simon's birthday party

Despite receiving awful news, our family mustered up to attend Simon's 2nd birthday party. Tyler was so excited to play with one of his best buds, Simon, we couldn't say no. Tyler really enjoyed himself and ate like he hadn't in days!

out of this world

Tyler loves his big boy bed with its solar system bedding.

December checkup

Alex and I saw the doctor this morning to check up on Baby #2's progress. My uterus and our baby are just the right size for this stage and the heartbeat is steady in the 160s. The good news is that I've not gained as much at this stage as I had at the same stage when I was pregnant with Tyler (but am still gaining at a normal rate). In fact, at 17 weeks I still do not weigh as much as I did when I got pregnant with Tyler. Bad news: I have to purchase a new maternity wardrobe because my pants from last time are much too large.

imaginary play

Tyler is so creative! He concocts little scenarios and acts them out talking to, and about, his toys and even his food sometimes.

singer

In recent weeks Tyler has started singing to himself as he plays. I'm not sure what tune it is, but it is so sweet to listen to!

the holidays are here!

Each night Tyler and I drive home from daycare, we've been taking our time to enjoy the Christmas lights on our route. Tyler was really impressed by the house that had an inflatable Santa on a motorcycle.

Now it was our turn! We picked out a tree, hung stockings, hung the wreaths in our front windows, and put up lights in our big cherry tree in the front yard. Tyler really enjoyed putting the ornaments on our inside tree, which we decided to put in the family room. We were all in great spirits until Mommy and Daddy had to explain that the "cool car" ornament wasn't a toy and should stay on the tree. This was an unpopular decision!!

play it again

Driving to the store this morning, our family was listening to Alex's iPod through the car stereo. All of a sudden Tyler was screaming "AGAIN! AGAIN!" We finally figured out that he was referring to the song. We skipped back and listened to "Lolli Lolli," by Three Six Mafia for a second time. In a few minutes as the song ended Tyler jumped in again "AGAIN! AGAIN!" And as we listened to this song several times in a row, Tyler rocked out.

belly shot - 16 weeks 6 days

Babies on the brain (and in the belly). I attended Jamie's baby shower for her little boy due in February.

manners

Upon occasion, unbeknownst to her, Daisy plants herself on top of one of Tyler's blankets or in the middle of an imaginary raceway for Tyler's cars. Tyler has such good manners that he says "scuse me Daisy," and then gently nudges her out of the way. And when he accidentally bops her with a toy he quickly makes amends with a "Sorry!" And if the offense is particularly bad, he'll add a hug and kiss. My little gentleman.

solar system bed

I've been eye-ing a particular bedding set for Tyler for over a year now. Unfortunately it has never gone on sale. Now that Tyler is happy sleeping in his new big boy bed, it's about time that he has the proper bedding. So we bit the bullet and got the bedding. When it arrived I spread the quilt on the floor of the living room and Tyler ran in circles on it. He even quickly picked up the names of several of the planets.

He was having so much hyper fun running around on it and driving his trucks along the circular patterns on it, that when I suggested that we walk Daisy, without skipping a beat, he said "Bye Daddy!" Guess the fun just couldn't be interrupted.

home from daycare

Tyler had a little bout of diarrhea and then toss his cookies at daycare. With Alex on the road I had to skip out of work and bring Tyler home to rest. Yeah, right! This boy may have had a little stomach bug, but it sure wasn't affecting his energy level. We played all afternoon and then he napped for 4.5 hours. He woke up feeling great and the bug seemed to have passed quickly, thankfully.

comparing pregnancies

I can't help but compare this pregnancy to when I was pregnant with Tyler. Both times I've been blessed with no morning sickness. With Tyler, I had a few instances where I'd be a bit nauseous when I'd lie down at night so I needed to keep a granola bar on my nightstand; no need at all this time.

With both my miscarriage and with Tyler I had breast hypersensitivity; this time it was very different with more of a tenderness.

With Tyler, I was super tired the first trimester. I would come home from work and have enough energy to eat dinner and watch one show before going to bed early every night. This time the fatigue has been spotty. I feared how I'd be able to deal with the massive fatigue and keeping track of a toddler, especially when Alex is out of town on business. Thankfully it has been a non issue.

With Tyler I felt distinct pokes at 16.5 weeks; this time I felt the baby move at 16.5 weeks but it was much more of a gentle bumping feeling.

Last pregnancy I never experienced the belly itching that I've heard about; this time I have.

Tyler had a heart rate in the 130s/140s; this baby has been in the 160s/170s.

What has been similar? I feel happy and comfortable (so far...talk to me again when I'm 8 months!). I'm sure my ankles will balloon up again too, but it's too soon to tell this time. I've gained an appetite of a bear preparing for hibernation. I felt movement from both babies at the same time into the pregnancy, despite different styles of movement. And of course in both cases I'm super excited to meet our baby!

ho! ho! ho!

