Welcome to Holland - a source of comfort for parents raising a child w/ a disability

This is such an inspiring read. How do you put into words the experience of giving birth and raising a child with a disability? Emily Perl Kingsley, writer for Sesame Street, found the best analogy for it...

 

 

Welcome to Holland

 

BY EMILY PERL KINGSLEY

 

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability – to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this...

 

When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip – to Italy.

 

You buy a bunch of guidebooks and make wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The

 

Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.

 

After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."

 

"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."

 

But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.

 

The important thing is they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place full

 

of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.

 

So you must go out and buy new guidebooks. And you must learn a whole new

 

language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you never would have

 

met.

 

It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after

 

you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around...and you

 

begin to notice Holland has windmills...and Holland has tulips. Holland even has

 

Rembrandts.

 

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy...and they're all bragging

 

about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say,

 

"Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."

 

And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away...because the loss of that

 

dream is a very, very significant loss.

 

But...if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to go to Italy, you

 

may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things...about Holland.

 

***

Longtime Sesame Street writer Emily Perl Kingsley has been advocating for people with disabilities since 1974, when her son, Jason (co-author of Count Us In: Growing Up With Down Syndrome), was born with Down syndrome. In 1987, she wrote Welcome To Holland, which has remained a source of comfort and inspiration ever since. Source:National Down Syndrome Society)

 

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Sweet Pea's First Toys

I admit I can be a spoiler to my kids when it comes to buying them toys. I am a bit guilty of this for the sole reason of not saving the money for more important things instead. But I believe and I can justify to any court (hehe) that toys play a big role in any child's life. I mean, is there anything more important than giving our kids happy childhood and playtime with toys that drive their imaginations wild?

With Big Sis, buying her a toy is more of a reward for something she has accomplished at home or in school.

With Sweet Pea, toy choices are limited to baby toys that stimulate her mind and senses. I just love baby toys! Here are some first picks for our Sweet Pea.

1. My Pet Violet by Leapfrog (Php 1,500.00)

For our first Christmas gift for her, its none other than the talking stuffed dog, Violet by Leapfrog. After making my rounds at Toys r' Us, I picked this smart toy because I am impressed with what it can do. Its perfect for babies because its soft and cuddly. I also like toys that can grow with my kids.

• Recordable with popular nursery rhyme songs and phrases from the Leapfrog website via USB cable ( I had fun recording!Yay!)
• Soft and cuddly
• Teaches the Alphabet, Colors, Numbers
• Lights up
• Personalize by recording baby's name and favorites!

• 2009 Baby Talk Magazine: Toys of the Year/ Dr. Toy: Best Picks - New Products

2. Stacking Cups or Barrels (Php 100.00 - 300.00)

• A classic baby toy. This is a simple toy but have big learning benefits for our babies! Doubles as a fun bathtime toy too! Simple toys engage our kids' imaginations more than those expensive hi- tech electronic toys. Think simple teddy bear vs. Furby.

3. Elephant Rings (Php 300-600)

• another classic baby toy! I got the cheap kind for only Php 50.00 which is a smaller version of this. I really don't want to spend on something my baby will outgrow fast. Its ok to forget BPA for a short while. Hihi!

4. Teether Beads by Bright Starts

This is the cutest teether among all the others. Bright Starts just makes adorable stuff for babies, don't you agree? We actually got Sweet Pea's bouncer from Bright Starts too.

• easy-to-grasp flexible ring with teethable textured beads stimulate baby's senses.

5. Sophie Stuffed Doll & Lulu Tutu Hippo by Lamaze

 

I like it when baby toys have built-in links which can be easily hooked to the crib and stroller. Lamaze makes these great stuffed toys that are perfect for babies! I love the different types and colors of fabrics used in them. This Sophie doll even has a squeaky body when pressed! The skirt makes a crinkly sound too.

 

that's the hook im talking about!

I just want to share, does your baby have a favorite random object at home that he or she likes to hold and lick all the time? My Sweet Pea just loves fiddling with remote controls. It must be the tiny buttons that attracts her, or the simple blackness of them. I found several toy phones that play songs and sounds when the buttons are pressed. But I wish toy manufacturers create toy remote controls that look like the real thing-- none of the cute colors or animal sounds in them. Babies like it simple, just like the real thing. I bet it will be a sure hit with mommies!:D And OMG, I just tried to search online (as of writing) if there is indeed a toy remote control that actually looks like the real thing and you wouldn't believe what I found!

