OC Kids

When my first born used to play when he was 3 years old, he would line up his toys and check if they were aligned in the way he wants it. He did this either with his toy animals or his toy cars. He would look at it from the front, back and sides to see if they were aligned and would adjust them carefully until he is satisfied.

My 2nd baby is O.C. on another way. Since he was 9 months old, he is bothered by this particular black speck on our white floor. He would constantly point at it and grunts when he passes by that area of our living room. He's now almost 11 months old and the black speck is still a concern for him. Not only that. Just recently, I was carrying him at home while I was wearing a sleeveless shirt. My shirt did not cover a mole in my right shoulder. He pointed at it and tried to remove the mole from my shoulder with his fingers.

I wonder where they got this compulsiveness.

Heavenly Questions

My wife's Dad passed away when she was only 13 years old. My son only know his Grandpa Tirso as the person we visit in Libingan ng mga Bayani every All Saint's Day.

His question before was "Why walang Grandpa sina Ate Mika ako meron?" We told him that his cousin Ate Mika's Grandpa is Grandpa Tirso whom we visit in the cemetery with the many white crosses and candles. We further explained that Grandpa Tirso is also his Grandpa. When Migo asked where his Grandpa Tirso is, we told him Grandpa Tirso is in heaven.

The "in heaven" explanation was sufficient until early this year: "Why nasa heaven na siya? Patay na siya?" Of course, we confirmed the said fact. What we had a hard time answering was his follow-up question: "Bakit si Granny buhay pa?"

Bring Me

A couple of week's ago, my son Migo attended the birthday party of our neighbor's granddaughter, Mikey. Since my mom was close to Mikey's lola, we asked her to accompany Migo.

When Migo came home from the party, he told his Mom: "Mommy sana ikaw sama ko sa birthday party ni Mikey. Sabi sa party bring me your fat mommy, eh wala ka kaya wala ako na bring na fat mommy. Sana nanalo ako kung na bring kita."

Assistant Supervisor

My Dad is having our house re-painted. To paint the walls, the painter and our female helpers had to move cabinets and appliances near the walls. My Dad, having had a heart attack and brain surgery 5 years ago can't help in moving things so he just gives instructions to our 3 helpers.

Seeing my Dad give instructions, my 5-year old son mimics his Grandpa and points at the appliances and cabinets and says, "Ito, urong niyo. Wag tawa ng tawa. Di niyo ma-move tuloy. Ito pa, bilis."

Looks like my Dad has an assistant supervisor.

Sam Miguel to Nestle

Whenever my son sees the San Miguel logo / escudo (the coat of arms), he shouts Sam Miguel! He is also trained that we should buy San Miguel products. He even takes canned beer and puts it on our grocery cart when he sees the escudo in the product. He also proudly points out all the products he sees with San Miguel logo.

A few weeks back, we argued about buying Chocolait vs. Nestle Chuckie. My son is constantly swayed by the innovations of Chuckie with its "burst" variant and the "expandable straw" which the product heavily advertised. Migo insists that Chocolait is not San Miguel because "wala namang Sam Miguel sa Chocolait eh." I checked the product and he was right, there was no San Miguel logo in the packaging.

I told him we cannot buy Chuckie because San Miguel sells Chocolait. He asked, when can we buy Chuckie? I told him if Daddy gets to transfer to Nestle then we can buy Chuckie. I also added that if he really wants Chuckie, he has to pray that Daddy gets to transfer to Nestle. A day after I told him that, he proudly announced when I got home that "Daddy, ni-pray ko na na malipat ka ng Nestle. Para maka-buy na tayo ng Chuckie."

Let's see if my son's prayer is answered...

I Am Dad Part II - Dec. 18, 2007

Baby Jack Jack. This is what your Kuya Migo called you while you were in your Mommy’s tummy. This is how he pictured you, his younger sibling, even before we were certain that Baby No. 2 was Boy No. 2.

January 1, 2008. This was your original due date. Since Kuya Migo was born thru Cesarean section, the OB suggested that your Mom undergo another C-section. We originally scheduled you to come out on Dec. 27. Why? Christmas parties should already have been celebrated then and for 2008, Dec. 27 would fall on a Saturday – just right for your 1st Birthday Party.

Dec. 21 was the 2nd date we scheduled. As per the OB, Dec. 27 was too near the January 1 due date and your Mommy may still suffer labor pains that could be avoided given that C-Section can be scheduled. So we moved it 1 week earlier – so that your 1st birthday party will still be on a Saturday.

Dec. 18, actual day. The OB had to leave for the States due to an emergency. It was even almost moved to Dec. 16 as we were advised of the OB’s schedule on Dec. 15 check-up. Since we weren’t ready, we agreed to Dec. 18.

11:00 a.m. was the schedule in the Delivery Room. At 3:00 a.m., 8 hours before the scheduled C-section, we checked into the hospital. Room 226-B, which was twin-room sharing, was the only available room other than a Suite (which costs P5,000 per day) and the ward (which had 4 patients in a room). We shared the room with another mother. We couldn’t really rest because we were anxious. Also, one of the companions of the other patient was snoring loudly!

