and I thought the taco made me feel queasy

Hey . . . meet Sputnik!



This is actually from a couple of weeks ago. Been a while since I've mentioned the new one, huh? I have a very good excuse; even a doctor's note.

Right around the six-week mark, I started feeling sick, sick, SICK. It was horrendous. I never full-on barfed, but I was always at that last step right before one does. That feeling stayed with me from waking up in the morning to going to bed at night. Unconsciousness was my only defense. I even started to lose weight; I never lost a pound with Lydia.

This came up at my last doctor's appointment and, glory of glories, she prescribed me some happy happy anti-nausea medicine that has been a wonder. Dance! Unfortunately, due to an insurance prescription cap I didn't know I had, I am officially maxed out on drugs until January 1st, so what I have is what I get. Fourteen pills left. I hope I don't get really truly sick between now and January, actually.

Waiting 'till Thanksgiving to tell everybody didn't exactly pan out. The Husband talked me into telling immediate family the same weekend he found out, and so we did. After the last appointment where we got to see the heartbeat and all that jazz, we're pretty much telling everybody. I decided on Sputnik because I've decided it's a boy since it's kicking my butt so much more this time.

So here we are, two days after Thanksgiving, and I cannot wait for it to be January. Or Spring, for that matter. I'm cold.

the sign of the taco

Over the past week or so, I would notice Lydia do this seemingly random gesture where she would point into her palm. I didn't think too much of it. She's usually doing random things. I chalked it up to toddlerism and moved on.

Yesterday evening I finally caught on to when she was doing it, and it definitely is an intended gesture. I was feeding her dinner and she had finished her plate, so I asked her, "Do you want some more?" She immediately did her finger-pointing gesture -- left hand extended flat, right index finger repeatedly pointing into her left palm.

"Hmmm," I thought. They don't teach baby sign language at Lydia's daycare, but I wonder if someone there knows some and have passed it along anyway.

I told The Husband about it when he got home from work. I'm not sure he believed me until later when he was handing Lydia little pieces of pineapple for a snack. He asked her, "Lydia, do you want some more pineapple?" She pointed into her palm then opened her mouth with an "Ahh ahh ahh!" Every time he asked her, she would make that hand gesture.

It's pretty neat, I just wish I new what it meant. Does it mean 'more,' 'please,' 'yes,' 'give me that pineapple you crazy people!' -- I'd just like to know what's being communicated.

We looked up what is the official Baby Sign Language for 'more' and it's not that, so I'm clueless. Maybe she made it up herself.

no longer alone with da secret

The Husband arrived home at 1:30 this morning. I was ever so glad to see him! It was another long night, then I ended up waking early again, so I had to rely on the interwebs to amuse me. Lydia eventually got up and her commotion with breakfast and gabbing eventually got The Husband out of bed.

I listened while The Husband told me about his week and all the stuff he learned. He had a great time. Eventually Lydia's demands for the Ending of Breakfast became pretty loud so I passed along her 'note' to him. "Here," I said, "Lydia got you a card."

"Aww, how sweet," he replied, and began to read.

I watched his face as he read Lydia's words:

Daddy,

I am so glad you are home. I missed you very much.
Mommy told me a secret and to not tell anyone but you. She said I am going to be a big sister. I don't know what that means, but I think I get to be the boss.

Love, Lydia

The Husband blinked, then looked at me. "Seriously?" he asked.

I nodded.

"Oh my God. Wow, another baby." Then he grinned real big and gave me a hug.

"You want to know the funny part?" I asked. "I'm due June 23rd." Then I started laughing.

____________________

The Husband is very excited indeed. I am just glad I am not the only one that knows anymore. That is quite a big secret to carry around for five days. The initial idea is to announce to family at Thanksgiving again, though we might do it before, I dunno.

Yay, I have someone to talk to about this! Ha ha ha ha ha!

anticipation

It's the eve before The Husband gets back from his week-long trip. I am so nervous. This weekend is going to be a fun-filled shebang of birthday celebrations and a zoo visit with my sister and her flock, so I haven't yet decided if I will let him know before or after. I'm leaning towards before, mainly because I'm tired of knowing all by my lonesome. It's been a long week.

