Does Your Child Run To You?

He ran to me! 

My 8-month-old baby ran to me from the other end of his crib. He is just starting to walk. He can only make a few steps on his own before he would fall again. 

Last night, he ran to me with so much excitement and joy!

His joy was evident and contagious! His smile and excitement were contagious! I could see it in his eyes. I can see it in the way he smiled and moved forward with eagerness. I could see it in his outstretched arms.

Look how big my baby's smile is!
We can see his two lower teeth (his first two teeth) already!

He fell before reaching my hands at the opposite end of his crib but it's okay. His spirit was not dampened. He was simply happy to see me there... present to him... watching him... cheering him... encouraging him... lovingly gazing at him and celebrating his every step.

He was happy, confident and brave enough to run even though he is still struggling with this new skill simply because I was there. My presence spurred him to do something that is beyond his current skill set. I am pleased that this was the effect of my presence to my son.

I am blessed to have these moments with my baby. Actually, I had been so blessed to have these kind of moments with all of my children.

I had been home since I got pregnant with my first child. Thus, I was there to witness and celebrate almost every single day and moment in their young lives.

Then, it dawned on me that my children will not always run to me. So, it's good to seize each and every opportunity to embrace them every time these opportunities come.

I realized that as our children grow older, they will run to us less often. I have seen this in my eldest child who is now 6 six years old. He still runs to me a lot but now that he's older, he runs to many other things as well and to other people. He runs to his toys and his books. He runs to his playmates. He runs to things that make him curious and that excite him or make him happy.

But he still runs to me many times each day. He runs to me to show me the products of his wild imagination. He runs to me to show me something he built using his building blocks or wooden blocks like the very detailed car park building, house or robot he designed. He runs to me to show me his drawings or art works. He runs to me to share something new he has discovered or learned. He runs to me to show the worksheets he has answered. He runs to me to share his accomplishments like the "books" he finished writing and illustrating. He runs to me to share his stories, his plans and his dreams. He runs to me when he is excited, happy, hurt or afraid. He runs to me for help. He runs to me when he has questions.

The same is true with my younger child who is 3 years old. He runs to me to do most of what his big brother does and so much more. He runs to me when he wants to listen to a story or read a book. He runs to me when he wants a kiss and a hug. He runs to me when he wants to be defended or protected. He runs to me when he wants to learn or know something. He runs to me when he wants someone who will listen to him. He runs to me when he wants to sing and dance. He runs to me when he wants his picture taken. 

My children run to me because of many reasons. When they were still babies like my third baby now, they run to me for milk most of the time. They run to me for assistance in doing many things. But as they grow older, they run to me less because they had been learning to do things on their own and to discover new things on their own. But I love that they still run to me to share their new learnings and discoveries afterwards.

I think that running to me has become their default because I have done three things consistently over the years that made them behave this way. And if you want your children to run to you as well, I suggest that you also do these three.

3 Things To Do So Your Children Will Run To You

1. Make running to you an option. Your children wouldn't consider this an option unless you make it known to them that this is something they can do. Let them know that they can run to you through your words and through your actions. Call them or tell them that you are there and that they can approach you. If your children are not used to running to you, encourage them. Don't force them. But keep inviting them. 

2. Be consistently present to your children. You need to be present to your children most of the time especially when they need you the most. That would powerfully convey to them that they can run to you when they want to or need to. Your presence is the most poignant proof that they really can run to you. Your presence will give credibility to your words that they can come to you. When you are not consistently present, they may think that you will not be there next time they want or need to run to you.

3. Make them want to run to you. There are many ways to make your children want to run to you. But these are all rooted in how you make them feel when they run to you. I do not claim that I do all these perfectly all the time. But I do strive to make my children feel this way as often as I can. 

Here are some ways:

• Make them feel welcomed. We parents are always busy and it can be very           challenging for us to make them feel welcomed all the time. I have learned that when we are busy, it's alright to be honest with them by letting them know what we are currently doing and why we are doing the task at hand. But it's also crucial that we still make them feel welcomed most of the time and when they are still little so that when they are older, they know that they are welcomed. Mom/dad is just busy at the moment. When you have deposited much in your child's emotional bank account and made your child feel welcomed early on in his/her young life, your child can accept more easily the times when you will tell him/her that you are currently busy doing something and that you will spend more time with him/her later when your current task is done.

