Half Way Baby!

I am 20 weeks along now and doing fabulous! We had our BIG ultra-sound last week. The baby is as healthy as it could be and everything looked perfect. We are still on track for a 8-8-2010 due date and the baby's gender is still a surprise to all, including the ultra-sound tech and our doctor (just the way we want it)! The baby's heart rate has been at a steady 15o bpm almost every appointment. I have been gaining weight appropriately, according the my doc, and have gained 9 pounds so far (I have been the same weight, week to week, as I was when I was pregnant with Ellison). Ellison enjoyed seeing the baby during the ultra-sound too, we talked about it the whole day before our appointment so she knew what was going to be going on. She just stared at the screen in awe. I have been feeling great and enjoying every little movement since I first felt it at week 15. Jonathan has also had no problem feeling our active little one the past couple of weeks. The baby gives me random kicks and punches throughout the day, but at night, when I finally lay down in bed, the baby really goes to town for a good length of time.

Here is our babe.

I am 18 weeks in this picture

Elle's new, but temporary crib/bed is shown below (she is illustrating how she goes to sleep in her "new pecial bed" - aka new special bed). I haven't said to much lately about Elle's sleeping, because the last time that I did, I jinxed it. Anyway, to make a long story short, we had enforced some new sleeping rules and for 4 weeks we were all getting the best sleep that all three of us have had since Elle was born...until she learned she could climb out! We had her crib at the lowest setting and somehow our little girl with her little but very strong and athletic (ha) legs were able to swing up and pull her body over. This only went on for 2 days and 2 escapes total. One escape was clean and early on in the night, the second was not so clean, and in the middle of the night. So we converted her crib to "a day bed" setting. We thought we would try this before bringing in the double bed from our guest room. How does this solve things? We are still in question ourselves. She gets out on average 2x a night and gets put right back in. It is a work in progress and hopefully we will have all of the kinks worked out by August - or I will be checking into the nearest hotel or mental institution.
We recently got a new "shipment" of clothing from my cousin's daughters and in it was a bee Halloween costume. Here is your 2010 Halloween preview, minus the black and yellow striped body suit. Ellison has been requesting to wear the "buzzy bee" headband and wings and has enjoyed playing the role of buzz buzz.

she was hopping in circles getting dizzy!

I had to take this picture of Jack, he was holding on to Tasha the hippo for quite a while and smiling at her while we were reading books.
Ellison still loves her jungle gym and hardly allows Jack in it alone. He seems to like it too, but not as much as she does! It's so funny how old baby toys are so appealing now that their is a baby around - I know this is very typical for all toddlers when a new baby comes into the mix, it's just funny to watch.

Ellison is helping Jonathan "mud", Elle calls it painting. We are in the process of remodeling our bathroom and like most projects, this job cannot be finished fast enough. That is why we are making our daughter help us! j/k

So happy the snow has gone away!

Jonathan, Elle and I have been enjoying time outside on the swing set ever since the the rain has stopped and the snow has left us!

Here is Elle on the opposite side of the "teeter-totter swing".

Going down!
"Daddy catch me!"
Elle on the "big" swing. She still goes in the "little kid/baby swing" but has been spending more time in this one.

She knows to hold on tight now and wants to go higher and get under-ducks!

Petting the neighbor's fake baby bunny.

And of course our little buddy Jack. I had to take this picture of him stuffing both of his hands in his mouth. He loves to suck on his fingers, but this was truly a mouth full!

What a happy guy.

Our week

This is my first week watching our nephew Jack, and we have all been having so much fun! Jack is 3 months old now and has his eye on Elle, watching her every move. He smiles at her as she plays. Elle is so cute when she talks to him, she says "what are you doing baby Jack"? She wants to play with all of his baby things, but will remind you that she is "a big girl". Elle loves helping with him, she wants to help hold his bottle, and change his diapers - even wipe him. Jack is such a happy baby, and a great sleeper, he has really been a joy to take care of. We can only hope our little bundle on the way takes it easy on us like Jack has.


Ellison is really wanting to get after the dangling toys, and Jack is completely entertained.

Taking some time to herself to apply some lip moisturizer to her lips and the surrounding area.

Big smiles!

While Jack was napping Elle hopped in to try his seat.
Kisses for her cousin.

Again, a little alone time reading books in mom and dad's bed.

We had a visitor in our back yard the other evening around 4:45pm, Ellison and I watched in amazement.