Lia's first long trip

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Originally uploaded by micaela.

We recently took a trip to Baguio, for Mom's birthday celebration. :) It was Lia's first long trip! I thought she was going to get bored, but five hours on the road was just right--she slept, she chatted with Ginny's daughter Vida, she sang.

We stayed at The Manor in Camp John Hay, thanks to Ginny's family's timesharing privileges. As soon as we checked in, we knew the kids loved the place.Check out Lia and Vida at The Manor's fireplace! :)

We were in Baguio for four days with Ginny's family, and John and Ryan. We had plenty of time to take in the sights, and the food, hehehe. Lia herself was enjoying the food, much to my surprise. Plus, she took her first horseback ride (which was, again, unexpected, as Lia has more "scared" moments than brave ones).

When at last our trip ended, and we headed home, Lia refused to "go home". True enough, when she caught sight of our home, she screamed and cried, "I don't want to go home! I want to go back to Baguio!" :)

Lia's third Christmas

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Originally uploaded by micaela.

As usual, we spent Christmas with Neil's relatives in Cavite, my family in Sta. Rosa and Alabang, then back to Cavite. I was dead tired after Christmas, but Lia must have been more fatigued!

We bought a train set for our little girl. It was what she wanted--and after thinking about it, we gave in. After all, it was better to see her all happy that she got her train set, rather than seeing her disappointed over our own choices. ;p

Lia was only able to open her gifts on Christmas morning, though. She slept through Noche Buena. :)

Sleep tight, baby

Last weekend I rearranged furniture at home. As I've just bought a new sofa set, and started rearranging our living room, everything else followed (with the rearranging, that is): the area under the stairs, the two bedrooms upstairs.

For me, the hardest area to "rearrange" was our bedroom. It's where all three of us (Neil, me, and Lia) sleep. Originally, we put our large bed and a single bed side by side, so that Lia, who sleeps on the single bed, can still reach for me when she wakes up in the middle of the night. But last Saturday, I removed the single bed and replaced it with Lia's toddler bed--one with railings so she won't fall off. Although I still positioned it beside our large bed, it was different from the single bed because there were railings between Lia and me.

That night, Lia didn't complain when I told her she'd be sleeping on her toddler bed. We held hands between the railings while she fell asleep. But, in the middle of the night, she woke up and cried out in surprise. She climbed back to the large bed and snuggled between me and Neil.

When that happened, I sorta wanted to let Lia be. It was okay for me to let her sleep with us (actually, I secretly wanted her to sleep beside me as long as she wills!), but she had to learn about independence (or something like that, hehehe). So, when she finally fell back to sleep, I transferred her to her bed.

It took a long time for me to sleep again that night. I wanted to laugh at myself for "missing" Lia because we weren't snuggled together anymore. :)

Oh well. I have a loooong way to go. I'm sure there'll be more moments like these while she's growing up!

My little ladybug

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Originally uploaded by micaela.

Here's Lia in her Halloween getup--and it won her Best in Costume in our office trick-or-treat!

I thought she wouldn't wear the darned costume. We had dress rehearsals weeks before the Halloween, but every time we wore it on her, she'd try to take it off and cry.

Fortunately on trick-or-treat day, she didn't give me a hard time with it. I guess with all the kids wearing costumes, she didn't mind anymore.

:)

Mom's favorite words (of Lia)

Lia was a noisy newborn baby. That's not just because every time she cried, she cried her lungs out and woke up even the farthest neighbor. She was also very chatty, and she reacted to stimuli by speaking up (even in babbles). Whenever I talked to her, she'd talk back, and she'd always smile or stick out her tongue.

When Lia was about 5 months old and discovered that it was her own voice speaking, she was delighted. She screamed and laughed whenever she could.

When she started to speak "Dada", "Mama", and her first favorite word, "No!", I knew she'd never stop talking. Not only was she getting accustomed to speech, she was loving every syllable.

Now, she's starting to be conversational (much to our delight). And, she talks the whole day! Funny thing last week - her voice had become hoarse (I really don't know if it was from talking - bet it was).

Here are some of my favorite words/phrases, straight from Lia's mouth:

• "Huh? What you saying?"
  
• "Oh my God!"
  
• "What you want?"
  
• "Why it's like that? Because..."
  
• "Whel al you?" (Where are you)
  
• "Mommy's inside the phone!" (while talking to me on the phone)
  
• "You have umbrella?" (asked when it's raining)
  
• "Why?"
  
• "Why?"
  
