Friday, August 31, 2001
after temmie's visit, i gave you watched blue's clues. steve was using a magnifying glass. just remembered we have one so i gave it to you... now you are using it to look at EVERYTHING! ...

Thursday, August 30, 2001
my sweetheart keeps kissing mommy's scar caused by the car. you're really concerned about it. when daddy got home, as usual you are so happy. instead of asking for his bag, you pushed something on his upper arm.. don't really know what you meant by that. ...

Wednesday, August 29, 2001
I don’t ever want to forget…

How you will hold on my hand then lead me to what you want (example, to the brita if you want water, to the fridge if you want your juice in the afternoon or your milk at night, to the door if you want to go out, to the night stand if you want to have your diaper changed)
How you will always do to me what your daddy does to you. He likes to blow bubbles on your tummy, or tickle you, or bite you… I get to be your target cause ako lang ang kaya mo!!!
How you use your bum as your power. We will be on the floor and you will sit on us and position your diaper right on top of our face.
How you gave me a pasa under my left eye. You woke up before I did and you were playing that you were feeding me your bottle. You dropped a 9 oz bottle filled with water right on my face! Ouch! That’s ok baby… people thought your Daddy hit me (just kidding)
We were having a nap and you woke up before your Daddy and I did. I was sleeping on my right side and you were sitting at my back and your arm was over my shoulder and your cheek was next to mine when I woke up (April 5).
How you will throw things at me when I am in the kitchen. We have a harang on the way going inside the kitchen so you can’t go in, you will throw your toys, food, or your bottle at me when you are getting bored.
How we will sleep in the sofa, with you in my arms when you were still a baby.
How you took my sandals and placed it inside the storage room where we keep all our shoes away from you April 6).
How you will dance around and around, clapping your hands, touching the floor and going around and around like a top, nonstop till you get dizzy.
How you will spend a lot of time infront of the mirror, looking at yourself trying on clothes or hats.
How you love french fries. Specially NewYork Fries.
How you love to watch Elmo’s World
How you will kiss me on the lips, you will taste me with your tongue then bite me!
How you will go out and you will always check to see if I am following.
How the wind makes you so happy.
How you brush my hair. Rubbing the brush with your block first then placing the brush on my hair. Then you will smell my hair and then put your face on my shoulder.
How I will try to clean your teeth with a faceclothe. But you always bite me.
How you love classical music.
They way you laugh when we play bulaga (peek-a-boo), or just when you are so happy.
How you will use anything to stand on just so you reach unreachable places.
How you know how to lower your head when crawling under chairs, tables, or anything.

this is my preblogger log that i found!!! dated april 2000.... i know i have more written down on a piece of paper somewhere ...

the white crayon. i've taken out all your crayons cause you write on places you are not supposed to write on. left only the white one, and now you look for surfaces where it will show... the mirror, the window, our wood colored furniture...!!!

i got mad at you cause you spilled water on top of the table. then repeated it with your juice tonight. so nagalit ako and i wouldn't give in to your paglalambing. you just keep laughing and i showed you i wasn't laughing. even when you tried to get a hug, i told you i was upset with you... well you cried then, and went to your daddy, woke him up, nagsumbong ka. then went out and tried to keep looking at me, checking kung ok na tayo... then tonight you accidentally spilled milk on top of the workstation! i didn't even get mad, umiyak ka na agad... so guilty looking. and again woke up your dad. i know it was an accident.

you are wearing the pajama top that inay gave you from the philippines. kasyang kasya na sa iyo, unlike a few months ago when it was down to your knees. there's a pocket and i noticed you've been placing so many things in it... cars, a piece of paper, cereals...
...

Tuesday, August 28, 2001
really malambing since you woke up. wonder why. but by the night you were back to the usual loud tili. happy na ulit. even sang a lot of songs before going to sleep. we have a new game today, you'll sit on my lap then cover your eyes, mala bulaga, but then after that i am supposed to shout out loud in surprise. then my turn. when i got tired, you took over again. then you will say bye bye, go away while i cover my eyes counting to ten. kaya lang by the tenth count, you're back in front of me! ano ba namang hide and seek iyon? ...

