crizematt

New Place

2008-04-04T01:13:00.002+08:00

This blog has been moved to a new home.

For more of us, you may also visit us at Makimeji or Verb.

Wordless Wednesday: Too Sociable

2008-01-23T06:40:00.000+08:00

Don't walk out on me - yet

2008-01-17T05:07:00.000+08:00

The other day, my son succeeded in getting himself into his shoes. All by himself. The only problem was, he got the pair interchanged -the right shoe to the left and vice versa.

Soon he'll be walking out of that door. All by himself. But for now I got to hold on the fact that he's still my baby. Even at 2.

Wordless Wednesday: His First Invention

2008-01-16T04:47:00.000+08:00

Do you know what this is? Check story here.

Why I Decide To Make The Big Switch

2008-01-14T12:14:00.001+08:00

Why am I insisting on a no-bottle affair with Matt? BECAUSE.

Obviously, he's got a very ~~voracious-like-Mama~~ healthy appetite. He eats rice, yes. And loves soup.

And eats fruits and vegetables. He can even be demanding when it comes to eating his meals.

He drinks his milk religiously.

This was what his actual dinner composition last Saturday. AND he's improved. He can fairly manage eating now. It gets a little messy, and I have to remind him to not play with his food (and be with him to make sure he won't hurt himself or drop the china or something like that)- but it's a great improvement.

Cup-feeding Progress

2008-01-13T13:01:00.000+08:00

It's been a week from when I started to use a mug to serve Matt's choco milk and I'm not sure if I can call it progress. But I've kept tabs of it so I can establish a pattern.

Day 1.

Successful. Drinks all served from the mug or cup. Clap, clap, clap!

Day 2.

Not-so successful. In the morning, my mother resorted to bottle feeding much to my dismay. Just once, she said because Matt demanded for a bottle and so she gave him one. I was utterly disappointed.

As if to let me into Nanay's (my mother) dilemma in the morning while I was working, that night, Matt cried and cried and asked for his bottle. What can I do?

Day 3.

Partially successful. Before working, I left my mother specific ~~orders~~ requests (wink!) to not indulge in his Bottle romance. And it worked. Drinks in the morning were all served from the mug/cup. 1 bottle at night.

Day 4.

Successful. Drinks were all served from the mug or cup. I wish everyday's like this, but no hurry we'll get there soon.

Day 5.

Partially successful. Drinks in the morning were all served from the mug or cup. 1 bottle at night

Day 6.

Successful. Drinks were all served from the mug or cup.

Day 7.

Partially successful. Drinks, in the morning, all served from the mug or cup. 1 bottle at night

Suck No More

2008-01-10T23:53:00.000+08:00

He's right. Matt.

For 24H, he didn't have a suck with his bottle. He's been using a mug. Like tatay's.

I actually planned to wean Matt before he turned 2, but my husband and mother was so against it. From their point of view, it's as if I am depriving Matt of some comfort. So I let him hold on the bottle.

Not until few days ago. I felt a little guilty. But it's for his own good and I don't think he'll miss it. He's ready for a change.

At 25 months, he is all ready.

Like Father, Like Son

2008-01-09T12:07:00.000+08:00

Today

2008-01-07T23:26:00.000+08:00

Matt's writing here.

Today, I drank choco milk from a mug. No bottle for me today, said Mother. She said I'm a big boy now but I think she's hiding the fact that some thief stole my bottles. Oh my precious Pigeon bottles. But then, she even gave me the privelege to stir my chocolate so it makes up for all her lame reasons. I know I looked cool like Tatay, stirring my chocolate and sipping from the mug like that.

Today, I drove my mother to the brink of insanity when I bumped my head on the wall. I really believed she lost her mind when she applied some ice on my head. I know she hates it when I carelessly run around like I always do but I didn't know she wants to freeze my brain?

Today, I broke the lid of the sugar container. Nanay was mad, my mother kept her cool but I know she's seething inside. What's the fuss? They should be happy it's just the lid! For goodness' sake, I was only inspecting it and making sure that it's breakable like the honey bottle (I broke before).

Today, I was singing He (Jesus) Holds My Hands with Nanay. In my peripheral vision, for a second, I saw my mother getting misty-eyed but she easily camouflaged the look with her winning smile. I wondered what's gotten into her.

Today, I ate a lot. I've been wondering why mother's suddenly feeding me like there's no tomorrow that I completely forgot about my stolen Pigeon bottles. And this choco-milk she's giving me just tastes so good.

Today, I was having a blast with my mother. She's really silly. And crazy. I wished Papa could see him when she's like this. And yes, I miss Papa - oh how I missed Papa. We called him on the phone but the calls were a poor substitute. I kept on asking mother, Abot na taxi (with) Papa? (Has Papa arrived in a taxi?), half-expecting that she'd say YES but father didn't came home that night.

Mother- she's asleep now. She didn't know I'm typing this. She must have unwittingly fallen asleep thinking I'm asleep already. But that's not unusal - she always does. Gotta scram before she finds out ~~screams like a madwoman~~.

Magic To Him

2007-12-23T21:37:00.000+08:00

Early on, my sister and I had decided not to set up lights - on the tree or around our house. Not this year.

Truth is, after the highly circulated Christmas (light)-related accident last year, I felt unease creeping on in me everytime I think of the setting up the Christmas lights - which had caused the big fire that cost the life of the daughter of a prominent politician.

I felt safer -and comfortable with our decision.

But early this month my cousin gave us a couple of Christmas (light) Globes after seeing Matt's fascination with their globe lights. So okay, I reckoned that a couple of this will not hurt us and asked my brother, before he left for Korea, to set up the whole thing.

To my surprise, when I came home one afternoon, not only did he install the Globes but some of our lights from last year. I was planning on letting him know about my concern but before I could do that, my son seeing the lights all lighted said, "Wow! Blinking lights!" with the fervor only a child can muster.

Matt actually says that everytime we flick on our Christmas lights. All the time, he sounds as if he's just seen the lights for the first time. It's funny. But everytime I hear him say that, I have to silently thank my brother for all his effort - and my cousin who sent the Globes.

Wonder No More

2007-12-21T08:57:00.000+08:00

My son - he just loves to sing. Nursery songs. Not-so kiddie songs that he'd hear around. Even songs in our dialect that my parents are teaching him, he's been trying to learn and sing them with all the effort of a two-year old.

And there are songs that he can finish til the last note and last word to the lyrics. Most are nursery songs. ABCs, You Are My Sunshine... and more. But for awhile there, I just wondered why he keeps on skipping a line of the Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. There's just this one line that he misses singing -despite all ~~our~~ my mother's effort.

One time, while talking to his Papa over the phone, Matt asked him his "generic" request that he says every time he's on the singing mood. "Sing (song), Papa ~~please~~." That time it was the Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.

What's a father got to do but to comply. So over the phone, my hub sang -and because the phone was in loudspeaker mode, I heard my hub sing, too. He didn't have the voice but that's fine ~~I’m use to that and Matt will get used to that~~ . What's not fine to me though was the fact that he missed a line - and it was the very same line Matt keeps on skipping!

Saying At The Right Time

2007-12-17T21:17:00.000+08:00

(I'm) Sorry. I love you. Please. Excuse me. Thank you. He's learning to say them at the right time. Matt really is becoming better at it - everyday. I mean, his timing is much improved. And I really couldn't complain.

Except with the I love you. He's saying it rather too well at times that I can't help but think he's doing a gentle maneuver with my heart.

To involve him is to teach him

2007-12-16T01:16:00.000+08:00

To involve him is to teach him. I gather that I couldn't just show him, or tell him or describe to him what I'm doing, I have to involve him.

So lately I've been asking my son to hand me a pillow or two, a blanket whenever I tidy our bed. He's really catching up fast and is good at following instructions lately. And I'm just so glad at this big improvement.

One time, I asked him to return the clothes he pulled from my cabinet and he willingly did. Slipshoddily, though.

***

When before I'd only request his help in throwing a soiled diaper (not poopy diapers though; anyway, he just loves throwing diapers) in the garbage bin, now I am involving him with other tasks like returning his toys or his books before we leave the room. He still cannot put them in proper order but at least he's learning to return them to their places. Some might think it's too early. Maybe. But I'd like to start early with him.

No Sense Of Time Yet

2007-12-13T14:36:00.000+08:00

Yesterday. The other day. Last night. Last Monday. Although he know how to verbalize these, I can say that Matt doesn't grasp the concept of these yet.

Like this morning, when we sent my brother off to Manila (for a connecting flight to SoKor), Matt bade him goodbye.

"Go-bye. Ba-bye, Tito Boyet."

"See you later."

I know he was only imitating something he often hears without knowing its full meaning.

Extra Pair Of Hands - Soon!

2007-12-12T16:13:00.000+08:00

Last Sunday, being my day-off, I was ~~driven crazy~~ with my son the whole day. ~~The sight of our room alone, in total disarray, would do that~~.

We just finished reading and ~~I thought it would be wonderful if someone or he himself takes care of his mess~~ I requested for him to “return his books,” which were strewn on the floor along with his toys and what-not. If only he’d do as I told him. I would really love for him to do that but I, knowing only too well that he would either ignore my request or he could put the books back in place, only to make twice as much mess of them moments later, didn’t allow myself to expect him to do that. Aahh, frustrating. I am just too well-acquainted with the pitfalls of expecting.

After a glance to my direction, he mumbled “return” and then he started to pick up his books and “returned” them on the spot (under a re-used center table) where he got them. When he was done, he gave them a cursory final glance, looked at me and said “thank you” playfully. Not only that, he left the books untouched after returning them somewhat carelessly under the table. Yes he did (and I will not complain about how he arranged them because he's only 24-months old).

Monday, we went through the same motions again with the same positive result. I just couldn't help beaming like a cat after a good feeding.

~~I really can't wait for the time when I can request him to take care of the laundry.~~

Newest Ray-Ban Model!

2007-12-12T10:57:00.000+08:00

New Poster

2007-12-06T21:24:00.000+08:00

Replaced Matt's old stuff with this and another poster. It looks much better and more attractive to my son.

