Four Years

It’s our 4th year anniversary today but Jose and I are not together physically because of work. But he made all possible ways to make up for it naman and the best is yet to come… (Well, for our standards.) So, let me put aside what he has done and will do for this year’s “celebration” ‘til next week. Ok?

Since this is my blog, I’d like to highlight what I got for him first. Most of you probably know (Doesn't? Click this!) that this blog was really intended as my “surprise anniversary gift” but Jose found out about it so, I feel I need to think of something else. And what better way to appreciate someone than by showering him with testimonials!!! To make things easy for everyone especially for me who’s not as organized as most of my blog idols are, I would like to describe Jose with his four (to go with the theme) most interesting characteristics as a husband.

Warning: Sentimental and Mushy.

The first one would be – Jose as a practical partner. I always kid him as someone who is really stingy. He could live with casual shirts you can count fingers in two hands, jeans in one hand, and outerwear in well, a finger? Alright, make it two fingers! As OA as it may sound, it’s true! He is the simplest, least maintained, good looking man I have ever seen in my life. He smells good without perfume, he is spic and span with only 15 minutes in shower and he is just neat without fuss. (This being practical by the way does not extend to his wife, more his daughter. But I think they are getting there somehow!) To continue, with the salary that he has now, he can buy every gadget and gizmos aplenty he could get but what did he buy? A home. He felt that since he has the rare chance to build a family that has a loving wife, a sweet daughter and enough left to get a house, he grabbed all that’s possible to make it his. They say the average first time buyer in this country is at 29 but he got ours before our 26th. I hate to brag about how he has done it but hey! He truly deserves it! Jose and I were not born with golden spoons but with enough wisdom to live by and big hearts to go on, we are trying to make our dreams come true and we know this is just the beginning. Having a partner this practical is not that bad after all. Don’t you agree?

Next, the no nonsense companion. Jose hates emos or emoting before thinking in that matter. He can’t stand panics and hysterias. (READ: Twinkie.) He would give me a break once in a while but he keeps me rational all the time! He would always keep me on track and simply brings out the best in me even at my lowest. He respects my time but he would not tolerate wasting any of it.

Off to third! What about having the most faithful ally? Jose and I have one thing in common above everything. We love beautiful women. We appreciate sexy women. We adore intelligent women. And Jose likes to believe that I am all of the above. No matter how huge I have become since we started our little family, I have always felt secure that I am his one and only. I would always remember the time when he could easily extend his business trip to see Taj Mahal, but he preferred seeing his mahal even if he needs to fly right after office hours, the time when he has done marvelously in Australia and cut his five day trip to three days and surprised me in our very pregnant bed, the time when he gave me hungry-for-attention eyes even if I was so foolishly engrossed by the bags he meticulously bought from Vietnam, the time when he was so tired from a Cincinnati flight but rushed home to be with us and all I cared about was the BE makeup that my sister requested for him to get and my all other bilins; he remained understanding as ever, and all the times when he makes me feel that his world would crumble if I am not his wife. Ladies and gentlemen, Jose never failed me. He would also always back me up no matter how silly my ideas are, no matter how crazy my views have become and no matter how selfish I sometimes may be. He is the most faithful as a husband and the most faithful as a friend.

Life since we got married was no bed of roses. It’s not the happily ever after type but I know, this marriage will go the distance. It will endure because it is real; it is based on deep friendship one could never imagine. We know each other’s darkest secrets and worst fears. We laugh at each other’s embarrassments and cry over painful slip-ups. We have experienced hopefully the pits of what this relationship has to offer and we like to believe there are more splendors to look forward to. Jose loves me more than anything or anyone in this world and every one can attest to that. This is the last interesting bit about him as a husband and I guess it sums it all up.

Jose &Twinkie (09/08)

Hey Hun! Happy Anniversary! Thank you and I love you. Let God be the center of it all.

Vote for Mia!

To cut the long story short from here, we have just seen the Milton Keynes Citizen newspaper dated September 25th, today! We did not know that winning will be through "popularity vote." But as a mother, I still have to do what needs to be done. So...

For UK landline, please call 0901 307 3215 and key in 3127. For text vote, please send MKBABY 3127 EXIT to 83149. You can call and text as many times as you want. Hehehe! Calls cost 50p and each text vote is GBP1. Voting closes midnight 1st October 2008. Thank you very much!

