He 'stands' with his decision

Last week we decided to install our new fridge to replace our old one, its longevity is nearly 14 years! I think it's just about time for it to 'rest for good'. On Friday night we were programming how we would spend our Saturday, as usual a tiring day for us. I remind little Gabriel his swimming lesson for him to be psychologically prepared. He said 'Yes, tomorrow I'll go swimming.' There are times he has tantrums because he doesn't like to take lessons.

In the morning of Saturday, we got up early and had our breakfast. Gabriel didn't like to stay home with his zio, we have no choice but to bring him with us. We started our 'laps' by bringing to laundry shop our dry-wash-clothes. Then, we went to my in-laws to get our brand new fridge. When we reached their home, the lolo was preparing to go somewhere else while lola was a bit busy changing some linens. I heard Gabriel asking his lolo to play with him outside. He's taking the chance to be with his lolo ;)

My mother in-law would like to see how's our brand new fridge. She said it's nice aside from having a good name. It was not heavy anyway, the only 'problem' is its 'bulgy body'. My hubby and I were able to put inside the van. As we're about to go home, Gabriel didn't like to go with us. He says he wanted to stay there. We're thinking of his swimming lesson, he shouldn't miss it. My hubby told him that if he would stay with his lolo, we would get him the morning of Sunday. It means that he would sleep with them. Gabriel nodded his head and with a soft 'Yes, I'll sleep here'. I talked to him (I was not sure what he really wanted).

Mamma: Do you like to stay here?
Gabriel: Yes.
Mamma: OK. We'll go home and bring here your pajamas. But we have to attend the swimming lesson.
Gabriel: we'll go home and take my pajamas and then we come back here.
Mamma: Do you like to sleep tonight with them?
Gabriel: Yes. I'll be good boy. I won't hurt lolo anymore.
Mamma: (for the second time) OK. we'll get you pajamas and we'll be back here later.

I was not convinced yet with my son's decision. Anyway, I told to his lola what we 'agreed' winking my eye ;) She said to Gabriel 'See you later' to convince him to go home with us. On our way home, he kept on repeating 'Mamma, we'll take my pajamas and diaper then we go back to lolo and lola'. I was not convinced still, I was thinking he's 'urge' would diminish. When we arrived home, we cleaned the new fridge and pulled out the old frige electric plug. My son kept on repeating 'mamma, don't we go back to lolo?'. Taking advantage of his good mood, I asked him to prepare his
'luggage' for swimming. He got his swimming tranks and headcap. He did it diligently. It was 11.30AM, we had to continue our 'lap', we have to go to swimming pool. Gabriel was in great mood, he even sang with the radio 'Meravigliosa creatura'. My hubby and I uttered no-words, we just both looked to each others eyes agreeing Gabriel is 'inspired'! He sang very well, with feelings pa. It was really 'meravigliosa.' I was teary-eyed realizing that he is 'sereno', that he lives in a 'serena' family.

He headed to pool with no tantrums. I watched him outside the pool, I heard him (although the pool is enclosed with glass wall) saying 'Mamma' with smile on his face waving his hand. He's proud of me :) I know that. He asked me about his papa who was waiting in the lounge.

After our lunch, he asked me if we could go back to his lolo. I asked him to prepare his luggage (the same luggage this morning). He emptied it by himself and put in his pajamas, diaper. He got his green underwear, white T-shirt and a clothes for tomorrow's Mass. I kept on reiterating to him to behave well with his lolo and lola. Then, he put on his tennis shoes and his jacket. He carried his 'luggage' on his back. Ready to go!

My hubby phoned to his mother telling her that we were on our way to bring Gabriel. I heard on the phone, the voice of happily surprised lola. She didn't expect that Gabriel 'decided' to sleep with them tonight. She said 'Oh really! you can bring him here. we'll wait for him.' When we arrived, Gabriel was sleeping, he's tired. But when he woke up, he didn't cry (usually he cries pag ginigising). The faces of his lolo and lola were painted with smile and excitement because gabriel 'decide' by himself to be with them. No one asked him to do so. Gabriel wrapped with his two little arms his lolo's arm asking him to bring him outside with his bicycle.

He had a nice day and night with them. His lola said he behave well. The three of them heard mass on Sunday morning. He seated near his lolo. In the afternoon, his lolo brought him in the park.

He's growing fast :) I have to say 'Thank you' to our little Gabriel who bring endless surprises and happiness to all of us :)

A little busy for tonight

Metiamoci al lavoro! Let's do some work. Don't disturb me, I am too busy to look on the camera I am too busy for this.

....At last I am done! Do you like my capolavoro? :)

Lolo-Apo binding..

On January 2008, we have to register our son to a primary school, the classes start on September. We've been looking around some school that suits to our 'standards'. I'll talk later about our 'standards'.

We told our decision to my mother-in-law. We explained to her why we would like to register our son in a school in our town instead of theirs. A night later, my sister-in-law had phoned us at home but we were not around. Yesterday morning, she phoned my hubby but they were not able to talk much because my hubby was on his way (rushing) for work. On our way home, my hubby told me that her sister asked IF we can 're-think' and 're-analyze' WHERE we register our son. She said that my mother-in-law was too sad (and in the brink of crying) telling that Gabriel will not be with them every afternoon. She's also sad for my father-in-law. The apo and lolo has a strong 'binding', one cannot stay without the other. They are just like very good playmates. The lolo eagerly waits for 3.00 o'clock in the afternoon to pick up his apo from school. Gabriel prefers his lolo than his tita. They go along very well. They talk a lot. They bake sweets together. The lolo has a lots of patience and love to his apo. My mother-in-law can't imagine seeing lolo alone, sad and without Gabriel.

