Gratitude

A couple of days back, AteB and Gab were out running errands in Ever and Ate ended up buying Butaka a pumpkin for Halloween. Ate told me that later that night, before going to sleep, Gab tells her, "Thank you Mama. You're so wonderful, Mama."

So sweet. The world would probably be a much better place if we all remembered to have gratitude like that.

Happy Birthday Titaninang!

I think one of the best gifts I've gotten for my 29th is Gabbie's painting.

I found this posted on my mirror when I came home last week. I just loved it.

Mama had to help her write the words, but she painted the design & chose all the colors by herself. I am so proud. And more than that, I feel so loved.

Thanks for making my birthday, baby. I love you.

Little Big Girl

It's quite amazing how kids pick up what adults do, just like sponges. Would you believe that Gabbie knows how to paint her toenails already and she got it from watching her Mama and Wowa?

Talo pa si Ninang. Hehe. Hilarious.

Well, it looks like she got the gift of kikay from fairy godmothers Che and Jen. ;o)

When I Grow Up...

We were having this discussion about how Allan and Jane were soon having a baby, and how Gab was going to become "ate".

Gab says, "Hindi ate...magiging teacher!" Hahaha.

So to make sure I heard her right, I said, "Ano yun baby, anong gusto mong maging paglaki mo? Teacher?"

Gab stops to think for a while and changes her mind. "Gusto kong maging.... Queen!" Wahahaha!

Well love, Titaninang's pretty sure that you'll be someone's Queen someday, and that person will be the luckiest for it. But for now, I hope I can still keep you as my Princess. :)

i love you little one..

Malambot ;o)

Gab comes running to me the other day and gives me hug. She laughs, looks at me, and says "Malambot..."

Hahaha.

I didn't know whether to laugh or frown. (Of course, I laughed.) I guess she's had the best way of poking at my size without getting me off. And I'm happy to be titaninang-marshmallow if it makes me all the more huggable.

Haha. But yeah. I need to lose some weight alright.

I Miss Gab

Nowadays, I know that I've already spent too much time away from home when days go by that I don't have any post in my blog (i.e. no Gabbie stories).

Sadness.

I realize that I miss my Gab.

Where Do You Live?

I was reading Gab a Peter Rabbit book the other night, and in one section about houses, Peter Rabbit asks, "Where do you live?".

So I ask Gab, "Anong address natin?"

Gabbie goes, "36... Deeeelgado St..... BF.... Homes.... Quezooooon..." And before she even completes the sentence follows up with, "Ninang, parang keso" and laughs.

Hahaha. So cute.

Show-and-Tell

I don't recall when we started doing show-and-tell in school. I do know that whenever it was time to bring a family picture, my dad would make me promise to return it to the family albums he meticulously put together. (Would you believe that my dad even made an archive of all film negatives? Mental note - I ought to put those albums I ransacked back in good shape.)

Anyway, it looks like Gab's show-and-tell years have already started. I found myself having a family picture last January (when Glenn came home) printed last Saturday. (Oh the wonders of digital photography!)

I happen to like this picture a lot. Too bad that we don't have a complete one with Daddy (Wotot) with us.

I was pretty excited this morning with Gab's homework, slightly anxious however with the possibility of the "daddy" question being brought up.

I called the house a few minutes ago to find out how class went. True enough, Ma's worries were realized. The "daddy" question came up. And Teacher just had to say that the picture was lacking, that it should have a father.

Hooboy. Much as I'd like to write all about happy stuff in this blog, with all the happiness that Gab has brought in our lives, I cringe at the thought that they just had to articulate that something was missing in our family, in Gab's life.

Admittedly, my family isn't the most conventional, and we can be a bunch of oddballs sometimes (no, a lot of times). But I'd like to think that we could over-compensate in some other ways. That Gab would feel just as loved as any other kid.

(I wish I may, I wish I might... I think I can.. I think I can..)

I'd love to make that happen. Love Gab more than enough. More than I have words for. Make her feel that.

This will happen. Gab will grow up surrounded by this oddball family that loves her. I put up the picture in my desk to remind myself that. My own show-and-tell.

Conversations with Mama

Since I no longer come home everyday, I normally end up hearing a collection of Gabbie anecdotes on Fridays and Saturdays. Here are AteB's latest stories...

