Mom Out!

For the last three nights Lexi has been quite the Daddy's girl.  This isn't totally unusual for her but on Friday she took it to a whole new level.  Our normal bedtime routine consists of me or Brian giving her a bath.  Then we both help put her PJs on, she gives us each a hug and kiss and then hops into bed.  Once she's in bed, I read her a short bedtime story. On Friday, once she hopped into bed, she took the book out of my hands and said "Mom, out" and then gave the book to Brian.  Ouch!  Saturday night she did the same thing, except this time, she grabbed my hand and walked me out of her room, down the hallway, and left me standing a few feet down from her room before she turned around and walked back into her room so Brian could read her the book!  I was speechless!  Then Sunday night I kicked Brian out before she had the chance to kick me out :-)  Tonight, she kicked me out again, holding my hand and walking me down the hallway.  She at least gave me a kiss before she turned around and walked away. Of course it makes me sad, but it also makes me laugh too :-)

Great News!

We had our appointment with the specialist today to determine whether the baby had any markers or other indications of Down's syndrome.  Both Brian and I had tried to put it out of our minds up until this point but as we were watching the sonogram both of us were very anxious to find out if the doctor saw anything.  Luckily after the sonogram the doctor came in and said she didn't see any markers and that everything looked perfectly normal.  Whew!  I felt a huge relief!  Of course they can't tell us 100% one way or another but the doc said not to worry.  We will go back again in 6 weeks for another sono just to make sure nothing changed but she seemed very optimistic.  And they confirmed that he is 100% boy!  He was proudly showing his stuff :-)  Now let the shopping begin!

Name for Baby #2

We've narrowed the name list to six names.  If you haven't voted already, check out this link and vote for your favorite:  http://www.babycenter.com/403_help-name-our-baby_13342687_767.bc

Baby bump #2

I completely understand now why women don't take pictures tracking their second pregnancy like they did with the first.  It's just not as cute the second time around!  I didn't want baby #2 to feel left out though, so I decided I'd take at least a few.  Here's a pic taken tonight at 17 weeks.  Next to it is a pic of me when I was pregnant with Alexa at 18 weeks.  Based on this, I think I'm a week or two ahead in terms of the baby bump from the first pregnancy.  Maybe that's because it's a boy...or maybe it's because I haven't exercised in forever :-)

17 Weeks with Baby #2

18 Weeks with Alexa

Temper Tantrums

Whoever came up with the term ‘terrible twos’ must not have had children because it definitely starts way before two and from what I hear lasts well beyond two.  I can’t say when it officially started but last Sunday proved to me that it has definitely started. 

I never thought I would be the mom with the screaming kid on aisle 5 but sure enough last Sunday I was….twice.  The first episode happened at Kroger.  Lexi had been riding fairly peacefully in a grocery cart that had a car in the front.  She lasted all of about 10 minutes in that and was ready to get out, letting me know by repeatedly saying “All done.”  I told her she could get out but had to ride in the regular cart.  Well that just set her off.  I tried to put her in but she locked her legs.  Eventually I got her in but she was already screaming at the top of her lungs by this point.  I swear it went on for a good five minutes.  Luckily no one dared come down the aisle, well except for a little old lady to ask Alexa what was wrong.  Thanks for the help lady!  I was not giving in to let her out because once we went down that path she’d never sit in the cart again.  I tried my best to keep my cool.  Finally I managed to calm her down by giving her my cell phone to watch a movie.  We made it through the checkout lane with just a minor fuss.  I was so frustrated when I got home though!

The second episode happened at Kohl’s.  Yep, I was dumb enough to agree to take her someplace else.  But I thought since she’d be able to run around freely it certainly wouldn’t be a problem.  Plus Brian was with this time.  Boy was I wrong!  Everything was fine for the first 10 minutes.  Then Brian decided he would take Lexi over to the men’s clothing section.  My parting words were “Good luck with that.”  About 5 minutes later I went back to find them.  I knew right where they were because I could hear our sweet little angel screaming “No! No! No!” and then saw her running with Brian not too far behind.  We decided this would be a good time to check out.  Brian proceeded through the checkout and I stayed back with Lexi in the clothing section.  She spotted a pole hanging on the wall and she wanted it.  I told her no and tried to take her someplace else.  That’s when she flipped out.  I’m not exaggerating here.  She was so angry with me!  I have never seen anger like that in someone’s eyes.  Mix that look with her swinging at me and it’s a pretty unimaginable scene.  Of course anyone that walked by stared like hawks even though I was trying to duck down and hide.  I tried being calm and talking softly but the more I talked the angrier she got so I gave up.  Finally Brian was done and we walked outside with Lexi kicking and screaming in Brian’s arms. 

I have never felt more like a failure than I did at that moment.  My life is for the most part very well controlled and no matter what I tried there was no controlling that situation.  That’s a pretty hard thing to swallow when you’re a control freak!  I know I am not the only parent that has experienced this and it doesn’t mean I’m a bad parent (blah blah blah) but knowing that I have company in my misery isn’t exactly helping me.  I’m literally on the verge of submitting our story to Super Nanny!   

I'll Take It!

Lexi is starting to form more and more phrases each day.  I think they are mostly things that we must say pretty frequently.  Her favorite phrase at the moment is “I’ll take it!”  She uses it both when she wants something we’re holding or when she wants us to hold something for her.  She also says “Come on” a lot.  We have a gate at the top of the stairs and she wants to be the one to hold it open for the rest of us to walk through.  So she stands there holding the gate saying “Come on Mom, come on Dad, come on Oscar.”  If you’re not going fast enough she gives you a little shove too!  Oscar has been the victim of this on multiple occasions.  Recently she started saying “Bye guys” when it’s time to leave to go somewhere or if someone is leaving our house.  “No” is still of course one of her favorite words but now when she doesn’t want me to do something she says “Mom!” with such attitude I can’t even describe it in words!  It’s hard to believe she has so much sassiness and she’s not even two yet!