Imagination, Creativity, What If and Beowulf

People say that Migo and I look alike. Maybe we really do. Yet there's another trait we share - we talk while we sleep. There was one instance around last year that Itin caught Migo and I saying a word each. As per Itin, the word I said was simple compared to Migo's word - "imagination!"



Yesterday, I attended a talk by Neil Gaiman (he co-produced "Beowulf") in the Philippine Ad Congress. He talked about letting our kids get away with their imagination. Do no limit their mind with "what is," rather let them explore "what if?" He said that world we owe the world we live in today to those who imagined a "different order." So my mind wondered... What if no one imagined the concept of money - then we will still be stucked with barter. What if no one challenged the idea that plumbing should be outside the home - no indoor shower / bath tubs for us. Many everyday things we enjoy that wasn't even available 50 years ago if not for persons who asked "what if?" Everyday things which Migo always asks "why?"

I would like to think I do have some level of creativity. I have also received my share of "nice blog" comments. With Migo's creativity, my writing "skill," and our "what ifs," let's see if we can do our own "Beowulf."

Diggers and Dumpers

Migo is currently fascinated with heavy equipment – bulldozers, backhoes, forklift trucks, cement mixer trucks, etc. When we go out, we count how many flat bed trucks, container vans, trailer trucks, pick-ups, etc. we see on the road. He can go on and on with questions regarding the last heavy equipment he saw until he sees the next truck / equipment that interests him…

What do you call that truck? Why is it color red? Why not yellow? Where is the number (plate number) of the truck? Why does it have a number on the side? Where is the engine? Why is the cement mixer’s back rounding (turning)? Where is that truck going? Why is the door of the container van open? Where are the boxes and parcels? Why is the water tank not wet? Why is there a cover in the dump truck? Why is there no rubble in the back of the dump truck? Why is the truck dirty? Can the dump truck go to the car wash? Why didn’t it go to the car wash? Why does the truck have a funnel? Is it a train? Is that the stabilizer foot of the motorcycle?...

If I list down all the questions Migo asked the past month regarding diggers, dumpers, and trucks, then this blog will be as long as 16-wheeler truck, as high as the 30-storey building crane, with letters as many as the rubble in a dump truck, etc.

Face the Audience

Following instructions to a fault. Migo had his first public dance number during his school’s costume party last October 26. Our hopes were given a boost as Migo entered the dance floor all smiles. As the dance started, Migo again looked disinterested (like he did during his first quiz bee) but followed most of the dance steps taught by teacher. He was the only nursery student who sat down and stood up on the cue of the teacher during the dance routine. Unfortunately, he was also the only student who didn’t face the audience! Migo followed teacher Clarisse who was facing their class to lead them. Itin thought that Migo might have been distracted by the Christmas lights that was in the background.

All in all, what’s important is Migo can dance like his Mom, a talent that I can never claim. But I can always claim that I influenced Migo in bobbing his head when I play the car radio out loud when it’s just the two of us (Itin doesn’t like the car radio to be too loud). If only we can coax Migo into learning a musical instrument…

Tactical Flags

It was contest time again in Migo's pre-school. The students had to memorize 15 flags during the eliminations. Once again, Migo passed the eliminations and was included in the final 8 students for the finals. For the finals, they had to know another 14 flags.

It was the same "amusing struggle" for us trying to review the flags with Migo...

Why are they all "United?" The United States flag was included in the eliminations. So when we were asking him to remember the flags of United Kingdom and the United Nations, Migo insisted that "United" was only for the States. We told him that there are other "United" countries, United Kingdom being one of them. We also told him that Tita Wowie and Tito Steve lives in the United Kingdom. So when we reviewed, we tell him this is where Tita and Tito lives.

Shopping Flag. Hong Kong, the red flag with the "flower" in the middle was where Tita Leah did her shopping for Migo's toys.

Dragon! Wales' flag is the one with big dragon in the middle while Sri Lanka's flag is the one with the dragon which has a sword.

