Where does she get this stuff??

bean found a dime on the floor. just a regular old dime. she asked if she could have the coin. i said sure.
she walked around the rest of the day showing everyone her "coin from egypt". yes, she claims that the dime is from "egypt"! she is very serious about her "egypt coin".

so, i guess you can imagine that it was a problem this evening when she couldn't find the egypt coin.... yeah, i need to get to egypt to find another i guess. ha!

two year olds are a strange bunch, aren't they? :)

Sprouty Update, the Ultrasound Episode!

Sprout looks good!
we had our ultrasound today. sprout was very cooperative when it came to letting us see his/her face. turned and looked right at us. you could clearly see both eyes, nose and mouth! the doctor claims that sprout is a "very cute baby"! we also got a good look at sprout's heart, stomach, legs, and one hand. sprout is head down.... he/she better stay that way!! oh, and baby kept "itself" hidden so it's gender is still a surprise to everyone, including the doctor. :)

now, the sprout was not as cooperative for the doctor. wouldn't let her get a good head measurement. sprout kept turning his/her head at weird angles.... hmmm, bean did the same thing. so where the leg bones and stomach were measuring between 31-33 weeks, it's head was measuring over 35 weeks! doctor said not to be alarmed, the head isn't really that big, she just could not measure it right. when you add up those measurements it says that sprout weighs around 4 pounds 11 ounces, uhhhhhh...... once again the doctor assured me that that is probably totally wrong. (it better be!!!) but she said that if there were any concerns about the baby's size she would do another ultrasound in a month or so just to check.

doctor said all the pressure i've been feeling is probably due to how low the baby is and how much it seems to be moving. since i haven't felt anything resembling a contraction there is no reason to worry about any of that.

my uterus was measuring just a little bigger than what the dates suggest- but just a bit. sprout's heart rate was still zipping along in the mid 150's.

my glucose test came back normal but i'm anemic, big surprise! so it is a return to the iron supplement for me.

over all everything looked just fantastic according to the doctor. i'm told to keep up the good work.
next appointment is in 2 weeks....

Best Shot Monday

well, i didn't take a lot of pictures this week... like maybe 10! (oh my goodness!!!) none of them are very good either. :( but i decided to share anyways!

here is bean playing at her little cousin's birthday party. the kids were all running around throwing balloons up into the air and trying to catch them. she was so very excited and cute about the whole thing. unfortunately, she never moved away from that window so every picture i took is heavily back lit. still, i like this shot. her face looks so sweet. her hands up in the air like a little ballerina about to spin... sigh. she's just cute!

and remember to visit tracey to see what everyone else was up to this week!

Dance Hall Days

oh, you need to check out the bean's new dance move. seriously! this is unbelievably funny. she has never done this before and well... you just gotta watch it, you will know it when you see it. i apologize for any jiggling of the camera because i was laughing so hard and trying to hold it in! ok, so i failed to hold it in at the end... i'm sorry, it was funny!

(oh also sorry about the total lack of focus at the beginning. i don't know what that is about!)

Things that bug me...

one: every time i say something is different about this pregnancy i hear, "oh, maybe you are having a boy this time!!!" or some variation on the theme. no, nothing i've experienced has any barring on whether or not i will have a boy. just because i'm more tired this time does not mean i'm having a boy, it means i have a toddler to take care of. just because i crave sugar this time doesn't mean i'll have a boy. i just want different food this time. period.

two: comments on how big i am, about how much i'm eating, about how bad i look, about how i should be exercising more, about how i'm going to have SO much trouble getting the weight off because i'm getting older, etc, etc, etc. sorry, i eat because i'm hungry. i also eat because you are stressing me out. i've always been a stress eater. when you bug me about my weight it drives me to eat more. so stop it please. all it does is make me feel bad about myself.

three: no, we don't have any names picked out. my husband and i have totally different tastes in names and have hit a complete roadblock on this subject. besides, if we had names picked out we wouldn't tell you. people can make some pretty rude comments if they don't like a name. we don't want to hear them. we will tell you the child's name when he/she is born.

four: when i talk about being tired and needing a break the first thing out of people's mouth is that they will take bean off my hands for a while. that isn't helping. see, that leaves me completely alone. i have nothing to do but stare at the wall in this instance. that just leaves me in a lonely and depressed state. it makes it harder to deal with the bean when she comes back. bean has a father that is perfectly capable of caring for her. what i need someone to want to do something with me sans kids. i need to be with other adults. i need to have grown up conversation.

ok, let's just leave it at that. if i keep going i might not be able to stop! i sound like an ungrateful whiner. sorry. something about pregnancy hormones.... ;) but thanks for letting me get it off my chest.

