Rayala Dialogues: My Little Strength

Being with my daughter every single day gives us so many reasons to talk just about anything. One day, I got curious and we had this conversation ―

Me: Are you gonna get sad when I die?
Pia: Why will you die?
Me: Uhm, if I get sick?
Pia: I got sick, 'Nay but I don't die.
Me: Ok. So you're not going to cry if I'm dead na?
Pia: No.
Me: (feeling a bit hurt) Ayyy. Why?
Pia: Because I will just pray. Tatay lang will cry. And I will listen to your friends and pray with them.
Me: (got teary eyed) I love you, 'nak.
Pia: Nay? Are you crying?
Me: No, I have colds.
Pia: Ok, good night Nay. I'm so sleepy, I have eyebags.

Sigh. Children have the most genuine and strongest thoughts. ♡

Of OOTDs, Changes and Nutrition Month

June's almost over and my 4-year-old student currently has a love-hate relationship with her school, which by the way went through a lot of changes --- beautiful changes, fyi.  Look.

Back-to-School: First Day and Free Time

I hope I won't sound like a witch mom pushing my daughter away but really, I'm relieved that today marks my daughter's 2nd year in school. Does that mean 3 hours of me-time? 3 hours of silence and peace? Yes, maybe. But no, I found myself cleaning and fixing the house; then eventually prepared for early dinner. Actually, as I type these words, I can hear the squeaky sound of my 4-year-old Ondoy-survivor washing machine. I have separated the clothes first, earlier before we left, from whites to pastels to coloreds to pinks (we have too much of it, it has its own group). The coloreds went first as it don't require much effort. I didn't want to tire myself yet as the thunder's teasing me --- always like that, raining when I wash. Pfft. Anywayyyy, so below's my little firework's first day of back-to-school outfit. Doesn't she look so timid, fragile and very lady-like? Hah! She was everywhere, sweating and even took off her dainty headband minutes we stepped the school premises. 

Cardies from The Little Bugger, Sandals from Elle Kids, Headband from Rain Bows,

The Cyber World Answered My Previous Post

THE CORE.

The Parent Rap

Rhambo posted this on Facebook and tagged me. 

My Army kind of guy's surely a proud dad. Haha! Fatherhood has become his life's purpose. But wait, this video isn't serious or senti at all. 

It's really hilarious, but spot on.

When Motherhood Becomes Scary

We all know by now that motherhood is not all flowers and hearts; that is, if you've been reading my blog religiously. Or you got a terrible two. Or a soiled white trousers from your babe's poop. There are mayhem and mishaps. But it's still a happy ending. After all, I got a girl. Sweet and innocent. Someone who will open her elegant abode's fancy door for the gracefully aging me and her old gray-haired Tatay. The lady who will become a boss, a wife and a mom, too. She will take good care of her children like what I did for her. Bliss, isn't it?

Today changed it all. I got scared of the future.

King Sue Ham Married Cheese

When I received a hefty package of ham products by King Sue (pronounced as King Sweh), I was giddy like a gradeschooler with new scented stationery (so 90s, sorry). The chef part of my brain started working. Hmm. I'm not really that creative though; but I'm more of making the practical and doable dishes. 

Everybody loves ham and cheese sandwich, right? So I thought of doing it without bread and have it paired with rice instead. LB loved it! She just went a little imaginative when she said "look at the cheese Nanay, it's like yellow lava". #crazykidsarebeautiful

She's Complex But Very Creative

I'm always honest about how LB could be such a handful. That's why I'm one proud momma when she bagged the Most Improved Award {Behavioral} during her school's Moving-Up Day. But no matter how complex a child can be, there's always something good about it --- my daughter's good in sketching. Yup, that is according to how I see it; according to a non-artist human being who grew up with artist relatives. All of them are from my father's family. Oscar Redrico, Elmo Redrico, Red Redrico of Creative Manila, Valerie Redrico, Bryan Redrico and Manuel Redrico III of Traces of War (my not-so baby brother). I don't want to sound like bragging so I'll just let you read what you can find in Google. 

We're very fortunate to have a daughter with artist genes.

Below are some of her daily doodles.

