Independent

I wrote a sentence about this at the end of my last blog, but I thought I should write more about it.

For the longest time I've wondered if Michael was different than other kids.  I knew he didn't have autism or anything like that, and socially he seems fine, but I've wondered.  Mostly because while Michael has been independent he hasn't gone through some of the stages other kids have gone through, until now.

He just started the "no" to everything stage.  I always heard that happened around 18 months.  I wondered if he was just very easy going or didn't care to push his boundaries, but now he cares.  Now he tries to assert his independence by saying no to everything, even things he knows should be yes (like "do you want to see grandma?").  Sometimes he'll change his answer the second time we ask, but he prefers no for now.

Part of gaining physical independence he has started the "mean" stage.  He doesn't ever kick or bite, but he has been pushing and hitting lately.  The only time he would hit was when he wanted a high-five but couldn't communicate it.  Lately he hits Elli if she plays with his toys, he hits us for telling him no, and he pushes kids out of his way.  It has been a very tear-filled few weeks for this kid, and many time-outs have ended to begin another time-out.

I guess the good part is he is learning to be more independent.  There are perks to the whole thing.  We will be in the toy room and he asks for water, now I can tell him to go down the stairs to the kitchen and get it instead of getting it for him.  I'm hoping in about a month he gets over these behaviors, but we'll see.  It's harder now because he notices other kids doing the same things.  I should just be happy that this didn't start until now.

I thought I'd leave you with a picture of Michael trying out his independence.  He knows not to touch Elli's high chair.  When I took her upstairs to put her to sleep Michael somehow climbed up into it and got stuck.  Being the nice mom I am I decided to take pictures instead of getting him out.  Luckily for him my camera memory was full so I only got one picture and he got out of there pretty fast.

Nap Time

Elli still takes two naps a day.  Her first nap is usually 2 hours and her second is 1-3 hours depending on her first and how she's feeling.  Michael has one 2-3 hour nap in the afternoon.

My problem for the last 6+ months has been trying to keep Michael entertained while Elli is sleeping.  It was really hard in our apartment because Elli slept in their room with all of the toys.  That plus morning sickness meant we watched too much TV.  Now that we're moved in I was so excited to figure something else out to do with Michael.  We can play with toys, run around a little more, and do so much more.  Of course he still asks to watch TV as soon as I lay Elli in her crib, but he doesn't mind as much when I tell him no.  Yesterday he spent most of her nap working on his masterpiece

I should add that this was taken only 5 minutes after he sat down.  3 of markers are dried up now.  

Thankfully he's starting to ask to watch something other than Good Luck Charlie.  I don't mind the show but I've seen every episode at least a dozen times.  Now he's into Super Why.  So when he does ask to watch something and I can't think of anything else to do I at least feel like he's learning something.

Since Elli's naps are much shorter than Michael's in the afternoon we have a similar situation when she wakes up.  Except Elli is a lot easier to entertain.  The people behind us have 2 big dogs that my kids love.  I was dusting the window and Elli just stood there watching them.  Then she tried to help me dust.

I'm going to miss nap times soon.  I'm hoping Michael will still be taking one in June when this baby is due, but I won't be surprised if in May he completely refuses naps.  He's become very independent lately, but I'll save that for another long post.

Half-way there!

I feel for this poor elephant.  Roughly half-way through it's pregnancy it is trying to be optimistic, but we all know that's a lie.  In reality this elephant is screaming GET THIS THING OUTTA ME!  Just like the rest of us are when we are half-way there.

Wednesday marked 21 weeks for me.  I'm so on top of things this pregnancy aren't I? :P

Overall things have been going well.  I'm not sick anymore, the baby decided it only needed to lay on my kidney for one day, and I'm still sleeping well.  

There has been only one problem this pregnancy, what do we call the baby?  We find ourselves referring to he or she, even though we have no idea what it is.  Of course I call it he, and Josh calls it she.  Calling it "baby" really bugs Josh.  I've been trying to come up with nicknames but haven't found anything I like.  

Since we aren't finding out the gender I haven't bought a cute baby book.  I figured this blog was as good as place as any to record some of the most often asked questions in baby books.  One day I want this 3rd child to think it wasn't completely forgotten. 

Cravings:  tamales, and really only tamales, but I don't care if I don't have them

Aversions:  hamburgers

Weight gain:  Me-8 lbs  Josh-2 lbs

Sleeping:  I can never get enough

Maternity clothes:  Half the time.  I need maternity pants, but I can still wear about half of my non-maternity shirts.  I wear my maxi's just fine, although I got them a little big.

Exercise:  I was doing well until the baby laid on my kidney last week.  Since then I took it easy, and have since been too busy to do much.  Running still happens even though it is really just jogging.  Josh laughs at me when I do pilates or yoga because my belly is so big.

Movement:  The baby kicks and punches a lot.  Josh finally felt it last night for the first time.  For the third time I have an anterior placenta.  

Hormones:  I should let Josh answer this.  He knows when it's coming and he just looks at me with these big eyes as if to say "okay, you can stop having your tantrum now".  The thing is I know when hormones are taking over too, sometimes I just choose to ignore it and be hormonal anyways.  

Health:  Overall I'm doing great.  My blood pressure is still around 95/60.  I partially get out of the glucose test.  Instead of taking the drink I just have to eat a meal 2 hours before and have my blood drawn.

Belly button:  Still exists.  I don't get an outie,  it just disappears completely.  For now the bottom of it still exists, the top doesn't anymore.  

Stretch marks:  I can't tell what baby has done what at this point.  I don't think any new ones have developed, but we'll wait two more months and see

Best thing about this pregnancy:  Feeling like I'm not pregnant.  Instead of letting pregnancy hold me back I'm finally comfortable enough with pregnancy to do whatever I want to do.

Worst thing about this pregnancy:  Carrying two other kids around.  It's not always bad, but every once in a while I have Elli on one hip and Michael on the other while trying to push a grocery cart with my stomach.  It's just a pathetic sight.

I can't think of any other questions that might be in the baby book, but let me know if I missed any!

The House

Since we close in a little over a week I thought I'd write a little bit about the house.  Or just show you a basic picture.

They have painted the stucco but I refuse to post a picture of it right now.  I'm told it's still wet and will dry the right color...right now it's green and brown instead of dark and light grey.  It honestly doesn't look that bad until you see the bright red front door.  Plus that little part up top is supposed to be bright red too.  Either it will dry the right colors or I will make them repaint the door so it doesn't look like Christmas puked on our house.

Here is our very, very dusty kitchen.  The only reason it isn't dusty anymore is because someone must have written something obscene in the dust and the main contractor rubbed it off and left a note not to write in the dust again.  The appliances are all in now so it does look a little more homey.  

So far everything with the building process has been okay.  There have been a few annoyances here and there, but none too bad.  Actually getting a mortgage has been a nightmare.  We've had to write up letter after letter and fax in countless things.  Like we had to write up a letter to explain why one of Josh's deposits and his pay stub were $18 off.  Apparently taking cash out of your account is subject to question.  Oh, and paying, yup paying, for a certificate that says we know how to make a budget and not spend money on unnecessary things.  Did I mention we had to pay for that certificate??