In just a few days, this will be arriving at our home: 

My daughter has been taking drum lessons at Academy of Rock for months now and she is really enjoying it. We are also so amazed at how much she has improved. That is why we are buying her a drum set already so teacher can give her practice sheets so she can continue practicing at home.

We reserved for the unit already and we will pick it up either Friday or Saturday. Hubby is really excited and I think she is more excited than my daughter. I saw him checking out moog keyboard too because I am sure he can’t wait to have a jamming session with her one and only princess.

Ok, I realized that it is already July and I still have a lot of things in my To-do list for Bela’s birthday. I put the party preparations on hold as I wanted to concentrate on Cobi’s 2nd birthday party which happened last June but as soon as I realized that it is already July, I started to panic for a bit.

Good thing I have a cousin and a sister who is very much involve in the party planning preparations too for their niece and thanks to technology, we were able to have a group chat via Viber.

Well I have to decide on a lot of things like the décor for the stage, the balloon decors, the souvenirs, etc. I feel overwhelmed with all the decisions that I have to make that sometimes I need a sounding board to calm me down.

I am happy with the result of the meeting. Finally, things are getting clearer for the party preparations and we are 90% decided on the whole concept of the party. I have spoken with suppliers already and I am thankful because they are giving me friendly rates that fit my budget.

I will just have to sit with hubby and run down all our options before I finalize all the details with my supplier.

And now I am excited. LOL

It has been a month since my Bela started in Grade 1. I am the usual paranoid and worried mom because I know that grade school will be a big adjustment for my daughter. Imagine from having only 2 teachers in Pre-school, she will now have 8 teachers for all her subjects including her homeroom teacher.

Bela is still very playful and so I worry that she might have a hard time adjusting, as I know that it is already serious matter in grade 1. I got a bit worried actually on Bela’s 2nd week in school (the first week when she met all her subject teachers) as she came home sad because according to her, she got a lot of warnings from teacher because of her playfulness.

I don’t want to pressure my daughter but I tried to remind her everyday that she really has to behave and listen to teacher. Little by little she adjusted. On her 2nd week, she told me that she only got 2 warnings, from her everyday warnings the 1st week. Then on the next week, she said that she no longer got a warning from teacher. She is also doing well in her subjects as I can see that her test results are all ok.

I guess I should have listened to my husband from the start. He told me that I should not worry too much and just trust my daughter because he knows that Bela is a smart girl and soon, she will get use to the routines in Grade 1.

Well you know how mommies are. If I can only follow my daughter every where she goes, even going to the extent of installing gps vehicle tracking device, I would do that if only to ensure her safety.

I guess all mommies are like that. We worry on even the smallest things because we don’t want our kids to get hurt. I pray that Bela will continue to adjust in her new setup in school. I want her to learn but I would still want her to enjoy in the process.

I need to find an online battery store where I can purchase a replacement battery for Bela’s iTouch. You see, the battery is no longer good, as it will last only for a couple of hours when it should last for a whole day. This iTouch is Bela’s companion every time we go out, even for short drives, as it keeps her entertained as she watches here favorite movies or play her favorite games. So it really needs a good battery as Bela really uses it extensively (not to mention her grand dad too who uses it to play Solitaire).

It would be better if hubby will buy Bela an iPad to replace the iTouch (LOL) but I know that is impossible for now as we really have a lot of expenses lined up for the next three years.

So hubby’s solution: Batterymart.com. Batterymart.com is an online store where we can purchase replacement batteries like laptop batteries, motorcycle batteries, remote control batteries, camera batteries and more. They are really the one-stop shop if you need discount batteries as they have in their inventory almost all your battery needs, which they offer at a very affordable price.

I am sure Bela will be thankful once she gets a new battery for her iTouch as this will give her additional hours to watch her favorite movies or play her favorite application.

August is the month for the celebration of "Filipino Week" in my daughter's school and they have a lot of activities lined up for this month to celebrate it.

They started with a parade where each Grade Level was asked to come in the costume for the region assigned to them. Mindanao was the region assigned to the Prep class and this is what Bela wore:

I got her costume from Quiapo, which is very affordable compared to the one being sold in SM. I am also thankful for the cheap costume jewelry that I got from Finderskeepersjewelry.net to complete the overall look for Bela's costume.

Finderskeepersjewelry is the online store where I can get discount fashion jewelry without the designer price. They sell all kinds of designer inspired jewelry like costume jewelry rings, bracelets, necklaces, and many more.

