It's a Boy

You read right. The technician was 95% that it's a boy. It was right after giving birth to Joshua when I said that I would have all boys! I have no complaints. Although I did have visions of decorating a violet nursery or using a cherry blossom theme, then later in life doing her hair and dressing her up if it was a girl. I feel excited that there will be one more boy in the house, though. I did do some pouting at first and my wonderful husband came home from work with a card, a Lindt chocolate bar and a very cute Carters baby one piece that said "smile".

By that last line I'm sure it's easy to tell that I am already spoiled by my 2 boys. There's something about my son picking me a dandelion and saying, "Here mommy, this is for you because you're so pretty." That will never get old. I find dried ones in my jacket pockets all the time. Plus, nothing beat the cute little baby boy outfits.

I'm also thankful above everything that the little booger is healthy. (I type 'booger' with the greatest affection) In fact, the technician had a little trouble getting good pictures and had to take some extra time because he was so active during the ultrasound. Usually in the morning and evening is when I feel tiny kicks and tumbles. Mike can't feel them yet but he's still talking to him. Unfortunately, we didn't get any body or feet pics but we got a good profile pic and also got to watch him stick his fingers in his mouth.

Last night, after finding out the gender, our favorite babysitter came to watch Joshua and we went to Yokohama Sky Tower with plans to have dinner at El Torito. Unfortunately (started out unfortunate but turned into a fortunate) for us, the whole restaurant was reserved for a big party so we ended up going next door to Antonio's. It ended up to be a blessing in disguise. The Italian restaurant had some delicious food. We had garlic bread and handmade sausage to start and Pesto and vegetable tomato pasta for our entrees. I had fresh squeezed blood orange juice and Mike had an Italian Beer. It was expensive but the view and super fresh ingredients were worth it. We also ran into one of our good friends, Miyako. She used to work with Mike and we've gone out several times for ladies night. We've lost touch recently mostly because I've been a little flaky but after seeing her it really sparked my fire again to stay in touch. The odds of seeing her at Antonio's was pretty low too. Out of all the people we could have seen! What a great surprise.

Now we are down to the important business of names and nursery! We are thinking either Samuel Charles of Charles Samuel for a boy. I'm Jewish and Mike is Catholic, so we like to compromise and pick names from the old testament. One of the girl names that we were thinking of was Delilah but after remembering the biblical story about Delilah I didn't necessarily want to use that one. We decided on Hannah Marie for a girl. It's easy to say and not too flowery. I liked Hannah Rebekah but Mike thought that it was too much old spelling. (FYI Hannah is actually a biblical name from the book of Samuel... she was the mother of Samuel.)

As far as the nursery goes, I may have picked out some bedding from Etsy but I'm not quite sure. I was going to take a look at some local fabric stores and see if there is anything I liked better that I can maybe make myself. My good friend Lindi, who just happens to be the Kanto Plain craft queen, has offered to take me to a fabric store in Yokohama. I think that I have mentioned Etsy before but I absolutely love some of the things they sell. The site is basically a way for people to sell the things that they make. Almost like a giant online craft festival but much trendier. My good friend Dayna recommended it to me a while back after I saw her bag and thought it was fabulous. I'd also like to get a chair and dresser to start off in the nursery as well. We've got some time, but at the same time, things like furniture are pretty limited here. We've either got the furniture store on base or Ikea; everything else is just really pricey and not very comfy. I'd like the chair to be comfy for those all nighters. However, I do have one of the world's most evil couches downstairs for that very purpose. Adam and Tom can attest to it's powers. As soon as we plop ourselves down on it, it sucks us in.

