Well it's been weeks now since we've been back here in Manila. It's good to be able to catch up with the things to do back here.
Our trip to Naga was...hmmm, how should I put this? It was definitely not a vacation trip. Well first off, we went home to bury a beloved uncle. And although the family has accepted his death, still it was sad that he has finally left us. Also, I was at first stressed out by Eya's reaction to the people there. She was not used to having a lot of people in one place. Well, maybe the booming voices and the different language confused her. It took weeks for her to be able to adjust to my parents and siblings! I was really glad when she finally got used to all of them. At least they were able to bond before we left for Manila.
Two good things out of our trip to Naga: my family got to bond with Eya and Eya celebrated her 2nd birthday in Naga.
I was happy to be with family. We gave Eya a simple b-day party and she loved the balloons and the presence of counsins and playmates. I just wished she did not get constipated on that day, of all days!!!
And as I'm writing this, I can't believe that Christmas is again nearing and I've barely started gift hunting!
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Friday, September 22, 2006
The Passing of an Anthem
I learned last Wednesday night that my Uncle Clarge has passed away. He had been fighting Emphysema for several years now. The text message was a painful surprise. Although it shouldn't have been a surprise since he had been in and out of the ICU for months. But still, you learn, always, that when death comes in the family, no matter how much you prepare yourself, when it actually comes, you'll never be really totally prepared for it. Always, its dark, lonely and painful hands will touch you and grip you and stay with you...
For me, the loneliness came at about 3am the next day, when everybody else was asleep. It was during this time that the memories came, all the more painful because they were memories from joyous times. My family grew up with his family. We spent all the important occasions (holidays, birthdays, vacations) with his family.
He was a jolly good soul, always lively, and very very frank. He can be harsh sometimes in all his frankness, but sometimes, this is really how you build strong character in people. He was always in the "know." He knows everything that goes on--in the news, in other parts of the world, and other things that you wouldn't really know about no matter how much you watch television. I often wondered where he gets all his information. Well, maybe from all the books that he reads. I remembered that talking with him was always an intellectually stimulating experience. He'll never back down during any debate and his arguments would always have strong backing. I just know that if he had not been encumbered by his sickness, he would have gone on to greater achievements.
But he's free now. Free from all the gadgets and the medicines that he had to take when he was alive. Free from his confining sickness. I can actually imagine him running freely now, with a wide smile on his face. I can see him in my mind, swimming and playing Ping Pong, sports that he was really good at years ago.
We will mourn you Uncle Clarge. Everytime we visit your place at 156, we will always search, grope even, for the light and life that was uniquely you. We will press our ears to the wall and deeply wish for the slightest trace of your voice. Everytime we sit in your sala and watch from your favorite TV, we will hear your voice in our heads, telling us something worth learning about. It will surely be lonely without your jokes Uncle, and occasions will never be the same without the comments that only you can make. But deep, deep, deep down Uncle, we are also happy for you. You can laugh all you want now without the worry of triggering an attack. You can journey the great outdoors now without fearing viruses. Everytime we are lonely, we will picture you in our mind, running carefree in your fave rubber shoes.
Move on in peace Uncle, because the people you've left behind will also do the same, for your sake.
For me, the loneliness came at about 3am the next day, when everybody else was asleep. It was during this time that the memories came, all the more painful because they were memories from joyous times. My family grew up with his family. We spent all the important occasions (holidays, birthdays, vacations) with his family.
He was a jolly good soul, always lively, and very very frank. He can be harsh sometimes in all his frankness, but sometimes, this is really how you build strong character in people. He was always in the "know." He knows everything that goes on--in the news, in other parts of the world, and other things that you wouldn't really know about no matter how much you watch television. I often wondered where he gets all his information. Well, maybe from all the books that he reads. I remembered that talking with him was always an intellectually stimulating experience. He'll never back down during any debate and his arguments would always have strong backing. I just know that if he had not been encumbered by his sickness, he would have gone on to greater achievements.
