Big Problems!

On the way to school this morning, Bradley and I had a little conversation.

B: Where are we going?
Me: To school.
B: I don't want to go to school!
Me: Why not?
B: I want to keep eating rice cakes!
Me: Should we bring some rice cakes in to school so you can keep eating?
B: Yeah!

Don't you wish all of your problems were that easy to solve?

Here's a recent Bradley picture.  He felt Hopper the penguin should be strapped into a carseat, and have a friend (a little stuffed cow) to keep him company.  The carseat was removed a week or so ago when Pat folded the CRV seats down to make a run to the dump.

22 Weeks

I am 22 weeks pregnant.  Baby can get sugar from what I eat now.  Better start paying attention to not eating too much sugar!  I have been craving different things from last pregnancy (fresh fruit, occasionally potatoes) this time: eggs, potatoes in any form, and lots and lots of gummy candy.  The egg and potato cravings have simmered a bit, I think because my aversions to vegetables and other foods have sort of passed such that my diet is back to a fairly well-rounded one these days.  But those urges for gummy candy... those aren't going anywhere!  In hopes of not giving baby-to-be a huge dose of sugar and making him a diabetic before he's even born, I am trying to find healthier alternatives (healthy muffins and cookies, fruit in fresh and dried forms, tea, etc.) but it's very hard lately, let me tell you.

So the baby's irises have formed now, though they aren't pigmented.  I wonder if baby will have the same green eyes as big brother Bradley?  Those came from my mother-in-law, Sarah, via Daddy.  Beautiful, beautiful green eyes with blue and honey-brown rings - the one physical feature I desperately hoped our kid(s) would inherit in particular.  :)

Life goes on....

Here are some weekly belly photos (with my lovely assistant!):

 

Grandma Bea

My dear Grandma Bea passed away on Friday, at the age of 94, with my parents by her side.  My brother, Steve, made it from Syracuse in time to see her.

I visited my parents' in Vermont on Saturday to be with them and my two brothers, and to help my parents do a preliminary sweep through Grandma's little apartment downstairs (my parents have partially finished their basement since she moved in, building her a bedroom and bathroom and setting up a little kitchenette and small table and chair near a few large windows) to get rid of trash, purge her correspondence (she kept many, many special letters and notes - I found sweet cards from Patrick's mother and Aunt Roxy, drawings Bradley had made for her, and letter upon letter from my mother's cousin, Althea), and organize her belongings so that my mother and her sister, Cheryl, have an easier time sorting through them.  My brother, Steve, and I also helped my parents polish the house a bit - they are mid construction project, putting in a new floor in their downstairs living spaces, so there was furniture and clutter displaced in every room, but we got it looking like a house again.  Steve helped a lot with the floor and he and my father were able to nearly finish two out of three rooms of new flooring, which looks beautiful.  It will be good in case they need to host a reception or gathering of any kind.  Though Grandma lived in Florida and New York most of her life, she still has quite a collection of friends and acquaintances in the area and my parents are going to try their best to include them in whatever services we have.

I am still feeling very sad about Grandma Bea's passing.  I didn't cry or grieve much yet: when I'm home I don't want to worry or scare Bradley, and when I was with my parents we just plain had so much to do that I think I went on "auto pilot" a little.  It might seem silly given she was 94, but I think maybe we all expected her to live forever...?  We will have a service soon, once she can be cremated.  I am looking forward to saying goodbye to her formally in that way.  She was quite a special woman, as anyone who met her knows, and I have been honored by sharing her name (my middle name is Beatrice), which now feels all the more a treasured connection.

Insomnia

It is 8:14 AM and I have been up for approximately 6 hours.  Jealous?

