Eyes on Manila

Showing posts with label Family. Show all posts

Does Your Son Have To Go Through Circumcision?

It's every parent's dilemma that once their son reached a certain age, it just feels necessary or people around them would put this pressure to have their son circumcised. I even began to question myself if my decision not to have my son circumcised as a baby was a wrong decision, but I had my reasons back then so it was pointless to dwell on it. There were reports that babies get herpes after they get circumcised among other risks, which is why I decided not to have him circumcised back then.

While the debate on who is the champion Zodiac sign is something that has no end, it is definitely a good thought exercise for people who want to know how exactly they would fare as a person. This time, we’re taking a closer look at the qualities specifically for mothers depending on their Zodiac signs. Without further adieu, let's check them out.

It's the new year and we're still in a pandemic. Do you still feel positive or are you like me who is starting to feel a bit low? I have to admit when I lost my job, I felt scared to welcome the new year. I believe it's a normal reaction to anyone especially if you have a family, but I thought to myself I can still look for another job and just appreciate what I have now which is having a healthy family.

It’s quite obvious that we are living on hard times or even stressful times. Most people say that the holidays don’t feel Chrismas-sy anymore and it’s totally understandable. Several obvious reasons is that we are still living in a pandemic and people we know or people close to us have relatives who passed away this year because of the deadly COVID-19 Delta variant. A lot of people are still unemployed , but the good news is that the tourism and transportation industries are slowly getting back on track . Restaurants are slowly opening up, but I still prefer take-outs or home deliveries because the COVID scare is still there.

Good gut health is important for people of all ages, but it's especially crucial for babies. Most babies experience some sort of stomach upset or discomfort at some point, which can lead to fussy behaviors, crying, and other unwanted effects.

Memorya at Resistensyang MaluFIT sa Batang Bio-Fit!

It’s been a year since Metro Manila has been under community quarantine and that also means children have been having online classes ever since. One of the struggles that we had during online classes is my kids’ attention span. When the teacher is having her lesson online, my kid would often yawn when she doesn’t understand the topic and begins to play around or draw on the paper. It’s one of many struggles my kid experiences during online classes.

Kiddie Party Venues in Paranaque 2019

I have been planning my little girl's 7th birthday party and just thinking about it, in all honesty, stresses me out. I remember planning her 1st birthday and it was indeed fun and stressful at the same time because I had to plan from scratch from getting the host, the food, the place, etc. I was planning on celebrating her 7th birthday on the same restaurant (Big Plate) so I didn't have to think much anymore, but I just learned that they closed down. So I have to go around nearby places from BF Homes, Paranaque to find the right restaurant for my daughter's special day.

Country Bankers Launches 4Ps Insurance

It's been a struggle for me as someone who earns just slightly above the minimum wage to look for an affordable insurance for my family and for our helpers (kasambahay). I am happy to learn about Country Bankers Life Insurance Corporation and their affordable insurance product they just released.

How to Have a Smart Baby

How to Have a Smart Baby: Three simple things you can do for your child’s brain development during pregnancy

By: Ms. Mary Jude Icasiano, Nutritionist

Makati City—September 3, 2018— As an expectant mom, you want the best for your baby. That is why you do everything you can to ensure your baby’s health. But did you know that you could do a lot of things that can help give your baby a bright tomorrow?

While your child is yet to be born, your pregnancy is a crucial time in his or her life. In fact, the World Health Organization says that the first 1000 days of your baby’s life, starting with the 270 days of pregnancy and first two years of a child’s life, is an optimum period to building a strong foundation for their health, growth, and ability to learn in the future.

Take these three simple steps to help promote proper brain growth and development of your baby while in the womb.

Stay fit and active

Exercising during pregnancy may not only improve your health but also, the brain development of your baby. The University of Montreal conducted a study where 18 expectant moms and their babies found out that after 10 days of exercising, their unborn children have a faster brain development.

This finding also suggests that being physically active during pregnancy can help increase your body’s blood flow, which can stimulate your baby’s overall development.

Talk to your baby

It may seem like a silly thing to do but, talking to your unborn child can help create and establish a bond between you and your baby. In a 2013 study by Eino Partanen, et al., expectant women were given a recording that they will play towards the end of their pregnancy, which included a made-up word. The babies who heard the recording most frequently had the strongest response, suggesting that language learning begins in the womb.

Playing music is also beneficial to your baby since it helps trigger happy chemicals like serotonin, an important neuromodulator of brain development and the structure and function of neuronal circuits. These chemicals also encourage your baby to feel calm and even increase concentration power.

