We had our second official midwife appointment today. Once again, while listening to the heartbeat, I asked Micaiah, who was standing next to me with eyes twinkling like Christmas lights, who that was we were listening to and she said, "That's my baby sister penguin!" She cracks me up. She also gasped excitedly when the baby's kicks caused a louder blurb on the monitor and exclaimed, "She's talking to us!" I love that girl.
I also got a little bit of a talking to (less stern than I would have had we been conversing with an actual midwife, as opposed to one of the gentler assistants) about what showed up on my food diary. Though the week represented on the chart was the healthiest I've eaten, well, ever, I still got a warning about chocolate chip cookies and sno-cones which should only be weekly treats and have no nutritional value (I wanted to point out that each item was only on the chart once - thus making them weekly treats - and the sno-cone was only the second I'd had in about four years, but decided not to argue).
Just makes me glad they're not tracking me this week. Wonder if Cinnamon Toast Crunch qualifies as an acceptable bedtime snack.
Probably not.
25 August 2011
24 August 2011
Of Play-Time Favorites
Emmett's favorite place to play at the current moment is sister's bed. Whenever I notice him missing from the room, I know where to head first. There he'll be, bouncing around on pink flowered sheets, grasping the white bars of her converted crib.
This morning, as I headed to replace something in his room, I noticed my Little Man, simply laying on his back, enjoying the comfort of his sister's mattress. Upon seeing me, of course, he hurried to his knees, tightly holding the bed rail along the front of the bed, only a foot a tall, hopping excitedly as he kneels and almost beckons me to join him.
The real fun starts when his sister climbs in next to him - they could spend all day, tumbling over each other, tackling, hugging, exploring the wonderful qualities of a springy mattress, as both a wrestling mat and a trampoline. Laughter, hugs and smiles abound.
These are the precious moments of our life.
This morning, as I headed to replace something in his room, I noticed my Little Man, simply laying on his back, enjoying the comfort of his sister's mattress. Upon seeing me, of course, he hurried to his knees, tightly holding the bed rail along the front of the bed, only a foot a tall, hopping excitedly as he kneels and almost beckons me to join him.
The real fun starts when his sister climbs in next to him - they could spend all day, tumbling over each other, tackling, hugging, exploring the wonderful qualities of a springy mattress, as both a wrestling mat and a trampoline. Laughter, hugs and smiles abound.
These are the precious moments of our life.
23 August 2011
Of Communication
Mr. E has become much more expressive as of late. Both his verbal and non-verbal (a.k.a. sign language) skills have continued to sky-rocket in the past week alone. It seems every day we are newly amazed at the things he requests, copies or comprehends.
When we say phrases, he pulls out the sign to express the same thing - when we weren't even trying for it.
He now uses the accompanying syllable, "Ba" when rubbing his hand on his chest to say "Please" - the same way his sister did when she was a wee one.
He requests milk by saying, "Mi" and squeezing his fists.
Truly, he never ceases to astound us.
Tonight was one of the cutest moments when he pulled the little push-and-ride truck from its parking spot next to the toy box, knelt next to it, then reached both arms out toward me, opening and closing his hands to indicate he needed me to get him on that seat so he could GO! It may not be an official sign, but he sure did get his point across.
It really is quite nice to transition into being able to communicate with our little darling.
When we say phrases, he pulls out the sign to express the same thing - when we weren't even trying for it.
He now uses the accompanying syllable, "Ba" when rubbing his hand on his chest to say "Please" - the same way his sister did when she was a wee one.
He requests milk by saying, "Mi" and squeezing his fists.
Truly, he never ceases to astound us.
Tonight was one of the cutest moments when he pulled the little push-and-ride truck from its parking spot next to the toy box, knelt next to it, then reached both arms out toward me, opening and closing his hands to indicate he needed me to get him on that seat so he could GO! It may not be an official sign, but he sure did get his point across.
It really is quite nice to transition into being able to communicate with our little darling.
