Trippy

In every activity we do, there's always a soundtrack to it.

For example, when my Mama tries to get me to burp after my feeding time, she'd sing Disco Inferno by The Tramps. Y'know, 'burp baby burp... disco inferno'.

When it's time for me to practice flipping on to my tummy, Mama would sing Turn Turn Turn by The Byrds.

If she wants me to exercise my fingers and hands for a better grip, she'd sing Hold Me Now by The Thompson Twins.

And now, she's waiting for Papa so they can switch their shift in taking care of me. She's taking snaps of me on her cam while singing 'don't be long... please don't you be very looooong..' from the song Blue Jay Way by The Beatles. That was a pretty trippy song and it was a pretty trippy ride. The result? A pretty trippy/freaky picture of me. But I'm totally diggin' it.

Test Drive

My mama read somewhere that "Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body. But rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, brandy in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"

So the body is just our vessel to get to our ultimate high, our nirvana, our spiritual birthplace. Well, if that were true then me ma and pop are definitely on the right track. And I can't wait to use mine for a test drive. Woohoo!

Belle

Mama wrote me a song when I was a 7 month fetus still locked inside her. The song goes:

I close my eyes
and dream of what you look like
Wishful sighs,
I imagine holding you tight

You're my summer child
Right now the summer's in my womb
My summer child
I can't wait to watch you bloom

I'll be right here
While you slide down rainbows
Starry eyes while thinking of you blush
and your perfect glow

You're my summer child
Right now the summer's in my womb
My summer child
I can't wait to watch you bloom

Smile...
You're the every ray of my brightest sunshine
Smile...
I know you're beauty will touch the sky, Summer Child

Adlib
Chorus

I close my eyes
and dream of what you look like
Wishful sighs
I can't wait to hold you tight*

As soon as we got home from the hospital after I've arrived into this world, she got her guitar, sang me the song and keeps telling me ('til this day) that she was right. My beauty really does touch the sky.

As Is

I'm probably not the type who'd have her brows inked to perfection -they're shaped just fine.

I'm probably not the type to take in anything for skin whitening - I love my complexion whether I'd be bronze or fair.

I'm probably not the type who'd curl her lashes - they're swooping up already.

I'm probably not the type who'd have her hair colored or changed - like my ma, wild mane or not, it's still my crowning glory.

I'm probably not the type who'd have her nose done - it's perfect as it is.

My mama said we don't want to be lured to what the media has to offer. All that 'love your body' crap they're talking about are just their way to sell their goods. Well, we don't want no part of that. We love our body as it is. Au naturale.

Feeling Old

So this is what it feels like when you finally dive into second childhood. Here I am feeling helpless as a crone, locked in my own planet that is the rocking chair. You sleep here, stare into space and for some, they even shit in their pants while confined in this place. Good thing, my buddy keeps me company. We sleep together, stare into space together and even shit together. He is my sweety the Tweety.

Witchy Tendencies

Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn, and caldron bubble.

Star Struck

I have a twinkle in my eye, mama. That's because I'm looking at you.

Copy Cat

Teddy is my soul sister. We've gotten real close now . But it seems that she is always copying me. Like she doesn't really have a true identity. Imitation is the greatest form of flattery, yeah but even in sleep? Man oh man! I hope she doesn't copy my dreams too.

Monkey Love

Darwin's theory, the evolution of man, could be true 'coz the primate in me is already showing. My mama and I were talking last night and it sounded like monkey speak with all our ooohhing and aaahhing. I'm just grateful that I don't look like a chimp even though I was almost as hairy as one.

To the Feminist Occult

I slipped on my pale yellow gloves, stabbed my chubby little fist in mid-air and screamed, 'Girl Power!'. I am the newest addition of the feminist occult and I will see my girls in a few years. Cheers!

Cinderella

"Look at this: an entire generation of Cinderellas and there's no glass slipper." - Elaine Miller, Almost Famous

We're all doomed. The world spins just for the sake of revolving but we're not evolving. The music industry is a basketball about to shoot its way down to hell. But I'm the new generation. I will be saved. After all, my prince charming/mama is here to put my shoes on. I will get my glass slippers.

Naughty-cal

My new friend, Teddy, and I are feeling a bit naughty-cal. So we're seated on our rocking boat waiting for someone to whisk us off to baby land where everybody knows baby speak. I seldom get through to people here. I have to shout to be understood. And even before they get what I want, they have to struggle digesting what I'm telling them as if I'm some alien speaking gibberish. Somebody should start writing a baby dictionary soon to finally put an end to this language barrier.

