Kilostones

Parents, especially moms, love keeping track of their children's milestones. When Thea was still a tod I kept a note of the things she can do. I did compare her to other kids and that's how I noticed that there's something not quite the same.

When she was diagnosed with delay, it did not stop me from tracking. On the contrary, I logged every single word she uttered even the dates and the definition. Until one day I stopped not because I lost hope but because her vocabulary increased so much I couldnt keep anymore.

On October she will turn 7. A big leap. Here in Pinas, 7th birthday is a big celebration. Okay, I'll rant first ha, please forgive me. Well I really don't like the way they celebrate 7th birthdays today what will all the princesses and prince theme, coutillion, and showering of gifts and dressing up. Uhmm dressing up is okay but the celebrant should be comfortable with the dresses or the costumes. No coutillion de amor pleeaaase, enough. And big No No to 7k - where 7 adult / ninong ninang will give 1k each, or 7 dance - where 7 boys will dance her, 1 will do and that's her dad. Will post more rants if time permits but i got none so lets continue. Thea is not a party girl, she's a sea girl, a mermaid, so will bring the gang somewhere else, well that's the plan for now.

Her vocabulary increased but she still doesnt like chatting much. A stranger will receive no Hi nor Hello from her until prodded, unless the stranger is an OT who knows how to capture her interest. Thea can read now, sight words and phonics. She can count up to 30 or was it 50 I dont know, all I know is she will say twenty ten for thirty because that's the number after twenty eight and twenty nine y'all. She can draw! And she draws pretty nice!

She's a kind girl. She doesn't get mad easily well unless you provoke her and that's human naman no! She shares to her baby brother: yesterday she got Vcut (chips she and her brother likes) and leb woke up to only a few left, he asked for some and she gives and gives until the last piece. If I tell you to count kids who give the last piece of her favorite chips to someone else, not much I bet! She's appreciative, especially when we make time for her, her smile er grin is contagious and even though she is heavy you wont be able to complain and you'll eventually give in when she wants to be carried.

She got tantrums alright but because of this major factors: 1. she's hungry 2. sleepy 3. needs go potty

1 & 2 are biological (okay pati 3 pero except muna natin) and even us, adults, sometimes are cranky when sleepy and hungry, I know someone who is - she's writing this blog right now. But #3 is exceptional we can eliminate that. And for some time now, we have been having a hard time with #3. I've read books, asked experts etc etc to know how to make her go potty but nothing happened she still wanted to go with nappy on. We were tasked to scooped the excrement from the nappy and dump it in the toilet. Was asked to show her how to do number 2 and flash etc. Maybe it worked little by little because...

One fine day when I prayed for patience for bonggang bonggang patience she did go to potty! Hours in and out the toilet. Donning on and off her pants. Praying and praying na sana this is it. She did and it was success. Next day was fail so was the day after that but good thing people in the house were cooperative and led Thea to the toilet everytime she looks like she's about to go. She has been doing it for 6 or 7 times already, let's wait till she reached 21 consecutive successful tries because that's the route times before you can memorize something. I'm positive we'll be diaper free in the coming days.

The post is not named Milestones because that measurement is too long, not inchstones either because that's too short. 

You make us proud baby girl. We love you.

Did I mention she got Tee-rific award at school for Reading? 

Isnt that AWESOME? 

Thank you Papa God!!

Looking back last quarter's Activities and pictures!

So last year's 4th quarter was a bit hectic. With all the patterns and sewing and marketing I had to make to make my dream come true. What was I'm talking about? Well  I had this mini cushions and pillow business, whoa business, more like racket for Christmas.

I joined an online bazaar and just a few ordered when it was just starting, but when the queen of the bazaar took notice order came and the total for the three is already 400 pieces so I needed to tell them I am not accepting orders anymore. Much work was required from tracing the pattern to
cutting to sewing to flipping over (not easy I tell you) to putting fiber to last stitch and putting the gold thread I have to tell you it was a chore. Actually one of the sisters I had to turn down PM me the other day if I am still available to make some orders, again I had to beg off because walang isang yayey and this is really a chore and feeling ko lugi sa trabaho as I only make 10/piece for this little thing.

