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.

My First Ever Blog Award

A blogger friend of mine has given me an award.  The first time I ever got! I'm thrilled :-D  Thanks, Eins of Mommy Tots!!

The blog award consist of passing it on to other 15 bloggers and to share 7 things about me.  I might have a problem picking 15 bloggers as I do not have that much connection yet :-O but will try my best.  So here's the 7 things about me.

1. I can only swim (pool or sea) if I know my feet can touch the ground and the water does not go over my neck.

2.  I learned to ride the bike on my own and with a borrowed bike without a break.  In the process of learning, I ran over a 4 yr old child who was in the middle of the street.  I was about 8-9yrs old then.  

3. I worked at Jollibee during the summer break before starting college.  I worked at the delivery section - receiving orders via phone calls, preparing the orders and handling them down to the delivery boys.

4.  Lived in Madrid, Spain for 6 months then moved up to the north after.  Been living in Spain for 5 yrs and 7 months.

5.  I hate routine

6.  I'm addicted to chocolates and junk foods snacks.

7. Not a morning person.

Now the hardest task is to tag 15 bloggers.... here's my election:

1. Mommy Tots - I know you already have this award but I'm tagging you back! You deserve it :)

2. All About Elizabeth

3. Green Minded Mom Blogs

4. The Mommy Journey

5. Nine Months and After

6. Mommy Cow

7. Witchy Crazy Mommy

8. My misadventures of Stay-At-Home Mommyhood

9. First Time Mom Diaries

10. Pinay Mom Blogs

11. Life of a Filipina Blogger

12. Two Totally Terrific Tots

13. The Lazy Mamma

14. Pinoy Working Mom

15. When Mom Talks



link back!

Nothing Beats Bayanihan

A nice 2011 welcome for us. We won the contest held by our internet provider with the prize of none other than a 1-yr free subscription of 100mb fiber optics internet connection, cable and phone line. Thanks to the new fad in facebook where companies use its popularity for marketing. The contest consist of leaving a Christmas greeting in the facebook page of our internet provider and gathering the most "likes". Hubby and I read the rules of the contest over and over again to make sure we are not going to break any of them and would later on be disqualified. We've got a good feeling we have a big possibility in this contest. It started Dec 16 and we were just able to enter by Dec 28. Did I say we were hectic busy these past months weeks? Well, we were and still are (hence the scarcity of my posts). So in spite of the other participants having a big advantage already, we were still positive we are going to have a good fight.

So off we joined. At the time we joined, the person with the most "likes" has around 45 votes. So hubby and I thought ok, 45 votes is a piece of cake. In less than a day we got 60++ votes so the following day, hubby already got the top position. Naturally the one that was running first place before got ticked off. He tried to get more votes. With every 20 more votes he gets, we get 40 more votes. Hubby and I were so amazed with the power of connections in facebook. I sent private messages (I currently have 395 friends) to my friends as I didn't want to bombard the walls of my friends with a request to help us win the contest. Plus I believe it is more appropriate and more personal to do so. I also commanded asked my siblings to force ask their friends to vote for us. Hubby has 98 friends and did the same thing...sent privies to each of them. 

For about two weeks, we were leading by nearly 100 more votes than the second in ranking. So were kinda thinking ok, he has probably given up and just thought he'd never get near us. Did I say he was ticked off? That's an understatement. He was furious! He started commenting on the company's blog and facebook page about the first-in-the-rank's (hubby) fishy activity about getting votes. He was like "the leading has only 98 friends and yet he has 300++ votes already - something's going on" and "the leading has 90% votes coming from the Philippines which has nothing to do with the internet subscription here in Spain" and "what the heck, I'm losing". Well, not that latter but whatever he says, that's what he only sounds. I was so tempted to answer him back with a look-whos-talking kind of retaliation but I stopped myself. Hubby and I said we should not enter his game. 

