He must be fair...uhmmm, not!

This is Daddy Chard and Baby Psalm. Lil boy loves to be attached to his dad with this orange-y carrier we bought at Rob Pioneer.

I remember a funny story when we got this. When my son's like 3 months old, we went to the mall in the hopes of finding a rattle for Psalm. We've decided that we're going to wait for Papa -my dad to arrive from abroad before getting Psalm toys. Apparently, Khrys and I can't wait to get a hold of the toys at Duty free (especially the cars...correction cathy, it should be Psalm's toys, not YOUR toys). Anyways, we can't find a seemingly good enough rattle but found lots of carriers at sale. Psalm already has one black carrier but for some reason Chard wants another one that's colorful. Ok fine, so we did get one.

I would opt to get something red so I'm checking the red samples. Then the salesman said out of the blue, "Ma'am, maganda kulay yang red. Bagay po yan sa baby nyo. Mukha namang maputi baby nyo eh." Ma'am, the red color is nice. It would look good with your baby. Your baby must have fair skin. Chard and I looked at each other and would not know whether to laugh or squirm, which I think we did both at the same time.

That's Lols X10! You see, all, or almost all are expecting that my lil boy Psalm will come out white. After all, his dad is chinese and has fair skin. It's somewhat expected. But no, haha! Psalm may have gotten all his attributes from Chard but guess what, he got his skin color from us. Us being Ilocanos, you know we're not really fair.

And the end of the story, no - we didn't get the red one. But more so, a colorful Orange we took home. Lolz! Must be bagay (fit) because mukhang maputi nman si baby (it looks like baby has fair skin). :D

On Worship

I know I miss going to VCF Pio. Since giving birth, we stay at QC every weekend so we go to another church (same umbrella though) during Sundays. Good thing, there's Worship Night every First Thursdays (monthly) which we make attending compulsory. The service isn't the same as that regular Sunday worship that has you anticipating life changing series and sermons. Just as the name suggests, it's simply a night of worship and praise  to God.

But last night was extraordinary. It was an outpour of spirit, bliss and impact. It's a different experience when you not only know but FEEL it's really all about God and NEVER about us. There's nothing we can do that can place us in a position worthy enough of God's love, yet He chose to love us just as who we are. This week has been a struggle for me, made me restless and anxious of small, petty things. Honestly, during the start of worship last night my mind's been wandering off and about. We're supposed to go home after work and just promised to go back for church. But with people like us (yeah, that includes me and you), promises are meant to be broken. Our patience ultimately is that short. The service is at 7pm and our work hours end at 4pm. We're aching to go home. God knows we want to do this for Him but He knew better that we will never go back to Pio due to rain. A good excuse at that actually but instead of us having to use that alibi, it was the same rain that stopped us from leaving (it's raining real hard at the time we went out the mall doors). :)   Again, It's never about what we do, it's all about God.

Worship has never been so uplifting! It's directly us and God and no one in between. It was a relief to hear that in all things He is in control. We just need to back off and let go of the struggle that we're keeping up with God all this time. Come to think of it, why fight Him when we know we'll never win? Though situations are hard and oftentimes disappoint us, there is hope and breakthrough in God. We just need to be faithful where we are cause our God is faithful and has definite plans for each one of us. We may feel that the journey's been long and dragging but know that, we simply just need to let go and Let God. It's actually us who impede and slow down the walk.  We just need to repent, stop complaining, and see His grace that's overflowing. When we submit, when we surrender we'll see that the Lord's plan has been there, is not only good but the BEST all along.

Psalm at 5 months + Baby Rocker

Psalm turned 5 months last Saturday. I know babies grow fast but I nver thought it'll be this fast. Five months ago, he was this teeny tiny bird so fragile yet so strong. Now, he has this aura of a cute lil boy always eager to amaze us with his tricks and simple charms.

And since he turned a month older now, we gave him a rocker. Originally he wants a baby bouncer. I'll post the story behind that next.

Back to the rocker, we were so excited to have Psalm try it expecting that the thing will make Psalm swoon. But no, that did not happen the first time. What's up with bouncers? Is it really that comfy compared to rocking chairs? Well Psalm cried buckets for when he was placed to the chair the first backward rocking motion surprised our poor baby and gave him that effect of lula (dizziness). :( So much so for our first attempt.

Good thing there's one big snail on the rocker that screams Y-E-L-L-O-W. You see Psalm likes this color. You know the Yellow Cab motorcycle? He smiles at these rides whenever he sees one. And for sure when you ask him to pick, he'll grab his yellow pillow over a colorful ball. I had him touch the snail and I waited. I waited for Psalm to show his smile. When he did I knew that's the cue he's willing to give the rocker a second chance. And that was the start of Psalm's relationship with his rocker. :D

But that doesn't stop there. Papa brought these soft pillows from abroad and Tita Keek placed Psalm on it. Boy he was giggling and so ecstatic that he would grab the pillow on the sides while his Tita Keek is swaying him.

Psalm on the left drinking milk and playing with his rocker. Psalm on the right giggling on his mini mattress.

Next thing, I and Keek put Psalm with his pillow on the rocker. It was a perfect combination. And our little boy couldn't get enough of his tiny den that till now back at home they say Psalm loves his rocker and would sleep on it every day. 

Psalm with his rocker+pillow combination.

The best for you always baby Psalm. Daddy and Mommy loves you a bunch!

