I went from this (12 weeks):
To this (21 weeks):
Found out we are having another bouncing, jumping, running baby boy:
Took a trip half way around the world to Italy and learned how to make pasta, Italian style:
Made some progress on the nursery, which is still a lot closer to where it started than where it needs to be when it is finished, so I will post pictures when it actually looks like we've done something. :)
Life has been flying by lately and now that I am feeling good again, I am overwhelmed by how much I need to get done, like yesterday. I know I am only 23 weeks pregnant, but the next 17 weeks will consist of Halloween, my birthday, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Chris's 30th birthday, 3 weddings, and likely bed rest if this pregnancy goes anything like the last. Not to mention, the 2nd pregnancy is nothing like the 1st, or I guess I should say, being pregnant the 2nd time is nothing like the 1st. This is another one of those things people just don't emphasize enough. Life is way too busy and hectic with a toddler and work to get anything done for baby #2, not to mention I am beyond wiped out by the end of the day, both mentally and physically and have very little ability to make any decisions about the new baby's room or worse, his name.
BUT... having a bouncing, jumping, running baby boy that keeps me laughing and on my toes makes all of the pregnancy annoyances (if it is ok? to call them that) all worth it. Knowing what is coming next makes the 2nd pregnancy even better than the 1st. The fear of the unknown and culture shock that come with your 1st pregnancy are all behind you and your pregnancy falls into your daily family life instead of taking center stage like it did last time (no more time for naps, just run momma run, cook momma cook, clean momma clean, work momma work). When people told me to get my running shoes ready with Mason, I smiled knowing they were right, but the statement takes on a whole new meaning when you are actually running after your toddler non-stop. I think this is one of those comments people make that takes time for new moms to understand, kind of like "Enjoy them now, they will be going off to college before you know it." When I hear this I definitely know they must be right, but I don't think I will truely grasp it until I am there someday.
Our 18 month old has gone through some dramatic changes these past few months:
Mason now sleeps in his big boy twin bed and loves grabbing his favorite books, crawling into bed and reading them with mom and dad before bedtime.
Mason had his first professional haircut and had his first (and only) sucker!
Mason now actually cuddles with me! Self initiated-head in my lap-little boy loving on his mom-cuddles. Melts my heart.
Mason is a talking machine. It happened overnight. He went from grunting to actually saying, I would guess, around 30 different words and tries a new one everyday. He will piece together two words now when trying to form a sentence. "Mommy aty" which means he wants a drink of my water (aty- not all words are properly pronounced, like this one) and "Lanny puppy" when he is talking about his best friend Landon's puppy.
Mason will sit and watch short snips of movies now. He is such an active boy that it is nice to see him stop and watch something intently, even if it is brief.
Mason only gets his paci while sleeping and puts it up in his dresser drawer on his own as soon as he wakes up. This has to be one of the cutest things I have ever seen. After watching me do it everyday, he suddenly started doing it himself one day.
And maybe a little TMI for any non-moms out there, but Mason tells me when he is about to go potty now. This may not seem all that dramatic to some, but to me, that is one step closer to potty training. All of you moms with older kids, this is a big deal right? I sure hope so...
Other than that, Mason will dance if music is on, say hi to people on the phone, pet animals "softly" now, attempts to brush his own teeth, loves all things that move and make loud noises, loves collecting acorns and rocks, has become obsessed with playdoh, wants his hands washed a million times a day when they are "dirrrr-ty" (along with his feet, his plate, his cup, really anything that looks dirty), eats with a fork and spoon, loves stacking blocks, racing cars, playing golf, hiding, wrestling with dad and playing the piano at Grandma's house.
I just love seeing him light up and talk and play. Even though he has gone through a "mommy" stage recently where he wants me to hold him or doesn't want me to leave him, he is a really happy (or "appy" as Mason says) kid. As soon as Chris walks in the door at night Mason won't leave his side and wants me right there with him. If Chris has Mason, Mason will ask for "Mommy" and if I have Mason, Mason will ask for "Daddy." I know it is such a simple joy right now, and it won't be long before that fades away.
God has blessed us with the most amazing privilege of parenthood. It is incredibly hard knowing that our child is God's, and that God has entrusted us with this child for just a short time. It has taken some really hard mommy moments for me to see this full circle and even though I still have hard days of juggling a lot and being a selfish human, a little perspective changes a lot. I am so grateful to have all that God has given to me and want to enjoy it while I can and give all glory and honor to Him.
Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward.
Psalm 127:3
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