Well, I enjoyed stitching and making fabric into something nice. The letter cushion has always been in my mind, single days pa when I received a letter cushion from my sister's best friend. The scrabble pillow I saw in Instagram last year and I just fell in love, scrabble is one of the few board games we have at home (Mariano).  Got several orders and break even point is within reach hehe, meaning I need to make some more pa. Please guys order ha ;) This is 150/pc for a 13x13 pillow.

Highlight was when someone ordered for these 2 families: Waaah gusto ko lagyan ng letter kay Juday and tell her uyyyy alam mo ba kamukha daw kita hahaha pero nun yun nung di ka pa masyadong payat :P

And though busy I never let my social life wither, I still went out and met with friends. Friends who loves me and my love for books. We went to this book sale and it was like a dream hahaha. Thank you ladies, the books are not as cheap as I thought they'd be but with lots of efforts from my kumares sinulit ko talaga ang punta! These and those they bought are only for P2k! We needed to reach 2k so we could have 500 peso worth of books for free. That's the John Green over there a gift for  myself!!! love love love!

It's a white polo Christmas at the Regalado house. Here's our yearly photo from 2012 - 2014 counterclockwise. While last year's photo was formal we hired a prof then, this year phone camera  sufficed. As we were all busy with the preps and me sewing we werent able to pause and pose at the tree before the Christmas rush. This year our photo was really on December 24 before Christmas eve!

Then last day of 2014 I need to have a boy scout theme picture of my boys. As early as September I already bought husband's uniform, and because of the clutter I couldnt find it by Dec 31. Ending he used last year's shirt which is hmmmm not his size any longer. Pero di ba dad by August no?

 My laging handa boys! I love you

 This was taken I guess early December, when orders arent that many yet. Seldom do we go inside this carousel together, either one of the kids won't come but this time both did thus a picture is necessary.

 You see my little girl? She's really a doll nowadays with her current fashion trend, long sleeve shirts. She will wear them over and over, now I have to buy more shirts because she doesnt want to wear her sando or tshirt at home just her long sleeves. But yeah she carries it well, pumapayat sya tignan hahaha, may future ang batang ito sa fashion!!!

Lookie here, waaah dalaga na baby ko! Long sleeves ulit now with matching tutu skirt! You'll see more of this shirt in her pictures, she got it from Tita Mai who had to search Robinson to find it. SUlit!

.

This was their Big Day Christmas Presentation. She performed, well standing there sway sway ng konti and not making a scene trying to go down the stage is a huge improvement!!! Waaah tuwang tuwa ako at ang tatay nya sobra. Thank you Lord!!!

 Regalado December 24, we were about to shout Merry Christmas here for hubs eldest bro based overseas. Captured Thea's smile via screenshot! I love screenshot option!!!  i love my phone actually it can bluetooth transfer files like this pic. Ayan ha love ko na samsung, eye candy si apple pero functional talaga si s5 eh.

here's Mariano's turn of family pic taken at Ate Mai's house just blocks away from our house. Oooooh I haven't told you yet, they relocated and moved here na! So La Res has 3 beauties already, just waiting for the time when the other one will move, let's see...

Mariano again singing the not so merry Merry Christmas song by the Beatles, taken at the Mariano Cabral Reunion Christmas Day

 Mariano fam again for the Zapata reunion this time.

Here's my attempt to be matchy matchy with my little girl! I painstakingly sewn this skirt morning of Dec 31 just for us to be matchy. But she left with her dad to Robinsons for 3 hours waiting for Tatay Fred. There was no time to have a decent pic taken and the little girl's minnie mouse skirt has gotten dirty good thing she has a pair of polka pants. Anyhoo, can you see my little boy's New Year attire?

Signing his last cheque for 2014. My little bossing! Thank you Ninang Nin for leb's polo!

We went out after New Year to Clark Pampanga, after their routinary trip to Ate Thea's most loved playground at Marquee Mall (primarily because airconditioned and it's not crowded) we went to Clark where the little guy enjoyed looking and posing at the planes...

and heyicoptur!

while ate Thea enjoyed climbing here :)

Hope you had a fun fun 2014, we did!

