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Tag: zem

mini-conversations with emma: on zi

So last night, Emma was a bit silent before bedtime, and Zi was already sleeping.  I asked Em about her pensiveness and she said “I’m thinking about Zi.”  She explained that she was sad upon thinking of the time when Zi would “be big like Mama and she will have a baby.  She will have a new family and will leave me.” Wow. I was floored that such far sighted thoughts resided in my four year old’s head.  I honestly didn’t know how to answer such a sensitive topic, yet remain as honest and mature as possible.  You see, ever since we found out we were pregnant, Emma has stayed so close to her younger sister, being surprisingly nurturing, giving, and loving.  Sometimes, she even asks Perze if he misses his Mama and Tatay (dad), consoling him by saying we’ll take a plane to the Philippines to visit them.  I guess she picked up on the reality that sometimes you leave your old family when you get married and have a new family. So I told her, even if Zi will have a new family when she becomes a Mama, her old family will never change and will always be […]

update on the Emz

My Little Helper Zem’s a big help to me these days. She gets me bibs, diapers, wipes for Zienne.  She helps throw out dirty diapers, put things in the laundry hamper, cleans her toys, puts her papers/crafts away.  She puts Zi’s milk in the fridge, etc.  She’s truly my ‘big girl’ helper. In Her Skin She calls it the tickles, her itchiness, caused by her eczema.  She scratches so hard and long sometimes that she actually breaks her skin, which eventually bleeds.  We’re always applying lotion on her skin, moisturizer and insulating lotions.  I even have a routine with her when we pick her old scabs, as so alleviate more itchiness the scabs may cause.  We recently took her to an allergist who strongly recommended a dermatologist in NY, so after we get her blood test, we’re heading for The Big Apple. In Jesus Name Perze and I are always so impressed with her prayers.  She has such elaborate prayers that remembers everyone in her family, down to her Tita Steph’s baby in her tummy.  Prayers include things as “recycling, thanking God for cleaning the world, making mamam happy, making invitations for her party, letting Zienne want to play with […]

zem & zi

They look very similar with minor differences that make it distinct.  They’re about the same age in the pictures.  I tried to choose poses resembling each other.  

Happy 4th Bday My Emmanuelle Grace

When Emma first introduced herself to us in the hospital, July 1, 2005, Perze and I were floored because we had no clue as to who she was.  She was a completely new entity, yet inherently connected to us, loved unexplainably because we were chosen to take care of her life. As the days progressed into months, into years, and as her personality emerged, Perze and I found ourselves discussing how much of a blessing it was raising her.  Her deep love for the learning, arts, nature, technology, playing, and family amazed us.  Her growing understanding of life, her growing capacity to love, and her growing need for answers to her curious nature led us to understand her more and who she was, who she’s becoming.  We categorized her personality (and even physical traits) into Perze and Marchesa-like shelves, Fabila or Ababa, and realizing that the left over uncategorized traits were hers alone.  Those uncategorized aspects are what I’m looking forward to the most, to see them nurtured and mature because they are neither mine nor Perze’s. Today’s her 4th birthday and as a young parent, I am amazed to learn just how much a four year old knows, their […]

mama is to emma as cramps is to …

So, still in a state of cramps, Emma goes up to me and asks what’s wrong so I try to explain to her how a post partum uterus works in order to shrink down to its original size.  I told her that when Zi was in my tummy, she was inside what is like a bag.  And now that she’s out of my tummy, the bag squeezes until it shrinks, making me have cramps. She then responds, relating to my story, saying, “every time I eat, I have to pee pee first, and I have to run fast so my tummy doesn’t hurt.” yep…it’s basically like that…

early morning sunshine

I woke up to a 6am conversation w/ Emma today, with her suggestion that Jesus should tickle the sun so it will rise sooner.  Then she fell asleep again after we discussed friendly and harmful bugs. A couple of hours later, while I was preparing in the morning, I heard big girl shouting, “Thank you Jesus, thank You Jesus!! Mama, Mama, come here!”  I duck walked into the room where she was jumping up and down, saying “Mama, Jesus tickled the sun!!  It’s morning.” Then Perze inserted, “No, tell your mama the first thing you said: Mama, Mama, Super Mario Galaxy!!” Turns out my daughter remembered our promises from last night, agreeing that she can play her video game on the Wii this morning.  What a Saturday morning…

my dramatic three year old

I’m writing this as she’s taking her big girl shower by herself.  Out of the blue, today, she hugged me and said, “stay for a long time and don’t leave me.  You and Tatay, I don’t want you to leave.”  Then she started crying and wouldn’t let me go, with her arms around my neck.  I told her, “Emmanuelle, even when you find your ‘Prince and you’re the queen of your kingdom,’ Mama and Tatay will never leave you and always take care of you.  Even when you become a Mama and have a baby, and live in your Hello Kitty house, we’ll always be there to love you. Childhood is a very funny thing, but I’m glad I know that when she was three, she loved me with the deepest love.  Time goes by so fast.  I cherish this girl with all my heart, even her emotional over-filled sentiments.