'Reading' Now

It's your greatest accomplishment and milestone for the month of August: pretending to read by repeating to us the stories we read from your books. Your father is sort of trying to inspire me to finally teach you to read but I still haven't done it. I will do it after your 5th birthday... after St. Michael. After your brain has reorganized.

Plus, a part of me wants to honor this 'pretense' at reading and just let you be... to see which stories have really become  a part of you... to see how much you've committed to memory... and how long this will last.

You're back to not liking it going to school and I think it's because there is so few of you now in the half-day class. What propels you out of bed is the idea that getting through a day will get you closer and closer to Date Day and Watch Day (which is Friday).

You've been asking for a skateboard and I have mandated that you have to learn to ride a proper bike first. Pappie is doing his research on how to keep you safe on a skateboard, should that be something you really want to do in the future.

Oh... you also like pretending a lot that you're studying, writing/drawing continuous zigzags on a notebook you got from Oona. It's really quite cute.

And you were so happy gardening with Pappie... so, when the cat pooped on the planter, I just had to give you a new hope in new and more plants. Hopefully, your brother will stop picking them for us to harvest something.

I know it's unfair sometimes when I ask you to model good behavior for your brother... but I also appreciate all the effort I see in you when you try for patience and gentleness. Most of all, I like it that you are your brother's greatest defender.

I love you, Panganay. I really do. I thank God for you everyday and pray that we will always be close.

===============

Miscellaneous FB updates:

May plano kang layas... magkakasinat ang anak. So, hindi ka na aalis. Tapos yung anak mong may sakit, mas maingay pa sa kinakatay na baboy pag naglalaro.

Ganun talaga.

Kaso naman anak, sa lamay naman ako dapat pupunta.

Next time, ha?

*~*

(annoyed because Yakee kept slowing us down)

Me: Mahal, come on, hurry up please. Mommy has to be somewhere so we don't have much time for our date. Time is precious.
Yakee: No, YOU'RE precious. You are the precious one and you're MY precious.

Shucks... syempre, I extended the date... ako pala si ring that binds them all eh!

*~*
while sobbing)
Yakee: Mommy, when you leave me alone, it always breaks my heart.

(another one)
Me: Are you scared that I might die and not come back when I go away somewhere?
Yakee: Yes, because if you die... then I will keep on waiting and waiting for a long time.

My SIL's mother's passing recently got me thinking of morbid possibilities... and Yakee unfortunately picks up on them like an empath. He kept crying when I went to the wake a few days ago... and couldn't sleep tonight, upset, because I attended the burial earlier.

Hayst. (posted Aug. 19)

He calmed down lang (after a long dialogue and lots of hugs and tear-wiping) when I told him that God calls us all back to His side... and he decided that if he's back in heaven, he will play there.

*~*

Yakee 'read' to us last night by reciting stories from memory... he later told us he could READ because he immitated how I sounded (very Waldorf, right St Michael?). Pappie and I absolutely burst with pride and joy... and that bittersweet feeling when a child crosses yet another threshold. (posted Aug 23)

YES... all the bumps and falls and crashes didn't damage their brains!
(You read Curious George and the Dog Show... and Si Pagong at si Matsing that first night and we haven't really read to you 95% of the time since... I actually really miss it)

*~*
Playing with the birthday ring with mahjong-like movements... hmmm...

*~*

Yakee to Yamee: If you cannot sign or talk, I will not let you borrow my toys.

tsk. pressure!

================

You're not just sweet with Ninang Grace, lately, you have also been expressing sadness and longing for Ninang Gang.

Physical, Imaginative Boy

It was a horrible day again for us yesterday... I was a horrible Mom again, being sick and preoccupied and you having all this restless energy with no more swimming lessons to burn them in.

I am sorry.

There were days also recently wherein Ninang Gang allowed you to play outside but you'd get overzealous about running with the other neighborhood kids that you'd forget your boundaries and head where Ninang cannot see you... and both you and Ninang will come home upset... and you will vent your anger on me by hitting and biting me.

