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.)