Eat healthily

Every food you eat during pregnancy has a direct effect on your baby. Take this as an opportunity to eat healthy meals that will help with your baby’s growth and development.

There are certain foods that have been proven to effectively help your baby’s memory and ability to learn. For example, a study led by a researcher from Cornell University found that expectant moms who consumed nearly twice the recommended amount of choline each day during their last trimester gave birth to babies who showed better brain function.

Similarly, consuming foods rich in DHA, Folic Acid, and Iodine, are essential for a healthy brain development.

It is also critical to provide your baby with the nutrients that will support your baby’s brain development. In addition to following a healthy diet, you also need a maternal milk to supplement you and your baby with essential nutrients.

ProMama^® is a delicious tasting nutritional milk drink, scientifically formulated with key nutrients designed to support you during preconception, pregnancy, and lactation. It is rich in brain-building nutrients such as DHA, Folic Acid, Choline, and Iodine. Proper growth and development early on can lead to better health outcomes later in life.

Caring for yourself is essential during pregnancy since it supports all parts of your child’s brain growth and development. Creating a strong foundation built on healthy environment and diet can ensure that your baby will have a bright tomorrow.

Getting A Convertible Car Seat For Your Baby

Image Credit: Pinterest

The safety of a child is important; therefore, one of the first essentials you will need to have to ensure that your baby is safe in a car is a car seat. From the first day, a child is driven home from the hospital till the 10th birthday or thereabouts, a car seat is a must.

Apart from being one of the first to be purchased, it is also one of those reliable products you will depend on for several years. With that in mind, getting a well-designed and durable car seat that will last through the years is not a bad idea. It is impressive to know that car seats come with a seat belt buckle holder to ensure that your baby is properly strapped to the seat.

Deciding on the brand to buy is usually a herculean task with so many manufacturers and models on the market. Here are factors you need to consider to assist you in making the right decision on the convertible car seat for your little one.

● Price

The first thing many people look at before making any purchase is the price. You will have to see what you can afford before you even think of buying. When it comes to car seats, the more the features, the higher the price. This means that if your budget is low, you may have to consider only the features you really need and overlook some others.

● Longevity

It is a no-brainer that buying a convertible car seat that will serve you through the years is better. Therefore, while you may want to go for something cheap, you have to consider its durability. Buying a car seat that will not last means, you are planning on buying another one in the future, and that means spending more than expected. Plan to make a good investment in purchasing a car seat as it is worth every dime.

You can decide to go for either a new or used model. You can get used car seats through particular online auction house websites and real-life garage sales. However, the challenges that come with buying a used car seat is that you have no idea if it was involved in an accident in the past or if the stitching, padding, and straps are still in place.

● Removable Padding

Kids will always be kids and so are bound to mess up the seats. We recommend you get a car seat that allows you to conveniently remove the padding, wash it and put it back so that the seats can be kept neat at all times.

● Weight

Car seats weight between 12 - 30 pounds; if you want a car seat that will be installed permanently, then you may go for something heavy. Else, it is advisable to go with a not-so-heavy car seat for ease of moving it around. So, it’s up to you.

What are you waiting for? Go get your convertible car seats!

Keeping the Spark Alive for New Parents

Image Credit: Pixabay

During the first few months of welcoming a new baby, couples take a lot of time learning the ropes of parenting and sharing their home – sometimes their bedroom – with their little one. The baby needs attention, and the parents need to read baby books, cook, do the laundry and get used to waking up before sunrise.

With so many things to do, it’s no wonder parents have no time for each other and eventually drift apart. The good news is, you don’t have to fall into the same category as you can still find time to nurture a bond with your partner.

Nido® Advanced Protectus® 3+ Showcases Love That Protects

NIDO® ADVANCED PROTECTUS® 3+ turned #LoveThatProtects into an unforgettable, interactive family experience with the recently concluded Love That Protects Trade Activity that took place in key cities of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Mother-daughter and mother-son duos made sure not to miss out on the fun, excitement and learning, and trooped to SM Megamall, SM City Cebu, and NCCC Mall in Davao for the NIDO ADVANCED PROTECTUS 3+ Love That Protects Trade Activity.

Shaping the Gift To Build tomorrow's Greats

I was happy to receive an invitation to attend Promil's special event. Since I have children of my own, I thought I could learn a thing or two from the program and apply my knowledge for my children's development.

ChocoVit: Multivitamins in Chocolate Flavor

Does your kid love chocolate? I know mine do and they're crazy over it. The moment they see any type of chocolate, they would ask me immediately if they could eat it. Of course, sometimes I say yes and sometimes I say no. It's hard to say no sometimes because I would literally see the happiness instantly disappear on their faces.

