Love This Quote. Happy Weekend.

The secret to having a good marriage is to understand that marriage must be total, it must be permanent, and it must be equal.

Frank Pittman


... which is why I have confidence in the one I have. Heaven knows we're far from perfect (I moreso than Jojo) but hubs and I believe that we only get married once and for good... so here we are.

It goes without saying though, that we found someone good to spend the rest of our lifetimes loving and holding hands with. Others aren't as lucky... or wise.

*~*

Pappie, thank you for working so hard for Mommy and Me... love, yakee

Gone Too Soon...

... his babyhood, that is.

Although, yes, technically, he's still a baby. But it really does feel like he was only a peaceful, sleeping baby for a day. Infanthood seems wasted on recovering-from-pregnancy Moms and adjusting-to-crying-baby Dads because we don't get to appreciate those moments as much as we can now (when we're fully rested some days).

We so miss those days when Yakee would just lay still in our arms (mind you, he only ever laid still when he was sleeping). Now, he's always wriggling away and his sleep is always riddled with separation anxiety cries.


thank heavens for big basins, Mommy doesn't have to bring out his pool when he wants some splash action


Yakee sleeping beside Sirius, his dog

Not Yet Time for Change

... so be it.

I just hope I can still throw a wonderful first birthday for Yakee, as my heart isn't in it anymore, and I really will be cramming to meet school requirements.

Meanwhile, his 8th tooth has erupted and he's already climbing down stairs like a pro. And Mommy is feeding him way too much of the only snack/junk food she'll allow... Holy Kettle Corn popcorn. Sigh. He's just too cute for words when he stops doing whatever he's doing/going to wherever he's going the minute Mommy waves a popcorn for him to gobble up.

Video to follow. Hehe.

Thanks, Ging

As you can see, I just peppered our blog with pics taken by Ging Lorenzo last Mother's Day. It took us ages to get the framed picture and CD from EJ's salon because it was in QC :)

We had the pic at the right framed. Yakee was depressed-looking in all the other pics because of the heat then. Plus, I feel the picture captured our sense of family and our will to stay in love so that blessings like Yakee would continue pouring in. :) Of course, we also accept money, travel, good health, gadgets, other properties etc aside from babies. Hehe.

Yakee's Favorite Toy

Was tagged by Mai and Con...

{START COPY}

Here are the rules:

Post a photo of your baby with her/his first ever favorite/comfort toy. Write some details of your fondest memory of your baby and her toy. This will make a good moment when your baby grows up! Lastly, don’t forget to add the link to your website’s at the end of the page. I’m sure many moms would love to see your sites, too!

{END COPY}



He has lots of toys. And he plays with anything and everything anyway (notice my bra?). But he plays with them only for a time. We did use his Fishes-Fishes toy to perfect his crawling (not to our advantage, it turned out) but really, you can give him cups and saucers and he'd just be as happy... and entertained only for a while.



Tita Ninang is actually a playmate, but there's really nothing and no one else that can engage him for as long as she can. The minute he sees her, he immediately dances, his eyes light up, he claps his hands, etc. I'd be jealous but I know I can't compete... am just not naturally playful. :)

Not tagging anybody anymore... took me ages to do this tag, am sure it's made the rounds already :D

What Makes Me Happy, What Makes Me Sad

Here are the Rules:
1. List things that makes you happy and what makes you sad..
2. Add your blog to the list. Feel free to add all your other blogs.
3. Tag other online friends you know...Toni, Jeng, Mec, Mec as Mom, YOU

WHAT MAKES ME HAPPY?
~ hanging out with my family

~ a non-fussy baby

~ Starbucks cream chip drink

~ cakes and ice cream

~ paid blogging opps

~ loving-loving with my beloveds

~ hanging out with friends

~ good music and dancing

~ Harry Potter

~ right now, watching Olympic games

~ travelling

~ new prospects


WHAT MAKES ME SAD?
~ hubs working late

~ not knowing what my son wants

~ any of us being sick

~ sad stories, break-ups, abuse, death

~ the thought of Py

~ not having enough money

~ not travelling as much

~ the thought of my parents breaking their backs to provide for my siblings in their old age

~ the thought of losing loved ones



Now am tagging Lang, Haze, Mai and Kathy

Changes

Changes can be good, right?

An opportunity has presented itself for hubs. I personally think it will do him good, it will lead to his career growth and all.

But as in all things affected by work, our family will have to change as well.

Hubs is scared of it. I'm scared too. But I also think we're ripe for challenges such as this. I tell him that it's sure going to be diffcult, embracing the change, and we'd have our low points. But how else can we grow?

My eyes fill with tears at some of our prospects though... but like what I said, how else can we grow?

Not So Negative

Since I missed my period last July, and have been gaining weight steadily, hubs thought that I must be preggy. We even made a bet of it, remember?

Anyway, hubs bought a preggy test kit last night and instructed me to take it and leave it for him to check when he wakes up this morning. So, I wrapped the indicator part with a post it (with a note saying "Mwah! Tell me asap if I need Folic Acid") and went to bed, already imagining myself preggy. I even thought I wouldn't be able to sleep but I was really exhausted.

