Challenged and Challenging

Oh darling, where do I even begin?

As usual, we have dark days... usually after school, you'd act up and I'd try and try and try to be patient but sometimes, i'd really lose it. I think it has a lot to do with coming home to a place where you have to compete for MY attention.... what with Yamee growing to be engaging. I remember telling your teacher that there was this terrible week and I was feeling super lost because I couldn't tell what was triggering your emotional upsets... and then it dawned on me, that Yamee stood up by himself that week.

Sigh.

Your teachers say you have leadership qualities... that your playmates follow your lead even if you don't really tell them to do so. I guess that means you're charming, naturally.

I still haven't blogged about it but the Dev Ped we saw noticed that you have some "auditory processing issues" and need improvement with your fine motor skills. I'm glad and feel validated that this was pointed out by an expert... but inside of me, I am also slightly scared that this may develop into ADHD. And I do wonder if I have done you good (enough). I am scared of failing you, of not being a better mentor...

You have been sickly. Ever since May, you've seen a lot of doctors and the ER. One time, you even made me cry because you were stomping your feet at Healthway, refusing a blood extraction... and I didn't feel right about asking you to be brave yet another time. In my mind, there is always that fear of either one of you (and Yamee) getting seriously sick... like your cousin did... which is also why your parents bring you to the doctor most of the time.

I am not happy that you and Yamee are seeing an allergologist with me... but at least, I trust our doctor. And after Dr. Mantaring, I guess Dra. Sandejas is now your doctor.

You're sort of through your Toy Story phase (though we bought you Buzz and Woody at HK Disneyland) and is more into being a superhero. It's cute that you insist you're both Superman and Iron Man while calling Ice, Batman. You and Ice have also learned to play better... only, I've noticed Ice is more able to manipulate play between the two of you, which again makes me wonder about your development.

We got you Lego Duplo blocks finally... and finally, you're building your own stuff which you never did with your micro brick sets.

It's cute when you insist on having 3 cookies, 3 pieces of chocolate, etc because you 'are 3 years old' :)

And it's cute that you're sort of anticipating your birthday party, insist on having a Superman cake, and being a superhero on that day.

You are addicted to Angry Birds and have fashioned play dough as angry birds. You can see a sling/catapult in any mundane thing :)

You still tend to be contrary. You still cannot manage your anger. You still hit me when you're upset. But you're also easily pleased... and always active, dynamic, ready to go.

You kept asking us about going to Disneyland in the weeks before we did (Is this Disneyland? Are we going to Disneyland after this?)... and now you keep saying "Disneyland is in Hong Hong" (hehe) and keep singing "Hakuna Putata" :)

I love you. I know I am hard on you, but oh, how I love you. And I just hope you know that you are soooo blessed.

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Miscellaneous FB updates:

Spent the day with Yakee and realized she missed such time with him. And Yakee obviously missed just having me all to himself... rushed home to a sorta starving Yamee, feeling a little guilty that he may be starving, but he was more interested in the ice cream I was eating. Life's like that.

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Pappie Jojo Arevalo is sad because Yakee has been diagnosed to have exercise-induced asthma (one that doesn't require meds, thank God). We're really just praying he won't get/have other trademark Arevalo legacies, like kidney probs. I am invoking breastfeeding magic!

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Laya Isabelle Garcellano Florendo and I are actually raising them with the hope that they will be the best of friends... and hubs even said that he thinks people will perceive them as twins... but I cannot resist this :D Anong panama ng Nestle commercial if they end up with each other?!

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cleaning out Yakee's old pen and tunnel gym set... bittersweet and kinda inviting rhinitis :D
(kaloka nga kasi now I need age-appropriate toys for Yamee but don't have lots :D I have given a lot away and those that remain, kinda not sure if Yakee will part with)

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Yakee was looking at me and said..."Mommy, you look like a spider... ay no, a mascot!" :D (after MY allergy attack)
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The other day I was aghast to see Yakee hitting Yamee on the chest. When I asked him why he's angry, he said, "Yamee kicked me on the face." *oh gosh, start of my referee-ing days*

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During a mass at the wake we went to
Yakee: Mommy, what is a rose from the dead?
(imagine the conversation sis, when he was asking me why the rose is not a flower :D)

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yakee singing
There was a boy with a lonely goatherd
yey-odl-ey-odl-ey-hee-hoo
There was a duck with a lonely goatherd
yey-odl-ey-odl-ey-hee-hoo
...There was a king on a castle moat heard
yey-odl-ey-odl-ey-hee-hoo
There was a man with foam afloat heard
yey-odl-ey-odl-ey-hee-hoo

haha... inferno, tama yung ibang words :D
*~*

Yakee: Mommy, can we please have a baby kitten please? I want to take care of a baby kitten.

