DAY 208: December 12, 2010; SUNDAY

219 (and then some)
Days of "Strawberry Jam" without "J"

Dear Jam,

These are early morning tears. This is so because you saw Nahnang and Mamilou get dressed to attend the mass at the atrium, whereas you and I were barely ready. You must have thought that they left us behind without a care. I hadn't thought it would flare up to this because you seemed casual when they left, saying "Lala Buh-bye?". But add that to lack of sleep, perhaps thus the crying game. As soon as you saw that I was ready to leave, bags and all, you were becalmed, spotting my sunglasses for me as you wore yours. You said "Tatap, Mommy, eyes" to mean that you and I had to wear sunglasses.

It was a (darned) hot day. We had to constantly stay under the shade of our umbrella when we proceeded to Carmen where I was to leave you for a couple of hours because I wanted to take on the invite from Mamilou and Nahnang to watch the latest installment of THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA in 3D. And I have to admit to being such a loser as I have never, since the blue-and-red 3D glasses, tried the latest in theaters. Being with you almost 24/7 hasn't allowed me the luxury to do so, not that I am blaming you but this was something offhand that I really wanted to do with Mamilou and Nahnang. It's also been a long time since we had a bonding quite like it. I also went to see some good friends of ours in Villanueva.

As planned, when I got back in Kauswagan, you were already there. As the night drew in, Nonong Poloy delivered you to Mamilou after they had her own little trip to SM with Nahnang to scout for their Christmas Party giveaways. You were so excited to see me arrive that in your effort to jump down from Nahnang's lap, your diaper seal took off before you could.

ACCORDING TO NAHNANG:
You and she had a little "Twinkle Twinkle"concert with the "monde" lyrics. I think you prompt her with the word "monde" to mean "diamond" as cue to sing the song. Or I think you had an interpretative dance with it, I am unsure. I better get back on Nahnang about this to be sure if I got that correctly. I wasn't around when this happened, you know.

When I was there though, we; Mamilou, Nahnang, I, and sometimes you, sang some Christmas carols. Nahnang was on the keyboards with Mamilou beside her singing the harmony, I was in bed singing the second voice soprano and you were...at the foot of the bed, amusing yourself with a pen in your hand. I also witnessed how you have taken a liking to "Wets" aka "Rex" our Rottweiler and his likenesses of Nahnang's stuffed Rots. As soon as the word touched your lips, you just kept saying it as if you were calling Rex himself. Poor boy with his sensitive hearing, he could sense you were calling him from the bedroom and he could only moan to your calling. It's cute coz you rarely take a liking on dogs. To see you so excited about it is a sign that you have begun to broaden your selection of preference. At one point, you have abandoned Bucky the stuffed Meemeen to play with Rex the hot dog pillow; wrapping it with a cardboard paper like it was a gift.

JAMantic of the Day:
Well, one is for the balloon from Tita Vanessa, which you have assumed to be what we call nowadays as "medicine ball". You ride on it and bounce with it on the floor. Two is for "Babash teeth si Tatap?" as a reference to yourself brushing your teeth when we took a shower at the pad before proceeding to Carmen. Three is for how you have been recently bugging Mamilou while she is meditating for her evening prayer. Whenever you see her open her prayer book, you made it a point to make your voice larger than the deafening silence in the room by calling her "LALA!". Haha! But between you and her God, this is the only time she can say no to you!

Your Mommy,

Strawberry-No-Jam 016

December 11, 2010
XU Little Theater
Xavier University

Dear Jam,

Well, it was better than I expected. Even better than my performance at HOLCIM where I had to grope for words every time I had to transition from one character, or from one idea to another. I think I felt at home this time, not only because I was performing "at home" but because I used the vernacular for the most part and people found it easier to connect with that laid-back ambiance I was bringing. The laughter and the applause was something more than I could ever want for than the actual number of attendees. To be honest, it made me even more nervous to see that the Xavier Little Theater was barely half full. It was raining hard and any other possible spectators found it difficult to brave wind and rain. Mamala couldn't make it, herself. But there was Nahnang with D'Crammerz Tita Sheila. There was the tandem of Teachers Jenifer and Mhardy, not to forget Nohnong and Tita Vanessa. When I thought she would not attend, I found your Tita Jet with her cousin after I finished my performance.

