Hello, dolls! Hello, June 2021! It has been almost a week since I came back from Nashville and I am still on a traveling high. After 17 months of making sure my family stays safe, I finally mustered up the courage to get on a plane — vaccinated and masked up of course! I am happy to report I did not bring anything unwanted back home and the trip was successfully safe.
Anyway, getting the break that I needed made me realize how Moms find it difficult to seek time for themselves. Mom guilt is real and there will always be a part of me that will say “maybe I do not need this appointment right now because I just worked 40 hours this week, the kids need me”. Moms tend to put themselves last and unfortunately, it can spiral back to an unhealthy lifestyle.
Hello, dolls! hello, fall!! <3 Aaaah don’t you just love the crisp weather that greets your face when you walk out the door? The beautiful leaves starting to turn to orange/brown and the positive aura the people around you exude because it is finally, fall. I loved fall even more when I became a Mom. The fun activities we get to do and the joy of planning their outfits is just enough to make my Mama heart full the entire season.
For some reason, this cuddle weather makes me want to relax at home more. I am always on the go during summer because I feel like the season is not long enough for us to enjoy the outdoors so our weeks are filled with activities almost everyday. Once the weather starts getting a little cool, I am more drawn to relaxing which means I can also plan some “me time” throughout the week — and what better way to welcome fall than to enjoy my Therabox beauty subscription box?
Hello, dolls! Hello, NFL Season! As much as I want to say I am very excited to see the Ravens play again, I can’t help but feel indifferent about my husband planning life around the games again — I say this with love but we are not going to tell him that 😛 Now that Little A is bigger, game days seem to be more relaxing for us. I love seeing my boys in the basement hanging out together whether Little A is busy playing with legos or jump up and down as he yells “Ravens” when someone scores a touchdown.
It’s the simple moments like this that make me more motivated to stay safe and healthy for our kids. I know one day, Little A will say “Dad, remember when this happened during the game?”.
Hello,dolls!! Hello, summer heat! I know it’s challenging to fully enjoy summer this year with everything going on but I hope there are more positive experiences in your life to look back to from this season. I would be lying if I said I wake up every morning with the confidence I had four months ago. I feel like as we get closer to the new school year and holidays, my anxiety gets heavier. With the uncertainty ahead of us, it’s hard to not feel worried about the upcoming changes in our lives. One of the biggest things that breaks my heart is the thought of not seeing our family for a very long time — cousins from New York, my siblings and my Dad in Manila, and friends that we love as family. This brings me back to all the parties I hosted over the years when everyone was able to attend. I had to cancel two parties I planned this year because of covid and though the kids don’t realize it yet, I feel bad that they don’t get to physically experience the love that a lot of people share with them.
It wasn’t easy deciding to cancel Baby C’s first birthday party. For weeks I would follow the news about coronavirus and hope that there is a way for me to gather everyone that we love and celebrate my girl. After two months of feeling concerned about the safety of our loved ones, I knew that hosting a party right now is not the best thing to do.
I am the kind of Mom who loves to plan everything ahead of time. I write down every idea and see where my mind takes me. I wanted something different for our loved ones to enjoy in the summer, so I thought what better way to celebrate a birthday in Baltimore than to have Maryland crabs?
Planning a crab-themed or nautical birthday party? I am attaching links to products that will make it easy for you!
Hello, dolls!! Hello, weekend! <3 The best part of my week was going to Nordstrom for their anniversary sale. One of the perks of being a card member is the early access to the awesome Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. A and I have been in the influencer level for the past 3 (or 4?) years now and I am very very happy with all the little “gifts” that come with the status.
The public sale for Nordstrom’s Anniversary sale is on August 19th and I know there are a lot of you who are wondering if it’s even worth waiting for. I honestly think that it is because their anniversary sale is just insanely good! Most of the items are discounted at at least 50% off and for Moms like me, this is a great way to stock up on clothes for the kids! Here are a few of my favorites from this year’s sale. 90% of the items below are already in our closet so I can attest to the quality and style.