On Johndel's 27th

If there’s someone who I’ll be most conscious with when it comes to grammar, spelling or just plain writing, it would be my brother-in-law, Jd. Not that he is that kind of person…but he happens to be the editor-in-chief of our high school’s paper during our times and he graduated in college as class salutatorian and a magna cum laude EFFORTLESSLY…who would not feel a bit conscious right? Again, I keep telling myself that Jd might be a complete “titingalain” person but he’s just one of the most down to earth beings I have ever met. Add that he is the most romantic boyfriend as I witnessed it through his relationship with Ate Twinkle (for 7 years before they got married on December ’06), now a remarkable and fantastic dad to our niece, Temple Jeanina and just the cool brother we always hoped to have. We thank Thee for making him part of our family.

Mia, Me, Jd, TJ, Ate Twinkle and Jose (TJ's Christening - 031508)

He is to celebrate his 27th birthday tomorrow, September 27th. Yes, I know! I really need to say 27 on 27th right? Hehe! So there. Happy birthday Jd! Next time na lang ang blow out! Asahan mong ililista ko yan ha!

Me, TJ, Ate Twinkle, Lola Mommy, Jd and Jose (Lolo and Lola's 50th - 032608)

Now, I will always reiterate what I have said during my matron of honor speech in their wedding that… everyone should know that no matter how popogi, how babait, how super honest and faithful our husbands are, the most endearing trait of them all would be how super tatalino they are − for marrying the hot and gorgeous Alfonso twins named Twinkle and Twinkie. Ha! O, may gusto kumontra? Don’t forget that we are also at our "buffest" state ever…so come on! Speak up! Don’t worry; it’s going to be Jd’s day. We’ll try to be gentle! Hehehe!

Who would not love this man? =)

There She Goes # 8

Mia and I have been down with coughs, colds and a little temperature here and there. Thank God for Katinko and Neozep that I still have in our medicine box. After eight days, we are close to getting very well. I can now read books to Mia without the funny whizzing and I can even say that I like my big (bedroom) voice better in this healing period. Nyahaha!

So what has Mia been up to lately? Well, she’s still her sweet, active and witty self and to prove it once more, check this out…

Mia looked out from our backdoor: Oh my goodness me! Mom! I need to get out! Please, please, please! Pretty please!

Me: Why? Mia, it’s so cold outside and we are sick.

Mia: Mom, I really need to get out! I need to see my reflection.

Me: Huh? What reflection?

Mia: There’s a big puddle outside.

Me: I’ll let you out but you can’t jump in it, ok?

Mia: Yes!

Mia as soon as she gets in front of the puddle, she sang: Look at me. I will never pass for a perfect bride or a perfect daughter. Can it be I’m not meant to play this part? Now I see that if I were truly to be myself I will break my family’s heart. Who is that girl I see staring straight back at me? Why is my reflection someone I don’t know? Somehow I can not hide, who I am though I’ve tried. When will my reflection show who I am inside?

Me smiling from ear to ear, mayabang na kung mayabang: Oh my Mia! You are really good!

Mia: I am Mulan. You fixed my hair like hers, see? We can go inside now, Mommy.

Me, thinking where the hell was my camera: Ok Mulan!

Please note that she’s learned this song a month ago, and she really pronounces words just like how I typed them. To see proof, you must be our Multiply contact and I promise, you’ll get tired of all the pictures and videos that we have uploaded there.

And just to remind myself that amidst her roughness and activeness, the Mia that we have is still 100% girly, girl. Read on…

Mia’s dress got wet from accidental pee. She was brushing her teeth and I was using the toilet that she was not able to talk or go directly to do no. 1.

Mia after she peed and about to cry: Mommy…

Me: Oh Mia! What happened? Why didn’t you tell me?

Mia: I’m really really sorry. I have bubbles in my mouth.

Me: Ok, it’s ok. We have to change your clothes. Hay!

As I put on her pyjamas, Mia said: Mommy, I still want to be a princess.

Me: Huh? What princess?

Mia: I don’t like to wear pyjamas. I want dress.

Me: We are going to sleep and princesses wear pyjamas.

Mia: No. I am a different princess. I like to wear dress. Please?

Me: Ok! Ok!

