under the tree

i hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas season!

my family had quite a busy couple of days as we celebrate from Christmas eve all the way to Christmas day so you can just imagine the amount of shut-eye i was able to get these last few days.  of course, that is not to mention that today is Boxing Day (and in Canada, considered a holiday when all the stores go crazy on sales!).

i will be loading more photos once i am able to get the decent sleep i most need but i wanted to share with you my favourite present from this year.

these are my  new pair of TOMS :)

***With every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a new pair of shoes to a child in need.  One for One.***

not only do i love the idea behind the shoes, they are actually very comfortable!  i heart them and want more! i also am canvassing around to purchase some for my little man.

thank you hubby, for such a thoughtful gift this Christmas.  i love that i'm not the only one who has received a present but that someone else is need is able to share it with me!

kisses are for keeps

when it comes to having a child, kisses are on top of my favourite things.

i give  my little man a million and more kisses a day.

if i'm lucky, he'll sit with me for a few minutes while i pamper him with kisses.

but most of the time, he'll squirm out annoyed at me for stopping him from his play.

which brings me to the other night.

after his milk and a goodnight prayer the little man gave me a kiss.

and another... and another... and he would say "wubyou mommy".

then a kiss, another kiss and another "wubyou"

and this proceeds for the next five minutes alternating kisses and words.

it is heaven i say.

to get his undivided attention.

to get tons of kisses from him.

to hear that he loves me.

we must be doing something right.

Dylan at 2 weeks old and 5 months old

the sweetest gift of all...

at the doctor's today, the hubby and i along with our little man
received the earliest and sweetest Christmas present of all

it looks like we're having ANOTHER BOY!!!

i can't wait for Dylan to have a baby brother.

to be able to share scrapes and bruises with.
cry and laugh with.
be batman and robin together.
play under the heat of the sun
and spend endless hours doing what little boys do best.

Christmas Countdown: T-8 days

i change my mind.

i do WANT something for christmas (though i can't say who in their right mind will buy me this).

this is the Britax B-Ready stroller.
good for two kids in the infant and toddler stages.

take note that the infant car seat as well as the secondary seat is an entirely separate purchase.
oh, and let's not forget the attachment!

but seriously, this would make my life so much easier when baby #2 rolls in.

i just love the endless options i will have in this stroller!

i am coveting this system in the silver.

note to santa:

i have tried to be very good this year.

 instead of me dishing $1200 for this whole system,

could you please just plop it under my tree?

i would really and truly appreciate it.

Christmas Countdown: T-10 days

Dylan enjoying the lights and sparkle of the "PIPA'S TREE"

(Christmas tree in his toddler language).

my christmas list

a few years back at this time of year, my "must have's" for the season is set with a copy in the hubby's (then bf) email and phone.  my list composed of the usual things a girl could want --- a new camera, an ipod mini, a guess bag, a new winter coat, a leather jacket, nine west and puma shoes, a pair of new earrings, a tiffany bracelet... seriously, this list can get long and irritating.

fast forward to today ---

we have been doing our christmas shopping the whole of this week and the hubby has been asking what i want for christmas.  he'll point to certain things --- the ring i want with the little man's birthstone... a new charm for my pandora or tiffany... a new purse perhaps?  or how about the plain wedding band i have been looking at to match my current one?  an ipad... shoes... clothes... a tiffany necklace perhaps so that i can switch up the only necklace i wear on a daily basis?  or how about the selphy printer i have been coveting for over a year now?  or better yet... the cricut expressions that i have been drooling over?!?

i have looked at each and everyone of these items ranging from the cute and cheap to the most outrageous and expensive.  i have weighed my options at getting one or two items --- possibly even three!  but at the end of each shopping trip, i come out empty handed for myself but with more goodies for my little man.

my mom told me that when she used to go out shopping for herself, that she will come home with nothing but delightful clothes and toys for me and my brother.  i now know where she is coming from.

you see, THERE IS NOTHING THAT I WANT MORE FOR MYSELF.  i would rather spend all the money i had for things that will make my little boy happy and excited... there is really nothing that compares to a child's expression when they receive something they truly want.  also, call it cheesy and cliche but i have a wonderful husband who will give me the entire universe if he could and i have a beautiful little boy who is my greatest joy on this earth.  i may not have the house, the nice car or even my dream job but i have the most important things in my life --- THE FAMILY THAT I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED AND PRAYED FOR.

so for this upcoming christmas, though i do not open any prettily wrapped gifts, i hold the greatest treasures that God has ever blessed me with.  these treasures of mine is enough to last me for my lifetime and beyond.  

and next may... we open up another chapter of our lives... the one where God is giving me my late Christmas present.

please let me...

sometimes, i feel a pang of sadness that i do not have more close friends who are mommies.  don't get me wrong, i love the support of my friends now but there is something about telling a story to someone or replaying an event that happened with your child to another person who has been there and done that and who will fully understand what you are talking about.

i'd like to be able to ask questions and compare notes.  see what i am doing wrong or right and check if there's something i could've done better.  i'd like to get suggestions --- because currently, everything i do with my son is based on my concept of right.  

even when it comes to shopping, there is only so much research you can do on the internet about products for kids --- it's different when you're able to talk it through with someone who has had experience on certain baby products.  which formula to use?  when to potty train?  how to feed a picky eater? how to wean off the bottle and pacifier?

and with another baby on the way --- how do you sleep train both kids to be on the same schedule?  how do you not exhaust yourself?  how do you handle TWO under the age of three!

i need other mom friends who understands baby-proofing and will laugh and empathize when i tell a story about how my son threw a tantrum fit at the mall worthy of an oscar.  i need mom friends who understand why i'm always late when it comes to meeting up, bring a massive bag when going out and why sweat pants and a sweat shirt is my best friend when we're out and about at the mall trying to shop.  i need mom friends who will not resent my backing-out last minute on plans made, realize that i can no longer go on certain trips even if it means the whole group is going and whom i do not have to make excuses to.  "I'm just tired and drained by taking care of a toddler full time so no, I don't feel like going to your place tonight, Thanks."

i think i need a mom support group.  i need the input and friendship of other mommies who can understand me when i say "i'm sooooo exhausted" and "i can't do this anymore!".  i need their support and their understanding without judgement as they know EXACTLY what i am going through when i feel like tearing my hair out and screaming at the top of my lungs or crying just because my hormones are on overdrive.  i need mom friends who can empathize with me, not be so shocked that my sex life is currently down the drain, know why i'm at bed by 8pm and that my extra 10 (ok, 15 lbs it is) is just not going away.

i wonder how other moms feel when it comes to this situation?  i think i need to find me some sort of mommy support group.

:(