A Birthday Letter to my daughter Eliza Yohan

Dear Eliza Yohan, 

Anak, it’s just 5 days before your First Birthday. Excited na kami ni Papa mo. We’re so happy to see that you’ve grown to be a very healthy, happy, always smiling, very smart and active na baby.  Ang laking blessing nun, anak and we’re so thankful to God for that.

On your First Birthday, we decided to make it an intimate na celebration. Saka na lang ang big parties ha  kasi hindi mo pa naman maaapreciate ngayon. We wanted na ma-solo ka muna namin ni Papa mo.

Alam mo anak, marami kaming wish ni papa mo for you pero alam ko na kahit ano pa ang maging gusto mo paglaki, we’re here to be your number one cheerleaders and advisers.

August 30, 2011, 7:44 AM (Tuesday) at SUMC, you were born into this world and me and your Papa’s world has never been the same. Ang ganda-ganda mo at ang kapal ng buhok. You kept on kicking your swaddle as if gusto mo kumawala dun. Malikot ka na nga sa tummy ni mommy, malikot ka rin dun sa nursery. Hahaha, that’s my baby!

Ikaw lang yata ang nakita kong baby na nakaspaghetti strap agad na top kasi ayaw mo ng mainit. Mas mahimbing pa ang tulog mo nung tinanggalan ka ni papa ng clothes habang naka-aircon. Kung si mommy lamigin, kakaiba ka anak, mas gusto mo ang lamig. Since makapal ang buhok mo, lagi kang naiinitan at napapawisan so almost magdamag ang aircon. Kung hindi man e naka-number 3 ang electric fan para na rin to shoo away the lamok.

Noon, ayaw na ayaw mo ang pinaliliguan, rinig hanggang sa baba ng boarding house ang iyak at sigaw mo early in the morning.

At 11 months, sobrang enjoy ka na at ayaw pang umalis sa mini tub mo. Natakot ka rin noong una when Papa took you to bathe you sa dagat but eventually, lumabas din ang love mo sa water at ayaw mo rin sanang umalis.

Tinawag ka ni Papa na Miriam kasi kamukha mo raw si Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago – strict, pensive face na kulot ang hair. You got your curls from your Lola Izobel. Ang funny lang is kulot sa tips pero nakataas ang hair mo, parang nakablower na – instant hair styled! This was when you were three to about five months old. 

But now, bagsak na bagsak na ang hair mo. Wavy pa rin ang tips pero super haba na ng bangs mo abot na sa cheeks. Your papa calls you Justin Bieber naman kasi you shake your head like the way he does to fix his hair.

Baby, thank you kasi hindi mo kami pinahirapan sa pag-aalaga sa’yo. Yes, when you were a new born baby Mommy and Papa had to adjust kasi maya’t maya iiyak ka kasi gutom or nag-pupu but you were predictable we didn’t have to worry much. Puyatan, yes, but it was also because you were adjusting to the new environment outside mommy’s womb. Naaawa nga kami sa’yo kapag naiingayan at nagugulat ka. IIyak ka lang kung may rason, like if you were hungry, basa or may poop ang diaper, or if you were sleepy but can’t sleep.

You were very easy to feed, so easy laging gutom si mommy kasi ang lakas mong magdrink ng milk from me. That goes to show how healthy you are. Pati na rin when solid foods were introduced to you, wala kang kahirap-hirap kumain.

You enjoyed drinking milk and eating. A sign of how much you love eating time is when you swing your leg back and forth while you’re sitting sa high chair mo.

Malakas ka rin kumain ng fruits at Polvoron. Hahaha, I even remember na kahit nakapikit ka e kakain ka pa rin. Sayang nga, walang picture or video si mommy on you kasi you were a bit grumpy na, ayaw kong mainis ka pa so hindi ko na naiset-up ang cam. But you were so funny kasi antok na antok ka and nkaidlip ka pa while sinusubuan kita ng cerelac mo. You stared at me for a minute kasi you found me giggling. Hahahaha!

I’m a bit guilty of leaving you with your Lolo Fernando and Lola Izobel kasi your yaya had to leave. Hinatid ka namin sa kanila when you were just three months old. 

Because of that, hindi namin natyempuhan ang karamihan sa firsts mo like your first time na tumagilid ka nang matulog, first time ka nagcrawl, umupo at tumayo mag-isa. Your Papa was so happy when he was the first to see ang pagtubo ng iyong unang front tooth. We had to work in Dumaguete for us din. Kaya nga somehow nagmamadali kami ni Papa mo na ayusin ang trabaho at business para magkakasama na tayo lagi. Whenever we get to Dipolog, we make sure we have quality time with you and we’re glad hindi mo kami nakakalimutan. We love each time we spend with you; each time you laugh whenever we make you; each time you play and interact with us, and all the times we’ve felt that you needed us. Mama and Papa are making some sacrifices for you and our future. Mas inspired kami to do even the impossible things just for your welfare baby.

