is it time for a pet?

kyle has been asking me if he can have a pet already for the past weeks. he was asking for a hamster, a dog/puppy, a lizard (gasp!) and other pet-worthy pets. i told him he can if he can answer this basic question:

will you clean up your pet after he poops and pees?

so far the answer is still a resounding NO, he would even say that poop and pee are yucky things and he will never touch those. that he even asked my why he should be the one cleaning u after his pet, isn't it my job to do that? (raising my eyebrows to high heavens). i had to explain to him that i do the cleaning/bathing etc for them because i'm their mommy and wen they're bigger, they'll choose to do those things on their own. pets can't do that.

so that means he's still not ready for one. i explained to him that having a pet is a big responsibility. you not only feed it, but also clean up and take care of it after.

although there are days when he asks me if he's ready to have a pet to take care of. and i just keep on asking him the same question. if he's willing to clean up after his pet then for sure, hubby and i would be willing to give him one. maybe starting with a pet hamster too.

let's wait and see.

kyle and the art of whining

thank god for parenting.com and i am somehow prepared for the whining sessions. i admit even if i prepared myself for this, it is still quite annoying and irritating. but dealing with it comes easy.

to share a few tips and tricks:

> give them a few mintues of your attention or time. give them more hugs, tickles or even a cracker or two. the whining may just be a small bout of hunger or boredom.
> let him hear that the whining sound he makes is not nice and turn it into a funny scene. in short laugh it off, your toddler might not notice that he is in fact whining. (this one works between kyle and i)
> do the exact opposite of what they're doing, if they're whining loudly, answer them back in a whisper. or as if you're telling a secret. this would hold your toddler's attention.

or just give it to them straight. let them know that when they whine, you can't understand them and the only time you can talk to them if they stop whining. this one also works for me and kyle. just keep your calm voice so that your toddler can replicate your mood and everything will flow smoothly. but there will be days that you do get to slip and cave in to the anger and answer back to your kid and a war ensues. it's ok, we're moms, they're kids, we're just human. it's part of the mommy-kids cycle. we get to live with it.

and of course, you have to reward your kid for the good behavior be it an affirmation of him being able to follow your instructions or a hug or a kiss. something that reinforces their good behavior/attitude.

but you won't get it the first time. it's a trial and error thing until you and your toddler gets used to it and before you know it, the whining is over and you're conversing with your toddler like an adult. :)

i may not win the mother of the year award...

because...

1. i let my kids sleep late on weekends. and let them watch tv with me and hubby.
2. i let them have a taste of coke, chips, ice cream and the other stuff that falls under the junk food category. better let them experience it than deprive them.
3. when i'm tired or wanting to get more sleep, i ask their yayas to look after them for a while.
4. i let them stay longer when we give them baths. a few minutes of playtime with water.
5. the tv with cartoons are our savior when the kids have tantrums.
6. it doesn't hurt to have dirty hands, feet or faces once in a while.
7. if i'm not in the mood to feed them, daddy or yaya takes over and i get to sneak in a few minutes of me time.
8. we've taught kyle to sit properly in the passenger side of the car - with his seat belt on when he turned 2. now it's keon's turn.
9. i let them whine and cry until they get tired.
10. i learned to be a mom not from books, but how i see them growing up and learning from my mistakes.
11. i let them sleep without brushing their teeth if they don't feel like it.

if that makes me unqualified as mom of the year. it's ok with me.

credits to Jen for the inspiration for this post. read hers and see that there are a lot of non mothers of the year but still the best moms ever!

where have i been hiding?

So, what has kept me all quite these past few months from blogging? A lot, really. From work, to personal issues to the homefront, the family and everything else in between. So I have decided to to al ittle of a looking back the past few months had fared.

November 2008:

The much awaited wedding in Cebu. The much awaited travel outside metro manila to the visayas for the very first time. It was the best experience ever with friends and a much needed bonding time with hubby. Which we really deserve.

Work wise, it was my first month as the sole digital sales team for advertising. The one woman team as they call me. It was a bit of a struggle at first, but the stream of clients was steady enough to put a smile on my boss’ face. But it took a lot of elbow grease to keep things moving.

