Babe in Boyland

Shopping, what a snore.

2009-07-06T13:46:00.007-05:00

We had a busy morning around here: an early run, a visit to the allergist, and then grocery shopping. Moses usually naps mid-afternoon these days so I wasn't worried about encroaching on his schedule but boy was I wrong.

And, while we're checking out he takes the opportunity to get more, er, comfortable.

Our own little Mater

2009-07-04T16:55:00.003-05:00

For the past three weeks, I've been telling this story to anyone who will listen so I figured I'd finally put it down for posterity.

The other day, Moses and I were playing with a battery-operated car in the driveway when it fell off the driveway into the grass. I heard Moses say something under his breath and then he bolted into the house. He reemerged, with his tow truck, and proceeded to tow his car onto the driveway! It. was. the. cutest. thing.

By the way, Moses calls tow trucks "car ups."

He digs it

2009-05-21T13:50:00.001-05:00

Literal vs. Figurative

2009-05-21T13:09:00.004-05:00

Moses loves to run. If he so much as hears the word, he gets in a tizzy about the prospect of running, and racing (or "waycing") is a common mode of bodily transportation around our house.

When we went to the park on a school day a couple weeks ago, Moses saw the kids from the nearby elementary running the mile around the park. That was all the motivation he needed. He said, "I run," and then took off from the playground to join their ranks. Milo and I followed close behind in the stroller. Moses ran his little legs off for 5 minutes and then stopped and walked with me and Milo. When another group of kids passed us a couple minutes later, he started running again--pumping his sweet little toddler arms. This time, he had some fans in the running elementary kids, and they cheered him on. He stopped a few minutes later after the kids out ran him and we walked back to the playground. That's how much he loves running.

I just need to remember that when I choose my verbs.

I had to go to the store for a few items yesterday morning so I told Moses that he had to get dressed. He grunted to let me know he wasn't going to make it easy so I said, "We just have to run to the store and we will come right back home." He was suddenly excited and didn't fight getting dressed. We went out to the car, but he said "run," took off towards the sidewalk, got in his runner's stance and said, "race." Oops. It was then I saw my error. I had to correct the misunderstanding and tell him that we weren't really running to the store but driving. He was not happy. I will have to choose my verbs more carefully from now on and consider the literal versus figurative ramifications.

And he's off!

2009-05-20T13:48:00.005-05:00

At 9 months, 1 week, 5 days old, Milo is walking! He's been taking single steps for the last week, but in the past 24 hours, he's strung those steps together--his current record is 7. All he does now is a seemingly endless cycle of up, walk, then down. We can't believe our littlest boy is already walking. It seems like just yesterday that brother was taking his first steps, too.

This development gives me hope that we'll soon see the end of the pick-up-every-single-thing-on-the-ground-that's-a potential-choking-hazard-and-put-it-in-my-mouth stage. Seriously. I've never seen anything like it. Moses could've cared less for anything inedible, but Milo--Milo's a sucker for any small rock or dirt clod or pecan. It's made any time spent outside a chore!

Up, up, up!

2009-04-30T15:54:00.005-05:00

For two weeks now, Milo's been standing solo, solo I say! Not only that, but he can now stand on his own, no props needed. He just pushes his little tush up in the air and voila!, he stands. He gets so tickled by his standing--he just flaps his arms and claps and giggles. Such a cutie.

We always thought Moses' mobility came early, but brother's milestones are coming even sooner. A little sibling rivalry perhaps? I think he just wants to pal around with his brother more.

We don't have too great a video of him standing, but you can kind of see his skills here, from last weekend:

(Did you hear Moses say "Mi -Lo?" He's been practicing his Ls lately and accentuates them nonstop. Mi-Lo. Ye-LLow. He-LLo.)

A little pomp and circumstance

2009-04-09T21:13:00.003-05:00

Well, it's official! In May I'll be graduating with my MA in Technical Communication. Woot! I received word today that my portfolio passed the committee and I'm officially graduating! I've been so anxious about the news and so I'm relieved to know the 80 hours I spent assembling my portfolio over spring break while Dave watched the boys was worth it (thanks again, Dave). I'm so very happy that I'm finally closing this chapter of my life and starting a new one (even though finding a job might be a little tough at the moment!).

Although everything worked out, I don't really recommend graduate school with two kiddos under three. One was doable. Two = Insanity.

Woot. Woot. Woot.

Anybody out there?

2009-04-08T12:49:00.007-05:00

My poor little blog, how I've forgotten you. Not forgotten so much as neglected in favor of other things like school, sleep, cooking, cleaning, and other crucial needs.

We're on the other side of Chicken Pox for both boys now. Milo didn't actually come down with it until 21 days after Moses. Milo's fever that we wrote off as a Chicken Pox symptom was actually a double ear infection, poor boy. When he eventually came down with the pox, I was hugely surprised because our pediatrician said that we were out of the woods if he didn't have them 8 days after Moses since the exposure was so intimate. Wrong! He had very few pox though and seemed to weather the virus well. Now, we won't need that vaccination for either boy!

Milo's been crawling for several weeks now and two weeks ago he started pulling up on everything. It's a lost cause to hope he'll just sit in one place anymore. He's cruising our furniture, too, but with lots of supervision since he's still pretty unsteady.

Moses is doing really well too. He's still obsessed with trains, construction vehicles, and sports. I bought a great Tonka truck coloring book from the dollar store, but he doesn't color in it: he just carries it all over the house and we read it like a book. We've also discovered "Mighty Machines." I thought they looked ridiculous initially, but the shows are really pretty great. The DVDs talk about a variety of vehicles and explain what each does and why they do it. It's pretty crazy how much Moses talks while watching those. Boys.

By the way, Moses is most assuredly a lefty! Dave's already planning Moses' sports career. Too bad they don't make sports toys for lefties at this age.

And then, day four.

2009-03-08T16:41:00.005-05:00

I spoke too soon. The pox started doubling, maybe tripling, on Saturday night, and Moses woke today with them everywhere. His chest and back are just one giant blob of calamine lotion at this point, but thankfully his arms and legs aren't afflicted much. His poor little face and scalp have them, though, and one eye is red in the inside corner, which makes me wonder if he has one on or around his eye.

All things considered, he's doing well. We played a lot today: outside, prepping the backyard for summer, and inside, dancing and running around the house as we practiced counting laps. We've also been passing the time with lots of tattoos and stickers. Tonight he's resting more peacefully than last night because I remembered to give him some Benadryl to relieve the itching. I think the nights are the worst for him because he's so much more aware of the intense itchiness he's suffering.

The good news is that he's over or almost over the worst part now. I'm keeping an eye on brother though. We're nearly at the beginning of the 10-to-21-day incubation period.

How to blow a toddler's mind.

2009-03-07T18:09:00.005-06:00

Show him pictures of himself as a baby and tell him it's him, not his baby brother, in the pictures.

Will. not. comprehend.

(We actually gave in and said, "Yes, it's baby Milo," because he wouldn't drop it and was getting very, very upset by the disconnection.)

Then, introduce him to a webcam.

Poxed-in

2009-03-06T21:57:00.006-06:00

We're still quarantined over here. Yesterday, I questioned the chicken pox diagnosis I made when Moses woke with the same six pox he went to bed with. I'm not sure if it's just a mild case or if he's one of the lucky ones, but Moses isn't covered in a gazillion pox like I expected. I've only counted 32 so far (mainly on his chest and back), but I might be writing too soon since he developed more today than in the last two days combined. The pock marks range from teeny tiny dots to pencil eraser in size. He's been in good spirits except that every once in a while he gets fussy or clingy. The below pictures were taken after he climbed onto the couch with Milo's blanket to watch Super Why this morning. You wouldn't know it, but that's strange behavior for him. I typically have to wrangle him for breakfast and a change of clothes! My poor boy is still all smiles though.

The pox

2009-03-04T20:09:00.003-06:00

Moses has the chicken pox!

A couple of hours ago I noticed a blister-looking bump on his back and thought it strange. I drug Moses into the bathroom and stood him on the toilet so I could better inspect him. I found 5 more pocks so I'm going to go out on a limb and saying he has the chicken pox. I knew it was going around because the nurse mentioned it at his last appointment when I politely declined the vaccine for it, again.

On one hand, I'm kind of excited that he's got them now because I didn't think it'd happen this soon, and now we'll have that virus checked off his childhood illness list (figuratively speaking of course--I'm not that organized). On the other hand, I feel sorry for him because I know the next week won't be too much fun. I'm really hoping that he won't even notice what's going on since he's such an active boy and illnesses don't typically phase his activity level.

No news on Milo yet. He doesn't have any pock marks at the moment, but I'm keeping an eye out for them. I really don't understand the incubation period of viruses and don't know what to expect when. I think the fact that I'm still breastfeeding him protects him some so we'll have to see what happens.

Amigos

2009-02-27T20:37:00.005-06:00

Growing boys

2009-02-23T08:27:00.007-06:00

The boys had their checkups last Friday: a late two-year checkup for Moses and a six-month one for Milo. The boys' checkups were done at the same time, which I usually try to avoid since it's chaos, but it was unavoidable this time and we all needed a good nap afterward.

Moses is doing well and growing like he should. Our skinny boy is 29 pounds and 37.25 inches tall, which puts him in the 93rd percentile for height and 50th for weight. His 2T pants started falling off recently, and I credit his non-stop movement for his weight loss (and mine, too). He has nearly all of his teeth: his eye teeth just broke the surface. His speech is still delayed, but it is picking up. If it hasn't improved much more by April, we're taking him in for a re-evaluation with the speech therapist. We know he'll talk in his own time, but we can't wait for those funny toddler-genius moments.

