No Nanny Today

Caitlin's nanny didn't show up today as scheduled. My sister took care of her in the morning and afternoon, and I was in-charge in the evening. She didn't put any resistance (yes, that's the most appropriate word) when I asked her to take a bath. She readily went with me to the bathroom. Since I am not that familiar with my kid's stuff, I couldn't find the shampoo and the soap - Pantene and SafeGuard seems to work. I just hope that Caitlin has no rashes tomorrow.

But it seems that my daughter is ready for eventualities like this. Here are some pictures taken, she's trying to have a soup by herself. She's sitting on the plastic chair that her lola bought her during our first day in Bibincahan.


I am anticipating tonight she's going to bed late since her nap lasted almost 4 hours today. Oh well, at least my mom is here to help me out.

[Caitlin In the Airport]

Last year, she traveled with her mom. Tin didn't realize how much distance she had to cover while carrying Caitlin - she never realized that NAIA Terminal 3 is no comparison with Manila Domestic Airport. Admittingly, it was a lapse on my side since I thought it would be easy for her, forgetting that she's way smaller than me and she had to carry a lot of kids' stuff.

So this time that I was traveling with Caitlin, with no nanny in tow, I ensured that all the bags could be hanged on my neck or my shoulders, while I could hold or carry Caitlin on my arms. I was also banking on the fact that Caitlin doesn't lose her temper due to lack of sleep (she stayed awake until midnight, playing with her great grandmothers and her Tita Karen).

My dad took us to NAIA 3 at 330am, together with Tin and Mommy Pat. Caitlin was amazed of the place. I immediately looked for the check-in counter for Legazpi and quickly found it. Caitlin simply stayed beside me and letting her eyes wander around. I think she was intimidated by the place, plus there were lots of people walking around. The picture above was taken while she was yawning. The picture on the right was taken on the check-in counter.

She was just trying to figure out where she was, I guess. It wasn't a problem traveling with her. She didn't even throw a tantrum, even though she lacks sleep. I ensured that she was always nearby and she never let her out of my eyes. Ironically, while I was checking our ticket (and she was just under me, behind the luggage trolley), she turned around and trip on the trolley wheel. She fell flat on her face. She cried for a few seconds, but after I took her on my arms, she stopped crying. That's my kid.
We were early, so I took time getting through the security check. I even took her shoes off, though, I am confident that the security won't ask me to. The boarding time was 520am (flight was 6am) so I decided to have a cup of coffee in Go Donuts. I let Caitlin sat on the chair (picture on the left) while I bought some donuts (orange juice for her). I was confident she wouldn't get out of her chair - she didnt. The only time she asked me to let her go down was after taking a few sip of juice. She started walking around, but not too far.

I realized that I need Caitlin to fall asleep in the plane. I was afraid that she might complain when the plane gains altitude due to pressure difference. Since she was getting more restless every minute, I let her run to the designated terminal. And when she was too far for comfort, I would just call her name and she would wait for me to catch up.

I was having fun looking at my daughter running, without tripping over. When we got to the terminal, I brought her near the window and showed her the plane we were going to take. After a while, she was pointing to our carry-on luggage and was saying "mon, mon" and pointing towards the plane. While waiting, she was wandering around the area, but not too far that I couldn't ask her to come back to where I was seated.

The picture at the bottom was taken while we were aloft. Caitlin was so tired running in the terminal that she just fell asleep on her seat. While the plane was being pushed back from the tarmac, she was still awake. While we were taxiing down the runway, she was keeling on her left side. So I put my arm to support her head, then positioned her knapsack on the same side.

Her position, for me, was uncomfortable so I just waited for the seat-belt sign to turn off. I took her out from her seat and put her on my arms. The lady beside me noticed that Caitlin has to fold her legs to fit on the 2 seats, she volunteered to transfer to the next row infront of me. I let Caitlin lie down on the 2 seats. But she woke up and immediately cried. Then I tried letting her head rest on my leg, it worked.