Good morning!

2007-11-28T18:37:00.000+08:00

This morning, we were in my sister's room and I showed my son the ABCs at Starfall. He loved it (thanks Melissa!) and was fascinated with the helicopter at Letter H. He kept on telling me "helicopter again." So our ABC activity early this morning was like moving one letter forward and then going back to letter H.

After we wrapped up, I was checking things in the Internet and let Matt "explore" my sister's room (where we dumped all our not kid friendly stuff). At one point he was exploring the CD ROM and kept pressing the open/close button - he is always entertained with this mechanism (in DVD/VCD players). It was while he was "exploring" that he inadvertently got an 8-mm mini CD stuck inside because he inserted it all the way through the ROM. So at early morning today, armed with a screwdriver and hair still unkempt, I found myself tinkering with our PC.

BTW, yesterday, he peed on a pile of CDs! I'm really such a good mom (smirk) that I left him touching things -and pulling some in the process. There was already a good pile of CDs on the floor and he peed on these. I had wondered what kept him quiet while I was composing an email and moments later found out the reason. :D

Shoes

2007-11-28T16:47:00.000+08:00

Monster Moment

2007-11-27T11:27:00.000+08:00

Screaming. I read somewhere that kids would adjust and adapt to it and you end up having kids that is so used to your usual shouting and they won’t budge unless they hear you raising your voice octaves higher. Or worse, they get too used to your habitual shouting that they develop deaf ears to your requests.

With that, I find myself always trying my best not to raise my voice. Not to shout, no matter how bad I feel. But let’s face it, there really are times when one is too frayed at the edges and unwittingly does that. Me, I mess up and do that at times. But it doesn't really excuse the act.

The first time I shouted at my son, I cried silent tears. No kidding. I cried because I saw fear and shock register on his face, not to mention the copious tears in his eyes. Fear is the last thing I want my son to feel towards me. I cried because I was frustrated at someone who should have known better and who should have let patience run a mile longer. Instead, I failed to control myself and allowed my emotions to run ahead of me. I felt so wretched at failing and letting someone pay for my unbridled emotions.

****

And again, here is an antithesis to something I wrote few days back, a tale from someone who is trying not to resort to spanking. Not positive, but it's a tale of truth (and reality) of my life as a mother.

Coming home from the night shift, I found myself sitting in front of Matt's cabinet at so early in the morning. I was folding the pile of clothing that he had lovingly strewn all around our room. Sleep-deprived, I had wanted to return the room in a semblance of order as fast as I could.

Plak! The door of a cabinet connected to my face, at the upper left side of my cheekbone, a millimeter away from my eyes. Caught by surprise at its impact, I recoiled and instinctively brought my hand to my face where a sting was beginning to spread. I was shocked. When I turned my head upward, I saw him - the culprit of this banging. Irritation, surprise, pain – I’m still not sure what but I screamed and shot my hand, grabbing his foot and giving it a spank.

I over-reacted and I was too flustered at my reaction I had to walk out of that door because I couldn't trust myself if I stayed with him a moment longer. Was it shock that registered in his face as he stared at me with tears streaming down his face? He looked so scared and was still crying “Mama, mama” when I walked out that door. Bad Mama, that I was. I felt horrible, and that's could be an understatement. But of course, who wouldn't? There's just no excuse that could justify what I did. No excuse, and I felt all the more awful knowing this.

I had apologized to my son (and he had given me his sorry) but I still haven’t forgiven myself for doing what I did.

Corn, Popcorn, Corn beef

2007-11-25T23:11:00.000+08:00

After buying some corn from a peddler, Nanay (my mother) showed them to Matt.

Matt: Popcorn, Nanay?

***

We had gathered around the table to partake our share of corn. After seating himself, Matt turned to me, "Corn beef, Mama?"

Celebrate 2!

2007-11-21T15:17:00.000+08:00

So at home in Barney's arms...

...that for awhile there, the host was worried Matt would request to bring Barney at home.

*******

Sunday was boxing day!

Opening his gifts....

Thanks to everyone who came and who sent lovely gifts - they may not be able to read this, but thanks all the same.

The last three pics were pictures of his fishing set. A cousin got it for him. He got so thrilled when he saw the pieces. But the fishing rod didn't even last for a day; he was so enamored with it that he, almost immediately, broke it.

If It’s Good For Babies…

2007-11-20T15:07:00.000+08:00

It was still dreary this morning but we were in the airport to send my hub off to his work base. We had decided to wait awhile until we hear that flights would push through as scheduled (yesterday’s flight was canceled due to visibility problem). So it was while waiting in the parking lot that nature called. No big deal. Really. IF ONLY THE CRs WERE WORKING.

Yesterday, I was in this same track so I can still imagine the OUT OF ORDER signs hanging by the CR doors. No water supply, I found out. There was no water the last time we were here and that’s a couple of weeks ago. Can you imagine how inconvenient that is? It was just a stroke of luck that, after met with refusal after refusal, I was able to coax a saleslady in one of the souvenir outlets to let me use their CR despite the lack of water. I was already a big begging baby all ready to ~~explode~~ cry. Out of frustration, desperation, irritation –name it.

This morning, there would be no question that begging would no longer be an option.

But you know the feeling of trying to suppress something, you only end up increasing the feeling to nth degree. So? So excuse me, I’ve got to resort to something unconventional, to say the least.

I.used.my.son’s.diaper.right.there.in.the.parking.lot. Yes!

Good thing our car tint is the as-long-as-the-lights-inside-are-out-you’ll-remain-almost-invisible-outside type. And good thing I always carry extra diapers when we bring Matt with us because you'll never know when they can be handy. But why not? If it’s good for babies, then it must be good for me, too.

But really. What a relief! You just couldn’t imagine the relief after trying so hard to control the flow so there's no leak-out.

Screamless Parenting

2007-11-19T19:10:00.000+08:00

Do you believe in that? I do. But as much as I believe in that; I must admit that I have a doubly hard time doing that. I also have a hard time believing in parents who say they have never screamed at their kid(s) –not once, not ever. My apologies, but I need more than lip service to believe that. But I will not get into that now.

My husband, who is working away from home, has not screamed at Matt ever but maybe that’s because he doesn’t feel the stress/pressure of parenthood 24 hours a day/7days a week/30 or 31 days a month. (Or maybe he’s just so patient, so unlike me.)

But okay. So I believe, and I try not to scream. In fact, I am trying everyday. But that is not to say that there was no instance that I did not fail, albeit not without remorse or guilt. I should say I failed a handful of times in the past, and they always make me feel wretched. There were even times I truthfully feel like a monster mom, like my kid doesn’t deserve a mother like me. And no matter what the situation was, I feel there’s just no excuse that could justify screaming. And that what’s making me feel so low in the spirit in those times.

So in my attempt at screamless parenting, a long time ago, I devised a way, a maybe-silly way to keep myself from screaming while emotionally high-strung. I recorded voice messages in my phone! And play these when I get exasperated already and feel like screaming.

“Matt, please behave.” “Listen to Mama and be a good boy.” “Do not climb.” “Please drink your milk.” And lots of other of messages that are devoid of any hint of anger or irritation. Although I cannot say of the ratio of success I get with these recorded messages (and there could be a downside to this :D), they at least give me an option, a detour, a maybe-better way around a sticky situation. And also gives me a breather until I have put my raw emotions in a tight rein or until I have collected myself. They have saved me – a lot of times already from becoming a monster mom and feeling monstrous myself. Not to mention, saving me the exertion of saying everything a hundred times. :D

I had wanted to have my hub’s voice recorded too, just so there’s a balance to what Matt hears. I really should have done it a long time ago. But up until last night, I have only been reminding myself to do that but have been forgetting all the time when he’s home. But finally, I have what I needed in my phone now (there’s even an I-love-you recording too). I have even tried it this morning, with satisfactory result. :D

Almost 2

2007-11-15T14:27:00.000+08:00

- I was working on this and I was ready to post it last night but was unable to post because the crying interrupted me again. :D

***

November 14 1600H.

Technically speaking, Matt will be 2 years old by 5:27PM this afternoon. That's just few hours from now! So in that note, I'm going to post 24 random things/developmental notes about Matt.

1) He can identify the bridges (that we usually pass) and says "Mama- water?" when he spots the rails customary to these bridges.

2) He drinks his choco+milk drink in a cup but refuses to, if it's just milk. "Mimi" still has to be in a milk bottle.

3) He is already an expert of power buttons --of remotes, of the TV, of the PC, of the monitor. In fact, he gets his kicks pushing the power button of the CPU while Mama is all-eyes on the monitor and busy tapping on the keyboard. Or the TV button (remote is hidden!), when I am seriously glued to a TV show.

4) He can identify logos --of the company I work for, of Shell, of Milo, etc..

5) He can take orders now. It's his "job" to throw the used diaper in our garbage bin and he delivers his job well.

6) His vocabulary is improving. He loves learning "Opposites." (Like, opposite of dry is wet. And is slowly applying the concept). Sometimes, he will count 1 to 10 ; other times, he won't and I'm not sure whether he's just teasing me or if he's just bored or maybe he's forgotten how to. He has yet to perfect the Alphabet though. (I don't really want to pressure him into learning something he may not be ready for) :D

7) He now refers to his pedia as his "friend." After our visits in October, I think Matt has learned to be comfortable with the doctor. He even tried making a chitchat with the pedia on those last two visits.

8) He loves singing. He loves to sing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star and Itsy Bitsy Spider, etc... even the funny songs (in our dialect) that my father has taught him. And loves his guitar.

9) He still calls Winnie The Pooh, "Bobby"; battery, "batte-te"...

10) He still loves water -the rain, the faucet, taking a bath.

11) He still won't do the "Keep still" or "Sit down-I'll be right back." When taking a bath, he's just too excited. But he can keep still when we clean his ears and change his diapers.

12) He still kicks, pulls my hair and pinch my face when piqued (or when he wants to :D).

13) He still "manipulates" me with his I love yous, his apologies (Mama, sorry), his hugs and kisses.

14) He still loves to read his disjointed books.

