Goodness gracious, being a mommy has turned me into a sap. But then again, I have always been one.
I must admit I got a bit teary-eyed reading this entry from one of favorite parenting blogs: New York Times' Motherlode.

I guess what tugged on my heartstrings more than the usual is the reason that I can relate--- I have my own "Ah-Ah." I call it "Moti" which I've had since I was four years old. And yes, I still have Moti.
But what makes me relate to this even more is now I am both a daughter and a mommy.
As a daughter, you will never appreciate and love your mother more than when you become one yourself.

I love, love, love what Dell'Antonia wrote:

"...Patches is a concrete reminder of the reality I always have trouble getting my head around: that once, my mother and I were as entwined as I am with my own children; that once, I could not sleep without her good night kiss and a recitation of her good night mantra; that once, she held me to her heart as I hold my babies, and wished that I would never leave, while working hard to teach me to go. My memories of childhood center around me — whose don’t? — but as a mother now, I see some of them filtered through some idea of how my mother might have felt, giving me that first Patches, frustrated and tired of endlessly sewing him up and finally both wanting him back and wanting to send me off well-equipped for my fresh start..."

Read more here. =)

baby food chef! ;P

I've been preparing Hunter's food for the past month now and I can say, it is the most fulfilling thing ever. 

Thank you, Baby Bullet, You make me feel like I'm such a good mommy. Hehe.

When we travel and need to store food for a longer period of time, we bring organic baby food from Healthy Options which Hunter loves so much.

I can say this works really well for a breast-fed Hunter. We have yet to experience tummy problems. He never had digestion issues and constipation. I say, try this first before buying baby food from the Grocery. =)

Candle Favorites

I've been obsessing about this certain seasonal scent from Bath and Body works' Candle collection. The scent is called Leaves and from my understanding, this only comes out during fall-winter seasons. I've been reading and hearing so much about it from my favorite bloggers and vloggers.

Now, I love Candles and scents and always stock up on my favorite scents whenever I'm in Illinois so I can have a year-round supply while in Manila. Naturally, I get really interested about candles with a certain cult following. :/

My collection as of the moment

My favorites are Yankee Black Cherry, Lavander Vanilla, Snickerdoodle from Swans Creek Candle Co. and Anything that smells like Fall and Christmas but somehow all the rich scents that I bring back here don't translate well in our humid weather. They smell sickeningly sweet that makes me rather dizzy.

Now, after obsessing for quite sometime looking for this particular Autumn scent, I was able to find a lone local seller in ebay. I wasted no time buying and trying the Leaves scent---I love it! It is just so perfect, smells like a lighter yet just as yummy version of my (and my sister Marivi's) favorite soy candle bought in a specialty shop in downtown Downers' Grove. This particular soy candle is so expensive at $25 plus tax for a mere 12 oz.

Some of my favorite fall scents from Swans Creek and Yankee Candle Store.

Leaves is just the perfect alternative. I would stock on that scent next year. The scent is described as "Like an afternoon spent playing in a pile of freshly fallen leaves, this fragrance embodies all the richness of the season and features a medley of ripe delicious apples, red berries and golden nectar." But somehow I smell some Vanilla notes in it.
Love, love, love.

Fall and bags

Its officially the start of Fall in the States and most of the people I follow in Instagram are in the US so I am reminded everyday the past days how everyone is so excited for Fall!

I'm so jealous! Fall is my favorite season and my favorite time to go to Chicago but of course we have to miss it because we are scheduled to fly again next Summer.

I love everything about fall most specially the weather and the colors. Speaking of colors, I am noticing a change in my taste in bags.

I never liked black bags. Less than two years ago, a black bag was never an option, I always go for girly, light colors and browns. But the past few days were a revelation for me. I was looking for a new work horse bag, a new mommy bag and realized all my choices now are black nondescript ones with classic, clean lines. Such a drastic change!
Bags are somewhat a minor passion for me =) I am no baghag and only have a few but lovingly selected (and worked for) pieces. Most of my "investment pieces" are in bold colors. Looking back, I should have invested on more classic shades. My next bag would be a quiet, black one.

I guess the past months, with having Hunter around, my lifestyle has changed and now I am craving for an everyday, classic, nondescript  but polished bag.
 I must say I'm liking this acquired taste for cleaner, quiet, classic pieces. =)

Since we are on the subject of bags, I wanted to share these adorable bag charms I made. I've been working on new materials to add in my shop. Please visit Charmed Life for new collections. Will be adding more in the coming days! =)

Eating time! =)

I can't believe its been two weeks since I started feeding Hunter solid food!

I knew I would be very particular about this. I breastfed exclusively for his first six months and I must say, it was hard, you have to be really committed to it.
Breastfeeding in itself takes a lot of effort more so, breastfeeding exclusively.

There were nights and days, I wanted to give in and give him formula thinking just this once.
Good thing I have a very supportive husband who made everything easy for me.
Strong support is a requirement to be really committed.

Of course, to each her own. For some mommies, its better to mix the feedings or give formula entirely. 
I say just like with everything else in raising a child, it depends on your choices and convictions.

Anyway, two weeks ago was like a graduation of some sort for me and Hunter. I was a bit emotional for a few days, feeling as if I was letting him take his first step of independence by eating something other than his mommy's milk. Pardon the first-tima mama dramas.
I was excited for him as well and just as enthusiastic to use all of my feeding props!
For the last six months and up until now, we are yaya-less but complete with all the basic baby helpers you can buy.
I had a big Medela Pump, the portable one, nursing covers, boppy pillows, substantial entertainment props, carriers and a stroller that has more features than our old car.  =/

This time, our baby bullet and high chair take the center stage.

No fuss, easy to clean high chair from Ikea. =)

We also opted for a no-fuss, no-fabric high-chair for easy clean-ups. I must admit though, the main reason also is for the aesthetic purpose. I don't want an eyesore in our dining area.

For now, I am feeding all-organic food for Hunter. I prepare all his meals but still not particular with keeping schedules since I fed him by demand the last six months.

Who knew coming up with recipes for baby food can be so exciting and fulfilling? Haha.
Every stage is just so exciting. I feel fortunate I am there all the time, front and center witnessing every little thing. =)