Winner of Daddy Bry's Birthday Month Giveaway!!!!

As promised, we are proud to announce the winner of 2 Jean Perry Ultra Soft Pillows that we're giving away to celebrate Bry's birthday month.  Thanks to everyone who joined.  I wish I can give each of you the prize but there can only be one so .... :)

Superdad Bry took time out from his busy schedule (hahaha) to pick-out the winner and congratulations to...

MOMMY IRIS !!!!! :):) :)

So happy for you that you won! Hope your visitors will love your new pillows!!! Muwah!


Thanks again for everyone who's been reading my blog.  It's been a hectic couple of weeks but hopefully I'll get around to posting new entries soon, especially the one you have suggested in the entries for this giveaway!!!

Have a God-filled week!

Potty training Ben Ben

As requested by some mommy friends, I'm writing an entry about potty training our little Master. At 2.5 years Ben is about 50% (?) potty trained. We let him wear diapers only outdoors and during bedtime/nap time. It's not much, but progress nonetheless.

It helped that we try to establish a consistent potty routine for him in the morning before bath time. We've been trying this for some time now but only got a real system going during summer break from school.  I bought him several pairs of cheap briefs and shorts so we won't stress about having to catch up on laundry.  I think he actually prefers not wearing any diapers since it's more comfy.  He would now tell us if he wants to poo or pee, tell us if he's finished, and flush afterwards.  We're still in the stage when we have to act really fast once he says he needs to go to the bathroom in order to prevent accidents.  And true to his nature of being pilyo and maharot, he finds a way to make potty time interesting, like telling us to close our eyes until he's done and playing with the bidet hose. It's still a lot of work but we've come a long way since trying to chase him around to change his dirty nappy.

I'm grateful of the progress we have made so far.  I still don't know when we'll be able to go without diapers during naps and bedtime, I've read that it's best to watch out for signs and not to rush into it.  I try to get him to pee almost every hour whenever he's awake so I'm not sure how to go about lasting the whole night.  I'd love to hear the potty training stories of other parents and learn from them.

Sharing Ben's first and only potty pic for way back when he was less than a year old.  I don't have any new photos since he now becoming a little self conscious during potty time, hmm... kids grow up so fast, huh? :)

Have a happy and safe weekend everyone!

on Extended Breastfeeding and Attachment Parenting, as inspired by the controversial Time Mag cover

taken from  minnpost.com website

A lot has been said about the controversial Time Magazine cover featuring a toddler standing on a stool being breastfed by his mom, with a caption saying "Are you mom enough?" talking about Attachment Parenting. I've been reading a lot of comments and blog entries about it. Here are my thoughts.

Being a mom is hard work, and I think all moms are "mom enough" regardless of their parenting style. Also, if you read about Attachment Parenting, it's not just about Breastfeeding, Babywearing and Co-Sleeping. For me, it is a parenting philosophy of being responsive to your child's needs so you establish a stable connection with him/her. In turn, the child becomes self-aware and sensitive to other people's needs as well.  Actually, I think most parents are doing it somehow,  It's just that the word "attachment" can sometimes been perceived negatively by someone who doesn't know what it really is.  If you don't know what attachment parenting is, you'll have the misconception that the parenting style mind end up making the child too attached to the parents.

Anyway, the photo in the magazine cover is itself subject of debate. Some of the comments I've read in the original article about it goes something like "if a child is old enough to ask to be nursed, then it's time to stop" or "the child will be traumatized being photographed breastfeeding at such an age". Whether or not someone approves of the style the photo was taken depends on one's personal taste, but I do hope that more people will be ok with a mom breastfeeding her toddler. Breastfeeding beyond a year has it's benefits and a mom's decision how she feeds her child deserves to be respected. After all, if there are 3-4 year olds who still drink milk from a bottle, why can't there be children of the same age who are breastfeeding? Besides, breastfeeding toddlers has been something mothers have been doing for generations.

For moms who are breastfeeding their toddlers, kudos to you. Be proud and talk openly about it! As more people realize that Breastfeeding is a natural thing, more new moms would be inspired to do it, and we will be making a the world a better place one baby at a time.

New Latch-A-Babe Collection is out!!!!

It's finally here, mommies !!!!

Latch-A-Babe, one of my favorite nursing  wear brands has just released their third collection of nursing and maternity clothes.  They look so chic and pretty just like the women behind this awesome brand  (FYI They're the gorgeous models, too - naks!).  I can't wait to try them out, especially the dresses! I'm counting the days until I get to replenish my shopping budget, hehe!

This one is my favorite, still not sure which one to get though.  I love the blue one but when you're in a Chinese family, you can never have too many red clothes :)

Photo courtesy of LAB Facebook Page Photo Album

Please check them out at this link.  They're also available at the Medela house :)



Happy Shopping, ladies. You'll surely enjoy your LAB wear before, during and even after you breastfeeding days.  I know I do!

