Happy Father’s Day, Daddy!

-From Mommy, Matthew and Baby Mark

Matthew in T-Ball Uniform. Photo taken on April 11, 2010.

Matthew's T-Ball Team. Photo taken March 30, 2010.

The T-Balls games has been concluded with Matthew joining only 1 game out of the 6 or so games that was organized. But he joined all the practices, which allowed him to play and have fun with the kids his age and height.

It always warms my heart to see him giddy and excited about having someone to play with. Unfortunately, in his excitement, he gets in trouble. There is so much for me to teach him like containing his excitement, listening and following instructions, the concept of game, not just play …

I am so grateful to the wonderful people who allowed him to this opportunity; and happy that he had this experience.

Note to self: Learn to drive, really drive!

Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers, moms, mommies, mama, nanay, including grandmas and lolas…. especially to first-time-mothers and mothers-to-be.

For the whole week, I had been trying to work on a post for Mother’s Day! Something nice, light and appropriate .. but nothing came to me. I think, it’s mostly because the week has been difficult for me. I had been feeling … tired, doubtful and insecure, clueless, heavy hearted, inadequate, measuring myself below my own standards on being a mother, or a parent, etc. etc.

I tried to send out the Mother’s Day cards for my mother and mother-in-law, but we didn’t have stamps so they will be sent out late … until we will be able to go the post office. Another blunder! But I managed to send out Mother’s Day Greetings online to a few moms I know.

So the days went by. And then this morning, I dragged myself to get up to feed Baby Mark, then Matthew, my 3-year-old baby, woke up and squeezed himself to sit with us in the rocking chair – just like any other morning!

I planned the rest of the day in my mind. I haven’t showered for days so I swore to myself that I will start the day with a shower and washing my greasy hair, whether or not the babies will cooperate! If only I had gotten up earlier while all the babies were still sleeping to take a shower… oh well. I’ll just leave the small baby in the crib, crying or not, when I shower; and then make sure the big baby will be preoccupied watching cartoons, if not i’ll open the shower curtains to make sure he will be by the bathroom door the whole time, and not fussing the baby in the crib. And that it shouldn’t be over 10-minute. Sigh.. how did a 10-minute shower became this complicated and so planned out? And then, I’ll give them both a bath – whether or not they will cooperate!

The flowers are in the kitchen right now, where it is the safest from the tinkering fingers of a toddler!

Already showered and Baby Mark already had a bath, I continued planning out the rest of the day in my head, while scrubbing Matthew in his bath. Matthew was crying the because I was scolding him for drinking his bath water (water from the tub) using his bath toys. Baby Mark, who has cooperated the whole time, was in the crib crying his head off this time! Then lo and behold, hubby dropped by from after their usual Sunday Morning activities with the cadets, took the baby to his arms and was standing by the bathroom door. He said he just wanted to say ‘hi!’ before he goes off for brunch. When I finished giving Matthew a bath, I saw the cards and hand-picked-straight-from-the-front-yard red flowers in the dresser. They were for me for Mother’s day. Sigh! Hubby did it again … make me feel like crying!

When I woke up this morning, I totally forgot that it’s Mother’s Day and throughout the recent weeks, I didn’t really put it in my head that today is about me too. So today of all days, I’m glad I showered! All my plans for the day – I threw them off the window, and spent the day being puked on by a baby (so much for the shower), picking after a toddler, facebooking and watching feel good movies on TV.

On another note, Baby Mark turns 1-month old today. On the better part of the day, we managed to keep the floor tidy and took some photos.

With my boys, Matthew (3) and Baby Mark (almost 3 weeks), Photo taken 28 April 2010

Reality 1: Overwhelming Blues

It is hard enough to find nice clothes for boys, while the pink dresses are plentiful in wider aisles. But when you can actually find nice clothes for boys, why do they always have to be blue.

Reality 2: Boy Toys Overload

Car toys, robots, tractors, action figures, Hot wheels, … need I say more!

Reality 3: Boys are messy

Ever since Matthew was potty trained, I’ve taught him over and over to lift up the toilet seat when he goes. When he forgets, and I forget that he just recently used the bathroom when I use the bathroom, guess what I will be sitting on. Grrr! I know… I have to check each time… or I better get me my own bathroom!

And while diaper changing Baby Mark, I have to remind myself to cover him up. Little boys have the ability to spray it all over. I have to catch the wetness a lot of times just so not to get it all over… me.

I look forward to all the fun we are going to have. I look forward to confirming that raising boys in the long run is easier than raising girls … a lot more fun and less drama.

I love my boys!