• "Why?"
  
  

=)

Lia hates sand!

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Originally uploaded by micaela.

And here's proof. She cried, she squirmed, she screamed if we put her down and let her walk on sand.

This was her first time at the beach and she didn't like it. So not like mommy, huh.

We're hoping it's just first-time jitters and that she'll eventually learn to love the beach!

Is your child being bullied?

Wow. My title looks like those of self-help articles/books. But no. I chose that because Lia is being bullied.

I don't know, "bullied" may be a strong word, but I don't have any alternative for it yet. But what do you call this situation: Lia greets the kid with an enthusiastic, "Hi!!!" and she receives a "No, Lia, don't come near! Don't play with me!". And when Lia attempts to get near the kid, the kid pusher her (in front of me), and then does a hand gesture that says "I'll knock you off".

Almost every time, the kid does something to Lia and Lia ends up always verbally abused, and sometimes physically hurt. And Lia keeps on wanting to play with the kid, while the kid shoots her with dagger looks and an extended "Don't, or else" arm.

Just this week Lia went over to where the kid was, said "Hi!" and the kid twisted Lia's foot. How about that, huh?

Neil is just so mad, he wants to pinch the kid the next time he sees her. Uh-oh. Me? I still don't know how to deal with it. I just assure Lia of our love every time!

Terrible Two's -- not true!

That's because we're experiencing it from Lia -- and she's not even two yet! Her favorite words: "Ayaw", "No", "Don't like". And when we're scolding her she scolds us back. Actually, there's no use scolding her because we just end up laughing.

How do we deal with it? We give up. Really! Because we've learned that if we keep warning her to not do this and that, she only either laughs it off, or does it again and again.

Oh well. I guess toddlers aren't at all adorable if they weren't so smart (or smart alecky)!

Cuts and bruises

Yesterday, Lia acquired her second bruise of her lifetime. I found out about it when I called home to ask about my baby, and the helper informed me that Lia's knees have just been scraped. The neighbor's kid pulled Lia towards her, and with Lia's smaller steps (the kid was 1.5 years older), she stumbled and scraped her knees, plus bruised her finger.

I went home with six cups of ice cream yesterday just to cheer Lia up. ;p

Lia had her first ever knee scrape around three weeks ago, while running along the stretch of the garage. She wouldn't let the nanny hold her hand, so there. She knew it was her fault; she told us the story of how it happened, later that day.

I wonder how she feels about her physical injuries? My first ever memory of my knees being scraped was when I was around 4. I was playing near a parked Pepsi truck. A great idea struck me - I climbed onto the truck, holding on to Pepsi bottles. Of course, I fell. Voila, my first ever bloody knee bruise. I ran home crying, and my mother poured (yes, poured) half a bottle of alcohol onto it. I believe my howl was louder than a hundred dogs'. From then on, I was very careful not to get myself cut/bruised. The memory of the searing pain of the alcohol was just too much.

Unperturbed. For now, that's how Lia is with her bruises and insect bites. ;)

Lia's second Christmas

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Originally uploaded by micaela.

I'd say Lia enjoyed her 2005 Christmas than the previous year's. This time she appreciates things - and guess what comes out when she opens her gifts. A loud and sincere "WOW!". Hahaha!

Mom and Dad bought her a VTech toy. She appreciated it all right. But the next day, when Lia got a bike from Ninang Anna and family -- well...just look at the pic to see the pure joy on her face!

Missing my baby

Yeah, big time. It's just that since the start of the month I've been out almost every weeknight and even on weekdays. As if I had a choice. :( My baby feels my absence, too. When I'm with her she won't let me out of her sight.

One day last week I came home late, and Lia was still up! Poor baby. Neil said she won't sleep. So I immediately took her to our room and lulled her to sleep. And she did; she slept right away.

This coming week's going to be hell for Lia and me again. Tomorrow, office Christmas party. On Wednesday, am attending another party. And another engagement on Friday night.

:( :( :(

Goodies!

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Originally uploaded by micaela.

And here's the little angel checking out her goodies.

Until now, the pumpkin basket still hasn't been emptied! Too much goodies in there!

Trick or Treat!

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Originally uploaded by micaela.

Lia went Trick-or-treatin' at the office! Along with the other kids, they spent the day at the office playing Halloween games, watching Harry Potter movies, coloring pictures, and of course, trick-or-treating.

My baby was so excited she only took one nap for the day! Hahahaha. And despite one (or two) monsters freaking her out, she had fun!

