what little boys are made of

Even though little boys are made of snips and snails and puppy dog tails, they can be the sweetest at the same time. My heart was filled with joy just the other day during one of my conversations with our son. He was standing on the bed as I was helping him get dressed when he clasped my face with his hands and told me, "Mommy, you are very beautiful!" I smiled (actually I grinned ear to ear) and said, "Thank you!" Then he added, "You're pretty!" I replied, "Awww...thank you, you're very sweet!" He was silent for a while and said, "You're also very nice and I love you always!" This time I hugged him tight and told him, "I love you always and forever."

I realized that he may be up to hundreds of roguishness each day and sometimes drives me crazy, yet at the end of each day he is a very sweet little boy and my heart just overflows with love for him.

it's closing time

It is Joaqui's final exams week and the school year will come to a close and it is officially the start of summer vacation for my preschooler. I can't deny that he is really looking forward to summer vacation and would often ask me, "Is it vacation yet?" It's not that he doesn't like to go to school, it's just that he likes playing more. : )

I sometimes can't believe that it was one school year already. When I look at his books, the worksheets he had and the numerous pad papers we used for writing practice, it was very apparent how he had slowly but gradually improved physically, emotionally and intellectually. I was even telling hubby that since Joaqui finished nursery, it will be 17 years to go before he can finish paying for his education. Ha!ha!

Now me being as excited as Joaqui for the summer vacation to start is not somehow correlated. I must think of ways to keep him preoccupied so he will not get bored. Boredom equals tantrums and tantrums mean mommy can't focus on her work at home. We are thinking of enrolling him in swimming classes - not only for him to learn how to swim but to preserve a little of my sanity as well.

I have one project this vacation and that is to make a scrapbook for Joaqui's 1st year in preschool. I was not planning on a digital scrapbook, but the free credits I get from artscow is tempting. I had three scrapbooks made from artscow and I'm very pleased with its quality. I hope I can finish it before another school year starts.

Joaqui is in school and it's very quiet here in our house, and I spent this quiet hour by blogging, make me write faster when it's quiet. Not for long - until I hear the loud footsteps outside our door and a little boy shouting, "Mooommmmyyyy! I'm home!"

PBW 6: Garden and Adian

We spent a quiet weekend at our home in Cainta and then we went to visit my mother-in-law in Valenzuela. Saturday, Joaqui helped his Sassy (that's what he calls my mom - it was supposed to be Momsy, but he can't quite pronounced it when he was a baby, so the name stuck) in her garden. He already knows how to use the garden tools and shows interest in gardening.


Sunday, we had a great time at my in-laws. Here's a picture of Kuya Joaqui with Baby Adian, his cousin. I really like this picture. Joaqui is a sweet kuya and plays with Adian a lot.

Looks like they're talking about something here. Cute!

I hope your weekend was well spent with love all around you. ; ) For Pixel Bug Weekend, just click the badge above.

learning the ropes on discipline

I have sort of thought of myself as a laid back mom because I don't easily sweat the small stuff, but lately as Joaqui's curiosity on things around him is heightening, the one thing I am more concerned about being a parent is instilling discipline. I sometimes tell myself that he's just two years old and he is doing what other children are supposed to be doing.

This made me realize that as our first born, most of our parenting methods are trial and error. What works for one child may not work for another, and so I have come up with a few simple methods on how to discipline him effectively.

• I state my instructions, rules or expectations clearly without yelling.
• I offer him simple choices.
• I have learned when to ignore tantrums and instead direct his attention to a more positive behavior.

More importantly, I try to be consistent by having a few rules and enforcing them every single time. I even ask other members of the family and caregivers whom we live with to also enforce these rules. Discipline is more than what to do and not what to do, but as a parent I am conveying my values and trying to teach him by being a good example myself.

joaqui the ring bearer

Joaqui was the ring bearer during his Lola Nene and Lolo Allen's 25th Wedding Anniversary and this was his real first major stint as a ring bearer. Unfortunately he did not walk down the aisle during the procession of the wedding entourage, but he did give the rings to the priest during the ceremony.

He looks more like a Congressman here than a ring bearer. : )

growing old with you

Twenty five years of marriage - that is what this couple just recently celebrated. This is hubby's Tita Nene (my mother-in-law's sister) and her husband Tito Allen who both came all the way from New Jersey to renew their vows and celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary with friends and family. I can't help but think how it must have been more challenging for them to hurdle the difficulties in their marriage because of culture differences. I believe they are blessed to have each other, for no matter how far apart their worlds were, they made a commitment to stay with one another in spite of and despite of the hardships their marriage had to endure. Their love and faith in one another kept them strong and this might have been what it means to "grow old with you."

tantrums and discpline

I now realize that being a parent is one of the most difficult jobs, especially when I have to impose rules on a 2-1/2-year-old child. Lately Joaqui has been throwing tantrums right and left for no apparent reason at all. Well, there is a reason - when he wants something, but he just can seem to wait and has been impatient most of the time. I felt really bad yesterday when I had to hit his hands because he threw his water tumbler on the dining table while we were eating. It sent some food and plates crashing on the floor.

I said to myself that I will never hit or spank my child, but it seems that I really lost control on that incident. However, after I hit his hands (which was not quite hard), I explained to him my reason for doing so. I am now researching on the better ways to discipline Joaqui. I do not want the hitting to happen again. I have read about "time outs" and other types of reinforcement. Hopefully I would have a better way of disciplining him the next time he throws a tantrum.

