DAY 332: August 9th, 2010

Dear Jam,

Today is a new day, full of new beginnings and surprises.

First is the life that we have just begun as an independent family unit. We woke up earlier today than the days we'd find ourselves having breakfast back at Kauswagan. Daddy cooked breakfast for us and it was your first time to really show craving for food. I caught you creeping towards the table where you grabbed a handful of egg and shoved it in your mouth. Then I received a call from your Auntie Sher asking me to meet with her and your Uncle Shane in our hometown, Molugan. So Daddy and I devised a plan to synchronize our schedule to favor Auntie Sher's request, my timing at work and most importantly, your sleep and rest. After breakfast, Daddy cleaned his bike while you and I had the time for an early bike session around the compound. This is where we met the owner's one-year-old grandson. His grandmother and I were exchanging thoughts about, doctors, baby diet, and everything under pediatrics. She was saying that they were having problems feeding their baby according to their doctor's advice to give the child at least one egg yolk a day. I could only be thankful of your recent demands for "eeg" lately because you can consume a whole egg, all yellows and whites. True because in the evening when we were in Lapasan, you finished a whole plate of rice and another "eeg".

The cutest thing happened today and that is your first ever bike ride! We had to drop you off at Kauswagan for Nahnang to watch and take care of because we couldn't bring you on the long bike trip to Molugan. You were hesitant the first time, your muscles were tense and you were a bit uncomfortable. But when you started to see cars, roads, and...CATS, you just couldn't tuck your head in. You wanted to see the world! But of course, I couldn't let you because we had to go through narrow passages and traffic, I didn't want to risk you getting hurt.

Second then was our meeting with Auntie Sher. It has been after 17 years since we last saw
each other. When I was ten and she was eleven, I had thought she was only staying in Manila for a couple of days. It wasn't until 2001 that I learned she had been staying in Australia all this time. We just had to be carried away with sweet and funny recollections. She had hoped to see you, which is why tomorrow, you and Nahnang will be coming with us. She'll be staying here for a week and it will be long before she can ever come back so she wanted to spend as much time with family. We planned about tomorrow and planned about a big beach party on Sunday. I am excited at the same time anxious with what will happen these coming days.

The third surprise came from you, as you are always full of surprises! When we went home on Daddy's bike, it was a bit onwards 11 PM, I had expected you to be more afraid since it was dark and cold. But there you were insisting not to put your hood over your head and upon seeing a cat kept "meowing" until we got home. I thought with his helmet on, Daddy couldn't hear you but as we landed on our feet he said that the wind carried your precious little voice in the night and that for him, was a reminder to take care in driving.

JAMantic of the Day:
"armpit" - As Daddy has taught your the parts of your body, he is also the one who oriented you to your armpit, after recently instructing you where your "tummy" is. I am proud of him. His effort is heart warming that though he has short comings, his orientation as a parent and a husband is well-founded and that makes him an admirable character.

Your MAYmah,