Missing out on Milestones

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Being with my son for the past 5 days (weekend + 3 work days) made me realize how much he has grown and is now his own person. He gets frustrated easily, plays with several toys at the same time (oh, he looks like his dad but is more of me in attitude) and he is an affectionate and articulate little boy. Reviewing his pictures and making a pact to have them all printed soon, I found this from our Baguio trip with him smiling, showing the lower front tooth that fell off the early part of this year. I didn't even get to blog about that important milestone where he felt like a "big boy" now that the baby teeth are being replaced by permanent ones. Fast forward to August, he now has 3 permanent teeth, not one needing tooth extraction. Yey for cost savings and louder yey for another benefit of breastfeeding! I love you my little boy and mom's gonna miss you when I return to work.

The Cool Baguio Weather

Along with half of Metro Manila, we trooped to Baguio last January to enjoy the pleasant weather. It was a spur of the moment decision, meaning everything was decided on, planned and booked in a week.

Another spur of the moment, but a well-worth it investment: a nice Canon G15! Small but packs a punch. I happily took all our Baguio photos with this and my amateur eye says I've made (and read all over the internet) the right decision!


We made the trip at 11 pm on a Deluxe bus to Baguio from Pasay and reached the Baguio Terminal around 5 pm on a very cold early morning (we heard it was 9 degrees that day)!




After a brief cab ride, we were welcomed by the warmth of Citylight Hotel, our home for 3 days. It's perched on top of a hill (aren't all places in Baguio do?) so we can just easily walk from the hotel to Session Road at night.

My sleep deprived self had to double check if I was seeing a bear at a hotel lobby. Turned out, it was the Front Desk officer with a really cute hat.

My son sweats like crazy. Nobody believes it when we say that when we leave the house for a simple trip to the mall, I bring at least 2 extra shirts for him. When we are out the whole day, we bring at least 6. Not to mention the countless pamunas for his back. So it has been my dream to dress him (and me!) in cool spring- season clothes.

So, that makes this Baguio trip a dream come true! Our OOTDs were documented and we tried to be as colorful as possible.

I have to commend Citylight's breakfast.Very good selection and they offer something different in the two days we were there.

Had 2nd and 3rd servings of their pancakes

Fueling up for the long day ahead

The hotel is also very near the Cathedral.




Picture-picture at the lobby before our entourage left the hotel.

Not wanting to waste a second, we hailed a cab to Mines View Park.Cab drivers are mostly nice and more importantly, give the proper change to passengers. I wish Manila drivers will be like that, too.

I don't know if it's just me looking through the eyes of my son, but Baguio is more beautiful, cleaner and greener this time.




Maybe because we were there early, or it must be the weather but I honestly couldn't believe Mines View Park can be this peaceful.

Of course, don't leave Mines View without a  pic by this distractingly pink-haired horse. They smell, but they look so photogenic.




After my fill of pictures, and going around the stalls, we rode a jeep to our next destination: The Mansion. Aside from the facade, there is really nothing much to do or see here so I made this little boy pose and pose for my new camera.

We hopped on another jeep to take us to Wright Park.

 


 "This is Instagram-worthy" (per the taho vendor). Looks nice but only has one measly strawberry--not cool!

I really, really love the woven cloth and want to purchase rolls to be crafted into shorts and other chic stuff. I do believe in promoting local products and artisans. Here's us making the most of our costume-rental.

Through the kindness of strangers, we got to have a group shot. I volunteered to take their group picture in return.

There are several nice spots where you can rest and enjoy the cool January breeze.

 Just across is the Botanical Gardens. I will take my old photos out of the baul and edit this entry with my photo on this spot taken when I was around Jared's age. Now, that will be a cool throwback!

After 4 attractions in one morning, we were famished by lunchtime. I trolled blogs for days to check the best places to eat in Baguio so I don't know why we ended up eating at Gerry's Grill at SM Baguio for lunch on our first day. =)

to be continued

Jared Says....

My son is the comic relief in our house. Since I am way behind on blogging, I am thankful my mama's updates on her news feed on FB are mostly my son's antics and words.

Here are random conversations between him and grandma.

This just in:
Grandma: Why does your head smell like that? What is your shampoo?
Jared: Brand X

* * *

J: grandma buy me a new bike po
Me: you already have a bike ah
J: i want an angry bird bike not the thomas bike
Me: i don't have money na
J: why, are you poor grandma?
Me: i don't have work now
J: di ba you work there
Me: ha, where?
J: there in the binggo-han


* **
Narinig ni j na kuma kanta ang kapitbahay na nag vivideoke
J: grandma, is there a mass in the neighbor's house?

* * *

J: grandma, daddy got angry because i did not follow him
Me: why, what happened?
J: because i told daddy, the boss in this house is mommy eh

* * *

J: grandma, i will collect medals
Me: so you have to study hard to have high grades
J: no, i will just buy it. Where can we buy medals?

* * *

J: ay ang sakit ng ulo ko facebook na lang ng facebook si grandma so tagal i cannot use the ipad

* * *

Nagbibilang ng by 5s
J: 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 Hahaha
Me: why are you laughing?l
J: grandma, i can have a bAby na when i'm 35 di ba

* * *

J: grandma, why do they call you lola? They are not your apo.
Me: because i'm old na. When you are old na, what do you want to be called, grandpa or lolo?
J: No, i want to be daddy first.

