C is for Concentration

Ethan gets pretty serious when he's playing with his new alphabet toy...

Bathroom conversations

This conversation occurred early this morning while Ethan was on the potty.....


Me: Don't forget to push your penis down when you go potty so it'll go in the toilet, ok?

Ethan: Push the penis like this, mommy? [while demonstrating the said pushing]

Me: Yes, baby. Just like that. You have to push it down so it doesn't spray on the floor.

Ethan: Ethan has a penis.

Me: Yes, sweetheart. You have a penis.

Ethan: Mommy has a penis?

Me: [shakes head] No, mommy doesn't have a penis.

Ethan: Daddy has a penis?

Me: Yes, daddy has a penis.

Ethan: Ethan has a penis. Mommy doesn't have a penis. Daddy has a penis.

Me: That's right, sweetheart. Boys have penises, but girls don't.

Ethan: Sissy has a penis?

Me: No, baby. Sissy is a girl. She doesn't have a penis.

Ethan: Nah uh. Sissy has a penis.

Me: No. Sissy doesn't have a penis.

Ethan: Ohhhhk. Sissy doesn't have a penis.

Firefighters, Virgins and Watermelons

So after slacking off for most of the summer, I figured it was about time to "really" start looking for a job. After 2 misleading interviews and unappealing callbacks, I think I may be on to something. This afternoon, I finished "Phase 3" of a nerve-wrecking interview process to work as a Public Information Officer for a local fire district.

Phase 1: Turn in application.
Phase 2: Beat out 85 other applicants through the application screening, come back for a written test and an unexpected on-camera audition.
Phase 3. Beat out 85 other applicants through the application screening, ace the written test and on-camera audition, and come back for a panel interview.
Phase 4. Beat out 85 other applicants through the application screening, ace the written test and on-camera audition, WOW the panel "judges" beyond belief, and come back for a one-on-one interview with "the chief".

I won't hear back until next week if I get to advance to Phase 4... but if this was American Idol and advancing to the next round relied on America (ie my mom) voting via text messages, I'm sure to be a shoo-in. My mom said she'd hire me over any of my other competition, but I think that's what moms are always supposed to say. Isn't it?


Anyway, to get my mind off mommy-world for a few hours, I conned my brother to babysit and decided to take Sissy to her first improv comedy show tonight. I somehow ran into a "get on a list" post on Craigslist, and was irate to find out that they apparently put too many people on the list (big surprise there) so the place sold out before we even got to the front of the line. Luckily, some lady who couldn't get her whole party in let us use her ticket so we got to go in anyway. Most of the comedians were pretty hilarious... the others needed to spend a little more time testing their acts in front of their barbie dolls. It was called "The Dirty Show"... so all the "fucks" and "pussies" and "black people" jokes ran rampant -- way to break my sister in! I'm sure my perverted husband would've loved it (sorry babe). The baileys, margaritas and calamari were way overpriced, but that's something you would expect at a joint like that.

Overall, we had a good time.

And all was well and swell... very rarely do I get a dose of adult entertainment. It's nice to do something that doesn't involve anything Disney or Chuck E Cheese-ish every once in a while. [That's why I'm UBER excited that I'm flying to DC next week to spend some quality time with my hubby for our anniversary week!!!!]

But then I came home and I was almost impressed my 2 1/2 year old waited up for me because he can't sleep without mommy's kisses and bedtime story. And I entered my room filled with a distinct, pungent scent of watermelons... where he unloaded half a can of "Blue Melon Splash" suncreen like man never invented Febreze.

And I realize I can't be mad, because he looked so darn cute in his basketball pajamas repeatedly saying "Read to me mommy, pleeeeeeeeeeeeeease! Read to me!"

Then I was happy to be back in mommy-world.

Ain't No Mountain High Enough

Forget the "toddler" jungle gym. Ethan looks at it as if it were a joke. I guess it's not challenging enough. I'm too cool for the small stuff, he probably thinks to himself. So he goes for the "big kids" part of the playground... which only makes my heart skip a beat every time he gets braver. Funny thing is, I watch other kids -- who are clearly older than him -- who couldn't maneuver the rock climb as well as he can.

Fortunately, we haven't had any broken bones (knock on wood) since he fractured his arm earlier this year. The bruises, I'm afraid, will be a staple in this daredevil's case.

"Look mommy! I did it mommy!"

I always get nervous every time he eyes the fireman's pole. It probably won't be long til he realizes what it's for though.

Reaffirmation

It's funny how we can get so busy doing what we do every single day that we don't even realize how fast our lives are ticking away.

As of this week, my brother started his Senior year in high school.

*sigh*

Suddenly, all those jokes of being "old" turned into reaffirmation. I guess I am... getting a little old.

