In Need of a Haircut

Johan’s hair looks like this when we go out and after his bath time. It is combed down to one side, looking a little tamed down.




I tried tying it on top of his head but Johan keeps getting the ribbon off and I am so afraid that he’ll put it in his mouth and choke.



But, usually, every single day, his hair looks like this. What a mess but still a cutie!


I can’t wait till he turns one. That’s the time we can bring him to a salon and have his first haircut. I need to be there, no matter what, because hubby has been dropping hints that he wants Johan’s hair be shaved off.

No, no, no!

Investing

Not on stocks, not on trust funds, not on anything money related. To give you an idea, just look at the titles of my “to reads”:



From top to bottom: 1. When did I get like this? by Amy Wilson 2. The Happiest Baby on the Block by Harvey Karp 3. Buddha never raised kids & Jesus didn’t drive carpool by Vickie Falcone  4. Mommy Wars by Leslie Morgan Steiner.


Truth be told, I am investing on these books for my sanity but it’s more pleasing to read that I am actually investing on becoming a better parent, which really is in the long run.

These books are my lifesavers or to put it in a literal way, my sanity savers. There have been one too many days that I felt all dried up inside and out and I just need a few minutes to reorganize my thoughts, to reenergize and refocus on the goal.

But, I don’t have the luxury of time nowadays. I once sat at McDonald’s reading Mommy Wars eating Cheeseburger with upsized Coke and Fries without a care in the world, until my cell phone alarm went off an hour after I left the house. Yes, I set that alarm and yes, I only allow an hour every week for some “me” time.

I know it's not enough but that's the best that I can do given the full load of work at home. I am a first time mom, just learning how to be one each day and I know that I need all the help that I can get. But, most of the other moms I know are working and (no offense meant) when they tell me they understand why some days I post FB statuses like I’m mad at the entire universe or they understood why I am dead tired at the end of the day – I doubt that they really understood.

Reading is my only consolation, my retribution and I am learning a lot from it. I'd like to think that I am not throwing away money that could have gone for milk or diapers, instead, I am investing money for my son's future - by learning everything I can to be a good enough mother.

I know that I still got a long way to go before I can say that I’ve done a good job at parenting, I know that to finish reading all of the books above would mean there will be a whole lot more one-hour-McDonald’s-Cheeseburger-meal times and I am sure that there will be more mad FB statuses to come – but at the end of it all, if Johan grew up to be the man I am praying for him to be, I’ll give myself a pat on the back and say, “You have invested well, Mommy.”

I Quit

After only a week of working full time at home, today, I sent in my resignation. I always tell those asking me that Johan’s been having separation anxiety even if we’re only separated by a door. But, I realized it was me having separation anxiety. I miss our bonding moments, I miss rolling on the bed with him, I miss feeding him at 9am plus I can’t bear seeing him just outside our bedroom door jumping up and down his crib wailing. He was probably thinking “why isn’t Mommy carrying me when she’s just a few feet away?”

So, as my FB status said:



I don’t know how other moms do it. I doubt that I can.

Back to regular programming, SAHM!

Mommy Moments – Father’s Day 2011

It was hubby’s first father’s day and I am so bummed out that I wasn’t able to give him anything. I was chatting with my best friend on YM a few days before Father’s Day when she asked me to check my mail. She sent me a photo of a watch she would be giving her husband on Daddy’s Day. Heck, I wanted to strangle her for adding more flame to my already burning conscience. I can’t buy hubby a gift because I am saving every peso for Johan’s first birthday. When I told my best friend how I was feeling really down she told me jokingly I could always give hubby ’what every man wants’, but hell, I can’t even give that to him because unfortunately it was red flag week. Kawawa talaga the hubby. Hehe!

So, come Father’s Day (which we celebrated as posted here), I vowed not to act primadonna, I vowed to let him do whatever he wanted, I vowed not to give him a hard time and I vowed to let him bond with Johan. And that’s what I did.

Happy Father’s Day, Daddy! Johan and I love you oh so much!

