20 weeks!

I can't believe I'm already half way through this pregnancy. It's amazing how fast time goes by when you're chasing a 16 month-old. Overall, I feel great. Very similar to my pregnancy with E. I have, however, been having bad headaches on occasion and feel like I'm gaining weight faster this time around. My belly feels huge for just 20 weeks. I've already had strangers ask if I'm expecting and I do get some strange looks while at the gym in the morning. I can feel the little one in there kicking around, especially after I eat. The biggest difference in this pregnancy, so far, is that we're going to find out the gender of the baby a week from tomorrow (instead of waiting, like we did with E). We're so excited to see what it feels like to know what we'll be having. I loved not knowing last time, but am excited to find out this time (and so are the grandparents). Everyone keeps asking if I have any "feelings" as to what it might be....which I do not and honestly, don't really care if it's a boy or a girl. I feel like we're so blessed to be having a second child that it doesn't really matter either way. Dr. M and I are still feeling a little anxious about the idea of having two under the age of two, but are excited to have a little one in the house again. My due date is still June 11, 2011 (the day after our 5 year wedding anniversary). I'll be sure to let you know what we find out at the sonogram next week (and post pics)! Here's a pic of my big belly. This is the first belly pic we've taken this time around...

16 Months

I feel like I say this each time I make this monthly entry, but I truly can't believe how much E has grown and changed. He's 16 months now and is no longer walking, he's running, everywhere! His new obsession (yes, I mean obsession) is books. He says "book peees, book." We read to him all day (per his demand). Frequently it's the same books over and over again, so we're happy he got some new ones for Christmas. Not only does he turn the pages but he knows the name of almost everything in the book. Really, he's amazing at this game. On a page full of pictures, I can ask him to find the frog or pencil and he points it out every time. He also says all the words for the things he knows, which totally amazes Dr. M and I. He also knows the shapes star and circle and the colors blue and green (he can point them out or tell you each). He's also combining words such as "down please," "snack please" or "more please" - he's so polite. Not only does he point out items in a book, he points them out in real life too. He's so aware of his surroundings these days. He loves going to the store and makes friends with everyone. He talks all the time and is even starting "imaginary play" with his toys (and the dogs), which is so cute! We went to the Magic House on New Year's eve last week. It was so fun seeing the amazement in E's face. He was so excited about everything, the sounds, textures and all the people. He had so much fun and so did Dr. M and I. I hadn't been there since I was a little girl, which brought back a lot of great memories. We still haven't cut his hair yet and his top molars are beginning to come in. He's been doing okay eating most foods, but is still very allergic to all dairy and nuts.

Christmas 2010

This holiday season was particularly enjoyable with E. It was fun seeing the amazement and wonder in his face with the new environment of a Christmas tree, lights, presents, snow and all sorts of new toys. So many new things for him. We spent our first Christmas at home with Grandma K then headed to Columbia to see Grandma and Grandpa W. We spent Christmas Eve with the Grandparents and Aunt Sarah and uncle Bacel. It snowed all day long and was beautiful and perfect! We decorated cookies, opened presents and had monkey bread on Christmas morning. That afternoon we headed over to see Grandma and Grandpa D. Though we had seen them a few days before for their annual D family Christmas party, it was great to just hang out, open presents, chat and, of course, eat! Everyone was so generous. E got a ton of awesome new toys and presents and Dr. M and I finally entered the 21st century with a new LED TV and Wii gaming system. More importantly, it was wonderful to be abel to spend so much time with our family and friends this year. For the first time, Dr. M and I were able to stay in town longer than we had in years. It's crazy to think that next year we'll have a 2 1/2 year old and 6 month old! yikes!