Ano pa nga ba magagawa ko, prinsesa ko ‘to e. Masusunod ang kamahalan.

Here's a picture of the dress before the "accident" last night.

Our Spotty Princess

Golosinos in UK # 1

There, I have another title with # in it. With the way I have been blogging, I can sense that I'll run out of titles very soon. Also, to make this blog a bit organized, having titles with # in it would make my readers (feeling marami kayo) have the idea on what the topic is about to make you decide on whether to read on or just skip.

So what will be under the Golosinos in UK title?

It will tell stories of how I like (or dislike) our lives here as compared to what I have been used to in the Philippines. It will tell things about our simple joys (and loneliness) in a place that we now call our home. It is also going to be about things that are new to us with our hope that someday, we could be experiencing all these with our family whom we have left in a country that looks almost the same as where we are now when seen through a map.


See the similarity? I told you! Maps are from here.

Ok, let’s start with our mornings. Say, the way we get a pint of fresh milk in our doorstep every Monday and Wednesdays and a couple of pints on Fridays before 6 in the morning. They said it’s this early to catch up for breakfast.

Our Main Door and the Bottle of Fresh Milk (Camera in Night Mode)

The business works this way: On Fridays, an envelope with the bill in it will be left with the 2 pints of milk and then on a Monday delivery, they would expect that envelope to have the payment inside. A pint (not a litre!) of milk costs 59p (Php51) and when you’ve got no change for the final bill, you would get credit for the next one - simple but very efficient. If you can’t wake up around 6am (like for us who starts our day at 9am), expect your milk to be just sitting in your front door very chilled. No one will ever get it. I don’t know if it’s because of CCTV or maybe it’s just how life here is. The common factor in all situations – TRUST. You drink milk before you pay; awesome, you leave payment outside your door; it gets to the hands of the payee, your payment needs change; you get credited for it, you’re lazy to get milk; it’s there even the next day.

Imagine if this will ever work in the Philippines. The closest I could recall will probably be in the late 80’s when the Magnolia Chocolait dealer knocks in our gate to deliver bottles of well, Magnolia Chocolait and Magnolia Fresh Milk but I think the dealer would need to get the payment right away. (How did it work Ma?) Just the same, you see who delivers the milk, the payment is given from one hand to another hand and someone needs to be there to get the milk or else… :D

So there goes the Golosinos in UK # 1. I hope to see you on the next one!

My "Green" Award

My first ever blogging award! Yahoo!!! Salamat!!! Ayan may nakapansin na kung gaano ako "na-addict" sa blogging! Kung 'di lang kami may sakit ni Mia, ginabi-gabi ko talaga ang kwento ko sa inyo! Hehe! Hiramin ko na rin ang isa pang "kadamo" interpretation ni Ate Pinky sa award na ito.

Aaminin ko, it took me ages before I figured out how to do the links. I am not even sure if I did it right. So, pagpasensiyahan ninyo ako kung mali ang ginawa ko.

Now, to keep this tag going (and I hope you pass it to your kadamos too), I give this award to Cheche, dahil ang blog niya ang nagsilbing isa sa mga guide namin nung nagsisimula pa lang kami rito sa UK at magpasahanggang ngayon. To Ate Weng at Jane na sinubaybayan ko ang paglaki ng kanilang anak na si Abby at Sophia dahil nakatatanda sila ng isang taon kay Mia - promise marami talaga ako natutunan at natututunan pa. Siyempre kay Kuya Keith, isang padre de pamilya na talaga namang kahanga-hanga sa pagpapalaki ng kanyang tatlong anak kasama ng kanyang equally awesome na katuwang na si Ate Pinky.

The "Green" Award Recipients are:

1.) Janeth Vicy’s Life Journey
2.) My Precious Niche
3.) Just Me.. Eds
4.) Eds Mommy Life
5.) ISL Family
6.) Me and Mine
7.) Creative in Me
8.) Little Peanut
9.) For the LOVE of Food
10.) Pea in a Pod
11.) a matter of tEys.T
12.) The Bottomline
13.) Little Kite Studios
14.) Collect and Connect
15.) Reflexes
16.) SSS: Tales from the Kingdom
17.) Twinkie Calls
18.) You, my kadamo!

Have a great day! :D

The Best Lolo in The World

Since I learned how to use words and turned them to sentences, paragraphs, essays... I guess I have written hundreds of things about how Lolo Daddy greatly influenced and inspired my life.