15) He still drinks his vitamins without a fuss.

16) He is thrilled when his toy cars are broken and works so hard to break them. And when they are broken, he tries to fix them.

17) He still drives me nuts when he throws his toys, his books, and pulls everything else on the floor.

18) He still loves to run around and to play catch-me with anyone who wants to. But I've seen him use his imagination more and more. Like pretending chairs are cars or talking over the phone, with or without the other party.

19) He still demands to play Where-Is-The-Flag. I've lost count of the flags he can identify now; but it's not too many (20-plus maybe, or 30 :D). And he still likes to point at the planets in the Solar System.

20) He is still scared of the dark, of the vacuum cleaner and the hair dryer. And when scared, he says "Hug-a Mama." (That sometimes I am tempted to scare him - I'm sorry!)

21) He still loves to eat vegetables. And still thinks that ampalaya (bitter gourd) is yummy. And ice cream is hot.

22) He still loves to tinker with the screws, the electric outlet, the tv, remotes... In fact, the other morning, he did it again. I woke up and saw him playing with our aircon remote control, with the battery compartment already opened and the batteries nowhere to be found. But not only that, minutes later, I found out that he had poured water inside the empty battery compartment. I was aghast! I dried it up for 2 days but I'm glad it's back working (lucky me!).

23) He is still thrilled to see babies and kids. He would shriek with joy when he spots babies or kids in the mall, or passing by our house.

24) He still wears a diaper. He has not perfected the potty, he's just starting but I will be seriously training him from now on. (?!)

Catcha!

2007-11-13T23:59:00.000+08:00

I have to admit that there are nights when Matt is fast asleep that I sneak out of our room and start romancing the keyboards in my sister’s room. Because that is my only chance. And tonight is one of those times.

After tidying up our room, I tiptoed and carefully twisted the doorknob. But it was while I was trying to make a slight opening of the door, just enough for my little frame that it made a creaking sound. Perfect! Matt flipped on his back.

"Mama here now?" He asked.

I froze.

(Hours later, I tried again :D)

Nighttime Stories

2007-11-13T20:59:00.000+08:00

Early to bed, early to rise. So they say.

Early. Yes, my son is in the habit of sleeping early. We’ve helped him establish that pattern and I’m thankful because it gives me an ample time to catch up with housework ~~and the Internet~~.

And early to rise. Yes, he is. And that's the reason why, almost always, I wake up to a mini pandemonium that is our room.

But between bedtime and rising up, there may be stories to tell.

Apart from the “mimi na” (calls to feed) times, there are nights when I am ~~disturbed from my nocturnal activity (read:Internet~~) awakened from deep slumber due to Matt’s cries. Dreams, maybe nightmares, I can only wonder what. Maybe a horror story about the Vacuum Man is slowly unfolding in his sleep. But because I do not know what else to do, I just hold him while he cries his heart out for some unknown, maybe imaginary monsters.

There are better nights though when he smiles or even chuckles heartily with eyes still closed. Wonderful stories, I wager my last peso. He must be having a blast in those dreams!

And then there are some nights when he sleep-talks. Yes, he would mumble incoherent words and broken sentences. Stories? I still have to figure that out.

One story could be about my childhood. I used* to sleep-talk, too and it was a longstanding joke in the family. (*My husband says I don’t do that now, so maybe that’s a thing in the past.)

But really, I didn’t know that kids as young as Matt could talk while they sleep. I also don’t know if this is the right thing to do, but whenever he starts sleep-talking, I always try to strike a conversation as if it’s broad daylight and we’re talking about how fine the weather is. Like last night.

“Eat – eat – Mama, eat,” eyes still closed, Matt muttered.

“Eat what?” I softly asked.

“Eat na rice.”

What?! Eat rice? In the middle of the night?! No, I didn’t really believe he wanted to eat rice so I stayed still and quiet.

Matt, however, couldn’t remain still. He was slowly kicking his feet while muttering, “Get –get-”

After a momentary pause, “Get socks,” he continued.

Again, I couldn’t believe he wanted socks so I, unbelieving but ready to scramble and bring the socks if he asks for it again, whispered back, “Get what?”

Instead, he prattled on, “Get – get – Mama – get.” He was almost crying now but for the life of me I couldn’t make out what he really wanted. Restless and with eyes still closed, he finished off, “Get here Mama.”

Putting my arms around him, I gently assured him, “Mama is here now.” And she will forget about the lights, the PC and a job opportunity waiting in the other room for now.

I must have slept after that because when I woke up it’s already morning.

Of germs, bottom and taking a bath

2007-11-10T23:47:00.000+08:00

This may not sound too good. And I guess, Moms, I could partly be blamed. Because I have always been a trying-hard Mom and trying so hard to explain things to an impressionable toddler.

For example, I taught him that we should wash the hand always because if we don't, germs may gather there. Actually, I don’t have to graphically illustrate the concept of germs to him because he saw it on TV – in one of the TV ads.

But I was taken aback when, coming out from the bath, I passed by my son en route our room.

Matt: Mama?

Me, stopping in my track: Mmm?

Matt, continued: Mama? Clean bottom? No germs?

Yes, I'm sure that it must have been during the wash-your-hand and take-a-bath-always lessons that I have inadvertently shown Matt the relationship between bottoms and germs.

Matt's Pool Debut

2007-11-09T23:40:00.000+08:00

Taken last November 4:

Too good to be true!

I could stay here forever....

I could do that too...

For a while, Mama. Am not yet done.

Too Honest

2007-11-07T23:49:00.000+08:00

I couldn’t imagine that there would come a time when I wanted to clap my hands over my toddler’s mouth. Oh, I can sense some violent reactions. I’m sorry. I guess I’m just a good mom and you are the better mom. :D

Anyway, if you have read me before, you already know that we’ve been to the doctor few times last month. Actually, four times, because Matt had bronchitis.

Once, to the doctor's hospital clinic and three times, we went to this doctor’s home clinic – that’s not too spotless, if I were to say.

While we were in the doctor’s home clinic, would you believe what my dear son said?

Matt, after his random blabbering about whatever, dramatically paused and said, “Abog.” Dusty!

With all the emotions he can muster, he very clearly said so. And it didn't happen once. Nor twice. But all the three times we were in that clinic, with little variation of the tone every time. And in front of the doctor, all those times.

And I Thought

2007-11-02T18:57:00.000+08:00

"Rat! Dead Rat!" Wrinkling my nose, I said to my mother as I retreated back to the living room.

I had wanted to sleep but it was a malodorous stench that greeted me when I opened our bedroom door. Though the prospect was not appealing, my son, who was with his father - catnapping for sure, was sleeping there and so I decided to forget about myself and examine every corner to see where that smell was coming from.

Surely, that's a dead rat or rats! Yikes.

There's really a dead rat somewhere in here, I thought. When I got in, I kicked (gently :D) my husband and told him so. He just looked surprised.

Looking everywhere, I found nothing.

Wait!

Kneeling down near Matt's sleeping form, I stooped low and brought my nose to his bottom. Eeeeew! Rats! Dead rats! :D

It's a wonder my husband didn't smell all that. (And I need not say more :D)

Dirty Papa

2007-11-01T10:07:00.000+08:00

“Dirty. Dirty. Papa, dirty. Papa, dirty,” on and on Matt said.

I was frowning because my husband was technically clean at that moment. My husband, who was sitting on the floor beside me, also had the what-is-he-talking-about look written all over his face.

“Papa, dirty. Papa, dirty,” Matt breezily said.

He is joking. But no sooner had I thought that than he tentatively pointed to the faint stubble just right above his father’s upper lip.

“Dirty, Papa,” he said again as he touched his father’s chin.

23 Months

2007-10-15T18:41:00.000+08:00

On the way to the Pedia, we decided to drop by the mall to pick up some supplies. But while we were in the mall, we decided, if he won't make such a fuss, to have Matt's hair cut.

Barber trips are not always easy because he gets wary with strangers (barber) handling him. The last time we had his haircut was heartbreaking because he was crying all throughout the session - despite the fact that he's sitting on my father's lap. My hugs were not any consolation to him too.

But last Sunday, he looked as if he's gonna cry but with some encouragement, he's all cooperative na.

The Pedia trip went well too. It was my idea to bring his toy steth so he will not be jumpy when he sees the doctor with his (and it worked! And the doctor commended me for it. Smile). Matt was being chummy with the doctor the whole time and was constantly trying to strike a chitchat with him, much to the Pedia's delight. The booster shot was over and done with in just a fraction of a second Matt didn't even realize there was one.

It's a wonderful tear-free day.

No allergies, so far

2007-10-12T15:00:00.000+08:00

We had crabs for lunch today.

Earlier, we showed kiddo the still-alive-and-moving crabs (with their claws still tied) that we bought from a peddler who came by. Buddy Matt was so excited that I felt compelled to let him have a feel to one. But then he got scared that I did not insist.

When lunch was served, I invited him to touch a shell again, with the explanation that it's already dead and cooked, to which he gladly gave in.

I also decide to share some crab meat to my son (with caution, of course). It's really his first time to taste some and judging from his response, he definitely loved it. I was also testing whether kiddo Matt is allergic to any crustacean.

He had shrimps before and then crabs now but so far I have not observed (and I couldn't be more grateful) any adverse reaction following our meal.

Posters

2007-10-10T01:46:00.000+08:00

The decision to put up these visual aids (and some that were not shown), despite the possibility that it would still be long before we could be able to use them, was made after I figured that I've had enough staring of the bare walls of our room.

That was about 2 months ago.

Except for the Alphabet and the Nursery Rhymes posters, I haven't really expected to be using them this soon.

But a couple of weeks ago, kiddo started showing some interest to these posters. He would curiously stare at the Flags of the World and The Solar System.

I believe He must have thought of the round objects shown in the Solar System poster as balls, thus, his interest. As I don't think he can grasp the idea of planets, the best I came up with was to tell him of the names of each planet. It's not everyday that he demands to be shown and told of the Solar System but to this day, he can positively identify the sun, Pluto and Saturn.

