It is a BOY!

We went for our ultrasound today and found out we were going to have a little boy. What am I going to do with a boy?!

At first, the doctor thought it was a girl. But, as he measured the baby moved and the doctor caught an angle that made it very obvious it was not a girl. When he said it was a girl I was so happy because I really wanted a sister for P...of course, I would have been happy for a boy, too. Hubby was happy it was a girl for me, but when he saw that it was a boy he got really choked up and teared up a bit. It was really cool to see him that overwhelmed with joy. Hubby's first comment was that now he had someone to play videogames with....uhmmm...not sure how I feel about that.

I have to admit, I was a little disappointed but after giving it some thought I am very excited. Part of it is that I haven't even met this little soul, yet, so I don't have a connection with him. I definitely love him already because he is growing inside me and I can feel him move around. He is a mover and a shaker - I love that he makes his presence known all the time.

My friend is pulling together clothes from her little boy to send up. Thankfully, I have a friend who has boy's clothes I can use/have to get me through his first few months. I have been very fortunate with P because my cousin has two girls and has let me borrow a ton of clothes for her.

Well, I am looking forward to decorating a nursery for a boy and to think of boy names. It should be a lot of fun. I am especially excited for P to have a baby brother on the way. We are such a lucky family. I thank God everyday for the my family and the love we have for each other.

Posting twice today

I just read that only 5% of babies are born on their due date (www.americanpregnancy.org). P was born at 1:17am on May 1...her due date. What a special girl. :)

So excited!

Tomorrow morning I go in for my 2nd ultrasound (actually my 3rd because I got a 2nd one "on the house"). I am going to find out what the sex of the baby is and can barely wait. I have been feeling him/her moving away in there all week. It is so cool. I don't remember P moving this much, but then again I probably didn't know what to feel or thought it was gas.

Almost everyone is betting on a boy, but that is what everyone said last time and we now have Miss P. I am hoping for a girl and am really feeling like it is a girl...but, we shall see! I really want P to have a sister.

Started Class

I just started my Tuesday night class, which means I am gone from 5:30p to 9p every Tuesday until Dec. 4. My mom is watching Miss P until hubby gets home from work. P is crazy about her Grandma and goes so far as to push me away when Grandma is holding her. It is quite humerous and reminds me of my relationship with my Grandma when I was little. My Grandma was the light of my life and my best friend. She was funny, fun, loving, caring, easy going and most of all gave me tons of attention. It was great.

Anyhoo....I called hubby on my break to see if he had eaten dinner and to let him know that I was indeed going to be in class until 8:40p that evening. Then I called again when I was leaving to see if he had put P to bed or was in the process of doing it. He told me that she was waiting for me to come home. I guess she kept saying Mommy and looking around for me - out the window and everything! I thought it was funny, and unbelievable that her little mind was processing the need to wait for me, but then I realized how difficult she can be when she gets beside herself and felt bad for her and hubby. Of course, secretly it made me super happy to know she wanted me.

When I got home and walked up the driveway I caught her eye through the window. I could see her marching in place with a big smile saying Mommy, Mommy. It was the cutest thing! She ran up to me with a huge smile on her face and arms in the air for me to pick her up. What a greeting. How lucky can I be?

I can see!

I haven't figured out if she likes it or not, but Miss P's carseat got change to forward-facing this passed weekend. It makes me so sad, but I knew it was time. Everything I read said that babies need to be 20 pounds and one year old. Well, she is over one and still not 20 pounds. I spoke with my pediatrician and he said that it is not so much the weight that is concerning, it is the head control. So, technically, I could have changed her around months ago.

This is just one more step my baby is taking towards growing up...and darn if it doesn't happen fast. I mean in less than 15 months she more than doubled her height and weight, she is feeding herself, she went from scooting to walking to running, she says actual words instead of just crying and she does funny things to get a reaction. That is a TON of things to accomplish is less than a year and a half if you ask me. I mean, I didn't even get my first real promotion at work until I was there two years...and I was by no means doing something as important at learning how to talk or walk.

