baby...

Heart Rate - 145
Due Date (based on measurements) - Nov 1
Everything looked good according to the ultrasound tech. At first the baby's legs were closed but we finally saw that ITS A GIRL! Lennox came with us but he was not very attentive... Or so I thought. When we left, I called my sister first and asked Lennox to tell her what we are having. He said "a baby kicker (sister)!". It was really cute. I cannot believe he is going to be a big brother. I know he will be a good one though.

Why 5 year olds should not name babies!

Avery spent the night last night. She suggested we name the baby one of the following: swill, corn pop, patches, or chance. Ha. The first three are obviously for either a boy or girl! Unfortunately, jules sparkle is off the table. That's what she is naming her new siSter!

22 months

· You’ve been saying your numbers up to eleven (skipping seven) but now you are actually figuring out how to count items. You point out pairs of two like “two trucks” or “two balls.” You always point out your finger to count or make me count with your finger. It’s cute.
· You are starting to be a good helper. When I pick up toys you try to help instead of just dumping the toys I have already picked up. You also bring me old sippy cups and tell me “old milk mommy. I new milk!” That really helps me keep the house clean too.
· You are talking so much. Basically everything we ask you to say, you give it a try. Uncle Greg thought it was funny to try to get you to say perpendicular and hippopotamus… Something came out of your mouth but it wasn’t exactly clear. I like how you say avocado… Akakakoo! You are talking in sentences all of the time. Like "mommy I want apple duce."

· All of the colors are red now except for gray, gold, purple, and white. Weird selection you have chosen to see clearly.
· Thanks to hanging with Everett, you have started being more aware of pee-pee. I think by this summer you will probably at least go in the potty some of the time. As of right now, you just sit on the potty and then you say “I plush it.”
· You are great at entertaining yourself quietly. You still love the same old toys but are getting more interested in driving your trucks, building with blocks, Little People, and your tool bench. You are such an outside boy and cry for “outKite” all day long. You smell like a little wet puppy after about 2 minutes.
· Your baby pool is a big hit this year. You don’t step into it, you just run full speed and fall over the edge head first. You also love to slip ‘n’ slide. I haven’t been able to convince you that you need to stand in line and take turns on the slip n’ slide. Avery’s way around that is just to pretend you aren’t there. I thought you might lose a tooth or an eye but it turned out ok.

Every day I look at you and you still look like my little baby with your chubby legs and pokey belly. I love this toddler stage where everything is fun and new to you. Everything from pot holders used as chompers to paper towel rolls used as telescopes makes you happy. I rarely see you in an unhappy mood. You are so flexible and seem to like everyone. Some weeks you stay with 4 different people in a row and you don’t skip a beat. I love that about your personality.

Long Beach (Wrong Beach?)

My sister is in town and wanted to take the kids to the MS beach to play in the sand. What was she thinking? Yeah, clearly she wasn't. Anyway, being the good sister that I am, I went along with her plan. We loaded up the 3 kids and about 6 bags of essentials. After driving an hour to Wrong Beach, we unloaded the car and the 2 toddlers and a 5 year old. We (2 prego ladies) hiked through the sand with our 6 bags and 3 kids. We set up just down wind of a big rotten fish. That was pleasant. Meanwhile, the kids had to wear their shoes to avoid stepping on any of the litter on the beach (there was plenty). The brown water turned Lennox's new swim suit brown. GROSS. After about an hour of sweltering heat, we decided we were done with this unfortunate situation. After hiking back to the car with all of our loot and our 3 kids, all covered in sand and sweat, we realize there are no showers to get the sand off!? UGH. So... we poured ice water on the kids to wash away the sand. That went over well. Then the kids got back in the sand before we could strap them in the car! That also went over well with the 2 prego ladies. We won't be making another trip to Wrong Beach, MS. Luckily though, as we were leaving, the prison trucks were unloading prisoner clean up crews. I guess we should have scheduled our trip for Tuesday. I wonder if they clean up the dead fish and crabs along with the litter???

