Happy 4th Birthday

Enjoyed cake and party with friends at daycare.

First few books

Enjoyed reading at a very early age.

Supposedly Iron Man

So cute! The background and setting are just toppings.

Feeding the seagulls

Picnic with Harbour Bridge in the background

First real bed with wheels

The best Christmas present ever!!

07 October 2012

Parenting Tips

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You can hear or read in the news that problem with kids ranges from bad to worse. There are many factors not just the parenting type but parents I do believe plays a very vital role in the behaviour of kids. Here are some tips for bodyandsoul.com.au:
5 tips on discipline Tell your child what to do rather than what not to do – for example, “Walk in the house” not “Don’t run in the house”. Ensure kids understand the consequences for breaking the rules, which should be fair and age appropriate. Act quickly when children misbehave. The consequences need to relate to the behaviour so follow through immediately. Stay calm and tell your child in a firm, pleasant voice what you want them to do. Praise your child when they behave well.
I am sure there are many more like rewarding them with equestrian apparel, if they are into it or whatever floats your boat. If you are seeing good results, it must be effective so keep it up. For me, there are no sets of rules, each of us and the kids have our own circumstances. It should be rigid.
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Beating Grunting

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According to studies, bowel problem is common to school kids due to their diet. Based on the article in bodyandsoul.com.au, it's not hard to feed kids with fiber punch food. I am largely talking about my kid but these food are all time favourite, I reckon. And if kids dislike them, there's always a first time for everything (like find Navy coins) and just like adults, we need to get used to them.
Packing a fibre punch Baked beans (1/2 cup) = 7g Green peas (1/2 cup) = 5g Pear (average size) = 4g Raspberries (1 cup) = 8g Wholemeal pasta (1/2 cup) = 4g White pasta (1/2 cup) = less than 1g Wholemeal/rye bread (one slice) = 2g White bread (one slice) = less than 1g
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Lullaby

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I can't remember singing lullaby to the Tatapilla when he was a baby. He normally goes to sleep when there is no noise at all. Plus, I don't really know any songs that might help him go to sleep other than those jolly ones. Knowing him, it'll just encourage him to stay awake and play. As he is growing, he likes singing himself to sleep. One night this week, he asked me to sing him to sleep. I wanted to sing a tagalog song but I only know jolly ones as well. After one song, I started humming instead. After a couple of minutes, I was told to stop so he can sleep, funny that. Maybe Rane dj mixers at musicians friend will do a better job than me.
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My Little House Helper

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When we were at the shops, he wanted lots of treats. We made a deal that he can only have them if he will brush his peggies after eating and if he deserves them. And so, it started the helping hands campaign. He's been cleaning up and because he likes water, which I presume he will welcome water fountains indoor, doing all the chores that include water.
Plus, I reckon, this is a good training for him to be self sufficient when he grows into an adult.
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10 September 2012

Middle Child

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No were are not going to have 3 to have a middle child. I just want to feature this article that I read. I have always believed that a middle child has a distinct characteristics and they are good, most of them anyway. For once, they are strong and very independent. This is from bodyandsoul.com.au. Quite interesting and I believe in them. Yes, despite being sandwiched.. a middle child gets better in time.. just like wine (along with wine supplies, I hope).
Is a "middleton" doomed to face life-long personality issues, or is their birth order actually a springboard to success? Did you know? More than half of all US presidents have been middle children. Other famous middle borns include Bill Gates, Tony Blair, Madonna and Princess Diana. In 2004 Australians were urged by then Federal Treasure Peter Costello to have three kids to boost the country's birth rate. Today those families who obeyed may well be facing the consequences of their patriotism – middle child syndrome. According to the "science" of birth order, being sandwiched between an over-achieving, responsible elder sibling and an indulged youngest child is the cause of all sorts of personality issues and even disorders. It has been labelled a "syndrome". A way to stand out Being affected by your order of birth is inevitable and unavoidable, says Melbourne psychologist Andrew Fuller, whose book Tricky Kids (Finch Publishing) tends to focus on middle-born offspring. "Second-born children arrive with one spot in the family already firmly filled by the bossy and responsible eldest child. This second child, who may go on to be the middle child, needs to find another way to stand out in the family," Fuller says. "And sometimes that can mean they might be more trying or difficult for their parents to understand."
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18 August 2012