She is really great at playing by herself. I am very happy about this because with baby #2 coming I won't have the one-on-one time for her like I do now. I really need to take advantage of this time; however, I do not want her to get "mommy-play-hooked" and have to depend on me for her entertainment. That would be not be a good thing. Yesterday I took her to the babysitting play area at our recreation center so I could work out. I was worried she would freak out with me leaving her and being in a new place. Quite the contrary, she seemed to really like it. When I picked her up she was off by herself exploring the vast amounts of toys they provide for the kids. The other three children were screaming and crying for mommy...not my girl. She liked her independence...similar to her mommy I suppose....

Never thought...

Okay, so, would you ever think that someone taking spaghetti smearing it all over the table, throwing it and then mushing into their own hair and all over their face would be cute? Generally, I would have to give that a big thumbs down. However, when I gave Miss P her pasta dinner that is just what she did, darn if I didn't beam with smiles and laughs. So cute that I even have to share it here and so cute that I had to take her picture.

Shoes

So, I am breaking down and buying a pair of Stride Rites. I went to my community center today and I have to have hard-soled shoes on Miss P to leave her in the playroom, so I figured I guess it is time to make the small investment in my child's feet. Now, I totally trust my pediatrician and really prefer the little moccasin-type shoes like Jack and Jill and Robeez, but they do not offer that protection if baby is walking on rocks or little toys that happen to be in their way.

I went to Stride Rite and had her fitted. It was hard finding a pair I really liked because they were all too cute, so P made the decision for me. She actually looked at a pair I hadn't even considered and made the mmm.mmm..mmm sound she makes when she wants me to hand her something. Out of all the shoes there that particular pair caught her eye and she didn't want to give the display shoe back to me. So, those are the ones we chose. The girl knows what she wants, what can I say. I went up to pay and forgot my wallet and had to put them on hold. I plan to get them today. They are super cute - a light maroon-type pink with flowers on the eyeholes. They should go with everything, even red.

I am really happy with the decision to go to Stride Rite because they knew how to measure her, how to watch her walk in them and gave me pointers on when she should wear them and when to watch for when she needs a bigger size. I would never have been able to do that on my own with this first child. Now, #2 will probably just get hand-me-downs.....hopefully...if it is another girl. Pray for me! hahah!

What do you feed a one year old?

Oh, the most perplexing question I have asked myself in ages. I have never spent so much time trying to think through breakfast, lunch and dinner meals than I do when trying to figure out what to fix my pint sized human. My daughter is really good about eating anything, except now she turns her nose up to vegetables...adding more stress to my already bulging head. What do I do? I asked my pediatrician. He said - oh just add them to stews, sauces - just hide in them in what you fix her.

Well, I don't exactly fix her stews and as far as sauces, should I be mixing up a fresh spaghetti sauce or gravy for each meal? This may sound simple to many people, but I am no cook, and what I do cook is pretty simple. So, I just I'll just have to go with my gut instinct...or buy the book: The Sneaky Chef. I'll just use her ideas since they seem to work for her children.

All in all, though, I think I do pretty good feeding her. I do, however, want more variety in her little diet. She gets the food pyramid each day if I can help it, and eats really well. I just want her to start eating her vegetables without having to be coaxed.

Busy, busy

When my family and friends said that toddlers are busy and I'd have my hands full I didn't really believe them. I thought that P was a pretty relaxed, laid back child....well, I was certainly wrong. I cannot keep up with her! Doing the dishes or even typing a simple email is a chore.

She is into the dog bowls dumping water all over herself (poor dogs, I can only put their dishes down when she is napping or when she goes to bed), getting into the dog food bin and throwing food all over the kitchen, digging through the trash and playing with banana peels (GROSS!), tossing the remote across the room to our brand new HDTV, trying to get the gate down to climb the stairs, going through papers or mail and ripping it apart, getting ahold of my keys and hiding while hitting the panic button so the horn goes off endlessly, calling people on my cell or logging onto the internet costing us extra money each month, going through my purse and pulling everything out - whew! and the list can go on. Now, I am sure if anyone reads this they will think, "well, why don't you watch your child?" The thing is, I AM watching her all the time, and she still gets away with all of this!!! I will literally run upstairs to pee for 2 minutes and come down to what looks like a tornado hit the house or the dogs eating who knows what.

