Wheee!

Actually, that should be Wii! Jason won a Wii at a conference he went to a few months ago, and we have been having a lot of fun with it! We got the Wii Fit, which has a lot of fun games, but can get your heart rate up, too. Even Leah is starting to get interested in the games- it's amazing what 21st century kids are hard-wired to do!

My favorite part about the Wii Fit is that it tracks your weight and BMI, but as far as I can tell, there is no option to tell it your pregnant, and therefore will only be gaining weight in the months to come. Every time I get on it, it gives me a little pep talk about the importance of not eating too much and getting more exercise! I can't wait to see what it tells me once the baby gets here and the weight starts coming off again!

Pregnancy FAQs

I thought I'd post some details about this pregnancy, since I am included in the general fascination that we all seem to have with other people producing offspring, and I assume you are, too!

Due date: July 30th

First trimester: was a dream. I was hardly sick with Leah, but I was walking on sunshine this time around. I was tired, but being able to rest when I needed to made all the difference in the world.

Gender wishes: A girl would be wonderful! I know how to deal with at least one little girl, it would be slightly less expensive to dress her, and- hello!- matching sister outfits! So cute. BUT... a boy would be an entirely new and exciting experience, and there are not a whole lot of boys in either Jason or my family- the total count between our immediate families is 6, compared to 15 girls. So, it would be nice to even the score a little. Either way, we find out on March 9th!

Names: We have a few working options for either gender, but nothing we love just yet. I was really secretive about Leah's name, but I don't think I have the energy to keep that up this time around. Just keep your opinion to yourself, please!

Biggest concern: Jason is starting school about three weeks after the baby is born, so we'll have to figure out how to get our whole family in the same state again. I didn't rebound so quickly with Leah, so my expectations are pretty low.

Birth plans: VBAC! Leah was a super emergency c-section that shouldn't repeat itself, so I'm really hoping for a VBAC. But, like I just said, my expectations are pretty low. I'm more concerned with getting a healthy baby here than how it happens.

Why didn't you tell me?: I don't like making announcements. At all. So, I didn't tell a whole lot of people, and the news spread on it's own. I'm excited and all, I just don't expect others to care all that much. But thanks for caring, if you do.

Biggest bragging right: At 18 weeks, I still weigh less than I did when I got pregnant with Leah! Woo-hoo! Despite what that picture up there looks like... must be a bad angle. Just keep in mind I just ate a delicious turkey sandwich from Kneaders, and I'm wearing a maternity shirt (out of comfort, not need just yet!) I look bigger or smaller throughout the day! Also, I never realized how much orange wood paneling there is in our hallway!

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Overall, I'm just thrilled. There is a peace that comes with knowing I've done this before, and I really enjoyed most of my pregnancy with Leah. I am so excited to hold a newborn baby in my arms again. I love feeling the little kicks, and I'm just trying to comprehend all of the changes that will come in just a few months!

Someday My Prince Will Come

Leah's best friend Bence came to play with us today. He is just about the most easy-going little kid I've met, as he put up with Leah's endless cries of, "He's my prince! Hold my hand! Sing the Cinderella song, Mom". Such cuties. We'll be so sad when they move next week. I love this picture- Bence is clearly contemplating whether or not he feels like being Leah's prince, while Lead does her best to charm him with her smile.

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I gave the kids a snack of graham crackers and raisins while they were playing, and Leah's was gone in no time. Raisins and all. Leah doesn't usually eat raisins, so I was surprised to see her bowl completely empty so soon. So I asked her-

M: Did you eat your raisins?

L: No.

M: Where are they?

M: In Bence's bowl.

Clever little girl! I especially love that she didn't lie, nor did she see anything wrong with passing her raisins off. She just told it like it is.

Leah-isms

Thanks everyone for your comments about the baby. We're really excited- more on that later.

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Leah has so much to say- always has, really- and has started talking about things that are really interesting to me. Like whether the "baby in Mommy's tummy" is a boy or a girl. Her/his name is Alex to her, no matter what.

And she's started "remembering" things. Like-

*When I was a baby, I was taking a nap, and then I was born, and I was crying.

*Here's my medicine from when I was sick!

Yep- that's a potty chair bowl on her head.

Potty training is pretty much on hold since Leah just got over a scary case of croup, and I have a cold, but we're still trying a few times each day. Today I put her on the potty, and she stood up, closed the lid to the potty, and politely told me, "No thank you. Maybe tomorrow." Is this what it's going to be like for us? A battle of manners?

"Prince Eric takes Ariel for a tour of his kingdom"

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I'm also realizing a lot about what she hears me say. She found a secret spot in her closet yesterday, which she set up as her napping place, and then stuck her head out and told me, "I'm tired. I'm taking a nap. Don't wake me up!"

Okay, pregnant=tired=I like a nap just as much as any toddler should, so yeah, I'll own up to that one.

Or today in the bathroom, I was reading her the "Potty Book for Girls" during which the main character has a peeing accident and there is a puddle on the floor. Our conversation went something like this:

L: Uh-oh. She spilled.

M: Yeah, but it was an accident.

L: She made a bad choice!

M: But it's pee-pee and she just had an accident. It's okay.

L: She needs to pay attention!

So, I guess Leah does hear a lot of what I say, I just need to make sure that it comes out right when she repeats it all!

Guess Who's Coming to Our House?!

Give me a few more months of this, and hopefully we'll end up with someone that looks a little like this!

Baby Morales- coming July 2009!

Is It Time?

Leah has gotten really good at the following things:

*Taking off her clothes.

*Seeking out a little privacy when she poops (aka- she freezes and waves me away until she's done).

*Letting me know when it's time for a diaper change.

So, is it time to potty train? I ask myself this at least once every six weeks (when I buy diapers) and I think the time is coming.

You may remember this moment from a few weeks ago, and we were about to relive the same pooping-in-the-tub-experience again tonight. So I quickly had Jason whip out her potty chair, and after a few minutes and good book-

Ta-Da!

This is a cropped-for-modesty shot of Leah watching her work flush away. She even waved it good-bye.

We are so proud. And Leah seemed fairly proud of herself. As I was tucking her into bed, she told me, "I pee in the potty like Mom and Dad pee in the potty!"

Now I just need to study up on this whole milestone- any words of comfort?

Aquarium

Leah, my sister Allison and I headed over to the aquarium this weekend. It was spectacular- at least it was though the eyes of a 2-year old.Leah especially loved the sharks that swam right past us.
But she wasn't about to touch the stingrays, as you can see from the look on her face. We almost got her to touch the sea stars- almost.

But this was the best part of all!