Official First Father's Day

Today we celebrated father's day here in Spain.  The day is celebrated on March 19 - St. Joseph's Day.  This year is officially hubby's first father's day.  Last year, we also celebrated father's day for hubby but I was still pregnant with LSP back then.  Here's the post I created for that.  So this time with Little Spanish Pinay being physically here with us now,  it's even more special than special itself.  We went out to have lunch with the two other fathers in the family - my father-in-law and my sister-in-law's father-in-law :)

Happy-father's-day hug for papi

Checking out the ducks - both with open mouth hee hee

Father love in its purest state

The two other fathers - all busy watching soccer

admiring supermoon

To my hubby: you've been nothing but a wonderful papi to our Little Spanish Pinay.  Thank you for being who you are.  LSP's not able to tell you how much she loves you but the way her eyes search for you and looks at you says it all.

Happy father's day mi amor!

My Odd Egg

Our neighbor (next door) gave birth to their first son 2 days before I gave birth to LSP. One day we bumped into each other by the elevator so we said the normal hi, hello, how's life, etc. I playfully talked to LSP telling her look how ::let's call the little boy James to protect his identity:: James loves his pacifier. His mom laughed at the comment and asked me "Why, your daughter doesn't like pacifiers?" I told her she never liked it. We did try for her to like it but no avail. Then she said "Well, my sister in law has a daughter too and doesn't like pacifiers either. So now, the problem is that she sucks her thumb too much". Then I said "LSP is an odd egg...she's not into sucking her thumb either." To which, I got a surprised face and a follow up question of "Then how does she calm herself?"

I was a bit stumped with the question.  I didn't exactly know what to say.  In the end, before the elevator door closed, I just joked and said "The boobs calm her, I guess" with a shrug and a shy smile in my face.  Then we said our see-you-laters.

So I was left with the question in my mind and I felt like I should have given my neighbor a better answer. And because I have a blog, I can say whatever I want can get a chance to answer the question better though it's just for my own peace of mind.

How does LSP calm herself? I guess she almost never have to. Mami and/or papi were always there to take her and soothe her and make her feel comfortable.  And mami almost always results to offering Las Boobies to make her feel better.

Is that good or bad?

Neither. It's just simply what works for us now.  Some might say it's spoiling her or making her too dependent on us. Or worse, that's converting me to a human pacifier.  Honestly? I don't mind to be her human pacifier.  I am her mom and I feel really good being able to pacify her.  Time will come that she won't need me that much anymore so I am taking advantage while all she knows is to run to mami when something seems not right for her.

I actually had a lot of pressure at the beginning when I didn't want to give her a pacifier when we were in the hospital.  I wanted us to be able to at least establish breastfeeding first before "maybe" trying pacifier.  I'm not against pacifiers as I am also aware of its benefits but my personal choice about it for my daughter is no-paci-thank-you.  Some tried to convince me and "helped" me get LSP used to pacifiers but LSP is smarter than they think.  She said thanks-but-no-thanks to all well-meaning "help".

It's granted. There are babies that just wouldn't conform to pacifiers. LSP is one of them. I'm actually happy she didn't like it from the beginning. I must admit that there were frustrating times that we simply didn't know how to calm her fussiness. But I guess it's just how it is. It's part of babie's growing up. She's one baby that needs constant attention from us and wouldn't settle to be calmed down by an object. Not a paci nor a lovey.  She only asks for mami or papi and Las Boobies.  It can be draining sometimes but really, I prefer that, than her, running to an object to calm herself.  

Going back to the question, it made me relaize that there are many parents (just talking about the ones I have personal interaction with) who might be using pacis too extensively. As in too much in a bad way. Like everytime a baby cries, they'd just pop in a paci without looking if there's something that is actually making the baby uncomfortable. The thing is, like any other thing in the world, too much, can be bad. And when pacis are being used everytime to replace the constant human touch and care that babies need, then that makes pacis bad.

I remember a woman in the park where LSP and I used to go to. She was seated in a bench and in front of her is a stroller with a baby in it about less than a year. The baby was happily sucking his pacifier looking at the woman (probably her mom) while the woman was with her phone - prolly texting or playing. A man with a dog passed by and the dog sniffed the stroller, the baby reached his hand to the dog, the dog got startled and barked. The baby was startled too and started crying. The woman just looked at the baby and popped the paci back at the baby's mouth. The baby sucked the paci but cried again after a couple of seconds. He was really stressed reaching his hands to the woman. The woman popped it in again. This continued for I don't know how long. The woman just kept on popping the paci back in the baby's mouth everytime he cries. I shook my head. The baby was scared and needed to be held - by human. Something went wrong and he needed an adult to correct it and make him feel safe and comfortable again. He needed human touch and not an object to make him feel safe again.  

Anywho my neighbor's question just rang on me over and over again. I thought the question is off.  But I guess it's just me and my oddity.  Now I know why LSP is an odd egg.  But she's my odd egg and I like her just like that.  Oh, that's a lie. I adore her for being odd and for being everything that she is.

can this odd egg can get even cuter?

Spring Is About To Ring!

