Automatic

There are some things that we try so hard to teach our kids (or unteach for that matter), to the point that we drive our own selves crazy. And then there are some things that just happen by themselves…

-When he started eating on his high chair when he was around 9 months old, I used to give him little pieces of crackers or bread so he can practice picking them up with his fingers from his bowl, but they’d often fall. Then one day after a few months, it just happened! He can pick up cornflakes, pancit canton, even rice with his pincers!

-I remember when he was over a year old, when we asked him to “point” or “clap”, his index did not quite protrude, or his palms did not quite hit each other, but after a few months, they just happened! We now call him “Boy Turo” among other terms of endearment, and he claps everytime he hears anybody say “yehey” or “very good”.
Aren pointing and clapping


-Pacifiers used to be a staple in the house. He could not sleep without them, and when he woke up, he would get up and look for them and put them in his mouth and fall back asleep. Instead of soothing his gums on hard toys, we gave it to him during the day as well. Just as I was wondering until when we had to buy him pacifiers, when he was 17 months, he “overchewed” on his last one until it had a hole, so we had to throw it away. I was not able to buy a new one right away, and when my mom did after a few days, he didn’t like it anymore. He was literally spitting it out of his mouth! Talk about effortless weaning!

Aren and tatay sleeping (one of my favorite pics of all time)

-We bought him a toothbrush set when he was 18 months old and had 8 front teeth, but for the life of us, we could not get it past his mouth! The bell in the handle didn’t help get his attention! Like many other parents, the baby shut his mouth firmly, and we did not want to subject him to traumatic brushing sessions, so we gave up for a while, never mind if he did develop a little stain on one of his teeth and unpleasant-smelling laway. A few weeks later, I just handed it to him again, and it just happened… he just automatically put it in his mouth! (of course I still had to help him really clean his teeth now) He loves brushing now!

Little stained tooth

These are just some things I can think of now, and I’m not referring to the other things such as talking and toilet training and eating by himself with a spoon and writing, because such things fall under the category “let nature takes its course, but let’s not forget to expose the kids to stimulation and practice.” Yup, that’s exactly what I’m doing now…

Updates

July has been kinda hectic for our family because my mom’s relatives have come from different parts of the world for a vacation, to celebrate my lola’s 20th death anniversary, and to hold (hopefully the first of many!) a grand Oliveros-Ocampo family reunion.

I (along with my other cousin) emceed the event in Kamayan-Saisaki West Avenue. The best part? The eat-all-you-can baby! Just kidding… getting to see all our relatives in one rare gathering, of course! (but the dessert area is a very close runner-up…)

Aren and Ate Ria dancing to Bad Romance at the reunion

Schedules were crazy as everyone wanted the balikbayans to sleep over their houses or at least drop by for lunch or meryenda, or take the kids out, or shop for pasalubongs.

My mom's balikbayan relatives visit our new apartment

As for Aren, here are his updates at 18 1/2 months:

- 33 inches tall, 30 lbs heavy, 27 size feet (they are huge!)

- Still drinks Enfagrow A+ every at least 6 hours. Eats any solid food. Loves Welch’s grape juice (at least whatever amount I dilute in his water.) Still to master drinking from a sippy cup or regular cup.

- Has broken his high chair just last night. Waiting for our table and chair set from EQ Dry! Woohoo! Will train to eat by himself using spoon and fork and suction bowl when the set comes.

- Has completed his incisor (front) teeth already, but his first molars are already sprouting before his canines! My sister said he will likely be sungki or have spaces in between them because of this. Brushes his teeth by himself now! (well, putting his toothbrush into his mouth at least) he loves his Sansfluo!
- Has recently finished a 5-day Disudrin medication for colds.
- Loves taking a bath and showers.

- Loves looking out of his bedroom window to observe people.

- Still uses large size EQ Dry. Not potty trained yet (will start maybe at two years).

- Loves to run around and climb whatever he can get on top of.
- I have lost track of how many words he knows already. I am amazed at how much he understands of what we say. I am overwhelmed. Although he has yet to learn to speak clear words, he can already sign most of what he wants to say, he can point, he can speak in syllables. He practices with us most of the day!

I keep saying that my indicator that he is no longer a baby is when he learns to talk clearly. With that, I’m not in a hurry for him to learn just yet… :)