Johnson’s Baby Bedtime Discoveries: Bedtime Believers!

Woke up real early, but my son saw me leaving and he got so upset. He thought I was going to work on a Saturday. Okay after sneaking out and walking to Aquanox a few blocks away, I arrived around 9:30 and wow, the place was filled with Mommy bloggers with their babies and kids.

I politely asked our Nuffnang coordinator if I could bring my son over, she said it was okay, so I rushed back home to a very upset little boy who wanted taho (soybean curd milk). I told him he could come with me to a Mommy party and Cow cheered up. Finally, after a busy week at work, we were finally going to do something together! and we left Daddycow at home haha :p

At the Bedtime Believer Awards, Cow got so excited! He loved the view from the top floor.

Oooh so many Mommy Bloggers! Good vibes to the old and new Mommy bloggers I met that day!

My son CowCow (well that's our lambing nickname for him at home). We had a nice Aquanox brunch- a hearty chicken sandwich with carrots, grilled chicken with rice and buttered veggies plus lotsa lemon iced tea. Nom nom nom!

Glad to see other Moms with their kiddies at the second floor



I love the lavender scent! Just like Mommy Vance, I wish there was a J&J cologne version of it
 

Our host Caren Bayhon-Yrastorza

I like her lovely ruched panel skirt!

Miss Minay Martinez and Christine Balingit talked about the successful series of Johnson's Bedtime Discoveries events:

♥ Johnson’s Baby Bedtime Discovery: Baby Bedtime A to Zzzs

♥ Characteristics of a Good Baby Sleep
Visit Mommy Peach post about the event held at the Cafe Via Mare, Power Plant Mall
 
♥ Nursery 101: Creating a Sleep Environment
 
♥ Mommy & Me Sparty: Benefits of Touch Therapy
Visit Mommy neaquino's post  held at the Cyber One Mall, Libis.

♥ Bedtime Stories: Bedtime Activities for Your Baby & Baby Lullabies
Visit Mommy on Top's post about the event that happened on a very rainy day at Dome Café, Makati City

So while I was eating my sandwich, they called out the Mommy winners. I almost choked on the carrots when they called my blog name out of nowhere and I wasn't sure about leaving my son alone on the top floor. Game naman sya and he didn't cry. I waved at him when I got downstairs, he was smiling.  I received this huge glass trophy which was very heavy and a nice bonus- a Rustans gift cheque. WOW!

I met new mommy bloggers- Vance, Marilyn, Dinia and Janese. I wasn't able to spot any of the regulars (except for Mommy Pehpot) I guess most of them were seated at the ground floor. It was also nice to see Miss Anne Franco of Nuffnang again :) 

After the event we went to Rustans supermarket at Greenbelt with my prize gift cheque- I decided to spend it on groceries. My son was so happy with all the treats he got! How timely. I'm thankful to J&J for the welcomed surprise! 

The Bedtime Believer Award Winners:

♥ Science of Sleep Award for the most comprehensive post- MommyCow
♥ Magic Of You Award for the mom who has tried the Johnson’s bedtime routine consistently and the routine has worked well for her and her child - happythoughtshappytot.com
♥ The True Bedtime Believer Award given to the Mom who has shown true willingness and passion to share her sleep discoveries to the online world- Pehpot.com

Cow's Favorite Bedtime Story Book

Our bedtime staple "Click, Clack, Moo Cows that Type" written by Doreen Cronin and illustrated by Betsy Lewin.

I got this book when I was still pregnant with Cowcow and I would read it to my tummy out loud :)

By the time, he was four, our son would go through the pictures before bedtime. He loves the animal sounds Tatay would make. Mooooooo! Moooooo!

My son just turned 6 yesterday and he reads this book on his own! This is his favorite bedtime book and his fave characters are the ducks in the farm. The illustrations are lovely and the story itself is very engaging for kids his age. 

Happy Father's Day, Tatay!

Dads are tough, but really soft on the inside. They like to butingting (tinker with stuff ) and fix things even when its not entirely broken. All kinds of Dads like sports on TV - boxing, basketball, sabong, football, jai alai, golf and tennis. The Dads I know work hard all week and sleep through the weekends.

Tatay is the person to turn to when Mommy says No!

Tatay and Grandpa deserve the best hugs. I'm so glad its a Father's Day weekend!

A Mother's Day Sonnet for Rosario

I've been going about town like a headless chicken looking for something special for my mom. I can't foresee my son doing this for me in the future, shopping for mommy presents. Maybe in 25 years, in some distant future when I finally throw a tantrum over getting another cardboard heart for Mother's Day. For now, I'm happy with the cardboard cut-outs I get from my giddy preschooler. As for my mom, she's always been picky with presents, it always has to be something practical, fashionable or worth the buck. Or else. Haha.

