14-Pound Baby Boy Born In CA

Doctors at an Orange County, California hospital made a very heavy delivery over the holidays.
Richard Walker Sault weighed 14-pounds and two-ounces when he born two days before Christmas.
Baby Sault's mother underwent a C-section, but both baby and mom are said to be doing fine.
The big problem for the family now is that Sault can't fit into his baby clothes.
His parents have had to exchange all his clothes for bigger sizes.
Officials at Saddleback Memorial Medical Center in Laguna Hills say Baby Sault is one of the biggest babies they've ever seen.

NECN.com

Christmas Greetings 2008

Obama is in Manila?

Hilarious!!!

Christmas Eve: What's on the Menu?

Have you planned your Noche Buena menu?

It has always been a tradition of our family to spend Christmas Eve all together in our parents’ house in Kamias. We make every Noche Buena a feast. Two Christmases ago we had Lechón Baboy (roasted pig) -- it was a gift from my sister’s client. Last year we had Filipino Style Spaghetti, Roasted Whole Chicken, Gising-Gising, Humba (Braised Pork Belly), Lumpiang Shanghai (spring rolls), Oven-cooked Tuna Panga, and for dessert we had Fruit Salad and Leche Flan (as always requested by hubby) and Chocolate Brownies.

On Christmas Eve 2008 we will all hear the Misa De Gallo (Midnight Mass) in Holy Family Parish. After which we will feast on the food each family will prepare:

* Pasta c/o Timi and family - Spaghetti (with 2-4 different sauces) or Baked Mac/Lasagna
* Pochero c/o JB and family (Rheez will be the cook for sure…hehe)
* Seafood variety c/o Tues & Cris – Tulingan, Lapu-Lapu, Prawns, Lobsters (could be any of those, could be all…WOW!)
* Lumpiang Shanghai by me & family - Due to insistent public demand. LOL
* Hamon
* Mango Float by me again. This is going to be my first time to prepare this so wish me all the luck.
* Caramel Cake by Estrel’s with “HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESUS!” on it. Of course, all of these are for Jesus’ birthday celebration.
* Maybe we’ll all have wine later. *big grin*

Now we’re having a hard time thinking which should go first, opening of gifts or the food fest? Both are just überly exciting. :)

Please VOTE for JANUS and LEAVE a comment!

Hello mommies, friends, relatives and other contacts. Baby Central is in search for famous baby of the month (Jan ’09) and the theme is “funny face”. Please vote for JANUS and leave a comment. The most voted & commented baby will be declared winner. Janus is turning 1 on January and this would be a nice “balato” hehe

Here is the link of his photo: "THE MASTER OF THE HOUSE: HE RULES!"

You need to register first to be able to vote.

Thanks a lot!

All I Want For Christmas is My Two Front Teeth

Finally! Janus’ first tooth (or teeth) finally came out Monday Dec 8. I noticed it but was in denial. Even asked Vhic to check and if it was not just my imagination. I’ve been waiting for it since he was 6 months and when he was 8 months his gums were starting to look swollen, which is part of the teething process. That’s why when (I think) I saw a little part of his teeth I thought I might be again just convincing myself…LOL! He’s 11 months today, I thought they’d never come out until he turns 1. :( Our pedia said that if they come out all at the same time, Janus can get a slight fever or feel a little pain. It’s going to be a hard time for him, she said and I don’t want my son to go through all that. I am super happy to see his 2 front lower teeth, just in time for Christmas. Thank God for his teeth! =D

Protecting My Child’s Innocence

This is a repost from mrsgooding's blog about her daughter Bea Gooding's personal experience of racism. Let's help this mommy spread the word.


I’ve been living in New Zealand for close to 8 years now. I must say that compared to most Asian migrants, my daughter and I have had it good. Racist remarks have been few and far between over the years. Racial discrimination whether at work or at social occasions have been subtle enough to render themselves obscure. Perhaps having a Kiwi for a Husband made all the difference. Maybe, maybe not. We were immune from the racial jibes. The taunts. Or so I thought.

When silly remarks were made in the past such as ‘Asian b*tch’ or ‘Go home to your country’ , they were mostly ignored by us. I’m an adult. I can handle it. Heck, I even survived the racist remarks made by my Husband’s ex-wife to me when she found out we were getting married — ‘She’s only marrying you to escape the Philippines’. It angered me, yes, that’s true. But I also learnt to dismiss it as rants of a narrow-minded and ignorant individual.

Like I said, these things I managed and learnt to ignore over the years. I’m an adult. I can fight my own battles. I can choose to ignore and dismiss things as I go.

But sometimes, there are things that you can’t ignore. Especially if they are emotionally affecting someone you love more than life itself.

That someone is my only daughter, Bea.