What made me nervous is the fact that I may not be able to please a meager number of audience. As in a bigger audience, at least I can rely on its half who could get the groove of it all, the piece that celebrated the craziness in Call Center life. But you know what, God gave the 100% participation and reaction I didn't expect. To think, after the performance, as I sat down to watch the other numbers and pieces going on, I found that the room was merely filled with less than a hundred people, excluding the lot of other performers. But then there was the cheers of a thousand applause, the voices of a thousand appreciation and the "I love you"s I found to be so sweetly amusing and heart-warming. At one point, I recognized Tita Vanessa's voice or Teacher Jenifer and...as Nahnang admits, it was the reserved-looking Tita Sheila who did one of the cat calls. That was so cool! The sweetest sort of self-redemption, I have thankfully achieved through wonderful and supportive friends.

It was an enjoyable night of a talent variety. Tita Agnes closed the evening's event with her rendition of the Broadway songs and themes from Little Mermaid, which I so immensely enjoyed, being a fan of the them all. There was ballet, which I am sure you would have enjoyed had you seen it. There was a band, a group of energetic kids who danced a medley of popular songs, then a boy with a beat in his box! Beat Box champion, right from CDeO, proud to say. At first, I wasn't given the reception I got right after I took the stage. I kept them guessing what I was about to do there, shrugging my shoulder with "Maybe" whenever they asked me if I were to sing or do cartwheels. When I said I would do a monologue, it was merely shunned to the likes of dramatic pieces ala "Alms, alms, spare me a piece of bread." Well, to say I surprised, amazed and amused them, is an understatement - and that's saying something, if I may speak of myself.

Thank God for the talent and the apparent of which it may just be passed on to you! Are you ready to take the responsibility? :D

Love, Mommy

DAY 209: December 11, 2010; SATURDAY

220 (and then some)
Days of "Strawberry Jam" without "J"


Dear Jam,

Nahnang visited us in the pad early, to do their satellite laundry with our washing machine. We're like a laundromat now, you know. Haha! You were so cute when I woke up, you and she were whispering. I caught her prodding you to wake me up and she had thought I was only pretending to sleep coz I was smiling as this was going on. To be clear, I wasn't. Maybe I was just having some smile-worthy dream! Haha! As soon as I was awake though, you pleasantry towards her wore off, pushing her away whenever she moved closer to me. She said you were sweeter when I was asleep, saying "Hi Baby!" to her when she opened the door, upon arriving. I don't know if you perceive it as play, separately from sibling rivalry-like defenses because you were amiable to her when she was eating, crawling to her like the Kitten that you are, asking to be fed from her ricebowl.

A little later, Mamilou arrived. That wasn't something planned and I had thought that she would attend my show. Neither had she planned to visit nor planned to watch my show, she had a lot of errands to run for their Christmas party and she wasn't feeling well at the same time. After using our water closet, she had found a quiet spot on the bunk bed and fell asleep with her oppressing headache. And with you at her back saying "Lala? Lala? Yayay?". She was in too deep slumber to notice. You would turn to me and Nahnang once in a while to throw us a question of "Lala?" perhaps to ask what was going on with Mamilou.

