Isaiah Patrick's 4th Month

My darling Zeya,

Happy 4th month bubba. We celebrated your 4th month two days in advance. It was another Saturday when we drove to Wicklow and looked for a place somewhere nice. Thanks to Instagram, I learned about the place called Mount Usher Gardens so that's where we went. You slept all the way going there! Hurray!

What have you been up to? Let's see...

At four months, I can say you have already overcome your acid reflux. Thank God a thousand times for that! You're still tiny at second percentile which made me worry for days on end. But lately, the Lord has been asking me to cast all my worries to Him and that He's got you at the palm of His loving hand. Someday, I know you will grow bigger in length and weight. In the meantime, I'll enjoy your smallness and rest in God's assurance that my breastmilk is enough to sustain and nourish you. You are bright, alert, active and hitting all your developmental milestones. At this stage, that's all  that matters.

Also... (*drum roll please*) you've overcome your car hysterics! Hurray! You have finally discovered that you can do other things in the car like sleeping or just amusing yourself at whatever passing scenes and colors you can perceive or thumb-sucking fist-sucking. You still cry, but only for a short time. Well done bubba. By the way, your fist-sucking drives your daddy nuts! 

Hmmm, what else? You scream now whenever you get excited or happy or fussy. You can be demanding sometimes and your dad insists that you got that stubborn behaviour from me! (How unfair is that?!) But you know what else bubba Zeya? You've learned to laugh, to reach for your toes, to grab objects especially mommy's hair. Praying I won't go bald by the time you're one! You're still learning to roll over and flip, but we'll get there. 

I want to thank you Zeya for stretching our hearts and filling them with so much joy and love and patience too. Your dad and I, we are trying hard every single day to love and take care of you the best way we know how. And that's what we celebrate today---four months of having the privilege to be your mom and dad and having the opportunity to shower you with love we never knew we could give until you came along.

I love you Zeya. With all my heart. :)

Photos from your fourth month celebration at Avoca Cafe in Mount Usher Gardens:

Here's mommy trying hard to hold a wriggly baby!

The lighting of your cake. Thank God there's a Filipino waiter whom we politely asked to take photos of us. So here, your dad lighted your candles for the second time.

Family photos:

With just you. This photo didn't capture your long eyelashes. Shame. :)

The blowing of your candle lights:

And now with daddy and your drool. :)

***

This is part of the Love Letters to Zeya Series | - On my quest to write my dear son a love letter each month on his first year.

Isaiah Patrick's 3rd Month

Love Letters to Zeya Series | - On my quest to write my dear son a love letter each month on his first year. 

***

To our darling baby boy, Isaiah Patrick

You were 3 months yesterday---25th of June 2016. I sang you a happy birthday song early in the morning and as usual, you were wide eyed wondering what song in the world your mommy was singing again.

Since it was a Saturday, a weekend, your dad and I decided, rather braved, to get you outside Dublin. You still cry during car drives and we figured, Voxy Woggy (our car) was your greatest nemesis. My only prayer as I strapped you in your car seat was that you wouldn't cry anymore. But as expected, you did! I sang you a couple of nursery rhymes during the drive while your dad figured out the way with a number of reroutes which made you cry even more.

Nonetheless, we managed to get to this place. Hurray! This is your first trip outside Dublin and when you're all grown up, we will go there again, for breakfast or snacks. I promise.

My heart skips a bit as I type these words. We've come a long way my bubba. Long way. I'd rather post the moments we celebrate each month than the statistics of your growth, in height and weight.  At three months, you have become one curious and observant little bubba! Your eyes lit up and grow bigger every time you see something new, something stimulating perhaps. What you lack in weight at this point, you compensate for your curiosity and the numerous cooing sounds you make!

Now with your dad:

The blowing of your candles:

Isaiah Patrick's 2nd Month

My dearest baby Zeya,

Happy 2 months! Whew! What a two-month roller coaster ride with you bubba! I'm glad we have reached this point because I was told "it'll get better" at two months and I was hoping against all hopes that it would indeed get better from here on.

Here's mommy trying to get you to look and smile at the camera. Well, you're having none of it!

But you did give your dad a smirk.

