Kidd Designs

My 2-month and 3-Week Old Baby

2009-11-10T10:51:00.002+08:00

How your baby's growing: (from Baby Center)

He's no Fred Astaire yet, but your little one's movements are getting a bit more coordinated. You'll notice that the jerky arm and leg movements of his newborn days have given way to smoother, more circular motions, especially when he's watching people.

Give your baby enough space to stretch and move his arms and legs. Lay a blanket on the floor and let him move as he pleases. These movements can help your baby strengthen and tone his developing muscles. On his tummy, he'll start to push off with his legs — the first step in getting ready to crawl.

Yes! Jacob, when placed on his tummy already tried to crawl. He can even move a few inches already. It's funny because his big brother would watch him and cheer him on, afterward he would come up to me and tell me his baby brother is silly because he looks like a worm.

The baby also smiles a lot this week. He likes taking a bath already and usually sleeps longer after a nice cool bath. He coos and says 'oww' and 'ahh'.

Oh Christmas Tree

2009-11-06T14:45:00.006+08:00

With Christmas coming closer each day, our household had been busy preparing to put up our artificial Christmas tree. Sure, a real tree is much prettier, I would know I saw one in a lobby of a hotel once and it did smell and look better than an artificial one. However, how long would that tree stay pretty? A few days? Weeks? In our household we go for an artificial tree. Its more practical this way, we can store it after and reuse it the following year. If you are looking to purchase one, check out some artificial tree promos and pick out your kind of tree. There are many to choose from, trees which vary in sizes and color. What's more is that you can also save more by using Christmas Trees Galore coupons. Save as much as 60% off when purchasing a tree using your coupons. If you have time, hop in there and have a look see.

Anyway, last weekend we had general cleaning and started to rearrange the furniture in our living room to make way for the tree. Last year, Ozzy had so much fun preparing, setting up and lighting the tree. He was our baby then. This year, who knew he would already be a big brother to baby Jacob. He has grown so much this year and has taken his role as Ahia very seriously. This Christmas is doubly joyful because Hubby will be coming home and we are blessed with an addition to our little family. I can't wait to start decorating our tree. I know Ozzy will enjoy it too.

Sharp and Crisp Viewing

2009-11-06T14:33:00.003+08:00

I was a kid during the 90's. Our television set was already colored but I remember it was a small TV with bad audio/video quality. If someone told me before that TV's in the future would be flat I would have not believed that was possible. Now only a few years later, Flat screen HDTV ruled the market. Everything is in HD, so don't get left behind.

So, if your looking for to purchase a new television set for the new year then start the year right by purchasing a bell tv. Watching shows and movies in high definition is the perfect way to go. The pictures are crystal clear and the sound is crisp. Shop now because sale is on while supplied last.

A Quick Blurb

2009-11-06T14:21:00.002+08:00

Woot! My favorite day of the week again. Friday. End of the week, start of the weekend. More time to catch up on my sleep and more bonding time with my 2 favorite boys. Jacob is doing really well. He is beginning to smile a lot in response to our smiles. Anyway, there's nothing much planned for our weekend really except that I should stock up on some groceries before Mom and Dad leave for the US next week. That way I don't have to go out the house as much. Without Mom and Dad this would leave me in-charge of the household. This has never happened before since my elder sister was here before. Now that she's based in Manila, I am the one left aside from our youngest brother of course.

I hope everything goes well. I am actually excited to be in-charge. My agenda during that time? Clean, clean, clean! I know, I am weird this way. I actually enjoy cleaning.

What's your quirk?

My Goal.

2009-11-04T15:35:00.003+08:00

There are so many ways to lose weight. However, we must bear in mind that diet should be coupled with exercise and some weight loss supplements to become effective. Nobody wants a flabby tummy or lose skin right?

I'm the one to talk, I never exercise. The closest I've got to exercising is 5 minutes on the stationary bike and that's it. I get tired and stop. I've also tried crunches to firm up my tummy but that was such a painful experience I stopped at 20. Gosh I am so bad, I've been talking about losing weight so much before Hubby arrives and now only 6 weeks more and I am still all talk and no action.

