An Early Welcome to the Terrible Two's

I cannot even believe we are here now, at 22months, Isla has entered the dreaded Terrible Two's. There was just no way to prepare for it, we didn't even realize we were on it until I googled it and like experiencing a storm, she has put us in the eye of it. In this stage, the only constant in our life is the word "NO". However, from what I've heard, just like any phase, this too shall pass...right?!...I hope...I pray😅

I really wish I can give you some goods on how to deal but since we had just entered this stage, I too am just working my way around it. I think we have made some great progress on some areas and still trying to figure out others. I had just gotten her out of the "NO" to clothes. Yup, she didn't miss out on that one, unfortunately. For some weeks, we have to fight every time I had to dress her, whether it's for bed or going out. Our morning involves with me fighting a shirt on her and her trying to figure out how to kick pants or shorts off. I tried, facing her to the wall, even letting her choose what to wear but both just did not work with our strong-willed daughter (not ready to call her stubborn just yet). What worked? One morning, I put on her choice of top and shorts to school but she still screamed and cried like it was burning her skin. I had to let her cry it out and when finally calm, sat her down and explained that clothes are a must when going out, said sorry that I upset her for forcing it. She hugged me and it has been a more workable situation since then. So a big no during this time is forcing things on them. I forgot that our little person can understand me now if I explain things simple enough. A choice of you stay home or you go to school with clothes worked great!

Now, we are in the world of "NO" to anything. She is upset about church taking so long so she pranced around for 10minutes saying "NO"; she is upset she can't play in a puddle and she stood upset in front of it saying "NO"; she was told to take a bath and she laid in her bed saying "NO". Everything is a NO. I think she knows that NO is now a choice. She can choose to say NO. She can use the word NO on anything that displeases her. I mean, I did, I said no to her numerous time on things I didn't want her to do...now she does it too! Game plan: Use it less often. I am now practicing, thinking of the many ways I can get her not to do what I don't want her to do without saying the word NO. Current progress: Some Success (yey!)

Speaking of choice, this is also apparently the time that they've learned that they can make choices, make decisions for themselves, and of course, she happens to love making a choice against mine. 😂 This one is tricky, so I've also come up with a plan, give her as little amount of choices she can get. Early on, I said that my will shall be done but these little humans are just like us adults, they have their own will and they are who they are. I offer choices but only of two, milk or water? Apple or water? Pink shoes or red shoes? Limiting her choices is less overwhelming for her and she then can make an easier choice without aggrevation.

Tell me, how is your terrible two's experience going? What has worked? I'd love some advice!

We're Sick...again!

Other than sleep troubles, one of the worse things that I ever had to deal with as a mom is sickness and if your baby/child goes to daycare, you know getting sick is just now part of the norm. Isla is going on her 7th month in daycare, illness is less often and by that I mean, she is not sick weekly anymore...now, it's bi-weekly! She goes to daycare three times per week, Monday-Wednesday and in her first 6 months, she would end every week sick, get better by Sunday and by end of the week she is sick again, a vicious cycle! The worse part about it, she has a baby brother who also catches everything that she has.

This week, my Isla had one of the worst one from daycare, FHMD (foot, hand mouth disease), no not the animal kind but the human kind, causes blisters in their mouth and later, in their hands and feet. It's viral so of course it comes with a cold and fever too. I say it's the worst because unlike ear infection (which she already had twice) where you can get antibiotic, this one just like a cold and would just run its course. Yes, Quino caught this one too, it was inevitable as it is highly contagious for kids their age.

Do you ever just feel like when your child is sick, the entire household is too? They get extra clingy so you can't do any work at all, if you do have a job, you have to call out because they can't be at daycare anyway, their energy is down and that sucks out yours, their appetite is off so you end up losing yours too. They also get so frustrated, totally understandable but somehow you get frustrated that they are and you still loose it? Well...I do. I hate it (real talk now!). I'm sure most moms are absolutely poised about handling illness but I have yet to master it even with plenty of practice. My heart aches for her pain and it's almost like nothing I do can make her feel better, and my body, well mostly my ears ache because of the constant whining and crying. I should be more understanding of her clinginess and drama antics, her whining and pining for me, and for the most part I am but I had moments when I lost it too. If only I can protect her from catching one and all virus and bacterial infection out there...hmmm..bubble girl?!

This week I was a walking spit and snot catcher, I was kicked and screamed at all throughout the day and night (by a frustrated and hungry toddler, she can't eat due to blisters in her mouth), I didn't shower for two days nor brush my hair, I haven't slept more for than two hours. My patience ran out at times and as she screams of frustration I did too, as she cried herself to sleep, I did too. She felt so bad and I feel worse for not being more catering or understanding, for not giving her what she wanted, for making her feel worse at times instead of making her feel better. This is one of those parts of parenthood that I just didn't expect and am still so clueless how to handle.The good news? Well, just as the doctor said, wait it out, and it will get better on its own.

