First Bee Sting and First "I love yous"...

or "Wuv you Mommy" is more like! Chou-chou told me his first "I love you" yesterday, all of his own freewill and inspiration. We weren't doing anything in particular, just playing together with blocks I think. It was so sweet!! Chou-chou is currently very into his blocks, building "garages" or "maison house" for his "personne". The thing he's realized recently is that it's much more fun for Mommy or Daddy to play, too, so independent play feels a little out-the-window right now. He spouts off a lot of "jouer Mommy" and "play Daddy", or "playdough Mommy/Daddy". Great that we're his favorite playmates, and I admit to getting into the blocks from time to time, but a little less great that this affords less "me" time or Mommy and Daddy "conversation" time. So far it's working okay to give a little, take a little, and although he's disappointed that we don't want to play 100% of the time, as long as he doesn't feel cheated it seems to work alright.

Our other "first" is a bee sting. Thankfully, we now know that Chou-chou is not allergic. Bee stings are like peanuts and all the other firsts your child probably won't be affected by but you're kind of worried about anyway. We were sitting on the deck eating dinner, barbeque bee-magnet type food, and Chou-chou was sporting only his bright yellow monkey underwear. A bee came up and was at first attracted to his underwear, then made his way up his tempting back, avoiding Jarod's shoos and waving around, until it reached his neck, at which time Chou-chou squeezed it between his shoulder and the side-back of his neck. Ouch!! Of course it stung and of course he wailed. For about five minutes. And we forced some ice on it for a minute or two, before Chou-chou and I retired to the rocker under a blanket, with a tettine, for a good ten minutes. He's now understandably a little paranoid about whether something is a "mouche" (fly) or "abeille" (bee)!

A favorite that I should mention from the last several weeks are the "mures" (blackberries) all over the corner of our lot and vacated Idaho street. This morning the first thing Chou-chou said to me was "mures??", as if I wanted to go pick blackberries while still in bed! Who needs "chachos" (cherrios)?! We've had a lot of fun and a lot of stain removal in the last several weeks!

Gummy Bear at 17.5 weeks

I realized yesterday that we hadn't taken any belly pictures of Gummy Bear! Poor, neglected second child! He or she might carry the same grudge I do about having half the baby photo albums as my older brother. Oh well, I see how it happens now... Anyway, I've got a journal in which I've documented some of the differences between this pregnancy and my first, but overall I guess I could say they are just very different. Obviously, I "popped" out sooner this time, but I think I've gained about the same amount of weight and the baby measures exactly on target. Although I haven't had throwing up nausea with this or the last, I've definitely had more queasiness and general disinterest with food this time, and it's persisted longer. Nothing sounds good, if that makes sense. I had worse IBS this time, which actually caused a little bleeding around 8 weeks. I've been feeling rolling baby movement for the last week or so (from about 16.5 weeks), which is easily three weeks earlier than the first time, so that's really special. The biggest challenge for me, though, is dealing with my anxiety, which didn't really surface until postpartum with Chou-chou (I was ignorantly blissful about the new responsibilities of motherhood!). The insomnia has set back in, scary daydreams, and worry about how I'm going to juggle two kids and a new job, with no maternity leave. And still say semi-sane, or survive at least. We've just had a lot on our plate this summer as well, with Jarod's mom's death and all the mess that's still going on in that department. And the never-ending house remodel. Well, anyway, this is starting to sound awfully down! I'm taking care of things, and have seen multiple medical professionals in addition to my normal psychologist. Prayer and church community are also very helpful, and my exercise routine can't hurt either. All in all, I feel hopeful and so thankful for this baby. Just trying to take one day at a time, and soak up all the sweet fetal movement and celebrate this miracle.

First Haircut

Okay, so these pictures are in the wrong order. These are the "after" shots:

And these are the "before" shots:

Although we'd been putting it off for some time, both Daddy and I are quite happy with our big boy's new do. Not too short, not too long. I definitely saved some of his whispy baby waves as keepsakes. He sat sort-of still on my lap while the Supercuts lady snipped away sort-of evenly. Luckily Chou-chou's hair is fine enough that any uneveness should go unnoticed!

Does anyone know what's wrong with my blog??

Hi bloggers,
I can't figure out how to get my column width back to normal and I've wasted entirely too much time messing with it. I even deleted everything in the right-hand column trying to make enough room, but nothing works. I tried reverting back to my old background, but apparently I permanently screwed it up by downloading a background from webfitti (notice the icon at top right). Does anyone know how to get it off, because I think that's the problem. Any ideas are greatly appreciated!!!!

Thanks,
Dory

Weaned: passed up for a banana!

That's right, my super nurser that I thought would never wean gave up the lolo all on his own about a week and a half ago. I can't believe I wasted so much emotional energy for so long wondering if and when he'd do it on his own, and caring about what I thought other people thought about nursing my toddler. Well, this just reinforces my biggest parenting lesson: do things the way they work and come naturally to you. If you try to do things based on advice or someone else's plan, it won't stick and it will drive you nuts!

So, basically my friend Karla was right-- get pregnant and your child will wean. I pretty much had no milk left by a couple weeks ago, and since we were starting a big new bedtime routine that involved a snack, over the course of two or three days he opted for less and less lolo and more banana! So it's kind of funny since our bedtime nursing was replaced by a banana, but kinda cute too. And of course the first night I was sad after he went to bed, thinking about how I didn't realize that the last time would be the last time. But mainly I'm just happy that I didn't have to push it, that he was good and ready, and that since my boobs are painful from the pregnancy I don't have to endure extra pain anymore:) Chou-chou is such a big boy, "ripened" and ready to face his third year!