So It's A...

Boy! This is pretty much what i had been expecting, though you never really know for sure until the u/s, or until the baby is plopped on your tummy. Everything looked really good, normal, healthy and I finally sighed some relief. Of course, i don't think any mom who has experienced loss can really breath that sigh of relief until baby is in your arms (and then a whole new sort of anxiety is born). But getting all the measurements, seeing all the organs, and hearing positive results makes me feel a lot better in my pregnancy. Now for the hard part: naming. I don't think we'll really have it figured out till the birth, but boy names are a lot trickier for me. I had a ton of girl names up my sleeves. But for a boy? Zero. Luckily I have 4 more months to figure it out.

I just talked to my friend Blue (the wedding I attended up in Iowa) who is due on Thursday. She is hoping to have a water birth in her living room, with the pool set up and all ready to go. I totally know the feelings she is going through right now and it's interesting to be in such a similar, yet all together different state. I've been through birth, I have a 26 month old. Yet, in a few more months, I get to go through it again. Strange, and yet full circle.

I really have to get used to this whole boy thing. I know girls, I know what to do and how they work. Boys are like from Mars. Then again, newborns are from like Neptune so it's all a wash. I just kinda feel bad how this boy is going to be treated by 2 bossy ladies in his life. I guess he'll have dad on his laid back side.

So Sylvia thought we were bringing the baby home today and when we returned from the u/s, she came running up to me yelling "where's the baby? bring me the new baby!" I had to break her poor little heart and tell her it was still a while till baby comes home. She was so upset. But really, I'm blown away by how much she truly loves babies. It's like an addiction. That kid can spot a stroller a block away! And her new thing is to talk about all the great things she wants to do with the baby (read books, hold, rock on the whale at the playground, take down the slide). I'm a little nervous about the last 2. Luckily, I'm due in the winter so that'll be a great excuse as to why the newborn baby can't sit in your lap down the slide. I mean come on, I'm not THAT adventurous!

So here are the scary-appearing pics from today's u/s. We had an awesome tech who gave us some 3D pics too. But seriously, why do all u/s pics look so freakish? Especially at 19 weeks, when a baby isn't really "fat" yet.

Ranting

I can officially say the Sylvia is potty-trained (or potty-learned, right Mrs. Butter??!). People were right when they say it happens like a light switch turning on in their little brains. She just got it all of a sudden. She refuses to wear a diaper under any circumstance, except bedtime. She's been dry every morning for the past week, though I'm still not trusting it. Plus I don't have a plastic sheet on her bed, so there. Diaper at night it is, for now. The not washing diapers thing has been incredibly amazing. I haven't stepped foot in our basement in quite some time. Needless to say, "laundry mountain" is gaining in size, but the pile is of clothes, not stinky cloth diapers.

Tomorrow is the big ultrasound. The one that counts limbs, head size, organ functions, and oh yea, gender. I'm nervously excited. The baby has been moving throughout the day now, with long periods of stillness in between. S/he gets really motivated to exercise right at my bedtime, which you mommies all probably remember.

On another note, I gave into my meat craving the other day in a terribly disgusting manner. You'd think that I'd be all like, "let's go find some free-range blah blah so the guilt is slightly less." But alas, I ate a kid's meal of chicken nuggets. And I gave 2 to Syl. Bad mommy, maybe. End of the world occurring? Not quite yet. I didn't shit for 2 days and Syl is still blocked up, but who knows if that is the cause. A meat eating friend of mine said she won't even eat those, so that's pretty bad. But I really wanted an Arby's roast beef sandwich, and somehow, I couldn't justify that. Nuggets? Not that traumatizing to me for some warped reason. I can't say it fulfilled my red meat cravings, mainly because it's not red meat. But let me tell you something, they tasted very delicious and I wasn't freaked out while eating them. I don't know if I'll do it again, but we'll see. I've realized in my adulthood that you just can't rule anything out. And you can't feel guilty about everything. The weight of the world is not exclusively on my shoulders. I try to do/be good, I didn't eat a lick of meat for 17 years. And what can I show for it now? A stupid pregnancy-induced red meat craving with extreme guilt to not be capable of fulfilling it.
And no, I don't want spinach.

I gave in today at the Galleria and bought the crib sheet I was previously talking about. It's in their brand new line titled "Sadie" which is also a favorite name of mine in the running (pending tomorrow's scan results). It's not on the website yet b/c it is so super new. The bumper is like $99, so I figure by December it'll be on sal for the amount I would like to buy it for, say $20. I'm not a fan of bumpers, I never used one for Syl, but this one is so freaking adorable.

I'm ranting now. I'll fill my reader(s) in tomorrow on the results. Cross your fingers for no crossed legs!!!

