It's a...

...healthy baby! Try as I might, this tech was too good at hiding stuff for me to get a defining glimpse. (Jen didn't want to know, so we were going with a "don't ask don't tell" approach). We got lots of views of the heart, though. And the brain. The kid has all the necessary organs and limbs, and a profile that bears some resemblance to Natalie's, though maybe with a more defined jaw. I'm having weird anxiety about raising a boy (which I think is just where any undefined anxiety about a second child is choosing to reside right now), so we picked up some reading on the way home. If it ends up being a girl, well, I can give unsolicited advice to others. (Note from Jen: I am convinced that in buying that book we have guaranteed a girl... but who knows?)

(In the picture just added, Carbo is on the left, and Harpo/Natalie is on the right)

Growth

I guess one might say she's grown a bit over these two years, eh? This morning's pediatrician appointment put her at 32 lbs., 10 oz. and 34.5 inches. She can still rear-face! But, only for a few more ounces, so at some point in the next few weeks, we will be turning her carseat around. Sigh. These pictures were taken when Natalie was a few days old, on her first birthday, and today, her second birthday.

Two

If you ask Natalie how old she is, she sticks out her index fingers, puts them next to each other, and says, "TWO!" And when we wake up tomorrow, indeed, two years will have passed since she joined us on the outside. While we are firmly in the stage of testing limits and asserting independence, I continue to be immensely grateful and eternally awed that I get to be her Mama. Watching her personality unfold and listening to her language explode over this last year have been fascinating. We laugh a lot around here these days.

Things we're enjoying:

• Demands to "Look how sees!" in the mirror when trying something on or being silly.
• Two pacifiers crammed into her mouth at once, just because she can (and because it makes us laugh)
• That she insists her new crocs from Jen's mom are really called crocodiles.
• That when she picks up a book, she either recites both the title and the author, or begins to make up her own story based on the pictures.
• Her obsession with diapering her dolls with her diapers, and the conversations she has with herself and her babies while doing so.
• That, despite (or perhaps, because of) our best efforts, she has declared that her favorite color is pink, and is not backing down.
• Listening to her play with time and family words, trying to figure them out ("she's my granddaughter..." "On Friday I read that..." "My daddy was two days ago...")
• Her memory (while Jen and I were chattering back and forth trying to remember my mom's new dog's name, Natalie quietly chirped, "Rocket!" She was right.)
• Her glee while playing with the basketball hoop from my dad.
• Her imagination and all the unexpected ways it comes out.
• Her newfound knowledge of our given names, and the glint in her eye when she barks, "JEN! CAIT!"
• The counting to "thirteen, and thirteen, and thirteen, and THIRTEEN!" before jumping (stepping) off of things. (though she can now actually get off the ground when jumping with both feet)
  
• The occasional spontaneous "I love you," and the many, many unprompted hugs and snuggles.

We love you too, kiddo. Happy Birthday.

Look! A Post.

I think we should rename this place "Blogging Problems". There has been a distinct lack of posting in the past few months. I thought I'd try to redeem a bit of that, but it ended up mostly being somewhat grumpy reportings on the state of the pregnancy. However, the alternative is continued radio silence, so forthwith the ramblings of my tired and somewhat whiny mind (with a few positives at the end).

• This pregnancy, much more so than Natalie's, has impacted my ability to eat and my interest in food. I've had nausea every pregnancy, but this time it was much more severe, and lasted longer. Even once it passed, I have been much less interested in food, but still needing to eat frequently. Needing to eat a lot and not liking food, when you are a person who usually LOVES food is such a pisser. Grrr. I've thrown out homemade cookies that have GONE BAD because no one has eaten them. It's been over a month since we got our Girl Scout cookies and I have eaten one and 1/3 box out of three. I have NEVER had GS cookies in my house longer than a week! The ones from the open box are getting a bit stale, even! Stale Girl Scout cookies? That's a SIN! And yet? I'm gaining nearly as steadily as I did with N, and started out heavier than I did with her.
  