J for Jupiter. Japan was included in the eliminations. Since his Planets book made an impression on Migo, he played with "J" and said that the flag with the red circle in the middle was Jupiter. When Jamaica was part of the final list that needed to be learned, he was then insisting that "J" was only for Japan!

Why are they the same? Flags with the same layout with different colors was also a source of a lot of queries. Cuba and Puerto Rico is the same, just different colors. Their sizes also seem to differ! Why? Bakit? Why? Bakit?...

Scotland and Jamaica was also the same! Just different colors... Why? Bakit? Why? Bakit?... Excavators! And since both has an "X" in the middle, they are also the "Excavators." (Migo is currently into "Diggers and Dumpers" - the mean machines of construction - this will be another blog entry soon!).

"That's not a flag, that's a triangle!" It was really hard to convince Migo that Nepal's flag is a flag. Why? Bakit? Why? Bakit?....

Word Play. Migo also used other words when remembering other flags. Tibet was Elizabeth while Guatemala was Guatemelon. Iran was said accompanied a running motion shouting: "I Ran!"

Aside from connecting it to people Migo knows (where Tita went shopping and where Tita / Tito lives), we also had to change our tactics to know if Migo got the flags right....

1. Mommy "will ask Daddy /Tita Ara/ Tito Lendl, etc. for the answer" so he will compete on who would say the correct answer first. Answers were to be recited out loud!
2. Migo got tired of saying out loud the countries , so we got into "if you don't want to say it aloud, you can whisper the answer to Mommy/Daddy tactic."
3. We will eat pancake, chips, etc. bribes.
4. We will go to Ate Mika's house ploy.
5. We will ride around the village incentive.
6. Look a mirror! We'll see if you can identify the flag in the mirror play.

In the finals, Migo got 8 out of the 10 flags asked. This is an improvement from his previous 7 out of 10 performance on his 1st quiz bee. A girl got all 10, so technically, Migo got 3rd place.

Learning with Migo continues to be fun. Next time, we will aim for 2nd place. So if you have other tactics, bribes, ploys, incentives, etc. you can suggest, please tell us so we can aim for gold! : )

Stegosaurus

Migo woke up the other morning with his hair raised in the middle. He tried to push them down but his hair stubbornly stood up. Then he remembered something - he said he looked like a stegosaurus!...

Migo and Mugi

My Mom, Itin and I tried to get Migo to review last night. When it was my turn, I used his toys and story books as review materials. I would use words in his Thomas and Friends books to ask what letter the word started with and how it sounded. I would also ask what color the trains were. I think he noticed my ploy and started mixing up the train colors - Thomas and Edward who are blue became red, James who is red became blue, etc.

Itin and I took a half day leave from work to see Migo in action. Although parents were allowed to watch inside the contest area, we decided to stay outside and just look thru the glass wall. We didn't want Migo to be distracted by our presence. He also usually acts like a baby when he sees his Mom.

During the quiz bee, Migo was with 7 other nursery students. Out of the four (4) boys in his p.m. class, he was the only one who qualified for the finals. The 3 other students who qualified from his class were girls. The four (4) other contestants were from the a.m. class.

They were seated on the floor in two rows, with Migo in the 2nd row and last student to the left, and was contestant no. 8. He was also seated near a classroom door and he was the last student the teacher goes to after asking the question.

Migo looked disintrested, was distracted with the students going in and out of the classroom near him, and was yawning throughout the quiz bee. While most of the kids in the front row will immediately write down their answers to the questions and raise up their papers to give to the teachers, Migo will wait for the teacher to go near him before writing his answer. I winced everytime he wrote his answer because it seems like his answers were more an afterthought as he wrote on his paper only when is chided by the teacher. Itin and I had the same thought, we hoped Migo didn't get it all wrong!

When the contest ended, all the other 7 contestants already stood up while Migo was still seated in his place and was still checking out the classroom near him. When he finally noticed it was over, he stood up and got his bag and went to his classroom.

