Mom and Son Twinning

 

Kyle and I seldom "Twin" because TBH, this mom is LAZY :P

Working from home since Kyle was born plus doing house chores and a lot of cooking.  Twinning would be the last thing I need because I am just too tired to think! :P

But since it is Kyle's summer vacation and at the age of 9 years old, he is more aware and wanted to share good memories with me, he was actually the one who decided to do this Twinning moment and I got the idea of doing the transition video for Instagram just to keep this moment forever!

I got both striped top shirts from Shopee.

I love how he readily posts with Mommy! I wished he'll stay this way even when he is a teenager!

Don't we all wish moms with boys?

Feel free to watch this reel!  We enjoyed doing this!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by 𝐍𝐢𝐤𝐤𝐢 𝐓𝐢𝐮 (@askmewhats)

Keep smilin'

Stay happy!

   

Happy Mother’s Day Mommas!

 

Happy Happy Mother’s Day AMW Friends!

Who would’ve thought?  8th year being a mom!  And I started blogging at 27 years old with just a boyfriend back then (Boyfriend Mr. AMW!)  I have shared so many milestones here in the Blog and I am getting a bit emotional right now!  

I know my blog used to focus on Skincare, Beauty, Hair and Nail Care but it turned into a full blown lifestyle blog with my Recipes, Motherhood tips and just random mom musings!

To my single/non-parent readers, THANK YOU FOR STAYING!  

I am a proof that in this lifetime, you don’t need to stick to ONE topic. Yes, I love Makeup and Skincare but I can also talk about a lot of stuff as I weave through my life learning new things along the way!  

Kyle thought me so much!  I learned to be 101% more patient, I learned to love drawing (a tiny bit more) :P. And I learned to be more artistic!  As a mom, there are so many things you don’t like to do but end up doing.  I mean, I dislike arts and crafts in school but I don’t have a choice but help my son whenever he has art projects!

For a mom who is not into drawing - come on, if I can show you my old drawings - my Human Portrait looks like an Orangutan! :P. 

With Kyle’s love for art, I ended up learning to draw from him!  His shading skills and color mixing skills are THE BOMB for an 8-year old!

It’s not all flowers and butterflies, motherhood is so darn hard even I - who used to be a Professor lose my temper A. LOT OF TIMES!  Life is hard, but life is harder if you do things alone!  I am so happy I’ve got Mr. AMW’s support and a super sweet kid to power-up my super old battery!

To those who kept asking me: “Kelan mo susundan?” (Will you try another baby?)

Kyle himself is already a miracle and a blessing from God.  Having a 2nd baby would be another miracle that we all wished for but having Kyle made me the happiest mom alive!  HE is enough for me to believe in the power of God!

Happy Mother’s Day to all my mom friends here!

If God created human angels, they are called MOMS! (And dads!)

Keep smilin'

Stay happy!

 

Happy 6th Birthday Kyle Nash!

It has been 6 years, the day I held a 2.2kg (4lbs) Kyle Nash in my arms.  I can still remember the rush of love, happiness, gratefulness that flowed through my veins.  It was indescribable.  I was left speechless and that says a lot for someone who can talk non-stop for hours and hours.

People tends to assume I don't want to have kids: "Ayaw mong sundan?" "Pwede na!  Sundan mo na!"

You know the best answer that I say nowadays that left them SPEECHLESS as well: "Kausapin niyo mattress ko." (Talk to my uterus!)

I hope the message is clear - the statement is indeed clear - I didn't have it easy with Kyle.  I knew a couple of moms who have gone through even worst but mine wasn't easy!  I remembered crying at night after taking all those hormonal pills thinking: "What have I done wrong?  Why can't I have a baby like my friends?  I'm a good person naman di ba?"  

So this, my friend, is indeed a full blessing from God.  I remembered praying earnestly every single night: "Kahit isa lang! Please, Kahit isa lang."  (Just give me one please, just one!)

So I don't want to be greedy, at this point of time, if it is God's gift and in God's time, if HE thinks I can have more HE is in charge.  As for now, I am enjoying every single moment of Motherhood.  

Kyle, I lack sleep and always wake up with painful body from your random kicks at wee hours of the night!  I get exhausted chasing you wherever we go and I felt embarrassed so many times in public whenever you threw tantrums! 

