Artsy Craftsy Super Moms: Mom & Me Scrapbooking

May 9, 2013, our "Peas in The POD" Playgroup for this Thursday is at Zoofari Kids Adventure at Bacaca Rd. wherein we made our own scrapbook for a contest ("Mom and Me" Scrapbooking Contest). So cute! I brought w/ me the whole gang, and so I am babywearing baby Coy while I'm scrapbooking (yes, that's possible since I am in my Super SaoSao Mode that time.haha) while Ate Ace is playing and enjoying a lot, and her "yayo", Daddy Mel is also enjoying twice as much (haha, nag slide2 daw siya didto. I'm sooo jealous! hehe)

And so, here's my output. I dunno if it's finished, I still have a lot of things in mind pa but since I'm out of time (we have to go home na coz we can no longer afford to extend some more playtime and our tummies are already saying G-R-R-R), I must keep it simple, but meaningful. 

Here's my "Mom & Me Scrapbooking Contest" entry #13. I realized my face was so dark and oily. If i only had enough time to print photos before coming here.haha But it's ok, I love our rush shots w/ my kids. I kinda like it when we're a little unprepared. Now look at my daughter, I think she like my work! hehe

And because nga I am babywearing and have limited chance to be in my usual "Mamugs Mode", I decided to keep it simple and elegant. I included na lang some handwritten quotes to somehow tell a little story (char): "Home in mommy's heart" because I have cut-outs of houses and i cropped our photos heart-shaped. and because the stickers in my art kit are mostly gifts, i included "Children are the Best Gift" (and i was so confused if it's gift or gifts.haha Whatever basta yun na yung essence. I'm really in a hurry... plus, hungry.) Hehe 

And I am happy that ate Ace loved the output, so even if I won't win this contest, I am a winner in my children's heart (char again. hehe). And I enjoyed it! Everybody did. Making art together w/ The POD moms and babies, it's a great experience. 

Sometimes there's chika galore and sometimes serious "career" mode, yung pang house and lot ang prize. hehe 

By the way, thanks Ash for taking these shots for me. ;)

 

Fun times! Horray for artsy craftsy super moms! ADvanced happy Mom's Day to us!

MORE PHOTOS HERE: 
Mom&Me: Scrapbooking Event with mommies from The Pod by Zoofari - Kids Adventure Facebook Page

The Joy of Separation Anxiety

It has been 6 months and 1 week of having my son with me almost ALL THE TIME. And when i say 'all the time', that's like bringing him while i am having meet-ups for my online shop (just me and him and my big bag full of ordered items), bringing him at our 3-hour long (supposedly wedding) seminars, and even sometimes when i had to pee (*don't worry, it's safe; in all scenarios, i'm babywearing him). It's just that he can't be far from me, I am his food (direct breastfeeding), the milk factory. And i cannot be far from him, he needs me. 

Separation = (as much as possible) Cannot Be

On my birthday (and also hubby's mom's birthday), while attending the Holy Mass, we were with my in-laws whom we see like once or twice a month only, baby Coy would cry if held by them. I'm obviously considering it as Stranger Anxiety. And during the Communion, as soon as i stood up from my seat (mom-in-law carries him while they remained seated), he cried again. I proceeded to the queuing line and signaled hubby Mel to take care of our crying Coy, who for sure just showed on my very face that he's having Separation Anxiety. Looking at those poor, innocent eyes with a touch of fear and longing for me, i felt sad. But i know someday, he must learn to deal with that. And also, I had to deal with that. But sometimes, it seems like it is ME who have Separation Anxiety...

Last Monday i have some important bank stuffs and had to go to AC's possible pre-school for some enrollment stuffs (these are just nearby). I decided not to bring him since we dont have a car anymore and the weather is too freaky and bipolar (it's sunny but it's raining, both at the same time.. freaky). And i can't ask anybody else to do it so there I went out, all by myself. For the record, after 6 months that was my first time to be separated  from him.  Every step I took  was agonizing. What if my sister forgot that i asked her watch over my son? What if big sis Ace tries to play with her baby brother? What if he wakes up and cry so hard that I can hear him in my brain?

