We were in Florida to celebrate Thanksgiving with my in-laws. Coming to Florida promises a welcomed break from work for hubby and for me and Matthew too. Somehow, I feel that Matthew needs to be with other people aside from myself to interact with, like my mother-in-law, who always welcomes a chance to take care of him personally.

We arrived Florida on Saturday, about 5-days before Thanksgiving Day, a little earlier than when we could have planned to come if I didn’t have an appointment to renew my passport at a Philippine Consulate in Fort Lauderdale, Miami on Monday. So on my appointment day, from my in-laws place, hubby and I drove south to Miami for almost 3 hours. Matthew stayed with his Grandma and Grandpa.

I have to specifically mention how hubby puts up with me being so dependent on him to go to places. He has to drive me around and has to put up with my silly questions while we are driving. But he is always so gracious to drive me around and do these favors for me. Well he really doesn’t have a choice, does he?

We reached the Philippine Consulate early. I asked hubby to just stay at the car because of the limited waiting area and I know he can do a lot more while waiting in the car with his iPhone. Actually he watched a movie while waiting in the car. One of the perks of his iPhone, which he is so happy about.

Anyway, while I was waiting for my appointment, I met this Filipino lady, who is also there to renew her passport. I think she’s younger than me if she’s not almost my age and she works in IT field in Orlando, Florida. We talked about coming to America; Tokyo’s high cost of living; how we both got to Miami – she flew while I(we) drove; about what’s obvious like my pregnancy, and that we are both married and she had to be off work just to be there; and other random stuffs.

Our appointment went on fine. She was served before me so she left before I did. I wanted to pass her my email address and my facebook profile so we can somehow keep in touch but the flow of events just prevented me to. Oh well! After my appointment was done, hubby and I drove back. We were anxious for a little bit of quality time together. We had Italian for hearty dinner at Olive Garden. Then we reached home first while Matthew and my in-laws weren’t home yet from visiting friends. So hubby and I welcomed more quality time alone together until they arrived.

My mother-in-law was so proud of Matthew’s behavior. He behaved really well for the whole day and that he charmed everyone! The rest of the evening went on fine. I had a chance to check my email and online stuffs. Hubby attempted to finish the movie Kill Bill: Vol 2 on TV but he couldn’t (so sleepy) so we headed to bed, with Matthew co-sleeping with us. I think we all slept right away. We all had a full day including Matthew, who occasionally plays first before going to sleep but that time – he didn’t. The next thing I remember is waking up from a very vivid strange dream.

In my dream, I was in a plane with college acquaintances. They are all engineers already, looking for a better job in the field. One of them is telling everyone that he is going to this city to apply for a job. And then the other one turned his attention on me. He said that he heard that I was doing good working for Epson in Japan so he is curious what I was doing there. I simply said I quit my job and that I am looking for a job myself. And then on a split second, I was at my mother’s house, telling her that I was going to that city to apply for a job there because I’ve heard that there are good engineering jobs there. While I was talking to her, I felt so bad as if I’ve had no job for a long time and that I had been living off of her; and that I am resolved to make amends. Still in my dream, I am trying so hard to complete my resume. I was stuck with putting names as my references, but all I could write are my managers and colleagues from Epson. It has been years since I left Epson, and I was trying to remember what I did after that to add into my resume. In my dream I felt so problematic that there’s a big time gap since my time in Epson. What I did since Epson, I just could not remember! Then all of a sudden, I felt a kick in my face. I woke up from that dream with Matthew’s foot on my face. He was trying to lie down across hubby and me on top of our head pillow, that in so doing, his foot landed on my face while he was head to head with his daddy.

I got up about 5:00 am! I was just too awake from that strange dream. And I know where it stemmed from – from that lady at the consulate. She is seemingly at the top of her IT career like I was when I was a Software Developer in Epson. And I didn’t even mentioned to her that I was once in the same career field as she is. All I’ve mentioned is that we moved from Tokyo, that I met and married my husband in Japan. I left it to her to assume whatever I did in Japan. The thing is – I really don’t talk much about myself – only about what’s current and obvious. But while talking to her, I had wondered what it would have been like if I pursued my career field. But that thought was easily scratched off my mind when we parted ways. Somehow my subconscious brought that thought back in my sleep…

