Hello, Hello

Oh wow, it’s 2016 already. I’ve always been excited about starting another year. There’s something about fresh starts and new beginnings that really motivate us to start something new or do something better.

I must admit though that I have been more excited this year after a long time. 2015 wasn’t really bad…but it wasn’t really good either.

Although I had really good highlights: My parents came home last year after a long time and Hunter started school.

A few shake-ups and bumps here and there and I managed to reach the end of 2015 with a good closing dash.

I have a feeling 2016 is going to be great.

The last holiday season was the busiest for us so far. We were running around the whole December, we had to cancel two of our annual bazaars. I guess it was a really good decision that I opted to concentrate more on family time than focusing too much on business opportunities. Last Christmas, I saw Hunter finally understanding that it is a big deal and now I can say he is a real Christmas-person. He looooves it. My only challenge now is how to wean him off from watching Arthur Christmas and Polar express.

We spent our holidays pretty much on the beach; Boracay for Christmas, which was a relatively quiet holiday for us. It was something new for our little family but a really welcome change.

After almost a week of adventures and misadventures down South, we were off to Tagaytay for a celebration in our family. I was tasked to help out and coordinate the details with my SIL. I must admit I missed this. I missed organizing events and the little control freak in me enjoyed orchestrating from behind the scenes.

With my former schoolmate and Event Coordinator, Tricia. Loved working with her.

My dashing date 

We capped off our holiday celebration at Pico de Loro with Paolo’s family. Holidays are all about family and love. It was really a busy, busy time for us, but a really good one too. Definitely looking forward to our next.

So excited for 2016! I'm feeling it's going to be a great year.

Always a fun time with this little guy 

Motherhood and Holidays

I’ve always been conscious about not turning my blog into a “tutorial” of some sorts. I will feel embarrassed to do so. Sure, I can share some items that I’m loving, a few recipes here and there but not a “how-to-do-this” blog, especially about motherhood. Never that.

The reason for this is because I am also learning and I will be forever learning. I’ve read something when I was pregnant about that mommy guilt that automatically gets built-in, the moment you give birth and I couldn’t agree more. No matter how hard we try, at the end of the day we always ask ourselves: are we doing it right? Are we giving enough?

I’ve been feeling this way, the past few days months. This year has been a really busy year for my business and although I am so thankful for all the blessings, there’s always this small voice at the back of my head nudging reminding me that I am a wife and mom first. No matter how far we’ve come as women, doing everything, being everything, I guess there will always be that “mommy guilt” when you get too busy and juggle everything and justify that’s its all for your children.

Heh. Anyway, I’ve been reading so many articles about how different it is raising a boy. Hunter is now at that age when his personality is really emerging and he is now a big ball of energy bouncing all over the place.  I’m trying my best to keep up. I know there is no right formula about parenting but it won’t hurt to read as much as we can and just apply whatever works for us.

From all the articles I’ve been reading girls generally follow rules easier, stay put longer and focus on school and excel academically. Sometimes the challenge is not to fall into the trap of comparing our son to the girls in his class/group. Everyone develops at their own pace—and it all evens out in the end.

Personally, I am happy that I have a boy as my first child. Growing up with three sisters, I know how girls develop and mature earlier than boys. I like to think that him being the first child automatically makes him more responsible because he is in-charge. He will have that “first-child” personality.

“You may think you’ve birthed a baby boy, but you just gave the world another man.”

Anyway, my body clock is all messed up right now. I have less than two weeks to finish my big projects and all Christmas orders as well as finalizing all the details of the new store. After all this hoopla, I will slow down and enjoy the rest of the holidays. I promise.

Speaking of holidays. Yes, we celebrated Thanksgiving. I cooked everything! I’m proud to report that this mommy guilt does have its advantages if you wield it properly. After days of being so busy with projects and such, I was able to whip up Pumpkin Soup, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy from scratch together with Roasted Chicken and Apple pie. Nothing too fancy.

It may sound pretentious, celebrating Thanksgiving in the Philippines, I know. But I just want Hunter to grow up being aware about the basics even though he lives here. And really, we don’t need any holiday to be thankful everyday for all the blessings.

How we spent Christmas

We decided to spend three nights somewhere else so we can enjoy the lights and decorations around the Metro. =)

Nothing is more magical than seeing Christmas again through a child.
Hunter is still a baby and we went to the light show at the Ayala Triangle for ourselves but oh my, his eyes: pure magic. =)

Family time! Hunter with his cousins and Auntie.

This year is an amazing year for us. My best year yet. It's truly as if 2012 just zoomed by. 

Really though, I can't believe we are done with this year! 

And its because of this little big guy. My best Christmas present! =)

Merry Christmas!