Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa, Danielle and Rachel, Aunt Jessica, and to all the well wishers.

Blow the candle. When he woke up on his birthday, we greeted and hugged him "Happy Birthday". After which he looked around and asked "Where are my presents?"

Still Daddy's Boy!

The Birthday Cake. (I baked this 2-layers chocolate cake with too much frosting and lots of colorful candy and chocolate sprinkles. So proud of how this cake turned out!)

1. WAS YOUR PREGNANCY PLANNED?
2. • Yes – planned and 2-years of trying so hard! I was taking vitamins, eating and drinking whatever they said would increase the chance to conceive. I was also doing the ovulation kit for 6 months before I got pregnant. I was pregnancy-testing on a monthly basis when I was doing the ovulation kit. The results were always negative and I cried each time.
3. WERE YOU MARRIED AT THE TIME?
4. • Yep! More than 2 years married.
5. WHAT WERE YOUR REACTIONS WHEN YOU FOUND OUT ABOUT THE PREGNANCY?
6. • It was December 24, 2005, I was shocked then I cried a lot more – tears of joy!
7. WAS ABORTION AN OPTION FOR YOU?
8. • No.
9. HOW OLD WERE YOU?
10. • 27-years old.
11. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT?
12. • Home Pregnancy Test
13. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST?
14. • Hubby. He was waiting for the result. I didn’t actually tell him. He knew from my reaction. (refer to #3)
15. DID YOU WANT TO FIND OUT THE SEX?
16. • No, but hubby wanted to know. So I gave in. If he knew what the gender was going to be, I will know eventually.
17. WHAT WAS YOUR CHILD’S SEX?
18. • Boy
19. DID YOU WISH YOU HAD THE OPPOSITE SEX OF WHAT YOU WERE GETTING?
20. • Yes. We’ve always wanted a baby girl that before we found out that it was going to be a boy, we would stroll the baby aisles of the department store, and hubby would marvel at this pink baby shoes with feathers on it.
21. DUE DATE?
22. • I forgot.
23. DID YOU HAVE MORNING SICKNESS?
24. • No.
25. WHAT DID YOU CRAVE?
26. • Grapes, cinnamon buns, or anything I can eat. I had the greatest appetite. I ate until I couldn’t breathe, and ate some more.
27. WHAT IRRITATED YOU?
28. • I had an office mate whom I avoided during this pregnancy. I am so annoyed by her because she calls me ‘Buntis’ (Pregnant Woman in Filipino) and touches my belly EVERYTIME she sees me.
29. HOW MANY POUNDS DID YOU GAIN THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY?
30. • I forgot …
31. DID YOU HAVE A BABY SHOWER?
32. • Yes. I had 2 baby showers. I will always be grateful to my friends who gave me those baby showers…
33. WAS THE BABY SHOWER(S) A SURPRISE OR DID YOU KNOW?
34. • I knew.
35. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS DURING YOUR PREGNANCY?
36. • I had gestational diabetes. I had to see a Nutritionist to plan my meals and see Internal Medicine to manage my blood sugar. And of course the, OB … Three different doctors scolding lecturing me about my blood sugar.
37. WHERE DID YOU GIVE BIRTH?
38. • Yokota Airbase, JAPAN
39. HOW MANY HOURS WERE IN LABOR?
40. • I came in for a supposed check-up at 8 a.m. The baby was born at 10:15 p.m. same day. So, more than 12 hours ….
41. WHO DROVE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL?
42. • Hubby did.
43. WHO WATCHED YOU GIVE BIRTH?
44. • Hubby and my mother.
45. WAS IT NATURAL OR C-SECTION?
46. • All natural…
47. DID YOU TAKE MEDICINE TO EASE THE PAIN?
48. • I thought I could make it through without pain medication, until my water broke then when the nurse asked me if I wanted epidural, I was so dizzy, fussy due to so much pain. All I managed was a whispered response of “Yes, please.”.
49. HOW MUCH DID YOUR CHILD WEIGH?
50. • 7 pounds 9 ounces
51. WHEN WAS YOUR CHILD ACTUALLY BORN?
52. • August 14, 2006
53. WHAT DID YOU NAME HIM/HER?
54. • Matthew Alexander

I am a proud mom of a little man who turns 4-years old today. Happy Birthday, Buddy!

Related:

• A Baby Story, Part 1
• A Baby Story, Part 2
• Matthew Turns 3-years Old

Happy Father’s Day, Daddy!

-From Mommy, Matthew and Baby Mark

Day by day, I am bombarded with my new reality, that now – I am a mom of 2 boys! I can’t complain for my life is good. It’s just that … when I was young and dreaming of how my life could be, sure I dreamt of being married to a loving husband, but I just never really imagined to be a mom, much less a mom of 2 boys,.. that sometimes this reality is hard to believe.

With my boys, Matthew (3) and Baby Mark (almost 3 weeks), Photo taken 28 April 2010

Reality 1: Overwhelming Blues

It is hard enough to find nice clothes for boys, while the pink dresses are plentiful in wider aisles. But when you can actually find nice clothes for boys, why do they always have to be blue.

Reality 2: Boy Toys Overload

Car toys, robots, tractors, action figures, Hot wheels, … need I say more!

Reality 3: Boys are messy

Ever since Matthew was potty trained, I’ve taught him over and over to lift up the toilet seat when he goes. When he forgets, and I forget that he just recently used the bathroom when I use the bathroom, guess what I will be sitting on. Grrr! I know… I have to check each time… or I better get me my own bathroom!

And while diaper changing Baby Mark, I have to remind myself to cover him up. Little boys have the ability to spray it all over. I have to catch the wetness a lot of times just so not to get it all over… me.

I look forward to all the fun we are going to have. I look forward to confirming that raising boys in the long run is easier than raising girls … a lot more fun and less drama.

I love my boys!