The flags are a different case though. Since the first day I carried him in my arms and pointed this and that, no day passes by that we do not take a look at the flags. He has made sure to request or demand that we play Where-Is every single day and even many times in a day -to which I happily oblige every time.

Imaginative, Innovative

2007-09-14T19:26:00.000+08:00

Because dear son constantly sees me with a screwdriver in my hand. So.

Mama does this all the time. Lemme try it now...

I hope this works.

The Guitarman

2007-09-14T09:27:00.000+08:00

Here is Matt's first guitar.

Ah no, scratch that. If we count the plastic toy guitar my cousin gave him as birthday present last year (but which was already broken), this is actually not his first.

But this is his first next-to-the-real-thing guitar. With only four string, this works just like one.

We call it a ukelele.

I bought one after Matt showed some fascination with bands and rockistas with guitars he would see on TV.

While I was out working one day, and while he was playing with a microphone (real mike), he surprised everyone in the house by saying "Ah want-ta guitar." Now, Matt had never asked for anything before. He's always just contented playing with his old toys (which are mostly presents from our relatives). So when he said that, my sister excitedly called to tell me about it.

But it was several days after that when I finally decided to get one for him (as I was still observing him - I hope that doesn't make me a bad mama). In between those days, I would often hear him say "Tito Mike. Tito Alan. Sing. Guitar" although not usually in that order.

It was his constant mentioning of my brother and my cousin (who are both playing musical instruments) that finally convinced me.

So happy was he that he could hardly part with it on that first day.

Strumming my heart with his fingers...

Chairless Room for Now

2007-09-07T15:57:00.000+08:00

I used to love this recliner as this was the only chair (except for cushion seats) we have in our room. I remember long nights spent on this one - nursing, rocking Matt to sleep or simply keeping watch as he sleeps.

But this one had to go. I made this decision after I woke up one morning to a terrifying sight of my son atop one of its arms. Matt, unknowing of the danger, was "riding" on the arm and looked every bit like a happy and excited pirate who has spotted an island far ahead.

I could smile now as I clearly remember his happy face but I was far from smiling then.

It really was an instant that I could imagine myself screaming, but which I also did not do then. Fear and panic that gripped my heart had me speechless. I could only jump up and hug my boy to me.

When I had collected my thoughts, I only told Matt how he got "Mama so scared." No other words could justify my emotions then.

And although I hated the thought of putting away something that had been useful to us (plus with sentimental value to me) and had been a source of adventure for Matt, I had to temporarily stow it away.

He could have flipped over it, and while I was asleep! What a scary thought!

Matt only look trapped here but he was not. He used to love this recliner.

This was his source of adventure.

So because of the danger it poses to a curious toddler, I had to be content with a chairless room for now.

And you think he's just posing for the camera

2007-09-01T11:57:00.000+08:00

He's behaving. Even flashed his signature innocent smile. Oh, that smile could melt the heart.

But here's what transpired before all that flashing of smiles.

Although not seen in the pic below, he cleverly used that green basket as a booster and was actually standing on top of it here

Hello Calculator

2007-08-31T21:47:00.000+08:00

One day, while my mother was sorting things out at home, she unearthed a handful of old calculators (should be expected since 4 out of 5 of us enroled in engineering courses).

With supervision, we decided to let Matt have a look at these.

He looks like he wanted to ask "Ma, why are you taking my pictures?" here.

"WHY?"

"Oh, bother. Gotta figure out how to crack open this one"

" Aha, numbers."

"Mama over there has something like this too."

And he actually said "Hello, hello, Papa" here. Boy, was I caught by surprise!

Friend Mike

2007-08-31T21:43:00.000+08:00

Matt is thankfully cured of his mike-phobia. Now, you'd often hear him say: Ah want ta mike Mama.

(Complete) sentences of 21-mo Matt

2007-08-05T21:17:00.000+08:00

Months -maybe 4- after his 1st birthday, my son learned to say iloveyou (Bah-bu). That was his first sentence. He's still using that up to present time. Plus, I'm hearing more and more sentences coming from him. As I've said he is in this wonderful stage of verbal exploration. And as his mother, I couldn't be more glad.

I'm glad because understanding (or what he wants) is becoming more like a piece-of-cake. Thanks God.

[Though that doesn't mean I'm not having any parenting woes.]

But really, now I'm glad I'm clearly hearing him say the sentences [more for his wants/needs]. The finger-pointing to get across what he wants is slowly being replace with sentences. Cool. This means lesser fussing , lesser frustration, lesser crying (because sometimes one cannot easily comprehend his needs/wants] , and quicker response time.

Having one frustrated baby, by the way, can be nerve-jagging and can easily make an adult frustrated too. And that is exactly the reason why I've been trying to move heaven and earth coaching Matt the words to communicate his needs/wants.

Thanks also to my mother, who's doing a great job coaching him during her "sitting" time with dear Matt.

So I'm noting the sentences he usually utters these days. And I'm writing it just the way he enunciates them.

Ah(I) want to dwink (drink) juice. Ah want to get the juice. Dwinking.

Ah want the camwa (camera). Ah want to howd (hold) the camwa.
Get the camwa. Gimme the camwa... pweease (please).

Ah want ... [mimi na (milk), juice, wice (rice), fish, banana, the car].
Gimme the...[mimi na (milk), juice, wice (rice), fish, banana, car]

Ah want to hold the... [pen, payong (umbrella), fon (phone) the car].
Ah want to eat.

Ah want to [wid (read), draw, drive the car]

Ah want the pillow. Howd the pillow. Pillow.

Big Bid (bird). Theh (there) you go. Wowowee.

Credits: MKM

2007-08-03T20:51:00.000+08:00

Saw these shots in my phone gallery one day. My sister said it's not her. So who can it be?

I actually have a hunch.

He's not telling me - and it also crossed my mind that maybe he didn't even take these deliberately. I have not even tried asking him but I know, with a mother's conviction, that it's him.

So without much funfare, here are the precious captures of my 21-month old son:

From kindhearted Annie

2007-08-02T18:48:00.000+08:00

I'm testing this Siggy, which dear Annie made for this site. I love it a lot!

Thanks, many thanks for this nice design. Hugs!

Now you're really talk-ing

2007-07-27T22:17:00.000+08:00

I’m really pleased at how things are going for Matt speech-wise that sometimes, I just can’t help feeling ridiculously melodramatic. Especially when I think of him as that scrawny unprotesting three-week old infant in a hospital room. Oh man.

But oh, the joy of a mother seeing her kid grow-up (or hearing her kid grow-up) wonderfully.

And wonderful really comes to mind when I think of darling son at this particular stage when speech develops rapidly.

And yes, he’s carefully building and expanding his vocabulary these days. Steadily building. Sometimes by "parroting" the adults. And sometimes, by cleverly creating his own language. Hence, I find myself crossing the bridge of amazement to one of amusement in so many instances.

At his age, I think he’s doing great. He’s even doing much better than most 18 to 24 month-old kids I’ve seen around here.

His vowels are good and his consonants, equally so. Thanks to, maybe, Sesame Street. And maybe some credit goes to my mother who coaches him in most of her “sitting” time.

His consonant clusters need to be improved though. For instance, he needs to work on the “ch” which he enunciates as “sh.” (So his match would sound like mash) But I’m not so bent on making him sweat on that at this time. Let time deal with that.

Then lately, Matt has been fond of using the –ing form of the verb. Like when before it was “drive,” now he’d say “driving.” Or eating for eat, calling for call, dropping for drop, cooking for cook, etc.

I think this latest development in his speech is somewhat amusing.

One time, while pointing to some eggs he told me, “Maa, egg ah want.” I was so busy doing the dishes then. But he went on by stressing “egging*, egging” to me. It must have bugged him to see his mother so inattentive to him, and bugged him enough that he was able to concoct a single word, in its –ing form, equivalent to his request.

On top of that, I hear him “create” new words by adding –ing to root word in our dialect. By far, the most popular word is tawaging (which he sometimes say while lifting our landline handset).

He also has this amusingly strange habit of trailing some Visayan translations after some words. Like when he says drop (or dropping), he’d also say hulog following that. Or gahi after saying hard, etc.

* not used to denote pushing or prodding
noun, tawag means call; verb, to call.

Dr. Makiko

2007-07-15T21:29:00.000+08:00

I was in the mall last Saturday. And I couldn't resist buying Matt a new doctor toy set.

The old set I bought him months ago was already reduced to odd bits and pieces.

And I want him to have a toy steth so he will not feel threatened by the sight of that hanging on his pedia's neck on our next visit.

Sesame street!

He fell inlove with the toy, or maybe the girl in the box.

Hamming it up before the camera.

Mirror, mirror, does this steth look good on me?

Dr Matt , you forgot to put your shoes on.

Simple terms

2007-07-05T08:44:00.000+08:00

The following transcript is almost in verbatim.

Me, pointing to the Holy Family statue in our room: Matt, this is Baby Jesus.

Matt, all eyes and ears: (silence)

Me, pointing to the Crucifix: And here is Jesus on the cross.

Me, pointing to His hands and feet: Jesus is nailed here, here and here. (So there's) blood on His hands and feet. Hurt. Jesus is hurt.

Matt wriggled in my arms and try to reach for the Crucifix placed on top of the cabinet. Tentatively.

Me, trying to calm him with my hand rythmically moving up and down his back: No, Matt. No.

Matt was not stilled. He continued shooting his hand to the Crucifix.

Me, wondering : Maaatt...Why?

Matt, still grasping, almost frantically now: Hug, hug.

Me, still and quiet for a second: Ohhh... (in understanding).

It dawned on me that in his young mind, getting hurt means getting more than ample doses of hugs and kisses to make the pain "gone na."

Picture credit: www.picturesofjesus4you.com

Another circus trick

2007-07-04T10:50:00.000+08:00

Here's an afternoon full of fun.

It started innocently with dear Matt watching Sesame Street's Happy Healthy Monsters,

which I know he thoroughly enjoys. All the time.

But then you just couldn't contain the vigor and energy of a toddler. No, don't even try. Or ever expect to be successful at containing it. Even with an entertaining show like Sesame Street.