[Look Who's Lying on the Sofa Now]

[Caitlin Alone in her Seat - Never do it again]

Last December 13, a couple of hours we reached Tin's place, my father-in-law asked me to drive him to La Union, approx. 18 km north of Sorsogon city proper. It's one of the barangays of Castilla.

He had some transactions with a certain Pena, who is a copra dealer. He asked me if we could bring Caitlin with us, which I readily obliged. I was confident that Caitlin will behave while on the road. Papa didn't want to sit with Caitlin, instead he sat at the back. I find this acceptable since I already trained Caitlin to get used to wearing seat-belt in the front seat (this is not recommended, since there are car seats for kids that has the proper restraints).

I took Caitlin with me on the driver seat, then let her seat on the passenger, front seat. This way, she won't think that I was abandoning her (since Tin is not around, if she loses sight of me, she just cries). She didn't complain.

While on the car seat, she was trying to look outside the window. She's well behave and didn't complain. On our way to Castilla, she tried to sleep while we were getting nearer the place.

She was very quiet. Meanwhile, I was conversing with Papa about his family's history who came from the place, Rizal (a barangay up north of Capuy), we passed by.

He was telling me that after the war, his father and mother was buying and selling bandala (abaca fibers), copra and other agricultural stuff. But when the HUK was active in their place, members of Battalion Combat Team (BCT, Philippine Army unit during 1950s) would stay in their store. Thus, when the BCT left, his parents also left.

He also explained to me why it's difficult to be a copra dealer - it requires a lot of capital - or go straight and sell to the coconut oil refinery . You need tons of copra to deliver to the refinery consistently, which is quite difficult to source out.

I didn't know what his transaction in the area, but when he came back to the car, he had 3 bags of Chicos and bundle of sacks.

When we went back to Sorsogon, Caitlin fell asleep. She didn't wake up until I opened the front door.

The following day, I drove my uncle's CRV from Legazpi to Sorsogon - with Caitlin on board. When I agreed to drive Tita Margie going back to Sorsogon (after bringing Tita Lyds and Tito Vic, who drove to Legazpi airport), I forgot that KT's nanny won't show up until 6am. We planned to leave at 530am; and my mom couldn't be absent that time. Last minute, I decided to bring my daughter with me.

Going to Legazpi was easy, KT was with me in the back seat. She fell asleep easily. Getting back to Sorsogon was tricky. KT didn't want to stay with Tita Margie. So I was confident enough to let her sit on the front seat with seat belt on. After Cumadcad, a barangay of Catilla, KT's tantrum kicked in and started taking off her seat belt (she knows where to press the release button). I had to quickly look for a place to stop, which I did.

She just didn't want to go back to her seat and preferred to stay with me. I obliged and let her sit on my lap. I know this is unsafe, but that was the best choice I had; otherwise, I could have strapped her on the seat, but might have distracted me. She didn't interfere with my driving, unsuprisingly. But she fell asleep and simply slid between my legs into the floor. I had to step on the break slowly and look for a place to stop (going to Sorsogon, from Legazpi, is not a straight line between point A to point B, unlike travelling in Northern Luzon). This time, she agreed to go back to the passenger seat and fell asleep quickly. When I got off the SUV infront of our house, she was still asleep.

[Caitlin With Tita Tuy (Joy) - First Day in Sorsogon]

We arrived in Legazpi (12132009) 5 minutes earlier than scheduled. I took Caitlin out of the airport and look for Joy; she was there alright, and left Caitlin with her while I went back to the terminal to get my luggage. Except for torn handle (of an inexpensive - got it from one of Tin's seminar, courtesy of a pharma group) coat back, the trip was uneventful.


Gary, Joy's hubby, took us to Jollibee for a breakfast. From there, Gary decided to let us check their place in Daraga. Their place has several stair cases, and I was catching up with my breath taking the stairs. But the view from the top floor was magnificent. Sadly, Mayon Volcano wasn't on her mood - the view was blocked by clouds (according to the legend, when clouds are blocking the view, the volcano doesn't want to be seen by the people). Caitlin freaked out when she saw Caleb, huge dog (I cannot remember the type). You have to realize that in our compound, askal and those dogs as large as German Shepherds or Doberman are not common, let alone dogs not in a leash. Afterwards, we proceeded for Sorsogon.