Hello, dolls!! Hello, June! One of the things that devastated me during this pandemic is Baby C’s birthday party getting “rescheduled until further notice”. Look, there are plenty of big issues that we are facing now but as a Mom, this my story today. When I found out I was having a girl, I knew what theme her birthday was going to be. It was easy to plan because I had a clear vision. I jotted down every idea and collected anything that could make the party successful. Just like everyone else, when each country announced the lock down, I thought it was only going to last two weeks. or a month tops. As we learned more about the virus, I started feeling nervous for all the things that “might not happen” — Little A not going back to school, our trips, and Baby C’s first birthday.
There are many things that we adapted to since the first day of quarantine that we love doing now. I still can’t help but feel a bit of longing for the things that I wish we can do. One of many is having our friends and family around when celebrating special moments. Every week I would read articles about the virus and intently listened to the Governor’s announcements wondering when I can send Baby C’s birthday invitations. When April rolled around and there was no clear sky in sight, I knew had to hold off on the invitation and wait for the right time.
Hello, dolls!! Hello, June! So my greatest fear during this lock down has happened, I am starting to feel like this is normal. This life where my sole responsibility each day is to make sure we are okay, no servicing other people but us. Waking up to my kids fully energized hoping a cup of coffee would magically appear in front of me to get me off my bed. “It’s another day” I like to say — another day of never missing another moment with my children. So this is what it feels like, to fully submit myself to Motherhood and be home all day.
When I found out I was pregnant with Little A, I shopped for books I could read to him. I had no idea which ones to look for but somehow I bought The Little Prince because the title seemed fitting. A and I did not have an idea what kind of parents we were going to be, but we knew we wanted our children to grow up loving books just as much as we do.
Hello, dolls! Hello, April! We all survived March, I think we all deserve a pat on the back. The past month seems like a blur to me. It’s astonishing how things have turned out because of COVID-19 for the entire world. Months ago, I would always look forward to getting an extra day off from work so I can pick up Little A from school. Now, we are still unsure if he will be able to go back to school anytime soon.
Baby C is turning one next month and I know we are not going to be able to throw a party for her. I have decided to postpone it since I know things are not going to be easy for most of our friends and families once this COVID19 situation is all over. Luckily, I am kind of a pro when it comes to simple celebrations at home so I know we can make it scrapbook worthy for her still.
Hello, dolls!! Hello, Easter weekend! Psalm 9:9-10 The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. One of the many things that gives me hope in the midst of this crisis is the assurance that God is with me through all this. A few years back I read this passage that said “God does not give us problems we cannot handle” and one of my favorites of all “challenges are blessings in disguise”. When I took to heart what those meant, it gave me a sense of relief knowing that I have God with me who is much stronger than any problem that would come my way.
Hello, dolls! Hello again, New York! When I said I look forward to our adventures every weekend two months ago, I really meant it. We’ve been on 4 road trips since then and now I am working on my giant packing list for our trip to the Philippines and Taiwan. I started preparing for Christmas too since I will only have a week to get everything ready after we come back from our trip. It’s going to be a hectic month but I look forward to wearing my superMom cape all month long! 😛
If there is anything I learned about being a Mom in the past three years, it is the fact that no amount of lists can prepare me for the adventitious days Motherhood will bring my way. Perfect example? A and I planned this weekend trip to New York more than a month ago but my toddler, Little A came home with another round of germs from school on Friday so the four of us are currently sniffing and coughing like we are some cracked up boy band. Luckily, I have a list of great baby products I use whenever the kids are sick. Thanks to Big City Moms for connecting Moms like me (who are still learning) to great brands that can help make things easier.
Hello dolls, Hello New York City!! <3 So the kids and I are currently in New York for the Big City Moms event. I usually stick to our work/school week routine but since this one is very special to me, so I decided to treat myself to a “midweek trip”. This is totally giving me all the weekend vibes that I need!
I can’t believe November is finally here! Less than 60 days until we kiss 2019 goodbye. For all the hiccups I had to face this year, I still consider this year as one of the best ones because of baby C. I went through a lot of downs during the last quarter of the year but seeing my husband and children happy makes me feel blessed no matter what life throws my way.
November is the season of realizations and gratefulness for most of us. I look at this month with an open heart — ready to take on new opportunities for the coming year. I reevaluate myself and think of ways to improve my relationships with other people, myself, and my craft. The past couple of months have not been easy for me, but November has been really really good so I feel like things are slowly turning around for me. What better way to keep the positive vibe flowing? Talk about Thanksgiving!
