Halloween 2019: Firefighter Costume

Not the most fascinating Halloween costume, do you agree?

It's so generic, so common, so boring...

Pero syempre nabigyang justice nya naman haha! He's the cutest little firefighter ever! #proudmomhere

We saw this costume at Costco and he liked it. He was a police officer kasi the previous year (I haven't posted it yet) and he kinda decided that he'll be a fireman naman the following year. So nang makita namin yang outfit na yan (mind you, August pa lang noon ha), binili na namin. Plus it was cheap -- $33.59 lang, (tax included). Mas mahal ang bili namin sa mga previous costumes nya.

The costume came with complete accessories na. May hat, hammer, etc. It's a little big for him kaya tinupi pa namin. But it's ok, magagamit nya pa naman uli ang costume na yan sa school this year. May Halloween dress-up sila every year kaya he'll wear what he wore the previous year para twice naman magamit hehe.

 PS. Bawal palang labhan ang outfit na ito! Buti na lang ipinapatong lang. kaso naman, dudumi pa rin syempre.

Halloween 2019: Our first ever pumpkin

Simula nang mag-migrate ako dito sa Canada, aliw na aliw na talaga ako sa mga pumpkins na binebenta sa grocery stores kapag fall. Wala nyan sa Pinas eh.

October 6, 2019. At dahil may bahay na kami at big boy na si Nathan, time na para magdecorate kami ng aming first-ever pumpkin! I was able to buy that big pumpkin at Save-On-Foods for $3.99. Medyo mahal pa nga, may mas mura pa sa iba lalo na kapag sine-sale na.

But the problem was -- Ford and I didn't have any carving skills. Again, lumaki kami sa Pinas kaya malay ba namin dyan noh! My husband is the most uncreative person in the universe kaya wala talaga kaming mapapala sa kanya sa mga ganyang bagay. At lalo namang hindi ko keri ang mag-carve, tapos ang messy messy pa after.

Buti na lang may reliable na Dollarama. They have this pumpkin decorating kit for only $1.25 (plus 12% tax = $1.40)!

Nathan was so excited to decorate!

Pero syempre ang nanay din ang tumapos lol! Cute naman hindi ba?

We placed it in our frontyard. Biglang sumayang tingnan ang bahay. =)

Medyo nagregret lang kami ng slight kasi the following week, we went to a pumpkin patch (first time din!) and we brought home three more pumpkins. Kasama na pala sa ticket yung pagpili ng pumpkins. Naisip namin na sana hindi na kami bumili. Tapos nag-field trip pa rin si Nathan sa apple barn at nag-uwi ng isa pa. So we had five pumpkins all in all. Oh well, magsisi pa raw ba sa $3.99 lol!

First Time ni Nathan

May 26, 2019 -- First time sumamang mag-grocery again. After more than two months of just staying at home and in the car, he was able to step foot on Walmart again. I couldn't forget his face -- he was in awe!

In pambahay outfit =)

The past weeks, talagang hindi namin siya sinasama sa kahit anong bilihan. Hindi naman naglockdown dito sa BC at hindi naman talaga ipinagbawal isama ang bata (though may time lang din na ginusto ng ilang stores na one adult person per family lang ang mamimili) pero syempre for our safety, ako lang talaga ang naging grocery/store frontliner ng aming small family. Naiiwan lang sila ng Daddy niya sa car at matiyagang naga-antay sa akin.

But since medyo nag-ease na ng restrictions dito dahil flattened na ang curve (in fact, back to school na rin ang mga bata this June), sige sinama na rin namin siya sa loob para malibang naman. Tutal wala rin naman talagang gaanong tao kasi it was a Monday night.

Ahhh.... toys!

 Nakakamiss din silang kasama sa loob ng supermarket sa totoo lang!

May 30, 2020 -- First time mag-facemask. We went to T&T Lansdowne para maghanap ng Chinese food dahil nagke-crave ako. 

But unlike in western groceries and supermarkets, medyo mahigpit ang Asian stores dito at talagang nagre-require sila ng masks (and sometimes thermal scan) upon entering.