Happy Meals

Offering solids to your baby and meal time for your toddler is one of the most exciting and also challenging time of motherhood. Fun to see their reactions when they try something the first time and annoying when they refuse something for the first time. I may had just been lucky that Isla so far is a good eater (don’t get me wrong, she dislikes a lot of things including fruits and some vegetables, not a big fan of pasta either) but I think that encouraging them to try flavors and food that you normally eat can make a difference in their eating habit. Here are some ways that I am currently trying and tried that worked for us so far and also writing a few things to keep in mind as you introduce your little one to solids.

1.       Make some and buy some

I wish I have more time to do this more often but I do enjoy making my little ones’ own food. Yes, very idealistic, most won’t have time but whenever you do, try it and if you can't, do buy. Jarred or packet baby food will cost you over $10 for a pack of 10 and if you’re in the stage where you're feeding your baby about 1-2 jars a day, that $10 of yours won’t last you that long. Buying fresh fruit or vegetable and throwing it in the blender, freezing it in an ice tray will cost a fraction! No need for expensive steamers or baby food blenders, regular blender will do just fine! I don’t always have the time so I mix and match home-made and store bought ones based on convenience.

2.       Do not be afraid to spice them up

If you do decide to make your own baby food, do not be afraid to play around with your own recipes. For a 4month old, start with just one vegetable/fruit at a time since not all can be processed by their baby stomachs and this way it’s easier for you to determine what food causes reactions. Give the same food for 3-4days before letting them try a new one. After their 6^th or 7^th month, you can start mixing veggies and fruits and I would even recommend adding spices in it! With Isla we gave curried squash, carrots with basil and oregano, ginger and cauliflower mixed with carrots (now she won't eat her scrambled eggs unless it's herbed or spiced). Since your palette is more advanced you pretty much can tell what would be a good combination. Introduce spices like paprika and herbs like thyme and basil or even sage! Some moms will stir away from salt and I do agree with that and I did until both my babies were about 7months when I started giving them a taste of any food on my plate that is safe for them to swallow.

3.       Research or Check

Before you get too excited in making them try all, do make sure you read on what food are safe for your baby’s age to try. Some fruits or veggies are more advisable to give at latter months of your baby. What I did introduce a little early were peanuts and eggs, both of my kids were introduced with peanut butter and egg at 6months. Very small amount and it doesn’t necessarily save them from getting an allergy from it but more are saying that introducing them early can lower that risk. So far so good for us, no allergic reactions on both!

4.       Offer what you have and what you normally eat

At 10months, I felt that Isla was ready to eat more. She had a few choppers to chew, she has also learned to spit out food if she bit too big. At this point, there isn’t anything I hadn’t let her try. If it was on my plate, I gave it (including spicy ones). Also at this age, they’re safe to have food that has milk in it so I was less mindful of that. From this point on I stopped preparing food for Isla and gave her what we have. Since we are rice eaters (Pinoy all the way), we gave rice and whatever we have that came with it. When we go out in restaurants, we offered her what Jeb and I ordered. If it’s taco, she will have a taco, if it’s pasta she will have that too, at 17months she’s had maki rolls (only cooked ones of course). What I noticed is that this encouraged Isla try food and now that she’s a toddler, she makes her decision if she likes the food or not.

5.       Encourage self-feeding

Many result to spoon feeding for many reasons and I do that too, I also spoon feed at times but I also do encourage self-feeding. At this time with my 7month old Quino, we offer little pieces of soft food or baby snacks for him to pick and feed himself; I also hand him pancakes, bread and even pasta to hold in his hand and eat for himself. I do spoon feed him for certain foods like rice and soup or purees. At 9months when Isla had her firm grip, I gave her a spoon and welcomed the mess at home to let her feed herself with a spoon. Now at 18months (by 12months she was an expert on spoon and self-feeding), she basically feeds herself and only require very little help from us in eating. I am able to enjoy my meal as well as focus on feeding Quino too!

6.       Do not force your baby/toddler to eat

This is probably the most important advice of all, sometimes, even I forget to do this. It’s hard especially during the toddler times when they would rather play than eat but do try your best to work your way around it (maybe they're not hungry or they just don't like the food you offered). The best way to go at this is by being cautious of your baby’s feedings. Make sure to time their bottle feedings vs meals so that they’re not full. For the first year, formula is more important and complete so offer more of that and make meals just an opportunity for them to try and learn to sit with you on the table. If they seem full or not interested in the meal, do not force it and adjust the rest of the day to make sure that their next meal time will be a better shot. Forcing them to eat when they’re not ready will make eating more like a chore instead of it being a natural part of the day.