4th of July outing

Since the 4th of July Holiday in the U.S. was a major holiday and only a few dictations come in from the doctors, our company holds its annual "summer outing" on the 4th of July. This time it was in Cattleya Farm Resorts in Antipolo. Joaqui was the first one to go swimming because he so much loves the water. The next day, he spent half a day in the pool swimming and jumping. We had one very happy little boy by the time we came home. : )

too much attachment?

As I write this post, I am currently working in an office cubicle from my previous office. I have been working from home since last year and the temporary change is brought about by a need to change my routine and my son's too much attachment to mommy. I am not an overprotective parent and I believe that my child should learn to explore the world around him, and I encourage him to be with other children as much as possible. Lately I have noticed that Joaqui does not want to play with anyone except mommy. When he goes outside for a walk with his nanny, he would cry mommy, mommy after just going out of the door. His current nanny and the previous one have noticed though that when we (my husband and I) are not around, he is more well behaved. He asks for us, but does not go into tantrums as much as when I am around.
As much as I am a believer of attachment parenting, this temporary change will still hope to strive to maintain a healthy, secure attachment with my child. But I sure do miss him and I can't wait to go home already. ; )

For those work-at-home moms out there, has this happened to you and your child? I would really appreciate any input you have on this.

Mommy Moments - That's My Dad!

Hubby's looks can be intimidating at times because most people would perceive him as serious or stern, but he is a funny guy and a fun Dad, too. No matter how tired he is from office work, he would play with Joaqui when he gets home. When Joaqui was born, he was the one who took care of him (because I had a C-section), changing diapers, preparing milk, and singing him lullaby. I am thankful because he is a caring and loving father whom Joaqui can always count on and look up to.

Happy Father's Day Daddy! We love you very much!

For more of Mommy Moments, go here.

slides

Joaqui is very fond of them and he likes to do it over and over again...until his butt hurts. Even at home, we would make a slide out of a big pillow. He was ecstatic when he saw this swimming pool with slides. It was scorchingly hot, but he never cared. He just wants to slide.

We passed by McDonald's in SM Marikina and he had a glimpse of this small play area. He let go of mommy and daddy's hands and went straight to McDonald's and climbed up the slide. I think not a lot of children were able to play at that time because he was "dominating" the area. It's a good thing that the other children were on their way out of McDonald's.

Our little Energizer bunny...I wonder what's next after the slides...

footprints in white rock

I forgot to post this last time, which was our trip to White Rock Beach Resort in Zambales. Joaqui had a grand time swimming in the pool and most especially in the beach. He really loves to swim, so we have decided to enrol him in a swimming class next summer. He loved the swimming pool with the slide and I like the wave pool, it was so much fun! The whole family had a blast during this trip and here are some of the pictures taken by hubby.

Have a happy weekend everyone!

Joaqui's imaginative play

Since Joaqui turned two, I have been noticing that our little boy engages more and more into imaginative play, in which he begins to use objects to represent other items. In some children, transition to imaginative play comes around the age of 3, but in Joaqui's case it came earlier. This is one of his favorite toys right now - a cd case. Why? Because it can turn into a lot of his favorite things. ; )

Crane. He is fascinated by cranes on top of buildings ever since he saw one near our subdivision.

Here he moves the cd case and turns it around like a cane moving and would also make crane noises as he moves it.  

Elevator. I was surprised when he thought of this as an elevator. He used to be afraid of elevators, but now he likes to ride on it.

Building. He would say that there is a carpenter on top of the building, as he would see on construction sites. He would also imitate the hammering of a carpenter and says, "Pok! Pok! Pok!"

Cars or buses. Joaqui would say that there are many cars or buses moving and would make sounds of running cars.

And because he sees it as a car, he would try to ride on them. Since he can't, he would say "Hindi kasya Joaqui." (Joaqui won't fit.)

I love this stage of play because I can see that he is ready to take off with his imagination. He never ceases to amaze me on how he can look at the simple things around him. I also notice that he expresses himself through this kind of play, often reliving the experiences he has had, for example, with a barber, a doctor or what he sees us do around the house. Another good thing is that we tend to save on toys because he is more interested in the everyday items around the house. ; ) 

Mommy Moments - Grandparents Bonding

Joaqui is the only grandchild for both sides of our family and unfortunately, he only has Momsy (my mom) and Mamu (my mother in law) as grandparents because both my father and hubby's father passed away before we got married. I must admit that Joaqui is a little spoiled with Momsy and Mamu since he has the privilege of being the only grandchild as of now, and Joaqui is really loved and cared for by his grandmothers.

Every other weekend, we stay at my mother in law's house and every weekend is their bonding time. They also get to bond during swimmings, birthday parties and out of town trips. Mamu is really patient with Joaqui and she always makes an effort to be with us whenever she is available.

Since we stay with my mom, they get to spend time everyday ; ) Of course, my mom spoils Joaqui a lot even though I'm against it and with these two grandmothers, sometimes it's hard to impose discipline, but I stay firm with my rules. ; )

Recently, Joaqui had a great bonding moment with his two  lolas when we went to White Rock in Subic. 

Joaqui also has another lola on hubby's side of the family and that is Lola Aba, Joaqui's great grandmother of 82 years old. Lola Aba is so happy everytime she sees Joaqui and Joaqui would always imitate Lola Aba's walking with a cane. ; )

These are Joaqui's some very memorable bonding moments with his grandparents and sometimes I wish that both my dad and papa are still here with us to see Joaqui, but then I know that in that special place where they are right now, they can see how wonderful their grandchild is.

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