I 'punished' you by 'no reading' for 3 days... explaining to you that it really hurts me when you hit, and I want you to feel how it is when there is no caring. Because you really love reading. And I think, this last day without you, you sort of finally understood. Plus, Pappie talked to you and instructed you to go hit the punching bag all you want when you're angry... and then smile after. Haha.

I am sorry too, I know you loved having a companion in Ate Duday for two weeks... but she couldn't stay with us. I know, I see, how much you want a regular playmate now... and regular play.

You were great in your swimming lessons though... and have started with your summer parent-child class at St. Michael. I really hope we can come up with the funds to pay for your tuition there this June. Just a few thousand pesos short, my darling.

You're still a great brother although you really are getting more competitive for attention. Just last Black Saturday, you tried carrying the rocker with Yamee in it, I think, which resulted in the rocker tipping over with Yamee in it. Good thing he was strapped to it so I'm pretty sure he was just annoyed at the awkward position I found him in. Good thing too that you immediately called my attention to it.

Oh... you fell super in love with The Incredibles... but your imagination is getting the better of you. You're always pretending to be a superhero slaying a villain that you have started to hit for no reason, even strangers... which is why Mommy had to withdraw all TV/show privileges. Weirdly enough, you're surviving pretty well. You remember all the shows still but have accepted that you cannot watch any of your old shows... and actually seem to like watching all the cooking shows Mommy watches. Then again, they do sometimes eat bugs so you're intrigued.

It's hard to make you eat, sleep and you still refuse to poop in the potty. And you're such a fan of veggies and fish, I really ought to just give you a bowl of them instead of rice.

You can now pretty much hitch yourself up anywhere... I was telling your father that you're actually not just lean, you're leanly muscled. :)

And lately... you have been telling me, reminding me, asking me, insisting that you're my baby. It is so hard trying to help you understand that you always will be... Sometimes, I know I am being hard on you because I do not know any better, and I am mostly scared. Sometimes, I know I am being hard on you because you're the eldest and I want you to set a good example for your little brother. It's unfair, darling, I know... but I really hope I can make you see that there are perks to all these.

======================

Miscellaneous FB status about you:
Yakee: Mommy, I think it's like a fountain.
(referring to his peen when he pees)

*~*

Yakee puts a ball on Yamee's chest
"Look Mommy, he's a mermaid!"

Yakee tugs at my shirt.
"Mommy, I swallowed a ball. I'm a mermaid now."
...
(things he thinks up over Mutya, hehe... told him he's a merman 'coz he's a boy)

*~*


Yakee's fave scapegoat-y thing to say: "I think the fairy got it."

*~*

was scolding Yakee last night for not eating properly when Yakee suddenly stood up in front of her and started singing:

"sana'y pag-ibig na lang, ang isipin..."

ampf

*~*

"Mommy are you sad, or in love?" (Yakee)

*~*

It will be a series of classes for Yakee: swimming lessons from Bert Lozada Swim School (because we believe that knowing how to swim is empowering); play/life classes at St. Michael playhouse (parent-child program) and trial football classes with Futbol Unlimited.

I think i'm starting the school run early :D

*~*

Yakee: Mommy can I drawn with you?
Me: You mean, draw?
Yakee: No, drawn... you know, like swimming.
Me: Drown, you mean? You want to drown with me?
Yakee: Yes!!!

*~*

Me: Yakee, please tell Yamee (who is gnawing on her arm) that Mommy is not food.

Yakee: No, Mommy, it's ok. He's just practicing.

*~*

Yakee: Mommy, when Yamee grows up and is bigger, I will be happy. He can carry me! (super delighted face here)
Mommy: Uhm, mahal, even if Yamee grows bigger, you will still be bigger than him since you're older so you will carry him. Unless he grows as big as Pappie before you do.
Yakee: Yes, and when he's as big as Pappie, he will carry me! (sorry Yamee, intent si Kuya, you have your work cut out for you)

*~*

asked Yakee to thread the yarn through the basket... he wound it around the stairs, furniture and his body instead. I am counting up to 100 :D

*~*

Yakee has been telling Pappie that he's angry with me because I'm always taking care of Yamee. Don't know what to do with the information since I feel it's my duty to give as much caring to Yamee as I did with Yakee... plus, Yamee keeps on crying from being woken up or gigil by Kuya. *disaster*

*~*

has the happy problem of having a son who devours veggies, even bargains for more... but has to be prodded to eat his rice and meat. I won't bother with the rice if he wasn't so lean.

