Mother's Day...

The first time I found out I was gonna be a Mom, I was terrified. It was quite unexpected & during a stressful time in our lives. I also had what I guess are common concerns, as wondering if I would be a good Mom, if I was too young, etc..I mean, something that requires such commitment and dedication... Motherhood is not for everybody I thought. Yes, terrified!

Thinking, thinking, talking, talking, talking about it...
I had a great role model, I had good values, my partner was a great man and we were great together...Why not? I could do this...

On my 12th week appointment, we found out the heartbeat we once heard, had stopped...
I did not know just how much I loved this little thing until then.

I asked and asked, over and over and over; "Pleeeease, check again!", "What did I do wrong?", "Why?"... My last question; "are you 100% sure?". When he said yes. I felt as if my world crumbled. My heart dropped, my knees got weak and I cried like NEVER before. He asked if I wanted to do a test to find out what went wrong, and I said no. What's the point. It was gone, a test is not gonna make me feel any better or less sad. I was sure I knew exactly what went wrong.... Me!
I thought of myself as the worst kind of Mom...One that doubted herself so much that made her kid die. : (

I had the D&C the day after. I cried for a week straight, then I stopped. I did some research, I talked to some friends that had gone through the same thing. I realized it was not my fault! Miscarriages are actually very common and it happens to 25% of all pregnancies. People just don't talk much about it.

From then the baby seed was in my head & I promised myself that if I ever become a Mother, I would try to be the best I could.

Marky came two years after! This time I was confident & loved him from the first + + : )

Mixed kids, Korea-puertorrican kids, Korean-american kids, korean american, Puerto Rico, Boricua en la luna, miscarriage, aborto natural, d&c, natural miscarriage, it's not your fault

I now feel so blessed & grateful to have two beautiful kids, whom I adore. My life is definitely different than what it used to be. At the same time it is so, so, soooo much better! You become all those cliches you hated when you were not a parent. You enter this wonderful new world, of infinite, unconditional and the purest of loves. A world you did not know existed & you would NOT understand until you become one yourself. No other love compares as it IS the greatest of loves.

Being a Mother is just about the hardest job, but also the most gratifying one. When one day (which happens to be a Mother's Day) you wake up, and your 3 year old is standing next to your bed staring at you and says; "Good morning guys! First of all let me tell you, I love you Mommy".... priceless....

It's all worth it! : )

I don't know if I am the best Mother, but I try my very hardest to be a good one.
I had the best example and it's funny how I find myself saying things to Markus that my Mom said to me! I miss & love you Carmen Garcia. You were the best Mom I could have had. Thank you for raising me the way you did, your sacrifices and your infinite love. I now know & understand. And I only strive to be 1/4 of the Mom you were to me.

Happy Mother's Day!!!

Mother's day, on mother's day, korea, seoul, Puerto Rico en Seoul, Boricua en Korea, Puertorriquenos en Korea, miscarriage, aborto natural, d&c, natural miscarriage, unconditional love, pure love, on life

People say Mother's day should be celebrated every day. I don't agree. I like it just the way it is. I enjoy having that one special day to celebrate Motherhood. It's nice to look back and remember all the things you've gone through that led you to the place you are now. 

As for my day, It was great! Thank you Sean, for making it a very special one. I love you and I couldn't be the Mother I am without your unconditional support!

I surely will look up this post in the future (when my kids are bratty teenagers...lol) to remember the good old days, and how great & special this day was to me. 

I love you Mom! 

xoxo T. 

Happy Mother's Day to everybody! 

Love & enjoy your kids as much as you can before they grow up! Time goes by fast & it won't wait for anyone.

PS.... Now if I could only have my old body back... Life isn't perfect, but how boring would it be if it was! New goal! hehehe... 

Not all out of love...

Hey guys!!!

I've been meaning to share this with you for a bit...
I have a friend that just published his first book!!!

Congratulations Jamie Schoffman, how cool is it to be a published author!!!!

The book is called "Not All Out of Love". I have not read it yet, as I am in Korea & I have to wait until it comes into the iTunes store to get it. But I will for sure!

