Baby Update- Week 25

While I think I made an announcement to everyone I know and have told anyone who inquires, we have known for about six weeks that we are having a girl. This baby will also have a name that begins with an E but rather than refer to her as E2 or baby E, I'll be calling her M since it is very close second to representing her name. Anyway, Baby M is up to the usual antics: lots of kicking, flopping, and while she hasn't found her way to my ribs yet, I'm sure she will. She's undoubtedly planning multiple acrobatic feats.

This pregnancy has not been very different from the first two: I have had a lot less ECP (for those of you that spent more than five minutes with me during weeks 14-32 while I was pregnant with the twins you may remember me casually mentioning the excruciating ligament pain that was the evil pain), not really any morning sickness-- just a few green days. All in all things are going well.

We recently explained to H that we were going to have another baby and he will have a sister. 'She's in momma's belly' was the most technical I got. He eyes my belly suspiciously. The inevitable first question was, 'How'd she get in there?' followed by 'Wanna see her. We needa get her out of there.' Long Pause. 'I think we're gonna need some scissors.'

Yikes! I hope not.

Celebrating Poppa's Big Day

Poppa turned 60 in late May and this past weekend we had a little party to celebrate the big day! H loves to celebrate birthdays, loves to sing 'Happy Birthday' and LOVES to blow out (aka all over) candles. He was up for the job when it came to Poppa's cake. (Full disclosure: I only had 2 candles that I could scrounge up for Poppa's cake, but no matter, H took care of them lickety spit).

On another birthday note: while not nearly as momentous, Oakley received a postcard from the vet wishing her a happy birthday yesterday. (More disclosure: I had no idea it was the dog's birthday this month but that's why we pay the vet the big bucks.) Anyway, I mentioned jokingly to Dad that it was Oakley's birthday. Who perked right up? H. 'It's Oakley's Birthday!!' He crowed. 'Needa bake her a cake! And sing 'happy birfday too!' ' He went over to congratulate her (and probably to ask what flavor cake she'd like).

Today when we got back from school/work, we asked H what he and his brothers did. 'We baked a cake for Oakley!' He reported. 'But she dinnin share any of it. She ate the whhhollle thing.' Wow, Miss Oaks, part dog part piglet, but Happy Birthday to you nonetheless.

a little cheese with your mac?

This isn't the best photography work on my part, but the picture is too cute to pass up posting. B and E are all smiles about their lunch-- mac n cheese. I used to only buy Annie's Mac n Cheese since I felt like it was moderately more healthy... but one day, Kraft (in the blue box) appeared in our pantry. And man, was it a hit. Really, it's almost ridiculous: you ask H what he'd like for lunch, 'Mac n cheese, pwease! Blue mac n cheese!' A guy has his preferences. But I prevailed again-- I found that Trader Joe's has a great version that tastes very similar to the blue stuff...

Leader of the pack (ask H to insert motorcycle noises here)

H rules the roost round these parts. There is no question. H decides who sits in which car seats 'I want to sit on Momma's side' he announces. And he leads his brothers in minor schemes. 'We're gonna go get money and go ta Target' He tells them. 'We're gonna take the little gray car. Needa get your crocs on, BE (he condenses their initials to be ultra efficient when referring to them both). And with E with a right navy shoe on the left foot and B with the matching left shoe on his right foot-- they're off. But they only make it as far as the front door where H's plan comes to an abrupt halt as Mom or Dad foil their well laid plans. 'Nooo,' dispairs H, tears rolling down his face, 'but we needa go out. BE are ready to go!'

H can be extremely helpful too around the house. He is good at getting specific items when asked, we could practically hire him out to vacuum people's houses he's such a pro, and H keeps up a lively commentary about everything. Watching his preferences and understanding of the world unfold is amazing and yet exhausting at times too.

But that is not all that H is up to, no that is not all. He is fascinated with the letter 'H'. We went to a hotel the other day, after inspecting the front desk, he proudly declared, 'This is mine. It has an 'H'.' Sure enough, Hotel Reception belongs to H. And he likes to say reassuringly, 'Daddy, you're a good boy. I love you.' (He does not say this to his Momma... but he does point out on occasion that Momma is a girl and BE, H and Daddy are boys.) In general, he keeps us laughing out loud on a regular basis and continually amazed at what he is learning and who he is becoming.

growth spurts

B and E continue to get more advanced, more active and more independent-- summed up to say, craftier, daily. As B hones his pitching skills (he combines accuracy and speed for an exceptional toss of anything from balls to hotdog buns), E shows interest in engineering-- designing new and inventive ways to reach the kitchen sink (first onto the step stool then balancing precariously on the wheeled cooler, which he's brought in from the hall, he can juuust reach the spray nozzle and chomp on the musty smelling sponge).

B remains 'spirited' and 'opinionated' about many things. He wants to be in control and becomes 'demonstrative of his displeasure' (see below) when things don't go according to the B plan. I'd like to credit Dad with this delightful intensity that has blossomed in B, and yet, it is all so familiar to me. Most of the time I can empathize with his feelings, especially when B's plan is in direct conflict with my own plan, then it is exquisitely clear to me how hard it is to compromise your desires. Of course, as the parent and in terms of safety, my way prevails, but it makes me remember how much I desired the autonomy and freedom that I equated with growing up. Not that I wish for B to grow up any faster than he already is, but I do know that as he develops language (and negotiating skills-- just ask H, he may be on the path towards a law career) things will get easier for him (and us). In the meantime, it can be tough to be a little guy.