No choice sila but to wear masks. First time ko lang din makita ang asawa ko na nakasuot, ayaw nya kasi talaga.

At 5 1/2 years old, he already knows a lot about corona virus. Nakakamangha ang mga bata, ang dali nilang maka-grasp ng sitwasyon. Kapag hindi kami nagmamask, siya pa ang "nagagalit" at nagreremind sa amin to wear one.

Nahihirapan daw siyang huminga but he never attempted to remove the mask. Ang galing! Great job, Nathan! 

Looking forward to more pasyal in the future

I first showed you our fridge magnet display here. Pero ni-relocate ko na siya sa ibaba, malapit sa front door, late last year kasi medyo magulo pala sa mata kapag nasa may tapat ng kitchen counter. Hindi bagay sa 'minimalist' interior design ko.

Anyway, my son is currently obsessed with our small (pa lang naman) travel magnet collection. Palagi yan nakatitig sa magnets, kabisado na nya nga lahat. He's into places na kasi these days (he also loves looking at our world globe), napapanood sa youtube at ABC Mouse. Ang dami na nyang alam na countries/cities -- Paris, Japan, Malaysia, Africa, Arizona, India, Indonesia, Mexico, London, etc. -- and he would always ask us kung nakapunta / kelan kami pupunta sa mga yun.

Hay, sobrang sarap na sanang mag-travel ngayon! Nathan is already 5 1/2 kaya mas madali na syang isama at talagang interesado na siyang mamasyal. Kaso naman, kung dati eh time (and budget na rin syempre) lang ang issue, eto ngayon at dumagdag pa si Covid. It's now very uncertain kung kelan ba uli magiging safe ang mamasyal, ang pumunta sa airport at sumakay sa eroplano.

This year, two international travels na namin ang hindi natuloy/matutuloy. We were supposed to go to California last March 20 to attend my sister-in-law's wedding pero ayun at naghigpit na nga a few days before our flight. Tapos this July 8 naman sana ang uwi namin uli sa Pilipinas pero syempre hindi na rin matutuloy. Hay! Kung kelan pasyal na pasyal pa naman ako! Syempre hindi naman na bago samin ang pumunta sa California at Pinas pero I was looking forward to going to places there na hindi pa namin napupuntahan syempre (like Legoland!).

Kahit dito sa nga sa BC, ang dami-dami pa naming hindi nae-explore. Although unti-unti na nilang binubuksan ang mga public parks, ang hirap pa rin mag-enjoy kung nandyan pa rin si Covid sa paligid-ligid.

Tsk, so pano na nga ba? Nathan's very excited pa naman to buy more magnets. His goal daw is to full this whole wall with them.

When this pandemic is over, I will really make sure na mamasyal kami nang mamasyal kahit sa malapit lang. Sa totoo lang medyo tinamad din kasi ako the past years eh, mas ginusto ko na lang mag-mall palagi. Pero katulad nga ng sabi nila, we should invest on experiences and not on material things. Tama naman (pero material girl din talaga ako kaya hindi pwedeng walang shopping hehe). Tapos who would have thought na mangyayari ito, na mare-restrict sa travel ang mga tao. Ni hindi kami makapag-Jollibee sa Washington kaloka! (FYI, closed ang Canada-USA border sa ngayon at kung sakali man na lumabas ka ng Canada, kailangan mong mag-quarantine ng 14 days pagbalik).

-----------------------------

PS: I will buy at least two magnetic boards pa sana sa Ikea soon kaso hindi na available! Waaaaaaaaah! Gusto kong maiyak! Sana magre-stock sila. Sana talaga.

Hearts in our window

Last week of March 2020. One time while walking around our residential complex, I noticed that some of our neighbors have already put hearts on their windows. Naaliw ako. I was already familiar with the concept -- wherein people are decorating their windows with hearts and messages of hope to remind others that we are all in this together -- kaya natuwa ako na may gumagawa na rin pala nito sa community namin.  Syempre kelangan naming maki-join. Unang project ko ito sa gitna ng pandemya. 

