10 Yippee Things! Day EIGHT

Day Eight: Three things you want to do for your community/ the world.
1. Inspire.  I find delight in the simplest funny experiences I have with my family.  I want to inspire others to dwell on theirs so the world can benefit from widespread happiness and the strength that it brings.

2. Perspire.  Run for a cause on a more consistent basis.  I've only done it once, forming team A Fortiori (Latin for "with greater reason/ more convincing force") for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure.  I'll revive this team again for my mom and everyone who wants in.

3. Wow.  Up against generations that are getting increasingly desensitized, I'm on a mission to find ways to bring heart and beauty back on everyone's priority list.

Day Nine: Two things you think you need to work on personally.
Day Ten: One thing you'd like to change about your life.

Mundane Mane Limbo Rock-a-bye

Short hair mama days are not quite panning out so my hair lengthening plan is to put it up in a ponytail and fuhgeddabaodit.  My oh-my-goth jet black hair is thick, spongy, and should not be let loose.  I am growing it out so it can be rebonded to its former fabricated glory.  The ends are touching my shoulders now, which means it's halfway through the desired length.

Bunky's hair is taking a while to grow as well.  I don't have to take him for his first haircut yet and I'm not in a rush.  I stroke his head of short hair to make him sleep and most of the time I pass out before he does.  Sometimes he tries to lull me by stroking my head, in awkwardly cute back to front strokes.  My awry baby bangs or as I'm renaming it baby pulls, gets caught in between his tiny fingers and "Ow!" goes this mama.

I'm writing this post since he's not sleepy yet and Bunky pushes off my laptop to hang ten on my laptop support.

Mama's blogging on the bed...surf's up!

Brada Laptop Support, available at Ikea Canada

Humming of the fan

Sheer magic of the moonlight

Eyelids tuck him in

10 Yippee Things! Day SEVEN

Day Seven: Four turn ons.
1. A spankable behind

2. Sharp witty humor

3. Eagerness to please me

4. Great massaging hands

Day Eight: Three things you want to do for your community/ the world.
Day Nine: Two things you think you need to work on personally.
Day Ten: One thing you'd like to change about your life.

10 Yippee Things! Day SIX

Day Six: Five people in whom you perceive Ultimate Goodness. (I'm listing groups instead of individuals)
1. My husband who does an amazing job in every role he has and my lovable son who gives meaning to my life

2. My best friends with whom I'm so in sync with.  They chase their dreams, live them, and let me be part of their beautiful lives

3. My grandparents, especially my compassionate grandma who can stop fires and floods with her prayers

4. My dad who serves his country with much ardor and who introduced me to Anne Frank's "I still believe in the goodness of man" philosophy

5. My mom who shows me everyday that indeed in the end, only kindness matters

Day Seven: Four turn ons.
Day Eight: Three things you want to do for your community/ the world.
Day Nine: Two things you think you need to work on personally.
Day Ten: One thing you'd like to change about your life.

A Small Happy Breather Day

I have been stubbornly braving the pain of an ingrown toenail for several weeks until my mom dragged me out for an emergency pedi at a nearby aesthetician's basement salon.  The lady recognized me from a show I used to do on tv and her sister was more than willing to feed Bunky some homemade soup.  While my mom, Bunky, and the lady's sis hung out in the kitchen, I submitted my feet for some old school pedi care.  We shared small talk as she played cello with her scrubber on my foot and I got pleasantly dazed listening to her hallelujahs playing on cassette.  My ingrown nail did not stand a chance against the pedicure skills of this lady and with a final bloody sting, we parted ways.  I picked out a polish in honor of my mom who survived breast cancer and I went home with relieved pink toes. 

Revlon Nail Polish Enamel Power Walk Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness

(Image courtesy of Amazon.com)

I continued onto the evening getting tickled pink on a movie date with my husband.  We munched on our favorites, Maltesers(his) and peanut M&Ms(mine) and I savored listening to his laughter all throughout "Just Go With It".  That's it.  I'm collecting Adam Sandler movies.  Happy Madison always delivers.

 Looking back: another fave M&M moment with the hubster in New York

Pink toes and sugary giggles.  I'm so ready for Spring. :o)

Bring Back My Binky to Me

Bunky has been a squawking PteranoTone lately.  His chewing teeth(molars) are starting to bust out of his aching gums, so this mama is on hand for some extra sing-alongs and scream-alongs.  I have not yet weaned him from his binky(pacifier) and he still uses it right after his milk and during bedtime.  His teething has finally ruptured his 2 month old binky earlier this evening and since his back up one is stashed somewhere my short term memory is refusing to show me, out came the emergency binky.   

