New Kitchen

We got Connor his very own kitchen yesterday. He LOVES it. We had been to a few other people's houses where this was the only toy he played with, so we figured it would be something he'd like. (I actually get a lot of his toys this way.) He also got some new food that he loves to play with.

This kitchen is really cool. It has a coffee pot, an ice maker and a grill that makes noise. It has a little shelf in the back that he likes to sit at and look like he's ordering. We're hoping this is a toy that will last the boys for years. Plus gives him something to do inside while I'm getting used to having a newborn again.

We went to eat out at the lake this past weekend so we could see the lake levels. It was bad. I think that this land on the top left isn't usually visible. We're really close to setting a record for most days of 100 degree weather in one summer. We're all kind of hoping the warm weather continues for just 5 more days so all our suffering will at least make history. Plus I want to be able to hold it over Evan's head for the rest of his life that I was pregnant with him during the hottest summer EVER in Austin!

Hoppin Hippo

Connor and I met Shia and his mom and brothers at a place called Hoppin Hippo this morning. It has some of those blow up jumpy houses and other fun things to play on. Connor was a little unsure at first, but once he saw Shia and his brothers take off to play, so did he. They liked the ball pit. They would swim through it. Connor also had fun in the bouncy houses. He didn't quite get it, but he still liked it. I think maybe he needs to be a little older to completely appreciate this place, but it still wore him out. Mission Accomplished!!! And Mommy didn't have to climb in anything so it worked out well all around! Tomorrow we're going back to Jungle Java with the big slides and other things to climb. Luckily we've found some things to do inside since we're about to break the record for the hottest summer ever in Austin. Evan will definitely owe me some big jewelry when he grows up for being pregnant this summer...and with such a big baby!

Also a shout-out to my sister...Lydia got offered her "first" job after finishing her Master's program! Third interview was the charm! She says it's her dream job and it's with the Federal/State Gov't. I think it has to do with checking out reports of inequality in the workplace, but that's really all I know. Anyway, Congrats!

18 Month Check Up

Obviously Connor is enjoying the new dog door. The hope that he would become desensitized hasn't materialized yet. He spends a lot of time outside (with his toys). I've just moved a chair next to the window so I can see him. He's mainly been playing on the patio and not wandering into the yard too far so that's working for me.

We had his 18 month check up today. It seems everyone else had a check up today too. We were there for 1.5 hours. Thank goodness for videos on the iphone! He's growing and changing exactly how he should be. He hasn't gained any weight though. He's 25 lbs 6 oz and 32 inches which only puts in the 45th-50th% which is shocking to hear after being off the charts usually. He's only gained 5 lbs in the last YEAR! Of course we are having trouble getting him to sit down and eat and he's had quite a bit of diarrhea lately so I guess it's hard to gain weight with all that going on. I also checked just as we were getting in the car to go to the dr and I found 2 more teeth! So he's gotten 4 teeth in the last week! All of his 1 yr molars have come in at the same time...explains a lot of crying, diarrhea and not eating! He's gone from 6 to 10 teeth in just a week!

Tools

I got Connor some tools of his own because he's constantly stealing Dave's. He loves them and they are remarkably real. The drill turns on and does everything a real drill would except actually screw things in.

Dave put a doggie door in our new back door yesterday. As you can see Connor was helping. Not sure if you can really see, but if you look close baby plumber's crack is Elmo waving at you. It's pretty funny.

Connor LOVES to crawl in and out of doggie doors. He's been practicing at various other people's homes, but he's pretty much perfected it now. He throws his toys out and then crawls out after them. I'm hoping that the novelty will wear off and he'll stop escaping soon or else he'll have a growth spurt and not be able to fit through any more.

Connor goes to the dr tomorrow for his 18 month visit. I can't believe he's getting so big. He can drink out of a regular cup and play catch now. We've been working on sitting on the potty for a while just to get used to it. He still hasn't peed on it (but he did pee on Dave twice last night before and after his bath). Dave is having a hard time with the fact that you need to have "potty" books in the bathroom for Connor to have something to do so he'll sit there. Dave's a big believer in no books in the bathroom. The look he gave me when I brought in a book was priceless! I laughed for 10 min. afterwards!

Well, he's escaped again so I better get outside!

Ultrasound

We had an ultrasound today to check in on Evan because he appears to be a bit big. The doctor was able to confirm...YES, he is big! He weighs 5.5 lbs already which is what a 35 week baby should weigh, not a 33 week baby. He said this baby was "a totally different animal" from the last one and that this one may be beating up on Connor soon. He has a big head and a big body and will more than likely be over 8 lbs by Sept. 24th (probably closer to 8.5 or 9)...which is 39 weeks. Connor weighed 7 lbs 4 oz at 40 weeks....but he quickly made up for it! Anyway Evan is wedged so far down that we were not able to see his face. We were able to see that he has quite a bit of hair that looked pretty curly. I see the doctor next week so we'll see what she has to say, but more than likely they won't change anything about the due date...as long as I can support him! I see a lot of sitting in my future for the next 6 weeks.

