Advice Wipes

I am grateful to have parents and parents-in-law who never dictated/instructed us how to raise our children. They let us learn this all on our own and trust our instincts, and only gave us advice when we asked.

I have long since stopped giving advice to any one in any thing, especially anything about parenting, unless they asked me. These are some of my experiences of a wake-up call:

1) Back some years ago, a mom with a second adopted baby cried out on Facebook that she is having a tough time. Having had a second baby myself, having known how dreadful postpartum depression is, having BEEN THERE and thinking that she doesn't even have to deal with the pains of recovering from birthing or engorgement, I eagerly jumped up and commented it will be okay and it will pass. A mutual friend commented that whoever says that don't really know what they are talking about ... how the heck should they know what they are talking about because they do not know what you are going through. Of course it offended me because I have had PPD, I have had a hard time recovering emotionally and physically, and I felt totally qualified to say IT WILL PASS, it will be okay. But then I realized it was not my place to say such things. It was not what that mom needed to hear from me.

2) In no way bragging, my kids were always good travelers when we used to live in Las Vegas. Our drive to my in-laws usually took 6 hours, and we have survived it without iPads or iPhones in the car (except for me, haha!). One day one of my close friends got a van with those built-in DVD players and she posted on Facebook how happy she was that her kids now can watch movies while they drive. I arrogantly commented, "I'd rather talk to my kids" and she casually responded, "ouch." I felt like slapping my face for hurting her and I immediately apologized.

3) If any of you remember my post some months ago about an "On This Day" post I made when my first child was a toddler, you will recall that I said the AAP suggests no more than 1 hr (or something) of watching tv for toddlers 2 and up and none at all for babies younger than that. I bragged, saying we have survived our days without TV, etc. On my "On This Day" repost, I said I was laughing at my past self (because ever since J was born, that parenting style went outside the window even though I only let C watch nursery things like the alphabet, colors, shapes, etc). I saw that younger version of me as an arrogant, pompous parent, and I was laughing at my her thinking "Oooh, you're in so much trouble."

So, yes, I have stopped (and still trying to stop) giving unsolicited advice to parents on how to raise their kids unless I was asked how I did certain things. The only thing that matters is that they love them and that they are doing the best they can in the best way they know how while dealing with their own weaknesses and shortcomings.

 Elder M. Russell Ballard has said, "There is no one perfect way to be a good mother. Each situation is unique. Each mother has different challenges, different skills and abilities, and certainly different children. The choice is different and unique for each mother and each family. Many are able to be “full-time moms,” at least during the most formative years of their children’s lives, and many others would like to be. Some may have to work part-or full-time; some may work at home; some may divide their lives into periods of home and family and work. What matters is that a mother loves her children deeply and, in keeping with the devotion she has for God and her husband, prioritizes them above all else."  (Daughters of God, Apr. 2008)

"Vectoooooor"

Monday night after dinner, my husband helped C read the scriptures he is going to share in Primary class this Sunday. Last time he was asked to give a short talk and he cried the whole time while his Daddy read it for him instead. So this time around, we want to try a better head start. I thought of letting him speak with our karaoke microphones to make it a bit more real (and I was the audience). Of course C loved that idea.

Afterwards, C and J took turns speaking through the mic. Even while I was singing some karaoke songs. They liked to bug me, "my turn, my turn!!!" ("ah-shurn" for J). C would always say something random. J only has one word: "Vector!!!!" They liked the mic so much that I was finally done singing (bathroom style), I let them go for it, taking turns:

C: "Hello, I am C___. And this is my truck and it flies. RAAAAH"
J: "Veeectoooooor!!!!!"
C: "Hello, this is C___ again and that is J_____. He loves trains and I do, too, 60 miles blah blah blah."
J: "Veeectoooooor!!!!!"
C: "I am C_____ and that is Lightning McQueen and he goes around the track and 90 miles."
J: "Veeectoooooor!!!!!"

I loved watching them and it was funny (funnier than how I could tell it here). I don't know what was the deal with Vector anyway. They started saying it a few days after we watched Despicable Me.

J says it the exact same way Vector said his name in the movie (clip below, timestamp 0:30). For those of you who don't know, this is Vector:

Kids do copy things pretty fast, don't they. What are the things your kids copy from the kiddie movies that they've watched?

If You Need a Pick-Me-Up Video...

I saw this video a while back, and saw it again tonight. Never fails to make me appreciate the little things in life.