Kambal with Lolo Daddy

As what Ate Twinkle and I have said in our speech for their 50th wedding anniversary, we truly consider ourselves as the luckiest apos as we have lived under his roof since we were born and witnessed his generosity, sweetness and wisdom every single day. We don't know what life we could have had if not for him and our Lola and the way they have brought up our Mama and Titos; with that, we will be forever grateful.

Panganay na Apos and Panganay na Apos sa Tuhod with Lolo Lolo Daddy

Danilo Aguilar Ignacio's family to date, consists of: 7 children, 6 children-in-law, 15 grandchildren, 2 grandchildren-in-law, 2 great grandchildren and 1 astounding wife.

Mr. and Mrs. Danilo Ignacio's 50th Wedding Anniversary with Family

Our clan would never have been as awesome if it were not by the good qualities that he has excellently exemplified. Happy 76th Birthday Lolo Daddy!!! We love and miss you very much.

Lolo and Lola at Fantasy World

Lolo and Lola at Sonya's Garden

To see more of them, please go to http://bigbossiggy.multiply.com/.

TGIF

I love Friday. I love it too much that even if I only had 3 hours of sleep today, I still feel so giddy and lively. First, this is the day when I don’t have any house chores to do. You see, I try to do everything from Monday – Thursday therefore, I’ll have Friday as my Me time. (Scrub, shave, pluck…) Next is that Jose gets home from his business trip on a Friday night and lastly this day’s very special for even if Mia’s not that well, she still managed to make my entire day. How? Read on…

Have you ever been awakened by a stare? I can’t remember when was the last time Jose did that to me (we only get to bed together a couple of weeks, alright!) but that is just one of the biggest compliments a woman could ever get. And I got that this morning by Mia with a very sweet punch.

Mia as soon as I opened my eyes: Malina, Molino…

Me really surprised: What did you say? How long have you been awake?

Mia: Good morning Mommy, Malina Molino means, you are so beautiful.

Me: You’re so sweet! Thank you Mia, you are so beautiful too! (Nagbolahan na kami).

Mia has these words that she constantly makes up and I often tell her to talk to me in words that I could understand but Malina Molino is definitely something that I would love to hear from her over and again.

So I had to make her this:

Pancake from Scratch, Party Size Hotdogs, Scrambled Eggs

After breakfast, she surprised me once again by presenting a little drawing – a very small triangle in perfect angles! She also made some more drawings that according to her are the half moon and the new moon and yes, they looked half and new moons to me.

Triangle/Half Moon/New Moon

Then came lunch time… Since June this year, we limit Mia’s television viewing by 2 hours a day on weekdays. That’s an hour before lunch and an hour after dinner. This day, her favorite show Mickey Mouse Clubhouse was aired right after Dora, her morning show. I thought I’d just let her watch it until I set the table, but guess what? Here’s what she had to say…

Me: Mia, lunch time!

Mia: Ok Mom. Can you please turn off the TV?

Me: Are you sure? It’s Mickey Mouse.

Mia: Yes, I’ll just watch it tomorrow. We have to eat now.

That’s three in a row to start a great Friday. I thought that’s it, but before taking a bath, she gave me this:

A Bunch of (Rolled Art Paper) Flowers by Mia

Now, Jose just arrived… I hope he’ll make my night just as sweet. :D

There She Goes # 7

It’s almost four in the morning but I can’t sleep and just forget to share what Mia has taught me. So here...

She has colds since yesterday, err the day before yesterday and she’s got watery eyes and runny nose. Her bedtime is at 9 pm or 9:30 the most, but she slept at 11:30. I got a bit worried but decided to let the day pass thinking that probably, she'd get well as soon as she wakes up. The last time Mia had colds was…a year ago? She even had fever that time and all the GP could tell me was to give her paracetamol and the temperature and colds would go away by themselves. She said that’s just normal because the season changed blah, blah, blah… I knew that’s what I am going to get. But hey, I just needed assurance from “the expert.”

Then guess what? As soon as Mia woke up and said, “Good morning Mommy!” she gave me the loudest and yuckiest sneeze a little girl her age could give. I said “Bless you!” right away and we both laughed after. But deep inside, I'm worried. I checked her temperature and thanked God it was just at 98F, very normal. Though I'll have to make her chicken soup. So after we said our prayer before eating…

Mia: You know Mom, I am just like Goofy and you are Minnie.