Funny how Matthew’s kick literally pulled me back to my reality, to remind me that I am a wife and mother now; and the choices I’ve made. Since my career as Software Developer for Epson, I got married. After which I’ve concentrated on having a family that while trying, waiting to be pregnant, I chose to work nearby as IT Support at Yokota Airbase – something less lucrative than Software Developer. Then we had Matthew and had been a stay-at-home mom since then. And then, just as I thought Matthew is old enough that I have started to take steps to get back slowly – careerwise, I am pregnant again. I am quite sure that I would be happily taking the same choices for this 2nd baby – to be there personally, and having to give up my desires for a career, financial independence, etc …

I honestly have no regrets and I could easily move on because I believe that – in life, whatever you end up choosing, there’s always something that’s gotta give! It’s just that for me, there are some days when it’s tougher to reconcile with some of the things I have given up for the choices I made.

Our Thanksgiving celebration started days before the Thanksgiving Day, with visiting with friends and family, lots of grocery shopping, cooking and eating. I didn’t cook much, just helped out in the kitchen a little bit. Our Thanksgiving meal is mostly deep fried turkey, ham and lots of American food shared by family. I am so glad that it didn’t turn out as stressful as most celebrations tend to be – at least not for me !

Photo taken Nov. 26, 2009 Thanksgiving Day, From left: Gussie Dog, Grandma Sally, Me, Grandpa Leonard, Daddy, Matthew, Uncle Les, Uncle Tom and Aunt Collen

We’ve been back in ALabama for a couple of days now. It is good to be home… but today, hubby’s off to work, already missed lunch and had been busy welcoming the coming back cadets! Yes (sigh), vacation’s over! We are back officially!

Matthew Pirate, Photo taken Nov 23, 2009 by Grandma Sally, Edits by Daddy

We have been chillin’ here in Florida since Saturday! Just busy going about the Thanksgiving rush – cooking, shopping, socializing and more! Matthew is having a blast monopolizing all the attention from everyone!

Happy Thanksgiving, all! Be safe and have fun!

As most of you know we are expecting our 2nd baby. I am in my 18th week right now, almost 5 months. My pregnancy is more obvious now as my belly has bulge so much in the past week, that none of my regular cloths fit me anymore, not even my bra.  (It’s not only the belly that’s getting bigger…)

Matthew, Mommy with Baby#2-Week17-18, Photo taken November 12, 2009. Click photo to enlarge photo.

Most of the 1st trimester symptoms, the morning sickness, nausea, etc., had passed already (I hope.) I am left with serious case of feeling heavy and lazy. The tricky thing about laziness is that – I am not quite sure if my laziness is a symptom of this pregnancy, or if I am using this pregnancy as an excuse to be lazy. But I can’t deny feeling heavy and this constant ache at my lower back. My body has only starting to adjust to the increasing weight in my mid section, that my lower back, hips and thighs are suffering for it. (What am I complaining about? This is all part of pregnancy and I have a long way to go… ahhh, the joys of motherhood!)

I know that, at this point, I should start to get active. I should seriously exercise, walk a lot more but when you’re literally carrying a heavy load, you can only wish to be exercising while in actuality – you’re being a couch potato.

On our next doctor’s appointment is the ‘anatomy check-up’. The doctor’s going to confirm the baby’s gender among others. From our very first ultrasound, at our request, the ultrasound tech-lady already told us the baby’s gender but we are waiting for the doctor’s confirmation to officially announce it. (Of course, we told a few family and friends already.) Would it be funny if the doctor is going to confirm differently? But this is very unlikely.

Hubby and I both decided to know this baby’s gender, but we argued during Matthew’s time.

When I was pregnant with Matthew, I didn’t want to know if it was going to be a boy or girl. I wanted to be surprised! But hubby wanted to know as early as possible. Actually, He insisted to know! He stated that the technology is there and that we should take advantage of that technology and the knowledge of what’s the baby is going to be. That kind’a got me convinced plus the fact that if he knew the baby’s gender and I refused to know, even though he is very good at keeping secrets, I’ll be able to pick up clues and eventually I would have known before Matthew was born. So it’s useless to not know if one of us knew.

This time, we really wanted to know. I think, it’s partly because we have a preference that knowing as soon as possible will help us contain and get over our excitement or disappointment regarding the baby’s gender before the baby is born. So when the time comes, we can truly concentrate more on the baby’s well being and not fuzz about the gender anymore. We will have a name prepared, and everything, clothing and toys, will be appropriate.

