Kids Archive

What my kids are like, and how to raise your child/children in this day and age.

Our Piñata Collection

While browsing our photos for my Certified Loot Bags Addict entry, I found a great collection of Piñata..

Piñata is a container (palayok here in the Philippines), usually made of paper, filled with candies and toys and is broken as a part of a party or ceremony.

I can’t remember when I started the Piñata tradition…but since then, our party will never be complete without it.

That’s the oldest from our file.. Chico’s Thomas the Train Piñata. I had a hard time making it.. not to mention that I made two.. and yes I also love making banner for my kids’ birthday 🙂

Spongebob Piñata for my nephew’s 4th birthday last January 2010. This is the quickest Piñata I ever did! Took only about an hour or so 🙂 the kids love it so much! Me and my sister make fun of Spongebob’s eye bugs! hahaha

And because I had so much fun making Spongebob Piñata, I convinced my second boy for a Spongebob themed birthday party the same year my nephew had his. We learned from our mistake.. and Spongebob got a good night sleep the night before, hence no eye bugs this time.

Same year.. (hmm I think 2010 os Piñata year for us LOL) my first born celebrated his 7th birthday.. and he wants a Ben10..I wish I can say the same with this Ben10 Piñata but I had a hard time making this one.. as you can see, I only used crayola (or color pencil) on it.. my hands got so tired coloring it.. my art supplies were missing that time hahaha

The latest we had is the Cars movie Piñata.. from my second born’d 7th birthday party. My first born did the sketch and I just adjust it and color it.. saves me a lot of time. You know what, my first born is only 8 and he’s been a great help to me lately (as far as cleaning my arinola!). Lightning needs a wheel alignment on this photo haha It was quite a challenge to paint this Piñata as I need to make it look like 3D and I am glad of the outcome (err except for the wheel LOL)

We have 4 more birthdays coming this year.. May, my third born and another nephew.. I am still undecided on the theme but my third born loves Power Rangers and Mickey Mouse.. oh wait! Mickey Mouse seems to be an easy choice (nyahaha). Come October, my first born will celebrate his 9th.. and since it’s almost near to Halloween, I’ll think we’ll have a Halloween party and have a monster for Piñata (now that sounds exciting!). As for my princess, a Hello Kitty Piñata seems nice (she loves Hello Kitty) but I am not sure if she’d be happy seeing Hello Kitty in pieces.

When time permits. I’ll make a tutorial on how to make Piñata for birthday parties.

Stress Free Parenting Tips On Weaning

While Chico was feeding on his bottle and Sati on my breast, I asked Sati if she’s ready to move to bottle.. and a violent AYAW says it all. Chico on the other hand asked her if she wants to drink GATAS (milk) on the bottle. Sati answered, “Ayaw ko ng Gatas!” huh? ayaw daw ng gaats eh panay ang dede.. turns out, my milk is DEDE.. and it’s not Gatas!

That reminds me about weaning.. so for our Tuesday Parenting Tip, let’s talk about weaning.

Scientifically, weaning is the process where the baby stops nursing and also the time where in adult diet is introduced to the baby and all his nutrient sources is no longer the breast.

When is the right time to wean?

Reading would suggest that moms need to continue breastfeeding until the baby is 6 months. Our pediatrician also mentioned that and we should breastfeed exclusively for 6 months. After that, it is our choice if we want to continue or wean the baby and start feeding them with formula. I choose to feed them as long as I can.. but with my first born, pregnancy comes in the way and I had to wean him when he turns one. With my second boy, he was breastfed for 1 year and 8 months. My third son’s case was the same with my first born, pregnancy came in the way. As with my youngest, you know I’m still breastfeeding her until now.. she is 2 years old and 4 months.

My experiences weaning my kids led me to a conclusion that the right time to wean a baby is before they turn a year old. Anything later than that is not advisable. Why? As the kid turns one, they were old enough to understand but young enough not to argue. Just like what happened to my first born.. when I told him he can no longer have mommy’s milk as soon as he turns one, he never asked for it after his birthday party. It was quite sad for me.. I was expecting commotions.. The same thing happened with my third son, when I started weaning him, it took him only a week to get used to it.

The story of my second born was different.. in fact telling I have a hard time weaning him is an understatement. It was riot and the whole household can attest to that. Husband complains of lack of sleep… good thing he had to leave for US for 3 weeks and that’s how I finally won in weaning. What went wrong? He is old enough to know what he wants and knows how to get it through tantrums.

Stress Free Parenting Tips On Weaning

Start early. As I have mentioned, the age is very important as it can make or break the weaning process.
Start gradually. Cold turkey maybe effective to some but to me, gradually reducing the feeding is more effective. If you’re baby use to feed 3 times on day and 2 times at night, start reducing it one feeding at a time.
Increase the break time. If you’re baby love feeding every 3 hours, try increasing it to 3 hours and 30 minutes and so on.
Simultaneously, reduce the time that they spent on your breast.
Do not introduce bottle feeding yet, delay it for a few more weeks or until the baby is almost ready to give up your milk.

When should you delay Weaning? When the baby is sick or is experiencing a milestone such as teething or starting to walk, delay it for a few more weeks.

When a baby is old enough, like with my second born, the most effective way to wean them is to decrease their supply gradually. It takes time, sleep and a lot of effort. And it will take a lot of tears too, just remember that if you are determined to wean the baby, do not give up.

I’ll let you in to my little secret.. with Sati, it’s me that would needs weaning.. yes, I just can’tlet go of this little girl.. it’s a little bit selfish, what can I do? she’s my only girl *wink

Choral Recitation

call me a cry baby, but I really can’t help it…

when he was called as one of the students who will receive a recognition last 2010, I had a hard time keeping my tears back.. the same happened in 2011.. and every time they will have a performance I would fight my tears back.. and even when he blow his birthday cake during his birthday party on their school, I swallowed my tears..

And it’s true what they say about first born child.. they hold a special place in a mother’s heart. It’s not that my first born is my favorite among my kids.. I love them all just the same.. but you know, I can’t help but be sentimental when it comes to him. It must be because he is my first born, it was my first time to be a mother.. you know romanticizing all the firsts 🙂

Last Tuesday was no different.. it was their elimination round for their Choral Recitation (English Month Celebration) and yes I was there and is almost about to cry. I did not watch him perform, I watched him through my camera, because if I had an eye contact with him, I’d lose my mind and I know I will cry.. it was hard trying to fight back my tears.. hehe (I don’t show emotions as much as possible teehee)

So here’s the video: (first born is the one with eyeglasses)