Baby #2 FAQ's

Ta da!  I told you I'd come back to catching you all up on my newest waist expansion project.  You were starting to doubt me, weren't you?  I know that many times the second (third, etc) child gets less documentation than the first- which, to be clear, is sheerly due to lack of time not lack of interest- but nonetheless, I want to try to avoid that.

It's important to me that our newest miracle know she is EVERY bit as loved, cherished and anticipated as her sister was.  I also want her to have the benefit of looking back and being able to have her own life time capsule the way that I've tried to do for Emery.  Also, I'm a Libra so I believe strongly in equality.  (Unless we are talking about who gets the bigger half of something we're splitting- then that principle is debatable.)  So, I've made a personal commitment to create all the same posts I did the first time around this second time.  I hope you all hold me to it!  Without further ado, here we go!

It turns out that when you announce a pregnancy, people have a lot of questions.  To try to kill many birds with one stone, I'll all IT on you and post some of the most common questions I've received (or that I know you're thinking) along with my highly scientific answers. (If you're the type who likes to do comparisons, here's the same post for Miss Em.)

Q:  When are you due?
A:  November 17th.  This happens to be my Mom's birthday, so I know this little one is special.

Q:  When did you find out?!
A:  I found out the evening of March 4th.

Q:  How did you tell Ryan?
A:  I would like to have an awesome story for this, unfortunately I think I fulfilled my life time quota for surprises and secrets keeping it from him the first time around.  I told him immediately.

Q:  So... like a few weeks ago I asked you when you were going to have another... you looked at me like I was crazy.  Then you said sipped your Starbucks and said, "I already have two and the pain of sleepless-ness is so fresh."  Was this on purpose?  
A:  Baby Martin the second has always been planned, it's just that this time around the arrival date was scheduled by higher forces than Ryan & I.  As you'll read below, I have zero doubt in my mind that my life is going exactly the way that it's meant to and I couldn't be more appreciative or thankful.

Q:  You like your adult beverages.  How have you been hiding it?
Well, allow me to count the ways.  Three days after finding out I had to go to a work HH with a bunch of important people.  I probably looked like a college student the first time I used a fake ID.  I was nervous and basically sweating wondering when someone would ask me why I was babysitting my beer.  I snuck a Michelob Ultra into the bathroom and poured it down the toilet.  Pouring some out for my littlest homie.  (This this situation is exactly how this phrase was coined?)  A few days after that I went to Top Golf with some friends and ordered a vodka cranberry.  Then I chased our waitress down in private and told her to make it a cranberry sprite.  She probably thought she had just kept me from falling off the wagon.  Basically, if ever you're trying to hide a pregnancy, let me know.  I'm becoming quite the expert.

Q:  Are you going to find out the gender?
A:  Spoiler alert- we did.  On June 9th.  Post on that to come.  :c)

Q:  Do you have names?
A:  This precious nugget does not have a name yet.  As Ryan words it, we have a leader in the club house but we still try out a few different ones just to be sure we are sold on it.  As with before, we don't plan to publicly share it until she makes her world debut.  So much time, love, patience and compromise goes into naming children that I just don't think it's fair to anyone to put it out into the universe for commentary.  Keep that in mind when people do decide to share their decision with you- be sweet.  After all, someone once probably spent hours pouring over the interwebs trying to decide what YOUR name would be, and I bet at this stage you couldn't imagine it being anything different.

Q:  What are you going to do if the baby inherits Ryan's smart mouth?
A:  This time around I am not sure if I'm more worried about her inheriting her father's smart mouth or her sister's strong will.  Probably the latter.   Regardless... ear muffs and stiff cocktails are in my future, I think.  (For the record, I wouldn't have it any other way.)

Q:  What did you have to give up that you miss the most?
A:  This time around I've been indulging in decaf coffee which helps me not to miss that so much.  Surprisingly, this time around I miss alcohol.  I think it's because I hadn't been having much due to the fact I was nursing Emery through November.  Basically I've been sober since June 2012.  It's been a long journey on this wagon!

Q:  Have you had any weird cravings?
A:  Yes.  Like last time, not overwhelmingly weird.  Just persistent and intense.  One day in the middle of a meeting, I NEEDED biscuits.  Like really needed them.  I've also craved fried pickles, which is very stereotypical-sounding.  At the beginning, also like last time, nothing sounded good to me involving meat.  I wanted to live off of pasta.