Conversation # 1
Mama Bunso: "Gusto ko, ang regalo mo sa akin, yung grades mo. Gusto ko 100%" (Ate, if I may say so myself, this is really a whole lot of pressure for a kindergarten kid. So go easy, ok?)
Gabbie: "Sige Mama. Ibibigay ko yan sa yo."
Gabbie: "Pero Mama, may naisip din pala ako. May gusto akong gift."
Mama Bunso: "O, ano yun?"
Gabbie: "Mama, bilhan mo ako ng slide!"

Hahaha...

Conversation # 2
Mama Bunso: "Sinong pinakamagaling sa klase nyo?"
Gabbie: "E di ako!"

Funny lesson in confidence ;)

Ref Art

Growing up, I only remember our family having had 2 refrigerators -- the old, old one (the brand of which I don't remember) and our current good ole sturdy Condura.

I've always remembered our refrigerators to be clean and plain, with nothing on it (which is sometimes a tad boring). I also recall being to other houses, and seeing "busy" refrigerators - some with magnets, some with pictures, others with bills & endless to-do lists.

We only started using magnets after I brought a few home from some travels.

But it was only in the last few months that our ref came alive. :) I started by posting some of Gab's artwork. She eventually took my lead and started posting on her own.

She also took a liking to arranging the fish magnets in one line. And, when she discovered how stickers worked, our refrigerator's lower door, became a mini-butterfly garden.

Now that she's in nursery, the art work changes more frequently.

And the drawings started to have labels. (I suppose this how a child starts learning about ownership.)

So our ref now is no longer the clean one that it used to be. But nobody in the family minds. It's how we nourish Gabbie's creativity. It's how we celebrate her art, and more importantly, how we celebrate our Gab.

Sweet Innocence

The nice thing about young kids is how they're so unabashed and honest with their feelings. Gab is just like that.

I get kisses on the lips, kisses on the cheek all the time. And when she's in the mood to brag about her knowledge of body parts, I hear "ilong-ilong-ilong" or "tenga-tenga-tenga" which basically means making our noses and ears touch. (I bet it's your first time to hear of ears touching as means of showing affection, huh?)

There's always that line, "Yakap nang mahigpit", said numerous times, especially before I step out of the house.

There's "Gusto ko sa yo. Gusto ko sumama sa yo."

There's "Bakit ang tagal mo sa office? Kanina pa kita hinihintay."

There are shouts of "Teyk ker! Ilabyuuuu!" by the front door.

And just this afternoon, while I was getting ready to leave, I see her sneak in a sandwich for my Dad, who she fondly calls "Wotot". She is the sweetest kunsintidor. (My dad basically eats through a tube in his stomach, after having had 5 strokes. But sometimes he's allowed to have food which he can easily chew.)

Such a sweet kid.

Advanced Nursery - Chico

Along with 17 or 18 other kids, Gabbie now officially belongs to NS Montessori's Advanced Nursery - Section Chico. (NS Montessori just happens to be my preschool too, btw.)

So now, our days have become so much more interesting with everything that Gab's been picking up from school.

She now has new friends, stories of whom we hear about quite often. I think she's pretty tight with Adrielle, Sophia and Erich. (Gab and I haven't really mastered her alphabet & spelling yet, so I do hope I'm spelling their names right.)

Going to the grocery has now become an exercise in spelling can and bottle labels.

And there are endless quotable quotes like, "Yung 'i' parang 'ay!', parang nagulat" or "Alam ko na yung ibig sabihin ng 'sick'. Tinuro ni Teacher Janet."

Of course, we have new poems and songs too, like this one - Telebong.

Happy Birthday, AteB!

AteB (Gabbie's mom) celebrated her 50th day last July 10&11 (yes, there are 2 birthdays. it's a long story. =P) Anyway, I just wanted to share some pics. (DriverP, thanks for playing photographer!)

So this is me, AteB and Gab.

I just love this photo. :)

Gab had this impression that she was the recipient of one of Ate's gifts. So she started opening it up, and ended up playing house in the box after.

Of Pigs & Elephants

I was in Bangkok end June, and I had brought home a few elephant souvenirs. I kept one for myself, giving a smaller version to Gab.

Turns out that a few days later, Gab already broke her elephant's trunk, so she asks for mine, and adds "Titaninang, nabali ko e. Pig na siya ngayon."

Adorable, right? :)

First Day High!