Hello, dolls! Hello, perfect fall weather 😛 It’s officially crunch time for me! The holiday season is finally here and as a Mom-of-two, every day seems hectic with our daily routine, holiday planning, and vacation in the middle of Thanksgiving and Christmas! I get into this super Mom mode around the holidays because I need to — and I love it!
The past couple of weeks have not been easy for me truthfully. As my role as a Mom gets a little easier, I find my self in this deep hole trying to figure out what’s next for me as an individual. If there is anything certain about being a Mom, I can say for sure that the sacrifices we have to make are endless — and most of them are unfathomable.
Anyway, back to being a fun Mom. Halloween is two weeks away and I am very excited for Little A! Although this will be his third Halloween, it will be his first time enjoying it dressed up as someone he really likes and understand what trick or treating is all about!
Hello, dolls! Hello, fall!! <3 Is anyone else as ecstatic that fall is finally here? Although the hot weather this week doesn’t seem like it, everything fall is finally happening around me — pumpkin spice on everything is officially here. There is no doubt fall is my favorite season, spring WAS my favorite but after my horrible seasonal allergies this year, I think I am going to stick to fall — for a while. The perfect crisp weather, fun fall activities, and OOTDS (of course!) are some of the things I look forward to this season. This year is going to be twice the fun from the past years now that we have baby C.
The first time we went to Weber’s Farm for their fall festival, I was very overwhelmed with the crowd. Little A was 4-months-old then and I really wanted to go on the hayride but since it was the weekend, Weber’s Farm was packed. My goal this season is to finally do it — and post another blog about Weber’s Farm! :p
Hello, dolls!! Hello, weekend! <3 Less than 3 months left and I will be on my way to the Philippines…with my kids! Am I worried about the flight? A little I would say. Some of you might think I am being too facile about this, but after traveling 36 hours with little A when he was 6 months old, I feel optimistic about our upcoming trip with baby C! Traveling with a baby is A LOT of work and exhausting — if you hate packing, you will hate it even more once you have kids! Luckily, I enjoy packing so this does not bother me at all.
Anyway, A and I have been traveling internationally with little A since he was 6 months old. Believe me, when I say, I will do it over and over again because the flight does not bother me. Maybe I am lucky that my little one is a good traveler or the fact I prepare for our trip like it’s the armageddon.
Hello, dolls!! Hello, school season! <3 I know school doesn’t start for another 2 weeks but I can already sense the “back-to-school” vibe everywhere in Maryland! I honestly can’t hide my excitement anymore. Last week, A and I went to our first school-related event as parents and boy, I AM JUST LOVING IT! 😛 Truthfully, I couldn’t say I LOVED school so much, I had my fair share of I-do-not-want-to-go-to-school days and deliberately not put any effort into things that did not interest me. However, I worked extra hard on things that made me curious.
Little A and I have one full week left until we go into our new routine. I am not sure how things will be once I have a preschooler, all I know is watching him learn new things and make new friends will bring so much joy to my heart. Anyway, I am trying to make the most of what’s left of our summer break which includes eating out!
Hello, dolls! This weekend has been the hottest it has ever been this summer — it’s the kind of heat that makes you want to jump in a pool filled with ice. This heatwave did not stop me from going out with my kids though. It’s the weekend and we’ve been cooped up in the house for days so it’s either melting in the heat or waiting another week to go on an adventure.
Baby C is going to be 2 months old in 2 days! Meaning I’ve been dealing with the changes in my life for almost 2 months now. I have expressed how challenging being a Mom of two is here on my blog a million times and somehow I still find myself starting every blog post with the same statement. I feel fortunate that baby C does not give me a hard time! In fact, I feel like she is just so over the daily chaos that she sees between her brother and me that she would rather be in her own peaceful space than join in the mix by crying. LOL
Anyway, if you are to ask me what makes my new plight challenging, I would say it’s the emotionally and mentally draining days. I am used to the hustle and bustle of being on my feet all day so running after my toddler and dropping everything to feed my newborn every 2-3 hours are things I can physically handle. So what’s making it hard? I don’t know….maybe the fact that I am a different person now and I am trying my best to keep up.
