Can't Get over Oberammergau

My kids are inseparable; I'm happy they're best friends.  It's cute that they always have fun with each other and toys are just optional.  They hug, jump, and tumble around in bed or sometimes bite each other & wrestle.  Sometimes I leave them by themselves in the playroom when Leji wants to play teacher and I'm surprised how the little guy can tolerate her bossiness.

We set a time limit to all the frolickin' fun though.  I try my best to remind them as calmly as possible that their house gymboree spree is over by the time the sun sleeps (around 6pm).  We have our bathtime around 5pm after merienda; we use Johnson's lavender calming shampoo (from Ninang Chuchit) for Leji & Chicco Body Wash for Leon (from Ninong Rey). Bathtime really helps them relax.

They usually sleep around 6:30 or 7.  The problem is they wake up again to eat around 8 or 9:/ Sometimes they refuse to sleep by midnight and they go on teasing each other in bed until 3 or 4am & it's driving my hubby nuts (he's usually up by sunrise).  Leji argues with me when I tell her to stay in her room while Leon is still trying to sleep.

Some nights (like tonight) we are fairly successful in making them sleep again by midnight.  I stay with the baby downstairs (where we have our TV) while Leji lounges in bed with dad (and their imaginary friend Lejong) in total darkness.  Leji doesn't take afternoon naps anymore so it's really a matter of setting the mood for her (but sometimes she just goes on talking even in the dark and I have trouble feigning sleep for her).  Leon, on the other hand, latches on demand and he knows how to do it even when I'm still asleep.  I just have to pray for consistency :/

It takes a while to lull myself back to sleep when they're all asleep though :/  When I can't sleep I think of happy thoughts like:

1. Our recent travels

Hubby went to Germany with his family as a kid and Oberammergau is one of their favorite towns in Bavaria.  Strolling around the place made me feel like being in a European indi film; everywhere you look was just picture perfect.

2. Inanimate objects coming to life

At 32, I still believe Toy Story is partly true and at night I try to catch figurines come to life! haha.  We have tiny angels and sacred wooden carvings from Oberammergau and sometimes I just watch their charming little detailed faces when I try to relax.

3. Cheesy food

Cheesy mashed potatoes, cheesy soup, cheesy bread & cheesy hubby. I like everything cheesy! hahaha

This is what sweet dreams are made of.

Yum!!! Good night!

Read More

Parenting on the Mooove

When I was in grade school,  I had a vision of the kind of family I want to have when I grow up.  I want to have kids who will grow up as best friends and I want a husband that would be hands-on with them just like me.  I prayed for a career that allowed a flexible schedule so I could prioritize my family.  When I had suitors in HS, it's funny that I screened them based on their ability to handle kids and extreme pressure.  I even checked their grades (:/).  I took my grandmother's advice "improve the race" quite seriously.  I didn't attend the HS prom because I couldn't find a Brad Pitt my age who could get along well with my sister who was at that time 2years old.  My mindset was, if I don't see a future for us never mind.  I thought even friendly dates should be serious ones.

I was diagnosed with PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) at 17 and Ninang Madgie our OB-Gyne said I should try to conceive at least one child before 30.  I wanted to be time-efficient in looking for a husband.  

Fastforward to 2 decades after prom, I managed to have a family wonderfully inspired by Peppa Pig.  To the extreme delight of my daughter, she has her own "George" who's 2years younger, 2 sets of wonderful grandparents, and a dad who's charmingly hands-on.

But God knows it's hard living up to Mummy Pig's example.

Why:

1. She always manages to put on makeup (even at home).  Humidity doesn't smudge her mascara.

2. She doesn't shout even when she's upset (even when Peppa erases her work files in their computer).

3. She doesn't get stressed even when George cries often or when the kids (including Daddy Pig) play in muddy puddles.

4. She never bothered with changing nappies or taking the kids to potty.

5. She always manages to whip up something tasty in the kitchen and their house is always clean.

6. She's excellent in her career and is friends with everyone in their community.

7. She always manages to come up with exciting activities for the kids when they're together.

That's why I'm grateful when experts gather and come up with suggestions/solutions to make parenting life easier.  We don't have a maid and my kids usually come with me or my hubby when I attend castings/meetings/events.  It feels great when the community supports you in raising your kids.  

As usual, my kids tagged along in Parenting on the Move's recent event with Pigeon & Quinny.  They tested the colorful toys and interacted with the sturdy displays even without me asking. The exhibit made my darling daughter a bit nostalgic. 

My sister-in-law gifted us with Pigeon bottles when I had my first baby. When I was still working fulltime in the news, my mom-in-law preferred using Pigeon over Playtex disposables (I purchased those when I was pregnant because I thought my baby would have colic problems just like me but she never did, thank God. I guess breastmilk lessens the risk of being colic).  My daughter knew how to cup feed as early as 3 months, but cup feeding breastmilk could be quite messy and the bottles were a lot of help for those who cared for her when I was out.  They're easy to clean too with their food-grade dishwashing liquid.  Breastmilk film on the bottles just melts away!

