Don't Grow Up...Just Yet

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The Story About the Devil

There are some stories that need to be told and recorded for all time...and I figured, blogging about this one particular story is a sure-fire way to do both.

It's a story about Riley - my little hellion. 

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More Riley Moments

Me: Riley, hain ka?!?!

Riley: Yaon po ako digdi ki Lita (referring to her Lola Lita)

Riley singing: Ang lubot ni papa perpek. Ang lubot ni papa perpek.

Me: Ba, nadangug mong sabi??

Riley continued: Ang bulay na mabata! Ang bulay na mabata!

Me: Erbe!!!!! Sabi ko na kaya saimo dai ka magparasabing bulay!!!

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Blackout + Scourging Summer Heat

Summer of 2013.

Because we couldn't take the heat anymore after hours of being cooped up inside the house - bearing with the sweltering heat, the kids and I "chilled" on the rooftop. :)

 

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P & R

I think having Riley around is forcing Paige to grow up.

I don't want her to grow up EVER.

But it's inevitable... a foregone conclusion like the fact that someday I'll grow old and wrinkly, and I'd probably spend my time worrying about bunions, warts and arthritis.  But that's life. C'est la vie.

Paige is a funny little girl. She's always been funny, and I like to talk to her because she makes me laugh.  She says the darnedest things that drive me to laughing fits.  I must say I just don't love my kid, I like her too. She likes making faces and doing all these silly things.  But she always was a baby... Her father used to carry her around before Riley was born.  Lately though, I see her growing up right before my eyes. It's like her childhood is going by so fast, I can barely hang on to her.

She likes to sing Riley to sleep. It's actually sweet...bittersweet. I used to sing Moon River to her to get her to sleep, and now she likes to sing her sister to sleep. Seriously, she stays with Riley, rubbing her forehead and gently tapping her baby sister's behind, singing Moon River until Riley falls asleep.

Why am I not doing it?

Oh, it's another story. One that deserves its own blog entry but to keep it short - I'm number 4 in Riley's list. First there's her Papa, then her grandmother, and then there's her ate, and then there's me. I don't like it. I don't like it one bit because I don't understand it. In fact, I feel stupid sometimes because I do cry about this miserable hierarchy of affection. But that's that. I read that this will change eventually, but that's that...for now.

There are a lot of things I'm learning about myself. It's like a continuous process of self-discovery.  Lately, I realized I am actually developing patience. I have to; otherwise, I'd probably commit bloody murder. Just go on a rampage. I am constantly between bickering siblings.  I don't know how many times I've heard the words, "Mama, o!" and "Siya man kaya!"  Yes, Riley can say those words now. She also loves to stick her tongue out, narrow her eyes to small sharp slits and shout, "Ay, pondo!" This prompts another round of scratching, biting, kicking until one of them cries. It's a vicious cycle that I will probably have to deal with...forever! Jesus H. Christ.

But anyway, that's life...and guess what, I am enjoying it.  

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SM Time

because this is my blog�

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Say It Again and Again!

One thing I've learned about being a mother is that shouting doesn't work.  Often, Paige would cower, simper and cry when I fail to control my temper and end up shouting at her for something she did.  Over the years, I've learned other disciplinary tactics.

For instance, when Paige pretends she can't hear me, forcing me to shout her name over and over again before she'd respond, I would usually ask her to cover her ears.  She'd stay like that until I am well satisfied that she gets my point.  So, she'd walk around the house, with her hands covering her ears.  It usually lasts for several minutes.  Usually, however, I observe the "a minute for every year" rule.

Yesterday, Paige and I were talking and she kept inserting the word "udo" in her sentences.  It doesn't matter if she makes sense.  She'd just keep saying "udo".  So, I corrected her, asked her to stop using the word.  I thought she understood me until I asked her to ask their yaya to iron her uniform.  Off she went and then I heard her repeat my request to Bek.  I failed to hear the yaya's answer but I heard Paige said, "ay brownout? Akala ko kaya UDO."

Gahd.

So, I promptly called her and asked her to sit on the bed.  I told her to say the word "udo" over and over again until she's so tired of saying it, she wouldn't say it again. So, she started, "udo, udo, udo, udo, udo.."

In truth, it was amusing.  I had to turn my head, so she wouldn't see me smiling.  At that time, I was holding Riley who was asleep.  Eventually, Riley woke up.  And she saw Paige, sitting there muttering "udo, udo, udo, udo".

At this juncture, Paige's muttering has attained a certain rhythm.  I was still trying not to smile, but I was struggling.  Riley, however, didn't know her ate was being punished. She stood up and she started dancing to "udo, udo, udo"  Her head was bobbing, knees bending and hands clapping to the rhythm of "udo, udo, udo".

