Home

Posted by Mommy Woobie on May 29th, 2008 in Baby Basics, Baby Quirks, Kids' Imagination, Mommy Alert

Moms are funny. Last week I had a chance to go to the mall for some alone time, and because I am a mom, I immediately went to the baby section. I see some brand names have gone on sale and moms are all over the counters. Not just clothes, but cribs, strollers and such. Sometimes I wonder if moms buy brand name baby products because of the security of tenacity. “Oh this is Branded, it’s like the Rolex of all stroller brands, it will NOT break under my son while we’re in a mall.”

Well, the argument is that better brands create more sturdy things, which justifies the high price. But there’s a conspiracy theory in my mind. What if the price is expensive because most of their money went into advertising?

Of course any mom will feel guilty at not providing the BEST to her child, so when salesmen approach and tell her that the more expensive brand is much more sturdy, she will buy it!

How the marketing people exploit the Mom-hood of girls eh?

2 Comments

Posted by Mommy Woobie on May 23rd, 2008 in Baby Basics, Baby Quirks, Kids' Imagination

Baby tastes vary as they grow up. I realize that their needs for mental stimulation get tougher and tougher as they grow. You know what elese? Their television show choices also vary.

Let me describe a typical AJ day. He wakes up, goes around the house, going through most ‘toy’ boxes and collects his favorite toys from those boxes. he spends time mulling over one, considers it deeply (his head tilted to one side in intense concentrations) and deems it unworthy for playtime so he puts it back (or leaves it on the floor, depends if I’m looking). With an armful of toys he waddles over to his favorite empty box and shoots all his toys inside. He then climbs inside the box and stays there for a good 2 hours just playing.

I don’t know where he got the habit to stay in a confined place to play. I call it “slumming”. Maybe he sees kids doing it on the streets during the rare times we walk around the more congested area of our city.

Today, however, he rejected every toy he held with a barely concealed ‘tsk’. It thrilled me that he wants other toys to play with but the frugal mom inside me is worried. There are some toys that we just bought, and they became favorites for a day or two, then set aside now.

Must do retail therapy for AJ, I tell myself, while opening a browser window to Buy.com’s weekly sale. Then I opened another browser and looked for parental support at Minti. After all, maybe this is just a phase. Maybe the hundreds of toys we bought for him before will still be loved after a while.

6 Comments

Posted by Mommy Woobie on May 13th, 2008 in Baby Basics, Family Quirks, Mom Entrepreneur, Proud Mommy

As I told a new friend, I am not a materialistic person. I am mostly content with what I have and won’t go out of my way to buy stuff that I deem “unnecessary” according to my strictly frugal Ilocano upbringing, which mandates that I must always save the bigger portion of my earnings in a bank account.

Motherhood changed me a bit when it comes to shopping. Suddenly, I am more aware of the trends, looking through color combinations more, and spending a lot more time in online stores such as Amazon and Buy.com’s best buy section.

Hubby tells me that I always had that in me and that I must have secretly suppressed my inner shopping diva to satisfy the guilt that overspending brings. Momhood has unleashed my commercial drive, and now I feel the urge to excel in that aspect of womanhood too, as I excelled in other aspects.

No Comments

Posted by Mommy Woobie on May 7th, 2008 in Baby Basics, Baby Quirks, Family Quirks

When people told me about this child’s phenomenon called “terrible twos” I always thought it can’t be that bad. I was wrong. This is the time when the baby seems almost grown up, with the same disposition as his future self: sometimes moody, sometimes super happy, very hungry for attention and sometimes too selfish to care about your feelings.

The main difference is, of course, at two years old he cannot express himself well. You, the parent, have to guess what his cries mean, taking into consideration the time of the day, the habits, the toys that he likes… etc.

About television. This is the time when I really wish we allotted enough money to buy an lcd mount, one we can hang where he could not reach. Sometimes, even when we are busy, he won’t keep still watching television. I already taught him how to change channels using the remote control, but then he insists on manually changing channels, the results of which include the channel changer on the television being so worn that we may have to change it. Of course, for 1/4 the price of a regular television set! If it gets too worn to use, we might have to buy a new television unnecessarily.

Now, how to explain that to a moody two-year-old…

No Comments

Posted by Mommy Woobie on April 29th, 2008 in Baby Basics, Baby Quirks, Proud Mommy

Yeah, I was surprised too when I saw this site that sells diaper cakes. How cutely appropriate for a first birthday or a baby shower! And, the concept is unique. Even the most frugal moms I know will gush at anything that is so right for their baby’s first birthday (and buy these without thinking of budget!). The first birthday, as well as the seventh and the twelfth are the most special ones, according to tradition.

Baby birthdays are special. Restaurants have themes that go from superheroes to baby Disney, to princess fairytales. My favorites so far include baby Looney Toons and Lion King, because those are also my favorite cartoons.

It’s funny sometimes how sales ladies and store managers can detect if you’re a mom actively shopping for baby gifts in a store. When it’s my baby’s birthday, managers ask me “Is it your baby’s birthday?” like they are psychic people. It’s either they have been hired because they have the ESP that can detect birthday-baby moms, or I have a big neon sign on my forehead that says “looking for best birthday gifts!”

For baby showers, the ideal gifts are those that the baby can use during his first year. Godmothers are accosted too in baby shops and baby sections in malls, because these are the people that parents are counting on to give their kids the most whimsical Baby Shower Gifts.

No Comments

Posted by Mommy Woobie on April 24th, 2008 in Baby Basics, Baby Quirks

During the first few weeks that our son has been playing in the pool, we taught him that he shouldn’t touch the water at the onset.

One afternoon, he didn’t do as we told him and grabbed the hose before we could stop him. Was the water hot? Very!

