baby stuff

I have posted before I gave birth some of the baby stuff that we were planning on investing on: crib and mattress, milk, bath and skin care. Just wanted to finish what I have started (for once?) so here's the rest of it.

Milk/Feeding
We gave the baby whatever kind of milk that were given to us. Yeah. We're cheap. He was breastfed primarily so any other milk sufficed (Nestle Good Start, Enfa and Similac). But we mostly gave him Enfa after all of the freebies were gone and after he has stopped liking Mommy's milk. Now that he's a toddler, we are giving him homo.

For feeding bottles, we used Avent. Did not try any other ones. Avent were also the brand that we used with Kid #1. We used Dapple and Greenworks for the baby bottle dish soap. We also received Babies R Us sterilizer from the Baby Shower and that's what we are using until now. For Kid #1, we used Chicco.

Skin Care
I bought a lot of baby skin care before having the little one. Usually got the sample size if the brand has one. I bought Dr. Bronner's, Mustela, Wedela, Badger and Earth Mama Angel Baby. I've tried all of them. What stuck? I like Dr. Bronner's in washing his baby bums, specially when going out? It smells nice and it rinses easily well. But for total bathing and washing, I like Mustela the best. And that's what we are using still until now. For shampoo, he uses J&J. For moisturizer, we also stick with Mustela.

For diaper rash, I tried Badger and even Lanolin. But still went back to Desitin. Desitin worked with Kid #1 and still what worked with Kid #2.

Clothing/Bedding/Garment 
At first, I only used organic textiles for him. Bought them from Under the Nile, Sckoon, Aden & Anais, Perlimpinpin, Little Bamboo. We got gifts that came elsewhere and we used them also. Now, mostly all of his clothes are from major commercial retailers. But I must say that those initial investments I've bought were all great. They were really, really soft. Even the nurses from the hospital made a comment that, those were the softest swaddling cloth they have ever touched.

Stroller/Car Seat
We got the Graco Click Connect Stroller and Car seat combo. I forgot the actual Model/Type. We are still using both. The car seat is up to 35 lbs. Although Kid #2's legs and feet are now dangling outside the car seat, since he's still within the weight limit, we are still using it. We will get a new car seat once winter is over. We brought the stroller with us when we went back to the Philippines but it is not public commuter friendly, so we bought a slimmer stroller from Chicco and brought it back here, we will not buy umbrella stoller anymore once Kid #2 is too big for his baby stroller.

Diaper
I bought Naty diapers online to try on. It was okay. But  they were expensive. I believe they are also available on our local grocery store. But since J was the one doing the grocery while I was at the house with the baby, and he will not look for it at the store and he will not buy it since, it costs more, we used Pampers swaddlers. That's the best compromise that we can afford.

Toys
I tried to limit our purchase of toys. We have enough clutter at home and I don't want bins and bins and bins of toys overtaking our house. The toys that I bought were Sophie, 2 wooden toy cars and a teething dinosaur from Etsy, wooden Catterpillar from Begin Again, wooden Grasping beads and wooden Fish rattle from Haba, Uncle Goose's wooden alphabet blocks, Janod Animal Alphabet Cards, and Share Sorter and Stacking Cups from Green Toys. I highly recommend these toys because they are safe for babies and kids. I purchased some mainstream toys too, a soft book from Skip Hop and a few soft toys and stroller toys. We have received a couple of battery operated toys too, mostly from Fisher Price.

So far, he enjoyed Sophie, the Grasping beads, wooden blocks, alphabet cards, shape sorted and stacking cups. He still enjoys them except for Sophie. But he likes Sophie Books.

There.

baby stuff: mattress

I am hardly having a good night sleep these past few weeks. We are on our 3rd trimester, that's why. I remember the joy of having slept on my back again after Kid #1 was born. Can't wait.

Talking about sleep, as I have said from my previous post about baby stuff, that it seems rather best to have the baby sleep on the papag and banig. Why? Because the crib mattress is another baby necessity that is stirring up controversy in the "baby products" world.

There has been a study released by Cockrell School Engineers that "Crib Mattresses Emit High Rates of Potentially Harmful Chemicals".

Excerpt:
Analyzing the foam padding in crib mattresses, the team found that the mattresses release significant amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), potentially harmful chemicals also found in household items such as cleaners and scented sprays.

