It takes only a couple of months to form a habit, and even longer to break it.  That’s why I mourn with my daughter when she cries, asking for something that’s been so familiar to her for so long. 

This time, it’s her D-D-Dora sippy cup.  It’s not that she doesn’t know how to drink out of a normal cup.  She actually learned how to drink from a cup since eight/nine months. But she loves to drink from her sippy cup because it allows her to drink from an almost lying down position, so it offers such comfort when she’s watching tele or resting, or down time before she goes to sleep.  It’s more of a comfort thing for her, like a grown up’s coffee time, or a nervous man’s cigarette, Oprah for the emotionally deluded. 

Now when she wants to relax to her favorite TV show, she can’t sip slowly from her sippy cup.  I’ve had some protests initially, but fortunately, she hasn’t given me any tantrums.  Actually, the night before I initiated the ‘No Sippy’ policy, I had a very serious talk with her about it, telling her that she can never drink from it anymore because it is gradually ruining her teeth.  Some people think that it is impossible to have serious conversations with a three year old, but you can.  I try to encourage it with her, familiarizing her w/ conversation and explanation.

I’m actually pretty proud of her; it breaks my heart sometimes when I have to say no, knowing the times when she really loves to relax with a cold sippy cup of milk to comfort her.  I know how much she enjoys it, but like most things, you just have to one day out grow it if you want to mature.

So my lesson of application to the non-toddlers:  We have grown accustomed to cyclical habits along the years, but if you want a sign of maturity, stop the cycle and let it go.  It makes you feel good, sure, but little do you know that it gradually ruins who you are inside.

Last night, as I was doing our nightly routine, Emma said to me,

                                       "thank you for praying
                                          for Lord for Emma."

She thanked me for praying for her.  Usually, I would ask her to pray for her cousins Hong Hong, Isabel, and Baby Seph.  Then I would pray for her. 

I wish I had a voice recorder so I can show her child one day.  Thank You Lord for our daughter…she is such a blessing in our lives.

We just want to thank everyone who came for Em’s 3rd birthday, and everyone who greeted us that special day.  The thank you cards have been written out but not all were distributed, but a grateful thank you for the Ababa family in advance.  Thank you for your gifts also.

Her birthday week was full of surprises.  On July 1, Perze got up extra early to walk to the store to buy her flowers and balloons but it was too early to get someone working the machines, so he came home with just a bouquet. Em was already awake because she was so excited.  Actually, she initially woke us up that day by giving us five stanzas of Amazing Grace.  I woke up to her sweeeeeeeeet voice.

As Perze worked for the most of that day, my sister Steph came over w/ her two boys and Mama.  We ended up treating the kids to Baby Gym, Em’s FAVORITE hangout, and the wish fountain, where Em & Hongs robbed me of all my pennies.  They stayed well after dinner, which was really fitting and such a treat for Emma because she claims Hongs is her "best friend."  I didn’t mind being bumped to 2nd place as I saw how they made each other laugh and follow each other from room to room. 

As they left and Perze got home, bringing home huge balloons for Em & Hongs, we finished the day by taking tons of pictures and even doing a remembrance video.  We reminisced Emma’s 2nd year, realizing how much she’s grown and changed.

That Sunday, we were able to hold a mini-party for her at the church, during agape lunch.  We invited some friends who came to enjoy the lunch and just chit chat.  Em was so excited to give out her Hello Kitty/Spider Man favors that mamam put together (w/ the help of Tatay, Tita Steph, & Tito Sam).  We gave out Hello Kitty reusable lunchbags w/ all of Emma’s favorite goodies inside.  Totally a big hit.  We decorated the cafeteria with balloons and distributed pictures of Em. 

I really want to thank my parents for really taking such an effort to cook so much great food.  I know they work so hard each time we hold a party for their apos.  Parties wouldn’t be as good without their culinary skills.

At the end of that day, when we finally got home to NorthJ, we were able to give Em her last gift, a gift that Perze and I hope will enrich her, entertain her, and educate her- a leapster portable gamer.  So far, she’s been using it every day, and hopefully when she starts being more familiar with math and reading, it’ll be a good tool for her.

But, overall, thank you everyone for being a part of Em’s life, for encouraging her to be a good girl, for giving her a sense of friendship every you converse with her and play with her.  God bless you for treating her as a beloved individual.

