Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Someone in this Family Needs to be Pregnant, But Not Her
Jack and I had been talking about having another baby, oh, for the last 3 years now. If it is going to happen, it will be this year. Will keep you posted.
Mary has gotten tired of waiting so she decided to be "pregnant" herself.
"I'm pregnant for real, Mommy!!!!"
Two seconds later, the ball dropped to floor and she got her figure back. Wish it would be as easy for me...
Saturday, January 27, 2007
(yet another) Snow Day
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Make-up class
Mary Esther has gymnastics class every Saturday morning from 9-10 am. Last Saturday,we did not make it to class because she had a papercut at the root of her thumb, on her palm, on her right hand. You know those paper cuts that are so small but feel so nasty. She didn't think she could use her hand especially when she had to grasp the bar or use her hand to support herself when she does forward roll. So, I told her we would just have to take a make-up class during the week.
Wednesday, I told her that I would call the Center and get her scheduled for her make-up class and most likely we would go the next day. When we got to the daycare, she was telling everyone how she was going to a make-up class. She was very excited. I knew she loves gymnastics so I thought it was just her usual enthusiasm for it.
Thursday afternoon, I picked her up early from the daycare, got her home and changed for gymnastics. All this time, I was telling her we are going to her make-up class.
So, I got her to the Center and she even told one of the teachers that she is going for her make-up class. The teacher knew Mary usually has her class on Saturday so the teacher just said, "Oh, okay."
At the end of her session, as I was getting her shoes and socks back on, she asked me when she was going to her make-up class? I told her, "You just had it."
"No, Mommy, the REAL make-up class."
Suddenly, it just dawned on me that all this time when I was telling her make-up class and when she was telling everybody about it that she had thought I was taking her to a "make-up" (meaning cosmetics) class.
"Where did you think we were going, Mary?"
"Oh, I thought, we were going to this store that has make-up and that I was going to learn how to put on make-up... a little bit" (the "a little bit" part I know she tgged on because I get upset with her when she bugs me about putting on make-up.)
My daughter is such a girly-girl that the word "make-up" could only have meant one thing. I was sorry to disappoint her--- though she did have fun at gymnastics.
Wednesday, I told her that I would call the Center and get her scheduled for her make-up class and most likely we would go the next day. When we got to the daycare, she was telling everyone how she was going to a make-up class. She was very excited. I knew she loves gymnastics so I thought it was just her usual enthusiasm for it.
Thursday afternoon, I picked her up early from the daycare, got her home and changed for gymnastics. All this time, I was telling her we are going to her make-up class.
So, I got her to the Center and she even told one of the teachers that she is going for her make-up class. The teacher knew Mary usually has her class on Saturday so the teacher just said, "Oh, okay."
At the end of her session, as I was getting her shoes and socks back on, she asked me when she was going to her make-up class? I told her, "You just had it."
"No, Mommy, the REAL make-up class."
Suddenly, it just dawned on me that all this time when I was telling her make-up class and when she was telling everybody about it that she had thought I was taking her to a "make-up" (meaning cosmetics) class.
"Where did you think we were going, Mary?"
"Oh, I thought, we were going to this store that has make-up and that I was going to learn how to put on make-up... a little bit" (the "a little bit" part I know she tgged on because I get upset with her when she bugs me about putting on make-up.)
My daughter is such a girly-girl that the word "make-up" could only have meant one thing. I was sorry to disappoint her--- though she did have fun at gymnastics.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Toe-walking is strong in my family...
Mary Esther took sick again over the weekend. As any time she does not feel well, she starts off by being very clingy, then she does not eat and then she snoozes when generally she does not. One other symptom that Jack discovered was, she stops walking on her toes.
Mary is a toe walker. She walks on her toes just like her older sister, Erika--- Jack's 25-year-old daughter from a previous marriage. Jack had always thought that his ex-wife had the toe-walking genes that had been passed on to Erika. But with Mary Esther turning out the same way, logically, HE had the toe-walking genes.
Anyway, now we know when Mary is feeling better, she is back on her toes, running, jumping, walking, twirling and sometimes just standing still in front of the TV.
Sunday, January 21, 2007
I do my "Dancing" (playing Dance Dance Revolution on Playstation2 for enjoyment and exercise) down in our unfinished basement. Mary Esther usually accompanies me and she plays in her play area, goes biking or riding her scooter. I heard her clattering around with Jack's free weights and next thing I knew she had made this pattern on the floor.
She did similar work with some plastic chips a few days ago.