The kids effectively wiped Crayola marks & kinetic sand off their hands & feet with Pigeon wipes

We have UV sterilizers at home but now that my son is 11 months, we seldom get to sterilize.  His toy/utensil hurling tactics are quicker than my sterilization methods. We only get to sterilize his toys once a week so in between, especially when we're out, we just use wipes.  I also use wipes to clean his bum, his play yard, our walls (wipes can erase washable crayola marks), and our faces and hands (yes, I use baby wipes to remove makeup).  It's convenient that Pigeon came up with food-grade cleansing agents for their wipes too so cleaning his utensils and teethers again and again is a breeze.

We have yet to test Quinny and Maxi Cosi though, but it's true that in Europe most parents prefer sturdy large-wheeled buggies usually in sleek black just like their winter outfits.  Tourists trudge a lot on cobblestones and sand in that continent; moody babies enraged by scary bumpy roads could easily ruin family vacations.  Quinny and Maxi Cosi promise greater comfort for babies and less effort for parents in having them buckled up.

Read More

Miss Tourism International 2018 : Promo Video

So excited for this! Good luck with your preparations Aya Fernandez! May God be with you every step of the way

Read More

Haha Praha

Miss International 2008 4th Runner-up Zuzana Putnářová of Czech Republic was one of my favorite bus buddies.  I can't find her on Facebook so I can't really say we've managed to maintain the friendship through the years but she was an awesome representative of her country.  In less than three weeks at the time when there were only a handful of tourists in her city, she managed to pique my interest about Prague and how the European Union has affected her people and their economy.  

At that time I've never been to Europe and the best I could do was savour whatever story I could dish from my new blonde friends over breakfast while trying to remember as much as I could from 3rd year HS World History. Miss Venezuela said I looked exotic among the Barbie Dolls and she took pictures with us whenever she could to get more fans. 

But for me my admiration for the European culture was genuine; I watched how they could pack all their things and electronics oh so efficiently in their smart bags.  I watched them do their light makeup. Most of the European girls were well-travelled and sophisticated.  It seemed common for them to be fluent in at least 4 or 5 languages. Zuzana was fluent in 6; she spoke English with a flair and even Miss Poland loved her accent. (Miss Italy & Miss Peru were fluent in 8 or 10 languages but that's an entirely different blog post. haha) During our pageant she was an Erasmus Mundus scholar and she couldn't attend the events after the pageant because she had several deadlines to meet to finish her masters program.  

Zuzana mused about the castle-like buildings, the mysterious churches, the awesome chandeliers, their music, the affordable hard drinks and softdrinks in her city (I discovered during my stay with them in Japan that some Europeans refer to juice and other non-alcoholic beverages as "softdrinks" and they requested me to explain this to a Japanese waiter and our chaperones with my broken Japanese.  They also told me about their love for sparkling water & why they feel it is safer and more fun to drink than still).  My heart ached somehow and wished that someday I could take my kids to Prague so I could see all what she described in such detail.

Softdrink: Virgin Mojito on board the Prague River Cruise

Thank God (and my in-laws! :)) my wish came true a decade after!  Although hubby says it was less touristy five years ago (he managed to go there first in one of his seminars hmph!haha), it's still as magnificent as its splendid reputation. The historical buildings are well-kept and painted in subtle creams and pastels; and the summer heat only becomes bearable when you remind yourself constantly that you get better pictures of their architectural marvels when it's high and bright. Tiis ganda haha

We visited Plzen and tasted their local beer.  Our kids joined us for the Pilsner Urquell factory tour but we were all on equal ground in terms of understanding the tour guide as the tour we managed to book last minute was in Czech.  We just availed of the English tour pamphlet at the ticketing office.  Leji said the barrel storage cave with ice is awesome and she liked the sweet scent of barley.  Too bad photos were restricted within the grounds.

My daughter had fun taking photos with the cultural dancers in dirndls in their outdoor garden after our tour. It was filled with huge flowers in different colors.  Guests were free to stay chomping on pretzels and sausages with their beer, of course.

summer strollin' in the city

They usually charge each time tourists use the toilet but you could go pee for free if you eat/drink in the establishment.  I should have brought my coin purse (I forgot to pack a lot of things because I was sick in bed due to toothache and fever the day before our long haul flight. ugh) :/ I dunno if I just got lost in translation but some churches/buildings don't seem to have public toilets in them.  When I ask for information, some of them shooed me away saying: "I don't speak English."

They only offer the option for customers to eat inside when it's dinnertime.  When the sun is scorching hot, you have no option other than look for a shady tree.  Their local beer is too bitter for me; I like their fragrant, floral & fruity "softdrinks."  Czech Italian food was ok but a little too pricey for its quality.  Based on our brief trip, I think Slovenian Italian food is much better :p Wurst and beef goulash is better in Germany.  Cruise food is better in Hungary.  I dunno where to go for more affordable good food in Czech Republic.  But I still hope to go back with my kids when they're a little older; the buildings are definitely worth seeing again.