The smart brain behind it is actually a mother too! She came up with a toy remote control that doubles as a teether! The brand is Kiggle with the tagline- "Inspired by children, Designed by their mom." I wonder where I can buy this???

And this? Sweet Pea's next favorite chewing toy is my iPhone too!

If you are itching to know more about these just-like-the-real-thing toys,here is Kiggle's website link: http://kiggletoys.com/

 

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Summer Stash 2013

How I love summer! I just hate that it is way warmer than the previous years. I don't like walking under the scorching sun. What do I like about summer?

the bright neon colors everywhere you look, especially in clothes,

loose tees and shorts,

flip-flops and sandals,

sunblock and swimsuits.

To prepare for our summer getaway, I was out looking for a good sunblock for my kids. I picked this pink Coppertone Baby Sunscreen with SPF 50. What I like about it is the smooth creamy texture, not the liquid runny type. I love how I can easily dispense the product by pressing on the pump. It also claims to be "very waterproof". I like stuff made for babies because obviously they are gentle and can be used on the face.

I like this better than the Hawaiian Tropics baby sunblocks which I used on Big Sis when she was little. These has strong floral scents to them which I am not a fan of when it comes to baby products.

Sunglasses

This year, I didn't want to spend a lot on shades. I found some good ones for less than P500! Head on to Forever 21 and Nava (Greenhills branch) and go ga-ga over the cute stylish sunnies!

I got two from Nava because I couldn't decide which to pick! One is shown on the first photo above.

Swimsuit

I have never been excited about swimsuits since I was a kid. I remember my mom picking out this pink animal-printed swimsuit when I was little. There was also a time in college when I tried several 2-piece bikinis in the fitting room but ended up not buying any. After giving birth with the stretchamarks and all, the only swimwear I bought was from a few years back. It was this brown tank top that had huge floral prints in them. I bought it in a hurry without even fitting it first. Seven summers later, I wore the same tanktops with boardshorts.

This year is different though.

I actually gained enough pounds and nerve to wear a monokini! Its the swimsuit with cut-outs on the sides. Yes, I am being fashionable now!Lol I don't know but I just felt sexy trying it out in the fitting room. And feeling sexy inside is all that matters, right?haha I would like to mention that I had a super stretched pregnant tummy with two of my babies and nothing prevented those nasty stretchmarks from coming into being! I actually think they are alive sometimes! Nah, I like to call them battlescars. But the bandeau top monokini concealed most of my battlescars- at least the ones near the center were covered by this 2 inch strip of fabric that nicely ran along my tummy. I felt instant confidence and hope that my bikini days aren't over yet!

I also found this white knitted cover-up to hide my battlescars, it actually gave the illusion I had none! To all mommies who have super stretched bellies like I do, the monokini is a lifesaver! It brought back the fun in shopping for swimsuits! Trust me!

Enjoy the rest of the summer!

 

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Celebrating Mother's Day out of town

Happy Mother's Day to us! I am blessed to be able to spend this day with my family at the beach! Here is a photo of me wearing Sweet Pea by the shore-- my favorite get-up!

More on our vacay when I get home. Enjoy your day!;)

 

 

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Five Minute Friday: Comfort

Its been ages since I participated in this Five Minute Friday challenge. The word is " Comfort ".

Oh, and I'm only given five minutes to write.

The word comfort is well perfect for what it stands for.

Comfort is snuggling in my favorite blankie and pillow,

Pressing my cheeks on my daughter's soft cheeks,

Comfort is that small space next to the man I love.

It is wherever or whatever that makes me feel that serenity, peacefulness within me.

Sometimes, a big greasy burger or a few slices of pizza does the trick too. ;)

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That baby fresh scent

I rarely put cologne on Sweet Pea. Her natural baby scent is always the sweetest smell for me! I believe all babies are born with that unique scent and no cologne or perfume can beat that. One sniff from Sweet Pea's leeg (neck) or feet drives me nuts!

I have always preferred colognes/ eau de toilette types than perfumes. If there is one perfume that I like its Light Blue by D&G. I also like the simple scents of Amazing Grace and Pure Grace by Philosophy

Bench also has their Bambino baby scents and they come in two variants, one is pink and the other blue. I still have some left and I couldn't throw it away! But none of these comes close to that baby fresh scent I sooo love.

This is weird but I finally found the perfect baby scent for Sweet Pea and it was while I was changing her diaper.