• Make them feel loved. You can make them feel loved with your words. The way you speak to them also communicates your love. Make your actions or gestures communicate love as well, including your facial expressions when they turn and run to you. Children notice a lot of things. You'll be amazed to discover what they usually notice if you take time to ask them and listen to their answers. So do your best that your words, tone of voice, facial expression, gestures and actions all communicate love. 

• Make them feel important. Children feel important when their parents make time for them and the things that matter to them. If your kids are still small, their play time matters to them. Their stories matter to them no matter how trivial these stories are or even when they do not make sense to you. Your presence and willingness to make time to listen to them and to their concerns make them feel important. Your willingness to help them when they need assistance on something or when they have questions communicate to them that they are important enough to be heard.

• Make them feel happy. The wonderful thing about children is that it is easy to make them happy. The simplest things make them smile, laugh and bring them joy. A lot of times, if we just allow ourselves to spend more time with them, we will also catch their joy and find humor in ordinary things or situations. When we regularly make time to pause and make them happy, we teach them to associate happiness with our presence or company. That makes them want to run to us more and often.

• Make them feel safe. One way to make them feel safe to run to you is by being open to them and their feelings. Let them get used to expressing themselves to you whether they are experiencing positive or negative emotions. When they know and have experienced this with you over time, then they will automatically run to you because they know that it's okay to be honest with you. They are safe to be themselves when they are around you. They will feel comfortable with you. Your presence will be a source of comfort in times of trouble and distress. 

Our children will eventually grow up and need us less but if they experience having you as someone they can always run to for anything, they will remember you not only with fondness and gratitude but they will continue to run to you even when they are already adults and parents themselves.

Does your child run to you? What moves your child to run to you?

Do you want to be remembered by your child as the kind of parent he/she can always run to? 

I believe that most parents want to be present to their children but are struggling to do this because of financial concerns. If you are serious in becoming a parent whom your children will always want to run both in good times and in bad, I invite you to take a look at my coaching program called iHOPE with Teresa Gumap-as Dumadag. It's a 3-Step Success System that can help parents like you to become present to your children while at the same time earning money for your family. You can read more about this here.

My Birthing Story with Georg Daniel

We celebrated our baby Georg Daniel's third month yesterday at my parents' house. How fast time flies! Why do babies grow so quickly?

Baby Georg Daniel after his bath yesterday.

It has been three months since I gave birth to him and yet I have not found the time yet to document his birth story through a blog post. I was so caught up in the breastfeeding sessions, diaper changes, bathing, soothing and many other duties which also include caring for his two older brothers and homeschooling them. I sometimes wonder why we need to sleep! There is so much to do even when you're a stay-at-home mom! hahaha

Our Baby Georg Daniel all set to celebrate his 3rd month.
He's wearing the outfit given by my mom.

I wanted to make that blog post as beautiful as possible... Thus, this perfectionistic tendency contributed to the delay. Today, I've decided to let go of that desire. I choose to simply dive into writing this post and do my best to make it as beautiful and memorable as I can.

My due date based on most of my ultrasound results predicted that I would give birth on December 4, 2014. My doctor said that since he is my third baby, I can give birth a week or two earlier than my expected due date.

I hoped and prayed that I would give birth as close to my due date as possible because my second child's birthday falls on November 19. I wanted to make his birthday celebration extra special because he will be a big brother soon. Thank God! I was still able to organize a nice and fun, intimate birthday party for my second child before I gave birth! :) (You may read about it here.)

Aside from that, I also had projects that I wanted to finish. One of them is our maid manual that I wanted to update, my 4-week cycle menu plan and grocery list. I wanted to finish these projects before I give birth so that even during while I'm on maternity leave, my husband and maids can use these as guides or references if I cannot take on these tasks because I'm recuperating from childbirth.

