B is for Blue Uniform

Yay! Doing my post before ABC Wednesday closes this week linkys.

Its so obvious whats my entry for this week "B". A lot of Blue! Iris blue checkered uniform. Blue drawer/cabinet in her background. Blue number poster at her back. And who would not mesmerize by her big round eyes? and her bouncy curly hair? Most of the time that is the first thing that people would appreciate about her. Iris is so bubbly too and love to babble, kids are like that I guess. Not to mention many would say she is beautiful (one proud mom here :P), and yeah, as a mom she is the most beautiful baby in my eyes :).

Anyway, this is Iris 4th day of school (in photos) and so far she is very excited each day. She has 2 hour classes from Monday to Friday, 1pm-3pm. But when she wakes up in the morning she would tell me that she will go to school and I would tell her that her class is in the afternoon. On her second day in school, I visited her  (my sister is the one who bring her to school and fetch her after, cause I am working mom) and I observe that she is at ease of her new environment. One of my fear when she will go to school is that she will cry and would not allow her Aunt to leave her in her classroom. But, I was wrong! She is not afraid to be left with people she just met. I haven't observe any anxiety or uneasiness while the class is ongoing. Good job baby! The next day she even told us that she will go to school alone, LOL, because she knows how to get there. Her school is actually less than 150meters away from our home and we just walk going there. That's why she is confident to say that to us. :) As her mom, I can say that she is independent compare to some kids, she is also easy to talk to, like if she want something and I can't afford to buy that stuff, I will just explain to her and she will not insist (oh well, I must admit that sometimes she also has tantrums). I am really grateful to GOD that Iris is my baby, she is easy to deal with, loving and sweet.

Thank you LORD for my baby Iris. She's a blessing to my life. Greatest blessing in my life.

A for Apuhin

Just in time for ABC Wednesday Round 15 kick off, hopefully I'll be able to join till letter Z. If you want to join this meme journey just click on the link below.

My entry for letter "A" is Apuhin. That is our family name. Today, I also enroll (late enroll actually) my daughter Iris. At first, I intend to send her to school next school year because she undergo open heart surgery last May 2014. And I thought she needs more time to recuperate but as I can see it, she's back to her normal hyper self so I decided to let her school. I am grateful because the Day Care Center near our home accepted her. Iris is also excited of the idea that she will go to school. I just talk with the teacher of Iris do's and dont's. Today is her 1st day of school too! Photos shows her requirements and the form I need to filled up. Good luck to my school girl.

My entry to ABC Wednesday. Have a nice day!

What to Look for When Choosing a Child Care Centre

There is nothing as precious as your own child; that is why it’s vital to choose the best child care centre possible. The best child care centre does not necessarily have to be the newest with all the latest gadgets, but it should be filled with care and be a hygienic place for your little one to eat, sleep, play and learn.

Where there is kids, there is germs

Children love to spread and share their germs. Try as you may to encourage them to keep their hands to themselves, children of all ages (but particularly young children), have a tendency to dribble, put all sorts of items in their mouths before sharing them with friends and use each other’s eating and drinking equipment.

Don’t ever underestimate the speed at which colds, gastro and all manner of other bugs are passed around between children. Before you know it, germs can spread right through a child care centre and you will find it necessary to keep your child home for a couple of days or more.

In child care centres, perhaps more than any other place, cleanliness and good hygiene is critically important. This is something you should look for when scoping your child care options. Owners and managers of quality child care centres engage professional cleaners to keep their centres clean, hygienic and as well presented as possible. A number of professional cleaning companies, such as AMC Brisbane , specialise in child care centre cleaning and their services are well worth the investment.

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A centre to suit your needs

When looking for a child care centre, it’s vital to consider each in terms of its fit with your needs. Firstly, you need to ensure that a centre can accommodate the days that you require and that its location is ideal. Think carefully about whether you would prefer a centre closer to home or to work and its proximity to public transport if you will need to commute in this way.

You will also need to confirm that the centre’s opening hours suit your needs and that the daily rate charged is within your budget.

Are the children happy and engaged?

Without doubt, one of the most important considerations in choosing a child care centre is that the atmosphere is happy and relaxed. Children should be engaged in play and you will quickly feel that a centre is a good one if you and your child are made to feel welcome.

In a good centre, staff members will be genuinely interested in your child and make an effort to find out what they enjoy.