Becoming a better you

I'm trying to be organized. Key word there is trying! I mean I really want to but I keep on making excuses like being a mom of 2 toddlers ( feeling toddler) wont make it possible for me to organize. My bag is full of what not, wrappers, robot, crayon, I have super dami pouches and each which supposedly is designated to a particular type would end up having all sorts of kalat.

Anyway i am hoping I will be better at organizing this year. Come join me and motivate ourselves with this Become better you form.

It has 3 goals target date per subject so you wont feel lacking at a certain area. There are a lot of other cool thing you can find in pinterest but this one I find easy. I still need to think of ways on how to clean the closet, organize toys, plan the menu etc etc but let's start with this first huh?

You can download it here projectgirlbette credits to the project girl. Will def go back to her site for tips.

2014 the year that was

What did you do in 2014 that you'd never done before?Attend different retreats and seminars to improve self as a partner and as a parent and again as a parent of a special need kid and again as a parent of picky eaters.

Have sewn the most number of letter cushions last December!

Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?What was my resolution again? Meron ba? Ayun business daw, hmmm will talk about that later.

Did anyone close to you give birth?Ellen gave birth to a cutie baby girl and  Nin to another cutie Nicole.

Did anyone close to you die?A miscarriage of two supposedly pamangkins but I know God will give their parents lovely little children in His time.

What countries did you visit?None this year but we were able to go out naman with the rest of the family both at Sweetwater Subic.

What would you like to have in 2015 that you lacked in 2014?
If I were to go back on my prior answers I would have said I dont lack anything but now I know there are some missing (not things) pieces in my life

If you are not ready for some seriousness skip to next question :)

I dont lack but I find myself short of prayerfulness, I want my 2015 to be filled with prayer. Fasting too, if you know me well you probably knew how much I needed to eat once in a while so I wouldnt transform into incredible hulk of angry bitter momma. But fasting is a discipline I think I need to have to be more intimate with God. My bible reading is pretty much better than previous years I just hope this year I'll finish na the entire Bible. 

What date from 2014 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?May Couple's Retreat, we went there as a happy couple and  went home as a couple with joy in our hearts. Changed our perspective on our roles as husband and wife. It was not an easy 3 days, mind you, not some cheesy program where you need to do things together. It is a carefully knitted retreat that made us understand God's design in marriage. Forgiveness, Priorities, Roles are some things that were tackled.

What was your biggest achievement of the year?Making Pillows hahaha and lots of them.

What was your biggest failure?Not supporting the dear husband in some of his plans.

Did you suffer illness or injury?
None. Thank God!

What was the best thing you bought?I don't  know. Tickets to the retreats? Books at the Book Sale! Pwede ba yung House? 

Hmmm we bought Alvin a gift last March and we said it was his gift for the entire year (err 5 years nga dapat), naku walNOT hahaha. 

My love language is Quality Time pero I still love gifts  and if you love gifts youll love giving gifts too eh. Parang I couldnt spend the holidays of special occassions na di magbibigay sa kanya ng regalo, nadaya yata ako dun ah maybe I should ask for a whole day me day vacay on my next bday.

Whose behavior merited celebration?My husband. 

He was the one who took God's call in his life, he went to the Men's retreat and I just saw him grow more in love with Christ day by day. He wasn't even worried when his contract from Brunei didnt pushed thru, he knew it was God's leading for him to be with his family.

Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Appalled yes depressed no. So none! hahaha lips sealed, cross my heart taga sa bato

Where did most of your money go?House, car, gas, grocery, aba, school ahahaha rant ba ito???

What did you get really, really, really excited about?Was excited about family outing, planning things to bring, games, and team building activities. It was hubby's birthday and his eldest sib (who resides in Aus) was with us, doesnt happen pretty often.

My bday too was planned hehe, read my post.

What song(s) will always remind you of 2014?All Things Bright and Beautiful

-Akalain mo may kanta pa lang ganun??? You see I know this poem by heart, me and ate Lah, I dont know about my other sibs pero I didnt know that it was a song too.