Now, does this mean something? Is she communicating at some level I cannot comprehend? Is she showing some signs of genius I cannot interpret at this time? Sure, the second photo shows the outline of a boat and the first one was a path, Mary says.
Reminded me of an exercise I was doing from some self-improvement book years ago- an exercise that was supposed to lead you to figuring out what the best jobs/career/work is for you. You're supposed to make a list of any activity you had enjoyed and done well in the past all the way to your childhood (whether it be swinging in the park, childhood pets, whatever.). I had to think long and hard to come up with a long enough list for the exercise. (I don't think I completed the rest of the exercises- I still have not figured out what is the best career for me....)
Anyway, if and when Mary, at one point in her life, ask me what things she was good at when she was young, among other things, I would show her these photos and let her figure out if they meant anything.
She did similar work with some plastic chips a few days ago.
Now, does this mean something? Is she communicating at some level I cannot comprehend? Is she showing some signs of genius I cannot interpret at this time? Sure, the second photo shows the outline of a boat and the first one was a path, Mary says.
Reminded me of an exercise I was doing from some self-improvement book years ago- an exercise that was supposed to lead you to figuring out what the best jobs/career/work is for you. You're supposed to make a list of any activity you had enjoyed and done well in the past all the way to your childhood (whether it be swinging in the park, childhood pets, whatever.). I had to think long and hard to come up with a long enough list for the exercise. (I don't think I completed the rest of the exercises- I still have not figured out what is the best career for me....)
Anyway, if and when Mary, at one point in her life, ask me what things she was good at when she was young, among other things, I would show her these photos and let her figure out if they meant anything.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Word of the Day
Yesterday, I mentioned in that in my pursuit of teaching Mary Esther to speak Tagalog, I would institute a "Word of the Day" strategy and I started with
halik, meaning kiss
I told Mary what the word was, had her repeat it numerous times and told her what it meant and SHOWED her what it meant (gave her a few smooches while I was saying halik, halik. But when I asked her to halik me, this is what she did.
She was being funny- she wanted me to think that she thought I was telling her to lick me. It was pretty funny until she did it one too many times and my face was sticky with laway (spit).
Today's Word of the Day was dikit - to stick onto a surface. We were doing a Valentines mini-project and she was sticking foam shapes into a heart-shaped piece. No "misunderstanding" of the word this time.
halik, meaning kiss
I told Mary what the word was, had her repeat it numerous times and told her what it meant and SHOWED her what it meant (gave her a few smooches while I was saying halik, halik. But when I asked her to halik me, this is what she did.
She was being funny- she wanted me to think that she thought I was telling her to lick me. It was pretty funny until she did it one too many times and my face was sticky with laway (spit).
Today's Word of the Day was dikit - to stick onto a surface. We were doing a Valentines mini-project and she was sticking foam shapes into a heart-shaped piece. No "misunderstanding" of the word this time.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Tagalog as a Second Language
Did not think it would be this challenging--- getting my half-Filipino daughter to speak fluent Tagalog. After all, I speak Tagalog fluently, I may not write it very well (always was able to write in English better than Tagalog while in school in the Philippines) but I can certainly immerse Mary in Tagalob conversation if I wanted to.
And that's the catch- I have to want to. I DO WANT TO, its the implementation that is the hard part. For half my life now, I have lived in an English-speaking country (USA, Canada, then back to the USA) and I have strived hard to not only speak English but to THINK in English. So it takes a lot of intention to speak Tagalog.
It has to be done. As my husband, Jack says, Mary has to learn about that half of her heritage and she would miss out a lot if she does not know the language.
I will start today--- I will talk to her for at least a full hour every evening in Tagalog. Then, maybe we would have a "Word of the Day" Today's word: "halik" - meaning kiss. I think that's a good word to start with.
And that's the catch- I have to want to. I DO WANT TO, its the implementation that is the hard part. For half my life now, I have lived in an English-speaking country (USA, Canada, then back to the USA) and I have strived hard to not only speak English but to THINK in English. So it takes a lot of intention to speak Tagalog.
It has to be done. As my husband, Jack says, Mary has to learn about that half of her heritage and she would miss out a lot if she does not know the language.
I will start today--- I will talk to her for at least a full hour every evening in Tagalog. Then, maybe we would have a "Word of the Day" Today's word: "halik" - meaning kiss. I think that's a good word to start with.
Labels: Tagalog
Monday, January 15, 2007
Mary and her "stupid hotness"
I'm not sure if one would call it too hot-blooded or too cold-blooded or even if there are such terms that would apply to Mary Esther. Jack and I could be in sweaters, pants and socks around the house and Mary would be running around in a tank top and panties. She gets hot.