At last, nagamit ko rin ang sangkatutak na colored papers na pinagbibili ko dati pa, karamihan mga bitbit ko pa from Pinas. The hearts kasi have to be colorful, hindi puro red kasi magmumukhang pan-Valentine's hehe.

I printed hearts on these colorful papers and cut them perfectly. I am telling you, OC ako sa cutting. Talent ko yan eh.

At syempre dahil kailangan ng rainbow to symbolize optimism that this Covid-storm shall also pass, I asked my son to color a printable rainbow template. 

I can go all out (just like some of our neighbors) but I opted for simplicity. Gusto ko medyo malinis lang tingnan at may pagka-minimalist kaya ayos na ito.

March 31, 2020. Almost 9pm na nang magsimula kaming magdikit ni Nathaniel. Night owls kami eh. I was happy na very enthusiastic din siya sa project na ito.

And here it is! Honestly, we were so thrilled! Nakakasaya pala talaga ng puso ang mga ganito!

Day time look. 

Actually inisip ko pa if we'll add more hearts pero ok na yan. Tipid-tipid din sa papel lol.

We put the remaining 10 heart cut-outs sa back side ng townhouse, sa may sliding door. I let Nathan tape them kung saan nya gusto (with a little guidance, of course).

And taraaaaaaaan! Ok naman din hehe. Again, hindi na namin dinagdagan ang hearts para hindi naman masakit sa mata. =)

It's already May 26, 2020 at almost two months na silang nakadikit sa bintana at sliding door. I have a feeling na magtatagal sila dyan... at least until next year, when the pandemic is over hopefully?

I took pictures of our neighbors decorated windows and I'll post them here soon! If you haven't done this project yet, baka gusto nyong subukan? I am telling you, it's so worth it. =)

Our temporary study area

I just want to show you our temporary study area now that Nathan's not going to school (physically). We live in a 3-bedroom townhouse that's big enough for us three but we don't have an extra place in the main room para gawing study area other than this. Ayoko sa sala kasi nga nandun ang toys and TV. Ayoko rin naman sa taas (in my 'me' room/office) kasi hindi ako makakapag-multitask doon. I spend most of my time in the kitchen kaya mas ok na dito na lang kami sa dining area para nga makagawa ako dito sa baba while Nathan is doing his homeworks.

We also temporarily put the new printer here para hindi na aakyat kapag magpi-print. But we'll bring it up once the school year is over.

Buti na lang hindi ko pa nabibilhan ng "something" (a cabinet, plant, or shelf) yang side na yan ng dining area. Naghahanap na talaga ako nang ilalagay dyan bago nagka-pandemic eh.

By the way, that teal cart is from Ikea (Raskog utility cart). It's one of the first things na pinabili ko kay Ford when I immigrated here in Canada kaya matagal na sa akin yan.  Super sulit talaga.

Here's my super kulit student.  Nakow sana talaga ok na ang lahat by September para makapag-normal schooling na siya uli. Hindi ko na kaya 'to hahaha!

To return or not to return?

My friend Juris called me this noon, asking if I will allow Nathan to go back to school this June 1. She got a call daw kasi from her daughter's school, nagtatanong na daw kung papapasukin si Zoey.

Hay, I don't know! I was actually surprised when they announced last May 15 that BC schools will already "open" this June, but attendance is voluntary.

March 13 pa huling pumasok sa school sina Nathan. Last day talaga yun ng school before their two-week spring break. Pero yun nga, hindi na sila nakabalik ng March 30. Nagtuloy-tuloy na na walang pasok because of this pandemic.

I was so heart-broken. Nathan's in kindergarten at first time nyang school (no preschool). He really enjoyed it so much. Tapos yun nga, na-cut short bigla. Six months pa lang siyang pumapasok tapos wala na uli.

After some time, natanggap ko na rin na hindi na nga sila makakabalik this school year. Malungkot but we have to move on. Lahat naman apektado ng Covid-19 at kailangang mag-adjust.

Kung kelan naman nga ok na, saka naman sasabihing pwede na silang bumalik uli sa school, albeit twice a week lang.  Waaah, binigyan pa kaming mga magulang ng problema! Paano na nga ba?