In summary, there are chemicals in the mattress composition (foam, the glue, the covering) that might trigger allergic reactions (lung complications, asthma) or may cause long term effects (hormone disruption) to the baby sleeping on it after inhaling all those fumes.

There is also a theory that SIDS is caused by the toxic chemicals released by conventional crib mattresses. They said that the chemical fumes being inhaled by the baby just shuts the baby's system off and might have causes the SIDS. Read here.

So parents, what to do?

Here's a link on How to Buy Non-Toxic Crib Mattress

And here's another list of Recommended Crib Mattresses

Other suggestion is to air out the new mattress months before the baby uses it (we won't be able to do this anymore).

Or opt to use an old mattress (crib mattress or your own mattress) but be sure that it has no molds as molds are known to eat up chemicals and release toxic gases, increasing the risk of -- you're right -- SIDS.

A New Zealand scientist, Dr. Sprott, have discovered and invented a crib mattress cover -- the BabeSafe® crib mattress cover, which is a non-toxic plastic cover that seals the crib mattress inside resulting of no gas generation occurring in the mattress that can reach the baby.

Of course, we have already bought the mattress before I have read all about this. And here's what we bought.

Simmon's Peaceful Slumber 2-sided Crib Mattress from Sears

Description from the website:

Featuring healthy support with lightweight sleep technology, this two-sided Simmons crib mattress gives growing babies a restful and supported sleep 

Thermo bonded polyester core; Recycled polyester fibres are compression packed for firm and uniform support 

Polyurethane foam free

100% certified organic cotton cover is cool in the summer and warm in the winter; Phthalate and PVC free -- but not necessarily VOC free. There are lots of chemicals that are considered VOC. Not just Phthalate and PVC. There's phosphorus, arsenic and antimony, to name a few.

Innovative two-sided design; one side for baby and one side for toddler for just the right amount of support

I believe it is made in Canada.

We haven't picked it up so I guess we still have time to change our mind because it is not on the "Recommended" list? I don't know. Or should I buy the said mattress cover/protector?

I have talked about this with J and he said that too much reading is giving me more anxiety and more things to worry about.

I guess I still won't be having a good night sleep even after the baby is born.

baby stuff: crib

If I'm having the baby come spring/summer, we would probably opt with co-sleeping -- the baby would sleep in our room, on our bed, close to me, the way I think babies should be (I know not everybody will agree with me on this). That's how we were with Kid #1. But since, I am having the baby this fall, I just can't imagine having lots of covers and blankets on the bed come winter with a little baby in the middle of it. So not safe. We opted to have the baby his own sleeping area, but still in our room.

Kid #1 will have to be moving out of our room, into his own room. That's another project I have to tackle before giving birth and deserves a separate post.

How important is the crib? A baby will spend most his time in the crib sleeping and inhaling the air surrounding it. So we have to make sure that we get the right and bestest crib, right? Right. 

Anyway, there are a lot of options out there for cribs and mattresses. For starters, we had this with Kid #1: 

And all along I thought this is considered a crib. Apparently, it is not. This is a play pen and is not advisable to be slept on (I guess napping is okay). A crib is something like this: 

from pinterest 

Nice. But once I actually checked up on the price points, reality sets in. I can't spend that much money on a crib. And J wouldn't let me. 

We checked out other options. Have considered buying second hand (it's pretty much common here) but I dreaded the fact of having my baby sleep on a crib with bed bugs/mites or "history". Scratch. 

As usual, we have to consider safety, the mechanical safety of 2nd hand cribs  and even brand new ones. There are cribs that have been recalled and there are cribs that are not being recommended anymore, Especially those with drop sides and big gaps on the slats, odd measurement of the posts, etc. Add to that the composition and construction of the crib. It is said that solid wood crib with non-toxic finish using non-toxic adhesives are the safest ones. One has to watch out for particle boards, plywood, fiber woods because these types of cribs uses adhesives to glue the wood together and those adhesives might have formaldehyde and chemicals that are carcinogens and would be harmful to the still developing baby. There are the exposed hardware that are choking hazards. And the paint on the crib with VOC and lead that your baby would be chewing on later on. 

OMG. 