As I write this I am laughing because I really don't mind the mess or the cleaning it up. It is actually pretty funny to see what she will get into next. She likes to chase the dogs around with things that scare them and watch them run and bark at her. It is quite amusing. Luckily, the dogs are small and they can't really hurt anything when they get all wound up. P comes over to inform me of how she is teasing the dogs and thinks she is so cute doing it.

I am looking forward to after I have the baby so I more energy to keep up with her and play with her. By then, though, I'll have two to keep up with and will have to really suck up being tired. Sounds like fun to me! ...probably torture to others. Gotta run, she's up the stairs!

Trying to get it together

Now that I am feeling better, I want to cram all the summer activities I missed throughout June and July. Summer is coming to an end and although we have done some fun things, I feel like I have missed out on going to the pool and other summer activities because I was laying on the couch the first half of summer. I'll tell ya, having babies certainly cuts your social life in half....well, let's be realisic, your social life is pretty limited. I have been comfortable taking P just about anywhere, but there are only so many "adult" things you can do with a baby. For instance, my favorite pub - yeah, found out that it isn't really kid- friendly. BUMMER!!

Now, writing that, I also have to write that I wouldn't change it for the world. My little P is my precious angel who makes me smile all the time. I don't know anything or anyone else who can do that. She is walking now and jabbering more and more. She knows the names of many animals and has her favorite books memorized. She loves books. We go to the library all the time to freshen her collection.

She is a little blondie with blue eyes. We still can't figure out where the blonde hair came from. Hubby keeps saying it's the mailman, but we have a mail lady so his guess is wrong. I am excited to meet the new addition and see what differences and similarities he/she has with P.

Can family really brighten your life?

Sometimes I wonder about that question because so many people have issues with their family members. Of course, as the old saying goes: "You can choose your friends, but you can't choose your family." I believe that is telling us that we hang out with the people we choose to hang out with rather than people we are obliged to hang out with...hence, family members.

I think that is a little rough. But, I think part of it is that you are supposed to just accept the people who are your family whether you like it or not. That really isn't very fair, but it is the way it is. The great thing is that these people who may get under your skin or irritate the heck out of you would do anything in the world for you. Kind of strange, huh? I have friends who I just tolerate, so I don't really hang out with them. I have some family I just tolerate and I see them often.

Luckily, I pretty much like everyone in my family. They are all very loving people who think a lot of my husband, child and me. We don't really have any awful people in the horde - just some who make some dumb choices.

On a lighter note - my darling P is walking. She is my little explorer getting into everything she can. Currently, she is stuck behind the chair crying her eyes out for a little help. I better run before she hurts herself.

Morning Sickness

I haven't written in a while because I have been really sick with this pregnancy. I am starting to feel a TON better! whoo hoo. I can actually eat and not think about how I want to spend the next 20 minutes in the bathroom getting rid of it or laying on the couch the rest of the night dreading the fact that food makes me totally sick, but it is the only thing that also makes me feel better. Kind of strange, huh? I could barely go into the grocery store much less make myself a sandwich, but eating was the way I would actually get rid of the nausea feeling.

I am so sick of crackers, Special K and Cheerios, Mac - n- Cheese and baked potatoes...oh, and believe it or not, pepperoni pizza (I have heard of other pregnant women wanting pizza when they were sick, too). Finally, I am able to eat some cheese, peanut butter, fruit and some veges. Meat still sounds terrible to me, but I know eating some iron and protein would definitely boost my energy. And, my favorite food is finally staying down - chocolate! I can't eat much of it, which is actually a blessing because my butt doesn't need it.