Since there was no classes for a couple of days before the Filipino Week celebration, we were only given a few days to prepare for the costume that our kids will wear for the event. I actually panic when I got the letter from Bela's teacher but thankfully I can always rely on Quiapo for the costume and on Finderskeepersjewelry to complete the attire of my daughter. So she was able to come in full Mindanao costume (and not to mention one of cutest in all the Prep class. LOL), during their parade to open the official celebration of Filipino Week.

I have to make a list here of the things that I need to blog as there are a lot of events that happened in the past week, before I totally forget about it:

1. Bela’s United Nations celebration. I already uploaded the pictures but I haven’t found the time to make a post about it yet.
2. Celebration of Bela’s birthday at Ocean Park.
3. Bela’s party at Hospicio de San Jose
4. Bela’s birthday dinner with our family
5. Bela’s birthday party at the Creamery
6. Bela’s Book Week Program
7. Jacobo’s 5th month birthday

See, I told you there is really a lot. I wonder when I will find the time to blog all about it as well as sort and upload all the pictures that hubby took in those events. Just watch out, if I find my blogging mojo, I will just sit down one day and blog all about the important events of our family for November.

Yehey, P-Noy declared November 16 as a non-working holiday. November 16 is the birthday of our princess. We initially planned to treat her out on that day like go to Ocean Park and check out their new attractions or go to the Science and Discovery Center at Mall of Asia. But we suddenly had a change of plans because I did not plan in advance Bela’s celebration with the kids at Hospicio de San Jose. I tried calling them last week to schedule Bela’s party there but all their weekends are already booked so I have no choice but to schedule it on the exact birth date of Bela.

I thought that it will just be our family who will celebrate with Bela and the kids at Hospicio but thankfully P-Noy declared 16 as a holiday so my other relatives can join us as what they always do every year.

This will be our fourth year to celebrate Bela’s birthday at Hospicio de San Jose and our family is really looking forward to see all the kids again.

Everything is set for Bela’s birthday. In just two weeks from now, B will turn 5 years old in November 16 but we chose to hold her party over the weekend so that our family and friends will be available.

As early as now, I can see how excited B is for her party. She was the one who chose the theme, which is the Princess Tea Party. She wants to invite all her classmates and that’s why I’m preparing the invitations already so we can distribute it by next week.

Her gown and the clothes that she will wear for her special day is also ready but we still need to buy shoes for her. I hope we will have time this coming weekend to check out the mall for that.

Well, so much for that, I still need to check again my the list for B’s birthday just to make sure that everything will be perfect.

Whenever I hear the song "Too Much Love" by Jovit Baldovino, I will immediately think of B. She heard the song first on a cracker’s commercial. One afternoon she was playing on her mat then heard the song. After hearing it, she sings along with these lyrics: “Love love I kill you nanana nana.” Right after hearing her version of the song, I burst out of laughter and she asked me why? I just told her that I'm happy hearing her sing then she continued playing her toys.

After a week, I just learned that she has a new version of it, my mom told me about it. I just can't put my finger on her lyrics because when I asked her to sing it, she will just tell me that she needs to see the commercial first. So I'm hoping right now to see the commercial so I can hear what my little singer's newest composition.

Look how silly my daughter. Ever since she discovered the Photobooth application in my sister's MacBook, she always borrows the laptop and then she will sit on one side and take silly pictures of herself.

In fact, even if my sister is busy doing something in her laptop, she will keep on bugging her just to play with the application. Actually, when I checked on the pictures, she almost had a 100 already.

Because of this, Bela's now asking me if I can buy the same laptop for her. I knew that she'll come up with the idea that's why I prepared an answer already. I just told her then that we don't need to buy a new one because her tita will give it to her eventually! (just kidding sis. LOL!)

October has been a very busy month for us. I still have a lot of things that I need to blog so I have to make a list before I totally forgot about it:

1. Bela’s United Nations celebration in school. Their section represented the country Hawaii. Howell took lots of pictures but I haven’t found the time to sort and upload it. Bela was even chosen as one of the representatives of Prep for the Prayer song which they performed at the last part of the program.
2. Country Fair at School as part if United Nations celebration also.

3. Bela and Cobi’s Trick or Treating at the US Embassy

4. The SSC Ballet Club’s open house. They are really strict during regular classes and they don’t allow parents to watch their kids during class. So when they invited the parents for the open house, we made sure that we are armed with our camera and video cam to capture every moment as Bela just so loves her ballet class.

