It's a boys' world

Yesterday was amazing! It was so special to spend half an hour peeking in at our little boy. Knowing that he is a boy makes me feel so much closer to him- knowing something so important about who he is and who he will be. I think that is the best part about finding out what you are having.

It is funny to think that it was just another day for him. He has no idea that we were watching!

I can't believe we have to wait 20 more weeks to meet him. Luckily there is a lot I can do in the meantime. Jamus needs a new big boy room: curtains, bedding, decorations. Somehow we are going to have to make it very toddler proof in there since he'll only be about 19 months when we move him.

There are a few things to do for the new baby as well. He'll need a few summer clothes since Jamus was born in the late fall. He'll also need an infant carseat since Jamus' "expired." (Did you know they have an expiration date printed on the bottom? It's probably a racket but we're not going to be the ones to test it.) And I'm going to be on the hunt for a good deal on a double stroller, probably a jogger because our sidewalks are rather bumpy. We'll be using it quite often since Jamus is going to be old enough to look at me with his big brown eyes and say "park."

It is going to be a great summer.

The best news

We have another perfectly healthy little baby... and... ANOTHER BOY! I will post more later, but I didn't want to make you wait.

We cannot express how happy and excited we are. It is a wonderful day.

Patience, or lack thereof

This is one of those weeks I think of as a "throw away" week. It'd be nice to say that I am living in the moment and enjoying each day for what it is. But I am not. I am merely trying to distract myself and pass the time to get to Thursday morning as soon as possible. The week Jamus was born was also a "throw away" week, as were the weeks I knew I might be pregnant but had to wait until a pregnancy test would tell me so.

Of course this week I am dying to know: pink or blue?

I have tried hard not to covet the girls' section at baby stores, but truly there is no comparison. Don't get me wrong, there are many, many cute things in the boys' section, and everything is much cuter with a Jamus inside of it. But I challenge you to find anything made for a baby girl that ISN'T cute.

It did occur to me the other day that I have barely thought beyond fashion when it comes to having a little girl. Of course there are many other things to be excited about: hair, makeup, girl talk... watching her become a bride and then a mother herself.

Ah, but a second boy!! A best friend for Jamus. A chance to reuse all of Jamus' best clothes. Two little men running around my house and making havoc. I would really love another boy.

As much as these thoughts consume me, as the hour draws near I have been thinking more and more about what's really important: a healthy baby. I pray that everything is developing perfectly in there. We have been so greatly blessed with Jamus; he could not have been more perfect and healthy and strong and beautiful. I know that is not something to take for granted. It is a miracle and now I am praying for another.

Just call me "Chip"

Well, Jamus has a potential new nickname this week. I frequently let him have "independent" playtime while I work in the kitchen (the blessing of an open floorplan). After one such time earlier this week I was sitting with him and looking at one of his favorite books. I had to do a double-take when I noticed a fairly large chip out of one of his front teeth!

I don't really even know how it happened because he didn't make a fuss about it. It doesn't seem to bother him at all, but I have to admit that I quietly grieved the adorableness of his perfect little teeth for about an hour. He is going to have a chipped tooth for at least the next 5 years! But I am grateful he was not hurt and it has turned out to be a purely cosmetic issue. It is cute in its own way I guess- it's growing on me.

Little sister or little brother?

We find out in 9 days whether Jamus will have a little brother or a little sister!

Of course we can hardly contain our excitement and 9 days feels like an eternity. I am passing the time by doing inventory on all of Jamus' old baby clothes, planning alternate courses of action for nursery redecorating and Jamus' toddler room, and bleaching all of Jamus' spit-up covered newborn onesies. Jamus is staying busy by looking at books, hugging and kissing his stuffed animals, insisting on music all day long, and generally running around creating havoc.

These activities are barely keeping us sane.

The afternoon of Jan. 27th I will post the big news!

Super Jamus

Imitation

Jamus is definitely going through an imitation stage. Unfortunately, not everything I do these days is worth imitating.

For instance, he has unfortunately had to witness me throwing up a couple of times when we are alone together in the morning. Before it happened the first time, I was concerned that it might upset him. Nope! He thinks it's hilarious.

Equally unfortunate is the fact that I cannot stop myself from occasionally gagging when I change a poopy diaper. This never happened before I got pregnant. I'm still rather appalled at other childrens' poopy diapers, but my own sweet Jamus... no problem. Until now.

So today I was changing a particularly icky one and started to gag. I try to make a joke out of it so he doesn't develop a complex. He has been picking up on the joke and trying to make throwing up sounds of his own. He recently discovered that the most effective way to do this is to stick his fingers down his throat. And since this particular diaper change came soon after a delicious lunch of cheese and crackers, he actually made himself throw up. I can only hope that he found this unpleasant enough that he will no longer try to imitate this aspect of pregnancy.

Maybe I can get him to imitate my pregnant need to sleep in. By the way, the pic at the top is my 16-week baby bump last weekend!