Home Sweet Home

We are finally home in Manassas, Virginia!  It has been a long journey but we enjoyed visiting with Sam's other half of the family.  We were able to attend Sam's cousin Evy's birthday last Sunday.  He got to spend time with Grandma Barbara, Papa Scott, great grandpa Reel, Aunt Becky and Uncle Jason, and cousins Evy and Easton.  Then we drove to Kentucky/Tennessee to see the Irwin's where he got to meet his Aunt Leslie, Uncle Shawn, and cousins Forrest, Hunter, and Sage.  


We drove the last trek on Wednesday.  It took a whopping 13 hours including stops.  Sam, as usual has been a trooper and behaved most of the way... well, for the first 12 hours at least.  Imagine yourself being cooped in a car seat for 12 hours and you'd probably be screaming too.  And then finally, we were home.


Our townhouse is located in a quiet community called Point of Woods.  We have an end unit, which is great, especially that Sam likes to scream his head off sometimes.  The house is in a state of disarray right now so I won't post any pictures yet.  Suffice it to say, I have a lot of cleaning, fixing, and unpacking to do.  I hope I won't have to move for a while because unpacking and settling down is a real doozer.  Sam still sleeps in a pack and play while we wait to get him a crib in his own room.  Yes, Sam will be having his own room.  We plan to go and buy some furniture this weekend, and of course, Sam's bed.  His Dad and I sleeps on the futon for now.  Sam is adjusting well though and it's more than I could ask for.  I, on the other hand, misses work sometimes.  I do enjoy being with my boy and of course, hubby.  We are now a Family, together, not separated.  So as my two guys danced to "Romanza," as Josh tries to put Sam to sleep, I myself will bid adieu for now.

Oklahoma and more

We finally arrived in Oklahoma on Wednesday night. We got here so late due to a couple of emergency stops. Sam's stomach must not have been feeling good that day. At least we arrived safe and sound. Thursday was rest day. We spent the day napping and just catching up with Sam's Gramma Barbara. He also got to meet his Aunt Becky for the first time. Luckily Sam didn't get too fussy and he got to hang out for a bit until he went to sleep.

Today was equally uneventful except for the fact that it is Josh and I's anniversary. We've been married 8 years. Can you believe it. He'd say 8 long years and I say, it still feels like yesterday. What makes today more special is that we have Sam now. Our anniversary celebration wa simple. We had a great Mexican dinner at Abuello's and we went to see Harry Potter in IMAX 3d. Then we went home...thanks to my mother-in-law for taking care of Sam so that Josh and I can have a date night.

There are so many things to be grateful for. If I recount them one by one, this blog will become a novel. Importantly though, I jus want to day how grateful I am for the family and support that we have. We are very blessed. Josh and I won't be where we are now if not for everyone's love and support.

First leg done!

With the first leg of our trip done,  all I can think of is just getting to Virginia and settling down. I was worried about Sam today and how he's going to tolerate the long ride.  Fortunately, he was such a good boy all throughout.  He's a trooper.  He slept most of the way, and when he wasn't sleeping, he was contented playing.  He had his moments of fussiness of course, especially when he was starting to tire out or when his hungry.  We even had to stop at the side of the road to change his dirty diaper.  Now, that was an experience.  But he was cool about it.  He must've felt hot and uncomfortable too.  I mean, who really likes sitting in a car seat for hours at a time.  But we survived it, and I am just glad it's over...at least for now.


Sam was such a social butterfly at the rest stops.  He attracted so many people, smiling and cooing at them.  I noticed however, that on some occasions, he had this sad look in his eyes.  He keeps looking around as if he was looking for someone.  I think he might be wondering why the long car ride, and why nothing is familiar.  He probably wonders why we sleep in different beds and not in his crib.  My heart breaks every time I think that he must miss his grandma and grandpa and Aunt Jenny and Aunt Veah and Aunt Marivel and John.  It breaks my heart that my mom keeps crying every time we talk on the phone.  But this is the path we've chosen, at least for now.  I know that Sam will be able to adjust, and so will my family.  It will take time but it will happen.


Tomorrow, we move to the second leg of our trip, and finally Sam will meet his other set of grandparents.  This is the first time that he will be seeing them, and that is quite exciting.  I hope he behaves well, just as he has been for the last 6 months.  Then off to our new home.  The adventure begins.

Luggage, check. Car, check. We are ready.

