Love Day

Approximately 3 hours ago, I became an aunt and I am so happy. My younger sister gave birth to a beautiful 7 lbs. and 11 ounces baby boy. Not that I saw my nephew already but according to my elder sister, my mother and my brother-in-law cannot stop looking at the precious little bundle of grace. And not that I’m surprised either since my brother-in-law and my sister are gifted with good genes thus an offspring should also be good looking. That’s the adoring aunt in me speaking – the truth – that is.

This wonderful event made me reflect how important family is and how important life is. As soon as I received the news yesterday afternoon that my sister is undergoing labor pains and is in the hospital labor room, I cannot understand what I was feeling. It’s a mix of anxiety and excitement. Anxiety because I want my sister to not go through so much pain, to give a painless birth (limited my knowledge may be at child-bearing still I know that a painless birth is impossible), for the baby, whose gender we knew months before, to come out without any hassle, and excitement because finally, me and my elder sister will become aunties, my parents become grandparents, and my sister and her husband become parents themselves. However, it was not going to be an easy ride (especially for my sister) for all of us who are awaiting the baby’s birth for he came wailing into the world almost 24 hours after my sister’s water broke. Thus begun the frantic lub-dub and I may be thousands of miles away from where the action was unfolding but still, I was beside myself with worry for morbid thoughts attempted, and some successfully, entered my brain. All these were quelled with prayers, though. I bent my knees in prayer, especially asking for the intercession of Mother Mary and Saint Therese of the Child Jesus. And everything turned out perfectly well.

I cannot wait to go back home in less than two months. The newest addition to our family will be there, the best gift of love that we all could possibly receive today, Valentine’s Day.

Ave Maria!

Jush Matthew M. Ricaplaza @ 2 months old

cradled in my elder sister's arms, Jush's Auntie Melet

cradled in his mother's arms, Mama Sha-sha

cradled in my arms, Auntie Cristy (I finally got to hold him in my arms when I went home for Spring Break in April - he was 2-months old then)

intently focusing on me while I took his photo, our Baby Jush Matthew

(Originally posted on 14 February 2009)