Fishing for Sharks

 Fun at the park with sweet friends.

 Love these two!  

Such good playmates.

 Fishing for sharks.

2 boys and a little lady.

She doesn't want to miss a thing!

 Oh, Sharkies... are you there?

Wrenches, Doctors Orders, and Jumping Beans

Random sound bites from this weekend ...

As we were putting Alekzander to bed last night, we were telling him about the baby growing and growing... and mommy's belly growing and growing and growing.  Of course, his follow up question was, "How will the baby come out of your belly?"  We explained that the doctor will get the baby out with doctor tools {due to a repeat c-section}.  "Like a wrench?" he asked.  It may be time to organize all his tools and separate the building tools from the doctor tools. 

...After a series of serious meltdowns today, Alekzander plopped down in a "safe spot" (on the carpeted landing) to put on his sleep diaper and argued with me about going straight down for a nap.  "No Mama, Doctor's Orders:  read books then play."  Really?!  A month ago, we went to the doctor and got lectured about our night routine causing Alekzander to wake up several times a night nearly hysterical.  The prescription was to get him all riled up right before bed so he'd learn to soothe himself and put himself back to sleep upon waking from his sleep cycles at 12 and 4 in the morning rather than crying out for us. {This was so counter-intuitive for me, and I hate to admit it, but our new routine actually works.}  It was nice of Alekzander to remind me of the "doctor's orders" in a ploy to delay nap time!  He has a mind like a trap... and may or  may not have watched too many episodes of Doc McStuffins.

...How we get Alekzander to eat beans:  Tell him he is eating "jumping beans."  Or if the beans happen to be chick peas, name them "hummus balls" instead.  Works like a charm!  When I asked him to eat some chili tonight after he inhaled cornbread, rice, and cucumbers, he pushed his food around until he found a bean.  His flawless memory recalled that kidney beans make him jump, so he found each and everyone in his bowl.  Daddy is great on the follow through as he made Alekzander's entire chair jump!  Frog hops around the kitchen ensued afterwards when his belly was full.  Did you know that adults are immune to the power of jumping beans though? 

Belly Pics

Silly boy checking to see if there is a baby in his belly!

Baby boy in here! 

18 weeks + 6 days

Measuring right on track.

Love this sweet boy.

Boy or Girl? Revealed!

Dear Baby Boy, 

We love you up to the moon 

and back again. 

Already.

You're in for a fun ride!

BIG thanks to Heather for these sweet pictures {SOOC} 3.7.13/Park Rd. Park

A Happy Balloon Family

Sensed

Heard tonight:

{Directly to my belly} Baby, I hope you are healthy and strong.

Our God is an awesome God, he "rains" from Heaven above... {Giggle, giggle, giggle ... as it was raining}.

Tip, tapping rain on the windows and roof.

{After dropping off a table and other items at Goodwill} "I think someone already got our stuff and will be happy." 2 hours later :: {with arms crossed over his chest and lip pouting} "I am sad you got rid of my tent cave." {We had turned the table into a 'cave' with newspaper, wrapping paper, and blankets.}

On Sunday :: Alekzander emphatically explaining John 9 to us tonight at the dinner table after his first LifeGroup (think Sunday school/bible study)... "'and Jesus ... He took dirt and got water from pool... not a big pool but a little pool. Jesus put dirt on a guys eyes and then washed his eyes and the guy could see" ... {Amazing!}

Seen tonight:

Alekzander separating the remaining baby carrots for us to share.  One for Mommy, one for Alekzander.  Even Stevens at 4 each until he stole one of mine and dropped another one from my pile onto the floor.  Oh well, I won't fight him over carrots!

Duelling talking/singing bus and  dump truck in the middle of the kitchen floor.

Smelled tonight:

Delicious cinnamon scented Amish Friendship Bread.

Original Johnson & Johnson's baby wash on a growing baby belly.

Tasted tonight:

Greek yogurt spinach dip + cucumbers + broccoli + baby carrots.

Fresh out-of-the-oven Amish Friendship Bread.

Felt tonight:

Love. Anticipation. Flutters. Arm around the neck hugs.

From the Mouth of a Sweet Babe

 

Sharing our news with Alekzander was, perhaps,

one of the greatest moments of this pregnancy so far.

He has taught me to embrace the joy...

even  especially when fear creeps in.

 {It also came at a time where I needed leverage

...to protect myself and baby from kicking tantrums...

...to ensure that my blood pressure stayed at an appropriate level...

...to ask for grace for my waning patience...}

We fully expected Alekzander to say, 

"Yeah, silly adults, of course I knew there was a baby in Mommy's belly"

because he had flat out asked if there was a baby in my belly several times.

I had ignored him. Every.single.time.

But when we asked if he knew my secret, 

if he knew what was in my belly,

he whispered, "A baby!"

And then excitedly 'raised the roof' and said,

"Yay! A baby sitter."

To this day, he is convinced it is a girl - a baby sister.

And its all about baby.

Tonight he told the baby he loved 'her' ...THIIIIIIS MUCH!

He talks to my belly and realizes that the baby cannot talk back,

but he/she can hear him.

He has been concerned about how 'she' chews food.

But more importantly,

"Mommy, you can't eat breakfast {or dinner} 

because the baby is going to get all messy in your belly!"

The day after he found out I was pregnant,

 he threw a fit the morning I went to work

telling 'Reen, "Mommy can't take that baby with her to work!"

Alekzander tells everyone we know {or don't know},

"Mommy has a baby in her belly."

Some friends are privileged to get this information 

once a week or every time we see them!

He is also quick to tell them,

"We can't know yet if its a boy or a girl because the baby

won't be here for a long, long time."

 

He picked out a toy for "Baby" at Ikea.

Little "Foxy" lives in baby's box by the front door 

where we all keep our shoes.

And the other day, he picked out all the toys

he would share with the baby.

This little guy has such a big heart.

And will truly make such a great big brother.

 Giving "Baby" love

Valentine's Day 2013

{15 weeks + 6 days pregnant}