Throwback to the first time they celebrated Mother's Day...
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It had been a long night.
Kierra had been fussy and Kiefer had come home late from training.
I was exhausted, I turn over lying in bed and looking up the ceiling and worried. Was I doing a good job as a mother?
Sabi nga nila there is no right or wrong sa pagpapalaki ng bata. But, I couldn't accept that answer I read every book I could get my hands on and at the end learned nothing.
Kiefer gave me the best piece of advice.
'Love them more than life itself, tell them you love them and show them you love them. Everything else is a cake.'
I start to tear up remembering him telling me that. While I was rocking our baby in the chair in his condo, he made with his hands and carved Kierra's name into it with two hearts to her name.
It was the first night we were home alone ni Mimi and I was frantic na hindi siya kumakain and she wouldn't stop crying. I tried rocking her but umiiyak lang siya lalo. Umiiyak na rin nga ako thinking I had failed already as a mother.
Kiefer took her from my arms and lead me to the chair and sat me down.
Kierra was still crying and he started to do a little sway and rock. Nagsimula na din siya mag hum. He positioned her over his heart and kept soothing our little angel and she stopped.
I stopped from crying also, and he came over to me and smiled and motioned for me to take our baby. I shook my head no but he started to hand her over and she opened her eyes. I looked and my heart stopped. Ako ang may responsibilidad sa batang ito and my protectiveness came out of me.
I held her tightly and started to hum the same song Kiefer had, and she went back to sleep.
He was right, love was the answer it had brought us together, and Kierra was the result of the love we shared.
I snapped myself out of daydream and looked at the bed.
Asan na yung dalawa, Kiefer and Kierra?
I got off the bed and went in search of my family.
I heard noises in the kitchen and peeked inside and groaned and leaned my head against the wall.
I closed my eyes and rubbed my hand against my face, took a deep breath and poked my head through the door again.
The kitchen was a disaster.
Flour was everywhere on the counter, floor, on Kierra.
Nakatalikod siya sa akin and I could hear him talking.
'No Mimi, no crying. We don't want to wake up Mama, maruruin our surprise.'
Kierra let out a squeal and giggled at her Papa. She was sitting in her high chair and watching her Papa make a mess.
'Young lady this is no laughing matter. Kung alam lang natin talaga what to make Mama for breakfast then madali na lang sana. Oh ano? Order na lang tayo?'
Mimi just laughs at his Papa. Wala, aliw na aliw sa pinag gagawa ng Papa niya eh.
'Pero di na yun special.' He said.
I poked my head back from the kitchen and held my hand over my mouth. That was a moment I would remember for the rest of my life.
I placed my hand over my heart and tried to hold back the tears.
Damn hormones.
He and Mimi were making me breakfast after I had yelled at him for waking him up last night and banished him from the bedroom. He was too good for me and I needed to tell him this.
I poked my head when I heard a crash. I poked my head into the kitchen to see Kiefer picking up the bowl that was on the tray in front of Kierra on the floor.
'Young lady, you are not helping out here. Mapapagalitan talaga tayo ni Mama neto. Tara, let's take a bath, we want you to look beautiful for Mama on her first Mother's Day.'
I gasped and made my way back to the room.
I looked at the calendar and sure enough it was Sunday and in small writing it said Mother's Day.
I slump onto the bed and thought my first Mother's Day.
Memories of me and Papa making breakfast for Mama on her special day came to me. Tears started to fall from my face and I closed my eyes.
I heard footsteps and made my way back to bed and pretended to be asleep.
I felt his presence as he poked his head into the room and sigh came from Mimi. Kiefer closed the door and I heard the water being turned on.
I got up and made my way to the bathroom, the door was opened and I could hear splashing and I hear him chuckle.
'Mimi, are you sure you weren't a mermaid in your previous life? Love na love mo ang water don't you angel? And you just love splashing Papa, look at me, basang basa na ako. Paliliguan rin ni Mimi si Papa?'
I could see Kiefer over the tub with Mimi and she was splashing with one hand and held her rubber duckie in the other, she threw it at him and laughed.
He had the patience of a saint. I could watch him with Kierra all day.
'Okay all flour gone now, it's time to dry up and make you beautiful.'
I walked back and laid in bed.
I heard the door open and a squeal. I pretended to rub the sleep from my eyes and turned to see the two most important people of my life.
'Happy Mother's Day Mama, from Kierra and me.'
Mimi was in a shirt that said 'My Mama is #1' and Kiefer held roses and balloons with 'Happy Mother's Day' and '#1 Mama' on them.
I smiled and tears started to flow.
I got up and took Mimi from his arms and gave her a kiss. I turned to Kiefer and whispered thanks and gave him a kiss and an apology.
'How do you put up with me.' I murmured to him.
'This is nothing, wait till you see what other surprise Mimi has for you.'
I looked at our daughter that had grabbed onto both of us and waited to be acknowledged.
I kissed her chubby cheeks and told them both that this was the best Mother's Day ever since I had the best present right here.
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Happy Mother's Day to all the loving Momma's out there! Kisses and Hugs!