Nor could you attempt to predict a day with a kid.

Because chances are, a seemingly quiet afternoon will turn into a lip-smacking crazy somersaulting afternoon.

Pardon the not too good quality of these pictures. Quality was just the least of my concern the time this was taken. Or the angle these pics were taken. I'm even questioning my sanity for wasting a moment just to take these. But then these are precious moments in my son's life.

Ready...

Get set...

Go!

Ooooomph..Oooops.

Make it a heart-stopping crazy somersaulting afternoon with my dear son Matt. And surely you know now that I didn't mention the circus thing just to jest.

No, don't say " surely you jest" ever again to me.

mean mike?

2007-07-03T08:25:00.000+08:00

Lord, when I said that maybe Matt's going to be a good singer, I was really half -serious with that.

Oh Lord, he could give You his rendition of My Jesus is Alive and I know You'd be happy to hear him ying* that despite the fact that only the words alive and wella (allelujia) are on it.

But he could try singing a mean Rain, Rain Go Away, too. Then again, with only the words rain and again as lyrics.

It really makes me smile to think about his knack at putting minimal words together in a melody.

I'm just concerned, Lord. For someone who can clearly pronounce the word microphone and can identify its use, I'm just puzzled why he gets scared with it.

*ying is Matt's way of saying sing

Funny Bulilit

2007-07-02T11:56:00.000+08:00

He saw it again! And he was entertained.

I remember the first time Matt saw it. He was rooted in place and was all-eyes on TV. I know he didn’t understand what they’re saying because the dialogues are mostly in Tagalog/Filipino.

And last Sunday, we saw it again.

It’s a gag show called Going Bulilit , which stars a cast of gangly kids and tackles no childish issues. (In fact, I think it’s very clever, for putting on kids to deliver the punches on issues like politics in the country. Or punches to personalities, political or not. Very smart, indeed. It sort of blunt the sharp edges, lessen the sting.)

Anyway, with the kids making comical faces after each punch line, my son, to my belief, must have found it appealing and amusing. He was laughing animatedly every time.

And this time, I wondered if he can really take in the messages. Or maybe he’s just concerned on the funny faces. But then he has always been fond of watching shows with babies and kids on them.

When he grows up...

2007-07-01T10:51:00.000+08:00

Lord, what will my son be when he grow up?

Will he be a basketball player because he dribbles anything round or things that look round to him. Like one time he spoiled a squash my mother readied for supper. Or that ripe mango intended for dessert. Or that avocado quietly sitting on the counter.

Will he be mountain climber because he stealthily climbs over chairs, cabinets in a jiffy?

Will he be a driver – race cart driver, bus driver, because he looooves cars, cars and cars and driving, driving and driving. Maybe a mechanic then, because he gets fascinated with batteries, engines and tinkers with his car until they are reduced to bolts, screws and pieces. In mere minutes.

Will he be a show master because he is daring enough to do heart-stopping tricks and stunts worthy of the Moscow State Circus? And doing it all with a smile while Mama has terror written all over the face?

Or a street peddler because he can holler “isda” or “plastic” like Mang Juan the fish peddler or Mang Pedro the junk buyer? With that voice, he can also be an umpire. Or if I send him to music school, maybe he’d be a good singer.

Will he be a wrestler because he rolls over his stomach and simultaneously hits Mama on the chin or the head with his heel or his elbow? Or will he surpass Manny Pacquiao’s fame in the boxing arena because he delivers good uppercuts and punches, however unintentionally?

Whatever he may be in the future, Lord, let him be one good Christian,too.

Note: isda means fish

Speak Aloud 3

2007-06-30T15:15:00.000+08:00

For awhile there, I though my son is L-deficient. He can clearly let out the words light and towel but not ball, which he pronounces like boy.

I know I shouldn't worry myself but I did. I've asked my mother, who's really no expert but who's once been a teacher, about this but she just casually dismissed my concern with a shrug while saying Matt's still too young, anyway.

I tried coaching him again a week ago and completely forgot all about it.

Couple of days ago, I was rewarded with the chance of hearing my son say pillow and ball. He was enunciating the L clearly. Grin, grin.

Speak Aloud 2

2007-06-22T17:52:00.000+08:00

My son is building his vocabulary. Slowly and surely. And it's something I'm more than happy about. Because I can easily understand his needs and wants. When before I’d depend more on instinct and little cues as guides, now I have dear Matt as the guide. He can now tell us what he really wants and needs. With him pointing and saying things at the same time, I can almost always guess what he wants or needs. By just istening carefully. And with the help of some context clues (when the blabbering seems incoherent).

I'm just as amazed at how he (or the kid his age) picks up some words he heard an adult (or adults) utter and mutters it to himself (sort of trying if he can do/say what the adults said, mimicking). Sometimes, hearing him say them is sooo funny.

I listed (again!) few words and phrases from his vocabulary because this is one development of my baby that I want documented. Wala lang, but for reason only a mother might find amusing. Whatever.

And with great pride (mother's pride!), I'm noting his improvement. Like, when before he’d refer to the light as gigi, now he can clearly pronounce the word. And more. He can even count one to ten with some help (but he can clearly enunciate the words). And sing Rain, Rain Go Away (with only rain and again as lyrics). Also My Jesus is Alive (with only the word alive, while omitting the rest).

Some words (at the left side are my son's way of saying them):

Alive - alive

Atta-min – vitamin

Bata, kid – child

Bite - bite

Cod - cold

Cuckoo – cockroach

Cup - cup

Dadee - thunder

Dagan - run

Dap - drop

Dive - drive

E-off - to turn off

E-on - to turn on

Fog - frog

Jejzh - Jesus

Kha-dick - candlestick

Khai (ing) – cry, crying

Khai-m - climb

Ki-ckon - aircon

Kit - kiss

Lod - Lord

Mi-root - remote (for TV, aircon etc..)

Olen - orange

Poohn - spoon

Tek - text (SMS on phone)

Wally - water

Weed - read

Wen - rain

More phrases:

Hi/Hello, (name) - Hi Mama, Hello Mama, Hello Pit (fish)

Mownin - Good morning

Take a bath – take a bath

or he can put two word together like: cry cat (when hearing a cat/s wail); nanay book (a reading material he's seen nanay read).

Mimicking Mama

2007-06-20T18:36:00.000+08:00

Trust a kid to make you drop your jaw all the way to the ground. In a heady rush of emotions such as gladness, surprise and a little annoyance. All at once. Am I making some sense here?

This morning, I was teaching Matt the concept and relationship of “dropping” and “picking-up” using his toys as props. Knowing that kids his age love repetition of movement and sound, I repeated the process of dropping and picking up so many times using different toys each time.

No sooner had I turned my back than I heard soft thuds. Someone was obviously dropping something on our rubber-matted floor. And you guess right, darling tot was the culprit. He was learning so fast he was already copying Mama’s example. I was glad that my son picked up the idea so fast but I was not too happy seeing him holding ..surprise,surprise, my phone!

On the second thought, is that funny rascal giving me the you-mess-with-my-toys-and-I’ll-go-mess-with-yours message?

pulling no more

2007-06-16T18:57:00.000+08:00

Gone are the days when I'd see newly-laundered clothes haphazardly thrown on the floor. Among the litter toys and books and what-not.

I still wake up to a very cluttered room, thanks to kiddo Matt. But now, the clutter mainly consists of toys, toys and more toys. Occasionally, I'd see a book or two joining the pile but I think that's alright.

Darling son has obviously outgrown the stage when there is a strong urge to pull things out randomly. And this is something I'm so happy about. In the past few weeks, I've observed him opening cabinet doors without pulling out the clothes. As of late, I haven't even seen him pull the telephone cord out of its socket which used to be his favorite past time.

Now, he's more keen on dumping the contents out of his toy basket unto the floor. But rascal that he is, I wonder when he'll ever outgrow pulling my hair to get my attention, or to provoke me. Tongue in cheek. :-)

Surviving Canines and Pre-Molars

2007-06-11T19:43:00.000+08:00

The past few days had been difficult. Matt was having on-and-off low grade fever without any other symptom. Even the lab results were all not conclusive, said the pedia. We -my mother and I- suspected that this must be caused by the pre-molars and canines breaking out to the surface of his gums, although the pedia didn't think so. Still active and impish, yet he was crankier and grumpier than usual. Needless to say, everyone in the house was affected by all these. My mother was more than her worrywart self, she was fussing and fretting the whole time. I turned out to be another version of my mother, maybe a degree worse. I was worried sick, anxious, frantic and all. So sooo frayed at the edges, in fact. I'm just too glad that that's like water under the bridge. Matt is okay now.

And during those stressful times, I found these few things helpful:

Stickbreads. Because teething babies usually have the urge to bite more, these small little sticks are perfect for Matt to gnaw on. It’s harder than the usual munchies but it serves the same purpose as that of a teething toy (which I’m not so comfortable). It's also recommended for mommies, to bite as hard and as much to channel some frustration and anxiety. Haha. Ah great things really come in small package, literally. And I’ve been lucky to find the perfect size in a Pan de Pugon outlet.

Gum massages. Matt loves this alot he can keep still for as long as you want him to (and as long as you rythmically thrust a pointer on his gums). I've seen dear son do this all by himself too. Word of caution: Just be careful not to give your kid the message that Mama's finger is a teether.

Touch therapy. Cuddles. Hugs. Licks. Kisses. Coupled with I-love-yous. And all the sweet soothing words you can imagine. Although I cannot explain this scientifically, I do believe there’s magic in touch and tender words. And the benefits go both ways, to the giver and the receiver. Magic, really.

Relative Freedom - For Matt. Not that I'm not giving him his freedom all the time because I really do. But in those difficult times, although closely supervised, I've given him the liberty to do what he wanted to do, without intervening. He's got all the free pass he could get on just about anything. That's tough to explain, alright. It's like I just wait for him to tell me what he wanted to do (or me reading the signs). I've held myself from suggesting or from influencing him on what to do or play. Like if he'd get a book, then maybe he wanted to read. So I take the cue and that's the only time I handed more books or read to him. I didn't even give him solid food unless he'd tell me so. I just let him play or run around.