We waited for the scoreboard to be posted outside. We were relieved that Migo got 7 out of 10 points. He got 6 straight correct answers before getting the 9th question right. The 1st and 2nd place winners got 9 out of 10 right answers. The top 2 kids went thru a tiebreaker with a boy named Mugi, won. 3 kids got 8 points, another kid got 7 points, while the last kid got 6 points.

While I was happy he was technically the "4th" place and relieved he didn't get it all wrong. I just wonder how he would have fared if he were seated on the front row. With 2 points separating Mugi and Migo, Itin and I are still very proud parents.

Petiole

Teaching Migo is always a challenge. He doesn't want to repeat things already discussed. He would invent his interpretation if you try to repeat a subject. One time, when Itin was reviewing with him the parts of a leaf, he would not want to repeat the word "petiole" - the stalk of the leaf. He just declared that it is a "buntot!" We just rationalized that average grown people really don't know what a petiole is.

He also doesn't want to "unlearn" things. For example, Mr. Incredible is still Mr. "Credible" and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are still "Danger the Turtles." Although he can say each word correctly, he wouldn't correct the whole phrase because that's the way he wants to call his favorite cartoon characters.

Itin and I talked about it and agreed that it is ok if Migo is not as "academically-advanced" as his cousins Mika and Trigger as long as he is learning. We just joked that we would just develop him in sports. If he can't get academic scholarships, he might as well get athletic scholarships!

To our surprise, we were told yesterday that Migo was chosen to their nursery quiz bee scheduled tomorrow. We don't know how many were selected and how Migo did it, but we are really proud and hope that he does well. If only we can review with him tonight...

4th Birthday

It’s been a while since my last post. Two things happened – I’ve been very busy learning the ropes on my new job assignment and my internet access at home and at work have been cut-off for awhile. Anyway, I’m back!

What happened since my last post? Well Migo turned four (4) end of July. We had a party at his school. Itin and I bought loot bags with Justice League themes and filled it win fun stuffs like bubbles in Spiderman and Superman containers, Justice League stickers, Batman wrap-around arm bands, and San Miguel products for kids (Jellyace, Magnolia Chocolait, and Eaji Dip Snaxx). We needed 10 paper bags for the kids but only 6 were available with the theme. So she bought 4 Bratz paper bags for the girls. We ordered a Hershey Marshmallow Chocolate Cake with Batman’s face on the cake. I cooked waffle pops – Purefoods TJ Hotdog balls wrapped in Magnolia Pancake Plus. We also ordered spaghetti and palabok from Jollibee. We also brought Magnolia Ice Cream cups. Everything was prepared except we forgot to bring tissue paper. : i

Itin and I took a leave from work so we can have the school party. All the kids got excited when we came in with the food except for 1 kid who got teary-eyed and slumped in his chair. That kid was Migo. He didn’t want to be the star of the show. So while almost all of the kids got jumpy and wanted some cake, Migo had tears and trying to hide under the table. The kids cheerfully sang Happy Birthday while the birthday boy was still adamant that he didn’t want a birthday party. Itin and Migo’s classmates blew out the candle as Migo was still not in a mood to celebrate.

Eventually, as the food was served, Migo relaxed and started talking. One of his classmates asked if Migo has balloons, Migo replied “Wala ako balloons eh.” When one of his chinky-eyed girl classmates laughed, Migo quipped “Wala na siya eyes o!”

When the kids finished eating, Migo and Itin started to give away the loot bags. Migo wanted to get his hands on one bag right away so he was busy looking at his bag as Itin gave away the bags. Migo got gifts from his classmates – a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles lunch box and a couple of toy cars.

After the school party, we went to Migo’s cousin for another party. Since he is more relaxed with his cousins, he turned to his normal naughty and playful self – taking chocolate chips from the cake Granny bought even before the candle was blown. He laughed aloud as his cousin Trigger took apart Batman’s face in the cake from the school party. He was laughing aloud most of the time as he played with his cousin Jedi who’s always happy and playful when Migo’s around.

