What I want my child to know

• You are God’s beloved.
• It’s ok to be different.
• Always save a portion of your earnings but don’t forget to treat yourself once in awhile.
• Comparison will rob you of joy.
• You teach people how to treat you.
• You are beautiful. Just as you are.
• There’d be days when everything seems to be falling apart – that’s ok – that’s just life happening.
• Do your best to be gracious and always treat people with kindness and respect.
• Your Papa loved you the first moment he saw you. He holds you so close in his heart.
• You can’t go wrong with WHITE WALLS.
• You’ll be ok.
• Trust that Jesus’ love will carry you through the rough times.
• Count your blessings. Be grateful even for the smallest things.
• Don’t forget to eat your fruits and vegetables!
• Please know that your first day as a mother might not be all sunshine and rainbows – instead it may be tear filled, overwhelming and tiring — especially the first night. That’s completely normal.
• Be a child for as long as possible. You are only a little girl for such a short period – you will be an adult the rest of your life.
• Being arrogant will not get you anywhere.
• Please remember that there was once a time when there was no internet – no distractions – and you communicated with people in real life. Those were the best days.
• If you are blessed with a sister or a brother – love and cherish each other. forgive. tolerate. be there for one another.
• One day you’ll find yourself heart broken – please call me and I will be there to listen. Also – know that you will get over it. I’m sure.
• Please forgive me when I’m being irritating.
• Say THANK YOU when you are grateful.
• This is so cliche — but really – just be YOURSELF.
• Learn to say ‘sorry‘.
• Sometimes you have to ‘fake it til you make it’.
• When you’re going through something – remember that this too shall pass.
• Remember who you are.
• The old adage ‘treat people how you want to be treated’ is still true.
• Travel. Take photos. Call us and tell us all about your adventures.
• This quote from Winne the Pooh: “If ever there is a tomorrow when we’re not together… there is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we’re apart… I’ll always be with you.”
• We love you. – mum&dad

Random Links + thoughts on Mad About the Boy

Here are just some random links of good stuff I’ve seen, read about or found online recently:

• Loving this blog post (part 1 and part 2) from Oh Joy – it is an old post from last year but it is so good and it talks about goals and how you need to be pro active and stuff.
• We can’t wait to get our hands on the Honeysticks beeswax crayons. Should be arriving this week – I’m sure Ada can’t wait to get her hands (and mouth?) on them too!
• Adult coloring books? I didn’t know this existed! This would be a great gift for someone who wants to explore their creative side.
• Love these pearls of wisdom from Magda Gerber (founder of RIE parenting):

“Allow the child to be authentic, to move, to feel the way they move, appreciating them for what they are.”

“My attitude has always been: wait, wait, wait.”

“Let the child be the scriptwriter, the director and the actor in his own play.”

“Predictabilty brings about security.”

“Observe more, do less. Do less, enjoy more.”

“Earlier is not better.”

“The toy in the child’s hand is alive.”

“Focus on quality and ease of movement, not on the age a milestone is achieved.”

“This too shall pass.”

“Go slowly, and with great patience.”

 Oh and I just finished Mad About The Boy….

Bridget is back!

If you have read both the first and second Bridget Jones books and have seen the movies as well –  you might be just a little bit shocked to find that on this third installment it will already have been 5 years since Mark Darcy’s passing. Yes, you heard me right!!! How sad is that???!!! In this book Bridget is in her 50’s, has 2 kids from Mark and is a ‘singleton’ again! That being said – the book still has some very funny, endearing moments – although it has a cloud of sadness to it. I think Helen Fielding is stellar in that she was able to weave the comedy and the tender moments in this book so seamlessly. Still can’t get over Mark Darcy though!

20 random facts (about me!)

1. I haven’t slept for more than 5 hours straight since Ada was born.
2. My husband and I have been blessed to be living in New Zealand for 6 years now! (what?! can’t believe it’s been 6 years…)
3. I’m still nursing! Now that she’s 1 our nursing sessions have dropped to just 2x a day and then at night — feel blessed to have been able to bf this long but also excited to wean her — by the look of things I don’t think it will be any time soon though…)
4. I still remember the first book I read and finished! It was Jessica’s Cat Trick, the 5th volume of Sweet Valley Kids.
5. I was a huge fan of the Backstreet Boys when they were just starting! I had their posters and cassette tapes.
6. My dream was is to own a little book shop someday.
7. I didn’t really like high school (the studying part of it) – but loved college!
8. I love Colin Firth and the man who played ‘the chairman’ in the movie Memoirs of a Geisha.
9. I used to secretly want to become a librarian.
10. When I get invited to an event I always feel like I’m tired so I shouldn’t go and I actually almost never feel like going but when I do decide to go I always end up having fun and being thankful I actually went!!
11. I SOOOOO need to make healthier food choices!!!!
12. I sometimes feel guilty for letting Ada watch too much Baby Einstein or Tarzan and Kung Fu Panda (her current Disney favourites). –you have to cut me some slack here – it’s not like I let her watch the whole day — just when I really need to do something around the house — plus she enjoys it and already has her favourite scenes and episodes.  
13. I now know that instead of concentrating on what I need to do to please God – I need to switch my focus and concentrate NOT on  what I can do but what He has already done for me and what this means in my life. It’s all about Him. He is my refuge and my strength. I am loved though at times I am unlovable. ♥
14. I deleted my Facebook account because I got fed up – there were too many people who kept posting stuff I just could not stand! When did Facebook become the stomping grounds for people with huge egos? Life without FB is good for the soul.
15. I still have so much to learn and understand. I also still have some healing and mending to do.
16. I like snow but would never want to actually live in a place that snows. (I get cold easily)
17. I always get a tad nervous when the door bell rings or the phone rings. (pet peeve: when the courier driver rings the bell with matching sobrang lakas na katok  – sobrang lakas the door actually shakes —- ALL the drivers seem to do it that way haha.)
18. I’m so excited for our Queenstown trip next year! (Oh, yes.)
19. Ada is teaching me to be patient. Everyday.
20. I don’t like driving.