We’ve done pretty well since then keeping him away from nuts.  We had a pine nut accident a couple months ago that resulted in a pretty minor rash but nothing scary.

Then it happened.  A couple of weeks ago I got that call that no mom wants to get at work. My nanny called me and told me that Adam had been riding home with a friend who had shared his peanuts.  He chowed down about 6 before the mom driving realized, he had already puked and was complaining his tongue was itchy.  I tore out of work.  I called Adam’s pediatrician who recommended giving him Benadryl and taking him to ER to make sure his breathing was ok.  This was the first time Adam had eaten peanuts so I had no idea what reaction he would have, so to the ER we went.  He luckily was ok and had some rashes and swelling but he was ok.  Oh and he slept all afternoon, Benadryl, it really does work.

There were some side effects over the next couple of days.  The Benadryl/Allergy Meds he had to take for three days after made him so sleepy and Adam sleepy is not fun!  But we were lucky his reaction wasn’t more severe. Here we are post nap when someone was still sleepy.

A week later I got another call that made my heart stop.  Adam had eaten peanuts again.  The same boy had them in his lunchbox and took a ride home again in Adam’s carpool and shared with Adam again (and yes, I have since banned peanuts from anyone Adam carpools with and also told Adam I will buy him a huge icecream if he says no the next time nuts are offered). They say allergic reactions get worse everytime so I was just as anxious as last time. We went the Benadryl route again and then headed to our doctor.

So peanuts won again. Then all these articles started coming out this past week about how you should give your child nuts early on and they won’t develop allergies. I got nervous that I shouldn’t have waited a year with Adam and also nervous that Malcolm (who still hasn’t had nuts) is also going to be allergic. A mother’s guilt, does it ever end?

Then a friend at work who had witnessed both of my crazy running out the door panics after Peanut incidents 2015 sent me this article and it made me feel so much better.  So for all those moms out there who constantly read labels and are always rushing to the food table before your kid to scout for nuts and have to deny your child some yummy looking treat because it just may contain nuts, this ones for you.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sara-lind/what-i-want-other-parents-to-know-about-living-with-food-allergies_b_6743880.html?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000037

1) Doctors here text! This shouldn’t actually be a surprise since ALL business is conducted by text. The Philippines sends more text messages daily than the rest of the world combined-about 40 million
messages a day! I love this. Any time of the day I can text any doctor directly and they respond very quickly. Maybe this has happened in the US since I’ve been gone, but when I was in DC two years ago I had to go through a slow laborious process to leave a message for the doctor and wait for his call back. When I was pregnant with Malcolm I would text my OB ALL the time and more recently with Malcolm’s pinky injury I was texting with his doctor almost every night with a photo update. It is SO reassuring. I am completely spoiled.

2) The doctors we’ve had here have been excellent! When we first moved here I didn’t know how lucky we would be.  We have an excellent pediatrician who I love (and who texts me back all the time), an excellent OB and the hospital where we had Malcolm was amzing.

I don’t think there are many USAID posts where I could have a baby at 31 weeks and have had the medical care that i did (not to mention at a fraction of the cost compared to the US – our insurance lucked out with that one). I also was able to stay in the hospital the entire 21 days that Malcolm was in the NICU. This would never have happened in the U.S. I would have had to go home after 4 days and I would never have been able to nurse him as successfully as I did. My OB and the NICU doctor talked and agreed it was the best if I stayed in the hospital the entire time to work on nursing and getting his weight up so he could come home.  It was so much easier to go through his time at the NICO close to him the entire time and getting to see him around the clock.  The NICU nurses were also amazing at helping me nurse him. The NICU doctor was so pro nursing she would even ask me to share my milk with other premature babies whose moms weren’t producing as much.  From his first day they let me take this little peanut out of the incubator and nurse him and I think that made all the difference! Usually babies that early have a hard time nursing, but not this guy. He was a champ from day one. 

3)  I can go to a Pilates class out behind the Embassy on the Manila Bay with the birds chirping.  The class is led by my friend and three of my good friends here often come with me.  It’s such a nice break during work.  It’s always funny to think that we’re doing pilates at the U.S. Embassy 🙂  

5) This is our view outside of our bedroom window. We get to wake up to this beautiful view every single day. Ok we wake up to this on some days, most days it’s still dark out when the boys decide it’s time to get up, but this is the view we get when the sun rises. Interesting side note, the sun sets and rises in Manila at 6 am and 6 pm all year round (give or take a half hour here or there). Being so close to the equator means no late summer nights likein New York where the sun is still out at 8:30 pm but it also means no winter nights like in London where it gets dark at 3 pm!