But he's free now. Free from all the gadgets and the medicines that he had to take when he was alive. Free from his confining sickness. I can actually imagine him running freely now, with a wide smile on his face. I can see him in my mind, swimming and playing Ping Pong, sports that he was really good at years ago.
We will mourn you Uncle Clarge. Everytime we visit your place at 156, we will always search, grope even, for the light and life that was uniquely you. We will press our ears to the wall and deeply wish for the slightest trace of your voice. Everytime we sit in your sala and watch from your favorite TV, we will hear your voice in our heads, telling us something worth learning about. It will surely be lonely without your jokes Uncle, and occasions will never be the same without the comments that only you can make. But deep, deep, deep down Uncle, we are also happy for you. You can laugh all you want now without the worry of triggering an attack. You can journey the great outdoors now without fearing viruses. Everytime we are lonely, we will picture you in our mind, running carefree in your fave rubber shoes.
Move on in peace Uncle, because the people you've left behind will also do the same, for your sake.
Monday, September 11, 2006
P.S.
Am I writing to someone? Anyway, I feel like I'm writing to someone...
Well, I just forgot to write that Eya also knows how to say "thank you", " sorry", and "please" now. It just feels so nice whenever you hear your kid say such things hehehe. And she can count from 1 to 10 now. Oh well, sometimes she forgets 1 and starts at 2 and then she forgets 4 and jumps at 5, hehehe. Sometimes she starts at 5 all the way to 10 --- it's just so funny listening to her count this way!
Hmmm, she's nearing her 2nd birthday and we'd like to give her a simple party. I hope she'll be super happy on her "d" day.
Well, I just forgot to write that Eya also knows how to say "thank you", " sorry", and "please" now. It just feels so nice whenever you hear your kid say such things hehehe. And she can count from 1 to 10 now. Oh well, sometimes she forgets 1 and starts at 2 and then she forgets 4 and jumps at 5, hehehe. Sometimes she starts at 5 all the way to 10 --- it's just so funny listening to her count this way!
Hmmm, she's nearing her 2nd birthday and we'd like to give her a simple party. I hope she'll be super happy on her "d" day.
Thursday, September 07, 2006
At looong last...
It's been a while!!! It's been months since I last wrote anything in here, whew! Well...excuses, excuses. First, I've been lazy. I just did not have that zest, that enthusiasm to write anything. Then, I was busy with Eya, I was always busy with Eya. Then, we sent home our 'pasaway' yaya, so it was just me taking care of Eya. Then, I got sick. That's about it for excuses. Well, now then that's covered.
I'm really so happy with Eya right now. She can now talk, imagine!!! She can now tell you what she wants, which she does, of course, and allll the time! She can now hum a decent tune and she's getting good at dancing everyday. She's very interested in books and with educational shows. I hope we can find that perfect playschool for her by November.
She's nearly two years old now and she can really do a lot of things. She can eat by herself now without spilling anything and she now knows phrases like, "tulog ko, eat, water, poopoo, weewee, gusto mo, buksan ko." And so she can now make "utos." hehehe! But when she gets so excited she still blabbers on and on. But I don't mind. I'm just so happy with the progress that she's making. And I'm so proud because she's showing some IQ and EQ. She knows how to share her toys with others and she knows how to be told to not do something.
There was also a time when I was truly touched by my daughter. We were alone in the house then, just the two of us. I suddenly became depressed. I cried a little, and I thought she would not notice. But when she saw the tears in my eyes, she got her "pranella" and started wiping at my eyes. I was so surprised! I was not expecting this from a baby less than two years old. That was when I realized that my baby's growing up and that I have no reason to be sad. I was just so touched and so proud that my baby is growing up to be a sensitive girl attuned to older people's feelings. She also cries when she sees people crying on TV. The experience was just so humbling.
I'm really so happy with Eya right now. She can now talk, imagine!!! She can now tell you what she wants, which she does, of course, and allll the time! She can now hum a decent tune and she's getting good at dancing everyday. She's very interested in books and with educational shows. I hope we can find that perfect playschool for her by November.