Gabriel is not the only apo but he is the youngest among the 3 apo. My mother-in-law says, he's sweet and bravo. He behaves well. I think we under estimated the 'lolo-apo' binding. We never realized their strong 'friendship'. I never had an experience with a lolo as my son has. It's hurting in my side to let his lolo feel sad.

Our motives of moving him in our town are: We don't want to 'oblige' them (my in-laws) to pick up Gabriel after school and we don't want to give another problem to my sister-in-law because she has 2 kids and she's always running after them. If Gabriel has to go swimming, we dont want to disturb her. We can look for a part-time baby sitter to do these for us.

We are still analyzing our decision.

For my mamma...

During weekdays, my lovey-dovey handsome men pick me up from work before going home. Yesterday, I saw a little plant with its little flowers. I asked my hubby, '..where did you get that plant'. He answered 'Gabriel said it's for you. He asked his nonna (lola) to buy a flower for you because he said you don't have any flower at home'. My heart was filled with joy!! I feel soo proud of Gabriel and soooo loved by him. It is not the first time he did it to me. He knows my 'kiliti'..hehe.. knows what I like. He's very thoughtful to me as if he's willing to do for his mama :)


My byenan always says that Gabriel is 'lost' without me. He's not mama's boy, since he can stay without me in the school and with his nonni. But when we are at home, he's too much clingy! He's a little jealous with his papa...hehehe. He loves to kiss me all the time, he kisses me with no reasons. He flashes his smile back at me when I smile. Nope he's not a mama's boy...I guess.. hehehe

mama, don't you like to stay with me

....mamma non vuoi stare con me..? (mama, don't you like to stay with me?, with his face asking for mercy) It's the favorite phrase of my son every after meal at night.

He goes to bed with his favorite toy (lego-made airplane or sports car). He loves to caress my hair, maybe my hair helps him sleep (hehehe). He likes to kiss my cheeks and say 'mamma, ti voglio tanto bene' (mama, i love you very much), and I answer him 'anchio, amore' (me too, love). Then he flashes his sweetest smile. I have many moments likes this, and I never get tired of experiencing. It's wonderful. A priceless moment.

So, how can I say 'No' to my son's invitation? Maybe If I suffer from fever, I have to distance myself from him for health's sake. Everytime I ask him to say his personal prayers that goes:

Nel nome del Padre, del Figlio, e dello Spirito Santo. Amen. (+ In the name of the Father...)

Grazie Jesu, Grazie Maria, Grazie da mangiare, Grazie per la mamma e Grazie per papa. Amen.
(Thank you Jesus, Thank you Mary, Thank you for the food, Thank you for my mama, Thank you for my papa.)

Nel nome del Padre, del Figlio e dello Spirito Santo. Amen. (+ In the name of the Father...)

This is the only prayer he says even attending the Mass or lighting a candle in the Church. In the next months, I'll try to teach him some simple formula prayers.

Gabriel at the swimming pool

Our son Gabriel has been attending a swimming lesson since last September.
At the beginning, he spent all the time hugging me. Even if he was wearing his swimming armbands, he never allowed me to leave him only for a second. I thought it would be a problem to teach him how to swim.

The second time we attended, it was little better. He enjoyed staying in the water although he never allowed me to stay away from him, he spent most of the time trying to move, to play with the water and to watch for little toys in the pool. Little by little he was able to play with other children and that he can move by batting his feet. And the rest of the months, he was able to move by himself even if I was not near him.

Two weeks ago he started to go in the swimming pool alone, obviously with the teacher and other children since I am not allowed to be with him anymore. In few months, he learned a lot. Even if he cannot swim by moving his arms, he has no fear staying in the water. He knows how to dive and he doesn't drink pool's water. Now he has new "mates" and he is the youngest. Last time there were only 3 kids around, two young girls (I think they are about 5 or 6) and another young boy (also around 5).

I'm proud of him because I remember all difficulties I had to learn to swim. I had a fear on water because when I was around 4 years old, a friend of my father brought me in the sea and he pushed me in the water. I drunk a lot of sea-water, starting that moment I hadn't been able to get near in the sea water. I learned to swim only when I reached 20 years old! And when I realized what I lost, that swimming is a nice sport, I condemn what my father's friend had done to me! Luckily, my son will never suffer what I experienced! Posted by: abtony

A wonderful Saturday!

We went to visit a relative in Varese..My lil son ate plain rice with broth of sinigang na bangus. He likes very much! He doesn't know yet how to eat rice with fish together. He played also with my realative's son named Angelo who's younger than my lil boy.
My lil boy and Angelo on the foot of the statue..and that's me at the extreme right! It was taken at Sacromonte. I noticed that my son seems to be a 'good friend' He knows how to share; he knows how to 'give in'. He cares for his friend.

That's me with my lil boy.

After a few minutes of staying there, we decided to visit also Campo dei Fiori. We walked, we climed, and climbed...then walked..! Ah yes, we we're tired.. My hubby carried him on his back, my lil boy was too tired to walk..He started to complain-- 'I can't walk anymore', 'I feel pain on my stomach', 'I stay here'...etc. Unending complains as usual!

My lil boy with his Papa. He's saying 'I feel pain on my knee'. We're on our way to search for fiori!