Thank you to my children --

Avalon.ph has a lovely contest going until December 15.

And it made me think about what I was thankful for for this year --

It will sound cheesy but it has to be my two spawns children of Satan --

Everyday is a rollercoaster of experiences and emotions -- I go from happy, to sad, to angry, to proud, to ecstatic, to tired, to full of pep, etc.

Just today, I delayed interfering in a tug of war (over a Jellyace cup) between the two -- it was so, so amusing to see little 8-month-old Anya assert her rights (by shouting and pulling back) over the red jelly cup.

These two contain the whole universe for me -- they are all the adventures I've never had and all my dreams fulfilled. (Well, maybe not all of them.) ^_^

Long overdue: UN Day at my son's school --

My son's class represented Hawaii (which really isn't a country...) -- they did 2 (or was it 3?) songs and they all looked really cute in their Hawaiian costumes.

Seth: Month 41 + Anya: Month 8 --

Happy monthsary to my two dears!

The two are getting only one newsletter this month because of an interesting question their Ah-i posed about a week ago --

How would 8-month-old Seth deal with an 8-month-old Anya?

Right now the two of you deal fairly well together -- toys have been allocated (by Seth) for the other one to play with. Certain things are no-nos and shouldn't be touched (like the train sets and blocks) but the school bus and the matchbox cars are fine.

I like that Anya has some fight in her and refuses to back down when Seth tries to overpower her. One afternoon, there was a battlecry before Anya bent down to take a nip off Seth's back/shirt. Thankfully, her teeth are still too little to do any damage.

But there is never-ending fascination that goes on between the two -- a few days ago, Anya was transfixed and obediently ate her lunch while watching her A-hia sit and eat his lunch. And Seth still likes to point to his sister's hair (when it is tied up) and calls them "trees" --

So, going back to the question --

Pound for pound, (literally), the two are well-matched. Anya weighs about a kilo less than Seth did at this age but Seth was taller than Anya -- Seth was (and still is) in the 95th percentile of his height while my little girl has been stuck in the 75th percentile.

In terms of demeanor, Anya gets the points. She's very feisty and has quite a temper -- more than Seth did at the same age. And she has a very shrill and loud cry. I remember Seth to have the same drive as I see in Anya -- when they set their sights on something, there's no stopping them and there's little chance of distracting them.

I think Seth would win the popularity category -- even at 8 months, he was very social and loved to be around people. Anya is a little bit more cautious and would study a person first before deciding to "accept" the person (by not crying).

The more I reflect upon it, I think the two complement each other very well and I'm happy that they do and I hope that this is still the case many years from now.

I am more curious about how a 3-year-old Anya might deal with a 3-year-old Seth -- but that's a topic of reflection for another time. ^_^

You know it's time to lose weight when ...

Several nights ago, my sister and I were having a pity party over our weight. I was showing my sister and my husband my tummy when Seth pokes his head in.

"Mama's tummy," he said as he rubbed my tummy.

"Like Rossini!" the little imp continued.

He is getting a lump of coal from me for Christmas. O_O

Anya: Month 7 --

Hello, daughter dear --

I don't think I'll ever be able to write your newsletter promptly --

You are now 7 months old and have been eating solids for a month now -- it was interesting watching you take your very first bite -- at first, you could not figure out how to chew but now you are doing it like a pro.

The thought that kept running through my head this month is that you are in such a hurry to grow up -- while other babies your age are content to being on all fours, you have figured out how pull yourself up to a standing position and are now learning how to ... climb.

Pillow barriers are called pillow barriers for a reason. You shouldn't be stepping on them, trying to get to wherever it is you wish to go.

You are the same with your food. You don't like the mush we feed you and enjoy the sensation of bread and unmashed bananas more. Your palate is very different from your brother's -- he loved Gerber Apples and Bananas while you like Squash and Sweet Potatoes more.

But what really makes you happy are bananas. I'd take your spoon and scrape a small bit from my banana and give it to you. The joy on your face as you try to chew on it is a sight to behold.

And your ire when we stop giving you bread is another sight to behold.

You have quite a temper and are very loud (and squeal-y) about it.

You've grown taller -- we've had to adjust your exersaucer up a notch.

However, a lot of your dresses are still a bit too big so you have to content yourself with another month (or two) of wearing shorts and onesies. (It's okay that people sometimes mistake you for a boy -- though, for the life of me, I don't know how they can. Your hair is always bedazzled with all these hairclips that your yaya delights in putting on your hair. You hate it, by the way. But you also hate that your hair falls over your eyes, so ...)

You have an amusing way of showing your happiness -- you pat your hand on my arm. (Your papa has taught you how to do a high 5, which delights your Gwa-kong.)

Tomorrow, you will take your first plane ride -- I'm a bit worried because you hate being cooped up in a car so I'm not so sure how you'll be on an airplane. Your papa is already thinking of which toys to bring so that you will be suitably entertained during our flight.

