Last week when we were going home, Mika’s teacher sent us a message that Mika had a hard time taking a nap at school.
Teacher told us she kept shouting, “Mommy and Daddy coming home from hospital with baby brother!!!”
…
1a. While showing Mika the newborn pictures of Baby Ju…
Mika: “Is that his penis?”
…
1b. After a messy diaper change, and relaxing on the sofa after…
J3: Kailangan ko ata mag youtube ng how to change diapers pag boy, like kung paano wipe yung betlogs.
Mae: Parang ang itim ng betlog nya, ganun ba talaga?
J3: … Gusto mo compare to check?
…
1c. The most valuable advice we’ve received so far has been: “Pag mag ch-change diaper, make sure laging nacover yung bird, and close your mouth, kasi patayo ang wiwi ng baby boys.”
True enough in the first 24 hours, may 3 messy wiwi’s averted just because of that advise. Thank you Karen!
…
2. The first administrative task we needed to do after coming home was fix the registration, birth certificates, passport and passes of Baby Julian James Trinidad Patino.
And there’s always that running joke where dads would make a mistake in writing down the name of their kid.
So whenever Mae would check in if naayos ko na ba yung kailangan submit, I’d always say, “Okay na yung application ni Julians Jame”
….
3. After lunch…
J3: So alam na pala natin kung sino pinaka matibay dito sa bahay. Kasi lahat tayo nagkasakit na. Nag simula kay Mika, tapos ako at si Lyn (our helper) nagkasakit rin.
Si Mae nalang hindi pa. Nanganak pa siya mag isa!
Mae: Ilang beses ko kaya pwede gamitin yung line na yun pag may gusto ako? ‘Wag kayo, nanganak ako mag isa!’
…
4a. Mika’s #1 idol is none other than Mommy. Everything Mae does, she also wants to do.
So when I was putting on Mae’s compression stockings Mika was begging for her own “sockings”.
We ended up letting Mika wear her high knees socks to bed that night.
A few hours later she woke up in the middle of the night removing it because it was too hot.
4b. When Mae was also wearing her binder, Mika grabbed one of our back rests to wrap around her waist too.
Then when Mae was expressing some milk…
Mika also lifted her shirt and tried squeezing her boobs hoping milk would come out.
…
5. Overall Baby Ju has been a very calm baby. He cries from time to time but that is only if his earlier cues to be fed or picked up has been ignored.
And even when he cries, he calms down within seconds.
On the other hand, Mika as a baby (and even today as a 3.5 year old) expresses her emotions in full blast. She can be the happiest kid, uncontrollably laughing. Then the next moment, full-out and uncontrollably crying. Madaling mapatawa, madali rin umiyak.
I remember when looking up baby personalities, Mika checked of all the boxes as a “spirited” baby.
In contrast, baby Ju has been very chill. So in our mind, his personality is the “Wapakels” baby.
…
6a. Now that we’re 4 in the family, there are three new kinds of moments that stand out.
The first is whenever Mika acts sweet towards Babu Ju kissing and hugging him acting like a big sister. She wants to carry him, comb him, bathe him and do everything with him.
There were even times Mika was frustrated because Baby Ju kept sleeping and she still wanted to play with him.
Moments like these I know there will be double the joy in the days to come.
6b. The second kind of moment happens just a few hours after bedtime around 11pm to 3am. Baby Ju’s poopy diaper has leaked into the clothes and the bedsheets too.
Since all this will take a while, Baby Ju starts to cry. Mika wakes up and realizes she’s alone in her room. She will either want to help out or also cry.
Its two adults lacking sleep vs 2 crying kids and soiled diapers and sheets.
Moments like these are rare, but it is a reminder that with double the joy also comes double the chaos.
6c. The third moment is whenever our helper would have already brought Mika to school, Baby Ju is asleep in his crib, and only Mae and I are at home.
The only sounds to be heard are that of the faint breeze coming in thru the window. And a slight ticking of the toaster where two bagels are coming to a crisp.
With the sources of double joy and chaos temporarily gone, the blueberry bagels are awaiting a double serving of cream cheese.
Life is good.
7. Tomorrow is Mae’s birthday. If not for her, all of these stories of random moments would not be possible.
Happy birthday Mae!
And as much as I enjoy writing these stories, I have no words to describe the actual feeling of being able to experience everything with you.
I love you!