Not Again Fever!

In a span of 2 weeks, my eldest daughter is down with fever again. Oh no! Another round of seven days antibiotics. That doesn't sound happiness to me when almost every month since the start of the year, my kids are regular clients of the clinic. It's not a fever that will make you complacent but will make you paranoid as a mom. 40°C to be more specific. What makes it scarier was that her nose bleed the other day because of high body temperature. But thankful to God she don't look like being sick or lethargic, lest she was up on her feet playing with her younger sister. I don't know but my instincts would always lead me to go straight to her Pediatrician. No questions ask. I would not wait for three days (that's just too long for me) if the fever is continuous and temperature goes up as high as that. My mother said, which by the way is a retired registered nurse, seizure may be possible if not treated right away or will shoot up. When at home, if high fevers does exist, is to apply whole body sponge bath in cold(but not freezing)-to-tap water and an anal suppository to combat fever that reaches 39 to 40°C. That's what also the pediatrician told me. Anal suppositories are like oral paracetamols. So I stock on Opigesic suppositories in 125mg and 250mg for my 1 year old and 3 year old kids, respectively. So far I've managed to insert it in their anus every night and early morning so I won't be disturbing their sleep when fever is still in and time for their medication. Suppositories are also very affordable in less than P20.00 pesos each. Not quite bad huh?

Just to add a little happiness to a sad note. #rainbowlooms

I felt that she's traumatic na when I bring her to the medical laboratory or to her Pediatrician, Dr. Joel T. Gallardo. She knows it that she will be again injected to get blood sample on her arms. And that bragging-ly, she will show it thereafter to us, as if she was brave enough to conquer her fears. Today is the start of her real medication. Get well my child. Mama will tirelessly look and take good care of you no matter what.

SM's Star Baby 2014

I am delighted to know that my officemate's grandchild made it as a finalist for the 1st quarter Star Baby 2014. At her 40's, she now is a grandmother to a 2-month old baby girl named Alison Crame-Tagalog. Out of 10 qualified registrants here in SM Davao City (Lanang and Ecoland), Ali (as she is fondly called) is the only baby included in the 1st quarter finals from Davao. You can vote for baby Ali in their online poll here.

Photo source here.
Isn't she adorable?

To all the mommies out there, don't you worry. If you wish to let your little ones join, there's still 3 quarters left. On how to join, link here for more information.

For now, please send in your votes for baby Alison. Now is your last day to cast your votes. Visit SM Baby Company website here. Go to Promos & Events and click on Star Baby 2014. Scroll down to the Visayas/Mindanao area and look for baby Alison C. Tagalog. Click on the photo and vote. Easy peasy! #baby #smstarbaby2014 #cute #adorable 

40°Celsius

A sponge bath of tap or lukewarm water and an (Opigesic) anal suppository (a paracetamol) are all it takes to manage a very high fever to a kid says the on-duty ER (Pedia) doctor when we rushed my baby girl to the hospital on early dawn last Sunday. You would not let to spike up its fever or else it will lead to convulsion which is very dangerous to the brain cells. I had this fear the day after Chinese New Year after my 1-year old daughter experience 2 days of very hot body temperature. I gave her paracetamol Tempra but still it won't go down to 37°C since Friday. (My mom, a retired nurse, believed on the accuracy of a mercury thermometer over the digital ones because digital thermometers, if the battery is weak or not very new, cannot read the exact reading. We wouldn't want to miscalculate body temperature, right? Though mercury thermometers is not recommended anymore due to safety reasons of the mercury in it (e.g. accidental dropping of it is dangerous to health because of exposure to mercury), one should handle it with utmost care if your are using it. Experience wise, I rely on the readings of the mercury thermometer. Though I want to have the ones used by doctors to get the temperature on the ear (Braun is a recommended brand), it's much expensive and don't have budget for that yet. I discovered somebody blogged about thermometers here and I find it very informative and useful for us mommies who have a toddler or infant babies.) Anyway, after I had my daughter checked-up yesterday, it is found she had Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) as ruled by my kid's pediatrician after getting the laboratory results. Her urine had pus cells and red blood cells which read from 6-8 compared to the usual 0-1 result. I'm not happy with the outcome of the result but I'm thankful that it's not Dengue since her blood platelet is between the normal values. 