22 August 2011
Of Being Home
We enjoyed a very nice weekend visiting with Philip's family as we all gathered to celebrate fifty years of marriage for his grandparents. I met many new faces I had only seen on Facebook and found myself wishing we had more excuses to gather with all of these fun-loving people - there are definitely some fun characters in that family (in a good way, not in a crazy way - though there may be some of those that I just didn't get to talk to).
Upon leaving yesterday morning, Micaiah was bewildered and upset by the fact that, rather than following Grandpa Ross and Grandma Veta to church, we were talking of home. "But," I could just hear her little mind speaking, "they were just going to church - I just saw them!"
To put her anxiety at ease and make for a much more enjoyable hours-long journey, I gave her a new joy to focus on: dinner at Nenaw and Papaw's on the way home. Worked like a charm.
As we finally came through our own door at an hour and a half past bed-time, Philip deposited Emmett on the floor as he rushed out to hurry along the process of unloading the car. Little man, who is typically very cranky at this "drop and run" tactic, actually hurried along happily to the living room where he found all of his old friends waiting for him. Wasting no time, he plucked his favorite ball from the toy box, tossed it around a few times, then headed straight for the books - I later found him pounding away at the keys on their toy laptop. Yes, this little boy, who had met only a few more new familial faces than myself or his sister, was very glad to be back in recognizable surroundings.
Micaiah, however, was slightly less delighted. While getting dressed for bed, Philip asked, "Are you glad to be able to sleep in your own bed?"
"No."
"No? Where would you rather sleep?"
"At Nenaw and Papaw's."
Well, you can't please all of the people all of the time.
Upon leaving yesterday morning, Micaiah was bewildered and upset by the fact that, rather than following Grandpa Ross and Grandma Veta to church, we were talking of home. "But," I could just hear her little mind speaking, "they were just going to church - I just saw them!"
To put her anxiety at ease and make for a much more enjoyable hours-long journey, I gave her a new joy to focus on: dinner at Nenaw and Papaw's on the way home. Worked like a charm.
As we finally came through our own door at an hour and a half past bed-time, Philip deposited Emmett on the floor as he rushed out to hurry along the process of unloading the car. Little man, who is typically very cranky at this "drop and run" tactic, actually hurried along happily to the living room where he found all of his old friends waiting for him. Wasting no time, he plucked his favorite ball from the toy box, tossed it around a few times, then headed straight for the books - I later found him pounding away at the keys on their toy laptop. Yes, this little boy, who had met only a few more new familial faces than myself or his sister, was very glad to be back in recognizable surroundings.
Micaiah, however, was slightly less delighted. While getting dressed for bed, Philip asked, "Are you glad to be able to sleep in your own bed?"
"No."
"No? Where would you rather sleep?"
"At Nenaw and Papaw's."
Well, you can't please all of the people all of the time.
20 August 2011
Of Directness
A couple of days ago, while we continued to struggle with Micaiah's stubborn and non-cooperative attitude she has put on of late, I spent the three-minute drive to church gently lecturing her on why it is important to do what Mommy and Daddy say the first time. Reminding her of the concept of "danger" and what that could mean if she didn't do what we said, I loquaciously hammered in the point.
In the midst of my speech, Micaiah interrupted, "Mommy?"
"Yes, sweetie?"
"Thank you to stop talking."
Point taken, my direct darling.
In the midst of my speech, Micaiah interrupted, "Mommy?"
"Yes, sweetie?"
"Thank you to stop talking."
Point taken, my direct darling.
19 August 2011
Of Checking in on Sister Penguin
I realized it's been awhile since I've last mentioned our little penguin. Yes, I keep forgetting I'm pregnant, too. Until I wonder why my tummy seems just a bit larger. Then it all comes back.
Truly, it's a good thing that the sickness has generally subsided enough to allow me to forget on occasion. Also, this little one is riding higher than Emmett did (further evidence, other than Micaiah's predictions, that this little one may just be a girl after all), which is lovely for the fact that I have yet to need a pair of maternity pants (and still need a belt!), though my shirts have started bulging just a bit.