Miss P and I walk almost everyday. I want to be sure I stay somewhat in shape during this pregnancy. I also lift weights - but nothing too drastic because you are supposed to be a little careful with lifting things. I also can't wait to get back to eating normally and making healthy choices. I really want to go back to eating a really healthy diet - besides, the only way hubby will eat healthy is if I fix healthy food, so I really need to be concious of the food I buy and make. I just feel like I have eaten nothing but crap when I can eat these passed three months. I really couldn't help it, though. Being pregnant certainly does weird things to your body - it is hard to deal with, but all in all it is a pretty cool thing.

I am finally excited about baby #2...now that he or she isn't making me want to vomit all day and night. I am just so happy Miss P will have a sibling to play with, and I hope it is a girl. I always wanted a sister and I am envious of my friends who have sisters. I would love to have had a best friend that knew me since I was a baby. But, if it is a boy I will love him, too. Really, I am like every other mother - just give me a healthy baby that I can love and nurture and help grow into a respectable, responsible citizen.

Next summer I already have plans to drink martinis or good wine on a patio somewhere.

Whew!

Okay, so I am pregnant with baby #2 and have been as sick as a dog. On top of the nausea that most preggo women feel I have a terrible head cold. I am truly miserable. I feel so bad for Miss P because I don't have the energy - emotionally or physically - to give her the attention I feel she deserves. I know she is fine, but things are just so different right now and I am having a hard time coping.

The hardest part is that my job never stops. If I was working and was sick I'd just call off and spend the day in bed. You can't do that with a baby. You are on the job 24/7 and just have to suck it up. I think that is probably good because it makes you deal with your sickness and not just lay around and complain...like I am now.

We are so excited to have a sibling for P. We saw the little heartbeat on Friday and received the due date, which is Jan. 22. I was really nervous going in, scared that we may not have a healthy growing baby. I am so happy it was just fear from past experience and nothing was wrong...and that it wasn't twins. I feel good about the pregnancy - I mean, I know things will be just fine. Especially, once I get passed the first trimester sickness.

Miss P is growing up so quickly. She isn't walking, yet, but she is climbing on everything. I have to keep a close eye on her because she is up the stairs in a flash or climbing the entertainment center. She talks constantly and points things out. It is so cute. I am struggling with the food thing - but that'll pass.

Sounds stupid

My Ohio History class is finally over and my speech class ends next Wednesday. As odd as it sounds, I am really sad that these two classes are over. Mainly because so much happened during the time I was in them.

When I signed up I was worried because I was going to Florida to visit Sheilah while she was down there, and that was my first trip traveling by plane with the baby. When I got to Florida I saw how sick Sheilah was and was completely shocked. She couldn't get up off of the couch and looked like she weighed 90 pounds. Now, the last time I saw her she was wearing a size 12 or 14, so it was unbelievable to me that she got that thin. You can talk to people on the phone and realize they are feeling so well, but you truly do not know until you actually are faced with seeing them.

My friend Kelly Long went with me and helped with Miss P. Thankfully, because there is no way I could have traveled through the airport by myself. Have her there for moral support was awesome, too. Nursing the baby in public was kind of hard for me and I was really apprehensive about it. I didn't have the best experience with it, either. People weren't the nicest or the most accomodating. I was pissed because it was like I was doing something "wrong" by feeding my child. The worst was the Atlanta airport. I was seriously ready to kill someone. They said I HAD to nurse P in the bathroom. I wrote to the airport and voice my dissatisfaction with their airport.

Then when we got back from Florida two weeks later we left for Boston. Sheilah took a turn for the worse...as if that was possible at the time. The outlook was grim and we knew we had to get out there. We spent 5 days in Boston and then two weeks in Rhode Island. Sheilah passed Feb. 6 and we stayed until the following Monday because of the funeral and arrangements and such. It was difficult leaving the family because everyone was so fragile. Hubby is still have a difficult time with depression and a loss. I really think he should go to a support group or something for grieving....it is that bad.

