D's Bash: Capturing Moments by CJ Liamzon

A picture is worth a thousand words...to a mom, a picture of her baby is worth a milllion and more. I never pass up a good photo op and D's big bash was the biggest photo op in my calendar.

When Anj of MustLoveBabies had to fly to Manila unexpectedly, I was happy that she was able to contact a photog friend of hers who happens to be a highschool batchmate of mine. So the meet & greet wasn't really problem anymore.

CJ Liamzon loves photography like babies love sleep and you can see it in his way of capturing shots, especially the candid ones. Everything is self-explanatory, from the expressions on the eyes to the simplest hand gestures...it is indeed a thousand and more words. His extensive background and experience also shows his professionalism, I hardly noticed him taking the photos during the bash...which is rare for someone who loves the camera (ehem!).

Here are some of my fave shots that he took during the bash:

The look of a Dad to his son.

A baby's smile to his mother is as priceless as the biggest diamond in the world.

Both photos are as candid as they can be as I try to remember where CJ and Tonn were at this time, maybe because I was too busy thinking whether I've finished everything for D's big bash that I hardly really noticed them.

The awe in the eyes of the audience as the magician concentrated on this one act of surprise, he has achieved what magic is all about...awe and wonder.

I particularly adore this black and white photo of James and the audience, it's when the dove seemed to have magically come alive and out of the frame. The audience, kids and adults alike, had wonder and awe in their faces as mouths opened and jaws dropped. Such a classic photo...

Smiles radiate from these children as they dance their hearts out...

These kids definitely know how to strut their stuff as they dance...definitely loving the motto, "Dance like no one's watching..."

The Peas in the Pod with their moms

Love, love, love this photo of the moms and the babies of our playgroup. A support group of moms in all aspects of mommyhood, I can't help but think what I'd do if I didn't know these wonderful and amazing moms! I love how CJ captured our smiles and even though some of our babies weren't looking through the lens, they're definitely smiling all on their own.

To check out CJ's FB page, here's the link.

If I could only have all of these photos framed, they'd be strategically placed in our bedroom so that D will know how much love there is all around him.

Thanks CJ and till our next photo op!

A Different Normal

Now that the big bash has ended, a different kind of normal has set in. Not only do I have a toddler who scurries and is almost at the brink of running after our Chinese Sharpei, Sparkle, I have fully committed myself to my online teaching and planning to get more students in the coming months (well, I'm still easing into the idea anyway).

I looked at myself in the mirror and finally noticed my naturally wavy hair which hasn't been treated (rebond) for the past four years (WOW!), I noticed my eyebrows screaming for another session of threading, I noticed my face yearning for its usual facial treatment, I noticed my teeth that are asking for another scary and potentially annoying session with our dentist...alas, I finally noticed myself! Well, looks like I need a major overhaul! Hahaha...I could have laughed at myself but then again, I was kinda right.

Look, before I got pregnant...I made it a point to really dress up and look at the part of a communications trainer back in the corporate world. I loved it. I love dressing up and working the corridors with my "clacking" heels, yes...they were painful but I felt good. Everything, and I mean everything, changed as soon as I found out I was pregnant. It took awhile for me to really keep all my heels but when L noticed that I was wearing them while sitting down (HAHAHA!), he himself stowed them away where I could not reach them. My corporate attire rested for about a year before I was able to fit in them again but I opted for a more relaxed kind of wardrobe since I was still in my post-pregnancy body.

I'm now embracing a different kind of normal. It's when I wake up in the morning not because I woke up by myself but because D is waking me up and I look at the clock and it's 5:30...yes, I have my personal alarm clock and he's as cute as a button. We have already a schedule all set up, I have classes in the afternoon but I still make it a point for him to socialize with his playgroup once a week. I also find time to pump milk at least three times a day for his personal stash...anything that is more than what I usually pump is donated. Also, I spend as much time on the floor playing with him. There's nothing more in the world that I want to do.

When it's time for class, I make it a point to still have at least 15% of my brain on D...although Yaya Wilma has complete eyes on him, I still sneak in a peek whenever I have the time. My Skype profile picture is him so naturally my students will always ask about how he is and all. I'm so blessed and thankful to have this online gig since it gives me the best of both worlds, I can still do what I love and be at home with D.