Tweet Love

I am not one of the tweet addicts although I check it once in a while. I use it mostly just to know the latest gossip from artists, to laugh at Vice Ganda’s exchange of tweets with his fans, updates from my favorite blogger, Chuvaness, and blind item clues from my other favorite blogger, Fashion Pulis. I don’t tweet that much unless I’m joining a contest like the one that Fashion Pulis is hosting on his blog - Longchamp Planetes Tote Raffle.

I already sent my entry last night and when I checked my mail this morning, I got this message:



I am so kinikilig that Fashion Pulis liked my tweet. I just hope that this is a sign that I’ll be winning that Longchamp Planetes Tote! Crossing my fingers here!

For the latest gossip and juicy blind items, head on over to Fashion Pulis.

Father’s Day Surprise

My sisters and I have been exchanging emails and text messages everyday of last week prior to Father’s Day. We wanted to stage a surprise Father’s Day affair for our Papa and early Birthday celebration for him and Mama as they will be celebrating their birthdays on June 22nd.

Everything was all set, we were all to go home to our parents house without them knowing but come Thursday, we had to change plans. My mom and her sisters planned to meet at Festival Supermall in Alabang on Sunday to talk about some family affairs. So we only have to move the venue from my parents house to Festival Mall. But, we also have to convince our father to go there as well - the problem is what are going to tell him. Our sister, Lhai, was able to think of a great idea on how we could bring our Papa to the mall. Lhai told Papa she will treat him to some Bingo sessions at the mall. Shhh, my parents are quite shy about this hence the small font. Haha!

Again, everything is set. When Sunday came, Mama has been texting all of us to greet our Papa for Father’s Day and not surprisingly, not one of us were replying to her texts. I’m pretty sure she got all hyped out about this because of all things that Mama hates, it is not texting back that infuriates her the most.

We were all to meet up at Max’s Restaurant and we were to avoid the Food Court because that’s where Mama and her siblings are at. Then Papa became a problem. He was supposed to stay with Mama and my youngest brother but he didn’t and went around the mall. Imagine me,  with hubby and Johan (the latecomers), my neck hurting from looking around, heart pounding, scared that Papa might just turn up in front of us that’ll blow the surprise. Thankfully, we arrived at the restaurant without any glitches.

Another unexpected surprise came beforehand. My brother and his family arrived. I’d rather not talk about why this is such a surprise, but it is and I’m sure our parents will tear up when they see them especially their eldest grandchild with my brother, Cassandra Jay. My mom has been telling me she misses Cassandra so much. (She’s the little girl who ran towards my parents in the video below)

So, there we were standing in one bunch in the function room of Max’s Restaurant, my brother and his family hidden behind all of us, every one of us all tensed up and anxious to shout.. Oh, I think I better let the video do the talking.

It was a great way to spend Father’s Day and my parents’ birthday. I hope we were able to make them happy with this simple surprise. Thank you to everyone who participated and to my father, the best father anybody could ask for, Happy Father’s Day, we love you so much!




Belated Happy Father's Day to all Dads!

It’s a Draw

I just posted yesterday about having my own “Mommy Wars”, about me not knowing which path to take – to be a stay-at-home mom or a working mom. And today, a blessing just came without advanced notice. It was unexpected but highly appreciated.

Starting Monday I will go back to working. I will have a full time job, an 8-5 shift with an hour for lunch but I will also be there to give Johan his bath, to prepare his meals, to give him his formula. I will be a WAHM – work at home mother and I definitely have no idea how things would work out at home. I’m hoping for the best and I pray that my sanity stays with me. Hehe.

Wish me luck, guys!

Catching Up

I’m so sorry for the lack of posts these past few days. There were a lot of catching up that had to be done. I had to catch up on soliciting votes for the Nuby We Love You, Daddy Father’s Day Contest that I joined in Facebook, so if you still haven’t voted click here! Voting ends on Sunday, Father’s Day.

Another thing that I had to catch up on was my reading. I know I have been posting book reviews every now and then and I’ve been reading some E-books but those are different. There’s nothing like the joy of tearing up the wrapping of a new book and inhaling the scent of its pages. Eww, right, but I’m weird that way.