Pregnancy-related insomnia is one of the most unpleasant symptoms, I have to say.... Normally I am able to go back to sleep, but this morning my brain refused to shut back down.  After about an hour of wakefulness,  I grew so hungry that I actually felt the pangs of hunger move from my stomach into my back (does that ever happen to anyone else?).  I gave up, had a snack (dates dipped in peanut butter, yum, and I bet SO GOOD for my teeth), and tried to return back to sleep.  No dice.  I wondered if I should wake up and go for a run (on the treadmill, obviously, as it was approximately 8 degrees outside at the time), but decided against it as I didn't want to wake Pat by getting clothes.  I finally dragged myself out of bed around 4:15 and enjoyed an extra-long hot shower before brewing myself some coffee (an abnormal indulgence for me, especially while pregnant, but something I am viewing today as necessary for survival!) and starting the day.  *sigh*

Family Time & News

We spent the weekend in NY and VT visiting Pat's family.  On Friday we went first to my brother-in-law, Mark, and sister-in-law, Alison's, apartment.  We hadn't seen their new place since they moved a few years ago (we're always getting together at Pat's parents') and Bradley had never met their adorable kitties, Eenie and Meenie.  The kitty girls and Walter got along great, and Bradley enjoyed a game of Foosball with his uncle and daddy.  We then went on to my in-laws' house for the weekend.  Bradley literally danced and jumped at both houses, he was so excited to see his extended family.  We had a great visit and because of the long weekend felt it wasn't rushed, and that we were able to relax and enjoy each others' company.

Pat and I left Bradley behind and took a little side trip for one night to my in-laws' place on the lake in VT (where my mother-in-law grew up) for some quiet couple time.  We went out to dinner without having to pay a sitter (so much cheaper, despite Pat ordering a steak that must've seriously weighed 3 lbs!), tried out Mark and Alison's snow shoes (love: it was so peaceful and quiet, we saw the tracks of at least five different species, and now we want to get some of our own!), and just plain enjoyed not having a schedule or anything much we felt we had to do.  We were able to watch a few movies over the weekend: D'Jango Unchained and The Silver Linings Playbook.  I'd definitely recommend both, though I don't think either would be my pick for best picture at the Oscars this year... still a bunch more to see.  Some really great acting though!  Here are some pictures from our snow shoeing outing (and one of his GIANT STEAK!):

In other family news, my 94-year-old Grandma Bea is sick.  She was diagnosed with bile duct cancer a few years ago and has recovered fairly well (though she's said her energy and appetite have flagged since then).  She went into the hospital on Friday evening with some abdominal and chest pain.  Tests have indicated the cancer may have spread to her gall bladder and/or stomach, and she's not been able to eat or keep food down for a few days.  She has remained in pain and they are trying to find the right dose and medications to relieve that while keeping her conscious and alert (quite a struggle on Sunday when she was basically sedated).  My mother is spending a good amount of time at the hospital to be with her, while my father is home frantically working on redoing their floors... they were in the middle of the project when Grandma felt ill, and feel they can't host anyone while they finish it up because furniture is askew and blocking living space, etc.  My plans at this point are to go visit on Saturday for an overnight.  We just spent a nice time with her (and my brothers and parents) in VT at Christmas, but I would love to see her again to let her know we're thinking of her, and to be there with my mother for a bit.  It's hard not being able to pop right over.  We've all known "the end" is coming sometime soon considering her age, but my brother, Steve, and I (and my parents and entire extended family, I'm sure) are having a bit of a hard time seeing/hearing of her in pain because I think we all expected she'd just fail to wake from a nap one day and be gone.  We are all really hoping they can make her more comfortable than she is right now.  Here's a picture of her from April:

21 Weeks

I am now 21 weeks pregnant.  Little boy has been kicking up a storm lately, much stronger than I was feeling over the past month.  Pat and I have noticed it seems to happen after I eat, about 30 minutes later, so we assume the little guy's getting a nice dose of sugar and nutrients when my blood sugar spikes.  Then he has himself a little dance party/karate session.  I don't really notice particular foods making any difference, but we'll see if that changes with time.

I don't know what they're talking about over at babycenter this week, because I'm certainly not describing how I am feeling lately as comfortable.  I am starting to have to shift positions a lot while sleeping AND while awake.  Just sitting at my desk chair at work is uncomfortable if I don't get up and stretch my legs every so often.

The weekly message also mentions baby's weighing about 3/4 of a pound by now, and of course we're ahead of schedule there.  Nothing to worry about, that's just how we grow 'em!