*~*

last attempt at a Milkaholic pic coz all their shirts are getting small for them na

*~*


Parenting confusion: Yakee throws bigger tantrums and tests his limits more after QT... how come? Shouldn't the quality, one-on-one time w/ a parent help mellow him out? Or pagod lang yung parent after the QT so the tantrums seem worse? *weird*

*~*

Yakee: Mommy, this is not for swimming ok? This is a forest for the eating. (referring to Kainan sa Dalampasigan)

*~*

Me: See, Mommy's removing the core so you can eat more of the apple.
Yakee: Wow, Mommy, thank you so much. You are so good, you're a super Mommy... and I am the superhero Yakee.

ehem... ehem :) *made my day*

*~*

Me: E is for Earth, it's the planet we live in.
Yakee: Planet? Like Pizza Planet?

(hindi naman halatang nagka-Toy Story phase kami?)

*~*

Oh gosh... sana lang 15 yrs from now, there won't be a pic like this... where Yakee's grinning as he puffs on a ciggy... and Yamee is trying to light up his *arrghhh*



*~*

Terrible moment this morning: while crossing the road with Yakee, we witnessed a teenage boy snatching someone's Blackberry (from a jeep passenger). Realized how sheltered my boy's life had been. Realized too that I cannot shield him from society's evils for much longer.

*~*

while crossing the road
Yakee: Mommy, who snatched the cellphone?

haysst....

*~*

was looking forward to adoration only a baby can give to its Mom... alas, though, Yakee is the apple of Yamee's eyes! Hirit naman ni Pappie, "so dapat talaga magka-girl tayo para may fan naman ako?"

*~*

believes Yakee experienced one of his most bittersweet days yesterday... watching his brother try solid food (and being so happy about it) and forcing attention from everybody by being unruly (out of jealousy)... the curse & privilege of being the eldest *haayst*

*~*


has to believe that she has what it takes to parent her cantankerous 5-mo old and spirited 3-yr old. *sigh*

*~*

not a flattering shot but this is what's keeping Yakee busy so far... and what's helping us with his energy levels. Don't know what we'll do once he's finished w/ the lessons, haha



*~*

Proud of Yakee for being so supportive and happy for his younger bro.

*~*

Wet spots on the bed? Yamee. Scattered toys on the floor? Yakee. But the time when i'd have to really guess who did what and both boys denying everything is coming oh so soon.

*~*

conversation between us
Yakee: Hello, butterfly.
Me: Uhm, hi bee.
Yakee (beaming): Butterfly, come, let's play.
Me: Uhm, wait little bee. I have to change this caterpillar's (Yamee) diaper.
...Yakee: Mommy, we are so cute.

hehe... so now, Yakee always calls me butterfly!

Sigh

Because Mommy lacked redirection strategies, and you can be real ornery sometimes, you attacked Mommy basically when Mommy put the chairs you were playing with on timeout, because you were not listening to what Mommy was saying.

You bit Mommy on the stomach. Hard. Enough to make Mommy really scream and cry for hours after. I have yet to take a picture of the bruise, and it goes without saying, Mommy felt abused.

I spanked you once and put you on timeout, then locked myself in our bedroom lest I upset you more, or get more hurt.

Gross Baby and Other Stories

Well, for what it's worth, you were really just being a baby.

You pooped and was curious enough to have to check it out by poking a finger or two in your diaper. Then you told me you pooped and showed me your soiled finger. Since Mommy was eating, Mommy asked you to wait so Mommy can finish... plus, both CRs in the two households were occupied. Of course, you were impatient. You decided to use your clean fingers to touch your soiled fingers. Curiousity, I guess... or just your penchant to be contrary after being told not to touch your soiled fingers with your clean ones. And because it's lately become a bad habit, you absent-mindedly put your cleaner finger in your mouth.