Kung tutuusin, hanggang June 25 na lang naman talaga ang school year so ilang araw na lang din silang papasok. Many parents tuloy are mocking the BC Government, bakit papapasukin pa kung matatapos na lang din?  Ako naman, there's part of me that wanted closure for my son's kindergarten class. I still want him to spend time with his teacher and (some) classmates. He's bored na rin dito sa bahay and he really wants to go back to school. I also feel na hindi naman siya talaga nakakapag-aral nang maayos dito sa bahay via remote learning (I'll write our experiences about this in a separate post) kaya mas ok kung pumasok na lang siya uli.

Pero hindi nga ganun kadali, di ba? We are still in the middle of a pandemic, hindi pa rin nawawala ang virus. We're lucky kasi hindi ganun kalala ang Covid cases dito sa BC (only 2,467 cases and 149 deaths as of today) and na-flatten na nga raw ang curve, pero syempre hindi mawawala ang fear. Pababayaan ko bang mag-isa na lang sa eskuwelahan ang limang taong gulang kong anak samantalang nandito lang naman ako sa bahay? Health and safety is our utmost priority syempre.

Hay, Juris and I still have ten days to think about it. Kayo, ano sa tingin nyo? :(

$300-Ayuda from the Government

We're fortunate to be living in a first world country during this pandemic period. Maraming naging tulong ang gobyerno para sa mga nawalan ng trabaho, business owners, renters, students, etc. Kapag nababasa ko ang hirap ng mga Pinoy para makakuha ng ayuda sa gobyerno ng Pinas, di ko maiwasang maikumpara syempre sa naging sistema dito. May program nga dito na tinatawag na CERB (or Canada Emergency Response Benefit) kung saan makakapag-apply ng financial assistance ang sinumang nawalan ng trabaho dahil sa Covid-19. That's $2,000 per month ($500 per week) for up to 4 months. Anyone, as in ANYONE, who applies will be approved. Kahit obviously hindi eligible ha. Kasi nga wala na raw silang time magcheck at magverify, gusto na nilang maiparating agad sa tao ang tulong. Honor system na lang muna daw, later na sila mago-audit.

Luckily, hindi naman namin kinailangan talaga ng tulong mula sa gobyerno kasi hindi naman nawalan ng trabaho ang asawa ko. Sa totoo lang, noong bandang March-April ay nag-worry rin ako kasi nga baka magclose din ang office nila temporarily kasi hindi naman talaga sila "essential" business eh. Thankfully, hindi naman nga. 

The only "ayuda" that we are entitled to during this pandemic is the one time Canada Child Benefit (CCB) payment increase of $300. Dito kasi sa Canada, we receive a monthly child support from the government, depende sa income ng parents. They decided to give an additional $300 per child for the month of May to help families during these difficult times.

Noong una nga akala namin hindi fixed na $300, na maximum na yun at hindi namin makukuha ng buo. Katulad ng sentiments ng middle class sa Pinas, may bitter feelings din kami paminsan (normal naman siguro yun) na puro na lang lower class ang pinapaboran ng gobyerno samantalagang ang laki-laki ng tax na binabawas sa sweldo ng asawa ko. One income family lang kasi kami at marami ring gastusin buwan-buwan. Pero buti naman nga at across the board naman pala ang $300. Kaya ang swerte nung maraming anak haha (4 kids x $300 = 1,200!).

Anyway, I just checked our account online kanina at pumasok na nga ang $300 (every 20th of the month ang CCB payment). I am so happy!

Anong plano ko sa $300? Actually nagastos na namin siya kahit hindi pa dumarating lol!

We badly need a colored printer kasi nga nago-online schooling si Nathaniel ngayon, syempre may mga kailangang iprint. Bibigay na ang 6-year-old laser printer namin kaya kailangan ng palitan.

Pero ang mahal nito ha, inabot ng $337.67 (tax included) kaya paluwal pa kami kaloka.