Thankfully again, God answered these prayers of mine and I finished all these before I gave birth to my third child.

I still remember that day when after eating lunch, I went to the comfort room to pee. Then, I saw that I already have a bloody discharge. I thought that this could already be my mucous plug.

I promptly informed my doctor and she said that I should go to the hospital right away. I informed my husband too. He was in the office then.

Good thing, it was my husband's lunch break so I was able to talk to him. There are days when he is in a meeting most of the day so it's hard to contact him when this is the case. I thank God that on the day that my mucous plug was removed, I was able to contact him easily.

I took a bath right away. Asked my maids to help me get my things ready (which I already put in a big bag) while waiting for my husband to arrive from his office.

The traffic then from our place to the hospital where I was supposed to give birth was moderate. To state it plainly, it's not as fast I we hoped it would be. Thankfully again, my contractions were not yet as strong to make me panic or give birth in our vehicle. We still made it to the hospital.

In my hospital room, walking around
and doing squats.

In the hospital, we were given a choice by the residents who checked on me to go back home or to get a room already. My cervix was not yet dilated big enough. If I remember it correctly, I think it was only at 3 cm. We waited for my doctor to arrive for her clinic schedule that afternoon. My husband and I watched episodes of The Flash while waiting. I also felt that the contractions were getting stronger as we waited outside my doctor's clinic.

My doctor did an internal examination (IE) of my cervix when she arrived. She advised that we just get a room already since our house is far from the hospital. When she did an IE on me, my cervix was already between 5-6 cm dilated.  

Like in my past experiences, I made a birth plan which was signed by my doctor. We simply implemented it when we checked in.

My goal was to give birth without any medication and as little intervention as possible. I did not have an IV. I was allowed to eat until I was not yet in active labor. I was free to move around my room and do whatever exercises and positions I felt were comfortable for me and were helping me.

I kept walking and squatting repeatedly, knowing that these movements would help make labor progress faster. I was determined to apply what I learned the birth class that my husband and I attended years ago in preparation for the delivery of our first child.

I also rested when I felt tired. I either sat or lied down in bed and continued with our The Flash marathon.

When night came, I tried to sleep as much as I could.

In between, a resident doctor would do an IE to check the progress of my cervix' dilation. I really didn't like this procedure. I found it painful. I tried to delay the IE as much as I could, unless my doctor tells me it's necessary.

I was able to have some sleep that night and eat breakfast a bit of lunch that day. My doctor came to have her rounds I think after lunch. When she checked my cervix, she said that the dilation progressed again and it was time for me to go to the Lamaze Room of the hospital. I gave birth to my second child in the Lamaze Room also the last time.

That's me while in labor at the Lamaze Room
(in between contractions that's why I was still smiling).

I liked it there because I was the only pregnant woman giving birth there unlike in a usual labor room. I did not like my first birthing experience wherein I could hear the other pregnant women crying or cursing because of the pain they were experiencing. Their sounds distract me from carrying out my own birth plan. I also believe that fear is contagious. So, when I learned from my doctor that the hospital already has a Lamaze Room, I told her that I want to give birth there.

My doctor estimated that I would give birth to my third baby around 5-6 pm that day. The contractions were already stronger and more frequent. They were still tolerable though. There were also times when the contractions slowed down or were less frequent. Since I was already strapped to a baby monitor, my doctor told me to stimulate my nipple whenever the contractions subside or stop so that my labor would not be prolonged. I did what she advised.

I'm really glad that I learned techniques on how to deal with the contractions especially during active labor. Learning these techniques did not take away the pain but they helped me give birth again without any medication. I kept in mind, with the help of my husband (who is my birth coach as well), that the contractions are my friends and that the stronger and more frequent they come, the better. These will speed up my labor. These will help my baby come out faster and easier.

I do not remember my water bag breaking. I just remembered that the pain from the contractions were so painful already I was having a hard time focusing on what I needed to do. When my doctor came around 5 PM, I was already about to give birth. She hurried her team to prepare my bed and the rest of the equipment and things that they need. Everything happened so fast. Before I knew it, I could already feel the baby crowning and I was already asking my husband and my doctor if it's time to push.