Whew! Castle watching while searching for a washroom

It's a blessing the Snap N'Go we borrowed from the
Ostreas have big wheels; cool for cobblestones :)

Read More

Calming Korean Layover

Now that we're now hooked on Mr. Sunshine on Netflix I suddenly miss Korea.  I wish we could fly to Jeju Island next time.

We had a brief tour of Seoul during our Asiana layover last April.  It was one of the free tours you can book at the airport while in transit.  Incidentally, our visit also fell on the last Wednesday of the month so we all managed to get in for free even if we didn't have time to rent hanboks.

We managed to book free showers at the airport so we toured feeling fresh all day!

We hopped off the bus around lunchtime so it wasn't too cold when we toured the grounds. If I'm not mistaken, this was where they shot most of Jumong, Jewel in the Palace, Queen Seondeok, Huwang Jin Yi and other historical dramas that became popular in Manila.  We were amused with the crunchy sand surrounding the palace; it's the actual sound effect they use in K-dramas! :p It was so surreal.

Built in 1395, Gyeongbokgung Palace is also commonly referred to as the Northern Palace because its location is furthest north when compared to the neighboring palaces of Changdeokgung (Eastern Palace) and Gyeonghuigung (Western Palace) Palace. They say Gyeongbokgung Palace is arguably the most beautiful, and remains the largest of all five palaces.   It has sprawling gardens and fine trees.  

Too bad we didn't have enough time to tour the entire complex. There were some areas where we had to carry our strollers while climbing the stairs.  Leon is too heavy not to put in a stroller in such a huge complex! My hips and lower back hurt when I put him in a baby carrier. Thank God our Apruva is lightweight haha! Our funny tour guide Edward said we could stay longer but we would have to go back to Incheon on our own without lunch if ever.

Edward recommended authentic bulgogi and bibimbap for lunch.  We enjoyed the beef more than the vegetable variant.  We were so hungry at that time I forgot to take pictures of the name of the restaurant.  We had to pass thru several narrow side streets and the strollers couldn't fit in the restaurant but it was worth it.  The beef was sweet and flavorful & their kimchi was really good!

        

Read More

Excited for Mutya Gold

Spirits sparkling like Swarovskies:
Lorraine Erum, yours truly, Kirby Basken, Vera Reiter & April Love Jordan

I'm excited for Mutya ng Pilipinas' 50th Anniversary.  It sure is fun to reunite with my sisters and reminisce the fun times (pre social media era haha!)  Too bad my great buddies Vera Reiter and Kat Rigets can't come home because they are both in their third trimester of pregnancy abroad; but I'm very much looking forward to having playdates with them soon :))

Mutya was the first national pageant I joined.  It's a funny story how I got in: I needed quality respondents for my college thesis.  I didn't get in Bb Pilipinas the year I wanted to graduate; I was too amature. So I fasted and prayed to all my favorite saints (St. Therese of Liseux, St. Paul of Tarsus & St. Jude Thaddeus) that I wouldn't embarrass myself too much so my professors wouldn't be ashamed to say I was one of their students.  Thankfully, Mama Renee, Kuya Rodgil, Ma'am Villy (God bless her soul in heaven) and UPSA led by the super awesome Kuya Ed were super supportive. I also had a boyfriend who could layout cool tarps (he practiced with colored cartolina) and organize my friends so they could boost my weary spirit. He's the best; I married him a decade after.

It was a really fun and relaxed pageant. Diamond Hotel was our home for almost a month!  The breakfast spreads were heavenly; thank heavens my metabolism was much faster when I was younger! haha.  It was so memorable ravaging the buffet with my foodie buddies Arfie Koc and Vera Reiter.  April Love Jordan lent some of her outfits from Mama Jonti Martinez & we adjusted the size with belts and pins.

My batch was fond of doing group hugs/huddles.  The best singers (including me! weeh!) got to record our own batch song/ opening number in an actual studio. We had a real vacation in Subic which lasted for several days & the videographers really captured genuine fun in the sun, sea & fields! But I think they forgot to handout the free sunblock when we were at the beach (thank you still, Coppertone!) & I got really tanned after.  The natural tan made my boobs appear bigger and my legs longer! It was truly a miracle from God; it made me "Best in Swimsuit".

Aside from the cash, crown & fun, I also bagged shoes from Rusty Lopez, photos from the great Ross Capili, a year's supply of Stresstabs, and a deep pore facial from Calayan :p Bobson Jeans sponsored my casual outfits and Mama Renee glammed me up for all my formal events after.  Thank you, Lord!

Such happy times :) I'm really looking forward to celebrate Mutya Gold with family this year.