Some fun things he enjoys:

Catching balls! He caught his first ball a month ago, to our surprise, and requests we play catch nightly now.
Playing football and using his bike helmet as a football helmet.
He adores baseball and football and cranes his next to see anything related to the sports.
He shouts "go, go, go" at any sport we watch--we aren't sure where he picked that up since neither Dave nor I shout at the TV.
Playing "backpack" or piggybacking on us as we run around the house.
Showing more interest in the clothes he's wearing--preferring anything with a football or a baseball or jersey-like numbers. He also likes hats and headbands (think exercise).
Brushing his teeth. I'm not sure whether it's the dot of toothpaste or the car toothbrush, but I have to restrict his brushing these days.
Shoulder shrugging, just because.
Making vehicle sounds for his cars, trains, plains, etc. His goldfish crackers also making swimming noises before they're eaten.
TRAINS!

Milo's doing great, too. I can't believe he's already six-months old and sometimes worry I'm not challenging him enough because I still think of him as my baby! He is 18 pounds 9 ounces (50th percentile) and 27.25 inches (75th percentile). He doesn't have any teeth yet but he's chewing on everything. We're curious if we'll have to wait for those teeth as long as we did with Moses.

Milo enjoys:

Sitting and playing on the floor, especially with brother's toys.
Getting tickled or "eaten."
Watching, watching, watching--he has to be in on all the action even if he's just a spectator.
Belly scooting. I love watching him move around on his tummy, but he's getting a little too good at getting in to things.

Well, that's my long overdue update. I'd like to start posting more again soon, but time is short these days so I'm not going to make any promises.

A boy and his bike

2009-02-04T21:12:00.002-06:00

Moses loves his tricycle these days. So much so that this was the scene at nap time today:

A return to normalcy

2009-01-26T08:52:00.008-06:00

Well, I (we) made it! The boys and I picked Dave up from the airport last Wednesday night (and fell to our knees, fervently begging him not to leave again!) His trip to DC for the inauguration went fantastically though so, in retrospect, we were more than happy to part with him for those 5 days. It was a little rough in the sleep department for me though. I had both boys in bed with me since Moses has night terrors/nightmares and usually wakes up screaming a couple times a night (and those screams would startle Milo into crying). I think my current cold stems from those sleepless nights.

At the airport, several parents and students just gabbed my ear off with praise for Dave -- as a teacher and travel agent. It was yet another moment I was proud to be his wife. Moses was delighted to see him again but at first sight he wasn't sure what to do -- as if Dave's image was a mirage. Once he got over it, he clung to Dave as the students oohed and awed over the twosome.

Since I've deprived my last few posts of pictures, here are some taken during our week without Dave:

Dave also had a little more press coverage (without nervous balance-of-powers goofs) during and after the trip so we're relishing his 15-minutes!

Final Countdown

2009-01-06T14:13:00.004-06:00

After much deliberation, I've decided to return to school in order to complete my master's degree this semester. The idea of sending Moses and Milo to day care twice a week is heartbreaking, but there's no good time to finish my degree, and there are two excellent classes being offered this semester (Document Design and Online Publishing for those curious) so I'm putting on my big girl panties and finishing. I don't anticipate an easy time of it, eek!, but hopefully, come May, I'll possess my M.A. in Technical Communication!

On that note, Moses and Milo's dry run at day care was today and so far, so good. I called to check up on them and was told that Moses had an excellent morning(even napping!) and Milo was adjusting. Even though Moses is my shy boy, I know he'll acclimate quickly, but we recently switched Milo to bottled breast milk from nursing, and while he accepts it most of the time, he has his stubborn moments.

Wish us all luck!

The President and the Patriarch

2009-01-06T10:38:00.004-06:00

I'll be back with some updates later today, but for now, I wanted to post a link to Dave's interview on a local TV station about his upcoming trip to D.C. for the inauguration. Political differences aside, I'm proud of Dave for the hard work he's put into organizing this trip for himself, a coworker, and 24 of his students! It's such a great opportunity. Good job, honey!

Birthday Party!

2008-12-17T10:58:00.000-06:00

Even though Moses couldn't have cared less, I threw him a tiny (smaller than tiny, actually, only 4 invitations went out and 3 of those were to family members) birthday party last weekend. Planning birthday parties is the only chance I seem to have at creativity these days. This year's party centered around planes since Moses loves anything relating to transportation. This wedding cake was my inspiration for the invitations and cupcakes.

I used a cupcake tower to display the devil's food cupcakes I made. Each was iced and topped with white cotton candy "clouds." I then used some wire to attach painted wooden biplanes to the cupcake tower structure. I added two red ribbon banners behind each plane, one that read "Happy" and another that read "Birthday."

Moses had a great time playing with his friend, Vivian, and visiting with Dave's parents. Moses wasn't into his cupcake (probably because Dave had already given him two cupcakes that day) but he successfully blew out one of his candles! He received even more Thomas the Train gear to add to what he'd already received (he's hit the train phase in a big way). He also got a dinosaur interactive book that he enjoys so long as we skip over the Tyrannosaurus Rex page.

Since Moses missed his napped that afternoon he was a bit a zombie for most of the party and ended up crashing shortly after everyone was gone.

Thanksgiving

2008-12-17T10:40:00.000-06:00

Dave, Moses, Milo, and I traveled to Las Cruces, New Mexico for Thanksgiving. There, we saw lots of my aunts, uncles, and cousins as well as my grandparents. It was a brief trip, but we had a nice time visiting with everyone. Moses enjoyed his deep-fried turkey dinner and even had seconds. Thanksgiving night he watched the big kids make S'mores in a desert fire pit and braved playing with a sparkler. I know there are some great pictures of our trip floating out there, in other peoples cameras, but my camera's batteries died.

Since Moses' birthday fell on the Friday after Thanksgiving, we celebrated by having a little birthday party on Thanksgiving night. He wasn't quite sure what to think of all the people singing at him.

But he was very sure of his cake!

Since we were on the road, this was the only shot I thought to take of our two-year-old eating Clementines on his birthday.

Friday night we stayed at Dave's parents house before returning to Lubbock. In all, it was nice to see everyone despite being a brief trip. The boys were great travelers so I'm hoping for repeat performances the next time we head out of town.

Under the weather

2008-12-17T10:13:00.004-06:00

We're all sick or convalescing from one ailment or another right now. I had a stomach bug last week, Dave and Moses have colds, and poor Milo has both the bug and cold. Everyone's on the mend now, which is fortunate because Dave and I are borderline delirious from lack of a good night's sleep.

I thought I saw a puddy cat.

2008-12-03T21:15:00.003-06:00

Moses "helped" make dinner tonight by sitting on the washer and sampling the raw elements I assembled. When I was dividing the stick butter I needed, he said "cheese" and held out his hand for some. I told him that it wasn't his precious cheese but butter instead and that he shouldn't just eat it plain.

Then, while I was washing an onion, he took 1 tablespoon of that butter and stuffed it into his mouth.

Are those canary feathers, Moses?

I made sure he had some real cheese to snack on after that.

Dimply sweet

2008-12-03T21:08:00.008-06:00

Milo was all grins and giggles this afternoon while lying atop his new quilt that Dave's Aunt Inez made (Thank you!). I don't know what it is about that boy, but it is so easy to solicit a smile from him. I'm so used to Moses' stoicism that I tend to go a little over bored capturing Milo's dimply grin.

Happy December!

2008-12-02T15:52:00.005-06:00

I'm here, and we're all well!

I've learned that if I want my house to be clean and to have dinner on the table every night while minding two small children I can't stop moving throughout the day (or I won't want to get up again) so I'm trying my darnedest not to stop this month. I have a lot of catching up to do though because I was l-a-z-y during October and November.

Sigh.

I'll be back very soon with an update and pictures of my two-year-old!

Shameless self-bragging!

2008-11-24T11:44:00.004-06:00

I just ran all 3.5 miles of our usual walking route. I'm so ecstatic! I've been doing a walk/run combo for a couple of weeks now, but today was the first day I had it in me to run the whole way. The boys were perfect, sleeping witnesses to my achievement but woke the second we got home so we're celebrating with some yummy clementines.

I've now lost 50 of the 65 pounds I set out to lose. With a little discipline (fewer pastries and daily exercise), it's been easier than I anticipated so hopefully I'll be in my skinny pants soon!

Woot!

Tag! I'm it.

2008-11-21T22:45:00.002-06:00

I was tagged by both Leslie and Meredith several weeks ago and have been building a post in my head until I had time to respond. Now I have some time to list 7 random things about myself:

1. I'm horribly obsessed with textures. I'm very particular about how textiles feel on my skin and certain things irk me to no end. I can't tolerate sand on my skin. I dislike satin against my hands and feet. Fleece and jersey material is fine to wear so long as I don't have to touch it. My parents still regale the horrors of getting my socks' seams right on my feet as a kid (my dad once cut the toes from my ballet tights after such a battle). Because of this quirk, I have an obsession with lotion. Lotion seems to mollify my aversions somewhat but not completely.

2. Drains gross me out. If I have to clean or touch a drain I usually gag. I also refuse to stand near a drain in the shower or tub.

3. I'm terrible at follow through. I've learned a lot of different skills in my 27 years, but I'm terrible at finishing items (sewing, knitting, scrapbooks, woodworking, upholstery). I'm working on that though...for the time being that is. ;)

4. I'm particular about numbers. There isn't a rhyme or reason to my preferences but I know them when I see them. For instance, Moses' birthday is 11/28/06. 1+1 is 2. 2 from 8 is -6 (and the slashes could denote an absolute value, which would make the answer 6 or 06). My mind finds these weird connections to make the numbers desirable. My drivers' license is a jumble of 1s, 0s, and 5s - I love it!

5. I eat the foods on my plates one at a time - all the green beans, all the mashed potatoes, all the bread...and my drink is always last (I'm also no longer a vegetarian since my last pregnancy when I craved chicken. Now, I eat chicken and turkey sparingly).