Here are some pictures from this week (please ignore the PJ pants, those have been coming out after work some days lately!):

The Three-Year-Old and the Dentist

Bradley had his three-year "well-child" visit with the doctor on Friday 1/18.  He didn't need any vaccines, which we were all quite happy about.  He will need some before kindergarten and then boosters again around age 11.  He weighed in at 40.4 lbs and stood tall at 34 inches.  The doctor commented she thinks he'll be tall; Pat and I both have several relatives over 6'0" and even 6'5" so I'm betting he'll be around 6'2" or so.  Time will tell.  His height is ~ the 90th percentile (meaning he is taller than 90% of other boys his age) and his "baby BMI" is ~ the 50th percentile (meaning his weight is perfectly average for other boys his age and height).  We need to take him for a lead test... we actually totally skipped it when he was 12 months old because we were changing doctors and then lost the paper... but now we're going to have to get it done.  I am NOT looking forward to that.  Hopefully he does better than his mommy typically does.

I brought Bradley to the dentist this morning for his first visit.  He's a pretty good brusher, which daycare helps with a lot.  We brush every night before bed, plus in the mornings when we're home; daycare brushes at least once per day.  He is even interested in flossing, trying to use the little disposable flossers from time to time.  Still, I was nervous. I was extremely worried about how B would make out, considering he's had some serious lingering trauma over shots at the pediatrician's office as a very young infant.   A little aside - I find it amusing when the babycenter monthly update mimics life so well.  It reminds me that while what we're experiencing feels very special and unique, it's oftentimes such a shared human experience.  I remember feeling that way getting married... had anyone ever been so in love or excited before in the history of time?  Probably.  Ha.

At any rate, the appointment went very well and the dentist said he has a healthy looking mouth, teeth and gums and all.  She was happy to hear we don't use sippy cups or give him juice.  She cleaned his teeth with a kiddy brush, counting and inspecting as she worked.  Then she cleaned with a professional brush and painted on some fluoride.  He was a little nervous but did well overall.  I think reading Little Critter may have actually helped!  He was thrilled to receive a personalized goody bag with stickers and a travel toothpaste when she was finished with her work.  Here's a picture:

20 Weeks

I am 20 weeks pregnant.  The babycenter post for this week says baby is the length of a banana.  I like the comment about having probably gained 10 pounds, that's a good one!  Ha!  It's more like 20-25 at this point.  We'll see if I can stick to 25-35 for the whole pregnancy... we are, after all, only halfway there.  I gained 45 with Bradley so I'm beginning to think that is just "normal" for me.  Oh well I guess, I lost it all once and so I know I can do it again if need be!  Here are some pictures from this week (post-run, see how well my running gear is fitting these days?!):

We have signed up for Big Sibling class at Newport Hospital some time in early April.  Bradley will learn what babies sound and act like, how small they are, and how to hold them.  He'll also get the chance to make a card for the baby.  How sweet!  We'll see how he handles that.

Big Emotions

Last night I stayed out a little bit too late with some of my MOM's Club pals at Aidan's.  I was kind of bummed not to be able to order a Belhaven on tap, but I have been craving their pub fries for a few months so that was a nice treat to finally enjoy, score!  It was nice to chat with other mothers of toddlers.  Bradley has always been a pretty easy kid, but lately Pat and I have been thrown for a loop because he's starting to talk back and is actually quite rude sometimes.  He wants to lead the way if we're walking down the sidewalk, up the driveway, wherever.  If he isn't or cannot be leading the way for some reason, he shrieks and cries.  We usually then explain why he can't lead at the moment, and he'll reply with a grouchy, "Don't say that to me!"  Okay then....  So while we don't like the behavior and expect him to use his manners and appropriate tone of voice, we recognize that he's little and we need to teach him these skills.  I think it's partly my having taught middle school that makes me perpetually afraid of raising a rude, entitled child - and I wonder if it's time to "crack down" on behaviors sometimes so that he's not out of control at age 12.  But after hearing that everyone else is going through similar trials with their little monsters toddlers, I think what's in order is a little more patience from Pat and I while Bradley learns and works through some of these BIG toddler emotions (e.g., frustration when he knows what he wants and can even ask for it but still doesn't get his way sometimes).

