My Easter Bunny

Jens had a hat parade at the "school" yesterday. I can't get off work and so is Mcj so we just asked one of his carer to take his photos in the parade. Looks like he is really on his good and so grown-up. We're so proud!

The school always organise activities on special occasions. I wonder what's next? Maybe Halloween. Will they require a costume (not a adult Halloween costume, I'm sure)? Oh, there are just so much to look forward to when your kid is out and about already.

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Easter For Me

I've never commemorates Good Friday here as I was in the Philippines living with my parents. I won't never forget that Jesus was nailed on the cross for us but I have long realised that Jesus is alive and that I don't have to be gloomy and sad on Holy Week. The only thing I look forward on these days is the day off work. I rather look forward on Easter - the day that Jesus was risen from the dead. I am nailed on this though always.

And since having Jens, commercialism on Easter had caught on us. What's Easter without bunny, eggs, heaps and cheap of chocolates?

This is one of three of Jens' chocolates. The special one - with barnyard animals.
Mcj got a kilo of egg chocolate. Yes, a kilo. I think he would need a diet pill after eating it. I got myself M&Ms. I want Kisses but I can only buy them online and at the store which is about three quarters an hour drive from here. Not worth it.

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Early "Happy Today" Present

Jens won't turn two until three months time. But he already got his present.

Mcj had been wanting to buy him a tractor. He saw one at the shop where he bought the seat for the tractor. It's quite dear but we were settled for it. Then I saw in Target catalogue, this one. It's quite cheap.

It wasn't sale time when we went to the shop. It wasn't on display but they had 20% all toys, so we got it at the sale price anyway. Mcj had to went back to the shop the next day with a trailer as the box won't fit even to a 4WD.

Jens would grow on this toy - another ten years. It can hold up to 40kgs.

Before, I forgot I have to do a debt consolidation op before I tee off.

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Canines

For a week now, Jens sleeping pattern had been disrupted. He's cutting his canines and I think it must have hurt more than the first molars as he's been ill for more than two days. Plus, he had ulcers exactly where the canines are. He must have been hurting twice as much that I reckon, even free hotel rooms won't cheer him up. As if he knows what are they. :)

He was dribbling like a wild dog. He didn't eat well and he can't sleep.

Our trick was to put him the pram and go for a walk. Half way down the road and he was zonked. I've never appreciated the pram more.

He's more settled now and eating food that he likes best. Thank God.

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Twice Bitten

And here comes another downside of daycare.

Jens was bitten twice in one day in both arms. We were really concerned. Mcj had thought of AIDS - it could happen. The daycare doesn' require a medical report for students to be enrolled. Plus, Jens might catch on the bad habit of biting. Children live on what they learn.

Good thing, it didn't happen again.

He's quite happy there plus some carer is quite taken by him - he went home with lots of photos.

Speaking of photos, haven't taken any snaps recently. It's not that we don't have an sd card but it's our of battery and Mcj doesn't know where are the spares.

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Sleeping Through

Yay! Jens is really in the stage of sleeping through the night. He just wakes up in the middle of the night when he is hungry, that usually happens when he didn't eat his dinner. Something that a glass of warm milk and some biscuits won't solve.

I'm always hearing stories in the telly that parents with babies lost sleep but I can't really agree 100% with that. Maybe because Jens is really a good and happy baby. And because he is a breast-fed baby. Breastfeeding really helps. It just makes everything easier.

Now, he is asleep with his Dad. He loves sleeping in our bed although it's not a sleep number bed. I do let him sleep in our bed during day time. At night he sleeps in his own. Hopefully, this year's winter won't be that cold so I won't be the worried mother that I am and squeeze Jens in between us because I am thinking that he is cold on his own. And wishful thinking, when the next teeth kick-in it's not really horrible for him that he'll still get some good sleep.

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Animal Lover

The Tatapilla is taken with all the animals – domestic and wilds. He loves Lucky – our cat. The cat that has been neglected since Mummy arrived in Australia. Lucky used to be Mcj’s baby, buddy and all. And I’m not very much in-like with cats or anything that shed fur, hair, etc so he’s off limits to stay inside the house. But I’m good at buying cat supplies.

Anyway, Jens calls our cat “cky” short of Lucky. He would sometimes whinge because Lucky doesn’t want to play with him.

We throw food at the backyard so Possums visit us. Jens call them Puss Puss. He will cry if we won’t let him out at night to check if Puss Puss is around.

He is a fan of frogs also. Most of the nights, the frogs show-up on our doorstep and Jens used to touch them. He didn’t last night – a bit scared after seeing the frog jumped on to Daddy’s leg.

Well, kids like animals anyway. And I am just glad that we live in a place where there is abundance of wilds. I just don’t like snakes but we have them too.

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In His Time

For two nights in a row, The Tatapilla had been refusing to eat his dinner. I have to resort to tricks and bribes for him to eat some veggies. He eats yogurt, bickies and other munchies though.

Last night, he had 1.5 tub of yogurt, a few slices of carrot and meat and biscuits, compared to what he eat most of the night – heaps of veggies, yogurt and biscuits – it was little. He went to sleep around 7:30pm and by 9:30 he was tossing and turning. Finally, woke up after a few minutes. I gave him warm milk and he had more than a glass and shared some of Daddy’s dessert cake. He then went to sleep – through the night.