The Fantastic Break

I know we're only on day 2 of the successful potty-training but already I've noticed the most amazing result: no diapers to wash!!! Oh my god, and I thought not nursing for these in between babies months would be my wildest dream (ps, it is) but having a break from diaper laundering is a total super-bonus. I haven't washed diapers all week because there simply are none. Before the successful big-girl underwear days, she was naked. Naked or underwear = no diapers to wash. Yea! Now, if only I could get her to clean out her potty, successfully wipe, and flush, my hands would be totally poop-free. Ahhh, if only dreams could be 100% fulfilled, not just 96% reached.
Anyway, it's been an astounding few days with this achievement. Granted, I am constantly asking her/checking her to remind her of the fact she is not in a diaper. And we had our first public toilet success today at Cooper Ella's, though they do have a mini-toilet that is super toddler friendly. It was still a public toilet. Maybe with his break in diapers, I'll actually have time to re-velcro them all for baby #2. Plus I need to reconfigure my stash and see what I need to make. I'm thinking about making the rest of what I'll need, like pockets and pre-folds, to save money. Because I have like $17 in my checking account as we speak.
Oh! And on a totally un-poop related front, f***ing Potter.y Bar.n for Kids has my exact color theme going right now in their nursery collection. I could NOT believe it. How did they know? I came up with these colors because of my test mobile I created and deemed in love with and unable to part. Clare, Sophia, Syl, and I were at the mall today and I couldn't believe mine eyes. Black, white, and yellow. I mean, I know it's not an uncommon combo, but they have an entire line of stuff with this scheme. So I may splurge and buy just the crib sheet. Because really, am I going to make a crib sheet? I hate working with elastic. I went to their website and couldn't locate a photo of this new line, but if you're in the Galleria, it's in the baby section. And it's oh so adorable.
In meat news, I did try a bite of chicken a few weeks ago in an effort to appease the cravings. It didn't work. You know why? Because I want a steak salad from Duff's. Or a roast beef sandwich. Just one bite. Not the whole thing. But I know I'd freak out, and probably puke.
With Syl, I wanted all dairy all the time. This time it's salty things. And red meat. Rosemary's baby is up in here.

Short and sweet and oh so beefy

Today was the first day Sylvia was in her big girl undies all day. You know you've reached a mommy blog when that is the opening sentence. But look, my husband's outta town and this is all I got. We ventured out to several public places, but she never had to go there (conveniently enough). Regardless, she had zero accidents and I didn't even bribe her every time. Though I got an idea from a babysitter at Hartford that they use a piggy bank next to the potty and give the kid some change every time she goes. Genius. Bribery, yes, but not of the sugar-filled variety.
You know your pregnant when all you want to eat at this very moment is an Arby's roast beef sandwich. So much so that you dreamt you were eating one last night. And you're vegetarian and haven't eaten roast beef in 17 years. Yep. Certifiably pregnant.

Everyone Poops, especially those related to me

How many posts regarding potty-training can I post in a week? As many as it takes to reassure me that this is really happening. Today's tally? From nap on (this is when we work on it for some reason): pee=3x, poo=1x, accidents=0. Hurray!!! What is really working out? Bribery of m&ms and dora panties. Does the trick every time.

I began my prenatal yoga class this week. What did I dedicate my practice to? One hour for myself. Sounds selfish, but I desperately needed to focus inward. In belly news, baby is rolling and kicking like crazy (especially at night), which leads me to further believe my gender notion. We'll know for sure a week from Tuesday. But it never gets familiar to feel a creature moving inside your belly. I keep trying to remind myself that this will be my last pregnancy (crossing fingers and knocking on wood that all goes smoothly) and am enjoying these feelings.
Tata for now.

Poop Cont.

As an update to my post yesterday, Syl peed twice on the potty and then pooped on the floor when in time out. Two steps forward, one step back (as is motherhood, right?).
P.S. I can't wait till next summer when I can be sitting outside drinking a bloody mary.Yum.

Poop Times

When I began cloth diapering Sylvie around 3 months, the web-info craze informed me that by doing so, my family would be 1) whole-heartedly saving the environment 2) saving money that I would put directly into a college savings account and 3) potty-training younger. As of this current pregnancy, I decided that the bigger issue I wanted to face was getting Syl into a big bed, so I could be el cheapo and not buy another crib. Let's face it, cribs are totally and annoyingly expensive and cumbersome. After months of dealing with that issue, she has been happily sleeping all night in her twin (f*** toddler beds. if your kid is about to transition, go ahead and spring for a twin). So the second issue was potty-training. Responses to why she's not yet (from my family, mostly) are the following:

-yes, I know she's advanced verbally, but that really has little to do with her being physically and emotionally ready to be trained.
-I haven't really had the time to deal with it.
-it's kinda convenient to be in public and not have to deal with freakish, nasty toilets.
-she just turned 2.
-yes, cloth kids and girls tend to train faster, but is there a goddamn contest regarding the matter?