I remember being asked to push thrice. I was already feeling weak. I only had water being wiped on my lips since my last meal. I'm still thankful to God though that I had the energy and strength to still bring out my baby naturally.

I was relieved when I heard my baby cry and they said that the baby was already out. After that, everything seemed to unfold at a much faster rate. 

My very much awake and alert Baby Georg Daniel right after birth!

Thus, on November 28, 2014 at 6:47 pm, our baby Georg Daniel was born!

I'm glad that my doctor and her team still followed the First Embrace or "Unang Yakap" protocol which is also in my birth plan.

I remember seeing my baby and breastfeeding him right after giving birth to him. I remember my husband cutting his umbilical cord.

As agreed, my doctor used topical anesthesia while doing the repair in my perineum. My husband said that I quickly dozed off after this was administered.  

I rested in the Lamaze Room for a few hours before I was wheeled back to my room with my baby. My baby was roomed-in right away so I can breastfeed him on demand. We did the same thing with my second baby.

Baby Geordan at the hospital before our discharge.

My parents and two older kids went to visit us that afternoon. My brother drove for them.

My kids were very happy to see their baby brother. They even brought a book to read to him.

My second child reads to his baby brother. Sweet!

My parents were very happy to see their third grandchild.

First family picture with our newborn baby Georg Daniel and my parents.

They went home around evening. Actually, it was a challenge for the boys to go home and stay there while my husband and I were still in the hospital. They were crying at night and they kept calling us in the hospital. It broke my heart to hear them cry and to know that they missed us. But we had to endure that. Good thing that my mom was with them to comfort them at night.

We went home with our newborn baby on December 1. We were greeted by banner that our eldest son made for us. It was hang on our front/main door.

  

I praise and thank God for keeping me and my baby safe during my delivery. I praise and thank Him that He made all things fall into place... that He answered my prayers and delivered me from all my fears. 

Mateo's Construction-Themed Birthday Party

I'm still high from the success of Mateo's construction-themed birthday party last weekend! I continue to savor the experience by looking at the photos.

All my hard work paid off after hearing my son say that he enjoyed his birthday party and that it was his high point that day. I was also happy to witness him enjoy interacting with his guests and playmates.

I wanted so much to make his third birthday extra special and memorable because he will be a big brother soon. I'm now on my 38th week of pregnancy and I could give birth anytime. We scheduled his party during the weekend and a few days earlier than his actual birthday so that his playmates who go to school can attend and so that our close relatives and friends could also join us in the celebration.

Thank God for the internet and the abundance of ideas that inspired me in planning and preparing for this construction-themed birthday party! My husband and I didn't want to spend too much since I would be giving birth soon. But I also want to make my son's birthday celebration a very nice one even with a limited budget; thus, I chose the DIY route for most of the birthday decor.

Why construction-themed?

First, let me share why I chose this theme for my son's third birthday. I chose this theme mainly because Mateo likes construction trucks, particularly bull dozers, backhoes and cement mixers. It could be because he saw these trucks (bulldozer and backhoe) when we moved to our new residence last year. There was still a lot of construction going on in our subdivision when we moved in and these trucks were going around our subdivision often in the past year. His interest prompted me to buy him books about construction trucks and to point out to him other construction equipment. We would also count cement mixers whenever we see them on the road while travelling. 


Invitation

I made our own invitations. I drew inspiration from the many invitations I saw in the internet. I picked up the ideas that I liked and put them together. I used Power Point to do this invitation. Then, I sent the invitations through Facebook or email. I also sent text messages.


I typed our address on the Job Site column and
my mobile number in the Report To column.

I printed hard copies and placed them in envelopes for our neighbors and guests from the parish.

Decors, Games and Activities
 



Mateo sits by the construction area before his
construction crew (also the demolition crew) arrived.