This was the best photo ever taken of me with my mom. My father took it with his SLR, back when cameras used film rolls and had mechanical apertures that made an authentic shutter click.  

Mom & Me at the beach. The Red Sea, 1981. 
I remember how windy it was, I could taste the salt in the air.

I got this sonnet thru my friend Rhamar's facebook account, she posted it as a tribute to her mom. Its a very apt piece for Mommies and since Mother's Day is on May 9, I think it sums up all the best thoughts on Mother's Day- definitely for Moms everywhere. Thanks Mrs. Seastres!

A Sonnet for My Incomparable Mother

by Joanna Fuchs

I often contemplate my childhood, Mom.
I am a mother now, and so I know
Hard work is mixed together with the fun;
You learned that when you raised me long ago.

I think of all the things you gave to me:
Sacrifice, devotion, love and tears,
Your heart, your mind, your energy and soul--
All these you spent on me throughout the years.

You loved me with a never-failing love
You gave me strength and sweet security,
And then you did the hardest thing of all:
You let me separate and set me free.

Every day, I try my best to be
A mother like the mom you were to me.

Batibot: A Childhood Fave Makes A Comeback

Huwag kayong aalis, babalik kaagad ang Batibot!

Don't you leave just yet, Batibot will return quickly!

This is their catchphrase before this children's show goes into commercial. Well, its been decades and the show Batibot is finally coming back on air at its new home on channel TV5! Yay!

For Moms who grew up in the 80s in the Philippines, Batibot just stirs up a lot of fond memories growing up.

Batibot is the local counterpart of Sesame Street and like the CTW production the show has puppets, animation and storytelling. The show is all set in a happy little neighborhood in the city called Batibot. Batibot in the vernacular means "small but strong and robust". 

Photos from Batibot Facebook Page 

The cast is lead by notable thespians who are forever known in their roles as friendly neighborhood people- Kuya Bodjie (Elder Brother Bodjie) who tells stories, Ate Siena (Elder Sister Siena) who breaks into song while giving out advice to kids, Kuya Ching (Elder Brother Ching) who is a funny jeepney driver.

Magandang umaga mga bata! ako si kikong matsing at paborito ko kumain ng saging!
Good Morning kids! I'm Kiko the Monkey and I love to eat bananas!

Kiko Matsing reminds me of Oscar the grouch, his body hidden behind wooden crates or boxes and just stays there throughout the show. But unlike Oscar, he's not grouchy at all, he just likes to asks a lot of questions.

The iconic Batibot mascot Pong Pagong (Pong the Turtle) who eats KangKong (water spinach). He stretches his neck out when he's happy

Batibot is currently in production and will air very soon as announced by TV5. Hope we could all introduce our kids to an old childhood fave- for every generation needs a show like Batibot.

Perlas na bilog wag tutulog tulog sabihin sakin ang sagot...ba be bi bo bu!!!!

Round pearl, don't sleep just yet, tell me the answer...ba be bi bo bu!!!!

Mommy_Cow on Twitter

Well my twitter address has a dash! So its Mommy_Cow!

So if you're a twitter addict hot mommy! Please do give me a follow at http://twitter.com/mommy_cow

I am working on some Cow sketches and dairy spots for my twitter page background. For now, my babycow rules as a wallpaper.

Milk me!

My Son's First Heartbreak: Goodbye our sweet Ring!

I've been putting off blogging about my son's first pets- we got hamsters! I guess I should have decided a lot sooner. Today, one of them died.

I am weathering my son's first heartbreak right now, our hamster just died an hour ago. 

My son found him very still, when he touched it, the hammy started vomiting. Our hamster was suddenly very sick, he was fine the day before. Our hamster wasn't moving, but he was breathing heavily. He still responds to his name. He was vomiting and in pain. Ring would really look at us pleading. Daddycow held Ring till his last breath.  Watching our pet die was emotionally wretching, there wasn't enough time to take him to the vet a few blocks away. Now everyone's crying at home.

Ring was such a sweetie. We love him so much! Cowcow named him Ring because he has this single white stripe around his body. He choose him from the litter because of this cute stripe.

My son is asking me why his pet suddenly died and where would his pet go? He told me its unfair his pet died and he doesn't want to lose the rest of the hamsters. Wish I could really comfort and assure him, but really its hard enough to see him cry like this. My son has never cried like this before.

Daddycow placed Ring inside a box with soft tissues as pillows. My boy has cried his eyes out and by the time, my son has cried himself to sleep, Daddycow and I will go out secretly to the planter boxes and bury this wonderful creature who came into our lives.