Italian Resto and Climbing Nostalgia

Fresh from our recollection, I went to the office on Wednesday - April 12 - even though it was declared a holiday. There were reports I had to finish so... While there, I received a text from a friend who was already working in Cebu telling me she's in town for the summer climb.

Summer Climb. That sure had me thinking. It dawned on me -- everybody, except B and I are getting ready for the summer climb. The thought passed quickly though. I have long accepted our situation. I have come to accept that I, we, have to settle a bit for a while to be with our son. And just looking at my son's beautiful face - who also happened to be at the office with me then - all my "restlessness" fades.

Bolo and Baby arrived at the office just as I was finishing up on my report. Suzette, my friend who's in town, will be meeting with me there. Being a close friend of ours and one who has been very much a part of our relationship, Bolo and I were quite eager to "show off" to Suzette our little, cute bundle of joy :)

As it was indeed the climbing season, everyone seemed to be bent on borrowing some of our climbing stuff. As they still needed some sorting out, Bolo and I decided to let Suzette meet us at Edge instead. Some of our stuff - my personal tent included - are there.

Suzette and I were already chatting when I received a text from another friend - Jeni - who wanted to meet with me. So we all converged at the shop and did some catching up. There were much "climbing talk" going about and I just smiled ruefully knowing I wouldn't be a part of it for now. Bolo and I were quite eager to lend some of our stuff to a few trusted friends, as if to console ourselves that at least our stuff will make it all the way to Apo's peak hahaha! The shop was filled with energy from those who have just arrived from Apo, energized and from those who were brimming with excitement and anticipation for the climb the following day. Their enthusiasm was contagious and I practically basked in it.

After a while we got "persuaded" to dine at our favorite Italian Resto - La Toscana. Yeah right, as if we still needed some coaxing. Since Suzette still had to buy some stuff, we agreed to meet with her there later. She had to accompany us home since she's borrowing a headlamp and some headgear.

La Toscana. What could be more heavenly than having some good conversation over some really good Vegetarian pasta and pizza prepared in authentic Italian way? I was so grateful for the experience that when I prayed over our meal, I thanked God for giving Jeni the resources to treat us that day haha! :) The smells were heavenly and the taste... ahh, they were more than twice the heavenly. I'm salivating even now remembering the whole thing.

While munching on the usual antipasto - gralic bread dipped in some olive oil and balsamic vinegar - I decided to let Baby RL share in the experience by allowing him to "lightly" munch on a piece of bread. As it was quite coarse, I just let it touch his lips and gums so lightly. But to all our amazement, he cried in frustration. He showed every indication of wanting to gobble up the whole thing. As it was his first brush with solid food yet, I was quite hesitant to let him do just that. It partly broke my heart to have him so frustrated. I told him it wasn't good for him and so he would have to deal with his frustrations for now. I told him that encountering some frustration is part of life. (Yeah right! As if a lecture on life and frustration could ease a four-month-old's wanting to nibble some more on a piece of "texture-full" bread hehehe) My heart broke at the thought of it. I felt that I would protect Baby from all sorts of pain if only I could. Anyway, it wasn't helping that Jeni was edging him on and commenting on the sidelines that "Nanay is not much fun."

Huh! :) Not much fun indeed! She lectured me that babies enjoy experiencing different kinds of flavor and texture with their mouth. I told her I've read enough about the subject to know that not all "flavors" will do at the onset of introducing solid food to a baby. I told her, it has to be done carefully as it wil greatly influence their eating habits later on in life. Blah, blah, blah we both went hehehe. But the experience did showed me that Baby RL is just about ready to take on some solid food...

Ah, and something interesting took place while we're dining. I practically breastfed Baby right then and there. It was good that the resto was pretty intimate and there was just us there and another couple. I was discreet about the whole thing though with both Bolo and I making sure that I still remained pretty much covered up :) That solicited some teasing from Jeni though coining the term, "virgin" Mom. Oh well, I am all for breastfeeding but I still want to remain "discreet" about it just the same. Oh, but of course, it goes without saying that keeping baby from being hungry is on top of our priorities, my discomfort notwithstanding.

