Benedict you are now 18 months old!

and we are more excited than you, our little one...

Mommy is thinking along the lines of POTTY TRAINING and DISCIPLINE, while your Daddy is more concerned with the 2nd Birthday Party Plans...o di ba? Life is sweet for those who choose to live simplier anak?!

Oh, how time flies! We now have a very active toddler in you... who wears us both when you are up to it, which is almost always.

We now can't get through the entire mass because for sure, 5 mins. after we would wheel you into the "church" (more like the airconditioned Atrium of LimKetKai mall converted into a chapel set-up), you would be fidgeting in your stroller (strapping you on it is sometimes a struggle in itself), and like you got ants on your pants, you are sure to roam around the place...to the glass-encased pond with the biggest Koi I've ever seen, and the man-made waterfalls that surely draws kids like you, my Benedict.

We can hardly match your energy thus we do not frequent the malls these days. Kapoy kaha ug gukod nimo anak sah? Ma-wa ang poise ni Mommy! hahaha... your Daddy Marlon's getting enough exercise following you, our dear little boy around. And oh Boy! do you love to...nope, not walk but break into a run...when you get excited by...almost anything...from the zooming mall train (which used to scare you off like a rabbit with its bells in the past) to the "neigh" (the horse) in the carousel which you now ride with gusto...promting your Daddy to buy 2 tickets nalang coz you are sure to ask for 1 more ride after the first one. And you love to follow little fellas like yourself. hmmm, you seem to think you are independent na huh? Ah, the mommy in me dreads the time when you get independent enough to not need me around...*sniff,sniff*

Your Daddy Marlon is constantly buying Bengay, the extra-strength variety at that..but then again it could also be because he is not getting any younger...hehehe. But I think we both know who the real culprit is for the Daddy's excruciating back pains. But then again who taught him that piggy-back is fun, fun, fun???

And you, our darling little boy can really wear us out, with all the climbing on the toy boxes...the couch...even the bookshelf. We really have to wish for extra pairs of hands & a pair of eyes to go with that positioned at the back of our heads pls... If I am to write Papa God a letter requesting such now, I'm sure Papa God would trully understand the simple wishes of a mom like me...

But on a more positive and happy note, we are excited..and happy...and looking forward to the joys you will surely bring the house now that you are fully mobile (running at top speed), communicative (saying words that only you can understand, "babbles" really...but you expect us to fully comprehend, lest you give us the raised eyebrow which seems to say "huh Mom! which planet are you from?" Oh men! And to think you, my little munchkin is only a year & a half old.) and aggressive! oh, you, my little darling knows what you want/or doesn't want for yourself. And it totally takes all of my willpower not to spank your little butt bec. you can really be a handful. I think I have to be contemplating on using the "time-out" na.

Oh well, we always take it one day at a time...and we take pride in raising you, our little boy the way we want you raised. The discipline, we will get to that...meantime, can I enjoy the sweet little hugs from behind (hmmmm, with matching sloppy, wet kisses) everytime you feel like it? (but I do seem to notice that follwing this is a no-nonsense request of a "nene" (milk), which suggests that you, my little prince somewhat has an idea about "suhol" na?

I trully relish the hugs and kisses sweetheart. So keep it going! Mommy loves you so...