my thoughts on...

sharing my thoughts on things that matter to me...

Motherhood: I had to go through a caesarian delivery because the baby is too big for my pelvis. This freed me from prolonged and harder labor and saved my baby from distress. Now I see a vertical, dark scar on my belly but I bear this with pride – this is what a mother’s courage look like!

Baby: a captivating being who makes life better, drains my stress and when she displays her cherubic smile, she instantly gets us wrapped around her little fingers

Pure Pleasure: the smell of my baby’s skin, looking at my baby’s face and seeing how she resembles me, hugging my husband, the touch of my baby’s little palm and fingers on my face

Perfect day: a day spent with my husband and baby! It’s perfect when you’re with the person you love. Everything else is just icing on the cake. It helps to be on a beautiful beach but if I find myself stuck in traffic, waiting for a ride or lining up in the grocery (fantastic times of bonding yata to), I couldn’t care less as long as my husband is with me.

Turning 30: I welcome another chapter in my life. I feel good about myself for having really lived my 20’s – tough experiences and choices, major decisions in life, life changing events – work, marriage and motherhood!

Best Moment: my bridal walk, wearing my best smile …and seeing my husband with tears welling in his eyes as he waits for me at the altar; seeing my newborn baby for the first time
Marriage: a blessed life and relationship, generates a feeling of being generously blessed and truly loved! A great marriage is a lifetime struggle. For me as a wife it means, prioritizing our dates, understanding his weaknesses and faults, accepting our differences, going the extra mile to express my love, thinking together, leading him closer to God. Marriage is where God’s best blessings dwell, this I truly believe. With this, we are able to overcome hardships, cope with child rearing challenges, communicate well, and even have fun and spontaneous good times together.

Words of Wisdom: Love your family. Let’s celebrate our family every single day – while the moment still matters, while the time still counts.

Mommy's Birthday Wishes for Abbie

My dear darling abbie,

The whole family celebrates your birthday today. Everyone is so happy and excited. Daddy and mommy decided to celebrate it with Jollibee! Relatives, friends, mga ninong at ninang came to greet you a Happy Happy Birthday. Syempre we are so proud of you. Look at you now… so beautiful, healthy and loveable baby! We were amazed to see you smiling at everyone. For us, it means that you truly appreciate your party.

Abbie, you are the greatest gift I have received from God. This means God blessed me with a child because I am worthy to become a “mother”. And you know what, I will give my best and devote my life to prove myself worthy of God’s trust. I pray that I may be guided so I can be a good mother to you.

Here are my birthday wishes for you baby ko:

1. For you to be healthy and strong. Nothing beats the “good feeling” whenever I see you actively playing, laughing out loud, or sleeping well! I hate the bad cough and colds that give you discomfort. You know I was super concerned of your health when you were inside my tummy. I ate lots of fruits and veggies, no softdrinks, tea and coffee, no chichiria, no tocino, hotdog because of their preservatives, no swets - chocolates and cakes. I took my vitamins diligently with the help of your daddy. All these and more give me enough reason why I should be equally concerned with what you will be eating and drinking now that you are 1. I really hope you will like eating fruits and vegetables.

2. For you to be surrounded with love. This love would definitely come from daddy and me, and the whole family. You are so loved and everyone in the family is so fond of you. Ang dami nag-aalaga syo, si granny na lagi mong kasama, si papa at mama na laging lumuluwas sa Manila para makita at maalagaan ka, si tata na lagi kang ginigising, tito boo na lagi kang nililipad “fly baby fly”, si ninang osh nalagi kang kinakarga at marami pang iba tulad ng mga ninang at ninong na cute na cute syo! - I know you feel the wonderful, big LOVE surrounding you and I pray that this will make you feel you are special! While we make sure we provide for your needs as you grow, we will also be concerned with the more important things like time, attention, care and understanding.

3. For you to grow reflecting to others the love you received through being cheerful, gentle in words, kind, generous, and loving. If I would be asked to write my dreams for you, then this would most likely consist the biggest part of it. God entrusted us with a life that is YOU and I would like to be worthy of the trust by leading you to His path, helping you become a good person - “mabuti, responsable at mapagmahal na tao”.

These are my wishes for you and I know I am guided by the spirit as I write them down. That’s the reason why I feel confident that these wishes are blessed and will always be remembered by God.

Happy birthday abbietot, i love you very much! mwaaaahhhhh! :-)

Motherhood is changing meee...

NOW...

1. I keep on collecting information that will ensure the well-being of my baby. I read a lot about baby’s development through my psychology books and magazines (I like Smart Parenting) and I’m starting to get serious in gaining knowledge on investments, savings, and businesses.
2. I’m striving for better time management. I am forced to manage my days in a whole new way. I simply can’t focus only on the things I want to do. When I’m home my sched depends on abbie’s activities.
3. I believe once again in the things I believed in as a child.
4. I’ve seen great wonder in a simple smile! (When abbie smiles, everything lightens up instantly!)
5. My heart breaks much more easily. I am more sensitive and sentimental.
6. Every day is a surprise… baby’s development has never been this up close and awe inspiring.
7. I fell all the more in love with cameras and photos! I love collecting memories through pics!
8. I know for sure that true joy doesn't come from getting what I want and buying what I like. It’s the loving sacrifice that gives me a sense of deep fulfillment and joy!
9. I’d rather buy baby stuff than those shoes, bags or clothes that I’ve been dying to have.
10. I don't mind staying home on weekends! No trade offs when it comes to time and attention I give to my family.
11. I realize that the excess weight and baby belly I can't seem to get rid of are totally worth having.
12. Our dog patsy patutu - who used to be our “baby” — becomes just a dog.
13. I take the time for one more hug and kiss even if it means I'll be late or even super super late.
14. I see the world through someone else’s eyes
15. I could spend hours…long hours in baby sections of shopping malls. And buying something for abbie gives me superb satisfaction.