Lara Quigaman is a mother to three boys: Noah is eight years old, Tobias is two, and Moses, two months old.
Three weeks after their youngest son was born, Lara and husband Marco Alcaraz took out their camera and started vlogging about their new life with three sons.
They did not deny their exhaustion and they looked it in the video, especially Lara.
She mused, "Totoo iyon. Ngayon sobrang mahirap talaga. Sobrang ako, honestly, nahihirapan ako.
"Parang nakakapagod talaga iyong ginagawa namin. Pero iyon na nga, iniisip ko na lang na mabilis lang naman.
"Sa ngayon, parang ang tagal, pero magugulat na lang kami na ayaw na kami makasama ng mga anak namin.
"This time talaga lang, kailangan mo i-remind sarili mo na minsan lang sila magiging maliit."
Adjusting to life with three sons
With the arrival of Moses, even their sons Noah and Tobias have to make some adjustments.
To the delight of Lara and Marco, Noah has eased into his role as big brother to his siblings willingly.
Marco said in their vlog dated October 24, 2020: "Si Noah, siyempre malaki na siya.
"Excited siya sa brother niya. Di ba nung una, akala niya girl? Naiyak siya. But he's really excited mag-alaga. Gusto tumulong."
Noah, wanting a baby sister, sobbed when he learned he was having another brother during the gender reveal.
But when Moses was born, Noah happily welcomed him.
Lara said in her vlog, "Sobrang sweet talaga ni Noah. Hindi lang sa amin, pati sa mga kapatid niya lalo na kay Moses. Tuwing nakikita niya, 'Hi, Bubu!'
"Ibang-iba doon sa unang reaction nung nalaman niya na boy si Moses. Sobrang very, very good kuya talaga."
But her second son Tobias presented a bit of problem.
In the beginning, he gave Moses a warm welcome, but seeing his mom give the baby more attention, Tobias reacted.
Lara said, "These past few weeks nakikita talaga namin na meron talagang selos.
"Siguro hindi niya talaga napipigilan kasi bata pa nga si Tobias, di ba? Only two years old.
"Baby pa rin siya and, of course, nasanay siya before na siya iyong baby namin dito...
"Ngayon na lagi ko pinapadede si Moses, may konting selos.
"May time na bigla na lang hinihila iyong paa, so kinakabahan ako minsan kasi baka mapalakas.
"Feeling ko gigil lang siya. Parang kinikilig lang siya, ganoon."
The mother of three guessed that Tobias was feeling left out, especially since Noah's homeschooling also needed attention.
She continued, "Siyempre kapag nag-homeschool kami ni Noah, hindi namin pinapapasok si Tobias para hindi ma-distract kuya niya.
"Habang nagho-homeschool kami ni Noah, si Moses na kay Marco. So siya, kasama niya iyong Tita namin o iyong kasama namin sa bahay.
"So, he feels left out din siguro talaga na, 'Bakit hindi ako puwede pumasok doon sa classroom ni Kuya?'
"Although puwede naman siya kay Marco, pero nagseselos nang konti."
embracing this new chapter
Lara could only think of God as her main source of energy, especially since she now has to look after a kid, a toddler, and an infant all at the same time.
The beauty queen turned actress said: "God has been good kasi supernatural strength talaga na minsan walang tulog sa gabi.
"'Tapos magho-homeschool pa. 'Tapos maliban doon, siyempre marami pa kami ibang ginagawa."
She added that life after giving birth has been much harder than the whole pregnancy journey.
"Mas mahirap pala talaga—well, para sa akin. Hindi ko alam para sa ibang mommies.
"Mas mahirap iyong pagkaanak mo kaysa iyong the whole pagbubuntis.
"Kasi pagbuntis ka, although siyempre, mahirap iyong mabigat dinadala mo, minsan mahirap matulog. Mas mahirap pala kapag nanganak ka na.
"Although siyempre, ngayon, medyo kabisado na namin somehow… kahit papaano, medyo alam na namin ie-expect, ganyan."
Lara is also grateful that Marco has been much more hands-on with the baby.
She said, "Kahit papaano tinutulungan niya talaga ako this time around.
"First time na marami siyang beses nagpapalit ng diaper, na gumigising talaga siya nang madaling araw.
"So, minsan ang ginagawa ko, pagkatapos ko padedehan si Moses, pagtulog na mga bata nga nine o ten [p.m.], ayan, si Marco na magbabantay.
"Makakatulog ako ng hanggang mga twelve [midnight] until padededehan na si Moses."
Marco, for his part, has nothing but praise for his wife.
He said, "Hands down din ako kay Lara na every two hours gigising just to feed the baby.
"Even though it's our third baby, nakikita mo talaga kung gaano siya ka hands-on. Puwede naman kasi, 'O sige, i-formula na iyan.'
"Nakakabilib lang na kahit walang tulog… Nakakabilib iyong mga mommies talaga na after carrying the baby for nine months, 'tapos ngayon naman… grabe."
"Hang in there!"
Lara then addressed in her vlog fellow moms who may be having a tough time managing a growing household.
"Sa lahat ng mommies na nanonood, lalo na iyong may mga newborn, 'tapos may toddler pa, 'tapos meron pang tinuturuan na isa pang anak sa school.
"Sobrang stress na stress na tayo, sobrang pagod na pagod na tayo, di ba? Parang hindi na natin kakayanin.
"Parang every morning you dread na simulan iyong araw kasi alam mong pagod ka na naman agad. It's important that you start the day asking God for help.
"Kahit gaano ka man ka busy, sabi nga, bago ka dumilat, the first thought that should be on your mind is, 'Lord, I need your help today. Please be with me today.'"
Lara again reminded herself of "better days" ahead, that it's best to enjoy these moments that will soon pass.
"Hindi nga sila maliit forever, so just enjoy. Kahit iyong mga bagay na mahihirap.
"Siguro it's also important for mommies to know na hindi ka nag-iisa, na we are not alone.
"Na marami kang kaparehong mommies na pare-pareho kayong pinagdadaanan.
"Hang in there, mommy! Kayang-kaya natin ito kahit wala tayong tulog! Magugulat ka na lang na mga binata't dalaga na mga anak natin."
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