Malunggay Smoothie for baby boo

Hello, lovelies! How was your weekend? It's Sunday on this side of the planet so tomorrow's another week! Anyhow, I made my baby boo a Malunggay/Banana smoothie yesterday. We grow Malunggay/ Moringa Oleifera in our backyard and that made me extra happy! You know why? Moringa is jam-packed with nutrients that you wouldn't even need to take vitamins if taken everyday! It's dubbed as "Miracle Tree".

Here's a bit of information to back-up my rave with it:

• It has 7x Vit. C in oranges, 4x calcium in milk, 4x Vit. A in Carrots, 2x protein in milk, 3x potassium in banana.
• It is a weapon against blindness.
• Along with potassium, zinc is also found in large quantities in moringa.
• Anti-anemia as it contains 3x more Iron than in spinach. 
• Helps in balancing cholesterol in the body.
• Contains Essential Amino acids.
• Since it is immunity-stimulant, it is being prescribed to AIDS patients.
• Stimulates metabolism.
• Fights diabetes.
• It is a nutrition booster and is known to promote a feeling of well-being.
• Aids in weight-loss.
• Increases milk supply of lactating mothers.
• Famous for anti-bacterial properties.
• Paste of moringa leaves is said to beautify the skin.
• Protects the liver and kidney.
• Can be used as a water purifier.

Speaking of Moringa, I remember a conversation with my OB GYN on my 7th month pre-natal check together with my husband. My hubby asked her what  food that I should be taking often to promote good health both for me and our baby. She said to let me eat or take anything that has malunggay. As a naive foreigner, my hubby had no clue what that was! Honestly speaking, I also didn't know malunggay's english name at that time. boom!!! hahahaha! My OB GYN drew a cluster of small circles and showed it to my hubby and he was still clueless. Solution to the problem? I showed to him a picture of Moringa when we got home. Our backyard was barren back then. 

So here's what Moringa looks like...

I hear some "aha!" over there! LOL. ^__~

Here's the vlog that I made...

Overall, I think I'm going to try loving this "Miracle Veggie" as well. As a mom, I know that I have to be healthy all the time because I have a family to take care of. I also encourage YOU to incorporate Moringa on your daily diet; prevention is way better than cure. 

Health is a precious wealth!!!

Love lots,

Geline <3

11 Tag Questions

I was "tagged" by Jannah Marie Lopez (her blog here)..errrr... I read her post and I saw at the bottom she wrote "I tag YOU" so that counts, right? LOL

Rules to the Eleven Tag Questions:

1. Each person must post eleven things about themselves on their blog/ Facebook.
2. Answer the questions your tagger has sent you as well as create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.
3. Choose 11 people to tag and link them in your post.
4. Go to their page and tell them they were tagged.
5. No tag backs!
6. You really have to tag 11 people, not just say "If you're reading this consider yourself tagged!" or something like that.


11 Things about myself: 

1.I'm a God-fearing person and a believer.
2. I'm a wifey to an amazing Korean guy;  I'm a mom to an adorable half-Korean 'lil girl. :)
3. I'm a self-confessed 2ne1 fan. hihihihihi :))))
4. I enjoy spending time surfing the net.
5. I'm a blogger and vlogger.
6. I'm a great cook for fried food. ( I know, right? hahahaha)
7. I'm an addict with self-help books. I'm in a constant battle with myself.
8. I'm such a math wizard. ( please apply the Law of Reverse Psychology. LOL)
9. I run a group for Ilongga mommies here and abroad which started in Facebook. You can find us here. We recently had a photo-liking contest in commemoration of Mother's Day and we're launching our own IMN Magazine (first local parenting magazine in the region) soon. ^^
10. I am passionate with business.
11. I am striving to be better each day and give my best to my own little family. They are the ones that keep me going with life.

You may find Jannah's 10 Tag questions here.

Her 11th Question: 
What did you realize upon knowing the meaning to your answers?
- I think most of the traits cited are true. hahahaha!

Here are my 11 Tag Questions:

1. What do you do on your free time?
2. How many children are you planning to have?
3. Are you a cool or a strict mom?
4. Do you like shopping? Why or why not?
5. If given a chance, would you like to live abroad? Why or why not?
6. If you are living abroad, what are the things that you miss about the Philippines?
7. Do you like make up? Why or why not?
8. What can we find inside your make up bag?
9. If you can have all the money in the world, what are you going to do with it?
10. If you are given a chance to choose a celebrity husband who will it be and why?
11. What do you think about me (Geline)?


I TAG:

- Cristal Yoo of IMN
- Winlove McLaren of The Expats
- Rose Perez of CutieHotMom
- Nicole of Mommytipsbynicole
- Katherin Bengan of Katz Critical Minds
- Andrea Magalona of IMN
- Lorena Opong of IMN
- Diana Rose Kil of IMN
- Mhae Naig
- Milanie Lee of IMN
- Jorvy Espinosa of IMN

I also tag YOU!!!!
Please let me know of your answers, too. ^__~

Love lots,
Geline <3

Sae Hee's 6th Month Doctor's Appointment (and some breastfeeding issues ^^)

I always bring Sae Hee to her PD every month, regardless if she is well or not. I just feel that I needed to be assured that she's growing bushy-tailed and on track. The thing is, I didn't vlog on the previous months but I am vowing that I will from now on (help me, God ^^)

The main concern that I had for this month was about her milk. She is taking Wyeth's S-26 Lactose Free since birth. Her first PD tried Enfalac and another brand (my brain failed me again.sorry) but she was vomiting. The hospital did some tests on her and turns out that she's lactose intolerant. When a person is lactose intolerant, he has the inability or insufficient ability to digest lactose; a sugar found in milk and other milk products. It is caused by a deficiency of the enzyme Lactase, which is produced by the cells lining in the small intestine. Chances are she will recover from it as she ages or she may not at all. I'm still taking chances. So to check, we will try out other brands of "normal" milk. Her PD now recommended Wyeth's Promil. She said it is best to introduce a milk coming from the same company when having a shift because they are somehow "connected". Since they are "connected" it would be easier for baby's tummy to welcome the new milky-buddy.