Got to fit my skinny jeans before the month ends. That's my goal. I will keep you guys posted.

600 Calories A Day!

2009-11-04T15:28:00.002+08:00

We should find a new cook soon. No offense to our maid right now, but eating fried stuff all the time is not healthy. You see the one in-charge of cooking right now is still learning because the cook left unexpectedly a month ago. We are still looking for a replacement until now. Honestly, it is so hard to find a reliable and good help nowadays.

On the plus side, I've been so busy with the house chores and baby lately that I won't be needing any fat burners to help me lose the extra weight around the tummy area. I have not slept since the baby was born and my food intake has been erratic. However, I do keep in mind that I have to eat because I am nursing. Did you know that you can lose up to 600 calories a day if you breastfeed exclusively? Amazing. 600 calories! That's just like getting two hours of aerobic exercise each day. Woot. Now that's the exercise I like.

Relaxing

2009-11-04T11:06:00.003+08:00

I didn't work all morning. Teehee.

It's time to take a breather and just relax. Mom and the maids have been cleaning up downstairs in preparation for Christmas and making way for the Christmas tree and decorations. I can't believe its the Holidays again. Time flies so fast when you have a lot going on right?

The baby is almost 2-months old and hubby is coming home in a month! I have a few weeks to get back into shape! LOL

*wink*

Web Geeks

2009-11-03T11:10:00.006+08:00

A few months or was it a year ago, someone made a comment about bloggers. I believe what she said was, "bloggers are slackers" and for them to "get a life". I guess she doesn't know a thing a blogging, web hosting or maintaining a blog for her to say such things. If she only knew how much work it needs to maintain a blog then she would retract what she said immediately.

Blogging, whether for fun or done professionally is no easy feat. Personally, I have many things in my plate already and on top of being a mother of 2 and full time office worker; I blog in my spare time for 3 reasons. The first is to relax and de-stress. The second reason is to document my sons milestones and the third reason is to make extra money from it. Making money through blogging is easy actually. You just have to have the patience for it because it usually takes a few months to get your blog going. Most often than not, advertisers would like to see blogs that are self-hosted and have a dedicated server that's up and running all the time. Readers are turned off when your site is slow to load and always experiences downtime. That's the reason I had to let go of my old favorite site before, the server was always down so I had to change it up. Good move on my part, now I have 3 self-hosted blogs that have PR and are doing fine. If you have a small or medium sized business look for vps hosting; a virtual private server (VPS, also referred to as Virtual Dedicated Server or VDS) since it delivers control at a level similar to a dedicated server at an affordable price.

...and remember, bloggers are not slackers! Hmpf, Shame on you Malu.

Stressing Out

2009-11-03T09:53:00.006+08:00

The long weekend was a welcome change where I was able to sleep and rest. Now its back to reality. It would not have been so bad if not for our help issues. The thing is - one of our help went home for the long weekend and promised to come home yesterday morning, until now she's not here. So it leaves us with only the nanny around. She does the housework now - and because of that I am in charge of the 2 boys. Taking care of the boys should be okay except that I need to work too!!! I am stressing out right now.

The baby is asleep and Ozzy is here with me in the office. I just feel really disappointed with the maid. She had so many cash advances and she was allowed to go home frequently than usual and how does she repay us? By lying. She should have been upfront about her plans if she would come back or not so we don't wait for her and go ahead look for a replacement. At this point I don't know if she plans to come back. I don't really want her to. Tsk! The nerve of some people.

Function and Style

2009-10-29T15:01:00.004+08:00

Last post for the day, I promise!

There are still a lot of things to do and its going to be Friday already tomorrow! Seems like time is zooming by fast. Papers are piled up in my desk with endless stuff to do. Arrg. I won't complain though; I'm just thankful I have a job.

Speaking of desks, I would like to have a modular office furniture. What I have now is a simple office desk and although it is functional it is not efficient. Its way to small and my stuff are cluttered. Finding the papers and folders I need takes much more time than actually doing the work. With this kind of set-up I feel I can function better. Also I like it when I am in an organized environment. This kind of office desk combines function and style and I like that.