* * *

Let's study Science
Me: give me example of gas, liquid and solid
J: when i go to the comfort room, i utot that's gas. Then i pee that's liquid and i uo so that's solid
Me: 3 in 1. You give that example to your teacher?
J: no po, she might get angry eh

* * *


J: grandma i know 6 banks
Me: really! What are they?
J: (counting with his fingers)bdo, bpi, east west, metro bank, cebuana and central bank
Me:but cebuana is not a bank
J: it is. Look at the commercial o, the man gets money from cebuana
Me: central bank is not a regular bank
J: it is the boss of all banks

* * *

A t the doctor's clinic:
Doc: jared do you go to school already?
Jared: no po, its summer eh maybe by june
Doc: oo nga naman. What grade are you now?
Jared: kinder 2 but soon i will be in college and then i will work na

* * *

After putting on make up
Mommy: anak am i pretty?
Jared: (without looking and still playing with the ipad) you're pretty-ful mom


* * *

Jared: grandma how old are you?
Grandma: i'm 62
Jared: eh how old is your tummy, how old is your brain?


* * *

While watching the evening news

Jared: why did she die?
Grandma: because she's old na
Jared: grandma, you will die na because you're old na
Grandma: no, no not yet i'm still young
Jared: when nga, what month?

* * *

Jared praying : Jesus please save our house make it healthy and strong and i pray for the BARANGAY and SOCO to watch our house po. Amen

           

Playdates and why it's not just about play

My body is showing signs of aging. I almost can't keep up with our energetic boy. That plus the fact that I do have to work at home sometimes, or the fact I'm too tired, make me turn down a few of his requests to "come play with me mom. laro po tayo".

That is why I jump at opportunities to join playdates. The boy gets to have his fill of play, and mom gets to chat with like-minded mommies.

The setting of the playdate is the wonderful Tribeca Residences where they have this bigger-than-the-malls play area and the piece de resistance' : a football field!




Found his buddy (Mec's son) for the afternoon as they are the bigger kids in that batch.

Posing at the bleachers.

 After going through several shirts, it's time for the art activity.

 All geared up and waiting for instructions from Teacher Khrizzy.




 In full concentration.

And then this was unveiled and became an instant magnet for the kids.

Here are the kids with their artwork.

In between play, I managed to grab him to pose for a souvenir shot.

It was a riot getting the kids to pose properly. And we were looking in different directions.

Before said bye and thanks to our hosts for the day, Tita Mec obliged and showed Jared some knitting basics. Thanks, Mec!

Until the next play date!

Someday

On most days, I let Jared take the lead in choosing his books. Especially in mama's house where there are plenty lying around, he gets to choose whatever he feels like reading.

But when my friend Maqui wrote about this book, I was compelled to find a copy. I am always thankful and pray that they don;t close shop, that there is a Booksale at the ground floor of our ofifce building. I run there for emergency assignments and to look for certain books.

I succeeded on my first try.

So one weekend, I took out the book and let the boy sit beside me.

Curious about the content.

Even if he can read on his own, I wanted to read this to him. He was absorbed...

until  the middle of the book when his eyes got watery.

Here he is after we finished the book. My poor baby got so affected he cried and declared he never wanted to see that book again.

The book now rests inside a cabinet. I will take it out again when he's ready... someday.

Summer in Manila: Our McDonald's Kiddie Crew

If given a chance to eat one food for the rest of his summer vacation, I'm pretty sure this 5 year old would say "one piece chicken and rice, please" from where else but McDonald's!

I've been blogging about our love for the McDo on a hill, and how we always treasure our weekend mornings there. Working at his favorite place would surely thrill him no end. Thanks to mama who found out we can actually enroll him at 5, because I've read materials the minimum age is 6.


The Uniform (and snacks)

Even before his 5- day stint officially began, the parents and guardians were asked to come in for a brief orientation. With the P500 fee, the kids were issued a kiddie crew shirt, an apron, a cap and a sling bag! That alone was worth maybe more than the fee already. Not to mention they also provide snacks to the kids before their duty ends everyday.



The Duty
Of course I was more than excited for my son to begin his actual "work". He was enrolled on April 8 to 12. Good thing we have the April 9 holiday so we get to watch him on the floor.

He got to be an assistant at the cashier

studying the order slip

reading it, or trying to

looking for utensils and tissue

Helped at the takeout counter

He mostly placed tissue on the trays and was heard saying " what, tissue again!" After placing tissue at a customer's tray probably for the nth time.



Welcomed and thanked the guests

Welcome to McDonald's and Thank you for coming!

hmm,  play or work?

tired na?

all smiles

Served food

 


Aside from the duty, they also participated in some fun stuff!

Learned the "Do the Ronald" dance
 
Like singing, and dancing.

Dance away (never mind if he's in the opposite direction =) )

Painted their apron

He loves anything involving paint and this one is no different.

And the highlight: made their own burger!

ahhh, will post the photos once I find them


The Awarding

If the 5 days weren't special enough, they received special pins and certificates towards the end of the program.
 
A this point in time our son must have felt he can do anything!!!!

Thank you, Mcdo!

I'd be forever thankful to whoever started this summer activity. True, the kids were sometimes a handful, and in truth, was slowing them down more than being of help. But the crew at Mcdo were so helpful and good at this already the kids felt they were truly helping. In fact, my son was so proud of his work stint he continues to wear his kiddie crew shirt as much as he can long after those 5 memorable days were over.

Approved!