 The happy biter when the top and bottom teeth came out

Have you seen The Simpsons episode(Crook and Ladder) when Homer hopelessly tries to soothe Maggie with replacement binkys when hers gets thrown out?  He couldn't find Maggie's brand and it turned funny ugly.  Well, the toon isn't far from the truth.  Babies and their binkys do have that exclusive bond.  I was lucky Bunky was a bit more forgiving, settling for the emergency binky for the meantime after no less than a rigorous inspection.  He knew it wasn't his old reliable.

 My Bunky's choice: Gerber NUK BPA Free Orthodontic Silicone Pacifier

NOW it makes sense that these come in a 2-pack.  If only I can remember where I hid the other one. >.<

10 Yippee Things! Day FIVE

Day Five: Six things you are thankful for/appreciate every day.
1. My family.  We laugh together.

2. Extremely supportive friends

3. Good health

4. Great food and the occasional great wine/beer

5. Chances to indulge in my interests

6. Opportunities, however grand or small

Day Six: Five people in whom you perceive Ultimate Goodness.
Day Seven: Four turn ons.
Day Eight: Three things you want to do for your community/ the world.
Day Nine: Two things you think you need to work on personally.
Day Ten: One thing you'd like to change about your life.

10 Yippee Things! Day FOUR

Day Four: Seven things that make you laugh.
1. Bunky's hysterical laughter that makes him snort

2. Nonchalant conversations that turn funny 

3. My friends reacting to gossip

4. Sesame Street spoofing adult shows and personalities/ muppet funny comments like Grover saying,"Wait, that's not educational!" after showing a B-roll of some kids playing with wire toys

5. Brilliantly sharp-witted comedy on prime time tv and good animated feature films

6. Inside jokes

7. Sarcastic remarks that are well put

Day Five: Six things you are thankful for/appreciate every day.
Day Six: Five people in whom you perceive Ultimate Goodness.
Day Seven: Four turn ons.
Day Eight: Three things you want to do for your community/ the world.
Day Nine: Two things you think you need to work on personally.
Day Ten: One thing you'd like to change about your life.

Laptop Tap-Tap Envy

Bunky can scroll through my touch screen cellphone and send his dad a blank text message.  He can also hammer in his toy shape blocks with my cellphone/ITouch.  I say he's halfway ready for a device with a digital screen.  Blogging around a toddler created laptop tap-tap envy so I gave into getting him his own; especially when I noticed that his toys didn't suffice when he saw me typing away.

My knuckle bump find: a laptop for toddlers that have blinking lights that shine through an activity card that you insert into the "screen".  No LCD screen to crack!  This battery powered toy comes with 30 activities on 15 cards that you can store in its bottom compartment.  Outfitted with a carry handle, power and volume switches, built in speaker, alpha-numeric keys, and a Buzz shaped keyboard mouse that you can toggle and click. 

Laptop! Need.To.Push.Those.Keys.

I went on his laptop for a bit until the familiar LTTE scene played out, as shown above.  It's classic Bunky see, Bunky do.  It was a smooth transition.

Now to check what mom's blog says about me...Oooh, lights!

The VTech Toy Story 3 Buzz and Friends Learning Laptop, available at Walmart .

10 Yippee Things! Day THREE

Day Three: Eight things you know for sure.
1. Beauty strengthens purpose.  Find beauty in your spirit(listen to God), your heart(listen to the Earth) and its kindred(listen to the wise); and your purpose will present itself to you.

2. Purpose drives passion.  

3. Passion creates beauty.

4. A love-centered family has such great beauty.

5. In beauty lies genius

6. Genius might not manifest itself in beautiful ways

7. A string of silly thoughts, given time, can prove to be inspirational

8. Inspiration may just come to you, but you better be ready to drag it out and let the world see the beauty of its power.

Day Four: Seven things that make you laugh.
Day Five: Six things you are thankful for/appreciate every day.
Day Six: Five people in whom you perceive Ultimate Goodness.
Day Seven: Four turn ons.
Day Eight: Three things you want to do for your community/ the world.
Day Nine: Two things you think you need to work on personally.
Day Ten: One thing you'd like to change about your life.

Ricky Coon and Poopie Fish II

Birthday loot bags excite me.  Each bag takes a stab at the question, "What can entertain a kid enough to let parents squeeze in a tiny break after they've gone home from our party?"  Did I say break?  I meant chore.  Bunky was finally old enough to look into his loot bag and his delight quickly overshadowed mine.   He shook the tiny tambourine long enough for me to grab the candy and hide it.  He pulled out the raccoon beanie baby and gave it a kiss.  This is the first time he showed affection for a stuffed toy.  I was beyond thrilled. It was such a cute moment, I gave the toy a surname.  

Bumparoos, meet Ricky Coon.

I'm guessing Bunky used this "Awww" moment and my enthusiasm to figure out that affection makes me happy and might work in his favor.  Ever since this meet and sweet greet with Ricky Coon, he's been kissing me in exchange for snacks, playtime, and that arduous climb down the stairs that I've been watching him master.  

