Photohunt: Spiral

This is the metal spiral plant holder found in our garden. This actually my parents' garden, sadly my sister and i didn't inherit their green thumb. My participation in the garden is limited to being asked by my mom to carry the pots from one side of the garden to the other side. This bonding moment with my mom will eventually end up with shrieks coming from me... by then i would've seen garden "friends" like a frog or an earthworm.

Oh well. So what if i can't cultivate and grow a garden. I can still admire its simple beauty and feel relaxed. Incidentally, gardening is one of the favorite hobbies of moms out there.

I'm hoping the green thumb thing just skipped a generation. I'm hoping maybe the little girl still has the gift. =) I'm crossing my fingers!

Department of Health Warns of a Measles Outbreak

Last February, the Department of Health announced that there were almost 700 cases of measles documented in less than two months. This prompted them to declare an outbreak in six areas, namely: Baseco Compound and Moriones in Tondo, Manila; Barangay Pulang Lupa in Las Piñas City; Central Market in Dasmariñas, Cavite; San Francisco town in Quezon province; and Balabagan town in Lanao del Sur. This is a scary statistic, especially for moms like me. The thought of my child suffering from such a notorious disease is simply unbearable!That's why i really made sure my Bea received her childhood vaccinations against Measles.

What is this diease? Measles is a highly contagious viral disease, which affects mostly children. It is transmitted via droplets from the nose, mouth or throat of infected persons.

Initial symptoms, which usually appear eight to 12 days after infection, include high fever, runny nose, bloodshot eyes, and tiny white spots on the inside of the mouth. Rashes also develop after several days. The patient may be contagious from four days prior to the rash appearance to four days after rash appearance.

The disease is more severe in infants and adults. Complications from measles which is reported in up to 20% of people infected include; seizures, pneumonia, deafness and encephalitis.

According to the WHO, there is no specific treatment for measles and prevention can be done through immunization. Yes, you read right. This disease can be prevented, if only we are diligent in having our children immunized against Measles. This vaccine is usually bundled with vaccines for two other diseases: mumps and rubella, they are often called MMR. This immunization costs a little over a thousand pesos, the price varies depending on your pediatrician. I know this can put a strain to our already tight budgets, but please, please make sure you have your children immunized against these diseases. You just might be saving their lives, and that is always priceless right?

Flower Girl: The Preparation

When Bea was told that she was going to be a flower girl at ninong’s wedding, she was so excited, even though she didn’t exactly understand what that means. She even told her teacher and classmates about it, and they were very happy for her too!

We told her what she was supposed to do: walk along the aisle slowly while throwing flower petals paving the way for the bride. We practiced THE WALK. We reminded her again and again that her pacing should be slow, but sometime’s she’d forget and break into a hop/run, then we’d have to remind her again.

4 weeks before the occasion, we asked our neighbor who used to sew dresses to take her measurements and then we just relayed said measurements to her ninong. Everything was done in a rush so we didn’t have time to schedule the initial fitting. 2 weeks before the wedding, we met her ninong in Makati, then we followed their car to Pateros (where the dressmaker was located) for her final fitting. Thankfully, the gown’s fit was ok, aside from the length, they had to cut a few inches off, so that she wouldn’t trip on the aisle. Seeing her gold gown excited her even more!

The weekend before the wedding, I decided to stage a dress/makeup rehearsal. I experimented on the makeup style I planned to apply on her face. I didn’t have any makeup for kids so I used my own supply. I sure hope Body Shop makeup is hypoallergenic and safe for children’s skin. I asked hubby’s opinion about the little girl’s appearance and he gave me the thumbs up. =) He said it was just right. The application wasn’t too thick, just enough.

Later that afternoon, we also trooped to the mall to buy Bea shoes to match her golden gown, and when we passed by the accessories section, we just couldn’t resists the items on display, so we went ahead and bought her a bracelet and a necklace.

That night, just before she fell asleep, she was still asking about her dress, shoes and accessories, as if to make sure that everything ready for her big debut the next day.

