Bea's First: Chicken

When Bea was around 6 months old, I started feeding her solids. I wanted to feed her all-natural food so I started with fruits. At first, puro mashed bananas lang muna, then papaya. As she grows older, kiwi, apples, pears, and oranges naman. Sometimes, I would give her Cerelac or Gerber, pero ayaw nya. Parang boring kainin. Haha! Tsaka kasi medyo ayaw ko nun, it's not natural kasi.

When she was turning 1 year old, I noticed her playmate (kaedad lang nya) was eating rice and meat already.  Sabi ko, "Bakit ganun? Sila nakakakain na ng karne?" And so, I tried to feed her meat, chicken breast fillet to be exact. Waley! Ayaw. Luz Valdez ang beauty ko sa pag attempt pakainin sya ng karne. I tried pork, ayaw. Fish, ayaw. 

After awhile, I lost hope already. Sabi ko mukhang lalaking fruitarian 'tong anak ko ah. Puro fruits kasi, nakasanay na nya siguro na yun lang ang kinakain. 

That was until last Sunday, July 29. Look!

Last 4 pieces...

Thanks Andok's! 

Chew chew chew...

Good girl!

Grabe! I was so happy. Napakain ko na din sa wakas ng karne si Bulilit! Yehey!!!

I know it's nothing for other people pero sakin momentous ito! Bea's first time to eat chicken. Now, I'm looking forward to the day na makakasama ko syang maka-foodtrip sa Max's and KFC. 

May follower na ko! Weee!!!

I would just like to give a shout-out to my first ever follower, Ms. Marie of The Flower Duet.

Hi Girl! Thanks for following our little adventures... :)

Akalain mong may nagkainteres sa buhay namin. Nakakataba naman ng puso... Salamat po...

The Dengue Scare

The past week was very tiring for us.

Bea had an on-and-off fever. It started last July 20. I was nursing her, nakadapa sya sakin, then I noticed she's kinda hot. I checked her temperature, she got a fever. I gave her paracetamol, thinking that will cure her. So natulog na kami.

The next day, Saturday, may lagnat parin sya, but there's no other signs of her being sick. She's still very energetic, running and playing like the usual. I gave her paracetamol every 8 hours.

Sunday, I'm starting to get worried because the fever keeps coming back. Mawawala lang saglit tapos yan na naman. Naprapraning ako kasi she got an insect bite on her arm. I did a tourniquet test on her arm, titignan ko kung may lalabas na spot. Eh kaso nagwawala ang bida, naglulupasay talaga at mega ngalngal. Nakakaawa kaya tinanggal ko kagad 2 minutes palang. Wala namang lumabas na rashes.

Monday, Bea's 14th monthsary, we decided to take her to the hospital kasi hindi nga nawawala 3 days na syang may lagnat and ayaw nyang kumain. Ang laki na ng pinayat nya. Before we went to the hospital, dumaan muna kami sa simbahan. There I prayed na sana hindi ma-confine si Bulilit.

At the hospital, the doctor said to have her CBC-Platelet and urine tested. Oh God, here we go again with the urinalysis. This is what I hate most. Ang hirap kasi ipa-urinalysis ni Bulilit. Sobrang tagal. Talagang aabutin kami ng siyam-siyam sa paghihintay ng wiwi nya. First, I had her blood checked. Grabe! Siguro alam na nya kung anong mangyayari kasi kauupo palang namin sa laboratory, ngalngal na agad ang bida. Di umubra yung pang-uuto ng medtech sa kanya. After that, nilagyan ko na sya ng wee wee bag or urine bag. Alam na naming matatagal sya bago magwiwi kaya kumain muna kami sa Jollibee. Pinainom namin sya ng maraming tubig at pineapple juice. After we finished eating, we went back to the hospital. I checked the bag, ayun, sa sobrang likot natanggal sa pagkakakabit yung wee wee bag. Napunta lang sa diaper lahat ng wiwi. This is so frustrating. Bili na naman, tapos pahirapan pa ngayon magkabit kasi nagwawala na naman ang bida. She was sleepy na kasi pero ayaw naman matulog. Di ko na sinuotan ng diaper this time para makita namin kung nagwiwi na sya. Ayun, mas okay pala na naka-bold lang sya kasi shoot lahat ng wiwi sa bag unlike pag nakadiaper natatapon lang.