At least I've figured out how to let him know. Lydia will write him a note, with my help. She wants to know if she will be able to be the boss.

Surprisingly, I've already noticed the in-comings of that horrible pregnancy nausea feeling. I won't feel hungry forever, then I'll get that hollow-in-the-pit-of-my-stomach feeling that is quite strong and practically unbearable, but the moment I start eating food I feel full to the point of nauseated again. What gives? I thought I had a few more weeks before this started!

october surprise

The Husband is out of town this week, off to a rare conference and filling his head with all sorts of knowledge and awesomeness. Should be a quiet week here at the abode? Sure. Except something just doesn't feel right . . .

So this morning, before Lydia woke up, I conducted a little science experiment involving a few months-expired pregnancy test and, of course, pee.

The test was totally positive.

So there I am, still half-asleep (hence no picture) staring at these two lines. This is BIG NEWS, and I have no one to talk to for almost a week. There's no way I can tell The Husband this over the phone, though a brief mind experiment involving texting a picture of the test to him and imagining his reaction while sitting in a roomful of others trying to listen to the expensive speaker at the front of the room gave me a light chuckle.

I don't think it's hit me yet, this other child that is coming. I did have sense enough to pick up another, unexpired test and re-confirm the two lines.

Some quick calculations reveal that the due date is June 23rd, 2010 YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME, but I will bet you right now it'll be June 14th. Write it down.

I feel fine now, but this time, I know what's coming . . . the nausea, the extreme tiredness, the HUGENESS, night feedings and crying for no reason.

But also . . .

The cooing, the first smile, the cuddling, that baby-fresh smell, the first laugh, rolling over for the first time, sitting up, crawling, walking, realizing mashed potatoes are manna from Heaven!

Two years apart. Buddy, I got it.

*point*

The other weekend we visited the zoo with our friends and their son, Syon. This was Lydia's third trip to the zoo and her most enjoyable time there yet.

The moment we arrived she began pointing out all the interesting things to us.



Now that she's walking she was much less willing to sit in her stroller -- we probably shouldn't have bothered to bring it -- and was more satisfied to wander around the area, checking out all that was worth checking out. Sometimes she forgot we were around.



Any kind of bird (except the flamingos) were her favorite. She is still a people-watcher, though, and other kids especially caught her attention. Oh, to be able to run around so fast!



Lydia even pointed out the big, scary animals, though she was glad her Daddy was there to back her up on that.



After lunch, the kids checked out the nifty water-shooting area.



Though Syon turned out to be a brave soul . . .



. . . Lydia wasn't feeling quite so daring.



After all that running around, pointing, and a big meal, both kids were starting to look tuckered out.



We packed up and made our way home -- Lydia began what was to be a three hour nap of excellence.

update: growing taco

Lydia hits the big 15-monther next week, if you can believe it. She's way past toddling now, she's practically running sometimes. She is going light-speed through time; I can't keep up mentally, physically, or with clothes that fit. Thank goodness for Grandma!



Over the past few weeks, Lydia is starting to find her voice can shape syllables, and syllables can maybe sometimes sorta refer to objects among us. When prompted, she can say "burr" (bird), "baaah" (ball), "fffff!" (off), and "daaah!" (anything positive, like 'on,' 'daddy,' or 'yay'). Now The Husband and I are REALLY having to watch our language. I completely failed at this during a round of Super Mario Bros 3 yesterday. I forget how frustrating that game is. Give me the Wii and multiple save points any day.



She is still my morning girl, always has been since she was a itty bitty thing. Once the sun is up she is ready to play and you're guaranteed giggles and some good pictures. As the evening wears on she is more apt to be ornery, especially if a nap was interrupted.



It's just nutty that a year ago Miss Lydia was three months old and we were eagerly awaiting the arrival of her cousin. Now we are just eagerly awaiting Miss Elizabeth's first birthday party. It shall be a wondrous hoot.





Earlier today Lydia reached out for my hand. I gave it to her and then she proceeded to lead me around the house. Having never done this before, she didn't seem to have an end goal in mind. I suppose she just felt ready to lead me around the same way I have led her from one room to the next. Someday Lydia will see how she has led me to so many places already.