Ready for School?

I have been contemplating whether to send Alyssa to school already. She’s 2 years and 9 months right now and sooo very smart! She knows her shapes and colors and can count from 1 to 20. She’s very observant and alert and knows so many things that she surprises even me and her dad.

Mier says not to rush her, that she’ll be in school for a long time anyway and that we need not let her start this year. I feel, however, that she knows enough of the basics and that school is not just a learning ground for the academics but as well as for socialization with kids her age and other adults aside from us in the home.

Although Alyssa gets to socialize with her two older sisters, she usually gets her way simply because she’s the youngest and screams the loudest. (Hehe!) I want her to learn how to deal with other people especially with those her age.

I remember enrolling Nadine in a toddler class at age two years and three months. At that time, Raya was just a month old and I thought Nadine needed an activity that was hers alone. I was wrong. She wasn’t ready for school and wasn’t ready to be away from me and the baby. I didn’t want her to feel that she was being sent away so I can spend more time with Raya. I decided to pull her out and wait for a better time.

That summer, when Nadine was two years and seven months, I enrolled her again in preparation also for the incoming school year. Although I had to sit down with her in class for a week, this time she was more mature and more ready to go to school.

Raya was a different matter. She had expressed independence even at a very young age. Four days after she turned two years old, she DECIDED that she was going to school. She chose her bag and her clothes and her shoes and was ready to go with Nadine to school. I thought, let her try it. She’ll probably ask to be picked up in the middle of the class or maybe not even enter the gates once we were there.

Boy, was I wrong again! She neither looked at me nor said goodbye! She went straight inside the classroom. I was left standing by the gate with my mouth wide open. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry! I went to school early to pick her up and she didn’t even want to go home just yet. Although she is always one of the younger ones in the class, Raya has always been one of the top students.

Now with Alyssa, I’m still not sure whether to send her to school or not. She doesn’t insist on going although she does say that she misses her sisters when they leave in the mornings. I feel that she’s ready for this adventure called school and would enjoy it tremendously just like her sisters before her. I also think that she’s old enough to understand about the coming baby and won’t really feel left out. Besides, school will only be a few hours a day for her. Maybe I should let her try a few days and see how things will turn out. We’ll see.

First Day of School - June 2010

I think I was just as excited as they were for their first day of school. :D But I must admit that seeing Raya in her Grade One uniform brought tears to my eyes. Can't believe she's in Elementary already! Sniff!

Green Beans and Egg Salad

Description:
Another favorite side dish of the family. My girls usually prefer eating the egg only but we've convinced them to eat some of the green beans too even if they still eat more egg. :D We like having this with the Paksiw na Pata or Chicken Asado.

Ingredients:
Green beans
Eggs
Mayonnaise
Salt
Pepper

Directions:
1. Clean the green beans by removing the tips. Cut them into bite size pieces.
2. Drop eggs into boiled water and let stay for 10 to 15 minutes to make sure that eggs are truly hard boiled already.
3. Remove eggs from shells and cut into small pieces.
4. Combine eggs and green beans and add mayonnaise. Season with salt and pepper.

Made With Love

When I was pregnant with my first born Nadine, my tita gave me a plastic bag full of baby clothes, "pamana" from my younger cousins. In this plastic bag were small crocheted booties. I've always believed that my maternal grandmother, Lola Cely, was the one who made these (although my tita wasn't really sure). My Lola has always been nimble with her hands and she enjoyed making things for her children and grandchildren. Since my sister, Mabel, is having a boy, I passed on the blue and green booties to her while I kept the pinks and yellows. Here is a picture of these booties that were left with me:


I love the booties! Usually newborn shoes are too big for 0-3 month old infants. So you'll have to make them wear socks or go barefoot. These crocheted booties made my girls look all dressed up even with the simplest clothes. Yes, they were not just cute. They looked so fashionable.

While pregnant also with Nadine, I bought flannela in Kamuning to use as receiving blankets for my coming baby. My Lola Cely patiently crocheted the edges of these blankets. I love the crocheted look plus the love and patience that came with it. She crocheted about a dozen blankets for me and a number of cloth diapers too for me to use as lap pads. These blankets were used by Nadine, Raya and Alyssa and I will definitely be using them for our coming baby girl:

Now while waiting for this coming baby, I thought of crocheting the edges of diapers once again. I actually enjoyed doing these. It's just a simple crocheted blanket stitch and not difficult to do.