She's nearly two years old now and she can really do a lot of things. She can eat by herself now without spilling anything and she now knows phrases like, "tulog ko, eat, water, poopoo, weewee, gusto mo, buksan ko." And so she can now make "utos." hehehe! But when she gets so excited she still blabbers on and on. But I don't mind. I'm just so happy with the progress that she's making. And I'm so proud because she's showing some IQ and EQ. She knows how to share her toys with others and she knows how to be told to not do something.
There was also a time when I was truly touched by my daughter. We were alone in the house then, just the two of us. I suddenly became depressed. I cried a little, and I thought she would not notice. But when she saw the tears in my eyes, she got her "pranella" and started wiping at my eyes. I was so surprised! I was not expecting this from a baby less than two years old. That was when I realized that my baby's growing up and that I have no reason to be sad. I was just so touched and so proud that my baby is growing up to be a sensitive girl attuned to older people's feelings. She also cries when she sees people crying on TV. The experience was just so humbling.
Saturday, April 15, 2006
Surprise!!!
I just woke up one morning and noticed that Laneya can now eat on her own! One day she's a tiny baby and the next she can eat on her own! And she now knows how to use a straw. And and she likes carrot juice and prune juice, imagine. I think parents really do live for these kinds of surprises...
Sunday, April 02, 2006
Feeling Down
I'm feeling down today, I don't know. It's a good thing I can put the blame on any THING - like the food I ate, the 'sakto' that I just gulped down, whatever.
Maybe it's everything that's happening - the horrible shifting irritating weather and the equally distressing political turmoil that's bound to give millions of Filipinos perennial headache and heartaches.
Frankly, I don't watch the news anymore. It's numbing how the situation in the country gets more than worst everyday (we need a new superlative for worst to describe it). If it's not the everyday crimes, it's political issues, which is just as bad as the morbid crimes for me - the way they put on these shows and assume that every Filipino does not think.
PGMA is putting on all these subtle moves that promise us she'd be even more terrible than Marcos, and the administration assumes that the ordinary Filipino does not notice these subtleties. Well it's obvious that she's putting all her claws at work even as we sleep. She attacks, and then retreats for a time (preparing for the next attack). But I think everybody by now knows her game.
Oh well, I think that the situation here will get more depressing. PGMA will gladly make sure of that.
Maybe it's everything that's happening - the horrible shifting irritating weather and the equally distressing political turmoil that's bound to give millions of Filipinos perennial headache and heartaches.
Frankly, I don't watch the news anymore. It's numbing how the situation in the country gets more than worst everyday (we need a new superlative for worst to describe it). If it's not the everyday crimes, it's political issues, which is just as bad as the morbid crimes for me - the way they put on these shows and assume that every Filipino does not think.
PGMA is putting on all these subtle moves that promise us she'd be even more terrible than Marcos, and the administration assumes that the ordinary Filipino does not notice these subtleties. Well it's obvious that she's putting all her claws at work even as we sleep. She attacks, and then retreats for a time (preparing for the next attack). But I think everybody by now knows her game.
Oh well, I think that the situation here will get more depressing. PGMA will gladly make sure of that.
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Jollibee, Kids' Patron Saint
We brought Eya to UP this weekend, for a little family bonding. She really enjoyed being able to run and play on wide open grounds and to be able to relax under the shades of the trees. It was a different experience for her and she was all good mood and smiles. We'll definitely do this little picnic again.
Then we had to pass by SM Megamall because I had to quickly meet with my high school batchmates who are busy planning our batch's 10th year reunion.
Along the way, we passed by Jollibee...and it was truly funny and amazing how Eya and other kids were attracted to Jollibee - like magnet. And really, I think in their little minds, kids revere Jollibee. They touch him, pat him, hug him, hold his hands, sit on him, cuddle and Eya even kneeled in front of him! We were so surprised!! Whatever made Jollibee this appealing to children? Maybe its his flashy red and yellow color, smiling face and his protruding belly that maybe kids can so relate with hehehe. In kids' mind he may be friend and play thing and biggie guardian angel (with the bee's wings and all) all in one!
