Half Baked

Holy shnikes...we're half way there.  According to my weekly newsletter, "your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby's legs are curled up against his torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of his head to his bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, he's measured from head to toe.)"

A banana??  Why yes, that sounds quite satisfying.  I still can't believe we're halfway there....it seems like yesterday we found out we were expecting.  Although I'm glad the first trimester is over, we can hang out in the second trimester a bit longer.  I love having energy, sleeping well, the slight flutters of Abby's little brother, being comfortable in the car, not waddling...oh yes, we can stay in the second trimester for a bit.

I promise pictures soon.  Clearly, this is child number two.  Not even out of the womb and already getting the short end of the stick.   

Crafty Projects - Necklace Display

I've been wanting to finish this particular project for months - I think since I came across the idea on Pinterest.  From start to finish it took about 45 minutes.  Ten minutes to find the perfect piece of drift wood, 5 minutes to buy the cup hooks, 10 minutes to twist all the hooks in the wood and about 30 minutes to hang and display my necklaces.  Way more exciting to see them hung this way than in my jewelery box.  And much easier to retrieve the perfect accessory for the day!

Before - what a mess...

After

Drift wood hanger!

So much easier!

For My Birthday

When asked what I wanted for my birthday, I knew right away.  Nothing material, but the gift of time.  Time spent painting a new baby boy's room and putting in a walkway.  Two projects completely able to cross off the list in one weekend, right?  There's no prep needed in the room besides moving of all the junk and removing the outlet plates.  I'll certainly post before and after pictures of each project.  I'm hopeful - afterall, it is my birthday. 

Flowers from a friends wedding shower - they make me smile!

To another year in paradise!!! 

We Have a Reader!

Well, not a reader per say, but someone who loves to read.  She's going to be the one who I catch reading at 2am with a flashlight underneath her covers.

Want to know how I know?? Last night we struggled to get Abby to bed.  By 9pm, it had been quiet for awhile and as we finished picking up for the night, Tim noticed her light was on!  We went in in complete surprise. She hadn't made a peep in well over an hour. "Mumma, I'm not tired!" she said, with one leg over her knee, reading a book.  How on Earth did she turn on her light??!!

Abby's new favorite book

She can't read yet, but she will be before we know it!  Thankfully, she was asleep by the time we went to bed. 

And we are......

Team Blue!  With all 10 fingers and toes, an adorable toosh, a beautiful spine, and a beating heart we can officially say Abby is going to have a baby brother.  She joined us for the appointment and did well throughout the 45 minute poking and prodding.  The baby fell asleep half way through and I ended up having to walk around to try and wake him up.  We finally got all the pictures needed to complete the anatomy scan and we were on our way. We have a DVD of all the shots, a strip of photos, and Abby even got to take her own photo home! I'm fairly certain she hung onto it all day. 

We rushed out of the appointment to get on with our day and had the chance to reconnect at dinner.  Gosh, are we excited!  Abby's picture is now hanging on her wall and she's kissed it "goodnight" several times.  Already the doting big sister.

Here are a couple of pictures from our appointment this morning.  

The, ah, boy parts

Sweet profile

Abby: 2 years 8 months
Little Brother: 19 weeks

The Big Ultra Sound...

....is Monday!  Yes, already!  We're almost 19 weeks and this is the time they schedule the big anatomy scan.  We'll say a prayer the baby is healthy and that his or her legs are WIDE open.  With Abby's anatomy scan, this was the result. 

We are planning on bringing Abby.  Partly because it will be fun for her to see the baby and mostly because  the appt is at 8am in the morning and we can't drop Abby off at day care until 8am. 

I talked to her this morning about the appointment and what we might see.  I asked her again if she'd like a baby brother or baby sister.  Her answers this far have been 50/50 - it all depends on the day. Today, I asked:

Me: Abby would you like a baby brother like Liam or a baby sister like Nora (our best friends' kiddos)
Abby:  A baby sister like Liam!

There you have it folks, the first bit of indecisiveness from Abby.  It's probably a good thing with the gender because we literally have no control over it. 

We appreciate healthy baby prayers, thoughts, vibes for Monday and will be sure to report back the big news!

Problem Solving

During High School basketball season, I went to my cousins last home game.  While leaving, I noticed patrons of the game walking aimlessly in the parking lot and cars circling each other.  The lot had been blocked in by cars parking illegally.  The people started complaining and bitching about the illegally parked cars instead of actually doing something about it.  Clearly lacking the problem solving skills in their 5th or 6th decade in life, I whipped out my phone, "wrote" about 6 license plate numbers, went back into the gymnasium, and had the announcer read off the numbers.  The stranded patrons needed only one car to move before an exit was created, we waited (some) patiently.  Within 5 minutes we were set free.

Since that day ridiculous day in the parking lot, I have vowed to teach Abby problem solving skills.  Fast forward to today.  We got home from our fabulous weekend at a friends' lakehouse and were unpacking.  Going from here to there, I stopped to watch Abby get her stool from her room, drag it down our half flight of stairs, and unlock the front door.  She said, "I did it! I did it!"  I purposely had the door locked (simple gate hook and eye lock) so she wouldn't get out, but she apparently really, really, really wanted to.  At least she didn't sit there whining to get out. Who would have thunk we'd have a problem solver on our hands this young.  I think I'm going to have to raise the lock.

Abby: 2 years 8 months
Baby Onion: 17 weeks 6 days

PS (Onion is the current size, thankfully it will change tomorrow!)

Abby Funny

Me:  Sweetie, I have to go to the bathroom, can you read books in your room?
Abby: Mommy, do you have to go poop?
Me:  Yes. (There's no modesty in our house)
Abby: Squeeze it out mumma, like I do.(making the squeeze face)  ...Squeeze it momma! (as she runs out of the bathroom)


Oh for the love of potty training. She's doing quite well and we're up to underoos all day with the exception of nap and night time.  Although the other night, she somehow woke up in underoos and her pull up on the floor. She's a tricky one that Abby.

Summer Fun

Summer 2012 has been such a blast. We've been all over the place but also have had time to stay close to home.  Here is a random assortment of pics off the camera that just make me laugh and remind me how blessed we are.  Food, family, friends.....plain awesome.

Abby's Vermont boyfriend who clearly is shocked to be in the tub with an older woman.

Gotcha!

Celebrating the Sixth of July with a BBQ and leftover sparklers

Don't put me in!

Cheers!

Abby's Maine boyfriend - lakeside on a gorgeous, albeit windy day.