Island Melancholy.

It was November of 2008 when I first rode a plane with two complete strangers (well not really) en route to the beautiful island of Guam for internship. One who was all smiles and giddy as he was reading a love letter written by his girlfriend when he boards the plane and the other one who was sobbing a little because she already missed home perhaps or so I remember and then there was I, who was excited and a bit fearful all together.

Who knew that we would get along pretty well?

My first ever shot of Joana at Inarajan Bay. Isn't she lovely?

The whimsical Jerome showing off his first love for ballet.

Who's that girl? What have I done to her body? Laughs.

Christmas 2008. All three of us were a thousand miles away from home, but, nevertheless, we had a worthwhile holiday that year because we had each other…

Then all came the rest of the bunch…

And there was this Chinese guy whom we all thought would be very finicky but then he ended up making us all laugh in a jiffy. He was the ladies man. He was our comic relief at times.

At the PHARE Competition.

WIne Rally 2010.

We won! 

And there came this bubbly girl who had the sweetest tooth ever, her name was Sherry. She also had so many stories to tell. I knew from her school and so we got along pretty well too.

Wine Rally 2010.

At Jeff's Pirate Cove the moment I went back to Guam for work.

At Ritidian Beach 2010.

Then there were three boys (Aljay, Geremiah and Dong) who came on separate trips. They all have each other stories to tell.

Geremiah, Tedi, Aljay, myself (my skinny self many moons ago) and Sherry at Haagen Daaz. Here we are with Tedi, our best buddy on the island.

Geremiah, Dong, Julius (one of our closest friend) and I at Outrigger.

And there was this sweet girl, whom I instantly connected on a beach day out. We lay there on the sand exchanging each other’s life stories. Oh how I was moved with hers…

At Tumon Bay beach.

A photo with Nadine on my 25th birthday. 

And this happy lady came along too with all butterflies in her tummy just because. But I must tell you that she is the happiest NOW as she just became a new and blushing bride.

Oh Vida! I couldn't get a more decent photograph of us but this. Geremiah, Dong, Vida and I at Yellow Cab.

Some of the things that I probably miss…

Being in a place of solitude.

Fire Trees.

Watabe's Sukiyaki.

The tartness of this beauty.

Blooming Teas among others. 

Everybody's favorite.

Sandy toes and long beach walks.

The most beautiful beach I've seen.

All the glorious sunsets - always fleeting.

These two. I miss them oh-so-much.

We all got along. We made memories together. We had the time of our lives.

During my wedding of October 2011 where all the girls finally meet and exchange stories.

Fast forward to today, nearly 4 years has passed and we still are friends. And I know, someday, we still and shall be.

The first three. 

Ryan, Sherry, Joana, Jerome and I.

Jerome is now happily married and his wife cannot wait to get pregnant. They will be both residing in Australia soon as Jen fixes her papers.

Joana is a happy wife of JR. They will soon be having their bundle of joy a few months from now on – a girl. She hosted our mini-reunion in their lovely home.

I cannot wait for you to become a Mommy!

Ryan has become a loving husband to Belle who just got pregnant weeks before we had met. How exciting for this 2 month old newly-wed. And finally for Ryan, finally…

Sherry has claimed that this year will be hers. She will find her prince and shall bake him cake. She and I are mighty survivors of the recent Yolanda typhoon.

Here we are with Little Miss Julia.

Belle, Ryan, Sherry, Joana, Jerome, Jen and I.

Nadine just bought a cat and is happily single. She now teaches Pastry and has the cutest sugar creations to boost.

Vida just got married and is oh-so-happy with her life. She smiles from ear to ear as she speaks of her hubby and rekindle their story.

And I, with my daughter, Julia, who is always in tow, can never be happier and contented. All I wish for, is for us to reunite as often as we can, so as Nadine would put it, she felt warm and fuzzy the whole day as we chit chatted over waffles and cranberry bread one morning.

On your 11th month...

Dearest Julia,

This is it. A month from now and you will be a year old. I cannot imagine how time went by so fast. We made it through and through, Darling. We made it through.

You have inspired me so much to become the best person that I can be. You have taught me what real love is all about. You have taught me to become patient and more loving. You have taught me to value and enjoy the little things life has to offer.

Because you are blossoming to be big girl now, Mama is going to inspire you with some thoughts that I will instill to you one day.

We’ve been through so much already that I can easily imagine that we are like warriors of some sort. We have to be the strongest warrior there is, Julia. Our journey isn’t over yet. Everyday, we continue to take a leap towards the future. We have to keep moving forward. We have to continue to welcome the positive energy that the beautiful world has to offer.