For those who are not familiar what suppository is, this is what it looks like (photo below). One capsule is equivalent to 125mg which was given to my 1-year old baby as first aid in the emergency room (ER). I bought this around 18 pesos/each in the hospital where we went to.  

Photo source

Its texture and appearance looks like a hardened glue. It's smooth and jell-like in texture so it's easy to insert and push inside the anus of the baby using the tip first. Just push it slowly until you can't see any white thing peeping at the opening of the anus. But before putting it, we were told to give her a sponge bath first in tap or lukewarm water. By sponge bath, the doctor told us not to rub the cloth on the body but by patting or just wrapping the cloth on the baby's skin especially on the head part, the armpits and the "singit" area. Rubbing would cause redness if rubbed too hard and during fever the skin is sensitive and is painful if done the wrong way. Even if I rubbed it gently, the doctor executed it for me to just wrapped it at my baby's skin is enough.

Photo source

I'm just too anxious about fever on kids nowadays. Before, in my time, my mother would just give us Naprex, or a Royal Tru Orange softdrinks mixed with fresh egg (I still don't know what's the reason behind this) and we will be okay. But now, a simple fever should not be taken for granted because it might lead to something worst (e.g. Dengue, Measles, Chikungunya, or any viral infection that could lead to Pneumonia) and it might be too late. I will spend for my kids health rather than just shrugging and guessing that she/he looks fine naman kaya no need to go to the doctor. I had another experience of this when my almost 3-year old kid when she was still a year and 3 months, she was hit by Pneumonia without any signs of her coughing. She just had the same high fever and I was crying already. I had to bring her to the hospital because she was just calm and her skin color is pale already. She was just sleeping the whole time.

This time, I won't take any chances. No need to wait for worst thing to happen. I'll just use my mothering instinct and it will give me peace of mind. #sickkid 

Nique's First Set of Tooth, Peeked!

I'm happy to note that my baby of 10 months got her first set of tooth as shown on the photo. I thought it will take a while for her tooth to erupt. Though I saw already her gums are swelling and she's salivating more. She's putting things on her mouth and thumb-sucking to the fullest. I really do not want her to do that habit because it will deform the alignment of her teeth same with my eldest of 2 years. Though some pediatricians say it's okay or let them do it because it's their comfort zone and they feel relaxed and comforted doing it. Anyway, it's still their milk teeth. I can manage to make it beautifully aligned when their permanent teeth starts to grow. A little massage of her gums here and there, regularly and religiously, is all it takes. Oh! Another milestone for my Baby Nique. Love you, Banik-nik!

It's a Baby Boy for William and Kate

Wow! This is a good news to start my day right. Although I am not feeling well. I have a little chills today coupled with a stomach-trouble (this word is much better than to say LBM, eeiww!!). I don't know why it struck me. Anyhow, I'm praying that I'll be better since hubby is away for 4 days to attend a seminar out-of-town. Well back to the real point of my blog today. I was off for work yesterday to celebrate my life's milestone. I turned 34 and it feels great celebrating it with my family and parents in both sides. It was just a simple feast. Then at night when I heard the news on TV, I was ecstatic to note that the Duchess of Cambridge Kate finally gave birth to their (Prince William) first born baby boy which happens to fall on my birthdate, July 22. What a coincidence!

I opened Yahoo news this morning and read this details. I am very excited to see the royal baby. He was brought to this world at around 4:24pm on a Monday, July 22, 2013 at St. Mary's Hospital, West London. It is said that Prince William was also born on that same hospital in 1982. Well-wishers flocked the hospital and the Queen of London's residence, Buckingham Palace, respectively. I wonder if it will be declared as a National Holiday too.  There are two incidents that me feel as if I have a relation to these royal people. One is on April 29, 2011, where the couple get married. It was also the time where my first -born daughter Mariella was dedicated to our Lord Almighty. We didn't even know that they will wed on that same date prior to the day itself. And the second instance is just yesterday, my birthday and the birth of the royal baby boy to which the name is not yet disclosed.

