Babywearing my Toddler

Last Monday was a sure treat for our small family. Since it was a holiday (National Heroes, is it?), we decided to go our for a quick lunch and a few surprises at the mall, well not the mall the we go to every weekend, at least. We went to the Mall of Asia for a change. Since my husband would be leaving us on our own after lunch, to take care of work matters at his nearby office, I decided against taking the stroller and packed my ever-reliable sling carrier instead. It's been a while since I used it and I thought it was perfect on my already-tired-from-doing-my-baby's-laundry arms. So after we had a delicious meal at Pepper Lunch, I put I. in the sling and walked around the mall. Our first stop was at Toy Kingdom. He stayed in the sling for around ten minutes or so while I showed him the Legos and Megablocks we are planning to buy and some Spiderman items. He begged me to let him look at the toys himself so I put him down. He played with the Leap Frog toys for a good thirty minutes (or was it 15?) so my arms still got the rest it deserved.

Here's us in the sling that day:

I didn't get him a toy (although I was really tempted to) but good thing he was kept busy by the Leap Frog toys and the counter was on the other side of the store and he didn't like falling in line. I thought I'd give him a fun experience with the carousel instead and that's what we did. After the first round, he cried for another one, but then decided against it when he saw the balloons. I got him a yellow, mickey mouse shaped one and we had an ice cream from Dairy Queen. He saw the car strollers that were for rent and naturally, he wanted to ride them so I let him. I didn't rent though, I just let him sit in one of the cars. I hardly noticed that two hours have quickly passed by and Daddy has come to pick us up.

Here's one happy kid in the carousel:

Parenthood Stories

My title must be sounding really incoherent right now (Oops, I just had to change it from Ring bearer, maidless and madless stories). It's because my main reason for blogging is for me to have something to look back to when I need stories to remind me of how our family gets through living our day-to-day lives, moreso, be utterly grateful for the wonderful blessings especially the gift of parenthood. One of the virtues that have been reinforced in me when I became I parent is the virtue of patience. In the morning, I wait for my son do his thing in the potty, it's the longest ten minutes, I tell you, but the moment I hear that peeing sound relieves me more than him. I patiently feed him so that he'll finish a bowlful of the rice and nilaga that I sometimes cook for lunch. You see, my son loves to eat and can finish his food when he likes it so I let him, even if I have to forego some little tasks I've been itching to do, just to feed him while he's busy playing or watching his favorite movies. At bedtime, when I'm tired and restless from all those activities of the day, I would wait for him to finally bid his toys goodnight before I let him nurse and drowse into dreamland. This last thing I mentioned isn't as easy as I have stated here. A lot of times, he would disagree about being put to sleep because he wants to play or watch some more or read his books or just walk around the room. Worse, is when he wants to pretend he's Spiderman and be carried high on the walls and tossed in the air as if he's flying. My favorite but saddest part at night is when the husband leaves for work and my son tells me to carry him by the window to say "Bye-bye, Daddy" in his cute bulol voice.

Last Saturday must've been one major parenthood story for me and my husband. Our youngest brother (my brother-in-law actually) finally said "I do" and tied the knot. Naturally, we were part of the entourage and our little boy is the Ring Bearer. I knew he would be intimidated by the people and get distracted by the lights of the cameras so I never really set my expectations that he would walk. Although I hoped and prayed a few times that he would. Well, just so you know, my little one, you were the cutest two-year old Ring Bearer in Barong Tagalog and Chucks, and you walked on your own down the aisle towards your Tito at the altar. We were walking behind you though, but still, you walked! You were also very quiet during the ceremonies although I couldnt really not let you roam around the air-conditioned church with your new Spiderman toy which you tossed all around the placed as you quietly murmur, "Go web!". You're so cute like that and everybody find you so adorable.

 Here's our group photo during the reception at G Hotel. I'm still fixing the other photo with you in Barong Tagalog as it doesn't seem to rotate.

It's been one and a half months now since I've been a WAHM (Work at home mom) and I'm still amazed how we're able to pull it off without getting insane. It has also been about a week and a half since Christine, my son's Yaya, left. Although I have a pretty bad cough right now from doing household chores during ungodly hours and not getting much sleep, both y husband and I are very much contented without her. After all the stress she's caused us, I think it's for the best that she left.

What I like about our newest setup (Work from home and maidless) is that we get to be really hands-on with parenting. We get to enjoy being home more and our son gets involved in the activities around the house, too.