Read More

Awesome Austria

Thank God, our dear toddler now knows how to turn the TV and electric fan on and off in the family room.  She can also wipe off her Crayola marker art on the mat and play fence when she wants to clean up.  She helps me baby proof her brother's play area and knows how to relate what she's seeing on TV to what she has experienced in the past. She still has to work on controlling her temper and being consistent, but who isn't having trouble with that?

At home we try to process what we have seen in our recent travels and try to recall as much as we can like how students come up with "what did I do/learn last summer" essays when they start the school year.  We wear our souvenir shirts at home to trigger storytelling for my toddler and appreciation of colors and shapes for her baby brother.  Their favorite picture book at the moment is that about the tragic Austrian Queen Sisi.  Leji thinks she looks a lot like Mommy (haha!) and tries to copy her lipcolor with either cake frosting or lipbalm while constantly peering into a tiny mirror locket with Queen Sisi's face on it.

My kids loved Vienna's relaxed summer vibe; it was very memorable for them. The community is über kid-friendly and I dunno why but everything just seemed to taste better there (even their rice and tap water had some sort of sweetness :p).  It was quite common to see independent toddlers and barefoot babies in the playground, their blond parents wearing white and light clothing pushing huge-wheeled strollers --perfect for the sprawling gardens and ancient cobblestones.

One morning, we saw a gorgeous lady (her hair was so nice) quietly coming down unassisted from a bus with a baby cart and two well-behaved toddlers in tow. It was so amazing; it like watching a breezy Carefree ad. Their buses are efficient and well-designed, even people with disabilities could roll and ride without worry through a special door. 

Public transport was cool but it was quite a pain for hubby to look for convenient parking space for our family van.  Parking is limited in this city and not all parking slots can accommodate tall vehicles. We had a slot reserved by Hotel Mocca (where we stayed) but it was still quite a walk to get to the parking area.

Leji admired the books and funky furniture in our boutique hotel. She enjoyed shopping in the convenience stores for cookies and milk. Despite not having aircon, she exclaimed: "Oh, I think our holiday is quite lovely!" Thank you, Peppa Pig.

Leon couldn't help but agree with her.  In this city, Leon learned how to sit more confidently in high chairs and reach for more stuff while eating solids.  The wooden chairs in our hotel were conveniently ergonomic.

Beer was served more often than still water and Leji got to pretend she was drinking beer too.  She kept ordering aplesaft to help her gulp down all the food!

"Good for 2" Whew!

 As for me, I was just giddy with all the greenery.

Leji and I spent quite some time chasing each other in Schonbrunn.  She looked so cute in her pink Dirndl. Thank you Lola Berna for sponsoring her outfit & Lolo Edsel for showing us around the city!

The Schonbrunn Rose Garden smells like Channel No. 5.  I was sort of expecting Sleeping Beauty to pop out of nowhere haha.  Everything was just overwhelmingly romantic.  Wish we could come back again in the future.

Read More

Family-friendly Germany

Despite having to struggle over carseats and jetlag, Germany will always be memorable for us.  My Lola is actually part-German (her mom's surname is Hayden); and when Leji found out, she claimed to be part-owner of all the castles we visited saying she has German blood :p.  

It's the little details that matter and honestly, it's hard not to fall in love with Germany.

1. Family-friendly airport

In Frankfurt, they have counters that prioritize families with small children.  Most of their washrooms have diaper-changing areas equipped with liners, toilet paper, and soap/disinfectants. & McDonalds has a huge play place in the middle of everything :p. Leji & Leon were spoiled. 

2. Family-friendly parking 

Except for rural truck spots without toilet paper and several highways without proper washrooms, Germany is super conducive for travel and sight-seeing.  We took advantage of women's parking spaces that double as family parking areas specially designated near exits to increase the safety of women. The concept of Fauenparkplatz started in 1990 to reduce the risk of sexual assault in private parking areas.  This made lugging around two strollers & bags a whole lot easier.

3. They anticipate your baby's needs

Leon got a free crib at Schloss Lautrach, Bavaria

Schloss Lautrach, the castle where we stayed in at Bavaria, was totally awesome. It had sprawling gardens, art everywhere, and magnificent staircases.  They lent us a decent crib even if we didn't request for any.  They even had sparkling water & pear-flavored gummies with a welcome post card.

 4. Kid-friendly food

Leji, like most toddlers, loves pasta (spätzle), sausages (bratwurst), cheese (käse) and potatoes (kartoffeln).  Oh how she loved German food!  Most restaurants serve her favorites :)  They're very fond of using glass bottles so Leji enjoyed grape and raspberry juice like wine.  We also liked their sour cream chips and dark chocolate milk found in most convenience stores.

5. Smooth roads

Oh how we wish we also have picturesque roads splattered with castles and organic strawberries here, there, and everywhere in the Philippines.  We wouldn't mind the traffic if that ever happens in this lifetime.