The first resident OB who checked on your mom was hyperactive but ironically was sleepy. Her eyes closed for a split second while interviewing your Mom. We were advised that Mommy will be brought to the delivery room by 10:00 am. We tried to sleep. As usual, I got to sleep first.

At 7:00 a.m. I woke up and ate the hospital breakfast. No food for Mommy 8 hours prior to the operation. By 10:00 am, we were raring to go but no one took your Mommy until just before 11:00 am. At a little past 11, Granny Susan came to the waiting area. At almost 12:00 noon, Granma Lou came in, too.

12:15 p.m. The nurse called for the companions of Mrs. Encomienda. I went in the OB section with Granny and Granma in tow. I was only expecting to give camera to the nurses. I was asked, “Do you want to go in, Sir?” (I think I heard both Granny and Granma saying “siya lang?”) I half-heartedly said “Ok.” Me going into the delivery room was mentioned by the OB in one of the check-ups before. I told your Mom then that I’d rather not go. I wasn’t sure I can stand it.

Anyway, since I already said “Ok,” I was asked to change clothes. I went inside the locker room of the nurses which had a space less than 1 square meter for changing. I wore the clean operating room clothes, wore a head cap similar to a shower cap, and enclosed my shoes with the provided shoe covers. It took some time because (1) the space was small, (2) I had a lot of stuff in my pockets: (my cellphone , your Mom’s phone , the camera , my wallet, a separate envelope for cash for hospital bills, car keys, etc.) and lastly, (3) I wasn’t sure if I needed to take off my underwear. So when I came out, the nurse said, please hurry Sir. I even heard someone shouting from one of the rooms “Where’s the father? Where’s the camera? The baby is ready to come out!” So I almost shoved all the things to Granma and hurried to the delivery room.

I was asked to go in. First, I wasn’t sure if it were the right delivery room. I think I passed two rooms before going in the farthest room from the entrance. Then I wasn’t sure where I would stand. I didn’t want to get in the way. I’ve watched too many Hospital TV Series (Grey’s Anatomy and House) which told me I shouldn’t be too near the patient. First, I stood near enough to touch Mommy’s hand. But that was too near. I estimated that I may see how they would cut your Mom open. I’m not sure I can stand it. So I moved another step back, bumped into a bucket or something which clanged aloud, recovered my balance and stood an arm’s length from anyone and anything. I was in this empty space in the delivery room not knowing what to do.

They asked for the camera and I gave it to the one person who positioned herself near your Mom’s head. They were shouting, "The baby’s coming out! The baby’s coming out!" Our baby was coming out! I couldn’t look at your Mom’s tummy. It was bloody even at a good distance. I was looking at your Mom’s face. She was half awake.

Then you came out. They suctioned off fluids from your mouth and nose using this rubber instrument then gave you to a nurse. The OB posed with you for pictures. Once finished with the pictures with the doctor, the nurse took and cleaned you up with a blue cloth – wiping out the blood, water, etc. from your small body.

Then they took a long tube and connected to what looked sounded and looked like a vacuum cleaner. They sucked out more liquids from your nose and mouth using this tube which was more than a feet long! I restrained myself from stopping them. I had to tell myself that they knew what they were doing. I took a video of this and most of the persons felt giddy when they saw it! (I hope you get to see this video when you grow up.)

As I watched them clean you up, I became teary-eyed: I am Dad!... Part II. I turned the camera off as I was having my “moment.” I held your Mom’s hand and just as the tears were about to fall….

Then the nurses shouted: “wiwi!” You peed while they were cleaning you up! “Nakunan niyo yon Sir?,” they asked. It was too late, I couldn’t turn the camera on as I was startled by their “wiwi” shout. They had to change the blue sheets / cloth they used to clean you because the first one was soaked with your pee.

Then they took your footprints. (I remembered when I first saw your Kuya Migo. I was also teary eyed but stopped the tears as I wonder why the soles of your Kuya Migo’s feet were violet). They took the prints once for the official paperwork. Then they took it again for the paper they gave us when we took you home.

Then we had picture taken. Me and you. Me, your Mom and you… Then I had to say goodbye to you and your Mom for a while. Your Mom was put to sleep and taken to the recovery room while you were taken to the nursery. Everything after the delivery room became a blur much like when I saw your Kuya Migo the 1st time. All I can remember was we transferred to Private Room 323. I couldn’t wait to see you again.

When I first saw you in the Nursery, you were one of the biggest
babies. You also had had light skin and only a Filipino-Chinese baby girl was lighter-skinned than you. I was also proud when other visitors said, “Look that baby has a deep dimple… so cute!” I got to take a picture of you and your dimples in my cellphone. I sent it to your Titas, including Tita Wowie in the UK and some close friends. “Wow! Dimples! Cute!” was the response I usually got.



Your Kuya Migo also couldn’t wait to see you, too. He kept asking Granma, Granpa, Tita Wen and Tita Leah when he could come and visit. When he did visit you, he kept on laughing upon seeing you. He didn’t want to leave the viewing area. We had to take turns in carrying Kuya Migo so he can just look at you thru the glass window during the one hour viewing time.

Kuya Migo named you “Baby Jack Jack” from the movie “The Incredibles.” Seeing you together always makes me feel like “Mr. Incredible!”