Not that I was complaining before when he wakes up at night several time but these days, I am very thankful that we have un-disturbed sleep. Although, I still stirred when I can hear The Tatapilla making little noises.

I wasn’t concerned of worried that Jens doesn’t sleep on his own or before when he didn’t sleep through the night because I know he will do these things in his own time. His body will eventually tell him to do so. And he did. In his own precious time. We didn’t expect it to be this soon.

Next, he’ll just surprise us when we find him zonked-out after playing. Hopefully, not on the ground though.

This is one of the special gifts he has given us – much more appreciated than free vessel sinks
maybe.

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Are You Secure?

I think what those businesses that are closing down in the current state of the economy needed was a business insurance – secured before the meltdown of course. I am not really familiar with the nitty gritty of getting one but having one for your business in times like this, would have paid off really well. I suppose it will as long as the insurance company is still doing well in this time. I know for a fact that at times, insurance companies have to use every clause and undisclosed condition in order to get away from paying out their customers.

If only we are like my Tatapilla, no worries whatsoever as long as there's some food to stuff his mouth. :)

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Making Use of My Time

I’m writing this entry while I’m in a train using my notebook computer (with its notebook computer memory of course). I wasn’t much in a hurry this afternoon which I always do but when I get to the platform where I usually wait for the express train to our suburb, it wasn’t available in the display anymore. I think the train that I was in from Taringa was late and I was so chirpy when I met J a fellow Filipina that I was oblivious to the fact that I was running late. I am in a non-express train and have so much time to kill so here I am tying away.

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Big Bird Ride

We went to the mall in the next suburb yesterday, on the hunt for Battle Star Galactica season 4. It was not available in the Sanity shop in our suburb.

After buying the DVD, we scouted for rides. We only found this.

It's not his favourite ride as he loves those with steering wheel but this is something new - he doesn't even know who big bird is as he doesn't watch Sesame Street.

Jens loves rides. He can go on and on and on. These things are Mummies little saving grace. Something to bribe the kids to behave while Mummy is shopping. And they sure bring smiles and delight to kids (even to those who have cerebral palsy).

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Big Night for the Big Guy

One thing that got me hesitant to accept my current job is the travelling part of it. We have customers all over Australia and also overseas. There are possibilities of travelling. I reckoned then The Tatapilla was still too young to be left. But Mcj said, me leaving him for overnight or more would happen sooner or later anyway.

Last night was our first test. I haven't weaned The Tatapilla yet, but our routine is sort of like that already as he only have some Mooc when going to sleep. We were worried a few days before my trip.

But our worried was put to waste.

M U M was just not mentioned at home. I was told that I was not missed. He went to sleep after drinking warm milk and slept through the night.

We underestimated him.

He stayed up late on the night that I went home to pick me up at the airport because my plane was late and gave me big hugs - with squeels while running to meet me at the arrival area.

On my side, I was so sad when I left him at the airport waving and sniffing. I missed him heaps, of course. I missed my one-and-a-half men but that's the price I have to pay for accepting this job. I'll get used to it, eventually (it's not like taking weight loss pills).

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Appetite Slump

The Tatapilla has a poor appetite for several days now. He has a mild common cold, could be the cause. Although, I told myself that I should not worry – this is the first time that happened to him. He had been sick before but he never lost his appetite on food. He is the type that eats whatever is served to him. Even his carer noticed that and told me about it. He is not picky when it comes to something to stuff his face.

He is usual self – happy, active, and cheeky and a chirpy little imp. There’s really nothing to worry about but I’m sure most of the Mums would agree with me that although we don’t worry, matter such as this is always in our mind.

I did a bit of reading about toddlers’ slump of appetite. I just want to share this:

Appetite Slump in Toddlers
What is an appetite slump?Between 1 and 5 years old, it is normal for a toddler's appetite to slow down. It will probably seem like your child doesn't eat enough, is never hungry, or won't eat unless you spoon-feed her yourself. As long as your child's energy level is normal and she is growing normally, your child's appetite is most likely naturally slowing down.

What is the cause?Between 1 and 5 years of age many children normally gain only 4 or 5 pounds each year even though they probably gained 15 pounds during their first year. Children in this age range can normally go 3 or 4 months without any weight gain. Because they are not growing as fast, they need less calories and they seem to have a poorer appetite (this is called physiological anorexia). How much a child chooses to eat is controlled by the appetite center in the brain. Kids eat as much as they need for growth and energy.

Many parents try to force their child to eat more than she needs to because they fear that her poor appetite might cause poor health or a nutritional deficiency. This is not true, however, and forced feedings actually decrease a child's appetite.

How long will the appetite slump last?Once you allow your child to be in charge of how much she eats, the unpleasantness at mealtime and your concerns about her health should disappear in a matter of 2 to 4 weeks. Your child's appetite will improve when she becomes older and needs to eat more.

When should you call your child's health care provider?your child is losing weight
your child has not gained any weight in 6 months
your child also has symptoms of illness (for example, diarrhea or fever)
your child gags on or vomits some foods
someone is punishing your child for not eating
following these guidelines has not improved mealtimes in your house within 1 month
you have other questions or concerns

If you have the same concern and want to know how to help your child, check here.

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