Anyway, I think the last time that I actually read a book that I’m really excited about was when I was reading “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” and, hello, I’ve already given birth eight months ago. So, now I am catching up.

I am currently reading Mommy Wars by Leslie Morgan Steiner.



When I saw this at BookSale, I instantly grabbed it and headed on to the cashier. I’ve been having my own “Mommy Wars” inside my brain – to be a working mom or to be a stay-at-home mom (SAHM). So far, the latter is winning but the former is not far behind.

This book is a compilation of the different points of views and experiences of SAHMs and working moms. I’ve been learning a lot from this book and there are some plenty of occasions that I find myself nodding in agreement to what I was reading.

Here are some quotes from the book that struck me the most:

From a SAHM - “It strikes me as downright bizarre that studies assessing the benefits of maternal versus other care express it in terms of IQ, academic achievement, professional status later in life, quantifiable socialization. This is love we’re talking about, not an LSAT-prep course.”


From the daughter of a SAHM while watching a wealthy mother on TV choking up over how much she loves her son - “Yeah, you love him so much, how come you leave him with some nanny person all the time?”


From another SAHM - “It takes a strong ego to stay home with your kids. Motherhood is, in many ways, a dead-end job.”


I highly recommend this book even though I’m not done reading it. The first few pages that I’ve read have opened my eyes to what the other camp (working moms) are saying and what they really feel. It also allowed me to take a glimpse on the lives of SAHMs like me and know that I am not alone in my insecurities and anxieties.

It will be a long, hard battle between the two camps, each claiming to be better than the other, but as one working-mom-turned-SAHM wisely put in the book, “We are all good mothers, the best we know how to be.”


Amen to that.

Father’s Day Contest – We Need your Votes

I know, I know! I’m a sucker for online contests. But, for these prizes, who wouldn’t want to join?

1st Prize (1 winner) - NUBY Gift Set worth Php 5,000 plus Youji&Me Gift Certificates worth Php5,000

2nd Prize (1 winner) - NUBY Gift Set worth Php 5,000

Special Prize (10 winners) - NUBY Gift Set worth Php 550 each

All you have to do is do the following:

1. Go to Facebook and like Nuby Philippines here.

2. Then like husband and Johan’s photo here.

So, please help husband and Johan’s photo win and it will one mommy very, very happy! =)

Thanks!

PisoBid

PisoBid.com, a newly founded auction site that’s been creating a buzz in social media networks such as Facebook and Twitter. I registered myself and got hooked. Hehe! How can you not if you get to bid for cool gadgets like IPhones, Ipod, Digicams, Game Consoles, Galaxy Tabs and an assortment of GCs from known stores and prepaid loads starting at only 1 peso!

Like most people, I was skeptic about this new site. Everything is too good to be true – an Apple Iphone 4 won by one bidder for only Php 85.26, An Apple Ipod Touch 32G won for only Php 10.26 and a 13-inch MacBook Air (128GB) for only Php 132.06.

The other night was the most stressful night I ever had, well I am overreacting, but I was pretty tensed. Look at all these active auctions:

I was bidding for the MacBook Air, of course, but also bidding on the other three. I only had three bids left on my account and I don’t want to waste any of it so I was waiting for the perfect timing and to my surprise the waiting paid off.



I won the 250 Bid Pack and it was like the magic genie granting me not just three wishes but multiplying it more than 10-fold. After claiming it (paying through Paypal and having the bids credited to my account), I now have extra bids for the Macbook Air, which I didn’t win unfortunately, but at least I still have 200+ more bids for the future auctions. I love, love, love it!

I admit, I’m still having doubts even if I already won the Bid Pack. One huge win like an Iphone or a laptop delivered right at my doorstep will surely make me a changed skeptic.

So, goodbye for now as I’ve got more bidding to do and I just know that I’ll be using my bids on those big ticket items until they are going…going…gone.

Happy Bidding everyone!

Disclaimer: I am not in any way affiliated with Pisobid.com, this blog post consisted of my honest opinion and own experience as a Pisobid registered bidder.

