I Would Like the MANGO Flavor, Please

Here we are at Week 19, almost at the midway point of our pregnancy.  Baby's brain is starting to develop the specific areas for hearing, smell, vision, touch, and taste.  It's fitting that Baby Campos is now the size of a mango, not only because it's sweet and delicious, but also because it's known as "The Fruit of the Gods" in the Philippines.  If you're ever in a restaurant where there's mango flavored items on the menu, look around for any Pinoys and 5 out 5 times they'll be ordering it.

So what will it be like for our little mango to grow up Filipino?  There will of course be Grandparents that spoil and Aunties and Uncles entertaining with countless hours of the "Close-Open" game.  Adobo and pancit will be offered to all future playmates and classmates, a giant fork and spoon next to the Last Supper picture will seem comforting, and eating twelve grapes while jumping on New Year's Day will be second nature.  Even with all the hearty dishes and crazy superstitions that make the Filipino culture special, it will definitely be much easier to identify with another race.  Like Mommy and Daddy quickly found out, there were a lot more "Viva la Raza" and Confederate flags plastered on El Caminos and Dually Trucks than the good ol' Yellow Stars and Sun of the Philippines...well except that one brown Dodge Caravan.  But whatever culture or lifestyle Baby Campos decides to relate with, there will always be a strong connection to family values, Team Pacquiao, and the option to choose between a belt or a slipper. 

For the weekly college football prediction, Baby Swami takes into account the weather that has recently affected the East and Gulf coasts.  If you want to tackle Hurricanes head on, you'll need some pretty big Nuts.  Unfortunately, sweater vests don't work as well as life jackets: Miami 17, Ohio State 10 (Season record 0-1).