Here's your dad trying out the camera remote control.

We blew your cake for you and we had a grand time doing it because in the years to come, you will be giddily blowing your own candles.

Well, there you have it my darling. Although it's been very hard, I wouldn't trade being your mom for anything in the world.

Love Letters to Isaiah Patrick

On my quest to write my dear son a love letter each month on his first year, I come up with my "Love Letters to Zeya Series." We named our son Isaiah Patrick and we fondly call him Zeya.  Each month, I'll try my best to pen my heart's contents as his dad and I celebrate and thank the Lord for the gift of him in our lives. 

Isaiah Patrick's 1st Month

My dearest Isaiah Patrick,

My little baby boy, I have barely slept since you were born and already, you are one month old! Oh bubba, how you've made me and your dad so happy is beyond words. But how you made me extremely sleepless and exhausted is beyond words too. :) Nonetheless, you made me so in love with you I felt like I can conquer the world with just a 3-hour sleep in 24 hours!

Before you were born, I dreamt of doing your newborn photoshoot complete with props. But I got totally caught up with motherhood the photoshoot was forgotten. Your first four weeks have gone by in a haze of your incessant cries, of your wet and dirty nappies, of your daddy hurdling through his most trying times in his career to date, of me desperately trying to increase my milk supply, of me barely keeping myself alive amidst the sleep deprivation, of me crying and asking my mama and other friends how to do this motherhood thing right. It's been a very tough first month with you anak (my child). Very tough. I hate to admit it but you're a crier and a persistent one at that! 

But you know what? The past four weeks have stretched my heart and my faith. My heart has grown exponentially wide to contain this overwhelming love I have for you. Since day one, every time I look at your cute, dimply little face, I tear up and smile at the same time. Because of pure joy. Because of the answered prayer that you are. Because of God's faithfulness to me and your dad.

So although it's been very tough baby Zeya, I've also never been so in love, so persevering and so protective, all at the same time. You are loved my baby boy. So much loved. :)

Love lots,
Mommy Lai

***

Photos from your first month celebration with your Lola (Grandma) Delia who came to Ireland for you: 

Family photo where I looked sleepless! I haven't put on moisturiser to my face for a month now because I always wanted to do check-to-cheek with you. Your dad was able to go home from work earlier than expected because bubba, he couldn't miss this day for the world!

With your Lola Delia; you showed your dimple because I was trying hard to make you smile.

With the 3 generations that we are:

With me:

With your dad, your lookalike:

Happy first month Zeya, please be better with your crying na! :)

A Time to Replant

It was 2014 when I started collecting the indoor plants more popularly known as succulents. It wasn't an intention to collect back then; it was just merely to add greens in our apartment to evoke a feel of nature. I originally bought two and each payday since then, I added one or two. Two years later, the collection grew into 18-piece. 

As in everything to thrive, a re-planting is necessary. As you can see, some of the succulents have outgrown their original pots. Some have parts that have decayed over the years, which means they needed to be cut off or else, they will affect the other healthier part of the plants.

Over the weekend, R and I decided to re-plant these succulents to give them a new life. Spring is just around the corner and a warmer weather will be good to these plants who are actually made for the desert.

From the outside, you won't see anything wrong. But if you look closer, you'll realise, most of these do not fit anymore. Some have sprouted at the sides but clearly, they'd have no more room to grow.

R in action.

The re-planted succulents:

Thank You 2015, Hello 2016

A week into 2016 and here I am, still on the stage of bidding 2015 goodbye. I've always tried to make a year-end post just to recap the most important things that happened in the year that was, to recall the events when God's grace was most evident and when I felt most loved by R.

If I summed it all up in one post where I experienced all of those, it would be when God answered our most cherished prayer. Hands down and hands up too (praise God!), our pregnancy is the most exciting event that has ever happened in my life and in our marriage to date. To know that a little human being is growing inside me, fearfully and wonderfully, just leaves me awestruck every single time.

