Art Smart

For her homework, Laila was asked to draw an activity the family does together. This is what she drew.

As a testament to how physically active we are as a family, she sketched the TV (with Barbie in horsieland on the screen), the PS2 console, the couch and a tableful of food. Of course, Ngatngat and Yamot, the guinea pigs, were there too.

Ok, so we're not very into physical activities. I'm even discouraged right now against too much walking. Go figure. But we used to be active. We would go to the QC Memorial Circle every Sunday to jog.

But going back to Laila's artwork.

I just can't believe the details! The people she drew weren't even the stick figures you'd expect from a 5-year old; they have flesh.

And see that woman on the left? Yes it's me. Notice anything different from the other figures? I've got curves! No, not boobies. They're not even hips.

'That's Baby Bwuder,' Laila told me as she scribbled the semi-circle at both sides of my torso.

Laila's keen on details I wouldn't even put in the drawing if I was asked to draw it.

She put in the controls at the PS2 console. She also remembered to include the circular design of the dining table's iron frame.

Party for five

My baby turned 5 yesterday. And, boy, is she proud of it.

And, this early, she's set her sights on turning 6. Why, you ask? Because turning 6 would bring her closer to being 7--the age I told her she can have those funky shoes with wheels attached to them.

But that's going ahead of the story.

Baby Cat's birthday celebration began Saturday when we had the house blessed. Only family was there. And her Ninong Gerard who successfully found the house with minimal directions given.

Ate Michelle gave her a huge Minnie Mouse balloon. It slipped from her hand and flew away in under 10 minutes. She refused to have the string tied around her wrist, afraid that the balloon would fly away with her. She wasn't distraught, though, since she's proven that a balloon not tied on her wrist will not fly away with her.

The next celebration was in school. We brought mocha cake with a Cinderella figurine and chocolate drinks for recess.

The kids seemed to enjoy singing Happy Birthday and buzzing by me as I sliced the cake more than they did the actual eating part. Laila didn't even have a slice. Instead, she chose to eat her baon of rice and lambot meat (tocino). (It's so like her to pass up on the cake hehehehe)

Then that afternoon, she had her friends over for a cake and ice cream party!

Siblings Drew and Baste came over, as well as busmates Xander and Darlene. Daddy Cat was home supervising the party. He says it was chaos. I think that afternoon convinced him that he doesn't want as many kids himself.

First, Daddy Cat was lighting the candles for Laila to blow out, but Xander blew them out ahead. Then Laila prematurely blew the candles before he could take a picture of her.

Then Baste saw his three Hulk action figures and wanted to play with them. Baste also wanted to play with various knick-knacks buried deep in the bottom of Laila's toy box.

Of course, you have 5 little munchkins so there's bound to be tension. The kids fought over blocks, which they promptly forgot 20 seconds later.

I called the house and I could hear the ruckus. Daddy took pictures of the scene so he's got proof.

Daddy and Laila picked me up from work that night. On the drive home, Laila asked me is she's 5 already.

When I answered yes, here's her next commentary (in her sweet, sweet tone): 'Bakit hindi pa ako tumubo? Hindi ko na-feel nag-grow ako.'

Where she gets these thoughts, I have no idea. Only a little kid would come up with statements like that.

She also said something about turning 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. I know she was thinking of all the things and tricks I told her big kids can do. The shoes with wheels for instance. And being allowed to ice skate. But I just want to stay in this moment, when she's big enough to communicate and understand yet still a baby enough to let herself be babied by me.

Love you Baby Cat.

School

Laila's started Senior Kinder already. You should see how torn she is every morning.

she's obviously excited to go to school. That's until we get to the door of the school service. Then she starts clinging and crying.

Another bout with separation anxiety probably. She must be very stressed with a lot of 'new' things. New house, new friends, new school. Not to mention a new brother coming in the next few weeks.

But she's such an easy-going kid I know she'll cope. Ate Nining says she stops crying shortly after the school bus starts moving. By the time she goes home, she's already playing the other kids in the service with her. And Baby Cat doesn't even mention her crying spell when we talk about her day.

That's my little lady.

Baby worries

I had a scare three weeks ago. The doctor thought Baby Bwuder was about to make an arrival early so she had me on bed rest for a week. Not that we're not excited to see him, but I'm glad to say he stayed where he's supposed to be--in my uterus.

Here's what happened:

It was a Saturday. It's been a week since we moved to the condo and almost everything was still in boxes. Clutter clutter clutter. So, I wanted to de-clutter. I spent the morning cleaning the shelves and stacking books.

Then we went to Greenhills for lunch. The plan was to go to Bliss afterward to pick up stuff left behind. But by the time we were at the toy store, Baby Bwuder was kicking and body slamming me violently that it was difficult to walk.

The pain shot through me and that got me thinking if something was wrong. Also, my undies had been feeling damp. That couldn't be good, I thought.

The oby checked me and announced that I was dilated 1 cm.

