Week 23

We have just completed week 23 of this pregnancy!  I am feeling good although not thrilled about the very warm and humid weather.  Certainly on this second go 'round my belly popped out much more quickly than last time, muscle memory I guess!  Several moms have told me that it will plateau a bit which is good.  It's also so different this time as I was not in the best shape prior to getting pregnant and am pretty out-of shape now due to general business and inability to do any real cardio to burn some calories and keep my muscles toned.  

I think I have put on enough weight myself and only need the additional weight that goes directly to the baby.  He should be gaining about 6 oz./week now and then I think about 8 oz./week the last month.  So that's about an 8 pound baby, assuming he weighs about 2 pounds now.   Layla was 7 lb. 14 oz. when she was born.  Are boys generally heavier?  I don't suppose it really matters except that I am starting to think about delivery already and if I can go it without the epidural again.  I think I will, why not?  I already know what to expect, right?

The doctor asked us to do hospital registration, etc. etc.  I asked him if we needed to tour again, if anything changed and his response: It's redecorated with HUGE televisions!  I honestly don't think I watched tv at all when we were in with Layla but I probably will this time since Jason won't be staying overnight with me.  We'll probably take Layla for a siblings tour when we get closer to the due date.  They host them for siblings 3 and older, so they can see the hospital and be prepared for the arrival of the baby.  Well, as much as you can be anyway.   I may re-take infant CPR just to give me a little piece of mind as well. 

Our boy is doing well.  He is very active during the evening rush hour and lively during story time each night.  I think he enjoys hearing his Daddy's voice for stories!  Layla is smitten already with her brother and sometimes comes over and while lifting my shirt up says, " I need to talk to my brother."  With futility, I have explained to her that he can hear through my clothes, but she in unconvinced.

Too Smart

Sitting at the Kitchen table eating dinner with Layla:

Layla:  Mommy, is the baby gone?

Me: No, the baby is fine, why do you ask that?  (Momentarily terrified since my daughter somehow knew I was pregnant before I did).

Layla:  You're drinking a beer!

Me:  Oooooh!  No, the baby is fine.  This beer is fake.

Layla: Fake Beer?  (Repulsed and intrigued by the concept like any normal human) Well, okay then.

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Side Note: Rummaging around in the fridge several weeks earlier (as she does for whatever reason) Layla had offered me a beer (what a thoughtful toddler!).  I explained that Mommies don't drink beer when they have a baby in their tummies because it's not good for the baby.  Yet another example of my bestowing wisdom backfiring.

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Footnote:  I prefer my fake beer imported.  We found some decent stuff from Germany at the Whole Foods tonight.  Even Jason agrees it almost tastes like real beer.  

The hottest summer EVERRRRRRR!

Jeff and I were joking yesterday that this was the hottest summer of our lives.  We failed to reach the predicted high of 98, it was a mere 94.  When I got in the car this morning, about quarter to 7, it was already 86 out.  I think that's the low for today.  And then I heard on the radio that it is already the hottest summer since 1977,  my whole life, like I said.  It's supposed to be 97 today.  Might I remind y'all that it's not actually summer yet, and I don't have central air.

What I am wondering is since summer started in March this year, if I can expect some nice cool weather by August 1.  Damn you, global warming!

Whew!  Okay, I feel better.  I appreciate any sympathy you would like to send my way.  I am blaming pregnancy for my misery, but let's be honest:  I wouldn't like this weather even if I wasn't pregnant.  I would be okay with this weather if I was independently wealthy, retired, and had my own pool.

Father's Day

We started out the day with breakfast out at one of our favorite breakfast places.  BIG disappointment.  They had a limited menu and the food was obviously pre-made and not cooked to order.   Fortunately, things were looking up with a trip to Home Depot to look at tools! 

The rest of the day we spent finishing up the new doorway to the stair, doing yard projects and playing outside.  

Here's the new doorway!  That's quite a sawzall man I have.  He did the framing too.  When I asked what I could do to help, he said I could supervise!  What a great job.  I did make myself useful, but he did most of the work......then I got to clean....... plaster is a real stubborn thing to clean up from the hardwood floor.  I did about 75% clean since I figure the drywall guys will come and make it all dusty again.  No sense in making myself crazy.  Trying to do a good job on keeping the Living Room/Playroom and Bedroom clean for LaylaBean.  

Layla's plant, seeded at a school family night is ready for transplant outdoors.  During the evening she spilled a couple times, so I am not exactly sure what kind of seed we ended up with.  I thought we were getting flowers, but I haven't seen any.  Jason things they are beans.  I guess we'll find out soon enough. 

 

The old grape vine arbor bit the dust during a wind storm, here's what is left of it (left).  It was buried under the vine itself, but Jason obviously had to move it out of the way to make room for the new arbor!  Although we opted for the low cost grape vine arbor in what can only be referred to loosely as Phase I of the landscape 'plan' it looks pretty darn nice!

I bought him Chipotle for dinner since I had bet him he could not do this project with less than $100 and in less than one day.  He did it in less than half of those parameters.  Admittedly, he downsized the original design which was more of a pergola than an arbor, but I think everyone is happy with the end result.  

Four Years!

Today resembled our wedding day four years ago, except there wasn't any torrential downpour to close start the dinner hour.  It was a beautiful day!

