Watch her count...if you're not Filipino, the language she's counting in is Tagalog :)
Friday, January 23, 2009
Mina Can Count!
Watch her count...if you're not Filipino, the language she's counting in is Tagalog :)
Friday, January 16, 2009
Sleeping Blues
I have back issues. I hate to admit it because I sound so old! Only old people, and lame people talk about having back problems (no, you're not lame or old; I am).
Since I've had Mina though, my back has definitely grown weaker. I need to work out, maybe do Pilates and other strength training exercises. And I need a better bed. I have a firm mattress. I don't know if that's good for me. Maybe I need a softer one? I have no idea. I may have to get an evaluation with my chiropractor.
Aside from my back and bed not getting along, I have a thief in the night who continuously steals my sleep away. That would be a 32-inch, 17-month old, curly-haired terror (no, she's not reallyl a terror). My mom let Mina sleep next to her last week when I started school and I couldn't get home until 9:30 pm. BIG MISTAKE. Let me say that again, BIG MISTAKE!
Now all Mina wants is to sleep beside me. But does she stay sleeping next to me, unmoving, peacefully, like a normal person would? No, she squirms and kicks and pushes, and wakes up and then asks me to kiss and hug her about 20 times. Now I looove kissing and hugging her, but not at 2 in the morning.
If I had a lower bed, maybe I wouldn't mind having her in bed with me. I could get one of those low divan beds and I'd just roll off and lay on the floor and not worry she'll fall off. She can kick and squirm all she wants, and I'll just surround her by pillows. On second thought, a floor is harder than my mattress.
How do I get a better night's sleep!
What makes a good sleep? Does it matter what a bed looks like? In the beginning, yes, it does. They're definitely what gets you to buy them in the first place (and Time 4 Sleep has a wide selection of pretty beds; too bad they're in the UK).
In the end though, what matters is whether you have a good mattress and whether you have an agreeable bed partner.
Since I've had Mina though, my back has definitely grown weaker. I need to work out, maybe do Pilates and other strength training exercises. And I need a better bed. I have a firm mattress. I don't know if that's good for me. Maybe I need a softer one? I have no idea. I may have to get an evaluation with my chiropractor.
Aside from my back and bed not getting along, I have a thief in the night who continuously steals my sleep away. That would be a 32-inch, 17-month old, curly-haired terror (no, she's not reallyl a terror). My mom let Mina sleep next to her last week when I started school and I couldn't get home until 9:30 pm. BIG MISTAKE. Let me say that again, BIG MISTAKE!
Now all Mina wants is to sleep beside me. But does she stay sleeping next to me, unmoving, peacefully, like a normal person would? No, she squirms and kicks and pushes, and wakes up and then asks me to kiss and hug her about 20 times. Now I looove kissing and hugging her, but not at 2 in the morning.
If I had a lower bed, maybe I wouldn't mind having her in bed with me. I could get one of those low divan beds and I'd just roll off and lay on the floor and not worry she'll fall off. She can kick and squirm all she wants, and I'll just surround her by pillows. On second thought, a floor is harder than my mattress.
How do I get a better night's sleep!
What makes a good sleep? Does it matter what a bed looks like? In the beginning, yes, it does. They're definitely what gets you to buy them in the first place (and Time 4 Sleep has a wide selection of pretty beds; too bad they're in the UK).
In the end though, what matters is whether you have a good mattress and whether you have an agreeable bed partner.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Eat Healthy So You'll Grow Healthy
Peacekeeping Note: I don't mean to offend any parents out there. This is strictly to encourage and educate.
I am reading a book right now called the Baby Book Bible, and it's quoting some really sad statistics of rising number of kids who are overweight and eating junk food.
As a Filipino, I have noticed that our culture has a penchant for adding a lot of salt via actual salt or patis (fish sauce), and frying our dishes in a lot of oil, and eat a LOT of pork. We usually top all of that with a lot of rice. And veggies in our diet are more likely to be in dishes that have been boiled and have therefore stripped the veggies of most of it's nutrients.