December 2008:

A lot of revelations were unwrapped along with presents for the holidays. One of which was the fact that sales for digital would be shared with the advertising team from print. No complaints from me, but one thing that worried me was that the accounts that I handled were the ones that will be turned over to them. Which meant more time to get a move on.

Revelatation number two: found out after the holidays that I was with baby number 3. a shock and a ray of sunshine at the same time. Had a hard time finding the right moment to tell my boss before spreading the word to everyone else. The morning sickness was hell versus the past 2 pregnancies I had.

And secretly I was praying for a girl this time.

It didn’t matter that people are talking behind my back about being pregnant for the 3^rd time. I don’t care. Let them talk. We will raise our kids even if it takes us not to eat 3 meals a day as long as we can provide their needs. Since they are our priority. And the means for us to get the money is with good intentions.

January 2009:

New year, new beginnings. Enough said.

February 2009:

I’ve decided to start fresh. Reinvent myself, my outlook, my work habits and everything else that needs some positive juju. And so far so good, things are falling into place.

I may have been silent, but I have been living a very spectacular life the past few months. But I think it’s time to share it with people who would spare a few moments to drop by and read my thoughts and feelings and a few grammatical errors and typos along the way.

I am still human after all even if my kids see me as supermom. =)

terrible twos part 2- the keon chronicles

we're back on the the terrible twos bandwagon, this time with keon. i blogged about Kyle's terrible twos and as much as i avoid comparing the two, it's quite different and literally a whole new experience for us.

it's amazing how i am raising two different individuals at such a young age.

keon's almost there with a few months to spare hitting the big 2, and he has started with his mood swings. to enumerate:

> his crying has become frequent. from crying because he wants to go upstairs to crying because he wants to play with his kuya's toys.
> to waking up in the middle of the night crying, and wouldn't want to be put down. so i had to try to sleep while carrying him - sitting.
> to using me or his nanny to manipulate us into doing the things he want. going outside, refusing to take a bath or preferring a certain toy while taking a bath, playing with my laptop while i work/surf at home, asking for food if he sees someone eating to basically anything and everything to get what he wants.
> hates the fact that when i say no. and would resort to going to daddy to appeal his case.
> knowing how to fight back when his kuya gets to bully him.

and the list goes on...

my little man is quite the character compared to his kuya. he can make fun of his kuya when kyle's the one throwing the tantrums, but is quite the relief since kyle would then stop crying out of humiliation because his shoti's laughing at him. which works everytime. what he does is he squats infront of his kuya and mock him - laughing or imitating his cry.

but the thing is, i'm usually at the losing end when it's his turn throwing tantrums, one minute he wants me to be his protector, the next i'm the enemy. there are times that he would run to his nanny asking for sympathy. good thing his nanny knows better.

thank god for parenting resources on how to handle the terrible twos or else i would have cried my eyes out with kyle and keon.

how did you handle your child's terrible twos?

8 ways in raising a happy child

From BABYCENTER.COM :

8 ways in raising a happy child

As a parent, we want our kids to be happy, tantrum-free, and worry-free. we all have this idea that as much as possible we want the kids to be the perfect little angels. but really, isn't the idea of perfect kind of boring? there isn't much to keep you on your toes and expecting the unexpected. personally, i don't find that fun at all.

i have two toddlers, two different personalities, two quirks, two likes and dislikes. so, what would help in raising them to be separate happy kids most of the time? babycenter.com has a few tips to share to mommies.

Learn to read the signs
Make room for fun
Help them develop their talents
Healthy bodies equal happy children
Let them struggle with problems
Allow them to be sad or mad
Be a role model
Teach them to do meaningful things


here are my own thoughts on the tips:

1. learn to read the signs:
> kids aren't expression deprived individuals. if you're in tune with your kid, you'll know what makes them happy, sad, fearful, etc. i remember kyle has this great fear for this novelty item, which we call poopoo man. it's literally a man sitting on a toilet bowl and with a face that's trying to push out one big chunk of poo. (think constipation).

we as parents should also know when to play with the kids. kids also want their own quiet time. a time for themselves in their own little world. i would often catch the two side by side playing but doing two different things, minus the fighting.

