Love in Unexpected Places

As cliche as it may sound, I must agree that people can find love in unexpected places. Last night, it surprised me in our refrigerator, with a note from Gab.

It was a sorry-ninang-note for drinking a bottle of C2 which she had thought to be mine (but actually was a gift of Mama to her). I so badly wanted to wake her up, hug her and tell her how much I loved her. That what's mine is hers. In a way, it bothered me that she felt the need to apologize for something as small. But more than that, it made me very proud to know that she's learning respect for the other. Made me feel loved.

She wanted a reply. There was a blank sheet under her note so that I could write back. Which I did of course. :)

I think we could make this refrigerator love letter thing a regular habit. :)

Gifts

I saw this photo shared in Oh Happy Day Birth Photography's FB page.

A wonderful reminder on how to bring up Gab.

OREO Fun! :)

I know it's been quite a while since I've written about Gab. Good thing is, Our Awesome Planet's Anton Diaz and his project for 100 OREO Awesome Moments gave me a good idea for new Gab-and-Mama-Bunso photos. :)

Oreos are always better when shared.

Oreo fun time with Gab and Mama :)

Our First Recital!

I think Wowa has finally realized her dreams of having a little ballerina with our little butaka (since she could never realize them with me!)


Gab had her first recital last Saturday (which was also Wowo's 70th birthday) after a summer of ballet lessons with the Center for Movement and Music. 


She really seems to have an inclination for dance, voice and art. And she's becoming a more active reader too. Mental note for titaninang -- all things we should nurture.

Check out the rightmost ballerina! :)

Hiatus

I've taken a long break from writing about Gab, well, writing in general. I've missed it.. And Gab's growing up so fast.

Since I can't really stop the hands of time, my hands better get back to working again. ;)

Tap tap tap...

Toughest Assignment

I've just gotten my toughest writing assignment thus far, I think. The parents of Gab's batch are pushing for a yearbook! Whowuddathunk right?

She's such a beautiful kid -- my writing should really do justice.

It just hit me now. My baby's going to big school already. Gosh.

Mornings...

Gab is turning out to be such a sleepyhead. Then again, maybe she's not much of a morning person. Or a 7:30 class may be just too early.

Ate ties her hair into a ponytail, and she has her eyes closed. Ate tries to put in a spoonful of champorado in her mouth. And while she swallows, she still has her eyes closed. ;)

I guess waking up is the hardest part...

Tinkerbell

Tinkerbell has been one of Gab's favorite characters. So she was quite happy to receive this puzzle as a souvenir in her classmate's birthday party yesterday.

I watched in awe as she put it together this morning. Quite amusing to watch her and her thinking process as she selected where the puzzle pieces should go.

Unlike regular puzzles, this one's a little more difficult I would think, since the background details were just sketches.

My little girl really has an eye for art and detail, I must say. :)

Proud of you Gab. Love you a lot.

Pink Swing

I wasn't too keen on the idea of getting our gate repainted, especially after how our pockets hurt after getting the roof fixed.

Ma and Ate, the stubborn people that they are (haha), found the budget for it though and pushed through with the project last week.

I must admit that our house looks good now. :) Gate and garage walls freshly painted white, main door stained with new varnish. I actually smile to myself whenever I drive up our street.

I get a bigger smile though when I see our swing, now painted pink!

Ma did good on her promise to Gab to follow her request. I've had a lot of happy memories on that swing, which was actually my Dad's gift to us. I'm sure Gab's going to make more of her own now that it's in her favorite color. :)

Fun, Fun March

2 big milestones happened last March (and both actually happened in NS Montessori!) Gab turned 5, yey! And she celebrated her birthday in school. I suppose this will be the first of many. Preparing for the party took a helluva lot more time than the actual celebration, but hey, who cares? I was just happy to have been able to make the event memorable for Gab. :)

The birthday girl

Family Pic

Gab also had her first graduation / recognition day! And guess what? She was awarded to be "Best in Comprehension"! (That was defined to be the student who participated a lot after storytelling and asked a lot of questions.)

Sadly, I missed their dance number. (I promise to always, always be there on time for the next events.)

Barkada Pic :)

Am such a proud ninang now. :)

Breakfast :)

(April 22, 2010)

Breakfast today was different. Soup. Something reminiscent of crab and corn, only that it had different ingredients. A whole lot of egg. Potatoes. And then some carrots.

Had I known Gabbie was behind it, I would have had taken a picture of my soup.

The night before, according to Ate B, Gab had insisted on cooking with her. She cracked the egg by herself and mixed in the potatoes and carrots Ate was using for whatever it was she was cooking.

Since Ate didn't know what to do with Gab's concoction, she decided to put it together with one of 'em soup mixes. (Better to do that than use it for an omelette, she said.)

I love my little chef. ;)

More Ref Art

I really think Gab has an eye for art and color. I just love this painting.

All Too Fast

My dear Gabbie is growing up all too fast. Faster than I can blog about. (Then again, maybe that's why I write. Because I need to freeze time and memory before she grows up. I always fear that she will soon outgrow her fondness for her family, and even her titaninang.)

I realized that another year has just passed -- it was time for another birthday (her fifth) and yes, another year of tuition payments. (Ouch.)

With that, I just want to share some old pictures I've found in my files.

Gab & her funny face at Shakey's

Her first field trip at Manila Ocean Park

Her art on our whiteboard

Oh so fast. I ought to write more.

Telescope

She is so smart! I don't know where she learned how to do this. Ate says she just did it by herself.

Two tissue paper rolls + 1 paper clip. Voila! Binoculars! :)


Gab calls it a telescope though. Hehe. :)

Gabbie's Globe Bill

Found this picture in my files. It reminded me of a funny Gab story I never got around to sharing.

Gabbie asked me who owned the Globe bill. And of course, I said it was mine.

After a few seconds of scribbling, she shows me the envelope with her name on it and says, "Akin na ngayon!"

Haha. Ok Gab, if you say so. ;)

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.