6. I took 8 years of Latin in school. I really enjoyed it and while I can't actually speak it, it is helpful on occasion.

7. I'm obsessed with puns! I've gotten less annoying with age, but I still enjoy a good pun and go out of my way to point them out. Dave found an annual pun competition in Austin that I'd love to attend. I'd compete except that the practice for such an event my be overkill for my family (aka practice audience). I can't wait until the boys are able to understand and enjoy puns.

( A more recent addition could be that I've bec0me obsessed with the Twilight Saga. There are very few books I've read more than once (the only other I can think of is Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn), but I'm currently reading the four books for the second time and I'm about to embark on a third reading of each. Too bad the movie is a stinker. Sigh.)

I'm tagging Laura, Misty, Megan, Nicole, Patty, Jennifer, and Ashley B!

Halloween

2008-11-20T09:56:00.006-06:00

2008. I thought I should specify the year these photos were taken since so much time has lapsed since my last post. 2009 could have been a possibility.

Our family kept Halloween low-key, but we still enjoyed the usual costuming. Moses reprised his Yoda role from last year, and we slapped a Monkey hat on Milo. Voila! Halloween.

Since both boys are too young to really trick-or-treat, we visited Gran and Granpop's house for one treat - a toy monster truck. I really hope Moses doesn't think future trick-or-treating will yield such prizes or he's in for a real let down.

We then went to our friends' house to hand out candy with them and enjoy the holiday. They have two daughters, Vivian, who is 8 months older than Moses, and Olivia, who is just a month older than Milo. Moses and Vivian enjoyed handing out candy, but Moses threw in the towel after spotting a kid in a monster mask. The ensuing freak out was legendary. Since he wasn't the same happy kid after that, they shed their costumes and played to their hearts' content.

Sleep Mode

2008-10-27T15:04:00.005-05:00

I'm no stranger to seeing Moses asleep in his chair after having a meal, but on Sunday, Moses climbed into his chair solely to nap.

The two boys and I were playing in the living room but then I left to change Milo's diaper. Not even five minutes later, I returned to find Moses asleep in his chair like this:

If we lived in a world of robots, this is how I imagine they'd look when powered down.

My little tadpoles

2008-10-24T16:29:00.008-05:00

I'm not sure if it was the tree and snail motif on Milo's pajamas but Moses thought Milo's belly was a good place for his frogs. Then, he found the superfluous little pocket and had to put a frog in there too.

I was able to snap some of Moses and Milo together, which is usually a pretty tough feat. Strangely, it's Moses who is the difficult one to photograph: he's usually a big, weird mouthed blur.

Milo was enamored with Moses the whole time we were playing on the floor. He just kept watching and smiling at his big brother.

Fall, Out Boys

2008-10-23T22:12:00.007-05:00

I'm quickly learning how precious time is once your second child is out of that newborn stage. Milo is no longer sleeping a majority of the time, and while he's developing a routine, I still find my hands the fullest they've ever been: it seems I'm constantly keeping cars from getting microwaved while wiping up oodles of spit up and juggling a cup of coffee. Don't even get me started on the house.

As always, I've composed many a blog in my head only to not have the time to get my thoughts down on keyboard. I've been more diligent about taking photos though since it's the easier form of blogging these days. Here are some highlights:

Fall Planting: We bought some ferns and fall annuals for our back patio. Moses was incredibly helpful and quickly picked up on the dos (the don'ts were a little harder to comprehend). After he saw me packing the dirt around our newly planted flowers, he was suddenly a professional gardener and insisted that he pack the dirt around all our plants, new and old.

Milo watched us plant, pounding his fists when he wasn't satisfied with our pace. All his direction paid off though--I love fall colors.

Pensive Progeny: Milo reached a new level of awesomeness while sleeping. Such a thoughtful boy.

He's just one cool dude all-around though.

Cocoa: We're still taking our long walks most mornings even though the weather is turning chilly, and our new favorite thing is having a cup of hot chocolate when we get home. Even though Moses' mug only has a couple of ounces, it's the highlight of his morning--he even wakes up talking about "co-co." If these eyes and lips don't scream satisfaction, I don't know what else would.

Well, it's off to bed. I aim to blog most nights but usually end up falling asleep with Milo, at least tonight was a success!

Milo'sTwo Month Check Up

2008-10-16T12:45:00.003-05:00

Milo had his 2 month check-up (at 10 weeks) this morning. All went well as usual and he got the age appropriate shots. Even though I know the shots are coming and that they'll be fine in no time, I always cry when my boys get those. It's so hard to seem them so upset.

14 pounds 5 ounces (93rd percentile)
25 inches (95th percentile)
40.5 centimeters head circumference (50th percentile)

Dave and I've joked that he's a little pinhead because he's getting so chunky everywhere but his noggin'. I guess our observation was correct!

I also talked to our pediatrician about Moses' lack of vocabulary (he has maybe 30 words total, only 10 of which are clear and understandable to others out of context). He's got a great listening vocabulary and can understand most anything we say, but he's just not meeting the 50-100 spoken words that our doctor wants to see at two years of age. So, we're taking Moses for a hearing test, and he's to begin speech therapy soon. I'll keep our fans posted!

Car-razy

2008-10-09T08:15:00.005-05:00

Moses has always been car crazy, but after receiving some Matchbox cars over the weekend, he's taken it to a new level: he doesn't let the cars leave his sight and has slept with a front-end loader at least once this week.

Below he is transporting dirt in his dump truck from one end of the bench to the other and swinging with cement mixer and the same dump truck. I'm getting pretty good at naming vehicles.

Dave Jr. and Dave III

2008-10-08T13:38:00.005-05:00

Dave and I've had trouble with names lately. We're constantly calling Moses "Milo" and Milo "Moses," and sometimes "Mises" and "Molo" sneak in for good measure. After all the recent name confusion we've had, I've realized George Foreman was onto something when he named all five of his sons "George."

I found this quote:

USATODAY.com: Why did you name all of your sons GEORGE?

George Foreman: In boxing, you have to save money and you have to prepare for memory loss. I wanted to make sure I didn't forget anybody's name.

I used to think it was a vanity thing but now I see it as a sanity thing. No ones feelings get hurt if the parents can't constantly trip up on the wrong name. So, from now on, please refer to Moses as Dave Jr. and Milo as Dave III, for our sake and theirs.

Fall!

2008-10-06T21:52:00.005-05:00

Today was the most fall-like day so far. The air had just enough of a chill to make it comfortable outside. Finally! Moses and I celebrated the pleasant weather with a little backyard time. Milo joined us but celebrated by sleeping.

Fake Photo Booth

2008-10-01T17:21:00.005-05:00

My boys are playing a cruel trick on me by tag-teaming their sleeping habits. It seems the second one is down for a nap, the other wakes and vice-versa. Since Milo woke the minute Moses nodded off and used his baby ways to prohibit any cleaning, I did some self portraits with my youngest progeny. He's got such a great smile.

27

2008-09-27T21:01:00.005-05:00

Friday was my 27th birthday. To celebrate, Dave took off a half-day from work to watch the boys so that I could have an afternoon to myself. It was a very special treat and I enjoyed my alone time immensely despite thinking about my boys constantly.

Tonight we had some friends with similarly aged children over for a birthday cookout and pumpkin carving. Thanks to the voracious mosquitoes we never made it to pumpkin carving, but it was nice to have the company of adults! Moses really enjoyed playing with their daughter, Vivian, and at one point, the pair was racing around the house in a giggly game of chase--I'm not sure the rules but fun was being had.

It was a great birthday weekend. Thanks to all that have sent birthday wishes in one form or another!

And another gray hair is on my head.

2008-09-25T13:21:00.002-05:00

Dave took (and encouraged) these photos. I wasn't in the room at the time.

Pillow diving from a chair. It's no wonder his two front teeth are chipped. Boys.

New and Old Hat

2008-09-25T12:46:00.004-05:00

Milo got his first tummy time session yesterday, and he didn't do too bad. He's not too great at lifting that big noggin for long periods of time when lying on his tummy yet, but it was good practice.

Moses got a little jealous and decided it was time he return to his activity mat. I certainly don't look forward to introducing Milo to the jumperoo. Talk about some potential for jealousy.

I think home skillet's recent camera usage has led to tweaked speed settings because everything is coming out blurry now. Blurry or not, at least I'm providing photos.

Yesterday

2008-09-24T07:11:00.000-05:00

Moses made himself a pallet on the floor and took a nap. I kid you not. It was magical.

Then he took over the camera and dubbed himself our family photog (which is one of the reasons blogs have been light on pictures--camera batteries are dying rapidly these days).

And, we captured cuteness. Both were unsure of the set up though.

Congested (but still cute)

2008-09-23T22:35:00.005-05:00

(yes, that is a dimple--there are dimples. Plural!)

I took Milo into the doctor this morning because his spit up looked as if he'd drank raw egg and he was incredibly upset yesterday. Our regular doctor was out so we saw a nurse practitioner we've seen once before. She said Milo is very congested and has mucus running down his throat, which causes him to gag and spit up more and aggravates any reflux he already has. All the congestion is upsetting his stomach, too, which is causing all the more discomfort. Poor kid. He's still too young for any meds so we're trying some more homeopathic methods she suggested. I'm hoping this isn't a sign of another ear infection prone kid. I blame Dave and I's horrible allergies for all ours sons' congestion issues. Grr...

On the plus side, the nurse was amazed at Milo's level of head control and repeatedly mentioned how impressed she was. As we were leaving she said he's at least 3 weeks ahead developmentally! It is crazy how much difference those 3 additional weeks gestating has made for Milo versus Moses: it seems Milo's already leaps and bounds of Moses in certain areas. There's nothing like a little sibling rivalry. Sigh.

A Conversation with Milo

2008-09-22T18:36:00.001-05:00

We grow 'em sumo.

