Whims and Views

Parenting

Activities to develop children’s skills

Posted by Edsie on August 27, 2011 Parenting, Sports

Aug 272011

Kids nowadays differ a lot compared to kids a few years back. Kids these days are mostly accustomed to technology, so as early as 3yrs old, they’re already playing with computers or a PSP or an iPhone. These gadgets might be beneficial for their development in one way or another, but it still lacks the development that they can get on doing activities where they can learn and improve their personal development.

First off, what do I mean by personal development. What I’m talking about here is the physical, emotional, mental and social development that kids can achieve by participating in different activities. Introducing kids to different recreational activities can hone their talent and at the same time enjoy and have fun.

Here are some recreational activities that can be exercised by kids. Technology can still be a great way to do this extra-curricular activities, but the point is, it’s not just games that are being done by kids.

1. Enrolling in sports. There are lots of sports clinic that offers classes for kids such as swimming, basketball and taekwondo. Engaging in sports will develop one’s physical strenght and helps in increasing the children’s social skills.

2. Learning to play the guitar. Taking guitar lessons can develop one’s eye and hand coordination. Plus this is a good way to challenge a kid to hone his/her skill. Nowadays, you can have online guitar lessons so this can also be done at the comfort of one’s home.

3. Learning how to ride a bike. Biking is a good exercise both for kid and adults alike. And in biking, kids can develop their sense of balance plus discipline.

Kharl’s Baptismal: Preparations and Expenses

Posted by Edsie on May 15, 2011 Baby, Parenting

May 152011

Whew!! At last, my long overdued post is here. As promised, I’m sharing everything we’ve done for my Baby Kharl’s baptism. From the preparations to the actual event, I’ll give full details and reviews.

Kharl’s baptismal rites was held at Ermita church and it was a successful one. It was a very humid and hot day but Kharl was welcomed warmly to the Christian world.

Here are the preparations we’ve done and the expenses incurred as well.

Baptism Clothes/Shoes
The small barong Kharl wore on his baptism was bought at the Sm department store and it was a really good purchase. It comes with a blue shorts and a white cap. The barong has blue accentuates and a litle blue tie that looks really cute. We also bought the white shoes from SM department store.

Cost:
Barong – Php 299.00
White shoes – Php 120.00

Continue reading »

Baby’s teething and Tips to ease the pain

Posted by Edsie on May 4, 2011 Baby, Parenting

May 042011

My little baby is already teething. Lately, he easily gets annoyed and he looks agitated. And anything that he can grab, he’ll force it in his mouth, and I mean it literally. As in he would smack it right inside his mouth. That’s why I always make sure that nothing small is within his grasp that would fit his little mouth. Also, I noticed that his drooling increased significantly.

We went to his pedia last saturday for his checkup and sure enough, when his pedia checked his him, she told us that his lower gums is a little swollen already, which indicates that teething has really began.

I got some very good tips from experienced mommies (my sister, some relatives, officemates, pedia) on how to lessen baby’s irritation or pain due to his teething.

1. Give the baby something cold that he/she could chew. Kharl has some teethers at home and what I do is I leave them inside the refrigerator to cool and then give it to Kharl when its cold already. This actually worked. Everytime we do this, Kharl cools down from his temper and he looks relieved from whatever he was feeling.

Gift Ideas for Christening

Posted by Edsie on April 19, 2011 Baby, Parenting

Apr 192011

Our baby’s christening has just concluded and now, after the event, it’s time to open Kharl’s gifts from his ninongs and ninangs and some from the guests.

Kharl got some really good gifts that are very useful and some not much (but still happy to have). That made me think, is it really hard to think of a gift that will be useful for the baby? I think I’d say YES to that question. I’ve been to several baptism events before and believe me, it’s hard to get a gift for the baby that the parents will really have a use of. Reason for this? It’s simple, parents usually have all the necessary items that the baby needs from bottles, clothes, bath things, etc, these are usually bought and completed by them already.

I have listed here top 5 gift ideas for christening that I think would really be appreciated by the baby’s parents. And of course, I based this from our recent experience with our baby’s baptism.

1. Money
“It’s all about the money”. Haha!! Just kidding. But seriously, giving money or “pakimkim” (term used by most Filipino’s) is really helpul because the parents can save the money for the baby’s savings. Kharl got a decent amount of “pakimkim” and so now, we can open up his very own savings account. This kind of gift gives you no hassle at all and at the same time, it practices our Filipino culture. Nice combination right?

Part 1: Kharl’s Christening Day

Posted by Edsie on April 18, 2011 Baby, Parenting

Apr 182011

Whew!!! At last, Kharl’s Christening were finished and it was a successful one. It was a stressful week (or should I say month) for us, with all the preparations and expenses. But it was all worth it. The event we had yesterday was a memorable one and our hardwork, not to mention hard-earned money, really paid off.

Let me share with you a run through of what happened yesterday. First off, we got up at 7am and started preparing. We’re scheduled at 11am in the church but we had to drop by the hotel (reception) first to check the set-up of the place and also drop off the cupcakes made by my mother-in-law so they can display it there as well. With that, we need to be on the road by 10am. But there were still lots of things to do, and so we were able to go by 10:20am. Tick-tock… tick-tock!!! We’re running late and there was also this traffic somewhere near Roxas Blvd. Arrgghh!! Good thing my husband was a fast driver. He dropped me and Baby Kharl and yaya off at Ermita church (so in case someone got there early and to make sure we don’t get late) around 10:40am. Then he was off to the hotel. At the church, there were already some guests we knew waiting for us. The baptism rites is at the left side of the church, somewhere at the back area. The baptismal rites room was a not-so-small but not-so-big room with a baptismal font (which was what I was really hoping for, so thumbs up on that one!). It was a pretty good room actually, with church chairs placed circling the baptismal font. Only downside on the room is it only has a large cooler fan and not an airconditioner, so it was pretty hot, especially when our guests and sponsors, started arriving and people were piling up.

Baptismal preparations checklist

Posted by Edsie on April 7, 2011 Baby, Parenting

Apr 072011

It’s less than two weeks to go before the BIG DAY, Kharl’s christening. I’m excited and terrified at the same time. Excited because my baby would soon be baptized (which is the most important thing here) and terrified for the outcome of the party. I don’t know if it would be a success, but hopefully, things would all go as planned.

Speaking of plans, here’s what we have accomplished so far:

Church – CHECKED – We’ve already reserved the 11am time slot for a special baptism at Ermita church.

Baptismal clothes/shoes/cap for Kharl – ALMOST DONE – We’ve already got him the clothes, shoes and cap, but no white handkerchief yet.

Candles – ALMOST DONE – I’ve bought the candles and the ribbons we’re planning to wrap the candles with. But we haven’t started that one yet.

Reception – ALMOST DONE – Our reception in Pearl Garden Hotel is already a package including venue, food, cake, balloon decors, table arrangements and tarp. I’ve already forwarded to our contact the tarp layout I had my friend do.

Invitations – CHECKED – Finished and handed to our invited guests.