Another zoo trip... but with a crazy deer

Paul has gone back to working weekends which leaves Liam and I alone on Saturdays, usually with no plans. Last Saturday we went to the Hesperia Zoo with some friends and we had a really good time. Last time we went there it was freezing cold and this time it was almost unbearably hot but it was well worth it. Liam's favorite part is still the petting zoo portion where you can feed the animals. They have this deer that runs around freely. Last time we were there he kept following us and smelling our hands to see if we had food for him. This time he was a bit more forceful. He kept nudging us, almost knocking Liam down a couple of times, he kept chewing on our clothing and the stroller, and he made it almost impossible to feed any other animal. We would give him some food every now and then to appease him but most of the time we were dodging him.

Liam would reach up to feed an animal and that deer would swipe the food right out of his hand. He kept telling him, "No, Reindeer!" But he didn't listen.

I eventually got a bit tired of it and started "boxing out" like a basketball player playing defense. I held him behind me while I shouted to Liam to hurry up and feed the other animals all while attempting to take some decent pictures. I think I succeeded but I was a bit sweaty by the time we were finished and we were both ready to leave.

Life Lately

Liam recently got some cousin play time in due to a new addition in our family. We are so excited about our new niece and look forward to watching her grow and mature.

On our home front, I've been feeling the need to do "something." Anything. I don't think nesting comes this soon in a pregnancy so I won't call it that but it is definitely a need to keep my hands busy. Sometimes I attribute the feeling to the fact that February feels so far away and other times I attribute it to the fact that February is coming way too fast. I'm already 18 weeks (nearly half way through) and with the holidays coming up, I feel the need to get things done before our lives get too busy. However, I totally painted Liam's nursery about this time when I was pregnant with him and I didn't have any of those excuses reasons. Paul says that maybe what I'm feeling is why pregnant people are always depicted knitting hats or quilting blankets. Not a bad idea.

Anyway, I went through Liam's old baby clothes looking for neutral outfits and white onesies. I came up with a couple of items but not much. Liam had a great time, though, walking around with tiny hats and gloves on.

We killed our brand new grass. Not to worry, though, it's growing back slowly but surely. We actually had to mow it again this week which is a great sign. I'm pretty sure that short bar is on the mower for this very purpose.

Liam's new favorite toys are guns. I'm not quite sure if I think it's cute or scary but he's all about shooting people. He has perfected the art of getting shot himself and he often asks us to shoot him so that he can keep practicing. It's very realistic and probably the most "boyish" thing he does. This outfit is a staple in the evenings. Diaper, pajama top, cowboy hat, play Black and Decker goggles, and a gun. Occasionally he will throw in the gun belt, guns in both hands, and a rocking horse. Paul is so excited to "finally" be able to play cops and robbers with his boy and it's pretty fun to watch. On days when it's just us, though, I'm not a big fan of playing dead repeatedly. I usually tell him to the shoot the dogs since they are always up for a good game of chase. This kid really needs a sibling.

Grumpy, but happy

I have had the worst insomnia this pregnancy. I will go a few days with blissfully peaceful sleep (minus bathroom trips and the occasional hunger pains) and I will think I'm "cured." Then it strikes again and I will be up from dusk til dawn for no apparent reason. Well, there are lots of apparent reasons. I have a hard time getting comfortable, it's too hot then it's too cold, my mind is racing (usually about extremely unimportant things), I have to pee, then I have to blow my nose (I've also been very congested this pregnancy. Thanks, hormones!), then I'll get hungry and have to eat that instant before my body completely rebels. The worst part is that I'll usually fall asleep in the morning minutes before Liam wakes up ready to start the day. Saying that I don't function well without sleep would be an understatement. I feel shaky and sick. My emotions are off the chart. The sound of the television or even people's voices makes me want to jump off a bridge. See, I dont function well.

But deep down I still feel joyful. I'm grumpy, but I'm happy. I realize that, sleep or no sleep, I still have it made. I have an incredibly supportive husband who loves me, an adorable genius of a two year old, and a little girl on the way who nudges me as I toss and turn as if to reassure me that these pregnancy symptoms are well worth it. That, or she's just kicking me when I'm down. I like to imagine that it's the first scenario.