Ang batang may wee wee bag... :P

After a few minutes, the results are out. I read it, mababa yung platelet count and mataas yung WBC. Oh no, dengue nga ito!!! Tapos the doctor called us in. pasimula pa lang naman daw yung dengue. Pwede pang maagapan, no need to confine. She then prescribed her with an antibacterial drops then just continue to give her paracetamol every 6 hours. She said that we have to go back the next day for a repeat of blood test. I-monitor ko lang daw kung tataas masyado yung temperature nya, kasi pag ganon, dalin ko na daw ulit sa ospital.

So yun, I religiously followed her prescription. Ngayon ko lang naranasan ang pahirapan sa pagpapainom ng gamot. Bea HATES the antibacterial kasi. She wasn't like that naman before, itong gamot lang na 'to yung inayawan nya. Dati itatapat ko lang yung dropper sa bibig nya, nganganga na sya then sisipsipin na nya yung gamot. Ito talaga iba. SHE HATES IT! I even wrestled her just to make her drink it. She was crying so much, Mama went into our room and asked what's happening. Sabi ko ayaw ng gamot. But she have to take it para gumaling sya. 2nd try, sinuka lahat pati kinain nya that night. Oh my, so frustrating. Tinikman ko, ang panget naman kasi ng lasa, ang lapot pa, ang hirap lunukin. Tsk tsk tsk! Kaya naman pala... After she calmed down, pinainom ko ulit, this time, paunti-unti, she would spit out some, then paiinom ko ulit sya ng konti. Ayun sa awa ng Diyos, natapos din naman. After the drama over the medicine, nakatulog agad sya sa pagod kangangalngal.

The next day, Tuesday, we came back for another blood test. 

They pricked my finger! Huhuhu...

This time, the platelet count went up and the WBC have already came down. Thank God! We have to be back after 3 days. Continue ko lang daw ang gamot.

Friday, last day of the check-up. This time, kaming dalawa lang ni Bulilit. No Mama in tow kasi she had her own check-up sa PGH. It was raining that time so it was harder for me to bring Bulilit to the hospital. When we got there, si aligaga na naman sya. Lakad dito, lakad doon. Akyat dito, akyat doon. Gusto pang lumabas, eh umuulan nga. Tagaktak na pawis ko teh! I became tired of running after her, kaya binuhat ko sya at pinaupo sa upuan. And guess what she did. Ayun, she put up a drama for all the student nurses to see. Jusme! Baka akalain nila pabayang ina ako. Haha! Ay naku anak, nakakaloka ka ha... :P

My little drama queen... :)

Patch kung patch ang labanan... :D

Nilagyan ko na ulit sya ng mosquito patch. Tsaka pinahiran ko ng mosquito repellant. Praning lang. Haha! 

Back to normal na ang results ng blood test. The doctor gave me another prescription. This time, pampataba at pampagana naman kumain ang binigay. Kasi nga ang laki na ng pinayat ni Bulilit. Sana gumana. 

Baby, okay lang na makulit ka, wag ka lang magkakasakit ha? ;)

What the hell is going on in the schools today?!?

Have you watched 24 Oras kanina? 

SERIOUSLY! Grabe... Nakakabagabag.

I was preparing dinner when I heard the news. The first one is about "Binatilyo namatay sa suntukan..." and the second one was "2 estudyante nahimatay dahil sa brownies." Both happened inside a school. My God! Bakit ganyan?!?

While listening to the news, pumasok agad sa isip ko yung younger brother ko. I know he's in college already, but in my eyes (and in my mom's eyes), he's still the bunso of the family. I can't help to be protective of him. (Ewan ko na lang kung pano ba ko kay Bulilit.) Pagkadating na pagkadating pa lang ni Utot (Sorry! Pet name ko yan sa kanya.),Nilitanyahan ko na agad sya...

Me: Hey you! Wag kang makikipagsuntukan sa school ha, and don't accept brownies from others!

Utot: Huh? Why?

Me: Ayan, na-news, yung isa namatay sa suntukan. Yung isa nahimatay sa brownies. Nilagyan ng drugs. Blah. Blah. Blah. Blah.Blah.Blah.Blah.Blah.Blah.Blah.Blah.Blah.Blah.Blah.Blah.


