Boky Photos (Part 3)

As promised, here are a few photos which I have just uploaded. The first two shots were taken when Boky was just 24 weeks old as a fetus. (Sorry for the delay in posting this.) The first one shows Boky's growth chart, which amazed the doctor and nurse because of the almost perfect growth pattern.

The next two photos were taken last Tuesday, October 19 (almost two months later), when Mommy D went to the University of Tsukuba Hospital for her bimonthly checkup. As you can see, Boky's facial features already appear very distinguisable. Like most would-be parents, we are also wondering whose features the baby will most likely inherit. Nonetheless, what is more important is that Boky will enter the world in the pink of health.

It is definitely a boy!

The University of Tsukuba Hospital is widely known to have doctors who speak only in Japanese, but today, on Mommy D's second visit, she was assigned to a young lady doctor who also speaks English.

Upon seeing the ultrasound images, she could hardly believe how active Boky is inside the womb. Boky's level of activity was out of the ordinary, she said. She actually even had difficulty obtaining Boky's photo because he would never keep still. (A number of photos will be uploaded this weekend.)

From the ultrasound data, the doctor confirmed that Boky is DEFINITELY, and without a doubt, a boy. Looking back, I wonder why the previous doctor was hesitant about confirming the finding when the facts were almost jumping off the screen. For us, gender is not an issue anyway; we welcome God's gift, whether boy or girl.

I am worried though if this very high level of activity in the womb will translate into a hyperactive child. That remains to be seen, but at this point, we are just glad that the fetus is very, very healthy and growing at a pace as perfectly described in medical textbooks.

The doctor also examined Mommy D's "insides" and concluded that, at this point, there is absolutely no problem as far as the delivery is concerned. Everything is at the right place and there are no signs of possible complications.

If all's well at this point, there is probably one reason for this. There is someone praying hard for Mommy D's health and for a successful delivery. She's no one else but the original: Mommy C, my mother.

Boky is (most probably) a boy!

If ultrasound pictures don't lie and if that small thing protruding between Boky's thighs is a penis, then Boky is most probably a boy.

Tuesday afternoon was when Mommy D had her first checkup at the University of Tsukuba Hospital, where her new fiftyish obstetrician showed her ultrasound images of Boky rumbling and tumbling inside her. (Rumbling and tumbling, as usual. What do you expect? Boky checking email? Anyway...).

The doctor also pointed out to her what is most probably a penis (a potential 10-incher, hehe...) The doctor however would not guarantee with 100% certainty that it is a boy since there was a time when a parent blamed the hospital for an erroneous prediction. In other words, he just showed the facts and provided his opinion and it is up to the parents to conclude. In this case, the fact is simple: Boky has THE thing, and unless, by some zany quirk of fate, females have started growing penises, then Boky, in say, 20 years, will be God's gift to women. (Yeah, right...)

About two years ago, in one of my trips back home to the Philippines, out of simple curiosity, I had my fortune read by one of these fortune tellers that line Quiapo Church in Manila. Among others, the fortune teller said that my future wife would be someone with long hair, I would have a child on a December, and the baby will be a boy. Sounds spooky, but Mommy D has very long hair, Boky will come out in two months, and from the recent ultrasound data, the child will be a boy.

The spook also predicted that I will become filthy rich (hehehe...but that's another story).

Guitar music

It's one of those lazy, rainy Sunday afternoons here again in Tsukuba and Mommy D is fast asleep. It's definitely a respite that she needs, what with Boky becoming active not only in the evenings but sometimes at around 9 am or thereabouts. Boky is also probably asleep at the moment since I don't see Mommy D squirming while holding her tummy. Did I say she's sleeping?

Anyway, since returning to Tsukuba, I have become active again at the Tsukuba Catholic Church where I used to be a choir guitarist for around 3 years while I was still a graduate student. Yesterday afternoon, in preparation for today's mass, I practiced a few songs, and as part of our infant stimulation program, I played the guitar in front of the sofa where Mommy D was resting.

And boy, did Boky "jump" after hearing the first note. Maybe I startled the fetus. Or maybe he/she was just enjoying the music, since his/her movements continued for a few minutes more. I had probably finished two songs before Mommy D told me that Boky had already quieted down. I continued playing for an hour or so and Boky would occasionally nudge and budge inside as if saying, "Will you please cut the crap and leave me in peace?"

No problem, Boky, but I'm warning you, you'll be hearing much of that "crap" when you come out. Hehehe...