On the way home from the Little Gym, I dropped by a store to pick up something really quick. But when Matthew and I got into the store, he quickly started a tantrum when I wouldn't give him something he wanted. He's tired from the Little Gym and in all honesty, I shouldn't have tried to make this errand - as short as it was. So I quickly grabbed what I needed and headed to the cashier. I didn't have a pacifier with me, which I think would have quited him down, but he had to learn that he couldn't have it all the time one day and today was the day.

So he cried and cried loudly all the way to the cashier.  Unfortunately the lines were long. Oh boy. I heard a call on the PA system for cashiers to come up front and so I though, yay, we can get out of here sooner. But no luck. All the people that were in front of me ran to the new cashier. I guess they were trying to run away from the screaming toddler. Couldn't have one of them offered me the head of the line so that I can just head out the door with the screaming toddler with me? Where is the christmas spirit?!?!

Finally, it was our turn to pay. The screaming got even worse when I had to take what he was holding from him in order to pay. Yikes! But the old man behind me decided he was going to talk to Matthew, and thank goodness he did. Matthew usually responds to having a lot of people around, but since he was so into his own misery, he hadn't noticed the people around him. Finally he heard the man, and stopped crying. Phew!!! Then a couple of more people started talking to him and asking him why he was crying. Why couldn't have they talked to him earlier?!

It was a stressful short errand. There were some little toys and candies at the cashier but I resisted the urge to grab one and give it to him. I wasn't about to reward him for a bad behavior, no matter how I desperately needed for him to quiet down.

I bet that some of the people in the store stared at me and wonder why I wasn't doing anything to stop my son from screaming and hurting their ears. I didn't look at anyone in the eye since I was too busy and too frustrated at Matthew, but I could feel a few stares (actually I saw one with my peripheral vision).

I know about teaching my son personal space and teaching him not to scream in public places. But just because I've been teaching him this, doesn't mean he would actually stop when I ask him to. He is only 20 months old. My efforts of teaching him will pay off, but not just yet, as he is too young. In the meantime, please be patient with other people with crying toddlers! Be understanding, especially this holiday season. I was at a craft store, and the majority of the people waiting in line were middle aged, not teens who wouldn't know what it's like like to have a child. This coming days, the stores will be crowded and some of them will have crying babies. For some reason or other, they can't just leave their children to someone in order to shop in peace....so please, pass on a little holiday spirits and give a look of understanding, sympathy and empathy, instead of a look of disdain and impatience.

This morning, Matthew and I had to wake up early to take the mini van to the dealership for a warranty work. Actually, it was just looked at so I have to bring it back when parts are in. But since the place is near the mall, we dropped by so that Matthew could go play in the playarea. We stayed there for a short while and then headed home. I figure I better get him home before 11:30 when he starts to get sleepy. I gave him some crackers to much on and so he was quiet. Once he asked for more crackers so I gave him more. But it was quiet after that. I was fighting sleepiness as well. But when we were getting near our house, I looked back and Matthew was asleep. I was hoping we'd make it home for him to eat lunch and then nap in his usual nap time at 1pm. Oh well. He didn't even wake up when I got him out of the car. One and half hour later, he is still conked out on the livingroom couch, while I'm still awake. No nap for me today. Too bad... I'm really sleepy!

I am still symptom free, but I feel some symptoms trying to emerge. For example, yesterday after eating some of the food we took with us from the in-laws the 2nd time, I find myself nearly gagging. The thought of eating the same thing again was making me want to run to the bathroom - but I didn't. I'm hoping that this is the worst that it'll get since I hate vomiting. I didn't get morning sickness with Matthew - but I did have to fight of nausea when I start to feel hungry.

The other symptom that is trying to pop up is fatigue. In the middle of the day I feel just fine one minute and feel very sleepy the next. I lie down with Matthew during his nap and after half an hour I feel fine again. I do hope this doesn't get worse. I would hate to feel fatigued and not be able to keep up with Matthew... who knows what trouble he'll get himself into with a half-asleep mommy.

The Thankgiving holiday was fun. I always like that Matthew gets to see his grandparents. But their house was a bit of a mess though, since they were in the middle of renovating their livingroom. But we survived, which is the most important thing.

Matthew's 2 of his 3 cousins played with him the entire time, which gave us a bit of a break and able to visit.

Now that we're home, the hubby has resumed the painting project. He painted the hallway, but the paint we got came out disgusting. It's the color of puke, pardon the imagery. I was telling my husband that we should give it time to grow on us, but even I had to give in by the end of the day. So we got new paint and have covered it up.  It's not done yet, but it should be by this coming weekend. I can't wait to put up the Christmas tree. I can't put it up in the livingroom because Matthew only knows what he will do with it. So it's better in the hallways since I have a babygate separating the rooms.