Here is the official description...
"Not All Out of Love is the incredible true story of a young man's struggle through college, failed relationships, suicide, financial hardship, infidelity, and reformation. At times funny, at times sad, Not All Out of Love takes us through the full range of human emotions. You will laugh, you will cry, but you will understand and relate to what this young man has gone through."

Just wanted to let you know, so If you're wanting a new book to read, look it up!

Maybe one day I could too! Ahhhhh.... hey, one can dream!... hehehe : )

xoxo,
T.

✦✦✦Update... The book is now available in the ITunes store! We just got ours... off to read! : )

What I've been up to...

I've been out so much these past couple of weeks....
Where to start...

kids cafe korea, Seoul, kids cafe, little gim in Seoul, South Korea

At the kids cafe...

Kids cafe, Seoul, South Korea, Little Orchard,  Cafe, little gim

kids cafe, seoul, south korea, korea, little orchard, seorae village, little gim

There are so many of these in Seoul and I love them. Having one right across the street comes in handy during monsoon season.  

At the Dentist. Maybe I'll get it all done this time...

Sunday Brunch, Seorae Village, Bampo, Bangbae-dong, Seoul, South Korea, korea, brunch, 

Sunday Brunch

Seoul, south korea, seorae village, bangbae-dong, korea, window, shop

Macaroon time...

Subway, seoul, south korea, korea, life, blog, expat living, expat lifestyle

On Subway adventures...

Lotte world, lotte mart, seoul, south korea, korea

Supermarket hunting...

seoul station, seoul, south korea, korea, people in korea

People watching...

seoul station, korea, south korea, korea, people watching, supermarket hunting

Seoul Station...

The Dongdaemun area... dongdamun, market in seoul, traditional market in korea, south korea, seoul

Random market, on our way trying to find Bangsan Market (where they sell baking goods).

department stores in seoul, korea, south korea, Galleria department stores, galleria, shopping, seoul, rodeo street, apgujeong

Mall Hopping. At Galleria...

crabtree & Evelyn seoul, korea, shop, body lotion, apgujeong-dong, rodeo street, seoul, south korea

I found a Crabtree & Evelyn!!! 

Great find for me & just in time!!! Yeayyy...There's a specific lotion I love from here. I'm so happy, I've been saving the last few pumps... : )

apgujeong-dong, seoul, south korea, korea, walking, rodeo street, apgujeong, traditional clothing of korea, hanbok

On a stroll around Apgujeong-dong...

Apgujeong seoul, south korea, korea, apgujeong, apgujeong-dong, rodeo street

We went early in the morning, so most shops where closed. We just found the mess from the night before. Marky wanted to clean the streets. "is too messy Mommy"...♥ my sweet boy... : )

sneakers, shopping, seoul, south korea, korea, converse store seoul, 

Sneaker shopping...

lady bug

Lady bug ♥...

making naan, naan, homemade

Learning how to make Naan...

emart e-mart seoul, korea, south korea, supermarket, walmart in seoul

More Supermarket hunting. At e-mart...

Waiting for our fancy grocery cart at e-mart...

Someone loves this Supermarket...

flowers, seoul, south korea, korea

Celebrating our first year here...

And her turning 7 months...

And him being all cute...

Checking out hanboks...

dongdaemun, dongdaemun market, seoul, south korea, shopping, 

Sean's first time in Dongdaemun...

Dongdaemun dongdaemun market, seoul, south korea, korea

doota, doosan tower, dongdamun, doosan tower dongdaemun

Doosan Tower in Dongdaemun...

namdaemun market, nandaemun, seoul, south korea, korea, shopping, traditional market

Namdaemun Market...

street vendor seoul, south korea, korea, market, namdaemun, 

We haaad to get it!!! : )

steamed buns, korean buns, bread stuffed with noodles, bread stuffed with beans

Steamed buns...

Shinsegae Loves Britannia

We also went out to an event w/o kiddies. Shinsegae Loves Brittania...

Shinsegae Trinity Garden

Was pretty funny to see that these fashion events are all the same... In PR, NY or here... The same people just different faces!  This was on the rooftop of Shinsegae Main Store, (Trinity Garden). To see the view of Seoul at night with all the lights and the Namsan tower on the back was pretty cool.

