An Easter Extravaganza

  could be our last photo as a family of 3!!!

Hop, Hop, Hop…The Walti household had an Easter-crazed time this past weekend!  With not knowing what lies in store for our family this coming week and the actual Easter holiday, Scott and I wanted to make it a really fun weekend for Jack and pack in as many activities as we could to make him feel extra special and like the “big boy” that he is!

We joined our friends the Korbmachers for an Easter Egg Hunt/Easter Bunny picture on Saturday morning.  It was pretty comical, and very “Chicago Park District” that we had set time slots and each kid received an allocated amount of eggs.  Although, that didn’t seem to matter to Jack, as he was more concerned with Quality (what candy was in the egg) vs. Quantity (he only went for 3 eggs).  It was fun and nice to get out – we spent about an hour afterwards at the nearby baseball field playing and running the bases.  He slept really well that day!  Did an Easter Project (after he told me that he only does projects with Katie, like I am not allowed to be crafty, Thanks, Buddy) and had a fun night.

Working hard…

  A much better picture than last year!  Still a freaky bunny…

  Daddy’s gonna get you!!

Sunday we had a bit of a tumultuous morning…I would say that Jack had his longest/worst fit yet.  Lasted a good 30 minutes, all over putting his coat/shoes on “BY MYSELF.”  Scott took him outside to “cool off” and he continued to scream down the block…it was pretty interesting and I can’t wait for the next one – Just kidding!

Practicing for “my baby”

Naptime seemed to help and while he slept, I got all of our last-minute errands/shopping done (I am acting like I will never get out of the house again, just freaking out) and then we dyed and decorated Mickey Mouse easter eggs!  He really enjoyed it and it was fun to see his plan in how to dye them, which was essentially to put each egg in all the colors.  They turned out cute and he was really proud of them! 

   Our finished masterpiece!

It was the perfect weekend with our little family of 3.  I am so excited to grow our family, but I will miss the EASE of just having Jack to hang out with and focus on. 

Jack took this picture – how SCARY that this is how he currently views me everyday!  Too bad for him!!!

Fun photos

Just a few fun weekend pics – we were busy with getting in some good family time and relaxing.  Jack helped me cook dinner one night by grating cheese for polenta (MY do it!), watching “baketball” with Daddy, and making playdough objects on a snowy afternoon…

  

38 weeks yesterday with Baby Walti – if I don’t go into labor before next Monday, I will more than likely be induced sometime next week before my official due date of Sunday the 4th, as my doc doesn’t like for 2nd pregnancies to go past the due date.  We are hoping that it doesn’t happen on April Fool’s Day!  Still 1-2cm, but my cervix is softening and the head is still down, but high.  I am still feeling great and trying to enjoy every minute of both being pregnant (feeling this little guy/gal kick me!) and enjoying my oldest…our worlds are about to change, but we CAN’T WAIT to meet him or her!!!

Mommy and Daddy Days…

Katie is off this week, so Scott and I have gotten to spend some extra-special time with Jack and the weather has cooperated in Chicago by being in the 50’s and 60’s!

On Wednesday, I stayed home with him and we had an AWESOME DAY.  I have really been focusing on being “present” – putting down the distractions of the things that need to get done around the house, work, email, etc and focus solely on him and what he needs from me.  It has been so interesting seeing the change in him over these past few months. He is HILARIOUS!  I love having “real” conversations with him and answering his questions.  He is a very curious and engaged child – very verbal and his memory seriously amazes me.  He will remember things that we did/said 6 months ago and bring them up out of the blue.

So…on our “Mommy Day” on Wednesday, we first went to my weekly doctor visit where Jack got to hear his sibling’s heartbeat!  He had a big smile on his face asking “What dat, Mommy?” until my exam started – then he was quickly taken from the room by Daddy.  He said later “I heard baby, Mommy,” which was adorable.  Then he and I met Jane and his Baby Caroline at the zoo for a couple of hours since it was 55 degrees!  We had a blast – he loved the carousel, lion house, and the gorilla house.  He out-smarted me by correcting me when I said a bird was a vulture - “No Mommy, that a buzzard” (how in the heck does he know that?) and then asked me if we could go to China and told me “Mommy, you know panda bears eat bamboo.”  What?!  He was tuckered out when we got home and then we both proceeded to take a 3 hour nap – such a treat!  (Pictures later)  Jack is a little book-worm, so the rest of the day was spent reading and by him asking me to draw things; it was super fun.  And…we ended the day (get ready for TMI) with him taking his first poop in the little potty!  He told me that he “had to go” when he was in the bathtub and kept reaching to his bum, so I put him on and off he went!  He was SO PROUD of himself, so we took a picture to send to Daddy at work – he then told me “Mom, I poop a lot, a big poop.”  Such a big step!  :-)  We might be investing in some Pull-ups soon to try out this potty-training thing!  (Because we don’t have enough going on right now…)