Chinese Teething Powder. I bought this last year from a Chinese store which sells (authentic ?) Chinese products downtown. Recommended by the people who have tried it with their own kids, or nieces and nephews or grandkids and who go out to say it’s effective. Before trying it with Matt, I've tried it with myself first just so I'd know what it's like. I would dab a little of this on his gums to alleviate his unease, but only as last recourse. But if you’re not comfy with stuff like this, don’t.

Sleep. I find it good for me and my son to get well-rested and refreshed. And whenever I can, I sleep because it keeps me all ready with all the motherly duties waiting ahead of me. And its proven to help me get through any stressful day.

health check

2007-06-01T08:48:00.000+08:00

Thursday got me rushing out of our office doors in an untimely exit. I just had a call from my mother saying Matt's getting the F again. He's been hitting a low-grade F reading on the thermometer since Monday night, but I thought he's already ok.

So I made a mad dash to the doors. Had to bring him to the lab for some tests.

Although I doubted it, I've always hoped that blood extraction could be done in a jiffy. It's not about the noise of Matt's wails or the gawking we'd get from strangers (I really really do not care about this because my utmost concern will always be of my son). It was the sight of those copious tears, twas simply heartbreaking. So was his futile attempts to break out from my tight embrace and his incessant "done na" cries. *Sniff* I could only imagine his fear and feelings of betrayal. *Sniff, sniff* I would readily have given anything and everything to spare my son that ordeal.

After the CBC translation and check-up, which activated his tear glands again, we headed straight home, even without the urine test, to get dear tot back to his comfort zone, alleviate his stress and eventually calm him down.

Later that night, with the urine sample in hand, I with my father went back to the hosp. And moments later, with the antibiotic prescription given by the ER physician (but which I had second thoughts of giving to Matt), we were on our way back home.

Good for me too

2007-05-27T15:08:00.000+08:00

Even someone with a hearty appetite like Matt can be difficult at times. Oh, Kids.

But lately, I found a perfect way to keep my son seated all throughout (at most) breakfast (solid foods).

(his high chair)

And that is, to run the Sesame Street video** on TV. Thanks a lot! I found an ally in the character of Kermit (The Best of Kermit which is Matt’s fave). And Grover too (Sesame Street: Let’s Eat, which is ideally becoming a part of his usual breakfast fare).

(tot's growing collection of Sesame St CDs)

**I limited his viewing to once in a day only.

Bigger Pearls

2007-05-26T22:28:00.000+08:00

Molars and canines are thrusting off the surface of my son's gums. Almost simultaneously. And all 4 of each type!

At twenty-plus, I remember not feeling too great the time a wisdom tooth emerged from my gums. So Matt must have been feeling so terrible with all the eight teeth beating each other from poking out of his gums. Doubly terrible or eight- thly terrible!

So although I'm not too happy with his biting habits these days (I've seen him bite some things which may not necessarily be clean and some skin which is not his own), I've tried to extend my patience for like a hundred miles, or the farthest I can manage. I've also tried to make him feel better by massaging his gums every so often (which he obviously loves because I've seen him copy the works). And a little more, by giving him some teething toys.

The Barber Trip

2007-05-26T22:07:00.000+08:00

We brought Matt to the barber to have his hair done to a "semi-bald" length.

And my dear son was crying all throughout the time the electric shaver zoomed through his head.

Here are some of his pics:

Bald and still cute.

The new red car Ma bought is big as this...

(Side view)

Top view :-)

(This last pic was taken in a kiddie shop where Matt took the initiative of seating and positioning himself in this car. )

A rat and a baby

2007-05-25T18:05:00.000+08:00

A rat. Bow.

My friend Leelard (lizard), is this rat edible?

How about a bite then..

Yummy, without a doubt!

Those Born between 1930-1979

2007-05-24T10:19:00.000+08:00

(This one's for you, Matt. So you'll have a picture of what Mama and Papa's growing up years were like. In a nutshell. Those times...Mama is having a blast reminiscing now...haha... Note: In the ensuing paragraphs, comments at their end and in italics are mine, and mine alone.)

TO ALL THE KIDS WHO SURVIVED the 1930's , 40's, 50's, 60's and the 70's

First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank
while they were pregnant. (Except that I know my mother doesn't drink alcohol or smoke. Ever)

They took aspirin, drank evaporated milk, and didn't get tested for diabetes.

Then after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs made of abaca. We didn't have Pampers or Huggies, just the cool comfort of the "lampin." (Oh, yeah!)

We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets
and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets, kneepads or elbowpads; not to mention, the risks we took hitchhiking with just "tsinelas" (slippers) and "sandos" (sleeveless undershirts). . .yet we were able to come down from the hills and mountains. (Sure did!)

As infants & children, we would ride in cars with no car
seats, booster seats, seat belts or airbags. (Except that we didn't have a car then. Only a motorcycle issued to my father by the company he works for at that time. And we rode in open public transpo, and we inhaled a great amount of dust and carbon monoxide-ridden air. Oh we still inhale a lot of carbon mono and God-knows-what else these days.)

We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle. ( True! Even from deep wells! The deep well still lives in my parents place, but its water is now used for watering the plants and cleaning purposes. And occasionally, for laundering when we ran out of NAWASA supply)

We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle
and NO ONE actually died from this. (I cannot remember about this though. Maybe I didn't have enough baon to buy softdrinks then.)

We ate "tira-tira", white bread and "mantikilya", dirty ice cream
and drank sweet sago't gulaman from the nearby store.. but we
weren't overweight because WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING ! (My parents forbade us to buy these things but yet...and I miss the "tira-tira" and other street food I'd secretly buy like sliced mangga or papaya in plastic, the foamy colorful drink, which the kids call shake, I'd buy across the school gate. Thinking about it now, I think it's all just food coloring, sugar and ice and a dash of crushed peanuts!)

We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on. (Or until my mother yells around the neighborhood with some stick in one hand)

No one was able to reach us all day.
And we were O.K. (Indeed!)

We would spend hours riding our bikes and rode down
the hills, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After
running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve
the problem. (As for me, I learned to ride a bike in highscool. And I pratcised in our school grounds)

We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's, X-boxes, no
video games at all, no 150 channels on cable, no video movies or DVD's, no surround-sound or CD's, no cell phones, no personal computers, no Internet or chat rooms.......WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them! (No phones and still we manage to find one another at the right place and at the right time. Actually, we had all the time to look for one another in say, a department store, because there were no other things -like gadgets enumerated above - to keep us busy. We simply had the time. Time to gather around and talk. No blogging to keep us busy. Haha.)

We fell out of trees, got cuts, broke bones and teeth and
there were no lawsuits from these accidents. (Nasty scrapes and cuts! I still have the scars.)

We were given "baril-barilan" for our 8th birthdays and
yet we still grew up as peace-loving adults. ( Ha! And to illustrate, I really am having second-thoughts at the buying my son a toy gun. I hesitate to. I opt to buy cars or books for him.)

We played "tumbang preso", "taguan" or "syato"..the game
where sticks were flying; and although we were told we may hit
our playmates, we did not put out very many eyes. (Ever heard of kundisi-buko? Anyone interested to play sometime, e-mail me. LOL)

We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on
the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them! (No texting or calling prior to the visit!)

We look forward to summer basketball leagues in our
neighborhood and although not everyone made the team,
those who didn't were able to learn to deal with disappointment. (Is it safe to say that depression wasn't much of an issue in the young peeps then?)

The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law
was unheard of. (Totally! Gracious!)

They actually sided with the law! (Amazing!)

These generations have produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever! (Ahem..)

The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and
new ideas. (**throat clearing**)

We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and
we learned HOW TO DEAL WITH IT ALL! (**cough**cough**)

(So...)

If YOU are one of them,
CONGRATULATIONS!

(Congratulation to me too!)

(And..)

You might want to share this with others who have had the
luck to grow up as kids, before the lawyers and the government regulated so
much of our lives for our own good. (But then the time calls for such measure.)

And while you are at it, forward it to your kids so they
will know how brave (and lucky) their parents were. (Tadaaa! Here comes the powerful tool @ this time- the internet. Email!)

Upshot

2007-05-20T10:02:00.000+08:00

I was trying to finish a macro today when my sister called. Dear tot got a fever.

I hope this is just an aftermath of yesterday's immunization.

Before I went to work, he did feel a little warm to the touch. But he was wailing furiously when I tried to get to him with a thermometer. Matt looked so upset that I just asked hubby to try to get the temp later in the day.

(Guess it's time to buy one of those doctor's kit toy set..to make him feel comfy with sight of the steth and the thermometer. With some luck, he won't be so distressed in our next pedia visit. **fingers crossed** )

Another Pedia Trip

2007-05-19T21:23:00.000+08:00

Hubby came home with a copy of the Count of Monte Cristo flick, which I have not seen yet.

Late in the afternoon, we visited the pedia to have Matt's booster shot of the DPT vaccine.

These are some pics taken before the trip to the pedia.

Rock-A-Boy No more

2007-05-17T06:49:00.000+08:00

What would you do when darling tot is all heavy-lidded but still wouldn't dive right into bed and sleep? You hum, sing him lullabyes and all the songs that come to mind and you gently rock him 'til he dozes off to Dreamland (and 'til you can no longer stand the aching in your backs and arms!). What else can you do!, my mother declared in mock-dismay.

And indeed, that's what my mother did. And naturally, my father followed suit. And before we knew it, we - me, hubby and sis AJ- were doing that too. That was what everybody in the family used to do. And if I may add (*taking a deep breath and bracing myself**), for hours. Yup, yup, yup. We would rock him and try to put him to sleep for hours! (Of course, it varies whether kiddo is tired or not and stuff. And also, by the time he's reached 8 months, the time we'd spend trying to put him to sleep is lesser than when he was still an infant.)