Monday, August 27, 2001
really moody today. don't even want me to put away your toys! i only touched one car and placed it inside your hotwheels backpack, which by the way you chose as your toy cars container, .... nagiiiyak ka na! really really mad at me for touching your toys! ...

Sunday, August 26, 2001
mana sa nanay... loves to put away your toys on boxes and plastic bags! kaya lang sabi mo "garbage!"

"handy dandy notebook!" while getting a pretend notebook from your back pocket (doing this while trying to get to sleep so you lift your whole back while pretending to get the notebook). then you pretend to write on the palm of your hand. ...

Saturday, August 25, 2001
singing while standing on top of toy container. then gets the keyboard to use the microphone. kahit na mabigat you try to lift the whole thing so you can sing! ...

Friday, August 24, 2001
visited nanay today. saw ninong ariel too.

kumukuha ka ng plastic bag, then places all your little toys in it. then crumples the top. and then wants to go out to throw it out the garbage chute! nagagalit ka pa kasi i don't want to open the door for you. ...

Thursday, August 23, 2001
don't know why. this afternoon, you just started kissing me. then the last one, you held my face and pulled it down so you can kiss my forehead! i love you!

garbage, took the bag and was going to put it back on the can. told you, no we will throw that out. you took it and placed it inside the storage room where we usually put them before we take them out. but i told you we were going to take it, you took it again and when we went out, you wouldn't even let me carry it. and even want to open the door yourself! thanks, baby! ...

Wednesday, August 22, 2001
may pu? yeah, yeah, ok ligo tayo ready everything, then went to the door and said wala na! then closed the door with mom inside the washroom all alone... but later volunteered to take a bath on his own, while ... kili-kili!

Skeeter war leaves city bloodied
Fogging fails to hold back pesky hordes; going outdoors risks eight bites per minute
Winnipeg Free Press
Wed, Aug 22, 2001


By Melissa Leong

THE city may have won a few battles, but it is losing the war against mosquitoes.

The average number of mosquitoes in city traps nearly doubled from 100 last week to 196 yesterday. It is one of the highest counts the city has seen this summer, said city entomologist Randy Gadawski.

At this rate, Winnipeggers can expect eight mosquito bites per minute in the evening.

The city saw similar numbers last year, but it was in July, which is normally the worst month for mosquitos. Gadawski said the high number of skeeters in August is unusual.

And things won't be getting better in the next few days.

The city has been busy battling bloodsuckers with its fogging program but it has been unable to spray larvicide on standing water outside of the city.

"What got us there in the first place was insufficient mosquito larviciding," said Gadawski. "It does become part of a cycle. If you commit to adult mosquito control, then you make less of a commitment to mosquito larviciding. Then you're not protecting your long-term interests as well as you would like."

There was another emergence of mosquitoes on the weekend as the result of heavy rainfall two weeks ago. It took 10 days for the mosquitoes to become adults and then a few more days for them to find their way into the city.

Provided there is no more rain, the mosquito population may let up in the next few weeks, and a larvicide program within the city may be finished in the next few days.

Fogging of residential areas and parks is still in full force. The city will finish its second round of the city in a few days and Gadawski expects a third round will be done.

"The immediate problem, it can't be ignored," said Gadawski. "(Mosquitoes are) interfering with people's ability to enjoy the outdoors. The attention is demanded."

Gadawski said fogging reduces the intensity of the mosquito problem but the effect becomes diluted over time.

The city's fogging program leaves out large tracts of land because of poor road access and fogging restrictions requested by residents. This compromises the effectiveness of the fogging program, said Gadawski.

Ten foggers roam the streets at night. About 55 employees work at the city's insect control branch. A third of the employees work on the fogging program while the rest concentrate on larviciding.