On a happier note, there is a great public splash pad for kids in west Gulfport. We made a stop by there on the way home.

Baby Brother or Baby Sister?

• We have our u/s Friday to find out how the baby is developing and whether Lennox will have a baby sister or a baby brother! I really have no feeling of what the baby is either way. This time around has been about the same as the last time. My family convinced me I was having a girl with Lennox and now my mom is convinced again that I'm having a girl. I would love to have a girl to dress up but I would also love for Lennox to have a brother.
• I am supposed to have my glucose tolerance test next week since I had gestational diabetes the first time. I am really crossing my fingers that I am ok. Counting carbs is no fun! Plus, there is a certain amount of guilt associated with knowing your body is not a great environment for your baby. I know you cannot prevent gestational diabetes but, as a mom, you want to do everything you can to protect your children even before they are born... so, I will count my carbs like a champ if I need to.
• My doctor asked me last visit if I was "all messed up in the head" about gaining weight! ha. She even said, I mean "do you have a mental problem with it?" She is so funny. Surprisingly I didn't gain weight last visit but, no, I am not all messed up in the head about it. If you know me at all, you know I love to eat... love it. Also, if did have a "mental problem" with gaining weight, I doubt that I would answer truthfully... you know? My doctor is crazy!!!

Bye Bye

Lennox has started telling everything bye bye. The other night I put him to bed and he said "bye bye Daddy, Bye bye yoyo, bye bye too too tain." When I get him out of the tub he says "bye bye bat tub, bye bye pishy."

Yesterday we left my parent's house and he said "bye bye meme, bye bye dirt, bye bye meme powers (flowers), bye bye tees (trees), bye bye epelant (elephant)." I'm not sure where the elephant was hiding but I sure didn't see him...

Blame it on the Hormones

Sunday I took Lennox to early church by myself. Our church nursery does not open until after an hour of praise & worship. Usually I get there 30 minutes late to minimize the time Lennox is in the sanctuary. Well, Sunday we were in there all of 3 minutes before we headed to the lobby. He immediately demanded, as he does every Sunday, to "bow hard" at the candles burning in the lobby. Of course I wouldn't let him blow them out so he proceeded to throw a fit and yell and hit. Then, he ran up to a nice man who works for the church and wanted the man to hold him/save him from his red faced mama. The man picked him up & Lennox begged him to let him "bow hard." After explaining what he wanted, I said come on Lennox and tried to grab him. He grabbed the nice church man around the neck and refused to let go. Not wanting to make a huge scene, I figured I would let the man hold him for a couple more minutes. After a few minutes of coercing (begging) him to come back to me and getting his hand in my face telling me "MO, MO Mama," I just reached under his arms and tried to take him (because it had been like 5 minutes and clearly this man was not there to hold my kid all day). well, he threw himself back and started kicking wildly. He kicked the man, hit me, screaming the whole time... the man sternly said "oh no son, we don't kick." Ok, I don't blame the guy for telling Lennox that b/c he was getting kicked but something in his tone just brought stinging tears to my eyes. I felt like everyone in the lobby thought I was a horrible, incompetant mother. I just headed for the door, leaving my Bible and everything in the sanctuary. I got right in the car and the tears just started falling. It could have been partly because I was getting head butted in the face... but I think it was the stern church man's tone that did it! That had to be the hormones... right? (or I'm crazy)

Yesterday, I woke up and got myself and Lennox dressed for my 9 am doctor's appt. I loaded the car with the stroller and lots of entertainment (since you never know how long you'll have to wait for an OB). I drove 45 minutes to the doctor's office & proudly signed in 5 minutes early for my 9 am appt. Yep, you guessed it, my appt was at 2:15. Since I was already there and early at that, I thought maybe they could fit me in. Sure... if I would just wait until the doctor arrived at 10, saw a few appointments, then assessed whether she was on schedule, she might be able to fit me in. ??? Clearly this was my mistake but I sure enough cried all the way back to the car. Yes, I think I'm nuts.