4/29/10: L letters & sayings

Elodie can now easily identify all her letters and likes to read the letter on anything, cereal boxes, food, posters, etc.

"We can do that when it's a good idea."

 "Um... let me think about that"

so this is what you've all been waiting for... (today's 20 wk ultrasound)

We had an ultrasound today and the baby looks great.
Heartbeat...check
Heart w/4 chambers...check
Two kidneys...check
Nose & nasal septum (no cleft lip)...check
Lips...check
Brain...check
Spine...check
Abdomen...check
Two hands...check
Two feet...check
Three legs...wait...I'm mean two legs and something else :)

You can't see the legs in this one (well maybe one of them) but you can see his thingy:


Here's two of his face:




Here's his hand :)

our pregnancy: 20 weeks‏

See the big picture

How your baby's growing:

You're at the halfway mark — congratulations! 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. (The way your baby is measured changes now. 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.) He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in his bowels, and you'll see it in his first soiled diaper (although some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery).

How your life's changing:

Congratulations! You've hit the halfway mark in your pregnancy. The top of your uterus is about level with your belly button, and you've likely gained around 10 pounds. Expect to gain another pound or so each week from now on. (If you started your pregnancy underweight, you may need to gain a bit more; if you were overweight, perhaps a bit less.) Make sure you're getting enough iron, a mineral that's used primarily to make hemoglobin (the part of your red blood cells that carries oxygen). During pregnancy, your body needs more iron to keep up with your expanding blood volume, as well as for your growing baby and the placenta. Red meat is one of the best sources of iron for pregnant women. Poultry (especially the dark meat) and shellfish also contain iron. Some common non-meat sources of iron include legumes, soy-based products, spinach, prune juice, raisins, and iron-fortified cereals.

If you haven't already signed up for a childbirth education class, you may want to look into one, especially if you're a first-timer. A structured class will help prepare you and your partner for the rigors of labor and delivery. Most hospitals and birth centers offer classes, either as weekly meetings or as a single intensive, one-day session. Many communities have independent instructors as well. Ask your friends, family members, or caregiver for recommendations.

4/26/10: L sayings & Elliptical talent

Elodie came out of her room tonight and said, "Ut uh.  No diaper on.  I said ut oh because it was daddy's fault."  Dave had forgot to put her diaper on her for the night. :)

At dinner tonight with Dale, Candy, Mario, and us, Elodie said "Oh my god people," with her hands out and eyes popping out.  It was hysterical but we don't say that so we think she picked it up from Candy.

For a couple of weeks, she's been able to do the elliptical machine herself.  Pretty impressive since mama can barely do it! ;)

4/25/10: L makes mommy happy

Elodie: "Good job mom!"  "I'm so proud of you daddy!"

Your 2-Year-Old: What Temperament Means‏

What Temperament Means

Your child's temperament may have been clear to you back in infancy, and now that he's a preschooler, those early impressions are becoming clearer. Temperament is a person's inborn nature or disposition, and you're probably beginning to see how yours complements or clashes with your child's. Viewing your relationship with your child through the lens of temperament can give you insights into how to act with him to best avoid power struggles.

Your 34-month-old: Beating bossiness
Your 2-year-old now
Hey, who's the boss around here? Along with better language skills can come an annoying new personality trait: bossiness. "Put my coat on." "Come here, Mommy!" "Sit there, Daddy." Your child sees herself as the center of the universe, so she finds it only natural to believe that everyone revolves around her. Although you can't argue with that perception developmentally, you can coach her to be a little nicer about it. Encourage the use of "please" and a "nice voice" when she wants something.

Sometimes bossiness is a bid for your attention. She may make imperious demands because she really wants you to listen to her or play with her right this minute. Again, teach her to ask nicely. Let her know that you can't always comply with her wishes just then and help her to learn patience by responding to her as soon as you can.

Your life now
You might be starting to see more and more of your personality in your child. (Or Grandpa's personality, or funny Uncle Bob's.) Sometimes children inherit their parents' temperaments and sometimes parent-child temperaments clash like polka dots and stripes. If you were shy and your child lives in the limelight, it can feel harder to relate to her. Your personality can also influence how you treat your child. For example, if you were a star athlete you might feel driven to provide your child with lots of sports opportunities, even if she'd rather be playing with dolls. The main thing is to respect and nurture the child you have for who she is and not veer too far into projecting anybody else onto her.

4/21/10: saying, toes, and baby

Elodie said, "daddy goes to work to buy money."

Yesterday, I painted her toe nails pink for the first time.  She's really proud of her toes and even took  her boots off to show the dental assistant.

She knows right and left feet.

I could feel the baby kick and move a ton the past 2 days. :)

4/19/10: reading and saying

For a while now, Elodie likes to read letter off anything.  She also says "fall-ed," "tear-ed," and "win-ed."  I'm sure her father helped her to that discovery.

Monday, 4/19/10...19 weeks...

See the big picture

How your baby's growing:

Your baby's sensory development is exploding! Her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that she may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, talking to her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.

Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. Her arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of her body now. Her kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on her scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on her skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.

How your life's changing:

Think you're big now? You'll start growing even faster in the weeks to come. As a result, you may notice some achiness in your lower abdomen or even an occasional brief, stabbing pain on one or both sides — especially when you shift position or at the end of an active day. Most likely, this is round ligament pain. The ligaments that support your uterus are stretching to accommodate its increasing weight. This is nothing to be alarmed about, but call your practitioner if the pain continues even when you're resting or becomes severe.