As far as gear goes I'm pretty much set. As most first time moms will admit, we had to have all the "new" stuff. No matter what anyone told us, we had to have brand new. However, I've hopefully become a little wiser. Many of the gadgets like swings, highchairs, bouncy chairs, and exersaucers are expensive, take up a lot of space and usually need to be stored or gotten rid of by the end of the first year or year and a half of the babies life. Getting them second hand if possible is the best bet. A stroller is a little bit different. Invest in a GOOD stroller that you absolutely LOVE. Compromising on price for your second choice, usually doesn't work out in the end. A stroller is usually used for at least 4 years or maybe longer if you have another one. It's one of the products you'll use the longest. If you cheap out, one year down the road you may realize it's a POS and buy another one. Usually at the end of 4 years you may have gone through 3 strollers and ended up paying more than if you just would have bought the one you LOVED in the first place. For me, I need a durable compact stroller. I already bought my car seat secondhand. I'm planning on purchasing a frame for it in the beginning. They are inexpensive and the first few months it will probably prove the most practical. I've got a nice Maclaren that I bought second hand for Joshua when he was about 3 and is still in great condition so I'll probably use that one once I feel like my arm is going to fall off from lugging around the infant carrier. However, there's still question as to whether I should go strait to the Maclaren because the baby may need a little more back support. We shall see. I'll stop my ranting now about strollers. Most of this stuff I will most likely by when I go back home anyway. Outlet stores here I come!!

I'm sure that many folks may roll their eyes at my endless materialistic rants about shopping however, just about every American woman living here has fantasies about walking through Target and Wal-Mart. I've heard stories of woman who did their 3 year tour with out visiting the States and then upon moving home stood in front of an aisle in Target and cried because there were just too many choices. Many equate the shopping experience here as in living in Communist Russia. Don't worry, it's not that bad sometimes we over exaggerate. However, coming from a California grocer that has 3 quarters of one of their aisles dedicated to olives and then going to two choice at the commissary (green and black) can be discouraging. But, if one is diligent one can find other VERY fresh gourmet options off base.

Now that I'm all out of thoughts I'll end here. Let me know what you think of the names and nursery choices!

Itchin' for Food

My growing size seems to be the growing theme here on this blog. I can't tell you how nice my friends have been saying things like, "Oh you look so cute" and "I forgot you were pregnant. You haven't shown much at all!" They are the greatest friends a gal can have and I like to pretend that they are telling the truth. It helps me feel happy when I go to the CPO buffet lunch on base. My girlfriend introduced me yesterday to the CPO (Chief Petty Officer) club. For lunch they've got a $6.50 buffet that rivals anything else on base or elsewhere for the price. Fresh baked rolls, roast (sliced to your preference), cod in cream sauce, corn, carrot soup, rice,mashed potatoes and more. The menu changes everyday and it's packed with people almost every lunchtime. One of the girlfriends that took me is married to the head chef there. In the past he's worked for the Hilton (or Hyatt) in the Pacific. Being preggo, I had to go for the meat. I had 2 plates.....Hey, I'm eating for two! I did only have an apple and water for dinner because I was still full from lunch.

I'm pretty much in food mode these days. It doesn't help that before I was pregnant I had a little obsession with food. Since I'll be going back to Sacramento in a little more than a month from now, I'm trying to keep up with the current events there. For anyone from California they know about all of the fresh produce that can be picked up at Farmers Markets during the Summer. I absolutely LOVE summer cherries. Unfortunately the commissary doesn't sell them and out in town it's about $3.00 for about a cup of them. These are the days when I dream of the big bins of cherries that I could get from Costco or the heaping pile of cherries that I would see in a California produce department. I hope I can get them when I'm back there. In Sacramento there are Farmers Markets just about everyday of the week. I grew up in the state that as of 2006, had a GDP larger than all but eight countries in the world. The leading contributor of course was agriculture. (Fruits & Veggies)I was always spoiled growing up knowing that I could get just about any food fresh. My parents just remodeled their kitchen and I can't wait to go shopping at the markets and utilize all of their equipment. Of course in my 3rd trimester, I may not be feeling up to it but we'll have to see. FYI, here's the link I found for Sacramento's Local Markets: http://www.sacbee.com/995/story/894027.html


I've had to start rubbing lotion on my belly because it's starting to itch. However, I'm not too uncomfortable. I do take up much of the bed space in our little full size bed and in the morning I find Mike curled up in his corner clinging on to any blankets he can gather as I toss and turn through the night.