When you were ready, I took you and a bagful of provisions and clothes for your stay in Carmen and for an overnight stay in Kauswagan. We took a quick trip, the first one in fact, to the new Kathryn's branch in our neighborhood. I was a little disappointed that though their spot looked cozy and nicer than the others, there wasn't much of the delicious breads and pastries that you liked. Gladly, that was put to ease when I saw that the Selecta Gold Series came in 100 mL cutesie sizes. After you nodded vigorously to the Berry Strawberry, I checked it out with a smallish Ube Ensymada. You ate it in the jeep on our way to Carmen, relishing the real chunks of Strawberry, once in a while, pushing the spoon to me so I can have a bite. Thank you, Keen! ;)

After the show, we dropped by Carmen before proceeding to Kauswagan. Thanks to Tita Vanessa, the balloon I had thought she was bringing for herself was actually for you. You were so excited to play with it, kept calling it with that curious pronunciation of yours for "ball". I can't spell it as you speak it but it has that similarity to how the Korean word for water is pronounced; something like "mul" with the tongue folded inwards. You had to fight Mamilou or Lolo for it, just so you could throw it up and down. You were excited about it even as we rode from Carmen to Kauswagan that you were tossing it to the driver's seat, covering Nohnong's driving view. I had to hide it from you to stop you doing it, lest (God forbid) Nohnong's loses vision of the road.

JAMantic of the Day:
For you, it is never too late to soak in a tub of "booboosh". This is what you asked for as soon as we arrived in Kauswagan. To make the late night bath fun and to keep you put, I threw in an old acquaintance. Poloy the Penguin. Hehe! It came with the other two, Wally the Walrus and Daddy the Turtle, who are unlike Poloy the Penguin, gone. However, as it bears some similarities with a duck, you would insist to call it "Tatee" or ducky even as I kept teaching you with the word 'penguin'.

Your Mommy,

DAY 210: December 10, 2010; FRIDAY

221 (and then some)
Days of "Strawberry Jam" without "J"

Dear Jam,

Somebody is drawing attention to her cute aviator hat! That would be Mommy's adorable Kitten :D This happened when we went to Limketkai to buy you some fries and burger from "Ja-yee-bee". Like yesterday, OR since yesterday, we didn't have anything in the stores to cook so I decided I might as well indulge your prodding of "Ja-yee-bee". People must have thought you to be an Eskimo who got lost from the Polar caps. Haha! Nah! You look cute when you put that on. You even hold the fluffy balls by the ears, tilt your head and say "Meemeen".

Thank God that it was only after we have settled ourselves in the cafe and FoodHauz that the rain started. It was a heavy rain too, in lieu of the heat that was bearing down on us earlier. It rained so hard the water outside the cafe was just about half a centimeter near from getting in the door. It rained so loud that I can hear it through the glass.

I was a little sad when I saw Daddy's e-mail where he said that it was okay for him that I performed for as long as it didn't involve a band. I mean, I am not complaining. In fact, I appreciate that he cares in such a way. I had been expecting this kind of thing actually but I didn't know the actual blow would hurt me a bit. To be told not to do one of the things I am passionate about is like having an ingrown nail in the foot. But later on as I inspected it, my feelings and Daddy's intentions, I realized that he was showing that he cared after all when I thought he was merely shrugging everything else that mattered to me. This is a partnership and for it to work, the other has to acquiesce with the other or else draw an agreement after talking about it. Besides, I haven't told him what my performance was. Hee hee. Mommy and mischief!

Gladly, I was cheered to become friends with Tita Glenda's friend, who happens to be a very delightful blogger, Tita Ton. Like us, she also has her fan page, Kero's Celebration where she not only posts links to her recent blogs but a spot where she hosts online contests and where she gives away freebies. I was lucky enough to take advantage of one freebie in the form of an e-book from "Story Time for Me". There is one thing that really caught me about it and that is the part where you, my dear, get to be the character of an e-story. Isn't that great? I think I have all of it set, I just need you on my lap to read it with me. Like her and Tita Glenda who both washed out the gloom of the rainy day, I am also thankful to your Tita Mia and Ninang Hazel who upon seeing the post of your picture from yesterday's shoot, immediately hit the LIKE button. Then there was Tito Rhee who was sweet enough to endorse the benefit concert tomorrow to his batchmates in Liceo University. Yes, it's going to be tomorrow. I will be standing in front of a crowd again and make a fool out of myself just to make people laugh. The reality hit me finally when I met with your Tita Agnes who gave me the tickets to the show. Appearing to me the night before the show was encouragement enough, thanks to her, too. Thank God for friends!

