I EAT..I DRINK..I GROW

They said….

Boys eat twice as much as girls.

Can their appetite get any bigger than this?

And… he likes to drink his milk with another bottle of water in hand.

derick 1  derick 2  derick 3    derick 5  derick 6

  • Derick started eating rice porridge at 4 months old.
  • He can finish 2 bananas in one sitting. And it’s not a seคorita banana fingerling we are talking about here.
  • He can finish a cup and a half of yogurt.
  • He eats Durian, ice cream, cake……. (well who doesn’t) ^_^
  • He eats basically anything offered to him.

All these with only four teeth, how much more when he already has a complete set of teeth?  I can’t imagine. LOL!

My obstetrician told me that it is quite normal for boys to be a few ounces bigger than girls at birth.  Why?  The reason behind is something unknown even to the medical community.  Although there are theories, but nothing conclusive and definitive yet.  One of the reasons given is the secretion of testosterone by the babies’s testicles causing mothers to eat more.

Derick was 3.4 when he came out. While Summer was only 2.9.  Summer had her real solid food when she was already 1+ old.  Derick on the other hand was given porridge by her Thai nanny at the age of 4 months saying that he would drink his way into a carton of milk… literally. He can drink up to 7 bottles of milk during the day(not to mention he drinks this together with another bottle of water in hand) while in comparison to his older sisters’ 4 at the maximum when she was his age.(we are talking about milk consumption during the day time in their nanny’s care.

Now, Derick consumes 2 to 3 bottles of milk a day with breakfast and lunch of heavy porridge and rice with soup respectively.

Share your own experiences with your children, nephews, nieces or what have you…

Leave your comments or creative responses below! ^_^

 

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HELP!!!: Chuay Duay!!!

Was there a time when your kid was like this?

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Yesterday, I was so busy doing my Saturday chores in the kitchen. I was so immersed in it that I totally forgot about my 2 little ones playing in the receiving area of the house.  When I came I saw Summer deeply engaged in writing and drawing…. “ON THE WALL!!!!!”. I was outraged. My mind was racing as to what to be angry about first, the act of vandalism or the fact that we would have to spend an unknown amount of  money just to have the walls repainted. I was about to open my mouth and getting ready for an all out rant but then when I saw how she was so into it I suddenly had the odd feeling and thought against it.  She was in deep concentration, much like a painter engrossed in their painting and entranced by the moment.

I did not want to interrupt her at that time with the fear that she might lose her “gusto” to draw.  I was holding my self, teeth gritting and just thought that I would just find another time to tell her about drawing on her sketch pad and not on the wall.

I remembered asking Summer once to “draw a face” one of our study times, she refused saying she doesn’t know how to draw one.  I did not force the issue.  So, when I saw these, I was surprised, amazed, happy, but worried by the fact that she finally drew… “ON THE WALL!!!”.

So, I took some pictures instead.

After which she told me who those drawings are. They are us.  I’m also glad that she drew faces with ears. My Psychology teacher in college told us, if you draw a face with ears, it means that you are a good listener.  Something that I am not, although I’m trying to be. LOL!

Then softly but with a stern face I reminded her that it would be nicer to draw on the paper or on her drawing pad than on the wall.  I did not put so much issue on the vandalism part because it might only make her do it more.

 

When you have something like this at home, how do you handle it?

 

Feel free to leave your comments or creative responses below! Cheers!

 

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Summer’s Barbie Doll                                       Summer is Kinaesthetic

Khun Meh Yu Nai Khrub?: Mama Where Are You?

 

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As I’ve mentioned in my previous post Expat babies Travel 101 and Don’t Mess With Immigration Officers, that for Thailand-born babies to travel out of the country they need to have a passport.  Summer and Derick are no exceptions.  Summer already has gotten her Philippine passport last 2010.  Derick, on the other hand does not have yet.  Due to time and financial constraint, we were unable to procure him a passport early on. Consequently, he was unable to come with us to the Philippines last November.  My husband had to stay as well to look after him. All my boys were left to fend on their own.

So what happened?

Derick had to stay with his Thai nanny during the day while Papa goes to work.  During weekends, Papa needs to work extra to eke out the finances, Derick stayed with very helpful and generous Filipino couple Mai Mai and Martin.  Thanks a bunch to you guys.  So, this was the set up for 25 longs days.

When I finally came home, I was so sad because Derick did not recognize me right away.  It took 10 seconds of trying to make him remember me because he just looked at me for a second and looked away the next. I have to call his name again in the usual intonation and pitch I use, and did the gesture I usually do everytime I pick him up from his nanny. Oh gosh, that moment broke my heart.  I had a lump in my throat.

He eventually recognized me. I saw happiness and relief in his face. This probably explains why for the next few days, he just wanted to be held by me.  He cried everytime I’m out of sight.

 

Here’s a video of Derick with Martin in one of those weekends.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2Ld2xFmbrs&feature=youtu.be

 

 

Were you ever been away from your child? How did you feel about it?