Thank God For Ring Slings

2009-10-29T14:24:00.002+08:00

Baby Jacob is proving to be handful. He hates to be put down...for anything! Some babies are fine when placed in their crib or in their rockers but not this baby. You can't put him down too long for he will surely cry.

You know what I normally do? Put him on the baby sling. I tell you its a blessing I have one of these. At least, I get to free my hands and still do other things than carry him around. Once he falls asleep, I carefully put him down so that he can sleep properly. I just make sure that it won't be too hot inside the sling or it isn't too tight. Anyway, you'll know if its an uncomfortable position for him because he will cry.

So far I am loving the baby ring sling I got from Indigo Baby.

It's A Go

2009-10-28T16:19:00.002+08:00

It's a GO for Mom and Dad's trip to the US next month. Mother was initially skeptical about it since winter has come and she has issues with really cold weather. She would cough and cough and this might trigger for her pneumonia to come back. I told my mom this is the best time to finally be able to wear boots and cool thick jackets and hats. Mother seemed anxious but the tickets have been bought and there's no backing out now. Next thing to do is book their motel rooms online. I am not sure which states they are going to visit, but they can check out the orlando motels, I heard Florida has a better weather this time of the year despite a bit of rain. Well, its better than Minnesota where they plan on going as well.

Best Gift

2009-10-28T11:29:00.003+08:00

During the Holidays I always make it a habit to give. We give gifts to family and friends; little things, some expensive some inexpensive but special. This is the season of thanking and sharing.

However, with giving means more money to disperse; thank God for bonuses, 13th month pay and commissions right? Sadly, there are moments when this is just not enough to cut it. Aside from the shopping there are still bills to pay. Electric bill, water bill, phone bills, heating bill and so much more! That's just utilities, there's also bills for the credit card and mortgages. As parents we should always be mindful of our money and get it in our heads to save save save. Save for a rainy day. Save for emergency. Save for the childrens' schooling and basic needs. That is why when the going gets tough, its good to know there payday loans to get through the rainy season. With this at least we have the peace of mind that we have something to fall back on in case money will be tight.

Gifts, travel, presents and everything glitzy is nice during the holidays but we should also make sure to have a little extra money saved for the incoming new year. The gift of stability and a bright future is the best gift we can give our kids.

Cradle Cap: Should I Be Worried?

2009-10-28T09:35:00.006+08:00

The answer is no.

Last night before I was about to give Jacob his bath, I noticed some flaking in his scalp. Maybe I didn't notice it before because he has thick black hair but its there. My initial reaction was panic, was I using the wrong wash for his hair? Right now, I use Lactacyd baby wash for him same as Ozzy before. I don't remember Ozzy ever having flaky scalp until I told my Mother and she assured me it was fine and normal. That's not dandruff - but it's called cradle cap and its pretty normal. Cradle cap is described as the flaky, dry skin that looks like dandruff, or even thick, oily, yellowish or brown scaling or crusting patches in the baby's scalp. Some even have it around the eyebrows, ears, armpits or creases. It's not at all a pretty sight but its pretty harmless. It usually clears up on its own, around 6 to 12 months.

What I did to treat it was put a bit of oil before his bath, then I slightly gave it a rub. At this point the flakes detached easily then I gave him his bath and washed the scalp thoroughly. I then made sure his scalp was dry after the bath.

This morning when I checked it was clearing up. There no need to worry at all.

Motor Homes

2009-10-27T11:02:00.004+08:00

If you live in a calamity prone area or somewhere where its easily flooded, why not invest in a motor home??? Sounds like a fun idea right? Unfortunately, not everyone can afford a motor home. However, it would have been a great help for displaced families. Towing is not a problem for these motor homes since motorhome towing is available for emergencies at a low cost.

Those affected by the storm Ondoy lost many things. Their houses, their cars, valuables and important papers. But most importantly, some lost the lives of their loved one's. Its a sad fact and more storms are predicted to come in before the year ends. Is this signs of the times? Is the Lord telling us something? All I know is that we should all be prepared. Physically and spiritually for whatever may come our way.