My head is spinning. Whew. As I have said I am no expert here and I just wanted to give our kids the safest products that I can afford. If you want to know more and read about baby products to avoid, you can go here. 

And some guidelines on how to buy a non-toxic crib, just click here.  

Or to find a truly non-toxic crib.  

As for us, here's what we got:

Mercer 3-in-1 Convertible Crib (by Babyletto)

Description from the manufacturer:

This crib features an extra drawer to keep baby's essentials close at hand (ours doesn't have this). All hardware is safely hidden. The Mercer Convertible Crib has four adjustable mattress positions (important for me since I am not tall, I really would want ease when getting the baby in and from the crib). And grows with your baby, converting to a toddler bed (rail included) or daybed. 

Made of solid, sustainable New Zealand Pine Wood

Converts to daybed and toddler bed with included toddler bed conversion kit

Four adjustable mattress levels 

Lead and phthalate safe with non-toxic finish

JPMA Certified, meets ASTM International and US CPSC safety standards

Made in Taiwan

We have the white/espresso two-tone. It's brand new but on floor display and without the bottom drawer that's why we got it on a discounted price from this store here in Winnipeg. I really wanted the Hudson in grey but it is expensive. 

So I think, this is a good compromise, eh? 

Come to think of it, maybe it is much better to have the baby sleep on papag (bed made of bamboo) with banig (a handwoven mat usually used in East Asia and Philippines for sleeping and sitting, usually made of palm and sea grass leaves -- wikipedia)  and layers of cotton blankets.

Non-toxic is toxic

I have been buying stuff for the new baby, and boy, was I in a blur! There are lots of things to consider!!! I didn’t know that when I had my first son (all I know then was BPA and parabens).

I was online shopping and then I saw this ‘organic’ stuff. So I started reading about it.  The more I read about it, the more new words I get to encounter: phthalates, harmful polyester, chemicals in flame retardants, VOC, carcinogen, lead, nickel, chlorine – every and any chemical that might be harmful to a newborn (or humans, that is). In short there are lots of toxic chems that can be found on baby stuff!!!

And if you know me, I am so gullible. If I could only put my first born inside a bubble (BPA Free of course) to protect him, I would. Right then and there I decided to just buy stuff that is only pure and organic and non-toxic. But…… they are expensive.

Trying to find safe and reasonably priced baby products is no easy feat. Why are they making these things so expensive??!!! One could easily shell out $5000 buying non-toxic necessities for a new born, JUST the necessities. This is stressing me out, making me toxic.

Seriously, I admire those families who are really into this. There are a lot of websites and blogs that you can find and read about this stuff. I am no expert here. Just google it and you can spend your entire day reading about it. 

Ideally, in my perfect world, I really wanted to go this way, but in reality, I know that I can’t. We can’t. Even if I buy all those non-toxic stuff for our new baby, it doesn’t end here. I can buy a crib and a mattress for him that is so, so, so very safe. But our bed isn’t. The couch isn’t. Our clothes are not. What about the entire house? Flooring? Paint? It doesn’t start and and end with just the baby things. It has to be all of us, our way of living, our lifestyle.

I will just have to keep on telling myself that, alright, alright, I will exert an effort to buy only good and safe products but I don’t have to stress myself out if I can’t. I just have to be calm and believe that everything is going to be okay the way it was with the previous generations. I mean they don’t know a thing about this before, right? 

steinbach

our hosts took us for a road trip to steinbach, south of winnipeg. we had lunch at a.d. penner park and then take a dip at the indoor pool of steinback aquatic centre. here are some of the pics. the rest of the pics are at http://jolen.shutterfly.com/ontheroad/2623


it was windy and the wind is cold. aquim kept telling me he is ginaw. tita peng lent us her fleece jacket. we are still not quite familiar with the weather. people here are actually relying on weather forecasts and they are quite reliable. our hosts say when we've been here long enought, we will know what to expect when it says 18 or 12 or 22.
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one of the things i love here in canada, are the parks! this is the first park we have visited, the a.d. penner park. i'll google later what are the parks in winnipeg. this is quite a large park. one can play soccer, beach volleyball and has a playground.

aquim having fun going up and down the "mountain". actually it is just a hill.

