Photoshoot

Photos by Nikk and Aia Photography during the N@W Marathon Shoot last June 30 at the Corinthian Gardens.

Our Little Lady

She's only turning six in a few months, but she looks like a little lady already. Time flies, indeed.

But not so fast, please. :)

Fathers' Day

Gabbie must have guessed that I wasn't able to prepare something for their daddy on Fathers' Day. I had been so busy with the start of the school and we're still in the adjusting period in terms of daily schedule and routine (she's in the early morning class).

Since it falls on a Sunday, there's no school artwork whatsoever where kids would be asked to do a card or anything for daddies, unlike what Gabbie and her teacher Emma did for me on Mothers' Day.

So Gabbit took the initiative to make a little something for the one who wakes up early morning to help her get ready for school, the one who feeds her and helps her brush teeth in the morning and the one who drives her to school. The one who carries her when she's already too tired and sleepy to walk. The one who puts her to sleep when mommy is still busy doing some last minute household chores, and the one who provides for everything that all of us need, and even want.

As for me, well, since I mentioned that I had a lot to do on a daily basis (from sun up to sun down), I guess this would already do. Thanks to Instaframe for making things such as this easier to do.

Gabbie's Wishes

Yesterday, Gabbie saw something white flying around the room. She immediately grabbed it and said "Mommy, it's for wishing! Wait, Im gonna make a wish." Then she cupped it with her two hands and closed her eyes.

"I wish for my baby sister to be strong and healthy. And for blessing for mommy and daddy." She stopped for a moment. Then continued, "and for me to be beautiful and stronger than other boys."

Summer Getaway

Last weekend we had an impromptu summer getaway. It was decided just the night before the trip and we only had a few hours to pack our things and get some sleep.

This was in Maragondon Cavite. Its like a private sanctuary sans the resorts or hotel like accommodation. We were there early morning and we stayed in a house owned by the neighbors for breakfast and lunch. Then we rode a motorboat going to this corner of the island where the water was crystal clear and the sand was white as Boracay's. The 270-degree mountains-and-greens view was a breathtaking. I never knew there's still a place like this within a couple of hours away from Manila. 

Lovely place. Can't resist the water, can't resist going back :)

No Longer A Baby

Oh Em Gee! She's no longer a baby!

One afternoon after bringing Ate Gabbie to summer school, we went to Mcdo to get Some fries and pass time while waiting for Ate's class to finish.

Upon seeing the play area, Rafa raised her left foot and said "Mommy, tchus, tchus!" She was asking me remove her shoes so she could go inside the play area.

There she mingled with other kids. Some were older, some were her age. At times she'd totally forget I was there in one side watching. She would walk from the slide to the other side without noticing I was there.

She's no longer a baby. She's already a toddler!

Habal Habal

In some parts of the Philippines, there's a mode of transpo called "habal habal" where a motorcycle is made to convey not just one but up to five people all at the same time.

This is how their daddy looks like when the bigger girl gets jealous of the little one being carried while strolling around the mall.

Last day in Taekwondo

Toy Train

The Ate was busy playing and enjoying the wooden train and tracks until the little one woke up and destroyed everything. Haha!

Rafa is one and half!

Daddy's rituals before leaving the house for work include kissing us (even if the kids are still asleep) and saying "I love you." One morning, Rafa woke up early in time for Daddy's goodbye kiss.When he whispered "I love you" to Rafa, she replied. What she said made my heart want to somersault in joy. She said "Babu." I know she meant "I love you." Isn't she the sweetest?

Now that she's one year and a half years old (18 months exactly today), Rafa can say a lot of words already. She says them very clearly and she really uses the words when she talks to us. She calls me "Mami" and her Daddy "Dadi." When I point to myself and ask her who I am, she'd say "Mami" same with "Dadi", "Lolo", "Lola" and even her own name "Pah-pah"

When she wants to feed, she'd say "Mami, di-di!"

When she wants something she'd point to it and when I ask her if she really wants it, she'd say "Uh-um." And then I'd ask her "What should you say if you mean yes?" then she'd change her answer to "Po-po", meaning "Opo."

She'd say "No" if she doesn't want something, she'd say "Baba" if she wants to go down, even up. Hehe.

If she sees a dog, she'd say "Doh" and when you ask her the sound of dogs, she'd say "Arf arf!"

She also calls cats "Mingming", fishes "Fush" and birds "Bee." When she hears the sound of airplane, she'd point to the sky and say "Ee-pin."

I think she'd also potty train early because she's already showing some signs. When she has poopoo in her diaper, she'd point to it and say "Poopoo" and when she's not wearing one and she pees, she'd announce "Wiwi!" and when you ask her where, she'd say "Pipi." Haha! Funny.

I can also see that she's growing up independent and responsible even as early as now. When she's not hungry or wet or sleepy, she would just get her own toys and play. When she's finished playing, you tell her to pack away her toys and she'd do it, she'd put the toys and books back exactly to where she got them. When she's not breastfeeding or playing or sleeping, you'd find her in one corner browsing a book. Sometimes you'd hear her sing or make sounds as if she's actually reading.

When she's bored and done with her usual activities, she'd play Market Day or Endless Alphabet with our iPad. But this one we limit their use. While we know that it's not good for kids to get exposed to gadgets and the likes, we also believe that they have to cope up with the environment, with the technology and with the modern ways of living and doing things. When she hears my phone ring, she'd get it if she could, put the phone to her ear and say "Hello?"

She is also a fast learner like her Ate Gabbie. I can make her do things like clean up, throw a trash (she has her own trashcan and she knows where it is), turn on the electric fan, close and open the door and light and even watering the plants. She's also my little helper in setting up the dining table.

And although she can already eat solids on her own (we semi-practice baby-led weaning), she still breastfeeds and she's 100% cloth diapered. She may not be aware of it yet but her contribution to saving the environment is very significant.

I'm overwhelmed by the new things I learn about her everyday. I'm looking forward to hearing her talk and exchanging ideas with her. She may look like her Ate in some ways or another, but she is growing up to be her own self, carving her own unique niche in this place called earth :)

Happy 18th month Rafaelle! You are our little sunshine. We love you :)