18 months

Hard to believe that this little girl is already a year and a half old! Time really does fly by. New words this week are "Stuck", "Excuse", and "Tractor". She's gotten to the point where she'll try to repeat things you say if you ask her, but some words come on their own. One of the funniest words she's saying is "Butts" sometimes instead of "Bus". She's gotten better at the correct pronunciation, but it was hard not to laugh when a bus would go by and she'd shout, "BUTTS!" She's also saying "Bye Bye Daddy/Mommy/Tractor" instead of just saying "Bye". It's cute.

18 month stats

Height: 34 in (97th percentile!)

Weight: 25 lb 15 oz (75th percentile)

Dr. Terry says she's tall and slender, and he's pleased with her language skills and social skills. We were given handouts on sibling rivalry and bringing the new baby home, and instructed to keep discipline in our house at all times, so she knows "the rules" and feels secure. I'm so eager to see how Anna will react to having the new baby in the house. While she LOVES babies, baby dolls, etc, I don't think she's going to love sharing Mommy and Daddy. It should be interesting!

Mommy at 34 weeks and Anna

October 7, 2007

Mark your calendars!! This is the day we've picked to bring Baby B into the world. Due to John's busy work schedule (and the potential for him not to be able to get off of work should I go into labor) and with my history of quick labor, we've scheduled an induction for that Sunday. Also, with an attempt for a VBAC, I'd like to be in the hospital, on the monitor, for all of my labor! Of course Baby B could decide she wants an earlier birthday just like her sister! We'll just have to wait and see!

Talking up a storm

Anna seems to have a new word in her vocab every day. Yesterday she perfected MILK, when she was trying to delay bedtime, she knew that after bedtime prayers with giraffe she would be put in her crib. So she signs and says "MILK" with these pitiful big blue eyes. What parent in their right mind would delibrately dehydrate their child? She had been saying "MILP" for milk, until last night. She also started saying DARK, BUS, PIGGY, and really likes to enunciate CUP. She's working on SISTER "sista", SCHOOL "scoo", and OUTSIDE "side". It's funny how toddlers need interpreters for their language!

Chair climbing is a new favorite sport

I think this was an attempt at "cheese"

Contractions, contractions

Baby B is getting us prepared!! Monday around noon I started having some very uncomfortable contractions while Mom and I were shopping (of course for the little monkey!). We came home, I hydrated well, laid down, but didn't get any relief, so off to the doctor we went. I ended up in L&D for some monitoring and a medication called Terbutaline *yuck*. Not 5 minutes after the initial injection I felt like a racehorse on speed. My heart rate was well over 110, and I was shaking like I was really cold. Luckily it knocked the contractions out completely, so I was free to go home. I took one more dose of Terbutaline and decided that the side effects were not worth the benefit of stopping labor. SO far, I haven't had too many painful contractions to make me think about taking it again. I would be more worried if I wasn't over 34 weeks pregnant, and even my OB was hesitant to give me something to stop the contractions. So if they come again, then we'll be ready! My bag is officially packed, and all I have left to do is wrap Baby B's present for her big sister.

Happy 95th Birthday Gigi!

Yesterday we all got together to celebrate Gigi's birthday. Her 3 children, 7 of 8 grandchildren, and 5 of 6 great-grandchildren (with 2 more on the way!) were there to help celebrate, as well as one of her late sisters' husband and his family. It was great to all be together even for just a few hours. Anna and I went over today after church to help set up the birdbath we gave her, eat lunch, and have some more yummy cake. She is such a special woman, and I think Anna knows this, as she willingly shares her lovey and Lila with her when she comes to visit us, and Anna will not do that with anyone else!

A monkey reunion

We were so excited to see cousins Sean and Braxton on Saturday!! This is one of the few pictures I have with all 3 kids in the same frame! It's so hard to catch these kids still!

Funny what a kid will find to play with...maybe this means he'll be an Ear Nose Throat doc when he grows up?

Sean at almost 19 months- all my pictures of this little guy have major red eye issues! I'm so bummed! He is such a character, with his own creative language and all! If only they came with an interpreter!

Braxton at 17 months

Waiting patiently for dinner...this is before the tablecloth was shredded....

We can't wait to have the monkeys together again at Thanksgiving!

Another new favorite toy

Anna LOVES to push her stroller (with either Lovie, aka "Sessa" or "Tessa", Lila, or some stuffed animal in it) around the house. She will do laps through the living room, dining room, and kitchen, practicing to be a great big sister. (Not that she'll be pushing Baby B anytime soon in that stroller!)

I love this next picture because it looks like she's doing lunges. Work it girl!

When the kid's away, the CATS will play!

Anna's newest toy, the Weeble Castle, is a big hit at our house with both the human child and the feline ones. Rye particularly likes to fish for the weebles as they spin around the moat, and he's even batted them around the floor. It's funny to see my 8 year old cats play again!