Yesterday, I was home with him in the morning and we took a little field trip to the library.  Loved picking out new books (Curious George and the Mo WIllems Pigeon series are his faves right now) and overall just hanging out. Scott was home in the afternoon and when we got home we made a family walk to the park and to play ball – he had a blast. 

Another funny story – Scott asked him to do something later that night and Jack replied with “Dad, go to work.”  HA!  Scott did not find it so funny…

No change with baby – our appt on Wednesday was uneventful, as Dr. F said that this baby is “VERY HIGH” and not coming anytime soon.  Which is fine with us – I want a big, healthy baby who can stay in as long as possible!  ;-)  He did say that if there is no movement at my 39 week appt that they will schedule an induction date for that next week.  I think by that time I will be running sprints to get this little babe out!

AHHHH…Feel that fresh air!!

Below is a picture of Jack this time last year – can you believe how much he has changed??!!  Still the famous eyelashes and cheeks, but so much more hair and orneriness in his eyes!

March 2009

This Momma is SOOOO happy that SPRING is upon us!  It is so much easier to live in a big city when it is nice outside and there is so much more that we can take advantage of.  It is tough getting through these long winter months being cooped up in a “smallish” condo, but once the sun is shining and it hits 45 degrees, we are OUTSIDE and I remember why we have not made the suburban move!  The last week has been filled with walks to the park, walking to run errands and having the windows open – And when I say “Walk”, I mean Jack is walking, not riding in the “baby stroller.”  He is NOT a stroller kid.  He and I went to the playground yesterday around the corner, and I think the walk there was our favorite part!  So much to see, touch, talk about…

This weekend was nothing special, but SO NICE with little on the calendar.  We have started a tradition of Friday night being Picnic (on the living room floor right now)/Movie night and Jack chose to watch Curious George.  Saturday Scott stayed home (Mommy slept in until 11am!) and we just played, splashed in the puddles, and got stuff done around the house.  I would say that I am 90% done with everything that I feel “needs” to be done before BW2 arrives.  We went over to Jane & Joe’s on Saturday night which is always a blast and Jack got to see his baby girl Caroline (he LOOOVVVVESS) Baby Caroline.  Sunday was just hanging out after Jack (and M & D) slept in until 10am! 

Katie is on a well-deserved vacation this week, so Scott and I get to stay home with Jack with help from his parents and Auntie Courtney.  Can’t wait for some good time with my boy before he has to share the spotlight, so it is great timing that she is off.  I am thinking of something extra-special that we can do.

Dr. appt on Wednesday, so we will see if we are making any progress!

36 Week Update

36 week size – crenshaw melon (what IS that?!)

I had my 1st internal exam today (fun times, although it was not as bad as I remember it being the 1st time around…when I called my friend Jane bawling from the doctor’s office!). 

I am 1 cm dilated and the baby is still high (but head down), heartbeat of 150 and no effacement.  Dr. Feldstein said that he wants this baby to come in the next two weeks!!…selfishly because he is on vacation for 2 weeks after that and will more than likely miss the birth if I go around my due date of April 4th.  I appreciate him wanting to deliver for us, but we definitely want this baby to come naturally (he mentioned induction before 40 weeks if I am up for it), and Scott has 2 big audits due on 3/31, so he really would prefer me to keep the baby cookin’ until then!

I actually feel really good.  Very tired at night (I have passed out by 8:30 the past two nights), but lots of energy throughout the day and physically am feeling great.  Dr. Feldstein urged me to walk a ton, move around, etc. to get these contractions going and get things moving along.  With Jack, I was 1cm dilated until the day I went into labor and was only 3 cm when I got to the hospital, so maybe this one is already following their big brother’s footsteps?

He said the baby is right on target for weight and I am measuring where I am supposed to be. This is coming from the doctor who likes his women to gain 40 lbs!  I haven’t reached that mark, but I think Jack is looking forward to the day when he can again sit on my lap without sliding off or me groaning!

As far as the sex of the baby goes…I told Scott today I am now having a feeling that it is a little girl…don’t know why, just a feeling.  We’ll see – hopefully in 4 weeks!  ;-)

I need about a week and a half more of nesting, cleaning, time at work, time with Jack – then Mother Nature can do what she wants…crossing my legs until then.

