Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!

Once again, it's time for turkeys, pumpkin pies and most importantly, family gatherings.  It is also a day to reflect on all the things we are thankful for...

It's already 1:10am and I'm sitting here in front of my computer trying to write a nice blog...I initially wanted to list down all the things I want to thank God for and share it with you, but then if I do that, I'll probably sleep around 6pm the day after Thanksgiving...

I'm very much grateful for the gift of motherhood, for Shandi, for my loving husband, for our wonderful relatives, our good health and the gift of waking up to wonderful "everydays".  This year has been an amazing ride for me...and the joy and excitement is not yet over!  I know God has so many wonderful things in store for us and I'm sooo looking forward to all of it! 

That's the beauty of Thanksgiving...it reminds us to be thankful to everyone, for everything, and for all we've been through...in case we forget to do it everyday...

How about you...?  What are you thankful for?
 
    I was cleaning my daughter’s dresser this weekend and I can’t believe how big she’s grown.  I mean, she’s almost a year old, I know…but I still see her as the infant the nurse handed over to me in the delivery room… 

    A sense of nostalgia swept over me as I folded clothes that no longer fit her.  Clothes she’ll never wear again.  I was looking at her old onesies and jumpsuits and I can’t believe she used to be that tiny!!! 

    Now she’s starting to learn how to walk and do all these things that make us laugh.  She knows how to shake hands, give high fives, clap and wave bye bye.  She would also do this cute little squint when we ask her to show us her “beautiful eyes” and would look like she’ll give us a smooch when we ask her to do “baho” (which means “unpleasant odor” in Filipino).  Well, it might be "baho" to her but it will always be a smooch for me!  

    I still stand in awe thinking how a 7.9 lbs little baby could do so much in just 11 months.  I think sometimes, as parents, we get too excited on the milestones our baby achieves we forget to take time and ‘breathe’ the moment.  

    Every day is precious.  Every day is a milestone. 

    I guess it’s something I have to accept (and swallow like a big pill) as a mother.  My baby would grow up…and even if I don’t want to think about it now, she’ll be a know-it-all teenager sooner than I can imagine. 

    So starting today, I vow to not wait for BIG milestones.  She’ll get there on her own time…she’ll learn how to walk when she’s ready…for now, I’ll cherish those moments where she still allows (and even enjoys) me carrying her…even if my arms would hurt after a while…   

    And if you are curious as to what “beautiful eyes” and “baho” look like:
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showing off my beautiful eyes!
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hmmmm...i think something doesn't smell right....
 
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with her fellow pumpkins!
               



               "Trick or treat!!!
                 Smell my feet
      Or give me something to eat!"


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Our little pumpkin experienced her first Halloween yesterday.  Even though she's too young to understand trick or treat, we're sure she enjoyed it...because she cried when we decided to go home. 

Jude and I both grew up in the Philippines where going trick or treating is not really a tradition.  It's a day for planning how you're going to maneuver your way around the cemetery when you visit deceased loved ones the following the day.  And since it's also our first time to go house to house in search for candies...we're more excited than Shandi!

Maybe you're wondering what happened to the candies she got?  Take a guess....

*burp*