Snippets

Since I am not always sure about how much time I will spend on the PC (because baby is soo unpredictable) , I can only do snippet-blogging :-)

... Tonyo's taking Heraclene, which I found out is an appetite-booster. This results in frequent feeding and frantic, impatient cries whenever I cannot give him what he wants en punto. We only have 3 capsules left. I have to admit, I enjoy breaking them open and making his milk turn pink.

... "Hindi kita mahal sa paraang gusto mo, pero mahal kita sa paraang alam ko" Sarah Geronimo to Coco Martin in the telenovela, IDOL. Hehe.

... I watch TV Patrol all the way up to Magkaribal in ABS-CBN. I will miss these telenovela marathons when I go back to Taguig. I especially like IMORTAL , primarily because I have a massive girl crush on Angel Locsin. Weird nga lang talaga umarte si Rico Blanco! Parang comedy.

... Just as I am recovering from all the hospitalizations and getting ready to get back to work, something weird popped up over the weekend that prompted me to have a thyroid ultrasound. :-( Does not look good but I'm getting a specialist opinion tomorrow. Sheesh. When it rains, it pours! Good thing I have medical insurance now. What I am dreading is that they might classify me as high risk already hehe.

Hokey, nap time! (mine..)

Senior Citizen @ Shakeys!

Turning 60 is such a milestone ... they say life begins at 60, and that's also when you earn your 20% discount!

My dad's 60th birthday was last October 1. My mom and I wanted to give him a special party, but we were stumped because I was supposedly due to give birth on the 3rd of October! So we played it safe and made party reservations for October 23. We planned a 'surprise' children's party!

We were in for a surprise, however - when both my mom and I were hospitalized and then I had to give birth early .. via C-section! Hay. We lacked the mobility to push through with the party! I couldn't drive and didn't have access to my dad's friends contact numbers because I was stuck in Laguna with painful stitches. So, we had no choice but to clue my dad in so we can have a driver, hehe. He knew something was happening, but did not know the details!

The party pushed through last Sunday, Oct 17 (we were able to have it moved earlier!) , and my mom and I were sooo happy because we had a good attendance. My dad's family, high school barkada, amateur radio friends, Realtor friends and brods from the UP Beta Sigma came and were so game with the kids party that we organized. Hey, when you're old, you usually go to parties where you just sit around and eat. Well, we had a party host, balloons, games and a MASCOT! We got good feedback about the idea.

Party held at Shakey's Restaurant , Star Cruises Building, Newport City.

Bottoms Up! We were able to get a former AFP general and a retired Ambassador to drink iced tea from baby bottles. Hehe.

I can't seem to upload more photos! But we also had a Mickey Mouse cake (gift) and some really cool lootbags one of my dad's classmates donated. They were paper bags filled with "old-timer" candies like Tootsie Roll, Orange Swits, Curly Tops, Tira-tira, Juicy Fruit, Goya Coins - ang galing talaga!

I also gave the guests a preview of the 60 stories book we're doing for my dad. My dad is a very helpful and friendly person, that a lot of people have great stories to tell about him. I started this research about 3 months ago through emails to his classmates and frat brods. Sayang, hindi ko natapos in time for the party, so I just printed out draft layouts for people to enjoy :-) So interesting to learn about his crazy antics , like getting detained in Cebu during the Martial Law years!

I hope I can just organize parties all year long. :-) Happy Birthday Pepi, we love you so much.

"Ate"

Someone’s proud to be an ate!

Her eyes sparkle when she sees Tonyo. She follows us around when we’re carrying the baby. She sits patiently by my feet whenever I sit down with the baby. And, if we allow her, she sniffs attentively. Most amazing was when she didn’t attempt to jump up on the bed when Tonyo was there.

I’m talking about our dog, Mia. A few days before I gave birth, our dog, Mia was miserable. She hardly ate and she claimed our bathroom as her depression zone. When we asked her to go away (nobody wanted to pee with Mia looking at them with her sad eyes), she claimed a quiet corner and proceeded to “relocate” all her dog toys from her small bed to that area. We concluded the following: (1) She sensed that my mom was sick and that I was anxious, and (2) She sensed a major change coming.

When we got back from the hospital (no baby yet since he was in the NICU) , Mia was still miserable. Following a phone conversation with a Vet-friend, we realized that Mia might be jealous and is "feeling" the coming of the new baby. My friend told me to “include” Mia in all the excitement. And that was when we started calling her “Ate” and telling her things like…

“Ate, we have a baby brother coming okay? You will take care of him ha?” “Mia, you will be Ate to baby Tonyo okay? When he’s big already you will play!” “Ate, when baby comes you stay here okay? Maliit pa sya e, bawal pa play!”

– call us crazy but it seemed to work!

When we took Tonyo home, I saw none of the frantic barking from Mia that I was expecting! She welcomed us by standing on her hind legs, her tail wagging affectionately. She followed us around.. and when we entered our room (which has a makeshift “gate” so Mia can’t enter) , Mia peeked through the gate excitedly. Up to now, she sometimes brings her toys and stays by the door, as if patiently waiting for Tonyo to play with her.

Now, Mia responds to calls for “Ate”. She gives an apologetic look if she suddenly barks when Tonyo’s sleeping. Of course, we guard her well whenever we’re with Tonyo.. but we feel like they’re going to be good friends when baby grows up!

On the occasion of Tonyo’s first month-birth-sary, allow us to honor the proud Ate – Mia!