Now its time to plan for the 5th birthday party…

Potty Trained

Every Sunday since Itin was advised to be in bed rest, Migo has been going with my parents and sisters to mass and to the mall. The past two Sundays, the timing of his poo poo has been during their malling time. The good news is that his potty training is now certified.


He would tell any adult he's with that he's about to go. We were told that he would usually bend at the waist and his knees while controlling his "disposal." Since my Dad is the only male companion and he cannot carry Migo, Migo will end up in the ladies' room. As most of you know, the line in the toilet in the ladies' room is longer. Migo would peek below the door to check out what's keeping the lady inside. He'll let go only if the toilet is already secure.

Feels Super Credible

A couple of days ago, I was placing a 5-gallon water jug in the dispenser. The container was a quarter full because we already transferred most of its contents in other drinking containers. Anyway, Migo insisted on watching Daddy place the jug into the dispenser. Since it was not full, I placed it in the dispenser in one swift motion. Migo exclaimed: "Wooow! Daddy am lakas mo. Like Mr. Credible!" He was of course referring to Mr. Incredible of the movie "Incredibles."

Last Sunday was Father's Day and he greeted me "Super Dad Father's Day!"

It really feels super credible being Dad.

Progression and Snacks

"Progression":
1st day of school: out-standing (standing outside the classroom).
2nd day of school: inside the classroom with Tita Ara the whole duration of the class
3rd day of school: inside the classroom with Tita Ara half of the time
4th day of school: inside the classroom alone but looked for Tita Ara and Ate Lyn halfway thru the class. (Ara and Lyn hid inside the restroom when Migo came out looking for them!)
5th day of school: inside the classroom alone. BUT went out running with Lance, the naughtiest boy in the class!

Favorite Subject - Snacks! Variations:
1. Almost cried when he didn't have a juice (the teacher only saw the water jug and left the juice inside the lunch box.
2. Got a "star" for being one of the first to finish his snacks!
3. Finished the biscuits but didn't finish the juice. Migo wanted to return the juice to his bag but since it was already open, the teacher didn't allow it and instead gave the juice to Tita Ara. Tita Ara finished the juice. Migo looked for the juice in the schoolbus on the way home.
4. Grandma prepared two (2) sets of snacks for classroom snacktime and for snacks in the schoolbus. She placed the snacks in the lunchbox. Migo was one of the last to finish his snacks because he finished both sets of snacks!
5. Grandma prepared two (2) sets of snacks. She placed one set in Migo's lunchbox and place the other set in yaya's bag. I hope this works!

Hide and Seek

At last! Migo agreed to going to the classroom all by himself last Friday. However, during the latter part of the class, Migo wavered and was again looking outside for Tita Ara and Ate Lyn. So Ara and Lyn had to use desperate measures - they hid in the restroom while Migo was looking for them. Since he cannot see them when he looked at the waiting room, he had to go inside the room by himself. The other guardians served as look-out for Ara and Lyn. They only went out when the coast was clear. Hopefully, Tita Ara or Ate Lyn don't have to go hide and seek anymore this week.

No Juice For Me?

Today was Migo's 3rd day in school. Unlike the first 2 days, I wasn't able to go home during lunch break and bring him to school. When they went out of the house to go to the school, Migo looked left and right and asked "Where's the car?" When they said they will take a jeep to school, he looked left and right and asked "Where's the jeep?"

In school, he agreed to enter the classroom but still with his Tita Ara plus Ate Lyn. After awhile, Tita Ara slipped out of the room. When it was time for them to go out of the room to the activity area, Migo declared to Ate Lyn he will just "Stay lang ako here, ha?" Tita Ara and the teacher had to convince him to join his classmates outside.

