Raising A Boy

R is turning 20 months in a week. Oh how time flies. He never fails to amaze me everyday. I remember Rone said when I announced I was having a boy in FB that I'll love it. I do! 

But as any parent would, I sometimes worry and ask myself if I am raising him well. It's more natural for me when taking care of Y, maybe because we're both girls. With R, it's a whole new challenge for me. Two weeks ago, I woke up in the morning and found him atop our shelf with all of BOS's camera all over the floor. I on't know if he put it down one by one or binagsak niya lahat. And up to this day, hindi ko pa din alam! I asked BOS if he's mad or he's amused. He answered the latter and I also find myself amused and amazed. Is it because they're boys?

He likes to climb up and down tables and chairs. He would push a chair to the door and tries opening the door using the door knob. He'll stand on a chair and dance.  or he'll try to fit into a small mega box that is a size of a shoes box. Grabe sa kulit!

When he turned one, I was worried he wasn't talking yet like his cousin. He's turning two in June. He's not talking yet but he's very noisy and shouts when he wants something. I wonder how he'll be when he starts talking and get more active. 

Dressing him up is also a challenge. It's easier to dress up girls. But I still love shopping for him! Idaan sa shoes, bow ties and haircut! Hehe!

He was a very serious baby, minded his own business and doesn't like to play with other kids. We attended a  a toddler class for 6 months. While I enjoyed it and probably lost a few pounds with all the dancing, he enjoyed it a few times.

With all those, R is a easy baby (except when he's makulit). Mabilis pakainin and all. We're still breastfeeding at 20 months and that's a great milestone for us. Happy!

I know there's so much more challenges as the kids get older. So much more things to worry about. But today I choose to think of the little things about R.

Thursday Selfie

It's not of me, but of R. 

He did this by himself (well, I set the camera facing him and he clicked away!) I guess he was amused to see his face and found the clicking sound of shutter funny thus those faces! I have deleted a lot of his forehead photos and kept these. It's too cute not to share!

Happy Thursday!

Yes, I'm Still Here!

Hello World!

Yes I'm still here. I've been so busy with... well everything!

First, I got no yaya. The previous yaya left about 4 weeks ago. And because there's no replacement, I had to take a leave from work and take care of the kids. The new yaya was here for 2 weeks then I let her go kasi stress drilon siya!!!

Now I have a new yaya which we got from an agency. I hope she sticks. I like her so far but hindi naman lalabas mga sungay nyan habang bago pa sila. Diba?

Work wise... Well, my boss understands which is great. I'll be on leave for 1 month na next week. O diba? AWOL na ata yun. Hihi! But yun nga, my boss is very understanding.

We're also busy at Paper Chic Studio. As much as I want to do everything as planned, wala. :p We're preparing for Expo Mom. Y's room literally became our stock room. Buti na lang we're co-sleeping (attachment parenting rocks!!!). So our house is now home/stock room/office. I need an office table! Dahan dahan tayo dyan! Please visit our booth ha!

Y's enjoying me being home all the time. I'm enjoying it too. Pero wala akong time management! Oh well papel.

I'm rambling na. Sana in the next few days and during the break, maka-blog na ako! :)

Happy Weekend!

Short Hiatus

Yes I haven't blog about anything for awhile (but please do check out my giveaway!)

I've been busy with something [exciting]! That I forget to blog or sometimes too lazy to blog. I've got some entries on my draft folder and some entries in my head. Hehe.. I'm more updated on Instagram, Twitter and FB Page!

Follow and Like please!
http://twitter.com/apple_dumplings
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Apples-Dumplings/285690774870700?ref=hl

It's been a great long long weekend! I hope you're having a great one too! I'll blog about it soon!

Happy Monday!

Another week yet again! Hope you'll have a great week. As for me, not so. It's all about the kids' health the past week and this week too. Will blog about that soon, as soon as everything is definite and final.

Anyways, to a more happy news! I made a Facebook Page for this blog. I have to disregard the previous one. So please do LIKE my page!

Apples & Dumplings

Let's just all hope I'll make time to update my page hehe! I'm not a FB user kasi, I like Twitter better (follow me too! @apple_dumplings)!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart! :)

Back To The Daily Grind

Today I went back to work after 78 days of maternity leave. I wish maternity leave is at least 6 months! That would be great for breastfeeding moms and it would be a great encouragement for moms who want to breastfeed.

There was a bit of drama this morning before I left the house. I think my kids somehow knew that I was going back to work. Crying babies left and right. Separation anxiety at its finest! Hay such a heartbreaking scene and feeling... I was crying on my way down to the car. :(

It sucks that I have to work. Someday, one day, my goal of being a WAHM will be achieved!

In the Dark

Back to blogging after 12 days of no DSL. PLDT sucks!


Miss me? Hope you do! I got lots of entries in my draft folder! :) I never thought I'd miss blogging but I did!

My Cutie Patootie!

