TRIAL RUN

I had my first trial run at a Gymboree near our house today (in a place called Eastwood Mall)! On a Sunday morning to boot - school on a Sunday! Groan! My parents signed me up at a Play & Learn class. I attended with five other babies - we were all between 7-8.5 months old. I think I was the second oldest kid in that class - I was definitely the tallest and the biggest. I noticed I also had the most hair AND teeth too. (Really, what DO they feed me?). My Mamu went through the activities with me while my Papu took pictures. We sang A LOT of songs and went through a lot of action words. We danced and bounced and reached and crawled and pushed and clapped and kicked. (Well, I couldn't exactly clap and didn't really get into the whole pushing bit. Must practice that at home!). We played with balls, bubbles, a parachute, inflated tubes, and, of course, Gymbo the clown. It was fun - but it made me miss my morning nap! I was exhausted! I fell right asleep in the car on our way to my Opa's ("grandfather's") house, and slept right through lunch!

July 26, 2009

My Lolo Ferdie, Lola Irene, Ate ("big sister") Bianca, and Kuya ("big brother") Rapha Insigne got me that bib!

Here I am warming up before class!

We each got a name tag.

(Back view of my onesie - isn't it neat? Although my Mamu learned it was best to dress me in a pair of shorts and a tee for Gymboree - that silly romper kept snapping off! I was half-naked at the end of my class! Grrrr!)

"Hi there, fellow students! Arrrr!!!"

Here I am, sitting in "class" with one of my "classmates" Jaryl.

My Mamu says he's adorable because he looks like the baby penguin in Happy Feet.

Hmpf. My Uncle Jino says I look like the Pillsbury Dough Boy. HARRRUMPHHH.

Onesie - Googoo and Gaga; Sandals - Florsheim Kids; Bib - Kladd by Ikea

SHARING

I attended a baptism in Bulacan with my parents, yaya ("nanny") and my parents' officemates. In Bulacan! That's an entirely different province, right beside Manila. A baby boy named Gabe Lapuz got baptized today - he's the son of my Papu and Mamu's officemate, Tita Shar. We missed the church ceremony but headed over to the reception. Papu and Mamu sat with the adults for a bit, and my yaya and I stayed in a room filled with other yayas and babies. It was quite a hot day - all of us babies stayed in an air-conditioned guest room while the old folks mingled outside in the garden. My yaya got all snippy with the yaya of another baby - this little girl kept grabbing my toys and stuffing them in her mouth. Her yaya said very loudly to quit doing it because my toys were dirty! Harrrumph! My yaya was miffed and told her off. Hah! Dirty indeed!

July 25, 2009

My Aunt Karol Zablan, Uncle Jovy Zablan, and Ate ("big sister") Ava got me that tee!

My Ninong ("godfather") Monzit and Tita Karla got me that cool bib!

I prefer playing by myself at this point - hello, I'm only 8.5 months old!

In a bed in a room full of babies.

(See the little girl at the left? Those are my toys she's eating!!!)

I didn't really mind lending my toys to another baby!

As you can see, I was still all smiles!

Tee - Baby Guess?; Fatigue shorts - Spin; Sandals - Florsheim Kids; Bib - Koala Baby

PLAY DATE

I had my FIRST EVER PLAYDATE today!!! Oooh what a full full day I had. My first playmates - my Ninong ("godfather") Monzit, my Tita Karla, and my Tita Arianna! I don't have little playmates yet, but I have just as much fun playing with the big people! Tita Karla took us all for a day at their club called the Manila Polo Club. I went swimming, played at their little jungle gym, ate french fries, and tried out a Gymboree for the first time! That Gymboree is the most colorful place I've been to - so much to do, and so much to nibble! I had such a blast, I even forgot to take my afternoon nap! Thank you, Tita Karla and Ninong Monzit! Ooh what a fun fun day I had!!!

July 19, 2009

My Papu and Mamu's boss, Atty. Sonya Castillo, got me my tee and shorts as a present!

(She's a partner in the firm where my Papu and Mamu work!)