I really hope that I will find the time next week to blog all about this.

I am so sorry if there are times that I don’t reply to text messages right away. You see, Bela has been so addicted with the games and applications on my iPhone that I don’t get to use my iPhone when I am at home. Sometimes I will find out that I have a text message after a day or so when Bela is not busy playing with it and so I get the chance to check on the messages.

I admit that partly it is my fault since I installed dozens of games for kids on my phone so she has something to play with when we are on the road. But ever since she tried playing the games on my phone, she got hooked that the first thing that comes out of her mouth when she welcomes me when I arrived home from work is “Mom, can I play with your phone?”

I was telling hubby that Bela should have her own iPhone. But since it is a very expensive gadget for a five year old toddler, maybe we should just get her an iTouch instead. Her birthday is coming soon so maybe this is a perfect birthday gift for her.

It is September already and this means I only have a few months left before Bela’s fifth birthday party. It will just be a simple and small celebration this time for our close friends, relatives and classmates. Bela just requested that she wanted to have a Princess Tea Party with her friends from school so we decided to throw her a simple party with the party theme that she wants.

Before, by this time, I already booked all the suppliers that I need for the party and have ordered all the party supplies that I need online. But since I got busy preparing for Cobi’s Baptism, my preparation for Bela’s party was put on hold. I was only able to go back to my party preparations last month. So far I have booked the following already:

• Magician
• Kiddie Salon
• Balloon Artist
• Venue

The only thing that is left for me to book is the cake supplier and I have to order the other party supplies like tableware, goody bag, balloons, and toys for the game prizes.

I am really on a tight budget for this party so I am really thankful that I found suppliers that are within my budget and I discovered Partypro.com where I can get my party supplies at discounted and bulk prices.

It will be one busy Saturday for us again. Here is a line up of our itinerary for tomorrow:

• Bela will have a ballet class at St. Scholastica in the morning
• Howell will have to go to the office to work overtime
• Bela will have a swimming class in the afternoon
• Howell will try to drop by one of his clients for his sideline while Bela is having her class
• I need to drop by at Glorietta 5 to check on something (wink, wink)
• We will drop by at Greenhills after as I need to help my brother with something.

Just thinking about it makes me feel tired already. Plus Bela and I might need to take the public transportation on our way home from her ballet class if Howell will not be able to finish his work after Bela’s class. But at least I will get to spend some quality time with Bela as this is my last weekend before I go back to work.

This picture was just taken yesterday after Bela’s swimming class at Colegio de San Agustin and you can see how fat I am. LOL. I haven’t loose any weight and the worst part is I even gained weight. Now how pathetic is that? But I am really hoping that the lack of sleep and my breastfeeding will help me loose weight soon.

But I am really happy because Cobi is doing really ok. Thanks to prenate dha prenatal vitamins that I took while I was pregnant because Cobi is growing up to be a very healthy baby. He actually gained 3.4 pounds already only after a month and I am sure he will be as smart as his sister because the prenatal vitamins that I took when I was pregnant has ingredients that will really help in Cobi’s fetal brain and retinal development.

I am really thankful that Cobi is growing up to be a healthy baby boy and I continue to pray that he and his sister will stay fit and healthy.

Our daughter is just four years old but I read that it is during this stage that she will enjoy doodling, doing small art works, finger painting, etc. And it is true as we really observed this behavior from her. Before, she doesn’t even like to hold a crayon or a pen, but now she enjoys coloring and drawing during her spare time when she is already bored playing with her toys or watching the TV.

That is why my husband suggested that we should look for art classes for our daughter for the summer break. But my husband’s requirement is that the school should be partnering with AMACO/Brent. Hubby checked the website of AMACO/Brent and he likes the art lesson plans that they are offering to art teachers. They even have PowerPoint presentations so art teachers will definitely have a good basis for their art class. Their lesson plans includes glass decorating, classroom ceramics, sculpture and a whole lot of other art lessons and techniques.

Another thing that my husband loves about AMACO/Brent’s art products is that it is safe for kids and it is highly effective that it increase students’ success in art. My husband is now looking at different classes like ceramic art education, painting, sculpture, and the like so we can decide which class to enroll our daughter.

June 15 will be Bela’s first day at St. Scholastica. I am excited because this will be another adventure for Bela as she enters big school but scared in a way because I know that it will be a big adjustment for her. That is why I already filed a leave from June 15 – 16 so at least I will be with her during her first two days at big school. I wanted to take a leave for a week but since I will be going on maternity leave soon, I have a lot of things to finish at work before I go on maternity leave so I can’t afford to be away from the office that long.