Yesterday, she came home from school hysterical after a very traumatic bus ride. Three teenage boys taunted her and THREW STONES at her INSIDE the school bus while taunting her saying she doesn’t belong here and that she’s a bloody Asian. If she was not in a public place, who knows what extent they’d go to in their desire to be hurtful and destructive. I shudder at the thought.

It took all my herculean effort not to break down while my daughter narrated what happened to her over the phone.

I rage at the thought that this happened while my daughter was on her own without her family to protect her.

I rage at the thought that this is happening to a child who’s done nothing to deserve this treatment.

I rage at the thought that my daughter is being robbed of her childhood, her innocence. She is only 11! My daughter has started questioning her right to be in this country (this is not the first act of racist bullying she’s experienced). She may not be born in New Zealand but she is a New Zealander and has lived here more than half her life! We pay our taxes, we obey the law and we deserve to be treated with respect.

I rage at the thought of doing nothing.

When it affects my daughter’s welfare, I will speak and stand up for her rights.

So today, I make a stand.

I make a stand to STOP. RACISM.

As parents, you may think that silly remarks like ‘Asian b*tch* or ‘Lazy Maoris’ or ‘bloody nigger’ are harmless. But when spoken out loud in front of impressionable children, these can be taken as the ‘norm’. That it’s ok. Those children will grow up to become teenage bullies who will think nothing of what they say. Because they heard and learnt them from YOU.

PROTECT MY CHILD’S INNOCENCE.

Protect your children’s innocence.

I will not wait for anything worse to happen to her before I speak up.

I will not wait for her to question her life and the reason for loving and living in this country.

I will not wait for her to tell me ‘Mum, I want to go home.’ Because this is home for us. This is where we are building our family’s memories. New Zealand is the country we are re-planting our roots.

I will not allow for my daughter to consciously start mixing exclusively with her ‘own race’ to protect herself.

I will not wait till it’s too late. I don’t want to feel the anguish of Megan Meier’s parents have gone through with her suicide due to bullying at MySpace.

I want her to grow up knowing that this a better world for her. A world where people accept and respect you for you who you are regardless of the colour of your skin or station in life. A world where my daughter can grow up confident about herself and can stand up for her rights. Knowing that she is loved and that she is worth something.

Spread the word.

I am hopeful that each time my sharing gets read, it will make a positive difference in the way people view others. Remember, it takes one tiny step to make a difference.

STOP. RACISM. STOP. BULLYING.

Stop it now.

This is a battle worth fighting for. A war worth winning.

Baby Care: 5 Sweet Slumber Tips

Putting baby to bed will be easier and less stressful if you stick to a pattern on a daily basis.

Sleep is not something you can force on someone, despite of how much you want or need them to drift off. However, following a routine that sets the mood for the night is a brilliant way of making sure that your baby knows that it's bedtime. Follow these tips to guide your bedtime ritual, although feel free to add your own, unique traditions.


Tip #1: Establish a regular sleeping time for your baby. Eight in the evening might be bedtime most nights, but if your baby is displaying signs of sleepiness earlier, put him to bed earlier. An overtired and restless baby is harder to settle and will be more likely to wake during the night.

Tip #2: Set calming daily rituals to prepare your baby to bed like warm bath, brushing teeth and gums, milk feeding, light massage, reading books and listening to music. A baby who has been bathed, dressed in clean and dry pajamas, had his diaper freshly changed and has a happy tummy really should have no reason not to feel sleepy. By trying your best to maintain the night time routine, your baby will come to know what to expect. And by the time you bring out the lavender oil, he will know it is time to lay his head down to sleep. The last feed should be accompanied by calmness, and an air of relaxation encouraged. Try to make time to feed your baby when you are not rushed with dinner, preparing lunches for the next day or trying to do dishes and help with older children's homework.

Tip #3: Exercise caution when choosing beddings. Make sure each item does not pose the risk of suffocating your baby.

Tip #4: Always keep all crib drop-sides up and locked in place whenever baby is in the crib. The crib should be positioned in a warm (or cool) spot in the room, should be clean and dry and arranged with the covers neatly tucked in.

Tip #5: Control the room lighting by using curtains and lamp shades to allow transition from active to peaceful sleeping time. It is even better if the baby's room has blinds or drapes that block the light from outside. Total darkness is not needed, just a little light present, for example from a night-light or a soft lamp is perfectly fine.

What to Expect When Your Baby Starts Crawling and Walking

Help your baby develop his coordination skills. Here are some mommy tips to share:

Crawling
Between 6 and 10 months, your baby will wiggle and stretch, then push himself up and take off. He may also shimmy, scoot on him bottom, or skip crawling entirely…lots of babies do. To help develop a crawler's coordination:

• Fill a baby proofed room with cushions and boxes he can crawl over, under, or through.
• Pump up some music, plop down on all fours next to him, and swing to the beat. He'll likely imitate you.