trying out the swing. it's just sad that he doesn't get to play with other kids. maybe because he still doesnt speak english. but heck, most of the kids here at the park are pinoys. or maybe because he is the new kid in town. maybe because he is still too small for their games. hayy...sad.

but even if he is the smallest in the bunch, he is the first to try this zip line. and he did it several times until his hands hurt and let go of the handle on his 5th try. you can see the video on the link i posted above. a 5 year old gets to try this the first time, and he let go and he hurt him self big time.


after lunch and some play time, we are headed to the aquatic centre. it's just a few steps from the park. the centre opens up at 1pm and there are already quite a number of people in line outside.

here's after the door has opened. people trying to get tickets. the centre only has a certain capacity and if they have reached that limit, no one is going to get inside unless somebody else comes out. and if you get out, you have to wait and pay again if you want to come in. drinks and food are not allowed inside. this indoor pool is quite popular you have to pre-purchased a ticket to make sure you can get inside.

here's what inside. on the right is still another pool, similar to an olympic size pool, though im not quite sure about that. but it's just a rectangular pool where one can do laps. on the left, there is a hot tub and a sauna. i tried both. the hot tub is really hot. the sauna is like being in a small room with galvanized iron as room on a 12noon in our beloved country, that's how i felt.

this facility is quite strict. there are several roving lifeguards and supevisors. kids 7 and below should be within arm's reach of an adult. and if you stray away from your kid, the supervisor/lifeguard will really approach you.

one is not allowed to swim without a proper swimming attire. cotton clothes are not allowed. kids who are not yet potty trained are required to wear swim diapers.

the hot tub should have a maximum of 13 persons only at a time and the sauna 15. and they are really checking it every 3 minutes or so.

once, there was a kid who almost vomitted in the pool, about a spoonful or so and but he actually caught it with his hands. but when the supervisor saw it and asked everybody to leave the pool at once and replaced the water. it took about an hour before they let everybody back in the pool. hence food and drinks, even infant's milk are not allowed.

after a couple of hours, we went out and enjoyed the park again. jason and i kept telling each other that it was good we get to enjoy the philippines heat and beach one last time before we get here in canada. imagine here, we have to fall in line just to be able to take dip and a splash and swim ???


since aquim has no one to play around, we just contented ourselves sitting on the grass, collecting twigs and branches. too good aquim still enjoys our company teehee.

we leave the park around 630 and slept the entire trip back to our hosts' house. and slept more once we get to the house.

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bullying: in school

http://www.flickr.com/photos/anttyblog/4038267899/

School bullying

Bullying in school sometimes consists of a group of students taking advantage of or isolating one student in particular and gaining the loyalty of bystanders who want to avoid becoming the next victim.

These bullies taunt and tease their target before physically bullying the target. Targets of bullying in school are often pupils who are considered strange or different by their peers to begin with, making the situation harder for them to deal with.

Bullying in school and the workplace is also referred to as peer abuse.It is even a common push factor in migration.

useful links:
http://www.projectrockit.com.au/
http://www.stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov/
http://www.teachersandfamilies.com/index.html
http://www.theritejourney.com.au/
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bullying: categories and types

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaceyf/4239673154/

two categories

Direct bullying, and indirect bullying which is also known as social aggression.

Direct bullying involves a great deal of physical aggression such as shoving and poking, throwing things, slapping, choking, punching and kicking, beating, stabbing, pulling hair, scratching, biting, scraping and pinching.

Social aggression or indirect bullying is characterized by threatening the victim into social isolation. This isolation is achieved through a wide variety of techniques, including spreading gossip, refusing to socialize with the victim, bullying other people who wish to socialize with the victim, and criticizing the victim's manner of dress and other socially-significant markers (including the victim's race, religion, disability, etc).

Other forms of indirect bullying which are more subtle and more likely to be verbal, such as name calling, the silent treatment, arguing others into submission, manipulation, gossip/false gossip, lies, rumors/false rumors, staring, giggling, laughing at the victim, saying certain words that trigger a reaction from a past event, and mocking.

types of bullying

1. School bullying

2. Workplace bullying

3. Cyber bullying

4. Political bullying

5. Military bullying

6. Hazing

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bullying: all about the bullies

http://www.flickr.com/photos/justinaerni/2802857314/

all about bullies

Bullies may behave this way to be perceived as popular or tough or to get attention. They may bully out of jealousy or be acting out because they themselves are bullied.