Utot: Okay. But sa tingin mo makikipag-away ako sa itsura kong 'to? *smiles*


When he was a kid, I'm the one who fights his classmates when they pick on him. He was very frail kasi before. But now that he's older and taller, I'm not that worried about sa suntukan part. He's not the type who gets into fights, he would rather resolve arguements in a diplomatic manner. And if ever he have gotten in a fight, I'm quite sure he can depend himself naman. Para san pa ang pagtrataining nya.

It's the drug thing I'm worried about. Dun kasi sa news, mismong kaklase nung biktima yung nagbigay ng brownies. Imagine, kakilala nila mismo nagawa yun sa kanila?!? Tsk tsk tsk tsk! Nilagyan ng drugs yung pagkain. Why would she do that in the first place diba? Something's seriously wrong with that.

Nakakapraning naman. Wala na atang safe ngayon. Dito ako sa issue na 'to talaga nabahala. Si Utot kasi has alot of friends now, na hindi ko kilala, hindi na abot dun yung radar ko. I can't spy on him anymore. And natututo na din syang pumunta kung saan-saan. Si Utot kasi he can get by his needs kahit wala syang allowance. He has friendly-friends daw kasi.  I asked him pano ka kumakain sa school. May nanlilibre daw or may nagpapakain sa kanya. Oh God! What if someone drugged him diba? (Knock on wood!) Ano na lang mangyayari sa kanya?

The two girls were kinda lucky in a way kasi hindi sila nagalaw or ano. Malay nyo diba may masama palang balak sa kanila kaya sila drinugs.

Naisip ko tuloy, as a parent, you would assume na safe ang anak mo sa school, tapos biglang may mangyayaring ganyan. Bakit may namamatay sa suntukan? Anong ginagawa ng mga teachers at guards dun? Bakit may nakakapasok na drugs? Is it time para maglagay na din ng K-9 units sa schools?

What the hell is going on in the schools today?!? Seriously.

Bea loves her milk!

Bea is now becoming a drama queen. Grabe when she wants something, she would cry talaga until you give it to her. But of course, I'm starting to discipline her already so I need to be firm on my rules. She can't get everything she wants. 

But last night, I gave in to her wish. (Firm rules pala ha? :P) Grabe kasi. She was banging the can of  her milk like there's no tomorrow. Bubuhatin tapos ibabagsak. Bubuhatin, ibabagsak. Repeat 10x! Baka mabagsakan sya eh mabigat yun, medyo puno pa kasi. She wanted to open the can but she can't, so she keeps on crying. I can't take the noise she's making kasi masakit ulo ko non. Ayun, just to shut her up, I opened the can. I know naman what she'll do with it. Tignan nyo...

Isn't it cute? I don't know where she gets that idea of making papak the milk. Wala namang gumagawa samin nyan. She doesn't like to drink milk that much, kaya siguro kinain na lang. Haha! She doesn't ate alot naman, tinikman lang nya. After that, tumahimik na sya.  

Side kwento: I posted that video on FB, tapos may nagcomment, sabi nya:

Naku sis.. Buti Hindi nasira ang tiyan Ni baby. Di ba sensitive ang stomach ng baby kaya dapat mix yung milk sa hot water. Anyways, it's fun to watch. But I hope she's feeling fine after.

Yeah, mind your own business meddler! >:(

Ewan ko lang ha, iba kasi dating sakin. We're not close naman tapos kumocomment ng ganyan. I hate it when people give unsolicited advice. I know I'm a young mom and I have alot to learn, but I know what I'm doing. I know my kid very well so don't make me look like I'm making pabaya my baby and that I'm a bad mother. Hello?!? I wouldn't do anything naman na ikakapahamak ng anak ko. Kainis diba? Pffttt.... 

Bea posed for the camera... THE FIRST TIME! ;)

Whenever we go to the grocery, our usual routine is pick a cart, let Bea sit there, and take a picture of her. We've been doing this for quite a while now that I think she already knows that after she sit, I'm going to take a picture of her. 

So yesterday, to my suprise, Bea posed for the camera the first time! Yey!!! She held that pose for like 10 seconds. It's long enough for an energetic baby. Haha! She was really waiting for me to take a pic first before sya maglikot. Dati kasi mabilisan lang kung picturan ko sya, minsan chambahan lang. But now, wow! Pumoposing na talaga sya. I'm so happy... Look at it. So cute diba?

