Category Archives: Instagram

Instagram Instagram Monthly Memory Keeping

April 2013 on Instagram

Can you imagine me smiling from ear to ear and wiping tears off my eyes while putting together these collages? Yaikes. Nanay na nanay lang ang peg. Someday, when Dawn & Rain are teenagers, they’ll read these stuff and think their mom is being overly cheesy! Sorry, kids.

Dawn & Rain <3

April on Instagram: Sweet Rain

April on Instagram: Happy Dawn

April on Instagram: Bed Circus

But how can I look at these pictures and not be cheesy and so overwhelmed with joy? Di nga? How?

Since last month, the girls have been learning to roll over and explore every corner of our bed even in their sleep. Lots of bed circus happening around here these days; my husband and I would wake up in the morning with their tiny arms and legs on our faces. That’s 2 sets of arms and legs ha, mind you.

We’re seeing a lot of personality even more now too. Dawn is obviously the more funny twin, while Rain is the more articulate one. The usual scenario is, Rain babytalks, and Dawn laughs. Or Rain smiles, and Dawn makes faces. They’ve also started interacting a lot more now. Sometimes we would catch them smiling at each other like they have secrets. It drives us nuts.

April on Instagram: Loves of my Life

You know what’s really cool? Looking back and seeing how different this April was from last year’s. Last year I was dealing with morning sickness and getting used to pregnancy and sleeping a lot.

One year later.. and here we are. A-ma-zing.

x o x o

A month wouldn’t pass without quality time with loved ones and friends. April 2013 highlights two sets of cousins visiting from Australia, both from Bud’s side and mine—it was lovely catching up with Kuya Mitch and Ate Dots, and Jason and Neil. Joni & Mae spent time with the girls for the first time too, and I wonder when I will see them again *cough*. Ninong Dave and Ninang Nory, our disciplers, celebrated their birthdays. We spent a lot of time with our families in Caloocan and Las Pinas. And then there was our godson Ziki’s birthday celebration, a book party that my girlfriend Normi lovingly DIY-ed.

April on Instagram: Ohana

April on Instagram: Ziki's Birthday

What a beautiful month April was, and now, May is about to end too! Funny when you start to think that this one month was the best month ever, and then the following month becomes even better. You know?

 Check out all my Instagram Monthly posts here.

3 Beautiful Things Faith Talk Instagram Life as I Know It Mommyhood

Day 3: Rain’s smiles, Lola Mommy, and extended prayer & fasting

Rain's Smiles

1. Rain’s smiles. I woke up to the sound of my husband’s laughter. It was early in the morning and Rain was on a roll. Daddy was feeding her, and she was smiling non-stop with her froth-covered lips. What a great way to start the day! Albeit sporadically, the twins started showing real smiles this past week. I wish I was able to capture those first smiles, but they came too sudden. I can’t wait for them to interact more and give more of those intentional smiles. You bet I’m going to take truckloads of photos.

We do get lots of reflexive smiles when they’re sleeping, but even though those are just involuntary muscle movements, they melt our hearts just the same. Everytime my babies smile in their sleep, it makes me feel like God is smiling at me.

2. Lola Mommy. It’s her day-off on Mondays so Lola Mommy (my mother) got to spend the day with us. She relieved me off my baby duties for the day, which allowed me to have some uninterrupted quiet time to pray, to work, to write. Praise God for Mommies. And Lolas.

3. Prayer and fasting extension. Since 2010, I would start each year with prayer and fasting and I have experienced many breakthroughs in my life because of it. Last week, we took part in our church’s week-long prayer and fasting once again, and I was so blessed by all the testimonies and answered prayers we heard in our midst. As for me and my husband, one of our major prayer concerns was answered last week too, and just as God answers prayers, He answered ours in a way we never hoped for or imagined. Crazy!!

And now, without divulging details, I’m still waiting for more clarity and confirmation regarding an important matter, hence the decision to extend my fast a few more days. Jentezen Franklin says, “Fasting brings you to a place of being able to clearly hear God’s will.“ And that, is exactly what I’m desperate to hear.

30 Days of Gratitude, Day 3.

Instagram Life as I Know It Love Married Life Mommyhood

“I’m a happy person because I grew up in a happy home”

We were at our friends’ wedding last Friday, and it was special to me for many reasons. For one, the groom, Robert, is my brother’s best friend, and in the past N years that I’ve known him, he’s become like a brother to me too. He’s an extension of our family, and based on how I’ve known him, I just believe that whoever he falls in love with is surely one special girl.

Then came Tin, whom I’ve also known from those summer camps my husband and I attended in high school. Long story short, it’s a small world after all, and we’re blessed to know these two people before they even knew they were meant for each other.

Robert & Kristina's Wedding

Robert and my brother (his Best Man) waiting by the altar, and Tin walking down the isle.

We didn’t see this coming, the union of these two opposites, but their wedding last Friday was just.. so beautiful it gave everyone a reason to hope, and to trust in The God who writes beautiful love stories. Amidst the rain that poured on their garden wedding, everyone was smiling and laughing and wiping tears of sheer joy.