Read More

Plane Bassinets: heaven-sent to sleepy parents on long-haul flights

I never had problems carrying my daughter when she was an infant.  Born premature at 34weeks, Leji has always been lithe and easy to carry.  Just make her latch directly and she wouldn't mind even the shakiest turbulence. 

We had our first domestic flight when she turned one; we had two short international flights before she turned two.  Cebu Pacific, PAL, and United Airlines never offered to sit us in bassinet seats for flights 3 hours or shorter but it was never a problem. Cebu Pacific allowed us to gate check our stroller on our flight to Hongkong so I think they're cool with babies; but it still would have been more efficient if we opted for PAL or Air Macao on our way home..but that's another blog post :p

We've had our first bassinet experience with Singapore Airlines two years ago.  It was awesome. They handed a Finding Dory plush toy and a padded waterproof bassinet protector for us to take home.  Leji loved the stars on the bedding liner.  She just played on the bassinet as she couldn't keep still but she enjoyed every minute of it.  They even served ice cream after dinner! It was her first taste of ice cream (at 14 months).  Singapore Airlines really knows how to take care of babies. Although I hate it that our stroller got dumped at NAIA and lost a screw :/  At that time I didn't know you could actually complain about damaged strollers and request for a refund. Too bad.

We weren't able to join my hubby's business trip to Hawaii when Leji was only four months (DFA wouldn't release her passport before the actual release of her NSO birth certificate; her US Visa application got delayed) so he promised us a US trip soon. 

 

Leon lounges in an Asiana plane bassinet

When we were finally ready with her visa, we found out soon after that I was pregnant with my second child. He was almost as heavy as his sister at five months so we really request for bassinets each time we fly. 

Our first long-haul trip as a family was for our cousin Dennis' wedding in Vegas last May.  People with babies rave about Incheon Airport so we opted for Asiana.  Their airport deserves another blog post but I was hardly able to take any pictures as I was busy running after my toddler who was so excited with the quality of rest and play areas in that airport; they even have a UV sterilizer and a distilled water dispenser in the nursery!  We even took a free shower, toothbrush, and tour. I realized we should have stayed longer as they gave us a 30-day transit visa.  We'll come back when the kids are a little older :)

The MNL-INC and INC-MNL flights were amazing; the pilots were great and the flight attendants were really friendly.  But it was hellish when there wasn't a bassinet seat available (where I could also sit near my toddler and hubby) for our INC-LAX flight.  Asiana squeezed us in a code share flight with passengers from other airlines.  We didn't realize early enough that the layout of the plane also changed when they moved us to an earlier flight.  Horror of horrors, our seats wouldn't recline properly and it was so hot and cramped in the flight; the kids weren't able to sleep at all.  

Going home, we thought everything would be much better as we would get to ride their newest airbus.  Turns out, the flight was so slow and turbulent despite its flight height.  Our toddler was restless and cranky.

For our trip to Europe, we decided to try Cathay Pacific. They're awesome with kids. Their baby cot looked flimsy (compared to the other airlines' bassinets with nice zip-up designs and quality stitching/materials) but it served its purpose with a convenient canopy which shaded baby from harsh reading light.  For our HKG-FRA flight, I insisted on having the bassinet seat even if we weren't sure if someone else would sit beside me.  Hubby decided to sit with my toddler on a row behind.  Turns out, that was the best game plan as my daughter was able to stretch and sleep adequately.  The passenger who was supposed to sit next to me moved to another area so hubby had the option to move forward each time I required assistance (i.e. changing his clothes, feeding, etc.).  Thank you, Lord! 

We weren't able to request special meals for our baby on our flight back but there were free flowing drinks and snacks for everyone during the long haul flights. When my toddler had a tantrum on our flight back (she couldn't poop in the potty properly during the turbulence), a flight attendant comforted her with a Frozen activity pack and a cup of milk. They even provided us extra diapers (she wouldn't use her pullups again after the drama in the lavatory). We three weren't able to sleep well but baby Leon was able to rest soundly thanks to the bassinet. 

On a side note, Cathay Pacific is great with kids but weird with PWDs. We travelled with my 5-month pregnant sister-in-law who has spine implants and there always seemed to be an issue with her wheelchair request. In Frankfurt, a flight attendant even told her on the plane while waiting for special assistance: "Get up now! You could walk." In HK they even asked her to get up from a wheelchair to give way to a PWD business class passenger to her dismay. 

When we landed in Manila, we allowed everyone to go ahead of us as usual as we had 2 senior citizens, 2 babies, and a PWD with us. A flight attendant said: "What are you waiting for? Everyone has left! Get out!" So I guess that's really how they treat guests who need special assistance. They were quite consistent in being rude to her.  

Read More

Tandem Feeding Diaries: Months 4-6

Leji loves travelling with her brother

Despite all warnings, we braved the odds and decided to take the kids on multiple trips this summer. It's a bit crazy but you only live once, right?

Travel with Bender makes it look so easy; but we realized we're not ready to sell everything and take on a nomadic life at this point so we just took on a series of trips. 