Happy Birthday, Scott!

Yesterday was Scott’s birthday – it probably wasn’t very exciting for him since he spent the day at he office (which was covered in foil by his co-workers – EVERYTHING down to his mouse and his pens!), but we were able to celebrate later in the evening with deep dish pizza and cheesecake with his parents and brother.

Honey, I am hoping that 2010 is as exciting as the last couple of years have been for us  - I’m sure it will be with our new arrival in a month, a probably move, and maybe a new minivan purchase?  :-)  HA!

We Love you, Babe!  Thank you for being such a wonderful provider and support for our growing family and for everything that you do for us every day!

XOXO – Mis and Jack

Our big boy

Jack had his 2 year doctor appointment yesterday.  He was very interested in the doctor and what he was doing the entire time.  He got to stand on the “big boy scale” and it registered 30 1/2 lbs – in the 75th percentile.  His height was in the 90 percentile, as imagine from his genes, at 36”.  The doctor said that he was the size of at least a 2 1/2 year old.  The MMR shot, however, did not go over so well…”THAT HURT!”  We read a book when we got home about a doctor where a little boy got a shot, so he kept talking about how he got the same shot. I’m sure it will be the first thing that he tells Katie this morning. 

Hard to believe that my little 8lb 4oz, 21” long baby boy is now 3 feet tall and having conversations about astronauts and is memorizing books.  I clearly remember driving to the hospital in labor and how excited I was to find out the sex, how big he/she was, to finally pick a name (uh, yeah, if it were a girl,it was going to be a “game-time” decision, as it probably will be this time, too!), and if he looked like me or like Scott. 

Jack has been such a big help lately and very interested in talking about the baby, hugging my belly, sharing his stickers with the baby (AKA filling my belly w/ stickers), etc.  He helped Katie change Dylan’s diaper this week, has been pushing him in the stroller, and we have been reading a lot of “Big Brother” books.  He lights up when you tell him that he will be a big brother and he still says he is having a baby sister and that he will tackle it when it arrives.  Last night he told us that her name will be “Table.”  :-)  So sweet.  He is going to be awesome.  GREAT NEWS>>>>> Prentice lifted the ban on their child-visit restriction, so he can now come to the hospital to meet BW2 and see Mommy!  That totally started my day off right this morning!!!!

Wonderful sunny weather here this weekend and possible temps up in the 40’s!  So…we will spend a lot of time outside and may open the windows to air out the winter stink! 

Momma Bird is nesting

Tick tock, Tick tock…the time is drawing near for Baby Walti’s arrival!

I was a “nesting” machine this weekend…newborn clothes/blankets (neutral) are washed/put away, bottles & pump supplies are disinfected, Jack’s closet/dresser are organized with room made for baby, bathtub is out, bouncy seat is out, baby book is started…I even packed my hospital bag “just in case,” although I don’t think I used a thing out of it the first time except for my camera!  So…I am feeling much better about springing into labor, at least from the home perspective.  Now getting my emotions in check about Jack not being the only one and thinking about the transition he is about to face…that is a completely separate process I need to undertake!  Tear, Tear…  **A special thanks to Katie for taking J on Saturday so that I could get all of this done!!!

Practicing his big brother skills – very interested

Overall, I feel pretty good considering I am 35 weeks along, have 22 lbs of belly sitting on my pelvis, and am regularly heaving and playing with my 32 lb. son.  Experiencing some heartburn, pelvic/groin pain, and extreme lower back pain that I don’t remember having with Jack.  I had a WONDERFUL prenatal massage on Sunday which helped my back – so great that I seriously considered proposing to the woman that rubbed me down.  :-)

Baby size update – Babycenter.com tells me that the baby is about 18” long and over 5lbs…about the size of a Honeydew.  It feels like it is 3 ft long by it’s kicks to the ribs and punches to the groin!  I will miss this feeling (most of the time) however.

Other than nesting, we had a great weekend!  Friday night I went out with former colleagues for fondue (yummy) and Saturday night Scott and I went out with friends for another tasty dinner!  **Special HI to Dustin for reading this post – i promised I would give you a shout-out!  :-)  Scott worked most of the day on Sunday (fun winter life of a CPA), so Jack and I made ourselves busy baking brownies, painting, and just putzing around.  He is just so much fun right now, I can’t stand it!

Making brownies for Daddy

Picasso hard at work