Mothering Eden 004

Before Eden was born, I decided I would most definitely not be one of those mums who allowed their kid any screen time.

Guess what. 

I am now that mum.

How can I not when it's such an excellent source of distraction? 

Oh mums I've judged before, I am so sorry. I totally get it.
Totally.
 

Downside to this is that he's making calls to remote countries like Senegal and people in my contact list and messaging random people random things (sometimes proper embarrassing words thanks to autocorrect) all in my name.

Mortifying.

Mothering Eden 003

Weekends are for dance offs. Back in the days we were known to have our own signature dance moves. Here's us working it.
Eden had his own too, which involves a move kinda like marching, until he saw his papa's and decided he'll claim it!

My little Daddy Jr. ♡

Mothering Eden 002

Eden loves books, he can sit still and seemingly pore over them on his own.
He loves it even more when we read to him.

Sometimes we make melodies and tunes out of the illustrations in the stories.
He'll point to the pictures he knows we make music to and gestures for us to sing them.

If he knows the actions, he'll join in.
It's the most adorable thing.

We definitely have more books than toys around here!

Mothering Eden 001

Slightly nervous about picking up a personal project of illustrating 100 days.
Hesitant because, I'm really uncertain if I can commit to a hundred days of drawing something everyday in my schedule.

Since being a mother, I've gotten busy. Too busy to remember what it was like to just be me and what it was like to pursue my hobbies.

So I thought, let's pick up illustrations again. Something for fun, something to get excited about. Not for work and not for earning commissions. Instead of feeling sorry for myself that I don't draw anymore for kicks and reminiscing the time when I did, I'll carve out some time to. I figured, mothering would be the best theme and this project would be a cute way to document the season as well.

So here it is: Mothering Eden 001, featuring first my Momniform.

My wardrobe has changed after being a mum, for real. I pretty much wear a pair of good comfy lounge pants around the house and a top that makes it easy to nurse in. A half top knot bun for hot and humid days to get gross hair out of my face.

I've been nursing Eden for 17 months now and I would like to think that this is an achievement, seeing how I'd only intended to nurse him till he was 6 months old. Eden loves his boob and finds lots of comfort in it, most of the reason why it's impossible to stop. So much so that when he isn't allowed on it, he has to hold it. It's not too bad in the privacy of our own home, but outside, it can get awkward.

It's one of those things that happen as a mum. You battle with wanting some kind of ownership back in "your" life. Your body, your time, your energy, your life. What holds me up and keeps me going on is trusting that the Lord is moulding me towards Christ-likeness in this new season. Besides, here's to hoping too he will kick the habit soon, and one day I'll think back in fondness of the memories of ever nursing the child and have my boobs back to me; or to my husband (until, and if there's, the next kid).

"Every branch in Me that does not produce fruit He removes, and He prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit." John 15:2

What about you, do you have a momniform too?

Treasure

What beauty is in the field

Come, see

I've found my drawing voice. It is back.
What a thick fog I got lost in.

Easy Father's Day Gift DIY Tutorial

This year marks the first Father's Day for my husband. I thought to commemorate this special privilege by personalising a cup for him.
A little bit cheesy maybe, but what's better to have something encouraging greet you every morning when you need a cuppa.

So here's a tutorial for you too.

Materials needed for a personalised mug:

- A plain cup (I got mine from Muji)
- Marabu ceramic paints (they have a ceramic marker line too if you're not so comfortable with a paintbrush)
- Pencil + Eraser (optional)
- Paintbrushes
- Alcohol wipes
- Oven




Steps:

1. Have a design in mind
2. Wash and dry your mug
3. Wipe the surface area you intend to have design on with an alcohol pad
4. With your pencil roughly sketch in your design. Or if you're daring, just go straight for it with your paint. You can always wipe off whatever is unwanted/redo with alcohol wipes



5. Leave design to dry for at least 4 hours
6. Place designed mug into cold oven
7. Heat oven to 170℃ and let it bake for 30 minutes
8. Let mug cool in the oven

You now have a cup of your very own design that's wash proof (dishwasher safe too) and a much appreciated dad!

{Side note: You might be curious as to why I wrote #0 and not #1. That's because Jian's a coder and in geek speak, 0 always comes before one. You'll get it if you're a programmer.}