Sabel turns ONE.

Dearest Sabel,

As you turn one I celebrate the sweetness of a baby that is you. I thank the Lord for giving you to us. For being our joy and happiness always...

I pray that you and Julia will hold each other's hand when you're happy, scared or even when you're blue. 

Together, you will make the world a better place. 

Your smile - so genuine and sincere.

You are my constant reminder that life should be filled with all positivity, be in thoughts and actions. You prompt me to appreciate life as it is and to be contended with what’s here present. Your genuine smile each morning gives me hope for we never know what each day brings.

Always remember that Mama has got your back and that I will constantly be here for you and your sister.  

You are a certified Daddy’s girl. Never wanting without attention from him when he is present. 

Always remember to take each passing day with one small step at a time. 

I love it when I hear you squeal in delight, I especially like it when you call out for food because you love to eat so much.

You were born to shine and sparkle. 

You are a doting sister to Julia and because you are quite strong, at times, she feels you are hurting her but like I always tell her, you are just a baby and just wants to play. I hope you two will grow the best of friends.

The world is big and you must go and discover it for yourself. 

Life will not be perfect but I promise you, it will be beautiful. 

To my sweet one, Happy Birthday! 

I love you to the moon and back!

Love,

Mama

For you, Sabel.

As I make this note, I can feel your not-so-gentle kicks any longer. Your movement has become stronger each passing day. Makes me want to believe that you would want to help me as I fill in this space in honor of you. Oh Sabel, in 5 weeks, we will meet you and hold you in our very arms. Daddy and Mama can't wait to see you, your darling and sweet sister, Julia can't wait to see you either. She is always enthusiastic after every doctor's appointment in questioning me if I've given birth to you. 

Your kicks and somersaults are making me feel you are ready for the world. 

In tribute of Mama's wonderful pregnancy experience with you, I've decided to ask someone to take snippets of myself carrying you, along with Daddy and your sister Julia. 

One day, you will look back at these beautiful photographs and probably smile. For once, you were just a tiny growing bud in Mama's tummy. And by the time you will learn to browse upon Mama's little curve, you will be a fine lady, the least. 

This is for you Sabel, from all of us who loves you so...

 Happiness is on the way...

 You're first breath will take ours away, Sabel.

"The most precious jewels you'll ever have around your neck are the arms of your children."

"Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart."

Soon, there will be four of us. 

"Its the little memories that will last a lifetime."

"My little girl yesterday, my best friend today and my daughter forever."

"To be in your children's memories tomorrow, you have to be in their lives today."

 I am because you are...

I love you in the morning and in the afternoon, I love you in the evening and underneath the moon...

See you real soon our dearest Sabel. 

We love you, to the moon and back!

Love,

Daddy, Mama and Julia

Isabel.

Here I am convening in my workspace. The very space that led me to writing, the very space that had me wandering and wanting. It’s a square-shaped desk, a mah-jong table to be particular that I’ve been using in my room at my Mama’s house. It’s like a table catchall. Anyways, I am staring at the sea and listening to the leaves sway here and there. Nat King Cole’s melody is also playing, carrying me to an inspiring mood. There is a low pressure somewhere and it has been nothing but gloomy with moderate winds this past few days. 

Everyone is busy. Everyone is out. The room is mine and how I am loving it.

In a day, I only get to have 2 hours of peace all for myself. An hour has already passed by. Two hours is very precious for me. It’s from 10 am till noontime. The little girl is out at school during these hours. It’s the only stretch I get to sit, get cozy, be sluggish and daydream like no other. At times, I get to miss my single days when things I did daily was all mundane but it made me pleased in a way or two. Today, all is different. Being a mother is such a great accomplishment. Especially seeing your little one blossom to a very beautiful and smart aleck that she is now. Being a mother doesn’t mean that all is picturesque and impeccable. It unquestionably does have its low moments too. I for one just had a recent low down as I call it. Being 6 months pregnant and having a toddler who goes to school everyday is hard. Hormones are raging and the little one is grumpy at times when not being attended to, and there is our tiny baby growing in my belly who just understands. So much for my blah blahs as I have fifty-eight minutes to be exact till she comes home from school and tells me all her stories which I have to be 100 % attentive to…

This post is actually for my little one growing in my belly. Telling the world what she will be.

My pregnancy has been so smooth sailing. Compared to my first born where I had to lay down in bed for almost 8 months because I had a complicated pregnancy. My second pregnancy is so great. I get to go out and actually wear maternity clothes that I can pick myself. I can proudly show everyone my baby bump.

We found out last month that our baby is going to be a girl. We are all delighted about it and so is Julia. She is the one who would constantly say that the baby I have in my tummy is a girl as opposing to everyone who would always tell me that I am having a boy.

Getting crafty with garden blooms from Mama's garden.

