I was in the middle of writing some articles for a client when Hammie was getting some books from their cabinet. He was tossing them one by one on the foam and I was asking him what he will do with them. He said that he will read them so I just went on with my work. Then he sat on the foam and Louie followed.
Hammie then started reading his books.
Oh, he wasn’t reading them literally but he was reading them from memory. I can catch words I can understand though some words are made up meaning baby talk. Louie also picked a book and mimicked his kuya and read along also on baby language. Hammie read about seven books in his own words including the alphabet book where he recognized almost all the pictures.
As he was near me doing that, I have to stop writing and turned to listen to him read his books. I was simply fascinated at my son reading from memory and being creative about it. On the alphabet book, he would make sounds when the picture is of an animal. While reading a Thomas and friends book he would put in words like ‘run Percy run’ though it was not in the original story. I smiled and laughed at his creativity and he would also laugh along.
He would go through every page of each book making up a story depending on the pictures that he sees. Louie stopped reading and was now listening to his kuya going through the pages. I was just delighted that Hammie is getting into reading and I hope Louie would too as he has a shorter attention span than Hammie. I pray that his copying his kuya is not just a phase.
Every time Hammie finishes a book he would say ‘the end’ the way I say it when I finished reading a story to him and Louie. It was a sight to behold and I wanted to catch that on camera only to remember that the memory card was with my husband to get some pictures. Oh well, time to write it down so I can read this all over again and smile after reading.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
Louie See Louie Do
One of the reasons that I wanted (badly!) to work at home is I want to be there when my children grows. In their growing up years, there are many new things that they learn almost everyday. You can never predict what that new thing will be even if you teach them along the way. They usually learn on their own time and you are just surprised with their progress.
Like today, Louie usually tries to mimic what his Kuya Hammie does. It’s like a monkey copying someone on every move and facial expression. When Hammie is playing with some blocks building trains and arranging them, Louie also wants to get some blocks on his own. As Louie is one year old He does not know how to connect the blocks no matter how much he tries so he just removes one block after the other making his kuya cry.
This morning was a little different. Yes, he still dislodges every block that is made into something like his kuya’s airplane but he can connect one block to another. I was watching him pick up about 6 blocks (that he just dropped on the floor) and connect one by one on top of the other. I was thinking, Wow! Louie is learning fast.
Another thing that Louie is also doing after watching his kuya does many times is putting dirty clothes in their laundry basket. After removing his clothes he is asked to hold his clothes and place them in the basket. Smiling and naked, he would put the clothes in and we together with his kuya would cheer him on for doing good and he would walk on his way to the comfort room to take his morning or evening bath also clapping his hands.
Then there was a time that Louie wanted to be with us while eating a meal. Before eating, we would pray slowly so Hammie can make the sign of the cross correctly before and after the prayer. Louie would watch his kuya while making the sign of the cross and some time after we could see him doing the amen gesture by himself.
At one year old and one month Louie can now climb the stairs, climb chairs and get down by himself (of course somebody has to see him in everything he does), knows how to open a door wide enough for him to pass through (when he can see that it is ajar), walking a little fast almost like running, ask for water or food, clap his hands, touch his nose, smiles or make cute faces in front of the camera, kicks the ball, drinks his kuya’s milk from the bottle (as he is still breastfed), dances at the theme songs of cartoon shows, laughs when he sees someone who is also laughing and so on. There are many more things he already knows and continues on learning. It’s great to see him just enjoying his baby stage while learning.
It’s really amazing how a baby learns. Louie learns fast with following a model than by telling him what to do. So as a parent it is important to be consistent with what I do so I as to impart on the babies what is right. I know I am never perfect but I hope in my own way together with their father they can learn what is good and right and be the best they can be.
Like today, Louie usually tries to mimic what his Kuya Hammie does. It’s like a monkey copying someone on every move and facial expression. When Hammie is playing with some blocks building trains and arranging them, Louie also wants to get some blocks on his own. As Louie is one year old He does not know how to connect the blocks no matter how much he tries so he just removes one block after the other making his kuya cry.
This morning was a little different. Yes, he still dislodges every block that is made into something like his kuya’s airplane but he can connect one block to another. I was watching him pick up about 6 blocks (that he just dropped on the floor) and connect one by one on top of the other. I was thinking, Wow! Louie is learning fast.
Another thing that Louie is also doing after watching his kuya does many times is putting dirty clothes in their laundry basket. After removing his clothes he is asked to hold his clothes and place them in the basket. Smiling and naked, he would put the clothes in and we together with his kuya would cheer him on for doing good and he would walk on his way to the comfort room to take his morning or evening bath also clapping his hands.
Then there was a time that Louie wanted to be with us while eating a meal. Before eating, we would pray slowly so Hammie can make the sign of the cross correctly before and after the prayer. Louie would watch his kuya while making the sign of the cross and some time after we could see him doing the amen gesture by himself.
At one year old and one month Louie can now climb the stairs, climb chairs and get down by himself (of course somebody has to see him in everything he does), knows how to open a door wide enough for him to pass through (when he can see that it is ajar), walking a little fast almost like running, ask for water or food, clap his hands, touch his nose, smiles or make cute faces in front of the camera, kicks the ball, drinks his kuya’s milk from the bottle (as he is still breastfed), dances at the theme songs of cartoon shows, laughs when he sees someone who is also laughing and so on. There are many more things he already knows and continues on learning. It’s great to see him just enjoying his baby stage while learning.
