Our family of five has been having a streak of random days lately. Days spent doing random things not because we just feel like it but because whatever we had planned out did not quite work out. Sounds exciting, but when you're supposed to be getting things done and end up with nothing, it's no fun. Like the other week, we made plans of going to the National Museum to take advantage of the free entrance. We headed there and was greeted by a very long queu of people waiting to get inside. We stood in line for five minutes then decided to just come back another day even if we have to pay because Read More
I’m Sorry. I Forgive You.
There has been so much screaming, bickering and hair pulling between these two the last couple of days, way too much for my ears to take. It has been very difficult for me, of course, but I can just imagine how much worse it is for them, having to try to understand each other when it's already so difficult to properly express themselves, much less control their emotions. I do my best to keep them at peace with each other, which sometimes means having to keep them apart. But they always find themselves wanting to play together, so they do until the next squabble starts. I know these little Read More
Winners of Our Double Book Giveaway Revealed!
Kayo and I are very thankful to everyone who joined our book giveaway! It was enriching to read all your insights and see the many different great lessons being part of a family can teach us — lessons that shape us and make us into who we are. As an expression of our appreciation to those of you who joined, I have compiled your entries and responded to each of them below. I'm sure we can all learn something very valuable from one another. We also thank Fully Booked for letting us hold this blog giveaway and for sharing these wonderful books with us! And of course, lest I forget, Read More
Three Little Girls and A Sleepless Momma
The level of crazy at home has gone up a whole 'nother level since baby Jo arrived over three months ago. In case you are unaware, I have two other daughters, both under the age of four, and I am also a stay at home mom with no helper or nanny. With the new baby, I'm nursing round the clock, every three to four hours, on top of all the household chores, toddler activities and graphic design work. You probably think I'm crazy for getting myself into this but it was a decision my husband and I made from the very start. Aside from the fact that having a maid or yaya is expensive, we are Read More
Enough
A few days ago, I suddenly got hit by a momentary spell of sadness. The hormones and tiredness brought about by the pregnancy probably had something to do with it. And it could also be that I'm terrified of what having three small children will require of me. But whatever it was, I really just felt inadequate and insecure. Suddenly, I wasn't sure whether what I was doing as a wife and mother was enough. I doubted if, as an individual, I am enough.I found myself crying to Kayo about it in the middle of the night and as the understanding and caring husband that he is, he helped me sort it out.We Read More
DIY Thank You Cards
I read somewhere that consistently grateful people are happier and more satisfied with their lives. It also helps create a generous spirit in us. Therefore, gratitude is a virtue I would definitely want to develop in my children. Summer, who just turned two, cannot even pronounce "Thank you" properly yet. She says "tenchu" or something like that, but it makes me happy every time she says it without me having to remind her. Being consistently grateful is a quality even I have not perfected but I'm working on it and learning along side my girls. The week after Summer's birthday party, I Read More
Summer Turns 2
I'm so proud of Summer. She surprised Nica and me when she blew out her birthday candle all on her own, on the first try! And I do mean FIRST. We kept on talking about how we wanted to teach her how to do it and practice and all that, but we just never got around to it. Yet somehow, she just knew what to do at the end of singing "Happy Birthday." This kid always amazes me with how smart she is. We spent the day together as a family. It's pretty cool how the sun came out and shone for most of the time we spent outdoors. And while I did have some time sensitive work to do, we pretty much just Read More
There’s no one like you, Mom!
To my Mom, mother-in-law, sisters-in-law and friends who are Moms or about to become Moms — I pray you have the most blessed Mother’s Day! We are all mothers but what makes us different from each other are the children we have brought into this world, the children we love and care for. They make each one of us unique. It’s amazing how God brought these precious human beings into this world and specifically appointed you and me to mother them. It is an immense responsibility that is tough to replace and also a very special blessing. So today, my prayer for all of you Moms is for the Lord Read More
Dear Summer…
In just a few weeks, I will be giving birth to your baby sister. You will soon be an Ate and I, a mom of two. We’re about to experience a big change in our lives but of course, I don’t expect you to understand everything that’s happening. I don’t expect that you’ll know how to be a big sister right away just as much as I don’t expect to fully grasp what it’s like to have more than one child. We are both new at this, babe. And we will both learn to adapt. I want you to know that just because I can’t carry you as much because I’ll be nursing your sister half the time, it doesn’t mean that I Read More
On Babies and Books
SUMMER READS. (Sketch Pro, iPad2) "Up feet, Down feet, Here come clown feet. Small feet, Big feet, Here come pig feet, Oink, oink, oink!…" This is my one year old daughter’s favorite part of Dr Seuss’ The Foot Book. The Oink, oink, oink is really not in the book but it’s an adlib I’ve added and it never fails to crack her up I’ve been reading to Summer since she was a newborn and the last few months, she has become more interested and appreciative of being read to. Now she actually listens and participates. My night table has always been stacked with books and lately, children’s Read More