LB says: That's me with my new bow you make, Nanay! (awww)

My Little Lady's Moving-Up

I was supposed to blog about this yesterday, but I was suffering from this relentless migraine again. And my little major awardee was down with cough and colds. So I decided to sleep it all off. Now, it's a Monday and I got domestic duties still, but my body was asking for some blogging aura first. Upon checking my drafts folder, kaloka, ang dami kong pending posts! This is not good. I never had like more than five unfinished articles! Jeez.

Anyway, let's start the kwento. This is going to be a bit lengthy and flooded with photos. Please be patient.

Watch + Read: Mata Boys

These are my sister N's boys --- Gabriel Ian, 8 turning 9 this May and Raphael Sean, 7. They are funny, super takaw, rambunctious but sweet kuyas to LB. Gabby loves to tinker on things and he's really into cars. At his age, he can identify the brands of the cars na in the street. Galing noh? Eh hello, I can only name Vios kasi. Chos. Plus, he's really techie! It's like all these gadgets were invented for him. Medyo pikon lang siya sa laptop ko kasi I rarely use mouse. Hehe. Raffy naman is the sweet talker. I can converse with him more than with Gabby. He's like a small manong! He eats more adult food than Kuya Gabby. He talks like an adult, too but cries like a baby when I pretend to get mad at him. Raf can sing One Direction's One Thing in a very ballad way. Haha! :)

Rayala Dialogues: Paper Bus and My Secret Crush

Tulaley sa kawalan, mega boredom kami ng bagets when she asked me to make her a plane out of paper. Dami ko eh, mga rejected certificates when I was still a Sales Trainer ---

LB: Nanay, can you make a bus please?
B: Ay, I can't po.
LB: But why?
B: Because I don't know how (sumad-face pa talaga ako sa kanya para credible)
LB: Okay, boat na lang. Next time, bus ha.

Saan ba may Youtube tutorial ng bus paper-folding? #scratchingmyheadindisbelief

~ ♥ ~

While watching Ina Kapatid Anak in iWantv.com.ph last night ---

LB: Hey, that's Tatay!
B: Who? Where? (baliw lang, akala ko nasa show talaga)
LB: Ayan oh.. Nanay kasi. (points to Ariel Rivera!)
B: Haha! Really? That's Tatay?!
LB: Yes po, they have same eyes.

Hanep. Astig. Oh ayan na, sabi sa KrisTV kanina, healthy ang may secret crush, especially sa mga mommies. Siya na ang secret crush ko. Hahaha! :D

Rayala Dialogues: Nanay, the Loshang & the Poop

LB, who will be turning 5 on September, is now awarded as THE MOST HONEST KID IN THE UNIVERSE. Sometimes, sa sobrang honest, nakakainis na. Eto, I showed her the photo of me and Lola L (my mom) in this post, at ganito ang naging usapan ---

LB: Who's that baby?
B: Me.
LB: Oh, it looks like me, Nanay.
B: Yes. You want to look like me when you grow up? (trying to convince her)
LB: No, I want to look like a princess. I don't want to wash clothes.

Boom! Loshang ang peg ko sa bagets 'pag humu-human laundromat ako. Kainis. :(

~ ♥ ~

LB pees and poops really well now, but still can't wash by herself, of course. So one day, she called me that she's done doing her business, and ---

B: Ooh, it's big and baho (in a tone not offending)
LB: No. Look Nanay, it's you and me.
B: Where? (cleaning her very cute behind and ayaw ko tignan yung tinuturo niya!)
LB: Look first, dali.
B: (tumingin naman) Hunny, it's baho. Ayaw ko na.
LB: Nanay! Beecohs, I love you. We're together in da ow-shan. Hugging, ever!

Anak naman. Sa lahat ng magiging tayo eh jebs mo pa? Ewwness lang.

Review: EVToys Bunny Plushie {LB’s New Friend}

If we women think that we can never have too many clothes or shoes or bags; kids could say the same thing with their toys. I was anxious last Christmas about what LB would receive, thus asking (more of telling) the godparents not to give her toys and alike. What I didn't realize is the fact that it is what makes them happy. Because it‘s what they really like. So upon that realization and some weeks after, I’m just more than ecstatic about receiving an email from EVToys; they will be sending one of the plushies they sell so I could make a review about it here. Sweet. 

Rayala Dialogues: Live!

Excuse me for the resolution of the video, I'm only using a 2-year-old Nokia C3 (in pink, yes!). I hope you had fun watching LB as much as I did. She's my Energizer bunny at day, but she lets her mouth do everything at night. Gotta love my little story teller. 