I know the answer but I just needed to ask: Why?

Mia: Because when Goofy was down with colds, Minnie made him chicken soup.

Me: Yes, that’s why you have to eat everything for you to get better soon. Ok?

Mia: Did you know that Mickey and Minnie are mouse?

Me: Ahuh. But Mia, when the mouse becomes more than 1 you call them mice.

Mia: Mickey and Minnie Mice?

Me: No, Mickey and Minnie are mice.

Mia: Ok. Umm, did you know that Donald and Daisy are duck-s?

Me: Very good! You say ducks because there are two of them.

Mia feeling very proud: And Pluto is a dog! Just one.

Me: Yes!

Mia: But Mommy, what about Goofy?

Me: What about him?

Mia: Do you know what he is?

Me: I am not sure. What do you think?

Mia: Hmmm… I know! He is a…hotdog! (and she sang with elbows wiggling) Hotdog, hotdog, hot diggity dog!

See! The chicken soup helped alright? But that did not give me total peace of mind. She sniffs twice in a second! OA! Seriously, I know I am not the only one who reacts this way when their child gets sick even a teeny bit. (Please say, “Oo naman.”) :D So I made her drink water every 15 minutes and feed her orange like there’s no tomorrow.

She usually naps at 2pm but since she woke up late, it was moved to 3pm. I try not to take naps with her for I find it hard to sleep at night but this time, we were both knocked down. The next thing I knew, Jose was ringing the landline and mobile like crazy. It was 7pm!!! I was stunned as soon as Mia opened her mouth…

Mia: Ninong Jd made me push the horn and the man went out of his house. He really made me push his car horn. It was so much fun. Then we went inside Ninong Jd and Ninang Twinkle’s car because we are going to swim. But they did not swim. Mama is carrying Baby TJ. Only Mommy and Daddy swim with Ate Mia. Oh no! Tita Louie also swim and Ninong Cris and Ninong Patrick. Mommy, Ninong Patrick is my friend. He taught me how to swim like this. (She flipped and did the arms just like when swimming.) Kuya JM wasn’t there but we went to Nanay’s house. Tatay gave me swimming pool. The water is sooo cold! It is my swimming pool and Gian is too big but we still swim with Kuya JB. I am also a princess in Lola Mommy's wedding... Hmmm… Mommy, I belong to you. Mia belong to Daddy and Mommy that’s why we need to live in the new house.

Me: Wow! That's a very long story! Are you ok?

Mia: Yes. Can I eat downstairs?

I also got hungry. Besides it was dinner time. When Mia started talking, I was scared at first because all those things that she said (that I can still recall) happened when we were in the Philippines 6 months ago. I can’t believe that she remembered almost everything when she was just…2 years and 4 months old then?! Wow again! Talk about formative years. Look how important it really is to fill these years with much fun and laughter and joy and love and happiness and…all the good stuff. The “belong to you” bit, I don’t know where she got that from. Maybe that’s her way of saying that no matter how cool it is elsewhere, wherever we go, she also goes. (That’s my girl!) :D

Just a proof of her narration, here are pictures of some of those events:

The Swimming Pool in Nanay's House. Mia with Cousins Gian, JB, and JM.

Us with Tita Louie, Ninong Cris and Ninong Patrick at One Serendra.

The Princess at Lolo Daddy and Lola Mommy's 50th Wedding Anniversary.

As expected, she slept very late and still sniffing.

Oh, the lesson she taught me? I need to relax. Be cool! Enjoy life! For most of the time, it’s just colds…it will clear up by itself.

Mommy Duty Calls: Cooking

Longing for that Bagoong taste, I urged myself to cook two meals that include shrimp paste in the recipe.

The first I got in mind is Ginataang Kalabasa and what exotic twist to add on top of it all is...Dried Pusit! This idea came from our relatives in Slough. I immediately called Tita Weng to ask how I can cook the Dried Pusit without making our neighbors hate us because of the smell. She told me to soak it in water first then fry it together with the Kalabasa. Well, it worked! No one buzzed us!

So, for those interested on how I made it, I could not do the conventional way of donning and sharing the recipe and I am no expert in cooking terms, so please bear with my way.