• Even during pregnancy, I feel a tension in caring for two kids, and compromises are being made. On the one hand, I have less energy for Natalie and have had many an evening when I just lay on the couch. I'm still nursing her, but if there's any milk left, it's very little indeed. While she's still passionate about nursing, the amount of time actually spent nursing is minimal. As for wee Carbo, s/he just isn't getting the kind of attention that the dynamo formerly known as Harpo did in utero.
  
• The biggest similarity to the first two pregnancies is the tremendous hit to my energy levels, motivation, and ability to get things done. I envy all those women who bounce around at 13 weeks saying, "Don't you love that second tri burst of energy?!" (And they really are out there. Just go to the due date boards on The Site We Love To Hate.) I did get a trickle of increased energy at 18 weeks... only to be felled by a cold a day later. It's still dogging me. I hope it will wrap up this weekend and I will have a bit more energy. Please.
  
• Time is passing much more quickly this edition. I am astonished to think that I am 19 weeks today, almost half done... except when I look in the mirror. There is one helluva belly sticking out already. It's comparable to what I looked like at 6 or 7 months last time and I'm not even 5 yet! Aack!
  

HOWEVER,

• I'm starting to be able to feel the baby move from time to time, and it's just as awesome as last time. It's equal parts reassurance - phew, it's still ok - and wonder - wow! There's really something in there! Cait has felt a few pokes, too. We're both greedy and want MORE!
• Natalie is very excited about the baby. Many evenings when we would otherwise have been nursing, she pats and pokes at my belly, sings to the baby, hugs the belly, and says, "Hi, baby!" (She also pushes on my belly with a devilish grin, saying "Push baby!" -- knowing she is not supposed to. We are in for it.) She talks a lot about sisters and brothers... though mostly sisters. "I have a sister!" she often says. (But don't think she's onto anything. This is the same kid who proclaims fairly often that "I a big boy!")
  

Lest you think I am a complete selfish brat, I do of course know we are so lucky to have this opportunity. Despite my whining, this really has been pretty easy so far and I am lucky that the only things I can complain about are the usual complaints of pregnancy. No matter the compromises and the fights which are sure to become commonplace in our house, we are so excited to be having another child to bring joy to our lives and companionship and challenge to Natalie's life.

Felt Food Fun!

April 08 011, originally uploaded by jrustdc.

A bunch of blogfriends got together and had a virtual sewing circle, making felt food for our kids to play with. We swapped them with each other so each of us kid got a set to play with.

We also made 2 extra sets to be auctioned. We're selling both a full set and pieces through the U.T.E.R.U.S. auction. They're listed slightly differently (I don't know why) so here's the link to them. Buy! Have fun! (I made the noodles in the colander... a colander is included, BTW.)

One Click Shopping!

Thanks to C, we now have a real, working link to the U.T.E.R.U.S. sale! Hooray.

UPDATE: And now thanks to Jody, we have a link to the US version (the items were first posted on UK eBay but are now mirrored to the US... hence the peculiar prices).

I note there are as yet no currently FOUR bids for the cookies. Ahem. WOOOHOO!

Buy Stuff! Buy Lots of Stuff! (UPDATED)

Here's the link to the eBay listings for the U.T.E.R.U.S. fundraiser.

Ok, I tried to make it easier, but failed. (Thanks for the tip, Cinnamontoast!)
Slightly more complicated approach:
Go to eBay UK. Click on "advanced search" toward the right in the top yellow bar.
In the far left column under Find Items, choose "Items by seller."
Enter "uterusbrigade" and click "Search".

Then bid on cookies and other cool stuff!

Go check it out, and see if there's something you'd like. Every penny helps Cali!

Take Back the U.T.E.R.U.S.

Psst! Wanna Buy a Cookie?

All hail Mel! She's found a way to have the Internet's biggest garage sale and give the money to our dear Cali to help with her FET! So far, Cait and I are planning to sell the following through Project UTERUS:

-2 dozen AddProb chocolate chip cookies!!! You know you want them!

-NWT Liz Claiborne little black dress (6 petite... clearly Cait's and not mine!)

-NWT Old Navy pink s/s shirt with bows at sleeves (M... oddly - what with the pink and bows - also Cait's!)*

More to come...



*She wants me to say, "and you can see why it's still NWT!")

Take Back the U.T.E.R.U.S.