Needless to say, I went ballistic.

*~*

One of Ice's whistles has been gathering dust and germs outside for several days. My fault, I have been telling myself one of you might decide to pick it up and put it in your mouth. After Mass yesterday, that's exactly what you did. After ignoring that whistle for several days, you just decided it would be nice to blow on it again.

I went ballistic again!

I told your father later that if you got sick, it's all your fault really because you were gross.

*~*

Upon waking up and hearing me tell you that Lolo's back, you immediately asked for the lollipops Lola showed you on webcam.

Oh and I was so proud to see you kicking and moving that mat during your swimming lessons today.

*~*

I had to spank you earlier because you were being very aggressive and violent already with Ice. I know having Lolo around is stressing you even if you are happy to see him... but after your last attack on Ice, who was just following Lolo around, I just felt you needed to really be spanked on top of timeout and "no listening" from Mommy.

Indeed, after that outburst, you mellowed down and calmed down enough... only to scare us again as you pretended to be a vicious dinosaur. Pappie started re-thinking his "No to Care Bears" stance after that.

Sigh

You missed me sooo much yesterday that you were all over me last night. And you tried impressing Mommy by eating more even if you've already had a hearty dinner. And you kept jumping and climbing all over Mommy. When Mommy coughed, you thought to cough along.

Then you barfed. All over Mommy's head, left ear and neck.

Mommy had to crawl away, retching.

And today.... you threw a major tantrum during naptime.

*~*

You were playing with your play dough, patting textures on it using your other toys. Then suddenly you put it on top of your plastic chest and started trying to imprint your peen on it.

Breath of Fresh Air

Weirdly enough, after you turned two, you haven't been as annoying and terribly tantrumy.

You did fall out of the bed this morning. And you tried drinking milk through your nose.

Curious Yakee

Wednesday night, as I was preparing your bath and Pappie was packing, guess who peed on the floor... and in the course of me getting a rag to wipe it up, dipped his fingers in the pee and tasted it.

Guess, Baby, guess. Clue: that little boy has a bump between his eyebrows right now from falling face flat on the floor from running after balloons.

Updates

In a word, you are a HANDFUL.

But i'd also call you VERY INDEPENDENT, WILLFUL, STRONG-WILLED and CURIOUS.

Nobody can keep up with you. And you're lucky your aunts dote on you because you can sometimes be really mean with Iya, who is very patient with you. Well, we all know that you don't know better. And you do have your shining moments of real sweetness and cuteness that you are easily forgiven.

You like going up and down the stairs again, and find it utterly funny to be able to hold onto the handrail and not just the side ones.

You like getting water from the jug and getting us to drink it.

You like pouring liquids in cups. And you have a taste for Yakult again.

You are addicted to the Brainy Baby "Sounds" and "Music" videos. Or Curious George.

And last night, without any prompting at all, after seeing that Mommy brought ice cream, you giggled in glee and signed THANK YOU.

*~*

Mommy spanked you real hard today/yesterday because you tried climbing up the stove to see your eggs being cooked. You could have been scalded and burned and Mommy was absolutely terrified. I think you were surprised by being really spanked and hearing Mommy scream that way that you didn't cry much and absolutely kept quiet for several minutes. You also stayed where I put you.

And when Mommy was apologizing and explaining, you just kept kissing Mommy and saying "Okay".

And you were sweet and manageable all the rest of the day.

Difficult Day

Sigh.

You started the day by crying and throwing a tantrum as early as 7 AM, when we're still in bed and I was nursing you.

You refused everything I offered you, but later ate the porridge we bought. You only willingly ate because you were watching cartoons with Ice.

And then you nursed while I told you your birthing story... and fell asleep. But some sort of radar you had told you that Mommy's breast is no longer in your mouth so you woke up and got upset, even with Mommy beside you. After thirty minutes of throwing a tantrum, you did sleep on your own. For two hours.

After that, you were your usual happy self till you woke up after your late afternoon nap. Again, tantrums at not being able to play all you want with the faucet while Mommy was cooking. And just before your night bath, you were throwing cups and chair. You also bit Mommy's arm.

