Taelyn's Quirkiness

Taelyn is three years old, now that she's three, she has decided that she can do EVERYTHING by herself. When she wakes up in the morning, she fixes her bed, she puts everything back in her purse,then she calls me or Todd to watch her climb down her ladder, with her purse and blanket, turns off her nightlight, (God forbid I do it for her) then crawls into our bed and goes back to sleep for about an hour. I know this because I watch her on the monitor.

Taelyn has some serious OCD tendencies. Everyday, it's the exact same. I, being a diagnosed "Obsessive Compulsive" will try my best to not cater to OR stifle her tendencies. It's a fine line. Growing up, my mom was irritated with my meticulousness and would chastise me for the quirky things I did, until I was completely tossed over the edge when I found out I had cancer. I don't want that to happen to Taelyn. I consider myself fortunate because I have this history. I'm concerned, but I'm not concerned. She has some major fits if things aren't just perfect, but I try to stay calm and let her work it out herself. This is a hard one for me. I am VERY strong willed and I seem to be raising a daughter who has been gifted with the same trait. Most days I look at the things Taelyn does and laugh because it reminds me so much of me. I really don't know if I made her this way, or if it really is just IN her, maybe I will never know, but I do know, I am better equipped to handle it.

List of some of Taelyn's quirkiness:
Her hair MUST be done neatly in a ponytail. I can do whatever I want in the front/top, just as long as it is pulled into ONE ponytail.


Taelyn has her purse AT. ALL. TIMES. If it is not in her hands or over her shoulder, it is within reach.
When I take a picture or video of her, she demands to see it right away and if she doesn't like it, it MUST be deleted! (Sounds a little like someone I know)

This picture was approved
She LOVES "Her Baby" She takes care of him like she is his Mommy. In this picture, he had just fallen out of his car and she picked up the car and kissed his "oh oh"

I really can't get enough of these two

They look like twins

This is BY FAR my MOST favorite picture of them to date. (And they have A LOT of pictures) I think I shed a tear or two when I was called out of the shower (by Todd) to witness this sweetness

She is OBSESSED with Tutu's she would seriously wear them EVERYDAY if I allowed it.

She will even wear a tutu to sleep when I let her.

She goes to sleep this fly pretty much on a nightly basis

This was her outfit today. Taelyn told Trent, "I am the princess and this is my kingdom, you must do what I say!"

Taelyn dances ALL. THE. TIME! I absolutely adore it. I can't get enough of it. I have so many videos on YouTube You can subscribe to my channel, I think that is how it works. I have way too many videos to add here.

Taelyn HATES to be dirty! She fell right after I picked her up from TLC at church and she refused to get into the car until I changed her.

It was a cold day and I only had shorts in the car, that were Trent's. I told her I would change her when we got home and she threw a major fit. She kicked and screamed until I put Trent's shorts on her and she was instantly happy, as you can see.


Taelyn is such a witty girl with a LOT of SASS! I just cant wait (well, I can, I don't want her to grow too fast!) to see what kind of person she is going to grow up up to be.

Back to Blogging: Water Color

I know, I know, I have taken a long hiatus from blogging, not because I didn't want to, but because I was trying to be cautious about what I put out there into the universe about my life. I blog mostly because I treat it like journal. I have always documented my life through journals, but those have always been private. I had a situation in December where my candidness was questioned and it created a lot of unnecessary drama. I don't want that to ever happen again, but I have certainly learned a LOT about those who I let into my world. I am not really a private person, so what you see is what you get. I have decided that I am not going to let one person stop me from documenting my life and sharing it. I am happy (except for my monthly tragedies) I feel like I should share it with everyone, especially my friends and family who genuinely care about me and the happenings of my life.

With all of that being said, after naps today, I pulled out the water colors for Taelyn and Trent and I was reminded of a not so great mommy moment with water color nearly one year ago. I was NOT that crazy OCD mommy today. I actually was laid back, I let them color the way they wanted to, when Trent tried to drink the dirty paint water, I didn't overreact and yell, I just took it away from his mouth, told him yucky and let him continue to paint. I have to say, I am VERY proud of myself and I feel like I have made some serious progress. I just had to document it.
Trent was LOVING this activity

Taelyn was a painting Diva

They painted so well together, we may make this something we do more often

Taelyn's 2nd Dentist Visit

Taelyn's first visit to the dentist was not the best experience. The dentist didn't even get to look into her mouth. Every time he got close to her, she would swing. I was so embarrassed. She actually connected a few times and hit the poor man. We practiced with Taelyn, but everything we worked on, went right out the window when we got there.

Six months later we tried again. My brother and I pulled into the parking lot at the same time. It was a family affair! We filled the office, we took up every chair. I think this also helped ease Taelyn's nerves. She saw her Ates and Kuya sit patiently and without freaking out, so she followed. She was great. Here they are:

I was first, I had my cleaning and no cavities!

Todd was there for moral support

My happy girl

Allan and Maya

Leah getting her cleaning

Taelyn getting acquainted with the equipment, while Bapa Russ and Kuya Allan watch

She was so cooperative

Getting her teeth brushed

Getting her teeth flossed

My girl is getting so big, we were all so proud of her, hopefully in six months for her next visit, she will do just as well, if not better.

By Faith

I know I haven't been present in my blog, but there was a lot that went on last month that slowed me down. I was actually thinking about not Blogging anymore due to "Blogger Gate" but this morning while I was at Bible Study, I felt inspired to write. While the worship team was singing, "By Faith" I caught myself singing loudly and not caring who heard, sooo not like me.

