Let's Drink to That! - Week 26

Today is Theo's 6th month birth anniversary. Exactly 6 months ago today, a powerful tsunami and earthquake devastated many parts of Asia. Six months ago today, Theo was also born. How time flies indeed!

As what we usually do on weekends, the family went out today for some shopping (household goods and supplies) and for lunch at an inexpensive family restaurant. The summer heat has really started to pounce, and thus, we decided not to use the stroller and just carried him in our arms. (After a while, he can get really heavy, being almost 8 kg by now.) He probably spent 70% of the time sleeping, unmindful of the heat that turned his parents into melting popsicles under the sun.

Recently, Theo has shown preference for sleeping on his side or on his belly, just like his Daddy B. (If that isn't genetic, I don't know what is.) Mommy D is constantly worried though in case he develops stiff shoulders or arms for being in a particular position over prolonged periods, sometimes with a part of his body pressing against his extremities. Here's what the literature says, however: "Most pediatricians believe that it is much more important for parents to satisfy their infant's natural inclination to repeat a comfortable pattern in sleep than to worry about some of the pros and cons that are presented for each sleep position."

By this time, Theo always smiles at this mirror image, even after a fit. One way to really get him in the mood is to play with him in front of a mirror. He also turns his head towards you when you say his name. He can also sit with slight or minimal support, although it's safer if we let him sit on the bed just in case he gets tired and falls over head on. His favorite game is peekaboo; if you want to hear him break into hearty and amused giggles, that's the game that draws them out.

You're growing very fast and very well, Theo. Let's drink to that!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ooooppsss! I think there's something wrong with the photos below. Guess what?



This dress is actually for one of Daddy B's cousins in the Philippines. Mommy D and I just took these photos for fun, and Theo also seemed to enjoy the photo shoot. But isn't "she" cute? Hehe...

(By the way, if you look close enough, can you see one of his growing teeth in the lower photo?)

The Photographer - Week 25

Summer is fast approaching, and as the mercury inches upwards each passing day, Theo finds himself enjoying the outdoors more and more often.

As such, we always make it a point to take Theo out, esp. on weekends to enjoy the still pleasant weather. We expect the mercury to climb to more than 30 degrees Celsius in the next few months, and by then, we'd probably just stay home and watch videos with the airconditioner in full blast.

In the meantime, however, Theo, who has developed an interest in photography, just like his Daddy B, has been tinkering with Daddy B's Nikons, one of which is shown above. And to shield his cute, puppy dog eyes from the blazing sun, Mommy D recently purchased dark glasses for him, which paired perfectly with his cap. That, in a nutshell, is Theo's signature image outdoors.

Indoors, however, his favorite pastime seems to be rolling on the bed back and forth,aside from drooling and putting in his mouth whatever he can get his hands on.

Oh, did I say his teeth are starting to grow?

The Lady and the Tramp - Week 24

The city hall provides a three-meeting orientation to new mothers in Tsukuba, and last Thursday, Mommy D and Theo attended the second of the said three meetings (the third will be next month). During the first meeting, Mommy D had met a very friendly person named Kyoko whose daughter (nicknamed Mao) was born on Dec. 20, just about a week before Theo was also born.

In the photo above, Theo appears to enjoy Mao's company immensely, although the latter appears to be surprised, probably at how handsome Theo looks in the very nice shirt and pants that his Aunt Tippi had given him recently.

As we had predicted (see previous posts in this blog), Theo is (or will be) God's gift to women.

The prophecy has come to pass. Hehehe...

The Billiards Hustler - Week 23

Is this the next Bata Reyes in the making or what?

Mommy D, Theo and I spent almost the whole day yesterday at the Tsukuba International Center of JICA where a small group Filipino graduate students would often play sports on weekends. Yesterday, however, was special: aside from the sports, we also had a barbecue party with loads of succulent chicken, pork and fish that were marinated to perfection.

Theo didn't mind all that, however. He was more interested in the billiard balls that would swoosh around the table as some of us played, sometimes breaking into a giggle when he hears the loud click made by two balls on impact. And almost like clockwork, he would always flash that big smile when he sees his Daddy B, camera in hand, ready to immortalize his adorable face in the digital realm.

By the way, have you seen the cue ball? Or is it that shiny, bald head in the distance? Hehe...