2. make room for fun:
> there's always a time in injecting fun no matter the situation. especially during mealtimes. what i do is, we do pretend play. my mom would often frown upon this since this is not within her parameters of table manners. it's not that we throw around food or whatever but we make use of the moment to come up with games, songs, stories etc to get kyle to eat, especially if he's having a bad day. this does not apply to keon for now since he's up for eating - anytime.

3. help them develop their talents:
> this is what i noticed with kyle and keon when it comes to their talents. kyle has this ability to get the melodies of songs after hearing it twice and tries to get the lyrics right and sometimes makes up his own. he also has the potential when it comes to memorizing songs, info etc. he may not show that he's listening but when you ask him, he gets it right.

keon on the other hand, at 1 and a half has showed interest in cars, and other modes of transportation. as long as it got wheels, he's going to study it and its details. same as his kuya, he has the talent in picking up things quickly.

so what we do is as much as possible expose them to the things they like and introduce them to different alternatives that would interest them as well. so far, things are doing great. i'm just happy that the kids are very much open to educational toys we give them. And of course, encouragement is key, you may not like what your child chose as a talent but, it’s better to nurture than to repress.

4. healthy bodies equal happy children:
> i think there's no need to expound on this. we mothers want the best for the kids and it’s non negotiable when it comes to providing the healthiest meals for the kids. But personally, I let them indulge in junk food once in a while so as not to deprive them.

5. let them struggle with problems:
> i totally agree on this. this helps in nurturing their independence and thinking. It may be heartbreaking for you to see your little tot, cry out in frustration and run to you for help. But sometimes, we just have to let them go and let them figure it out for themselves.

6. allow them to be sad or mad:

> yes, kids have feelings too and they need to vent out the same way as we do. Let them get mad, let them get sad. It’s ok. But the key here is to be there for your child to explain why they’re feeling that way and what they can do about it. It’s better to acknowledge the emotion rather than letting it be and leaving your child clueless to what he/she is feeling.

7. be a role model:

> a constant reminder from every parenting blog, website or even book would say that our kids will mirror our actions. When they see us do things, good or bad, for them it’s ok since they see mommy or daddy doing it. So as parents we have to be careful of our own actions in front of the kids. Worrying why your kid may be hitting other people? It might be this one instance when he/she saw you hitting hubby or your sibling. Kids are mimics, great ones at that, so if we want to instill good values and behavior, it should start with us.

8. teach them to do meaningful things:

> it may be the simplest birthday card, or a school project, as long as they put their hearts into it, it becomes the most wonderful creation ever. Our kids should know that in doing things, it should be from the heart, 100% meant or else it would show. Kids should be taught to think of others especially those who are not that well off compared to them, involve them in charity work as early as now. As what the elders would say: marunong lumugar.

mommy takes a back seat on this one

hubby texted this to me last night:

kakatuwa si kyle kanina. hanap ka niya, tapos sabi ko nasa office ka pa, sunduin kita. sabi niya, i want to fetch mommy, come daddy let's ride the car. e sabi ko i'm playing basketball muna. tapos sabi niya, i watch you play basketball then fetch mommy.

it was such a proud daddy moment for him. one, he can converse with kyle properly, two, kyle can express what he wants and can use his logic and thinking in ways that are quite mature and advanced for his age. three, he can speak straight english.

and this moment i fully award to hubby. it's his turn in being a great parent.

Three Step bedtime routine for your babies

As published in Femalenetwork: LINK my first article ever, and it got published! yey! now i'm motivated than ever to write. and the feedback from good friends ( you know which ones are sincere and those said just to make you feel good) are overwhelming. :)

on with the article!

~!~

We all know that sleep is vital to baby’s development and mommy’s disposition in the morning. Yet mommies also know that getting the baby to sleep through the night is easier said than done.

Did you know there’s a thee-step process in ensuring a good night’s sleep for your baby? Establish this bedtime routine as soon as the baby is born.

Step 1: Give baby a five-minute relaxing warm bath using a mild baby soap or wash, which, over time, will serve as a signal that it’s time for bedtime soon.

