Happy Father's Day!

To my Papa Willy, the patriarchs of my family and of course my dearest husband who is a first-time dad - HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!! And to the rest of the dads out there, may this special day bring forth more special memories with your kids. :)

Let us praise those fathers who have striven to balance the demands of work, marriage, and children with an honest awareness of both joy and sacrifice. Let us praise those fathers who, lacking a good model for a father, have worked to become a good father.

Let us praise those fathers who by their own account were not always there for their children, but who continue to offer those children, now grown, their love and support. Let us pray for those fathers who have been wounded by the neglect and hostility of their children.

Let us praise those fathers who, despite divorce, have remained in their children's lives. Let us praise those fathers whose children are adopted, and whose love and support has offered healing.

Let us praise those fathers who, as stepfathers, freely choose the obligation of fatherhood and earned their step children's love and respect. Let us praise those fathers who have lost a child to death, and continue to hold the child in their heart.

Let us praise those men who have no children, but cherish the next generation as if they were their own.

Let us praise those men who have "fathered" us in their role as mentors and guides.

Let us praise those men who are about to become fathers; may they openly delight in their children.

And let us praise those fathers who have died, but live on in our memory and whose love continues to nurture us.

LCD is Broken :(

When hubby went home to the Philippines last month, I asked him to bring along my old laptop and give it my younger sister. It's more than a year old but still working very well and its computer memory has already been upgraded. The only problem is the LCD monitor because it would sometimes turn white while you're in the middle of web surfing or chatting. I already told my sister about this problem but she's okay with it. I just told her to save her work often when using the laptop just to be safe.

Teething and Your Baby

Here's some teething information I got from the web. Moms and dads read on! It's important to be informed so you won't panic when your baby becomes all fussy, drooly and cranky once he/she starts teething! ;)

WHAT IS TEETHING?

Your baby is teething when his or her first set of teeth, called primary teeth, break through the gums.

WHEN DOES TEETHING TYPICALLY START?

Teething usually begins around 6 months of age. But it is normal for teething to start at any time between 3 months and 12 months of age. By the time your child is about 3 years old, he or she will have all 20 primary teeth.

The lower front teeth usually come in first. Upper front teeth usually come in 1 to 2 months after the lower front teeth.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

Some babies are fussier than usual when they are teething. This may be because of soreness and swelling in the gums before a tooth comes through. These symptoms usually begin about 3 to 5 days before the tooth shows, and they disappear as soon as the tooth breaks the skin. Many babies don't seem to be affected by teething.

Babies may bite on their fingers or toys to help relieve the pressure in their gums. They may also refuse to eat and drink because their mouths hurt.

Many babies drool during teething, which can cause a rash on the chin, face, or chest.

Mild symptoms that get better usually are nothing to worry about. Call your doctor if your baby’s symptoms are severe or don't get better.

HOW CAN YOU HELP YOUR BABY BE MORE COMFORTABLE WHILE TEETHING?

Here are some tips to help your baby feel better while teething:

* Give your baby a mild pain reliever that is labeled for his or her specific age. For example, acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) or ibuprofen (such as Advil) may help relieve your baby's discomfort. Do not give aspirin to anyone younger than 20, because it has been linked to Reye's syndrome, a rare but serious disease.
* Use a clean finger (or cold teething ring) to gently rub your baby's gum for about 2 minutes at a time. Many babies find this soothing, although they may protest at first.
* Provide safe objects for your baby to chew on, such as teething rings.

Many parents use other teething remedies, such as gels you put on a baby’s gums. Many experts question if these work and are safe. If you want to try these products, talk to your doctor about which types are safe and how often to use them.

SOURCE: WEBMD

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Jaden is Teething!

I never really thought Jaden would start teething this early. He is barely 4 months old and yet he's already showing some signs such as fussiness and drooling. I know this is a natural occurence but I still can't believe that my little boy will sport some teeth soon! *sigh* Kids, they really grow fast... How I wish I can freeze time so I can enjoy more of Jaden's gummy smile. :)

A Feast!

These are just some of the food our friend prepared for the party last Wednesday! The host really went all out with the preparation and the cooking and of course we, the guests, all went home stuffed up to the neck! LOL! She even handed each one of us a zip lock bag so we can bring home some of the food. And it's mandatory. No one can say NO. *sigh* Decaslim where are you? I need your help!

And Another Party!

Oh yes! Summer is definitely here! And although it has been raining for the past few days, that doesn't stop my friend from hosting another party. She even called this morning to confirm that the party is on - rain or shine! And next week, she's planning to host another party at the park if the weather gets warmer. Oh well, what can I say, she's the ultimate party host! Hehe! She said she's just making up for those days last winter that we weren't able to get together and have fun. Well, she has a good point but my, oh, my, it's just giving us a legit reason to pig out. Maybe she should add a diet pill on the party menu next time so we won't be putting on too much weight after the party. LOL! ;)

Baby, It's Bath Time!

Sharing this to all moms out there especially to those first-time moms like me who is not quite sure how frequently babies should take a bath in a week and how to properly do it. I got this useful information from the American Baby Magazine, FEB 2009 Edition. Here goes...