Here is our view from the living room and Adam’s new favorite spot.

6) We’re able to have two people helping us at all times. Not only do we have two people helping us which is amazing and makes our lives a million times easier, but we also lucked out and have a wonderful nanny! Maria love the boys so much and puts in a hundred percent and then some each and every single day. I love that she knows so many interesting things that she learned growing up on a farm to teach Adam and Malcolm that we don’t know, like how to make a ball out of a palm leaf. She gets as excited as I do when the boys get new toys or clothes or learn a new trick or word. The boys love her and we are all lucky she is in our lives.

With Randy and I both working having help is a life saver and it means we get to eat a healthy home cooked dinner together every night with the boys and spend the weekends doing fun stuff instead of cleaning and doing laundry. And yes I think about how lucky we are every single day.

7) We hands down live in the best part of Manila. Just two blocks from our house is a great outside shopping area with water fountains, lifesize bells, windchimes and a fruit market at the end. Most stores/malls don’t open until 10 am so it’s nice to have someplace to walk with the boys in the early mornings. Added bonus with the stores closed in the area it’s pretty empty.  It is a safe, quiet not crowded part of Manila with great shops and restaurants.

8) Restaurants in Manila are great. You definitely have to know where to go but the longer we’re here the more places we find that are great. I complain alot about the bad ones but there really are a ton of good ones! Plus they’re all kid friendly and the servers always want to chat with Adam and Malcolm.

They are also really fun to go to without kids 🙂  Added bonus of having a live in nanny, we can go out with our friends or on dates so much more than we could in the US.  

9) I lucked out and I really like my job here. I know this won’t always be the case at all our posts so I’m very appreciative. I work in the press office of the Public Affairs Section and really love it. It’s so varied and interesting and on any given day I never know if I’m going to be videotaped eating an apple..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8-7Vqr97FM&feature=youtu.be

or be the APEC spokesperson- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptWt3xxg-cw

*Note to self- maybe style your hair every day as if you may in fact be on Youtube…
*2nd note to self- when reading off the teleprompter try to look up at the camera…

10) The weather. Yes, there is a rainy season and a typhoon season but year round here is not one day out of that year where I ever need a sweater, or a scarf, or a jacket or a hat or boots. I could wear flip flops every since day (except maybe not to work). I could wear shorts every day of the year (except maybe not to work). In fact the only time I have to wear real shoes or a sweater is at work when the air conditioning is on high. Added bonus in the summer here there are the most amazing sunsets I have ever seen!

PS- We can’t believe it’s already been two years that we’ve been here! Just yesterday we talked about how Adam was Malcolm’s age when we moved here! Incredible how fast time passes.  Here are some throwbacks to Adam right before we moved here and right after. 

We got there early and walked outside to see the Manila Bay then it was inside at 11:45 on the dot to make sure we maximized the three hours of eating and drinking!  

Highlights-

The cheese room! So many yummy imported cheeses and even more jams, honeys and dips to go with the cheeses.  I may have gone back to this room three times.

Leg of lamb, picture says it all.

So many choices! There was something for everyone, dumplings, sushi, korean bbq, roast beef, homemade pastas.  And just when you thought you couldn’t take another bite, dessert.  This is where I missed the boys. Adam would have loved this! Three chocolate fountains, one white, one light and one dark chocolate, 20 flavors of gelato, candies, chocolates anything the heart desires.  I did bring Adam home a chocolate teddy bear lollipop.

Day one: Randy and I picked Uncle Nooj up from the airport and we headed home.  Adam was so excited to see him. He showed Uncle Nooj every room in the house, even the bathrooms.  Uncle Nooj was a good sport and took the full tour.  Then it was present time.

Aunt Das and Uncle Nooj are always way too generous (as are all our family members).  For Malcolm they got him a walker.  For a little boy who is just beginning to take steps and likes it, this is the perfect present.  He’s usually a good shared (a result of having toys constantly ‘borrowed’ from him by his big brother) but when he took this down to the playground he refused to let anyone else have a turn.   This makes me laugh as I love seeing Malcolm become more of a little boy who knows what he wants!

For Adam it was an awesome firehouse that he (and Malcolm) love. He spent all weekend with Uncle Nooj the firemen under the fire truck and Adam the fireman driving the truck.  We encourage all creative play in the Ali house!

Then it was bath and bedtime for the boys and the adults headed out.  We went to a yummy dinner at a new place- Stockton Place.