Hubs checked it immediately after waking up and went up to us again. I saw a sort of sadness/disappointment in his face so I knew it was negative. After some cuddling and playing with our crazy, demanding tyke, he told me that maybe we should really go for another one already. Hehe.

When he was teasing me that I could not have gone to bed withoout looking at the test kit, I told him I was scared that it would be negative. I don't know, but from where am sitting (typing) right now, I just really find negative preggy test results sad. It's not that we really want another baby this soon. But we do want another baby definitely. And although we're having some issues managing our expenses because of Yakee (yup, always blame the child!), the addition to our family made our lives happier, more meaningful, and more purposeful. So, how can our hearts not flutter with anticipation at the prospect of another one?

Plus, i'd rather have more additions than a subtraction any day.

So, although the test result was negative... the realization that we can have another child and life would still be okay is liberating. Much like then when having our first was more than welcome. It further proves our sense of a solid marriage, and our faith that life will continue treating us right.

*~*

Happy long weekend guys. Spend it well.

Long Day

I don't know why he woke up at 7:00 when he just spent a restless night because of his colds. So poor me also hasn't properly slept yet.

And I don't know why he's more hyper than usual today, when nobody else can take care of him except Mommy.

And I don't know why climbing stairs or messing with the PC are the only things he wanted to do... so I either had to keep getting him back, or be subjected with his shrieks and tears when I put my foot down.

And today has made me realize yet again that my son doesn't consider me a proper playmate. And that I seriously lack creativity and resourcefulness. Mind you, getting small-ish things to put in a box worked like a charm... he played in his pen for a while so Mommy can get a break from all the running after him.

I also don't know why he bit Mommy... I mean, usually he just bites me while he nurses but he's never gigil-bitten me before. He's usually reserved that horrible behavior for his godmothers and Pappie. But he bit me. So hard. And am the type whose skin is very sensitive... now my shoulder seems to have been branded by a hot poker. And when Mommy put her foot down and refused to let him bite her again, he started biting his own arm.

Sigh.

I seriously don't know which is worse... him biting his arm or him finding a way to climb his stroller to stand on top of it, using the stair railings for support.

His grandparents told me, after i've childishly made sumbong, that my brother and Jojo's brother were biters as well. Both brothers are second-born.

Hmmpf.

Pappie insisted on being neutral even after i've not-so-gently reminded him that the Bible says that his loyalty should be to me. He says Yakee would be pitiful if I alone have an ally.

Hmmpf.

Now, my back feels broken, my nips and shoulders are sore, i'm on the verge of looking for an Abused Moms Anonymous group again... etc etc... and what do I see when I look at my sleeping beloveds?

Father and son asleep in the same position. So I smile. And find in my heart the grace to thank the Lord above for being so blessed.

*~*

From Loss to Gain: My Breastfeeding Story is already posted :)

*~*

Baby,

it's been a happy eight years and eight months of being your baby. *mwah* (and I swear, you'll get used to this template!)

Yep!

Finally braved Beta Blogger. Good thing I was able to find out how to work the haloscan comments :)

Now... hopefully I can make a new banner soon! And hopefully, the new layout would entice more visitors and comments :D

Of Budgets and Bets

Sigh.

Month of May, I justified the Starbucks binge of choco cream chip drink (with extra whipped cream and caramel drizzle) by saying it's Mommy's Month. I averaged three cups a week.

I gained ten pounds that month too.

June, I stopped with the nasty, expensive habit and lost six pounds easy. But July, I started on it again. Now, am averaging two cups a week again. And yes, am back to 130 lbs.

So now, i've reduced our family to me counting change to buy my son's vitamins and Salinase drops. Well, okay, that sounds a bit melodramatic but the family budget has really gone out-of-whack already (well, there were some purchases we hadn't foreseen that had to be taken care of too... like NSO-certified birth certificates) that I dare not touch the rest of the money.

We have been overspending again. Or rather, we haven't been saving again.

And you know you've hit an all-time low when you propose the recycle of the Starbucks bags as loot bags for your son's birthday party. I mean, seriously... and yet, it's the least (and a green thing too!) we could do really because the cream chip drink is still the one thing that satisfies my heart and pacifies my grief (case in point, when I screamed at Yakee during the drive home last Sunday because he was biting my nips so hard, and he was screaming back while refusing to let go, and tears started streaming down my face... hubs bought me a drink to cheer me up).

Ugh. We are such bad parents!

*~*

It's been almost two months since my last period. But I expected to be irregular for a while since I am still breastfeeding. But, since we're not exactly being careful, there is always that chance that am preggy again.

Hubs wants me to take a preggy test this Friday if the red flag doesn't go up this week. I insisted that I know i'm not preggy because am feeling all my former PMS temper and cravings and bloat, but none of the pregnancy aversions. He insists he thinks I am. So we made a bet.

If i'm preggy, I will give him P3k. If am not preggy, he will give me P3k.

So, now am torn on what to wish for :D I mean, sure, P3k spending money would be cool... but how can I possibly wish not to be blessed with another child, even this early?

