So Far, So Good

I’ve posted here that I will be training Johan to sleep on his own. That post was dated March 12. After our first try to put Johan to sleep using the Sear’s Method, we gave up out of frustration – Johan was crying his lungs out, Mommy was close to tears herself, Daddy was undecided who to console first, the baby or the Mommy. Hehe.

After a week, I decided to give it a try once more.So, last Saturday, I declared it a no-swaying day for Johan. We started the day right, woke up and went out to have our daily dose of sunshine. Then Johan took his bath around 9am, I give him his bottle right after and put him in his crib. He was out just a few minutes after I put him down! This continued on the entire day with Johan sleeping on his own every time he was put down, probably because he was too tired after our rounds of playtime.

Later in the afternoon, I gave him his sponge bath at the usual time of 5pm. This is the time that I prep him up for bedtime. I can tell that he’s already sleepy because he was already fussy even if we go out of the house. So, after his sponge bath, I gave him a bottle and put him down. He refused to sleep! He was screaming and crying but I stood my ground and did not carry him. I soothe him while he’s in his crib, I sang to him and I whisper to him. He finally slept – after two hours! Well, at least I did not carry him.

So, that happened last Saturday. It’s already Monday and I’m proud to say that my Johan is now sleeping on his own and it takes us lesser and lesser time each day. We hope this routine keeps up. Good job, Johan!

Taken just a few minutes before writing this post

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I Love Pantene!

I’ve been using Pantene for the longest time and I really love how it makes my hair soft and smelling fresh all day. When I learned that Pantene is having a promo, I immediately joined Pantene Nature Care’s Facebook Promo where I answered the question “Why do you want hair that bounces naturally with new Pantene Nature Care?” Guess what? I won!

Today I got my prize in the mail which is a tub of Pantene Nature Care Intensive Penetrating Treatment.

I can’t wait to try it and see how it works.

Mommy Moments – Purple

  Here is my entry for this week’s Mommy Moments.

Johan and his favorite purple dinosaur

Johan peacefully sleeping in a purple wrap

The S&R Sale

Yesterday was the first day of the 5-day Member’s Treat at S&R. My sister is a member and she invited me together with our other family members to go with her to buy some stuff because she said that there would be great deals at the sale. We planned to arrive as soon as the store opens at 8am. We were there at around 8:15 – 8:30 am and already, the line just to get a push cart is really, really, really long. What we did was we asked our father to fall in line to get a pushcart and we’ll proceed inside to do our shopping.

It was jampacked! The aisles were crowded and it was hard to walk around with me carrying Johan and my cousin trying to hold on to her three year old toddler. There were indeed great deals: some toiletries were on “buy one, take one” promo, huge discounts on most household items, dinnerware, beddings, chocolates and other imported stuff. I wasn’t able to find some toys for Johan but I was able to buy him some Nuby bottles priced at Php 170.00 for three and Nuby pacifiers at Php 90.00 for two. I was also able to buy myself the Schwarzkopf Zero Frizz Shampoo and three packs of Snickers and Butterfinger to replenish my anti-post-partum stash.

We were done with our shopping after more or less two hours. My father was still outside in line for a push cart so we just hauled our items in the canvass bags that we brought and put everything in a box and pushed and pulled while we were in line for the counter. It is already 10am by then and the line was not moving. We just busied ourselves with small talk and gossip, going out every now and then to change shifts with other members of the family who lounged at the dining area eating an oversized pizza and drinking bottomless soda and iced tea. Time passed and we realized it was already 3pm, we’re still in line and moving at a snail’s pace. Guess what time we reached the counter? 9 pm!!!! We were there for 12 hours, only 2 of which were spent on the shopping itself and 10 freaking hours were spent waiting in line. So, will I go again next year? Never, not even in my dreams. (Although, I might ask my sister to buy some stuff for me. Hee hee!)

Here are some pictures:

People waiting and dining 

  The long line to the counter

Oversized Pizza at Php 550.00

 My sister waiting in line. Look at what she’s sitting on. We used three of those styrofoam ice buckets for us to sit on while waiting in line. 