2008-09-22T15:10:00.006-05:00

I had my 6 week appointment last Friday and while I've lost 30 pounds (half-way there!), Milo has gained four. He's now a hefty 13 pounds even! I knew he was big but I never would have guessed thirteen pounds. He's not covered in cute rolls but rather is the size of a tank.

To make him even cuter, he's been smiling and cooing for the last couple of weeks. He looks so much like Moses when he smiles, too. Compare the above with these of Moses:

A big bottle o' catch-up!

2008-09-22T13:42:00.009-05:00

I've been gently reminded recently by a few readers that I haven't blogged in awhile. It wasn't my intent to abandon the blog for more than two weeks but time just seems to fly with two kids occupying my time--before I know it, the day is done and I'm too tired to string sentences together, let alone type them. Dave also took the lap top back to school with him so blogging mobility is no longer possible, and Moses' interest in the keyboard makes typing at the desk impossible while he's awake since all my sentences would undoubtedly contain extra letters, numbers, and punctuation marks. Ah, the woes of motherhood!

Despite my inability to blog, I've been writing down topics as they come to mind and these jewels to share with you today:

Milo's 1-month-old!
The characteristics of a first born
Fernando
Amigos de Fernando
Finger painting
Sickos
RIP TV

So, please, sit back, relax and let me regale you with the my tales o' family.

1. Milo's 1-month-old!

Time certainly flew for us. We can't believe how quickly we reached the 1 month milestone with our boy. His sleepiness and contentedness wore off almost as soon as I blogged about it and he's now awake more and grumpy/fussy for 90% of the day. I wouldn't say he's colicky but maybe fool's colicky since he exhibits all the signs of a colicky baby but inconsistently so (I'm think I'm going to copyright that).

I meant to take a picture of him at one month, but he wasn't being his cute self on camera. This was taken during his nap a couple days before.

2. The characteristics of a first born

Moses' personality is shining through increasingly more these days. The funniest (and most irritating) part to manifest lately involves his need for things to be just-so. He'll let us know something's not working for him with a pointed finger and "oh, oh, oh." He's suddenly very concerned with the cleanliness of his highchair and its tray and will point out anything that's askew. He'll alert Dave to parts of the lawn that weren't mowed. A spill on his clothes could spark WWIII, and if Milo's spittle so much as dribbles down his chin, we know the instant it happens.

This was all very cute for awhile but now it's a teensy bit annoying since there's little we can do to stop his concern but take the time to correct the offending item. Thankfully, I'm a fan of Kevin Lehman's The Birth Order Book and know this little quirk is a typical characteristic of any first born child and we've essentially created this nit-picking monster!

But what an adorable monster he is.

3. Fernando

You may remember that, while I was suffering from insomnia, I discovered that a mouse was enjoying the comforts of our kitchen . Well, shortly after that discovery, we left for Dallas and when we came back, there was no sign of the mouse (who I dubbed Fernando) so we forgot the issue. Then, a couple months later, I noticed the tell-tale signs again so we bought a no-kill trap and placed it on our counter. We caught Fernando that night and released him far, far away the next day.

Meet Fernando:

Cute, right? Moses enjoyed watching him, and I enjoyed pretending he would wear clothes and talk when we weren't looking.

4. Amigos de Fernando

We've since caught three others. Eek. The aren't so adorable in these numbers.

5. Finger (er, brush) painting

I'm trying to incorporate more activities into our daily routine, including arts and crafts, so we tried our hands, nee fingers, at painting. While we started out using our fingers, we switched to brushes because Moses was too tempted to eat or lick the paint from his hands. The Crayola finger paint was a little disappointing though because it looks like a translucent gel instead of your typical paint. All in all, we had a great time and I look forward to more art projects. Next up--stringing fruit loop necklaces (if we can avoid eating them for long enough).

(no, he didn't paint that tree but rather confiscated my painting)

6. Sickos
Since school started up again recently, it was inevitable that the sick season would start. Two weeks ago, Dave started feeling some cold symptoms and soon after Moses and I had them, too. As with any illness that comes through our door, I got the worst of it and rode the couch as much as Moses would let me. I'm hoping this winter is better than last and that Moses can stay ear-infection free for as long as possible!

7. RIP TV
Last week, our living room TV decided to stop working. That was a rough morning for me because Moses usually watches TV during breakfast so that I can get ready for the day and start chores.

The worst part is that the TV is not even a year old but outside its warranty (don't buy the Wal-Mart brand, ilo). We can't exactly buy a new one so we're stuck with Dave's old 19" set and my fifteen-year-old 13" one that needs rabbit ears. We were used to having a nice large set and pretty HD pictures so this is a bitter pill to swallow. I've already requested an HD converter box coupon though. Sigh.

Well, that covers the last two weeks. I hope to get my rhythm back soon!

Swing kid

2008-09-04T14:33:00.005-05:00

While Milo was still sleeping this morning, Moses and I went outside to swing, mismatched pajamas and all. Moses wanted me to swing, but having recently learned better, I told Moses I couldn't because I was too big (read: fat-from-recently-carrying-a-child-for-9-months) and it hurt to squeeze my adult rear into that small swing. Upon hearing that unpleasant news, Moses decided to designate two more "kids" for me to push (notice the bubbles in the other swing). Nevertheless, Moses, the bubble twins, and I had a nice morning.

Raw: It's all the rage

2008-09-04T14:25:00.004-05:00

Moses likes to hang around the chopping block when I'm cutting vegetables for dinner so he can finagle some raw slices from me. Last night he surprised me by requesting and eating RAW onion (this was his third slice)! He really is my child.

King of the Castle

2008-09-04T14:03:00.004-05:00

Dave's parents and niece came down last weekend and we spent some time at our local mammoth play village. We hadn't been out there before and Moses had a lot of fun. Ignore his shorts--his normally-smooth-dressing daddy wasn't thinking (1- they are too small, 2 - he's got too many shades of blue on).

P.S. Is anyone else having issues with Firefox 3.0.1 and their ability to cut and paste? I can't move my blog pictures and text around like usual (in blogger or any other FF window) and it's disturbing my Internet chi.

Intervention

2008-09-01T18:23:00.003-05:00

Moses' latest bout of weirdness involves lotion drinking. Yes, lotion drinking. We have to be extra careful to keep lotion bottles out of his reach or else we'll find him snuggled up with a bottle, sipping the contents from the spout. Ew.

Proud Papa

2008-08-31T13:38:00.005-05:00

While I was out grocery shopping, I received this text message about Moses from Dave:

"He totally got in his chair and started watching Primal Grill..."

If you know Dave at all, you know he loves his barbecue and is a loyal follower of all things Steven Raichlen--so this development made him one doting dad.

Com(id)a

2008-08-28T13:35:00.006-05:00

Well, it's that time again. Moses fell asleep while eating. I think I'm going to start a whole new blog just for those pictures since it's all I seem to post lately. I might just start adding captions, too, in the same way icanhascheezburger.com has done with LOLcats.

This is probably one of my favorite asleep-at-the-meal pictures so far because he was obviously still eating when he fell asleep--hand on fork, hand in bowl.

(yup--Moses is still in his pjs--for the first time in awhile we didn't have anywhere to be today so we're having a lazy day.)

Out for a Stroll

2008-08-27T09:50:00.007-05:00

As a baby gift, I received my dream stroller from my Dad and Sally. I know I previously said I wanted a Phil & Ted's Sport but after doing more research, I decided on the BOB Stroller Strides Duallie* because it allows me to either walk or jog with two, and with the infant seat attachment, we can get outside sooner rather than later. Ultimately, I want to start running again, but for now, we're just using it for long walks to the park.

On Monday morning, we walked a mile to the park, played, and then walked back. Aside from a couple of Milo's outbursts, the walk went great! The stroller handles so well---it's easy to push through grass and sand, turns on a dime (really!), takes bumpy sidewalks like a charm, and fits though our doorways. It must be cozy, too, because Moses fell asleep on the return trip.

Of course, that tiny nap threw Moses off schedule and he ended up crashing mid-play that afternoon.
*No, I don't do Stroller Strides but wanted the extra amenities the stroller has to offer (handlebar console, exercise bands, and workout manual). The stroller comes with a free week's worth of classes so I'll definitely give it a try but $45 a month for classes is tough when I'm not bringing in money. Shoot, maybe I'll just follow behind our local class and copy their workouts--I suppose there's nothing to stop me (except extreme embarrassment)! Ha!

Toddler-ese

2008-08-23T11:16:00.006-05:00

"My-mo" is how Moses pronounces Milo. It just warms my heart every time I hear it. He occasionally sing-songs it as a "Myyyyyy-mo," and it's the sweetest song in the world.

Milo: Two Week Check-Up

2008-08-22T13:24:00.003-05:00

Mr. Milo is two weeks old today! How do we celebrate? With a cold stethoscope, a tongue depressor, and a heel prick! We sure know how to party.

Milo's first appointment with our pediatrician was this morning. It was a pretty early outing for us, especially since I'm still trying to master getting out the door with two kids' diapers, drinks, toys, blankets, etc. Thankfully, I was able to drop Moses off at his Gran's on the way so that I could devote my attention to Milo at this first visit and Moses was guaranteed a much better time than I could have provided.

As for the appointment, all looked well and sounded great to Dr. Gray. Milo's growing like a weed: he's already 9 pounds 8 ounces (oddly, he didn't lose more than a few ounces in the hospital) and 22 inches.

Milo had the nasty heel prick test too, and after screaming fantastically for a couple minutes, he calmed and cooed himself to sleep. His little noises had the nurses giggling. Milo is a very noisy sleeper despite being at complete peace. Happy two weeks my little piglet!

My daily dilemma

2008-08-22T11:55:00.007-05:00

Most days the boys will nap at the same time and I'm met with the same daily dilemma: Do I clean? Do I nap? Do I waste hours online? It's so difficult to make a choice because various parts of my mind are itching for different decisions.

