Times are a-changing

We are looking for a place to move to.

We are looking for a caregiver/yaya for Matthew.

We are looking forward to some very big changes.

A  big, big thank you to the Universe.

Towering mess

Behind me, in the middle of the room, lie stacks of magazines and books. They used to have their own spots on a shelf I had dismantled and a tabletop I had moved to make our bed more inviting.

I’ve yet to figure out what to do with this pile. I fear that it will become a mountain of mess, but the problem does not end, nor did it begin, there. I really need to find a way to manage a collection of books and magazines, since I do not think I will stop acquiring such.

Someone who seems to have appreciated this eyesore is a little boy who picks up a book when he wakes up and “reads.” Now, at least, I know that when I do start finding these a new home, the little one’s books will be within his reach, not on high shelves just so they stay out of the way and neatly arranged.

Seeing Matthew digging and settling contentedly with a beloved book reminds me why I wanted to bestow our love of reading to him. Maybe this towering mess can stay for a while longer.

Sugar rush

We’re a family that believes in dessert.  Okay, okay. It’s me, really.  I’ve got a tremendously big sweet tooth, and totally need my chocolates, cake and ice cream.  When I feel the need to curb it, I take in some juice instead.

Dessert, though, is always the welcome way to end a meal.  Ice cream is a usual choice, because Armand doesn’t care for cake as much.  Matthew seems to like everything I’m into, so we go out for cake during our dates.

Last night, we went to Dairy Queen.  Armand and I both got Blizzards, and I chose a Dilly Bar for Matthew.  He enjoyed it and my Brownie Temptation as well. As soon as we were done, we set him down and he ran.  He just took off and we had to really make an effort to catch him.

This wasn’t the first time something like this happened.  After another Dairy Queen run, some months ago, we were shocked as Matthew ran from the food court of Gateway Mall, through the walkway connecting it to Farmer’s Plaza, until we reached the bridge of the MRT station.  That’s a very, very long way.  It was really funny, seeing him so wired up.  I guess that’s what happens when we give him to his demands for consecutives spoonfuls of ice cream.

Scraped knee

Cabin fever hit hard today.  Matthew was antsy, irritable, and bored.  He begged to go outside to play lightsabers, a request my husband finally acquiesced to.

Some moments later, I heard them coming back, and instead of the usual chuckling, I heard wailing.  Armand carried Matthew in.  “He tripped.”

I checked to see if there was any serious injury, and after cleaning the gray dirt from his knees, saw a bit of a scrape.  My son’s first scrape.  And he was in pain.  It wasn’t the kind of ouchie that a kiss, a blow, a bribe, or a distraction could easily take away.

Poor boy.  He wanted me to clean his knee some more, and in frustration, grabbed the damp towel to show me how, rubbing away at the trouble spot as if that would rub the hurt away.

Thankfully, dinner and ice cream eventually made him forget his little accident.  But this may be the beginning of all the scrapes little boys are wont to get into.

Dinner deportment

I was having problems feeding Matthew a couple of days ago. I understand that sometimes, toddlers just don’t like to eat, but understandably, I worry. And I fuss about it, until I give in to whatever little nibbles I could get in him. So for dinner, exasperated at the feeding failures, I decided to take up the offer of my sister-in-law to to go out for a quick bite.

We ended up at Hap Chan, a quick serve Chinese restaurant, where I ordered a wanton noodle soup for the boy—something I knew he likes. He ate well, as I expected, but my frustration being at an all-time high, I was getting annoyed at how he wouldn’t keep still. Dinner wasn’t turning out to be the pleasant experience I was hoping for.

When the waiter came by to refill our glasses with water, what my son did totally took all of us by surprise. As if it was the most natural thing in the world (for him, or for anyone for that matter), he told the waiter, “Thank you” before reaching for his glass.

I daresay, his mealtime manners were impressive that night.

Behind the scenes

So it seems like I’ve gone missing.  And it seems so not just in cyberspace.  Running at hectic pace does not allow for indulgent breathers, and somehow, quiet time online has been spent zoning out.

Life has been marked on calendars and in bullets, and summarized neatly as such:

1. A couple of weeks ago, I booked a flight to Singapore.  One ticket, two-way.  I was at the airtime at 4am in time for my 7:20am flight.  I got my boarding pass (no luggage to check in), ate a huge Delifrance sandwich, and went to the ForEx.  I arrived at Singapore at 10:30am, with the plenty of time to change, hail a cab, and make it to my 12nn appointment.  By 3:10pm I was on the road again, heading back to Changi for my 5:25pm flight back to Manila.  I arrive at NAIA by around 9pm, stood in line for an airport metered taxi (which I discovered charged horrendous rates!) and took the MRT home from Magallanes to beat the traffic and cut down on my expenses.  I was home before 11pm.  My trip was less than 24 hours, and even allowed me to grab a late dinner at McDonald’s with Armand and Matthew.

2. Last December, I was asked to be a co-editor for a baby book by Smart Parenting magazine.  While I gladly took on the job (thrilled to work on something mum-related), I had only a month to get things in order, counting the holidays.  Somehow, through the help of some writers/researchers, I made it to deadline, edited, rewrote, and submitted on time.  Last Saturday, they launched the book (“The Smart Mom’s Guide to Pregnancy & Baby’s First Year”), but although I was unable to attend, I’m happy to know that the book is finally out there. I hope to get my own copy soon.

3. Busy with work.  The reason why I had to miss out on many other things.  Like my college batch’s first reunion for our 10th year anniv.  Or canceling a night of catching up over drinks (sorry!).  It’s the first time in a while that Armand and I are working on a major project together.  It may mean stress, but it also may mean excitement, productivity, and fulfillment.  At the very least, I have him home for a couple more weeks.

4. Movie date without the baby.  Finally. Finally!  I haven’t seen a movie in ages.  The last time I was at the cinema was too long ago, I can’t even remember what the film was.  But last Friday, we were able to muster the courage to leave Matthew with Armand’s sister so we could go out.  Just the two of us.  We even had dinner alone.  As much as I love the threesome, I can’t place enough value on couplehood.  Hoping that we get to do it more often.

5.  Matthew spends the day singing, playing, “cooking eggs” with hand-me down kitchen toys, lining up his trains and cars, jumping on the bed, visiting lola cynthia, talking to lola chi on the phone, and a lot of other random things.  He talks incessantly, like a commentator (“Daddy is opening the gate. Now, he’s closing the gate!”), and surprises us with his observations (“There’s a baby on the motorcycle.”). Granted, to those who don’t spend that much time with him, he may need an interpreter, especially with the missing R and L sounds, but bias aside (I hope), we are getting impressed with how much he communicates with us.  Spending all this time with my son really makes me appreciate my decision to stay home, and if things continue the way they are, it looks like the Universe is also agreeing and throwing me some bonus items along the way.