Month 72
Dear Lia,
Happy Birthday 6 years old! You turned 6 yesterday and you've been waiting for that day since... well, since your 5th birthday! You love birthdays, especially your own. I don't think it's the gifts that make you look forward to your birthdays. I think it's your parties. Because you spend the whole year thinking of what theme you will have for your next birthday party. This year it was Barbie. So I asked your Tita Yumi to bake cupcakes for you and and put them in Barbie cupcake boxes. And then we prepared hotdogs at home with pink cheese, put in boxes we decorated with Barbie stickers. Unfortunately, your school is quite strict when it comes to birthday parties, so for the first time I wasn't able to be there and see you celebrate with your friends, or watch you blow your candle, or even take photos. But that's ok because I know you're a big girl now and that you had a lot of fun.
You celebrated in school a day early. But yesterday we celebrated with family. After school we took you and Desi and Ramon and Luis to Active Fun in Fort Bonifacio. You chose a gift (Barbie) and then you all played in the play area and after that we had dinner with the whole family! Daddy, all your lolos and lolas, plus Ninang Michelle and Tita Ia were all there to celebrate with you. The waiters of Friday's even sang a birthday song for you. I think you were surprised and a little overwhelmed, but you took it well and blew out your candle pa rin. I hope you had fun on your birthday sweetheart! But the celebrations aren't over. Tomorrow, you will watch Sound of Music with Lola Vinchu (that's her birthday gift to you) and on Sunday is our celebration in St. Ignatius. We do so love celebrating your birthday because we love the fact that you were born and are a part of our lives.
The past year has brought a lot of changes in your life. The biggest change of all is your going to Big School. It's a big change for all of us, because we have to go a bit farther to bring you to and from school, there are lots of new rules, and lots of new activities. You LOVE it! You took to new school like a duck to water. This photo was taken at the end of your first day of school, First day pa lang, you already had a best friend, Mickey! Fun coincidence, I know her mommy, Tita Pia from debating in high school. Until now, near the end of the school year, Mickey is still your best friend. I met some of your other classmates as well, because I volunteered to help out in your school whenever they needed mommies. You're not as bossy or assertive in school as you are at home. But you are well liked by your classmates and you're doing really well. I'm very proud of you.
In school, you are way ahead of your classmates in reading. Your teacher told me you're reading at the level of Grade 1 or higher. It's not surprising because you had a great head start, having started to read at age two and a half. You love reading stories about fairies and princesses, and even bible stories. But your favorite topics to read these days are about science. Sometimes you spout out random science facts like, "Sea stars aren't plants, even though they look like plants. They're more closely related to brittle stars, sea urchins and sea cucumbers. Mommy, what are sea cucumbers?" Whenever you tell me things like these, it makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. As in kinikilig ako that you love reading about animals, plants and nature because I also used to love to read about all those things! I can't wait to introduce you to geography, Greek mythology and mysteries! I wonder if you'll like Nancy Drew? I started reading Nancy Drew when I was in 2nd grade. Nana gave me my first Nancy Drew book. It's what started a life long interest in murder mysteries. Anyway, it hardly matters if you like to read the same things I do, as long as you love to read. Which you do. And that really warms my heart. Tito Carlo will do his best to encourage you to become a scientist like him because he says there aren't enough women in his field. Maybe he'll succeed in making you change your mind to be an Ice Skater when you grow up.
You are a good Ate, you are always well behaved, and always sets a good example for your younger siblings and cousin. Sometimes it's hard, like when Desi doesn't listen to you, you can feel very frustrated, and of course you can't help but cry when Luis forgets his gentle hands. But you are quick to forgive and be happy again. You're very good at sharing your things, trying to teach Desi how to read, getting Ramon to laugh, and playing with Luis when he's being too rowdy for your siblings. You are a natural leader, you like to choose the games on the Wii on game nights, make sure everyone takes their turn, and you don't get upset anymore if you lose. Really, everything is more fun when you're around.
Last week, Lola Vinchu assigned you to lead the prayer in St. Ignatius. When I told you, you said, No thank you. I asked you why you didn't want to lead the prayer, and you said you feel nervous. I said, we can talk about your prayer and then I could write it down so you can read it while praying. At this suggestion, your face lit up and you agreed to lead the prayer. You chose the song Welcome to the Family, which Daddy played on the guitar for you, and you read the prayer that we wrote on a piece of prayer. It was very simple, of course, and you did a great job, even in the part where I couldn't guide you because I had to attend to Ramon. You really have a strong sense of self, good self esteem and a lot of confidence. Last Christmas, you sang Happy Birthday Jesus to everyone in the party all by yourself. You didn't whine or complain, you just sang. It made me very proud and happy.
You really are growing up, my Lovely Lia, perhaps faster than your siblings, because you are the eldest, and you've always been so bright, we tend to expect quite a lot from you, and you never disappoint. I'm afraid I don't have a realistic view of what normal 6 year olds should be capable of doing, because I know that you are smarter and more mature than most. And it's hard for me to talk about your with other parents, because they tend to feel that their children are behind or something, when they're not. It's just that you're ahead. In the past six years I haven't been able to figure out what I did right that you turned out as awesome as you have, except that I know God loves me more than I could have imagined, more than I'll ever deserve, because he blessed me with you.
Thank you so much for being my baby, my daughter, my pride. I love you so much. Always and forever.
