A first as a family of four

Life with a newborn again entails being at home for the most part, which I've embraced for the time being. Not only is it more practical to care for the babies at home, but because sleep is also short-lived, being in close proximity to bed for naps is vital. Nevertheless, I started feeling a bit stir crazy over the weekend. Alex decided we needed a breather and took us out this past Monday on our first outing as a family of four (we went to Ikea and the grocery store before this, but errands don't count). We didn't put much on the agenda since we never know what might happen with a 19-month-old toddler and a 3-week-old newborn in tow. We just went down to the bay to bask in the sunshine and amble along the sand. Serene loves the "wawa" (water) but is terrified of the sand so we gazed at the rippling waves from afar or with her attached to our hips. Then we got cupcakes because I've had the most colossal sweet tooth since Valor's arrived. We also strolled along the shop-lined streets and enjoyed a tasty dinner at a local restaurant before calling it a day.

After being out and about for a few hours with two kiddos under the age of two, I'm thankful we can say that we survived. God granted us abounding mercy because it wasn't as stressful as we imagined. We left for the bay after Serene napped and after Valor nursed, so that she was well-rested and so that he was full and content. Serene loved being out and about, pointing and squealing at people, puppies, and the like. When she wasn't walking, she was in the stroller. Meanwhile, I wore Valor in my ring sling, in which he napped soundly most of the time. When he woke up to nurse, we happened to be at the cupcakery. While we nursed there (in comfortable air conditioning!), Serene had a cupcake and books we brought from home to entertain her. I remember only one meltdown happening that afternoon (!). At the restaurant, we sat outdoors for an al fresco dinner in a relatively noisy, kid-friendly ambience. Serene loves eating out (even if she has not cultivated patience to wait for food to arrive), and Valor slept in my sling the whole time. We were blessed to enjoy one another's company and cultivate memories. I'm thankful Alex and I are a team, which make nearby adventures with the kiddos, and parenting in general, easier. The next endeavor would be going out with both babies by myself. I totally don't feel ready for that yet, although caring for Serene and Valor by myself at home during the day has been going well; praise God for His sustaining grace. Grateful that our new routine is feeling more normal as the days pass, which I shall share on this space soon.

P.S. We went out for the first time as a family of three after Serene was born when she was two weeks old, which is just a week younger than Valor is in these pictures. I wore her in my sling that day too. I'm comparing pictures because when Valor was born, Alex and I were convinced he looked just like Serene did when she was born.

Sibling sweetness

I mentioned here that I was anxious about how our little loves' relationship will play out. We're three weeks into this whole we-have-two-kids business and God has been piling on grace. Serene is transitioning from being an only child to being an older sister remarkably well so far. My heart melts when I observe Serene and Valor's sibling relationship bud. Ever since Valor arrived, Serene's new favorite pastime has become interacting with her baby brother. The first thing she does every morning when she wakes up is run to Valor's bassinet and squeal a sweet "Hiiii!" to him. She wants to "hold" him any chance we allow her, which are the moments when he's awake and not breastfeeding. She pats him on the back and the head fondly, albeit a tad too forcefully (she's working on comprehending her own strength and his relative frailty). She proactively hugs and kisses him to bid him farewell before her naptime and bedtime. Her affection towards him has been the sweetest sight to behold. I can't wait to see how their sibling dynamic blossoms as they grow.

Valor and the white chair

Here's to launching the series of Valor's monthly photos, similar to how I documented Serene's growth during the first year of her life. Valor was but few days old in this picture that was taken two weeks ago; I already feel like he is no longer as teeny. Nevertheless, I anticipate seeing how he grows and develops each successive month. In case you missed it, see his introduction to the world and his birth story. Happy weekending, all!

The beginning of a new season

These days are melting into an indistinguishable blur. Two-week-old Valor naturally believes he's still in utero. Therefore, he has a proclivity for staying awake all night long and has taken us along for the ride. I'm nursing him around the clock so when I'm not taking intermittent one to two hour naps, I'm stumbling about like a zombie, unable to differentiate between night and day. However, such is to be expected which make the newborn days seem easier, but simultaneously harder because we also have a toddler vying for our energy. Thankfully, Alex reminds me this is but a fleeting season. Perhaps this is a consequence of my sleep-deprivation, but I'm finding that these days emit an ephemeral, iridescent sheen. The photos above were taken of simple, ordinary moments at home last week. Though far from glamorous, they are reminiscent of so much of God's kindness to us in one another. Our days are essentially replete with His abounding goodness. This is the beginning of a new season of life, and as we establish a new rhythm, I'm praying God grants me the grace to cherish it. After all, everyone says it only gets better from here.

Her new baby

I mentioned here that we got Serene a gift to help with her transition into big sisterhood. Because Serene is fond of babies, getting her her very own baby seemed timely since her mama would be coming home with a new baby. She has a couple of baby softies that she loves, but Alex requested a vinyl doll that would appear more realistic. I felt it was important for Serene to have a doll that looked like her so I hunted for an Asian baby doll. Despite a glaring absence of Asian-looking dolls in stores and a sparse selection online, I finally found one I felt was just right on an early education supply site that specializes in multicultural toys. I planned to make doll clothing and accessories since it didn't come with any, and ended up sewing only a cloth diaper and another accessory by the time Valor arrived. Perhaps I'll make Serene's doll an outfit someday in the future, but for now, a cloth diaper, a swaddling blanket, and a bottle will suffice.

We gave the baby doll to Serene during Valor's first full day at home. Her face lit up and she squealed, "Baby!" She was thoroughly thrilled and loved it right away. She has been captivated by her new role as a little mama who takes care of her baby: hugging her, patting her on the back, feeding her, holding her, swaddling her, playing with her, and kissing her on the head. It is a sweet sight to behold - nearly as heart-melting as her consistent affection towards Valor in these early days, which is what Alex and I hoped the doll would help foster all along.

Celebrating motherhood

Hope you all had a wonderful time celebrating the mothers in your life over the weekend! I am thankful to have a mom, a mama-in-law, a grandmama, mother figures, spiritual mothers, and mommy friends in my life, all who are amazing examples of strength and sacrifice. A mother's heart is something special, and I am so grateful I have the privilege of being a mama too. This year, I got to celebrate Mother's Day with two babies. Though I often fail and love my little family imperfectly, I am reminded of abounding grace in the gospel. There is nothing like motherhood (and wifehood) to humble my selfishness and pride. It is a beautiful gift. I am beyond blessed to be Serene Joy and Valor Zeal's mama.

Our Mother's Day Sunday was a sweet and simple one. I had been craving chocolate-covered strawberries, so Alex surprised me in the morning with a slew of them. He has been the most supportive husband and daddy, managing household chores, running errands, and taking care of Serene so I can nurse Valor around the clock and attempt to rest and recover during these early days of his life. I'm so grateful for Alex; he leads and provides for our family so that I'm able to savor motherhood. Valor was six days old on Sunday, and I told Alex I just wanted pictures with the babies for Mother's Day. Photos are so special to me, and I am so glad we get to capture these sweet and fleeting moments (even if Serene wasn't in the mood for picture-taking). I am astounded at how children grow so quickly when I look at these pictures of Serene and Valor together. Serene looks so big compared to her brother although they are but 19 months apart. All the more reason to cherish every stage of our kiddos' lives, for we are often reminded that though the days may seem long at times, the years are short. Our time with them is a precious gift; Alex and I pray we are good stewards of it as we strive to love and disciple them in the Lord by His grace alone.