Extra Curricular Activities

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This year, the Tatapilla has no extra-curricular activities as we were really busy with the moving and settling in our new house. Plus, he is in the new kindy place so he has his own settling and mingling to do in the new school. At this stage, he also has varying and shifting interest. One minute, music the next dancing so it's hart to know. When ask sometimes, he is into swimming. I reckon, we'll know when he goes into big school where they are encouraged to pursue their special interest. He might interested in jupiter flutes woodwind brasswind. We talked of sending him to learn keyboard or any musical instrument.
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Prep 2012

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We have booked the Tatapilla for an interview for his admission on Prep 2012. We have been really looking forward to it. I even ring the school for their schedule early this year. We reckon, the Tatapilla is good and ready for the prep class. The kindy has prepared portfolio for kids' progress and we can borrow it for the interview. The compilation is huge that it'll be like mens briefcase from gotbriefcases.com. This is a big step but everyone in the family is ready.
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First Fish

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It was holiday in Brissie last Wednesday so instead of having a wii game, we head out to fish. It was our first as a family. A very exciting activity for the Tatapilla. We didn't take the boat so it was all river bank fishing. Exciting nonetheless. Mcj and I were all into the Tatapilla catching his first fish. He has new equipment and all so it was a good start.
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07 August 2012

Sand Bucket List

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Kidspot's website has com up with the collection of 23 things to do while your kid or children are still young. Some of them you can do at home and does not require too much effort, some requires a lot of money to spend. Nonetheless, they are indeed worth doing while the kids are young and can enjoy them with you.
Find an organic ‘pick your own’ farm and set the family loose for the day. Good, clean fun and even more fun preserving and baking your 'catch of the day'.
Of the list, we have done some of them and this is what I really want to do with my little boy. Not really the berry but whatever fruit that some farmers allow picking before he gets interested with dave grohl. There are many in the list and I will try to do some of them.
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08 July 2012

Life without Facebook

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not for the Tatapilla but for me. Mind you I still check my facebook updates from friends and fave celebs but I have not been updating my status. I have communicated with my sister through it but nothing much these days. Not because I have nothing to put because as I have gotten used to broadcasting some stuff online before, I have this feeling sometimes that hey, I'll take a photo of that to share. But, I immediately dampen it. There are several reasons why I have not been so actively online and I'd rather not share it. At this stage, I believe that not being active on social network is really good for me. I am not at the point of deleting my account yet but I might have to delete my photos, not because I have some stuff like Funeral planning worksheet in there but I just feel like it. I need to find time to do it.
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Cooking

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The Tatapilla is into cooking these days. He's been requesting pancakes for breakfast on weekends which I indulge him for two consecutive weekeneds. He's been helping so we bought special tools in cooking. He likes sifting the flour and beating the batter. Today, we made a simple choc-chip cookies and he helped sift the flour and roll-up the dough. I bought his apron ages ago and it has been put into good use these days. I just hope that he will keep-up with this new found interest of his. Who knows, he might be furthering this fields before he tries on that scott kay mens outfit. That's be ages ahead, I reckon.
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5th

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... birthday, that is. How fast the time flies. It's so quick. I can seem to vividly remember they day that I was in labour. This year, we are not going to have a party. A family celebration is enough. We might see his favourite movie, have cakes and cupcakes and a special dinner. What's most important are the presents. We've already bought him some and they are sitting in the cupboards in the shed so he will not see them. They are all some of the things that he wants - no jewelry online or shall I say, blings bought online. Just his favourite superhero custome and accessories and some educational stuff. I plan to make this one different and I hope it will be.
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Getting Used

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Last week, I was away for 3 nights due to out of town work. It was not the first time but these business trips do not come too often so it's not something that we should be used to or something that should bother our family time. But saying all that, The Tatapilla is actuall getting accustomed to me being away. Before, there was a countdown of when they are going to pick me up from the airport or train station. Mcj and the Tatapilla has bonded together that they manage on their own. I don't leave schedule or how would they do things - they make their own. They seem to be getting on pretty well and no complaints really. I leave them be - but I reckon, they bond on music, superheroes stuff and many others (can I say checking out pedestal bathtub online?) I won't mind though our bath is not really in need of replacement.
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