Alab's glossary

Life has been happening so I haven't really had much down time to just chronicle much of my or the kids' life nuggets.

Sigh.

Oh well. Here's a go.

Alab is now 17.5 months. His first word was at 11 months, which was "tak" referring to "clock." Interesting that Alon's first was "lat" for "light."

In the course of a half year, he's picked up quite a few words. His pedia, during our 15th month check-up, said he was advanced with speaking.

His first batch of words included "tah" (star), "tata" (tatay or nanay[!]) and "papis" (dog or any four-legged animal).

Now, his vocabulary has just grown!
Nanay = me!
Tatay = tatay or kuya Alon (!)
Pis = please
Caht = cat
Buh = ball, balloon
Muh = moon
Te = ate
Cah = car
Bats = bus
Bee-bee = jeep (the horn of the jeep goes beep-beep-beep, just to explain)
Oto = motor
Eypen = airplane
Buh (with flapping motion) = bird
Taki = taxi
Oos = shoes or slippers
Up = carry
Baba = go down or put me down
Pis = nappies
Puhpuh = i'm pooping
Bas = labas
Nana = banana
Apo = apple

I know I'm missing some words, nonetheless, I'm quite happy that he's as daldal as kuya. And boy, do these two chatter when they talk and play.

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Christmas traditions

Last night I was thinking how much my Christmas tradition has changed since I had a family of my own. I was a little wistful. I did enjoy getting ready for Misa de Gallo then going home waiting for 12:00 to greet every one Merry Christmas and the opening of gifts begin.

The past Christmases, we had to have the Noche Buena and opening of gifts earlier in consideration of the sleeping time of the kids.

As I cleaned up the torn gift-wrappers, I was missing that old tradition. But then I flashed back a little and recalled Alon's excitement of opening every gift.

"Awwww! Nice. I like it." He hasn't really given it much look.

"Ay, so sweet!" to every time I tell him who gave the gift.

"Ako na mag-open. Kaya ko na kasi malaki na ako." This is when we offer help.

I realized, this is my tradition now... to enjoy the look of anticipation on the faces of my sons. While they are still young, I will have to relish that unconditional joy from just opening gifts, of seeing their pile grow. 

When we were settling for bed, I asked him if he was happy, He said he was. I gave him a little reminder that it was the birth of Christ and that people gave gifts to each other to show their love and to honor Jesus. He was scratching his eyes, nodding his head. I don't think he absorbed what I was trying to say. 

I doesn't matter though. There is always every day to remind him.

Merry Christmas folks! May we all rejoice in the joy of the season.

Godzilla

Alon has developed quite a fascination with Godzilla.

These past few days, he has been requesting to watch Godzilla videos. His favorite is video of stills of Godzilla over the year. Another is just his various roars. (find his attention span fascinating when he is truly interested in a particular thing.)

When Alon was a year and half, his cousin Eo generously gave an old Godzilla toy he no longer played with. He has renewed fancy with the toy at three years and four months.

One day, I arrived home finding Godzilla with double-sided tape plastered over him. Apparently, he got hurt so Alon put band-aid on him.

The photo above also has a corresponding story, as told by Alon.

"Ito si Tatay Godzilla, Ito si Alab Godzilla. Si Alon Godzilla, nasa day care."

I asked him, "asan si Nanay Godzilla?"

"Nasa office."

It seems Nanaz Godzilla is a working mom like myself. :)

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A gift from dad

The gift tag would always say "Mommy and Daddy" but we all know who really thought about what gift to give. It was the same person who bought it and wrapped it. I think my dad found out about their present to me the same time I did.

One time, my dad brought home a rag doll with blue hair for me. I knew that it was him who chose it, it was him who bought it and that my mom had no hand in it whatsoever. And so I love that doll very much. It was special because I knew my dad took time for that gift. I really felt sad when I discovered that my mom donated it to charity without my knowledge. I would have wanted to keep it until it was hardly recognizable. However, to make myself better, I just imagined that doll making another child happy, and at least, I will always have the person who gave it to me.

In college, Daddy gave me a shirt which had an art contest winner for Coca-Cola Foundation. I loved that shirt as much as I loved that rag doll. Unlike that doll however, I still have that shirt with me. It's at least 17 years old already! That shirt was with me when I became a Jesuit Volunteer in Mindoro and Bukidnon, when I did field work for JVP and for Assisi, when I studied in Netherlands and whenever I travel for work. That shirt has been places. It was my way of having Dad around and reminding myself that he will always be there.

I probably would not be able to let go of that shirt. I'm a hoarder that way. I'd rather keep my old stuff and get rid of newer items which I have less emotional inclination for. That shirt, in particular, is too special. 

But even if I no longer have that shirt (I hope because one of the boys swiped it), Dad will always be there. A big part of me is from him. Things he taught me without knowing he has taught me. Like, even with the bad rep men have, good men are capable of loving a woman beyond what she expects, therefore there is no point to settle for less. He taught me dedication to duty. He has taught me love for family. He has taught me compassion for others. These were greater gifts none could take away but something I hope to pass on.

He was gone too soon. Physically. But his spirit has never left. I thank the Father for giving me my father.

Happy Dad's Day, Dad!

Some things never change

One of the things my husband is known for is his ability to sleep anywhere, any time at any position.

His friends from way back know this. The friends we have know this, with documentation even. I have a lot of sleeping photos on file. With mouth open, head forward, head to the side, lying down, sitting down... 

Some things never change. Sometimes they just evolve.

 

This time, someone else is with him.

Cue that fuzzy warm feeling while snickering.

Dining out with small children

Eating out has taken a whole new dimension since we had kids.

The old criteria were:
1) Do we like the food?
2) Are we are willing to spend for that food that we like?

The criteria has changed drastically from the original.
1) Will the stroller fit? (if we brought it)
2) Do they have a high chair?
3) Do they serve soup or spaghetti?
4) Is there an off chance that they have a play area?
5) Will we not mind the cost of the food Alon will order but not eat?
6) Are there any hot surfaces we have to deal with? If yes, then we are not eating there. (Shabu-shabu, Slappy Cakes, sizzling/grill places have been eliminated from the race.)

Now I know why a lot of families end up in McDonald's or Jollibee!

Our little family, on the other hand, have developed some lovin' for Max's.

Lessons from my mother

From my mom, I learned...

Compassion. I remember those days in Pampanga when she would have us choose from our old clothes and toys to give away to the kids living in the squatters (political correctness was not a thing back then!) right beside our village. She'd have them come over our house and serve them warm porridge. Afterwards, she'd give them our old clothes.

Independence. She allowed us to roam around on our own as children. She, too, was a woman of her own. My dad only went home on weekends, so she did her own thing. Mom let my sister live in a dorm at 13 to study in Pisay. She and Dad let me dorm at 15 and live in another province after graduation to volunteer. She declared my bro financially independent when he turned 21. :P

Faith. She works hard, yes. But she also trusts God to do as He will.

Stubborn-ness. I think the sibs would agree that I got it from her. Definitely not from dad. And from her last visit, she was saying Alon got it from me. It's not necessarily a bad thing! This just means we know what we want and we know who we are. 

There is so much more she has taught me, of course. But these are the four things I easily think of when I think of my mom.

Well, there is her ka-kikayan and love for jewelry. But this is where we begin to differ.

To my dearest Mommy El, happy mother's day! I love you so much.