Belly Dancing

Yes, it's my belly that's doing the dancing. I'm sitting here watching Edward doing a little tap dance. It's the craziest thing. My belly is bouncing all over the place. Unfortunately the video camera is out of charge, so we can't capture it on tape. (Stewart, you got lucky this time.)

Why is he wearing different clothes?

Well, he is two, so it's not unusual for him to need to change his clothes. But today it's funny. The first part funny ha-ha, the second funny weird.

Ethan saw one of the other kids at preschool use the big potty without a special seat. So he's been determined to do it. It's funny to watch him get himself onto the toilet. He scoots all the way back and sits on the back edge. Sometimes without the benefit of a stool to get there. Impressive, until today. Today, Ethan fell in. I managed to keep myself from laughing out loud while I pulled him out, dried him off, and changed his wet shirt. (Yea. He really fell all the way in. Only held up by his armpits and knees.) Luckily, he climbed right back on and used the potty, not afraid of it. I guess this means I can't tell him he won't fall in any more.

His pants survived the potty incident because they were around his ankles. But they didn't survive naptime. Ethan must not have fully drained himself after falling in b/c when he came out of his room after naptime, his pants were wet. Not soaked, but wet enough. So I changed him and went looking for where the accident occurred. I'd been hearing him for a few minutes before he came out, so I knew it may not be in bed, but the spread pattern suggested that it was. Nope. Dry sheets. Even a dry floor in the spot where he occasionally sleeps after rolling out of bed. And I could find no sign of wetness anywhere. I'm still confused and can't really believe that Ethan had a fully contained accident. Weird.

So that's why my son is wearing completely different clothes than when we started the day. At least it was a good day, so all the wet nasty clothes aren't making me more frustrated.

What a week!

This entire week, I kept wishing for it to be over. Ethan has been a little nightmare. But only at home. So I guess it's good that we were busy and out of the house a lot. Actually, we had some really great times this week (it's just that the bad times at home seem to overshadow everything else.)

On Tuesday, Ethan had his great dr's appt and then we went to the church to help cook lunch for nearly 100 missionaries and the general authority that was teaching at their zone conference. Although Ethan spent most of the time in the nursery playing with the other kids, he was so excited about making lunch for the missionaries that I let him come out at the end to help us serve dessert. It meant that he was there when they sang to us. Seriously a tear-jerker, and Ethan keeps asking when we get to do it again.

Wednesday was probably the worst day Ethan and I have ever had. I'm trying to forget that it happened, so I'm not going to talk about it any more.

Thursday was our first day of Pinwheel Preschool. The girls were so excited and the boys were shy. By the end everyone was playing together happily and they had all learned about being friends. I don't have to teach until the first week of Oct, but I'm getting so excited! That night, Ethan and I made cookies together. I initiated it to distract him (and because I wanted cookies), but we had a great time doing it.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to starting off this week with a clean slate. Hopefully Ethan will be more willing to use his "listening ears" and take the occasional nap. Also hit less. I'd like that.

I'm sorry, WHAT??

Tonight, when I went in to sing to Ethan before bed, he asked "After Edward can you have another baby?" Seriously.

30 lbs!!!

He did it! Ethan finally broke the 30 lb mark! For our boy who hit 20 lbs at 4 months and was still off the charts at a year, then suddenly stopped gaining weight, we are so excited that he is finally gaining a little weight before he turns 3. (For anyone keeping track he gained a pound and 4 ounces in the last four weeks!) He had also managed to grow an inch in a month, so this is a real, legitimate weight gain. Yay!

This means we are off the hook for weight checks for a while. We are still going to keep him on a high fat, protein, and calorie diet, but as long as he continues his upturn, we will be able to cut back after his regular check-up in december. Even the doctor was excited. Such good news!

It's weird to look at pictures of Ethan as an infant compared to how he looks now. He was such a giant butterball. But after two years of using all that extra mass to fuel his height growth, he is a tall and lean boy. At least we are getting to a point where he isn't an unhealthy thin. (Ethan's uncle Ben should try this diet.)

Preschool

My last few posts have been depressing. So I wanted to write about something exciting. We're starting Preschool!! No, not real preschool. He's not old enough yet. Two other moms and I are doing a little preschool group starting next week. Our kids are a few weeks apart and are all on the shy side, but with great language skills. They'll be perfect together and will help each other really well. Ethan is soooooo excited, he's been taking his backpack everywhere. He's even been talking about riding the school bus. Not sure how to let him down about that one. I'm excited too. The planning is so fun and I can't wait to have something regularly scheduled!

Crying

Today, Ethan threw a monster tantrum. He cried hysterically for an HOUR! I think the problems were the car door, his cup of milk, and his shoes. Really, he was just overtired and has found this new way of expressing his frustration. After trying for 45 minutes to calm him down and get him ready for a nap, I left him to cry himself to sleep. (Which he did, and then slept for two and a half hours.) So sad and so frustrating. When he gets worked up, nothing will calm him down. It's like he blocks us out. At least there was no hitting involved today.