Well, together we will wait for the royal couple to introduce their baby boy to the whole world. Let's keep ourselves updated and hooked to that, alright?

My Favorite (current) stash: Cloth Diapers

When you're a mom especially a new one, you forget your needs (and even the wants) and excited on the little ones. Having a baby makes shopping extra exciting for me. Not that I do it regularly. But the moment I step at the department store, the first and must-go for me is the baby/infant section. I don't know. The mother-in-me I guess. Baby finds are a delight for me. Seeing new stuff and innovative products that is useful and beneficial to my baby amazes me all the time.

My current addiction and slowly stashing my collection is cloth diapers. Although a bit expensive at first but in the long run it's all worth it and a good investment. Actually this is a traditional practice before disposable diapers are introduced in the market. Cloth diapers nowadays are re-branded, redesigned and reinvented that will fit and suit to the lifestyle of the mothers of today at the same time. Now that we are ecologically, health and financially conscious about almost everything, Cloth diapering can help save almost everything too!

Initially, I was a bit apprehensive because of the inconvenience it may bring: the leaks, the constant and frequency of diaper changes, the amount of diapers to be laundered and all unlike and compared to disposable diapers. It took me a while to give it a try. But because I want to contribute in saving the environment, budget money expenses and what's best for my baby (click here to know what I mean), I gave this a try only 4 months ago. Now that my second baby is 8 months old (I regretted I didn't used it on my eldest baby now she's 2), it was a surprise that everything I thought about saving indeed came true. Now I have only 4 Cloth diapers on hand (1 Alva, 1 Bamboo Dappy & 2 Baby Leaf, in order according to my preference. But there are a lot in the market that is available depending on your preference. I shall have a separate post about a review of my cloth diaper experience.) but it is still not enough. For a start one should have at least 8-10 cloth diapers or at most 12 depending on the extent your baby is on wetting/pooping. That is for an alternate use already. And cloth diapers should be hand washed every other day that is why you need to have extras to use for the next day. In a day, my baby uses at normal about 3 cloth diapers and at night about 2 disposable diapers. I am planning also to fully cloth diaper my 2 daughters at night where overnight inserts are also locally available. A local seller sells overnight inserts (5-layers) at a price of 150pesos. There are a lot of information about Cloth diapers and diapering itself. I still consider myself a newbie and it helps that I get to know about cloth diaper and its proper use because for me it is all worth trying for.

I am very grateful that I blog because in here I knew about this. I have a list of blog roll of mommies who had great insights about Cloth Diaper/ing 101. You can view them on the right side column on my page --Mothering/Family/Home. Recently, I found in Facebook a group called MCNP (Modern Cloth Nappying Pinays) Group Buys. In here, you get a lot and more insights about different cloth diapers in the market and where you can buy it, frequently asked questions about cloth diaper and diapering and these mothers can help you especially if you are first time mommies or make shift to cloth diapering for your little ones. Since then I can't get over about cloth diapers because aside from the fact that it helped me in so many ways, I just love the designs and styles that makes me wanna hoard it. These has gone to a whole new level of Cloth diapering because of its stylishness and oomph not only for little girls but even for the little guys as well. I love being a mother as much as I love Cloth diaper/ing.

Homemade Baby Wipes

For mommies who are budget and health conscious, this blog episode is for you. As a mother, I giddy whenever I see and hear products that are new, beneficial and friendly to my kids. I'm happy seeing cute and useful stuff for them. As they say, when you become a mom, your personal wants (most of the time) takes a back seat and it is by choice. No second thoughts.