So as of now, wish me happy eating and happy itchin'

A Resource

I always forget about this site and then I get reminded after Joshua finishes watching Curious George. Parenting Boys can have it's own special challenges. Things have changed in the past 20-30 years for young boys. Especially in school:

• Boys are 30 percent more likely than girls to flunk or drop out of school;

• When it comes to grades and homework, girls outperform boys in elementary, secondary, high school, college, and even graduate school;

• Boys are four to five times more likely than girls to be diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD);
  

• Women outnumber men in higher education with 56 percent of bachelor's degrees and 55 percent of graduate degrees going to women.

According to the U.S. Department of Education:

• Boys make up two-thirds of the students in special education and are five times more likely to be classified as hyperactive.

These stats were taken from the PBS Parents website. It's a helpful resource for anyone raising boys in todays society. It's also a great resource for children in general. They don't just have advice but also fun and games for the kids and coloring sheets.

We've always been fans of PBS for kids. We also enjoy some of their other programs for us. Their is a recent mini series they've done called Carrier. I think that it really puts into light the fact that our soldiers and sailors are not killing machines but Sons, Daughters, Mothers, Fathers, Sisters, Brothers, Husbands, and Wives of America (sometimes not even citizens yet) who have made the an ultimate life sacrifice for the United States. Check out the links if you have a moment!

Classes

For Prenatal and Postnatal Mommies located on and around Yokosuka Navy Base, there are so many resources. For anyone PCSing and expecting a baby, fear not! Support systems are abound! I have never had any trouble with the Navy Hospital here. The quality care - I could not say enough good things about. Unfortunately, I think sometimes that military hospitals in general get a bad rap. But I can honestly say that I've never had to wait very long during my appointments. Additionally, the doctors take their time, listen to me, and answer any questions that I may have or point me in the right direction. Also, it's hard to be a bad doctor here, when in this small community we are bound to run into each other! I have also heard some good things about pregnancy clinics off base. Unfortunately, I don't have much information but I do know that once here, it's easy to find out. I'm also currently on the search for a prenatal massage and I think I've found a location. Now, just for the trick of actually, physically finding the location and then translating enough to ask for an appointment! I'm eager to explore that though.

At the gym, they have a fantastic prenatal yoga class. A good friend of mine actually instructs it. She's a mom herself (3 girls) and very knowledgeable in Yoga. She's also constantly trying out new and fun things. She sometimes works to get all of the ladies in her class together for lunches or small baby showers. Not only is it very healthy, but it's a good way to meet other expectant mothers.

Although sometimes expensive (but sometimes not), the Japanese have come up with some very nifty little baby gadgets. Something they just came out with in the States but can be picked up at any Daiso are little Velcro hooks for a stroller. Perfect for hanging shopping bags, purses, or diaper bags. In the Land of Extensive Walking, extra stroller space is always a plus. Walk into any Toys R Us or department store and you're likely to find a slew of baby slings and carriers. The strollers and car seats tend to be pretty pricey but worth checking out if you've got the time.

Many folks thinking about a visit to Japan but are wary of taking their babes... Fear Not! Child safety & quality standards are equal if not higher than in the USA. Anything you could ever need for your tiny tot is here. The Japanese are EXTREMELY child friendly (Save for the stereotypical Japanese salaryman, who are notorious for being rude and inconsiderate to both women and children). I think that's definitely a concern for friends or relatives who want to visit here but are concerned about not being able to find certain things that they can find in the States. Like the United States, Japan is one of the biggest consumer societies. Most likely anything can be found here for a baby. Promise.

Post-baby on base has a whole lot of classes as well. Yokosuka Navy Base is the land of pregnant women and new babies. Newcomers will not have a hard time finding a fellow mother to hang with. There are also breastfeeding groups, lactation consultants, & midwives. Along with emotional support, there is also a mommy and baby yoga class, and a stroller exercise class offered at the gym. If exercising with baby isn't your thing, there is a child watch program at the gym as well. Don't trust your precious babe with "just anyone"? You can also exercise on equipment while you watch your baby play. Classes run about $3.50 per class. For more info check out the CFAY webpage.