Love, Mommy
Happy Birthday 6 years old! You turned 6 yesterday and you've been waiting for that day since... well, since your 5th birthday! You love birthdays, especially your own. I don't think it's the gifts that make you look forward to your birthdays. I think it's your parties. Because you spend the whole year thinking of what theme you will have for your next birthday party. This year it was Barbie. So I asked your Tita Yumi to bake cupcakes for you and and put them in Barbie cupcake boxes. And then we prepared hotdogs at home with pink cheese, put in boxes we decorated with Barbie stickers. Unfortunately, your school is quite strict when it comes to birthday parties, so for the first time I wasn't able to be there and see you celebrate with your friends, or watch you blow your candle, or even take photos. But that's ok because I know you're a big girl now and that you had a lot of fun.
You celebrated in school a day early. But yesterday we celebrated with family. After school we took you and Desi and Ramon and Luis to Active Fun in Fort Bonifacio. You chose a gift (Barbie) and then you all played in the play area and after that we had dinner with the whole family! Daddy, all your lolos and lolas, plus Ninang Michelle and Tita Ia were all there to celebrate with you. The waiters of Friday's even sang a birthday song for you. I think you were surprised and a little overwhelmed, but you took it well and blew out your candle pa rin. I hope you had fun on your birthday sweetheart! But the celebrations aren't over. Tomorrow, you will watch Sound of Music with Lola Vinchu (that's her birthday gift to you) and on Sunday is our celebration in St. Ignatius. We do so love celebrating your birthday because we love the fact that you were born and are a part of our lives.
The past year has brought a lot of changes in your life. The biggest change of all is your going to Big School. It's a big change for all of us, because we have to go a bit farther to bring you to and from school, there are lots of new rules, and lots of new activities. You LOVE it! You took to new school like a duck to water. This photo was taken at the end of your first day of school, First day pa lang, you already had a best friend, Mickey! Fun coincidence, I know her mommy, Tita Pia from debating in high school. Until now, near the end of the school year, Mickey is still your best friend. I met some of your other classmates as well, because I volunteered to help out in your school whenever they needed mommies. You're not as bossy or assertive in school as you are at home. But you are well liked by your classmates and you're doing really well. I'm very proud of you.
In school, you are way ahead of your classmates in reading. Your teacher told me you're reading at the level of Grade 1 or higher. It's not surprising because you had a great head start, having started to read at age two and a half. You love reading stories about fairies and princesses, and even bible stories. But your favorite topics to read these days are about science. Sometimes you spout out random science facts like, "Sea stars aren't plants, even though they look like plants. They're more closely related to brittle stars, sea urchins and sea cucumbers. Mommy, what are sea cucumbers?" Whenever you tell me things like these, it makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. As in kinikilig ako that you love reading about animals, plants and nature because I also used to love to read about all those things! I can't wait to introduce you to geography, Greek mythology and mysteries! I wonder if you'll like Nancy Drew? I started reading Nancy Drew when I was in 2nd grade. Nana gave me my first Nancy Drew book. It's what started a life long interest in murder mysteries. Anyway, it hardly matters if you like to read the same things I do, as long as you love to read. Which you do. And that really warms my heart. Tito Carlo will do his best to encourage you to become a scientist like him because he says there aren't enough women in his field. Maybe he'll succeed in making you change your mind to be an Ice Skater when you grow up.
You are a good Ate, you are always well behaved, and always sets a good example for your younger siblings and cousin. Sometimes it's hard, like when Desi doesn't listen to you, you can feel very frustrated, and of course you can't help but cry when Luis forgets his gentle hands. But you are quick to forgive and be happy again. You're very good at sharing your things, trying to teach Desi how to read, getting Ramon to laugh, and playing with Luis when he's being too rowdy for your siblings. You are a natural leader, you like to choose the games on the Wii on game nights, make sure everyone takes their turn, and you don't get upset anymore if you lose. Really, everything is more fun when you're around.
Last week, Lola Vinchu assigned you to lead the prayer in St. Ignatius. When I told you, you said, No thank you. I asked you why you didn't want to lead the prayer, and you said you feel nervous. I said, we can talk about your prayer and then I could write it down so you can read it while praying. At this suggestion, your face lit up and you agreed to lead the prayer. You chose the song Welcome to the Family, which Daddy played on the guitar for you, and you read the prayer that we wrote on a piece of prayer. It was very simple, of course, and you did a great job, even in the part where I couldn't guide you because I had to attend to Ramon. You really have a strong sense of self, good self esteem and a lot of confidence. Last Christmas, you sang Happy Birthday Jesus to everyone in the party all by yourself. You didn't whine or complain, you just sang. It made me very proud and happy.
You really are growing up, my Lovely Lia, perhaps faster than your siblings, because you are the eldest, and you've always been so bright, we tend to expect quite a lot from you, and you never disappoint. I'm afraid I don't have a realistic view of what normal 6 year olds should be capable of doing, because I know that you are smarter and more mature than most. And it's hard for me to talk about your with other parents, because they tend to feel that their children are behind or something, when they're not. It's just that you're ahead. In the past six years I haven't been able to figure out what I did right that you turned out as awesome as you have, except that I know God loves me more than I could have imagined, more than I'll ever deserve, because he blessed me with you.
Thank you so much for being my baby, my daughter, my pride. I love you so much. Always and forever.
Love, Mommy