Immunizations: What You Need to Know

2009-10-27T10:35:00.004+08:00

In 3 weeks, Jacob is scheduled for his 5 in 1 vaccine. This one time shot can protect your children from 5 diseases by giving them 1 easy vaccine. The 5-in-1 vaccine protects against:

1. Diphtheria
2. Tetanus
3. Pertussis (whooping cough)
4. Polio
5. Hib disease

Although it pains me to see my baby wailing in pain from the shots, I see it as a necessity to protect him from diseases. Immunizations are designed to provide protection against serious diseases and it is important part of my child's routine checkups. Some of those diseases (such as polio and diphtheria) were common a hundred years ago, but are rarely seen now thanks to immunizations.

However, I read and heard from the show Doctors how Autism is linked to Vaccines. Is there some truth in this? Should I be worried? If you have seen the show Doctors, the Parents, represented by Jenny McCarthy noted that there have been obvious side effects to their kids after shots were administered. Health Organizations had some strong views against this saying that there is no relationship between vaccines and autism. Both sides had a point. And at this time, there is really no known correct and definite answer to that. You can read more about the vaccine-autism controversy and I won't go much into it since I don't have the facts. Still, as a parent it got me thinking. That's why I will ask my Doctor about it the next time we go in for a check-up.

If you want to know what shots are for, how many doses and when it is given you can check it out here.

Farm Animals

2009-10-26T16:44:00.002+08:00

I am so not into animals or anything of that sort but my Uncle is. He was looking for pet supplies and even horse supplies because he was thinking of buying one for his farm. I really have no idea regarding this but I gave him a few ideas where to look. I hope it helps him. I also hope we can visit his farm because I know Ozzy would love to see the animals. I don't know with this kid, he loves cows, horses and farm animals. He loves watching Back At The Barnyard, a cartoon show and he brings his little miniature cows everywhere. If he goes into the farming profession when he grows up, I know his Grandfather and Uncle will approve.

Don't Want To Be Put Down

2009-10-26T16:37:00.002+08:00

We had Jacob's Christening yesterday and it went well. Despite the fact that Hubby wasn't there, it was still a happy occasion where friends and family gathered.

...I just feel super tired right now though. I feel like my arms are about to fall off from carrying the baby all the time. Like his big brother he wants to be carried all the time. Once you put him down in his crib he wakes up! My Aunt says I should not practice this since the baby will not be able to grow and stretch as opposed to when he is lying in a bed. However, I hate it when he wakes up and I have to dance around again. At night, what I do is place him in my chest. It works from him and me too. But I really want to break his habit. Any suggestions Mommy's out there???

Outfits For My Boys

2009-10-22T11:08:00.003+08:00

I swear, online shopping is very addictive! Once you start you just can't stop. Especially once you find the perfect site which has all your needs, wants and more at an affordable price.

I was looking for unique onesies and baby clothes for Jacob to wear. I found a whole lot to choose from that the only thing stopping me from buying is the fact that I can't decide which one's to get! There are many tops, shorts, pants and shoes that are such a cutie. A tip when buying infant clothing? Don't get so much they will outgrow them fast, get something slightly larger so they can wear it longer, but in sets (pants and shirt) then mix and match with other pieces, also watch out for fussy clothes with a lot of zippers and buttons because this is harder to put on a very active baby. Also, in my case when I buy tops or infant shirts for my boys, I buy something with wide head openings because they have huge heads. My favorite to buy for them are polo's and polo shirts. It makes them look like little men which I love.

Right now, for my toddler, I have stopped buying him clothes because he has enough given to him in the past. He has still not worn most of the clothes since they are too big for him. A quick tip too when buying pants or bottoms for toddlers? Buy something with adjustable waist so the baby can use it longer as well. Some pants are even adjustable in length. If you can get that, get those kinds as well.

It's A Go

2009-10-22T10:52:00.003+08:00

I was in a conundrum a few weeks back. Should I wait for Hubby before baptizing the baby? Or go ahead with it knowing it is important not to prolong the baptism of a child?

I was really torn with this for a few weeks that's why it took me a long time to decide if Jacob's baptism is a go or not. Since we don't plan to have something big for the baptism anyway, we decided to go ahead with it this Sunday. I believe that its important for the baby to be baptized before anything else, in case something awful happens he is already cleansed of sin. We will surely have a gathering this December with the family when Hubby arrives too.