In the past, there were even times I'd hold a sleeping Matt all through the night, while I sit on this rattan chair, fighting off sleep (and failing at times!). I couldn't forget those days, and nights.**Sigh** I am reminiscing now**

But really, my mother, she started it all. Make no mistake, I am not blaming her. It's hardly her fault. She's just one doting Grandma who loves to mollycoddle his grandson and make his life more comfortable.

But alas! Dear Matt can now sleep by himself (I mean not alone but without a sitter to rock him to sleep) without a fuss, and just when I'm starting to wonder when he'd ever outgrow this habit. (I really do not mind one bit but come to think of it, dear son is getting heavier by the day. So when I say I'm tired to go to the gym, it's because I already have my weight lifting exercises in the comforts of my home! Ah let's see, go and try it yourself, carry and rock a 10 - 11kl load for, umm, 30mins or an hour or a couple. And then tell me what you think. *wink*wink* ).

Now, it's so easy. I can just shower him with kisses, murmur an it's-okay-Mama's-here-go close-your-eyes-now line, put some comforting arms around him, maybe hum a bit -or make a sound similar to singing, and then wait for some time til a familiar even breathing is heard. Haaayy, 'tis such a welcome change.

Speak aloud

2007-05-13T19:17:00.000+08:00

Dear son will be 18-months old tomorrow. He's becoming bigger and bigger by the day. So active, yes. He runs around so fast that one would think somebody's trying to get to him, maybe kidnap him. And he climbs chairs, windows, chests (human and furniture alike!), and more.

Picky eater, no, not in the very least. He eats almost anything you hand to him: bread, pasta (like his Papa, spaghetti is his fave), fruits like mango, banana, papaya and watermelon, vegetables like carrots, squash, mango squash, cabbages and even bitter gourd!

Talkative, even noisy at times. Uhm, baby-talk. Some gibberish, some comprehensible. And because I'm a geeky mama, I have listed some words that he uses when speaking aloud and which I'm lucky to have figured out. Like this morning while I was about to change his diaper, he said something which I couldn't quite understand -and he must have seen the confusion in my blank , almost dumb look that he repeated it again, more loudly and clearly this time and I was surprised because what he really said was "wet." And when I instinctively echoed the word back to him, he smiled at me and the look in his eyes was one of agreement.

So here goes the list of the very Bisaya terms he knows, the term on the right was his way of enunciating these words:

Baho - abu
Balut - tabu
Katkat - katkat
Isda - da
Sakay - takay
Siga – diga
Run, many - dagan
Paypay - papay
Pan - pan

And some English words:

Ant - an
Baby - baby
Ball - boy
Banana - bana
Battery - tah-wee
Bird - bid
Bike - buy(k)
Butterfly - buy
Cat - cat
Cap - cap
Car - broom2 or ka
Carry - kah-wee
Clean - kin
Cow - cow
Cry - cry
Darling - dah-nee
Dead - ded
Dickory – dikowee
Dirty - di-ti
Dizzy - diddy
Eat - eat
Feet, fish - p/fit
Good boy - go-boy
Guava - vava
Head - ed
Hand - and
Hanger and Honey – honey
Hi - hi
Hot - hot
Hug - at
Hurt - yayay
Jeep - dip
Kid - kid
Lamp - wam
Light - gigi
Lizard - dee-ah
Mama - Mama
Milk - Mimi
Nanay - Nanay
No - na
Papa – Papa
Rabbit - dabbit
Rain - wen
Tatay - Tatay
Teeth - teet
Ten - ten
Three - tee
Tita – dee-dah
TV - TV
Tummy - tummy
Umbrella - a-bi-bah
Wet - wet
Yummy - yummy

A noun:
Ketkai - kikay, referring to a mall in the city

Some phrases:

Get in - getin
Go away - go-wee

And some even more wonderful phrases:

I love you - Bah-bu
Thank you - de-kah

Noticeably, my son has learned a lot of the English language. Must be because we try to communicate with him this way (in our super 'naning' way), and I read him books even before he was born. Also, he watches English shows like Barney, Sesame Street almost everyday. As Papa put it, better to learn English early on so he'll only have to worry about the Math later. Funny, but I think it makes sense too.

With Tito Mike

2007-05-11T16:45:00.000+08:00

Ma, is it right to take a peek at Tito's phone? Uh-oh.

So what was that all about?

Oh, it's one silly SMS joke alright.

I got it right, didn't I?

Grocery Boy

2007-05-03T12:49:00.000+08:00

Getting supplies from the grocery is one of our bonding moments with my son, who loves the sound and the sight of every grocery trip.

Here's to our constant companion, Matt who cannot seem to get enough of the grocery store.

Chilling in a grocery cart.

Even oblige to pose before Mama's cam-phone.

One happy baby inside his favorite transportation.

With Nanay, while waiting for Tatay to fetch us.

Entertaining himself by counting cars.

'Til the familiar white frame finally came to a halt.

All about Matt

2007-04-22T11:12:00.000+08:00

I have a black roundish mark on my arm again because Matt bit me on the arm the other day. He rarely bites for quite sometime. But I have tried to be more than patient with him.

Teething? Maybe. I carefully examined his gums and felt with my forefinger the molars emerging from his upper gum. Yes, he is teething. Just as nature would have it. The book said to expect molars to appear when baby is 12 to 15 months. It's time.

And maybe this explains his sudden dislike to brushing, a not-so-Matt thing. Strange. And for a time, I wondered what caused his resistance to brushing.

I have tried giving him a gum massage though, which he undoubtedly loves. He is more than willing to open his mouth for a long time and let me do the rythmic forward-backward stroke on his gums without attempting to nip at my finger. He would even smile and move his head froward and backward and look at me for approval. Cute.

But more than that, Matt is his usual playful, energetic self. Thanks GOD.

New Car

2007-04-11T15:59:00.000+08:00

This is one of the goodies Papa bought for me last Saturday.

Camera, huh?

Lemme show you my new car..

This is the hood. If we lift it..

..we'll find a bunny inside the compartment..

But I don't want the bunny..C'mon let's get going now..

Tooth brushing

2007-04-08T20:32:00.000+08:00

My son loooves brushing his teeth.

And I have been brushing his teeth long before he reached 1 year. Must have been the time he got 4 teeth already. His first brush is a yellow thing with soft rubber bristles specially designed for less-than-a-year old babies. After his first birthday, I bought him the next-stage brush with very real bristles (but still soft).

But brushing his teeth those days had been easier because he was just contented to stay still and to let me do all the brushing. I couldn't say this now.

'Course, he still loves brushing his teeth. But the thing is, he wants to do it all by himself! And he always wants me to give him a free grasp of the brush to do his thing! Fine, he knows how to hold his brush and he has somehow learned to make the brushing motions but I am just not sure if he can really clean his teeth (I do not trust him this, not yet).

I have tried getting him another brush (with real bristles too) just so he will have something to hold while I brush his teeth. But few days ago, he refused to be contented with that too. He wants the brush. That green brush that I use to brush his teeth. And it gets me oh-so frustrated (with me wanting to finish the task as fast as I can). And even more frustrated because I know it gets him frustrated, too (wanting to do it on his own).

WOnderland!

2007-04-03T21:16:00.000+08:00

Had to bring Matt to a kid's place in the mall and we stayed there for 3 hours.. Below are some things that got my son busy during our stay.

Car, cars...!

Again...

Small toys, smaller toys..like this block.

Big toys, bigger toys..like this kitchen.

Is this a real microwave?

Let's see if water runs from this faucet..

Toys to climb...

Wanna Be

2007-04-02T07:31:00.000+08:00

Pre-departure inspection..

..the side mirror..

..mirror's okay..

..can I reach the steering wheel? Positive.

..now let's release the handbrake..

..wait! Should I be checking this compartment, too?...

Let's go....

See, I told you I know how to control the wheel..

But I wonder how will I ever stop this car..

Ahh, the brake pad is just right there..let's see if I can jam my foot on the brakes..

..noooo...help me, brake pad is not within my reach...

..will just have to go neutral now...

Meet Bobby

2007-03-27T23:30:00.000+08:00

Bobby is my son's pet name for a Winnie The Pooh stuffed toy. Oh well, he used to call it Paba, but days before my trip to Manila, he has distinctly called it "Bobby." This particular toy is a birthday present from one of his godmother, Che (previously, my officemate). Unlike some versions of Pooh we have at home (courtesy of my sister who collects stuff toys), it is unbelievably soft (you could squeeze it with one hand and still it would bounce back to its original form upon release), no wonder my son loves to hug (and nuzzle its nose! But I have come to believe he really meant to kiss it everytime he puts the nose in his mouth).

Yesterday, I have given Bobby a much needed "bath" and "brushed his teeth" much to my son's dismay. He kept on crying and calling out Bobby's name. All the more so when he saw his bear hanging outside (to dry him up as quickly as possible).

But before I left to work today, I placed the clean and dry Bobby beside my sleeping son. I had wanted to surprise him when he wakes up.

My mother said Matt was ecstatic when he woke up to see Bobby by his side. He was wrestling and hugging the bear almost instantly and for what seemed like a long time, said Mama.

Below are some pics of Bobby with my son.

Aloud

2007-03-08T23:42:00.000+08:00

My son’s vocabulary (speech) @ 14 months (going 15):

Hey – used when he wants to catch your attention

Per – for diaper

Yayay – hurt (he can understand when you say hurt but will still say yayay)

Gone- when he dropped something , he’d say (sometimes it’s agaaay)

Agay- bisaya jud na agay

Gweat- for great

Ayy Ayy- his expression when he expects you to dislike what he's doing (and he would shake his head slowly)

Paba- for his Pooh Bear stuff toy

Mimi- his milk in a bottle

Nanay – my mother

Yummy- referring to food that he wants to eat; or if you dangle a food and he wants to have a taste of (sometime he would say “yum, yum” when he is anticipating the food you are holding for him)

Broom – means anything with wheels, even my brother's mountain bike; he doesn’t say “car” but broom, broom

Bye or ba-bye -for good bye

Dickowy dickody or dickody dickowy - for Hickory Dickory

Daddy – he calls my father this even if he hears us say “Tatay” all the time

Baby- a baby or a kid

Word association:

When he hears these words/phrases, he would say or do these:

Going out – he would say “broom, broom” or say “bye"

Birthday – would blow an imaginary candle

Candle – would blow an imaginary candle (same thing if he sees a candle, picture or real)

The rest is childish blabbering that I cannot understand. :P

Andrei's Party

2007-02-26T21:55:00.000+08:00

Fr L to R: Ate Gen2, Kuya Andrei and Kuya Geno. Matt, in yellow shirt.