If you're a civilian (military spouses included) and need to work full time, try to get reserved ASAP (as in months before) at the Main CDC (Child Development Center). Spots are limited and waiting lists can be long. Another on base option is CDH (Child Development Homes).

When I found out about all of these classes, I was really looking forward to pregnancy and baby as I'll have a TON more support than I did the first time around.

As of now, I'm feeling huge. I'm starting to get those looks at the gym (the, "is she fat, pregnant or what?"). One of Mike's buddies said I should walk in there and start working out while eating a Ding Dong and say while onlookers are staring, "I'm maintaining!" I thought it was pretty hilarious myself.

Sleeping is becoming uncomfortable again and I'm busy thinking about whether it's a girl or boy. I had a dream that it was a boy. My girlfriends did a test where you hold a necklace over my belly and which ever way it goes determines the sex. Back and forth is boy, circular is a girl... I got back and forth. I also asked a friend's 6 year old daughter, who apparently has predicted 3 sexes of babies with a 100% accuracy. She said it's a boy. Of course, these are scientifically proven methods (Insert sarcastic voice here). This pregnancy has been pretty easy so far. I think the exercise is helping. I didn't exercise at all with Joshua. I feel a lot stronger in general and even though I'm tired a lot, I feel better than I did with the first pregnancy. However, I'm much more self-conscious about my size. I look bigger than a typical Japanese woman would look in her 9th month and that can be discouraging. Of course they do give birth to much smaller babies but for some reason that isn't a comfort to me while walking around town and seeing small little petite pregnant women waddling around. I'll have to put a picture up when I'm feeling particularly HUGE.

Traveling while Pregnant

While Mike's friends are in town, we are using the computer room for their stay. However, after they depart, we are going to transform this room into Joshua's room and Joshua's room into the Nursery. Hopefully all of this can be done before July when I board a plane with 4 year old in tow to Sacramento where I will have the baby. Early babies run in my family. Joshua was early and needed NICU facilities. Because the Navel hospital does not have them here, the baby would most likely be sent to the hospital in Tokyo. There are several people I know of who have had to do this and in general it is a stressful and overwhelming situation.

If we were military, I would be sent to the Okinawa Navel Hospital. However, I've been able to choose home instead. The majority of the Summer will be spent in Sacramento. I've got Joshua enrolled in Summer programs while we are there and I'll be busy getting ready for baby. This is the best way that I can be sure that the baby will have adequate care and I will not need to explore my way through a whole other on slot of culture mazes during an emotionally and physically trying time. If I had babies on their due date or, after my due date I may have thought about have a baby at a clinic. However, I'm still come from the belief that epidural s are a good thing. I don't know how I'd fair with natural style. YIKES

I'm really hoping that Mike will be there for the big day but there is a good chance he won't be which makes it so much better that I will have family and friends around. At least I hope so!

Baby Bunting

A friend of mine turned me on to some European bunting products. Particularly from Jacadi I'm really looking for a sewing pattern for a Baby Carry Nest so I can make something similar to what they are selling (since they don't sell it on their USA site). I've always been the type to go for name brands but second hand and discounted prices. I don't usually buy things at full price especially for a baby if I can stand it. I still hold true to wanting the best but not paying for it. Ebay and Craiglist are my friends! I also like making things that look similar to something I would get at a boutique. Joshua's crib bedding was surfer themed. For what I could have bought at a boutique for $500 I purchased everything for about $80 at a fabric store and spent about 2-3 days making it myself. Bedding is similar to sewing curtains.....pretty easy. Mike and I also bought Joshua's furniture at an unfinished wood store and painted it ourselves along with buying drawer knobs with a personality.