Step 2: Give baby a two-minute massage using a gently-scented lotion or oil. Apply this with downward strokes on limbs, circular strokes on the tummy, outward sweeps on the chest, small circles on the head and face, and sweeping downward strokes on the back and feet. As you do this, try talking to her in a soothing voice to strengthen your bond. This is a reliable way of getting your baby ready for sleep.

Step 3: Have quiet bonding time right before slumber. Sing lullabies or nursery rhymes to your baby or with her if she can already speak. Cuddle, read bedtime stories, and say a prayer with her. As soon as she gets drowsy, put her to bed while she is still half-awake. This is to help the baby learn to self-soothe, so when she wakes up in the middle of the night, she can go back to sleep without your help.

A study shows that babies who go through this bedtime routine fall asleep 37% faster and experience 37% less night awakenings. In fact, total night awakenings decreased by as much as 49%, and length of babies’ continuous sleep increased by 23%. And we all know that with a well-rested baby comes a mommy who is less tense and tired and more energetic. Barbie Almalbis-Honasan (shown in photo with baby Noa Stina) is among the moms who can attest that having a good bedtime routine will improve baby's sleep.

You may try using Johnson’s Baby Bedtime line when you do the three-step routine. The line consists of a bedtime bath, soap, lotion, oil, and powder—all of which contain a patented blend of soothing aromas and essence of jasmine blossoms called NaturalCalm.

For other concerns and inquiries about giving your baby a good night’s sleep, check out Johnson and Johnson’s website devoted to this: www.bedtime.com.ph. It also gives mommies a Customized Sleep Profile, designed to help them better understand the quality of baby’s sleep, and which comes with personalized advice on how to improve it.

21 ways to enjoy being a mom

credits to Parenting.com who has been a great resource and life saver when i am literally in the dark in handling two toddlers.

i may be this steady mom to some friends who looks like parenting is a breeze, but if not for parenting.com and babycenter. i would be frazzled, wallowing in 2 post partum depressions and haggard looking 26 year old.

this is to all the moms and dads out there! Parenting Rocks!

21 ways to enjoy being a mom

1. When you're tired, hand your kids a brush, point to your head, and tell them to play beauty parlor. When you're really tired, pretend that you're Sleeping Beauty. - amen!

2. Take your mother to a spa. While you're both getting seaweed wraps, tell her all your favorite memories of growing up. - i think this would be impossible. haha!

3. Take a bath with your infant. Make sure your husband is around for the handoff, so you can relax until the last minute. (Don't forget to smell your baby right afterward. Heaven!) - exactly!

4. At the end of every summer, take a family photo for the holiday card (you'll be happy to have this accomplished once December comes). Every year, add a framed 11-by-14-inch print to your front hall. Your kids will be proud now and laugh later at the funny styles. - this is in the family pipeline (that sounds very sales-like! haha)

5. On St. Patrick's Day, dye the milk and eggs green and turn the furniture upside down so your home looks like total chaos. When your little ones wake up, tell them that the leprechauns came.

6. The next time you have to go to a boring kiddie activity, invite another mom-friend along. Hide wine in sippy cups for the two of you to nurse undercover. -haha nice idea!

7. Play Freaky Friday with your husband and switch roles for a day. Enjoy his renewed appreciation for his Super Mom wife. - i know!!

8. . In the dead of winter, fix some snacks, get under warm quilts, and watch Happy Feet on DVD. Tell your kids you love them even more than the penguins love their chicks. - no winter here in the Philippines but this is a great idea!

9. Go to the beach in the off-season. Throw rocks in the water and collect shells. Put them in a vase and use it as shelf decor in your living room.

10. Skip the Raffi and Barney. Turn your kids on to Bob Marley, They Might Be Giants, and Gwen Stefani. - hey, where's the beatles, the who, incubus etc?

11. Take your baby out to the movies at night. (Infants love the dark, and loud trailers make them snooze immediately.) Then you can sip your soda and munch your popcorn in peace. - is this true?

12. Buy yourself that fancy watch, strand of pearls, or whatever piece of expensive jewelry you've been lusting after. Justify your purchase by rationalizing that you'll pass it down to your daughter (or son's wife) eventually. -haha! i'll leave this to hubby. books for me. :)

13. Take your kids to live music performances from very early ages. Cheap ones outdoors are great to start with in case you need to make a hasty exit (like when a diaper explodes).

