September 21, 2012

September 21 was another pool day. 

Francis thoroughly enjoyed the water, but despised anything that even remotely resembled a rule.   He loved being tossed up in the air between Lolo and Lola, and they started to show him how to swim in preparation for swimming in their pool. 

When Francis wasn’t in the pool, he enjoyed kicking a ball around a grassy area with Daddy.  His athleticism really started to shine through.  Gregg and I, two not-so-athletically-inclined people, began to realize that we would have our hands full with this quick kid who seemed to be gifted in just about any sport he tried.

I don’t remember what set him off when we came back from swimming on the 21^st.  He was angry – so, so angry.  He was crying and screaming, and we tried to hold him.  He didn’t want to be held.  He didn’t want to be held, and he started kicking, punching, and pulling hair.  I remember trying to soothe him and tell him it would be OK.  Then I told him to stop hurting me.  Gregg tried to soothe him and got kicked.  He cried and cried.  We cried and cried.  Our agency liaison had left for Manila that morning.  We had nowhere to turn for help.  We didn’t know what to do but sit there and stick it out as he cried and beat his way through the grief.  Then, as quickly as it started, it was over.

Later in the evening, we decided to go back to the mall to pick up a sweatshirt and jeans for Francis since it was supposedly getting cold back home.  We also wanted to go Barong shopping for Francis, Gregg, and my father.  We found everything we needed and discovered that everything we heard about Christmas coming to the Philippines in September was true.  The stores in the mall played Christmas music.  Christmas trees graced the department stores. 

 

All decked out for Christmas in September.

 After shopping, we went back to Jollibee’s for our last dinner there while in Legazpi.  Francis made quick work of his favorite Jollibee’s spaghetti.  After a picture with the Jollibee, we headed home for bedtime.  We were all starting to get exhausted.   

Don't mess with his Jollibee's spaghetti...

To Be Continued...