*~*

A milestone... you were able to open the latch in the screen door. Now we're really going to have a harder time containing you at home.

*~*

Pappie bought you a replacement guitar last night and you broke the strings today.

Wee Wee Trick

I let Yakee go without a diper last night for a while because he's going to take a bath soon anyway, for bedtime.

He spread his legs and I knew he was going to pee on the floor. He only peed a little, took two steps back, then peed again. And then he took two steps back and peed again!

And then he laughed, and as I was tugging him to me so he won't accidentally step on his pee, he ran away from me. And of course, he stepped on the first wee puddle and slipped.

Sigh.

I remember a friend's son finding it funny to pee on the stairs (from the top) so I guess, it's really going to be a while longer before I start potty training my wee one.

*~*

Nights are usually war time for us. I don't know it it's because he's turning two but really, he's trying my patience so much these days. No matter how sleepy he is, he refuses to sleep at night and insist on playing on the bed. So lately, he can be heard crying because I banish him from the bed till he really gets tired enough to sleep.

Battles and Struggles

Two nights in a row, I had to take you out of bed because you refused to sleep. The first night, you cried for an hour before you allowed yourself to relax and sleep.

And you refuse to let go of the breasts again and Mommy has PMS, so Mommy suffered your crying this morning. You got exhausted in the end and slept with Mom's caresses.

I'm sorry we're having difficult days my son. I love you.

*~*

You learned about GREEN and BLUE yesterday.

Yucky, Wacky

Sigh.

In Marinduque, I was chagrined many times because you insisted on munching on sand and crushed coral. You even attempted to eat the live snails you saw on the rocks at Melchor Island.

Plus, you also tried sipping the water and kissing that crab-snail thing they caught for you to play with.

And you insisted on scooping ocean water with your toy and drinking it. The following day, we saw a rat swimming in the same ocean. Then again, it's the same ocean where you probably peed in and the same one where you pooped.

And you also put pebbles in your mouth and attempted to chew on barks.

And yes, that's not counting all the water you end up drinking when we go swimming, whether in the ocean or at the hotsprings pool.

But today... you really scared and amazed me. You found mouse dropping and proceeded to savor it in your mouth. Worse, you only spit hot things or real food you don't like, but things like lint and crumbs and plastic chips and paper don't bother you. You just keep savoring it and rolling it in your tongue.

Thank God I got most of that mouse dropping, which was only about a grain of rice in size. But no amount of scooping and scrubbing your mouth with water and my finger could deny the fact that damage has been done. You have ingested something really, really atrocious. One that can make you really sick. One that can really be toxic.

And so I am fretting.

Meanwhile, you continue being happy as a lark.

*~*

I love the new words you learned in Marinduque though, saying 'nice', 'delicious' and 'pebbles' on your own.

Not That Independent After All

Mind you, darling, it is a great thing not to be... after all, you're just a year and a half old.

Thank you for looking for Mommy and coming back to Momsy's place. You could have wandered around the village and we could have lost you. You could have been bitten by a dog or kidnapped and sold to child syndicates. You could have been 'adopted' by someone else. The list goes on and on... but you went looking for Mommy. For home.

*~*

Pacquiao won his fight against Hatton today baby... and Pappie taught you to jump up and down, with your arms raised, after he says your name in that boxing commentator way.

*~*

You can't get enough of lizards. Sigh.

*~*

The most Lolo could say after we found you was, "You're such a naughty boy." See, he was exausted by your dancing and running and laughing all day... and you woke him several times by banging on the organ

A Hard Day

Yakee got so many souvenirs today of his uhm... spiritedness. First, he skinned his right knee at Plaza Dilao while trying to play with the big boys.

Then he was amusing himself by going around in circles and bumped his temple big time on the corner of a cabinet. The bruise is smack dab in the center of his head/hairline.

Then Mommy failed to catch him while he was trying to cling to the stair railings like a monkey, so he hit the floor with the back of his head.

Poor, poor baby.

*~*

We watched SO MUCH of Signing Time videos today. One time, he even got the plug of the player and tried figuring out where to plug it so the video will play. He accidentally knocked the two remotes, looked at me, and proceeded to put them back in place (and stacked too!)