14. Use your kids as an excuse to do the things you want to do, like going to silly feel-good movies, eating mac and cheese for dinner, and jumping in the moonbounce. Use your kids as an excuse to get out of things you don't want to do, like going to a wedding or office party. - oh yes!

15. Every Mother's Day, have a picture taken with your kids. Keep the photos all together - along with special cards, ticket stubs, mementos, and anything else that makes you feel good about being a mom - in a shoe box. (Of course, you must get those new shoes you love in order to do this correctly.) Every year, look through your Goddess Mom box and see how much your kids have grown. - goddess mom, i like that! must buy shoes, more shoes then! for the boxes of course!

16. Give your kids quiet time every day. Let them learn to be by themselves with books, crayons, or blocks. - exactly!

17. Let your whole family take a day off and hang out in pj's all day long. - we call that weekends

18. Rent Sex and the City on DVD, and reminisce about the days when you were single and the biggest problem you had was whether the "He" of the moment was going to call. Let the romance of your youth seduce you. Then remember that, despite your freedom, all you really wanted was to fall in love and have beautiful babies. -amen!

19. Pitch a tent in the backyard. Use it as your outdoor reading room. Or when there's a full moon, plan a family campout with sleeping bags, a transistor radio, and s'mores, of course.

20. Invent a house fairy. Give her a name, and tell your kids that she is always watching them and counting up their good deeds.

21. Listen for the deep, happy sighs that come after your kids play or laugh really hard. Tuck them away in your heart. - i wish my heart's big enough to keep all the sighs and love moments i have with my kids. never a day goes by without something new to tuck in my heart.

The trouble with tantrums

The trouble with tantrums

I thought the worst was over when we hurdled the terrible twos phase earlier than expected. I thought we could sit back and relax, do arts and crafts, sing nursery rhymes, laugh and scream our hearts out. Oh boy, these things came with a price. A big price.

Eversince turning 3 was looming in the horizon, Kyle had started to have this tantrum attacks where he would want one thing and reject it the next. He would hate having his baths before school and we would always end up in crying fits with a few hitting and slapping (from kyle of course). I felt bad that his nanny would get the most hits and slaps. But I applaud her patience for not hitting back. She really is an angel to me and kyle.

I have been researching on what is this thing about kids turning 3 and the mood swings. I had my share of mood swings too. Where I would entertain thoughts of spanking my kid, and far worse thoughts but I had to stop myself and resort to just crying or trying to think happy thoughts. or even locking myself in the bathroom for 10 minutes.

It has been a long learning process and everyday I have to come up with things that would make the tantrum fizzle out.

Here are some things I learned:

> Tantrums are normal. Kids have emotions too and they just don’t know how to handle it. It’s an emotional sneeze where they have to let out the thing the bothers them to make everything clear.
> Let you child deal with the tantrum, be there for the kid. Let him vent it out. It will pass. It’s better to have a kid throwing a tantrum than being in a good disposition 100% of the time. This just means that you child is in tune with his emotions. All we, as parents have to do is listen and not ride on the tantrum because they’re not following what we want them to do or if they don’t know what they want. Compromise.
> It helps kids learn to think and find out how to get what they want. It lets them explore. Tantrums may be because they just can’t figure out what they really want. As long as you are there for them with or without support, it would satisfy them.
> And of course good ol hugs are one of the best remedies to calming a child. Works everytime. When kyle’s in a fit, I would let him cry for a while, stomp his feet etc. then let him come near him, then I hug him. In a few minutes, crying subsides and we can then talk about what he wants or what bothers him. Mommy’s hugs are the best I tell you.

So, what have I learned from this? Tantrums are still big surprises and one must be on their toes. One solution may not work for now, some may never work. But the most important is to be there when your kid is throwing a tantrum. Maybe it’s his way of telling you, hey mom/dad you need to spend more time with me.

How’s that for a thought?

PPBC#4: Guess how much i love you

PPBC Entry: Hosted by Doc Joey in her other blog.

a parent's love for their child can not be measured. but what exceeds this is the way a child expresses love to their parents. an feeling that is hard to describe, to put into words.

so i'll just enumerate the things my boys do to make their daddy and i melt with the warmth of their love.