Here goes the first. I heated the pan and when the red circle in the middle of the pan turned very obvious, I added 3 tablespoons of sunflower oil. (You know, I really didn't measure it. tantsa ko lang yan.) Ok, then I sautéed garlic, onion and ginger all at once, after three minutes, I added tomatoes then 3 tablespoons of patis (fish sauce) plus one knorr chicken boullion then I added the dried pusit together with the kalabasa (squash). After 5 minutes, I added 3 tablespoons of bagoong (shrimp paste). When the kalabasa looked somewhat caramelized, I added a teaspoon of sugar, (they say a teaspoon of sugar is also like a teaspoon of MSG, I prefer the sugar) then I added 40 dashes of coarse black pepper (seriously, I count to 40!) After sneezing three times, well away from my cooking of course, I added a can of coconut milk, let it boil for five minutes then I added a cup of peeled frozen medium prawns and sitaw (though I am not sure if that's really sitaw, according to the package's label it's green beans...that I am pretty sure there's a lot of its kind!) After mixing everything I put the lid on then simmered the lot for 10 minutes until the kalabasa turned like soup. Overcooked? It really doesn't matter for me! The taste is just the way I like it! Here's how it looked:

Ginataang Kalabasa and a lot more!!! (Squash++ Cooked in Coconut Milk)

Ok, if you're still interested, here's the next one. Again, heated pan, added sunflower oil then sautéed garlic and onion for 3 minutes. After that I added tomatoes then 3 tablespoons of patis (fish sauce) then half a kilo of diced pork and half a kilo of streaky pork slices were fried in the pan until it changed color from red to grayish. Then I added 40 dashes of coarse black pepper, (you know what happened next) fry a bit more then added a cup of water and one knorr pork boullion. I simmered it for a good 45 mintues. Please note that while I was cooking the Ginataang Kalabasa, I was cooking this on the side, so feeling masterchef talaga ako! Multitasking!!! When the pork was very very tender and water has lessened by 75%, I added 4 tablespoons of bagoong (shrimp paste) mixed everything for another five minutes then poured half a cup of cider vinegar. YOU HAVE TO LET IT BOIL BEFORE DOING ANYTHING NEXT. I don't know why, but I follow that tip every time... Ok, after the boiling bit, I added one tablespoon of sugar. Now, the exciting part is the frying. I took out the pork from the pan, so that leaves the sauce behind. I fried the pork for another 10 minutes with chili flakes and one tablespoon of tomato puree then added the (oil) sauce back. I really love the smell of it! So, for the preggy girls that I know, (Cheche Fernandez-Tayag, Cheche Llana-Co and Cheche Arquiza-Relenas) it's either you'll like this or you'll hate this. Here's the finished product:

Binagoongang Baboy (Pork Sautéed in Shrimp Paste++)

I may not present the recipe the way most do it, but I assure you, they are edible! Mia and I really liked them! Don't forget hot steamed rice!!!

There She Goes # 6

This will be a long one.

While I was browsing Nuni’s Multiply Site, as soon as Mia saw Alicia Keys’ picture…

Mia: No one, no one, no wa-a-a-an can get in the way of what I fe-el!

Me in disbelief: Mia, do you still remember her?

Mia: Yes Mommy, she’s No One!

Yeah, she remembered!

And when we got to Rochelle’s Multiply Site, as soon as she saw Dumbo…

Mia: Oh my Mommy look, look, look! It’s Dumbo!!! I tell him, “Dumbo, can I ride your back? I like to go to Disneyland with you!” I will climb then we will fly and fly away!

Me: Awww, Wait…how did you know Dumbo?

Mia: Dumbo is in my yellow bag and puzzle magnets. (Her Cathay Pacific freebies when we went to Philippines 6 months ago).

Buti pa siya naalala niya pa! Hehe!

Two days ago…

Mia: Mommy!!! Good morning!

Me: Mmmorning.

Mia: Rise and shine!

Me forcing myself to respond: Yes.

Mia: Buenos Dias!

Me as I opened my eyes with a smile: Buenos Dias Senorita! (Hmpf! Akala niya siya lang ha! Hehe!).

Mia: No!!! I’m Ate Mia, I am not senorita!

Nyahaha!