Interesting Snack...

bean and i sit down at the table to eat bed time snack. she had a bowl of strawberries and some animal crackers. she is munching away happily when she suddenly says, "look mommy!"

i say, "what?" as i turn to look at her.

she waves a headless animal cracker in my face and says "look!" again.

"did you bite the head off that one?" i ask her in mock horror.

she says, "no mommy, the reindeer did!" (in a tone that said i should have already known that.)

huh?!?!?
"wow", i reply. "i don't think i want to meet that reindeer!"

"it was santa's reindeer," she says with a funny little grin on her face.

oh my! scary!
i didn't exactly have a reply to that. apparently she didn't need one, because she continued to happily munch the rest of the poor little reindeer ravaged animals.
sometimes i really wonder about that little girl....

Best Shot Monday

bean told me she needed to take her babies to the ballet show. she said she needed to get dressed. i asked her "what do you wear to the ballet show?" her response, "dresses."

so, we got into the dress up clothes and found a dress, feather boa, tiara, fairy wand, pearl necklace, and red sparkle shoes. she finally thought she was ready to go.

i wanted pictures, she did not. so i grabbed a few on the go, of course. she is trying to get by me before i can get a shot. but, mommy is sneaky and turned off the flash. i really like the softness of the picture... not all blur is bad! :)

head to tracey's to see what everyone else was up to this week!

Why is it....

...that when your two year old begs for "baby stuff" for christmas (high chair, play yard, swing, etc.) and she gets it, she only plays with the stroller? and she already had one of those!

...that the same two year old will empty her box of dress-up clothes, tell you the clothes are "in the washing machine" (on the couch) then use the box as a pretend bath tub for her and her dolls? then the clothes go back in the box without ever touching her body.

...that the girl who was only getting her diaper changed once a day (because she won't do a poo poo on the potty- no way, no how!) is now getting her diaper changed 3-5 times a day because she "doesn't feel like using the potty right now"?

...that clothes are always optional? that getting dressed, to the fore mentioned toddler, means picking out a different pair of pajamas and socks? that more than one pair of socks is perfectly acceptable? regular clothes are no fun apparently....

...that i'm pregnant and freezing- so much so that i'm wearing a long sleeve tee, a fleece jacket, yoga pants, socks and slippers? and my daughter... well, she is wearing a diaper and socks. sigh. aren't i supposed to be the one who is hot?!?!?!

hmmmmmmmm..................................

Honestly!

ok, who told my bean that it was ok to start waking up this early?!?

my child, who previously woke up between 8 and 8:15, is now getting up between 7:20- and 7:45. WHY?!?!?! and why, oh why did it have to correspond so well to me being unable to sleep for more than an hour straight at night?!?!? i toss, i turn, i pee... pretty much anything but sleep. of course, she sleeps like a log and can't wait to start the day.

i'm tired. i don't think i can emphasize that enough.

Just what i needed!

bean and i went to the library for story time. it was our first day back after the holiday break. she was excited to see her library friends and get new books. she did SO well too. participated in everything. i was feeling very proud.

then we went out to the library to look at books. we were sitting in an aisle and one of bean's library friends walked up to me. she looked at me carefully and said, "pretty necklace!" i said thank you to her and started to pick up another book. the little girl came closer. she got right up to my face. she smiled and said this, "you very beautiful in your glasses!" awwwwww!

is it sad that those six words totally made my day? :) seriously, i was just what i needed.

Email

bean always wants to check her email. she claims to have cinderella's address. she needs to type.

daddy and at least one aunt have opened up blank word documents and let her type. she really believes that she is writing an email. bean is very serious about her correspondence.

speak of the devil, she is now demanding a turn at the keyboard!

Sprouty Update

yes, its time for your monthly sprouty update!

well, first let's start with the amazing fact that i didn't gain a ton. really, after what i ate at christmas i thought for sure i'd break the scales!! ;)

next, sprout seems to be doing just great. uterus measuring right on target. heart rate still zooming along in the mid 150's. still gyrating around and, well, starting to make me a little uncomfortable with all the pushing and thumping.

my glucose test went ok. i don't know the results yet but i say any blood test that only takes one stick in the arm is a good one. ( i have very rolly veins that like to elude the nurses best efforts!)

got my rho-gam shot today too. no big deal. injection site is a little sore though.

up next for us: jan 29th- 32 week ultrasound! :) always fun to look at the baby!
feb 12th- 34 week appointment

Kids and their toys....

i'm not referring to bean's toys, but rather my husband's. he has to have all his gadgets and stuff, don't you know. this is just the way he is.... and apparently this is how bean is too. see, i didn't know how awesome an i-pod would be to a 2 1/2 year old. she thinks this is the greatest thing ever. she wants daddy to let her listen all the time.

so tonight at dinner bean and her daddy are arguing about whether or not a song is on his i-pod. bean insisting it is, her daddy (who has had enough of that particular song) is trying to convince her otherwise.
"just look daddy" she says.
"i don't have to, i know it isn't there." replies her father.
bean looks up at him very serious and says, "look daddy. you will find it or you won't. it's that simple."
HUH?
it was all we could do to hold our amusement in.
"it's that simple", do i say that??? someone must. i mean she didn't come up with that on her own!

then of course she says this. "i want an i-pod."
sigh.
"honey, you are too little for an i-pod." i respond.
"when i get bigger i get one." she says confidently.
"maybe, or maybe they will have something better by then." was the answer that came out of my mouth. i really need to think before i speak, because this is what came next....
"like what, mommy?"
sigh!