In the middle of night, she would wake up and complain of hot feet and hot hands--- "My feet are hot!!!! My hands are hot!!! I hate this stupid hotness!!!" she would whine. For this, I would get a wet washcloth and wipe down her heels and palms--- would usually solve the problem.
This evening, whereas it was 15.5 degrees Fahrenheit outside and 66.2 inside, Mary was pulling up her pant legs and complaining that she was hot. So I told her to get changed, at least put on a skirt instead of the pants she was wearing.
She came back in this outfit.
I wonder what she would be wearing when summer comes.
I'm not sure if one would call it too hot-blooded or too cold-blooded or even if there are such terms that would apply to Mary Esther. Jack and I could be in sweaters, pants and socks around the house and Mary would be running around in a tank top and panties. She gets hot.
In the middle of night, she would wake up and complain of hot feet and hot hands--- "My feet are hot!!!! My hands are hot!!! I hate this stupid hotness!!!" she would whine. For this, I would get a wet washcloth and wipe down her heels and palms--- would usually solve the problem.
This evening, whereas it was 15.5 degrees Fahrenheit outside and 66.2 inside, Mary was pulling up her pant legs and complaining that she was hot. So I told her to get changed, at least put on a skirt instead of the pants she was wearing.
She came back in this outfit.
I wonder what she would be wearing when summer comes.
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Sunday memories, etc.
I've always loved Sundays. Growing up, our house was (and still is) part of my dad's place of business, a machine shop. At precisely 7 in the morning, the mechanical noises of the grinder, lathes, gear-cutting machines start and end at precisely 5 pm. You know when it is 10 am, 12 noon and 3 pm, the noise takes a break.
But Sunday- oh, a whole day of quiet, start off by going to church. My mom insists on going to the early Mass and most of the time, we make it. Then, back home to just wait out the day. Time seems to slow down on Sundays. Sunday dinner usually consists of fried chicken and nilaga (boiled beef soup with cabbage, pechay and potatoes), family favorites. Then, maybe pizza delivered as an added treat while watching a movie on TV that evening.
Today, Jack had on some music that I have not heard in years- it is Bread "Look What You've Done"- I was amazed how the lyrics just spilled out of my mouth. I guess, that's how it is with things (poems, songs, movie dialogues) memorized from childhood--- it's like fast-rewinding to a track and the memory is all there to be replayed.
"You have taken the best of me, so come get the rest of me. And look back, finish what you've begun...."
To make up for the quiet on Sundays, my dad would play music. It could be The Beatles "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" or Souza marches or Carole King ballads or the pop hits of Bread. One thing for sure it would be blaring throughout the house and the shop.
I wonder what Mary's memories of her parents' music would be. I introduced her to Barry Manilow's Copacabana (she loves it) and she likes Madonna's early songs. And then there are the short tracks from Dance, Dance Revolution video game that ranges from some rap tracks to David Bowie to Britney Spears. I hope she remembers that I was jumping around for exercise and not just jumping around like a fool.
I've always loved Sundays. Growing up, our house was (and still is) part of my dad's place of business, a machine shop. At precisely 7 in the morning, the mechanical noises of the grinder, lathes, gear-cutting machines start and end at precisely 5 pm. You know when it is 10 am, 12 noon and 3 pm, the noise takes a break.
But Sunday- oh, a whole day of quiet, start off by going to church. My mom insists on going to the early Mass and most of the time, we make it. Then, back home to just wait out the day. Time seems to slow down on Sundays. Sunday dinner usually consists of fried chicken and nilaga (boiled beef soup with cabbage, pechay and potatoes), family favorites. Then, maybe pizza delivered as an added treat while watching a movie on TV that evening.
Today, Jack had on some music that I have not heard in years- it is Bread "Look What You've Done"- I was amazed how the lyrics just spilled out of my mouth. I guess, that's how it is with things (poems, songs, movie dialogues) memorized from childhood--- it's like fast-rewinding to a track and the memory is all there to be replayed.
"You have taken the best of me, so come get the rest of me. And look back, finish what you've begun...."
To make up for the quiet on Sundays, my dad would play music. It could be The Beatles "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" or Souza marches or Carole King ballads or the pop hits of Bread. One thing for sure it would be blaring throughout the house and the shop.
I wonder what Mary's memories of her parents' music would be. I introduced her to Barry Manilow's Copacabana (she loves it) and she likes Madonna's early songs. And then there are the short tracks from Dance, Dance Revolution video game that ranges from some rap tracks to David Bowie to Britney Spears. I hope she remembers that I was jumping around for exercise and not just jumping around like a fool.