That didn't sink in and she had to explain it to me like I were 4 years old. My cervix was dilated 1 cm and I was leaking amniotic fluid. I also had an infection that either caused or was aggravating my condition.

Still it didn't sink in. This explanation helped me to finally understand. I was in the early stages of labor and if we don't stop it, the baby would come 3 months early. That means his lungs haven't developed and life outside the womb wouldn't be viable. I was 27 weeks pregnant at that time.

I was to be admitted in hosp for medical management. And bed rest. I wasn't even allowed to sit up in bed. I did all my business there on the hospital bed.

Laila was so sweet during the time I was sick.

I had an ultrasound the first day in hospital, and she wanted to be there with me when Baby Bwuder's picture was taken. But Daddy Cat had to take her home so she missed it. Later on, I learned that she was chiding Daddy Cat because she couldn't be there, unlike the first time when she saw Baby Bwuder in the monitor.

She also begged Daddy Cat to let her stay overnight with me. Of course she couldn't. I'd been worried about what illness she might catch visiting me at hospital already. But it really was heartwarming to see how excited she is every time she comes for a visit.

The doctor allowed me to go home Wednesday but I was still on bed rest until Monday, when she gave me clearance to go back to work. But on strict orders not to be very active unless I want labor to start again.

I'm praying he comes when he's supposed to on Sept. 8 or thereabout. But I'm taking the necessary precautions to make sure he's on schedule and not early.

That means no more walks for me. And since walking had been my primary exercise since getting pregnant, that also means no more exercise even if exercise is recommended for expectant moms. I even used a wheelchair when we went to the mall last weekend. Admittedly, though, being pushed around the mall is a rather enjoyable way of getting around. I can get used to it.

No more out of town trips either. I won't be able to visit Mommy in Nasugbu. I missed coverage of the Parada ng Lechon sa Balayan. We won't be able to swim with the dolphins in Subic for Laila's birthday.

No strenuous activities. I can't carry Laila even if I wanted to. I can't run or roughhouse with her. I'm not sure if I can take a dip in the pool.

I've got 8 more weeks 'til the baby comes.

Padyak, Padyak, Padyak

Admittedly, it is a catchy tune. Particularly because it was sung by a little boy crooning about the hardships of life.

Laila needed only one time to hear it on radio before she started humming herself. Padyak padyak padyak...

I'm no Mar Roxas fan, but whoever thought of that ad campaign for him was brilliant as well as disappointing.

Padyak padyak padyak, pagod ng mangarap...

It's a haunting tune, especially for impressionable children.

But I can't shake the image of Mar getting on a pedicab driven by a boy half his size. The boy, when asked what he wanted to be when he grew up, answered 'seaman.' A little girl in the pedicab with Mar said she wanted to be an 'artista'.

Uh, I suppose it does take a certain type of personality to become a seaman and it would need a lot of skills to be a good actress. But then what happened to little kids who wants to be doctors, engineers and astronauts?

The 1980s family sitcom The Cosby Show featured a professional African-American family--dad was a doctor and mom was a lawyer who speaks Spanish. It was a totally different take on African-Americans who were usually portrayed as uneducated hoodlums. The sitcom improved the perception of African-Americans, with more young African-Americans saying they want to be professionals like the Huckstables too.

Shouldn't the Mar, ehem, 'infomercial' have featured kids who dreamed high?

I have nothing against blue collar work. Not that being an artista is blue collar work. But when you mean to inspire a nation to progress and economic development, shouldn't you be pushing for entrepreneurs, professionals and scientists?

Oh well, when it's a question of politicians, we could very well be singing padyak padyak padyak, pagod ng mangarap as well.

It's difficult to hang on to a dream where the country's leaders propel to country to progress.

Whining

Laila's been whining a lot lately.

I'm not blaming her though. The people at the house are really making an effort to make her whine.

Biggest of all teasers is Daddy Cat, who begins her day by waking her up. He then counts 1 to 10, an indication that a race to the sofa is about to begin. If you've just woken up, would you be in the mood to race anywhere but back to sleep? Or Daddy Cat would tickle her feet or nibble on her ears. He also ends her day with a major dose of teasing, from tickling to anything that would make her cream and whine.

Cousins John and Anne, who are both staying with us for the summer, aren't any easier on Baby Cat either. They don't mean to tease her, but they just ended up that way without meaning to. And so Laila ends up whining more lately.

I know Laila whines because of the stimuli around her. As much as I want to protect her from this stimuli, I can't be beside her all the time. Besides, it's good if she learns to stand up for herself.

We're still into enriching her vocabulary and her ability to express herself in words. She's quite verbal for her age already. Her teacher's told me about it more than once. So I know we're getting closer to the point where she wouldn't need to resort to whining to get her message across.

If she knows how to express her feelings and thoughts in words, she wouldn't whine.

Her firsts at 4

I know I told myself I would prefer that Laila doesn't follow my career path. Journalism is a messy, unpredictable, energy-consuming career that leaves one little energy and time for anything else. (That is to be distinguished from my desire of wanting her to learn to value and take pride in hard work.)