My sister goofing off with our S&R bottomless drink. I think S&R lost a lot  of money on these bottomless drinks yesterday with the many customers (and guests) going back and forth to refill their cups. We only bought two priced at Php 45.00 each and shared those two cups among ourselves. There were seven of us adults and one toddler.

I know, we should have been very frustrated after waiting in line for 10 hours. But, instead we used the time we have to bond (even if only for useless gossip that is mostly about how the rich people go gaga over sales like this) and who would be mad if you have this with you:

Unfortunately, he didn’t escape the crazy minds of his own Mommy, Ninang Yaya and Ninang Tit An who came up with taking this shot:

We’re sorry, baby. It won’t happen again. Well, not at S&R at least.

How about you, how was your S&R shopping?

The Banderitas

My cousin made some banderitas with Johan’s name for his christening that we used to liven up the reception venue. Here’s a photo from that day:
 

I love it so much that I kept it for future use but I didn’t know where I could use it until the other day when Johan is being so restless that he’s still squirming even after me and hubby took turns in carrying him. So, how did the banderitas help soothe Johan-the-wriggler?


I put the banderitas in his crib! He loved the loud colors and it did pacify him if only for a bit. I know it does not look that good but it served its purpose that day which is to stop this not-so-little boy from giving his Mommy and Daddy serious arm ache if we continue to carry his 8.4 kilograms weight.

So, where are the banderitas now? Still in his crib but put up in a much nicer position.



Mommy’s resourcefulness: check!
Mommy’s creativity: check!

Baby Sleep: The Sears Method

Although Johan now sleeps almost all through the night, only waking up once or twice to feed, it is always a huge effort to put him to sleep. He refuses to be put down, oftentimes crying out loud when I put him down to allow my arms to rest for a while. I have started a routine starting at five in the afternoon. First, we would go outside for a walk with Johan in his stroller and when he became a bit fussy outside, usually around six in the evening, then I would bring him in, do his sponge bath, feed and dance till he’s asleep.

I want to train Johan to sleep on his own without the need for motion. Some parents would say that I’m teaching my son independence at a very early age but, really, after doing the household chores and taking care of a baby, it can get pretty tiring at the end of the day. Johan weighs 8.4kg as of his last check up which was last Tuesday, March 8, so he really is heavy on my arms and back.

I’m such a fan of Babycenter.com because I learned a lot from this site given that I’m a new mom and need lots of help. I came across the Sears Method of putting the baby to sleep. Some moms would resort to leaving the baby crying till he gets tired and goes to sleep on his own. I do not agree with this as I think the baby would feel like he’s being abandoned if he is left by himself. The Sears Method is a no-tears way of putting the baby to sleep and I can’t wait to try this with Johan. We’ll start tomorrow.

To watch the video on the Sears Method please click here.

Mommy Moments - Green

Here is Johan in Mommy’s green SaYa Carrier while malling:

Our small family of three during the 2010 Christmas Reunion of the Tan family:

We’re all wearing our “uniform” green shirts with this print:

Happy Mommy Moments!

Cars!

Hubby and I have been contemplating on purchasing a car now that we have a baby. It is so hard to go to places on commute or by cab with a baby in tow, what with the many stuff we have to bring with us. So, we’re now saving up for a car and hopefully we can buy one this year. We’re looking for something a little bit big so it would be easy to lug all of Johan’s stuff without taking up all the space inside the vehicle. Getting the Chevrolet Silverado is never far from our minds. This would be perfect for road trips!

But, I’m a bit worried about safety because driving around these days has been difficult with the many road accidents that happen everywhere. I’m scared that the tires would burst or the brakes would fail. We would have to find a mechanic who could do an awesome brake job so I could drive fear-free of the brakes failing. It’s also a good thing that there many Dallas auto repair shops that I could run to for our auto repair needs.

I Love Nuby!

I’ve been meaning to buy some Nuby products for weeks, even searched Ebay, Multiply and Facebook for the standard neck bottles but sadly, the bottles that I’ve been searching for are not available anymore.