And then there's me crying. Clearly, Ethan is less of the little angel he used to be. But I could still see my baby in him, so I kept hoping he go back to being good. Until I had his hair cut. He doesn't look like my baby anymore. He looks like a KID! A kid who throws tantrums and is aggressive and hits. . . I cried about it last night as a watched him sleep. My sweet boy is gone and now I have this kid that I just don't know what to do with. (Weirdly, in public, he is even more shy than ever. So I get aggressive and ornery at home, and clingy when we go out and I can't carry him around. Never a break.)

Moods

Ethan has been so inconsistent lately. Napping, not napping. Using the potty, wanting only diapers. Little angel, constant tantrums. Some of it is clearly just wanting independence and a say in what goes on in his life. Some of it is learning new things (and the accompanying backsliding of others). Some of it is being tired from the not napping.

I think, strangely enough, part of it is that we have been talking a lot about our moods and how we are feeling. He's learning how to express things more clearly and put words to how he's feeling. It's so fun to have Ethan wake up and tell us "I'm feeling silly today", and then to spend the whole day making us laugh. It's less fun when he tells us he's frustrated or mad, but like we tell him, it's a part of who we are to have all kinds of moods. It's a learning experience for all of us watch how his moods change, how they are affected by our moods, and how his moods affect ours. As much as we've been really struggling with how to raise this inconsistent boy (and not be frustrated a lot ourselves), we love watching him learn about himself and how to express his feelings so that others understand. He really is a great kid. Even on the days I grit my teeth when I say it.

Looking at that picture....

I have a hard time looking at that picture of my belly. In some ways, it doesn't look that big. But I've got nearly 4 months to go (and to grow). For comparison, my belly is exactly the same size as a good friend who is due in less than 8 weeks. And she is smaller and skinnier than I. Also, Edward is nearly always standing upright, so because most of his hugeness is still just in height, he doesn't push out as much as up and down. More uncomfortable for me than noticeable to anyone else.

The other big reason I can't look at it is that I see the destruction of my body. I miss my body. I know, I know, some of it will recover. The extra weight in places like my arms and face will burn off. But some of me won't make it back so easily. Besides the obvious over-stretching of my belly (and other areas), I see the bad curvature of my back being pulled in a worse direction. Which reminds me of the damage being pregnant is doing to my hips, pelvis, and all the connected muscles. According to my last physical therapist, a lot of this damage is irreversible. His actual recommendation was to not be pregnant ever again. Obviously, I'm just really hoping he was wrong. If he wasn't, a third pregnancy could mean spending a few months unable to walk. I'm really, really hoping he was wrong.

Maybe I shouldn't blog when I'm tired and in pain.

The Belly

Not a great photo, but this is the belly at 22 weeks. I'm looking for a picture from last time, but need to do some hunting on the slow computer, so it may be a few days.

Jinxing myself

I know that this will end Ethan's streak, but I just have to gush.

This boy has been using the potty for a week and a half. For everything. He has even stopped asking me for help. Just pulls down his pants, sits down, and calls for me afterward to help clean up. The pull-ups I put on him for naps have been consistently dry. And this morning...(drum roll please)... his diaper was dry! He woke up and immediately said he had to pee. (I'm sure he did. He's been taking a full cup of milk to bed so that we can get enough into him.)

So proud of my little guy. And he looks so grown up in big boy underpants.

Mom, I'm so sorry....

Found this woman's blog through her hilarious Ebay posting. She has 6 kids and the way she writes about her life reminds me of my mom. I kind of wish my mom had been able to blog while we were growing up because more people would know how funny she can be in the middle of chaos. Actually, I'm not so sure I would want all of our antics out there for anyone to read, but at least I was the good one...

Anyway, her blog reminds me of life with five crazy kids in the house. Never a dull moment. Mom, I'm so so sorry that you had to put up with us. Now that I have one of my own, I can see how absolutely nuts it would be to try to mother so many off the wall kids. Thanks for doing your best.

EDIT: I'm not saying that having lots of kids is crazy (well, maybe a little), but more that I'm amazed by the women who manage to do it. I'm pretty sure that all of my siblings are turning out to be decent human beings. That in itself is amazing. Good job mom!

... and Ethan

Ethan has given me the best two birthday presents a mom could ask for this last week (besides some time off.) Both seem to stem from his visit to the doctor's office.

First, the cute one. We've had more visits for me and Edward lately than for him, so when we arrived at his doctor's office, Ethan started asking about Edward. He spent the whole waiting time asking if he could open my belly (pull up my shirt) to look at Edward. When we arrived home and were trying to eat lunch, Ethan had trouble eating because he was so absorbed in my belly. Touching it, rubbing it, kissing it, talking to it, and trying to take Edward out so that he could hold him. This is a routine we go through several times a day now. Sometimes we pretend that Ethan takes Edward out and practices holding him. Ethan is so excited about his little brother that he even tried to rearrange his room during a nap, so that we could put the crib in it. Hopefully this enthusiasm will continue after Edward is born. (While I was typing this, Ethan snuggled up to me and covered my belly with a blanket to keep baby Edward warm.)

The second, and more amazing thing is that potty training is actually happening! The doctor asked how it was going and I admitted that we'd gotten frustrated and taken a break. He suggested, specifically because Ethan is way too smart and knows that diapers are just easier, the "Once Upon a Potty" video for boys. (We already had it, but hadn't used it since the very beginning. It really is a great video for smarter kids b/c it goes through everything from body parts to having accidents and even includes a super annoying song that you can't get out of your head.) I didn't think Ethan was paying attention, but the next morning he asked if I would take off his diaper so that he could make a pee-pee, even remembering that the doctor said to let him sit on the potty while watching the video. We moved the potty into the living room and Ethan peed! Without any prompting from anyone else! Ever since, he's been wearing mostly underwear and using the potty several times a day, with little prompting. (Albeit in the living room, but hey, he's doing it.) He even pooped in the potty on Sunday and was so excited he wanted to tell his nursery teachers.

My little boy is growing into such a cutie! I love how excited he is to have a brother and how amazing he is when he decides to do something. (I also love that he has such respect for the doctor. I might need to take advantage of that.)

My E Boys: Edward...

I made the mistake a few weeks ago of telling John how much easier this pregnancy has been. The meds are WONDERFUL and mean I don't struggle to keep my blood sugar up this time. And having Ethan means that I just forget I'm pregnant most of the time.

Or at least that was the case. Meds are still good, but I'm having to be more careful about veggies and anything else that causes gas bubbles. Talk about painful. The bubbles not only hurt, but they cause contractions, which Edward then pushes back against. It's like labor pains! I guess I just don't have much room in there any more.

That's the other crazy thing. I'm 21 weeks, when they say you should be starting to feel your baby moving. HA! Not only did I start feeling him at 13 weeks, I'm already at the point where I can grab onto his foot when he shoves! He really is that big and that strong. No little flutterings for me.

I'm also becoming large enough for this belly to get in my way. I can't lift much at all. Getting up and down is a problem. Ethan is complaining that he doesn't fit on my lap and I can't get down on the floor to play as easily. My poor stretch marks are itching like crazy. And I still have 4 months to go!! (I need to post a picture so that people will believe me.)

At least I know Edward is growing! He's already making himself a big part of our family.

How could I forget?

Somehow, I forgot to mention that John and I had our seventh anniversary a few weeks ago. Way to go us! A friend mentioned that they struggled through their seventh year, glad to hit the anniversary and put it behind them. We've been lucky. I'll be the first to admit that this hasn't been the easiest year we've ever had, but it wasn't the hardest either. No problems with that rumored seven-year-itch.

So babe, just because I don't say it enough,
I Love You!

Hijack: Technical Difficulties

John here, my domain name has expired and I'm having a hard time re-registering it.

So, until I'm able to figure it out, I've pointed my blog to tenfootrabbits.blogspot.com

You can keep up with me there, it should be a seamless experience.

Remembering

Remembering today that every day we get to spend with Ethan is a blessing.

We miss you Cameron.

Scrawny Boy

Ok. I am really getting sick of this.

We visited the dr today for what I had hoped was Ethan's last weight check. Although he is getting taller right on schedule, the boy has only managed to gain about an ounce a month, instead of the six he should be gaining. To give you some perspective on that, he gained about a third of a pound since his last weigh in, but should have gained three pounds. Arrgh! Back on the high calorie, high fat, high protein diet. They even want us to mix half whole milk and half cream in his cups for a few weeks.

Because I've been so annoyed that we've had to keep doing all this, I asked why this is such a problem. Especially because the dr agrees with me that he is just adjusting to be the tall, scrawny kid we expect him to be. I got a great explanation this time. At first, the problem was his drop in both height and weight on the growth charts. Then, his height leveled off at well above 50th percentile, but his weight kept dropping. Now that he's hovering barely above 25th in weight, they start worrying about his body getting (or not properly using) everything it needs. Particularly the fats he needs for neural development. (That would be for brain and nerve function for my husband who complains that I use big medical words.)

At this point, he is clearly still developing normally. He is ridiculously smart, so no problems there yet, and his physical development is right where it should be. But because we're back on the diet, we are also back to the monthly check-ups. (They want to make sure he gains, but doesn't get the chance to put on any unhealthy weight.)

At least this time I can join him in some of his yummy indulgences. Although there is clearly more of me (in more places than just my belly), my weight isn't going up either. Edward is following in his brother's footsteps at this point. Growing so fast, I can't manage to keep up with the both of us! Hopefully when he slows down in a few years, it's not as much as his older brother.

Halfway!

I'm officially halfway to the finish line. It's nice, but it also reminds me I have about 20 more weeks to go. Yuck. My belly already sticks out far enough that I bump into things when I'm not being careful. (The lab benches at work are at just the wrong height and I always come home with bruises.) Not really looking forward to being huge.

FYI

For anyone who might have been thinking about it, the solid colors of the swaddling blankets have been marked down. (The link is under 'Things we want...' on the sidebar.) I plan to buy at least one of these b/c they are such a great weight of fabric and the perfect size to swaddle even big babies, nurse under, and use as a sun shade on the stroller. I figure that we need so little I can afford to splurge on a few nicer items this go round.