Miss P had her first birthday. She got four teeth during the duration of my classes and is officially weaned. It makes me sad that she is no longer nursing, but it had to happen one of these days! She doesn't seem to mind too much. She is a little needier than usual, but I am sure that will pass. She is also showing signs of standing on her own - not just pulling up with help, but actually standing from a sitting position. Oh goodness, she will be a menace. She is already into everything.

My dad is much better with his heart and my mom is doing okay with her knees. She is still in pain and can't walk that far, but she is doing okay.

We got a new car. A Mazda 5. It has much more room and is really easy to get P in and out of. Well, before the baby has a meltdown I better sign off.

Television

Miss P is watching her Baby Einstein Neighborhood Animals DVD. Now, I know she technically is not supposed to be watching tv, but she seems to really enjoy it. Plus, I can get some laundry done, wash the dogs or mop the floor....things that are really hard to do with a 13 month old into everything.

I decided to just watch her to see if she actually got anything out of it. It seems as if she does. She got all excited when the puppets came on and then she started saying the names of the animals she knew when they came on screen. The cat came up and she said "cat" and then "meow, meow." I found out she knows the word for "mouse," too. It is so cute how babies love animals.

I took her to the aquarium today to see the fish. There was a little boy feeding the Koi (sp?). She thought that was pretty cool and was beaming from ear to ear as the fish came up for a nibble. Unfortunately, mama was out of quarters. They had a couple of stingrays, too. One of them kept coming up the side of the tank and part of the way out of the tank to say "hello." It was kind of cool, but then he kept doing it. I think it wanted us to take it home. Well, after what happened to the crocodile hunter I am anti-stingray for a while...even though they are pretty cool looking.

We saw all types of fish and coral and anemon. Sponge Bob wasn't there...that was a little disappointing.

Cracks me up

My child cracks me up. She loves to get under things. Under the table, under her highchair, under her exersaucer, under the blanket - it is so funny. Everytime I do laundry she gets into and spreads it all over the living room...go figure. Well, she got ahold of my bra and decided it was a really cool play thing.

She carried my bra around for the afternoon, dragging it here and there. She got under, or more like "into" her exersaucer and dragged my bra with her. I was laughing so hard at her. I tried to take my bra away and she cried and cried like she needed to have that bra.

For Memorial Day we went to Grandma and Grandpa's. P had fun playing with her cousins. They kept getting into the dog cage and playing around and screaming at each other as loudly as they could. Carlye kept trying to pick her up, but since she is only three she isn't that big herself. P pretty much just ended up rolling around with her on the ground as Carlye tried to get her into a sitting position. It is great that P has them to play with.

That brings me to how social P is. She kept wanting to go to her Grandma, Aunt Carol and Candyce. I guess she was tired of her mommy. That was really nice to see, though. She doesn't just need me to comfort her.

How did I get so lucky?

Miss P and I went to the Farmer's Market this morning to look at the plants and homemade food. I don't think she was really into going when I got her dressed this morning. She kept grabbing at her toys and books - anything to keep from putting her clothes on. I think she just wanted to play and have me read to her.

I can't believe when I watch her how intelligent she seems. I mean, it is so cool to see that her toy of choice is books. She loves to look at the pictures and point at the things on the page so I can tell her what they are. Animals are her favorite, especially when I make the sounds of the animals. She now points to a cat and says cat "meow." She also does a sheep "baaaa." It is so stinkin' cute.

I believe she will be a talker. When we went to the park yesterday all she did was babble. I am not sure if she was talking to me or just talking to talk. She can say all sorts of things. Here are a few things on her list that I understand:

Drink
Mama
Dada
Dog
Piper
Potty
Train
Tree
Bird
Cat
Meow
Bottle
Snack
Shhhh
Bye-bye
Book
Bath
Teddy

My angel

It is so weird to see my baby exerting her own little desires and annoyances. The whole time she was a little baby (younger than 10 months) she pretty much was easy going and let me know what she wanted, but if I couldn't understand her it was no big deal. But, that has changed. The days of mommy not understanding and being passive about it are over. Now, if I don't "get" what she is saying to me she gets mad and squeals contorting her face into a look of sheer dissatisfaction.