Its not a cologne, but in a tube of diaper cream! It is made by Mustela and they call it the Vitamin Barrier Diaper Cream. I can't quite explain how fresh it smells! Whenever I put some on her, I can't help but sniff the cream from my fingers! I think I'm addicted to it! I also dab some on Sweet Pea's neck and underarm skinfolds when they show redness.

I was wondering if Mustela had their own cologne and when I dropped by one of their kiosks in Trinoma, I had a chance to try their bottled scent called Musti which is a eau the soin, which has no alcohol.

 

I tried 2 types, one is a Spray Refresher which has a very light scent, the other is this Musti scent in a bottle. Sadly, none of those two smells like their diaper cream! Argh! I later learned that that scent from the diaper cream is Mustela's signature scent but I wonder why Musti doesn't quite smell like it? Or maybe, my nose was clogged that day? But I will surely get one of those Refresher Mist which the saleslady recommended to get rid of the maasim na amoy in baby's hair ( Honestly, I don't think I wanna get rid of that smell too!haha).

In my quest for that fresh baby Mustela scent, I ended up sniffing each of the baby products! Good thing the saleslady didn't mind. And I was so happy that their Baby Shampoo has that same baby fresh scent I'm looking for! Sweet Pea ran out of her Carters shampoo already and its good timing that I discovered Mustela's baby shampoo. The Carters Shampoo and Body Wash Duo that my sister sent also has a light fresh scent that lingers on baby's hair and skin. Sarap i-kiss at amuy-amuyin! I hope my sister does not forget to send me more of this.

Here are Mustela Shampoo's product details:

Ultra-gentle shampoo. Cleanses hair with its ultra-gentle plant washing base containing chamomile and coconut oil extracts.

Properties:

Respects baby's delicate hair and scalp.

Will not sting the eyes.

Prevents tangling, leaving hair soft and shiny.

Leaves the delicate signature Mustela scent on baby's hair.

Hypoallergenic - specially formulated to minimize the risk of allergic reactions.

6.7 FL. OZ

• They also have a no-water or soap rinse cleanser that you can use to wash baby when water and soap are not on hand which is also great, don't you think?

 

Here's my stash of Mustela stuff. I am definitely going to grab that refresher soon.:)

 

 

 

 

 

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Yes, I am a Speck lover! ( not the knock-offs!)

I am a bit obsessed finding the best protective covers for my gadgets. My favorite brand when it comes to quality and cuteness factor is Speck and both my iPhone and iPad wear it. I like how Speck packages their products, I'm a sucker for cute packagings! And of course, they do the job of guarding our precious gadgets pretty well too.

For my iPhone, I use:

- Candy Shell by Speck

• (Features / Product info taken from the Speck website)
• CandyShell case fits iPhones
• Dual-layer casing. Patented design provides two layers of protection in a single-piece, pop-in construction.
• Hard outer shell. Strong exterior guards against impact, while glossy finish helps these iPhone 5 covers slide in and out of pockets with ease.
• Soft inner layer. Rubbery interior absorbs shock from occasional bumps and drops.
• All-around protection. Raised bezel keeps screen safe and pristine; rubberized covers shield buttons.

For my iPad:

- Pixel Skin HD by Speck

Fits iPad 2,3 and iPad 4

• Versatile stand. Reading Engadget®? Updating your Facebook® status? You get two convenient angles—for typing and viewing.
• Instant On/Off. Open PixelSkin HD Wrap and—voila!—your iPad wakes up. Close it, and your iPad goes to sleep.
• Bump-proof bezel. Because accidents happen, the PixelSkin HD Wrap puts a raised bezel around your iPad. If you drop it, the bezel can take the brunt of the impact—instead of your screen.
• Easy-to-hold design. The elegant, repeating pixels create a textured, grippable surface. So your iPad is even more of a joy to hold and behold.

I went around SM Annex and found this to be the only one that fits my criteria. Costs Php2,000.00 plus. I couldn't resist this bright pink rubbery textured wrap. It really hugged the iPad tightly around all sides. Dirt had no way to enter it because the iPad looked clean when I removed it 2 years later! I also like how I can just place my iPad even on uneven surfaces without fear of it sliding to the floor. The pixelized rubber has great grip like that. Thanks to Speck, my iPad remains scratch-free to this day- and that's without any plastic film screen protector ha! Big Sis also dropped the iPad like 2 to 3 times already and Pixel Skin cushioned the blow!

