Hammie Chronicles 003 – 11.05.12

Hammie Helping Around The House

Since Hammie is turning four this year, we decided to enroll him in pre-school.  The students are mixed from nursery to kinder two and they were 17 more or less in the room.  Since it was following a true blue Montessori system, the students are honed in all aspects including chores.  They are taught basic household chores like cleaning the table, washing their own plates and the like.  I also expose my kids in household work like cleaning up after playing, laundry, throwing their garbage in the trash, putting their used clothes in the laundry bin and many more.

Hammie loves to help around the house in just about anything and lately he suddenly volunteered to wash the dishes.  My husband and I exchanged a look, amazed and a little hesitant but then we let him go ahead with it.  I mean he was the one asking to do it so might as well teach him.  And now for almost a week already, he usually washes the dishes after lunch and dinner.  Mind you, it is not just his plate, spoon and fork that he washes but also the ones used by his papa, Louie and me.  He does all the scrubbing and rinsing which makes the task last longer but I let him do it at his own pace.  I do remind him of not wasting water, checking if all are scrubbed and rinsed well.  And I notice that he really wants to learn since he says he wants to do it himself especially when I interrupt him.  OC me!

I just hope that he continues to be a helpful kid around the house.  From baking, cleaning, laundry and now washing dishes, I wonder what is next he would like to learn.  Such a grateful mom I really am with my two sons.

Louie Chronicles 002 – Beginning His Chatter 09.12.12

I was a bit concerned about Louie’s progress in talking because before he turned two years old, there were only very few words he can say.  To name a few, these are mama, papa, yaya, banana, ball and Crong (from the Pororo cartoon show).  I can remember my mom said that kids start to talk more when they turn two years old.  You will be taken by surprise at how they are able to catch words and say them on their own.  But since Hammie was able to say more words before he turned two than Louie, I was kind of apprehensive.

Maybe I was just too worrisome because by the time Louie actually turned two, I was in for a treat.  A few days after he celebrated his second year, he was able to say ‘kuya’ on his own.  We taught him that for quiet some time already but he was able to repeat each syllable only after we say it to him.  And then a week after his birthday, he started counting and singing the alphabet.  What a progress!  Just last week I was able to hear him count up to twenty on his own while he was covering his eyes pretending to play hide and seek.  And boy is he a singer! He loves to sing the alphabet even though he cannot properly pronounce the letters yet.  Such a delight to hear him sing and see him clap and dance around.  So now I do not worry but look forward to more words and even sentences he can speak in the next days and weeks.

Here are some conversations with Louie:

Louie wakes up after lunch without seeing his papa:

Louie:  Mama, where’s papa? (sounded like, ‘ers, papa?’)

Mama:  Papa is at work.  You were sleeping when papa went home for lunch.

Louie:  Back soon? (sounded like ‘ack soon?’)

Mama:  Yes, papa will come back later after work.

Louie looking for his lolo and lola when we were in Manila

Louie: Where’s lolo and lola (sounded like ‘ers yoyo and yoya?)

Papa: They are at the house, you will see them later.

Louie: Drive lolo car? (raiv yoyo cah?)

Louie looking for his lola when we arrived in CDO

Louie looking at his lolo: Lolo, where’s lola? (yoyo, ers yoya?)

Lolo: Lola is at the house.

Louie playing and pretends to fall down or actually falls down

Louie looking at me or his papa: I’m okay mama/papa (um otey, mama/papa)

Mama/Papa: Okay Louie. Be careful next time.  Stand up nah.

(he will not stand up unless we ask him if he is okay.)

Hammie Chronicles 002 - 07.17.12

Hammie: Mama look!

I was tapping away on the laptop and looked over to where Hammie was doing a 96-piece puzzle given by his Ninang Erika.  He was starting to form Lightning McQueen’s eyes and the surrounding pieces. 

Me: Wow, kuya very good. 

Hammie: By myself.

After a few minutes he called me again to show me his progress.  Then after some time he completed it.

Hammie: Mama, see?

Me: Amazing Kuya! You are really good with puzzles.

Hammie: By myself, Mama!

Me: Yes, Kuya! Let mama take a picture of you!

I got the camera and took a shot of him holding the puzzle and also took a picture of the puzzle.  He looked at the shots smiling and said, ‘thank you, Mama!’ to which I replied, ‘you’re welcome, Kuya!’

He received it last Sunday and already today, Tuesday he was able to finish the puzzle on his own.  At four years old, I am truly amazed at his ability to finish such puzzles.  To think that the puzzle was dominated with the red color, I did not expect him to be able to figure it out by himself as early as this.  I wonder how to expand his analytical skills and not just concentrate on puzzles.  Any suggestions?

Louie Chronicles 001 - July 17, 2012

Louie is almost two years old.  At this time, he is able to say a few words such as papa, mama, yaya, namnam (food), didi (milk), piz (please), nana (banana), broom-broom (car), play, taptop (laptop), bam (angry birds), popo.  I think there are more but I can’t remember while writing this. 