Gadawski said that Winnipeggers shouldn't be worried about the West Nile virus as no evidence of a risk has been found in the province.

The city will be fogging the St. Boniface and the St. Vital areas tonight, weather permitting.

...

Tuesday, August 21, 2001
tili ng tili! nakakarindi! ...

Monday, August 20, 2001
positioned chocolate box at the foot of the phone, but still can't reach it to answer the phone when it rings!
packed things up for the night (pic) using caillou backpack pocket ...

Sunday, August 19, 2001
mommy went out with temmie and ate... you didn't even cry nor looked for me! ...

Saturday, August 18, 2001
nagmamature na si baby.... noticed for a few months now, you don't throw the usual tantrums. no more head banging on the floor or the wall. now, when you are upset, you will cry, at the longest siguro about one minute but most of the time, less than thirty seconds. then you will say "mhammie!!!" then will ask to be picked up. then after our hug, ok na ulit. all forgotten. wow! that's a big improvement from the way you have tantrums before! Thank you Lord! ...

Friday, August 17, 2001
acebit: iniisahan ako ni baby! we were watching wishbone and you saw them playing with a remote controlled jeep. i bought you one for christmas last month from a closing out sale and hid it inside a thick shopping bag and inside the storage room. i didn't know that you saw it. it was partly open (a very small opening) cause the stroller's handle opened the bag, but you can hardly see the toy. it was just the army green colored box and the wheel showing. well, after seeing it in wishbone, you immediately went to the storage room, opened the door, and shouted "there! there!!!". i was shocked. don't really know what to do, so i said, "that's a no, no"... of course you got a little upset but forgot about it when i tried to distract you.

a few minutes later, i was working on the computer. you went up to my lap. told me "i love you" and gave me a big kiss on the lips! then got off my lap, and said "good night, good night" and went in to the bedroom. i followed you to the bed. you keep saying "good night", you even covered us with a blanket. you sat down by my head. hinimas-himas pa ang forehead ni mommy and keeps giving me kisses still saying "good night, good night"... hmmmm.... i smell a plot here. i was going to go along and see what you are planning to do (i think you plan to go into the storage room and get the jeep when i am asleep).. kaya lang the phone rang, and you shouted "telephone! telephone!" ... so we had to go out and answer the phone... i let you talk to daddy and you gave him a big kiss. kaya lang on the ear portion of the phone.... so the original plan was forgotten.... have to find another place to hide that jeep!













we're going to pickup your pictures today.
...

Thursday, August 16, 2001
"i love you!" can't help it. i was busy infront of the computer and you were trying to "distract" me. you really don't want anything, just the keyboard. well, after a few minutes of trying to get you off the keyboard, you sat right infront of me, on top of the desk, infront of the screen, eyes blinking, mouth kissing... how can i resist!

acebits: "oh, no" i wish i have the videocam ready when you say this, which is quite often. usually minor stuff that will make me smile. last night, i gave you a lollipop. it's usually just a special treat or something to keep you busy when we're at the grocery. but i decided to give you one last night. you were excited at first, really happy. after about five minutes, i heard this "oh, no!". you were standing in front of the storage room where i usually place garbage we need to take out to the garbage chute. the door open, pointing inside. "oh, no!" i guess you don't want your candy anymore cause itinapon mo sa loob...

favorites: lots of fruits, strawberry ice cream, bread with or without spread, peanut butter, rice and ulam (aka "hot, hot"), water, banana milk, orange juice, popcorn. (ace lang: raisin, apple juice)

not-your-choice: chocolates, sweets

you and daddy have the same taste when it comes to food!!! you don't like sweets, you will taste it and like it at first. but then loses interest in it quite quickly. as for "hot, hot", sometimes you will surprise me by taking me to the kitchen and asking for rice and hot ulam. if i'm not prepared i'm in big trouble! got to find you something interesting to take your mind off it while i cook.

more acebits: this morning, you took me to the door going out the hallway shouting "ate, ate!" ... must be missing ate a lot! ...