First time he asked for a pet. Yikes. (and syempre I told him "when you're bigger, we'll get you one")

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Yakee: Mommy, when Yamee grows bigger, when he's a little kid, he can play with me... and we can fight over rice.
Me: Fight over rice? Why, don't you think there'd be enough for the two of you?
Yakee: Yes. There won't be plenty eh.

Patay tayo dyan Jojo Arevalo :D

*~*

Duday (pointing to a picture of a doorknob): Yakee, what is this?
Yakee: That is the door's friend.

Honga naman :)

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Pappie: Who is part of your family?
Yakee: Mommy, Pappie, Super Yakee and Yamee.

Yes, kelangan may SUPER sya :)

*~*

while chugging water from a bottle
Yakee: Mommy, this is waterbeer.

Sana man lang anak, butterbeer! Natuwa sana ako... now, scared lang ako, haha.

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after seeing rabbits being sold along Taft

Yakee: Mommy, you know, I am the biggest now. I can take good care of my own pets.

wish mo lang anak... hehe

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Yakee: Mommy, do I look like Hairy Potter?
Me: Mahal, Harry. Harry. Not Hairy.

Over 2 years nang hairy si Potter :D

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Yakee: Mommy, what's that?
Me: It's lipstick.
Yakee: What is it for?
Me: It colors mommy's lips.
Yakee: I want.
...Me: Sorry darling, only girls wear lipstick. This is just for big girls like Mommy.
Yakee: No! I want. because Iya puts on me eh.

Soraya Arevalo-Santos, your daughter has to answer to Jojo Arevalo :D

*~*

while watching Man vs Food
Yakee: Mommy, when I am bigger... I will eat that (referring to stupid wings, really super spicy buffalo wings). And drink beer. And iced tea.

anak... what is it about beer?!

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is really thankful that Yakee only has classes Wed-Fri... gives us time to recover from weekends of partying, sugar high and too much stimulation.

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Yakee: Mommy, look at my underpants!

I looked... and there was a red ribbon tied around his waist. Libet Lucero-Espaldon, I suddenly remembered your friend's story... but it's way too early for my son to gift himself to someone :D

*~*

yakee put the ribbon on, pirate daw sya. i don't know how... haha. then yamee wanted the ribbon too.

lagot tayo kay pappie.. but at least, if we have a girl, hindi naman pala masagwa :D



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Adarna House, Yakee is calling me "Chenelyn" and I don't know if it's because he thinks I make magic or that I look exhausted.... or he thinks he can boss me around. I hope to God it's not because he thinks we can be mermaids together.

*~*

while kissing Yamee's feet
Yakee: "Mmmm, the best brother in the world Mommy"

super tender moment sana if he didn't also just wake the best brother :D

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Yakee: Mommy, i'm a puppy in a cage.
Me: Aww... poor puppy!
Yakee: No, i'm not a poor puppy. I can play in the cage.

Glass half full :)

*~*

Pappie: Kuya, Yamee has a fever. I think he caught a virus.
Yakee: But how did he catch a virus?
(Pappie turns to me)
Me: Yamee is sick.
Yakee: Ahhh!

*~*

Super stressed. Cramming to get everything ready for Yakee's school. Pumping for Yamee. Yakee's recurring hives over I don't know what. Yamee suddenly always antsy and needy. And I don't know when or how I can get my gown in time for Saturday! But thank God my problems are just these little things...

*~*

just before Pappie got his flu shot
Yakee: Pappie, be brave ha?

:) he said the same to Yamee but Yamee cried pa din eh... haha

*~*

Yakee looking at my stomach.
"Mommy, you are pregnant? You're having a boy again?"

tsk. time to quit with the cookies.

*~*

To occupy a child for an hour, give him a malong, a box and some newspaper. Expect, however, that the newspaper will get ripped and scattered... and that he'll end up sweaty inside the malong... and that he'd be playing on the floor a lot. Pray, also, that he doesn't insist you go 'camping' with him. Otherwise, you'll be required to 'dance around the egg' until 'he hatches' for... an hour :D

*~*

Iya: Tita Mec, what are you doing?
Me: I am expressing milk.
Iya: Why?
Me: I will put in in Yamee's cereals to make it soft.
Yakee: And chewy?

uhm anak... hindi ito cookie, hindi rin mentos :p


*~*

Yakee singing
"Ti - a drink with garlic bread...."

