An Unexpected Beginning: Spring has Finally Arrived!

The past few months have been busy as always! I just realized the last time I wrote, I announced that I was pregnant again, and now I am 20 weeks. Time flies!

Pregnancy Update
So far so good. We found out a month ago that we are having a GIRL! While I have never considered myself a super girly girl, I have to say I have had to have restraint in covering the house in pink! I have done pretty well so far with not buying too much, but now I am starting to think I need to get on the ball because time will fly!

We have decided to make a new "big boy" room for LJ. We will move him to the spare room and put the baby in the room LJ is in now. It will just be easier, and I am really hoping that we can get LJ excited about his new room...I don't think it will be too hard. The hardest part will be figuring out when to move him. He is just not ready for a real bed yet, but I refuse to get another crib, so we are going to go ahead and have to room ready for when he is ready to make the switch.

I had my 20 week appointment yesterday. I have had an ultrasound at every appointment so far, and I have honestly lost track of how many we have had so far...8 maybe? Everything is perfect. I have been taking the progesterone shots since 16 weeks, and I have to give credit to Matt for being brave enough to give them to me knowing it will be his fault if they hurt :) So far, he has done well! Baby girl is currently in the 45%ile for her gestation. This is good; right at average. LJ was always off the charts on the big end, which ended up being a good thing since he came so early, but since I am planning on making this pregnancy last longer, I don't need a 12 pound baby.

LJ Update
LJ has taken off. He just seems to be growing leaps and bounds every day. Along with that, he has started to develop the attitude that can come along with being a toddler. He is still a happy boy, but he loves to test his boundaries, tell us "no", and whine when something isn't the way he wants it. That said, it only takes seconds for him to snap out of it and become his happy self again.

LJ had not grown quite as much as we had thought at his 18 month appointment, but he is still gaining speed slowly. He is currently 19.5 months and weighs around 25 pounds and is a little over 32 inches. He is wearing 24 month shirts to cover his belly, and 18 month pants. We have discovered the necessity of adjustable waist pants.

LJ loves to read and be read to. He will sit and listen to story after story, and often find when I am in the kitchen or doing something else, he will be talking to himself in the playroom. When I peak in, he is sitting there reading a book, flipping pages, and pointing at pictures. He may take after me in that way!

Now that LJ is walking, he doesn't stop. He could walk in circles all day long. Often during the day, you will hear him yell, "GO!", and he will start running around the house...he wants you to chase him. He also loves his cars and trucks. He likes playing Matt's guitar, and he loves CMT music videos. He doesn't pay much attention to the TV, but he does love Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and when the music comes on, he runs to the TV to watch.

LJ has also always slept with his lovey, his little giraffe blanket, but recently it seems as though it has become more of a necessity, and I am having to hide it as we go out the door. I don't mind him having it if it makes him feel better, but I don't think he needs to take it with him absolutely everywhere! He also has a collection of stuffed animals that get carried around the house. He sleeps with his favorites...Bobo the monkey, Arty the Ardvark, Mickey Mouse, Gator Tater, a sheep, a lamb, and anything else he may be able to sneak in! He needs a bigger bed!

He continues to talk and his vocabulary is good. He tries to count everything. He knows many animals and their noises, body parts, and other age appropriate words. He also continues just to blab...he ALWAYS has something to say...unless of course you want him to talk.

We had a brief issue with LJ taking off his diaper when he had gone to the bathroom. He had already been telling us occasionally when he had gone to the bathroom. After a little research, I found that many will say this is a sign that he is ready to be potty trained. I am not sure I quite buy it because he is so young, but we bought a potty, and LJ loves to sit on the toilet and pretty much every time, he pees. We aren't pushing it, but we are letting him have at it if he wants to!

LJ finally started walking at about 17.5 months and there is no stopping him now! He even did his first Ride for the Cure last weekend...he rode his trike in a fundraiser for cancer research. The loop was about a quarter of a mile and he rode half of it (Well, Matt pushed him since his feet don't reach the pedals) and he pushed his own bike the other half of the way. He has recently seemed to take more interest in older kids around him, so I think he really enjoyed it!

We also recently went back to the zoo. We decided to go on a weekday morning because we thought it would be less crowded...we were wrong. I think we were at the zoo with every elementary school in Georgia. I think LJ liked it, but I think he was a little overwhelmed with the crowds too...so was I! His favorite was the petting zoo. He was funny because he has no fear of the sheep and goats because his puppies are as big as they are. He would go up to them and pet them nicely like he has to do with our pups. A sweet little boy tried to give him a goat brush and show him how t brush the goat. LJ proceeded to take the goat brush and brush his own hair...you can't win them all I suppose! We will go back in June when we have a NICU reunion there hosted by the hospital.