Thumbsucking

Right this very moment, the baby princess is thumbsucking. She mastered this skill when she was about 2 months old. At first, it was a hit and miss thing. She'll start by looking at her hand, then slowly,deliberately the hand would come closer and closer to her mouth and shoot! Thumbsucking galore. Right now, she doesn't need to look any longer, she just puts it straight in. What do I do when she thumbsucks? Sometimes, I remove it, sometimes I just let her. I believe its a phase she has to go through and if it gives her comfort and lulls her to sleep, then well and good. There have been different opinions about thumbsucking and the most common reason used against it is that it will cause bad dentition or something. But many previous thumbsuckers, now full fledged adults would attest this to be not true at all! Some say that it would eventually cause speech problems but i also read that this is if thumbsucking persists until 5-6 yearsold. But its not really an issue for me, as I watch her fall asleep peacefully and contentedly.

Chicken tinola

I was looking forward to a lunch of steaming hot, flavorful chicken tinola soup for lunch today. Last night, I requested it from our reliable designated cook of the household and was already imagining eating it. I was preoccupied with taking care of the little princess all morning and when finally I could eat, lo and behold, no tinola. Instead there was fried galunggong ( yummy and crispy) and soup with tahong/mussels. I sulked (for about 30 seconds, haha) and ate my lunch. For dinner, we'll be having chicken tinola.

I haven't cooked tinola before but i think (*wink*) its made this way:

(do enlighten me if i'm wrong)

After washing and cleaning your chicken (your choice of cut), saute it with garlic and onions. Then put water over it and let it cook. I'm not sure when you put slices of ginger, but you need to put some though. You then put your vegetables: papaya or sayote, malunggay leaves or sili/chili leaves and season with fish sauce. You just wait for the pot to boil then its done. Yummy comfort food.

Prelude: birthday cupcakes

For my dad's birthday, I had the idea of giving him cupcakes. I searched online and came upon Nadine's site, swirlsnsprinkles. I liked the pictures of cupcakes she had done before and immediately sent her a PM and specified my order: a dozen chocolate cupcakes, half with lemon buttercream frosting, the other with mocha buttercream frosting. For my dad, who is a music lover, I requested her to make musical themed toppers. I asked for a piano, guitar and some musical notes. Here's what she came up with:

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photos courtesy of hubby:)

All the toppers were edible and made of marshmallow fondant (although I think all of us hesitated before taking a bite of each one because all looked so nice, haha) The cupcakes were yummy, just the right sweetness to the choco cupcake and frosting. Thanks again Nadine!

READ the labels

I admit, its my fault.

I was on the lookout for a good baby shampoo for our baby, one that really smelled good. After a little research, i came upon a 2-1 instant foam shampoo. I know it comes in 2 variants, i got the magic melon scent. It really smelled good and it was fun to use on my baby because it was in foam form so it lathered real well. After about 2 months of use, i found out its intended only for kids 2 years and up! I assumed it being a tear free formula I could use it on my baby. I should have read the label. Good thing my baby didn't develop any allergy or anything. Another lesson learned by this new mommy. You can never be too careful when it comes to your baby.

Sweet Start

Last saturday, I went to Market!Market! with hubby, my parents and brother. After having Chinese food for lunch, I had the craving for cupcakes. Actually, I've been obsessing about cupcakes for a few weeks now. It started with me scouting for possible suppliers for my daughter's future birthday cake and seeing all these pictures of colorful cupcakes that looked yummy. Then I saw a show of Bobby Flay wherein he competed with a lady who makes really yummy looking red velvet cupcakes. After seeing that show, I was already on the lookout for a red velvet cupcake.

I already heard about Sonja's cupcakes before but never had the chance to try it. So after our lunch we went to her shop at Serendra and was right away excited by the sight of the red velvet cupcakes! So I got one of that, then I also got vanilla surprise and the pistachio cupcake, I forgot its name. My verdict, yummy! The cupcakes had the right moistness and flavor. I loved the cream cheese frosting of the red velvet. The buttercream frosting of the vanilla cupcake was a bit too sweet, but I like sweet so it was ok. The pistachio's whipped cream frosting was also good and the strawberries between the cupcake and the whipped cream was a delicious bonus.

I'm definitely coming back for more.