Research indicates that adults who bully have personalities that are authoritatian, combined with a strong need to control or dominate. It has also been suggested that a prejudicial view of subordinates can be particular a risk factor.

Further studies have shown that envy and resentment may be motives for bullying. While some bullies are arrogant and narcissistic, others can use bullying as a tool to conceal shame or anxiety or to boost self esteem: by demeaning others, the abuser him/herself feels empowered.

Researchers have identified other risk factors such as depression and personality disorders, as well as quickness to anger and use of force, addiction to aggressive behaviors, mistaking other's actions as hostile, concern with preserving self image and engaging in obsessive or rigid actions.

Bullies are deeply prejudiced but at the same time sufficiently devious to not reveal their prejudices to the extent that they contravene laws on harassment and discrimination. It is often suggested that bullying behavior has its origin in childhood.

Bullies react aggressively in response to provocation or perceived insults or slights. It is unclear whether their acts of bullying give them pleasure or are just the most effective way they have learned to get what they want from others.

Similar to manipulators, however, psychopathic bullies do not feel remorse, guilt, or empathy. They lack insight into their own behaviour, and seem unwilling or unable to moderate it.

Bullies have deep seated psychological problems, including feelings of inferiority or inadequacy and difficulty in relating to others. Some may simply have learned at an early stage that their size, strength, or verbal talent was the only effective tool they had for social behaviour.

But the psychopathic bully is what he is: a callous, vindictive, controlling individual with little or no empathy or concern for the rights and feelings of the victim, no matter what the context.
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bullying: definition

from http://www.johnnygoodtimes.com

here's something that i would not want aquim to experience. especially now that we are going to start another chapter of our lives.

all from wikipedia.

define bullying
Bullying is a form of abuse. It comprises repeated acts over time that involves a real or perceived imbalance of power with the more powerful individual or group abusing those who are less powerful. The power imbalance may be social power and/or physical power. The victim of bullying is sometimes referred to as a target.

Bullying is an act of repeated aggressive behavior in order to intentionally hurt another person, physically or mentally. Bullying is characterized by an individual behaving in a certain way to gain power over another person.

Bullying consists of three basic types of abuse - emotional, verbal and physical. It typically involves subtle methods of coercion such as psychological manipulation.

Psychological manipulation is a type of social influence that aims to change the perception or behavior of others through underhanded, deceptive, or even abusive tactics.

Bullying behavior may include name calling, verbal or written abuse, exclusion from activities, exclusion from social situations, physical abuse, or coercion.
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tricycle-stroller

While surfing the net, came across this new tricycle-stroller combo! Cool... if only we have less of pollution here in Manila. Here are some of the contents from their website http://www.taga.nl/

TAGA is a multifunctional urban vehicle, uniquely deisgned to suit the needs of today's parents and children. Taga combines the benefits of a premium stroller and a carrier bicycle to create a new transportation modality.

Safe, reliable and fun, TAGA lets parents and kids move about the city easily,transforming a typical daily journey into exciting adventure. When reaching a desired destination, whether a shop, cafe, indoor playground or a friend's house, TAGA is converted within seconds into a stroller, allowing parent and child to conveniently enter the premises, ride and elavator or ascend steps.

TAGA has already won a few awards including Eurobike 2008 Award last September 4, 2008.

Some of the benefits:

Continuity: Nonstop motion, indoors and out,throughout the entire day. Always together with your child, always with TAGA.

Maneuverability: Keeps moving, even in the mostdifficult and crowded city spots.

Convenience: Easy operation. Changes modes- from tricycle to stroller-within seconds.

Modularity: TAGA can be fitted with various accessories. Mix and match to attach what is needed.

Fitness: The healthy way to travel, tone up and getback into shape after birth.

Ecology: Completely carbon emission free, TAGA is a smart city substitute for a car. Lets parents reach great distances throughout the city whilecaring for the environment.

Cost Effective: All-in-one solution. Saves ongasoline, parking and congestion fees.

Life Cycle: Reliable and long lasting. Good for newborns as well as toddlers, accommodating one or two children. Can also beused as a bike for teenagers or as a shopping bike.

Specifications:

TAGA is certified with the a few safety standards including: EN1888 -
European stroller standard and EN14764 - European city bicycle standard.

