Viper's training ground
Dearest Sofia,
A year ago, August 4, 2010, I came back from a trip to India suspecting I was pregnant. I was sooo excited – yes, I’m pretty excitable. I had been telling my officemate, Tita Lottie, the days before of my suspicions.
On our taxi ride to the airport I even told my boss, Tito Cesar! Your Dad had previously told me he was excited to have our next baby (you!) because that baby would complete our family.
I bought a pregnancy test kit on my way home and took it right away. The test was positive! I called your Dad and we agreed we’d wait for him to come home and tell your kuyas first before telling the whole world. What’s funny is that Uncle Gabby soon called me to say that they just found out Tita Mench was pregnant too! I said my congratulations and did my best to keep you secret for a few more hours until Daddy and I could tell your kuyas.
We have loved you dearly since that day. We all brimmed with excitement for the day you would be born, but even from inside me you were already an integral part of our family. Kuya Tyler boasted to everyone that he was a kuya now. We spoke with you, and your dad and kuyas showered you with lots of love and kisses.
We listened to your brothers’ playlist over and over. Songs are like bookmarks in time, and those songs will always remind me of having our family in the car, your kuyas singing, you dancing in my tummy. Oh how I long for those days because you were still safe inside me…
Your Dad was the one who came up with your beautiful name, Sofia Ysabel, soon after we found out you were a girl last December. We wanted to keep it secret until you came out though, so we called you princess first 
It was an agonizing time for Kuya Yoachim, who kept guessing and guessing at your name but we knew that if we told him the whole world would find out prematurely. Kuya Tyler was content with calling you baby princess. Before going to the hospital 4 months ago, last April 4, we finally shared your name with your kuyas and then only later on with the world, when we sent out your birth announcement.
A year has passed since we confirmed you were inside me. I never could have imagined what we would go through. Looking at your empty drawers hurt. Seeing all the clothes that had waited for you would have hurt just the same. I love you so much and am comforted by the thoughts that you’re in the best place you could be in right now, that you’re with us in spirit, and that one day we will be together again.
Love you so, so much,
Mommy
P. S. As I posted before in Our Two Worlds, your Kung Fu Panda fan kuyas have designated Daddy as Master Shifu, me as Tigress, Kuya Yoachim as Po, Kuya Tyler as Monkey, and you as Viper. I hope you like that Master Shifu found you a temple to train and play in right beside your body’s final resting place.