*~*

I know his Crocs slippers are still slightly big for him but because of that fact, he's also able to put them on by himself.

*~*
His Ninangs gifted him with a light basketball and basket ring and he's having a blast making his father shoot baskets while he refuses to let go of his new orange ball.

Dexterity

Apart from answering phones by uncannily imitating his father's "Hello", my boy figured how to use one of the tools in his Shellcore toy set and managed to turn the wheel little by little (it's not the screwdriver that he used eh, the one you supposedly use on bolts?)

*!*

His Ninang Gang is still traumatized by yesterday's episode though. He was watching one of his educational videos, intent and absorbed. So his Ninang went up to get something in our room. Then she heard footsteps behind her and there was Yakee, who climbed the stairs after him. Alone.

He's been climbing stairs for months now, but always with someone watching and following him. Thank God for guardian angels!

Sudden Fever

After attending a birthday party yesterday, hubs and I took our son grocery shopping for a while. On the way home, he suddenly grew quiet... and then started running a fever.

His fever reached up to 40 last night, and broke at around 12. He didn't have fever anymore till past 8 this morning, then got one again at past 10. Ugh.

Good thing he's a trooper now in taking his meds... I just don't know though if he'd be as good with antibiotics, which he might require. Am worried the fever might be because of his new infected bites. Tsk.

Allergic Conjunctivitis

Sigh.

Yakee isn't really a sickly boy. But we seem to always find ourselves in the doctor's office over weird concerns. Like right now, his eyes.

Good luck with the rest of the days that he'd need oral and eye drops.

*~*

He really likes the Signing Time videos and we can easily amuse him with those, we just have to put up with interruptions wherein he'd come to us to demonstrate the sign. So cute!

*~*

He and Ice are always quarreling... I think he knows Ice is competition and is always at great pains to try and squeeze a jab or kick his way. Ice returns the unkindness by taking away toys from him, or biting him.

Cousinly love!

A Baby, not a Bully

Poor cousin Ice, he was slapped by Yakee in the face which got him crying yesterday. Yakee has yet to officially say sorry to his cousin though. Mommy already talked to him about his quick hands.

*~*

On a cute note, Yakee also dances to the pounding of a hammer. I dunno if he actually hears rhythm there or just any sound to him is dance material.

*~*

Mommy's getting fed up with the constant night feedings and cryings again.

A Little Sick, A Lot Playful

Yakee went with his Tita Ninangs yesterday to Rob, where he played so much and ate Jollibee Spaghetti. And then he suddenly felt bad and vomited all the spag out.

He still has the colds and he's still warm but he hasn't registered a fever yet really.

*~*

He knows the signs for hat and cereal already. And Ninang Grace taught him the "sit down, sit down, you're rocking the boat" thing. And last night, he played with a cotton ball and was soooo amused and involved with it, I was able to massage his father without interruption.

And he slept through the night, almost. Mommy was happy.

Why, Oh, Why?

Well, Mommy hates peppering her Mommy blog and the Family blog with Yakee's pics.

No, not really.

But Mommy needs a handy journal to document everything (read: from the mundane to the embarassing to the wonderful and magical) Yakee does... so when he grows up, he'd know the dates of when I accidentally hit his head on the wall, and what new antic he did and when.

Hopefully, his other siblings will have similar blogs... otherwise, this will be a source of sibling rivalry.

And may I update this dutifully.

*~*

About nine hours ago, Yakee had his second hair cut and we had his head shaved again. He behaved better this time.

He also got to eat his first official meal of fries because he was soooo quick to pick on his aunts' orders. I didn't want him eating those but it will be more wrong to stop him and yet let him see his aunts eating them. Sigh. End of fast food for him.

And oh, he knows Jollibee already (maybe from commercials since we don't eat there often). And he'd twist the knob on the oven toaster only to sway his hips in time with the ticking. I swear, he dances to any tune, music or noise!

He hated sitting on a revolving teacup though. Hehe.

And we bought new books (well, old ones from Booksale) for him because he's really responding to them now.