ACCORDING TO MAMALA:
You confused her when you said "abay" or "lie beside" when you would actually push her away after you would gesture the pillow. She didn't mind that for what mattered to her was your appetite. She said it was getting better after you ate a lot of rice with fresh fish soup for dinner. I say, you were quite heavy when I picked you up on our way home.

JAMantic of the Day:
Aside from eating off your measured milk provisions with your bare hands, you argued about TV with me tonight when we got home. I asked if "You wanna watch TV?", you nodded your head to that and said
"Meow meow Meemeen?".
"NO" I said, "GLEE lang so we can sing."
"Nono sising. Nonono. Meow meow Meemeen. No sising."
I fell quiet to your insistence for awhile but put Glee on anyway, which you made no further protestation when you heard the "sising". Later on, as the show ran out of the enjoyable singing and dancing parts, you pointed the TV and said "Opf!" Hahah! You wanted me to switch it off, which I did as I sensed it was about time you went to sleep. You're ordering me around, huh? Like earlier with the candy wrapper or that scratch paper, you said "Tapon!" It's okay, we'll get to the part where you'll understand why it isn't good to talk to Mommy or Daddy that way, as soon as you're big enough! ;)

Your Mommy,





P.S. Here's how our Christmas tree looks like after we added the lights we bought yesterday. It's rather a bit too red, isn't it? Well, at least it won't be a blue Christmas for you and me but one which is Strawberry Red with love!

Before Being: December 9, 2008 (1905Hrs)

Dear Jam, Baby Jam,

It's been a long time since I wrote because I've honestly been postponing. I've been postponing until I have pooled enough significant things I've done with you and myself and/or for you and myself because there simply are days when I'd do nothing. Well, I've done a tad lot more since.

First, your Ninang Charissa and I went out of our (unemployed) ways to sell our handicrafts and old clothes in a Portia Sorority tent during the Xavier Days. I didn't go to (study) XU, neither did your Ninang Jai for we both felt that it was too...(not us) well, don't take our word for it because that's where Mamilou graduated from. Thanks to her Student Assistant Scholarship.

I wasn't as lucky as your Ninang Charissa, though. I felt she was luckier because she was "with" a pregnant woman. He He he! I was her lucky charm in a way. We sold nothing, you and I. But I did name the handicraft batch after you and me - Strawberry Jam*.

Second, I bought your hygiene kit, bought your bottle sterilizer pot and embroidered your cap-mitten-booties set, which leaves me with one more set to embroider.

Third, your Didi called earlier today and he said he has a gift for you - and it's our little secret that we have something for him, too. ;)

Well, I'm going to roceed without numbering the sequence - Mamilou came from Bohol and Manila...what a jet-setter life! From vacation to a career in Manila and she's just so happy - she deserves it, you know. Your Ninang Majal thought you were out into the world already and she was blabbing the nonsense of why I din't tell her. She got the scolding! Haha!

Ooh! It's hot Baby Jam! Ibought a new stand fan from our savings because it will be much needed when you and your Didi arrives. But then again, it's still so warm. Isn't it December? What's wrong with the climate these days? I'm gonna stop here. My beads of sweat have managed to make a jewelry piece around my neck. Oh! I almost forgot! After our America's Next Top Model Mania, we have Project Runway fever! It's nice but I didn't get to buy the two newer seasons. I'm planning to review some old favorites like the Harry Potter series and then some... :D

From your Mimi

Milestone Memoir 2009

December 9, 2009

Dear Baby Kitten,

It's already December and my last entry was when we were in Carmen - it only means one thing; I've been procrastinating, so I have a lot of catching up to do!

November 25
We stayed in Carmen for our second night and this to everybody's delight because you have learned the expression "ABAH!"...or more like a reaction.