Miss P has officially come out of the the box of just letting the world happen and observing to making things happen for herself. She teases the dog, she hides, she scoots away from if I am about to take her favorite toy away, she points and tells me what she wants more of to eat, and she brings over the books she wants me to read to her. It is amazing. It makes me a little sad because she is definitetly not a "baby" any longer, but a baby going into toddlerhood. Luckily, she still loves when I hold her and kiss her and doesn't get mad at me if I just want to cuddle her. She is my little angel.

What a pair

I was walking Miss P yesterday in the park and I went to sit on a park bench to point out the trees, the cars and the other dogs. Miss P also needed a drink of water because it was quite hot yesterday.

As I turned the stoller to face me, I looked at my darling child in her stoller and she had the hugest booger hanging out of her nose. Not only a huge booger, but her face was a mess. She had left-over food from dinner smeared on her cheek, her eye and all in her hair. I thought I had wiped her face clean, but obviously I missed a bunch of spots! I also noticed she has dirty fingernails from playing outside and because she scoots her butt was filthy! I sat there laughing thinking my goodness, no wonder that person just looked and smiled at me that smile. He must of thought mom had a rough day and just looked at the baby as proof.

The fact is, I didn't have a rough day. I meerly pulled a typical mom maneuver - missing several spots of filth on my baby's face because she's a baby, she doesn't sit still to be cleaned. She'll barely sit still for me to get the apple smear from her forehead much less cleaning her whole face. Now, I have to admit, Miss P is a good girl and very patient. Usually I do get to all the spots, but somehow they show up again and again. Almost like a trick candle that no matter how many times you blow on it, it stays lit.

To top off the filth of my daughter I smelled horrible! I knew I was sweating all day from being outside at the park with some of my mommy friends and taking our after-dinner walk, but c'mon, I showered earlier and applied deoderant TWice!

I guess we were fit to just stick together yesterday, and had a smell and a filth about us that warned off all strangers. haha!

Mother's Day

Wow - I had a terrific Mother's Day. Hubby and Miss P got me another year's worth of red wine from around the world. Hubby got that for me the Christmas I was pregnant with Miss P and I was so excited. I loved seeing the wine bottles pile up. Well, after Miss P was born it didn't take long for me to get through all the bottles. I am such a lush!! haha! Well, I shared a LOT and gave a few bottles away, so essentially I didn't drink all of them. Hubby said it was a gift just for me. He doesn't drink, so it really is all for me!

We had a Mother's Day brunch at the house. I made egg casserole, spinach squares, a lemon cake and fresh fruit. I got my mom a compact from her favorite store Brighton and made a pot from Miss P with her little footprints all over it. Miss P wasn't happy about getting her little feet dipped in paint, but we mustered through it and her grandma loved it.

After brunch we went to plant flowers on my grandmas' graves. I can't believe they have both been gone over 12 years. My Grandma Browning died from ovarian cancer a week before my brother's wedding in January 1993. Grandma Williams died of what they think was stroke in September 1991. Grandma Williams was leaving for Hawaii the next day, so it was totally unexpected. She had just received a clean bill of health from the doctor not a month before her passing. I remember Mary Alice saying Grandma told her she was going to paradise...well, she truly was. We just couldn't believe she went before Grandma Browning because she was so sick with cancer and Grandma Williams was so healthy. I guess you just never know. All I know is that I still miss them terribly and I wish they were here to enjoy Peyton.

They both visited me in the hospital when I had Peyton. I think everyone thinks I am crazy, but I swear they came in through the window to give a kiss to the baby and then leave. I totally smelled them both and felt them both.

Let's just say that with EVERYTHING this Mother's Day was very special.

It was hard, though, without Sheilah. We had a wake to go to on Saturday for one of Shane's clients. He couldn't make it more than 5 minutes and we left. He had a tough weekend. I think visiting her grave this summer will be very difficult, but we have to do it. Even just out of sheer respect for Sheilah - to honor what a wonderful mother and friend she was. We miss her terribly.