Baby teeth, going, going .....

When Yaya Dora first noticed that Baz was fiddling with two of his lower front teeth and that his "big boy teeth" were starting to show, I was again reminded that my boys are growing up much faster than I'd like.

So here I am looking back at how much my babies have grown. Yes, I've started calling them babies again, pleading with them not to grow up too fast, and making them promise that they would always be my babies even when they have their own babies! By the way, for the record, they both agreed!

I digress....

Wasn't it only yesterday when Baz hopelessly tried to crawl across the bed? How much time had passed since he would consistently poop just as we were stuck in traffic in front of Pioneer center - and grip Yaya's arms as he made funny you-kn0w-what sounds? And how about the time we fed him loads of carrots, mangoes and squash to a point that Dra. Garces could see that he was turning orange as soon as he stepped though her clinic doors? Oh - now that topic calls for another post - but I clearly remember how he cried and cried and cried whenever we were in - or even just 2 blocks away from - the doctor's clinic. He would hang on to the door jambs and would scare the wits out of 8 and 9 year olds waiting for their turn to see the good doctor!

How about the time when he refused to say "papaya"?

Mommy: Say, papaya.

Baz: Bibida

Mommy: No, papaya. Pa-pa-ya

Baz: Bibida!

Mommy: Say papa.

Baz: Papa

Mommy: Ya!

Baz: ya!

Mommy: Papaya!

Baz: Bibida!!!

And then that time he didn't want to cooperate with mama who wanted him to say "chocolate".

Mama: Chocolate - not - coco-late.

Baz: coco-late.

Mama: How about Ate Chona? Say Ate Chona

Baz: Ate Chona

Mama: Say Champaca

Baz: Champaca

Mama: Now saw chocolate (perhaps thinking that she had pushed Baz into a corner)

Baz: Coco-late

Mama: Ate Chona

Baz: Ate Co-na!

Two weeks have passed since I started this post and I am now overtaken by events. Yesterday, my precocious boys got into one of their usual fights, but this time, with a weapon. Soon enough there was wailing and when I asked Hadrien what happened, my ever quick to the draw boy said that his kuya had started the fight. As I turned to ask Baz his version of events, he held a white thing in front of me and asked me what it was. It took me a second or two - and a quick look at his slightly bloodied lips and shirt - to figure out that Hadrien knocked his brother's tooth off!

Here are the last photos of Baz with a complete set of baby teeth (gaps and all!).



Obviously, the wobbly teeth don't bother him. I guess, for now, it's just me who's bothered by the fact that he is slowly losing his baby teeth. Much too soon, he becoming less and less of a baby.

My Empathetic Hadrien

Sometime June of this year, I read "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus" to Hadrien. In the story, the bus driver asks the audience to make sure the determined little pigeon doesn't drive the bus. I'd read each line to him and ask him if he would let the pigeon drive the bus. At first, Hadrien decidedly said "no"! Until the clever little pigeon promised to be his best friend or give him 5 bucks and complained that he never got to do anything. I guess the pigeon pushed the right buttons it didn't take long until Hadrien's lips quivered, his eyes swelled with tears and he asked me "But why mommy? Why can't he drive the bus?" Needless to say, by the end of the story, my sweet compassionate 3 year old cried and was inconsolable - even if by then, the crafty little pigeon had his eyes set on driving a truck!

As we read the book over and over and over in the days, weeks and months that followed, Hadrien memorized each page and could read the book by himself. But instead of saying "don't let the pigeon drive the bus", he'd say "yes, let the pigeon drive the bus!"

Last night, I read the sequel "Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late!" to Baz and Hadrien. Anticipating that Hadrien would take the side of the pigeon, I solicited Baz's help. As expected, Hadrien quickly succumbed to the pigeon's attempts at conversation so that he could stay up late. Even as Baz warned Hadrien not to answer the pigeon's questions, there was no stopping Hadrien :)

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Here's a picture of my little mokong. I was working on the computer yesterday when he came up to me excitedly - and .... lo and behold!!!!

Kung Hei Fat Choi!

It was Chinese New Year last Monday, which was celebrated in most parts of the cities with the usual dragon dance and fire works. When we told the kids that it was Chinese New Year, Baz took the information in, pondered for a few seconds and asked - "why, what date is it in China today?"

Two New Prayers Tonight

Hmmmm, maybe I shouldn't have let them watch "Transformers," because during prayer time Hadrien the Mokong goes,

"And please don't watch over Megatron."

Then after we finished:

"Now it's time for a Pajama Party!!!!!"

Baz, of course, never forgets to pray for "the baby in Ethiopia," and that the Good Lord "give Ethiopia clean water."

Sunrise, Sunset

Looking at the kids' pictures over the years always makes me nostalgic. But there's something about barongs, weddings, and watching your kids walk down the aisle (even if they're only ring or coin or bible bearers) that just brings tears to my eyes.

This song now seems so real --

Is this the little girl I carried?
Is this the little boy at play?

I don't remember growing older
When did they?


When did she get to be a beauty?
When did he grow to be so tall?

Wasn't it yesterday
When they were small?





Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly flow the days
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers
Blossoming even as we gaze

Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly fly the years
One season following another
Laden with happiness and tears

What words of wisdom can I give them?
How can I help to ease their way?

What the ?!&%$#@

What makes them think they have the right to tell you how to wipe their asses? Ok, I guess it's because it's their butts in the first place :)

Several times now, Hadrien warns me not to smear his poop around his precious bottom. "This is how you should wipe me. Wait! I'll show you - don't wipe upwards, ok?" Not satisfied, he seriously tells me, "you know, the creatures in the Pasig River will die if you use too much toilet paper!"

From Auntie Genni, Hadrien is such a dear!

I was watching Buzz Lightyear of Star Command with Baz and Hadrien at their place. I wanted to nibble on something so I asked Baz what could I eat because I was hungry. I forgot what Baz said but little did I know, Hadrien was listening in on the conversation even as his eyes were directed at the TV. Hadrien got up without a word and went towards the kitchen. When he came back he told me that he already told his yaya to make merienda for me. Isn't that sweet? So, on his prompting, his Yaya Dora prepared thin pancakes with butter and powdered sugar for all of us.