Several weeks ago, we ran out of diapers for Mateo to use during the night. He’s only been using diapers during the night for the longest time now and it never occured to us to try if he can go without a diaper during the night. There were signs though that he’s ready, we’d remove his diapers in the morning to find out that it hasn’t been urinated on. Still, we didn’t want to risk any night time accidents.
So it was lucky in a way that we didn’t have diapers that night because we never looked backed since. Mateo hasn’t been using diapers for several weeks now and it sometimes brings tears to my eyes in the morning realizing that indeed, our little baby is not a baby anymore. I’m still grateful that he’s fully trained just in time, so we will not spend for his diapers anymore since another baby is coming in April. Ramil and I will just have to savor a few months of a diaper-free grocery shopping list.
It’s also easier to bring Mateo to places now because I don’t have to bring any bottle or diaper with me. Unlike before when we have to bring bags as big as a Samsonite luggage because we have to bring so many extra clothes, milk bottles, diapers, towelettes, etc. In fact, Mateo and I have gone malling by ourselves several times. What makes it a bit daunting is the fact that we commute whenever he accompanies me.
We’ve commuted by tricycle, jeep, fx, and taxi. He’s so used to commuting he has his preferences now because the jeepney is the one he least liked. While preparing him for going out for more errands:
Mateo: Mama, alis tayo? (Mama, we’re going out?)
Me: Yes
Mateo: Walk lang tayo? (We’re just going to walk?)
Me: No, the bank and clinic are too far e.
Mateo: Tricycle tayo? Andyan Kuya Choc? (Are we going to ride a tricycle? Is Kuya Choc there?)
(Kuya Choc is our regular tricycle service driver)
Me: No, we’re not going to school and Kuya Choc cannot pick us up.
Mateo: Fx lang tayo ha? No Jeep (Let’s ride the FX. No jeep)
Me: Jeep na lang
Mateo: Ayaw, fx lang (No, I want to ride an FX)
Me: Why?
Mateo: Kasi ma-loud yung jeep. (Because jeepneys are loud)
Also, whenever we’re waiting for public transportation outside our subdivisions, he’d sometimes raise his hand to hail us a taxi even though we’re not actually after a taxi. It’s the best thing for him when commuting and it’s what he ultimately prefers.
So our boy is now diaper-free and a commuter! With another baby on the way, he’ll be a kuya soon. I hope he becomes a good kuya and we’re ‘brainwashing’ him as early as now. He kisses and hugs my tummy every morning to greet his ‘baby sister’. He’d say ‘sorry baby sister’ whenever he accidentally hits my tummy hard while we’re playing rough on the bed. However, he’s also a ‘mama lang’ boy lately. This means he wants me to do everything for him even though Ramil is free to help him and I’m not. His regular dialogue lately is ‘no, mama lang’.
I find myself getting sentimental a lot these days because of how fast Mateo is growing. It does not help that I’ll be nursing and taking care of another baby soon. I take every chance now to hug, kiss and cuddle him because I know it won’t be long before my little boy would do those things with a little embarrassment unlike now when he would unabashedly give in to my requests. At the same time, I’m also excited with the new baby. This time, it won’t be just Ramil and me helping each other out, I hope Mateo helps out too. I’m just really praying it becomes a smooth, hassle-free transition for him.