Regarding our preference, it’s not a secret that from the very start, even when I was pregnant with Matthew, we have been wanting a baby girl. I remember when I was pregnant with Matthew and we still didn’t know that he is a boy, we would visit the baby aisle at the department store and hubby would show me this cute little baby shoes with pink feathers on it. That little shoes we didn’t end up buying, of course. Maybe this time or not

Then Matthew was born and we are happy that he’s this cute little boy, very energetic and just everything that little boy should be and he is perfect. And our preference became just that – a preference. We didn’t love him any more or any less just because he is a boy, but we love him just as he is. It will be the same the second time around. Boy or girl, Baby#2 will be loved as much!

I’m digging thru the piles of hubby’s pictures for something to post here. I was looking for something a little more candid but, oh well, I found this – not at all candid. I think this was taken during their glory days in the gulf war.

Hubby at Gulf War

Click here to see hubby at 17-years-old and in the Army.

Hubby served in the US Army for 23 years. He was already serving for 20-years or so when I met him, so I didn’t exactly experience the Army life with him. And our kids will only experience the military life thru pictures and stories from their Dad. But come to think about it, hubby is not exactly the type who voluntarily tells stories about his experiences in the military. I guess, there’s just too much to tell, he doesn’t know where to start.

On one hand, I wished I had experienced all the drama of being an Army wife. But then, that we met when he’s almost done with that phase in his life – I won’t have it any other way. I’m so proud of hubby for services and sacrifices for his country. And it will be something that I know our kids will be so proud of. I’m so glad he survive it, and that he’s done with it and I’m so glad that right now, we can concentrate on our life together.  (Does that sound too selfish of me? Oh well.)

To all US Veteran’s out there, enjoy your day!

Lately Matthew has been waking up too early, earlier than usual. He wakes me, and tries to wake me up. He’ll say, “It’s time to get up!“. That wouldn’t work on me. I’ll wrap my arms around him and tell him to go back to sleep. Then he’ll say, “Milk, please.” Oh, shoot! With that, I have to get up to feed my hungry child.

We usually get up at pass 7:30. Today, he got me to get up at 6:30. It’s dark and raining outside, hubby’s day off. It would have been nice to stay and snuggle in bed some more, but Matthew’s too awake for that and I had to get up with him! Now, he’s already playing and watching TV, and he doesn’t want to do that by himself. At least he lets me blog and facebook, while watching him.

And at least, there’s one of us in the house enjoying the lazy rainy morning. (Hubby is still snuggled in bed.)

Matthew is 3 years, 2 months, 3 weeks and 6 days old.

I’m on my 16 weeks and a few days. My belly has that small bulge already, but some of my pants still fit well so my belly is still relatively not too obvious.

We went to see the doctor yesterday on a routine appointment. He assured me that all the numbers are good, and that my belly not showing yet could probably stay this way until about 20-22 weeks.

So I went on with today. I’m feeling totally sluggish. It has been cold lately, my sinus is killing me and … Matthew decided to wake up so early this morning! I’m just being so lazy today,.. just sitting in front of the computer – clicking around, a few chatting with my sister, and sometimes, sitting at the couch flickering the remote for whatever shows that would interest me. I’m completely ignoring the laundry or Matthew’s toys all over the floor.

And all thoughtout the day, I had been feeling this little tapping from the inside. It’s very subtle sensation – little tappings .. like there’s a butterfly trapped inside between my pelvic bones. I was sure from the first time I felt this that it’s not hunger or gas… that it is the baby, because I felt it before when I was 5-months pregnant with Matthew. I had been looking forward to this, to feel this baby for the first time. It’s such a wonderful feeling! It a confirmation of the life growing inside me. And it just amazes me that this time around, I felt it a few weeks earlier. Each time I felt it, it brings smile to my face. Unfortunately, it doesn’t relieve my sinus problems.

When I was carrying Matthew, the first time I felt him move inside me it was a crappy day as well. I was still working then. I remember not feeling well. I rested my head on my desk then I felt that little tappings. Then I felt it again, then again, until I was sure it was Matthew. That was enough to lift my spirit then.

Of course, it won’t feel like little butterflies anymore as the baby gets bigger. The kicks won’t feel like tappings anymore. But even then, even if it goes with pain, I may complain, but I’m certain it’ll still feel absolutely wonderful.