Rocker was bought online at Shopfortots. I got Psalm's crib from this vendor too. All brand new, unopened and a decent price that makes your money well spent. :)

Psalm's milestones-still at 4months cap [Part 2]

Back from my blog hiatus (two days leave, hehe)

Psalm rolled over by himself last Friday! Yey! It was great seeing this milestone by ourselves compared to mom telling the story that Psalm did this, did that. I was so close to tears seeing Psalm turned from his back without any help. When he was still weeks old (like 2 weeks), Psalm can already lift his head without any helpwhile lying on his stomach. He has this "ultra" strong bones that his doctor said he's one strong athlete in the making.

Clockwise from left: Psalm's first roll over (by himself) and yes, he was agitated that he can't roll back;
next pictures are of him (only weeks old) lying on his stomach

Apparently, we recorded some of Psalm's firsts this weekend.

HIs first "real" solid food. Bananas with Milk. I don't think he liked it, but Psalm, being the good boy (and matakaw) that he is, he finished his bananas (except that he can't feign his disgust over the taste).

Mommy, what's this experiment again?

And know what?? Psalm can hold standing now (yipee)! He's nearly (only) 5months and doesn't want to sit still. He wants to stand everytime we make him sit.

Psalm with Mama and his Daddy.

Hayys, kakatuwa ka Psalm. You're growing so fast anak!

:

His Kornets Description

While at the grocery...

Hubby:  San na yung Cheese Curls ko?

Me: Nsa bag ko. Teka, bili ako junk food, (kuha ng Kornets)

Hubby: Paborito mo yan, ayoko nyan eh lasang luma.

Hehehe, adik lng...

Early Separation Anxiety

I cried last Tuesday. While Chard and I were on our way home riding our motorbike, I shared my thoughts and suddenly found myself crying. It's about petty things which are quite embarassing actually. Psalm is only an incoming 5-month old cutie but here I am being frantic of what will happen 20 years from now. I grieve (OA term, hehe) that my baby will one day find his way to leave me and Richard alone for an independent life, or worst (OA again) for a wife.

I know I sound ridiculous. While I read blogs of moms relating how they'll miss their kids when they go back to work after maternity leave, or start preschool, or go to college even, I am jumping super fast forward to who knows how many decades from now worrying about separation.

I have a plan-- Start a good and marketable business. Have your child run it for you (or put it under his name and make him the future owner) and he'll be stucked with you for the rest of your lives.

Good idea, right? Lolz. We'll be starting a business for sure but we won't use that as a bait for Psalm to stay with us. It sure will be a bonus if he will but we pray Psalm will pursue and accomplish what God has in store for him. That's the priority that will never change.

One of my reasons why we choose to stay in this crazy part of the Metro (Mandaluyong) is that I want to be near Psalm (and /or my future other kids) when they start working. Haha, it's that far thinking I had become when I became a mom. I know now that it's hard for parents to be on one side of the city with their child renting another place near work. Our setup is the reverse-Psalm is the one staying at my parent's place while we-the parents are the ones renting. Talk about my sister who is also out of the place now due to work. Back then when I was just "the daughter" and still single, I lavish the idea of being independent, carefree and doing things on my own. But I never got that chance to be away from my mom (dad is out of the country so the parent then with me is Mama). My sister is more adventurous than me, a go-getter, she'd say from us two she's the rebel (a good rebel at that) that's why when she had the chance to go she did go. And I'm proud of her for taking that step forward!

I told Richard my parents did not see this coming. Well, I do now know I'll face this scene too and it's because of my parents. I know mom cried the day I got married. You see the day before my wedding was the day my parents found out Chard and I are living out ASAP. ASAP means it's that same day Richard moved in to a new place we planned on staying. They know we're not going to live with them but we didn't tell them when, not our intention though to make them feel bad but it just happened. We were so keen on the "leaving and cleaving" element of marriage but I forgot I need to let them know the timeline so we'll not hurt them deep. It was so fast and caught even us by surprise. I know it's bad. You should ask Chard how I cried myself so hard that wedding night (with matching nginig pa habang nagsasalita). We didn't have a romantic night on our first 'coz I just cried buckets of tears, haha. (lolz, it's really embarassing but we just laugh it out now everytime we remember that night).

I don't think now that these are petty. Motherhood sure does change a person's thinking. I don't know but it'll sure hurt as much when that time comes no matter what preparations I do. (I wan't to cry again, hihi)

20+ years to go. I still have lots of years to be with my baby. While Psalm is busy growing up I should apparently select to first miss the petty separations we're gonna walk by. Like sleepless nights or potty training. I'll even pray hard as early as now for the future wife to be the best for my little boy.

hayys...naman still so forward...:)

efficient daw...

*Translated from Tagalog

Before going for the weekend off--

Me: I'll take out the trash.... I'll turn off the lights... (checked that bathroom's close, locked all windows)

Hubby: The outlets..

Mommy: Yes, they're out. I'll get your helmet and put it near my bag so we won't forget it.... see I'm getting efficient!

Hubby: Yeah, I can see that..and I'm so happy! From our house to the house at QC, for Baby Psalm...you now always pick up what needs to be done and...

(Tootoot, tootoot...message tone from hubby's cellphone...)

Me: Must be something important

Hubby: Yeah, could be someone texting to inform a leave, can you check?

Me: Ahmmm....the cellphone? (thinking Where's your cellphone?) Hmmm, can't find it...

HUbby: Where did you put it?

Me: Ahmmmm... (still thinking I don't know)

Hubby: Efficient huh...


Oh well, still a work in progress... can't blame it anymore on post pregnancy blues. Turned out the phone is in my bag. Hubby said I need to put my small stuffs on the same place always so even if I forget I know where to look for it... and like I said I'm working on it.