Wednesday, August 15, 2001
didn't cry at all when you woke up this morning. sanay ka na ulit na wala ang daddy when you wake up, good, it only took two days to get you used to him back to work.

acebits: i gave you the phone when daddy called. you were listening, smiling. then said "i love you" and blew three flying kisses over the phone...

we had a struggle this afternoon getting you to take a nap. we ended up with you saying "bye" to me then going inside the room and going to the bed trying to sleep. after about fifteen minutes, gising ka pa rin. kaso dumating ang daddy and you heard his keys in the door. of course, you got up and all awake na naman!!! i thought pa naman you will be able to sleep on your own. oh, well. guess who won't be going out tonight. sayang, you've been "grounded" pa naman since last friday. not that we don't want you to go out, pero kasi, you have five big mosquito bites on your leg. want to make sure they heal first, before you get more! ...

Tuesday, August 14, 2001
you woke up crying your heart out. lips all wavy, wawang-wawa. your face full of tears as you know that daddy isn't home.

acebit: you discovered the contrast and brigthness buttons of our monitor while watching "the american tale" software. of course, after setting them to 0 you can't see anything on the screen. you called my attention and i told you i'll fix it just once. of course you did it again. this time, you tried to fix it on your own. after a few minutes i heard you shout "yes! yes!" (pronounced as 'yet'). and then you blew flying kisses to the screen. i saw that you were able to fix the settings and you can now view the screen again. ...

Monday, August 13, 2001
you cried when you woke up without your precious daddy around. you didn't even look for him outside the room, you knew he wasn't home. good thing t'emmie came by for a visit. you were trying to get her to take you out... when daddy came home, you were asleep. he slept beside you and when you woke up, I heard you say "wow!". but you didn't wake him up. you just came out of the room with a big smile in your face :)

acebit: lots of new words i heard from you today, wish i wrote them down when i heard them so i didn't forget. these ones i remember: french fries, ketchup, letter o, sky, right ...

Sunday, August 12, 2001
daddy goes back to work bukas! ang bilis ng one month, didn't even get to do what i'm supposed to do and the whole four weeks is gone... iba talaga with you around, time goes by so fast. ...

Saturday, August 11, 2001
"mhaammie!!!" how come you only call me mommy when you are crying cause you are hurt or napagalitan ka ng daddy?

you used the toilet three times today! time to potty train? we'll see...

i'm a little worried about that play-doh that i saw go in but not out. i have a feeling it's still there even though you said it's "wala na" ...

Friday, August 10, 2001
acebits: took diapers off, went straight to the washroom you've been doing this the last few months, but this time, instead of going to your potty, you went to the real thing! by the time i got to you, you've already pd, kaya lang it was too high for you... can't complain, my baby is growing up. we'll be potty training soon. just looking for more signs that you are ready.

you now like to clean up when you spill liquid... cute cause you immediately look for a cloth or a paper towel to blot it out... mommy's problem with this: you intentionally spill whatever you have on hand!

ace is going to have a younger brother or sister soon... (well, not exactly, but since he won't have one, this is the closest thing to one!) Thank you, Lord!

...

Thursday, August 09, 2001
acebit: heard at three o'clock in the morning behind closed washroom doors: "ace, 'achoo!'"... a little voice says "achoo!", not really sneezing ... "no, like this, 'achoo!'", etc... finally the little voice says "wala na!". don't know if that means the play-doh in your nose is "wala na".

viewed 414 this afternoon with t'emmie... really nice, spacious, new carpet, a lot cheaper too. left you with daddy while t'emmie and i went to the grocery... after only a few hours, parang binagyo ang place niya! ...