*~*


Credits: WordArt by Bethany
Font - Al Sandra
Butterflies and Frame by NBK
Floral Edges/Swirls by B. Silvia
Background (cannot remember)

Awarded


Got this award from Jean


Rules of this award are :
1. Put the logo on your blog.
2. Add a link to the person who awarded you.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4. Add links to those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs


I am awarding this to:
Mai ~ because when she decides to learn something, she usually becomes a PRO at it (like digiscrapping, paid blogging, and now part-time travel agent and full-time Mom)
Jacque ~ because she always gives 101% of her self
MommyBa ~ because she's such a strong and loving person
Rocks ~ because her faith is steadfast and true (and I really pray they will be blessed na with child)
Karla ~ because of her grace and humor over their waiting game (I also hope they'd be blessed na with kids)
Laya ~ because she's super duper creative and can't wait to meet her irl
Joey ~ because she's such a gentle, innovative and productive person who have survived a lot of odds

Breastfeeding Stories
The Six Finalists to LATCH's Breastfeeding Story Contest include yours truly. However, reading the summaries, I couldn't help but realize how blessed my family have been.

I was endowed with a nipple so pert that I actually worried if my infant can get all of it in his mouth (which is probly why God made Yakee get his lips from his father's side, hehe).

I was lucky to attend two LATCH lectures.

I was blessed with the right socioeconomic background to have other resources and help available to me.

My husband was very supportive, and he even extended his paternity leave (and was in a position to do so).

My baby was born without defects and non-premature, so he had no reason not to nurse well.

The only illness I got in the early months was colds. And our family can get by with a one-income setup so I need not really worry about pumping and storing milk.

My list can go on and on.

We're a lucky family that we can enjoy this liquid gold and all its benefits.

So I really salute all the other families, and especially the committed Moms, who conquered inverted nipples and cancer and working away from home. May our children pass the gift forward... and may it always console you (us) that we gave and did our best.

Ten Months More Precious



Mommy cooked carbonara for him, and even put mushrooms in it because he likes that. And yes, it's harder to make him look at the cam now, esply when Pappie has already egged him to mess with his cake. Notice how he's also holding his toe in the pic? :)

Sigh. He loves clapping his hands. He does it all the time. And our boy isn't sweet really, more engaging and flirtatious actually (in short, harot). He also stakes claims on me and his aunts when his cousin Ice is around (as if a 4-month old stands a chance).

He's also more apt to point at things and do the open-palm begging sign to indicate what he wants (generally, Mommy).

And although he still doesn't wake up at a fixed hour... we're at least back to him insisting on being ready for bed at 9:00 PM.

He eats everything! I try to limit his salts and sweets, and would give dessert so long as it's not in candy form (but really, we should drop even the cake and cookie bits since he's hyper all the time already). He loves sinigang! :) And he goes berserk at the smell of food (much like a dog would whimper and whine and go around in circles).

Speaking of circles, he loves crawling around his pen. Again and again and again.

And yes, his smile still melts our hearts.

*~*

He has been treating the wheels of his stroller as a steering wheel. Absolutely loves it. And he likes being on Pappie's lap to play with Maxime's steering wheel (one time, he even managed to signal left!) and would get utterly upset when I get him from his father.

So, Pappie being the pushover loving Pappie that he is, went out one day to find him his own steering wheel.

The smile on his face was pure angelic bliss.

Alas, the next time he encountered the toy, he opted instead to suck the suction cups (because you're supposed to attach it to a smooth surface to play with it) and that's how he's been playing with it ever since. Except for when he's using it as a step tool.

*~*

He managed to hoist half his body out/over his pen by push-climbing with his feet and hanging on with his arms. Heaven help us!

Pappie wants to put a ball chain on his foot now...

*~*

When he was six months and standing up, we were sure he'd be walking early like I did (at ten months). So when ten months passed with him still preferring to crawl (only standing on his own to clap), I realized that I need not have been concerned/excited before.

I mentioned that to everybody in the house.

A day after he turned ten months old... he took his first two steps on his own. And dang it, only Tita Ninang witnessed it because Pappie was still at work and Mommy was making the macaroni salad Pappie requested her to make.

I guess I spoke too soon.

And boy, oh boy, our boy is growing.

*~*

And then of course, there's mush here too...

Baby Jojo handed me this note before eating the carbonara I made last Thursday night....

Mahal,

'La lang, i'm just here at the seminar and missing you and Yakee. I realized that I seldom write notes or letters to you anymore and I do hope you wouldn't consider that as an indication that I do not care or love you.

Just would like to thank you for doing the best in taking care of Yakee. I couldn't ask for more from a wonderful partner. I do appreciate your sacrifices and would do my best to do my part of the bleeding. Anyways, I love you so much po.

Forever,
Baby


Kaya it really pays to cook for your loved ones!


Hungree Burger for my hungry ones (but baby can only eat the bun)

Superpower tag

I was tagged by Carla :)

And I don't know of any superpowers I have... although I sure hope that what some of my friends say is true... that I sure know the right things to say when they're feeling blue. :)

Oh and LATCH says that we should always say we make liquid gold :D If that's not a superpower, I don't know what is :D