Yesterday, I desperately wanted to sleep but Moses was being stubborn about napping. Despite acting tired, he just wanted to PLAY! WITH! CARS! Finally, in early afternoon, he crashed while playing with those cars.

Thankfully, I still was able to get in a power nap before the craziness set in again.

Night Cap

2008-08-22T11:44:00.001-05:00

There's nothing like a little yogurt before bed...

Like night and day

2008-08-18T14:04:00.003-05:00

It seems Milo is falling into the easier-second-child stereotype I've frequently heard about, and I couldn't be more thrilled (and dumbfounded) by his mellowness. I wouldn't say Moses was a difficult baby--okay, maybe I would--but he never slept for longer than 20 minutes at a time, refused to sleep on his back, was very difficult to soothe, and didn't allow anyone but Dave and I to care for him. Of course, he's my little boy and I love him all the more for those long sleepless nights and difficult days, but I will say it's nice to have an easier baby this time around. I'm sure my very writing of this post will jinx Milo's easy-going disposition, but at least I'm documenting this beautiful time.

Milo's been a dreamy sleeper and eater and even soothes himself back to sleep with little effort. He's a sound sleeper too, sleeping through Moses' untimely lawn mowing episodes and the occasional toddler fit.

Moses is vacillating between being a helpful big brother and jealous sibling, which is understandable. One minute he'll offer his juice to Milo or show concern for his crying, and the next he'll throw a fit over Milo sitting in his bouncy seat or being held by Mommy. Overall, he's really done a great job accepting his new brother and the changes he's brought with him and been a tender, shining poster child for big brotherhood.

Week 1 Mash Up

2008-08-16T20:12:00.009-05:00

I've started several posts over the course of the week but haven't completed any due to the overriding need for sleep, food, or child care. The following is a mash up of some of those incomplete posts:

I knew there'd be an adjustment as we transitioned from one child to two, but I didn't realize how much easier one child is in comparison. Now, I find it difficult to find the time to sleep, clean, and even eat. I've heard people say that pregnancy weight comes off much quicker with a second child, and now I know why! I'm constantly on the go and rarely have time to indulge in anything except Moses' leftovers. Every moment of craziness is worth it though because we have these moments to enjoy:

On Friday, we had our first (and last!) trip to the grocery store as a threesome. Between the nearly two hours of prep work required to leave the house with two children in tow and the chaos that ensued towards the end of our shopping trip, I must have burnt 2000 calories. If the Steeplechase can be an Olympic event, shopping with two should also be a sport. Moses did well standing in the basket of the shopping cart but found the grocery goods at his feet too tempting not to step on them. Once we had that issue resolved, Milo woke up. Let me say that steering a shopping cart, minding a toddler, and feeding a newborn is not a task for the weary. Checking out got even hairier. I think I may have scared the young woman behind me in line into lifelong abstinence. I've since resolved to take only one child to the store with me for now until I have better mastery of two (and maybe a third arm).

Moses is using a spoon like a pro now, and this week, he mastered eating yogurt, cereal, and soup with minimal mess. As a cereal fanatic, I couldn't be prouder of my little Cheerios eater. There's nothing like enjoying a breakfast of toasted oats together in the morning while his little brother snoozes. His obsession with yogurt is a little scary at the moment, but I guess there are much worse foods he could be addicted to.

Moses has also started climbing tall furniture and reaching counter tops with the help of a toddler-sized chair he's had for ages but only recently found worth his time. I've had several mini-heart attacks this week as I've found him on top of our desk, laying atop our console table, and (once!) at our butcher block with a knife. These recent events have me reconsidering our household layout and I expect we'll be doing a lot more toddler-proofing in the coming days.

Dave's parents and niece also stopped by on Saturday to see Milo and Moses (and us, too). Milo enjoyed all the attention from his grandparents and Moses was giggling non-stop with his cousin, Jasmin.

I aim to start posting regularly again soon and will be sure to post more pictures of the boys, too. Poor Milo's life hasn't been chronicled nearly enough as it should have been at this point, but I'm going to make an earnest effort to get the camera out more these days.

Just like old times

2008-08-12T13:49:00.003-05:00

Thank goodness Moses hasn't let the recent changes in our household affect his tendency for inopportune sleeping.

Milo's Birth Story

2008-08-10T08:49:00.005-05:00

My doctor called Friday morning when I was on the way home from my umpteenth attempt at walking myself into labor. She said that she had a room ready for me if I wanted to go in then. I was still scared about being induced but very ready to meet my boy (and so done with being pregnant) so Dave and I hightailed it to the hospital.

When I arrived at the hospital, it was 11 a.m. From my previous post, you know that I was already pretty progressed--sitting at 5 cm, 90% effaced, and -1 station and contracting. I got an epidural around 2 o'clock (which didn't fully take on my left side, boo) and started the Pitocin around 3 to help move me along. Having all of those medications administered at once made me feel a little strange and lightheaded so I took a brief nap and, thankfully, woke up feeling better. At 4:30, I was checked and had only changed to 5.5 cm so my water was broken.

That was a magical, magical event.

Nearly an hour later, I began to feel intense pain and the incredible urge to push. My nurse checked me and said I was fully dilated and effaced. She barely had time to call for a set up and the doctors before I started to push. Thankfully, Dave had just returned from eating dinner in the cafeteria. 3 back-to-back pushes and 30 seconds later my boy was here!

I'm still amazed at the quickness of it all since Moses tested the limits of my pushing ability and my doctor's time allowance. I always envied those women who "pushed for only 20 minutes." Little Milo must have known my delivery desires and did me one better--3 pushes! He wasn't messing around! I do have a second degree tear but other than that, I'm doing fine and feeling much better physically this time around.

Milo arrived so quickly that my doctor wasn't able to make it there for the delivery, but strangely enough, a childhood friend of Dave's delivered Milo.

Milo's doing well and has received a clean bill of health from all the professional pokers and prodders who've visited. I'm breastfeeding again and am thrilled he's got a great latch--if only he wasn't always nodded off to sleep at each meal!

Moses met Milo for the first time yesterday! He didn't really notice Milo and was more interested in the room's furniture (with buttons!) than his new brother. I don't think he realized that Milo is going home with us and that he's a permanent fixture in the family.

It's so nice to finally have Milo here with us and we look forward to getting home and being a foursome!

Meet Milo

2008-08-09T17:06:00.004-05:00

A little play-by-play

2008-08-08T14:40:00.003-05:00

I'm here at the hospital now (hooray for Wi-Fi!). When I arrived, I was 5 cm, nearly 100% effaced, and contracting regularly but still painlessly. Since then, my contractions have intensified a ton so I think this little boy was coming anyway. I just got my epidural, which was a breeze compared to my last one's two-hour-long fiasco. I haven't even started the Pitocin yet, but my body is doing a good job on its own.

It's funny, now that I'm here, I don't care how my little boy gets here so long as he's healthy. My body is just a vessel for his arrival anyhow. No worries. :)

Going in!

2008-08-08T10:41:00.001-05:00

My doctor just called and stressed that we go in now for an induction! Hooray for space! Wish us luck!

Another week comes to an end.

2008-08-08T08:00:00.005-05:00

And I'm still pregnant.

That pretty much sums up this entire post. I've had varying contractions and cramps, along with some "signs," but nothing has become unbearable enough to head to the hospital. I'm convinced this baby will just fall out before long!

I've been pregnant for exactly 3 more weeks than I was when Moses arrived. Sigh. My doctor is trying to get me in for an induction but the hospital is completely booked so I'm on stand-by essentially, waiting for a bed to free up. I suppose if I just go into labor they'll have to take me, but there's no telling where I'd end up. Can I just say from experience that the renal wing is not fun when you aren't having kidney issues (and you are well under 60)?

Send some labor vibes. I'm growing nervous about Dave's need to return to work soon. I'd like to have my hubby for some transitional days!

Stubborn child!

2008-08-07T08:10:00.004-05:00

Well, I made it through the night! The membrane stripping hasn't been successful (yet), but I've been having more painful cramping than usual and some stronger contractions. We're not making a mad dash for the hospital just yet though. It's a nice overcast morning here so I think I'm going to head out doors for a long morning walk...

Psyche.

2008-08-06T16:23:00.005-05:00

Dave and I just returned from my appointment. The doctor examined me and said I was 3-4 cm, 70% effaced, and -1 station--so I'm progressing. She went ahead and stretched my cervix to a 4 and stripped my membranes so I could very well go into labor on my own tonight, but in the event that doesn't happen, we'll schedule an induction time for later this week. Labor and delivery is packed today and tomorrow so she's going to call us this evening and tell us how Friday and Saturday look. I'm really hoping her "tweaking" this afternoon will help me go into labor before the weekend, but if I don't, at least there's an end in sight.

And, while it doesn't always mean anything, I'm measuring 41 weeks. My doctor doesn't think he's too big yet though.

Game time

2008-08-06T09:43:00.005-05:00

For fun, I added the above poll to see how big you all think this baby will be. Moses was 7 pounds 8 ounces when he was born at 36 weeks 5 days (of course this baby hasn't done anything like his brother so he might not be as big). I was 9 pounds 2 ounces at birth, and we don't about Dave's birth weight. I've gained 50 pounds this pregnancy, but we all know that's not all baby. ;) I also have no medical problems that contribute to a smaller/larger baby.

So take that information and give me a guess!

Here's a picture from this morning (ignore our dated bathroom). This is the only belly-bearing shot you'll ever get!

