Paris on My Mind

Am so happy the rashguards my Mom sent finally arrived. Was too excited hubby and I brought her to the pool this afternoon. It was a bad idea though cause it started pouring as soon as we were in the pool. Saw baby shaking because it was too cold and had to go back home. There goes our holiday! Why is it raining like crazy when it's summer? Ugh!

Speaking of holidays, my hubby's designer flew to Cebu today for a weekend with the family. My hubby looked envious as he hasn't been to any of the beaches in the Philippines. How pathetic! He watched a show on BBC that featured Palawan and fell in-love with the beaches. We plan to go there for a short vacation this year. I should be fit by that time so I can get myself a nice bikini from Pucci or Missoni.

A friend is getting married in France this July and I might have to miss it (again)! Unfortunately, I have not been a fan of weddings. I missed the "big days" of most of my good friends. Sad, really, cause I am not there on their special day. I'm totally useless when it comes to these things. I would have loved to go to France though (can you believe I have never been?) but timing is really bad since I just started work. Hubby promised to bring me next year or when things are a bit more stable. Can't wait!

I'm looking forward to seeing Paris, Provence and the beautiful vineyards in Bordeaux and Champagne. My to- do- list in Paris includes eating in a Michelin star resto like Guy Savoy, visit the Louvre and of course shop at Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré and Avenue Montaigne in the 8th! Oooh! There are so many nice French brands for both mommy and baby, one I just read about is Vertbaudet which is the French version of H&M. Cheap and trendy, perfect for babies who grow out of their clothes so quickly.

Check out some of the pics from their spring/summer collection. They also sell nice maternity wear (good thing I am not pregnant).



Cute eh? Please take me to France now!

Baby on-the-Go

Was so happy to see my friend's baby again at my daughter's party. She is so tiny and at barely one month, she is already a party girl! She's a very good baby though, no matter where you take her, she is just quiet in her pram. In fact, I had to look a couple of times inside Bugaboo to see if she was really there! (If you read Shopaholic and baby, Becky Bloomwood went around shopping with a pram with no baby in it, don't ask me why!) She was so different from my daughter who's such a light sleeper, I couldn't even flush the toilet or else she would wake up! She also didn't like being swaddled or being confined to small spaces (hated the Snugglenest and baby positioner I got her).

For babies who don't mind their space being restricted and who likes being out with Mommy, I found the travel-friendly baby bag, the Lilliebaby EuroTote. It's a moses carrier, play blanket and travel bed all- in- one. Plus it has two interchangable covers for winter and summer (perfect if baby is Eurasian). It looks like a backpack where you can put baby, not too fashionable but functional. If baby is small and you are worried he or she might just slip out of the pram, you might want to consider getting one. This will come in handy too when camping out on the woods or the picnicking at the park. Have not seen this in Hong Kong yet, but you can order online at MySimon or TheBabyOutlet for US$129.

Easter Minus the Bunnies

Over the hills and far away... that's the opening line from my daughter's fave tv program, Teletubbies. She must be thinking, what kind of place is this? Not being able to see much grass in her life (that's what we get for living in a cosmopolitan city like Hong Kong). If I bring her to a golf course like Mission Hills Golf Club, she's probably gonna think that's where the Teletubbies live.

We were lucky enough to be invited to a nice barbeque party for a friend's birthday celebration in Lantau. My hubby and I were thinking it would be the perfect Easter Day celebration and would be nice to see Lantau. I have only been to the Big Buddha temple before, but not to the main island.The 45 min ferry ride was horrible (that's me being sick from the boat... and hating the smell too!) but as soon as we got there, the air was fresh, the water was nice and there were greens everywhere. It's refreshing to see place with no cars, no noise and no pollution (something Hong Kong is pretty known for). And, I found it cute that people travel using bicycles... and I'm not talking about the cool mountain bikes, but the old classic ones. What I liked the most were the seafood restos we passed by but didn't have the time to try them. We even saw some people catching cockles. Now, I'm craving for vongole pasta! Yum. Past the restos and the beach (about a 10 min walk) was finally the village where the party was at. It was a lovely house that had a beautiful garden, with a fish pond and all. In, Hong Kong that is a luxury!

My daughter was really happy to be around nature (and people for that matter!) and stepped into the grass barefeet. She loved it so much that she was walking and walking and walking as much as she can. She even liked the big dogs around (I admit I was the scaredy cat). She was so happy that she was smiling and laughing most of the time. My friend told me he's never seen any baby like her, very very sociable! She was even listening to another guest play the guitar, while dancing to his music! I must say my daughter is a party girl (starting young eh?)! She enjoyed the cucumber salad and the homemade sausages while I was munching away on the lambchops and garlic bread. Had a few glasses of wine too and that made me a wee bit happier! Was good to be with friends having fun on the garden with their children running around. Once you start having kids, you would start yearning to be with other co-moms and share views on baby's sleep patterns and potty training. What made my day was when one guest told me that her friend was reading my blog. I thought I knew everyone who reads it and that all were just close friends who were being supportive. She told me her friend loved the stuff I have been posting! Now, all the time I've been spending on the computer is worth it!

There were no Easter eggs, bunnies or religious ceremony (I don't think anyone was Catholic). Not the usual Easter I have been exposed to (having lived in Manila for most of my life where Holy Week is a big deal). But, what mattered the most is that my family was together and we enjoyed a simple celebration! Now, I'm sure Jesus or God would be happy about that! Amen!

P.S. Nope, we are not moving to Lantau inspite of the greenery and the peaceful atmosphere but, would consider visiting the islands more with baby especially this summer. For those who haven't been to Lantau, brave the ferry and see the "better" side of Hong Kong. And, don't forget to bring your camera (I did, stupid me) and some insect repellant spray.

Baby Goes to Manila

I've told you about mommy and baby's escapade to Manila last week. I am just so lucky that baby was fast asleep in the plane, the sound of the plane taking off plus the pressure lulled her to bed. Thank God!

Apart from having to carry heavy baby from the plane to the conveyor belt, everything went smoothly. I had more reason to ask for help since I have lil one with me. Filipinos are generally helpful and they don't mind carrying your luggage and pushing the cart for you. This is what I loved about Manila- having helping hands around. Personal chauffeur, nanny, laundromat, cook, name it! They make having a baby as easy as can be. No wonder the population of the philippines is round 90M. Woah!

The weather was pretty humid compared to Hong Kong, so it was a good time to let baby wear her tank tops and mini skirts. However, because of the bugs around, this should be kept to a minimum. She loved dipping the pool with her cousin to cool the heat off. If you would like to make sure baby is safe on the pool, get some baby floats at Toy Kingdom (there are some in Bumps to Babes, Hong Kong too).

She was very happy to have so many people around her and was thrilled with all the attention. Too bad she had to adjust to just me and daddy when we got back and was in tantrum mode. Babies tend to be very spoiled in Manila since family can be overprotective of baby by carrying lil pumpkin everywhere we go (Filipinos are a bit hesitant to let the baby cry). We trained my daughter to be more independent at home so she plays on her own and develops the will to do things by herself and resulted to her walking early.

Another thing I liked about Manila is everything is cheap (except for strollers and Louis Vuitton). There could be some nice clothes l at shops like Gingersnaps, Bayo Kids, Big and Small Co., Baby & Co. and the ever reliable Shoemart. I couldn't help but get something from Baby Gap though because there is no Gap in Hong Kong. Selling baby stuff is definitely a viable business because of shopaholic moms like us. Must check the new Greenbelt 5 and High Street for great finds.

You know what business (related to babies) is doing well there? The Picture Company. It's a photography studio where you can rent it for an hour and pay for the prints that you like. The price is a bit steep (although not that steep for someone earning in dollars) because it is in primary locations (Podium, High St. etc.). Other options are Stork in Makati, freelance hobby photographer Melai Luna (recommended by cousin-in-law) and Cres Yulo. I didn't have the time to schedule a shoot though. Hopefully, I can do this the next time we go back. That means I have to start scouting for her outfits for the shoot. Good thing she is too young to wear makeup. That's one less thing to worry about!

My daughter gained a few pounds (hence the painful arms after carrying her) in Manila because she just loved the "lugaw" or congee, our cook made for her. There goes her "no white rice diet!" She also loved the pizza from the buffet at Spiral where I just stuffed myself to death. Both baby and Mommy looked a wee bit chubby after the trip haha! Good thing hubby still noticed me when he picked us up at the airport. So it wasn't that bad!

Manila, I keep coming back to Manila. No wonder there is such a song! The warmth of the people, good food, affordable stuff and of course, family and friends would always be a reason to fly there in an instant! Til next time!

I'm Leaving on a Jet Plane

Traveling with baby can be a bit nerve-wracking especially if you are doing it alone. It's gonna be my first time tomorrow and it will be difficult to write about the do's and don'ts without experiencing it yet. So, I suggest you check my blog again after a few days and read about what actually happened.

What I've gathered so far from my FA (flight attendant) friend is:

1. Bring extra food (milk and potted food) in case the flight gets delayed.
2. Same goes for nappies.
3. To help babies ears, give her a pacifier or bottle when taking off and landing.
4. Bring toys and books to entertain baby.
5. Travel with a light pram. (Goodbye Quinny. Hello Maclaren!)
6. Bring extra clothes (and that goes for me too) in case of any accidents.
7. Bring the doctor's record, birth certificate and all important documents.
8. Pack extra milk (would be better if it came from where you live rather than buying. Even if it is the same brand, it might taste a bit different).

Other moms find it easier to travel with a carrier since the pram will be taken from you at the counter. I don't have one anymore since my daughter outgrew her Baby Bjorn. A better carrier for an 11- month old is the Ergobaby. Jessica Alba uses this brand. Available at Bumps to Babes for HKD750.



I'm also thinking of getting the inflatable tub since there is no bathtub in my bathroom in Manila. A cute one you can bring with you to the beach is the Munchkin safety duck tub, safety disc turns white if the water is too hot. My friend told me though it could be a pain to blow these things up.



I read about a travel vest babies can wear to help them with the turbulence. Although my FA friend said it's just a waste of money. If you don't care and would rather be safe, check out the Baby B'Air Flight Vest Travel Harness. Available at Bumps to Babes for less than HKD300.



If you don't have a high chair, you could also get a travel booster seat by the First Years On- The- Go. Also available at Bumps to Babes for less than HKD500.



And if you don't mind traveling with extra baggage, you can consider the pack and play portable pens and use it as a crib. Good thing my brother is lending me his so I don't have to worry about this. There are a lot of options at Toys R' Us for HKD500 up.

I'm starting to panic now as I am writing this. In fact, I woke up at 5am and she is still sleeping because I started worrying about what to bring. Just remembered that my daughter would probably need a bug spray too because of the mosquitoes in the Philippines. Good thing my cousin-in-law sells the Citronella spray from California Baby Products. And if in case I forgot something, good thing, there's always the good ol' Shoemart nearby. They are known for dirt cheap stuff.

For a complete checklist of what to bring, please visit this site: http://www.babyzone.com/baby/fun_travel/travel_b/article/traveling-checklist

Wish me luck!

p.s. Do you think I should bring Valiums too? Not a good idea!