The Mom I Want To Be

"Come on, Barbie, let's go party." It's the end of July, definitely a mid-point of summer. It's a time after summer birthdays and preschool summer camp has ended, and also a time when the weather in our city reaches the triple digits (as in 100-117 degrees). Which means we can't go outside quite as much, but still try to find things to do to keep occupied. There's been a lot of trips to the library for summer reading story time (as early in the morning as possible to beat the mid-day heat), as well as an invitation to a my preschooler's first ever pool party! His classmate invited him to a recreation center outdoor pool, and while it was still hot as all heck to attend outdoors, was made infinitely better once we made it into the water. The challenge, of course, was that my preschooler did not initially want to go into the water. At all. He didn't like the idea of changing into swim clothes (he didn't even really like the idea of me changing i...

We had such a lovely month of Mother's Day celebrations, not something we could even contain to a single day! It started and ended with my firstborn bringing home flowers from school (a potted plant and decorated pot for May Day and a single flower in a decorate glass vase for the end of the school year). Then Hubby got me flowers and mini Mother's Day donuts a couple of weeks early and I finally got a chance to post our Mother's Day photos and annual family portraits taken in April to be ready for the special holiday. With all the excitement I didn't even need anything else on the actual Mother's Day Sunday, though we did start the day with Dutch Bros (so I could finally get myself a "Dutch Mom" sticker this year), had brunch at my mom's house, delivered gifts to my in-laws, saw cute drawings and words written by my preschooler, and then spent the evening helping him get his stuck poopie out because that's what moms do. The month of May was also e...

As we approach warmer weather and a new season of Spring, I've noticed a lot of moments where I've wanted to cry--happy tears, thank goodness--in little moments of seeing my boys grow. This week, for example, my 3.5-year-old excitedly sang the "Happy Birthday" song to his baby cousin at her first birthday party, which was a surprise milestone because the song used to scare him (when sung in large groups and he would run away or cry). This time he stayed in my husband's arms, cheering and clapping the whole way through. That's another milestone: being in Hubby's arms. Because that meant I was holding baby brother. While my firstborn has always ADORED his brother, there's been so many times where Daddy had to hold the little one so I could hold and comfort big bro who wasn't so used to sharing Mommy's arms. But now, thankfully, we've reached a point where we can take turns a little, which fills my heart with so much joy I'm almost going t...

December was a busy month for our family, starting with Hubby and my anniversary on December 2 and continuing to just the everyday festivities that lead up to Christmas. Since this was Baby 2's first Christmas (and first birthday the week after Christmas), I constantly wanted to ensure he was not getting "shortchanged" (even if he doesn't remember these days) just because he was the second born. The good news is that my firstborn reached an age where he could participate more fully in fun Christmas activities, so he got excited at the idea of visiting Santa Claus and decorating the tree (taking photos in matching outfits, not so much). In December we did, in fact, get pictures taken with Santa in matching white sweaters (Baby 2 had just woken form his nap so was just a little terrified), as well as various other Christmas activities including decorating a gingerbread house, eating holiday-themed donuts, learning a couple of Christmas carols (he learned how to sing mos...

While my 10-month-old isn't quite walking just yet, he might as well be a toddler with all the standing he's doing lately, and all the keeping on the move to keep up with his kuya (big brother). He climbs stairs, cruises across tables and couches, and is quick to sneak anything from chicken nuggets to Play-Doh into his mouth. While Baby 2 has been travelling a lot on the ground, he also has now travelled in the air as November 10 marked his first plane ride to McAllen, Texas along with Baby 1 (who first travelled there when he was 8 months old). The visit was to see their 92-year-old great grandfather and other great aunts and uncles who were excited to meet the little one and spend time with both children. Though we mostly stayed in our hotel for safety and convenience, we did get to do a little shopping, visit great-grandfather's house, and eat a lot of delicious local food. The hardest part of traveling was going through TSA with two little ones and all the bags. Oh and ...

Remember that old theme from the TV show  Lamb Chop's Play-Along:  "The Song That Doesn't End"? I feel like that with my kids getting sick. And now I've also probably dated myself. But if you haven't heard the song you can probably guess what it's about. I don't know if we will ever be free of sickness in our house! What started in early September seems to have continued, or gotten a second wind, or maybe once your kids are in preschool they just catch every illness ever one right after the other. I'm going a little insane from it all. I hate seeing my little ones out of sorts, in pain, uncomfortable, etc. I constantly have to take them back to the pediatrician to see if they need a different medicine or if there's anything that can be done. My toddler in particular is extra clingy because he doesn't feel good, and I want to comfort him constantly, but I also have a sick baby and I also get physically tired from carrying 29 pounds all day l...

I don't have a lot of experience with sick kids. It's a blessing and a curse. A blessing that I can count the number of times my three year old has been sick on one hand. Three fingers to be exact. Baby 1 had a teeny tiny cough as a baby that even the doctor said "might" have been a cold, but it cleared up by the time I made it to his doctor's appointment. He got a fever and congestion once after meeting his cousins for the first time. And he got a stomach bug the day after his 3rd birthday. But that's it. No regular colds and ear infections that I was subjected to as a child, likely because I grew up with two siblings, regular school, and no pandemic that forced people to isolate and wear masks in many situations. I am extremely grateful that my son has not been sick often. But it also means that I have very little experience with sick kids and that my son has very little experience being sick. Thus it becomes a big, "What's going on? I don't lik...