Martes ng gabi nang isilang ni Regine Velasquez si Nathaniel James, ayon sa utol at manager niyang si Cacai Velasquez.
Eksaktong 7:47 ng gabi nang isilang ang bata, pagdedetalye naman ng asawang si Ogie Alcasid. “He’s 4.4 pounds.”
“He’s a light baby because he wasn’t due to come out yet.”
Sa Nobyembre 22 pa inaasahan ng mag-asawa na lalabas ang bata.
“However, our doctor, Lilibeth Genuino, decided to do a CS (cesarean section) on Tuesday night because Regine’s amniotic fluid was low and sugar was high due to gestational diabetes,” paliwanag ni Ogie.
Sa siyam na buwang pagbubuntis ni Regine, 41, kailangan niyang paglabanan ang nasabing sakit.
Ilang linggo bago ang delivery, sinabi ni Ogie na maayos ang kalagayan ng kanyang mag-ina at nakokontrol nito nang maayos ang timbang dahil sa balanced diet. “She heeded the doctor’s advice. She had no complaints.”
Inilarawan naman niya na isang “blessing” ang kanilang baby. “We’re very thankful.”
Dagdag pa ni Ogie: “The baby is now really doing well. He’s now latching on to mom for breast-feeding… so he can gain weight.”
Bumaha naman ng messages sa Facebook account ni Ogie mula sa mga kaibigan at kasama sa showbiz.
Ang kanyang sagot sa mga nagpadala ng mga good wishes: “Thank you everyone! Mommy and Baby are fine! Praise God!”
WALANG NURSERY
Sa naunang interview, sinabi ni Ogie na hindi sila nagpagawa ng nursery para kay Nathaniel James.
“He will sleep in our room in the meantime. But eventually we will convert the guest room into his bedroom.”
Iniulat din niya na ilang baby showers na ibinigay ng kanilang mga kaibigan para kay Regine. “We’re almost complete with baby stuff.”
Mayroong dalawang anak si Ogie, sina Leila at Sarah, mula sa kanyang dating asawang si Michelle van Eimeren. Pero si Nathaniel James ang kanyang unang anak na lalaki. Ito ang unang anak ni Regine.
Sinabi ni Ogie na alam na ng kanyang mga anak na may bago na silang kapatid.
“I’m very open to my daughters about what happens to us here,” aniya. “I update them every week. We talk on Skype. We chat on Facebook. My daughters are excited about having a baby brother.”
HANDA NANG MAGING INA
Sa nauna ring interview, sinabi ni Regine na matagal na siyang handa na maging ina dahil sa dami ng mga inalagaan niyang pamangkin.
Idinagdag ni Ogie na “being a father to a baby boy is exciting.”
“Children are on loan from us from God,” hirit pa niya. “They are our responsibility. I take parenting seriously. I plan to take a few days off from work to help my wife.”
Plano niyang maging isang hands-on father, at tutulong kay Regine sa pagpapalit ng diaper at pagpapadede sa anak.
“I have no problem changing diapers,” aniya. “But they say it’s easier to change the diapers of baby boys compared to girls.”
Umamin siya na malaki ang kaibahan ng maging ama sa isang anak na lalaki kesa sa kanyang dalawang daughters.
“I will be able to share with my son the things I experienced growing up… playing street games under the sun and coming home with dirty and tattered school uniform,” aniya.
Sinabi naman ni Megastar Sharon Cuneta, kaibigan ng mag-asawa: “I’m so happy for them. Baby Nathaniel James is one of the most loved babies on the planet. So many people prayed for this blessing for them—myself included. Ogie and Regine are going to make great parents.”
“I won’t wish anymore that their baby will grow up into a fine singer because I’m sure he’ll be… because of his parents,” ayon naman sa singer na si Rachelle Ann Go, katrabaho ng mag-asawa sa GMA 7 variety show na “Party Pilipinas.”
“Ate Reg and Kuya Ogie are special to me. I wish to see baby Nathaniel James soon,” sabi ng singer na si Erik Santos.
Sinegundahan naman ito ng singer-actress na si Karylle: “The Alcasids are among the sweetest people you’ll meet in the business. I’m glad their family is finally complete… apart from their first baby, Shih Tzu George.”—Inquirer