Ella spent her day very very nicely during the first half of it but made some violations of the house rules that sent her out of the house. She and other kids were running around the chapel when we told her not to call kids inside because people are fixing the flower beds and kids should not be playing there. Then in the evening, I was saying something under my breath and she responded in a way like she was just talking to someone of her age. I asked her to go out but she don’t want. Donald has to open the door and usher her out. She was banging the door and screaming like a terrorized pig and she wouldn’t stop. She’s afraid but we couldn’t let her get away from what she did so I opened the door and let her choose; to stay out in the dark or to get some spanking but she don’t want either of the two. I almost burst in laughter when she told her Daddy, “Pag-isipan ko muna Dy…” (Let me think about it first Daddy.) but I need to show I am serious. It is really hard to be consistent and I am glad Donald was there. Ella ended up with some spanking from her Daddy and was sent to the room. It wasn’t long when Donald called her and talked to her about the rules she broke and just after a little while she’s back to her old-sweet self hugging and kissing us, blabbering and messing around the house A.G.A.I.N. as if nothing happened. It’s good that she’s not holding grudge. She never did. She forgets about the spanking so easily and she forgets about the rules so easily too.

As usual, my throwing up spells goes on and on. I think I could be dehydrated because I cannot even hold down water. I just laid in bed almost the whole morning and cleaned Ella’s toenails during nap time. I have slept longer until morning so I don’t need another couple of hours of nap. Since Ella’s birth, I really had a hard time cutting her toenails (not to mention her fingernails too) because it is not the usual form of kid’s. I have to use nippers and pusher just to get the dirt stuck on the ingrown areas. I am just glad she has no issues with it everytime we did it. Only that she wanted to do it herself which I can’t trust her to do it at this time.

At 3 pm we went to get some groceries. I have to remind them not to be too loud when teasing each other because we are in a public place. Ella rides in the cart, she loves that, while Donald pushes and tries to tease her every minute. They can be too loud and I am afraid people might be annoyed. We picked only the most needed items since we had less earnings last payday. Then we went to the market to buy pineapple. On our way to the market, Ella was begging to play in the park, I said we go first in the market and then to the park. By the looks of Donald, he doesn’t agree with the arrangement because we have 3 bags of groceries but I just pinched him lightly on the side. While I made this pinching ad winking to Donald just to get him to agree, Ella was whining at the back of the cab. She wanted to go in the park first and market next. She can be too stubborn if not corrected. I was annoyed so I cut it off and said we are not going to the park anymore because she cannot understand and all she wanted is to get her way.

In the market, Donald and her waited for me infront while I went to the fruit stand. I picked just one medium sized because we can get some more tomorrow which is market day. Fruits and veggies and other goods are cheaper during market day’s which was sold by the vendors from other towns. When I went back to them, Ella was asking me to go to the park and that she promised that she will be good and understand what we are trying to say. I told her NO because I already made up my mind and that she should learn her lesson. While we are talking, Donald went to get fish for dinner at the back portion of the market. Ella was trying to delay us by asking if we can drink coke. I said we can have it at home. When Donald came back, we piled inside the cab and asked the driver to stop by the bakery so we can get Ella some bread. While Donald ran in there, Ella asked me if we can just get inside th bakery and have a merienda there. This little girl has her own delaying tactics, doesn’t she? I know she really don’t want to go home and tries to sweet talk us but I explained why we should go home. First, she misbehaved and tried to push what she wanted, second rain is coming and we needed to be home and third, there is a lot more “tomorrow” so we could go to the park “tomorrow” if she’d be good.

We got the first scare from her when she was barely 3 days old. We rushed her to the pedia because she wouldn’t cry. The first time that we heard her cry was when she was born, after that we didn’t hear any from her. When we arrived at the clinic, I was asked what’s wrong with the baby and I complained about her being so quite. I think it is not normal for a baby. She let me lay Ella in the tiny bed and checked Babinski reflex. Everything  was okay. Then, she struck Ella’s sole with her fingers and that sent her wailing like hell! For that, we paid $15 for her to make Ella cry   At least we went home relieved of the thought that our child might be deaf/mute. The Pedia told me I am just so lucky that my baby isn’t a cry-baby.

After one day after that visit to the Pedia, I rushed to tell Donald that Ella has stopped breathing for a moment and that I noticed it a few times. We came rushing at the center for my midwife to check on her. This time, it is my ignorance That usually occur in babies and is perfectly alright. We went home smiling in relief and a bit embarrassed.

She grew to be a healthy baby, always smiling, she associates with people so well and rarely cries. But I have heard from mothers that babies who are well behaved will grow naughty,  stubborn or strong willed. Ella had the latter trait and she got it from me. Although she has that trait, she is sweet in most ways, thoughtful, smart and seem mature at her age. She just loves to E.A.T. all the time.