Letting him perfect his skills will always be bittersweet.  But I'm not anxious to potty train just yet.  I found giving him toys while I change his diaper prevents him from checking out what's going on down there.  But I have a separate set of toys for that.  First was Poopie Bunny with her soft texture, then Poopie Fish with her lights and sounds.  My mom recently brought home this third installment in the Poopie Toy series.  He's bright, rubbery, and slow-looking.  Thank goodness, because his spikes might make you run.  At least you'll get a head start.

May I present, Poopie Fish II

(Bumparoos' version is the bathroom reading material)

There you have it, Bumparoos.  A soon to be classic little tale of love and distraction.

10 Yippee Things! Day TWO

Day Two: Nine things about yourself that you like.
1. My decent sounding, slightly deeper speaking voice
2. My apparent knack for giving advice. "Wise, deep, smooth, and straight up", I was told.
3. My ability to appreciate geeky tidbits when I myself don't have the aptitude for the academic
4. My way with my written word
5. My skin tone.  No need to tan, no need to bleach.
6. My 20-20 vision.  I'm a good finder, except in a game of Pictureka!  Blast.
7. My skill of bitching up a storm ever so politely
8. My strength that pulled me through an epidural-less childbirth.  I'm not partial to pricks.  Maybe I should change this to, "My sense of humor".
9. My sense of discomfort in drumming up this list.  I'm still grounded, after all. ;o)

Day Three: Eight things you know for sure.
Day Four: Seven things that make you laugh.
Day Five: Six things you are thankful for/appreciate every day.
Day Six: Five people in whom you perceive Ultimate Goodness.
Day Seven: Four turn ons.
Day Eight: Three things you want to do for your community/ the world.
Day Nine: Two things you think you need to work on personally.
Day Ten: One thing you'd like to change about your life.

Tinola Lola and Cookie War

Dinner:

Bunky is enjoying his Tinola(gingery chicken in soup and rice)dinner in a bowl.  I reach for a wet wipe since his chin has soupy mashed chayote on it.

My Mom: Hindi ba natutuyo 'yan? (Doesn't that dry up?)

Me: I just pour more soup in it and heat it up.

My Mom starts laughing.  I look at her and she's pointing at/and referring to the box of wet wipes.

Dessert:

Cookie War!

Light camouflage pants

Cutest li'l mercenary

Cookie crumb messed hair

10 Yippee Things! Day ONE

I got this 10 Things list from my cackling sunshine SIS, Katinka.  I've been a Negative Nancy getting antsy these past few months.  It's fun being mad and making things happen but you can only rant so much especially when you know you are blessed and loved by those who matter.

Here we go:

Day One: Ten best things about being alive.

1. Getting to have a hearty laugh at least once a day

2. Knowing I have best friends on both sides of my world (Philippines and Canada)

3. Taking in breathtaking scenery(nature and man made)

4. Appreciating beautiful people(the good hearted, the passionate, and the Victoria's Secret runway type)

5. Experiencing a brilliant moment amidst the stupid ones

6. Seeing the daimon in people(good or bad, they're impressive)

7. Eating food that I crave or miss

8. Humbling in the fact that God became Man just so He could show us His love in ways we should understand but often do not

9. Becoming a mother

10. Being with my Mr. Right and loving the fact that he's involved with all ten points of this list

Day Two: Nine things about yourself that you like.
Day Three: Eight things you know for sure.
Day Four: Seven things that make you laugh.
Day Five: Six things you are thankful for/appreciate every day.
Day Six: Five people in whom you perceive Ultimate Goodness.
Day Seven: Four turn ons.
Day Eight: Three things you want to do for your community/ the world.
Day Nine: Two things you think you need to work on personally.
Day Ten: One thing you'd like to change about your life.

 

Cutting tiny, tiny fingernails

PteranoTone(my toddler Antonin's nickname when he's a shrieking-scratching-dino-boy) spent playtime unsorting his shapes, scraping at the wall, and giving me the occasional claw to the face when he pointed out my eyes, nose, mouth, and cheek-CHEEK! Ow!!!  Cutting his nails come nap time had always freaked me out.  The fear of cutting into his skin, having the clipper fly out of my clammy hands, and anything that can go wrong and wake him up give my caring mama paws the shiver-me-fingers while I pat his baby bum to sleep.  Having gone through three baby nail clippers in different anxiety inducing designs, I am happy to report that I have finally found a knuckle bump-worthy baby product.  The name says it all: Steady Grip Baby Nail Clipper from Safety1st.  

The grip feel on this clipper is great and the cutting blade is sharp enough and doesn't slide on the nail when you pinch down.  I realize that there is a version that includes a pen light for nail cutting sessions in the dark.  I'll keep that one in mind.  For PteranoTone's check-in travel kit, perhaps?