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November 28, 2005

Boxes and other ephemera

I knew this before today, but it has been made ever-so-clear to me tonight:
Kids do not need complicated toys.

Take, for example, a box.

We had to buy Gus a new toddler booster seat for the car because he is too tall for his current seat. It came in this lovely, big box. Gus has been playing with this box for two and a half hours.

TWO AND A HALF HOURS.

For about thirty minutes he would say 'bye bye' and close the flaps. Then he threw a pillow, blanket and three varieties of stuffed animal into it. Then Mama and Papa had to take turns getting in it. It's now in our basement, sure to be there for a while....or until it disintegrates from overuse.

gus_papa_box_112805.jpg


Posted by janna at 08:19 PM | Comments (1)

November 24, 2005

Pie redemption

They're fine, those damn pies.

Posted by janna at 12:18 AM | Comments (1)

November 23, 2005

Total pie frustration

How the heck do you 'tent' a pie crust when it's browning too quickly without:
a) burning the bejezus out of yourself,
b) touching the perfect pie center and ruining it,
and
c) taking out ALL of the heat from the oven?

Please tell me.

Posted by janna at 10:32 PM | Comments (1)

November 21, 2005

Turkey day cometh

Bring it on, Turkey Day. I am so ready for you. You think I'll be battling the masses at the store on Wednesday night, an assumption that has history to back it? You're wrong. I have harnessed the power of Peapod for the betterment of our holiday spirit, and our groceries will be delivered tomorrow night. If I am to stay off of bedrest, is it not better to have someone else do the heavy lifting?

Baby D2 is quite excited about the upcoming feast. So much so that it is keeping him up at night, tossing and turning, reaching out for that lovely turkey (except that's my bladder you keep punching, lovey). We have a name. We love it. I'll tell you if you ask, because I can't keep secrets, but I won't put it online yet. It goes well with Gus and with Gustav. We're at 26 weeks, 2 days. For those who have forgotten (and how could you forget, with someone like me to remind you), I was on bedrest at 24 weeks with Gus. I feel like I'm on some kind of jail break. I've actually started thinking, what if I don't go on bedrest at all? What if this really is a completely different pregnancy and we've done all the right things to prevent bedrest and I'm out walking around at 36 weeks, gynormous and ready to pop? I already feel weird being in public and being noticed as being pregnant by strangers. There is no hiding it now. How do women conceal pregnancies up until the end? Beyond me.

Gus is getting pepped up for his second birthday. The big two. I think I'll need to get pepped up, too, as I'm both happy and sad...happy that we've made it to two relatively unscathed, with a little boy who is full of joy and love and trust and happiness, and for all intents and purposes looks like he'll maintain his good spirit for a few more years, at least (no promises once we hit 13). I'm also happy that John and I have embraced parenthood and that it has become such an integral part of our being that we cannot (and will never want to) imagine a time of not being parents to Gus.

Posted by janna at 10:28 PM | Comments (0)

Octogus

The Friday before Halloween, Orbitz had an internal trick-or-treat for any employee's kid who could make it. This was the first chance for Gus to show off his new eight-legged, suction-cupped tricks.

Here he is, folks. Octogus.

octogus_103105.jpg

The hood...I mean, his eyes and head, only stayed on temporarily.

Gus had a natural knack for trick or treating, all except for saying 'trick or treat'. He knew immediately that he was to go up to the stranger, take candy from him/her, and put it in his basket. Innate? Are children pre-wired for such activities? I'm not certain about those things, but I am certain about this: This is definitely my kid. Sugar? Sure, bring it on. More? Oh yeah.

gus_tricktreat_103105.jpg

Ok, so granted John and I have eaten most of his candy, but it's for the good of his development.

Right?

This totally won't fly next year.


Posted by janna at 10:07 PM | Comments (0)

November 15, 2005

Best line yet

We went out to dinner on Sunday night to celebrate Granny Janice's birthday (what fun!).

I took Gus into the bathroom with me so that we could both take care of some business. First I went 'potty', as it were, and when I flushed, Gus clapped and said, "Yea! Mama!". Then it was his turn to have his diaper changed. I put him on the table, which was in the same stall, and as I was changing him, a woman in the next stall flushed.

