It's a...

B-O-Y!

Jeff and I couldn't be happier!  I noticed the "goods" right away when the ultrasound tech scanned my belly looking for the correct starting point for her measurements.  I didn't say anything at the time, I just let her do her job.  Finally when she got to the legs there was a clear shot.  I asked, "Are those the legs?" She immediately laughed and then said, "It's a boy!"

A healthy boy, that is.  All of his measurements were right on.  The technician said he weighs about 8 oz right now, which puts him in the 41st percentile. (Really?! There is a percentile chart for unborn babies. That's just strange to me.)  

So...now it's time to shop!  

Please Mommas, share where you buy your baby boy clothing.  I hit Old Navy and Target just hours after the ultrasound and came home with one stinkin' piece of clothing!  

Is there a secret boy clothing section that I missed?  There were like four items in each store for boys!  I don't do animals, trucks, dinosaurs (guess that is an animal too, huh?), stupid sports related sayings, or most sayings in general.  I'm screwed aren't I?  (Funny how I didn't notice the lack of boy clothing when I was busy shopping for adorable, stylish, and fun baby girl clothing.) 

Ready or not, here we go...again {It's a BABY!}

Surprise!

The words I said to Jeff at 7 am the morning I took a pregnancy test were more like, "Don't kill me for waking you...but I'm pregnant."

After whipping the pregnancy test at his pillow, I am pretty sure I started crying.

He responded with "Seriously?!  This is good, right?!"

My blank stare and tear streaked cheeks made him question everything, rightfully so.  I cannot hide my emotions no matter how hard I try and this was NOT at all what I expected...

Sure, I had been napping during the day, puking, only eating carbs, and not able to cook anything for dinner the past few days.  But being pregnant did not cross my mind.  I couldn't be pregnant!  I just had my "period" and had been drinking all vacation long. 

I expected to start trying to conceive baby #2 as soon as I came home from our summer trip to Chicago.  I expected it to take a while, since I am officially of advanced maternal age now.  I expected to have a baby next summer.  I expected things to go according to my plan.

“Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans" -John Lennon

So here we are 12 weeks into pregnancy #2, happy (nauseous, tired, and still a little bit in denial) as can be.

My plans were just that...plans.  My real life is way better than anything I could have planned!

It will be March 13th before we know it, right?!  

Leila is convinced she has a baby in her belly too.

Let's be friends

My long-time BFF has a daughter just seven months younger than Leila.  The girls don't get to see as often as I imagined (due to nap schedules)...but we have plenty of time.   We're not going anywhere!  

Kennady (16 months) and Leila (23 months)

 

Two months untill two

As Leila gets older she is looking more and more like...herself!  She's a good mix between Jeff and I, not really resembling one of us more than the other.

Although this picture of me on my second birthday (with my mom and dad) may convince you otherwise.  What do you think?

August 1979,  my 2nd birthday

July 2012, Leila at 22 months old

What's up with Leila just two months from her second birthday? 

• She is really good on her feet!  Leila has been atempting to climb up and down a few stairs without any support.  It's pretty scary to watch, but I am amazed at her abilities.  She has started jumping and can just barely get both feet off the ground.  I can't belive how much she moves.  Getting a snuggle from her has always been a struggle!

• Yes! Yes! Yeah!  I love that when I ask her a question she actually thinks about it before she responds.  It's even better when she responds with a "yes" instead of just staring at me like I am talking to a wall.

• She still takes one AWESOME three hour nap a day.  That nap and her twelve-ish hours of sleep at night make for one happy Momma and toddler.

• Leila is willing to try almost everything we give her to eat.  She won't always swallow it, but at least she gives it a try.  The only vegetables I have gotten her to swallow lately are green beans and raw carrots.  She loves cereal for breakfast, fruit and pretzels are her favorite snack, and we feed her whatever we are eating for dinner.

• She has a best friend, Charlie, who is just two months older than her. Since we've been on vacation she has asked about Charlie a lot.  We've spent at least ten minutes (that's a long time for her to be focused on anything) looking at Charlie's pictures.  It is too cute!

• Leila has spent many hours in the pool since we've been away from the beach.  She doesn't love it yet, but she's slowly warming up to the idea that her feet cannot touch the ground.  The floaties are just for my own peace of mind since she is glued to me while in the pool.  Last week she enjoyed getting dunked and blowing bubbles.

• My favorite Leila-thing this month...she recognizes that the three of us are a family!  Before bed each night Jeff, Leila, and I have a family hug-a-thon and lately she's been recognizing us as a family outside of that bedtime ritual.  Her voice is so sweet, especially when she says "family"! 

Only a two more months until Leila's second birthday!  This is such a fun age!  I can't wait to see what age TWO will bring.

