Goodbye, 2015!

Recap of this eventful year:
- I opened this year pregnant. What a great way to kick of 2015.
- I spent the first 5 months of the year still pregnant, happily waiting for our little fighter to come out on his planned birthday, June 12. Then, surprise surprise, he pops out on May 30th, only a day after my last working day at TV5.
- I spent the next 7 months being a fulltime mom and enjoying every minute of it. Breastfed Griffin all the way too, I am so proud to say.
- I also did well financially, despite the sabbatical and lack of paycheck for about 3 months. I chalk this up to being prepared for this change in our lives and for, well, bootstrapping as much as I can. For instance, I hardly shopped for myself and did not buy anything luxurious at all.
- We went to Singapore on a short trip, just us two, and it felt great to take a break from the sleepless nights (though the requisite pumping still meant I could only sleep max of 6 straight hours, but hey I'll take that!)
- I close the year with a heart full of joy and contentment. Life is best lived this way, I realize :)

2015 brought me the best and greatest gift of my life. I now understand how much of a struggle it is to focus on the marriage and the husband, when there is a little, vulnerable one needing you more. Griffin is undoubtedly the biggest treasure in my life and I don't know how I ever lived without him.

Happy New Year! <3 br="">

Holiday update

I'm writing this as I lounge in bed in my mom's house. We just got back from Tagaytay with the Chans and we're back at my mom's where we will stay until Jan 2. 

I can lounge here because there's a lot of people here willing and able and very very willing (did I say willing enough?) to carry G, entertain him and watch him. So mommy can take a breather and rest her poor aching back, which took a beating in rocking-chair-less Tagaytay while carrying a 22-pound heavyweight of a 7-month-old. He's turned 7 months- today! More on that later hehe. 

I just want to post some thoughts lingering in my head while I have the time:

1. I'm lucky to have my parents. I think they're the best, especially my mom, in helping raise Griffin. 

2. We learned this holiday just how much babies love wide open spaces. Griffin visibly loves the airy garden here at my mom's house and he super enjoyed the cool wide open spaces in the Tagaytay house we rented. Makes us think about our condo and that, while it's centrally located and lets us cut traffic out more than other people can, it is devoid of open spaces unless you count the Salcedo Park as our space. Hehe. But, until we agree on where to buy a house (he wants the accessibility of the North, I prefer the suburb feel of the South), Easton is where we will be. Neutral ground. Hehe. 

3. We recently shared with each other our individual observations that we've been avoiding mentioning to one another for fear of the other's feelings being hurt. Turns out we both observed the same thing and really don't mind it, save foe the possibility that it hurt the other. Here's the revelation: My in-laws love both their grandchildren but they really do love Fuji a little bit (sometimes a lot) more. It is quite obvious, really. Especially my MIL. She picks up Fuji first, looks for her when she's out of sight, "takes charge" over her care like feeding her, for instance, even when her parents are around, talks with pride about things she does, etc. there's just a special twinkle in her eye or a special tone in her voice when it concerns Fuji. I suppose it's because she's the first apo and it's almost like a law of nature to love your first apo more. 

And I sincerely do not mind. Partly because I suspect the same of my parents (but this time, in my favor as G is their first apo) and also because I know she loves Griffin and it's not diminished in any way because she loves Fuji more. Also the mom in me doesn't mind her non-interference in my parenting, mostly because she's focused on the little girl and not on my boy.  I thought it would offend Dennis though, so I never mentioned it until yesterday on our way home when we were discussing a recent family drama over xrays and quarantining from children (haha long story). Turns out Dennis also noticed it and thought not to mention it to me because I may get jealous. Hello! Haha! Anyway, it's good that he doesn't mind. Because I really don't.

4. Having a good yaya is almost as critical to staying a happy mom as a good husband is. If not more. Haha! And I'm thankful for ours. 

5. Elian is here! My SIL gave birth to him after 24-hours of grueling labor (long story!) and finally, my parents' first Co apo was born on December 27. Hooray!

Ok, time to get ready for the day. Will continue my updates and thoughts-jotting later. Hehe. Life of a mom. 

Christmas thoughts

Griffin's 6th month and my first time away from him

So, my baby turned 6 months, coming in at a whopping 21 pounds, and spent the day taking his first ever swimming class. 

Then later that week, we took him to Guama's house to stay for 5 days because Dennis and I will leave him for 3 days to take a short trip to Singapore. Dennis and I booked our tickets at the travel fair about two months ago and flipflopped on whether we should bring him with us. We finally decided it would be a good chance for us to take a short break, reconnect and sort of cap off our exciting year together. It's only been a night away from G so far and Mommy already misses him loads. Waiting at NAIA for our boarding time was the toughest for me-- leaving him minutes ago was still fresh in my mind and there were limited ways of distracting myself at the old rickety airport. Good thing our flight was on time and by mid-morning we were already at the land of the Merlion. 

We also realized it's quite fitting for SG to be our first trip together as parents. It was our first trip together as well as a married couple. And we intend to make it our first trip abroad with Gboy as well, when he's a bit (or a lot bigger). I know my in laws plan a US holiday next year but I'm referring to our first trip as our nuclear family. Wouldn't that be nice? :)

Miss you so much, baby.