Q:  What are you most nervous about?
A:  As with before, first and foremost I am nervous about her being healthy.  I'm sure that goes without saying though.  Aside from that, I am most nervous about whether I will be a good enough Mama for TWO little love bugs.  Is there enough of me to go around?  Will we be able to make both of them feel how loved they are?  Will we parent them the right way to help them both reach their potential?  I also have to admit I'm a tad nervous that she will be a Daddy's girl also.  Will anyone love the Mama?!

Q:  What do you call the baby?
A:  I'm sure you've gathered via any social media following of me you may dabble in that we call her Bucket.  This term was coined, unknowingly, by her big sister.  For Easter we got Emery a baby to start introducing the idea.  For the first few weeks she only let the baby live in a bucket she got for Easter.  If you got baby out, Emery would take her from you and return her to the bucket.  Thus a name was born.  Hopefully we have more than a bucket for this little lovey to lay her head by November.

Q:  Is this why you suddenly dropped off the face of the earth and didn't want to do anything fun I planned?
A:  Yes.  Like with Emery, I felt pretty awful for the first trimester.  Luckily I'm now feeling better for the most part.  I'm just more tired for this stage of pregnancy than I remember with Emery.

Q:  What can you already tell about this child?
A:  I can already tell that this child was meant to be a part of our family.  As I have expressed previously, I have an odd sentimentality regarding dates and numbers.  Ryan and I (okay, mainly me- Ryan rolls his eyes at these odd numerical connections I make) have jokingly referred to 11 as our "spirit number."  We got married in 2011 and I was pregnant with Emery 11 months later.  This sweet angel started inhabiting my belly 11 months after we had Emery and is due in November, the 11th month of the year.  Emery may have covered the 7:09 (the time she was born) of our anniversary and her sister is covering the 11.

I think the above encompasses the bulk of the questions I have fielded this time around.  Again, above all, we are just incredibly humbled by how lucky we are.  We appreciate all of your kind words, sweet thoughts and heartfelt prayers.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!  Stay tuned for the how did you tell _____ post.

Emery Tracker: Fifteen Months

Terrible Mama Disclaimer:  I have a confession- I was still travelling on Emery's 15 month birthday (June 6th).  Then I returned late on the 7th, went to Kylie's 4th birthday on the 8th, had gender reveal on the 9th plus 2 crazy days of work plus packing and then left for Punta Cana on June 11th.  So suffice it to say that no pictures were taken for the big 15 month mark.  After that time just simply slipped away between work deadlines and regular life.  At this point I could take pictures and try to sell them to you as 15 month pictures but it wouldn't be authentic.  So sweet baby Emery, I am so sorry that I didn't take dedicated pictures for this milestone.  Daddy & I will try to get back on the wagon for your 18 month birthday.

The Story

Ohhh my goodness it is so much harder to do this for a 3 month chunk of time than a 1 month chunk of time!   I'm going to do my best though.  I apologize in advance if this feels disjointed.  Hopefully by 18 months I'll have a better plan for doing this.

 At the beginning of this span of time Emery was just starting whole milk and the sippy cup transition battle raged on.  She took to whole milk like a fish to the ocean.  This kid does not care much what she gets fed/liquidated with- just so long as it happens.  As for the receptacle used for hydration- she didn't follow quite the same methodology.  I basically covered that in her 12 month post though.  

Over the course of the past three months Emery's graduated to taking just about any type of sippy cup you offer her.  I'm not even sure she cares if it's her's or not.  Her teachers at school have told us that she and one of her friends at school think it's hilarious to switch sippies.  If only they enjoyed sharing doctor's appointments as much because it has definitely resulted in more trips to the doctor for colds, viruses, etc.  Such is life with a toddler though, huh?

Emery has perfected the art of walking over the past few months.  She pretty much runs now and her falling down has really decreased which gives me the slightest glimmer of hope that she didn't inherit my clumsiness after all.  

She also started to really love trying to figure out what all spaces she can fit into.  She now squeezes herself between our entertainment center and the wall as well as running back around behind the kitchen table between the chair and window.  Emery knows that adults can't fit in these spaces, so she will run into them when she knows you want to pick her up and start laughing hysterically.  I'm sure as my belly continues to grow I'll find this little game less amusing than I do.  Right now it just makes me laugh.