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Yakee's first day in school was perfect, with him pretending to be riding the long neck of a brachiasaurus with his 'classmates' here (the other group of kids are perched on a T-Rex). Unfortunately, it's his only day in school so far since one form or another of allergies have hounded him for around ten days now. Hopefully, he can really go to school tom.



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Was expecting it to be sunny today because school was cancelled as early as last night... hehe. It's usually the case eh, and I spent part of the night thinking of ways to explain to Yakee why there's no school again for him.

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I hid behind the door and spooked Yakee.
Yakee: "Mommy, you scared Superman."

good thing I didn't get punched, then

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Ninang: Is that sexy for you?
Yakee: No. That's not Mommy eh.

naks... parang naturuan ni Pappie Jojo :) labeeettt

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Yakee: Mommy, you are fat. Pappie is big.
Mommy: Remember what Mommy told you, only wallets and books can be fat. Is Mommy a wallet?
Yakee: No, you're a T-Rex, like me.
Mommy: What else can be fat?
Yakee: Worms!

Jennifer Trajano, haha, just when you were having the same issues! But at least Yakee stopped calling his father, fat! Rome wasn't built in a day, sabi nga, haha :D


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Pappie bought Yakee a Philippine flag. After explaining to him what we can of Philippine Independence, we made him go out to shout "freedom" while waving the flag at MIL's street.



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One of Yakee's concocted words ALWAYS makes me cringe and nauseous... it's boogerworm. Ewww to the nth level talaga, anak.

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I don't have a pic in any cam... but hubs and Yakee does :D And John took it right before Yakee barfed all over his Dad. Yes, Pappie is in charge of barf... I am in charge of poop. Ganun ang division of labor :D And God bless all these babywearers...

My poor Yakee before he barfed galore... which landed us in the ER after the Babywearing meet. He's better now, hives are back nga lang. Hayst. Psychological bid for attention ba to, anak? :p

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Yakee: Mommy, I want Baby Beatles. I want the one, Stawberry Cake Forever...

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Feeling a little bad typing up Yakee's allergy history. It's been a rough 3 weeks.


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Me: Darling, I noticed aprons hanging outside your school. Did you paint again?
Yakee: No.
Me: Oh, okay. I thought you painted again today.
Yakee: No... we washed those aprons eh. We did not paint. We washed.
Me: Oh... I see. Teacher taught you how to wash the aprons?
Yakee: Yes!
Pappie (to me): Sabi ko sayo mahal, child labor lang gagawin nila sa school eh.

*~*

Ninang: Why are you painting your hand?
Yakee: Because it has to be colorful. So I can see it properly.

*~*

while walking to Power Plat Mall
Yakee: Wait Mommy, I will pick a flower....
Me: Oh no, baby, please don't...
Yakee: ... and I will give it to you. This is for you Mommy.

arrgh... torn between LNT and son's thoughtfulness :D

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Yakee: "Pappie, I will chop you into five pieces." (then our son proceeds to make cutting motion on his father's neck)
Pappie Jojo : "Crazy ka Yakee. Mahal, narinig mo sinabi ng anak mo? He's going to chop me into five pieces daw!"
Me: "Ahhh, he learned that in school."

*~*

Stressed that Yakee is suddenly a sickly child. Arghhh... no school again due to fever. Bigyan ko kaya ng BM? :D

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We're really thankful we can give Yakee this... I just hope his immune system cooperates so he doesn't miss so much time in the sun.


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Yakee: Mommy, I don't want to ride the jeepney eh. I want a cab.
Me: Why?
Yakee: Because... because... it's so panget.

Uh-oh :D

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Me: Iakob, did you know that it was raining so hard earlier?
Yakee: Did you have trouble?
Me: Trouble? Trouble going here?
Yakee: Yes?
Me: Not really. The rain stopped just before I got off to fetch you.
...Yakee: Were you worried?
Me: Well, yes, I was. I was worried we had to wade in flood.

