Dear Jaco,

Yes, this happened! The Kili-Killers!

Love, N

Dear Jaco,

You and Tatay love taking pictures of me and each other sleeping. I don't know what for, aside from blackmail, you just did. You guys are weird.

Love, N

Dear Jaco,

You took swimming lessons (finally!) with Kuya Sting and Miles. That's you on the left. After maybe 5 lessons, you were able to swim roughly 3 or more meters already! We're so proud of you!
(i have it on video!)

I hope you learn to swim really well coz i can't :s

Love,
Nanay

Dear Jaco,

You finished preschool! It breaks my heart that I'm not there (it's also my students' Moving Up Day). :(

But like I tell myself over and over, there are more graduations to come (hopefully!) and I'll totally make it up to you. Congratulations, baby! :)


Love,
Nanay

Dear Jaco,

I can't stress enough how much fun we had at our small apartment in Kitanlad. You'll be hearing about it from us well until you're old enough to have your own family. Just goes to show that wherever you put our family, we'll make the most of it. I hope you keep that in mind when you have your own too.

Love, N

Dear Jaco,

First Raya Olympics! You did very well running and relay-ing (what? I'm not sporty), and I had fun watching you and Tatay at piggy back ride relay. Good job, boys!

Love, N

Dear Jaco,

Apparently, you took after your father in more ways than one. You inherited some (if not all) of his little quirks, including that quirky (but sometimes seriously scary) asthma.

I remember an early morning when you had an attack... You woke up crying and couldnt breathe. Tatay was on duty and it was four in the morning! Nevermind the time, or the fact that we live in the middle of creepy welcome rotonda, and that im not sure if i have money at all. I picked you up and marched to the nearest hospital for nebulizing. That was one for the books!

Love,
Nanay

Dear Jaco,

For your first Pangaluluwa (like Halloween in the Philippines, and we just learned about that too!), I had to research well because you were asked to be Filipino mythical creatures. You were Santelmo (St. Elmo's Fire), that ball of fire that chases people. Considering your costume's main parts were recycled from Zorro, and that I sewed the fiery part BY HAND, i think you looked really cool!

Love,

Nanay.

Dear Jaco,

This was maybe your second Show and Tell in Raya (the first one was about your name, sadly we don't have pictures. That was a really good one), about Spain, if I remember correctly.

I love preparing for Show and Tell with you.

Love,
Nanay

Dear Jaco,

In your new school (The Raya School) reading and celebrating books is very important. Hence, we celebrate National Children's Book Day with costumes. We picked Kas of Ang Barumbadong Bus, I was actually hesitant--the bus was a drunk! Hahaha but then, I always dreamed of making a wearable vehicle :)))

May you always value and celebrate books! Happy NCBD!

Love, N

Dear Jaco,

It's your first day in Raya. We're excited (so were you) yet a bit scared too because it was the first time you'll be going to school without me around (as a teacher). Your shoes look great, so is the uniform on you. I can't believe how fast this is all happening!

I hope you love your new school. :) And I wish you'll always look forward to new things and new learning.

Love,
Nanay

Dear J,

Your first time at the beach is for Mamu's birthday. You didn't like the sand first but you warmed up to it, I think. I hope, unlike me, you get to love the beach. I hear you catch good sunrises and sunsets there. :)

Love, N

 

  



Dear Jaco,

It's Moving Up Day! You still have preschool but you're done with Gymboree, at least. Despite not having to pay much for you to attend play school before preschool, I'd say it was worth it. You learned a lot from Gymboree Preschool, not just how to count and read and write but how to love learning, to be curious, to ask questions and follow directions, to make friends and whole lot more. We're so proud of you!

Love,
Nanay

Dear Jaco,

This is the first ever book that you read all by yourself. You were 3.

I hope you'll love books and reading. I promise you you'll learn a lot.

Love,
Nanay

Dear Jaco,

You wore this to your first-ever Halloween party, told you it'll be better next time ;p

Again, Tatay and I were able to join you and we're grateful we did. To firsts!

Love,
Nanay

 

Dear Jaco,

You had your first Halloween party. The theme was cowboys: we (I) didn't want us to be just like everybody else right? so of course, you're Zorro!

Love, N

Dear Jaco,

You wore Filipino on your first UN Day. I remember planning for something Middle Eastern but well, this was the easiest to pull off. I think it turned out really well. (I promise, it's going to be more elaborate next time hehe).

Since I was working with my students, I'm glad Tatay was free to join you. There was a parade (see photo above), painting (photo below) and games. It was a fun day. I hope you had fun too. :)

Love,
Nanay