Livin high and takin it easy

I do so many things with Lia. Well, it’s just the two of us here at home all day so.. I am glad she is all about helping out. You’ve seen the photos of Lia helping me out with decorating her Christmas tree. Here she is helping me out with wrapping presents. This girl!

Yay! We're gonna wrap Christmas presents!!

My girl is ecstatic about wrapping presents! So ecstatic that she is all blurry. Hahaha!

Excitement just makes me all duckied up! *clap clap clap*

“Baby girl you need to stay still so Mama can take a decent non-blurry photo of you…”

Uh okay, here I'll stay still. Very still.

***

These photos were taken November 30th.

Trend Labs Christmas Parties through the (married) years.

Bronzed Christmas 2006

White Christmas 2007

Red Christmas 2008

Blue Christmas 2009

Of course, this is a continuation of previous entry. Some of you may be looking for a present for my little Lia *wink wink wink* so here are a few tips from BabyCenter. Still, some of you may not be looking for a present for my Lia but may be looking for presents for other babies of your friends and relatives, so this may be useful still.

If your little gift-receiver is not in this age bracket, there are links for other age brackets at the end of this post. Have fun and happy shopping!! Hope all our little ones have bright smiles on their beautiful adorable faces this Christmas!

Your baby’s play is becoming much more vigorous. When she picks up a spoon now she bangs it against pots and pans, and she furiously rattles the bunch of keys she finds. She can now grab two toys at once and slam them together. But her movements are also becoming more precise; thanks to her growing dexterity, she can pick a raisin off the floor.

She is becoming aware that objects still exist even when she can no longer see or feel them. This means she’ll miss a favorite stuffed animal if she can’t see it, and try to search for it. It also means you can begin playing hide-and-seek games with objects. Hide her teddy bear while she’s looking, and she’ll find it right away — and be very proud she did.

This is the age at which most babies go mobile. From sitting, it’s a short developmental step to scooting around on her stomach, to rocking back and forth on her hands and knees, and then to crawling. By the time she’s 8 months old she may be pulling herself up to a standing position and climbing your stairs. The following toys can help her explore her quickly developing senses.

Busy board: Many babies adore these activity boards that can be attached to a crib rail. They come with parts that move and spin, giving your baby a place to practice coordinating her hands with sensory experiences. She’s also getting the idea that you can make things happen to objects — so poking, twisting, squeezing, shaking, dropping, and opening things will fascinate her.

Soft dolls or stuffed animals: Babies this age often develop an attachment to a “lovey,” or favorite toy or blanket. And pediatricians encourage this connection, saying a familiar object can ease transitions later on. Still, some dolls and stuffed animals make more suitable loveys than others. Avoid ones with ribbons, plastic eyes, yarn, or anything that can be pulled off and put into your child’s mouth. And don’t get dolls so big they’re hard for your baby to pick up and explore.

Balls: Balls are fun for just about any age. Lightweight fabric balls suit this particular crowd well. Roll one back and forth between the two of you on the floor, or when she’s older, toss it across the room so can can crawl after it.

Household items: Look no farther than your kitchen cabinet for some of your baby’s favorite items. A plastic bowl, some measuring cups, and wooden spoons will entertain your baby for a long time. Open the cupboard while you’re preparing a meal and your baby will pull out a few utensils of her own and whip up something alongside you.

Wood or soft blocks: Show your baby how to stack a few blocks, and then knock them down. Pile them into containers for her — and dump them out. She’ll get the idea. Stacking blocks and filling and dumping games are wildly popular in this age group.

Moving toys: As your baby begins to crawl and move around, she’ll be more interested in toys that do the same. Find some sturdy cars she can push around the rug. Or toys that pop up when your baby pushes just the right spot.

Books: This is the age at which reading becomes more interactive and fun for both of you. (Find out more about reading to your child.) Cloth or board books work well now. After you read the book, you can pass it to her so she can take a turn flipping the pages and “reading” to you. For more ideas, see our recommended books for babies.

For tips on toy safety, click here.

• Toys for birth to 3 months
• Toys for 3 to 6 months
• Toys for 9 to 12 months
• Toys for 12 to 18 months
• Toys for 18 to 24 months
• Toys for 24 to 30 months
• Toys for 30 to 36 months

Things to keep in mind when shopping for presents for your little loved ones this Christmas season.

Toys are the treasures of childhood, as long as they’re chosen with care. But are toys really hazardous?

Consider the year 2004: In that year, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), an estimated 210,300 toy-related injuries were treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms. Of those, 35 percent (72,800) involved kids under 5.

You may want to observe these guidelines when choosing toys, and share them with anyone who may be buying gifts for your children.

• Is it suited to your child’s developmental level? Most toys bear a “recommended age” sticker, which should be taken as a starting point in the selection process. Be realistic about your child’s abilities and level of maturity when choosing an age-appropriate toy. Toys that have projectiles, for example, are never suitable for a child under age 4 — and even some 6-year-olds aren’t mature enough to handle them. Likewise, if your 3-year old still puts everything into his mouth, continue to steer clear of toys and games with small parts and pieces.