Now this one’s for Mia’s beloved Ninang…

Every night before we go to bed, since we prayed for Ate’s back pain (that was confirmed due to kidney stones), Mia would always look for Katinko…

Mia: Mommy, you should give this to Ninang Twinkle, because she’s sick in the back.

Me: Yes sweetie, I’ll tell her to put some ok?

Mia: Yes, this will stop the ache.

Me: Huh?

Mia: Ache. Sakeet.

Me: Very good. Ache in tagalong is sakit.

Mia: It’s not very good. Ninang is sick.

Lagi ba talaga dapat ako ang mali?! Ha? Ha?

When we went to buy Jose’s luggage, we had to stop by Boots (Mala-Mercury Drug ng Pilipinas) to get my medicine.

Mia pulling me away: No!

Me: Mia, I have to get my medicine.

Mia: No more shopping!

Jose: We have to get Mom’s medicine. We are not going to shop.

Mia: No!!! AYAW KO!!!

Me trying not to smile: Ayaw mo?

Mia: Yes. Ayaw ko.

Me: O hun, ayaw raw.

Jose: Ok. E di ayaw.

Isipin mo, dapat pala tagalog para maintindihan namin siya! The main reason she did not want to go was she wanted to play by the big fountain area we passed by before heading to Boots. Here’s that fountain area:

Our Ayaw Ko Girl

Have a great day everyone!

Saying Goodbye and Introducing Tripp

Jose’s first very lucky luggage had to go…

I say very lucky for it has been with him every time he’s out on a business trip. When I say trip, it has set foot to countries from the Americas, Asia, Australia and Europe. Jose's not fond of taking pictures of the places he's been to, so this is the only witness to his many journeys. Just see how much he valued his old buddy...

He tried his best to mend it by putting electric tape in the handle. He also charmingly shrugged funny stares from people as he zipped it using the hook of a padlock since the pull tabs have been lost somewhere.

But old luggage had its way to say, “That’s it, I’ve had enough!” Its handle would not go up and down anymore, and the back part has only a kilo to hold before it rips apart.

My poor Jose was so sad he had to let go…it was his grandmother’s after all. However, it needed to be replaced.

He got a four wheeled hard case this time. Would Debenhams’ Tripp do justice? Would it go beyond 5 years to at least equal old buddy’s time of service? Well, I can only hope for Jose’s pretty much one very loyal companion… Until he could afford and have the heart to get a Tumi. Hehe!

Loving Butterflies

Trivia: Jose loves butterflies. When we were in high school, he gave me a letter with a dried butterfly inside the envelope. According to him, as he loves butterflies, it also symbolizes his feelings towards me... So much for red roses huh? Forgive me but this is our anniversary month. I can say these things right? But seriously now, I can't believe he did that! Jose? Ahahaha!

Anyway, butterflies are the thing nowadays. I just want to share what is Mia's take on this.

Purple Robeez with Butterfly Patch and...

...Purple and Yellow Butterfly Clips bought from Divi!

Aren't they cute?! It's so fun to have a baby (doll) girl! Again, forgive me for the blurry shots.

Now, check out how Ate Twinkle dressed baby TJ on the same day as Mia wore Pink Jumper...

Mama Jean in Purple, Ate Twinkle in Blue, BIL Jd, Youngest Sis Angeli in Pink Polo & Baby TJ @ Fun Ranch

Why in Pink Jumper too, of course!!! Galing no? Even when continents apart, we are still proving our twin powers! Hehe!

9/11/08

Seven years ago, straight from UST, I was having dinner alone around 10 in the evening. My parents were watching the news about how the Twin Towers went down. I was 19 and at that age, I am not into news. But that clearly showed me what Gracie Hart of Ms. Congeniality meant by how one could really wish for world peace.

Flash forward, I am 26, a mother, I deeply wish and pray for world peace each night before sleeping but still not a big fan of CNN.

But Jose, the current events enthusiast, gets me hooked every now and then. Tonight, instead of washing the dishes after dinner, I just had to join him see what’s happened in the world today. There’s the 9/11. I guess the pain of the past, especially for those who lost a family or friend, would not just go away like that no matter how long it has been. It is just too easy to say things when you are not there to experience everything. To comment on the rebuilding of the World Trade Centre is not a good time now.

