♪♫ Thunder only happens when it’s raining... ♪♫

It ‘s a gloomy day, the clouds are dismal. The clouds might have a tiff with the sun, Oh I can’t be too sure. It feels like the clouds are crying a river, literally. I’m looking behind my unwashed cherry blossom pink curtain, it was murky outside my window.

The flowers were drubbed by the forceful droplets of rain, the leaves can’t do nothing but sway with the bitter wind. Xomi and Jerylle are both taking a nap. I’m resisting the urge to turn this thing off and climb to bed with them.

I took my aubergine jacket off the rack and cover myself with the cottony fabric. I’m freezing ! The  nicest thing to do in a cold rainy afternoon like this is just snuggle in bed and simply drift off to sleep and forget that I need to burn more posts.

The thunder made me cringe, the little one is oblivious to the loud vibrating boom of thethunder. I need to get back to work.

Four O’ Clock in the Morning

It feels like it rained last night or it might just be one of my random dreams. It’s four o’ clock in the morning, the timid sunshine hasn’t kissed the day yet. All I can see outside were tints of blacks and shadows; I can hear the barking of the neighbor’s dogs and sporadic cock a doodle doo of the rooster and some nameless clatter that adds to dawn’s stillness. I was deadbeat from the weekend commotion’s that after turning in last night, I transcend to the unknown spheres of dreams I could never summon up no matter how long I try to mull over it.  All I could remember was snuggling in the warm comfort of my pink blanket, closing my eyes and drifting off. Oh did I kiss Jerylle goodnight? I might, out of habit. He was equally exhausted and trying not to complain having just one rest day for the week.

I am checking my notepad and I’ve got a lot of things to accomplish before the little one wakes up. But the rains along with its dark clouds were conspiring against me! The DSL LED in the modem was off and the phone was dead! There was no dial tone. How will I ever finish my list of to do when I can’t even start?

I had tea last night before I went to bed, I had an awful case of stomach ache, must be a digestion trouble, but after taking a hot lemon tea I felt better. At least I don’t have to take one of those pill, surely an anodyne makes you feel good but the tea worked perfectly well for me.

My little rooster is about to wake up. I can’t wait to see her morning smile!

Why You Should Teach Your Baby Sign Language

I had no idea that babies can be taught sign language until I read about it few weeks ago in one of the newsletters I subscribed to about baby care, development, milestones, pregnancy and parenting. Signing is baby’s way of communicating, a pre-verbal way of infants and toddler to communicate through simple movements and gestures. 


After reading about baby sign language, I got interested in teaching my daughter to sign. I’ve always been interested with sign language. Jep and I started signing to Xomi when she was six months. The sign for “MILK” was the first thing we taught Xomi. When she cried for milk, before handing her the bottle we made the sign for milk. It was just a simple gesture of opening and closing the fist, like milking a cow. 


I didn’t expect her to learn to sign too soon, after teaching her the sign for milk for just about three to four weeks she starts doing the sign for milk. The other day, Xomi was closing and opening her fist, everyone thought she was doing the renowned “close-open” gesture most babies do. She was in fact asking for milk. I was utterly amazed that she now signs when she wants MILK! She doesn't cry nor scream when she wants one.


Signing is not only for babies who are hearing impaired but it works perfectly well with hearing babies. According to Howard Reinstein, a pediatrician in Encino, California, and spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics, "Teaching your baby hand signs is a terrific way to help her to communicate before she can talk." 


Some parents are worried that sign language might inhibit their baby’s desire to talk or delay speech all together. But according to research, children who learn to communicate using sign language are more verbal at the age of two. Baby signing does have educational benefits. Some research also suggests that babies who learn to use hand signs will have higher IQ.


Simple gestures like waving goodbye and blowing kisses are a form of sign language. When you communicate to your baby, connect the word into the gesture. You’re teaching your child not just the word but also the hand gesture in explaining the word, by doing so you are ensuring that your baby is using both sides of the brain; the left(verbal) and right (visual) brain hemispheres.  And remember this is a very important stage of human development. 


Babies get frustrated and started screaming when they want something and are unable to express them. Sometimes I hear myself saying, “What do you want?” usually accompanied with a big sigh and a hint of frustration.  Decoding babies cry can really be frustrating. 

If babies and toddlers can communicate exactly what they need to their parents, frustrations for both parties are minimal through a basic understanding of needs. Baby sign language is very beneficial.


Teaching your baby sign language takes a lot of patience, repetition is the key. It’s never too early to start teaching you baby how to sign.