We started calling her Isabel. I’ve always been charmed with the name Isabel and so she’ll be called “Sabel”. Isabel means, “Consecrated to God”. She just gave me a little somersault as I wrote her name. She has been so good all throughout my pregnancy. Thank you dear Lord for her!

Unlike Julia, Isabel has been moving so much. She bounces back when I caress my belly up and down, as if telling me she appreciates it. When it is all still at night and everyone is asleep, I set my earphones on my belly as I make her listen to the songs that Julia listened when she was in my tummy too. It’s a playlist of all Classical Music and some rhymes. I know that she loves it because it makes her calm and she stops moving so much.

My dearest Sabel, I cannot simply wait for you. I get teary-eyed when I think about you and our growing family. You are a blessing and you are God’s gift. Daddy and I will try our very best to be amazing parents to you and your big sister. Julia has had her toys and DVD’s arranged for you. She has lots and lots of stories to tell too. There is never a dull moment with your big sister as she is like a bird that never stops gabbing. I pray you will be as smart and beautiful as she is. She will teach you her bedtime prayer and all her tactics. She is naughty at times but you need not follow her.

Your BIG sister Julia helps me put this little beauty for us to take a photograph with. 

Mama is trying to make floral pillowcases for you. I’ll make everything beautiful as I welcome you out to the world. You will be loved and cared for by everybody. Deep in my heart, I know that you are eager to come out too. It won’t be that long anymore my dearest Sabel.

We will see you soon.

Love,

Mama

My Christmas Story

It took me awhile to finish this, never knowing how to start and when to stop. But a little recollecting of moments shared helped a lot as I put this all together in one tiny piece.

Here is my Christmas Story...

Christmastime meant everything to me when I was a child. It carried a feeling that made every age happy. Back when I was younger, I would always look forward for Christmas Eve and all its revelries. I never quite understood it then why we had to do each thing in harmony with time. Like for instance, at ten in the evening, we would all gather down, not settling since we all are enthusiastic for whatever presents we would receive. The elder cousins, calling out our names, are passing over our gifts to us – that was the drill. We would then wait for our Lolo Melchor’s go gesture to open them all together. The room was forever complete with clatter and splendid wrappers being hurled from here and there. Right before midnight, the maiden cook named Delia would prepare hot chocolate from scratch and would make budbud a day earlier. There would be mango slices to complement it with and we all love this concoction. We would submerge the budbud in our hot chocolate and eat it with mango alternating one from the other. The taste is impeccable, its absolutely a must try. At midnight, we would take our time greeting everyone with open arms, embracing each one tight and kissing them all one by one. We would start with the elders of course and work our way ‘till we finish our Merry Christmas greeting. It had to be known that it was family tradition after all. I never quite understood it way back. Now, it has deepen and come to life all over again.

Then.

 The Mermaids with Lolo Melchor and Lola Rita.

Our Christmas then.

Perhaps it is very timely to say that Christmas is all about family and traditions. It should be passed joyfully from generation to generation.

In one of his beautiful sermons, Father Larry once said that Christmas starts and ends with family. Deep within my heart, I wish for time to heal whatever differences my family has been going through right now. I do not want to question nor do I want to meddle with their differences because I am just a daughter, a niece, and a cousin. I am not in the right place to do such thing. All I can do is clasp my hands so tight and bring my knees down in prayer and lift everything to God. I respect each one highly and never want to break any bonds. There is no place in my heart for pride, nor has any animosity taken part of it. There is however so much kindness and love in my heart right now.

I am so thankful that this year, Julia got to experience what Christmas is like way back when I was a child. She especially love the ripping of those crisp wrappers and finding out what lies under the pretty packaging.

This year, our Tita Maite decided to spend her Christmas with us. She along with Uncle Jim, flew all the way from the States just to spend time with family. She has brightened up our day with her presence and her magic - whatever it is. Some people have this gift. They own it without having to know how or why. When Lolo Melchor was still alive, he used to possess this magic. I simply do not know why. We all felt that magic and I’m sure the little ones have their stories to tell.

Christmas Eve.

Christmas Day dinner.

Christmas Day dinner. This isn't the whole ka-boodle. We are so much more and beyond.

I’d like to thank you, Tita Maite. We all want to thank you.

Thank you is an understatement. It will never be enough. 

But because it needs to be said and done, thank you. 

You are constantly a cloud of sunshine and a ray of hope every time you come home. I wish you would just stay here forever. Your charm and grace lights up the room by modestly walking into it. When you are around, the place seems merrier and always full. Thank you Tita Maite for the person that you are. Thank you for dragging Mama and the others to the positivity cloud, it is certainly not dull on that side of life. Please continue doing so. You are our Christmas Story this year. You have stepped out of your way to make us all glad. I salute you. I wish others felt what we all did. You gave us the magic of Christmas once again and I know all the little ones will never ever forget you. 

God will bless you and your family.