They prayed, sang the "Lupang Hinirang" and recited the "Panatang Makabayan." Migo didn't want to pray with his hands joined together, he said his prayers with the tips of his fingers touching each other. When they were asked to sing the National Anthem, Migo didn't place his palm on his chest, instead clenched his hand into a fist and put it on his chest. When they recited the oath of allegiance, he raised his hand but not with an open palm but again with a fist. I wonder when this streak of "individuality" will end. : i

Then it was back to the classroom for snack time. The teachers helped the kids get their snacks in their lunch boxes. The teacher only got Migo's biscuits and water. She didn't notice the juice. While all the kids started eating, Migo looked around, noticed he was the only one without a juice, felt self-pity, and began to silenty cry covering his face with his hands. The teacher asked Tita Ara to console Migo and gave him a "star." Tita Ara brought out the juice and Migo ate and drank his snacks like he was starved. :)

Tita Leah and Grandma fetched Migo, Tita Ara and Ate Lyn. They went to Jollibee before heading home. Later after dinner, Migo declared, "Jollibee ulit tomorrow, ha?!"

First Stars

Migo got his first stars on the second day of school. He agreed to go inside the room with his Tita Ara. First Tita Ara carried him on her lap while sitting on one chair. After awhile he agreed to sit on his own chair with Tita Ara beside him on another chair.

Migo got his first star when he was "behaved" while playing with the toy given to him by the teacher. I think it's more like he's still shy so he was behaved while playing. The second star is more like him. He got it from being among the first in the class in finishing the snacks! Well, that's my boy!

Hopefully today, on his 3rd day of school he'll be more active and participative.

Out-standing

It was Migo's first day in nursery school yesterday. He stood out - actually we stood out of the classroom because he didn't want to go. Most of the kids had summer classes, so they had a headstart. We only found out about the summer sessions when we had him evaluated.

Anyway, it was exciting for me and Itin. We brought a camera. We almost brought a video camera! Itin went with us even if she's supposed to be in bedrest until the middle of the month.

However, for an hour, Migo and I stood just outside of the classroom looking thru the glass panel window. He insisted that he was "Baby Jedi" and needed to be carried. So we compromised and I had him stand up in a chair while I stand behind him so he can see the activities inside the room.

The teacher introduced each student to the class and gave them name tags. Migo still didn't get his name tag. The kids then lined up outside. The teachers formed a semi-circle around the students, sang and dance for them and asked the students to follow. I tried to have Migo join the the line but still, he refused.

A lot of teachers and even the school administrator tried to get Migo to go join his classmates in the classrom and in the line. Migo won't budge. He almost threw a tantrum when I tried to get him inside the room. So we settled for the outside view.

The good thins is Migo still showed he had good taste! If the teacher wasn't very pleasant looking and asked him to go inside the room, he would stubbornly declare "No! Stay here lang outside. " and would turn away from the teacher. However, the pretty teacher talked to him and he just shyly said no and let the teacher touch his hand. I thought that teacher will get him to go inside, but he stood his ground. (At least he's consistent. I remembered when Migo was hospitalized when he was 3 months old and he was well-behaved if the nurse was pretty and was fussy when the nurse wasn't pleasant looking!)

First day school was a little shaky. Today, my mom and my cousin will bring Migo to school. He always seemed more behaved or "mature" when me and Itin are not around. I hope this tactic works and my blog tomorrow will be different...

Use The Glass

I just finished brushing my teeth in the bathroom yesterday when Migo went in. He said, "Daddy, hindi naman glass yang hands mo why are you drinking with that. Daddy, use the glass wag yang hands mo!"

Daddy learned a learned a lesson from his son.

Sleeping Act

This morning, Migo was being asked by my cousin Ara to practice writing his alphabets instead of playing. Migo claimed he was sleepy. So he left the living room, went up the stairs and said "Mag-sleep muna ako, ha?"

This is Migo's new routine when asked to do something he doesn't want to do - whether to practice writing, to fix his toys and most especially to listen to Daddy when I need to explain what's a good and a bad boy. He even has his "act" of closing his eyes, breathing thru his wide open mouth to inhale, and faking a snore complete with a pointed mouth when he exhales.

