First Visit to St. Ignatius

We didn't want to expose her to too many people while she's still too small so we've been staggering her exposure to the world. 1st week, we stayed home. Next we brought her to my parents' house. And last Sunday she finally graduated to my grandparents' house. Next weekend, we'll be celebrating her baptism so she's meeting more and more people everytime.

We spent the afternoon in Katipunan again last sunday where again the Mistress of the Universe was fawned and fussed over by her grandparents. This time we came earlier, and it seems the novelty has already worn off for my siblings because they didn't hang out in my parents room the whole time anymore. Lia wasn't even able to keep some of them from going out, despite her being awake this time. We went through several diapers while we were there, but she was nice enough not to soil her lolo's and lola's bed. This is Lia with her doting Lolo Dan.

And then we all heard mass together, and left Lia in my parents' house with her yaya Jenny. After mass, we went back to Katipunan to get them before going on to my grandparents' house in St. Ignatius.

Going to St. Ignatius on Sunday evenings has been a tradition in my family ever since I was born. It all started with me, because I'm the eldest grandchild of my mom's parents, that we would spend the weekend with Nana and Nanu. Soon, my brothers and then cousins came along, and everyone continued to gather every Sunday evening. Now we're 14 grandchildren, so you can imagine what a big party it is every week.

Lia's first visit to St. Ignatius was very special indeed. It has been years since we've had a baby, and we used to always have at least one. My youngest cousin is already 6. Hardly a baby anymore. So when we arrived, practically everyone yelled "Hi Lia!!!" We put her chair in the middle of my everyone and they all peered at her sleeping form, completely ignoring us. Hahaha! Mike and I could have disappeared into thin air and no one would have noticed. Again everyone's favorite passtime, watching little Lia sleep commenced. And so many exclamations and comments. "Ang laki na niya!" "Kamukha mo Mike!" "Nawawala na yung ilong!" It's so cool to see my family enjoying a baby again. Sundays are going to be fun. A little inconvenient, but definitely fun.

My grandfather was so excited at Lia's visit he had a bottle of red wine opened so we can all toast to Lia's first visit. And then, he had a second bottle of wine opened, a special expensive bottle he's been saving for a special occassion. I guess the first visit of his first great-grandchild was very special indeed as my family celebrated with wine, cheese and crackers before dinner.

And then we gathered around to pray, like we do every Sunday. In the middle of prayer, my sleeping baby started to fart. It was so funny. We were even praying for her and she was farting. And she also started fussing, that I had to feed her in the middle of prayer. But that's ok. She went right back to sleep. So we left her with her yaya after praying and had dinner.

In the middle of dinner, my mom comes into the dining room with Lia awake. And again, the fawning and exclamations commenced, "Ay gising!" "Bukas ang mata!" "Naku, sinisinok!" And mom introduced everyone at the table one by one, "That's Nana and Nanu, and Tita Menchi, and Ate Gigi..." We had this discussion during the baby shower, my aunts refuse to be called Lola because they're still young daw. My Tita Gigi, my mom's youngest sister said she'll be called Ate Gigi. And Dr. Tito Jojo was there and he told Lia she can call him Doc.

My daughter is going to have one helluva time learning her family's names. It's hard enough for adults to tell Gijo from Rijo, Migo, Jero, Ino, Jimo, Tina, Ia, Ayo... It's quite complicated. Poor girl.

But for now, it's all about her.

Whoops! The Princess is hungry. This will have to be all for now. :)