Beach days

I plan on soaking up every last minute of our beach life before our trip to the Chicago-land area.

  

I love visiting my hometown.  My family, friends, the food!  But I did move away for one reason.  The beach.  Now, I can hardly imagine my life any other way.

Leila will grow up knowing this as her backyard.  I'd say she is one lucky girl!

Celebrating summer

We kicked off summer in true SoCal style yesterday.

A bike ride along the boardwalk...



Followed by locally brewed beer and dining at the beach.



Does it get much better than this? I think not.

Happy summer!  Let the fun begin!

Mom-ish

Almost two years into motherhood, I can firmly say that having a child changes things. (Even the little things!)

But you already knew that.

I have to go to bed early so I can keep up with my toddler's energy. I wipe boogers with my sleeve. I get a hangover from two (very large) glasses of wine. I wear a ponytail seven days a week. I never leave the house without baby wipes. I schedule my day around nap time. I sing in public, loudly.

Expected changes, right?

What I didn't expect was NOT changing how I see myself.

I expected to see myself as I see other moms.  Mom-ish. Whether it be frazzled or put together, in yoga pants or heels, they all seem like moms.

Surprisingly, I don't see myself as mom-ish even though I clearly am.

I am stuck somewhere between my perception of what a mom is and what I am...just me!



Mom-ish: Ponytail, comfortable shoes, little make-up, causal clothes, child

Writing this ensures my words will come back to haunt me in years (or months) when I am feeling like nothing else but mom-ish.


Have you become mom-ish?  Or, like me, were you maybe a little mom-ish to begin with?


Linking up again this week with Melissa over at Growing up Geeky.

Will I ever learn?

In 1991 I was a freshman in high school. Tight-rolling your jeans and curling your bangs were still cool, barely.

I can remember exactly where I was standing when I swore to my dad I would never not tight roll my jeans.

I can still hear him laughing at me. Probably because he actually is. I'll never live that one down.

Well, I certainly didn't learn anything from my fashion faux-pas or my extreme way of thinking.

This time I swore, before I was actually a momma, I would never let my child wear a bikini. I didn't want my baby to be...

...I don't know. I really did not think this one through before I got all judgy.

I never even tried to put a bathing suit on a baby, wet or dry. Ever.

I learned very quickly!

Alright, this bathing suit from last summer is more like a tankini.
Just wait until you see her new bikini!

Maybe this time I will learn, never say never.

Crap. I did it again.

Thank you Growing up Geeky and Letters to Mo for this post topic!

Quality time

Once a week Jeff and Leila head out on an adventure together, just the two of them. They hop on my very girly pink bicycle, cruise down the boardwalk, and walk to the end of Crystal Pier.

This weekend I decided to tag along.

(I spaced on bring my camera, so these phone photos will have to do.)

She was Daddy's girl the entire morning. I don't blame her though.

He's the one that let her sip from his soda...

Look! They both make the same "I just had a sip of Diet Mountain Dew" face.
Climb up the railing...


Pick her up when she asked...


...and made it fun!

Quality Daddy-daughter time.

Toddler art {Outdoor messes}

I have no problem with Leila getting messy.

I just don't want it happening in MY house.

The outdoor space at our apartment is limited which leaves us Leila only a few opportunities to get really messy.

We will happily crash your patio if you invite us!

Finger painting

Sponge painting

Shaving cream with finger paint

Messy girl

Thanks Mommy to Elodie for letting us make a mess at your house!

Milestones

Most books about infant and toddler development list milestones your child may be approaching in each month of their early life. I've always had a difficult time living in the moment, and these books did not help me in that department. I just couldn't help but read ahead to see what Leila would be learning in the months to come.

The first milestone I really anticipated was solid foods. We started on the earlier side than most books recommended after the doctor suggested rice cereal may help her acid reflux. I thought she could use the food! At four months old, Leila was a tiny thing weighing in at just under eleven pounds.

Sleeping through the night was a life changing milestone for me! At seven month's old, the same week she stopped nursing, Leila began consistently sleeping through the night.

I knew that Leila would be an early walker with her strong desire to move around and be independent. I caught her standing on her own at my parents house when we visited last July. By the time I left to return to San Diego she had take her "first" step!

10 months old

Leila officially became a toddler on her Grandee's birthday last August when she walked to me. The look on Leila's face was priceless. She was proud, grinning ear to ear. This was the milestone she had anticipated the most!

What am I looking forward to next?

I would love for this girl to need a haircut! Chopping off her femullet doesn't count. I am still waiting for it to grow back.

Baby Shower {Children's book theme}

Last Saturday I hosted my first baby shower.

Our friend Courtney is expecting her first baby boy this summer.

