Recent conversations with Gabbie

While watching the gymnastic dance moves of Loverkada Kids during the PGT Finals:


Gabbie: Daddy, that's dangerous.
Daddy: Yes, dangerous.
Gabbie: When I grow big I can do that too.
Daddy: No.
Gabbie: Mommy! Si daddy o, he doesn't want me to grow big.
Me: No, daddy said he doesn't want you to do that because it's dangerous.
Gabbie: When I'm big nga. But daddy doesn't want me to grow big eh.


*Daddy meant he doesn't want her to do that even if she's big already because it's dangerous, not that he doesn't want her to grow so that she won't think of doing it.


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After school while in the tricycle going home:


Gabbie: Mommy may I play in the playpark?
Me: No more na play, Anak.
Gabbie: Di ba they made the playpark for the kids, so that kids will be happy?


*What else is there to say? Hehe, she has a point.


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Gabbie: Mommy, I have my boyfriend.
Me: What? Don't say that, I don't like.
Gabbie: I have my boyfriend!
Me: Who?
Gabbie: Daddy is my boyfriend. Boy. Friend.


*Ok, pero I admit, nakaka-stress..


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We started the routine where Lola is the one to bring Gabbie to school, to prepare for the coming of our new baby, Rafa.


Me: Let's go up na Gabbie, so you can take a bath.
Gabbie: So we can go to school?
Me: Lola will go with you ha.
Gabbie: Why Lola again? Why are you tired again Mommy? What's wrong?
Me: Nothing, Anak. Mommy is just tired and sleepy but Mommy will bring you to school on Friday for your halloween parade.
Gabbie: Ok.


*I read somewhere that to avoid sibling jealousy or insecurity, as much as possible try not to make the new baby as an excuse for suddenly not giving your full attention to the big sister or brother the way you used to do. So instead of saying "because it's not good for Baby Rafa when mommy gets tired every day going to and from your school", I just told her "because mommy's tummy is so big it makes her tired when we go out". I'm lucky and thankful that I have a daughter who is understanding and very caring.

Disney Musical Experience

Because she loves Mickey, Ariel and some characters from Toy Story, Gabbie watched Disney Musical in Araneta Coliseum last October 9. Citibank offered 20% discount on tickets bought within August so mommy didn't waste time and got 2 Upperbox A tickets for her and daddy. I was lucky to get seats that are in the center so they were able to watch with a perfect view.

The smile on our big sister's face made it all the more "sulit". She's even asking daddy to watch Mickey Mouse show again. Coincidentally, I saw an ad in a magazine that there will be Disney on Ice in Manila again on Dec 25 to Jan 3. It would be a perfect gift for her on her 4th birthday, di ba daddy?

Meet and Greet Dora, Diego & Boots

For a P300 purchase of any Nickelodeon item in Robinsons Department Store, we were able to get a pass for Nickelodeon's Meet and Greet Dora, Diego and Boots in Robinsons Metro East last October 15, 2011.

Gabbie was, as usual, excited to see three of her favorite cartoon characters up close. While waiting for Diego, Dora and Boots to appear, there were some questions for the kids and they get prizes for answering the questions right. Gabbie was able to answer one; she got a fan and stickers as her prize:




And when Dora and Boots were already dancing on stage, she couldn't help... she danced along even if she was the only one doing it.



After some more games, kids went up the stage to get photographed with Dora and Boots. Other kids were with their mommies and daddies but Gabbie did not bother going up alone.

Miss Guyana :)

Guyana flag was the one assigned for Gabbie during their school's UN Celebration. Good thing they did not require the students to wear the national costume of whatever country was assigned to them. Yesterday, the kids paraded in pairs around the school in their uniform (though there were two kids who came in Korean and Egyptian costumes) each proudly holding and waving his own flag.

Big Sister & Baby Shower Pary

Date: October 1, 2011
Venue: Maxs Tiendesitas
Cake: Red Ribbon (personally chosen by Ate Gabbie)
Game prizes: chocolates
Souvenirs: mini feeding bottles filled with candy chocolates
Balloons by Ninang Jenny

We were in the venue at around 2PM to do some preparations. It was raining since mid-morning although there was no typhoon signal in Metro Manila anymore. Gabbie and I prayed for a nice weather and I guess that was the best that mother nature could give us. :)

    The party started with daddy Mike's intro and welcome remarks. 

Then followed with Gabbie's opening prayer.

We had games prepared for the party. Gabbie was the one who called out for the participants. The first game was called "Fill The Diaper Bag". Ninong Mark and Tito JP were called to join. They had to fill a bag with pictures of baby stuff that can be found inside a diaper bag. One who got the most number of pictures win. The pictures were placed under the chairs and they had to select only the things that can be put inside a diaper bag. If they put a baby stuff that is not supposed to be in a diaper bag (e.g. car seat), 1 point will be deducted to the total points.

Tito JP won this game, but one point was taken off the total because he mistakenly put a picture of an electric bottle sterilizer inside the bag.