When a Song Used to Make Me Cry

It's been 17 months today since I gave birth to our second son. 15 months since the last time I was really depressed (them baby blues). I was depressed way until the first four months, but the first two months were the worst ones. You know, when you've just given birth, you just feel ugly and dirty and not human - more like a zombie cow. I didn't like to look at myself in the mirror. I was losing some hair, my hair was always tangled and sticking out everywhere, I had big circles underneath my eyes, and I just looked plain tired.

Each nursing session was a love-hate feeling for me. I loved it because I was cuddling with my boy at the same time. I hated it because it was just too long (yes, I gave him both sides all the time) for the other toddler who was waiting for us to get done. I always listened to Boyce Avenue on every nursing session just to have something to watch. And what do you know, this song always got me crying (I always blamed the hormones):

I always soaked in all the words, imagining my husband saying them to me even though I felt ugly about myself. And even just the imagination of being appreciated (thanks to this song) made me cry! Hahaha! Looking back now, I think I was too cheesy back then. My husband did tell me all those times that I still looked pretty. Most of the time I felt like he was lying, but I did appreciate his appreciation of me.

Some Good in this World

So I was thinking today about how bad this world is getting, and how much I don't want my kids to grow up in this cruel and wicked generation. But they are in here now, and they are a choice generation. They're going to have to face a more wicked world than my generation did. 

As long as our children in this generation are raised in the way God would have us raise them, no matter what the outcome may be, then we could at least say to ourselves that we tried our best in giving something good to this world.

(A little bit of a cheesy clip to make a point... hehe!)

I have a long way to go. I have many things to work on myself. I can say I've improved even just a teeny bit, but there are still many things to work on my personality so that I can be a better example to my kids (the best way to teach them is to let them see me live what we teach them). I may not know now how they will turn out as teenagers and adults, but I'm hoping that when we get to that point, they will be the good examples to their friends and not the bad.

A random picture because I wanted to plaster it here in this post.

I saw this next clip from a friend today which is perfect for this post (which has been in draft mode for a while now). It's actually pretty sweet. Yes, there are still good (things and people) in this world...

Just a little bit of a random, out-of-topic note - if we ever are only allowed to keep two other series of books to read other than our scriptures, I would have Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter in our shelf. Good books for the kids to read when they grow up.

Just for Laughs - Nina Conti Ventriloquist

I found this video a while back. I'm not much into ventriloquist. I was never entertained much by such things and puppets even when I was young. BUT! This one made me laugh a lot.

By the way, I won't be a hypocrite and pretend like the super momma. I admit I've gone back to playing that game, but with more discipline. It's only when I'm really really bored to save me from getting bored-sad (is that even a word?). Like when most of the things I think of doing will still get me bored. But most of the time, I write in my journal or read the book (see side bar) that I'm reading - slowly (it's kind of boring) - when the kids are napping. I've attempted making cards here and there but every time I do, one of them gets up from their naps already. Haha! So that can wait. For now it's reading, writing, and editing photos, and sometimes the games (my me-time anyway). I was thinking of self-studying (just links and other random things) online about my hobbies, you know? That would probably keep me entertained while the kids nap. I still want to post handmade cards on my very inactive Etsy account. I don't bring our laptop downstairs anymore when I'm down there with the kids and don't look much on my phone so I can focus more on them. As long as I know my main priority, I think a little bit of gaming once in a while when the kids aren't around me is not a bad thing.

I'll be posting on our family blog about what's been up with us lately.

Just for Laughs - Two Hampsters, One Wheel

My husband likes to look at Reddit. For those of you who don't know, Reddit is like Pinterest for men. I seriously haven't figured out how the website works. Links are just scattered all over the place. Must really be meant for men only. Just kidding!

Anyway, so we were watching some top videos last night on Reddit and we came across some good ones. We actually got stuck in watching some sumo wrestler video clips one after the other after finding one on Reddit. I found this one as he was browsing (quickly) through the rest of the videos listed and I asked if we could watch it. Let me tell you, it was hard not to laugh. It's just so cute and funny at the same time! 

FAILED!!!

All of us fail. It's part of our human nature. And for one thing, we need it in order to gain experience. Here's a short clip that I really really love when I feel discouraged each time I failed:

And a few little quotes to bear in mind:

"The person who failed often knows how to avoid future failures.

The person who knows only success can be more oblivious to the pitfalls."

"Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted."


"It's not how hard you hit. It's how hard you get hit ... and keep moving forward."

 - Randy Pausch, The Last Lecture

And a poem that I also posted with this exact same video and blog post a long time ago:

DON'T QUIT

(Unknown)

When things go wrong as they sometimes will,

When the road you're trudging seems all uphill

When the funds are low and the debts are high,

And you want to smile but you have to sigh,

When care is pressing you down a bit --

Rest if you must, but don't quit.