TAGA will be launched in the USA and Canada in mid April 2010. TAGA will be sold via TAGA website http://www.tagabikes.com/ and through selected retails (list will be published soon). The retail price is USD 1495. It can be ordered now, for more details pelase contact info@tagabikes.com.

For Southeast Asia (Singapore/ Malaysia/ Indonesia/ Philippines/ Brunei/ Thailand/ Vietnam): B.I.D. Trading Pte Ltd. +65 68441188; info@bidholdings.com.

preschool hunt

this what has been keeping me busy most of the day today. i'm searching for possible pre-schools for aquim. he'll be turning 3 this july and as dictated by society, i guess he should be in a school na.

we are not yet really thinking much about this, matter of factly. we still think that 3 years old is too young for "school" school. during our times, we only have kindergarten before entering big school. these days, even a newborn can go to baby/toddler play school.

but as a mom, i often feel like i am not giving aquim a chance to develop his full potentials. i feel and i think that he can still can learn a lot given that there's someone who will guide him. yes i believe that, that is our role as his parents and no, i am not taking preschool (or school, as i may say) as an offloader of our responsibilities as his parents.

i teach him, in the best way that i can, as often that i can. kaya lang, i don't know if i am doing it right. i didn't have a unit about child development heee.

i'm dreading nga the prerequisite preschool assessment eh. will aquim be able to pass kaya? hehehe he can count 1-10 sometimes 1-14. but nagkakamali pa. sometimes, he just says numbers randomly. more often, pabaligtad pa magcount. he'll say 1 , 2 , 3, 4, 5.. and then 4, 3 .. hehe.. or 10 , 9 , 8...

he can't sing the alphabet. you can tell by the tone that he is singing the alphabet song but the letters are jumbled. haha.. but he can tell letters A, B, C, M, O, Q, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y. he learned the letters that he wanted to learn. we didn't teach him to memorize the alphabet chronologically.

he learns at his own pace. we don't pressure him to study, most of the times. most of the times and not all the time, kasi sometimes, when i hear other moms' stories that his son/daughter can already do differential calculus or can recite rizal's mi ultimo adios, i prod him to study his alphabet and to count.

last tuesday, i was on leave (again). aquim and i went to shang and i let him play in the gymboree. when he saw the kids inside the classroom, he really wanted to join them. i told his dad that aquim really wanted to be in school na. before this, aquim kept on telling us that he wanted to be at a school. he wants to go to school. i guess he just misses being with other kids.

anyways, as i've said, aquim going to school is not in our immediate plans. so i didn't bother looking/researching for play schools/pre schools within our area. so now, i'm thinking of enrolling him on a summer class muna, to see if he'll be adjusted on a school set up before going all the way and paying big bucks for an entire school year.

challenge is to find a good preschool within our community or within pasig area.
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my hero!

my hero!
Originally uploaded by jolen

aquim aka astroboy aka wolverine (hehehe) sorry na, yan lang ang kaya ni mommy :)

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bilingual kid

i thought i'll be raising a bilingual kid. i used to think he'll be having english as his primary language.

but im wrong.

well, initially, we spoke to him in english. the first words he knew were english. but after i had a yaya and got back to work, he kind of switched to having tagalog as his primary language.

the things he usually say in english are now being said in tagalog. rain is now ulan. water is now tubig. light is now ilaw.. and a whole lot more.

sometimes he's taglish but more often, he speaks in tagalog.

have no problem with that. i'm just worried that it might affect his confidence while interacting with english speaking kids / adults.

i have witnessed a few times when he wasn't able to answer some questions because he doesn't seem to understand it because it was asked in english.

hmmm...


just then, aquim said, awesome!


we can still do it! hehehehe

it broke my heart

something happened last night and it broke my heart.

it was not our first away-bati moment. we had our bouts. kaya lang mga kiyeme lang yun na tipong lambingan lang or dahil lang sa kakulitan nya (at ako). but i think it was the first time na nagtampo si aquim over something na feeling ko hinde petty. at nabother din talaga ako.

i did not mean to hurt him, i was just telling his daddy matter of factly, in the same manner like how i tell his daddy if he does something good.

pero, he can understand those things na pala. hayyy.....



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