iPad 2 for Kids: Apps and Downs

My wife and I were both initially hesitant to purchase an iPad for our 3-year-old daughter, Loriene. Our reason, primarily, is that she's too young to own the gadget. We were worried that it would take time away from more important things such as regular afternoon naps and play.

But the inevitable happened when, last Friday, upon arriving at her lola's house, we were surprised to see her two cousins playing with their own iPads. And yes, we fell into the trap of peer pressure. So the following day, Loriene got her own iPad, complete with all the essential Apps and accessories.

This decision gave us time to re-consider our thoughts about giving her an iPad. We know she's smart and is now able to follow instructions so it's just a matter of implementing the proper rules on its use.

We've set a reasonable time for her to play with her iPad, during which she can browse through her favorite Barbie and Hello Kitty Apps.

She can also learn the alphabet, numbers, and basic colors while at the same time having fun taking wacky photos of herself in between breaks.

And when iPad time is up, she's expected to go back to her regular daily activities which include active interaction with everyone at home while playing with her other "non-virtual" toys.

Quickly Diagnose Dengue in Children with the Obvious Signs and Symptoms

The deadly Dengue Fever is caused by the bite of the Aedes aegypti mosquito.

It's just unfortunate that a single bite can actually cause death to the infected person if not promptly diagnosed and managed.

In some cases, people delay consulting with their doctors thinking that what they have is just a simple flu, not knowing that it's already a fatal viral infection.

Almost three years ago, I was confined for a week due to Dengue and I must say that it was one of the most painful experiences I've had. It was so difficult and I can only wish that my family would not experience the same, especially my daughter who I believe is still so fragile to go through such an ordeal.

In order for us, parents, to quickly diagnose the infection, here are some of the most obvious signs and symptoms of Dengue that we have to know by heart:

-sudden onset of high fever

-severe headache

-joint pain

-rashes

-nausea and vomiting

-loss of appetite

-bleeding of the gums (Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever)

-dark colored stool (Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever)

Should you notice these symptoms, seek immediate medical attention for your children before it's too late. Demand for a Platelet count to ensure that it has not gone down to a very critical level. Also, make sure to increase fluid intake for adequate hydration.

Photo courtesy of My Jungle Life

Daughter's first time to walk down the aisle as a Flower Girl

Prepping up Loriene for this event was like a walk in the park. At her age (2.5 years old), we thought she'd give us a hard time during the ceremony itself, but she all proved us wrong.

A few days before the event, a TV program featured a wedding which showed a Flower Girl all dressed up and holding really nice flowers while walking to the altar. We told her that what she saw was exactly what she needs to do come the wedding day. And that made her beam with excitement. We knew from that day on that we're going to have one cooperative Flower Girl during the event. 

And to ensure her utmost "cooperation," we had to check in at the hotel so she can rest once in a while and keep her mood up. We also did not miss bringing goodies that would keep her from being irritable. And the result...

...one happy Flower Girl...

...and super proud parents!
(Photos courtesy of Adolfo)

My Holy Weekends Spent with Family

We were brought up by parents who do not work on weekends. I've seen how this has affected our relationship as a family in a very good way. 

Growing up, my mom and dad always made sure, no matter how busy they were, to take us to the malls to dine out after hearing mass together. Afterwards, we'd all visit our grandparents and spend time with them and our cousins. 

Now that I have my own family, I can proudly say that I've done all the best I can to keep such habit alive. The difference is that, I'm now the parent who always finds time to have bonding time with my wife and daughter every weekend. The smile on Loriene's face whenever we're out together never fails to make my day. It's a feeling I would never trade for anything.

And as a way of giving back to my parents for making us realize the true value of family and relationships, I make sure that no weekend is complete without a visit to the home I grew up in. I get very delighted every time Loriene would perform a song or dance number for her lolo and lola, and then get some reward for it from them.

Weekends spell fun for us and definitely, this is one tradition I would keep no matter what it takes.

Shop using the new Multiply Shopping Cart

Multiply.com just recently opened its Philippine office to reaffirm its position as the top social e-commerce site in the country. Even before this event, the fomer-social networking-turned-shopping site has already enjoyed this reputation ever since Filipinos started to innovate by using their Multiply sites to sell products online.

Now, with the steadfast support of Multiply.com through the unveiling of Multiply Commerce, Filipino sellers are now able to post their products using a Product Listing tool that's integrated with Payment Processing and Inventory Management. All they have to do is convert photos of their products to Listings.

On the side of the buyers, they are now provided with a Shopping Cart where they can simply add any available item they wish to purchase from sellers who have migrated to Multiply Commerce.

In the case of made-to-order items, services, and the like, shoppers can request for details first by clicking on the Inquire button which will then prompt them to initiate a conversation with the seller. Once order details have been finalized, an invoice will be sent to them with the payment options and instructions.

Visit the official Multiply Store Philippines and see how easy it is to shop using the new Multiply platform featuring a Shopping Cart integrated with Payment Processing.

   

Applying for Pag-IBIG House Construction Loan

While I was out of the country, I got news from my wife that she finally got the copy of the Transfer Certificate Title (TCT) of the property we've recently acquired. Now we're really a step closer to having that house we've both been aspiring for since we're really keen on applying for a housing loan with Pag-IBIG.

Aside from the TCT, we are also required to submit some more documents such as the Approved Membership Status Verification Slip (MSVS), notarized Housing Loan Application (HLA), photocopy of our updated Tax Declaration, our property's location plan and vicinity map, Certificate of Employment and Compensation, Certificate of Tax Withheld (W2), and copies of our latest Pay Slips.

I'm not sure though if my wife needs to bring all mentioned documents with her come the loan counseling appointment set this June. We're keeping our fingers crossed in the hope that our Pag-IBIG loan gets approved as soon as possible so we could already start with the house construction.

I'm sure Loriene's going to love her new home --- next year, maybe? or the year after that. =)