The next game was called "Draw A Baby Face". Gabbie called Lolo Reymar and Lola Belen to join the game. They were blindfolded and were given pens and paper plates where they will draw a face of a baby then paste a pacifier in the baby's mouth to complete the image.

Ate Gabbie announced the winner and it was her Lola Belen.

And then we showed our guests a video that I prepared showing Gabbie's growing up pictures. When I was doing the video I was really crying. Fortunately when it was being shown, I was able to control my emotions. Hehe.

And then we showed them Rafa's 3D ultrasound photos in a video that I also made.

While waiting for the food to be served, we presented Ate Gabbie our Big Sister surprise- an organ that she had been wishing for. She loves playing music (kung ano anong music lang) and dancing and singing along with it. She said she will sing songs for Rafa when she comes out.

Daddy read our message for Gabbie written in a card:

Dear Gabbie,

We thank God for a wonderful blessing called YOU. We thank you for always giving us joy. You taught us many things about loving and enjoying parenthood. We pray to God to give us good health and long life to watch and help you grow and to spend many many more precious moments with you. We love you anak, our baby girl Gabbie princess.

Love,

Mommy and Daddy

Gabbie said "Thank you mommy and daddy." And then she led the prayer before meals.

A BIG thanks to our friends and relatives who celebrated with us despite the not-so-good weather.

Another game that we had was called "Dress up the baby" where  two mommies (Tita Sharon and Tita Ariannce) were asked to undress and dress a baby (dolls). The dolls were wearing booties, mittens, diapers, onesies and caps initially. Both mommies finished at the same time so they were both winners.

The last game that we had was for the kids, but they were also allowed to ask help from their mommies. They were asked to write the baby names of the adult animals we have listed. The clues were jumbled letters of the answers. It was fun and educational. Kuya Maron got 9 correct answers out of 10. 

It was really fun and Gabbie hosted the party all throughout. Indeed a big sister already!

At home she was excited to open the gifts, although most of them are for Rafa.

We are ready to welcome you Baby Rafa! Ate Gabbie, mommy and daddy are excited to see you already :)

Proud Ate :)

Today, Gabbie is wearing a shirt that will help her prepare for the coming of her baby sister. Proud Ate! :)

Baby & Big Sister Shower Party a Success!

Despite the rains, our baby and big shower party for Rafa and Gabbie went well, as planned.

We gave Gabbie a starter organ/piano as a big sister gift. She loves singing and playing music for her baby sister Rafa.

The welcome cake for baby Rafa was from Ate Gabbie. She personally chose this design from Red Ribbon.

More photos and kwento next time. Meantime, we need to review for Gabbie's 2nd quarter exam from tomorrow until Friday.

But I will not let this chance pass to thank everyone who celebrated with us and to Jesus for not letting it rain really hard before and after the party and for making all these things happen. :)

Planking

(Note: nakatuwaan ko lang sya picturan, she was actually pretending to sleep like that on the bench, hindi nakikiuso sa planking :p )

Reasoning Out

Last minor exam, Gabbie got -1 in her score because she did not include the toy teddy bear to the things that belong to a baby, despite teacher's instruction to include it. She said "It belongs to a kid, not babies." And that it is not in the book that they previously discussed and reviewed. I told her that she also has a teddy bear toy in her room (so she must be familiar with it) but she said "But I'm not a baby anymore!"

Yesterday, she got a "?" mark in her seatwork for not coloring the milk (teacher said color the pictures that begin with letter M) because "Milk is just white, mommy. I don't need to color it." I had to explain to the teacher that she knows that milk begins with letter M but she did not color it because she believed that milk is just white. The teacher kind of "forced" her to color the picture using any color but she only colored the bottle cap (tansan) not the entire bottle, because again, "Milk is just white."

(oo nga naman, we're talking about the milk inside the bottle, how can we color it? and if it's the bottle that we're talking about, then it is not correct to color it, because bottle begins with letter B, not M. vague talaga)

I'm beginning to think that Gabbie can not work in a government office in the future. Or that she would prefer to run her own business than to work for somebody else.

Or she could also be a lawyer?

Another series of "Why's"

Gabbie was asking me why the pinky finger is small and different. And why the other fingers are also different from one another. I told her each finger has its own use, and maybe Jesus made it smaller so that there will be a baby finger, just like a baby boy and a baby girl. I was running out of explanations.

And then last night she had some follow up questions

"Mommy, why do you have that (pointing to my mole)?
I said "Jesus gave me that."
"Why did Jesus give you that?"
"So I will be beautiful and unique."
"Why do you want to be unique?"
"Because each person is unique, no one is the same as the others."
"Why are we different?"


There were also series of questions about the rain and the sun and the storm.

"Why does it rain?"
"Why do plants need water?"
"Why do they need to grow?"
"Why do we need to eat vegetables?"
"Why do we need to grow strong?"
"Why does the sun hide in the night?"
"What is a storm?"
"Why is there a storm? What is it for?"

And the list of questions go on and on until it was already time to sleep.