Both of my sons enjoy playing pretend with their construction toys. They would spend hours imagining and building whatever they want to be part of their construction site or play area. Thus, I knew right away that one of the activities that I would include during my younger son's birthday celebration is letting the children play with construction toys. I planned to set up a construction area/site for them. Since my boys love playing with these toys, they have accumulated quite a number of toys that can be used for this purpose. I simply gathered their toys and added additional props and signs to imitate the safety signs in construction areas.

I bought a few additional toys for their pretend play like hard hats and belts that builders or workers use to carry their tools.
 

The birthday boy in the middle with his construction crew!

I printed this out to remind the boys who can already read
and their nannies/parents while they are at play.

The construction site was such a hit to the kids! The kids spent hours playing pretend during the party. There were even a few who almost didn't want to go home! The kids played there as soon as they finished eating.

I prepared a cartolina where our little guests can stamp their handprints and write their names as soon as they arrive in our party zone.

They are given IDs after this so they can enter the construction site. ;)

 

I printed construction-themed coloring pages to keep the kids busy while waiting for the games to start and after eating. I got these free printable from this website.

I printed a maze sheet that kids can answer. I got this from my son's construction activity book. And I brought out these books for the kids to read. 

 

I only planned three games for the party. These were: construction tools relay game, pin the nail to the hammer and trip around the construction site.

Here are the mechanics for the games:

Construction tools relay:
 

1. There should be two teams composed of 2-3 players. The members should line up and take turns doing the tasks.

2. Their task is to first wear the hard hat, then wear the belt with tools around their waist, unscrew the washer from the screw, put the screw and washer back to the aluminum foil, go around the chair, take off the hard hat and belt, put these back in the other chair, go back to their teammate and tap their teammate to do the same series of tasks.

3. The first team to complete the relay wins the game.

Pin the nail to the hammer:
 

1. I printed a hammer clipart and glued it on a colored paper.

2. I also printed nails and cut them out.

3. We blindfolded the kids and gave each one of them a nail that they can stick to the hammer photo.

4. The kid who is able to stick the nail closest to the hammer wins the game.

Trip around the construction site:
 

1. I printed out photos of construction trucks and nails.

2. A photo is taped on the backrest of each chair that will be used for the game.

3. We taped photos of nails on two chairs so that every time the music stops, two kids will be out of the game.

4. There will be the same number of chairs as the kids participating in the game.

5. Music like the birthday song would be played for this game.

5. Kids will dance around the chairs while the music is playing and will stop to sit on chairs when the music stops.

6. The kids who happen to sit on chairs with photos of nails will be out of the game.

7. Two chairs with photos of construction trucks will be removed for the succeeding rounds.

8. When only 3 players are left, there should be two chairs with nail photos and one chair with a construction truck photo. 

9. The kid who ends up sitting on the chair with a photo of the construction truck is the winner.

One of the table centerpieces that I made.
The nail print out for the trip[ around the construction site is in one of the chairs.

We were not able to play this game anymore because we started late. The kids came in later than expected. By the time we were done with the first two games, the kids (and adults) were already hungry. We proceeded with the singing of the birthday song, blowing of candle on the cake and the prayer before meals.

The signs at our gate.

The sign under our Christmas tree.

The sign at the bottom of our stairs to discourage our little guests 
from going up the second floor.

I was able to get permission from the site engineer to make the bulldozer pass by our house on the afternoon of the party. Unfortunately, the bulldozer had a flat tire. Mateo was not able to ride it to go around our subdivision that day. Hopefully, it would be fixed in time for his actual birthday.

Party zone set up at our garage. Kids coloring construction-themed coloring pages
while waiting for their playmates.

                 
I ordered yellow balloons and rented tables and chairs from a party supplier in our village, the same supplier I got from last year's parties. We had a hard time searching for plain black balloons. Thank God that we found some a week before Mateo's party. We just gave them to our balloon supplier days before the party so they can inflate them for us.

Party Food and Drinks

I didn't want to stress myself too much so I relied on my past experience and food suppliers. I did not cook anymore. We simply ordered food to be delivered for the party. The only food we prepared were the fried chicken and egg sandwiches for the kids (cooked by our helper) and the rice. I asked my brother to cook beef caldereta just like last year.