Hello, dolls!! Hello, JULY!!! 7 months down, 5 to go! This means 5 months left to work on our goals for 2019. My main goal this year? Be a better Mom. I sometimes feel like my frustration gets the best of me. I hate how I get impatient with little things like not having enough time to clean our bedroom. I feel guilty for not knowing how to handle my emotions sometimes and letting Little A see me be so vulnerable.
6 weeks of being a Mom-of-two and I know I still have a long way to go. If there’s any consolation from this, and truthfully what’s really important — my kids are healthy and happy. They get fed multiple times throughout the day., get happy baths before nap time and we read books in the afternoon. So let me end this loathing before I start sounding like I am not doing anything.
I am so happy I am home with the kids this summer (thank you maternity leave!) because it’s easy for us to plan fun adventures every week. We went on a lot of road trips with Little A and as tedious as it is to pack things for all of us, it wouldn’t compare to the happiness that we felt each time. Being a working Mom means losing time from your baby, in my case…a LOT of time during the week so I make sure I am available for him every weekend.
Hello, dolls! Hello, LIFE! So let’s be real here…being a Mom is not easy — these are words that I thought I would never say before. How do Moms do it? How do YOU do it? Cause for real, I sometimes feel like I am back to zero now that I have two kids. A lot of people warned me that having 2 kids feels like you have 4, and man how I wish this one is not true — cause it is! My toddler’s energy is through the roof and I find myself feeling guilty for being impatient at times when I know all he needs is my attention. Baby C is 4 weeks old — 1-month-old tomorrow! It means we are closer to regulating our new normal. I think a part of me is just anxious because I feel like I should be doing more. Oh, the rewarding reality of Motherhood! My heart is full but my mind is busy juggling a million things every minute lol 😛
Little A is going to be 3 in 5 days!! How crazy is that?? There have been many changes in our home since the beginning of the year, one of which is Little A’s room. March and April were busy months for me because I spent most of my free time working on Little A’s room and Baby C’s nursery. I felt nostalgic as I updated Little A’s room because it’s a validation that he is indeed growing up. His room is no longer the nursery in our house, and although that meant we are welcoming baby C, it also made me want to freeze time and enjoy Little A’s babyness more.
Hello, dolls! Hello, JUNE! What a week! With a newborn and a food festival I participated in, the first week of June felt like it just stopped by to say hello. Little A’s third birthday is fast approaching so I will be busy planning how to make him the happiest on his birthday. I am still trying to keep up with the demands of being a Mom-of-two so it’s been challenging to get any me time. So let me say hello again because it feels good to finally blog again!
One of the things I am truly grateful for during my pregnancy was having enough time to enjoy it. I was able to do pregnancy-related activities and prepare everything without feeling rushed. When I was pregnant with Little A, the only pregnancy-related activity I was able to do was to go to prenatal yoga. With baby C, I was able to attend a couple of baby events which helped me understand my journey as a Mother even more — one of which, the first Baltimore Birth Festival last month (May 19,2019).
Hello, dolls!! Hello, Amelia Caroline <3 She’s here!!! My baby girl is here <3 The past week felt surreal, are we really a family of 4 now? Everything has been pretty smooth (so far). Believe it or not, I’ve been getting enough sleep, long enough for me to not feel like a zombie and look forward to shopping 😛 Although I have to admit, I am kind of scared once A goes back to work. This “new world” that I live in now has been pretty serene and I know it’s because of the help I’ve been getting from A and my Mom. Hopefully, week 2 will be just as good, or at least bearable.
Let me officially introduce you to the newest member of my tiny tribe — baby C! <3 My pregnancy with her was not easy. From food aversion to physical pain, I think I’ve experienced them all! I dodged the severity of pregnancy symptoms with Little A and had a looooong labor and delivery. With baby C, it was painful but short! It’s amazing how different both experiences were, I feel like a new woman each time!
I shared my birthing story with little Aa couple of years ago and it’s one of my most favorite entries so far! I love sharing my story — especially if I can make a Mom-to-be know that childbirth is not so bad at all!