My model... :)

Side kwento, we go to the grocery so much that the salesladies there already know us! When we pass by them, they will call Bea. I hear them say, "Ang cute-cute talaga nyang batang yan... " (Pumapalakpak naman tenga ko... Proud mommy lang mga teh! :P) And then syempre, ang Bulilit magpapa-cute lalo. She'll flash them her cutest smile, magpapakasingkit-singkitan pa talaga sya. Tuwang-tuwa ang mga utawsibelles. 

Anak wag masyadong magpacute ha, baka mausog ka... Choz! Masyado ka ng exposed Baby. Hehehe... Mahal kamo talent fee mo... 

Yun lang po... Masyado na kong Stage-Mommy... Good night! :)

Bea Fashionista: Lovely Girl in Red

As a first apo, Bea gets to be spoiled alot by Mama (my mother, Bea's Lola). Sige ang bili ni Mama ng mga damit. Walang kasawaan. Haha! So now, I'm going to make her a segment called Bea Fashionista para may remebrance ako ng mga damit nya. As you can see, masarap ng damitan si Bulilit ngayon. She cooperates now. Less whining when I'm dressing her. Natutuwa naman ako. Hehehe... It's like having a living doll!

Figuring How To Eat

When it comes to eating time, Bea can feed herself already but she's just using her hands. So now, I'm teaching her how to use a spoon. Look how cute she is!

Bea at 1 year & 1 month

First, I gave her the food then the spoon. She was just banging the spoon on the bowl. Kala nya siguro drums. Try again. 

Second, she sips the food from the side of the bowl as if she's eating noodles. I was laughing that time because she looks so cute. Try again.

Third, she placed the handle of the spoon in her mouth and makes sipping sounds. Ano yan? Juice?!? Haha! Kaloka 'tong anak ko. Daming alam... Haha! Try again.

So this time, I showed her how to scoop the food using the spoon. Then I made her do it, guiding her as she moves the spoon. After awhile she got the hang of it, but she can't shoot the spoon in her mouth. I figured the spoon is too big for her so I got her a smaller one. It's Asiana Airlines' spoon. Hehehe... The size was perfect for her! After a few tries, she can eat already using a spoon! Yey! I'm so proud of her... My little girl is a big girl now... ;)

Bea's Birthday: The Clowns

At first, wala naman talaga akong kabalak-balak kumuha pa ng clown because 1, wala na kong budget, and 2, pwede naman ako na lang magpa-games. Sabi ko sa sarili ko magpapabring me na lang ako then paulanan ng mga price ang mga bata, tapos ang usapan. Haha! Pero habang lumalapit ang party ni Bea, nangangarag na ko. Jusme! Pano pa kaya sa birthday mismo diba? So yun, I said to myself kailangan ko ng clowns to facilitate the party.

Tinanong ko yung kapitbahay namin kung magkano kuha nya dun sa clowns nung birthday ng bagets nya, P2500 daw. P2500?!? Kthnxbye.

I searched sa Sulit, there I found Alvarez Clowns. Sulit nga! Imagine, P900 lang for two clowns na. They will be the host, do magic tricks and balloon twisting. Oye! This is it! I contact Sir Rems thru FB, ayun, sagot kagad, after a few minutes naka-book na ko. I asked him paano ang payment, I was thinking kailangan ko muna magdownpayment. He said, no need na daw. Their policy daw kasi is trabaho muna bago bayad. Madali palang kausap 'to eh. Nice! 

Few days before the party, Sir Rems texted me, kinoconfirm lang nya kung tuloy daw ba. I said yes. 

On the day of the party itself, someone texted me. CJ daw. Sya daw yung padala ni Rems. Papunta na daw sila. They were very early to think naligaw pa daw sila because nalito daw sila sa number ng mga bahay sa street namin. Hehe... Mabait din ang mga boys, they even helped me with the decorations.  Tsaka tahimik lang. Well-behaved. I gave them some reminders about something, nagets naman nila, okay daw, they'll keep that in mind. Ok naman. Natandaan nila yung mga bilin ko. Pianapakain ko muna sila bago mag-party, ayaw, nahihiya. Mga 30 minutes before the party, bihis na sila. Yun lang! Mga bisita ko yung late kasi umulan that day. Inalok ko muna ulit silang kumain kasi kawawa naman, ang tagal na nilang naghintay, baka gutom na gutom na sila. Wag daw muna kasi bihis na sila. Oh well, after that nagdatingan na ang mga bisita. And the party starts!