But Kyle, I am just human, so it is normal for me to have all sorts of feelings - the pains and joys of motherhood. If there's one thing I can assure you of is that  - given the chance to do this all over again - I'd say YES gazillion times. 

Because all the pain, sacrifices and efforts cannot surpass the extreme gratitude and happiness I felt every single day!  You give me more meaning to live, you made me strive to be the best version of myself because I know you look up to me (and your dad) as an inspiration.  You made me the best person that I can be.

Join the Baby, Kids & Family Expo and Hear My Story!

I have heard this statement so many times: "Nikki is a Blogger, she's a mom, but she's blogging and talking more about Beauty than Motherhood."

TRUE.

Nothing wrong with that and it is just my personal preference not to talk too much about my motherhood experience because if you are a long time reader, you'll know that I'm the type who would talk about something if I already know ---

• What's really going on.
• What to expect with what I'm talking about.
• How to deal with the negative situation (if there's any).

And up until this very moment, you only see snippets of my "AskMeMom" life because I have to admit, I may look so organized and knowledgeable with what I'm doing on my social accounts but in reality, like what most moms would say: "You don't see the reality!"

Ben & Jerrys ice cream available in the Philippines na!

"Well, you seem to know what you're doing!"

Digital Story App You May Want To Try with Your Kid!

Mommies!

Can't veer your kids away from electronic devices?  You want them to read stories and books?

Well, if you can't beat them...JOIN THEM!

As a kid who grew up in a very conservative and strict family, I still pass down the values I learned from my parents to my son and of course, I did a bit of twist.  I welcome electronic device because hey, we are in this world were kids really have to learn to use them, and yet, I make sure my son stick to my rules on using them in moderation - same as playtime and study time - everything has to be in moderation.

My son loves to read books, books are his happiness!  As much as a lot of you may want me to rejoice, well, there will always be a downside of something "too much".  Because he loves his books so much, he tends to be engrossed on them and sometimes, forget I"m right beside him!  I like it when he engage me in his "story world" but I sometimes think it's not enough and I want more "human time"!

I recently discovered an app from Star Margarine which I shared on my Instagram page which I enjoyed so much!  Yes, kasama ang I!  Why?  Because we had more conversation with this than his books!

All you have to do is check out this link --- https://starmargarine.com/

Upload your photo and your kid's photo and that's it!

Happy Mother's Day To All Of Us Supermoms!

I can never get enough of Motherhood. 

I love how LIFE is teaching me mini-lessons every single day and I'm loving it!  

AMW wears: Zalora Pants, Nomination Bracelet and Alberto Shoes

Don't think this is all flowery for me ha?  Whatever you see on #AMWIgStories and Instagram are just a snippets of my daily life, in reality, it seems like everything was in Fast Forward, I don't have much of a breather.

And I only have 1 kid!

I personally take daily photos with my son inside the car before he heads to school,
I call this my own #365daysofKyle project.

A Reminder To Always Make #TimeForMom

I grew up under strict supervision from mom.  She is a housewife, who does EVERYTHING for us!  From taking care of our grandparents, "palengke" duties, cook us breakfast/lunch/snacks/dinner and even drove us to and from school for more than 15 years!

Aside from that, she does the laundry (hand wash lahat) and iron all our clothes.  (Note: There are 4 of us siblings + grandparents + parents = you do the Math)

It was an extremely difficult task (almost impossible if I may add!), I see how she perspires as she run around doing errands without a single complaint!  That's why our relationship is strictly "I-listen-to-my-mom-or-else...."  There's no time for us to really talk or bond because she's too busy to even have a breather.  I remembered wishing we could have a closer relationship, like my classmates and their moms!  I used to wish she could be cooler like my friends' moms.

When I started working and when Mom was finally having more time on her hands,  I realized, our relationship shouldn't stay that way forever.  I make it a point to bond with her by taking her out for a quick facial or massage over weekend.  Our relationship definitely changed from just plain "mother-daughter relationshiop" to a "closer mother-daughter relationship".  It didn't happen overnight, it was a conscious effort for me to MAKE time and prioritize her.

WHY?

Because this lady has done so much for me and my siblings and giving her just a couple of minutes or hours in a day will never be enough to show her how much I appreciate her.  But at least, we can always start somewhere.