2015 was truly a year of trusting God more than ever and leaning not on my own understanding but on His. Half of 2015 was a faith-stretching time. It was during the first half of 2015 when God worked deeply in the ugly areas of my heart which I am rather not proud to share in details here. Let's just say the Lord kept asking me this question: "Am I not enough Lai?" and I, on the other hand, was having a hard time surrendering to the Lord's will, wishing I could control my plans, my dreams. But I know too well that God is more concerned on my character development than  the fulfilment of my heart's desires. It was a tug of war between me and the Lord but God's grace pulled me closer and closer and took me a little deeper till I came to a point of letting go and letting God and having that unexplainable peace in my heart.  God's love won me over and cast away all my fears.

The second half of 2015 was a fulfilment of God's faithfulness, it's a harvest time after a long wintertime of waiting for our first child. It was a sweet sweet time my dear friends. I have enjoyed my pregnancy so far and I just can't wait to see him, to hold him, to smell him.

So thank you 2015, for teaching me to trust His timing and His will.

Hello there 2016. My heart swells for the new season that's about to come. I'm truly glad you're here. :) 2016 will be a life-altering year for us. I've always heard and read that nothing can fully prepare you to be a parent, that no amount of books or advices can fully prep you up to do parenthood right and that sometimes, you just have to go by your instinct and what makes work for you. So R and I made a parenting rule early on---we will make mistakes and that's okay. :)

Photos from the third of January when we walked by the sea and relished a beautiful sunset and the smell of the sea:

2015 Book Summary

Reading is something I might take for granted but will never truly abandon. My mind will crave for a good story and my soul will want to get lost in another character, place and time.  Only bookworms understand this feeling, I reckon. If you happen to love books too, here's a big high five to you! 

In 2015, surprise, surprise, I got pregnant! The reason I'm stating this fact is because had I not spent so much time digging into 2 immensely thick pregnancy books given my boss, I would have read more! Also, the internet has a plethora of information---from blogs to articles to pregnancy videos, and so on---which ate up my reading time. Well that's just my excuse.

If you're friends with me on Instagram, you know I use the hashtag #laisreadinglist for this hobby of mine and it has become sort of a digital library. You can check out a brief review in that link or see below for a slightly longer one. 

Books I Read in 2015

In summary, I've read 11 paperbacks and 3 e-books, or a total of 14 books in 2015 (excluding pregnancy-related books).

And here's what I think about them:

Book 1 - The Wizard of Oz by L.Frank Baum

This 115-year old classic is an easy read and worth your while. I read this when I was in college and I remember enjoying every adventure of Dorothy, her dog Toto, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman and the Cowardly Lion. I luckily found this book in a charity shop  last year and re-read it simply for pleasure.  Who doesn't want a good old classic?  It is a children's book but there are many lines from the book which speak to adult more than anyone else.  Fave line from this book: 

"There's no place like home." ~ Dorothy

Book 2 - Make it Happen by Lara Casey

If you know about a book which stirs change, fires up a dream, or just tugs at the corner of the heart to be more intentional about living a life for God, tell me about it and I'll order it in Amazon or in the local Christian store here in Dublin. In this book's case though, no one needed to tell me about it. I've been a follower of Lara Casey's blog and it's in there that I found the heart of a woman who makes it happen for the right reasons. If there's any precious gem I have taken away from this book is that I need Jesus in my life, not anything nor anyone else. I may have big dreams and I may push myself to the limits to achieve those dreams, but in the end, it'll all be pointless and in vain if you don't have the One who truly matters.

Book 3 - Me Before You by Jojo Meyes

The story of Lou and Will, what can I say? I found this novel funny, beautiful, poignant and heartbreaking; definitely one of my faves from last year's reading list. How ironic it is when one who wanted to die so badly also wanted so desperately for someone to live. The emotions were raw and honest and the struggle was real. I was even trying to put myself in Will's shoes and if not for the faith I have now, I would have done the same. The last few chapters just did me especially when Lou was in Paris and trying to live just as Will wanted her to. This love story truly marked a dent in my heart which I'll remember for quiet some time. 

Book 4 - Steal Like An Artist

An illustrative book on being an artist, it did deliver what it intended to, a funny and fresh ways of motivating the artist in us. Whereas, artistry is not something I want to make a living from, at least not yet in this season of my life, I recognise the grain of truths presented in this illustrative book. 