But of course I made sure he was well fed and fast asleep,  and let my sister and mom watch over him. And I instructed them never to feed him with (ate Ace's) formula milk.  They may give him baby food and water but not milk that aint coming from my boobs. And I really had to go. So there, I was in a real hurry, I had been gone for almost two hours. Two RUSH hours (damn! i hated the fact that Bank XXX had so many customers, and so many vehicles causing road traffic, and my tiny legs and feet can't have a "super speedy walk" mode.)

Every second counts.  I can't imagine me, the carefree, happy-go-lucky, lakwatserang Saori, living a life like this, for four years now. Since I entered motherhood, I always had to go home right away because some little people needed their mother, and that mother is ME.

But I am not complaining (I just still cannot imagine at times. haha). Yes it may ruin my glamorz stuffs, dates with BFFs, my social life, it makes me a "friend that sucks" or can no longer go out to drink, to shop, to have a vacation on the neighboring island. I know this is just temporary. Someday my kids would just grow up and won't be needing my boobs, my babysitting, my presence. They may not even want to see me around, pampering them, holding their hands-- I guess that's what most creatures called 'teenagers' feel like doing. Someday I can ALL THE "ME TIME" that I need, ALL BY MYSELF.

So I love it like this. I am NOT alone all by myself. I may be on a "Time Crisis" mode but that's cool.  At least in my life now,  I never have the chance to get bored to death like most people do. This means I am needed. My baby is anxious without ME or if he's with people that is not ME. This means my kids are 'still' mine, although someday we really need to let go, eventually I might be needing to earn big far away from here and eventually my kids might get married and live lives of their own. Someday, we ALL need to let go.

So going back, when I got home after I went outside for almost 2 hours, my mama was carrying my son and she said, "dali na mommy oh, sige na ni siya'g sopsop sa iyang kamut" (she told me that he might be hungry already). And when my son turned his head towards me as he heard my voice, he gave us a big warm smile and was jumping for joy (as in joooooooooy). ;) 

SEPARATION? Letting go? As of now,  as in a "right now" now,  letting go means a minute away from him for me to poop.hehe Almost always, separation is a no-no. Although sometimes, I might be needing to be away for an hour (I think I just rehearsed for the upcoming election day.hehe). But for most of the time, I enjoy my baby being just sooooo happy to see my face, hear my voice,  pull my hair, suck my boobs, get cuddled, carried, worn and kissed. And that's just happening now. That's the joy of Separation Anxiety NOW. Gotta enjoy this while it's STILL here, for time flies by so fast and kids grow up in a flash. Now that's Time Crisis!

My Mom & Child Terno Experience: Swimwear

It's summertime and I browsed my kids' photos and realized that on their "My First Summer Swim" Photos, ay naka-terno pala kami. hehe Girl or boy, I just had it in me to make "terno" session with my kids. With my daughter Ace, it was Summer 2010 when she had her "first swimwear" and "first swimming". With my son,  Coy, it was Summer 2013. But both of them were 5 months old. And me, 5 months post-partum. 

With Ace, i got some old swimwear, and the extra boyleg shorts was the one I sew and transformed into a bikini set (little bra and panty, plus that flower headband) which has the same fabric and design with my bikini set.hehe I really didn't have money to buy terno swimear so DIY is the key. (Low resolution ang camera noong unang panahon.hehe Sinadya ko na lang din paliitin ang photos para hindi masyado obvious ang tiyan ko.hehe)

There, I really DARED to wear a bikini! And yes, I have super great confidence exposing my "stretched" tummy.HAHA It's already small (at one month post-partum, I usually get back to my pre-prego shape) but the skin is just "eww". But well, even if it is dark and ugly, that's not something to be ashamed of. That's something I am proud of, actually because (since I do not have stretch marks, just like my mom), that symbolizes that I once carried a human being within this dark, ugly, stretched skin and besides, that's the only physical proof that I'm already a mom! ;)

With my son, it so happened that I am into Zebra prints. My prego leggings, my hospital bag, crib, iPad case, etc etc. are all zebra prints and so I bought a Zebra Highwaist swimwear along with my other designs which I sold online, then paired with Coy's zebra print modern cloth diaper, and we're good to go. So terno!