It was almost 4 years ago, when she was a year and a half, my sisters and mother went to the mall with her. At the department store, they saw a mother with her baby on a stroller. The mother gave the baby french fries (which is Ella’s favorite food). She ran to the baby, held its hand and took a bite on the fries. The mother laughed at what she saw and gave Ella one. My mother apologized and they had a short conversation. Good that the mother was nice and seem to like Ella. After the chitchat, the mother put the fries on the side of the stroller and started pushing her way down the alley but Ella hadn’t been contented for that one stick and so she came running to the baby again and this time grabbed the fries to where the mother has put it. She clearly remembers where the mother has put it. So to keep Ella from harassing other people, they held Ella tight and bought her fries. I just don’t know how will I react if I was there….

When she was a year and 8 months old, we (Donald, Ella and I) went into a clinic at the mall for me to get checked. We are seated on the lounge with our eyes on TV. There were also two old ladies on my left waiting for the doctor. Suddenly, we heard them giggling. I just ignored them thinking that they might have some private conversation that causes them to giggle. I kept my eyes on the screen trying to ignore them. Then the giggles turned into laughter and this time I turned to look at them and saw Ella, eyes innocently on the screen while her hand on their popcorn. Oh, how I must have fainted!

Then again when she was three, we went to Jollibee (this time in the province, without Donald in the scene) as I have promised to Ella. I found a vacant table and get her settled in the chair. I made the order at the counter, paid for it and went back to the table to wait. While waiting, a couple came in and got the table next to us. They had their baby with them (maybe a year and a half), put him on a high chair with a cookie in one hand and they both went to the counter leaving their child behind. Ella, being so fond of babies, went near him saying “wow….ang cute cute mo naman…” (wow….you’re so cute…) and started playing with the baby. The baby seem to like her too. She tickles the baby and he giggles. They were at that scene when I reached for cellphone to check for messages, it was just a few seconds, when I looked at them….Ella was taking good bite at the cookie that the baby was holding!!!! I called her attention and told her to stop it and reminded her that it isn’t good. Far from the table, the couple have seen all that has transpired …Ella and their baby playing and Ella getting a bite from the cookie. They smiled from the lane and when they came back, I apologized for my daughter’s mischief. The couple said it was perfectly fine and the father reached from the bag and gave Ella a pack of cookies that she graciously accepted with a shy thank you

The worst and most embarrassing thing she did was to gate crash during a birthday party. She was already four and we (Donald, Ella, my sisters and brother in law) were at SM having our bonding moment. When we felt we needed something to eat, we all agreed to go to McDonald’s. The place was packed with people all busy with their food and there’s seem to be a party going on at the rear portion of the store. (They don’t have a separate party area). Upon hearing the voice on the microphone (which surely of the host) giving the mechanics of the game, I felt nervous. That confirmed my guess. I was thinking Ella might go in there and that was the mother’s instinct in me. She had her own birthday party at McDonald’s too. She surely enjoyed it and would want to experince another one that is why I had it in mind that she will be running to join the fun. I was so right. While we were just trying to find a seat, she ran to the party area just as I was about to talk to her not to go there. I quickly followed and tried to coax her to go back to our table. I explained that we didn’t know the people there, she didn’t knew who’s birthday it was and that she was not invited. I held her hand firm but the host told me to let her join the games. I didn’t know if she knew that Ella was not from the guest list after all.   So, I went back to our table feeling amused and embarrassed all the same. Donald and the rest didn’t know what to say. They feel the same as I did (we were all laughing in disbelief) and we almost can’t hold our head high. After we had consumed our orders, we heard the kids sang the birthday song and boy, Ella’s voice was on top of ‘em all. After some short talk; the party ended,  she went to our table and said “Mommy, kilala ko na ‘yong boy. Siya si Stephen…” (Mommy, I know the boy’s name now. He is Stephen…) Now she knew who’s birthday it was! She was happy to tell us she had a new found friend I can’t wait to tell her privately (so as not to embarrass her) that gate crashing is not a good way to make friends. Needless to say, she enjoyed the party and went home with a lootbag and  five balloons!!!! I ended up giving the boy a new Puss in Boots mini storybook with a cd (which I am lucky to have in my bag) and apologized to the mother for the crime my daughter committed.  The mother consoled me and even praised Ella for making the party alive. She said it was good that she did gate crash since the kids there were just sitting and staring at each other. If not for this little gate crasher, the party will be all too boring. She made the party alive

Inspite of her silliness, she is so much like an angel to us. I love her being so sweet, thoughtful, smart and mature at her age. At school, she was always the one who kept peace and order When someone cries, she will wrap the crying child with her arms. After comforting her, she will go to the one who made the kid cry and say in bossy manner ”Bakit mo siya pinaiyak? Alam mo bang hindi maganda ‘yon? Hindi ka ba tinuruan ng Mama mo?” (Why did you make her cry? Did you know that it isn’t good. Didn’t your mother tell you that?). She also makes sure she have more food everyday than she can consume. She have this ready so she can share with her classmates. You know those kids, they want what’s their classmates had for merienda. She was also very helpful. When she hears somebody complain of a missing pencil or an eraser, she will stand from her chair and will look for it. She will only go back to her work when all are settled. Her teacher calls her “Mother Hen” and she surely is.