For my non Filipino friends, they have their own dietary problems, usually concerning the same thing: lots of fried, lots of carbs, and lack of veggies and fruits in their diet. It's a sobering reality in my life right now that a lot of people I know have diabetes, are overweight, have kidney problems, etc. etc.
I went to a Christmas party last season, and Mina and I wandered to the "kids" area. All the kids were 11 and under, some just 2 and 3 years old. They were all watching TV and had been for hours. Either that or playing video games. I've given my opinion on TV watching but I understand it's the holidays. Even if the parent's rule were no TV, or limited TV, the rules may have been relaxed for the vacation.
There was a 2/3 year old there who had her own bag of chips. Mina loves crackers and corn chips, and when she saw the girl's bag, she wanted some. I let her have two. Mina wandered away, and I followed her only to follow her back again some time later. The little girl now had another bag of chips, this time a flaming hot cheetos. This, I wouldn't let Mina taste.
Chips as snacks. Fried foods as snacks. This is the normal snack for a toddler in many household.
I don't think it's too much to for parents to limit these things EVEN during the holidays. Is it?
Parents need to be simply more dilligent in watching what their kids eat. What you eat, and what they eat now, is what they'll be eating the rest of their lives. Learn recipes to make veggies more palatable for you and then introduce them to your kids before 18 mos. old. Insist they finish their veggies, and make it delicious, and show them that you have fun eating it, so they will too.
Start with something easy that all kids will love, like carrots and corn, and broccoli. Broccoli is easy to make delicious. Just steam, put a pat of butter on top and sprinkle with cheese. Mina loves it!
Then start branching out to zucchini, squash, bell peppers, etc. Remember, it takes at least 8 times of trying to feed your child a food before you can really conclude they don't like it. That's how long they make take to get used to it. Other experts say 16 times. Just keep trying and don't give up.
For afternoon snacks? What's more nutritious and delicious than a bunch of cut up apples, pears, strawberries, or wedges of oranges? To make it even more appetizing, whip it into a yogurt smoothie using a blender and serve it as dessert. They'll get the sweet but with loaded nutrients than just a slice of chocolate cake.
As a parent, it is up to you make sure you child grow up happy and healthy. One of the best ways to do that is to give them a foundation of healthy eating. It will "school" their tongue to always crave fruits and veggies instead of friend snacks, junk foods and processed foods, if you start them as young as possible.
If you child is all grown up, it is not too late. It is never too late. Let's all make 2009 the year we cut down on the junk foods and pile up on fruits and veggies!
I am reading a book right now called the Baby Book Bible, and it's quoting some really sad statistics of rising number of kids who are overweight and eating junk food.
As a Filipino, I have noticed that our culture has a penchant for adding a lot of salt via actual salt or patis (fish sauce), and frying our dishes in a lot of oil, and eat a LOT of pork. We usually top all of that with a lot of rice. And veggies in our diet are more likely to be in dishes that have been boiled and have therefore stripped the veggies of most of it's nutrients.
For my non Filipino friends, they have their own dietary problems, usually concerning the same thing: lots of fried, lots of carbs, and lack of veggies and fruits in their diet. It's a sobering reality in my life right now that a lot of people I know have diabetes, are overweight, have kidney problems, etc. etc.
I went to a Christmas party last season, and Mina and I wandered to the "kids" area. All the kids were 11 and under, some just 2 and 3 years old. They were all watching TV and had been for hours. Either that or playing video games. I've given my opinion on TV watching but I understand it's the holidays. Even if the parent's rule were no TV, or limited TV, the rules may have been relaxed for the vacation.