November 26
Before we got back home, you hung around in Carmen for a couple of hours where you learned hot to look for "DEDE" and looked on everyone's titties, even Papalo's. And that was while I went to Kauswagan to help with the general cleaning. We finally got home and I got back to internet where I relished your Daddy's email. However, you have been showing amoeba-like symptoms.

November 27
Your entamoeba signs and symptoms persist and colds set in so we had to stay home and rest.

November 29
You had a lab exam for the entamoeba threat in Madonna and Child. Daddy called to say that they're on their way to Europe and won't be available until the 2nd week of December. I reported this to Carmen gladly and you exhibited your talent of mimicking a sneeze. They kept saying "ACHIM". I guess that's "aching" in Ivatan. New word for me!

November 30
It's Ninang Jaijai's birthday but it's Ninang Charissa's pre-Birthday bash. We went to THAI ME UP with your Ninang Jaijai and Ninang Nat joined in later as well. You joined in the festivities (eating I mean) since Ninang Natnat prescribed Pedialyte and you've been better since.

December 1
It's Ninang Charissa's Birthday but it's Mamilou's and Ninang's post-birthday dinner and we all went back to THAI ME UP. I was in a tight budget because ASIANTOUCH only gave me Php1,100 out of the Php2,100 allowance I was supposed to get. But thank God anyway.

December 2
I started getting sick with cough.

December 3
Nothing much happened. I left you mostly in the care of Ate Jocel while I was down with cough.

December 4
We stayed home still and with Mommy's cough threatening however, Daddy's email bade me better. Earlier in the mrning though Mamailou sent me to pawn her necklace beacuse she said she didn't have money anymore since Antilo Ching didn't send any yet.

December 5
We went to SM with Mamilou and Ninang to buy our ration. You didn't want the grocery cart to stop from moving since you rode in it.

December 6
We went to Carmen and saw Ate Nikka (Ate Mae Anne's sister) who got this curious case of illness. She said her stomach was aching and she's feeling all these bad symptoms, which affect her speaking and behavior. It's been ten days since she fell victim into this serious illness and their doctor in Bukidnon simply diagnosed it as UTI. And witout so much as studying it as running tests, the doctor gave her six kinds of medicines. Some of which are antibiotics even I couldn't handle, to think of my tolerance to meds. Ate Nikka's about nine so these adult drugs may just cause more harm to her body than actually help it get better. On the lighter side, there was Ate Issa, your look alike. I went bonkers looking at you then her ad back - comparing the uncanny similarities.

December 7 HAPPY 11TH MONTHSARY!
Everyone else forgot to greet you except Mommy of course, though I as kind half-hearted about it because Ate Nikka had to be taken into hospital admissions. Mamala said she will be needed to go through MRI and CAT Scan. Hope she will be okay, she's too young to suffer the mysteries of the anatomy. Oh well, no one is too young to be a victim of the body's mystics.

December 8
I was supposed to visit Ate NIkka but since I can't leave you, I simply stayed home. I just can't resist the fact that your appetite is better and I can't stop looking at you and how big a girl you already are. Daddy said he just arrived in Europe. I kinda feel bad because the package that I sent didn't arrive in time si he hasn't got any pictures or letter as expected.

December 9
Ninang Jaijai went out with us to scout for your birthday; searching for cakes and party favors. We happened by POTS N' PANS owned by Sir Edgar, a friend of the family. He couldn't resist your charisma, plucked you from my arms and cuddle you, giving you later a cookie to take home. We then had a post-11th Monthsary celebration for you, the three of us. We went to McDo to eat lunch, went to SM to buy your 1st ever toothbrush, your dainty holiday skirt, your princess tiara and some of your party favors. Though I am kind of worried because since earlier, this 0500Hrs during a blackout, you've been having bouts of tears, painful tears. It happened in SIM and just now before sleep. I hope you're okay, my Love.