Life is strange with its twists and turns,

As everyone of us sometimes learns,

And many a fellow turns about

When he might have won had he stuck it out.

Don't give up though the pace seems slow --

You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than

It seems to a fair and faltering man,

Often the struggler has given up

When he might have captured the victor's cup,

And he learned too late when night came down

How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out --

The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,

And you never can tell how close you are,

It may be near when it seems afar,

So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit, --

It's when things seem worst that you mustn't quit.

my favorite CHRISTmas song

It's that time of the year when it's considered "legal" (figuratively) to play Christmas songs. It's all over the place - radio stations, shopping malls, TV commercials/shows, etc. I love it because I love the spirit these songs bring about Christmas, especially if those songs are indeed about our Savior (not Santa. Gosh, I hate "Santa Baby")

My husband and I have the same favorite Christmas song (well, at least he said so just recently). It's been my favorite since I was a little girl, maybe because I liked the melody even though I didn't understand much of the lyrics back then. The melody is so powerful, it always gives me the goosebumps.

Then one day, while we were visiting my relatives in California during the holidays (and attended their ward at church), this young man sang my favorite song. Only, I didn't know the COMPLETE lyrics before then. So when I heard him sing it with parts of the lyrics I've never heard before, I almost bawled. He sang it so well and so powerful and meaningful, I totally felt the message of the song. Before that day, I didn't pay so much attention to the song even though it was my favorite because I heard it all the time. But ever since that day, I always, ALWAYS stop and listen to the song and relish the whole meaning of it as it plays on our computer/radio.

I've attached a video below to go along with the song although it's not really the whole song in it. I'm having a hard time finding someone on Youtube with a complete lyrics of this song. As you read the lyrics & listen to the video, try not to overlook the message of the song no matter how very familiar it already is for you. I was actually singing it in my head as I was typing it here and I got the goosebumps again. The message is sweet.

(John Sullivan Dwight's Version)

O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,

It is the night of our dear Saviour's birth.

Long lay the world in sin and error pining,

'Til He appear'd and the soul felt its worth.

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees! O hear the angels' voices!

O night divine, O night when Christ was born;

O night divine, O night, O night Divine.

Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming,

With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.

So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,

Here come the wise men from Orient land.

The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger;

In all our trials born to be our friend.

He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger,

Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!

Behold your King, Before Him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another;

His law is love and His gospel is peace.

Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother;

And in His name all oppression shall cease.

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,

Let all within us praise His holy name.

Christ is the Lord! O praise His Name forever,

His power and glory evermore proclaim.

His power and glory evermore proclaim.

The Magic of Christmas...

Guess what! WE ARE FINALLY DECORATING FOR CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR!!!!!!

Yep! You got that right! We.are.decorating our house!!! For the first time in three years! We also bought our first Christmas tree.

setting up our first Christmas tree

It's actually my very first Christmas tree my whole life since my family and I always used a makeshift one. I will put up another picture once it's all decorated with ornaments (which won't be a lot - we're going to build up our number of ornaments as the year goes by). It's a big tree, we're actually gonna have to rearrange our furniture. I've also put up our handful of Christmas decor - a nativity, stockings, coasters, and 2 ornaments. It's not much but it's a start.

My sister-in-law made us a big decorative tile a few years ago with words from Luke 2:11: "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Chris the Lord." I still have to get a plate easel for it to stand next to our nativity. But there is another thing I want to add next to our nativity though (opposite the Luke 2:11 frame):

I found it from Pinterest and I love the message. It'll be perfect next to our nativity and it matches the other tile that my sister-in-law gave us. I would love our kids to see this all the time so each of us will be reminded that Christmas is not about the presents but about the birth of our Savior.

There are several Christmas songs that remind me most of the Christmas I knew when I was growing up. The top 2 for me are:

Carnie & Wendy Wilson's whole "Hey Santa" album

Ryan Cayabyab's album

The lantern in the beginning of the video (Ryan Cayabyab's) is actually the specialty in my hometown. I remember going home from school (an hour jeepney ride) watching these beauties in the streets, their lights dancing in the dark. They're beautiful.

"Hey Jimmy Kimmel, I Told My KidsI Ate All Their Halloween Candy"

A lot of people have posted this and I keep skipping it. Well, since both of my kids were down for their nap kind of late today (thank you DST!.. not), I checked this one out. It made me laugh, especially the first several ones. Poor kids...

I wonder if this would've worked with C. He's probably just gonna say, "all gone!"

