My best christmas presents this year weren’t the prettily packaged ones under the tree but the people that were with me.

My favourite being a little chungkin named Liam who was busily soaking in the merriment surrounding him to his heart’s content on Christmas morning.

 

Celebrations were made simple as how they always are, catching up with both sides of the family over good ole’ carols playing in the background and festive, burp-worthy grub.

The bo & I even managed to attend the annual christmas themed party held at our godparents’ since 13 years ago during christmas eve thanks to mom who volunteered to sit out of this year’s party & help us babysit Liam (thank you so much mom).

It was a wonderful start to wind down the year.

And as I soak in the last days of 2012 with family and take a break from the blog, here’s wishing everyone Happy Holidays, Felice Navidad, Prospero Ano y Felicidad!

Being the mood-of-the-moment blogger that I am, I’ve never been one to follow themes/link parties as much as I would like to :x

But since it’s December and it being my favourite month of the year (even more so that my birthday month, ah hah!), thought I’d do my darnest to keep to something before 2012 ends. After all, it has been more good than bad to me. :) So here’s joining MamaJ in the linky party on being thankful!

I love beginnings. A brand new day. A brand new month. A brand new year.

I love new slates. It somehow makes everything bad go away and feel okay, even if the month before had some s**t moments like how end Nov was to me just a week ago.

And December? The beginning of the last month of the year always gives me a rush of adrenalin. The month seems shorter, everyone seems merrier, and my favourite tunes and voices gets played a lot. There’s an impetus to ensure all’s been done for the year before resting one’s laurels, with time for reflections & resolutions in between. And oh the parties! I love parties!

Was it just 2 Decembers ago that I was in low spirits, wondering if we’ll ever grow our family of 2 and get to celebrate christmas with a +1?

And just 1 December ago when our little +1 was making his entrance at every christmas party à la the bump aka. jelly belly?

{chungkin’s bump + christmas presents, dec 2011}

This December kicked off really nicely.

We picked out a pretty little (space constrained with the toys of the moment) fir tree that filled fresh air with sweet nectar as this year’s christmas tree for the home, and the little man was absolutely thrilled during tree selection – reaching out his little arms to do his whole touch-and-feel phase of the moment with *almost* every tree we brushed past.

{chungkin’s first xmas tree selection experience}

I couldn’t be more thankful with how kind the year has been to me.

How generous and loving the Lord continues to be with me and my family.

And I look forward to more amazing experiences as December unfolds.

***

Join us in giving thanks this December!

If there’s one event I love more than birthdays, it’s the year end festivities of Christmas/NYE/New Year.

I LOVE the smell of fresh pine lingering in the air (hello christmas tree). The shopping for christmas-edition candy. Indulging in christmasy cakes (hello red velvet. hello toffee nut latte) and drinks. The voices of Dean, Frank, Nat and the occassional Mariah & Bublé Christmas renditions being looped on repeat all day. Organizing a party & putting together a Christmas menu.

I love how there’s so much joy and so much merry making that fills the air. Most are in an exceptionally forgiving and courteous mood (though it would be great if it was like that year round), and everyone’s game for some fun. Lots of feasting (yum, yum, yum), toasting (yum, yum, yum), and every legit reason to indulge in some shopping (hello year end sales!) for gifting.

And parties. I love how there’s always a party to go to. To dress up for. To get in theme for. To do a kris kringle for.

So when the cousin and some fun-loving moms asked if I would like to join in organizing a christmas party for kids, I had to say ‘yes’! I’ve been toying with the idea of hosting a cozy christmas first for Liam & friends (will see if I still have time to do that) but with a few already being organized, I wasn’t sure if another similar party would appeal to anyone. Anyhow…

I love kids and seeing them have fun in a party that’s created just for them? Icing on the cake.

The Enchanted Christmas party isn’t going to be a party full of soft play structures and toys to play with. You know where to find them and add them to your list of parties (or ping me if you don’t) :)

But what the Enchanted Christmas Party is going to be…is a magical pop-up party filled with christmas craft activities kids get to be involved in, photo booth fun for the whole family (which will make a great e-greeting card too!), balloon sculptures & goodie bags to take home, good music to boogie to, sweet treats to gobble down, friends to party with, magic performances to wow at and magical snow fun!

Tickets are selling out fast and we’re almost down to selling the the last 15!

Click here to purchase your tickets now. And come say hi too!