Though panicked (though the heat burn wasn’t serious), we deemed this an important lesson for our child, now that he’s old enough to understand that when we say ‘no’, we mean ‘no’… or he will be the one to suffer.

It took some time for him to agree to swim again. He finally did again today. This time he waited patiently for the hot water to flow out before he went inside the pool and asked for the water.

Whatever happened to the duckies? They got scared of the bald baby with the hose and never came near him again.

1 Comment

Posted by Mommy Woobie on April 14th, 2008 in Baby Basics, Baby Quirks, Family Quirks, Proud Mommy

Due to the hot and humid climate in the Philippines, and because we didn’t want much fuss over sweaty scalps and other hair issues, we decided that our baby should go bald. It actually pains me but the consensus among the hubby and relatives was for him to sport the bald look, at least during the summer.

They went to a kiddie barber shop, much like the one where he got his first hair cut. I didn’t go with them because I had work, and also because I didn’t want to be a part of it. True enough, our maid, some of the hubby’s relatives and the hubby related to me later how they required 5 adults to hold AJ down while his head was being shaved. Imagine a hero in a movie valiantly defending his last stand? That was how it was like. This reminds me of the time when my younger brother had his first dentist visit, the whole family of dentists and my dad joined in to extract ONE tooth. Maybe the “amok” style of resistance is genetic eh? =)

I was a bit bemused that I didn’t witness it first hand, but felt happier when they got home and I was the only one our son will talk to. He was babbling in my arms and touching his bald head, while he others tried to win his favor back with chips and milk. It broke my heart to see him so sad that he has no hair on his head anymore. But the next day, he was in a good mood again, and I bet, more comfortable with his new look.

I hug him and chant “oh mysterious crystal ball, tell me what the future holds” while massaging his head. He hates it when I do that.

———————————–
Advertisement: Dneero survey on Relationships

No Comments

Posted by Mommy Woobie on April 10th, 2008 in Baby Basics, Baby Quirks, Proud Mommy

Merci beau coup! Je t’aime beau coup!

I got attracted to this baby shower brand name initially because of its relation to my favorite language besides my native one and English. As you can see I keep their products at the left side of my blog and they help beautify stuff around here with their cute products. I bet most of you will agree when you see why I think so. Read on…

Wedding Favors from beau-coup come in several shapes and sizes, all functional and whimsical. From hand fans and fortune cookies to sachets and small bottles of travel toiletries, all of which can be personalized according to the bride and groom’s wedding motif.

Bridal Shower Favors in my opinion should be the most whimsical of all. Even more whimsical than those of a debut. The bridal shower is a lady’s last look at single life and thinking about it makes my eyes water. My favorite product is definitely these mini bags.

Now for my favorites of favorites (attention girlfriend lurkers who are pregnant and hating the biggie feeling but will love it all later). Baby Shower Favors from beau-coup should be seen by all pregnant females because they will give your baby the attention she deserves even when she’s still inside her little nest near your heart. The keyword is ‘hype’. People will get hyped to meet her as soon as they attend her baby shower and receive these giveaways. I am partial to the tea bags because I am a tea drinker but the rest are just as marvelous!

No Comments

Posted by Mommy Woobie on March 21st, 2008 in Baby Basics, Kids' Imagination

I am writing about this site that sells wedding invitations, baby announcements, birth announcements and holiday photocards because of several features that caught my attention. First off, the invitations they sell are unique, cheap and diverse. They sell worldwide and on short notice. The designs are customizable, and best of all, can be used on several products. Example, the bride and groom (or their event planner) can choose one design and use it on the invitation and the thank you note, for consistency.

What I loved most is that there’s an etiquette section where tips on how to word an invitation are are provided. My Emily Post decorum knowledge is limited to the debutante section, as I was forced to read on that when I was 18 and planning my debutant ball, so I am a bit rusty. Here’s an example of an invitation tip I got from this site.

The best idea I got was this: invitations that are shaped like your county, state or country. Not only does it tell people at a glance where the party will be held, it also provides for creative presentation of a simple event to make it seem like the grandest event of the year in the locality.

No Comments

Posted by Mommy Woobie on March 2nd, 2008 in Baby Basics, Family Quirks, Mommy Alert

When I was single, I never minded when people told me “your style is so last year”. In fact, I was very amused that people will pay so much attention on clothes and accessories.

This is the reason why I am confused at the feeling of inadequateness which stems from people asking my child directly (though I know it is definitely directed at me), “Hello. Your mom dresses you funny?” This is often said by family and relatives, not by strangers, so I am supposed to laugh it off right? The problem is, I couldn’t.

I’ve been browsing magazines and looking at fashion sites trying to acquaint myself with the nuances of the fashion world. I looked for fashion schools new york first because I read that new york fashion schools are the most up to date in terms of fashion trends and forecasts.

The hubby has his own sense of fashion, and he is the first to joke that I am color blind when it comes to picking clothes for our son to wear when we go out. I try my best to match colors, socks and shoes, but sometimes I have to admit that my own sense of fashion is reflected in the way I dress my son.

Baby fashion is so dynamic. We go to gatherings and I see moms parading their sons and daughters clothed in the latest styles. Doesn’t brand even matter? I mean, even if my son’s going-out clothes are mismatched, they are branded! Socializing as a mom is so different from that as a single girl. (sighs)

My hubby told me that the way I think now is a symptom of being a Stage Mom someday. I respond spitefully and tell him, “It will help if you stop calling me color blind!” I mean, being color blind is a guy’s trait (genetically heritable), so there’s no way that I am clinically color blind. Perhaps when we migrate to the US, he will earn a lot and send me to a fashion school in new york.

No Comments