Even though we're only 15 weeks along, we are asked just about any time we converse with other human beings, when we will "find out" what this one is. Well, for now we know it's a baby (I'm not holding to the guess by Big Sister that it's a penguin, I'm just not). If it were up to me, I would let it be a surprise - I mean, we're going so hippie with this home birth concept, let's just take it all the way and pretend we live in the 18th century, shall we? Besides, I argue, we're prepared with both blue and pink clothing, so what's the point?
But, for naming purposes, my husband is interested in being able to focus on one gender or the other and for the sake of our daughter's sanity (who may just lose it if the long-awaited day for meeting Sister Penguin turns out to produce something that is not only not penguin, but also not a sister - this could be detrimental), I feel it might be best to warn her ahead of time if all her current believes prove to be false. So, I'm guessing we'll probably have further knowledge about this baby come the next ultrasound (which is probably still, at least, five weeks away - just so you know!).
Anyway, that's how things are going, for now. Thanks for stopping by!
Truly, it's a good thing that the sickness has generally subsided enough to allow me to forget on occasion. Also, this little one is riding higher than Emmett did (further evidence, other than Micaiah's predictions, that this little one may just be a girl after all), which is lovely for the fact that I have yet to need a pair of maternity pants (and still need a belt!), though my shirts have started bulging just a bit.
Even though we're only 15 weeks along, we are asked just about any time we converse with other human beings, when we will "find out" what this one is. Well, for now we know it's a baby (I'm not holding to the guess by Big Sister that it's a penguin, I'm just not). If it were up to me, I would let it be a surprise - I mean, we're going so hippie with this home birth concept, let's just take it all the way and pretend we live in the 18th century, shall we? Besides, I argue, we're prepared with both blue and pink clothing, so what's the point?
But, for naming purposes, my husband is interested in being able to focus on one gender or the other and for the sake of our daughter's sanity (who may just lose it if the long-awaited day for meeting Sister Penguin turns out to produce something that is not only not penguin, but also not a sister - this could be detrimental), I feel it might be best to warn her ahead of time if all her current believes prove to be false. So, I'm guessing we'll probably have further knowledge about this baby come the next ultrasound (which is probably still, at least, five weeks away - just so you know!).
Anyway, that's how things are going, for now. Thanks for stopping by!
18 August 2011
Of Adorable Antics
Yesterday evening, as Philip put away the lawn mower, I swept the driveway while the kids watched one of the thirty Land Before Time movies on Netflix in the house. Upon re-entering the house, I noticed, under the closed door, the pantry light had been left on, most likely by my husband who had been in there a moment earlier.
Thinking nothing of it, I popped open the door to flip the switch and there, looking up at me with the two most guilty looks mustered by little faces, were my munchkins, seated next to each other with a carton of Micaiah's "shiny cookies" (the ones with red sprinkles on them she earns as a reward for going potty) between them. Fortunately, Micaiah has yet to learn the fine art of opening said cookies, so there were no tiny crumbs scattered across the mouths of our contrite little ones.
What am I going to do with those two?
The further adorable aftermath of the above scene was Micaiah declaring her need to go potty (so she could rightfully gain possession of one of those coveted cookies), actually doing so, and then picking the two largest treats from the container - one for her, and one, slightly larger than the other, for her brother. What a sweetheart.
Thinking nothing of it, I popped open the door to flip the switch and there, looking up at me with the two most guilty looks mustered by little faces, were my munchkins, seated next to each other with a carton of Micaiah's "shiny cookies" (the ones with red sprinkles on them she earns as a reward for going potty) between them. Fortunately, Micaiah has yet to learn the fine art of opening said cookies, so there were no tiny crumbs scattered across the mouths of our contrite little ones.
What am I going to do with those two?
The further adorable aftermath of the above scene was Micaiah declaring her need to go potty (so she could rightfully gain possession of one of those coveted cookies), actually doing so, and then picking the two largest treats from the container - one for her, and one, slightly larger than the other, for her brother. What a sweetheart.
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