Strings Attached

Migo likes to play with strings, ribbons and ropes.

He ties a rope to his motorbike attached it to two boxes containing his toys. He rides his motorbike pulling the boxes and imagines it is a train. Or I could just pull the other end of a ribbon while he holds the other end. When we walk we are already Thomas and Claribel (from "Thomas and Friends").

He also ties a string to his toy helicopter and lifts his other toys with it. It could be his cars, his animals or anything he gets his hands on. He imagines his helicopter to be "Harold" - again from "Thomas and Friends."

Or he could just run with a string or a ribbon and declare that it is a "Draaagonnn!"

Our Angel

Since Migo was around 2 years old, Itin and I try to make him pray "Angel of God" at nights. Even with much prodding, Migo never repeats after the prayer until we gradually stopped trying to make him.

One time early this year, we were coming from his cousins' place in Makati. It was already late and he looked sleepy. So Itin told him, "Sleep na baby." Migo said, "Not yet, pray muna tayo." Then to our surprise, he recited (actually more like shouted), "Angel of God, my guardian dear...." He already memorized the prayer!

Our angel! :)

Here You Go Mommy

I had to bring Itin home after lunch yesterday 'cause she had another spotting. While she was resting, Migo came in the room with his cookies and said, "Here you go Mommy. Kuha." Itin got one and Migo went out again with his cookies. :)

Picking A Pre-School

Around three weeks ago, we went to look at pre-schools for Migo. We went to this Montessori around 3 kilometers away from our house. The school occupied the first floor of a two-storey house. The lighting was a little inadequate. Although the owner / administrator was lively, the teacher was a bit timid for kids to be excited about. Migo was evaluated by the teachers. However, Migo didn't want to go alone and instead had his Mom sit beside him while he was being tested by the teacher. After Migo's evaluation, he noticed that we were going around looking for another school. He said, "Ayaw ko na isa pang school, punta na tayo kay Ate Mika!"


We found this other school which was closer to our house (less than a kilometer). It had a four-storey building with bright lighting, big rooms and very enthusiastic teachers. Migo easily went with the teacher to check out the rooms, the toys and the books. He agreed to be evaluated alone with the teacher. After leaving the 2nd school, Migo said, "Isa pang school!."


Guess which school we picked? : )

My Kid's Antics

No new updates today. I'm just trying to remember what antics our Migo did the past 3 years.

The first to come to mind Migo's adventurous nature. When he first learned to walk, he wanted to walk fast to the point of running. When he was already sure of running, he would size up the length of the space he can ran at, close his eyes then run with his eyes closed!

There's the climbing the cabinet near our bed mattress then jumping with his body curled to achieve a longer vertical descent. There's additional incentive for him if I were lying down in bed so he can jump over me!

Then there's the observant Migo coupled with a naughty way of delivering his observations. Once, our helpers were comparing their arms to see who had a lighter complexion. Both of our helpers came from the north, worked the rice fields, and are naturally dark. So Migo stuck out his arm in between the two, pointed at their arms and said "Chocolate!" then pointed at his arm and declared "Milk!" :)

Then one time Migo was mimicking the different facial expressions of the train characters in Thomas and Friends. Then my sister asked how my dad, Migo's grandpa looked like. My Dad had a heart attack around the time Migo was born, has diabetes with the accompanying mood swings, and is usually irritated by the slightest thing. Migo joined his eyebrows and declared "ganito Grandpa!" When my Dad looked at him, Migo said "Wag ka galit Grandpa!" Even my grumpy Dad had a laugh. :D