Well after this interesting scene with Jollibee, we brought Laneya to Dave's Fun House. It was fun to see and learn that Laneya now knows how to mingle well with other kids. She giggles and laughs with them and she allows them to play with her. She's not at all aloof with and isolated with other kids. And I hope that she'd continue to be this friendly and this sociable. It was exciting to watch Laneya have so much fun in the playground with other kids. Parents' simple joys!!!
Then we had to pass by SM Megamall because I had to quickly meet with my high school batchmates who are busy planning our batch's 10th year reunion.
Along the way, we passed by Jollibee...and it was truly funny and amazing how Eya and other kids were attracted to Jollibee - like magnet. And really, I think in their little minds, kids revere Jollibee. They touch him, pat him, hug him, hold his hands, sit on him, cuddle and Eya even kneeled in front of him! We were so surprised!! Whatever made Jollibee this appealing to children? Maybe its his flashy red and yellow color, smiling face and his protruding belly that maybe kids can so relate with hehehe. In kids' mind he may be friend and play thing and biggie guardian angel (with the bee's wings and all) all in one!
Well after this interesting scene with Jollibee, we brought Laneya to Dave's Fun House. It was fun to see and learn that Laneya now knows how to mingle well with other kids. She giggles and laughs with them and she allows them to play with her. She's not at all aloof with and isolated with other kids. And I hope that she'd continue to be this friendly and this sociable. It was exciting to watch Laneya have so much fun in the playground with other kids. Parents' simple joys!!!
Ramblings of a Mom
It's been a while since I wrote something in this blog. I've just been so busy - Laneya is getting to be quite a handful--two handfuls, actually. She can now run, jump, dance, sing and she likes slides!!! She's so giggly and she laughs a lot when she's sliding down the slide. Perhaps it's the sensation. And she likes to be independent now. She prefers to eat alone (plus plus all the kalat), drink alone (plus plus all the dripping clothes after) and if allowed, she'd take a bath alone! She does not like being held when in the mall. That's why I'm looking for a tag-along, but the stores are all out of stock. Kids must be getting more and more independent these early days. :-)
She can now say mamee, dadee and she can count up to four! Her voice is just pure music to our ears, even when she's reasoning out, meaning bubbling excitedly. She's also very friendly, she smiles, plays and talks to kids of all ages, even those older than her. But I think that at this point, she thinks that everybody, including us, is with her age group hehehe.
She likes kikay things also! She appreciates colorful shirts and scarfs and long dresses and she likes to look at herself in the mirror. She likes to put lotion on herself, albeit on the wrong parts of her body like the hair. She's becoming a little lady--and with a crush on Sam Milby--gooodnesss!!! She makes these funny noises when Sam's face come on TV--goodness, goodness!!! I remember that I started having crushes when I was in kindergarten. I guess I no longer hold the record.
Oh, I can just gush and gush about Eya (well, what else can you expect of a mother?). She appreciates books and stickers and she can now build blocks, not just break them down. She's starting to experiment with crayons, pens and pencils. But she prefers to write all over my face and body and the floor rather than on paper. I also think that her thinking powers had already been switched on. She can now choose the kind of socks and caps and shirts that she'd like to wear.She now knows what she wants and would do anything to get it (cry, throw tantrums, kick, etc.). She can still be distracted but most of the time she knows that she's being distracted, and so...
But she also knows how to be so malambing. There were times when she'd just hug you and kiss you over and over for no reason at all. And I think that these are a parent's most treasured and precious moments. She has also matured emotionally - well, a little - as what's meant for little kids. Whenever I'd scream in pain due to her biting, she'd immediately hug me and press her head on my chest, maybe her way of saying 'sorry'. In contrast to just giggling, which was what she used to do weeks before. And she now knows how to caress and pat others in the way that's being done to her. Her soothing acts are really calming. This is also the time to be very careful of our actions though, because she emulates everything we do. She laughs when we laugh. And she can feel everything around her. She's also subdued when we are subdued or serious and she's staring to ask about things, in her own language though.