Decisions, decisions

2008-08-06T08:59:00.003-05:00

Well, I'm at 39 weeks 3 days today and while not yet overdue, I'm over being pregnant. I have an appointment this afternoon and I'm curious what my doctor will have to say. I know she'll probably want to induce but whether or not I consent to an induction depends on my little boy's readiness to come out and my own nervousness. I keep thinking he has to be ready to arrive on his own soon, right? It's rare that a second child would outlast the first's gestation by so much time (almost 3 weeks!) so I would think he could arrive on his own any day now. If it's tomorrow, great, but if it's a week from now, not-so. Come out sweet boy!

Just for belly laughs

2008-08-05T18:44:00.005-05:00

I consider myself a stoic person as it usually takes a lot to solicit an out-loud laugh from me so I have to give Nicole kudos for this comment on my last post:

"Gahhhhh, you are still pregnant? You are going to give birth to a MAN."

Maybe it's just my delicate state (is a 205-pound pregnant women still considered delicate?) but I had a good laugh at that remark because I do, in fact, also think I'm going to give birth to a MAN.

Thanks, Nicole, that made my still-pregnant evening.

It's morning.

2008-08-05T10:16:00.003-05:00

And I'm still pregnant.

Each morning I wake up and tell Dave, "I can't believe I'm still pregnant" and he shakes his head in mutual disbelief. I was hopeful last night would be the night because I was having some semi-painful contractions around 10 minutes apart, but they faded after an hour and never came back.

Moses had a rough night last night, too, so I was more conscious of the fact that I wasn't near labor each time I was up with him. I'm not sure if Moses is beginning to have night terrors or what, but lately he wakes up with a fright and is inconsolable unless we turn on a light and get up for a bit. Last night he howled for an hour even with our solace and didn't calm down until I turned on a closet light and suggested we read a book. So, we read books and watched old episodes of The Muppet Show from 3-5 a.m. before he crashed again. I wish I knew what was bothering him at night. These freak outs aren't ideal for a family about to welcome a newborn!

My still-pregnant state has me thinking that maybe this stubborn little boy in my uterus is holding out for an 08-08-08 birthday. Wouldn't that be a great birth date? I'm sure there'll be a lot of intentional deliveries that day though so I'm not sure I'd enjoy a crowded hospital stay. For Moses, we had a nice, big room, but I've heard stories of women delivering in a tiny triage room (no TV!) on busy days. Yuck. I'd also be stuck watching Olympic coverage for my stay. I'm a fan of the sporting event, but at times the coverage is a bit overkill. Isn't it funny that I'm concerning myself with my possible TV schedule in the event I deliver post opening ceremony? I can't help but think about what mindless entertainment I'll have in those early, tired days, and I love me some boob tube.

Flipflop

2008-08-04T11:21:00.007-05:00

Still here. Other than cramps and the usual painless contractions, I've received no more signs of impending labor.

The more Dave and I talk about it, the more we are okay with an induction if this boy doesn't come on his own soon. Last week, I was more than 3 cm dilated, 60% effaced, and -2 station, and from reading lots and lots of information on inductions, those numbers make me a decent candidate for a successful induction (especially if his station has improved). I know regression is possible though so we'll have to see if those numbers have progressed or not on Wednesday.

Why the sudden change of heart? Dave starts back to work on the 12th, and we'd really like to have some time to adjust before he has to return for the school year. I'm sure the school would understand if he needed time off for the birth of his child, but in addition to attending mandatory teacher meetings, it's important that Dave uses the two weeks before class starts to ready himself and his room for the new year. I taught and know how precious that prep time is.

Yes, there's something special about your child being born on his/her own time, and I'd prefer it that way. Hopefully, this boy decides it's his time soon so that we don't have to decide his birthday for him, but it's crunch time! Come on kiddo, make this easy for your mama!

I'm still scared of a c-section or longer-than-necessary labor so I'm not guaranteeing anything I ramble on about here.

39 weeks

2008-08-03T10:39:00.004-05:00

My baby countdown ticker is playing a cruel joke on me today. I don't know why it's suddenly telling me I'm only 34 weeks 4 days instead of 39, but I don't appreciate the widget denying me those hard-earned additional 31 days!

I woke up this morning surprised that I made it through the night, let alone to 39 weeks. I think this boy's getting closer and closer to making his arrival, but I'm growing a little tired of repeating my "today's the day" mantra. I know this sweet boy will come when he's ready, but these final days are rough. I feel like such a bump on a log when it comes to cleaning, cooking, or playing with Moses. I try to get active, but it's short-lived and I quickly retire to the chair in front of my portable fan.

My doctor wants to talk about an induction at my appointment this Wednesday, and if conditions are favorable, possibly induce that day. As ready as I am to meet my boy, I'm scared of inducing because I don't want to end up with a c-section. My post-partum recovery with Moses was difficult so I'm praying for an easier convalescence this time. The induction wouldn't be for anything more than convenience and the avoidance of a large baby so it's hard for me to justify. After all, this boy will come out when he's good and ready, right?

I might have a completely different outlook by Wednesday though.

Still baking

2008-07-26T23:11:00.005-05:00

Yup, I'm still here, incubating the boy, if anyone is curious. I'm a little surprised that tomorrow I'll be 38 weeks--a whole week and 2 days more pregnant than I was with Moses. I guess it's a little ironic that he's not following his brother's suit considering he'll spend many of his years emulating exactly what his older brother does.

I'm definitely at the uncomfortable stage now. He's really, really high (despite my hoping that he dropped) and I have a constant lump under my breasts that makes it difficult to breathe, sit up straight, get in and out of my car, or do little more than recline on the couch and hope for relief.
I want to sleep, a lot, but between contractions, back pain, and my incredibly squished bladder, who has time for sleep? I'm also having bouts of morning sickness again, which is making for some rough days, but I'm hoping it's a sign that the end is near and not just some cruel joke.

Are you tired of my complaining? I'm done, I promise.

When this little boy does arrive, I'm planning to email friends and family (do I have your email? email me if you want to be included) and blog while in the hospital, but I won't make any promises pending the uncertainties of internet use there. At any rate, I hope you'll hear our baby news soon!

Goody, two shoes!

2008-07-20T18:30:00.006-05:00

I heard about this cloth shoe tutorial from a friend and I couldn't wait to try it out. I was a little nervous because I haven't done much sewing recently other than the bunting flags for the boys' room, but I'm pleasantly surprised with the results and have become addicted to making them! These are my first two attempts, but with each pair the quality and time spent improves so I have a few other pairs in the works right now, too. I'm experimenting with and without the suggested interfacing because it's not allowing me to gather the elastic as much as I'd like.

I'm hoping to appliqué some onesies to match the shoes later this week (if he stays put long enough).

-Lindsey

5, 6, 7, 8

2008-07-20T12:33:00.004-05:00

Moses' fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth teeth are finally beginning to show themselves! After nearly a year of waiting, I'm relieved to see them. It's been at least 5 months since his last tooth appeared so we've been expecting the appearance of another for some time now. As such, teething has become our excuse for everything--Bad mood? It's a tooth! A restless night? He's teething. Lack of appetite? His gums must be tender. At least now, I don't feel so stupid for my recent uses of those excuses.

8 down, 12 to go.

We're not even thinking about permanent teeth right now.

-Lindsey

Pasta la vista

2008-07-18T11:45:00.006-05:00

We knew he was getting tired, but a hungry belly was keeping him from his daily siesta. It was nothing a little Newman's Own and noodles couldn't resolve.

Sweet dreams my bearded boy.

-Lindsey

36 weeks 5 days

2008-07-18T08:45:00.001-05:00

Today marks the day in gestation that I had my sweet Moses. On November 27, 2006, while watching Heroes, I noticed that I was having painless contractions 3 minutes apart, lasting for at least a minute. I called Labor & Delivery and was advised to drink some water and lay down in case it was just false labor. Nope!--almost immediately after that call, my water broke and we knew it was really happening. Fourteen hours later, we had our little boy--our big little boy at 7 lb. 8 oz. and 20 inches despite being a little over 3 weeks early.

We were ill prepared for his early arrival because I planned to pack my hospital bag the day I hit the 37-week mark so my hastily-packed suitcase was a mishmash of Dave's clothes and summer sandals. Since I'd also expected to have a big, full-term baby, I'd only bought a "going home" outfit suitable for an 8-12 pound infant not the actual newborn size. Even though he seemed large weight-wise, he hadn't yet put fat on his long body and poor Moses was swallowed by everything we put on him. We left the hospital with him in the hospital-provided t-shirt and hat (and oodles of blankets since it had snowed the night before).

Since then, I've vowed to be as prepared as possible for our subsequent child(ren), and I've had my bag packed for weeks with clothing appropriate for both me and the baby. Now, it's just a waiting game, but I feel much better knowing that I'll have clothes that don't read "Hobbs Track" and our little boy will come home in something better than a white t-shirt.

-Lindsey

Speed bump

2008-07-14T14:33:00.003-05:00

Well, Dave and I are still getting this house into shape for the arrival of our second son, and our first, Moses, is lending a hand anywhere he can. All his helping leaves him exhausted, so exhausted that he fell asleep in the middle of the living room this afternoon (clutching a glue stick)--one minute he was playing, the next sleeping. If he weren't my quirky son, I would think something was wrong.

Now, I love watching my boy sleep but having a snoozing toddler in the middle of the living room does not make for a productive afternoon so Dave carefully moved him to his room where he's currently sleeping, still clutching my giant glue stick.

-Lindsey

The poor man's bubble machine

2008-07-11T12:01:00.008-05:00

Any parent knows what a thrill bubble blowing is for children and is aware of the relentless requests to produce them. Sure, there are bubble machines available these days, but Dave introduced Moses to another way of making bubbles by turning Moses' water table into a bubble table with the help of soap and tinker toy sticks. It's been a smashing success and unburdened Dave with the task wand-blowing. The only downside is that Moses enjoys an occasional sip of his bubbly water.

I have to take a moment to give my sweet hubby a shout out. He's been such a huge help to me these past few weeks as I get bigger, more tired, and less mobile. I just don't know what I'd do without his help this summer and it warms my heart to see how much fun he and Moses have each day.

