The Baby Countdown

Only 24 days until the baby's due date (June 18th). It's funny how excited we are. We have been working on a world's worth of chores before she gets here. Like crazy people we have been marking items off our "baby punch list" on the white board in the kitchen. Thinking back to when we had a 6-month-old infant, it was hard to believe we were already expecting another baby. But now that Elliot is a 14-month-old who walks around the house jabbering, we are really ready for another baby. And now we don't have to wait 9 months for her to get here, only a few more weeks. Nature is funny that way.

We have been wondering what this baby is going to be like. Will she be a big crier, or sweet and agreeable like Elliot was? Hard to believe we can be that lucky twice. Elliot was like hitting the baby jackpot! I can honestly say that neither of us has ever lost our patience with him, not even once. In the long run I think our daily routine has given him a sense of expectation and safety, and has shown him that we love and respect him. If his sister is a more difficult baby by nature, we are hoping our home life will have some influence. Nobody gets too noisy, crazy or stressed around here and maybe she will pick up on that vibe when we bring her home. That's what we're hoping for anyway!

As for me, I am living large these days as you can see by the top photo taken this morning. My stomach feels like it is 1/3 its normal size so I eat a little bit throughout the day instead of regular meals. My feet are usually swollen an hour after I start working thanks to sitting at a desk. Other than that I have no complaints. I am still sleeping well and the baby is not kicking me in the ribs yet like Elliot did. Overall I am not too uncomfortable. I look ridiculous, like I stuffed a beach ball under my shirt, but I am feeling good. My weight is up about 22 pounds from my normal weight. I gained 28 pounds with Elliot so it's hard to believe, but I probably still have at least 5 more pounds to gain. The beach ball is about to get even bigger.

Elliot has been a little sweetheart. Here's what he's up to these days:

• We knocked his bedtime back from 7ish to 8pm this week. He was not tired at his normal bedtime, and was acting irritated when we put him in his crib. He probably needs only about 11 hours of sleep a night now, so we'll see how this new bedtime works out.
  
• Teething... getting another tooth on the bottom. This will be tooth #5.
  
• Likes to snuggle and cuddle and will give kisses when prompted if he doesn't have anything more exciting to do.
• Waddles over to my desk and hugs my belly. Really he is asking to be up on my lap, but it looks like he's hugging his sister -- very sweet.
  
• Is learning the names of items around the house so that when we say, "Where is the clock? Where is the dog?" he will point to them. He won't say them yet though.
  
• Has a weekly playdate with his friend Hayden who is a month older than Elliot. They seem to play alongside each other rather than with each other. Mostly Elliot likes to go to Hayden's house and ride his plastic car (see photo).
  
• Likes to roll on, into and around Abby.
  
• Squeals and runs around the room waving his arms over his head when Dada comes home from work. With his big belly sticking out, he looks just like a chimpanzee.
• Likes to push his grocery cart around the house when we have friends over to show off his walking skills. He stops in the middle of the crowd and looks around to make sure he is being watched.
• Loves to be in his sister's room. Her baby toys (formerly his) are very interesting.
  
• Not too interested in the television anymore but likes music and the Noggin music videos on the website. Also still likes Baby Einstein puppets/music DVDs.
• Loves to play outside or in the garage with his Little Tikes car and lawnmower.
• Has started to outgrow his 12-18 month size clothes and is now into a 24-month-size. We are going to have to get him some more tee shirts and shorts for summer.
  

Mother's Day Weekend with Grandee

We had a fab Mother's Day weekend. Drew's mom was visiting so Elliot got to spend the holiday with both his mom and his Grandee. We went to Mozart's on Lake Austin for some good coffee and decadent pastries while Elliot took advantage of the expansive deck. He walked all over while one of us chased him around.

Grandee loved getting to spend the weekend with Elliot and I think he felt the same. They went for walks, to the park, read books and played with his toys. She couldn't believe that he recognized when she skipped a page in one of his books. She fed, bathed and put him to sleep one night while Drew and I went to dinner. He went to sleep easily for her. I would like to say it is because we are such great parents that he is so agreeable, but we really owe it to the bedtime routine we have done with him since he was teeny tiny.