Good thing Hubby understands and gave me the go signal. It's just the simple rite then followed by luncheon. I'm excited for the gathering. I'm glad I have extra blogging money, this way I don't eat up on our savings for the bash.

Xo

Confused.

2009-10-20T15:16:00.002+08:00

Our office right now is in total chaos. There are boxes of spare parts everywhere and the brochures are just lying around. My brother was asked to organize the stuff but until now he has not finished what was asked of him. He says he's confused on what is what and which brochure is asked whenever a customer calls. I remember when I first started working, its hard to get focused and driven when working for you Dad at times. This is because you tend to rely on the fact that he won't fire you.

That's not good, I know. It took me a while before I started working hard; that's why I am cutting my brother some slack this time. Anyway, we've bought counter cardboard displays for the brochures so that it will be easier to look for and organize. Maybe this time he won't be as confused anymore.

Baby Jacob @ 1 Month

2009-10-20T10:44:00.004+08:00

Just an update about my 1-month old baby!

He hates taking a bath.
He can lift his head 45 degrees when on my stomach briefly.
He can focus on a face or object in front of him.
He coos and make cutie baby noises (other than crying!)
He smiles but I don't know if its in response to me smiling at him..

Right now he nurses every 2-3 hours. He is still a night owl which means I don't get much sleep at night. I am still working on him switching to sleeping longer during night time as opposed to what's happening now wherein he sleeps the longest during the day. That's basically what he does, eat, sleep, cry, poop and the rare smiling and cooing.

He is scheduled for HepB 2nd shot tomorrow. I am guessing he has gained about 1kg since his last visit with the Pedia. My arms get really tired after only 30 minutes of carrying him.

Watch America's Got Talent Live!

2009-10-16T15:37:00.003+08:00

Wouldn't it be nice to score some tickets to watch Las Vegas Shows? I've heard so many things about how fun these shows are. And why not? Las Vegas attracts so many tourists yearly because of their casinos and extravagant shows.

Did you know you can watch America's Got Talent - LIVE in Las Vegas? Prices start at $70. Starting this October you have a chance to experience the best of America’s Got Talent in person!

11 Reasons Babies Cry

2009-10-15T11:42:00.004+08:00

According to Baby Center there are 11 main reasons why babies cry. Well for one crying is their only means of communicating so as parents we should be able to decipher these cries to make parenting easier. You'd think its this simple - believe me its not.

Babies cry because....

1. They are hungry.
2. Have a dirty/wet diaper.
3. Sleepy
4. Wants to be held
5. Tummy troubles (gas, colic, and more)
6. Needs to burp
7. Too cold or too hot
8. Something small
9. Teething
10. Feeling overwhelmed
11. Not feeling well

Right now, my 1-month old boy cries mostly because he enjoys being held! We could barely put him down in his crib because he would notice and thus wake up. Swaddling seems to help. Also, I noticed he doesn't like it when its warm. He doesn't mind the noise and if there's light or not. It's hard but I make it a point to put him down so that he won't get used to being carried all the time.

Making Exercising Fun.

2009-10-15T11:21:00.003+08:00

I hate to exercise. The reason I don't like it because its boring. The only way for me to go out there and lose weight is by playing sports or maybe doing some brisk walking or something. The downside about our subdivision is that we don't have a park we can go to. I wouldn't recommend walking around the neighborhood as well because there are too many stray dogs. So that leaves us with "playing sports". I've never been the sporty girl and back in college I remember slightly enjoying our Physical Ed class. We were taught how to play Ping-Pong and Badminton. I sucked at ping-pong. You can make the ping pong tables bigger and I'd still have the ping-pong ball hitting the floor (or walls) most of the time. I guess maybe I just needed some practice. The ball is just too small, y'know! The only sport I've enjoyed is badminton. Maybe I will take it up again. My friends and I made badminton a weekly thing before but due to our different schedules and busy work life it was canceled. I should ask my friends if their up to it. This way, exercising would not be boring anymore.