Enzo’s World

What do you get when you put together 5 grannies, 5 aunts, 5 uncles, 1 kid, 1 toddler and 2 babies? One heck of an Easter weekend at Mamoo’s house in Marikina…

I’ve never been on a leisure travel before. The only trips I’ve taken so far were to the hospital for check-ups (and those trips lasted only a couple of minutes since the hospital was just 1 kilometer from our house). I really looked forward to visiting Mamoo. Not only is it my first leisure travel, it’s also the first time I’ll see my cousin Josh. But, ssshhhhhh… my pediatrician doesn’t know I’ve made lakwatsa already. She told Mommy and Daddy she forbids her patients to travel before they turn 6 months. So this will be our little secret, okay?

It took Mommy and Daddy 3 days to program me for this trip—"break in" as they call it. They tucked me in my car seat, buckled me up in the backseat of our car and took me for joy rides. On Thursday, we went to a nearby plant nursery. Daddy and I stayed in the car while Mommy and Ela bought house plants. I smiled, cried, cooed, played and made dodo during the 30-minute trip. On Friday, we took a 7-kilometer ride to the gas station so Daddy could fuel up. By the time we got there, I was sound asleep. The most fun was the Saturday trip. We drove through Jollibee for some breakfast, then went to a quiet park with a playground. Wow! There were lots of trees waving at me. I squealed at them in greeting and they waved even more. Daddy and I gave me a tour of the playground. I had most fun riding the swing with Daddy. All the excitement made me tired. I was fast asleep on the trip home.

Then came the big day—the trip to Marikina. It was over an hour long. I got hungry during the trip. I just chugged some water then slept through the whole trip. I awoke a few minutes before we got to Mamoo’s house. As soon as Mamoo and my aunts and uncles saw me, they all gushed "Wow, ang taba ni Enzo!"

Ate Keona was one of the first to greet me at the gate. She and Mamoo kept me company in the sala as I adjusted to my surroundings.

Mamoo’s house is cute. Lots of thingies on the walls and tables to keep me company. And it’s so cooooool inside—literally. Naka-aircon ang buong house! Wow sarap!

Then cousin Josh arrived. I giggled and squealed in delight. The grannies, aunts and uncles thought I was happy at seeing another baby. If they could only read my thoughts, they would have discovered I was happy for a different reason. I was thinking: "Yipeee! Meron pa palang mas konti ang buhok kaysa sa akin! Weeeee!"

It’s fun having another baby as a playmate. Well, Pareng Josh and I didn’t really play. All we did was exchange sounds.

     He’ll giggle, I’ll giggle.

     I’d squeal, he’d squeal back.

     He’ll shout, i’ll try to shout louder.

It was also nice to see someone my size (though technically, Josh and I weren’t of the same size. I was a trifle bigger than him). And it was nice to know someone spoke the same language I did. Josh new what "Aw!", "Agoo" and "Mmmmm" meant.

Josh and I were all the household needed to keep themselves entertained. If I could only count, I could tell you now just how many times they said "Parehas sila, ano?" or "Para silang kambal!" Our audience particularly enjoyed watching us during our milk drinking contest. Josh and I had several rounds. But truth be told, Josh is no match to my drinking powers. His bottles are teeny weeny, mine are biiiiiiig.

Like any other day with babies, there were periods of chaos (when we were crying our lungs out) and moments of peace (when we both fell asleep).

But the highlight of the day was our joint celebration of our 4th month birthday. We had lots of cake and Ninang Kay’s special spaghetti (andaming hotdogs talaga! Ang sarap ,natikman nga ng kamay ko kasi nasawsaw nga kamay ko when Daddy blew my birthday candle for me!). The oldies had red wine. Josh and I contented ourselves with our white wine.

The day at Mamoo’s sped by so quickly, all to soon it was time to go home. With a trunkful of our paraphernalia, pa-baon food from Mamoo, and hand-me-down clothes from Ate Keona, we were all set to head for home. The day might be over, but my excitement was still at its peak. Now that I’ve made my first trip away from home, I can’t wait for the next one. Hmmmnnn… I wonder where we’ll be off-to next? 

P.S. Thank you, Mamoo for a wonderful Easter weekend! Thank you everybody for the company!

Here’s a shout out to my baby cousins: Ate Keona, baby Josh Josh, Kuya Joaquin, Ate Sandy, and Kuya Shuey.

Hey there! How I wish we could set regular play dates. Wouldn’t that be fun? But since we can’t meet up, I’d like to dedicate this blog just for you.

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My dear Ate Keona, hello, hello! I’d like to thank you much, much, much for all the pamana you gave me. Mommy and Daddy appreciate them a lot. Even if some of them are pink or have touches of pink (coz I know pink is one of your favorite colors!), it’s okay. Especially when I was just a wee baby, I didn’t mind wearing pink. Mommy said any pastel color is fine for a baby. But now that I’m bigger, I already like more macho baby colors like blue and green.

I particularly love wearing the Winnie the Pooh ensemble you gave me (shirt, sando, mitts, booties, bonnet). I look soooo cute wearing it. But unfortunately, Mommy had to retire them already since they burst at the seams when I wear them.  Ditto with those long-sleeved shirts of yours. The sleeves are soooo tight, my Popeye biceps can’t breathe!

I’m a bit worried about the shoes you gave me, too. Daddy says me feet are so big for a baby that by the time I should be wearing shoes, they might not fit me anymore. Oh well, maybe I should start wearing them now even if I’m not standing nor taking my first steps yet. Pang-picture-taking lang, kumbaga!

I owe you lots! Don’t worry, Ate Keona. I promise, when we’re all grown up, I’ll escort you to your high school dance, prom, Santacruzan, Sunduan, etcetera. Tsaka paglaki natin at may nanloko sa iyo, isumbong mo sa akin, lagot sila! Makikita nila kung anong napapala ng mga sumasaling sa Ate Keona ko!

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Hello ‘insang Josh! Uy, thank you for the play mat you gave me. I enjoy watching the dangling thingies swaying in the air. Nagkanda-duling nga ako kakatitig sa kanila e!

Haay… We are already three months old, and we still haven’t met face to face. The last time we were together, we were still in our mommies’ tummies. I’ve seen your pictures, though. Gandang lalaki natin parehas, a! 

Shall I still call you “Kuya” since you are a day older? Dehinds naman yata bagay. I think I’m kindda bigger than you… Errrr…. Lots bigger I think. Tawagan natin, “Pare” na lang! Right, Pare?

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Hello Kuya Joaquin and Ate Sandy! Kamusta kayo dyan sa pagkalayu-layong Nueva Vizcaya? Kelan ba kayo uuwi dito sa Manila? Laro tayo! Naku, Kuya Joaquin, I guarantee you, just give me a little more time, pwede na tayo mag-wrestling! I’m a big boy, like you.

And hello, too Kuya Shuey! Muchas gracias for the shoes and clothes you gave me. You know what, I bet I’ll look good in them—especially the jumpers. Yun nga lang, some of the play suits don’t fit me anymore. They are too short for me =(   Well, it’s a good thing I’m growing up real well. You, Kuya Joaquin and I can be play buddies soon. We will be the Big Boys Club hehehe.

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I’m so lucky I’ve so many cousins. In no time, I will be on my feet and ready to play with them. i bet that will be fun! I can’t wait for that time to come!