Elissa and the Breastpump

This is proof that kids initially learn by imitating others. Us grown-ups really need to watch what we say or do... See Elissa and her attempt at breast pumping!!!

Oooohh... Mommy's shields

Need to put up my shirt

Now where does Mommy put it?

Need to put both of 'em on

There's the pump! Lets put our shirt down...

Where's the switch?

A Party Filled Weekend

Elissa had a full social calendar this weekend, celebrating three (actually, four) birthdays. The celebrants ranged from ages three to seventy-nine!

October 5, Friday, was Lola-lola Mila's 79th birthday. Ninang Faith organized a party for family and friends at Matahimik. There was a merienda cena of Mongolian food, halo-halo, bibingka and puto bungbong that stretched to dinner. A pianist provided the music and Lola's Wednesday Group friends came to try a Mary Kay facial and make-up trial. The pianist stayed until the evening and some of us got encouraged to sing and dance along.

Groovy Lola-lola singing (note Elissa in a Mary Kay headband),
Lola Pearl and Mommy Karla singing along

See Katrisse in her party outfit

Elissa was shy at first as she didn't want to sing nor say Happy Birthday. When most of the guests have left, her Auntie Bea gave her the microphone again and she didn't want to let go!

Elissa with her Ninang Yssa having a Mary Kay "facial"

October 6, Saturday, was Mommy Mel's birthday. We heard mass at St. James as we offered the 5:30PM mass for Mommy's birthday thanksgiving. We had a scrumptious dinner at Old Swiss Inn and ice cream at home for dessert.

The birthday Wawa with Elissa (holding hands pa sila!)

The afternoon of October 7, Sunday, was spent at Outback restaurant to celebrate the birthdays of Adrian's friend, Ritchel and his daughter, Nicole. Ritchel was turning 30 (or 31?) and Nicole was celebrating her 3rd birthday.

Elissa did not join the games but enjoyed playing with the balloons and eating the chicken wings, with her fingers - "Ammy!" (translated as "Yummy" in Elissa's language) Too bad my camera's battery ran out and I wasn't able to take a picture of Elissa nibbling on the chicken bone. Oh, I could have taken a picture with my celphone but I was too busy nibbling on the chicken bone myself - hehehe...

Elissa with the birthday girl, Nicole, and her balloon

Elissa clowning around with her balloon (taken with the cameraphone)

It was a tiring weekend but well spent with family and friends :)

Smiling and Cooing

When Katrisse turned two months, she wasn't cooing or reacting much. My initial reaction was that "she should be cooing by now!" But being a mom for the second time, I should already know that all babies develop and behave differently from one another.

We know that she saw us as her eyes followed us when we move. Only that she wasn't reacting. Little by little, we talked to her more often, we heard her cooing back and giving us a small smile. Last Friday on our way to my Lola's house, she was in a super good mood that she gave one of her biggest smiles...

I didn't need to be worried after all. :)

Potty Training

Elissa is now 1 year and 8 months and I have yet to properly toilet train her. She used to like the potty chair but I think with the change in yayas when she turned one and since I was always tired (most likely lazy) when I was pregnant with Katrisse, I wasn't really patient enough to put her in the seat. I even bought a seat that you put on top of the water closet, hopefully to change her image of toilet training because she really didn't "move" anymore in the original potty chair.

After several mornings of putting her in the bathroom, she was willing to be brought to the toilet yesterday. She said "poopoo" and we brought her there. After several minutes, SUCCESS!!! :) As a bonus, it happened again this morning! :) I just hope that I'm not just lucky and that she's really prepared for the potty already.

Amy Tan and Burma

I love reading Amy Tan. I started off, many years ago, with The Joy Luck Club and it probably encouraged my liking for other Oriental-themed books. She recently came out with Saving Fish From Drowning, something that is quite different from her usual works. This is one of the many books I purchased during the National Bookstore book sale that I recently finished.

Honestly, I was quite bored at the start but I just patiently read more until the story and its characters stated to mix together well. It's about tourists from the US who "disappeared" while touring Burma, or now known as Myanmar. Whatever happened to them and all their side stories were narrated by this Chinese art-lover and socialite who's dead. She was supposed to join the group but passed away unexpectedly and joined the tour "in spirit".

What is more interesting is that current events are now talking about the demand for democracy in Myanmar led by the monks. The book touched on the military junta and their suppressing regime. The book was just apropos. I suppose if not for the book, I would not have been interested in what is happening in that part of the world which recently have been detailed in the news websites.

Interesting no?