Seek and Explore | 2007

When Jakjak learned to crawl, he rummaged through everything he can put his paws into. Which is why we had boxes and boxes of mix matched toys and books and what have you in his room. This room also held the TV and DVD player, which of course meant rummaging through the 'stuff' to find Barney and Blue's Clues when we want him to calm down and drink milk.

It's a wonder to watch him crawl and climb and wedge himself to things in order for him to reach something or to stand. It's like he's running on instinct instead of logic. But this trial and error is the thing that helped him grow up and understand the dangers of his surrounding. I never recalled having been so engrossed in watching anyone do the simplest things and be amazed that he can actually do it. Of course, there are bits and pieces that we help him out on, but on the whole, at just over one year old, Jakjak had been learning how to be a survivor in his own little world.

The things we learned from this is that educational toys with lights and sound and an assortment of action-reaction does a good job of getting the child's attention. A little help from mum and dad always adds an element of fun and involvement for little Jakjak, and I believe it will do the same for others out there. In order for Jakjak to feel like a child, dad had to be like a child and do the silliest things with him. So if you can imagine a grown man bark like a dog and wag his pretend tail, then you too can be a child yourself. It's fun actually, to be a child again. And having to share this childishness with your son makes it all the more fun.

Sweet Tooth | 2007

It's our fault to be honest.

I've had sweet teeth for as long as I can remember. And although she can't take the level of sweet that I can, Judy has sweet teeth as well. We've done all of them, milk, double chocolate, nuts, fruits, mixed, mints, orange and probably every chocolate combination (except for durian). And we love it!

Jakjak's first taste of the sweet life was some chocolate ice cream. That was back when he was still just sipping milk from a baby bottle. Judy had the crazy idea of letting Jakjak lick the ice cream from the cone. And he did more than that. He licked and savored the ice cream in his mouth. And I believe that's how it all began.

But he is not all sweets. He still has his own criteria. He never liked chocolate milk for one thing (that was a good waste of 400 grams). He does have a knack for good chocolate though (good and expensive). So he was practically in heaven when he saw these mini-bars of assorted chocolates. He also loves Ferrero Rochers. He can put one whole ball of Ferrero in his mouth, melt it like cheese, drip some chocolate colored saliva from his mouth to the floor and smile a chocolate-y smile all in under 5 minutes. But give him the local Choc-Nut (which happens to be my favorite) and he will just raise an eyebrow. The boy has taste. An epicurean no less. But that does not make my wallet very comfortable. Not at the least.

Christmas Real | 2006

Jakjak's very first Christmas was spent at the hospital's Neo Natal ICU. We celebrated it with only ourselves and the nurses that were on duty that night.

One year after and Jakjak has come home. Celebrating his first real Christmas with the whole family. Being too young to understand what the whole event was all about, he spent his happy moments ripping the wrappers off gifts and sticking them on himself using some left over tape.

Of course, for me and Judy, it meant more than just gifts and Noche Buena. It meant thanksgiving most of all, because we were given the best gift of all. And I believe that He did not just give Jakjak to us because we wanted him so much, but because we earned the right to be Jakjak's parents during the most difficult times of his life. A life that we now share at every moment, be it near or far from each other.

On Christmas morning, we opened our gifts, we visited our relatives and we greeted each other with warm Christmas wishes. Jakjak showed his appreciation for his gifts by giving everyone his bestest smile and his infectious laughter. And so it was that Jakjak's first real Christmas was a simple and heartfelt moment of thanks.