One Fine Saturday Afternoon

In between two books, Samantha Sotto's Before Ever After and David Nicholls' One Day, I managed to get a quick power nap and blog :-) happy :-)

Finally pushed thru with our long overdue plan/project of opening a bank account for the kids. Hubby and I, of course with the kids, went to Rouse Hill today to open a SA account for each of them. We opened a Kids Rewards Savers Account with Westpac. It is for kids ages 0-11. We can't withdraw for them. They can only get the money when they turn 11. Its interest rate is 1.25% p.a. but they get a bonus interest of 4.5% p.a. if we put in $50 a month and they make no withdrawal. Not bad. At least now I can really put the money I intend to use for buying them additional (but unnecessary) clothes and toys :-)

Can't help but be amused with Sam's latest tricks! She's becoming more talkative, saying: bye-bye, look, Santa, papa, mama, bird. She can now associate words with the objects like head, feet, Christmas tree, shoes, ball, eat, go out, sleep, and NO. :-) She has monster Sam, she does the sign of the cross, she stands up now when I give her a bath, she knows what she likes and she does not like. Happy :-)

Next term will be quite busy for me and the kids. Mondays and Tuesdays, while Liam is at pre school, me and Sam will be having her swimming lessons on Mondays and her Gymbaroo sessions on Tuesdays. Another avenue for her to develop her skills :-) and to bond with me. Wednesdays will be for Liam's soccer lessons and Thursdays will be for his swimming lessons. I actually asked him to choose between soccer and piano lessons. He of course chose the soccer lessons. It is a bit expensive to send them to these activities, but what the heck, they are the main reasons why we migrated in the first place, so why not spend for them. It's for their own development, so we know the money is not put to waste.

School year is about to finish here, so for this Summer, I chanced upon the Summer Reading Program for kids ages 0-18 at the Black town libraries. Again, I think this is a good way to spend their summer vacation. After completing the program, they will be attending a presentation night and will be awarded with Certificates. I have to do this one with them though. But it's alright with me. It's just reading books with them. Who knows, it might instill in them the love for reading...keeping my fingers crossed :-) I already registered the two of them this morning and each of them have their own library cards now, how cool is that?!

I have finally started fixing my papers again to re-commence my teaching career. Nope, we really haven't decided yet when exactly next year I'll go back to teaching, but at least my papers are ready. Was finally able to fix it after receiving my certificates last Wednesday, during my graduation day :-) happy and a bit proud of myself for having to juggle my studies, career and family life :-) thank you, Lord :-) Now that I am done, it's Alvin's turn to study. No, he really doesn't have to go back to school especially that his Master's degree in the Phil's is recognized here as comparable to an Australian master's degree. But we thought that it would benefit him if he continues to improve on himself, so he has better chances of promotions/landing a better job/position. Good thing, hubby is OK with it :-) Like what they say, it's a very competitive world out there :-)

For over a week now, we have been experiencing a cold snap. Considering that it should be summer now here, down under. I am actually enjoying it because I get to feel Christmas more, just like in Manila :-) For a change, right? Only, the real Aussies are not happy with it because they are so excited already to go out in the sun!

Think I wrote longer than what I had planned :-) hehehe more on blogging next time, back to my reading :-)

Baby Sam

My best friend told me once that I should be extra careful of the things I tend to splurge on for Liam, because, if in the future I have another child, I should make it a point to also do the things I did for Liam. The reason? To avoid unnecessary comparisons and sibling rivalry. I kept that in mind. But needless to say, I still sometimes overspend for Liam, thinking that I will just have another child in the future and doing everything again would not be that difficult.

Well, fast forward, after 2 years and 7 months, Liam is about to become a Big Kuya to his baby sister, Andrea Samantha, or Sam for short. We are thrilled to know that we are having a baby girl in a matter of 3 months. We're praying that all will be well until we finally see her come November. As I prepare for her arrival, I try to recall everything, every little thing that I did with Liam. I decided that maybe when I put it in writing, it will be much easier to remember it when the time comes.

But first, I would like to thank Baby Sam for being a good baby. Though I had a terrible first trimester (just like with Liam then), the past 3 months have been a smooth ride. She hasn't given me any problems considering the physical load I have to do almost everyday. From the surprise party for her Papa up to now that I do my daily grind of house chores and extra errands/driving for family, she has always cooperated. FOr that I am very thankful for her. Though I know that in a matter of weeks, I should slow down already and physically prepare myself for her arrival.

Now back to the things I will have to do with her as well. The big projects include: having a baptismal party, having a grand 1st birthday party, coffee table book for her 1st birthday, having a simple 2nd birthday party, enrolling her to Gymbaroo, enrolling her to Kindermusik, and enrolling her to swimming lessons. Oh I almost forgot, breastfeeding her as well unti she turns 2! The photo sessions during the third month, 12 month, and 24th month. The monthly mini-birthday celebrations from the first month up to the 12th month. Maybe, just maybe, I will have to enroll her as well to dance lessons when she's a bit older, like our plan to enroll Liam on another sport (Tennis) as soon as he turns 3. Now for the smaller projects, we'll make it a yearly family bonding to watch a kid's concert (like Thomas the Train and Wiggles) and of course, splurging (a little, promise) on the clothes. I feel guilty (really? hehehe) everytime I see how much I have invested on Liam's branded clothes. Oh well, I'm having a girl this time so I'm pretty sure, I'd spend as well. Of course, spending on books and a little on toys as well will be part of the small projects.

We already did something for her recently, which we also did with LIam. That is to have a video of the ultrasounds that we had with the doctor. The only difference now is Sam's pictures are in 3D and her video is now on DVD while Liam's were on 2D scan only and was recorded on a VHS :) Can't blam that on us, blame it on technology hehe.

There you go, so far that is what I can all remember I'm pretty sure in the coming weeks I'll remember more. But for now, I'll just enjoy the days and the weeks that she is still inside me, sharing every emotion and everything that I experience. I love you Baby Sam and I can't wait to see you!

kIdS' Schools

I remember not really being happy with the "schools" that were emerging a couple of years ago offering programmes to kids as young as, what, 6 months old? I remember telling my friend that I felt it was not really advisable that kids who are still not in the formal schooling age, start attending these so-called "play schools." The reason I mentioned was that when kids start too young, they tend to get tired and experience burn out even before they finish Year 6.

Well, I ate my words when I had Liam. I was actually surprised to find myself looking and checking out a number of schools when we moved here in Sydney. I felt that as an educator, I needed to maximize the time I have with my son. I felt that it was not healthy just staying at home almost the entire day. Another thing that made me eat my words is the fact that I learned and found out that these schools are really not the formal and traditional schools I grew up with. These schools make use of play as their main form of "instruction". And lastly, another big difference is that when I enrolled Liam to one of these schools, I was with him. I and my son bonded as he tried out the gym equipment, the musical instrument or when he sang songs. Maybe it would have been different if we stayed in Manila. Maybe, it would be the yaya or the Lolos or Lolas joining him in the sessions. But that is another story.

To make everything short and simple, I am thankful that these schools are here to give parents an asssitance to develop the skills of these little boys and girls without putting too much pressure on the kids. I am thankful that my son got to enjoy his Gymbaroo classes for two terms and hopefully he will also enjoy his Kindermusik sessions again with me or his Papa. I can only hope that all these opportunities to play, sing and learn along the way, will aid him as he prepares to face what is in store for him in the future.