My First Blog Carnival

I haven't been updating this blog too much, because most of my time is spent taking care of the kids, and maintaining my mommy website, Rainy Days and Mom Days. Do drop by. And please check out my latest post--my first for a mommy blog carnival--and the posts of the other breastfeeding moms.

Yes, We're Still Alive!

It's been nearly two years since I've updated this blog. I now have two new babies: my second daughter, Sarayu Beatriz--we call her Breeze--and my mommy website, Rainy Days and Mom Days.

Since Rainy Days is more a practical tips site, helping make motherhood a breeze, I'll put my personal, not-so-helpful musings here. Do come by regularly. It's nice to see old friends, and make new ones. And please do visit Rainy Days and Mom Days too.

In the mean time, here are a few pictures to show what I've been up to.

Sleeping soundly together--isn't that sweet?

Raine preparing for Christmas in Baguio

Breeze enjoying the cold weather

Yes, We're Alive!

And we're expecting another baby by June next year.

I wanted to write a long, cute blog post about this latest addition to our family, but my brain is not working. And I'm still trying to figure out how to type and work around being queasy, dizzy and generally blah all day.

Which doesn't mean that we aren't excited about the new baby (we hope that it's a boy this time). We are.

Sometimes I feel a little guilty (mother guilt even at 8 weeks!) that we aren't acting as giddy as when Raine was in my tummy. And sometimes I wonder if I can ever treat them the same or will Raine have the advantage of being first?

Perhaps it's the hormones talking. Or the morning sickness that has no concept of time.

I just need to jumpstart my writing again. Then I can share how happy we really are.

What I Wish for Raine

Sometimes I find Raine out back, by herself. Sometimes she's puttering around, but most times she's to be found on the top rung of our folding steps--just sitting quietly. She can spend as long as 15 minutes out there, being still.

I don't quite know yet what's going on in her mind when she's out there. I'd like to think that at this young age, she has learned to appreciate the simple joys in life. Like the birds chirping or the flowers stirring in the breeze (then again she could also be plotting her next act of mayhem).

When I think of Raine's future, I want grand things for her, naturally. I want success, happiness--all the good things, all the best things. But what I'd also want is for her never to lose this ability to simply be still.

Be still and know that He is God.

That's something that I have difficulty doing. I get so lost in the busyness of this world, in the striving to achieve whatever--success, happiness, accolades--I no longer can be still and trust in the God who only has the best in mind for me.

The same God who has only the best in mind for Raine, even grander than I could ever hope for. And I wish--I pray--that Raine will always know to be still and find peace in that.

Adventures in Motherhood, Chapter 2

We lie in bed, side by side in the dark. It's time to go to sleep, but I can see the exuberance and energy still shining in her eyes. She holds up a finger close to my face, and with a pleading look asks, "One?"

I'm dying to sleep, but I give in. "OK. One last time."

She scrambles into a flat-on-the-bed position and begins, "Say.....clock!" It sounds more like, "see cahk", but we understand each other. I echo, "Clock!" and tickle her tummy as she screams with laughter.

"Say...clock!" she says again when she regains control of herself. "Clock!" And more giggling, squealing and tickling ensue. Over and over, we say clock and laugh. Sometimes, she takes a very long pause after "Say"; I can see her bursting with the anticipation. Sometimes the anticipation gets the better of her. She dissolves into gales of laughter--without saying "clock" or me having to do anything.

Finally, I tell. "OK, enough. Time to sleep. Good night."

She takes my face in between her tiny hands and gives me a kiss. Then she settles down with a final sigh: "Fun."

We drift off to sleep.

Why I Married Him

Me: Do we look at the glass as half empty or half full?

The Hubby: Half empty.

Me: Darn. We're both pessimists then.

The Hubby: Yeah. And we accuse each other of drinking from the glass.

Adventures in Motherhood, Chapter 1

Motherhood may sometimes be a lonely job, but you are rarely, ever, alone.

Take the bath I tried to sneak in the other day. I park Raine in front of her electronic nanny and zip into the bathroom. Madagascar is Raine's current favorite (she finds the scene where Alex the Lion bites Marty the Zebra's butt hilarious), so I assume that would give me enough time for a little pampering.

I had barely turned on the shower when I suddenly feel a cold draft. The door bangs open (should've locked it!) I hear "Mama!" And suddenly I'm shampooing to the melody of an enthusiastically played out-of-tune xylophone. OK, skip the conditioner.

Then total silence. Uh oh. I peek out of the curtains and I see Raine busy brushing her teeth. Well, sucking on her toothbrush is more like it. I figure that will buy me an extra five minutes, so I prepare my bath puff. Then there's a rustling of the shower curtains. "Boo!" she says, then disappears. She reappears on the other side. "Boo!" This happens several times. OK, fine. I'll just use plain soap today.

I peek out, and Raine is back to brushing her teeth. I hurriedly rinse off. I open my eyes and there is Raine right in front of me, with a huge smile, tugging off her shirt. "Aaaaack!" I scream, "Raine, get out, you're going to get wet!" She steps out wailing. OK, no post-bath body oil.

I towel dry, quickly. "Sorry, Raine, Mommy didn't mean to shout. You startled me, that's all...Raine?" And I step out of the shower, she's sniffling while brushing her teeth. When she sees me, she lightens up. "Mama." She lifts her hands to be carried.

Oh well. There'll be time enough for long baths when she grows up.