the dreadful basket

Dear Son,

The basket you see here has caused me tears today.

I bought it one day while we were in the mall because you loved playing with it, putting stuff inside it, feeling responsible for carrying something like grown ups do in a supermarket.

And this basket became one of your favorite toys in the house. You just love putting things inside it, carrying it around, unloading it, and putting your tiny fingers in its little holes.
Until this morning. This morning i will never forget. Your tiny fingers weren't that tiny anymore -- they got STUCK!!! Your forefinger and thumb got stuck in it and we couldn't remove them that easy. What frightened me more and caused me to cry was your very-painful-and-really-hurt-very-very-loud cry! Your lips were already trembling and your face was red. Why not? Your fingers were already purple!!!! And it began to swell!! My Goodness!I was ready to call an ambulance. But I thought. Something must be done now! I couldn't wait for another minute listening to your painful cry...

I thank the Holy Spirit for guiding me not to panic. I remember shouting "Lord! buligi kami ay ano himuon namun!!! (Lord please help us. Tell us what to do!!!) I right away remembered: soap and water! I saw that being done by some people when they couldn't remove a ring from their finger. Thanks to the dishwashing liquid and the pail of water that's already full. Thanks too for Tita Mae who shouted and cried with me. As I submerged your fingers -- I mean the basket with your fingers -- in the pail, I told you: "Baby relax lang ha.. relax lang" then I began to massage your fingers calmly -- praying all at the same time. Before we knew it, your fingers were FREE!!!

"Thank You Lord!". That's all I could say. And we both cried. Till you were calm.

Now baby, Im ordering you-- don't you dare touch that basket again. Is that clear?

traumatized-by-the-basket,
...Mommy

on escalators and trash

Hey Little Boy,

That's what you are now. No longer a baby but a small man! Im so proud seeing you step on and off the escalator with only your one hand holding on to me =) How fast you have grown Baby! ooops, I still love to call you 'baby'. And I guess that's forever.

Thank you baby for helping me pick up and put the pieces of trash in the plastic bag. I was so happy seeing you perform such responsible act even if I sure know you never understood what that meant. For you it was just play =) ... your 'proud' smile after I said 'very good' really made my day. I so wish I had a videocam with me when you did that earlier today. Never mind. It's forever recorded in my mind and heart.

Meanwhile, let's enjoy the moment that Lolo and Lola are here with us.
And let's count 60 more minutes before Dad arrives from China. We miss him so much, don't we?

a million hugs and kisses,
Mom

smile pa cute cute!

Baby this is what we often do while dad's driving:
smile pa cute!!!

again!

isa pa!

last na lang!

super last na lang!

hihihi!

Letter from Tita Yang

Hi Anak!

It's Saturday.. Dad was surprised to see you climb up your toy motor ( a gift from tita Mayoy) on your own haha. I missed telling him you've been doing it for quiet some time =)

Here's the email from Tita Yang:

My dearest Rujip,

I was very happy that you get to hang out with us in our crib:-) Tita Bing could tell ,you like me more than her hahahahaha. Because you liked it when i held you...You are a very good and smart little boy. Its okay that you ate my bananas.Its nice to share food with somebody, it would be very lonely to eat alone.

Your mother and your dada could have seen you after you puked because you looked like a drunkl lil boy. You were weak and you did not much have strenght to fight with tita bing coz you just too tired and slept. You actually held her hand.

Next to your dada, your the only boy who got in our room so consider yourself lucky hahahahahh. I never thought you love hip hop and RnB as well. You know how to groove those hips..

You ate my biscuits. hahahha cute....i took a pic of us when you were asleep. Bottom line, you made us happy. Way better than drinking at Paseo:-).

I loved it when you actually wanted to sit on my lap..............and eat the lakatan........atleast........ahm nag effort ka:-)

I love you Rujip.

We dropped you off to their boarding house when Dad and I went out date. Im sure you too had a great time with them =) would you like to go there often?

love,
Mommy

Mommy and Daddy's 4th Wedding Anniversary

Dear Baby,

Fourth wedding anniversary namon ni Daddy mo today!!! Let's thank the Lord for His blessings and grace that Dad and I made it through this year... Life was not perfect. There were hard times. A lot of happy times. Constantly, God's with us. We give HIM the glory of our celebration today.

Here are some tidbits of what's happening today ...

Dad gave me a dozen red roses and a love letter!

I made a scrapbook for him -- a photo summary of our 4 years together...


He liked it!
You? you are (as always) sleeping!When we're supposed to go now! tan awa ga nganga ka pa ho ... HAHAHA!
Seriously Anak, you gave us so much JOY. You are one of God's anniversary gifts to us. You are the highlight of our years. We have counted four years... and we will count some more.. with you. Our lalabs baby.

Love,
Mommy

P.S.
Thank you for kissing me many times the other night when i pretended to be sleeping. Dad saw it. Sweet sweet Baby! i Love you. amwah!

bad mood :(

Dear Baby,

Contrary to your super smile picture, Bad mood ta duha today. I woke up in the wrong side of the bed. Pano bi, wala ko katulog kaayo. You woke me up many times ... kay bad mood ka. It must be because of your 9th tooth that's coming out. Or it could be because of that irritated eyes due to baby powder... guessing game.. that's what we always do baby .. but don't worry. Mommy will try to be super patient with you ha. It's not everyday you are like that. Most of the days you are the most even-tempered baby. I just feel down that you aren't feeling good. Get well soon baby. I love you very much. Im sorry if I'm havin a bad mood too. Praying to God i'll be like you. Very buotan na baby na aslom laway hehe... mwah!!! smooch.. smooch!

love ta ka kaayo,
Mommy

P.S. Dad arrived last Friday from Thailand. He brought a Blue's Clues book for you. and a tiny mother's day gift for me (that i so love hehe) ... he didn't buy too many things there for he said, we should save for your future... see, you'll go to school in two years time... and the tuition fee ... OMG im talking too much na.. got to go na Baby. Will meet with some clients today... tc here in the house with Tita May. love you =)

Missing Dad

Dear Baby,

You've been super grouchy these past two days. I know why. You must be missing Daddy. He's in Thailand for a meeting with his counterparts but he will be back right away. So no more bad moods, ok? Smile na na ang bebetoy =)

Meanwhile, let's just continue practicing your newest (favorite) skills ...

reading...

and writing!

Love you Baby. Got to stop right here. I will be preparing for a choco-fountain booking today. That's one of your mom's business ventures ... for your future hehe.

I love you,
Mom