Salamat sa ayuda, Canadian Government! Malaking tulong rin ang printer na ito for my sanity! I have a lot of projects in mind na sana magawa ko hehe.

--------------------------

Ayuda = assistance

Mamang Sorbetero in Canada

It was around 7:30pm last night (matagal na uling lumubog ang araw ngayon), nang may marinig akong parang maingay sa labas. Nathan was biking with a neighbor friend and Dad naman was grilling burgers in the balcony.

Lumabas ako sa balcony to ask what was happening. Ayun, may ice cream truck daw. Kaya pala nakarinig ako ng ingay ng mga bata. Ang unang naisip ko, "Talaga, may ice cream truck na dumaan dito?"

Pagsilip ko sa baba, itong itsura ng anak ko ang bumungad sa akin. Dad told me na sinabihan daw nya si Nathan na wag ng bumili kasi ang dami naming ice cream dito sa bahay (kabibili ko lang kasi talaga ng marami last Saturday).

Knowing my son, hindi naman yan magpapabili. Inunahan lang ni Dad na wag ng bumili. But I know him so well, matiisin lang pero syempre gusto nya rin. Ang dami kayang batang bumibili kaya nakakaengganyo. I asked him kung gusto niya. Syempre tumango ang bagets.

Medyo sinermonan ko ang asawa ko. "Hay naku, hindi naman ice cream ang bibilhin mo dun eh! EXPERIENCE!"  Nahimasmasan din naman agad ang tatay at dali-daling kumuha ng cash sa wallet nya para mahabol namin ang ice cream truck.

Kaloka, mas excited pa yata ako kay Nathan sa pagbili eh!

Sa Pinas nga kasi ako lumaki at sa batang edad pa lang syempre eh sanay na sanay na akong bumili sa mga sari-sari stores at street vendors. Part ng culture natin yan eh. Minsan yan ang iniimagine ko dito, yung lalabas ka lang ng bahay mo tapos lalapit na sayo ang mga tindero. Nakakamiss talaga!

Nathan is already 5 1/2 years old pero hindi pa nya naranasan bumili talaga on his own, using cash. Wala namang canteen sa school eh, wala ring mga nagtitinda sa labas. Parang feeling ko tuloy kulang na kulang ang life skills nya at this point.

Nagmadali talaga kami kasi baka umalis na ang truck. Haha, nag-uwian pa talaga ang kids para tawagin ang mga nanay nila para magpabili. =)

It was my first time din to experience a food truck na dumaan sa area namin (usually sa mga events lang). Sabagay, we were in Pinas noong ganitong month last year. The previous years naman, sa apartment building kami nakatira.

Medyo kinabahan ako sa presyo noong una (lol!) pero ayos lang naman pala. $5 ang pinakamahal, $2 ang pinakamura. Akala ko talaga lalampas ng five dollars eh.

As usual, hindi nya alam ang pipiliin hehe. Wag na raw drumstick kasi puro ganun na ang kinakain niya sa bahay.

I ended up choosing for him kasi alam kong di niya magugustuhan yung Oreo na tinuro niya. Like me, plain lang ang mga trip nya eh. Gusto ko man siyang maging independent at pumili on his own, sayang ang $4 hahaha!

This one's only $2.50. Shaiks, pag kinonvert pala eh halos 100 pesos din! Sa Pinas, limang piso lang pwede na eh. 

 Parang bigla kong naisip na gusto ko ring magtinda ng ice cream! Ang laki ng tubo eh!

Yung playmate niyang Pinoy, kasunod din naming bumili. Kinarag din ang nanay haha. Ang mga bata nga naman!

Ayan, happy boy na siya! Nag-additional thank you pa sa akin kasi I made a good choice daw. Naks.

Booster Shots

We moved here in British Columbia when Nathan was almost two so all his infant vaccines were done in Edmonton. We were told then that the next vaccination is when Nathan turns four.

We had to google kung paano nga ba ang immunization system dito sa BC. That's the thing about living here in Canada, iba-iba ang health system ng bawat province. Medyo mangangapa ka talaga kapag lumipat ka.