A random Sunday. I dressed her up and fixed her hair. A few minutes later with her papa, and this is what happened!!! Hahaha. And she didn't mind at all.

My The Spa Experience + Errands

Last Saturday, I had a little me-time. I had a The Spa GC which I got from my sister for the longest time and I've been long complaining about my back ever since my HK trip. So last Friday, I called The Spa Power Plant to schedule a deep-tissue massage for Saturday (I figured I always have Swedish massage, so I picked Deep Tissue!)

It's my first time to try out The Spa. My scheduled massage was 1230PM, I got there before 12NN. I picked up my personalized cuff with Y's name, walked around a bit, and went to The Spa around 1215PM.

The place was so chic! Ang shala! The staff were nice. After paying, one staff accompanied me to my suite and offered me a cup of Ginger Tea. I'm not much of a tea drinker (except for milk tea), but I loved the tea! Tangy, spicy, and sweet, perfect!

I had my own suite, with a personal shower and steam. I took a shower and a steam for about 15 minutes. Then I pressed a button where it will tell the staff that I'm ready for my massage!

Sorry for the dark pictures!

Massage lasted 60 minutes. My therapist, Cora, was good. Though I was expecting more, deep tissue massage is much like Swedish massage na hard. Still, I enjoyed it. I feel so refreshed after! I had another cup of tea before I left.

After my massage, I was super hungry! I went to Washington to have the battery of my watch replaced, bought toothbrushes at PCX, also bought some stuff at Baby Company, picked up my dry-cleaning and I bought a Big Mac and ate it in the car.

My Saturday was short and sweet. I hurried home to be with the BOS and Y. :)

I Will Miss You, Rain!

Yes, Rain the Korean singer/actor!

The BOS introduced me to Rain when we got together. While I was pregnant with Y, he wanted me to listen to Rain's CD, paglihi-an ko daw! We were even set on naming our unborn child (if it's a boy) after Rain's character in one of his movies! Haha! Die-hard fan lang ang peg! I'm a fan din naman! I like his music and I have yet to finish watching his latest series.

Last year, Rain came here and had a concert in MOA Concert Grounds. I remembered because it was a week after I gave birth. The BOS went to watch! Fan nga kasi. I bought him mosh pit tickets! I told him to take gazillion of pictures and videos so I can see and watch! And our LX3 didn't disappoint on the quality of pictures! I was expecting grainy pictures haha!

I'm sharing you some of the concert photos. Ang gwapo niya! And he dances so well!Rain has officially started his 2-year military service yesterday. :( I will miss you, Rain! I shall see you in two years!

Apples and Dumplings' Facelift!!!

Oh right! Did you notice the new look of my blog?
Yeah, I got bored yesterday so I did a facelift on my blog. Change is good, right?
I'm enjoying the new look, hope you are too!



It messed my disqus but I fixed it already. :)

Shopping Cart

We went to S&R about a month ago and took Y with us. It's first time to ride a shopping cart. She doesn't want to sit in her stroller so I strapped her to our shopping cart which is pretty safe. It can sit two babies! I put her diaper changing pad on her back as support. She enjoyed her ride very much!

Backlog

Just got our internet back. I have lots of backlog, still on Y's Birthday Series! I still haven't got the pictures from our photographers. I hope I get them soon so I can post more about Y's birthday! :) I'm making a page for all my birthday preps.. I hope I find the time to do that this weekend.


Baby G is here with us again, that means busy days! I have my peer lactation counselor interview tomorrow. Excited for that! I've been busy making business and market plans for this business prospect. It's like writing for a business subject again like in college except this one is REAL! Haha! It's nice doing something not I.T. related!


Please check back again in a few days for more of Y's birthday series!

Bittersweet

Ok, in two weeks Y will turn 1. I still can't believe that she's gonna be 1! It seems like I was just pregnant yesterday!


Just thinking about the day she was born, the first time I held her, the first time she rolled over, and all of her milestone.. I get emotional every time I think about it.



Oh my.. It's bittersweet.

In two weeks, we'll be celebrating Y's first birthday, first year of parenthood, first year of motherhood, a year of breastfeeding! So many things to celebrate! Yay!

Funny Weekend Conversations

My weekend was great! I'm too lazy to post everything so I'm posting in snippets muna!


Conversation #1 - I was telling my friend that she'll be one of Y's ninangs on SMS.
Me: G, I'll get you ninang ni Y ha!
G: Kabowg!!! my honor! Bawal daw tumanggi eh! hahaha!
Me: Bawal talaga! hahaha
G: Oo na ok, umoo na nga ako. Sabihan mo ako kung ano kelangan nya yun nalang bibigay ko. :) Hoy! Hindi educational plan ha!
Me: Ay sayang! Life insurance na lang hahaha
G: Loka loka! :)


Conversation #2 - I was telling my sister that me and BOS are watching Vareka on Thursday.
Me: Achi, manunuod kami ng Varekai sa Thursday!
Achi: Wow, sosyal!
BIL: Sino pupunta ng Boracay?
Ikaw na, BIL! Panalo hirit mo! Hahaha.. we were laughing for a long time!