Is this not the face of a boy smitten with his father?

-Lindsey

Atlas

2008-07-08T12:57:00.001-05:00

-Lindsey

Co-Nesting

2008-07-08T12:51:00.001-05:00

Well, I think I'm (we're) officially nesting. Dave and I spent the past week repainting our kitchen walls and cabinets, replacing the contact paper lining the shelves and drawers and organizing their contents, and repairing the non-existent grout on our tiled counter tops. I seem to be summoning that superhuman energy characterized by the end of pregnancy days. I'm not sure this is the nesting, but I'll take it. It's nice to get things done around here.

I nested with Moses two days before I went into labor. Despite being on bed rest, I had the uncontrollable need to organize all the drawers and closets in our house and no power on Earth could stop me. Of course, when he arrived three days later, the rest of our house wasn't clean because I'd focused only on those drawers and closets. This time, I'm hoping it's a different story.

In the pictures, you really can't see the night-and-day transformation that resulted from our repainting and regrouting, but it's a brand new kitchen. We used the paints leftover from our move-in painting so our house flows together nicely now, sans the kitchen's previous zebra motif. We still have a few ends to wrap up, but I already look forward to cooking for my boys in my new kitchen.

Here's a brief before and after look:

Before

After

Now we just have our den, bedroom, and sun room to finish up in the coming weeks!

-Lindsey

Happy 4th of July!

2008-07-04T13:14:00.006-05:00

This morning we attended our town's 4th of July street fair as a family. There was an earlier parade that we purposefully avoided as the street fair is mayhem enough for us.

We had a nice time walking around, eating food, listening to music, and running into friends. Our ambling postponed Moses' nap time, but other than the occasional evil eye, he was a good sport.

We're going to cook out this afternoon with some family and friends and just enjoy this overcast day. Happy 4th to all!

-Lindsey

Germ warfare

2008-06-30T23:44:00.010-05:00

Out of nowhere it seems that Moses has a burgeoning interest in hand washing. Every time we're around a sink, he gestures to wash his hands, and if he doesn't get to wash his hands (say, for the fifteenth time that day), he melts into one of his newly-popular tantrums. Either this is an extension of his hydrophilic self or we're witnessing the early presentation of OCD.

-Lindsey

Why it pays to read blogs

2008-06-23T12:46:00.004-05:00

I've read about the hormone-disrupting chemical, BPA, found in plastic bottles on many, many blogs and found myself sick at the thought of tossing away all of Moses' old but hardly used bottles ($) only to buy new BPA-free ones for his brother, but thankfully, after reading some other blogs, I learned that Babies R' Us is doing a bottle exchange on all Dr. Brown's, Avent, and Playtex bottles with BPA (in the US and Canada). This morning I returned 1 Playtex, 4 Dr. Brown's, and 6 Avent bottles (all used) to our local store and received store credit for their full selling price ($51). Now, I just have to figure out which BPA-free bottles I want to buy for baby #2. We didn't use bottles at all with Moses until he started PDO at 9 months and then he'd only drink from Avent bottles so there's no telling how his brother will take to them. I'm just excited that we won't have any additional out-of-pocket expenses for bottles. Hooray for blogging mommies!

-Lindsey

*Of course Moses missed out on the BPA-free bottles but millions of kids have grown up on those BPA-containing bottles so I'm not too concerned about adverse effects--but we'll play it safe, especially when it's of no cost to us.

**I'm not sure how long Babies R' Us is doing this, but it's worth the trouble of collecting all the bits and pieces of your bottles. Also, the sales associate I originally talked to on the phone didn't know about the exchange, but her manager okayed it.

***Zellers in Canada is also doing this, too.

Home again, home again.

2008-06-22T23:47:00.001-05:00

So after a long, tiring week in the Dallas Metroplex, we are home again. We had a nice time but Dave and I agreed that we'd never turn a work trip into a family trip again because it was too exhausting for both of us. Maybe when Moses is older and I'm not pregnant we'll give it another go, but for now, we'll just say our goodbyes to Dad at the airport and hope he brings us back something cool.

We did have a great time seeing family and friends and visiting the zoo though. He saw grandparents, great-grandparents, great aunts and uncles, and more that I don't know the official titles of--some of whom he'd never met. We also met up with one of my good friends and her husband at The Cheesecake Factory, yum, where Dave and I took turns walking outside with Moses because he refused to behave (figures) in the restaurant. He's just at that age where he's into everything and sitting still is not an option. I also took us to the Ft. Worth Zoo, where Moses enjoyed the un-zoo parts most--the stairs, the men with brooms and dustpans, the golf carts zipping around--not the animals. He only took interest in a bear, a crocodile, and the aviary--everything else either scared him ("no, no, no, bye, bye") or was wholly uninteresting to him.

One thing he's taken away from our trip is a love for airplanes. Each one he saw in the sky would bring about pointing and the repeating of "pane, pane" until we, too, acknowledged its existence.

One thing Dave and I took away from the trip was the damage a coyote caused to our rental car. Seven days of driving in Dallas traffic, and we're fine. Forty-five minutes from home, and we hit a coyote with a death wish who seriously damages our front fender and air conditioner. It's just not right. I think Mother Nature should carry insurance for such occasions because we really, really aren't looking forward to handling this with ours.

Enjoying his great-grandparents' backyard and toddler-sized bridge

Learning the art of sunscreen application

Failing at sunscreen application

"Talking" on the phone for the first-time ever, to Dave's dad (Papa)

Crocodile!

The gorilla

Moses' reaction to the gorilla (vigorous head shaking)

Eh, rhinos, so what?

Moses and the bear "connecting"

-Lindsey

Road Trip

2008-06-17T09:01:00.002-05:00

We're in the DFW Metroplex this week. Dave is attending a teaching institute so Moses and I decided to tag along for a mini-vacation and last hurrah before his brother arrives. I expected to update and post pictures of our adventures, but it seems that after I packed the camera's USB cord, Dave decided to unpack it so the pictures will have to wait until we return.

We're having a good time here. Moses has gone swimming each day (I even went swimming with him, gasp!) and tomorrow we're going to hit up the Ft. Worth Zoo. I can't wait to see his face when he sees all those animals!

I'll be sure to post all about our adventures when we return later this week.

-Lindsey

The benefits of insomnia

2008-06-13T03:07:00.011-05:00

For the last week, I've had terrible insomnia--unable to sleep until 3 or 4 in the morning. It's usually discomfort, a busy baby, or an overactive mind that keeps me up. I try to sleep in, but it's difficult to get back to sleep once I've been awakened (usually by a tiny boy's voice). I might nap through the day, but it's poor sleep. Thankfully, every few nights my body and mind give out and I crash for a good 5 hours. I talked to my doctor, but surprise, surprise, I'm just destined to not sleep for the next 8 weeks. . . and then for months after that.

So, I've decided to look for the positive with this insomnia:

Magnum P.I. reruns air at 3 a.m. on Fox.
There's no little body to drag dishes from the dishwasher while it's being loaded.
It's easy to get school work done.
I've learned there's a mouse in our kitchen.

That's right, a mouse. I noticed some fuzzy movement on my counter early one morning and have consistently had the little guy's company each night around 2 a.m. since. I'm anti-poisons and kill traps so I've resorted to attempting a catch-and-release and it's getting a bit comical. In a way, I've befriended this mouse with our nightly "I'm gonna get you" game. I haven't had any luck catching him yet, and I feel a bit like a slow giant trying to capture some offending, wee-sized, quick-footed intruder. I sometimes talk to the mouse in slow motion and belt out a fee-fi-fo-fum just for good measure. Crazy, I know. But, it's 3 a.m. and insanity thrives at this hour. I'm calling our landlord tomorrow though because I fear there's more than one and as much as I love furry little creatures, I'm a little tired of this fat-and-mouse game.

By the way, at this moment, I'm naming this boy Tom, Tom Selleck Ring. Thank you, Magnum, for making my early mornings more bearable.

-Lindsey

Because I'm pregnant during the summer

2008-06-11T14:57:00.005-05:00

I've had the urge to cut off my hair for weeks now despite my recent personal pledge to grow it out. These 40 extra pounds are just making the summer too unbearably hot and my hair was constantly in a sloppy ponytail in attempt to remain cool. This is the shortest I can remember my hair ever being. I like it though and already feel much, much cooler.

It won't always look this pretty since I never blow dry my hair or use a flat iron. Plus, I think styling it with heat would completely defeat the purpose of this short 'do.

-Lindsey

Mulligan

2008-06-10T20:24:00.006-05:00

If it's a woman's prerogative to change her mind, then I'm doing my gender proud. I started in the boys' room with a certain "look" in mind and have since completely changed direction. The back wall was lime green, now it's a brown called Cathedral Gray. The curtains were also green and now they, too, are brown. I'm much, much happier with the room since making the changes and feel like it fits this house and our family better. Moses seems to enjoy it, too--especially his big boy bed.

Here's the finished product:

View from the doorway

Moses' big-boy bed

The silhouette art work

The baby's crib is ready to go

The nesting dolls are my favorite knick-knack

Brown curtains and invaluable storage

The closet and play areas

More fun wall art

Moses is completely out of the crib now, which frees up the crib for his brother. His new bed is currently a trundle bed frame so he won't have far to fall during this big-bed learning period. Eventually, we'll get him a bed that isn't on wheels, unless it's shaped like a race car. Sigh.

The bunting flags were a project I worked on while at a hotel for my Mother's Day gift. I'd been wanting to make them for awhile but it was too labor intensive for my typical night at home. Cutting the flags took forever (I cut 35). Pinking shears would have helped prevent fraying, but since I don't own a pair, I settled for a zig-zag hem. I'm really pleased with the end result and Moses loves to stand beneath them while looking up and exclaim, "whoa, whoa."