Making a Baby Carry Nest looks fairly easy to make by itself but I think I would do better with a pattern of some sorts to go by. I'm totally in nursery mode right now. The only piece of gear that I saved from Joshua was the crib that I got from my grandparents. They were moving and had a lovely Ragazzi crib in their nursery that they gave to me. It's a white sleigh style crib that really is gorgeous. I couldn't very well give that up. So, it's sitting in our storage unit waiting to be assembled again.

Anyways, I'm busy going to second hand stores and surfing the net to find the best bargains around.

5 months

So, maybe I should have started this a little earlier but I don't think the reality of a baby actually started surfacing until recently. I am pregnant. With my second child. I crumbled under the pressure of everyone having second babies and went with it. What was I thinking? One child is so easy. Mother nature finally kicked in. Convenient memory and reproductive hormones took over.

Now, reality memory is coming back. I'm remembering all the late nights, up all night, nursing woes, and all of the newborn stuff. I didn't have an easy first 6 months with Joshua. Looking back, he was an easy baby. He wasn't a crier. More like a grunter. I suppose it was more me than him. I was the first out of all my friends to have a child. I was also pretty young which made me feel a little bit like an outsider. I didn't necessarily have the same interests as many of the other new moms in Mission Hills, San Diego. Nor, did I have the same sized pocket book. Finances were tight and in a world where many mommies were pushing around Peg Perrego strollers, driving around with Britix Carseats, and enjoying Mexican Nannies, I was washing out ziploc bags, clipping coupons, making my own baby food before it was sheik, and living in a two bedroom apartment. I tried my best to make things look good. Buying his clothes second hand on ebay and his shoes at Ross and Marshall's. We were broke but, 'my kid was not going to look it for sure!' At least that was my attitude. Mike was always so supportive but many times it was my own self expectations that got in the way of his good intentions. Instead of being appreciative and excepting of his help, I often pushed it away. I thought that I could do it all. Which happens to be a running theme on my side of the family.

I'd like to think in the almost 5 years since then that I've learned a little. I'm not a bad mother if I don't get to the dishes in the evening or make the bed in the morning. It's actually a good thing to except the help of my husband. It's not all about me. That my pushing him away was actually like saying to him 'Your not capable of handling this baby thing' which is so not the case. The fact that I'm chopped liver in his (Joshua's) eyes and Daddy is the sun and moon proves how valuable Mike is. Excepting and asking for help is OK.

Nursing doesn't always come easily. Throughout human history that's been proven. The use of cows milk, and wet nurses wasn't just because mommy had better things to do but because it might have depended on the survival of a baby. I'd say the whole nursing thing is one of the first over the top and unnecessary stresses currently in the world of newborns. Lactation consultants do and can actually help and, their worth the money if you get a good one. I remember not asking for help in this department because again the expectation of being the perfect mom and the embarrassment of admitting failure (especially in this department) to anyone was frightening. I don't know if I'll succeed this time around but I have more tools for success and, (I'll have to go back and read this 100 times post baby) If I can't breastfeed, I will move on.....I am not a bad mother for this and I am not poisoning my child with formula. I will tell the lactation Nazis to kiss my.....well, you catch my drift. Nursing is important to me but I will not let it consume me.

In the beginning of this entry, I joked about crumbling under the pressure and mother natures maniacal ways but really, it came down to a lot of things. A girlfriend of mine placed it in the most perfect scenario. She said, "If you went to the doctor tomorrow and he said you couldn't have any more children, would you be sad?" My answer was yes. Despite the few stop offs at the ER with Joshua.....we've done a pretty darn good job with him. He's good to his friends and good to his parents and he's VERY happy. He makes us laugh with the goofy things that he says on a day to day basis and has been such a blessing in our lives. A sibling will complete our family in so many more ways then I'm sure I can imagine now.

I'm starting to really look forward to this. We are just in a better situation now the second time around then we were for the first. I'm checking out all of the baby sites and I know now what kind of crap I don't need. I'm also shamelessly begging for all kinds of baby gear and maternity wear.

So, the verdict is still out....boy or girl? I find out May 30th but, what do you think?