Hmm... first the Marco Polo and then now, an Italian Resto? Hmm... quite a "sosyal" baby we have here hehehe I just hope he turns out to be like his Tatay and I who is quite as happy to much on a piece of "bulad" on some muddy part of a trail in a middle of nowhere, as sitting in a posh restaurant enjoying some decent meal :)

Mt. Apo Baby!

Blissful Morning. See that grin on his face? It's a pretty "permanent" feature on him. He seems to be smiling most of the time which makes me truly grateful. Thank you Father God for giving me such a hassle-free, happy baby :)


Close Up Shot at that Smile! :)


Peak Baby! This shot reminds me so much of that "circle of life" scene in "Lion King"



Cute. Ahh... this picture has everything that I love in life - the sky, the mountains, the mountain breeze (if breeze could indeed be captured in photo hehe), and my two great loves :)


Yeah right! I wish I could say these pictures were indeed taken at Mt. Apo :p hehehe Given my current...err..."change of status," well, I think going on a climb is quite impractical these days. These days, I couldn't decide on things just like that. These days, I couldn't just flit off as I please. Make that "we" since B is definitely as "grounded" as I am too. Actually, I feel thankful at the moment that he did not push the idea of him climbing with our friends and leaving me at home to keep watch on Baby. It felt good that he saw it fit to sit there with me while I daydream about standing on Mt. Apo's peak and doing my Lenten reflection there. I'm sure he had his share of daydreaming too.

But I think it helped that we had a chance to go on a "brief" travel over at Buda. The office had our "Recollection" on Holy Monday till Tuesday. Some brought along their kids. Since I am breastfeeding, it followed that Baby will have to come along too. And B of course had to be there too. That way he could keep watch on Baby while I attend the sessions.

At first I have doubts about bringing Baby along. It is after all, going to be his first "long-distance" travel. And it's a landtrip yet. I had to consult his Pedia about it. When it turned out to be okay, I felt relieved and gone on with the preparation for the trip. Seagull in the Valley (were we went) is a pretty cold place at 4,000++ feet. It would be like being at the base of Mt. Apo. B and I had to make sure that we had everything we need to make baby comfy for the trip and back and of course to see to it that he gets proper insulation for the cold. Actually, it pretty much felt like we were also preparing for a climbing trip. It felt really good to be digging out all our climbing gears and preparing Baby's own "climbing" apparel along with ours hehehe He even have his own Nike shoes to boot :) He has his own set of bonnets too and jackets (I brought three to make it sure) and rain gear hehehe For "pa-porma" effect, he has his own cardigan jacket, thanks to Ate who brought it along from UK. It was really fun.


Sleeping Baby. See how "insulated" Baby is? hehehe I hardly slept the whole night. Apart from shivering in the cold, I kept on checking Baby to make sure he is not feeling as cold as I am :) and that he's truly comfortable.

Well, the entire trip was fun. It has it's moments where Bolo and I had a tiff when the session we had took longer than it should and that left Baby quite hungry :( But all-in-all it was truly fun. It helped that Baby proved to be such a good soul. He was never squirmy during the entire trip except that one moment when he was hungry. He just sat there, being playful with us or in silence. At most times he just slept... Ah, I foresee that there would be more travelling up ahead. I am very much looking forward to it. Now that Baby proved to be such a hassle-free kid, there wouldn't be much trouble then. Oh, but of course, his comfort and well-being would still be very much on top of the list for things to be considered before I make any plans about travelling. So I guess, "adventure trips" would have to wait a while huh? hehehe Let's see ... :)

Chicken Joy

Arrgh… I’m presently tearing at my hair. Well, figuratively that is. Someone selling “health” magazines just came in here at the office. Without my knowing it (as I was busy making a report at my cubicle), my officemates pointed him to my direction – There’s that vegetarian girl over at that booth. But being “short-of-cash” these days, I had to turn my back at a magazine I liked. It was quite expensive and the seller won’t give me a discount. I’ll be traveling again tomorrow and I need to have enough money with me to make me feel secure.

