Embracing Motherhood

It has been about 3 weeks since I became a mother of 3, and it has been tiring to say the least. I have always found taking care of a newborn challenging... The sleep deprivation, the engorgement and other breastfeeding issues, the cries of your newborn, the emotional roller coasters... It was tough with my first baby, tough with my second and now with my third, not any easier. But the day they look you in the eye and give you that first smile, all tiredness melts away and you feel like the happiest mama on earth.

As a little girl, I have always dreamt of marrying the man of my dreams and having children. But I never knew what being a mom entailed, until I became one. The first month with my first born was probably the most trying period of my life. I was knocked to my knees and I found myself asking God for strength and wisdom for the parenting journey. There was so much to worry about and so much beyond my control, the only thing I can do, is get on my knees and pray. Thankfully, the first month went by in a flash and the subsequent months parenting an infant was easier. Baby started sleeping thru the night and I got the sleep I craved. Baby started making eye contact, cooing and gurgling as you sang, and letting out squeals of laughter as you made funny faces... What joy! I went back to full time work when my maternity leave ended and coming home to my baby was what I looked forward to after a long day at work. In that first two years, we experienced many firsts... First smiles, first steps, first hospital stay, first words, first tantrums... Along with it, we experienced joy, anxiety, sadness, excitement... And life was so much fuller with the addition of a little one.

Even though I never quite enjoyed the newborn phase (especially now that I am going thru it again), I have enjoyed every moment of being a mother. Truly, "the days are long but the years are short". On days when I'm exhausted and running on reserve energy, I wish nap time would come by quickly so I can take a much needed break... But when my children's birthdays roll around, I find myself holding back tears as I sing them a birthday song, just cos I can't bear to have them grow up so quickly. Not wanting to miss out on their growing up years, I made the decision to quit my full time job three years ago, with my husband's blessings. Being a stay home mom has been truly rewarding and I wouldn't trade it for any other job in the world.

Motherhood is nothing I imagined it to be, but everything I want it to be. I am thankful for these three boys who call me "mommy" and I pray daily that God will help me be the mother that He has called me to be.

Children are a heritage from the Lord,

    offspring a reward from him.
Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are children born in one’s youth.

Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.

- Psalm 127:3-5

This post is part of a Blog Train hosted by Dominique at Dominique's Desk. Hop on the train to hear other mums share about embracing motherhood.

   

Next up, we have Christy who blogs at Kids 'R' Simple. Christy has 3 young lovely children and she wants them all to know that motherhood is no easy task. She wrote down her thoughts and struggles of being a mom, and wants her children to know that being a mother is not about sacrificing everything and losing her identity as a woman, but it can be an enjoyable journey if they follow her list. Every mother has her own set of advice for her children, stay tune tomorrow at Kids 'R' Simple to find out what is Christy's list of things that she wants her children to know about motherhood!

You are 4!

Dear Noah,

We have been counting down to your birthday and it is finally here! You have been looking forward to turning 4 and when you woke up seeing the "1" on the clock in your room... You exclaimed, "look, 1 on the clock. It's my birthday today!"

I think the best present for you this year is a baby brother to call you "Kor Kor Noah". You have been the sweetest Kor Kor around... Asking "when is baby going to come out", as we waited for baby's arrival; wanting to hold baby Nico so often and singing to him when he cries; being patient with mommy when I couldn't attend to you as I was busy with baby Nico; and playing quietly by yourself when I needed to take a nap. You make a great big brother and I hope the three of you will always enjoy growing up with one another.

I thought you were showing signs of being displaced when you started asking to be carried, to be fed, and wanting mommy / daddy to take a shower for you. Know that you always have a special place in my hearts, and mommy and daddy loves you all the same.

Some things about the four year old you...

1) Your favorite superheroes include spiderman, Incredible Hulk, Michelangelo and Luke Sky Walker.

2) Thanks to daddy, you know quite a bit about Star Wars and enjoy flipping thru ur Star Wars encyclopedia by yourself.

3) You love eating strawberries, kiwis, dragon fruits. You requested for a chocolate cake with strawberries for your birthday cos Kor Kor likes chocolate and you like strawberries. You are thoughtful in that way... Always thinking about the ones you love.

4) Your eyes sparkle when I praise you for a job well done. I believe "words of affirmation" is your love language just like your daddy's.

5) You enjoy story time and wouldn't go to sleep until we've read you a bedtime story. You can read simple readers by yourself (from memory) and love reading to mommy, daddy or kor kor.
6) You never fail to amuse us with your wise cracks, surprise us with your Lego and origami creations, and exasperate us with your 101 questions.

It has been a joy raising you and I continue to pray that you will grow in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

Happy birthday Noah Baey!

Love,

Mommy