Flower Girl

Bea was asked by her godfather to be a flower girl at his wedding. Everyone in our family is of course super happy! hehehe... Here's a pic taken while she was having her fitting... cutie huh?
I'm so proud and happy for her, i never had the chance to be a flower girl, or a bridesmaid. The only participation I've ever had in a wedding was being a bride. =)

I'm sure everything will go well on the day itself...

The road gladdens the obsessed ghost.

another bout of inexplicable gibberish... right on!

Biking At The Quezon City Memorial Circle

Bea has been asking (pleading) us to buy her a bike. Blame in on the other kids on our block, they all have their "grown up"bikes... with 2 wheels plus trainer wheels. This has been her Christmas wish... and later on her birthday wish. Hubby had a deal with her, if she stops sucking her thumb while sleeping, he will buy her a bike. Their agreed deadline is her 4th birthday, however that day came and went with her still sucking her thumb to put her to sleep. =)

To keep her from being sad, we decided to go to the park, not only for some fresh air, but also for for Bea to try riding a bike on her own. (we were just trying to see if she can reach the pedals and actually operate the bike on her own. we rented a small bike with side car for her and a big one for hubby and me. This is my first time to ride with hubby... and it was quiet a fun experience! even hubby had a great time! Bea was so proud that she is riding a "grown up" bike at last, although still with the help of her nanny. =)

TODDLER TIPS: USING TIME OUTS TO DISCIPLINE YOUR CHILD

Forcing your child to go for a time out is a good way to stop a child’s misbehaving. This also allows her to regain her composure. But you can’t just shove your child towards a corner and let her stare at a blank wall, there has to be rules to be set.

 

• Designate a spot in the house that is uninteresting and away from where most members of the family are. This will be your child’s official time out spot.
• Using simple words let your child understand the reason why her behavior caused her to go for a short time out. Let her know that hitting or shouting at her friend is not appropriate behavior, hence the time out.
• Impose the time out immediately after the misbehavior is done, so that your child will associate the misbehaving with the time out.
• Keep time outs short. 3-5 minutes should be long enough for toddlers and preschoolers. The time out is meant to stop the child’s misbehavior, not as a punishment.
• After the time out, talk to your child again and remind her why she was given a time out (it is not right to hit or shout…etc). Then direct her attention towards another activity that she can be interested in and focus on.

CRIBS Foundation, Inc. Marikina City

MISSION VISION:

A loving home and environment for each child.

Compassionate, professional and responsive staff and volunteers who are committed to the caring, healing, recovery and development of abandoned, surrendered, neglected and sexually abused children and their families.
Together, creating opportunities for each other to become whole and empowered instruments for changing their social reality.

HISTORY:

1974-The first CRIBS volunteer foster home was born when two Lutheran missionary wives brought home two infants from the Reception and Study Center for the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

1979- CRIBS was incorporated as a non-stock, non-profit organization with the SEC.

1983- CRIBS was licensed by the DSWD as a child welfare agency for abandoned, neglected, and surrendered infants.

1986- A home called New Beginnings was opened for young female survivors of sexual abuse (aged 7-17 years old)

MAJOR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

I. ALTERNATIVE FAMILY CARE SERVICES

Receiving Home provides an alternate home environment for abandoned, surrendered and neglected children aged 1 day to 2 ½ years old. It is staffed with compassionate, professional and committed caregivers 24 hours a day. The services of the program include:

Holistic Health Care. The attainment and maintenance of the optimum health for each child is ensured by a nutrition program designed to meet the nutritional needs of the children. Medical services are also provided by a team of nurses and midwives who focus on the early detection and prevention of illness.

Early Child Development. Psycho-motor stimulation and age-appropriate activities form part of the routine of each child to foster growth and development.

New Beginnings Home is a 24-hour Residential Treatment Facility that provides a nurturing and therapeutic environment for the healing and recovery of sexually abused female minors aged 7-17 years. Clients admitted to the program stay in residence for two years. Within this time frame, they undergo different phases of healing. The multi-dimensional strategies used in the treatment of sexual abuse seek to address the impact and issues of their traumatic experiences.

II. PLACEMENT SERVICES

Receiving Home Placement Program. The focus is on the permanent placement of each child within the shortest time possible. Permanent placement refers to adoption or reunification of child with biological parents/relatives.