Another question, how about vitamins? Are your kids crazy over it? In my case, after giving my kids some vitamins, I would always see that "maasim" or sour face from them and then they would drink water immediately.

Fret not, mommies! There's a new vitamin brand that will surely excite your kids and its name is ChocoVit.

Manila Ocean Park and Hotel H2O Experience 2017 (Part 1)

I have been planning to take my family to Manila Ocean Park before the summer ends and to maximize the experience, I booked a 3-day stay at Hotel H2O, a hotel inside Manila Ocean Park, through Metrodeal. I swear, it's way cheaper than booking on the hotel's website. Two nights means two vouchers so that sums up to almost P7,000.

I also bought the 10-in-1 attractions for Manila Ocean Park which costs P799 each which I thought was a good deal. The deal includes the following:

Oceanarium
Trails to Antarctica
Jellies Exhibit
Penguin Talk Show
Birds of Prey Kingdom
Sea Lion Show
Sharks & rays Dry Encounter
All-Star Bird Show
Symphony Evening Show
Amazing Stories of Yexel's Museum
So last Sunday, we went to Manila Ocean Park and checked in at Hotel H2O. We checked in at the hotel first to settle in our luggage and stuff. You may also check out my first review of Hotel H2O back in 2010 here.

What I Did to Achieve a Normal Delivery

My kids are already 9 and 4 years old respectively and both of them were born through normal or vaginal delivery. Other mothers said I was lucky because I was able to undergo a normal delivery. They tried to do the same, but circumstances during delivery are very different to each and every mom, and if the doctor thinks the mother is in danger, he/she has the final say if the mom has to undergo a cesarean section.

Me and the kids

At first, when I became pregnant, I also thought of having a c-section because it’s fast, effortless, or even painless compared to normal delivery. But when I asked my mom, who had a C-section with my younger brother 20 years ago, she said that it hurts like hell when the anesthesia wears off and recovery time takes longer. That’s when I decided to have a normal delivery instead. It’s cheaper, offers fast recovery time, and has benefits for the baby.

So when I was set on having a normal delivery, I thought of reducing my carbohydrates intake such as rice. I replaced it when wheat bread and then ate any viand I want. During breakfast, I ate cereals, bananas, and milk. I really had a craving for milk and cereals during my first pregnancy so this change of diet was a piece of cake for me.

I may be dieting, but I also made sure that I monitor my baby’s weight if it’s within normal range by visiting my OB-Gynecologist every 2 weeks. I also made sure to take prescribed vitamins such as Iron capsules and one of those vitamin-fortified mommy milk such as Anmum, which I really loved the taste.

At the start of the 3rd trimester, I got rashes on my tummy's skin. My doctor said it was probably the weather because it was hot (summer time). She advised me not to use any strong soaps to wash it. Water or hypoallergenic soaps would be enough and it did disappear eventually.I also experienced some slight itching on the nipples and it was really irritating. Sometimes I no longer wear a bra because it somehow lessened the itching. Some mommies were asking me what I did to make it go away, but personally, I didn't do anything but didn't wear a bra. It just went away on its own in my case. ( Click this link for more info on how to relieve itchy nipples: http://www.checkpregnancy.com/itchy-nipples-early- pregnancy/)

Then D-day came and I was already feeling the contractions. At first, they were just mild ones and then every hour from then on, the contractions became more painful so I told my husband that it’s time to go to the hospital. I waited 2 hours in the emergency room while my husband was trying to get a room for my admission. Then I was sent to the delivery room (not a private one) where I was also with 2 other moms who were about to give birth.

Me after giving birth

While I was in pain, a doctor, whom I didn’t get the name, whispered to me if I wanted to have an epidural or a painless delivery for P10,000. I declined because we didn’t have the money, so I simply pushed real hard when the doctor said it was time to push. After several excruciating pushes, I heard my baby cry. Unfortunately, right after that, I fainted and fell asleep. I woke up in their recovery room which was a major bummer for me because I didn't get to see my child right away. I saw my baby the day after.

The very next day, we checked out because I was already strong enough to go home. 3 days later, it was like nothing happened. I fully recovered physically and my baby is healthy.

So that’s that, my dear readers. Simply reduce your carbs, replace them with fiber, and don’t forget to take vitamins. Oh, and do some minor exercises if you can and always visit your ob-gyn for regular check ups. For more pregnancy tips, visit Check Pregnancy and you might get some interesting tidbits.