We bought fruit juices for the kids and ice tea sachets, which I asked my helpers to prepare the night before the party. Then, we put them in the refrigerator overnight.

We ordered spaghetti, pancit and pork barbecue from Amber and roasted chicken from Chooks-to-go. 

For dessert, we bought cassava cake, popcorn, M & M chocolates and ice cream in cups. We also made peanut banana wrapped in whole wheat tortilla.



I ordered cake and cupcakes from the same supplier where I ordered our cakes and cupcakes in our past birthday celebrations. I just made and printed my own cupcake toppers similar to the table centerpieces that I made.

I made the food and drink labels and the happy birthday banner to match the construction theme. 

I was lucky to find paper plates and cups that matched our party theme. I also bought black plastic spoons and forks to match them.

 

Loot Bags
 

For the loot bag contents, I relied on my time-tested treats for kids just like in the previous parties I organized. I simply added a yellow face towel for our little construction crew and gold chocolate coins as part of their payment for helping Mateo complete his construction work.

 

I just used brown bags and decorated it with labels and used yellow and black yarn to tie it. Mateo gave these away to his construction crew before they went home.

Outfits

I was lucky enough to find a shirt from Mothercare that had a backhoe printed in front of it. It was perfect for Mateo's party theme. He wore blue denim and grey shoes to match his shirt. My husband, eldest son and I also dressed up as close to the party theme as possible. It was a good thing that I got a hard hat as souvenir in one of the conferences that I attended last year. I wore that while facilitating the games.

 

It was a simple and intimate birthday celebration but it was an event that we all enjoyed! I enjoyed planning and preparing for it and I enjoyed looking at the result of all my hard work.

This was one of the reasons why I postponed finishing and launching my latest book ideas and my online training program. I believe that my work goals can wait. But making memories with those precious to me cannot.

Hope this post would inspire you in case you are also preparing for a construction-themed birthday party for your little boy. 

   

The Challenges and Rewards of Being a WAHM (Work-at-Home Mom)

Becoming a work-at-home mom is one of my biggest blessings from God. I prayed for this kind of lifestyle and I had been blessed to be living this dream for years now. It's a wonderful lifestyle but it has its own challenges.

Let me enumerate some of my challenges as I work from home.

1. I need to think fast.
2. I need to work quickly and still deliver outputs of good quality.
3. I need to meet deadlines at work while managing a home and caring for small kids.
4. I need to work around my kids' schedules. I need to either wake up early in the morning or stay up late at night (like right now) to get some serious work done.
5. If I choose to work while the kids are awake, I should expect to be distracted and disturbed OFTEN. Therefore, I should only do tasks/work that do not require a lot of concentration or much of my neurons. ;)

I thank God that He has prepared me well for this set-up. He has given me a lot of experience when I was still working in the corporate world that I grew to be very competent in what I do. (Click here if you want to find out more about my work.) I can deliver the expected outputs in relatively less time than a lot of people. I can design, organize, manage, and implement HR programs even with a lot of other things on my plate. (I've always lived a hectic but meaningful life!) I do not say this to boast. What I'm trying to say is that God has a lot to do with the kind of experience that I have gained over the years. It was He who gave me enough courage to pursue my passions, to learn from scratch, to climb the corporate ladder, and eventually get out of the rat race to live the dream that has been planted in my heart. That dream is to build a family and devote much of my time to them.

Working from home is challenging. I can't do many of the things I used to do at work. I cannot work too long on something I want to focus on and always meet the deadlines I have set for myself because there are little kids that I need to feed and take care of. And these kids expect me to look at them, to hold them, to play with them, to listen and talk to them, to answer their questions, to give them what they need at the moment, and to just be part of their little world. There are laundry baskets that get filled with dirty clothes, floors that get too messy to step into, dishes that fill our kitchen sink, and pots and pans that fill our stove top, and so much more.

These adorable kids motivate me to work from home.

Why do I choose to work this way in spite of the many challenges? I began by enumerating my challenges. Now, let me enumerate my reasons for choosing to be a WAHM.