• Think big. Until your child turns 3, toy parts should be bigger than his mouth to avoid the possibility of choking. To determine whether a toy poses a choking risk, try fitting it through a toilet paper roll. If a toy or part of a toy can fit inside the cylinder, it’s not safe.

• Is the toy too heavy? Could your baby be harmed if it fell on him? If so, pass.

• Look for toys that are well put together. Make sure tails are securely sewn, seams of stuffed animals are reinforced, and paint is not peeling. Stuffed animals should also be free of buttons, yarn, ribbons, and anything else your child could yank off and put in his mouth.

• Is your child physically ready for this toy? For example, parents of older kids may buy a bike one size too big so as not to have to buy a new bike the next year. This tactic can lead to serious injury if a child doesn’t have the physical skills to control the bigger bike.

• Is the toy in good condition? Used toys passed down from older relatives or siblings or bought at yard sales can be worn or frayed, which can be sometimes pose a danger. Examine all new or used toys for buttons, batteries, ribbons, eyes, beads, and plastic appendages that could easily be chewed or snapped off.

• Does the toy have a string or cord longer than 12 inches? A cord can too easily be wrapped around a young child’s neck, causing strangulation. Once your child can climb up on his hands and knees, remove crib gyms and hanging mobiles from his crib. Be particularly vigilant about older toys. For example, an older model of a popular play kitchen may have a phone attached with a potentially deadly cord, while the latest model of the same kitchen has the more current and safer cordless phone.

• Does the toy use small magnets? In 2007, the CPSC named magnets the #1 hidden home hazard. Small, powerful magnets are often used in toys, and may fall out of the toy and be swallowed by a child. Two or more swallowed magnets (or a magnet and a metal object) can be attracted to each other through intestinal walls, causing twisting and pinching of the intestines, holes, blockages, infection, and worse if not discovered and treated promptly. As of August 2007, one death and 86 injuries from magnets had been reported to the CPSC, and 8 million magnetic toys had been recalled. The agency recommends keeping toys with magnets away from kids under 6 years old.

Click here to view original posting at the BabyCenter site.

It’s Christmas at the Rockwell Powerplant Mall. Just wanted to photo-document. Nothing much to say really, except perhaps that this was only the third time I have ever been to the Rockwell Powerplant Mall (first was with Ryan and his thesis group mates and second was when we did the Nestle Hidden Spring distilled water re-launch and I was doing a bit of P.A. work) and I didn’t even go inside. Maybe next time.

Photos were taken November 15th when we went to the Global Pinoy bazaar.

We made our way to Rockwell on the last of the two-day Global Pinoy Bazaar that I was so raring to go to. It took a lot of effort too mind you, at least to me. I was feeling energy-less that day (oh more so the day before) but this bazaar was something I was definitely not going to miss.. and with good reason.

Taxi dropped us off a short walk away from the bazaar entrance.

First booths we saw were of the Yabang Pinoy advocates. Already went crazy but fought off the urge to buy the first thing I got my hands on. Ryan had to sort of drag me away from the way-too-cool t-shirts, bags, stickers and journals. We arrived in the middle of the program so I could hear Ali Sangalang reading a poem in the background amidst cheers from friends and supporters.

We got to the tent entrance and was told there was an entrance fee of P100. That almost turned me off because I could not get the idea of having to pay so you could get inside a bazaar where you will (ideally) do nothing but purchase; but I figured we already made our way there and we might as well go inside. (Will someone tell me though what this entrance fee is for because I was not paying attention..)

They also gave us these….

Upon closer look of the Yabang Pinoy magazine/pamphlet cover I realized that its a photo of a “Takatak” with cigarettes in it. Hmmmm… Couldn’t they have found a better photo or item without seemingly advertising smoking? (I read the magazine and thought, couldn’t they have found some other thing?)

Went about the OC-way through the bazaar. Saw lots of awesome cool things at every turn. Saw people I knew like Jasmine Mendiola whom I had a play with, Tanghalang Ateneo back in 2003; like Kabbie and Mitor whom we went to Coron with in June 2008 and went to a few TF house parties with; and even saw Paula Peralejo manning or hanging out at a booth. (I used to see her at the CASAA in U.P.Dil)

Saw lots of clothes and shoes that I just wanted to get, all of them, hahaha, except of course I’m not wealthy like that. And then in one corner I see Momo shoes. The uber-cool Momo shoes that I absolutely could just not resist, I just had to try one on.. and I never really try anything on unless I am absolutely into buying. I picked this one out! Ibong Adarna shoes! Aren’t they totally gorgeous?!:D

After the first shot was taken, I realized two things. One, we forgot to bring the 18-135mm lens and was gonna get by with the 50mm. Two, I got there without combing my hair! Hahahahaha! I took a shower some time in the afternoon, put my hair up without combing in a tight bun right away to keep it away from Lia, took care of Lia and fell asleep with her for an hour or so, got dressed after waking up and took off.

