Weekend spent happily with Ninay

This weekend was nothing extraordinary. I managed to write a few pages for my thesis, get the packages I bought from eBay, had some snoozy downtime on my ever-so-missed bed and spent a lot of time with my Mom and Ninay - my almost baby daughter.

Last Friday, after office, I went home to Mom's house for dinner and cartoons. As I was lazily lying on my Mom's bed, she was watching Ant Bully with me. When the movie was about to end, she saw that the kid from the movie eagerly hugged his Mom.
From out of nowhere, she muttered, "Basta ako may Mommy. Ikaw." Then she hugged me tightly and gently kissed my forehead.

How can you say no to a beautiful child like that?
Today, after going to church for Sunday Mass, I bought her first set of fat crayolas for beginners and her very first coloring book. I gave it to her after dinner and taught her how to color and stay within the lines. She already knows her colors very well and the best way for her to naturally recognize them is for her to dabble with crayons and paint.

That, and to avoid the scolding of my Mom. Ninay recently experimented with Mom's eyeliner and lipstick and drew lines and circles all over the mirror. Lagot na bata.

I reprimanded her for it gently. I can't get myself to scold or punish the kid - she's kind, wonderful --- and obedient. Mom made her clean up the mess she did, though.

She's one of the major reasons why I stay home a lot lately. It's not just about her having a mother figure in her life. It's also about me... learning so much from a kid like her.

It's great to see life in the eyes of a child and learn to appreciate its simplicity once again. And it's amazing how her kind, loving words can melt my heart and make me cry.