*Pansin niyo, with my daughter, medyo may boobs ako coz I didn't nursed her before picture-taking (sinadya ko din yun para medyo engorged at para magka-boobs. FIRST TIME ko mag bikini na may boobs ako eh, thank you for understanding! haha). With my son, nagkataon kaka-nurse ko lang (no choice, EBF siya eh) sa photoshoot so medyo invisible ang booblets.hehe Pero okay lang. Keri pa rin! ;)

I wanted to dress-up more na terno kami ng kids ko. And someday, I'd dare to wear a bikini (but because I'm not that "kapal muks" na, I'd still need more time, muscle toning and skin tightening.) And I am hoping I could find something that's terno with my TWO kids-- and that'd be TWO times the fun!

Happy HALFY Birthday Son!

It seems like yesterday, we were having a mini-celebration of our daughter Ace's HALF BIRTHDAY. 

And now, after three years, we're celebrating our son Coy's half birthday. Oh, kids grow up so fast! I don't know, I am just so proud that for six months now, I am exclusively and directly breastfeeding my son! (oh so the celebration has something to do with me really. hehe), and Ate Ace is a BIG SIS for six months now, and our beloved and our one and only Prince Coy is bringing joy to our family for half-a-year now (having a MALE baby is a big deal in our family since we don't have baby boys for almost five decades now! WOW!). It is just something worthy to celebrate.

Few weeks ago, I have been some kinda prepping up for Coy's 1st birthday (which is on October, and it's only April now. Well, moms as usual! haha). And knowing how busy I could get every passing days and months, I have the feeling that I must start as early as possible. Although it isn't something bongga, especially this year that our priority is Ace's tuition fee. But even just a very simple celebration is worth prepping for. Esp that this is our one and only baby boy. Over many decades, our family is filled with pink or purple themed parties and now we suddenly have a baby boy and it is exciting!

That's our mini party. ;) I have chosen something Vintage Nautical-- red, blue, white, sailor stuffs (I am so caught up w/ these nautical swimwear that I'm selling online) and I thought that it would be the right theme since our baby "Val" (Coy's other name) has seamen/nautical grandfathers (grandpa Val Jr. and great-granpa Val Sr.). And timing, wowa already bought him a baby boy Sailor attire, so at least we're okay w/ the attire now. Ang food, balloons, cakes na lang kulang.hehe 

I always want to celebrate HALF birthdays because it is really a lot LESS stressful. Unlike the big day, it's all about the financial stress, the stress of the party preparation, the event organizing, etc etc. But this mini, pre, or half celebration is just simply a carefree happy birthday. Just a little something to celebrate the gift of life and to thank God for the blessings throughout half-a-year.

So there, I got some colored paper and made some DIY boats and flags which the kids enjoyed.

I made a set-up for picture-taking, have Coy sit on his bebePOD w/ the printed tarpaulin I designed as the background (this tarp is the first half of Coy's 1st birthday tarp exactly 6 months later.haha) 

And we ordered some pizzas from our relative's resto Barrio Bistro Duterte Branch.

Some pansit, drinks and the best part-- I won some cupcakes courtesy of mommy Devi and mommy Iah's raffle promo! These cupcakes...

So yummy, so follow/subscribe to Devi's blog Missus on the Fifth Block and find great reads (and raffles too!) and also like Iah's cupcakes business page, Pink Apron and prepare for some mouth-watering moments! Ate Ace was so busy eating.haha

Featuring 6 Free Cupcakes on His 6th Month Celebration (the cupcake toppers are my polymer clay creations from Coy's Baby Shower last October 2012). These yummy cupcakes arrived just right on time like it's "destined" for me and my kids and especially for our simple but memorable little birthday celebration with my kids. (the adults have no photos kasi wala kaming ligo sa ka busy sa life.hehe) Afterall, birthday parties are really meant for the kids. So there it was, a stress-free HAPPY HALF-Y BIRTHDAY! ;)

My Destiny With The POD

Ever since I have known The POD and Ms. Alex (the owner), I started to know more about  Parenting— that it’s really more than just getting pregnant and giving birth to another human. There’s MORE to it, really. Thanks to my friend JM (Justine Merdeka, my lucky charm). She really wanted me to join Alex’s raffle, & I won! Pregger’s luck, and for me, I call it DESTINY.