Her things for school are all complete. Thank you to my sister since she was the one who shop for the remaining things that Bela needs for school like the plain white rubber shoes for her P.E, the bag tags, the wrapper and the plastic cover and she was even the one who covered the books of Bela.

My little girl is already ready for big school. I really hope that she will have lots of fun and lots of learning on her new school. I can’t wait to see what will happen next week.

I was reading about colon cleanse and I suddenly remembered our ordeal for this week. Bela was sick since Tuesday. Her fever is on and off, running from 36 – 40. C Last Thursday before we left for work, we checked her temperature and it is already back to normal so hubby and I decided to go to work that day. But then I received a text from my mom and informed me that Bela’s fever is back to 39 C again.

My mom brought her to the doctor and was advised to have a CBC exam on Saturday if she still has fever. When we arrived home, I checked Bela’s temperature and it is already 40 C. We all panicked and my dad drove us to the Emergency Room of Chinese General Hospital.

They did all the routine exam for Bela – CBC and urinalysis. It is Bela’s first time at the Emergency Room and so she was really scared. When the medical technician took sample of her blood, Bela was really in tears and she was just looking at my eye while she kept on saying “Mom, mom.” This brought me in tears also as I don’t want to see my daughter like that. If only I can protect her from all the pain, I would. It is too painful for me to see my daughter in that situation. We were allowed to go home as her temperature is already down to 37.2 C and were just advised to return the next day for the results of her CBC and urinalysis.

Next day, we called her pediatrician and we were informed that her WBC count is high and so she has to take antibiotics. The infection is the reason why her fever was spiking to 39 – 40 C.

She started taking her antibiotics since last night and thankfully she has no fever the whole day today. She still has no appetite and hope she will get her appetite back soon as she already loose weight. But I am really glad that she is active again and her fever is gone. Hopefully her condition will continue to improve.

Christmas starts early in the Philippines. As soon as the BER months start (SeptemBER), expect that malls are already filled with Christmas decorations and you can hear Christmas songs being played already in the radio.

One of our neighbors always starts to decorate their house early. Their whole house is already decorated with Christmas lights, Christmas lanterns, and expect that their Christmas tree is already up as soon as the BER months enter.

Bela likes to go to our neighbor’s house as she enjoys watching the gold fishes in our neighbor’s aquarium. One day after her visit to our neighbor’s house, this is what she told us as soon as she reached home:

Bela: “Mom can we put up our Christmas tree. I want a Christmas tree in our house and I will put the star on top of the tree.”

How I wish we can put up our artificial christmas trees as soon as possible as it is already the BER months but since her birthday is in November, our house is still filled with the stuffs for her birthday party. So we always put up our tree just right after her birthday party.

Her birthday is coming up soon and hopefully in three weeks, hubby will have the time to set up our Christmas tree. I am sure Bela will enjoy decorating the tree with us and of course she will get the privilege to put the star at the top of the tree.

I have long been planning to check out Shangri-La hotel in Cebu. My good friend Peachy told me that Shang is having a promo until December and I was already ready to book our Cebu escapade for a vacation before the year ends. In fact I am already checking out nice beach cover ups (as I really need one to cover my tummy or maybe I should start using slimming pills instead), I already filed my leave fro December 4 and we already told Bela about the trip.

But last week, I received a news that there is a possibility that I might go to Kuala Lumpur to attend a 4-day conference. After being away from Bela for three weeks, I can’t imagine leaving her again even just for four days. So hubby and I decided that if I will be attending, they will be coming with me. LOL.

During the weekend, I checked out places that we can visit in KL. Honestly, I did not find anything spectacular. They have a National Zoo but the reviews are not good. They also have Genting Highlands where there is an Indoor and Outdoor theme park and a Wet and Wild park but I noticed that most of the rides are for those thrill-seeking individuals.

So we thought, why not go to Singapore instead before going to KL.

1. There is just a small difference in price if we drop by at SG first before going to KL
2. My friend in SG already invited us to stay at their place so we save on hotel also.
3. We get to go to Singapore Zoo, Jurong Bird Park and Sentosa which I am sure Bela will really prefer than Genting Highlands.

I am still waiting for the formal email to confirm my attendance so I can’t be that all excited yet as nothing is still final. But hopefully this trip will push through as we owe Bela a vacation for leaving her for three weeks when hubby and I went on an alone time together last August.