Bad hair day

I arrived home last Monday night to find Lia with shorter bangs.

"What happened?" I asked the yaya, while trying hard not to lose my temper at the thought that she, indeed, cut my baby's hair without my permission.

"Ginupit ko!" answered the yaya, somewhat proud.

I took a deep breath, and went upstairs to discuss the matter with Neil. I found out I could not discuss it with Neil without being mad. So, I just went back downstairs.

And had a screaming session with the yaya. Starring me, of course.

It was the first time I had an outburst with the nanny. I've always been very patient with her. Despite family and friends' comments that she was "preska", "feeling close", "atribida", I forced myself to ignore them. Just because she was also patient with Lia's kakulitan.

And, it was the first time, I think, that my anger got into her. After my outburst, she sulked in a corner. Until the next day, mind you.

I don't care. It was better that I got mad. She crossed the line already! Because of what she did, I felt she didn't respect us. (And therefore, my sermon was all about respect.)

Lia, meanwhile, has much much shorter bangs. Higher than her eyebrows. And a little bit layered.

Will just have to grow them back. Can't take her to the salon as they will just shorten her bangs just to keep them neat.

Sick baby

I took Lia to the hospital last Friday. She wasn't taking in too much food (or milk), her fever won't go down, and her cough bothered her at night (which led to us not getting any sleep either).

I actually wanted to have her confined earlier during the week because I was dead worried about her condition. The pedia was utterly conservative. Observe, she said. Whenever I sent her SMS informing her of my baby's condition, she'd always respond with "observe". Finally, on Friday, after having a sleepless night, Lia's pedia consented to have her confined.

As instructed, I first took her to Makati Med ER. The triage was expecting us, as the doctor had already called and briefed them. After the usual checking, they inserted an IV for her dextrose. Lia cried her lungs out! I dared not look at the resident inserting the IV as I feared that I might take pity on my baby and tell them to stop. I offered what I can - soothed her with momma's kisses.

Daddy held her as we wheeled them to the room. She started to cry again when she saw the resident who inserted the IV. After much crying, she fell asleep on the hospital bed, with me by her side.

Nursephobia?

Oh, that's inevitable, I think. Lia's lips would curl downwards, pout, and start to cry when the nurses came in. Even when they just came in to check her dextrose! Even if they were a feet away. She'd cry, and stop only when they've gone.

On the second day, she mustered enough courage not to cry, but to get mad at the nurses. She'd grunt and move away when they'd come near her. Hahaha!

Before she was discharged, she was chummy with the nurses. Smiling at them, waving her hand to say "hi". Funny girl!

Will to get well

A day after Lia was admitted, she was almost up the whole day. Reading her books, talking to Mrs. Turtle and baby Turtle (heehee, toys from Ninang Tiff), and blowing imaginary bubbles on her bubble-wand.

The doc however advised that she still stay in the hospital, because her fever was still fluctuating.

My little girl didn't look like she was sick: she sang, smiled, babbled the whole day.

Discharged

The next day was a bright one for Lia: she was going to be discharged! While the nurse took off her IV, she watched in fascination. And when her left hand was finally free, she counted her fingers. Made sure they were still there! Hahaha! And then she smiled, and laughed.

And during the ride home, a bright smile was pasted on my baby's face.

Mommy Badge

My friend Marc said I deserve a Mommy badge already for Lia's first hospitalization. ;p

Accomplishment No. 41

Nah, just kidding. I DON'T have a number for each of Lia's accomplishments! Duh!

Anyway...Lia's been sick since Sunday, and she's not eating much (or drinking her milk) for the past three days. =(

But this morning, after many attempts of cajoling her to eat and drink her milk, I decided to put her milk on her new drinking cup. This cup had a straw. Maybe, just maybe, this new experience would prompt her to drink. Then, I showed Lia how to sip.

When I handed the cup to her, she sipped, too! I can't believe how easy it was for her to do that. (Or maybe I'm just overreacting, hmmm?)

So, here's a proud mom. Plus, she consumed her milk (finally) - which made me even happier. =)

The end of the zoo trip

Our trip ended briefly, as it was already getting dark. Lia was still hyper on our way home, though. Hehehe.

Mr. Croc

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Originally uploaded by micaela.

And there's the croc, trying to keep still.

Helpful birds

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Originally uploaded by micaela.

A couple of them even tried to push Lia's stroller. Heheheh!

Friendly birds

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Originally uploaded by micaela.

And then the parrots perched on us, friendly ones, they are...