On a more cheerful note!

ok my post earlier, although funny in places, still sounded awfully whiny. i don't like it when the bean whines so i shouldn't either! right? ;)

so to make up for it, i'm going to share a video with you! yes, it is amazing. i finally shot a video in which i didn't hold the camera sideways! (i'm not exactly the brightest berry in the bunch!!) so here is bean painting a picture. we used washable tempera today.... mostly because when we use watercolors black is the dominant color. why? i don't know!! she just always uses black. hmmm. should i be worried about that? ha ha! ;) i don't have any black tempera so problem solved!

This time around....

i'd love to say i was having a great time with this pregnancy. i would love to tell you how happy i am and how my heart is full of joy. but that would be a lie. a total lie.

i have no joy. no happiness. i'm too tired to enjoy even the simplest things. bean irritates the crap out of me. yet, i don't want her out of my sight because i also feel like she is the only thing around this place that could ever make me smile.
my back hurts, my stomach is heavy, and my sciatic nerve is killing me.
i look lumpy and large. i see other pregnant women and they look all cute with their round bellies and perky breasts. but my breasts are large enough to have their own gravitational pull so there is NOTHING perky about them. they just lay lifeless on my stomach. sigh.
i just want a good nights sleep. i wake up too often (to pee of course). last night i ran into the bathroom door because it was partially closed. (note to self: remember to open eyes when heading to the bathroom!!!)

this is down right depressing! why are you reading this still?? i should just shut up already!

i have 77 days until my due date. 77 days..... hey, does anyone out there have the ability to speed up time?? seriously.
anyone? anyone??

Bean's Pictures

my brother's girlfriend (now ex, sadly) started something over christmas. she let bean use her camera. then grandma indulged her. now, she wants to take pictures all the time. i got tired of the whining the other night and gave in. here are a couple of the shots she took.

seems that it wasn't important to have my head in the first shot. the second is of her baby dolls. keeping the camera still while shooting is not her strong point! ;)

she was really excited and proud to see what she did. i guess i'm going to have to think about one of those kid's cameras when it gets to be birthday time!

Weird Weather

it is january. it is supposed to be cold and possibly snowy. why then was it in the 50's yesterday and in the mid 60's today?!?! i know a lot of you think i shouldn't complain but i don't like it when the weather is all freaky. because a) it does a number on my sinuses and b) it confuses my child big time! every time we go to leave the house she thinks she needs her winter coat and snow boots- and she will in a few days but by then she will think she doesn't anymore! arrrrrg!

anyways, here is a cute shot of bean taking her babies for a walk sunday afternoon. she enjoyed the walk but was tired by the time we got home. seems she is getting a little out of shape being cooped up indoors this winter! ha ha ha!!
today we went to the zoo. we took a picnic lunch- in JANUARY. that still is throwing me for a loop! the thing that really disturbed me today was that while at the zoo, a bee landed on bean's stroller! a bee! in january! then we were on the front porch playing before dinner and an ant crawled on my hand. in january! it has only been warm for two days. the insect population shouldn't be that confused already, should it??? i find that creepy and disturbing..... i don't know why, i just do.

anyways, one more day of 60's temps then we head back down again. upper 40's on wednesday and all the way back into the 30's by saturday. sounds like a recipe for a good solid head cold to me. sigh.
note to mother nature: pick a temperature and stick with it! thanks. ;)

For Bryce...

well, seems bean got tagged for a meme by kimberly's little boy bryce! so here is bean to tell you 8 things about herself!

hi! my name is bean and i'm excited because mommy rarely lets me touch the computer keyboard! i better get on with this before mommy changes her mind!!