Meet CJ and his sidekick
(sorry di ko alam name nya, di kasi sya dumadaldal eh... :P)

With Kaina during one of their games

Aliw na aliw ang mga bagets sa games nila. They're quite good ha, yung mga bata kasi dito samin halos shy-type. Buti napasali nila. :D

Tawang-tawa ako noh?

 Na-on-the-spot pa ko dyan. Haha! Nakakaloka! Buti game ako at nadaan ko sa tawa...

While the guests are eating, dun sila gumawa ng balloon twisting. The good thing here is hindi na-bore yung mga bagets kahihintay sa balloon nila because they were busy eating, unlike dun sa last party na pinuntahan namin, batong-bato na ang mga bata.

One of their creations...

After the guests are done eating, they proceed with the magic show. Mukhang okay naman. They kids were attentive parin. Hindi pa sila bored. Eto pa, sulit na sulit ang magic show nila, sinesenyasan ko na na blowing of the candle na agad, wag daw muna, madami pa daw silang baon magic. Ayaw paawat ha! Sige pagbigyan, magsawa kayo mag-magic dyan. Haha!

Bongga!

After the magic show, nagcandle blowing na kami then uwian na. After the guests have gone, tsaka pa lang sila nagbihis. Ayun, gutom. Haha! Tsaka pa lang sila nakakain. Chika-chika. Nakita ng ibang bisita namin yung mga clowns na hindi na naka-make-up, pogi daw. Pwede!!! Bentang-benta si CJ. Hahaha! Buti good sport sya. Crush kasi sya nung isang friend ko. Ahem! Di ko na sasabihin kung sino... ;)

Thanks again Alvarez Clowns! 

ALVAREZ CLOWNS
Rems Alvarez http://www.facebook.com/pages/Alvarez-Clowns/233324376695204 
http://www.sulit.com.ph/index.php/view+classifieds/id/3806763/Alvarez+Clowns+and+Party+needs
0917-417-70-67
288-3218

Bea's Birthday: The Cake

As you all know, I'm on a tight budget with Bea's party. I said to myself, kung may pagkakagastusan man ako, it would be the cake. I mean diba cake ang center of attraction sa mga party, besides sa may birthday. So yun, I searched high and low for a supplier. I really wanted a baby mermaid to be the cake topper tapos cupcakes. May mga natanungan ako, kaya nga nila yung pinapagawa ko kaya lang they quoted me P3500 - P4000. Jusme! Wala ng kakainin yung mga bisita namin... Medyo nawalan na ko ng pag-asa na masakatuparan ang pangarap kong cake. Huhuhuhu... Feeling ko nga cake pa mawawala sa birthday ni Bea eh. Ilang weeks na lang kasi wala pa kong supplier kaya naprapraning na ko...

Until one day, while I was browsing sa Smart Parenting forum, nabasa ko dun yung about sa Uno City Cakes. Grabe, sobrang blessing in disguise ito! Malapit lang samin si Ms. Mary Ann kaya free na 'ko sa delivery charge. Sobrang bait nya kausap, sinabi ko budget ko, ayun she granted my request. Kuhang-kuha nya yung gusto kong baby mermaid kaya tuwang-tuwa ako. Here's it is...

Ms. Mary Ann of Uno City Cakes
she's so nice and pretty... 

All of it are edible. Chocolate moist flavor. Grabe! Sobrang sarap... Nakakaaddict... Haha! Pumapak lang naman ako ng pumapak ng cupcakes... ;)

free na ang cupcake tower...

pati letters edible...

see? even Bea can't resists it... 

This is the baby mermaid I'm talking about. Pinagaya ko yung signature baby bubut ni Bulilit. Cute noh?

Looovvveee it!

 And oh, by the way, may 2 free cupcakes pa ko... O diba? San ka pa?

Di na ko magdadalawang isip na kunin ulit sya next time na may party kami. Super sulit! 

To Miss Mary Ann, 

From the bottom of my heart, thank you very much!