Lets take everything one day at a time. Each day is filled with so much happiness and mystery. Each day we welcome new things and learn new beginnings. At the end of the day, what matters is how we spent it – beautifully. Let all the days of your life be beautiful and happy. Always let go of the worries and try not to let your eyebrows do the talking (like you oftentimes do). Worry is useless.

Always take time to smell the flowers, kiss the sun, dance under the rain, run across the fields and roll over and over the green grass. Just be careful not to hurt yourself. Mama has been a lover of nature and the trees amongst others. I want you to be the same. Plant a tree.

Always practice kindness. In all ways, be kind. You never know what kind of battle the person next to you is struggling with.

Be prayerful. God answers prayers. He listens when nobody does. We have a great God, Julia. He gave me you. You’re the best gift that He has given me.

Be grateful to everybody who has learned to love and care for you. People have been so inspired with your story and I would want you to be grateful to them just because.

Never quit. I know sometimes, you feel like giving up. At times, it may seem impossible for you to reach a goal – never give up. Keep trying, sweetheart.

I can go on and on and someday my list will keep getting longer. Someday, you will all understand where Mama is coming from.

Just smile. Smile at your worries. Smile at your fears.

And when all else fails (just in case it does) – always remember that you’ve got me and I’ve got you.

The end.

My baby turns ONE.

And it all came to this day…

When you are a year older and perhaps it is timely to say that I became wiser that I became your Mama.

I’ve been tossing and turning underneath my sheets as I try to remember all that it came to be. All that it was back when you were just a two-double lined strip test. I can probably write a book from how you came to be in this life but I shall do that in another lifetime.

Sometimes, I find myself staring at you, most especially at your sleep and I find myself giggling and giggling some more in between sobs. Oh Julia! You are finally a year old. How amazing is that?! I can’t believe that you are a big little girl already. I can’t believe that you are ONE.

When I found out that I was pregnant with you, I prayed to God everyday. I thanked Him for you. And I prayed to Him for you to become normal, healthy, happy, God-fearing and a beautiful baby girl. I always thank God now that you are here. I thank Him for the gift of life He bestowed you with. I thank God for you always. He blessed me with the most beautiful baby and that’s you… Daddy and I are the luckiest parents ever.

You have bloomed to be a beauty now that you are one.

I smile proudly when one comes asking how many teeth does she have now?  I proudly say, eight. When one asks what kind of food you eat, I straightforwardly tell them, anything. Because you absolutely eat anything, and for that I am one lucky Mama.

Have I told you that you are getting prettier each day?

Have I told you that you have the most beautiful eyes we’ve ever seen? Eyes that lit up each time you smile; eyes that are wandering and full of charm.

Have I told you that you are the smartest one year old I know?

Have I told you that you are a charming and bubbly baby?

Have I told you that you surely have mastered the art of dancing? Oh Julia! You have the funniest and happiest dance moves there is. I never imagined you could dance like that. At any given sound, you inevitably sway your hips like a belly dancer.

Have I told you that you can sit up straight already? And when you are tired, you hang by loosely with the biggest grin there is.

Have I told you that you look like Daddy all the more? You are his mini-me.

Have I told you that so many people love you? Some of which I do not even know of.

Have I told you that at night, you gently roll over (just an inch away) by my side to sleep?

Have I told you that you survived the strongest typhoon in the world? In that case, you are one mighty and brave little girl.

The whole year seemed like the longest trip to me. It will be one of the most remembered years of Mama’s life because there was you. You, who brought all the sunshine to our dull and gloomy days. You, who made us smile despite all the tragedy we had to get by. You, with the sweetest smile, would melt so many hearts at once. And you, yes you, the love of our lives…

In a dream I had once, I realized that maybe, just for a second, when the stars were aligned, that we were destined to be together. That you would become my daughter and that I, would become your Mama. You are home to me. You are home to Daddy and I. You may not know it yet, but in time you will come to know how you’ve brighten up our lives.

I love you all the time,

Mama

To my lovely girl on your 10th month.

 Dearest Julia,

Days have passed since our quick and easy trip to Cebu. Mama is very happy because your brace has been partially removed. You’ll only get to wear them 8 hours a day and luckily for us, we don’t have to wear it during bedtime. I am so proud of you for enduring all these months of recuperation. You are one tough girl!

As you turn 10 months old, let me tell you how marvelous you are!