It's amazing when you see them trying to sympathize and use adult words, no?
*~*

Yakee and the Story of the Thirsty Sparrow
(talking about the story of the thirsty sparrow)

Me: Once upon a time...
Yakee: ... there were five birds who wanted to drink.
Me: They were thirsty?
Yakee: Yes!
Me: Ok, so there were five very thirsty birds. What happens next?
Yakee: They find a glass of water and they drink.
Me: Who drank first?
Yakee: The crane drank first. His name is crane because his head goes like this (makes crane/backhoe motions with his hand)
Me: haha... Okay, then what happened?
Yakee: The water in the glass went like this (shows receding motion)
Me: Ahh, the water in the glass receded. Then, what happened?
Yakee: Hawk came next. He drank water too.
Me: Wow, and hawk is what kind of bird? (hoping for adjectives like big)
Yakee: Hawk? Uhmm... Incredible hawk!
(laughter from me)
Yakee: But he is incredible, you know, scary? And angry?

(he did finish telling me the story... but I was still laughing till the very end)

*~*

"Mommy, will you be dead on Wednesday?"
Such was how Yakee started our first conversation on death.


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(while crossing the road)
Yakee: Mommy, if the car hits you, then nobody will help me cross the street. Then, I will be lost. (aside from my son seemingly intent on getting me killed, such at least allows us to talk about morbid scenarios)

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Yakee: Mommy, you know, we have a new classroom.
Me: Yes... do you think it's smaller or bigger than your old one?
Yakee: No, it's just medium.

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Yakee: Mommy, when you're troubled, I will save you. I will save you and... punch someone!

What 'sweet violence' no?

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Yakee: Mmmm, Mommy, the radish is so good.
Me: I'm glad you like it baby. You want more?
Yakee: Yes... but Mommy, what kind of dish is in radish?
Me: Uhmm... Mahal, i'd look it up to check why they named radish like that ok?

*~*

DevPed: Which one runs faster, the big boy or the little boy?
Yakee: The little boy. (said with certainty)
DevPed: The little boy?
Yakee: Yes, because he's Dash. And he runs the fastest.

Haay... i really regret The Incredibles na, Pappie Jojo

*~*

(Pappie Jojo was helping Yakee pee when their 'neighbor' in the next cubicle gave a loud fart)
Yakee: Ooh... Pappie. It's a frog! Is that you?
Pappie: No! That wasn't me!

haha... defensive much?

*~*

We kept Yakee from school today, because we were expecting a lot of rain and I might have trouble fetching him.... plus, Yamee fussed all night, all of us were just dead tired.

*~*

May binata na ako... hikbi...



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Mommies... I had a sudden slight worry. It's common for kids to show up with bruises and scars without them knowing and/or caring how they got it right?

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Yamee on a walker means a lot of things crashing on the floor... and a very stressed Yakee over his toys.

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I am windang about the boys' party theme... do I insist on the theme I want (which I feel reflects our family values and direction) or cater to Yakee's whim (right now, superhero, when we don't even let him watch cartoons/TV/supehero movies nor buy him any character-ed stuff). Hay.


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Yakee telling me about the moms doing the bellydancing ek on stage yesterday
"Mommy, you know, the moms, they were dancing and their boobs were moving. It's so crazy."

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Angry Birds na passport holders? haha... my son will be thrilled to no end... which may result in lost passports :D

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(with a beatuifully shy smile on his face)
Yakee: Mommy, I have a beautiful friend in school. His name is Louise.

(oh no!!! first time he used the 'beautiful' description on his own... and he's really referring to a pretty girl, he just doesn't use a lot of she-her pa)
Aug 19

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(while playing with play dough)
Yakee: Let's make a pizza mommy.
Me: Okay... I will make the grated cheese.
(after a while)
Yakee: Mommy, where's the macaroni?
...Me: Macaroni? I thought we're making pizza?
Yakee: Yes. I need to put macaroni on top eh!
Me: But baby, macaroni is pasta. We don't put macaroni on top of a pizza. Why don't you make ham instead?
Yakee: Oh, I was wrong Mommy. Not macaroni. I remember now... papa-roni! Where's the paparoni?

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Stressed... but more worried why Iakob is so sickly lately.

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While watching the Philharmagic show, I looked over to see if Yakee was enjoying it and I saw him and his cousin Iya, arms outstretched, trying to touch the I-forgot-what... "and in the middle of the colored cartoon, I started to cry" :) Childhood innocence is sooo fleeting and sooo bittersweet

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Dates and tickets... Yakee and I are so lucky... thank you Pappie Jojo.