Thanksgiving is this Thursday. We are driving down south (4 hrs) to my hubby's parents to spend the holidays, as we have been doing this past few years. We will drive down tomorrow around lunch time. It may have to be after Matthew's nap. Yikes, I know. We will have a wide awake toddler in our hands. But there's no going around it since the hubby will have to work a half day.

I will be missing you all, Minti friends! 

I just made some oatmeal cookies today, since I've been craving something sweet. I gave Matthew one and was a little afraid that he get so crazy about it that I would have to deal with a tantrum when I stop giving it to him. But thankfully, none of that happened. Though he absolutely loved it, he took his sweet time eating it. And didn't really ask for some more. Perhaps it was because I didn't let him see me where I got it?

I tried to not make it too sweet, as it called for 1 cup of packed brown sugar. Instead of packing it in, I just measured it loosely.

I think I will go ahead and pat myself on the back for doing such a good job on not introducing Matthew to a lot of sweet stuff early on. *PAT* *PAT* I know he may still develop a sweet tooth later on, but 20 months of not having one is a pretty good feat. I must count my blessing.

Matthew and I drove his daddy to the hospital at 6:30am this morning. He is having a minor surgery for his umbilical hernia. We noticed a small "lump" right by his bellybotton the other night and got worried. It's not actually a lump, it just feels different. Thankfully our family doctor is an excellent one and schedule him to see a surgeon right away. The doctor said it's better to correct it now while it's small, so he's getting the procedue done now as I type. I would have waited in the hospital, but Matthew was getting super cranky. So we will go back to pick him up in a couple of hours.

I am worried about my hubby's health. He has got a belly and that's not a good sign, as it can lead to problems as he gets older. Both his parents have diabetes, and so I'm worried about that too. And then the other day, I heard on the news that migraine sufferers are 40% more likely than those who don't suffer migraine to have heart problems later in the life.

He has been losing weight lately (while, I seem to be gaining! ), which is excellent. He also has stopped drinking Pepsi (or at least limit it to 1-2 cans a day). But he is not getting excersice. We used to be in Karate before we moved here to our current house 2 years ago, but now he has nothing. He doesn't eat healthy, since he doesn't eat any vegetables, except corn, potatoes and fried okra. Everytime I cook something, I have to cook something separate for him.

What to do, what to do. I guess I can push him to join some other martial arts again for one. He was golfing over the summer, but it has stopped now that it's cold.

I'm not any healthier, but I worry about him more. I guess this is a mom thing. Moms worry about everyone else first and themselves last.

I tell you, before Matthew, I would have never guessed that a 20 month old could memorize movies.

Matthew's 2 favorite movies so far are Finding Nemo and Cars. On Nemo, he has memorized certain parts and anticipate them. For example, he screams when Nemo gets captured by the diver. He also says "mine, mine, mine" on the part of the movie where the Pelicans fight over Marlon and Dori, even before the birds start saying "mine."

With the Cars movie, there is a part that always startles him. There is a part with McQueen (the main character) tries to tractor-tip. The scene goes quiet while he sneaks up to a tractor and then he revs up his engine very loud. This always make Matthew jump. But today, he runs toward me right before this scene.

The hubby and I were watching TV last night where the people started eating chinese food. I had a sudden craving for one! I was craving chicken fried rice with bean sprouts in a box eaten by chopsticks. The hubby said there wasn't any place that would be open. I knew there were a couple of stores still open, but I wasn't about to send him off. But oh man, I couldn't put it out of my mind!! I kept picturing a chopstick full of fried rice with dangling bean sprouts. Mmmm yummmy.

Fifteen minute later I could still picture it in my head. The hubby just rollled his eyes at me.

Matthew has 16 teeth so far. I brush his teeth at least 2x a day, but sometimes this is not good enough. Sometimes his teeth are yellow! When they turn yellow, I try and brush his teeth 3x a day but it's not doing to well. I then switched to an electric toothbrush. I have an older one that I am no longer using, so I gave it to him. He didn't mind it so his teeth is getting cleaned better. But still.. there are a few teeth that are just not getting cleaned.

So I've decided to make an appointment for the pediatric dentist. My dentist doesn't see children younger than 3 and the others I've called do not allow parents to go back with the children. Hmm?

So on Nov. 28, Matthew will have his first dentist visit. I was told that cleaning and x ray will be done, though I don't know if this would be possible. Matthew could either surprise me and be cooperative, or the visit will be a complete bust.  But I at least want to hear the dentist say he'll be just fine and I'm doing a good job and come back in 6 months. I don't want him to get cavities!!

The weather warmed up a few days ago so Matthew and his daddy blew some bubbles out side on the deck. Matthew hasn't mastered the art of blowing bubbles though. He knows how to blow, but the bubble thing is a little tricky for him.

Some people mentioned telemarketers on my last blog post about middle names, so I thought I'd share a story I have. I'm sure you have some too, so share away.

