and a great gift. I often catch myself looking at my kids and wonder... "however did I pop all these kids out?" haha... and more importantly, how can I be the best mother for them? I sometimes think that wasn't it just yesterday that I was out on gimmicks and didn't have a care int he world.. and now I am not only responsible for 3 little people, but must take care for a husband and handle a household as well. PHEW! That is indeed a tall order. Amazing. Life and family is amazing. Going through everyday with your family is an uncertain and amazing adventure... a bumpy one, but with God's grace, I think we'll get through it.

Happy Halloween! :)

(blog originally posted on Oct 31)


Celebrating Halloween has really evolved for me. I remember my younger (Grade School and High School) days when I would go around the village with my cousins, racing to get the best and most number of candies in. It was always so much fun at the end of the afternoon when I'd be so overwhelmed with all the candies I had accumulated in just 3 hours! Then I remember my college and single days when it was no longer about the trick or treating, but more of the gimmicks -- in costume still of course! -- with friends. We would frequent Makati and Malate where it was totally normal for adults to go around in costume. I even remember winning some money at a bar in Malate for my Snow White costume! (remind me to look for old photos from those days...) It was really fun staying up with friends and having a few drinks. Those were fun times indeed!

Then I got married and had kids... and it was a whole new Halloween experience. The STRESS of making sure your kids have costumes and the logistics of everything... it's no joke! ha ha. But seeing my kids having fun and getting all excited, so worth everything!! This year was a blast since we practically filled up a hi-ace with the kids, yayas and us adults! It was a lot of chaotic fun.

My son Santino came as Thomas the Train (his favorite), Belly came as Alice in Wonderland and Giovanni was a monkey!

 Aren't they just the cutest?? :) Dressing up kids for Halloween is just too much fun... especially if they don't complain and actually wear the costumes the whole afternoon. he he :)

Of course the whole caboodle was in full costume force... even the yayas had a blast!

Can't wait for next year! Happy Halloween!! :)

It's all about ME.

(blog originally posted on Oct 24)


I've been feeling pretty crummy all weekend, aside from the fact that physically I think my body was screaming for some rest, which was why I also got a bad cold and fever during the weekend. My body was aching so bad and I could feel the stress and tiredness just oozing out from my shoulders. I guess you could say I never really fully recovered from my first pregnancy... having 3 kids one after the other is no joke. I am still tired from those sleepless nights with my first child!

Anyway, at the spur of the moment I decided that it was time to have some quality ME time... even though it was just for 2 hours (I'm breastfeeding so I can't be away from Giovanni for long without my pump). Before I could change my mind, or before the kids could sense me heading out and stopping me, I rushed into the car and drove to the nearby mall. This 2-hour quality me time was just what I needed.

First on my agenda was to get a massage and get the ache out of my shoulders. Headed out to VIBES Massage. I think, by far, this was the best massage I ever had. NOTE: This is not for those looking for the 4-star treatment with scented oils, fluffy bathrobes and a free glass of iced tea. This is as good as it gets, honest to goodness, work those aching muscles out massage by the blind. It's quite a bargain for P275 for a 1 hour massage. 

After my 1-hour pleasure-torture massage I went to the newly opened Sbarro for a slice of pizza and some salad. Not exactly fine dining but it did the trick for me. There's nothing like comfort food when you don't want to feel guilty for eating carbs when you shouldn't. ha ha.

After I satisfied my stomach and eased the tension from my body, I then of course had to pass by the grocery... why is it that when you are a mommy and there is a grocery within a few walking steps, you just have to go in, look around and find something to buy? Go figure. Anyway, so I purchased a few goodies, staples if you will, that our home cannot be without... and some other items that I needed.

My kids are ADDICTED to chicken nuggets and chocolate pancakes. Cannot run out of those!! Plus bought some ready mix mashed potato for Santino to bring to school on wed... according to his diary, he has to bring mashed potato good for 3. I could make it from scratch but I do not want to stress myself with that since I just had a massage after all. I also bought some pandan mix and all-purpose cream since I am into making buco pandan now... have been craving for it ever since my mother-in-law made some. yum...

On another note, as I was busily checking out each row... I discovered that Kris A. and Sharon C. apparently even have a cookware line?! Medyo hindi masyado bagay kasi trying hard maging Martha S. sila pero the quality of the pots and pans look good... had to stop myself from getting one. Maybe next grocery trip.

All in all, it was a pretty great "me time." It just goes to show that we moms always have to have some sort of personal time away from the hustle and bustle of the family and running a household... and there's totally nothing wrong with taking a few hours or even a "day off." 3 kids and 4 years of marriage later, I've stopped feeling 'guilty' about leaving the kids at home or just shutting out for a few hours (just as long as you tell someone from your family that you are taking a 'break' so no one panics ;-)) for some much needed quality 'me time'... A perfect way to get rejuvenated and energized to resume 'supermommy' duties. 

40 years and beyond.

My parents recently celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary... what a blessing! Who would have thought that we would be celebrating such a milestone... time flies so fast. Especially when I think about how they almost didn't make it, but God really has a great plan for each family. He brings the right people and opportunities at the right time. You just have to trust and put your faith in Him and He will do the rest. 

This was my parents more than 40 years ago. Groovy diba?

Santi and I just a few days (or weeks) after we became a couple. Still very much slim. haha!

Santi and I are going on our 4th year this December... still a long, long way to go... and still a lot more things to learn and experience as a couple, as parents and as a family. There are so many things going on in our family that I am so blessed to have. Santi and I are not free from problems, but we are very happy with the direction of how our family is going.

I remember a few weeks back I thought to myself "Tumaya kaya ako sa lotto (why don't I try my luck with the lottery)," but I did not push through with buying that ticket (the cash prize wasn't big enough, kidding!) because a voice inside me said... what for? God knows the desires of our hearts and exactly what we need. He will take care of everything because He only wants the best for us... and true enough, God has never let me and my family down. He has truly shown us how clinging on to Him will bless our lives a hundred times over.

And I guess my parents have had the exact same faith for so many years and that is why they were able to reach their 40th wedding anniversary and are still going strong on to 50 years and more :) I can only wish and hope for the same.

My parents, Frank & Gerry and their growing family.:) 5 kids, 2 in-laws and 6 grandchildren.. and counting...