I'm slowly thinking about your baptism/birthday in March -- I have a few ideas but I want to make sure that everything is nice and perfect for you. Your Gwa-kong and Gwa-ma are planning to invite the whole of Iloilo (well, maybe a smaller fraction of it) and I'm worried about how you will take to all of it --

I guess you can just show them your big, toothy/gappy smile and dazzle them with it. (I am hoping you will have more teeth by then.)

Seth: Month 40 --

Happy 3 years and 4 months, little boy!

Yesterday, you turned the big 4-0 and it also happened to be your late Ang-kong's birthday.

When you were born, I had to reflect on how to tell you about your Ang-kong (your papa's Papa) who died about 6 years ago. I wanted to make sure that you have memories of him and to realize that he has shaped your life, albeit indirectly, through your Papa.

When we pray at night, we would say goodnight to your Gwa-kong and to your Ang-kong in heaven. I don't think you understand the concept of heaven at this age, but you are slowly understanding the concept that some things (and some people) die.

I've never met your Ang-kong but, from all the stories your Papa shares and from accounts of your Papa's friends, your Ang-kong was a very cool guy.

He was very attentive to your Papa and took him on many adventures when he was much younger. They loved to play a lot. (One of these days -- when you are much older, your Papa will share with you the story of a jeep, a cemetery and your Ang-kong. O_O)

I want you to have the same kind of childhood --

When you are older, I want you to remember the time when we ate at a restaurant and you spilled water on yourself (because we let you hold the bottle) and you had to spend the rest of your meal in diapers because we didn't bring an extra pair of shorts.

I want you to smile as you remember your visits to Salcedo Weekend Market and all the smells, sights and sounds.

I want to sit and laugh with you someday as we remember the many nights we would squeeze into my double-sized bed with Siobe sleeping beside us as we watch your nighttime show.

The memory thing isn't a one-way street -- you have given me so many wonderful memories that I know I will remember forever --

This month, my favorite memories are:
- You singing that Korean song that is constantly playing on the radio while shaking your hips. (I guess it's a good way for you to practice your pronouns. ~sigh~)

- You taking out your doctor's kit when you found out I wasn't feeling well and you earnestly tried to make me feel better by jabbing me twice with your injection.

- The "I Love You, Papa." and "I Love You, Mama." every night.

- How you mix (and mangle) your prepositions. "The lizard is over there behind inside."

- The quiet and lovely way you sang "Happy Birthday" to your Ang-kong yesterday while holding your papa's hand.

When you were born, people were asking me what I wished for for you -- many were expecting me to say "Smart and Successful" -- what I did say was "Happy and Loving" --

And I got my wish, little boy.

Thank you for being you (and for being so much more.)

Honey, I shrunk the kid! =( --

Yesterday, I brought Seth to his doctor for a check-up. He's had a cough for the past week now but it only occurred in the morning and in the evenings (= allergies) but his cough on Friday was different --

He started coughing at around 2 in the morning and didn't stop until about 3. Then, when he woke up, he was coughing the whole day.

We did the whole shebang -- cold water, ice cream, etc. -- but no improvement.

So we trotted off to his doctor's clinic at 2 in the afternoon.

When we got there, he was weighed by the secretary --

We were both very surprised to discover that Seth lost 3 kilos! <-- the point of this blog entry

At first, the secretary thought their scale was broken and weighed herself. Then we weighed Seth again.

Seth lost the 3 kilos in the span of 2 months.

When we got in to see the doctor, we talked more about the weight loss than the cough. (The cough was already a sore throat -- and his doctor prescribed meds for him and we changed his antihistamine because he was also showing signs of allergies.)

It's been challenging getting Seth to eat breakfast in the morning -- his class starts at 8am and he leaves for school at 730am. BUT, he usually wakes up at around 7 to 715am, which gives us only enough time to change his clothes and give him his milk. We usually get in about a bite or two of breakfast, but that's it.

So his doctor recommended that Seth take Pediasure in the morning.

It also made me reflect on our eating practice -- I am guilty of imposing "big people time" on Seth and his eating -- when he stops eating, I assume he's done. Then I read that, sometimes, kids stop eating to play and then go back to eating.

Last night, it took us about an hour to get him to finish his dinner. He sat at the table for about 3 bites and then ate the rest of his meal while watching his show, while playing with his new fire truck and while his yaya was reading to him.

This morning, breakfast for him started at around 7 and ended at around 815am -- but he cleaned up his plate -- and ate every bite.

These are moments of rude awakening for me -- it makes me realize that I get complacent in the care of my kids and that I need to rethink my own personal practices when it comes to their needs.

I feel guilty -- yes, but I also feel determined to improve things and, hopefully, at the end of the month, I'll have Seth gain back the lost kilos.