A year or two after 9/11, I got a call for solicitation for some organization. The U.S. job industry took a beating after 9/11 and everyone were pretty much in danger of loosing their jobs, no matter what industry they were on. My husband's work industry was suffering like all others and laid off people left and right. Though we were confident he wouldn't get laid off, the stress and the uncertainty of the future is taking it's toll on us. At the time, I was also having a hard time competing for jobs that I found meaningful. I was competing against well qualified people and had no chance. Anyway, this is the background.

So the person on the phone went on about helping a great cause. I told him I don't have money, so he countered with the fact that I can help for as little as $10. I got a little irked and said, I am not interested and I don't have $10 to spare. Of course like a pro, he went on and on no matter what I said. Finally, I told him that I can't get a job, and my husband is in danger of loosing his job and if anyone needed help, it was me. I told him that maybe he should call other people and solicit money for me! He didn't know quite what to say on that one and finally hung up.

I have a few more funny ones but I can't quite remember any at the moment. Will have to get back to you when I do.

In the Philippines, where I was born, if someone asked you what your middle name was, you would tell that person your mother's maiden name.  When a woman gets married, she assumes her husband's name, and her maiden name becomes her middle name. Her children also assumes her maiden name as their own middle name.

For example:  When John Alexander Smith marries Mary Jane Jones, her official name would be Mary Jane J. (as in Jones) Smith.   Her children will be Jonathan Alex J. Smith.  The middle name becomes just the initial when writing the full name.

So in high school, I was perplexed when I asked someone what her middle name was and she said she didn't have any. Huh?

Anyway, I think the confusion is that I should have used the word "surname" instead. Since the word "middle name" apparently refers to the person's name. As in Jon Alexander Smith's middle name would be Alexander.

Here's another confusion: I was born with 2 names (Maria Isabel), and when I got my driver's license here in the U.S., it listed my name as my first name spelled fully, and my second name as an initial, and then my last name (Maria I. "Surname"). Since then, my name has been listed this way so when I go to the doctor's office they call out "Maria". Since I've never used that name, I always end up ignoring the call until I realize they're actually calling me a minute later. How embarassing!

So to solve this problem, I dropped my first name after I got married.

Anyway, I just thought I should share this. Maybe I'm not the only one who went through this.

My son understands what it is to count, but he can only say two so far.  A few weeks ago, I was calling him out of bed after he woke up so that I could change his diaper and go ahead and go down for breakfast. But he refused to get out of bed. I told him that I would count to 3 and that he better be off the bed by the time I was done counting. I counted, "One.... ". Matthew responded by saying, "two, two, two".  It got me laughing so hard, I forgot about my ultimatum.

A couple of months ago, the hubby and I decided it was time to try for a second bundle of work, I mean, joy. I stopped the pill and waited to have a period on my own (doctor's order). And then this month, I went back to my old friend, FAM. Thought it would take me a while to "hit" the jackpot, but it seems my body is a bit more "expressive" than it ever was, or least I know my body more now.

I know the date of my ovulation and so I waited for a week (to account for egg implantation) to use a pregnancy test. Technically, I could have just kept going with the charting and confirm pregnancy when my temperature doesn't dip back down. But I'm too impatient, plus, I have 1 pregnancy test handy at home... so I used it today. There was a second line on it. It was very faint, but it was there. The hubby and I are excited and happy. But more than likely, I will buy another test sometime this week just to make sure that my mind was not playing tricks on me.

Anyway, we will not tell friends and family just yet. But wait, why do you ask am I telling you all, my Minti friends? Well, I need support. For what? For the big M word. I hear about a lot of women who miscarry and truthfully, I am worried. I am going to blog about my experience in hopes that my fears can be allayed. If not, at least I can sort through my thoughts this way because I'm sure there will be a lot of irrational ones in there.

I am sharing the good news to you all, in hopes that there will not be bad news later. But if there is, at least I will get support here.

To quote, MomtoBeKim, Life is good!

Matthew was Zorro for Halloween, though he was unmasked and he had his sidekick, aka Daddy, hold his sword. After trick or treating, he played with the candy. He wasn't aware that they are edible, so there was no tantrum that night.

There is a lot to be thankful for and to break it down in one day is just not possible. But, I do want to share something...

I am thankful for the worse things in my life, because without them, I wouldn't be who I am.

Because my mother left me to my grandmother and a very big extended family when I was 3 years old, I was able to enjoy a very very very big family with a lot of cousins, aunts, uncles, grammas and grampas.

Had it not for the circumstances that lead to a depression many many years ago, I wouldn't have met my wonderful husband.

Had it not for my grandmother's cancer (that lead to her death), my mother would have not connected back to family she left many many years ago.

Had it not for almost being molested, I wouldn't have known what a strong person I really am.