Cruising
Soon after he can stand, between 8 and 13 months, he'll most likely try taking steps while holding on to furniture. First he'll drag his feet sideways, but eventually he'll pick up his legs. To bring him closer to walking:

• Push furniture together so he can glide around a room.
• Stand him on your lap, then slowly move each of your legs up and down so he can get used to shifting his weight.

Walking
Between 9 and 14 months, your baby will let go of the couch and take his first steps. He may be unsteady at first, but to ease him along:

• Let him go barefoot so he can balance better.
• Stand a few feet away from him while holding a toy. With practice, he'll walk confidently toward you to grab it.

THE SPOILED BABY MYTH

Can you actually spoil a baby?

Your baby cries a lot and you're uptight. You're not sure if you're supposed to soothe him or let him weep.

You are not alone. Many parents know very little about what to expect from babies. Your motherly instinct may be to comfort him, while friends and relatives tell you "No, you'll spoil him." The question is can you spoil an infant?

Spoiling means teaching someone to expect that his every demand will be met each time he makes it. Babies under three months exist in the present. And because crying is your infant's only way of telling you something is wrong, you need to listen to him so he can begin to make the connection between his cries and your reassuring, which happens around 6 months of age. Even then, an older baby probably is incapable of manipulating you to get your attention.

Young babies should not have to wait for a response, either. Too much stress on an infant's nervous system such as crying continuously is not healthy for him development. After three to six months, you can try stalling your response a bit with a gentle "I'll be right there", but it's never a good idea for babies younger than 6 months to "cry it out."

So trust your gut -- pacify your new baby when he weeps. Turn a deaf ear to everyone's advice not to your baby's cries.

Top 5 Gift List for Girls This Christmas 2008

This Christmas, the most popular toys for girls follow a pattern. Girls love dolls, stuffed toys and make-up, but they also love electronic and video games and lifelike puppies!

Here is the Top 5 gift list for girls this Christmas 2008:

High School Musical Three Dance Mat
Songs from the popular High School Musical series of movies are featured here. This is the perfect gift for any High School Musical fan; the High School Musical 3 dance mat will shake your body in your own private spotlight in a style that will make you want to be any favorite character of it.



Baby Born with Magic Potty
For your little girl who loves to play with dolls, the Baby Born with Magic Potty is a perfect gift. When you feed her or give her something to drink, she needs to use the potty! When you place the pacifier with in her mouth, she'll close her eyes.


Barbie Dolls
Barbie dolls and their accessories are the best-selling fashion doll of all times. It gives little girls a chance to play pretend with fashion, houses, furniture, cars and other "real life" toys.


My Life
With My Life Handheld, you choose and care for a pet, play fun games and go on fabulous shopping trips, all in the palm of your hand You can customize your character, choose your size, style, fashion and look, right down to the color of your eyes. Build relationships with virtual friends, family and pets.


FurReal Biscuit, My Lovin' Pup
The lovable mutt features voice recognition and obeying six commands, including, "Sit", "Speak", and "Lie down". Biscuit uses sensors to respond to your child's voice and touch. Biscuit wags his tail and barks, too, to let you know he's ready to play, he even "shake" at your command, lifting his paw to your hand or sit up and beg, just like a real pup

It also goes with Plush pup, collar, tag, plastic brush, plastic bone, and adoption certificate.


Elmo Live Doll
The Elmo Live doll is very lifelike and he talks with a moving mouth, just like a real person! Elmo Live mimics the real muppet from Sesame Street. His head bobs back and forth and he waves his arms and is very animated as he tells jokes and stories. He even crosses his legs while interacting with your child! Elmo Live does more than sit, stand and move he can sing and play games too. He's a favorite in the neighborhood and a must-have friend for children. He laughs loud yet stands proud with every little accomplishment.

** This article has been published here. **

World Aids Day: major milestone in the long struggle

1 December 2008 is the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day this year also marks a major milestone in the long struggle against this disease. More than 3 million people in low- and middle-income countries are now receiving life-prolonging antiretroviral therapy. The response to AIDS changed the face of public health in profound ways, says WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan, reflecting on some of the achievements of the past 20 years.

Source: World Health Organization

Cyber Monday Deals 2008 Just Got Better With Website Coupon Codes

For those who are in the USA, this may come in handy…

CYBER MONDAY just got better. CyberMondayDiscountCodes.com offers discounts and coupon codes for shoppers during the holiday season. CyberMondayDiscountCodes.com is your one stop online shopping gateway for Cyber Monday discounts and coupon codes. Cyber Monday 2008 falls on Dec. 1. Cyber Monday falls on Dec. 1, 2008, the first Monday after Thanksgiving. Cyber Monday offers deals when you shop at the top 20 Internet retail shops such as Amazon, Walmart, and the Apple store.