Mommy Moments - Black and White

I have no picture of Joaqui that depicts black and white and so I made this for today's theme. This is one of Joaqui's recent pictures. We were at a relative's house blessing in Cavite and he ws playing by the garage. It was extremely hot that day, hence the beads of sweat under his nose. This picture also reminds me of how "siopao-looking" his cheeks are. I was teasing him the other day, I said from now on I will call him "siops" which is short for siopao and then I would plant kisses on both of his cheeks and make "yum, yum" sounds like I'm eating siopao. He would giggle and laugh, but he doesn't want to be called "siops." ; )

Have a wonderful weekend! Join us at Mommy Moments.

Good Friday procession

This was Joaqui's 2nd time to participate in the Good Friday procession here in our parish and I can say that he was pretty much looking forward to it. A month or so ago, he would ask me if it was Holy Week already because he wants to go to the procession. I don't know what draws him to do this, but he really walked the whole time during the procession without stopping, and without telling me that he's tired. I was not able to take pictures of him last year when it was his first time to join the Good Friday procession, so this year I came much prepared.

He was either holding his small cross or the lighted candle while walking. He endured a 2-hour walk and was even smiling for the camera.



After the procession, we went to my mom's house and he ate 3 slices of cheese pizza. The walking really made him very hungry!


That night before we went to sleep, Joaqui said, "Mommy, I want to go to the procession again next year." Well, I'm sure he will.

you're a firework

When Joaqui was a little younger, attending birthday parties was a little stressful for us because
Joaqui would cry just at the sight of the birthday party itself. What I would do was brief him a few days before the party on what to expect, where were we going, what we would do at the party, etc. and although it does not work all the time, somehow it lessened his anxiety. Up until he was about 2 or 3 years old, he would not really participate in games and sometimes cry when the party host's voice is too loud or when there is a lot of shouting going on, but still I would patiently assure him that it's just a party and people are happy and excited that is why they shout.

We kept on attending birthday parties, encouraging him to participate and I really noticed the improvement in his behavior, especially on the last two parties we attended. Now he loves to dance and show his dance moves to others.

He participates in games, listens to instructions well and really have fun - whether he wins or lose.


He is more responsive to other activities such as a magic show, even volunteering to be a magician's assistant one time.

Although I sometimes could not contain the stage mom in me and prods him to join games, I am just as proud when he dances and says to me, "Look at me Mommy!" or when he would ask me if he could join the party games.

As a parent, I realized how important it is to encourage our children to be who they are and let them know how special they can be. A child can be like a firework - we just got to ignite the light and let them shine. Make them know their worth as they shoot across the sky.