Last week, when I met up with my bestfriend at Greenbelt 5, we dropped by the Youji and Me store to try our lucks. We’re both itching to buy Nuby products because their products are BPA-free plus they come in the most colorful designs that we’re sure our babies would love.

I would have bought a lot but my bestfriend insisted that she pay for my purchases so I only chose two items because she already bought Johan some ‘pasalubong’ from Singapore, it would be too much if she still pays for my Nuby items.

These are what I bought:

Nuby Sure Grip bowl, spoon and fork set and Nuby Non-drip Bottle with removable handle

See how colorful these are? I’m sure Johan will have a fun time once he starts solid feeding. The Non-drip bottle will be really useful as Johan tends to spit out his bottle when he’s already asleep so his beddings are usually wet with milk in the mornings. Yey for no-more soiled sheets!

We wanted to buy the Nuby Sound Bites but decided not to because it costs a lot at Php 475.00 for just a spoon and fork set. But, look at how cute they are:

I’ll just see if these are available and on sale at S&R Alabang when I go there with my sister. We heard that S&R will be having a sale from March 16-20. Click here for details.

Mommy’s Day Out

I finally had the chance to pamper myself when Johan and I went home to my parents’ house last week. I’ve been inching to have my back massaged because it’s been killing me lately from carrying the already 8.4 kilograms Johan.

On Thursday of last week, my sister and I went out to have our nails done and then we dropped by a newly opened spa just two blocks away from home.

We went to the spa around three in the afternoon, so we were able to get their off-peak rate for an hour of body massage of, guess how much? 180 pesos only!! What a steal, right? Unfortunately, I was not able to enjoy the full benefits of the massage because it’s been only five months since my Caesarian delivery and per my OB’s advice (I texted her before having my massage) I am not allowed to have hard massages nor stretches. Bummer, I know, but a massage is still a massage and it’s a well-deserved treat for a Mommy who stays at home the whole day.

Here are some photos:

Foot Spa Area with live fishes to clean your feet

The spa’s flooring

My sister and myself after our massage

My massage room/area – the mattress is on the floor with curtains only as dividers. My sister and I had the curtains between our areas opened so we could make chika while having our massage and we enjoyed cups of hot tea right after.

That is me, well, I’m not entirely naked underneath that towel. I asked my masseuse for boxer shorts as I’m not really comfortable with everything off.

Now, look who’s getting impatient outside! We can hear him giggling then screaming the next then giggling and screaming again.

Johan peeking though the curtains, “Mommy hurry up and get it over with!”

Well, so much for my R & R. Back to Mommy mode once again.

Greenery in the City

I had the chance to visit Greenbelt last Wednesday when we met up with my best friend, Mhy and her son Ethan. She arrived home just to get her son and bring him back to Singapore. We decided to meet at Greenbelt because there were a few stuff that we wanted to buy from YouJi and Me which is in Greenbelt 5.

I was with my mom, sister and Johan when we arrived there an hour earlier our meet up time so we just walked around, visited the chapel and took lots of photos.

Greenbelt is really relaxing and for this I wouldn’t mind working in Makati again if only I can go here everyday for lunch or before going home. It was particularly peaceful and quiet during the early hours of the day, it would be nicer though if they could add some benches around the place.

Greenbelt in photos:

Panoramic view of Greenbelt

Ducks at the pond behind the chapel

Some fishes (not sure if Kois or not)

Some trees =)

The Greenbelt Chapel

  I love these stepping stones

  Me and my bestfriend, Mhy with our babies – Johan and Ethan

Happy 5th Month Birthday, Johan!

Dear Johan,

Time flies so fast, you’re almost halfway through your first year! I can’t wait till you reach your 6th month so we can start feeding you with solids and allow to taste many different flavors. Just one month more of waiting, baby.

You’re growing up to be one cute, bubbly little boy and I want to freeze the time and make you stay a baby forever. Always remember that Mommy and Daddy love you so much, Anak. We’ll do everything we can to let you have the good future that you deserve. Stay a happy baby, Johan. Happy 5th month birthday!