it's a girl!

We are finally ready to share our news. 64% of you were right. Tyler will have a baby sister around May 17.

post presents

After opening gifts, we headed to the playground and skate park. Tyler insisted that we let him go skateboarding. Not just yet!

happy birthday daddy and another Christmas

We celebrated Christmas with the Reifins, Ordways and Williamses. We even had a visit from Santa. Tyler wasn't interested in sitting on his lap but would manage to run up and snatch a Ho Ho gift when his name was called.

Tyler made out like a bandit. Big Aquadoodles, cars and trucks, oh my! We're not sure how we are going to cart everything home on the plane!

After dinner the younger folks headed to the street of lights. This is a street in Granny and Gramps's neighborhood where everyone lights up their houses in overboard fashion. We are talking mechanical santas in sleighs on the roof and lit arches over the sidewalk. It is pretty crazy and very exciting for Tyler!

We also sang Happy Birthday to Daddy.

choo choo village

Granny has all the right gadgets for a two year old. She set up a whole train village just at Tyler's height. Lights, moving train, mini trees. Tyler has been in Heaven!

Tyler's first flight

Tyler sat by the window and was most impressed with the view while we were on the ground and the airport vehicles were whizzing by. He got really nervous when the plane took off and did those little hiccup like drops. His body was cradled under my arm and his hand was clinging to my arm.

But Dad had planned wisely and brought some lollipops. After three of those, Tyler realized that flying was no big deal.

untraditional Christmas

We were originally scheduled to fly out this afternoon for FL to visit Alex's family. We had all but decided it wasn't a good idea given my dad's health. But after seeing him make a positive upswing, we decided at the last minute to still go to FL but for a shorter stay. We raced to change the return flight and pack. And we had a 30 minute gift opening session. Then it was off to the airport. Zoom, zoom.

Christmas Eve madness

After leading all of the carol singing, Grampy was whipped so we kicked ourselves out and headed to the Campbell house. We opened gifts and Tyler was most impressed with his rocket ship from Auntie Deb and family.

Uncle Brian and Auntie Teresa and Dev all made it around 11:30 pm. Yes, Tyler was still awake. I'm really not sure how but he was still racing around the house despite the late hour. We finally got him in bed at 12:30!

high fives for grampy

We spent Christmas Eve at the hospital with Grampy. Earlier that day he was moved out of the ICU so we were all able to cram into his new room in 13East. [We being all of the Joneses (Jo, Dylan and his girlfriend Christine), all of the Campbells (Megan, Alex and Tyler) and all of the Kriskos (Deb, Hugh, Perrin and Andrew); needless to say it was a full house!]

We sang Christmas carols and told stories. And I got to share the news of the new baby's gender with my family. About 50% of them were right. (Are you getting annoyed yet at how I'm stringing you along?)

Tyler was so great despite being up past his bedtime. He gave Grampy high fives and blew more kisses his way. He also managed to correctly say "Grampy" a few times.

clothes for panda

We showed Tyler a baby's outfit this evening, one of those tiny onesies. We asked him who was going to wear it and he smiled and said, "Panda!" Panda is his favorite stuffed animal!

shared the news with my daddy

With my Dad being in such a precarious condition, I just had to share the news about the new baby's gender with him right away. His response, "Outstanding!"

daisy baby

We asked Tyler today if he thought the baby was going to be a girl or boy. He answered, "girl." When we asked again moments later he said the baby was going to be a Daisy (our dog).

We'll know the sex for sure later today. However, we've not shared with family that we will know so that we can surprise them during the holidays.

visiting grampy

Tyler, Alex and I went to see Grampy in the hospital again. Grampy is having a really rough go of it. But luckily Tyler was there to brighten Grampy's spirits. Tyler sat on the window ledge and called for Grampy ("Ampy, Ampy!") and pointed out the cool cars many stories below. Grampy sang "Hooray for Tyler!" and copied all the car and ambulance noises Tyler made. As we left Tyler said bye to Ampy and blew him kisses.

belly shot - 18weeks 3days

devastating news

Yesterday my dad called to let me know that he has pancreatic cancer. It seems each pregnancy of mine has led to a cancer diagnosis of one of my parents. I was seven months pregnant with Tyler when my mom was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and this time I'm five months pregnant with our second child. (Follow my parents' progress by reading their blogs: for Jo and Lloyd.)

We went to Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis to visit Grampy and kept our fingers crossed that they would let Tyler visit. We were in luck! Tyler was initially intimidated by all of the visitors present to see Grampy, but he warmed up. He was finally ready to share hugs and high fives with Grampy.

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!!