But I wanted her close so badly that I took her with me to a press conference.

This is her at the main briefing room at the defense department. She insisted on sitting at the table where every other reporter is sitting. She also wanted to speak on the mic (and this is where I put my foot down).

As is customary practice, there was an ambush interview after the press con. Laila insisted in being in the middle of the small crowd that huddle a health department official talking about the swine flu.

She obviously thoroughly enjoyed herself.

But what really melted my heart was when she approached me during the presscon, right after I fielded a question, and told me that I did good. She was looking straight into my eyes when she said it. She looked so sincere and I could just eat her up.

For this little girl, I would do anything, be anything.









Here are a few other 'firsts' now that she's 4 years old. (Who says a baby's firsts are all experienced in her first year.)




The statue is that of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo that guards the parade grounds in Camp Aguinaldo. While walking to the gate from DND, Laila saw the lush green grass and just had to have a romp around. This is just my second time to sit and relax in front of the statue.






This is her first swim at the Cambridge pool. Behind her is Kuya John who had as much a good time as she.

Smart Alec

Daddy Cat and Laila had a father-daughter date last Friday before they picked me up from the office.

As a treat, they both got new toys--Laila bought a stuffed brown Basset Hound while Daddy Cat got a new GI Joe action figure. Laila was excitedly telling me about it as we drove out from the office driveway.

And then she decided she wanted to sit with me in the front seat.

For months now we've been training her to sit at the back. One, because she's grown too heavy to sit on my lap for too long a time and, two, because The Bump is growing too big for me to fit in the front seat by myself.

So anyways, Laila was insisting to sit on my lap, and Daddy Cat was dissuading her.

Daddy Cat: You have a new toy and kids with new toys sit at the back.

Laila: You have a new toy and you sit in front.

Daddy Cat: I'm driving, that's why I sit in front.

Laila (pretending to hold a steering wheel): I'm driving too.

I couldn't help but praise her for knowing how to reason out. It's proof she's processing her thoughts. :)

But, as she grows up, I really should teach her how to be less irreverent though. If I'd said something similar to my parents I'd get a smacking for sure.

But I've always been irreverent of authority myself, to the dismay of the Lolo (bless his soul) and the Lola, who still do not know where they went wrong in raising me.

Nephew Utoy is as much a smart alec. I used to warn Ate that she ought to learn how to control him, because smart retorts are cute coming form a 2 year old, but not from a 10 year old.

I have half a decade more to train Laila :)

Branded

I think I may have started Laila on the wrong path.

Personally, I'm not too conscious of brand names. I usually go for the first cheapest, best quality item I can lay my hands on (which is to say just about anything) or the first one that I see.

Ok Ok, I buy on impulse. But I have no compulsion to buy anything when I don't need it.

Laila's exactly like me for most things. She sees a toy on TV and says she wants them, but she hasn't thrown a tantrum yet because she was deprived of a toy while in the store. (Usually, it's me who feels upset when she doesn't go home with a toy after a visit to the store.)

Maybe it's that Mommy thing of wanting the best, if not everything, for your kid.

When I was young, Mommy used to cut my hair. When I got a little older, Ate would cut and style it. That would explain why at one point I had a puffy bangs--she was trying, and miserably failed, to replicate a cut she saw at the salon.

Laila doesn't have to worry about a bad haircut. She gets her hair done in a salon. And it can't be just any salon. It has to be David's. I took her there once and she really took to the pampering the attendants gave her. She calls David's 'Our salon' and objects when I go to other, cheaper parlors.

Earlier today, I called home to tell her I'd be late coming home. Mommy needs to talk to some people, I tell her.

She replies: 'Where? Starbucks?'

She knows Starbucks?! We've gone there a couple of times, yes, but I hadn't expected her to automatically link meetings to that coffee place.

Ex-officemate Gani once teased that I'm raising Laila to be a high-maintenance gal. That's after I told her Laila is familiar with the lotions I use for different parts of the face and body.

Gasp! He might be right!

The new angel

Laila is excited.

She saw her baby brother for the first time yesterday, via ultrasound image. She says he looked sleepy. Funny girl.

Baby Cat has seemed to fulle embrace the idea of having a younger sibling. I think she's gotten used to the idea even before I did.

Of course, now that I'm 8 weeks expecting, and because I've also seen the ultrasound image of that little beanie that looks so much like Laila, the eventuality of having another little angel in the family has fully settled in my consciousness too.

Daddy Cat and I have picked out a name for him already. Laila, though, is still appealing if we could have a baby sister instead of a baby brother. Funny baby.

+++

I would sometimes ask Laila what a baby sounds like. Readily, she would say 'Googoo gaagaa.'

She refuses to say it now. I think it's primarily because she's learned it's my way of tricking her into sounding like a baby and putting diapers on her. Also, she tells me that I should wait till the baby comes out if I want to hear what a baby sounds like.

Precocious, won't you agree?