There is a central number per area here in BC that you can call to book an appointment. Sobrang tagal nga lang mag-antay ng sasagot so better choose their "call back" option. After a few hours, tatawag din sila.

I first called in January and asked for an appointment kaso they don't have a record yet of Nathan's immunization history in their system so I have to email it first and wait for two weeks. I emailed it and after a few weeks (I sort of delayed the call because it was super cold in February, ang hirap mag-bus going to the clinic), I called the hotline again and got an appointment for March 8, 2019. I chose their Langley clinic kasi one-ride away lang from our house.

Days before the appointment day, I was explaining to Nathan what will happen. Sabi ko sasaksakan siya and it will hurt a bit. He loves to play doctor-doctoran so he know what "shots" are. Very calm lang siya, parang wala lang. Mas kinakabahan pa nga ako, parang ako ang iva-vaccinate. I was actually very anxious because when he was still a baby, palaging kasama si Ford kapag binabakunahan siya. Si Ford ang tagahawak dahil nga nagpa-panic ako. Naisip ko, hala paano kapag nagwala si Nathan sa clinic?

We arrived 45 minutes before the appointment time. May mga narinig kaming batang nagsisigawan at nag-iiyakan kaya na-praning na naman ako. Pero eto siya, haping-happy pa. Relaxed na relaxed at panay pa-picture pa.

Na-accommodate din kami agad kahit maaga pa. The nurse was very nice as usual, pero si Nathan talagang very brave. Though shy, he was listening to her. Sinabi rin niya na" "I am not scared."

True enough, ang galing niya. I held him bago siya tusukan and instructed him to look away and close his eyes. Pero ang bagets talagang tiningnan pa ang pagtusok sa kanya. Wala akong nakitang fear sa kanya. Ako pa nga ang medyo kinabahan. Two shots and it was done. The nurse was so impressed, siya daw ang "best kid" niya that day.

The nurse made him choose a sticker. Eto ang pinili niya.

As a reward, binilhan ko siya ng paborito niyang mocha frappucino. And he asked me to tell his dad how good he was in the clinic.

By the way, the nurse asked me for Nathan's immunization record book para masulatan niya. Since Nathan was born in Alberta, iba ito sa "Child Health Passport" ng BC na mas maganda haha.

I am happy because we're done with Nathan's booster shots. These shots nga pala are for kids 4 to 6 years of age. Katulad sa Pinas, may measles outbreak din kasi dito sa BC, may confirmed 18 cases na raw as of today. Yep, outbreak na yan dito (unlike sa Pinas na libo-libo) at nagpa-panic na ang mga tao. May case/s yata na galing Vietnam yung nagkasakit kaya natatakot ako sa airport sa totoo lang. Magfa-fly pa naman kami twice soon. At least ngayon medyo kampante na ang loob ko.

TanTan Stories: Shopping

June 22, 2018. I saw a video clips on Facebook of kids crying while being left at the airport by their OFW mothers. Na-touch talaga ako, nangilid pa nga ang luha ko. Just less than 2 weeks ago, nasa aiport din kami ni Nathan -- pero magkasama kami at hindi ko siya kailangang iwanan.

I showed the video to Nathan and hoped that at age 3 1/2 eh medyo maintindihan na niya that he's lucky because he gets to be with his mother 365/24/7.

After watching the clips, he innocently asked me where the mothers are going. I answered that they were going somewhere far to work.

Medyo natigilan siya at parang nag-isip. Then after, he told me: "Eh di ba ang mommy, shopping? Ang daddy, work?"

Ano raw? Parang di ako sure sa narinig ko so I asked him to repeat what he just said.

"Eh di ba ang daddy punta sa work? Ang mommy punta sa bilihan. Sa shopping. Kasi ang boy, work. Ang girl, shopping. Kaya pag big na ako, work na ako kasi boy ako."

OMG! Grabe ang hagalpak ko! Tawang-tawa talaga ako as in!

Pero narealize ko lang later on na ganyan pala ang concept ng gender roles ng anak ko. Masyadong limiting. Macho-mentality. Oh well, kids learn from what they see. Sa paningin niya pala, puro lang ako shopping lol.