Our first introduction to Baby B

On our third attempt at finding out the gender of our child, we were finally successful. Well, the ultrasound tech was successful and our little bundle was very cooperative. When she told us it was a GIRL my eyes got a bit misty. I was so overjoyed at the prospect of having a little girl and at the fact that we didn't have to wait any longer to know that I told the ultrasound tech that I wanted to hug her then I made her show me what she saw from about 4 different positions to make sure she was positive. It's such a relief to be able to imagine my child more accurately. I think that is what was bugging me so bad about not knowing. I imagined a million different posibilities. Liam playing with a little brother or Liam playing with a little sister, two football players or a football player and a cheerleader (not that they can't choose what they want to be... this is just my imagination), painting the nursery pink or re-using Liam's blue, reusing EVERYTHING or buying some new. You get the point. It just felt like there was a lot up in the air and as exciting as guessing can be, I just really wanted to know. So we found out, called our families and headed straight to Disneyland to celebrate.

We bought her first pair of Minnie ears that day and a few days later I made her first hair bow purchase. I have also decided on crib bedding (I think) and I'm feeling so excited that I can actually plan for these kinds of things. Instead of just looking forward to the fun parts of this pregnancy I can now look forward to holding her in my arms, giving her her own little space in our home and introducing her to Liam. We have decided to name her Brygit Mae (Brygit because we just really like that name and we decided to spell it the Polish way and Mae after my mother's middle name) and Paul coined the nickname Baby B. I love the sound of it and I have just been over the moon since that first introduction.

The end of summer?

People keep saying that summer is coming to an end. Kids are back in school, the parks are empty, Halloween decorations are in the stores. Why is my house being skipped? Today is the first day it hasn't been in the upper 90s here and we are still trying to stay as cool as possible until the sun goes down. Once that happens we fit as many outdoor activities in as possible.

Our favorites are playing on the swing set and chasing the dogs around with a bubble gun.

One of the benefits I am reaping from summer supposedly being over is that my Disneyland pass is no longer blacked out now that the summer crowds are gone. It's a million degrees there but we still get to go and that's alright with me.

Let the pregnancy posts begin!

I'm not a huge fan of belly pictures. Well I am but not when it's mine. And, especially not when it's bare. But I must document so that I can remember these days and so I can share these memories with my children someday. Don't get me wrong, I totally took pictures of my bare belly but nobody will see those pictures except for my family and my hard drive. I didn't like showing it off in my pre baby days because I was always a bit modest, I didn't like showing it off when I was pregnant with Liam, and I definitely don't like showing it off now that Liam did a number on my skin. Stretch mark city.

So here ya go! 14 weeks in this picture I believe. I'm almost 16 as I write this. Just starting to pop out and feeling extremely frustrated with my clothing selection. I'm swimming in most of my old maternity clothes and yet most of my regular clothes either won't button or look like they are trying way too hard. Think I can convince my husband to take me "in between" shopping?

Liam wanted to show his belly off too. He doesn't mind me sharing his bare belly pictures with the world wide web.

I'm feeling... okay these days. I have had a very mild pregnancy compared to how sick I was when I was pregnant with Liam. A lot of things make me gag, especially smells, and I feel tired sometimes, and other times I have really bad insomnia. I'm super emotional and cry at every cute little book I read to Liam and every movie I watch, and for you fellow bloggers, I've been known to shed a tear or two reading some of your writing as well. The other side of this emotional roller coaster is that I have a tendency to feel like minor setbacks are the end of the world. I'm working on that and hoping it doesn't last long.

I'm coming to the realization that I have just over 5 months left with my family the way it is. We will never be three ever again and that makes me a little sad. I made a list of all the fun things I want to do with Liam before a baby sibling cramps his style. I'm excited to get started on it and soak up every second I have with my two boys.

We moved all of our baby items into the room that will be the nursery. Liam has discovered his old bumbo seat and he thinks it's a potty chair. He doesn't use it as a potty chair. He just sits in it and talks about going potty. I can't believe how huge he is in it now when we used that thing so much when he was a baby. I better stop talking about it or the emotions will start flowing again.

We have attempted to find the gender out early at a 4d ultrasound place two times now. Both times our little person is sitting with their legs crossed with their little foot right in front of the area we need to see. Luckily, the place we are going to lets us return as many times as possible until they can be 100% sure of the gender. We go back on Tuesday and I fear we may be looking at crossed legs again. We will just have to wait and see. As curious as I am I am kind of enjoying getting a little weekly peak at that little growing body. It makes it very real and has helped me bond with this child. But as much as I enjoy it, they better cooperate on Tuesday. That's all I'm saying.