Summer School

I've read so many articles and forums about the best age for kids to start schooling and I've had several discussions regarding this with Dan (my husband). Zoe is currently 2 years and 4 months old and we were originally planning to send her to school this school year. However, one of our aversions is that she won't turn 3 until September and we feel that she is a bit too young to go to school on a daily basis. I tried scouting for junior nursery schools that offer 3 days of classes per week but unfortunately, I couldn't find such anywhere near our area that matches my requirements.

Ultimately, Dan and I decided not to send her to school this year yet but we are looking into enrolling her to a summer program in a school called ISYC (Integrated School for Young Children) in Marikina. I have heard nothing but good feedback from parents about this school so I called them for more information. I spoke with Teacher Leah and she mentioned that they offer the Summer Fun program for kids ages 2-6 years. It is a 2-hour daily program that runs for three weeks and is designed to give kids an opportunity to acclimate themselves in a school setting (mostly in preparation for the school year). It focuses on 'having fun while learning' where they do activities like painting, drawing, playing games, dancing, and singing. They also explore activities that are done during the summer like swimming.

The first batch starts on April 8 and the second batch starts on May 6 with the class schedule 9am-11am. The tuition rate is Php 8,000 inclusive of snacks, art materials, and 1 field trip. Teacher Leah encouraged us to visit the school with Zoe so we can show her around and get a feel of the school environment.

So now, Dan and I are in the process of fixing our work schedules for April and May so we can properly decide when we can enroll Zoe. While I would want Dan to be able to see Zoe 'in school', I think I will likely be the parent in charge for this being that my work schedule is mostly mid-shift. We both believe that while this isn't a regular school experience for Zoe this is still a good way for her to spend summer. Depending on our experience with ISYC, it is the pre-school that we are considering for Zoe before we transition her to a big school (which we are already decided on: Assumption Antipolo). 

Monster Mom =(

It's been two years and three months since I became a parent. I thought I would already know better by this time but I still often find myself sulking in one corner with regrets of what I did or did not do. Sometimes I honestly think that I'm not fit to become a mother :(

Zoe is at her trying two's and it's been a crazy ride. A lot of people commend me on how behaved she is whenever we go out. Yes, at her age, I definitely have a lot of things to be proud of but I think that it is with that fact that I have also come to raise my expectations  from her. Expectations that are sometimes too high for a kid of her age. 

Earlier I had another temper blow out with her and I was so frustrated over something that was actually petty. She got terrified of me but instead of moving away from me, she just cried on my shoulders. What kind of a monster have I become? And while I was preparing for work, she tried to make it up to me by being sweet. She even complimented me while I was putting my pants on and said 'Wow, Mommy, ganda ganda.' and helped me put my belt on. It just crushed my heart that even when I showed immaturity and pointless anger at her earlier, she still found it in her young heart to make ammends and make me happy. What have I ever done in my life to deserve this sweet little girl? 

And so I went to work with a heavy heart full of guilt over what I did today. I pray that God may give me more patience and wisdom to be the parent that I should be. 

Welcome 2013!

2012 has been a year of beginnings, re-starts, and accomplishments. That's how life should always be; something to look forward to with positivity and endless dreams. May 2013 be a good year for everyone =)

Happy new year from the Manila-Dys 

With my mama and sister

Grilled steaks - my contribution to NYE's dinner

Dy kids with Mamita

Mi familia!

Dy ladies

Mommy's advanced birthday celebration

P.S.

I just realized that I've had this blog for nearly 3 years. My very first post was when we found out about my pregnancy in February 2010 :)

Christmas gifts

I was confused on what to give my husband for Christmas. I heard him say that he wanted to get a G-Shock watch few months back so I decided to get not just one but two watches for him :) Merry Christmas Babykins =)

For our Zoe, we decided against getting her two big items for Christmas because we wanted her to fully appreciate her Christmas gift. So the motorized car will have to wait for next Christmas.

And, here's my hubby's Christmas gift for me this year..

LUVITTTT!

Merry Christmas everyone :)

Berry or Apple?

As I come to terms with the fact that I'm not getting any younger, I have accepted the solid fact that phones nowadays are geared to all-touch screen and no keypads. It doesn't mean that it has become easier for me though. In fact, I have managed to avoid all versions of Iphone all these years (well...)because I really find it difficult to text on a virtual keypad. This is why I love my Blackberry Torch to bits. Well, at least how it looks like and the comfort it gives me. I've never been one to update phones on a whim or everytime there's a new model available (which is like every other month); I'm a more of a practical, function-over-fad-lady. 

Recently though, an opportunity presented itself when I realized that my postpaid line's contract is about to expire. I called Globe to find out what they can offer me for their loyalty program and asked if they can give me an Iphone 4S. The agent said the the 4S is currently out of stock and offered me the Iphone 5 instead. So after much discussions, phone calls, and irate complaints, I'm finally getting my Iphone 5 tomorrow and I'm bidding goodbye to my Blackberry Torch *sob*. Hey, I need to embrace the future of technology sooner or later, right?

I've gotten so many advice on which phone to get. Samsung S3, Samsung Note II, Iphone 5, Iphone 4S; and you know what, I don't really have time and plans of testing each because I'm very gullible when it comes to gadgets. Mostly because I'm not very techie and I'm just a picture-facebook-text kind of girl when it comes to phones. Heck, I only have less than 500 songs on my ipod and zero games. Samsung phones are pretty promising and have the best LCDs but I'm honestly intimidated by it's 'high-techness' :P. I've never had an Iphone before because I wasn't completely sold to the touch screen texting thing but yeah, I'm giving it a shot mostly because I don't ask for a lot of things in a phone. 

So yeah, tomorrow's the big day. I hope it's not going to be painful at all. I've so many painful memories with Globe and I really hope they make the transaction seamless this time =)

Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays!!!

The road to weaning

Zoe was exclusively breastfed for 9 months and it worked wonders for her health. It was also an exceptional bonding experience between me and her which I had hoped to prolong until I eventually had difficulties pumping milk at work. Speaking of work, it was challenging to switch her from breast to bottle just when I was about to go back to work because she was a comfort nurser too. That was when my husband and I decided to get her a binky to ease her into the transition.

I really wish we didnt. If we never did, we wouldn't be in this heart wrenching situation of having to wean her from her binky at 2 years old. Her binky is her soother/bestfriend/car companion. It has saved us from a lot of screaming and tantrums. recently though, her Avent binky already showed signs of distress when Zoe started nibbling around it producing a hole near its root. I get nightmares just imagining her teeth piercing the binky completely and getting stuck in her throat. So before that nightmare happens, I told Dan that I was cutting off the binky completely to start the weaning. Today. Today when both of us had gotten back to work after the long holiday. Geez.

So I cut it off at the part where the hole was. It left a part of the nipple still but not long enough for her to suck. When she asked for it after she took a bath, I showed her the 'broken binky'. I couldnt name the emotion that struck her face the most but what I remember was that she was shocked to see her binky in that state. She didnt cry yet but she tried it on and of course it felt weird. She then started crying and held it in front of me asking me why her binky was so 'small'. My heart was shattered to see her tears as she was showing her binky to me, I wanted to run to the nearby mall to get her another one. But I hugged her and told her that her binky needed to go away already. It took her 3 bottles of milk just to get through her afternoon nap, with her binky in her hand. 

When she woke up, she showed me her binky and told me how it already smelled bad so she put it in the basket where we place her milk bottles at bedside. 

Today's the first day. I hope we'd be able to ease her into kicking her binky habit without having her resort into another hard-to-break-habit.