Confident that we are leading for almost 100 or more so votes, we brushed off any kind of negative comments and just wait for the days to pass and for the contest to be over. Then one day before the contest is concluded, hubby checked how the scores are and was surprised that suddenly, the close opponent garnered a whopping 80++ votes overnight. We were suddenly about just 20 votes away from losing. Our heart skipped a beat. At this rate, if we don't do anything the opponent will totally overtake us. 

We're just one day away from winning this contest and we are determined not to lose this chance! I waited till the sun rises in the Philippines. I called home in Manila, asked my siblings and cousins to bully ask their frineds to vote us. Hubby and I stayed online to monitor the scores and I sent some more privies to ask other friends whom I haven't asked before to vote for us. I sent another messages to other friends who didn't respond to my first message (there are those who decided to totally ignore...which felt a little sad). I posted a cry for help in my wall for everybody to see (I finally gave in but I swear I posted just twice ot maybe three times so I wouldn't flood anyone's wall). We were so overwhelmed with the support. In total, we got 372 votes against 259. I was warmed by the friends and friends of friends' (and even friends-of-friends-of-friends) concern and willingness to help. This IS the bayanihan value of the Filipinos. Modern but same spirit.

The old bayanihan way

So the contest ended and we won the first prize. Our internet company has declared hubby as the winner and congratulated us. The twitter representative has been ultra nice to me...he has even followed up on me to ask how does the 100mb connection experience so far. Told him it is splendid and that after all the work (told him the 101nights story) and he said with all the work we've done to win the contest, then we really are the deserving winners. Isn't he the sweetest? He was also the one who gave me a free shirt for being the 101st follower in twitter! He's like a bestfriend!

I sent him this photo after receiving the gift:

I can't express more our gratitude to those who helped.  Thank you once again to everyone especially to those who made an effort to ask their friends to vote for us.

She Loves Water

On the same day she turned 9 months, she started her first swimming lesson. My silly husband was too excited and nervous. Me? I was just excited ::grins:: We've been waiting for this since October. And finally last Friday, the country club called and confirmed that the swimming classes for babies will start the following day.  It's gonna be a tiring and fun Saturday!

The day came and Little Spanish Pinay was all set with her bathing suit and swimming cap.  She's adoooorable.  She was all matter-of-factly about everything.  We were a little bit worried that she'd make a fuss later on since she was to take her morning nap yet, but already no time for it.

Check out my long legs, mami!



ohhhh hot!

When we got in the class, we were told that only one parent is allowed to swim with the baby as to not make the baby feel over protected.  So hubby stayed outside the pool to take pictures.  Unluckily, cameras were not allowed but hubby was still able to take some pictures with his phone and was allowed just this once.

There were about 7 or 8 kids/babies in the class.  Most of them has a face of scared or worried face, clinging to their mom or dad for the love of their life.  One was crying histerically and wouldn't even want to get a quick shower before plunging in the pool.  Little Spanish Pinay was all observant with the surroundings.  I was careful with every move so I won't scare her.  We went to the shower so we can we ourselves before entering the pool.  LSP has a history of getting scared with the water coming out from the shower in our bathroom so I made sure we do it this time slowly.  I sang to her while I slowly turned on the shower.  She smiled and reached for the water.  It was a veeery good sign.  So we sang in the shower and we sang our way to the pool.  She was having a good mood.

Getting to know the instructor

Time to slowly plunge into the pool.  The other kids started whaling, saying no, and climbing up the neck of their parents.  LSP was just looking at the water.  Everything just seems interesting for her and not scary.  And finally time to fully submerge in the water.  LSP loved it. 



testing the water



Just a little later, she was already squealing with joy and splashing the water.  She'd get splashes in her face and would cause her to feel like she's drowning (poor her) but she was ok with it.  We swayed, raised up and down the water.  She sat in the pool gutter and jumped towards me.  Not her favorite activity but she didn't cry nor made a fuss.  She was so amazing the whole time.  I am such a proud mami! I know I sound like a broken record.

