Tag Archives: baby diaries

baby diaries: socks in the laundry basket

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Around early autumn last year, I’ve been encouraging Yui to take off her socks by herself when we arrive at daycare and at home. By winter, it has already become a habit; she takes off her socks without much effort anymore and then hands it to me.

The other day, I thought of bringing it to a higher level and so asked her to bring her socks to her laundry basket by herself. Two nights she obediently followed Mom. This evening, after taking off her jacket, I went to the kitchen to prepare the rice cooker (which by the way has another Yui story since it’s her “work” to push the buttons of the rice cooker).

Much later in the evening when Yui was already asleep, I was putting Yui’s laundry on the washing machine when I saw the socks she wore today. Apparently, without me noticing, she took off her socks as usual and responsibly put them in her laundry basket in the very short time that I prepared the rice.

Anak, you never fail to amaze Dad and Mom by the day. Grow well, anak.

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baby diaries: I’m sorry

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Mommy has been drafting two blog posts – your inclination on figure skating and our favourite Japanese books – for two weeks now but Mommy hasn’t gotten around yet to finishing them. But this one Mommy has to write.

You didn’t have your usual baby car sleep at dusk yesterday (because we didn’t go to daycare and we didn’t have family outing) hence you slept early at 9. Mommy did some chores and after an hour, decided to cut your nails which were really quite long already. On to the second finger however, you woke up and had fun having your nails clipped, raising your legs when each foot has to have their turn. End result, you were already quite fully awake.

Mommy tried to hum you back to sleep but it didn’t work. Daddy turned in for the night and so Mommy was able to resume house chores since Daddy was already in the bedroom. But every time Mommy peeped to check on you, you’d be flashing Mommy a big smile, fully awake. You were on Mommy’s side of the bed playing, not on your crib.

When after a long while (almost 1 am! you were trying to go back to sleep for three hours already!) Mommy finally turned in for the night, Mommy asked you to share her pillow, as Mommy could see how hard you’re trying to go back to sleep. On the pillow, Mommy said, “I’m sorry, I woke you up”. What did you do, anak?

You raised your hand and softly patted Mommy’s cheek whilst flashing a big, happy smile and proceeded to kissing Mommy three times on the lips, smiled again, before turning on your other side to sleep.

In your sweet sweet way, you have shown that you’ve forgiven Mommy and shown how much you love Mommy. Thank you anak. And I thank God for giving us a daughter like you.

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Life lessons with Itsy Bitsy Spider

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Like most babies/toddlers/kids, Yui likes Itsy, Bitsy Spider. Whenever she hears me or Scout (her programmed doggy stuffy) sing it, a smile lights up her face and she would sway from side to side.

And so I sing.

Itsy, Bitsy spider climbed up the water spout. Down came the rain and washed the spider out. Out came the sun, and dried up all the rain. So Itsy, Bitsy spider climbed up the spout again.

And then I froze. What a cruel song! How could people teach their kids that song?! With the rain washing out the spider (so mean!) and the Itsy, Bitsy spider climbing again (so masochistic!).

And then I froze again or better, unfroze. And smiled as it hit me that I had it wrong. And right then, I felt thankful to whoever did create this nursery rhyme. You were simply marvellous.

Yui, you may one day see one tall, giant “spout” and be curious enough to go explore it. By deciding to explore it, your Dad and I are already very happy that you didn’t think yourself too itsy, bitsy to be able climb up. You can conquer it! But remember dearie, something may happen to keep you away, to wash you away from your interests, from what you worked hard to climb for. It’s part of life’s cycle. Enjoy the lessons it brings and enjoy the ride. Pretty soon you can have a fresh start to pursue your spout again, this time stronger, cleaner, more determined. Climb up Yui

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photo courtesy of PM Garcia

baby diaries: hai

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Your Dad and I have been wondering for some time, baby, on what would be your first word apart from Addy/Daad/Dy and Mom-ma. Would it be Japanese, English, or to stretch things out, Filipino or Visaya? For simple instructions so far, you can already understand either Japanese or English as you are equally exposed to both languages.