There was a 2/3 year old there who had her own bag of chips. Mina loves crackers and corn chips, and when she saw the girl's bag, she wanted some. I let her have two. Mina wandered away, and I followed her only to follow her back again some time later. The little girl now had another bag of chips, this time a flaming hot cheetos. This, I wouldn't let Mina taste.
Chips as snacks. Fried foods as snacks. This is the normal snack for a toddler in many household.
I don't think it's too much to for parents to limit these things EVEN during the holidays. Is it?
Parents need to be simply more dilligent in watching what their kids eat. What you eat, and what they eat now, is what they'll be eating the rest of their lives. Learn recipes to make veggies more palatable for you and then introduce them to your kids before 18 mos. old. Insist they finish their veggies, and make it delicious, and show them that you have fun eating it, so they will too.
Start with something easy that all kids will love, like carrots and corn, and broccoli. Broccoli is easy to make delicious. Just steam, put a pat of butter on top and sprinkle with cheese. Mina loves it!
Then start branching out to zucchini, squash, bell peppers, etc. Remember, it takes at least 8 times of trying to feed your child a food before you can really conclude they don't like it. That's how long they make take to get used to it. Other experts say 16 times. Just keep trying and don't give up.
For afternoon snacks? What's more nutritious and delicious than a bunch of cut up apples, pears, strawberries, or wedges of oranges? To make it even more appetizing, whip it into a yogurt smoothie using a blender and serve it as dessert. They'll get the sweet but with loaded nutrients than just a slice of chocolate cake.
As a parent, it is up to you make sure you child grow up happy and healthy. One of the best ways to do that is to give them a foundation of healthy eating. It will "school" their tongue to always crave fruits and veggies instead of friend snacks, junk foods and processed foods, if you start them as young as possible.
If you child is all grown up, it is not too late. It is never too late. Let's all make 2009 the year we cut down on the junk foods and pile up on fruits and veggies!
Monday, January 5, 2009
More Mina News
Mina, you Dad has gone away for a few months and he'll be back. In the meantime, he is entrusting me your complete well-being; your healthy, your eating habits, your social and emotional happiness. I am honored to step in when he can't for now.
I don't know if you're aware of this, but your Dad simply ADORES you. Everyone does, but it's pretty special coming from your Dad, because your Dad is pretty special. You've got his heart cupped firmly in the cusp of your hand.
What makes your Dad so special?
He is funny, patient, generous, considerate, loving, loves being with his family, loves us above all, takes care of us, is very unique...Trust me on this little one, there is no one like your father out there. He defies category, and can't be boxed down.
As for you little one, you are currently 23 lbs. and 32 inches. This places you in the 59th and 93rd percentile for kids your age!
You can do somersaults.
You can say three-word phrases like "I like it".
You've done the potty a few times but we're not rushing you, and you haven't mastered it.
YOu love dancing.
YOu love watching videos of you!
YOu like singing; like, not love but that's good enough for me
Your love affair with Elmo seems over.
YOu're very affectionate. I am soaking it all up because I know you won't be like this forever.
This is officially my favorite age of yours! :)
I don't know if you're aware of this, but your Dad simply ADORES you. Everyone does, but it's pretty special coming from your Dad, because your Dad is pretty special. You've got his heart cupped firmly in the cusp of your hand.
What makes your Dad so special?
He is funny, patient, generous, considerate, loving, loves being with his family, loves us above all, takes care of us, is very unique...Trust me on this little one, there is no one like your father out there. He defies category, and can't be boxed down.
As for you little one, you are currently 23 lbs. and 32 inches. This places you in the 59th and 93rd percentile for kids your age!
You can do somersaults.
You can say three-word phrases like "I like it".
You've done the potty a few times but we're not rushing you, and you haven't mastered it.
YOu love dancing.
YOu love watching videos of you!
YOu like singing; like, not love but that's good enough for me
Your love affair with Elmo seems over.
YOu're very affectionate. I am soaking it all up because I know you won't be like this forever.
This is officially my favorite age of yours! :)
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