The twins were there with us too, in their stroller, sleeping through the wedding ceremony. I remember wishing that Dawn and Rain were old enough to understand what was happening. It’s the kind of dream wedding you’d wish for your daughters.

Sure I can quote more lines from the Pastor’s message and the beautiful vows the couple exchanged, but if there’s one line that struck me most, it’s this line from Tin’s speech as she honored her parents:

“I’m a happy person because I grew up in a happy home.”

True enough, happy is the one adjective you’ll use to describe Tin. She’s always smiling, always making other people smile. Her laughter is infectious; she laughs and you know that she has entered the room. She’s the kind of person who wouldn’t let negativity (and negative people!) change her or get in the way of being loving, gracious, and happy. Aside from the fact that she’s a stunner (Toni Gonzaga slash Anne Curtis look-a-like, they say), I think it’s her being a happy person that made Robert fall in love with her in the first place.

And as a mother (am I really using this line now?), I can’t help but think that I want that for Dawn & Rain too.

To grow up in a happy home. To be happy. To have a happy disposition in life, one that doesn’t get easily shattered by storms, and challenges, and negativity.

The twins' first wedding apperance <3

Behold, Dawn & Rain’s first wedding appearance :)

I pray that someday, my daughters will be able to say that they’ve become who they are because of the home they grew up in. And that someday, in about 40 years (LOL), each of them will find someone who will love her because of the beautiful and happy person that she’s become.

Oh wow. Take me to a wedding now and this is what I take home with me? Honoring of parents? Someone has crossed over.

*Side note: 8 months ago, we were just looking for a venue for their wedding. How time flies!

Instagram Life as I Know It Love Married Life Mommyhood Photo Dump

His birthday always feels like it’s my birthday too

[Date backtracked: December 20, 2012]

David would often joke about the injustice with having a birthday that falls on a busy Christmas season. First, his birthday is always overshadowed by the Christmas festivities and people are often too busy to throw him a party (or to even remember that it’s his birthday). Second, and I think this is his major issue of all, his birthday gifts are also his Christmas gifts. Haha. Sorry, Daddy, that’s just the way it is.

But he’s just kidding, of course. Because we both love that his birthday falls on December. After all, Decembers and birthdays are the best times of the year to celebrate and reflect upon the year that has passed, and he gets to have them both in one go. Pretty much why his birthday always feels like it’s my birthday too.

Especially this year, when some freak predicted that the world was going to end the day after my husband’s birthday, and yet for us, it’s like it was just about to begin.

DSC_0469

Happy Birthday Daddy!

And especially now that our little family of two suddenly became four.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Yay Instagrams from his birthday!

So he blew his birthday non-cakes: a Dark Cherry Sylvanna from Starbucks when midnight struck, and a stacked donut cake before we had dinner. Last year it was a pancake. David’s not a fan of cakes, and I always end up eating ALL the cake (literally!) when there’s one at home. I should probably learn to bake this year no, so I can make him a birthday cake and eat it too he won’t have a choice but to eat it too! Hmm. For his next birthday, maybe.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

As the day ended, and plans for a dinner date was cancelled in favor of just staying at home with the babies, I whipped a quick dinner and the four of us camped out in front of the TV to watch a replay of the Miss Universe pageant. (There weren’t too many options that time.)

This is our life now, I couldn’t help but think.

IMG_4482

Last year when we celebrated his birthday, we were clueless that he was going to be a Daddy this year. It’s been a momentous year with a lot of firsts and lasts, and a lot of surprises along the way. Here we are now with our two little girls, still marveling at God’s grand scheme of things.

As he unwrapped his birthday gift (which was also his Christmas gift, just as he expected), both of us were fully aware that his real gifts this year are ones which cannot be wrapped with paper and ribbons, and yet, they’re the best birthday/Christmas gifts ever.

What can I say? Happy birthday to us.

Destinations Instagram Love Married Life

This weekend on Instagram: our first wedding anniversary

Obligatory instagram post of our weekend at Canyon Woods Resorts:

(1) For the first time the whole week, the sun was shining brightly and we spent our weekend without a hint of dark skies and rain! (2) We woke up on our first morning with sun rays through our room’s glass windows, what a sight! (3) We had our breakfast of eggs and bacon with a beautiful view on the side; (4) ..and we can’t help but stare at the two empty seats in front of us, thinking that soon enough, two little girls will occupy those seats; (5) I’m so thankful my husband is a good swimmer. I’ve always loved swimming, and I’m glad to have someone who’s game to swim anytime! (6) The indoor pool was practically the highlight of our stay, we had it all to ourselves the whole time we were there! Seriously, no other guests but us! (7) My big bulge didn’t stop me from swimming, yeah! (8) Posing by the highway, just because; (9) Pretty casitas by the lake, one of which was our love nest for the weekend; (10) Gotta love having a husband who’s ready with a camera all the time; (11) Waiting for our ride back home, after 3 days of rest; (12) Pasalubongs from Tagaytay.