Knowing Caitlin, she was trying to get the feel of Tin's house. The last time she was here, she was still an infant. When she saw stuff toys and dolls, she was overwhelmed and started saying, "wow, wow", with matching stretched arms as if trying to hug them all. She liked the doll with its panties/shorts on. Me? The first thing I did is to check the mobile signal - no difference as 2 years ago.

Caitlin didn't want to stay at the back with her Tita. So she stayed with me infront; she fell asleep on our way. When we reached Tin's place (Brgy. Capuy, approx. 8 km North of Sorsogon city proper), Papa was around to meet us.

My brother-in-law, took time out to prepare lunch for us. We had grilled pork and Chicken Curry, with a well-cooked steamed rice. My sister-in-law, April, and her hubby grilled the pork (I was out driving Papa to Castilla). Caitlin didn't want to join them; later on I found out that the dogs were sitting nearby and she's quite afraid of the dogs after the last time in Daraga.

We had a hearty lunch. Caitlin didn't have anything, though she did consume 1 bottle of milk before lunch time. Afterwards, I saw her with her Tita Joy, while holder her the doll she picked up from the shelf.

I also took a picture of Mama's orchids (pictured right) hich she started nurturing 2 years ago. It is a beautiful sight. The background is the hill where we normally camped out back in high school. When we were still kids, Mama sold different types of roses and was popular in our place. When we got married (and so was April), we got some of the flowers from Mama's garden.

Around 1pm, Caitlin took her regular nap. At 230pm, we left for Bibincahan. We are staying there until Tin arrives from Manila.

When we got to our house (in Bibincahan), Caitlin was trying to figure out again the new place (she's quite observant). In a couple of hours, she felt at home, just like in Capuy. It was rainy in the afternoon. I watched cable programs while my mom was busy playing lola to her apo.

It's nice to be back home.... But it will never be complete without Tin in tow. She will be joining us only on the 23rd of December.

[Caitlin in the Office]

I had to come back to the office today to send some emails. I took Caitlin with me.

Earlier Beverly was playing with her but I had to take her away since Beverly is reviewing for an exam.

She saw a door (server room) and asked me to open it. She also has the baloon given to her by Beverly.

She's well behaved and got the hang of the place.

[Update on the Pool atbp]

I just got off from a conversation with Dennis, admin manager, that the pool will be repaired soon. Their challenge is that the contractor doesn't want to use larger tiles since when it breaks, it can scratch the swimmers. It's still looking for smaller tiles; based on what I gathered, all the tiles will be replaced (crossing my fingers). It's a good idea to replace all since some residents are playing ball and pushing their strollers in the pool, this dislodge the tiles. Sooner or later, these tiles will come off.

Also on the whistling pumps at cluster 6 and 7, they are just waiting for the replacement bearings. The pumps kick in automatically based on schedule. I asked Dennis to reschedule it since it runs as early as 4am or as late as 10pm.

There will be an election on 1st Saturday of May for the homeowners officers. Let's see...

[Caitlin's First Tricycle Ride]

Today, I decided to bring Caitlin with me and join her mom on her way to the Ortigas bridge. Tin's misses KT because she's not going to see her for 10 days (we are leaving tomorrow for Sorsogon).

Going to Ortigas bridge' she stood infront of her mom (in Cainta, the tricycle's side-car can accomodate 4 passengers). She didn't mind - she was curious about the places she saw on the way.

Right after getting off the tricycle, we just said goodbye to Tin and crossed the street to take another tricycle going back.

This time I paid for her seat. She's so cute simply sitting there. She was trying to get the feel of it. When the tricycle started to move, she started waving her hand and saying, "mommy, mommy, babatch, babatch". Of course, by then, mommy was gone on her way to UDMC.

She was well behaved on our way back. She would glance outside enjoying the sceneries (of the squatter areas).

When we got back, she didn't want to walk anymore so I let her sit on my shoulders.

Family Picture as of Dec. 6, 2009

Note: Taken by Nokia E75, set to maximum resolution.