Followed by drinks at a speakeasy around the corner called Blind Pig. Both were a big success. I always get nervous when Aunt Das and Uncle Nooj come to town. Living in NY these two are surrounded by the best food is everywhere.  Randy and I talk and plan where to take these two for weeks leading up to their visit and we’re always happy when they leave impressed with Manila. While Manila has more than her fair share of terrible restaurants there are some hidden gems.

The next morning pool was the only item on the agenda.  When I say Adam stayed GLUED to Uncle Nooj, I wasn’t kidding.

After the pool all the under 4 crowd and lady headed for a nap while the boys went for some golf/ After golf, naps and showers it was time for dinner.  Being Valentines Day there were limited restaurant options so we went for an early dinner to our new favorite, Hungry Hound (let me just take a moment to apologize to those couples on romantic Valentines dates who got to sit next to us).

Looking back at my photos from the night it’s clear who the star of dinner was.  Everyone wanted to sit next to, on top of, under, anywhere near Uncle Nooj.

To celebrate my turning ‘SO OLD’  here are ten things I never in a million years thought I would be saying at 35 back when I thought 35 was old, old, old.

1) I’m married to Randy Ali, who, in High School, I used to talk to for hours on the phone while listening to  Z100 at age 13.  Who in band class in 8th grade I used to get so excited when he would try to tickle my knee.  Who during high school I would love when he dropped of all our other friends off first and dropped me off last and would change the radio station from rap to easy listening which he  knew I liked.

2) We have two beautiful boys who call me mommy and mama! It still blows my mind that these two amazing little people will grow up with me as their mom.

3) We live in the Philippines…I think that says it all.

4) I work for the State Department.  This I would never have imagined.  Even more so that I work in the Press office, which is ironic since before starting I don’t think I read a newspaper ever…

5) We own a car.  Our car is actually the first car I’ve ever owned! Of course driving that car around Manila is not always where I want to be.

6) I  have a full fridge every single day (this is extremely amazing considering when we lived in London there were Saturday mornings we woke up and had nothing by ketchup and water in our fridge).

7) We have two people working for us full time, a live in nanny and a full time housekeeper!  This still blows my mind. I remember how excited I was to have a cleaning lady come every two weeks when we moved to London.  I really am not sure how I will ever live without all the help I have now. It is pretty amazing to not have to clean or cook when I get home from work and get to spend the time with the boys instead.

8) I love my birthday but I love my boys birthdays and seeing them have fun at their parties and open their presents means more to me than my own birthday.

9) I have traveled to so many countries and seen so many beautiful things that I never in a million years thought I would get to,  Paris, Safari in South Africa, Bali, Australia,Seychelles, Vietnam and so many more!

10)  We have a beautiful apartment full of stuff.  We have stuff for days! I remember when Randy and I first moved in together we had a couple Ikea pieces of furniture and my bed from college.  Our first Christmas we didn’t have any ornaments. I bought a box of wooden ornaments and that was all we had on our tree.

For my 35th birthday I woke up and Adam came running into my room.  He asked me if we were going to have cake after breakfast. I said of course not.  He tore out and I heard him run to Randy and say “Daddy, mommy said no cake”.  I knew something was up.

I walked out and Randy had gotten treats from Wildflour.  We had a yummy breakfast and then all Adam’s dreams came true.  We had cake for breakfast! Randy and I had dinner planned our for my birthday so it was the only time we had for a cake.  I loved it.

Then it was off to work for Randy and me and to school for Adam. My work friends had two cakes for me and all my friends and family called and wrote with birthday wishes.

Before I knew it I was home and the boys and Randy gave me flowers, cards and a beautiful necklace!

I’ve been wearing it every day since. I’m sure all my work colleagues are sick of looking at it. Randy remembered a certain brand I mentioned and months later picked out a beautiful necklace.  I really am lucky to have such a thoughtful husband.  After presents and cards, Randy and I headed out for a yummy steak dinner with red wine.

Happy Birthday to Me 🙂

But let’s start with the G part.  Randy was in Bangkok (yes…again) for training.  We were in the home stretch, last day of his week away.  He was heading to the airport to fly home in just a couple hours. After a whole week, we could make it one more day right?  What could possible go wrong…

That morning we had some blueberries that I had gotten from the market.  Blueberries (and all berries) are pretty rare in the Philippines but sometimes a local Sunday morning market has them available, so we decided to do something special with them and make blueberry muffins.
But first we had to roar like a tiger,   our new favorite activity.