"Kuwentong Barbero" also known as " Ben and Mang Roy, the Barber"

Our Ben has come a long way since his first haircut.  We've been taking him to monthly haircuts every since his first birthday.  We took him to toddler salons during the first few months until one time we decided to try bringing him to the nearby barbershop, Gent's Place at Shaw Blvd, where Bry gets his haircut.  We've been going back there ever since.  I think it's cool that Ben and Bry have the same barber.  As you can see, Ben likes Mang Roy and look forward to his haircuts.

well behaved ... so far .. :)

All smiles because he's almost done

reading the newspaper like a big boy

oh, that's why he's interested.  the article is about his
favorite Avenger, hehe!

Preparing for breastfeeding: Helpful start-up tips

I didn't get a chance to attend a breastfeeding class when I was pregnant with Ben. I wish I did. Luckily I was able to get in touch with supportive mommy friends who helped me get through the first few months.

Attending a breastfeeding class is important. As a pregnant mom, you might be telling yourself "I'll just see what happens when the baby is born and just cross the bridge when I get there." , but knowing what you're getting into can be a big factor in ensuring you breastfeed successfully. Of course, there are no guarantees. However, I do know quite a number of moms who attended classes after giving birth that wished they attended earlier.

In line with this, I am inviting everyone to attend the LATCH Best Beginnings class this Saturday, May 12, 9am at the Medical City. The class tackles most of the topics that we studied as breastfeeding counselors. I highly encourage that you attend during your last trimester. You can opt to attend after giving birth but you might miss the opportunity to practice what your learn during the first few days of your baby's life which is very crucial to breastfeeding. Please do take note that this breastfeeding class is conducted every other month so you have to wait until July if you can't make it this month.

For soon-to-be parents who won't be able to attend the seminar but are serious in giving breastfeeding a shot, you might consider researching (or better yet, take a few moments to talk to a breastfeeding counselor) about the answers to the following questions. Think of it as a checklist :)

1.) What exactly are the benefits of breastfeeding? What's the difference between exclusively breastfeeding and mix-feeding?

2.) What can I expect in the first few weeks of breastfeeding my baby?

3.) How does my body produce milk?  How do I know I am producing enough?

4.) How can the people around me help me and my baby breastfeed successfully?

5.) How can I check if my baby is positioned and latching properly when feeding?

6.) What should I know about storing my milk for future use?

7.)  Is it really painful? What are the common breastfeeding problems and how can I handle them.

It has been a while since I wrote a breastfeeding post, and hopefully this will be helpful to new parents.  As they say in GI Joe, "Now you know, and knowing is half the battle "  Good Luck to all future mommies and daddies ! :)

Daddy Bry's Birthday Giveaway ( and our Blog Anniversary, too!)

Finally, May is here !!!

Our family has a lot to be thankful for this coming month, and since it's daddy Bry's birthday month, it is time for another giveaway, yipee!!!

Let me honor Bry by saying how much he has grown as a father to Ben for the past two years.  Between the two of us he is the more efficient diaper changer, has more patience and the stricter disciplinarian.  He has been a super dad while working 6 x a week, driving 1.5 hrs per trip to and from the office at Laguna.  Ben and I are lucky to have him in our lives.

One of Bry's latest superdad powers is getting Ben to sleep on his own - with that I mean, no feeding, no carrying, etc.  He (Ben) seems to sleep earlier and without any delaying tactics if it's just the two of them.  Right now, our current set up is Ben sleeps at the mattress by the floor.  He would lie down in the middle of mama and papa and lots and lots of pillows!!!!  (Then the first one of us who wakes up in the middle of the night first, gets to transfer in our big bed)

So that is the story behind our latest blog giveaway.  To celebrate Bry's birthday, we are raffling off two Jean Perry Ultra Soft Pillows to one lucky winner.  They are exclusive distributed here in the Philippines by my brother JP and his good friend Kelvin of Casa La Armonia, Inc.  Please do check out their products at Blims Fine Furniture (Alabang Home Depot, Makati Home Depot, Ortigas Home Depot and Greenbelt 2) and HK Hardware (Connecticut Greenhills and Shangril Mall) Stores

We have 4 of these pillows at home and I personally love them.  They're soft and fluffy and don't easily clump up.  As parents, sleep is such a luxury and anything that can help us is most welcome right? :)

So here are the mechanics of the giveaway :)

(1) As a comment under this blog entry, say " Happy Birthday , Daddy Bry! "  and tell us why you need a new pair of pillows.  Also state your full name and email address.  The name that you leave at the comment should be similar to the name you use at Facebook.

(2) Be a fan of Casa La Armonia at Facebook.  Check out the link here.

(3) And since I am also celebrating my blog's first anniversary this month, I will give plus points if you do anyone of the following: (a) suggest a topic for the blog along with your entry (b) follow my blog so you can be updated with the new entries.

* You must be willing to pick-up the pillows at the Casa La Armonia office in Mandaluyong to join this contest :)

You have until May 31 2012 to submit your entries.  Our birthday boy will pick out the winner and will be announced by second week of June.

Good Luck!

PS. I can't believe I've been blogging for a year now.  Thanks to everyone who have been dropping by.  It warms my heart when I get messages from friends and even complete strangers that they've been reading my posts.  Cheers!!!