The tee reads "Captain" in front. That's me - the Captain of my household, with the folks as the swabbies, hehe.

Also, those shorts are actually pants. But they're still a bit too big for me, so we rolled 'em all up.

Here I am testing the waters first.

This is my First Splash. Really, my 4th time to go swimming but the first time I learned to splash around the water with my little feet.

It was really quite fascinating. I was really concentrating, kicking that water about.

Here I am now, held by my yaya ("nanny") Nida, ready for my dip.

I'm wearing the rash guards my Ninong Zito and Tita Karla bought me again.

My Papu took me swimming. I STILL don't like the pool.

(I cried again. Just a little, I swear!)

Here I am now, playing in the Gymboree.

That's Tita Karla holding me from behind.

After my dip, I wore the Subic souvenir tank my Lolo got me.

That big green "donut" cracked me up.

That's my Ninong Monzit playing peek-a-boo (still one of my favorite games to date!)

Tee - Zara Kids; Green checkered pants - Zara Kids; Sandals - Florsheim Kids

Rash guard surf shirt - Old Navy; Trunks - Cococabana; Souvenir tee - Subic

BABY STEPS

I've been really into practicing walking recently! More than crawling, even! I just don't have the patience to move around on all fours. But you prop me up on my legs and I'm screeching with glee. I can't wait to start walking! My Papu, Mamu, and yaya ("nanny") Nida and I were at the Power Plant Mall today, and I was practicing walking over at Stoked (a surfing store), at Press (a restaurant), in Fully Booked (a bookstore) - everywhere! In all the stores and open spaces where my parents stopped to check out something. Ha! Pretty soon I'll have everyone running around after me! Just you guys wait!

July 18, 2009

For once, everything I'm wearing, my parents bought me. No gifts! Teehee!

"If you can read this you're close enough to change my diaper!"

Oooh, this sexy lady feels all cold!!!

I'm walking I'm walking! (Almost almost!)

TEEHEEHEE! For some strange reason, practicing walking makes me all giggly!

Onesie - Pipsqueaks by David and Goliath; Leg warmers - Baby Legs; Sandals - Florsheim Kids

ROBOTS IN THE DESPEDIDA

Today was my Uncle Amiel's despedida ("farewell") party! Uncle Amiel is my Mamu's only brother. He's flying back to the U.S. where he's studying, so my Opa and Oma hosted a small despedida lunch at their house with her cousin Lolo Ferdie (my grand uncle!), Lola Irene, Aunt Bianca, and Uncle Rapha. I really like my Aunt Bianca - she wants to baby-sit me!!! My Uncle Amiel got a bit choked up, especially at the thought of leaving me behind, but hey, he and his girlfriend Mary might come visit next year - and I'm going to be ringbearer in their wedding the year after that! Hurrah!

July 11, 2009

My Papu picked out and bought that tee for me - all by himself!

(Mamu was pleased).

My Lolo Ferdie and Lola Irene got me that bib, while my Ninang ("godmother") Pam Buen brought me home that striped burp cloth on a trip to the States.

Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever seen a robot before!!!

I got passed around like a hat again, from one relative to another!

See how thick my hair has grown! I even have a little cowlick, hehe.

Tee - Gingersnaps; Navy blue shorts - Baby Armstrong; Sandals - Florsheim Kids; Bib - Kladd by Ikea; Burp cloth - Carter's

CONTAINMENT

I've been really busy so far! So much to see, so much to touch, so much to explore. I can't walk yet, but I'm always moving around, wriggling here and there, grabbing this and that. The big folks can hardly contain me! And though I still like being carried around, it's been pretty tough hanging on to me because I wriggle around so much. Here I am at a lunch with my Lolo's ("grandfather) side of the family - it was my greatgrandfather and greatgrandmother's wedding anniversary! Everyone kept raving about how big I've gotten - and how cute still, mwahahaha. Oh, and I got a new yaya ("nanny") last June, too. Her name is yaya Nida, and I really love her. She makes me laugh and has taken to sprinkling me with baby cologne! Teehee!

July 5, 2009

"Let go of meeeeeee!!!"

