Homesick +++ Baby Update (Wyn @ 22 Months)

I started writing a piece about our Philippine vacation, but I guess it's too soon for me to do that. As I try to relive the memories and transform my thoughts into words, I am suddenly overtaken by a strong wave of homesickness. I can't do it! It's making me cry.

So here goes Eowyn's 22-month update instead: *sigh*

- had her first trip to the emergency room three days after we got back from the Philippines. Stricken with croup and an ear infection, Wyn was lethargic and would throw up whenever we gave her any food or milk. Fearing that she'd be dehydrated, I panicked and Dan quickly called our doctor, who gave us the go-ahead to take her to the ER (it was after office hours on Friday evening). What do you know, when we got there, she was little Ms. Smiles-and-Sunshine again... but not before she threw up in front of the nurse who was taking her vital signs and other symptoms. It's amazing how kids can be sick one minute, then be playful and cheerful the next. If you ask me, I'll take the latter anytime. I'm a scaredy-cat mom when it comes to my baby's health... just ask Dan!

- can eat meals on her own. My parents were surprised when Eowyn would sit with us at the table and eat her food from her own plate. No spoon-feeding, no running around after the baby to feed her! Her favorites include rice, pancit (noodles), fish and chicken. She's also discovered that pan de sal is a yummy treat!

- while she normally has a pleasant disposition, Eowyn can be quite nasty if pushed to her limits. While playing with her cousin Gian, she would usually just let him do what he wants... but when she's at the end of her rope, watch out! She would scream crossly "Go away, Gian!" or "No, Gian!", stunning the little boy to silence. Hee hee!

- she's picking up more and more vocabulary everyday. Try as I may, I can't keep track of all the words that she knows now. She can pretty much identify most things around the house now and can understand what Dan and I tell her. I still find it cute that she'd burst out "That's grandma!" or "Look, it's lolo!" whenever she sees the picture frames hanging in our walls.

- sings a lot! I always tease Dan that we have a little popstar in the making because lately, we've been hearing her croon a song even during the most unexpected moments, like in her carseat when we're on the road or late at night before we go to bed. The one she sings best is Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Her version goes like this:

"Twee-ko, twee-ko lee-el star

Hah ah wan-dah what you are

Ah ah-bah da wohl so high

Lahk ah dya-mon in da sky."

What comes as a big revelation to me is the fact that as long as you expose your baby to songs, even if she doesn't seem to be paying any attention at that time, her little mind is already processing all that information. One day, you'll just be surprised that she's already spewing out the lyrics to the songs - like Eowyn did one day when mama and Ilay prompted her to complete the words of the nursery rhymes we've sung to her! Really and truly, I was amazed. I had no idea that she already memorized it!

- This latest development prompted me to buy a whole slew of learning DVDs for Wyn. I highly recommend the Brainy Baby series, which you can get brand new from amazon.com at less than $10 each. It's an investment well worth it, and I should know because I'm already beginning to see the results! With some prompting, Wyn can count from one to ten and say the letters in the alphabet. She's also starting to recognize numbers, letters, shapes and colors.

Truly, it is so exciting to see the transformation of my adorable baby to a smart little girl. When I look at her now, I see only traces of the little one I held and nursed in my arms for over a year! She is all girl now, a toddler with her own temperament and personality. I miss my baby... I do! Sometimes I just wish time can move a little slower, so much slower, so that I can savor each and every moment of Eowyn's growing up years. I'm sure every mommy knows what  mean!