And to those who wonder how I get to be THIS cheerful and how I get the energy to do multiple tasks like a Super Girl?  

Well, here's my tiny little secret that I'm finally sharing.  Behind this "Wonder Woman" that you think I am, .I have an even better SUPER WOMAN behind me who backs me up, supports me without limit and sends me love like no other --- She is my very own mom!  With her, I can be like that little kid who runs to her when I'm in trouble, when I'm tired or when I get hurt.  Of course, I also run to her when I'm happy, when I'm in my best mood.  I just run to her because she is my HOME.  The very person who loves me for who I am without expectations or limits.

That's my secret and it really works!

My Toddler Is Going To Preschool, and I'm Extremely Nervous!

When Kyle starts to walk, my friends and family were asking me if I'll enroll him to school.  It was always a "no" because it is our decision (as parents) to let him enjoy his time at home with the parents and learn basic knowledge and manners from us before we let him go!

He finally turned 3 last April and we told ourselves 3 is the perfect age for us to enroll him to Preschool.  It was our decision to take him to a preschool before he goes to big school because our family is really small!  We don't have kids AT ALL!  And most of the kids around our area are "home bodies" too so he doesn't get to play around with kids his age!

Now, if you ask me, I am at my most nervous stage right now since his first day of school is next week!  But of course, I can't let that nervousness and possible "separation anxiety" get the best of me! Mr. AMW and I have done preparations before THE BIG DAY!

I'll share you some tips that I'm currently doing and I would love to hear your ideas fellow mommies!

1. We send him to "play care" on weekends just for him to "feel" the environment of being in school.

Playcare at Little Archer SM MOA, written a very positive review about our experience here but unfortunately, we had to look for another "school" because it is too far from home!  I can't imagine the stress of driving him to and from school with traffic that could last an hour plus EACH way!  That would be super stressful for my son!  

Now, if you don't have means to bring him to Play Schools, or if your schedule does not permit, you can take your toddler to kid-friendly areas like Kidzania, Kidnooza or random playground inside the malls!

Happy Mother's Day, Mommies!

"Am I ready for motherhood?"
Well, I used to think I have an answer.  I told everyone I love kids and would be ready as early as 18!  (thankfully, di naman nangyari yon hahaha)  But that very moment I gave birth, I finally knew what to say when faced with that question.

"You'll never be ready."

Even with that cute cheeky, toothless smile.  You may never be ready for sleepless nights.  You will never be ready for that constant worry whenever your little angel gets sick or whenever they cry.  You will never be ready when your heart breaks into many pieces when they hurt themselves or when you have to bring them to a hospital for an emergency.  Oh God, I will never be ready for that!

On the brighter side, you will be surprised on how much UNCONDITIONAL LOVE you feel.  You will realize how much LOVE your heart can give.

Truthfully, the joys and pains of being a parent.  Especially a mom.

On Motherhood....after 2.5 years

Taking a break to talk about motherhood.

Yes, I'm on sentimental mood once again!  Kyle just had another "nose-bleeding" episode and I am more calm and in-control now unlike the first time it happened!  Just a bit of background, Kyle has several moments of nosebleeding for the past year!  Now that he's bigger, the bleeding reduced drastically but he still experience it every now and then.  

As I went back to my work table and stare at his sleeping angelic face.  I can't help but tell myself to take a breather as his naptime only takes an hour and a half.  Yes, I knew his schedule by heart because I was the one who imposed it!  I know exactly what time he wakes up, what time he naps, what time he gets to eat his snacks, breakfast, lunch and dinner!  I can almost tell the exact time he does number 2.  

Am I a "Hitler" mommy? 

Definitely not, but I"m definitely a strict mom who follows certain rules and regulations made by...ahmm..ME!  hahahaha and everyone in the household should stick to it!  

OO na, Hitler Mom na!

When I received a package from Milna Philippines c/o a good Blogger Friend ,(Thanks Ginger)! I was reminded on how I used to be a mom to Kyle a year ago especially when it comes to FOOD.  And I wished I knew about these baby snacks a year ago!

"Milna is a baby snack food that is highly recommended by doctors/medical practitioners in providing nutritious food for your child during his/her developmental and gowing up years. Milna will be available in all leading groceries and supermarkets in September 2015." -- taken from their FB page.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Milna-Philippines