(My Ninang ["godmother"] Dev got me those shorts!)

Here I am sitting on my new nanny Nida's lap.

I only really sit still these days when I'm feeding - or fast asleep!

Tee - Baleno Kids from SM; Brown tweed shorts - Calvin Klein; Sandals - Florsheim Kids

ON TWO

I've been becoming really steady on my legs lately! I think I'm THIS close to walking, I really do. I've decided to skip crawling altogether - so boooooring. It makes me impatient. But I do love it when my folks prop me up on my legs - I can take a lot of wobbly steps already - with a LOT of support, of course. Here I am with my Papu at my pediatrician's clinic again, for my monthly check up. Notice the new sandals my Mamu got me - thick rubber soles, all ready for walking! My parents have a hard time taking my picture these days - everything turns out fuzzy because I'm moving around so much (my Mamu calls me a flutterbudget). Hello, shutter speed, please try to keep up then!

July 4, 2009

I think I also grew a teeny weeny potbelly this month!

Finally, I sit still.

(My Tita Ina Alazas got me that tee. It glows in the dark! I wore it on a road trip to Subic before!)

Doing the macarena! Sort of! Hihi!

Tee - Carter's; Khaki linen shorts - Gingersnaps; Navy blue sandals - Florsheim Kids

NEW SKADADDLES!

My parents got me new sandals! I've worn them several times last month. With real soles! Thick rubber soles! Am all set to start walking! The sandals also have these little velcro thingies, so we can just adjust the straps when my feet get bigger (or fatter!). I'll miss my old pair for sure - but I'm done with my sissy little "almost shoes." I'm ready for the big leagues! Though my Mamu says these are my "transitional" shoes. I get my next pair when I really start walking. Hah! Not long now!

June 20, 2009

Sandals - Florsheim Kids

GERBER

My pediatrician gave us the go signal to start me on solids when I turned 6 months old last May, but my parents didn't really start feeding me my solids until June. I've been sampling a lot of mashed veggies from Gerber's First Foods line - broccoli, squash, and carrots. Over at my Luli's, I've been trying arroz caldo, lugaw, and Cerelac. They've been keeping me away from fruits for now, so I don't develop a sweet tooth. My parents have taken to bringing a little bottle of Gerber when we go out to eat because I get so jealous when I see all the big people eating. We pack a little plastic spoon and a plastic bib all the time too - the set I'm using now are from my Opa and Oma! Here we are, having lunch for my daddy's birthday at a restaurant called Clawdaddy in Shangri-La Mall. I'm "feasting" along with the big folks too - here I am manfully chowing down on my mashed carrots! Hurrah!

June 7, 2009

That neat little plastic bib catches EVERYTHING.

Though I haven't been much into spitting - just drooling!

The bib comes with a little spoon and sippy cup too. Am all set for the big times, hehe.

That's my Aunt Mandi (she's also my godmother!), while we were patiently waiting for my Papu to do his birthday shopping, teehee.

My Ninang ("godmother") Dev got me the pique shirt. The colorful Disney sandals and shorts are gifts from my Oma and Opa!

Shirt - Calvin Klein; Denim shorts - Baby Armstrong; Sandals - Disney Babies from SM; Bib - Ikea

GRUMPY

I'm back!!! It was all my Mamu's fault! We've had a lot of out of town weekends in June, and a lot of rushing around - no time for outfit posts, she says. Phooeeeeey!!! Here I am with my parents at Sugarhouse, this little dessert place in Eastwood. It was the eve of my dad's birthday, so we headed out to have our own little celebration before eating out with the grannies tomorrow. But, it was my bedtime then, so I was really grumpy - and I'm not even normally fussy! I barely let the folks finish their cakes. Serves 'em right - silly parents, dragging me out of bed!

June 6, 2009

My Ninang ("godmother") Bles got me that long-sleeved onesie, and my Oma got me those shoes.

I. Want. To. Go. Home!!!!


Onesie - Baby Gap; Denim shorts - Baby Armstrong; Navy blue shoes - Greenhills