She's has also become very curious. And she likes gadgets!!! She's interested in batteries, chargers, electric fans, extension cords, camerals, handyphones, the list goes on. And if allowed, she'd destroy everything just to have the chance to try to put them back all together (I'd allow her, but they're just dangerous for kids...and expensive!!! hehehe).
Her sleeping habits bother me though. For the past weeks, she was always up at night, playing. I surely hope for her sleeping time to return to normal hours soon. It's taking a toll on me. I now can't sleep at night either and it's hard to sleep during the day. There are times when I feel like a zombie.
Well, enough for now. I'm sure I'd have a lot more to write about Eya in my other entries.
She can now say mamee, dadee and she can count up to four! Her voice is just pure music to our ears, even when she's reasoning out, meaning bubbling excitedly. She's also very friendly, she smiles, plays and talks to kids of all ages, even those older than her. But I think that at this point, she thinks that everybody, including us, is with her age group hehehe.
She likes kikay things also! She appreciates colorful shirts and scarfs and long dresses and she likes to look at herself in the mirror. She likes to put lotion on herself, albeit on the wrong parts of her body like the hair. She's becoming a little lady--and with a crush on Sam Milby--gooodnesss!!! She makes these funny noises when Sam's face come on TV--goodness, goodness!!! I remember that I started having crushes when I was in kindergarten. I guess I no longer hold the record.
Oh, I can just gush and gush about Eya (well, what else can you expect of a mother?). She appreciates books and stickers and she can now build blocks, not just break them down. She's starting to experiment with crayons, pens and pencils. But she prefers to write all over my face and body and the floor rather than on paper. I also think that her thinking powers had already been switched on. She can now choose the kind of socks and caps and shirts that she'd like to wear.She now knows what she wants and would do anything to get it (cry, throw tantrums, kick, etc.). She can still be distracted but most of the time she knows that she's being distracted, and so...
But she also knows how to be so malambing. There were times when she'd just hug you and kiss you over and over for no reason at all. And I think that these are a parent's most treasured and precious moments. She has also matured emotionally - well, a little - as what's meant for little kids. Whenever I'd scream in pain due to her biting, she'd immediately hug me and press her head on my chest, maybe her way of saying 'sorry'. In contrast to just giggling, which was what she used to do weeks before. And she now knows how to caress and pat others in the way that's being done to her. Her soothing acts are really calming. This is also the time to be very careful of our actions though, because she emulates everything we do. She laughs when we laugh. And she can feel everything around her. She's also subdued when we are subdued or serious and she's staring to ask about things, in her own language though.
She's has also become very curious. And she likes gadgets!!! She's interested in batteries, chargers, electric fans, extension cords, camerals, handyphones, the list goes on. And if allowed, she'd destroy everything just to have the chance to try to put them back all together (I'd allow her, but they're just dangerous for kids...and expensive!!! hehehe).
Her sleeping habits bother me though. For the past weeks, she was always up at night, playing. I surely hope for her sleeping time to return to normal hours soon. It's taking a toll on me. I now can't sleep at night either and it's hard to sleep during the day. There are times when I feel like a zombie.
Well, enough for now. I'm sure I'd have a lot more to write about Eya in my other entries.
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Simple Wedding for Simple People
Blu and I finally got married last Feb. 16 at 10:30 am. My Aunt said that being married on a Thursday and on a "16th" at "10:30 am" all spell luck. I hope she's right, though we chose the date and time without really thinking about all these. Blu and I - we've been together since 1997 and we really did work hard to make our relationship work, and continue to work. So I think "luck" is just a bonus. In the end, it will still be up to us. It will always be up to us two.
Having said that...I'm so happy that we finally did it, took that simple step. We had been wanting to get married for some time now but there were always some hindrances -- on top of the list was his tight working schedule. Well, I'm glad we've gone passed that because in this busy world, that's one thing that will always be there - crazy working schedule.