Our little champion

9 months

Is it too weird if I say I already feel like toddlerhood is just around the corner? Coz I do. I see Little Spanish Pinay like she's already a toddler or about to enter toddlerhood soooo soon. Whenever she does those big steps while we hold her arms, whenever she pulls herself up casually, whenever she sits down on her own from standing position, whenever she throws a kiss in the air, whenever she dances on her own rhythm and style with any music she hears, whenever she walks around the furniture on her own, I see my baby is like a blink away from toddlerhood.

We're starting to introduce even more food and making it more regular rather than just casually letting her try different food tastes and textures.  We're also trying to make her get more used to drinking water.  She's not exactly the water-thirsty type but she loves to play with it and the feeling of it in her mouth, so I guess that's a good start.  Everytime she holds her sippy cup on her own, I get awwww-stricken.  She looks so grown up!

Little Spanish Pinay in Action with her Sippy Cup

Look at that oozing confidence

It's exciting to see her communicate more to us. She does different facial expressions to call our attention. She squeals to express her excitement or happiness seeing someone or something she's really fond of -like her abuela or a bag of cortezas de trigo. I swear, I looked that up and tried to check its name in English but couldn't find a good translation. So I'm just showing here a picture.

They're like chips made of wheat. One of the junk foods snacks hubby and I really like. They're healthier than potato chips so don't tag me as a bad parent, ok? It's rich in iron and has no cholesterol ;-)

How time flies I often wonder. She's now entering the last quarter of her first year. That means 3 more months and she's turning one! Just 3 more months.

Is it just me or she's really looking so grown up in this picture? That far away thoughtful ook... to die for.

P.S. I still daydream about being a stay-at-home mom. Wait, I'm a stay-at-home mom but working at home...so what I actually want to say is that I daydream about being non-working stay-at-home mom. But I AM grateful I have a job, let's not forget that. It's just that sometimes, staring at this little angel, makes me feel like that's what I would only want to do the rest of the day everyday... And there goes the longest P.S. ever.

P.P.S. Happy 9 Months my little Spanish Pinay!!

We're Hurt!

We are currently facing some obstacles with the lactation.  Little Spanish Pinay has bitten me while she was nursing a couple of days ago and has left La Boobie hurt and bruised.  It's really painful right now to nurse her on my left boob because of the small wound I got from the biting.  I am trying not to nurse her on the left boob as often, I can't stand the pain.  The result is that I get too much milk on the left boob that it hurts... I have to pump out milk from it so I can give it to her in a feeding bottle.  The problem is my little rascal doesn't want anything less than the boobie.  So, there are times that I can't hep but nurse her on the left boobie and suck up the pain.  I tried to use a nipple protector but since it is silicon, LSP played with it and bit! I think I my stomach went upside down with the pain.  So no, nipple protector is not an option.  

4 teeth are becoming 4 big challenges for me.  I fear that one day I will completely cede.  I really pray that La Boobie recovers soon.  It is true that she has stopped biting me these days.  She seemed to learn that mami is hurt with the action and it's not good.  But then the wound is still fresh and with her 2 new upper front teeth, the nipple kind of brushes off with the teeth while she nurse... and that's really uncomfortable! Plus since it is also bruised, the sucking motion is almost unbearable.  

I do hope we recover soon.... just imagining weaning her earlier than what I have planned pains me even more than LSP's biting.

2 + 2 = 4 And A Bigger Ouch

The tooth fairy has beaten Santa to sending her gift for Little Spanish Pinay. Two more front teeth is peeping out of her upper gums. That explains why these past few nights, she's been waking up from time to time bothered by something. She's even more clingy as well during the day and easily gets cranky. But now, those pearly white twins are already out so she's feeling a lot better and was oh so ready for noche buena!!

As of me, I've got a couple of gifts too from the bag fairy... They're black but not pretty at all and they're annoyingly hanging below my eyes!!!

Oh and I have another bonus... when LSP gets too excited or wants to experiment how loud I can yell? She'd bite me and I'd see stars doing merry-go-round on my head. Ouch!!!!

4 front teeth at 8 months

Merry Christmas!!