This weekend we also went to Boggy Creek Farm, an all-organic farm in East Austin. Elliot was not very interested in the chickens, flowers or strawberry fields, but he did find a bike, tractor, wheelbarrow and car all with wheels on them. He also liked walking around and playing in the dirt. Deedee and I went to Babies R Us one afternoon and she spoiled Elliot and our nephew Alexander with some goodies. She got Elliot a gate for our back porch stairs, a tree swing, and a 4th of July tee shirt. She also cooked us up some of her specialties for after the baby is born so we don't starve in those first few weeks!

Drew and I went to a cool new nook called Bess on Saturday night for dinner. It's a cozy little bistro on Sixth Street owned by Austinite Sandra Bullock. At dinner, Drew and I chose Elliot's sister's name. After weeks of "thinking it over" we came to it fairly easily over lobster cakes. We have only 33 days until the due date, and we are very excited. I was telling Deedee and Drew this weekend that it is sort of crazy to realize you're pregnant again when you have a 6-month-old. But now that Elliot is 14 months old, I am ready for a wee one again, and now we don' t have to wait 9 more months for her. Nature is funny that way. Today I actually thought she was thinking of coming early. Painful contractions started about 2pm and would not let up, so I called Dr. Polon and he said it was probably Braxton Hicks, to drink a bunch of water and some juice and rest. I did and they finally eased up this evening. I had these with Elliot around this time, but not for 5 hours straight! Our daughter is still kicking me something fierce tonight, but at least she is staying in there for now. I'm in the 35th week now.

Right now Elliot...

• Says "doh" when we think he means "dog". Although he could just be imitating Homer Simpson.
• Loves to climb all over Abby.
• Likes to spend time in the nursery looking at his sister's crib mobile (which used to be his).
• Walks almost everywhere, except over most thresholds or steps.
• Loves to walk up and down the driveway and in the grass.
• Spends about an hour a day looking at all the books in his room.
• Doesn't spend as much time watching Noggin these days... he's too busy walking.
• Has expanded his food repertoire to include some new favorites: peanut butter, kiwi fruit and strawberries.
  

Nursery Shopping & A Visit from Nana

This past weekend my mom came to visit. The main purpose of her visit was to help us get the nursery together, but she also spoiled Elliot with attention and presents. She got him clothes, toys and other goodies, including a little armchair for watching his Baby Einstein and Noggin programs in the living room. Sometimes he sits in it for 10 minutes at a time.

Mom and I drove down to San Marcos this weekend to visit the Pottery Barn outlet. We struck gold with things for the nursery: lamp, rug, containers, and a pretty flower mobile all for 40-50% off the outlet price. We managed to outfit the nursery quite nicely. And because the baby is getting Elliot's dresser and rocking chair, we found him a fab red dresser and a double-seat chair perfect for storytimes in his bedroom. This weekend was also the neighborhood-wide garage sale so I picked up this Little Tikes car and lawnmower for Elliot. He seems to like them even though I couldn't get a single picture of him smiling. Dad will probably be happy when the baby arrives so the spending will stop!

Elliot is walking now. He rarely crawls because it is faster to walk. He went from crawling full time to walking full time in the span of the past two weeks. We notice that playing with his trains and cars on the floor is kind of difficult for a boy who likes to walk, so we think we found him a little activity table on Craigslist that he can stand at to play with his toys in his playroom.

Meanwhile my belly is growing seemingly by the day. The baby is probably about 4 pounds now and I can tell she is getting heavier and stronger. She kicks hard and her rump is often sticking out to the side of my belly. Hard to believe we have only 46 days until the due date. This weekend I am going to be making some frozen meals so we don't starve during those first few sleep-deprived weeks.

Drew's mom is coming to visit us next week so we are excited for that.

Also, just this week Elliot will point to your nose when you say, "Elliot, where is my nose?" Very cute. Now we're learning ears, eyes and mouth.