A few years back, a similar thing had happened and I had bought a magazine from the seller then. It was the same one I’ve been wanting to buy ever since I saw it lying at the BK House’s coffee table. It talked of the benefits of the vegetarian diet and featured some recipes. Hmm… now I’m wondering where that magazine is now. I haven’t seen it lying around in ages. Anyway, I truly found the magazine helpful and for a while I’ve been tossing it at relatives who had been teasing me about going vegetarian. That was then. At this time, they have totally accepted my choice – make that “our” choice, now with B in the picture. Now, every family get-togethers feature meat and vegetarian dishes to satisfy everyone. Lately, cousins had been asking too whether Baby would also be a vegetarian. At our nod of assent, they would immediately throw baby a pitiful look and say: “Kawawa naman (How pitiful). He would grow up not enjoying ‘Chicken Joy’ then.” I would always quip, “Well, he could always have the french fries and sundaes.”

But I do get my family’s point. In truth really, I’ll be playing it by ear. Of course I wouldn’t force a two or three-year-old toddler to throw away a full-of-grease-leg-of-a-chicken (I’m really just teasing you meat-eater friends hehehe) should he wants to take a bite at it. By then, Baby Bullets would have his preferences and I’m not so sure if I could deprive him in that sense. Deep inside though, I want him to grow up vegetarian. I have friends who were vegetarian since birth since they belong to a family of one. But in my family with extended lola’s and tita’s and tito’s who loves food so much, I guess that would be close to impossible. I would have to find a perfect balance wherein I could impress upon Baby the value of the “discipline” and at the same time not have him feeling so deprived he’ll grow up to be a Klepto-maniac hehehe I couldn’t have him wondering why his cousins can gobble up a piece of meat but he couldn’t. And there will come a time that he’ll be going to school too. He’ll have classmates then who wouldn’t be vegetarians and we couldn’t be with him 24/7.

I’m remembering a scene at lunch earlier. My cute niece Janine offered me chicken. She practically grew up with me and so is used to eating vegetables too. She’s the only two year old I know who enjoys eating her vegetables. But being a kid, she likes to eat meat too and practically devours lechon when there is one. When I lightly refused her offer she turned to me and said, “Masarap man ang chicken tita.”which made me laugh. I am wondering if there would come a time when Baby would be delivering the same line to me. I am looking forward to that day.

I’ll be crossing the bridge when I finally get there. When it comes to feeding Baby with meat or not, I’ll think about it when the situation finally confronts me. I’m thinking now, he could eat meat if he wants to but for sure, I’d still be serving vegetables in our own household. Should he ask me to cook him a chicken dish, I’d probably just buy one outside hehehe. Most likely it would be Jollibee since it is “Halal” certified :)

Christening

Bb: Huh! Why are there so many people here?


Bb: Pano ko kaya i-shoot tong kamay ko sa bibig ko? Anlayo naman....


Bb: Nay, bored na ako... hahay...


Bb: Ayan, malapit nang matapos! Yehey!


Mga Ninong, Ninangs


April 2, 2006
1:00 A.M.
Our Room
Rewritten from a piece of tissue

A few hours from now and my son will be “Christened.” I prefer to use that term than “baptism.” To me, the former puts everything in the right perspective. It highlights the center and the whole reason for going through the ceremony.

Earlier, I’ve said my prayers. I was in the middle of it when I felt the urge to write. I prayed for my son’s spirituality. Even before the “ceremony,” I’ve already lifted up to God my son’s life particularly his spiritual life.

I am a Catholic. I came from a family of devout Catholics and so it follows that I “should” be baptized a Catholic too. I was only a babe then. It was hardly my personal choice. My parents just passed on to me what was passed on to them by their parents. Now, I am about to do the same thing for my son.

I know that like me, my son will experience God in more ways than just in the confines of the Catholic tradition. In my case, I grew to love Him more in my personal pursuits. As I “struggled” towards my own becoming, I sensed a loving God helping me along the way. I want the same thing for my son.