Wednesday, August 08, 2001
we woke up to the sound of rain inside the apartment this morning at around 7:15 a.m. water was gushing in from the top portion of the window! i called the caretaker and was told she will be here in fifteen minutes(!), she needs to get dressed... i just placed lots of towels by the window to prevent the water from soaking the carpet and the furniture. after about eight minutes, daddy called them again demanding that they come right away cause the water is not showing any sign of stopping. exactly fifteen minutes from my call, the lady caretaker showed up with a young man with him (who really seem to be still asleep, dan must have scared her with his call). we showed them the water and told that it must be coming from suite 611. they ran up. after about 10 minutes, she came back. she said that the occupant collapsed and the water is coming from the sink. they already called the paramedics. the water is about isang dangkal. i can just imagine how bad the situation is. it must have been since last night for the water to be that much, with the thick carpeting that will absorb the water initially.

Lord, please take care of our neighbor. In a way, the water situation is a blessing because through it we were made aware of his situation. the caretaker said that last tuesday(?) an old lady was found dead inside her suite on the 411 Webb block. someone complained of a bad smell coming from the apartment. the lady's been dead since thursday last week.

i don't know if the incident brought back the idea of moving. i was thinking about it before but decided then that we can stay here for another year. the apartment's location is very ideal. imagine, we are connected to the mall! kaya lang it is too dry inside the apartment in the winter. because of your problem with croup, we have the humidifier on the whole winter. in our two years here, we never used the heater even if it was like minus 40 outside! it is that hot in here. summer time naman, like now, we have the aircon on continuously since late may. even with that, it is still hot inside. we have to sleep in the living room to get some air from the aircon. the heat must have contributed to the illness of the people living here. so....

i talked to daddy about not renewing our lease. we were supposed to drop off the renewal form since the first week of july, but somehow we never got around to doing that. buti na lang. we would like to move somewhere near dad's work. plus, it should be close to a good school. i spoke with t'emmie about it, and after inquiring, they have suites available for november! timing din ano! at first, i wanted a two bedroom, para isang lipatan na lang. but after thinking about it, we only need one bedroom cause you will still be sleeping with us naman. we need to keep your bed next to ours so we won't fall off! if it is like t'emmie's apartment, it is quite spacious compared to where we are now. much more running space for you! ...

Tuesday, August 07, 2001
family outing. went to st. vital mall with nanay, t'emmie and ate this afternoon. gulat silang lahat with the amount of food that you ate! first time mong makakita ng arcade. i didn't know you noticed it. after eating, you got off your chair and immediately ran to silver city. went to all the different "machines" (what do you call them?) and really had a nice time.

after that, we went over to t'emmie's apartment where tita se and tito mac met us. kuya was at the ymca playing basketball... sayang. you never stopped running around! inspecting everything inside the apartment. ang nanay napagod just by looking at you. you showed off with blue's clues video, kaya lang not the whole thing cause it was quite late.

acebit: you inspected your bag and found the ice pack. placed it around your head and face. then went off to where tita se and tito mac were. you bumped into something and hurt your side. you were holding your side when you went back to the bag, took out the ice pack and placed it over the area where you got hurt!

one thing we noticed lately, pinipigilan mo ang antok mo when we go out. you didn't take your nap until past ten p.m. when we were in the car going back to mandalay. two blocks pa lang from t'emmie's apartment, tulog ka na. woke up when we were at mandalay cause of a mosquito bite in your neck! ...

Monday, August 06, 2001
"happy birthday, ate lovely!" went to inay's this afternoon to celebrate ate lovely's birthday...

acebit: i was re-arranging our bookcase and found a headband. after putting it on you saw me. you were smiling and touching the headband when i asked you, "beautiful?" you said "yeah!" then started to pinch my cheeks, chin, nose, forehead!!! mommy's boy talaga! ...