It was hilarious.  I burst out laughing and as you may well expect, Paige's punishment ended. Ah! the joys of motherhood! :)

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Online Storage :)

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Paige

One of Paige's drawings. I really should get her some oil paints and let her try out her skills at painting.
For the last hour, I've been trying to find tips on how to get Paige to stop drinking milk from a milk bottle. It's not that she can't drink it from a cup.  It's a comfort thing for her  She loves sucking on the milk bottle because it soothes her.  I don't know how to get her to stop especially now that she just gets her bottle when she wants to drink milk.  Or she grabs Riley's.

How can I get her to stop?!?!

I'm also trying to find a way to get Riley to stop sucking on the damn pacifier.  Sheesh!

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What Have I Been Up To? Let's See...Where Do I Start?

Mommy typically has problems with helpers. They just do not satisfy her. She'd initially be pleased with the efforts of a help, but fairly soon enough she'd find hundreds of reasons why she think she needs to let go of the help. To be truthful, sometimes, I think my mother needs a robot. So, sometimes, I worry about our present helper leaving us without notice.

Anyway, yesterday, our helper did not come to work. I was worried that she might be leaving us and I was wondering if she mentioned anything to Riley's yaya about her leaving.

So, I asked, "Beck, suya si Manay She ki Mommy?"


Beck, who did not understand my question, answered, "Iyo po."


I was taken aback. Oh, geeze, I thought. So, I continued, "Tano daa?"


Beck answered, "Dai daa po kaya nagtratrabaho."


Huh? That's weird, I thought. Does that mean she expects Mommy to work? So, I asked, "Anong dai nagtratrabaho?"


"Sige lang daa po kayang tukaw tukaw sa baba?" Beck answered quite matter-of-factly.


At this point, I was already irritated. How dare she, I thought. But driven by curiosity, I just had to ask, "nagtutukaw sa baba?"


"Iyo po daa, sige lang hugay."


Did I hear her right?


"Si Mama? Sigeng hugay?!?!"


Beck then looked at me, confused.


"Naghuhugay po si Mommy mo?"


"Sabi mo baga sigeng hugay si Mommy?"


"Ay dai man po baga? Si Manay Sheryl po baga naghuhugay ta makuto."


Okay, at this point, I was really, really confused.


"Bako po hinahapot mo sako kung anggot si Mommy mo ki Manay Sheryl?"


TOINKS!!!!


*sigh


Anyway, check this out -

This is the tree

that bore the fruit - 

that Erbe is munching on. :)

Nice, huh? |The children in our neighborhood though have started to "steal" the fruits, which pisses the hell out of Mommy.  You can hear her screaming at the top of her lungs in the morning for the past few weeks, "Hoy! Mga Lintek Kamo! Barababa kamo diyan! Paparaikit na naman nindo mga prutas ko, dai pa ngani ako kayan nakakakan!"  


Yep, she's Mrs. Fruit Scrooge. 


She reminds me of this old lady in Cabusao who used to run around with a bolo, threatening us when she sees us stealing fruits from her fruit trees - for the life of me, I don't know why her balimbing trees bore the sweetest, most delicious fruits in the whole barrio. 


Cha Doreng. 


May she rest in peace. 


What happened to her? Oh, she was murdered in her sleep.


Seriously! Murdered probably by one of those kids she deprived of those delicious fruits in her backyard. Kidding!  But she was really murdered. Someone broke into her house and stole all her money and stabbed her to death.  I was so freaking scared when I learned about it. 


I used to dream of her screaming at me for stealing indian mango from her fruit trees. The dreams stopped when I started praying for her soul and asking for her forgiveness for the fruits I stole. Seriously, I'm that weird.


Anyway, I told Mommy she reminds me of Cha Doreng every time she'd scream at the kids.  She also screams at people who would steal the fruits of her banana trees.  It's another matter, altogether though when she's dealing with adults. Mommy generally lose her balls.


Mommy has kang kong planted in front of our house.  Every week, she'd see this old lady, harvesting her kang kong.  She tried to ignore it until she couldn't take it anymore and she approached the old lady who was busily harvesting the plants.


She informed the woman, "sako baga yan." (Please take note this is a senior citizen addressing another senior citizen.)

The old lady frowned at her and asked, "Sigurado ka?"


Mommy answered, "iyo, ako daw kayan nagtanum? Tano mo tigkukurua?"


She was taken aback and left speechless when the old lady answered, "Ibebenta ko. Maimuton ka man. Idadagdag ko lang man sa pambakal ming bagas. Para lang kayan, maisipun ka!"


I was laughing my ass off at the old lady's sheer audacity when Mommy told me what happened.  She really didn't know what to say after the woman accused her of being selfish. She kept asking me what she should have said.


Paige though guards Mommy's plants like their the jewels of the Crown of England.  Speaking of Paige, it's very fortunate that she has had her MMR shots; othewise, she could have ended up with German Measles like her sister - :(

Dr. Setay said that Riley has German Measles, which aside from her medical opinion, just makes sense because Mommy's chicken boys had German Measles too several weeks ago.