\

900g

1,010 php in Mercury Drug Store

900g is just a week's consumption for my Korean princess. Ouch!!! I know right? hahaha :) The smaller one which I think is 400g, is @ 510php in Mercury Drug stores. I am going to stress that breastfeeding is still the best for babies; it's natural and economical. Nevertheless, if it's inevitable to formula-feed/wean your baby by all means, do so. It's not bad to formula-feed babies because it's better than let them undergo a hunger strike. I had to give up my "breastfeeding dream" because of some inescapable reasons. I mentioned above that my Korean princess had a series of vomiting sessions while at the hospital, her PD advised me to stop breastfeeding her because they were monitoring her milk intake. She was only allowed to take 2 cc of milk every feeding time. She stayed at the hospital for an extra week because we were waiting for the test results to come in. When she was finally out, she refused to latch on me. I was trying so hard to get back her love on my boobies but she was as persistent as a rock! She was screaming, crying and getting wild whenever I try to make her latch. I couldn't resist to see her in that situation plus the hunger that she was having. Just so much for mommy to take. Another thing was, I had a low milk supply. I forced myself to eat as much green leafy vegetables ( I'm not one of veggie's fans), seafoods (not a fan as well) and Papaya fruit (yum yum!!!). All of which are said to increase a woman's milk supply but I don't know what the heck happened to me. I even tried taking Natalac Feferol, a green capsule made from Malunggay (Moringa Oleifera), it was suggested by my cousin who swears by its effectiveness. But then again, I don't know what the heck happened to me. Oh well, we just have to accept things and move on isn't it? 

Anyhow, after Sae Hee's check up, we went to Jo's Chicken Inato House to have our lunch. They are offering unlimited rice, much to our driver's delight. *evil laugh* It's my and hubby's favorite chicken barbecue restaurant. After which,  we went to pick some things from my uncle's workplace then went home. 

Here's the video I made for this post:

Sae Hee's 6th Month Doctor's Appointment

I forgot to mention that her PD's RX on her is to add Ceelin Oral Drops for her daily Vitamin C supply.

See you on my next blog post!

Love lots,

Geline <3 

Happy Mother's Day!!!

This was the photo that I took of us (Mom, me and Sae Hee) during Mother's Day...

On my personal Facebook account, I uploaded this with the message:

These are the people responsible for making me celebrate Mother's Day today and in the years to come. To my beautiful mom, thank u for the gift of life; thank u for the unending patience, understanding, support,continued guidance and unconditional love to me and Sae Hee. We have gone through many arguments, "away-bati" moments but let's admit it,mom...we can't live w/o each other. hahaha! I may not be vocal about my love for you, but rest assured you're very na, much pa, loved by your unica hija. To my equally beautiful daughter Sae Hee, you are God's divine intervention in my life. I became a better person after i had you. I would never exchange the day I met your appa and the day we had you for anything. You are the reason why I got tons of greetings today. ^^ Happy Mom's Day, motherduck!!! Love you both so much!!! :-*

You might be wondering why my daughter has been "God's divine intervention" in my life, not that I was a criminal, but I had my own share of craziness and stupid decisions growing up. Who doesn't have? When I had her I started being seriously responsible and making smart choices for me and my own, little family. Motherhood is such a blessing. You may not believe me or understand me probably because you're not a mom yet; just wait and see for yourself when it's your time to join the club! ^^

Motherhood is a bitter-sweet experience for a woman. Many may have a phobia with the thought of raising another human-being and I used to be one of those. I got pregnant unexpectedly but embraced the whole challenge and blessing. I used to think that I am not ready to become a mom but turns out that even the "most prepared women" for pregnancy and motherhood still has tons of learning, trials and errors along the way. Fair enough?

Despite the odds and sacrifices, it is indeed the most rewarding experience one can have. No matter how tired you are during the day, seeing your child and by just kissing him brings so much bliss and a stress-reliever too! No amount of scientific research can explain, only felt by a mother's heart.

Here's a personal greeting from me and Sae Hee:

I hope you had/have an awesome Mother's Day.

 Everyday should be a Mother's Day if you ask me. *wink*

Love lots,
Geline <3

EQ Dry Diaper Review

In my YouTube channel KimchiiMommy, I did a review on Sae Hee's diaper which is EQ Dry; it's a Filipino-made product. She is now a Medium size (6-11 kgs.).

EQ Dry Medium size- 36 pcs; 245 php at SM malls

Like:

• It has a breathable cover therefore it is suitable even for sensitive-skinned babies.
• It has no leakage.
• It's affordable.

Dislike:

• None

I tried Pampers and Huggies on Sae Hee but she kept having a diaper rash. In my opinion, there's really no standard "best diaper" because it depends on the performance and if baby is "at-home" with the diaper. The trick is to try it out yourself. For starters, you may ask your family or friends for preferences and just buy the smallest size; test it out with your baby and if it comes out fine then it's high-time to buy the biggest size if you may. But if it doesn't, then at least you wouldn't have much of regret buying it and you can easily ditch it because you will only have to finish a few pieces. 

Was this helpful? What diaper does your baby use? ^^

Love lots,

Geline <3