Funny moment: Matt looks as if he is about to cry while the girls are having the time of their lives seriously belting it out.

It had given him quite a scare when the gals were singing (more like shouting) at the top of their lungs.

Cousins. L to R: Matt, Ate Gen2, Baby Tyron, Kuya Andrei and Kuya Geno.

Baby's day out

2007-02-17T19:25:00.000+08:00

Malling with Nanay and Tatay.

He must have enjoyed driving this token-operated car coz he refused to budge even when his credits were already spent.

When Mama is not looking

2007-02-16T19:06:00.000+08:00

Just look at that grin...You wouldn't think twice that he's up to something.. B-I-G!

Let's see if I can scare Mama..

Or just trying Mama's patience...or experimenting how far he can go.. Must be all that and more..

But I cannot possibly miss this one..and I really need some help here...

This precarious perch atop his bottle basket is meant for the circus..

Bookworm

2007-02-11T18:42:00.000+08:00

Matt's fave book at the moment. This board-page book is a compilation of children's nursery rhymes. He calls this "Ba", (methinks) because of the Baa Baa Black Sheep rhyme which he obviously likes. He'd always smile and kick his legs when I read this rhyme to him.

Wordless Wednesday Blogroll

2007-01-11T04:58:00.000+08:00

1st Mall-ing

2006-12-29T22:15:00.000+08:00

This is the second time in a row that we’re going out as a family. Just a little adventure for my son. This time the destination is the M-A-L-L. Yes, the mall! Matt’s 1st time. Although Cris and I decided to have our family pic taken in a studio at the mall, I have readied the camera, its memory sticks and batteries for this occasion.

After our side trip to the studio, we dined at a resto with Matt behaving like a gentleman (bless him). Looking at him- seated in a high chair- across the table makes me want to laugh. I am beaming with joy, just looking at my son, munching and playing with his crackers. Too bad I wasn’t able to get shots of him while in the resto.

With stomach calls already answered, we set off to check the kiddie corner where the rides and the carousel are. I believe Matt had a fabulous time. We bought plenty of tokens for the rides and only got a couple left before we decided to call it a day.

Gee, we had a fun time. I’ve never been so happy just going to a mall before. But this must have taken a toll on my son, as he dozed off to sleep before we could go home and right there in the middle of the throng of shoppers.

1st Party!

2006-12-28T23:13:00.000+08:00

I and the men in my life are going out. Oh no, not to the children’s clinic. Matt, my son and Cris, my hubby will escort me to a party. Nothing grand, really. This is not the typical drink-dance-all-you-want party. Contrary to that, this is just some sort of a get-together in the office. Food, little booze for the men and maybe a karaoke session afterwards. Right there in the basketball court-cum-parking area in my office.

So small an event yet this will be memorable. First, because we rarely go out together as a family (reason: hubby is always away and Matt is just a year old). Second, this is Matt’s 1st time to attend a party. I am so excited for my son (maybe just as excited as he is!).

‘Round and ‘round the court, Matt walked, ran and bounced off. I am pretty sure my hubby got tired of following him, who seem to have all the energy even if it’s almost his bedtime. He must be so ecstatic that he would sometimes scream and shout at the kids who hover around him.

At 10PM, we decided to go home and hit the sack.

Only a kid can...

2006-12-12T18:42:00.000+08:00

Matt has learned to pull off these acts the way only a child can. And I can only surmise my son's intention everytime he does these funny antics (that never fail to amuse us). To amuse himself, perhaps. Or maybe, amuse us as well.

But whatever the reason, we are entertained.

Small gesture, great joy.

2006-12-10T20:12:00.000+08:00

I have been giving my son his share of biscuit after his morning nap ( reasons: to improve his pincer grasp, to give him a little freedom to feed himself and to practise his independence). It was one of those times. He was still holding the last piece I gave him when I scooped him off his playpen to watch the cats outside.

To my surprise, he motioned his hand forward to my mouth (hand-feeding position), biscuit in hand. He must have picked up the idea since I sometimes hand feed him. Got so overwhelmed with weird emotions that I almost choke when I instinctively took a tiny bite of the biscuit he offered. He hand fed me until there was none left of that piece of cracker.

At his age, I already tasted the returns of my hardwork. Care for care. Love for love. (And maybe, hand for hand). :-)

One!

2006-11-30T23:47:00.000+08:00

At 1 year old, my son is a babbling baby. He can say “hey” and “deal.” He creates his own words like “per” meaning diaper; “ba” for butterfly, “gigi” for light and “pa” for Pooh Bear. Sometimes, he mutters “Papa” and “Mama”, all in one breath. Other times, it’s the unintelligible “baby talk” you hear from him.

When it comes to his eating habits, I don’t have much to complain. Because I can easily feed him with veggies. So far, he has tried squash – he loves it! And some green, leafy vegetables like camote tops, saluyot, pechay and cabbage ( I don’t give him much of the latter because I’ve read that it can cause gas). It makes me smile to think that he eats various veggies more than his Papa. And he loves soups, too. He can make out the yogurt cup and would ask for his share when he sees you holding it. He eats biscuits, drinks orange juice ( I personally make one from Davao oranges) and takes his vitamins without a whimper.

He is learning to walk. Yes he can walk alone now – but I simply choose not to leave him walking alone. After he has taken his breakfast, we would go out of the house to sun bathe and have our morning walk out in the sun. I made it a part of our morning rituals.

Matt is one happy baby. He loves to laugh that innocent chortle of his and joins in laughter when everybody laughs. He likes to play Peek-A-Boo. And I think he loves to mimic Tatay-- the way he laughs and talks. Even tries to copy some of his nuances.

Seeing a cat or dog makes him kick with joy, the birds keep him still (observing it). And the light- from a flashlight, fluorescent or lampshades keeps him happy.

And Matt is a water baby. He giggles when we bathe him. Just the sound of the water running from the faucet or bubbling from the water dispenser gets him excited. And is even more delighted when he sees the dripping rain.

His killer smile --with his six little teeth (4 teeth on his upper gum and 2 on the lower gum) -- brightens my day. Keeps me alive, amazed and beaming with love and pure joy.

Matt's 1st Birthday

2006-11-14T22:01:00.000+08:00

The party we threw for Matt’s 1st birthday was a success. Nothing so grand but a good one, nonetheless. Seeing the kids and my son happy, makes a whole lot of difference. The venue -

The VIP Hotel, Mezzanine B - was well-decorated by the hotel staff (thanks to my father who made some calls to good old friends in the hotel). There were also buntings and streamer from the party coordinator. Balloons were scattered all around the room, adding color and contrast. The Winnie-The-Pooh motif cake was lovely (and tastes good too).

I believe the games were exciting to the 15 or so kids who attended the kiddie party. Matt's Pa came all the way from Cebu just for the occasion (left for Cebu again after the party's wrapped up). Some relatives and friends came. And Winnie the Pooh surprised the kids, much to most kids’ delight (some, to their horror!).

And my dear son, Matt, looked dapper in a white polo and denim shorts. Despite the incident with the “unknowingly” very hot Phillips lamp (which he touched) early on, my son was a picture of happiness. (Although the pictures Tita captured showed a not-so-happy baby, they don't make the whole story; too bad she wasn’t able to take some good shots when Matt's really enjoying himself).

Seems like yesterday

2006-11-13T23:44:00.000+08:00

My son will be turning 1 tomorrow. Whew, way to go. Indeed time flies fast. And how fast he grows. From a mere 5 pounder to an 18-lb baby!

Thanks be to GOD..for Matt..for everything!

Photo Op for my bday invitation

2006-11-13T20:06:00.000+08:00

"Where is that light coming from?"

"Ahh..there.."

"Uhm ,the light is gone now.."

"But wait..."

"Must be the cam."

Precious Moments 2

2006-11-13T19:22:00.000+08:00

Just adorable!

Precious Moments

2006-11-13T19:11:00.000+08:00

Matt and Papa are having a grand time..

Smartee

2006-11-10T20:01:00.000+08:00

Matt has mastered the art of reading..or the semblance of it.

Some more...

2006-11-09T19:57:00.000+08:00

"Look Ma, told ya that i can fit into this."

Yummy!

Swimming on my bed..

Supermaaaaannn!!!!

"Watch me.."

More pics

2006-11-08T19:38:00.000+08:00

Cousins!

2006-11-07T20:07:00.000+08:00

Reminiscing

2006-11-07T19:25:00.000+08:00

Found some not-too-old pics of my baby taken few months back..It's so funny because I can't help but feel mushy and melodramatic especially since he'll be turning one in few days time. Oh boy, he's growing too fast. GOD bless him.

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Will post some later...

Relatives

2006-10-16T18:55:00.000+08:00

Taken at home. With some relatives. Fr L to R: Daddy Arnold (Cuz G's hubby), Tita Ruby (also my Ninang), Ate Genevieve (cousin), Kuya Andrei (cousin) and Mommy Benitz (Tita Ruby's Ma).

Cutest baby @ 11 months!

2006-10-16T18:50:00.000+08:00

Still so groggy but I can't resist taking a pic during the wee hours in the morning while Matt sleeps on..

He even gave me this lovely smile to capture with my phone.

With Mama

2006-10-16T18:45:00.000+08:00

Matt is 11 months old today. This was taken before we visited the pedia for his monthly check up.

Another pearl

2006-08-24T19:25:00.000+08:00

Felt my son’s upper gum. And there’s a new pearl. Upper right incisor.

Sunday again

2006-08-20T20:00:00.000+08:00

Been to church with Matt. Matt is adjusting quite well with this activity. I’ve seen him getting relaxed and playful in the church today. And he hasn’t slept. Big differences from last Sunday.