Your Majesty

Brandy used to be my parent's baby. But that was pre-Astrud Magdalena. Now that I'm here, I'm not just their baby, they treat me as royalty. They are high whenever they catch a whiff of my smell. They're drunk with my beauty as if they're under my spell. I'm the king, the queen, the princess, the wizard and the goddess. Now, somebody roll out the red carpet, your highness will pass thru.

Ninja Kid 2

I've got a secret weapon and it's a deadly piece of meat - my tongue! So don't you try doing anything funny. I won't think twice about tongue slappin', ya! When I start talking, I'll only speak of the truth. Whether it will hurt or not. Deal with it. Reality bites.

Girl Power

See this? I could be sweet! I just don't need flowers and laces for validation. I know I'm a girl. Ain't got nothing dangling in between my legs, y'know. I've got a cut. That's what I'm taking care of.

Natural Born Rockstar

My mama tiptoes around in hushed movements, desperate to get me to fly off to dreamland. But I don't go just yet. I want to be a part of the goingson. I cry, baby, cry. I hear my mama sigh. But I realized that after we rock out to one whole album of, say, Guns n' Roses or 4 Non Blondes, that's when I pass out. Maybe because those were my bestfriends during my 9 month swim inside mama's womb. All the familiarity makes me go back to my rocking zone that was her uterus. Well, it could be that, or I'm just a natural born rockstar. See my sideburns? I've already got a little bit of Elvis in me. Now, I say to my mama, "Thank you! Thank you very much!

Drugged

The brownout blues the past two nights may have been the best downer I've ever been on. Better than any milk or the warm baths I take. I slept soundlessly all through the heat. All thanks to the wrath of Lola Bashang. The whirlwind fairy tale that was her fury sent me to sleep. So, oblivious to the havoc outside, I resigned to a hundred years of sleep just waiting for my prince to give me some delicious smooching.

MILK!

Astrud: Pump it up, ma! Or else I'm gonna have to suck on them cow titties. I want my milk!
Mama: I'm dry as a prune, lil wonder. We milk the department stores now for canned ones.

Hide

No matter how hard I try, I just can't be totally invisible. Maybe because I'm too darn cute! Yeah, that's probably it.

Jet Lag

I haven't really been in tune with the world because this jet lag of mine has been going on since I got here. The nine month trip in utero had been hella tiring. Which is why I couldn't really mingle with the people. But who needs to socialize? I am tickled pink with all my sleeping. Besides, I am too busy fattening meself up and I've got a lot of growing up to do. I do have a lifetime to catch up with all the people around me, right? So to everybody, I will play with you soon. Goodnight!

XOXO

My Granma Celia gave me this ultra soft, super fine XOXO blankey.

And I feel like I'm sleeping on a bed of clouds!

Which is all too familiar for me because I remember that I was sliding down rainbows, chasing moonbeams and jumping on trampoline clouds before my mama popped me out into this world.

Now, heaven was brought to me again through this yummy cotton candy looking blankey and it's all because of my Granma Celia. Thanks, Granny! Love you!

Feeling Sedated

...ssssoooo ssssleeeepppyyyy....

...i badly wanna ssssssnnnnooozzzzeeee...

...i need to get some ZZZzzzzzssss.....

...ho-hum...

and I'm zonked out.

2 Months and Kicking

I'm 2 months today and very much enjoying this new toy I got from me folks.

I salute these flyers hovering above my head coz they're just so darn purty.

But there's hell to pay when I get hungry and I need my bottle now!!!!

Where's my milk!???

Thanks. Now, I'm truly happy. Cheers to my 2 months of existence!

Stunned

My mama says that I am stunning 'coz she always gets stunned when waking up to see me sleeping beside her. I amaze her with my beauty.

Grunge Kid

My mama loves my ripped shirt. She calls it my Eddie Vedder shirt. She said that i'm a grunge kid. I dunno what she's talking about but I'm guessing grunge is pretty cool.

coz here I am bellowing to the tunes blasting on the stereo. It's something from Pearl Jam.

and I'm getting lost in the music. Trying to sing along.

Pearl Jam is now my personal nanny. They keep my mouth shut from all the crying. I think I may have just satisfied my soul.

Tweety VS Me

I was having a chat with my buddy, Tweety Bird while he was literally hanging out on my carseat handle. He was telling me that I'm starting to look like him with my swooping lashes, perky lil nose, chubby cheeks and huge forehead. Still, I ain't got no beak. So, I won 'coz I'm prettier.

Goddess

This is Aphrodite. I am Astrudite. Together, as goddesses of love and beauty, we can rule the world.

Dark Love

No matter how lost in the shadows I get, as long as my mama's there to hold my hand, I will feel safe.

The Flight

Can't wait to fly off to Makati tomorrow for my Granma's birthday!!! I will be seeing all of them for the first time since my vision got clearer. I'm sure I'll love what I see. Happy birthday, Mumi. Love you!