Linkage

I've been a fan of Brian Braiker's writing for some time. He used to write the Mr. Nice Guy blog. It was a parenting blog, but then became a bit more multi-purpose. Always good for a few laughs.

I haven't updated my blog links in some time ... and I'm not sure when I will get around to it. So until I do, here is the link to Brian's new parenting blog, I, Breeder, which he is writing for Newsweek. His writing style reminds me of our own darling curmudgeon, pioneer of the Retail Rant.

Enjoy!

A minor pregnancy annoyance

Cravings.

I get cravings daily now. Generally, around noon. I crave different things each day. None of the things I crave are in our regular diet, so we never have them in the house. And since I'm still on bedrest, I can't go out and get what I want when I want it. Nothing else sounds appetizing until the cravings have passed.

I still have morning sickness, but it is inaptly named, since it becomes worse in the evenings. So by the time H is off work and could pick up food for me, not only are the cravings gone, but the nausea is so pronounced that I can no longer eat anything at all. And since the cravings vary from day to day, I can't even anticipate them for the next day.

It would be infinitely better if the cravings occurred in the evening. But I have no say in the timing of this little annoyance.

Words to live by

J has a hobby horse. It was a gift from Memaw. J loves to put the stick between his knees and gallop around the living room on his horse. It is J's only horse toy, and he adores it.

Grandma: Hold your horses, J!
J: My one horse is at home, Grandma.

In addition to correcting the obvious errors of others, J has also taken to quoting the wise words of others:

J: Well done, your Highness. That's what Shrek said.

J: Daddy, remember: Do what the Do-Wops do ... Do what we do.

Goodnight, J. Sleep tight. Harvard is waiting for you.

Where's Mommy?

J and I went to Edo for lunch today. We were both feeling under the weather, so we thought their Udo Chicken Soup would be good for what ailed us. T, who continues to be on bed rest and suffer from morning sickness, stayed home just as she should.

The staff at the Edo were very taken with J. They told him that he looked just like Santa in his little red coat. Despite his being somewhat shy at first, the Edo staff pressed to carry on conversations with him. Conversations such as:

Edo Employee: Where's Mommy?
H: She's at home, sick.
Edo Employee: Oh. Does she have the flu?
J: She vomits in her pot.

Things you never thought you'd hear yourself say

"Snuggling does not include umbrellas."

Quick baby update

Saw the obstetrician today. I'm still on bed rest - at least until my next appointment, mid-January. And I've had morning sickness so bad that I have actually lost 4 pounds while pregnant. Unless things change quite dramatically, I will be on bed rest until baby is born. At best, I may at some point prior to baby's arrival be allowed limited activity, but it sounds like it would be very limited. The prognosis isn't great just now. We hope baby doesn't come too early. I'm staying very still.

At least baby's growth is on track, and things seem to be going well from that end. My body is creating the problem. But there does not appear to be any problem with our child. So we sit tight and hope that I can hang on.

Things have been quiet here lately

I am aware. Time for a few updates.

I'm about 16 weeks pregnant with #2 now. Already on bed rest, and have been for over a month now. I'm bed resting until at least 20 weeks, and we'll see from there. There are complications and, if they do not resolve, I'll likely be on bed rest until delivery. I'm due end of May. Bed rest is boring. There's not much that I can do. I miss work. It's hard to get to the computer. It's tough to blog. The worst part is that I can't pick up J. I miss cuddling my little boy. Thankfully, I have a supportive husband who has been taking good care of me and J. I just wish I could contribute. But I can't.

We went to Maui for a week in September. That's where we learned that we were expecting #2. It was a fantastic trip! Thankfully, the morning sickness didn't start until we returned. It's been pretty bad, though. I can't keep down even my prenatal vitamins. I'm concerned about proper nutrition for baby. But I'm doing my best.

On the J front, potty training is going well. J is rewarded with a sticker for sitting on the potty, and he receives an extra sticker for peeing. He usually gets two stickers. But he's not yet telling us when he needs to go, so he's generally wet between trips. I hope he will be trained soon. It would be helpful.

Also, we have managed to wean J from his "Ne-naw" (aka soother). He was only having it during naps and night. But we explained to him on Monday that Ne-naws are only for little tiny babies, and he's a little boy now and much too grown-up for a Ne-naw. He barely even squawked about it. Honestly, it was more tragic for me - my baby is growing up!!! But it needed to go, so it is gone.

J likes all kinds of books and toys now. He will often play with things that aren't really his toys. We have to monitor for safety. He has claimed one of our Halloween decorations - a silver skull - as one of his new toys. Apparently, J does not find this gross-looking thing particularly scary. We are having trouble getting it back into storage, since J keeps hiding it among his other toys. J also loves the design that is on the back of one of our rocking chairs. He thinks Design looks rather like a face, and he has conversations with it, shares toys with it, etc. Ah well, a couple of imaginary or inanimate friends never hurt anyone.

J enjoys singing. His favorite song is still "Mighty Machines", but he also enjoys "Jingle Bells" and "Mister Golden Sun", among other little tunes. He prefers to sing in a gruff and grumbly voice rather than his usual sweet little voice. He sounds rather like a Sesame Street monster when he starts up, I swear. But it's very cute.

Now, onto the school front: I'm almost through my stats class. Thankfully, when I was put on bed rest, the teacher turned it into a distance ed class for me, and I have managed to get good grades while lying still on my couch. It has not been a really tough class. I've got enough marks to pass the class already, and a couple more projects to complete still. Hopefully I'll be able to complete them. I've gotten doctor permission to take a winter class also, provided it too is distance ed and can be completed while I lie down. So I'll be taking Finance next. It's a long process to get my designation, but I'm sure it will be worth it once it's all done.

I'm tired. I'm bored. Send emails. Phone me. Whatever you've got to do. I'm relying on others for entertainment now. So go on ... entertain me!

I will now end this post with a things you never thought you'd hear your child say:

J: Kitty is eating my skull!!

Things you never thought you'd hear yourself say

H & T: (Singing)

Happy birthday to you.
Happy birthday to you.
Happy birthday dear ... skull ...
Happy birthday to you.

Birds of a Feather

J loves birdies. Sometimes, he gets confused about what they are, but he loves them nonetheless.

**********

J: (Pointing excitedly) That's a penguin!
H: (Looking where J is pointing) No, J. That's a magpie.
J: Ooooh ... magpie.
H: Yes. Magpie.
J: No magpie! PENGUIN!!
H: Okay, fine. It's a penguin.

**********

H: J wanted to tell you that he gave rocks to the birdies on the piano.
T: Oh. ... Wait. What birdies on the piano?
H: Well, he thinks those wooden monkeys up there are birds.

**********

H: Are you magical?
J: No!
H: Are you magnificent?
J: No!
H: Are you magnanimous?
J: No! I'm a magpie! ROAR!!!!

911 Emergency

My friend, Morgan, posted this on her blog. It was so funny, I just had to share it here.

Enjoy!

911 Emergency