Di mo alam kung gano mo ko napasaya with your creation... 

Love, Gen

UNO CITY CAKES
Ms. Mary Ann Castro
http://www.facebook.com/pages/UnoCity-cakes/244116618979957?ref=ts&fref=ts
09179722425

Bea's Birthday: The Outfit

I really wanted Bea to wear a tutu on her birthday. It looks so girly and cute, kaya lang when I inquired online, grabe, ang mahal! Way over budget.

Hindi naman ako papatalo, kaya I researched online on how to make a tutu. Eh ang dali-dali lang naman pala. Kayang-kaya! So when I went to Divi, inuna ko na bumili ng tulle. It cost P30 per yard. I bought 2 yards each color (aqua blue, lime green and lavender). I wanted it to be fluffy kaya dinamihan ko na. Yun lang over sa dami, ang daming sobra as in, I was able to make another tutu pa sa blue tulle, di ko pa nagagawa yung sobra sa lavender and green. (See? I told you over sa dami.)

Okay, let's go to the how to make your own tutu part. This is easy! You don't even have to use a sewing machine for this.

First, measure your baby's waistline, then subtract 2 inches from it. Sounds drastic? Haha! Kala ko din nung una baka sumikip masyado, but it's true. Luluwag kasi yung garter as you add the tulle. So yun. I cut the garter and sew the ends together. Or kung gusto nyo mas madali, you can just use an elastic headband, just like the one I used for the blue tutu. Saktong sakto lang yung size. ;)

Second, measure the length of how long you want it to be, double it then add 1 inch kasi i-lu-loop nyo yan sa  garter.

Third, cut the tulle to 2.5-inch strips. The wider the strips are, the fluffier it will be. You can make the cutting part easier by rolling the tulle tapos tancha-tancha na lang sa width. Hehe. Yun ginawa ko, di naman halata na hindi masyadong pantay-pantay yung mga strips ko. :P

And oh, by the way, you can cut the ends of the strip to make it pinty or rounded, depending on how you want it to look. Sakin di ko na kinut. So square ends ang labas nya...

So here it is after I cut it into strips...

Bea messing with the tulle. Sige, kalkal lang ang Bulilit! :P

I segregated it para madali kumuha...

 Fourth, tie the strips to the waistband using cow hitch knot. Decide on how you want the colors to alternate.  Sakin, 2 blue, 2 green, tapos 2 lavender. Tip: to make your life easier, place the waistband to a jar para kabit na lang kayo ng kabit nung strips...

Me goofing with the almost finished tutu. Pwede din pala 'tong afro... :P

 It took me 3 days to finished it kasi may makulit na bata eh, but you can make it in a day pag tyinaga nyo.


Here's the finished product:

My labor of love :)

The top is just a plain onesie I bought for P75. I just sew flower tulles on it para lang mag-match...

Mukhang na-appreciate naman nya noh? *bigsmile*

The Perks of Having A Girl

When I found out I'm pregnant, I immediately prayed for a girl. And later on, clinaim ko na: I WILL HAVE A BABY GIRL! Hahaha! So laking tuwa ko after confirming it sa ultrasound. Girl nga! Thank God! I'm so happy...

Why do I want a girl? Simple lang. Besides sa malabing ang mga girls, I want a mini-me who I can dress up. Tsaka yung pwede kong ipit-ipitan ang buhok... Hihi!

Eto na ang pangarap ko.
My newborn and her hairstyle...

1st try... They're just stick-on flowers... She was just a few weeks here... :)

1 month old...

The first ever headband I bought for her... 

My first try to make a "baby bubut" or fountain... :)

Side-swept hair and clip... :)

Thr first pigtails... :)

Mommy = happy! :D

Baby = not-so-happy... Hahahah!

After that, pinahaba ko muna buhok nya... So I just settled for headbands... Pahirapan pa kami magsuot nyan... Hahaha! Mapilit kasi ako eh... :P

 After hindi ko na mauto si Bea na magsuot ng headband, balik na naman kami sa baby bubut... This has been her signature style for months...

And now that her hair is quite longer and thicker, tuwang-tuwa na naman ang mommy... Hihi!
Introducing my latest creation... Jaaaa-raaaaaaannnnn!

Ang maipilit ko talaga eh noh? ;)