Tag Archives: mommyhood

conversations with Yui: candy

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I could probably count with one hand the times I allowed you to eat candy which probably makes you one of the least entitled kids in the world when it comes to candies. 

Yesterday you were watching this educational video about counting using candies. And hence during dinner, with a bubbly air, you raised the candy topic. 

Yui: Candies are so sweet! (Insert cute expression here). And they come in different flavours too. 

Me: U-huh. 

Yui: it would be good to eat them together  with Daddy (at this point your Dad looked at you to see where this is heading). 

Me: U-huh. 

Yui: (with a sweet expression on your face) Mommy can we buy, for me and Daddy. 

Me: Just as I thought! That’s the next line I was expecting. 

Yui: Sou da ne (You may be right).

To the tune of “No more monkey jumping on the bed”, I said

Me: No no candy for Yui-chan

Yui: those lyrics are not correct Mommy! It should be “No more monkey jumping on the bed!” desu yo?!

And so you didn’t have your candy. But I told you as well that I appreciated the fact that you tried to work your way, by reason, to what you wanted. I know and saw that you needed courage to say it so I appreciated that. 

Grow up well, honey. 

baby diaries: that one powerful word

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You probably caught a bug at day care yesterday in that when I picked you up, you again have a runny nose with some colour. Late evening, you were coughing. Past midnight, you vomitted twice; as is your usual style ever since you were a baby whenever you have a cough. 

And so for 45 minutes I changed our bedsheets and cleaned up our bedroom. Daddy gave you a change of clothes for you to wear (after I’ve washed you up), gave you a glass of water and snuggled with you while I cleaned up our side of the bed. 

To be honest anak, those 45 minutes were very tiring; you know me, you know how miticulous I am with cleaning. I was still meticulous, even at almost 1am. I was easy to drop with tiredness. 

But then you got up from Daddy’s hug, saw our side of the bed already clean and saw your baby bed with new sheets. Then in the sweetest voice,

Ah! Kereinatta! (It got clean!). Mommy, arigatou! (Thank you!)

Right there and then all the tiredness was drained out of my body. I never expected that that word that we always say could have such powerful effect in rejuvenating me. Totally forgot the tiredness, especially after Daddy said thanks too. 

Looking back, I’m not too sure anymore if I ever said thank you sweetly to Mama and Papa after they had a tiring time taking care of me. 

I am so blessed to have you as my daughter, Yui and I would always be thankful. 

baby diaries: the seemingly mundane things

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Funny how when you’re a parent, you could get emotional at the seemingly mundane things. 

When you see your baby toddler running ahead of you, a big smile on her face, urging you and Dad to walk faster when just a few months ago she would sulk and throw a tantrum because she wants to be carried rather than walk. 

When you see her gracefully getting off the bus whilst opening her umbrella without looking awkward. 

Our baby is growing up so fast. I have on a thankful and a prayerful heart; thankful for how you’re growing and prayerful that you will always enjoy God’s abundant blessings. 

  

baby diaries: one day 

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You were bobbing your head and a smile was on your face though your cheeks were full as you chew a spoonful of your meal. And in between swallowing your food, you were saying “Arigatou, Mommy!”. You were just so happy with the delicious meal that I had cooked for you. 

You still have cough despite finishing off your meds so we turned to natural remedies (albeit from now, seeing how effective it is, I’ll start off with the natural remedy first!). I gave you half a teaspoon of pure honey and then gave you a glass of water. You smacked your lips after licking your spoon and then drank thirstily. And then with a wide smile on your radiant face, you said in a booming voice, “Arigatou, Mommy!”.

We were at the daycare, that day was your daycare’s Christmas party. You just had your presentation; up next was the last presentation for the morning which will be by your teachers. All kids were done with the presentations and are with their parents. You chose the most crowded time to loudly say “Mommy, DAISUKI!!!”. Some parents looked at us, some looked at their kids. Well, you just made me the happiest Mother in that room. 

We were walking to the bus stop from daycare, on our way home. Then you asked me to stoop so you can whisper on my ear, “Mommy, daisuki!”.

All this and more Anak, I will treasure, through the years; I am truly grateful to you for giving us such joy. 

I remember a conversation with a woman at work. She asked me how old were you and learning you were in your toddler years, she said that you now are in your cutest. Once you get into your junior high school years, definitely not cute anymore, but a headache; referring to her daughter. 

I found it sad. And I found myself reflective. The day may come when you suddenly get embarrassed with expressing your feelings to me and your Dad. We can’t stop that. But I pray that you will always keep a grateful heart. 

We love you. 

 

life with a toddler: sporty yet stylishly feminine

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Yui was helping me hang the clean clothes in her locker when she spotted one summer dress and asked for it. I gave it to her and went about my other chores. A couple or so minutes later, she rushed back to me with a big smile and exclaimed, “Mommy, pretty dress!”. She managed to work out the buttons and put the dress on on top of her clothes and just kept the buttons unhooked as they were at the back (I couldn’t manage back buttons myself either). 

She then asked that we play catch ball. She was so passionate with it that I had to ask for time out a number of times to catch my breath. And during those times that I was holding my chest, catching my breath, she did pirouettes and laughed as her skirt twirled and swirled around her, saying “pretty dress, pretty dress”. She also skipped and hopped around in between pirouettes. So sporty yet so girlish and stylishly feminine and kikay. 

Seeing the happiness on her face and hearing her beautiful laughter, my heart too is suffused with joy and thankfulness to God for giving us this happiness in the form of Yui. And with the happiness is the conscious thought that she’ll be growing up so fast; in that before we know it, time may come that she’ll be one of those students wearing their school uniforms on a Sunday because of some school activity. The thought pinched Mom’s heart a bit. 

But really, it is a reminder yet again to treasure the now and maximize the time we have with the baby Yui. 

life with a toddler: conversation between oyabaka/overdoting parents

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Hubs: Have you seen Yui’s latest drawing that got posted at daycare wall? It already looks like an illustration; with composition; not like a toddler’s impromptu drawing anymore. There’s a pond, fish. And tree too. ….oyabaka desu ka ne……

Me: Er….. if you are pertaining to the drawing I saw yesterday, you certainly are oyabaka hehe. I’ll check later if we’re talking of the same drawing. 

~a couple of seconds~

Me: hmmm. I haven’t interpreted it as you do but I actually think Yui’s drawing is the best in her class. Haha, fine, I admit I’m oyabaka. Admit you’re oyabaka too. 

I checked at daycare. We were really talking of the same drawing. I have to have some crash course though in arts appreciation. 😀