The diva still loves to channel her inner American gladiator.  She's rarely spotted without something in her hand.  It's usually something that seems really, really heavy to me.  Ryan and I find this baffling because she appears to have inherited my upper body but definitely not my strength.  Half the things she picks up I struggle with (slight joking font).  

The most notable thing about Emery in this 3 month span is that she eats.  A LOT.  She will eat anything.  In fact one day Ryan asked if we needed to get her taste buds checked because there was literally nothing we have fed her that she wouldn't eat.  We let her try fish- loved it.  Let her try tuna- loved it.  Let her try grits- loved them.  You get the idea.  We aren't the only ones who've noted this enthusiasm either.  You can read more about her teachers' recognition of the fact in the school section below.  Besides them though, every time we have taken her to a restaurant without fail the waitress comments on what a good eater she is.  She will pull things off your plate.  She will squeal with excitement.  I know that one day this will turn a corner because both her father and I basically survived on chicken fingers until the age of 18.  So for the time being we just laugh at it and enjoy how easy it makes taking her places because we don't have to pack any food for her.

Recently she and Lola have started to take some cautious interest in one another.  Ryan and I find this incredibly interesting because for so long they just completely ignored one another.  Now Emery will sometimes go sit by Lola and touch her nose or pet her.  Lola likes to give Emery kisses when Emery lets her get close enough without squealing.  I think this budding love affair was aided by the fact that Emery likes to start throwing food to Lola off her high chair when she's full.  

Another big story for this post is her comprehension.  She doesn't really say too much- she knows "more" (which sounds a loooot like "ma ma"), "Lola" (Wo-wa or Wowowowa) and "dada".  She also knows the signs for more and all done which are what she relies on the most.  She also seems to know the sign for "hat."  Why?  Your guess is as good as mine because she sure won't keep them on her head.  True to her nature- we know she knows these words but she will only say them when SHE feels like it.  There are a handful of other times that we swear she's said a word (car, ball, duck) but if you try to get her to repeat them she just kind of smirks at you which makes you wonder if you are crazy or not.  

I wouldn't be a normal mama if this didn't worry me, of course, but I feel comforted by the fact that she seems to understand SO MUCH.  If you ask her to go get baby and feed baby, she will go find Bucket, the bottle and sit in her chair feeding her.  If you ask her to go find Daddy, she goes to find him.  If you ask her to give something to Lola, she takes it over and drops it in front of her.  If you ask her if she has a dirty diaper she will walk over to her changing table.  The other day I was holding her as we were walking around getting ready to run errands.  I couldn't find her water for the life of me.  I asked her if I put her down if she could go find her water.  She nodded, went and found it where she left it and brought it right back to me.  She also regularly nods for yes or shakes her head for no to questions.  She also will regularly come grab your hand and lead you to whatever she wants.  Basically I think that as much as I worry, it's just a reminder from both her and God that she's her own person and does things on her time.  (Spoiler alert: as I write this at 16 months I can say with certainty that is the case because right after 15 months she started saying lots of words.)

In terms of her personality, she continues to be very shy and skeptical of strangers and new situations.  When we are out running errands she just stares at people which constantly makes me feel bad because strangers always want to make babies smile.  I find myself saying "oh don't take it personally- she's very skeptical" at least 2 times every time we go to Target.  She's also starting to prove that she likes helping.  When we are unloading the dishwasher or doing laundry, she's right on your heels trying to hand you spoons or taking clothes out of the laundry basket.  I sure hope she has the same enthusiasm for dirty diapers and bringing mama bottles/burp cloths come November!

Overall it has truly just been a fantastically fun stage of life.  Not a day goes by that Ryan and I don't marvel at what all this sweet angel is learning and picking up about the world around her.  As cliche as it sounds, neither of us can imagine life without her.  We love you to pieces, lovey buy!

The School Stuff

Emery remained in her Infant B class this whole time period.  She and a friend of her's who is 10 days older were the oldest kids in her class.  We anxiously awaited the day she got the letter that it was time to move up as she had hit all the milestones.  Luckily it came just after her 15 month birthday so that will be part of her 18 month post.

On the note of being a good little eater- I kid you not when I say at least 1-2 times a week one of her teachers will comment to Ryan or I how much she likes eating.  They had to start making sure Emery's back was turned when they opened the cabinet with Cheerios, etc in it or she went cray.  The cook for the school was waving bye to Emery one day and told me that she was her best client.  Another day she told Ryan that the day before she had sent out a second helping of everything for Emery and whatever it was they were eating that day she said it was unusual- not just for Emery's age but for most of the kids in the school.

