Wow

So much has been going on lately. Not to mention the big news, but life as well. I am working my butt off, when I am not besotted with pregnancy brain or morning sickness. I have a new manager and am likely to get a bunch of more projects before I head out on maternity leave. We've gotten some great press coverage, and my little photo up on QuickenHealth.com even made it onto CNN (want my autograph?).

Miles is growing like a weed and thriving. He seems to be doing great in daycare and gets super excited to go in the mornings - but he still runs to me when I pick him up in the evenings. It is actually fun to watch him before he knows I am there as he is playing with (or around) other kids and with new toys. His world is opening up right in front of him.

Miles has also physically taken off and lives life on the run. A couple of night ago as I put him to bed, he seemed a little amped up, so I let him bounce a little of it off before I read him his stories. He is trying to learn how to jump and get both feet off the ground - but it looks more like a little spazzy dance full of small leaps and then collapses in giggles into the ground. I watched him for about 5 minutes (and got some video) before I called it a night. He quietly melted into my arms and went to bed without fuss - and was asleep before we knew it. He really is either running or sleeping.

What's been most fun, and Tim mentioned it, is that he is really trying to talk. He talks a blue streak, but more and more words are coming out weekly. On Tuesday, he came into our room in the morning, picked up my watch off my bedside table and said "watch" - crystal clear. It's amazing the words that he does have, like that and "three", but he hasn't named his lovey.

On the Twosday front, we are 16 weeks and it's amazing how differnt the pregnancies are. With Miles, I felt fine mostly (except for 2 migraines) and couldn't stand the site of a vegetable. With this Little One, I have felt hung over for more than 2 months and all I want to eat is fruits and salad - God help you if you are between me and my Caprese Salad!

I started telling the office last week, but have been slowly rolling it out. It's always such a weird thing to say "I'm pregnant" out of the blue (still not used to it). It's actually nice for the office to know what is going on as I am in the throws of monthly visits, blood work, and ultra sounds.

Being pregnant with number 2 is totally different than the first. I've been spending a little time reading the oldest posts on the blog all about Miles' pregnancy. I spent a lot of time worrying that everything was ok as we moved from 1 test to the next. I am far more relaxed this go-round - and I have exponentially less time. I liked the blog post when I figured out that the secret to surviving the first trimester was more than 10 hours of sleep, going to be at 9 and waking up after 8... yeah, right.

My body is starting to change. As babycenter has said, get ready for a growth spurt. I am actually pretty well slimmed for child #2, but things are definitely expanding more rapidly. I haven't yet pulled on my high waisted maternity pants, but they are sure to come over the next couple of weeks. My clothing choices have drastically narrowed, but I am not quite willing to put belts away for the next 8 months.

More to come later - we have tons of photos and videos of our little man that I want to post - I just need to get to it!

Miles and His Peeps

This is an older photo - sorry for the resolution, it was taken with my Blackberry.

Miles and I went out for a mid-week lunch with the "boyz" several weeks back. It was a great time - watching Miles "hang" with the guys. Miles had a great time walking across the laps of the guys making a point of putting his hands into everything on the table. Once lunch was over, Miles proceeded to walk the isle of the Cheescake Factory, waving at all the diners.

From left to right - Miles (duh), Bill C., Aditya K. and Jay G.

Aunt Fran

A few weeks back, we had Aunt Fran up for a visit (we know...we're a bit behind on posts and a bit out of order). She came up for cocktails, dinner and MOST of all to visit with Miles. They had a great time playing together and Aunt Fran helped with Miles' bath.

We caught a cute kiss that just has to be shared.

In other more current news, Miles has picked up a few more select words. He throws them out there when you're least expecting, then refuses to say it again when asked or on camera. Miles has "Two", "Three", "Preas" (please), "car", "hi", "bye", "Mommy" and "Daddy" down cold. He's not stringing them together just yet. We're practicing "Bye, Mommy" or "Hi, Daddy"...but not there yet.

Miles is no longer in the child/baby bath seat. He now takes baths like a big boy. Though he stands up now in the tub 20-30 times in the 10-15mins. he's in the tub. We're constantly holding his arm to safeguard against slipping and to coax him to return to his bottom. If he likes standing so much maybe we'll just turn on the shower head and see what he prefers. Any bets?

Twosday!

We've been joking with friends and family ever since "Monday" was born, that if we were fortunate enough to have a second child, its pre-natal name would be Twosday (get it??) :)

Well...no joke. We're expecting Twosday in Feb. Below is the photo we used to break the news to our family. Notice its Miles looking at our first ultrasound of Twosday.



We're happy to report that Twosday is fine and has tested great on all the tests.

Now...as I did with Miles (while he was known as "Monday"), I will offer Twosday some advice. Relax, enjoy the time you have with Mom. Its bright out here and not often as warm. Enjoy your meals as Mom is eating well for you both. Sleep as much as you can and try to let Mom as well. Be healthy and of good spirit and soul. You are loved already more than you know. We eagerly await your arrival.

Love, Mom, Dad and Your Big Brother Miles

A breakthrough?

This summer, we have struggled with Miles on the drive up and back to Soda Springs. It seems the car doesn't lull him to sleep like many kids, but it excites him and he has a hard time turning off the visual stimulation.

On Friday night, at about 9:15 and after Sacramento, Miles was still not asleep. I took a chance and put the edge of one of his blankets over his eyes and he immediately fell asleep until we arrived. Sunday's departure more or less worked the same and gave him about an hour's nap, which is long from him in the car. Now if only we could do something about the traffic!!!

Quick - change the locks!

Miles has figured out how to lock doors that just have the button lock in the middle of the door knob. Last night while I was grilling, he managed to lock me out of the house. Luckily Dad was inside and let me back in. We are a little concerned that he'll be able to lock himself into a couple of rooms in the house where it would be difficult to get him out so it looks like we will be removing the locks from several of our doorknobs!

Be warned - if you are over at our house and a door is closed - knock first! The room may be occupied!!!

Dinner Drama

The last several weeks have yielded an often dramatic dinner time. Miles is tired, and hasn't been afraid to show it. While daycare is amazing for him and he loves it (he didn't even wave goodbye to Dad this morning), he is totally zonked by the time he gets home. Apparently, he is eating really well at daycare and is actively growing - now out of all 12-18 month pants - he hasn't been eating too well at home. Even if we put things in front of him that he loves, he will fuss and cry. It's sometimes takes shoving food into his mouth while he is crying. He's pissed, but will taste it, chew it, eat it, and then be fine with dinner - mostly. We're trying now to all eat dinner as a family to show him good behavior, but sometimes he just isn't into it, here are a couple of the hurdles:

1. at breakfast you can't touch the spoon without a thorough reproach from Miles. At dinner, he mostly wants to be fed.
2. Sometimes the only thing he will eat will be baby food or something else he doesn't need to chew - but at daycare, he will eat chicken and pork adobo.
3. There is always room for fruit.

While we are trying not to make it a big deal, it is a far cry from the 12 month old who would happily sit in his high chair for 45 minutes eating everything in front of him.

Oh a good note, though, last night's dinner went great. For Miles, I made a chicken salad melt on whole wheat bread with a side of peas. Tim and I had a green salad with the grilled chicken and a side of a grilled cheese sandwich. We all sat together. Miles took great pleasure in trying to use Dad's big silver fork on his sandwich, but didn't have too much luck with the peas! After dinner, we "practiced" drinking water from a cup - an exercise that had both Miles and me in fits of laughter. I do love our little guy, I just wish mealtime would always be as easy as last night!