I had some hot chocolate this morning (to reward myself for not dying or killing anyone else on the commute - yikes, the roads were bad!) and the baby is positively hopping around in there.  Baby dance party!

We got some DELICIOUS fruit as a nice after-Christmas present from Uncle Gary and Aunt Pat this week, and we're already done with the apples and pears.  YUM YUM.  Bradley (aka Baby Fruit Bat) definitely enjoyed the gift as much as we did.  That reminds me, I have one last little batch of thank you notes to get out from the holidays.  We are very fortunate to have such wonderful, kind, and giving family and friends.  We are so spoiled!

I am seeing the chiropractor again this afternoon for an adjustment.  Monday went well; he thinks the joint between my spine and left hip is out of place and pinching a nerve that extends to my ankle, and that it is simple to realign.  I should be able to wind up with monthly maintenance appointments until the baby's born.  That's good news, especially since the chiropractor is deemed a specialist and I have to fork over $25 copays each visit, ouch!

Pat is home today supervising the installation of our new oil tank.  We arrived home from Christmas to a leaky tank (installed in 1960 when our house was originally built), and discovered it needed a full replacement and MIRACLE of MIRACLES, our tank insurance plan that we'd just recently started with our oil provider would cover the new tank (estimated cost starting at $1,800).  WAHOO!  Here's to staying warm in winter!  I love me some hot, hot showers.

My sister-in-law, Alison, was one of the lucky 14,000 who were able to sign up for the 36th annual Boilermaker race this coming summer.  It sold out in three days, apparently!  It was my first 15K race last year; a very real challenge as what I'd qualify as a longer race, but VERY fun due to all the fans (including my mother and brother, whom I saw and high-fived along the course!), and special because I got to spend some time with family, a college roommate, and some close family friends in upstate New York that I don't get to see very often.  So confession time... I have been feeling a little sorry for myself about my lack of racing right now, as I hear everyone else's plans for fun or interesting events, including a few pals who are gearing up to tackle another Tough Mudder, my all-time favorite fun event.  Last year at this time, I had plans to do the Jamestown Bridge 10K, the Tough Mudder, and the Boilermaker.  This year?  I'm pregnant, my joints are kind of stressed, and it's cold outside... so I've absolutely no plans for any races anytime soon.  I am still running 2-3 times per week, usually from 2.5-5 miles... but a race?  It doesn't even really sound like fun.  The part that's really bugging me is I'm not sure when I can get back to it.  I have no way of predicting how this baby-to-be will nap and what time I'll have to myself for exercise and/or whether the jogging stroller will be an option.  *sigh*  First world problems, I suppose, right?  I suppose working on processing emotions with Bradley might do me some good!  On that note, cheers to all of you with races on your calendar in the next year.  I'm very excited for you, and honestly a little jealous too.  But I'll try to get over it without shrieking, crying, or being rude... I promise.  :)

Baby Pictures!

We had a great weekend, despite some dreary weather.  On Saturday, Bradley and I met up with his pal, Finn, and Finn's family for a little Mt. Hope Farmers Market fun and a walk down to the pond.  We saw lots of mallard ducks swimming and walking around on the thin ice, got to hear the fiddlers playing, and Bradley helped to pick out some amazing stuff for dinner (John Dory with baked potatoes and roasted Brussels sprouts - all local, all delish!).  Pat and I watched Lincoln after B went to bed, which we both quite liked.  I am not a big history person (mostly because I found it boring in school and not that it's not interesting to me per say) and I learned quite a bit, besides being entertained.  I'd definitely recommend it.

Sunday we went to little Wyatt's 3rd birthday party.  It was adorable, with plenty to do and enjoy and we all had a good time.  When asked what his favorite part was (the cake?  the bagged lunch with his name on it?  the story?  the songs?  the games?), Bradley replied "the playing with trucks."  Ha.  Doesn't take much to make a  toddler happy, I guess!  We got home and Pat headed to friends' for football while B and I got ready for a nap.  He grabbed my arm and said "I caught you and you can leave me never," which he sometimes does when he's feeling really sleep and snuggly and doesn't want us to go.  I said, "Never?  Why don't you want me to leave you?" and he replied, "Because I love you."  Heart... melted!  What a sweetie.  I tried unsuccessfully to nap next to him in his big boy full-sized bed (complete with John Deere tractor sheets, naturally) but I could tell I was actually in his way and keeping him from drifting off, so I left him to nap.