Goodness- I'm trying to think of what all happened at school in the last 3 months.  One day when I was picking her up from school her teacher informed me that they had to slightly re-configure the crib arrangement because Emery kept moving one of the cribs (they're all on wheels).  Another day her teacher told me that she kept "hiding" behind the rocking chair and laughing.  My compilation of incident reports confirm that she does indeed spend a lot of time around the rocking chair.

Last but not least, we got a "Happy Gram," one day.  Happy Grams aren't sent home that often, at least in our experience, but they are generally used for big milestones.  On one of Emery's last weeks we got one that said she was so helpful to them (nice) but then went on to say that she liked to throw toys and knock over towers that her friends or teachers had built.  Soooo... is that a good thing?  Or... ?  Haha.  Regardless, we know that our little boogs loooooved her Infant B teachers and that they returned her sentiments.  

The Stats

• Heights:  31.5 inches (82nd percentile)
• Weight: 20 lbs 11 oz (43rd percentile)
• Head:  19 inches (97th percentile)
• Diaper size: 4 
• Clothes: 18 months
• Shoes:  Still in size 4's
• Milk:  She drinks as much as she wants from a sippy cup with each meal/snack.
• Solids:  As noted above- she has mastered solids.  The only things we don't feed her are honey, raw nuts and shrimp
• Firsts:  Not much to report on this front.  No new teeth in the last 3 months- she is still at 7.  She has said a few words as noted above but I'm not sure what day to attribute any of those to.
• Games:  She still loves to be chased.  She and Daddy have started playing this game where one of them will stick their tongue out and the other will try to touch it with their index finger before they put it back in their mouth.  It's insanely weird but makes her so happy.
• Favorite Toys:  She has grown to really love baby Bucket.  She also still loves our keys, phones and the remote.  She definitely loves balls.  There's been a resurgence in her love for the singing giraffe.  There are very few toys this tiny tornado doesn't play with!
• Songs:  (Same as last post)  Really whatever is on the radio when I pick her up from school.
• Sleep: (Same as last post)  Amazing sleeper this month- when we have her at least.  She normally went to sleep between 7:30 & 8:30 PM (dependent upon how fussy she is after school) and sleeps until we wake her around 6:30 AM.  She will sleep until some time between 7:30 & 8:30 AM on the weekends.  When we have her she will nap 1 or 2x a day about 1-2 hours a piece.  Towards the end of this time frame she started cutting out her second nap.  At school she still only took about 1 nap a day for 20 minutes.
• Other Notables:  This kid loves carrying things around- particularly baskets or buckets.  She likes to collect things in her bucket/basket and carry them around the house.  Maybe Easter egg hunting really resonated with her?

i(Phone) Spy: Months Thirteen through Fifteen - Emery

You know what 3 months worth of iPhone dumps mean?  MORE PICTURES and thus more distraction from your regularly scheduled work program.  You're welcome.  :c)  Happy (very belated) 15 months, sweet princess!

I'm a toddler now.  That means I think deep thoughts while I'm eating.

Oh, hello there!  I didn't think you saw me sneak these bath toys out of the bath tub.

Still perfecting the dismount.

Stars They're Just Like Us: They eat books rather than reading them.  Wait... is that not how this works?

Alright, everyone line up.  Fish.  I see you over there trying to hide.  You aren't escaping this.  If I have to take a bath, you all do too.

Mario Kart comes to real life.  This is the Princess knocking Donkey Kong out of her way.

Pajama day at school.  We don't normally sleep in bows around here.

Towards the end of the bottle days, Emery refused to sit still and thus forced us to get very creative with our technique.  Pictures like this make me wonder whether I birthed a human or a guinea pig.

Please note the discarded sippy cup.  We were still very anti-sippy at this point.

I have no idea where she gets her morning time smiles.  It's not genetic.

"Somewheeeeere out theeeeere."

Alright, tell me a story.

Foreshadowing for 16 years down the road.  I hate to let the cat out of the bag so early, but her first car is going to have that same Hello Kitty motif.

You know- just sharing some tea with Christmas Baby in April.

We were those people who took our kid to the park pants-less.  I documented it just so you guys don't think we're all caviar and tuxes around here (haaaaaa).

I see how you snuck this sippy cup into my picnic set up here Dad.  Well played.

