Coming Home
*Apr 23-May 24, 2009
I’m astonished to realize that it’s been almost a month since we got back from our month-long trip to our homeland, the Philippines.
In some ways, it was a vacation, a break from being isolated 24/7, but it was hardly a break from baby care because my baby clung to me like superglue, especially during the first week or so. With our hectic schedule, I was physically drained, but emotionally satisfied.
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After seeing friends and family even for just a few hours, once or twice during our entire trip, I was mentally and emotionally re-energized. It felt so comforting to be around the familiar sights and sounds, faces and voices of people I grew up with, people who know me and whom I know, people I love. Coming home gave me that sense of peace I’ve long needed, and we couldn’t be surer of our decision to come home sooner rather than later.
More importantly, I saw how much this trip has affected my 1-year-old, more than anyone else. Having only me and his dad as the constant people in his life, he was never used to being around a lot of people, kids or adults alike.
But coming home and seeing his grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and little friends almost everyday made him open up to the world, warm up more easily to people and actually enjoy being around people. All of a sudden, he was signing more, babbling more, and became much more eager to communicate. It could also just be age-appropriate development, but I believe his behavior has a lot to do with being around so much love and positive energy.
I wish I could’ve taken more pictures, but I now realize that my mommy responsibilities usually take priority over snapping photos. Fortunately, we were surrounded by others with bigger and better cameras (not to mention free hands) who were generous enough to share their shots. Here are some of the pictures we were lucky to take or have taken for us (c/o Ate Alta and Jo, Marvin, Nonie, Hen and Che):
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Tambay at the Homebase
Reunion with Friends
My Sister's Wedding
Triple Birthday Celeb
Family Pictorial at Pic Co
Guba Outing at La Luz Batangas
Kuya Miko’s Bday Dinner
Frijckasmm Reunion
Dinner with Laurels
Despedida from Tarrojas
Last Day in the PI
Flying back to LA
-------------------------------------------
To all of you who took time to come and see us, whether it was for 30 minutes or 3 days, thank you very much. Because of you, we have more to add to our happy memory chest from where we take our strength and inspiration while we are far and away.
To those we didn’t get to meet, magkalimutan na tayo! JOKE. :) We know how busy you all are but we missed you indeed, and we hope the next time we come home, magpakita kayo, ha? Better yet, kayo bumisita sa amin dito – our home will always be welcome for you.
I still get that warm and fuzzy feeling from knowing how blessed we are to have so much love available to us when we finally settle back home, whenever that will be. The thought of my baby not seeing or playing with his cousins and friends again until after a long while seriously breaks my heart.
That is why I absolutely look forward to growing my family and seeing my kids grow up like we did - in the presence of their beloved cousins and surrounded by playmates from their parents’ lifelong friends.
Until then, we’ll be hanging on to the sweet memories of our latest return trip home. Sa uulitin!
I’m astonished to realize that it’s been almost a month since we got back from our month-long trip to our homeland, the Philippines.
In some ways, it was a vacation, a break from being isolated 24/7, but it was hardly a break from baby care because my baby clung to me like superglue, especially during the first week or so. With our hectic schedule, I was physically drained, but emotionally satisfied.
.JPG)
After seeing friends and family even for just a few hours, once or twice during our entire trip, I was mentally and emotionally re-energized. It felt so comforting to be around the familiar sights and sounds, faces and voices of people I grew up with, people who know me and whom I know, people I love. Coming home gave me that sense of peace I’ve long needed, and we couldn’t be surer of our decision to come home sooner rather than later.More importantly, I saw how much this trip has affected my 1-year-old, more than anyone else. Having only me and his dad as the constant people in his life, he was never used to being around a lot of people, kids or adults alike.
But coming home and seeing his grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and little friends almost everyday made him open up to the world, warm up more easily to people and actually enjoy being around people. All of a sudden, he was signing more, babbling more, and became much more eager to communicate. It could also just be age-appropriate development, but I believe his behavior has a lot to do with being around so much love and positive energy.
I wish I could’ve taken more pictures, but I now realize that my mommy responsibilities usually take priority over snapping photos. Fortunately, we were surrounded by others with bigger and better cameras (not to mention free hands) who were generous enough to share their shots. Here are some of the pictures we were lucky to take or have taken for us (c/o Ate Alta and Jo, Marvin, Nonie, Hen and Che):
-------------------------------------------
Tambay at the Homebase
Reunion with Friends
My Sister's Wedding
Triple Birthday Celeb
Family Pictorial at Pic Co
Guba Outing at La Luz Batangas
Kuya Miko’s Bday Dinner
Frijckasmm Reunion
Dinner with Laurels
Despedida from Tarrojas
Last Day in the PI
Flying back to LA
-------------------------------------------
To all of you who took time to come and see us, whether it was for 30 minutes or 3 days, thank you very much. Because of you, we have more to add to our happy memory chest from where we take our strength and inspiration while we are far and away.
To those we didn’t get to meet, magkalimutan na tayo! JOKE. :) We know how busy you all are but we missed you indeed, and we hope the next time we come home, magpakita kayo, ha? Better yet, kayo bumisita sa amin dito – our home will always be welcome for you.
I still get that warm and fuzzy feeling from knowing how blessed we are to have so much love available to us when we finally settle back home, whenever that will be. The thought of my baby not seeing or playing with his cousins and friends again until after a long while seriously breaks my heart.
That is why I absolutely look forward to growing my family and seeing my kids grow up like we did - in the presence of their beloved cousins and surrounded by playmates from their parents’ lifelong friends.
Until then, we’ll be hanging on to the sweet memories of our latest return trip home. Sa uulitin!
Labels: pi trip 2009
posted by meL @ 10:13 PM
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