I got a free Lamaze class pass together w/ my batchmate & co-winner JF (Julie Faith).We attended classes every Saturdays at 4pm, that was just a perfect schedule because at 1pm to 4pm I was still working at the Cancer Detection Clinic as a Pap-Smear Nurse which happened to be just nearby The POD ("destiny" again. hehe).Then after the course, we got our Childbirth Preparation Class Certificate after the 5-week session and this is to be presented at the Delivery Room for you to be able to have your birth coach (in my case, my hubby) to go along with the Labor and Delivery. 

From then on, I have become more into this motherhood thingy— and now a lot better than my first experience (this is my 2nd child). And I am so happy that hubby has got to be involved. Aside from the bonding moments me and hubby Mel made during our childbirth classes for five Saturdays, we also had the chance to know the “how to’s” during labor & delivery (I’m a Registered Nurse but it’s nicer if the dad also know the process).

And so, Mel was there on the big day to be my birth coach and most importantly, my financer, watcher, and (my PRIMARY roles for him) as my photographer and videographer. haha (Sorry, I think I am the severe type of a nostalgic shutterbug, so all things must be documented, most especially if it has something to do with my children! Since it's a no-cellphone-allowed policy in the DR, I bought a Digital Camera a few days before giving birth. haha SEVERE!) 

But seriously, I love it that Mel was able to attend Lamaze classes so that I won't get "high-blood" during the labor and delivery process. I myself has given birth (I mean, assisted real vaginal births by myself, acting as Midwife during my Nursing practice after graduating so all these are familiar with me and I'd get pissed if my partner won't know a thing about my field.) And in fairness, Mel did a great job on monitoring my contractions, ensuring that the baby 's cord was not immediately cut (to prevent the anemia thingy), and he was very therapeutic while I was pushing our son out. All thanks to The POD. ;)

And THAT was my Ultimate Dream Delivery (we were on an LDR when I delivered our eldest, it was just too depressing for me!) So this time, we're all in this together, and it’s super! It’s just so sweet when you let the daddy witness God’s most wonderful gift to us women— to bear a child, to give birth, to create a new LIFE.

All these fab things about smart and modern parenting came rushing in to my system. So fabulous, I am actually enjoying motherhood, rather than treating it as a huge hindrance (like what I did these past few years) to my career, money-making schemes, and personal growth. In fact, with all these stuffs I discovered & applied: attachment parenting (babywearing, co-sleeping), modern cloth diapering, direct & exclusive breastfeeding, positive parenting, smart, modern, chic, whatever-you-call-it parenting stuffs.. they all made me go, grow, glow and get mommyfied! ;) 

We also have monthly meet-ups discussing parenting stuffs, and on January 26, 2013 (during the Breastfeeding Meet-Up), we (me and my batchmate JF and another POD mom, Ria) started the idea of having our weekly Playgroup when we were making chika-chika (irrisistable mommy chat). That very moment was even captured by Mommy Ella and here’s an evidence shot.. ;)

Thanks for the candid shot Ella! Now I shall call you the "Master in Documentation" hehe
You named me and JF as "Masters in Chika-Chika", so this time, ikaw na naman ang may award. ;)

And the idea became a reality. JF named our group “Peas in the Pod” and also initiated an exclusive Facebook group so we can discuss and plan and share there. And on our playdates, we let our babies meet to play (and of course, the moms make chika-chika) every Thursdays. And since it’s summertime, we also have our Swimming Playdates at mommy Keryl's place. It’s smart and fun! 