We lugged a ton of bags (plus strollers and carseats) with us so I didn't bother include my laptop in the production number. I don't know how other blogger moms do it, but it's harder to convince my toddler to sleep/nap when I have my computer on.

What's so challenging about road trips?

1. Kids refuse to sit and remain strapped in their carseats for long periods of time. 

2. When they're too tired, too hot or overly stimulated they just cry non stop.

3. Some people think you're bad parents when the little ones cry so much. They stare.

4. When baby poop or spit explodes all over you and your backup clothes are stored in a far-flung bag. If the baby is consuming solids already, its nasty smell diffuses oh so quickly. It's embarrassing.

5. Adjusting your body clock becomes even more tricky as toddlers totally redefine jetlag. Dear God. Hubby required extra potent coffee to get to drive after long-haul plane rides.

I tell people I tandem feed; but during roadtrips it's quite impossible to make them latch at the same time.  The carseat requirement in first world countries make it even trickier.  My dear toddler hates pumped milk so we opt for cookies or granola bars plus flavored or almond milk while on the road. When I get stressed, I grab a bag of chips.

There are times when she insists on latching for comfort & throws a fit when she sees me prioritize her baby brother. We tried distracting her with toys and gadgets but after all the hullaballoo we realized it's much simpler to rush back to the hotel before she gets overly tired.

I usually allow her to latch once we get to the hotel room except when I have to put her brother to sleep.  They usually tease each other when they're face to face; he even grabs her hair and pokes her eye :/ So they take turns. I usually encourage her to drink milk from a sippy cup while her brother is at it. Before I tried making her drink the let-down milk from our Hakaa; but she said it's gross even after transferring the milk to her sippy cup. I figured she didn't like the smell of UV-sterilized Hakaa.

When she is too tired to wait, she would demand: "Alright, I just need a hug!!!" Most of the time with tears. She often tells me she can't wait for her brother to turn two.

No regrets; my children seem to have gained more self confidence after everything.  My daughter rushed to my grandma as soon as we got back. She showed our phone photos and even enacted some of the events that took place. "Gramma, we went up a huuuge castle. It was mine for a day! It had a lovely garden with pink flowers and other colors...and we rode a gorgeous train!" I was shocked to hear her say gorgeous. She gushed: "Lolo, Lola, Tito Niki & Tita Abby went there with us. You know them, right? Complete family! It was really fun, I wish you were there too."  She's so cute when she's not overly tired.

Read More

Drumtao with a Toddler

My dear toddler Leji enjoys adrenaline powered music. She had such a grand time when we took her to Drumtao Manila.  "HUUUge drums, Mom!" She gasped at the lights and effects; her favorite part was the one with glowing men who dance.  She couldn't help but say "WOWWW!" She also loved the fluidity of the scarf dance and the chirpiness of the flutes.

When I was pregnant with her, I was totally hooked on Game of Thrones and Marco Polo (on Netflix). As I binged on nori and almonds, I was thrilled to feel her kick along with the beat each time there was a battle scene.  The sound of the blade and drums excited her.

When I covered Fete de la Musique for CNN Ph during my second trimester, I actually enjoyed it despite the heavy rain. She loved the bands that were heavy in percussion instruments.  I have to admit, I never got to appreciate such bands before until I got pregnant haha.

The night before I was rushed to the hospital for emergency contractions at 34 weeks, I was at the premier of Heneral Luna.  I guess she got really inspired to come out early when she heard the drums and cannon firing.  My friends joke I should have named her "Luna".

Her fascination with percussions is evident up to now.  She love watching UP Street Dance Club's concerts and choice of music.

As for Drumtao, while the girls in front gushed at the abs and synchronization of the warrior-like drummers, she couldn't help but do her own drumming with the Kia Theater seats during intermission. I hope we can take her to Japan in the near future so she can immerse herself further in their wonderful music and culture. 

Read More

Tandem Feeding Diaries: Month 3

Women who have normal vaginal births are usually expected to return to work after their 2-month maternity leave.  For freelancers like me, we just start working as soon as a project starts coming.

For both my first and second pregnancies, I started attending meetings/ vtrs a week after delivery.  I tried to keep these activities as short and brief as possible and avoided wearing heels so as not to worry my mom who says I shouldn't take a bath, use the stairs, and expose myself to "hamog" for at least two weeks after giving birth.  Antibiotics and pain meds prescribed by my OB Doc Madgie allowed me to recover more quickly (thank God!)  It drove me crazy lying in bed smelling like that; I just couldn't allow myself to be seen in that state for so long :/

I suffered from mild dehydration and electrolyte imbalance though for trying to tandem feed in 3-hr Christmas traffic.  I also got nipple blisters as my toddler shallow latched as we drove through unexpected humps and bumps. Oh if only all humps were painted with visible yellow stripes! Haay. It's just impossible.