Doing the Dishes

I saw this from my friend's Facebook wall and it made me think of Caleb 8 years from now (of course, I will be the one behind the camera) when he does the dishes. He loves dancing to Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal" (except when somebody else is watching other than mommy) right now so who knows.. hahaha! This video made me smile.

July 15, 2011

I am excited for July 15th to come because of this:

I haven't read the books.

I tried to read the first one (Sorcerer's Stone)

 but I only got to the part where

Harry was buying all of his school supplies with Hagrid.

My limited, although not very few, English vocabulary made it kind of

boring for me to read all the books.

It's funny because I like Harry Potter series, and I don't like the Twilight saga

but I've read all of the Twilight books (thanks, BYUH Library).

After we watched the 1st part of the Deathly Hallows last year,
and being kind of lazy to read all the books,
I just started watching all of the Harry Potter movies all over again -
from the beginning.
We have most of them (thanks, Jesse).
For the movies that we didn't have, thanks Netflix! Hehe!
I was always confused to what was going on whenever we watched
the movies so I wanted to go over each one all over again.
Now I am not so confused.

I am so excited!!!
I think Jesse finds it funny when I think about
which side Snape is really on (I'm kind of rooting for him).
I keep telling Jesse that I think Snape is still on the good side and
he's still Dumbledore's spy even though he "had to" kill Dumbledore.
I keep thinking about what was going to happen in this movie.
I even told him, "OH! HARRY WILL DIE!!!"
But then a spoiler on Yahoo! kind of gave me an idea that he won't.
I don't know.
At least I know now that Fred Weasley will die.
Other than that, I really don't have any idea what's gonna happen.
It makes me wanna read the books.
But we're missing the first one and the the third one (Prisoner of Azkaban).
Jesse used to have all of them.

Oh well, I guess I'm gonna have to wait for this movie.
I DEFINITELY would like to watch it in the theaters first,
but definitely not on the first week of its release
I am not a big fan of being in a huge crowd of people just for a movie.
For the record, we've never watched any of the Twilight movies in the theaters.
We always waited for BYUH to show it in the auditorium.
BYUH shows it 3-4 months later than the release date but at least it's
still on a widescreen and it's free!
Good thing we waited or it would've been a waste of money.
No offense, Twilight fans.

Breath of Heaven (Amy Grant)

Today I was thinking about the woman

who was courageous to accept her calling

to carry the Savior in her womb.

Because of her (and Joseph's) willingness and acceptance 

of what she was called to do, our Savior was born. 

I cannot speak for Mary.

I don't know how or what she felt 

when she carried the Savior in her womb.

Or how she felt when they were looking for a place

to stay the night she went into labor.

She had a lot of things that she went through.

But I've been pregnant before.

I've experienced what it is like to fear the unknown.

Although my experience is totally different from hers,

I could, at least in some little ways, relate to the song and think

that maybe that's how she felt.

But like I said, I don't know how she really felt.

I love this song.

I have traveled many moonless nights

Cold and weary with a babe inside.

And I wonder what I've done.

Holy Father, You have come.

And chosen me now to carry Your Son.

I am waiting in a silent prayer.

I am frightened by the load I bear.

In a world as cold as stone,

Must I walk this path alone?
Be with me now, be with me now.

Breath of heaven, hold me together.

Be forever near me, breath of heaven.

Breath of heaven, lighten my darkness,

Pour over me Your Holiness,

For You are Holy, breath of heaven.

Do you wonder, as you watch my face,

If a wiser one should have had my place?
But I offer all I am for the mercy of Your plan.

Help me be strong.

Help me be.. help me!

Breath of heaven, hold me together.
Be forever near me, breath of heaven.

Breath of heaven, lighten my darkness,

Pour over me Your Holiness,

For you are Holy!

Breath of heaven, hold me together,

Be forever near me, breath of heaven.

Breath of heaven, lighten my darkness,

Pour over me Your Holiness,

For you are Holy!

Breath of heaven.

Calming the Baby Beast

I just can't get enough of this video.
Who won't agree that this one's sooo darn cute?
My favorite parts are in the timelines 0:31 and 1:22.

It NEVER FAILS to make me laugh!

I hope it cheered you guys up, too. 

God Bless the Broken Road - Rascal Flatts

My husband celebrated his birthday pretty recently.

And I really did not post any greeting on this blog on time,

just to be a little bit more private.

This is another tribute for him.
Belated happy birthday, beb!!!

Thanks for being a great husband to me

and father to our son.

We love you!

"Bless the Broken Road"

(Rascal Flatts)

I set out a narrow way many years ago

Hoping I would find true love along the broken road

But I got lost a time or two

Wiped my brow and kept pushing through

I couldn't see how every sign pointed straight to you.

