Category Archives: Life as I Know It

Dawn & Rain Mommyhood Portraits

9/52: Multiply life by the power of two

May 8, 2013 – 11:46 am

9/52: Dawn & Rain

When I took this photograph of them holding hands, and Dawn resting her head on Rain’s shoulder, all I could think about was how blessed they both are to have each other. An instant playmate, a sister, a best friend.

I remember growing up wanting to have a sister so badly. I grew up with two brothers, became a one-of-the-boys type of girl in high school with no permanent group of friends, and practically went through college without blockmates or a consistent barkada. Sure I have some friends in church, but I never officially considered anyone my “best friend”, save for my husband. I’m not complaining, really. (And I sure don’t mind saving the “best friend” title for my husband.) But maybe that’s why I’m a bit of a loner most times.

And then there’s Dawn & Rain, and it makes me so happy that they have each other their whole lives. They would never wish for a sister like I did, and they would never have to feel “alone” growing up like I did. Right from the moment they were conceived, to sharing the same bed and toys, to learning to grab each other’s hands, and soon when they start having real conversations (I can’t wait for this!).. they will always have each other.

How amazing is it that God thought of creating twins. Having twins, and maybe even being a twin, never really fascinated me until now. Seeing two of them, caring for two of them, stretching your heart to love both of them equally (not 50-50, but 100-100). It’s one of the most fascinating things in the world, and God happened to bless me with one! Mind. Blown.

They don’t know it yet, and it may be just coincidental that they grabbed each other’s hands in this photograph, but someday they’ll be so thankful that they have someone to hold on to, and a shoulder to lean on, every single day of their lives.

9/52, A Year of Dawn & Rain | Week of  April 21-27
Portraits of my children, once a week, every week in 2013

Tags | Permalink | Comments (2)
Dawn & Rain Mommyhood Sweet Dreams

You only get to sing “half-y birthday” once

May 7, 2013 – 8:04 am

Candy Buffet Ideas

Candy Buffet Ideas

Daddy's DIY Stamps

No doubt about it, a baby’s first year is delicately special—we see a lot of parents make it a point to celebrate this month by month. And really, there’s nothing over-the-top with that. In fact, with real stories about SIDS and other crucial developments in a baby’s life on his/her first year, every month is a milestone and every single day is a celebration in and of itself.

And so for our twins’ 6-month mark, we thought we’d celebrate a little extra special.

Cupcakes, cake, and lots of sugar.

Nothing big really. Just a dozen of us; me, my husband, our family, and both my husband’s and my cell groups, on the afternoon of April 24, in a small corner in church (it was a Sunday). We sang “half-y birthday to you”. We feasted on these yummy velvet and chocolate crumble cupcakes lovingly made by one of their fairy godmothers. We stuffed our mouths with candies, and marshmallows, and cookies. And when we’re full, we gave away cupcakes and treats to whoever’s around.

April 24 - our twins turn 6 months!

Dawn & Rain, our clueless celebrants, got a lot of hugs, and smiles, and love. I don’t know how they do it, but these two can really make an entire room squeal with delight! As they were surrounded by loved ones and friends that afternoon, I couldn’t help but think how much joy they bring, not just to us, but to everyone who is a witness to their tiny little lives for the past half-year.

Half a year? Already? I have to blink and pinch myself sometimes.

What can I say, God is good—to Dawn & Rain, to us. I keep saying I don’t know when I’ll get used to this new life God has blessed me with, maybe I never will. Everyday just.. brings out something new, something that makes me want to celebrate and do a little victory dance or maybe even throw a party.

And yes, you only get to sing half-y birthday once. Hope you don’t miss the chance. ;)

P.S. See that bunting garland? Their Daddy carved their names “Dawn & Rain” off rubber erasers to make those stamps. How adorable is that?

Tags , , | Permalink | Comment (0)
Dawn & Rain Mommyhood Portraits

8/52: One, Two, Three.. Say Cheese!

May 3, 2013 – 2:44 am

8/52: Dawn

8/52: Rain

Every time we’re having a photo session, it feels like this—

Daddy & Mommy: Smile babies! Look here o! Smile!