It's Gab's first day of nursery today. Of course, we had to celebrate it with a gift. Today's request was for a butterfly since we had already made dogs (which looked like dinosaurs) last Sunday.

She's asking for monkeys next. (Still haven't figured out how to do that though. :o) )

How to Eat Your Juicy Fruit ;o)

I found a stick of Juicy Fruit by my bed a couple of days ago. I figured Gab had left it there by mistake. A couple of hours later, she comes running into my room, with her Mama in tow, and sees the Juicy.

Gabbie: Iniwan ko yang bubble gum para sa iyo eh. Marunong ka ba kumain niyan? Nguyain mo hanggang maubos yung asim, tapos tapon mo na.
Titaninang: (just smiles to herself)
MamaBunso: Hindi asim, tamis.
Gabbie: Aah. Nguyain mo hanggang maubos yung tamis, tapos tapon mo na.

So cute. First time somebody taught me how to eat my Juicy.

What's in a Name?

Today's Gabbie's first day in school. (yeah, first ever ever!) And so in the season of making name tags and my-name-is introductions, I thought it appropriate to explain Gabbie's name.

Let it be known in record, that it was titaninang's grand idea to name Butaka, Gabriela Ysabel. Titaninang likewise takes credit for how "Gabbie" is spelled. =P (Glenn, Ma, let's not get into that debate of Gabbie vs Gaby now.)

I must confess though that no extensive research was done to come with the name. I simply have a thing for Spanish names. You must admit that her name sounds lovely.

But, but, but! Now that I do my research, Gabriela Ysabel becomes an even more beautiful name. Gabriel means "God is my strength" while Isabel means "God is my oath."

And even if it's cheesy, Gabriela Silang is still one tough lady. (And I'm sure Butaka's going to be just as headstrong.)

Baby, I hope that when you learn to spell your name, you do learn to love it, because I also have to confess, that it's the name I would have given to my own baby girl. So yes little one, I do love you like my own.

Butaka Chronicles

So what's up with this blog? Why the big deal about this kid called Gabbie? Well, she just happens to be the best thing that's happened to my family in the last 4 years. She's our biggest source of happiness and headaches right now. (I can never quite explain how those two opposing things can co-exist at the same time.) She's a reason to linger a little longer at home in the morning, and a reason to come home just a little earlier at night. (Naah, I really don't do "early". =P)

I got inspired to write about Gab, after a few years of good lovin' and huggin' from her, and after following Jason Lee's blog about his kids -- http://kristinandkayla.blogspot.com/ (You've simply got to see his girls!)

I started Butaka Chronicles in my multiply site, but I figure, she deserves to have a site of her own. Why? Because I love her. A whole lot. And that in itself is more than enough.

Oh, who am I by the way? Well, to Gabbie, I am "titaninang". To be more accurate, more often than not, it's "titaaaaaaaaaaninaaaaaaaaaang!!!!"

So there. That's the story.

Lullaby for the Little One

I started my first blog with a prayer. This one, I'm starting with a song, as our little Gabriela is one of the first that comes to mind when I hear it.

It's my wish that as she grows up, Butaka knows that I will always be there in the morning, my prayer that I always have the strength and wisdom to take care of her well.

TitaNinangPat loves you very much, little one.

Lullaby For A Stormy Night from http://yupkigirl.vox.com/

Lullaby for a Stormy Night
Vienna Teng

little child, be not afraid
though rain pounds harshly against the glass
like an unwanted stranger, there is no danger
I am here tonight

little child, be not afraid
though thunder explodes and lightning flash
illuminates your tear-stained face
I am here tonight

and someday you'll know
that nature is so
the same rain that draws you near me
falls on rivers and land
on forests and sand
makes the beautiful world that you'll see
in the morning

little child, be not afraid
though storm clouds mask your beloved moon
and its candlelight beams, still keep pleasant dreams
I am here tonight

little child, be not afraid
though wind makes creatures of our trees
and their branches to hands, they're not real, understand
and I am here tonight

for you know, once even I was a
little child, and I was afraid
but a gentle someone always came
to dry all my tears, trade sweet sleep for fears
and to give a kiss goodnight

well now I am grown
and these years have shown
that rain's a part of how life goes
but it's dark and it's late
so I'll hold you and wait
'til your frightened eyes do close

and I hope that you'll know...

everything's fine in the morning
the rain'll be gone in the morning
but I'll still be here in the morning