I had the longest nights in the past 3 days – turning in only at near to 3am due to festive celebrations (and sadly still waking up at 9am due to habit) but boy was it worth every moment of yawn & exhaustion; knowing that I had a little party-mate who was enjoying himself in the belly – bobbing and dancing to music played loudly & giving a little punch of acknowledgement each time I gobbled down some lovely cakes and ice-cream.

This Christmas, spending our last as a couple was also made extra special as the Bo took us on little dates & strolls in between; enjoying the last bits of us-time as we reflected how much has happened (for the better) since 12 months ago – when we were still deeply desiring to be parents then and how difficult it was for me to enjoy the festivities because everyone was practically asking when we were going to be parents (which really sucked because I wished they would just say ‘Merry Christmas’ back in response and let me enjoy those few hours instead). And thanks to a very supportive husband who would constantly whisper to me that our time will eventually come and that it would be magical, I managed to survive through christmas 2010.

So back to this year’s roundup, I totally enjoyed feasting on the spread (as always) being prepared although I was reminded to limit my quantity on prime ribs, beef & lamb (but they were just soooo good) and desserts (instructions from the gynae). The Bo also allowed me a sip of his cloudy bay – which was all I wanted anyway. It was extremely heartwarming receiving gifts mostly for b.chungkin from the usual suspects (I did receive a very beautiful box of baby shower bingo and maternity-styled dress from the cousin for myself though :p) too. And too hilarious when some started asking the Bo if we had really decided on baby’s name to be ‘chungkin’ (along with a puzzled look) – due to my sign off in the card. (p/s: chungkin is really more of a term of endearment for us and yes, he will have a proper name).

{family shot}

{pre-christmas dinner with mom}

{christmas dinner with the BR}

{posing with BR’s gift to me}

{after a midnight tea with BR at the hotel lobby}

{iphone candid with mom}

{iphone candid with the Bo}

{group shot with the godparents}

{just us 3 by the tree}

Happy December! I’m thrilled that we’re officially in the last month of the year!

We finally got our X’mas tree up during the week and thanks to the beanie in the belly, I was excused from doing most of the set up apart from tree selection & decorations!

Absolutely loving the smell of pine lingering in the house

This year, we decided to get a smaller tree because the Bo decided that since he was going to handle most of the carrying and disposing of tree alone, it made sense to go with one that was manageable.

And me thinks that when baby chungkin joins us for his first Christmas next year (I know, thinking way too far ahead), this size-of-a-tree will be a good enough background for the teeny weeny boy anyway.

I’ve always loved Christmas and all the merry-making it brings; along with the writing of greeting cards to relatives far and near, deciding the theme of our celebration parties, dressing up, buying of Christmas gifts (maybe not the wrapping since I suck at it), and just spreading good cheer around. And knowing that this year’s Christmas will be made extra special with the little one in the tummy to enjoy all the fun is icing on the (log) cake.

***

For the shopaholics, Dec. also means end-of-season sales! And after our yoga session today, me and ms.A decided to check out what Takashimaya’s card members sale (additional 10% off) had to offer. We spent a good 30 minutes at the baby section sussing out prices and offers (and to take notes for comparison at this weekend’s baby fair) followed by a good 60 minutes or more shopping thereafter for comfy shoes to pamper ourselves! Haha, loved that it wasn’t too packed when we first arrived though we starting seeing a bigger crowd in-store shortly after & more preggers strolling in to try on some shoes too!

I’ve never been a fan of flats (since I’m rather height challenged), but I guess when your husband at nags you enough to abandon any form of heels regardless (now that baby matters more than vanity) and then rewards you with one that fits you comfortably without needing to put on any band-aid due to unsightly blisters…it grows on you.

Plus, I’ve been warned by mom & the Bo that all wedges/heels will have to take a backseat till baby chungkin can walk steadily on his own since I can get rather clumsy & trippy when it comes to any other form of shoes, flipflops inclusive. I’m some sort of a walking mishap especially in crowded places.

We left the shop extremely happy with our new purchases. Although I was almost undecided on an additional pair – in a very pretty dusty pink no less! But hoarding on to 5 pairs to try on till I made a decision made me feel like a bad person so when the salesperson asked if I could ‘release’ that pair to another customer because it was the last available size, I took it as a sign that it wasn’t meant to be :)

All in all a good day, I felt like the weekend had already started judging by the crowds and happy vibes that filled the air. There’s a baby fair happening this weekend which I’m looking forward to attend with some friends too, now that I don’t necessarily have to buy gender neutral colours and we’ve crossed the halfway mark.

Yay yay yay!