High school was a blur. For some, it was the highlight of their life. For me, it was a period of transition. I started my sophomore year as a quiet, 13-year old immigrant from the Philippines. I spoke perfect English, I was able to make friends quite easily, and looking back on it... the rest of my high school days were pretty pleasant. I wasn't the most popular kid in the class, but I wasn't on the bottom rung of the social status ladder. It was a time when I often spent most of my weekend nights positive that all of the other kids in school were doing something cool like going out to the movies, dances or parties instead of doing what I seemed to do way too often: doing homework, chatting up on dial up or recording the latest radio hits on my snazzy Sony cassette player. I joined clubs, played a little bit of sports, sang in the Chorus, wrote for the school paper, forged a lot of 'signatures' to get out of class, spent countless hours hanging out with friends at the mall [just because there was nowhere else to go]. And those were all good for what they were at the time, but now seems so.... well, so long ago.

Sometimes, when I reminisce, I can't make up my mind whether to be happy that I have since then done come quite far in life OR whether to be sad to realize that gone are those times of being carefree and reckless.

*another sigh*


Anyway, I was glad he let me take a crack at his Senior portraits... sure beats the alternative of the infamous studio sessions where they make you crack a rib and hold your smile for 10 minutes while they fix the styrofoam prop.

Rooting for the OC

This Saturday, Sissy took all of us to her company picnic at the Angels Stadium. Now, we normally only root for the blue, but who can say no to free tailgate food and free baseball?? Not to mention we got "goodie bags" with lots of snacks for the game.

Yummmm.... burgers and hotdogs... I was craving for some wings though!

Ethan looked so cute with the rally monkey!

Ethan was wound up from eating Nerds and chocolate chip cookies.

Jojo the "Traitor", sporting the Anaheim Red instead of the Dodger Blue! :)

Trying to stay in the shade...

Roro was officially dubbed "bi" this weekend --
since he claims to be an equal fan of both the Angels AND the Dodgers.

Sissy and her co-workers

View from the TOP -- literally... [we were on the last row possible]

Of course, that didn't bother Ethan one bit.

We all needed kleenex for these nosebleed seats... :)

mmmm popcorn.. Ethan's favorite!

Fun times. Thanks Sissy for hooking it up! [By the way, the Angels won over the Twins 7-5]

Playtime

Ethan will play outside all-day-every-day, if you let him. It's nice to finally have a yard for him to play in... and when it's not incredibly hot, we take trips to the parks nearby. But even without a jungle gym, he'd be thoroughly satisfied just getting his feet on grass and some dirt, running around collecting leaves. I'm glad it's finally starting to cool down though... Ethan might not might it much, but mommy doesn't particularly fond of being outside for too long (even in the shade) when it's over 100 degrees!

Lounging

Ethan watching his 'latest' favorite movie, "The Heffalump Movie".

Ethan's Autograph Book

For the past month and a half, Ethan's been to Disneyland 3 times. On the last visit, we upgraded to annual passes so it's safe to say it wouldn't be the last! Ethan's collected quite a bit of autographs and he loves to look through them.

I plan to print it eventually.. :)

If The Wind Could Blow My Troubles Away

If the wind could blow my troubles away
I would stand in a hurricane
Get washed away in the drivin' rain
If the wind could blow my troubles away
Blow my troubles away

If the wind could blow my troubles away
Tear the sadness from my face
I'd look in the mirror
I wouldn't see a trace
If the wind could blow my troubles away
Blow my troubles away

If the wind could blow my troubles away
See me stand with a smilin' face
Clothes all flappin' all over the place
If the wind could blow my troubles away
Blow my troubles away

If the wind could blow my troubles away
I would stand in a hurricane
Get washed away in the drivin' rain
If the wind could blow my troubles away
Blow my troubles away


Murray Mclauchlin - If The Wind Could Blow My Troubles Away

The look

The gymnast

Senior Froggie was a bust

Ethan LOVES the water. He loves to swim, and he loves to play in the toilet [no matter how many time outs he gets from it]. But he's not a big fan of water shooting at him. I learned that when I tried to switch it up one day and tried to give him a shower instead of a bath. Bad idea. But I figured he might like the idea of running through the sprinkler... who doesn't? So I picked up this little bugger - cute as can be - and got Ethan ready for a soaker.

First, he looked at me like I was crazy. I kept yelling, "Jump over the froggie!" but that didn't seem to be resonating well. So I tucked the camera away and jumped over the sprinkler myself a couple of times, to show him what it was supposed to be for. "See Ethan! It's fun! Wheeeeeeee!"

Still, no interest peaked. He just stood there... watching the frog's head bobble back and forth. It almost looked like he was afraid to get in trouble. I reassured him that I was letting him play in the water, but all the encouragement in the world didn't seem to matter. He was not running through that sprinkler.

I finally resorted to trickery. I told Ethan I was going to turn it off... and then as soon as he got near it, I turned it back on. He was rewarded by his trust on the bobbling froggie by getting slapped in the face with a jet of water.

He looked over at me, pitiful and betrayed, begging me with his eyes for the torture to stop.

Oh well...

I thought it would be fun...

Guess we'll be retiring the froggie until next summer.