Parental guidance in watching TV should never be underestimated. Once I was surfing channels and stopped a while for a commercial of Guinness Book of World Records showing a man breaking watermelons in a table with his head. Migo looked at me and his Mom, braced himself on the table and banged his head on the table top. Ouch! Of course he cried because it hurt. I asked, concerned but half-laughing. "Why'd you bang your head on the table? Di ba sakit yon? Saka there's no watermelon there, di ba?" While crying, he sheepishly grinned and said, "Oo nga, hehehe, no watermelon." So he was crying and laughing at the same time when he realized his foolishness. :P

Obviously, parental guidance extends to the outdoors. Once Migo was with his cousins and aunt in a big field. Birds were on the ground eating and Migo and cousins would run after the birds stomping their feet on the ground. Of course the birds would fly away when they came near. They'll try running after the birds again when they settle down. Unfortunately another kid came with a chick. She laid the chick on the ground. When Migo saw the chick, he thought it was one of the birds and ran after it. Of course, Migo caught after the chick, stomped on it and walked away proud of himself that he caught his first "bird." The other kid cried, my sister-in-law profusedly offered apoligies to the parents of the other kid, and Migo was off running to another group of birds. Around two months later, Migo, my wife, sis-in-law and her kids were in the field again. They saw the kid with the dead chick and the parents. My wife told the parents of the other kid that we owe them a chicken. ;)

I'm sure I'm missing more of the funny incidents we have with Migo. It's too bad I just started this blog to document them. Anyway, from today until "deyond," I will blogging away our adventures.

Check-up and Brownout

My first born, Migo, had two funny quips yesterday and today:

1. Yesterday, Migo's grandma brought him to the doctor to check on the small swelling in his eye. At first he said he didn't want to go to the doctor. So my cousin Ara acted like she was having a headache and asked Migo to accompany her to the doctor. Once there, Migo was cajoled to go into the doctor's clinic.

The doctor brought out the small flashlight to check Migo's eye. But even before being instructed to stay still, Migo opened his mouth. So the doctor checked his mouth even when it was not necessary. Then the doctor went on to check Migo's eye. When the doctor was done, he returned the flashlight in his pocket. Migo said, "Yong ears ko pa?" So the doctor had to "check" his ears to finish the check-up.

2. There was a brownout earlier this morning. Migo declared, "I-charge ni Daddy yan, ha?"

Can't wait to have round two with my coming baby.

"Wows" in Life

"Infinity and Deyond!" No, I didn't get the spelling of "deyond" wrong. It's my kid's battle cry. He got it from Buzz Lightyear - the "Toy Story" cartoon character. He's 3 years old and he wants to say it that way no matter how we prod him to change it. It's just like when he started saying "Lightning the Queen" even if its "Lightning McQueen" from the movie "Cars." His favorite shows are now expanding. There was a time it was "Nemo" all day. Then came "Barney." Then came "Stripes." Then "Cars." Then "Thomas and Friends." Now its Buzz.

We had a reflection last week regarding "miracles" in life that we often neglect. My wife and I shared that with our kid, the ordinary becomes something to marvel at - like water fountains of different shapes and sizes, cranes lifting things, tow trucks pulling other vehicles, zebras in zoos... The list goes on. With kids, you get to say "WOW" more often.

My wife and I are expecting our 2nd child. Its a BIG "WOW" for us. Our first born in turning 4 on July. We were looking at his pictures when he was younger and we've forgotten how much smaller he was. It will be a new round of changing diapers, baby talk, cartoons and wows. We can't wait to see the new baby soon. It's just a little worrisome because my wife was advised by the doctor to have bed rest for five days because of symptoms of threatened abortion. We pray that everything will be ok for our 2nd baby.

For now we are continuously amused by our first born. He continues to wonder how and why is there another baby coming. He insists he's the only baby in the house. One time he wanted to crawl back to his mom's womb because we told him the baby is his mom's tummy. He tried to fit in his mom's dress to go to the tummy. After that, he tried to sneak in the stuff toy Baby Jack (from "The Incredibles") into his mom's tummy to picture how a baby would fit in the tummy.

We have around 7 months to get him used to being an older brother. For now, we need to continue shouting "From Infinity and Deyond!"