Gus starts clapping, and says, "Yea! Guy!"

I about peed my pants.

Posted by janna at 12:32 PM | Comments (0)

November 09, 2005

Five years

The night? November 9th, 2000.

The place? Bar Louie, of all places.

The event? The launch party of Maytag.com.

The importance of said night, place, and event? This was the beginning. Of us. The official start date of us.

We went back to Bar Louie for lunch today. It was amazing to think of how much living we've done in five years. I felt giddy. I love you, John.

Posted by janna at 09:59 PM | Comments (1)

November 08, 2005

Charlotte

When I was 24 weeks pregnant with Gus, I went on bedrest. During the end of the pregnancy, I met Cara through an online pregnancy discussion board. She became a true friend via email, as we kept each other posted about our shared bedrest situations.

Charlotte was born about two weeks before Gus (a birthday is coming up next week, I believe!), and when we went to Boston in October, we were finally able to meet in person. What a joy it was.

Check these two out...it was like they had hung out forever.

gus_charlotte_100805.jpg

...and don't Cara and I look like it too?

janna_cara_100805.jpg

I have many more pictures to come...


Posted by janna at 11:30 PM | Comments (0)

November 06, 2005

Entry 300

300 Entries so far on Babydays. Not bad for two + years, so happy 300th!

Now to the real news of the day: I am SO pregnant. I feel like I wobble already. I feel like I'm as big as I got with Gus, and I'm only 24 weeks. Where, oh where, could my belly grow more? I haven't gained a ton of weight...yet. I know from experience with Gus that I had some thigh explosion towards the end (too much information, take the computer away from me), so I'm just waiting for that to happen. Maybe that's all I'll say on that topic.

D2 is a mover. If Gus cries, he flips and kicks (already has your back, Gus!). If I wake up in the middle of the night, he takes it as an invitation to swim around and say hello.

Gus is growing like crazy, too. He just seems so tall to us now. When we hold him, he's like half of our body length. Just tonight John said, "Can you believe we made him?" Shocking. Knowing how much fun it has been with Gus makes us even more excited for D2, definitely not as scared or nervous as we were with Gus.

Gus has taken to singing. On his own. Just when I think he has already broken the cutest moment ever barrier, I'm totally mistaken. Seeing Gus bob his head up and down and sing to himself is by far the cutest thing ever...for now. I was trying to figure out what song it was, because he would sing it again and again. John finally figured it out. Old McDonald. Awesome.

Posted by janna at 10:33 PM | Comments (0)

November 03, 2005

Uncharted territory

On Saturday I will be 24 weeks along with little baby D. While I have only been pregnant once before (and therefore my range of experience is hardly a range), I do not know pregnancy in the outside world after 24 weeks. I only know couches and weekly excursions to the doctor's office and medicine for pre-term labor EVERY THREE HOURS and maybe, if I was lucky, a trip through the Dunkin Donuts drive-thru on a Saturday morning so I could get a hot chocolate and apple fritter (don't tell, that was a total cheat).

I have to admit, while I have been suprisingly optimistic about not having to experience the same things with this pregnancy, I was really bracing myself for that reality.

Today, during my monthy check-up with my doctor, she checked my cervix. This very useful but pesky part of my body was the culprit in my three-month bedrest last time around. I am happy to announce...that my cervix is long and thick. Now, I don't know how to really write that without feeling like I'm creeping into porn blog writing, but really, I want to scream at the top of my lungs, IT'S THICK AND LONG! I fear no one will 'get it' and think I'm a bit crazy.

I started crying after my doc left the room. I thought it would be a short cry, but it was a sobbing cry, a body-wracking cry, a cry full of disbelief. While I still am having contractions and I still am high risk, I don't have to go back to the doctor for a month. A whole month, which gets me to 27 weeks. A whole month of not being paranoid that every movement I'm taking is risking my child's life. A whole month of seeing friends, driving, working, living OUT THERE. Such a relief. I had no idea I was so stressed out about it.

Posted by janna at 10:29 PM | Comments (0)