10 Moments Life Sucked Because Mom is Sick

Unilab has posted a new video about daddy doing mommy things. You can see the video in this link:

https://web.facebook.com/Unilab/videos/10154517497405829

The video simply shows that the dad is quite busy doing mommy stuff because his wife is sick so he's the one in charge taking care of the kids and the household. *sigh* I also remember the times when my own mother got sick. Although my dad didn't get all "busy" like that in the video because we had a helper in the house so she's the one charge of cooking and cleaning. But still, here are my 10 moments life sucked because mom is sick:

We didn't get to see her during breakfast.
No warm hugs before going to school.
No warm hugs when we go home from school.
No one to ask us how was our day.
At the back of our minds, we always of think of when will mom get better.
The house was quiet like there's no life in it.
There was no one to talk to about anything.
...
...
It's just different without mom.

Haha, sorry. I know I cheated, but I think you already got my point. It's just different when mom is sick or when someone in the family is sick. And that's when Unilab products come in. I make sure we always have the essential medicines in stock in the house like Biogesic for headaches or minor fever, Bioflu for flu, and Ceelin vitamins for the kids' daily need of Vitamin C.

Sickness is inevitable, but I believe in the following quote:

"It is better to look ahead and prepare than to look back and regret."

I Realized That I Was Thankful for the Wrong Reasons

Gratitude is something we express when we are thankful for something or for someone. People generally feels thankful after receiving a very expensive gift, after eating in a very expensive restaurant, or even having lots of extra money to spend for their pleasure. I am also guilty of being thankful for those things before I realized what was really important.

I was thankful for receiving expensive gifts every Christmas while I was growing up. It is indeed very normal for children to be thankful for receiving gifts that they’ve been wanting all year round. My dad also brought the whole family to expensive restaurants so we can try out good food and experience fine dining. I also remember receiving a lump sum of Php2,000 from a very generous godmother for my birthday, I was ecstatic because that’s a big amount of money back in the 90’s.

“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues but the parent of others”

But now that I’m older, a wife and a mom of two, I began to see the other side of the coin or the things that truly matter. When I received those expensive gifts, instead of focusing on the toys I received, I should’ve thanked my dad for all the hard work he’s done to afford such gifts and making my Christmas wish possible. Once in a while, he also treats us to expensive restaurants because I realized he wanted to give the very best for us, his family. Of course, he also financed my education, our house, everything we needed.

Thank you, dad, for everything.

And for the cash money that I received that time, I was indeed very thankful for my godmother who gave it to me, but I should have at least wrote a “thank you” card or bought a simple gift to express my sincerest gratitude. I don't even remember what I bought using that money, but the feeling of regret for not letting her know how much I was thankful for her gift still remains.

That is why today, I am grateful for my parents and siblings who continue to love me unconditionally and who’s always there for me to listen and to support. I am also grateful for my husband and children for the love and inspiration they provide me. Lastly, because I realized the importance of family and friends, I became closer to Jesus and really felt his blessing. So I guess it’s safe to say that I understand his love a little bit more than what I read in Religion textbooks in school. I am very grateful to Christ for each day He gives me because each day is a chance for me to show my love and gratitude to the people who matter to me because I also want them to feel loved and cherished so they can also feel the gratitude I have for them.

“If the only prayer you say is ‘thank you,’ that will be enough.”

Gratitude is a principle that I learned through self-discovery. I believe discovering what you really need to be thankful for is a key to inner peace and contentment. If you feel you are having a difficulty of what you should be thankful for or what's important in your life, visit mormon.org and learn more about the principles of peace and how they can help bring you closer to the Savior.

#PrinceofPeace

90 Years of Keeping Filipinos Smiling

Colgate-Palmolive Philippines celebrates 90 years of operations in the country, providing generations of Filipinos with quality brands for oral care, personal care and home care such as Colgate, Palmolive, Tender Care, Gard, Axion and Ajax.

The Palmolive Company Philippines was established in 1926 with an office in the Binondo district of Manila with just five employees. Products sold during those days included Pompeia cosmetics, Octagon laundry powder and Crystal White laundry bar.

It merged with Peet Brothers the following year and with Colgate Company in 1928. Popular products such as Colgate Ribbon dental cream and Cashmere Bouquet toiletries were added to the product range along with Palmolive soaps, pushing accelerated growth for the next few years. Products at that time were delivered to stores by carabao or horse-drawn carts.

Toy Kingdom Gift Ideas 2016

We were in SM Southmall last weekend and my son wanted to visit Toy Kingdom, so off we went. It usually takes him 15-25 minutes to look around and find a toy he wants so while waiting, I decided to take some random pictures of the toys being displayed including their prices. I know some people just don't have the time to canvass around the store and look for a toy they want or a gift they need so I hope this post could help somehow.

Enjoy!

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