Uh-Oh

Tooth #8 broke through today! Yeah! He was kind of crabby this morning and just not himself, but he took a 3 hours nap and he's been ok since. Just not that into food...just grapes and strawberries.

So I was reading Connor a book about daddies before he went down for his nap. I asked, "What do Daddy's say?" He said, "Uh-oh!" I busted a gut. Then I taught him that Mommy's give kisses. And the best part is that he will do it again when I ask. I think it's hysterical...Dave...not so much!

We went to Babies R Us and got some of the supplies we'll need for Evan. We were able to borrow some of the big stuff again so we just had a few things to get. Only 6 more weeks! Time to kick it in high gear and get ready!

Ultrasound tomorrow...hopefully we'll get a picture.

Tooth #7!!!!

Connor woke up with tooth #7 today! Yeah! Unfortunately it's more of a molar and 3 teeth are missing in between the ones he has and the ones coming in on the bottom. But since he hasn't gotten a tooth since April...I guess we'll take it!

Anemia sticks around

The doctor's office called this morning to say that my iron levels hadn't really changed much with being on the iron pills for the past month. The strange thing was that that was when the nurse became stumped. She kind of stumbled and said "Well I guess start taking two a day." You guess? Didn't y'all talk to the DOCTOR about all this before calling me? They keep asking me if I'm taking the pills. Ummmm...yes, they were prescribed for me because I appear to have a condition that could cause some pretty bad things, so YES I'm taking the medication as prescribed. Glad I'm up to going to the dr every 2 weeks now because the in between care seems to be hit or miss!

The worst thing has happened...ok not the worst but pretty bad...the satellite died! We have been without tv for almost 24 hours now and have another 24 to go! Now I'm going to have to go to Target and spend money!

Dr's visit

I had my 32 week appointment this morning. Before hand I had my blood drawn to check the anemia...can't wait to hear how that comes back. But during the visit we found out that now Evan is measuring 2-3 weeks bigger than he should...he's been measuring 1-2 weeks bigger before this. So that got us another ultrasound! Yeah! We are scheduled for next Thurs. afternoon. I'm excited to see him because we also had an ultrasound with Connor at 33 weeks where you could see a fat roll on the back of his neck. It will be interesting to see the differences. Thinking back though, I think Connor gained weight early and then not so much at the end so maybe Evan is doing the same. We can't wait to see though! He's been very active...painfully so. It's funny, they ask me each visit if I can feel the baby move...today Dave said "You can see it from across the room!" Evan moves from side to side much more so than Connor ever did. Connor found a spot and stuck with it. Evan thinks the whole place is for playing and moves from side to side and top to bottom daily. I wish I had a window so I could see what he was doing...ok that's kinda gross, but you know what I mean.

Connor got some "tools" yesterday. I found a tool kit and a drill at Target which he LOVES. They're very realistic. He keeps drilling the buttons on his shirt and even tried his belly button. I've seen him look at Sophie too so that won't be long!

Choo-Choo

Our friends, the Shaftel's, were kind enough to donate their train set to our boys. Today was the first time we'd gotten to play train and I think Connor will enjoy it for years. Right now he's not so crazy about the tracks, but I'm sure that will change.

Right after this picture he destroyed everything and just carried the pieces around going "choo-choo."

Then he crawled into this cabinet and stuffed all the train pieces he had through the hole. So I had to take out the drawer to find them. He decided it looked like a great place to crawl into....loves throwing things out of the cabinets and crawling in. But it was a bit of a tight squeeze...he soon started yelling "stuck" and had to be pulled out...but not before I got a picture!

I had a minor sickness yesterday. Not sure what happened but I was coughing and had some serious heartburn...stabbing pain and then developed a low-grade fever. It was mostly gone by the time I got up this morning, so not sure what it was but I'm glad it's gone.

I'm 32 weeks today! I started to notice some swelling yesterday, but not feeling well I've spent enough time sitting with my feet up to get it to go away. That was soooo painful last time...I hope it's not as bad this time.

New Door

Yesterday, Connor and I helped Dave put up a new back door on the house. The new one is only half glass. We have ordered a doggie door and that will come in soon hopefully so these dogs can be on their own a little more! (Gratuitous Large Marge shot!)

Connor is SUCH a big helper!

He even helped clean up afterward. Then proceeded to run through the sprinklers in his clothes.

The old door was disgusting. It had water damage, the weather sealing on the bottom had to be taped up because it was falling off and then we found this carcass in the door jamb! Poor gecko!