It was just a simple civil wedding. It didn't take long. And the photographer was funny. He told the two of us to pose, and we did with all our smiles and with Blu doing his own wacky expressions and poses. After a few minutes he told us that his camera was locked. PFFFT!!! And then he told us to pose again, only this time - his film needed to be changed. GRRRR!!!
It was simple, no frills and it was what we wanted. No tensions, no pressure to entertain many people and no big budget needed (that's the best part! hahaha). After the ceremony, the happiness that we felt was the calming kind - the kind that slowly sinks in and seeps through, the kind that lingers, and the kind that makes you smile softly at each other for a long long time.
We spent the rest of the day together doing our "comfort" stuffs. We had dinner, watched a movie (to be able to cuddle *wink*) and then we went to the fair at UP to relive the old days when we were just starting to date. Strange, but that was how it really felt like...like we were just starting to date. Maybe that's what marriage creates...that sense of peace that will make you eager to start over.
Having said that...I'm so happy that we finally did it, took that simple step. We had been wanting to get married for some time now but there were always some hindrances -- on top of the list was his tight working schedule. Well, I'm glad we've gone passed that because in this busy world, that's one thing that will always be there - crazy working schedule.
It was just a simple civil wedding. It didn't take long. And the photographer was funny. He told the two of us to pose, and we did with all our smiles and with Blu doing his own wacky expressions and poses. After a few minutes he told us that his camera was locked. PFFFT!!! And then he told us to pose again, only this time - his film needed to be changed. GRRRR!!!
It was simple, no frills and it was what we wanted. No tensions, no pressure to entertain many people and no big budget needed (that's the best part! hahaha). After the ceremony, the happiness that we felt was the calming kind - the kind that slowly sinks in and seeps through, the kind that lingers, and the kind that makes you smile softly at each other for a long long time.
We spent the rest of the day together doing our "comfort" stuffs. We had dinner, watched a movie (to be able to cuddle *wink*) and then we went to the fair at UP to relive the old days when we were just starting to date. Strange, but that was how it really felt like...like we were just starting to date. Maybe that's what marriage creates...that sense of peace that will make you eager to start over.
Friday, January 13, 2006
Balloons for Eya's 2nd Christmas
It was Eya's second Christmas, and for that reason alone, I am a very happy mom (hehehe). She really likes balloons so we bought her quite a number and it was truly exciting to watch how wide-eyed and excited she became when she saw all those balloons being inflated right in front of her. It's true what all mothers say - when you're child's healthy and happy, you're happy (well this is just sinking in, but it's a nice 'sinking' feeling hehehe). It was a fun Christmas. Eya made it a fun Christmas.
We also gave her a mini inflatable house - her current tambayan. I could really watch her all day play haaaay (contented sigh hehehe). She's just so fun to watch!!! She's so giggly and playful! (even at 5am in the morning!) And she's got new tricks. She can climb a chair now, alone - wow! Babies really grow up too fast! And she can say "jabee" now whenever Jollibee's face appears on TV hahaha. She can walk really fast now, with lesser falls - and very soon she'll be able to run (aw something to really watch out for).
Hmmm whenever I'm in the supermarker or department store, all I can think about are Eya's stuff - clothes, milk, wipes, etc. It's a good thing I'm not rich because I'll just spend all the money on cute little dresses and blouses and pants hehehe.
We also gave her a mini inflatable house - her current tambayan. I could really watch her all day play haaaay (contented sigh hehehe). She's just so fun to watch!!! She's so giggly and playful! (even at 5am in the morning!) And she's got new tricks. She can climb a chair now, alone - wow! Babies really grow up too fast! And she can say "jabee" now whenever Jollibee's face appears on TV hahaha. She can walk really fast now, with lesser falls - and very soon she'll be able to run (aw something to really watch out for).
Hmmm whenever I'm in the supermarker or department store, all I can think about are Eya's stuff - clothes, milk, wipes, etc. It's a good thing I'm not rich because I'll just spend all the money on cute little dresses and blouses and pants hehehe.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)