Anyway, I'm sidetracking by being defensive. I don't really care what they say, I'm stick to my guns that she'll go when she's ready and I'm not going to push it. Yes, it would be nice to not have to deal with 2 in diapers, but I'm washing poop anyway, who cares who's pooping where?

So on my own accord, I bought her some training underwear and some Dora underwear (of course, guess which one are the preferred?). After her nap, she wakes up dry, so we've been putting her Dora underwear or letting her go naked, because that's how we roll here. Ironically, she's been pooping in the big potty quite often, but never pee. Until yesterday, when she successfully peed on it for the first time. I was so proud and happy for her, as was she. What's funny about it now is that every time she pees in her diaper, she gets upset that she didn't make it to the potty. So maybe it will happen quicker than I've expected, or it could be because her reward are 2 plain m&m's. That's a skint bribery for us big pregnant ladies, but for her, it's the best part of life.


In non-poop related news, we tried the Maplewood pool out today and totally loved it. She swam for 2 hours straight, only to pass out in the car after eating our lunch there (double points). Since the summer is half over, though just not really hot, the price went down. For Syl and I it's only $75. It closes on Labor Day, but if we go 3x a week, it'll be worth it. That is a lot, but I kinda feel like spoiling her lately (guilt setting in early). So we may go back and join later this week. It was fun, fun, fun.

Holga shots

Pregnancy and Parentheses Overdose

16 weeks today! I had my ob/gyn appt and heard the heartbeat again. It's my once a month reassurance that yes, I am actually pregnant and no, that is no beer gut (p.s. i hate beer). Turns out they prescribed me the wrong meds last time and I am still occasionally throwing up. But it's random and hasn't really affected my weight gain so she's not concerned. Of course, she's also the one not throwing up. So as of now, I am off meds, up 4 lbs., and a happy preggers (albeit moody and insatiably hungry).
And in super exciting news, the big u/s is 3 weeks from today!!! Since my shitty insurance (though it is insurance) makes me go to the hospital for u/s instead of in the obs office, she wants me to go a week early to insure her getting the results. Fingers crossed all vital organs are present, functioning, and where they should be. And the name-game will then begin.
When I told my doc that I have been feeling slight kicks and last night, with hand pressed against gut, I felt a major shift, she busted out laughing. She said I'm a week or two early for quickening and it is probably gas. But when I've read stuff online, many moms have been feeling movement since 14 weeks. Am I crazy? I mean, she straight up laughed out loud ( i refuse to use l.o.l.). I guess I don't really care what she thinks. As long as she catches the baby, stitches me up nicely, and gives me drugs when asked.

26 Months

I have been following the likes of other mommy blogs and writing my child some sort of letter that she'll never read celebrating her next months bday. But this month, I'm feeling lazy. And tired. And not very creative. So I'm simply going to write a quickie and top it off with a cute photo or two.

Sylvia is letting go of the terror in terrible 2. I'm not saying she's done, but her mood has definitely been improving. Plus the sleep has been much better (knocking on wood as I type). I think that having a routine and a lot of patience is actually paying off, though I do lack in the patience department.

Here are some cute photos of naked time in the backyard. I give her the option of a swimsuit or naked, and she always chooses naked. Today she mentioned that I should also be naked. I just laughed loudly. I don't want to give her the impression that I'm ashamed of my body, she is a girl in America and all. But I also didn't want to scare the neighbors, so I chose swimsuit.

Naked time is also paralleling the beginnings of potty training, so there is a purpose. Though she held in pee for 4 hours in order to super pee in her overnight diaper in a matter of minutes. I have long term goals in this department. I'm in no hurry, though it would ne nice if by December....

The last photo also features our newly completed fence. Yea! Child containment in full effect.

So it has been an incredibly busy holiday weekend over here. Dave's band played a really fun show on Thursday, Dave and I went on an overly-indulgent shopping spree on July 4th, my mom and I saw the fireworks last night (too late for Sylvia), and Dave and his buddy finished the fence in the backyard. We got a new point-and-shoot Canon so I can actually take photos when we go places. My SLR was so big and cumbersome, plus it's my money maker, so I hate carrying it around with me. So here are some photos of the new fence, and my cutie-booty, of course.

In pregnancy news, I've been beginning to feel movement, though very random and slight. I've read that quickening is felt much early in subsequent pregnancies, cuz I didn't feel Sylvia till 18 weeks. I have my 16 week appointment on Tuesday and next month is the big u/s. What could this baby be? I have my ideas, but we shall see.