We can already feel spring! The day is getting longer and temperature is slowly rising.  The leaves in the trees are slowly reappearing.  What's best is that after Spring comes Summer.  Excuse me, while I do my cartwheel.

::uhm, no cartwheel I forgot I don't know how to so I just jumped and twirled::

So Last Friday I had my day free from office work so I went out with Little Spanish Pinay to take advantage of the spring-like weather.  We went to the park nearby where she can play around and meet children.  She was pointing and shrieking at the site of the swing.  That's her favorite.  But both swings were occupied so we went and tried some other areas.

I do not know how this is called but it's like a seesaw but round with 4 seats in it.  She looks like a big girl here already.

I let her "walk" while holding on to the different play areas in the park.  She was excited and very cautious

My little princess looking like a full-blown toddler already.

She was thrilled to meet other kids and wanted to touch them except for this uber cute little guy.  This guy is soo hyper, jumping up and down and yelling like he's the king of the jungle.  He cracked me up.  But not the case for Little Spanish Pinay. She was scared of him.  Silly.

We saw the little boy next door with her nanny.  This little rounded guy was born 2 days before LSP.   LSP liked him and was touching his hand.  Talk about girls making the first move. Hmmm we need to have some mother-daughter serious talk.

Finally she got her chance to fly with the swing. She squeeled, laughed and was utterly happy. 

going back home

We went home both happy and tired.  To my surprise and contentment, LSP didn't asked to be carried. Whenever we go out with her stroller, I always bring my babasling because I already expect her to ask to be carried on the way home - or sometimes even half-way going out.  But this time, my little star just stayed in her stroller reading an advertising pamphlet of Bóboli - store for kids' clothes.  Boy, she loves this pamphlet.  Everytime we go out, she looks for it and holds it like one of her precious property.  She's really cute like that.

We're so ready for Spring to Ring!!

Best of the Breast: Burning 500 Calories A Day

Remember the drama post I did way back July last year about my skinny jeans?  It was an open letter to my skinny jeans lamenting about not being able to wear them and not knowing when I could ever wear them again.  Yeah, I wasn't too happy about my post-pregnancy body back then and with the baby blues kicking back then, everything was a drama.  

I actually lost the extra weight pregnancy has blessed me with.  I never did exercise.  No, I am not a disciplined person when it comes to doing exercise inspite of the knowledge that exercise is good for everybody and that is a part of healthy way of living.  I guess I am too lazy for that... I get bored and um, tired. Duh.  But then again, just after 4 months of giving birth, I was already back to my pre-pregnancy weight.  The only secret is breastfeeding.  I read somewhere that breastfeeding can help one burn 500 calories a day average.  500 calories to burn is a lot! It's like running at 6 mph or 9.6 kph for 40 minutes!  

No wonder why I've lost all those pre-pregnancy weight in a jiffy, effortlessly.  Almost.  And also, no wonder why I feel hungry every so often.  And I crave for so much sweets especially chocolate.  So while I am still breastfeeding Little Spanish Pinay, I take advantage of its calories burning power and I eat all the junk whatever I want.  I know for sure that once we stop breastfeeding, I would need to be more disciplined and conscious with what I stuff in my mouth.  Not getting any younger, y'all.  With age, comes the slow metabolism.  Drat.

Anyways, so there's another benefit of breastfeeding dedicated to moms.  Burning 500 calories a day (then translates to eating what I want to my heart's content), and all I ever have to do is sit or lie down in bed and cuddle with Little Spanish Pinay.  Life can be sweet and fair, sometimes :-D

No this is not me... just almost. In. my. dreams.

So Mobile

"... I'm all out of control, I'm a mobile..." - that could very well be Little Spnish Pinay singing Avril Lavigne's mobile song.

Ever since she learned how to crawl and pull herself up with the support of furnitures or "our legs", she's unstoppable. She's so eager to go to different places and break explore things. I swear sometimes I can't keep up with her. Now that she has started cruising, she's even more happily mobile. She'd pull herself up with the help of anything and then cruise around. She'd pull herself up with a table, her walker, bouncer, sofa, her big toys and even a box that is her knee-high. And when she knows I'm going to go near where she is or if she sees that I'm following her? She'd go crazy-excited-laughing-squealing and would hurry up even more and she'd look like she'd stumble down and my heart would miss a beat.

She can already stand without support for a few seconds.  I'd let her stand and then slowly let her go.  At the beginning she'd immediately sit down the moment she realizes she's on her own but lately, she would try to balance herself for a few seconds before sitting down to safety.  Then her face would be painted with a proud smile.  Sometimes she would even let go of herself from holding into a support and stand on her own, specially when she needs both of her hands to hold a toy or whatever trinket she'd like to explore.  Then after a few seconds she'd realize she's on her own and would lose her balance or just want to play safe so he would sit down.  My little girl.... she's getting nearer and nearer to toddling.  I get so emotional.  I knowm I know... I'm such a woose.

here's a photo of her standing alone.  the photo has a very bad lighting, I know but I was too much in a hurry to take the photo scared that she'd fall and I'd throw my phone so I can catch her and she won't get hurt :-D  But do you see her satisfied-I'm-such-a-big-girl-now smile? I do! 

