Baby #2 and an Eventful Week for Elliot

The baby is growing! My dad and Lyn gave me a tiny “baby countdown” digital clock that says we have 136 days to go before we become a family of four. I am in the 20^th week now so we are at about the halfway mark. The baby is moving and kicking at all times of the day and night. I even feel it when I'm moving around doing things during the day. Those are the times when Elliot would be lulled to sleep, so it’s a little different to feel kicking this time around. I had an appointment with Dr. Polon this morning and all is well. The baby's heart rate is in the 140s now, and my blood pressure, weight and urine tests are all normal. I told him I feel like I'm bigger this time earlier, but he checked my charts and I'm exactly the same weight in my 20th week with this pregnancy that I was in my 20th week with Elliot--131 pounds. We won't have the anatomical ultrasound to check the baby's growth and find out the sex until my next appointment on March 1st. I think it's a girl, Drew thinks it's a boy. We will see who is right!

Meanwhile, we had an eventful week. Tonight Drew, Elliot and I met one of my work colleagues for dinner at Capitol Brasserie, a swanky French joint in downtown Austin. Elliot sat in his high chair for 2 HOURS without even a single fuss. He ate his goldfish crackers and some food and watched the people. The three of us adults talked the entire time and Elliot never monopolized the evening. A patron even came over near the end of the meal and complimented Elliot on being the most well-behaved baby she has ever seen, and asked if we gave him some of the wine. He was a sweetheart, and fell asleep in his seat on the way home. What a little light he is.

Elliot's old "girlfriend" Juli (our much beloved former nanny who is now a teacher) came over on Saturday night to watch Elliot while Drew and I went to a movie and dinner at Castle Hill Cafe. She said he is the same, just with a bigger belly! It was great to see her and we are glad she is still in Austin.

We had friends over this past weekend for dinner along with their 11-month-old boy, Hayden. Elliot cried when we sat him on the floor with Hayden. It was a full-out cry with tears and a red face. We're not sure why, but he cries around other small children. Gymboree is not fun for mom or Elliot so we don't go anymore. A new "working moms playgroup" is starting up in our neighborhood so maybe he can make some new friends and get over his fear. Besides other babies, he is also afraid of the vacuum and his tiger flashlight that roars when you turn it on. He is such a sensitive little guy.

We think he may finally be getting his upper teeth very soon. Well, maybe. He cut his bottom two simultaneously at 6 months and seems to have been working on his top two ever since. We spied white spots on his gums last weekend, and are hopeful that the top two will break the gum soon.

Last Saturday Elliot decided to really crawl, and now he splits his time between crawling and belly crawling. This Saturday he decided to try standing without hanging on to anything. He does it for a few seconds before he falls down on his bum. But he keeps trying. I have a feeling a first step is not that far off.

Just last week Elliot started feeding himself carrots, green beans, bananas, potatoes, BBQ chicken and berries. Pretty amazing what a person can chew with only two teeth. He still eats yogurt, and sometimes baby food, but really enjoys feeding himself the finger food.

We baby proofed the house. We have toilet locks, finger guards, fireplace foam, outlet covers and a baby gate. Many of these contraptions are also somewhat adult-proof.

I'll update the blog after the ultrasound in a few more weeks!