Love, Mamimeow

DAY 211: December 9, 2010; THURDAY

222 (and then some)
Days of "Strawberry Jam" without "J"

Dear Jam,

You look like an angelic little tomboy here, how you are sitting there with a boyish straddle in such earnest scrutiny over your Graham biscuits. The "meens" (according to you) APPEBON Vitamins may have just started to act up thankfully as early as now because after you downed a bottle of milk, you demanded for your cookies. I stopped giving you chocolate chip cookies for fear you might get addicted to the feeling of sugar hype, so I am relying in good old plain Graham crackers. You've enjoyed that since your teeth could manage anyhow and compared to other sugary biscuits, I think this is far healthier.

Today was a busy day, especially at home. We were expecting our guests from ABS-CBN in the afternoon so I took the time in the morning to clean up all the mess I have left since I went on that out-of-town job. You were busy yourself that you were scolded more than once for hopping in and out of your bubble-soaked tub and on to the tiled floor where you could have slipped. I am sorry but I had to close the bathroom door with you in it for a couple of minutes just so I can clear the floor for you to roam around safely with or without taking suds on your trail. Well even earlier than that you were one with all the energy, standing up from bed, wearing your clothes however unfortunately placed on your anatomy, then walked to your pick the shoe of your choice. No, you haven't taken a bath by that time. But I will have to be blamed why you acted with such vim. I had promised you that we would take lunch out from "Ja-yeeh-bee" but I had forgotten to elucidate that we wouldn't unless we were done with the chores, laundry to top it all! As soon as you were bathed rather thoroughly in your tub of suds and after you donned my Arabian scarf over your face to call yourself "Moomoo" and yet posing like a model, we went out. You are what we call "Kulit" in a way we mean of cuteness. You were acting like a little old lady, grabbing my handbag and your sunglasses, wearing your shoes and telling me "Tah" that we should get to Jollibee. Even before that and before I was ready, you were eager to leave, wearing my flip flops on. We dropped by the department store at Ororama, your first time there by the way, where we bought a set of Christmas lights that would adorn our Christmas tree. After which, we proceeded to their branch of "Ja-yeeh-bee" where you charmed the Store Manager with your effort to put in coins in the donation pot. He seemed to admire our duo for the smile that tore the frown from his face when he saw you drop more than the expected number of coins, ensued even as we left the store.

We could have stayed longer and obliged them with your antics but Mommy J, the segment director had given us thirty minutes the least to get back to our spot. We rushed and wasn't able to buy them some snacks, which could have been lovely. You didn't enjoy the Supermeal as I had expected you to do so. Maybe the crackers earlier had filled up for the space in your stomach. Or else you could have been too sleepy to think about your first taste of palabok, or brownies and buttered veggies. You were sleepy but restless because you felt my psychic distress as I waited for the crew.

JAMantic of the Day:
However sleepy and enervated, you came back to life as soon as you saw the camera cue to "action". Initially, you were supposed to stay and behave in Mommy J's lap but since you wouldn't detach from me like a good little leech, we had to include you in the frame on my lap. You proved to be no less or more than a nuisance, you were just enough to add spice to the shoot and eventually the segment. There was a time when you were muttering and complaining about how your toys and books were exploited for the shoot while we were running the tape but that didn't last long. Mommy J was quick enough to think of diverting you with a pack of gum and I quick enough to shove one little piece in your mouth to finally put a lid on it. We did a couple of takes but just enough not to wear either us or the crew down. Later on as the cameraman took back-up shots, you bothered Mommy J by going thru his bag and whatever that was his you easily found access to. But that was of course after I asked the prophand to take pictures of us where you and Mommy J had a battle of poses.

I am proud for the both of us. I am proud of myself because I made the script, speaking spontaneously without a prompter even if it has been a long time since. And I am proud of you and how you worked your charms on the camera quite discreetly. Now, the wait until it airs on Sunday is on!