Good Mornings

Mornings with this smile are without a doubt good mornings.  I wish this would stay forever.  I never would want to miss moments like this everyday seeing her wake up in his own time and smiling so sweetly upon seeing me near her.  On weekends? Her smile is double happy waking up with both mami and papi beside her.  Bliss.

Going for Eight

Little Spanish Pinay is having another tooth cutting off its way out. It's actually visible already so she practically has 8 tooth now. I've been waiting for this tooth to come out as well, 7 tooth - four up and 3 down just look unbalanced :-D So now that she is 4 teeth both up and down, it just looks so much better. I like even numbers, what can I say.

What's really good news for me is that she has stopped the bitings! Oh, the relief.

Sometimes she'd be playful and would tease me and bite me softly then smile at sweetly when I tell her ouch. Her cuteness just doesn't stop.

Apart from cuteness, she's also all weirdness especially when it comes to nursing.. she does all sorts of funny positions.

Perfect 10

You're nothing but a perfect 10.

You love Los Lunis, Noddy, Dora La Exploradora, Mickey, etc.  Pocoyo is now a little bit on the side.

You love to dance.  I think we're going to have very pretty dancer in our family.

You're now able to stand on your own - without support! For a few seconds or minute.  But you're still afraid to step forward.

You are hilarious with your antiques, different faces and the way you blabber non-stop.

You have the sweetest voice.

You now strut your tush while guiding yourself through the wall and the furnitures.

You are incredible with your language comprehension...understanding basic words already.

You love books!

You and your papi make me fall in love over and over and over again.  How is that even possible?

10 months of blissdom

Because it's valentines

And I just feel the need to spill out in words what I'd call an overflowing love.

My love story with hubby is something I am looking forward to tell my daughter one day and then to my grandchildren much later on in my life. It's something that would always make me smile and make me giddy just like high school. 

Having met my hubby is one of the biggest gift I have ever received in my life. He made me feel beautiful from the moment his eyes laid on me and in a very myterious way, he still makes me feel beautiful until now. Even after pregnany and motherhood has left footprints in my body. Even after a day of not having a shower busied with mommy duties and office work. Even after having a looong sleepless night nursing a teething 9-month old.

My hubby was a too-good-to-be-true kind of guy and I almost ran away from him. Because I refuse to be fooled. Being skeptic that I am, I thought he couldn't possibly be true but he proved me wrong. His persistence cleared up the clouds in my head. His honesty pushed away my skepticism. His positivity melted down the doubts that was freezing my heart. ::Can I be more poetic and cheesy than this?::

He IS too good. AND true.

I've blinked my eyes a gazillion times. I've pinched myself hard over and over until I kind of peeled off some skin. But I wasn't just dreaming. A man. A good man. A loving man, warm, pure and gentle and everything nice came in my life and has accepted and loved everything that I am. He swept my feet off and I'm just glad that for the first time in life, I forgot about my head and I let the heart win. I flew in the land where I know no one else but him and speak not the language.

Best hasty decision EVER.

I married the man God has prepared for me. Perfect for me in every single tiny bit way. And now, I am even more blessed with a Little Spanish Pinay who just like his father, is everything nice and especial. God is so good. I would never know what I've done good to be pampered like this receiving the two most beautiful people inside and out in the face of the earth that loves me in my blacks and whites. But I am and will be forever thankful of this.

See, I'm overflowing with love both incoming and outgoing. And I just have to spill some of it in words.

Mi amor, sabes que te amo con locura pero no lo puedes imaginar cuanto. La inmensidad es incontable. No digas que tu me quieres mas (como tu siempre dices), que es imposible! :-)

2 More Cutting Their Way Out and Probably Another One Soon And Some New Tricks Up Her Sleeves

Little Spanish Pinay has 4 teeth by 8 months - two upper front teeth and two lower front teeth. And now, on her 9 months, there's two more cutting their way out.  One on the right of her two upper front teeth and another one on the left of her two lower front teeth.  It also seems that another one is soon to cut its way on the left of the two upper front teeth.  So that is like 3 teeth at once.  Poor LSP, this time teething took its toll on her.  Brought her fever up to 38.5ºC :(

Good thing the fever only lasted over night.  The following day, she was a bit warm the whole day but not really hot - must be the medicine I gave her too.

Today, she's all sunny and in her usual self again - maybe even more energetic.  She just learned to clap her hands - with sound! She'd happily clap her hands everytime I say palakpakan! (applause!) in our language. Then she got this kiss bug.  She blows out kisses in the air for everybody - makes me want to eat her and eat her again and again.

Her separation anxiety is back in town too.  She's ultra clingy to me and everytime she nurse and sleeps? She wants to be on top of me. Like making sure I can't leave her once she's KO.   She'd be ok playing with someone else but once she sees me, she's all "mama pick me up" ::in her own language::

Oh, and she got a new dance step.  When she's on her feet while holding on to something (like a center table), she'd lean her body a little to the left and lift her right leg and wiggle it or move it in a circular motion.  Funny and cute. Cracks me up to bits.