Part of the family

Button by Pinaymama. Thanks!

It seems usual, if not normal, or except in other cases, that whoever is close to the mom is also close to her child. As I have no siblings, I consider Vilma, one of my closest cousins, my sister. By virtue of her weight in my heart and her proximity to me right now, she automatically becomes Cj's favorite aunt. Vilma's late mom was also my favorite aunt.

Whenever possible Vilma and I get together during weekends to eat our favorite pinoy foods and chat ourselves til morning while our boys play. Vilma's boyfriend is great with Cj too. He's not in the pic but I want to mention him because I appreciate the way he bonds with Cj. The picture below was during Cj's 5th birthday. I'm third and Vilma is second from the right. Her sons Kakoy (white shirt, leaning on her) and Janjan (black and white stripes) are Cj's closest cousins. The infant on the far left is Cj's third cousin. The rest of these lovely people are friends and their kids.

This is Dr. S, ex-hub's only brother and Cj's only paternal uncle. We have no contact but I am informed about what he does for Cj now and then - i.e. being Cj's major supplier of toys (according to darling ex lol).

When Cj was in PI, this uncle was frequently the one on the phone talking with my mother to check how Cj was. I appreciate the gesture and I value his presence in my son's life .

And this is Ruby Jane, Cj's godmom. Her twin Lyra is my goddaughter. Ruby Jane and Lyra's mom and mine are close friends.

Sometimes I meet Jane when she's not on duty at Yanhee, and I find myself trying to make valid answers to her question everytime we meet, "where's Cj?" because all those 'sometimes' when we bump into each other, Cj just happens to be not with me.

Work and distance have so far kept Cj from bonding with his godparents, (I don't have a pic of his godfather) but I'm confident they will catch up in God's own time.

These beautiful people make up Cj's moral support base. I am grateful and glad to have them around.

View more participants of this meme at The Mommy Journey.