Zi at 6 months

November 16, 2009 · Written By Marchesa Ababa  · View Comments 

Mobility
So, as Zi’s 5th month was devoted to independently sitting, her 6th month was an obvious project to kick start her crawling.  The week she turned six months, she started getting on all fours, lifting her tummy off the floor, and trying to rock back and forth.  She tries so hard to reach objects this way, but ends up inching little by little somehow until she obtains her desired destination.  Sometimes, she falls then gets back up again, and sometimes she can lift one arm and pivot/turn.  But her first two weeks of 6 months, she’s ditched sitting activity so she can try to crawl.  With huge smiles of achievement and fascination of her newest feat, she’ll look at us with pride.

Here’s footage, the 1st week she turned 6 months:

Solids
We started feeding her solids at five months, so we’re continuing with that. The doctor says to delay giving her too much food too soon because when they grow up, they end up more constipated.  I want to hold off from giving her juice, like we did with emma because it might be full of sugar and they don’t really need it yet.  Also, drinking juice deters them from eating the food because it fills them up faster.  So, for now, we’re still giving her breastmilk, formula milk, rice cereal, and this week, a new vegetable.

Footage at 5 months, her 1st solids meal:

Music
One thing we’ve observed is her propensity to music.  When she hears a song she likes, she’ll sway back and forth with a smile on her face.  And sometimes she’ll try to make prolonged noises, which we perceive is her endeavor to sing.  She also knows how to bang the drum with her hands when placed in front of her.  That’s what I get for being pregnant with her while I teach choir for two cantatas and for dragging her to all the choir rehearsals this year.

Sisters
One new thing to Perze and me is observing the relationship between her and Emma.  During bedtime, Zi will roll over to wherever Emma is and touch her face or hug her neck.  She’ll do this several times until I have to separate them.  Also, it’s a known fact that no one can make Zi laugh as hard and as often as Emma. I love how they can love each other so much in such a short time, at such a young age. Emma prays for her little sister every night, and at the age when Zi starts talking, I’m going to teach her to pray for her older sister too.

sells and buys

November 16, 2009 · Written By Marchesa Ababa  · View Comments 

I just made a killing on ebay the last two weeks.

I can usually spot which dresses/clothing will sell and once a store goes on sale. I’ll try to buy the clothes that I know were the popular dresses of the season.  Surely enough, I got to the dresses/clothes first and bought them out.

I managed to sell several $30 skirts (retailing for $258) for $120-$150 (I even got to keep one). Several dresses from $49 to $150. And dresses from $99 to $200. 

aduvetoceanLastly, I’ve been drooling over this duvet set for over a year now, that sells for $208 original price, and last week, after a scavenger sale, I found ONE lone clean packaged duvet in the sale rack, in the color I wanted, for over 60% off, so I couldn’t help it.  I went home and went online for it and saw that it was still selling for full price.

WITW? How did that happen? 

A very merry happy unbirthday to me?  I’ am a very satisfied mad hatter.

Merry November Friends

November 12, 2009 · Written By Marchesa Ababa  · View Comments 

So friends, if you don’t know it already, here’s something you might appreciate for the coming Christmas season.  And as I teach the girls, sharing is caring.

GAP, BabyGAP, Banana Republic, Old Navy: additional 30% off
You can print this out or use online, multiple uses, for any of the above stores.

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Janie & Jack: additional 25% off
You can print this out or use online.

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one little bird

November 11, 2009 · Written By Marchesa Ababa  · View Comments 

Every morning, Emma wakes up, asks me where her dad is, then says, “good morning, Mamam.”  She then hugs me, lingers in my arms, then proudly stands up, proclaiming how the night has grown her.  Every day, she’s convinced she has dramatically gotten taller. 

Then I audibly praise her achievement and say, “it’s so nice to have an Emma.  Thank you, Jesus, for my Emma.”  And she says, “it’s so nice to have a mamam; thank you, Jesus, for my Mamam.”

Then she goes to her room and turns on her tv to her favorite channel.  And every day, I overhear this Bob Marley song/video:

And it warms my heart when she sings along to it.  With it comes the message that everything is going to be alright.  I know at a tender age, she isn’t familiar with life’s merciless arrows, people who discourage and criticize, or having to face circumstantial difficulties, but I hope she grabs this mantra at an early age, that everything is going to be alright.

Despite everything, God is good, and His love (that covers all obstacles) endures forever.

I more than heart you, Emma; I love you.
Thank you for the joy you give me every morning.

in response to educational creativity

November 3, 2009 · Written By Marchesa Ababa  · View Comments 

I really look at emma and her personality in response to many different areas of her education. I hope we can have the right discernment to encourage her in the way she’s meant to grow and not just to structure her “from the waist up, concentrating on her head and tilting it to one side.”

i want to love her for what she loves.

Creativity and Schools – A TED talk by Sir Ken Robinson

November 3, 2009 · Written By Perze Ababa  · View Comments 

Very interesting talk. Very true.



hallowedding…jay & cherms

November 2, 2009 · Written By Marchesa Ababa  · View Comments 

We just wanted to say congrats to the lovely couple, Jay & Chermaine, on their beautiful Hallo-wedding.

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I’m a sap in weddings, esp. when I can see the bride and groom really live for each other rather than make a grand show on that day for the crowd.  I always look for the stares between them, the wide smiles that say, “wow, here we are” and “today’s great, but I can’t wait for tomorrow…and tomorrow.”  I don’t look for the cliche expectations and program, but I do look at little ways they show each other just how familiar they are of each other, how well they’re treasuring the moment in love, and not in limelight.

After the church photos, I went up to Cherms and unexpectedly, I was almost in tears, seeing this dear friend who I used to sing with in Broken Strings praise band during my college years.  I can still remember the first time I heard her pray publicly, and admiring how loveable she was to everyone who knew her.  I always thought she was one of the prettiest people I knew, not just because of her exterior contagious smile, but because of ability to accept and befriend people, with a flair for humor. 

Anyway, we caught any foolish tear that may have tried to escape and forgot about them during the reception.  They did a unique routine, having had the wedding party dance the “thriller” video with their face masks, fitting for Halloween.  It was refreshing seeing a different idea.

And since it was Halloween, Em got to go for a short trick or treating in between the wedding & reception, around Jean’s neighborhood.  We also got to spend the day with old college friends.  I love getting to see them every now and then.  And I’m glad Em, the party girl that she is, got to kill the dance floor.  She didn’t even need us with her as she danced; she was that excited to party.  By the end of the night, we needed to pull her out of the dance area…

An lastly, yay, Jamilano’s, thank you for the honor of being your guests.  And thank you for being Zienne’s first wedding!  God bless your marriage. Love each other with a new love every day, with the old love that binds each new morning together.

Pictures up on the gallery shortly!

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