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… :)