First step

First independent step! Alab took one step forward, then another, then the third one was mostly gravity. And this was after he stood the longest unsupported. 

Next thing I know, I wouldn't know which way to run since I have to run after two wild horses. Haha!

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!

Monster Jam

Back in March, Metrodeal had a deal for Peppa Pig and Monster Jam. My instinct told me that Alon would enjoy Monster Jam more. He is obsessed with cars. The bigger the cars, the better he liked them, too. And boys will be boys, I guess. He took particular joy when the trucks would topple, burn or crash.

We didn't buy the tickets then because the event was still this June. We weren't sure with our schedule and we had to be extra watchful of our finances then.

Metrodeal relaunched the sale of the tickets at 50% off.

I asked Alon what he likes more, Peppa Pig or Monster Jam. He answered Monster Jam.

Yey! Because we already bought the tickets before I thought of asking him.

I think I'm more excited than he is! He doesn't know yet, of course. But I'm really, really, really excited. Tatay, Nanay and Ninong Roy with Alon. I'm a bit sad that Alab won't be able to go but it might be too noisy for his tender ears for now.

Alon's first live show will be bad ass! I saw on TV that his favorite monster truck, Zombie, will be coming too. He likes the wobbly hands whenever it flips.

Zombie. Photo taken from here.

I can't wait to see his excitement! :)

This is eat

The initial attempt to feed Alab did not succeed as I imagined it to be. Given that when he eat, he looks at us with much longing, I thought he would be giddy-happy that it was finally time to him to share in the family meal. Apparently not. He would push the spoon away or close his mouth as it approached or pushed his tongue out.

For more than a week, this was a case. I thought to give feeding him a rest since his main source of nutrition should still be milk anyway.

Since we do not have the time to really cook his food every time (it's such a small portion, at that), we freeze his food then just thaw it out when we are too feed him. One day, I thought of giving him a frozen potato slice to chew on. He enjoyed it! He ended up eating a couple of slices. I tried it with squash and sweet potato, he enjoyed them both. I also tried giving him a small slice of fresh banana (not frozen), he ended eating a lot.

My initial thought that baby-led weaning was not for us has been debunked.

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.

Kids say the darnedest things!

In the throes of a wild tantrum
Alon: Gusto ko ng cereals!
Nanay: Kuha kita ng bago?
Alon: Hindi, yung kinain mo!

* * * * *

Tatay: Greet mo si Nanay ng Happy Mother's Day tapos hug mo siya.
Alon: Mamaya na, kumakain pa ako.

* * * * *

Alon: Excuse me, Tatay, nanuod ako ng news. (watching Rated K and its feature on animals)

* * * * *

Nanay: Alon, gusto mo gupit ko?
Alon: Hindi. Pahabain mo.

* * * * *

Alon: Gusto ko ng long kasi hindi short.

* * * * *

Nanay: Alab, kakain ka na!
Alon: Hindi kasi maliit pa si Alab.

* * * * *

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.

Kain na!

Last Saturday (9 May), Alab ate for the first time.

Contrary to my expectations of giggly joy of finally having food, he was crying and throwing a fit. My little Baymax did not enjoy his first time. :(

It might have been the attempt at baby-led weaning (BLW).  I gave him a sliver of squash which he eagerly put in his mouth (as he tends to do lately with anything he lays his hands on). He tastes it and gums it... and gags. He ends up crying.

I went back to old-school feeding of mashing the squash and adding some breastmilk to give him a more familiar taste. He reacted much better to it but ends up crying again. 

I ended up nursing him both for comfort and hunger. He fell asleep a few moments after.

When I fed him again on Sunday, I stuck to old-school mashed food. He was more receptive than the day before. Still not giggly joy but at least there was no more crying until after he finished what I prepared.

Maybe BLW is not for us, but we are definitely on our way to solid food. And stinky farts and poop. StinkIER farts and poop, I mean.

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. 

Paddywhack

Singing "This Old Man" in a slower tempo helps put Alab to sleep. It's quite a convenient song rhyme to sing since it can get pretty long.

This old man, he played one,
He played knick-knack on my thumb;

With a knick-knack paddywhack
Give the dog a bone,
This old man came rolling home.

You just repeat the verse while replacing the numbers and the last word of the next line with the corresponding rhyme.
Two - shoe
Three - tree
Four - door
Five - hive
Six - sticks
Seven - heaven
Eight - gate
Nine - line
Ten - all over again

Honestly, I have no idea what the song is supposed to mean. I don't even know what the numbers are counting. A quick wikipedia search did not really reveal much on the song. So I'm stumped to this day.

I did, however, research what a paddywhack is. Mainly due to Alon's insistent asking of what it means rather than my own curiosity. Apparently it's the nuchal ligament of a sheep or cattle. From wikipedia, "it is a strong elastic ligament in the midline of the neck of the sheep or cattle which relieves the animal of the weight of its head. It is pale yellow in color." Apparently, it's used as a dog treat.

It ain't pretty.

Image taken from reddit

Knowing the dark past of many nursery rhymes, this really makes me wonder the deeper meaning of the song. Anyone got ideas?