By Nathan Duke
A Bayside couple said fortune smiled upon them earlier this month with the safe delivery of their first child, but they also believe that circumstances surrounding the boy's birth indicate he could be lucky in life.
Vincent, 41, and Wendy Paladino, 36, have been celebrating the birth of their son, Jake Vincent Paladino, since he entered the world Aug. 8. The couple, who live in Bayside, said the combination of the boy's birthdate and weight potentially foreshadow good luck.
Jake was born on the eighth day of the eighth month of the year at 8:14 a.m., weighing 8 pounds 8 ounces, said Vincent Paladino, who owns The Printing Place on Bell Boulevard.
“Everybody has been sending us e-mails,” Vincent Paladino said. “But other than him being born, we haven't seen anything else lucky so far. I haven't won the lottery yet.”
A large sign reading “It's a Boy!” is strung across the front window of Paladino's store.
The number eight is considered lucky in Chinese culture because it sounds like the Mandarin word for “prosper” or “wealth.” This year's Summer Olympic Games in Beijing opened Aug. 8 at 8 a.m.
“We were hoping he would be born at 8:08 a.m., but the doctor said he would not make it by then,” Vincent Paladino said.
Wendy Paladino said the staff at Long Island's North Shore University Hospital were also excited about the circumstances surrounding Jake's birth. She said the hospital staff told her that the day yielded the most requests for Caesarean sections because other couples wanted their child to be considered lucky.
“The nurse left the delivery room to weigh [Jake] and when she came back she said, 'You'll never guess what his weight is,' ” she said. “Everybody's been making a big deal out of this.”
Jake was originally due to be born Aug. 13, she said. Some cultures consider the number 13 unlucky.
But Wendy Paladino, who also has a 5-year-old, said she was just pleased her son is in good health.
“It remains to be seen how lucky he'll be,” she said Monday from The Printing Place, where the boy napped on her shoulder. “He's only 9 days old, so he's mostly just eating, sleeping and crying right now.”
Reach reporter Nathan Duke by e-mail at nduke@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 156.