Doesn't she look amazing!
I spent some time on Pinterest, of course, searching for a theme that was not too over the top. With the beautiful backdrop of the restaurant patio, I knew simplicity was key!

I loved the invitations I found here.

Our no-sew version turned out just as cute!

I purchased some stuffed animal and book sets at Kohls and used them as table decorations. (If you don't already know about their $5 book and stuffed animal deals, check it out here.)

One of the books was set out for guests to sign. You can see in the picture that I glued the invitation to the from cover.


The dessert was homemade by Betsy! She made Lemonade Rice Krispie Treats and Red Velvet Ding Dongs (Courtney's favorite). I had one of each and wanted more.

I asked everyone to bring a book instead of a card. Guests that were not able to attend sent books too. Thanks to everyone's generosity, Baby boy T has quite the book collection already!



I purchased enough fabric to make this double sided pennant banner. I wish I could take credit for how perfect this turned out! My mom and aunt Carrie planned and executed the whole project. I love the buttons they sewed to each corner. The weight of the bottom button held the fabric in place in the breeze.


Courtney was showered with love and gifts. I think everyone had a fun and relaxing time.

We cannot wait to meet her little guy this summer!

I get it now

I hate to admit it, but when I was simply just a daughter and not yet a mother, Mother's Day was just another day.

Yes, it was a day to celebrate mothers everywhere, especially mine, but not a day that I could really understand.

I get it now. I recently realized that Mother's Day is more important to me than celebrating my own birthday. (My birthday has always been an excuse for a week-long celebration!)

My feelings toward my own mother have changed since becoming a mother myself. It is overwhelming to realize how much she loves me. I am forever grateful for everything she has done (and still does!) for me.

My wish on this Mother's Day is for Leila to feel the love that I feel...forever.

Leila and Grandma, January 2012

Leila and Baba, July 2011
Leila and Grandee, September 2010

Leila and I are so lucky to have such wonder mothers in our lives!

Happy Mother's Day!

Toddler art {Mother's Day gift}

This project couldn't be easier, cheaper, or more adorable...and BONUS!...it fits right inside the cards Leila got for her Grandmas and her Great-Baba.

Materials:
paint
paper
paintbrush
craft stick
green pipe cleaner
Sharpie or other kind of marker
white glue
stickers (optional)

1. Paint your child's hand and carefully press it onto the paper. Let it dry before you cut around the outline of the handprint.
2. Paint the craft stick green to look like a stem.  I used a sponge-like paint brush but fingers, Q-tips, or a regular paint brush will do the trick.  Set it aside to dry.
3. Put glue on the back of the handprint flower and position it onto the painted craft stick.  I wanted mine were short enough to fit nicely into the card/envelope I was mailing.  Lay the flower flat to dry.
4. Make a small loop on one end of the pipe cleaner to look like a leaf and secure it to itself.  Wrap the long end of the pipe cleaner around the painted craft stick, make a loop for another leaf and tuck the remaining part of the pipe cleaner into itself.  (You can also use paper to make leaves. Melissa suggested making green footprints for leaves!)
5. Add the year, a message, and stickers if you'd like.
   

Happy Mother's Day!

Budget-friendly toddler adventures

I have said it before, and I will say it again, I LOVE where we live. Jeff and I have lived in San Diego for nine years and we can still feel like tourists any given day.

Who wouldn't love living in a sunny beach town?!

(Honestly, I could do without the high cost of living and underfunded public school system.)

Now that I entertain a toddler on a daily basis, I have begun to see San Diego with a new set of eyes.  The possibilities for fun on a budget seem endless.

A new picnic spot, a local bake sale, a free concert at the library...fun, fun, fun!
Leila with my mom and Aunt Carrie
Watching the local elementary school kids rock out

After seeing this list posted on one of my favorite local blogs last year, I was inspired to make a list of my own.

Here's what I have so far...



It's time to take advantage of your hometown! Start your list today.

I plan on adding activities that are not specific to San Diego like bubbles, sidewalk chalk, nature walk, and pet store to mine after reading the posts linked up here...


Please share your favorite budget-friendly activities!

Mission Bay on Dwellable

This is for real.

The Elmo Gang (est. 2012) has three members. Leila would like you to believe that she is in charge.

She's probably right.



My dad (aka Grandpa) and my uncle Pat are the other two members, and yes, they also wear Elmo tattoos.

Don't worry. You can tell by their age that they are not dangerous, a menace to society, or taking over your town.

You may spot them near a bus stop,

or near the marina

trying to recruit new members.

They spend their days picking flowers,

walking the streets,

and rocking the good life

in a neighborhood near you.


Yes, Leila is clearly in charge and loving every minute of it.



You can be sure that "the Elmo gang rides again". -Grandpa