Sweet Hope: 2 months old

Happy 2nd-month birthday, my sweet Hope!

Yum Mango Cake

Sweet Hope portraits

Candid shot

Posing galore!

with Nanay Lilet

at the Terraces 

Ate Hanie and Super A

Ate Hanie and Spunky Harper

Spunky Harper: Kiyomi phenomenon

Directed by: Hanie Dimaronsing

There's something about Mary

A couple of times this year, thoughts of Mary Maspiñas come to mind. Where is she now? How is she doing? How can I get in touch with her? Not that we had any unfinished business or anything that needed closure, I just wanted to see her.

Mary Maspiñas is my high school teacher. In elementary, it was Mrs. Estrella who first gave recognition for my writing but it was Mrs. Maspiñas who developed and egged me to write. She was instrumental to my role as the Editor-in-Chief for our high school publication and she was one of the VERY few (including Mrs. Quinain) if not THE ONLY authority when it comes to English grammar in our school that time. No offense to other English teachers. There is something about Mrs. Mary Maspiñas.  That something is her integrity and passion for the English language. 

Imagine my pleasant surprise when one afternoon as I was stepping out from the walk-a-lator of a mall, I saw her. "Mrs. Maspiñas?" She looked surprised. "Hannah Torreon", I shouted. Come to think of it,  I don't know why I shouted as if I was on the phone with a broken line and she can barely hear me. She didn't recognize me because she said I looked different (dang, am not sure if that's a good thing). But then she said, "I still have your letter... Remember?" Thought balloon: Actually Ma'am I don't but I can attribute that to the anesthesia shot on my spine just over a month ago. "I kept it in my scrapbook" she said with a heartfelt smile. I was so touched. All these years she kept something of me... She kept me in her memories. 

We talked for another 5 minutes and took a couple of pictures. I promised to find her online through her daughter as she is already based abroad and has shunned social media and technology altogether. 

Mrs. Maspiñas, sorry it took a while for me to get in touch but here you go, hope this finds you. And I hope this is how you want to find me... in WORDS that you have taught me. 

Sweet Hope: Milestone/s

Holding her bottle on her first month birthday

She was so hungry but I was driving so we gave her formula only to find out days later that she was allergic and had atopic dermatitis :(

Harperoo playing straw drums in the background

Spunky Harper: My Hummingbird

Before Harperoo turned one year old, she was humming the "Little Mermaid" theme with me. When she turned one year old, she started following melodies introduced to her. I remember my mother-in-law giving her random tunes and Harperoo follows them down to the last note. When I sang "Sweet child of mine" to put her to sleep, she stunned me when she sang the chorus which is a pretty simple, "Oh,oh,oh... sweet child of mine". As a proud mama, allow me to indulge. 

Here's some of her playlist (Use Google Chrome or Explorer to view videos):

Incy Wincy Spider

Ugoy sa Duyan - rock version

Mr. Sun

Bridge - Sweet Child of Mine

Putting her stuff toys back