MAYAMARYOSEP !!! the WHOLLY happy family: baby no more

Let’s rewind to May 7^th. Things to do have been up to the brim, but it’s never too late to pen our birthday greetings for dear Chami.

I met this cute, fair-skinned, round and fat, happy, yummy baby when she was around 6 months old. She was huge! I wanted to bite her cheeks! I fell in love with her almost instantly ♡.

kissing Tacar - her favorite bear

Every year, we celebrate Adrianne Francoise Aliño all together. There were crazy children’s parties, summer get-aways, quiet meals and what-have-you’s. I saw her grow up. I witnessed every tantrum. I enjoyed being audience to new dance steps. I listened to tone-deaf la-la-la’s, which, thankfully, later on became real music. I indulged in every as-if-written-in-a-journal story. I flew spoons like they were planes landing inside her mouth during meals. I nervously introduced new things for every year she turned older. Chami’s my first-born who came from my heart ☺.

always my Starbucks buddy, and here, she still wasn't conscious of the blouses she wore

on our way to watch The Wanders at the Pagcor theater

in September 2008 during the baby shower for Mia, Chami was still so baby-ish

Turning 12 this year, Chami invited friends to have tween fun. Aside from our thrown together photo booth, we made sure there was a “kikay corner” where the make-up-loving Chami can paint her friends’ faces. She's really good at it! In fact, she'll be Mama's make-up artist for the annual Flores de Mayo Grand Ball in Marinduque.

choosing the right brush

Mia looking on while Ate does her thing

These tweens, they did not even know what they wanted to do! I did not push for parlor games since judging from their faces, plus body language, they would hate me if I forced them. They looked at my party-crazy daughter Mia with the urge of wanting to play with her, but it seemed that they did not know how anymore. They move like there was a Troop Commander counting every budge. Hay! Ang mga dalagita nga naman!

they sat in front of the videoke machine, all wanting to sing but were too shy to do so

her friends from the village

And did i mention, they hardly ate! Susmiyo! Conscious na agad!

We knew that the party was going to be intimate and mostly family, so comfort food was prepared by Chami's maternal grandmother, Tita Elvie. She really cooks well and we always look forward to her lumpiang shanghai and sinigang na buto-buto. You know those "lutong bahay" dishes that make you feel really safe, comfy and so at home, that's what she does best.

yummy Pinoy spaghetti

crispy fried chicken - only our favorite parts: wings, thighs and legs

not too sweet, neither overwhelmingly tomato-ish, one of the few menudos i actually eat

quartered cheese sandwiches - making sure the dalagitas need not open their mouths too wide

We also had a smokeless hotdog grill station (which i forgot to take a photo of). The not-so-kiddos got to grill their own hotdogs on a stick without the hassle of charcoal, smoke and abanico.

I just have to say that this 12th birthday party was a bit new to us. Even Mama Baby and I were unsure of what to prepare. When we were figuring out where to get extra tables and chairs, Mama said "Yung kiddie tables lang naman diba?" We both paused, then started laughing. We realized the celebrant won't even fit those small chairs! That conversation was so funny! In denial din yata kami na dalagingding na ang aming panganay na babae.

look at this fatso girl, she ate a huge plate of ice cream

Ariel became her favorite, this was the Christmas gift she got from her mom in 2007

she loves lechon

i don't think i can force her to wear something like this now

during one of our ice cream dates

again, she loves lechon

her 1st fondue

her 1st halloween outside Marinduque

mother and daughter bonding in Boracay

Oh Chami dear, enjoy being a tweenie. Explore, yet be careful ha, Ate. We are always here for you. Mia will always be following you around just to cutely annoy you – our “sweet revenge” to the fat-nose biting-makulit baby that you were. Haha! ☺