These days, with the very erratic weather brought on possibly by climate change, you can expect for the worst, be it floods or bush fires. So although getting home insurance can be quite expensive, it is well worth looking into considering with the unpredictable whims of Mother Nature. In the long run it comes out much affordable, especially when you are based in an area that is susceptible to erratic weather conditioninss.
My mind has now shifted into vacation mode, quite a bit too early as I still have to work for four more days. It's difficult for me now to concentrate on work when my mind is daydreaming away of our time in the Philippines. Guess I really am excited about this trip. With the help of a trusty box cutter, the heavy balikbayan boxes have already been shipped and are on their way to the homeland. But we do need to start packing now our personal stuff, so that we don't forget anything that's important. So yes, it is going to take a bit of focusing and meeting deadlines so we don't end up all stressed and harassed as we head for home. Good luck to us!
In the last few weeks of our stay here, we have all been busy yakking on our cell phones in preparation for our arrival in Manila. Some are just about asking for favors on things that our families back home would like us to purchase for them, or us asking to book appointments with doctors, dentists, and what other professionals. Put in the packing of our luggages and I reckon we are near the borderline of madness, because to be honest, as the designated packer of this family, I do not know when that is going to happen with deadlines from work also hounding me before I go on leave. It's crazy I tell you, but I hope I don't go crazy with it. LOL!
Guess who is sick again? The little girl of course! We've recently had extremely warm temperatures in the past few days, and it so happened we were out the entire day last weekend. So I guess it wouldn't come as a shock anymore if she developed a fever or colds and cough after that, because she always does. That's what we have observed so far. It's times like these when you want the espresso machines running all the time to combat those sleepless nights, especially on days when you really need to work your butt off. Ah yes, such is life!
Being with Erin is like taking a diet pill that works. It's true! We all know she is the apple of our eyes, but she is also a bundle to contend with. She is very curious about everything, to the point that she rummages through stuff that she is not supposed to play with. She also is very independent, and would frequently insist to have her own way. And she really is in the terrible two's. She has her bad days, but she also does have her good days.
One challenge that we are always faced with is discipline. I mean, how much can a two year old take or understand anyway? She does understand a few things now, but still she is just a toddler! So when I saw this topic from Babycenter entitled Discipline Tools That Really Work, I thought I'd share with you the wealth of information that I discovered!
In Erin's case, the following tool is what is most applicable to her at this time:
Tool: Listen to "no"
Age: 12 to 36 months
How it works: "No" is one of the first words many kids learn to say, and it almost immediately becomes the one they say most often. As parents know, the constant negativity and refusals can get a little tiresome. Strange as it may sound, one way to prevent "the endless no's" is to try and take "no" seriously when your child says it. After all, we all have a tendency to repeat ourselves when we don't think people are listening, right?
Real-life application: Your toddler's running around in a dirty diaper, but she refuses to stop and let you change it. "Start by asking if she wants her diaper changed, and if she says no, say okay and let it go for a while," says Kvols. Wait five minutes and ask again, and if you get another no, wait again.
Usually by the third time you ask, discomfort will have set in and you'll get a yes. And knowing that saying no carries some weight will stop your child from saying it automatically. "The more you respect their no, the less often they use it," Kvols says.
Now that Halloween's all done and over with, I guess it's only just fitting to start thinking about Christmas! Next to our birth months, I think it's one of my favorite time of the year. So, to start the ball rolling, so to speak, I took a meme fitting to the theme.