On the ride home from daycare I was telling Tyler about Santa and Christmas. He must have picked something up because during bath time Alex asked him what Santa says and Tyler immediately replied, "HO! HO! HO!"

pee pee attempt

After seeing Daddy head to the bathroom, Tyler decided he wanted to try. But with no small potty yet, he had to sit on the big toilet. Tyler wasn't so sure about that! He asked to get down and then look confused. But no rush; I was really just surprised he was interested in the first place.

master manipulator

The manipulation that a two-year-old is capable of boggles my mind. I recall my niece being a good manipulator at four, but Tyler seems to have started early. We'll catch him doing something he is not supposed to be doing. As soon as he can hear us getting really stern and on the verge of giving a time out, he pops toward us with his arms raised saying "Hi Daddy!" or "Hi Mommy!" however the case may be and asks for a kiss. Even that sweet face can't hide his hidden intentions.

building a plane

This morning Tyler pulled out his blocks and proceeded to build. I looked down and he pointed to his completed work and declared it an "airplane!" I was so impressed because it really resembled a plane with two wings.

redmons in town

The Redmons came into town for the Thanksgiving holiday. We were lucky enough to get to have dinner together twice and the mommies even managed a shopping spree. Tyler was calling Audrey Kate "Awwrie Kate," which became just "Kate" the second night which then evolved into "Teet!" Audrey Kate really tried to keep up with Tyler and she found his antics hilarious. Although her favorite was a gator ball! Did I mention how smart she is?

lineup

Alex thinks Tyler may have some of my OCD tendencies. What do you think gives him that idea?

happy birthday mommy

My family took me to lunch for my birthday to celebrate. And then two days later on the actual day, Alex gave me a beautiful necklace. Tyler was happy to model it.

big boy bed

Out of the blue, Tyler requested to take his nap in the twin bed in his future big boy room. We let him and he did it. Then at bed time Alex asked if he wanted to sleep in the crib or big boy bed. He said "bed," so again we let him. He slept from 8:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. No getting up, no calling out for us. Just complete courage to sleep in the bed with no railings and no falls. What a big boy!

dancing fool

Tyler loves to dance! He'll turn on the iPod and scream "Dance, Dance!" When Lynne came to visit, he quickly warmed up to her and then started putting the moves on her - dance moves that is.

no keys!

Mommy has pregnancy brain and keeps getting into the car before realizing she hasn't brought the car keys with her. The second or third time it happened, Alex was standing in the doorway to wave goodbye and I asked him to run back in to get the keys for us. Tyler was waiting patiently in his car seat and chimed in, "Uh oh, no keys...Daddy!" Days later while leaving again, I got into the front seat and Tyler looked at me and said "No keys?" I had actually remembered this time and when I held up the keys and jingled them Tyler squealed "YEAH!"

party

I was watching TV when a character on the show yelled, "Let's parrrty!" To my total shock, Tyler throws his hands in the air and repeats "Parrrrty!"

merry go round

As a reward for such stellar behavior at the photography studio, Tyler and I took a ride on the merry go round in the mall. Tyler was really excited but became somewhat concerned when the ride began and his horse began to move. But he stayed calm and took it all in.

model material

Tyler's 2-year portraits. The photographer was amazed that Tyler followed all of her instructions without hesitation. But what she didn't realize was that she had provided the ultimate motivation: a radio flyer car!

2-year checkup

At Tyler's checkup he measured 35 1/2 inches tall (75th percentile), head circumference at 19 1/4 inches (50th-75th percentile) and weighed in at 31 1/2 pounds (75th-90th percentile). A far cry from being below the 10th percentile shortly after birth. He's also reached all the social and developmental milestones for his age. And he got a sticker for his brave face to a flu shot.

party animal

We rounded out Tyler's birthday week with a party with his little buddies. Tyler really enjoyed playing with his friends and new toys. Have you ever eaten a cupcake while lying on your back? Tyler highly recommends it. All of the running around left Tyler beat so he pretended to take a quick catnap. Such a jokester.

spotting scope

Tyler's favorite show is Go, Diego, Go! At certain points in the show, Diego asks viewers to hold up their spotting scopes to look deep into the jungle to see an animal. How cute is this little boy?

lying on stomach

Tyler got his very own kid's DVD player for his birthday and enjoys watching it while mommy and daddy are in the kitchen preparing dinner. He sets it up on the floor and lies on his stomach to watch the shows. I find it so adorable to see him there, knees bent and his little feet dangling toward the sky.

big brother

That's right. Tyler will transform into a big brother in May 2009. Mom and family are all doing very well. If you ask Tyler where mommy's baby is, he'll point to my belly.

i want some

We were eating dinner and Tyler took one look at my sesame chicken and said "I want some!" The attitude with which he said it was hilarious. He zeroed in on the noodles especially and ate nearly half of my Lean Cuisine.

happy 2nd birthday!

My baby is no longer a baby. He is a big boy in every way. Size, intellect, vocabulary, humor, attitude. And what I like best about him, he is just to fun!

before the chill

We are really trying to take advantage of the nice weather and get to the playground as much as possible before it gets too cold. As I sat there watching Alex and Tyler play together I started to cry. We are just so blessed and I am so in love with my husband and my son. We really have so much fun together. Even Daisy did; she went down the slide too while in my lap!

birthday celebration with the family

Thanks to all of Tyler's extended family. The Maryland relatives joined in person and those out-of-town relatives were there in spirit. Tyler really enjoyed ripping open the gifts and running around with Uncle Dylan. What a fun day!

stupid

Alex said something was stupid and Tyler immediately repeated, "STUPID!" It was a wake up call to us that we really need to watch what we are saying.

boatyard brunch

We celebrated Uncle Dylan's birthday with all of the Joneses and Christine at the Boatyard Bar & Grill. Yummy food and it was fun embarassing Dylan by singing Happy Birthday to him.