Sunday, January 07, 2007
Got snow? (again)
Seems like I'm about as tired of taking pictures of the snow as much as we're tired of getting it. We had more than 3 ft fall in the last 3 weeks and that was more than we got whole winter last year!
And this latest snowfall, I took 2 pictures, what you see above. The blizzard we got before Christmas, I took about 150 pictures!
Friday, January 05, 2007
Too much TV?
I have to confess, we use the television as a babysitter for Mary.
When we're home, she wants someone to play with or do stuff with her and most of time, Jack and I have other things that need to get done. Things like working on the computer--- work that we cannot incorporate Mary into. (As much as possible, we have her help out when we are doing husehold chores- laundy, cooking, cleaning the kitchen--- Mary enjoys helping).
So we have to resort to sitting her in front of the TV to keep her occupied. We try to get her to watch the good children's shows like Sesame Street, Dragon Tales, Arthur, Blues' Clues, Dora the Explorer, Berenstain Bears, Angelina Ballerina. And she would watch these shows but sometimes, she prefers the Cartoon Network that has cartoons for older kids. She just loves Teen Titans, Ed, Ed n Eddy, Shaolin Showdown. Another confession... I can't sit long enough to watch these older kids shows--- I hope, they are not messing her up.
What amuses me is how she reacts to the Infomercials. She is such a consumer! This morning, she wanted me to get the Sun Setter- "keeps the sun out of my eyes!"- and we don't even have a patio. Jack said that Mary had asked her to buy something she saw on TV and he thought to himself--- "Why on earth would she want that?" Mary tells me to "Call Now- Operators are Standing By!" If she had her own credit card, it would have been maxed out by now and we would have all kinds of useless shit all over the house.
I have to confess, we use the television as a babysitter for Mary.
When we're home, she wants someone to play with or do stuff with her and most of time, Jack and I have other things that need to get done. Things like working on the computer--- work that we cannot incorporate Mary into. (As much as possible, we have her help out when we are doing husehold chores- laundy, cooking, cleaning the kitchen--- Mary enjoys helping).
So we have to resort to sitting her in front of the TV to keep her occupied. We try to get her to watch the good children's shows like Sesame Street, Dragon Tales, Arthur, Blues' Clues, Dora the Explorer, Berenstain Bears, Angelina Ballerina. And she would watch these shows but sometimes, she prefers the Cartoon Network that has cartoons for older kids. She just loves Teen Titans, Ed, Ed n Eddy, Shaolin Showdown. Another confession... I can't sit long enough to watch these older kids shows--- I hope, they are not messing her up.
What amuses me is how she reacts to the Infomercials. She is such a consumer! This morning, she wanted me to get the Sun Setter- "keeps the sun out of my eyes!"- and we don't even have a patio. Jack said that Mary had asked her to buy something she saw on TV and he thought to himself--- "Why on earth would she want that?" Mary tells me to "Call Now- Operators are Standing By!" If she had her own credit card, it would have been maxed out by now and we would have all kinds of useless shit all over the house.
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Waking Up is Hard to Do
Back to work and school today. Mary had been sleeping in most of the past ten days(what with Christmas, New Year's and snow days) and I thought it would be tough for her to get back in the swing of things.
I try to get to work between 7 and 7:30 am so I can leave work about 8 hours later and be home around 4 o'clock--- have some time for myself before I have to pick-up Mary at around 5-5:30 pm. So to do this, I have to get up at 5:30 am, get myself ready, wake up Mary (ideally) at 6 am, get her ready and be out of the house 6:30 am--- 7 am, at the latest.
Today, I wanted to get to work early- 7 am instead of 7:30 am--- so I had to make sure I get Mary up at 6:00 am. I started shaking her awake as soon as I got off the shower, she sighed but otherwise no other movement. Went back getting ready, came back turned the TV on to Lilo and Stitch--- one of her favorite shows--- she did not stir. Turned on a few lights, still no sign of waking. Her Dad came in to shake her awake and came away with "There are a few awake spots on the girl..." Finally, I pciked her up off the bed, gave her a few kisses and cuddled her awake. Got her into the bathroom and we are good to go.
This is one difference between Mary and I. If someone wakes me up and forces me to get up--- I get grumpy. If I am left to wake up on my own, then I wake refreshed and in a great mood. With Mary, if she wakes up on her own, most often she would be crying and yelling for me--- takes a while to cheer her up and get her in a happy mood. But if I shake her awake and get her up, she's fine. You'd think that I would always just shake her awake in the morning, right? NO, in my brain, I keep thinking that she is just like me, she would be grumpy if she does not get enough sleep.
