time flies

ten years ago, i was ecstatic with the addition of a new baby at home. while taking care of my niece, i learned how to change diapers, feed and burp her and lull her to sleep (no need for an angelic voice, swinging and humming can do the trick). my mom nor my sis could not do anything but relinquish the babysitting chores with me since everytime i got home, i rushed to the baby and wouldn't let anybody else take care of her.

and every two years for the last eight years there was always an addition to the family (though it may be the last from my sister since they made sure that wanda was the fifth and last of them lot). and always, i played nanny.

as i said in the previous entry, this Christmas our entire family was together. and during the days I was in Cebu, it was great being a tita again.

the thing is though, one is forced to become a responsible adult with children around. i've had the eldest look at me with contempt as i told them to take a bath, sleep, change channels to cartoon network (because jack TV ain't for youngsters). malls become a dangerous place as i look at every person with suspicion thinking they might be evildoers taking interest in my beautiful wards. the clothes become uninteresting as i take a close look at the children, and in a constant worry that they might break something in the kitchenware section.

ayay. they can make you old.

and yet they can make you young too. on a regular day, people would look at you silly running around the cinema area. but with children around, people don't mind and would even find it amusing. you enjoy Christmas more seeing them excited with their new toys and books. and it doesn't matter what you get (well, it still does) as long as you see those priceless smiles.

so there. it's fun being a tita. i love being a tita. and i'm a darn proud one. so let me introduce you to my fab 5 (no pictures yet, to follow na lang).

wanda jude. or ada. wanding. ading. dada. dading. diding.
the only kid with the unclear nickname. wouldv'e been called O (an old story in a previous blog), if not for the long explanations that will need to go along with it. very much a spitting image of my sister when she was one and half years old herself. the only ungirlish-girl in the family, she could give boys a run for their robots and sabers. to get to her good side, let her listen to "noy" more popularly known as "Pinoy Ako" to which she shall sing along in her baby speak (which would be repeating the last syllable of the line. when asked what is her name answers, "dyud" (jude to non-baby speakers). adept with beautiful eyes, flying kiss and where's the light, eyes, nose game. curly sue, but could go either wavy or straight in the future. be careful as prone to scary tantrums.

winilo joaquin. eo.
forecasted to be the scenestealer. artistahin in other words. danced like crazy during the christmas eve party, even attempted tumbling ala streetboys. loves to do pretend drumming and strumming, so may just end up as a bandista in the future. quite a charmer, so his mother fears that he may just be too charming for girls, he'll end up with a girlfried at ten. prone to S or sapot/sumpong for long. at four, he's a damn gorgeous kid.

waneta jo. one (oh-neh).
she'd give betty davis a run for her money with her eyes. big as big can get. often the one who gets the "ang ganda ng anak mo." comment (the others are beautiful as well, but it has to be the eyes though). sometimes bordering on schizophrenia as one minute she is very malambing and the next, she'd be in a bad mood. a budding artist, can draw quite well. reads quite well at six years old too. this girl will make a lot of boys cry when she grows up. for now, she'll settle for her siblings and cousins tears.

waldo julian. yano.
my inaanak. the fat one. loves to eat. can be found at the dining table every two hours. loves to play with computer games. everybody fears he may end up like my brothers. a fat lovable geek. can be very malambing and sweet. gives the tightest hugs and the warmest greetings. could be said as the nicest among the brood. oh, and he is very formidable on the monopoly board. sent three players to bankruptcy. i fear this boy when he discovers the real estate in the real world.

wynona jaye. nonay.
it's scary that we can actually talk about our celebrity crushes already. we don't have the same taste in guys. she likes geof eigeman and i like victor neri. she likes ron weasley, i'm in love with fred and george. but she does agree with steven strait. yano once said to me in an almost disgusted voice, "nagadako na ang tutoy ni ate nonay." she's getting breasts. ack. and she's playing with play make-up. the girl knows how to put them on! aaaah. and she chooses clothes that teen-agers wear. oh my gosh! she's a pre-teen. waaaah! starting to rebel as she gives dagger looks when being told what to do, especially when in front of the TV. prone to whining and other similar show of emotions. nonetheless, when in a good mood, you can already talk to her about what movies mean and how things in the world are.

and there you have it. my precious lovies.

i never once went out when i was in cebu unless it was with them. i'd rather spend the afternoon watching over them and spending time with them than go around. uh, does that mean i'm growing old?