> kyle and keon loves waking us up in the morning by snuggling
> my boys loves running to us, arms open wide, big smiles on their faces when we come home from work
> kisses and hugs are always free.
> kyle loves telling me he loves me when i call home to check up on him when he comes home from school. keon on the other hand, would squeal his i love yous.
> the feeling of seeing them run after you when we leave for work, shows just how much they need us.
> that the moment we are home, they leave their yayas behind and involve themselves with what we are doing.
> that the appreciation on their faces after receiving something from us, be it a simple toy, a happy meal, or the grandest gift on their birthdays or christmas.

and most of all, the moment when they arrived in this world, i have never felt this loved in my life. the moment we both looked into each other's eyes, we knew we belong to each other. we were meant to be.

growing by the day

kyle will officially start school on monday. and i'm the one having the jitters and anxiety.

yeah so he isn't potty trained yet, but we're getting there. found a sure ball way for him to pee. he has been diaper-less for a good week. a lot of leaky accidents, but at least he knows how to show signs that he wants to pee. i don't rush him for fear of him repressing it. one day at a time he's learning that it's ikcy when his pee trickles down his legs and his crocs has to be washed everytime. my little boy is a bit of a hypochondriac - monk is that you? =)

little keon's vocabulary's growing by the day. new trick he learned, he now knows how to kiss me and with sound! love it to bits! he's now running, and i noticed that he prefers running to walking. quite a steady balance already but still gives us the usual nerves when he runs around the house.

which reminds me, i should post more pics of the kids.

and i'm counting the days to kyle's first day in school! this is going to be exciting!! can't wait! [i may go on leave, and not earn a single penny that day, but nothing beats being there for your child's first day]watch out for pics to be uploaded in multiply =)

Pinoy Parenting Blog Carnival # 3: Generations

This edition of the Pinoy Parenting Blog Carnival posts the following questions:

1. What are the things your parents did that you would definitely still follow?
2. What are the things your parents did that you would do differently?

This is this month's topic. if you want to join or view other entries by parents such as myself, visit Doc Joey's blog HERE

~

i grew up under a disciplinarian and strict family. certain rules have to be followed or else:

1. when you happen to do something bad or gets the disapproval of my parents, it entitles you to a good spanking - either by hand, by belt or hanger. depends on the gravity of the misdeed.

2. prayers are strictly enforced. 12noon angelus, 3pm prayer, and 6pm angelus. and of course, night time prayers.

of course, there are upsides in my family:

1. gatherings are sacred. birthdays, weddings, christmas, new year any special holidays deserve a good celebration with the whole clan.

2. kids are given free rein on what they can do during their playtime as long as they are within the vicinity of the compound and within sight of the adults.

3. books are highly encouraged. they even shove books for you to read.

4. there is always food. as long as you finish what you get.

5. respect for elders, they don't require you utter po and opo after every sentence but the tone of voice when conversing is sometimes enough for them as a sign of respect.


so far these are the things that have been etched in my mind while growing up. i'd certainly enforce these to my kids except the first part. as much as possible i avoid spanking them. the only time that i spank them if they have been given 3 warnings about their bad behavior. and after an explanation why such behavior deserved the spanking. other than that, all these have been great influences on my upbringing.

i've been blessed with a family that believes that families should stick together no matter what and we're the first and last people we run to when we get stuck in a rut. and there's always unconditional love to go around, anytime. and free hugs too!

how our day goes in the yago-hung household

I read this interesting topic in Momma Stuff and i couldn't resist in joining. it's a good reminder as well on how we go about our routines at home.

