Weaning From the Bottle

When it comes to weaning from the bottle, the process can be difficult, but it's worth it in the end, for both you and your child.

I've seen many parents giving their children bottles at age 3, but weaning from the bottle can actually be done around 12-18 months of age. At this age, I didn’t try to wean my baby from bottle feeding, because I was concerned about her milk intake. Most of my friends said, when their children started to drink milk out of a glass, the intake of milk was less than feeding from a bottle.

This time, I am encouraged to wean my two year old daughter from the bottle for her dental health. If she will continue with her bottle it may cause of tooth decay.

The first five days were hard to deal with, but she's doing better now. She's been drinking milk out of a glass for three weeks now. I haven't seen her missing her bottle. After her heavy meals, she can drink five (5) onces of milk in a total of 15 onces everyday.

Prison Break

Of all the TV series’ that I have watched, Prison Break is by far my favorite one. Prison Break Season 1 has a running time of about 16 hours with 22 Episodes.

I finished watching season 1 & 2 of Prison Break about two months ago. This week I did nothing but watch the complete first season again with my hubby. I still enjoyed it. Hubby got hooked on it too. I think he can’t sleep for waiting for the release of Season 2 on September 4, 2007 at Blockbuster.

A Rare Impression

In a fast food center, about a week ago, I met an elderly lady who introduced herself to me as a nurse. She had a grandchild sitting (or seated) beside her. As I sat right across the table from her, her attention was drawn to my daughter’s skin and her beauty. This is because my daughter is different from the other children. I gladly responded to her, and we began to talk to each other. Then later, she found out my daughter has one half American blood.

The old lady was simple looking. She sounded like a typical Visayan woman. But, I heard her talk to her grandchild in English. It seems like in slang English, but it was perfectly spoken. When she was through, she turned to me and talked again in a native bisaya dialect. Then, because of her English accent, I asked her if she had already been to another country. She told me, she had been in the USA for over 30 years working as a nurse.

I had the notion that she is a smart lady and a fast-learner. And one thing that she left me with was the impression that she still embraces and has never forgotten her native bisaya accent.

And now, there is a big difference between her and my friend living in the USA , now, for eight years. Because, every time I talk with this friend, she responds to me like she is trying hard to make her voice sound like an American accent. Even the way she talks in bisaya, it sounds like a slang bisaya.

A moral lesson I got from the old lady, is that: Be true to yourself, speak in the natural way when you are talking to a person with the same dialect, and do not forget your roots; because it is from there where you found your way up now.

Pregnancy Cravings

The choice of variety of food is very natural and common part of pregnancy. Pregnancy cravings are a little strange too. And also, this is the time when you can eat anything to satisfy your food cravings.

I have to say that my first pregnancy cravings have not been too strange and weird. Morning sickness was not the problem of mine. I loved to eat anything. I have to admit, my pregnancy hormones are making me easier.

In majority, pregnant women have the strong desire for sour delicacies, all they wanted is sour with their foods. To satisfy the cravings; by eating pickles, sour candies and salads may help.

I did have major cravings of sour, like unripe mango from the Philippines. But, how can I get those green mangoes when I was not there? Though, pickles are very common substitute but, I don’t like the taste.

I did experienced eating apple and carrots with salt & vinegar on it, imagining that I am eating green mango.

Ultimately, my second pregnancy is that I am in the Philippines. What I got now is the real sour green mangoes at the backyard of my sister’s house.

Am I Dreaming?

It is hard to accept if the promised had made by someone you love that had been revoked. But the story I will talk about today is different.

I had posted about my hubby’s “Conditional Reward”, which is, if I will lose 20lbs, he will send me to the Philippines anytime and I will also decide when to come back. But, he revoked this promises, I said, how so soon you changed your mind. I was crying and almost wanted to roll over on the floor.

There are so many things to consider why I can’t go back again to the Philippines yet. First is, the last time I was there was in July 2006, I was there for three (3) months to be with my family. Second, it is very expensive to travel. Third, we have a lot of bills and depths in the credit card that haven’t paid yet.

Tuesday night, in January 29, he made the Conditional Reward for me because we wanted me back again in the gym. The reward was awesome, imagine, what IF, I will lose 20 pounds in just two (2) months, meaning I can go home again to the Philippines? So, on the following day I started my strenuous workout.