There's now a large, free space under the windows where the trundle bed used to be. It's nice to have that space to play in and its size makes it possible to set up his circus tent without cursing its existence every time you pass. I'm planning on adding a small table and chairs in that area soon, too. Hooray for lots of space!

I had hoped to void his room of a theme when we moved to this house, but there's still a travel motif to the room. Considering Moses' current love for all things wheeled though, I think it's appropriate. Plus, we're open to change as his (and his brother's) interests develop.

One room down, 2 more to go.

-Lindsey

Chutes and Ladders

2008-06-10T11:07:00.007-05:00

I joined the boys at the park this morning.

-Lindsey

Family Time

2008-06-10T09:44:00.003-05:00

Dave's parents and niece were in town yesterday. It was nice to visit with them and Moses especially had fun playing with his cousin. He's finally at that age where there's real interaction between the two of them.

-Lindsey

Paper Cuts

2008-06-09T22:31:00.007-05:00

I'm still working on the boys' room, but I'm nearing the finish line. I needed some cheap wall art so I turned to Moses for inspiration. Since silhouettes are all the rage these days, I fashioned Moses' likeness from some paper, mounted it on a contrasting color, and placed it in a spare frame. Voila! Cheap, personalized art. I actually did two frames with Moses (mirror images) because I plan to replace one with his brother's image when his brother is a) not kicking my insides repeatedly b) capable of holding his head up.

Doesn't he have a nice profile?

UPDATE: To make the silhouette, I found a picture with a good profile shot, cropped it to the size I wanted, and printed it on our home printer. I used tracing paper to outline the silhouette and made a template from cardstock. This was my inspiration.

-Lindsey

Early mornings at the park

2008-06-08T17:47:00.002-05:00

Since his summer break started, Dave's been waking up with Moses in the morning and letting me sleep in. I miss my mornings with Moses, but the bigger I get, the earlier 6 o'clock seems. While I slumber, Dave and Moses ride to a local park to enjoy playtime in the cooler morning air. I can tell Moses is enjoying this extra time with his dad because he's become less of a mama's boy and tags along with Dave everywhere he goes. It's a little sad for me, but at the same time, it's a blessing since his brother will soon upset the status quo.

This morning's fun:

-Lindsey

Fish out of water

2008-06-08T15:35:00.005-05:00

Moses loves his swim gear almost as much as he loves swimming. He especially loves his surf shirt because it's made from Lycra and usually spends a couple of minutes rubbing his chest and tummy after it's put on. So soft...

-Lindsey

What boys' mothers dream at night

2008-06-07T11:50:00.002-05:00

I don't know what it is about boys, but there is some inherent rough and ruggedness to their behavior at even the youngest of ages. Moses is definitely a fan of anything dangerous and gives me mini-heart attacks each day. His face is usually covered in an array of bumps, bruises, and, now, mosquito bites. I think all of this led to some feelings of guilt that have crept into my dreams.

Two nights ago I dreamt that a CPS worker came to inspect our house because Moses' bumps and bruises were brought to their attention and concerned them. She looked over the house and proceeded to wrap every inch of it in a bubble-wrap type substance and left.

I don't think our house is the problem so much as Moses' need to play with reckless abandon. Nevertheless, his battered appearance is influencing my dreams and making me feel worse.

-Lindsey

For those with girls

2008-06-06T11:20:00.005-05:00

Since we're all about testosterone in this house, the closest I'll come to dressing a girl is sharing my finds. While on a recent trip to Dollar Store for some storage containers, I happened across the most adorable ruffly, two-tiered, toddler-girl skirts--for only a dollar. I had an sudden urge to buy as many as possible but stopped myself because I would no doubt have trouble justifying the purchase and end up gifting them to friends and random mothers on the street.

I realize there are two schools of thought regarding such establishments and their wares--I do or I sure-as-hell don't. So, if you are in the "I do" category and have a girl, check out your nearest Dollar Store (found here at the one on 50th and Boston).

They are just cute enough that I'm considering a third.

-Lindsey

Asleep at the meal

2008-06-04T09:32:00.005-05:00

These asleep-while-eating pictures might be a dime a dozen now, but they never get old. Wait. Is that what all mothers think about photos of their kid? Oh yeah...

This was taken last weekend after Moses and Dave returned from swimming at a local pool. Moses is quite the water bug, and he exhausted his dad and himself with never ending requests to jump into the pool. A full stomach makes for great napping.

-Lindsey

Bicycle built for two

2008-06-03T18:37:00.005-05:00

Dave and Moses went for a spin in Dave's (early) Father's Day gift today. I really thought Moses was going to be afraid of the bike trailer, but he loved it and even refused to get out of it when asked. Sure, we'll have that battle every time it's used, but at least he'll have had a great time, outside with father.

We're looking for a toddler's bike helmet.

-Lindsey

Enormity

2008-05-31T08:22:00.003-05:00

I started out well this pregnancy, but in the last nine weeks, I've amassed much more weight than I'd hoped! I've currently gained 34 pounds with this pregnancy, which seems better than my gain with Moses except that I started this pregnancy with 15 more pounds than I started with Moses. I think that means I'm at roughly the same place weight-wise as I was with Moses, but hopefully I won't put on the additional 25 pounds I had when I delivered Moses. I was a whopping 215 when I delivered that kid, carrying more than 70 new pounds!

So, here I am at 29 weeks 4 days and I'm huge, again. I just think it's genetically impossible for me to stay within the recommended weight gain amounts. Sigh. My doctors aren't worried, and I guess I'm not either. It'd just be nice to start the postpartum period without the need to shed an eight-year-old child from my body, again.

I'm also getting a ton of contractions now. I didn't have Braxton Hicks with Moses so I'm new to these "practice" contractions and so not a fan.

-Lindsey

Me and Moses: On the Road

2008-05-30T19:34:00.003-05:00

Last weekend, Moses and I ventured to Wichita Falls for my sister Raychel's high school graduation. This trip marked our first road trip as a duo, sans daddy and other companions. I was worried how he'd handle nearly four hours in his rear-facing car seat so I scheduled our departure for his nap time. We left Lubbock on Friday morning around 10 a.m. and it was easy sailing for most of the trip. He napped for an hour-and-a-half after we left town and woke up at our halfway mark just in time for some leg stretching and diaper changing. The rest of the way I tried to keep him busy with random toys and miscellaneous things found in my purse. It worked and we got into Wichita Falls without a single fit.

Raychel's graduation was very sweet and intimate since she went to a small Christian school and graduated with only 7 other kids. I only got to see the beginning of the pomp and circumstance though because Moses insisted on running around and not playing nicely in the seat beside me. We ended up walking the perimeter of her school umpteen times in the terrible humidity, but it was better than having "that kid."

Lots of family was in town for the occasion so Moses got to see, and, in some cases, meet for the first time, great-grandparents, grandparents, great aunts and uncles, cousins removed or something like that, and aunts. With that many people around, he received oodles of attention and gifts that left him both super busy and exhausted. He played from sun up to sun down for the most part, enjoying the Little Tikes Cozy Coupe, tricycle, and wagon my mom has been saving since my sisters' days on them and a lawn mower than his great aunt bought him. Thankfully, my family played with Moses a great deal and I was able to relax a bit. That heat was very tiring and my body did not want to keep up.

We left the following Monday, Memorial Day, and the return trip wasn't too bad either. He slept just as he had on the first leg and woke up in time to "mow" for a bit in Guthrie, the midway point. He really started get restless towards then and I pulled out all I could from my "mommy bag" by the time we got home.

Sadly, I left my memory card in our computer at home (but took my camera on the trip) so I couldn't take any pictures. The following were taken by my Aunt Sheri:

I'm hoping I'll get some more pictures from last weekend. There were some great moments and I wish I had had my own camera to capture them!

-Lindsey

The Wall

2008-05-27T14:42:00.003-05:00

Despite being only 29 weeks, I feel like I have hit a wall in this pregnancy. Maybe it's the staggering heat I was exposed to over the weekend (97 degrees and severe humidity!), but I have no energy for anything and my body is revolting against me with newfound aches and pains. I'm just not one of those women who are joyously pregnant and I will certainly never have 18 children and even a third might be pushing it. I doubt my body (physically and mentally) is capably of carrying a child to 40 weeks so, at this point, I'm hoping this boy makes an early, healthy appearance like Moses did.

School starts this week so it's back to the books for the next month. Luckily, this summer session only lasts until June 28th and then I'm taking a break from school until next spring (my final semester of graduate school)!

Dave finishes teaching this week and then he'll be home with us for the summer. I'm hoping that with his help I can muster up enough energy to finish some projects before baby #2 arrives.

I'm hoping to post pictures from our weekend in Wichita Falls in the next day or two. Despite the heat, we had a wonderful time, and Moses especially enjoyed his Cozy Coupe:

-Lindsey

18-Month Check Up

2008-05-27T10:47:00.003-05:00

Before Moses and I went out of town Friday morning, we had his 18 month check up. It was a relatively uneventful doctor's visit so we were on the road in no time at all (details to come). His weight was 24 pounds 9 ounces (30th percentile), his height was 34.5 inches (97th percentile), and his head circumference was 49.9 centimeters (93rd percentile). Dave joked that he's a pumpkin head on a toothpick body.

He still only has four teeth, but he's teething right now so we expect to see some new ones pop through during the summertime. Despite having so few teeth at his age, he's a good eater and can keep up with his many-toothed peers.

He also doesn't have too great a vocabulary, but he's really started picking up words and sounds faster lately. I think it's a benefit to have cold (and ear infection) season behind us so hopefully that'll help with his language acquisition. Dr. Gray wasn't worried about it (and we're not either) as boys are slower than girls in that department and Moses is on target for everything else. We're just eager to open up the lines of communication.

-Lindsey