1. I want to see my children grow.
2. I want to witness their milestones.
3. I want to personally take care of most of their needs.
4. I want to have plenty of time with them now that they are young.
5. I want them to remember me as part of their childhood.
6. I want more quality time with them.
7. I want to be near them and observe them up close.
8. I want to be the main person in molding their values and character.
9. I want to be their first teacher.
10. I want to have a strong relationship with my kids so I choose to invest in my relationship with them as early as possible.

This week is another hectic week for me. (When did I not have a hectic week? hmmm... Okay. There were a few in the past.) I'll be conducting an out-of-town teambuilding and strategic planning workshop for one of my new clients this Thursday. I've been doing some work at home in preparation for this event. I've been doing this on top of household chores because we currently do not have a maid. I've been doing some of these tasks while breastfeeding my youngest son or supervising my eldest son's homeschool lessons. Aside from this workshop, I'm also preparing for another event, which will happen next month, in relation to my latest book.

It's definitely NOT an easy path. But it's a path I'd rather take because I have a BIG WHY that moves me to persevere in the midst of my challenges. I keep choosing this kind of life because I have a clear vision of how I want my children to remember me as their mom/parent.

Are you also working from home? What challenges are you facing now? Or are you thinking of becoming a work-at-home mom, too? Feel free to leave a comment to share your reason for wanting to be one and the possible challenges that you foresee yourself to face in the future.

God's Gift to Me Turns Two

A doctor once told me that my chances of conceiving a child gets slimmer as I advance in age. She told me this because I had polycystic ovaries and I was already in my late twenties.

 

I felt pressured then. "What can I do? How can I get pregnant when I don't have a husband yet? I don't have a boyfriend even?" Those were some of my thoughts.

 

Those challenging times in my life as a single lady strengthened my faith and resolve to marry only for the right reasons. I chose to stand by my faith in my God. I chose to hope in Him even as my chances of having a child decreased. I chose to put my future in God's mighty hands. I chose to stand by my decision to wait on the Lord to lead to me a man after His heart. I chose to believe that in God's time, He will open my womb and plant a seed so I could bear a child whom I can raise to love and serve Him.

 

God honored my decision not to rush things to happen... Not to rush God's perfect plan for my life to unfold before its time.

 

I eventually got married to the man who is an answer to my prayers to God. Shortly after we got married, God gifted us not just with one but TWO sons! My BIG GOD gave me TWO miracle babies! I'm so glad I waited patiently for God's perfect timing!

 

Today, I want to take time to shout my praise to my God who filled my heart with so much joy by allowing me to experience this wonderful privilege of giving birth to YOU and becoming YOUR mother.

 

Today, I rejoice for God's Gift to me turns two years old. My MATEO, my gift from God, has doubled my joy as a mother. Words are not enough to express how I feel about this wonderful gift that our family has received from God.

 

 

 

Today, I say a special prayer for my sweet, little boy whom I fondly call baby.

 

Dear Lord,

 

Thank you for MATEO. Thank you for showing us Your love by giving him to us. Thank you for using Him to fill our hearts with joy and love every day through his presence in our lives. Thank you for his smiles, his laughter, his sense of humor, his milestones, his embrace, his words, his songs, his prayers...

 

Please bless him with good health and protect him from all harm and evil. Surround him with love. Make him strong and courageous. Help him grow in faith and in the knowledge of You. Most of all, I pray that he would not remain a gift to our family alone but that he would become a gift to the people You would send him to. Amen.

 

 

I look forward to laughing with you later when you wake up... to hearing you sing your favorite parts in the Mass (Alleluia and Amen)... to nourishing you through my breasts... to reading to you and you reading to me... to making memories with you on your special day... to putting you to sleep again with your head resting in the crook of my arm...  

 

Happy Birthday, baby! Happy Birthday, Mateo! I'm so happy to have you as my son! You are definitely worth the wait! I love you very much!

Note: I'm linking this post to the Catholic Bloggers Network Monthly Link up Blitz for November.