This morning we took Bradley to our 20 week anatomy scan ultrasound!  He got his very own Big Brother photo of the baby, which he held the entire way back to daycare but then left in the car.  Oops.  He did well at the appointment, and was only a minor distraction.  The baby-to-be looks wonderful and is measuring on target date-wise, and a smidge large weight-wise (estimated weight of 13 ounces is higher than the average for 20 weeks, which is 10.58 ounces); we were able to clearly see the four chambers of the heart, all major arm and leg bones, the right hand and all of those little fingers, kidneys, several features of the brain, the nose and lips, and, well... something we were trying to avoid seeing.  Though she tried to brush it off and keep the surprise going, the tech unwittingly caught a quick glimpse between the babe's legs and we both immediately knew that Bradley will be welcoming a baby brother.  B, of course, knew so all along.  Here are some pictures from the scan:

In other pregnancy-related news, I go to the chiropractor this afternoon; my fingers and toes are crossed (well, not literally) that I can find some relief for my sciatic left-side pain and lower back pain, as it's gotten a bit worse as the pregnancy has progressed.

Little Lambs

Yesterday Bradley and I picked up the crop share from Simmons Farm (while Pat hung out with friends from work in a Happy Hour to celebrate his birthday!).  We picked up our weekly share (broccoli, bok choy, ground veal, eggs) and bought some milk and cheese (herb cheddar, YUM!).  The farm was gorgeous, bathed in afternoon sun, and a special surprise was that the first lambs of the season have been born!  When I asked about the timing of their birth, Farmer Karla said they can begin breeding as early as September and take just 5 months to gestate (lucky sheep!), so depending on needs of the farmer that can be fine, and they've never had a problem with the babies surviving the winters around here.

Bradley and I went home to unpack our bags, play Matchbox car racing, and have dinner (with Pat out and no leftovers to be found, I opted for cold cereal - impressed, aren't you?).  Doesn't Bradley look smashing in my beaded necklace?  It really goes with the excavator.

Today I'm calling to schedule our ultrasound to peek at the baby.  We are on the fence about bringing Bradley.  We'll see what times and dates are available and go from there.  We're also still on the fence about finding out the gender, and the plan for now is to have the technician write it in a sealed envelope for us.  Then we can open it if we decide we want to (or maybe even just one of us can do so).  For now I'm enjoying the mystery!

New Blog!

Welcome to my very first blog entry.  Thanks to my friend, Jenny, for getting me started on blogger.com, and to my husband, Patrick, for saying the other day "You really should just blog."  Okay, then, I guess I will!  :)

Tomorrow I am 20 weeks pregnant... the halfway point (assuming baby arrives on/near his/her due date of course!).  How did this happen?!?  I started drinking red raspberry leaf tea, which helps support strength during labor and delivery.  It feels nice to actively do something to prepare, other than taking my prenatal vitamin.  I am going to get the big bouncy ball out again soon as well, and sit on that.  That's productivity at its finest, right, sitting?  Ha!

Also tomorrow, I am going out for a Girls Night with some lovely lady friends.  We are headed to the Beehive Cafe for dinner (I've only ever been for breakfast but have been drooling over their lunch and dinner menu for months... or maybe years?) and then we'll stroll around the shops in Bristol.  I love our little town, and am excited to show it off to my friends.  Plus, a night off and on the town?  That doesn't happen often, so I know it'll be fun!

This weekend we've got plans to shop the Farmer's Market (or take some fun indoors if need be, weather being unpredictable as it is) with my good friend, Mommy Sophie, and her little man, Finn.  And then it's one of Bradley's longest running friend's, Wyatt's, third birthday party on Sunday.  He is having a party themed after the book The Snail and the Whale, how cool is that?  Bradley is hoping for some snow this weekend to use his Snowman Kit (thanks, Uncle Mark and Aunt Alison!), but it looks like it's going to be warm and rainy this weekend.  What a strangely warm winter!