Ewan mcgregor, Shinsegae, seoul, south korea, korea

& Ewan Mcgregor was there...

We also stopped by Myeongdong and Garosu-gil (one of my favorite areas here). While searching for the Baking area, I ended up around the Chonggyecheon stream. 

And it doesn't stop... We found out there's a Chinatown in Incheon and I sooo want to make it a weekend road trip. And mayyyybe we'll head over to Busan soon too... I love the good weather!!! 

Hopefully soon I can do more detailed posts about some of the areas. It's been a tiny bit hard keeping up these days. I get home and deal with the afternoon madness of what is having kids, feeding them, bathing them, bedtime & catching up with all my delayed house chores (laundry, cleaning, cooking etc.) See... keeping it real... 

It's not all fun in paradise... hehehe... 

I sure try to make the most of it! : )

xoxo, 

T. : )

I've been out!!! : )

Sorry I have been away...
I have been going out almost every day. Enjoying the good weather while it lasts. The good thing is I got tons of pics for future posts. I went to Bangsan Market, Dongdaemun, Myeongdong, Namdaemun & just around my neighborhood on walks. It is just sooooo nice outside, I have to.

Last year at this time I was pregnant and having THE worst "all day long" morning sickness. Also this time last year the air quality wasn't good because of the "yellow dust" (more on this later). So I really couldn't do much. Now I'm getting to really enjoy Spring.

Hopefully this week I'll have a post!

xoxo,
T. : )

Spring in Korea!

I ❤ SPRING!!!

Flowers started blooming everywhere and tiny green leaves started growing on trees. Magnolias, Cherry Blossoms, ohhhh.... all so, so, so, so, so incredibly beautiful. 

Coffee shops, boutiques, flower shops, gift shops all started putting pots of plants and flowers outside their door steps. 

As much as I love Winter, I must admit it is really nice walking around without a coat. I wanted to take advantage of the nice weather and started going out as much as I could. 

We headed out to the Cherry Blossom Festival at Yeouido. I came out a bit disappointed as there where soooo many people, you couldn't really take any good pictures.

There where a lot of street vendors, selling I guess local "snacks". Dried fish, squid, octopus, and what I just learned is Caterpillar cocoons... I wonder... How do you even come up with the idea of eating one of these, of turning it into a snack???... I know for people that grow up eating these, they must be delicious. I will not try it if I'm not forced to. To me, sorry to say, it smells and not like something yummy. : (

A picture is as close as I'll get to these! Not in a house, not with a mouse... I could not, would not try it anywhere!

I told you I'm no Andrew Zimmern... : )

As soon as I realized there was gonna be no good pictures I turned my focus onto people. It became a people watching day. I have NEVER, ever in my life seen so many people posing for pictures or taking pictures of themselves. Seriously, I took the funniest pictures of people doing the most hilarious poses. It would have been the funniest post so far. But... : ( the camera fell and I lost ALL of them. I guess it wasn't meant to be.... : ( 

To my surprise as I was walking to the supermarket the next day, (a new one I just found closer to my house) I accidentally walked into the most beautiful Cherry Blossom lined road! I was sooo happy. I felt so lucky, as if I got a second chance to take pictures! I didn't have the camera with me or Sean to help out, but I took some pretty ones with my phone! 

Ohhhhh... the Azaleas.... so pretty....

I just found out trough my Instagram, there is a mountain filled with Azaleas. I saw this picture and I had to ask where was this place. Unfortunately is in Daegumsan Mountain and it is in Geoje. This place is actually an Island that's all the way on the South part of Korea, by Busan. It would be a 2 hour Plane or 4 hour train ride. Yeahhhh.... Since they would only be as pretty for a just a couple of weeks, I don't believe we will make it there, at least this year. I hope she doesn't mind, but I want to share her Instagram picture with you  HERE! I have serious picture envy! : )

So basically I assume this is it for my dear Spring. Last weekend it was raining non stop. Then Monday felt like a Summer day, super hot. Today is raining again. In no time yellow dust arrives and we will not be able to walk outside for a while again... : ( NOT looking forward to this...

WTYS... : )

xoxo

T.