Overdoing it with the soaps 'n' suds can irritate baby's skin. The biggest mistake parents make? "Doing more than necessary," says Daniel Krowchuk, MD, a pediatric dermatology expert at Wake Forest University. Use these tips to make baby's skin less irritated.

~ SKIP A DAY. Baby's bum is the only part that gets really dirty, and you're cleaning it often anyway.

~ USE LUKEWARM WATER. Set your water heater so the temp can't go above 120 degrees.

~ CUT BACK ON THE SOAP. Use it for areas like the bottom where extra cleansing is important. For other places, wipe baby down with a soft washcloth.

~ PAT, DON'T RUB, BABY DRY. This cuts back on skin irritation.

~ MOISTURIZE. Apply lotion to damp skin immediately after baby's bath.

Not sure what lotion to buy? Well, I asked Jaden's pediatrician and she recommended Cetaphil and Eucerin. Hope this helps! :)

End Your Suffering

Feeling constipated all the time? Well, I know exactly how it feels because I myself have had this problem years ago and I am so glad it's over. From then on, I have been watching my water and fiber intake because that's where I lack the most. Laxatives and stool softeners was also a big help but what really worked like magic for me was the colon cleanse product my doctor prescribed. It was the greatest relief ever. At first, I was skeptical to try it but I had faith in my doctor so I gave it a shot and it worked!

What Cartoon Mom Are You?

Cherry took the quiz "What Cartoon Mom Are You?" and got the result: Wilma Flintstone!
You are the definition of a perfect mom - loving and caring for your family in every way. You are strict with your husband and always make sure he is not off doing another crazy scheme that will get him into trouble. You love hanging out with your best friend and would talk all day long if you could.

Uhmn.. why is not the baby mentioned? I'm just wondering because the result only talked about mommy and daddy. Hehe!

The Speech Pill

Have you been battling with stage fright since childhood? Well now you can conquer that fear with the help of BRAVINA. It's a pill formulated to help you overcome public speaking fear. According to the website, BRAVINA is made of 9 natural supplements that promote relaxation and facilitate concentration. It helps calm your nerves so you can deliver your speech with much confidence and clarity. So the next time you go up the stage, try taking BRAVINA and see if it will work for you. :)

Poop Decoded

Do you read your baby's dirty diapers like tea leaves? You're not crazy; the tint of your little pooper's BMs can tell you a lot about his general health, says Jim Sears, M.D., coauthor of The Baby Book. Here, a guide to poop hue and when to call the doctor.

RED. Red foods and some medications can cause rosy poop, but your doctor will want to test a sample to rule out bleeding.

GREEN. Grassy stool is a common result of the iron in formula or green veggies. But if there's a sudden unexplained cange to green, talk to your doc.

BLACK. Soon after birht, babies pass meconium, a (normal) tarry substance. Later, balck stool can be a sign of old blood being passed; call the doc ASAP.

WHITE. Call your doctor immediately if your tot's BM is chalky whhite; it may indicate a liver or gallbladder issue (don't worry, this is very rare!).

YELLOW. Mustardlike poop is the "gold" standard for breastfed babies, though green is normal, too. depending on the mom's diet.

Source: BABYTALK MAGAZINE

Shrek Jr.

My 3-month old baby.
And yeah, I'm aware. If he's Shrek Jr., that makes me Fiona and his daddy Shrek Sr. LOL!

20 Healthy Habit Tips for Families

Try these helpful tips your whole family can follow to reinforce healthy behaviors all year long.

1. Avoid food between meals and snacks.
2. Involve children in planning and preparing family food.
3. try to eat meals as a family.
4. Be a role model by eating breakfast with your kids.
5. Make an effort to keep mealtimes pleasant.
6. Include snacks as part of the day's eating plan.
7. Eat snacks and meals in the kitchen, dining room or other designated area.
8. Be a good role model with your own food decisions.
9. Avoid rewarding or punishing child with food.
10. Allow kids enought time to eat.
11. Turn off the TV during meals.
12. Serve a varierty of foods for meals and snacks.
13. Eat foods from each of the food groups everyday.
14. Offer new foods and new food combinations.
15. Avoid forcing your child to eat.
16. Serve reasonable portions.
17. Read nutrition labels on packages.
18. Limit low nutrition foods like sweets and carbonated beverages.
19. Choose beverages wisely.
20. Include active play daily.

Tips courtesy of Gerber.

What Kind of Mom Are You?

I took the WHAT KIND OF MOM ARE YOU quiz and the result is MIDDLE OF THE ROAD KIND OF GAL. Here's the interpretation:

You're really the most ideal kind of mom to have- You're not too strict, you're not too loose. The kids know how to have fun at a playdate, and you're not ripping out your hair worrying all of the time about airborn germs and fingerprints. You keep your kids clean and well maintained yet they have fun getting dirty too. You keep your house picked up, but you don't have a home air purifier system and sanitizing wipes stashed in every nook and cranny. Your kids play well with others because they have manners but they're also relaxed enough to make friends. Good for you!