As of now, you have 4 front teeth sa taas and 2 sa baba and ang sakit-sakit mo mangagat! Also, you’re learning how to walk. Kung pwede lang na lagyan namin lahat ng sulok ng bahay at even sa labas ng foam, gagawin namin, but hindi naman pwede. All we can do is just to watch over you and prevent you from tripping or falling down. In life, anak, that’s what we will be for you too.

You’re very expressive and we find it so amusing kasi ang ingay mo to the point na ang lakas mo tumili at ang dali mong patawanin at maka-appreciate ng things. When we say “yehey” we really see the delight and enthusiasm sa whole face mo, from the eye brows, to your smiling eyes and your beautiful big smile! Magaling ka rin magpose anak! Siguro namana m okay Papa? Hehehehe… but every day you look more and more like your Papa. Ok lang yan anak basta dapat pati ang height manahin mo kay Papa. You're very smart and you have curious eyes, always wanting to know what's going on.

I pray to God always that He may protect you and for Him to raise a God-fearing child who has a childlike heart like Jesus. I already know that you are a wonderful child and so I pray that we may raise you well. Dati, I talk to you and give each letters of your name with words/adjectives that I want you to have and become as you grow.

E is for excellent, energetic, enlightened, exemplary, and extraordinary

L is for loving, loyal, loveable

I is for intelligent, intuitive, imaginative,

Z is for zealous (pwede ba ang zmart, zweet, at zimple? Hehehe)

A is for adorable, artistic, amiable

Y is for youthful

O is for outstanding, outgoing, open to us ng papa nya

H is for honest, humble, happy

A is for affectionate, admirable

N is for nice, noble, noteworthy

I always say this to people I know that when a baby turns 1 year old, parang bumibilis lalo ang panahon… but for me, you will always be my baby.

We love you so much our Eliza Yohan! Mommy and Papa are so proud of you ngayon pa lang and will always be proud of you. Happy 1^st Birthday my baby love! God be with you.

Love and Prayers,

Mommy

Baby Steps is Now Open!

One of our biggest dreams finally came true when we opened our first ever baby and mommy store - Baby Steps! Grabe, who would have thought we'd be store owners and entrepreneurs. I've always wanted to be a businesswoman but I didn't know what exactly I would like. I have so many on my list but having a store that provides the best, not to mention, unique items for the meticulous and even kikay moms and moms-to-be came top of my list.

Come and visit us at Ground Flr. FSA 3 Bagsakan ni Edad T.Claudio St. Dipolog City
We're open from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm Mondays to Saturdays
We welcome Wholesalers and Resellers as well. ;) Please inquire at 0917.628.8618

We had our Grand Opening  last Saturday, August 18, 2012. Though kami-kami lang kasi hindi pumunta yung mga nainvite namin since ang aga ng store blessing (8:30 am), we were still very excited and happy because after all the months we've worked for this, we finally had it open to all! Nag-pay off din ang mga pagtitipid ng sweldo pambili ng stocks, down payment sa rent, at pagprocess ng mga permits for the business!

The location was indeed a blessing kasi hindi yan originally ang place na ni-rent namin kasi at the time we've inquired, wala nang ibang vacant near the clinics ng OB, Pedia and Family doctors. But on the last week of July, we learned that a stall will be vacant by the end of the month kaya we immediately grabbed the opportunity... and so they say the rest is history. We immediately fell in love with the location because it was facing the main road.

So like what I said, we wanted to really have our own store na magcater sa mga needs and wants ng mga moms and first time moms who are very eager to give the best to their babies, especially if cute items at porma ang paguusapan. We also wanted to have a one-stop shop na meron na yun para sa needs ng moms until after they've given birth. Kasi noong nagbubuntis pa ako kay Eliza, nabitin ako sa pamimili kasi kulang-kulang naman sa Dumaguete and even dito sa Dipolog so naisip namin bakit hindi na lang kami magspecialize dito di ba? Thus it was born.

Why the name nga pala? Kasi according to Ace, Baby Steps has a lot of meaning attached to it. We take small steps towards something bigger di ba, and so he said ang parenthood, hindi naman automatic na natututunan and there's no school for that. That's why everyday is a learning process, taking "baby steps" towards knowing how to become the best parents we can be. Naks!

As for the slogan, "Bringing Beautiful Beginnings", well there's a lot of things that bring beautiful beginnings - knowing you have a gift inside your womb growing; having a baby brings a family closer than ever; the excitement and anticipation; preparing the baby's stuff... and the list goes on. But apart from that, we envision our store to be a gift shop to any and every Mommy and Baby occasions - from the Baby shower, to Mommy's delivery, to christening/dedication, to the baby's firsts including birthdays! 

We're new, but definitely we're competitive.  Medyo bare pa yung store kaya naghahanap pa ako ng iba pang suppliers. But I'm really happy kasi may nasimulan na kami.  More exciting stuff to come!

Ayan, shinare ko lang ang excitement ko. Hehehehe! Help me to pray for the success of our business kasi para ito sa mga babies namin ni Ace. :D