The Elusive Star

Once or twice during her summer class, Gabbie went out of the classroom with no star stamp on her hand. On one of those occasions, she went back to the teacher and asked why she didn't have a star. The teacher said "Oh sorry, because the 'stamping' session was over when you finished eating." And then she got stamped and went home happy.

Now in her nursery class, she got star stamps only during the first few days. One parent said it was for "pa-kunswelo" or "pang-uto lang sa mga bata".

On the following week, she didn't get one, and when I asked her why, she said the teacher did not give her. She went back to the classroom and asked for a stamp. But the teacher said "Ay Abby, tomorrow you behave ha so I will give you stamp."

I felt sad for my baby. But I didn't talk to her about, because I didn't think that she was not behaving in the class. She has other classmates who (even until now) cry when the parents leave the room, who (believe it or not) bully other kids and who just walk around and don't listen to teachers at all even during lecture. She wasn't like them, but she's the one who cannot sit still on her seat for longer than a few minutes without doing anything (writing, reading or playing with blocks).

Still no stamps on the following days. And when I asked her at home, she said "I don't like stamps mommy." But she looked sad. So the next day I talked to the teacher. I asked her if Gabbie was not behaving properly that's why she wouldn't get any star so we can talk to her and help. She said no. It's just that Gabbie was just too slow in doing her seatwork (read: coloring) so she was always late for the 'stamping'.

We didn't require her to bring home a star everyday, in fact I was already getting used to not seeing her hand stamped at all, because she was doing really well in her seatwork anyways.

But last week she had a star. I told her I was happy she got one. She was happy with it too.

Everyday (even if I already sound like a 'sirang plaka') I remind her to just stay on her seat and stand up only when the teacher ask them to.

Yesterday, she got out of the classroom and showed me her hand. "Mommy, I got a star- with a crown!" It was a king star, given to students who did their work and behave excellently inside the class.

The teacher said she no longer roam around the room when they're not doing anything.

I'm so proud. And I thank God for the guidance and patience. :)

Practice Coloring

Gabbie may not be good and patient in coloring and drawing but I'm not really convinced that she totally abhors art at all.

We were doing practice coloring at home when she suddenly stopped and said, "Mommy I want to make up my baby doll." It didn't occur to me that she was thinking of using her crayons. I left her for a while to check my emails. When I came back, baby doll already looked like this:

She was happy with her work, she was beaming with pride when she said "Mommy, I put make-up on the baby. She now looks like a mumu baby doll!"

My Baby Girl Gabbie Princess

I just had to share these photos here. Still can't believe that it's been three and half years. And soon she will become a big sister already.

In the CMC nursery a few hours after she was born, and first week on her nursery class three years and five months after.

Slowly But Surely

In her nursery class, they do coloring everyday. During the first day, Gabbie was the first one to finish the seatwork, but she did not just color the apple, she colored almost the entire paper. At home I told her to not color outside of the picture, and we practiced with her coloring books. She was very careful not to color in the outside, but it took her a long time to finish an apple.

On the following days, I noticed that she was always the last one to finish the seatwork. When it was time to eat, she'd just join the class in praying then she'd go back to her table to finish her work while her classmates were already starting to eat. I talked to the teacher about it and she said that Gabbie is still slow in coloring and that she needs to develop more her motor skills. But she had a note in her book the other day that it is improving. Meaning, she'd no longer color in the outside but it made her do her work slow.

At home again I asked her why. Quoting her exact words, "Mommy, if I color faster, I will color in the outside." So that explains why.

When I looked at her seatworks, her scores are mostly perfect (9/10, 4/4, 6/6).

Slowly, but I think we're on the right track. My daughter is doing things slowly but surely now. She may not be the first to finish her job but she makes sure she's doing it right.

How To Drive Like A Pro

Looks like Gabbie learned her lessons well from driving the car with daddy or mommy "in the castle".  She's referring to the church just outside our village. Everytime we go out riding the car, she would sit on mine or daddy's lap to drive from the "castle" to our house.

That's how she learned to drive.

Happy Fathers Day Daddy!

Your love is one of the greatest gifts of all.

Countdown to Fathers' Day (5)

For loving me unconditionally, caring patiently, making sure I'm always safe and for teaching me the ways of life... thank you Daddy!

Countdown to Fathers' Day (4)

For finding the time to witness my milestones and be involved in my growth and development despite your busy work schedule, I love you daddy!

Countdown to Fathers' Day (3)

For working hard to provide us the best things in life and make fairytales come true, dad you are totally awesome!

Countdown to Fathers' Day (2)

For coming home straight from work- even if it means missing out some boys' night out with your friends- to spend precious dinner times and special occasions with us, daddy you are an ideal family man.

We want you to know that we really appreciate that.