The first time we heard your Addy (around the time you were eight months old), it was just so cute! Yes, you said Addy/Daad/Dy first before saying Mom-ma. And oh how proud and happy your Dad was. But when you finally said Mom-ma at 13 months, your Mom-ma almost couldn’t contain the joy and pleasure it brings. Thank you.

Then henceforth we waited further on the other first word – Japanese? English? The wait didn’t take long. And it was to your Dad that you first said it. Earlier this week, your Dad was teaching you yet again about giving and taking. And in one of those sessions, right after Dad said “choudai Yui”, you said “ha~~i” while giving the toy to Daddy. Then you said it again yesterday.

So there we have it. It’s Japanese then. 🙂 🙂

sleep crawling

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Recently, with three new teeth making their way out Yui’s gums, Yui has been restless in her sleep. There were nights that I could only appease her if I lay her down really close to me, using my forearm and shoulder as her pillow and after which I’d ease her out my arm and we’d share my pillow. She got used to this that there were times she would just suddenly get up from her crib (attached right next to my side of the bed) and slide down my bed to snuggle against me. And this she does without even a teeny weeny cry. Baby version of sleep walking – sleep crawling.

This evening, after giving her her bottle of milk (up to now, I still give her her milk by holding her against me as I did ever since she was a newborn. Since I started giving her solids for breakfast, she can only drink her milk from the bottle twice a day – once at daycare at the other before bedtime. So these evening snuggles I really treasure) and putting her to sleep in her crib, I resumed with my housework. After I was done with chores and with preparing myself to bed, I went to bed – and stopped in my tracks when I found Yui’s crib empty. I felt like my heart stopped beating and jumped out my body leaving my body numb and cold. “WHERE’S MY BABY??!!!” was the sudden cry inside me, slowly mounting in volume, almost about to burst out my mouth. And then I saw her in the dim light, sprawled in the middle of my bed. She must have been looking for me.

All those fearful feelings just passed by in a split second yet it made me realise the extent of my reaction should it take me longer than a second to look for my missing child, God forbid.

I’m starting to get worried she’ll develop this sleep walking habit, a habit that started because she just wanted to be beside me, a habit that’s totally scary considering the possible consequences especially when she’ll already have her own room, a habit that that has got to stop. I’m dearly hoping this would only be when she’s teething. Please?

baby diaries: our sweet

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It’s been a while since Mom had one of these diaries, baby. We’ve both just recently recovered from fever/cough/colds (and Dad too!) albeit Mom still has “residual” cough. Mom can only hope you won’t catch this cough again otherwise we’ll be on a cycle again – you’ll catch the virus then Mom (and Dad) will catch it, und so weiter.

You’re growing up really expressive anak and even your senseis are commenting so. You have that happy pride look whenever you achieved a new feat (and you’ve been having some almost everyday, recently!) and even led your baby classmates on eating well – one which your sensei wrote (in renraku note) as something you took a pride on. I can just imagine the look you had then. 🙂

You also tilt your head whenever we say ohayou gozaimasu/konnichiwa/konbanwa/hi/hello similar to the one below, whilst showing a big (and now, toothy) smile.

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You’ve also been very hyper recently, so much so that it’s been a bit difficult to calm you down at bedtime, even after having a bath. One way to calm you down was to have you sleep on Mommy’s arm.

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Whenever Mom picks you up at daycare, the moment you see Mom, you immediately put on the floor whatever toy you’re holding and spread your arms. This afternoon however, right after hastily dropping your toy, you had on a laugh and crawled towards Mommy really fast. It was more than enough to bring happy tears on Mommy’s face, Yui Moirraine. Thank you.

Yet even when I already have the jackpot with that alone, Mom still got some bonus. All your baby classmates and some of your older schoolmates also come to Mommy to either give/take a hug to/from Mommy. Thankfully, you’re not the jealous type, you just let the other kids crowd around Mommy, sometimes even smiling at them.

Grow well baby, we love you so.