For the complete album of her 3rd birthday week, please visit our Twelvesixteen.net Photo Gallery.

Em jumped over her first hurdles today, literally. 

When we first started baby gym, Em was so observant for most of the session.  She always wanted me by her side, prompting her to participate in their activities and disciplining her to follow and listen to directions.  Now, it’s only been three months and she’s learned how to participate independently, trusting the teachers and listening to their instructions.  Now, I’m able to sit at the sidelines and type while she’s acting out "I’m A Little Teapot."  The funny part is that I still want to look at all their activities to see Em’s reaction and elation, and sometimes make note of her naughty behavior, so I can correct her later on.

But I really am proud of her for learning how to listen and actually follow their directions to achieve their little tasks.  It’s a little step to independence and confidence and those two are things that I know I wasn’t able to master when I was a child.

Those are the real metaphoric hurdles for her which will be a bit harder to overcome.

My daughter LOVES the beach. Last Saturday, we were able to hit the beach for the first time this year, and Em’s behavior gave the impression that we’ve deprived her for life.

We helped celebrate Eli and Amia’s birthdays in a joint beach party, filled with plentiful food, under gracious tents that blocked the generous sunshine.  It was really a perfect day for a party since there was wind amidst the sun. 

Seeing friends at a beach party, with food, and an overjoyed toddler, sitting under a shade and hearing the beach chatter is just really calming.  It made me very thankful that we came, esp. seeing Em so happy covering herself with sand and teasing the waves.

But a behemoth thanks to the Frago family for inviting us!!  We had a great time.  (see right: Em & Eli)

For the complete album of our Island Park Beach Party, please visit our Twelvesixteen.net Photo Gallery.  We’ve uploaded all our pix.

Note: A compilation of Text Messages I received yesterday from family back in the Philippines for Emma’s Birthday.

Dear Emma,

GOD isn’t far away; HE surrounds you with His love. It was HE who opened your eyes this morning His strength will carry you all your life. Happy birthday!

- Lolo Perl & Lola Nene

–
Happy birthday Emma! We love you. We miss you

- Tita Zen & Isabel

–
Dear Emma,

Till I have life to live, I will always love u. Remembering you on your birthday is my way of thanking God He created you…

- Lola Nene

Our daughter leaves the terrible twos today and enters in the year of possibilities for even more dramatic growth- physically, emotionally, cognitively, and even spiritually.  As excited as we are that she’s at the doorstep of this phase, we’re always ambivalently sad as we have to let go of that previous year because it’s only proof that her baby days are slowly slipping away.

This means a lot to many parents, mainly because their innocence and stark joy for the simplest things were in those phases.  She’d see a butterfly and be genuinely awed.  She’d hear a tune and be automatically animated.  I know some people don’t outgrow the wonder sometimes, but age definitely sedates it, and makes it harder for us to appreciate only what children can define.

But with age, there’s a promise- a promise of potential, walking alongside w/ hope and excited anticipation and surprise.  That’s what we look forward to w/ every passing year with Emmanuelle, because we’ve learned as novice parents, that we’re continually surprised, even with our expectations.  We are immensely blessed by her life, her laughter, her thoughts, her humor, her sass, and her quiet wonder. 

I can’t really explain the emotion of a mother, as Perze probably couldn’t either, but it goes along something like this deep huge ball that you could feel inside your chest that contains galaxies of fear, hope, pain, joy, etc…triggered by the world affecting your child…and with each trigger, those things are amplified and all you want to do is shape their world as much as you can, because what affects them affects you too. 

But with all the mama drama aside, I want to welcome Emmanuelle to her new year, thanking God for molding her so lovingly and personally.  God be the glory for her life and development.  Last night, before sleeping, we were laughing over the day I went into labor w/ her.  Today, she woke up around 5am saying that Hong Hong (her cousin) is coming over to give her a present.  She’s quite excited that it’s her birthday, proudly admitting that she’s now “three years old.”  And to beautifully start her third year, while her parents were in the midst of sleeping and acknowledging, she sang:

“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now I am found
Was blind, but now, I see.”

HAPPY BIRTHDAY OUR BELOVED EMMANUELLE GRACE.
WE LOVE YOU DEEPLY.  THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOVE.