First appointment tomorrow

I have my first prenatal check up tomorrow. We plan to bring Gerard with us so he can meet Dr. Rittenhouse now. We are going to see the same doctor for this pregnancy, as my experience with him was enjoyable. I'm curious what we'll find out then. I have a few questions for Doc: what can I do about my sinus problem? What meds can I take for my allergies? What do I tell my dentist for my appointment on Saturday? I do expect him to comment on my diabetes -- this was something they already warned me about when I was pregnant with Gerard. I just have to be on the look out from then on. Well, I have been a bit careless about this. Although I minimalize my rice intake, for the sake of my post-partum dieting. When I say careless, I have been eating a lot of ice cream, candy, and other sugared foods. How can I help it? I love ice cream :) It's hard for me to lean over, and I've been careful about Gerard kicking me in the stomach in bed. Now that he's walking, I have to be extra flexible to catch any of his falls, but I'm challenged with having a growing fetus in my belly! As for new baby itself, I haven't quite experienced the same excitement as my first pregnancy but I'm sure this will change. I'm still on baby high from Gerard, he's my #1 focus right now but I know that new baby will need the same attention. And it will get it, I promise!

Toddling along

Gerard's been more confident with walking today. He's been taking steps here and there, but drunkenly. Today, he was more courageous about it. I'll give him all the time he needs to master it. In the meantime, he needs indoor shoes for my parents' hardwood flooring. His socks are too slippery! He's been such a joy to be around, and I hope he helps me around when his new sibling comes later this year :) We're planning to buy a house this year to make room for the growing brood. Gerard certainly needs his own stomping room. He gets irritated with the small space we have for him. I don't blame him! 

Hello #2

I haven't had my first prenatal checkup yet, but according to two home tests, I'm carrying baby #2. Due date is approximately in early December, which would make both of my kids 1 and a half years apart. Not too bad. So far, only a few handful people know. I plan to call my obgyn this week to set up an appointment. I figure I'd like to have the "baby years" behind me by the time I'm in my mid-30s so I can get my sleep back. Let's get this over with... I'll roll with the zombie nights for another couple of years. It's been very fun, though, this mommyhood thing. It's still hard for me to believe I'm even here doing this, as I never imagined myself with kids at all. Though I love kids, it just never occurred to me that I should have my own. To keep this first blog entry significant, here is a record of my very first symptoms: 1) missed period, 2) cramping, 3) eating a lot, 4) bladder is full in the early morning, 4) nausea. I can say that this has already taken a different road from my first pregnancy when I was indigested and couldn't eat at all the first few weeks. These days, I'm always very hungry -- except today. For some reason, I just had no appetite. I also didn't feel too nauseous in the first pregnancy. Now I've been feeling some really bad ones. I do hope this time we have a girl. :) But it's ok if he's a boy too. :) 

First earthyear

It was heartily discussed at home that Gerard's REAL first birthday was the day he was born, so it's more appropriate to call his birth anniversaries "earth year," marking how long he's been on earth. So on that note, Gerard's first earth year was marked on a wonderful day at a great beach/picnic ground. It was raining in San Francisco for the most part of the week, and I'm glad the sun stayed out all day on Easter Sunday. It was a bit breezy, but nonetheless, the perfect day. Friends and family rolled out from all corners of the bay area. I set up an egg hunt for the kids, which was a big hit. It bothered me, though, that adults who were walking through and saw eggs on the ground started opening the shells and taking the candy out, and then leaving the opened shells back where they were. I know it's a public place, but damn, it's Easter, there are kids and that was for them! But anyway... the food was good, company was great, and Gerard had no idea it was all for him. He didn't cry at all! I think it was just another day for him. For Egan and myself, it was a milestone. We survived the first earthyear of our son's existence! 

It's been a year of ups and downs

Exactly this day one year ago, I had my regular check up at the perinatal lab, and that was when I was sent to the hospital to be induced. Tomorrow, Gerard turns 1! We survived the first year!! I still remember the entire ordeal as if it was just a few weeks ago. I'm so amazed with these first 12 months of development. There shall be 12 more months, and another 12, and so on. Gerard is the sweetest kid in the world. He's very clingy to his parents, but that's alright with me! =) These past few weeks, he developed his "security thing." It's his burp cloth. Any burp cloth he has within hand's reach. He tucks it under his chin just to suck his fingers. And he doesn't like it when I try to take it away. If there's no burp cloth around, he pulls up the collar of his shirt, and uses that to suck his fingers. It's so very cute!!! Well today is going to be a busy day. While Gerard's at grandma's, I'll be buying his party items for his picnic on Sunday! Until next time. 

Developments!

Gerard is now just a bit older than 10 months, and this little guy has come a long way! He's just about learning how to walk on his own. He still prefers to crawl at every chance, but he's gotten the concept of taking steps forward. Gerard is very active. He requires our full attention or he gets ends up in some sort of crazy situation. For example, we can't leave him in the living room alone anymore. He'll climb over things, pull on things, crawl through any openings that block him from going to other parts of our apartment, etc. He very much prefers we bring him everywhere we go, whether it be in the kitchen to wash a hand (holding him in one arm only lets me wash one of my hands at a time!) He's not as talkative, but he can say a few words here and there: car (or "kahhh," I introduce other words that sound like it -- cold, comb, etc), mama, dada, immi (his word for milk), neh (which we think is his pick up of our "no"). He now has 4 teeth! The top two are coming out so fast. HIs appetite slows down during the teeth growth, but he actually wants to eat a lot of the things he sees us eat. Buffets are fun because I offer him things he can eat on his own :) His first birthday is coming up. It feels so soon! He is so fun to play with these days. He loves pillow fights, he loves wrestling with balloons, he loves to destroy his blocks, he tosses and turns in bed (thus, keeps mommy and papa awake longer!) and he loves computers!! We finally sent his picture to Dr Rittenhouse's office. They've asked for this shortly after birth but laziness and business got in the way. He left a message confirming he's got it and had nice things to say :) It was a picture from when Gerard was 6 months old - he still looks the same except now with teeth. And that's that! The little guy just fell asleep so now I can do some work in the kitchen. 

It's been a rainy Sunday, but luckily, it stopped for a bit last night during our Valentine's dinner. We walked over to a neighborhood restaurant (Pacific Grill) hoping we wouldn't get wet, and we didn't. Dinner was great, Gerard enjoyed his sweet potato fries and his milk. He is now 10 months old! Growing so fast!! He's now learning how to walk and say some words (baba, mama, dada, up up, no, car) and driving us crazy. Everything he's not allowed to touch he touches! Kids will be kids at home, but thankfully, he's well-behaved in public :) 

We're all doing great, chugging along in 2009 so far. I'm gearing up for my first show with Sputterdoll since our last one in 2007! It's a bit funky to practice at home because Gerard here likes to strum my bass for me, and his little fingers get in the way of my own strumming. Makes me want to just drop my bass and kiss him till he leaves me alone! LOLsl

-Rio