I hate diets

But that unwanted extra weight that's been lingering since post-pregnancy has become a royal pain in the gut... sometimes, literally.

I knew I had two choices: One, I could start excercising obsessively (I know it'll work, but I also know it'll be hardest to stick to). Or two, deprive myself of all things good-tasting.

Heck, why not try both.

So a little less than 2 weeks ago, I recruited my sister, otherwise known as Sissy, to go on a pseudo-South Beach diet with me. I say pseudo because we didn't really go "by the book". We chose not to give in to the commercial jauggernaut of overpriced diet meals, but we did cut off all sugar and carbs, including rice (for those who are familiar with the regular Filipino diet, not having rice is inconceivable). Yes, that meant having to give up my smoothies. Ugh.

Not only that, I reunited with my running shoes and I ran close to a mile last week... on an incline! Talk about monumental, breaking my long-standing hiatus of 3 years. I was lucky enough to spare the sidewalk from meeting 'Earl', although I came really close. Good news was, I was hurting the next 2 days -- woke up all sorts of muscles that had been dormant for years. Bad news is, I haven't ran since then. My goal is to run at least twice a week, and Sissy and I are planning on joining a gym. Or at least we plan to anyway.

Maybe this weekend.


Status: -4

Ha! He wrote back!

I think he was more excited getting this letter than he was Christmas morning.

Score for mommy.

I hope Buzz Lightyear writes me back

So instead of sleeping somberly, dreaming about enjoying a nice, relaxing vacation at a water bungalow in Bora-Bora, I just finished writing a letter to a Disney character.

Why, you ask?

Because that's what mothers do... and I really, really need to get some pills.

I told 'him' Ethan was really excited to meet him last month, but we got so busy running around that we left the park without seeing him or Woody! But that was mommy and daddy's fault for ignoring the daily character meet schedule. But WE HAD TO get on that new Toy Story Midway Mayhem ride! And get Dole ice cream. And ride all the fun rides! In retrospect, I think I was a little more disappointed than he was. We ought to go back just for the purpose of walking around to meet the characters.

So, guilt-ridden as I am, I kindly wrote a nice little letter to the Star Command (ie Disneyland Hotel), and asked if he could send Ethan an autographed picture.

For those who have little kiddos and want to get them yourself, all you need is a short letter asking for a particular character's autograph and mail it to:

DISNEYLAND Resort
Guest Communications
Attn: Character Fan Mail
P.O. Box 3232
Anaheim, CA 92803

I hope Buzz Lightyear (ie that poor intern whose sole job is to open up fan mail and "sign autographs") writes me back.... I can't wait to see the look on Ethan's face when he sees Buzz sent him a picture!

This was taken about 3 months ago... when Ethan found my "future Halloween costume" stash.

Borrowed Times: Disneyland

Goodbye Mickey Ds Sweet Tea

Hello, new obsession.

Mr. Jack, I hope you don't end this 1/2 off promotion any time soon. There's nothing more pleasant than sipping a $2 large mango smoothie on a hot triple-digit afternoon - nevermind that there's 280 calories in a cup. They're supposed to be made with real fruit, which they're not, unless you consider minute maid fruit juices "real fruit" and nonfat frozen yogurt = tons of sugar. But that's probably why they're so delish!

Missing him

It's been almost 4 months since Mike got assigned to DC. Sadly, I've only been able to see him less than half a dozen times since then. We talk everyday, see each other on the webcam ever so often, send text messages. But damn, it's not getting any easier.

How could it?

The first thing Ethan said this morning was, "Ethan wants daddy." So I set up the webcam so he could say his good morning, but even at 2, he knows to reject the idea of a virtual dad. What could I say... except that was the best thing I could do.

It's been a month since the 'last' time we saw him. He got to spend his birthday here, and we spent every day of that week with no regard for time. Every kiss was special. Every hug treasured. It was like making up for lost time, or was it like saving for a rainy day - I kind of tried not to keep track. All that mattered was that he was here. And then he was gone, again.

We try to keep busy. I've been looking around, trying to narrow down, hoping to score that 'perfect' job... though keeping Ethan entertained is a whole job on its own. I've decided my website needed a fresh look. I started to re-visit those virtual volunteer positions. Suddenly, I find myself looking forward to the smallest things. Stalking posts on craigslist, walking around the mall, taking another trip to CVS or yardsaling... anything to make the time go faster. To make myself forget that I miss him.


Tonight, I miss him even more.

It's 1am and I can't bear the thought of slipping under the covers again without him there to hold me... to listen to me talk about my day... to kiss me goodnight.

I miss not having to worry about cooking dinner because he volunteered for spaghetti night. I miss cuddling on the couch to watch our favorite show on DVR. I miss hearing him and Ethan giggle while they chased each other around the house with imaginary laser guns. I miss complaining to him about frustrations from work. I miss him sporadically giving me hugs, telling me he loves me, just because he wanted to.

I just... want him back.

I don't want to wait a second longer, but I will. Because when all this is over, we'll be a family again.