In today's generation, a lot of products are now coming back to basics. Meaning, manufacturers are using organic and natural ingredients. This is a good sign that company owners are not only thinking on the profits they will be earning but also the safety and well-being of the consumers and the environment as well. The buying public on the other hand have been very keen already as to what products are beneficial to ones health and more so they have become well-informed. Because of the many variety of products in the market today, people choose what is cost saving, efficient and environment-friendly. Especially us mothers, we are very particular and careful on what products to use for our tots. As much as possible, it would not harm our babies in all aspects because of the sensitivity of our little ones skin. For example, cloth diapers are now being introduced in the market today that it not only benefit our children but a lot for our environment and our pockets too. For one, a disposable diaper takes hundred of years to decompose. Imagine if you use 3-4 disposable diapers in a day! I am currently using cloth diapers and I regretted I just used it only now. I might have saved thousand of pesos already. I have two kids ages 2 and 7 months old. For a month, I can save up to 1,000.00 or more for my 2 kids. I use disposable diaper on them at night only. During daytime, I use cloth diapers for my baby. My 2-year old knows already to use the toilet so good for her and us (hehe); no diapers needed. Now without further ado, I am sharing to you DIY homemade baby wipes. I encountered this in one of a parenting blog site which I think will be of great help to saving a lot money and disaster to our environment. I haven't tried this yet but will do this. It might be effective to my family. See and click link here.

In Style: Baby Cabinet

Isn't this a cutie? My peg for a baby cabinet. This one is designed for the royal baby of Prince William and Kate Middleton. How I love the soft and dainty paintings on the cabinet and on top for changing dappies of the baby. This somehow reflects the personality of the mother, Kate. Both of my girls also have different closet so that their things are well organized. Right now I'm scouting for a shoe cabinet design for them because they have a lot of it for their age. Thank you to all my loved ones/ sponsors who continuously shower materials things for my kids. It's like they already knew what we want for the 2 girls. 

Photo source

Ultimate wishlists for 2013

Each and everyone of us has goals every new year. I do not have goal lists in particular but this year I feel that this is worth something looking forward too. Even if 3 months has passed already I still can feel that this year is something good for me. Good vibes, positivity mode: on! Well, I have so many things I wanna have and to achieve may it be materially, spiritually, emotionally and physically (literally!) For one, I already enrolled my self in Zumba classes which I see myself to be healthy this year to start off everything. Because being able to move and actively participate in such health and wellness program promotes positive vibes and a good aura on oneself and to the people around. I believe being healthy in mind, body and spirit makes one a happy person. Would you agree?

So, here's my ultimate wishlists/ goals for year 2013. I am listing 10 of my possible and make-it-happen things. I still have more than 10 but those are still impossible to achieve for now unless I make a bet in lotto and win the jackpot. So here it goes:

1. Good health: for myself, my family and loved ones. Staying fit and healthy. Hitting it with Zumba! A living proof below.

Source

Nuby, I got you!

Finally, I owned one. Thanks Mommy Fleur for introducing this to me. When I read her blog on this, I got interested right away. Since I have a newborn, a good quality feeding bottle is a must for me. Avent is very expensive for a budget conscious me. Searching for a way to get it, my eyes lit up when I saw it at Zalora online shop. No second thoughts, I bought it right away. For 2 working days, I got my most awaited purchase.

8 oz. bottle

Award winning!

It's natural shape and size of nipple mimics that of the mother.

The entire bottle. See how clear the bottle is. You could see what's written at the back.

What I like about this is as your baby grows till her/his toddler years (say up to 2 to 3 years), your child can still use it by just changing/ adding accessories like the bottle handle, changing its silicone nipple to a no spill spout, then to a no spill flip it drinking straw and finally when your baby gets a little bit older you can change it to a drinking rim and let him/ her drink in the bottle like a kid. Each transition spouts and straws I think are sold separately. It's a great alternative to Avent since it worth more than 50% less than of Avent. It's worth it!