Finally got the car picked up from Matson this morning. Unfortunately, we forgot the CD for the navigation system.  Acura felt that Hawaii wasn't part of the US and so we had to have a separate CD for Hawaii.  We forgot to change the CD, so now we are left with a navigation system that won't work because it is "out of coverage area."  Thank goodness for iphones and apps.  Josh downloaded an app to navigate our way, until we get to Oklahoma where the disc will be waiting (thanks to Jenny for express mailing it).

Today we got to visit with our friend, Susan, and Uncle Ed and Auntie Delin (that was after we went looking for a dealership to purchase a CD for the navigation system, but of course they don't sell it.  GRRRRR!).  It was a good day (thanks to Uncle Ed and Auntie Delin for the food and Sam's stuff). Then off to Barstow we go.   As I write this, I am sitting in our hotel room while Sam sleeps and Josh is trying to fall asleep.

Tomorrow, we start the first leg of the trip.  I am both excited, ambivalent, and scared.  It is Sam's first long car ride.  So far, we have survived just us three without any mishaps.  Sam, although occasionally fussy, has been manageable.  I think he wonders why Grandma, Grandpa, Auntie Jenny, Auntie Bhel, and John's not around.  I think he wonders why it's just Mommy and Daddy.  Maybe it's just me, but his eyes seem sad.  And it breaks my heart.  Grandma, oh she misses Sammy a lot.  She is heartbroken and I don't blame her.   I would be too.  But although I sympathize and understand her plight, this is important for us.  We have been apart for too long.  Time flies and i'm sure in not time, Sam will be reunited with his grandparents and aunts and uncle again.  In no time...in God's time.

So the journey to home begins

We left Hawaii today. It was a day full of tears. It breaks my heart seeing my parents cry. I know it's hard for them letting go of Sam. My sister Jenny, I don't even know where to begin. At some point, we all find our destiny. Sometimes, it means leaving behind the people that you love most. For us, it was especially hard because is Sam. Sam us the first long awaited grandchild. And so the tears...

Sam seem to sense all if these. He clung to his grandma,smiled at grandma, wanted to be held by grandma. It's heartbreaking. But it's also exciting. We are now a family. Josh gets to see Sam grow, meet milestones, smile, and be touched by him. And so the real journey begins. I can't wait to see what's in store.

Sam's First 4th of July and on Parenting

Today is Sam's first 4th of July.  It wasn't much of a celebration since his Dad isn't here.  At the same time, he was getting sleepy just as the fireworks started.  He did wear his shirt proudly.  We are more than grateful for all the men and women who have sacrificed and are still sacrificing so much so that we can sleep well at night, knowing we are safe.  


Sam also gave his Aunt Jenny some fireworks.  See, Sam had a dirty diaper, so his Grandma took it out.  Since Sam was about to get ready for his bath, Grandma opted not to put a clean diaper on.  Since Jenny volunteered to give Sam a bath at night until we leave, she took him from Grandma.  I think he enjoyed this a lot, although he was a bit confused about his Aunt's reaction.

So Aunt Jenny had a bit of a wet firework on her clothes.  I thought it was real cute :).


Lately, i've been having a hard time getting Sam to drink his milk.  He also refuses to drink his water.  I'm concerned because he's not quite meeting his daily milk intake.  At the same time, when he doesn't drink his water, i'm afraid he might get constipated.  He eats his pureed foods with gusto, however, and I am already running low on apple sauce (I just went to the commissary last Saturday).  Maybe i'm being a bit too hard on him.  Sometimes I get so frustrated when he refuses to drink his milk that all I can do is grind my teeth to keep myself from yelling.  Does that make me a bad parent?  I'm not the type to call the doctor for every single thing that worries me.  In fact, other than Sam's routine visits and calling to see if I can put sunblock on him at 5 months, I never really called the doctor.  I am just concerned that if he doesn't eat enough, that he might lose weight.  He's pretty average right now in weight and i'd like to keep it that way.  However, with his renewed activeness and his decreased intake, I worry that it might not sustain him.  I just hope that he'll get over this phase once the teething is done.  


At the end of the day, I chastise myself for getting mad and being frustrated with Sam.  I wonder if anyone else ever feels that way.  I get frustrated so much at times that I grind my teeth so hard my jaw starts hurting.  And then I wonder, what kind of a parent I will be as Sam grows older?  Am I just frustrated right now because I face this problem alone without Josh to keep me at bay or take over when it gets overwhelming?  As a new parent, I regularly assess myself, and everyday, I feel bad when I get mad at my son.  


In less than two weeks, I won't have to face parenting alone.  I am hoping that the worse will be over:  Sam's other tooth would've broken through his gums, and he will start drinking his milk and water again.  I just hope I still have enough patience left until then.