thing 1. i have a new bedroom with a big girl bed. (i had to move because baby sprout will need my old room when he/she comes.) i've been sleeping well in it since christmas eve. it is a very pretty room- green and yellow with a little pink thrown in here and there. i like my big girl bedroom very much.
thing 2. i'm a good eater. i love fruits and veggies! if that is all there was to eat i'd be pretty happy. so what if i'm very picky when it comes to main dishes! i'm 2 1/2, i'm supposed to be picky about something, right?
thing 3. i can dress myself. i've been doing really well at this lately. my only problem is that some times i can't get my shirt over my head. i have a big head and some shirts just aren't stretchy enough! ok, maybe i have a second problem... some times i put the clothes on backwards. that isn't such a big deal, right? i mean, at least they are on!
thing 4. i use the potty.... well, most of the time. i have good days and bad days. i don't know why, but i'm totally against doing "number 2" on the pot. i think that frustrates mommy a bit...
thing 5. i LOVE to go to the library. i've been going to story time since i was 6 months old. it is so much fun! i also love picking out books to bring home. mommy lets me pick 10 books every week!! i think reading is the BEST!
thing 6. my favorite toys are: baby dolls, trucks/cars/airplanes, play kitchen, and cash register. i like to pretend! i've been told i have a pretty good imagination.
thing 7. i'm learning to play games. i got a bunch of games for christmas... i know they say ages 3 and up on the box but my grandmas and aunts must think i'm smart for my age! ;) i like to play but it is really hard to let other people take turns. some times i cry when i "forget to win".
thing 8. i really like to help. i set the table every night and i clear my own dishes after every meal. i try to help mommy with the cooking when ever she lets me. i start the dishwasher when it is full. i help put the clothes in the dryer after they are washed. the only thing i don't like to help with is cleaning up my toys. i just haven't figured out why that is necessary! why can't i keep them out where i can see them all!!

well, that is eight things. i'm not going to tag anyone specifically, i really don't know who has already done this! BUT if you want to do it, go for it. just let me know. i'd like to know more about my cool internet friends!!
mommy says i have to give the computer back now. bye bye!

Huh?

we took bean to the bank today to deposit her christmas money. she loves doing this because she has a children's savings account and every time she makes a deposit she gets a toy dinosaur. we went in and went up to the counter. when the teller asked if she could help us, bean told her "i need to put money in the bank." she handed the lady her cash and deposit slip and said "here you go!". the lady smiled and completed the transaction. then of course bean said, "may i have a dinosaur now?" the teller chuckled and said "of course". she brought bean the dino and said "she's very sweet. how old is she, around four i'm guessing?"

(four?!?!?! i know that she has wonderful verbal skills and talks like a much older child BUT look at the girl! she clearly is too small to be four years old!)

i just laughed and said "oh no, she's 2 1/2."
the teller looked a little dumbfounded. "really?? but she talks so well. she sounds just like my 4 year old granddaughter!"

(i never know how to respond to that. i hear it all the time. what am i supposed to do? bean just started talking one day and has never stopped. i don't know how to explain it but i feel like i have to. i should just let it go but honestly some of these people are visibly upset by it.....)

but really... four years old?!?! ha ha ha ha ha!!!!

A visit to Chuck-E

we told bean that when she filled her potty chart with stickers (35 total) we would take her to chuck e cheese. well, she has filled two and a half charts. we figured we better get on the ball and take her already!

she had a wonderful time! she ate veggies out of my salad, pizza, fruit, and jello. she played games to win tickets with daddy. she rode rides- this one pictured being her absolute favorite. of course she kept saying she wanted to dance with chuck-e, like nadia. (christina has a little video of her daughter dancing with chuck-e and it is bean's favorite thing to watch!) well, there were a few birthday parties going on so i told her she couldn't go dance with the robotic chuck-e but if the real one came out she could dance with him...... the real one did come out, and what did bean do?? hid behind my legs of course! so there was no dancing, hugging, waving, or anything else with chuck-e. the whole way home she kept saying, "oh mommy, i forgot to dance with chuck-e!" no baby, you didn't forget, you were too scared!

the second picture here is of bean and her daddy playing "deal or no deal" for tickets. they were waiting to find out what was in bean's case. she didn't do great, she should have taken the deal BUT she liked that white flashing "no deal" button and slammed her hand down on it every time the banker offered her a deal. it was pretty funny!

it was a great day. lots of fun was had by all of us. and we get to go back in about 1 1/2 weeks for a birthday party! maybe she will dance with chuck-e then..... ;)

2008 isn't starting so great....

we woke up to snow this morning. it was quite beautiful. the day quickly went down hill from there though.
we got a phone call that no one ever expects to get. a friend called. it was not good news. a very close friend of my husband's (and bean's favorite baby sitter's) little sister was murdered. yes, you read that right. her sister apparently went to the grocery store new years eve. on her way home she was attacked and stabbed to death near her apartment.
we are all numb with shock. we don't know what to do. we feel an overwhelming need to do something for our friend and her parents but we don't know what. having a family member die is always a sad thing but for them to die in that manner.... i just can't imagine how that feels.
i've prayed, it just doesn't seem like enough right now- but it is all i've got. if you have a chance please pray for her family to have the strength to get through this. i'm sure they need all the help they can get right now.
thanks....