What's a Wednesday that doesn't start with a curtsy?

Practicing for her strong woman competition by pounding water bottles on the floor with all her might. Added bonus: it drives mama batty.

Weekend breakfast is a war zone.  Bring your own hard hat.

I'm not usually pro naked child posting but this day is when she re-discovered this giraffe that sings and dances.  She was simultaneously scared to death and completely enamored with it.  It made Ryan and I laugh so hard.  So the picture stays because it's my scrapbook and I'll naked baby if I want to!

Yup, you stay riiiiight there, Bucket.  Big Sister boot camp is going swimmingly, clearly.

Excuse me?  Are you accusing me of playing with this cord?  I am appalled.  I would NEVER.  Lola pulled it out here, put it right under my leg and then ran away.

Playing with an old toy of Mama, Uncle Matt & Aunt Julie's at Nonnie & Grampa's.  Mmmm, tastes like the '80's.

Uncle Sam wants YOU to get me some milk, lady.

Look at what a big girl she looks like here as compared to the very first picture in this post.  (Special shout out to Lynda & Derrick for these adorbs shoes  and Jen &Brendan for one of my fav outfits.)

Look Mama, I let Bucket out!

In case you were worried she'd lost her dramatic edge.

We only wear sunglasses inside.  Is that not what you do at your house?

Houston is hot y'all.  Em has her own way of coping.

Lola!  You know that one is mine.  (As you can tell, Lola is real into group play.)

Did y'all know Bucket has a mobile home?

Picture of my big girl swimming at Aunt Mel & Uncle Jonathan's that Daddy sent while Mama was in Finland for work.

Checking out female assets is completely innate.  Pictures don't lie.  (More photo credit for Daddy while Mama was travelling for work.)

Sweet little mama feeding her baby.  (More from the single Daddy archives.)

This is one of my favorites of all time.  She melts my heart.  (Again photo credit to Single Daddy Photography.)

Since Mama was out, Em had to play little Mama herself.  (Last from the work travel archives.)

Emery's first day in her Young Toddler class at school.  We knew Em would be sad so we tried to cheer her up with those new kicks.  That concept works for Mama.

All packed up and ready to take on the next 3 months!  See you kids at 18.

Memorial Day

This past Memorial Day we did the standard thing we do for holidays- we headed up to pay my parents a visit in Conroe.  I really don't have very many pictures from the weekend nor do I have lots of stories to tell, but the summer holidays and their accompanying long weekends are some of my favorites during the year, so I didn't feel right about skipping it.  You can consider this a blog appetizer as there are several long ones headed your way soon!  

To summarize the weekend- we had a wonderful time, we talked, we laughed, we swam, we ate too much food and I took pictures of my child because I am obsessed with her.  I believe that about sums it up.  Much thanks to the family for hosting us and being so much fun.  I look forward to the next one - hopefully I'll do a better job documenting it photographically... but no promises!

Whooooa.  It's a crib with a ceiling?!  (Put down the phone- she walked in herself.  Many times.  Haha.)

Daddy and Miss Em.

She's so cute- I seriously just want to eat her.  Is that a normal parent reaction?

Hey.  Pool boy.  Can I get some service around here or what?!

Kylie's Dance Recital

On Wednesday May 21st, Ryan, Em & I had the pleasure of attending our sweet niece/cousin, Kylie's, first dance recital at her school.  It.  Was.  The.  Cutest.  Thing.  Ever.  I'm sure many of you who have witness my incredible moves will be SHOCKED to know that I was never in dance personally.  This fact meant I had about as much of an idea what was going on as the tiny kiddos did, but I sure did enjoy it.

There really isn't much story to tell, so I'll just post some pics of the tiny dancer herself so you can "ooooohh" and "ahhhhh".  Pretend the quality is better than let's say the iphone of someone who spent about 40% of her time chasing a toddler, mmk?

You did a FABULOUS job Ky and we are so proud of you!  Thank you Tiff for inviting us!!

Miss Kylie.  Is this stage left?  Stage right?  I don't know but I do know she makes that tutu look good!

Already far more graceful than your's truly.

I adore her facial expression here.  She's pretty much saying- can we get on with it already?

Synchronization I think is more of a second or third recital type skill.

Tap, tap, tap it out.

Tell me this doesn't melt your heart?!

What kind of Texan would you be without incorporating a little line dancing?

Sweet ballet star with her Mama.