Back to work and school today. Mary had been sleeping in most of the past ten days(what with Christmas, New Year's and snow days) and I thought it would be tough for her to get back in the swing of things.
I try to get to work between 7 and 7:30 am so I can leave work about 8 hours later and be home around 4 o'clock--- have some time for myself before I have to pick-up Mary at around 5-5:30 pm. So to do this, I have to get up at 5:30 am, get myself ready, wake up Mary (ideally) at 6 am, get her ready and be out of the house 6:30 am--- 7 am, at the latest.
Today, I wanted to get to work early- 7 am instead of 7:30 am--- so I had to make sure I get Mary up at 6:00 am. I started shaking her awake as soon as I got off the shower, she sighed but otherwise no other movement. Went back getting ready, came back turned the TV on to Lilo and Stitch--- one of her favorite shows--- she did not stir. Turned on a few lights, still no sign of waking. Her Dad came in to shake her awake and came away with "There are a few awake spots on the girl..." Finally, I pciked her up off the bed, gave her a few kisses and cuddled her awake. Got her into the bathroom and we are good to go.
This is one difference between Mary and I. If someone wakes me up and forces me to get up--- I get grumpy. If I am left to wake up on my own, then I wake refreshed and in a great mood. With Mary, if she wakes up on her own, most often she would be crying and yelling for me--- takes a while to cheer her up and get her in a happy mood. But if I shake her awake and get her up, she's fine. You'd think that I would always just shake her awake in the morning, right? NO, in my brain, I keep thinking that she is just like me, she would be grumpy if she does not get enough sleep.
Monday, January 01, 2007
Happy New Year!
This is the first time since my Mom started letting me stay up for New year's Eve (probably, when I was 3) that I did not stay up to bring in the New Year.
I had wanted to and I was telling Mary that she can stay up till midnight. (She was so happy about it, she run out and told her Daddy--- I don't think she really knew what it meant.) Mary was asleep by 9:30 pm and I was asleep by 10:00 pm.
In the Philippines where I grew up, nobody can sleep or stay asleep at midnight. Unless one has a soundproof room, one can;t help but hear the firecrackers all over the city. On and off throughout the evening, intensifying as midnight approaches and a series of big bangs at just about midnight. I miss this part of New Year's Eve. Nothing quite like it in the other parts of the world that I have been in on New Year's Eve.
Maybe, next year I will take Mary to experience this- she will be 5 1/2, she would love it!
Today, I decided to do with Mary something I read in a magazine--- as an activity for New Year's Day. Mary and I wrote letters to ourselves and to each other. We will open them 10 years from now. Mary knows how to write letters but not form words yet so I helped her spell out the words. My handwriting is so bad that I hope I will be able to read my letter 10 years from now. I asked Jack to do it as well bu he has not done them yet. He did suggest that I take photos of myself, the house, etc and put in the envelope--- sort of like a time capsule. I also put in a dollar bill and some coins. Now I just have to make sure I keep the letters in a safe place.
This is the first time since my Mom started letting me stay up for New year's Eve (probably, when I was 3) that I did not stay up to bring in the New Year.
I had wanted to and I was telling Mary that she can stay up till midnight. (She was so happy about it, she run out and told her Daddy--- I don't think she really knew what it meant.) Mary was asleep by 9:30 pm and I was asleep by 10:00 pm.
In the Philippines where I grew up, nobody can sleep or stay asleep at midnight. Unless one has a soundproof room, one can;t help but hear the firecrackers all over the city. On and off throughout the evening, intensifying as midnight approaches and a series of big bangs at just about midnight. I miss this part of New Year's Eve. Nothing quite like it in the other parts of the world that I have been in on New Year's Eve.
Maybe, next year I will take Mary to experience this- she will be 5 1/2, she would love it!
Today, I decided to do with Mary something I read in a magazine--- as an activity for New Year's Day. Mary and I wrote letters to ourselves and to each other. We will open them 10 years from now. Mary knows how to write letters but not form words yet so I helped her spell out the words. My handwriting is so bad that I hope I will be able to read my letter 10 years from now. I asked Jack to do it as well bu he has not done them yet. He did suggest that I take photos of myself, the house, etc and put in the envelope--- sort of like a time capsule. I also put in a dollar bill and some coins. Now I just have to make sure I keep the letters in a safe place.