And one afternoon while busy with my hands I thought of a name for my baby --- Cecilia Amarise. Cecilia is my Lola Cely's real name and is the patron saint of music while Amarise is a Hebrew name meaning "Given by God." I've never really heard of the name Amarise so I  was surprised that it came into my mind and the meaning of the name. Perhaps it is from my baby letting me know about it and deciding for herself what name she wants. Yes, still in the tummy and already having a mind of her own! Her nickname will be "Cerise" which I also love because of it's uniqueness.

The booties, the blankets, the diapers all made with love by my Lola. Cerise, made with love by Mier and me. So much to look forward to. Another heart to love, another soul to nurture. We can't wait!

Beef Taco Salad

Description:
Here's another way to make my kids eat vegetables. When we eat tacos we usually break the shells anyway so we just opt to make taco salad instead. :D

Ingredients:
1/2 kilo ground beef
1 onion diced for saute
3 cloves garlic for saute
chili powder
cumin powder
salt
pepper
tomatoes diced
onions diced
grated cheese
sour cream (or all-purpose cream)
shredded lettuce
taco chips

Directions:
1. Saute, in little oil, diced onion and garlic.
2. Add ground beef. Season with salt pepper, chili powder and cumin powder.
3. Continue cooking until juices have evaporated and beef brings out own oil. Toast a little.
4. In a bowl, put taco shells, lettuce, ground beef, diced tomatoes, diced onions, grated cheese and cream.
5. Mix and enjoy!

Paksiw na Pata

Description:
This is another frequent viand at home because it is one of the easiest dishes to prepare. Mix, marinade then cook. Simple!

Ingredients:
1/2 kilo pata slices
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup vinegar
1/4 cup water
3 cloves garlic
1 tbsp brown sugar
1-2 laurel leaves
ground pepper
banana blossoms
2-3 saging na saba

Directions:
1. Combine together in a saucepan pata, soy sauce, vinegar, water, garlic, sugar, laurel leaves and pepper.
2. Marinade for 20-30 minutes.
3. Let boil then simmer til meats are soft.
4. Add banana blossoms and plantain bananas.
5. Let boil for a few minutes then turn off heat.
6. Serve hot with rice.

Aches and Pains

Ahhh... Seems like the aches and pains of pregnancy is more pronounced now. Is it because this is my 4th child? Or maybe because I am a lot older now? I thought it would be easier since I know what to expect this time around. Guess I was mistaken.

I've always wanted a big family. I think this was influenced by my maternal grandmother who has 9 children (all married), 27 grandchildren, 5 grandchildren in law and 8 (going on 11) great grandchildren. Reunions and sunday lunches were always a riot! Of course, I didn't dream to have THAT many children but enough to have a fun home.

One night when we were newlyweds, Mier and I came up with 6 names --- 3 names for girls and 3 names for boys. Names that we'd like to give to our kids. Yes, at that time, we dreamed of having 6 kids. But now we've decided to just have 4. Well, I did because I don't think I'd want to go through getting pregnant again.

As usual the first trimester of my pregnancy was just as bad --- beset with morning sickness that lasted the whole day, and nausea. Many times I was depressed for having to go through it all again. Didn't I learn my lesson the first time? Obviously I don't because when I hold my baby in my arms, all hardships are swept away.

Yes, I was depressed, crying uncontrollably and hating the fact that I was pregnant once again. But even if I felt that way, everyday, I'd talk to my unborn baby and let her know that I HATE being pregnant but I LOVE her and the fact that she is mine. Somehow I know she understands.

Now as I enter my 6th month, the nausea has gone but that awful taste in my tongue is still there. Sometimes I still throw up when I've eaten something that doesn't go with my system. My tummy has grown quite big already that I have difficulty moving around. And I feel my baby squirming and stretching inside me. I can't wait to have her out of my stomach and into my arms; to smell her baby scent; to feed her with my milk. Soon, soon.