HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

May your New year be...
A new year that brings luck and prosperity

A new year that fills your home with good health, laughter, LOVE and peace
A New Year that brings happiness and joy
Happy New Year friends!

Cheers to 2013!

Goodbye 2012. Hello 2013!!!

Taking a picture with Yllac means a lot of blurry shots and basically lots of photos just like the first one here. Most of the time, as a mother, I do get a lot of simple but frank realizations from my son. When I wanted to capture the moment by taking a photo, he on the other hand wants nothing to do with it but seize the experience by exploring, checking whatever is new to his eyes. When we were in Vigan, Yllac fell in love with that little town and it's cobblestone streets. He stomped and walked every inch of it. He refused to take our hands and run as fast as he could to peek at every store and smile at everyone. He was so happy. I love to look at him so happy and to learn from this little person God gave me two years ago. It is sometimes difficult to reconcile the fantasy of what i thought motherhood would be like and what i thought I would be like as a mother in the balance of reality. There is a tremendous amount of learning from being a mom since day one. It never stops. You continue to learn. You will always make mistakes. Motherhood is a choice, and motherhood is a choice I make everyday. To put my son's happiness and well-being ahead of my own, to do the right thing even I am not too sure if it's the right thing. And to cry and forgive myself, over and over again for doing everything wrong. Being a parent feels like you're on-the-job training. Forever. 

2012, oh 2012!!! You gave me so much love and joy and so much heartache. 

We said goodbye to Koffy this year. 

There is a new job offer for Jayson this year too. And we're all excited for that. 

And maybe when I'm brave enough, Ill share this thing that's been giving me so much sorrow and so much courage to be strong and patient. Someday...when I'm brave enough.  

2012 brought me so much happy and sad experience I will forever keep to my heart. 2012,  if nothing else, has taught  me that the experience of life is all that matters, in all it's shade, in all it's glory. The trick is to seize the moment. When you're happy, you simply let happiness fill your soul and when you're sad, you let yourself feel the beautiful ache of sorrow. There is a lesson in failure. And there's definitely hope and a colorful rainbow at the end of every earth shattering quakes of your life. Trust me, I know. 

So, 2013 for us, for my family, is all about Seizing Every Faaaareeking Moment Of Our Lives! aka seize the moment, aka Carpe Diem, aka cliche, aka corny.

Let's rock 2013 everyone.   

Pagudpud

The beach has a very calming effect on me, especially when it's almost empty. Summer beach trip in December just couldn't be more perfect with less crowd, less heat and zero sun burn.  So if you want my advice, go to the beach when it's off season. Plus it's cheaper.

More than two weeks ago, we drove to Pagudpud. Yllac loves the sand. He's not so much crazy about the water though. He can crouch like that for hours, play, throw and dig the sand and forget about food and nap time. In which meltdowns didn't come as a surprise. But the ration of four adults to one toddler is simply amazing. Dealing with tantrums is easy peasy. Wow! But really, it is true what they say - it takes a village to raise a child. I am just glad, that during our north trip, my parents are with us. Everything feels so much easy.

ps,

we went to Pagudpud 3 years ago, Jayson and me. If you want to see it, I blogged it here. So much has changed since then..... so much.

Resolutions

I don't normally do this but I think I should this time. It's more fun and challenging, sort of an extra push to follow through with the things we wanna accomplish when it's written right? It's a blessing that every new year feels like a fresh start and a time for change. Every new year is a do over. 

So here's a few of my resolutions....

cry less

give up coke drink less coke. 

drink more water

take up sewing class

pay attention

see a bone doctor. enough with the googling

exercise

write. on a paper.
say I Love You more often

write to people. on a paper

be an excellent/awesome/cool driver

read more "intelligent" books

sleep early

plan

go out more

see people

cook

shop less

be nice

learn to drink red wine

be brave and confident mom

be a lady wife

give

do more

pray

those are just a few things on my list. Honestly I am really scared for 2013. There's gonna be a HUGE change (and it's coming up pretty fast) and these past few days of December prepped me for that. I am scared and excited at the same time. Id like to think of it as the first day of school. 

How about you? Do you make a list of your resolutions? 

Fishes, Fishes, Fishes

 

A week ago we went to see the Manila Ocean Park. While it was really fun inside with that over-your-head aquarium fish watching (of course, there's nothing much to do there but watch all the fish swim) but once you're done with the whole tour, oh boy it was exhausting and we're all dizzy. Looking at those fishes through the thick aquarium glass, feels like driving wearing your grandmother's glasses. 

I am pretty sure, Yllac does not remember any of it. He's too young for that. But that's one of the great things about having an annoying blogging-momma.... if you know what I mean.

Year End SALE at Shoe Etiquette

That's right folks, everything must go. All these gorgeous shoes on sale for 850php only, (plus more shoes on a much lower price) for a limited time offer.

Sale promo period: December 28, 2012 to January 4, 2013.

Shop HERE.  

Happy New Year everyone!

The Beautiful Bantay Bell Tower

Three and a half years ago, Jayson and I were here, at this beautiful Bantay Bell Tower, where I also met these little girls.

So please be kind and excuse me if am feeling all dreamy right now as I look at these pictures, enjoying this place as a family of three. At first, Yllac was a bit frightened. Of course am not sure why. But after a while, as he slowly familiarized himself with everything he decided he wanted to explore alone. He's my brave little boy! And I am pretty sure it was the longest run of his life. The loooooongest! As soon as he reached that wall, we called him and he came back to us. I honestly thought he was gonna trip and fall or lose his pants. Be he did not. I am so proud of my Yllac.