Book 5 - Stupid is Forever by Miriam Defensor Santiago (photo taken online)

Back when there was so much hype going on about the release of this book from a well known politician in the Philippines, I requested it from my family in the Philippines and they sent one to Ireland. Only I took back the book back to Ph last year and finished reading it there. I wanted to read it to enjoy a dose of Miriam's humour more than anything else. And of course I did get the dosage and the amusement I sought for! I did laugh out loud at some of the pickup lines. It's like your typical Filipino comedy paperbacks which you get from National Bookstore, only it is more intellectual in content and style. What can you expect from the genius Miriam, right? 

Book 6 - The Diary of A Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney (photo taken online)

I had been curious about this book for quite a while because every time I went to Easons, Dublin's most popular bookstore, I always saw this in the bestsellers section. One of my nieces has apparently inherited my love for books so we bought this book and read it together during our holiday in the Philippines. Well the truth was, she couldn't wait for our reading sessions, she went ahead and finished reading the book ahead of me! Now I understand why this book is so popular especially among the elementary students. I think, this book was written especially for them. The "cheese touch" got me laughing out loud. 

Book 7 - Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan

A book about a bookstore? Of course, I would be so totally curious to the point that I'd buy the book to find out why. I did find out why. As I read along, I learned it was more than just a bookstore; it's got to be more than that for it to be interesting anyway. I read this during the most nauseous days of my pregnancy and in retrospect, I have mixed feelings now about the book! I loved how it revolved in typography, code-cracking techniques, secret associations, nerds and so on, but I think I just couldn't appreciate the whole point at the end. It's just me though. :)

Book 8 - Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter

Beautiful Ruins helped me get through the most nauseous days and nights of my pregnant life. It brought me to the beautiful coast of Cinque Terre in Italy. Even though the islet Porto Vergogna is a fictional site, I still couldn't help but dream setting my wandering feet there. The book has unforgettable characters whose lives intertwined and intersected in the most unusual ways. I've always wanted to visit the coastal sides of Italy; reading this book is the closest I've got. For now.

Book 9 - Wonder by RJ Palacio

Wonder is such a wonderful read not just for children but more so for adults. It's an uplifting story that will tug at the corners of your heart and will make you want to enter the story and hug the characters especially August. If you're running low on love and compassion for others, dive into this book and you'll end up being more intentional in loving and practising kindness to others.

Book 10 - Love Does by Bob Goff

Love Does took me to a beautiful journey where I laughed, got inspired and most of all, learned that love doesn't just wish or keep planning for it. Moreover, I got to know God's heart more in each and every chapter of this book. Thank you Bob Goff for writing this beautiful book. I hope I can meet you someday and catch your contagious desire to love in the most whimsical ways.

Book 11 - Lifesaving for Beginners by Ciara Geraghty

Partly set in the United Kingdom and partly in Ireland, this book is a great holiday read as it celebrates Christmas and family reunion, albeit not in the most traditional fashion. One life's lesson that I was reminded of having read this book is that forgiveness and acceptance do set you free, don't withhold them for long.

Book 12 - The Girl on Train by Paula Hawkins (Kindle Edition)

Loved the twists and turns of the story and the strangeness of the characters who make up a thriller fiction. I enjoyed the mystery alright. However, the last 20% of the book was predictable for me. Still it's a good mystery, thriller story that is deserving of all the hype.

Book 13 - The Christmas Candle by Max Lucado

I've always tried to read something relevant to the Christmas season. I downloaded this book from Kindle thinking it was the same as the movie with the same title. I was wrong. Haha! It was a good short story and truly rekindling what Christmas is all about---love for each other just as Jesus loved us. 

Book 14 - The Christmas Shoes by Donna Vanliere

I have this book which is in the Philippines and I read it while in college. I was bursting into tears after tears while reading it and even after so I though of re-reading it again and purchased it in Kindle. It's a beautiful story about family, love and loss. The story is a novelisation of Newsong's Christmas Shoes. If you haven't listened to it yet, check this out. Even the song is already tear jerking. This book is the most perfect gift anyone can give on Christmas.

Till the 2016 book list. Happy reading! :)