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When it comes to her being healthy, I couldn’t ask for more. She eats cheese and eggs, rice and veggies, drink milk, orange juice and water. She takes a nap at noon time and we walk about five miles a day to the park. She gets along better with other kids and behaves when with strangers.

I just love how everything is turning up specially with the way she is growing up. Though very slim, she is a lot taller than most kids her age at the park. She speaks two languages and two dialects. I just want to start her schooling already but I think it is still a little early. I want her to enjoy playtime first and drop her to school at the right time…

When Alyssa grows up, I want her to know how important it is to look back and stay connected to her Filipino roots. I have seen kids who were either born or who grew up here in the US that are totally westernized and I think to myself, how lucky am I to have grown to know my own culture and tradition. That makes me unique as a person. So when people ask me why I teach my daughter Ilocano (aside from Tagalog), I throw them back a big “WHY” question. Why would I not teach her? Why would I not share with her the opportunity to learn about who she really is and where she really came from? If there is something I can give her as a young child to learn from, it is NOT only the knowledge to speak two languages and extra dialects BUT also the chance to experience a wonderful culture not all American kids have.

So this I want her to know… she may sound funny now for using different languages/dialects in a sentence, but for her to know what they mean and convey what she wants to say is something I am very proud of. It will pay back in the future one way or another…