Eventually, we managed to convince my toddler that it's better to latch only in the privacy of our bedroom.  I told her her baby brother gets scared more easily and he needs more latchtime than she does.  She agreed and told me she's brave even when we pass through tunnels; my little boy is at a stage wherein he's scared of the dark and uneven roads.  I'm proud of how she would try to calm her brother each time: "Don't be scared! Leji's here!" So adorable. She would even sing to cheer him up.

With God's grace, I was able to book several projects last month...one of which happened to be out of the country.  

Watching the sun rise while pumping at the charging station

It proved to be quite stressful.  I was hoping to store as much milk as I can in the freezer.  But each time my toddler would see me pump, she would ask when would it be her turn to latch.  I would usually allow her to latch after my 20-minute pumping session in the morning.  Then her brother would ask for more milk.  Then I couldn't pump again for the rest of the day.  I even had to eat rice and meat at times in the wee hours of the morning just so I would be able to produce more milk.  I produce more milk after sleeping/napping so I couldn't do much really other than eat/drink, breastfeed, sleep/nap,  repeat.  Even when I take malunggay tea & incorporate malunggay leaves in my meals, I only get to pump adequately when I'm not too tired.  I avoided going out and attending meetings for two weeks so I wouldn't get distracted from producing more milk.

I realized I could only pump twice a day max while tandem feeding.  I have to get up really early in the morning before they start demanding for milk in bed; then I pump again in the afternoon before they get roused from their nap.

I have never stored this much milk before. So much so, we had to buy more stuff for milk storage!  I didn't expect I could pump this much milk until I had to.  We bought a 2-door self-defrosting inverter ref to be able to store my pumped milk more efficiently. Our old one had such a small freezer that had a plastic door that wouldn't close when there's too much ice.  The door can't keep the temperature constant when it's not sealed and defrosting it wasted most of my milk.  Some of the cups get stuck in the ice & you really can't take them out unless you defrost them with the ref.  It's a chicken and egg thing.

I smiled happily at our new freezer with neat compartments filled with milk cups. But at the back of my head, I knew it might still not be enough despite pumping up to the very last minute before dashing to the airport. 

Oh well. My baby's ninang/pedia Doc Coco advised me to stop worrying. She said I should just enjoy my project and banish the thought that I'm a bad mother just because they might have to resort to formula for a couple of days.  

We tried Nan Optipro with his existing Playtex newborn drop-in anti-colic bottles (which they also use to feed him with pumped milk). Other than nastier smelling poop with an ugly dark color, they didn't notice much difference with his behavior.  Unlike Leji at six months who refused to take in formula because it tasted different (she hated Similac; it's loaded with iron and has a slightly rusty taste), his three-month old system treated formula like breastmilk.  He demanded for it every 2-4 hours.  

When I returned, he smiled and latched hungrily as if nothing happened.  He still loves me...yey!  His poop color turned back to normal after a couple of days.

My toddler didn't have a problem with the setup either; she loved the idea of having more playtime with Lola.  She simply preferred powdered milk over fresh cow's milk after seeing her baby brother consume formula.  We're back to tandem feeding in bed.

Read More

Lej's Fave Sippy Cup

Leji has always hated silicone nipples.  She gnawed on them incessantly and refused to be bottle fed in my presence.  She thinks pumped milk is gross especially when she sees it coming from a Hakaa (she really hates silicone). Thus, she learned how to drink water from a straw at four months and started drinking from Avent cups independently as soon as she learned how to sit.

But in her terrible twos, she developed a fondness for mixing things together and pouring stuff everywhere.  She would wipe her mess afterwards with a paper towel and try to prolong the activity as much as she can because it's so enjoyable for her.  She even thinks soaking up the couch is interesting to watch sometimes.  So we decided to back track a little bit and reintroduce sippy cups at home even if she has already mastered the art of using grownup cups and glasses with two hands.

Leji loves mango yoghurt shake

We have existing Dr. Brown's soft-spout toddler cups; but again she hates silicone.  She gnawed on them like there's no tomorrow before she turned one.  She also found a way not to make them spill proof; she removed the detachable handle in one and broke off the snap-on cap of the other.  Washing up soft spouts is also a chore; some of the milk residue remain in the crevices of the silicone spout even after exposing them to heat in the sterilizer.   I use a mini flosser brush because even an old toddler toothbrush can't clean it effectively.

We took Leji to Baby Company so she could choose a new sippy cup.  She opted for a Philips Avent hard spout (fuchsia with a penguin!) which claimed to be more durable than the soft spout.  However, it's not entirely true that it's spill proof and easy to clean.  Even with the silicone stopper inside, it still spills on the bed & it's quite easy for my toddler to accidentally open the cover while turning it around trying to figure which angle is most fun in milk sipping.  You also have to wash it immediately after use otherwise foul smelling milk residue will annoyingly remain in the spout.  It's tricky to scrape off even with toothpicks and hairpins.  We bought it at full price; a few weeks later it's not surprising to see the model 70% off at Unimart.   

