Marriage, Motherhood, and Everything in Between
[Date backtracked]
Aside from all the love, calories, and gifts, there were also truckloads of photographs! And I’m dumping them here because happy memories like this deserve space in the web. :)
Me & David
Our family, Manila chapter :)
Continue reading “Our baby shower, part 2: Party people, and a DIY photobooth”
It all began with my husband wanting to throw me a surprise baby shower with our church family, except that he couldn’t handle the pressure of the preparations so he ended up spilling the beans to me himself. I love that he tried, really, but I was glad that he told me because I didn’t want a surprise! If anything, I wanted to be able to pick what we’re going to wear (LOL) and be part of the preparations.
Everything turned out well, after all. :)
So I did as much as I could—designing invites, giveaways and stickers; ordering paper straws; browsing Pinterest for ideas; hand-lettering labels, you know, stuff I can do within the confines of my laptop and desk. But my involvement was little compared to my dear fairy godmothers‘ labor of love.
I don’t know how to pull off throwing a party without Mae. She did a great job organizing the whole thing—making sure that we get the items in my wish list, inviting loved ones and friends, putting the program together, and filling the venue with pinterest-inspired paper pompoms, cupcake labels, japanese lanterns, and buntings. Hands down! It was the prettiest baby shower ever.
Fresh (of Josiahs’ Catering), who once did magic on our wedding day, got carried away once again and made a little desert heaven out of our little party. There were too many deserts—cupcakes, macarons, eclairs, meringues, cream puffs—I wasn’t even able to taste everything! That is, besides the fact that my husband was watching out my sugar and calorie intake, LOL.
Ivy helped with souvenir print outs and setting up my baby registry while she’s doing her own wedding preps.
I have the awesomest friends. Continue reading “Our baby shower, part 1: Showered with lots of love.. & calories!”
You, three, keep me going.
Thanks for being worth all the cramps, and muscle pains, and long days, and sleepless nights,
and everything that comes with this whole nine months.
I’ve been going through a lot of rough days lately. I wake up and go through the day with all sorts of pain in literally all parts of my body, and I have to endure looong trips from home to work and back each day. Sometimes I can’t point exactly where the pain is coming from anymore; all I know is, sleeping, walking, standing up and even breathing takes a lot more effort now than ever.
Plus my baby bump is HUGE! The photos above were taken about a month ago, so I’ve grown significantly bigger since then. To illustrate how big my bump is, last week during my pre-natal checkup, two other pregnant mommies were in the waiting room with me. After some small talk, I learned that they were already in their 9th month of pregnancy.. and yet, my 30-week old tummy was still bigger than theirs. It’s heavy, and it’s no joke having to carry around additional 40 pounds of placenta, amniotic fluid, and two actively kicking babies, while balancing them with my short, chubby legs.
But God sends angels to help me through each day—strangers who willingly give up their seats for me in crowded trains, churchmates and colleagues who thoughtfully bring me cookies and pastries, godmothers who hand-me-down maternity dresses, family and friends who volunteer to drive and run errands for us, prayer warriors everywhere.
And then there’s my husband who tells me I’m beautiful even when all I feel is fat and ugly, who holds my hand through a contraction or a cramp, and listens intently when I rant about the challenges of my day, and makes room in our budget for occasional shopping sprees when I’m feeling sad about not having anything to wear anymore, and picks me up from work everyday without fail.
And then there’s these two little angels who nudge me from within—fetal movements that, to me, translate to “We love you, Mommy!“, or “We’re okay Mommy, don’t worry about us!“, or “You’re not alone Mommy, we’re here.”
I’m surrounded by love everyday.
Sure, there may be moments of weakness.. days when I wish for this phase to be over and done with already; or moments when I feel sad about not being able to wear heels; or times when I get scared about going under the knife. But mostly there is just pure joy, and sheer excitement, and childlike wonder, and a lot of marveling at how intricately God creates life and how He takes care of His children.
This pregnancy is doing me good. I want to remember this time of my life forever.
*Word art by Paislee Press, thank you.
This one is for keeps: My little family, all four of us, (my husband and I and the two little worshipers inside of me), leading worship at our church‘s Cell Leaders’ Conference. At 27 weeks.
I’ll let you in on how it’s like to lead worship with a pregnant tummy.
It’s extra-challenging, like any other task that requires you to stand for a period of time as you feel the additional weight that hangs around your belly. You have to maintain self-control whenever you feel like dancing or jumping, which can be a little frustrating when you see everyone else dancing and jumping the way you can’t do. You have to stop in the middle of songs to catch your breath. You feel some leg cramps and back pains but you soldier on anyway.
And then you start feeling fetal movements and some kicking inside of you, and you smile at that thought that the babies are most likely enjoying the drum beats and the music, and hearing their Mommy and Daddy’s muffled voices.
So you lift your hands and sing your heart out, short of breath, tears on your cheeks, muscle pains and all, heart abandoned to this awesome God—the Giver of life, your Source of strength, your Reason for living, your babies’ Creator. And you know you’re doing exactly what you were made to do.
And that.. is one of the best feelings in the world.
Obligatory instagram post of our weekend at Canyon Woods Resorts:
(1) For the first time the whole week, the sun was shining brightly and we spent our weekend without a hint of dark skies and rain! (2) We woke up on our first morning with sun rays through our room’s glass windows, what a sight! (3) We had our breakfast of eggs and bacon with a beautiful view on the side; (4) ..and we can’t help but stare at the two empty seats in front of us, thinking that soon enough, two little girls will occupy those seats; (5) I’m so thankful my husband is a good swimmer. I’ve always loved swimming, and I’m glad to have someone who’s game to swim anytime! (6) The indoor pool was practically the highlight of our stay, we had it all to ourselves the whole time we were there! Seriously, no other guests but us! (7) My big bulge didn’t stop me from swimming, yeah! (8) Posing by the highway, just because; (9) Pretty casitas by the lake, one of which was our love nest for the weekend; (10) Gotta love having a husband who’s ready with a camera all the time; (11) Waiting for our ride back home, after 3 days of rest; (12) Pasalubongs from Tagaytay.
We couldn’t help but compare how different this August was from last year. How we were surrounded by lots of people, family and friends, on our wedding day and on the days before and after it. This time, celebrating our first wedding anniversary, it was just two of us. And it was really just the two of us, literally, as it seemed like we were the only guests in Canyon Woods that time. The only times we’re reminded that we’re not alone were those moments when I feel tiny kicks in my belly, and we realize that we have two little girls tagging along wherever we go.
The place was beautiful, the moments were precious, and it was just the kind of weekend where we keep marveling at how huge and how wide God’s love is. And yet, in His Greatness, He’s still mindful of the personal details and the little things in these small and short lives we live.