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!

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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.

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