Missing M

It's been 4 days now that my eldest 2-year-old daughter is not with us at home. Last Friday, she had fever that reached to 38-39 thermo temperature. Because of fear that my 5-month old daughter will get sick also, we decided to bring M to my parent's house and isolate her. Though her sickness is not that deadly infectious(yes I'm exaggerating), it is through experience that once a member of my family got sick (especially if its a viral thing), everybody (if not all) will get the same illness especially flu. Lucky me, that I have a strong immune system (knock on the wood! Thanks be to God). Maybe because of a woman thing due to pregnancy and the like. It is difficult that children got sick especially a baby. It would be sleepless nights on me since I make sure that they breathed well because of runny and stuffed nose. By Saturday, we brought M to her Pediatrician since she vomited thrice on early dawn of Saturday with phlegm on it. Good thing that she brought that out. But worries me a lot because she has no proper eating and avoided milk and water intake. My mother said that M is just so restless. My fear rushed on me. She still has a slight fever around 37 thermo temperature when we went to her doctor. Indeed, she has weezing sound in her lungs and the doctor prescribed antibiotics and for her cough. The doctor told then to not get close of her baby sister. M is very fond of her sister. She squeezes her all the time and kisses her a lot, everywhere of N's body parts. Now that M is not with us these days, we missed her a lot. Even though her presence makes me at times impatient and irked me because of her uncanny and hyperactive movements, the house is not that jolly without M. I missed her sweet voice and her endearing antics. She embraces me a lot and most of the time giggles when embracing or kissing me. Right now since Saturday, my phone calls are on a regular basis in a day just to hear my daughter's voice and to check how she is. She talks a lot already with no formal or clear words. I miss that. See you my M! Papa, Mama and baby N loves you. Get well soon.

This time around

Hola bloggistas! As always I've been out of the limelight of blogging for a long time now. However, never in a day will my support and presence in the blogosphere fails. I always read the blogs in my blog list daily. And now, I am here again since I am in the middle of a lot of stuff to search, comply, and decide. Everyday is a whole new picture of what's going to be ahead of you. It's a challenge and it's a good or bad scenario. Every day is a risk to take and every second counts. It's a good venue for me to chill and relax my mind with a short and quick blog. Because right now I'm preparing for the Valentine's day giveaways in our office, the baptism of my second child and the 2nd birthday of my first. All happening in February. Whew! A lot of stuff for me to prepare. I am praying for wisdom and miracle that these 3 things will be all right in order, place and the exact things I've been looking for.

Countdown

Right now, I'm beginning to feel giddy and a can't-wait mindset about my soon to labor and delivery moment. I am just too ecstatic of seeing my 2nd born and to finish this exhaustion and boredom about the discomforts I have nearing my awaited day. Oh how I wish it'll be a safe delivery and a bearable labor pains. But I still have a lot of preparation to do like having the baby's cabinet (me and hubby thought of having it customized for a more sturdier one), buy N's feeding bottles, cleaning items for the feeding bottles, mittens (I lost or maybe misplaced M's), install the baby's crib and prepare its fittings, buy her bathing paraphernalia, her towels, blankets. I won't buy a lot since I can use M's when she was still newborn. Buying new ones won't be necessary and I am just being practical because N won't use it for long. I'm excited about buying her new stuff this weekend since I am preparing it before I go on labor. I have already washed the baby clothes and other linens last weekend and have it ironed already. I just hope I'd be able to buy and get the stuff I want in one store. Happy baby shopping!!

The so-called "RH Bill"

