ABCs

Stella has started to learn her letters.

Buzz Off

So...finding a Halloween costume was tricky.  I took Stella to three malls.  All of the costumes available were either terrifying or princess/skankified or both.  As far as I am concerned the longer I can keep my child looking cute and innocent the better.  So, no I am not going to put her in fishnets this year.  

Finally I found a costume.  It was way over-priced, totally hot for a tropical country, and adorable.  Stella was a bee for Halloween.  The best part about this Halloween is she understood the dress up of it.  She knew she was a bee and kept making bee noises.  

We took her trick or treating on Tuesday around the building.  It was fun but she got nervous around all the bigger kids.  We only hit a 1/4th of the homes and Seth and I were stuck with Mentos, the candy corn of the Philippines.  

Today was our building party.  They decorated and had some sort of busking-esque clowns do some tricks poorly.  Stella was terrified at the bodies hanging from the ceiling.  I tried to help her understand pretend but she was not having it. 

Finally she consoled herself with balloons.  

Dilaw, Dalawa, Diwali

Seth and I had a meta-meta-meta experience recently.  We decided to go to Diwali and celebrate the Indian Festival of Light.  

It was a lot of fun but I could not help feeling meta in every way.  There we were at a high class Philippines hotel watching a remake of classic Bollywood, which is a remake of American films into Indian musicals, in the Philippines, through the eyes of the Indian ex-pats.  It was like translating Japanese into Icelandic, back into Portuguese, then Visayan, and then English.  It just felt weird when it was finally there.

However, Seth and I love that we are able to date again.  Hey suckers!  Miss your spouse?  Move to a third world country and your dating dreams will be solved.  It has been really nice being able to go out.  However, I find it difficult to let the locals understand that I honestly really do want to raise my own child.  I have been asked on several occasions if I need a yaya because I take my daughter to the park.

Speaking of Ms. Stella, she now can count three (and for whatever reason knows the number seven, her favorite, and hates 3).  She knows letters: A, B, C, E, H, L, M, O, P, Q, S, W, Y, although pronunciation has not come as fast as recognition.  I highly recommend the Leap Frog letters magnet device for parents.  In two weeks she has been able to learn half the alphabet.  It is a fun time.  

Today Stella was taking a bubble bath (a favorite past time).  I was talking to my sister and started to miss home.  I started tearing up and my dear sudsy daughter looked up, interrupted her favorite bath, and gave me the longest and sweetest hug I have ever had.  She would not let go and it brought my tears to a different reason.  I knew small children were smarter than we give them credit for but I didn't know they have the capacity to show empathy and compassion.  It was a good lesson for me.  

Your Semi-daily Philippine Cultural Artifact

We are petless, but if we did have animal companions, we could have attended this "Pet Blessing" ceremony, along with the "Renewal of Pet Commitment". Suggestions of appropriate pet commitment oaths are welcome in the comments section.

Fun Times!

Because it is hotter than hades and because our little Stella gets antsy when cooped up, we decided to start taking her to Gymboree.  She loves it.  

Seth's new job has him working all day unlike his cushy DC flex-time job that allowed him to come home by 4:00.  Because of this Stella has to get her daddy time at 5:00 a.m. when mommy is a super grouch.  This has been really good for her (and me) and she is becoming a huge daddy fan.  Here she is admiring Seth on his axe.  

And finally, our little Stella modeling her new duds. We started going to a Tagalog speaking congregation this last week and this is her church outfit. Perhaps not classically reverent but ever so cute.

Philippines Phun

You too can become like Tobias Funke, and put real diamonds (!) on your skin.


Manila is often attacked by naked siamese-twin ghosts. Beware!


Here's what I think is going on here. Gorillas costumed in shrubbery hidden even further behind deer masks -- all involved in a conspiracy to keep ON the grass.