The three of us ate out at one of our favorite places in our new neighborhood, Zapatista.  They have nice outdoor seating and delicious Mexican food.  Layla was a gem and ate her whole dinner, plus a scoop of ice cream.  

p.s. I wish I could post a picture of this but it's not appropriate: As I am walking to the den to upload the photos I see Jason on all fours with Layla riding on his back (naked) and yelling, "Giddy up Turtle Daddy!"   I guess it's a good way to get her into the bathtub.

p.p.s. The baby really liked the spicy guacamole with watermelon!  Or maybe he hated it?  Either way he was kicking up a storm.

Weekend Fun

After our baby check up on Friday morning I took Layla to Maddie's Birthday party.  Hard to believe that she is 6 already!  Pony rides seemed like a good reason to take the rest of the morning off.  Layla only wanted to go one time, but she wasn't scared and took to it naturally. 

 Our weekend project was to do two things:
1. Close off the door to the bathroom from the Kitchen.  Why?  Let's be honest, it's just weird.  Why on earth would you want to go into the bathroom from the Kitchen.  I explained to Layla we don't want stinky bathroom smells getting into our food and she was on board.

2. Move the doorway to the stair that leads to the backyard and outside.  Currently at the top of the stairs you go right and into the Kitchen.  Not a big deal except the walkway between the ref. and wall is less than 18".  This is completely useless for getting anything through and I have scraped my knuckles on it countless times already and haven't done laundry once!   This is getting moved to go straight into the Dining Room, which is plenty big.  The little corner will be my pantry in the Kitchen.

 Views from the Kitchen and from back door.

View from the Dining Room

Partially complete view from the Dining Room.  View from the back door.  

That's as far as I got today.  The other opening is ready for framing and drywall, but that was the easy one.  This is a bearing wall and will need a new header.  Plus I have to cut the lathe back and clean up the drywall opening.  Maybe my expert sawzall man will handle that! 

 My helper brings out her own hammer with a warning: "Shut your ears Momma! I'm working!"

Spring Recital

Layla's pre-school class sang with the 3s and 4s classes Thursday night for Spring Recital/Kindergarten graduation.  All the songs had a water theme, so the kids were wearing goggles!   She did great and they had a wonderful time! 

 

Going out for pizza at Barnaby's after the Recital!

Bumpdate

....and BOY makes 4!  He looks healthy and perfect, we are so blessed!

Boy or Girl?

Me: Layla, we are going to the hospital next week to see baby and find out if it's a boy or a girl.
Layla: Girl!
Me: What if it's a boy?
Layla: Girl! 

---- A few days pass ----

Me:  Layla, do you want to go with us to see the baby and find out if it's a boy or girl?
Layla: Moooooommmmmmmmm (add eyeroll and teenage annoyed tone of voice) I already told you it's a GIRL!

----- Today ----

Me: Miss Carrie finds out today if her baby is a boy or girl.
Layla: Girl!
Me: You want Alice to have a sister?
Layla: Sister, just like me!  All girls!

---- Coming Friday ----

We will be finding out if Layla gets her wish, so check back for an update!

Teaching Manners

One of my great pet peeves in the world is the stunning lack of manners, basic courtesy.  I am sure every generation laments 'kids these days'.  But really, is it so hard to teach your kids basic manners?  Apparently, it is and a lot of parents fail miserably.  I am not talking about my friends and family, who are, as a group, very polite and well-mannered folks.  Just people you encounter in every day life.  You know: move over on the sidewalk, say please and thank you, say I'm sorry if you bump into someone.

Manners I am working on with Layla, as with all toddlers, is remembering to say please and thank you.  She has a tendency to just demand what she wants; I can only assume this is normal.  So, I remind her to say please and on occasion have said, "Don't be bossy, ask with polite words!" As I lose my patience on this particular topic.

As with most things these days it comes right back to bite me.  Yesterday, I told her to go and get her lovie and baby doll to put in her backpack for school.   She says, "Okay, Mossy Bossy!" I deciphered/she explained later that this is her new nickname for her "Bossy Mommy".  Yikes!  I guess we have to talk about name calling next.

Life Update

One of my more awesome parenting tricks this past month:  teaching my daughter about the ice cream truck and then watch her try and eat an ice cream treat (shaped like Dora's head) in the car.  I'll let you use your imagination as to what happens next.  

Grandma and Papa Greg are coming to visit!  We ready the guest house with a fresh flower bouquet from our garden. 

A little warm weather and our flowers EXPLODED overnight!  We did a lot of work in the garden last fall and it paid off this spring.  Turns out we have 4 or 5 different peony colors and the roses looked stunning.  Even my irises that were divided and moved are flourishing!

Grandma and Papa Greg got to see 90s in Chicago, what lovely May weather.  We lounged in the shade and let Layla run through the sprinkler.  

Our strawberry topsy-turvy is loaded and hung up.  This was a bit more of a challenge than we expected since the thing is darn heavy.  I am sure it hangs well if you have a covered porch but Jason hammered a stake 4 feet into the ground instead.  It's already making berries so the challenge will be keeping an eye on the littlest DeBaker who wants to eat every one she sees!

We took Mom and Dad to Piccolo Sogno for Mother's/Father's Day celebration while they were in town.  Our good friend Tony is the owner and chef.  We had an early dinner so Layla could come and we even got a tour of the recently expanded Kitchen.  Mom's dinner was amazing so I couldn't pass up the picture.  Plus she looked GORGEOUS!!!

Picture Day!  Layla is wearing her favorite dress and giving her squirrel a morning kiss!  

One of the church ladies fills the planters out front with flowers and trinkets that the kids love to play with.  The squirrel is always there and Layla thinks he is her personal friend.  She likes to pet him. 

A ride on Daddy's shoulders Saturday afternoon!

At the park with her girlfriends, Adelynn and Madeline!