Then it was down to business.

Adam pointed out all the muffins and earmarked one for Aunt Das, one for Uncle Nooj, one for Ama Lertch, one for Ama Yuyu and one for Roman and one for Isla.  It was the cutest thing ever.

These look like they would have turned out super yummy….but our day unfortunately took another turn and they were left in the (turned off and hot) oven to dry out.  

We were playing in Malcolm’s room and the boys chased each other out of the room to Adam’s room. I went over and asked them to come back  to Malcolm’s room where I could watch them (oh the irony).  Adam came right back in and Malcolm followed but hung out by the door….we all know where this is going… Adam ran over and quickly slammed the door in Malcolm’s face. This is the first time he’s ever slammed a door and of course of all the times he chooses to start slamming doors its the time that poor little Malcolm’s pinkie was in the door.

Adam didn’t mean to hurt Malcolm of course and thankfully he’s fine but it was a bit of a scary day, there was some blood (hello PG-13 rating) and I am going to spare you all pictures of his finger because it was NOT pretty.  The top of his little pinky was taken clean off.

We went to the ER (more like I tore out of the house barely stopping to turn off the oven and put pants on Adam) but thankfully the doctor told us his finger wasn’t as bad as I thought at first.  He didn’t need stitches and he was such a trooper.  Full disclosure, it was the very tip of his pinky that was taken off  and it would have been hard to sew anyway.  His right pinky will be just a teeny tiny bit shorter than the left BUT we are so grateful it wasn’t worse.  The doctor was comfortable letting it just heal with a band aid.

Malcolm didn’t even cry that much and he fell asleep on me shortly after we got to the hospital.  He really was so good about it.  Even when I’ve changed his band aid over the past two weeks he’s hardy cried.  It makes me a little nervous it’s a sign he’ll want to play football or lacrosse and not care when he gets hurt, while his poor mom is shaking on the sidelines.  Malcolm, tennis and golf are both great sports you know!

Adam was upset but thankfully he didn’t feel too guilty about it.  When Randy got home (remember he was in Bangkok for all this….thankfully Maria, our nanny, was with us so I wasn’t alone) that night we talked about what had happened and when Randy asked Adam if he thought Malcolm was going to be ok he answered “I don’t think so”.   Randy asked him why and he answered “Because he has a band-aid”.  We explained that he had a band-aid to make his finger better and he would soon be all better.

Even with a booboo this little guy didn’t let it stop him from smiling.  We just had our second checkup on Monday and his finger is already almost healed!  Some action band aid pics for you all.

Adam went right over to the yoga station and we settled in with some yoga.

Then it was on to the next station, soccer.

Then it was time for some good old fashioned sack racing and more!

And the big winner, sponge it.  After running around the field it was nice to relax and watch Adam carry water from the bucket to the bottle with a sponge.

I loved that she told us that when others are using the pink tower blocks he will correct them if they are doing it incorrectly.  When his friends are doing the matching cards above, where you match animals to the cards he will jump in and try to help.  When the teachers asks that Adam let his friend try on his own he will tap the right card to try to give them a clue.  I love this, he definitely gets this from me 🙂

For this one Teacher Lari told us how even though Adam was just looking at a book and Victoria (Upper left) was playing a fun matching game Adam never got distracted and finished his book and went and put it away.

When he was Egyptian for UN day, Teacher Lari said his scarf kept falling off his head so he went to the mirror and carefully put it on his head and eventually got it to stay precariously on his ears. His friend called his name and he turned his head quickly and his scarf fell off.  He was upset but instead of yelling about it he went over to his Teacher and asked for help.

I loved hearing all about Adam’s days at school and the little stories that let me see how he is around his friends and with his teachers.  Teacher Lari said he is a sweet, funny, smart little boy that is always smiling! Every day I drop him off and I wish I could stay and spend the whole day with him and play and watch him all day but I know he’s in good hands and that he is really appreciating this time to grow and become a wonderful little boy. 

I had big plans for a family photo but we only made it this far.

We made too much food as always. It was fun to make breakfast foods instead of the usual dinner fare.  Adam helped me make some yummy banana chocolate chip muffins and I made a french toast dish and deviled eggs.  We had a Greek salad, string bean salad, fruit, yummy bagels and smoked salmon.

Adam and I helped Malcolm blow out his candle and I made a wish for him.

I gave Malcolm his own piece to eat and I think he couldn’t believe his luck.

After exploring the cake a bit, he dug right in!