Every long lost dream led me to where you are.

Others who broke my heart, they were like northern stars

Pointing me on my way into your loving arms.

This much I know is true

That God blessed the broken road

That led me straight to you.

Yes, he did.

I think about the years I spent just passing through.

I'd like to have the time I lost and give it back to you.

But you just smile and take my hand

You've been there, you understand.

It's all part of a grander plan that is coming true.

Every long lost dream led me to where you are.

Others who broke my heart, they were like northern stars

Pointing me on my way into your loving arms.

This much I know is true

That God blessed the broken road

That led me straight to you.

But I know I'm just rolling home into my lover's arms

This much I know is true

That God blessed the broken road

That led me straight to you.

Reading

Caleb loves reading books.

We read to him everyday.

He loves it when you ask him where things are.

Most of the time he'll get it right.
He'll point at the right drawing/object.

Reading is always beneficial not just for babies but

for adults as well.

I just thought to share this video.

She started reading on her own when she was 13 months old!

AMAZING!
She could even read a cursive "Baby."

WOW!

Mama' Song

This song is probably way long overdue,
(of course, I've been married for 2 1/2 years now)
but I just recently watched it and I really liked it.
And since it's my mom's birthday today,
I thought this would be one of the many ways
I can show my appreciation to her and greet her A HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
I love you, Ma!

"Mama, you taught me to do the right things
So now you have to let your baby fly.
You've given me everything I will need
To make it through this crazy thing called life.

And I know you watched me grow up
And only want what's best for me.
And I think I found the answer to your prayers.

And he is good, so good.
He treats your little girl like a real man should.
He is good, so good.

He makes promises he keeps
No he's never gonna leave.
So don't you worry about me.
Don't you worry about me.

Mama, there's no way you'll ever lose me.
Giving me away is not goodbye.
As you watch me walk down to my future,
I hope tears of joy are in your eyes.

'Cause he is good, so good
And he treats your little girl like a real man should.
He is good, so good.

He makes promises he keeps
No, he's never gonna leave.
So don't you worry about me.
Don't you worry about me.

And when I watch my baby grow up
I'll only want what's best for her.
And I hope she'll find the answer to my prayers.
And that she'll say

He is good, so good.
He treats your little girl like a real man should.
He is good, so good.

He makes promises he keeps.
No, he's never gonna leave.
So don't you worry about me.
Don't you worry about me.

Mama, don't you worry about me.
Don't you worry about me."

I Loved Her First - by Heartland

I was digging through people's entries on

iheartfaces' challenge this week (photojournalism)

when I stumbled on this person's photo:

Hollitrue's "His Little Girl"

It reminded me of this song that I found on the internet

AFTER I got married.

How I wish I knew this song before we had our
wedding reception.
I would so totally pick this one out for our
father-daughter dance.
This song makes me miss my dad.

Oh yes, I was a mess when my husband and I arrived at the reception

because it was soooo windy outside when we were taking our photos

at the L.A. Temple.

But we were running late,

and I didn't want our guests to wait too long

so I didn't fix my hair anymore.

Philippine December and Giant Lanterns

One major thing I am proud of in my hometown

(now Pampanga, instead of Manila where I was born),

is the beautiful lanterns on display at the streets during Christmas season.

(I grabbed this picture from the Web)

Even though it was sometimes at night, 

I really liked going home from school when I was in high school

because I could see these lanterns up and "dancing" at that time of the day.

I look forward to seeing these beautiful things

again soon.

We won't be able to see the "Ligligan Parul" 

(Giant Lantern Festival) when we go home.

I think I've only seen it once or twice my whole life in Pampanga.

But it's really cool.

(Grabbed from OurAwesomePlanet)

These lanterns are HUGE!
Measuring 18 feet in diameter and dancing to the beat of the background music,

it's one of the most fun activities we do in Pampanga 

every Christmas season
(aside from the Catholic midnight mass and puto bumbong afterwards).

(Puto Bumbong - from Burnout Case)

This lantern won the festival 3 yrs. ago...

Barangay Telabastagan - where we were living by the time I left my

beloved home country.

Aaah.. someday, someday... :)
For now, I'm very excited to celebrate the coming of 2011
with firecrackers in our backyard
and huge blasts of fireworks from our neighbors.
Oh, and the fact that you can barely see each other
due to clouds of smoke everywhere!

Oh man, isn't it pretty obvious that I'm so excited to go home?
It's not even Thanksgiving yet and I'm already
talking about Christmas and New Year...
Hehe!