New Beginnings Family and Reintegration Program. The program addresses the healing of families of the new beginnings clients; equips them with skills to effectively handle family issues and situational life crises, and prepares them for eventual reintegration with their child. These efforts are attained through family therapy, individual counseling and parent support group meetings.

Foster Care Program. Provides an alternative family care for children in need of one on one care and stimulation. These children are temporarily placed with licensed foster families to experience the warmth of parental care and family life while permanent placement is being worked on.

VOLUNTEER AND RESOURCE GENERATION PROGRAM

The organization has developed and maintained a considerable pool of volunteers and a resource network to expand its capacity to deliver the optimum service. Volunteer interests, talents, expertise and resources are mobilized and utilized to serve the interests of the children and support the needs of the program.

Resource development is an on going effort to achieve financial sustainability for the program implementation and development. This allows the program to be responsive and dynamic in meeting the needs of the children.

If you're interested to help in anyway or if you have questions, the person to call is:

Maritona V. Labajo, Executive Director
CRIBS FOUNDATION INC.
15 Major Dizon St, IVC Marikina City
1802 Philippines
Tel (632) 681-8078, 681-5921, 681-9705

Email: cribsnet@info.com.ph
site: http://www.cribsfoundation.org/

She's 4!

How time flies! the little girl turned four years old last month! it seemed only yesterday when she was still trying to learn to walk and talk... now she's running all over the place, with her volume turned all the way up! (learning to control her volume is still a work in progress.)

this year, she chose a minnie mouse theme for her birthday. =)

Appreciate Simplicity

Simplicity adds quality and contentment to your life.

Simplicity comes from learning to say “no”.

Simplicity is being satisfied with what you don’t have as with what you have.

Simplicity involves removing the clutter.

Simplicity means never buying something for the purpose of impressing others.

Simplicity refuses to get caught in the trap of overspending, over committing and over working.

Simplicity enjoys happiness and treasures joy.

Simplicity cherishes tranquility.

Simplicity knows how to be content in whatever situation you find yourself.

Simplicity celebrates God’s creation and sees God in the small stuff.

Source: Bruce and Stan (Adapted from “God Is In The Small Stuff”)

Diva In Training

Bea's First School Presentation

December 18, 2009 was a date to remember. It was our daughter’s first school presentation! A few weeks before, Bea’s teacher called for a meeting. They discussed that there will be a gift giving celebration. It’s an event where parents are asked to give gifts (anything from clothes, toys or food) and the teachers will be inviting less-fortunate children and our children will be the ones to give the collected gifts to the unfortunate kids. Hubby and I decided to give away spongebob toothbrushes and towelettes, plus tooth paste. I know, I know, we got a little carried away. It was a bit expensive, but we thought the kids would truly love this… a treat for most of them since I knew most of them don’t even a simple toothbrush, let alone a cutie one. Hehehe.  Besides, I was sure the other parents will have the usual noodles and canned goods covered.

Apparently it was an annual activity of the school and they have it near Christmas time, and as part of the celebration, the kids will be preparing a presentation, per level. The nursery class where Bea belonged was tasked to dance. They even had red and green pompoms as props. Being the eager first-time stage parents that we were, we stayed up late into the night cutting up red and green strips of plastic that we fashioned into pompoms. (I couldn’t find ready made ones with the correct color).  Their dance was supposed to be a medley of the LSS-inducing and National Christmas Party 09 Anthem “Nobody” by the wonder girls and some Christmas carols. As expected, no intricate dance steps for the 3-4 year olds. Just the usual “Nobody” dance move (clapping and pointing) and  a lot of waving of hands and jumping around…moves that the little girl has memorized and perfected.

When the day of the celebration was nearing, I asked permission from my superior that on that day I will take a leave. I told her the real reason of my request, thankfully she was very understanding about it and allowed me.

On the day of celebration, I woke up really late! Hahaha! Then I went to Goldilock’s Concepcion to purchase their little multi-colored puto… but they were all out (to my dismay!) so I opted for 3 packs of macaroons instead. I also passed by mercury drug store to purchase some cough medicine for the little one… then as a last stop, I dropped by the local grocery store and bought two boxes of  juice for that afternoon’s potluck.