Rain to Dawn: Hey, it’s your turn to smile!
Dawn: Ok! *smiles* 

Dawn to Rain: You’re turn!
Rain: Ok! *smiles*

Haha. Oh well. We’re having too much fun anyway—being silly and inventing words (“a-goo-goo-goo” is a favorite) and clicking on our camera non-stop while they chuckle and grab each other’s arms and legs. Later on we realize that we’re not able to capture both of them smiling in one frame, and all we have are hundreds of photographs just like the ones above.

Ohh the joy of having to make two babies smile. At the same time.

You can just imagine.

8/52, A Year of Dawn & Rain | Week of  April 14-20
Portraits of my children, once a week, every week in 2013

 

Tags | Permalink | Comment (0)
Dawn & Rain Mommyhood Portraits

7/52: Daddy’s little fans club

May 1, 2013 – 6:04 pm

7/52: Rain

7/52: Dawn

These two girls are so in love with their Daddy! (That makes 3 of us.)

These photos were from last month (week of April 7 to 13); I’m obviously under a pile of photos I haven’t had the time to organize yet. Dawn & Rain are growing significantly bigger week on week. Sometimes we would review their photo timeline and see how much chubbier and cuter they’ve grown from their first weeks.

Soon they’ll be crawling, and then they’ll be running, and then they’ll be entertaining suitors. (Too far?) In the meantime, I think Daddy’s enjoying being the one and only apple of their eyes.

7/52, A Year of Dawn & Rain | Week of April 7-13
Portraits of my children, once a week, every week in 2013

Tags | Permalink | Comment (0)
Mommyhood Web Hopping Work Life Balance

On writing, motherhood, and paying it forward

April 29, 2013 – 11:46 pm

Neil Gaiman

It happens all the time, especially when in transit—me, thinking of topics to write about and composing sentences in my head. However, as soon as I reach my office desk or my laptop at home, a pile of other things get in the way of writing and my brilliant ideas get shoved under the desk.

A few days later I find a blog or an article that seems to have stolen my thoughts from under my desk. It’s like reading about what’s going on in my head from other people’s blogs. On one hand it’s frustrating, making me wish I was as eloquent as they are; on the other hand, what a relief to know that I’m not alone in thinking about these things.

I direct you now to these posts which moved me, inspired me, and validated the thoughts that have been burning in my head for the past weeks. Short of saying this is where in life I am right now.

1. Mondays are the hardest. Toni returns to full-time work after being a work-at-home Mom for 2 years. The thing about being a working mom is—and can I just say the phrase “working mom” is redundant—you want to stay at home and you need to leave the comforts of home for one and the same reason: your children. The thought of missing out on their day at home makes you crazy, but they’re the ones who fuel you to work harder and to keep going, too. There’s just no easy way around, and no solution to this universal challenge mothers face. We just have to go through the day the best we could, do our jobs, and look forward to the rewards of a day’s work: coming home and ending the day with our little ones. I feel you, Toni, I do.

2. What a content career in marketing looks like. I’m glad to hear that I’m not the only one who took a web copywriting job and (accidentally) found herself in the marketing industry. “I had no intention of growing a career in marketing, but it’s the closest I could get to getting paid to use my words,” the writer said. Well there you go, my career in a nutshell. I may not have the freedom to write whatever topic I want to write about just yet, but now that I’ve figured out what I really want to be, I think this industry is a good place to learn and to dream. I can’t remember the last time I felt excited about a job until now.

3. Maggie’s inspired to blog because  of her son, and because she wants to pay it forward. Everything she said resonates well with my desire to keep blogging, no matter how time-consuming it can be sometimes. It’s one thing to keep photographs and stories in a box, another thing to publish them for the chance, however small, of reaching out to someone out there who needs to know that she’s not alone. It’s not once that I found comfort and inspiration from other people’s blogs, and like Maggie, I want to pay it forward too.

On a totally unrelated note, I’m currently girl-crushing on Caroline Glaser, I want to live inside her song. (Where did that come from?)

Anyway.

Wherever you are in your life right now, keep going, keep dreaming, and keep paying it forward. Have a great week! :)

Permalink | Comment (1)

Next Page »

Next Page »