 

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Shout Out!                                                         A Taste of Lemon

My Travel List

Thailand is one of the most tourist- friendly countries in Asia. And I don’t only mean the people. The country in itself is very tourist-friendly. Thailand can be traveled with almost all modes of transportation. This country can be traveled by plane, bus or by train. You can choose which mode suits your time and budget constraint. For expat families like us we prefer to go via private transport. Road tripping is the best way to go for us! It is not always the cheapest way to go but most of us here think of the convenience it brings. Well, some might not find sitting in a car for 12 hours convenient. LOL! But, for the expats here, especially our family, prefer the privacy of our own vehicle, the comfort of being the boss and in control of ones time.

Here is a list of places my family and I are planning to travel to. They are not arranged in any particular order. Of the 10 places listed below, two of which we have already gone to.  And we are still planning of going back because it seems as if you just can get enough of these places!

1.  Koh Samui

2.  Koh Lanta

3.  Krabi               √

4.  Koh Chang

5.  Khao Sok

6.  Koh Phi Phi

7.  Koh Lipeh      √

8.  Koh Samet

9.  Koh Pangan

10.  Koh Tao

 

What places do you have in mind?

Leave your comments and creative responses below ^_^

 

 

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Photo 1
kaoseng’s Famous Sunrise

Kaoseng’s Famous Sunrise

Kaoseng’s famous sunrise, well at least to Filipino photographers in Hatyai Songkla, that is.

Kaoseng is a place in Songkla, which is a hill by the beach and where the sunrise is magnificent.  A lot of Filipino photographer’s would wake up very early in the morning, and take the 45-minute drive to Kaoseng to witness and capture the sunrise.  Their pictures have won various awards in pixoto.com  Pixoto is a worldwide online photography community and competition. It is a melting pot of people who are into photography both professionals and novices,  and people who just love to look at good pictures.  It is also the site to look to if one is planning to purchase pictures for personal or business purposes.

Here are 4 samples of my husband’s photos of Kaoseng Sunrise.

Photo 1
Photo 1

sunrise 2
 

 

 

 

 

Photo 3
Photo 3
Photo 4
Photo 4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can also visit:  http://www.pixoto.com/ryandominguezphotos

 

Are you the type of person who likes to take pictures? or Are you the type who likes to be pictured?

 

Leave a comment below with your e-mail ad to get a FREE PRINTABLE SIZE copy of any of these photos!

 

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_MG_2847-1-2  Songkla Zoo Photo Contest Honorary Winner

 

Airport Security

 

Safety is as important as health.  It is a right, not a privilege according to Avira antivirus software.  It is the foundation with which we build security and functionality.  Otherwise, security is ruined, and functionality diminished.  I remember the movie, “The Okinawa’s Dream”.  The village in that movie has no electricity – that means no street lights, no street cameras.  But the people were safe.  Nowadays, one’s safety is threatened even during daytime.

In the past years there had been a regular occurrence of terrorism, which has enormously spread fear in every homes, every establishments, and every countries in the world. Thus the “safety first” signage in gates, bags and body inspections in malls and establishments; and finally, the strict and yet eccentric airport security check were implemented.

Speaking of airport security, I just had a very annoying experience with this in Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Clark Pampanga, Philippines.  I brought with me a traveler’s grooming kit.  It is as dainty as an iphone 4s.  Inside are the following;  nail cutter, nipper, nail file, tweezer, eyebrow trimmer, and pimple extractor (whatever you call it).  Upon arrival as they are made of metal, they got detected by the x-ray machine.  The male officer cordially asked for the inspection of my bag.  When he found out that it was only a grooming kit, he returned it to me.  At the domestic departure before we get to the boarding area, is yet another inspection.  The female officer saw the grooming kit.  She asked me to show it to her.  She opened it and said “ oohhh”.  She then took the nipper, nail file, and eyebrow trimmer.  She went on to explain that those three are sharp objects and they’re not allowed on board.

I was in a state of disbelief.  It already passed international inspection during my trip to the Philippines but now she’s not allowing it. Was she thinking that I might stab the people on board using the nipper??!! OMG! So ridiculous.  Well, don’t get me wrong.  I am for safety.  But what irked me was the inconsistencies with the airport officials implementing security policies.

 

security

airport

 

In their suggestion box, I wrote;

I suggest that any confiscated item(s) should be named and packed individually.  And be made known to the owners that they have the option of claiming back their items in their way in or out of the country.

Where do confiscated items go to? Are they given out for donations? Or are they used for personal purposes?

I left my email address.  But up until now, I have not received any reply from them.  Could it be that it’s customary not to reply? Could it be that they are not checking their suggestion box regularly? If these are the cases, why ask for the email or why ask for suggestions?

 

Do you have any similar experiences? Feel free to leave your creative responses or your comments in the comment section below.