My mom-in-law then gifted us with the Playtex Playtime Spout.  It has colorful 3D animals on the side which Leji happily identified.  She likes her flavored milk cold; its double wall insulation is pretty effective.  When we discovered it was easier to clean (my pinky could fit in the spout and effectively remove residue with soapy water), really spill proof (even when you throw it on the floor!), and harder to "accidentally" open during toddler experiments, she decided to buy it in other designs and colors which Leji could mix and match (one lid fits all!).  Leji says her Lola's really cool.  Thank you, Lola!

Read More

Tandem Feeding Diaries: Month 2

My skin is terribly dry these days.  Thank God for the inventor of mild lotion. Blame it on my inability to drink adequate amounts water after tandem feeding especially during the holidays when we had to endure traffic (& I could only drink so much while in the car).  I should take Chiqui Brosas' advice to drink at least 4L a day more seriously. Tsktsk.

When you're dehydrated, there's this ugly sensation in the brain and back; and your knees and joints start to feel numb.  It's actually scary.  I couldn't move in bed.  I couldn't even eat properly. But I went on feeding my newborn.

My toddler? She wasn't too happy when mommy got sick and she wasn't allowed to latch to stimulate my boobs and try to increase my supply.  It was just too painful; I could feel my uterus scream. I hope her brain would omit the memory of mom being sick and grumpy ASAP.

Ang gabi tila araw...ikaw ang ligaya..ikaw lamang 

I started mix feeding my toddler (she drinks fresh cow's milk) as soon as she turned 1.  However, even when I got pregnant, she refused to give up latching in the car and at bedtime. Now that she has a baby brother, she gives way when she knows my breasts aren't full yet.  She could be a future lactation consultant! With one look, she knows if my supply is ok and she knows a couple of massage techniques to stimulate milk production and prevent mastitis.

I only had mastitis once when we had a fight one night when she wouldn't stop jumping on the bed & I refused to give her "her side"of my chest.  I failed to pump that side; it's hard to use the Hakaa on "her side" while feeding Leon because she claims it's gross to drink pumped milk and it's easier if I just allow her to latch directly. Ugh. Sometimes it's inconvenient that your daughter could express herself so well at such a young age.

Nowadays, she watches her brother latch on first to avoid making him gag with overflowing milk. He cries when Leji makes the flow too abrupt.  So she usually waits until the milk leaks unto my shirt with just Leon stimulating it. She's usually very patient except when she wants to latch for comfort in the car and transforms into a scary, anti-seatbelt wailing creature we call "Lejo."

Keeping yourself hydrated is more challenging when the babies latch directly as compared to pumping "off site".  When I'm away, it's easier to limit pumping time to just 15-20 minutes every 3-4hours.  It's easier to stick to the schedule and properly hydrate before and after when working elsewhere.

At home and in the car, feedings are more irregular.  Both of them wish to latch directly not only when they're hungry but also when they're sleepy, scared, tired, bored  (or all of the above during traffic).  There are times when latch time exceeds more than 20minutes. I get very sleepy during the day due to lack of sleep at night; I usually doze off when the baby breastfeeds in bed and I fail to drink afterwards.

So much so that I now stopped taking multivitamins altogether.  I feel like I get dehydrated easier when I drink them.  I drink malunggay tea with some tablea instead.

After Christmas (and after a bout with nasty LBM/ electrolyte imbalance/mild dehydration), my daughter & I acquired flu.  My supply went really low and I had to deal with a wailing toddler whom I had to convince that I love her still using other means (Eg. hugging, singing, eating her favorite food wtih her).  It was so hard to explain to her that she couldn't latch on me while I was feeding the baby because she might accidentally sneeze on him while facing each other.

She kept sneezing on him to annoy me.  She's at a stage where she does something more when you say "no".  The baby got sneezy too but only for a couple of days. Thank God for the baby aspirator; he was able to recover at once even without medication.

Oh believe me I was so tempted to switch to formula. It was as if my newborn baby sucked the life out of me and I'm not allowed to sleep because his sister is in dire need of love affirmation.  But I had to give him antibodies.  I want him to have less chances of acquiring allergies later on in life.  I want less chances of acquiring breast cancer too (we have it in the family).  So with the support of my hubby and mom-in-law,  I trudged on.

The New Year started with a topsy turvy house because I was sick & hubby didn't have any choice but to look after us and comfort my toddler that mommy can't play.  He was so tempted to hire a maid.  But I told him I want to enjoy Leon's first six months with just us.  My mom came over & cooked my fave meals to support my decision.

Pocari Sweat was my holiday lifesaver. If I can just have a water filter that instantly turns water into Pocari Sweat that would be so cool. & yeah, I gulp all the fresh milk my toddler wouldn't finish in her sippy cup. No judgment!

I hope the house will be in better order before Valentines/ Chinese New Year. harhar!  Happy 2018!!!

Read More