May conversation #3 pa, but I forgot na. I wrote this last night but was so sleepy.. LOL!

Look Who I Found inside the Crib?

I was busy fixing the stuff we bought yesterday, then I went into Y's room and look who I found! Y with her papa in her crib! LOL. The BOS was cleaning Y's nose haha... 

I do climb into the crib too. Not all the time ha. Minsan lang! I love weekends with my family!

Ang Senior Citizen

I just have to repost this. It's from my friend's blog! Haha! Funny for me, baka macornihan kayo.. FYI: Her store sells fertilizers and what nots for farming. 

May manong na bumili ng chemicals. Tinanong sa tindera ko bat daw hindi namin ino-honor ang Senior Citizen card.

At the back, eto mga nakasulat. I explain while I read each and every bullet in his Senior Citizen Card.

1) 20% on all medicines..
Sabi ko: Manong, wala naman kaming bentang gamot. Pesticides ang benta namin.

2) 20% on hotels, accomodations etc..
Sabi ko: Manong, hindi naman kami hotel.

3) 20% on cinemas, theater halls, etc..
Sabi ko: Manong, hindi naman kami sinehan.

4) 20% on restaurants, etc..
Sabi ko: Manong, hindi naman kami restaurant.

5) 20% on funeral services
Sabi ko: Manong, mas lalong hindi naman kami punenarya.

Kalurkey tong si manong! :D

Thin in 7 Months

Possible? My shobe called me up yesterday afternoon. There was no "Hello", first thing she said was "Magpapayat ka na!" LOL!


She's getting married (in church) next year January and I'm the Matron of Honor (ugh, sounds so old! haha) Y will be a flower girl (proud momma!)!  So I need to lose weight! I don't want to look like a whale in a gown. Yes I'm vain! So can I lose weight and be thin in seven months? It's possible but I don't know if I can. Haha! Good luck to me!

3-Week Challenge and Dilemma

Why three-week challenge? It's not a blog challenge.

Our long time helper will be going home to province for three weeks after not going for three years. My challenge? How will I be able to cook dinner every night after I get home? Baka 10PM na kami kumain non! I still don't know how will I schedule everything! Shall I cook in the morning? or at night?

Another worry of mine is Y and her yaya will be left alone in the house. Yes, I have a nanny cam but I'm still not calm about this situation. What will yaya eat during lunch? Eat canned goods? Kawawa naman. I know it's convenient but it's not healthy.

Should I just bring Y to work with me? This would be convenient but I have long work hours! Y needs to nap at least twice. She sleeps around 630PM and around that time I'm still at the office. And I don't think she can sleep here in the office. Too many people, too many sight for her to see. I don't think I'll be able to work. She has separation anxiety and wants me around her all the time.

What would I cook for that three weeks? I only get to cook on weekends. And I don't know many dishes. Simple ones lang. And I don't know how to chop a chicken. LOL!

Oh I don't know! Our labandera is going home too! I need to find a decent laundry service near our house!

It's not easy to be a mommy/wife/homemaker! ayayaya.. Challenge starts tomorrow!

Frustrations and Stressed-ations!!!

I wrote this post yesterday morning..


It's Monday again! Usually on Mondays, I'm lazy to work. Added to that, I'm a bit frustrated and stressed. Monday na Monday, stressed agad!

I drive to work everyday. I have been driving since college but only started driving everyday when I started working in 2007.

First, For a 45-minute drive to Makati or a 20-minute drive to U.N. Avenue, the most stressful traffic is in Binondo, Manila! The intersection of Recto and Abad Santos going to Reina Regente where 168 Mall is is driving me crazy everyday most especially when I go home at night!!! With the footbridge construction, pedestrians crossing, and freakin' jeeps! Ughhh... Why do people don't follow proper traffic rules and regulation? They just cross the street without looking! I just hope that the new footbridge would be effective and people would actually climb up and use it! Grrrr...

Second, parking space! My previous job provided parking space for employees who drives. If not, there's a pay parking that costs Php70 for the whole day. In my current job, our building has a parking lot, a valet parking that charges freakin' Php130 for a whole day's parking! It's burning a big whole in my pocket! Sometimes I park outside our building for Php50 a day. Cheaper right? The parking attendant/MTPB used to reserve a slot for me, but the past few weeks, he's not. Hay.. Now, I'm thinking of just commuting. I can save a lot by doing that but I lug around three bags a day: my bag, my cooler, my canvas bags that has my pump, lunch, and water jug. See what I mean? I can't ride a jeep, climb up, and ride the LRT with my bagS.

Third, I'm starting to not like my job. I want to quit my job but just can't quit yet. Dreams of becoming a stay-at-home mom is still quite far... How I wish it's sooner. I miss my baby when I'm at work. And so I won't have to worry about my expressed milk is enough for Y for the day..