Sunday, August 05, 2001
the pinlac's are in winnipeg for a short visit.... was going to see mara, ate nina, ninang tess and ninong mal today at the kildonan park, 1 p.m.... but sadly we were not able to see them cause the venue is near the rainbow stage. it is really hot outside and for sure, you won't accept a "no" when you see the kiddie playground. plus, you woke up at one p.m.! ...

t'emmie and ate picked us up to visit nanay after ate's work. we noticed you now call kuya, "ya". ...

acebit: daddy and i were shocked when you spilled ice cream on the floor and said "oh, man!"... where did you get that?! have to ask if kuya uses that expression. said it again twice during the night. [used to be "oh, oh", then "oh, no"] ...

Saturday, August 04, 2001
ang bait naman, nauutusan na... helps mommy with the trash, opens/closes doors, wipe the floor with the swiffer, get things, gets your own food and juice from the ref, ...

an apple a day keeps the doctor away. (pic) you love to eat fruits. good! today you ate plums for the first time. you got it from the ref and took a bite... sour face then handed it over to daddy. when daddy started to eat it, you keep coming back for more, then went back to get another one... then another one.... three plums at one time! ...

Friday, August 03, 2001
t'emmie came over for a visit while waiting for tita se and kuya who was having some (dr. glow took out five) teeth extracted in preparation for his brace. using your "charm", you somehow managed to get us to go with her to pick them up and take them home to nanay. well, you seem to be too sensitive, crying over little things today. daddy and i were afraid its because of your fall yesterday but after "going inside the closet", problem solved... took two baths this afternoon. its really hot outside, temperature in the 30s. ...

Thursday, August 02, 2001
"Azriel". God is my help.

very eventfull day. don't know where to start. i guess, i'll just write an outline. (note: click on picture for a bigger view)

1. annual checkup. went to see dr. mcdonald. played with kids. first time no problem taking weight and height. (31 lb 10 oz, 2' 10 1/2", have to check my record). dr. said "hi", you said "bye". you want to get his pen and he offered it to you in exchange of the two dollars you are holding. you took a look at the pen, gave it back, and took your money back.





























2. went to pick-up nanay and ate. was going to go to lower fort garry but too hot. went to kildonan park instead. played in the playground. nanay always scared. you really had a nice time.

3. very bad fall from about 6 to 7 feet high. to give you some rest, we took nanay for a stroll around the park. saw the slide for the big kids, excited again. you were showing off to nanay when you tried to lay back, but your back wasn't on the slide but on the right side. oh no!!!!!!!!!!! scared us to death. you landed on your left cheek and shoulder. after the shock you cried. daddy carried you over to the grass. you were still crying but no tears. daddy took off all your clothings and shoes, except for diaper. saw the camera that i dropped on the grass. got up, picked the camera up, i took it away from you as you pretended to take pictures, as i took it away you started to run towards the flower garden!!! ate and i tried to run after you, can't catch up. daddy finally got you. dressed you up. went towards nanay but you ran back to the slide. no!!!!!!!! no more big kid slide for little ace! went back straight to the car. you saw the playground in the distance and shouted "there! there!" no more slides for the day. off to the children's hospital. you fell asleep in the car. dropped off nanay and ate at mandalay. at the hospital, you are so hyper. this time you offered your loonie to the dr. in exchange for her pen, no, she won't give it to you. doctor said to watch you for symptoms. must make sure you are awake at two in the morning. if you vomit more than three times, take you back there. doctor said you are "lucky". only two very small bumps by your left eyebrow (the size is smaller than a penny), no fractures, very, very active. it's not because you are lucky. we believe that you have Jesus watching over you. it's really a miracle. nanay was actually just "cool" the whole time... she saw you fall right in front of her!

previous terrifying events:
a. your croup, 10 months old
b. febral convulsion, 15 months old
c. have your fingers inside electric fan (which was on!), two months ago ...

Wednesday, August 01, 2001
favorite since last night was an american tail's storybook on the computer. buti na lang may free cd ang nakuha nating video package. not really bad, for $7.99 we get two videos and a very, very nice educational software.

you visited Inay today with daddy... full of energy as usual as you play with your cousins. ...