We couldn’t help but compare how different this August was from last year. How we were surrounded by lots of people, family and friends, on our wedding day and on the days before and after it. This time, celebrating our first wedding anniversary, it was just two of us. And it was really just the two of us, literally, as it seemed like we were the only guests in Canyon Woods that time. The only times we’re reminded that we’re not alone were those moments when I feel tiny kicks in my belly, and we realize that we have two little girls tagging along wherever we go.

The place was beautiful, the moments were precious, and it was just the kind of weekend where we keep marveling at how huge and how wide God’s love is. And yet, in His Greatness, He’s still mindful of the personal details and the little things in these small and short lives we live.

Family & Friends Instagram Love Married Life

Week 24: August is made for beautiful weddings

So we went to this beautiful wedding last weekend and love was definitely all over the place. I’ll post more photographs later, but for now, here are some instagrams:

Just some of the things I loved about that night: (1) the beautiful flowers; (2) the smorgasbord of yummy desserts; (3) the couple’s beautiful love story; and (4) my charming date who seemed to have enjoyed getting a chance to wear a suit ala Harvey Specter, at least for a night.

(Top-right photo: no cocktail drinks for the preggy though, I’ll have water thankyouverymuch.)

Thankfully, I didn’t see anyone wearing the same dress. I wore it proudly with my huge bulge, went back and forth the buffet and dessert tables with no guilt whatsoever (what, I have to eat thrice as much!), and danced the night away with everyone.

While it was my friends’ wedding, my husband and I couldn’t help but have our own sweet moments here and there, remembering how it was like a year ago, also on a rainy August night, when it was our turn to tie the knot. We’re celebrating our anniversary in less than a week! How time flies.

Family & Friends Food Trips Instagram Life as I Know It Love

10-13/52: Saturdays of April on Instagram

*This is part of my 52 Saturdays Project

April was made of food cravings, long sleeping hours, short but meaningful get-togethers, and God-encounters. Saturdays (and Sundays) were beautiful, more than the other days of the week, just because I can sleep longer, spend more time with the husband, and not feel bad about being too lazy to wear make-up.

I have to say, getting up from bed in the morning, and being away from bed the whole day has never been more difficult than this past month; so if you see me up and about, doing stuff other than eating and lying down, then you’re witnessing some real, God-given strength and grace right there.

Here are 4 installments to my 52 Saturdays project, while I can still remember them. I’ve taken photographs with our DSLR but since I’m quick-posting this, I thought it’s easier and faster to go the instagram route. And these days, fast and easy are just what I need.

10/52: April 7. Thank God for long weekends.

I woke up this particular Saturday thinking I wanted carrot cupcakes, and went to bed craving for ice cream. It was Holy Week, and while I was having a hard time adjusting to the first trimester, I was thankful for the time of rest. We stayed in bed pretty much the whole Saturday, except for times when my pregnant self needed to satisfy some form of craving.

11/52: April 14. SBCC’S Young Women’s Encounter.

SBCC Encounters are made of two whole days packed with about 2 dozen sessions on understanding and appreciating the message of the cross. It was the young women’s turn this time, ages 14 to 17, and I was assigned to speak in two sessions long before I knew I would be pregnant. Looking back now, it still amazes me how God held me together that weekend. Sure, I had to lie down and take power naps here and there, but during the two sessions I had to stand up in front to speak, I just know that I couldn’t have done it with just my own strength. The red velvet cupcakes that day may have something to do with it, hehe, but ultimately I know it’s God breathing His strength in me.

12/52: April 21. Proud wifey moment.

The following Saturday, it was the young men’s turn to encounter God. My husband was one of the Spiritual Guides, and hearing his stories that weekend made me feel so happy and proud of him. There was that moment that Saturday night, when he was leading worship with the other guys, that made my heart leap for joy. He was doing what he loves most doing, and I couldn’t be any more blessed to witness what God has been doing in his life. When the Young Men’s Encounter was over, we went to that food bazaar in Metro Walk to celebrate with some church friends. What a celebration, indeed!

13/52: April 28. It’s always good to be home.

We spent the last Saturday of the month in our house in Caloocan. It was a meaningful time with my Mom, my sister-in-law, and cute little Isaac. (The brothers were all out, working.) Mom cooked adobo and chopseuy, and then we had halo-halo for dessert. Ate Imy shared stories from when she was still pregnant with Isaac. Husband camped out in front of the TV almost the whole time we were therehe’s been looking forward to this because we don’t have a TV back at home, LOL. Isaac, meanwhile, has developed this fondness for other people’s shoes, and he seemed to have loved wearing mine. :)

Sorry I had to cheat and to rush this month’s 52 Saturdays. First trimester is almost over, and I’ve been reading about how second trimester is supposed to give me my groove back. Hopefully, I get to update this blog more often too. :)