Wednesday night, in January 30, he asked me to check a cheaper ticket to the Philippines. What in the world, am I dreaming? My hubby’s statement was like this, as I see you this morning, you are not ready to go back again to the gym but you are only force by the reward. I want you to be with your family again and find yourself in the Philippines.

Saturday morning, in February 5, I received my ticket going to the Philippines. Departure time, 2:30pm February 6, 2007 and will return on June 20, 2007.

Again, my homecoming was a big surprised to my family. My two big sisters were so shocked to see me and my daughter to their respective offices.

Conditional Reward

Have you ever experienced that your husband or someone else will give you a reward if you will do the favor that they are asking from you? This is about a request that cannot be accomplished overnight.

I think most of you here know that I have a weight gaining problem, after the pregnancy of my daughter. My hubby is very supportive of me, and he helps encourage me when I try to lose weight. I know he wants me to be happy. He bought some exercise machines for me. But you know the disadvantage of having these in your house, you bury them in the dust and stack thing on them, and you never have the energy to dig them out and use them; you see them everyday, and you have the habit of saying, I will do it later.

Then one day, I asked him, if it’s ok that I will enroll in YMCA. He paid for a family membership; because he wanted me to be happy and involved with other people too. I did lose weight but not enough for me to get back to my original goal, but I am getting closer.

Ten months ago, I was on vacation in the Philippines and returned on July 2006. I was there for three (3) months; I spent all of my time with my family. So, most of the time, I was with my baby, and I did the cooking for the family. And I didn’t hire a helper to watch my daughter. Then I had a thought, if I will hire someone, then I would have time for myself also.

When I came back, I became lazy especially in going to the gym. So my hubby is worried, because he sees me all the time on the computer. He wants me to go back again and have an active life. He knows I regretted that I didn’t hire someone to baby sit with my daughter, while I was in the Philippines.

Last night, he asked me to go back to the gym or else he will cancel the membership. He gave me a condition, and I was interested in what he said. By the way, he knows my heart is still in the Philippines. So, he said that if I will lose 20 lbs, he will send me anytime, and I will also decide when to come back. Sounds good huh?!

This morning, I went swimming and did the cardio in the afternoon. I arrived home, and there was hubby laughing with me about the conditional reward. He said I am not doing it for myself but for the reward.

The Notebook

Every woman I know claims this movie is great and I do the same. But my hubby said, this is the chickiest chick flicks movie he had ever watched. I don't blame him, it is really for women, he-he-he.

I saw this movie a year ago, it was my sister's recommendation, long after it had hit on theaters. The sweetest thing in the movie had to be the undying love the guy showers to his sweetheart, staying with her, by her side, taking care of her, loving her, even when his sweetheart no longer recognizes him.

I started sobbing when they where die together? The bittersweet “til death do us part” where the couple, now old and failing in health, spent their last few moments together, holding hands until they breathe last breath.

I was determined not to cry, and did well throughout the whole thing until the last ten seconds of the movie. It was when the nurse left their hands alone - that's when I lost it and began crying.

The Great Escape

Does the title sound familiar to you? It is the title of an old war movie filmed in 1963. But this time, there is a remake, starring my daughter.

When she was six months old, my husband and I decided to build a 2 feet wall around our bedroom, for her safety. We put a mattress on the floor to keep our daughter from falling out of the bed. We did not care where we slept as long as it was safe for her.

I would say, she is considered a toddler now. She gets all enthusiastic about climbing everything. She loves climbing whatever’s nearby: the chairs, tables, toys and everything she can climb on and with. No matter how many times I have tried to stop her, the more determined she is to climb. I think that she has been planning her Great Escape.

It’s been a week now since she’s been climbing over the wall. Suddenly, I was surprised and scared; because, someone grabbed my skirt! I was relieved to see that it was only my daughter. I saw how happy she was. I was pretty sure; no one had helped her to escape from behind the wall; but I had no evidence. At last, I caught her in the act! I took a photo of her last night. I think it was cute and funny, so I want to include some of the evidence of her Great Escape.

Posted by Raquel at 1:57 AM