So that is how I ended up with this hair when I went over to buy a dress at a booth a few steps away from Momo’s. I had wanted another blue dress, but well, I could only afford one so I made Ryan pick out which. I still keep thinking about that bright blue dress though. Maybe I will make it all the way to The Ruins where they said they have a shop. Love their loose dresses!

This I suppose is one of those rare moments I have my face not angled to either right or left, which one of my friends just had to point out one time. And so, this is how my face looks like when it’s not angled to either side. You can see my dimples, both of them, and even the little ones at the corners of my mouth. All these dimples Lia got. Yes, my daughter might look like Ryan but she has got my eyes and all of my dimples. Hooorah!

I can’t seem to find the site or any other information or link to this shop… Too bad. I loved loved their clothes.

After losing and finding Ryan, and chatting a bit with Kabbie and Mitor, we made our way down to the area where there were lots of stuff for kids. Went absolutely crazy there too.

Ryan saw this shirt from Lalaughka and thought of my niece Marielle. I just had to get it for her. I hope she likes it! I had wanted to get some blocks for my nephew Sean from Loot Fairy but cash was running low.

Kabbie and Mitor showed us the onesie they got from Urban Baby and we thought we should get one for Lia too! A Future Aktibista onesie for the true-blue U.P. baby. Though we were never real activists. I don’t understand why there should be a generalization. Sure, Ryan is an alumnus of some [famous] fraternity. Sure, I am a U.P. Repertory Company alumna, but I have never been to any rally. And that was absolutely my choice…

Anyway, visit the Urban Baby Multiply site to see more of these funky baby clothes and how to get your son/daughter/niece/nephew/inaanak/neighbor’s baby one.

Emerging from the exit doors, we came upon food booths. Famished, I was into getting some food but more into trying to get back to the Yabang Pinoy booths to buy something before they closed. I made Ryan buy some delicious-looking cupcakes from Beehive.

Visit The Beehive’s Multiply site to see more of these yummy goodies and how to get your hands on one!

We made our way back to the front to finally make some purchases. There were some interesting t-shirts we wanted to look at again. I finally gave in to the Agos wallets. I bought myself a CamSur decorated blue one, to replace my Guess? wallet that I bought five, yes, five years ago! Wow, is that not amazing?! Hahahaha!

I made the Agos peeps, with their Yabang Pinoy ID lanyards, pose with me.

And of course, a photo opportunity to show off those Yabang Pinoy bands.

Took a photo of that shirt we so wanted to get except that we wanted them in black instead of white. For the surfer dude and dudette in us. They told us they will come up with black tees, as per request, and would get in touch with us. Sure, sure! We’d love to have them t-shirts!

Finally, one last photo. And no that is not John Lloyd. Hahahaha!

We really had a blast at the Global Pinoy Bazaar. Looking forward to next year! Actually, looking forward to the next bazaar!

***

Momo Custom Design Shoes

momocustomdesign@yahoo.com
02-351-3772

The Urban Baby
www.urbanbabyonline.com

http://theurbanbaby.multiply.com

Lalaughka Inc.
2nd Floor, Stall 112 Fashion Bazaar A Market-Market, Taguig
0922-3191018
info@worldofwacky.com
http://worldofwacky.multiply.com OR www.lalaughka.com
On Facebook: World of Wacky Group

Agos Pilipinas

agospilipinas@gmail.com

The Beehive

02-722-4237
0922-822-2399

Cheers and more power to local products!

Lia's blue Christmas tree.. missing its star. Lia is the star!

Yes, Lia is indeed the star of this Christmas tree. It has all our favorite photos of her in it. Ryan loves the idea of having all our favorite photos of Lia hanging on the tree. Lia’s first ever Christmas tree for her first ever Christmas.

It took a lot of printer ink but well, what the heck, I have never had any of her photos printed ever so I’m allowed to print away.

A close-up of the tree. It looks pretty with all the shining shimmering ornaments and the ribbons that I made myself. The store clerks told me I could have them make the ribbons for each roll of ribbon I buy. Each roll cost >P100 and each roll makes one ribbon. So I said, what the heck! Give me that shiny blue ribbon that costs P200 and I’ll make all the ribbons myself. I made 18 in all. Gosh, I’m so proud of myself. Hahaha! It only took a YouTube video to learn how to do the ribbons. Well, the video I watched was absolutely boring so I am not too keen on posting a link to it. Thank you YouTube anyway!

When we first put up the ornament-free tree, Lia was so scared of it. She wouldn’t even go near the tree. But after we decorated it, made it prettier, and she saw that her Mama was all over the tree and that the best part of it is that it has her pretty face all over it, she has now since overcame that fear. Lia now recognizes her face in photos and in mirrors. She also kisses herself in the mirror. Funny, crazy kid. (I absolutely love her!)

This is how she helped in decorating the tree.

And she is indeed the star of our tree, and the star of our lives, that is why her name is Trellia. It means “star”.

But I will find that big shiny bright star to put on top of the tree. I still have not find it yet but I will. I did find a blue angel but I think that’s just scary.. an angel on top of the tree.