The service “bus” arrived early, and I was not yet ready, so I let Bea and her nanny go ahead of me while I just walked all the way there. When I arrived, the little one was already waiting for me… feeling jealous of the other kids who had mommies doting over them. When she saw me, she was all smiles!

After a few moments, the program started. We were all surprised when the nursery class was the first one called. We expected them to be the last performers. Anyway, the other kids went on up the stage… our nanny brought Bea to the stage… but once there, she jumped off and came running to me! Oh no! I tried to coax/bribe/force/scare her into going back… to no avail… as a compromise, she agreed to stand by the sidelines and watched her classmates perform. I could see in her eyes that she is envious and that she wanted to perform, but she just wouldn’t budge! After the whole presentation, I hugged her and told her I was still proud of her, then I asked her why she refused to perform. “hiya ako” ( I was shy) was her simple reply. Hay.

A few days later, I told an officemate about Bea’s non-performance and she said her daughter went through the same thing with her daughter until they were told by the teachers that in the future, the kids should be turned over to the teachers and away from the parents moments before the presentation. This will give the kids enough time to get psyched up with the idea of performing because they are with their classmates already. No chance to feel cold feet or stage fright. Apparently parents cause this more often than not. Go figure. We will definitely try this tactic next time. =)

Webshots vs Flickr

I've been maintaining a webshots account for years now, and i have uploaded almost all pictures i've ever taken... which is a good thing since i lost my copies when my HDD got busted. i've been thinking of a pro account with webshots, the only problem is that they don't accept payment thru paypal. they only accept credit card payments. this makes me apprehensive. i trust paypal more, after having many transactions with them....

i am also considering a pro account in flickr, but i am just more used to using webshots. hmmm...

i'm thinking, i'm thinking...

My Little School Girl

Terrific Toddler Tips: Understanding Your Toddler

Every person is unique. We have heard this time and again.  We all have our own peculiarities. We react to situations differently. We all exhibit our individuality. Our dear toddlers are no exception. In fact, it is around this age when they start to develop and show their own personality. We see a particularly jovial child and compare him to a somber, serious looking one… and we have the tendency to judge him as a cheerful child, while the other one is called moody.

This is important advice: parents, don’t label your child. Being called a “difficult child” or a “shy child” is very limiting. We should aim to be encouraging rather than restraining. Being labeled is like being judged for life. It is like your future is laid out already. A difficult child’s” actions may be dismissed as acting up or just misbehaving as usual, instead of being addressed. A “shy child’s” parents may go around saying that their child is an introvert since childhood…always has been, always will be. So instead of encouraging the child to get out of her shell, reaching out to others, and making new friends, they are conveying a message that she has always been like that… and will most probably be the same for the rest of her life. This leaves very little room for her personality improvement.

Don’t confuse understanding and getting to know your child with excusing and accepting problem behavior. Understanding her doesn’t mean that you will side with her no matter what. It doesn’t mean spoiling her rotten and expecting the world to adjust to her quirks and impulses. Yes, you love her, and you will stand by her no matter what, but she will still have to find a way to fit into the world, no matter how unique and wonderful she is. An example: if by chance, your child has a tendency towards aggressive behavior towards others, her parents should find ways to modify her conduct rather than making excuses for her. It part of our obligation as parents to make sure that our children can happily and successfully thrive on their own and peacefully co-exist with others.  

Also, don’t compare children. Comments like “I wish you were more like your sister” or “you’re brother is …, why can’t you be more like him?” may only be words to us. After a while we’ll forget about it, but the damage it can do to our toddler’s self esteem is inestimable. Let us not assume that she’s too young to even understand. Words are powerful, and they can get into one’s subconscious and contribute to that someone’s life programming.

Our toddler is a little person. She has the ability to think and feel. It is only right to make an effort and try to understand our toddler. Rearing a child doesn’t only involve feeding, and bathing a child but also getting to know her, and encouraging her to be the best that she can be. =)