• -       You now have a total of 6 teeth. 4 on the upper side and 2 on the lower side.
• -       You babble words like there’s no end to babbling and I totally love how you babble Ma..ma..ma..
• -       Technically, your first word is “Papa” and your Daddy couldn’t be happier.
• -       You get so mischievous and naughty when you have something you really really want. And when the person next to you utters, “give me” you squeal to the sound of it leaving the room full of laughter and cheers.
• -       You are now wearing SMALL sized diapers. It used to be newborn size for a quite a long time. It only shows that you are now a big girl! Bravo!
• -       You have mastered CLAP YOUR HANDS so well. It makes me overjoyed how smart you are at some tricks.
• -       You can now wave “goodbye”, a trick you learned just before you went off to dream land.  You are an amazing baby!
• -       You certainly know everyone already. You know when someone is a stranger or not. 
• -       You have the most wandering eyes. Eyes that sparkle each time you smile, Eyes that are full of fury when you get mad. Eyes that is bursting with knowledge. And eyes that make me melt all the time.
• -       You have mastered the art of eating. You know what you want. You have tried almost everything already and for that I am proud of us both. Mighty proud.
• -       Your PAVLIK Harness has been partially removed my dear. You are now wearing it 8 hours a day only leaving the bedtime free off your brace. And because of this, you can now roll over your tummy and back. You seem to love it so much – you smile with delight. And not just that, you can now lift your head way up with the palm on your hands touching the mattress. I love it how you do such thing – it makes me feel oh-so-proud of you, Julia.
• -       You love to watch your ABC’s DVD. You don’t want anyone to bother you when it is being played. You are so attentive and so much more. I know one day, you’ll be the smartest kid in school.
• -       You love it when we read a book or two for you. You listen and then mumble words as if you are reading with us too. The mere thought of it keeps me giggling. It simply is the cutest thing ever.
• -       And lastly, probably the most important milestone this month is that you are now officially weaned out from Mama’s milk. I am so proud of you my dear! As I write this, its close to 5 weeks that you are breast-milk free.

  

Oh Julia! I can go on with all the wonderful things this month has to offer with all your delightful ways…

But I must not forget that somewhere along our journey, there are lots of people, some I know, more often than not, strangers, who leaves us inspiring messages. These people have encouraged me to keep on writing to you month after month. They make Mama strong too. I may not know them personally, but I know that they care about us, about our journey.

So, now, I’m sharing some of their lovely thoughts, may it inspire you too one day…

shalinirelwani

@mariaritablanca she will excel in more ways than one and no one can achieve what she can achieve. :) to a mother our child is the most precious thing in this world and nothing or no one can change that feeling :) God bless Julia she is gonna be an amazing woman

juliefdcruz

I got teary-eyed when I read your blog, Ric. Our child will always be the most precious gift we could ever have. By that alone, we are so blessed! :) Julia will be an amazing woman as she is already now and that is because she has so much love around her. I'm hoping to meet you one day and your beautiful bundle of joy. You are such a wonderful person. Full of positivity! Just shun all the negatives, they won't do any good. God bless you and your beautiful family! 👪💕🙏🌈😘

carentorres_rama

Very nice @mariaritablanca . I got teary eyed while reading your blog. It would be nice if you could print & frame it together w/ this picture so Julia can read it over & over again when she grows up. 😊

lucytgomez

@mariaritablanca So beautiful Ric! Brought tears to my eyes. God could not have picked a more perfect mother for Baby Julia. She is a beautiful blessing to the entire family, in every way that truly matters.

love_dressup

Be blessed always baby julia ;) u will always be in my prayers! Ur smile/laugh is contagious 👼

marilu_g1212

The cast is serving as an anchor for her to be able to lift her head, strengthening the neck muscles in the process. Romans 8:28 says 'And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.' Julia is God's beloved child, the apple of His eye and He has a special, unique purpose for her. :) @mariaritablanca

lizamagdamit

God bless you julia ;) continue to be cheerful, spreading smiles and giggles. 🌸🌸🌸

apo_ni_julit

hello..thanks for accepting my request;).. @mariaritablanca..I spent the morning reading your blog..and I love everything.. especially the one's about baby Julia..you're an A.W.E.S.O.M.E mom!!..handsdown to you for being so amazing and positive despite what ur going through..you are a super mom..I really admire you!...Julia is so lucky to have you..and vice versa...with all the goodness of your heart, God bless you more!!♥♥♥..

msros

So they say that babies speak their heart and express their emotions through their eyes... Well this little angel's eyes sure is overflowing.......

oshinvega

You are both lucky to have each other. @mariaritablanca 👩👶 You may not know it #julia but you inspire alot of us with your bravery. I'll always pray for you sweetie.. 🙏

irvie20

I am a fan to both of you..The battle that you have been through with your baby and the happy face that Julia is showing all the time is just so inspiring..Dealing with a baby alone is not easy the more if their is something else that you dealt with..I don't know you personally but I felt your joy,continentment and and battle..Maybe because being a mother as well we tackle different journeys in life..And you are absolutely right everything is not easy but because you have each other everything will turn out fine..May God continue to Bless your Adorable baby Julia and your family always...@mariaritablanca