Bossy

When did this little guy get a mind of his own? And finally being able to communicate it? Oh boy.

 

Lately Jackson is requesting bedtime books be read over, and over, and over again. And if I try to read it when it's 'Dad's turn' I get a resounding 'no, no, no' which just makes us all bust out laughing.

He has also started communicating via computer. . .well at least AT his 'computer'. I don't know if any of you have this VTech computer but when you close it makes a noise and says, 'Goodbye'. . .Jackson responds accordingly with a 'bye' and blowing a kiss. I find it hysterical.

I loove having a toddler in the house. His giggles and pattering feet are some of my favorite sounds. He loves to play with his dogs and loves his dad even more. To the point of throwing a fit when he leaves for work and constantly asking about him and pointing to all the pictures of him in the house throughout the day. Though he's started to get tired of my kisses and cuddles (because, hey, he has things to do), he'll tolerate them every once in a while. I have a feeling in a few months when he has a younger sibling to compete with he'll come back around ;).

We are off to Paris, Bruges and Amsterdam later this week! Wish us luck, and good weather!

Willow Bean Creation

I've always wanted to make a quilt, and maintain that one day I WILL. However, until that day comes I know I can count on Madison at Willow Bean Creations to help me out with those special gifts. I ordered this 40x50" quilt for Jackson's birthday- isn't it PRECIOUS?

photo rights to Madison at willowbeancreations.blogspot.com

Madison is having a 'Lazy Sunday' giveaway here for one of her precious custom petal knot dress (wouldn't Baby Girl looks great in one?).

Head on over to get entered. You have until midnight tonight!

S*it.

Jackson has been picking up words like crazy. Crazy, crazy. Socks and Shoes (which sound an awful lot alike), Bubbles (buh-ba), Light (ite), Outside (side), Help (hep), Water (wa), Car, All Done (Ah-Duh). . .ok maybe not words, but sylables at least :).

His latest? 'Sit'. . .I mean it sounds like sit, and I say THAT all the time to the dogs, but that little voice in your head wonders. . . what if it's not. . .is there a silent 'H' in there somewhere?

Please, oh please, let it be sit.

Travelling with a toddler part II

Sorry, the last post was for my 365 picture blog. I knew I posted it but couldn’t find it over there, guess I hit the wrong button. Hope you enjoyed them.
***
We made our trip all the way back to Germany earlier this week and it was ROUGH. I had hoped this 9 hour flight would be better than the last because a) it was shorter and b) it would be night time. I figured my sweet boy would sleep SOME, right? He did sleep some, but the only way he would sleep was ON me, and when you are nearing 6 months pregnant that’s not a comfortable arrangement. Jackson slept a few hours, I slept a few hours less than him, but we made it safe and sound on the other side.

What I SHOULD have done? Brought his carseat. We had bought him a ticked seat on the plane anyway and I’m sure many of you are thinking, “WHAT, didn’t you do that in the first place?” But no, I didn’t. I dind’t think I could manage the mammoth Britax by myself. Carrying it along with the two carryons, stroller, toddler who can’t quite follow direction yet, and a layover, I just didn’t think I could do it. On the first flight (a little over an hour) it really didn’t matter. He happily watched a DVD and spent the rest of the time stealing snacks from the teenage girls seated behind us. But for the overnight flight I think he would have felt comfortable sleeping in a familiar place (other than on me!). It totally would have been worth the enormous hassle. Live and learn.

**I’m also not sure if the carseat would have helped on our flight a month ago from Germany to the US- maybe, but I doubt it. I would not have made him sit in it for the almost 10 hour flight, so that space was better used for playing, snacking, and resting after countless laps through the cabin.

Bedtime right now is 9pm (unheard of in this house) but due to daylight savings time it’s REALLY nice- I find myself productive much longer into the day and evening walks are a great way to wind down. Thankfully, wake up time is 9-10 too! SO happy to be home!

87-90

If you can't tell by these pictures we're still struggling with jet lag :)

87- Last day at the park.

88- Filler picture from week before. This was travel day and I don't think I got my camera out once! It was ROUGH.

89- We've been tired, but are happy to be home. . .even if you can't tell from this picture!

90- I had high hopes giving him a cracker would keep him awake on the 20 minute drive home from the commissary today. I was not so lucky.

Girl.

Ok, don't get TOO excited yet. There have been no ultrasound peeks, so my 'girl' guess is just that. A guess. A hunch. Mother's intuition.

With Jackson I instantly knew he was a boy. I remember the moment when we found out for sure at 16 weeks. The doctor froze an image of the 'bits and pieces' on the screen and my eyes welled up with tears. I looked over to my husbands confused face and smiled. He turned his head and asked the doctor, "So exactly what are we looking at here?" I met the doctors eyes and nodded that I understood what we were looking at, and he generously outlined for Andy, "Here is one leg, and the other, and another" (our German doctor is quite the comic). That moment will be forever engrained in my brain, the moment we found out about our little boy to be.

This time we won't have that moment, but I'm hoping we'll have something just as special. We look at the ultrasounds and ohh and ahh but the "What is it?" part is all guessing. I knew after Jackson I wanted our second to be a surprise. I'm anxiously awaiting that moment 3-4 months from now when we get to find out in the delivery room with 100% certainty what our baby is!

Why do I think I'm having a girl? Last time I knew I was having a boy instantly. This time it took me a while to come to a decision on what I think we are having- here is my 'evidence'.

1. Belly- I know the second baby shows faster, MUCH faster, but the SHAPE of my belly seems SO different this time. I've heard the whole basketball vs watermelon analogy and Jackson fell into ther first category while this pregnancy doesn't have that ball-ness the last one did. It much more resembles a (very) large watermelon.

Above, in order 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24 weeks :)

2. Weight gain- my mom always told me she gained earlier in her pregnancies with me and my sister. With Jackson I had only gained 5-7 lbs by 20 weeks with Jackson and REALLY packed it on at the end (I gained just shy of 30lbs total). This time that halfway number was nearly doubled. Now, this may have something to do with our trip back to the states and the prevalence and convenience of FOOD, but I think it has to do with my growing babe, and not the Burger King chocolate shakes which reside less than 2 minutes from our doorstep.

3. THIS. I can. not. stop. thinking (buying). P.I.N.K.

(Don't worry honey, I promise everything was on clearance.)

4. Movement. Somehow I almost forgot this one. . .That is, until I got not-so-gently wacked, er, prodded in the bladder just now. Jackson wasn’t a huge mover. I felt him move consistently but it seemed like I would have to wait for kicks with little breaks in between. This baby? No waiting. You want to see her move- just wait about a second. She is all over the place. I love it, but I wonder what it will feel like in a few months, yikes.

I don't want anyone to think I have my 'heart set' on a girl. I would be THRILLED to be a mommy to two little boys- there is no doubt in my mind that whatever this baby is it will be the PERFECT addition to our family.

20 week ultrasound.

**For the record both my husband and mother think I'm having a boy :)

You know you are pregnant when. . .

you call Burger King to find out if the shake machine is fixed yet. . .and are heartbroken to find out it is still broken and they will likely have to buy a new one...