Kaloka, makapagtrabaho na nga nang di nalilimitahan ang tingin sa akin ng anak ko bilang taga-shopping lang. Joke lang. Parang me choice naman ako at this point.

Back to drinking milk

Yey, TanTan is back into drinking milk! Mommy Ces is so happy!

The past five months na nasa Pinas kami, hindi talaga siya nag-milk. I never expected na magkakaproblema ako sa gatas kasi the last time na umuwi kami (he was 2 years old), Anchor Full Cream Milk ang dinedede niya. Pero nitong huling uwi namin, ayaw niya. Iba daw ang lasa (from the fresh milk that he was drinking here in Canada). Marami kaming sinubakang brands ng fresh milk pero ayaw niya talaga. So he ended up not drinking milk at all.

May ok din namang nadulot ang hindi niya pag-inom ng milk kasi natuto siyang kumain ng solids (no choice kasi magugutom siya). Bago kasi kami umuwi kasi, halos 80% ng diet niya ay milk. Ni hindi siya nagra-rice. Konting fried chicken at fruits lang tapos puro dede na. Busog na kasi sa milk pero ayaw naman paawat.

Sa Pinas, in lieu of milk, Zest-O ang ipinalit niyang liquid. Alam naming bad kasi nga matamis yun pero I am telling you, when your child is a picky-eater, ipagpapasalamat mo na lang kung meron siyang ibang magugustuhang kainin o inumin. Buti na rin nga at natuto na siyang magrice at kumain ng more biscuits and fruits. Pero syempre worried kami, lalo na ang lola niya, kasi nga too young pa raw si Tan to not drink milk. I assured her na pagbalik na pagbalik namin sa Canada, paiinumin ko uli ng gatas.

And that's exactly what we did. On our second night here, talagang hinainan na namin siya ng milk. My husband was hesitant in giving him milk on the bottle kasi nga babalik na naman daw sa pagdede, eh nasanay na nga na hindi. But the mom in me was desperate, I don't care kahit magdede siya uli, basta uminom lang uli siya ng gatas. I reasoned to my husband that when I was young, I never drank milk on glass kasi iba kako ang lasa. Nagdedede ako hanggang grade 2 (about 8 years old). Sabi ko maiibahan sya ng lasa kung hindi sa bote at baka ayawan agad. I won.

I was so shocked though that when I handed him a bottle of milk, he was clueless on what to do. Sabi ko isubo niya yung nipple and that's what he did, pero hindi siya sinisipsip. "Turuan mo ako, Mommy," he told me.

Really? In just five months, nakalimutan na niyang dumede? Pwede pala yun! Akala ko very natural ang pagdede sa bata, na parang instinct lang talaga. I was totally surprised.

At dahil wala siyang masipsip (ayaw niya kasing i-suck nang maayos), we suggested that he use a drinking store. Pumayag naman but he kept saying "iba lasa." It took him so long to almost finish his milk. Pero good sign iyon kasi pinipilit niyang inumin talaga. Yung iba kasing pagkain o inumin sobra ang resistance niya, ni ayaw tikman man lang.

After a day, we tried giving him milk on a sippy cup naman. Medyo nahirapan siya so sabi namin inumin na niya directly. At ayun nga, jackpot! Umiinom na siya uli ng milk! Bonus pa na hindi na thru bottle/dede.

Unti-unti, na-socialize na sa dila niya ang lasa ng milk. So now, 9 days after we arrived, sanay na sanay na uli siyang uminom ng milk. Saka sa gabi na lang, bago matulog. In fact, siya na mismo ang nagsasabing iinom na siya ng milk before he goes to bed. Ang bilis din tuloy niyang makatulog after.

Basta super saya ko lang kaya nag-blog pa talaga ako about this haha!

Ooops, dapat pala twice a day siya mag-gatas, one in the morning and one at night. Pero sa ngayon kasi dahil late siyang gumising, halos lunch na ang unang nagiging meal of the day niya. Pero gagawan ko ng paraan in the coming days na makadalawang baso siya. Pramis!