Since necessity prompted me to live with my sister and her family way back August, I became super close to her two children, a girl and a boy.

I love kids, but not their naughty ways, like jumping from behind and pulling your pants, or throwing excess food at the dining table, or their tantrums. But I love their bear hugs and the tender kisses, their whispers, giggles and "i love yous", watching cartoons while they're seated on my lap, holding them while malling.

They were so amazed when my belly began to grow before their eyes, and surprised when told that there's a baby inside, and that their tita can't carry them like before. They would tell me, "sana, lumiit na tiyan ni tita" (I wish aunt's belly would become flat again). And their mom would assure them that time would come when they could sit on my lap again.

Of course aside from me, the two kids were soooo excited when the baby finally came home and settled on her crib. They would touch her hands, feet, belly, cheek, and every part their tiny hands could reach on to. Of course, most of these were attempts, as I would often tell them not to touch because she's still a baby. Well, they would still do it anyway, as if testing how far I would go if they disobeyed me.

As I was on leave during the first month, the kids would really get into my nerves at times. But I never showed them this. If I got exhausted or irritated from persuading them not to be too noisy or not to hold her head or pull her leg, I'd scoop the baby into my arms and we'd lock up inside my room. After a while, I'd be ok.

Having kids and a baby is happy, but sometimes risky. Kids don't know what harm they could cause a baby, so it is indeed important for the parents or the nanny to keep an eye over the kids, or the toys they put into the crib. The responsibility of protecting the baby rests on the adults around.

The other night, while I was putting my baby to sleep, my niece, like she does every night, would sneak into my room and stay for a while. And then she said "sana wala na lang si baby" (I wish baby is not here) a bit disappointed (immature me), I said "sige, aalis na lang kami" (ok then, we'd leave if you insist). And she said "hindi, si baby lang, wag si tita" (no, only baby, not you). And then she left.

Maybe what she was trying to say was, unlike before, the attention is already divided. Oh well, aren't kids amazing? :)