I had been hearing about this issue lately in the Senate more so when President Noy declared through his recent "SONA" (the 3rd "State of the Nation Address") that he is in favor of the RH Bill which some women in the House of Senate are in favor of. I honestly could not say if I am in favor of it or not because I haven't been well-informed of the said bill. However, I have my stand in which I personally believe that one must be well-educated and sensitive enough to build one's family at the expense of one's health (especially that of the mother) and financial condition in life. I would love to have a BIG family. It is of so much joy to have many children around because it's fun. Both my parents have a big family too that's why I can say the bigger, the merrier. However, they were born way back when the peso is equivalent to US$ 20 or way below; when one (1) liter of gasoline/diesel is P16.00 or below; when the transportation fare is around P1.00 or below. You see, the way of life before is very affordable that a family can sustain to raise kids of 8 members or more. Not to mention that only the husband is working for their living and the wife is taking care of the household and kids. I wish that it's still our way of life today. But it's not. Everything is rising except for our salaries (if you're a working/an employed being). And it's hard to cope with the expenses if you have plentiful of children with the present condition we have. I am in favor of family planning for both parents. Whether they would be using contraceptive method or natural planning, it depends on the parents as long as they will be thinking of the well-being of their family. One to two or five to six children doesn't matter as long as they are capable of keeping their family on its feet and that they can provide the needs or maybe wants of the entire family. A well- planned and well-educated family is healthy for everybody. Not only for the family itself but also for the society as a whole.

Waiting for another Maria

Time flies fast than I ever imagine. Before when everything in this world is not so complicated and not in a hurry, I can still appreciate the itsy bitsy facets of life. Now that with a lot of happenings that I cannot fathom one-by-one, I just realize that I'm about to deliver a new life 2 months from now. It's like a passing event that I regret I wasn't able to focus more on my second pregnancy unlike the first one. Maybe because I already new what's going on with my body and what's not to do. I am just too  complacent. I said that because my first daughter is still in the growing stage and I am just amazed of how she turned to be an adorable being. Honestly, I am in tuned more with M than my pregnancy. And I am guilty about it. Maybe that is why the baby inside me is very active unlike M. She just want my utmost attention. Now, me and my hubby is starting to introduce baby inside to M. M now knows how to say 'baby' and she acknowledges it by holding and massaging my tummy and she even hugs and kisses my tummy. That's too sweet for M! Wondering wants going on in her mind on it? But somehow, at this point, I try to condition myself that when they'll become two by October, I will be having another adjustment period and that's a new phase of becoming a parent and a mother that I will again experience. It's a challenge yet I know it will be a fulfilling phase of my life that surely as a mother no one will be able to understand, truly!

Health is Wealth: Really!

Easier said than done. Since the middle of May, our household was not spared by any one member getting sick. First my daughter got sick because of pneumonia and viral infection which got her into rashes. Then 2 weeks after, one of my house-help got an infection because of her constant pricking of her pimple. Half of her face was bloated due to infection because of the pus already underlying her skin. We were worried because it might be an insect bit her face during one of her working chores or it might be an allergy caused by the "bagoong" which she ate with sour (green) mango. A little bit OC (obsessive compulsive) about cleanliness, I am like a mother which always remind over-and-over again and emphasize cleanliness at the very beginning. I always tell and teach them about proper hygiene and sanitation; to keep their hands clean as possible by washing with soap and water every after doing dirty chores. I am now much more particular about sweeping and disinfecting floors and other parts of the house since our house have lots of ants crawling especially if there is food not properly disposed or kept. I also tell them to wear slippers inside the house, change pillow and bed sheets once a week and to not touch their face and eyes especially if hands are not yet washed, to name a few reminders. My daughter is fond of sitting in the floor and walking in our house so I always told them to keep an eye on her and of any dirt. Again, I always tell them that it is for our own good to be hygienic in the environment and body. I don't blame them if it's not their habit to maintain proper cleanliness since they grew in a barrio in their province. But I assure them that if we continue to maintain a germ-free and clean environment, there is less likely we get sick. Right now, I make sure 70% solution Isopropyl Alcohol is readily available for proper disinfection and taking daily dose of vitamin C a must. It not only benefit our wellness but also our pockets where spending extra bucks for the medicines could be savings already. Agree?!