I googled and was shown a link to Youtube and I showed it to Caleb. Then on when he's tired and sleepy will sing All Things Bright. Before that it was my intention to sing I love you forever to him, he still knows it but his ultimate pampatulog is All Things Bright!

Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happy happy happy
ii. thinner or fatter? oooo i need to weigh myself pa. Pero mukhang heavier
iii. richer or poorer? or hehe.

What do you wish you'd done more?
2014 i was only able to post 15, when I said I will post more. Real life took place, I just hope my brain would work when I need to remember what happened in 2014.
What do you wish you'd done less of?FB
.
What was your favorite TV program?No TV program. Ayyy pero gusto ko pala Bet on Your Baby, pwede ko na isali si Leleb! And sana maging kasimpayat ako ni Juday

Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?love love lang dapat and world peace

What was the best book you read?
Genesis Exodus Leviticus Number Galatians :P

Fault in our Stars ba ngayon yun?

John Grisham something and some other titles I forgot na

What was your greatest musical discovery?Hmmm that Leb can sing and can birit at that!

What did you want and get?

What was your favorite film of this year?
Fault in our Stars, Hunger Games, Divergent

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Turned 35. Documented already :)

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2014?
This year I wanted to dress up when I feel like to. I saw this post that if you dress up you make yourself feel better eh so I do and I feel better nga.

What kept you sane?
Jesus. His life, how He forgives and how He wants us to be follow Him.

Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?Funny si Senator Miriam but I dont fancy her.

What political issue stirred you the most?next year madami yan pero I bet this year magkakaroon ng major issues sa politics kasi election na next. But but that insanely long overdue Gatbuca bridge is really giving Calumpitenos a hard time sana sana theyll fix it na asap.

Who did you miss?
Waley. Hubby no longer an OFW!!!

Who was the best new person you met?My Dgroupmates. 

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2014:His way is not our way. His thoughts are not our thought.

What was the nicest thing someone told you about yourself:Should keep tab pala next time. Ano nga ba? 

The most touching experience you've had this year?Caleb asking me to call Dad in the office and being kilig when he hears his voice.

Thea's smile when Dad comes home then hugging him tight.

What did you like most about yourself this year?
That my heart has no limit in loving. 

What did you hate most about yourself this year?

Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Give me one pure and holy passion

Give me one magnificent obssession

Give me one glorious ambition for my life

To know and follow hard after you

Was 2014 a good year for you?Do you doubt it? It was indeed a great year. Thank you po.

What was your favorite moment of the year?each moment was special but I guess my favorite were moments me and hubs go out on dates without the kids. Oh I love my kids soooo much ha, but we hardly have time na for each other when the kids are with us so we do find time to go on dates. 

What was your least favorite moment of the year?ewan

Where were you when 2014 began?House
Who were you with?
Just me and the kids.
Where were you when 2014 ends?
House
Who were you with when 2014 ends?
All for of us in the room this time. No Media noche, no fireworks just a simple thanksgiving prayer while the two kids sleep.
Do you have a new years resolution for 2015?
Yes
What was your favorite month of 2014?May
Did you lose anybody close to you in 2014?No
Did you miss anybody in the past year?Nope
What was your favorite record from 2014?Nakabisado namin yung Kids Bible Songs, the kids keep on playing when we drive the car
How many concerts did you see in 2014?
haven’t watched any
Did you drink a lot of alcohol in 2014?None
Do a lot of drugs in 2014?Nope
You do anything you are ashamed of this year?
none i guess
How much money did you spend in 2014?much
What was your proudest moment of 2014?
What was your most embarrassing moment of 2014?
If you could go back in time to any moment of 2014 and change something, what would it be?
I don’t know if I want to change it.

What are your plans for 2015?Focus, Organize, Be intentional.

How are you different now that the year has ended?
I love more today than yesterday :) but not as much as tomorrow

I learned more of His promises this year and will hold on to them.

What are your wishes for the new year?

My wish for the year is for all of us to know and follow Jesus. That we may be able to seek, knock and ask for His guidance daily. That each of us may find our purpose and fulfill them. That we may find power in prayer, joy in worship, peace and strength in our daily walk with God.

May we all experience God's miracle this year. God bless you.

HAPPY 2015!