Getting free consult from Dr. Settie

She's feeling a whole lot better though - the rashes have cleared but there are dark marks on her skin. :(

This is a quite long post. I think I should just end this now and eat my lunch - Erbe's Chao Fan (yep, he cooked it). :)

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Crappy Pictures But Good Memories

We took - what feels like - hundreds of pictures, but these are the only decent ones. Ironically, they're still crappy. :)
I didn't want to post this in Facebook, so I thought I'd just post it here. After all, I will not bother anyone if I post it here. It's my blog after all. I can put up pictures of me crapping if I want to. so, that's that.

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Ramblings of an Exhausted Mind

I am tired. I am so tired that the minute I close my eyes, I immediately go to REM. I swear! I think I have probably taken on more than I can chew, but I am dealing with them. I function at 5-6 hours a day - and if I get at least 7 hours of sleep, I am very happy.

I am freaking exhausted, but I am having fun - a helluva lot of fun.

I went back to school, and I realized I love studying. I love learning. I love the rush. I'd probably go back for more.

Life is funny sometimes.

No, scratch that. Life is such a freaking joker. It's like a freaking monster that rears up every now and then, and bites you where it hurts like hell - your ass.

God, I am tired. Have I said that already? I am so tired that my mind goes blank as I try to write something. Everything is the same, truth be told. But I love the fact that I am owning my life - or at least have taken the steps to owning it.

Every now and then, I allow myself to think. Unfortunately, that's not too often.

I am rambling. You do not have to read.

Earlier, I was asked by my professor, "What do you do when you are doing nothing?"

I can't think of anything because I have been so busy with a lot of things that I have forgotten the last time I was "doing nothing". Of course, I find the question a bit ridiculous. I don't think that there's really ever a time that you are not doing anything, right?

Play of words.

Still, I haven't been asked questions like that for such a long time, so I kind of enjoyed the debate. My teacher, a philosophy teacher, is a bit progressive in his approach to teaching. He's actually fun - and he's learn-ed.

I am rambling, I know. Again, you don't have to read. I am actually trying to think of something to write, but god, I am exhausted. I really should just hit the sack and work tomorrow. I need the rest.

The Gary V. concert and the trip to Legaspi will definitely do me good.

Anyway, let me share some photos. These are just a few of the things that made me smile the past couple of weeks, I think. :)

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Paige and Riley Vids

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The Day Riley Came Home from the Hospital

and Paige was really, really happy and excited...

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Papa's Girl

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Obsessed with Breasts

I refuse to think that these breasts are just meant for sex.

That got your attention, right?

It was meant to. I am obsessed with breasts. - mine specifically. I am obsessed about these babies milk production capacity. Ever heard of women whose breasts produce a lot of milk that they are selling their milk on eBay? Have you heard of Chef Daniel whose wife produces a lot of milk that he decided to make cheese out of his wife's breast milk? Well, I'm not like them. This is why I am obsessed with breast milk. And I have never exposed my breasts as much as I have the past few days. And in the quest for breast milk, I haven't really thought about it.

The fact that I am writing about my breasts just shows how obsessed I am with breast milk production. I am a mother, god damn it! I refuse to believe that these appendages are meant only for...ugh.sex. (Insert eyes rolling here).

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We have been out of the hospital for about a week now. I have not been able to write or blog - although I have lots of things to write about. I specifically wanted to write about this Midwife who I met in the hospital. She was about 45 years old with short hair and on the heavy side. Okay, I'll say it, she was fat. (I was trying to be politically correct, darn it.) She was nice though.

Anyway, we started chatting about babies and children... She is married with three kids, I think. I don't know how it happened but fairly soon enough, she was telling me about her 26-year-old sex-mate. I even got her to show me his text messages, one of which said, "Babe, pwede ba matikman ang katawan mo?" I would have made a great poker player. I did not even bat an eyelash when I said, "Ano man po si simbag mo?"

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We are managing quite well. Yes, it feels like I haven't slept for ages, but we are managing quite well. It helps that the baby is not colicky and that she's pretty easy to take care of. Erbe is in-love with her. Right off the bat, the minute he saw her, he was all baby talk and "woo-chi-woo-chi-woo-chi". He thinks she looks like him - despite what everyone tells him otherwise.

Does she look like me? I think she kinda does. She has my eyebrows, my forehead, my ears - and yes, my nose (or at least they say so). I don't agree however. I have been staring at her for the past few days, trying to figure out where she got her nose. I have even asked Erbe several times if he's sure she's our baby. You see, she does not have a flat nose. I am cursed with one. Okay, I blame it on my genes and the fact that my grandfather managed to pass on his nose to us, his grandchildren, and even to his great grandchildren. Riley, however, does not have it. I think she must have been spared from the curse. :D

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