The Muncher

While Facebooking one day, I turned around and saw Johan doing this. Lately, he’s taken a certain “appetite” towards this and every time he stands up he’ll immediately munch his way around the perimeter of his crib. =)

Mommy Moments – I am a Daddy

I did a pregnancy test when my period was delayed for three weeks. I waited that long before doing a test because I was scared to be disappointed again and see just one line instead of my most awaited two pink lines. When, two lines appeared on the kit, I immediately went upstairs and without saying a word showed it to hubby. He just looked at me and I was sure he didn’t want to get his hopes up as well and told me to go to the hospital to do an ultrasound just to be sure. He can’t come with me because he had to get to work. When the ultrasound showed our tiny little baby at 6 weeks, I was already crying when I called hubby up to tell him the good news.

Hubby’s first glimpse of our Johan

The first time he carried our baby 

With Johan in Tagaytay

Johan’s first Christmas

Johan’s first summer outing

I thought hubby will be the disciplinarian given his being strict with me and his siblings but I guess Johan changed him. He’s had his share of diaper changes, he’s more protective of Johan now that the little boy is crawling all over the place, he’s becoming a bit more like me – planning and planning for our future, he speaks to Johan in English (a rule I impose a bit too strictly) though he’s not really that comfortable doing so, he even does funny faces at the little boy just to make him laugh. 

But what endears him more to me is when he makes it a point to carry our son and spend a few quality minutes with him before leaving for work every single day. It just shows that he misses Johan all the time that he’s at work. 

He truly is a great daddy to Johan and I could say that my son is one lucky kid for having him as his father.

Happy Mommy Moments!

Raising Johan

Last Sunday during mass (I know, right?), Hubby and I got into a short conversation as to what kind of man Johan will be when he’s a bit older. Will he be an academic, like me, or will he be athletic, like his daddy?

Just a not-so-short backgrounder. I did a few sports in my younger years. I played volleyball during elementary in CSA, I took badminton during PE Class in college. However, sports are not for me. I hate it when I’m sweating, I hate it when I smell funny after a few hours under the sun. I was convinced that sports hated me too when I got a grade of 3 (75%) at Lawn Tennis, another PE class in college. It was only Physical Education, for goodness sake and I almost flunked it!

Hubby is the sporty kind of guy. Even if he’s not that tall (he’s only 5’6”), he is a good basketball player. I used to watch his games during college and I almost went up to a bunch of girls screaming his number to tell them to get lost. Yep, he’s that good that he had a good following of fans. He also plays badminton and though I never watched him play, I could say he does well at it after bringing home a couple or more gold medals and a 1st place trophy.

Academics, however, is a different story. I love studying, even the cramming during exam week. I thrive more during those wee hours of the morning when I get up, get my reviewer and study just a few hours before my exam. I believe that the brain can absorb more information when a person has just woken up because the mind has already rested, it’s like having the PC rebooted and then it runs a little faster. Hubby, on the other hand, well, the closest he got to being an academic was when he’s writing on this tiny piece of paper, hiding it beneath the cover of his scientific calculator and taking a peek at it during exams. Yep, he cheated sometimes during exams but never got caught.

So, now that we are parents to an adorable little boy, it got us wondering how we should raise our kid. I don’t want Johan to grow up to be an “academic-academic” kind of guy, I saw lots of them when I was going to school and I don’t want my son to end up like any of those guys - becoming a nerd with no social life at all. However, I also don’t want him to be entirely athletic, his daddy is a G-R-E-A-T example, I don’t want Johan cheating on exams just because he’s concentrating more in sports than in his lessons.

Here’s what hubby and I agreed upon. He’s in charge of Johan when it comes to athletics, I’m in charge in academics. He’ll take Johan from me when he thinks he’s becoming a nerd and I’ll take Johan away from him when I think he’s becoming dimwitted, not that all athletes are dimwitted, some of ‘em at least. Hehe!

We’re not perfect parents and we don’t want to raise a perfect kid. We only aim to raise a well-rounded young man and like most parents, we’re constantly praying that we’ll be able to do our jobs and that is to raise our kid the best way we know how.