Your Mommy,

P.S. Daddy says he is in Egypt. No way! He got there before me or us together! :/

DAY 212: December 8, 2010; WEDNESDAY

223 (and then some)
Days of "Strawberry Jam" without "J"

Dear Jam,

You love that blouse don't you? I just bought that off the thrift store aka "ukay" in the neighborhood, you like it so much you wore it and posed with it, giving Ate Hannah a run for her money. Yes, Ate Hannah was here and so was Tita-Ningang- "Jabee"-Ma'am-Deen. By the way, I had to take off the blouse and tossed it to the laundry basket. You can be assured to wear it very soon and that purple aviator bonnet from MILK HOUSE I bought for only Php30. You looked so cute in it! Even more convincing to come from Alaska with your Eskimo-like eyes! I had to leave you in Ate Hannah's care for a couple of minutes, I had to buy lunch and prepare it. Thankfully, as soon as she handed you a pen and a blank piece of paper, you didn't kick around and scream in my absence.

We are so blessed to have them both today. Your Tita-Ninang brought a breakfast meal and a 2-piece pancake meal from Jollibee. Add that to liempo, eat by the hand and well, we get one delicious lunch! You ate a lot! You even insisted to eat with your own bare hands. You hopped from the "edd" or egg, to the burger steak, to the liempo and then to the pancakes. I just realized that if every day's banquet was like this then I would be able to fix your near-malnourishment. Ate Hannah proved to be quite the helping hand, cleaning after us without either mine or Tita-Ninang's prompting. I say she is just quite home efficient that one! However, she must have thought our pet plant "Stray" to be an unwanted stray that she errr...well, farewell Stray! Oh well, you were pleasant earlier in the day but as soon as one want couldn't be satisfied, you soon gave in to the naughty twirly wirly, throwing a loud tantrum in the middle of a photo opportunity with your Ate Hannah and Tita-Ninang. I can actually see your uvula in that picture. That little punching bag hanging just right before the throat?Yeah. Just right there. Haha!

We went to the cafe earlier so that I could leave you for a couple of minutes as I sauntered off to Savemore for the necessitous. I bought your diapers, milk AND, AND, AND your first ever taste of Bear Brand Strawberry yogurt drink. You loved it! Sipped it in one swig, you did. I also bought Appebon Dietary Supplement to see how your appetite would fare with it. You seem to enjoy the vitamin dosage as well.

At the cafe, I received a little more Ivatan 101 instructions from Daddy where he taught me that "Tsavakel muava yaken ta tayto ko maypa" means "Don't worry I am in good hands" and "Mukahat dana dyaya" means "It's already hot here". Wow! Now that's easy to commit to memory, the problem is how to set it out of my mouth to sound respectably Ivatan enough as to be understood and not to be ridiculed. Haha!

The downside today though was that your finger got caught in the fan...again. Mamala told me on our way home that Ate Joren and you were playing and somehow in the excitement, the finger got the boo boo. But something tells me though that it wasn't either the fan's or Ate Joren's entire fault. The point finger wouldn't get caught UNLESS, it was "pointed". Ha ha ha! Sorry! I find it funny because this is the second time it happened to you. The first time was when you stabbed the fan in the pad with the same finger. You never seem to learn do you? Only this time, it looks a lot more painful than the last one, which was merely a scratch. This time, it looked badly singed. Mamala said you cried. I can only imagine it to have been easily assuaged by some sort of appeasement.

JAMantic of the Day:
I finally braved to take a picture of the kids who have been taking a bath in our neighborhood canal since we first saw them last Saturday, December 4th. I also finally braved to ask them where the water they seemed so sure to be so clean as to bathe in it, come from. They said it came from Water District. I just hummed, nonplussed and took a picture of them. They seem to be enjoying it. So did you that you said or "Towter" water, "Mommy, towter babat?" and then "pish" to think that there was fish somewhere, being as it was a body of water. You know, I think it's clean enough. Those kids' mothers wouldn't be washing their laundry in there if it wasn't, you know? Ha ha ha! But I think it's fun. Good fun.