Caring for my sick daughter

As a parent, I experienced the most dreaded part of being a mother. When your child is sick, there's nothing more stressful than seeing your child helpless and weak. Since last week, my 1-year-old daughter had very high fever like she's having chills. Her body temperature would not go down to 38-degree Celsius. I am afraid that it might be Dengue fever since it's very rampant now due to the rainy days. My daughter even would play with us even if we know in her eyes how weak she is. When, we decided to admit our daughter in the hospital, I feel very weak too seeing my daughter in an IV. In our second day, laboratory results shows normal in her urinalysis and CBC platelet count. However, in her X-ray result, it showed that she acquired PCAP (Pulmonary Community-Acquired Pneumonia). I was totally  mad on the nanny since I constantly remind her to take care of my daughter and to look on her shirt for any sweat. My daughter is very sweaty. Even if we are in an airconditioned room, her head sweats easily especially if the weather outside is very hot. For 3 days in the hospital, I thought that it will be over since she will be bringing her medications at home. But after her last dose of medicine and scheduled for a follow-up check-up, we noticed again rashes in her face and gradually spreading in her arms, chest and legs. Oh my God! I'm afraid it's Dengue fever again since she has slight fever. Then the doctor diagnosed that it is a viral condition. Again, I feel pity of my daughter as everyday we forced her to drink her medicine in a dropper. It is stressing to see her cry and stopping us to let her take it. Oh, how I wish I could let you see it in photos but I decided not to post it here. I am praying that she will be fine the soonest since her last medication will be this Sunday. Hoping her rashes will be gone already.

A Horror act of Parenting

As I opened my internet today, I saw a shocking and horrifying news at Yahoo! As a mother and having a child, this is a heart-breaking news that any mother could take. This video clip that was spread around the net got a lot of attention of netizens that would almost like to kill the mother who happens to abuse her child (click here to see the whole story). This baby of hers is very helpless and I would not dare to watch again the photos. It just pains my heart and pity the baby very much.

As a mother, I would not imagine this woman doing it to her own child. Spanking, pinching, pushing and kicking her own baby because the baby won't stop crying? Of course, it won't stop! She's hurting her baby more and to think her baby is crawling up to her and maybe asking for some pacifying act. But in return, she just pushed her baby. God! What the hell is this woman doing? She's totally out of her mind! I'm sorry for putting my emotions here. But I can't help to feel the sympathy towards the baby. I told my nanny always not to spank my daughter because they may actually follow it. When my baby shows her tantrums, I let her cry until she ends crying and that's the time I carry her and embrace her. I always talk to her even if I know she doesn't understand what I'm saying. What's important is I want to let my baby feel that Mama is not mad at her and I love her. My tight embrace and a kiss to her stops her crying. Babies are still fragile and delicate. Spanking and hurting them will just make things worst.

Learning to deal with babies

Last night, my 1-year old daughter was crying for almost 4 hours. That lasted until 1 o'clock in the wee hours. I can't figure out what happened to her but what I thought is her sleep was disturbed by me and my husband watching a movie. Though we turned the volume into its lowest that we can hear. That was not the only time we did it but last night was something different.  I observed that lately my daughter wants me to always carry, cuddle and embrace her all the time even in the mornings where I used to be the one to take her to bathe. When I'm in a hurry preparing for work, I leave it to the nanny to do it. But she cries if I'm not the one to bathe her. They say when your child behaves that way, they feel jealous and knows there's a coming sibling. Yes, I am 4 months pregnant and it seems a bit discomfort for me carrying her all the time because she's quite heavy now. I'm afraid I might be pressuring the baby inside me and tiring myself. Lately now, I experience constant back aches.

Now that I'm seeing behavioral changes from my daughter, I'm still learning, discovering and dealing with how she reacts in certain situations. And that for me is a challenge because I'm a new mom. Still, it excites us seeing each and every time she had new antics that amuses us and endears her much. Now, that's what I call learning at its finest.

Innocence

Have you ever wondered why a child's smile and laughter is so natural, so spontaneous, so unpretentious and infectious? They seemed to tickle our overall senses once they smile and laugh. Why they know to smile or laugh of something where they don't even know what they are doing?  Usually we do and make odd faces just to make them laugh. Right? 

I just hope and wish that each and every one of us learns to practice a child-like manner because I believe we always have a child in us regardless of whatever age group we are.  The world could be a better place if we just know how to smile and laugh in whatever circumstance we are in.