For the next few days, my personal assignment is to SLOWLY (emphasizing as it will take a long time) arrange my accessories in my dresser. I noticed my dresser and our closets (his-and-her) and they're not exactly up to my standards of OC-ness, hahaha! I know that it's going to take some time since I juggle a lot on my plate but I am quite happy that I am slowly easing into motherhood. Yes, you might find it strange that I've only just eased into it. It's not easy having a baby...but now that D is a toddler and is beginning to realize that he is a being on his own, I can actually have some time for myself and remember that I am a being too.

Although it can take me months to be able to book a salon appointment to have my hair done, or weeks before I can head to my facialist for my treatment...it's only because I am still adjusting to motherhood. It's never easy leaving D behind, even though I have already left a stash for him and made sure to have explained to him where I am going. It is me who is feeling the anxiety because there is a certain guilt of wanting to spend some time alone when my baby needs me...but now that he'd a toddler, I can fully understand why it took so long, it's because I needed to feel comfortable enough as a mother to be able to leave him and know that he can fend for himself. He knows when he's hungry and can give cues to his nanny, though I am at his beck and call...he knows that if I need to have time for myself, he doesn't get mad. It took me a long time to be able to get it...but now, I finally have.

I'm not so sure if I fully make sense in this post but I am smiling but I can slowly plan things for myself and L. I can call for a movie date and not worry too much. I can book a salon appointment and know that D will be fine. I can head on to my facialist and pamper myself. And I can come home knowing that D is waiting for me with the biggest smile and open arms...heck, a few tiny steps with it as well!

The evolution of normal will always have its stages. I'm glad to see myself in a different stage...in a different normal.

D's Bash: MustLoveBabies c/o Tonn Navales and Anj Quejada

We all know that our babies cannot remember every single detail of the party, hence...the importance of photos and videos. And if there's anything important to parents, it's that our babies have to be amicable and happy when their photos are being taken. It's a challenge making them smile but making them smile on cue is even harder!

I remember growing up watching home videos, how great if D would get the chance to watch home videos of himself as well? This time, though, I needed a professional to take shots of the party itself as I was already prancing around the bash like a maniac worrying about every single thing.

Tonn is the younger brother of a mom from our playgroup, Peas in the Pod. His passion and love for photos and videos can be seen through his YouTube channel. Also, having a niece like Malaika who loves the camera, you know that he's had extensive experience in shooting babies! He and Anj had more patience during D's shoot for his invite and I was more than happy with the outcome.

One of D's shots for his invite

Though D wasn't in the best of moods (notice the tear in his left eye), Tonn and Anj still managed to make him smile and take the best shots.

Here's a link to D's big bash video that Tonn has made for us. D's Big Bash

If you'd like to contact Tonn, here's is a link to his FB page.

Do-It-Yourself: The 3D Letters for the Candy Buffet

Spelling out my bubba's name has been a favorite of mine ever since I found out that I was pregnant and it was something that I wanted to do for his birthday as well. I've searched online on how to make 3D letters for the table and it seemed pretty easy.

My initial plan was to put the letters on the candy buffet but we decided to scratch that out given that the candies were already looking good on its own. But I had other plans for the letters after, it's perfect for the room as a wall decoration.

I would've wanted to cover it with washi tape but to be honest, I was too overwhelmed and confused with all the designs of the tapes online that L and I just settled on solid sticker paper on each letter and then go from there. Hahaha! If I had more time and patience on my hands, I might be able to muster the courage to look at the hundreds of designs of washis and then choose at least 20! LOL!

Anyway, I printed out the letters from MS Word and just made sure that it was one huge letter on each page. I believe the size was between 900-950, depending on the letter, and then printed it out. We used Gibson chipboard and then traced it on there, made two traces of each letter and then backed it up with an inch long chipboard to make it 3D. Covered it with the sticker paper and then voila...3D letters for the candy buffet!

It's perfect to be placed on the dessert table with the cake and cupcakes as well coz it makes a great statement and people would wanna take pictures of it too!