Anyway, last week I remember one time that Louie was able to say a three-syllable word.  It was unusual as he can only go for two syllable words.  He is one boisterous kid that has no qualms of eating vegetables and fruits.  Though he does not eat all food like macaroni salad or cheese sandwiches, he does eat three times a day with whatever is served on the table.  In the afternoons, he snacks on bread, cookies, champorado or anything that is available for him to eat.

That afternoon while I was doing some writing, I guess he was hungry because he went to the kitchen and heard him shouting: ‘Ba-na-na! ba-na-na!’

His lolo was busy doing something and he told Louie’s yaya, ‘Louie is asking for banana, oh’

To which Louie was incessantly yelling, ‘Ba-na-na! Yaya, ba-na-na!’

He finally stopped when the fruit was given to him.  He was smiling that cute smile of his that makes you smile as well.  Oh kids, they are simply adorable.

Hammie Chronicles 001 - July 15, 2012

My husband and I just came home from a weekend trip in Manila with some of our old friends.  My hubby decided to take the kids to dinner and go to mass afterwards.  We usually go out as a family without bringing any nanny.  You can just imagine when we are eating out and the kids want to explore the restaurant.  But nowadays, we are able to let them stay on the table and eat while we also eat.  It is not easy I tell you but we are able to manage taking care of them while we also take our meal. 

So anyway, we were on our way after the dinner to St. Augustine Cathedral to attend mass but the mass was already over.  Hammie was saying, ‘Mama, no more mass’ and I was like ‘Yes, sorry Kuya, we missed it.’  So hubby just wanted to go inside the church and light up candles.  We did that and afterwards started walking back to the car.  We were parked near the flower shops and various flowers were on display.  I was holding Hammie’s hand following my hubby who was carrying Louie.  I was looking at the beautiful flowers and this was how my conversation with Hammie went:

Me pointed at the flowers: Kuya, look at the many flowers oh.

Hammie turned to look at the flowers too: Wow.

Me (subtly instilling in him that it is nice to give flowers): When you have money you will buy mama flowers ha?

Hammie (I was expecting a different response): Ok.

So the conversation was over and my husband was about to unlock the car.

Hammie then looked up at his papa: Papa, please buy flower and I will give mama.

My husband surprised said: Ok.

I was giggling and whispered to my husband: Langga, ayaw palit og arranged. Isa ra. (Baby, don’t buy the arrange ones.  Buy one only)  Wala baya nko na cya giingnan na ingnan ka ha.  Nag-ingon ra ko niya na siya magpalit para sa ako.  (I did not tell Hammie to tell you.  I only told him to buy me flowers when he is able to)

So we then approached one shop and let Hammie choose one red rose.  The man tending to the shop, cut the stem and gave the rose to my husband.  He then gave it to Hammie.

Hammie holding out the rose to me with a big smile: Mama, here.

Me, very much delighted with this gesture and taking the long stemmed rose, ‘Thank you Kuya.’ Turning to my husband, ‘Thank you, Papa.’ Then looking at Louie, ‘Thank you, Louie.’  To which Louie gave a very nice smile that I was interpreting he was also delighted with that moment.  I hope he will also realize that giving flowers is one way to melt a woman’s heart.  Mine, at least. 

My husband told me later that night that it made his day with what Hammie did.  He was able to communicate well what his intentions were.  It was not said in a way as if I was asking Hammie to tell his papa for the flowers but he was asking his papa to help him give me flowers.  So now I am looking forward to flowers not just from my husband but two other boys as well.

12 Lucky Dates

So today is 12.12.12, what will you do to make it memorable?

What about the last 11 years of once in a millenium dates from 1.1.1 to 11.11.11, what did you do?

For me, ever since I started thinking of the past 11 years, all I can remember are these dates:

7.7.7 - our wedding day
8.8.8 - didang and jen's wedding
11.11.11 - in singapore

I'm browsing through pictures of 2009 - 2010 to check if I did something different these dates.

As for now all I can remember is that in 2009, 9.8.9 was the wedding date of my sister-in-law, the first wedding that I actually helped organize.  So naturally the next day was 9.9.9.  Ow, that was then Hammie's first time to wake up in a hotel and a suite room at that.  Lucky kid.  Now, I can recall how he was sleeping like a king in the middle of the huge bed and woke up later than his usual time.  And he gets to enjoy a morning swim in the pool with his papa, mama and auntie.

Then for 2010, what comes to mind is the Cebu Pacific seat sale.  Duh.  Now, I'm wondering if I did book any low fare that day.  Well, whatever.

Anyhow, you do not need any special dates to celebrate life, any day can be made extraordinary when you want to.

So go ahead live life to the fullest and might as well make this day count!  After all you can only experience these dates once in a lifetime.  As for me, I'm posting this blog today.  Carpe diem! ;)