I finally realized that parenting is my career (and after three years, I’m just realizing that!) This is actually a wonderful job, more than any profession, any degree, any accomplishment. As a young mom, at first I was ashamed that I’m “just” a mom. But now, “OH WOW! I AM A MOM!”  I am just so happy to have The POD and my growing support group (the moms, dads & peas/babies). Thank you Lord for this “destiny”. Parenting has never been this uplifting, fun and mommy-riffic! ;)

I am SAO Back to Blogging!

Hello! I’m SAO, and I’m Saoooow back to blogging! Seriously, I can't imagine I am finally gonna pursue one of my favorite hobby, WRITING. (just a hobby, not money-making scheme though). Now that I can "solo" our computer (my sister just graduated from college so she won't be using the computer anymore. Besides she can just sit all day w/ her iPad to play Candy Crush and just let me blog!) Haha. I am just excited (as in gayishly EGGZOITED) that I could be able to share some weird but interesting stuffs about my life and this would be fun reading after a decade or so. (I don't care if it's just me who'll read this blog, as long as I blog! haha) This time it is a little combination of my blog when i was a teenager (thehighschoolsweethearts) and my early mommy life blog (youngwifeyandmommysaori). 

Welcome to my new 2013 blog! Will be incorporating mommy life, wifey life and how I juggle my other “superhuman” tasks (a daughter, a sister, BFF, an artist, clayist, shutterbug, guitargirl, etc). As usual, if I am in a hurry, I won’t care a lot about my spelling, grammar, punctuation  capitalization (and heck, I am a no-nanny-ever mom-of-two) so please bear w/ me (as if I'll have many readers? hehe). 

This blog is another fun and wonderful diary of my “tired but happy and crazy life” as a young mom and wife. Some people out there might be able to relate and learn from my stories. Primary characters of my little family are my kids Ace and Coy and my hubby Mel, and for better or worse, together we'll live this OH SO BEAUTIFUL LIFE and we're sharing it to you! ;] 

MY BLOG: It's an Oh So Beautiful Life! (ohsaobeautiful.blogspot)

I Knew My Kids One Decade Before They're Born

It was 2004, I was just a 16-year-old high school kid and then i had my palm-reading done (we cut classes w/ my barkadas just to do this! haha yes, being an honor student doesn't mean I cannot have some high school fun!) and the manghuhula or fortune-teller foretold that i was going to have two kids soon-- a boy and a girl. Soon. Wow, agad-agad? That made me laugh! (As long as I can remember, I was still a virgin at that time!) And seriously, me being a happy-go-lucky carefree girl during that time just can't process in my brain seeing myself having kids, wiping poopy asses, having mouths to feed, dragging filthy bodies in the shower, getting trapped at home, etc. Eeewww!

But now (2013), after like a decade, it‘s all happening for real --no matter how many times i imagine that "ewww" i made, it really is real! I'm now a 26-year-old mom-of-two (girl and boy). I'm truly amazed by their imaginary crystal ball and how it previewed my destiny. 

(photo grabbed from Google photos, wala namang crystal ball doon sa Boulevard na Manghuhula. LOL)

But it's not picture perfect. I changed it, slightly. The one thing i altered on my so-called 'future' is that i did not had a baby that "soon" (she even mentioned that i cannot finish my studies because I'll get pregnant).  But who is she to tell me that? She ain't God. I know she told me that as "most probably" but by the way she told me it was like "very surely". Perhaps it was her way of warning me or something. Coz she added that I must try to do my best not to follow what she saw because "studies first" daw kasi. And of course i was scared and the good thing is i have been warned. And so, i made sure na muna to grab that bachelor's degree & professional license before getting myself pregnant on 2009.haha It's the same story, I know, but at least i made it some kinda delayed.

I now really enjoyed realizing how these super clairvoyant people could see them (i also had this same reading w/ the other fortune tellers-- di naman ako masyado mahilig magpahula noh? hehe) But all i can say is --Amazing. No, they're NOT playing God but on the brighter side, maybe they're God's instruments to show us some teaser trailer of our future. Cool! Who knows? It's creepy, yet amazing... the possibility of their forecasts coming true. hwew! can‘t believe i now have that girl and boy inside the crystal ball, for real! After a decade in my imagination, they are now here with me, alive and real people. My girl and my boy, my destiny. :)