Organisation:

While children (and so many of them in the one place) will almost certainly make a mess, there should be a sense that the centre is organised. In particular, reception areas should be clean and tidy and the rooms of the various groups of children should also be well organised.

A safe and secure place:

Good child care centres are safe and secure. Parents and visitors should be required to sign in and the staff of the centre should be easy to identify, by the wearing of uniforms and/or name badges.

Procedures should be in place for the documentation of any accidents and you should be told how you will be informed if your child has accident or becomes unwell.

A sun protection policy should be in place and enforced and children should wear hats and sunscreen when they are outside.

Communication:

Communication is vital when you entrust your precious child to the care of a child care centre. As well as being given a copy of relevant operating policies and procedures, there should be clear lines of communication so that you are kept informed of how your child is doing and any concerns are shared.

Feedback about your child’s progress and their day in general is critically important. You will want to know about the activities they prefer, how well they are eating and other children that they have befriended.

Choosing a child care centre is an important decision and it pays to take the time to consider all aspects of the centre and determine that it is the right place for your child and your needs.

W is for Wheelchair

I can not remember the last time I join ABC Wednesday I think that was 2012 in my other blog which is not searchable now in world wide web. So, from now on ABC Wednesday meme home will be my baby's blog. I miss joining meme's too! and I hope this is the beginning that I'll be active again.

So, I'll be starting with "W" and our first entry for ABC Wednesday is Wheelchair. A lot of "W" can be found on this photo actually. White Board, White Bond paper for name tag in Wards room. Since this is hospital you can see White paint. White blanket and White pillow at the back of us. You can also see White basin inside that pink eco bag. Have you seen other things in our photo with "W"?

Iris and grandama (left) me and Iris (right)

This photo is my very first entry in #100happydays in my instagram account. This was taken on date indicated above during hospital discharge of Iris at Philippine Heart Center.  This is one of the happiest day in my life cause finally Iris is done with her Heart Surgery. The end of my #ProjectIrisHeartSurgery. I am so thankful  with Father God of this day.

My entry to ABC Wednesday. Have a nice day everyone!

5 Hidden Hot Costs Of Renovating

There’s never been a better time to renovate your home. Asides from adding to the material value of your property, home renovation provides an enjoyable, ultimately rewarding experience. But be warned, the process of renovating is full of hidden costs that can potentially spiral out of control for the novice interior designer. Before you start brainstorming home renovation ideas read this handy guide and discover the hidden hot costs of renovating. Prepare today so you don’t stress tomorrow.

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Additional Labour

Sometimes you can’t do it all yourself. Additional labour might be required for certain projects and if you’re not careful it can become quite expensive. Be conservative when deciding what projects you can undertake yourself and what projects will require professional help. You don’t want to find out you need a plumber by accidentally hitting a pipe when you’re knocking down a wall! Call the necessary tradesmen to complete an assessment of your home before deciding on who is to undertake each project. If deciding between your local tradesman, and a specialty home renovating tradesman, always opt specialty services tradesmen like Hall and Baum. You can check out their website at: http://www.hallandbaum.com.au/ .

Time

Research is your friend here. When formulating a renovation plan it’s important to be conservative in your estimates. Weather, accidents and additional factors out of your control can significantly increase the amount of time required for individual portions of your project. If you’re a beginner, consider consulting a professional tradesperson, to receive an accurate estimate as to how long individual portions of the project will take. Something as simple making a few calls and weighing your options, can save you time and stress.

Materials

Again this boils down to research. The canny home renovator might know exactly what they’re getting themselves into and what materials are required, but if you’re new to interior design you might consider doing a little bit of a study or consulting a professional. This will save you some serious money down the track. Materials can be expensive, and if you don’t pay attention costs can spiral out of control quickly.

Budget

Set a realistic budget and only take on what you can realistically do. Once you have setup your budget however, it’s important to make sure you adhere to it. If you don’t stick to you home renovation budget you can end up spending a lot of money that you might not necessarily have, and minimise the chances of making a lucrative return when you’ve finally finished the project.

Damages

This is one of the major pitfalls of taking a DIY approach, particularly if you don’t fully understand what you’re getting yourself into. Make sure you pay attention and understand the constraints of each particular element of your job. And if you’re doing a particularly complicated element consider calling in an experienced, professional tradesman. Be conservative and realistic in your planning and you’ll avoid heartache and save yourself time and money in the long term. Has this advice been useful? Are there any other tips and tricks you would consider using when planning your own home renovation? Be sure to leave advice in the comments below.