It’s really amazing how a baby learns. Louie learns fast with following a model than by telling him what to do. So as a parent it is important to be consistent with what I do so I as to impart on the babies what is right. I know I am never perfect but I hope in my own way together with their father they can learn what is good and right and be the best they can be.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Hammie’s First Activity without Mama or Papa
Hammie at 3 years old is starting to do things independently. Oh, it was at the beginning of his second year that he wanted to learn things on his own but lately it has taken a new level. Like yesterday, it was the first time he went with his grandparents to an activity with the CFC-GK Mis Or Kids for Christ. Though he would be there for the whole morning about 3 hours only but it was something different from his usual tagging along with his grandparents. It was a great exposure for him as there will be many kids gathered in one place and a lot of activities to see.
Before, he would not go to these kinds of long activities if me or his papa will not accompany him. Even with a yaya, he would still insist that I go but this time it was different. He was confident enough to go on his own. So as a mom, I prepared his backpack for his essentials like extra change of clothes, extra milk and a biscuit in case he gets hungry. I also placed a face towel in one of his pockets reminding him to use it to wipe his sweat.
I can see that he was excited to go and he even obligingly carried his pack on his back. He asked if Louie was coming with him but I said that it was just him and he just nodded in agreement. When it was time to go he put on his hat and said his goodbyes to Louie and me without hesitation. His lola let him sat on the front seat while his lolo is driving. He waved to a grumbling Louie who wanted to go along and sent a flying kiss to us.
His papa arrived a while later after some morning activity at his office. I informed him that Hammie is with his grandparents going to a kids activity. We both agreed that it was good for Hammie so he can build his confidence around people other than his parents.
Hammie arrived around 12 noon and his father asked him how he was as I was still preparing lunch. He was saying that he wanted to play tennis. By the sound of his voice, he wanted to play tennis but maybe was not given the chance. He is the kind of kid that wanted to play sports of all kinds. He likes to play basketball, soccer, volleyball, badminton, tennis even golf.
I did not really know the details of what he did but I guess he enjoyed it. His lolo said that he ate some bihon and drank some juice (he was still holding the plastic bottle when he arrived home). He played soccer with some kids using a plastic bottle as a ball. Well, that was about it. But that day marked the first step to his becoming a more independent boy.
Hammie is starting to expand his community and as a mom it’s a bittersweet feeling. It’s good that my son is ready to explore the world on his own without his parents but also sad that he will not always rely on us for every move he makes. Maybe I am experiencing the pangs of separation anxiety, but whatever they call it I just see that my first baby is now becoming a boy. As he said he is a kuya and not anymore a baby.
Before, he would not go to these kinds of long activities if me or his papa will not accompany him. Even with a yaya, he would still insist that I go but this time it was different. He was confident enough to go on his own. So as a mom, I prepared his backpack for his essentials like extra change of clothes, extra milk and a biscuit in case he gets hungry. I also placed a face towel in one of his pockets reminding him to use it to wipe his sweat.
I can see that he was excited to go and he even obligingly carried his pack on his back. He asked if Louie was coming with him but I said that it was just him and he just nodded in agreement. When it was time to go he put on his hat and said his goodbyes to Louie and me without hesitation. His lola let him sat on the front seat while his lolo is driving. He waved to a grumbling Louie who wanted to go along and sent a flying kiss to us.
His papa arrived a while later after some morning activity at his office. I informed him that Hammie is with his grandparents going to a kids activity. We both agreed that it was good for Hammie so he can build his confidence around people other than his parents.
Hammie arrived around 12 noon and his father asked him how he was as I was still preparing lunch. He was saying that he wanted to play tennis. By the sound of his voice, he wanted to play tennis but maybe was not given the chance. He is the kind of kid that wanted to play sports of all kinds. He likes to play basketball, soccer, volleyball, badminton, tennis even golf.
I did not really know the details of what he did but I guess he enjoyed it. His lolo said that he ate some bihon and drank some juice (he was still holding the plastic bottle when he arrived home). He played soccer with some kids using a plastic bottle as a ball. Well, that was about it. But that day marked the first step to his becoming a more independent boy.
Hammie is starting to expand his community and as a mom it’s a bittersweet feeling. It’s good that my son is ready to explore the world on his own without his parents but also sad that he will not always rely on us for every move he makes. Maybe I am experiencing the pangs of separation anxiety, but whatever they call it I just see that my first baby is now becoming a boy. As he said he is a kuya and not anymore a baby.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Why I want to be at The MassKara Festival
Ever since I was a kid, I have been fascinated with the beauty the world offers. I am simply amazed at the wonderful places not just of other countries but most especially of my own country, the Philippines. It has become a passion of mine to travel to different places here in the Philippines and around the world. And one of my dreams is to visit those places and experience the locality particularly on their long celebrated festivals.
One of the most colorful and famous festivals in the country is The MassKara Festival in Bacolod which has been celebrated for 31 years. Bacolod, dubbed as the City of Smiles came up with this festival in order to give hope to the Negrenses in the 1980s when sugar was priced very low and a lot of Negrenses died when MV Don Juan sank that time. What better way to lift everyone up than by smiling amidst the challenges that a city faces. It is through this festival that the Negrenses move forward and overcome the difficulties life can throw at them. Together as a city, nothing can break their resolve because of their hope that in the end everything will turn out alright.
Because of the hope and smiles shared with each other, the MassKara Festival has become a main attraction of Bacolod City. It is one of the country’s festivals that many Filipinos want to go to not just to watch from the side of the street but also to get their share of happiness and contentment. As a Filipino I want to be infected with that hopeful and fighting spirit by joining the celebration. And as a Filipino with Ilonggo roots it is with pride to take part in the festivities of the MassKara Festival with my husband not just from afar but to be right there at the heart of the festival.
Experience MassKara Festival, Hermosa Festival and Lanzones Festival this October. Airphil Express flies daily to BACOLOD, ZAMBOANGA and CAGAYAN DE ORO from Cebu and Manila. Visit www.airphilexpress.com to book!
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