I am very satisfied with how it protected the iPad. I just had to change the cover recently because of these 3 legit reasons only and I don't blame Speck for any of it.

Reason # 1: One of the folding flaps is starting to detach. This could be due to wear & tear, and yes, even the good ones if sat on, laid on and munched on by a 10kg baby breaks too. The Pixel Skin has served my iPad well for almost 3 years. Well, I have to admit I felt a teeny disappointed because I thought it would last without breaking, but hey, 3 years plus 2 kids plus 1 multi-tasking mom who always brings the iPad to the kitchen (tapping away with oily garlic smelling fingers searching for an online recipe).

 

I would love to put an adhesive tape on it just to keep the crack from detaching all the way, I know it can still do its job for many more years except the folding flaps won't serve to mount the iPad anymore and second reason is,

Reason # 2: The hard edges can hurt Sweet Pea if she accidentally bumps her face on it. Its really not made with babies in mind and again, I don't take this against Speck. You can feel how much I adore them. I was actually looking for a more kid-friendly cover that can survive Sweet Pea's teething stage at least.

Reason # 3: Sawa factor. Uh-huh, seeing the new colorful ones sold in Greenhills just makes me drool. Forget about function, I had my eyes set on those chic Marc Jacobs and Cath Kidston printed covers! But then another iPad wrap from Speck winked at me...and its got hands and feet!

- Speck iGuy

• Fits all full-size iPads (even the new iPad 4!)
• Kid-tested. With flexible, foam construction, the lightweight iGuys are the perfect iPad accessories for families with young children.
• Free-standing. For cartoon hour, the iGuy stands at attention—while it holds your iPad—offering a convenient viewing angle for short people.
• Plays nice with all iPads. iPad with Retina display? iPad 2? Original iPad? No problem. The iGuy holds ‘em all.
• Squeezeable. The iGuy’s little arms and soft foam make it easy—and even fun—to hold.

Definitely kid-friendly, baby- friendly too. Now, I am not worried leaving the iPad within Sweet Pea's reach. The foam has the same feel of the material used by Crocs shoes. The arms work great when I hang the iPad high on the bed's rails when the kids are watching movies.

We bought it at Greenhills for only Php450. I think its an imitation only ( sorry Speck! I am ashamed of this! ) because units sold at the mall would cost around Php1,500-2k. And so because of this knock-off, I found 2 annoying things that makes me regret buying it.

Fake iGuy cons:

- It makes charging the iPad such a pain in the tooot because the hole in the foam is not aligned to the charging port. So I guess, its a fake talaga noh?

- Its also such a pain in the (pause)... hands to remove iGuy from iPad. Sometimes I feel that constantly removing it can damage the screen in the long run. I need to remove the iPad from iGuy almost everyday because its too bulky to bring outside home. And its equally hard to put iGuy on again!

** I do not know how the original iGuy is different from the fake ones -- I assume the material used is not the Crocs-type of foam, and the holes for the charging port must be aligned well with the unit. And I believe the original one must be easier to attach/ detach from the gadget too. Right, Speck?

Crashtest by Sweet Pea:

- Fit-Folio by Speck

• FitFolio case fits iPad 2, iPad 3 and iPad 4!
• Slim-and-sleek cover. Specially designed to complement your minimalist iPad, the slim, lightweight cover looks good—and feels good, too.
• Instant On/Off. Open FitFolio and—voila!—your iPad wakes up. Close it, and your iPad goes to sleep.
• Smooth-snap clasp. When you’re on the go, closing the FitFolio is a snap.
• Fit-right cradle. The form-fitting cradle secures your iPad, when you're in hyperspace—shopping on Amazon or reading your Flipboard—and when you have to move around in the real world.
• Quadruple-angle stand. Reading? Writing? Re-watching that funny YouTube video? With four viewing angles, you'll get the one that's right for you.

This one caught my eye, again in Greenhills for only Php500.00 (So,its a fake too, I guess?). What I initially liked about the Fit-folio is the canvas material, and of course the nice stripes and color are a plus. They come in other artsy designs too. It has a school notebook or journal feel when you hold it. I am still trying to get used to how I can mount the iPad as shown on the right. I love how slim and light my iPad is now. I don't have much bad things to say about the Fit Folio. I have a hard time believing that this is knock-off too. The box looked authentic, as well as the look and feel of it. If this is a knock-off, whoever did the copying is a genius! Sorry, Speck, I really am not sure!

 

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