 

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NEW YEAR, NEW ME

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It has been a tradition to make New Year’s Resolutions. But every year I fail to do these resolutions.  After I make the list, I totally forget about them.

For 2013, I have psyched myself up, talked to myself, and convinced myself that it’s now or never. After surviving the-end-of-the-world prophecy, I am summoning all my guts and with a 101% conviction,  intend to do the following this year.

1.  To be patient, to be patient, and to be patient.  As the saying goes patience is a virtue.  Year in and year out, I’ve always wanted to inculcate this virtue into my system.  But year in and year out I fail.  I totally acknowledge its importance.  That is why, I want to do, try everything just to make this a part of me.  Recognizing that I am short of patience, and the wanting to practice this is a good start.   I intend to practice it one day at a time.  Reward myself if I succed in a day.  Start over, if I fail.  Try and try until you succeed, as the saying goes.

2.  To shape up.  My second pregnancy to my lovable Derick has caused me an added 10kg.  With my hectic schedule, going to the gym or pool is totally impossible.  But these extra pounds are not doing any good to my esteem, health, and especially to my sex life.  If there’s a will, there’s a way.  There are other effective ways to shed off these extra pounds without going to the gym, and that’s exactly what I’m doing now!!

3.  To be an OPTIMIST.  By December 2013, I can very well tell myself that…… I am patient.  I am in great shape physically!

These are the major changes I want to happen to myself in 2013.

Whereas below are the lists of things that I will do in 2013.

1.  Work hard on my blog..

2.  Invest, invest, invest..

3.  Be more loving to my husband and kids.

 

QUESTION: Do you think my goals are achievable?

 

 

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Koh Lipeh, Thailand                         Krabi, Thailand                          Songkla Photo Contest Honorary Winner

Songkla Zoo Photo Contest Honorary Winner

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My husband’s photo of Nancy, an Orangutan “The Nancy Pose” won an honorary prize in Songkla Zoo Photo Contest. He received a certificate and free membership card.  With the card, all four of us can go to any zoo in Thailand free of admission for a year.  You might be wondering how much was the cash prize.  The truth is, there’s none.  But as what my husband said “Mai pen rai” (never mind).  For him, as an amateur photographer and an expat at that, to be chosen is already a great honor.

We are hoping that this will be an annual activity of Songkla Zoo.

We are looking forward for SONGKLA ZOO PHOTO CONTEST 2013!!

 

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“The Nancy Pose”:  Songkla

Zoo Photo Contest

 

QUESTION: Is there something you’re so thankful about, that you’d do it again for free?

Helium vs Asthma

I was looking for a Science activity for my Science summer camp.  I was thinking the activity must be interesting but inexpensive.  As I was surfing the internet I came across Helium Laugh.  My family and I watched several vidz, and all are definitely hilarious.  You will laugh, and laugh, and laugh until your gasping for air to breathe or your jaws are fixed in a smiley manner. But I was a bit skeptical.  Does it really work?

So we decided to try it.  The thing is to use balloons filled with helium.  It is colorless, odorless, tasteless, and non-toxic.  Aside from its major uses, it’s minor use is as a lifting gas for balloons and airships.  So to know that your balloon is made of helium, test it.  Let it go, if it flies, you have the right balloon. If it doesn’t, then most likely it is filled with other kinds of gas.

We decided that my husband will try it.  Well, it was fun. The helium laugh is authentic and really works.  But immediately after that my husband had an asthma attack which lasted for a week.  It has been awhile since he had an attack.  There were no prior incidents/circumstances that could have caused the attack.  I have read some sources in the internet wherein, helium is used  by doctors for asthmatic patients.  I am not in any way undervaluing these medical studies.  In fact, our experience on helium can be treated as another datum, that could help in whatever way in the study of helium and asthma.

Anyway, for whatever it is, it would be better to seek advice first before trying something like this specially if you have allergies.  After all prevention is better than cure.

Here’s our video of the Helium Laugh

 

Try the helium laugh and do share your experience here.

 

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A Thank you present

 dalialh]adam

 

Nothing would make a teacher’s heart warm and happy than a simple “thank you” from his/her student.  My Malaysian students Adam and Dalilah Rozaimi gave each and everyone of the teachers and staff a personalized present. What makes this present really special is that, this is not only a holiday gift. But a THANK YOU GIFT, a thank you for the years we have spent together in school. A THANK YOU, probably for all those times we had fun together learning.  A THANK YOU, for all the lessons we have learned together.  The International school we were affiliated had stopped operation last December 2012. Something that is heartbreaking and unwelcome.  But there’s light at the end of the tunnel.

Thank you Adam and Dalilah.  I wish to see both of you again in the future.  Wherever the wind brings you, always remember to respect your parents and other people.  And always keep your feet on the ground.

 

You might want to check out Dalilah with Anusha storytelling about magnets: click here 399790_10150636526873606_135343565_n

 

 

What was the most special gift you’ve ever received?