When I am in church, or bible study, or anywhere there is any kind of singing involved, I sway with the music and mouth the words, I have an AWFUL singing voice. My brother, Nathaniel, (Eddie's son) is a very successful musician, even says, there is no helping my voice. I joke that if someone held a gun to my head an told me to sing on key or he would shoot... I would be a dead woman. I can't stress to you how bad my voice is. My babies don't even like it when I sing, instead of soothing them, it made them cry more, It. Is. That. BAD!

That being said, when a song really hits home for me, I feel it in my heart and it often makes me teary eyed, especially worship songs. It made me think of my Tia Suzette, she is an awful singer as well. I remember going to church with her growing up and being embarrassed, like so embarrassed, I didn't want to sit anywhere near her and my cousins and I would fight to stay away because she would always sing so loudly and just be so filled with the spirit, that she just didn't care what anyone thought of her. I thought she was crazy, but today, while this song was playing, I heard myself singing, and singing loudly, not caring what anyone thought of me. I guess that is how my Tia feels. I finally get it.

It is because of my faith that I chose to forgive people for wrongs they have made, because God has forgiven me many times over. It is because of my faith I try to be the best person I can be, because I want to please God. I try to be a great friend to everyone, I try and be there for those who need me, when they need me, because God is ALWAYS there when I need Him. I want to live a life as close to him as I possibly can. I know that I am human and because of that, it is impossible, I slip up and I am not, by any means perfect, but I TRY, and that is all I can do.

My faith is so strong and has gotten me through so many situations. I believe with all of my heart and soul that there is something better out there and there is a superior being who knows and loves ME. I feel Him, I know He is present in my life and I welcome Him. Just as the song says, I am walking through FAITH and not by Sight. I really and truly understand what it means and I am proud of it, I want to shout it out to the heavens. So when I am in church and I am mouthing the words, I don't need to be self conscious, because God knows my heart and He doesn't care, so why should I?

Trent Mason

I have been wanting to blog for weeks now, but because of issues I'd like to blog about... I have decided to take a break from blogging, (if that makes any sense at all.)

This morning I woke up and was inspired to write something that had nothing to do with the drama that I have named "Blogger Gate." It has to do with me and my journey. I have three kids, I only have two that are living. I have written a many times about Trent Mason I feel him, I love him and I really and truly miss him. I am sad that I didn't get the chance to know him. I am sad that, to this day, my husband and I can't really talk about him. He has defined me as a mother. I treat Taelyn and Trent like glass because I know at any moment they can be taken from me and my heart can be shattered again. I am a strict mother because I want my kids to be good, obedient, mindful, thoughtful and most of all FAITHFUL. I step out of my comfort level more than I am comfortable with because I want to give them experiences and not limit them because of my hangups.

I think about Trent Mason all the time. Today, if God spared his life, he would have been four. I could have had a four year old. That thought is hard to wrap my head around. Taelyn would have been a little sister and known what it would have been like to be a middle child. This morning, I woke up thinking about him and what our lives could have been like, all of the "ifs." I checked my email and this is what I saw:

Really it was the strangest thing because I don't usually get emails like this, they go straight to junk mail, and when I do get mail like this, I don't even open it, I just hit delete. Today, I don't know why, but I opened it and as soon as I read the first line and completely fell apart. How ironic is that?

My mom tells me all the time that Trent Mason gave his live to save mine and my future. Call it Filipino superstition. Nothing I believe in, but since we lost him, I have been the healthiest I have ever been, I no longer have the medical issues I had before. I was able to have Taelyn AND Trent Michael, with very little health problems. I am just so thankful and blessed at the way my life has turned out. I don't know if I owe to it my little guy, but I do know I owe it to God. I remember when I was younger, I would pray for the life I have now. I do have struggles and everyday issues, but the big picture is EVERYTHING I have ever prayed for and ALL that I have always wanted. Even when I didn't know it, this is the life I was meant to have and I am living it the best I know how and I see my blessings and I am appreciative for them all. I needed that reminder this morning. It gave me some perspective. Because of that, I say, "Thank You, Lord!"

Pictures and My Birthday

Random pictures from the last few days
Trent in his Police Car

I walked into the bathroom and he had my bra over his face... I guess he smelled my breast milk

This guy loves to water the plants... His shirt is so fitting

At lunch with friends

I just love these little cuties, we had a "Pajama Party"

Hide and Seek, I guess they were both it

Slow Down

Market Night

Boys in their cars

These girls love to go FAST!

Taelyn and Kailey

Trent was being too quiet, and this is why. My little book worm

Family time at the Sanders' house

Taelyn sleeping with her purse (sorry for the blurriness, it was dark in her room)

*******************
My birthday is December 10th, but since it fell on a Monday this year, we celebrated on the Friday before. I don't remember where I heard about this Mystery Detective Dinner Theater from, but I Googled it and got the information and told a few of my friends and we went. It was so much fun. It is set up kind of like Clue. You are watching a play and then there was a murder and another and then another. The key was to figure out who the killer is and what is the motive. I am usually really great at figuring these things out, but I could hardly pay attention. It was so MUCH FUN!!

My Honey Do and Me

Sweet Tekura, my sorority sister, with my Brother and SIL in the background

Rafaelle and Paul

Calvin, my Brotha from anotha Mutha

My girl Qualia

Me, Tekura and Brigette

James and Amber

My girl Shanoan came all the way from LA to hang with us

The Cast

I am so blessed to see 32 years. I have great friends, an amazing family, the best husband anyone could ask for and two of the sweetest little babies God could ever bless me with . I am overwhelmed with happiness and gratitude. I LOVE MY LIFE!