You may be noticing some skin changes, too. Are the palms of your hands red? Nothing to worry about — it's from the extra estrogen. You may also have patches of darkened skin caused by a temporary increase in pigment. When these darker patches appear on your upper lip, cheeks, and forehead, they're called chloasma, or the "mask of pregnancy." You may also notice some darkening of your nipples, freckles, scars, underarms, inner thighs, and vulva. That darkened line running from your belly button to your pubic bone is called the linea nigra, or "dark line."

These darkened spots will probably fade shortly after delivery. In the meantime, protect yourself from the sun, which intensifies the pigment changes. Cover up, wear a brimmed hat, and use sunscreen when you're outdoors. And if you're self-conscious about your "mask," a little concealing makeup can work wonders.

added some posts

Added a post on our trip to Cheyenne. Click here to view or scroll down.

and another baby bump post here.

Sunday, 4/18/10...D felt the baby kick :)

This morning while I was lying in bed I felt the baby move so I reached over to D & grabbed his hand and put it on my belly. After awhile, I asked him if he felt anything (right after I felt something) and he said yes. I was excited that he finally felt the baby move since it's been almost a month since I've been able to feel the baby move on the inside, but he's hasn't been able to feel it until now.

Monday, 4/12/10...preschool & sayings

This morning I took L to the Christian preschool that I was thinking about putting her in for the fall. It still had one opening left in the 3 year old class and was $65 cheaper per month (& 2-3 hrs less per week) than the other Christian school that our friends have their kids in. It's also closer to our house than the one in Boulder. Anyhow, even though it was the Pre-K class this morning, we took a tour of the classroom and L joined right in our their free time play. She played with the trains and then I saw her on a teacher's lap...I think they were reading. Then she colored cutouts of a caterpillar and a butterfly and stamped letters on strips ofpaper. Needless to say, she didn't want to leave. She seemed to fit right in with the 5 year olds. Since L seemed to really like it, I signed her up for the last spot in the preschool class (the 3 year olds) for next year (Sept. 2010- May 2011). The Director of the preschool said that L seemed quite advanced for how "young" she was (since she's on the young end of her class and not yet 3). She also told me on the way out that she liked how I talked to L. :D It's always nice to get compliments about how you parent. Made me feel good!

Then we came home and I signed L up for dance, swim, and preschool for the summer. She'll be two classes up next time in swim because her last teacher for her pre-pollywog class said that she should be ready for the tadpoles class. She said the pollywog class is really the same as the pre-pollywogs but the age is a little older. She said L would be the youngest in her class but that she was a good listener and followed direction so she should be ready. I just wanted L to continue to move up so she'll actually learn how to swim. I couldn't believe how fast the summer preschool at the rec filled up. It's the first day of registration and I took the last spot in one session and, after we registered, there was only one spot left in the rest of the sessions.

L really didn't want to take her nap today and one of the things she said from the top of the stairs was "no! that doesn't sound like a good idea!" I'm not exactly sure what she was referring to because we finished our conversation on the stairs and then she climbed to the top and shouted that. It gave me a nice chuckle. :)

Monday, 4/12/10...18 weeks...

Head to rump, your baby is approximately 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs — movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from his head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, although he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.



How your life's changing:
Hungry? An increase in appetite is pretty common about now. Make it count by choosing meals and snacks that are rich in nutrients instead of empty calories (chips, French fries, candy, and other sweets). Bigger, more comfortable clothes are a must now as your appetite and waistline grow.

Your cardiovascular system is undergoing dramatic changes, and during this trimester your blood pressure will probably be lower than usual. Don't spring up too fast from a lying or sitting position or you might feel a little dizzy.

From now on, when you do lie down, it's best to lie on your side — or at least partly tilted to one side. (When you lie flat on your back, your uterus can compress a major vein, leading to decreased blood return to your heart.) Try placing a pillow behind you or under your hip or upper leg for comfort.

If you haven't already had a second-trimester ultrasound, you'll probably have one soon. This painless procedure helps your practitioner check how your baby's growing, screen for certain birth defects, check the placenta and umbilical cord, determine whether the due date you're working with is accurate, and see how many babies you're carrying. During the exam, you might see your baby moving around or sucking his thumb. Bring your partner along, and be sure to ask for a printout for your baby's first photo album!

Sunday, 4/11/10...Cheyenne & baby bump

Today we went up to Cheyenne for D's nephew C's 10th birthday. He had 3 friends and some family at the Municipal Pool there. L spent the entire time in the pool w/D and had a ton of fun. I don't think she's ever been in the water that much (they make everyone get out of the pool for 15 min. breaks every hour) and she loved going down the slide with daddy. D was really worn out by the end. After the party, we headed back to D's mom's house with his sister & kids in tow. L had a ball playing with her cousins, especially K. She's 8.5 years old and is great at playing with L. We stayed for dinner and left around 7:45pm. L fell asleep on the way home and we were able to transfer her to her bed with no problem.

Here's the best cousin pics I got (you can see some of the series in the slideshow):

Here's a slideshow of the pics from today:


Videos of L & D going down the slide:


And of course, here's some baby bump pics too: I'm 18 weeks here.

4/10/10: Why?

Elodie says "why?" a ton.  She also says, "Knock it over" instead of "knock it off."

4/5/10: L saying

Elodie said, "That doesn't taste like a good idea."

I just LOVE the stuff she comes up with!  They could use her material for Zeva on N*CIS.

4/5/10: our pregnancy: 17 weeks‏

Your baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — her lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and she's around 5 inches long from head to bottom. She can move her joints, and her sweat glands are starting to develop. from b@bycenter.com

4/3/10...baby bump & anniversary...

This morning we took L to two different egg hunts (more on that later). Tonight, D & C watched L so that we could go to M@ggianos for our 8 year anniversary (it's Tuesday).

Here's the pic of us before we left. I'm almost 17 weeks here.