I also made a very ignorant remark on why would a once successful and popular Japanese architect’s family leave him after he lost his career, great lifestyle and money. Why leave him to stay in one of those net rooms after all that he has once accomplished. It breaks my heart to think that these things could happen no matter how you try to secure your future. The questions… did he try to secure his and his family’s future? Is there really a way to secure future? What with insurance that you don’t know if you could still afford to pay next year or the year after? Probably with savings that you try to put away in the bank but since there’s always something that needs to be paid, you’d just drop your jaws to find out there’s really nothing left…

After a few minutes, the weather report came… and oh my! What Hurricane Ike could do now?

I can’t take any of it anymore I asked Jose if we could watch something else. He found Oprah and what a relief! We're also able to catch Ugly Betty’s brand new season. America Ferrera could easily get another Golden Globe after her act in that first show!!!

Then we had to put Mia to bed. As I look at her going to sleep, reality hits back. CNN lingered more than Oprah and Ugly Betty. What can I as a mother really do?

Yeah, can the ARK (Act of Random Kindness) from Evan Almighty save the day? Well, I could not think of anything else right now. Little by little, maybe it could be the answer.

For now, I thank God for all blessings that we abundantly receive everyday. I thank Him for giving us a daughter that makes me want to become a better person each day. I thank Him for a husband that tries his best “to secure” us with a bright future. I thank Him for keeping our family, relatives and friends healthy and safe. I thank Him that after 7 years, I still have the heart to care, to get worried, and the mind to think about silly things…that after 7 years, I still live and breathe and still hope for world peace.

There She Goes #5

Here's another set for y'all!

Mia came in the kitchen to check if she could watch me cook…

Mia asked in singsong: Mo-mmy can I co-ok with yo-u!

I replied in singsong: Su-re. Do you know what I’m going to co-ok?

Mia replied right away: Yes!

Me: What?

Mia: Tagalog!

Me: Huh?

Mia: Tagalog, eggs!

Me: Mia, egg in tagalog is itlog. I am going to cook Lugaw err, Arrozcaldo. Can you say it?

Mia: Yippee! Lugaw!

Me: No, say A-rroz-caldo, it has chicken.

Mia: Can you just cook lugaw Mommy?

Pa-arrozcaldo, arrozcaldo pa kasi…but I was able to make her say it when we were eating na naman.

While brushing her teeth…

Mia: Mom, can you please close the tap for me?

Me: I’ll teach you how to close it. Please turn it clockwise. That means turn the tap to the right. Say Clockwise.

Mia closing the tap: Clockwise.

Me: When you open the tap that’s called Counter Clockwise. Say Counter Clockwise.

Mia: Mom, it just goes to the left.

Sabi ko nga e! Anyway, now she knows how to use the tap!

Mommy Duty Calls: On Using the Camera

Mia took these pictures...

I took these pictures...

We used the same camera - Olympus C750. Obviously, Mia will not learn how to take proper pictures from me!

Daddy, Talk To Me

I got this article from my PampersNews Online Subscription. Thought I'd share it.

Its fathers who influence childrens language development the
most between ages two and three, according to educationists in the US.The team
of researchers from the University of North Carolina studied the language skills
of toddlers in families where both parents worked. They filmed children at play
with their parents at age two, and then again at age three.They found the
children whose dads used a wider selection of words at the time of the first
session showed greater language development a year later while the mothers use
of language made no significant difference.Seems dads who spend time talking to
their two-year-olds make a real difference. And don't be afraid of using a wide
range of words! It really helps your child.

Hun, I know you can master this skill! Hehe!

Speaking of Dads who have done a good job in raising his kids (together with an amazing wife - Tita Susan) and extending the love to all his relatives... I would like to greet Tito Dino, (the 4th in 7 Ignacio siblings; that makes him the 3rd in Mama Jean's 6 brothers) a very happy birthday!

Pic taken on our 26th Birthday (032508): Ate Twinkle, Me & the day's Birthday Boy - Tito Dino

Photo In A Photo

This is the photo (that I can't wait to be scanned) that I chose to submit for the photo contest by Gymboree (MK's Cutest Baby of the Year 2008; 19-36 months category). As I said, for her to win was not the reason we joined but that does not limit us to hope. Sayang din prize noh!

For the pictures that we are to give our relatives, please wait na lang through snail mail. Oki?

So, what do you think? Shall we keep hopes low or high?