Your Mommy,





By they way, the day we went to visit Kauswagan, Mamilou and Nahnang gave us a set of Christmas lights. To becalm your restlessness, I put the light up for you to watch and marvel at. You didn't like the idea that it was out of your reach but then again, it didn't matter because its life was short-lived anyway. After a couple of minutes, it wouldn't light up again. Hmm...We might as well buy a new one. We'll need that to add festivities in our humble hovel for the shooting tomorrow. ;) Can't wait!

DAY 213: December 7, 2010; TUESDAY

224 (and then some)
Days of "Strawberry Jam" without "J"


Dear Jam,

Mommy is finally home! I just missed you so much that by the time I laid eyes on you, I felt that you grew a couple of inches more upwards and sideways. I was so happy to see you again, it seemed forever and I saw how delighted you were to see me too. Your adorable eyes lit up as you said "Mommy" in the sweetest heart-breaking pitch when I slowly walked inside the house in Kauswagan. It was like a movie filmed in some slow motion fashion. I can only imagine how I would be if I left you longer when the time comes. But that won't be soon and right now, let me just relish being with you. A little later as I was still settling from the feeling of bus lag, you amused me by crawling on all fours on the floor as if you were back to a couple months before you knew walking. Or else, you were mimicking Spunky who was tottering about in the living room. You made me laugh coz you were right on cue when Lolo would say "Up" so you would, back on your stable two feet. You were also surprisingly the charmer, sans tantrums, you were eager to eat off the "deezot" or dessert that I brought home for you with a large bag of "Ja-yee-bee" french fries. Even your pronunciation of Jollibee is getting better, it's just the letter "L" that trips into an "R", "W" or a "Y". He he he. It's okay, Mommy didn't have a letter "R" until I was four years old. I had to sing my favorite Menudo (a very old and almost forgotten Hispanic boyband) song "If You're Not Here" as "If yole not heel" Ha ha ha! Ask Mamilou. Better yet! Ask your Auntie Sher whom I used to call, "I want to well well" from her line of "Nanay, I want to wear that" whenever she fancied the dress I was wearing. But that was when we were younger and rivalry akin to siblinghood was rather inevitable, growing closely to each other. I miss your Auntie Sher suddenly...and all the cousins. That's a luxury you don't have, sadly, to grow up with cousins your age. You have cousins in your generation, Ate Mae Anne and her siblings but they're not anywhere near. Don't worry, it doesn't make you less loved.

In fact, Ninang Jeng, who loves you so much (us actually) to the point of missing us, got worried how we haven't been online for a couple of days since our day off. When I got back online, I had to answer to a couple of personal messages in Facebook, reply to comments and attend to Daddy's sweet e-mails. He he he. Unfortunately, that didn't take long. Unfortunately for me and Ate Hannah, who came by to "hopefully" get online, the lights went off just right about 1900Hrs.
Fortunately for us that you were there, as a means of entertainment. You were posing at every chance and every time I snapped the camera that you blew Ate Hannah off the top. She was surprised that you could do better than her. The long table in the FoodHauz looked like a runway with you bathed in the solitary emergency light for the blackout. Soon, we all decided to just go home, the lights weren't back even as we waited for a couple of ours. Then there was the rain, terrible, it wasn't being helpful.

JAMantic of the Day:
Early in the morning, just a couple minutes after I arrived, a group of carolers from the highland blessed our doorstep with their rendition of Christmas songs and their innovated accompaniments. Now these were all women, who come from different age range. There was a lady about my age with a lovely voice, a woman of Lolo's age playing the guitar but what caught our attention was the oldest of the bunch whose instrument was her own assembled harp. It was so beautiful, even more so as she plucked it to produce the accompanying music. I took a video of you as you eagerly looked on the singing. You begged me to open the gate because they were "Sheeng. Apan. Sheeng Mommy." Yeah. I bet you wanted to dance as they were singing. He he he!

Your Mommy,