Oops, she did it again!

What have I gone wrong?

We went to MBF's baby R's 1st birthday party today and LB's dead tired now, snoring. I got a bit tired, too, but I had so much fun being with my friends: MBF, J, P & Y. Baby R, my godchild, is such a happy, calm one-year-old. We NEVER heard her cry the whole time we were with her. Her cheerful disposition is contagious. However, there was one who had to kill the joy. Sadly, it's my badass preschooler. :'(

During the party, I didn't notice any sightings of mean girl blood going on. But, yeah, smartypants manipulated me again at some point. Still forgivable, though. 

We then transferred to the after-party location. Things went so fast and the worst had happened: LB slapped Baby R's face. 

I crushed. 

The Ant Who Wears Pink Dress

I was searching my notepad {that I got from TSN} about something I wrote for a new series on this blog; when I stumbled on this. That's LB's drawing, obviously. And I suppose, that's her imaginary friend, Rekeli. Hello, glad you met her.

Rekeli, according to LB, is an ant --- a girl. An ant who wears a pink dress and whose dad works in the office. When water spilled on the floor, she blamed Rekeli. When she cut her finger with her scissors, she told me Rekeli pushed her. By the way, Rekeli has a bestfriend. Her name is Perchi, from Prensi. Whatever.

ERRATUM:

LB saw this and I asked her if this is Rekeli. She said "NO! Don't say that. It's a crocodile in the river, and there's food. Rekeli will hear you." My bad. 

When Little Bebeng Met a Little Gentleman

I feel guilty for not going to church every Sunday. It is my obligation as a Christian parent to bring my child to Sunday School to learn about the Bible and Jesus. LB basically knows who Jesus is and what He can do for us as I have mentioned here. But I think it'll be more exciting if she'll meet Jonah, Samson, David, Peter, Paul, Mary and Martha --- characters and heroes a lot better than Woody, Merida and Puss. Anyway, we really wanted to let the sunshine touch our skin as we've been in house arrest and locked up in our own home after our umbrellas were stolen at the facade of the house (yes, we were scared!); so we went to Marikina Sports Complex (MSC). 

Aside from the really nice running track it has, MSC designated a small part of the place to be its playground for tots who can't jog and run continuously in an oval with their parents yet. That's where I brought LB. As we were walking towards the gate, I can feel her excitement and she even asked me "Nanay, are you happy?" So I said "YES!" with a grin. She replied, "oh, I can't wait!" She's becoming more kikay as days pass by. Too much Barbie, perhaps. About 5 meters from the playground, we've heard shrieks and giggles from the kids playing --- LB ran to its direction and just let happiness enveloped her childhood. Bliss.

Crazy Children are Beautiful

Source

Why do I get so cranky? Is this just my period or I've been possessed? I'll scream. Please.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There you have it. Thank you. Now let me tell you something. Get a chair and listen. This is my story.

Review: Kid StarMaker's Little Mermaid Cartoon DVD

It has been a while since I have received Kid StarMaker products, and the first that I did a post about was her Ballerina Princess book. LB super loves it now that it's almost torn apart. 

She brought it along with us in our Zambales and Baguio trips. What she also brought was her Little Mermaid Cartoon DVD, where she starred as the Little Mermaid! {photos were taken when we were still at MIL's house}

Rayala Dialogues: When LB Prayed

Graveyard shift ang peg ng bagets. So nagpapaantok siya habang nagkakalikot ako sa laptop, biglang kumanta with matching actions:

LB: It's a sunny day, and I'm living it for my Lord...
(sumabay ako, namali ang lyrics ko)
LB: Sing properly, Jesus said you sing properleee.
(natatawa ako sa pagka-strikta)
LB: What's fahnee, Nanay? You sing properly.
(at kumanta na nga kami at natapos ng matiwasay)
LB: See, Jesus love your sing properly. (ano daw??)
B: Eh who's Jesus ba?
LB: Jesus, si Papa Jesus. Yung pray mo, Nanay. (at pumikit at umastang nagdadasal)
B: Ano sabi mo po kay Jesus?
LB: I miss Tatay and I want a small puppy. (hugged her)

Aww. Gaano ka-small ang small puppy at bakit puppy ang naisip niya nung ma-miss ang Tatay? Anlabo.