Love and Other Drugstories

Daddy's Faulkerdaughter

"WAAAAAAHHHHHHH!"

The baby's cry heard from the baby monitor woke us up. I checked the clock on the bedside table. It's 3:05 am.

Maine sleepily rises from her side of the bed. I stopped her.

"Ako na bahala, Love. Buong araw ka na nag-aalaga. I got this. Go back to sleep."

"Thanks, Love."

She gave me a kiss before going back to sleep.

I went to the nursery room adjacent to our bedroom and went straight to the crib, where our baby is still wailing.

Yes, wailing. Kaliit na tao, pero kung makaiyak dinig sa buong bahay.

And like the usual, she will stop whatever she's doing as soon as she saw me.

Yes, whatever she's doing. Whether she's crying, laughing, playing, eating or pooping.

And then she will have that look of amazement on her face. With matching big eyes and mouth slightly open.

There was this one time when our baby was pooping then she stopped and just stared at me when I approached them. She just continued pooping when Maine shooed me away.

Ewan ko ba, sa akin lang naman sya ganito. Kapag kinakausap sya ng Mommy nya, napakabungisngis naman nya. Lalo na kapag naglalaro sila ng Kuya Faulky nya. Kung makahagikgik, wagas.

Pero kapag ako, natutulala lang sya. Parang na-starstruck na nakakita ng artista.

Kagaya ngayon.

At least she stopped crying.

"Hello, Baby Cee."

I checked her diaper. It's already full.

"Ang lakas naman magwiwi ng baby ko, bilis mapuno ng diaper. Lakas kasi dumede. Mana ka talaga sa kin. Mahilig dumede kay Mommy. Hehehe."

Time for Diaper Daddy duties. Yes, aside from earning my Dino Whisperer monicker, Diaper Daddy na rin ako ngayon. And proud.

After changing her diaper, I carried her then sat in the rocking chair beside her crib.

I looked at her. Nakatulala pa rin sya sa akin.

I tickled her tummy, feet, armpits, neck and chubby cheeks. Still no reaction.

I chuckled.

"Mana ka din sa Mommy mo eh, no? You make me crazy just by being cute and charming."

I kissed her forehead.

"Alam mo anak, akala ko hindi ko na kayang magmahal ng ibang babae simula nang makilala ko ang Mommy mo. But I was wrong. Because I fell in love with you the moment I saw you. Kayong dalawa ng Mommy mo ang pinakaimportanteng babae ngayon sa buhay ko."

I kissed her again.

"Sorry nga pala anak kung lagi ka naming naiistorbo kapag babe time namin nung ipinagbubuntis ka pa lang ng Mommy mo. Siguro para kang nakakaramdam ng lindol or aftershock gabi-gabi no? O di kaya parang nasa loob ng washing machine. Hehehe. Pasensya na anak, pareho kasing maharot ang mga magulang mo."

I chuckled.

"Pero anak, I pray that you'll be like Mommy when you grow up. Naku anak, beauty and brains ang Mommy mo. She's the smartest and the prettiest woman I know. And have the biggest heart. Kaya nga di ko na pinakawalan ang Mommy mo simula nang makilala ko eh. Pinakasalan ko agad."