Now for this week, the question is : Do you have routines for your kids? Care to share? Does it really help?

yes, i have set a routine for my kids since day 1 so that everything would be in order. but i do make exceptions here and there especially for kyle since he's getting more independent and prefers to sometimes do things not in the schedule. so, it's keon who still has to go through the not so strict daily routines. but surprisingly, he's the one who sometimes reminds me to stick to the schedule. haha my bunso's a lot like clockwork. so anyway, on with the entry:


i specifically mentioned yago-hung since we are "squatting" in my parent's place until we get to wipe our our debts (this year, yey!) and find the best place to settle with the kids. or until we do get the chance to migrate to NZ hopefully by 2010, whichever comes first.

but i digress.

so, how do we go on with our daily routine at home with two rowdy boys, their nannies and us? let me show you:

aishi wakes up at 6:00am to prepare for work. the kids and i are still asleep.
7:00-7:30 keon wakes up. drink milk, bathe in the sun and play with me while i prepare for work.
8:00-8:30am kyle wakes up, drinks milk, playtime with the nannies. i leave for work.
9:00-11:00am playtime while the nannies prepare their lunch, bathtime. usually keon takes a 30min to an hour nap after bath. kyle and nanny go through his workbooks-usually at his request.
11:30 lunch time for the kids. this goes while watching thomas and friends.
12:00-1:00 the nannies take turns eating their lunch
1:00-3:00 nap time
3:30-5:00 playtime again for the kids. this time outside the house. but in the garage if there's space.
5:30 one of the nannies prepare their dinner and their bathwater
6:30 dinner time, baths and a little tv time
7:30-8:00 dinner time for the nannies
8:30 aishi and i get home
8:30 onwards are our bonding time before bedtime
9:30 bedtime for keon. usually stretches to 10 if he's really hyper and playful. i'll go up to the room with keon's nanny to help me give him a spongebath. drink milk before bed. say prayers, a little cuddling and playtime until keon falls asleep. i leave the nanny to look after keon in case he wakes up
10:00 mommy and kyle time. start to prep him for bedtime as well. recap what he did today in his workbook.
10:30 give him milk and prep him for his spongebath. go up to the room again and prepare him for sleep.
11:00 the kids are asleep. a little tv time for me and aishi. or if we're really tired, we just head for the bed and sleep.

but since keon's with my in-laws for the past week and since kyle's nanny is on vacation while he's in summer school, (which tomorrow is his last day. yey!) we changed the schedule a bit. but more or less this will be the routine once kyle starts school this June.

5:30am i wake up and prepare kyle's things and baon. heat water for his bath and mine.
6:00am wake up kyle, give him his milk. let him watch nickelodeon so that he won't be in a bad mood when he goes to school. aishi prepares for work
6:30 bath time. aishi leaves for work
7:00 - 7:20 school bus arrives. mama will accompany him to school.
7:30 i take a bath. prepare kyle's lunch and dinner.
8:00 leave for work
10:00 kyle comes home from school
10:30-11:00 mama prepares kyle's lunch
12:00 kyle will ask for milk.
12:30 nap time for kyle
3:00 kyle wakes up from his nap. will usually ask for milk again. then will eat bread or whatever's for merienda.
4:00-6:00 playtime with mama and dada and his uncles. or he'll ask for his workbook again and doodle. or read some books.
6:30 dinner time for kyle
7:00-8:00 my family eats dinner
8:30 aishi and i arrive from the office
9:00 bonding time with kyle, check on keon again - what's he doing, how he's doing, if there are things that need to be bought for him etc.
9:30 prepare kyle for bed. prayers, cuddling etc. while aishi will prepare kyle's food for tomorrow. (we usually cook it a day in advance to cut on time)
10:00 tv time for aishi and i. and on wednesdays, it's csi night.
11:00 i usually get to sleep ahead of aishi since i'm the one putting kyle to sleep. an hour or so before he joins us.

then the routine starts all over again. =)

now, where can i have a little me time then? haha

nobody told me preschool hunting was stressful

indeed it was. the first time we inquired about the tuition fees, i almost had a heart attack and wished dr. house would diagnose some fatal disease. is it really that expensive to put your kid through school? 80 friggin thousand pesos?!?! for a whole school year!

80k to let your child play with toys and other kids. i could do that if i'm not a working mom. hehe (i'm in kuripot mode.. kill me)

but, seeing kyle not wanting to leave the school because he found it "nice" was convincing enough to find a way to pay that bloody tuition. priceless i tell you when you get to hear your little boy say:

"moomy, nice o! wow! i like this one" and when you tell him to leave, he'll give you the saddest face ever.

ok, little man, you're going to that school in june. the only thing i ask is you be a good boy like you are at home. mommy or ate aisa can't be with you there but i know you'll do great. =)